#I keep chomping down on the damn thing when I eat because it's like. slightly swollen from everything else

[grayscale-kaleidoscope]

Dental anxiety tw:

Pretty sure I accidentally chemically burned my tongue again, because I constantly had something extremely acidic in my mouth this week for...grounding? Purposes?

Anyway now my tongue is just like, extremely sensitive to every single one of my teeth in a painful way, and it's also giving me teeth anxiety because it feels like I'm prodding broken fragments but it's really just. My fucking tongue being unable to handle the slightest pressure. Which really sucks when it's CONSTANTLY pressed to, you know, my teeth???

The fucking problems this body comes up with, I swear to god.

[imjeralee]

can you maybe write for Childe, Zhongli, Link, and Human!Revali where theyre immortal or live for a very long time, and one day their s/o gets hurt and dies in their arms? then years later they stumble across them again, theyre a different person but they have the same soul. yet.. they dont remember them right away...but then they fall in love again? im feeling angsty, apologies

Hi anon! thanks for the ask and sorry for the delay!! I’m afraid I wasn’t able to write a Link and Human!Revali headcanon for the time being (I will write and post Link and Revali HCs later, sorry!!!!!) but I was able to write something for Childe and Zhongli for now so here goes.

PS they’re really long so it’s below the cut. I might as well have written some fanfics on this since they’re pretty much stories XD

Childe: 

WARNINGS for violence/blood here -

When he’s dispatched the last of your attackers, he rushes back to your side and finds you lying on the ground. At first he thinks you’re playing as you usually tease each other, and so he drops beside you with a hefty sigh before he scoops you up and into his arms.

“Hey, you good? Don’t tell me those guys gave you a run for your money,” he says, grinning. He’s out of breath, sweating slightly.

When you don’t reply, however, at first he thinks you’re still teasing but it’s quickly replaced with concern. He knows something is wrong. You let out a pained moan and close your eyes, murmuring his name weakly. His playful, jovial attitude dissolves into panic. Childe sits up properly with you in his arms, giving you a little shake and asking what’s wrong.

As he turns you round in his arms, he notices you’re bleeding profusely from a grievous wound. No longer smiling, panic takes ahold of him. “What happened? No, no, no, this can’t be. This can’t be happening. Stay with me Y/N, stay with me.” Planting his hands on the sides of your face, making you look at him. “Look at me. That’s it. Just keep looking at me. You’re gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay.” He keeps chanting that over and over again as he glances around the area frantically before he attempts to lift you off the ground but you stop him. It’s too late.

Instead, you merely hold his hand firmly and he entwines your fingers together and you see the fear and despair in his eyes. You tell him you’re not going to make it but he shakes his head. 

“Everything’s gonna be okay, you hear? Teucer’s waiting for you to take him to the seaside, remember? We were…we were meant to go to the seaside together.” 

As he speaks, he holds you tightly and he feels your laborious breathing against his chest and he keeps talking until you go still and quiet in his arms and he stops. At first, he can’t bear to bring himself to look at you and holds you firmly against his chest, resting his chin atop your head, closing his eyes. 

Then he begins to weep.

A broken man, Childe vows revenge, swearing vengeance on your killers. In a blind rage, he spends countless of years hunting them down one by one. It’s not hard to achieve considering he has all the time in the world. His most recent excursion leads him to the final ringleader who lives in a citadel. Childe kills all the guards and everyone else who stands in his way until he reaches his target. At first, the man fights him but Childe overpowers him easily.

“Who the hell are you?” the man screams.

Childe rips off his mask to reveal his face. “Remember me?” He snarls.

The man goes wide-eyed and tries to run away with Childe in pursuit, but before Childe can reach him, the man has grabbed a random person in his way and thrown them onto Childe’s path as a human shield.

“Father!?” Childe hears the person exclaiming in shock as they’re roughly shoved towards Childe’s direction. Childe realises the man has grabbed their kid to use as the human shield. 

Disgusted, Childe is about to deal the finishing blow until he catches them mid fall and their gazes meet; those eyes. They remind him of….you

And something deep inside him screams STOP! And Childe is briefly brought to a halt in his rampage. He doesn’t recognise them, but he feels your soul within.

What the frick? You had reincarnated into this bastard’s kid??? He’s shocked for a brief moment and a few guards who are still alive manage to sneak up on him. Childe returns to action mode and fights off his attackers, grabs you, and whilst he doesn’t get the chance to kill his target, he escapes the citadel with you in his clutches and you’re left screaming for help.

You’ve been abducted by Childe and he’s taken you to the forest where he pins you against the tree and forces you to look at him, left and right, up and down. Whilst you plead and beg for mercy with your eyes squeezed shut and knees quaking, he lets go of you harshly. He doesn’t want to believe it’s you, but there’s no doubt about it. He senses your soul within. He recognises your eyes. You’ve reincarnated. 

“Show me.” He demands.

“…What?”

“Your birthmark. The one on your shoulder?”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have any-”

“Don’t lie to me.”

He turns you round and pulls on your shirt to expose the back of your shoulder where your birthmark is. Whilst you wonder how the hell he knows you have a mark, he lets go of you then and you quickly pull your clothes back on properly, face red. What the hell!!! 

Childe just staring at you in brief shock. 

“It’s you. It’s really you.”

A lot of emotions are going through him right now; he’s relived and so damn happy, at the same time he’s like confused and angry by the whole situation

But the first thing he does is hug you tightly.

And the first thing you do is grab the nearest rock and bludgeon his head with it.

He’s taken aback and lets go of you, stumbling backwards with a bleeding head but he easily shakes off your assault and throws the rock to the side and you’re terrified, inching away as he goes, “Did you think that would kill me? I’ll let you in a little secret; I’m immortal.” 

Not really sure who/what you’re dealing with, you flee but you hear him yelling, “You can run but you can’t hide!”

And as you toss a glance over your shoulder, he’s still standing there for a split second before he promptly vanishes from his spot. This weird cat and mouse game ensues with Childe stalking you through the forest and you’re either trying to run or hide until he finally catches you and pins you against the ground. You can’t escape.

“Calm down. I’m not going to hurt you,” he murmurs, but you don’t believe him. “Just…stay with me for a few days, okay?”

It doesn’t matter; over the next few days, you’re effectively Childe’s prisoner and he seems to enjoy teasing you; he tried to talk to you but you refused and ignored him. It was quite difficult to do so especially when its time for dinner and he’s cooking grilled tiger fish - which is actually your favourite food - and although you’re salivating, he looks at you and grins and waves the grilled tiger fish on a stick in front of you, going, “Hungry?”

You turn away with a frown and he shrugs, “Suit yourself. But I know it’s your favourite.”

You’re confused and about to ask him, but you hear him eating and throw a glance at him to see he’s chomping down and your stomach rumbles. You choose to sleep instead to ignore the hunger but you wake up during the night, starving.

“Eat this,” says a voice, and a grilled tiger fish is plopped down in front of you and Childe is there, crouching by your side. He leaves you alone so you can eat.

You’re surprised by your captor’s behaviour and you initially hate him for what he’s done however he doesn’t harm you in any way. He doesn’t keep you tied up or anything and he’s quite entertained should you ever try to run away because he’ll always just catch up to you and just pick you up and throw you over his shoulder or something and carry you back. 

Your travels with Childe continues but you don’t get the feeling that he hates you or wants to hurt you in anyway. In fact, he keeps surprising you by providing you with your favourite food, favourite drinks and other stuff. It confuses you and though you want to ask him, you’re a little too afraid as to what he might just tell you. Some days you even come across him looking at you a little forlornly but just when you notice, he changes in a split second and will grin at you. Even when it’s nighttime and you’re meant to take a bath, he won’t perv on you. When you arrive at the next village, he asks for a nice room for the two of you and allows you to take the bed, eat as much as you want etc etc. In fact, he’s….taking care of you. He even starts buying you things and whilst you turn down everything he offers, you see his expression crumble and you don’t know what he’s trying to do.

One night he sleeps in the open and you grab a knife, about to drive it in his throat although you’re not sure how much good that’ll do but then you hear him murmur, “You don’t know it…but I’ve been looking for you forever…and I’ve been waiting for you for such a long time… and you end up being the kid of that bastard…the one who killed you, the one who took you away from me….the one who started all this in the first place…”

Confused by what you had just heard, you watch him in steely silence before you slowly lower your hand and put away the knife. The next day he goes “I know what you were trying to do last night. Why didn’t you do it?” 

“I didn’t want to. I’m not a killer like you.” You quip back, but he merely laughs. 

The days continue but the dynamic seems to have changed; when Childe gets you something, you start thanking him and he goes red in the face and you also begin to feel weird around him. Before long, you’re both having food together, having some conversations and you’re accustomed to travelling around with him. He’ll always keep you safe and make sure you have a warm bed each night too. Sometimes when he looks at you, you don’t look away either.

Before long, your father’s men finally catches up; they begin to hunt you and Childe down and you’re stunned when you realised you’re about to get rescued. Something terrible flickers in your mind - maybe you don’t want to be rescued and you want to stay with Childe? After all, he’s taken you to so many places and you’ve seen so many things. Your father kept you cooped up in the citadel for years and this is really the first time you’ve experienced freedom.

Also, you don’t want Childe to get caught. You want him to run away. But he won’t run away without you. And when you question this, he goes, “I can’t afford to lose you again!!”

During the chase, a bunch of arrows are fired towards your direction and you’re worried about Childe, but when the arrows are about to hit you, you squeeze your eyes shut but nothing happens. Reopening your eyes, you see Childe has shield you with his body.

You’re surrounded and as Childe falls, collapsing into your arms, he’s quickly captured and you are returned home. But everything feels boring and dull now, and your father seems more occupied in torturing Childe than checking to see if you’re alright. You ask your father what happened between him and Childe and he tells you he killed his lover many years ago and now Childe has been seeking revenge. When you ask him why he killed Childe’s lover, your father just laughs and says there was no reason.

You’re conflicted. What is this? Why do you feel pity for Childe, and anger towards your father? Why do you feel you are more on Childe’s side now?

I’m in love with him, you realise -- much to your shock. 

Your father announces Childe will be executed by dawn and you hastily rush to where they’re holding him, hoping not to be seen. When you find Childe, he’s badly beaten but still alive and you quickly unshackle him and as he sees you freeing him, he smiles at you; when the last of his shackle is unlocked, he falls forwards but you catch him and your gazes meet.

“Go,” you whisper.

“Not without you. Come with me.” He murmurs, placing a hand to your cheek. “I can’t lose you again.”

You don’t even need to think twice, nodding.

Zhongli

He didn’t think you would ever die... and in his arms no less. He found you after the battle and when he saw that you were grievously wounded, he could not believe his eyes. He was too late and unable to save you, so he merely held you in his arms as you told him with weak breaths that this was the end. He promises that he’ll find you again and holds you tightly as he feels your warmth slowly disappearing, the life escaping from your eyes and then you were simply…gone

For a while, he merely sat with you in the ashen field, cradling you tightly to his chest before he picked you up and retreated silently. No one would see him for several centuries following that but it was rumoured he went to the mountains to bury you. He was in mourning.

Zhongli never forgot you and his love for you never went away so he’s comforted by the fact that your soul will be reincarnated albeit into a different vessel and as he promised, begins to search for your whereabouts when it’s finally time.

He roams the world to no end and many decades pass. Eventually he gets tired and one day he even passes out from exhaustion, reverting to a dragon form to recuperate.

And you’re walking home from the mountains and you come across this huge dragon resting on a rock and you’re like oh my archon. But it looks like he’s sick so as you approach nervously and poke at his body gently with a stick (no response), and also press your ear against his scaly belly (he’s breathing and you can hear a heartbeat), you’re aware the dragon is still alive. You quickly rush home to grab some makeshift medicine made from herbs and return to the sick dragon

Zhongli too weary to open his eyes or lift his head, and as he drifts in and out of consciousness, he thinks he hears your voice and he’s comforted by the familiarity and as you sit with him, stroking his horns and mane, he kind of inches towards you and into your arms. As the day progresses, the sun is particularly harsh so you set up little parasols and pull huge leaves over his head to provide as much shade as possible. Occasionally the dragon has nightmares but you’re able to calm him down by petting him 

When it gets dark, you need to head home but you’re a little reluctant, so you leave behind some food for him and drape a blanket over his body (though this doesn’t cover him much). However, during the night, it’s thunder and lightning and you get worried for the dragon so you rush back out and you find the dragon being battered by the rain whilst curled up into a tight ball and shivering under the blanket so you quickly try to move him but oh lawd he heavy and suddenly the blanket gets blown away by the wind when he lifts a claw so you race after it and end up almost falling off a cliff - to your surprise, the dragon swoops down to save you and you faint but before you black out, you think you see a young man in the dragon’s place, staring at you with much intrigue

He has the same eyes as the dragon

That night, you have strange dreams of that man. He acts as if he knows you, calls you by a different name and you are also his lover. The dream is long, but ends with your demise - which forces you to wake up in a panic

You’re surrounded by the coiled up dragon who has gotten better from your care but when he wakes up, he’s cautious and observes you for a few moments. 

You and this dragon staring at each other until you slowly reach a hand to touch him 

Your hand lands over his snout and you’re surprised he’s allowing you to pat him, but whatever, you’re super happy at his recovery and you can go home now. It’s time to part ways and as you head towards the direction of your home, you throw glances over your shoulder to see the dragon watching you silently

On the way, you think about the dragon and the strange dreams and attract the attention of a group of treasure hoarders who are wandering around the wilderness. However, to your surprise, you are saved by a young man - and it’s the very man from your dreams! He manages to defeat the bandits but you see he’s hurt and he almost collapses if you weren’t there to catch him. The moment he landed in your arms and that same sense of familiarity swept over you. You’re quick enough to react and sweep those thoughts away and bring the poor man home, lugging his polearm over your back along with your basket

You look after this young man and nurse him back to health. During this time, he looks at you strangely and when he’s sleeping, his calls out the name you were called in the dream. When you think he’s having a nightmare and you go over to check if he’s ok, giving him a little shake on the arm, he throws his arms around you and holds you close, begging you not to leave him and that he had spent eons looking for you. When you tell him he’s got the wrong person…it’s as though he comes to his senses and he quickly releases you, apologising for his behaviour and thanking you for his hospitality

He tells you his name is Zhongli and because he’s injured, you give him the spare room in the back and take care of him. During this period of interaction, at first it’s quite strange and maybe a little awkward, because hell he is an insanely attractive man (he can’t be single, no way) and you’re bustling around the house, doing chores/cleaning up or tending to your garden and he watches you the entire time and this goes on for a few days before he joins in to help when you’re hanging up the laundry though you don’t want him to help because he’s injured but he assures you he wants to do his part. 

So Zhongli becomes a part of your everyday life where during the day and you both have breakfast together before you head to the market together to buy groceries and later, he accompanies you to pick herbs in the mountain. 

One day you’re tired so he sits with you and massages your leg and you’re so embarrassed but at the same time, your heart is beating like crazy. He even carries you down the steep path all the way home. 

At night time and you sit together on the front porch watching fireflies and chatting idly for hours. 

He ends up staying for a long time and one day, when it’s time to redress his wound, you notice he’s completely healed - and it looks like he actually healed up a while ago. You blink in confusion before turning to him and he looks at you before he reaches for your hand and holds it firmly, smoothing his thumb over the back of your hand

A distant memory, more like deja vu, flickers through your mind and you realise Zhongli has held your hand like this before and you run out of the room, confused. Zhongli worried he scared you off so he doesn’t pursue you

When it’s night, you dream again but it’s becoming so vivid you end up confused the next morning, waking up in an unfamiliar house and in an unfamiliar body and screaming for Zhongli. As you calm down, he holds you in his arms and it reminds you of the dream you had when you died in his embrace. You briefly forget yourself for a moment before murmuring Zhongli’s name - and it reminds him of how you used to say his name eons ago and he gets sentimental, giving in because he knows you are the reincarnation of his lover and when you kiss, that’s when everything floods back and you remember everything 

Finally reunited with your lover, you share an embrace, determined not to be separated ever again

[master-sass-blast]

Children of the Gods: Part Three, Chapter Two.

I had to input every single italic you see in this fic by hand because Tumblr doesn’t hold text format when I paste it innnnnn. *pained smile*

Please give this chapter some love, because that was fucking painful to do.

Summary: The aftermath of capturing Allison proves messy -both in dealing with the teen's evident trauma, and in all the skeletons in various closets that get unleashed soon after.

Pairing(s): Piotr Rasputin x Reader, Nathan Summers x Wade Wilson, Frank Castle x Karen Page, and Alexandra Rasputin x Nikolai Rasputin.

Rating: M for gun violence, depictions of death and injuries, depictions of emotional trauma, and gratuitous use of the word “fuck.”

Word count: 8.9k.

Set after “Children of the Gods: Part Three, Chapter One.”

Taglist: @marvel-is-perfection, @chromecutie, @super-darkcloudstudent, @girl-obsessed-with-things, @leo-writer, @emma-frxst, @sadstone-s

“What the hell were you thinking!”

“Ooh, careful there, Doohan,” Wade snarks, head rolling to indicate he’s rolling his eyes. “Get any more agitated and you’ll be saying all the no-no words.”

Scott scowls at Wade. “Stuff it, Wilson.”

“Every damn night, laser pointer.”

A mixture of grimaces, sighs, and groans go up through the crowd.

You’re all gathered in the medical wing of Xavier’s –the X-Force and nearly all of the X-Men. Allison’s off being examined by Dr. McCoy and Alyssa –to make sure she’s stable enough to be taken out of the handcuffs and the suppression band—and Frank and Karen are sequestered in a separate room until it's clear how everything's going to shake out.

Because, naturally, there’s been a wrench thrown in the situation.

Or maybe the whole damn toolbox, you mentally amend as Wade and Scott resume arguing.

“We cannot harbor a mob criminal here—”

“She’s thirteen, Summers!” Wade snaps. The eyes on his mask narrow into slits. “She’s not a criminal –and her parents’ choice don’t automatically make her guilty!”

“Murder, illegal theft and possession of firearms, assault, stalking, kidnapping,” Scott starts listing, ticking off each of Allison’s misdeeds on his fingers.

“She lost her family,” Nathan interjects, voice going to gravel. “Where the fuck were all of you when she needed support? Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?”

The room goes silent. Many of the X-Men members look away or hang their heads slightly.

“We had no way of knowing that Allison was a mutant,” Ororo speaks up. “Without the proper information, we can’t help. It’s unfortunate, yes, but out of our control all the same.”

“But you know now,” Wade argues. “You knew with Russell. You knew with all the kids at Essex house. You turned your back on him and those kids, just like you’re turning your back on Allison now.” He scoffs, disgusted. “Same shit, different day. You’re all a bunch of cowardly cocksuckers.”

“We do have limits,” Professor Xavier speaks up from his chair. “Russell and the other members of Essex house were considered wards of the state. Legally, that meant Essex house had custody of them until they turned eighteen. We wrote petitions. We did as much as we could to bring attention to the issue. Unfortunately, it got swept under the rug or stonewalled by anti-mutant members of the legal system. As for Allison…” He sighs. “Taking in wards with criminal connections put the school at risk. Not just for fear of retaliation –as would certainly be a risk with Miss Ricci’s connections to the mafia—but also our funding and licensing. As an orphaned mutant, she is certainly deserving of our help—” he pauses to glare sternly at Scott and a few of the more stubborn, self-righteous members present “—but we have to consider the needs of our other residents and students, too.”

“I think we’re overlooking that Allison is here right now,” Jean pipes up. “Whether or not she stays with us is one thing, but we need to decide what to do for at least the next forty-eight hours.”

“She stays here,” you say automatically. “As far as we know, she has no other guardians, potentially even nowhere to go. I don’t think it’s gonna kill us to give her a bed and some food to eat.”

“Absolutely not,” Scott fires back –and, behind him, Angel and Iceman nod. “She’s far too aggressive to possibly put the students at risk.”

“She’s agitated and traumatized,” you reason, “but that doesn’t mean she’s going to lash out at people left and right.”

“Doesn’t she have a guardian of sorts?” Neena pipes up. “Artemis? Has anyone gotten ahold of them?”

“We reached out with the number Miss Ricci gave us,” Xavier explains. “The call picked up, but there wasn’t any verbal response for the duration of the call.”

Well, that bodes well. “What about her attorney?” you ask. “If we can’t keep her here, wouldn’t her attorney be able to arrange some sort of safe place for her to stay.”

“Thus far, we haven’t been able to reach her attorney.”

And that bodes even worse. You fight the urge to sigh or roll your eyes, and instead mentally curse monkey wrenches and whoever thought to invent the damn things.

“For the time being, I’ve contacted some of our external resources” –the glance Xavier shoots at both you and Piotr tells you that it’s your uncle and Alexandra—“to help with matters until the dust settles. They should be arriving soon, so—”

There’s a loud crash from down the hall, the sound of glass shattering, and an angry screech that sounds suspiciously like, “Fuck you, Castle!”

You give into the urge to sigh before booking it towards the sound of chaos and rage. Great. Now it’s an entire toolshed.

***

Subduing Allison this time, at least, is easier for several reasons.

First, she’s still wearing the repression cuff on her wrist. Without her powers –without a way to pop in and out of this existence, specifically—she’s much easier to catch.

Second, she’s tired. It’s not just the bags under her eyes or the sweat glistening at her furrowed brow. She’s stumbling unevenly, panting as she tries to exact her revenge.

Third, Illyana happens to show up at the exact same time with your uncle and Alexandra (and Nikolai as well, though he has less involvement in the “subduing process”).

Alex reacts fastest. She hooks one strong arm around Allison’s waist, then scoops her away from Karen and a hangdog-looking Frank. “Alright, that’s enough.”

Allison, however, doesn’t seem to agree. (Though whether it’s due to general teenage contrariness or trauma-induced rage, the jury’s still out.

…Actually, it’s probably both.)

“You don’t even get it, Castle!” Allison snaps with a manic grin, eyes wide and haunted. “You killed a good man. My dad was getting out! He was going to testify against them—”

Alex clamps a hand over the teen’s mouth, making her cut herself off with a garbled grunt. “I said enough.”

Allison thrashes in the older woman’s iron-clad grasp –to no avail, unsurprisingly. Her face scrunches up, then her jaw starts flexing. There’s a moment where her expression goes slack when Alex doesn’t react, then her nose scrunches up again and her jaw starts working harder.

Alex sighs, then starts carrying Allison back down the hall (she’s astonishingly unfazed by been chomped down on). “Come on. Let’s get you calmed down, malen’kiy.”

At the other end of the hall, Neena pokes her head into the fray. “Someone who calls herself Artemis is at the front door.”

Professor Xavier nods, then says, “Please escort her back to Miss Ricci’s room,” before wheeling after Alex and Artemis.

You look between Neena and the Professor –then, in the interest of going where you’re actually allowed to be (and not being bored out of your mind because you’ll be literally shut out of the room), you head towards the foyer.

…

“Do you think Frank was set up to stop the trial?”

Your uncle shrugs; the two of you have taken up a spot at the back of the room, where you can watch things unfold and gossip like the two old ladies you are in spirit. “It’s possible. It’s also possible that it was retribution for Allison being a mutant. The Ricci syndicate is notoriously… intolerant.”

You grimace. You certainly understand just how far people will go against their own flesh and blood for intolerance’s sake. “Blood and water.”

Your uncle nods, expression equally sour. “You fucking said it, punk.”

There’s not much point in hashing it out any further –both from the standpoint of “forbidden knowledge” and digging up old trauma—so you settle back into watching Artemis go through the mandatory security check.

She’s tall, with broad shoulders. Her hair’s dark, just starting to streak with silver at the temples, and her eyes are deep, intense, borderline black color. Her nose is slightly crooked –comes with the territory in this walk of life—and she’s dressed in black motorcycle wear and combat boots.

She honestly looks so fucking familiar.

You frown, brows pinching together as you try and place her face in your memory. Failing your own abilities at recollection, you lean over and whisper, “Is she one of your team members? I swear I’ve seen her before.”

“Uh –no,” your uncle replies (and it’s too fast and shaky, but you’re too caught up in figuring out whom the fuck you’re looking at to notice). “I mean –everyone has a doppelganger, right?”

“I guess.” You squint at Artemis, as though physically narrowing your eyes will help your brain puzzle things out—

And then Alex strides into the foyer –wiping the hand that Allison bit, and if you look close enough you’re pretty sure you can still see a few bloody teeth marks—and the cloud of confusion lifts from your mind.

“Oh!” you gasp quietly. “That’s why she looks familiar! She looks like Alex.” You look from the Rasputin matriarch, to the other black-leather clad woman, then back again. “She looks… a lot like Alex, actually.” You laugh softly –coincidence is a hell of a thing—then keep rambling when your uncle doesn’t say anything. “Two women who love the color black and carry enough weapons on their person to stock an army. You’d think the universe broke the mold with Alex, huh?”

Your uncle shifts from foot to foot next to you, but says nothing.

“You really weren’t kidding about the whole ‘doppelganger’ thing, huh.” You cock your head to one side, then frown as another epiphany starts growing in your mind. “Actually… she kind of looks like you, too.”

Your uncle makes a quiet, pained choking noise. “Punk—”

“Yeah, she’s got more of your build…”

“Punk.”

“And her lower lip has that weird lopsided curve like yours—”

“Punk—”

You peer closer at Artemis’s face. “Actually, her nose looks like you took yours and Alex’s and mashed them together—”

“Punk.”

You finally look up at him and take in the pale, wide-eyed, tight-lipped expression on his face. “What?” When he doesn’t say anything, you look at Artemis, then Alex, and then back at him—

Oh God.

Oh God.

Holy fucking shit.

You stare up at your uncle, agape. “Wait a second –you and—”

“Okay, shut the fuck up!” he hisses, panicked, before dragging you out of the foyer and into the nearest hallway.

“You and Alex had a baby,” you blurt –albeit in a voice no louder than a harsh whisper. “Artemis is your and her lovechild!”

He winces, then holds up his hands. “I can explain—”

“I don’t think you can!” you hiss. “Why didn’t you tell me that I have a cousin who happens to be my husband’s half fucking sister! Oh God, does Piotr know? Do any of the Rasputins know?”

“I…” He trails off, then cringes. He rubs the back of his neck. “I’m not sure, actually.”

You stare up at him, dumbfounded. “You’re not sure. How are you not sure? Nick knows who you are –what, you think Alex just kept a whole child from his knowledge—”

“I mean, he probably knows that there was a baby at one point—”

“The baby is in this fucking house!” you snap in a quiet growl, arms flailing wildly. “She’s a full grown adult who probably pays taxes and has a 401k going! Why wouldn’t Alex tell her husband—”

“Look,” your uncle interjects, cutting you off. “As far as Alex knows… she thinks she’s… dead?”

You gape. Then, as quietly as you can manage (given the circumstances), you exclaim, “What the fuck!”

“Keep your voice down!” your uncle hisses, gesturing wildly in panic. He looks over his shoulder, then when he’s certain no one overheard you, he sighs and looks back to you. “Look, it’s a long story—”

“I’m sure it fucking is!” You cross your arms over your chest when he winces. “How is it that you know your secret lovechild is alive, but Alex doesn’t? What, did she just abandon her?”

“No, no—”

“Didn’t think so. So what the fuck happened?”

He sighs, shoulder slumping, and runs one hand through his already disheveled hair. “Look –long story short, the people who ‘made’ Alex took the baby—”

“Artemis. Her daughter. Your daughter.”

He purses his lips, but concedes with a nod. “They took her away after she was born and told Alex she was dead –and that’s actually what prompted her to get out, but that’s another story for another day—”

“Okay, hang on a second.” You squeeze your eyes shut and hold up one hand. “Alex thinks her baby is dead –probably one of the most traumatic things in her whole life. You’ve known that she’s alive…” You open your eyes again and fix your uncle with a stern stare. “Okay, how long have you known for?”

He grimaces and shifts uncomfortably. “…well, the US took her, but she didn’t present early, so they turned her loose into the foster system because she didn’t have potential as an ‘asset’—”

“How fucking long?”

He ducks his head, carefully avoiding your gaze. “…tracked her down when she was ten.”

Your eyes widen –and then you slug him in the shoulder. “You fucking colossal asshole!”

He panics again, motioning for you to keep it down while checking over his shoulder. “Shut the fuck up!”

“No! Not only have you lied to Alex for decades—”

“She never asked—”

“A lie by omission is still a fucking lie!” you snap in a gravelly whisper. “So, not only did you lie to her, but you also abandoned your daughter to the mercies of the US foster care system!”

“My life wasn’t safe to keep a kid around!” he hisses back at you. “I couldn’t take care of you, and I couldn’t take care of her! If anything, it was safer for her if the government thought I didn’t know she was alive!”

You sigh, pinch the bridge of your nose, and wave dismissively with your other hand. “Okay –fine. That still doesn’t justify the whole lying thing, but whatever. Does Artemis know that you and Alex are her parents?”

“…Yes. She tracked me down when she was in her twenties and I told her the truth.”

“Well, it sounds like determination runs in the family,” you mutter. “But at least you two have kept in touch…” You look up, see your uncle’s grimace, and sigh. “You didn’t keep in touch with her.”

He shoves his hands in his jacket pockets. “I didn’t know how to handle it.”

“Pretty sure ‘not like that’ is a good answer.” You sigh again, then shrug and put your hands on your hips. “Well, you’ve probably solved your own problem. She’ll probably just tell Alex who she is just to spite you, assuming she got the ‘petty vengeance’ gene too.”

Your uncle’s eyebrows spike to his hairline, and his expression goes through the five stages of grief in a matter of seconds. “She –she can’t—”

“She can and she probably will.”

He hunches over, crouching, and grips the back of his head. “Shitfuckshitfuckshitfuckshitfuck—”

“Myshka?”

You and your uncle both jump, then whirl in unison and give your husband your best convincing, “we’re totally not talking about long lost, hidden family members and other poor life choices” smiles that you can each manage.

(Consider that you don’t look like you just shit your pants, you win.)

Piotr’s forehead wrinkles with concern. “What… is everything alright?”

“Just fine, baby,” you assure him, subtly kicking your uncle so he relaxes. “Just talking about what happens next.”

Piotr nods after a moment, likely picking up on that whatever’s going on right now isn’t life or death and that you’ll fill him in later. “I actually came to find you,” he says, gesturing to your uncle. “Professor Xavier still cannot reach Allison’s lawyer. He has asked for your assistance.”

“Right. Absolutely. On it,” your uncle says with a none-too-convincing smile. He shoots your husband a pair of finger guns, then books it out of the hall and towards the medical wing of the mansion.

Piotr stares after him, then shoots you a confused frown. “Is he okay?”

You shrug. “He’s doing about his usual.” You decide to further sidestep the issue by ambling over to him and giving him a gentle hug. “How are you?” Are doing okay?”

Piotr wraps his arms around you and kisses the top of your head. “I am fine now. Just a little sore.”

“Me too.” You nuzzle your cheek against his burly chest. “We really should invest in that hot tub we keep talking about getting. It’d be great for post-mission recovery.”

“Hot tubs are expensive, myshka,” he chuckles.

“Yes, but we’re not getting any younger. It’d be a good investment in taking care of our bodies.” You tilt your head back and grin up at him. “I thought you were all about that life.”

He sighs and shakes his head, feigning exasperation, but his amused smile is a dead giveaway. “Whatever shall I do with you, myshka?”

You grin wider. “You could kiss me.”

Piotr grins back, then dips his head and presses his lips against yours—

Mikhail appears next to you out of thin air. “Ah. Gross. Big meeting is happening. All hands on deck.”

Piotr rolls his eyes when his elder brother teleports away once more, then looks back down at you and strokes your cheek with his thumb. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine, baby.” You unwind your arms from his massive trunk of a torso, then slide your fingers between his as the two of you walk towards the medical wing.

…

“—I am telling you, Charles, not being able to reach this kid’s lawyer is a bad fucking sign.”

You and Piotr walk into a conference room to find your uncle and Professor Xavier locked in a heated argument.

Wade, Nate, and Neena are leaning against the table to watch, occasionally leaning over to whisper bits of commentary to each other (or, in Wade’s case, speak at normal volume).

In the corner of the room, where a couple of armchairs are positioned, Nikolai sits with his two other children; they’re speaking in hushed Russian, but none of them seem too concerned about everything else going on.

“As I previously stated,” Xavier says, words clipped, “we cannot release Miss Ricci without speaking first to her attorney. The X-Men operate as a special law enforcement service, and failure to comply with criminal and civil statutes will have enormous consequences for the Institute—”

“There’s going to be a bunch of fucking ‘enormous consequences’ for the Institute,” your uncle interrupts, growling through clenched teeth, “if you don’t evacuate this building right fucking now! Fuck’s sake, Charles –you hired me as a security advisor; just listen to me.”

Piotr frowns and curls one hand over your shoulder. “What is happening?”

“What’s happening,” a new, strong, feminine voice interjects from the hall, “is that we’re leaving.” Artemis shoulders past your husband –a feat not easily achieved by many—with Allison in tow, then holds up the teen’s arm that has the repression cuff still attached. She glares at Xavier (and God, she really looks like Alex when she does that), then spits out through gritted, bared teeth, “Get this fucking thing off my kid.”

There’s a longsuffering sigh in the hall, and then Alex steps into the doorway. “She has that cuff on for her own safety –as I already told you—”

Artemis whirls, face contorted by a vicious scowl, and snaps, “I didn’t fucking ask for you input!”

(Boy, if that doesn’t just scream ‘repressed trauma and mommy issues.’)

Your uncle looks like he’s about to pass out again, but Alex seems remarkably nonplussed. She merely raises one eyebrow at Artemis, as if to say ‘that’s all you got?’

There’s no way she knows, you think as you watch the two stare each other down. Not with how much she cares about her kids. There’s no fucking way—

“Actually, we’ve got bigger problems,” your uncle pipes up, voice quavering slightly before he clears his throat. “We can’t reach your kid’s shark.”

“They have other clients,” Artemis retorts, upper lip curling in a derisive sneer. Her dark eyes smolder with barely constrained hatred as she tosses a withering glance in his direction (daddy issues, too, this chick won the whole lottery). “Or maybe they got stuck in traffic.”

Your uncle narrows his eyes at that (and now the two of them look so much alike, overcome by ire as they are). “You cannot possibly be that fucking stupid.”

Artemis sucks a breath through her teeth, eyes widening with rage and hurt. “You fucking dick—”

In the corner of the room, Illyana bolts upright before going stock still. Then, she gasps and reaches out towards her mother. “Mama!”

(The way Artemis’s face mars with a pained grimace makes your heart ache.)

Alex tenses, eyes glowing gold as she starts scanning the horizon (presumably checking for heat signatures). “Gde?”

The room goes quiet –and then you hear it.

The sound of engines rumbling –multiple engines—and car wheels crunching against gravel. Doors thumping open and shut, followed by footsteps. Hushed voices.

You scamper over to the nearest window and float up, just enough to see several men clad in black and Kevlar and carrying rifles stalking towards the front door and around the sides of the house in groups. “Guys with guns. Lots of them.”

“Then get down!” Nate hisses before yanking you back from the window.

“Lights out,” Alex orders before hitting the switch herself. “Get everyone to a reinforced room.”

“There’s a safe room at the end of the hall,” Xavier says before wheeling himself towards the door.

Allison clings to Artemis’s sleeve, much like a baby koala. “What’s going on? What’s going to happen?”

“Go with the Professor,” Artemis says. She quickly –but gently—frees her arm, then clasps the teen’s face with both hands. “Look at me. Listen to the Professor, and stay put until I come get you. Okay?”

Allison’s forehead puckers, and her lower lip starts trembling. “But—”

“Is alright,” Nikolai interjects with a kind, reassuring smile. He gently ushers Allison towards the door, then down the hall before she can protest further.

A few doors down, Karen pokes her head out of the room where she and Frank have holed up. She frowns as she takes in the chaos. “What’s going on?”

“Mafia men with guns!” Wade chirps as he half-skips, half-jogs towards the mansion’s entryway. “Tell your boy to suit up!”

“There’s a safe room at the end of the hall,” Neena adds as she runs after Wade.

Frank squeezes around Karen and kisses her temple before falling in line behind the two assassins.

You step to the side so Karen can run past you, then turn and press a hasty kiss against Piotr’s cheek. “Love you.”

He kisses your cheek in return, equally as brief. “Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu.”

And then the two of you run towards the danger bearing down on your home.

***

In all the firefights you’ve been in, there’s always this moment of silence. A calm before the storm. A moment where everything goes still, while both sides wait for the other to make a move.

You duck behind a wall as the mafia gunmen continue hammering away at the front door, tucking yourself in a shadow. Your stomach tenses, breathing going quick and hard as your mind starts putting a plan together. Don’t want to risk collapsing part of the house by doing a pressure vacuum. Best option is to probably knock them to the ground so the others can jump them.

The door rattles. The wooden portal splits on one side, sending jagged splinters poking out into the air.

You slow your breathing, forcing yourself into a calm, focused state. Wait for them to get past the entryway so you can hit as many of them as possible.

In the back of the house, near the kitchen, you hear glass shatter.

They’re in. You clench your fists at your sides, watching as the front door slowly gives way. Three… two… one…

The door breaks open, swinging inwards as the first gunmen step into the foyer—

And then the door snaps off its hinges and slams into the men, taking them out like bowling pins.

Strike, a small, inane part of your brain giggles.

Shouts go up through the house. You can hear the sounds of rushed footsteps, shattering glass, and what sounds like people being bodyslammed through tables (and, given the type of people fighting for your side, it just might be that). Gunfire pierces the air –and is accompanied by the telltale, metallic plinks of the bullets ricocheting off your husband’s armor.

Angry screams emanate from the front step. Men barge in, firing down the hall, towards some unseen target (likely Alex or Nate, given the door trick).

You wait until as many men are piled into the foyer as possible, then send down a downdraft that blows out the windows on either side of the door.

The gunmen tumble to the floor, swearing in a mixture of English and Italian.

Nate, Wade, and Neena swoop in. They descend upon the mafia men like a pack of wolves, breaking bones, dislocating joints, and cracking skulls as they disarm –and, in some cases “un-alive”—the gunmen.

“It’s raining men!” Wade sings as he runs one of his katanas through the gut of one assailant. “Hallelujah! It’s raining men!” He ramps off a nearby wall, then t-bags another man before stabbing him through the temple. “Amen!”

You crouch, tracking the movement of the scuffle. You tense when you see a couple of the men jump Nathan, then charge towards the railing and dive over when a few more try to break past to run down the hallway. You flip in the air, land in the hallway ahead of them, and unleash a blast of wind right in their faces.

The mafia men fly out through the front door. They sail over half the front drive, then bounce off the gravel surface and roll several times before coming to a stop.

You let out a harsh breath, then dart down the hall towards the kitchen when you hear glass shattering and the sound of Frank bellowing angrily.

The kitchen and rec room are a mess. Glass shards from shattered windows coat the floor, glittering before being crushed underfoot. Doors are cracked from having people slammed into them. The rec room couch is overturned –and is sagging suspiciously on one side, hinting at a cracked frame. The entertainment system is shattered, with smoking bullet holes littering the TV, speakers, and media systems.

Frank has one of the guys pinned down over the sink. He’s snarling as he uses the lip of the sink to choke the guy out. There’s blood smeared his lips and chins, trailing back up to his chin.

Another gunman stalks in through the dining room, gun trained on Frank’s head.

You whip a blast of air at the second man, sending him sailing into the wall so hard the drywall cracks.

He drops to the ground, unconscious.

There’s some terrified shrieking –and then a gunman is punted up and out of the basement stairwell. He sails through the kitchen window headfirst, crumpling in a heap in the hedges outside.

Your husband storms up the staircase, teeth bared in an angry snarl. The waning daylight glints off his metal exterior, almost making him look like some sort of avenging angel. He stops short when he sees you, though; his irate expression vanishes, replaced by concern. “Ty v poryadke?”

You manage a smile and flash him a thumbs up—

And then a truck with a Gatling gun strapped to the roof rolls up to the back door.

“Get down!” Frank hollers before tackling you to the ground behind the kitchen island.

The room explodes into chaos. Bullets plow into the walls, sending up spurts of drywall dust in their wake. Wooden doorframes and floorboards crack, unleashing cascades of splinters in every direction. Glass shatters, raining down upon everything in its reach.

Frank positions himself over you, shielding you as fragmented bullets rain down upon your both. He cups your head with his hands, doing his best to protect you from the hellfire.

Over the din, you can just make out a loud, angry bellow –and then the sound of bullets hitting metal. Heavy, deliberate stomps make the floor shake.

The gunfire cuts off. A shriek pierces the air just before you hear what sounds like a car being tossed into a tree.

(As you’ll discover later, that’s precisely what you heard.)

Frank lifts his head, then carefully rolls off you. He crouches next to you and holds out a hand. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Your ears are ringing, and you’re pretty sure you’ve got glass shards and splinters in your hair, but you’ve been worse. You take his hand, flinching when you hear the sound of more gunfire outside.

Frank peers over the lip of the island. “Reinforcements. At least five more cars headed our way.”

You suck in a breath. “Piotr—”

“Is holding his own for now,” Frank says.

“I’m gonna help him,” you rasp out. “Make sure everyone in the house that’s not on our side… stays down. And that we’ve still got all our people.”

Frank nods, then runs off towards the foyer.

You catch your breath, then creep towards the back door (better safe than sorry). You flatten yourself against the wall next to the doorway, then peer around the broken frame.

Piotr’s facing off against the new influx of cars. He’s got one hand on the hood of one Range Rover, arm extended out like he’s fending off a five-year-old. With his other hand, he flips another SUV over, causing the thing to land on its roof and putting the vehicle squarely out of commission.

Your stomach sinks when five more Range Rovers tear across the lawn, leaving deep, muddy tracks in their wake –and are followed by three more trucks with Gatling guns attached to the roofs. You sprint out the door, take a flying leap over Piotr, then send out a shockwave of air when you land on the ground.

A few of the cars fly backwards, rolling across the lawn like tumbleweeds. A majority of them, however, manage to stay upright or bump into each other and recover.

Your eyes widen when one of the Gatling gun operators aims directly at you. Shit.

Piotr leaps in front of you, whirling so his back is to the gun. He curls his body over yours, shielding you as gunfire rains down on you both.

You grit your teeth, grunting. You can feel the impact of the gunfire resonating through your husband’s metal body. Worry clutches at your heart when Piotr lets out sharp, ragged groans; he’s largely invulnerable in his armor, not to mention his sense of touch is severely dulled, but you know that with shit like this he’s still feeling some sort of pain –and there’s nothing you can do. You’re both pinned down, and as powerful as your shockwaves are, they’re not enough to stop or even skew the trajectory of a bullet—

Blue light washes over both of you. The sound of the gunfire wanes, replaced by warbling, pinging noises instead.

You peer around Piotr’s side to see Illyana standing between the two of you and the oncoming cars. She has her arms outstretched, palms facing the onslaught of adversaries. A shimmering, sky blue shield with various magical incantations floating through it surrounds all of you, stretching into the sky for at least forty feet.

Illyana grunts. She’s being shoved backwards from the force of impact from the bullets. Her feet are digging into the ground, leaving ruts as she tries to hold her stance. “We need new plan!”

“How about ‘stay alive?’” Piotr shouts back as he digs shrapnel out of the grooves on his arms.

Wade, Neena, Nate, and Frank come barreling out the back door, faces streaked with soot and blood. They dive for the ground, covering the backs of their heads and necks with their hands—

An explosion goes off inside the mansion. The shockwave shatters windows on both the first and second floor, blowing out window frames and trim.

Piotr covers your body with his once more. He cups your head with his hand, shielding you from the falling debris and the worst of the shockwave.

You cough and hack as smoke billows out the broken windows and doors. You do your best to make a vortex to suck the smoke away and send it up into the air. Your lungs burn, and your ears are ringing like a bell from all the gunfire and the explosion—

Four more gunmen emerge from the smoke pouring out the back door.

You snarl, then whip blasts of air at them, slamming them into the exterior walls of the house.

One of them goes down, while the other three are merely stunned.

Mikhail comes barreling out next. He lets out a guttural battle cry, then sucker punches one of the men in the back of the head before aiming a blast of rust colored energy at another’s gut.

The man screams as he sails into the air, arcing over the tree line and disappearing somewhere in the canopies.

The third man aims his gun at Mikhail –then staggers and drops to the ground when a beam of golden energy sears through his chest.

Alex storms out of the smoke with Artemis and your uncle trailing close behind her. She glares down the remaining gunmen and cars, teeth bared in a vicious snarl. Blood is flecked across her face and spattered over her leather jacket. “House is clear!”

“Yeah, except now we’re about to be cleared out!” Wade hollers back. “As in, ‘all sales final, no returns, no exchanges!’”

“If we could make plan,” Illyana screams, voice strained with the effort of holding the shield, “would be very great!”

You look over to Alex –and see her eyes widen. You whirl towards the gunmen just in time to see one of them aim a rocket launcher at all of you. “Oh, for the love of—”

The first hit is technically deflected by Illyana’s shield, insomuch that the projectile and the shield both shatter the moment they meet. The force of the magic breaking sends out a shockwave of blue energy that flies backwards into all of you, knocking those who managed to get up back off their feet and stunning the rest of you.

You groan, head reeling. Your vision clears slowly, casting double images when you move too quickly. Shit.

You can make out Piotr, just next to you. He’s lying face down on the lawn, grunting and moving in slow, clumsy movements. He turns his head, brow furrowing when he sees you, and reaches out towards you.

You extend your hand to grab his –but he’s just out of your reach, no matter how far you strain. Your body feels heavy with fatigue and pain; everything inside you is screaming to get up, to fight, to keep moving because death is knocking right on your door, and you’ll be damned if this is how you go out—

Alex recovers first –no surprise there. She shoves herself to her feet, seething and growling like a feral beast. She hurls a blast of energy at one of the cars –and, from the sounds of the carnage, makes a direct hit. She storms towards the sea of mafia men like an avenging angel, hell bound on vengeance and blood.

Audible gasps go up from the amassed assassins.

You lift your head to see several of the gunmen backing away from the mansion and crossing themselves with shaking hands. You chalk it up to Alex being Alex, and make to drop your head back against the ground once more—

And then you see Allison standing in the ruined doorway.

She’s glaring down the gunmen with a viciousness that doesn’t suit the youthful roundness of her face. Her brows are knit together, and her mouth is twisted into an ugly scowl. Her eyes are glowing a brilliant shade of blue and give off little wisps of azure colored smoke. Her skin and hair are smoking as well, creating an aura around her body. Blood drips down from her nose and onto her shirt –which is stained with ash and soot. There are burn marks and indents on her wrists from where the repression cuff and the handcuffs used to be, respectively, but the restraints themselves are gone.

The ground begins to shake. Two patches of cerulean light appear underneath the grass, growing larger until they form swirling vortexes of magical energy. The ground begins to crumble at the edges of the portals, eroding away and growing wider until they make gaping tunnels that channel so deeply into the earth there’s no telling how far they truly go.

You recoil when the smell of sulfur and smoke blenches forth from the tunnels. Shit, did she hit a gas line? Fucking dammit, like this day can get any worse—

Echoing, blood-chilling howls emanate from the tunnels.

Your eyes widen –and then your heart starts working overtime when you see two, then four massive hellhounds (like the ones Allison summoned at the mall) crawl out of the tunnels.

Shrieks of terror sound from the gunmen. Several take off running, while others try to shoot the beasts.

The hounds snap and snarl at the gunmen, then charge at the group. Two of them go off after the runners, while the other two start lunging after the assassins like they’re rabbits.

You stare at the chaos in disbelief –and then a set of strong hands grab you underneath the arms.

“Get up.” You uncle tugs you to your feet, keeping you steady when you stumble. “You can’t be in the flow of traffic for this.”

Behind you, Allison is panting like she’s run a marathon. The aura of blue smoke is growing around her, trailing into the air and floating over the ground. Veins of light spread across her face and arms, glowing the same shade of vibrant blue as her eyes. Her breathing grows louder and more ragged, until she’s growling and shaking with each exhale— and then she screams.

Much like the first confrontation in the cemetery, all those months ago, the scream unleashes a shockwave of blue energy. This time, though, the shockwave is far from a decoy for escape. It washes over you, the X-Force, your uncle, the other Rasputins, Frank, and Artemis harmlessly enough –then slams into the mafia forces and vehicles like the wall of a hurricane.

Alex charges after the shockwave, carefully trailing behind it. She waits until it clears the first line of gunmen, then slams her fist into the face of the man closest to her. She blocks his attempt to strike her, then twists his arm –dislocating the shoulder, which makes him shriek in pain. Then, she wrenches his rifle away from him. She shoots him once in the center of his forehead, then turns the firearm on his fellow men and keeps firing.

Mikhail and Artemis go after the one surviving Gatling gun. Mikhail teleports onto the truck bed; he sweeps the back of one man’s jacket over his head, effectively blinding him, then kicks the other man present in the balls before shoving him over the side of the truck.

Artemis, on the other hand, stops a few feet away from the truck. She uses her telekinesis to rip the Gatling gun off its mount, then yanks the driver out through the windscreen –headfirst, no less—and dumps him on the lawn.

He doesn’t get back up.

“Come on,” your uncle says, pointing towards the further reaches of the property, where some of the gunmen are still trying to outrun the hellhounds. “Let’s give the dogs a helping hand.”

The two of you reach out, creating a wind current that slices through the air and slams into the stragglers.

The men careen into nearby hedges –and the hellhounds have it from there.

The familiar sonic blast of Nathan’s gun rips through the air. The shot slams into the last remaining SUV, rendering the vehicle to little more than glass shards and mangled metal.

The back lawn and gardens fall silent, save for the sounds of groans of pain and the hellhounds chewing on various gunmen.

Mikhail takes a fall off the back of the truck bed. He flops onto the ruined grass below, limbs splaying like a rag doll’s. “Alright. Is time for nap. Wake me… never.”

Illyana scoffs from where she’s sat next to a smoldering bush. She picks up a nearby stone, then chucks it at her eldest brother’s head (and hits her target, no less). “There is still clean up. Bezdel'nik.”

Mikhail flips her off, then groans as he rubs the bridge of his nose.

“She’s right,” Alex lectures her eldest as she picks her way through the carnage. She nudges one body with the toe of her combat boot, then shoots him through the temple when he groans.

“Mama!” Piotr gapes at her, expression scandalized. He sputters, looking between her and the body at her feet.

“Chto? Vy khotite yego zhivym? Chtoby on mog dolozhit' svoim khozyayevam? Chtoby on mog obrushit' adskiy ogon' na etu shkolu i vsekh, kogo vy lyubite? No –no.” She holds up her index finger and stares sternly at Piotr when he tries to argue. “You do not leave enemies on your six o’clock, medvezhonok. First rule of survival.”

Piotr swallows hard, then says softly, “X-Men do not kill.”

Alex shrugs. “And I am not an X-Man.”

“We’ll handle it,” Nathan says. He holds his hand out for Alex’s rifle, nodding when she hands it to him after a moment’s hesitation.

(Wade and Frank are already working their way through the sea of dead and wounded. Frank’s traversing the chaos methodically, sticking to minimal shots to kill the survivors, while Wade’s alternating between singing “Dancing Queen” and getting post-mortem revenge.

“You shot my dick off inside!” Wade gasps as he peers down at a –slightly chewed on—corpse. “Extra bullets for you!” He then shoots the dead body several times before resuming his pitchy serenade.)

“What now?” Allison asks, staring out at the carnage with a slightly shocked expression.

“‘What now?’” Artemis repeats, laughing incredulously. She stomps towards Allison, pulling a pack of tissues out of her inner jacket pocket. “What the hell are you even doing out here? You were supposed to stay in the safe room—”

“They had cameras in there,” Allison says with a roll of her eyes, as if that justifies her decision to join the fracas. “You guys were getting your asses kicked.”

“We would’ve handled it.”

“Yeah, except you weren’t,” Allison fires back. She scrunches up her face when Artemis starts wiping the blood off her face, but otherwise takes the mothering without any complaint.

“It’s not your responsibility to deal with this shit,” Artemis says, voice and expression softening for a moment. She cleans up Allison’s face –then scowls. “And where the fuck are your cuffs? How did you even get out of them?”

Allison shrugs. “I used my powers to short the repression cuff out and ash it off.”

Illyana’s, Alex’s, and your uncle’s heads all snap around to stare at Allison.

“Are you kidding me?” Artemis hisses through clenched teeth. “You could’ve fucking killed yourself!”

“Or caused magical paradox that ripped hole in space-time continuum,” Illyana snaps.

“Ruptured blood vessels in your brain and caused an aneurysm, made the cuff deliver a lethal electrical shock, turned your magic against your own body and rendered yourself to ash,” your uncle continues, ticking off items on his fingers.

“Well, I didn’t do any of that!” Allison snarls, glaring at the others while Artemis keeps cleaning up her face. “And I made sure you losers won the fight –so fuck off!”

“Get her something to eat and drink,” Alex says. “Her blood sugar is bound to be low after pulling a stunt like that.”

Artemis glares at Alex and opens her mouth to respond—

Across the yard, Wade lets out a pained shriek. “My balls are not fetch toys! Bad Fido! Bad!”

Your eyes widen as you watch one of the hellhounds swing Wade around by his legs. You bite down on your lip, holding in a shock-induced laugh.

“Where’s this mutt’s off-switch –hey, hey! No!” Wade wriggles in the hellhound’s mouth, panicking as another beast bounds towards him. “My spine is not a tug toy! Can someone get rid of Fido and Rufus before they rip me in half!”

Allison snorts –then, before anyone can stop her, holds out her hand and flicks her wrist.

All four hellhounds melt back into the ground, disappearing to the depths of hell from whence they came.

Artemis swears under her breath, then catches the teen when she stumbles. She moves frantically, grabbing more tissues as blood starts pouring out of Allison’s nose once more. “You fucking idiot. Why the fuck did you do that? When are you going to fucking learn that you’re not invincible—”

Allison lets out a sharp, hoarse laugh –then passes out.

…

The wreckage inside the mansion is heartbreaking.

You stare at the ruined furniture, the scorched walls, the splintered doors, the ruined rec room and kitchen, and you have to wonder what was the fucking point?

Part of you understands that the mafia came prepared for war; they were going up against powerful mutants, so –naturally—they would want to be prepared. Having the strongest, most powerful weapons available increased their chances of success. Logically –from a strictly tactical standpoint—it makes sense.

Glass crunches under your shoes. You stare down at a litany of fallen picture frames, heart wrenching as you stare at the ruined pictures of graduates, students, and workers inside. We’re just a school. We work with kids. What was the point of trying to wipe us out?

Piotr ambles up behind you. He puts his arms around your shoulders and kisses the top of your head. “Cleaners and repairmen will be here in less than one hour.”

You feel numb. You place your hand on his arm. “That’s good.”

“We have back ups of pictures,” he murmurs. He kisses your cheek. “Insurance to cover replacing damaged items. We will be fine.”

“I know.” You sigh, leaning back against your husband’s chest. “We’re just a school. What… what was the point? Why try to wipe us out?”

“I do not know.” Piotr kisses your other cheek, hugging you reassuringly. “Perhaps they believed we knew information about ‘family business.’ Or that we were protecting Allison for some reason.”

“She’s just a kid,” you argue, voice breaking as your grief and exhaustion wells up and threatens to overtake you. “She’s only thirteen…”

Piotr says nothing, merely holds you closer.

You sigh—

And then a door slams. Hurried stomps echo down the hall. There’s creaking as a door opens again, followed by more footsteps and exasperated shouts.

Allison storms past you and Piotr, heading towards the kitchen. Her jaw is set, fists clenched at her sides.

You and Piotr look at each other –then follow after her, if only to be sure that nothing else is going to explode today.

She slams her hands down on the island counter –and, on the opposite side, Frank and Karen both flinch and stare at her warily.

Allison glares at Frank, jaw working convulsively. Her shoulders heave with each breath she takes. Her eyes shine with unshed tears, making the bags underneath seem darker and deeper by comparison. She trembles, expression flickering wildly between grief, white hot rage, and the neutral mask she’s trying so desperately to hold. She sucks in a breath that sounds more like a pained sob, then stares Frank down and spits out through gritted teeth, “You leave my people alone, I leave yours alone. Deal?”

Frank sighs. He nods, expression heavy with grief and eyes shining with remorse. “Yeah, kid. You got a deal.”

Allison clenches the edge of the island so hard her hands go white. She lets out a strangled, angry laugh as the tears finally start to fall. She ducks her head briefly, then glares back up at Frank. “I fucking hate you.”

Frank grimaces, but nods and says, “I know kid. It’s okay. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“That ain’t worth shit.”

“I know… believe me, I know.”

Artemis –who’d previously been watching at the kitchen threshold—steps forward and puts her arm around Allison’s shoulders. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go.”

Allison clenches her teeth together, but still lets out a choked sob. She presses her lips together, looking around the room to try and regain her composure, to stop the flow of tears. She manages a deep breath, then takes one last look at Frank and snarls, “If I have to see your fucking face again, I’m ripping out your guts,” before storming out of the room.

Frank, to his credit, doesn’t respond (though you suspect he feels too guilty to even consider arguing). He merely hangs his head, expression that of a kicked dog.

Karen leans against him. She interlocks her fingers with his, murmuring in his ear (likely about how it isn’t his fault, and while it looks like that may technically be the case, you’re glad you don’t have to walk the spider’s silk of a line those facts lie upon).

What a shitshow.

Piotr puts an arm around your shoulders and gently leads you out of the kitchen. “Come on, myshka. Let’s go find spot to rest.”

…

Frank and Karen leave shortly after “making the deal” with Allison.

Allison and Artemis hang back for a bit to talk to Xavier. You don’t get all the gorey details but from what you can tell, it’s essentially an offer to help train Allison’s powers so she doesn’t hurt herself rolled in with a warning to keep her nose clean, stay on the straight and narrow, etcetera etcetera.

The sun’s just starting its descent from the sky before the two of them walk out of the meeting room.

Allison is wearing Artemis’s jacket and looks downright haggard.

Artemis has her arm around the teen and is gently guiding her while she talks to Xavier (though, perhaps the term “talk” is too generous, considering most of her responses are nods or terse, one-to-two word replies).

The rest of the Rasputin family, you, Piotr, and your uncle are all gathered in the foyer to make sure Allison and Artemis leave without too much trouble (or causing more trouble themselves).

Your uncle is sweating bullets and looks like he just shit his pants; he’s glancing between Alex and their daughter so fast it’s a miracle he hasn’t given himself a headache yet.

Now or never, you think, watching him with pursed lips. Tell your secrets before they’re told for you.

Alex kneels down next to Allison. “Are you okay?”

Allison’s gaze doesn’t leave the floor. “The fuck do you think?”

She quirks her mouth to the side. “Not all that good.” Alex ducks her head lower, trying to catch Allison’s gaze. “You remember what we talked about?”

Allison’s eyes narrow. She moves her gaze away from Alex. “Go to hell. I know what I know.”

“Sometimes… it’s better to not,” Alex says. She stares at Allison for a moment longer, then pats her shoulder before standing and walking away.

Artemis stares after Alex, expression morphing rapidly between fury and shock. She sputters for a moment before snapping, “What –that’s all you have to fucking say?”

Alex pauses, turning slightly so she can see Artemis. She raises one eyebrow, otherwise looking unbothered. “Is there something else I should be saying?”

“You don’t have anything to say to me?” Artemis presses, crossing her arms over her chest. “Nothing at all?”

“Is there something you want me to say to you?” Alex fires back, smirking slightly.

Artemis stares at Alex for a long, hard moment. She shakes her head, eyes welling up with tears, then turns her glare onto your uncle. “You really didn’t fucking tell her.”

“What?” Alex’s expression sobers, going wary as she looks between your uncle and Artemis. “What didn’t you—”

“This really isn’t the time or place—” Your uncle tries.

And here it goes.

“I’ve gotta do all the work, then,” Artemis snarls with a vicious smile. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense, considering I’m not your favorite,” she tacks on with an angry glare towards you. She storms towards Alex, one hand outstretched, with a cruel, angry smile stretched across her face. “Hey, mom. How’s it going?”

Alex’s eyes widen. She stares at Artemis, eyes tracking over the younger woman’s face. “What…”

“You fucking heard me.”

Illyana, Piotr, and Mikhail look at each other, then at Alex, then at Nikolai. They explode into confused Russian, gesturing between their parents, Artemis, and your uncle—

Realization dawns in Alex’s dark eyes. Her expression trembles, tears welling up in her eyes as she stares at Artemis’s face.

And then she uses her telekinesis to yank your uncle over and decks him.

[ssamie]

six. BESTFRIEND

suna rintaro x fem! mitsuri reader

(kny x hq)

warnings: spelling mistakes,  2k+ words, italicized words/ sentences are her thoughts, mitsuri’s hair+eye color was used.

gen masterlist.      sakura mochi.

the next day after their rather interesting meeting with obanai, y/n had come on through the doors looking absolutely battered. "y/n-chan, what happened to you?!" atsumu shrieked as he watched her bandage-covered form enter the gym

she looked up at the team in confusion as they all started huddling around her, fussing and asking questions in concern "eh? what's wrong? are you guys okay?" she asked once they backed away to give her space

"are you okay? you're covered in bandages" suna retorted with an irked brow as he gestured to her battered body

"oh, that" she hummed in realisation "i got these from training yesterday" she explained "it's not really as bad as it seems.. obanai-kun just sorta went overboard in patching me up" she chuckled sheepishly

"are ya sure?" osamu asked "ya didn't really come home last night"

"i stayed with my friend shinobu-san last night! im sorry for not informing you earlier" she said as she bowed apologetically " 's fine. just text us next time, yeah?"

thus, their practice continued on as usual. except for the twins occasionally looming over her shoulder and continually pestering her.

"gosh, the twins are really at it today" aran grunted in exasperation as he watched the twins bicker "what're they even fighting about?" ginjima sweat dropped "i think its because osamu keeps missing his tosses" aran answered

"hm?" y/n hummed as she overheard their conversation

it's not like she hasn't noticed them fighting. well, how could she when they were doing it right beside her.

"well, i guess it is kinda hard to stay focused all the time.." she mumbled as she thought over all the missed hits by osamu "osamu-kun might be tired, if anything.." she said

"no." atsumu scoffed at her claims. "any piece of trash who can't score with those sets should just let someone else play already." he scowled

"eh?? don't be like that, tsumu-kun" she cooed nervously. she looked up at suna and aran, who were both sinply watching the exchange with unsurprised expressions.

"oi! atsumu, don't say it like that" ginjima said as he watched atsumu's retreating figure. atsumu didn't utter a word as he continued on walking, heading for the door to make his exit.

"tch." osamu scoffed as he slowly rose up to his feet, staggering lightly as he prepares to run towards the blonde

"why you.. abusive tyrannical pig!!" he exclaimed as he raised his foot to kick his twin's back

"!!!" ginjima paled as he watched atsumu fall forward with a nervous smile, while aran simply eyed them down with no emotion.suna wordlessly whipped out his phone, recording them as they tackled each other to the ground 

'ah, this might be the wrong time to think of this...' she thought to herself 

'but samu and tsumu look so hot when fighting!!!' she squealed internally 

'THEIR MUSCLES!! THEIR BACK!! THE ARMS!! HEHEHE' 

she giggled flusteredly to herself as she cradled her blushing face 

'osamu-kun looks like a dorito.'  she nodded with a huff as her eyes raked down the boy's back 

"y/n-chan.. are you okay?" aran laughed nervously. he stared at her, blinking slowly as he watches her cover her nose as if she was fighting off a nosebleed. "couldn't be better!" she answered back with a bright grin as she gave him a thumbs up 

"ah, 's that so.." aran sweat dropped. "you look impossibly red at the moment" 

"its because i had a nosebleed, aran-kun!" she answered back, just as giddily as she sent him a dumb smile. she uncovered her nose, revealing a lone drop of blood dripping from her nostril 

"jesus christ, y/n." he sighed 

"hey" suna called out to her 

"hwi swuna kun" she mumbled out as she continued to chomp onto her snack. surprisingly, this time it wasn't sakura mochi, and instead was a whole cup of ramen. 

they didn't really know why she had a cup of ramen sitting around, but they didnt question it. 

"can i have that" suna asked as he nodded towards the bag of chips situated on her lap "oh sure.." she said as she reluctantly reached out to hand him the snack 

"uh. are you sure you want me to have 'em..?" suna sweat dropped. she stiffly nodded as she plopped the bag of chips onto his palm. although she didn't let it go and continued on gripping onto it. 

"of course! i-im.. not that hungry anyways.." she reassured him with a smile "its fine, bunny. i can tell you want 'em" suna chuckled nervously 

"eat them." she demanded as she opened the bag and shoved it in his hands 

suna nodded and munched on the chips, eyeing her pitifully as she sulks while finishing the rest of her ramen. "are you still hungry, bunny?" suna asks tauntingly as he waves around a piece of chip by her face 

"no" she huffed, puffing her cheeks up as she cradled her stomach, which was currently rumbling from hunger "say ah" suna laughed as he pressed the chip onto her lips 

'HAH?! IS HE GONNA FEED ME?!'  she screamed internally 

'AGH, SUNA RINTAROU YOU ABSOLUTE MAN OF MY DREAMS, I WILL DO ANYTHING YOU SAY' 

she opened her mouth, waiting for him to feed her. though much to her confusion, the food never came. instead, suna swirled the chips around, prompting her to chase after it like a dog, all while wearing a taunting smirk on his lips 

'hawshakha this is embarrassing!!' she thought to herself 

she covered her face with her twin braids out of embarrassment as she hesitantly followed his hands "hmph." she huffed as she leaned in, and impatiently chomped onto the chips

suna froze in his spot as he watched her dive in to snatch the chips from his fingers. he could feel her soft lips accidentally encaging his fingertips as she pulled away, leaving his skin slightly damp from saliva 

"fuck that was hot" he blurted out 

"..." she stared at him with her doe eyes, her pale green orbs boring through his olive green ones, as she continued munching on the chips 

"me?" she asked 

"no." suna answered with a straight face. "i meant the gym. it's hot, right?" 

"uh, i guess.." she muttered with a raised brow "anyways. wanna see the twins' fight?" he cleared his throat as he pulled out his phone "hm.. i think i have some videos on my phone too" she hummed as she scrolled through her gallery 

"though, most of it is tsumu-kun lip syncing to sensual songs" she said 

"not that i mind!!" she giggled menacingly as she scrolled through the never ending album filled with atsumu's thirst traps "atsumu-kun looks good here.. " she muttered flusteredly  "here too.. suna-kun, look! his hair is tied up here" she said as she showed him a very unwanted video of atsumu's thirst trap 

"i don't wanna see that" suna grimaced "but you gotta send me that. this is godly." he chuckled darkly to himself 

"look at the fucker biting his lips" he sneered as he watched atsumu bite his lip flirtatiously "giving me very much frat boy vibes. this dude looks like he has whiteclaw flowing through his damn veins" 

"i have much more videos, suna-kun" she said as she opened another album "except these are mostly fights and random pranks i pulled on them with mrs. miya" she explained 

"send them to me" suna pleaded 

"of course!! but uh-" she cut herself off as she nervously handed him her phone "i don't have your number" she reasoned 

'hehehehhe,, type it in type it in!!'  she squirmed in excitement as she watched suna enter his contact information 

'one step closer to being his wife!'  she mentally patted herself in the back as she smiled in triumph. 

"thanks for these. yer the best, bunny" suna cooed at her 

"this is some great blackmail material." he smirked "no problem!" she squeaked out, still too enamoured over the half-assed selfie suna took to put in as his contact photo 

"you're officially my new best friend" suna said through a yawn 

she froze in surprise as she looked at him with sparkling eyes, looking absolutely lovestruck as she relished in her new title "really?!" she whisper shouted 

"mhm." suna grunted "now lemme sleep on your lap, bunny." he requested "its a best friends thing we should practice more often" he hummed out as he laid his head on her lap

"typical platonic stuff." he smirked cheekily

she nodded in response, too flustered to even reply a simple 'okay.' "catch ya later" he said as he shut his eyes and falling almost instantly. she grinned in excitement and clamped her mouth shut to contain her squeals, being careful enough not to stir him awake 

'ah, this is it! i've finally found my future husband!' she thought 

'after years of searching!!' she squealed internally

'i can't wait to tell obanai..or shinobu-san! or my mom!.. wait she's dead..' 

she hummed giddily as she combed through suna's hair, playing with it and shaping it as cat ears just for the fun of it. she was feeling perfectly fine. that is, until it had finally dawned her. 

"wait." she blurted out, her eye twitching ever so slightly 

"did i just get friendzoned?" 

[parkersharthook]

Some Very Specific Hypotheticals

(Tom Holland x female!reader)

warnings: it’s thirst tweets so it’s slightly smutty and risque

1.5k+ words

a/n: so I got all of the thirsty tweets towards tom from jordan fisher’s video (x) and all of the thirsty tweets towards the reader from tana mongeau’s video (x). I did make up a few of my own lol but most of them come from those videos

Edit: I recognize tana is problematic and I only used her in one of the tweets bc I had originally gotten these thrist tweets from her video. I don’t actually watch/like her so I was unaware of her issues until recently when she came up in the news (I still don’t really know what the whole situation was tbh) anyways.... I changed tana mongeau to anna kendrick bc i have a crush on her lol

requested: Could you please write a Tom Holland x reader reading thirst tweets

“Hey guys I’m y/n/ y/l/n.”

“And I’m Tom Holland.”

“And today for some reason the two of us, who are in a couple, will be reading the other person’s thirst tweets to them.”

“it’s like some weird version of foreplay.”

“I’m excited.”

--

You sat in the chair, facing Tom. The two of you had matching blue jugs with little slips of paper full of what you assumed was raunchy girls, and probably guys, thirsting after the two of you.

“Which one of us is going first?” Tom asked as he fiddled with the bucket.

“Oh definitely me.” You pulled out a slip and smoothed it out, “it says in all caps by the way, ‘DAMN DADDY U SEXY CAN I EAT UR ASS?!?! LICK YA BUTT??!!?!” You barely got the full tweet out before you were laughing.

Tom had already turned a shade of pink and was rubbing at the back of his neck awkwardly. He stuttered slightly, “wow what a way to start this whole thing. Okay, my turn.” He pulled out the next slip, “y/n y/l/n is literally the most beautiful human ever. Goodbye.”

“aww wait that was so sweet. Thank you.”

“Why was mine about eating my ass and yours was saying you were the most beautiful person ever?”

You laughed slightly and shrugged, “look, everyone is just speaking their truth. My turn!” You happily grabbed the next piece of paper, “haha it’s literally just a screenshot of your age with the words ‘thank god’. If that is not the biggest mood ever…”

Tom laughed heavily. “yeah I had someone tweet me saying ‘I saw a lot of people looking up Tom Holland’s age during the movie.’ Guess it’s a recurring theme.” He fingered through the bucket before grabbing a crumpled sheet, “I want y/n y/l/n to murder my bussy.”

You threw your head back in laughter, “I get that one a lot actually. A classic, really.”

Tom looked around sheepishly, blushing hard. “what’s a bussy?”

You snickered slightly, “it’s a butthole tom. You need to educate yourself. Next one! I love how everyone in the world can agree that tom Holland is hot af and daddy material, even the lesbians.”

“okay that one is definitely the forerunner, that’s a good one.”

You looked back down at the paper with a smile, “that is a good one.”

“’Repeat after me: y/n y/ln makes me horny y/n y/ln makes me horny y/n y/ln makes me horny y/n y/ln makes me horny y/n y/ln makes me horny y/n y/ln makes me horny y/n y/ln makes me horny’. And it says that like 16 more times.” Tom shrugged slightly, “I mean… I can’t exactly disagree.”

“Tom!” You cried slightly exasperated as you blushed. “I’m moving on now… ‘Tom Holland’s lil ass is hella fine’.”

“What? My ass is not little.”

You laughed, “relax they said it was and I quote ‘hella fine’. That’s a compliment.”

Tom grumbled slightly as he grabbed the next tweet, “I want to have a threesome with y/n y/l/n. but no tom Holland. It’s just her, me, and a blunt.” He threw the paper down with a little angry frown, “so first they call my ass little and then they steal you for a threesome? Rude.”

You bit your lip with a small chuckle, “if it makes you feel better, it’s not really a threesome thinking that one member is literally a blunt.”

“can we move on before I get jealous?”

“of a random twitter user and weed? Yeah okay sweetie.” You rolled your eyes heavily, eyeing the paper. Tom watched as your eyes grew wide and then a shit eating grin cracked your lips.

“oh… what is it?”

“this tweet is very specific.” You smiled as you met his eye and began reading it, “look how fine this man is i want him to fuck me on a bed of money and finger me with a $100 bill wrapped around his fingers and then stuff ten thousand $100 bills inside me so he can call me his million dollar pussy.”

“oh… my… god.” Tom said slowly, a deep blush rising on his cheeks. “that- that one was a lot to take in.”

You waved the paper in the yes, “yes. Just… yes. This one cleared my skin, watered my crops. Amazing, perfect.”

“shut up, you’re so annoying sometimes.” He stated as he rolled his eyes.

You poked your tongue out at him teasingly, “you love me.”

“unfortunately.” You scoffed as Tom leaned over and patted your knee lovingly. “you know I’m kidding baby.”

“whatever just read the next damn tweet.”

Tom laughed and pulled out the next one, “I would pay any amount of money for y/n y/l/n to spit in my face and call me an ugly fucking bitch. It would be my honor.”

Your mouth fell open in shock as you looked between Tom, your friends behind the camera, and the crew. Well, that threw you for a loop.

“I- I… don’t know what to say to that. I don’t think I’m comfortable spitting in your face, that seems mean. But… I’m not here to kink shame so thank you I guess.”

There were a few snorts behind the camera as you picked the next one, “Tom Holland is both cute and sexy at the time and it’s really messing with my sanity.”

Tom smirked at the camera and flipped his collar, “I mean what can I say?”

“it’s a point of contention in our household for sure.”

“That I’m sexy and cute?”

You shook your head, “no, that you think your sexy and cute. It’s cocky and rude.”

Tom laughed, “it’s cocky and rude to be confident?”

You turned to the camera, “see? Point of contention.”

“I just think that you’re losing your sanity over my cuteness and sexiness.”

You shrugged obnoxiously, “oh you caught me.” You pointed to his bucket, “please keep going.”

“Okay but imagine: a y/n y/l/n Anna Kendrick sex scene. I mean the power and sexuality they hold is absurd.”

You slapped your hand on your knee, “I love Anna. She’s so funny and I would love to do a sex scene with her or just sex her really.”

“seriously?” tom said exasperated, “you’re sitting here in front of your boyfriend and you’re saying that you want to have sex with someone else?”

You nodded, “yes.”

“dude.”

“relax, it’s not actually going to happen, it’s just hypothetical.”

“you wound me.”

“here, let me boost your ego with a thirst tweet. Tom Holland is fine as hell, I’d eat that ass like a chocolate croissant, chomp chomp bitch. He could choke and kill me and I’d only ask for more. Lemme chomp chomp on that bussy please.”

“wow… I’m not sure that cheered me up exactly but thank you none the less.” He pulled a new slip, “At least 3 times a week me and my boyfriend talk about wanting to have a threesome with y/n y/l/n.”

“wow…”

“why is everyone trying to have sex with my girlfriend?”

“because I’m hot as fuck.”

“can’t argue with that.”

“Alright next one, Tom Holland with that half smile and lip bite fuuuuuckk nope nope nope.”

“okay, that one made me feel better.” Tom said with a little smirk causing you to roll your eyes and laugh.

Tom grabbed the next one, “y/n y/l/n has the best boobs. That’s it that’s the tweet.” He waved the paper a bit, “I happen to agree with you.”

“well thank you for thinking my boobs are great.” You plucked out a new tweet, “Daily reminder: tom Holland is daddy af.”

“I should set an alarm for myself that goes off at the same time every day that just blares ‘Tom Holland is daddy af’.”

“absolutely not. Veto. Nix. Not happening.”

“you’re just mad they think I’m daddy.” You gestured to the bucket, causing tom to roll his eyes and reach into it. “y/n y/l/n can choke me and run me over and I’d say thank you and sorry for the dent in your car.”

You let out a loud bark of laughter, “that’s super funny. Definitely the funniest one I’ve heard so far. Whoever wrote this, you’re funny and I appreciate your comical genius.”

“alright I think we have like one more each, let’s do this.”

“Tom Holland is either a smol puppy or a sex god, there is no in between.” You shook your head, “I actually think there is an in between. It’s called boyfriend Tom. It’s when he’s all cuddly but not quite as baby as smol puppy. Like he’s still a functioning adult but he’s being sweet.”

“ya know… sometimes you can be pretty sweet.”

“aww thanks babe.” You leaned forward to give him a little peck before smiling brightly, “last one! Make me blush!”

“Hey @y/n can I lick your forehead?” you two sat in silence for a moment before tom furrowed his brow, “is that like a sexual thing?”

“I guess…? That’s a new request though, I’ve never heard that one. Interesting.”

“what’s your answer?”

“huh?”

“can you lick their forehead?”

“I’m going to go with no…”

“and that’s the end of our really fun and definitely not at all awkward video!” tom said excitedly

“thanks for watching everyone! We love you and thanks for tweeting thirsty stuff!”

[a-small-batch-of-dragons]

It’s Not That Bad Part 2

prompt: I loved your Merlin dragon fic!!! I re-read it like 5 times now. Can I be so humble as to request a small sequel? Nothings cooler than your portrayal of Merlin as a BAMF dragon and Arthur having heart eyes 😍

Yes! Moar of the bois!

Read on Ao3 Part 1!

Pairings: Merthur, can be platonic or romantic you decide

Warnings: none. Merlin’s a little shit but what did we expect

Word Count: 1578

Okay, Merlin’s gonna take the blame this time. This one’s on him. Definitely. No two ways about it. He’s big enough to admit he screwed up. He is! This one’s definitely on him. Absolutely not a question about it.

In his defense, what was he supposed to do when he saw a sorcerer with a magic circle around a dragon’s egg chanting ominously as a bunch of storm clouds formed overhead, not run into the middle and push it out?

Yeah, as if.

Gwaine whoops so loudly Merlin’s ears rattle.

 “Alright, alright,” he wants to say, even though he’s got no right to, “calm down, you’re gonna make my ears explode.”

 But he doesn’t say that, because he was no better.

 “Hey, my turn!”

 “Merlin, come down, they’re going to spot you.”

 “Don’t listen to them, Merlin, let’s just stay up here forever!”

 He can hear Gwaine’s pout as he lands back in the clearing, Percival affectionately ruffling Gwaine’s hair as he grins like a little kid. Merlin snuffles at Arthur’s cape before flopping onto his belly.

 “Come on, Merlin,” he laughs, “you can’t be that tired already.”

 “Listen, when you’re a dragon and there’s suddenly more of you, you can be as tired as you want to.”

 “Maybe if you got off your skinny arse more—“

 “Say that again and you’ll find out just how skinny my arse is right now.”

 Arthur, of course, because he’s an absolute prat, scratches behind his ears. He gets right under the section of Merlin’s scales and stays there. Every single muscle in Merlin’s body relaxes.

 “That,” he manages to grumble, “is not fair.”

 “Sure, Merlin.”

 Merlin manages to switch his tail up to bat at Arthur’s cape.

 “So what are you going to do now?” Lancelot leans against the stump in the center of camp. “We’ve not got much to do except wait until the moon.”

 “Yep.” Merlin closes his eyes. “Which means I get to take a break.”

 “A break?” Arthur rolls his eyes. “You call this a break?”

 “You can’t yell at me to do chores, I don’t have to save your arse, and I don’t have to go anywhere.” He scuffs his chin back and forth on the ground. “I can just take a nap. Right here.”

 “Merlin.”

 Merlin just yawns—not breathing fire everywhere!—and clicks his jaw, settling on the forest floor and leaning his head up against Lancelot’s tree stump. Lancelot chuckles and rests his hand on the dragon’s forehead.

 “I think he’s quite earned a rest, don’t you think, sire?” Lancelot nods back toward Camelot. “He has just saved our lives only yesterday.”

 Arthur grumbles, sitting on the log. Leon rolls his eyes good-naturedly and pats him on the shoulder.

 “Your Merlin will be back before too long, and you’ll both be your normal selves again.”

 Arthur looks up at him with a frown. “How am I not being normal?”

 Elyan coughs but it does nothing to hide the way the water sprays out of his mouth. Percival passes him a cloth.

 “You miss having your little Merlin,” Gwaine says, chomping into an apple, “which was to be expected.”

 “What?” Arthur splutters. “I—what on earth are you on about?”

 Merlin, meanwhile, is having a great time. It’s warm outside, the sun feels like a fire-warmed blanket on his scales, Lancelot’s hand keeps making little stroking motions over his forehead, and he’s pretty sure that low rumble is coming from him.

 “You’re both attached at the hip, we know. You don’t have to hide it from us.”

 “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

 Oh, did he mention how much better the trees smell with a dragon nose? The scent of the pine and the slightly sweet smell of the blossoms are intoxicating. He flares his nostrils out to drink it in, is this why Arthur loves coming out to the forest so often? It’s wonderful.

 “Sire, there is no one else around. You can be honest.”

 “I am being honest!”

 “Sure, Arthur.”

 The ground is so warm. He could go to sleep right here. Right…here…never wake up again…

 “I am being completely honest! I think it’s you lot that’ve lost a marble or two.”

 “Merlin, can you believe this?”

 Go to sleep…not have to worry about anything.

 “Yeah, Merlin, you’ve been awfully quiet.”

 Can you hear something? Merlin can’t. It’s too nice outside. Perfect nap weather.

 “We can see you, Merlin, we know you’re not asleep.”

 Dragons regularly sleep with their eyes half-open. It’s a fascinating piece of information. Merlin should tell Gaius about it.

 “Merlin.”

 “Hey, that’s my thing!”

 “Merlin,” Lancelot chuckles, poking the scales between his eyes, “come on.”

 “I’m a dragon,” he mumbles, “I don’t have to do anything.”

 “I mean, if you’d like to wait for them to tease you when you can’t knock them over with barely any effort, you can.”

 Lancelot’s got a point.

 Merlin opens his eyes and lifts his head, staring at the other knights. Gwaine’s got a shit-eating grin wide enough to fit four apples. Elyan and Percival are staring at Arthur. Leon’s got his court-smirk on. And Arthur is glaring at the ground with bright red cheeks.

 “So what do you want?”

 Gwaine shrugs. “Only for you to help us get Princess here to confess that he misses having you around as you normally are.”

 “Well, I’m certainly not as easy to shove around like this.”

 “Damn right,” Arthur mumbles.

 “But you’re also not as easy to hoard protectively to himself,” Gwaine says, “or pretend you’re gonna get sent off on a massive list of chores so that we don’t get a chance to talk to you.”

 “I do not do that?”

 “Really?” Merlin frowns. “That’s not what you’re doing?”

 “Merlin!”

 “See? Even Merlin agrees!”

 Leon chuckles. “At least we’ve moved past you insisting to be the one to escort Merlin to the dungeons.”

 “Wait, wait, Princess did what?”

 “Leon, don’t you dare.”

 “What,” Leon blinks innocently, tilting his head, “is it not prudent?”

 “I—well, yes, it’s relevant, but you—why—just don’t.”

 “Come on, Leon,” Percival says, “don’t hold out on us.”

 “Yeah, Princess, shush.”

 “Perhaps Merlin should tell us this,” Leon suggests, “I believe you would be willing?”

 “I think that’s a great idea!”

 “Yeah, Merlin, you’ve been holding out on us.”

 Merlin huffs. “I would get angry and Arthur would march me downstairs. That’s it. End of story.”

 “Oh, no, my friend,” Leon says, and what did Merlin do, forget to polish his chainmail or something?— “Arthur did not simply march you downstairs. He would catch you in his arms as you tried to rush whatever noble was making an egregious overstep of personal liberties and hustle you out the door in an embrace.”

 The chunk of apple in Gwaine’s mouth flies out and hits Merlin’s snout.

 “Hey!”

 Gwaine is too busy laughing to be able to respond to an indignant dragon who did not deserve to have apple spit up at him.

 “You—you—of my lord, it’s like a ballad,” he manages through gasping cackles, “that’s so sweet!”

 “It was quite nice.”

 “Oh…that’s what you meant,” Merlin mumbles, “I think you should still, uh, not do that.”

 “Do what,” Leon blinks, “continue to tell them about things that happened?”

 “Yep.”

 Leon raises his hands. “Oh, well, if you say so, Merlin.”

 “Now why,” Arthur grumbles, “is it that you’ll listen to him and not me?”

 “We like Merlin better than you.”

 “Gwaine!”

 Gwaine shrugs innocently. “What? It’s true.”

 Yeah…whatever happened to Merlin taking a nap?

 “Merlin’s also a dragon right now, sire. I’m playing it safe.”

 “He won’t be in a day.”

 “Oh, I’m aware.”

 A twig snaps.

 The clearing hushes. Percival’s hand goes to his sword. Even Gwaine sobers and looks around.

 Movement. Behind Merlin.

 He holds still, waiting, until he feels something prick his tail.

 In a flash, he whips around and roars, jaws wide, ready to snatch the offending object out of the air. The bandit he whirls on screams before he disappears down Merlin’s throat.

 “Bandits!”

 Before th knights can make it past Merlin’s tail, he rushes forward, grabbing another bandit and hurling him across the clearing. The bandit collides with his companion and they both tumble to the ground, still. The last bandit readies a crossbow.

 “Rot in hell, foul beast.”

 Well. Merlin can’t have that.

 All that remains of the bandits are smoking pieces of armor and a few saddlebags that were too worn the burn.

 Merlin huffs, shaking his head and turning back around, intent on getting his nap, thank you very much, only to realize the knights are frozen, looking at him.

 “…what?”

 “Bloody hell, that was fantastic.”

 “Are you sure you don’t want to stay a dragon?”

 “That was impressive!”

 “Good show, mate.”

 Arthur just stares at him. Eyes wide. There’s more flush to his cheeks, but not from embarrassment. The way Arthur’s looking at him now is almost like…wonder.

 “…Arthur?”

 Arthur sheaths his sword and walks up to him, resting a hand on his snout.

 “Arthur?”

 Lancelot, bless whatever intuition the gods gave him, loudly declares that they’re going to need more firewood and hustles the rest of the knights off into the woods. Arthur barely watches them go.

 “Arthur, what’s—“

 “I miss you being as you really are,” he says softly, “because I can’t properly congratulate you for how impressive that was.”

 Merlin blinks. Oh. Well, then.

 “…it’s only until tomorrow.”

 Arthur smiles. “Then I’d better appreciate having you as a dragon until then, hmm?”

 The rest of the knights come back to Merlin sleeping in the clearing, Arthur tucked up against his chest, between his claws.

[octopodeez]

Wasted Time (Elijah Mikaelson x Reader)

Based on this request:  Can I request a Elijah X reader where the reader is good friends with Elijah and Klaus teases her to be in Love with him, and she acts like Elijah knows and might forces him to play along, turning out they both have feelings for each other but didn't admit it? Klaus playing match maker

Your coven warned you to stay away from New Orleans, but you felt you had a pilgrimage to make. The entire city was known to be bursting at the seams with magic, and you’d dreamt of going since the moment you cast your first spell. You longed to tap into that energy. Maybe even pick the brains of some of the local witches to see what they could teach you.

You also admittedly had a curiosity about the very thing you were warned about: the war. Word spread fast about the city’s chaos once the original family made their return. Vampires and werewolves and witches were battling in the shadows, right under the noses of every tourist and townie. It was fascinating, and you figured a little quiet observation wouldn’t hurt anyone. Your naivety was laughable.

Not 24 hours into your trip did you end up becoming a pawn passed back and forth between the witches and the vampires. A wildcard for every side to use—new blood in the game. It ended with your coven alienating you. They wanted no part in any of it, especially when the original family was involved, and to offer you safe harbor was to bring the bloodshed to them. The witches of New Orleans gave you a similar answer when you desperately sought refuge with them, though, theirs ended with plans to execute you.  

And then there was Elijah. Elijah who found you labeled as a traitor, about to be sacrificed. Elijah who rescued you and gave you his word that he’d keep you safe.

The living situation wasn’t ideal, and you lost the ability to move freely about the city, but over time, you came to like it. Winning over his siblings wasn’t easy, especially Klaus, but after Elijah reminded him that he was the one to drag you into this, he softened slightly.

You did your best to earn your keep, though Elijah insisted you didn’t have to. You’d happily cast spells upon request, but mostly you found yourself cooking and cleaning. It irritated Rebekah to no end when she came around.

My brothers are over 1,000 years old, if they haven’t learned to pick up after themselves by now then they deserve to live in filth, she chided the first time you met. If you must do something, make it to be that you keep to yourself. The less involved with our family you are, the better. Trust me on that.

You nodded along for her benefit, and even took her advice for a bit while she was there. But the second she left again, you were back to making cookies and disposing of bodies.

Occasionally things would quiet down. Someone would propose a flimsy peace treaty, or a faction would be forced to withdraw as they licked their wounds. It was those times that Klaus was at his most dangerous. Without the distractions of war, he had time to turn his attentions to other things…namely your friendship with Elijah.  

At first, he was relatively quiet about it. He’d shoot smug, knowing glances and take the occasional vague jab in one of your directions. But as time went on and his boredom grew, he became far more vocal about what he’d suspected since day one: you and Elijah were in love.

He was half right. You had it bad for his elder brother, and everyone knew, save for Elijah himself. Or rather—he did know and simply chose not to acknowledge it. The latter was more likely. Few were more perceptive than Elijah, and there was absolutely no way he didn’t catch you staring at him as he read or lighting up whenever he walked within six feet of you. You’d come to terms with it quickly, and decided it was probably for the better he didn’t say anything. He’d quickly become your closest friend, and you’d rather have that than nothing at all.

Klaus decided otherwise.

“Your affections for my brother are exhausting, you know,” he said one day. He was leaning against your doorframe with his arms loosely crossed, watching you change your bedsheets.

You sighed and fiddled with a pillowcase. Ignoring him had never made him go away in the past, but you could sure as hell still try.

He remained persistent. “It’s no secret you fancy our dearest Elijah, and your longing stares after him are losing their humor.”

“So you’ve caught me looking at your brother a few times. What’s the big deal?” You snapped.

Klaus clicked his tongue after finally getting the reaction he wanted out of you.

“It seems I’ve struck a nerve, little witch.”

“No, I’m just tired of having this same conversation. I don’t know what you’re hoping to get out of it. Or are you just jealous?” There was venom in your voice and Klaus looked more delighted by the second.

“You’re not my type, love, but thank you for keeping me in your thoughts,” he replied. His sarcasm made your blood boil. “A quick word of advice—my brother seldom opens his heart to others. If you do choose to grow a spine and act upon your feelings…just know I’ll gladly reach down your throat and rip it right back out, should you ever hurt him.”

***

Klaus’s words stuck with you. They kept you up that night and well into the morning as they played in your mind over and over again. My brother seldom opens his heart to others. My brother seldom opens his heart to others. My brother seldom opens his heart to others. You knew better than to read into it. Hearts could open for friends just as much as for lovers…but could they really?

“You look conflicted.”

Elijah appeared in the kitchen with impeccable timing, as usual. You had just shoved a large spoonful of cereal in your mouth, and now your cheeks were swollen with Cheerios. A dribble of milk dripped down your chin and you nearly choked as you scrambled to wipe it away. He smiled and waited patiently for you to recover.

“What?” You finally managed. It was the first time you spoke since rolling out of bed and the sound was less than pleasant.

“You look conflicted,” he repeated, and then added “did you not sleep well?”

“Oh, no, I slept fine. Or, I guess I had a little trouble falling asleep…woke up a few times, too. But other than that, fine,” you stammered. Each word was clumsier than the next.

“Mm. Perhaps you should take it easy today. Maybe draw yourself a bath later on. You’re welcome to use the tub in my room. I expect it’s a bit nicer than yours.”

You nearly choked again. In all your fantasies and daydreams, you’d somehow never pictured him in the bath until now. Your mind’s eye was practically whirring with excitement as you envisioned him relaxed. Head leaned back. Eyes shut. Breathing deeply as one arm hung lazily over the porcelain’s edge. The other had its fingers wrapped delicately around the stem of a wine glass, filled with an unmistakable shade of deep red liquid. An empty blood bag lay crumpled and discarded on the floor. Nothing sexual. Nothing romantic. Just the wonderful idea of Elijah experiencing a rare moment of bliss.

He must have heard your heart skip a few beats. The clearing of his throat snapped you back to reality.

“Sorry! Maybe I’ll take you up on, uh, that. I’m not really feeling myself today.”

“You don’t say. What happened?”

“Nothing. I just didn’t sleep well.”

Elijah stayed quiet for a beat. He looked at you expectantly. Waiting for you to confirm what he already knew: you were full of shit. You pretended not to notice. You’d sit at this table, stubbornly eating the same bowl of Cheerios for an eternity before you willingly gave up the fact that he was the reason for yet another sleepless night.

“I noticed Niklaus coming from the direction of your room last night…so allow me to ask you again. What happened?” His voice was firm and his eyes were narrowed. Had you not known better, you would have almost thought he was jealous.

“Nothing! Klaus was just being Klaus, I don’t know! He stopped by, bugged me while I was trying to clean my room, then left. No conspiracies. No secret love affairs. Nothing new to report.” You chomped down on another spoonful of cereal. Everything came out harsher than you meant it to, but you had no intentions of apologizing.

“Is that so? Because if I recall the conversation I had with my brother last night as he left your room, the placement of your spine was threatened on my behalf…I suppose the question I should be asking isn’t what happened, but for how long?”

You spent so much time daydreaming about Elijah over the short course of your friendship. You pictured a life together. Maybe even an eternity, if he offered to grant it. You imagined what it would be like to feel him drink from you. The way he’d rest his hand on your waist as you drifted to sleep in a shared bed. The taste of his lips between sips of champagne on some far-off beach.

There was a part of you that felt terribly foolish. If something were to happen, it would have happened. He would have acted upon the tension he damn well knew was there. Your relationship was platonic because that was all he wanted it to be. But then there was another part of you. The same part of you that brought you down to New Orleans to begin with. That voice in the depths of your brain that kept whispering Klaus’s words: My brother seldom opens his heart to others.

“A while,” you finally confessed. It felt anticlimactic. Of the thousands of heartfelt speeches you’d planned over the months knowing him, all you could muster was two miserable words.

“I see. And you said nothing.”

“Right.”

Unable to look at him, you grabbed your empty bowl and moved towards the sink, but only made it halfway before he was in front of you, blocking your path.

The way he studied you made you feel small and exposed, a feeling you’d experienced many times in your life, but never to this degree. His body was close to yours. You could feel his breath lightly on your skin. It rippled over every nook and cranny of your being, making your hairs stand on end. If you wanted to, you could reach out and kiss him—and you did want to, badly--but you remined frozen in time, waiting for him to speak.

He never said a word.

His hand found its way to you neck, and he tangled his fingers in your hair as he kissed you. It was tender, but had an underlying fire to it that made your knees buckle. You wrapped your arms around him for support. To draw him in closer, closer, closer, closer, until you had to come up for air. He allowed you to take a breath, just enough to keep your heart pounding, before kissing you again, somehow with even more fervor than before.

When it was finally done, Elijah smiled and held you against his chest. He kissed the top of your head. The side of your neck. The shell of your ear.

There was so much wasted time to make up for.  

I’m not super crazy with how this one turned out, but matchmaker Klaus was a ton of fun to write! If you like what you see, check out my AO3 and master list :)

[ghostmartyr]

SnK 130 Thoughts

My opening joke is going to be a brief description of Historia’s circumstances, because it requires no creative energy on my part to make it a joke.

To review!

107 introduces the concept of Historia being a breeding factory. This is suggested as part of Zeke’s 50-year plan to establish Paradis without it being genocided to death. At the end of 107, present-day Historia is shown to be pregnant.

At the very beginning of 108, the Military Police openly discuss how this is kind of weird. And while the mood is largely in favor of Historia having children so the Founding Titan stays in Paradis control, she’s having a child at a very inconvenient time for everyone, because she’s supposed to eat Zeke before he can cause trouble.

In 114, it is revealed that Zeke’s actual plan is to sterilize all Eldians so they die off and stop being a problem. By virtue of five seconds of pondering, this falls apart when you consider that Zeke’s plan is the beginning of Historia being prepped to breed children. Having any royal children would actively interfere with Zeke’s ability to guarantee that his choices for the Founding Titan would be the last.

In 130, Historia is shown to still be going along with the 50-year concept, and no one is stopping her except Eren, who is against Zeke’s sterilization plan (which a child would stop), and who says that Historia making this kind of choice is what’s driving him to genocide.

To which Historia suggests a baby.

-draws a line back to 107-

-underlines Eren’s angry feelings about all of this-

This would make sense if it were live action and the actress were pregnant.

Not within the story or anything.

But an explanation would at least exist.

I should take up drinking. Or cocaine. Or something.

There’s virtually zero content this chapter. Half of it is just Eren going on rampage. This is how you know it’s the end of a volume for a story that’s ending. The subtle ways the story beats come firing at a machine gun’s pace before slowing to a deliberately controlled crawl.

Surprise, Liberio’s no longer a factor!

-surprised Pikachu faces-

-everyone officially burnt out on violence-

-except Eren-

-this is a problem because Eren is indeed causing the most violence, and violence would probably be a great help in stopping him, so having someone on that boat thinking they should just fucking stab him would be just a little encouraging that’s all I’m saying-

Then we dash straight into a slightly more visible flashback to Eren’s memories of the future being unlocked, and get to the development of his genocide plan.

It isn’t much of a plan.

It mostly still involves genocide.

But worse.

He’s basically going to do what Karl did, only when he tells people on Paradis that all the humans beyond their borders are dead, he won’t be lying. He is keeping the genocide and the mind-wiping, though. In this spirit of how well that worked out previously.

This is a choice.

A bad one.

Even by Eren’s current standards.

This is especially impressive given that he has none.

Alrighty then. Uh.

Here we have Eren’s mission statement. That’s nice?

“The only way to put a final end to the cycle of revenge born from hate... is to remove that history of hate from this world and bury it in the ground, civilization and all.”

Legitimately, Eren’s entire plan amounts to, “The First King was right about everything except not actually making us the last humans alive on the planet.”

See, Zeke’s plan of killing all Eldians off is evil and bad, and Eren is disgusted at the very idea of going along with it.

Eren’s plan of killing everyone else off, regardless of who they are, is a good one.

As is manipulating all of his friends into following it, telling them he hates them, fairly directly letting one of them know this is basically all her fault, and.

.

Look, I’m sorry, but what the fuck?

I mean.

Fuck, do I have to go full Madoka on main?

Here is a brief summary of the third Madoka Magica movie, for those who do not understand the reference: Person who has spent her entire life torturing herself to save one girl feels like she didn’t save the one girl hard enough, and compensates for this mental breakdown by turning into the literal Devil.

These are decisions that can be explained by trauma. The character in question has been through a lot, and arguing that she’s too emotionally stable to undo the universe is harder to do than it feels like it should be.

She still takes the established order of the series and 90% of the movie and drops it in the shredder, leaving the characters who are around and aware of this move to stare, aghast, as the new world order is established.

To catch up the uninitiated, when the new world order is established in the series, it’s a happy ending that ties up all the struggles everyone has been through. Not necessarily neatly, but they’re honored, and the cast continues on.

The new world order of the movie is one character screaming “NO” in various cries for help as she pounds her heart into the pavement and the pavement is everyone else’s quality of life.

..

Anyway, the current reason everyone on the planet hates Paradis enough to attack it is because Eren publicly murdered civilians at a festival with international significance, including the one Eldian in the world with good publicity.

Things weren’t pretty for anyone, but Eren snatches the ball out of the court and throws it into the backyard with vicious guard dogs. He decides to bring everyone into a war, and he decides the initial terms. He makes a violent declaration, and ever since, the story has been devoted to people catching up to him to ask what the fuck his problem is.

As opposed to the usual routine of catching up to him to steal him back from whoever’s kidnapping him that week.

Eren’s the direct cause of this mess.

Fucking Marley doesn’t help, what with their hundred years of brainwashing and titanizing to actively keep the hate of Paradis alive -- but Eren’s the one who turns it into an issue of national immediacy when everyone around him is trying to find more time.

All the while going, “look what you made me do”

Right.

Where it breaks down for me isn’t that it makes no sense for Eren to have fallen this far. This entire series has been destroying him one piece at a time, and I do feel like you could have a very powerful conclusion with Humanity’s Hope turning to Humanity’s Despair, and the people he once inspired having to bear the torch themselves instead of forcing one person to carry their entire future.

Hell, that could still happen. I would still love an ending where Mikasa wraps the scarf around Eren, and he’s finally saved from himself.

What’s aggravating is that as many ominous hints as we’ve gotten about Eren’s monstrous nature throughout the series, there’s just as much material of him loving his friends, and wanting them to be free and happy, and understanding that walls aren’t the only prison.

Angry Eren the Rage Boy is there. He’s even easy to understand, sometimes. OG Ymir’s history inspires a desire for death and destruction. It would be and is wrong, but the impulse isn’t difficult to parse.

He’s more than that. He stays up all night listening to Hange’s theories. Armin’s dreams of the sea catches his mind like wildfire. Fighting Annie even after she’s revealed to be someone who’s ruthlessly murdered his comrades is painful. He wants to believe Reiner and Bertolt are innocent even when they’re making the worst show of hiding it. He smiles every time he sees his friends genuinely happy.

Eren’s rage has always been a direct response to his views of the world. The slavers are monsters. He has no problem killing them. Titans are monsters. He wants them dead. He runs off in Trost and gets his leg chomped off because he’s so upset that a bit character we barely spend time with is being eaten.

“When we’re born... all of us... are free. People who reject that, no matter how strong they are... don’t matter.”

Since leaving his friends in Marley, Eren has rejected the freedom of every single one of them. He doesn’t tell them what he’s up to, but expects them to have his back. He pushes events into motion that nearly lead to all their deaths. He actively lies to Mikasa about how her brain functions. He tells Historia to get on board or have her memory wiped.

The rage and agony and helplessness Eren feels isn’t particularly strange, in my mind. He hasn’t coped with any of the manga’s arcs well, and the few victories he’s been part of have landed him in worse and worse places, emotionally.

The conclusions he’s reaching don’t work.

It isn’t that strange for people to not realize that they’re contradicting themselves, especially when they’re in this frame of mind, but Eren loves his damn friends.

Meanwhile, he’d find it easier to take if Mikasa were attached to him because her bloodline made her do it, but that’s.

Actually, no, that’s relevant.

Eren suggests plot magic chemistry before he considers that Mikasa actually loves him.

He’s a dying man.

He’s condemned himself already. It doesn’t matter what he does, as long as his friends are alive. Anything else -- everything else is secondary. They’ll be alive, and he’ll be dead, and it’s as simple as that.

But it isn’t like he doesn’t know right from wrong. This might be a wrong he can accept on his deathbed, but it’s undeniably wrong.

How horrific is it that people might be so attached to him that he can do all this, and they’ll still fight for him instead of putting him down like the monster he is?

Eren struggles with greys. If he’s willing to be the bad guy, it makes sense for him to commit. He’s rejecting freedom, so by his own rules, he doesn’t matter.

It would be so much easier for him if everyone else agreed on that point.

He seems to be doing what he can to make that happen.

...But that’s just whimsical speculation born of profound pity more than anything. I still have trouble figuring out what his deal is. He’s eviscerating his friends in the name of them surviving, but he still terms his want as them having “long, happy lives.” While actively interfering with both those aims.

This chapter doesn’t seem to leave much room for a secret other plan that Eren is secretly putting into action. That’s been my hope from the beginning, and pretty much every bit of my confusion here is why. The majority of the conflict here comes from Eren deliberately fucking things up. It’s like he accidentally poisoned a bunch of people by using the wrong chemicals to clean up the dead body of the person he killed who totally deserved it, and figured the best following response was to repeat the process.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that the Eren we’re starting to see looks broken beyond all repair, and we’re missing the breaking point. We can puzzle out possibilities and trauma, but at the end of the day he has chosen such a destructive route that it needs more justification within the story.

Personally, I think that this Eren is buying into his own bad press so completely that he’s stopped giving himself freedom. That is my most established take.

The fact that that read play in nicely with Mikasa wrapping the scarf around him and taking him home has very little to do with that except that’s where my brain spends most of its time now, I guess.

.

.

AND NOW WE’RE BACK TO HISTORIA BECAUSE WHY THE FUCK SHOULD I EVER GET TO HAVE A SINGLE MOMENT OF PEACE.

Hell.

I am tired of going over all the ways in which this does not make sense. I am, perhaps, equally tired of how every single time the pregnancy subplot comes up, it manages to get worse.

‘what oh noooo she’s being used to breed an army of royal babies who will eat their mother’ ‘wait nooo she manipulated a guilty childhood bully into fucking her so zeke could live for some strange reason’ ‘oh nooooooooes it turns out she actually goes and fucks npc farmer guy because zeke needs to live for eren to commit genocide and if she doesn’t let eren commit genocide that’s bad for some reason even if she was just saying it’s actually bad for him to commit genocide’

I.

????

Additionally, I realize this chapter has probably reinvigorated people’s theories that Eren is the father, which. um. continues the trend of being worse, because then you have Historia feeling like she’s backed into a corner where fucking the guy who’s about to commit genocide is her only option because if she can’t come up with some good excuse to not eat Zeke he’s going to wipe her memories.

(ETA: Hours later, I sit here remembering he can’t actually wipe her memories until after Zeke shows up. Oops. ...That somehow manages to make all of this make less sense.)

I deeply do not want to discuss that element.

I’m just bringing it up to establish that every way you spin Historia’s situation is fifty shades of rape, and it’s skeevy as fuck along with making no sense.

Glad to know that in two years, literally nothing has come along to make this better or more logical.

That’s vaguely true because it lends more credence to the idea that it’s all a lie, but at this point, the writing is breaking its own back bending over to try and make this work.

“If there is a most reliable way to make sure that this island lives on... I’ll go along with it. There was no other way... But... you defended me back then... everyone acted for my sake... That’s enough for me.”

I’m going to try to explain my problem with this without screaming.

I’m probably going to fail.

The thing is, Historia’s entire arc is about fighting fate.

Her entire arc is about undoing the cycle of abuse her family has perpetuated, breaking free of it to reclaim her identity as a person and forge a better future for the world.

She almost kills Eren for her father’s approval.

When she doesn’t, her commentary isn’t that it’s wrong, or ineffective (though she’s aware of both these elements).

She makes her case very succinctly.

“God?! What a load of bull!! You’re just saying whatever you can think of to manipulate me and save yourself!! That’s it, I’ve had enough! I won’t let you kill me!!”

Replace “save yourself” with something related to Eren, and we have the exact same plot beat we already had, for a character who’s already gone through it.

Historia’s lack of agency would be bad enough on its own.

The entire focus of the pregnancy subplot has been that it causes Eren angst.

We have not gotten Historia’s thought bubbles.

We have received her verbal compliance.

We have had her misery over her situation on display.

This is something for Eren to feel guilty and angry over, not something for Historia to interact with.

On its own, that’s bad.

When you have it attached to a character whose entire arc is about breaking damaging cycles and living a life designed by her own choices instead of following orders and roles, you have a problem.

Historia never tries to resist this fate. Not that we’re shown. She’s clearly terrified, even in the scene where she staidly offers acceptance, but Eren is the one to speak up. She’s miserable whenever we see her pregnant, but every scene with her involves her sadly going along with this thing she clearly does not want. Even when she asks Eren what he thinks about her having a child, she’s unhappy.

This is the first time she’s gotten dialogue of her own in two years.

The first little bit is her shrugging at her inevitable suffering.

The second bit is being appalled at Eren’s everything.

Then somehow we land at her proposing her inevitable suffering.

Which...

How does that help??? Anything???

My answer to that is that I’m Team Fake Pregnancy, and Historia is proposing a hypothetical thing where she ponders how her having a child would play out, but I’m sorry, what?

Eren’s upset about you losing your bodily autonomy.

Among other things, yes, but having a child you’re not enthusiastic about is the entire fucking ignition point of this fucking fuckening idiocy how is it that NEITHER OF YOU ARE IN POSSESSION OF YOUR SOLITARY BRAIN CELL WHAT IN THE  F U C K.

Even if you read it as Historia not having a child with the intent of future cannibalism, but simply having a child to get out of eating Zeke --

Holy fuck is that not better.

It’s still her feeling forced to have a kid because the alternative is lots of people dying.

She’s nineteen.

At the very fucking least this could have the decency to be her story, not a story built around making the main male lead angst enough to commit genocide. At the time of this writing, we are denied that, and while I don’t think this is totally beyond saving, the story the narrative is selling is inexcusable and insulting. The only room for improvement is if we’re actively being misled.

Which is a valid theory, but that doesn’t change my disgust at what we’re being told to believe.

Having Historia simply accept her fate is a sledgehammer to Historia’s entire character development, and Historia’s character development is a microcosm of the guiding themes of the main story. You can’t dethrone her without the manga’s entire thematic significance ringing false.

Also, while I’m here, Eren’s being a fucking prick.

In case that was somehow missed.

'hi historia friendly reminder that i’m only here to commit genocide because you saved my life because like you said you’re the worst’ ‘lol remember that time you said the titans should just kill everyone and i teased you and you said you were caught up in the heat of the moment well guess what i listened to you and everyone’s gonna die thx for the protips’

Anyway.

This is either really good or really bad.

Because Historia does some very stupid things. That is not a writing flaw, it’s a character flaw and feature. She’s impulsive and dumb and realizes things conflict with her principles nine steps into committing criminally negligent homicide, and if that’s how this is all justified...

Hell, I guess I’ll just be tired. Which I already am, so that’s. fine.

It’s funny. This is one of the times I could have gotten away with writing barely anything, since half the chapter is just trailer shots for Eren’s monster movie. Yet here we are, many words in.

I’ve thought a lot today on if I should keep reading or not. One of the things that got under my skin is that I’ve spent a long time coming up with ways for this all to turn out okay. I complain a lot, and certainly lose my temper, but I like to think I stick around because however bad this gets, I have faith that the story’s thesis is that beauty wins against cruelty.

If that’s the case, I want to be here to see it through. I want that high of things being okay when all signs point to nothing ever being okay again.

But it’s been a long day, and I’ve spent two years split between anger and hope that I’m not sure if I feel because I trust the story or if it’s become a habit I’m afraid to break.

Or if it’s because if I did give up, I’d feel insanely guilty for any of the times I’ve tried cheering people up over the bleak things going on in the manga.

I want this to be a happier story than anyone I know thinks it will turn out. I’m an optimist to a degree that people tolerate, but don’t find particularly realistic when gauged against the content.

The main character is on a genocidal march in the name of friends he has broken and betrayed. Friends who can still barely vocalize the option of putting him down.

I don’t know if I want to be here for this.

I don’t think I need to watch more cruelty unfold, no matter how much beauty survives it.

[queercapwriting]

Christmas at Hogwarts, Supergirl-style

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

She waited patiently at the top of the spiral staircase that led to Ravenclaw Tower. 

Kara had proven in their second year that she could easily bypass the password to the questions posed for entry to the Tower, but promptly decided it wasn’t the best idea when she’d walked in on Winn Schott having a dance party by himself in the common room at 3am. 

So she waited, because if Lena said she’d meet her downstairs at midnight, then Lena would meet her downstairs at midnight. And sure enough, as soon as the clock struck a new day, the door was opening and Lena was slipping outside, her eyes bright with excitement.

“Did you bring it?” Kara asked, even though she already knew the answer.

Lena nodded, biting her lip in excitement. It was all Kara could do not to kiss her then and there, but then, there was nothing stopping her; and the look on Lena’s face gave her all the consent she needed.

So she kissed her like it was midnight and they were prefects out past hours and breaking every rule in the book, and she kissed her like she didn’t care about any of those things at all.

Because, really, she didn’t.

“Okay, so we know what to do?” Lena asked a few minutes later, though she was still gripping Kara’s biceps for support. 

“We do,” Kara grinned, and they set off to the kitchens.

Kara watched Lena’s spellwork with admiration while she was supposed to be keeping a look out. It was hard not to -- watch her, that is -- because Lena went somewhere different with a wand in one hand and a pre-made potion in the other. Somewhere special, somewhere all her own. Her lips would move but the sound would be soft enough to only reach her own ears, and her eyes would flutter closed like this was the only thing she was born to do -- create spells that would help people, bring people joy, improve people’s lives.

“I love you,” Kara whispered when Lena nodded that she was done, out of her trance but her eyes still foggy with her own daze. She said it so softly that she wasn’t sure Lena heard, but it wasn’t like the two of them didn’t know.

“So what now?” she adjusted her glasses and asked.

“Now,” Lena’s eyes glistened, “we create only a little bit of mayhem. You’re sure your sister’s up on the Astronomy Tower?”

“She always is,” Kara smiled affectionately, “but yeah, I checked right before I came to get you. And yes, I put everything in place. She didn’t even notice.”

“Excellent. And now for the mayhem.”

A series of delicious smells wafter out of her wand, as Kara left down on a picnic blanket the massive amount of food she’d snuck from the Great Hall. The two had contemplated just setting off a bunch of fireworks, in honor of the holiday season, but they hadn’t wanted to scare anyone.

Exaggerated food smells -- followed by food itself -- was a great way to get any House trickling out of their common rooms at 3am.

Sure enough, it only took a few minutes for Kara and Lena -- hiding together behind a tapestry -- to spot Maggie, grabbing a pastry but otherwise with a furrowed brow and a tilted head. Even as she chomped into the pastry -- one of the dozens that Kara and Lena had baked together early that morning before anyone woke -- Maggie set off in a completely different direction.

Toward the Astronomy Tower.

“Yes!” Lena whisper-shouted, like she hadn’t been sure her enchantment would work. The one which would create an invisible path toward the tower -- invisible to everyone except Maggie, that is.

“You are an amazing witch,” Kara whispered with her lips against Lena’s neck. Lena whimpered happily, and they retreated to the Room of Requirement, knowing that their work here was done.

Maggie’s heart raced as she followed the pulsing green path toward the Astronomy Tower. She wasn’t scared, not exactly, but she had her wand gripped loosely in her hand anyway.

A path only she could see?

Her hand gripped a little tighter as she ascended the stairs.

But when she got to the top, she only saw the eldest Danvers girl. Alex, her first name was.

Everyone knew that, even though she never used it.

Because Alex Danvers was a legend -- with a wand, on the Quidditch pitch, rumored to being recruited by the Department of Mysteries itself for her Occlumency gifts, though she was also rumored to be turning those invitations down to become a healer.

But here she was, the legend, kneeling on her cloak, staring through the gigantic telescope that only the most advanced students were able to use. Behind her, spread on a red and green Christmas blanket, was a veritable Christmas feast, complete with mugs of hot cocoa that were still, somehow, steaming in this freezing cold.

Much like she didn’t seem to know she was shivering, though, Alex also didn’t seem to notice the feast behind her. Or the wreaths that had been conjured. Or the mistletoe above the blanket.

Maggie gulped, looking around her. The trail she’d been following ended at Alex’s feet, formed a whispy smile that winked at her, and then vanished.

The food outside her common room. The giggling behind the tapestry. Maggie wasn’t exactly unobservant. 

This had to be the work of Kid Danvers and her girlfriend, Lena. 

She laughed to herself at their ingenuity, but her eyes stayed fixed on Alex, and she gulped. Loudly. Alex didn’t stir, only moving to adjust the telescope slightly, mouth slightly agape.

Maggie tried clearing her throat.

Alex still didn’t seem to notice.

Maggie tried one more time.

“Merry Christmas, Danvers,” she said, not quite a whisper but not quite in her regular voice. She didn’t want to scare the seventh year, but she did sort of want her attention -- it was clear what Kid Danvers and Luthor had been trying to do, and Maggie would be damned if she’d let their efforts go to waste.

She had always had eyes for the eldest Danvers girl, after all.

Alex just never seemed to notice anything but her studies and the stars.

And when Maggie spoke, she didn’t jump, not quite. But she did, finally, turn around.

And then she seemed to notice everything at once. Maggie in her pajamas with a hastily-grabbed cloak, the feast behind her, all the wreaths and... and the mistletoe.

“Kara set this up, didn’t she?” Alex deadpanned without preamble, and suddenly Maggie understood -- even more than she had before -- why the Ministry was trying to recruit her before she even graduated.

“Seems like it. I’m uh --”

“I know who you are,” Alex said, rising from her knees and seeming to realize that she was shivering. But instead of reaching down to get her cloak and toss it around herself, she stepped forward and put it around Maggie. She tried to resist, but Alex was insistent. “Maggie Sawyer, top of our class in Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies and Potions. An A+ Seeker. And you hexed that Lord boy when he made fun of my sister when she was a third year.”

“He had it coming,” Maggie muttered, and Alex stepped back, smiling one of those rare Alex Danvers smiles. 

Her eyes went up and down Maggie’s body, slow and intense, and Maggie almost melted then and there. “You look better in my cloak than I do.”

Maggie’s heart skipped at the comment, but she tried one more time to take it off. “You’re shivering,” she said, but Alex just stepped out of range and shook her head.

“At least I’m not just in my pajamas.” Maggie felt her blush deepen, and Alex went to sit on the blanket Kara had set up.

“Come on. We should at least eat what Kara and Lena set us up for. And knowing Kara’s spell work, the cocoa will still be -- ah, yep -- super hot.”

She patted the space on the blanket right next to her, and Maggie sat.

Two Santa hats appeared when she did so, and Alex laughed. “Clever witch,” she muttered, rolling her eyes as she tugged one of the hats on and passed one to Maggie.

“Do you come up here alone a lot?” Maggie asked, because she’d always imagined Alex as having a lot of friends, even though she never really saw her with anyone but her sister.

Alex turned her face up toward the stars.

“How could I not?”

Her eyes must have caught renewed sight of the mistletoe on their way back down to earth, because Alex chuckled. Maggie wanted to memorize the sound.

“My sister seems to have an agenda with this feast here.” Maggie thought she saw Alex bite the inside of her lip -- like she was shy, this legend shy, about someone who was... just Maggie -- but she must have imagined it.

Except Alex was sipping at her cocoa and glancing down at Maggie’s lips over the steaming mug.

“What do you think? Of her and Luthor’s scheme?”

“To get us to kiss?” Maggie nearly squeaked, and the mistletoe only seemed to grow in response.

They both giggled a little, this time, and Alex set down her mug, taking Maggie’s hands into her own to warm them.

“Yes,” she said, straightforward with shining eyes, and there was the girl everyone wanted to lead the Ministry into a new age.

“I think it’s an excellently executed plan. Lots of great spellwork, and um --”

“Sawyer,” Alex interrupted, her voice gentle. She blew into Maggie’s hands, her breath mercifully warm, but Maggie’s shiver had nothing to do with the cold.

“Danvers,” she said, hoping she wasn’t squeaking again.

“May I kiss you?” Alex asked, just as Maggie thought she saw a shooting star out of the corner of her eye.

“Yes,” was all she could whisper, and when Alex’s lips met hers, she definitely saw shooting stars, all of them, exploding like Christmas lights behind her eyes.

[letswritebangtan]

Ace | Jeon Jeongguk

Jeon Jungkook x reader  f.t. olderbrother!Jimin

fluff + !mature content!

synopsis: Jeongguk wants to make you his but Taehyung keeps getting in the way.

______________________________________________

You had no idea why you agreed to sit in the scalding hot sun for 2 hours to watch your brother practice. He was whining about how you weren’t supportive and how you never watch him play, and he was right though, you’ve only been to one of his games but there was a reason that that was your last one. He just wanted you to bring food for him, why else would your brother want to see you on a boiling hot tuesday afternoon during football practice? 

“Go long!” you heard a manly voice yell. 

You sighed and checked your phone for the hundredth time, counting the minutes to when practice would end. You couldn’t scroll through Instagram because the glare from the sun gave no use to the brightness settings on your phone. And you certainly couldn’t stare at your big fat crush Jeon Jungkook because you were too embarrassed. 

“Run! Pick up that speed, Jeon!” the captain yelled. 

You watched as Jungkook sped through the field, legs moving like the flash as he ran to catch the ball. You saw him leap up high to gracefully pull the ball into his embrace and land onto the grass with a thud so loud you heard it from miles away. 

“Nice catch!” 

“That’s why he’s our ace!”

Jeon Jungkook was a man you’d never find in a lifetime. You could say that you pretty much hit jackpot. He was tall, muscular, handsome, hair as soft as cotton candy, built like a god damn greek god. And let’s just say you got to see pretty much all if him. Your brother was pretty well-known around campus and he had tons of friends who loved to party. Usually he never let you attend, saying that it was too unsafe for you, but the moment you entered college you demanded that he let you go. And man was that the best decision of your entire life. 

It was there that you met Jungkook. He was in his white t-shirt that displayed his broad chest, and his jeans so ripped it was pointless wearing them. But it worked, because he still looked dazzling. You couldn’t keep count of the number of girls that approached him that night, but you knew exactly how many he didn’t turn away. One. That one was you. You saw him walk towards you so effortlessly through the mushed-up bodies on the dance floor. He made small-talk, and it was the first time you heard his voice. 

“You’re brother would probably kill me if I did this,” he muttered, his lips only inches away from yours. 

And you couldn’t take it anymore. Jimin can go to hell for even trying to keep you from such a catch. 

“Can we pretend I don’t have a brother tonight?” you whispered, alcohol running through your veins making you dizzy and yet so bold. 

His smirk was the last thing you saw before things got heated up. 

So that was what happened when you first met Jeon Jungkook. You slept with him. That was two months ago, and the most you’ve had contact with Jungkook since then was a small smile that he sent you when he passed you in the corridors one day. The two of you were too afraid to reach out to each other. Well for one, you were embarrassed because how on earth were you supposed to face him again after possibly having the best night you’ve ever had in your entire life? And if you did face him, what the heck were you going to say? It bummed you out sometimes when you thought about how you were just a one time thing, but it was true. That also kept you from trying to talk to him. 

“y/n!! You came.” Jimin shouted from afar and ran over to you. 

He sat next to you with a thud, and his arm brushed against yours.

“Ew, you’re all sweaty. Don’t touch me.” you grumbled as you handed him his takeout. 

“Aw, why such a sour mood?” he cooed as he dug into the bag with his sweaty, filthy hands. 

You cringed at the sight but you knew your brother, even if you had told him to wash his hands he’d never listen. 

“You’re really asking me that? After making me sit 2 hours in this heat with nothing to do, you really don’t know why I’m in a shitty mood?” you asked sarcastically. 

“It wasn’t that bad, was it? You got to see Jungkook being all sporty.” Jimin teased.

You flushed red and resisted the urge to smack his arm only because it was sweaty and gross. “Shut up, fool.” you said embarrassed. 

Jimin laughed and bit into his burger, strands of lettuce falling out of his mouth and sticking to his sweaty chin. 

“Don’t worry, y/n. I’d never let you date him anyway.”

You turned to him and looked at him worriedly, “You wouldn’t?”

“Yeah, he’s not right for you. He’s a good friend of mine but I just can’t have him dating my sister. My friends are off-limits.”

You rolled your eyes, staring ahead of you. “And you just had to be the popular kid.”

“Are you telling me that you-”

“No! No I don’t like him.” you you cut him off quickly.

Jimin looked at you quizzically before turning back to his burger, chomping at it.

“If you say so, sis.” he shrugged. 

You sighed and leaned back against your seat, fanning yourself with a notebook that you had pulled out of your bag. You knew you looked like a mess right now, and sometimes you wondered how, although sweaty and not at all composed, that your brother could still manage to avoid looking like a melted snowman. 

“Can I steal a fry?” you heard an all too familiar voice. 

You snapped your head to look at the intruder of you and your brother’s sibling bubble. Of course it was Jeon Jungkook. 

“I’m hungry.” Jimin complained. 

You gulped, shifting in your seat and trying not to make eye contact. But somehow Jungkook’s eyes lured yours to meet his, because when you looked up, he was staring at you. 

“You know it’s really nice of your sister to bring you lunch.” Jungkook said raising an eyebrow. 

You smiled kindly at Jungkook and then glared at your brother. 

“At least someone’s appreciative. You didn’t even thank me, dumb butt.” 

“Thank you, y/n. You’re the best, you know that? Come, let me give you a hug.” he said as he set his burger down and moved his sweaty arms to try and trap you.

You squealed and protested as Jimin laughed evilly. You could see Jungkook smiling amused from the corner of your eye but that wasn’t important now. You had to get away from the sweaty beast you called your brother. 

“Jimin I swear to god I’ll spray paint your dance shoes pink!” you threatened as you held your bag in front of you as a shield. 

“You wouldn’t dare.” he said dramatically. 

“For god’s sakes, hyung, leave the poor girl alone. She brought you lunch, I wish I had someone to do that for me.” Jungkook called out. 

“Yeah, listen to your friend, oppa, please.” you begged. 

Jimin’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He sat back in his seat making you release a sigh of relief. 

“I don’t know what you did to my sister, JK, but she hasn’t called me oppa in 12 years.” Jimin told his friend. 

Jungkook smirked, his gaze shifting over to you with a small glint in his eye. 

“Guess I just have that effect on her.”

You had never turned so red in your life. 

“Eat your damn burger.” you grumbled at your brother and you earned a small chuckle from Jungkook. 

“Are we still on for later?” Jimin asked.

“Yeah, we are. Would your sister like to join us?” Jungkook asked looking at you. 

He was smart not to use your name. In Jimin’s eyes, you and Jungkook hadn’t met before. 

“Where are you guys going?” you asked curiously. 

“A few of us are going to Starbucks to chill. I asked you if you wanted to join, remember?” Jimin said. 

“Oh yeah, no thanks. I wouldn’t wanna intrude.” you smiled slightly at Jungkook. 

“You wouldn’t be intruding, we’ll be happy to have you. The team has been wanting to meet you for a really long time but Jimin-hyung never allowed it.” Jungkook said disapprovingly to him. 

“I never said no!” Jimin protested. 

“Yeah you did, we wanted you to bring her to the movies last month but you-”

“She was feeling unwell so I assumed she wouldn’t wanna join-”

“You can’t just assume, hyung. Your sister has her own opinions-”

“Oh shut up, since when were you so concerned about-”

“You shut up!”

“No you!”

“Jesus, guys quit it. I’ll come if that’s what you guys want.” you interrupted. 

The two ‘men’ rubbed the back of their necks embarrassed and you giggled softly at how cute Jungkook looked. 

“I can meet you at your last class and we can walk from there.” Jungkook suggested. 

“No, I’ll take her. What do you think your date will say when she sees you walking with another pretty girl?”

Date? You frowned slightly and your gaze flickered to Jungkook who’s facial expression held a mix of disgust and annoyance. 

Suddenly you weren’t so keen on going anymore. 

“You finish at 4 right? Second floor.” Jimin asked.

You nodded, and then stuffed your notebook in your bag, zipped it up and shrugged it on. 

“I gotta go now, I’ll see you guys later.” you said. 

You stepped past Jimin and came face to face with Jungkook. He moved slightly so you could get around him and he offered you a small smile to which you didn’t return. Jungkook frowned and watched as you exited the field and then turned to Jimin. 

“You gonna finish-”

“Oh for god sakes just have the fries.”

Jungkook’s date was a dare and he was forced to take her so yeet he def. likes u :D but you don’t know that yet so shhh

time skip

“Jungkook, could you order for us?” Namjoon asked. 

Jungkook nodded and pulled out his phone to open the notes app. He handed his phone to his ‘date’ to enter hers. 

“Don’t you know my regular, babe?” she asked obnoxiously. 

“I don’t, just write it down.” Jungkook sighed.

There was a visible frown on her face as she typed her order into his phone. In the meantime, you sat there as awkward as a potato. 

“So y/n, it’s so nice to meet you. Jimin never told me he had such a beautiful sister.” Taehyung said smiling from next to you. 

He was really cute, and he had cheeks that you wished you could pinch but sadly that was very inappropriate. 

“It’s nice to meet you guys too.” you replied giggling softly. 

Jungkook sent Taehyung a death stare mouthing the words “mine” but Taehyung shrugged it off. 

“y/n, would you like to be my date for the next Starbucks outing?” Taehyung asked shamelessly. 

You were surprised that Jimin hadn’t said anything, but you didn’t mind. You blushed slightly and looked at Taehyung. 

“Depends. Give me pros and cons.” you challenged. 

Taehyung laughed and took your hand in his. “Pros, I’m handsome, funny, and I’m very romantic.” he said as he lifted your hand to place a kiss on top. 

Jungkook was practically fuming at this point. 

Also, you were really pink by now. 

“Cons, he snores and releases fart bombs in his sleep.” Yoongi cut in. 

“Hyung!” Taehyung whined. 

Everyone laughed, except Jungkook. “I think that’s cute.” you said smiling cheekily. 

“Not as cute as you.”

“y/n, your order.” Jungkook snapped. You didn’t realise he was standing right in front of you and shoving his phone into your face. 

“Oh, I don’t really drink Starbucks so I don’t know what’s good here.” you said taking the phone from him. 

“My drink’s good! The matcha latte is nice. We can share.” Taehyung offered. 

“Oh, sure.” you replied smiling. 

You turned to Jungkook and you were slightly taken aback with his foul expression. 

“I’ll share with Tae, thanks.” you said politely. 

“Tae?” he asked and then scoffed. “Yeah, fine.”

“Babe I think I’ll share with you instead!” Jungkook’s date piped in. 

“Yeah, no.” Jungkook replied before storming off to the counter. 

“Is...he okay?” you asked. 

“Jungkook’s unpredictable, but don’t worry about it, it’s probably nothing.” Jimin shrugged. 

You were about to say something but Taehyung was already asking you questions. 

After an hour of talking and drinking sugary drinks you decided to go to the bathroom. 

“Don’t take too long.” Taehyung whined and you smiled. 

“Unfortunately for you, Tae, girls pee longer than guys.”

“Yeah we have better aim, plus we don’t have to sit.” Jimin said. 

“But we have to stand next to each other while we pee.” Yoongi added.

You left before the conversation got any more wild. After you were done with your business you washed your hands and stepped outside. When you looked up you got slightly startled by Jungkook standing there with his arms crossed and his tongue poking out from the inside of his cheek. He was pissed. 

“Hey.” you greeted awkwardly. 

“It’s gotta stop.” he said suddenly. His fiery gaze on you.

“W-What’s gotta stop?” you asked feeling slightly intimidated. 

Jungkook stepped closer to you, cornering you against the wall. He placed one hand on the wall beside your head and the other on your waist firmly. Your breath hitched when his lips made contact with your neck. 

“Can Taehyung make you feel like this?” he growled lowly. 

He sank his teeth into your sensitive flesh making you whimper. Your hand instinctively went up to tangle in his hair. 

“Can he make you feel this good?” 

Jungkook kissed all the way to the underside of your jaw leaving multiple marks. 

“Do you need a little reminder baby? Hm? Do I need to show you again? How amazing I can make you feel?”

You moaned softly when he pressed his hips against yours. He held your chin between his fingers and pulled your face closer to kiss you feverishly. It’s been so long since you felt his touch, it made you weak in the knees. 

“Jungkook.” you gasped. 

His fingers slipped under the hem of your shirt and started to trace the bare skin near your waistline. 

“Just say the words, baby, and I’m all yours.” he rasped into your ear. 

You closed your eyes and let your head fall back against the wall. You craved his touch. You craved more. He was making you feel so weak, and he hadn’t done anything yet. 

He placed another soft yet stimulating kiss just below your ear. You groaned and latched your hands onto the back of his neck and tugged him closer with so much force he practically fell onto you. His lips crashed onto yours and his hands started travelling across your body in a way that made you feel so good. Jungkook picked you up, supporting your weight from the bottom of your thighs and stumbled into the restroom careful not to run into anything. He placed you down onto the sink counter and locked the door, quickly returning to you. 

“You really thought you could flirt with him like that and get away with it?” 

Jungkook’s hands slowly moved up your thighs closer and closer to where you felt the heat pooling. You panted as you tried to lift his shirt over his head but he tutted. 

“I’ve gotta have my way with you first, babygirl.”

Jungkook removed your top and he was just about to unclasp your bra when a knock was heard. 

“I HAD TOO MUCH COFFEE AND IT’S URGENT.” you heard Taehyung yell. 

You stifled your laughter and Jungkook groaned, cussing a little. 

He turned to you and smiled sheepishly, his previous dominating demeanor vanished. 

“We’ll continue this later.” he said handing you your shirt. 

“Jungkook? Who are you talking to? Will you hurry the fuck up I need to piss.” Taehyung hissed. 

Jungkook rolled his eyes at his friend and helped you off the counter. 

“You’re mine, remember that princess.” he said placing one last kiss onto your lips before unlocking the door. 

Jungkook stepped out and held your hand, pulling you out with him. Taehyung froze and examined your flustered states. 

“I guess you really meant it when you said she was taken.” Taehyung mumbled in shock. 

“Better get in there before you pee in your pants.” Jungkook teased. 

Taehyung scowled and wasted no more time. You giggled and turned to Jungkook who was now smiling fondly at you, still holding your hand. 

“I’m sorry I never reached out after...you know.” he said. 

You shook your head, “Well I didn’t either so we’re even.”

“I really like you. Like, really really like you. Like really really really really-”

“Okay, I get it.” you laughed, making him flash his bunny smile. 

“I really like you too. Really times ten.” you said cheekily.

Jungkook placed his hands on your waist to pull you to his chest. He leaned down to kiss you softly on the lips. You tip toed, holding onto the back of his neck for support to push your lips against his to deepen the kiss. 

“I think the ladies room isn’t occupied.” Jungkook muttered breathlessly against your lips. 

“I’m down.” you smiled, squealing as he picked you up again and carried you into the room. 

extra

“I told you my friends were off-limits!” Jimin complained. 

“Jimin, pleasee? I really like him.” you protested. 

Jimin scowled at Jungkook who was leaning against the door so that he’d have a head start if Jimin ever charged at him. 

“Did you sleep together?” Jimin asked. 

“Um....t-that’s none of your business.” you said. 

“Oh my god, you did. I swear Jeon, if you weren’t my friend I would have found a deadly spider and I would have shoved it down your pants.” Jimin snapped. 

“Oppa, please.” you begged as you tugged on his shirt sleeve. 

“Don’t you go all ‘oppa’ on me.” Jimin grumbled. 

“I swear I’ll bring you lunch during every practice and I’ll do your laundry for the whole month and I’ll give you my Marvel figurine collection.” you offered.

Jungkook’s and Jimin’s eyes widened at the mention of your figurines. 

“y/n, that’s a bit much, baby-” Jungkook tried to reason. 

“Don’t baby her! I’ll kill you!” Jimin exclaimed. 

“Jiminnnnnn~” you whined. 

You looked at your brother with puppy eyes and he tried to stare back at you but you were his cute little sister so he gave in. 

He sighed and wrapped his arms around you, “Only because I love you, y/n.”

You shouted in victory and hugged your brother tight. 

“You know I was joking about the figurines right?”

“Yeah I’m not stupid, y/n.”

You laughed and pulled away from him and Jimin smiled down at you. You turned to Jungkook and held out your hand for him to take.

Jungkook cautiously stepped closer, not taking his eyes of of Jimin. Slowly he took your hand in his and stood in front of your brother.

Jungkook smiled sweetly at him and Jimin only squinted his eyes at your new boyfriend. 

“Hyung, you know I love you right?” Jungkook said smiling. 

Jimin sighed, “Fine, at least you’re better than Taehyung.”

“I think Taehyung’s sweet.” you said. 

Jungkook turned to look at you, “What was that, babygirl? You wanna say that again?”

You smirked, “He’s sweet.”

Jungkook bit his lip as he stared you down and you teasingly smiled back at him. 

“I guess one time wasn’t enough...” he said tracing your cheekbone with his finger. 

“Guys.” Jimin called. 

“Hm?” you and Jungkook hummed in unison. 

“Get out.”

[wheremytwinwatches]

[Where My Twin Watches]: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Episode 7

*Finishes re-rewatching Treasure Planet* Ah, what a good movie. That and I,Robot and Terminator 2 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Star Wars and- Wait, why did I start watching all these movies again? I remember it had something to do with Transhumanism. Something about contracts and a Bunny-cat being a dick and girls who were actually lichs… Oh crap, the thread! That is a very big moon.

Sayaka’s slowly walking back to her apartment, her face shadowed and… what, seriously? Madoka isn’t there? What the heck, Madoka? You just let your friend leave on her own after that whammy? She’s entered her apartment now, not being very quiet about closing the door. Does she live on her own? If it turns out she’s an orphan too I’m going to snap. Lights on, Sayaka tosses her Soul Gem (which is actually herself, what the heck) onto the table KYUBEY. GET OUT. BACK TO THE LIST CORNER WITH YOU. “You tricked us, didn’t you?” She didn’t even have to turn around and see he was there, did she? It’s obvious that the little jerk would waltz in uninvited. Oh you are such an asshole! “I just didn’t explain exactly what form you’d be taking to do that”? Oh yeah, that’s such a minor detail, not worth mentioning, really! “Because you never asked.” Because they never asked?! Informed consent, Bunny-cat! Learn it! Aw HELL no. You don’t get to use “even Mami never noticed to the very end” as an excuse. Ever think that maybe if she knew the risks she wouldn’t have worn her literal soul as a hairpin?! The little jerk keep on listing the advantages of Soul Gems. He really doesn’t see anything wrong with what he’s done, does he? Kyubey? What are you doing with Sayaka’s Soul Gem? What the hell is wrong with you, Bunny-cat? You want to show how relatively fragile a human body is to pain? Fine, there are plenty of other ways to show that without inflicting Sayaka with enough pain to make her collapse! WHY ARE YOU STILL DOING IT?! We get it, Soul Gems dampen pain reception between the mind and body! Stop torturing Sayaka! Please, she’s crying! Friggen finally. Sayaka, you need to get up, grab that little demon, and chuck him out the window. And never let him get close to your Gem, alright? As Sayaka recovers, Kyubey is rambling about how Magical Girls can control the degree of pain reception on their own, but he doesn’t recommend it at it lowers reaction time. ...wow, ok. Even I can see that manipulation at work there. You inflict Sayaka with severe pain, and then ‘offhandedly mention’ that she can make it so she feels no pain at all? Real subtle, Bunny-cat. Because why worry about the well-being of these girls when you can make them that much more aggressive in getting you food? And then he uses the “I’ve granted the Wish that you (unintentionally) sold your soul for” card. Yep, I just saw the show’s familiar torture one of the main characters, manipulate her into unlocking a pain-free fighting style (who needs the warnings that a body part is damaged, anyway?) and claim that she owes him for services rendered. So of course, we go into the bright and poppy Intro of Lies! Ugh. Get out of Madoka’s room, you jerk. And get away from Mami, too! Episode 7: Can you face your true feelings? It’s school the next day, seems that Sayaka skipped out. Wonder if the attendance office would accept a “I was tricked out of my soul by a Bunny-cat” as an excused absence. Aw. Looks like she’s been curled up under her blankets since last night, she didn’t even change her clothes. But hey, why worry about what you meat-puppet is wearing, right? On Fancy Rooftop now, Madoka’s meeting with Homura. Hey, that’s right, she knew about the “MGs are actually inside the Soul Gem” thing, right? Why didn’t you say anything, Homura? Damn! Madoka’s actually calling Homura out on it, asking if she really did know… but she says she tried telling others in the past. And nobody ever believed her. Ouch. I mean… yeah, it’s a really farfetched story. And I guess the only way to prove it would be for her to purposefully get far away from her Soul Gem. And that’s way too big a risk to take. Now they’re talking about how Kyubey doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong. Interesting how Homura’s calling him an it now, saying it cannot comprehend human values. I’ll be using that for Bunny-cat from now on, matches the clinical detachment. Sure, it insists that “a (short) lifetime of fighting Witches to feed me” is equal to “granting a single Wish”. Yup, Madoka’s not agreeing to the exchange rate. Healing one person’s non-fatal injuries does not equal service as a Magical Lunch Lady. But Homura’s simply saying that it was a miracle, something impossible made possible. ...oh stop being so moody, Homura. You can’t know that medical science would never be able to heal his hands. The guy’s still in middle school, for crying out loud, he has his whole life ahead of him! Just because current science isn’t able to do it, doesn’t mean you should assume that it never will. I will concede that a miracle, a proper miracle, is a Big Deal. I’m a little more iffy on whether it is of greater value that an entire human life. But you will NOT convince me that healing one person’s hands is equal to the life of a Magical Girl. Ooh, good point Madoka! For all of Homura’s “give up on her” talk, if she hadn’t become a Magical Girl then Madoka, Hitomi, and all the other people in that factory would have died! (Urgh, I’m am so torn between my I WAS RIGHT from that episode and my understanding now of what becoming a Magical Girl does) Oh. “Don’t confuse gratitude with responsibility.” That’s… that’s pretty heavy. Homura’s hammering home the point that Madoka is just a human, who has no ability to save Sayaka Miki. She shouldn’t try to ‘repay’ Sayaka to alleviate her sense of guilt. ...wow. That is… wow. Somewhere the ghost of Thomas Hobbes is applauding Homura’s self-interest philosophy. Well, ok. I guess one’s sense of morality can be slightly affected by being an undead magic user. It’s a lot easier to justify self-interest when the Muggles you know die of old age and your associates keep getting killed by these monsters. Why stay constrained by human ethics when you see yourself as no longer human? So does that make Mami a Pro-Human Transhuman, then? Sayaka’s still in her bed… Oh. Oh DAMN. That’s… Um. I mean, it’s, uh, not really that bad? I mean, just because your soul now fits in your pocket that doesn’t mean you can’t still date and… Damn. That’s something I didn’t even consider. The basis of Sayaka making the Contract was to heal Kamijo, and we have to admit there was a degree of “I can get his affection” in that Wish. But with the realization of how she relates to her former body now? Not to mention the whole “eternally young” thing. Damn it, Bunny-cat. The hell? Who just spoke? Kyoko? She wants to talk? Sayaka’s dressed and following Kyoko through the park now, who’s busy chomping down apples. Huh, she says she’s ok with the whole zombie thing. Well, you can’t deny that the powers of a Magical Girl can be useful, I suppose if you focus enough on the benefits you can rationalize the whole lich thing. Sayaka calls her out on her “you get what you pay for” attitude. Although I’m suddenly wondering if she paid of all the food she’s been eating. Having MG powers probably makes it easier to get five-finger discounts. Kyoko cheerfully agrees. Huh. “And if you live only to benefit yourself, you’ve got to pay for your own mistakes too.” And suddenly you’ve made self-interest sound noble. If you don’t involve others, then you don’t- *Suddenly remembers that Kyoko has advocated letting Familiars kill bystanders in order to get more Grief Seeds* Nope, never mind, still hate you. The sun’s sinking lower as the two girls reach some sort of old building, which Kyoko kicks down the door of. Broken stained glass? So is this an old church or art gallery or something? Well, whatever this place is, it’s certainly seen better days.

We're at the dilapidated stained-glass building, I'm thinking it's a church of some sort as the camera's looking at an altar sort of thing in front of where the biggest window would be.

Sayaka's asking why Kyoko had her come out here, Kyoko says it's a long story and tosses her an apple. Huh, is this like when she offered Homura pocky, a sign of trust?

Ooh, but Sayaka just tossed it to the ground. I don’t mean to nitpick, Sayaka, but it looks like Kyoko’s extending an olive branch here. You don’t have to like the hard-line MG, but maybe a truce could

WHOA ok Kyoko did not like that, she rushed forward and his lifting Sayaka off the ground. And that is a gruesome crackling sound, I really hope that’s just her uniform.

“Don’t ever waste food. I’ll kill you if you do.” Don’t waste food around Kyoko, got it.

Yup, Kyoko is bodily lifting Sayaka by the collar, until she calms down and lets her drop. Then she picks up the apple, dusts it off and puts it back in the bag.

Ooh, new music? Backstory for Kyoko? I still hate her for the whole “letting Familiars go” thing, but after my Homura rage was shown to be a little excessive and Kyubey proved to be a dick I’m willing to hear this story out.

“See… this was my dad’s church.” Aha, it is a church! Wait, ‘was’?

Aw, paper-cutout stick puppets! That’s adorable. We see Kyoko’s pastor dad get passed by two smaller cutouts… little sister? Aw dammit, this is another “How a MG became an orphan” story, isn’t it?

“He thought that in order to save a new generation, we needed to have a new religion.” Well, hopefully without sparking any religious debate, that sounds pretty good to me. Not quite sure about the “preaching stuff that wasn’t in the Bible” part, but he seems earnest at least.

So people stopped attending the church, and he got excommunicated by the overall Church? Harsh.

“From the outside, he probably looked like some raving cultist.” Good to see that Kyoko recognizes that while she believes (believed?) in what he taught she understands it could be seen as radical. Although was it really necessary to dump water on the guy, random person? Yes he’s preaching at your house, but that doesn’t mean you should treat him like that.

Side note: dumping water out a window? Do people still do that, now? Or is this Backstory set in a time when it was more common? After all, with the whole meat puppet thing, I don’t think it’s that much of a stretch to place this way back when.

“It got to the point where our entire family didn’t even have food to eat.” Oh, explanation for why she always has food! Nice touch, show!

...damn it, this show’s making my sympathize with the character who argued for Muggles as Monster Chow by showing how her family was starving… ok, fine, Kyoko. You can have a cushion for your chair.

Nice art style here! Showing Kyoko playing with these paper stick puppets while the girls’ art style stands out against the background.

Little Girl Kyoko just couldn't understand why all this was happening. Why people couldn’t just hear her father out and see that he was right.

And then she met Kyubey.

“And so I asked Kyubey to make everyone listen seriously to what my dad said.”

Oh. Oh no.

The very next day the church was packed full of people again. And each of their paper cutouts has red eyes and an image of Kyoko’s Soul Gem on their chest.

Damn it, Kyubey. She asked for people to listen to her dad, not get mind-controlled by him.

Bunny-Cat Jerk: “What’s the difference? They’re hearing the same words either way.”

It must have seemed so perfect. Her dad’s church is doing well, and she’s got cool new superpowers and monsters to fight. Her dad got to preach to the world, and she took care of the Witches. So she threw herself into Witch-hunting. Because between the two of them, they could save the world.

Hey, cutout of a taller woman holding hands with them! Wasn’t sure there was a mom in the picture until now.

But then her dad found out. And when he found out that the people were compelled to come by magic rather than belief, he “flipped out”. He called Kyoko “a witch who tainted people’s hearts”. WOW. Ok, in any magical setting that would be some harsh words, but when the demons are called Witches…when she hunted real Witches every night...

Oh no.

Yup. Orphan story.

Damn it. This doesn’t excuse her letting innocents die, but when it resulted in her father killing the rest of the family and then committing suicide…

I’ll be right back, going to get Kyoko some pocky to snack on.

“My wish destroyed my whole family.” Kyoko says that because she went and made a wish for someone else, without really knowing what he wanted, it brought everyone misfortune.

“Right then, I vowed in my heart never to use magic to help anyone else again.” Ouch. So Kyoko’s self-interest stems from the results of her Wish. If helping others only ends up in misfortune, then it is best to use if for your sake and yours alone.

This show seems to really be stressing a philosophy of ‘equal and opposite reaction’. Is karma the right term? “If you wish for hope, an equal amount of despair will be rained down upon you, too”. Seems that’s what Kyoko believes now, seeing it as preserving the world’s balance.

Sayaka asks Kyoko why she told her all of this. Huh, Kyoko really is trying to teach Sayaka, isn’t she? Like Homura’s trying to keep Madoka from making a contract and losing her soul, Kyoko’s trying to get Sayaka to, from her perspective, stop wasting her energy on helping others when whatever good she does will be countered by despair… I don’t think that Sayaka’s going to really approve of this philosophy.

Sayaka questions where “teaching others about how the world sucks” falls in a self-interest philosophy, Kyoko says that she’s trying to stop Sayaka from a life that will bring more regrets. You’ve already “paid your dues”, time to get your money’s worth! (Unintentionally) sold your soul? Then live it up on earth!

“I was really wrong about you.” Sayaka?

Oh! She’s apologizing for her initial opinion of Kyoko. But she still doesn’t regret making her wish for someone else’s sake. Go Sayaka!

“I’ve decided that I’ll never regret anything. Ever.” Um. Go Sayaka? I mean, good words, but I’m not sure that anyone could live up to that.

Huh. You don’t think you paid too high a price? We are still talking about your soul here, right?

“Because, depending on how we use it, this magic can be used for wonderful things.” Alright! Ally of Justice, everyone! Screw how dark this show’s gotten, we can still turn this around! Right?

Right?

Oh dear. She wants to know where Kyoko got her apples from.

Aw crap. Just when I get all excited about Sayaka not getting turned away from being a Hero, she goes full-on Paladin. And not the Paladin that you want in your party, either, but the “Almighty Babysitter” type a DM would use to keep the players in check. Yes, you want the rogue to exercise some self-control, but nobody likes partying with a Lawful Stupid character.

Sayaka. Kyoko just told you her Tragic Backstory in the ruins of her father’s church. Are you really going to chastise her about where she stole a bag of apples? Yes, yes you are. *sigh*

Kyoko is not happy about her advice getting so totally rejected, angrily eats an apple while Sayaka walks away.

Well this is just great. I can admire Sayaka not regretting her choice, but you do remember your last ‘fight’ with the more-experienced MG? It did not end well. What makes you think you could do better next time?

Sayaka’s walking to school now, I assume the next day. Hey, Madoka and NPC, I mean Hitomi! All three are walking along, Sayaka claims she was feeling sick the day before-

Hey, Kamijo! Oh. Kamijo. And Sayaka didn’t know he was going back to school

In class Kamijo’s the center of attention, chatting about he’s aiming to set aside the crutches next week. Madoka suggests that Sayaka go talk with him, but she says that she’s fine.

Closeup of Hitomi?

Wait, why are they at Fancy Food Court again? And it’s just Sayaka and Hitomi.

“About love.” Wait. Wait, no. No no no NO.

Hitomi has a crush on Kamijo.

Hitomi, please stop. This is…

Hitomi. You have no idea what damage you are causing right now. I understand from your perspective you are just expressing your intent to a friend of yours in an attempt to prevent any bad feelings. That’s commendable, really, a proper thing to do. Good manners.

But this is the boy that Sayaka, while unintentionally, sold her soul to heal.

I am begging you, do not do this.

Great, a deadline. Hitomi’s waiting until after school the next day to confess her feelings to Kamijo, so Sayaka has a chance to.

Well, great.

Later that night, at Sayaka’s apartment complex…

KYUBEY. SCREW YOU.

Bunny-Cat Jerk: “Ah, whatever. Time for my magical lunch ladies to get me more food!”

Madoka’s waiting for Sayaka again. What a good friend. And after the wtfery of the last few days, from listening to Kyoko’s Tragic Backstory to Hitomi’s deadline, Sayaka starts crying. She had a moment that day where she almost regretted something…

Sayaka, it’s ok to regret things. Nobody is perfect-

WOW OK. That’s a little different, thinking “If only I hadn’t saved Hitomi that time…”

Let me try that again. Sayaka, there are things that it is ok to regret, but succeeding in saving a life is not one of them. By all means, never regret that. And stop trying to hold yourself up to Mami’s level, you are at most a few weeks into the job, if not days. You’ll become a worthy Magical Girl in your own time, there’s no shame in that.

And I’m sorry about the Hitomi situation, that you feel that it’s inevitable and there’s nothing you can do because you’re “already dead”. Please, Sayaka. It sucks that your life is now this because of Bunny-Cat’s dick move, and I can’t see a painless way to get out of this. But please, talk with Madoka. Be a good example to Kyoko and Homura. Don’t let the problems of today weigh you down. You are Sayaka Miki, student of Mami Tomoe. You will be a glorious Magical Girl, a hero. Just stay strong.

Sayaka’s doing a little better after Madoka give a shoulder to cry on. Keep being a good friend, Madoka. Now, let’s go save the Muggles!

In what looks like an old construction site…

Kyoko’s there, chomping on a popsicle as she looks at a labyrinth. Are the others in there already?

Oh hey, Homura! She questions why Kyoko is on the sidelines right now, Kyoko says that Sayaka’s fighting a full-fledged Witch tonight. So since it’s sure to drop a Grief Seed, no reason to let the Familiar go to eat more people. As for why she’s letting someone else fight the ‘prey’? She doesn’t answer. Hmm, did Sayaka’s response leave an impact?

Inside the labyrinth, the art style seems to be black silhouettes against a white background.

Hey, this is Sayaka’s theme, isn’t it?

Sayaka’s charging the Witch, but keeps getting blocked by these dragon-head things. She almost reaches the… bonsai tree? But a branch grows and traps her. Madoka runs forward- oh hey, Kyoko’s here and cut her loose! She scoffs about Sayaka’s performance and gets ready to atta- nope, Sayaka tells her to get out of the way, that she’ll do this alone. Are you sure about that, Sayaka? This is a Witch, after all.

Ouch, that’s got to hurt. Good thing she can heal, though.

Wait. Is she laughing?

Um. She’s not dodging anymore, just charging. And now she’s slashing wildly at the Witch while still laughing.

“It’s really true! If I just detach myself…”

Oh no.

Ranubis said:As Sayaka recovers, Kyubey is rambling about how Magical Girls can control the degree of pain reception on their own, but he doesn’t recommend it at it lowers reaction time. ...wow, ok. Even I can see that manipulation at work there. You inflict Sayaka with severe pain, and then ‘offhandedly mention’ that she can make it so she feels no pain at all? Real subtle, Bunny-cat. Because why worry about the well-being of these girls when you can make them that much more aggressive in getting you food?

Well, this is just GREAT. Sayaka’s gone and turned into a Berserker Paladin, hasn’t she?

“...I really don’t feel any pain! *crazed laughter*”

Sayaka. Sayaka, please. Don’t do this. Going into a Berserker Rage never helps.

Can’t you hear Madoka begging you to stop?!

Well. That was certainly a cheery point to end the episode. Last time we discovered that the girls were lichs. Now Sayaka’s gone and started fighting in Berserker Mode. What’ll happen next, Madoka’s Mom gets killed by a Witch?!

Ugh. This show, you guys.

After Credits Picture! And adorable image of Kyoko, Sayaka and Madoka snacking on fish treats, while Sayaka yanks Kyubey away from the bag. If only this was the show that we had…

“I’m going to be a different kind of magical girl from all of you...That’s what I’ve decided...I don’t need thanks or recompense. I’ll be the one magical girl who won’t use her magic for herself.”

Well, that’s a good Hero Statement. Good for you Saya-

Episode 8: I Was Stupid… So Stupid

...what. No. NO. THAT IS A HORRIBLE EPISODE TITLE, WHY WOULD YOU-

[katedoesfics]

Shadows of the Future | Chapter 10

The days wore on, turning to weeks and months, still with no word of the Yiga Clan. But Dorian and his men kept up their patrols around Faron, and whether it was from simply working so closely with Rusl or the fact that he decided to make the best of a crappy situation, Dorian felt his presence not quite so annoying. When their patrols took them overnight, and often for several days, more often than not, they resorted to casual conversation to pass the time. Despite his earlier trepidations, Dorian found himself telling Rusl about Cottla and Koko and their latest misadventures as toddlers.

Rusl found these antidotes amusing. He never knew what normal kids were like, when they weren’t running from the law, or getting passed from foster family to foster family. The kids he knew, well, were complete assholes. But Dorian’s kids - normal kids - they seemed rather entertaining. Fulfilling, either. And still, his mind wandered to his future. Could hero kids be just as normal? Could his children live normal lives?

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Rusl turned his attention to Dorian. He felt his brows relax, not realizing how tightly they had furrowed together. He settled back against the old, rock wall and sighed through his nose. It had been a particularly long patrol and he was exhausted.

“Nothing,” he said simply. He leaned his head back and peered at the stars between the branches. A light breeze blew, and his ears twitched. For a brief moment, he could have sworn he had heard her voice once more. It had been a long time since she spoke to him, though it was usually in his dreams.

“What does she say?”

Rusl turned his gaze to Dorian, but Dorian was looking at the ground.

“What?”

“Hylia,” he said as if it were obvious. “She speaks to you. What does she say?”

Rusl’s nose wrinkled. “Have you been eating those shrooms?”

Dorian regarded him with an annoyed look. “Why are you ignoring her?”

Rusl hesitated, then pulled his gaze away. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“Give it a rest,” Dorian muttered. “I know when you hear her.” He was quiet for a moment. “What does she say?”

“I don’t know,” Rusl said slowly. “It’s not words.”

“Because you’re not listening.”

Rusl glanced at him again.

“How long have you heard her?”

Rusl held his gaze on Dorian for a moment. “I dunno,” he said with a shrug. “As long as I can remember.” He paused to think back on his life for a moment. “More frequently after…”

Dorian nodded. He understood that Rusl was referring to the time when he accidentally killed two men with his power. “She’s been trying to guide you,” he said. Rusl snorted, and Dorian turned a disapproving gaze to him.

“What do you care?” Rusl muttered. “She doesn’t say anything.”

“Because Impa stuck me with you,” he growled. “And whether I like it or not, I have to keep your damn ass alive so you can give Hyrule the hero it needs. And if you don’t start listening to her, you’ll never know how to protect your son.”

Rusl chewed on his lower lip for a moment.

“You hear her, but you still don’t believe it.” Dorian narrowed his gaze on Rusl.

Rusl shrugged one shoulder and shifted himself on the ground, stretching his legs out. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Killing three people; is that just a regular occurrence, then? Is that not proof enough?”

“Look, D.” Rusl met his gaze and grinned. “Can I call you D? I’ve decided to call you D.”

“No,” Dorian said simply.

But Rusl ignored him. “You see, D; I’ve decided to just live my life. Whatever happens, happens. I won’t question it, but you won’t find my preaching to some Goddess, either. As far as I’m concerned, she’s just as shitty as everyone else in this world, using me for her own petty war games. I’m not going to sit here and make myself crazy wondering if it’s all true or not. For fuck’s sake, how could anyone live like that? There’s too much I don’t know. Too much I can’t possibly know. Not yet, anyway. And if I figure those things out, then so be it. But until then, why the fuck would I drive myself mad over it?”

Dorian pulled his gaze away. He knew there was no getting through to him. Not yet, anyway. Still, it didn’t make his job any easier. The sooner Rusl saw the truth for himself, the better off they would all be. And perhaps, then, he wouldn’t be so damn careless all the time. He was good at his job, Dorian could give him that. But, despite it all, there was still carelessness behind his actions. In the end, it came down to how willing he was to throw his life away. For his friends, for his comrades. He didn’t particularly care about his future. In his mind, he was still convinced he had no future, simply assuming he was just cursed to be Hylian.

“Stop it,” Rusl sneered. “Stop trying to analyze me.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Dorian’s lips. But his attention was turned to something else. He peered through the trees where a single light bobbed up and down the dirt path. From the corner of his eye, Rusl leaned forward, taking his rifle in his arms.

“Hold on,” Dorian warned him in a low voice. One Yiga was hardly a threat, but where there was one, he was sure there were more. And he and Rusl alone didn’t stand a chance if they were ambushed. But the rest of his men were resting further down the path, completely unaware of any potential danger. They had to analyze the situation quickly and then plan their move to either attack, or make their way back to camp to alert the soldiers.

Rusl, however, was practically chomping on the bit. He was resting on the balls of his feet, his weapon up to his face as he looked down the sight.

As Dorian suspected, there was a handful of Yiga soldiers walking through the forest, a single light between them. After a moment, they stopped about a few yards away. Though they spoke low, Dorian and Rusl could easily make out their conversation.

“It’s only a matter of time before the hero manifests,” one of the soldiers said. “Kohga senses traces of the hero’s spirit here in Faron. Stay sharp. Report any traces to me right away and detain anyone who carries traces of the spirit. Do not kill anyone.” His voice growled at the last part. “We cannot raise suspicions and reveal who we are. Understand?”

Rusl shifted, his heart racing. His foot moved back slightly, snapping a twig beneath his boot. He was sure Dorian would have been glaring angrily at him if his attention wasn’t focused on the Yiga, now alerted to their position within the trees.

“Move,” Dorian snapped, but the Yiga were already on top of them, lunging at them with their blades.

Dorian promptly blocked their attack, but his shield was shattered when they resorted to using their powers instead. They leapt into the air, disappearing in five simultaneous snaps, and when they appeared again, they were in the air above them, their palms thrust downwards.

Dorian and Rusl threw themselves in opposite directions, avoiding the deadly blast that ripped up the ground where they stood, causing a deep crater. The Yiga had returned to their feet just as Dorian thrust his palm out towards three of them, and they were sent flying backwards with tremendous force. They each crashed into a tree, snapping not only their bones, but the trees themselves, which came crashing down around them.

The other two Yiga, however, had their attention turned to Rusl, their lips twisted in angry snarls. Rusl pulled his blade from his hip as they lunged at him. He narrowly dodged the attack of one but only to find himself face to face with the second, a unified assault. Before he had a chance to react, however, the Yiga slashed his blad across his body, sending Rusl stumbling backwards and clutching at the wound in his gut.

He fell to his knees as the two Yiga closed in, but before they had a chance to end his life, they were promptly thrust off their feet once more. They were quick to regain themselves, however, turning their attention to Dorian as he threw himself in front of Rusl. His arms crossed to block their next attack, and as soon as it shattered his defenses, he thrust his palm out again. The ground erupted at their feet, sending them back once more, and he lunged after them with a blade in each hand, promptly ending their lives.

Rusl gasped and winced at the pain as Dorian quickly dropped to his knees beside him. His brows were furrowed together as he pulled Rusl’s hands away.

“Let me fix it,” he hissed when Rusl groaned in complaint. His hands hovered over him for a moment, and Rusl could practically feel the wound closing. His skin pulled as if being stitched together, and within a few minutes, all that remained of the wound was the fresh blood that still coated his skin and fingers.

“Fuck,” Rusl breathed out. He stared at his healed skin. “You have got to teach me that.”

Dorian got up and looked around them quickly. “I guess we’re even, now,” he said.

Rusl looked up at him and grinned. He wiped his hands against his pants in an attempt to clear them of his blood and stood. “Shit. I guess we are.”

“Let’s go,” Dorian said simply, leading the way through the forest.

Rusl followed closely behind, gathering his weapon when they passed it. “I feel like we had a moment there,” he said. “You saved my life, man. And don’t tell me it’s your job. I think you did it because you like me.”

“I do not.”

“I think we’re friends,” Rusl said. “This is the start of something beautiful. We should appreciate this moment.”

“I will kill you.”

“It’s okay, D. You don’t have to play the tough guy act with me.”

Dorian spun on his heels, his arm thrust toward Rusl, and sneered at him.

Rusl promptly stopped walking, stiffening as he regarded Dorian for a moment. His gaze narrowed, and he grinned. “You won’t.”

Dorian held his gaze for a moment, then dropped his arm. “Don’t test me. You’re the damn reason they found us in the first place.”

Rusl frowned, recalling the conversation they overheard. “They’re looking for me.” It wasn’t a question.

Dorian hesitated. “Seems like it,” he said.

Rusl’s brows furrowed. He looked down at the ground. After a moment, he shrugged and stepped passed Dorian, continuing back to their camp. “I guess you’ll have to work extra hard to keep my ass alive,” he said. “And here I thought we had something special.”

Dorian followed Rusl through the forest. “You’re going to keep making this difficult for me.”

“I’m just following orders, man,” Rusl said. “It’s not my fault the Yiga want my ass.” He glanced at Dorian over his shoulder. “You’re not gonna fire me or something, are you?”

“Can’t exactly have you running around on patrols with the Yiga are hunting you.”

Rusl stopped walking and frowned. “And you think sitting around in one place and waiting for them to find me is a better option?” He turned and started walking again.

“Better than you being in the front lines every day.”

“Nuh-uh,” Rusl started. “This is the only thing I’ve got going for me. You’re not taking that away.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Dorian muttered. “It’s Impa’s call, not mine.”

“Are you at least on my side?” Rusl asked. He glanced at Dorian and grinned. “Come on. We’re a team. Can’t break us up.”

“Oh, we can break up,” Dorian said. “In fact, it’s better if we do.”

“Fate brought us together, D,” Rusl continued on teasingly. “You can’t run from fate.”

“Neither can you.”

To his relief, this shut Rusl up, leaving him to ponder once more at his future. Dorian didn’t feel particularly good about it; he knew Rusl was still struggling to accept his destiny. But for the love of Hylia, he just wanted him to stop talking for five damn minutes.

[ssamie]

five. similar routines

oikawa tooru x fem langa!reader

(hq x sk8 the infinity)

warnings: spelling mistakes, swearing, 2k+ words, u have langa’s blue hair sorry 

gen masterlist.            “snow” masterlist.

"you know, oikawa-san.." she started off with a sheepish hum "yes?" oikawa hummed with a smile 

"i thought you were only picking me up so we can walk together." she said 

"exactly. that's why im here" oikawa said with a chuckle 

"so.. why are you in my room so early in the morning?" she deadpanned as she looked at him, as he sat on the foot of her bed "you're here way too early, oikawa-san" she said with a yawn

"well, i thought i'd get to know your mom too since she's also new to the neighbourhood ya know? shes very nice, by the way." oikawa chuckled out 

"my.. mom..?" she sent him a weirded out look 

"hey! not like that!" oikawa shrieked out "if anything, you'd be the only girl i'd have eyes for, FYI" he said with a wink. "oh.." y/n said with a laugh. "well, it's whatever oikawa-san." she said as she stood up from her bed. 

"did you eat breakfast yet? i feel like you have since you're already dressed up and all.." 

"but if you haven't, you can eat with me." she offered as she looked at him expectantly by the door 

"i ate already, but we can have coffee together" oikawa suggested with a smile as he followed her out "oh. but you'd have to make it since i suck at making coffee." she said "oh come on, you can't be that bad" oikawa mused as he ruffled her already messy blue locks 

"i'll drink whatever you make, don't worry" he said 

"okay but i warned you." she replied with a sigh 

oikawa sent one last fleeting glance to her room before he closed the door. he took note of the snowboards displayed by her wall and her skateboard so delicately situated by her desk. as well as the slightly messy collage of pictures stuck to her wall, most of them being pictures of a redhead. 

"oikawa-san?" she called out, looking back to see him lagging behind. 

"oh sorry, i'll be right there, y/n-chan!" 

"this is coffee is probably more bitter than a rotten ballsack." oikawa muttered to himself as he reluctantly gulped down the beverage.

"did you say something, oikawa-san?" y/n hummed with a smile

"i said this coffee is probably better than any drink there is!" he exclaimed

"really??" y/n asked with sparkling eyes "then i'll make you coffee every morning starting now!" she said with an excited smile

oikawa paled as he watched her relish in the compliment with a smile, it's almost as if she was oozing with sparkles."ah.. y-you don't have to.." oikawa stammered out with a quivering smile

"oh.." her smile fell

oikawa mentally gasped and hastily shook his head "no, i take that back!" he exclaimed "you can make me coffee! in fact, you can make me a gallon everyday if you want!" oikawa rambled with in a frantic tone

"okay, oikawa-san" she smiled "that would mean we'd meet every morning too, haha" she chuckled

oikawa froze at the statement and nodded with an accomplished smile. "yup. sounds good!" he said. he then turned away and dramatically cried a single tear. "so worth it.." he muttered as he sipped on the devil spawn of a drink.

"anyways, should we go?" she asked him. "i can leave my board if you want me to walk with you." she said "no it's fine, i'll just keep up" he said 

oikawa hummed to himself as he envisioned the two of them making their way to school. y/n was skating while he holds her hand, the both of them laughing and smiling like two protagonists of a shoujo manga. 

"let's go, oikawa-san" she called out to him as she puts on her converse instead of her school shoes and grabbed her board. 

"right." oikawa hummed as he happily followed behind, watching her get on the board and placing her phone in her pocket. "you'd keep up with me right?" she asks him "i won't go too fast if you want.." 

"no, no. go do your thing, i don't mind~" oikawa cooed with a smile 

"okay then." she sent him a smile before fully skating away and leaving a trail of dust behind. 

"eh?" oikawa blinked in confusion as he watched her skate in a baffling speed and jumping effortlessly over bumps and obstacles. it was so different from what he's seen the first time he saw her skating to school. he was almost certain she was just one of those mediocre skater girls that everyone likes solely because they're pretty. 

"oikawa-san, why aren't you following?!" she yelled from atleast a block away 

"huh? well i didn't think you'd leave me behind like that!" oikawa whined as he ran towards her with a huff "you said to do my thing!" she yelled back 

"right, right, my bad!" he laughed it off as he patted her back "i'll slow down if you want" she offered with a laugh 

"yeah, i'd love that.." 

from his front porch, iwaizumi watched them with an unamused look on his face. "flirting already?" he groaned "its seven in the morning, when will i ever get a break from this?" 

"wow, didn't think you two would get so close so quickly" hanamaki teased as he pointed to y/n who was fixing the nets 

"um can someone help me put this up-" 

"oh that? it was pretty easy" oikawa shrugged it off with a smug grin "she just couldn't resist me and my charms, ya know?" 

"i'll do it for you, don't worry!" oikawa cut her off as he skipped towards her and proceeded to put the nets up himself 

hanamaki sweat dropped as he watched the brunette continue to chat her up while she simply nods along "more like you couldn't resist her.." he sneered. matsukawa joined in as they three in teasing comments to the captain, all while oikawa tries to shut them up. 

"hey, let's eat out after practice, y/n-san" yahaba suggested with a flirty smile 

"oh, sure.." y/n replied, tilting her head in confusion as his face contorts into one that resembles the handsome squidward. "cool. i'll come." oikawa interjected as he stared yahaba down. 

"oh uh- i meant me.. and her.." yahaba sweat dropped 

"yknow what, why don't we bring the whole team!" oikawa let out an obnoxiously fake laugh as he announced the plans to the whole gym. "geez. he's down bad" matsukawa said to hanamaki as the latter nodded along 

"jesus christ, that dumbass.." iwaizumi sighs as he watched oikawa subtly give yahaba more tasks than the others 

"are you free later iwaizumi-san?" y/n asks him as she hesitantly tugged on his sleeve. iwaizumi raised a brow and nodded. "yeah, why? did you need something?" he asked 

"i know i said i'll stop trying but i still wanna know how to play volleyball" she said "can you teach me? coach said you're the ace" 

"oh sure" iwaizumi gave her a thumbs up "but didn't shittykawa teach you already?" 

"it didn't really work" she frowned "maybe you'd be a better teacher". iwaizumi sweat dropped as he heard a dramatic gasp followed by a thud from afar. he didn't even need to turn around to know that it was oikawa. 

"sure, i'll teach you the basics" iwaizumi sent her a grin. "thank you!" she exclaimed happily before walking off and doing her work 

"iwa-chan, you traitor!" oikawa exclaimed as he tried to tackle him down, only to be blocked by iwaizumi's arm. "shut up. its not my fault you can't even teach her how to hit a damn ball" iwaizumi rolled his eyes 

"i can, okay! it's just her..." oikawa chuckled sheepishly "she doesn't know how to hit it properly" 

"huh." iwaizumi hummed "maybe she's right, maybe you're just a shitty teacher." 

"you'll see for yourself!" 

"i can finally play volleyball!" she announced excitedly as she munched down on her food "really? how'd you learn that?" kindaichi mused with a soft laugh 

"iwaizumi-san taught me! he's really good" she said with  sparkling eyes 

oikawa spluttered as he felt an imaginary arrow pierce his chest. "ah.. that's.. that's great y/n.. good job" he squeaked out with a quivering smile. "maybe you're right.. maybe i was just a shitty teacher" oikawa shamefully admitted to iwaizumi 

beside her, oikawa silently sulked as he gloomily nibbled on his burger. "oikawa-san, i can finally serve too" she told him with a smile 

"glad you're aware" iwaizumi snickered. "anyways, i'm gonna go ahead" iwaizumi said as he stood up and stretched. "i have a shit ton of work to do so i'll leave ya guys to it" 

"iwaizumi-san, won't you walk with us?" y/n asked him "we're neighbours too right?" 

"ah actually, sure-" iwaizumi cut himself off as he caught a glimpse of oikawa looming over her shoulder 

the brunette was giving him an exaggerated frown, paired with his 'puppy dog eyes' and even some tears for the effect. its not that iwaizumi was swayed by the expression. frankly, he just didn't want to look at it any longer so he denied. 

"actually.. you guys can walk together. i think my mom needs me now. stay safe though" he said. y/n nodded and waved him off while oikawa send him a grateful smile and a wave. iwaizumi simply flipped him off and waved the rest goodbye. 

"so, anything else you want, y/n-chan?" oikawa cooed as he watched her chomp down her meal 

"milkshake.." y/n muttered with a delighted look on her face. "milkshake it is!" oikawa exclaimed. he then turned to yahaba who was grumbling by the corner and grinned. 

"cmon then, yahaba-kun~ she said she wanted a milkshake! chop chop!" oikawa chuckled. yahaba rolled his eyes but pulled out his wallet anyways. "why am i getting treated like this?" he silently sulked 

"well you were the one who invited us after all" oikawa mused. "i invited y/n, not all of you!" yahaba whined 

by the side, hanamaki and matsukawa simply watched, sneering and laughing to themselves while they ate. "this is gonna be a long night" hanamaki let out a sigh "who cares? yahaba's treating us" matsukawa shrugged 

"i never said that!" yahaba shrieked out 

"how do you feel?" oikawa asked her. "full.." she replied with a satisfied sigh "thanks for inviting me, everyone" she said 

"no problem, y/n-senpai!" kindaichi replied as he and kunimi waved her goodbye "bye guys!" the rest of them said as the team dispersed to their own routes. 

"guess its just us now" oikawa mused as he stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets. "right." y/n nodded as she slowly skated beside him 

"sure, oikawa-san. i'd like that" she smiled 

"let's walk together tomorrow too" oikawa suggested. "i'll invite iwa if you want" 

"this'll be like our routine from now on" oikawa cheered "us three will be best friends in no time" he sent her a  wink 

"best friends.." she muttered "i already-" 

"-have a best friend, i know" oikawa finished her sentence with a laugh "it's fine to have more than one best friend, ya know?" he mused 

"more than one.." she hummed thoughtfully "someone other than reki..?" she muttered to herself 

she looked down at her feet and her board, then back at oikawa and the slightly starry sky. it was quite similar to the daily routine she has with reki. skating together to school, eating out, and skating back home. it provided her a strange sense of deja vu. 

"that sounds nice." she said with a smile 

oikawa smiled back and put his hands behind his head as he walked. "yeah it does." he agreed 

"i look forward to being best friends with you guys" she said 

sorry for the spelling / grammar mistakes if there are any :<

"me too, y/n."

[rosegoldcross18]

BatBoys Headcanons #2

You Get Closer:

Dick Grayson:

Ever since what you both called the “gym incident” a few months ago, you and Richard Grayson have started dating a bit. It was a weird dynamic, as it wasn’t as serious as it normally would be. You’d take turns taking each other out to the most random places, ranging from lunch dates to across-the-street-dates. You loved how honest he was with you and how special he made you feel. He had the most beautiful people falling at his feet, but whenever you two were together, you had all his attention. Whatever you had to say he honored and you, likewise.

It was no secret that you were falling for Richard; even road kill would be able to see. You constantly find yourself unable to stop giggling around him, always wanting to look your best, and generally happier. You had it bad for him, but you didn’t want to scare him away by being too forward. Besides, you were pretty sure it all spoke for itself anyway, but Richard had a tendency of being quite the airhead sometimes, you noticed, so it probably flew over him. That’s never stopped you from thinking that maybe, just maybe he might feel the same way, but at the same time you always stopped yourself from expecting too much.

On a certain Wednesday afternoon though, something sort of changed in your little arrangement. Your shift had just finished and you were about to clock out of work, when a commotion in the lobby caught your attention. You shuffled over to the crowd and saw Richard sitting by the lounge, looking as hot as ever. He dressed simply, a black shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar and black jeans. “Richard?” you call out to him. “What are you doing here?”

Immediately his gaze went to you, going from uncomfortable to elated in half a second. All eyes went to you, varying shades of green in each of the women present. “Hey beautiful.” He greets, slinging one of his arms around your shoulders. Another thing that swept you off your feet all the time: you’re the only one he calls beautiful. “I was thinking a steak dinner tonight. You up for it?”

“If I start gaining weight because of you, I swear Grayson, you’re gonna die.” You point an accusatory look at him and he returns it with a sheepish one.

“It doesn’t really matter to me. You’ll always be stunning no matter what.” There was something about the way he said it that told you he wasn’t just fooling around. It wasn’t as lighthearted like all those times before. No, this felt like it had meaning.

And as he walked you to the steakhouse with his hand sliding down to hold yours, your hope for the two of you never felt stronger.

Jason Todd:

Water rushed over your hands as you lathered the soap. You had just finished off your last ink job for the day, another very satisfied customer walking out your door. Now all that’s left was to close up shop and you’d be on your way home. Gathering your things and fixing yourself up a bit, you shut the lights and lock the doors before leaving. As your boots clacked along the moonlit curb, your eyes darted all around, vigilant. Your apartment was a good twenty minute walk from here, but the streets were darker than they should be, and you weren’t exactly in the safest place in Gotham, so it was always quite the nervous trek.

As you made your way past the first two alleyways, a bunch of guys stuck their hungry eyes at you. You heard them before you saw them; they began whistling and crowing as you walked by. Obviously they were teenagers, with no sense of fashion too, you noted. They were dressed like stereotypical gangsters, the ones you see on a corny cop movie, but they were far from intimidating. They were bold, though, you’d give them that. Especially since one decided you were harmless enough to approach.

“Hello there, little lady. Whatchu doin’ walking out here by yourself? It’s dangerous.” One drawled close to your heavily pierced ear.

You smiled sarcastically “Oh yeah, definitely. Smell the breath on you, oh lord, I am fearing for my life right now.” You waved your hand back and forth under your nose. It pissed him off instantly.

“What did you just say to me?!”

“Oh, did I hurt wittle Jimmy boy’s feelings? Look, why don’t you go back to your little cronies and show your dick to them instead because I have bad eyes. Can’t see small stuff.”

“Why you-” He raised his hand in the air, ready to smack you, when a howl of laughter came from behind you. A very familiar-and sexy-laugh.

“Man that was a comeback worth writing down.” Jason swaggered his way to you, lazy grin on his face but a little fire in his eyes. “Alright, playtime’s over kid. You go run along now.”

“W-Who the fuck are you?!” He stuttered, still trying to keep the tough face on despite clearly being unsettled by Jason’s sheer size. You couldn’t blame him though; Jason was built like a fucking god.

“Ah, nobody really. Just saw you were giving the lady trouble and thought to stop it. You know, ‘cause it’s disrespectful. Plus I did you a favor, dude. Wouldn’t want your gang to see you get your face beat in, would you?” His face was smug, almost gloating, but you could still tell his threat was dead serious. Apparently Mr. Gang signs did too, since he just left with a scowl. “You alright?”

“Yeah, I guess. I didn’t really need help though, if I’m gonna be honest.”

“Oh believe me I know. I just wanted him to fuck off faster.” He chuckled as you both continued walking.

“How’d you know I was here?”

“I live relatively close by, and I just got back from Irene’s house. Helped her with some things.”

“I should go visit Mrs. Mabel, too.”

“Wanna go tomorrow?” Jason suddenly asks. “We could have lunch there.” You raised an amused eyebrow at his proposal.

“Jason Peter Todd, are you asking me out?”

“Yeah, I am. Is there a problem with that?” You both stop at the door of your apartment building.

“Nope. Absolutely nothing.” You hum, kissing him on the cheek before going inside.

Tim Drake:

Turns out you and Tim shared the same school. Thankfully, your schedules weren’t totally mismatched, so you both had time to hang out in between periods. You had become rather good friends in a short amount of time, as you often helped with his self-destructive sleeping habits. Honestly, you were shocked he was still so smart—sleeping nearly thirty minutes a day would have killed your entire brain in less than a week. You brought him scented candles, helped him pick out pillows and made him tea that’d help him drowse. You were mothering him in a way, and it was quite obvious he liked it.

Third period had just started and you were waiting for your ever-so-punctual professor to show up. Cheek squished on your knuckle, you blew a raspberry in boredom. Then your phone vibrated in your pocket, signaling a text. You saw that it was from Tim, and it read:

                       “Vacant time. Teach didn’t even bother to show up today, and no sub.

                        Bored as heck.”

You shook your head and texted back with a smile. “Sorry, can’t help you there. I’m in class. Why don’t you take a nap?”

               “I don’t feel like it. Can’t you skip?” You looked out the window and saw him looking down on his phone under one of the trees.

“You are not influencing me into truancy, sir, no matter how cute you are.” You saw his teeth peek out in a smile.

          “Come on, just this once? :( I’m very lonely.”

“Boo-hoo for you. I’m not sacrificing my mom’s hard earned money just to snooze under a tree.”

     “Touché. Fine, you win. I’ll wait…

    …but I’ll be thinking of you.”

Okay, pause. Hold the damn phone. Timothy Drake did not just say that to you. Your cheeks lit on fire as you attempted to keep your face relaxed. You looked up at him again, and saw that he too, was red in the face. He started punching the side of his head, seemingly regretting what he just sent.

           “Forget that last bit.”

Oh but you won’t. Not a chance in cold hell.

Damian Wayne:

Damian had been frequenting your shelter since he first came here a month ago, claiming that he had to make sure the animals were in “optimal living conditions”, and that his father’s money wasn’t going to waste. You didn’t see him very often because you had school and you only get to help on the weekends, but every time you did he was with a Dalmatian you liked to call “Oreo”. He was still kinda young, and Damian obviously liked him the most out of all the critters here. In all honesty, you wanted to talk to him and be friends, but you got very shy.

Currently, you were feeding the dogs while your dad bought some supplies from the vet across the street. There were twelve dogs total in the shelter, not counting the ten puppies in the nursery room. This chore in particular was your favorite, being that you adored dogs more than any other animal. All the doggos happily trotted around the feeding room as you prepared their feasts. “Okay, gang. Here’s the grub.” You holler, bringing out a dozen feeding bowls. “Now, you don’t eat until I say so, okay?” They all stood to attention, tails wagging back and forth like furry windshield wipers. You set the bowls in a line, evenly filling them with dog food and a little bit of raw meat. You backed away and twenty four beady black eyes stared at you in anticipation. “Okay…go!” Then they all simultaneously devour their meals, chomping and licking sounds filling the air. You giggle and put the food away, readying their vitamin-infused water for after they eat.

Amongst the cacophony of eating doges, you heard a set of footsteps from the doorway. You turn and see Damian, looking as stiff as ever. His eyes focused on the dogs and gained an approving look in them. You smiled, happy that you met his expectation. “What do they eat daily?”

“Oh, just a combination of dog food and some raw chicken. The vitamins I put in their water, since they don’t eat the supplements I mix in with the solid food.” Another nod.

“Sounds appropriate.” Then an awkward silence ensues. You gulp, feeling yourself shy away again. “Would you allow me to take Oreo for a walk? Your father mentioned that you walk the dogs on the afternoons.”

You tuck a stray hair behind your ear as you poured the water into the now-emptied bowls. “Oh sure! Actually, the backyard’s completely fenced and it’s a big place. Why not just set them all free there, let them run and play around?”

He paused a bit, his expression softening the tiniest bit. Barely noticeable, but it was something. “Alright.”

[lezzybugo3o]

Providing

(Finally finished this fic after who knows how long. Anyways, I wanna thank @madamecricket and @motivationalsharkprince for giving me the inspiration to write this out, based on this post. Hope you all like it!)

Warning: Story contains mentions of blood, dismemberment, slight swearing, and animal abuse. If these elements are too uncomfortable for you, please DO NOT read.

The sun was setting among the Lanaryu region as two Hylian men made their way across a bridge. Noren panted as he wiped the sweat from his brow, both from the humidity and the anger he was feeling. His foot still hurt from a young Hylian girl stomping on it after she refused his advances. “That little bitch…” he growled. “If I ever see her again, I'll slit her throat! And then I'll skewer her boyfriend with my sword!”

“Oh give it a rest, Noren,” Gori chided. “We'll get her next time. In the meantime, we gotta think about our next move. We're running low on cash and I don't know about you, but I don't wanna run into any monsters.”

Noren nodded and thought about it. Sure, they could find a monster camp and pick them off one by one, harvesting the remains, but that would take time and there weren't many camps around to raid. He rested his hand on his chin to think.

“You boys need help?”

The two Hylians looked up to a glowing tower to find the owner of the new voice. He looked like a dark figure… literally. His clothes were as dark as the night itself and his eyes shone red, giving a stark contrast to his dark grey complexion. He looked like a Hylian and yet, there was something off about him. The figure jumped off the tower to face Noren and Gori.

“Who the hell are you, freak?” wondered Noren, wary of the stranger.

The dark Hylian gave a mock hurt look, complete with a hand to the chest. “Freak? Gentlemen, you wound me so. And here I was going to let you in on a juicy secret.”

“Secret? Whatcha mean?” Gori asked, interested.

“Heh. I suppose I can tell you both out of the goodness of my heart. All things considered… you can call me Dark,” the young man grinned as he said this, but it was a rather creepy grin.

Noren raised an eyebrow in confusion. “That your real name or did you come up with that yourself?”

Dark just scoffed. “Like yours are any better. Anyways, I was just hanging around when I heard you two were looking for some quick cash-in.” He leaned in a bit close. “I might be able to help you on that. Ever heard of Zora’s Domain?”

“...We’re listening,” Noren answered, now intrigued.

“Legend has it there’s a neat treasure there that once belonged to a king. So far, nobody’s claimed it.” He smirked towards them. “It might just be your lucky day.”

“How do we know you’re not just pulling our leg?” Noren asked, still skeptical.

As if being one step ahead, Dark pulled out a slightly dusty Shiekah Slate and showed the two a picture of a dark-colored treasure chest in the middle of what looked like a throne. “Satisfied? There’s no one there anymore so it’s easy pickings.”

Gori stepped forward and pointed to Dark’s chest. “How come you never picked it up yourself?”

“Because I don’t need material things to keep me happy. Now skedaddle on to that treasure. It’s waiting for you~”

“Alright, alright. We’re going! Let’s get walking, Gori.”

Gori’s eyes shimmered with anticipation for that treasure. “Oh boy, just think of what’ll be in that box. We’re gonna eat like kings after this!”

“Oh you won’t be the only ones…” Dark chuckled to himself before slipping into the forest.

After several battles with monsters and braving the rain, Noren and Gori finally made their way to the entrance of Zora’s Domain. The structure of the palace was covered in green algae and the luminous stone that made up the walls and pillars no longer had its bright luster. There also seemed to be no sign of any natives around the area. The Hylian men walked on cautiously in case something or someone was hiding in the shadows.

Gori shivered as he walked. “This place is giving me the creeps. Let’s just find that treasure and get the hell out of here.”

Noren nodded, agreeing. “Yeah, no kidding. Gaah, but it would have been nice if that dark brat told where exactly it was. Though if I remember correctly, he said it’d be up on the king’s throne.”

With that, the two of them headed to the abandoned throne where the Zora King once stood. Rumors say that he was killed by one of his own people. Others say he died of a broken heart upon hearing the news of his daughter’s death. Whatever the reason, Gori and Noren didn’t care at all as they walked up to the throne. Lo and behold, there was a medium-sized treasure box that looked slightly rusted.

“Aw, yes! We find it, Gori! We actually found it!” He walked towards the chest greedily when suddenly a black cat perched herself on top of the chest. She meowed at the pair as if daring them to get closer, her tail swishing side to side.

Gori stepped back a bit. “Hey uh, Noren? I got a thing about cats, so uh, think you could get this puss away?”

“Tch, if this is what the Zoras consider treasure security, it’s no wonder they all left this dump.” He swatted his hand at the cat in an attempt to scare the animal away. “Get off of here! Go on! Shoo!” The black feline only swatted at the Hylian with a yowl and hissed threateningly at the pair. “Ahh, fuck this!” Noren growled as he stepped up and then kicked the cat away hard, making her fly into one of the nearby pillars with a pained cry. “Hmph, stupid animal.” He knelt down and broke the lock off the chest. The Hylian man wasted no time in lifting the lid, but opening it… he and Gori were met with confusion and disappointment. There was no glint of treasure, but rather… a small piece of paper with some writing on it. Noren picked it up and read the note. “‘You should not have come here?’ The hell does that mean?!” He crumpled the paper and growled. “When I find that smug little bastard, I’ll-”

His threat was then cut off by Gori’s whimpering and shivering. “N-N-Noren, d-d-don’t look behind you…” “What the hell are you on about, Gori?” He then heard a rather animalistic growl, one that made his blood turn to ice. He looked towards where the sound came from and saw a large bulky red Zora with scars littering his body and an expression that was ready to kill. Noren quickly stood up and pulled out a sword. “What the hell is that thing?!”

They both then heard a laugh from the side. Out from the shadows came Dark petting the same cat that Noren had kicked. “That ‘thing’ happens to be hungry~” “You little shit! When I get my hands on you, I’m gonna-” His threat was cut short when he felt a sharp pain on his arm. Noren immediately turned his gaze to the source of the pain and his eyes widened in terror as there was a fleshy stump, dripping blood where an arm used to be. His scream was a mixture of pain and fear, but the beast quickly shut him up by sinking his teeth into the Hylian’s neck.

Gori stood frozen in fear as he watched his friend be mauled to bits by this monster. He then tried to run off, hoping the Zora would be too busy with his first victim. It was no use as one of his arms was caught in a bone-crushing grip and he was shoved to the ground. He barely got an idea of what happened when the Zora suddenly chomped on to his stomach and the man let out a blood-curdling scream.

Dark merely sat back and watched in glee as the beast ate his fill. After some time, he set the cat down and walked over to the Zora. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Sidon. I had some trouble finding gullible idiots to come explore the domain.”

Sidon just licked the blood off his lips and grunted in reply. He then felt the cat rub up on his leg and the Zora gave her a gentle pet on the head as if thanking her for playing her part. Sidon picked her up carefully and nuzzled her fur, incredibly grateful that she wasn’t hurt any worse than what that awful Hylian did.

Dark snickered at the scene. “You are something else, babe. One minute you’re tearing up Hylians, the next you’re babying our cat.”

Sidon just huffed and rolled his eyes in annoyance, then pulled the Hylian in close with his free hand and pressed his lips hard onto Dark’s. The smaller man offered no resistance as he kissed back hungrily, wanting the taste of his lover on his tongue. Sidon then pulled back and lightly bit at Dark’s neck, drawing out a slight moan from him.

“Mmmm, damn. I think you’re hungry for something else, aren’t you?” he teased the large Zora.

Sidon merely gave a husky chuckle and growled into Dark’s ear, “You’re mine and mine alone, my dark pearl.”

Dark smirked and rested his forehead on Sidon’s. “You’re right about that, babe… and I’ll always provide for you.”

[staticscreenwriting]

Everything there is - Billy Hargrove

Synopsis: Billy’s mom is not dead in this one. She has a boyfriend though and Billy isn’t sure if he fits into this new family dynamic.

A/N: I like this story it was fun to write. I do hate the header image though, it didn’t work out the way I wanted it but at least I hope the writing is good. Hope you enjoy, feedback is very much appreciated ♥

“ I can't remember what I used to do Who I trusted whom, I listened to before I swear you've taught me everything I know Can't imagine needing someone so But through the years it seems to me I need you more and more “

Iron Maiden’s Wrathchild is blasting from his stereo, as Billy Hargrove lays on the floor of his childhood bedroom. A sweltering, clammy heat has taken over California and the floor seems to be the only place providing some kind of cooling.

The gray muscle shirt is sticking to his skin like a damn glove and he feels disgusting. It’s like all the whining he’d done about it not being warm enough in Indiana, has finally come back to bite him in the ass.

Sure he could go downstairs where there are actual working fans in several rooms that still possess all of their blades, unlike the one in his room. He could go downstairs in favor of a less sticky, less uncomfortable surrounding but really he’ll take sweaty balls over the shit downstairs any day.

Going downstairs means dealing with Craig. Dealing with his mom. Dealing with his mom and Craig. As a couple. As a family. As two people who don’t seem to be able to stop kissing and hugging and touching like a bunch of teenagers who have just discovered french kissing for the first time in their goddamn lives. A couple who bought a cat together, a fat ginger one, and called it Cat Benatar. Who do crossword puzzles together over the breakfast table and watch game shows cuddled up on the sofa every saturday evening and who go to concerts together and road trips and dates to the bowling alley. A couple who’s happy. A family that’s complete.

Going downstairs means seeing all of this and realizing once again how out of place he is here. How much he doesn’t fit into this life, this family. How happy his mom is. Without him.

It’s half an hour later and an entire run through the Killers album again, that a knock sounds at Billy’s door.

He grumbles a “come in” and hopes the person doesn’t hear it and just assumes he’s asleep or busy — or dead, and leaves him alone.

They don’t.

Craig, all blue eyes and over the top toothpaste commercial smile, sticks his head through the slightly opened door and looks at Billy as if he’s about to drop some life changing news, like a lottery win or something.

He doesn’t.

Instead he approaches Bill with a “Hey Bud” effectively wanting Billy to punch himself unconscious so he never has to hear anyone, let alone this complete stranger, call him Bud. Or champ. Or any of those weird ass nicknames Craig has been hurling at him since him and mom had picked him up from the airport.

Billy is 18, not 8. Those nicknames stopped being funny or endearing a while ago and at 18 they’re pretty much just creepy.

Also he’s not Craig’s Buddy in the first place so he doesn’t know where he got that idea from.

“ You wanna come downstairs for lunch ? Your mom made some sandwiches. Asked her to add some extra bacon. I heard you like that. I can remember when I was your age I would put bacon on literally everything”.

Billy finds it hard to even imagine this slightly balding, stach wearing man with the paint splattered jeans and the ridiculous CCR shirt, as an actual living teenager. It feels like Craig just came out of the womb all boring and bad jokes and all.

“ ‘m not really hungry, thanks though “:

He doesn’t want to be rude or ungrateful, he really doesn’t. It’s just that sitting down at the kitchen table with his mom and Craig is just gonna end up being a torture for him and he doesn’t want to end up saying something that would hurt his mom. They’re gonna ask about College and School and Friends and, god forbid, his love life. He really doesn’t fancy any of those talks. Especially not with Craig.

“ I know man, but your mom really wants to spend some time with you. Come on, give her that. She missed you “.

Billy thinks that’s the biggest bullshit of the century. Clearly his mom hasn’t missed him all that much. She went and got a whole nother life. A better one. A happy one. While she sent him to live with his dad who they both know doesn’t give two shits about Billy. Clearly she hasn’t missed him enough to have him over for Christmas instead of going on a trip to Montana with her new boyfriend.

She hasn’t missed him at all he feels like.

But she’s still his mom and even if she breaks his heart he will never be able to break hers. Because despite it all she’s still one of the few people he has ever truly loved.

“ Alright “ He murmurs and gets off the floor, shirt sticking to his back. In that moment he kinda misses his dad’s old home in California, it might’ve been a shitty run down place but it had a little pool in the back and that was basically heaven to Billy.

As he follows Craig downstairs, he can hear his mom hum along to Hall and Oates. She’s in a summer dress and her hair is up in some intricate braids and Billy almost doesn’t recognize her. This isn’t the woman that stayed behind while he was sent away. Back then she was all tired eyes and messy hair and sweater sleaves pulled over her hands. This woman had her shit together in the best way possible. Billy isn’t sure he’ll ever fit into this equation.

“ There’s my boy. Come sit “ she exclaims as she spots Billy waking into the kitchen and pats the barstool by the kitchen isle where a plate is already waiting for him.

Billy can’t remember the last time his mom made a home cooked meal for him. Back when he was a little boy she had a habit of trying out the most ridiculous dishes from her own mother’s cookbook, which usually resulted in the entire family feasting on a big cheesy pizza because she burned the dish. When things got bad between her and his dad, she stopped trying all together.

Sitting down at the kitchen isle, Billy starts chomping down on the sandwich. It’s not the most outrageous and delicious 4 course meal but there’s bacon and cheese and that’s basically all he needs.

For a moment he feels like a kid again, who’s mom greets him after school with sandwiches and juice boxes and hugs and love.

Then he notices that neither his mom nor Craig seem to be eating anything. In fact, they’re not even sitting down. They’re cooped together, Craigs arm around his mother’s waist as they both intensely focus on Billy himself.

“ You guys alright ? “

“ Yes, yes. Of course “ his mom exclaims, her words coming out jumbled and too quick for Billy’s liking. There’s something she isn’t telling him and it’s both annoying and hurtful.

“ Actually we are more than alright “ Craig speaks up from beside her.

There’s this look in both their eyes of excitement and joy but also fear of judgement and anxiety. Whatever it is they’re trying to tell him, Billy isn’t sure he’s going to like it very much.

His half eaten sandwich now completely abandoned, Billy raises his eyebrows in question.

“ What’s that supposed to mean then ? “

“ I — “ his mom starts and takes a deep breath before continuing “ we. We have something to tell you. There’s a reason I asked you to come visit me this summer. Not only because I missed you but also because there’s something really big you need to know “.

She pauses again and Billy feels like every second that goes by he gets a little more sick to his stomache.

“ What is it, mom ? “

“ Craig asked me to marry him and I said yes. The wedding is next saturday and I — Billy I just really wanted you there for it. We’re just gonna keep it real small. Get married at the courthouse and then have a tiny celebration at the Comet View. There’ll be dancing and drinks and good food. You know, just a fun night “.

Billy feels like he just drank and entire bottle of ice cold water in one go. His insides are frozen, his mind is frozen. There’s something about these news that make it impossible for him to process them. It’s like a thunderstorm crashing down on him in the middle of an Indiana winter.

A relationship was one thing but marriage ? Marriage is big and it means a lot and it’s — forever. And it feels like that might just completely close the door on Billy ever being a part of his mother’s life that isn’t just a visit every few months if at all.

“ Billy ? “

He realises that they expect and answer. A congratulation. Something. But can he really pretend to be happy about something that might just break his heart entirely ?

Yes he can.

Pretending is all he ever does.

“ Mom that’s — good. Congrats. Really, that’s great “.

He hugs his mom and shakes Craig’s hand and he needs to get out. The nerves in his fingers and and his toes are tingling and his heart is beating at a speed he’s sure it shouldn’t be. He’s hot and cold and everything in between and he needs to be somewhere else.

Somewhere he feels happy and safe and calm and comfortable and — like home.

Somewhere with his girl.

He knew he’d find her here. It’s her place, their place.

While the tourists and the loved up couples and the families mostly flocked to the pier, (Y/N) and Billy had found their own little spot of heaven and calm in the form of an abandoned beach watch tower further down the shore where the driftwood accumulated and the white sand wasn’t as picture perfect.

But it was theirs. Unofficially sure but it was. He hopes it still is.

“ Hey Chewie, didn’t expect to see you here “.

It’s like no time has passed and yet it feels like another life completely. She’s there in her shorts that are way too tiny to even be called that and shades on her face shaped like stars. There’s a sunhat on her head and a book in her hand and he’s sure he’s never seen anyone more perfect.

She is his poison and his cure all wrapped in one big mess of a girl. She is perfect and flawed, complicated and so well put together. She is everything and all.

He wishes he could’ve stayed. Wishes that the future he had so desperately wanted to have with her wasn’t but a mere dream to wander off to at nights he couldn’t seem to fall asleep.

He wishes she would still love him. And that the universe would work out for him for once, so he could allow himself to love her more.

“ Why am I Chewbacca ? “

“ The hair ?! “ she says and motions to his curly mullet. There’s a laugh hidden in her words and it makes the anxious tingles in his fingers disappear for a moment.

“ Fair enough. What makes you Han then ? “

“ Well, you always made sure I shot first “.

Billy almost chokes on his own spit right then. This beautiful girl with a smile that can compete with the sun, spouts dirty jokes so casually like there’s nothing about it. But that’s who she is, who she’s always been. And Billy’s heart aches so much when he realises just how much he missed her.

“ Come here you big Wookie ! “ she exclaims, takes off her shades, and pulls Billy into a hug. She’s all warm and familiar and she smells like the ocean and her signature Opium perfume that Billy knows so well because he used to buy her a new one every Christmas.

He kisses her head softly like old times. Like when things were good and they were happy and they didn’t have a lot but they had each other and that was really all the needed. Now he has a shitty room in a shitty house in a shitty town. With people he can’t stand and a family that shouldn’t even be allowed to be called a family.

And she has —

He honestly doesn’t know because he never bothered to call. Not only did he want a clean cut to make it possible for her to move on eventually, but he was also a fucking coward and calling her, hearing her voice, hearing she was happy without him would’ve killed him.

“ You doing good ? “ he asks and almost has a heart attack as she looks up at him with her big beautiful eyes that hold so much love he can’t even fathom it properly.

“ I’m okay. What about you ? “

He could lie. Tell her how amazing his life is and how happy he is. How it doesn’t break his heart to see his mother move on to a life that he has no place it. How Hawkins is all he ever dreamed of and how he doesn’t miss her like crazy.

He could, but he doesn’t.

He’s done a lot of shit in his part, still does a lot of shit, but one thing he’s never done, is lie to (Y/N).

She’s always been his person. The one that you can’t and don’t ever lie to. She knows him inside out and accepts him still. All faults and issues and baggage.

You don’t lie to people like that.

“ Mom’s getting married “.

He wants to say so much more because there’s so much more bubbling inside of him but he has absolutely no idea how to put them into words. It’s too much, too fast. So he leaves it at that.

“ I know “

“ You do ? “

“ Yeah. Just because you left doesn’t mean I stopped all contact with your family “

That makes him feel a little better although he doesn’t really know why. Maybe it’s because it reminds him that she was so much more than just some highschool girlfriend. She was his girl. Part of his family. And knowing that some part of that stayed, some part of that is still there, makes him happy.

“ Also, I don’t know if you recall but my dad owns the place where the reception is held so even if she didn’t ask me to be her maid of honor I still would’ve found out about it “.

“ She asked you to be what now ?!”

“ The maid of honor. Look Billy, when you left it was hard on both of us and we kind of bonded over that. “

That was ridiculous, his mom sent him away it’s not like he had left on his own accord. He didn’t want to leave, he would’ve given everything and more to be able to stay. But he was a minor and both his parents had decided leaving for Indiana was the better choice. That was a fucking bullshit decision.

“ I don’t think I can do this  “

“ Do what ? “

“ Watch her getting married. It’s like she’s starting this completely different life that makes her so happy. And don’t get me wrong I want her to be happy. But that life began without me and it’s gonna end without me. There’s no place for me. I don’t fit in there, (Y/N). I’m not part of this future. I’m not part of this family. “

(Y/N) untangles her arms from around his waist and takes a step back.

“ Billy, what do you think your mom did when you left ? “

“ I don’t know “ he says and shrugs his shoulders. He hasn’t really spent any thoughts on that. In his mind his mom was doing what she always did, only without him. “ Meeting men apparently. Falling in love. Being happy “.

“ You are delusional “

“ I’m sorry ? “

“ Billy I know this is not something you wanna hear but your mom wasn’t a saint before you left. She wasn’t happy but that wasn't your fault. You were her happiness, everything else was what made her unhappy. I know you see her as this superwoman who always did everything perfectly and who could do no wrong. But that’s not the person she was. You know what she did when you left ? She got help. Went to therapy, tried to fix her life so by the time you were done with highschool and maybe decided to return, she would be better. So she could be the woman you always thought she was. Everything she does, everything she did, was for you. She didn’t send you away because she didn’t want you here. It broke her heart to see you leave. She sent you away so she could fix herself without relying on you to pick up the pieces if things didn’t work out “.

Billy swallows the huge metaphorical lump that’s built in his throat while he listened to (Y/N)’s words. He had always known that his mother wasn’t happy and that she didn’t really have her shit together the way other mothers did. But he never thought it was this bad.

And maybe being angry at her was easier than admitting that she wasn’t this fearless, invincible saint he had always pictured her as.

“ She didn’t get better because you weren’t there, Billy. She went out and did something to change her life so she would be better once you came back. “

He wants to cry. He wants to scream and yell and punch something. Because life is terribly unfair and his mother of all people doesn’t deserve to ever feel unhappy. He wants to cry, but he doesn’t. Because it’s not what he does.

Instead he pulls (Y/N) back into an embrace. It’s sticky and gross but it’s what he needs. Because she’s his sun and his stars and his home and the one person to always align his planets and put things into perspective when he’s losing his head.

“ I don’t want to leave again “

He hasn’t said it out loud before but he’s been thinking about it for a while. Ever since he stepped a foot back into his childhood home. This is the place he wanted to be and even though with Craig around it all felt like things had shifted slightly, it was still better than Hawkins.

This was his home. His heart.

This was where his mom was and this weird new family she was creating with Craig and Cat Benatar. But maybe they could make some room for him in that constellation. He really didn’t need much space. Really.

“ Then don’t. “

“ You think they’d let me stay ? “

“ Billy, your mom is missing a piece of her heart whenever you’re not here. She’s got a proper job now and a wonderful man in her life that you should really give a chance. “

“ And a fat ginger cat. “

“ And a fat ginger cat ! She’s got her life figured out pretty well, you’re the only thing that’s missing. It’s ridiculous that you even consider the possibility of her not letting you stay “.

She softly combs her fingers through his hair like she always did when they were cuddled up on her couch or in the back of his car. He had missed this girl so much.

“ I’m missing a part of my heart to, you know ? “ he says and takes her face between hands.

“ You are ? “

“ Mmmmh … I got not one to watch shitty horror movies with. Got no one to steal my fries and eat the pickles off my burgers. “

“ What else ? “ she ask and rubs her nose against his.

“ There’s no one there to make fun of my mullet and then later hold onto it when I make them see stars. There’s no one to make me shitty apple pancakes. No one to sing along to Whitesnake with and no one to call me out on my shit. No one to keep me from falling apart. No one to love me. Not the way you do. Not even close. “

“ I love you Billy Hargrove and I miss eating your fries and all the burger pickles. “

When she kisses him, she tastes like the ocean and the sun and pink lemonade and home.

Billy Hargrove’s heart beats at an alarming speed as he walks his mom down the little courthouse corridor. It’s a good feeling though. It’s excitement rather than anxiety. It’s a feeling that something is changing, for her and for him. Maybe this can be a step into a new life, one that he can be a part of if he makes an effort. One that he is no doubt accepted into.

His mom cried when he had told her he wanted to stay. Good tears. Happy tears.

He kisses her cheek as he puts her hand into Craigs. Craig who turns out to be a huge Metalhead. Craig who’s quoting shitty B-Movie Horror flicks. Craig who saw something in Billy he didn’t know was there and helped him get a part time job at a garage specialized on muscle cars and vintage vehicles with a good change of full employment after high school.

Craig who’s actually a pretty cool guy.

When he sits down, in the front row, (Y/N)’s hand slips into his and for that moment he’s sure his world, his universe, is as good as can be.

It’s later at the reception when he’s dancing with his mom. Yes, Billy is dancing. He’s a good dancer, okay ?! No shame !

His mom looks at him with that typical motherly stare of pride and unfiltered maternal love. He hasn’t seen that looks in so long he’s really missed it.

“ I’m so happy to have you back. Things are gonna be good from here on out. I know it. “

Billy’s eyes wander over to the girl in the bright purple dress that he thinks is terribly ugly but she makes it work anyway.

His mom’s eyes follow his and a smile appears on her lips “ You know, you guys could be next. To get married I mean “.

“ Mom, come on “ he complains but secretly, it’s all he’s been thinking about.

“ I know, I know. Go dance with her at least “ she says and places a kiss on his cheek.

“ I’m proud of you, Billy. “

Before she can walk away he calls out to her. “ Hey mom ? “

“ Yeah ? “

“ Thank you, for everything. I’m proud of you too “

She smiles but he can see the tears in her eyes. He hopes they’re happy ones.

“ Hey pretty boy “ a voice speaks up from beside him. (Y/N) looks all crazy and bright and out of place with all the elegantly dressed middle aged friends of his mother and Craig but damn if she isn’t the best thing he’s ever laid eyes on.

“ Hey pretty girl. “

His hands grab her softly by the hips as her arms fall around his neck and they start swaying to the music softly playing in the background. If this is what his life is from now on, he’s happy. 

This new little family is broken and weird and unconventional but It could be good, real good.

He looks into (Y/N)’s eyes and sees their entire future right there in front of him. 

“ I’m glad you’re back. “ 

“ Of course I am. Can’t live with half a heart now can you ? “