actyl

[actyl]

on a temporary hiatus due to exams, original pinned here

[actyl]

she glanced at him from across the table, trying to ignore the way his grin tugged at her focus. they sat in the library, the only two bodies amongst the shelves and shelves of old, dusty books, surrounded by the smell of paper and ink. the faint hum of the fluorescent lights above, coupled with the occasional rustling pages rustling as she flipped through her textbook the only sounds to fill the quiet void.

he sat across from her, lounging in his chair, leaning back as far as it’d let him without falling. his notebook filled with pages of scribbled out notes laid half-open in front of him, pages untouched, as he toyed with the pen in his hand, twirling it between his fingers. his grin remained, growing wider as he caught her eye.

“you know, if you actually studied instead of pretending to be too cool for it, you might actually pass this class.” her gaze returned to the page of her own notes in front of her, far neater in comparison to his chicken scratch.

she could hear his grin in his voice, “i don’t need your lectures, thank you. i’ve got this all under control.”

she put her pen down, sitting up from her hunched position, attention fully on him.

“oh really?” she raised an eyebrow, smirking. “‘cause last time i checked, you’re spending more time playing around with your pen than taking notes. you’ve been staring at the same page for ten minutes.”

“i’m letting the information sink in,” he replied with a shrug, dramatically tapping at his temple. “it’s a strategy.”

“uh-huh.” she rolled her eyes. “a strategy for avoiding work.”

he shot her a playful look, hands up in mock-surrender as if she had caught him in a crime.

“fine, you’ve got me—maybe i’m just trying to distract you. hard to focus when i’m around.”

“right.” she drawled out, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth despite her best efforts to stay ‘annoyed’, “because you’re so charming.”

“well i am,” his blue eyes twinkled playfully, a slight glint of mischief behind them. that look always made her feel like she was falling into something deeper than just a playful back-and-forth. his voice dropped a little, he leaned forward, shortening the space between them, the look he gave her seemed as if he could see right throigh her. “but i can focus if you want me to. you know, for you.”

a snort escaped her before she could stop it, followed by a burst of giggles that made her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “yeah, okay, touya. like you could ever focus. keep dreaming.”

“maybe,” he said, leaning forward, grin a little more teasing, a little more daring as he crossed his arms over his chest, “but i can focus on the important things. like you.”

her heart stuttered for a brief moment before she threw her pen at him, the object completely missing the white-haired man despite him being a mere foot away.

her cheeks burned white hot and she grabbed another pen, scribbling furiously on the corner of her notebook, as if the work could distract her from his words that lingered in the air. she tried to act unaffected, wishing her notes could somehow block out the rapid thudding of her pulse.

“you’re such an idiot.”

he leaned forward, placing his elbows on the cool wooden table, his gaze never leaving her as he sat with that damnable grin still plastered on his face. the smile lingered for a moment before his lips curled into a soft, triumphant laugh, almost as if he’d won a quiet victory.

“yeah. but you like it.”

actyl, please do not copy or repost my works

[actyl]

cw. they make out.

her face was still flushed from the argument. it wasn’t the first one—god knew it wouldn’t be the last one—but for some reason, this one had just gone too far.

heat roared beneath her skin in a way that made her head pound. sweat clung to her hairline, beads threatening to slide down the back of her neck. she could feel it steaming off her skin as her anger burned hotter, searing through her veins, setting in her bones.

her scowl twisted deeper, muscles pulling taut until her jaw ached and cheeks throbbed from the strain. every breath felt like stroking a first: sharp, shallow, scalding. her chest heaved as she took in breath after breath, but it still wasn’t enough to cool the fury coiled inside her, something nearly suffocating.

“you should go,” her voice was low and tight.

“you’re not serious.” he scoffed, taking a step back in disbelief. “you’re gonna throw me out just ‘cause i proved you were wrong?”

“this isn’t about that.” she shot back, arms crossed in defense, completely guarded.

“it’s about you being completely impossible. always picking a fight, always pushing like you’re trying to pick a fight.”

“well,” his voice was smooth, the smile on his face dangerous. “you just make it so easy—”

“god, you’re so insufferable.”

“i know.” yet his smile, sharp and triumphant, never disappeared. she was used to his cocky demeanor, the teasing that lived permanently on his lips. but his eyes were different—something darker, something warmer—something that made her stomach churn. every hair on her body stood up, like she knew danger was coming.

“you just love to show up like you know everything—like you’re just waiting for me to fail so you can swoop in and prove you’re better.” she snapped.

he chuckled, an exhale more than a sound, stepping closer.

“please,” his voice was sharp. “i don’t need to wait for you to fail, you make that part pretty easy all on your own.”

she clenched her fists at her side, breaths shallow as hos words stung deeper than she’d like to admit. his smirk only added salt to her wounds, the way he stood, so effortlessly self-assured. she was used to this, his arrogance, but she’d never seen him push her buttons so purposefully.

“is that what you think?” her voice trembled with a mix of frustration, irritation, and something she couldn’t quite place.

his head tilted, smirk growing wider as he took a step closer. he could feel the heat radiating off her, her skin just a few inches away from his own. there was something in the way he looked at her, a knowing glint in his eyes that made her blood run hot in ways she’s always hated.

“i don’t think you want me to show you up,” he clarified, voice barely above a whisper. “but we both know you wouldn’t mind if i did.”

her eyes narrowed. “you love to think you’re better than me, don’t you? like you’ve got everything figured out, like you’ve got nothing better to do than look down on me.”

he met her glare, unflinching, the tension between them palpable. for a moment, they just stood there, her words hanging heavy between them before he broke the silence.

“it is pretty amusing seeing you like this. but don’t lie—deep down, you like this. you like the challenge.”

his gaze was intense, she took a step back and he took another step forward, maintaining the distance. “we’ve been at each other’s throats for so long, you’d probably miss it if i wasn’t here.”

her breath caught in her throat, the air felt thick, a knife wouldn’t be enough to cut the tension between the two. heat built up with every word; she wanted to scream at him, but he was right. she would miss it, and some part deep inside her knew she would miss him, as insufferable as he was.

“we’re supposed to hate each other.”

“supposed to.” she was suddenly aware of how close he was, too close. his presence felt overwhelming, and she struggled to maintain her composure even as her pulse quickened. his cologne tickled her nose, clinging to the air—something sharp and clean. it made her head spin.

she wanted to step back, to create some distance, but her feet felt rooted to the floor. the way he looked at her, the maddening intensity of his gaze made the world disappear.

“i don’t think either of us know what we’re supposed to do anymore,” he murmured, his voice soft, filled with a quiet challenge daring her to admit what they both knew.

she swallowed hard, she could hear her heartbeat as her heart threatened to jump out of her chest. she opened her mouth to say something, anything—to push him away, but any words she could muster up caught in her throat.

instead, she stood there, staring at him, her mind a chaotic swirl of what they were, and what they weren’t supposed to be.

she didn’t expect it—didn’t know how it happened—but suddenly, his mouth was on hers, hard and demanding. it was messy and heated and too much; it was all teeth and heat, clashing of frustrated breaths, as if neither of them could hold back any longer. she gasped against him, the intensity of the kiss stealing the air from her lungs, making her knees weak beneath her.

his hands were on her, one on her waist, one threading through her hair, pulling her closer until she was pressed against him. the way he kissed her felt desperate, almost angry—as if he was trying to prove something to her, or perhaps to himself.

it was like fighting and surrender all at once—like neither of them could decide if they were given in or trying to win.

their lips found a steady rhythm, molding into each other. his grip on her waist was firm, fingers digging deep enough to leave her dizzy, like he was grounding her and setting her on fire all at once. her hands fisted in his hair, tugging hard enough to make him groan into her mouth—a low sound that sent a shiver down her spine.

his hand slid from her waist to her back, she was sure if they pressed against each other any closer they’d become one. it felt as if they couldn’t get enough of each other—like every sharp word, every bitter stare they’d shared had all been building to this.

“i hate you.” she gasped between kisses, breathless and burning.

“i know,” he murmured, “i hate you, too.”

“you’re impossible.”

she could feel his grin against her lips as he kissed her again—deeper, slower kiss, like he knew exactly how much it would unravel her.

“you love it.”

mikey sano, takashi mitsuya, shinichiro sano, KISAKI TETTA, rindou haitani, RAN HAITANI / yuji terushima, TETSURO KUROO, tooru oikawa, hajime iwaizumi, akaashi keiji / EDWARD ELRIC, roy mustang / tomura shigaraki, TOUYA TODOROKI, KEIGO TAKAMI / JASON TODD, tim drake, damian wayne, DICK GRAYSON / shin asakura, YOICHI NAGUMO / EREN YAEGER, jean kirstien, armin arlert

actyl -> do not copy or repost my works

[actyl]

the night air was nothing short of stuffy, humidity clinging on like a plague. her apartment felt damp, a result of the incoming storm; and despite the efforts of the dehumidifier in the corner of her small bedroom, the air felt thick, heavy, and wet.

despite the incessant noise from the streets below—the cacophony of honking cars, shouting of drunk college students, and the muffled thrum of music spilling from the bar down the street—her apartment remained quiet. a heavy, comfortable silence broken only by the occasional scratch of her HB pencil against paper and the hum of the dehumidifier.

her frustration began simmering about an hour ago, building steadily as the questions on the 8”x11” paper grew harder. it was nights like this that made her feel absolutely and utterly stupid; but she knew, deep down, these thoughts were not true. it was just the exhaustion creeping in, making home in her body as they weight of the day pressed against her mind. she needed a break.

with a heavy sigh, she put down the pencil and pressed her cold, cramped hands against her face, inhaling deeply. maybe a break was exactly what she needed.

the sharp tapping against her window startled her; her head jerking up towards the window, eyes narrowing as she squinted towards the window. on the other side of the the window stood a figure—tall, grinning wide, and clad in a rather unmistakable suit.

he raised a hand, showing off the white plastic bag adorned with a rather familiar, big yellow smiley face and the words ‘thank you’ stamped underneath in big, bold, red letters.

nightwing.

her chair scraped loudly against the wooden floor as she pushed back against her desk. moments late the window was wide open, and she was helping the masked vigilante climb inside. his suit clung to him and his hair stuck to his forehead, damp from the drizzle outside. his shoes left a small puddle on the floor where he stood.

“you’re wet.” she said flatly.

“oh. yeah, it’s kinda wet outside.” his grin barely wavered as he fidgeted with the plastic bag in his grasp.

she hummed in response, eyeing the plastic back still dangling from his hand.

“what’s that?”

“food.” he answered, holding the bag open for her to peer inside. “from that one chinese spot you like.”

her gaze flickered to the contents within the bag—few boxes of food and an impressive amount of sauces. regardless, her attention still lingered on him, the two of them locked in some quiet, unspoken stand off.

she finally spoke, breaking the silence. “that’s halfway across town.”

he shrugged, still smiling.

“i happened to be in the area.”

“and you decided to grab food.”

a nod.

“for me.”

another nod.

“i live 20 minutes from that place, by car.”

“so?” he stepped closer, shoes still tracking water on her wooden floor. “figured you might need some food.”

“you’re making a mess. i just cleaned those floors.” she muttered, there was no real bite behind her words. “and why exactly did you figure i needed food?”

his grin widened, “a little birdie told me you’re studying for exams.” she was sure his cheeks must hurt from how he’d been smiling since he stepped foot onto her fire escape. “and that you despise your electromagnetism class.”

he had her there. she was studying for her exams—and she did hate electromagnetism.

“..fine.” she said after some deliberation, reaching out for the bag, “but you’re cleaning my floor.”

the two of them ended up on her living room floor, the takeout containers spread out between them. she had grabbed them a couple of drinks from her fridge, cold water for him, sweet tea for her; and now they sat cross-legged, chopsticks in hand, picking through the shared boxes of food as a movie droned on in the background on her tv.

“you’re lucky i’m not too attached to this place.” she mumbled over her lo mein. “otherwise i’d be really annoyed you showed up wet and leaving puddles all over my floor.”

“oh, lucky, huh?” he shot at her over the rim of his drink, a spare towel of hers sitting on his shoulders. “i was actually hoping you’d find me charming. thought i’d earn some points for showing up like a tragic romance lead—rain and wind, y’know?”

“you’re not exactly brooding enough for that.” she shot back.

“hey! i can brood,” he argued, pointing at her with his chopsticks. “i trained under the batman. brooding’s practically in requirement.”

“sure.” she drawled, “but, you smile too much to pull it off.”

“well, y’know…” he shrugged, his grin turning sly.

“hard to be miserable when i’m spending time with someone this cute.”

her chopsticks paused mid-air as she shot him a flat look, “are you seriously flirting with me over lo mein?”

“is it working?”

“no.”

“you’re smiling.” he stated.

“i am not.”

“you’re totally smiling.”

she bit down on her lip, ears burning hot with a blush as she tried to suppress the very grin threatening to betray her. “i’m not.”

“oh, you are.” he said, leaning in slightly a cocky smile plastered over his face, eyes wide with amusement. the warmth of him suddenly very noticeable. “don’t worry—you’re not the first person to fall for my rogue-ish charm.”

“‘rogue-ish charm’? please.” she rolled her eyes, grabbing one of her two remaining rangoons that laid in a container between them and dramatically popping it her mouth. “you’re barely charming.”

“that’s not what you said last week when i saved you from that mugger.”

“please, that guy was like 5’4” and barely knew how to throw a punch.”

“still saved you.”

“you showed up after i’d already kneed him in the stomach.” she argued, eyes narrowing at him.

he laughed, head tilting back slightly, she watched as his shoulders rose and fell with each laugh. his hair was still damp from the rain, dark strands curling faintly against his forehead. “fine fine, maybe you don’t need me. but! i bet you’re still glad i’m here.”

“what makes you so sure about that?” she challenged, reaching for her last rangoon.

“because,” he said, grabbing the last rangoon from her without warning, “if you weren’t, you’d have kicked me out by now.” he popped the stolen side into his mouth, looking far too pleased with himself with every crunch.

“hey!” she squawked, hand reaching out to lightly slap his shoulder.

“too slow.” he teased.

“you’re the worst.”

“you love it.”

she shook her head, this time not bothering to hide her smile. “you’re lucky you brought food, grayson.”

“yeah,” he said, grin a little softer now, the usual cocky edge fading into something sincere. his eyes lingered on her a little too long as her attention turned back to the food.

“lucky me.”

-> part one of two

actyl, please do not copy or repost my works

[actyl]

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[actyl]

they say the worst way to die is by drowning. whether it be in 6 ft of water or 20–the consensus is always the same. the feeling of being pulled under, unable to breathe, unable to stay afloat; it’s a cruel way to die.

so what about drowning on dry land?

what about the slow suffocation of words left unsaid, of hands that don’t reach for each other anymore, of a love that used to be a lifeline but now weighs heavy like an anchor?

the lay in their bed, one side designated for each of them. mere inches apart, but worlds away. the warmth radiated between them, quiet reminder that once, they had closed that distance without hesitation. now that warmth felt cruel, a taunt of what once was.

the cold lingered heavier, seeping into their bones. not the kind of cold that blankets could steal away—no, this was deeper. the kind of cold that settles into your chest, makes home in the hollow and aching.

the silence was unbearable, pressing in on their lungs like water filling their lungs. they want to speak, to scream, to do something—anything, but what’s the point now?

one of them shifts, turning their back to the other. the mattress dips, a small movement that feels like a landslide.

what good are words when they’ve been sinking for so long?

her fingers twitch, aching to reach out, to pull him close, to find the warmth that once felt like home. but she doesn’t move, and neither does he.

they just lay there. drowning.

sometimes, the cruelest deaths don’t come from the sea.

no, sometimes they come from the ones we love.

MIKEY SANO, ran haitani, DRAKEN, chifuyu matsuno, shinichiro sano, takashi mitsuya, TETTA KISAKI / rin itoshi, sae itoshi, SEISHIRO NAGI / edward elric, ROY MUSTANG / shin asakura / kento nanami, SUGURU GETO, megumi fushiguro, toge inumaki / tetsuro kuroo, daichi sawamura, KIYOOMI SAKUSA, osamu miya, HAJIME IWAIZUMI / eren yaeger, ARMIN ARLERT, LEVI ACKERMAN, ERWIN SMITH, jean kirstein, + your faves

actyl, do not copy or repost my works