#and then they gotta pause because well. hard not to feel at least partially responsible for it.

[jestarcana]

Heyo 👋🏻 Don't mind me stalking through your page. But I had a question from your ship chart lol

What's up with Akiren's leg? The only iffy spot he has on the touch chart. 👀

hi, kiza! o7 don't mind at all! always makes me really happy to see someone going through a tag or art 💜

Akira's leg never healed properly after the interrogation room when the police stomped it, so while it's mostly fine, he has good and bad days with it. Touching is usually fine, but if someone were to lean into or sit on it putting all their weight on it, that might be uncomfortable.

It's also part of why in this AU, he ended up training pretty frequently with Sumire as a physical outlet, and he gravitated toward bars because it gave him a rush akin to his grappling hook without being strenuous on his legs (so long as he didn't fall).

[erin-bo-berin]

Suit & Tie

MASTERLIST

The inspiration for this fic totally goes to @teamkiall​ because she brought up this scenario in a conversation we were having and I was like “hmm I NEED to make this into a fic somehow.”. She also said the line dealing with facial hair and I felt it appropriate to add into this, so thank you Kalyn. Also, thank you to the lovely anon who quoted the tiktok “you look becoming” line in my ask, turns out it worked perfectly in this. Plus it added some humor, I think. Sit back, relax and enjoy some lovely almost-Friday-Spencer-smut! Happy reading!

Spencer Reid/Reader

Rating: M (smut)

Word Count: 2,314

Spencer fidgeted in place, willing the elevator to move faster. 

It finally reached the desired floor and the doors squeaked open. He dashed out of the elevator, opening the doors into the BAU. He was already late.

He skidded to a stop when he saw Luke and Matt at the tiny coffee corner, both sipping on a cup.

“Well look who graced us with his presence!” Luke beamed, clearly teasing him.

“You’re only,” Matt paused, glancing at his watch, “Fifteen minutes late today. Least it’s better than the half hour from last week.”

“What’s up with you? You’re never late. In this month alone, you’ve been late almost a dozen times,” Luke said, “What gives? And don’t say it’s the traffic. If me and Matt can beat you here when we deal with some crazy ass traffic, then I know you’re lying.”

Spencer sighed, looking at his coworkers and friends, exasperated.

“You really want to know?”

•

It was barely light out when your eyes opened. You yawned, rolling over to catch a glimpse of the alarm clock on the nightstand.

Its bright numbers read 6:55 a.m.

You heard the shower running and knew Spencer was awake and getting ready for work. You had to use the bathroom, so you forced yourself to get up, grumbling about having to leave the comforts of the bed.

You padded into the bathroom to do your business, still half asleep.

“Morning, Sleeping Beauty,” he called in a playful tone.

You mumbled your response causing him to laugh.

“Someone isn’t fully awake yet.”

You sat for a little longer, rubbing your eyes, forcing yourself to wake up before you got off the toilet. You might as well stay up to see him off to work now.

“It’s a little early for you to be awake isn’t it?” he asked.

Your eyes moved to the partially see through, clear shower curtain. 

“Yeah,” you yawned.

Your eyes trailed his figure. It wasn’t a clear view through the shower curtain, but you knew his tall, lean frame well. You watched his shoulder blades appear and disappear as he washed his hair. Water slid down the length of his back. Your eyes slid to his ass next.

“Why don’t you go back to sleep babe?”

“Nah, I might as well stay up,” you said, your focus still on his body.

He wasn’t one of those guys that had an amazing ass, in fact in comparison to some, it was flat. But you loved it. You often teased him that he had the cutest booty, which in your eyes, it really was. Many times you had grabbed it as he thrust harder and deeper into you.

It was amazing. It was barely sunrise and you’d only just woken, but your libido was already skyrocketing. So was the blood to all the right places.

Your eyes flickered to his arms. He may be thin, but he wasn’t a twig. He worked out, giving his arms some slight muscle. You’d felt them plenty of time under your fingertips as you gripped them, usually when your orgasm completely wrecked your body.

You took your time, cleaning up and brushing your teeth while you were in the bathroom. When you were finished, you called over the shower water to Spencer.

“I think I’m gonna lay back down after all.”

“Okay, baby. I’ll try not to wake you.”

You slipped back into the bedroom, silently grateful that you’d chosen to sleep in one of his old button down shirts last night. It was big on you, but it was flowy and comfortable, coming down to the middle of your thigh.

You laid back down, opting to scroll on your phone, instead of going back to sleep. At this point, there was no need to deny it; you were too horny to go back to sleep.

It couldn’t have been more than a few minutes when he walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets falling onto his shoulders and chest from his damp hair.

“I thought you were going back to sleep?” he chuckled, seeing you awake.

“Well, I’m wide awake now.”

You turned back to your phone, sneaking peeks as he dropped his towel and got dressed. First, he put on his boxers, then his socks. Always mismatching, you loved that quirk about him.

His suit pants came next.

All this while you tried to talk yourself out of the idea forming in your head, but the more you thought about it, the more you were tempted to act on it.

You were incredibly lucky to have a boyfriend like Spencer. Not only was he sweet, caring, intelligent and attentive, he was also a dreamboat.

Having a career in the FBI meant he wore a lot of suits to work. That was a blessing and a curse for you. He was sexy as hell without the suit, but adding the dress attire into the equation and you really suffered.

You suffered because all you wanted to do was tear them right back off him.

It was currently what you were debating trying to initiate. You tried to convince yourself that you wouldn’t do this again, but dammit, it was just something about those suits.

Spencer had already pulled on a dress shirt and buttoned it up, a tie hanging loose around his neck, ready to be tied. He stood from the edge of the bed where he had been sitting and walked to the closet to get the matching suit jacket for the outfit he was going to wear today. That’s when you decided the urge you were feeling just wasn’t going to go away.

“Spencer?”

“Yeah?”

“That outfit looks becoming on you,” you said casually.

“Thank-”

You interrupted his thank you, with the rest of your thought.

“And if I were on you, I’d be coming too.”

He looked at you, jaw dropped for a moment as you smirked at him, your hand propping up your head.

“That...that was smooth,” he chuckled, “I think I’m at a loss for words.”

He sat back down on the bed, pecking your lips.

“You get points for that one, Y/N.”

You tried pulling him back towards you and succeeded only temporarily as he gave you two more, longer kisses.

“Y/N, I gotta go to work,” he chuckled, pulling away from you.

He resumed fixing his tie as you sat up, moving towards him before kneeling behind him, wrapping your arms around him.

You could smell the musky, earthy scent of his favorite soap on his skin. It was making you want him even more. His curls were still damp, but you ran your fingers through them, knowing it was something that drove him crazy.

“You still have time to spare,” you whispered, placing kisses up his neck.

Your hands slid over his chest, over his shirt and grabbed a hold of his tie, trying to still his hands. Your lips ghosted over his neck, to the area where his jaw and neck met. You sucked gently; it was one of his favorite spots.

You felt a groan rumble deep in his chest as he tried hard to resist you. You weren’t going to give up that easily.

“I can’t be late again,” he murmured, “The team is starting to get suspicious.”

“So?” 

You moved away from him, climbing off the bed so you could stand in front of him.

“Sex is a natural thing. Besides, I can’t help that you in a suit gets me hot.”

You stood between his legs, unbuttoning the dress shirt you were in.

“That and the new scruff you’ve got going on, doesn’t help things,” you bit your lip, the seductive lilt in your voice making him swallow hard.

“It’s because facial hair makes a male appear more manly. You have eggs that want to turn into babies. Studies say facial hair makes a woman think their partner is more masculine and more likely to produce and provide for them.”

His voice was husky now as his eyes watched your fingers undo every button until they finally reached the last one. You let the garment fall to the floor, leaving you in nothing but your panties.

Your nipples were already hard, the most apparent sign of how aroused you were. Poor Spencer’s mouth was opening and closing like a fish out of water, staring at you.

“Wanna test that theory out?” you challenged.

“Fuck it.”

He gave in, pulling you by your hips towards him, his lips crashing against yours. Your mouth moved hot against his, eager for him. Your hand tangled into the back of his hair as you kissed him heatedly, extremely thankful he gave into you. You weren’t sure what you would’ve done if he hadn’t.

You ripped the tie off his neck and attacked the shirt buttons next. His lips found your neck, kissing it and lowering his mouth to your breasts. He cupped them in his hands, fingertips flicking over your nipples, pinching them slightly.

A whisper of a moan came from you, your body inadvertently arching into his touch. Your teeth sunk into your lip hard when his mouth closed around one of the hardened buds, tongue flicking over it. 

You momentarily had lost yourself to the bliss of his mouth and had paused your undressing of him. When you realized your hands hand stilled, they got to work once again, even more urgent this time.

“God, I can’t get this off you fast enough,” you groaned.

“Just don’t rip it,” Spencer chuckled, aiding you.

Your hands ran along the smooth plane of his chest, your hungry kisses letting him know just how much you wanted him. His hand parted your thighs, cupping you through the thin fabric of your underwear.

“Yes, touch me,” you moaned, your hand running along his neck.

“Fuck, Y/N, you really do get turned on by the suits,” he breathed, wide eyed, the lines between his lust and awe blurring.

“And you,” you purred, reaching for the waist of his pants.

Thankfully he hadn’t put on a belt yet because you didn’t have the patience for it at the moment. You had them unbuttoned and the zipper pulled down in record time. Your hand reached in, pressing against the growing bulge in his underwear.

His forehead fell against yours, his moan of approval encouraging you.

“You like that?” you teased, “Just think, you almost missed this.”

With a low growl, he’d picked you up by the back of your thighs, depositing you on the bed. He quickly ridded his lower half of the pesky clothes getting in your way, then moved over you. 

His lips captured yours again, his hands tugging your underwear off with a quick yank. It was surprisingly provocative, the fact he could do that so well.

He wasted no time to be inside you. His soft, pleased hum, vibrated against your lips as he moved back and forth.

You’d pulled this same stunt just last week—not that you could honestly help it—but you didn’t feel ashamed. It was always good to be sexually compatible and besides when the sex was as good as it was with Spencer, you craved it like it was your favorite dessert.

“You just. Had to do. This today.”

His sentence was broken by his thrusts. They were anything but gentle. He was giving you what you’d been craving practically since you woke up.

Spencer saw the dark twinkle in your eyes, your response to his challenge.

“Mhm,” you answered, clawing at his back, pulling him closer.

“Fuck,” he groaned, dropping his head into the crook of your neck.

Your movements were hot, fast and needy. You lived for this animalistic side of your sex life with him. Sometimes you just wanted him to screw you senseless.

“Baby, yes, fuckfuckfuck.”

Your words came out in a slur due to the building orgasm you were feeling, quickly mounting to the point where you knew you were going to explode. He was close too, you could tell. He always was his loudest the closer he got to falling over the edge. Your fingers circled your clit, desperate for your release now that you knew he wasn’t far behind you. 

Like a balloon filled with too much air, you burst, your loud moan of his name being cut off. Your vision went white as the intensity overwhelmed you, your body arching further into his.

With his own string of curses, he let himself go, releasing deep within you. You were out of breath and your entire body was hot, heat wise from the quick exertion you’d just put it through.

But it was so fucking worth it.

His movements slowly stilled, a long kiss upon your lips following. He groaned against your mouth.

“Who can pass up a start to a Monday morning like that?”

•

“So let me get this straight,” Luke said, the arched eyebrow the main indicator of his amusement.

“You can’t leave the house to get here at a decent time because half the time your girlfriend rips off your work clothes the moment you put them on?”

“Basically,” Spencer said.

Luke looked at him, dumbfounded, then looked at Matt to gauge his reaction.

“Hey, don’t look at me,” Matt chuckled, “I’d be lying if I said me and Kristy weren’t guilty of doing the same thing occasionally.”

“Why doesn’t this kind of thing ever happen to me?” Luke asked, still in awe, “Like damn, Reid’s got better game than I thought.”

Spencer rolled his eyes, more amused than annoyed.

“My piece of advice for you? Burn your suits,” Luke said. 

This time, Spencer actually grinned. If it meant he got to to start the day in bed with his girlfriend, then it was definitely worth being late every now and then.

“Nah.”

TAG LIST: @dreatine​ @reid-187​ @groovyreid​ @reidslibra​ @suvikamahes98blr​ @fuckthealarm​ @iamburdened​ @cindywayne​ @thomasfoockinshelby​ @tinyminy88​ @sundippedprincess​ @missprettyboy​ @hushlilbabydoll​ @sammy-jo1977​ @theonlyone-meeeee​ @haileymorelikestupid​ @lemonypink​ @multifandommandy​ @teamkiall​ @redbullchick​ @ifeelloved​ @one-sweet-gubler​ @nanocoool​ @delightfullyspeedyearthquake​ @unsteadyimagines​ @ughitsbaby​ @inkwiet​ @pennythetechgoddess​ @capt-engr-ssa​ @sixx-sic-sixx​ @spencersdolore​ @reidsstudies​ @disney-dreams-world​ @chocolatecalzoneherringbonk @mggwhore​ @andiebeaword​ @cupcake525​ @be-the-bravest​ @gretaamyk​ @likelovers @hopebaker​ @prisonreid​ @httpnxtt​ @daviddoughboy​ @pastathighs​ @marvels-gurl​ @blushingspencer​ @pretty-boy-gubler​ @victorzsaszmydaddy​ @inlovewithamess​ @im-inlovewith-mycar​ @onceupona-diamond​

[nadisabug]

Zuko’s Story

Summary: Y/n is a fan of tea, but she's an even bigger fan of the cute boy who sells it at the Jasmine Dragon. Prompts: 1. “I think I’m falling in love with you, and it scares me.” 4. “I’ve always been in love with you, since the beginning.” 11. “You look beautiful.” 23. "I really like having you around." Fandom: ATLA Pairing: Zuko x reader Warnings: none A/N: This is for @fromthewatertribe‘s 1k event! This was an idea I had before but saw your prompts and knew it would fit perfectly!

I slowly sipped on my tea, eyeing the cute server. I had been gawking at him for who knows how long, but I knew he wouldn't notice. He never noticed.

I knew his name was Lee by hearing it around the shop. I had been coming every single day for the past three weeks during my little brother Cam's bending lessons. I wasn't a bender, but he was, and I was determined for him to learn. Ever since our father had been taken away for bending when the fire nation raided our village, I knew he had to learn. I ran away with him the day I learned he could bend, refusing to let them take him too. As a result, we ended up as refugees in the last safe place there was, Ba Sing Se. And, even though money was so unbearably tight, I insisted that he go to regular lessons to learn how to bend. I was not going to let his talent be wasted.

"Would you like more tea?" I was startled out of my thoughts my a low voice beside me. I looked up quickly and had to fight back a blush. Of course it was Lee.

"No thanks, handsome," I blatantly flirted with him like usual and pressed a coin into his palm. He blinked a couple times before closing his hand around the coin. I got up and left him at the table, exiting the shop. It was about time I picked up Cam anyways.

I began to walk in the general direction of Cam's lessons. I didn't make it far, though. After a few minutes of walking, I was roughly pulled into an alley. I tried to scream, but a hand muffled my attempts. I twisted and thrashed, but my assailant had caught me well off guard so there was not much I could do to free myself. So, I stopped trying to free myself. I decided to wait until I saw an opening and take it. I had a whole plan in motion but it was shattered when I saw who had grabbed me.

"Lee?" I mumbled through his hand. I scrunched my eyebrows together and relaxed in his hold. It was only then that I processed how close we were. He had my wrists clasped behind my back, the rest of his arm pressing his body to mine. He was half a head taller then me, so he was looming over me.

"How to you know my name?" He rasped angrily. He lowered his hand from my mouth, which I appreciated, but when he brought it back he was holding a knife. I guess I preferred being muffled. He held the blade to my throat as a threat.

Well, I guess he finally noticed my staring.

"I heard it around the shop," I answered truthfully. To be honest, I was scared out of my mind. But, I was also a little bit turned on. This guy was really hot and the tough guy act sure wasn't helping my heartbeat. He was a lot cuter up close, I thought, then cursed at myself. That's what I was thinking about when I had a knife to my throat? However, for some reason, I didn't feel like he would hurt me. Be it the result of my crush or intuition, I just couldn't bring myself to be scared.

"Why do you stare at me all the time? What do you know? Do you know who I am?" He paused for a millisecond. "Answer me!" He shouted.

I opened and closed my mouth, I was sure I looked like a koi. "I, uh, don't know how to answer that," I replied carefully. "But I have no idea who you are or anything else pertaining to you for that matter."

"Then why are you always in the shop? And why do you always stare at me?" He asked the same question again and I knew I would have to give him a response. He wasn't going to let this one go.

"I like tea?" I said meekly. He gave me a hard stare in response. I sighed in defeat and slumped a little bit. I broke eye contact and looked off to the side to make sure no one was coming. It would be hard for Lee to explain his way out of that one. "Can you let me go at least?" I finally sighed. "I am not going to hurt you, you are the one with the knife."

Lee frowned but nodded and let me go. I shook out my arms, slightly numb from the awkward angle, and sighed in relief.

"Now tell me," Lee began, raising his knife to my throat again. "What business do you have with me?"

I rolled my eyes and pushed the knife away, no longer really scared. If Lee was a bad guy, he never would have let me go. "None? Listen if you want the truth, here it is. I think you're cute so I like going to the shop and watching you work. Nothing malicious."

"Oh," he said softly, lowering his knife.

"I am really sorry for staring at you all the time, I'll stop coming if that's what you want-well of course it's what you want of course you don't want some freak staring-"

"No." Thankfully, Lee cut off my rambling. "I, uh, well... I don't mind, well it's not that I don't mind but I really like having you around the shop."

"Oh," I breathed, a flush rising to my cheeks.

"Yeah," he muttered quietly and looked away. He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly and quickly added, "You bring the tea shop a lot of business!"

"Oh," I said again, this time less excited. "Yeah I guess so," I muttered dejectedly.

"Well that's not it," Lee quickly followed up. "I mean I like your presence in the tea shop, you're really nice and tip well and ugh that's not what I mean I am just going to stop talking."

"I think that would be for the best," I chuckled. Then I looked at him again. He was so unbearably cute and I was sure I would never get another opportunity like this again, so I decided to go for it. "Look, I think you're really cute. Want to go out sometime?"

"Uh, I just held a knife to your throat," he responded dumbly. I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, now. Date?"

"He would love to!" A voice shouted from the opening of the alley. The old man who ran the tea shop, Iroh, walked towards us.

"Uncle!" Lee called indignantly. "Why are you here?"

"I was worried when you left so abruptly and good thing I came because you almost would have messed up this date with this lovely girl," Iroh shot me a wink.

"How long were you there?" Lee asked, a flush of embarrassment rising to his cheeks.

"Long enough," he quickly responded. "How about tonight at sundown in front of the shop," Iroh asked me.

"Sure," I nodded. "He's gotta make up for this whole endeavor somehow," I smirked and shot Lee a look. With that, I waved goodbye to the two guys and headed off to pick up Cam. This wasn't such a bad day afterall. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Okay Cam, I want you right in bed at sundown, you hear me? No waiting up for me."

"Why, you planning to be out late with your boyfriend?" Cam shot back all too happily. 

"No, because you have your lesson at sunrise," I said quickly, making sure I had everything I needed. Would Lee pay? I wasn't sure but I brought my purse just in case. "I worked hard to get us to the middle ring so that you could have a proper teacher and I will not have you being late!"

I felt Cam roll his eyes and sigh at me. "Yes, mom," he groaned. "At least tell me his name."

I turned to Cam, pursing my lips. I had tried to keep this whole date a secret from him, but having a nosy 12 year old in the house wasn't conducive to secrets. He had found out shortly after I picked him up, asking why I was late and accusing me of being out with a boy. When I flushed and stammered in response, he jumped on the opportunity. That was his go to accusation, it just so happened that this time he was right. Not in the way he thought, of course, but partially I suppose. I mean I did ask Lee out on a date. 

I thought for a moment, then figured Cam would find out at some point who it was, especially if we went on more dates. I tried not to get my hopes up at the thought. 

"It's Lee."

Cam gasped dramatically. "From the tea shop?"

"Yes from the tea shop," I huffed and spun on my heel. I walked over to a mirror hanging on the wall and checked my makeup one more time. I needed to leave soon if I was going to make it on time. 

"To imagine, a love blooming from malicious stalkering-"

"I keep thinking you cannot get more stupid and then you prove me wrong every single time," I sighed. 

Cam gasped dramatically again. "Wounded, by my own sister!" He cried. "Besides, am I wrong that you stalk him? I bet what happened was he confronted you about your stalker-ering and you were all like 'I've always been in love with you, since the beginning of time-'"

"Oh hush." I turned towards the door so that he couldn't see my blush. I mean, he wasn't that wrong. Lee did confront me about the stalk- watching of him, and I did confess in a way. "I am leaving now. When will you be in bed?"

"By sundown," Cam responded in a high pitched voice, obviously mocking me. 

"Okay, bye. Be good," I said as a final goodbye and left. 

My walk to the Jasmine Dragon was uneventful at best. Once I got there, I saw Lee outside. He was wearing a nice suit, his hair parted in the middle and slicked to each side. I whistled as I approached. 

"Nice 'do, hot stuff," I grinned. He turned to face me, and unless I was mistaken, a blush rose to his cheeks. 

"You look beautiful," he blurted, then flushed a bright red that I knew I wasn't imagining. 

I was caught off guard by his blatant confession, and I felt a heat creep up my neck. "Uh, thank you. You don't look to bad yourself, though I do think I like your hair all messy better." 

"Oh." Zuko reached up and ruffled it, messing it all up. "Like that," he smiled. 

"Like that."

"It took my uncle ten minutes to do my hair," he commented. 

"Well it took you a few seconds to mess it up, now come on, let's go. I know a great restaurant that's super cheap but super good," I said and grabbed his hand, tugging him after me. 

Eating was awkward if anything. Lee wasn't the biggest conversationalist, not wanting to talk about anything about himself, and the food was mediocre at best. It was cheap, though.

"Let's split the bill," I said when we were done eating. Lee opened his mouth to argue, but I stopped him. "I picked the place so it is partially my fault the food was so bad."

"I didn't know you were in the kitchen," Lee smirked. 

"You don't know a lot of things about me," I grinned cheekily. At that, Lee's face darkened. He was hiding something big, I knew it. It was probably something about his past, seeing as he was so guarded about it. 

"Come on," I said, breaking the tense silence. "Let's get out of here." 

The waiter arrived and we paid our check. Luckily, they gave us two cups of tea to go. I took mine and Lee took his and we were on our way. 

"Ugh," I groaned, sipping my tea. "This is disgusting, its so cold."

"Here," Lee reached out and took it from me. He held onto it for a second then handed it back. Miraculously, it was hot when he handed it back. 

"What the..." Then it hit me. The only way he could have done that was if he was a firebender. I looked up at him in surprise, ready to make a run for it, but then I took another look at him. It wasn't like a Earth bender gave him that scar, and he was here for a reason, probably to start over. That's why he was so defensive about who he was when he questioned me earlier today. So I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. He hadn't hurt me yet, and he didn't hurt me when we thought we were alone in that alley, so I doubted that he'd hurt me now. 

"Thanks," I finally decided on with a smile. I let him walk me back to my place, knowing Cam was probably still awake. When we reached my door, I turned to him. "Thank you for taking me out."

"Thank you for uh, not getting mad I held a knife to your throat," he replied, shyly rubbing the back of his neck. 

"Well, I don't know if I'm still over that," I said with a small smirk. "I might need another date to see if I forgive you."

Lee's eyes darkened. "I don't know if I can do this-"

"Oh come on," I sighed. "I liked spending time with you, I hope you liked spending time with me. It's not like we're going to get married, just hang out a bit more. Come on, one more date and that's it."

Lee sighed. "One more date. And that's it."

"And that's it." I agreed with finality.

After that, we started going out on dates every few days. We went to festivals together, tried out new restaurants, and even went out on picnics. It was on one of those picnics that I finally decided to confess to him. We were up on a hill under the shade of a great tree, looking out over the sprawling city. We had lapsed into silence. 

"I need to tell you something-" We both said at the same time. We both flushed and turned away. 

"You first," I said. 

"No you." I stayed silent, staring at Lee expectantly until he sighed and caved. "Fine. I think... Well look. There's still so much you don't know about me. I've done some pretty horrible things in my past."

"I think people can change," I asserted.

Lee shook his head. "Terrible, horrible things. Things no one should ever dream of doing. But I did them. I thought that I had lost my honor and that somehow my father could restore it to me... but now... now I am not so sure." He turned to me and grabbed my hands. "Ever since I met you I've felt like I was an impostor, a fake pretending to be someone I wasn't. Now I think this is me." He sighed and closed his eyes. "What I'm trying to say it that I think I'm falling in love with you and it scares me."

I leaned up and moved to kiss him, but he pulled away. "Why?" I said, hurt in my voice. 

Lee grasped both of my cheeks and pulled our foreheads together. "Listen, I have to do something before we can be together. I need to make up for my mistakes. I got a message last night inviting my uncle and I to serve tea to the King. I think it's a trap. The Avatar is in the city which means my sister is not far behind."

"Your sister... Who are you?" My voice was barely over a whisper, I was surprised it didn't get lost in the wind. 

"I am Zuko, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation."

I paused, my head reeling. I knew he was a firebender but the prince? The prince of the Fire Nation? It was a lot to take in. Luckily he gave me my time and waited patiently for my next question. "And you think its a trap but you're still going to go?" I asked in bewilderment. 

"Yes. I need to stop running away from my destiny. You helped me realize that I'm not bad, I can be good."

"What is your destiny?" I asked breathlessly. 

"To teach the Avatar firebending."

I pulled my head away from his so that I could get a good look at him. "Then go. And don't you dare not think about coming back for me."

"I will." Lee- no, Zuko looked like he was hesitating, then he pulled me into ferocious kiss, stealing my breath away from me. When we separated,  we placed our foreheads together, gasping for air, our breaths intermingling. 

"You have no idea how long I have been waiting to do that," I gasped, but smiled. 

"I feel the same," Zuko smiled too. "Now come on, let's go."

With that, he walked me home and then walked right out of my life, leaving me to wonder if I would ever see him again. 

[hyper-revenge-sio]

A snippet of DBDomestic

lmao, this is way longer than I intended

whoops

oh and for the people who happen to see this but don't like cursing, there's a bit of that in here

Jake glanced at the clock, then at the man still rambling on in front of him. "but that's not why I was mad. It was because he seriously had the fucking audacity to bring Quentin into it! Like, uh no, shut your fucking mouth because Quentin is only an ass to you because you are literally a fucking scumbag." Frank said, moving his hands as he spoke. Jake was amazed by how much Frank could cuss in one sentence. Though when it came to talking about Krueger, Jake understood. 

Frank had been telling Jake about the argument he'd had earlier, with Freddy. The demon had brought Quentin up and Frank didn't like that, so he punched Freddy. He was just explaining why. Frank glanced at Jake, then sighed. "You're tired, aren't you?" He asked, his voice still full of energy. Jake aimlessly shook his head, leaning back on the couch. It was fairly late, and most of everyone else had gone to bed.

"I'm fine, I swear." Jake replied, knowing Frank probably wouldn't accept the answer. By the way Frank paused and eyed the saboteur, Jake was right. However, only partially. 

"Does Quentin want you in there? I know he likes having someone near him when he sleeps." Frank questioned, moving to grab the shirt he had thrown on the ground. He did that sometimes if he felt hot. Not due to his level of confidence or ego, but because he was good at ignoring what people said. Most of the time. 

"Probably. I'm sure he'd let you talk while he fell asleep. He doesn't necessarily care about sound levels." Jake replied, moving to grab his jacket from beside him. Frank paused again, holding his shirt in his hands. As weird as it was, Frank had begun thinking about others more since the whole house thing. A few people had, and Jake wondered if Anna impacted that. She had begun treating everyone with utmost kindness, at least everyone except for Freddy. With Kenneth, it was more treating him respectfully than anything. 

"Are you sure? I don't wanna annoy him. I can always go find Julie or something." Frank stated, surprising Jake. Frank, once again, was someone who could definitely ignore people's opinions if he wanted. 

"Just c'mon." Jake mumbled, moving to stand up. Frank stood up as well, following the saboteur as Jake made his way to his room. Jake was quiet as he opened the door, and peered in to spot the hazel haired insomniac reading a book. "We have a friend this time." Jake said, earning a confused look from Quentin. At least until he spotted Frank. 

Jake walked over, moving to sit by Quentin toward the headrest. Frank climbed onto the end of the bed, crossing his legs as he sat. Jake didn't really know if his shorts were actual shorts, because they almost looked like boxers. Not Frank's. Frank didn't wear boxers, so they definitely weren't his. "Frank almost threw hands for you earlier." Jake stated, putting an arm around Quentin as the boy leaned against him. 

"Why? Aren't you usually the one who does that?" Quentin asked, setting the book in his hands down and closing his eyes. 

"He is, yes. But Krueger was being a total dick, and then he fucking mentioned you! Of course I wasn't gonna let the fucker insult you!" Frank explained, just as enthusiastic as when he said it the first time. "Which, by the way, I understand why you hate him. I'm telling you, I was this fucking close to just stabbing the shit out of him." Frank added, getting Quentin to open his eyes. 

"Okay, Frank," Frank straightened his posture, looking at Quentin instead of the walls around them. "you can talk, but please shut up about him. I appreciate you yelling at him for me though." Quentin stated, giving a small smile. Frank responded with a grin. 

"I will, my bad. And also you're welcome!" Frank replied. Quentin laughed softly, shifting again to lay his head on Jake's lap. He was on his side, but he didn't mind. 

"Whose underwear are those?" Quentin asked, closing his eyes again. Frank had quite the history when it came to people who had seen him in his underwear, so Jake wasn't surprised that Quentin noticed too. 

"Oh, they're Danny's. Can I sit up there with you two?" Frank replied, his response nonchalant. Like he always wore other people's underwear. Maybe he did. Maybe he had simply taken someone else's and traded them out. 

"Yeah, just put your shirt on first. Your skin is always cold." Quentin answered, making Jake snicker. Quentin moved again, and Frank quickly threw on his shirt. It was slightly big on him, so Jake assumed that it must've been Danny's too. Frank moved to lean against Jake's right side, and Quentin stayed on the left by the wall. Jake was leaning back, keeping an arm around both of the other boys. 

"You will never fail to surprise me Frank." Jake said, watching as Frank set his head on Quentin's shoulder. Quentin rested his own head atop Frank's as the other giggled. 

"I know, but that's the fun part." Frank replied, moving to grab one of Quentin's arms. Quentin allowed him too, setting his hand on Jake's thigh as Frank clung onto his arm. "Also, Laurie has been way nicer to me lately, which I think is good. She scares the shit out of me. Did you know that she had literally fucking kicked Michael in the dick, with no fear?" Frank mentioned, holding a finger to Quentin's necklace, being careful not to press too hard. 

"Yeah, she has. She's also slapped him at least three times." Jake added, pausing to watch Frank's reaction. Frank narrowed his eyes for a second, his eyes darting around. 

"Fucking what? And Michael just accepts it?" Frank questioned, his voice a little quieter than before. Jake just nodded. Frank just gave a quiet him, moving his hand from Quentin's necklace to the ring on his hand. Frank had always had an odd fascination with them, especially the two gems. Frank was definitely strange, in every way. If he was mad at you, there was a higher chance he would just ignore you rather than try to hurt you. He was childish in some ways, but mature in others. 

Jake could never really settle on one description for him. "Laurie is a fighter, like Jane but worse. She dealt with Michael right before she was sucked into this world and she is pissed about it." Jake stated, relieved to feel Quentin's breathing slow slightly. He had a lot of problems falling asleep, but had recently started waking up around the same time as Jake, so he was always tired at night. Often, Jake would fall asleep first and Quentin would just climb into bed with him. Apparently the company really made a difference, especially when it was Jake. 

"I get that. I would be pissed if I had to deal with me, and then be brought here, and do it all over. I'm a fucking nightmare." Frank replied, emphasising the last word. Jake knew Frank would probably nod off within thirty minutes, which was fine. Jake didn't have a problem lifting most people up, even some that were taller. Which was a lot. Plus, if it did prove to be a problem, Jake could always just move Frank onto his bed on the other side of the room. He slept in Quentin's bed mostly, so it wouldn't change much. 

"You're not necessarily a nightmare. Just gotta get used to you. You could probably be sleep deprived to the fullest extent and still have energy." Jake responded, paying close attention to how Frank slowly let his muscles relax. 

"Really? Sometimes you'd seem super pissed whenever I said dumb shit." Frank questioned, his voice continuing to lower in volume. 

"That's because it was dumb shit. You as whole are fine though." Jake assured. For the most part, it was because Frank would insult someone as he killed them. Though Jake could only complain to a certain extent, given how if he was given the chance, there were killers he regularly degraded. Lately he'd been working on that though. 

Frank hummed, but didn't reply. Jake gave it maybe three minutes. Jake also noted to talk to Danny tomorrow. Mainly because he willingly let Frank run off with his clothes, but also because Jake didn't know him too much, and Frank liked him a lot. Danny surely couldn't be as bad as Jake assumed. 

[niyana-the-ambiguous-mobian]

Can I have a fanfic about sonic going to school?

Oh this one is cute! Due to him being confirmed to be 13 to 14 in the film, I’ll have him start in 6th grade for this prompt.

But we're gonna change it up a little...you'll see what I mean.

I apologize in advance to anyone i caused to cry while reading this, because I did while writing this.

Being small is way past cool.

=======

“Sonic!”

The hedgehog flinched at Tom’s loud voice cutting through the closed ladder door. “Sonic! Are you up yet?”

Groaning, he borrows deeper in his blanket and puts his pillow over his head.

‘God 6 is seriously too early to wake up on a Tuesday.’

Hearing the ladder door slide open, he kept still and held his breath as he heard heavy footsteps come into his room.

“Sonic?” He came closer to the bed, shaking Sonic’s shoulder.

“C’mon bud, you gotta get up now.”

“Nooo” his voice muffled underneath the pillow.

Tom rolled his eyes, whipping back the bed sheets off him.

Feeling the sudden cool air, his body tensed up and glared up at the human.

“Uh-uh Don’t look at me like that, you know you got to wake up now.”

Sonic closed his eyes, curled up his body and rolled over, his back facing Tom.

Tom let out a deep sigh. “Ok then.” he walks away and heads down the stairs.

'Maybe at this rate he'll let me stay home this time.' He sighed in relief as he started to go back to sleep.

That didn't last long before he heard Tom's footsteps come back into the room.

'Ugh spoke too soon.'

Hearing his steps get closer, he felt Tom’s hand wrap around his shoulder, pulling him up in a sitting position.

The hedgehog groaned and let his head fall forward.

‘I’m still not getting up, why is he trying so-AAAAH!’

Sonic let out a scream as he felt a rush of cold mask around his face.

Tom, with a washcloth soaked with cold water, rubbed the cloth around Sonic’s eyes and face. “You should have got up when I told you.”

Swatting his hands away, he rubbed his eyes, now miraculously feeling more awake.

“Wha- What was that?”

“An old trick my mom used on me when I wouldn’t get up, just take a washcloth, soak it in cold water and wipe your face with it.” He grinned as he twirled the cloth around. “Could never really escape from it.”

“Hpmh, you must’ve been a stubborn kid.”

“It worked on you too so you’re not off the hook either.” he flicked the cloth on top of his head. "Now please get yourself ready, I'm not telling you again."

"Fine." He huffed, moving the damp cloth off head and stretched as Tom walked back downstairs.

'He sounds serious this time, maybe he has to work a extra shift again.'

"Well I guess I have to get serious too." Using his speed, he made his bed and grabbed his toothbrush, zipping to the bathroom to get washed up.

Tom heard him zipping upstairs as he sat down at the table, letting out a deep sigh,

Maddie walked over to him, holding two cups of coffee. “Everything ok up there?”

“Teenagers.” He said bluntly as he took his cup from Maddie. “I always thought we got lucky from skipping the terrible two’s or that awkward preteen stage, but this-.”

He stopped to take a long sip from his mug. “I wonder how our parents felt when we went through this.”

“Tom, it’s probably because it’s the end of the first week of school for him and he doesn’t want to go due to how often he’s been home.”

"So he's becoming stagnant basically?"

"In a matter of speaking, yes."

"Oh god, he's becoming a basement baby."

"Pfft, that only counts once they're 18 and over Tom."

"Don't be so sure of that, he already lives in our attic. So he's kinda like a...attic toddler."

Maddie nearly dropped her plate from stifling her snorts of laughter, passing Tom his plate. "Yeah ok, don't him hear you call him that."

"Please with all the names he calls us, we should at least get to call him something." He huffed as he cut into his eggs.

"I thought he did have one? The Blue Devil?"

"Nope, it's Attic Toddler now." He waved his hand, mouth partially full.

Maddie let out a hum as she ate her eggs. "Hmm I don't think he likes that too much."

"Why'd you say-?"

"ATTIC TODDLER?!?"

Tom let out a yell and jumped nearly a foot into the air as he heard Sonic's voice shrill right behind him. Ozzie barked in response to his yell, only for Maddie to call him over and calm him down.

Grabbing his chest, Tom panted as he looked at the hedgehog, who was wearing a small red shirt with a picture Saturn on it, looking very offended.

"Dude! You know better than to sneak up behind people and scream like that!"

Ignoring Tom's remark, he carried on sounding more agitated. "'Attic toddler'? C'mon Tom I'm not that short!"

Catching his breath, he turned around in his chair to fully face him, slightly smiling. "I mean can you blame me, you're about the size of a toddler."

Sonic tightens his fists, cheeks blushes slightly. "NO I'M NOT!!"

His eyes flash blue for a split second and small sparks erupts from his quills as he panted from his outburst.

Ozzie whimpered and cowered underneath the table. Tom eyes widen while Maddie let out a gasp at the hedgehog's sudden outburst.

Tom was the first to break the dead silence. "Sonic?"

Still panting, he blinked before looking shocked and shaking his head, sparks disappearing and his eyes going back to emerald green.

"I....uh...I." he fiddled with his hands, looking down at the floor and taking a few steps back from the couple.

Tom went to stand up, Sonic backed away even more. “Hey-.”

“I’m sorry.” He murmured quickly before speeding up to his room, shutting the door behind him.

“Soni-.” He voice got cut off at the sound of the door closing.

Gripping his chair, he put his weight against the back, looking where Sonic disappeared.

“Tom?” He turned around to see his wife, both hands on the table as she looked at him, her face hardened. “What in the world was that?”

Choking on his words, he sat back down and leaned on the table, letting out a hard breath.

“I have no idea Mads.” Ozzie came out slowly from the table and approached Tom, putting his head on his knee.

He scratched his head in response. “I’ve never seen him like....that before, last time I saw him like this was months ago when he was fighting Robotnik.”

Maddie folded her hands and put them against her mouth. “I know and he’s never yelled in that way either." After a short pause she glances up.

"Do you think something happened at the school?"

"Hmm possibly, we haven't got any calls from them yet."

She reached across the table and grabbed his hand. "Oh Tom, do you think he may be getting picked on?"

He opened his mouth to speak only to close it, thinking about what she said. 'I mean it's not far fetched that he actually could be, it's pretty common around this age group.'

"Middle school kids can be pretty brutal, man it's only the first week for him too."

"He got pretty upset at the comment you made, maybe it something related to that."

"Yeah he did...." drumming his fingers against the table before snapping his fingers. "I got something."

"Yeah? What is it?"

"I'm gonna just take a page out of my dad's book for once, hopefully it works for him like it did for me".

=======

'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!' He screamed mentally as paced around his room, trying to calm down.

"Why did I yell at them like that?!? They didn't know what was going on anyway, now they're definitely going to know that something's up! Way to go Sonic!" He threw his arms up in the air as he sat against his beanbag chair.

Taking a few breaths, he hugged his arms and stared at his feet. 'I...don't know what to do.'

Feeling his eyes sting, he sniffed and blinked away any incoming tears.

Looking up, the clock read 7:05. 'An hour and a half left huh? Maybe I'll take a walk instead of a run today.'

Getting up slowly, he put on his windbreaker and grabbed his backpack. He traced over the stitching of the owl that was sewn on the back before hugging the bag to his chest.

Pushing the ladder down, he slowly made his way to the main steps and pushed the ladder up, his ears picked up the sound of the shower turning on and faint singing coming from it.

'Maddie's still here, I wonder if she's mad at me? And Tom...'

He shook his head as he made his way to the front door, looking over to where Ozzie was laying, the dog's head was between his paws as he saw Sonic pass by.

"See you later Oz" he waved sheepishly at the dog.

Not moving an inch, Ozzie gave a small bark in reply.

He winced at the lack of energy the retriever gave. 'Oh man I guess he's mad at me too.'

He stepped onto the front porch, closing the door behind him. Adjusting his book bag zipping up his coat, he made his way down the stairs, his mind still going.

“Hey!”

The teen jumped and ducked slightly at the sound of a deep voice echoing in the yard. “Raise your hands where I can see them!”

Recognizing the voice, he let out a sigh as he walked towards the truck, the window rolled all the way down revealing that Tom was sitting inside.

Tom leaned his head out, his elbow out the window. “Hey bud.” He said softly.

“Hi.” He murmured, looking down at the ground.

A short pause. “Why so blue?”

Sonic huffed and glared up at the human, who held back a laugh before clearing his throat.

“No seriously though, how you feeling?”

“I’m.....fine.” Deep down he knew that he still wasn’t fine, but he didn’t want Tom to see that.

“Hmm-mmm.” He checked his watch before opening the door on the passenger side. “Well come on.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t have to be at the station until 9 so I’m taking you to school today.”

“O-oh, no that’s ok I was gonna just walk to school.”

Tom looks at him, straight faced.

“Sonic, I’m taking you to school.”

His voice was calm, but carried an eerie tone to it. As if saying, “you definitely have no other choice in the matter.”

Squirming under his gaze, he holds up his hands in surrender. “Ok whatever you say.”

He sighs as he makes his way into the passenger seat, closing the car door, putting his bag on the floor and folding his arms as he sat.

Putting the car in reverse, Tom backed the car out of the driveway.

“Put on your seatbelt.” He without looking back.

Sonic takes the seatbelt and straps it behind him rather than around him and clicks it in.

"Fasten it around your body please". He says, still not looking back.

Shocked, he complies while staring at him. ‘How does he do that? I swear grown ups have eyes in the back of their heads.’

=======

Tom continued to drive at a steady pace, one hand on the steering wheel, the other out the window.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Sonic looking out the window at the passing trees, face in his palm and face sullen.

Clearing his throat, his decides to break the silence. “So do you want to talk about it?”

“About what?”

“That big elephant you left in the room.”

“Elephant? There was no elephant anywhere.”

“No-what I mean is that something is obviously bothering you and it’s starting to worry me and Maddie.”

He clutched the strap of the seatbelt. “Nothing’s bothering me.”

“Really? Cause the way you acted back there says otherwise.”

“I just-, I just didn’t like the way you called me a toddler that’s all.” He squeezes the belt tighter.

“If you didn’t like that I called you a toddler, you would have just told me that instead of yelling at me like that.”

"I didn't mean to yell, it just came out that way."

"Then why are you upset that I called you that?"

Sonic just shrugged his shoulders while giving a noise that sounded like "I don't know".

"Yes you do, you just don't upset like that for no reason."

Sonic stayed silent, hugging himself and closed his eyes, kneeling his head against the door.

Tom sighed in defeat, putting his eyes back on the road. 'It must be tough on him if he just won't say it to me.'

Seeing the exit ramp towards the school come into view, he increased his speed and drove right past it.

Sonic snapped out of it and watched as they went past the ramp.

"I figure we take the long way around, since we have the time." Tom answered, sensing the teen's confusion.

Sonic closes his mouth and nods, leaning his back against the seat, his shoulders noticeably loosening up and his face relaxed.

Tom grinned as he drove down the road, passing underneath the trees and by individual houses.

He turned the car onto a wide dirt road and drove up a hill leading to a area surrounded by a small glade of trees.

'Are we at a camping ground?' Looking around, he sees a small number of picnic tables and wooden signs.

"Why are we here?" He asks Tom, who is looking around the area, seemingly looking for something.

"Change of scenery, Ah there it is!" Tom exclaimed as he pulls into a space and puts the car in park.

Looking over the dashboard, he sees a metal guard rail bordering where the flat ground ends and an open view of the sky and trees down below, clear of any trees from blocking it.

Tom gets out and stretches his arms, breathing out a loud sigh before walking away from the car.

Sonic gets out slowly and closes the door. He walks over to the guard rail, backing up slightly at the steep drop beyond it.

It was a rather quiet place, only hearing woodpeckers and birds chirping in the distance and the sounds of the pine needles crunching under his shoes.

He turned around as he heard Tom grunting and saw him climbing up on the hood of the car and putting his back against the windshield, his feet dangling in front of the muffler.

Seeing Sonic stare at him, he patted the spot on the hood next to him.

He sped over on top of the hood and sat down next to the human, crossing his legs.

The two sat in silence for a bit before Tom spoke. "You're probably still wondering why I took you here right before school."

"Yeah I still am actually."

Tom chuckled. "Well this place is pretty special to me. Me and Maddie would take walks up here when we got engaged, take Ozzie on walks, even have some barbecue parties with some of the neighbors." He paused before mouth became tight.

"This is also the same place my dad took me when I was about your age.

Sonic let out a small gasp and raising his head up. "Really?"

"Yeah, it was actually for the same reason you're going through right now. Middle school was getting rough for me and my parents knew right away that something was wrong." He smiled at the distant memory before continuing.

"So one random day he came up to my room and told me that he was driving me to school, I didn't think much of it so I went along with it."

"Then he drives up into these woods and pulls up in the same spot that we're in right now."

Sonic eyes widened as he leaned in with interest.

"We both sat on the hood of his old pickup and just stared at the sun rising, it made me feel...calm and relaxed, So much so I was able to him what was going on."

"What'd you tell him?"

"About how the kids were teasing me, calling me names behind the teachers back and no one wanted to be around me because I was the sheriff's son."

"And I'll never forget what he said to me, he said "Thomas, those kids are just jealous because they wish their fathers were as cool and handsome just like I am."" Tom said as he tried to imitate his father's voice, making Sonic giggle at the rough impression.

Letting out a laugh as well, he smiled before talking in his regular voice. "But what he also told me was "They think because of what family you were born into, you'll turn out just like them, good or bad. It's up to you to show them that you are unique in both mind and soul and eventually prove them wrong, you got what it takes, son.""

Tom beams as he finishes the story, looking down Sonic, who eyes were starting to water.

"Oh, hey buddy you ok?" He spoke softly as he puts a hand on Sonic's shoulder, who nods his head as he wipes away incoming tears.

"*sniff* Yeah I'm fi-." He stops realizing what he's about to say. 'No you're not.'

"No I'm not fine actually."

Hand still on his shoulder, he pulls him in closer. "Go ahead, I'm listening."

He took a deep breath before speaking. "Some of the kids at school have been....making fun of my height."

Tom stiffens up but listens as Sonic continues. "On the first day, it was kinda like a joke, the fact that I'm in 6th grade and I look like I should be in 1st grade. I didn't think much of it."

His fists resting on his knees clench up. "Then this one group of kids in my PE class, they really went at it and wouldn't stop. They didn't do things like push me in a locker or beat me up or anything because of my speed, but the things they said...." He stops as he feels his throat go tight.

"What things did they say to you?" He kept his voice steady.

His voice cracks. "They said that my speed was the reason my parents didn't want me anymore, my height was not normal for my age and then yesterday they told me that it was only reason I was taken in by the sheriff was because I'm "an abomination that no one else wanted and that he could use me for hunting practice". He finishes as his voice cuts off and a few tears run down his face.

Tom uses his thumb to wipe the tears from his face as he pulls him closer. Sonic lets out a small sob as he wraps his arms around Tom's waist and cries softly into his chest, with Tom holding a hand behind his head and back.

The two sit on the hood of the truck as Sonic quiet sobs fill the air with Tom rubbing his back and whispering words of comfort.

After a few minutes, Sonic pulls away from the embrace hiccuping slightly, wiping his eyes and sniffing loudly.

Tom pulls out a tissue while continuing to rub his back. "Here, blow your nose."

Sonic wipes his eyes before blowing his nose hard. He leans back against Tom's side, trying to control his breathing.

"Sonic, why didn't you say anything to us if those kids were picking so much?

He shook his head. "I didn't want to guys to worry about it, I thought if I just tough it out it would be fine."

"Is that why you yelled like that?" Seeing him nod his head slowly, he let out a deep sigh.

"Ok we got to agree on some things, first thing is next time something like this happens, please let us know right away, it's not good to hold in emotions like that."

He nods in agreement. 'Oh trust me I know.'

"Two, please don't raise your voice like that at us again. You're lucky I was taking you, Maddie wasn't too happy that you did that."

"O-ok, I think Ozzie was mad at me too."

"You probably just scared him a little."

"And three, don't let people like that get to you, they never know the full story of your life unless they are apart of it."

"Oh yeah, they don't." He wipes eyes again with his palm.

"Hey, they might even be jealous at the fact that your living with a sheriff that's so devilishly handsome." He clutches his chin and raises his eyebrows.

Sonic let out a wet laugh, pushing Tom's shoulder. "Pfft I know that's definitely not it."

"Wha- how dare you, I'm eligible to be on the Bachelor!" He let out a fake gasp as he poked Sonic in the sides.

The hedgehog shrieked as he shielded away, swatting away his hand.

Tom shook his head as he checked his watch.

"Whoa, it's 8:15 already? We better get going." He grunted as got off the hood.

"Oh right, school." Sonic said solemnly as he looked out at the view, the sun near the top of the trees. 'I kinda don't want to leave now.'

"Hey Tom? Is it ok if we come back here again?"

"Yeah that's a good idea, we can come back during the weekend."

"Sweet". He zipped into car and buckled his seatbelt.

"Oh yeah, you forgot something at home." Tom reached into his duffle bag and pulled out a small lunch box.

"Oh my god thank you! I didn't realize I left it." He hugged the bag to his chest before putting it on the floor.

"Been there before and trust me it's not fun. Oh and make sure you eat this before we get there." He tossed Sonic a banana from his bag.

The hedgehog looked down at the fruit in confusion. "Uhh why are you giving a banana? I already have my lunch."

"You didn't eat breakfast." He replies bluntly.

Right at that moment, his stomach lets out an audible growl. He blushes as he opens it and starts taking small bites.

'Can read him like a book.'

=======

The truck pulled up in front of the school, the students gathering from all over, from walking to being dropped off.

Tom put the car in park as he looked up at building then to Sonic, who was still looking out the window, face filled with uncertainty.

"Hey." He tapped his shoulder to get his attention. "Remember what I said, don't let those kids get to you."

"Yeah, I know."

"Good, cause I'm saying this not only as your friend, but also as your guardian, your size can be your greatest strength, other than that blue sparky thing you do sometimes."

His eyes widened at the word "guardian" before beaming widely, his tail wagging. "Really?"

"Yeah, do you know how many people's knees you can kick at your height?"

"Oh no I meant what you-......uh nevermind." He grabbed his bag and lunch box and went to open the door, before turning around and wrapping his arms around Tom's neck.

Startled, Tom froze at the sudden action before hugging him back.

"Thank you." He leaned back to look at Tom, smiling widely.

"Anytime, bud" he said warmly as he rubbed the teen's ears.

He drew back from the hug, jumped down from the seat and shut the car door.

"I'll see you later, Tom!" He yelled behind his back as he rushed towards the building, stopping to talk to 2 boys, giving them high fives before walking in with them.

"See you later...son."

[kpop---scenarios]

Cam Boy

Happy birthday to my sweet baby, @mntax​!! I hope you have a wonderful day and I hope you enjoy your story! I love you lots! 

Moodboard done by the beautiful: @lovely-kpopp-blog​

Warning: Smut 

Word Count: 3.1k

If anyone were to ask you how you and your friends ended up watching cam boys as a part of your annual living room roommate sleepover, you could never give a definitive answer. All you knew was that you went to the kitchen to grab a drink and then it was playing. You could hear your friends, Hyuna and Hwasa scream and giggle as you walked briskly from the kitchen back to the makeshift bed in the living to see what they were yelling about. As you sat down and looked at the screen, only to see a naked man from the waist down, fucking a flesh light. It soon became a ritual every weekend for you. Throughout the weeks as the three of you browsed through the thousands of camboys, one in particular had become quite a favorite, especially of yours. Whenever his username pinged showing that he was online, you were always quick to click on his video to see what he did that night, whether you were with your friends or not. You were eager to see what kind of toys he used, if any, if he spoke, which you always hoped for. MrkL99 had a husky deep voice whenever he spoke to the camera, and you swore he was speaking directly to you, you knew he wasn't but you wanted him to be, so badly. He had the option of buying a private show from him listed on his page, and every night you hesitated, going back and forth on whether or not you should purchase one. You wanted to know you were the only one watching him, to talk to him but you couldnt bring yourself to do it. You had an urge to know why he chose to do this line of work, but couldn't decide whether or not that would be too much to ask. Would he get upset and think you were prying? Or would he be understanding and answer your question? The doubts you had always forced your hand back from that one simple click of the 'buy' button. Tonight, the night of the living room sleepover, you had been running late coming home from work and honestly, you were panicking. You knew this was roughly the time he signed on and you didn't want to miss a thing. Standing outside your apartment door, you can hear your roommate squealing and giggling like school girls, and you knew that he was currently on their screen. You fumble with your keys, yet again as you try to unlock the door without much luck. "Fuck!" You yell as you drop your keys on the floor, for the second time. Scrambling to pick them up, you finally are able to unlock your door, to see Hyuna and Hwasa sitting there, faces red as they fan themselves. "He's really outdoing himself tonight" Hwasa cries, her eyes unable to peel away from the screen. "You bitches couldn't let me in, shit" you huff as you quickly discard your belonging wherever they landed while rushing towards the makeshift bed on the floor. Your eyes immediately glance to the screen as the sounds of his moans pierce through the small laptop speakers. A shiver creeps up your spine. What you wouldn't give to hear those sounds up close, him moaning into your ear. You watch as the man you know as MrkL99 pumps his hard, thick cock with his hand while holding a small vibrator to his shaft with the other. "Mhm, I wish you were here with me baby" he groans as he switches from pumping fast and hard to soft and slow. With those few words, you decided then and there, the next time he logged in after tonight, you were going to buy a private show. Whether or not you'd be able to actually talk to him was a different story, but at least you knew once in your life you'd be able to hear him moan your name and watch him cum for you, and only you. The next time he was online was one night before your usual viewing time with the girls, and you were nervous. You impatiently waited as you watched him sit at his computer, never showing his face as he spoke to you. "Hello, shygirl" he says in a low throaty groan, throwing you off. He said your username. He was speaking to you. Just as you were about to type something, he stopped you. "Don't say anything. Just listen, baby. Are you really as shy as your user name suggests? Or are you a dirty little slut?" He groaned as he adjusted his position on camera, showing off the cock you wanted so badly to wrap your mouth around. He wraps his hand around his stiff cock, giving it a few gentle tugs while allowing a few small whimpers escape his lips. "Do you like what you see, shygirl?" He groans, his hand beginning to pick up its pace. You stare at your screen, your mouth open wide. You can't believe this is actually happening to you right now. You quickly type out a small response 'yes' to him, your eyes barely leaving the sight of him jerking himself off. "Mhm, you're a naughty girl. I believe I told you not to reply. You don't listen to rules, do you baby?" He pants. "Don't make me punish you"   Your breath hitches. You wanted so badly to reply but you also didn't want to disobey what he had asked you to do. You sat there entranced as you watch this man jerk himself off in front of you. It had never felt quite as intimate all the other times you had watched him as it did in this moment. Maybe it was because you were the only one watching, or maybe it was because he was speaking directly to you. Regardless of the reason, you couldn't help but to feel as though he maybe wanted you as much as you wanted him, despite neither of you knowing what each other looked like. He finished himself off, cumming all over his stomach and his hand, his chest rising and falling quickly as he caught his breath. "Did you like it?" He asks, wiping himself off. 'Yes, a lot' you reply, feeling your cheeks get heated. "I've noticed your username show up every time I log in. I'm curious as to why you haven't gotten a private show" he says, throwing his tissues away. As soon as those words slipped from his mouth, your hands moved quickly to click the private show, paying for it on your credit card even though you couldn't really afford it. You hear a chuckle come from him as he checks the notification from you. "If you wait 20 minutes, I'll be ready to go again" he says, switching the screens from being live for everyone to live for only you. "Or you can turn on your camera and let me see your face" You froze, not knowing if you really want to face him, or if you wanted him to see you. Taking a deep breath, you decide to go for it, really you only live once. Turning on your camera you partially angle it down, not ready to show your face quite yet. "Mhm" he chuckles. "Nice tits" he finishes with a louder laugh. You hadn't realized that you had given him free access to look right down your shirt. "Oops" you whisper, lifting your camera up, panning it directly on your face, while his camera was still only showing his chest. "You're very beautiful" he comments. You can feel the redness of blush spread across your face at his compliment. "Thank you" you say, trying to sound confident. "Can I see your face? I've been watching you for months and still have no idea what you look like" you say, still staring at his chest. "I don't usually show my face but I will." He says, reaching his hand up to angle his camera on his face. The second you see him come into view, you're blown away. How can one man be as attractive as he is. His perfectly styled black hair, his brown eyes radiating kindness. His plump lips looking oh so kissable. "Wow" you whisper as you stare, taking in everything about him. "Bad wow?" He asks. "No" you shake your head. "Definitely good wow" you huff. "You're.. beautiful" He lets out a small chuckle. "Well thank you.." he pauses, not knowing what to call you. "What's your name?" "Y/N" you tell him without hesitation. "Thank you, Y/N. My name is Mark." He smiles. The next few hours you spent on camera with Mark as you talked about anything and everything. You had only paid for 30 minutes, but neither of you cared, both of you too interested in the conversation and each other. You learned that you both lived in Seoul, neither of you actually being from there. You both loved to cook, draw, sleep and binge watch movies. By the end of the conversation you felt like you were already in love. "I've gotta work in the morning" you yawn, glancing at the clock that read 3:00am. "Me too. But I'll see you again, right?" He asks. "Of course" you smile. "Good night Mark." "Sweet dreams, Y/N" He smiles as you close your computer. The next morning you were tired as all hell, but you were blissfully happy. You made it home from work at a decent time so you could prepare for the sleepover with your roommates. As the three of you were settled into the makeshift bed, a notification that Mark was online popped up onto the screen. You hadn't told either of them about your conversation last night, and you had told him about your sleepovers so you hoped he would keep it to himself. "Nice to see you online again, Y/N" he breathed into the microphone. Hyuna and Hwasa both jerk their heads to look at you with wide eyes. "What the fuck" Hwasa yells as you laugh and bury your face into a pillow. 'I'm not alone' you type into the chat, reminding him. "Ah yes" he chuckles. "Hello to friends of Y/N" he says, making their shocked faces even more shocked. "After this is over, you're telling us everything" Hyuna demands, glaring at you before looking back at the screen. When Mark had finishes his show, the girls forced you to tell them all about how you knew him, what you talked about, etc. "When are you going to meet him?" Hwasa asks. "I probably won't unless he asks." You say, shrugging your shoulders. A few seconds later a chat bubble pops up, and you see that Mark is requesting a private chat with you.   You push your friends to the side as you pull the laptop onto your lap, accepting his request to talk to you face to face. "What'd you think?" He asks, a giant smile plastered on his face. "That was.." you begin. "Fucking great" Hyuna yells, ripping the computer from you. "You're an artist" "Well thank you" Mark laughs. You glare at your friends as you take the computer back, apologizing to Mark for the interruption.   "Listen.. I was thinking and I'd like to meet up with you. If you want" Mark suggests. "She would love too" Hwasa yells. "Would you?" Mark asks. Shyly, you nod your head in agreement. The two of you set the date for the next Friday coming up, and you were a nervous wreck all week. Even though you and Mark continued to chat everyday, your nerves began to become bigger and heavier with every passing day. Once Friday rolled around, you felt like you couldn't breathe. Were you really planning on going out with a man you watched masturbate with different toys for months? Yes, yes you were. You sat at the little cafe Mark had told you to meet him at, your hands clammy and your heart racing. You watched the door, every single person who walked in and turned out not to be him made Youth heart sink a little deeper into your chest. He was 20 minutes late and you now accepted the fact that he probably wasn't going to show up. Until you heard the door being ripped open, and saw a sweaty looking Mark looking around the cafe to find you. "I'm so sorry. My car broke down and they came and towed it so I ran the rest of the way here" he huffs, sitting in the chair across from you as he tried to catch his breath. You smiled as you looked at him, in person, sitting across from him. Once he ordered his drink, the two of you couldn't stop staring at each other. The conversation flowed and the topics were endless. The two of you just clicked. ** It had been months since you and Mark began dating and things were amazing. He continued to do his cam business, despite asking you constantly if you are okay with it and him telling you he would quit if you wanted him too. But you didn't.  You enjoyed watching him pump his cock as he moaned at the sight of you. You always made sure to give him a show to watch as he got off. Whether or not you use your fingers or a toy, you always came from watching him and he now came from watching you. In the last recent months he had been trying to convince you to go on camera with him. He wanted the two of you to fuck in front of the viewers, and you were considering it. You had your hesitations, not wanting your face shown or anything but he always reassured you that he knew what he was doing and no one would ever know that it was you. So, tonight you agreed to join him, only for tonight but if things went well, you'd consider more. A few minutes before you two were due to appear, your nerves became worse. "You don't have to do this baby" Mark tells you, rubbing your head gently. "No its okay. I want too" you say, reassuring not only him but yourself as well. Mark quickly logs into his account, and the moment he does, the chat room flooded with comments and viewers. "Today, ladies and gentlemen. I have a special guest here with me. Please welcome, Miss shygirl" he groans. You walk into view, naked and already wet. Mark has you sit on a desk, directly facing the camera which was lowered to make sure no faces were shown. He parts your legs as he pulls you closer to the edge, gripping tightly to your thighs. Mark licks a strip up your wet pussy, causing shivers to trickle down your spine. "Fuck" you groan as he latches his lips to your clit, sucking harshly. You guide your hands to his head, gripping a chunk of his hair as he flicks his tongue against your clit. You begin moving your hips, grinding them against his face. Mark reaches his hand up, cupping your breast before he pinches your nipple, rolling the bud in between his fingers. "Just like that" you cry out, your orgasm building. Mark quickened his pace, switching between using his tongue and his lips. Your hold on him tightens as your orgasm comes closer, a few more locks from Mark and you're sent over the edge, letting out a string of cries and curse words as your body shudders. Mark pulls away from you, licking his lips and smiling at you before he heads back to the computer desk to read a few comments. "They really like you baby" he moans. "Why don't you come over here and ride my cock" he growls, slinking down in his chair a little, letting his cock stand tall. "Anything for you" you smile, sliding off the desk and waking over to him. You climb onto his lap, straddling him as he holds his cock so you can line yourself up with him. You slowly sink yourself down, his cock stretching you out as he completely fills you up. "Shit baby" he hisses, as you slide down fully on his cock. Mark places his hands on your hips, guiding you back and forth to begin rocking on his cock. Within seconds you're bouncing yourself on him as he hits your G spot everytime. "F-fuck" you cry out as Mark bucks his hips, pushing himself inside of you further. "That's it baby. You ride my cock so well" he groans, slowing you back down to rocking your hips. Mark turns the chair to the side, the viewers now able to see your breasts bounce as you ride him. "You like that baby? You like knowing thousands of people are watching you?" He grunts, taking his hand off your hip and moving it to wrap around your throat. "Do you?" He asks, squeezing your throat. You nod harshly as it becomes hard to breathe. Mark releases your neck allowing air to flow through again. "Yes" you cry, as he chokes you again. "You better cum for me baby" he grunts, snapping his hips up to meet you as you fall back onto him. You begin to rock your hips, making sure you rub your clit on him as your orgasm again builds quicker. "Oh my god" you cry out, your orgasm hitting you out of nowhere. You stop all movements as you ride through your orgasm, gripping  onto Mark tightly. He grunts as he holds onto your waist, snapping his hips harshly inside you as he chased his own high. "Fuck baby, you gunna let me cum in that tight pussy" he grunts, his thrusts becoming harsher and more eager. "Yes, oh god yes" you cry out, hiding your face in his neck as he works on his release. After a few more pumps, Mark cums, coating your walls with his cum, milking himself until he's finished. The two of you sit there for a moment, catching your breath as Mark turns his head to the computer, almost forgetting the two of you were on live cam. "Looks like they want to see more of you." He chuckles as you take yourself off of him, and head to the bathroom to get cleaned up. After Mark has logged off you returned to him, still sitting in the chair, a smile on his face. You reach your hand out, pulling him up and over to the bed with you. Mark climbs in and you after him. You lay your head on his chest as he rubs your back, humming a tune softly. Never in your life did you think you'd fall in love with a cam boy, but you did and you wouldn't change it for the world. 

[jasonbehrs]

i wanna read every word, chapter 2

by airauralintensity (aka me, jasonbehrs!)

“Have you ever fallen in love with someone you’ve never met?” “Uh, do you mean like we’ve-been-doing-long-distance-slash-online-dating or like I’ve-been-crushing-on-the-cute-barista-at-the-library-cafe?” “Ummm, more like I’ve-read-their-poems-and-sure-they’re-very-talented-but-their-handwriting-alone-makes-me-smile.” “… That’s oddly specific.”

fandom: kpop, super junior characters: eunhyuk, ryeowook; guest appearances by the rest of sj-m and yesung ship: eunwook genre: romantic comedy themes: alternate endings, strangers to lovers, handwriting, identity reveal setting: college chapter: 2/4 word count: 5.2k

read it below or on ffnet, aff, wattpad

A/N (6.6.2021): Welcome to the next installment folks! Some clarifying things:

- This is the first of two alternate endings to the story, which answers the question, 'What if Ryeowook finds out first?'

- I got some interesting reviews/PMs about the last chapter? Eunhyuk isn't pining after Yesung or anything, and I didn't mean to indicate that would be an aspect of the story. If you were looking forward to it, I'll be disappointing you today haha. Feel free to let me know how much you hate me in a review ;)

Also, today would have been my grandmother's 102nd birthday, so I'm dedicating this chapter to her since she always loved seeing me write. Love you, Nanay!

~~~

He and Hyukjae haven't hung out alone before, but he's sure this won't be awkward. Their only real link may have just been Yesung, but Hyukjae successfully ingrained himself into their entire friend group in the short weeks since they first met. Besides, even if Hyukjae weren't so willing to help him with his twisted scavenger hunt for love, Ryeowook thinks he'd like to hang out with him some time anyway. He's grown to like Hyukjae, really.

At least, that's what he tells himself when he turns the corner and sees Hyukjae sitting alone on a bench in the quad with his legs crossed, a laptop over one knee and an open notebook on the other, waiting for him to arrive.

Ryeowook takes a breath to steel his nerves then heads over to plop himself right next to the other. He doesn't say anything and takes out his own work instead. They don't have to start with the crush thing.

"Ah, my favourite person under 5'2". How do you do?" Hyukjae snarks without pausing his typing.

In response, Ryeowook uses a single finger to tip Hyukjae's notebook onto the ground without remorse.

"Ya!" Hyukjae picks up his notebook and slaps Ryeowook with it.

On the downswing, Ryeowook freezes.

"Oh shit, did I hit you that hard? Sorry, I didn't mean to," Hyukjae hurriedly apologises, but that's not it at all.

Ryeowook had caught a glimpse of the notes hurriedly scrawled across the open book. He would recognise that handwriting anywhere.

"Why don't we get started then," Hyukjae offers uneasily, eyeing how Ryeowook's stance hadn't relaxed yet. "Um, did you bring a copy of one of the notes like we discussed?"

Of course he did. Ryeowook was so excited to be one step closer to identifying the person behind the song lyrics that took up as much space in his brain as his Food Sciences lecture notes, he had brought the whole ass scrapbook with him, eager to show off his favourites to a new and willing audience.

But now, Ryeowook is panicking. He found the object of his affections much sooner than for which he was ready; and said object is sitting right next to him, staring at him expectantly and eager to help.

Not letting himself think it through, Ryeowook rummages through his bag looking for viable scraps of paper. There is no way he is going to hand Hyukjae's own work to him, so he makes do with what he's got.

He bypasses the lyric samples he actually prepared for today's meeting and found ones of his own making which he had intended to recycle weeks ago but never got around to. He silently thanks himself for this terrible habit as he frantically smooths out the small squares of paper before handing them to Hyukjae.

The other raises his eyebrows as he reads through the papers. "Damn, I was hoping that maybe one of these things had even a little similarity to an assignment we've heard so far, but no dice."

Ryeowook nods, affecting understanding disappointment even as he privately rejoices.

"Do you mind if I keep these? I can, like, surreptitiously check people's notebooks during group assignments," he offers with a laugh. "Pearl blue sticky notes can't be that common in a class of 50, right?''

Ryeowook smiles, wide and fake. "Fingers crossed!"

~Even though we're making awkward conversation, it's clear that we're happy to be together.~

Thus proceeds their search for Poem Person. (The gender-neutral nickname Mi had come up with stuck even after Hyukjae revealed those were not actually poems being left behind. Alliterative nicknames are just so catchy.)

"Okay, what if we tie a balloon to your chair and hope Poem Person likes balloons enough to take it with them around campus?" "No way, they won't take it." "How could you possibly be so sure?"

Sometimes, it's Hyukjae coming up with ridiculous plots.

"Trust me. They curl their lowercase L's." "I'm gonna let this go, but I want you to know that makes zero sense."

Plots which Ryeowook foils with equally ridiculous reasoning.

"''We might have never known each other, but we crossed faraway paths and came together. We crossed the distance of a stranger that's farther away than space.' Huh, not bad." "You think so?"

Sometimes, it's Hyukjae asking to read more of the scraps that Ryeowook collects, partially so Hyukjae can make fun of him, but mostly so that he has more clues.

"Yeah. I mean, it doesn't help me at all, but your man's got a way with words. I wonder why he doesn't submit any of the stuff you've shown me for class. It's worth critiquing."

An ask which forces Ryeowook to wrack his brain for passable imitations of song-lyrics-that-could-be-mistakenly-construed-as-poems and to get used to writing with his nondominant hand.

"Pass. Pass. Pass. Pass." "Really? You're passing on Park Hyungsik?"

Today, neither of them are feeling very motivated, so Hyukjae pulls up the Facebook profiles of his classmates and let Ryeowook play smash or pass because "it's fun to hear strangers' opinions on people you know."

"Oh, absolutely. Does that guy look like he cares where he dots his i's and j's? Hard pass," Ryeowook maintains.

Hyukjae shakes his head in amazement as he pulls back his phone. "You'll meet him one day, and you'll regret this moment; mark my words. Hyungsik is universally loved. Honestly, I'm not convinced yet Poem Person isn't him. He fits basically all of your criteria."

Ryeowook has to actively smother a knowing smirk. "What a shame."

He didn't come clean to Hyukjae in the quad that day because he panicked. Ryeowook was not mentally ready to meet the object of his affections so soon, much more confess, so he acted on impulse to buy himself some time.

Once he had it, he got curious.

It's no secret that Ryeowook had built up an idea of what Poem Person is like. The lyrics provided some insight, of course; but most of his intuition came from the handwriting itself. From what he could see, Poem Person was supposed to be intensely passionate, excitingly impulsive, and almost sickeningly romantic.

"Okay, how about this guy?" Hyukjae asks as he passes his phone over again.

Ryeowook takes one look at the screen and snorts. "Very funny. Pass."

The app is opened to a photo of Hyukjae himself posed unnaturally on a couch wearing a forward-facing snapback perched atop his head and an awkward half-smile, and Ryeowook refuses to look at it any longer before he does something he'll regret, like coo affectionately.

"Pass!?" Hyukjae repeats with mock-incredulity. "Don't you think he looks charming and witty and oh-so-loveable?"

Ryeowook indeed had a lot of thoughts about what Poem Person would look like, and 'charming,' 'witty,' and 'oh-so-loveable' have indeed flitted through his mind. Actually, Ryeowook finds that Hyukjae and Poem Person aren't altogether dissimilar.

Hyukjae is passionate about his craft, to be sure, but it doesn't occupy every one of his waking moments like Ryeowook expected. He is as much of a romantic as the next person is, but really Hyukjae is poetic, a distinction Ryeowook learns and appreciates very early on. Hyukjae is a little too thoughtful to be so impulsive, but his quick wit and ability to do/say/become whatever a situation calls for more than fulfill the quota for chaos that underlay Ryeowook's original supposition.

So yes, Ryeowook is withholding the truth so that he can slot the person he made up in his head into the person Hyukjae is, but it's been worth it.

"He looks like a brat and like his feet smell." "YAH! My shoes don't breathe!" "Get better shoes, then." "Give me the money, then." "Get a job, then." "That's not fair! Helping you find Poem Person is basically my part-time job!" "Consider it more of an unpaid internship."

Before Hyukjae takes his turn to volley back, his phone rings in his hand.

"Ah, as much fun as this was, I gotta go. I have a mini-showcase coming up, and I've been slacking on rehearsals." He shakes his phone towards Ryeowook, and the latter could see an alarm screen that reads "get your dumb ass to the gulliver center!"

Ryeowook's heart beats a noticeable thump thump all of a sudden. "Can I come with?"

"S-sure," Hyukjae says, shocked by the offer. "But why?"

That's a great question. For now, he says, "Because your internship is getting in the way of your studies, and I feel bad," but later, he'll know it's because he didn't want his time with Hyukjae to end so soon.

A grateful grin spreads across Hyukjae's face, and Ryeowook will add that onto his list of reasons later as well. "An audience is always welcome."

In no time, Hyukjae is in a practise room in the athletic center stretching his limbs every which way while Ryeowook watches as intently as possible while feigning interest in literally anything else in the room.

The bass-heavy noise music that Hyukjae puts on startles his attention back onto the dancer, and Ryeowook can no longer hide how blatantly he stares.

Hyukjae moves through the choreography so fluidly it almost looks lazy. He goes from jagged angles and harsh lines to sinewy curves and rolling waves to strong stomps and high jumps with no hesitation. He plays with the rhythm of the music, and he makes full use of the space available to him. Ryeowook is barely processing one impressive move when Hyukjae executes another one; and before he knows it, the performance is over.

"So," Hyukjae pants, "what'd ya think?"

"It's…" Jaw-dropping. Powerful. Hot. "… impressive," Ryeowook says at last.

Hyukjae smiles tightly. "Thanks. It actually needs a bit of work for the showcase, but I don't think the routine is all too shabby."

Ryeowook watches as Hyukjae watches himself through the mirror, redoing parts of the choreography over and over again at different tempos just to fine-tune his movements, and he can't help but feel like Hyukjae needed more from him.

"Um, I wonder if maybe it's lacking emotion?"

All movement halts. "What?"

Ryeowook didn't mean to say that; but now that it's out, he finds himself needing to continue. "You move well, um, obviously," he gestures awkwardly to Hyukjae's person, fighting a blush. "It looks physically difficult, sure, but what is it that you're trying to say? Like, I'm guessing you chose that song, too, right? So, why?"

Hyukjae stands in the middle of the room, arms limp by his side, and staring at Ryeowook with an unnervingly blank look on his face. Ryeowook hastily backpedals, "But hey, what do I know? I'm sure your professors will watch you and see all the nuances I can't with my untrained peon eyes. I was just… talking to talk, I guess."

"No, but I think you have a point," Hyukjae interjects.

Ryeowook perks up. "I do?"

"Yeah, like… I was so focused on trying to show what I can do with something only I could do, but that means basically nothing when any one of my classmates could learn my routine with only a week of practise. The only way I would be able to stand out is from whatever I put into it, but you made me realise I didn't put anything into it." He plops on the floor, eyebrows furrowed in consternation.

Ryeowook shakes his head adamantly. "No, no! There's clearly something there! You just need to, like, bring it out more. You have that whole idea—that this is something only you can do. You can take that, morph your routine into a testament to your need to prove yourself. Start with some trepidation, throw some desperation in the middle, and end with triumph. Honestly, I think I saw a little bit of that in your performance already. Maybe it was an accident, but now, just… do it on purpose."

"'Do it on purpose,'" Hyukjae repeats to himself. His head is down, so Ryeowook can't immediately tell what he thinks of the idea. He's ready to apologise again, even offer to go home so that Hyukjae can concentrate better, but then Hyukjae raises his head. "Alright, let me give that a try."

His eyes are filled with will and determination. Ryeowook, of all people, put those there.

He sits back and watches Hyukjae rehearse his routine over and over again, getting better and more evocative each time.

The Hyukjae before him is not a Hyukjae Ryeowook would have been able to guess based on his handwriting and lyrics alone.

Ryeowook knows basically nothing about dancing; but over the past few weeks, he's really come to know Hyukjae. He's noticed how the other is prone to express himself through movement, like when he accentuates his stories with body language and physical reenactments. It belies a comfort and confidence with his body and what it can do with which Ryeowook could never empathise. It's a subtle thing, but impactful nevertheless.

He smothers it down because he doesn't want to give Hyukjae the wrong idea, but he wants to laugh.

Only he could fall for a dancer's words first before anything else, and only he could fall for the same person twice.

~Where should I start? When should I say it? Darling, our seconds, our minutes together were beautiful.~

"Ryeowook, why haven't you asked to see my handwriting yet?"

"What?"

They had commandeered a study room in the library, but honestly neither of them are making a lot of headway in their respective assignments. Ryeowook didn't want anything to do with Organic Chemistry, but this conversation is making him reconsider his previous stance.

"Isn't that what you're into? Trying to infer people's personalities based on their handwriting?"

"I'm not into it. It just happened."

"Okay, sure, but aren't you, like, good at it now? Read mine! Tell me what it says about me."

Ryeowook, desperate to squash this idea immediately, blurts out. "It… It won't work!"

"Why not?" Hyukjae pouts.

Ryeowook scrambles. "Because I know you already. Yeah. I'll see and interpret things in a way that confirms what I already know."

Hyukjae eyebrows furrow in what Ryeowook can presume is consternation. "Sorry," he offers feebly.

Some more time passes, and Ryeowook makes mild progress on his O-Chem work, before Hyukjae speaks up again. "So if you can't do me, can you do my friend?" he asks with an excited tone that makes Ryeowook wary.

"I do not want to do your friend." You, however…

"NO! I mean: can you interpret my friend's handwriting? Here. He left it at my place last time we studied together."

Hyukjae's smirk radiates smug self-satisfaction, and with one look at the paper, Ryeowook understands why. He actively controls every muscle in his body to prevent the facepalm that's threatening to break loose.

He has to give Hyukjae props, though. If Ryeowook weren't already so intimately acquainted with the handwriting on the page before him, the other's ploy could have worked.

Regardless, he still finds himself in the position he was trying to avoid in the first place.

All the best lies are based in truth, right? "So I can tell your friend has a very high-stress major. The handwriting is cramped and small, like he can't waste a single stroke or else he'll miss something he needs to write down. Ah, see how he doesn't fully cross his t's and dot his i's? He thinks he'll be able to read his own handwriting later. He probably has decent memory or just has a lot of faith in himself."

Hyukjae nods with an impressed frown. "Huh, not bad."

It would be so, so easy to stop there, but Ryeowook can't. He loves Hyukjae's handwriting too much. "And look here," he points excitedly to a cross-out near the center of the page. "He could cross out his mistakes with a single line or a little squiggle, but he completely blocks it out instead. It suggests he has more confidence with the obvious; but really, I think he needs the reminder. Like, 'Yeah, I made a mistake. I'll move on, but I won't let myself forget. That way I don't do it again.'"

A moment later, Ryeowook realises with a jolt that he had been holding and smiling at the scrap paper a little too tenderly. He whips his head up in embarrassment, an explanation-slash-apology at the tip of his tongue, but Hyukjae doesn't seem to notice.

In fact, Hyukjae has been silent the whole time. Ryeowook chuckles awkwardly. "Am I right?"

"Huh?" Hyukjae intones as he's brought out of his reverie. Ryeowook thinks he sees something in his eyes when their gazes meet, but Hyukjae blinks and it's gone. "I'm sorry, what did you ask me?"

"I was wondering if I was right. About your 'friend,'" Ryeowook reminds, air quotes clear in his tone.

Hyukjae shuffles uncomfortably in his seat. "I think you're more right than even he's ready to admit," he says with a hand at the back of his neck and a sardonic quirk of his lips.

The sight causes an unexplainable swell of affection within Ryeowook, and he turns away. "He can take his time," he assures, eyes trained on his textbook even though he can't read a damn thing.

Hyukjae nods his thanks and turns back to his homework, but Ryeowook doesn't feel right letting it end here.

"Hey, wanna give my handwriting a try?"

~You always lift your head to look up at me. I want to take my big hands and cup your small cheeks.~

Next time they're meant to hang out, it's the weekend; and Hyukjae texts him to meet him at Bomnal.

"Both of us were here just two days ago, and we have to be here again in two days. Don't we spend enough time in Bomnal as it is?" Ryeowook complains as soon as he enters the atrium of the academic building.

"Think of it like a field trip. Come on, Wook," Hyukjae says as he leads them to the second floor lecture hall.

"Pretty sure field trips are meant to take us out of the classroom, but sure, whatever," Ryeowook grumbles as he follows along.

He's testy. He knows it, but he can't help it.

This is the first time both of them will be in Bomnal 235 at once. It feels like a turning point, like he's going to learn something today whether he wants to or not. He wonders if Hyukjae feels the same sense of impending that he does, or maybe it's just worse for him because he's in love.

As soon as they open the doors, the automatic lights flick on and douse the room with a very awake yellow.

"So��� where do you normally sit?" Hyukjae asks as he motions to the empty seats before them.

Ryeowook freezes. Now that it's upon him, he can definitively identify this as the thing he was anxious about.

What if he tells the truth, Hyukjae realises Poem Person is him, and he feels awkward about it? Their comfortable but still-very-new friendship would evaporate on the spot, and Ryeowook won't have him in any capacity, much more a romantic one.

So, in another impeccable display of judgement, he decides to lie again.

"Oh, you know… I change it up," he mildly comments as he moves to somewhere near the middle of the first row. He sits down and gives an unassuming grin to his friend, who makes a face. "You're one of those people? Haven't you heard of the same seats code of conduct? You fed me some crap about curling L's when really it's your fault the balloon trick wouldn't have worked," Hyukjae jokes in that way where he's completely serious but is phrasing it with humour.

Ryeowook feels a genuine, fond grin spread across his face before he can help it, and he quickly ducks his head. "Why are we here, again?" he asks instead of dwelling on the validating comfort of being known.

"Why not?" Hyukjae asks as he moves to sit down. "This is the place it all began, right? Might as well."

Ryeowook, for his part, only stares.

Hyukjae went up to a seat in the rear right quadrant of the lecture hall. Ryeowok's own, real seat is directly in front of where the other is sitting. That can't be a coincidence.

"Um, I'm guessing that's where you sit?" he asks as casually as possible.

"Huh? Oh! Haha, yeah. It's funny, I didn't even think of sitting anywhere else. My feet just automatically guided me here."

"So funny," Ryeowook squeaks out.

"Yeah, my friend in the class actually used to sit with me, but it became very apparent very quickly that we would never get anything done if we did, so he moved down there." Hyukjae points with his foot to Ryeowook's seat, and Ryeowook's breath hitches in his throat. "Sometimes when I'm bored, I just can't help but throw stuff onto his desk just to annoy him." Hyukjae mimes a free throw shot towards the desk and smiles.

Well, if there were any doubt before in Ryeowook's mind that Hyukjae was Poem Person, it has summarily been erased.

Ryeowook hums but says nothing else, letting a companionable silence stretch between them as he acknowledges the warmth that settles into his chest when he confirms with himself that yes, he is glad that Hyukjae is Poem Person.

"Why are you helping me?" he asks, curious and without judgement. The abrupt question startles the other out of whatever reverie he had settled into during their respite, but Hyukjae bounces back quickly, as he always does.

"You know, I had to figure that answer out myself," Hyukjae answers with a laugh. He leans back in his chair with his hands folded behind his head, staring out at the empty lecture hall. "I told you I would at first because it was obvious that I was the only one in a position to actually help. It wasn't even an option in my mind that I wouldn't… But even after my sense of obligation ran out, I wanted to keep going.

"You're cool, Ryeowook. You're fun to be around, you're sassy, you're down to try anything once. You're totally comfortable being yourself, and your 'self' is crazy. Like, who else trusts in their gut enough that this person you're chasing after is worth the effort? Who else would go to the lengths to which you're willing to go just to meet him? Honestly, I think that's pretty awesome. I don't know if I could have that same confidence you do."

He tilts his head towards Ryeowook then and gives a close-lipped, self-convinced smile. "If anyone's gonna find love based on a few scraps of paper and a dream, it's gonna be you."

Ryeowook nods mutely. He hopes the distance between them is enough to disguise the blush on his cheeks.

Hyukjae faces forward again. "If I think about it, I guess I'm being selfish, too. I want to believe a love like that is possible; and if I help you find him, I'll get to see it happen for myself… I really hope this guy is worth it, Ryeowook. I think it would break my heart as much as yours if he weren't."

He is, though. He's so worth it. "Me too."

~Longing is a beautiful pain I thought I could endure.~

Ryeowook walks out of the campus mail room, and life couldn't get better.

He just picked up a care package his mom sent him; he got a 94 on his last Nutrition Essentials quiz; and Hyukjae loves the new low-fat, protein-enhanced strawberry scones recipe he tried out yesterday.

Speaking of whom, he thinks this whole Poem Person plot is going to wrap up soon. The last time they must have actually worked on a strategy to find out who Poem Person was, like, two weeks ago at least; and Ryeowook's glad he can stop pretending he has any interest anymore.

Their friendship has wholly evolved beyond the point of needing a project to work on in order to spend time with each other anyway. Why pine after a fictitious man when he has a whole Hyukjae right there, who buys him coffee lattes simply because he's Hyukjae's dongsaeng and who helps him study for his quizzes even when Hyukjae himself is stressed.

Ryeowook tells himself that with some more time, the whole mystery will just fade into an inside joke between the two of them, a white whale they can reminisce about when they're sipping soju and reminiscing… preferably cuddled on a couch and with his head on Hyukaje's shoulder.

However, his friend group did not get the memo.

"So, uh. What happened to Poem Person?" Henry asks one weekend while everyone is at Ryeo-Mi's apartment.

"Shut up!" Kyuhyun admonishes with a slap to the back of Henry's head. "Ryeowook hasn't annoyed us with that in weeks. Aren't you grateful?!"

"I actually am very curious about what happened there. Weren't you and Hyukjae supposed to find him together?" Yesung asks.

"The gen—" "Maybe I'm manifesting, Mi! Ever think of that?"

Ryeowook cuts in before Mi's feelings get even more hurt. "Yeah, we were, but honestly I've kinda given up on the whole thing."

He expects some shock, but he couldn't have predicted who would be the most affected. "You're just gonna give up on finding love!?" Mi despairs.

"Actually, the potential for a romantic relationship was never confirmed," Henry quips. Yesung gives Henry a high-five.

"It was just a little crush," Ryeowook defends. "I've moved past it, as I was bound to do eventually." He says this last part to Kyuhyun, who he knows was the most annoyed with his actions back then.

"'Eventually' doesn't end in time for finals week, Wook," Kyuhyun retorts.

"Well, now you never have to worry about it, Hyun."

"Is love dead?" Mi desponds aloud, but no one pays him any mind.

Ryeowook pats his roommate's shoulders in a half-hearted attempt at consolation. If Mi turns out to be the only casualty in this whole ordeal, Ryeowook will count this as a win.

What he doesn't count on is the fact that Hyukjae would invariably hear about it.

"Is it true?" Hyukjae corners him after Ryeowook picks up his order from the on-campus cafe.

"You know, I don't think so. I think she's just Henry's accompanist for rehearsals," Ryeowook responds genuinely, certain that the latest gossip about Henry's potentially secret girlfriend is what Hyukjae must have been referring to.

"What? No!" Hyukjae stops in confusion but stomps after Ryeowook once he gets his bearings back. "No, I heard that you gave up on finding him, that you gave up a while ago. Is it true?"

Ryeowook hesitates to sit down at the open table he found, and Hyukjae's entire posture seizes in betrayal. "Alright, got it," Hyukjae says with an edge to his tone. "Do me a favour, yeah? Never talk to me ever again."

"Wait!" Ryeowook calls once Hyukjae turns on his heel and storms off. "Hyukjae, wait!" He pays no mind to the fact that he's abandoning his belongings as he chases Hyukjae outside. "I get that you're angry, but don't you think this is a little much?"

He reaches out for Hyukjae's upper arm, but the other immediately shrugs it off. Ryeowook flinches and retreats slightly. Despite the other's obvious fury, Hyukjae is stopped in place and seems willing to actually talk to him, and Ryeowook holds onto that hope instead.

"No, actually," Hyukjae sneers. "I think this is the perfect amount of much when you find out your best friend has been wasting your time for who knows how long!"

Of all the things Hyukjae could have said in that moment, Ryeowook didn't expect that reaction at all. It stings more than he expects, cuts through his defensiveness; and despite his position in the situation, he can't help but need comfort. "What do you mean?" he asks in a confused, desperate voice.

"What do I mean?" Hyukjae repeats exasperatedly. "Ryeowook, we spent weeks together trying to figure out how to get you your dream guy! We never even got anywhere, and, and… And it's all because of you! You shot down basically every one of my ideas practically from the beginning, even after I told you how much it would personally mean to me. That is, like, the textbook definition of a waste of time!"

"You weren't having fun?"

"What?" Hyukjae demands incredulously.

"All that time we spent together," Ryeowook clarifies as he steadfastly meets Hyukjae's angry gaze. "You didn't have fun?"

Hyukjae is silent, and his body posture screams obstinate defiance, but his eyes remain trained on Ryeowook.

"You didn't come to look forward to spending time with me? You didn't spend your free time thinking of ways to make me laugh?"

Hyukjae rolls his eyes. "So what? What does any of that mean when you were just stringing me along? You… you weren't even using me!?" he exclaims, voice rising in a hysterical question. "That was literally the whole basis of our friendship, and you couldn't even do that? Like, what could you have possibly gained from lying to my face like that for all this time?"

Ryeowook gives a watery smile at the non-answer and looks down at his fingers fidgeting together. "I did, too," he says in a voice so quiet it was like he intended to keep that to himself.

It's silent for a long time after that admission. Hyukjae's lividness has dissipated, and he is only left with a disappointment so painful he doesn't want to dwell on it any further. He moves to leave Ryeowook alone outside of the cafe, but Ryeowook's voice stops him.

"W-What did you say?" Hyukjae asks with apprehension.

Ryeowook ignores the tears falling from his eyes as he repeats himself. "I'm in a rush to catch you, but you're in a hurry to leave. Should I just surrender? Now we're like an old and worn notebook filled with scribbles."

Hyukjae simply stares, and Ryeowook takes that as his cue to keep going. "Take your beautiful smile with you. Don't leave it here. You saw me with tears in my eyes."

By heart,

"I was a selfish man, but my life is divided into before and after I knew you."

Ryeowook recites lyric,

"When I first saw you, it felt like a miracle."

after lyric,

"I'm thinking of you more today. I wonder how tomorrow morning will be. Will I miss you more than I do today?"

after lyric;

"I'm honest because I don't know lies before love."

and before he knows it,

"I'd place my feelings on the thawing snow. I'd hang my wish on a disappearing star, but only if you ask me to."

Hyukjae is within arm's reach.

"It's me?" Hyukjae whispers into the scant centimetres between them. "It's really me?" he asks again when Ryeowook had simply nodded.

Ryeowook can't even help it when he recites, "Even when you ask me again, for me, it's only you." with a breathy laugh as he shyly looks away.

Hyukjae moves to gently hold Ryeowook's hand. "And you're okay with that?"

Ryeowook wants to laugh and melt and cry and run away, but instead he settles for an earnest nod and a hesitant smile. "Are you?"

Hyukjae answers him with a kiss, and it feels like a dazzling melody.

~Together, we can make all our unfulfilled dreams come true.~

[ajokeformur-ray]

Aching soul, bleeding heart // Arthur Fleck x Reader // fluff + angst.

Summary: You find him climbing into the fridge at 3 AM. What choice is there but to stay awake with him?

Fun fact: all of my writing is emotionally driven so when I’m done with a piece I’m usually pretty sleepy/tired. I have so much love for Arthur Fleck it keeps surprising me. Also this GIF made me sad so what I intended to be pure fluff now has angst in it, too. Sorry.

Tw: swearing, smoking, unhealthy elements to your relationship which reader admits to privately but doesn’t care about. Mentions of implied NSFW - past and future.

Word count: 2, 548.

The feeling that something was really wrong woke you up from your deep slumber. Languidly did you stretch an arm out, fingers probing the cold air for Arthur’s warm body. You met only air and it was with a sleepy groan that you sat up, opening your eyes. The bedroom door was wide open and from where you were in the bed could you partially see Arthur leaning against the counter top, the blue lights illuminating his emaciated features eerily. 

You were up and out of bed almost as soon as you realised that his insomnia was acting up again; it was one of those nights in which neither of you would get any sleep. There was no way that you would leave Arthur alone with his thoughts tonight, especially if you caught sight of his joke book. His journal making an appearance always meant that his negative thoughts were a little darker, a little louder, and a little more obnoxious. On those nights were you tested; your patience usually only stretched so far but with Arthur, it was pushed further still. He always made it up to you, though, well aware of how his bad behaviours could try you. You had your own behaviours which tested him, and it was with silent understanding that you accepted the other for all that you were. Together would you find new ways to be yourselves, and in your personal growth would your relationship strengthen as a couple.

Before you could make it to the doorway did you hear the sound of the fridge being opened, then a terrible series of dull thuds, grunts and crashes. Your ears were met with the sound of the fridge closing after a brief pause. The second time the door opened and closed was it slammed shut harder, and in confusion did you slowly walk into the kitchen; wondering if you were going mad or if Arthur had actually just... climbed into the fridge. You knew that he expressed himself in odd ways sometimes when it seemed that nothing else would show how he was feeling, but this was definitely one of the more worrying impulses he had had of late. If this was going to become a late night habit of his, you would need to keep a closer eye on him.

You wasted no time in rushing through the small, cramped space to wrench the fridge door open. You paused, your brain still trying to shake off sleep. Arthur was crouched with his head tucked between his knees, his hands over his ears. At the rush of cold air and the light inside the fridge turning on did he look up at you. Sorrow quickly turned to a small rush of happiness as his eyes fell upon your cautious form in the doorway.

“Arthur, what... what are you doing in there?”

“I, I, uhh - I c-couldn’t sleep so I... I just wanted to stop feeling. The f-fridge is c-cold so - so it would make me stop.” His next broken whisper, which you could barely hear over the humming of the fridge, made you drop to your knees, uncaring of the shelves which had been haphazardly tossed across the floor, “I just want it all to stop.”

You cooed sympathetically and reached out with both hands, your fingers curling around his thin wrists. Shit, he was cold. His hands were almost frozen through. It was lucky that he had barely been in there for a few minutes before you got to him if his core temperature had dropped so fast in such a short space of time. Hurriedly did you leave his side, calling out a, “I’ll be right back!” as you darted into the living room and ripped the big, thick blanket off the back of the armchair which Penny used to sit in, before legging it back into the kitchen, almost skidding to a stop. You crouched, reached for Arthur again, exhaling heavily through your nose as you helped him slowly out of the fridge. You wrapped the blanket around his frame and ran your hands all over his upper body, desperately trying to, at the very least, chafe some warmth into him.

Arthur tilted forward to rest his forehead on your shoulders. With shaking fingers did he peel back your shirt, pressing dry kisses to your bare shoulder with cold lips. You closed your eyes to just enjoy the moment, your arms wrapped around him. Just at the point you were ready to take Arthur to bed for a different reason, reality slammed into you and you pulled away from Arthur, doing your best to think on your feet. Your exhaustion and other bodily needs could wait. Briefly did you feel irritated with how you weren’t already wide awake.

“Go sit down, darling.” You watched Arthur go. He didn’t even bother picking up his feet, walking with a shuffle and a slight limp, his head tilted to one side. It was really bad tonight, whatever it was that had made his insomnia flare up. Quickly did you reassemble the fridge’s insides, a part of you wishing that you could do the same to Arthur’s head; opening him up and rearranging the parts so that, when you were done, he was less broken, happier. You shook off the thought, though, slightly disgusted with yourself. Arthur was fragile, this was true, but he wouldn’t be Arthur without all that he was, all that he had been through. He was perfect just as he was. It wasn’t that you wanted to reach inside Arthur and fix him, but you wanted to be able to reach those darkest, rawest parts of him, and heal them. If you could take his pain for your own, you would do it in a heartbeat. 

With the fridge fixed, you peeked through the small built in gap in the wall to look at Arthur. He was sat staring at the floor, his brow furrowed and his hands tightly clenching the soft material of the blanket which you had wrapped him in. Quickly did you make some sandwiches, grabbing the nearest things you found to make him something. You cared little for what Arthur ate, just so long as he did. You also grabbed the pack of Marlboro's which you had bought on your way home from work. Arthur had run out earlier this evening and wouldn’t be paid for another few weeks, and you wondered if he wasn’t experiencing some nicotine withdrawal symptoms on top of everything else. He hadn’t been shaking that badly just from the cold in the fridge; he hadn’t been in there long enough.

With two plates in your hands and his cigarette pack in your mouth, you made your way over to him. You set the plates down somewhat awkwardly - you didn’t want to lean over too close to Arthur because he had issues with personal space sometimes and you didn’t know if he would be okay with you practically leaning over him at the moment. It was so hard to read him sometimes, but your instincts were rarely wrong when it came to Arthur. Still, you remained stood just off the side of him as you took the pack from your mouth and went about opening it, removing one and lighting it easily. 

“Here.” You held it out to him, filter first, and watched his eyes light up. You smiled. Such a simple gesture meant so much to him, and it was one of the things that you treasured the most about him. “You gotta eat, too.” You put the plate on his lap and sat down to eat yours. Eating sandwiches at three in the morning with your insomniac significant other had always seemed like a far off dream to you when you had been somewhat younger and more impatient to start living despite all the time you still had in front of you, but here you were. You couldn’t think of a better person to spend your life with, if you were being honest with yourself. With all his challenges and conditions, he was still the purest, kindest soul you had ever encountered and you would hold onto him tightly. Never again would he go through a day without you right there with him. You would tear the world apart if it meant keeping him happy and you knew that he would do the same for you.

Arthur looked at the two plates and then back at you, a look of childlike curiosity on his face. “W-what are you doing?”

You smiled, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind his ear. Arthur leaned into the touch, his eyes slipping closed; a soft smile on the corner of his mouth. You kissed his forehead, hummed against his skin happily, and pulled back. Arthur’s hand caught yours before you could lower it, and he kissed the back of your hand just once. He inhaled deeply on his cigarette and his eyes fluttered shut as he exhaled with his entire body. 

“Thank you,” He murmured. You knew he wasn’t just talking about the cigarettes. Who were you to deny him anything? You had never been able to say no to him for anything. If he asked you to jump, your next response would be, “how high?”. You could admit that there were unhealthy elements to your relationship, but you didn’t care enough about that to change it. You were both obsessed with each other and you both loved it.

“Of course. Come on,” You tapped his plate with your finger, “Eat.”

Arthur frowned, then. “Oh, yeah.” He sounded like he had just been reminded of something, his voice lighter towards the end of his sentence. “Why are you up?”

You couldn’t help the look of ‘duh’ on your face. It was three in the morning and you were tired. “I’m staying up with you. If you’re gonna be up all night, then so am I.” You didn’t tell him that you were also up because you couldn’t sleep without him beside you. The bed was too cold, too big, too empty. You had gotten so dependent on Arthur for so many things and you knew that you were ruined for anyone else in your life, ever. You were Arthur’s first and last everything and he would never let you go for anything.

“No,” Arthur sighed, “I don’t want to be a - “

You cut him off. You could admit that you really were too tired to censor yourself, even given the circumstances. Arthur had always appreciated, always craved total honesty, though, and so you weren’t all that bothered by what he would think of your being sharp with him. As long as you didn’t actually snap at him, he could handle a little terseness. Goodness knew that he was sometimes the same with you when everything was too much for him and you wanted something from him that he didn’t have the mental energy to give to you. “Don’t you even think about finishing that sentence.”

Arthur shifted, guilty, and he took a small bite of his sandwich. You watched him chew before you started to eat your own. You felt a quiet hum of satisfaction towards yourself for how well you had managed to pull Arthur out of his mood. Sometimes it was almost impossible to get through to him. You had done well this night to help him. You could admit to yourself that you were proud of yourself, and you were proud of Arthur too. Only he knew just how bad things were inside his head, but still he fought each and every day.

You ate without speaking, the thunderous silence ringing in your ears. When Arthur was done, you took your plates into the kitchen. You would deal with them in the morning. You heard the quiet noise of paper rustling and a lighter, the deep and relieved inhale, and when you turned to look, Arthur had dropped his head over the back of the sofa, the arm not held to his lips draped over the edge, too. He looked so at peace now. What had you done this night to so completely soothe him?

Sitting beside him did you rest your head on his covered shoulder. You let your eyes drop closed, your tiredness threatening to overwhelm you. You were just so tired. Your eyes were burning even when they were shut and you had a headache brewing behind them. When the sun rose in just a few hours, the long day ahead of you would be made all the worse by your scant handful of precious hours’ sleep. You would definitely both suffer with sore backs, too. The sofa was well past its time but you couldn’t afford to replace it.

Arthur’s pressure beside you eased off. Just as you were about to open your eyes to look for him, hands pulled you into a lying down position; one tender hand lifting your head up gently, just enough to put a pillow underneath you. You let Arthur arrange you as he saw fit, and then his weight was on you as he nestled into your body; his blanket coming to shield the both of you from the cold atmosphere. It wasn’t cold, as such, but without a jumper was it chilly. Arthur snuggled into you, his head over your heart, his legs tangled with yours. Immediately did your fingers find their way into his hair, and you threaded the strands through your touch carefully, comforting him even on the edge of sleep as you were. Arthur moaned quietly and without even looking at him could you see the sleepy smile he had to have on his face. You knew him so well that you could recall his facial expressions in your mind’s eye from a single noise. You knew what every laugh meant, what every noise meant, what every silence meant. He was your entire world.

“I love you, Y/N. I love you so, so much.” Arthur slid up your body clumsily to kiss you softly, gently, his lips barely touching yours. You opened your eyes just enough to see him pull back. You used your grip on his hair to pull him back into you for a proper kiss which left your toes curling into the sofa, breathless with love. You felt a brief arousal pool low in your stomach but you were just too tired to do anything about it. Arthur would be there in the morning and you were sure that he would be in the mood to satisfy you, especially if he stayed lying on top of you the whole night through.

“I love you too. You know I do.” Your words were slightly slurred, your voice soft, and the last sound you heard before Morpheus swept you away for a nap (for that was all the time you could have this night to sleep again) was Arthur’s quiet happy laughter. You slipped into sleep like you would ease into a warm bath, and with Arthur all around you did you dream with a smile upon your face. Arthur was there waiting for you in your dreams, too; there was nowhere you could go that he wouldn’t follow.

The Arthur Fleck/Joker Defense Squad @writings-of-a-gen-z  @x-avantgarde-x  @mapreza1 @insomniabird  @mavalenovaninagavi  @itwasrealenough  @morrisonmercurymalek  @rand0ms-fand0ms  @rafaelina-casillas @aclownthing  @rebs-doom  @vivft  @help-i-am-obssessed@autumnaffection   @taintednihilist   @vladtoly   @mg-woolf99@misstgrey92  @that-s-life   @dopey-girl-blogs  @seeking-dreamland  @sweetheart-syndrome  @heartxfdesire  @xmusichealsthesoulx  @0callmejude0  @the-one-that-likes-riddles  @hannibalsslut  @folliaght  @freeeshavacadoo  @bingewatchingmylifegoby  @unlovedbyeveryoneandeverything  @okamiredfoxx  @sp0okysp0oky  @the-pandorabox  @mardema  @jibanyyan  @honeyflvredcoughdrop  @emissarydecksetter  @jokerfleckk  @epidendroideae  @chuuntas  @stillmabel  @pumpkinpeyes  @onehystericalqueenposts  @the-jokers-wolf  @nalsswa  @justahyena  @arianatheangelworld  @soullessblondbitch  @gothamslittlejester  @twentyonestarrynights  @sirianfromsixties  @kissmeclownman  @joker-is-my-hero  @lazyloosah  @lovesickkloxx  @ladylovelyluna  @live-love-loki  @clownerybbxx   @tragicarthur

[somedayonbroadway]

Totally Off Center

Boy Meets World Masterlist

A/N: Alright, here we are. Part one of Cult Fiction. Please enjoy!

“De La Guerra, good,” Kelly called, tossing down the girls paper on her desk. JoJo smiled. “DaSilva, not bad.” Albert grinned. “Higgins, bad.” Race frowned up at the man, knowing Jack wanted to say more.

But he was quite literally saved by the bell. “Kelly, bell!” he replied, standing to gather his stuff as his classmates started to leave.

Jack managed to get right in his way. “Alright, hold on, hold on,” he stalled. Race sighed but stood still, glaring up at the man. “Ya know… you’re almost a junior in high school now. Have you thought about college, kid? Because—“

“I’m goin’ ta college,” the boy insisted.

Raising his eyebrows, Jack crossed his arms. “Oh you are? Where?”

“Hawaii,” the kid stated easily. “Figured I’d have a better chance outside of the country.” He smirked.

Jack rolled his eyes. “Ya know, kid… there’s a handful of people who care about ya in this world… I’m one of ‘em. So stop blowin’ me off, okay?” he asked, truly wanting to have a genuine conversation with this kid who seemed to only be getting more and more closed off lately. He knew it must’ve partially been his fault. He’d been pushing. But the boy was just pushing him away.

He didn’t like it.

But Race scoffed. “Jack, I got people who care about me.”

Albert tapped him on the shoulder. “Ya know, Tony… I think Mr. Kelly’s right… we got one more year of high school n’ then… what?”

“Well, I wanna go ta Penn State,” JoJo stated, linking her arm through her boyfriend’s.

The redhead smiled at her. “N’ I wanna go where she goes!” he decided, hopelessly in love with that girl.

Race sighed. They weren’t helping this situation in the least. He turned back to Kelly who looked down at him before running a hand over his hair. “Clock’s tickin’, little buddy,” the man sighed. “Ya gotta figure out what ya wanna do—“

“Jack, you’re not my guardian anymore,” Race argued, not liking the words that came out of his mouth, but knowing they were true, nonetheless. “I’m back with both my parents. I’ll be fine,” he insisted, trying to get around the young man.

But Jack stepped in his way again. “Antonio…” he said seriously. Race paused at that. Jack rarely ever used his full name. “Yeah, you’re back with your parents. But they’re busy tryin’ ta fix their marriage,” he reasoned, knowing the boy needed help. He didn’t want to think about what else might be happening there. “So are they,” he added, pointing to the boy’s best friends.

The kid turned to look at them.

“Study hall?” JoJo suggested, looking up at her beau.

Albert grinned. “Makeout?” he countered.

“Albie!”

“JoJo!”

They locked their fingers around each other’s and dashed for the door.

Tony rolled his eyes and faced his teacher again. “Look, you’ve been given four years of security here… but they’re gonna throw ya out soon, pal. What’re ya gonna do then? Huh?” The child had no answer. Jack knew it wasn’t easy to just know the answer to these hard questions, but failing every exam and every paper certainly wouldn’t help. “Look, kid… I’m just askin’ ya what ya wanna do, alright? Think about it, n’ let me know if you want help figurin’ it out, okay?”

The boy’s big puppy dog eyes looked up at him. And Jack finally moved.

The kid didn’t say a word as he left.

And Jack could only watch him walk away.

Just as Race made his way out into the halls, someone stopped him. “Hi…” she greeted, stepping in front of him.

Race smiled sadly. “Hey, Mickie,” he responded, pausing to turn to her.

She smiled at him. “I couldn’t help overhearing Kelly do that number on you,” she stated, glancing back at the teacher who was walking back up to the front of his classroom, looking a bit frustrated.

Race knit his eyebrows together. “You think he was doin’ a number on me?”

“Only totally,” the girl insisted. “I mean, all that stuff about only a handful of people who care about you?” She scoffed and shook her head. “I must have a hundred people who care about me. And they care enough about me not to judge me like that in front of everybody!” It sounded like she was defending him.

The boy couldn’t help it that he liked being defended like that. Not feeling completely down on himself. Like maybe someone else actually did understand. “Yeah… that was kinda embarrassing,” he muttered.

Mickie smiled at him. “You wanna go grab a cup of coffee somewhere?” she offered. “I’m buying, and I promise not to judge you at all.”

With a shrug, the boy decided he had nothing better to do. “Uh, yeah… that sounds great.”

She nodded. “Alright… let's go…”

—

“Welcome to The Refuge,” Mickie smiled as they walked inside.

Race nodded, looking around and finding a bunch of kids just about his age all over comfy looking couches and booths, sipping on coffee and picking at pastries. What he hadn’t expected was for them all to look over at the door and grin. “Mickie!” they all mutedly cried in unison, walking over to hug the young girl.

The boy stood back a little, not knowing exactly what to do and not extremely keen on the sudden attention. But Mickie smiled. And the second that group saw him, their arms were open wide again.

“Tony!”

It was said in the same voice. All at the same time, just as they all came up to hug him. And something inside Race told him this place was off. Something about it was just wrong. But he couldn’t figure out what it was.

It was odd. But Race didn’t stop them. Jack used to tell him hugs weren’t for everyone. Jack loved hugs, though. Only on occasion, but he seemed to always know exactly when was the right time to wrap his strong arms around the kid. This seemed different than those hugs. But the kid didn’t want to offend anybody.

He’d come here to get away from Jack, not think about every word the man had ever said to him.

“Wow, they all know my name… I don’t know if it’s cool or really creepy,” he said nervously as he eventually walked away from the group.

Mickie turned to him. “You have a sense of humor,” she smiled. “I like that.”

“And yet, you’re not laughing,” Race commented, stopping just as she did, his back to the place.

Mickie looked up at him, dead in the eyes. Something about her gaze felt weird. Almost empty. “Laughter is a mask which denies the reality of a situation and reveals nervousness,” she stated easily, like she’d said it a thousand times before.

A small, nervous chuckle escaped the boy. But Mickie didn’t laugh with him which meant she wasn’t joking. So Race carefully got ahold of himself. “S-so, what’s up with the music?” he asked, trying to listen and see if maybe it was just too quiet to hear. But there was none.

“This isn’t really that kind of club, Tony…”

Race squinted. “No music? So what kinda club is it, then?”

Grabbing gently at his hands, the young girl smiled up at him. “It’s more of a… hangout,” she explained, almost scared she was using the wrong kind of word to describe this place. “Me and my friends get together and… talk about stuff.” She began to lead him around the room, waving at the other kids and young adults.

The blond boy looked around the place again. There had to be over fifty people in this place. “They’re all your friends?” he asked, not really believing that.

But she nodded. “Yes. They can be yours too… if you want,” she offered.

Not truly understanding, Tony shrugged. “Sure… I mean, I could always use more friends…” He knew he had friends. Albert and JoJo. Jack, even. But this girl was just trying to be nice to him. “Don’t know if I’m real comfortable with the whole hugging thing, though…” he admitted.

Mickie grinned and squeezed his hand. “Mr. Weisel says, a hug is a burst of pure love!” she recited, looking as though she truly believed that.

“Who’s Mr. Weisel?”

“He runs this place,” Mickie explained. “He is the most remarkable human being I’ve ever met! He changed my life, Tony…”

Race nodded at her, about to ask more before a man came up from behind her. “Hello, Mickie!” he greeted. Her immediate response was to turn around and hug the man. The boy didn’t get it. “Are you centered?”

“I’m centered, Mr. Weisel,” she promised with a smile.

Mr. Weisel nodded and let her out of his embrace. “And how about you, Tony? Are you centered?”

Not wanting to lie to the man, the boy shook his head, thinking back to Jack once again, who was now another person on a list of people who was pushing at him. “Nope… I’m totally off center,” he admitted.

The man nodded. “Well… we’ll have to see what we can do about that…”

With a small shrug, the boy shoved his hands in his pockets. “Good luck to ya…” He watched the man turn to grab a soda from one of the coolers up against the wall. “So you’re Mr. Weisel?”

The stranger smiled at him. “Guilty as charged,” he admitted. He looked kind enough. But something in the back of the kid’s mind still questioned this place. And this man. Just because someone looked kind on the outside, didn’t mean they were.

“It’s a nice place ya got here…” The boy looked around again. “A little touchy-feely at first but… it’s growin’ on me…”

The man popped open the canned soda and offered it over to him. “Well, it just goes to show, Tony, you can’t always go with your first instincts, Tony. You’ve got to give people a chance, Tony.”

Taking a sip of the cola in his hand, Race squinted, feeling that uncomfortable nudge at the back of his brain squirming back to the surface. “You really like my name, don’t ya?” he asked.

Weisel smiled. “Well, there’s plenty of room in case you’d like to move in,” he suggested, gesturing to his place.

That’s when Race took a small step back. He scoffed. “Move in? What, are you nuts?”

“This is where I live, Tony,” Mickie said, looking a little upset at his immediate dismissal of the idea. She turned to look up at him, her adoring gaze finally falling off of Mr. Weisel. “We all live here.”

That’s when it hit him. “Oh… my bad…” Race said, setting the soda down on the counter. “This is a cult…”

Everyone froze at that word. About a hundred eyes settled in on him as if he’d said something offensive. And then they all laughed. Weisel shook his head. “No no… we’re just a place for people who need love in their lives.”

Race shook his head. “Look, I really have plenty of love… but thanks anyways…”

“You’re judging us, aren’t you?” Weisel said, beginning to make a circle around the space, making sure to touch the arm or leg of each individual inside.

The boy didn’t know what to say. “What?”

“The way your teachers, your family, and everyone else in your life judges you,” Weisel reasoned.

The words made something inside of Race burn. “Yeah…” he said. “I don’t like that very much…”

“Because?”

“Because maybe they don’t really know me at all…” he stated, a sort of guilt settling in his chest at that. But maybe it was true. Maybe he was just another charity case to the DaSilvas. To Jack. God knows his parents hadn’t taken two second to try to understand him.

“Well, why don’t you get to know us before you judge us?” Weisel offered, looking around at all the kids who were watching him like he hung the moon. “If you do that for us, we’ll do that for you,” he promised.

The kid looked around and shrugged. “Seems fair,” he stated, smiling over at Mickie.

After all, what did he have to lose?

[psycho-slytherin]

Strangers ch. 41

Two weeks after finding the photo, you’re not doing well. Yoongi’s determined to change that. 

Pairing: Idol!Yoongi x Actress!Reader

Word count: 2.3k

Genre: fluff, angst, idk anymore?

|mlist|

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“Y/n, you do have to go to class.”

You gulp. You’ve been dreading this call- and Yoongi is staring at you. “I know, Mom.”

Your mom sighs over the phone. “Are you planning on dropping out? You’re still registered for classes.”

You wrap the blanket tighter around yourself, refusing to look at the other person in the room. Yoongi’s sitting quietly, waiting for you to finish your call. “I-I’m not dropping out!”

“When I agreed to let you go to Seoul Arts, it was with the promise that you’d keep up your grades and partially support yourself with a job.” Your mother’s tone is sharp. “And, Y/n. Not or.”

You bite your lip, your hand trembling to the point where you almost lose your grip on the phone. “I’m acting- I’m making money.”

“For now. How far can you go without a degree?”

You inhale sharply. You can feel that familiar tightness spread throughout your chest. “Yes, Mom.”

“Oh, here you go again. Don’t ‘yes, mom’ me. I can’t fix your life for you, Y/n. You’re lucky I’m friends with the dean’s friend’s boyfriend’s sister. How else would I have found out you haven’t been to class in almost two weeks? It’s not like you would talk to me about these things.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“I’m serious, Y/n. I even tried calling Lisa to ask what was up with you, since you never answer my calls.”

Lisa. Your throat feels tight, and suddenly you can’t breathe. Luckily, your mother doesn’t notice your silence:

“I mean, she didn’t answer, but still! What about your exams, Y/n? You’re going to have to repeat the year! You might as well just come home.”

Your eye twitches at her words. “No.” You’re not going to go home– not now, not ever, and especially not while Lisa’s still missing. 

You hear her click her tongue over the phone. It’s a sound more familiar to you than your own name. “Can you at least tell me why you haven’t been going to classes?”

You look up and meet Yoongi’s eyes. “It’s a long story.”

“I’m sure it is,” your mom says huffily, and you fight the sudden urge to hang up. “Well, that won’t do. I’m cutting you off.”

You blink hard, your throat dry. “What?” Surely it’s an empty threat– even with Moon Over the Sea, you can’t afford rent and the Seoul Arts tuition on your own. Your mother has to know that. “Mom, you can’t–” Yoongi must hear the anxiety in your voice because he catches your eye, asking a silent question.

“I can and I will, Y/n. Because this is what you wanted, right? You’ve done nothing but push me away.”

You can feel that yes, Mom on the tip of your tongue. And yet… “Because you were suffocating me!” You explode. “God, you’re even cutting me off just to control me, ‘cause you want me to crawl back home and admit I need you. You know what, Mom? You have the worst timing. Cut me off– maybe I will drop out, but I’m not coming home. I have bigger things to worry about.”

“Y/n L/n–” But you don’t hear the rest of her words, because you hang up with as much force as you can deliver to a touchscreen. Despite the blanket wrapped around your shoulders and your space heater on full blast, you feel the cold in your bones, and the muted panic that accompanies the familiar sensation.

“Y/n?” Yoongi says gently, sitting on the edge of your bed.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” you whisper, curling up on your pillows.

“I wasn’t going to ask. I was just hoping you’d eat something.” He motions at the takeout he brought over hours ago, and which you’ve left untouched. You’ve barely moved at all, and if you weren’t such good friends with Yoongi you’d feel embarrassed for him to see you in this state.

Despite the fact that you’ve eaten nothing today, your stomach churns at the thought of putting the food in your mouth. “I’m not hungry.” 

Yoongi sighs, pursing his lips. “Okay. Want to go outside?”

“It’s late.”

“That’s never stopped us.”

“I’m not in the mood.”

“You haven’t been in the mood for more than a week.”

“I-” your head drops to rest on your knees. “She’s still missing.”

“I know, Y/n.” Yoongi reaches out gently, as though you’re a frightened deer, and begins rubbing calming circles on your back. “But living like this… you’re not helping anyone.”

You feel tears filling your eyes. “I’m not helping anyways. She’s missing, and I’m useless.”

“Thanks for bringing this in, Miss L/n,” Detective Kang said, sliding Lisa’s laptop into a labelled evidence bag. You felt a rush of guilt. Did it count as obstruction of justice when you were only trying to find out what happened? Yoongi had copied the photo to his phone- was that breaking the law? “So, has Lisa tried to contact you again?”

You shook your head. “Radio silence. I’ve tried calling and texting dozens of times– nothing’s getting through.”

“Okay. Please let me know if you hear anything from her. Adults aren’t considered as high-priority as missing minors, but…” Detective Kang stared intensely into the distance. “We’ll find your friend.” He turned away with the laptop under his arm, and at that moment you spoke up.

“There’s something else.” What was the redheaded girl who pushed you into the river doing on Lisa’s laptop? If she knew Lisa was connected to you… it meant that your best friend could be in real trouble.

Detective Kang was eyeing you curiously. “Go ahead.”

But if it turned out to be nothing… you would be in trouble for messing with her computer. And– shit– so would Yoongi. “Nothing. Slip of the tongue.”

“Alright. Ms. L/n, I’m sure Lisa is safe. The most important thing is that you leave this to the professionals.”

And now, two weeks after turning the laptop in, there’s been no word from Lisa or Detective Kang. After unlocking Lisa’s computer during that movie night, you began seeing the redheaded stranger around every corner, and leaving your apartment has become more and more difficult; what if she finds you and tries to finish what she started? All you know is that Lisa and the redhead are connected, which puts both you and your best friend in danger. After all, the first time the stranger attacked you was before you and Yoongi’s fake relationship. Who knows what she’d do now? 

You’ve stopped attending classes altogether– leading to the argument with your mother– and you know you should return, but you can’t bear to go back to the place where you and Lisa spent so much time together. You haven’t even begun looking for a new manager. 

“Want to watch a movie?” Yoongi says eventually, clearly noticing you’ve gotten lost in your thoughts again. 

“I’m good.” You rub your eyes, suddenly exhausted. “You should go home, Yoongs.” If your mother really has cut you off, you’ve got a lot to think about– and some choices to make. For some reason, Yoongi remains motionless.

“Do you remember the last time you didn’t take care of yourself, Y/n? You ended up in the hospital.”

His words send you tumbling back to the night, that night when you fainted after kissing him. The boys had visited you, and then Lisa stopped by, and then you were discharged, and… 

“We wanted to deliver a message,” the redhead had said. “A message from the rest of us: you’re not welcome.”

And the push, the water, the cold, the blood, the cold, and Yoongi… 

“Y/n!” You’re jerked back to the present when you feel a callused hand rest on your own. “Hey, take a breath. You’re safe.”

Are you?

Yoongi continues. “I just meant I was worried about you, dork. You’re not eating. I don’t want you to pass out again.”

You look at Yoongi, and you can’t help but long for the relaxed days before, well, everything. Before Lisa disappeared. Before you got messed up in the head. Before Twitter decided it wanted your blood. When you and Yoongi could be yourselves and enjoy your friendship without so many invisible barriers.

Although before… you admit to yourself, I was lying to him. Now you’ve told him the truth, and everything’s gone wrong.

“I wish…” You slump forward to rest your forehead on his shoulder. Even though you haven’t left your bed today, your limbs feel drained of energy. But Yoongi’s warm, and he smells like cinnamon. “I wish we could go back.”

“Oh, Y/n-ie.” Yoongi resumes rubbing your back, his hands and voice impossibly gentle. “I wish I could take your pain away.”

“No, I-” you swallow thickly. “You’ve done so much for me, Yoongs. If only I were stronger.”

“After everything you’ve been through, the fact that you’re still here makes you stronger than I’ll ever be.” He chuckles as though he’s touched on some inside joke. 

“What’s so funny?”

“Just reminds me of some lyrics I’m writing. I think you’ll like-” Yoongi’s interrupted by his buzzing phone on your covers. He glances at the screen briefly, then does a double take, his eyes widening. “Ah- I gotta go.”

“O-Oh.” You watch as he stands quickly, nearly knocking your curled-up form over. “Is everything alright?”

“Yep.” Yoongi pauses. “Just a BTS meeting. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? Please eat something.”

You bite your lip. You know his work is important, and you can barely believe he’s even managed to spend this much time with you when he’s so busy being a part of the biggest band in the world. Still, to be alone again in such a silent world… You grit your teeth and force a smile in response to his hurried farewell. The door clicks shut behind him and before long, your only companions are the yet-unending stream of notifications. They’ve gotten better, but you’ve long since accepted your status as ARMY villain:

@k-news: according to #MOTS costar @cutie-jeongyeon, @yourname has missed three days of filming. Trouble in paradise for #YoongiAndYn?

@superarmylockXO: torn between wanting yoongi to be happy and wanting to protect him from @yourname hzksdfkskdf #YoongiAndYn

@jinswitchybitch: why is anyone still hating @yourname lmao even @captainkookie21 left her alone so let them date #IdolsArePeopleToo

@namtiddieswhore: I’ve stayed out of the #YoongiAndYn discourse so far but no one can tell me @yourname is not totally toxic for #SUGA! She’s using him for fame I want to vomit :,( still excited for #MOTS tho

You’re too tired to summon the anger that you used to respond to that hater on the last day you saw Lisa, the anger that nearly led you to hit Jeongyeon. You’re too tired to feel anything except cold. And when your eyes at last flutter closed, your dreams are filled with swishes of dyed red hair, rushing water, and Lisa’s whispers.

~~~

Yoongi has barely stepped out of Y/n’s apartment before he presses his phone to his ear. “Hey.”

The reedy voice of an old friend makes him smile. “Hey yourself, Gloss.”

“You know that’s not my name anymore, D.” Yoongi chuckles as he walks out of the front door of Y/n’s apartment complex, spotting the car already running on the darkened street. He slides into the car and the chauffeur nods at him, waiting for a direction.

“Yeah, as if I’m gonna call you Suga.”

“Yo, you said you got what I needed?” Yoongi asks D. 

“Hell yeah. Man, it’s been ages since I got to do shit like this, thanks for the call.”

“Thank you, dude. I’ll send the money to your account tonight. What’s my location?”

D tells Yoongi the address he’s been waiting for, and the chauffeur pulls away from the curb. “Gloss, bro, why’d you want to know? Who’re you fucking around with?”

“Nothing important… but I’ll throw in an extra five hundred if you can track a phone number for me.”

“Sheesh, man, whatever you want. I remember when you didn’t even have fifty to throw around, let alone five hundred.”

Yoongi smiles. “I’m the same kid from Daegu, D.”

“I know that… how about the rest of the world?”

“Text me when you’ve got what I need. I’ll send you the number.”

It’s nearing midnight by the time Yoongi tells the driver to stop, about a block away from his goal. The address is close enough to the edge of Seoul that single-family homes have begun taking over apartment buildings. He pulls a mask over his nose and mouth, his glasses and hat completing the incognito look. 

“Get ready to leave as soon as I come out,” he instructs the driver. “And if I’m not back in half an hour, call the bodyguards to come find me.”

The driver nods affirmative, and Yoongi takes a deep breath. He has to do this- for Y/n. The couple minutes he takes to walk from the car to the front door are all he needs to reassure himself of that. He knocks three times on the door, checking that the address is the same. 

The door at last swings open, and a sleepy voice rings out. “The fuck…? It’s so late!”

Yoongi breathes a sigh of relief. The girl who answered the door matches the photo on his phone. Dyed-red hair, thin lips, double eyelids. So it must be…

“Hello.” Yoongi places a heavy hand on the door to keep the girl from closing it on him. “Nice hair. You must be Seoyeon… and I think it’s time we chat about a mutual friend.”

[kk095]

Happy Hour

I felt a bit creative tonight, so here's what I came up with. The story may need some additional tweaking, so bear with me a bit! I hope everyone likes it and feedback/constructive criticism is appreciated 🙂

*****

Most people like to go to the bar every now and then to have a few drinks to unwind a bit after a long day at work. However, some people lack control over their drinking and take things a bit too far. Their lack of control in this case resulted in the death of our latest patient.

The patient's name was Danielle “Dani” Mitchell. She was a bartender at a local neighborhood bar who was 28 years, had pin straight blonde hair just past her shoulders, beautiful hazel eyes, a near perfect suntan, was 5’6 and average build with perky, natural breasts, had a bright, colorful tattoo sleeve on her left arm, and had an engaging, jovial personality, but was a bit rough around the edges at times due to the nature of her job.

Things started off pretty mundane for Dani that evening. She was making drinks and chatting up some of the bar's regulars about the day's events. About an hour into her shift, a new customer came in. He was a tall, bald, muscular white man in his mid 30s with a scorpion tattoo on her right upper arm. He ordered a lot to drink in a short time. He was a nasty drunk with a bellicose demeanor, causing trouble amongst the other bar patrons. The man sitting next to him started to grow a bit frustrated. “You can't just come in here and start shit with us!” he exclaimed. “so what're you gonna do about it?!” the new customer said in response, challenging the man's assertiveness. The scene became more and more tense by the second until the 2 grown men started shoving each other. Dani hurried around the other side of the bar, trying to get to the men before serious blows were delivered. This wasn't Dani’s first bar fight under her watch, but little did she know, it would be her last. While trying to break up the skirmish, the new customer pulled out a pocket knife and attempted to stab his opponent. However, Dani was the recipient of the knife's blade since she got in between the men, attempting to break up their drunken quarrel.

Dani felt something touch her back, just to the right of her left shoulderblade. It was hard tap with a bit of pressure. She initially thought it was from one of the men throwing a punch, but quickly realized the severity of the situation once she turned her head. She saw the new customer who started the disagreement with their right arm extended, holding a pocket knife with a bloody tip. He had a look of horrified bewilderment on his face, realizing he had made a life-changing mistake. Dani realized the back side of her dark grey tank top was beginning to become soaked in her own blood.

One of the other bartenders called 911 right away. Dani reached for her back with her left hand. She felt warm wetness and drew her hand back quickly. The palms and fingers of her left hand were saturated in a significant accumulation of blood. Dani began breathing heavily, becoming panicked by the shocking turn of events. The man with the knife quickly sprinted out of the bar without paying his tab; but a tip was the least of Dani's concerns at this point. One of Dani's coworkers dashed over to her with a large clump of paper towels, attempting to plug up the gaping wound in her upper left back with them. The paper towels did very little to stop the surge of blood that emerged from Dani's back.

Dani began to feel dizzy and cold within the first few minutes of her injury. She shivered a bit while her coworker continued applying pressure to the knife wound. A small crowd began to gather around Dani and her coworker, with a few additional 911 calls being made from customers attempting to expedite the first responders’ arrival.

Her symptoms worsened shortly before EMS arrived. Dani had trouble remaining conscious, sitting in a moderate sized pool of her own blood. Dani peed herself (a sign of severe shock and rapid blood loss), sickening some of the members of the small, but nosey crowd around her.

Despite a slight delay, emergency personnel appeared on scene. The police officers dispersed the small crowd to give the medics room to work. When EMS got to Dani, she was in and out of consciousness, sitting on the floor up against the bar counter in a small puddle of her own blood. The paramedics removed Dani's top, exposing her black bra and tan body, with a belly button piercing. Dani was tachypneic and barely conscious. One of the medics leaned her forward, identifying a 2.6cm stab wound in the interscapular space, but missing the spine and slightly closer to the left side of the back.

Based on the amount of blood loss, the medics were able to deduce that Dani had a major hemorrhage actively wreaking havoc. “let's get 2 large bore IVs set up. Get me a bag of lactate and 1 of codeine” ordered the lead paramedic, who was searching for a vein in Dani's left arm. After getting both IVs set up (1 in each arm), a bag of ringer's lactate was hung to initiate fluid resuscitation, and a single dose of codeine was given to help with pain management since Dani lingered in a semi-conscious state. “she tore something major in there. We gotta get her out of here. Tell the ER our ETA is 5 minutes.” Stated the other paramedic. Dani was placed on a stretcher, partially sat up, and hastily wheeled out of the bar, into the ambulance which sat in the parking lot nearby.

Once in the ambulance, the paramedics set up the bartender on a portable heart monitor. Dani's vital signs were: BP: 87/60, heart rate: 119 bpm, pulse ox: 94%. An oxygen mask was placed on the patient to help ameliorate some of her respiratory symptoms, but her eyes rolled backwards every few seconds. Dani was breathing rapidly, but each breath was shallow and inefficient. “the knife might've nicked her left lung. Should we do a needle decompression?” asked the younger medic to the lead medic. The lead medic placed their stethoscope up against the front side of Dani's chest. They heard distant, raspy breath sounds on the left side, triggering immediate concern. “diminished breath sounds on the left. Good call!” said the medic in praise of the young medic's observation. “let's do a needle decompression” ordered the lead paramedic after a brief pause.

A 14 gauge lancet was procured by one of the medics as the ambulance sped towards the ER. Dani was lowered to a supine position on the stretcher and the 2nd medic poked their bony fingers along Dani's upper left chest, trying to locate the 2nd intercostal space. After the position was accurately located, the area was sterilized and the thick beveled lancet was quickly placed into Dani's 2nd intercostal space. A popping, hissing sound was heard when the needle reached the correct depth. Air rushed out of the hull of the lancet and Dani groaned, feeling a pressurized pinching sensation in her chest. Dani's pulse ox increased a bit after the needle decompression, but her blood pressure and heart rate remained unstable, suggesting she sustained more than a collapsed lung.

Dani remained hemodynamically unstable for the rest of the ambulance ride, but remained semi-conscious with a pulse. She groaned and mumbled every 30 seconds or so. Even though she wasn't saying anything audible while mumbling, the medics knew Dani was trying to beg them to save her life. Dani knew she was in grave danger, and was well aware she was walking a fine line between life and death.

Upon arrival at the ER, Dani's condition worsened slightly. Her blood pressure lowered a bit and her heart rate went into the 120s. Dani's eyes rolled retrally in her head, while hectically trying to remain awake. The medics updated the trauma team while pushing the gurney through the ERs main corridors into the allocated trauma bay.

Dani was lifted onto the table once she was in the trauma room. The nurses removed her jeans, shoes, socks, and the rest of her clothes, stripping the 28 year old completely nude in a room full of strangers. The blanket that was on top of the medic's gurney now laid on the floor of the ER, soaked in dark, warm blood, fresh from Dani's stab wound. The massive transfusion protocol was started, giving Dani 4 units of B-positive blood since that's all they had due to a national shortage of donated blood, 1500 units of Rhogam, 2 units of platelets, and 2 units of FFP.

Shortly after arrival, Dani went unconscious. At that point, the trauma team decided to intubate her in order to keep her airway intact. A 7.5 ET tube was placed into her airway and held in place with a blue tube holder, with a light blue ambu bag being attached after the procedure. Her oxygen saturation was only at 95% despite the needle decompression and the intubation, so a chest x ray and echocardiogram were ordered. The chest x ray showed a collapsed lung and possible pulmonary laceration on the left side. The echocardiogram showed cardiac tamponade, which surprised the trauma team. Based on the chest x ray, it appeared the lining of the left lung was lacerated by the knife. Because of that, friction increased during respiration, causing a pinching, burning sensation during breathing. Air leaked from the left lung and became trapped in the torn segment of Dani's left lung, and began seeping into her chest cavity. The needle decompression was simply a band-aid for this type of injury, so a left sided chest tube was ordered by the attending physician.

The chest tube was placed by the trauma team, aspirating a significant volume of air from her chest cavity. Her pulse ox increased a bit, becoming borderline normal, but she still remained hemodynamically unstable due to cardiac tamponade. The likely culprit was the knife penetrating the posterior aspect of Dani's heart.

Since cardiac tamponade was still a present issue, the trauma team made an unconventional move. They decided to perform a percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy in the emergency department. This is a procedure typically reserved for the operating room or interventional radiology suite to alleviate excess fluid in the sac around the heart. The procedure involves the placement of a needle into the chest wall, and into the lining of the heart. Once the needle is in place, a catheter with a small inflatable device (balloon) is navigated through the body of the needle, into the bevel, and into the lining of the heart. Repeated inflation of the balloon causes blood/fluid to drain into the catheter, removing the blood from the pericardium and improving cardiovascular function under ideal circumstances.

The procedure drained significant amounts of thick, coagulated blood. The first attempt didn't improve cardiac function; the echocardiogram still showed tamponade. The 2nd go-around withdrew fresh, dark colored blood. This dark, fresh blood began leaking out of the catheter, becoming deposited all over Dani's bare chest. The bleeding was profuse, which was a sign of a major hemorrhage. “get me a thoracotomy tray. We have to get to the bottom of this” ordered the attending ER physician.

Betadine was splashed all over Dani's chest in preparation of the procedure while the procedure's equipment was withdrawn. The doctor decided to access Dani's chest via a left anterolateral thoracotomy. A large cut was made in her anterior chest wall starting just millimeters to the left of her sternum, extending across the left side of her chest just under her perky left breast, and ending near the left armpit. In the following minute or so, Dani's chest was cracked open.

Her heart could be seen beating at a hurried pace. Luckily, no air or blood rushed out of Dani's chest upon entering it. A clamp was placed on the hilum of the left lung since there was sufficient evidence of a pulmonary laceration. Once the clamp was placed, the pericardium was incised so the tamponade could be released.

The line of sight became flooded with copious amounts of blood after the pericardium was incised. Suction was applied to the area, but blood began leaking out of Dani's chest cavity, situating itself on her bare chest, the table, and the floor below. A drain was placed in the pericardium, but it did little to better the situation. A 2nd chest tube was placed since the bleed was significant.

Blood shot out of the tube, spattering on the gown of one of the trauma doctors and onto the floor below. The heart monitors began chirping since Dani's cardiac function decreased rapidly from the hemorrhage. The trauma team knew there was a bleed in the back of Dani's heart, but the exact spot remained a mystery to them.

During the initial search for the mystery wound, Dani became pulseless, going into V-Fib. Her heart spasmed and trembled inside her now exposed chest cavity. One of the residents wrapped their hands around the fidgeting organ and began manually pumping it, almost as if they were demonstrating to the heart how to do its own job. Epinephrine and atropine were pushed into Dani's IV to stimulate positive cardiac activity. In the meantime, the internal defibrillator paddles were called for. The large, circular, spoon shaped paddles were charged to 20j and placed around each side of Dani's heart. In a moment's notice, everyone backed away from the table in anticipation of the impending shock.

A dull, wet thump was heard as the dose of electricity was sent directly into Dani's twitching heart. The shock failed to restore a normal rhythm, so internal massage was resumed and the internal paddles were recharged to 30j. A high pitched, electrical hum was heard while the internal paddles were being charged. A wet, clumpy sound was audible during this cycle of internal compressions.

Seconds later, the internal paddles were placed back into the blonde's chest and shock #2 was delivered. Dani's feet twitched and kicked around a bit from the increased strength of the shock, showing off a few thick, meaty wrinkles in the soles of her feet.

The 2nd shock didn't convert Dani to sinus rhythm, so the code ensued. A vascular clamp was placed on her aorta near the diaphragm to redirect additional bloodflow back to the heart in an attempt to keep the atria and ventricles filled. The blood soaked internal paddles were recharged to 30j and placed back into the bartender’s chest, delivering the 3rd shock. A dull, wet thunk was heard as her torso flopped abruptly on the trauma room table. Shock #3 sent Dani into PEA, so internal massage continued.

A second dose of epi and atropine were given, and the first dose of sodium bicarbonate was pushed after a short while of no improvement. The trauma team vigorously massaged Dani's weakly fidgeting heart, but it took yet another round of drugs and 4 and a half minutes worth of internal compressions to get her back to V-Fib.

Finally, the paddles were charged to 30j and the 4th shock of the code was promptly delivered. Dani's cold, limp body jolted on the table, but she remained in dire condition upon returning to her previous position. V-Fib still raced across the EKG screen, so the internal paddles were requested for the 5th time in this code. The internal paddles delivered a quick, controlled dose of electricity back into Dani's heart. The dying organ wobbled and shuddered for a few seconds before coming to a complete stop, appearing as if someone hit a metaphysical pause button, drawing her heart to a cadence. The trauma team frantically resumed internal compressions and continued the search for the unknown wound in the back of her heart.

Dani's heart sat stagnant and motionless as it was manually pumped to no avail by the ER team. The trauma team gave her 1 more dose of drugs and continued massaging her eerily still heart for another 5 minutes. The trauma team's efforts failed to produce cardiac activity, so the code was terminated, with time of death being called at 7:03pm after a prolonged battle to save the young bartender’s life.

The ambu bag was detached and the flatlined monitors were turned off. The nurses removed equipment from Dani's lifeless body while her heart sat completely still inside her exposed chest cavity. Once the nurses completed their job, a cover was placed over Dani's body and a toe tag was placed on the big toe of Dani's left foot.

Dani's autopsy revealed that she died from a laceration to the coronary sinus. The coronary sinus is a large vein present in the posterior portion of the heart of all primates, and is responsible for draining oxygen-poor blood in the myocardium. Injuries to this vascular structure are uncommon, but are lethal, causing death in a vast majority of patients, especially when combined with other injuries.

[asras-eyelashes]

Book 0: The Fool

Full AO3 Fic // Previous | Next

Chapter 15: A Chirp and a Cast

It’s now been a few weeks since your aunt had kicked you out. The autumn air hints at the oncoming winter months. Unfortunately, you had left the shop with only the clothes on your back, but Asra, and with some convincing, Muriel, had gathered a couple of spare garments to keep you warmer. As you slowly wake up, you’re grateful for the clothes they had given you.

It’s a rare morning in which your aunt allows herself to sleep in and have the shop closed. She had grumbled before all but sweeping you out with the day’s dust that she would be taking a day off for herself. You had felt a physical reaction at her words, your fatigued bones sighing with relief at the prospect of not having to get up at grueling hours to get to the shop.

You let out a huge yawn and stretch lazily, almost bumping Oberon. You giggle and apologize before glancing up at the window, you notice the sun’s rays peeking through the forest’s canopy. Broadening your gaze, you realize that both Asra and Muriel are absent from the hut.

After your first night here, you had thought that over time, Muriel would soften up to the idea of your temporary stay here. But after all this time, you haven’t really seen much progress in terms of your relationship with Asra’s friend. He seems to avoid interacting with you as much as possible, and when he must speak to you, it’s always in the fewest words possible.

What had you done? You’ve been stumped about this for a while now. Was it because you’re taking so much space in the hut? Or something else?

Your rumbling stomach stops your train of thought. Breakfast first, before any more negative energy.

Getting up, you go over to the hut’s small cabinet to get the half loaf of bread from yesterday, along with a handful of berries that Asra foraged. Oberon sniffs your hands eagerly.

You eat as you walk outside, wondering where Asra and Muriel went off to. You find Asra drawing water with magic from the nearby well, and Muriel feeding his chickens. The first night you had arrived, it had already been so dark that you hadn’t noticed the chickens near the hut. But on your first morning, you had been presently surprised. Muriel and Asra always had fresh eggs for breakfast.

“Morning,” you greet the two of them. Asra happily returns the morning greeting, but Muriel merely hums while continuing to feed his chickens. You let out a sigh, bringing your hands to your hips. Well, you know what you’re going to do today: you’re finally going to get Muriel to like you. Or at least, start warming up to you. Baby steps.

Ambling over to the tall guy, you casually ask, “Hey, Muriel, need any help?”

Muriel flinches, startled by the direct question. He takes a moment before answering.

“No,” he mutters under his breath.

“Are you sure?” you ask again, kneeling down to pet one of his chickens. It clucks happily before continuing to peck the ground.

“Yes.”

You hum, continuing to interact with his chickens. He has quite a few, and they’re all lovely.

“Do they have names?” you ask him after a silent minute passes.

He starts again, thinking that you had finished interrogating him. But he doesn’t say anything, and simply purses his lips into an annoyed pout.

Determined to keep having this conversation, you look up at him. “Is that a no?”

You notice his cheeks start to turn a bit pink. He mumbles something under his breath, but you couldn’t catch it.

You stand up and dust off your knees. “Sorry?”

“They do,” he mumbles again, just a fraction louder.

You smile. “What are they?”

Muriel’s cheeks get a shake pinker, but for what reason you’re not sure. While you’re sure he heard you, he doesn’t say anything. You turn your attention back to the chickens, willing to be patient. You’re not sure of Muriel’s circumstances, other than what Asra has told you, but from what you’ve heard, speaking and holding a conversation isn’t his strong suit.

Just as one hen curiously inspects Oberon by your shoes, you hear his gravelly voice. “That one’s Bridget.”

You smile and look up at Muriel, who pointedly is not returning your gaze. With a light giggle, you turn your head back to the chicken. “Hello, Bridget.” She happily clucks and gently nips at your fingers.

“What about that one?” you ask, pointing to another hen.

“Her name’s Gwyn.”

One by one, you ask Muriel each chicken’s name until you know them all. It’s endearing to know that Muriel had given each and every one of his chickens a unique name. It speaks to his personality as well. He may seem rather gruff, but between the three of you, he may have the softest heart. You’re glad he had been willing enough to open up to you, at least a little.

“Hey, Muriel, I think there might be a storm coming. The air seems pretty charged - did you want to try and cast your runes today?” Asra asks, strolling up to the two of us.

You had seen Muriel’s runes only a couple of times. Asra had only given you a hasty explanation when you had asked. You would be curious to see someone actually cast and read runes.

Muriel glances at you before looking up towards the sliver of sky between the trees. He takes another moment before nodding.

Asra gives you an excited look. “We discovered this small mountain in the forest, and the magical energy there is crazy. Maybe you can bring some stuff to make potions with, or we can try to do a tarot reading.”

Eager for a second try, you decide to have another go at Asra’s deck. Asra runs inside to grab his cards, and Muriel gets his cloak. You look excitedly down at your familiar, who excitedly hops into your shirt.

The three of you set off on a path hidden from your eyes. But Muriel and Asra lead you with confidence. The sky above darkens with heavy clouds, and you can practically feel the energy in the air humming in your ears.

“Will the chickens be ok from the rain?” you ask Muriel as he treks ahead.

He turns his head to you before nodding wordlessly.

“It shouldn’t rain too badly, but you never know. The season’s about to change, so things can be a bit unpredictable,” Asra says. You nod in response.

After climbing over tree roots and carefully avoiding prickly vines, you finally feel the ground start to slope upwards sharply. The trees thin out bit by bit until you see a clearing up ahead. You feel Oberon wriggle up and stick his nose out, taking in all the new scents.

“Here it is. You have no idea how hard this was to find, we gotta tell you when we get back,” Asra giggles.

“Yeah no kidding, this is pretty off the beaten path,” you agree. But you know by now that Asra has a curious spirit. It probably wouldn’t take him much to find a place like this.

Once you’re all in the clearing, Muriel drops the hood of his cloak and takes out his bag of runes. You watch, while trying to give him space.

Kneeling, the shaggy haired boy takes a long pause before picking out five runes and setting them in a specific order in the shape of a cross. You glance at the symbols, not too familiar with what they mean. But you spot a rune that looks like a hook and one that looks like a cross before Asra tugs at you.

“It’s best not to crowd too much. We can take a look at his runes back at the hut if you want,” he says under his breath.

Your cheeks heat up, a bit embarrassed. You guess it would be intimidating if someone peers over your shoulder as you draw cards, or make potions.

“Right,” you answer, before taking a seat across from Asra a bit away from Muriel. In the distance, you hear thunder booming, and feel the energy around you vibrate.

“Let’s see if you can speak to one of the Major Arcana, like I can with the Magician,” Asra suggests, picking out the twenty two cards. You nod as he does so. In your peripheral vision, you see Faust slither out from Asra’s clothes and get comfortable in the grass beside him. Oberon joins Faust and decides to use the friendly snake as a pillow.

Once he has them, he lays them out in a circle, silently inviting you to explore the cards once he’s done.

You take a deep breath, centering yourself and concentrating your energy…

There. You feel a card pull you towards it. Slowly, you pick it up before looking at it.

The Fool.

As you blink, your vision blurs, and the last thing you see is Asra also drawing a card.

~ ~ ~

You open your eyes to find yourself lying on a boulder in an open field. A gentle spring breeze tickles your cheeks, and sways the flowers around you.

Getting up on your elbows, you take a look around. You don’t recognize where you are. You should be in the mountain clearing with Asra and Muriel, but you aren’t. For some reason, that thought doesn’t worry you.

Standing up, you look at the flowers and smile. It’s going to be winter soon in Vesuvia, so you won’t be seeing anything like this for a while. Best to enjoy it while you can.

Hopping down from the boulder, you breathe in the delightful air. You feel energized, renewed, but you have no idea why. Looking around, you pick a direction and decide to explore.

The grass seems to bounce along your pace as you walk, and the flowers breathe in sync with you. What is this place?

Just as you see something interesting, out the corner of your eye you see a flash of white darting in the grass. You whip around, and think you hear barking, before a strong gust of wind topples you backwards.

~ ~ ~

You slowly open your eyes, blinking several times to clear your blurry vision. You feel a familiar tongue licking your cheek.

You reach over and scratch his head before rising. Funny, you don’t recall falling, or fainting...what happened?

You hear Asra say your name. “Are you alright?”

Getting up to a sitting position, you meet your friend’s eyes. He seems worried, but also curious.

“I...I think so,” you mutter, holding your head. “What happened?”

“You drew a card, and then a moment later, you fell backwards,” he explains.

Friend fell! You hear Faust say.

“I...fell?” you mutter, partially to Asra and partially to yourself. You then realize you’re still holding onto the card you drew. You decide to take a better look.

“I drew the Fool,” you murmur as you stare at it. In the distance, you hear Muriel’s runes clacking together.

There’s a moment of silence between you and Asra before he lets out an epiphanic “oh!” You look up, startled.

“Do you think you visited the Fool’s realm?” he asks, eyes wide.

You blink before examining the card again. An empty field...with a familiar boulder…

“I...I think I did,” you gasp, mouth agape. This had only been your second attempt at tarot cards...maybe the energy up here really is that strong.

Asra then looks over to Muriel, who rises and brushes off his legs. He comes over to us.

“All done?” Asra asks. Muriel simply nods. “Did you find any answers?”

Muriel gazes at his runes thoughtfully before speaking. “Some.”

Satisfied, Asra also rises, and offers you a hand. You find that your legs are a bit weak after your magical journey, and are thankful for his help.

He tugs you up, and your legs wobble at the sudden weight that they have to carry. You think you’re going to fall again, but you feel two warm arms around you.

“Careful, wouldn’t want you to fall again,” Asra murmurs as you lean against him in his arms.

You feel your cheeks burn, and you’re sure that you’re the same color as his scarf right now. But being in his arms isn’t the worst place to be in right now.

He helps steady you on your feet as Muriel puts up his hood. He looks up at the sky and listens to the thunder. “Gonna rain soon,” he says.

“Yeah, we should hurry back. I think a good lunch is deserved for all of us,” Asra decides, picking up Faust. Oberon quickly hops up on your shoulders. As the three of you walk down from the clearing, you all discuss what would be good for lunch. Thinking about it, not only are you noticeably tired, but you’re also pretty hungry. You suggest something hearty as your stomach grumbles.

“I wouldn’t mind. I’m sure you spent more energy than you intended today,” he says to you.

As if to confirm his comment, your foot catches on a surprise root, and trip. You let out a yelp and grab the first thing your hands could reach, which happens to be Muriel’s unsuspecting arm.

Thankfully, he doesn’t allow you to fall, and allows you to use his hand to balance yourself. You apologize before thanking him, to which he grumbles a “no problem” with pink cheeks and a slight pout. Asra chuckles at the sight and leads the way.

You straighten yourself and walk alongside Muriel.

“How was your casting?” you ask, attempting at a conversation.

Muriel just hums with a satisfied tone. You take that as it went well.

“...Asra mentioned you ask questions while you cast runes. What did you ask them?”

For a while, he is silent, leaving the crunch of leaves under your feet and other sounds of the forest to hang in the air. Then he speaks.

“I asked a few.”

“Oh. What was one of them?”

Again, another pause.

“If I could trust you.”

His candid answer takes you off guard for a moment. While it isn’t really a secret of Muriel not opening up to you, something still stings when you hear that out loud.

“...What did the runes say?” you ask tentatively.

This time, you’re afraid Muriel isn’t going to answer you, the silence is so long. But after a minute passes, he answers.

“...Yes.”

You quietly let out a breath you didn’t know you’re holding. Something warm inside you makes you smile. You look up to give Muriel a smile, but again, he keeps his gaze forward.

After nearly tripping a few more times, you make it back to the hut unscathed. Muriel wanders off just to check on his chickens, while Asra heads inside with you to get started on lunch.

“Have a seat, I’ll make you some tea while I get started,” Asra says as you take off your coat.

“Are you sure? I can help,” you insist, not wanting him to do all the work.

“It’s fine, Muriel can help later. Besides, wouldn’t want you to fall with something hot in your hands,” he smiles as he puts on water to boil.

You shrink into the chair you’re sitting in, blushing. You catch Oberon’s gaze. You swear he’s laughing, but that’s just your intuition speaking. Either way, you boop his nose teasingly.

Asra sets a tea cup for you before heading back to the stove. You thank him and blow on the mug before sipping. The herbal scent fills your nose, and the sip of tea warms your body.

Muriel walks in with bunches of herbs and vegetables. Asra thanks him as he sets them down on the countertop before taking off his cloak. You continue to sip your tea to the sounds of a knife hitting the cutting board and the fire in the stove crackling warmly.

[kotlc-oneshots]

Believing (Blind!Keefe AU pt 2)

Word count - 3551

A lot of soliditary between keefe and my other bbys

God I can’t wait to write from Tams perspective, next chapter y’all!

Anyways I hope you like it and that it’s not Bad™️ considering how tired I am

~*~*~*

Pt two

Keefe

The next morning, I wake up and go through my simplistic routine again. Get dressed, brush teeth, message Fitz, eat. When I hear the honking of Fitz car outside, I carefully grab my cane and walk out the doors, tapping my way yard and to the street.

“How goes it?” Fitz’ voice calls, and a smile splits across my face at the inside joke.

“I don’t know,” I reply, laughing at the memory it brings. “I can’t see.” Fitz laughs in response.

“You’re sitting up front today; Biana took Sophie to get coffee early, so it’s just us boys.”

“Dex sat in the back?” I questioned, as he normally was quick to jump on shotgun. I reach the car and pop the door open, and am greeted by the familiar smell of Fitz’s car.

“More like laid in the back,” Dex pipes up, while I thud my bag to the ground and shut the door. I shake my head.

“You’re supposed to be the responsible one, Dex. Shame on you.” I chide, and Fitz peels away from the house. I roll my eyes and laugh; they’re so dumb. We’re so dumb. And I’m grateful for it.

“We're here—part two!” Fitz exclaims in the seat next to me. “Well, for half of my classes this’ll be my first day. I missed a lot yesterday—freshman presentations are ass,” he grumbles as he parks the car. I chuckle and shake my head.

“Your fault, man,” I taunt him, and he scoffs as a response. “Hey Dexxxxx… wanna walk me to class?” I say, fumbling around in the back, trying to hit him.

“Hmrrghh. Yeah.” I hear him shift around, and we step out of the car together.

As soon as we're both out, Fitz locks the car. “See y’all later!” he calls, jogging off- likely to some lifting or meeting or something. I chuckle; whenever I think of Fitz, I imagine he’s either very ugly, or really attractive. From what I heard, it’s the latter—he's the epitome of perfection to the entire school, and many other schools as well. I, however, know better—he’s a complete and utter dumbass. He once chugged half a gallon of milk on a dare, and another time got himself locked in a dog kennel—and that list can go on. I don’t quite understand how he keeps the guise of perfection and stability when he’s oh-so-clearly not. Him running off to a meeting or club isn’t a surprise, but it’s hard to imagine, knowing what he’s actually like.

“How the hell does that man manage all that shit?” Dex grumbles, also acknowledging that Fitz is definitely insane. I shake my head.

“A very, very large amount of crack,” I state solemnly, as if this is a sad, but true fact. Dex laughs loudly.

“I don’t doubt it. Better not let his coach find out,” He replies, just as sincerely. “What room number are you in, by the way?” He asks, just as I detect the curb with my cane. Gently stepping up, I tell him. “Nice—we aren’t that far from each other- you’re going straight there, right?” he asks, and I nod.

“So, I’ve been meaning to ask you—is there anything new with the Stina situation?” I bring up the topic gently—Stina Heks was Dex’s early on bully. Before Sophie brought Dex into the group halfway through their Freshman year, she would nag on him relentlessly—he was attending the school on a partial scholarship, and his family has a bit of bad history of being… odd. His dad runs a small pharmacy, and it’s mostly alternative medicine. She used to take any opportunity she could to point out anything about him that wasn’t strictly ‘normal’. I absolutely love it there with Dex. Mr. Dizznee is the kindest, most loving person ever—a huge contrast to my barely around, statue of a father. Plus, it always smells really nice in the store.

“Oh… well, we have precalc together, but she hasn’t said anything to me. She hasn’t said anything all summer—I feel like she's matured, a bit. Probably.” He sounds fairly put down, and I use his voice to guide me in the direction to wrap him in a one armed hug.

“Sorry I brought it up. But let me know if anything happens,” I say and he chuckles and pushes me away. From those few moments, I can tell he’s almost taller than me—which doesn’t feel right.

“No worries. Let's get you to class,” he says, and I can tell he’s being honest—it doesn’t bother him. Which is good, in my opinion. He’s growing up. Sometimes I feel like such a dad.

We walk into the main doors of the building and make our way down a few hallways. I use my photographic (ha) memory to make my way, but Dex still stays close to me, not letting me bump into kids or trip. I appreciate it, because I don’t have to use my cane—I might not be able to see them, but I can feel the people staring at me when I have it out.

“Well, we're here. We have, like, 15 minutes before class starts, though,” Dex states.

“I know- I always show up early,” I reply. “I mean, the other option is sitting in the cafeteria.” I shrug.

“Well, I might as well go to my class then. Brech told me yesterday I should come in if I had questions- and she assigned a couple starter worksheets. I gotta deal with that.” Even though I can’t see it, I can practically hear his frown.

“No worries,” I tell him, and he gently pats my shoulder before walking off. I pull out my cane, letting it guide me into the still unfamiliar classroom. The milky blobs of color offer little help as to finding a seat, so unfortunately this tends to be necessary.

“Hey! You should sit here.” A familiar voice says from the back corner. I rack my brain—Linh!

“Oh! Hey,” I reply. “Umm, where are you, exactly?” I ask, sounding really cool, I’m sure. I hate needing help.

“Just back here- this chair would be great.” She knocks on what I presume is the chair next to her. I use the sound to guide me, as well as the cane.

“Thank you,” I say, smiling. “You know, it's really hard to find a seat around here. Like, I literally can't see any! Must be budget cuts,” I say, grinning. There's a pause, then a small laugh.

“Some private school. They can't even afford chairs.” I chuckle.

“I mean- where’s the proof that there's even a building. Or classrooms! You gotta see to believe, and I certainly don't see, so…” I trail off and nod seriously. She laughs- I’m grateful. Blind jokes don’t go well with everyone. “Anyways, how are you?” I change the topic with a grin. “Long time no see.” This pulls out another laugh.

“Well, I’m ok. My schedule has been pretty stressful—but other than that, good. I’m still trying to make friends. I didn’t mention it yesterday, but this is my first year at Foxfire,” she says. I nod in acknowledgment.

“So, kinda on your own then? That’s not easy,” I reply, wondering if I should introduce her to the group. She seems nice enough, and, I hate to admit it, but half of being a part of our group is not being a piece of crap about me being blind. And all of us secretly being idiots.

“Well, there’s my brother—we’re twins. But other than that, yeah.” She sighs softly.

“Oh! You have a brother. That’s always nice,” I say.

“Well, yeah. He’s super over-protected. We got sucked into the foster care system, because… of some things, and there was a lot of bad things, which he always felt he had to keep me from. But we found a really great family now! They’re very nice, and actually acknowledge me and Tam’s ability. We’ve always been considered smart, but nobody really cared. They we're just in it for the money. Our new parents, however, have money, which is nice. So when they found out our test scores, they sent us here.” I nod in acknowledgement—Sophie went through some similar things before she got adopted by Grady and Edaline.

“Oh. Well, I’m sorry you’ve been through that,” I say, trying to find the right words. “It’s really good that you’re here now. Even though I’m pretty convinced there isn’t an actual school, I’ve been told that it’s nice.” She laughs at this.

“Yeah, so have I. Oh! I almost forgot. I’m in your stats class. Frer was just being rude the whole period, so I didn’t have a chance to say anything,” Linh says. I grin.

“Nice! Now that I know, you officially have to help me prank him at least once this year.” I tell her, very seriously.

“Oh…I don’t know about that.” she sounds apprehensive.

“I mean, you don’t have to. But I’m going to do it, so you may as well help.”

“I’ll think about it.” She says, and the door opens.

“Oh! Hello, you two. Early again?” A feminine voice—our teacher’s—says.

“You know it,” I tell her, smiling.

“Alright, well. You have a little bit less than five minutes before class starts, so go ahead and continue what you we’re doing.” Based on her tone—the bright, too cheery one that I hear a lot- I can tell she’s a little annoyed. I try not to let that affect me.

“Hey—I’m gonna work on some AP physics stuff,” Linh says, and I can tell she doesn’t really want to talk with the teacher there- even if its casual conversation. I nod, and let my thoughts be my own for the moment.

At least I’m used to it.

*****

Not much happens the next couple of periods—Fitz and I work on English together, and Dex and I use morse code to ‘pass notes’ in AP physics. He’s really good at science (like, really good), so he skipped a year and is in APP2 as a junior. I appreciate it- he’ll be a help for when I actually feel like studying. During Lunch, Dex and I sit at our table and Linh came to sit with us, introducing herself to Dex. In Government, I sit on my own and listened to the online assignments. In Stats, Linh manages to find a spot next to me and helps me out with the worksheet.

I find myself needing to go to the bathroom, so I ask to be excused. On my way there, a familiar voice calls my name.

“Keefe! Hey. Um.”

“Foster! Uh… what’s up?” I ask.

“Oh! Nothing. But, hey, do you think that you could come over tonight? There’s… there’s something I really want to talk to you about.” Just from her voice, I hear she’s slightly frazzled. Nervous.

“Are you ok, Sophie? Is someone bothering you again?” My mind jumps back to when she was first adopted by Grady and Edaline, and all the crap other kids gave her.

“No! It’s not like that. Just, something I wanna talk about. I need advice.” I smile.

“Ah. You need the wise old Keefester to help you out. Well, no worries, m’lady, I will do what I can. You want me to come over?”

“Yeah. I’ll just have Fitz drop both of us off at my place, Biana can ride on her own—sound good?”

“As long as you have food, I’m okay with anything.” She laughs softly.

“Of course. See you.” I hear her walk away, and smile to myself—I think back to when I had feelings for her, and can’t help but think about how they’ve changed- she’s like a younger sister to me now. It’s odd.

I go to the restroom and return to class, thinking about what Sophie might have to tell me that made her that nervous.

Stats class ends (for me), and my minds swimming with Frer’s stupidity as I go to Latin. I get there around when the bell rings to dismiss everyone else, and I find a seat close to the door. People filter out and in the classroom, and then someone speaks.

“Dude! Keefe, I forgot you we're in this class.” Fitz says, and a grin spreads across my face.

“Yeah, you had that Freshman help thing yesterday. You know there’s only one AP Latin 2, dumbass.” I respond, and he chuckles. I hear him put his stuff next to me.

“How was this class yesterday?” He asks, and I shrug.

“We barely did anything. Got a list of vocab and grammar to review.” I tell him, pulling up my bag to get my computer.

“That’s valid. Not gonna lie, I’m glad I missed it.” This makes me laugh.

“Oh, no—Wonderboy didn’t want to go to class? That’s a fuckin abomination.” I reply sarcastically, and the bell rings. I can hear Fitz scoff, but our teacher starts talking so he can’t respond. We get a reading prompt, and I have to go into the hall and listen to it. The teacher doesn’t let Fitz come out and help me, which sucks- but I have to consider the situation. Which also sucks. I hate having to be worked around.

One thing that really bothers me about our teacher, Sam, is she never lets me leave early. So Fitz has to help me through the crowd of people. The kids don’t really acknowledge me, but having so many people around that I can’t see, don’t know, that don’t care sends massive spikes of anxiety through me. Fitz does a really good job at helping me, his steady hand on my shoulder the whole time, making sure we both get through the crowd.

I’m so damn grateful for him sometimes.

We finally manage to get out of the building and to Fitz’s car. He unlocks it, and I climb into his car carefully. I can hear as he types on his phone, likely texting someone.

“How’s shit at home been going?” He asks, somewhat startling me.

“Oh. Well, not much has happened, really,” I admit with a shrug. “He’s been out a lot lately- I don’t have to interact with him much.”

“Good. We’re not gonna let him give you shit this year, got it?” I laugh.

“You’re so overprotective, Fitzy. I can handle my dad.”

“I’m serious, Keefe. None of this is your fault. Especially now with your mom gone… we-”

“I get it, Fitz. I know.” While I do love Fitz with my whole heart, he can be… overbearing. I reach out and search for his shoulder. “I’ll be okay.” I give him (what I assume to be) an award winning smile. “Besides, I got this year in the bag. All my pranks? Planned out to the t. I won’t get in trouble all year, I swear.” Fitz scoffs, but it’s lighthearted and followed by a chuckle.

“All right Keefe. I’m sorry.” He sounds genuine and I lean into him, letting my head rest on his shoulder. He can be a stubborn little shit sometimes, but he’s… a good friend.

“Oh my god, that’s fucking adorable.” The door crashes open and Dex steps inside. “You guys are gross, though.” He adds.

“PDA is not the Foxfire way.” Sophie says, jokingly.

“I will kiss him, right here, right now. Fight me,” Fitz says, joking but aggressive. Protective as ever. I laugh and push away, settling back into my normal seat.

“I think once is enough, isn’t it?” Dex laughs, but there’s something in his voice… I ignore it, and grin.

“Not when I’m involved. Trust me, even Fitz Vacker wants a piece of this.” I say, grinning and indicating myself.

“Not that you would know,” Fitz responds, ruffling my hair.

“Dude, I don’t even have to see to know how incredibly attractive I am,” I inform them.

“No need to argue with that.” Dex chuckles.

“Oh!” Sophie popes up. “I forgot to mention. Keefe’s comin over, could you just drop us both off at my place? I can get him back, Edaline normally doesn’t mind.” I’m actually the only one of the group that lives in town- everyone else lives in the country, because their parents needed or liked having the land.

“That makes it easy for me. Let’s go, brethren.” I don’t know when Fitz started referring to us at that, but I still think it’s hilarious. I snort at his idiocy, and we head off.

“Dex, are you doing debate this year?” I pipe up. I’m EXCITED for debate season.

“Yeah. I’m actually writing some stuff right now, on how to not be a little bitch.” Dex says, laughing.

“Dex, PLEASE. You’d do really good,” I argue. “Just write an oratory on veganism or something!”

“Dude, you’ve been trying this for the past two years- the meetings clash with robotics. Besides, why would I want to right an oratory when you’ve placed first twice now.”

“Not that that mattered,” I contest. “Considering my dad didn’t let me go.”

“Pleeeasseee. For me.”

“FINE. I’ll go to one meeting. Only because there’s no robotics and Sophie’s going. No offense Keefe, but you suck.” I stick my tongue out at him, but grin happily. I’ve been trying to do this for YEARS.

“You guys are such nerds,” Fitz inputs, and I hit his shoulder. “Oh, you know it’s true.” I scoff.

“Says the president of the chess club.” Sophie states, laughing.

“We don’t talk about that.” Fits says, and I feel the car pull to a stop. “We’re here, Sophie. Keefe, you too. Dex- get up here you little shit.”

“Hey. Don’t disrespect my son like that.” Sophie tells, and I hear Dex grumble a bit.

“Fitz, if you’re not busy, wanna do something? Like, I dunno, egg some annoying blondes?” I snort. Dex has learned well.

“Um, yes to the first part, no to the second. That’s a lot of work. Also, aren’t you vegan?”

“Oh! Yeah, that.” Dex says casually. I laugh, and step out and away from the car carefully.

“Have fun, nerds!” Sophie calls as they drive off, and I grin in her direction.

“So, Miss F, what was it you wanted to tell me?” I ask, and I can practically feel the shift in her mood.

“Oh. Um. Yeah. Come inside?” I nod, and she guides me to the doors.

“Sounds serious,” I tell her.

“Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Just… something that’s been on my mind for the past few months. Especially… I dunno.”

“Wanna go to your room first?”

“Yeah. Um…” I can tell she’s nervous, and likely picking at her eyelashes- what many people have told me to be her nervous tick. We walk over to her room in moderate silence.

“What’s the sitch?” I ask, and Sophie laughs- and replies with the Kim Possible beep. “Seriously though, what’s on your mind. Unless you wanted me over just to admire how incredibly handsome I happen to be.”

“Well, um, no… uh.” She sighs. I search around for a chair and sit down.

“Hey. It’s okay. Whatever it is, I’m here for you.

“Well, I. I think. I’m gay, I think. Like, maybe not full gay, but pretty gay. Like, girls are cool gay. Really cool. But maybe not, I don’t? Know If I’m Actually Gay Gay. Maybe I’m just thinking and stuff, but I’m probably gay? I think? I don-”

“Sophie. Hey. It’s okay.” I interrupt, to keep her from going insane. “Take a few deep breaths.” I hear her do so. “You know none of us will judge you. Right?”

“Yeah. Yeah. I guess, I just don’t want to make a big deal of it.”

“I get it. I’m glad you told me, though.” I smile at her warmly.

“Well. That’s all I really wanted to tell you. I guess.”

“Wanna play Smash?”

“Yeah.”

****

That night I get home relatively late- Sophie feeds me and we play video games for quite a while. We didn’t talk about what she told me- I want to respect her space.

“Where have you been?” My father, voice stern, says. I haven’t even closed the door yet.

“Sophie’s.” I respond, automatically pulling on a calm expression and heightening my posture. I shut the door softly.

“And what, may I ask, were you doing?” His voice is condescending.

“We were playing video games and I lost track of time- I’m sorry.” He scoffs.

“I’m sure. Do you have any homework?” There's the implied ‘that you didn’t do’ at the end.

“Not really. I have some reading I can do, though.” I admit. I’ve learned that lying to my father doesn’t work. Ever.

“You better get on that.” He sneers, and I try to keep my expression respectful and blank.

“Of course. I’m sorry.” I say, and walk in the direction of my bedroom. “Debate starts Thursday, by the way.”

“Convenient. The day that I have off.” He scoffs back.

“I’m sorry dad. Do you want me to come home? They won’t mind if I miss the first meeting.” I try not to yell, or say anything that will anger him.

“I don’t care. Go finish your reading.” He says. I can tell that he’s not lying- he doesn’t care.

I bite my tongue and nod. Then I go finish my reading.

[blue---rose]

White Widow - Chapter Three

Fanfiction.net | AO3

Title: White Widow Chapter: Three Author: Blue Rose Rating: M (Hard R) Pairing: Sasuke/Sakura Summary: "Running away was easy; not knowing what to do next was the hard part." - Sakura needed to stop fantasizing about running away to some other life, and start figuring out the one she had. [Sasu/Saku, Modern AU]

Warnings: Adult Content Disclaimer: I own nothing, and I damn sure don't make a single red cent for this either. So please, don't sue the Blue

Author Notes: If you like please don't forget to review/comment/like. Kudo's to my amazing beta: MySoberThoughts.

PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

-  ﾟ･*･ﾟ -   Chap 1 -  ﾟ･*･ﾟ -  Chap 2 -  ﾟ･*･ﾟ -  

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Chapter Three

The front windows of the SUV were rolled down slightly, letting in a cool breeze. Parked on a quiet street, it sat next to a large maple tree that provided a protective shade from the bright sun. The glass was tinted, partially concealing the driver as his head leaned back against the headrest. A finger ideally tapped the steering wheel while dark eyes peered down the street, watching passing cars and pedestrians alike.

The area was pretty calm during this time of day. Nothing looked out of the ordinary… at least, not to the untrained eye. His eyes were focused on his target when his phone started to vibrate, immediately turning his attention away. Pale fingers reached out, retrieving it from the dashboard mount. His steady gaze shifted over the words, reading the incoming message notification before opening it.

Message:

"Hey, are you in the city? And before you yell at me; yes. I asked 'scruff lord' first."

Sasuke frowned, a stray lock falling to his brow as he wrote back. Had she heard from him? He straightened in his seat, ignoring the small bark from beside him as his phone vibrated in his hand. His eyes read the reply.

Message:

"Nope."

Making an impatient noise, his finger swiped across the screen. Bringing the device to his ear, he listened as it rang once, before a breathily voice picked up.

"Oh!? A phone call? Now this is a special occasion… to what do I owe the honor?" Ino sassed into his ear, in lieu of a proper greeting.

"You really haven't heard from him? Calls or texts?" Sasuke ignored her teasing.

"No, not for a while actually..."

He continued to listen as he leaned back against the headrest, glancing down the street to Kiba's duplex. His eyes scrutinized the dark sedan parked near the entrance, a few houses away. Sasuke had the perfect view from where he sat just around the corner, near the intersection. He was fairly confident he had not been spotted by its driver.

"-Well, he never responded so I'm reaching out to you. I just need some bud, and another friend of mines wants vike. I have cash, because the DollarApp phone thingy isn't working right now. Kiba's not picking up so-…"

"Yeah, whatever… just let me know how much-" A flash of pink from the corner of his eye had him turning his head, to look out the window. Dark eyes narrowing below furrowed brows as he saw-

"…Sakura?"

"Huh? What was that?"

His gazed volleyed back and forth between the pink haired woman standing across the street, waiting for the cross signal to turn; to the sedan parked further down the block, sitting near the duplex.

A few seconds passed before he perked up, moving into action.

He had just enough time to roll up the windows before making a grab for his keys in the console.

"-Gotta go." He ended the call abruptly, opening the truck's heavy door.

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Sakura ideally played with the lightweight scarf around her neck, a pale shade of green that brought out her eyes. The digits trailed to her pocket, running them across the cold metal of the keys resting inside before she pulled her hand out, zipping the pocket for safe keeping.

She welcomed the brief distraction the visit would provide from the work she was putting off. Her last few days were spent packing, preparing for her upcoming move. Going through drawers and other spaces turned up a lot of lost or forgotten things at her place.

She had been meaning to return the found items to Kiba, for quite some time now. A few calls and texts were sent, but there was no reply… just radio silence. She wasn't too concerned about it; there were many times in the past where he went missing for a few days, or even weeks. It didn't happen often, but she was still a bit miffed with the non-responses.

Alas, here she was… dropping by un-announced to come bug her sometimes-reclusive friend. She definitely could use the break. Her quest for a distraction manifested however, in the literal sense when she collided unexpectedly with someone.

"Whoa! Excuse me-"

She had just crossed the street; one heeled bootie just making it up on the curb, before the sudden impact. It wasn't hard enough for her to lose her footing, but it did catch her by surprise. She looked up mid-apology, only to be swept up in a hypnotic swirl of ink.

"Wh-…Sasuke?"

He only deposited a squirming Akamaru in her arms before taking her elbow, directing her to the left. They walked in the opposite direction of their friend's apartment, moving briskly down the sidewalk. She stumbled briefly, quickening her steps so she could match his longer stride. She could feel the warmth of his hand, even beneath the layers of clothing.

"Keep walking."

That was the only directive given for a time, until they were a block or so away. She finally turned, sitting down the puppy. Akamaru bounced around their feet, but she ignored him in favor of his human counterpart. Looking up in bemusement, she waited for an explanation.

"Have you spoken to Kiba?" Sasuke asked, fingers brushing the nylon leash wrapped around his wrist.

She shook her head, soft swept bangs framing her face as he peered down at her.

"No. I've been looking for him, though." She blinked up at him, eyes squinting in contemplation. "Why? What's going on?"

His strange behavior was setting her on edge.

Sasuke shifted, eyes darting up as a jogger ran past. Akamaru gave a brief chase after the unsuspecting runner, but the leash pulled, making him give up.

"He's been gone, and…" Sasuke started, meeting her eyes once again. When there was another pause, she began to realize that getting direct answers from this man was akin to pulling teeth.

He clearly wanted to say more, but hesitated. She made an effort to remove any impatience from her tone as she prodded gently, "…-And?"

"…And now, there's a car staking out the place."

She frowned, glancing behind him down the street. "Police?" she whispered.

"Not sure yet." He turned to look in the same direction, before turning to meet her eyes.

"Don't go near there. I don't want whoever has eyes on the place, to see you hanging around."

Sakura's brows drew together in a frown, perturbed at what this could all mean.

He just continued on, voice still carrying as he turned to leave.

"I'll meet up with you and Ino, later. We'll talk more, then."

With that, Sasuke walked back towards the direction they came… Akamaru trailing along behind him.

She blinked, belatedly realizing she never asked him why he had Kiba's dog in the first place.

Just what the hell was going on?

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The office's decor housed some very unique pieces of antique furniture. They were placed strategically around the spacious area, mixing abnormally well among the otherwise, modern layout. A hand carved, large oak desk the man currently sat behind, was one of them.

Eyes skimmed the documents placed in front of him hours ago; pouring over everything while taking notes in the margins. The reading glasses perched low on his nose allowed him to scan the words, without everything blurring together as they tended to do, in recent years. The door opening to the room did not entice him to raise his head, but he did pause in his work… head inclining slightly.

"I take it, you took care of things?" He asked. The muted sound of the pen moving across the paper was drowned by a heavy grunt soon after.

The newcomer sat down in a cozy overstuffed chair, sinking down in the worn leather. "It's been handled."

Another pause, before the man behind the desk finally glanced up. "And you are sure this was the right course of action?"

Their eyes met above the computer monitor, before the guest broke the stare with a smirk. "A little too late, to ask such a thing, is it not?"

The pen hovered above another document, his gaze falling to pay attention to his work, once again. "I suppose it is…"

:✧･ ﾟ･*･ﾟ･✧ B R ✧･ﾟ･*･ﾟ ･✧:

The heavy door swung open, allowing the puppy to walk through and enter. Akamaru made a beeline for the water dish, anxious to take a few refreshing laps.

Sasuke sighed, moving to hang the leash on the coat rack. Shrugging out of his jacket, he walked further into the loft.

"Did you know, I really made that key for you to use in emergencies?" He asked his brother, making his way to the fridge for a drink. He felt the other man's presence when he walked in, before he ever caught sight of him in his peripheral. The older Uchiha stood from the sofa, coming to stand next to the kitchen island.

"Noted. Now on to more important things… did you find out anything? I see you still have the dog."

"I think someone put eyes on Kiba's. I don't know who… but I should know something soon."

"You should be more careful. You shouldn't have driven your own car over there until you know who that is. Don't be sloppy."

"I'm not. They were amateurs… had no idea they were being watched, themselves." Sasuke grumbled, pouring the filtered water into a glass, before taking a sip.

Narrowing his eyes, his older brother cut right to the chase.

"Are you sure about this? Is he hiding from someone? Maybe some trouble you've kept from me?"

"No… he's been dependable since we've known him, so why start some shit now, by pulling this?"

Itachi just sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know why. I'm not a babysitter Sasuke."

Sasuke wanted to say something else that would have had his brother reaching out to take a swipe at him. And if his memory was as sharp as he knew it to be, Itachi would have connected the blow. Instead, he took a deep breath… trying to make sense of the situation.

"I just… I think something is up, but I don't want to cause a full-blown panic either."

"And his friends? What are they saying?"

"Nothing so far. l'll see what I can find out tonight, and if she knows anything."

"…-She?"

His face immediately went blank, eyes fluttering to glance at his older brother briefly… before returning to the countertop.

"I'll let you know if I learn anything."

' Please don't talk. '

Sasuke raised the glass to his lips again.

' Please… just… don't say a fucking word… '

His brother's eyes had not left him, dark stare holding his own over the glass.

' For once, in your miserable life, don't you  fucking  dare make fun of me or- '

Itachi's mouth twitched, the corner turning up in a hint of a smile. Sasuke caught sight of it before the elder turned his back, moving away from the kitchen to leave.

"Ok… keep me posted." Itachi said retreating to the front door, slipping on his shoes.

Sasuke grunted, in disbelief he was being spared a round of relentless teasing… this time. Rolling his eyes he headed for the fridge again, looking for something to eat. Why did his brother even bother coming over, when he could have just called?

Itachi paused, looking back at him. "And Sasuke? Watch yourself. Until we know more…"

"…Yeah." he replied, already on the same page.

Their eyes met before he closed the door, leaving the younger siblings' home.

:✧･ ﾟ･*･ﾟ･✧ B R ✧･ﾟ･*･ﾟ ･✧:

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

Everything began to tighten as she squirmed against the sheets, her soft belly curving in as her breath was stolen. Pleasure hummed throughout her body as her lips parted. She had to lick them, catching the bottom one in-between her teeth, as another moan vibrated against her throat.

Her hair clouded some of her vision, the thick strands falling around her in a pretty mess as they continued to move. His large hands clasped her hips so perfectly, pulling and guiding, as she rolled with his momentum.

Her breath caught as she chased the rhythm he'd set for them both.

His magisterial pace was satisfying, moving her with him through every slick glide. His hair hung wildly in his face, casting his eyes in shadow as he flexed against her, grunting on a particularly deep thrust.

She reached back, her hand wrapping around his straining forearm. She felt the protruding veins beneath her sensitive finger pads, and her fingers tensed… nails biting gently into his damp skin. Looking behind, she met his gaze as she pushed back, their skin slapping together in one of the most sexiest sounds she'd ever heard in her life.

Her feet braced in the plush carpet, between his own.

Sakura's knees locked, trying to hitch her hips as high as they could go, while keeping her upper half flush against the bed beneath her. A soft pillow had been shoved beneath her hips ages ago, to help keep the angle that was driving them both insane.

He growled and moved one of his hands to grasp her ass, palming and pulling, eager to fuck her as hard as she was begging him to. The air was heated between them; the atmosphere becoming so heavily charged… crawling over them both as the excitement grew.

She whined underneath him, starting to ache in the best, and worst ways…

Something was approaching, making her clench deep inside and she pushed back against him.

Bottomless pools of green kept on him… through it all.

The look she gave over her shoulder ensnared him completely. She needed to see if he was going to finish what he started. He promised to make her fall apart, and stop the ache that was building...

…A heat that kept rising from the place he was currently penetrating, over and over and over again.

"Please-!" She could not help the cry that escaped in that moment. The plea was so honest, so desperate…

It was  so close , damnit.

All he needed to do was shift… just a little.

But… shit … maybe she could do it all on her own… just raise a knee to the bed to contort her body in just the right angle and…

"God…!"

Oh… it was so close…

And she finally closed her eyes as he-

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

"Sakura!"

A whimper escaped as she flinched, blinking rapidly as her tired mind tried to catch up with reality.

"W-…What?"

"I said 'We're here'. It's barely nine, you can't be that sleepy. Come on." The blonde exited the car, making sure to tug down the hem to her ridiculously short dress.

Sakura sighed, pulling out her compact to check for drool marks. She couldn't believe she had such a vivid dream like that. Hadn't she just closed her eyes for a moment? Her head rested against the glass but she didn't mean to fall asleep after Ino picked her up.

Although, now that she remembered… she was going out under protest. She thought it was going to be another lazy night of packing and ice-cream, but her best friend had other plans. Just one drink, she said.

And Ino being Ino… was not taking no for an answer.

'Besides', she had tried to reason, 'You get to see your booty-call again.'

It was a tempting thought, then, when it was first mentioned… but now they were here? Her stomach was doing flips. Why the hell was she so nervous all of a sudden? The butterfly faze should end once you've seen each other naked, right? Wasn't that how it should work?

Sighing, she closed the compact with a snap and stashed it in her bag. There were no lines on her face… but there was a redness that did not come from the blush makeup used earlier.

"You said a bar, this looks more like a night club… am I underdressed?" Sakura asked as they approached the entryway. Ino turned; giving her ripped black jeans and red-bottomed heels a once over.

"It's a hookah lounge-bar, with a nightclub in the upper level. And you look gorgeous; no one is turning you away from any door, ever. Besides, you're with me… duh."

Grabbing her hand, she marched them to the front, winking at the doorman who lifted the velvet rope. Another bouncer held open the door as the two ducked inside.

Sakura somberly hoped this would not be an all-night excursion.

:✧･ ﾟ･*･ﾟ･✧ B R ✧･ﾟ･*･ﾟ ･✧:

There were two things that stuck out to him, after meeting her for the very first time.

The first?

She had breathtakingly, beautiful eyes.

If you were in close proximity to her… you definitely took notice.

Even the most reserved or poised individual found themselves looking a bit longer than deemed appropriate sometimes. It always traveled into uncomfortable scrutiny if they weren't careful. Many people were given a pass though.

He even heard Ino tell her on one occasion that; 'staring came with being as pretty as she was', and that at least people chose to ogle her eyes, and not something else.

In a weird way, what she said made sense.

Besides… they were pretty.

An unusual shade of green that had to be seen, up close, to really get the full effect.

The second thing he could remember?

She wasn't irritating.

Granted, she had her quirks.

The obnoxious shade of hair that made spotting her entirely too easy…

The animated way she talked sometimes, hands waving and gesturing; hoping to help you keep up with the conversation…

There was a bit more to it, than just tolerating her, too. She was one of the only people he'd met, whose rambling didn't grate on his nerves, like nails on a chalkboard. Conversations; though short between them in the past, were usually pleasant enough. It never felt forced, and even the silence was comfortable.

She was into fashion and jewelry, but was not obnoxious with it all. She was smart and confident, but genuinely humble and kind. She cared for those close to her and took little, to no shit from everyone else. She'd proven herself to be loyal and true from what he could see, with those who knew her and called her a friend.

It was always easy to be in her presence since they'd first been introduced.

Well…

At least it had been, up until this past New Years.

And that… he would place squarely on her shoulders.

Shifting on the barstool, he glanced up at the endless liquor bottles and giant mirrors lining the wall behind the bar, finding his own reflection easily.

And why was thinking about such things to begin with?

He liked her.

It was a thought that flashed across his mind more than once since their fateful encounter.

He didn't chase… and he damn sure wasn't the clingy type. He usually was not the first to reach out. He was the one who shied away from repeated encounters. He was the one who avoided phone calls and dodged texts.

So to be put in such a position… was foreign to him.

He lost the opportunity to dwell on such thoughts as the quiet moment was interrupted; they had arrived. He caught sight of them as they entered, as did a few other men sitting at the bar around him. He watched through the mirror as they made their way to a cozy booth in the back, quickly ordering drinks. Taking a minute to finish his own, he made his way towards them.

Sasuke slipped inside the booth, causing the blonde to look up, setting her drink down to acknowledge him. "Well hello there, handsome." Ino greeted, pearly whites smiling at him.

His eyes flashed to Sakura, who was sitting on the other side of Ino, and gave a general greeting to them both. She'd barely kept his gaze, eyes shifting to the table after muttering a quick 'Hey'.

He could feel her unease, even from here. That made no difference. His mood was on the darker side tonight, so he really didn't care. He would embrace any temporary distraction, even if it was a mild confrontation.

Besides… they hadn't even started.

Ino reached up, slipping her clutch from the table to sit it against her thigh.

Turning his attention elsewhere for the time being, he retrieved a few zipped pouched bags from his inner pocket, sliding them easily into Ino's waiting hands. Moments later, folded bills were handed back.

Once that business settled, he moved on to another topic.

"Kiba's gone missing." He started. Sakura perked up, eyes lifting to meet his.

"He's pulled this before." Ino wasn't the least bit worried. "It just means he needs a few days to himself. He takes these breaks to deal with anxiety and other shit. Just give him some space."

"How long before? Without any of you knowing where he went?"

Ino paused, thinking hard.

Sakura's brow furrowed, shaking her head slightly.

"I think he's always told at least one person when he did. Besides, he hasn't done that since high school, right?" She asked glancing to her side at her blonde friend, who nodded in response.

"I have his mutt. I was supposed to meet up with him to drop him off, but..." he trailed off, but was soon interrupted.

"He'll turn up. He's probably just laying low for a while."

Sasuke knew he sounded like a broken record, but he needed to be sure…

"And neither of you have seen him, you're sure?"

"Yes, we are sure." Ino felt like they were being interrogated, and was becoming agitated. Everyone just needed to chill, and give the boy some space. If he needed a little time for himself, then they should let him have it. Besides, knowing Kiba he's liable to show up a week from now; with a tan and smelling like cheap perfume and coconut oil.

Sasuke relented, letting it go. "Just let me know if you hear anything."

His eyes met both of their own, and the girls gave slight nods in agreement.

Sasuke's eyes traveled past the blonde to the quiet girl on her other side. He silently dared her to look his way, but to no avail. She shifted discreetly, but the movement was caught by the other two parties.

Ino's eyes narrowed between the two of them, eyes darting back and forth before sucking her teeth.

Really, now… why the hell was there so much... tension? Didn't they already do the sex thing?

"So lame..."

Dark eyes blinked before darting to her much lighter ones, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"Hn?" He leaned away when her lip curled.

Drowning the rest of her martini, Ino grabbed her clutch, feeling the slight, added weight to the purse, and nudged Sasuke's side. They were boring her with all this pussyfooting.

"Nothing... now let me up, I'm going to take this to my friends upstairs. Thanks for coming through with this." Standing to her feet, she accepted the polite hand he held out to help.

"A gentleman too? Hmmm…" Ino smirked as she passed him, ignoring a random cat-call from a group of guys near the front. She climbed the stairs to the upper level, leaving her best friend to the dark wolf.

Sakura was oblivious to her new predicament, slowly moving to exit from the other side of the booth, but paused then Sasuke moved in the way. Sitting down, he slid across the dark leather, to settle flush against her side.

Now to handle the third reason he was here.

"Have a drink with me." He nodded to the cocktail waitress, who made her way over to them.

"I already had one-" she started, watching Ino's back as she disappeared from view.

"Then have another." He cut her off, body rigid next to her, despite the smoothness of his voice.

She could feel the hum of energy his body seemed to exude.

She shifted as their arms brushed against each other, still nothing but a bottle of nerves… eyes darting from Ino's abandoned drink to her own; refusing to meet his eyes.

There was silence as neither said a word, and even their drinks being placed in front of them did not break the heavy tension surrounding them. Biting her lip, she finally spoke up.

"Well… this isn't awkward at all."

There, she broke the ice.

At least… she hoped it would have that effect.

"More awkward than leaving the next day, to another country?"

"You really think that that; was the only reason I left?"

He had some nerve, and was a lot more arrogant than she gave him credit for.

"I didn't know you'd left, until a few days later." He took a long sip from his beer, his thumb wiping a bit of moisture from the corner of his lip. Her eyes followed the movement, drifting away before she got caught. He shifted beside her, before turning metal dark eyes to her.

"I didn't… have your number, so I got it from Ino."

' I had yours. '

She thanked any god who was listening that she did not say that out loud. Sinking underneath the table would not be low enough to erase her mortification. She could not recall exactly how, or when she came into possession of it, but she did have it saved in her phone, long before their tyst.

"I called you." He admitted, taking another drink.

' I know. '

She saw the call when it came through, along with the second one; the next day after that.

"It must have shown as a blocked number so I didn't pick up… sorry."

"I texted you." Something shifted in his gaze while he looked at her, and she was hard-pressed to look away. She became aware of the heat, radiating from his body and they… they were sitting way too close.

"I may be a lot of things, but I'm no one's fucking regret."

That snapped her back to the present, and she blinked rapidly, her brow lowered.

"Me? I thought you did…"

She thought he regretted it all, or at the very least… didn't really care.

He said nothing as his gaze remained locked on hers, not moving as he waited to see if she was joking or not. When she still sat there his eyes narrowed, his body turning slightly towards her and she leaned back; wide, pretty green eyes sparkling.

Successfully intimidated, she sputtered over her words as she finally began telling her story, explaining why she felt the way she felt, and had taken such a stance in the first place…

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

Sakura half listened to what he was saying as he sat on the edge of the bed, phone to his ear as he drags his discarded jeans from the floor. His voice is scuffed when he answers his phone; hardened from use over the last few hours no doubt … and even she can tell he is peeved. There was a brief pause, his eyes shifting behind to glance at her, before speaking into the device.

"…-Nothing important."

Coldness… seeming to come from nowhere, crept through her body at his words, the feeling of something very close to rejection and humiliation… made her fingers numb. He did not see her reaction as he stood, wandering over to the tall windows. He spoke in a raspy tone, the hushed words too low for her to now overhear.

Sakura swung her legs down, wincing at the slight throb between her thighs. She would definitely need to soak in the tub, after all of the rough play, no doubt.

But first, she needed to make a timely escape.

This would be easier, if this was not her temporary domain. If it weren't, she could just grab her shoes and make her way to the front door. Alas, that was not an option at this point. The bathroom would have to suffice… either that, or go down in the elevator.

She was halfway to the door when his voice stopped her. Finished with his call, he was now trying to explain his upcoming, hasty departure. She turned with a smile that didn't meet her eyes, watching as his chest disappeared behind the shirt he just found. She cheerily replied not to worry, and she would catch up with him later...

All without breaking her stride until she was hidden behind the safety of the bathroom door.

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

He continued to stare at her, even as her voice trailed off.

She didn't dare move, watching closely to see what his reaction would be. He broke their gaze and reached for his beer, taking another swig.

Placing it on the table, he looked at her, opening his mouth to say something…

…Only to change his mind instead, picking up the bottle to chug the rest of the alcohol.

Sakura sat in silence as he flagged down the waitress to order another round.

They sat there for a good minute, long enough for the eager waitress to return with his refreshment and clearing the used glasses. Two fingers and his thumb held the long neck of the bottle, resting it on the table before he finally spoke up.

"You are fucking annoying."

Before, when she got halfway through her story, he barely suppressed the urge to wipe his hand across his face in frustration.

He could instantly see where her mind was headed… could easily see how the tale was going to play out from her perspective. Combine that, with his sudden need to leave at the time… he could understand her side and how it all looked.

Still…

It didn't change the fact that she was annoying the shit out of him right now.

"I wasn't talking about you, about us, nor about what we did… when I said that."

She paled, and then… all at once, color blossomed in her cheeks. Why was she so quick to jump to conclusions sometimes?

Because that's the Haruno way.

Well… technically it was more the 'Ishikawa' way (her mother's maiden name, and definitely the correct side of the family to blame for such impulses).

Either way, it was in her blood to act foolishly, and definitely was something she was known for, in her early years. Well, she hadn't quite grown out of it, had she? It certainly was coming to bite her on the ass, in this situation.

"Oh…" She breathed, realization fully dawning on her.

He grasped the bottle and brought it to his lips again.

He wanted to spank her.

Sasuke didn't know where the wayward thought came from, but he couldn't help the overwhelming urge to drag her across his knee and swat her behind, at the incredulous response.

'Oh'? That's all she could say… was 'Oh'?

He drank his beer before he said something stupid.

All this time she had kept her distance because she thought he wasn't interested? He all but screamed (in his own way)… that he was interested, by reaching out… and she…

Finishing the beer, he stood… leaving a few bills on the table. There were some other things he had to take care of tonight, and should go. Even though he was reluctant, he needed to cut this meeting short.

Sakura looked up as he moved; missing the heat she felt when his leg was pressed against her own beneath the table.

Turning to leave he paused, looking at her over his shoulder. She could only freeze, swallowing thickly as she got caught up in his amorous stare.

"Haruno?"

"…Y-yes?"

"You make sure I'm not still… 'blocked', on your fucking phone, got it?"

A few minutes later, Ino found her… in the same spot. The poor pinkette looked as if she'd just seen a ghost or something, and despite the blondes prodding, she didn't say a word.

END CHAPTER

:✧･ ﾟ･*･ﾟ･✧ B R ✧･ﾟ･*･ﾟ ･✧:

Next: Chapter Four

[blacknovelist]

K A T S U K I B A K U G O, for the ask thingy please! Thank you!

i love these letter headcanons so much, my dudes

(okay so like, honesty hour it’s been a Solid While since I’ve read BNHA and I haven’t caught up yet but here’s my hot takes as requested.

I think the last I solidly caught up was about, like, the cultural festival? So if something happened later to like, contradict with these, just disregard it and don’t let me know - I’ll catch up and see for myself eventually.)

K: how do you know when you’ve upset them?

See, the thing about Bakugo is - he’s a loud sort, and it’s easy to assume (so very, very, very easy) that he is so in everything he ever does. He screams and hisses and swears and shouts at so many things, it’s his defining trait. The thing is, it’s not his volume that tells you first, if you know what to look for.

Nah, it’s in the look on his face. The way the lines of his cheek n jaw shift and his hands twitch and for a moment he ain’t just glaring and frowning at you or the world but at himself, too. When he realizes he’s upset his first instinct is always to reach inward, somehow - whether bodily or mentally or both, it depends - and study it. Examine it. Look at it. Once he’s got it pinned, then, then he’s gotta look for an outlet - a means to further that understanding if you will. And sometimes maybe also he’ll look to lash out at someone he sees as responsible for his pain, if such a person exists. It’s just, his brain works so fast - Bakugo is a prodigy in his own right, brilliant beneath all that rage - that actually noticing that moment, not passing it off as a fidget or a twitch or anything else it isn’t, is already hard enough as it is.

See like, his shouting, it’s a defense, but it’s also just who he is (be loud, they’ll notice you, attention is good). It’s that half-step pause, when he’s knocked off balance and that unsure look crosses his face as he does, thats when you know.

And then he’ll blast your ears off one way or another, and if you didn’t notice he’ll usually get louder and start cussing you out and you kind of have to notice. Unless you’ve really really upset him - then he goes a little quieter (in the way a car horn is softer than a foghorn) and obliterates you with his words. Bakugo will always know the most efficient way to shut someone down using only his words, you just gotta coax him to it. And when he’s upset, well, no one wants to keep talking to someone who’s made them upset - ending the conversation by returning the favor is just a bonus.

(Of course, I’m registering “upset” as not including or being the same as “anger”, at least at it’s core (bc he’ll progress to being angry abt it eventually), because Bakugo being angry is something we’re all quite familiar with. And of course, this is assuming someone has found the right buttons to push to even make him upset, given the fact that I also believe he just doesn’t care enough to really let what others say get to him.

If anyone’s gonna make Bakugo genuinely upset, I’d bet more money on it being himself - thinking, dreaming, wondering, questioning everything he’s done and is doing and will someday do, probably - than anyone else. But were that not the case, well. Here we are.)

A: what are/were their best subjects in school?

Bakugo is a boy of many talents - you need the best grades to get into UA, after all. I think he probably did best in English, because All Might is known to speak English phrases from time to time. (This is related to the fact that Bakugo is the English teacher in Ageswap)

He likely also is good with chemistry, given his Quirk - he’s gotta understand reactions and gases and which ones are where generally, the interactions of substances and those gasses with his Quirk and also their reactions when exposed to heat/light/etc, what things he can use to fuel explosions or put out fires caused by it, so on.

T: Where are they ticklish?

I don’t particularly imagine Bakugo as a ticklish person? Partially because he wouldn’t let anyone close enough to tickle, but mostly because he just doesn’t strike me like that (and it’s not because I’m not ticklish, because I am unfortunately extremely so). If I had to give a place, I’d say it’s probably somewhere a little strange, like the soles of his feet or the back of his neck or something.

S: How stealthy are they?

At first glance, unbelievably so. Those who know Bakugo know better, of course, but nonetheless. Despite the boisterous and angry manner Bakugo holds himself he is, again, extremely smart. He knows when to be subtle, when to quiet down and, most important in this case, when to lay low and sneak.

I don’t think I’d put him as like, top sneaker of the class, but the boy knows how to creep when he needs to. On a scale where say, Hagakure was 10/10, I’d pin him a solid 6 or 7/10 when he’s actually trying.

U: What’s their voice like?

I’ve always imagined his voice as always having a sort of… edge to it. Not a gritty-sounding emo sort of edge but like,, like he’s always chomping at the bit to end a conversation, I guess. Also, he talks a little quickly when he’s not swearing specifically at someone - not so fast that he’s incomprehensible, but more like what he’s saying is obvious and he can’t understand why you don’t see it that way either. It’s not malicious or on purpose, it’s just how he is.

I: On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do they love themselves?

Mmm. As a kid, a solid 9 or 10 - back then he was too young, just a boy with the entire damn world at his fingertips. He never had reason to believe he was anything less than the absolute best, and that’s fine.

At the start of the series I’d say he, to others, looks like he’s always on the high end of the spectrum (7-10 out of 10), and I’d say back then he probably felt it too. Middle schoolers are the absolute worst, I have no trouble believing he has that much confidence in the beginning.

By the boot camp he’s still putting off solid 7-10 vibes (I think there’s never a time he isn’t putting on that air with the world so just assume he is pls) but I think - with all the hits his self-confidence, what with how different UA is to anything else he’s ever known - he’s sitting at closer to 5’s and 6’s. After Kamino? He drops below 5 and for every moment he thinks about it (about the fight, about All Might, about the hero career that almost ended and the one that actually did) it continues to go down. The thing being, of course, that he doesn’t act it, and a part of me imagines he stays in partial denial (“I feel like this but maybe I don’t”) until about the provisional license. (Though, I don’t think he drops lower than 3)

Idk, maybe it’s just been a while and I’m overthinking it but I get the vibes that Bakugo vaguely acknowledging Izuku in that moment in the exam? It was kinda the moment it clicked in his own brain, an understanding of what Izuku has been given based on what he knows, so to speak, and how different it is from him. I think that’s when he stops denying how low he thinks he’s sunk, which leads to him wanting to get answers, which leads to the fight. Which is such a good moment, holy shit.

I think it’s after that that Bakugo starts working towards building himself back up internally. Needing to take that additional thing to get his license was a blow, but he’s nothing if not determined - he’ll make that comeback, just you wait. He’s a solid and even 6-7 by the cultural festival, and holding strong.

(Again: I haven’t caught up with canon for a very long time, so if canon seems to contradict me or if you’re looking for a look at how he is now, sorry)

B: Do they have any allergies?

Nope. Everyone hates him come allergy season because he’s always cool as a cucumber and the same as he always is.

G: How do they flirt?

man, this is so far out of my jurisdiction

here’s some true facts kids: I don’t generally judge ships and if it’s in character i’ll read almost anything

but i’m also not a shipper, at all. Given the option, I’d sooner throw my entire being into the pit that is “platonic shit” than have to deal with an excess of it.

So like, I’m not here for romance, and I tend to rely on tropes when I am, but Bakugo lands in that hotspot of “would not fulfill those romance tropes on his own of his own volition”.

I guess if I had to say, I think he’d probably extend invitations to let the person he’s interacting with learn more about him in general - hobbies n habits n shit like that. That is to say, he’d absolutely invite someone hiking or to spar or whatever in an attempt to both learn abt the person (how do they react) and to let them learn about him. He’s always struck me as being kind of private, so like, such a leap would probably mean a lot.

That’s as much as I’m getting from this one mate

O: What would it take to break them, inside and out?

We’ve already caught a good damn glimpse of this - you know that breakdown he has with Izuku, when he’s blaming himself for being the end of All Might?

Bakugo thrives on hard work and being the best (or at least, striving for it), and that leaves a number of ways for him to break, it’s just that he’s incredibly resilient as a person so it’s hard to tell.

The frustration of trying his best and still ending a situation with the worst case - a la Kamino but worse - would absolutely destroy him. Can you imagine? Working hard and powering through and doing everything in your damn power to do the right thing, to save yourself so you can save others, to be a hero, only for it to be for literally nothing in the end? The specific scenario I’ve got in mind is a little more long-term; I believe that if something big happened like that and he came out thinking it ended well enough, only for a shoe the size of the USA to drop on his head and disrupt everything he’s worked towards? Rendering nearly all their work for nothing? Revealing that he and everyone else played right into the villains’ hands, essentially making this their own faults?

Well, something would break in just any anyone.

(Alternately, a realization that everything you do is meaningless and a constant reinforcement of “you’ll never be who you want to be” would also do a pretty damn good job)

[unleash-hell-little-one]

Commonality

Preview:

“Why don’t you buzz off with the rest of the idiots?” He says, this time at his leveled voice.

Momo rubs her arm and she softly responds.

“ I don’t really like dancing. “

Bakugou sits at a table by himself, trying his hardest to appear bored out of his mind. A select few of Class 1-A as well as All Might earned themselves a trip to I Island, a man-made island known to be at the forefront of scientific discoveries. All Might, with his many connections, scored an all expenses paid trip to reacquaint with his former sidekick David Shield. The two congregated with the other adults, drinking and talking through their past adventures.

The spiky blonde scanned the room. The dance floor was currently occupied by a crowd of high energy teenagers, dancing to an EDM song. He saw Deku and the blonde girl Melissa dancing together which looked more like Deku awkwardly jutting his arm and legs every few seconds. His face flushed and had an expression of discomfort. Uraraka and some of the other girls were enjoying themselves by the buffet while Kaminari was in the corner annoyedly charging phones.

"Bakugou?"

The teen turned to his left and was greeted by the vice president's concerned face. She was wearing a mint colored dress, some gold jewelry and white heels. Her spikes were styled in a peculiar way.

"What do you want Ponytail?"

She tilts her head curiously, "You're not dancing?"

Bakugou scoffs and narrows his eyes, "Me sitting on this chair not obvious enough for you?"

"Oh, well…it is a welcoming party for us. You should at least show a little appreciation for the host."

"Appreciation my ass. I didn't even want to come here."

There was a prolonged pause between the two. Yaoyorozu took a seat, despite Bakugou not offering. It had been a few months since the Class 1-A was established and Yaoyorozu hadn't found much time to interact with every student, let alone the intimidating Bakugou Katsuki. The boy was as approachable as a time bomb.

Not wanting to disgrace the title of vice president, Momo strived for any sort of common ground with the spiky haired blond next to her. Her eyes darted around and sees a curious design on his vest.

"Ah! We're matching! Look Bakugou!"

Yaoyorozu points at his side and the boy sits up, clearly annoyed.

"The hell are you rambling about?"

"We have the same color see? My dress and your floral pattern." Momo excitedly says, she smiles at him, already feeling an ominous aura from his glares.

"Keep you hands and eyes to your damn self!"

"S-sorry."

Well that was a complete disaster, Momo thought as she sighed. Bakugou appeared to have calmed down slightly but huffs as he crosses his arms. He faces the dance floor once again.

"Why don't you buzz off with the rest of the idiots?" He says, this time at his leveled voice.

Momo rubs her arm and she softly responds.

"I don't really enjoy dancing. "

Momo senses no change in his irritated look and decided to elaborate a little.

"Frankly, I'm terrible at it. I've been trying to hide from Hagakure and Ashido. They'll want me to join but I'm afraid I'd just look like a fool."

Bakugou seemed as if he didn't hear anything she had just admitted. His lack of a reaction unexpectedly made Momo feel more relaxed. As expected, Bakugou didn't really like getting involved in people's affairs. He seems to be the kind of guy with a one track mind.

Oh what the heck, Momo internally shrugs. Her attempt at a civil conversation couldn't be any worse so she then decides on a much mundane topic. Seems to be the no nonsense kind. Might as well give it a try.

"So how did you find the exam Bakugou?"

"Hm. I know I destroyed it."

Wow, a response. And a non-threatening one as well. Momo blinks and nods softly. She knows he's exceptionally smart, but the recent exam had been particularly brutal, even with her S - Class intelligence.

"And?" Momo urges him on.

Bakugou stays quiet again, worrying Momo that he was going to revert back to yelling at her. He tightens the grip he had on his forearm and scoffs for the umpteenth time.

"Question 45? Fucking bitch."

Momo's face brightens as she almost slams on the table, "Right?! I was stuck on it for three minutes!"

"Who the hell needs to know Dalton's Law? Of course, the sum of two or more partial pressures would be the same as the total pressure! That piece of shit created a physics law basically saying one plus one equals two!"

"And Question 71? My goodness, molecular orbital theory was not even in the curriculum this semester and yet you have to explain why electrons are not assigned to individual bonds between atoms? I know it, but what about students like Kaminari who haven't even the basic knowledge of chemistry? It's like they want us to fail!"

"Swear to god Aizawa was so smug when he added that chemistry question. That bum ass looking weirdo!"

Momo eases down on her chair and released a soft giggle, "It is so refreshing to hear someone with the same frustrations. People usually assume that I study for fun. I only try so hard because it's directly linked to my Quirk."

Bakugou looks down on his hand and closes it into a fist, "People think that I'm too busy blowing shit up to open a book. Doesn't matter how high of a score I get, there's still some retard accusing me of cheating."

Momo nods in sympathy. She places a hand under her chin in contemplation. "I am curious about that. You're very intelligent Bakugou. I suppose it has something to do with your sleeping habits."

"My what?"

"You sleep earlier than most people our age. Your memory's probably well consolidated."

Bakugou taken aback from the compliment, seemed to be a little flustered. He blinked a few times and was about to respond when two figures came up in front of them unexpectedly.

"Hey Bakugou come join us!" Kirishima appeared to the two sitting on the table with Ashido in tow.

"Yaomomo! There you are! What are you doing sitting there?" Mina asked happily.

Momo's fears came in an unexpected rush as the thought of being pushed into the dance floor had her dreading. Mina looks to her expectantly.

"Ah Ashido! U-um I'm not confident dancing-"

Mina tugs Momo's arm grinning, "Don't be embarrassed Yaomomo you gotta-"

"Ponytail was being an idiot and sprained her foot. She's letting it rest."

Momo darted her eyes to Bakugou, his were closed but his snare was evident.

Mina gasps and kneels to Momo's legs. "Oh no! That's terrible honey let me see!"

Without even thinking, Momo quickly created an ice pack from her leg as she pulled her skirt. She smiled and rubbed her foot in assurance.

"Oh, that's good you have an ice pack. Just make sure you take it easy okay?"

"I will. Thank you, Mina."

Ashido's eyes widened as she hugged Momo, "You said my first name! Yay!"

Kirishima smiles as he sees the two girls having a moment. He turns to his stubborn friend and asks, "So how about you Bakugou?"

"No shit for brains I'm not dancing with you idiots!"

Kirishima shrugs replies, "Thought it would be polite to ask. At least you have Yaoyorozu keeping you company here."

The red-haired teenager turned to Momo and rubs the back of his neck in apology, "Sorry you're stuck with this guy Yaoyorozu."

"Not at all. Bakugou and I were discussing some chemistry theories. Would you like to hear them?"

Upon hearing the end of Momo's sentence, Mina takes Kirishima's arm and pulls him towards the dance floor in panic. She'd been on the brunt of Momo's scientific explanations. She does not want to experience that again.

"Uh no thank you. C'mon Kirishima let's leave these two nerds to discuss."

"Okay, I'll see you guys." Momo says as she waves.

The pair runs back to join the class and Momo sees Bakugou's shoulders visibly sags. He mutters beneath his collar.

"Thanks."

Momo smiles brightly as she places her hand under her chin. Academically, she was at the top but now the opportunity to dispute with a fellow intellectual seemed too good to pass up. Bakugou Katsuki...I've got a pretty good measure of you.

"Now…about Dalton's Law. I personally believe it's justified."

"Hell no! That shit is so useless!"

"I think not."

From the center of the room, Kirishima and Ashido hears the commotion that Momo and Bakugou were causing. There was a lot of yelling involved which for Bakugou was to be expected, but Momo was also participating.

"Yaomomo and Bakugou are really getting into it. Is chemistry really that intense?"