#managed to doodle this out between lectures

[fizzyquake]

Two of them

[yougavememyopia]

18+ NSFW, but it's clothed, sub yandere, mean afab reader, he falls between your legs and y'know, "master," degradation

Clumsy yandere, who constantly looked at you with lovesick eyes. Following you everywhere and basically worshipping the ground you walked on. Every item that you touched was sacred, added to his little shrine. Every angle of you was a picture in his poorly made scrapbook.

He'd accidentally bump his drink into random nobodies while he was busy trying to get a sniff of your divine scent. Frustrated that his clumsiness led him to losing sight of your fleeting figure.

You tried your best to ignore him. The loud thud of him falling over objects or his small "oof" when he bumped into walls never went unnoticed by you.

He'd instinctively apologize to the inanimate articles and walk away awkwardly. Ashamed of the attention he drew to himself.

You finally decided to confront him, getting tired of watching him trip over his shoelaces and timidly fleeing the scene. "What's the matter with you, huh? Why are you such a fucking klutz?"

He had no idea how to answer that. It was as if he was cursed to be so uncordinated ever since he was born. He chuckled and shrugged you off with a joke about bad luck. Hand brushing against yours while you helped him up. He had never felt so warm— his cheeks flushed scarlet as a heat wave traveled through his body, building awkward sweat.

You didn't understand how you managed to make his knees buckle with your mere presence. He'd trip over nothing, ending up injured at your feet. Looking up at you with glistened eyes and a dumb smile. It took everything in you to not step on his pitiful face.

"Guess you could say... I, uh, fell for you?" His laughter triggered another eye roll from you. It was truly pathetic how he thought that he could win you over one day. After all, his luck was bad. Very, very bad.

He kept getting caught by you doing the most unhinged things. Sniffing your dirty laundry. Stealing your useless trash. Lurking around your place at strange times.

Denying the truth from you always got him nowhere, so he'd try to confess over and over of how much he loved the little things about you. Sounding incoherent as he stumbled and jumped between words.

"I just can't– s-staying away from you is– I mean, I am sorry... a-a little? But you're like my master. N-no, wait, I... I didn't mean to say that–"

Loud drums of his heartbeat banged in his ear every time your eyes met. The repulsed look on your face making his stomach twist with glee. You were looking at him. Paying attention to him. He didn't deserve any of it. He truly didn't.

“I didn't do anything terrible this time! Just stole your straw. Is that bad?" He'd say in an ashamed voice— head down, eyes studying the ground. His sweaty, shaky fingers fiddled with each other as he waited for your verdict.

You forced him to throw the object in the bin. He felt orgasmic as you lectured him about his creepy behavior. The pure displeased look on your face giving him a high. Only if you knew the thoughts going on his head, you'd slap him without hesitation.

He had a detailed diary about all the little things about you that he loved. Each physical and personality characteristic was intricated in unusually specific details. Of course, his terrible curse led him to accidentally lose it at your place the first time he broke in.

Not only did he get an injury collapsing on your floor— running away when he heard your security system— but he also exposed you to his most disturbing private thoughts.

Pages and pages of your name and doodled hearts. I love you's and perverted fantasies written all over. Scribbles of how he wanted to carve your name into his skin with a knife. Feel you inside his veins. Finally belong to you and only you~♡.

You were disgusted. Particularly grossed out (and a bit turned on) at all the sexual positions he wrote about. The shameless smut written like he had already experienced it. Most of it about rough punishment that made your mouth agape.

No matter how hard you tried to avoid him after that, he was always there. With a weary expression and a bruised body. His fearful gaze had changed to something cloudy and crazed. Like at any point, he would break.

The tension between you grew each day, and so you invited him over to talk. Feeling the need to do something about the lustful glances exchanged.

Then he did it again— ruined everything with his clumsiness. He brought over a drugged drink. Your favorite flavor with an addition of something that'll aid in kidnapping. Before he could hand you it over, he collapsed on you. The cup spilled and flooded the ground, turning the tiles slippery.

When you opened your eyes, you found yourself to be okay. Sighing relief as no weird cliché kissing moment happened. Instead, warm breaths fanned your thighs. The clumsy yandere faced with a sight he had only imagined.

Your smell flooded his nose, and his eyes shut in ecstasy. He felt as if this was the best thing that could ever happen to him. Happy that his luck led him to the source of your scent. Moaning loudly without intent.

"I-I'm so sorry-" You could barely hear his muffle words, the vibration of his voice sending shivers right through you. Your thoughts unclear with the feeling of his mouth moving on your crotch. "S-so sorry."

"Nngh—" You let out a noise from the simulation. He wanted to move away but found himself unable to find the strength to. Your mind became hazy. A hand reaching down to hold his head there, earning a small whimper from him. "You... already made a fool of yourself. Use that mouth for something better and show me how sorry you are."

"...really? T-thank you! Thank you so much." That was all he needed to stop hesitantkng and create a wet stain on the fabric of your front. Whining each time his tongue felt a little bit of your private through the pants. He wanted nothing more than to rip your clothes off and taste you. "Please... please give me a chance to worship you like you deserve it. Keep me as a toy to use whenever you please. Please master-"

"-shut the fuck up already! I have no interest in you gross fantasies." You tugged on his hair and forced his flushed face to get as close as possible. His breathing hitched while you grinded against his tongue, making his pants feel tighter. But all his focus was on your voice. "Just make me come, you worthless creep."

Oh, how he loved when you spoke to him with such disgust in your tone. He wanted to serve you as best as he could, so maybe one day, he'll finally get the privilege of being praised.

[bookyeom]

whatever you say, baby - chs

pairing: vernon x reader word count: 1.1k warnings: none? the slightest bit suggestive at the end but like... it's nothing author's note: part two to this fic! i would recommend reading both for it to make sense :)

You haven’t seen Vernon in four days.

You haven’t seen him since he kissed you — and he’d kissed you a lot.

You’d barely managed to finish the movie without making out on his couch like teenagers. And when it was over, he hadn’t asked you to stay — but he’d kissed you again by his front door. 

You’d texted when you’d gotten home safe, as he’d requested. Then you’d woken up the next day to a ‘good morning :)’ text, which was swiftly followed by ‘today is so busy I might die’. And then the two of you had just… moved on. 

He sends a Shrek meme and then disappears for hours; you laugh react or send a meme in return. He sends you a picture of a “gnarly” squirrel he sees on campus; you send him a picture of a shitty doodle you drew during one of your lectures. Neither of you brings up what happened. You know he’s got a project due at the end of the week, so you don’t push when his texts are few and far between. Even though you so desperately want to. 

Is he thinking about it as much as you are? You can’t get the feeling of his lips out of your mind, and it’s driving you crazy. You want to kiss him again, want to run your fingers through his hair again, want to feel his hands on your waist again.

But you remain in limbo. You don’t ask for an explanation — he doesn’t offer one. And you don’t know how much longer you can ignore it. 

Vernonie [8:34pm]: INCOMING VIDEOCALL

Your eyes widen when your screen lights up. You quickly straighten from where you’d been lounging on your couch, tucking your hair behind your ears and hoping for the best. He knows what you look like, you remind yourself, but that doesn’t help the nerves when you finally accept the call. 

“Hey, stranger.”

He looks cute, and it makes you sick. 

“Hey,” you reply, and you can feel your cheeks heat up for no apparent reason. All he’s done is say hello, but you haven’t seen his face in four days, and the last time you saw him you were —

“What’s up?”

“Nothing,” you say, and then you can’t help but blurt out, “You’ve been busy.” It comes out accusatory, and you regret it immediately. 

Vernon looks surprised, and you watch as his eyebrows raise. “Yeah, I had that big project to finish, remember?” 

You nod, avoiding eye contact through the screen. “Right.”

He’s quiet again before he says teasingly, “If you missed me you can just say so.” 

You know it’s an attempt to lighten the mood, but it hits so deep all of a sudden that you think you might cry. Did he not miss you, too? 

You know it’s a cheap move, but you absolutely cannot look at him when he tells you that the kissing had meant nothing, that it was all a mistake. That you’re better off as friends. 

“Hey,” he says when you shift your phone so that your face is just out of sight. You can practically hear his pout. “Come back.”

“I’m just gonna go,” you say weakly, and you can see in your peripheral vision the way Vernon sits up straight. 

“Hey, no. Wait. Please come back? Let me say something.”

You bite your lip as the tears well up. It takes you a minute, but you manage to take a breath and set your phone back upright to look at him. 

“Y/N,” he says gently, and you can see his soft smile through the screen. “Bro.”

You can’t help but smile a bit at that, and he takes that as a sign to continue. 

“Did you think I was avoiding you?”

You shrug. 

“You think I kissed you and then avoided you on purpose?”

Your heart stutters over itself a bit as he says the words out loud. When he puts it like that, you suppose it sounds a bit silly. Because it’s Vernon, and he would never be so cruel. You shrug again, but you still can’t find it in you to speak. 

“Kissing you is probably all I've thought about for the better part of the last few months,” he continues, and your eyes widen. “I wasn't deliberately avoiding you, I just... I was busy, that part’s true, but it seemed like a good time to give you some space anyway because I know you get into your head sometimes, so I thought that would give you some time to process…” He trails off, a hand running through his hair before he adds, quieter, “You know. In case you…” 

“In case I what?” It’s the first time you’ve spoken in a few minutes, and you can practically see the way Vernon’s shoulders relax at the sound of your voice again. 

He pauses, and then he says softly, “In case you regret it.”

Your eyes widen. “You think I regret it?”

“Do you?”

You shake your head, a bit dizzy as you return, “Do you?”

Vernon’s lip curls up at the side. “No, Y/N. I don’t.”

You’re processing, and he’s quiet as he lets you. He doesn’t regret it. He wanted to kiss you. He… 

It’s silent for another moment and then you say, voice small, “But you didn’t ask me to stay.” 

“Baby,” he says, and your eyes widen. “That’s definitely not because I didn’t want you to. Like I said, I was giving you space.”

“Baby?”

Vernon freezes. “Shit, sorry. Fuck—“

“It’s okay,” you interrupt, and he relaxes a little. 

“Yeah?” He breathes, and you nod. A smile spreads across your lips, warmth spreading through you as it really, truly dawns on you — Vernon likes you back. 

“Yeah,” you affirm. “I think I much prefer that to bro.”

“Yeah?” He says again, and you smile. You’re just realizing now that he seems nervous too, and it makes you feel all sorts of warm and fuzzy inside.

“Mhm.”

You stare at one another through the screen. Vernon’s grin spreads the longer you do, and even though you know your cheeks are flushed, you don’t stop the staring contest. He narrows his eyes, and you let out a giggle. 

“So…”

“So,” he repeats, and you watch as he adjusts to lie down on his couch. “I finished my project.”

That was not where you thought this conversation was headed. “Oh yeah? Good job, bro.” 

Vernon raises his eyebrows at the name, and you flush again. 

“It’s habit,” you whine, and he puts on an exaggerated frown. 

“That’s fine,” he sighs dramatically, “I was going to say that I can hang out with you now that my project is done, but I can see I’m the only romantic one here, bro.”

You gasp. “I can be romantic!”

Vernon grins, and you immediately know you’ve taken his bait as he teases, “Really?”

“I can!” You insist, and he just smiles even wider. 

“Want me to come over so you can show me just how romantic you can be, baby?”

Read part three here!

TAGLIST: @tae-bebe @wheeboo @waldau @iluvseokmin @variety-is-the-joy-of-life @seohomrwolf @pan-de-seungcheol @minisugakoobies @wqnwoos @gyuminusone @christinewithluv @darkypooo @lvlystars @bewoyewo

[marauder-misprint]

Hair

part 1 part 2 part 3

Remus Lupin x fem!reader

microfic - 948 words

cw - fluff

“Hair tie… hair tie… hair tie…” you mutter to yourself as you search every surface of your dorm looking for one. You open every drawer and lift up anything that might be hiding one underneath. None of your roommates seem to have one. How did a dorm of multiple girls not have a single hair tie? 

“Where did they all go?” you ask yourself before turning to see the time. “Shit.”

You grab your school back and bolt out of your dorm, hair unfamiliarly flying behind you. You had made a habit of always wearing your hair up in a bun. It kept it out of your way during lessons. And now, partially since you had woken up late, you were on your way to class with your hair down and no breakfast. 

You sit next to one of your friends and she gives you a curious look.

“Hair down today?”

“I couldn’t find a hair tie.”

“My spare broke or I’d offer you that one.”

You sigh. Your hair falls in your face as you lean over to grab something out of your bag. This was going to be a long day. It wasn’t as if you never had your hair down; it was that your hair was usually down when you weren’t doing anything. You toss it over your shoulder as you sit up. The professor begins his lecture, but you struggle to pay attention. Your notes are nothing but random words you pick out of his droning sentences. Your attention keeps drifting, wondering where on earth all of your hair ties went. 

You lean forward slightly to re-dip your quill in ink. You swear as a lock brushes against the well and streaks the hair black. Your friend nudges you softly. 

“I think Remus is staring at you?” she whispers, using her own quill to point across the classroom.

The Gryffindor boy was looking in your general direction, but it wasn’t an obvious stare. You assume he’s zoned out and just happened to be staring near you, especially since he didn’t look away as you stared back at him.

“No, I don’t think so…” you mutter. You glance down at her notes which are covered in small doodles. “He’s probably bored.”

“He wouldn’t be the only one,” she sighs and returns to her doodling.

The class drags on for what feels like hours. By the end, your friend’s notes look more like a garden than something to be used to study later. Your own notes have random scratches in between the miscellaneous bullet points you managed to get down. There are eight tally marks in the corner; you marked one every time you looked over at Remus to find him still staring at you. You’re unsure if he looked away from you all class. Part of you wishes your friend hadn’t pointed it out because now it was bugging you. Was he staring at you or was he out of it for the entirety of the class? Was he able to sleep with his eyes open?

“I’ll catch you in Herbology,” your friend giggles as she leaves you behind. 

You watch her leave. How did she put her stuff away so quickly? And then you notice why she was giggling. Remus was approaching your desk. That or he was taking the longest route out of the classroom. Behind him, still at their own desks, you see his friends all with wicked grins adorning their faces. 

“Hi,” he says as he reaches your desk. You’re just getting to putting a stopper in your ink well. “All good?”

“Hi yourself. Yeah, all good. You?” 

You briefly look down to put your things into your back and your hair falls into your face again. You swear under your breath.

“Me too. I’m good. Yeah.” He looks over his shoulder, back at his friends. “You look… nice.”

You look up at him with a faint blush and wide eyes. You certainly weren’t expecting a compliment when he walked over, although you weren’t really sure what to expect. 

“Thank you?” You internally groan that it came out more as a question. But the looks on his friends’ faces make you wonder if this is some cruel version of a joke.

Remus slowly reaches out with a shaky hand and tucks some of your hair behind your ear. 

“You don’t usually wear your hair down, do you?”

“Couldn’t find a hair tie this morning.”

“I can see if Sirius has an extra one with him, if you want,” he says. “But, uh, I think it looks good down. You should, um, you should wear it like this more often.”

Your faint blush deepens quickly to a scarlet. His face is also flushed. Your heart pounds in your chest as you look into his brown eyes. Maybe he had been staring at you all class

“You think I should?” you ask, standing up. 

He smiles at you, a more confident air taking over him. Your stomach flips. 

“Your bun is nice, but this… this suits you.”

Slinging your bag over your shoulder, you reply, “I’ll consider it. But if Sirius has a hair tie he’s willing to part with, I’d appreciate it.” You pause. “At least for classes today. And then I’ll find you to get it back to him.” 

His face lights up at the suggestion to see him after class. 

“Yeah… Yeah! I’ll go see what he has!”

He turns to get his things and the hair tie from Sirius. You walk to the door to wait for him there. He holds out a black hair tie for you.

“M’lady,” he says with a smile. “You have Charms next, yeah?”

[bryan-writes]

Keepsakes of a hidden heart mammon x reader

Summary: you find a keepsake box hidden under Mammons bed, you find out it’s filled with things that remind him of you <3

Super fluffy, soft mammon, established relationship

Credit to @saradika-graphics for the beautiful dividers :)

Under the gentle flicker of the low-lit room, you found yourself rifling through a small, unassuming box you’d discovered half-hidden under Mammon’s bed. It looked like it had been haphazardly shoved there, but with enough care to keep it safe from the curious eyes of any of his brothers. Immediately interested, you’d pulled it out— completely forgetting about finding your favorite hoodie (of his).

In a house filled with demons and secrets, finding something so personal felt… special. You knew mammon wasn’t one for big gestures, at least not the planned kind. But the box was a testament to something raw and real, with its unpolished appearance and lovingly held keepsakes.

The first item you pulled from the contents was a wrinkled movie ticket. You remembered that night so vividly, the way Mammon had tried to play it cool as he offered to take you out to a movie “just cause he was bored.” But you knew the truth; he’d been fidgeting, sneaking glances, trying to hide the spark in his eyes. It was an action movie— explosions and over-the-top stunts. But halfway through, Mammon’s hand had found yours, fingers fumbling a bit as if he wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing. He hadn’t let go until the credits rolled, and was even reluctant to let you go then. Now, as you gently held the ticket in your hands, you realized he had kept it as proof of that little victory, a reminder of the night he dared to hold your hand in the dim light of the theater.

Then there was a small, doodled note with a ridiculous caricature of Lucifer wearing glasses that Mammon had drawn in one of your many free moments in class. It was simple, silly even, but it had been you who had egged him on, whispering ideas as you both laughed quietly in the back of the lecture hall. You hadn’t noticed at the time, but Mammon must have held onto that scrap of notebook paper, like a private joke meant only for the two of you— a memory, immortalized by a poorly sketched Lucifer with eyebrows furrowed and glasses crooked.

”Hey, Y/N!” Mammon’s voice snapped you back to reality, a hint of panic coloring his tone.

Your gaze shot up to see him standing at the door, eyes wide, his cheeks flushed with a shade too bright for his usual demeanor. “What’re ya doin’ with that?” His usual bluster was there, but it sounded thin, like it was more for show than anything else.

You bit your lip, smiling softly. “I… I found this. It’s really cute, Mammon.”

Mammon fumbled, trying to snatch the box back, but you held onto it gently, pulling out a small bracelet made of cheap, colorful beads. It was slightly frayed, as if it had been through a few too many close calls. You remembered it well— Mammon had won it for you at a fair, some human world event he’d dragged you to, insisting he’d win the biggest prize. Instead, he’s managed a small, kitschy beaded bracelet, but the moment he clasped it around your wrist, he’d looked so proud.

“Why… Why do you keep these things?” You asked softly, curiosity and affection mingling in your gaze as you looked at him.

Mammon’s gaze flickered, unsure, like he was debating how much of himself he could afford to let you see. He scratched the back of his neck, looking anywhere but you. “I dunno,” he muttered, voice a bit rougher than usual. “S’just… they mean somethin’, ya know?”

When he finally met your gaze, there was a softness there, a vulnerability you had only ever seen in fleeting moments. He took the bracelet from your hand, rolling the beads gently between his fingers as if recalling the way your eyes had shone under the lights of the fair.

He swallowed, fingers brushing against a crumpled piece of a napkin. “This… this one from the night ya made me laugh so hard, soda came outta my nose.” A small laugh escaped his lips. “I thought I was gonna die from embarrassment, but… ya made it feel like a good memory. I… guess I wanted ta keep that.”

With every object he touched, another story unfolded. The wrinkled petal of a flower you had tucked into his hair during a spontaneous picnic. A tiny, faded polaroid picture of you two at an arcade, Mammon’s arm slung over your shoulder and you half hidden in the crook of his neck, his grin stretched wide and utterly carefree.

It was like listening to the chapter of a love story that Mammon had never found the courage to tell. In the quiet of his room, among all the bits and pieces of your shared memories, it was as though he was giving you a glimpse into his heart, wholly unguarded.

When he reached into the bottom of the box, he pulled out a little golden trinket— a small, old-fashioned key, polished and well-worn. He looked at it for a moment, a wistful smile gracing his lips.

“This… this one’s kinda stupid,” he murmured, holding it up to the dim light. “Got it ages ago. When I was a kid, I used to think it opened a door to somethin’ special. Kept it with me, hopin’ it’d mean somethin’ someday.” He hesitated, his voice lowering. “But I guess… I didn’t really find out what it opened ‘til I met ya.”

Mammon’s words hung in the air, weighty and soft. You felt your heart swell, warmth pooling in your chest as you met his eyes. He looked almost nervous, waiting for some kind of reaction, as if he were baring a piece of himself he’d never meant to show.

You smiled, reaching out to clasp his hand around the small key. “Maybe it opens the door to memories, too,” you whispered. “To all these little treasures you’ve collected along the way.”

Mammon blinked, his blush deepening as he realized how closely you held that moment between the two of you. “Ya… you’re weird, ya know that?” He mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. But his voice was softer now, and his hand stayed in yours a bit longer than necessary.

You sat in comfortable silence, Mammon’s hand warm against your own, fingers entwined with a gentlest that only he could muster, a soft and unexpected contrast to his usual bravado.

In that quiet moment, you understood. Love was something Mammon held onto in quiet ways— through secret boxes of treasure, hidden smiles, and worn-out trinkets that only mattered because they were tied to a memory of you.

And as he settled beside you, both pouring over every silly, precious item in his “treasure chest,” you knew that you would never really see those little memories the same again. They meant so much more to you now.

[zerobaselove]

a perfect fit | zhang hao

pairing: campus crush! zhang hao x reader

genre: fluff

word count: 3409

warnings: minor swearing probably?  lowercase intended, not proofread

prompts: 4. "what do you want?" "you" 5. "i want to help you, so please, let me." 11. "is that my sweater?"

notes: combined a hao prompt request (i changed the phrasing of 4 a little bit IMSORRY) with a campus crush! hao request and came up with this,,, honestly longer than i was expecting and somehow shorter than i wanted it to be ?? idk.. anyways geology major! hao you are dear to me (i want him so bad i'm clawing at the walls of my enclosure) hope you all enjoy <3

college was stressful. you knew it would be, it had to be expected. but what you didn’t expect was that the hardest part wasn’t the coursework or the seemingly constant stack of homework sprawled across your desk; it was actually paying attention in your classes.

how were you supposed to focus on mantle convection when three rows down was arguably the prettiest boy you had ever seen in your whole life. zhang hao.

you only had a few classes together, but coincidentally, due to your wandering eyes those happened to be the classes you were falling behind in. and he was to blame. 

truth be told, it seemed everyone had some sort of campus crush on the boy; between the way he dressed and carried himself and the way he always managed to be at the top of every class, just about everyone either wanted to be him or be with him. and you couldn’t blame them in the slightest. 

zhang hao was someone to admire from afar; across the lecture hall or the path between buildings. so when he ended up in a study group you had joined in an attempt to graduate with a respectable grade, you were dumbfounded, what was someone like him doing in a study group for a class he was passing with flying colours? maybe it was charity work, you convinced yourself.

the study group was only so effective for you, with zhang hao in the group you couldn’t focus, yet again. it was too hard to not notice the way he fidgeted with the pen in his hand or the way he doodled small animals in the corners of the paper. or the way he leaned over a fellow classmate as he helped them with a particularly complicated question in the textbook. 

you were doomed.

——

after a few weeks of no progress, you were just about to give up. maybe i’ll just drop out and work at a department store or something. you told yourself as you crouched down outside the library you all studied in. 

sure, you were being a little dramatic. but you were one question away from bursting into tears as you walked out of the study group an hour early. the embarrassment of leaving paled in comparison to crying in front of the boy who had been your reason to showing up to class some days. 

“are you okay?” the question pulled you out of your pity party, looking up to see the tall male in front of you. he gave you a worried look at your curled up frame leaned against the brick. “i’m just feeling a little stupid,” you tried to laugh, a dry husk of humour pushing past your lips.

the boy didn’t respond right away, opting to crouch beside you as he sat down on the concrete right next to you. if you weren’t so stressed about your academics right now, you probably would’ve been a stuttering mess at the close proximity. maybe you would’ve even noticed the scent of his cologne. but all you could do in that moment was frantically wipe your eyes and attempt to not look as pathetic as you felt. 

his eyes softened as he watched your hands rest on top of your knees, “you’re not stupid,” he said, a sweet tone in his voice, comforting even, “it’s a difficult class, everyone has been struggling.” his kind words tugged at your heart more than you’d care to admit.

“but everyone else seems to be getting it eventually.” you sniffled, concentrated on the tears threatening to spill again, “and i just keep slipping further and further behind.” you let out a heavy sigh, “i’m never gonna catch up at this rate.” 

you almost forgot the boy was even sitting there, silently listening to your troubles. “shit sorry,” you let out a pitiful laugh, “i didn’t mean to drag you into being my therapist.” 

he shook his head, a smile spreading across his face, “it’s okay, i’m glad you told me.” he turned his head towards you, “how about we make a deal?”

you only tilted your head in curiosity, urging him to continue his train of thought.

“you let me tutor you from now until exams. if you pass, then we both win, and if you don’t, then at least you tried your best.” 

the offer was sweet, but you couldn’t help but wonder why zhang hao of all people would take time out of his days to tutor you.

“what’s in it for you?” you let a small smile break out across your face, the first in what felt like weeks. 

“well,” he pretended to ponder for a moment, “maybe i just want to pass my knowledge onto someone.” you couldn’t help but laugh at the reason as he continued.

“and maybe, this can double as a way to make a new friend, if you’d want.”

sure. “friend” had no real implications of anything beyond a good acquaintance. but you almost choked at the disbelief. the university’s sweetheart, zhang hao wanted to be your friend? the boy you had spent the better part of the last two months trying to tear your eyes off of while your professor droned on about chemical reactions and the composition of rocks.

“are you sure? i don’t wanna take up too much of your time and-“ he cut you off before you could finish. “i wouldn’t offer it if i wasn’t sure,” he smiled gently, “i want to help you, so please, let me.”

you pondered the offer for a moment again. maybe it was the prospect of spending more time with him, or maybe it was just the idea of finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel that was this class, but you had made up your mind.

“deal.” your smile widened as you stuck out a hand, his own coming out to shake yours as he mirrored your expression. 

this was going to be interesting.

——

your one on one study sessions had only been going on for a few weeks but you were already starting to grasp the concepts more with zhang hao’s help. “just call me hao.” you recall him insisting on multiple occasions, unaware of the way your brain would try and twist the intimacy behind it. just friends, you had to remind yourself, that was all you two would ever be, and that was honestly more than you ever could have expected. 

“hao,” the name rolling off your tongue, “it’s getting late, can’t we wrap this up?” you whined, pouting a little in hopes of getting sympathy from the boy. as smiley as he was, he was also quite the hard-ass when it came to studying.

“one more question and then we can be done for tonight, deal?” he smiled, gesturing to the last practice question from this page. you let out a huff as you mumbled an acceptance of the deal, grabbing your pencil once again as you wrote out the explanation, scouring your brain for the scientific phrases to communicate your thoughts. 

zhang hao looked over your final answer with a content hum, his hand coming over to ruffle your hair, “good job, you’re getting the hang of this.” 

you stiffened at the contact and praise, you had never really gotten validation like that, especially not from someone like him, and your brain was running with it. 

when you originally agreed to this arrangement you hoped that maybe it would be your way to get over your little campus crush on the boy sitting next to you, but it had only gotten worse, and you were slowly losing it. taking a moment to shake the thoughts from your mind, you started gathering your stuff up to leave, as was zhang hao. 

“don’t forget you’re stuck with me tomorrow too, y/n!” he chuckled lightly before saying his farewells and leaving first, rushing off to meet up with his friend; you were sure he mentioned his name once before, ricky maybe? something like that.

you only nodded as you waved, grabbing your jacket off the back of the chair and slinging your backpack over your shoulder, but then something caught your eye; a light blue hoodie draped across the back of the back of the chair next to you. zhang hao’s sweater. the boy was already long gone, and based on how often he was sporting the hoodie, you assumed it was one of this favourites, so you couldn’t just leave it here. “i’ll just give it back to him tomorrow.” you mumbled to yourself, picking up the sweater and resting it over your arm.

when you got back to your dorm you folded the sweater nicely on your desk, right in your view so you wouldn’t forget it tomorrow. as much as you tried to ignore it, that night you couldn’t help but notice the warm citrus scent of his cologne, and you swore you could smell it in your dreams that night.

——

the next day was a brisk spring day, the warm air having been replaced by a crisp, almost cold, breeze. to say you had not dressed properly was an understatement, you thought to yourself as you walked across the campus towards the library. in a moment of weakness as you called it, or rather a moment of strong winds, you took it upon yourself to throw the pale blue hoodie over your frame. he wouldn’t mind too much right?

sitting at your usual table in the library, you set up your many papers and textbooks, not paying attention as the boy you had grown close to approached the table, a little out of breath. 

“sorry i’m late,” he breathed out, catching his breath after seemingly running here. 

“it’s okay, i was early,” you laughed, finally looking up at the boy who’s cheeks were flushed light pink.

you watched as his gaze traced your figure, taking notice of the sweater you were wearing, “is that my sweater?”

now it was your turn to flush a shade of pink, trying to form a sentence as you stuttered through excuses, “oh, i’m sorry,” an awkward laugh escaped your lips, “it’s just you left it here yesterday and so i was bringing it to give back to you but it was colder outside than i thought it was and so i put it on on the way here without really thinking, i can give it back right now,” you barely stopped to take a breath, “or i can go wash it and then give it back if you’d prefer.” your train of thought was stopped by his hand on top of yours, your mind going from a million miles a minute to frozen solid in mere moments. 

“it’s okay y/n,” he chuckled at your flushed expression as he sat down next to you, “it looks cute on you anyways.” he said simply, moving his gaze to the textbooks in front of you as he flipped to the pages you were on the day before. 

this boy was going to be the death of you.

——

something in the air seemed to change after that day, and it wasn’t just the scent of the blooming cherry blossoms in the breeze. something had changed with you two, and perhaps that was how the two of you ended up in your dorm room rather than the library, and on a saturday of all days. 

“what homework have you got for me today teacher zhang hao?” you joked, leaning back on the arms as you sat on the end of your bed, looking at the boy who sat comfortably in your desk chair.

“aren’t i allowed to just hang out with my friend without talking about plate tectonics?” he said, a joking sarcasm lacing his tone. 

you only laughed in response as you tried to control your heart beating out of your chest at the simple, friendly, term. 

before you knew it, the day had faded into night in a blur of laughter and conversation; real conversation. it was a nice change of pace, and as much as you hated to admit it, the more you got to know him, the more your campus crush had changed into just a genuine crush. 

you tried to ignore it, but it was so hard to ignore the comfort you felt being around him, how easy it was to slip into conversations and how easy he made you laugh. how were you supposed to not think about that.

and much to the dismay of your heart, these weekend hangouts had become a sort of routine. on top of seeing him most weeknights at the library, your interactions had spilled into the weekends quite seamlessly. whether it was just having a movie night in your dorm room, wandering campus during sunset, or even just doing normal young adult things like going shopping. the two of you had even gotten into the habit of accompanying each other on errands just to keep the other company. 

it was nice, you couldn’t lie, but the domestic activities made it that much harder to separate your romantic and platonic feelings for the boy. 

and here you were, awaiting the arrival of the boy on a saturday night. every time your phone lit up you rushed to grab it, just in case it was from hao, the casual name becoming more natural over the weeks.

this time it actually was a message on your screen, you found yourself quickly unlocking your phone to see what it said. “i’m going to stop at the store on my way over,” the text read, “do you want anything?”

before the voice of reason in your head could object, you typed back a quick response, “you.” simple, straight forward, to the point. everything you weren’t. it was already too late to cover up your boldness as you watched the typing bubble appear, in sync with the wave of anxiety and near nausea that washed over you.

“you think you can afford me?” he joked back, rolling with the conversation more smoothly than you ever could have, evidently. you typed back a quick laugh, hoping he wouldn’t see the truth behind your original response, “probably not, maybe i’ll just take some gummy worms.” you replied before nearly throwing your phone across the cramped room. 

and to think, you were stuck with him all night.

——

you tried to focus on the movie, you really did, but the all too familiar feeling of wandering eyes and a racing heart took over your senses, and who could blame you? it wasn’t every day you found yourself sharing a blanket with the prettiest and kindest boy you’d ever known. you almost wondered if he could feel the heat radiating from you, or if he would just blame it on the fuzzy blanket covering your legs. you hoped it would be the latter.

soon enough the credits were rolling and you finally pulled yourself from the thoughts spinning around your mind, just in time for hao to turn to you with a smug smile. “you didn’t pay attention to any of that movie, did you?”  the question caught you so off guard you actually choked a little on the sharp intake of breath. was it that obvious? you wondered. you really had to work on your expressions it seems. 

“what’s on your mind y/n?” the smooth, almost teasing tone in his voice would’ve probably made your knees give out had you not already been sat down in your bed.

you managed to stutter out a response, rather reminiscent of the first real conversation you two had months prior. “oh it’s, uhm,” you quickly tried to come up with a believable excuse, settling on possibly the worst one, “it’s nothing.” the stiff laughter did nothing to help your case as he grinned at you knowingly, hopefully not too knowingly. 

“so i’m nothing now?” he feigned offense as his hand came up rather dramatically to his chest. “i thought i meant more to you than that, y/n.” he teased, obviously enjoying watching the gears turn in your brain as you attempted to process the conversation that was happening.

busted.

there was no coming back from it now and you knew it, and more importantly, he knew it. at some point he had picked up on your lingering gaze, your quick glances that you thought had gone unnoticed. all there was left for you to do was either admit your growing feelings, or play dumb about the whole thing. and somehow you decided the latter was the smartest option. 

“i, uh, don’t know what you’re talking about.” another forced laugh pushed past your lips, getting past your thumping heart on the way out. 

it seemed that your reaction filled zhang hao with a new sense of confidence, because he did the last thing you expected him to do; lean in. not close enough for your lips to graze each other, but close enough to feel his breath on you, to feel the heat radiating off of your faces. close enough to feel the thick tension in the air, but you were sure anyone could feel that if they were here, you could even cut it with a knife.

“i think you know exactly what i’m talking about,” he smiled, your eyes darting down to his lips that were only a couple inches from your own before looking back to his eyes; warm and inviting. 

you weren’t sure what to say anymore, and so you made the bold decision to close the gap; only briefly, but long enough to taste the cherry lip balm that coated his lips, to feel the way his lips fit against yours. like tectonic plates.

what started as one chaste kiss turned into 2, and then 3, and then a gentle kiss of yearning, of waiting, accompanied by his soft hands on your cheeks. you couldn’t help but lean into his touch, his soft hands feeling like silk against your burning skin. you could feel him smile into the kiss as your body eased, relaxing into a rhythm. time slowed and suddenly the two of you were the only people in the world, the boy in front of you filling all of your senses. zhang hao. zhang hao. zhang hao. your brain echoed as you pulled away, giddy smiles plastered across both of your faces.

“is that what you were on about?” you smiled, your voice barely above a whisper as your eyes flickered between his lips and his eyes once again.

he let out a small laugh, “what do you think?” he sat back against the wall once again, admiring the way the glow from the tv illuminated your skin, and the way you couldn’t wipe the grin off your face. “i thought you’d never do something about it.” he laughed again, this time grabbing your hand lazily.

“listen,” you started, “i didn’t think you noticed, and i was okay to keep it that way,” you looked down at your interlocked hands, your mind silently replaying the last 5 minutes on a loop, rendering yourself no better than a broken record. “you’re the zhang hao, everyone has at least a bit of a crush on you, so why would i assume i had any chance.”

he shook his head as a proud smile spread across his face, “everyone?” he asked, leaving you to lightly smack his arm, a small yelp coming from the boy. “okay okay, no need to smack me,” he laughed, “but really, you thought you didn’t have a chance? why would i have offered to tutor you if i didn’t have at least a bit of an interest in you?”

you let yourself ponder for a moment, looking back on the now distant memory. “i just thought you were being nice!” you stated matter-of-factly, earning another giggle from the boy, you could get used to that sound, or rather, being the reason behind it.

he merely smiled, pressing another kiss to your lips, “well i’m not nice like this to anyone else, if that helps make it more clear.”

“good,” you mirrored his smile, taking in the beauty that was the boy in front of you, the boy who seemed to fit with you like the tectonic plates.

“because i don’t think i could handle the idea of you spending your wednesday nights talking about rocks with anyone else.” 

[astroboots]

Every You Every Me | Issue #7

COLLABORATED WITH @thirstworldproblemss

Pairing: Miguel O'Hara x female reader

Summary: You finally get some answers out of Miguel about who you are to him.

Word count: 5,700 words.

Series Masterlist | Spiderverse Masterlist | Astroboot’s Masterlist | thirstworldproblemss' Masterlist

[Previous] [Next]

"So let's take it from the top," you tell him, as you sit down and put down the Trenta-sized caramel flavored hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and chocolate syrup in front of the man named Miguel O'Hara.

The two of you are sitting across from each other at a small booth at the nearest Starbucks you were able to find, seeing as you're homeless now, and there's nowhere else you could think of to go.

He's dressed in a large fitted hoodie that drapes down to his thighs. Where he's managed to find something that is oversized in length on him, you don't know because he's not exactly short.

"I'm from a dimension known as Earth-928," Miguel says.

Before he can continue, you raise one hand, and you can see his right eyebrow twitch unhappily at the interruption. 

"Yes?"

"Just to clarify, so we don't have another ‘coffee cake’ misunderstanding. When you say Earth-928, do you mean a different version of the Earth we’re on now? Or is this a habitable planet in another galaxy that happens to be partially named Earth?"

"It's a parallel universe characterized by distinct physical parameters and initial conditions, accounting for the diverse manifestations of our observable universe. So still Earth," he says, sweeping his gaze across the café, nose wrinkling the way one does when there's something off-putting in their vicinity. "Just a little bit less primitive."

Of course he would say that, wouldn't be able to resist the jab would he.

You peer up at him across the table. He is very technical and thorough with his explanations. But as grateful as you are for him finally being willing to answer your questions, you hadn't expected those answers to be quite so information dense. You need to pick your questions more carefully or you are going to have to go down the street to buy yourself a notebook in order to keep up.

"How did you end up on this Earth?" you ask.

"Where I'm from, I'm a scientist, a researcher. One of the things I studied was the theory of physical cosmology and the existence of the multiverse. My work was concentrated on the theoretical ability to navigate between distinct universes within a hypothetical multiverse–”

Ah shit, you should've been more narrow in your question. Should have asked him to simplify it a bit more for you. Because now you're sitting here blinking up at him, pretending you understand half of what he's saying. 

It makes sense that he’s STEM. He speaks like the type. Smart as hell with none of the social skills to gauge whether the other person is following the conversation. 

Listening to him reminds you of that time in college, when you'd walked into the wrong lecture hall, wound up in advanced chemistry instead of your math class, felt too awkward to leave and just sat there drawing doodles with an attentive expression until the class was over. 

And he’s still at it, “– employing advanced mechanisms that manipulate or transcend conventional spacetime frameworks, enabling exploration–"

"Okay, wait, hold on a sec," you interrupt, once it becomes obvious he’s not going to stop any time soon on his own. "Can you... simplify, please?"

He stops mid-sentence, taking a deep breath as he looks up at the ceiling and considers your request, with a serious expression as if he's thinking really hard on it. "I’m a scientist. I study the multiverse. I built a parallel universe traversal device, it allows me to visit different dimensions." Your brain feels insulted that it clearly took more mental effort for him to dumb it down for you than to just give the supergenius version.

“So… a machine that allows you to jump between alternative universes?” 

“Yes.” 

There’s a pause between you as you run through the questions in your mental list you want to tick off now that he’s turned cooperative and talkative. But with everything that’s happened in the last handful of hours, a lot of the questions you previously had seemed outdated. The one question, the most important one, you’ve wanted to ask from the start though remains. 

"Who am I to you?"

Miguel takes the large sized drink in his even larger hands and somehow this big paper cup still manages to look tiny in his grip. "You and I were... involved," he says.

You frown. ‘Involved’ is such a vague term. It belongs in the trash with other useless terms to describe relationships: “situationship”, “complicated”, you hate them all. 

"So I was your girlfriend?"

"Yeah, something like that," he concede, fidgeting with the thin gold chain looped around his neck, his eyes not quite meeting yours, like he's embarrassed to use the term.

‘Something like that,’ you chew on his answer unhappily, sympathizing with your other dimensional self and how the other you seemed to have snagged a commitment phobe. 

Other-you, who isn’t here in this dimension with Miguel. You wonder why that is. 

"What happened to me?" you ask.

His eyes are glued to the table,  not looking up at you as he answers you in a voice so quiet you can barely hear it. "She died."

"Oh."

The revelation shouldn’t take you by surprise. 

Every time Miguel’s brought up your other self, it’s been tinted with earth-shattering sadness. It's not hard to put one and one together and come to the conclusion that whatever happened to you in this other dimension didn't end happily.

Still it's an odd feeling to know that out there, somewhere, a version of you has died. A version of you that was clearly very important to the man in front of you.

"I'm sorry," you tell him.

It feels silly to say. It's bizarre to give your condolences over your own parallel death, but Miguel looks so heartbroken. He’s slumped in his seat, large shoulders rounded until his frame looks so much smaller than you're used to, and you don't know what else to do.

"So what is happening to me now," you start, not sure how to word what the phenomena that you're going through is, "these continuous near-death experiences, is that how she died?"

"Yeah."

"And do you know why that... kept happening to her? Why is it happening to me?"

"I don't, and I don't know how to stop it. Believe me I tried."

He cradles the paper cup in his hands, the grip a little bit tighter now until he's creasing the paper and the caramel liquid oozes and leaks from the top.

"What I do know is that the universe isn’t going to stop trying to kill you, no matter what you do. And with every near death incident you manage to survive, these incidents will escalate in nature, until..." he stops, eyes flickering away from the cup to meet yours, but it's like he loses courage and doesn't want to say the last part.

"Until, what?" you prompt.

"Until your dimension collapses."

The blood freezes in your veins. "Wait, collapses!? What do you mean?"

"I can't guarantee it will happen again. But that's what happened last time. When the other you kept cheating death, the universe eventually started to collapse in on itself."

You slump back in your chair, trying to process what you've just been told. What does that mean? That even if you managed to defy all odds to survive, doing so would doom the rest of this universe as you know it?

"When will that happen?" you ask, and you're surprised you manage to get the words out because there is a hard lump in your throat that makes it hurt to even swallow.

"Judging from the trajectory and escalation of events, you have about three months give or take."

The two of you sit in heavy silence, for the moment you're not sure what else to ask him. Because it feels like you are trapped in a building looking for an exit sign, but all that’s tacked onto the brick wall is your death certificate, waiting to be signed and formalized.

There’s no way out. Nowhere to go.

"Give me your hand," he says, breaking the silence. 

You give it to him without hesitation, watching, puzzled, as he takes off his watch and secures it around your wrists.

"Why are you giving me your watch?"

"It's not a watch," he says, then he presses something on the face of it, and an image of a young woman flickers into existence in the space above your wrist, vaguely see-through. A hologram!

"This is Lyla," he introduces.

Wait, wait? Lyla? As in your mom Lyla? You watch the tiny woman floating above your wrist. Short bob-cut, and flashy heart-shaped sunglasses, with a twinkle in her eye. 

The hologram looks nothing like your mom. You part your mouth, about to ask about the name but you're interrupted by the energetic buzz of a female voice greeting you.

"Boss-girl! Long time no see. Want me to catch you up on the latest multiversal gossip? I compiled an edit of highlights set to Despacito."

"Lyla," Miguel warns, tersely. "Not now."

"Ruuuuude! You're the one who woke me up you know."

"Lyla, go back to sleep."

The female avatar grumbles, but then her image flickers away and the watch turns back into, as far as you can tell, just an ordinary watch.

"Why did you name the watch Lyla?"

"It's not a– " He cuts himself off, sighing with exasperation. "Lyla is an advanced A.I. she's going to be with you at all times. She's an added layer of security, built to protect you."

He didn't answer your question. Completely sidestepped it as if the two of you are having two different conversations.

Built to protect you, he'd said. Does that mean he still intends to do that?

"So you're not going to leave?" you ask him.

He leans back in his seat, eyes drifting towards the table. "No."

You look up at him, stumped. Not sure you're understanding what he's saying. Because not even a few hours ago, when the two of you were in your apartment, this man was adamant there was nothing to be done to save you. That he was going to leave and you were never going to see him again.

Right now though, his actions seem to be contradictory to that. You can't make heads or tails of him. Hot and cold doesn’t even begin to cover it. 

"Why not?" you ask, "I mean, not that I’m not grateful, but you seemed pretty set on the whole ‘I can’t save you’ thing. What changed your mind?"

“You did.” His eyes narrow as he looks down at you, crossing his arms ever his chest, "You told me you wanted to live. Have you changed your mind already?"

“Wha– NO! I just want to know why you changed yours.”

“I–” He hesitates, another wave of sadness passing over his face. “I’m a superhero. I save people… or try to. It’s what I do. I’m not gonna just leave you to die after you tell me you want to live.”

It’s a good answer, even if you don’t buy that it’s the whole truth. 

You look down at your wrist, and the shiny chrome of the not-watch he's just gifted you winks back up at you. "Do you think I have a chance of surviving all this?"

"It's pretty hopeless," he says, and there’s no break in his expression as he continues. "Your chances of making it out alive are pretty much mathematically impossible."

It's odd though. Even though he's outlining the futility of your situation, basically telling you to raise the white flag and surrender, there's something contradictory in the tone of his voice. 

"What do you want to do?" he asks you.

It’s a challenge, you realize. An encouragement. He has faith in you. It's all of these things rolled into one. As if he's telling you to prove the universe wrong.

"I want to live," you answer. "If the universe collapses in three months, then please stay with me. Give me time to solve this and find a way to stay alive."

His mouth curls into a hint of a smile. The very first you've seen from him since you've met. It's bright and boyish, erasing the harsh lines of his stern expression until it gives way for something much softer underneath that makes your heart leap in your chest with triumph.

You grin, a strange elation of happiness buzzing in you as you stretch out your hand to him, in an invitation for a handshake to seal the deal.

"Deal?"

Miguel leans over the table, clasping your hand in his much larger one as he squeezes it back gently.

"Deal." That small smile from before is still there. "So what's next?" he asks.

The thing you never realized, being an ordinary person bereft of super genes or other superhuman powers is just how convenient commuting can be if you have them. 

No longer do you have to brave the Lynchian nightmare that is the NYC subway system. Half-naked manic street preachers giving sermons as you’re held hostage, with nowhere else to go in the carriage. Being chased down by a drunk trumpeting Mariachi band. Instead, all you need to do to get from point A to point B (A: being the Chrysler building and B: the building formerly known as your home) is to hold on tight to Miguel as he swings you both above the city gridlock.

You imagine that this is what paragliding must feel like, except it's so much better because here you don't have to do the safety training beforehand or pay $3,000 for the privilege.

The city skyline is a dark evening blue, dotted with the sparkling lights of office buildings, cab roof lights and street lamps, as the wind ruffles through the fabric of your clothes.

It's such a different sight when you're flying above instead of walking on the streets below, that you don't even clock that you're in your neighborhood, until you see a building with a collapsed wall that's been blocked off, looking like a crash site. Only then do you realize... you're home.

Miguel carefully sets you down on your feet on a small patch of concrete that is clear of the rubble and destruction.

"Why did you want to come back here again?" he asks. 

It’s a good question. Now that you're here, standing in the middle of charred debris and cracked bricks, you're not sure either. You had some vague plans of seeing what you could salvage, hoping for some clothes, maybe your electric toothbrush, or really just any of your stuff. Something that’s yours, no matter how small, to hold on to after the events of today have ripped away life as you know it.

But there’s nothing left. The furniture, all your books and knick knacks, and even your dirty laundry piles have been demolished. Your home as you know it is gone. There's only piles and piles of rubble and traces of white fire extinguisher foam on the ground. The fire has been out for hours, but the pungent smell of smoke and sulfur still pervades the air. 

"You okay?" Miguel asks.

He's still standing at the outer edges of the apartment, close to where your window would have been if a helicopter hadn't crashed through it.

"Yeah... I guess the silver lining is that I didn't have anything expensive. Though it'd been nice if I could've saved my mom's Le Creuset set or at least the nanny-cam so I could return it and get a refund," you joke glibly. 

You nudge aside some concrete rubble with the cap of your shoes. There's nothing under there, no treasured memorabilia that's still miraculously intact. Just more burnt concrete and rubble.

"Why did you have a nanny cam?"

You turn around at his question, to see him hovering close to you, one eyebrow raised with an unhappy set to his jaw. 

From the displeased expression on his face, he's probably misunderstanding something here. Probably thinks you're operating a very unlucrative Onlyfans business, when what you've really been doing is spy on him and his nightly visits. You don't know which is worse to confess to, so you don't confess to anything.

"No reason," you say, ignoring the way his already raised eyebrow twitches with irritation at your lack of an answer.

"Come on, let's go," he says, and he waves towards you in a come hither motion like he's commanding a dog.

"Go?" you ask him. "It's past midnight. My place, as you can see, is wrecked. Go where exactly?"

Miguel shoots you a strange look. "A hotel," he says, like it's the most obvious thing, and– okay, he's not completely wrong in that assumption.

Problem is, you didn't have time to pick up your wallet or phone before your impromptu interdimensional visit. They’ve been incinerated along with all the rest of your worldly possessions, which means you don't have any way to pay for a hotel.

Plus Manhattan hotel prices average $400 a night. Even if you still had access to your debit cards, your budget’s pretty tight right now after all the capital you invested in your unhinged quest to trap the superhero before you. 

"In the city? I don't have that kind of money and it will take months for any insurance payouts to come in."

You should know. As an insurance claims adjuster, you know you’ll be lucky if your claim is processed before the end of the year. And, ugh, just the thought of the paperwork you’ll have to fill out is enough to give you an anxiety migraine.

"I’ll cover the room," Miguel says casually before holding out a hand to you, "Come on, let’s go."

When Miguel said he’d cover it, you expected a reasonably-priced room at one of the Days Inn across the river or the like. Hopefully a place with no rats or bed bugs, and maybe clean bedding over a somewhat comfortable mattress for you to pass out on if you were lucky.

You didn't expect this.

Standing in front of the Midtown Four Seasons, you find yourself on sleek marble so polished you can see your own reflection. You haven't even stepped a foot inside yet and there are two old fashioned doormen, wearing immaculately fitted suits, with an even more impressive posture opening the majestic double-set doors for you as you approach.

It's swanky as hell, and you can’t help gawking like a tourist, eyes glued to the decadent carved ceilings that must be at least 30 feet tall, soaring above you. Honey-colored limestone that looks like it’s been looted from Ancient Rome.

You feel more than a little bit out of place. This is way outside of your budget. You could probably work your job for a lifetime, and not have enough disposable income to stay the night at a place like this.

"Uhm, Miguel... this place is way too–" you start, turning towards him.

But as you were busy lamenting the state of the housing market, he's already walked away from you (for such a bulky guy, he moves swiftly and silently) and as you whip your head around to find him, he's already standing in front of the receptionist.

Damned antelope legged man, would it kill him to wait up for you once in a while? You run up after him and have to tip-toe in order to see over his shoulder because the giant mammoth is blocking the check-in counter.

And wow, even the receptionist here is of a different caliber than the ones you'd find at Holiday Inn. A fashionable bob-cut with razor sharp edges, looking like a model cut out from a Vogue cover.

"Do you have a reservation, Sir?"

You half-expect him to say no, and that the two of you would have to tuck your tail between your legs and walk out of here to the backdrop of a sad trombone playing.

To your astonishment he says your name. The receptionist tip-taps away at her keyboard and then she nods and smiles gracefully at you both. 

"Yes of course. After reviewing your reservation details, I am pleased to inform you that all necessary arrangements have already been made, including advance payment and verification of your identification. Your room is ready for you, we trust you will enjoy your stay."

She flashes you a pearly white smile so shiny it's almost blinding and hands you a hotel key card. 

When you turn around, to your confusion Miguel is no longer next to you. How does he keep disappearing like this? 

"Cielito," Miguel’s voice calls. The nickname doesn’t register at first. It doesn't even occur to you that he’s referring to you, until he barks it out a second time. 

Your head darts up to see him standing by the elevator, tapping his feet impatiently as he waits for you to make it over to him.

"How did you do that?" you whisper loudly to him as you step into the elevator. "Where did you get my ID? How did you make a reservation? How did you--"

He takes your hand, mid-sentence, turning your wrist upwards and taps the watch.

"The computer systems in this universe are child's play for Lyla to manipulate. Reservations, money, ID, she can take care of all of that easily," he explains.

"She can do that?" you ask, and Miguel merely nods at you as the elevator closes behind the two of you.

You tip your head down to inspect your gifted watch. In awe of this technical marvel that would make Siri look like it’s from the stone-ages. You wonder if she can boost your credit scores. She could probably hack any wi-fi password so you'd never have to worry about data throttling again. She could get you table reservations for Libertine! The possibilities are endless!

You turn to Miguel. "Can Lyla get me Beyoncé tickets?" you ask. 

He just shakes his head at you with what almost qualifies as an amused smile.

The room upstairs is massive. 

It’s easily three times the size of your little studio apartment, and the ceilings are twice as tall, with a hanging glass chandelier that’s sparkling bright enough to blind you. It looks like one of those places featured in Architectural Digest. 

Everything is in an art deco style, with expensive looking furniture and even more expensive art hanging on the one spare wall that isn’t covered in floor to ceiling windows. There are large shelves and a sleek looking kitchen, complete with an opulent looking velvet lounge chair of emerald green that looks like something a Roman emperor would be fed grapes on. 

In this colossal space of a room, there is only one bed. One colossal, plush-mattress-topped, goose down duvet and probably 1,000,000,000 thread count sheet covered bed.

You tense up, not sure what the arrangements Miguel had in mind. Did he want the two of you to sleep in the same bed?

Miguel did pay for the room, so you’re not going to start voicing objections. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time in the short time span that you two have known each other to do that. This bed is also a lot wider than your tiny double bed, so it wouldn’t be the cramped disaster it was last night. You’d just have to make sure to use the bathroom before bed this time so he doesn’t jab your full bladder in the morning again. 

Without saying anything, Miguel strides across the length of the room with impatient and determined steps. His hand reaches for the balcony doors and slides them open. 

"Wait wait, where are you going?" you ask him as you run up to the middle of the room. 

“I’m sleeping outside,” he says over his shoulder, and your mind boggles with that. 

“Why? Isn’t it better for you to stay here?”

"This is the 62nd floor. That’s about as safe as you’re going to get. I’ll keep a lookout to make sure no more helicopters come crashing in.” 

You’re not sure if he means the last part as a joke or not, but as you watch his broad back retreating as he walks away from you, a sickening sort of the deja vu twists through your chest. 

I can’t save you, he’d said back in your apartment, Nothing can. 

The feeling clawing at your chest feels alarmingly like panic. It screams that he’s leaving you. That he’s never coming back. That you’ll never see him again. 

You’re being irrational, and you know it. You remind yourself that he wouldn’t have done this much for you only to bail in the middle of the night, but that doesn’t stop the fear that’s festering, sharp and urgent, under your skin, or the way your heart races, your whole body flashing hot and cold at the same time. 

You want him to stay. 

“Miguel,” you call out, and he immediately stops and turns to look back at you, one eyebrow raised in a skeptical question. 

Please stay. 

You open your mouth, but the words won’t come out. You can’t ask this man—this big, sarcastic, rude hulk of a man—to have a sleepover with you because you’re scared to be alone in the dark. He would laugh you out of the hotel room.

“Uhm… thank you,” you say instead, but it’s no less sincere, “For everything.”

His eyes soften, the sharp narrowness of them easing up. “It’s fine,” he mumbles, and despite the cold chill of the evening, you think you can see a faint flush blooming in his cheeks, before he quickly ducks his face from you. “I’ll be right outside if something happens.” 

He turns back around and walks out, closing the patio doors with a gentle click behind him, leaving you by yourself. 

It’s quiet. 

You survey the empty room you’re in. Without Miguel’s large frame taking up space, it seems even bigger than it did before. 

It’s a beautiful room. Something that you’re pretty sure you’ve seen in a movie set. You don’t know why you’re not as excited as you were before. This is you living your Pretty Woman moment. You should be filling up the big jacuzzi tub you saw with bubbles. Heck, maybe ask Lyla to order you a bottle of champagne from room service. 

Instead, your eyes linger on the glass patio doors leading to the balcony terrace. You walk over to the bed, perching yourself down on the edge of the mattress, then flop down. 

Might as well try to sleep, you think to yourself as you climb under the covers and switch off the light. The best thing you can do right now is catch yourself some rest so you’ll be alert while trying to figure out your next steps tomorrow.

3 months… That’s what Miguel told you.

That’s all the time you have left. 

That means you don’t have time to waste, but you also have no idea where to start. The local library doesn’t exactly carry any resources on how to stop the universe from trying to kill you. 

The Universe. 

An infinite cosmos, grander than any human being can possibly comprehend. This vast space containing all the galaxies with its billions of stars and planets, where an individual being does not even register as a speck, and it wants you dead. How can you possibly fight against those odds? 

You lie wide-eyed and awake staring into the dark of the room, and the feeling of dread gnaws into you. 

You don’t want to be alone right now. Turning in the bed, your eyes find their way back to the blank slate of the pitched night outside the balcony doors. 

You really wished he had stayed with you. 

Sitting upright in the bed, you consider your options. You can lie back down. Suffer insomnia and the existential horror of knowing the universe is trying to murder you. Or you can man up, swallow down whatever tiny morsel of your pride you have left and ask Miguel to come back inside and stay with you. 

Flinging the duvet from your body, you get up to walk over to the balcony. You hesitate for a moment before tapping the window pane the way you might knock on a door, giving a polite head's up before you slide the balcony patio open. But when you poke your head out, turning your head left and right, Miguel's nowhere to be found. 

Okay, that’s weird. He said he’d be right outside if you needed him. You walk up to the ledge of the balcony terrace, leaning over the rail and peer down to see him dangling upside down, from the ledge of your balcony. The sight nearly makes you scream. 

"Miguel!” 

At you calling his name, he pulls himself up, one clawed hand gripping at the concrete wall as he climbs his way up and over to you. He makes it look easy, as if gravity does not exist for him, and it’s only a moment until he’s perched on the ledge of the balcony, facing you. 

“What’s wrong?” he demands, eyes concerned, and you’re suddenly aware of how very close he is. His face mere inches from yours, your noses nearly touching.

“What’s wrong? You’re hanging upside down from the 62nd floor! What are you, a bat?!"

“Why did you come out here?” he clarifies, and his words give you pause. You try to gather your thoughts after the bizarre sight you just walked into and remember what you came out here for. 

He’s still looking at you with his full and intense concentration that makes your skin prickle with warmth.

God, it’s embarrassing to ask. You feel like you’re five years old, asking your parents to turn the nightlight on, even though you know you’re a big girl now and aren’t supposed to be afraid of monsters hiding under your bed any more. 

You look down on your hands, where you’re wringing them together, then back up at him, and make yourself spit it out, "Could you… maybe… stay with me tonight?" 

His eyes widen at your question, but he doesn’t actually answer you and gives you no physical indication one way or the other. 

"I feel safer when you're with me,” you admit. 

“I am with you out here,” he counters, because of course he can’t make this easy for you.  

“I can’t see you out here.”

The line of his shoulder eases, and he ducks his head down with a resigned sigh. "Fine. Get back inside, Cielito. You're going to catch a cold like this."

You shuffle back inside to your bed, watching out of the corner of your eye as  he follows you inside and settles himself on the lounge sofa. He’s so tall that his feet are sticking out over the armrests, like a long-legged stork. 

Hiding a smile, you climb back into bed, wrapping the bedding all around yourself.

“Good night,” you call out, and he makes a grumpy noise of acknowledgment. 

Your head drops back onto the soft pillow, and you close your eyes, ready to sleep. It’s such a nice bed. The sheets are cool and soft against your skin and smell of fresh eucalyptus. The mattress is the most comfortable you ever remember resting on, firm but somehow soft at the same time. You feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. 

Moments go by, and you revel in the sumptuous bed, waiting for the best sleep of your life to claim you. 

Except it doesn’t. 

Somehow… you still can’t fall asleep. Is it… too soft maybe? You turn in the bed, twisting your torso to get into a position you can comfortably sink into, but something doesn’t feel right. There’s no lumpiness like at home, but that should be a good thing. 

Except… despite the decadent softness of the bed. Despite the fact that the sheets probably have a thread count with more zeros than your checking and savings accounts combined. Despite all of the luxury that surrounds you, you still find yourself tossing and turning and wide fucking awake.

The bed is too big. You don’t know what to do with all this space. Your body is not accustomed to this sort of decadence. What if you suffocate sinking into this soft fluffy pillow in your sleep? What if you toss and turn until you fall off this massive bed and break your neck? Maybe that’s how out of all of the universe’s attempts to kill you, you end up dying? 

Fuck! 

You can’t sleep. 

You turn to your side and stare into the velvet lounge chaise on the opposite side of your room, where Miguel is. 

Quietly, you pad up to his still form until you’re standing in front of him and hunch over, trying to decide how rude it would be to wake him up again when there's nothing he can do about your stupid insomnia anyway.

In the dim light, you spot something glinting at you. Looking closer, you notice that the thin chain looped around his neck has escaped his shirt to pool on the fabric of the sofa cushion under him. You gently drag the loose end of the necklace toward you, and find a smooth golden band threaded onto it.

Picking it up cautiously, you flip it in your hand and find that there's something engraved on the inside.  It's hard to see in the darkness, but when you lean closer and squint your eyes, you can just make out what it says.

'MO'—undeniably the initials of one Miguel O'Hara.

Twisting the ring slightly, you find a tiny plus sign followed by your own initials, and your heart drops into the pit of your stomach.

Oh.

The memory of sitting across Miguel at Starbucks returns to you, when you had asked him who you were to him. You think of the avoidant gaze and how he couldn't look you in the eye.

‘Something like that,’ huh?

Guess the other you wasn't just his girlfriend after all, you think, chest drawn so tight it’s painful.

Holding the wedding band in the palm of your hand, you slide down to sit down on the floor with your back pressed against the chaise lounge.

Your heart aches for the man in front of you and everything he's lost.  You really, really hope you're not going to end up as just another regret on his list.

~ Next Issue

Dedication & Credits: As always to my best friend @thirstworldproblemss I am half asleep and running on fumes. I'm wording things poorly but I just want you to know that I am very happy I have you. Thank you for being my friend and for the time we get to spend together. I have the most fun when I'm with you.

Also to @guruan who is my muse, my source of inspiration. This chapter is dedicated to her because have you seen this beautiful piece of artwork she did for EYEM?!

[plushyparfait]

DEATH NOTE UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE AU (because why not?)

part one :: Near , Mello , L

Random headcanons & art

Near

1. Near is the president of the university’s robotics club.

2. He never attends lectures in person, only watching recordings.

• Near prefers solitude and finds social interaction draining. Watching lectures at his own pace allows him to stay focused and avoid distractions.

3. He plays competitive online chess between classes.

• Near enjoys mental challenges and chess offers a way to test his strategies and keep his mind sharp while relaxing.

4. Near’s dorm room looks more like you just stepped into a Toys R Us than a place where someone sleeps.

• His collection of puzzles, toys, and models are a source of comfort and focus, keeping his mind stimulated even when he’s not working.

5. He wears the same hoodie almost every day, claiming it reduces decision fatigue.

• Near simplifies his wardrobe to focus more on his studies and hobbies, seeing no point in making unnecessary daily decisions about clothing!

6. He never raises his hand in class but always gets the highest scores on exams

• Near doesn’t care at all about showing off or impressing professors; his only concern is understanding the material.

7. Near has a meticulous calendar and study schedule, but only he understands it.

• His methodical approach to everything extends to his study habits, though his system appears insanely chaotic to others, it works perfectly for him.

8. He’s known for sketching detailed robots during lectures instead of taking notes.

• Near finds doodling and sketching helps him focus on the lecture, as his mind works better with a hands-on task to accompany the information.

9. He orders takeout almost every day, refusing to cook.

• Near considers cooking an inefficient use of time and would rather spend his energy on intellectual pursuits or working on projects. (At least that's what HE says to hide the fact he'd probably find a way to burn water whilst boiling it)

10. Near loves to leave cryptic or downright weird messages on the dorm bulletin board for fun (or to freak people out since no one's figured out who the hell''s been doing it)

Mello

1. Mello has a part-time job at a trendy coffee shop/cafe, but he always brings his laptop to work on assignments.

• Mello thrives in fast-paced environments and enjoys the energy of the café, but he’s too ambitious to let work get in the way of his academic goals.

2. He takes pride in his motorcycle and often rides it to campus even if it’s impractical.

3. Mello constantly competes with classmates, turning everything into a challenge.

4. He studies late into the night, fueled by energy drinks and chocolate.

• Sometimes, Mello’s intense personality and desire to outdo everyone pushes him to work harder than most, even at the expense of his health, so I can see him always bothering L or A to root through their med stash on a bad day.

5. He has a secret stash of stress balls, even though he pretends he doesn’t need them.

• Despite preferring to act tough, Mello gets easily stressed/anxious, and stress balls are a discreet way to manage his anxiety. He rather keep his peace and not get his issues looked at.

6. Mello never misses gym days, using working out as a way to release his aggression.

• Physical activity helps Mello balance his high-strung self, giving him a productive outlet for his frustrations.

7. He writes essays/assignments at the last minute because he couldn't actually be bothered but always manages to get top marks.

8. He has a complicated love-hate relationship with Near’s success.

• Mello and Near attended the same high school since Year 8. Mello resents Near for his calm, effortless brilliance but also deeply respects him as his closest intellectual rival.

9. He’s notorious for bringing loud snacks (like Doritos or Lindt) into quiet study spaces, just to annoy people. People being Mikami or A.

• Mello likes stirring the pot and pushing boundaries, even in the smallest ways just for the giggles but will ease up if someone is actually super upset.

10. Mello refuses to share study notes with anyone, even his friends. He rather watch you bleed out or something. Fend for yourself.

L

1. L sleeps in the student lounge more often than in his dorm.

• His irregular sleeping habits caused by his insomnia mean he’ll nap wherever he is when he’s too exhausted to stay awake, and he values convenience over comfort. Mikami's sick of having him curl up in his shower every time he invites him over.

2. He has an entire drawer in his room dedicated to different types of sweets.

• He CLAIMS it HELPS him think faster and stay alert during long study sessions. Liar. He's just a greedy little fellow.

3. L uses his position as a teaching assistant/tutor to solve difficult academic problems instead of actually helping students.

• L is more interested in challenging his own intellect than in teaching, so he sees the TA role as a way to gain access to tricky questions for giggles. Some poor students are ready to stone him for it....

4. He refuses to wear shoes to lectures and insists that thinking requires “maximum comfort.” If you say otherwise you're committing a hate crime.

• L’s eccentric habits extend to his fashion choices, and he’s convinced that anything uncomfortable distracts from his ability to concentrate, hence choosing more minimalist-type clothing. Sometimes he gets bullied into wearing shoes by Mr. Wammy. Sometimes.

5. L often shows up to class with food stains on his clothes because he’s always eating something.

6. He writes all of his assignments in incredibly small, illegible handwriting, frustrating professors.

• L doesn’t care about neatness, only content, and figures if he can read it, others should be able to, too. Poor you if you can't.

7. L has a habit of texting weird messages to his friends late at night of whatever the hell comes to his brain.

• His thought process often leads him down really fucking strange paths, and he enjoys sharing odd observations or philosophical musings at random hours. Light's just learnt to ignore him but Mikami's a light sleeper and too people-pleasing so he succumbs to the peer pressure and listens to L's nonsense. At least it's interesting sometimes.

8. He never takes notes during lectures but still scores perfectly on every exam.

• L has a photographic memory and trusts his ability to recall important information without needing to write anything down.

9. L never shows up to social events but always seems to know what drama happened at them before anyone else in the friend group.

• He’s highly observant and picks up details from casual conversations or watching people closely, even without directly participating. We love a nosy king who stays on top of campus nonsense.

10. He likes balancing objects in lectures from books to erasers etc just to see how tall he can make his towers. Sometimes even the lecturer gets distracted when they get too tall and wants to see what'll happen.

NEXT: MATT , BEYOND/BB, A/ADAM

notes: i'm actually a bit pleased that my art's improving a little! aside from that, i wanted this au out my brain so bad and i finally did thank god. then i can probably start a mini series (???) we'll see.

[pigcowboys]

in ur arms !

pairing: ꒰percy jackson x gn! reader꒱⋆·˚

summary: percy stumbles into your shared apartment after a drink luckily you're there to help him relax.

warning(s): established relationship, forehead kisses, mentions of alcohol (let’s pretend like percy can drink), domestic fluff.

requests are open !!

college was hard for percy.

he couldn't keep up with the long lectures or the fast paced speaking of his teachers, stumbling over his notes as he tried his best to take in everything they said. it'd be especially worse when the hour long period would end and he'd have to book it to the star bucks and few blocks down just so he could grab a coffee before he headed to the library.

the only thing good to came from this routine, percy guessed, was when he'd stumbled into you.

class had ended and percy had sure enough found himself on the same path towards the starbucks, digging around in his back pocket as he searched for any loose change he might have had. sadly, saving the world multiple times was job that was left unpaid. percy was just a broke college student, after all.

the opening of the glass door would alert you to a new customer, your head turning to see who'd came in with a slightly confused expression on your face. the place was empty - for once. poor percy - he was so caught observing the deserted place that he failed to notice you peeking at him from the counter.

a cough from you would tell him of your presence, stumbling over to the counter with a nervous laugh. for whatever reason, he couldn't shake the jittery nerves he'd get whenever he'd look up from the counter's marble material to meet eyes with you.

you made him nervous, embarrassingly so.

he'd hurriedly take his drink from your pretty hands, relishing in the 0.1 second of hand contact between the two of you as he pull his phone out, asking you for your number.

to which you happily agreed to doing.

you rubbed your clothed feet against the arm of your sofa, flipping through one of the hard cover textbooks you'd loaned from the library for your business class. the idea was to study for the upcoming exam for your class - though things happen. somehow you'd managed to start doodling small miscellaneous shapes and animals in your notebook.

you turned your attention towards the old wooden clock hanging just above your tv that displayed the words 10:30 PM on it. already past noon, where was percy? you leaned forward to grab your phone, opening it and reviewing the text message percy had sent you a few hours prior.

he and some friends had gone out for drinks after class to celebrate one of their birthdays. he'd asked if you'd be okay with him coming home late and despite your reluctancy to deal with a drunken partner, you set his worries to rest, insisting he went out with his friend requesting only for him to bring you back a slice of cake to which he only smiled and shook his head.

your gaze lingered over percy's caller id photo, chest growing heavy as you slowly found yourself starting to miss him dearly. you knew percy could protect himself, obviously. you just wondered if results would vary based on level of alcohol intake.

it was much too late to head out and find him too so the only thing you could seriously do for now is just wait for him to come home.

so, maybe the gods took pity on you this time. your head snapped towards the door as it creaked open suddenly, a slightly dazed percy scampering into the apartment. his dark raven hair was messy and sprawled across his face and his clothes, but a t-shirt and a some random jeans - were suddenly unkept and..stained.

percy mumbled out your name, a dopey grin forming onto his lips as he approached you with his arms out to you. shaken, yet relieved you allowed him to his crash his body into you, wrapping his arms around you tightly. it would've been a nice moment if his breath didn't reek of alcohol.

his grip was strong as ever, a stark contrast to the shakiness of his frame as he pulled away from you, grazing the side of your face with his hand. "were you okay without me here..?" he slurred, tilting his head to the left slightly.

"how much did you drink, percy?" you asked sternly, directing his hand from your cheek. "you reek."

percy shot you a confused look but didn't say much else, instead opting to rest his head on your chest as he cradled your torso. if you weren't so in love with him you would've likely threw him off the couch right there and then. yet, your fingers found themselves tangled in percy's hair, threading through the dark tufts gently as you picked out the various pieces of confetti that had landed it's way into it.

despite being holed up in a bar with his friends for a few hours, the smell of sea water still lingered as percy melted into your touch, his heart rate slowly every so slightly as he started to lull himself to sleep. a smile formed onto your face as you watched him quietly. he did stupid things - like jump into shark invested waters level stupid things.

but, you had to admit you could never stay mad at him for too long. one swift solemn glance from him and you'd cave immediately. you were sure, now more than ever, that no matter what happened to you - you wanted percy to be there with us along the way. things like made you realize it.

even if percy was buzzed right now, you never took a silent moment like this for granted at all. between percy's soft breaths and your pattering heart, you were sure all your fears from earlier were gone. another mutter of your name from percy catches your attention as you hum out a 'yes?'.

"i feel.." he hiccupped. "bad."

"yes, alcohol has that kind of effect on people." you joked, picking out a small pink confetti piece that was hiding in between his strands.

percy groaned. "no..it's not the beer." he turned to look up at you with a small frown.

"i ate your slice of cake.."

you stared at him momentarily before bursting out laughing, to percy's dismay. he muttered retorts to your amusement. you guess that was what the stains were. when your laughter finally ceased you simply watched percy with loving eyes, leaning forward to press a kiss to his forehead before cradling his head.

[luna0713hunter]

Can you write more prompts for Zoro pleaseee? Thank you:))

Author's note : haha!!!i was actually gonna write a new fic for zoro when i saw your request!!!as always,ask and you shall receive!

College love

Zoro Roronoa x reader

Summary : new semester,new classes,new classmates and a new love

Warnings : none,College au (my favorite trope),studying and late night talks, gender neutral ,maybe more parts?,not me in the middle of exam season and dying from overworking myself

*.✧∘˚˳°*.✧∘˚˳°*.✧∘˚˳°*.✧∘˚˳°*.✧∘˚˳°*.✧∘˚˳°*.✧∘˚˳°*.✧∘

College sucks.

Everyone tells you college is great;its a place full of new experiences,a new life. Having coffee with friends after lectures and studying together,or simply doodling in your notebook as the professors talk about gods know what.

But as you sip your third cup of coffee that night and rub your eyes while yawning,you glance down at the remaining pages you have to go through before your exam in two days,before you groan and bang your head to the table.

Its exam season,and you're currently sitting in the library at 3:04 am.

College sucks so bad.

You know you have tomorrow to study as well,but between working part time job at a near the campus cafe, and going to lectures,you barely had any time to study.

You stared at your empty cup of coffee and sighed before standing up;then you guess its time to get a refill

✧

"wow,you look like shit."

You dont raise your head from the desk as you groan at your friend.

"hello to you too,Nami."

Nami drops his bag next to you with a 'Thump' and settles down. You feel her hand rub up and down your back (almost awkwardly) and through your misery you manage to crack a smile;being comforting is like a physical torture for your ginger friend.

"did you pull another all nighter?"

Slowly,your head turns in her directly and you narrow your eyes.

"not everyone can be both gorgeous and smart effortlessly like you,Nami. Us, lowly humans,have to choose one." You ignore her eye roll and continue, "and i choose the one that can get me a good job in the future."

"looks can be pretty useful too,honey."

"I'm going to choke you."

"be my guest."

You're too busy to bicker that you dont even notice the door of the class opening and a new person stepping inside. Just as Nami's about to wrap her arm your neck and choke you instead, that's when your eyes land on the new person in the class.

And your breath stops all together.

The first thing that catches your eyes is his green hair. The man is tall,and a mess of green hair making his brown eyes stand out more. There are three golden piercings on his left ear. His black leather jacket looks expensive,and you dont need to see the key to guess that he's probably owns a motorcycle..

"y/n!" You realize you've been staring shamelessly at the man and suddenly whip your head in Nami's direction.

"Nami!" You grip her shoulders and shake her violently, "who's that?!why havent i seen him around?do you know him??is he single???!!"

Nami shoulders off your hands and looks at you like you've grown a second head.

"He's Zoro Roronoa. Our classmate. You haven't seen him cause he almost never shows up at lectures. What the hell is wrong with you exactly?"

"what's wrong with me is that the man is drop dead gorgeous," you frown at her, "and geez girl. How do you know so much about him?"

"cause he's my "kinda friend". We go out drinking together sometimes."

"WHAT?!"

Your shriek is so loud,that when you turn around, you see mr.gorgeous is eyeing you with annoyance.

Great. Your new crush thinks you're crazy.

You duck your head as your cheeks burn with embarrassment. Nami rubs your back sympathetically and you groan tiredly.

"want me to introduce you to him?"

"hell no," you whine and rest your cheek against your desk; letting the surface cooling down your heated skin, "he obviously hates my guts now."

"to be fair,Zoro hates everybody's guts."

"its just a crush Nami," you flash her a smile, "it'll go away eventually."

Unfortunately,it in fact,doesnt go away eventually.

After your embarrassing moment in the classroom,you seem to run into Zoro awfully alot; Whether it be getting a coffee from the near campus cafe,or working your shift there,you seem to always see him.

Zoro liked his coffee black,that was no surprise. The first time that you surved him the black hell,he hadnt even batted an eye at your shakey hands or your stutter.

And you were certain that he had forgotten all about you.

Among the finals creeping close and closer,and with you drowning yourself under your books until morning before going back to your lectures or job,you had completely forgotten all about him.

So when you drop your head on your text book at almost 4 am and try hard not to burst into tears or having a mental breakdown in the almost empty library,you almost scream when a warm can of coffee touches your cheek.

Your head snaps up,and your mouth parts into a small scream that soon gets an ugly glare from the librarian. You shoot her an apologizing look,before turning your head back to the person in front of you.

Zoro freaking Roronoa,holds the coffee in his hand and gives you an unimpressed annoyed look.

"why are you always so loud?"

You dont answer;your mouth hangs open from the shock,and you blink a few times to make sure you're not hallucinating.

"what," you clear your throat, "i,uh, excuse me?"

Zoro rolls his eyes and sits down in front of you while dropping his own backpack on the table. He then slides the drink in front of you and while folding his arms across his chest,he eyes you for a second before looking away.

"you look like a mess. Figured you needed some coffee," he gives you a displeased look from the corner of his eyes, "or some sleep."

Your hands wrap themselves around the warm can;and a small laugh escapes your dry lips.

"you think i can sleep with all these books?i can barely manage between lectures and my part time job with only two hours of sleep as it is!" And for some reason,your stupid brain decides that its a great idea to cry in front of your crush;as if you haven't embarrassed yourself before. So your lower lip starts to wobble,and you let out a small sniffle.

There's a moment of silence;where neither of you say a word. With you starting to finally breakdown,and Zoro just glaring at the textbooks like they had personally offended him. Finally,after a while,you hear him sigh and look up at him with your blurry vision.

"... I'll help you."

"what?"

Another sigh.

"i said, I'll help you study. Im familiar with this stuff,so it'll be nothing."

You let out a loud gasp and stand up from your sit .

"Seriously?!wont you need that time to study?!"

"helping you makes me remember these stuff. It'll be alright."

And when you hold his hands in his,you grin so widely that you feel your cheeks hurting. You shake his hands and laugh lightly.

"thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!"

"yea yeah." He shakes off your hands and stands up,and amongst your joy,you manage to catch a small smile on his lips. Zoro flings his backpack on his shoulder and walks away. He gives you one last look and says "go home and rest for now. See you tomorrow."

And suddenly,the world doesnt seem so bad. College doesn't suck,and your crush, apparently,doesnt hate your guts after all.

[that-random-outsider]

first of all, you’re so real, the glassheart brain rot is actually driving me insane. Second, I would absolutely love if you could write something in which Red is falling behind on her classes because she’s not used to the dynamic of it since she was homeschooled all her life and Chloe offering to tutor her and Red reluctantly agrees and they’re just flirty and cute around each other!

Lol real!! The brain rot is immeasurable at this point. Also I know you said fluff but there may or may not be some angst in the middle. I hope I did you idea justice!! I loved the concept and I just wanted to keep writing but I hope this will suffice for now.

We're In This Together

Red was doodling absentmindedly while waiting for the bell to end her suffering. Her worksheet acted as her canvas while the questions stood neglected and ignored. It wasn’t that she was purposely trying to fail but between the classwork, homework, and lectures she found it hard to believe anyone could give their one hundred percent all the time. Well, anyone aside from Chloe that is, because of course she could manage to excel socially, physically, and academically that was just who she was. Princess perfect. It was funny how one thought could veer Red’s thoughts off completely as her mind was suddenly filled with images of the blue-haired girl.

Her pencil gracefully guided across the page, and if anyone asked she had not started outlining a small drawing of the princess in her daze. The bell eventually rang throughout the classroom prompting students to turn in their assignments, or in Red’s case her sketches when the teacher stopped her from exiting with everyone else. “Red. What is this?” Her teacher asked unimpressed as she held up the young girl’s worksheet annoyed. “It’s called creative expression, is art not a thing in Auradon or are you just stupid?” Red replied trying for nonchalance. Bad idea. Red’s teacher glared at her in offense before placing a zero on her paper and Red couldn’t help but wince despite the predictable outcome. Chloe was not going to like this.

***

By the time Red approached her and Chloe’s shared dorm the thought of what happened earlier had all but faded to the back of her mind replaced with the relief of finally being back in their room after a long day. “Hey princess” She greeted not even needing to look up to know that Chloe was there, she always waited for Red to return home, to return to her. “Afternoon” she greeted with a gentle smile as  Red collapsed onto her bed chuckling slightly at her theatrics. “Long day?” The charming questioned as Red just groaned into her pillow in response, she did this every day, and as adorable as a sleepy Red was after school to Chloe, they both had work to do. “Do you have homework?” Chloe questioned spinning around in her chair to face the red-head who just hummed in denial lifting her head to face Chloe as well. “Oh really?” Chloe questioned deciding to play along with her girlfriend “So if I were to check your folder right now…” Chloe started jokingly creeping towards her girlfriend's bag as Red shot up from her resting spot in fear, but she was too late, the princess had already swiped her folder from the bag giggling at Red’s reaction as a packet slipped out.

Red stared horrified at the sheet as Chloe’s smile shifted to worry at the sudden change in atmosphere. “Red? Are you alright?” Chloe questioned as Red’s eyes snapped back to Chloe hoping she hadn’t noticed her line of sight. She couldn’t really grasp why she was so worried, Chloe knew that school wasn’t her strong suit, all the classes, and work, it was infuriating. But even so, the thought of Chloe seeing her struggle, and somehow thinking less of her for it filled her with dread. Unfortunately for her, Chloe was great at telling what her girlfriend was thinking. “I can tell that you’re hiding something love,  your problems are our problems remember?” Chloe asked taking her girlfriend’s hands gently in hers as Red sighed, she knew better than to hide things from Chloe, especially when she looked at her like that. She quickly grabbed the papers from off the ground and hesitantly handed it to her girlfriend not looking her in the eye. Chloes’ eyes widened a bit in surprise before simply sighing in disappointment before tossing the paper to the side. “Red” she stated as the girl in question refused to meet her eyes “It wasn’t my fault” she defended before Chloe could say anything. “It’s not like they covered the science of chopping someone’s head off”

“Red-”

“Or how much force had to be applied” Red continued remembering the way her mom had forced her to watch.

“Red” Chloe called out again realizing she was losing her.

“Or how to calculate how far they’d rolled in inches” She continued her breathing picking up in a way It only did when she was starting to panic.

“Red!” Chloe called raising her voice a bit causing Red to flinch violently as Chloe kept her hands up trying to coax Red back to the present. “That’s it, deep breaths” Chloe stated softly as she demonstrated the act to which Red attempted to mirror. “I’m not mad” Chloe stated after she felt Red was calm enough to continue on her own “You’re not?” Red asked her voice still a little shakey from the panic in a way that made Chloe’s heart break. Did she really believe something so small could destroy her view of her? “Of course not” Chloe replied taking Red’s hand in hers “I’m just worried about you Red, it’s like you never even try and I can tell there’s something more to it than you just not caring.” Red’s brows furrowed as she snatched her hand back crossing her arms “Right, because you know everything” Red replied defensively as Chloes’ frown deepened. “That’s not fair, you know that’s not what I meant” Chloe replied sternly making sure to keep her voice free from any malice, she knew that it wasn’t her that Red was angry at.

“I’m not stupid Chloe, It’s not my fault. All of this is just so much” Red insisted unsure of why she was so angry, it was one mistake she’d had plenty more where that came from but this was different. Suddenly Chloe was holding her tightly her arms wrapping tightly around Red’s shaking figure “Then let me help you. Don’t you get it? We’re in this together whether  you like it or not and that’s never going to change so you can either give up and let me help you or we can sit here and cuddle until you do.” Chloe stated matter-of-factly as Red couldn’t help but smile at her girlfriend leaning into her embrace as she gave her a peck on the cheek. “Both are very tempting offers Princess” Red stated as Chloe struggled to come up with an intelligible response while her head was still reeling from the kiss. “Yeah well… whatever” Chloe responded giving up on coming up with any logical response with Red wrapped around her like this. “I think I know how to help though” Chloe quickly stated before adding “but I don’t think you’re going to like it.”

***

Chloe was right, she didn’t like this at all “No” Red replied simply for the hundredth time. “Come on, at least give it a shot. Tutoring could help, and I don’t mind putting aside the extra time” Chloe insisted also for the hundredth time, but Red didn’t budge, perhaps it was time to switch strategies. Chloe sighed dramatically catching Red’s attention “I know what you’re doing. It’s not going to work” Red stated arms crossed refusing to give in, even though everything inside was telling her to do whatever it took to turn her adorable pout into her gorgeous smile. “What do you mean?” Chloe asked innocently as Red did a complete about-face so as to not look her in the eye much to Chloe’s dissatisfaction. “Please? It would be nice to have someone to study next to during long nights, and barely anyone visits the library so it gets so lonely and boring” Chloe stated as Red struggle not to give in to her words.

“Not to mention with swords and shields practice we see each other less and less, who knows when we’ll get to have more moments where it’s just the two of us” Chloe whined as she watched with a hint of amusement at how Red had started fidgeting to keep herself from giving in. “But I mean I guess I won't force you, I just thought with how busy we’ve been, and how much I’ve missed you, some time for just you and me to spend alone with no distractions for a few hours sounded a bit tempting” Screw it “Fine I’ll do it” Red stated hating that Chloe knew exactly how to make her crack while said girl just squealed in delight pulling her in for a kiss. Fine, maybe this tutoring thing won’t be all bad.

[keresnotceres]

MW2 CHARACTERS: School AU

[sfw] cw(s): none !!! As a girlie who has been reading fanfiction for god knows how long, it was inevitable that I came through with a High/Secondary School AU. As a reminder, I don’t know shit abt the British school system so we’re going with my experiences with the American public school system. enjoy dovies <3

Ghost is that one upperclassman in every single one of your co-grade classes that just sits there. He doesn’t say a damn word and you don’t even see him writing down any notes, but somehow, he has the best grades in the whole fucking school. Principal’s honor roll, scholarship recognization galore.

It takes so long for you to work up the courage to talk to him and ask him for help on an assignment and when he admits he doesn’t know they had an assignment to do, you’re a bit dumbfounded. You realize that he quite literally just sits there and vibes the entire time. He proceeds to turn back to the window and stare out of it.

Eventually he warms up to you, though. It takes, like, three months of pestering him until he actively begins conversations with you and you find yourself with a very stoic cheat sheet. He has kept all of his tests and is perfectly fine with just giving you them bc what are morals???

Gaz is the local “i know him but we aren’t friends” kid. Literally everybody knows his name, he’s on the school’s soccer (football, i guess) team and is relatively well known as a nice person, but he only has a few close friends. His grades are also insanely high, you don’t understand how he manages to ace every test while also spending most of his time practicing sports.

He’s the type of person to forget a pencil, however, and usually ends up leaning over to whoever is next to him and asking for one. He usually gives it back, unless it’s someone he doesn’t particularly like. When he tries to give it back to you and you just tell him to keep it, he likes you automatically.

He’s always inviting you to watch his games after the two of you get closer. He also sits with you during shared study halls or lunches regardless of if you or he has other friends in the lunch. Gaz is also the type of person to lean over and ask if you wanna share the copy of an assignment document or swap essays to proofread.

Soap is absolutely the really loud jock kid that people either really like or really hate, and there’s just no in-between (i’m so sorry Foap 😭). Despite this, he’s actually one of those really nice sport boys that will start punching if someone disrespects his friends. He’s also in an abundance of art classes.

In class you can see him scribbling down notes until he gets bored and starts just doodling in his notebook, tuning out the lecture. However, if your science teacher decides today is not a teaching day and puts on something like Bill Nye or The Magic School Bus, he is enraptured. Is also the person to quietly chant “Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill!” during the theme song. Used to hate the Amoeba Sisters until he binged their videos before his Biology final lol.

You start being friends with him on complete accident after you help him with a question on a pop quiz. He gave you puppy eyes! How could you refuse! He proceeds to talk to you the next day like the two of you are best friends and you are now stuck with him until graduation. But hey! You basically have a bodyguard now.

Price is an Honors English and AP Literature teacher through and through. He originally wanted to be a history teacher, but the English position was open and he took it with little complaint. He’s absolutely the teacher you can launch into tangents for the entire class and will take half a point off of your essays for misusing a comma.

If you're his favorite student, he tends to grade your FRQs and other assignments much harsher than he would others, but it ends with you having well rounded essay skills afterwards and acing your assignments later in the year. Will let you hang out in his room during your study halls and is always open to helping you on assignments if you ask.

Hangs thank you notes from students on his walls, has a wild collection of them and shows them off any time another teacher asks him about them. Has cried reading some from students he liked having in his classes.

Laswell is a Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus professor. Idc what u think she is absolutely a math teacher and would absolutely have a doctorate. People who don't like math probably go into her class also not liking her, but come out at the end of the year wanting to be in her class next year.

If you're one of her favorite students, she absolutely gives you little notes on your graded tests like 'good job :)' and always says she's proud of you if your grades improve during the year. She also lets you and your friends eat lunch in her room because she understands why you'd rather be in a math room than the cafeteria.

Has never been seen without a coffee during the first four periods of the day and a random beverage during the last three. She always has a drink with her and it's become a bit of a game between a few of her students. Sometimes she'll give someone who asks a drink as well. A student she particularly liked tried to pay her to bring them coffee; she gave them their money back and brought them a coffee.

Nikolai is a history teacher that also coaches the school golf team. And yes, golf team; that man radiates golf energy and I cannot be told otherwise. He doesn't understand the kids' obsession with things like Kahoot, but makes them because it keeps kids engaged with the class and mostly keeps grades up.

Being one of Nikolai's favorite students is hard if you don't golf, but if you are a favorite, he tends to give you extensions of assignments if you're struggling to find time/motivation. Also will give you candy under the table if you win a Kahoot, or if you visit him during a study hall he will also give you candy. He gives out Smarties (the American version) because he thinks the name is funny.

If you show interest in learning Russian and ask him how to roll your Rs or how to pronounce the Cyrillic letters, he will automatically like you more than the others. As long as he feels like you're earnestly learning it out of interest and not just to make him like you, that is. If you already know Russian he'll like you anyway. Sometimes it's nice to speak his native tongue.

[lobster-tales]

Lux's Adventures in Underland

Rating: Mature Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 This work is available here on AO3

Epilogue

Ekko had missed the passage of time. Or maybe it wasn't time itself that he missed, since clearly the real world had moved on during their imprisonment. But he had missed the measurement of time: the shadows growing taller as the sun descended towards nightfall, the sound of horns signaling the beginning and end of the workday, the ever growing length of his facial hair.

He flipped open his pocket-watch over and over, watched the ticking hands as they traveled between hours and not days. The tangibility of time, that's what he had missed so much.

Though, he didn't remember time always going so fast. He struggled with rediscovering his daily rhythm, staying up long after the bedtime hour, which in turn caused him to sleep in late. It seemed that everything came earlier than he remembered.

He was late. That was part of the adjustment, always being late to things, but he had improved. In fact, he was only five minutes late today, by the time he arrived at the park bench where he always met this man.

The man in question was broad-shouldered, physically alike to Ekko's friend Jayce, in fact, with his muscled arms and clean haircut. He was paler in complexion, though, and blond. Not white-blond like Ekko's locs: more of a dirty blond.

When Ekko approached, the man stood, too quickly, and only offered a few lines of small talk before asking, "Well?"

Ekko removed a letter from his jacket. "Egypt," he said and handed the letter over.

"Egypt?" The man looked like he might faint. "Why on earth would she go there?"

Ekko shrugged. "It's all in the letter, I'm guessing."

The man frowned at the sealed paper. "Still with that girl?"

Ekko nodded sympathetically. "And having the time of her life."

"I'm sure," he muttered, then sighed. "I just don't understand. Why would she throw it all away? Our name, our wealth, all of it just for some delusional adventure?"

"Maybe she's not the delusional one." Ekko checked his watch and cursed under his breath. "Late again. Well, it's been fun as always, Garen."

Garen grunted in response. "Let me know if you hear anything else from her."

"Oh, I will," he lied.

Ekko just barely managed to catch the train. The wheels thundering beneath always gave him a sick feeling, so he found a spot at the back. A discarded newspaper lay in the seat, and he scanned the headline, Hextech: the Future of Industry! Beneath it was a very flattering, but inaccurate drawing of Jayce and Viktor. The artist had drawn Jayce's jaw too strong, his demeanor too relaxed and confident. They missed the awkwardness of his smile, the giddy curiosity in his eyes. Viktor's likeness was the opposite: his features had been softened, his hair neatly combed. The artist had not captured his knowing smirk, the quirk of his eyebrow, and certainly not the tangled mess of his hair.

Ekko pulled a pencil from his pocket and doodled two rabbit ears over Jayce's head, then etched a set of whiskers on Viktor's face. As he finished drawing the last tufts of Viktor's cat ears, the train squealed to a halt, and he abandoned the altered newspaper on his seat.

Vi and Caitlyn met him halfway to the university. Vi threw an arm around his shoulders and grinned. "Late again."

"Please, they never start on time," Ekko said, checking his pocket-watch out of habit anyway.

Caitlyn added wryly, "And they never seem to end."

Despite their newfound fame, both Jayce and Viktor held weekly lectures at the university to showcase the work of their sponsored students, one of which was Ekko. He never worried about running late to the presentations, though, as both his mentors sympathized with his tardiness and usually scheduled him last. Well, second-to-last: the final spot was reserved for their most talented pupil, who shared Ekko's lack of punctuality.

As the three approached the lecture hall, Ekko lingered at the door. He had a few more minutes to spare. "You two go ahead. I'll catch up."

Ekko spent the short time wandering the campus, watching students rush by to their classes. The biting wind rustled his coat, and he dreamed of white feathers and gliding above the treetops. It was strange being bound to the earth again, after having belonged to the sky for so long.

He stopped on a bridge, leaning over the rail. A creek babbled below, its song swallowed by nearby laughter. He followed the noise to two young women sharing a blanket on the creekbank.

One of the women held the other's hat high above her head, playfully out of reach. Without the hat to keep her blue hair in place, the other woman's braids fluttered in the winter breeze, freckles wrinkled in mock disdain as she grappled for the head-wear.

Unlike her blue-haired victim, the hat thief was blonde, nearly the same shade of blonde as Garen Crownguard. In fact, Ekko might have thought they were family, though Garen never wore a smile as large and beaming as the young woman's, nor did his shoulders ever relax as much as hers.

No, the girl couldn't be Luxanna Crownguard. After all, Luxanna Crownguard didn't have two identical scars on either side of her neck.

[cwpiqwons-archive]

Lazy human

summary: what happens when a demon accidentally manages to mess up her paperwork,get summoned by her human, and ends up falling for the said human?

or

you manage to summon a pretty demon through a doodle during chemistry lecture but she's too noisy and all you want to do is sleep.

warnings: mention of killing, Irene being a brat with a capital B, the human sleeps a lot. not proofread.

Irene was not the best cook, nor was she the best writer but one thing she prided herself on was her patience.

it was one of the only benefits she reaped from the long hours filled with boring paperwork and assigning work to the new residents of hell.

the female demon had the patience of a saint , or so she thought. the huge and thick castle of self control and patience Irene had trapped herself in, came crashing the moment a mere human entered her life.

or more like the mere human forced Irene to enter her life because the human is too dumb to know the difference between a doodle and an ancient symbol used to call upon creatures from hell.

Irene hated everything about the situation caused by the human. from the amount of extra hours to fix this loophole to the interrogation she would have to face on her return to hell, Irene hated it all.

but what she hated even more was the dumb human's nonchalance. the female human had the nerve to 1). accidentally summon Irene 2). NOT PAY ATTENTION TO HER AND 3). SLEEP FOR 6 HOURS STRAIGHT AND CALL IT A NAP!

the demon was beyond angry. she was fuming. ready to burst with anger and she would gladly take it all out on the human.

another strange emotion that made the demon even more frustrated was worry. she knew it was stupid but she couldn't help but worry about the stupid human. her stupid human.

her internal struggle was visible as she paced around, waiting for the human to wake up. dark and ugly fear was clouding her head and leeching to her body as she thought of each and every possible scenario that had made her human sleep for so long.

as the demon kept pacing while cursing the human out, she failed to notice the object of her fear, worry, annoyance and the reason she was stuck on this awful planet, finally enter the living room.

it took the human to clear her throat rather dramatically for the demon to finally stop her musing and notice her.

Irene was quick to send the most terrifying glare (which was quite adorable honestly) the human's way as she scanned her head to toe to ease her worry.

her eyes softened as they landed on the eyebags and dark circles the human was sporting. it was visible to the demon that the dumb human couldn't even do something as simple as following a sleep schedule properly.

"You stayed?" a scoff left the demon's lips as the glare returned to her face.

"it's not like I could just swirl my pretty magical wand and leave after being accidentally summoned from the deepest pit of hell and because someone felt artsy!"

Irene's heavy breathing was all that could be heard as the human stared at the demon in complete astonishment, still too sleepy to actually understand what just happened.

"for someone so short, you talk a lot. maybe i should just call you the 'talkative demon' "

y/n wasn't sure what possessed her to utter those words but she regretted them right as they left her mouth.

the demon just stood there silently, looking as if she had been stabbed in the heart. the demon glanced at the human, eyes filled with betrayal and heart filled with sorrow.

"I thought I was 'pretty demon'"

y/n had expected the demon to throw a tantrum, scream at her, curse her or even threaten her but when she saw the downcast eyes and the lips curled into a sad pout, she could feel her heart squeezing inside her chest. as if punishing her for making the demon sad.

she was quick to jump into action, walking up to demon and holding her by the shoulders as she moved a finger under the demon's chin to meet her eyes.

the look of betrayal in the eyes of the short demon who had just been cursing the human's entire bloodline less that an hour ago made the human want to punch herself in the face.

"hey...I didn't mean it like that. I mean I kinda did but...forget it. what I mean is, you talk a lot. like a loottt! but I'm not complaining. you wanna know why? because you may be a talkative demon but you're my talkative demon. my pretty and short and talkative and angry demon."

Irene was sure that the human was some sort of sorceress because how else did she manage to manipulate Irene's emotions so quickly with just a few words.

the redness on her cheeks and the sweat building up on her forehead as a result of the human's words were more than enough to prove that the human had done something to Irene.

"You think you're smart, huh? you really thought your secret will go unnoticed by me, didn't you? I know who you are!"

the human blinked slowly, trying to keep up with the demon's rants. the sight of the demon throwing the hands around wildly while throwing accusations was more amusing than scary for the human.

she couldn't help but let out a smile at the demon's constant mood swings. the lone smile turned to a chuckle which soon turned into a giggle which made the demon stop her rant and stare at her.

clouds of smoke could be seen coming out of the demon's ears as her icy glare settled onto to human who was still laughing at the demon.

had it been someone else, Irene would've killed them with her bare hands for laughing at her but since she couldn't really bring herself to harm her human, she just settled for stomping her foot before walking away and locking herself in the room which had been previously occupied by the human.

the human cracked another smile at her demon's frustration before she lazily got up from the floor she had occupied during the demon's outburst. she looked around fir a while before looking fir something to help lure the demon out of her room.

"aish, she's such a brat." the human mused while trying to coax the angry demon out.

"guess I'll just have to call some other demon from hell since my pretty demon refuses to talk to me" the human knew what she did was nothing short of evil but atleast it got the demon to talk.

"would you really do it?" the pout in her voice was evident even from the other side of the door. it almost made the human feel a bit guilty.

"mhmm, what other choice do I have?" the human who was previously leaning against the closed door fell forward and into the demon's arms as the door suddenly opened.

"I don't hate you, really! I was just...angry. you weren't even paying attention to me and then you seemed so shocked that I stayed it's like you wanted me to leave. it made me sad..."

the human could feel her heart melt and break and squeeze all at the same time as the demon looked up to her with glassy eyes and an adorable pout.

the human broke out of her trance once the demon's gaze left hers to stare at the floor instead.

she moved a finger under the demon's chin and gently raised her face up tell they were looking into each other's eyes again.

the finger was replaced by her whole hand as she cupped her face and gave it a gentle squeeze. her arms moved down to the demon's neck before she let them fall and simply stared at the demon instead.

"You thought I wanted you to leave? well guess what princess? you were wrong. I want nothing more than to wrap my arms around you and hold you close. to hold on to you and to beg you to stay forever. to call you my pretty demon and hide you from the whole world. I want a lot of things love, but you leaving me isn't one of them."

the demon stood there stiff before walking towards the bed. she sat down and made herself comfortable before looking up to the human once again.

"You look tired. you eyes seem a bit dull too. you should sleep more. maybe if you got proper sleep you won't be so lazy and stupid. I read somewhere that cuddling with someone who likes you can induce better sleep. it's not like I care or anything but I'd rather have this conversation when you aren't looking half dead. so...you can...you know...join me on the bed? it's not like I like you anything though. you're just my lazy human that's why I am asking. don't fool yourself into thinking I'm in love with you or anything"

the demon kept rambling as the human just stared at her. gazing at her with the eyes of a lover. she let the demon go on and on before making her way toward the bed and taking a seat beside her.

"lazy human, huh? pretty demon and lazy human. seems like a couple to me. bit I could be wrong since you don't love me"

Irene hated getting teased but maybe, just maybe, she'd let her human tease her all the time if that meant she'd get to see her smile.

[apteryxparvus]

L ♡ V E R ⇌ L ⦻ S E R — chapter 1

Chapter one — Let the witch-hunt commence

Pairing — Scaramouche / Female Reader

Content warning — mentions of bullying

Summary: In a twist of unfortunate events, you find out that being exposed as the target of Kunikuzushi middle school bullying escapades was just the beginning of your troubles. To your dismay, you’re thrown even deeper into the glamorous but artificial world of celebrities. Oh, and the cherry on top? You’re forced to pretend to be in a long-term romantic relationship with none other than said ex-bully. All because of a careless misclick by his social media manager.

prev • masterlist • next

As you pack your scattered notes — messy scribbles and doodles on the margins of the torn notebook pages — there’s a light commotion at the entrance of the lecture hall. The heavy door opens, and Alhaitam’s presence fills the room. From the corner of your eye you notice one of your classmates blush. Your friend’s heterochromatic eyes lock into yours, his lips forming a thin line. He silently beckons you to join him, the gesture almost impossible to see.

“Goli,” you call out to the girl sitting beside you. "I'll send you the document link tonight, and maybe we can start working on the research question over the weekend.”

“Yeah, whatever,” she waves you off dismissively, brown hair cascading around her shoulders as she swiftly rises from her seat.

Biting your lip, you fight the urge to confront her — not in front of the professor and the rest of the class at least. The underlying tension surrounding the two of you and her cold demeanor is nothing new. You know it stems from your close relationship with Alhaitam and the bad blood between the two of them.

Navigating through the rows of the lecture hall, you make your way towards Alhaitam. He stands next to your professor, engaged in conversation, but as he notices your presence, he bids farewell to the elder with a curt nod.

“Kaveh is already at the garden,” he says, leading you across the crowded Akademiya hallway towards your lunch spot. From a distance, you catch Goli and her boyfriend, Siraj, glaring at the two of you. You curl your lips in distaste. But you know it’s best not to initiate any arguments in the middle of the packed hallway, and definitely not in front of Alhaitam, who will undoubtedly end up lecturing you on proper Akademiya etiquette throughout the day.

The scorching summer sun greets your face with its warm embrace as you exit the building. Numerous students linger around the courtyard of the main building, some weighed down by hefty tomes of books. Tighnari, followed by two younger looking students from his Darshan, waves at you and Alhaitam. Moments later, he disappears into the crowd of students hurrying to their next classes.

Arriving at Razan Garden, you’re greeted by Kaveh’s beaming face as he indulges in a pani puri piece. He sits on a small picnic blanket, surrounded by takeaway containers and soda bottles.

“Did you buy all of this?” you ask, turning towards Alhaitam with a quirked eyebrow.

“Hey!” Kaveh yelps from his spot, cheeks puffed out. “Do you think I’m incapable of buying food?”

“More like incapable of saving money,” the gray-haired male retorts.

“Alhaitam, you… you!,” Kaveh grumbles, crossing his arms.

A small laugh escapes your lips as you settle onto the blanket. Kaveh went all out with the food — the snacks range from sweet and sticky pieces of baklava and crunchy pani puri accompanied by a delightful blend of sweet, sour, and slightly spicy chutney, to his favorite fatteh, with the biscuit’s crust intricately arranged to resemble a palace. 

Grabbing a pani puri, you dip it into the sauce, ready to take a bite. Just as you're about to devour it, Kaveh interjects.

"So, um," he starts, a hint of awkwardness in his voice. "How are you feeling?"

"Good," you respond quickly, stuffing the crispy ball into your mouth. The flavors explode in your mouth, and you wait for the slight tingling sensation to subside so you can continue talking. “Could be better for sure. I really can’t put up with Goli, but it is what it is.”

Kaveh looks concerned for a brief moment. “No, I mean… with the whole 6reeze thing.”

"Breeze?" you question, your confusion evident. Alhaitam and Kaveh watch as you raise your arm and wave it around in the air. "It's almost forty degrees, Kaveh. There's no breeze."

“6reeze as in the Inazuman band!” Kaveh exclaims, growing increasingly exasperated.

You glare at him, now even more perplexed. He’s not making any sense, and in typical Kaveh fashion, he’s getting annoyed over nothing.

“Why would I care about some Inazuman band? Kaveh, are you sure you’re okay? Did you get a heat stroke or something?”

Kaveh lets out another frustrated noise, as Alhaitam interjects, handing you his phone. Curiously, you take the device and start scrolling through the Twitter page opened.

“Oh. Oh. Um… well, that’s interesting,” you manage out. Your attention is caught by another tag with your name attached to it, but before you can click on it, Alhaitam swiftly swipes his phone back from your grasp.

"I… uh… am not really feeling hungry anymore," you mumble, your voice barely audible as you push the barely-eaten takeaway containers away. The taste in your mouth has turned ashen, and swallowing feels like an impossible task, as if each gulp is met with resistance. Anxiety slithers around you, wrapping its tendrils around your heart and throat, choking, squeezing tight.

You feel vulnerable, exposed and raw.

"I'm gonna go home… and… um… chill a bit and think, yeah? Don't mind me," you manage to stumble out, mustering a forced smile that doesn't quite reach your eyes. As you begin to retreat, Kaveh sits up from his grassy spot, concern etched on his face. He’s about to follow you, but Alhaitam swiftly grabs his wrist, shaking his head.

He knows you better than anyone. And he realizes that in this moment you need to be alone to collect your thoughts.

Author's note: here's the first chapter with a long written part, sorry about that 😅 next chapter will be out on tuesday hopefully

40 degrees celsius is around 100 in fahrenheit. also goli and siraj are two npcs from alhaitam's story quest

Taglist — @scaramoo @bananasquash @yukiipc @theblueblub

[explainlearning]

College Study Group Success: Tips and Tricks to Ace Your Exams Together

College can be a whirlwind of challenging courses, demanding professors, and endless deadlines. Navigating this academic landscape alone can feel overwhelming, but fear not! You’re not in this by yourself. College study group offer a powerful tool to enhance your learning, boost motivation, and ultimately land those coveted A’s.

But let’s face it, not all study groups are created equal. Transforming a good intention into a best college study group requires planning, structure, and a commitment to active learning. This article equips you with the tips and tricks to navigate the world of group study, helping you form and utilize a college learning collective that unlocks your academic potential.

Building Your Dream Team:

1. Find Your Tribe:

Compatibility is key. Seek out individuals with similar learning styles, work ethics, and commitment levels. Remember, you’re building a collaborative environment, not just inviting your best friends if they’re more likely to be social butterflies than focused scholars.

2. Subject-Specific or Diverse?:

Decide if you want a group focused on one challenging course or several related subjects. The former allows for deep dives, while the latter offers broader support and cross-disciplinary connections.

3. Size Matters:

Aim for 3-5 members. Larger groups can get unwieldy, while smaller ones lack diversity in perspectives and might not offer enough support. Remember, quality over quantity is key.

Structuring for Success:

1. Set SMART Goals:

Don’t just say “study the chapter.” Get specific: “Summarize key concepts, practice 10 sample problems, prepare questions for the professor.” Align goals with specific materials and desired outcomes.

2. Schedule Like a Boss:

Choose regular meeting times and stick to them. Utilize collaborative calendars and online tools like Doodle to manage schedules effectively. Consistency is critical for building productive study habits.

3. Ground Rules are Golden:

Establish expectations for active participation, focus, and respecting each other’s time. Address distractions or unproductive behaviors promptly. Remember, you’re there to learn, not just socialize.

Maximizing Your Study Group:

1. Active Learning Strategies:

Go beyond passive note-taking: Discuss, explain concepts to each other, and quiz one another. This active recall method solidifies understanding better than rereading notes.

Cater to diverse learning styles: Visual learners might benefit from diagrams, while kinesthetic learners prefer simulations. Adapt activities to ensure everyone thrives.

Challenge and support each other: Don’t shy away from asking tough questions or offering constructive feedback. A healthy learning environment thrives on intellectual exchange and growth.

2. Leverage Technology:

Online platforms like Zoom or Google Meet are game-changers for geographically dispersed groups. Utilize breakout rooms for smaller discussions and collaborative tools like shared documents or whiteboards.

Share relevant online resources like video lectures, practice questions, or interactive simulations to enhance understanding and engagement.

Stay connected between sessions using messaging apps to share resources, ask quick questions, and keep each other accountable.

3. Remember, You’re a Team:

Celebrate successes: Acknowledge individual and group achievements to keep motivation high. Recognizing progress fuels further effort.

Support each other during challenges: Offer help, encouragement, and resources to struggling members. Remember, a strong team thrives on mutual support.

Feedback is key: Regularly evaluate how the group functions and discuss areas for improvement. Be open to adapting your approach based on everyone’s needs.

Bonus: Online Study Groups – A Viable Option:

For students unable to form in-person groups, online study groups offer a valuable alternative. Many platforms connect students across locations and subjects, fostering collaborative learning environments. Remember to apply the same principles of goal setting, active learning, and respectful communication for a successful online experience.

Conclusion:

By following these tips and tricks, you can transform your college study group into a college learning collective. Remember, collaboration, clear goals, and a commitment to active learning are the keys to unlocking the full potential of this powerful tool. Gather your team, set your goals, and embark on a journey of academic success together!

Content Source College Study Group Success: Tips and Tricks to Ace Your Exams Together