#anyways i'll try to stay away from my phone as much as possible so... see you soon i guess <3

[runningfrom2am]

cold nights // part twenty-nine

summary: you were back in the capitol, and you would be damned if you didn't try your hardest to make it worthwhile.

pairing: coriolanus snow x fem!reader

wc: 4.2k

masterlists / nav / requests

tags/warnings: tribute!reader and mentor!coriolanus, r is very sweet (too kind for this world. literally.), sunshine x grumpy trope kinda, he falls first, violence typical for the source material, depictions of mental illness, also she's is very smart (as she should), district twelve!reader.

a/n: ahh shit really hits the fan in this one oops

my asks are also open to talk about this series! (i do have emoji anons open now too!)

send me any and all of your thoughts! here!

series masterlist // playlist

"Coryo." You hum, knocking on your boyfriend's doorframe.

He looks up from his desk, smiling as he sees you standing in the door. You were still wearing what you had worn to class that day, a button up shirt he had bought for you with the orange skirt Tigris made, short and simple as if it was made by your own mother. It matched perfectly with his own mother's scarf that you always wore out, that was left draped over your shoulders. You were looking at him like you needed something, and it just made him light up.

"Love," He closes his book and stands up. "What do you need?" He asks, quickly pushing up his unstyled hair out of his face- the curls were beginning to come back, but they weren't quite as long as they once were. When he's with you, which is almost always, he makes a very conscious effort to keep it up and away from his face.

Your hands are tucked behind your back, nervously twisting your fingers. "Why must you assume that I need something?" You giggle.

"Because I know that look." He pokes your nose as he gets close enough to do so, now standing a foot away and looking at you expectantly.

"Okay, fine." You sigh. "I was wondering if you had any plans for Halloween."

"Hallo-what?" He asks, tilting his head at you. Your jaw drops.

"Halloween." You say again, wondering if it was possible he just misheard you.

He laughs, eyebrows raised in clear confusion.

"You don't know what Halloween is? You don't celebrate here?" You gasp.

"No, sorry."

"Oh my god, okay. Well, we must do something." You clap excitedly.

"Slow down, darling. You're gonna have to tell me what it is before I can agree." He chuckles, holding a hand out you to stop you before you got too excited.

"Okay, okay." You agree. "So, it's a holiday, similar to Christmas if you have that."

"Of course we have Christmas."

"How was I supposed to know?" You laugh. "Anyway, it's mostly for little kids, but still. Basically, on the last day of the month everyone dresses up in costumes of monsters or animals or different jobs- whatever you want, and the kids go knocking door to door and adults will give them treats."

"Treats." He states, but it comes out more like a question.

"Yes. Like cookies, or candy if you have it, really anything." You grin, nodding at him excitedly. "My Ma usually makes fudge."

"Okay..." Coryo laughs. "So... sorry, I'm confused. What do we do? Hand out candy to kids who won't come because no one's heard of it here?"

"That's the best part!" You clap. "We aren't parents; old enough to be stuck handing out candy, and we aren't young enough to go trick or treating, so we get to have the most fun."

"Okay..." He urges you on.

"We get to have a party!"

"A party." He eyes you a little bit skeptically.

"Yes!"

"Since when do you like to party?" He seems wholly unconvinced.

"I don't, but it's tradition! I always have fun, I just don't drink much anymore. It'll be good to make friends, Coryo. Please?"

"Anymore?" He laughs, but quickly shakes his head to stay focussed on what you were asking of him. "Love, I wish we could but I don't know where we'd have a party, we can't have it here."

You frown, thinking for a moment. "Oh! I'll call Sej." You grin, already bounding off down the hall toward the phone.

That was that, he couldn't change your mind even if he desired to- but really, if a party would make you happy, then you would get a party. He would make sure of it.

You had spent weeks handing out invitations to the other people in your classes, most of which, as you noticed, ended up in the trash cans or littering the halls. You didn't let it bother you, Coryo insisted that people just didn't tend to hold on to those kinds of things and it didn't mean they wouldn't come. (What you didn't know, was his near-constant cleanup efforts of asking anyone he knew or had classes with to come to his "costume party"- and people didn't like to say no to Coriolanus Snow.)

You had come up with a plan. Coryo would say it was his party, and he would be hosting it at the Plinth's estate. You couldn't run the risk of putting your name on the idea, especially after your interview assuring parents that you were just there to learn- not fraternize. You didn't mind, you knew more people would want to come if it was his party, and that it wasn't a "Halloween" party. Just a costume party that happened to land on the district holiday that none of these kids nor their parents knew about. Hopefully.

You were incredibly excited. You spent the days after Sejanus's parents left town over there making decorations, and begrudgingly, Coryo joined you after realizing you weren't only there to drop things off.

He never pictured himself spending so much money on orange and black coloured paper, but here he was. The list of things he would do for you is growing by the day, surprising even himself.

You had put a lot of time into your costumes, with Tigris's help over the last couple of weeks. It wasn't anything crazy, just a white dress and some small angel wings, and for Coryo a gray shirt with leather straps, some light chain mail on the shoulders, and silver sleeves. You were very proud of them, but you hadn't shown him yet. You would be Romeo and Juliet, and you thought it was just perfect.

You smile as you knock on his bedroom door, already in your costume. You would get there a little early to help Sejanus with some final touches, but you did have a lot of people confirm with Coryo that they were coming. You were excited.

He opens the door, his breath dying out in his throat as he takes in your outfit. He must have died and gone to heaven. "Well hello, angel." He grins as he regains himself, opening the door fully for you to come in.

"Do you like it?" You ask, giving a quick spin even as you're holding his matching costume behind your back.

"You look beautiful." He says quietly, nodding as he eyes how the white satin clings to your figure. He couldn't think of a more fitting costume for you; although to him, you always looked like an angel. But now, more beautiful than ever. Ethereal. "It's stunning, love."

"Thank you!" You smile, pulling his forward and holding the folded mix of fabrics up to him. "This is yours."

"Mine?" He asks, a confused smile on his face as he grabs it and unfolds it carefully. "What is it?"

"You're a knight!" You say, clapping your hands together excitedly. "Well, you're Romeo as a knight. And I'm Juliet." You grin, holding the hem of your dress and prompting him to look at it again.

"Romeo and Juliet." He chuckles, nodding slightly as he looks between the two.

"Yeah!" You smile excitedly. "Romeo! Here's drink. I drink to thee."

He laughs, nodding as he closes the door behind you and pulls off his shirt to put on the costume you made for him. "I love it, Y/N/N. Thank you."

"Of course." You nod excitedly. "I've always wanted to do a couples costume."

"Is that a thing?" He asks, getting ready to pull it over his head.

"Yes. It's so sweet! Couples will wear matching costumes and that's how you know they're together, I always loved looking at other peoples." You explain. "My parents always do matching costumes. One year, they both dressed up as cats. My mom made the ears out of felt, and they carried Tybs to the door with them to hand out candy. It was so cute. Like I said, they do matching costumes every year."

In your rambling, you don't notice how he freezes up completely, face falling. Hesitantly, he pulls it over his head. "How do I look?" He asks, gluing a smile back on.

You smile, nodding at him. "So handsome, Coryo." You confirm. "Tigris helped me make it."

"It's... a little uncomfortable." He tells you, pretending to adjust the light chainmail that hung over his chest.

You frown, reaching out to help him adjust it for a moment. "Is that better?"

He hates to do this- it fits perfectly, but he can't have people knowing you're together. Not yet. "Uh..." The hopeful look in your eyes breaks his heart. "Yeah, that's better." He nods, relieved by the smile that returns to your face.

"Are you ready to go, then?" You ask, tilting your head at him.

"Just give me ten minutes, love. Would you mind gathering up our drinks?" He asks, kissing your forehead.

"Of course, Romeo." You giggle, turning on your heel and leaving, closing the door gently behind you.

He hates himself for what he knows has to do.

When you got to Sejanus's house, you were practically vibrating with excitement as you ran around hanging up decorations and placing and replacing drinks and snacks on the tables, moving them around.

"Sej?" You ask, standing on a stool to be able to reach up above a doorframe.

"Yeah?" He calls back from across the room, turning to look at you.

"I'm out of tape, could you grab me another roll? We brought some, it's in the kitchen. Coryo will tell you which bag." You explain and he nods, giving you a quick thumbs up as he walks by and down the hall. 

Walking into the entrance to the kitchen, his eyes go wide.

There's Coryo, holding out the front of his shirt over the sink and pouring a glass of red wine down the front. Extremely, very intentionally.

"Uh... what are you doing?" He asks, and Coryo's head snaps up, eyes panicked.

"Uh, shit, I..." He laughs slightly, placing the glass down quickly and turning on the tap. "I tripped and, god I don't really know. I'm just trying to get this out..."

Sejanus nodded slightly, trying to hide how unconvinced he was. "I don't know if that will come out." He states.

"Shit..." Coryo sighs, albeit dramatically. If Sejanus hadn't just seen him do what he just did, he would be convinced. Coryo would make a good actor. "Well... Do you have something else I could wear?"

"Yeah... uh, yeah. Just go into my closet and help yourself." Sejanus tells him, gesturing down the hall.

"Thanks," Coryo says, brushing past him eagerly all ready to go and change into something else.

Your friend swallows, watching him as he disappears down the hall. Sejanus knew you had spent hours putting together that costume for him, could he even tell you that he saw Coryo ruin it on purpose? It would break your heart- but he did really want to know why.

Sejanus couldn't tell you. You were having fun, or at least trying to, and he didn't want to ruin that. People were talking to you, and to him, which was kind of new territory for the both of you. Your interview and your kindness in classes and to everyone you met did wonders for your reputations as "District kids". Surprisingly, your classmates had lots of questions and none of them seemed to have any real problems with you in a less pressurized setting. The alcohol was likely a contributing factor.

"Yes! Well, we'd go to the lake a lot. Oh! So, one time, my brother and I spent all day dragging this old barrel up a cliffside just to hang it off a tree at the top. We just spent our time doing the most random stuff." You giggle over the music, clutching your glass to your chest as you continue on a conversation with Hilarius, who you saw as a new friend even though Coryo wasn't his biggest fan. You had probably a little bit too much to drink, spurred on by your nervousness.

"A barrel..?" Hilarius laughs, tilting his head at you. 

"Well, yeah, what kind of stuff did you do for fun, then?" You ask over the loud music.

"Chess, I suppose. Reading, I don't know. Fun wasn't really on the schedule." He explains.

"Well, I'd rather drag a barrel up a hill than do nothing, wouldn't you?" You laugh.

"Touché." He tilts his glass at you before taking a sip.

"Y/N, can I steal you for a second?" You hear Sejanus say in your ear, suddenly beside you and you nod, politely dismissing yourself from the conversation.

You follow him down the hall to an empty corner. He couldn't take it anymore, he had to tell you. "I'm sorry about Coryo's costume, I know you worked hard on it." He says honestly.

"It is okay. Spills happen." You smile.

"Well, yes..." He agrees, looking around quickly to make sure he can't spot Coryo's blonde hair in the vicinity. It was a rare moment he wasn't with you, so now was his only shot. "But... it wasn't an accident."

"What do you mean?" You ask, tilting your head at him with a slightly nervous smile.

"Y/N I... I watched him pour the wine on it. Like, very intentionally."

You don't know what to say, slightly shocked. After a moment of him watching your expression evolve, you begin to laugh. "No, no. Sej, I love you, but how much did you drink before we got here? Because he wouldn't-"

"Nothing." He answers shortly, giving a firm shake of his head. "Not a drop, Y/N/N. I swear."

Your smile fades slightly at his abrupt statement. "Well..." You say quietly. "Why would he do that?"

"I don't know, but I know better than to be the one to bring it up to him. You should ask."

"I mean, he said it wasn't very comfortable before we left the house. Maybe he just didn't want to hurt my feelings." You smile to yourself, nodding as you decide.

"By ruining something you made for him? Yeah, that'll spare your feelings." Sejanus scoffs, looking past you once more to make sure Coriolanus wasn't nearby.

"He tried to spare them, I assume." You sigh, giving him a reassuring smile in hopes that he won't let it worry him. "It's okay. Thank you, Sej, for telling me, but it's really not a big deal."

The knowledge that Coryo ruined his costume on purpose was eating you alive. The feeling of dread sat deep in your chest where it apparently couldn't be drowned out with more wine or posca or anything that you could find or was offered to you. It made you so horribly sad, that even though you couldn't seem to find your boyfriend in any room of the large house you weren't sure if you even wanted to.

Talking to strangers helped, meeting new people. Some people you shared classes with, and you could mostly discuss that. It was a lot of explaining and reexplaining that people in the Districts were more or less normal, just with less access to resources. You got a few laughs out of that, but a surprising amount of understanding nods. Maybe all hope wasn't lost.

You were here to have fun. It wasn't like Halloween parties back home, and the sheer volume of boys in their own father's old peacekeeper uniforms was chilling to you. Even back home, where you knew those old uniforms were lying folded up in an attic somewhere, very few kids would dare touch them even to make a joke out of it. You couldn't take it anymore, deciding to just step out onto the back patio to get some fresh air.

The air hits your lungs and brushes over your skin, instantly giving you chills but you don't mind. Hearing talking over to your right, you take a look only to see Coryo with a few of your classmates, smiling as he leaned back against the wall of the house. A couple of faces you recognized, and one you didn't.

You smile as you walk over to them, squeezing in next to Coryo. "Clemmie, Livia. It's good to see you." You smile at them, and Clemmie gives a polite nod while Livia just takes another sip out of her glass while the other boy with them just continues talking.

"I don't believe we've met, sorry." You smile at him during a break in his story, extending a hand to him. "My name is Y/N. What's yours?"

He laughs, hesitantly shaking your hand. "Festus. Festus Creed." He tells you.

"Lovely to meet you, Festus." You grin. "Are you a friend of Coryo's?"

"Yeah, you could say that." He chuckles and you look up at your boyfriend who suddenly looks annoyed, rolling his eyes.

"I just love meeting his friends." You smile excitedly. "Are you studying at the university? I haven't seen you before." You say, folding your arm around Coryo's and he tenses up, not so subtly shaking you off.

You look up at him for a moment, a confused smile on your face from his actions.

"Would you mind giving me some space?" He asks coldly, almost glaring at you. Your eyes flick to his, but it's dark. They're cold, icy blue even in the poor lighting. His cheeks are flushed, but maybe that's from the chill.

"Oh, sorry." You laugh nervously, taking a step back and abandoning your conversation. "I... um, I'm gonna go get some water. It was nice to see you." You wave quickly to his friends, turning and heading for the door.

"Sorry, apparently my tribute gets touchy when she drinks." You hear Coriolanus laugh behind you as you enter the house again. It was met by laughs from the rest of the group he was with, and your heart dropped practically out of your chest and onto the floor. You wouldn't have been shocked if you looked down and saw your white dress absorbing the remains of your heart.

Your white feather angel wings catch on the curtain of the door as you close it behind you, and you want to scream and rip them off as you feel tears well up in your eyes. You look around for your best route of escape, feeling the familiar tightness in your chest begin to build.

You'll have to go along the wall- clinging to the outside of the room as you avoid the chaos of the middle in an effort to make it up to Sejanus's room. You'd be alone there.

Tears stream down your cheeks as you keep your head up, eyes locked on the entrance to the foyer with the large staircase, which you know you can take to get to your friend's room. Your fight or flight is kicking in, you think, as the music and laughter and voices fade into nothing. You almost expect the familiar clang of a metal weapon to sound out in front of you as it slams into the wall- but you have to make a very conscious effort to remind yourself that you aren't in the arena anymore. Even if it felt like it more and more with every step.

Shutting the door to Sejanus's bedroom, you quickly shuffle over to his bathroom and lock yourself in, freezing when you catch a look at yourself in the reflection. She was hardly a reflection of you; tear-stained cheeks, angel wings- when you knew that these days you were just about the farthest thing from it. You had changed. You hardly recognized her, and that's the thing that forced you to look away.

You don't even hear someone enter the room until there's knocking on the bathroom door. "Y/N? Are you in there?" Lyssie asks, concern dripping through her tone.

You sniff, quickly wiping your eyes. "Yeah! Yeah, I just need a moment." You choke out, trying and failing to keep your voice steady.

"Are you okay?" She asks through the door, wiggling the handle now. "What happened?"

"I'm fine just fine." You insist, laughing nervously as you look down at how badly your hands are shaking.

"Can I come in? Can you open the door for me?"

God, how you wished it was Lucy Gray on the other side.

But Lucy Gray isn't here. Lysistrata Vickers is all you have- so with shaky hands you reach for the door and unlock it, letting her in. She won't hurt you, you're sure.

Her eyes are already wide with worry as she gets her first glimpse at you. "Oh, Y/N, what's wrong?" She asks, stepping in and quickly closing the door behind herself. "Here, sit down..." She nods to the floor, which has clearly been recently cleaned. Even so, she pulls a towel from the rack and lays it out for you to sit on.

"I'm just a little too drunk." You sniff, trying to dismiss her worries, and slide down against the wall on top of the towel she laid for you as sobs take over you.

"Want to tell me what happened?" She asks again, hurriedly reaching for a smaller towel and wetting it with what you assume is cold water, wringing it out before joining your side on the floor.

"Nothing." You shake your head and bring your hands up to cover your face as you cry into them. "I can't... I can't tell you."

"Okay, that's okay..." She soothes you. "Here, this will help. Can you move your hands for me?"

She doesn't want to touch you, no one really does. You lower your hands, squeezing them tight together in your lap as she carefully reaches up to dab the cloth across your forehead. It does feel good on your burning skin.

You focus on taking deep breaths, trying not to embarrass yourself any further.

"There you go..." She smiles. "You're good at this."

You laugh through your tears. "Well, it comes with my title, I guess." You sniff, wiping your cheeks again.

"I'd bet..." She hums. "But you're doing great."

You just nod slightly, running through lines in your head out of nervous habit. "I love him, oh, I love him; but he won't let himself be loved."

You don't even realize you're saying it out loud to yourself until Lysistrata speaks. "Is it... Is this about Coriolanus?" She asks, and you don't want to tell her that it's a quote from a story of her namesake because ironically, she is right, and ironically, that was the only line you could think of when you strained to remember any of it.

You nod slightly, biting into your lip and letting your shoulders shake with the latest round of sobs.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." She gently rubs your shoulder. "He's... He's not very sensitive to people's feelings. I know that. Just try not to take it personally. It's not your fault."

"How could it be anyone else's?" You sniff. "I embarrass him... But I try so hard to be good. I try so hard..." You cry, wet eyes making it hard to see.

Lyssie looks at you, a little confused. "What did he say?" She asks.

"That..." You hiccup, trying to breathe through it so you can explain better. "That I needed to give him space, all I was doing was standing next to him." You sniff again, wiping your eyes. "And he called me his tribute to his friends- it made me feel just sick... And earlier Sej told me that he ruined the costume I made him on purpose, we were supposed to match! Now I just look like I'm desperate for people to like me- dressing up as an angel when everyone here knows what I did! I don't know what I did wrong... Why does he hate me now?"

She watches you silently, trying to put together the pieces. 

"I don't understand." You say again, shaking your head. "He told me he loved me this morning! I don't know what I did to change that..."

"Sorry, he said he loved you?" Lyssie asks, eyes wide.

You nod slightly, looking over at her. Why does she seem so shocked?

"Wait, Y/N..." She pauses, shaking her head slightly. "Are you guys like... together?"

"Mhm." You swallow, wiping under your eyes. "But apparently not anymore."

"Oh my god, I had no idea." She stammers out, snapping out of her shock to pat the cloth on your head again.

"You didn't?" You sniff. "He didn't tell you?"

"No." She shakes her head, but quickly continues. "I'm sorry, he doesn't tell much to anyone, though..."

You let out a shaky breath, leaning your head back against the wall. "I should have known this couldn't work. I feel so stupid."

"He shouldn't have led you on like that..." She replies quietly. "I don't know a whole lot about you, but I know you're not stupid. I also know that Coriolanus always gets what he wants, one way or another."

"I just want to go home..." You cry, shaking your head. "I want to go home."

Lyssie looks back to the door, gently dabbing the damp material across your forehead. "I'm going to go get Sejanus, okay? Can you hold this on your head for me?" She carefully passes the cloth into your shaking hands and you nod, leaning your head down against it instantly.

She gets up and leaves, carefully and quietly closing the door behind herself. If one person in this city knew even a little bit about what you were feeling or how to help, it would be Sejanus Plinth.

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[writtenbymisunderstoodnerds]

Valentines day (Emily Sonnett x Reader)

I don't really know what this is. The idea randomly came to me so I hope you like it :)

Summary: Emily loves valentines day so despite them being in a fight, Y/n still does something for her.

Warnings- Tiny bit suggestive at the end

Words: 1.8k

---

Emily and I had gotten into a pretty big fight a few days ago. We had barely talked or even see each other since with her staying in the spare room. I was meant to move to be with her, but there was a big project at work that I had to finish before I could. Well, I could have not done the project. It just meant likely missing out on a big promotion with my transfer. Understandably, Emily wasn't very happy about that because it meant a month or two before I could make the move. 

It was valentines day, we still weren't talking, but I wasn't going to not do anything because of that. With how pissed she was at me, she likely hadn't done anything for me, but I didn't care. I didn't care much about the day anyway. Emily loved valentines day though, I wouldn't take that away from her, no matter how annoyed I was.

Although I had to work today, I still wanted to make it as special as possible. Months ago I had made reservations at the fancy restaurant Emily had wanted to try. I didn't know if Emily would come to dinner with me, but I was going to be there to pick her up regardless. Before work, I made Emily her favourite breakfast. She was likely awake so I quietly peeked in the room to find her sitting up, scrolling on her phone. Emily didn't acknowledge me, only looking up when I placed the tray on her lap. I walked back to the door, stopping briefly before leaving. 

"Happy valentines day. I love you."

Just before the door closed I heard a quiet 'I love you'. It was something at least. I hadn't heard that in person since our fight. I would never go that long without telling her I loved her, so I had messaged her at least once a day. Emily always replied, sometimes even messaging me first.

Before leaving, I left flowers in a vase on the counter, making sure to put a fake flower in with it. Every time I got Emily flowers, I would add a fake one in. It had become sort of a tradition after we were messing around in shops one day and I jokingly held up a fake flower, telling her I would love her until it died. I also added a massage/spa voucher, a nail voucher and a letter. It was written before our fight. Everything in it was still true though so I wanted her to read it.

Hi my love, 

Happy valentines day. I want you to know how much you mean to me, not just on Valentine's Day, but every single day. You are my rock, my partner-in-crime, and my favourite person to spend time with. I love you more than words will ever be able to express. 

You bring light into my life in ways I never imagined possible. Your laughter and smile is infectious, it fills me with so much happiness, love, and warmth. Everyday with you is an adventure, filled with love, laughter, goofiness and so much more. Being with you is the happiest I've ever been. I can't wait for the adventures, the boring, the fun and everything else that awaits.  

Unfortunately, I have work to do today, but you deserve to be pampered like the royalty you are. Go enjoy your day getting pampered, then put on something semi fancy and a little sexy ;) I'll pick you up at 6:30. 

I love you more than words can describe <3

P.S I'm going to love you until the last flower dies.

-Y/n

---

Today had probably been one of my least productive days at work. I had spent the entire day thinking about if Emily would actually come to dinner with me. I would convince myself she would, then the doubt would creep in and I would convince myself she would stand me up. 

At 6:30, I was waiting in the living room for Emily. To be honest, I was still half expecting her to not come out. Thankfully, a few minutes later she appeared, wearing a knee length, halter neck red dress with black heels. My eyes roamed over her body, taking in every inch of her. Fuck, she looked incredible. I stood in front of her, not touching her because I wasn't sure where we actually stood. "You look incredible Em."

"Thank you, you look amazing Y/n/n."

I offered my arm, internally smiling when hers looped with mine, "You ready to go?"

"Yeah. Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Emily was super excited when she saw where we were. Throughout dinner, things were slightly awkward, but we had both seemed to put our fight to the side for now at least. We talked about our days and any light hearted topics we could think of. Even though things were still a bit awkward, I was incredibly happy to be talking again. I did miss touching her though. We were a very touchy couple, especially in private. Normally, there would be arm or leg touches, random kiss or cuddles. Tonight there was only a few minutes of hand holding and a cheek kiss. 

"Thank you for today by the way. I haven't been pampered like that in a long time. You didn't have to make me cry with that letter though."

"You deserve to be pampered Em. You also know I'm better with written words then spoken."

"It was beautiful. I didn't forget or just not do anything by the way. Your gift is just running late, it should be here tomorrow."

"You know I wouldn't care if you didn't get me anything."

"I know, but you deserve to get spoilt as well."

After dinner, we found ourselves walking along the waterfront. We weren't talking or touching, but it was nice regardless. I didn't want to go home still on bad terms with Emily. The fighting was exhausting, I missed my girlfriend and just wanted to finish the night cuddled up with her. So when we came across a bench, I sat down, patting the spot next to me. 

A few minutes of silence passed before I decided to speak up, "I wasn't sure if you would come tonight. Honestly, I was expecting to be stood up."

"We may be fighting, but I wouldn't miss this for the world Y/n/n. I know you. Which means I know you thought about this and booked this months in advance. I know you put a lot of thought into valentines day because you know I like it. You put so much effort into this for me, I love you too much to just disregard that."

My fingers laced with hers, kissing the back of her hand,  "I don't want to be fighting anymore. I miss you."

"Me neither. I guess I was just hurt that you didn't want to come with me."

I turned so I was facing her, hands holding both of hers. I wanted her to see how serious I was, to remove any doubt about me wanting to be with her. After closing the distance, I couldn't imagine ever going back to that long term. I needed her to understand that. 

"Emily, I'm still coming with you. Not coming with you has never been a thought let alone an option. I just need a month or two to finish this project. It's not ideal, I know that, but this project will get me to the point in my career that I've been working toward for years. It'll mean less hours, more autonomy over what I do."

"Maybe didn't want to come was the wrong way to say that. I was worried that you would change your mind and decide you didn't want to move. Or what if the project runs longer or something happens."

"Hey, listen to me. You are my future Em, there is nothing that would make me not want to move with you. If I stay, even if the project runs longer, I will be coming to you in 2 months at the absolute most."

"If that happens you won't get your promotion."

"I'll figure it out if that happens. There will be other options if it comes to it. Look, if you really don't want me to stay, say the word and I'll move when you do. Our relationship is more important than a job."

Emily squeezed my hands, shaking her head quickly, "No, this is a huge opportunity for you. I'm not going to take that away from you because I got scared. Besides, you're moving because of me, it wouldn't be fair. Get that promotion then come home to me. I know it was a bit of an overreaction, we've done long distance before, it's just been a while and that fear creeped in. I love you Y/n/n."

"I love you. I will always come home to you, you are my home Em. Now that we've sorted that, kiss me because I miss that."

Emily cupped the back of my neck, lips connecting with mine in a rough, passionate kiss. Things got heated quickly so I pulled away as we were still in public. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. I'm sorry for being so stubborn."

"It's okay, let's not make a habit of it though. Since it's valentines day, can you tell me what my gift is?"

Emily chuckled, pecking my lips quickly, "Nope. You can be patient one more day."

"Fine. Can we get ice cream then go home and cuddle now?"

Emily winked, "Just cuddles?"

My fingers ran along her thigh, slipping under her dress, "Maybe spicy cuddles."

---

The next day, Emily and I had spent most of the day in bed sleeping after a long night and cuddling. I had surprised her with breakfast before confusing her by getting back into bed. Normally, I would have to work, but after the last few days, I had decided to take the day off to just spend time with her. About mid afternoon, Emily dragged us out of bed to shower and finally get dressed. I didn't understand her rush to get ready until there was a knock on the door.

"Are we expecting someone?"

Emily smiled excitedly, "That's probably your gift. Go open it."

I slowly opened the door to find a large teddy bear on the other side. I figured it was a delivery person holding it so I awkwardly said hello, waiting for them to move or something. The teddy bear was handed to me, though when I looked up, it ended up on the floor. Standing in front of me, was my bestfriend that I hadn't seen in person for over a year. He had moved out of the country and things were busy so visits were few and far between. I jumped into his arms, holding him tight for who knows how long. We had been friends since birth pretty much, this was the longest we had gone without seeing each other. 

I pulled away, letting him inside before hugging Emily, "You did this?"

Emily smiled, wiping away my tears, "I know you how much you were missing him."

"Thank you Em. I love you so much."

[quoththemaiden]

I hope everyone enjoyed the finale of @mrghostrat's Big Name Feelings Good Omens AU as much as I did. While ghostrat ended his story perfectly with a beautiful and realistic close to the part of their relationship we as an audience get to see, I had one more scene idea close to my heart and so I'm putting it out here because my heart still sings with love for this story and its characters.

These fanscenes now also appear on AO3. Along with the four I've already posted here (1, 2, 3, and 5), you can find a scene I kept off Tumblr ("Ch. 12"). You can read the final scene ("Ch. 17") below, but you can also find it on AO3, where it shows the text messages in graphical form.

Bilv, thank you once again for creating such an amazing story! I'm happy to say that my mind is no longer filled with your middle-aged men and their middle-aged-man problems. Instead, please enjoy these 3k words of pure fluff.

—

Crowley dumped his bag on the hotel room floor and did a lazy spin to take in the space. "Not bad, eh?"

"It's very posh," Newt agreed, setting his bag down more gingerly. "You're sure we can't pitch in for it?"

"I'm not dealing with you setting your phone on fire trying to do a transfer." Crowley waved the offer off and flopped onto the couch. The hotel suite had two small bedrooms plus a nice little sitting area that would be perfect for board games. It was set up to mainly accommodate a family with kids, albeit a family that could afford to splash on a multi-room suite for the family vacation to Spain. Crowley stretched out, shamelessly taking up the whole couch in a bid to ease the stiffness in his hips. "Tell ya what, if you're feeling guilty, you can buy my drinks tonight."

Anathema laughed and gave Crowley a poke in the side, looking quite satisfied at his jerk and yelp. "Knowing you, that will end up being a fair deal. And I'll take care of renting the wheelbarrow to cart you back here."

Crowley rubbed his side dourly. "Maybe I preferred you on the other side of the ocean."

Anathema grinned at him, unrepentant. "If you want to stay at my place while I'm here, I'll lend you my keys." She ducked a thrown pillow with a laugh.

—

The weather was perfect for sipping cocktails outside, and their mutual agreement to all try drinks they'd never had before helped keep the night from slipping away from them too quickly. Being able to chat without the artificial framing of a webcam was a delight, too, but all of them were too continuously connected to be interested in a strict phones-down policy.

Anathema rolled her eyes and took another sip of her drink before answering the text that had just popped up on her screen.

Aziraphale: Are you certain he doesn't know I'm nearby? Anathema: I didn't tell him, Newt doesn't know, and he doesn't have a magical angel-detecting sense does he? Aziraphale: I'm not so sure about that last point. Some of his last texts seem awfully pointed. Anathema: You're being paranoid

Anathema slipped her phone away before leaning over to look at Crowley's phone screen, where he was lining up a very artistic shot of his drink, showcasing as much of the swanky beachfront seating area as possible. She blinked at him slowly. "Have you been sending Aziraphale 'wish you were here' texts?"

Crowley glanced at her sideways, his thumb paused over the shutter button. "Maybe."

Anathema sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Are you an adult who can handle a vacation with friends or are you going to pine after your boyfriend all night?"

"I'm here, aren't I? It's not like we're tied together at the hip."

Anathema shook her head in fond exasperation. "Getting these printed on postcards for him would be funnier than this text spam." Crowley barked out a laugh and sent Aziraphale his next promise to take him here sometime anyway.

Anathema pulled out her phone again, tapping out a quick message.

Anathema: He says he's a full-grown adult who can handle being away from you.

There was a pause before Aziraphale responded to her — probably due to dealing with a barrage of messages from Crowley.

Aziraphale: A very convincing claim.

Anathema looked up as Crowley put his phone away. "All done?"

"Yeah, he's taking an early night." Crowley took a languid sip from his drink.

"How have his workshops been going?" Newt asked, fiddling with a vibrant russet cocktail in a type of glass he couldn't name.

"Good!" Crowley's eyes lit up with excitement, his cheeks pink. "We polished his presentation before he left—"

"I heard about that!" Newt cut in. "He said it was more like beta-testing than beta-reading."

Crowley snorted. "If you want to see what happens when someone goes against the script, I'm your guy."

"The reception's been okay?" Anathema asked. "I know getting audience participation at workshops can be pulling teeth."

"Nahhh, it's different in the library world. Those weirdos actually care about their jobs."

"So do I, but it would be pulling teeth to get me to do a 'group active learning exercise.'"

"Fair." Crowley grinned. "They know how to talk like humans, then. And they really are interested in anyone with tips on how to break into digital spaces in an authentic way."

Newt hummed thoughtfully. "He's really okay with talking about his online presence at work like that? I'd be way too embarrassed."

"Nah, you stop caring about that stuff when you get older."

Anathema snorted. "I'm still saying it's pure luck you didn't chase him offline again with that con nonsense."

"Pfffft." Crowley made a sound that was all plosives and no vowels. "Never even close."

"Right," Anathema replied with tasteful sarcasm.

Crowley cut her teasing short by slapping a yellow canvas pouch down on the table. "C'mon. Let's play a game!"

"Oh, Bananagrams!" Anathema accepted the diversion and unzipped the banana-shaped bag, pouring the Scrabble tiles out between them. She deftly started flipping them letter side down. "I don't think Newt's played?"

Crowley nodded and waggled his fingers at the pile of tiles. "Rules are easy: Everyone's building their own board-free Scrabble grid. You start with 21 tiles. Say 'peel' when you've used yours up to make everyone take another tile from the stock. Say 'dump' to trade one of your tiles for three from the stock. The first person to say 'peel' without enough tiles left for everyone to take one wins. Simple, right?"

Newt nodded slowly, watching as Anathema divided the tiles out neatly. "So they're putting Scrabble in bananas these days."

—

Aziraphale: Is he up yet?

Crowley gestured Anathema towards the table where their phones sat in a cuddly pile of charging pads and wires. "You got a message while you were in the shower. From Aziraphale?"

Anathema kept her face carefully schooled as she sauntered over and picked up her phone, using the need to adjust her towel turban as an excuse for not making eye contact. "Mm." She picked it up and read the incriminating message, then snorted. "Bracing himself for when your wall of texts will start, I imagine."

"Nahhh, he loves it!" Crowley snagged the glasses cleaner out of his bag and sauntered into the bathroom. He'd be wearing them all day and he'd murder someone if he had to deal with the scummy film left by hotel soap.

"Whatever you say, lover boy." Anathema breathed a tired sigh.

Anathema: Yeah, and he saw this. We should be at the conservatory by 11

She should have just taken the phone into the bathroom with her, steam be damned.

—

The botanical conservatory was, frankly, gorgeous. The greenhouses were so large the ceilings weren't even noticeable, and the outdoor gardens were a riot of native plants. Crowley devoured the signs about plants he was unfamiliar with with gusto, and pointed out those he recognized with the enthusiasm of a man determined to prove he wasn't hungover. Newt listened with unfeigned interest, while Anathema wasn't shy about slowing them down to take photos of particularly artfully arranged displays.

They'd been there about half an hour when a patter of English broke through the background chatter of Spanish. "Could you spot me the entrance fee for the butterfly room?"

"Aziraphale!" Crowley immediately spun to his right, his whole face lighting up in delight before realizing that seeing him here was, in fact, quite odd. "What are you doing in Spain?"

"I left right after my last workshop. I thought it might make a nice surprise."

"It made the best surprise." Crowley pulled him into an ardent kiss that went on long enough for Anathema to cough something about public displays of affection. Crowley eventually relented on the kiss, as much for the sake of their breathing as anything else, but kept his arm slung firmly around Aziraphale's shoulders. "You're a bit of a bastard, you know that? I could've been looking forward to this the whole time."

"Only as much of a bastard as you deserve," Aziraphale teased right back with easy familiarity. His heart kept pounding hard anyway.

"Heh. What a way to butter me up while you're angling for a free ticket." Crowley snuck another kiss onto Aziraphale's cheek. Aziraphale laughed as he slipped his arm through Crowley's, relishing the contact after their weeks apart.

The butterfly room, when they got in, was a riot of fluttering wings. The promise of iridescence was enough to get Crowley to remove his sunglasses, and a quiet compliment on his eyes from Aziraphale was enough to get him tucking them into his pocket instead of putting them right back on afterwards.

They left the butterfly room — with some careful mutual inspections to make sure no one was harboring a stowaway, involving perhaps a bit more care in running fingers through another's hair than was strictly necessary for the task — and emerged near the exit to the rose garden. Crowley's hand moved towards his sunglasses but Aziraphale put his hand on his arm. "Just a couple more minutes? There's something I want you to see first." Aziraphale glanced over at Anathema, who nodded slightly but otherwise kept her expression carefully uninterested.

Crowley looked between them and shrugged. "Not exactly subtle as far as hangover tests go, but a'ight." Aziraphale laughed breathlessly and kept a firm grip on his arm, drawing him deeper into the garden.

The rose garden featured small offshoots to the main path where groups could sit for a little while to rest. It wasn't until the third one that they came upon an alcove that was empty, and Aziraphale promptly pulled Crowley aside, Anathema holding out her hand to keep Newt just outside it with her.

"Crowley—" Aziraphale began, his breath catching in his throat as he caught Crowley's full attention. "I, ah. I actually came here because there was something I wanted to say."

Crowley's hand twitched reflexively towards his glasses again, but this time he kept it down himself, even as his heart started to pound. "...yeah?"

"Yeah," Aziraphale breathed out as he sank to one knee, reaching into his pocket. His fingers were trembling, and his smile was nervous but so very adoring. "If I ask you something, will you promise to laugh?"

"—huh?" Crowley blinked in confusion, then stared as Aziraphale opened a jewelry box to reveal a simple ring.

"Anthony J. Crowley, would you be my snouse?"

It took a few seconds for Crowley to register any of the words Aziraphale had just said, but then he barked out a laugh as the last one hit him. "Really? That's how you ask?"

"You don't like it?"

"I just... I thought if you did it, you'd do a whole speech for it. You even brought us out to a rose garden!"

"I'll be honest, I had one of those planned. I just... couldn't quite seem to bring it to mind." Aziraphale had no idea how he was managing to talk even as much as he was around the tightness in his throat. "You haven't answered my question, dear."

"Pfft..." Crowley closed both his hands around Aziraphale's. "Yes. Yes, of course I'll be your... your whatever. Forever and always."

"Thank goodness." Aziraphale half rose and was instead greeted by Crowley also kneeling, both of them moving together for a kiss that was slow and deliberate. Aziraphale could feel the pounding of his own pulse against the tight hold Crowley had on his hands, and he could tell how Crowley's heartrate had risen to match his by the way their kiss kept shifting for quick intakes of air. Aziraphale finally broke the contact only so he could gently extricate his hands from Crowley's. It took every scrap of concentration he could scrape together to find Crowley's left hand and slip the ring onto his finger. "...it fit okay?"

"Nggh," Crowley replied before pulling him into another kiss.

They might have stayed there all day if Anathema hadn't cleared her throat — snapping another quick photo as they looked up at her, flushed and frazzled. "We are still in public, I'm afraid."

"Yeah," Crowley breathed.

"Huh..." Aziraphale added, just as coherently.

Newt shook his head at the unlikely prospect of them getting up anytime soon, and looked over at Anathema instead. "How were you so prepared?"

Anathema flashed him a smile. "I knew this was coming. Aziraphale asked me to take the photos."

"Is that why you're here?"

"It was the other way around," Anathema replied. "Aziraphale realized he could arrange his schedule to join our trip partway, and we worked out how to take advantage of the situation."

"Bastard," Crowley muttered in response to nothing and everything, pressing tender kisses to Aziraphale's left ring finger like he could imprint a ring there with his lips. "Did you measure my finger while I slept?"

Aziraphale smiled as he watched him, his heartrate finally settling closer to normal under Crowley's reassuring touches. "It's scarcely my fault you're so easy to send to sleep, dearest."

"You're ridiculous. Adorable. Incorrigible."

"Are those all synonyms in your mind?" Aziraphale leaned in to steal another kiss.

Crowley laughed breathlessly at how easily they'd returned to comfortable teasing and carefully pushed himself up. He tugged his clothing straighter and tried to pretend he was put-together as he glanced at Anathema, who was grinning unabashedly at them. "I'll want those pics for... for everything. All of them."

Aziraphale put his hand on Crowley's arm for support as he straightened his own creaking knees. "I'm claiming Tumblr first, if you don't mind."

"Eh—" Crowley gave him his full attention again, not that it had strayed for more than a moment. "This will really get you notice, Angel."

"Good." Aziraphale took Crowley's hand and leaned in to kiss him. He rubbed his fingertip over the ring settled firmly onto a finger that had never borne one before. "Let them know who's claimed you."

Crowley snaked his arm around Aziraphale's neck, chasing down another kiss that went on long enough to have Anathema clucking behind them. "We're gonna get kicked out of the garden, Angel."

Aziraphale smiled against Crowley's lips. "Let them. The one we made is better."

—

Three bottles of wine sat open and mostly-drunk on the table, divided between four glasses that were using the remnants of the previous night's game of The Quiet Year as a coaster. ("We set it in an idyllic countryside and it all went downhill from there," Crowley had explained when Aziraphale came in and started examining the hand-drawn map. "I think the arrival of the dog was the real turning point to madness," Newt had chimed in. "It was doomed from the start," Anathema declared with a resigned sigh.) The red rings of wine stains could have added as much to the group narrative as anything they'd purposefully drawn.

"I came in like a wrecking ball~! I never hit so hard in love~!" Newt sang raucously, a broad grin on his face while Anathema laughed into her hand. Aziraphale tilted his head as he watched them, visibly processing the music.

"All the other kids with their pumped-up kicks, you better run—!" Anathema joined in as the tune jauntily transitioned to a new melody. Aziraphale's face froze into an expression of fond but intense confusion.

"Problem, Angel?" Crowley drawled, utterly amused as he watched the tableau.

"I'm fairly certain that isn't how those songs go. And isn't that polka?"

"Never heard of Weird Al? Bit bigger overseas, I s'pose." He gestured to Anathema's phone, which was supplying the impromptu karaoke party.

Aziraphale nodded, confusion dissolving and leaving just a hint of distaste in its place. "And a different generation, I suppose." He took another sip of his wine, a nice Syrah, as the melody shifted to a new and equally abrasive polka.

"I wear your granddad's clothes," the millennials continued singing, until one of them glanced at Aziraphale and started laughing and the other followed suit, wineglass held out in an attempt to insulate it from deep belly laughs. Crowley snagged it deftly and set it on the table, another drop of wine rolling down to stain the paper there. Aziraphale rolled his eyes, much more amused at their drunken good humor than offended.

Crowley patted Aziraphale's thigh. "Want to take the rest of that Syrah back to my room and leave the loverbirds to it?"

"It would still be rather noisy if we stayed here," Aziraphale replied with a tempting smile. "Why don't you come back to mine?"

Crowley leaned forward eagerly, only a fraction away from jumping up at the unexpected invitation. "Oh?"

"Well, the room may not wind up being quite as nice as the one you got, but I thought for our first night together as a formally promised couple..." Aziraphale's smile said everything.

"You're a genius." Crowley kissed his cheek and grabbed Aziraphale's hand to pull him up with him, then firmly refused to let it go despite the challenge of tucking a wine bottle under his arm while juggling a wine glass and his phone.

Aziraphale laughed. "We can take two trips, since you'll want your bag. Did you leave it packed?"

"Like always." Crowley grinned. "Not going to rib on me for that ever again, huh?"

"One occasion of convenience is not worth the wrinkles, my dear," Aziraphale responded with all the primness he could muster around a wide grin.

Crowley laughed and took the opportunity of Aziraphale opening the hotel room door to crowd closer and steal an eager kiss that was just as eagerly given. "You really managed to hold in that you'd gotten us a room all day?"

"I kept the trip secret from you too, didn't I?"

"Age will not wither," Crowley chuckled and nipped Aziraphale's ear. "C'mon, let's see that room. Coming back for pyjamas optional."

The two of them left the hotel suite hand-in-hand, with everything they truly needed already right there with them.

[jenniferjareauwife]

r got injured on the last case so has to stay behind with garcia on a case, which leads to lots of texting and face times with jj. maybe jj finds it hard to sleep away from r for once, so r stays on facetime until jj falls asleep

Stay On the Call Please

pairing: jennifer jareau x fem reader

category: fluff

warnings: none

word count: 727

summary: you have to stay behind with garcia while the team goes on a case and your girlfriend misses you

I squinted as I tried to read Garcia's computer screen. How does she know which information to read? We were currently on call with JJ, telling her potential suspects for the current case. She was already at the hotel room, it was pretty late so I don't know why she was calling us but we were willing to help. "Hey Pen...can I talk to y/n?" JJ's voice was a bit quiet and I could tell that something was wrong.

"Yeah." Garcia dismissed us and I left to go sit at my desk, still on call with JJ.

"What's wrong babe?" I asked, clicking the FaceTime button, wanting to see her beautiful face again after 3 days.

"I miss you." She told me quietly. When she accepted the FaceTime I saw that she was laying in the hotel bed and she looked super tired. She had dark bags under her eyes and she looked defeated.

"I miss you too honey." I frowned when I saw the state she was in. "What's going on? Anything I can do to help?" She shrugged. "Jayje...come on. You can talk to me. Please talk to me baby, it looks like you haven't slept in days."

"Because I haven't. I can't sleep away from you." She partially hid her face in her pillow after her confession. "I miss you so much." My heart melted and I was overwhelmed with the urge to book a flight to Augusta just to see her again. "I'm sorry for the constant texts." She added. "I just really miss you."

"Don't apologize hon, ok? I get so happy when I get your texts, it means that you're alive and well and it's a chance to talk to you." I assured her. "You can text me anytime you want, ok? I'll always answer." I wanted to give her a kiss on the forehead so badly but it wasn't possible. "I love you so much."

"I love you too." She let out a loud sigh that I could hear through the phone. "I really wish you were here. Fuck that unsub for shooting you." I let out a soft chuckle.

"I know. I wish I was there too."

"I mean, there's no one to cuddle when I'm trying to sleep! It's terrible!" She exclaimed. "I can't sleep without you." She said again. "I really can't." I frowned.

"I'm really sorry baby. But you've gotta try, right? Just close your eyes and try to fall asleep, ok?" I tried to keep my voice soft, hoping it would coax her to sleep. "I should probably go-"

"Stay on the call...please?"

"Of course. I'm probably going to end up sleeping in your old office anyways. It's hard to sleep in our bed when you're not here." I tried to comfort her a bit by telling her I was having the same issues as her.

"Good. There's a blanket in there and it's really comfy. I took naps in there a lot." I smiled warmly and made my way up to her old office, plopping myself down on the couch and pulling the blanket up over me.

"It is really comfy." I agreed. She smiled and giggled a bit as I wiggled around to try to find a good position. I ended up hugging a pillow since it was the closest thing to hugging her.

"Thanks for staying on the call."

"Of course. I'm sorry I can't be there with you. You have no idea how much I miss you." I told her with a small pout. "Don't forget to take breaks, ok? I swear to God JJ if you go after that unsub when you haven't slept in 3 days if he doesn't kill you I will." She laughed and nodded.

"Ok. I wont go after the unsub like this." She smiled warmly. "I'm gonna try and get some rest." I nodded, prepared to hang up. "No no. Stay on the call. I think you being on the call will help me sleep." I nodded, willing to help her in anyway I could.

"I love you JJ. Don't hesitate to text me or call me if you need anything, ok?" I hooked my phone up to a charger so it wouldn't die.

"Ok...I promise. I love you too." I lied there and watched as she fell asleep over the phone with a smile on my face.

[obeyme-and-myfics]

Prompt: Y/N had a nightmare and asks comfort

Characters: Barbatos, Diavolo, Simeon, and Solomon

✨🌸Fluff🌸✨

Y/N is going to be gender neutral to the best of my abilities. They/Them Pronouns, and I’m going to try and avoid gendered descriptors <3 Also tysm for all the love on the last post! I really appreciate it and I'm glad I could feed my fellow simps (✿◡‿◡)

I'm also gonna apologize now for possibly being out of character for anyone and also not adding Mephisto, Thirteen or Raphael. I Haven't met them yet so I don't want to write for them just yet but I will in the future. Anyway onwards to the story (╯▽╰ )

TW/CW: Not describing what was in the nightmare but if that ambiguity bothers you and makes your mind spiral please don’t read and have a wonderful night, 

Part 1 | Part 2(here)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N jolted upright, holding their chest as it felt as if their heart would run away. They tried to calm their breathing and their thoughts, unable to shake the horrors their subconscious cruelly subjected them to. They took some deep breaths and manage to calm themself enough to look at the time. They squinted as their D.D.D lights up and the numbers display on the screen. It was late. They wondered if it may be too late to ask for comfort from someone. Taking another deep breath both to sooth their shaky hands and for some courage, they opened their contacts to make a phone call.

Diavolo

Y/N stared at Diavolo's contact for a moment. Sure he certainly wouldn't mind comforting them in this time of need, in fact he'd be eager to help his human but the real problem came with his royalty status. He was a very important man and they didn't want to stop him from performing his royal duties. They bit their lip and breathed in before clicking the call button. The phone rings for a bit before he picked up.

"Y/N!" his voice raspy and tired like he had just woken up, yet still sounding excited as he spoke, "what are you doing up so late? Is there something you need?"

"Yeah it is late," Y/N laughed a little, "I was wondering if you could stay on the phone for a bit," they made their quiet request shyly.

"Might I ask why?" Dia questioned, now intrigued by such a simple request.

"I had a nightmare and I really don't want to be alone," they felt their cheeks heating up with embarrassment as the demon prince let out a soft chuckle.

"Of course I can do that for you. Are you sure you just want me to stay on the phone? It would be much easier to comfort you in person," his voice softened, taking on a loving tone with not a trace of mockery.

"I mean yeah but I don't want to bother you too much. You probably have more important things to attend to."

"In this moment, you're the most important thing I have to tend to. I'll be there momentarily, be patient for me, okay?" he hung up, and left Y/N a bit flustered.

They rushed down the halls, and to the front door. Y/N paced around impatiently unlike what Diavolo had requested of them. They were excited yet anxious, worried about possibly making Dia lose sleep but happy to be held. Diavolo soon walked in, a grin decorating his features. Their worries washed away the instant their eyes met his.

He spoke up in a cheerful yet hushed tone as he shut the door as to not wake the rest of the dormitory, "Y/N, Thank you for being patient. I'll make sure you're comfortable and back to bed in an instant."

Barbatos

Y/N hesitated before calling the demon butler, unsure of whether or not he'd appreciate them being even more work for him. Barbatos had a lot of responsibility and little time to rest, seeing as he was the butler of the next king of Devildom. They sighed and internally gave themself a little pep talk before calling his number. The phone was ringing for only a second before Barbatos picked up.

"Good evening Y/N," he greeted, formal as ever with all my adoration of course, "is there a reason you're calling so late?"

"Yeah there is a reason.. I just need someone to talk to, I don't want to be alone right now," they mumbled out, "sorry for bothering you, you don't have to obviously."

"You're hardly a bother, I'd be happy to assist you," his calm voice reassured them that they were in fact safe, "shall I stay on the phone while I make my way to you?"

"Come to me?!" they blurted out loudly in a panic but quickly lowering their voice, "don't you have to be at Diavolo's side at all times or something?"

"Not necessarily, however my plan was to return to the castle with you.. Is it that you don't wish for my physical presence?"

"Well, no, I do.. I just-"

"Like I've stated before you are far from a bother, the young master is sleeping so all should be well. I'll send a message to Lucifer so he knows your whereabouts," he chuckled as Y/N sighs in defeat.

"Alright as long as its not an issue.." a small smile formed as they got themself ready.

"It is truly a pleasure to make you feel safe."

Simeon

Y/N tapped on Simeon's name, confident he wouldn't mind them bothering him. They didn't expect him to come over all the way from purgatory hall of course. They really just wanted him to talk to them for a while until they calmed down at the very least. The phone rings for a minute before Simeon picked up.

"Good morning, Y/N," he yawned out, "what are you doing up so early?"

"Well.. I'm not really up by choice,"

"Oh? Did something happen or is Asmo pestering you?" he chuckled a little, "though.. if it was just that you wouldn't have called me."

"I guess you could say something happened," they sighed softly, "this is really embarrassing.." They felt the heat rise to their cheeks

"Don't be, I won't judge you even if I think its something small," Simeon now sounded fairly awake and more serious than before

"I had a nightmare, I just don't want to be alone right now... I'm sorry," their voice quivered, threatening to crack and give away the fact there were tears trying to escape their eyes

"I see. I'll be over as soon as I write a note for Luke," they heard Simeon shuffle out of his bed.

"You don't have to come Simeon,"

"I know but I want to help you, Y/N,"

They grew quiet for a moment, "can you stay on the phone until you get here?"

"Of course I can. I'll care for you for as long as you need."

Solomon

Y/N didn't hesitate to call Solomon, full well knowing that he was up most nights. They waited impatiently, growing more anxious as the phone continued ringing. There was no answer, "Maybe he'd actually asleep for once..." they thought to themself, putting the phone down and rolling over. Y/N closed their eyes, trying to rest once more but was unsuccessful.

They sniffled softly before being startled by their phone ringing. Peaking at the screen, they smiled a little at Solomon's name being displayed. They answered after swiftly grabbing their phone once again.

"Sorry for not answering, I was busy with one of my projects and didn't hear the phone," he laughed a little bit, "but why are you up so late?"

"Oh. If you're busy its okay.. I just had a really bad nightmare."

"I see. That's unfortunate," he states the obvious, "What do you need from me to help?"

“Well I don’t know.. I just thought we’d talk and hang out on the phone, but-“

“No buts from you. I can do that but I think it would be much easier if I came to you,” he laughed.

“What’s so funny?” they pouted as if he could see them through the phone.

“I actually just finished something to help with this exact situation,” Solomon sounded excited, “how convenient! I’ll be over soon,”

Solomon hung up the phone, leaving Y/N alone again. They sighed, getting up and ready to greet him at the door. They wished he would’ve stayed on the phone but he was a bit oblivious when it came to social situations same Solomon same but they wouldn’t want him any other way. It was endearing in his own way how he got so excited at times that he forgot how to read a room affectionately of course. They waited patiently at the front door for Solomon to arrive. Solomon opened the door with a small smile.

“Solomon!” Y/N hugged him tightly

“Good evening,” he hugs back with one arm, pulling a potion out of his pocket with his free hand, “now let’s get you back to bed”

[mononijikayu]

the moon during the day — ryomen sukuna.

"You found a way." you whispered, your voice barely audible against the backdrop of chaos. “This was your doing, wasn’t it?”

He regarded you with a gaze that held centuries of unspoken words. "I promised, didn't I?" His voice, resonant and familiar, cut through the clamor around you. “One way or another. We are bound to each other.”

GENRE: Heian Era to Shibuya Arc, 2018;

WARNING/s: Alternate Universe ─ Canon Divergence, Romance, Emotional Hurt, Found Family, Hurt/Comfort, Heavy Angst, Heavy Pining, Domesticity, Friends to Lovers, Character Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Mention of Depression, Mention of Mourning, Depiction of Physical Touch, Depiction of Mental Anguish, Depiction of Violence, Depiction of Harm, Depiction of Blood and Wounds, Depiction of Miscarriage, Depiction of Death, Depiction of Harm, Pseudo-Incest, Adoptive Cousins, Portrayal of Misogynist And Degrading Acts and Language, Smut, Detailed Depiction of Sex, Depiction of Sexual Foreplay, Sexual Penetration, Consensual Sex;

masterlist

ashes of love

song: the moon during the day by ahn ye eun

ko-fi

note: i was supposed to write this a while ago, but i was busy writing my web novel on tapas!!! if you have the time, please come by and enjoy it!!! malefica arcana updates bi-weekly~ anyway, i want to thank you for all your love and support for ashes of love. i enjoyed writing it and i feel like i can scrap up extra stories in the future, but for now - i hope you enjoy the ride. i'll see you in the next update for us and them!!! <3

8:40 PM

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DAY OFF. But it cannot be helped. If there was a summon where they were needed by other sorcerers, then they must be there. It was a duty they must not shy away from. Mikoto Akihiko stood at the forefront of the Mikoto team, flanked by Mikoto Nobuhiko and Mikoto Aina. The sleeves of his kimono were already brushing against the wind. And yet, it was not as strong. It was odd. But he supposed that the curtains their foes had set up were too powerful. Expert, even. More expert than what the Mikoto would have done.

The bustling streets of Shibuya, now eerily quiet, were shrouded in an unsettling atmosphere. Dark clouds loomed overhead, casting long shadows across the empty storefronts and neon signs that flickered sporadically. Mikoto Akihiko couldn't shake the ominous feeling gnawing at his gut. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the deserted area for any signs of movement.

"Why Shibuya?" Akihiko muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on one of his sword hilts. "What do these curses want here?”

Mikoto Nobuhiko, standing beside him with a stern expression, broke the silence. "Is Genmei–neesama already in the area?"

Akihiko nodded. "She came with Gojo Satoru. I received a message. They’re trying to neutralize threats as much as possible.”

Mikoto Aina, her usually calm demeanor tinged with unease, tried to reassure the team. "We should be fine then. As long as Gojo Satoru is around, everything will be dealt with. Our Genmei will be fine. How could she not be? No one will be capable of fighting against both of them.”

Akihiko turned to Aina, his brow furrowing with concern. "Let's hope so, Aina–sama. But we need to stay vigilant. Just because Gojo—sama and Genmei—sama are here doesn't mean we can let our guard down."

Nobuhiko's phone buzzed, a sharp interruption to the tense silence that had settled between them. His eyes flicked to the screen, the glow casting a serious shadow across his features. The message held weight, its contents pulling his brows together in concern. He read it again, absorbing the implications with a growing sense of urgency.

The room around them seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with unspoken tension. His companion watched him intently, waiting for him to share the news, sensing the gravity of the message from the subtle shift in Nobuhiko's demeanor. The silence stretched, broken only by the faint hum of the city outside and the muted glow of the phone screen reflecting in his eyes.

Finally, Nobuhiko looked up, his expression a mix of determination and apprehension. "We need to go there." he said, his voice steady despite the underlying urgency. "Now."

Aina’s face scrunches. “What’s wrong?”

"The assistants have messaged me, Aina–sama." Nobuhiko announced, his voice steady despite the rising tension. "There are sightings of curses all around the routes leading to Shibuya, especially near the Meiji–Jingumae station."

Aina's brow furrowed deeper, worrying etching lines into her features. Her eyes darted between Akihiko and the dimly lit surroundings, where long shadows stretched ominously across the pavement. The urgency in Nobuhiko's message weighed heavily on her mind.

"Which ones should we prioritize?" she pressed, her voice laced with concern. "We can't be everywhere at once. And with other sorcerers..."

Akihiko paused, his gaze sweeping over their small team gathered under the flickering streetlights. Each member mirrored his own apprehension, their faces a blend of determination and uncertainty in the face of imminent danger. They must do well here — there cannot be any room for mistakes.

"We need to make a decision, and quickly too." Akihiko said, his mind racing. "If the curses are converging on Meiji–Jingumae station, it could mean they're trying to cut off reinforcements or trap civilians. But Shibuya is their main target; we can't afford to leave it undefended."

Nobuhiko nodded, his eyes narrowing in thought. "What if we split up? We can regroup once we have a better understanding of the curses' movements."

Aina hesitated, glancing between Akihiko and Nobuhiko. "Are you sure that's a good idea? Nobuhiko–kun, splitting up might make us more vulnerable."

"It's a risk, but we don't have many options, Aina–sama." Akihiko replied, his tone firm. "We need to cover as much ground as possible. There’s few of us sorcerers available already. We must maximize what we can. Nobuhiko, make sure you keep in constant contact. If anything feels off, we regroup immediately."

He bowed his head. “Of course, nii-sama.”

Akihiko's sharp gaze swept over the faces of his team, each expression a blend of apprehension and steely resolve. Their eyes, wide with the weight of the impending challenge, mirrored the tension that had settled over them like a heavy, suffocating fog. The dim street lights cast long, flickering shadows, adding to the eerie atmosphere that seemed to press down on them all.

The gravity of the situation was undeniable, a constant reminder of the stakes they faced. It was as if the air itself was charged with the energy of impending danger, making every heartbeat louder, every breath heavier. Despite the unease that gripped them, Akihiko knew he had to be the anchor, the unwavering force that would keep them grounded. He was a descendant of Ryomen Hiromi. He must be strong, as she once was.

"We have to make sure everyone is going to be fine," he said firmly. "No matter what, our priority is to protect and assist."

Nobuhiko stepped forward, his voice filled with concern. "Then I and Aina–sama will go together to the Fukutoshin line, Akihiko–niisama. It's better if we stick together. I may be able to protect Aina–sama, if she heals.”

Akihiko nodded his head, his expression resolute. He turns his head to Aina. "I agree. There might be more along the way that need medical help, Aina–sama. Your expertise would be invaluable."

“I suppose so.” She nodded her head. “There are very few healers. We cannot burden Shoko–dono as much with healing.”

Nobuhiko's face tightened with worry. "Will you be okay, nii–sama?”

A reassuring smile crossed Akihiko's lips as he moved his haori slightly, revealing the four-piece katana strapped to his side. "I'll be fine, Nobu. The ancestors will lead me well."

Nobuhiko hesitated, then sighed, knowing Akihiko was right. "Alright. But we have to rendezvous at Shibuya station, nii–sama. Promise me that."

Akihiko's eyes gleamed with determination. "I promise. I'll bet on that."

With a final nod, the team split up, Nobuhiko and Aina–sama heading towards Meiji–Jingumae station, while Akihiko turned towards the Fukutoshin line. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges ahead. He had to believe in Nobuhiko. He’s capable enough. He wasn’t made a first grade sorcerer for nothing. 

He had to be confident that their paths would cross again in the heart of Shibuya. Still, he could not help but feel his gut say otherwise. He hadn’t had this feeling in a very long time. The sense of unease lingered, but he pushed forward, determined to face whatever awaited him in the darkened streets of the Shibuya itself. 

‘It will all be fine.’ He thinks to himself as he runs as fast as he can. ‘I must trust that it will be fine. Gojo–sama and Genmei–sama are both here. They’re special grades. Everyone is doing their part too…’

He wanted to believe it, to hold on to the hope that whatever they have planned will overcome whatever comes their way. They had the favors of the gods at this moment. Gojo Satoru was the strongest among all the sorcerers that have ever come, past or present. And Genmei–sama, she’s powerful enough to deal with things. She is Hiromi’s successor. None could go against Hiromi in her lifetime. Who could ever try and surpass her too?

But the gnawing fear in his gut refused to be silenced. Something’s not right about all of this. He doesn’t know what. But it’s making him feel some kind of way. As he takes a deep breath, he keeps muttering prayers as he rushes through the empty streets. He could only pray that he was wrong — that everything will go smoothly. That they could save lives. That he would be enough.

As he sees his first target, he draws one katana.

His eyes hardened as his blade met the curse’s flesh.

He knew that this was going to be only the beginning.

9:20 PM

HE TAKES A DEEP BREATH. Mikoto Akihiko had been in the thick of it for what felt like an eternity. The weight of the station's gloomy ambiance seemed to amplify the urgency in his every movement. Gripping his katanas tightly, he drew them with a fluid grace that belied the tension in the air. Their blades, polished to a deadly sheen, caught the dim light in a chilling glint.

With a sharp exhale, Akihiko unleashed his cursed technique, Wind Swipe. The air around him seemed to thrum with unseen energy as he moved with lightning speed, slicing through the transfigured humans with relentless precision. His blades danced through the chaos, leaving arcs of crimson in their wake. 

Blood sprayed against the walls in macabre patterns, painting a grim tableau of violence and desperation. The metallic scent mingled with the acrid stench of fear and decay, filling the station with a haunting atmosphere. 

Akihiko's movements were a blur of calculated strikes and swift dodges, his senses attuned to every shift in the battlefield. The urgency of the situation pressed upon him, driving him to push beyond physical limits as his blades struggled to keep pace with the fury of his attacks.

Each swing of his katanas was a testament to his skill and determination, each cut a measured response to the relentless onslaught. Amidst the chaos, he remained a stoic figure, his focus unwavering despite the carnage unfolding around him.

He fought his way through one of the stations of the Fukutoshin line, every swing of his katana an act of desperation and resolve. As he cut down one enemy after another, he also focused on evacuating any civilians he encountered, urging them to safety with hurried, breathless commands.

But he knew there were more trapped by the curses. As he ascended the stairs, the screams grew louder, echoing through the tunnels, a chilling reminder of the terror unfolding above. His heart pounded in his chest, sweat dripping down his face, mingling with the grime and blood that clung to his skin.

Emerging into the chaos above, his suspicions were confirmed. Curses attacked non-sorcerers mercilessly, their grotesque forms reveling in the carnage. Akihiko gritted his teeth, the exhaustion weighing heavily on his limbs. He was tired, every muscle in his body screaming for respite, but he couldn't stop. Not now.

"I am the blood of Ryomen Hiromi." he whispered to himself, drawing strength from the legacy he bore. "I will not fail her. I will not fail here!”

With renewed determination burning in his eyes, Akihiko surged forward, his katanas becoming extensions of his will. The blades sliced through the air with a deadly grace, their movements swift and precise. Each strike carried the weight of his resolve, a silent oath to honor his ancestors and protect those who depended on him.

The station's dim light flickered overhead, casting long shadows that danced with his every movement. Sweat trickled down his brow, mingling with the adrenaline coursing through his veins. The echoes of battle reverberated off the walls, the clang of metal against flesh punctuating the air.

With each opponent he faced, Akihiko's movements were a ballet of death and defiance. His katanas flashed in intricate patterns, cutting down transfigured humans with calculated efficiency. His mind was a whirlwind of strategy and instinct, anticipating their every move with practiced precision.

Amidst the chaos and the screams, he remained a steadfast figure, unwavering in his commitment to the fight. Each foe he dispatched fueled his determination further, driving him onward through the relentless tide of  curses and adversaries.

Akihiko's movements melded into a frenzied dance of survival, a blur of steel and sweat that echoed the urgency of the moment. Each strike of his katanas carried the weight of his determination, each swing a desperate bid to carve a path through the writhing curses that surrounded him. The air crackled with tension as his Wind Swipe technique cleaved through their twisted forms with deadly precision, leaving behind a gruesome trail of dismembered limbs and dark, oozing blood.

Amidst the chaos, his senses honed in on a group of civilians cornered by a particularly monstrous curse. Its grotesque maw gaped wide, hungering for their flesh. Without hesitation, Akihiko's fierce cry pierced the air as he surged forward. His katanas gleamed in the dim light as he closed the distance in a heartbeat.

With a swift, fluid motion, he struck with all the force he could muster. The first katana sliced through the curse's thick hide, sending a spray of dark ichor into the air. In the same fluid motion, the second blade arced through the creature's neck with lethal precision. The curse's head toppled from its shoulders in a clean sweep, landing with a sickening thud.

The creature's massive body convulsed and twitched, its death throes rattling the ground beneath them. Akihiko didn't pause to watch; instead, he turned his attention to the civilians, ensuring they were unharmed and ushering them to safety amidst the carnage.

Adrenaline surged through him, sharpening his senses and driving him onward. The battle raged on around him, but in that fleeting moment, as he stood amidst fallen curses and the faint cries of survivors, Akihiko knew that every life he saved was a victory against the encroaching darkness. But he cannot stop now, just because he saved others. He rushed across the bloodied rubble.

"Go! Run to safety!" he shouted at the terrified civilians, who wasted no time in fleeing the scene. “Don’t waste time, run! I will shield you!”

Akihiko's chest heaved with each ragged gasp, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him like a physical force. The relentless onslaught of curses threatened to overwhelm him, their twisted forms closing in from all sides. His katanas felt heavier with every swing, his muscles burning with the strain of relentless combat.

The station's dim lights flickered overhead once again, casting eerie shadows that danced with the chaos unfolding around him. The paperwork for this damage was going to be a headache. But he cannot think too much about it now. ‘Fight,’ he thinks. ‘Bills can wait!’

Blood and ichor splattered across his clothes, mingling with the sweat that soaked his brow. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, drowning out the cacophony of shrieks and clashes. In the corner of his eye, he could see people fleeing. One curse tried to encroach towards the running civilians, but he jumped in front of it, attacking it with a thrust.

Despite the mounting fatigue and the blurring edges of his vision, Akihiko refused to yield. He couldn't afford to, not with the lives of so many innocent civilians hanging in the balance. Each strike he made was fueled by sheer willpower, each parry a testament to his unwavering resolve. He has to continue on. He can pass out later. He can do all these defeatist things later.

A sudden burst of energy surged through him, a mix of adrenaline and sheer willpower. He thought of his ancestors, of Hiromi, whose blood ran through his veins. Their legacy was his to uphold, their strength his to draw upon. With a renewed roar, he cut through another wave of curses, his katanas moving with blinding speed.

In a brief moment of respite, Akihiko looked around, assessing the situation. The station was a battlefield, littered with the remains of curses and the fallen. The cries of the injured and dying filled the air, a haunting reminder of the cost of this battle. His heart ached with the weight of his responsibility, but he knew he couldn't falter.

He made his way deeper into the station, the screams growing louder. He knew there were more people trapped, more lives hanging in the balance. His body screamed for rest, but he forced himself onward, his katanas ready for the next onslaught. He gritted his teeth as he continued on.

As he rounded a corner, he saw a young girl, no older than ten, cowering behind a column, tears streaming down her face. A curse loomed over her, its claws inches from her trembling form. Without a second thought, Akihiko sprang into action, his blades slicing through the air with deadly precision. The curse let out a final, gurgling scream as it disintegrated into a pool of dark ichor.

The girl looked up at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Akihiko knelt down, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "It's going to be okay," he said gently, offering her a reassuring smile. "You're safe now."

As he escorted her to safety, his thoughts drifted back to Hiromi. Her legacy was a heavy burden, but it was one he bore with pride. He would not fail her. He would fight on, no matter the cost, until every last curse was vanquished and the people of Shibuya were safe. With a final look at the chaos around him, Akihiko steeled himself for the battles yet to come. He was the blood of Hiromi, and he would not rest until his mission was complete.

He’s going to hold on, he’s not bowing down.

One way or another, he’ll get to Shibuya Station.

He will exercise all these curses once and for all.

10:50 PM

HE COULDN’T SEE IN ONE EYE. Taking a deep, ragged breath, Akihiko fought to steady himself amidst the chaos. His one functioning eye burned with determination, though it struggled to focus through the haze of blood, sweat, and the lingering echoes of battle cries. The station's dim lights flickered erratically overhead, casting fleeting glimpses of the gruesome scene unfolding around him.

Akihiko's katanas lay shattered and splintered at his feet. It was obvious that it was a ferocious battle. Blood seeped from countless wounds that marred his once-unyielding frame, the fabric of his clothing torn and stained. The relentless assault had taken its toll; he could feel the throbbing ache of broken ribs and possibly other fractured bones, each movement sending waves of agony through his battered body.

Despite the overwhelming pain and weariness that threatened to drag him down, Akihiko refused to yield. He clenched his jaw against the torment, drawing upon the last reserves of his cursed energy. Every fiber of his being screamed in protest with each step, each swing of his arms. Yet, driven by a fierce resolve, he pressed forward.

Before him, the first-grade curses surged with unnerving precision, their movements mirroring his own with a chilling synchronicity. They seemed to anticipate his every strike, their claws and fangs a deadly symphony of aggression and intent.

Akihiko knew he was at the brink of exhaustion, his senses dulled by pain and fatigue. But in the heat of battle, with the lives of innocent civilians hanging in the balance, there was no room for retreat. Every ounce of strength he could muster went into his defenses and counterattacks, each movement a struggle against the encroaching darkness.

As the battle wore on, the station echoed with the clash of steel and the agonized cries of curses. Akihiko fought on, his body pushed beyond its limits, clinging to the desperate hope that his endurance and skill would be enough to turn the tide.

His attacks grew more furious, each strike fueled by frustration and desperation. He had to reach Shibuya Station. He had to. Nobuhiko and Aina–sama were waiting for him. He can’t give in to all this now. He had to finish this fight and go to where he needs to be. Pushing himself to his limits, Akihiko’s movements became a blur, his remaining blade flashing through the air with lethal intent.

But it wasn't enough. The curses continued their relentless assault, their grotesque forms mocking him with their seemingly boundless resilience. Akihiko's frustration simmered beneath the surface, boiling over into a primal roar of defiance that echoed through the station.

With a surge of desperate determination, he threw himself back into the fray. Every ounce of his dwindling strength fueled his attacks, his katanas slashing through the air with a frenzied intensity. The curses countered with eerie precision, their claws and teeth gnashing against his blades with a relentless ferocity.

His once-proud katana began to betray him under the strain. The metal groaned and protested, small cracks forming along its length with each forceful clash. Splinters of steel sprayed into the air, a testament to the overwhelming force of the onslaught he faced.

Akihiko gritted his teeth against the pain that shot through his arms and shoulders with every blow. His movements became a blur of desperation and resolve, each strike a gamble against the odds. Sweat mingled with blood on his brow, his vision narrowing to a tunnel of focus as he fought to maintain his footing against the relentless tide.

The station's walls seemed to close in around him, the air heavy with the stench of blood and sweat. Every breath burned in his lungs, every heartbeat a painful reminder of his mortality. Yet, fueled by a stubborn refusal to surrender, he pushed himself beyond the limits of endurance.

In the midst of the chaos, Akihiko's mind raced with strategies and calculations, searching for any advantage to gain an upper hand. But the curses, relentless and unyielding, matched him blow for blow, their mocking resilience a grim reminder of the uphill battle he faced.

Still, amid the cracks in his blade and the searing pain that threatened to overwhelm him, Akihiko fought on. His roar of defiance echoed through the station once more.  In a final, desperate effort, he thrust his katana forward with all his might. His eyes widened in shock as a blinding white light erupted from the blade, engulfing the curses in its brilliance. The explosion of energy was immense, a searing burst that annihilated the first-grade curses in an instant.

The force of the blast sent shockwaves through Akihiko's body, hurling him backwards like a ragdoll. He collided with the unforgiving ground, the impact stealing the breath from his lungs. Pain radiated through every limb as darkness threatened to envelop him. The world spun in disorienting swirls, his vision clouding and flickering as unconsciousness tugged at the edges of his awareness.

Through blurred eyes, Akihiko caught a fleeting glimpse of the station bathed in an eerie, ethereal glow of white light. It bathed everything in its spectral embrace, casting stark shadows that danced across the walls.

As the radiance began to wane, a figure emerged from the epicenter of the light. The brilliance coalesced into a humanoid form, its features shrouded in the remnants of the fading glow. Purple eyes gleamed with an otherworldly brilliance, scanning the chaotic scene with an expression of profound bewilderment.

The figure stood tall amidst the wreckage, its presence commanding yet enigmatic. Akihiko struggled against the encroaching darkness, trying to make sense of the surreal sight before him. Was this a savior, a harbinger of hope amidst the devastation, or something more ominous, drawn by the chaos that had unfolded? He did not know. But his eyes were slowly closing. He was too exhausted. Too exhausted to continue.

Despite the throbbing pain and the haze of confusion that clouded his thoughts, Akihiko's instincts prickled with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. His breath came in shallow gasps, each heartbeat a drumming echo in his ears. He couldn't move, couldn't speak—only watch as the figure observed the aftermath of the cataclysmic event with an inscrutable gaze.

“Where am I?” the figure muttered, their voice tinged with confusion as though they had just awoken from a long slumber.

The once tumultuous station fell into an unsettling silence, the reverberations of the fierce battle fading gradually into nothingness. Amidst the debris and scattered remnants of conflict, the figure stood as a singular enigma, its existence seemingly born from the ethereal glow that had engulfed the surroundings moments before.

Purple eyes, luminous and inscrutable, surveyed the aftermath with an air of detached curiosity. The figure's form radiated a quiet power, a presence that seemed to transcend the mortal realm, yet its intentions remained veiled in mystery.

Meanwhile, Akihiko lay sprawled on the cold, unforgiving ground, his body battered and unconscious. His breaths were shallow and ragged, oblivious to the strange turn of events that had unfolded in his absence. Around him, the station bore the scars of the recent conflict—broken walls, shattered debris, and a pervasive sense of unease that lingered in the air.

As moments stretched into minutes, the figure remained motionless, a sentinel amidst the aftermath, silently observing the delicate balance that had been disturbed. The station, once a bustling hub of activity, now lay in disarray, its future uncertain in the wake of the inexplicable events that had transpired.

Ryomen Hiromi did not know what to do.

How could she be here, alive and well?

“What has been going on here, little ones?”

11:02 PM

IT WAS A STRANGE THING, LIFE. But as strange as it was, you don't think the mystery of life could ever answer the reason why you were still alive. You don’t remember how you got here. Your eyes widened as your kimono mingled with the blood that swept through the rubble-strewn tiles. The metallic scent of blood and the acrid stench of burning flesh assaulted your senses, a smell you knew all too well. You’ve lived long enough to remember, to know. You didn’t understand why you were here at all. Fear clawed at your heart. All you remembered was the darkness.

Your memories were hazy, fragmented like shattered glass, but one thing was clear: you should be dead. You should have been dead a long time ago. The confusion and terror churned within you, threatening to consume you. But amidst the chaos, a relentless need to understand burned bright. You needed to know. You needed to know what was happening.

Staggering to your feet, you glanced around, your mind struggling to piece together the fragments of your existence. The station was a warzone, littered with bodies and the remnants of a fierce battle. You spotted a group of sorcerers in the distance, their expressions a mix of determination and desperation as they fought off the relentless onslaught of curses.

You took a hesitant step forward, your feet slipping on the blood-slicked tiles. Your heart pounded in your chest, each beat a reminder of your confusion and fear. As you moved, you noticed a figure lying amidst the rubble, their form battered and bloodied.

Compelled by a force you couldn't explain, you approached the fallen figure. It was a young man, his body broken and his breathing shallow. Something about him seemed familiar, tugging at the frayed edges of your memory. You knelt beside him, your hands trembling as you reached out.

"Who... who are you?" you whispered, your voice barely audible over the distant sounds of battle.

The young man stirred, his eyelids fluttering open slowly until his gaze met yours. There was a familiarity in the way he sat, a subtle resemblance to Masaomi that tugged at your heartstrings. Memories of Masaomi's youthful expressions flashed through your mind—the way he would scrunch his face in a playful manner while seeking shade under the trees.

In that fleeting moment of awakening, a spark of recognition flickered between you, an inexplicable connection that defied rational explanation. It was as if time had momentarily folded upon itself, linking your past with this present encounter.

Your eyes fell upon the pin adorning his haori—a double heron, a symbol etched deeply in your family's history. A jolt of realization coursed through you, and your eyes widened in astonishment. Could it be possible? Could this young man sitting before you be... your descendant?

The notion seemed improbable yet undeniably stirring. Generations separated you, yet the echoes of lineage and shared bloodline whispered softly in the recesses of your mind. The heron symbol, a mark of ancestral legacy, seemed to bridge the gap between past and present, weaving a narrative of kinship and continuity that transcended time itself.

As you gazed upon him, the young man's features softened with a hint of curiosity, perhaps sensing the unspoken question that hung in the air between you. The station, once a site of turmoil and conflict, now bore witness to a quieter revelation—an unexpected connection that carried profound implications for both of you.

"Akihiko," he managed to rasp, his voice weak but resolute. "Mikoto Akihiko."

The name resonated deeply within you, stirring memories long buried beneath the weight of time. Mikoto Akihiko... Each syllable carried with it a profound sense of familiarity, a resonance that transcended mere coincidence. As you gazed at him, a realization dawned like a gentle awakening—a connection that stretched across generations.

He is your descendant.

And a fine one, at that.

He has survived all this.

The revelation settled upon you with a quiet intensity, weaving threads of ancestry and legacy into the fabric of your being. Mikoto Akihiko, sitting before you, embodied more than just familial resemblance; he embodied the continuation of a lineage steeped in history and tradition. He embodied strength.  The heron pin on his haori, a symbol etched with significance, spoke volumes of the ties that bound you together, echoing through the corridors of time.

“You’ve worked hard, little one.” You whispered lowly as your hands traced his hair. “You are a worthy descendant.”

You glanced around, your gaze settling on the distant group of sorcerers gathered amidst the remnants of the battle. Questions churned in your mind, a relentless pursuit for understanding amidst the chaos that had unfolded. Why were you here? What had transpired to bring you to this pivotal moment?

But amidst the clamor of uncertainty, one thought remained steadfast: you needed to ensure Akihiko's safety first and foremost. He lay nearby, unconscious yet surrounded by an aura of ancestral significance that now bound you together.

With a determined breath, you moved swiftly towards him, your steps purposeful despite the lingering unease that gnawed at your thoughts. The station's shadows danced around you, a reminder of the recent turmoil that had engulfed the place. 

With Akihiko's name lingering in your mind, you took a deep breath, steadying yourself against the overwhelming tide of fear and confusion. Determination sparked within you, fueling your resolve to uncover the truth. You carefully lifted Akihiko, supporting his weight as best you could, and began making your way toward the group of sorcerers in the distance.

Each step was a struggle, the weight of the wounded man and the treacherous terrain slowing your progress. Blood and debris littered the ground, a grim testament to the ferocity of the battle that had unfolded here. The sorcerers fought on, their cursed energy clashing against the monstrous forms of the curses that still plagued the station.

As you drew closer, one of the sorcerers noticed your approach. A young woman with fierce eyes and a determined expression broke away from the group, rushing to meet you. Her gaze flickered to Akihiko, her concern evident.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice sharp with urgency. "What happened to him?"

"I'm..." You hesitated, the uncertainty of your own identity gnawing at you. You don’t even know if they understand you. "I don't know why I'm here. But…. I found him like this. His name is Mikoto Akihiko."

It took her a while to understand you. But you supposed it was because you lived in a different world with a different manner of speech. Still, she needs only look at the man in front of her, in your arms to understand what you meant. Recognition flashed in the woman's eyes, and she quickly signaled for the others. Two more sorcerers joined her, their expressions grim as they assessed Akihiko's condition. 

"We need to get him to safety," one of them said, his voice firm. "There’s a safe zone not far from here. We can regroup there."

Together, you and the sorcerers moved as swiftly as possible, navigating the chaos of the station. The safe zone was a makeshift shelter, shielded by powerful barriers that kept the curses at bay. Inside, wounded sorcerers and civilians were being tended to, their faces etched with a mix of relief and exhaustion.

The sorcerers gently laid Akihiko down, and the young woman who had first approached you knelt beside him, her hands glowing with healing energy. You watched, a sense of helplessness washing over you. Despite your confusion and fear, you couldn't shake the feeling that you were meant to be here, that your presence held some significance.

One of the other sorcerers, a tall man with piercing eyes, turned his attention to you. "Who are you, really? And why are you here?"

You met his gaze, struggling to find the words. "I... I don't remember. I woke up in the station, and everything was chaos. I should be dead, but I'm not. I don’t understand any of this."

“I….I see.” He whispers to you as you purse your lips. “Thank you…for bringing him here.”

“No problem.”

Just then, a curse began to scream angrily as it lunged toward them. Without warning, a piercing beam of white light shot through the air with incredible speed. You turned in time to see the curse vanish into nothingness. 

The tense moment peaked with the curse's furious cries ringing out, only to be abruptly silenced by the blinding light that engulfed it. In that fleeting instance, you witnessed the curse dissolve into faint wisps, leaving everyone momentarily stunned by the inexplicable event that had just unfolded before their eyes.

“How did you—”

“I don’t know.” You responded in a soft mumble. “I whispered it in my mind….and it worked.”

“You’re a sorcerer?”

“I….” You stopped yourself for a moment. “A long time ago.”

You did not wait for them to say anything else as you turned your back. You walked away as much as you could. Your head was starting to hurt as you disappeared into the alleys. You tried to walk through the undamaged pathways, but every turn revealed more bodies, their stillness stark against the chaos that surrounded them. The air was heavy with the metallic tang of blood, mingling with the acrid scent of burning flesh. How did this happen? How had such devastation come to pass?

The eerie silence of the alleyways amplified the grim reality around you. Shadows danced eerily across walls painted with tragedy. You pressed on, each step a struggle against the rising tide of despair and disbelief. This new world that you tried to help build. All the blood, sweat and the tears. How could they end up repeating the mistakes of the past? How could they seek more wrongs, more destruction?

Memories flashed unbidden from where you stood — moments of laughter, faces now forever frozen in time. The scenes of destruction etched themselves into your mind: shattered buildings, twisted metal, and the haunting stillness of the fallen. They were all people. Just as you had once been. And they were robbed of their  world. They were robbed of their peace. You purse your lips softly, your heart breaking over and over at this tragedy.

Questions gnawed at your thoughts like relentless echoes. How did it come to this? This  city, once vibrant with life, now lay ravaged and desolate. Every corner turned revealed more devastation. One that you had never hoped to see, one that you had hoped no one ever will experience again. And yet, it does.

You do not know yet, the full extent of this madness. But you knew that it could not be good. You could feel it all across from where you stood. Over and over, ripples of powerful cursed energy. Not just one, but multiple. There must be quite a few battles happening one at a time. One which you thought had died with your generation.

In death, you had hoped for peace, believing your sacrifice would bring an end to suffering. But now, as you witnessed the aftermath unfold before you, that hope crumbled like fragile glass. The reality was stark and bitter: peace had been nothing more than a fleeting illusion. The cycle of violence, far from being halted, continued unabated, its tendrils spreading like a stain across the world.

The scenes of devastation bore witness to the futility of it all. Buildings reduced to rubble, streets littered with remnants of lives abruptly cut short — each shattered window and twisted piece of metal echoed the relentless brutality that persisted despite your sacrifice.

You had believed in the possibility of redemption, of a future free from the horrors that had plagued the children of the future Yet, as you walked through the haunting silence of the ruined alleys, it became painfully clear that the cycle of violence was an insidious force, unyielding and pervasive. It stained not just the physical landscape but also the very fabric of existence, casting a long shadow over any fleeting moments of hope.  

Nothing had changed. 

And that broke your heart.

How could this be what humanity is?

You navigated through the remnants of what was once familiar, the weight of despair settled upon your shoulders. The dream of peace, for which you had given everything, now seemed like a distant, unattainable whisper in the wind. As you emerged from the carnage, disoriented and confused, you felt a presence before you. There, standing amidst the wreckage, was someone you hadn't expected to see again. You could feel the air be knocked out of your chest as you stumbled backwards.

Your purple eyes widened at the sight of the world burning all around them. The way he stood before you, the cruel twist of fate, felt like a descent into hell. He appeared as he did when you were both young. This, you realized with a sinking heart, was your personal hell — a thousand years, countless lives apart. His wish had come true. He had vowed to follow you to any hell, so long as he could be with you.

Ryomen Sukuna stood before you, his presence overwhelming even in a body never meant to be his own. Despite the vessel's unfamiliarity, you recognized him immediately. It was in the way he held himself, the intensity in his eyes, and the aura of power that surrounded him. There was no mistaking it; he had found a way to return, defying the bounds of time and fate.

As you stared into those eyes, memories flooded back — moments of shared laughter, fierce battles fought side by side, and promises made under different skies. The weight of a millennia of distance, all this time pondering separation pressed upon your soul, mingling with the realization that despite everything, the bond between you had endured.

Your heart pounded with a mixture of disbelief and longing. The world around you continued to burn, but in that moment, everything else faded into insignificance. Ryomen Sukuna stood before you.

“You’re here.” He says as you feel frozen in place. 

"You found a way." you whispered, your voice barely audible against the backdrop of chaos. “This was your doing, wasn’t it?”

He regarded you with a gaze that held centuries of unspoken words. "I promised, didn't I?" His voice, resonant and familiar, cut through the clamor around you. “One way or another. We are bound to each other.”

A surge of conflicting emotions swept through you — relief, fear, and an undeniable sense of completeness. Despite the havoc wrought upon the world, his presence brought a strange comfort, a reminder of a bond forged in the crucible of adversity. A bond that you had long rejected, as he did. And yet all the same, a thousand years later, hundreds upon hundreds of human lives lived and ended — and you were still here. Together.

As you stood face to face, the echoes of past lives reverberated between you like whispers in the wind. The weight of centuries hung heavy in the air, mingling with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. The world around you continues to burn, consumed by turmoil and unrest.

Yet, in this poignant moment of reunion, you couldn't escape the unsettling truth: he was a force of destruction, a catalyst for chaos. His presence alone seemed to amplify the flames that engulfed the world. You knew deep down that he would leave a trail of devastation in his wake, more than he already had in his relentless pursuit of power and dominance.

His touch was gentle yet charged with a dangerous allure as his fingers traced the loose strands of your hair, brushing against the edges of your ear. His eyes, intense and unwavering, lowered to meet yours, studying your expression with a mixture of familiarity and calculation.

In that fleeting exchange, you sensed the complexity of his emotions — a blend of longing and determination, tempered by a ruthlessness that mirrored the flames consuming everything around you. As you stared into his eyes, you grappled with the undeniable pull he exerted over you, knowing that despite the chaos he wrought, there was a part of you that couldn't resist him, even as the world burned.

"You're a force of destruction," you whispered, your voice tinged with sorrow and accusation. "Everything you touch turns to chaos."

He didn't flinch from your words, his touch lingering on your cheek. "I've never claimed to be anything else," he admitted softly. "But you've always known this about me."

"I thought... I hoped..." Your voice faltered, emotions swirling within you.

He tilted his head, a faint smile touching his lips. "That I could change?" he finished for you, his tone gentle yet unyielding. "Some things, love, are beyond change."

"But the cost..." you trailed off, unable to voice the fear that gripped your heart.

He sighed, his gaze searching yours with a mixture of affection and regret. "I never wanted this for us, you know this." he confessed, his voice thick with emotion. "But I can't walk away. Not now. It is too late.”

Tears welled in your eyes as you struggled with conflicting desires — to embrace him, to run from him, to beg him to turn back from the path he'd chosen. "I love you." you admitted, the words a desperate plea. You lowered your gaze. “I….I loved you.”

His fingers tightened gently against your skin, a silent promise in his touch. If he was hurt by the last words you said, he did not show it. No matter how you hurt him, or hate him — even back then. You knew that Ryomen Sukuna could care less. So long as he could be near you, so long as he could look at you, as he does now; nothing else truly mattered. The world can burn, so long as he can be with you.

"And I love you." he replied, his voice a solemn vow. "But this is who I am."

You could feel your breath stolen from you as he leaned forward, his lips pressing against your cheek with a tenderness that cut deeper than any blade. The sensation shook you to your core, a visceral tremor that reverberated through the very essence of your being. 

You didn't want this. It was like witnessing the moon in daylight—forbidden, impossible, a betrayal of everything you knew. Yet, despite your inner turmoil, he dared to make it real. He forced the possibility into existence with each tender touch, each lingering moment that defied logic and reason.

Anger and resentment welled up within you, a primal urge to push him away, to sever the ties that bound you together. You wanted to hate him for complicating your life, for shaking the foundations of your beliefs. The weight of betrayal hung heavy in the air, threatening to suffocate the fragile threads of your resolve.

But amidst the turmoil of conflicting emotions, a stubborn truth remained—you couldn't abandon him, not completely. Even as you struggled to reject all that he represented, all that he stirred within you, a part of you remained tethered to him, unable to sever the bond that fate had woven between your souls. You were always bound by fate. One way or another, the red string you hold was always going to be with him. And you hated it. You hated it. And yet—

"I have something to deal with," he murmured, his touch feather-light against the edge of your jaw, gently lifting it so your eyes met his. His gaze held a mixture of determination and tenderness, a silent promise echoing in his words. "I will come back for you, night flower. I always will."

His words hung in the air, laden with a weight that seemed to anchor you both in the moment. The faintest hint of a smile touched his lips, a fleeting reassurance amidst the uncertainty that surrounded you. 

You wanted to speak, to protest, to demand answers or assurances. Yet, his touch, his gaze, held you captive in a silent understanding that transcended words. The nickname, "night flower," whispered a story of intimacy and longing, of moments shared beneath the cover of darkness. One which should never be. Never again.

As he turned away, his silhouette framed against the dim light filtering through the shattered windows of the station, you felt a pang of reluctance. His departure left an ache in your chest, a yearning for his return that defied reason. Tears welled up on your face. 

“How much more blood will he put in my hands?” 

You looked as the world turned to ruin over and over.

He burned the entirety of it all and you, you watched it all.

And you knew, all too well, that he will never let you go.

facts about the chapter

this was about 7000-8000 words. i debated whether if it should be longer, but i realized if i made it any longer, it would break the time frame of shibuya

i was a bit stumped when i made this part of the story in the draft process, because i know what was gonna happen in the end, but i didn't know how i'll get there. i realized this was the best way to do it. hiromi meeting her descendants has always been on my mind.

mikoto akihiko is a minor member of the ryomen-mikoto clan. he's from the mikoto side of the family. he's a devoted servant and minor relative to genmei and satoru!!! he's served the main family since he was a boy and has pride for it.

akihiko's curse technique, wind swipe, is a speed power. he can use how fast he is to stun and defeat enemies in an instant. he can see things in slow-mo and in fast pace. he always knows what's happening time wise.

hiromi will later say that akihiko does in fact look like masaomi. in shinjuku showdown, akihiko gets slashed by sukuna because he reminded him of masaomi. sukuna's hatred is in fact generational!

his swords are called '照明' lighting or illuminations. it moves so fast that it looks like flashes of light, so it stuns opponents when they come and fight him.

the swords were taken when kenjaku left sukuna's embalmed corpse in his hide out. tengen kept the corpse for themselves, but the swords were gifted to hiromi's grandson. and it was passed on to whoever best uses it. akihiko managed to get that privilege when he was fifteen.

kenjaku put hiromi's soul into the sword after hiromi fought him back when memories started returning. he restrained her, easily as she didn't have a body. this happened at the same time when sukuna sought him for his expertise. kenjaku wanted to keep hiromi around as a companion, and a future leverage against sukuna.

hiromi experienced a thousand years as a weapon. it was one of the four swords that never broke and was called the '根性' or the strong willed because it never needed to break.

hiromi did not feel a thing despite being stuck in the blade. she was hidden within a pocket dimension which kenjaku created. he intended to keep her for a long time.

sukuna only knew about hiromi being kept by kenjaku during the culling games. he had hopes all that thousand years that she will be reincarnated and be with him again.

though hiromi and genmei lookalike, she isn't her reincarnation. souls are the one that reincarnate. hiromi's soul never got to rest, so it truly can never reincarnate until she fully dies and her soul is at peace.

hiromi's ability to use her mind with commands for her use of her power is something she hasn't been used to just yet. but genmei started to do it when she developed it. the problem is that it takes a lot of energy to use.

hiromi will be in the culling games, and wants to kill sukuna to end all the suffering. she believes that killing sukuna means the suffering of many will end. only then can she rest in peace.

sukuna and hiromi will interact a bit in the culling games and pre-shinjuku showdown. sukuna like he did all those years ago, cannot help himself when it comes to her. he's really obssessed with her.

hiromi throughout this refuses to gain use of a body for a vessel. she thinks that as she is not permanence on this situation, she does not need a body. her power is enough to maintain a state of solid body for now.

[prismsofmystery]

Part two is out y'all hehe

Pretty plain cover art for now sorry.

Stephanie couldn't go to sleep. No no one's surprise the image of her father lifeless on the ground and her mother standing over him with wide eyes would haunt her for eternity.

She tried not to think about it, but it got harder and harder as the days went on, and McKendra's mental state was not helping.

Every now and then, Stephanie would catch McKendra staring at space, her once lively eyes now desolate. Sometimes it would take Stephanie calling her name 3 times for a response. It was scary seeing what her mother had become.

She got up out of bed, trying to stay as quiet as possible as to not wake McKendra. Not like she was even sleeping probably. She made her way towards the kitchen. She noticed McKendra sitting in her red chair. The same red chair her father sat in whenever he was home.

She tensed up, thinking her mother was awake, but she seemed slumped over in the chair instead, hat falling over her eyes. Stephanie let out a sigh of relief before opening the door and walking out, gently closing it behind her.

McKendra's eyes fluttered open before turning to the door. She squinted and glaring towards the window. It was not going to be a silent night, and she would make sure of it.

Stephanie made her way outside of the apartment in the dead of night. It was scarily easy to do with the doorman off duty. She promised herself she would only be out for a few minutes or up to an hour.

She looked around, taking in the night time air and scenery. Even if it looked slightly ominous, it was still nice to see. She turned to an area near a forest, thinking for a moment before crossing the street.

There wasn't much else to see, but that was okay. She had enough excitement in her life from 2-3 months ago. She tensed when she heard someone running up to her quickly. She quickly turned around, ready to put a bullet in its head if it dared to be a doppel.

It wasn't, she could tell. But she was still weary. It was just some man who needed her help with something. She was a bit hesitant, but it was almost midnight and possibly an emergency. She'd hate to turn away from someone who genuinely needed her help.

"Fine," she told him, putting her sunglasses back on, "but if you try any funny business, your head will be leavin' your neck."

She followed him to what looked like a broken vehicle. Stephanie took out her phone to call someone when she heard a gunshot. The man in front of her was shot point blank. She jumped and looked around for the source. She could definitely see the same eyes that she swore she saw in the store.

She wanted to run..to panic. Anything. But she just stood there. Still. She heard more footsteps and pulled a dagger from her pocket. She wasn't met by some armed gunman, but her mother.

"Ma…how did..you ain't…" McKendra pulled her into a hug, which Stephanie couldn't refuse. "You wasn't supposed to be awake yet, I.." Stephanie found it harder and harder to speak, so McKendra hugged her tighter.

"Shh. It's alright, Steph. I'm here now. And I won't ever let you leave me again."

Stephanie was a bit put off by this, but she decided to give her mother the benefit of the doubt and assume she meant something else. What else would she mean by that anyway..?

McKendra and Steph belong to @joydoesathing and I'll go back into my portal.

[lovechrissturniolo]

5/ day one - morning

contains: Lea & Chris talking and being interested in/ looking at each other

After a 30 minutes intro Chris and Matt played Fortnite.

As the day was just dawning, Lea - sitting in the living area - noticed an unfavorable change in the light in Chris's room and she texted him:

I have to adjust your light if it`s possible? Your room is a literal lighting challenge!

No problem, go ahead. I open the door so they can't hear when you come in.

Chris tried to concentrate on the game as she slipped into his room, but he couldn't help but watch her out of the corner of his eye.

She had this deliberate posture and highly concentrated look when she was working.

It was kind of cute.

Lea was wearing blue jeans and a black baby-T, her long hair tied into a messy bun and subtle make-up. Chris had to admit to himself that she looked pretty good.

Her belt and the lower part of her belly were visible as she leaned over the table behind the camera making adjustments to the ring light.

〽️

Her being here during the stream was definitely better than some old guy, he thought to himself again.

Immediately afterward, he heard Matt yell and realized he'd been shot down.

“Chris! You're an idiot!”

“Fuck, sorry!” he shouted back, ruffling his hair.

As Chris leaned back in his chair, he caught Lea's gaze, who silently formed the word “Sorry!” and twisted the corner of her mouth.

He waved his hand to indicate that it wasn't her fault and smirked without looking directly at her.

“What's funny about that, you moron?” Matt joked from above.

“Nothing!” Chris answered, laughing about his stupid fault and rubbed his eyes. “Bro, I don't think I've ever played Fortnite this early in the morning! You can't expect my full concentration!”

“You better focus, man! We almost won that round!”

“Yeah yeah, all right! Go!”

Lea sat down on Chris's bed with her laptop and phone.

Sorry for the interruption!! I'll be off again in a minute.

You can also stay! You're not bothering me.

〽️

After the light was set, she moderated the chat without changing her location again to avoid making too much noise.

The madness in the comments was limited - probably because it was still early in the morning - so Lea kept catching herself watching Chris play.

He was one of the most expressive people she had ever met. Concentration, anger, excitement, joy - it was as if his whole body showed how he was feeling in every moment.

Something about his posture and facial expression was so fascinating that she could barely look away.

It was undeniably a beautiful sight to see him on her screen from the front and live from the side.

〽️

Chris noticed out of the corner of his eye that Lea looked over at him once in a while.

He somehow liked it and wondered what was going on in her head. Probably just the lighting situation, but maybe also personal interest?

Chris couldn't really log into Fortnite today, causing him to blow one game after another.

Eventually Matt had enough and they decided to have breakfast and try again later.

Lea disconnected Chris's computer from the stream, stated: "It's off." and gave him a thumbs up.

They unintentionally stretched at the same time and smiled sheepishly when they realized it. “Sorry about the interruption earlier. It shouldn't happen again.”

“Oh, please." Chris relented. "That's not the reason, I'm just still tired and play like shit!”

“That I can't judge, even though I've watched you guys play often.” Lea smiled.

〽️

Chris dropped onto the couch, stretched his hands over his head and mumbled: “I really should have slept more!"

“You didn't?” she asked casually.

“Not really well. Probably too nervous.”

“You guys really don't need to stress. Literally everything you try turns to gold anyway.”

“Nick says, you always have to be a little uncomfortable to be comfortable. That's what we do and why it works, I guess."

“That actually applies to my life too, I have to say,” Lea replied thoughtfully.

“You know what, I'd like to know more about that!” Chris replied quickly, sensing his chance to find out more about her and sat up.

Lea smiled involuntarily and wondered whether she was feeling a little too comfortable right now.

〽️

“You need to go support Matt, I think.”

“Is he already on camera in the kitchen?”

“Yes, he texted me to switch over right away.”

“Damn, this kid needs to chill, we'll be here for a while!” Chris sighed and made his way to the door.

“We talk later. I'll bring something for breakfast when I come back."

next ➡️

⬅️ index

[kumezyzo]

i talked about this very breifly in this post about meeting bf!sap for the first time but i really wanted to build on it. streamer!reader would be one of the very first people to meet dream irl and actually see his face. and this is all because of ✨️bf!sapnap✨️

ive given up on calling him sapnap during narritives cause it sounds strange. same thing for dream cause hes in this btw.

anyway, enjoy!... or dont :) m.list

bf!sapnap who picks you up from the airport.

you walk through the airport, trying to not psych yourself out too much. but its finally happening. youre finally going to be able to see your crush, now boyfriend... in person since youve started dating.

the sound of your suitcase is almost deafening as you leave baggage claim and make your way towards the exit. you pull out your camera and silently start recording.

you stay as silent as possible as its late at night, few people are scattered around but your excitement radiates loudly.

you look into the camera and give it a nervous excited smile before holding it at a lower angle in an attempt to hide it.

as you approach the exit, you see nick walking through the sliding doors. you subconsciously break out into a smile and turn the camera to catch his walking towards you with a similar grin.

you turn it back on you as you pick up the pace and suddenly colide with him, letting go of your suitcase and wrapping your arms around him tightly.

finally being in his arms was something you never expected to be so comforting. a feeling of warmth took over your entire body just being in his arms and knowing youre finally with him.

you two pulled away enought ot look at eachother. you both smiled as you looked into eachothers eyes.

"hi!" nick whispered with a goofy smile.

"hi," you say glancing down at his lips for second. it was almost too much being so close to him, you subconsciously looked away and reached for your suitcase.

bf!sapnap who drives you to their (dteam)house.

before he even pulls out of the airport, you two are screaming songs at the top of your lungs. the comfort you both had with eachother right from the beginning was refreshing to see.

as youre driving down the highway, confidently singing lyrics into your phone like its a microphone, nick takes a moment to watch you. an endearing smile on his face whilst you serande the camera on the dashboard.

it takes you a second to realize and when you do, you look at him with a confused smile.

"what?" you ask, pausing the music and glancing at the camera before turning to him.

"nothing," he said, turning on the turn signal and merging lanes. he looked over at you and giggled at the way you playfully narrowed your eyes at him.

bf!sapnap who leads you into the house and prepares you for the first time you see dreams face.

"i think you should just sit on the couch," nick tells you, holding your camera. you smile nervously into the lense and sit back on the comfortable cushion.

"are you gonna get him down here? do you want me to close my eyes yet?" you ask, trying to gauge how this would go.

"yea, I'll bring him down and tell you when to close your eyes," he says looking over to the stairs.

"okay, perfect," you nod.

he makes his way up the stairs and you look around silently, hearing indistinct voices. you look at the christmas tree and smile at the idea of not only finally getting to spend time with nick, but during the holidays.

"okay, yn, close your eyes," nick calls out from the top of the stairs.

"oh my god," you said nervously and cover your eyes with your hands. "shit this is actually happening?"

"why are you nervous?" dream asks with a laugh, both of their footsteps getting closer to you.

"what if i just never open my eyes. every time youre in the room, i just cover my hands," you joke, eliciting a laugh from the other two. "no, just tell me when."

"shit, give me a second," clay says, his voice sounding closer to you.

"wait are you in front of me?"

"yea, im right here." he told you, the smile audible in his voice.

"fuck... okay..." you take a deep breath.

"okay... open?"

you take another deep breath and remove your hands from your eyes. you look up and stare at him with a shocked smile.he looks at you with an awkward expecting smile.

"thats not what i imagined you to look like," you said looking between nick and clay with wide eyes.

"is that a good thing?"

"yes, dont worry! wait, can i hug you?" you ask standing up. clay laughed and wrapped his arms around you. "this doesnt feel real."

bf!sapnap who carries suitcase up to his room and asks you to cuddle with him.

"thank you for inviting me," you tell him, your head resting on his chest as you look around his room.

"of course... i mean, i really wanted to see you..." he told you nervously.

"it feels weird finally being here, you know?"

"yea, it actually feels like we're dating now," he smiles down at you.

"does this officially make you my boyfriend?" you ask him teasingly. you prop your chin up on his chest and smile at him.

"i dont know, baby. you tell me," he said, holding back a smile unsuccessfully. once again, your eyes glance down at his lips.

"oh, 'baby'? thats very bold of you sir," you said, readjusting yourself higher to get closer to his face.

"'sir'? maybe youre the bold one," he said, wrapping his arms around you, both of his hands resting on your waist.

"maybe..." you said, your voice barely above a whisper. you caught the way he glanced down at your lips, causing your heart to flutter.

you realized how close your faces had gotten when he let out a breath that fanned out across your face.

neither of you know who leaned in first but you were now sharing a soft kiss. both of your lips softly meeting.

the shyness of your early relationship shinning through the way your lips danced around eachothers carefully.

when you pulled away, he grinned widely at you, his eyes sleepy and hooded. you felt your face heat up and hid in the crook of his neck. he giggled at the feeling as his face slowly turned bright red.

this one might suck i dont really care. it was fun to write. and thats all that matters 😌 -Nony

[cheesy09]

[CN] Kiro's Frank Date Prologue + Event

🌸 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for content that hasn't been released on the EN server yet! 🌸

[Note: This has been translated with the help of Google Translate :>]

[PROLOGUE]

Buzz--

I turned off the alarm clock on my phone and was about to quietly get up, but the next second a hand pulled me back into bed.

Kiro: So early... where are you going...

MC: I want to make some breakfast first. You can sleep for a while longer~

I lifted the quilt and tried to slip away from Kiro's arms, but he hugged me tighter.

Kiro: But compared to having breakfast, I want to stay with you for a while longer.

Kiro: After all, after today, I won’t see MC for half a month...

Seeing him trying to fight sleep to talk to me, I couldn't help but reach out and touch the fluffy top of his head.

MC: It's up to you. I'll stay by your side and won't go anywhere. We'll have something to eat at the airport later.

MC: You can sleep for another half hour...

Kiro: I'm not sleepy anymore. Let's talk. I'm already awake.

Kiro said as he rubbed his sleepy eyes and deliberately opened them wide. He wanted to prove the "fact" that he had woken up, but all it did was make me see his tired and bloodshot eyes more clearly.

MC: Liar.

MC: You didn't get home from work until 2 a.m. and only slept for more than 4 hours. How could you possibly be awake?

Kiro: It doesn't matter, there's plenty of time on the plane anyway. 12 hours is enough for me to sleep for a long time.

Kiro: But there's no Miss Chips on the plane...

Kiro held up my face and pinched my cheek gently.

Kiro: But after I've wrapped up this show, I can rest with you for a few more days.

MC: Actually, if you ask Savin to schedule your work so tightly, you are squeezing yourself in advance.

He smiled, hiding his little thoughts that I had revealed.

Kiro: By then, we'll be having fun in France~ Let me stay with you, and you can stay with me.

Kiro: It's time for you to relax. Although I didn't finish work until 2 o'clock, who was still revising her plan when I came back?

MC: I just drank too much coffee during the day and couldn't sleep...

I looked away with a guilty conscience, but he gripped my chin and half-"forced" me to look into his eyes.

Kiro: What about the day before yesterday, the day before that... and last week?

MC: Hehe, don't worry, I can take a breather after handing in the documents today.

MC: But you should pay attention to your rest during rehearsals. I've heard from Savin that you've been working really hard on set these few days and have overused your voice.

MC: I made some lozenges yesterday. They should be cooling by now.

MC: I'll help you pack it into your suitcase later, so be careful with your voice during rehearsals!

Kiro: They must be way more delicious than the ones got outside.

Kiro: With Miss Chips' loving throat lozenges, I'll be full of energy during the rehearsals~

Buzz--

The cell phone alarm went off again, announcing that we had to get up.

Although I've become accustomed to the normalcy of his work, I still felt a little bit reluctant every time we were separated.

While Kiro was washing up, I left him a small note in the bag containing the throat lozenges.

TO DO LIST:

Remember to take the throat lozenges prepared by MC

Try not to stay up late

Pay attention to the temperature difference between morning and evening

Share interesting daily life

Plan a special tour itinerary

I hope you can gain a little surprise and warmth when you see it.

[Day 1: Dream Route]

Because I woke up too early to see off the plane, my eyelids grew heavier and heavier on the way back, and I uncontrollably started to doze off.

MC: No, now is not the time to sleep... You still need to familiarize yourself with the meeting materials.

My remaining sense of reason woke me up and I managed to dig out the information from my bag. However, unexpectedly, I found a bear-shaped velvet bag at the bottom of my bag.

MC: Looks like it's a secret treasure left by Mr. Kiro Bear~

After opening the velvet bag, there sat a small bag of apple candies and a short list left by Kiro.

Take Apple Box out for a walk

Water the catnip

Log in to my game account to receive daily rewards

Attend the award ceremony for me

~\(≧▽≦)/~ Come and meet meet me on the day the closed rehearsal ends

From: Kiro

The joy of discovering this secret treasure dispelled the worries caused by my sleepiness.

The fresh taste of apple candy in my mouth brought a hint of sweetness to my longing.

Memory Diary:

The apple candy flavor is sweet and a bit sour. Although we have just separated, I already feel a little bit missed when I look at the list he left behind. This is probably the chain reaction that opens the secret treasure.

-

[Day 2: Heart-warming Walk]

The park was fresh and pleasant after the rain, with green grass and crystal water droplets.

The setting sun reflected the happy smiling face of Apple Box. He loved his newly bought bone toy very much.

I took a lot of photos of him playing, picked the cutest one and sent it to Kiro.

MC: I had a lot of fun with Apple Box~

Kiro: I'm so jealous of Apple Box! His eyes are filled with happiness!

Kiro: Not only does he have a new toy, but he also has Miss Chips to accompany him. He's now the happiest puppy in the world!

MC: Judging from your tone, you don't seem jealous of Apple Box~

Kiro: Hmph, even though he's the happiest puppy in the world, I'm also about to be the happiest person in the world.

Kiro: When I see you, I'll definitely make up for the happiness that I've missed during this period of time.

Memory Diary:

Apple Box was really well-behaved. When we were in the park, many children wanted to play with him, and many young ladies took the initiative to take photos with him. It is said that dogs will become similar to their owners after being raised for a long time. In terms of attractiveness, seems like that they are indeed similar.

-

[Day 3: Sunshine Mint]

The weather was exceptionally sunny over the weekend. Cello spread herself out on the floor, lazily basking in the sun.

She didn't want to move a step after she was full, and no matter how much I tried to tempt her with cat teasing sticks and cat toys, she remained indifferent.

While it was normal for her to be reluctant to move in such hot weather, she has been tending to be overweight recently

MC: Little lazy cat, it look's like I'll have to bring out the secret weapon!

For the sake of Cello's health, I turned to the balcony and prepared to pick some catnip that Kiro had planted before.

Note: "Cello's pot of catnip, I'll leave it to Miss Chips to take care of it~"

Signed: (★ ω ★) Kiro & Cello /ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\

MC: Then I'll water the catnip first and then play with Cello~

Memory Diary:

After pouring a lot of water and enjoying the beautiful sunshine on the balcony, Catnip is also in good spirits today! In addition, it quietly announced: Kiro = my human mint.

-

[Day 4: Limited Surprise]

In the blink of an eye, the queue at the door of the handicraft store had already stretched outside the mall.

While I was glad I came early, keeping my feet to one side, I counted the number of people in the line in front of me.

After all, for this sale, some styles didn't limit the maximum purchase quantity for each person.

MC: I hope that all the styles are available when my turn comes and that they're not sold out... let me buy the whole set!

The queue moved slowly, and when it was finally my turn, there weren't many figures left on the shelves, but fortunately I got a complete set.

MC: Wrap one of each for me. Let's go with this yellow gift box~

Memory Diary:

I had the foresight to get up early and queue up! This set of Kiro figurines has been in my heart for a long time. It would be a pity if I didn't buy them... As his cutest girlfriend, of course I have to give him a surprise~

-

[Day 5: Stage Focus]

Courier: Hello, please sign for the express delivery.

MC: Okay, thank you.

I carefully opened the outer packaging till a delicate silk box was revealed in front of me--

Inside, was a performance costume specially customized for Kiro, which took a full three months to complete.

Kiro designed the outfit himself and hired famous tailors to make it. It was the first time they collaborated, but they had a tacit understanding.

MC: It looks better than expected.

The metallic threads he specially selected had hidden secrets, and their true charm could only be revealed under the stage lights.

MC: When Kiro comes back and sees it with his own eyes, he'll definitely be very happy~

I hope the next concert will come soon so that I can see him in his costume earlier.

Memory Diary:

I can't wait to see Kiro wearing this suit~ I'll be sure to take lots of photos of him and appreciate the most dazzling star on stage!

-

[Day 6: Have Fun]

I turned on the computer and connected the game controller.

Note: (づ￣ 3￣)づ Help me get the daily rewards. The password is Miss Chips' birthday~

Signed: Kiro

MC: Hehe, with such a simple numeric password, aren't you afraid that your account will be hacked?

MC: (￣▽￣)" Oh yes, why would he be afraid of that...

I entered my password effortlessly and after a successful login--

Appeared a full set of equipment, a full set of skins, a full set of characters, all maps open--

MC: Hehe, today I can also experience the fun of a game master's account~

Memory Diary:

Turns out that the game is more enjoyable when two people play it. Compared to the fun brought by clearing levels, his company is the source of my real happiness.

-

[Day 7: Care Bear]

I downed my third cup of coffee and took a few bites of cold instant noodles.

I've been working overtime for three days. Looking at the night sky outside the window, I can't help but sigh - quarterly reports were really life's enemies.

Every time I had to compare data and business conditions vertically and horizontally, I felt overwhelmed.

Ding--

It was so late. Could it be that the business partner was urging me? I opened the new email that popped up in the lower right corner.

Title: Sweet reminder from Little Bear

Sender: Kiro

Recipient: MC

If Miss Chips didn't reply to my message, she must have been working overtime in front of the computer and lost track of time...

I hope the program in the attachment can help you solve some minor problems. And I ordered a delicious late-night snack - finish it before working!

The little bear figure in the attachment was jumping around, guiding me to upload the report step by step, and quickly started the comparison calculation.

Little Bear: Sweet tip: The calculation time is the standard time to finish a bowl of hot rice dumplings.

Memory Diary:

It seems that no matter how far apart we are, he will always give me the warmest help and support when I encounter difficulties. Thank you, Mr. Bear!

-

[Day 8: Childlike Innocence]

Clerk: Small fries~~Fries~~Small burgers~~Hamburgers.

MC: Big fries~~Fries fries! Big burger~~Hamburger!

Although I was a little shy, I still shouted the slogan firmly.

Clerk: Congratulations on your correct answer. What would you like to eat?

MC: Take away children's set meal for 10 people, and gift giveaways of a Super Burger Man toy, a Burger Man water bottle, and a Burger Man musical instrument set!

With the envious looks from the children, I sent Kiro a "family picture".

MC: Reporting to Mr. Burger! Miss Chips has successfully completed the task! Now enjoying the free fries~

Kiro: Wow! It's a Burger Man set!! Miss Chips is the best in the world~

Kiro: But there are so many... Are you going to eat hamburgers all day long?

MC: Hehe~ Of course not~ I will take the rest to the company's pantry and divide it up!

Memory Diary:

I got excited while I was eating the children's set meal~ I've collected a complete set of Burger Man toys. Kiro will definitely be very happy when he sees them!

-

[Day 9: Heart Song Composition]

After a lot of twists and turns, I finally found the stationary store hidden deep in the alley of the shopping street.

When I accidentally visited here before, I felt that the hand-made stationary was very interesting. I even made several music score books and planned to give them to Kiro.

Unexpectedly, when it was time to pick up the goods, I forgot the route while I was looking for it and wasted half a day.

MC: Boss, please give me your business card. I'm afraid I'll forget how to get here when I want to come here again.

I took the business card, took a photo and archived it, and then put the paper business card in my bag.

MC: Double insurance, so I don't have to worry next time~

Memory Diary:

Although it took a little effort, the customized hand-made notebook may be more conducive to his creation~ I'm looking forward to him writing a music score on it.

-

[Day 10: Fruit and Vegetable Companion]

Apples, lemons, bananas, kale, beets...

Supplementing multiple vitamins was for good for one's health, and some special combinations are said to be effective for relieving fatigue.

I followed the recently popular recipes on the internet and combined them with Kiro's preference in taste to make fruit and vegetable juices.

MC: Mm! This ratio is not sour or astringent, but it's still a bit lacking in sweetness. Seems like I'll have to add more apples.

MC: When the superstar comes home, he'll definitely like MC's healthy fruit and vegetable juice~

Memory Diary:

When Kiro is filming, he's most likely to have a single diet, and he often eats irregularly... Making several different fruit and vegetable juices should also help him replenish his energy.

-

[Day 11: Proud of You]

With the announcement of the nominations for the "Most Popular Award of the Year", the atmosphere at the awards ceremony reached its pinnacle.

Host: Now I announce that the winner of the "Most Popular Award of the Year" is--

I stared closely at the big screen, filled with countless expectations and tensions.

Kiro was unable to come to the scene due to rehearsals, so as his partner, I was entrusted to receive the award.

The variety show I collaborated with him on just won the "Best Variety Show of the Year" award. If he won the "The Most Popular Award of the Year" again, we would be wining the two most valuable awards at this year's Variety Awards.

Host: Kiro! Congratulations to this double crowned king!

The host made an inviting gesture, and I stood up and followed the usher's guidance to the stage.

MC: Hello everyone, I'm MC, head of [MC's Company Name] Company.

MC: Because Kiro is currently involved in closed rehearsals abroad, he is unable to be here in person today.

MC: I'm very happy to receive this award for Kiro, and I would like to thank everyone who supports him on his behalf.

MC: We will work together on more and better programs in the future. Thank you all!

I took the trophy from the presenter and returned to my seat, eager to share the good news with Kiro.

MC: Congratulations! Our big star won the "Most Popular Award of the Year"~~

Kiro: Hehe, this is an honor shared between Miss Chips and I! Our program is the best!

Kiro: (￣︶￣*\)) Miss Chips looked so confident and good-looking when she spoke! Today's dress is so cute!

MC: Huh? Are you watching the live broadcast?!

Kiro: Of course~ I specifically asked the director for 10 minutes of leave!

Kiro: Just to see MC standing on the podium for the first time~

Memory Diary:

When I accepted the award for Kiro, why did I seem more nervous than when I won the award? The trophy was heavy in hand, and he was also heavy in my heart.

-

[Day 12: Sweet and Refreshing]

MC: Please send it to this address for me.

Courier: Okay, but the cost of cross-border express delivery may be more expensive than the candy you sent. Are you sure...

MC: It doesn't matter, just send me the fastest one. Also, please add more shock-absorbing cushions. I'm worried it will break if transported over a long distance.

Courier: Okay, please fill in the details here.

Memory Diary:

He finished the throat lozenges I made so quickly. I hope he can receive the ones I sent today soon. Even if he was rehearsing, he would do his best. This was the time when his voice was most taxed.

Kiro's Frank Date has been translated by Bai7_Journey on youtube and can be read here :>

[ravenzeppeli]

Claimed

Chapter 27 - A Crack in My Heart |Illuso x Reader Fluff|

Warning: strong/violent language, threats, dark situations, nudity, blood. MA.

Illusos POV

Illuso felt anger rise throughout his body as he gently pulled down your pants, revealing underwear that was stained with your blood. What could you possibly have done to deserve this? "Why?" He muttered, hesitating to pull down your underwear, afraid to see the full damage.

You attempted to pull your pants up, causing Formaggio to grab your hand, refusing to grab your left hand, the cast being a reminder of what he did to you. "I'll call him once she tells us what happened. Go on, tell us." You were silent, your face blank, but Illuso could tell you were close to crying. "I'll call Melone and get him to come over here."

"He said my jeans were too tight," you replied, causing Illusos' face to go pale. He.. beat you because he didn't like the pants that you were wearing?

Illuso nodded his head, walking past you as he snatched up Formaggio phone as it rang again, answering it. "You know where she is, so come over here. Come over here so I can break your fucking nose," he snapped into the phone. "What's your fucking problem!? I saw her jeans earlier bitch, they were fine!"

"You wanna fight me!?" Prosciutto snapped into the phone. "You punched her in the face a few months ago! What's your fucking problem!? You should be thanking me for punishing her!"

"Illuso, you can't do that!" You said, attempting to actually snatch the phone away from his ear. "Just relax! Why would you care anyway!? I came here to talk to Formaggio originally!"

Illuso had this permanent label on him of being an abusive piece of shit because he punched you and allowed Formaggio to break your fingers. He never thought he'd love you this much, and now that he does, he regrets those things deeply. Despite being a violent man, he didn't want to hurt you anymore. He just wanted you to love him. He wanted you to go to him for problems.

"Just let me fucking talk to her, she left her goddamn phone and everything else over here!" Prosciutto yelled, his voice stern, pissing Illuso further off. "Let me goddamn talk to her!"

"Fuck you, Formaggio and I are gonna keep her. And we're gonna keep her as long as we want. You can't talk to her. Don't come over here or we'll go outside and handle this like men," Illuso snapped into the phone, handing the phone to Formaggio. "Make sure that he knows I'm serious."

Formaggio took the phone, pressing it up to his ear, walking down his hallway. "Yeah, I know he punched her, and I know I've done things to her too, but that's besides the point! You beat her ass that badly over jeans!? She's staying here, and you aren't coming here. Illuso is serious. He only punched her because he was drunk anyway!" He heard a door slam shut, Formaggio's voice becoming muffled as Illuso turned his attention back towards you.

He sighed.. he wasn't mad at you. Why would he be mad at you? "Baby," he muttered, "can I see how badly it is?" He didn't want to see.. he was scared to see how badly you were hurt. He didn't like this.. it made him feel sick to his stomach to know that you were beat so badly. Again. "I just.. I'm not trying to be creepy. I promise."

You turned your face and body fully away from him, you slowly peeling the bloody underwear back. His jaw instantly locked as he stared down at your bottom, eyes widening in shock at how badly Prosciutto beat you over a stupid ass pair of jeans. Your poor ass was completely red and bruised. Even your sit spots were fully red. He noticed two hand sized welts, those faintly faded underneath the much harsher belt lines across your bottom.

Tears filled his eyes, tears that he quickly wiped away. He looked closer, noticing that one belt streak that was right in the center of your ass was still bleeding. It was rubbed completely raw from your pants rubbing against it. He.. he wanted to fucking destroy Prosciutto.

"Formaggio," he called out, his voice having a shake to it. You went to pull your underwear up, but he stopped you, gently grabbing your hands. "No.. I think that he needs to see this." This.. seeing this made him never want to put his fucking hands on you ever again. How much pain were you in right now? He felt sick. He was going to break Prosciuttos fucking face.

"I just came here to hide out, okay? I just needed to get myself away from Prosciutto. All of this is unnecessary drama. You're going to get me killed," you snapped at him suddenly, but you didn't pull away from him. You stayed completely still, Formaggio rushing into the room.

"Get you killed?" He whispered, feeling completely broken up over that, considering just a month ago, he foolishly threatened to kill you. It was a mistake. He would never kill you. You're the woman he loves. "Formaggio and I won't hurt you. You're safe here, okay? Don't worry."

Formaggio stood next to Illuso, his eyes wide as he stared down at your bottom. "Go to the bathroom and soak in some warm water. I'll come check on you shortly."

"Formaggio, I don -" you began, getting instantly cut off by Formaggio.

"Now!" He yelled at you, causing you to flinch. You pulled your pants up, quickly heading towards the front door. "Hey, where do you think you're going!? Just relax and listen to me!" He rushed forward, grabbing you and yanking you back. "Let me help!"

You were tough. You were very tough. When Illuso punched you, you showed no fear, despite him almost breaking your nose. You showed no fear every time Prosciutto smacked you. And despite throwing up, you handled having your fingers snapped in half like a true fucking assassin. He's never seen you cry, despite all that, so when he saw your head drop and low sobs coming from your mouth, he immediately snatched you away from Formaggio.

"Goddamnit Formaggio, talk to her gently! She's our girlfriend, goddammit!" Illuso snapped at Formaggio, his arms wrapping around your waist. "Do you want me to just take her? I'll keep her." What was Formaggios fucking problem? This was a time to speak to you gently, not rough.

Formaggio threw his hand up, shaking his head. "My bad, my bad," he muttered, his eyes landing on you, trailing down to stare at your ass, visible concern in his eyes. "Fuck.. alright. I'm sorry Y/N. Just.. why don't you tell us what you want? How do you wanna handle this Y/N?"

Your left arm wrapped around him, your cast resting on his back. Your head was buried in his shirt, your tears soaking his shirt. "Just.. can I stay here for a few days? You two take turns, and.. I just need to kind of hide this from Melone. And I need some time away from Prosciutto."

"What about the others?" Illuso questioned, sitting down. He pulled you on his lap, having your bottom hang freely, having you sit on the back of your thighs. "You'll need to call Melone quick with an excuse. We can't really talk to him about you. He'll get suspicious." He couldn't believe he was going through with this lie, and he couldn't believe he was throwing in ideas. Fuck, was he actually giving into exactly what you were asking? What you were asking wasn't right, but it was what they did when they hurt you. They covered it and forgot about it.

"Oh fuck," you actually sobbed, burying your face in your hands. "I'm supposed to stay with Melone tomorrow night. How am I going to lie to him? Hes coming onto my lies!" You seemed in a low state of panic, your body having a shake. "I need to think!"

"Baby, relax," Illuso muttered, his hand raising, rubbing your back. "I'm sure we can come up with something. Alright?" He looked up at Formaggio, having no clue what to do. Ghiaccio wouldn't much question you not seeing him for a while, and Pesci would get sad, but he wouldn't pry or press. Risotto would stay quiet, but Melone? Melone was very serious when it came to you. He didn't just love you. He was downright obsessed with you.

"Did Melone threaten to spank you for lying?" Formaggio questioned suddenly, your head nodding. He snorted, causing Illuso to smack him. "What? It's just funny because Melone ain't gonna spank her. He's just bullshitting. Sweetheart, just relax. We'll make sure he doesn't find out."

Illuso continued to rub your back, this day feeling like an extreme eye opener to him. When he was the one hitting you, he wasn't thinking about how badly you were hurt. He was only thinking of himself. He also never got to see the true after effecfs.. he looked at the idea of 'punishing you' completely differently now. He would never put his goddamn hands on you negatively ever again. You did not deserve this, and if he ever put his hands on you again, then he would be approving of you getting brutalized. All this over a fucking pair of jeans.. that's ridiculous.

"I'm sorry he did this to you," Illuso muttered. "I'm.. I'm really sorry for everything. Don't worry about a thing. Formaggio and I will come up with a great lie. We've got you covered."

[just-my-type-x]

“I’d Get On My Knees For You”

Angst, smut-ish

It was a lovely night, y/n finally enjoying herself with her friends after coming home from touring with her boyfriend.

Even tho the boys' girlfriends kept her company, she missed her old friends and felt the need to catch up with them. Brad was even happier when she told him she's going out, because he'd have time to do some chores around the house, spend some time with his family and Jack. He also loves it when she reconnects with her old friend group.

"You look amazing, love", Brad whispers in her ear while hugging her from behind. He snakes his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer to his body. Y/N chuckles and caresses her boyfriend's arms with her fingers. She wears a long, dusty pink dress, with a leg cut. Brad's fingers gently follow her leg line through the cut. "Mmm, so sexy for a night out with your friends", he kisses her jawline and lower on her neck.

"Thank you, love. I'm trying my best", she chuckles and turns around to kiss him. His hands stop right above her ass, making her raise on her tiptoes to let his hands slip lower. They laugh into the kiss and Brad takes a seat on the bed, never letting go of y/n's hands.

"You are at your best. Don't ever think otherwise. Look at you all perfect, all mine. I love you so fucking much.", never breaking eye contact, Brad kisses her hand. She gets down at eye level with him, kissing his hand too.

"And i love you so fucking much, Bradley. You're my everything", she leans in and kisses him, the action becoming heated in a matter of seconds. "Gotta go, I'll see you later tonight", she runs out of their room as her friends honk when arrived outside. Brad sighs and looks between his legs, hot and bothered. He chuckles to himself and gets out of the bedroom to become productive for the evening.

.

.

Hours pass and Brad starts growing impatient with having his girlfriend back at their place. He's not used to not have her around for so long, especially when she went out with friends. It's close to 11PM and the lack of texts he's received from her doesn't do him a favor.

Brad: Want me to pick u up from the bar?

A few moments later, his screen lights up.

Baby: No, it's fine babe, I'll get an uber. I don't want to disturb u. Won't be long till i get home ♥️

He sighs and types a short ok on the screen, putting the phone aside and playing a movie on netflix.

After one hour and a half, the movie timing, he hears the keys in the lock and immediately stands up and comes towards the door. He smiles at the sight of her, but he's quick to frown when she enters the house giggling and talking on the phone. Who could possibly be at almost 1AM?

Brad approaches and hugs her, kissing her forehead, but she's quick to push him away to finish her conversation.

"Oh how i wish we could talk sooner", a male voice is heard through the phone in the imense silence of the house. Brad's eyebrows almost reach his hairline as he gives y/n a questioning look, but she's too into the conversation to even realise.

"I know, but I've been so busy lately. Anyway, i got home, thank you for checking in.", she smiles and bye's the guy. She looks at her boyfriend and can tell that his behaviour changed. Y/N gives Brad the "are u seriously mad at me for talking to a guy?" look.

"Don't look at me like that, who was that?", he crosses his arms at his chest.

She rolls her eyes. "Y/F/N", she takes her shoes off and puts them in the shoe corner, Brad following her close behind.

"Do you think i should find it normal that instead of calling me on the way home you chose to call y/f/n?", Brad asks a bit angry

"He called, what was i supposed to do?"

"Y/N, who calls you at fucking midnight?", he runs a hand through his hair and she just looks down, unaware of what to tell him

"I don't know, he knew i was out, i don't know why he kept talking", she says and walks to the kitchen to get some water. She doesn't fill her cup, nor get the water. She just stays behind the kitchen counter, unnecessary space between her and Brad.

"It's not that he kept you talking, he kept you fucking giggling and you pushed me away like i was some inconvenience to you. It's a 30 minute walk from the bar to here, did u walk all the way here just to talk to him?", y/n could see that Brad's eyes twinkle with mixed emotions, almost close to crying

"I needed some fresh air and i didn't want to trouble you to pick me up -"

"You told me u were getting an uber!"

"And he's an old friend and i wanted to catch up with him!", she raises her voice at Brad, but he brushes a hand over his face and nods.

"Did you really blew me off for some guy? Really? Y/N what the fuck?", he throws hands around the room, resting them on his hips while waiting for an answer.

"I didn't blow you off, i felt the need to talk to somebody else", she frowns at her own words. "That's not what i meant", she brushes a hand over her face, tired, a bit drunk and unable to put the words out there the right way. Brad's face turns white as her words come out of her mouth.

"Are you being serious right now? You needed to talk to another guy on the way home? Home where i am at? Our house where we've been living in for a while? Y/N, I'd get on my fucking knees for you even tomorrow and you tell me you need another man entertaining you while coming home? ", Brad scoffs, shakes his head and turns around, leaving her in the open space living room.

"That's not what i-"

"Have a good night", he cuts her off and closes the bedroom door behind him, only to open it seconds later, with his pjs in his arms. "I'll take the guest room.", Brad disappears into the darkness of the hallway, y/n hearing the bang of the door getting shut behind him.

.

.

The next morning, y/n wakes up and starts cooking breakfast, a little bit hungover and very tired. Her fight with Brad kept her up through the night while she kept thinking of ways to make things right.

She puts the pancakes on the side, while reaching for the fresh forest fruits to start on a quick jam. As she's drowned in her thoughts, she barely notices her boyfriend pressing on the coffee machine.

"Good morning", y/n offers Brad a quick smile. He doesn't take his eyes off the coffee pouring into his cup.

"Morning", Brad tries to stop a yawn but it escapes anyway

"Didn't get much sleep?"

"Did you?", his voice almost breaks when locking eyes with y/n. She swallows the lump in her throat when she sees the dark circles around his red, puffy eyes. She shakes her head no and turns off the stove so the jam wouldn't burn.

"Did you.. Uhm.. -"

"Cry? Yeah, most of the night. Out of anger, out of sadness, out of thinking that I'm not enough, good enough for you and that i don't pleasure your needs anymore.", as if he said everything in one breath, he inhales sharply. Y/N remains speechless as she looks at his sad features.

"How could you think about that?", her voice breaks, but she feels guilty.

"Are you really asking me how? You entered the house by laughing with another man. You chose someone else to keep you company instead of me. I know we've spent the last few weeks together but there are still small things you can't throw away like that.", Brad turns around, but she catches his arm and pulls him at her chest, his back pressed against her, while she holds him in a hug. He intertwines their fingers together and exhales as a whimper is heard from y/n, as she started crying. "No, don't", he turns around and kisses the top of her head, while hugging her tightly at his chest, hand on the back of her head as to protect her from her own thoughts. They stay like that for a while, until y/n calms down.

"Did you really mean it when you said you'd get on your knees for me?", she looks up, looking deep into Brad's eyes, as to find a glimpse of uncertainty. He nods, kissing her gently.

"I think about this every day", he whispers and pulls y/n back into the kiss, escalating quickly into a more heated make out session. He pushes her into the counter top and she's quick to get on top of it, Brad's hands pulling at her t-shirt, bringing her closer to him. He kisses down her neck, her fingers entangled in his curls. She cups his face and deepens the kiss, Brad grabbing her by the waist and pulling her forward to meet his body. He takes off her top and she leans backwards, giving him space to kiss her down her breasts and stomach. Y/N takes his t-shirt off and trails his muscles with her fingers.

"You're the only one that can make me really happy. Never doubt that", she whispers and bites gently on his earlobe, earning an excited sigh from him.

"And I'll make sure to keep doing that", Brad holds her chin up and pecks her lips one more time, before taking her to their bedroom.

.

.

.

.

Pic not mine, same as the others used in the previous imagines.

[sgnjimmy]

i'm obsessed with vinny's childhood friendship headcanon I SWEAR, please vinny you deserve all happiness in the world, i need part 4 immediately 😭

vinny hong x gn! reader

✓𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 Part. 4

A/n: ya ask, ya shall receive 🛐. (glad you like it, love!) and damn right he does!! poor vinny, i just want to give him all the love <33333 sorry for the wait... (this is not proof read btw :c i really need someone to but ehh).

Warning(s): none.

Word count: 663. (not sure again)

Part. 1, Part. 2, Part. 3

For being too caught up in his head Vinny almost misses your response. "Yeah, i dated a little." Your voice sounds kind of shy. You weren't a player by any means but you had your fair square of relationships. "But i guess it wasn't meant to be." "I'm single after all!" You laugh and Vinny turns to look at you almost apologetic. "It 's okay!" "Really! Don't worry" You try to calm him. He looked a little worried.

"Don't being in a relationship and all feels... Kind of good, besides who needs a lover when i got you." "I'll annoy you so much you'll wish never see me again." You happily joke, patting his thigh with your hand lightly.

"That's not possible..." He says, more to himself than you, but you hear anyways. "... Eh, you didn't tell me what you been up to." He trails off in a low voice, changing the subject before you notice the effect you have on him.

"Right, right." "Hm, where should i start?"

The rest of the night went on with you telling him stories from your life in your homeland. You guys made up for the lost time for sure, you talked non stop and Vinny didn't mind a bit, your voice and way of speaking had him with heart eyes looking at you. By the end of it, it was really late and he insisted on walking you home, almost no one was on the streets, but Vinny was still worried. And it was better to know for sure that you'd get home safe, than wonder if something bad happened later. So that brings you both to stop in front of the house you were staying at.

"This is it." You explain, looking at the building.

He looks at the construction, examining it. "Here? It looks… good." He says with no trace of truth in his voice.

It did not look good, but well, you did not have the money to rent a better place yet. And at least you got what you needed, a place to sleep and a decent bathroom.

"It's okay. I know it's not great, but hey, it can get better. I'm just getting started on my job here, so..."

"Right. That's good."

Vinny scratches his head and looks at you trying to find the courage to ask for your number. The truth is that he doesn't want to lose you again, he wants to get closer and maybe even closer. But for now, he really just wants your number but even that seems hard to get right now.

"Yeah, so I think I'm going."

Unless... you think.

"Wait a sec." He stops you.

There. You knew, he had something more to say. You can still read him like an open book. He stands there, nervously looking for the right words to say. He then presses his lips together. That didn't change, you notice chuckling to yourself.

"Just say it, Vinny. Whatever you need." Reaching for his arm you massage it quietly with one hand, calming him.

"I'm just- Can i get your number? I can… Take you to look around the city if you want to."

"Yes, of course you can!" You open a huge grin. You can't believe you forgot to ask him for his number. You wanted to spend time with him again.

He gives you his phone and you type your phone number right away. "There, massage me so I can save your number later, 'kay?"

"Yeah, sure." Vinny nods. He looks down to his phone and sees the name you saved your contact as, he can't help the smirk that grows on his face. It was an old nickname that he gave you as a child. You remembered that? Damn.

He brings himself back to reality. "Okay so, hm, good night."

"Uh-hum, good night, Vinny." You wave. He turns around to leave when he sees you opening the building door.

"Sleep well!" He hears you yell. He turns back but you're already gone.

Cute, he thinks.

Vinny went all his way home smiling, thinking about when he'll see you again. He better come up with good ideas of places to take you to, he wouldn't want you to be disappointed.

(HERE WE GOOOOOO. sorry again, this shit took so much time, depression has been kicking my ass lately. and i think this will be the last one of this series. BUT DON'T WORRY i'm working on some other fics that are based off this plot. anyone feel free to request any cenarios if you want.)

tag list: @vinnyshongf

[allergic-to-color]

A Very Merry Wenclair Family Christmas

DISCLAIMER!!! if y'all are looking for soft wenclair christmas content, you may be slightly disappointed... it started off as that, but at some point this literally just became me heavily projecting onto wednesday bc honestly the same thing happens to me during the holidays, it just gets to be too much and yeah- anyway enjoy fhdjfjfkdk

tw: ??

word count: ??

Christmastime, Wednesday's favorite time of the year. It was the last day of class before winter break, and the raven-haired girl was absolutely dreading it. Not that she didn't want to see her family, (although, perhaps that was also part of it.), but she was just getting used to being away from home for so long, and then there was Enid...

Normally, there should be decorations, the whole building lit up like a Christmas tree, but Weems couldn't be bothered to spend the school's budget on something that would only be taken down again in January, so she didn't really see the point in it. So the halls of Nevermore remained dark, and cold. As cold as Wednesday's mother's heart, she thought.

While everyone else was getting excited and ready to go home for a few weeks, there was Enid, alone, sitting on her bed next to a packed suitcase and trying not to have a full on breakdown after the phone call she'd just had with her mother. The pure rage she felt, while at the same time, a deep sadness washing over her, there wasn't a single person that could possibly understand her pain right now.

What was she going to do? She didn't have anywhere else to go. She thought that maybe, just maybe, her parents would accept her now that she'd finally transformed. But it didn't change a single thing. The Lycan felt absolutely shattered and nothing could make things better in the moment. Down the hall, Ms. Thornhill could hear the whimpers and cries from Enid, so she decided to investigate.

“G-Go away..” the blonde mumbled as she heard the woman's footsteps approaching the door. She thought it was Wednesday. Cautiously, Thornhill opened the door, making her way to the young girl's bed and having a seat on the end. “What's wrong, honey?” she asked in a soft tone, not wanting to startle her student. With a deep breath, Enid just mumbled out in a barely audible voice; “icantgohomeforchristmas”.

The woman was confused at first, but then it all clicked immediately after, and she just placed a comforting hand on Enid. “Did you wanna talk about it?” The girl sighed and shook her head, curling up with her blanket and crying some more. She cried her little heart out until it stopped hurting.

“I'll be right back, okay?” and she left the room, returning about 15 minutes later with Ms. Weems. The older woman had made a call to Wednesday's parents and made arrangements for Enid to spend the holidays with her family, which of course they were hesitant about — but knowing that Enid was her closest friend, they agreed.

Once the two women let Enid know the arrangements, now all that was left was to wait for the raven-haired girl to return and they'd be sent on their way.

Wednesday's POV:

“Thing. Help me with these bags.” I said as I opened the door to my dormitory, which wasn't something I was exactly looking forward to, seeing as it's Christmas time, and principal weems said that I couldn't stay at Nevermore for the holidays, since nobody would be here— to which I told her that I actually prefer it that way. Where was I? Oh. Right. Thing didn't move. Or 'say' anything, I honestly think that if he had the ability to, he'd be giving me the dirtiest look and rolling his eyes right at the command. Perhaps next time I should be more polite. But probably not.

It isn't until I take my headphones off that I even notice that Enid is sitting on her bed, she looks sad, (I think) and she's got company. My eyes widen and I take a step back as I realize it's my teacher, and principal. Acknowledging their presence with a nod, I wait for one of them to explain why they're here. They tell me that I'm being forced to take wolf girl home with me. I'm thrilled, really. I don't even waste my breath making an argument, as I've grown quite fond of Enid, and I don't really have any other choice.

Meanwhile, in the car on the way to the Addams family home....

Enid had somehow managed to sneak her hand over to Wednesday's and rested it there for the remainder of the car ride, unnoticed— or, if Wednesday had noticed, she just didn't say anything, and that's honestly what Enid was hoping. “Enid.” The girl muttered, staring down at their hands before staring back out the window. She wasn't usually one for small talk, so the rest of the trip was mostly silent after that....whether that was by choice or not, neither of the girls were really sure.

“Wednesday?” Enid tapped her friend on the shoulder and immediately she was startled awake, turning to the blonde and staring at her through hooded eyes, she hated being woken up... almost as much as she hated unprompted touches. “Sorry. It's just—” she pointed out the window as they approached a large, creepy looking mansion on a hill at the end of a long, winding driveway. It sort of reminded Enid of Nevermore. “Your house is so big...” she said with a smile and Wednesday just nodded.

If she was being honest, holidays weren't ideal for her. But, her parents were usually very understanding of her needs and things were kept lowkey. This Christmas, however, they would have a few unexpected visitors...

As soon as they pulled into the driveway, Wednesday had a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach, and it wasn't pleasant, but she sucked it up and put her headphones back on, so she could try and make it through the next few weeks with her sanity somewhat in tact. Morticia wasn't really a holiday person herself, either, but she couldn't pass up this opportunity to get to know the girl who her daughter had been getting close to over the last year or so. It was rare that Wednesday let anyone in, so you could imagine how her parents were feeling. Let's just say, those feelings were.....mixed.

In front of the house was all-black string lights, some leftover Halloween decorations, christmas-ified, nothing too colorful or bright, just how Wednesday liked it. Although, it did spook the young Lycan just a little bit.

Once they got up to the house, Lurch let the girls out of the car and helped with their bags, Morticia and Gomez were already waiting in the doorway, practically attached at the hip. Wednesday found this nauseating. “There's my little viper!” Gomez smiled as he greeted the raven, he wasn't too sure about the brightly colored girl next to her. They'd both met her, but it was only briefly, so they were hesitant about a stranger staying in their home. But they had always been open-minded, so they were willing to give her a chance. Besides, it wasn't like they'd be keeping her as a pet...

“Hello, darling.. welcome home.” Morticia's eyes scanned over her daughter and she noticed that she was acting strange, and not in the usual way. Not in the Addams way. “Oh, what is it, dear? has a cat got my little raven's tongue?” she spoke in a calming tone with genuine concern as she broke away from her husband, hands coming up to cup Wednesday's face. The girl just nodded and looked away, sighing.

Enid looked over, concerned about her and whimpered quietly. “Do you need anything? How can we help?” The older woman asked, but all Wednesday could do was shake her head ‘no’. The girl hated when she got this way, it made her feel weak, it was rare, but she hate it nevertheless. But her parents, and Enid were thankfully very patient with her, they knew it wasn't a choice, and she just needed to take some time to herself to recharge.

Wednesday's POV (again):

I don't know why this happened, earlier I was fine, but it's like my thoughts are racing, I just can't get them out. I wish I wasn't like this, but I know that I can't change it, I can only adapt. I'm just glad that Thing taught me sign language and I've learned to use that for simple communication when I cannot speak. I look forward to just spending the evening alone in my bedroom. But then I look up, and see that my Uncle, cousin Itt, and my grandmother (who I honestly didn't even know was still alive at this point.). Great. They're all here for the holidays... yay... I sigh deeply and march straight up to my bedroom.

No surprise, Enid's following right behind me like some sad little pup. She's the only person who I think I can tolerate right now, she doesn't always know how to help, or what to say— but honestly I'm just.....appreciative of her support.. I don't know if she knows that, I don't exactly know how to express that, but I hope she does know.

a few days later...

It'd been a few days since Wednesday had said a single word, the stress and sensory overload were too much to handle. God, she hated this. Everyone was getting ready for Christmas and having conversations and being together, but she couldn't bring herself to take part, she just wished she could be with Enid alone and watch Christmas movies with her. She hated them, but she loved making fun of horrible movies and they were honestly worse than horror movies to her. Enid was the complete opposite.

The Lycan knew to keep her distance unless she was specifically asked for, she was mostly quiet other than to ask if Wednesday needed anything. This wasn't exactly how either of them planned for this break to go, but they honestly just enjoyed each other's company, Enid was Wednesday's comfort person. Whether she made that known or not. “Hey, Wedn—” The blonde finally broke the days-long silence, the raven girl just glared at her, annoyed. “........Yeah.” It was more of a statement than a question, she wasn't really up for conversation just yet, forcing even the simple response felt like climbing mount everest. “Sorry. I know you're struggling, it's just— I wanted to say , Merry Christmas. I'm really glad you let me stay with you all this time, I don't want to be an annoyance, but yeah. I hope I'm not. Sorry.” Enid sighed, grabbing a gift from beside her side of the bed and handed it to the raven. “ what's this. ” wednesday looked up at her best friend , skeptical. “just open it, you silly! I promise you will like it. I hope so, anyway.” the lycan beamed at her, studying her every move and subtle changes in expression, anxious to see what she thought about her present.

to be continued because I keep forgetting about this and it's been a while since I wrote it 😭 merry christmas tho djdjsjfjsjdj. edit: totally did not mean to leave this on a cliffhanger besties my bad I will try to get a part 2 out within the next week or so 🖤

[showfallmediamaintenance]

[The video starts with a half blocked view of the interior of a car, the door opens and the two step out into the crisp night air. The car door shuts and Edgar thanks the driver as he speeds off. Leaving the duo alone in front of the looming abandoned office building.]

Mari: It's weird I've never actually been to an abandoned office building.

Edgar: Honestly, it seems like you would have at this point.

Mari: Listen, just because I set off 377 fireworks outside of a mall doesn't mean I randomly walk into abandoned places.

Edgar: Hm, yeah. It just seems like you would, though. Considering your horror series. Maybe I’m just thinking about it wrong. I don’t know.

[The ground sways as Edgar bounces from one leg to another, idly keeping himself busy.]

Mari: The only abandoned places I've ever walked into for a horror series, is an abandoned hospital and that school.

Edgar: Christ, you’ve been to an abandoned hospital? How much do you travel?

Mari: I'll be honest… I haven't been home in 3 months, so a lot ig.

Edgar: Huh. Um, I think we strayed a little off topic. Where do you think Mai would be in this building?

Mari: Whatever room has the most technology, mai always talked about those damn wires so that's the best bet.

Edgar: Yeah, probably, you ready?

Mari: Honesty? no, but I've come this far. It seems kinda dumb to back out now.

Edgar: Alright, let’s go.

[The camera angle changes from a half-blocked view of the floor to a full view of the front of the building, Edgar having put his phone in his front shirt pocket. The building looks unstable, and casts a large shadow over the two, blocking out the moon. They begin to move towards the entrance.]

Mari: This place is fucking creepy.

Edgar: Yeah, and very unsafe. We should try to be as quick as possible.

Mari: I mean yeah good point but how are we supposed to be quick in a fight?

Edgar: Hit first, hit fast. That’s what my dad taught me.

Mari: Nice…Um, anyway how are we supposed to find the room with the tech?

Edgar: Since it’s an office building, I’d assume there would be tech on every floor. Which actually makes this harder, damnit.

Mari: Wait… does Mai sing like a song or do something to taunt you? if so that could make this easier.

Edgar: Maybe? I– wait, hold on, did you see that?

[Edgars arm gestures to the building vaguely.]

Mari: See what? bro is your vision going out? no offence.

Edgar: Hey! Full offence taken! No, I’m talking about the figure that just ran by the fourth floor window.

Mari: Bro I didn't see shit I'll be honest.

Edgar: Maybe your vision is going…

Mari: Not scientifically possible.

Edgar: Mhm, yeah, alright. We should go to the fourth floor.

Mari: Alright, sure.

[The two enter the building, and begin carefully making their way to the fourth floor, taking the stairs very cautiously, so as to not get injured.]

Mari: Ok what now?

Edgar: Well, we find Mai. And we win. I… have to be honest, I had no plan, I know I said I did, but…

Mari: 1. alright how do we do that? 2. I'm gonna kick your fucking ass if we survive this.

Edgar: Well, strike first, strike fast. Also, not if I run away.

[Edgar chuckles, he turns to Mari, who does not look very amused.]

Mari: That doesn't answer the first thing.

[A faint noise can be heard out of view. Edgar gasps.]

Edgar: Shh… do you hear that?

Mari: Um… Oh shit yeah…… who tf is humming that?

Edgar: It’s her, she’s up here.

Mai: Dear Rose Was Sad She Knew She'd Been Had…

[Edgar tenses up, barely moving. The camera stays eerily still.]

Mari: AYO! That's not very nice.

Edgar: Oh, you motherfucker… Get the hell out here.

Mai: Ugh…. Fine.. Huh, I Guess Rose Was Foreshadowing Something With That Song, You Really Did Understand Mechanical Hands.

Edgar: I swear to god… Mari, could you hold on to my phone? I have a score to settle.

[The angle switches again as Edgar passes the phone to Mari. After his hands are free again, he rolls up the sleeves of his bloodied dress shirt and grips the crowbar in both of his hands, preparing for a fight.]

Mari: Shit alright!

Mai: Why Do You Have A Score To Settle With Me? I'm The Reason Your Idiot Daughter Isn't Dead On The Mall Floor.

Edgar: There were so many other options. I’m not going to listen to anything you say.

Mai: Oh Yeah Because You Did Such A Great Job At Keeping Rose Safe Didn't You? Leaving Her For Dead?

[Edgar visibly tenses up, tightening his grip on his crowbar.]

Edgar: Shut up! You don’t know what you’re talking about!

[Without another word, Edgar lunges at Mai, who had been expecting this. She swiftly sidesteps the attack, leaving Edgar stumbling forward into nobody.]

Mai: What? Do You Think I'm Just Gonna Stand There? Maybe If I Did You'd Actually Do Something Right. :)

[Mai kicks Edgar in the arm, knocking him over.]

Edgar: Fucking hell, quite literally kicking someone while they’re down. Not that I wouldn’t put it past you.

Mai: At Least I Didn't Leave My Daughter Who Trusted Me, Just To Go Save Two People. And After You Promised The Poor Girl.

Edgar: You’re a real A+ bitch, you know that?

[Edgar coughs into his arm, glaring daggers up at Mai.]

Mari: Um shit….. what to do, what to do…..

[Edgar stands, wobbling a little, he turns back to Mari and he begins to respond. Before he can, broken ceramic shards fly past his face, landing a few blows, he winces and whips back around to Mai.]

Mai: Aww I Missed. :(

Edgar: Well. Unlike you, I won’t.

[Edgar swings at Mai with his crowbar, Mai easily dodges, but Edgar swings back the other way, nailing her in the head, Mai falls to the floor.]

Mai: Huh… Maybe If You Did That More Often Rose Wouldn't Be A Monster.

Mari: fucking hell….

Edgar: I should really learn to ignore people while I’m fighting, but you’re really motivating me to win. Hopefully you aren’t too far gone by the time you reach the mall.

Mai: What Do You Get Out Of Killing Me? Think About It… The Only Person Who Could Maybe Fix Rose……. Killing Me Actually Wouldn't Bring That Brat Back.

[Instead of responding, Edgar grabs Mai’s shirt and shoves her into a wall, placing the crowbar horizontally across her neck. He pushes with increasing force.]

Mai: Haha I Knew You Didn't Care About Rose, So Do It… Kill Your Only Hope! Can You Bring Yourself To Do It?

Mari: Edgar, think about this…

Edgar: Fuck… I… you aren’t bluffing, are you?

Mai: Take A Guess You Fucking Idiot!

[Edgar pushes the crowbar further into her neck.]

Mari: Edgar, don't do this!

[Edgar pauses for what seems like an eternity, shaking slightly, he takes the crowbar off of Mai’s throat and stumbles backwards, he places one end of the crowbar on the ground as a support, he leans on it, just barely staying standing.]

Mai: You Really Are An Idiot. Just Like Your Daughter.

[Mai starts running away, stabbing Mari in the process. Mari yells out in pain as Mai stops near the stairwell.]

Mari: Fuck!

[The phone clatters to the floor, leaving the camera facing the ceiling in front of the stairs. Edgar shouts and sprints over to Mari.]

Edgar: Mari! Shit. Damnit. Fuck–

Mai: Perhaps We'll Meet Again Mechanic But Until Then, Enjoy The Show.

[Mai starts running down the stairs, holding her throat where the crowbar had been pressed to not moments before.]

Mari: shit….

Edgar: Mari, are you okay? Fuck, I knew that bitch was bluffing–

Mari: it wasn't a bluff edgar… At least i don't think so…. and I'm fine.

Edgar: You’ve just been stabbed, Mari. Where was it?

Mari: my shoulder….. and it's not like i haven't been stabbed before.

Edgar: No matter how many times you’re stabbed, it still hurts like hell. We need to stop the bleeding.

Mari: there's a jacket in my bag and a knife, cut up the jacket. It will work until I can get to a hospital.

Edgar: Alright, I’ll do that.

[Edgar wrenches the bag open and takes the jacket out, along with the knife, he quickly slices a chunk out and presses it to the wound.]

Mari: OW! that fucking hurt!...

Edgar: Sorry, I know… shit…

Mari: I'm sorry about mai escaping. I should have done more, i could have done more.

Edgar: No, you did your best. I should have planned this out, if I did, you wouldn’t have gotten stabbed, and Mai would probably still be in the building, I should have known.

Mari: You couldn't have planned for mai to say any of that.

Edgar: I… I could have, she’s been taunting me for at least a week, now. She tends to say things to get people riled up.

Mari: I don't think that was a taunt, I'll be honest.

Edgar: Hm. Well, we need to get you to a hospital. Do you think I should call another Uber?

Mari: Yeah…. I'll pay. I have some back-up money to my back-up money.

Edgar: Absolutely not, I have money. And I can earn it back. I’ll pay.

Mari: Fine then you do you, but after if they let me go home tonight when do i go? i don't trust my fucking house.

Edgar: Well, I have an apartment, but I’m not sure I can go there, my girlfriend might be there, and she’d send me directly back to the hospital to play angry birds again.

Mari: So I get in through the window? pretty fucking easy not gonna lie…. also what? angry birds?

Edgar: I fucking hate angry birds, the red one is so annoying. Um, sorry. I’m pretty sure you can just go into the apartment through the door, just don’t mention me. Kath wouldn’t turn you away.

Mari: That works I guess, what about you?

Edgar: … don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine.

Mari: I'm sneaking you in through the window, wouldn't be the first time I've done something like that for a friend won't be the last.

Edgar: You don’t need to do that, too risky for me, I’ll be okay.

[Mari takes their jacket off, they have on a t-shirt of a white rabbit mascot holding a knife. they also grab a mask and some sunglasses and hand them to edgar]

Mari: You’re not turning me down edgar.

Edgar: Hey, hospital first. We can talk about this after.

Mari: Ugh, fine, call the damn uber.

Edgar: Already on it.

[Edgar picks up the phone, and stares into the camera, his eyes widen as he sees the light flashing dimly on the top.]

Edgar: How long has this been…

[Edgar fumbles with the phone for a few seconds, and the video shuts off. Ending the video transcript.]

[taomyou]

The Romance of Reimbursements - Chapter 8

Pairing: Levi Ackerman x Reader Status: COMPLETED Summary: There’s a guy you see every Friday on bus 143, and you think he’s pretty hot. It wouldn’t hurt to tell your best friend about him, would it? or, you and Levi take the same bus home from work every Friday, and you fall in love slowly, clumsily, and with all the time in the world to fold as many paper stars as your heart desires. Word Count: 6.5k Tags: slow burn, friends to lovers, modern au, office au, fluff, romance, meet-cute, matchmaking

(A/N: this fic is entirely available on ao3 here if you would like to read it there instead!)

Chapter Navigation Accompanying Playlist

set me up

"Levi?"

He coughs, his water having gone down the wrong pipe, but there's no napkin at the table for you to hand to him. Once his coughing fit is over, all you can do is awkwardly sit down across from him. You opt to mindlessly flip through the menu, even though you've already decided on what you would be having prior to arriving just as you always do, to give Levi his privacy as he wipes his mouth. He clears his throat, and you feel yourself shrink into the cushion of your seat.

Where's Hange? Why's Levi here? Are you having dinner with the both of them? What next, is Erwin coming too? Yeah, Erwin's about to round the corner and try to cram himself into your side of the booth.

...Or this is just one of Hange's many attempts to ruin your life set you up with Levi, despite your many, many pleas for them to just stay out of your nonexistent romantic endeavors.

Yeah, it's probably that. 

"Fancy seeing you here," he greets. You nod slowly, your lips pressed into a tight smile.

"Yeah, you too."

The two of you look back and forth between each other and the window facing your table, unsure of what to do next, but you hear your phone ring after a few moments of silence. You and Levi make eye contact again, and he looks away to give you privacy in answering the call. You see that it's Hange calling you, and you accept the call as fast as you can.

"So, how are you enjoying your Valentine's Day?"

"Hange!" You whisper-yell into your phone's microphone, turning towards the wall closest to you to avoid bringing attention to yourself from others in the restaurant.

"What?"

"You set me up, even after I told you, like, a million times I didn't want to go on any dates!"

"Well, I actually got asked on a date super last minute, so I figured Levi could just take my place," Hange snickers. You can feel your cheeks start heating up in embarrassment, which isn't an unfamiliar feeling, but it's one that is entirely unwelcome. You lightly pat your cheeks to try and calm your face, mindful of your makeup. "Besides, it wasn't a date when it was me you were planning to have dinner with. What makes Levi any different?"

What makes Levi any different?

...Is there anything that makes Levi different? Sure, you've found him attractive since the beginning, and you met under wildly different circumstances, but he isn't different because of those things. There's something different about him that you can't quite place that makes you so nervous. No... nervous isn't the right word. You've gotten past that (for the most part).

Before you can dwell on it more, Hange chimes in again to interrupt your thoughts.

"Hello?"

You try your best to swat away any possible thoughts about Levi to not overthink yourself into silence.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," you answer, referring to Hange's (hopefully) hypothetical question.

They probably didn't mean for you to start thinking about what your answer would be.

Wait, why would you even have an answer if you don't have any interest in him?

Whatever.

You didn't have a solid answer anyway.

"So... you have fun on your fancy dinner with Levi, and I'll have fun with my super awesome date!"

You sigh. "Fine. But if you do this again, I will actually find a way to put you in jail."

"You'd miss me too much to do that, but I appreciate the love!"

"Yeah, okay. You better spill the beans about your date, though. Who are you even seeing?"

"That's confidential! Let me live out my secret relationship dreams!"  They exclaim.

You roll your eyes, glancing over at Levi. Maybe he knows. "Okay, Casanova. But you better tell me about it later."

"I wouldn't dream of not doing that." You hear the rustling of some fabric with their sentiment, which is probably them crossing their heart. "Now, go enjoy!"

"You better pay for my dinner today."

"I was actually going to ask you to pay for us anyway if we went out, since you have that big-time lawyer money," they say, then laughing. You smile too, mindful to cover your mouth. "But I'll pay you back when you get home."

You wave them off, even though they can't see you. "Nah, I was only kidding. Have fun on your date."

"Oh, thank God! I've heard that Sina is crazy expensive! And I will!"

"Bye, Hange."

"Bye-bye!" And it's followed by the end-call dial tone.

You put your phone in your purse as a courtesy to Levi, but before you can try to make conversation with him or figure out how this all happened in the first place (even though you already know Hange is somehow involved), Levi gets a call of his own. Instead of bringing his phone up to his ear, though, Levi accepts the call, puts his phone on the table between the two of you, and puts it on speaker. You see Erwin's name at the top of the screen.

"You're on speaker," Levi says curtly. You shift in your seat to put your elbows on the table, now invested in this phone call. You make eye contact with Levi and smile as silent encouragement.

"Hello, Levi. I take it that you're already seated?"

"Yes, asshat. Where are you, and why is Astraea here instead?" Levi's used a lot of... colorful names for Erwin, but that's your first time hearing "asshat," funnily enough.

It's always refreshing to hear Erwin called anything but his name, mostly because so many of your coworkers have names for Erwin so they can gossip about him, but you think Levi's nicknames are much more endearing because they're such close friends.

That and Levi's lack of tact makes his names a lot more insulting.

"Levi, don't be so rude. Astraea's there?"

"Hi, Erwin," you say, leaning in closer. You hear Erwin chuckle over the phone.

"Hello, Astraea. Can you tell me what Levi's wearing?"

"Huh? Why does it matter what he's wearing?"

Looking over at Levi, you see that he's in a suit. It doesn't really strike you as all that different from what he normally wears. His suit's a bit fancier, sure, but nothing really seems off-

Wait.

His shirt's blue.

Hange told you to wear blue.

Looking down at yourself, you're not surprised to see the same blue dress you put on earlier, but it feels weird having realized why Hange wanted you to dress in blue in the first place. You instinctively go to touch your necklace, but you realize, too, that Levi's wearing pearl cuff links. They just barely peek out of his outer jacket's sleeves, but they're there. Oddly enough, the shade of the pearls seem to match with that of the pearl on your necklace.

Levi's looking at you more intently too, and you're sure he's reached the same conclusion you have.

"You listen here, fucker. If you conspired for us to match, then—"

"Hello, my name is Marco, and I'll be your server for tonight."

Looking to the voice, you see a neatly dressed waiter, setting down two sets of silverware and fabric napkins for you and Levi. He seems rather unbothered, going by the smile on his face, and he's already got his notepad in hand. Levi doesn't speak up, so you smile sheepishly and do so yourself.

"Nice to meet you, Marco. Could we get a few more minutes?"

You can hear Erwin laughing through Levi's phone, but that also doesn't seem to phase Marco. Poor guy has probably been working all night and wants to go home already, especially since it's Valentine's Day.

"Of course! Let me know when you're ready," he says, then walking over to the group directly behind you to get started on their orders.

You give the same sheepish smile to Levi before looking back at his phone. The screen's dimmed a bit, so Levi taps it to bring it back to life. Erwin's name is there, just as it was before, but now it seems a bit more teasing.

"You've got me figured out, Levi, but lighten up! It's all in good fun."

It feels childish, really, that Erwin and Hange seemingly banded together to make sure that you and Levi matched for your date, but it's cute. If it was you on the other end of the situation, you would've thought it was genius.

"Is your idea of fun getting dressed up to match with someone you're not on a date with, on Valentine's Day of all days?" Levi scowls. He doesn't seem angry, but still rather annoyed.

Him pointing out that it isn't a date comforts you, even if you did think that Hange and Erwin intended for the two of you to be on a date. The less confusion about your relationship or time together, the better.

Levi pointing out that it's Valentine's Day may be a bit too much for your heart, though, because you decide to take a look around the restaurant at the people around you. Everyone within your view is seemingly a couple, either sharing a bottle of wine together or enamored in what looks like intimate conversation, and your matching outfits probably blend you in with every other couple in the restaurant.

Erwin laughs, which breaks you away from looking at the other restaurant-goers. "I'm offended you think I'd go as far as setting you up with a good friend of ours."

You laugh. Though Erwin's warmed up to you a fair bit more since your introduction to their group, it still baffles you to some degree that he's rather funny. The last several years working together really did a number on your faith in his humor, especially since you haven't had much chance for banter since your official hiring at the firm.

"I wouldn't put it past you, bastard. You've been hanging out with Four Eyes so often these days, you must've picked up their scheming personality," challenges Levi.

"Relax. I'm still paying for your dinner, and that was your part of the agreement."

Agreement? Are you missing something?

Levi rolls his eyes, but he contends with a sigh. "Okay."

"You two have fun," says Erwin. Levi then ends the call, brings his phone in closer towards him, and sighs again. He looks to you.

"I take it that you were just on the phone with Hange?" He asks. You nod. You instinctively reach for the napkin set out in front of you, but remembering that it's fabric, you bring your hand back awkwardly.

"Yeah, I was supposed to have dinner with them tonight," you tell him, still a bit shy about having reached for the napkin when you can't make a star from it. He nods in understanding. "What was the agreement Erwin talked about on the phone?"

Levi doesn't answer right away, instead looking over your shoulder and down the walkway. Before you can follow his gaze and look behind yourself, though, you hear Marco.

"Have we decided on any drinks to get us started?" Marco asks, just as smiley as before.

"I'll have a black tea," says Levi.

"A oolong tea for me," you tell him. Marco takes note of Levi's black tea and your oolong tea before he leaves for presumably the kitchen to grab the drinks for you. When Marco's gone, Levi answers your question.

"Erwin invited me as a stand-in for Moblit, who bailed to ask Hange out on a date. Fucker said he needed another person so the reservation wouldn't fall through."

Well, there goes any chance of Hange keeping up their whole "secret relationship" thing, but you'll just pretend to not know they're with Moblit.

Come to think of it, they do usually sit next to one another whenever he's here, which isn't often, unfortunately. You did think they looked cute together, but it'd be hypocritical for you to point it out to Hange when you've been so against their shipping of you and Levi. At least, now, you can look forward to them debriefing their date to you later tonight without having to exert any brain power in figuring out who exactly they're seeing.

As for Erwin's role in all of this, you're not that surprised. You haven't noticed him scheme specifically with relationships or anything like that at work, but he's ruthless as an attorney, and being able to scheme is just part of the job. You aren't excluded from that statement either—you just aren't nosy enough to meddle in anything outside of what you need to for work.

It still doesn't quite make sense to you, how you and Levi ended up here when Erwin and Hange were never the ones who were meant to eat here in the first place, but that's something you'll ignore to save yourself the unnecessary stress of figuring out how their complicated, convoluted minds work.

Marco comes back with your drinks, and you both thank him. He asks for your orders, and you recite what you want from the menu to him and Levi does the same. Marco leaves swiftly enough, and you're left alone without anything in particular to do.

You put your hands on your teacup, but you decide to wait for a bit before taking a sip because it's too hot, so you just stare down at the cup. Levi's more or less just idly taking sips of his tea, but when he catches sight of Marco passing by your table, he stops him.

"Could we get some paper napkins?" He asks.

You don't have to look up from your cup to see Marco nod from the corner of your eye. "Of course," he replies. He comes back near instantaneously with a stack of dark blue paper napkins and sets them on the table. "Anything else for you two?"

"No, thank you." Marco then leaves. Levi doesn't make any move to go for a napkin, so you aren't quite sure why he asked for them in the first place, but you decide it's fine if you take just one for yourself to start tearing at.

You're quick to get one star made, then a second, then a third, then a fourth. All the while, you sense Levi's eyes on your hands as they fold the paper onto itself, but it's not something you're unused to.

Well, at least with regard to people watching you fold stars.

When you have four stars, you gather them in your hand and hold it out to Levi.

Now that you've been seated together so often, at Hange's insistence, of course, you just give any stars you make to Levi since it's easier than forcing attention onto yourself to offer it to someone who's farther from you. Levi takes them to be polite, but you're sure he just throws them in the garbage bin on his way out the door because it's trash.

Levi's hand stretches out to meet yours, and you drop the stars into his palm. He gives no thanks, but he still puts them in his pocket.

You want to reach for another napkin to give you something to distract yourself from the silence, but Levi probably thinks your habit is enough of an annoyance that he has to keep throwing away the stars you give to him, so you don't.

The silence has to be too much for Levi, too, right?

"Might as well get to know each other while we're here, right?" You offer. You're afraid it comes off as too nosy or prying (or even worse, as romantic interest), but Levi nods, which is followed by the sound of him putting his teacup back on the table.

Thank goodness. You don't think you could handle an entirely silent night out, even if this isn't what you expected your dinner to look like in the first place.

"Fine with me. Hange spreads so much misinformation, I would've questioned what your job was if I didn't see you in your office with my own eyes."

You cringe at the mention of Hange's rampant truth-stretching, but you have to agree with him on that front.

You and the rest of the group don't really delve into any personal business when hanging out, usually opting for random stories about work or talking about vague interests, and no one's ever quite the center of attention (unless Hange decides to gloat about you and Levi to each other (and subsequently, everyone else)). It's embarrassing, to some degree, that all he truly knows about you is that you're overworked, good at baking, and have decent taste in tea. He did mention that Hange talked about you prior to his formal meeting of you, but it didn't seem like that was in the best light.

He probably feels as awkward as you, since you don't know more about him aside from what he's told you himself when you make idle chat on the bus rides home on Fridays (which isn't much) and what Hange's relayed to you (which is... a lot).

But, though you do question the validity of what Hange's told you about Levi after you revealed that he was your bus mystery man, "Shorty" was someone they talked about enough times for you to at least know him through their eyes.

Instead of his tea, Levi reaches over to his glass of water. "Anything you want to ask in particular?" He asks, then taking a sip.

There isn't quite anything specific you want to know, but, at the same time, you're still intrigued by what Hange tells you about him, no matter how false it might be. He already mentioned that he was famous relative to his occupation and field, but everything else? You still have no idea.

Yeah, you can start with debunking all the shit Hange says about the both of you. It'll get you a better sense of who Levi is, and he can completely disregard the person he's created in his head from what Hange's told him.

"Not really, but is there anything you want to correct about Hange's retelling of you?" Now that your tea has had time to cool down, you take a sip. It's nothing special, but it's fine. "Actually, why do you hold your teacups how you do? With the rim?"

He pauses in the middle of reaching for his teacup, but then picks it up and takes a sip. "My mom got me an expensive teacup as part of a set when I was a kid, and the handle broke the first time I used it."

You wince. "Did you get it fixed?"

He shakes his head. "No, just kept it in a box. My mom said I'd cut myself on the ceramic if I tried to fix it."

From Levi's tone, it's not something he's willing to talk about further, so you move on. "And for the first question?"

"If Hange tells you that I'm insecure about my height, they're fucking wrong," he huffs. You laugh.

"That's what you're worried about me thinking?"

"You literally knew me by 'Shorty' before you knew my name."

You wave him off, mindful to not knock over any drinks out in front of you. "I only ever heard good things about Shorty, so it's not like I came into meeting you with any bad impressions."

Not that you even knew Levi was Shorty, but that's probably on you for not listening to Hange when they explained how that dinner was going to work.

"And what'd you hear?" He inquires.

"That you have a stick up your ass, pretty much." He scoffs, but you take it as a laugh, seeing as he's not explicitly frowning. "Hange didn't really share much besides that, but they'd tell me your jokes if they remembered them. I thought you were pretty funny."

He rolls his eyes. "Of course I'm funny." You chuckle.

"Yeah, that just about proves it." There's a pause as you take another sip of your tea. "And about your height, I didn't think you were insecure. Not that there's anything to be insecure about in the first place."

At that, he seems a bit confused, but that look gets wiped away quickly to be replaced with one of indifference. "Yeah?"

Looking out the window, you hum. "There really isn't."

"So you don't think being short is a turn-off?"

You're a bit thrown off by the question, but you try your best not to show it. Surely, he's only asking as a general question that could apply to anyone, so there's no need to overthink it. Thinking about the question itself, though, makes you laugh a bit.

"No, it isn't, but I'll admit that I think height differences in couples are cute, regardless of which person is taller. Still doesn't really matter, anyway, since heels exist." Levi doesn't say anything to that, but that's more likely attributed to you having burnt through the topic of height long enough. "Anything else you want to clarify?" You ask.

"You already know that I'm 'famous,'" he says, making air quotes with his left hand as he says "famous." "So, no. Nothing off the top of my head that needs to be cleared up."

"What exactly does that mean, then? Being famous?"

You didn't forget that Hange said that Levi's the youngest professor in Sina University history and that he's apparently highly sought out, but you earnestly don't know anything about architecture beyond what legal paperwork is needed to get things in motion, so it's probably worth asking him about yourself. He takes a second to think over the question.

"Famous isn't the right word, but people know me. Word of mouth is apparently enough to keep me in where I am in the industry."

How he defines it isn't really far from how you consider Erwin's popularity in your shared work circles, so you don't feel any need for further explanation. You nod in understanding.

"Any bad clients to rant about, then?" You prod.

He sighs, looking out towards the window. "Too fucking many."

You smile, nodding again—this time, in agreement. "Sounds about right."

"Most of them are decent people, but I seriously do not get paid enough to deal with their bullshit."

You nod. "Same here."

He raises an eyebrow at that. "Is law not a highly-paid profession anymore? Erwin is fucking swimming in money."

You sigh. "It is, but it still isn't enough to make me eager to go into work everyday."

Marco comes back to your table with your and Levi's dishes, and you pause conversation with him to thank Marco and get situated to eat.

"Have you been here before?" You ask Levi.

"Been with coworkers," is his short answer. "You?"

You shake your head. He hums, not really as any sort of carrier of conversation, though.

You take a bite of your food, and before you can even hold yourself back, you physically melt into your seat.

Oh, lord, this is fucking delicious. No wonder it's so hard to get a table here—it's practically heaven on earth. You most definitely will be taking advantage of Erwin's pull to come here more often.

The two of you eat in silence, only ever breaking it to thank Marco for refilling your drinks or answering him when he comes to ask how the meal is going. Levi's the first to finish the meal between the both of you, so you pause your eating for a second to ask him something now that he can answer.

"What exactly did Hange tell you about me? Before we met, I mean."

He himself takes a pause, running his fork on the rim of his now-empty plate, before he answers.

"They said you were nice. I'd always fight back and say that they think everyone's nice, and that you were probably just as normal as everyone else, but they'd always talk my ear off about what you'd do to cheer them up or keep them company. It was pretty annoying."

You shrink into yourself. Annoying?

"Sorry about that, then."

He looks over to you, and sighs. "Bad wording on my part. It was annoying how often they talked about you." You nod, still not completely sold on that. He continues. "Thanks for taking them off our hands. I would've ran into oncoming traffic if they asked me to come over and keep them company while they did their fucking laundry."

You roll your eyes. "Hange isn't so bad. They're a good friend."

"And look where we are now. Set up by them and your shitty boss."

You laugh. "Yeah, I guess so." You take a sip of your tea. "Any other misinformation you want me to debunk?"

"Are you actually a millionaire?"

At the question, you snort, nearly spilling your tea. "Where'd you get that idea?"

"Hange always gloats that you're their rich friend." He says it so sarcastically that you know he's just asking to mess with you, but you'll answer seriously anyway.

You roll your eyes again. "Nope, I'm in debt just like the rest of you guys. You had to go to grad school too, right?" He nods. "Yeah, I still owe, like, 20 thousand? But I have more than enough disposable income, so I just let Hange get away with draining my wallet when we hang out."

He winces, but you know he's not judging you. "Better than most people your age, at least."

"You know how old I am?"

He hums absentmindedly. "You seem young. At least, if we're ignoring your sleep schedule."

You kick him under the table, though you're careful not to get his suit dirty—well, it's more like a tap on his leg with the top of your foot. "My sleep isn't that bad anymore." He deadpans, and you nervously laugh. "Okay, yeah, even I didn't buy that."

"Nobody would." He doesn't kick you back, but he flips you off as he's drinking his tea. You laugh at that and his joke.

"I'm twenty-seven, if you needed a number."

"Twenty-nine."

You nod. "Good to know, old-timer."

He scoffs. "Fuck off."

Thinking back to what Hange's said before about you in Levi's presence, there isn't... actually anything wrong with what they said (aside from you being rich). You're a great lawyer (hence their insistence in calling you a "hotshot," whatever that means), and you did actually go and do all the things they brag about on your behalf.

You finish your meal, and Marco comes back just in time to take away your plates and give you the bill. You thank him for serving you all, and he thanks you for being nice guests. Before he fully turns to leave, however, he pauses before facing you both fully again.

"I'm so sorry, but could I take a picture of you both? My boyfriend's an art student, and he's had trouble finding a blue subject to paint for an assignment, and I think you'd be perfect for it." He asks.

You look to Levi, and he looks to you. You shrug, and when Levi doesn't protest, you smile up at Marco. "Sure, we're up for it."

He cheers, then bringing his phone out of his apron. "Thank you so much!" You and Levi look at Marco expectantly, not quite sure what to do. "Um... I think just look towards each other. No need to get up."

You and Levi look back at each other again, and you let yourself smile.

You'll just tell yourself that it's because you want Marco's boyfriend's painting assignment to have at least one person smiling in it, and not because looking at Levi made you smile.

You hear the shutter from Marco's phone, and he thanks both you and Levi again for letting him take the picture.

"You're a beautiful couple, by the way!" He compliments.

You and Levi glance at each other, but you just smile at Marco.

"Thank you," you tell him.

It's Valentine's Day, you're in matching outfits—it's only natural that he assumed you were a couple.

At least that's what you repeat to yourself to stop any wandering thoughts about anything else.

Before Levi can put his card down to pay the bill between the two of you, you stop him with a finger outstretched to him and put down a card from your own wallet.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asks. You roll your eyes.

"Using my work credit card. Erwin gave it to me for when I need to run errands."

Levi nods in approval. "Good thinking."

You hand the tray over to Marco, and he practically skips off to get it processed.

You take your phone out of your pocket, turning it on to an app to call yourself a ride home. Before you can even commit to finding anything, though, Levi speaks up.

"Do you have a ride home?"

You shake your head. "I was just gonna call myself an Uber or something."

He rolls his eyes. "Don't waste your money on that."

You kick him underneath the table, same as before. "So you want me to stay here overnight?"

"I took my car here, you can just come with me."

Marco comes back with the card, which you swiftly put back into your wallet, and the receipts, which you sign before putting back into the tray for Marco to pick up when he comes back. You put your customer copy into your purse so you can fold it up in the car.

You don't want to take advantage of Levi offering his car to you, but when you see that it's already 10:09 PM, you don't want to take your chances with an Uber that'd take even longer to arrive.

"Fine."

You and Levi both get up, and you're soon on your way out the door. You wave goodbye to Marco as you exit past him, and he thanks you yet again.

You follow closely behind Levi, weaving through other people walking on the sidewalk, until you reach the parking garage where his car is.

When you reach his car, you step in without any issue, Levi does the same, and he reverses out of his spot wordlessly after he hears the click from your seatbelt locking into place. You ride in silence, just as you did the last time he drove you somewhere, but the noise from you taking the receipt out of your purse is loud enough for you to want to apologize for disrupting the quiet.

"Sorry."

He doesn't say anything, instead focusing on the road, but you see him shake his head to let you know you don't need to apologize.

You tear at the receipt, though a bit slower than usual because there's less light in the car and you can't see what you're doing quite as well, but the muscle memory is more than enough to make sure the star turns out fine. You put them on your lap to start the next one, and the next, and the next. You run out of paper quickly enough, so you just stare out the window for the rest of the ride.

Once Levi reaches your apartment complex, you look to the time on his car's tablet; 10:46 PM.

You're unsure if you're meant to say goodbye, so you just look at him. He's already looking at you and out towards the entry into your apartment building. You remember the stars you have settled on your lap. You gather them up in your hand for the second time in the evening, and hold them out to Levi as you usually do. Just like last time, he takes them from you and reaches over to place them in the glove box in front of you. You have to lean back to avoid his touch, but it's gone just as quickly as it came, so you don't worry about it. You step out of the car, and Levi rolls down the window.

You look at him, though you need to bend down slightly to see him properly. "Thank you for the ride. Get home safe."

He nods. "You too." Looking back behind you at the building, you sarcastically laugh.

"Yeah, I definitely will."

You don't move from your spot at the curb, and Levi also doesn't roll up the window to start driving away.

"What're you doing?" He chides. "It's late, go inside already."

You bring your hand up to the back of your neck, rubbing at that spot sheepishly. "I was gonna wait for you to drive away first."

He scoffs. "I'll drive when your ass is inside."

You shrug. "If you insist." You wave to him through the window, then walk over to the door that lets you into your building. It's not particularly far, but it's enough for it to not be considered close. Before you open the door, though, you look back to see that he hasn't left yet.

You wave at him again from where you are, arm fully stretched, and though you can't see that far to know if he's doing it himself, you hope he's waving back at you.

You climb up the stairs quickly, not in any particular rush other than to avoid any of your elderly neighbors who'd chastise you for coming home so late, and unlock your door to get inside your apartment. Once your shoes are off, you stretch your arms up above your head, then yawn before deciding to take a shower.

You're tired and it's hard to really form any thoughts, so you just get through your business mindlessly, going through the motions, and you're eventually sat at your couch, staring into nothingness with a towel over your shoulders to keep your clothes dry from your wet hair.

Well, Hange did say they were going to tell you about their date with Moblit (not that you're supposed to know who they went on the date with), so you decide to make yourself a cup of tea. It won't wake you up, since there's no caffeine in the tea you drink, but it's enough to keep you warm, and that'll keep you awake.

You quickly get yourself settled in with a cup of raspberry tea, blowing at it to cool it down. You feel at ease, at your table sipping on your tea. You move the honey jar at the end of your dining table closer to you so you can add just that tiny extra bit of sweetness to your cup, even though you don't normally need to. You want to hate that you're enjoying a simple cup of tea so much because you'll have to brush your teeth again before you can go to bed, but you don't really mind right now.

When you glance at the clock to see that it's 11:21 PM, your immediate thought isn't to go to sleep to make sure you aren't tired for work, or even to go and make sure that you reply to more clients before you can consider the day over.

Instead, you let yourself think that the only reason you don't want the day to end is so you'll have forever to think about your time with Levi. Not really because he's making you nervous or because anything he did made you question anything about your relationship, but it finally feels like you're friends now.

Your mind stays on that thought for a while, but when you're done relishing in the feeling, you get up from the table, wash your teacup in the sink, and head to your bathroom to brush your teeth again and get ready for bed. When you finish washing your face, you take a good look at yourself in the mirror for the first time since getting home.

Though you felt a bit flustered by the whole situation at first, it really wasn't all that nerve-wracking once you and Levi got conversation started, and that reflected well on your face. Instead of finding a raging blush, you look back at yourself to only see a smile on your face—no redness to be seen.

You try to get rid of your smile, thinking back to dinner to try and find something to not smile about.

And you find it rather quickly.

You frown at the realization that you've thought of him as someone you needed to keep at arm's length to avoid any sort of complicated feelings from developing between the two of you, when, in reality, you didn't need to worry about that.

Levi very much is your friend. You spend time together regularly, you know a fair bit about each other now (especially now that you've both gotten your facts checked about one another at dinner), and you seem to enjoy each other's company. You most certainly enjoy his.

You're pulled out of your thoughts when you hear a beep from your phone, so you shake your head to clear your thoughts, and you walk over to see that it's a text from Hange.

No use in overthinking anything that's past you, anyway, so you won't fuss over those thoughts about Levi anymore. Nothing to be sad about—the two of you just had a fun dinner out at the greatest restaurant in the city.

You bring your phone with you into bed, turning it on again when you're fully snuggled in and warm. The brightness of your screen stings a bit, especially because you turned off your lights before getting into bed, but you brave through it to turn it down.

Hange - 11:35 PM

I hope you and Levi had fun!! Sorry I had to do y'all like that BUT GIRL!!!! It's late and ik you have work tmrw so I can just tell you later BUT MY DATE WAS SOOO FUN

You yawn, but you smile at the texts that come in. You blink a few times to get used to the light, but still send a text back to Hange in reply.

You - 11:37 PM

erwin owes me for pulling this stunt anyway so i'll just come in late don't worry about keeping me up

You see the three dots appear, then pause.

Hange - 11:38 PM

Wait wait HOW WERE YOU AND LEVI were you guys okay??

You - 11:38 PM

we were fine

Hange - 11:39 PM

Not gonna tell me more????

You - 11:39 PM

what more do you want from me?

Hange - 11:40 PM

I obviously want all the details

You - 11:40 PM

you can ask levi

Hange - 11:40 PM

But he'll never tell me!!!

You - 11:41 PM

that is literally the point

Hange - 11:41 PM

You know, I was gonna tell you who my date was if you told me But I guess i'll have to keep it a secret forever

You can't help but laugh. Oh, Hange, if only they knew.

You - 11:41 PM

that's okay!! JUST TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!!! HOW WAS YOUR DATE

Hange - 11:43 PM

OH MY GOSH OKAY OKAY SO BASICALLY WE'VE LIKE KINDA HAD THIS THING GOING ON FOR AGESSS BUT I WASN'T REALLY SURE LIKE ???? IS THIS LEGIT OR IS IT JUST FOR FUN BUT HE ASKED ME OUT LIKE LITERALLY SATURDAY NIGHT AND OH MY GODDDD I WAS SO SHOCKED

You can just see Hange frantically typing this all out, and you smile to yourself.

Yeah, you'll have fun telling Mikasa about this at work tomorrow.

✰

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