#pretection

[mommyesque]

Smol adventure 💫

[liztparadox]

I’m dying for a fic where Merlin protects Mordred from the shadows while being mean to him face to face.

But as night falls and Mordred is tormented by bad dreams, drenched in sweat, Merlin has to help him when Mordred, in his distress, reaches out for him unintentionally, just as he did when he was younger.

The dream reveals Mordred’s struggles over the years, including moments when he had to betray his comrades to protect slaves or shift blame onto other guardians. And so many others, maybe praying for Emrys, farming, smiling, but always switching side, always in danger, always hoping to do more for his kin and killing someone.

Of course, by helping Mordred, he had to learn some spells and needed to see it and feel it, his dreams and need to survive. Maybe Mordred could sense someone else besides him too, like he is not alone —something different to show that the bond is still there. The love that binds them despite everything. And what we could have been, just if.

This situation could make Merlin dislike Mordred even more due to his paranoia but also love him deeply beyond his limits.

[onigiri-nuts]

A Kind Uchiha?

Part 1 Naruto [TV show] x male yn

Warning: rude saying, theif, weapons use

Description: You are the eldest of the Uchiha brothers - wiser, stronger, and more composed than both Madara and Izuna. To Madara, You're a steady hand in the storm of his tempestuous nature, often calming his impulsive tendencies even when he acts like a spoiled little brother. Izuna, on the other hand, looks up to you with deep admiration and respect, always striving to follow in your footsteps. To both of them, your not just a sibling - you're there anchor, their inspiration, and their favorite person.

That afternoon,

you were training by the river when Madara, hidden nearby, secretly watched you. Eventually, he stomped to the lake's edge, frustrated with himself.

“Useless!” he growled. “I can’t even master Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!”

“It takes time and training,” you said calmly, not breaking your stance. “Izuna’s still learning at the Academy, and he’s younger than you.”

Madara kicked a small stone into the water, pouting. “Tch. I don’t need school lessons. I just need to get stronger… I want to protect you, (Name)!”

You gave a small smile. “I can protect myself, Madara.”

Madara’s face darkened at your dismissive response. His Sharingan flickered briefly as he clenched his fists.

“Hmph! You’re always saying that—but the Senju bastards… they’re after our clan! You can’t fight them all alone!”

You walked over and crouched beside him. “That’s why you have to protect Izuna from this world, Madara.”

His expression softened, but a stubborn fire still burned in his eyes. “That’s… different. Izuna’s too young to fight. You’re stronger than me, but I won’t let anyone take you away from us!”

“Promise,” you said simply.

Madara reached out, gripping your sleeve firmly. “I promise, (Name). I’ll master my Sharingan. I’ll become strong enough to stand behind you—and protect our family.”

“Good.”

Madara grinned mischievously and tugged your other sleeve. “But you have to promise something too! No more training alone—train with me!”

You chuckled. “Like you can train anything.”

Madara’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment and anger, though his smile betrayed his real feelings. “Shut up! I’ll show you. Just watch…”

He took a deep breath and tried again to perform the Fireball Jutsu, straining with effort.

“Good try…” you said, trying not to laugh.

Madara puffed out his cheeks. “That wasn’t a ‘good try’! I just need better chakra control. Stop distracting me, (Name)!”

You laughed openly now. Madara turned away with a huff, though secretly pleased he had made you laugh.

“You’re so annoying… I’ll master this jutsu before you master anything else!”

“Okay, okay,” you said, still smiling.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed on the rocky path. Madara turned to see Izuna running toward you both, his eyes lighting up.

“Hey, Izuna! Come here! Let’s show (Name) how strong we are!” Madara shouted.

“Hi, Izuna,” you said gently.

Izuna beamed, clenching his tiny fists. “Onii-chan Madara! I’ve been practicing my shuriken throwing! Can I show you?”

You watched as Izuna demonstrated his technique, and Madara guided him proudly, correcting his form.

“See, (Name)? Our little brother’s growing up fast, just like you said. We have to protect him.”

“Faster than you, Madara,” you teased.

Madara’s competitive spark reignited, though his proud smile stayed. “Just wait! One day, Izuna’ll surpass both of us—and I’ll be the one who trains him the most!”

“I bet he will,” you said.

Madara’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “Let’s have a race! Loser has to do whatever the winner says for a week!”

“No,” you replied instantly.

Madara pouted, crossing his arms and sticking out his tongue. “You’re no fun… Afraid to lose?”

You reached out and booped both Madara and Izuna on the nose. They blinked in surprise—Izuna giggled, and Madara turned red.

“Hey! Don’t treat me like a kid!” Madara shouted, trying to keep his pout. A smile crept through anyway.

Then, out of the corner of your eye, you spotted two unfamiliar children—Senju, by the looks of them. One about Izuna’s age, the other closer to Madara’s.

Madara noticed them too. His Sharingan activated instantly as he stepped protectively in front of Izuna.

“(Name), take Izuna away. I’ll deal with the Senju.”

“Hi, little Senju,” you said kindly.

The two boys stopped, startled by your warm tone.

“Don’t be nice to them!” Madara whispered harshly. “They’re probably spying on us!”

“It’s rude not to say hello,” you replied gently.

The older Senju, Hashirama, narrowed his eyes. The younger one, Tobirama, stepped forward nervously.

“Um… hello. We just wanted to see if we could talk… peacefully,” Hashirama said.

“Madara, Izuna—say hi,” you said softly.

Madara muttered a reluctant “Hi,” while Izuna waved shyly.

“Good.”

Madara glared at you, still shielding his brothers. “Don’t encourage them! They’re the enemy, (Name)!”

“Otōto Madara,” you said firmly.

Madara huffed, clearly frustrated but unable to argue.

“Fine… but I’m watching them. If they try anything, they’ll regret it!”

“Why don’t you go see if Mother’s finished supper?” you suggested.

Madara groaned and stomped away. “Fine! But I’m telling her you made me babysit while you flirt with Senju!”

The two Senju exchanged confused glances as Madara disappeared, still muttering to himself.

“Your brother is… interesting,” Hashirama said with a cautious smile.

“He sure is,” you replied with a soft chuckle. “But did you two need something?”

Hashirama stepped forward, nervously fidgeting with his sleeve. “We heard about your skills in the upcoming tournament… and we were wondering—could you train us?”

You stepped closer, leaving Izuna in place as the two Senju tensed, their hands drifting to their pouches instinctively.

“I promise we’re not here to fight,” Hashirama said quickly. “I just think our clans would benefit from peace.”

You crouched down in front of them, meeting their wary eyes.

���Of course, I can train you,” you said warmly, then reached out and gently booped their noses like you had with your brothers.

Both Senju flushed red—Hashirama chuckled awkwardly, while Tobirama stiffened, clearly flustered.

“Th-that’s very kind of you, (Name)-kun,” Hashirama said, struggling to stay composed. “But we should head back now… can we come back tomorrow?”

“You sure about that, Hashirama?” you asked with a raised brow.

Tobirama hesitated, torn between curiosity and suspicion. He was clearly interested in learning about Uchiha techniques—perhaps even to use against you.

“Tobirama! Don’t be stubborn,” Hashirama urged. “Please, (Name)! We’ll come back at dawn!”

You smiled. “Alright, kids.”

Hashirama lit up. “Thank you so much! We won’t let you down!”

“But,” you added, pulling out two wrapped mochis, “I think you need a snack for the road.”

Hashirama’s eyes sparkled with pure joy, while Tobirama took the mochi more cautiously.

“This looks delicious! We’ll bring something back for you next time to show our gratitude!” Hashirama said.

“You two are even cuter than my brothers,” you said with a playful smile.

Tobirama choked on his half-eaten mochi, his face turning crimson.

“(N-Name)-kun! You’re making Tobirama embarrassed!” Hashirama laughed.

You laughed too—just as Madara reappeared, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.

“What’s going on here? Why are you feeding them your mochi?” he demanded, snatching the remaining one.

“Hi, Madara,” you said calmly.

He took a bite from the mochi, glaring at the Senju brothers. “Stop flirting with the enemy! They’re still Senju! And… they’re boys!”

“I’m not flirting with little boys, Madara,” you replied dryly.

Madara huffed, tossing the mochi wrapper aside. “Well, you better not! You’re my favorite person and I don’t share! ...Unless it’s Izuna.”

He gave the Senju a suspicious glance. Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged knowing smirks, clearly entertained by Madara’s jealousy.

“(Name), we should get going,” Hashirama said with a teasing tone. “Looks like Madara-kun is getting territorial.”

You patted both Senju boys on the head. Madara immediately grabbed your hand and yanked you away protectively.

“Don’t touch them! You’re my aniki! Only I get head pats!” Madara barked.

“And Izuna,” you added casually.

Madara’s Sharingan flickered in jealousy as he clung tighter to you. “Fine! But no more Senju interactions today. Come help me train instead!”

He started dragging you away, Izuna trailing close behind.

“See you at the Chūnin Exams!” you called to the Senju.

Hashirama waved eagerly. Tobirama gave a respectful nod.

“They’re just being nice because you’re helping them,” Madara muttered. “And because you’re too kind.”

You gently lifted Izuna onto your back as you walked. Madara paused mid-step, his jealousy spiking again.

“Hey! Stop cuddling with other clan members! First the Senju, now Izuna?”

“He’s our brother, Madara.”

“Still! You’re supposed to carry me, not him!”

You gave him the blankest expression possible. “Okay.”

Madara’s face twisted into a pout, but he seemed content enough with your answer. Izuna giggled quietly into his sleeve, clearly enjoying Madara’s antics.

An awkward silence hung between the three of you… until Madara finally broke it.

“Let’s just go train already!” he huffed, grabbing your sleeve again and tugging you forward as Izuna bounced on your back.

“It’s dinner time,” you reminded him, letting yourself be dragged along anyway.

To be continued

1200 words, 6800 characters

[the-evil-pizza]

This fucks, love that for my boy

[autisticlee]

why is the only way for republican politicians to do anything seemingly good for the Democrat politicians to oppose the good? like banning tiktok if you want to see that as bad because free speech and people make a living there or whatever. democrats are against it and ban it and suddenly trump supports it when what he wanted originally was it banned because "omg China ew" or whatever. he should be happy the democrats did that and reached his goal. but how dare they take his fame for doing it! he needs to do the opposite now and get the fame from saving it! now he gets to pretend to be the tiktok hero. the hypocrites flock to the big ego hypocrite. they love that shit. they love contradicting themselves. so they can pretend to ~always be right~ and place all the blame on everyone else and never take responsibility for anything.

if you make him and his people think the idea came from themsleves because their only goal is to do the exact opposite of the democrats, then it would be a very dumb yet big brain move. it would make the democrats look awful and makes none of us want to support them. but it makes the "worse of two evils" that is currently in power "look better" or at the very least get to pretend to be better once in a while. they pretend to he heros because they are tricked to do the right thing.

it's all such childish nonsense. the government looks like a battle of petty 4 year olds. "I don't want to do what he does. i'm not like other girls" behavior. but I don't think the democrats are smart enough to purposely make Trump and his baby brigade choose the right things by playing the villain. or they would have done it more. unless it's a test. because god forbid the two sides ever agree on anything. they MUST disagree on every single possible thing for some reason. how dare they ever agreed and work together to actually help their people. 🙄

it's the most pathetic and childish game and most lfnthis country eats that shit up. they cheer for their government sports team or they jump ship to the winning team. it's not what we need as a country or as humans but it's the only thing these government people will do. that and dance for money basically. i'm tired of this. I hate it here. please end our suffering. I don't want to participate in this childish bullshit that puts our lives in danger.

[murdockbuckley]

me and my brother had a 2 hour conversation about dinosaurs yesterday (he has wanted to be a palaeontologist since he was like 4) and he was so shocked to realise i actually pay attention when we have conversations about dinosaurs. because i brought up something he mentioned in a past conversation and he just went "how did you know that🧐" and i had to tell him that he told me and i could just see in his face that he didn't think i ever actually paid attention because no one else does ):

[lellu]

on another note im fucking agonizing over the structure of this amphibia playlist

[cressidagrey]

Holy Ground - Chapter 4

Summary:

Nobody knew that Azriel found his mate. Until she nearly died. This is the aftermath.

Warning:

Rhys Bashing (as usual), Inner Circle Bashing (kinda), Referenced/Implied Sexual Assault, Referenced/Implied Domestic Violence, Discussion of Religion(?), Chronic Injury/Pain/Illness, Minor Character Death (It's probably nobody you love), Magical Work Accidents, Explosions, Injuries

If any of this triggers you or makes you uncomfortable, please take care of your own mental health and don't read it.

"You want to tell me what exactly you apologised for?" Cassian demanded as they left Azriel's bedroom. 

Azriel was curled around his mate like a tortoise shell and Cassian was quite sure that Azriel was going to slaughter everybody that would even try to get close to Irena.

Without even a second of hesitation. 

He had never seen Azriel so protective before, had never seen him so...possessive. It was almost scary how strongly his brother was reacting to almost losing his mate, how tightly he was curling himself around her like a shield. Cassian knew that mating bonds were intense, that they could drive instincts wild…Fuck, he had felt that all compassing need to pretect and claim himself…but…

But Azriel…he was radiating raw fear and intensity. 

Rhys grimaced. "I fucked up," he said frankly.

"Yeah, I agree, given that our brother preferred to keep his mate a secret for 2 years than to actually talk to us.” Cassian let out a low sigh, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his hair. "What exactly did you do that made him keep this from us?" he asked sharply, his voice tinged with frustration.

He didn't want to judge his brother, didn't want to assume that Rhys was the reason for Azriel's secrecy. But he couldn't help but wonder what had caused Azriel to keep something so important from them. And he couldn't help but feel a little hurt that he had been left out of something so significant in his brother's life.

It was frustrating and confusing, and it left Cassian feeling like there was a gulf between him and his brother that he didn't know how to bridge. He just wanted to understand, wanted to make sure that he hadn't done anything to make Azriel feel like he couldn't trust Cassian…

He knew that Azriel was a private person, that he valued his solitude and his privacy. But he had never expected him to keep his mating bond a secret for so long. 

It stung a little, that Azriel had been able to hide something so significant for so long without any of them suspecting a thing.

"Around two years ago...I warned Azriel off Elain," Rhys admitted with a grimace. "I was not...particularly...appropriate with my word choices."

Azriel and Elain?! Cassian's eyes widened at the admission, his jaw dropping open in shock. "Elain?! You warned Azriel off Elain?" he asked incrediously. "I didn't even know that there was..."

"There wasn't. Not after...They...they nearly kissed during Solstice once, even with Lucien in the house and it was...I stopped them." Rhys admitted. "It was a political clusterfuck."

Cassian felt another rush of disbelief and anger wash over him at that. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, couldn't believe that Rhys had interfered in Azriel's personal life like that. "You had no right," he growled, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "You had no right to get involved in his love life like that, Rhys."

"I had every right," Rhys snapped. "Elain has a mate and so has Azriel, as we just found out."

"He didn't know that then," Cassian disagreed. "Elain and Azriel clearly had...something between them and yet you interfered. What exactly did you say to him?"

"I ordered him not to pursue her," Rhys admitted. "I told him to leave her alone. That if he needed to fuck somebody, he should go to a pleasure hall and pay for it."Cassian's eyes widened at the admission, his jaw clenching tight as he struggled to keep his temper in check. 

"You...you ordered him?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. "You actually ordered him to stay away from a girl he clearly had feelings for? And then you...you told him to..." He trailed off, unable to even finish the sentence. He couldn't believe that Rhys had done something so callous and outright cruel to their brother. It was one thing to warn Azriel off of pursuing a girl who already had a mate. But to order him around like some kind of puppet and then insult him like that...it was beyond terrible. "Yeah. No fucking wonder, he didn't say a single word about Irena," Cassian growled under her breath. "You can probably consider yourself lucky that he didn't snap your neck for that, Rhys!"

Rhys winced at the words, his expression turning apologetic. "I know," he said quietly. "I'm...I don't really have an excuse. I was just...I thought I was doing what was best for him, for our Court. I didn't mean to..."

He trailed off, his voice shaking with emotion. Cassian could see how much his brother was struggling with this, how much the knowledge of what he had done was eating away at him. And he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Rhys, even as he was still seething with anger towards him.

He knew that Rhys had always tried to do what he thought was right, that he had always tried to protect their Court and their family. But sometimes...sometimes he made mistakes. And those mistakes had consequences, consequences that were often painful and devastating.

"I did apologise," Rhys said weakly.

"Oh, did you?" Cassian said with a snort. Rhys's apology did little to improve Cassian's temper, his anger still simmering just beneath the surface. "And that makes it all better then?" he demanded, his voice tinged with bitterness. "A simple apology fixes everything? Clearly it doesn't! Otherwise we would have known! Azriel would have told us that he met his mate!"

"What apology?" A voice behind them demanded, and Cassian should probably not be surprised to not only find his own mate there, but also Mor and his High Lady.

"Feyre Darling...Where is Nyx?" Rhys asked

"With Cerridwen. Don't change the topic," Feyre demanded. "What in the cauldron even happened?!"

Cassian let out a low sigh, shaking his head at the interruption. He couldn't help but feel a little grateful for the distraction, though. "Rhys told Azriel not to pursue Elain romantically three years ago.," he explained, his voice tight. "Ordered him to stay away, even. Azriel's been keeping his mate a secret from us for two years now."

He could see the shock and confusion on Feyre's face as he spoke, the disbelief that her mate could have done something so thoughtless and hurtful. He couldn't blame her, really. He was still struggling to wrap his head around it himself.

It didn't make any sense to him, how Rhys could have done something like that without realizing how much it would hurt their brother. How could someone who was supposed to be a High Lord, supposed to be their leader, be so blind to the pain of those he was supposed to protect? It was baffling and frustrating and it made Cassian's blood boil.

But he didn't have time to dwell on it, not right now. Not when they had bigger problems to worry about...like the fact that Azriel had a mate, a mate he had been hiding for two whole years. He knew what a mating bond felt like, knew how all-consuming and intense it could be.

The last thing he had expected was for Mor to start laughing."What?" Cassian snapped, his temper flaring up again. "What's so funny?"

Mor’s laughter continued, her body trembling as she struggled to catch her breath. "I'm sorry," she gasped, her voice choked with mirth as she grinned at him. "It's just...it's just so Azriel. Of course, he would keep his mate a secret for two whole years.”

Cassian stared at her in disbelief, his anger giving way to confusion. "That's what you find funny?" he asked incredulously. "That our brother kept his mate hidden for two bloody years?"

He couldn't understand why Mor would find that amusing, why she was laughing at something that was supposed to be a serious and painful secret. Didn't she know how much it must have hurt Azriel to keep his mate hidden for so long, to keep his feelings for her bottled up inside? Didn't she know how hard it must have been for him to keep up the facade of being fine, of being single and alone?

He couldn't wrap his head around it, couldn't make sense of Mor's humour in the situation. All he could feel was confusion and frustration, and a deep sadness for his brother who had to keep his mating bond a secret for so long.

He had always known that Azriel was a private person, that he didn't like to share his personal life with others. But he had never known that he could keep something like this a secret for so long. It was...it was almost scary, how good Azriel was at hiding his feelings and emotions.

“You find it funny, that Azriel didn’t trust any of us with her?” Nesta asked flatly.

Mor's laughter died down at Nesta's words, her expression turning somber. "No, of course not," she said quietly. "It's just...it's just typical Azriel. He's always been so careful about guarding his emotions, about keeping his love life hidden. I never would have guessed that he had a mate, let alone for two whole years."

“I am not surprised that he didn’t tell you,” Nesta bit out. “Not as you spend 500 years using his own feelings against him.

Mor flinched at Nesta's words, her expression turning pained. "Nesta, that's...that's not fair," she protested. "I never meant to hurt him. I never wanted to."

But Nesta wasn't finished, her eyes blazing with anger as she took a step towards Mor. "You spent five centuries playing with his heart, using him like some kind of toy. And now you're surprised that he didn't tell you about his mate? After everything you've put him through?"

Mor looked down, avoiding Nesta's gaze. "I...I know that I made mistakes," she said quietly. "But I never meant to hurt him."

Nesta scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, please," she sneered. "You knew exactly what you were doing. You knew exactly how Azriel felt about you, and you used it to your advantage. You used him. And after the mating bond between you and Emerie snapped, you never tried to actually talk to him!“

Cassian nearly missed Rhys wincing. Nearly.

“You have anything to do with that too?” He asked darkly.

Rhys flinched at the accusation, his expression turning guilty. "I...I may have had something to do with it," he admitted quietly. "But I was just trying to help. I didn't mean..."

Cassian stared at his brother in disbelief, his anger rising up in him like a tidal wave. "You...you interfered? Again?" he hissed. “What did you tell Azriel?” He demanded.

Rhys sighed, picking a piece of invisible lint of his jacket. "I told him not to ruin this for Mor. That she went through enough.”

Cassian felt a wave of frustration wash over him at Rhys's words. "And you didn't think that maybe Azriel had enough as well?" he asked, his voice barely more than a growl.

He couldn't believe that Rhys had tried to interfere in Azriel's life again, that he had caused even more pain for their brother. And all for the sake of Mor, someone who had rejected Azriel time and time again. It was ridiculous and infuriating. 

But the more he heard…the more he understood why Azriel had kept Irena a secret. 

He had met his mate and had protected her fiercely, cossetted her away from any of them who could hurt them…had kept her to himself, so Rhys couldn’t say any other idiotic and harebrained thing…Had kept his mate to himself, because he adored her and hadn’t wanted to share. Which quite frankly, Cassian could absoltuely understand now. 

And still… Cassian knew what a mating bond could do to someone, how intense and consuming it could be. And the thought that Azriel, their quiet and reserved brother, had had to keep that kind of intensity hidden for so long...it was almost too much for Cassian to fathom.

He didn't know how Azriel had managed it, how he had kept his mating bond a secret for so long without anyone else noticing. It must have been a monumental effort, a constant struggle to keep his emotions and instincts in check.

And the fact that he had done all of that alone, without any support or understanding from the rest of them...it broke Cassian's heart. 

And Cassian himself had not made it better. How often had he teased his brother about his love life. Even, and maybe especially,  when Azriel had told him to fuck off?

Too often, Cassian realized with a pang of guilt. He had never thought about how his teasing might have hurt Azriel, how it might have added to the burden of keeping his mating bond a secret.

He had always just assumed that they were all teasing each other in good fun, that it was harmless banter between siblings. But now...now he realized that maybe it hadn't been so harmless after all. Maybe it had been something much more cruel and damaging than he had ever intended.

He wished that he could take back every comment he had ever made about Azriel's love life, every joke he had ever made about his solitude. But he knew that he couldn't, that the damage had already been done.

Cassian could just hope that he could find a way to repair things with Azriel, to make amends for all of the hurt and pain that he had unintentionally caused. He just hoped that his brother would be able to forgive him, that they could move past this and build a stronger, more understanding relationship

But deep down, a nagging voice in the back of his mind told him that it might not be so easy. That the wounds inflicted by his words might run too deep to ever be fully healed.

And that thought scared him more than he cared to admit. It scared him to think that he might have forever damaged his relationship with his brother, that his careless words might have destroyed something that he had always taken for granted.

“I don’t even have the words right now,” Feyre said with a sigh.

Cassian glanced in her direction, seeing the pain and frustration written all over her face. He knew exactly what she meant. There were no words for this situation, for the hurt and confusion and betrayal that they were all feeling.

He could only imagine what Azriel must be going through right now, how much he must be struggling with his emotions and thoughts. And he had no idea how they were supposed to help him, how they could make things right again.

“I have no clue how we are supposed to fix this either,” Feyre continued.

Cassian nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over him. "Yeah," he said quietly. "Me neither."

“Leave him be,” Nesta said tightly. “He nearly lost his mate today.”

Cassian shot Nesta a sharp look, surprised by her words. "Leave him be?" he repeated. "You want to just leave him alone, after all of this?"

"He almost lost his mate today, Cassian," Nesta repeated, her voice tight with emotion. "Let him rest. Let him have some time, space. Let him have that without us bombarding him with questions and apologies."

Cassian considered her words for a moment, feeling a pang of guilt at the thought of bombarding his brother with more questions right now. He already had, hadn’t he?  He knew that Nesta was right, that Azriel needed space and time to process everything that had happened. And he knew that they had already done enough damage as it was.

So he nodded, reluctantly agreeing with her suggestion. "Alright," he said quietly. "We'll give him space. For now."

He could only hope that it would be enough, that it would give Azriel the time and space he needed to heal and process everything that had happened. And he hoped, more than anything, that it would be enough for them to repair the damage that they had done to their brother's heart.

But until then, all he could do was wait. Wait and hope that someday, somehow, they could make things right again.

And in the meantime, he would try his best to be there for Azriel, to offer him support and understanding without pushing too hard. Because that was all he could do right now.

That, and wait for a chance to finally make amends for the mistakes he had made.

Because he knew that he had a lot to make up for, and he was determined to do whatever it took to earn Azriel's forgiveness. And to be a better brother from this point forward.

***

She was warm. She was safe. Azriel was holding her...and still...in the moment she first opened her eyes, all she could remember where these last few moments before.

Irena's heart raced as the memories flooded back, of Merrill's office...of how her fellow Priestess, her friend had been sniping at her the moment she entered her office.

"We need to talk, Merrill," Irena had said.

"If Meera complained, it's her own fault," Merrill had seethed. "I don't need her help anyway, I am quicker and better on my own."

And only then Irena had realised that Merrill had already been casting that spell.

"Merrill! Stop!" she had snapped. "You can't do that! It's too..." dangerous. Dangerous was what she had wanted to say. But the word stuck in her throat as Merrill chanted that spell and then...then hell broke loose.

Then the only thing she remembered was quite a lot of pain."

There was no pain now.

There was only Azriel. Only safety and warmth and the smell of cedars...she blinked open her eyes tiredly.

"Azriel," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her eyelids felt heavy, her body weak and boneless. But still, she felt a sense of relief wash over her as she saw him there, his arms strong and comforting around her.

She wanted to say more, to ask him if he was alright, to apologize for putting him through all of this. But she couldn't find the strength to speak, the words getting stuck in her throat. All she could do was cling to him, grateful for his presence and warmth.

He pressed a kiss against her forehead, clinging to her...and only a moment later she could feel his body shudder against her own. Shudder and the salty smell of tears

Irena's eyes widened in surprise as she realized that he was crying. She had never seen Azriel cry before, not once in all the time they had spent together. But now, he was crying, a quiet sob escaping him as he buried his face in her hair.

Her heart broke at the sound, at the vulnerability he was showing her. She raised a trembling hand to stroke his hair, her fingers tangling in the silky locks. "Azriel," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible. "It's alright. I'm here. I'm here."

She wanted to tell him that she was sorry, that she never meant to hurt him like this. But the words just wouldn't come, her mouth dry and her head still spinning. All she could do was hold him, trying to provide him with the only comfort she had the strength to give.

She didn't know how long they stayed like that, clinging to each other in silence. But eventually, Azriel's tears seemed to dry up, his sobs turning into sniffles and then to deep, shaky breaths.

She felt him press another soft kiss against her forehead, his lips warm and gentle against her skin. "I thought I lost you," he whispered, his voice barely more than a broken murmur. "I thought..."

She could hear the pain and fear in his voice, and it broke her heart even more. "Shhh," she said, still stroking his hair gently. "I'm here now. I'm alright."

She could feel him nod against her, his body slowly relaxing as he held her close. "I was so scared," he whispered. "I was so scared."

She tightened her grip around him, trying to reassure him with her presence. "I know," she said softly. "But I'm here, alright? I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

Never. Not when she had a single choice in that matter. 

She felt him nod again, his body finally relaxing completely against hers. 

But for now, this was enough. Just being able to hold him, to feel him pressed against her, was enough. And she hoped, with all her heart, that it was enough for him too.

“How are you feeling? Are you in pain?” he asked her, his voice hoarse. “Are you…”

She looked up at Azriel, seeing the concern etched onto his features. "My abdomen hurts a little…so does my bad leg" she admitted. "But other than that, I feel fine. A little weak, but fine."

Azriel nodded, his expression still tight with worry. "Madja said that it might take a few days for you to fully recover," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But she was confident that you'll be okay."

Irena nodded, trying to smile reassuringly at him. "I'll be fine, Azriel," she said softly. "I just need some rest and I'll be good as new."

And time. Time to wrap her mind around the fact that her friend had died.

“She didn’t deserve that,” she whispered. Azriel knew what she was talking about.

“She didn’t,” he agreed softly.

“Was anybody else hurt?” Irena whispered, already hating to even contemplate it..

“Just you.”

She closed her eyes, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her. "It's all my fault," she murmured. "If I hadn't confronted her, if I hadn't..." She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. She could still remember the look on Merrill's face, the anger and hatred in her eyes. And she knew, deep down, that she had caused it. 

Azriel's grip on her hand tightened, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her skin. "It wasn't your fault, Irena," he said firmly. "You didn't make her do what she did. You couldn't have known that she would lash out like that."

She wanted to believe him, to let herself off the hook. But the guilt was too heavy, too all-consuming. "I should have known," she whispered, her voice choked up with emotion. "I should have been more aware, more careful."

Azriel's expression softened, his eyes full of understanding. "You can't blame yourself for this, love," he said gently. "You can't control other people's actions, no matter how much you might want to."

She knew he was right, that she couldn't keep blaming herself for what had happened. But it was hard, so hard, to let go of that guilt. "I just...I never meant for any of this to happen," she said, tears filling her eyes.

Merrill had been brilliant. And yes, she had been snappy and cruel but she had also been funny and bright and…She hadn’t been horrible. Misunderstood maybe, not very nice sometimes but she wasn’t…she hadn’t deserved to die. 

Azriel reached out, wiping away her tears with his thumb. "I know," he whispered, his voice full of tenderness. "I know you didn't."

She looked up at him, searching his face for any hint of blame or anger. But all she saw was kindness and understanding, and it almost broke her heart. "How can you be so good to me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "After everything..."

He cupped her face gently, his touch sending shivers down her spine. "Because I love you," he said simply, his eyes never leaving hers. "And nothing you can ever do will ever change that. This wasn’t your fault."

She felt a lump form in her throat at his words, her heart swelling with emotion. No one had ever loved her like this before, no one had ever made her feel so safe and cherished. 

She leaned into his touch, her eyes closing as she felt him press a soft kiss against her forehead. "I love you, too," she whispered, her voice shaky with emotion. "More than anything."

Laying in his arms, was the most peace she had ever known. 

“They know…about us,” Azriel said, exhaling softly. “I am sorry. I couldn’t…I couldn’t let them take you back to your room.”

Irena looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "They know?" she repeated. "They know about us...together?"

He didn’t need to tell her who they was. They was everybody. 

Azriel nodded, his expression serious. "I'm sorry," he said again. "I knew you didn't want anyone to know yet, but I couldn't risk them sending you back alone. You were barely conscious and..." He trailed off, his voice tight with emotion.

Irena reached out, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it tightly. "It's okay," she said softly. "I understand." And she did understand. She knew that he had only been trying to protect her, to keep her safe. And she loved him even more for it. And she had wanted to be with him. She had wanted to be held by him. It was worth it. The simple comfort of his presence was worth all the other bullshit they would need to deal with. 

Irena smiled up at him, trying to reassure him with her expression. "It doesn't matter if they know," she said. "As long as I have you, nothing else matters."

“It’s gonna be…difficult,” Azriel warned her with a grimace.

“I can deal with your brothers,” she promised him simply. She could. She did deal with them. Well, at least with the High Lord on a monthly basis. She could handle him. 

Azriel let out a laugh, shaking his head. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into," he warned her, but there was a slight smile playing on his lips.

She just smiled at him, leaning up to press a soft kiss against his lips. 

She would deal with whatever she needed. Because Azriel was worth it. 

“Madja should be back soon…do you want a bath?” He asked her softly, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. “I can ask Gwyn or Roslin to come help you.“

Irena smiled gratefully. "Yes, a bath would be lovely," she said, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. "But just a quick one."

Azriel nodded, his expression tender as he looked down at her. "I'll go get Gwyn," he said, brushing her hair away from her face. "You just rest for a moment."

“No,” Irena said softly. “You can help me.”

Azriel's expression softened at her words, his eyes filled with warmth. "Of course," he said gently. "Anything you need." He bent down, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her towards the bathroom. His touch was careful, his steps slow and steady, as if he was afraid of hurting her.

The shadows fluttered around, filling the bathtub, pouring something or other in there until it smelled amazing.

Irena breathed in deeply, feeling the tension in her body slowly begin to ease away. The warm, lavender-scented steam filled her nose, soothing her frayed nerves and calming her racing heart. "That smells amazing," she sighed, leaning against Azriel's chest. "What is it?"

“I have no clue,” he said drily. “I don’t get bubble baths,” he said with a pointed look at the shadows. 

He put her down to sit on the edge of the enormous Bath Tub and then very carefully unwrapped the wrappings around her wounds, and her leg. The wounds were closed now, the upper layer knitted back together, but she could still feel them. 

“Can you get out of the nightgown on your own?” Azriel asked her, hesitantly. 

“Should be fine,” Irena promised. 

She watched as he turned around, giving her some privacy. She was grateful for his consideration, but at the same time, she couldn't help feeling a little sad that he wasn't even going to sneak a peek. She shook the thought away, reaching out to tug off the nightgown and carefully lower herself into the tub.

The water was warm and soothing, and she let out a soft sigh as her body sank into it. Irena closed her eyes, feeling the tension slowly drain from her muscles. "This feels amazing," she murmured, leaning back against the edge of the tub. “You can come here,“ she said with some amusement, as he still stood at the doorway, presenting his back to her. His wings were flared as wide as they could get in the bathroom, rippling as muscles seemingly twitched beneath them. 

Azriel turned back around, his expression a mix of amusement and relief. He stepped closer to the tub, kneeling down beside it. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice gentle. "I don't want to accidentally see something you don't want me to."

Irena laughed softly, reaching out to take his hand in hers. "You're too chivalrous for your own good," she teased. "But I appreciate the thought. And yes, I'm sure. Come here."

Azriel nodded, his expression softening as he moved closer to her. He gently ran his fingers through her wet hair, brushing it away from her face. The touch was tender, almost reverent, and Irena leaned into it with a contented sigh. "That feels good," she murmured, her eyes fluttering closed.

“Want me to wash your hair?” he offered her, his voice hesitant. 

Like she was ever going to turn down that offer.  Irena opened her eyes, looking up at him with a smile. "Yes, please," she said, leaning back further into the water. "I don't think I have the energy to lift my arms right now."

Azriel chuckled softly, reaching for a bottle of shampoo. He squirted a small amount into his palm before carefully working it into her hair, his fingers massaging her scalp in slow, soothing circles. The sensation was heavenly, and Irena closed her eyes again, simply enjoying the moment.

They sat there in silence for a few minutes, Azriel gently working the shampoo into her hair while Irena let herself relax completely. The warm water, the fragrant steam, and Azriel's gentle touch were all working together to ease away her aches and pains.

After a few more minutes, Azriel carefully rinsed her hair, his fingers tenderly brushing away any lingering soap suds. "All done," he said softly, his hands still buried in her hair. "Feeling better?"

She nodded, opening her eyes again and giving him a smile. "Much better," she said, feeling relaxed and drowsy. "Thank you."

Azriel returned the smile, his gaze full of affection. "You're very welcome, love" he said, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Let's get you out of here and back into bed before you fall asleep in the tub."

Irena laughed softly, nodding in agreement. "That's probably a good idea," she admitted. "I don't think falling asleep in the tub would do my injuries any favours."

He insisted on keeping his eyes closed again, but between him and the shadows, they had her dry and dressed in a nightgown quickly enough.

Azriel scooped her up again as soon as she was dressed, cradling her against his chest as he carried her back to the bed. He settled her gently onto the mattress, tucking the blankets around her before sitting down beside her.

“You know…next time…you should let me return the favour,” she said softly.

Azriel raised an eyebrow, a slow smile spreading across his face. "You want to wash my hair, huh?" he asked, his tone teasing. "Careful, I might take you up on that offer."

“You could join me in the tub,” she said softly, biting her lip.

Azriel's eyes darkened at her suggestion, his gaze intense as he looked down at her. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked, his voice low and husky. "I’ll have…some…bodily reaction to that,” he pointed out.

Her cheeks flushed but she kept a hold of his hand.

Irena swallowed, feeling a flutter of both nerves and excitement in her belly. But she didn't back down. "I'm sure," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want...I want to be close to you. Like that." She could see his hesitation and the faintest hint of doubt in his eyes.

But she knew that hesitation had nothing to do with lack of desire. It was simply that he was worried about her. Worried about hurting her, or pushing her too far. And she loved him all the more for it, but she also knew that she wanted this. Wanted him.

“Think about it. She said softly. “Maybe in a few weeeks?”

Azriel nodded, his gaze softening as he looked down at her. "In a few weeks," he agreed softly. "When you're healed." He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Let's focus on getting you better first, hmm?"

[mayonnaise-sock]

Craig please listen to your boyfriend he’s right

Teaser page||Next

Wait i’m reading this a little while later and it’s kinda unclear, so for the record, craig knows tweek can handle himself, he’s just saying he’s pretect tweek because he knows it’ll make him feel better

[cylabook]

Reasons why are the diaboys weaker than yui(some)

As we know yui is a very strong person .but what most of us may ignore is the fact that she's stronger than our hot boys.

First of all she's always kind which is her strongest feature and selfless no matter what situation she is in not like some people.

In the whole anime she only cried once in ep4 .

And when it's about the mosquitoe boys when know the story they had a" dark past "blahblah, they're" traumatised "blahblah ..okey we know but wasn't that "dark past" like 300 years ago can they just have a trauma after all those years when our angel still menages to be strong when it's happening everyday .

And about the other half- mosquitoes just have they're darker past too

Like ruki was a jerk that was spoiled rotten since birth and after all what he've done still thinks that the world didn't give him "justice"

And the cringy part when he said that he murdered a cat because yui has ended its freedom.

I mean woow that's a great excuse

The orphanage didn't fix him as well.

And a cringier part is that he accepted the help of karl heinz to revenge from humanity. Another great excuse for being alive.and he revenged in a great way i mean he read the whole books of humanity 😀. And changed some of their foods .isn't that a disgrace for the humanity we must fear him after all his revenge.

The problem is that he's my favorite diaboy...what can i say i'm an open-minded i'm talking about our revenger

And kou just because he is an idol doeasn't give the right to call our angel u*ly i had a terrible time writing that word.

I mean we know he's an idol and everything but...... i just can't that's so cringy

And ruki i just wanna say that just because he's mom is a jerk doesn't make all women like it the poor boy he's afraid of women now💔

And the funny thing is even in the se*ual intercourse he can't let the girl take charge maybe he's afraid she can breack his thing i mean maybe we musn't attack the poor guy

And in my opinion the cringiest boy in this bunch of mosquitoes 🦟 is ......reiji

He had the best past and his mother didn't neglect him that mush in some games she told him that she's proud of him for studying hard . And dtill he burned a whole village out of jealousy and killled him mommy ....i don't think i have to explain more .

And the fact that they hate humans. First of all aren't the ones who made their past ''dark'' vampires .so why are they hating humans .

I was crual for them now i mean humans feed them isn't that bad that so disrespectful towards vampires i'm ashamed for attacking them.

I mean look at that smile i wanna pretect her so mush non of the mosquitoes deserves her...............or dogs i misgender some of them.

[flashhwing]

when you're wearing a respirator to pretect you from toxic fumes and your nose starts itching so you have to decide whether to just suffer or undo all the straps and buckles to unseal this device from your face so you can gently scratch your nostril for 2 seconds just to redo it back up

[zworllyx]

Finaly I made Setsuko's character sheet :D

The Action part is still in process, I just couldnt wait to post her character sheet, so here you go >v<

◇Backstory fact: shes one year younger than keigo and was put under the HPSC’S training program by her parents too (they work, or worked for the commission) alsooo, maybe (by side of her father) she may be related to Rei's family, like Geten

♤Quirk, Cryo Morphosis: Setsuko creates extra limbs (animal based, her mother's quirk shapeshifting) out of snow/ice, like owl' wings, mantis' arms(?) Great to fist to fist fight, etc. But as she uses and use it, it consumes her corporal tempeture making herself vulnerable to sickness to the point it causes herself hypothermia

♡Fun fact: Setsuko always admired Kaina (Lady Nagant) to the point of considering her as an older sister

♧ with Hawks fact: When she met Keigo (as children) the two of them were so insperable, until long before ‘Hawks’ debut, whome refused to escape from the HPSC with Setsuko, since then she always kept an eye on him, pretecting him until they met again during arc of the Paranomrla Liberation Front

Yeah...this too :>

[ollie-ieytd-is-bored]

Heyo! Ollie here >:D The Agency put me in some pretection program but they forgot to restrict internet access so i got on tumblr!!! [: I'd love to talk with you guys so send me things if you want to, i'll probably be online most days cause it gets pretty boring here. Also i don't think Zor knows I'm alive so please don't tell them!

(ooc: this is a little sideblog for my boy i decided simply MUST exist, feel free to send in little random stuff lol)

[bee6r]

Rushed Reunion (pt. 3)

Find part one HERE - Find part two HERE

⚠contains Maze Runner SPOILERS⚠

{Gally x !GN! Reader}

Summary: You and Gally are forced to split up to search for the immunes and get them to safety.

Warnings: Violence

WC: 815

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

You quickly get every immune lined up into rows before exiting the room. Minho and Thomas lead the group with you and another rebel in the back. Quickly, the group marches down the hallway, not passing another guard until you are about to exit the building. Thomas ignores the man at the front desk, who asks him for confirmation that he is allowed to take the immunes, which causes the man to yell out after him. Almost immediately, loud footsteps in the hallways can be heard in response to the man’s yell, and Thomas looks back at the group. 

“Follow me!” he calls to the immunes, “And get ready to run!” You can see fear cross the immunes' faces as the deeper meaning of his words sinks in; we are in danger. 

Quickly, you head out of the building, and Thomas and Minho begin sprinting across the courtyard beyond the front doors. The immunes follow, doing their best to keep up with the leaders in their starving state, but gunfire soon follows the group. You turn, taking out your own guns in preparation for a fight, but strong hands pull you by your waist backwards. You let out a cry before a familiar voice shushes you, pulling you behind an overturned car at the edge of the courtyard. 

“Don’t get yourself killed,” Gally whispers, “it’s not worth it, not to me.” You nod, a smile tugging at your lips, before more gunfire causes your head to turn. Most of the immunes have made it safely to the rebel vans, but a couple of bodies lie on the ground, blood seeping onto the concrete. You turn again to face Gally, a look of fear crossing your face. 

“How do we make it out of this?” You ask, and he flips up his mask as well as yours. 

“Listen to me,” he says, taking your face in his hands, “we are not going to die today.” You nod, and he leans in to kiss you softly. You lean into the kiss to deepen it, but are forced to pull away too soon. “Are you ready?” He asks, flipping his mask back down. You nod, pulling yours down as well. 

You both stand in unison, raising your guns to the door and rooftops and firing at the guards still standing there. A couple of other rebels appear from the shadows to help, taking out nearly all of the guards. A rebel falls to your left, and you duck as gunshots fly over your head. Peeking out from behind the car, you aim your gun at a guard's helmet, getting a direct hit and watching them fall to the ground. Gally takes out another guard, and looking around, you spot no other guards outside of the building. 

“Let’s go, Gally says, pulling you to your feet, “we may not get another chance.” You run at full speed towards the last rebel van, that is still waiting in the shadows. He almost pushes you into the passenger seat before sprinting around to the driver seat and hopping in. He pushes a key from his belt into the ignition and the van stirrs to life. Gally slams his foot on the gas and the van streams forward. After getting back on the road, you experience no obstacles, easily blending in with the crowd of other cars until you can pull off the road and into the rebel’s van parking. You both get out of the van and Gally walks around the van to hug you. “Are you okay?” He asks, pulling away to scan your body. 

“A little bruised,” you answer, “but I’m okay.” He nods, and embraces you again before pulling your face closer to his to kiss you deeply. You are interrupted a few moments later by Thomas, who walks into the lot laughing. 

“Okay, okay, get a room,” he says groaning. 

Around the campfire that night, you discuss your next moves. You know that you need to move by the next day because WCKD will be looking for you now that you have the other immunes. You snuggle closer to Gally and he holds you to his body pretectively. You feel warm in his arms, despite the cool and windy evening. By the end of the night, you have a plan on how to get the immunes the safety, as well as take down WCKD. Gally carries you to bed while Minho and Thomas put out the fire, and when you ask him to stay with you, he doesn’t hesitate to drag his blankets over towards you. You move closer to him and his arms encircles your body. Laying your head on his chest, you feel safe and tired. The last thing you remember before falling asleep, is a gentle kiss on the top of your head, and a deep voice saying, 

“Goodnight, sweetheart, I love you.”

[guess-that-ship]

Here's the bracket for Season 12!

As usual, the first round will start tomorrow at 9 PM EDT. They will be queued at a rate of four polls per day and last for a week.

Text under cut:

Round 1A

17. Star-Crossed BFFs v. 16. Grandpa and GILF Hunter

Winner will face 1. Under the sun in Round 2

9. Two Swords, One Oath v. 24. Master and Familiar

Winner will face 8. codependent bodyguard arrangement in Round 2

Round 1B

21. Bickering lambs, reliant rams v. 12. purposeful adoption, accidental family

Winner will face 5. Double Crossing my Dungeoning Party (GONE WRONG)* in Round 2

13. Anti-Government Gays v. 20. Of Petty Revenge and Impulse

Winner will face 4. Purple Light in Round 2

Round 1C

19. A Clashing of Elements v. 14. Fell Into Your Life

Winner will face 3. What goes around comes around in Round 2

11. pretective boy v. 22. Dad's little successor

Winner will face 6. Old(ish) men one-sided yaoi in Round 2

Round 1D

23. Survivors of Literally Everything v. 10. Imperial Frenemies

Winner will face 7. Traumatized dog × extroverted turtle in Round 2

15. See You on the Same Side of the War v. 18. Loser Besties

Winner will face 2. As I Know You Are in Round 2

*5's name had to be shortened so the title isn't too long, but for posterity, the full name is "Double Crossing my Dungeoning Party (GONE WRONG) (POLICE CALLED) (I FELL IN LOVE?!)".

[cupboardgods]

Hey what is this and why does it say "Pretecting Jelly" (sic)

Edit: it's obviously ai I'm just oblivious