#and by the time school was happening again i had aged out of the competition

[teaboot]

hi! friend problems anon here. So, I've known this girl and her sister for my whole life, lets call them sis 1 and sis 2. Sis 1 is around my age so I've connected more with her, but in the past 5 years sis 2 has been the person I text most, and is the person i tell most things and we've got a roleplay going. This itself isn't the problem, i'm good friends with both sisters. This is just to state like, how much of a connection we've had BEFORE I started having issues. Sis 2 likes to talk a lot about her friends and school and such, while I'm more introverted and very very focused on my fixations and such. I love talking to her, and I love listening to her talk, really I do. But sometimes I say some things about my interests or hey this cool thing happened on tumblr today (this is my first social media account but I'm not super young? so it feels like a big milestone for me and I wish the people in my life cared more about that) And it kind of feels like she doesn't really care? like she responds a little about a small detail about what I said and then continues with the rp. or just doesn't reply. or talks about doing things with her friends that I kind of feel left out about. And it makes me feel like I don't really matter. And this isn't a recent thing either, its just been building up in me. So I sent a message about it, which the app SAID she saw, but she then didn't reply or speak for the whole day. which. obviously made me upset and i deleted the message. So last night i asked sis 1 if she was mad at me, and sis 2 came back the very minute I sent the message. So I asked her what that was about, that i sent a message to, and she said "the app sometimes says i've seen things when I haven't, whatd you say?" And I sent the message again, and again it said she saw it. and she still has not responded. and I don't know what to do because whats the point of talking things out if she's not even going to talk. TLDR My good friend makes me feel like what I have to say doesn't really matter, or that she doesn't care enough to make it matter, and when I tried to talk to about it she ghosted for a day. then i talked to her sister about it and she reappeared, only to ghost again when i resent the message

I think- and I’m not close enough to this to be certain, so you’d know better than me- that there’s a chance that, while she IS a friend who you can enjoy some level of trust and mutual enjoyment with, she may not feel capable or comfortable handling the deeper connection you’re reaching out for.

This doesn’t mean she’s a bad friend, or that she doesn’t care about you- but if it is the case, then she may just not be the right person for that kind of connection.

My mother told me once, when I was having a hard time with my bio father and feeling like he was emotionally available but physically absent, like he SAID he loved me but didn’t take the initiative to be present- “we can’t make people love us the way we need to be loved.”

I love my bio father. I love him deeply. He did his best, and he never once hurt me on purpose, and he’d let me cry when I was sad and hang up my drawings on his fridge and let me nap with him on the couch, but he was never the kind of man who could be there. He was never the kind of man who would go out in public, in crowds, or to my school- and no matter how I explained it or how I asked, it never seemed to click for him that sometimes, when you love someone, you suck it up and do boring shit you don’t want to do.

He loved me. He still loves me. But if I need someone to attend an award ceremony, or a school competition, he was never going to be that person.

My mom- she was similar. She’d show up, when she could, and she wouldn’t complain- would talk and talk about how proud she was, and support anything I set out to do, but work kept her away, and she didn’t really grasp emotional availability. Emotional intimacy, or being vulnerable.

So if I needed someone to rub my back while I cried and talk about my fears, I went to my bio father, and if I needed someone to cheer me on from the bleachers or get back at a bully, I’d go to my mom.

I have friends now as an adult who I go to when I’m sad, or depressed, or need to talk about the past, and they do the same with me.

I have other friends who I see far more often but will likely never know that side of me.

I know my bus driver by name, about her family and her cats and her favourite lipstick, and she knows about my work and what I do at the gym, and talking to her is nice. I enjoy her company. But she’s never going to come to my house for coffee, or know about my relationship with my step-parents.

Because nobody can be everything. Almost nobody in the world can be everything, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love you- the way they express the love they have for you just doesn’t match the love you need to have in order to feel loved.

If you want to have that conversation with her, if you really want her to try to be that person, you can have that conversation, but she may be looking for something else that YOU aren’t able to provide HER.

Maybe that can be discussed. Maybe you can both work towards the middle. Or maybe that’s just not in the cards, and you can enjoy what you DO get out of your relationship as it is, and seek that other support elsewhere.

Which is to say, I doubt very much that she doesn’t care about you or your feelings- but she may just not be the right person to provide what you’re seeking.

You don’t buy your squid at the gas station, after all. It doesn’t mean you can’t still go to the gas station

[aquanutart]

I was talking and I mentioned that I have my old Game Boy and original Pokemon cartridge. I said, "I think they still work."

I was told, "The internal batteries on the Game Boy cartridges have run out. They're all dead."

"Oh," I said, trying not to show how crestfallen I was. I felt like I was losing nerd cred for not knowing that, although I never kept up with that type of info anyway. I'm here for the fantasy and imaginative aspects of games, and tend not to follow the competitive or technical details.

I tried not to feel anything as I went home. If they were real animals, I reminded myself, I would have had to say goodbye long ago.

But like so many other people, Pokemon was my childhood. It was all I thought about and dreamed about, and the closest thing I could imagine to heartbreak was the knowledge that they weren't real. I spent nearly all my time writing longhand self-insert Pokemon fanfiction--far more than I spent actually playing the game. My Pokemon were with me in my imagination wherever I went. I started playing Pokemon Blue when I was 5, and the last time I had played it was probably when I was 9 or 10. I remembered I had turned it on again one more time after that, not to play it, but to look at my childhood Pokemon.

It was during high school, after a move overseas that completely upended my life, and I was struggling with the crushing blow of being taken away from everything I knew and trying to make sense of anything (least of all adolescence) in another language. All I wanted was to go back to childhood and have everything go back to how it was before.

Seeing my Pokemon, just as I'd left them, had comforted me. I had looked at their stats pages, taken photos of them with my digital camera (that I don't even know if I still have), and then turned it off without doing anything.

That was probably 9 or 10 years after the games came out. It had been a long time since then. I had long since taken the AA batteries out of my Game Boy Color and left it untouched. I didn't even have AA batteries anymore.

It had worked then. But now it had been 27 years... I thought about not trying to turn my cartridge back on. As long as I didn't turn it on, I could believe my Pokemon were still there, the way I remembered them.

On my day off, which happened to be Pokemon Day, I googled and read that some people on forums and Reddit were still able to play their original Pokemon games.

Then... it was possible. I went out to buy toothpaste. At the store, I asked where I could find AA batteries.

It was a big thing for me to be able to go to the store and buy things myself. When I moved at age 13, I felt like something went wrong with growing up. It was difficult to follow what people were saying, and people didn't always understand what I said either. I had been introverted even in English, but now I had enough negative experiences that I became afraid and stopped trying to talk to people altogether.

I threw myself into video games and reliving childhood memories. The internet was where I could communicate in my first language and understand. I lived online and didn't interact with the real world. On the internet I felt like I was understood and could find people who shared my interests the way I did, but in the real world it always felt like I could get hurt if anyone knew me.

I realize now that I could have had a better experience overseas if I'd known how to adapt and socialize, but this was not something I knew even in English, and trying to learn in another language made it ten times harder. I'm sorry now for missing out on interactions that I know I could have had, but I just didn't know how. I wouldn't know how until I learned, and it took me a long time to learn.

I grew up online, in the company of others who had trouble fitting in with the real world, even in their own language. Those experiences shaped me, and the friendships I've made and support I've received online are invaluable to me. The internet gave me a way to live, and through it I learned how to interact with others. But in many ways, for many years, it felt like my life was put on hold and I stopped growing up.

Several years ago I moved back, to not far from where I was born, and I was able to work for the first time. I began to interact with people and feel like I had a place in the real world.

After shutting myself away for so many years, every little step I made out in the world felt terrifying. But every little thing I did on my own made me feel like I was living for the first time.

Even something as little as going to the store and buying a pack of batteries.

I was directed to a shelf at the end of an aisle, and found myself looking at a rack of lithium AA batteries. Did they not sell the old kind anymore?

I walked around to the other side and was relieved to find the familiar black and brown Duracell batteries I'd known from my childhood. I felt more confident about putting in a battery that looked the same as I remembered. The smallest pack they sold was an 8-pack for $12.99. I really didn't need 8 batteries. I didn't have any other devices that used them.

I thought, what if I turn it on and it doesn't work and I'll have wasted $12.99?

I also thought we might already have batteries. I might be able to say, "Mom, do we have any batteries?" and she'd pull out two AAs from a drawer somewhere and I'd save my money.

But somehow I felt like part of what was important about this was being an adult and being able to buy my own batteries.

Yet... what if it just ended up making me sad? Was it better not to know?

I went to the checkout with just the toothpaste and stood hesitating at the edge of the checkout line.

If I didn't get the batteries now, and it turned out we didn't have any batteries, I wouldn't try it. I knew I would just put it off until even more time passed, and then... "Are you in line?" someone asked me.

"No," I said, and I turned around and went back to the shelf.

I bought the batteries.

At home, I took out my original Game Boy Color from the drawer where I left it, the one my dad had surprised me with when I was 5 years old and that I had brought overseas and back.

I put the batteries in and turned it on without a cartridge first to make sure the batteries were inserted correctly. The Game Boy logo scrolled across the screen and it made the familiar blinging Game Boy startup noise. I turned it off again, satisfied.

I took out my original Pokemon Blue cartridge, momentarily having to remember which way it went in, and slotted it in.

I turned it on, watched the whole Pokemon Blue intro out of nostalgia, and then pressed START.

My heart leaped for joy.

MY POKEMON!!!! MY POKEMON ARE ALIVE!!! 🥺🥺🥺

My original Pokemon, that were with me in 1998 when I was 5-6 years old, are still with me 27 years later. I want to cry!!! I love the old sprites, I'm SO happy to see them again 😭😭😭 the Pokemon look so little and cheerful at the same time, which I love 🥺🥺🥺 I know there are people with many more hours on their games, who have leveled all their Pokemon to 100. But these are my Pokemon who were with me through my childhood, and I spent many more hours making up stories about them than actually playing the game. I'm so happy to see them again 😭😭😭

All I want is to see my Pokemon. My other Pokemon are in boxes. Now, how do I get to the nearest PC? Where am I?

Oh... Oh. I have to confess something. When I was a kid, I was scared of the dark cave areas, and whenever I got to them, I stopped playing for a while. (I was stuck at Mt. Moon until I was like, 7.) So I never actually beat the game.

And here I am on Victory Road, with the team of Pokemon I was taking to the Elite Four, without an Escape Rope.

The only way for me to see my other Pokemon is... to finally make it through Victory Road, after 27 years?!

[whambambatfam]

Webs of a Wing

Chapter 5

Late but not as bad as before! (ᵕ ´ᗜ`) It doesn't feel as long as it is like, I actually questioned the word count. (´∀｀；) But at least I put the right title this time!

I promise I really do love Tim so much. I love all the robins so very very much. (ᵕ,—ᴗ—,)

I hope you enjoy!

Reader ages 15 - 17

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So, you lied to Alfred about your new spider friend, telling him instead that it was dead. Worried about what kind of experiments it would most likely be put through. Plus, it's kinda cute. Now that it's got the little nipping thing out of the way it's warmed up considerably to you. In fact it seems almost drawn to you in a way. Tapping at the little aquarium you bought for it when you come in. Even, dwindling webs around your fingers excitedly when you greet them.

"You'll be nice to our friends, right?" They catch on the tip of your nose before letting go to swing from your fingers, "Good baby."

The last time you saw your friends was as they were stumbling down the crowded halls with no hope of closing the gap. Everything was too sudden and confusing, it didn't even feel real at the time.Your week out of school has been spent at home, then the gym as you mastered your new... abilities.

Of course, you've kept in contact with them, let them know you hadn't died or anything crazy. Well, not that something didn't happen, you just couldn't face them about it. Until now.

"Finally! God, I've been waiting for you to spill it!" Mj practically cheers from her spot laid out on your bed. She sits up, emerald eyes wide with an almost child-like excitement, "I'm totally grateful that it was Flash you laid the fuck out like you did but like.. how did you?!"

Gwen finally pulls herself away from the spider tank to huff at the redhead, "How sensitive of you.." Spinning her chair to face you, she gives you a more sympathetic look, "We wanted to wait for you to bring it up first."

Now, you wish you hadn't waited so long to open up. They don't care how strange your situation might be, even if they did criticise your decision making abilities. Of course, you had to show off your new strength, lifting your bed up with both of them on it. Along with your.. web things. Which was still a little tricky to get a hang of and it felt so odd, creating this incredibly strong substance that stuck to everything concretely. The two of them were ecstatic, even saying you could be a hero.

"Well, if you can get over being in the spotlight. Like when you're in a competition!" MJ is squeezing your hands and while it's nothing to what you can withstand now you can practically feel her excitement from the contact.

It made it so much harder to say, "I don't, um, well, it's just that-" Literally, especially when you can see the stars in her eyes, "There's.." No way someone like you could do what they do, "So many heros and vigilantes out there already..."

"That would be quite a chance in your life, we are still pretty young for all that..." Gwen, your voice of reason, pillar of sanity, your- "Maybe you could train until you're an adult and we can work on your brand before that."

"No, not you too."

Life at the mansion is quiet as always, the familiar desolate kind of quiet you've grown hate rather viciously. You've only crossed paths with your father in glimpses since the funeral. In fact, you hardly see Alfred anymore, always busy tending to Bruce and minding the cave. Of course, It couldn't stay quiet for long, it's something you both dreaded and anticipated. After weeks that bend together life rises in the somber walls again.

There's something going on. Something big if the sudden commotion around the manor is anything to go by. Some kid is hanging around Alfred, he's got to be the one stirring up the birds. Not to mention you catch sight of Nightwing, stupid big collar and all. You thought he was too busy off living his own life to actually come around anymore, not that he ever paid you much mind but... it made Alfred sad! Stupid jerk.

It's not until the next day that the old butler does his best to explain the situation. "He's a young boy that's been observing Master Bruce since... Well, since he was mentoring Master Richard." Oh, so he's a weirdo like you. It's strange the two of you didn't cross paths sooner. "I'll bring him around some time soon." So, he's sticking around, that could only mean one thing.. "The two of you could be close.. Young master." You could practically hear 'like Jason' on the tip of his tongue. The unsaid words burn your ears and twist up your chest.

Opening the top of your aquarium you let out your like friend. The excited skitter of your dear spider up your arm leaves a silken trail in its wake. Giggling you guide the bitty spider onto a finger, holding them up to eye length.

"Would you like to come take some pictures, little one?" You coo as they dangle from your index. "We'll see how the-" No, you couldn't say that. Ha, yeah, new Robin. That old one's dead. So? Just shuck a new one in again and keep going. Fuck you hated it and you hated feeling so bitter and you hated not being able to just- fucking scream at someone. Let rage that's building in your heart out on something.

You can feel your back hit the wall. Thoughts swirl as you steady yourself with a hand against the wall. This was the kind of situation you could only talk to Alfred about. The old man was all words of wisdom and you felt too ashamed to bring such thoughts up to him.. He was mourning too, it was all too much, too heavy. You just wanted laying around and whining like you did with Jay, like you can with your friends.

But, if Bruce found out you knew and went blabing? Spilling secrets, even to your closest confidants.. People outside the family things you shouldn't even know? Telling them would surely spell your end. Hell, not to mention the actual risk you're friends could be in by letting them know something so dangerous. If someone found out they knew who The fucking Batman was..

As the feeling of the winding emotions tighten your lungs, two little spider legs tap against your nose. "Okay, okay, I'm alright." The laughter slips from your mouth before you realize it's yours. Little legs dance across your face. Your breathing evens out and you realize that your room seems.. smaller.

Like you've suddenly outgrown the room entirely. Looking down you realize your feet are not, in fact, on the ground. Instead they, along with your free hand, are stuck to the wall. You've unconsciously backed yourself into the corner... of your ceiling.

"Is there anything else you like to tell me about?"

The thought felt so far out there but... maybe you really could use this? Go out, fight crooks, help people, be a real vigilante. The thought squeezed at your heart and burned at your ears, you're well rehearsed in running about Gotham and capability in fighting. It has crossed your mind as so unachievable... until till now.

Now, it actually feels within your grasp, all too sudden and yet... all too late at once. If you could have worked at his side. What would he think? Would you tell him right away? Would he accept your strange changes? Would he think to do the same? To finally tell you?

Does it matter?

He's gone.

Feet hitting the ground silently you lower your spider back into its enclosure on your desk. You collapse on your bed. Tears slip down your face as your gaze blurs at the ceiling. The kiss of twilight lying lazily across the white surface in soft dim rays.

When the lights are suddenly flipped on you shield your red eyes with your hood. Sitting up your knees tuck to your chest as you glare at the intruder. Two, standing awkwardly in your doorway. Oh, Alfred, what impeccable timing you have, old man.

He smiles, calling your name gently, "This is Master Timothy-" Hand laid on the young boy's shoulders, he presents him.

Breaking from the butler's grasp he strides over, "My name's Tim. It's nice to meet you." Another black haired, blue eyed boy stands before you. Reach out a hand for you eagerly, "I guess we'll be seeing each other so-"

That simmering anger boils over and you snap at him, "Yeah, cause your- what? Here to replace Jason, right?" You couldn't take this, not again. "Sorry, I'm not looking for a new brother."

"What-?" The look on his face makes you feel like shit, but it can't plug the hole it's opened.

Hissing bitterly, you turn away from him, "I'll make this easy for you," Pressing the balls of your hands into your eyes, you force away the tears. "We don't have to know one another. You might as well forget where my room is now." Glaring at him over your shoulder, face burning and chest aching, "I'm sure we won't be seeing each other."

So, this is Robin. What? Because he figured out Bruce is Batman? If you told him that you figured that out years ago, would he suddenly see you? Would he see your hard work, all that you fucking went through? Would he finally take you in as his own? If he knew of your powers, your skill, yours achievements...

Would you be his next tool? Thrown as his extension until you were of no good to him? Until your use is exhausted and you're tossed aside again?

No.

You are your own person and will use your own powers for your own good. Never have you needed him, any of them. You most certainly don't need them now.

You can't say you blame Tim for shutting you out following your outburst, Alfred had also scolded you soundly. Yet, you were too tired to hope anymore, to try for such a close connection, and he made sure to pay you in kind. From snubbing you on the rare occasion you crossed paths in the halls to out right leaving a room you've entered.

Making your way into the dining room after an exceptionally long day, you freeze in the doorway. The hand that was rubbing at the crook fell to form a fist at your side.

Bruce leans over to swoop up the paper he was helping Tim with, "It's okay, chum. Just rest up for now." He snatches up the rest of the studying material scattered on the counter piece by piece. "We'll get back to work when your head is clear."

Oh, what a diligent father he is...

Tim, clearly not willing to be pushed into taking a break, snips back at him, "I can't rest now! What if-" His words die in the throat as those cornflower eyes catch you.

Before you can retreat and save both of you from this encounter, Bruce notices his newest son's hesitancy. He finally sees you, pinned in place by the doorway, "Oh, Good-" Pausing to look out the window over the sink to assess the time he turns back with a smile, "Evening, this is actually good timing. Have you met, Tim?"

"Yeah." He's only been around for months but, of course, you're oblivious.

Suddenly, Tim bolts up from his seat, "I think you're right, Bruce. 'Should probably head home, get some rest." Study supplies gathered in his arms, he nods in departure as he pushes past you, "Night."

Returning to your room, you watch the car pull away and Alfred returns him home. Having him around grated on the parts of your grief that were still raw. A small part of you took some pleasure in knowing he would go home eventually. Back to his own house with his own parents.

Despite any lingering animosity, you couldn't help going out to watch the new dynamic duo.

Tim, well, the kid makes a damn good Robin. What he lacks in strength he doubles in agility and triples in cunning intelligence. It's fascinating watching him go, embracing his part so fluidly. Like he was born to play his role in this show of justice and brutality.

Speaking of, Batman and Robin were now long gone, having hopped in the batmobile and sped off after their latest lead. Normally, this would be time for you to head home. Climbing walls was a neat trick that got you out of most situations you got into while getting your shots. The tingle in the back of your head, hairs raised and skin prickling that makes you whip around to spot two figures at the end of the alley is new.

"Hand it over, lady," The man's gruff voice is muffled by the cloth obscuring his face, "and no one gets killed." He jabs something into the stomach of the woman he's cornered.

Wincing away, her back hits the wall, "No, please.." She clings to the plastic pharmacy bag, shaking her head vehemently, "My son, he's sick, please!"

This wasn't time to evade, it was time to intervene. Scaling the grimy bricks of the wall, you descend silently. Feet touching the ground just behind the man, his looming figure blocking the woman's view of you.

"It's not very nice to go through a lady's purse." The sudden sound of your voice makes him all but jump out of his skin and you can't fight the grin that pulls at your lips.

He looks you up and down, "What the hell do you want, kid?" Eyes honing what's hung around your neck, he chuckles under his mask, "That's a nice camera ya' got there."

Lifting the device up, it dangles on its strap, "Oh, this?" You tilt your head, "I was just in the neighborhood, getting the scoop on Gotham's latest scum. You'll make a good headliner." You're not really sure where this cockiness came from but it seemed to spill out whenever you used your powers. "Local loser gets ass kicked by teenager." Especially against assholes like this.

Finally shoving away the trembling woman, he turns to you fully, "So, you're just asking for it then?" The weapon he'd threatened her with, a handgun, now focused on you.

"Cute toy, let's play." Before he can react you've thrown your hand out, hitting the barrel with a web and yanking it from his hands.

He stands there for a moment, looking at you, the webbed gun, the woman and then back to you. "No, no I'm not about to be a part of some superhero background bullshit." Muttering almost hysterically under his breath, he backs out of the ally, "Fuck this, fuck Gotham.. I'm outta here!"

With that proclamation, he runs away leaving the two of you standing there stunned. With a sigh, you straighten yourself, hoping to give an air of confidence as you turn to the distressed woman.

It doesn't seem to matter though as she throws her arms around you, "Th-thank you, so much." Tears stream down her face as she trembles in your awkward arms. The stress of her life threatening situation washes over her and like a true gothamite she shakes it off like a champ. Brushing herself off, she gives you a thankful smile, "Please kid, if there's anythi-"

Your hands shoot up, waving off her offer, "No! No, no! Just don't, uh-" However in vain it may be, you pull at your jostled hood, trying to obscure your face. "don't tell anyone about me, what you saw, here, today- night.. Please?"

It feels like a weight off your chest when she agrees earnestly, giving you an affectionate pat on the heads and wishing you a good night.

Maybe you were getting a little ahead of yourself. To say you were inspired would be an understatement. Emboldened by your sudden victory, you use your.. fair skills in art and sewing. Ment for patching not to piece together a whole suit. Your first drafts are... bad.

It's a blessing and a curse when MJ stumbles upon your spider costume concepts.

"What are you making?" She gasps, flipping through your concept book.

"Don't look!" You squawk in horror, flailing for your book as an artist's worst nightmare happens before your very eyes.

"You know, this isn't all bad... Yeah, yeah I could work with this." Says the perpetrator of the heinous acts as she giggles at your dismay.

"Work with-?" before you can ask, she's pulled a small tape measure from who knows where. Lifting your arms up and around as she notes your measurements in nimble calculated movements.

"Hold still tiger." She smiles up at you, moving her work down your body until she has every inch of you jotted down. "So, what's the basics of what you're thinking?"

"Something bright, a nice red," like your dear round of Robins, "and blue to contrast. But, maybe that was too Superman-y?"

Mj suggests stitching black webbing across, and a spider.. where a bat would go, you liked that, differentiating yourself from them. Because you aren't them.

You are Spider.

Ya'know, like, Robin.. but, a spider.. the Spider? Oh wow, is that terrible? Are you dumb? You can't even tell anymore. What are you doing? Is this real? Are you really going to do this? Could you really go through with it after everything you've experienced?

After a day Mj is back with a design that immediately captivates you, "Holy shit.." You take the page, admiring the webbing over the blocking of the colors and the added large white eyes.

Looking rightfully proud of her work she wiggles ginger brows at you, bumping your shoulder with hers. "Nice right? It won't be very protective but you'll look damn good." Throwing your arms around her you both giddy at the prospects.

It would be entirely asinine of you, yet..

Using the abilities you've been honing for as long as you've lived in the manor. Not to mention studying every move of the renowned dynamic duo. The bite only enhanced what you already had.

You could actually help people, not just watching as they get rescued.

Dick showed you how to out maneuver your enemies, Jason showed you have to take them down soundly, and now Tim is showing you have to crumble them from the inside. Witnessing the swift ways he hacks into anything, taking out controls, shutting things down, using them to his advantage. It was truly fascinating. The skills he presented even reignited your interest in tinkering.

Of all the little things you've made, none ever had much of a use before. Mostly novelty things that you'd either give to your friends or gift to Alfred. Simple devices only meant for mundane tasks.

"Gwen. What if, hear me out, we parent trap our dads." Mj muses, from her end of your bed.

Rolling her eyes from the other end of the bed Gwen shushes her, "Stop yapping nonsense and listen." She gestures to you, standing there waiting for their attention.

"I dunno, I'm kinda interested." You chuckle lifting up the device in your hand. After a brief explanation of what it is and how it works you ask them as they stare in a mix of disbelief and confusion.

"So... what does this do?" She eyes the pair of inconspicuous goggles resting in your palm, "In, like, plain english please?"

"It should let you see." You grin, offering them up to her and she accepts them readily, "Wanna see?"

It's just the heat signature and outline of people in the vicinity. Hesitantly she takes them, slipping them over her head until they're in place.

"Holy shit that's cool..." Whipping her head around, she gasps, "Wait is that-?"

Gwen perks up, leaning in as if she could catch a peek, "Huh? What is it?" She nudges Mj's knee when she doesn't answer right away.

"You really, truly, outdone yourself this time." She presses her hand to her cheeks which are reddening under the goggles, "I can see his ass so clearly from, what? three rooms away?"

What did- Gwen cuts in, not leaving you to wonder for long, "Dicks home? Damn bitch, let me see."

"No, absolutely not." You practically jump her, wrangling them from her head.

"Hey! I'm not done!" Mj clings to the band as you lift her into the air with them, like a ferret latching onto a stolen shoe.

The leather of the other end of the band cries out in mercy as your eye twitches, "Give. Now." Gwen cackles at the sight of you trying to shake her off.

They may not always be the best but you know these two will always be your biggest pillars of support. No matter what happens.

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[devinescribe]

After School Project

[Damian Wayne x Reader]

So... school age[16] year old Damian is like... the most thirsted over guy in school. And here we have a neurodivergent reader who catches his attention. Before anyone comes for me I'm also neurodivergent:3 so yeah. Also, there's nothing wrong with being neurodivergent or acting differently than other neurodivergent people:3 enjoyyy

Arabic Translations(I'm not fluent google and apple translate helping me😭)

Ya Rayyal : oh man

Min sijak : are you serious?

Yallah : hurry/come on

'ant qublat eazima : you’re a great kisser

Damian Wayne was everything every girl in school wanted. Rich, hot, incredibly strong? Yeah, they were all swooning, head over heels for the young vigilante.

Except for you. I mean… at least you didn’t think you liked him in that way.

You were generally a nervous person, so for your heart to race a bit faster when he was around, or for your cheeks to flush when he spoke to you or complimented your intelligence was normal right? Wasn’t it like… just what happened to everyone?

He was just a guy. What you found more interesting was the subtle competition you two had going with each other in class. Well, he didn't even know about it, but you kept track of how many questions you both answered. He would smirk at you and made it a habit because he knew you two would be the only ones answering questions. It made your heart do flips, and your stomach do somersaults.

He was incredibly smart, which made you sigh in relief when you were paired up with him for the partner project.

You heard some girl behind you whine and whisper about how you didn't deserve to have Damian as your partner. You rolled your eyes, you weren’t great at detecting tone, but you could tell they were actually upset about this. Taking a deep breath and turning around, you were about to respond before Damian stood up, standing by your desk and speaking for you. It made you pout. You could defend yourself.

"Don't act like I'm your fucking boyfriend. At least she's smart and can get through a presentation without giggling every five seconds. Acting ditzy is the stupidest shit... but then again I don't think you're acting."

You blushed and snickered as he defended you. It was kind of nice to not have to defend yourself, even if you were just pouting over it.

The project was a simple poetry project. At least to everyone else it was. You had been published for your poetry before, so this, to you, was not just a small project, but something to have to prove yourself through.

"...Would you like to only work on this in class, study blocks, or after school in a neutral place? Of course you can suggest any other place you'd want to do it or any time, I'm kind open to just about anything-" you blabbered, not looking at Damian, sort of spacing out as you spoke.

He smirked, "How about my place? Alfred can just pick us both up. Y'know, if you're up for it."

You thought about it for a moment. This was less likely to interrupt your daily routine, it was an addition to it, which was easy to schedule around.

Which he had already thought of, which is why he suggested it. He also knew that you burnt out when waiting to meet up, which is why he suggested tonight instead of another day. It was a Friday.

"How long will I be there?" You mumbled aloud to yourself, not really expecting an answer.

"Oh my brothers and dad will not let you leave quickly. And Alfred will not let you leave before he feeds you... might as well stay over. We have plenty of spare rooms," he joked.

You look confused.

"I do not think it is appropriate for me to intrude on your family's home for such a long time. It would also not be appropriate for me to stay in your house overnight as-"

...

He stared, forgetting you took everything too seriously. Yeah, that's right, he noticed. He was a Robin after all! He wouldn't be a good detective if he wasn't observant.

"Hey. I was joking," he said quietly. Not rudely, even if there was a bit of an edge that he usually spoke with.

You blushed and tilted your head down.

"Oh. Um... sorry," you whispered, looking at the paper the teacher had just given out.

"The topic we have to write our poems about... is love?" You said, staring the paper down like you could change the words printed in ink.

"Ya rayyal...Min sijak?" He muttered under his breath in Arabic.

——

After school, you stood about two feet from Damian, personal bubbles were serious, waiting to head to his house after school.

His older brother, Tim, who was about two years older, came over to you both.

"Oh? Dami, bringing home a girl? Oh Dick is gonna love this," the boy snickered, teasing his younger brother.

You stared blankly.

"If you are implying I am going to 'make a pass' at Damian, you are mistaken. And if you are implying he would try something, I'd like to make you aware I refuse to be anywhere that people wouldn't be in the house. We are simply paired for a school project," you said, staring at the space behind Tim, but not at him.

He stared.

"So... no. Not what I was implying but... good to know... and good to know you're autistic."

...

"Tim what the fuck-"

"Game recognizes game. Chill. Still, Dick is gonna love this."

"Don't tell Grayson a word-"

...

"Too late."

——

The ride to the Wayne manor is chaotic as the two boys fight amongst themselves. Cuss words in both English and Arabic fly through the air.

Soon, the limousine pulls into the driveway and you are eager to get the hell out of that car. You stand outside, staring at the huge manor in front of you.

It was beautiful, the windows and architecture giving you a vintage feel, but you could guess the inside probably didn't match the outside.

Tim and Damian are still bickering as Alfred leads you inside, both boys trailing behind.

“The house looks lovely…” you whisper to yourself.

Alfred responds, “Why thank you Miss L/N. I assure you both Master Bruce and I take that compliment in high regard.”

You gave a shy smile, “Call me Y/N please…”

When you walk in, the first thing you notice is a big Doberman on the couch, and two boys, obviously older than you, one by maybe three to five years, and the other by a maybe 6.

"Ohhhh this is so great Dickie, look he really did bring home a girl," laughs the one with a white streak in his hair.

"Oh my god, you're so cute! You have great taste Dami. Not in a weird way y'know. So how'd you meet?" Dick rambles.

"We are not dating."

"Fuck off Grayson."

The phrases are said at the same time, making the three other boys laugh.

"So, what's your name?" Tim asks, suddenly realizing he had never asked through the whole ride, too busy arguing with Damian about what he had said, as Damian sits to pet the dog. His dog.

"Uhm... Y/N..." you mumble, looking down.

"Well, I'm Dick, and that's Jason. We're Dami's older brothers," Dick smiled, obviously very friendly.

"How old are you even?" Jason asked, leaning back, trying to guess. He could not care less, but any time he could tease Damian was a good time.

"16..."

The boys nodded. You felt a little uncomfortable, not because of them, but just the new situation. The dog, who had been laying peacefully with Damian, came over to you, and whined, placing a paw on your leg.

You smile brightly and kneel down, petting the dog.

"Oh wowww... Damian, you... you're letting her just... pet Titus?" Tim teases.

"Shut the hell up."

——

After the chaos, you and Damian sat in the living room working on the project. The project was as follows:

Each student is paired up with one other person. Each student must write their own poem with the topic given to them by the instructor.

After each student has written their poem, they must make on poem together. The poems can be in any style.

You groan and crumple up another piece of paper, throwing it in the recycling.

"You good?" Damian asked, looking up from his blank paper.

You shook your head.

"You struggling with this?"

You nodded.

"You going nonverbal?"

You nodded again.

"Let's go get a snack."

You followed the boy through the hall to the kitchen. He looked through some stuff before realizing, he didn't know what you liked at all. He grabbed the small whiteboard off the fridge, and gave it to you.

"If you're gonna be nonverbal, we still need a way to communicate. This okay with you?" He asked, handing you a new expo marker.

You nodded.

"What do you want as a snack? Or a drink?" He asked, showing you the cabinets and fridge.

You scribbled down for a moment.

'May the I please just have a water. I'm not too hungry. Plus I don't want to take snacks that were not purchased for me if that makes sense.'

Damian scoffed.

"I don't give a damn. Are you hungry, yes or no?" He asked, annoyed.

You began to write more excuses about how you felt bad, when he put a glass of water and a pack of mini Oreos in front of you.

His eyes said 'eat it or perish.'

"Yallah yallah, we got a project to finish," he ushered, taking his own snacks back to the living room.

You followed closely.

"I like when you say things in Arabic."

The sentence was so quiet, he wouldn't have heard it if he wasn't a Robin with a trained ear.

"Thanks..." he mumbled before adding, "Want to tell me why you went nonverbal? Just... like if it's my behavior or something... I can fix it?"

That made you blush. He actually cared about what you thought? He actually wanted to know if he was making you uncomfortable? He wanted to change his behavior if it did? What was this feeling…

You shake your head, sitting with your snack and drink, "Wasn't you. It's the assignment."

He looked at you in confusion.

"You're a great poet what on-"

"But I've never... experienced love... how... do I write about it if I’ve never even been kissed?" you mumbled.

"But all your poems are about love aren't they?" Damian asked, knowing you had shared your poetry in class before.

"Well... yes and no? I... I write about... what I think it would feel like... but I mostly write about how empty hearted I feel knowing I probably won't have my first kiss or anything before 18 like everyone else.... Everyone is falling in love and I'm falling behind..." you explain, looking at him for the first time.

Your e/c eyes meet his emerald eyes, and he's shocked.... In a good way.

"Guess we're falling behind together then," he shrugged, laying across the sofa, his head resting on Titus's back.

"Oh please every girl wants you you don't get it-"

"Every girl except the most interesting and smartest one. She doesn't," he said sighing.

“Okay that’s one person. I’ve never been liked by anyone, any guy I’ve liked never likes me back. No one has ever liked me… maybe they have but just… not like that,” you whispered, looking away.

“Well you’re wrong. You’re looking at him right now,” he said, rolling his eyes.

You tilt your head and look at him, confusion written all over your face.

Suddenly a wicked idea came into Damian's head.

"Well... why don't you fake kiss me? Then you can see what it feels like," Damian said with a sly grin.

"...Fake kissing? How do you fake a kiss?" You question, rolling your eyes. "Plus if it's fake then... it doesn't really get the love aspect in does it? It's just a physical thing that makes-"

You're cut off by a kiss on your lips, your eyes widening.

Although... you don't mind it. You kiss back hesitantly.

Then he pulls away and grins at you like... like that was his plan all along.

" 'Ant qublat eazima,” he mutters.

And now this man, who just so rudely cut your train of thought off (yes that is what you were most upset about) with a kiss, who has been insisting to his brothers he didn’t like you in that way, was blushing.

He had the nerve to blush after that.

“I…you…” you were strapped for words, unable to create a single thought.

“Um… in case that didn’t make it obvious… I like you. You’re pretty, you’re smart… you don’t treat me different because of who I am… and… and I guess you said you also like when I spoke Arabic which is a plus for me in any case-“

And you decided to have your revenge.

You pressed a kiss to his lips, shutting him up. It was quick, more like a peck, but it did shut him up.

“I was wondering what the feelings I had were…” you say with a blush, looking away.

“Well… now we can go back to writing our poetry… and now you have a point of reference… of course you can always ask for more inspiration-“ he smirked.

“Damian Al’Ghul,” you hissed, using his other last name.

He straightened up and nodded wordlessly.

“That was hot… I-i mean yeah Uhuh sorry.”

You sigh softly and shake your head with a smile, “You’re silly, Damian… and it case what I did wasn’t obvious… I like you too…”

[delusional-day-dreamer]

paige x olympian gymnast hcs!

‣ paige bueckers x olympic gymnast reader!

‣‣ synopsis: gymnastics has always been your entire life, and your dedication truly paid off when you made team usa for the 2016 rio olympics, but what happens after your injury while in the running for the 2020 tokyo olympics? #uneditedfornow

‣‣‣ a/n: just a few headcannons i have in mind for this story, if i were to make this a full blown series it MIGHT be a wattpad story with an oc or just a full tumblr series because of how long it would be... 👀

your life leading up to and including the 2016 rio olympics:

you've been doing gymnastics since you were three years old

at the age of thirteen your parents switched you to online school so you could train full time, but during this process it set you back a year, making your graduation year 2020 (same as Paige)

at the age of just fifteen you qualified for the rio olympics (meaning you were born in 2001)

your roommate that year was simone biles, and you competed at the olympics, taking home two golds (all around team and beam) and one silver (beam).

following the olympics, you became very popular for your skill at such a young age, leading you to signing many brand deals, sponsorships, photoshoots, etc.

it just so happens that your popularity reaches a certain basketball player, miss paige bueckers. in her slam interview in 2019, when asked about an athlete she admires outside of basketball, she says you. you have no idea who she is, but dm her regardless thanking her for her kind words. this is the only interaction you two have until uconn.

you continued online school for the rest of highschool, and throughout the next three years you received thirty recruitment offers out of the sixty-two schools that had a women's college gymnastics team.

your dream school had always been the University of Connecticut, but their gymnastics team didn't impress you throughout the recruitment process.

your graduation year is 2020, which happens to be the same year you got injured, right before choosing a college to commit to.

injury-related; 2020-2021:

in february of 2020, you got into a car crash while driving home from a late night practice.

you tore your left acl, dislocated your right shoulder, fractured your left collarbone, had a concussion, and suffered a left femoral fracture (ouchies i know)

thankfully you were mostly okay, but the accident completely put you out of the running for the 2020 (now moved to 2021 due to the pandemic) olympics, and doctors told you it would take at least two years to fully rehabilitate before you could even beginning training for competitions again.

your left leg had quite a few complications with the acl tear and the femoral fracture, and you had four surgeries in total on the leg.

during this time, you decided that since you couldn't compete in gymnastics, you might as well commit to the college of your student-life dreams, the university of connecticut.

UConn Era!!:

you commit to uconn for your undergrad in the sports management program, since you couldn't compete, you still wanted to remain in the athletic world.

your freshman year classes (2020-2021) was fully online due to your injuries and the pandemic, but it just so happens that you're placed as an intern with the women's basketball team for your sports management program.

you meet the team before the school year starts, and it just so happens that paige bueckers has remained a huge fan of yours.

the only reason the team recognized you immediately before you were even introduced is because of how much she has fangirled over you

you get your own apartment at uconn due to the program and your status (okay olympic privilege), which meant the team loved to hang out at your giant, well-furnished place.

you become extremely close with the team, and your first two years of rehabilitation seem to go well. it also happens that in your sophomore year, your best friend paige also fractures her meniscus, so the two of you are the resident cripples of the team!

paige has always had a huge fangirl crush on you, but over the years of you being friends, it seems those feelings develop into a little bit more...

one night while you were having a sleepover with her during her acl recovery she confesses, and the two of you start dating on the very down low

during your junior year is also when you are fully cleared to start re-training and you start getting back into gymnastics with a new coach (idk who yet!)

while balancing school and your duties with the wbb team, you start to train only four days a week, slowly getting back old skills on all four events.

you start competing in the 2023-24 season (i believe that’s how it’s measured?) and qualify for the 2024 olympics at the 2024 Xfinity U.S Gymnastics Championship

it’s safe to say your girlfriend and the entire wbb team were your biggest supporters apart from your family

Actual Olympics:

i can see you being roommates with Hezley Rivera, since she reminds you so much of yourself and you’re able to form a connection because of that.

Paige is unfortunately not able to make it to the first half of the Olympics, but she is your biggest supporter from home, constantly posting and hyping you up.

While competing, you definitely wear jewelry that she gifted you for good luck, and your hair has two braids going up into your bun, just to keep a piece of your girl close to you. Maybe even a purple ribbon braided into your hair at some point?

You also definitely took half of her closet of hoodies with you so that you could wear them and have her scent with you at night

the entire uconn wbb team, both current and players from your earlier college years, show support for you on social media, but paige’s is a little.. different than theirs

while all the girls post you on their stories or tweeting about you as, so proud of our husky 💙🐺, that’s my our uconn girly!!, etc. Paige’s are a little more special, hinting at your relationship, ex: so proud of my girl 🫶��

there were rumors about you and paige circulating since your freshman year, but you never bothered addressing them, and this only fueled them further.

You definitely text Paige as much as possible during meal times, facetiming at night, sending selfies all the time, etc.

The other girls definitely make fun of you if they overhear you on the phone with her, mocking you since you call each other baby as a term of endearment. They also make a tiktok cut together of a bunch of clips, basically every single time you were texting or atp with paige. the tiktok has over 50 clips!

“can you pass me that y/n?” suni asked you

“yea sure, here” you passed her the makeup brush

“thanks, baby,” she teased, making you blush

After the olympic athlete who ran straight to his girlfriend after breaking the Olympic record, I can definitely see Paige flying out to surprise you for a week or so in Paris.

Her flying out to come visit is when you guys actually hard launch, posting pictures of you at dinner with the captions, “my girl is finally here” or “yk i had to come cheer my girl on in person”

a/n: this is #uneditedfornow but that’s all i have for now yall! idk when i’m gonna make this a series but i have so many ideas for it i just might have to, but i also have two other unfinished series rn so… 😓😓

[keiwg]

Silent Stares

Yearner!Tsukishima Kei x Reader

Warnings: toxic relationship

Word count: 1,505

Kei fumbled to put on his headphones when he caught a glimpse of your silhouette in his peripheral vision. You worked a part-time job at the vinyl store he frequented—and he had fallen in love at first sight. He couldn’t believe it, but unfortunately, he knew the exact moment it happened.

It replayed in his head at least five times a day.

He remembered walking into the store with his headphones on, like always, searching for a new album to break his usual rotation. He skipped a few songs and landed on love. by wave to earth. As the romantic guitar intro started playing, you passed by.

For a second, Kei could’ve sworn there was a halo above your head—the high afternoon sun forming a rim on top of your hair. You were smiling to yourself while checking your phone, until your eyes met his.

About thirty seconds later, Kei realized he had been caught red-handed, shamelessly staring. Embarrassed, he rushed out of the store, fully convinced he’d just lost about a hundred aura points in that single moment.

Since then, he hadn’t been able to listen to love. He hadn’t been able to go back to that vinyl store. And most of all, he hadn’t been able to get you off his mind.

He kept wondering what could’ve possibly been so funny on your phone that you laughed out loud that day—and whether whatever was on your phone could have been his chance to get closer to you.

Luckily (?) for Kei, both of those questions had just been answered.

Returning to reality, Kei finally got his headphones on. His head turned automatically—as if his eyes were moths and you were a flame. And in that instant, he realized two things.

One: you were wearing his school’s uniform. Two: you were holding hands with another guy.

Did SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK seriously have to start playing?

Well, it was fine. Kei was always down for a little competition.

Who knew he had such perseverance in him?

And who knew bagging a girl with a boyfriend would be so difficult?

The next day, Kei looked for you at school. Luckily for him, you were the same age—but obviously, you had no classes together (duh). If you did, Kei would’ve noticed you immediately. After doing some more research (stalking you), he found out you weren’t in any after-school clubs and mostly spent your evenings either at the vinyl store or with your boyfriend. Kei found himself hating your boyfriend. He knew it was wrong, but he didn’t care.

What was so great about the guy anyway?

Kei was taller. Probably smarter. Definitely more athletic.

He subconsciously sighed as he headed over to the rooftop, long limbs dragging as he moped. Spacious areas at high altitudes often helped clear his mind, and a clear mind was what he needed. Maybe some peace, even.

He did not get any peace; in fact, he got quite the opposite. He pinched his nose bridge then adjusted his glasses, silently taking in the scene before him.

You hugged your legs tighter as your back heaved. Your back trembled with each sob, the sound carrying into the clear, open sky. Your forehead was practically glued to your knees, which were wet with tears. You turned your head to the side, clicking on the voice message you had listened to on repeat for the past ten minutes. You could not believe what the familiar voice was saying, you refused to believe it.

"Hey, I'm not really sure how to say this, but to be honest, I've been disloyal. Shit, ever since the beginning, there’s been someone else, and I just deluded myself and led you on with this idea that we were something. I'm sorry, and I feel horrible. I don't know how you'll feel after this, but the last thing I'd want is for you to cry—because I'm not worth your tears. It's not your fault, its mine, and I'm sorry for adding another burden to your life. You don't deserve that. You deserve someone so much better than me. Again, I'm sorry, but I think it's time to part ways. I'll always have respect and admiration for you, but I'm sorry that I couldn't bring myself to love you."

Kei was astonished—for once in his life, he was truly at a loss for words. The loathing he felt toward this random guy intensified in just thirty seconds. But there was one sentence in the message he couldn’t disagree with: you really did deserve someone so much better than him. Kei turned around, as guilty as he felt there was a slight hope sprouting from the pits of his stomach. He finally had a chance now.

Retreating momentarily, he went to the vending machine and bought a bottle of water. Everyone likes water, right?

Then he returned to his spying spot, lingering there, unsure how to make an entrance. Bracing himself, he felt a cool breeze graze his face as he slowly pushed the rooftop door open.

You lifted your head from your knees, wondering who would possibly intrude on your safe space at a time like this. You couldn’t bring yourself to care about how you looked, though you did quickly wipe the snot from your nose. When you looked up, you were met with the sight of that weird guy with the staring problem—the one who had once wandered into the vinyl store where you worked.

Who knew he went to your school? Small world, right?

Kei’s eyes locked with yours once more, but this time, he didn’t get lost in them. This time, you felt a cool sensation on your cheek as he gently pressed the water bottle against your face.

As confused as you were, you gratefully accepted it, chugging about half in a single gulp. You hadn’t realized how dehydrated the crying had made you until the water hit your throat. After a moment, you shifted slightly and patted the spot next to you. Kei immediately seized the moment and sat down, staring out into the distance—almost as if looking directly at you might turn him to stone. (It would.)

"What’s your name?"

Your voice was barely a croak, hoarse from sobbing so intensely. But for some reason, in that moment, you absolutely needed to know.

"Kei. Tsukishima Kei."

He was facing you now, golden-brown eyes meeting yours. And somehow, you had the quiet sense that he already knew your name—so you didn’t bother saying it. You both sat in silence as the sun dipped below the horizon, a warm peachy tone replacing the clear blues in the sky. But this silence wasn’t uncomfortable, like the one you used to share with your now ex-boyfriend.

No—this silence felt like communication. Like comfort. Like an unspoken promise that Kei would be there for you from now on. And maybe, just maybe, a quiet foreshadowing that he’d play a much larger role in your life than you ever expected.

From that day forward, Kei began frequenting his favorite vinyl store again—always timing his visits just before your shift ended, just so he could walk you home. The two of you never spoke about that rooftop encounter, but you mutually knew it had pulled you closer.

Kei treated you better than your ex ever did. The two of them were complete opposites. While your ex often whispered sweet nothings, his kindness lived only in his words. Kei, on the other hand, didn’t say much—he preferred to listen.

But oh, how he listened.

The few words he did speak were usually ones of sarcasm or teasing remarks, but if you mentioned you were struggling in a subject, he would stay up all night crafting a personalized lesson plan—then patiently tutor you the next day, even if it meant running on zero sleep for forty-eight hours. If you mentioned you liked a certain snack, he would remember that forever, even going as far as carrying it in his bag 24/7 just in case you got hungry.

You often found yourself wondering why was Kei so nice to you.

Based on what your classmates said, Kei wasn’t exactly known for being outwardly kind. If anything, most people described him as mean. But to you, he was anything but.

So, when he walked you home the next day, you asked—genuinely curious—why he treated you so differently.

Kei was dumbfounded.

To him, his feelings were obvious. Like seriously—what kind of guy walks a girl home while carrying her backpack every day just to be nice? Maybe some—but definitely not him.

“Obviously because I like you,” he said, eyes narrowed. “I would never treat anyone else like this. Take the hint, stupid…”

You were stunned. You didn’t know whether to admit your feelings back or laugh at the sheer offense in his tone. So, you responded the way Kei always did: with your actions.

You reached out and intertwined your fingers with his.

You walked home in silence, quietly acknowledging each other with every step.

[camcameroon]

α ƒℓυƒƒвαℓℓ σƒ ƒєєℓιηgѕ

Satoru’s birthday gift of a kitten sparks hidden feelings for his lifelong best friend, blurring the line between friendship and love.

pairing: reader x Satoru Gojo

trope: childhood friends to lovers

wc:1.5k

tw: fluff, Satoru being hoplessly in love with reader, slowburn, businessman!gojo (briefly metioned), Ph.D student!reader(briefly metioned), gojo’s pov

an: hii!! This is my first ever fic, so apologies if it’s horrible, but i do hope you enjoy this fic c:

There’s gonna be a pt.2 to this!! Probably more from reader’s pov

p.s. any writing advice is highly appreciated!

┊ next chapter ➶

┊playlist to this fic ➶

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

You and Satoru have been best friends for ages.

Your mother was Gojo’s mother’s best friend, so you’d been stuck with the snow-haired boy since birth. Every birthday, family vacation, and first day of school was spent together. He was your partner in crime, your constant, your best friend.

However to Satoru, you were so much more than that.

It started when you were five.

•°. *࿐

It was your birthday, and you insisted on making your mom curl your hair. You wore a pink princess dress and accessorized with a sparkly tiara. To six-year-old Satoru, you weren’t just pretty—you were an actual princess.

But that wasn’t the moment you stole his heart. That came later, during the trivia fiasco.

At your birthday dinner, the host started asking trivia questions to keep the kids entertained. The prize? Kit-Kat (a well known favourite of yours and Satoru’s)

However, only you and Satoru were quick enough to answer, both being fueled by competition and the delicious Kit-Kat prize.

The host clapped her hands, signaling the next question. Everyone buzzed with excitement, but Satoru’s focus was entirely on you. Your tiara was slightly askew, cheeks flushed with determination.

“Alright, here’s a tough one,” the host teased. “What’s the fastest land animal?”

Satoru’s hand shot up, but you beat him to it, shouting, “Cheetah!” with a triumphant grin.

“Correct!” the host cheered. The table applauded, but you weren’t basking in the praise—all you were focused was on Satoru, his running figure and his glossy tear filled blue orbs.

You felt horrible, did you just hurt your best friend?

You found him sulking in a dimly lit corner.

“Hi…” you said softly, sitting next to him.

“What do you want?” he sniffled, refusing to meet your gaze.

“I’m sorry if I hurt you…”

“Whatever. I don’t care.”

“If I give you the Kit-Kat, will you talk to me?”

His eyes sparkled for a split second before narrowing again. “I don’t want your recycled prize.”

“It’s not recycled if you actually won,” you insisted.

“I didn’t win. Did you already forget?”

“The host said you did,” you fibbed, leaning into your lie. “She counted your hand since you raised it first.”

Satoru furrowed his brows, deep in thought, trying to work out how this could’ve happened. “Are you actually going to give it to me?”

“Only if you forgive me.”

He smiled, warmth spreading across his childish features. “Deal. Kit-Kat now, please.”

You giggled and handed it to him.

•°. *࿐

That was the moment Satoru Gojo realized you were magic—a goddess in human form.

Present Day.

You were older now, though none the wiser. Satoru had opened his own business after college, while you buried yourself in academia, pursuing your Ph.D. Despite the chaos of adulthood, your bond only grew stronger. Weekly hangouts were the norm, and you were convinced being an adult wasn’t all that bad.

But time had a way of sneaking up on you. Before you knew it, your 25th birthday was riiiiight around the corner—a milestone you and Satoru had dubbed “peak adulthood” as teenagers, because of this Gojo knew this birthday HAD to be special.

Lately you’ve been complaining how empty your apartment felt….?

DING!

Satoru is totally gonna crush your birthday present.

•°. *࿐

Happy birthday, loser!” he announced, kicking the door shut behind him.

You raised an eyebrow at the box, already wary. “What did you do?”

“Relax, it’s not going to explode or anything.” He set the box down and tugged at the ribbon tied around it. “Probably.”

You crossed your arms, trying to hide your curiosity. “Satoru—”

“Okay, okay, just open it already!” he interrupted, practically bouncing with excitement.

You crouched down, eyeing him suspiciously before carefully lifting the lid. A soft meow greeted you, followed by the sight of the tiniest, fluffiest kitten you’d ever seen.

Your hands flew to your mouth as your eyes went wide. “Satoru…”

“Meet Mittens,” he said, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. “Happy birthday.”

For a moment, you didn’t say anything, too busy scooping the kitten into your arms and marveling at how tiny and warm it was. Finally, you looked up at him, eyes glossy with unshed tears.

“You— You got me a kitten?”

He shrugged, trying to play it cool despite the heat creeping up his neck. “Well, you were complaining about your place being too quiet, so… I figured you needed someone to keep you company. Someone besides me, obviously.”

You laughed, the sound bubbling out of you, this all felt so natural? “Satoru, this is… this is the best gift anyone’s ever given me.”

And just like that, the little fluffball had a home—and Satoru’s heart, already hopelessly tangled up in you, felt just a little fuller knowing he’d brought you a slice of happiness.

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

Him: whatcha doing??

You: just fed mittens, currently in a well-deserved cuddle session :^)

Him: WHAT?! Why’d you say that? I haven’t seen Mittens in, like, 50 billion years. You can’t do this to me.

You: oh quit being a drama queen. You literally saw him yesterday.

Him: isn’t that like 50 billion seconds? Same thing.

You: you’re ridiculous.

Him: i miss mittens :(

You have sent an attachment.

You: here’s a pic of mittens to ail your yearning.

Oh. My. God.

The only thing the photo did was fuel his yearning for you.

Were you trying to tug on his heart strings that were already unbearably broken by you?

All he could focus on were those lively eyes, you and your goddamn eyes. They were probably the only thing that made him shut up, that’s a rarity for mr.chattybox.

Your pupils made him so incredibly warm—to the point his skin was practically burning (he had a bad case of blushing.).

Why were you so utterly perfect? Why did you make him want to listen to 60s oldies and confess his undying love to you? Why did he even know what 60s oldies were and why was his spotify playing “Come home soon”???

He remembers how smiley and giddy you were when you showed him your latest obsession—The Intruders.

Your smile was particularly bright that day.

Your annoyingly kind smile, the photo didn’t do your smile justice, doesn’t change the fact that your smile did in-fact make his stupid heart skip a beat.

He knows all of your smiles—the specific smile in the photo was your “caring” smile, or that’s what he called it at least; this smile in particular is probably your brightest one, and his absolute favourite one: you’re smiling so hard, that your dimples are almost like little craters in your cheeks, your big doe eyes are bursting with happiness—making you look like an actual fucking angel.

So, that’s how he identifies your “caring” smile.

Fuck. He’s done it again.

God damn Satoru, do you have to be this obsessed??

Now his eyes roamed over from you to your kitten—Mittens and there was only one thought running through his mind:

Why on earth are you the textbook example of the perfect wife to him and mother to his future kids?

I mean, you treat your cat better than most people treat their babies; leaving multiple trays of food scattered around your apartment, having multiple litter boxes for your cat (even though you live in an apartment that’s practically smaller than a shoebox), using lavender scented litter(that you went on a scavenger hunt trying to find one that’s not toxic to your fur babies).

•°. *࿐

Those were the little things that made this ice cold heart melt into a boiling puddle of water

Why the fuck were you the kindest soul to grace his presence?

Why the fuck were you so perfect?!

Why the fuck is he even allowing himself to think about you—his best friend like that?!

You were perfect.

•°. *࿐

You: did u like disappear or something?

Him: just sulking over how dumb I was to give YOU Mittens instead of keeping him for myself.

You: rude?!???

Him: nah, just realistic. Sleep with one eye open, tho.

You: are you THREATENING me??

Him: presumably.

You: you’re buying me dinner for this.

Him: haha, sure. Broke college student.

You: fuck you ☹️

Him: Chinese tomorrow, my place, 6 pm. Bring Mittens. :^)

•°. *࿐

You roll your eyes, completely unaware of the battlefield that is Satoru’s brain right now.

Satoru collapsed back onto his bed, phone still in hand, staring at your messages like they were the secrets to the universe.

You were killing him—slowly, sweetly, and entirely.

God, he’s so gone for you.

But maybe, just maybe, tomorrow will be the day he stops being such a coward and tells you how he truly feels.

Or maybe he’ll just spend the entire dinner blushing like an idiot while Mittens steals the spotlight again. Either way, it’s a start.

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

thank you for reading ^^!!!

[miazetomer]

Heartless | Rafe Cameron x pogue(ish)!fem!reader (Part XI)

Warnings: 18+ MDNI, angst, fluff, smut, alcohol use, drug use, takes place during season four, the usual

Summary: You were back on Kildare after two years. You were able to finish your business degree at UNC Chapel Hill in just two years after earning enough college credits in high school. But, you came back as a force to be reckoned with. You had your own very successful development company which just so happened to be Cameron Development’s newest competition. Two years later and you’re still finding ways to get under Rafe’s skin.

a/n: y’all im so sad this is the second to last part of this series :( seriously i just want to say thank you to you all for enjoying this series, well i hope you enjoyed it. i honestly have never loved a series more in my LIFE and i can’t wait for you all to see what i have next in my rafe cameron collection AND I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW I LOVE SOFIA IN OBX AND I HOPE HER AND RAFE LIVE A PROSPEROUS LIFE

prev next

♡♡♡

You paced in front of Mark’s office, tapping your phone against your hand.

“You can come inside.” Mark called from his office.

You took a deep breath and opened the door to his office, walking inside.

“What’s up?” Mark asked, typing away on his computer.

“Um, there’s this gala coming up for business owners and entrepreneurs and investors and stuff like that.” You said, pacing around his office as you spoke with your hands. “And I was thinking it would look good if maybe we went together.”

You had no idea why you were so nervous, you were never nervous. You think it was because of the fight you two had. This was the first time in your life you were possibly facing rejection and that terrified you.

“I agree.” Mark nodded, making you stop in your tracks. You turned and faced him. “Oh, thank God you stopped I was worried you would burn a hole in the carpet. But, yes, I agree. I think it would look good for marketing. And for investors to see us together, to talk to us, together.”

“So, it’s decided then.” You said with a small smile before leaving his office.

♡♡♡

You walked off your family’s private jet in Charleston with Mark, Lily, and your glam team following close behind.

“Did you really need to pack so much for two days?” Mark asked, lugging your suitcase behind him.

“Would you stop complaining? It’s not that heavy.” You said, turning around to look at him.

“Would you like to carry it?”

“Isn’t it supposed to be your job as a man to carry my luggage?”

“Maybe if I was your boyfriend.” Mark mumbled, following behind you.

“Yeah, no way in hell is that happening again.” You scoffed.

♡♡♡

Your assistant quickly checked you into the hotel and you went up to your room.

“You can just leave my bag there.” You told Mark as you dropped your purse on the couch. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.” Mark said before leaving.

Your suite was a good size. It had two bedrooms, one for you and one for Lily, a glam room, two bathrooms, and of course the living area complete with a mini bar.

“Lily, do you want to grab dinner?” You asked, turning on your heel to look at her.

“Y-you want to get dinner with me?”

“Of course, silly.” You said with a smile.

“Sure Ms. Thornton.”

“Lily, we aren’t at work you can drop the formalities.” You laughed.

♡♡♡

You sat in the glam room of your hotel room, surrounded by your glam team. Your hair was in rollers, you were getting your makeup done, and your dress hung on a hook behind you. You read emails on your phone as you sipped on your latte through a straw.

“Do you ever stop working?” Mark asked, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

“No.” You responded flatly, looking at him through the mirror.

“You need to get a life.” Mark chuckled.

“Me? You’re the one who needs to get a life. You know my assistant, Lily, she’s single, you should ask her out.”

“Why would I ask your assistant out?”

“She’s cute, your age, her dad is the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.”

“Which one?”

“McKesson.”

“Her dad is Brian Tyler?” Mark asked, his eyes going wide. “What is she doing working as your assistant?”

“She wanted to do something with her time other than spending her dad’s money.”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“To ask Lily out.” Mark said, before leaving.

♡♡♡

You sighed as you waited for Mark to finish getting ready, checking the time on your phone repeatedly.

“Mark, hurry up!” You shouted as you stood in the middle of his room.

“Sorry.” He said, walking out of the bathroom, adjusting his tie.

“God, took you long enough. We have to go, the driver’s downstairs.” You walked out of the room, Mark following closely behind, and made your way to the elevator.

As you rode the elevator, it stopped just one floor below you. You sighed and moved next to Mark to make room in the elevator. You didn’t do much to hide the disgust on your face when Rafe and Sofia entered.

“Y/n, how nice of you to bring a charity case.” Rafe smirked.

“Rafe, how thoughtful of you to bring an extra bartender so the bar staff doesn’t get overwhelmed. That’s what you did at the club, right Sofia? Before you started living off of Rafe’s inheritance.” You shot back, causing Mark to smirk.

“If I remember correctly, y/n, you worked there for a summer as a cart girl.” Sofia said, holding her head high.

“Oh, Sweetie, I worked there to flirt with the frat boys that came through, you worked there to pay your bills. We are not the same.” You watched as the smile dissipated from Sofia’s face. You leaned in to Sofia’s ear and whispered. “Speak to me like that again and I tell Rafe everything.”

You leaned back and smirked as Sofia’s face flushed red.

“Oh, Mark, I forgot to introduce you to Rafe. Mark this is Rafe Cameron, owner of Cameron Development. Rafe, this is Mark, my business partner.”

“I would say it’s nice to meet you, but you did just call me a charity case.” Mark said, shaking Rafe’s hand when he extended it.

“Nothing personal.” Rafe muttered, shoving his hand in his pocket.

“I don’t know, seemed kind of personal. You must be the ex-boyfriend.”

“Seems we have that in common.” Rafe chuckled.

♡♡♡

“I can’t believe you let her talk to me like that.” Sofia huffed on the car ride to the venue.

“You tried playing with the big dogs and you got bit, deal with it.” Rafe snapped back.

“I deserve to be respected, Rafe.” Sofia said, earning a chuckle from Rafe.

“You deserve to be respected? You’ve done nothing to earn her respect. Respect is earned, not given.”

“I don’t understand why you constantly stick up for her. I guarantee she doesn’t stick up for you like this.”

“I stick up for her because she’s been my friend my entire life. You’ve been in my life, what, five minutes and you think you trump her?”

“Who was here for you when your father died? Who made sure you became a better man?”

“She was there for me when my dad died. Those flowers that came from a fake address were from her. I just never reached out to her because I was giving her the distance she asked for. And I became a better man for her. God, Sofia, when are you gonna wake up and realize it’s always been her.”

“Then why are you here with me tonight instead of her?”

“Because, you were the second best choice.”

♡♡♡

You and Mark quickly found your table before you excused yourself to make your way to the bar.

“Rosé, please.” You sighed, leaning against the bar.

Rafe came and stood next to you at the bar, placing his order.

“You just had to say something in the elevator, didn’t you?” You asked, turning towards Rafe.

“You know I’ve always had a hard time keeping my mouth shut.” Rafe smirked, causing you to chuckle. “Besides, I know you would’ve said something if I didn’t.”

“Mmm, I don’t know how true that is.” You said, taking a sip of your Rosé.

“You and I both know you’ve been holding that bartender bullshit in your canister for a while now.”

“Oh, Rafe Cameron, you know me so well.” You mocked, pretending to swoon.

“I do, and that’s how I know you won’t have a good time tonight with Mark over there.” Rafe said, pointing over to where Mark was sitting.

“Why is Mark talking to Sofia at our table?” You asked, glaring in their direction.

“Oh, funny thing, they put us at the same table.” Rafe chuckled, taking a drink from his whiskey.

“Oh, fantastic.” You muttered, finishing your wine.

♡♡♡

“Not having a good time?” Rafe asked as you found yourself standing at the bar again.

“I’m just having the best night of my life talking to all these people who don’t take a woman owning a business seriously.” You said, sarcasm dripping off of every single word.

“Where’s Mark?”

“Talking to potential investors. I decided it would be best if I let him do the talking tonight. Where’s your girlfriend?”

“I sent her back to the hotel room.”

“What? Why?”

“Because, she’s not who I wanted to be here with tonight.”

♡♡♡

You had pulled Rafe into a dark hallway, away from everyone, away from the party. You paced in front of him as he leaned back against the wall, his hands in his pockets, watching you carefully.

You were thinking out everything you wanted to say. You knew this wasn’t the best place to do this, but you were a couple glasses of wine deep, and wine always got you in your feelings. You wanted to make a big speech, you wanted to tell Rafe everything you had been holding back, but all that came to your head was ‘I love you, Rafe Cameron. I love you, Rafe Cameron.’

You sighed and tossed your hair out of your face, turning towards Rafe. You decided you would just word vomit whatever you were thinking at Rafe.

“Okay, I know whatever I’m about to say is gonna be all over the place and some parts probably won’t make sense, but I need you to stick with me.” You started, as you fidgeted with your fingers. “Look, for the last two years I have tried suppressing every feeling I had for you; love, anger, happiness. And I mean really, really suppressing it, like shoving it so deep down and locking it away for what I hoped would be ever. But, the more I tried to suppress it, the more I thought about you and the more I realized you were, honestly, probably the love of my life. And that was half the reason why I broke up with Mark, because I knew he would never be you, I mean he could never be you. And I-I knew coming back would be so incredibly hard. That’s why I avoided you at the club and parties and anywhere else I saw you, because every time I saw you my stomach did this thing where it felt like I was going down on a roller coaster, you know what I mean?” Rafe nodded and you continued. “I tried telling myself there was no way I could be in love with a man who has hurt so many people I love, including himself. But, then I realized I was in love with him, with you. And I know you aren’t the same person anymore Rafe and I am so proud of you for that. Now, I want to say I’m sorry. I’m sorry for leaving you and disappearing when you probably needed me the most. I found out I tend to do this thing where I run away from problems instead of facing them head on, and I’m really trying to work on that. I mean I did it to Mark-”

Rafe stepped forward and grabbed your face gently. He leaned down and closed the space between the two of you, capturing your lips with his. At first you stood there, shocked, but then you closed your eyes and started kissing him back, wrapping your arms around his neck, essentially deepening the kiss.

“Sorry, baby, you started rambling.” Rafe said, pulling away from you. You took your hands off Rafe’s neck and put them on the collar of his jacket, pulling on him as you crashed your lips against his.

It felt like every bad feeling you bad about coming home was starting to melt away and all that was left was the one feeling you had been avoiding most, love.

Your lips worked in perfect tandem with Rafe’s, almost like you were made for each other.

“Hotel room?” Was all you said before Rafe took your hand and started pulling you outside the venue, as he texted his driver he was ready to be picked up.

As soon as you got outside, Rafe’s driver was pulling up. The two of you rushed to the car as soon as your eyes locked on it.

You couldn’t even keep your hands off him in the car as you straddled him and placed kisses along his neck, grinding your hips against his. Rafe tilted his head to the side to allow you more access to his neck as his hands quickly found residence on your ass, squeezing lightly.

When you reached the hotel, you quickly pulled a hundred dollar bill out of your clutch and gave it to the driver before climbing out of the car, and rushing inside the hotel, with Rafe following closely behind.

“You look really good tonight.” Rafe said as you waited for the elevator.

“Thanks, I got the dress at some boutique on Kildare.” You responded with a smile. Your dress really was gorgeous. It was a delicate, pretty, yellow, silk, strapless dress with an open back. The only portion of your back that was covered was your ass and your legs. Rafe was always a sucker for backless dresses and you knew it.

“Does nothing for your ass though.” Rafe joked, leaning back a little as he peered down at your ass. You gasped and slapped his arm with your clutch, trying to hide your smile.

As soon as you got in the elevator, Rafe had you pressed up against the wall, his hands gripping onto your hips as he placed delicate kisses along your neck, nipping at the one spot just below your ear, earning a quiet moan from you.

Once the elevator doors opened to your floor, you were practically running down the hallway with Rafe following, not having to do much to keep up with you. You fiddled through your clutch looking for the key to your suite as Rafe stood behind you, his hands on your hips, kissing your neck. Eventually, you found the key and opened the door, pulling Rafe inside quickly.

“We have to be quiet, Lily is sleeping.” You whispered as you walked to your room.

“Who the fuck’s Lily?” Rafe asked, whispering.

“Lily, my assistant.” You said, turning around to face Rafe. “You’ve met her multiple times.”

“Sorry, baby.” Rafe replied, shrugging as you scoffed, turning back around.

You opened the door to the room you were sleeping in, closing it once Rafe stepped through the threshold. He quickly threw his phone on the bed and you threw your clutch on the empty chair. Rafe’s hands were back on your hips the instant you turned around to face him, his lips crashing down onto yours. Rafe guided you towards the bed as you pulled his tie off and pushed his jacket to the floor. Once the back of your knees hit the bed, you laid down and grabbed the collar of Rafe’s shirt, pulling him down over you. He quickly found his place in between your legs, kissing you more hungrily now, as he pushed your dress up to your hips. You made quick work of his shirt, pushing it off his shoulders as Rafe removed one hand from your hip and brought it down to where the heat was pooling between your legs.

“You’re not wearing any underwear.” He groaned against your lips.

“I knew where I’d end up tonight.” You smirked, only for it to be replaced by a moan when Rafe slipped two fingers inside your dripping cunt.

“All this, just for me?” Rafe asked when he removed his fingers from you and inspected them closely.

“Don’t flatter yourself, some of it was for Mark.” You taunted. You were trying to piss Rafe off, he always was a better fuck when he was pissed off.

“Do you always have to be so fucking irritating?” Rafe muttered, standing up at the edge of the bed. You watched him carefully as he took off his belt, then his pants, then his boxers. You groaned at the sight of him, oh how you missed him.

“Only for you.” You said, gasping when Rafe slid himself into you. Your back arched off the bed as Rafe started slamming himself into you, his balls hitting your ass every time your hips connected. Your pussy clenched around Rafe, egging him on. You had forgotten just how big he was until you could feel him stretching you out. You wrapped your legs around Rafe’s waist, keeping him close to you. Pornographic moans were the only sound leaving your lips.

“Who else fucks you this good, hmm?” Rafe smirked down at the sight of you, practically falling apart for him.

“N-no one else baby, just you.” You managed to get out, as you screwed your eyes shut, arching your back off the bed. You were close, Rafe could tell. He moved one hand and started rubbing harsh circles on your clit. Even after all this time, Rafe knew your body like the back of his hand. It didn’t take much longer after that, you were cumming all over his cock, clenching around him so tightly, you worried you were going to break it. Rafe’s thrusts slowed, guiding you through your high.

“Think you got a couple more in you, baby?” Rafe asked, pulling out of you, and you just nodded. You slipped off your dress and Rafe groaned at the sight of you, everything he has ever wanted was right in front of him. You turned over and got on your forearms and knees, arching your back, you knew it was Rafe’s favorite position, it made him feel more in control.

Rafe’s hands made their way to your ass, squeezing softly, slowly spreading your ass cheeks apart and taking a mental picture of the moment. Rafe wasn’t sure when this would happen again, so he wanted to savor every second. He got down on his knees and placed a delicate kiss to your clit before he ran his tongue through your folds. You arched your back more, wanting more contact with Rafe’s tongue, but Rafe sat back and started running his finger through your folds, occasionally dipping one finger into your entrance, never leaving it in for long. You turned your head around to look at Rafe and you rolled your eyes at the sight.

“Are you gonna keep fucking around, Cameron, or am I gonna have to do this mys-” You started but was soon cut off by Rafe slipping two fingers inside of you and attaching his lips to your clit, your back arching in response. Rafe quickly picked up the pace on his fingers, curling them inside you to touch that one spot that only he has ever been able to reach. You moved your hips to meet Rafe’s fingers, pulling him deeper. You opened your eyes when you felt Rafe’s phone vibrate against the bed, you turned your head to look over your shoulder, just to make sure Rafe wasn’t looking and sure enough he was face deep in your pussy, blissfully unaware of the outside world. When you checked Rafe’s phone and saw he received a text from Sofia, you smirked to yourself. You clicked on the notification and unlocked his phone, reading the ‘where are you?’ text from Sofia. Quickly, you took a picture of Rafe and sent it to her along with a ‘sorry, he’s busy eating dinner,’ text. You turned off his phone and shoved it under a pillow.

You clenched around Rafe’s fingers, the stimulation quickly becoming too much. His name fell from your lips like prayer as you squirted all over his fingers.

You moved further up the bed and turned around to face Rafe. You grabbed his hand and pulled him down on the bed, moving quickly to straddle him before he could make his next move.

You took Rafe’s cock in your hand and positioned yourself over it. Slowly, you lowered yourself over it, earning a groan from Rafe as his hands shot to your hips, pulling you down the rest of the way. Your mouth gaped open at the feeling of Rafe’s cock stretching you out.

“So, fucking tight baby.” He groaned out, tilting his head back as the grip on your hips tightened. You slowly started moving your hips, allowing yourself to adjust to Rafe. But, once the pain subsided and the pleasure took over, you moved faster, your boobs bouncing against your chest. Rafe went to sit up but you pushed him back down, digging your nails into his chest as you rode him. Rafe’s hips met your own as your own movement started to become sloppier the closer you got your end. Your head tilted back as you let Rafe take over. It wasn’t long before you could feel Rafe’s cock twitching inside you, his thrusts becoming sloppier as he came deep inside you, you following closely behind. You collapsed against Rafe’s chest, feeling both of your liquids dripping down your thighs.

♡♡♡

Your eyes fluttered open in the morning at the sound of someone knocking on your door. You groaned and pulled your pillow over your head, not wanting to get up.

“Ms. Thornton.” You heard Lily call out from the other side. “You have to get up, it’s almost time to leave.”

You opened your eyes and checked the time on your phone, jumping out of bed once you realized the time.

“Sorry, sorry. I’m up.” You told Lily, before you walked over to Rafe, shaking him so he would wake up. “Rafe get the fuck up.”

“What time is it?” He groaned, running his hands over his face.

“It’s time to wake the fuck up.” You said, running around the room to collect your things as you threw them into your suitcase. Rafe slowly got out of the bed and started pulling his pants on.

“Well, good morning to you, too.” He muttered, buttoning his pants.

“Time to do the walk of shame, baby.” You patted his chest as you walked past him to pick your dress up off the floor.

“Where’s my phone?” He asked, pulling his suit jacket on over his unbuttoned shirt.

“Oh, here.” You said, grabbing his phone from under the pillow and handing it to him. You continued moving around the room, trying to grab all your things as he checked his phone.

“I have like a thousand texts from Sofia.” He muttered to himself. “Did you-Did you send her something?”

You stopped what you were doing and squeezed your eyes shut. You needed to come up with something and you needed to do it fast.

“I just…did the hard part for you.” You said with a small smile as you walked past him. Rafe grabbed your elbow and pulled you back towards him.

“You do realize I have to be in a confined space with her, thirty thousand feet in the air in like two hours right?” Rafe asked, pinching the bridge of his nose with his other hand.

“You do realize Sofia’s not completely incompetent right? She would’ve pieced two and two together when you never went back to your room. Maybe she even realized what was going to happen when you sent her back to your room last night.”

“I could’ve at least had a conversation with her.”

“Look, it could go two ways: she could give you the silent treatment, move out of Tannyhill, and never speak to you again or she could yell at you the whole way back to Kildare, move out of Tannyhill, and never speak to you again. I mean it’s not like you’re gonna be flying commercial where everyone can hear you. You’re gonna be on your own plane with just the two of you, a couple flight attendants, and the pilots. So, if she tries to kill you there will at least be witnesses.”

“This isn’t how I wanted to end things with her. I wanted to let her down easy.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m pretty sure I did make things easy for you.” You scoffed, pulling your arm away from Rafe so you could make your way to the bathroom. You took a second before you sighed and turned around. “I’m…sorry. You’re right. What I did was immature and wrong.”

Rafe raked his eyes over you, like he was sizing you up. “What game are you playing, y/n?”

“I’m not playing a game, Rafe.” You scoffed, turning back around to put all your skincare away.

“Bullshit, you’re always playing a game. You never apologize.”

“It’s called maturing, Rafe. I’m trying to take a step in the right direction. No more games, no more fighting, less parties, focusing more on OBX Development.” You sighed and zipped up your skincare bag. Your eyes met Rafe’s in the mirror as you attempted to hide the smirk forming on your face and you turned around to face him. “I’m being serious. Me sending Sofia that picture last night was just my last bit of fun before my frontal lobe develops.”

“Fine.” Rafe sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Did you really mean what you said about no fighting?”

“Ehh.” You said, rocking your head back and forth. You smiled over at Rafe and walked over to him, wrapping your arms around his neck before placing a small kiss on his lips. “I’ll see you back on Kildare, baby.”

♡♡♡

“How was your night?” Mark asked as the two of you sat on your plane. He was reading Business Insider and you were reading emails on your laptop.

“Everything went exactly to plan.” You muttered, smirking to yourself. “How was your night?

“Actually, it went really well. I think I even got us some new clients.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, they’re interested in building on Kildare, actually.”

“Oh, that’s perfect.”

♡♡♡

“So, are you and Rafe like getting back together?” Sarah asked after you told her and Kie all about your night with Rafe.

“I don’t know, maybe.” You smiled, wrapping your arms around your knees.

“Just be careful, y/n.” Kie sighed. “Rafe doesn’t exactly have the best track record.”

“I know, I just think he’s…different now.”

“Wasn’t it just a couple of days ago you were yelling at him for knocking JJ off his bike?” Kie pointed out.

“Okay, I know that it sounds bad, but seriously I think he’s different. Maybe he just needs to hangout with us for you guys to see he has changed.”

“You want Rafe to hangout with us?” Sarah asked, her eyebrows raising in surprise.

“Come on, I think it can be fun. We invite him to Poguelandia, we have a bonfire, a couple of drinks, a couple of joints. It’ll be a good time.”

“If you think so.” Sarah sighed.

♡♡♡

Rafe stood around with the boys as they tended the fire and you pulled Sarah aside.

“I have a surprise for you.” You smiled, hiding the surprise behind your back.

“Okay.” She said, hesitantly.

“I was talking to Rafe and I may have convinced him to finally give you your inheritance.” You pulled the paperwork out from behind your back and handed it to her.

“Are you serious?” Sarah asked with a big smile, looking down at the paperwork.

“I told Rafe he should be the one to give it to you, but he said he was too nervous. Don’t tell him I told you that, though.”

“Thank you y/n, seriously.” Sarah hugged you tightly.

“Are the guys getting along?” You asked Kie when she came over.

“Well, besides the fact that they’re fighting over how the fire should be handled, I’d say they’re getting along.” Kie nodded.

“Guys, I think we’re finally getting everything we wanted.” You smiled, looking towards the boys.

♡♡♡

taglist: @sabrina-carpenter-stan-account

[jooeooe]

COMPETITIVE NATURE

IN WHICH Y/n and Nicholas always seemed to be in competition with one another throughout childhood. What happens at the greatly anticipated HYBE picnic where they have to compete once again?

chapter 1: stalker

wc: 950

Your friends like to tell you that you’re very competitive by nature. You disagree. You just happen to always be the best at what you do. Wang Yixiang - he is competitive. And when a competitive person isn’t the best at what they do, that’s when things get sticky.

It started in elementary school. The badminton team was mixed gender, and you joined and quickly became the most valued player. Then, a boy from the year below joined, and everything seemed to shift. He was swift to master the basics and then took no time to become skilled, and soon he was a player you were concerned could actually beat you. The two of you weren’t allowed to be paired together in practice because it would simply be unfair to the opposing team.

One time, he had the nerve to challenge you to a singles. You supposed everyone was curious about who was better. You heard people on the team talking about it all the time. The match went on for thirty minutes before the shuttlecock had hit the ground even once, and the coach called a draw. The boy had then claimed that since you were a year older, you had an advantage, and that if you had been the same age he would’ve won. That is simply the kind of stupid shit an eleven year old would come up with as an excuse for not winning, but from that point onwards, you hated Wang Yixiang.

When you moved up to middle school, you had peace for one year. And then he moved up too. You started seeing his annoying face around again. And worst of all, he always smiled at you in the corridors. Sometimes he’d even call out your name and say hi. But it was always in a teasing, condescending way. Like he knew how easily he could get on your nerves. Still, you were in different years, so you never had any classes together. And there were no mixed gender sports clubs in middle school, so he had no way to weasel his way back into your life. That was, until the school picked representatives for a national sports festival, which was a two hour drive from your home in Taipei.

Of course, both you and Yixiang were among the representatives, and he was very adamant on talking to you the entire time. He would simply try to make conversation, but would never be deterred when you only gave back half-assed responses, or just ignored him completely. He was persistent like that. The most annoying trait someone could have.

He was persistent throughout high school, too. You decided you wanted to pursue dance and transferred to Jangkyung High School, department of performing arts. Guess who transferred the next term? You signed up for the school musical. Guess who bumped into you at the audition? You even ended up in the same dance crew, and the most annoying thing of all, was the fact that he was fucking good. Exactly like what happened in elementary school with badminton, he picked up street dance quickly and rapidly became one of the best. You got crazy deja vu when you started hearing some crew members debating on if you or Yixiang were the better dancer. He’d always come to you after the practice. Say something casual like ‘good work today, Y/n’, or ‘tough one today, Y/n, wasn’t it?’ and you’d mumble whatever in response. You could tell by the smug smirk on his face that he was never actually trying to have small talk - he was teasing. The competition between the two of you may have been unspoken, but it definitely wasn’t one-sided. You knew he felt it too.

In 2019, Big Hit Entertainment held an audition at your high school, and you decided to go for it. Guess who also auditioned? Guess who also passed?

You and Yixiang moved to South Korea as trainees at the same time. Yixiang, however, was transferred to Belift Lab and participated in I-LAND after eight months. You weren’t very happy about that. The mere idea of Yixiang debuting before you made you want to chew your nails off. You’d been competing with him since literal childhood, but never had a clear answer as to which one of you is actually better. If he debuts before you, that would be unofficial confirmation.

Luckily for you, he didn’t debut through I-LAND. You didn’t really have the heart to celebrate over that though, because as you watched I-LAND, it looked rather traumatic. And while it may have been entertaining for those who had no personal connection to the participants, you’re stomach churned every time you saw Yixiang struggling on your screen. You didn’t like him, but he was still the kid who’d once chewed on a shuttlecock as a dare in elementary school, and still the kid who’d beaten himself up after not winning an event at a sports festival. Because you knew him, he was more humanised to you than the others, and you hated seeing the way he was suffering in there.

You saw him in the HYBE building after his elimination, and he seemed different. He saw you walk past him in the corridor, and he didn’t even say anything. You don’t think that has ever happened before. You almost turned back around and went up to him to make sure he was seeing okay. Never had he not spoken to you when he had the opportunity. You replayed the moment you passed each other a million times in your mind, and you realised he hadn’t just not spoken to you, he’d avoided your eyes. As if he were ashamed.

masterlist | next

[narcjsistx]

𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄! | itoshi rin x fem reader

part fourteen: blue lock || BAND AU, A BIT AGED UP

plot: after your band's last concert, a few days after Rin's, an online competition arises about who is the best bassist. A whole new challenge is created by the new fandom who loves you, but people don't know that you and the bassist of Blue Lock haven't spoken in about 3 years since you broke up, when you were sixteen

02: PAST, YESTERDAY

characters presentation here ; all the parts here

You look at the sea in front of you, the warm breeze that warms your body, but not your soul. It's supposed to be a happy day, you're happy actually, but you can't ignore the part of you that's been dead since Sae got on that plane a few hours ago. Sitting on the sand, next to you, is the only person who can understand how you feel since he also feels the same, perhaps even more painfully. You should be happy for the milestone reached by the third person of your trio, yet Sae only recently left and has already left a huge void

“Pretty ironic coming to his favorite place now that we miss him” you say lifting your head from your knees, looking towards Rin, who instead shrugs “You insisted on coming here. I wanted to go home” he says, and you roll your eyes "You can go, if you want. Nothing will happen if you leave me alone here for few hours" you say, but he shakes his head "Don't even think about it"

You smile at him, resting your head against his shoulder “Thanks, Rin. Thank you so much"

Sae left for Spain, he had a golden opportunity which he obviously chased: being called by one of the most famous guitar schools in the world. As happy as you both are for him, he left you behind, breaking the balance that had been normal for you for 3 years now. Years had passed since you started hanging out at the Itoshi house, becoming friends with both brothers, and now that one was gone, everything seemed so strange

The only guitarist who knew how to entertain you was now in another country. Your best friend was now in another country. Rin's brother was in another country, very far from Japan

“We're handling this as if he's dead. He's fine, he just went to be the best somewhere else” Rin says, resting his head against yours “He left our little band to become the best. And when he comes back he'll be ready for us again, and we'll use this time to be the best around here" he says, and somehow his words make you think for a while "Do you think he'll hate us when he comes back?" you say, and Rin turns to you, confused "You always get too paranoid. Of course he won't do it" he say returning to your previous position, but this time shyly grabbing your hand, playing with your fingers. You breathe a sigh of relief, looking at him calmly "I'm just paranoid"

A lot has happened between you and Rin since you started being seriously friends. He became your bassist, you his bassist, and the only one he's not extremely cold to, besides his brother. It's not uncommon for you to hold hands, it's a gesture you're used to, but which every time gives you little shivers down your spine. But you're not in some kind of relationship, you don't even know how you feel about him, much less how he feels about you. It's just pure affection, you think

"He will meet many good bass players. Maybe they will call him into some band, if they see how good he is" you say, still looking at the sea, hoping that you too can become a wave, just to not think about all this. Rin sighs, scratching the back of your hand "It could happen. But we're his favorite"

"This doesn't mean anything. What about the band we had? Okay we didn't even have a name, but..." you say, but you fall silent not knowing how to continue. Rin seems to notice your little discomfort "He will do what he thinks is right, we can only be happy for him. But we both know how much he loves us, how much he loves you. He would never do something that would make us fight, between the three of us" he says, and you try to convince yourself. You make yourself more comfortable against him, the sunset slowly giving way to the darkness of the evening

'What do we do while we wait?" you ask "Let's become the best" he says, but you shrug “Beyond that, i mean, how do we spend our time now?”

"What do you mean?" he asks, looking you straight in the eyes "I say... what if we created a band? To train while we wait for him" you say unsure, but Rin seems to be interested "Huh?"

"A band, a band of our own. Where we play, but this time with other people that we can get from somewhere... a guitarist, a drummer. And we can ask to perform in some bar or I don't know... maybe I'm just talking in circles, forget about it" you say looking down, but Rin's silence makes you look up, noticing how he's actually thinking about it. The younger Itoshi seems so interested in the idea that it surprises you, since it's just something you said randomly, but that could be an option "And what would you like to call this band?"

You look around, looking at the fence next to you, positioned on the beach. Attached to it are many padlocks, placed by lovers to seal their love

"Blue Lock" you say turning to Rin, who was looking in the same direction as you. He tilts his head, then letting an imperceptible, but not for you, smile spread across his face; when he smiles, you can swear your 13 year old girl heart explodes

“Blue Lock, huh?” he asks, relaxing his muscles "It could work" he says, and you look at him even more surprised "You think so?" you ask, and he nods “It could. But you're the founder of this thing, not me. So don't blame me if everything fails" he says putting his arm around your shoulders, holding you close to him. You accept his small show of affection, holding onto him even tighter. If Rin believes that it can work, that you and him can start a real band, then it will work

TAGLIST: @x3nafix ; @kittenish0 ; @littlejapanesesightseeingtrip ; @pan-kojiwa ; @pookalicious-hq ; @kaz-0e ; @sof888a ; @chugging-bleach ; @matchablossomsss ; @lovelymeguru ; @thebestsetter ; @yamsverse ; @princesssae ; @yuukigyatgyat ; @azharyy ; @rwbie ; @bubybubsters ; @swagkittybear ; @syarc0re ; @rink1sser ; @frogsrules ; @hwaassaa ; @chuuyalvover ; @poemzcheng ; @poisonedst4r ; @s4-mmy ; @gojosfiance ; @justtkari ; @xl-pr

[bahablastplz]

All in | Chapter 2.5 (Hyunjin)

pairing: Lee Felix x f!reader (mafia au)

summary: You didn't know what you were getting yourself into when you started dating Yang Jungwon, notorious mafia boss. Your life gets flipped upside down when you're found beaten and bloody by SKZ, the rival mafia group, and you're quickly integrated into their lives. What will happen when you try to leave your old life behind and start anew?

warnings: please see series masterlist for all warnings

series masterlist ~~ series taglist ~~ main masterlist

<< previous ♡ next >>

Hyunjin: “We can’t wait for you to be just like us.” 

Legacy. It was a word that I had known inexplicably well, though I’ve always had a hatred for it. For as long as I could remember, my parents were always forcing strict standards of their idealized perfection onto me. Starting as early as elementary school, I was enrolled in every advanced-level gifted course and extracurricular activity you could think of. My schedule was packed to the brim, and I was always expected to excel. 

I started to feel the burn-out when I got to high school. That overwhelming feeling weighing down my shoulders that it was too much. I did what any kid my age would have done: I rebelled. 

A girl in my class asked if I wanted to skip class with her to go to an amusement park one day. I had never skipped class before, Hell I had never even missed school. But something, that pressure cascading inside of my chest that ached to be relieved told me to say yes. For the first time in my entire life I skipped a day, and it was amazing. I didn’t have to worry about doing everything right and I was just able to be myself. Let go, feel free, be a kid for once. 

When I returned home I knew that everything was fucked. They knew. Of course, they knew. I received the verbal lashing of a lifetime, forced to go to bed without food and with my phone taken away for a month. “We’ve given you everything and yet you blatantly disrespect us,” my mother had said. “If you want to be a deadbeat who hates his family, just say so,” said my father. He told me if I ever did anything like that to disappoint them again, he would beat my ass. My father had never threatened me before. To be fair, I’d never given him reason to but I had no reason to believe he was lying at that moment. 

I knew that if I ever told anybody about it they wouldn’t believe me, anyway. My mother was a detective and my father was the head chief of police, both well-respected and well-known by all. Any lies they decided to weave would be believed. I had no choice but to follow in their paths. 

I graduated top of my class, though it was really no competition. My resume was extraordinary at only age 18, and I was well-respected and revered by all. It’s no surprise I was accepted into the top school in the nation. Partially because of my exceptional academics and skills, partially because of my legacy. 

I enrolled in criminology and literature in my undergraduate. Reading was something I had always had a passion for, though it seemed like I never had the time on top of everything else. Soccer practice, piano lessons, extra exam preparation courses, art classes, yearbook committee, honors societies after honors societies… the list had just done on and on. So I indulged in my passion for literature during school simultaneously with my criminology degree. Of course it was expected that I would follow my parent’s lead and go to law school. It was no surprise that I was, of course, top of my class again. All I did was study and prepare for my courses, after all. 

I had been accepted into the top law school in the nation, which was an incredible prestige to have. 

I didn’t accept the offer. 

While I was in my undergraduate, I had realized something that felt so out of my depth; I had no desire to be a lawyer. None. Sure, academia and criminology were both things that I excelled at, but when I thought about following in my parents footsteps and living that drab, boring life until the day I died…? It’s enough to drive a man mad. 

The day of my graduation party was a disaster. My parents had set up an elaborate get-together, inviting everyone in the town to celebrate my getting into the best university. I hadn’t told them yet. As everyone congratulated me, clinking together expensive bottles of champagne arranged in a neat array by my mother, I was told to give a speech. 

“Thank you to everyone for gathering here today to celebrate my many accomplishments,” I had said. “Your attendance is noted and appreciated. For me to get this far, I really have to thank my parents. If not for them, I would not be where I am today. I actually have a special announcement to make for everyone, if I may. I will not be continuing my studies at university.” A gasp and low murmurs could be heard throughout the room. “I know, I know. But is it really a surprise? Dearest mother and father, you have put me into a box since the day that I was born. It’s no surprise that I would end up just like you, is it? That’s exactly what you wanted. That’s exactly what they wanted, everyone!” I say, addressing the room. “I have never had a chance to explore life for myself. What do I want out of life? It’s not to be a fucking lawyer! I’ve never wanted that. I don’t even know what I want! My parents, who you all know and love so dearly, will probably never speak to me again after this. Because if I’m not who they want me to be, they won’t want me! Mother, father, I hope you have the greatest life. Ladies and gentlemen, if I may excuse myself.” And with that, I put the mic down and leave the room. My mother and father’s spluttering faces left behind, and that life I had worked so hard for completely in the past. 

After that night I started renting a dingy apartment in the bad side of town. It was all I could afford with the money I had saved up doing research in college, but it was certainly enough. That first night was the most refreshing night of my life. I didn’t think about work or what was coming next. I laid in bed, a mattress on the floor that I hauled up to the twelfth floor of my apartment building, and read a book cover to cover. I slept for fourteen hours. It was as if everything I had ever done in life was starting to catch up to me at last. I even became physically sick right after and instead of pushing through it I just… let it work its way through my body as I rested, the way it’s meant to be done. 

Day 6 of living my new life, no contact with my parents since the day I left, I decided I would get a job. I didn’t have anything in mind but I knew that I wanted it to be something that felt freeing. Something I wouldn’t have to think about. I let my feet lead the way, and I somehow ended up in a bar. Run-down, smelling of cigarette smoke and tables that barely stood on their own. A place with no promise whatsoever, surely a horrible investment for one to make… 

“Are you hiring?” The bartender laughed from where she sat. She thought I was joking, and I’m sure in any given situation that was the right assumption to make. Why would anybody want to work here?

“We don’t get much business,” she said. 

“That’s fine,” I told her. 

“Do you have a bartending license?” she had asked. I shook my head in response. “Usually we won’t hire without previous experience, but for a pretty face like yourself, consider it done. We pay off-the-books, so you’ll get your check in cash. S’that alright?” She flicked a cigarette butt into the glass ashtray on the bar. 

“When can I start?” 

And so became my first job pursuit as a bartender. I found it easy to navigate, and talking to the patrons that frequented the bar felt so refreshing. Listening to the lives of strangers that came in and out, struggling to make a living instead of having everything handed to me on a platter, and never having to think about that forbidden word ‘legacy.’ It was everything I’d wanted and more. 

To my surprise, the business at the bar had started to pick up after the start of my employment. We had started making enough money that I was able to sit down with the owner and help them budget out renovations… starting with new tables. 

“I can’t for the life of me figure out why we have this many new customers,” I had told the other bartender one day. 

“Me neither,” she replied sarcastically. “It’s not like we have a new bartender that looks like he was sculpted by a Greek God or anything.” 

It just so happens that I was able to rise up on the management chain fairly quickly. It wasn’t like there was much of a chain to begin with, but within a month I was enacted as the manager. Maybe the current one was lazy, or maybe they had given up on the bar long before I had started working there, but nonetheless I accepted the position, so long as I didn’t work more than 40 hours a week. With the extra cash I started making in tips, I was able to build up my library as well. I was happy. 

“Hyunjin, was it?” said a patron at the bar one night. It was a Friday, loud and bustling on one of our more active business days. I had almost missed the fact that he was talking to me. 

“Hmm? Yes, Hyunjin. What can I do for you? Would you like another drink?” I asked, looking at the man. He was fit, wearing a black tank top underneath a blazer; he seemed almost out of place. His dark hair was neatly styled and he was adorned with silver jewelry. I noted how well put together he was and I remembered him being very kind to me when I refilled his drink. 

“Thank you, Hyunjin. I’ll speak with you later, after hours, if we may.” I didn’t get a chance to interrupt him or ask him what he meant before he threw down a wad of cash in his wake. 

“What–” 

“Do you even know who that was?” my coworker had asked. Furrowing my brow and shaking my head, I looked at her incredulous expression. That man had never walked into the bar before, I would have recognized him if he had. 

“That was Bang Chan!” she whisper-shouted at me. “He owns this place. Hell, he probably owns half of the businesses in this town!” The name did seem to ring a bell now that she mentioned it. What did he want to speak with me for? Continuing on with my shift, albeit with a tremor in my hands that wasn’t there before, I waited and waited for what was to come. 

It’s one a.m. when Bang Chan reenters the bar. The place has since been cleared out and I’m making myself busy by sanitizing the tables and rinsing the cups, since we have nobody else to do it. 

“Sir,” I said, addressing him as he walked in. 

“Hwang Hyunjin.” 

“You know who I am?” I asked. I didn’t recall giving him my family name. 

“Of course I know the name of the son of the head chief of police,” he said with a smile. 

“I’ve since left that life behind me,” I told him. 

“I’m well-aware. In fact, I know that you were able to bring one of my worst businesses up from the ground in only a month’s time. That’s incredibly impressive, you know.” 

“It’s just because of my ‘pretty face,’ I’m told,” I said, trying to dismiss him. 

“Do you truly think that? Because from what I’ve heard your incredible financial skills and marketing strategies had a play in that as well. I know you’re quite aware of your own intelligence, Hyunjin. That’s why I have a proposition for you.” 

“A proposition?” I asked, my movements stilling. 

“I would like for you to join my team. Surely you’ve heard of SKZ?” My blood runs still for a moment. SKZ. Of course I’ve heard of the mafia group that’s in charge of most of the city. They’re dangerous but also incredibly powerful thanks to their handlings in several businesses, including bars, casinos, nightclubs, you name it. But somehow, they’re also in charge of the significant decrease in crime since their organization. I actually know them quite well. 

I should have recognized that this bar was under his control. I should have recognized his name from my coworker when she told me who he was earlier! Am I so far detached from my past now that I seriously suppressed this important information?

“My parents… my mother is the lead detective on your case,” I told him. In hindsight, maybe that wasn’t the smartest thing to tell him at the moment. 

“Yes,” he confirmed. “That’s exactly why I think you would make a great addition to the team. You could help us thwart their efforts. Who better to help than the intelligent son of the lead detective? You’ve been involved in that life before and you know what it’s like, but also, you’re strong, you’re bold, and there’s something about you I really like. I think when all is said and done, you could be my consigliere.” 

The word is unfamiliar to me and it must show. “What–” 

“My confidant,” he elaborates. “My advisor. Someone I can turn to to help me make important decisions. There’s something special that I see in you, and I think you and I could work very well together.” 

“I’m not sure,” I had told him. “It’s just… I wanted more time to figure myself out. I hope you don’t find that stupid of me?” I hadn’t even considered that my parents would be extremely disappointed and enraged in my decision. As far as I was concerned, I had burned the bridges from that relationship months ago. But to make a commitment like this so soon after deciding that I wanted to take the time off… I wasn’t so sure. 

“Think about it, Hyunjin,” he had said. He gave me his card with his name and number. “I think it would be a wise decision for you to make. Working together… we can make anything a reality.” He had left me alone in the bar at that to close up. 

I couldn’t deny that there was something appealing in being his confidant, of having my opinions both heard and respected. 

However, I was a shell of myself when he found me. I didn’t consider the fact that he may have been preying on the very recent destruction of my relationship with my parents, still a new and fresh wound. All that mattered when I spoke to Chan was the prospect that maybe I could find a new purpose, one where I’m well respected and it’s not because of my legacy. 

When I was a child, there was something that I never had: A voice. I didn’t talk much, and for a long time I didn’t think of my opinions and my sentiments as my own. I was a carbon copy of my parents, a smaller version of them created to carry out their will. Leaving them, leaving school and finding myself was the first thing that I ever did on my own. Little by little I started to find that voice and discovered new things about myself that I had never known before. 

The more I thought about it, the more attractive it was to pursue something the complete opposite from my parents. Even better if I could thrive at it, to make them regret turning me into something I’m not. What else could I do to bring them shame and guilt over what they did to me? 

I realized something that night at Chan’s offer. While I was out trying to find my voice, he was giving me the opportunity to make me sing. 

I texted him that very same night. 

“I’m in.” 

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

a/n: first mini-chapter done!! I appreciate you all that ended up guessing who you thought it would be! Did it come as a surprise? We're eventually going to get a mini-story for all eight members!! I can't wait to see what y'all think!

taglist: @shuporanporang ; @purp13st4r ; @eurydiceofterabithia ; @heartsbyandra ; @thicccurls ;

@rylea08 ; @the-sweetest-rose ; @oddracha ; @kapelover ; @goldenmellow ;

@zerefdragn33l ; @uhh-awkward-rightt ; @astudyoftimeywimeystuff ; @kaleigh-2002 ; @thatonexcgirl ;

@mindfreecreator ; @linoalwaysknows ; @velvetmoonlght ; @minahaeyo ; @crystalchuuu ;

@hash2013 ; @skzswife ; @b0bbl3s ; @thecutiepieme ; @bear8585 ;

@moss-the-man ; @softkisshyunjin ; @sylveonitesworld ; @m00njinnie ; @nicoleparadas ;

@starsofasteria ; @klopez01 ; @luvlinos ; @hyunjinnnnnnnnnnnnnn ;

[britfromthehip]

HOW DOES SCHOOL WORK. PLEASE HELP ME

Okay, let's dive right in! This is not an simple answer, but I'll do my best!

Schooling is slightly different in each of the UK countries, so I'll break it down. (And put it behind a Read More link!) I hope it helps and answers some of your questions!

England:

Primary schools teach children aged 4/5 to 10/11.

The school year runs from September to July, with about 6-7 weeks off during the summer. Children who turn 5 in the school year start school that year. For example, for this coming school year, children whose 5th birthday is between September 2025 and August 2026 will be starting the first year of primary school. This is called Reception. (If the child's birthday is in the summer - July or August - their parents can defer a year, so that they are then the eldest in the year rather than the youngest, but that doesn't happen that often.)

After that, they go through year 1 to year 6 in the primary school. There are exams at the end of year 6.

Then secondary schools. The school years carry on, year 7 is the first year of secondary school, going on up until year 11 (age 16). (Some schools start the numbering again, so Year 1 of secondary school, going up to Year 5.) The first lot of big exams are taken then: the GCSEs (hence GCSE Drama), which are typically studied over two years.

After this, a lot of schools have years 12 and 13 (or Year 6 & 7), where you take the second lot of big exams, AS and A-levels (an AS level is basically half an A-level, which are two year courses) but otherwise there are Sixth Form Colleges which allow more vocational courses to be taken.

Education is compulsory until the age of 18.

Secondary schools are much more complicated than primary schools. Most primary schools are state-funded, so receive funding from local government, and are non-demoninational, although there are some faith primary schools.

Secondary schools are split into state-funded and independent schools, which are fee-paying, so the parents have to pay. There are grammar schools, which are selective and you have to pass an exam to get in. These can be either funded by the government, or be fee-paying.

State-funded secondary schools are generally either called secondary or comprehensive (so you might hear someone talk about the "local comp" meaning the local comprehensive school, where anyone can go to be educated).

The fee-paying schools can be confusingly called either public or private. I'm not sure why, probably something historic! These can range from reasonably cheap, to incredibly elite, such as Eton. Also, faith secondary schools would tend to be some form of independent, although might not need parents to pay fees.

(It's a lot more complicated than that, but I've written enough, and you're probably all bored!)

What they study: in primary school, the class has a teacher and a teaching assistant that teach all the subjects, and they're often linked together (so what book they're reading might link to something they're doing in science) to keep the children's interest. There are before and after-school clubs, and the children do PE a couple of times a week, plus often getting to go on a few day trips out to local attractions.

In secondary school. subjects are broken down and taught by separate teachers. You have to study English, Maths, and often at least one Science subject up to GCSE level. If you're going to go to university, then the easiest route is to take A-levels in the subjects that are relevant to your degree course. (You can take different courses at specialist Sixth Form Colleges.)

Houses: this is not something that was invented for Hogwarts, but something that happens at most schools, both primary and secondary. There are generally four Houses, designated colours: red, yellow, green, and blue. This allows pupils to compete for their Houses in a variety of competitions. The names of the Houses usually has some logic to it. The schools I went to had Houses named after the different towns that our town was twinned with, for instance. And my daughter's school has Houses named after local areas. There might also be Prefects, the eldest students in the school having some specific jobs to do such as helping out in the library.

Most schools have a school uniform, which generally has a lot of options (trousers, shorts, skirts, dresses etc). Primary schools tend to be laxer with school uniform than secondary schools. And fee-paying schools tend to have more ridiculous outfits and be stricter.

There are a lot of primary schools around, they are often reasonably small, and secondary schools are much larger. Often both primary schools and secondary schools have sports competitions with other local schools. There is often a Sports Day at the end of the school year, where the Houses compete against each other in all manner of sports.

The differences between England and Wales is minimal and with Scotland and Northern Ireland is mainly timing of when people go to school.

In Northern Ireland, it is the child's age on July 1st rather than September that determines when they start school.

In Scotland, the age range is from March to the following February. The school year is also slightly different. They start in August and finish in June. So children born between March and August start school in August at between 5 and 5½ years old, and those born between September and February start school in the previous August at between age 4½ and 4 years 11 months years old.

They finish secondary school a year earlier than children in the rest of the UK, which is why undergraduate university degrees in Scotland are typically four years long rather than three like those in the rest of the UK. They take different exams too, rather than GCSE and A-levels, they take exams called Standard Grades, and then Highers.

[milkpup]

｡⋆ʚ♡ like father, like son

nsfw 18+ ongoing multi-chapter fic!

art creds: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/113712140

♡ next chapter ♡

ʚ ao3 ɞ / ʚ kofi ɞ / ʚ fic masterlist ɞ

›› toji fushiguro x reader ›› megumi fushiguro x reader ›› toji x reader x megumi (mfm) ›› 18+ f!reader ›› started: 12/6/23 : updated: 1/29/24 : status: ongoing

‹𝟹 summary: You and Megumi are best friends. You've known eachother for almost your whole life. His home has become your second home. As time passes and life happens, Megumi slowly develops feelings for you, even though he's unaware of it. To complicate things further, you're now living with him and his father, who has also taken a liking to you.

‹𝟹 fandom: jjk, jujutsu kaisen

‹𝟹 genres / warnings: au - no powers, college au, power imbalance, pseudo-incest (they both want y/n, nothing w/ eachother), dubious consent

‹𝟹 tags: good cop bad cop, fluff, smut, angst, toji has a big dick, dilf toji, toji is his own warning, toji tries to be a good parent, toji is an asshole, toji is trying okay?, daddy dom toji, daddy kink, porn with feelings, porn with plot, friends to lovers, spit / spitting, spit kink, spit as lube, breeding, vaginal sex, vaginal fingering, double vaginal pen, double pen, anal, making out, making love, love triangles, praise kink, degradation, light masochism, light sadism, emotional sex, cuckolding, jealousy, jealousy kink, smoking, smoking kink, emotional manipulation, manipulation, polyamory?, father and son share you, protective megumi fushiguro, megumi needs a hug, megumi has a big dick, aged up characters, dead dove: do not eat, finger sucking, large cock, cum swallowing, blow jobs, first time blow jobs, under desk blow jobs, fingerfucking, face sitting, face riding, 69, mutual masturbation, threesome mfm, lots of smut, loss of virginity

‹𝟹 notes: this story is originally posted on ao3! this will have dark themes, if you do not like, DO NOT INTERACT! this is a multi chapter fic that is still in progress as of posting on tumblr (1/9/24). it will be updated as i write more :) i will add links to the next chapters as i post them on this thread or smthn (idk how to use tumblr lol)

!! - again, PLEASE READ TAGS BEFORE CONTINUING - !!

! - ALL CHARACTERS ARE 18+ - !

Like Father, Like Son by milkpup

Chapter 1: Promises

--

“When we get older, let’s get married!” you exclaimed to Megumi, who was sitting next to you on the park bench. “We know each other best, so if we find no one else by the time we go to college, let’s get together!”

You were both in middle school still. You’ve been extremely close friends since you were young children. Megumi and his father lived in the same neighborhood as you. As a natural result of your home life being chaotic and dysfunctional, you spent most of your childhood at Megumi’s.

You were still girly and feminine, but having a guy best friend meant that you had interests more like his. You both grew up playing games together, sitting in front of the tv into late hours into the night. You were a sore loser. He was always better at any games you two played, like mario kart, fighting games, whatever it was, he was better. This meant you constantly tried to improve your skills; you wanted the satisfaction of making him lose, but you also wanted him to be impressed.

You didn’t quite understand it at the time. Why did you want to impress Megumi? It’s just a game. You brushed it off. Friendly competition never hurt, right?

--

Years pass, the same old routine. You coming over to Megumi’s house after school, staying late or sometimes spending the night. His father, Toji, saw you as his own. A daughter he never had.

It was hard after Megumi’s mother passed. Toji was more reserved, more monotonous. It seemed like the vibrancy and color of his soul was dulled. His wife was the one person he truly cared for, who he loved, and who gave meaning to his life. Being a single father of a young boy was rough. He appreciated that you brought joy to his son’s life. He appreciated that, as you grew older, you would help around at his house. Cooking, cleaning, whatever it was, you would help lessen the load on Toji.

--

In the middle of your senior year of highschool, tragedy struck the community. Your parents were killed by a drunk driver. It all happened so fast. You feel selfish and would never admit this, but you were sort of relieved. You rarely spent time at home. Your father was an abusive drunk and would target you and your mother. Your mother tried to protect you the best she could. She wanted you to be safe. She was always relieved when you would text or call her saying you were staying at Megumi’s. She trusted that boy and knew he would never be like your father.

You were sad your mother was gone. But at least she now knew peace. A tragic end, yes, but better than watching her be abused by your father.

You started living with Megumi full time. It was already basically your home in the first place, just more official now. You appreciated Toji welcoming you into his home with open arms, letting you live there full time. He was more of a father than your sperm donor parent was.

In return, you cooked and cleaned almost exclusively. You didn’t necessarily mind. You didn’t see it as demeaning, but rather as a way to show your gratitude. Cooking was also a cathartic release for you; it allowed you to remove yourself from tough emotions and focus on the task on hand. And you absolutely loved when people would praise your cooking. Thus, you were constantly trying new recipes and techniques, chasing new flavors.

Toji appreciated you basically taking on the household responsibilities while he worked long hours. He has a provider mindset. He wants to fulfill his role of providing while a woman in his life would take care of the home and enrich his life.

A few times he caught himself being reminded of his wife whenever you would do something for him. Your cooking tasted like home. Your smile and laugh were intoxicating. You had a gentle and kind soul, willing to look past anything for the right person. He felt almost uncomfortable, as if he should not be having thoughts of his late wife when looking at his pseudo-daughter. But he couldn’t help it. He’s a simple man.

--

“Good morning, Toji!” You say while something is sizzling in the pan. “I hope you’re feeling something sweet this morning!”

Toji smiles lightly. “What are you making today, little miss chef?”

“French toast!” You turn around to face him, wearing a cute apron and holding the spatula in your hand.

Toji notices the cooking must’ve gotten a bit messy, there was flour on your apron and some powdered on your cheeks. He thought it was insanely adorable.

“I’m excited to try it. Your food never ceases to amaze me.”

Good thing you had already turned back toward the stove, otherwise Toji would have saw the bright red blush creep across your face. “T-thank you… I’m glad you like it. It’s almost done.”

You could feel him watching you from behind. It was different than usual, you felt nervous? You couldn’t possibly know this at the time, but Toji was eyeing you down. Noticing the way your apron is tied around your waist, your ass in your cute shorts, messy hair, it was all perfect to him.

“All done!” You say as you start plating the French toast. “I’m going to go wake Megumi, but please try it while it’s still hot!!” You move to untie your apron, Toji never breaking his gaze on your form.

You walk towards Megumi’s room, approaching the door and knocking. “Heyyy Megs! Breakfast is ready! I know you like sweet food, so I made French toast! Come get it while it’s still hot!”

You don’t hear much behind the door, but your stomach rumbling forces you to go back to the table. You were practically drooling the whole time thinking about how delicious this food was going to be.

You re-enter the dining room and sit across Toji. He’s already started eating, and he looks like he’s enjoying it. You didn’t take him for a sweets for breakfast type of guy, so you ask him “Is it good?”

He looks up at you, and it sends shivers down your spine. “It’s delicious, sweetheart. I’ll eat anything you give me. Anything.” He smirks. He figures that isn’t crossing any lines, just playful banter and teasing. He watches your face turn a bit red as you try and hide it while eating.

--

Back in Megumi’s room, he’s slowly waking up. He doesn’t feel well-rested. “Probably due to that weird dream last night”, he thinks to himself. He doesn’t know why his brain chose now of all times to remember the promise you two made to eachother all those years ago. He figures you probably forgot about it; but for him, he can’t get it out his mind.

He shakes his head. “Whatever, I need to get ready.” He will deal with his feelings and emotions later. He remembers you mentioning sweet food and he’s already out the door. His hair is still messy, his pajamas still on.

As Toji moves to pick up his keys and leave for work, Megumi sits down next to you. He takes in the sweet aroma of French toast covered in powdered sugar and fruit. His stomach is painfully growling at this point. He serves himself and takes a bite, absolutely melting in bliss. You always make the best food, and this is no exception.

You watch as he seems excited to eat. He looks absolutely adorable, his emotions on full display as easily as a book can be read. You can tell he’s happy in this moment, and you find yourself smiling, knowing it was you that brought this.

“This is amazing. Thank you, Y/N. Seriously!”

You blush. Compliments and praise feel different from Megumi. They feel genuine and sincere, full of warmth and love.

You finish up and start cleaning. You and Megumi have the same major and a bunch of the same classes, you both need to get ready soon. Megumi gets up to help you clean.

As he stands next to your side, drying dishes as you wash them, he tells you his thoughts. He doesn’t know how to best bring it up. He’s a shy guy, so he goes for the most direct route to get it out as fast as possible. “Y/N, do you remember the promise we made in middle school?” He’s looking down at the sink, awaiting your response.

“Of course Gumi, how could I forget?” You’re slightly teasing him at this point. You were actually surprised that HE would remember that. You wonder why he’s bringing it up, and ask him. “Why?”

Silence follows your question for a few moments. “I’m not sure…. I was just thinking about it.”

Hearing his response makes you blush and your heart beat faster. What does he mean he was thinking about it? He can’t be serious?

“We can talk more about it later. We need to get ready, Y/N.” You’re thankful he gave you an opening to escape this awkward situation. It wasn’t a weird awkward, but more embarrassing than anything.

You keep asking yourself why he would be thinking about it, now of all times. You are starting college now, so you figure now would be the timeframe of the promise in question. But you didn’t think he would be serious about it. You return your room, trying to distract yourself by getting ready.

--

Megumi waits for you to finish getting ready in the living room. You exit your room, wearing simple yet cute clothes. Megumi finds it adorable how you can look good in literally anything. Even wearing the simplest outfits, leggings and a t-shirt, and you still look breathtaking. He feels weird again, thinking about his best-friend like this. He’s just simply observing and appreciating good style, right? That’s what he will tell himself.

You and Megumi carpool to campus together. You both say it’s for the environment, but you both know it’s because you absolutely hate driving.

The car ride there is always the same, listening to music together and talking. Since you both have the same classes, you are already study buddies. You’re both excited to keep going to school together.

Megumi listens as you talk about your newest fictional crush obsession. He thinks it’s so adorable how you could talk forever and ever about the things you like. He listens and observes, not wanting to interrupt your sweet voice.

--

‹𝟹 notes: i have 4 chapters written for this fic so far. i'll start migrating them from ao3 to here! lmk what y'all think! feedback is always appreciated :3! check out my ao3 if you want to read what else i have posted! thanks! &lt;3

♡︎ next chapter ♡︎

‹𝟹 notifs: @vvxxccaa @arylaa @starshipxoxo

ʚ join my notifs ɞ

(･ω･)つ divider creds to @/cafekitsune and @/eloquentreverie

[tinycheesecakedetective]

Character Files #1: Blueberry Milk Cookie

Hello again! It's been a while. Today I'd like to waffle on about Blueberry for a bit. If you'll allow me to. In the past I discussed his trajectory, but I wanted to take the opportunity to update a few things and add some fun details. This post is meant to cover Blueberry's past. What will become of his kingdom will be discussed when I get to the aftermath of the Dark Flour War. Now let's begin! ~~~~~

Personality & Early Life Blueberry Milk is a scholar with a taste for thrill and has an insatiable curiosity. He's kind to others, however he has a tendency to be overdramatic and cocky. He always pushes beyond boundaries despite the consequences or risks it may pose. He's an adventurer specifically because he found traditional studying too boring and would much rather get his hands dirty with experiments. But before Blueberry Milk became the illustrious founder of the republic, he was just a student at the Parfaedia Institute of Magic. Many teachers considered him a prodigy due to his prowess and intelligence, however others dreaded teaching him due to his penchant for troublemaking.

He would graduate at the age of 17, and took on a job as a professor before quitting years later. Many would cite a lack of stakes as one of the reasons for his departure, though that was common knowledge to anyone that was close to him. Blueberry Milk would then become an independent researcher, exploring the world and doing field research.

The Kingdom's Beginnings With months of travelling under his belt, it became very clear that he needed somewhere to store all of his findings. Initially he planned to establish it back at Parfaedia, but found it too stifling for him. So he packed all of his things and began moving north. Some old colleagues heard about this and followed suit, joining him up north in what would be called "The Land of the Studious." Alongside his colleagues, they established The Congregation, a meeting hall where they could all discuss the progress made with each of their projects.

Over time, more cookies heard of this place up north and had began seeking it out to perform their own personal projects. The Land of the Studious became known among Parfaedians as a wizard's getaway, a place where students could perform magic more freely than in the Institute. With the surge of visitors, the Gelato Villas were built for incoming travelers and eventually permanent residents, and the Wafer Train Station was built soon after for easier access to and from Parfaedia, and a new school began construction. As the area expanded more and more, the Land of the Studious had changed from a small community of scientists to a bustling city-state. The Congregation evolved, with the original founders becoming council members and gaining more political power over time. Soon even the name itself had changed, now being known as New Yogurt City.

A City in Crisis As the city developed, Parfaedia began to recognize NYC as a legitimate entity outside of "tourist destination." With competition on the rise, the magic city was forced to evolve to stay relevant. More technology was implemented into daily life as a result, with new experimental magic being tested. It was all going well until everything came screeching to a halt.

The incident happened outside of the institute. It started as a few electrical malfunctions inside some of the classrooms before quickly spreading to the rest of the building. Strange rifts opened inside one of the classrooms before letting in a legion of cake monsters. Even with all wizards pushing back, they were unable to stop the rifts. More appeared, wreaking havoc across the magic city. In a final attempt to get outside help, the wizards looked to the legendary beacons and lit them.

Dozens of wizards saw the lights and answered the call, including Blueberry Milk. With additional backup, they all began to go around the city, fighting the cake armies with staffs and wands. The city lit up with magic spells and potions as the streets were enveloped with smoke. For a moment, it looked like victory was near for the wizards, until the smoke parted with a mighty shriek.

Flying over them was their last and greatest opponent: the roll cake hydra. A horrible beast with cream cheese frosting bleeding through it's teeth and seven heads to boot. While the wizards and townsfolk fought long and hard, it kept coming back harder and more angry. The terrible beast forced them to retreat into the nearby forests.

A Glimmer of Hope Tired and exhausted, the cookies tended to their wounds. Many of them had passed out from spending too much mana, and others didn't know how much longer they could go on. Splitting from the group, Blueberry Milk wandered through the woods. He began flippantly going through spell after spell, trying to find one that could stop this before he never could. In his darkest moment, a voice beckoned to him. He tried to find the source, moving further inside before it spoke again.

It asked him if he was truly determined to save Parfaedia, and he responded with a nod. Sensing his desperation, the voice offered him a deal. It would give him the power he needed to stop the hydra in exchange for defending Earthbread as a whole. With dwindling options, he agreed, and his powers were amplified. Using his newfound strength, he left to face the hydra alone.

The fight was intense. Standing in front of the hydra armed with only his staff, he launched the first blow. Taken aback by the sudden attack, the hydra was struck, backing up before lunging it's heads at the cookie.

Move.

Blueberry Milk jumped out of the way, heart racing as he looked down at his hands. He felt sharper, quicker. The hydra tried again, snapping it's neck at him as it attempted to swallow him whole.

Roll.

His body acted on impulse, rolling away from it before sending a shockwave at the monster's body. A direct hit. A grin curled up onto his face as his teammates returned, mouths agape in shock.

Again.

The fight raged on as Blueberry Milk effortlessly weaved through each attack while dealing blow after heavy blow. More onlookers came, cheering him on as the hydra grew tired and sloppy. Another set of attacks came as he pushed the hydra into a corner.

Once more.

Pouring his remaining mana into his staff, he sent one final attack aimed at the hydra's chest. The hydra, desperate to live, fought back with all it's remaining strength, but it would be of no use. The attack speared through it's chest, pushing it back into a wall before it erupted in a beautiful collage of colors and sounds.

His finest work yet. And one that made him faint. His body was quickly ushered into a recovery room. When he woke up, he found himself surrounded by friends and acquaintances. If he didn't shoo them away, they would have killed him with kindness. He also wouldn't have noticed the gleaming blue gem resting on his chest.

The Aftermath Since the attack, Parfaedia immediately began reconstruction efforts, and with the help of the NYC was able to recover almost completely. After intense discussion and meetings, the two cities agreed to join under one entity as the New Yogurt Republic. The new republic recognized the efforts of the brave wizards that defended Parfaedia as heroes, and Blueberry especially began to grow in popularity. He was eventually appointed as the leader of the republic, with a new and improved council by his side, and with their combined efforts helped to usher in a new golden age for both cities.

For now.

Blueberry Milk, now a wielder of the soul jam of hope, began doing research into how exactly it worked. He knew that it helped him during the fight, but something about it felt.. foreign. But Blueberry wasn't one to give up, and he began to seek out others like him for his research. His curiosity knew no bounds, and he was determined to unlock the secrets of the soul jam.

[mikobeautifulheart]

jjk boys (aged up cuz itd be weird lol) with an older girlfriend, like 3 or 4 years older. tysmm!!! 🩷🩷 love your writting

Awww shucks your making me blush.

JJK men with an older girlfriend

TW: Ageing lol. Yuji is aged up to 21 but Yutas like in his first yearish while your almost graduating ig. horrible spelling.

INCLUDING: Yuji and Yuta

-Yuji-

"Itadori, I know that Todo kid asked you this almost 6 years ago, btu what's your type in women?" Gojo asked in curiosity.

The more Gojo thought about it he never saw Yuji be romantically interested or in a relationship. Thats why he nearly fell backward with Yujis reply

"Eh, my girl friend really, she's all I look for and all I need." He said mindlessly walking ahead futher into the cursed building.

"G-g-girlfriend?" Gojo said turning his head a 180.

"Yep! We've been together for 8 years!" Yuji said proudly.

"HOW COME I NEVER KNEW"

"Well I was a student a Jujutsu high at the time and she was in the starting her college degree" Yuji said.

"College degree? What is she, super smart for a 16 year old?" Gojo asked his interest only growing.

"Uh...Well she would have been, I met her when she was 19 so she kinda had everything figured out." Yuji says playing with his thumbs.

"So she's older then you?" He asked

"Well yeah but... that dosen't matter, only by 3 years any ways. Honestly is there really anything wrong with that?"

"No, no of course not its just that you didn't strike me as the type of guy to go for older women, you little devil." Gojo said giving Yuji a gentle but hard slap on the back.

"When you think about her age is no where near Sukuna's so I wouldn't be so worried."

"YUJIIII" you yelled waving in the distance.

"Is that your little friend or something." Gojo asked looking at you.

"No, that's my girlfriend." He smiled waving back.

"What was it like having an older girlfriend anyways?" Gojo said slightly taken aback.

"It was actually pretty good, honestly she would sometimes pick me up in her car or drive me to surprise dates, I think I prefer older women more actually." Yuji said quickening his pace.

"Hm interesting."

"Plus she's talker then me." Yuji finally tan to you. He picked you up and swung you around as Gojo looked on in envy.

~Yuta~

"Okkotsu. What's your type!" Todo asked anticipating his answer.

"M-M-MY GIRLFRIEND!" He accidently shouted in nervousness.

Everybody's Heads turned.

"Rika?" Panda asked.

"No..." Yuta sighed almost dropping his Katana

Now he had everybody's attention.

"Well. What's she like" Todo said crossing his arms.

"Well...she's really kind. And pretty. And amazing. And smart. And strong. And-"

"I get it, but what dose she look like." Todo said cutting off Yutas mumbling.

"Well she's shorter then me by uh maybe 2 cm?"

"So? What dose that mean, shes younger by 2 years or something?"

"The opposite actually. She's finishing high school soon, she's 3 years older then me so..."

Again everybody listened.

"You like older women?" Todo asked

"I'm not really picky but...yeah..." He rubbed his hand sheepishly behind his head.

Welll it didn't matter anymore because the school competition still happened and Kyoto lost.

Yuta walked down the streets finding your apartment block and walking up its stairs. He used his key to open the door and creep inside, the lights were off and everything was suspiciously silent. He kept walking through the apartment spotting you asleep on your desk, all your school work scattered around you.

"God your so perfect" He mumbled going over to you and picking you up laying you down gently on your bed.

AITHOURS NOTE: I didn't really know what to write because the age difference isn't that big of a deal compared to some other age differences... anyways I hope it's kinda what you wanted, reblogs r okay and good whatever time to you.

[sinnabarmoth]

Chasing Your Shooting Star (6/19)

Pairing: Uni Student|Xavier x Uni Student|Reader (fem)

Summary: A training exercise gone wrong brings Reader and Xavier closer together.

Content warnings: Adult language.

Length: 5400

Chapters: (First) (Previous) (Next)

Read on AO3

There had been a sort of shift since that fateful day you talked with Xavier. You weren’t best friends or anything but you were breathing easier. Things felt lighter and more open all around you. Something about coming to terms with the utter lack of choice in your life and the fact that you had one person out there that was checking in on you made everything easier to absorb.

You still didn’t understand why Xavier was so keen on staying in your corner when it was obvious it wasn’t winning him any friends. Then again, his choices were his own. You didn’t need to understand them.

You got together to spar on days you didn’t have combat training and it was simple. Xavier still beat you nine times out of ten but the more you fought the longer the fights got. You weren’t simply keeping pace with him anymore, you were starting to flip the tables. Little by little you were gaining ground.

Your mother continued to tsk and frown when every week you came back to breakfast with the same ranking in combat training but every week you cared less and less. You made your excuses. Promised her it was all going to be fine. She scowled and made backhanded comments about your commitment but you ignored them. They weren’t worming under your skin like they used to.

It felt freeing!

Then came the day you finally won. You and Xavier were having an early morning sparring session before classes. You had been going back and forth for a while and then there was a shift. You lashed out with your sword and next thing you knew Xavier was on the ground, his weapon knocked out of his hands, and you stood above him victorious.

“I…I won?” you looked down at Xavier with wide eyes. He had left himself open so you took the opportunity but you hadn’t expected it to work. And this wasn’t him handing you a victory either. It was real. You beat him. “I won!” you cheered, giving a small bounce of joy, your hands raised to the air.

You remembered where you were and who you were with and lowered your arms again. “Oh uh, I mean, good duel.” you said, holding a hand out for him.

He grasped your hand, pulling himself up. His smile was as wide as yours had been. “You did great. I was really struggling to keep up with your attacks.”

His hand was still in yours and you pulled it back, suddenly aware of how sweaty your palms were. “Oh well, yeah. We’ve been practicing a lot. It was bound to happen some time. A little pissed it took this long but at least it finally happened.”

“Care to celebrate?”

You rolled your eyes. “Don’t push it. I’m not a child in need of a reward.”

“I was only going to suggest buying you a soda. Still too much of a reward?” he asked with a smug little cock of his head. He had gotten far too comfortable around you.

“Fine. Victory soda.” you wiped the sweat from your brow and followed him out of the gym.

You got a pair of sodas and sat side by side taking in the still mist of the brisk autumn morning. More people were starting to wake up and move around as the morning stretched on. You glanced over at Xavier and caught him already looking at you. That happened a lot.

“Hey, I have a question for you.” you said, fiddling with the cap of your soda. “How is it that a kid from a nowhere school ended up getting transferred to the most prestigious university in Philos?”

Xavier shrugged. “I worked hard. I started practicing swordsmanship at a young age thanks to my dad. He was a skilled swordsman and he taught me a lot. He often joked that I knew how to hold a sword before I knew how to talk. He and everyone else around me said I had a natural talent for it.”

“They must have been right.”

“They were. As I got older I only got better, started dueling other kids and joining competitions and tournaments. It was fun and I was good and sometimes the competitions had cash prizes that helped out at home.” he picked at the painted on soda label. “I didn’t think I’d ever do anything extraordinary with it but then someone from this school heard about me and came to one of my competitions to check me out. Soon after I got offered a scholarship to come study here, all expenses paid.”

“But you’re in the same year as me. Why transfer with only two semesters left to go?”

“Everyone back home kept encouraging me to take it so I did. I get to add graduating from Philos University to my resume but not at a cost.”

“What cost? I thought you said your scholarship was all expenses paid.”

“It is. But only on the proviso that I join the forces immediately after graduation. I have to do two years of service and then I’m free to do with my life what I wish.”

“Oh…” you didn’t realize the school gave out those kinds of scholarships. You grew a lot of soldiers at this school but those were for people who came with the intent of joining the forces. It was most of the people in your combat class. You had no real desire to join the forces but combat was one of those things that you had studied when you were younger and ended up having to stick with as you got older if for the added prestige if nothing else. Honestly, the armed forces left a bad taste in your mouth.

“Did you want to join the forces?” you asked.

He shrugged again. “I had considered it but while I’m a good fighter I don’t know how good of a soldier I’d make. I like swordsmanship and it’s not something I want to give up but I’d rather it be recreational.

“And what about you? How did you end up here?” he clinked his bottle against yours.

“Well, as you heard before I was born to privilege. I have always attended the best schools thanks to the advantages of my family. Then a couple years ago my mother became dean of the university.”

“Really?” Xavier looked at you wide-eyed.

“We have the same last name, did you not realize that before?”

“I guess I didn’t. People can have the same last name and not be related.”

“True. Honestly I wish I had been able to take my dad’s last name instead of my mother’s but the way my family operates is through a maternal line so everything goes to the first born daughter in each generation.” you explained.

“Why do you want a different last name?”

“Because it’s part of the reason people don’t like me around here. I got a lot of shit my first semester because people thought that I only got in through nepotism. It wasn’t until I came in first on every test and soared my way to the top of the class that people changed their tune. Instead of calling me an undeserving bitch I was now a know-it-all bitch.” That first semester had been a rough couple of months. Once people realized you were the dean’s daughter and you had your own private dorm suite on permanent reservation they called you all kinds of horrible things. It had gotten so bad at one point you had turned up at your mother’s office begging her to let you transfer to Nesonia University just to escape it. That prompted an hour long heated lecture that you couldn’t forget no matter how badly you wanted to.

“That’s why you want to stay the top of the class?”

“Definitely part of it. No one can doubt my skills and say I didn’t earn the right to be here.” you lifted your chin proudly. “They can say whatever they want but I know that I would have been accepted regardless of who my mother is.”

“They would have been insane not to accept you.” Xavier smiled and you felt your stomach flip. Geez, since when did his smiles get so goofy? Had they always been like that? Why were you sweating when it was so cold out?

“I uh, I had better go get showered and freshen up for class.” you said.

“Right. Me too.” Xavier stretched. Part of his shirt rode up and you got a glimpse of the solid defined ridge of muscle that was always hidden under his loose workout clothes. You had been sparring with him long enough to know that he was strong and he had the muscles to back up that strength but you hadn’t exactly seen much of them. If you weren’t fighting him daily you’d think he had a normal untoned squishy belly underneath those cardigans and hoodies. But what exactly was he hiding under that soft and fuzzy exterior? Maybe if you suggested hand to hand combat next time you sparred…

His arms fell back to his sides and the shirt fell with them, concealing the glimpse of skin once again. You snapped back to your senses and shoved the thought away. That…you didn’t have time to unpack all of that right now.

Maybe you were pent up. When was the last time you even got laid? It was before the semester started you knew that much. Was it spring? You couldn’t remember. Must not have been memorable.

“Hey, are you listening?” Xavier waved a hand in your face. “You’re spacing out, isn’t that supposed to be my thing?”

“Sorry. I was thinking about…something.” heat rushed your face. “What did you say?”

“I asked if you were ready for the special training we’re doing this week. I heard it’s pretty hard.”

“Oh that.” you sighed in relief at having an easy out. “I’m not too worried about it. It’s just a simple survival exercise, we should be fine, especially if we end up partnered for it which I’m sure we will since we’re still the top two of the class.”

“I’ll rest assured then.” he gave your head a pat. “See you in class.”

“See you.” you waved and jogged back to your dorm.

Later that week it was time for your midterms. Your midterm for combat training was a survival exercise in the nearby wilderness. Everyone was partnered up and given the same mission. Markers were set up all around the wilderness. You and your partner had to find one and return to campus. Different colored markers represented different levels of difficulty in acquiring. Yellow was easy, blue was middling, and red was hard. There was a white one that was put somewhere nigh impossible to get to.

Your grade depended on what marker you got and how long it took you to return to campus. Outside of wildlife the only other danger in the wilderness was the other students. If you had a red marker then there was a chance that others would try and fight you for it. Get the credit without having to do the work. That was the real challenge of this exercise and you knew you had a huge target on your back.

You weren't too worried about the other students getting in your way. You and Xavier had been made partners as you knew you would. Anyone that tried to fight you was going to get their ass beat into the dirt.

You and Xavier had discussed your game plan for this exercise. You were going to find a red marker to take but keep your eyes peeled for the white one. It would be hard to get to but not impossible, just nearly impossible.

You ran into the wilderness along with the other students, everyone branching off in different directions to find a marker. You knew well enough that the hard ones were deeper in. Once you were deep enough you slowed down so you could properly search. These markers had to be put up manually which meant to track them down you had to do literal tracking. You kept your eyes peeled for footprints and man-made breaks of branches.

As you walked you saw a few yellow markers tied to tree branches, a blue marker hidden in a pile of leaves, but no reds and certainly not the white marker.

“How long does this usually take?” Xavier asked.

“Depends. The record for getting a red marker and back out is eighteen minutes but that was decades ago. Average student just looking for a blue or yellow is about half an hour. If you’re ambitious and going for red it can take up to an hour or more.” There was a faint trail that you were following through the brush. Whoever had left whatever marker you were edging towards had done well to keep their tracks covered which meant it had to have been a red one.

“Well, I’m really glad I’m with you. I don’t know much about tracking whereas you seem to be part bloodhound.” he joked.

You rolled your eyes. “I’ve done this kind of thing a lot. When I was younger--” you cut yourself off as you saw something glinting up a distant cliffface. The white marker! It was high up the side of the cliff, tied tightly around a rock, probably to keep students from throwing a blade at a branch and cutting if off from the bottom. No. If you wanted to get that marker you were gonna have to climb for it and this cliff didn’t look to have many reliable holds. Was there another way to get up there?

“That what we’re looking for?” Xavier asked, pointing to the marker.

“Yep. Only question is how do we get it? I’m not a climber, are you?”

“I have something that might help.” he approached the cliff. There was a flash of light and when the spots from your vision cleared Xavier was halfway up the cliff, hanging onto a small ledge.

“How in the hell did you do that?” you shouted up at him.

“Don’t distract me please, this isn’t as easy as it looks.” he said, continuing to shimmy up the wall. “Watch out below!”

He pushed the rock tied with the marker off its ledge and it hurtled to the ground. You went to collect it and found Xavier back by your side in an instant. “Geez!” you stumbled back from him. “How are you doing that?”

He produced a small light in his hand. “My evol lets me manipulate light, which also means I can transport myself short distances.” he said. “I’d probably be able to do longer distances if I practiced more but I put more of my abilities into my fighting.”

“Still, teleporting would come in very handy in a fight. How come this is the first time I’ve seen you use it?”

“The same reason I don’t practice using it a lot. I didn’t want to be reliant on it so I try not to use it too much.”

“Well I’m glad you decided to use it now. I know I wouldn’t have been able to scale that wall by myself.” you held up the white marker. “Now we just have to get out of here without getting jumped by other students.”

“That’s probably going to be hard.” Xavier said, keeping his voice low. “Irene and Dean have been tailing us for about ten minutes.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“They’re good at keeping distance and staying out of sight but Dean is wearing a really heavy cologne that carries on the wind. Did you not smell it?”

“I thought that was just a bad smelling plant we walked past.” you hissed, keeping your voice quiet. “Shit. They’ll play dirty to get this marker, we can’t let them have it. Keep your guard up, we’re gonna walk away casually as if we didn’t notice them then we’re gonna go back to that big boulder near the steep hill we passed on our way here and hide behind it, wait for them to catch up then catch them and subdue them before they have a chance to try and jump us. Sound good?”

“You’re the boss.” he said.

“And just to make sure,” you took the marker and tied it tightly around his forearm. “Best to let you keep this safe, with that teleporting trick you can evade them better than me. Whatever you do, do not let them take this. I refuse to let those two get credit for our hard work.”

“It will be done.” he rolled his sleeve back down over the strap of cloth. “Let’s get going.”

You walked away, keeping things brisk and not letting on that you knew you were being followed. You spotted the boulder you passed earlier and you and Xavier walked around it and pressed yourselves against the moss covered stone. You quietly drew your swords and waited. You could hear the soft crunching of feet getting closer and closer. You looked at Xavier and nodded. On a count of three. One…two…three!

You jumped from your cover and caught Irene and Dean off guard. They had already drawn their weapons when you struck. You had expected them to take you both separately or maybe both of them ganged up on Xavier but you were surprised to see that Dean and Irene were coming for you. You wondered why briefly before remembering how much they hated you. This wasn’t even about the marker, this was a personal vendetta.

“Xav! Stop fighting us!” Dean snapped at Xavier who was keeping him off of you. “We’ll let you keep the marker if you let us take her down!”

“No! She’s my partner.” Xavier fumed, clocking Dean in the jaw with the butt of his sword. “I’m not going to let you hurt her.”

Irene was focused on you and you realized with some amount of horror that she wasn’t looking to just subdue you. She was fighting with the intent to really hurt you. You were barely dodging hits from her blade that would have stabbed you through the stomach. You had just thought that she hated you because of your ranking but there was something far more malevolent lurking behind all her snide comments. You wondered if she meant to kill you out here.

You stopped being defensive, scared to actually hurt her. If her intent was to put you down then this wasn’t just an exercise, this was survival. The moment you started going on the offensive you saw her concentration slip.

Seems she forgot that you were still one of the top ranked students in combat class for a reason. She thought that because Xavier could beat you that meant she had a shot. But you could beat Xavier now and Irene was not nearly at his level.

You swiped and slashed, looking to cut not stab. You were still somewhat merciful after all. Xavier was still fighting Dean, keeping him distracted while you fought off Irene. Finally you were able to knock her back on her ass and kick her weapon away. You aimed your sword at her neck.

Dean saw you pinned his partner and it gave Xavier the opening to knock him down too. You were breathing hard, irritation coursing through your veins. “You listen well, Irene.” you snarled. “This is what is going to happen now. You are going to stay laying on the ground and count to five hundred. When you’ve done that you can get up again and you are going to go find your own damn marker and leave me and Xavier be. Only if you do this will I not bring up that you were fighting with the intent to maim me to the instructor. Betray this chance I am giving you and I will see that you are expelled from this school.”

“Just typical of you,” she spat, “Hiding behind your mother so no one can actually teach you your place.”

“You know nothing of me and you know even less about my mother, her approach to everything is sink or swim. If you think for one moment that I am coddled by that woman, you are an even bigger idiot than you look.” You seethed, “And I know my place, it’s right here at the top, somewhere you will never fucking reach.”

“You high and mighty--” she pulled a dagger from her hip and tried to catch your tendon.

You dodged out of the way and your center of gravity tilted. You were falling. You were falling! The fight had backed you up towards the steep hillside and you were now falling towards it. You knew in an instant you didn’t have time to pull yourself in the opposite direction. You clamped your arms around you, protecting your head as you rolled down the hill. You hit the bottom with a large thump and you wheezed as the air was knocked clean out of your lungs.

Fuck! That really fucking hurt! You opened your eyes and moved slowly, sitting yourself up despite the ache in your body. No bones sticking out of your skin, some scrapes and bruises but nothing serious. The only complication was your ankle. You tried flexing your foot and a pain ricocheted up your spine. Not broken but definitely sprained.

“Are you okay?” Xavier called from above, he started using his evol power to get down the steep hill and to your side. “Hey, are you okay? That was a bad fall.”

“Yeah…I’m fine.” you tried to breathe through the pain. “My ankle is fucked though! I didn’t realize I was so close to the edge or I wouldn’t have dodged that way.”

“That’s not good.” he checked your ankle. “That’s really not good.”

“It’ll be fine.” you tried to assure him. “But what about Dean and Irene? What happened after I fell?”

“I hit them both over the head to knock them out then came down here to help you.” Xavier’s gaze had gone ice cold. You had never seen him mad like this before. You had seen him annoyed and when you were fighting he was focused but this was pure anger and it made his soft features turn to stone. It didn’t occur to you that this boy that lived in his favorite hoodie and signed his notes with stupid little stars could look so frightening.

Then he looked up at you and that icy stare melted away, replaced only with concern. He looked back at your foot and gently took your shoe off so he could better assess the damage. Your ankle was already swelling. Xavier sighed and unwound the marker from his arm and used it to wrap your ankle. “This is the best I can do. We need to get you back to campus so it can be treated properly.”

“Uh yes, let’s get going.” you let him help you up. You couldn’t walk on your busted ankle so had to lean heavily on Xavier as you limped your way through the woods. “Can you not use your evol to get us farther ahead faster? Or maybe get us back to the top of the hill?”

“I’ve never tried using my evol to teleport someone with me and I’d really rather not test that today.” he said.

“Well that makes this a whole lot more complicated.” you had been in this wilderness before and you knew where you were. You said you fell down a hill but really it was more like falling down a small mountain and now you were at the bottom of it. The valley eventually naturally sloped back up to something walkable but where you were now you’d have to climb to get back up and that wasn’t happening with your ankle like it was.

So that left your only choice to walk the many miles it took to reach the end of the valley and get back to campus. If you had been up top getting back to campus with your bum foot would have taken an hour or so but now you had to go the long way around.

As you limped forward it became increasingly obvious that you weren’t going to make it out of the wilderness. Even if you were able to walk normally getting all the way back to campus from here would take hours. If a search team didn’t find you then it was likely that you’d have to spend the night outside.

“Xavier, stop.” you told him. “We’re not getting out of here on our own tonight. We’re gonna have to set up a camp and I’d rather do it while it is still light out.”

“You really think a search team won’t find us?” he asked, setting you down on a nearby rock.

“Even if they do we’d still want to have gotten a campsite together so we weren’t sitting blind in the dark.” you looked around at the spot you were now in. Open enough for a small fire and perhaps a rudimentary shelter in case it rained.

With you unable to move on your own you instructed Xavier on what to grab. You constructed a small firepit from the stones and branches he brought you then shuffled over and began tying together some bigger sticks to create a lean-to shelter. Xavier watched with something akin to fascination.

“Have something to say or do you just like staring?” you said.

“Sorry. I was just thinking that you seem very comfortable doing all this. I’d dare say you’re even having fun.” he smiled at you.

“You call spraining my ankle and being forced to camp outside in the chilly autumn with no supplies fun?” you quirked an eyebrow up at him.

“I don’t mean that. I meant that you seem happy camping. You seem very in your element out here, with the tracking before and now the firepit and the shelter. Do you do this stuff a lot?”

“Well,” you sat back having finished the shelter, “I did. I think I tried mentioning it earlier but when I was younger my dad used to take me out exploring. He’d take me to old ruins and we’d search around for little artifacts like broken bits of pottery and arrowheads. Then we’d create a small camp wherever we were and roast whatever wildlife we caught over the fire. He taught me a lot about surviving in the wilderness. It was a lot of fun.”

“He sounds like a fun dad.” Xavier said.

You smiled wistfully. “He was.”

“Oh…is he…”

“He died fighting in the line of duty when I was eleven. Been mom and I ever since.” It was a devastating loss and one you don’t think your mother ever truly recovered from. She had always been a bit intense about your schooling and whatnot even when your dad was alive but after he died she didn’t have anyone to temper her anymore.

“But,” you continued, “Being outside like this does make me feel closer to him.”

The sun set and without those last rays of warmth the night got cold fast. You stayed close to the fire but it only did so much. You had been keeping your ears pricked for the sound of a search team looking for you but there had been nothing. Looked like you were going to have to sleep out here tonight. You were really lucky that there wasn’t any dangerous wildlife out here. It was mainly things like squirrels but coyotes may be wandering around too. But they tended to stay away from well lit places so the chances of ones getting close to your camp with the fire burning were low.

“You should get some sleep.” Xavier said.

“You need sleep more than me. You’re the one that’s gonna have to shoulder me the rest of the way out of this valley.” you told him, stifling a yawn.

“We can sleep in shifts.” he added another branch onto the fire. “You go first, you look like you're about to keel over.”

You were too tired to fight him on that. You nodded and huddled into the makeshift shelter, curling yourself tightly into a ball to retain heat.

You were tossing and turning for a while when you felt a warmth settle around you. For a moment you thought Xavier took pity on your chattering teeth and gave you his coat. You opened your eyes to berate him for giving up one of his only sources of warmth when you realized what was keeping you warm was Xavier himself. He had settled in behind you and pulled you into the crook of his body.

“What are you--”

“You're going to catch your death if you don't warm up. Just let me do this for you.” He murmured into your hair. “Go back to sleep.”

“Oh okay…” a rush of warmth flooded your face.

This was all for survival. That was all it was. You were keeping each other warm while you waited for morning. That was it. Damn it all you wished your heart would stop beating so fast!

“Is this uncomfortable for you?” Xavier asked.

“No. Why do ask?”

“You've been holding your breath for a long time and I was worried something was wrong.”

You cursed yourself and tried to breathe normally. “I wasn't holding my breath. I'm fine.”

Xavier sighed and let go of you. “Why do you keep doing that?”

You sat up, your attempt at sleep forgotten. “What do you think I am doing?”

“Do you really need me to tell you? You know what you're doing. Every time there is something obviously wrong or makes you uncomfortable you deflect and say you're fine even though you aren't.” Xavier’s stare was desperate and bewildered. “Why don't you let yourself acknowledge your feelings? You know you are only doing more damage to yourself by keeping it bottled up.”

Something burned hot in your chest. An ache that you had grown intimately familiar with over the many years of your life.

“Stop.” You snapped at him. “Please just stop trying to figure me out. There's nothing to figure out. I am who I am and there is nothing wrong with that!”

“I never said there was anything wrong with who you are. I like you just as you are in fact. I'm just worried about you. You crush everything down, beat your emotions into submission no matter what they are, anger, sadness, joy.” He ran his hands through his hair. “You act like you're ashamed to have feelings. Why?”

“Shut up!” You barked at him. “You don't know anything!”

“I want to!” He snapped back at you. Seems even his patience had limits and you were pushing against it.

He took a deep breath to steady himself and spoke again in the softer voice you were used to. “I want to know why my friend acts like she doesn’t need her emotions.”

“We're friends now?” You muttered, turning away from him.

“Yes.” He grabbed your chin and pulled your face back towards him. “We are. Or has the past several weeks meant nothing?”

“Just because we spar together doesn't make us friends.” You wrenched your face away from his hold.

“Gods almighty,” Xavier sighed. “Having friends isn't a bad thing. Maybe if you stopped pushing everyone away you'd be happier.”

“I don't need friends! I've never needed friends! They're just distractions!”

“No they aren't! What are you so scared of happening if you don't dedicate every single moment of your life to work? Are you worried you'll realize something about yourself that you don't want to face?”

“Stop it.”

“No. Whether you like it or not you need to hear this.” He grasped you by the shoulders, squeezing you tight. “You do so much and have proven yourself over and over. You don't need to be scared.”

“Xavier, please.” You whispered. That burning in your chest got hotter. It crackled under your skin, breaking through the space between your ribs and singed the tips of your fingers.

Xavier’s eyes bled with sympathy. “Don't you want to have fun for once in your life? We are young and we're meant to be reckless and stupid and have fun. Isn't there something you want to do for yourself just because you want to?”

You felt your heart crack under the pressure and surged forward, silencing his damning words with a kiss.