junoswrites

[junoswrites]

Nighthawks

Chapter One

A/N: I took some inspiration from Law and Order type-dramas that I’ve been binging lately so I’m excited to steal some jokes and use it in my fic.

☆彡

The Tokyo National Museum’s familiar halls were darkened as the night creeped on. With it being slightly past eight o’clock, you were absolutely positive that all the tourists that streamed through the exhibits were gone. Despite the empty halls brimming with unseen treasures of the art world, your laboratory was a hive of activity.

Conservators were working intently on the cross stitching of a lavish tapestry on loan from the Tokyo Western Art Museum. As the leading Head Curator of the Museum, You were personally staying back to supervise your coworkers. Luckily, you had the ticket to raising any low morale for this assignment. “Everybody,” You called out to the team with a small smile, “I have a surprise.” Haruhi, a woman with blonde and pink highlights in her dark hairlooked up with widened eyes. Her hands trembled from fiddling with a difficult strand of cotton. One look at the mysterious pink bag dangling from your fingers made her squeal and get up.

“Donuts!” Her cry of joy roused the others from their work, drawing a large crowd of exhausted technicians. A moment passed with the snap of latex as gloves were hurriedly removed. You smiled at the growing smiles on their faces, bring influenced by their infectious high spirits. “Bon Appetite, everybody.” You set the box on the nearby table, before you got swept away by the ensuing bloodbath.

The night stretches on and you and the team are working intensely on your work. Calming bossa nova plays in the background as all of you try to tuck in loose threads, replace stained patches and mend torn ends. You quietly lean over to peer at Junko’s careful attempt at tabby reweaving over a spot where a weft in the tapestry was missing. Reaching out to gently take the needle from her, you prepare to teach her how to efficiently darn another spot. “Junko-chan, great work. Do you reme-“

“Bam!”, the glass door to the laboratory slams open with a crash.

Junko’s hand jerks in alarm, drawing blood from her fingers as crimson blooms on her thumb. Yelping in surprise, you glare at the sudden intrusion before your eyes widen in surprise. The head of exhibitions, your superior Yamato Hideki, was striding into the laboratory in a panic. You had never seen him shed his cool demeanour before. The team stares wide eyed as Yamato doubles over in exhaustion, panting loudly.

He calls out to you, “Doctor Fujiwara, there’s something important I need to discuss with you-“ You hold up a hand to stop him, crossing to a nearby first aid kit and grabbing antiseptic with a bandaid. “Nishimura-san, please administer first aid to Ito-san while I confer with Yamato-san. Everybody please continue on the tapestry and leave by nine thirty.” Haruhi speedily tends to Junko’s finger after hearing your instructions and nods to you as you leave with your boss.

The tall man within the office is impatiently crossing his arms in a plush chair. Wearing a high collared black jacket and tactical gloves,

leaning against the chair were two infamous grenade-like gauntlets. Ash blonde hair graced softer features defined by high cheekbones. Too bad they were warped and twisted into the world’s deepest scowl.

Your polite smile felt frozen on your cheeks.

“Pro-Hero Bakugo-san,” You immediately bow, “It’s an honour to meet you.” All Bakugo does is give you a stormy look, “Yeah, whatever. Let’s cut the crap. Why the hell did you take so long to come here?” You winced at his rough language. Viral YouTube or Twitter videos that circulated the net every once in a while did nothing to prepare you for the onslaught of his rage in person.

Glancing at Yamato who now timidly watched from behind his desk, you frowned. Your lips pressed into a thin line in annoyance before answering calmly, “My team member was injured upon Yamato-san’s arrival. I apologise for our perceived lateness but we had to administer first aid to her. I gladly agree that we should dispense with courtesy since you’ve clearly taken the initiative to do so first.”

The previously agitated blonde’s eyes widened a little at your statement, before he seemed to shrink a little as he slightly calmed down. “Oh. Alright.”

You were stunned at his relative compliance, realising that he truly had mellowed out over the years since he had entered Pro Hero Work. The Twitter articles that Haruhi had sent to you fangirling over Bakugo held some grain of truth. She would probably be screaming at you if she knew who you were in a meeting with right now.

Yamato takes the awkward silence that descends as an invitation to jump in. “Doctor Fujiwara as you already know this is Pro-Hero Bakugo Katsuki. Bakugo-san is here on Pro-Hero business to consult you on an Egyptian artifact found on the crime scene.”

He faces Bakugo, gesturing to you with a small grin, “I’ve decided to refer Doctor Fujiwara to you as the lead consultant on this case. She’s the leading expert in her field.”

Bakugo raises his brows, “Seriously?” You couldn’t believe that he was doubting your credentials. You straighten up in your chair, “I have a doctorate in Art History and Egyptology.” “She’s also majorly skilled in the Fine Arts,” Yamato pipes in, as if to buff up your scrawny image in Bakugo’s eyes. You didn’t need him to know that you absolutely sucked in any practical art medium other than watercolour.

He narrows his eyes, before sighing and digging into his briefcase. “Fine, Doctor Fujiwara.” He fishes out a brown file.

“Hurry up and read this, because I’m not going to explain or repeat myself after this.” You gingerly thumbed through the pages of the crimes scene reports, as Bakugo started on a story of how him and his Sidekicks were at a bank vault on a mission.

Your thumb paused flicking the report, gaze hovering over an image of the bank’s private collection of ancient artifacts. You frowned at the caption. “The United Bank’s ancient Egyptian artifacts were under excellent protection. It was all stolen?”, you couldn’t help but muse out loud.

Bakugo scowls before rolling his eyes, rising from his seat and stabbing the next photograph with his finger. “Half stolen. Half. We managed to recover the rest. Ground Zero Agency is definitely more efficient than United Bank’s shitty security detail.”

You raised your brows as he leaned back and crossed his arms in his seat again. Silently, you resumed reading the report. You flicked through the document quickly, stopping to note the bloody crime scene photos. You winced at the bloodied photographs of a captured villain’s wounded chest. “Looks like you hurt them pretty badly. You guys seem to have it in the bag so far. What is my expertise needed for.”

Bakugo shrugs, jabbing a thumb at Yamato. “This is where he tells me you come in. You’re going to help me identify the ring we managed to take from the villain group’s leader.” He tosses a plastic bag to you and you catch it, noting the weight of its contents.

The bag contained a metallic ring, encrusted with rusty brown flakes. Turning it around in your hands, you did a cursory visual examination. “This needs to be tested for its purity, but I think it might be silver. Engravings and stylistic design are simple, typical Ancient Egyptian make.” You cast a look at Yamato and grin.

“Yamato, come over and look at this. I think it’s actually a genuine signet ring!” Yamato perks up, rushing over and peering at the ring in your hand. “Oh my! This is beautiful, Doctor Fujiwara.” He shakes his head in disbelief, before rushing to his computer to search up any matches to the ring in your palm.

Your grin intensifies, as you bring the plastic bag to your eye and stare at the gemwork on the ring. “The blue paint on the outer ring around the owner’s name. I think these are smaller blue lapis lazuli gemstones embedded beside the ring’s hieroglyphs…” You lock eyes with Yamato’s shining ones and burst into excited laughter, throwing your head back a little. “Eighteenth Century! My favourite!”

Then you are acutely aware that there is a very foreign presence in the room. One that probably did not appreciate your reaction to dating the signet ring’s rough time period which it originated from. You glanced at Bakugo, fighting to keep the smile off your face at your discovery. Instead of the furious expression you anticipated, you find his features are more confusing as ever. You’ve never seen this expression on the news or any post online. His eyes are widened, face curiously open with a raw display of emotion.

You hope it’s nothing bad, immediately schooling your features to remain professional. “I’ll need to get this to the lab tomorrow to be certain of my theories,” you conclude your short analysis as you straighten your posture. Yamato nods, gesturing to his computer, “I’ve found no obvious matches to this signet ring online so far. I’ll have to access our museum’s database tomorrow to cross reference with the bank’s inventory.”

You look down and glare at the rusty flecks encrusted on the ring, examining at it through the flimsy plastic bag. The mysterious dirt was staining the ring, particularly on the inner surfaces of the band, “Why is it so dirty. How did you obtain it again?”

Now it was Bakugo’s turn to laugh. His deep voice echoed around the office as you jerked up to see his features softening in derisive mirth. “Hah, you gotta be kidding me Doc. It’s blood.” You stiffen. You had encountered ancient human remains before but fresh dried blood still gave you a slight ick.

“Blood? That’s blood?”, Yamato squeaks. Bakugo’s sarcastic smile deepens as he looks at Yamato’s shock, “Of course you idiot! Thats what happens when someone’s finger is cut off.”

Your eyes widen but before you even respond, there’s a loud crash as Yamato faints.

[junoswrites]

Nighthawks

pairing: bakugo katsuki x reader

summary: Your Curatorial position at Japan’s leading art museum is perfect. With an uneventful life, you were content with the peace that came with it. Good things never last. You are dragged into the infuriating chaos of crime solving while being forced to work with an infamous Pro Hero on a dangerous case.

disclaimer/warning: I’m not Japanese nor an Art Historian. This is a passion project to fuel my love for art and writing accompanied by ample research. All characters are aged up! and there are multiple mentions of canon typical blood and violence etc.

inspired by my late night crime and order dramas and the Edward hopper painting “Nighthawks”

chapter links:

one

two (coming soon)

[junoswrites]

Masterlist

Love Island the Game

mainly writing for S4 Youcef fics + My OCs

My Hero Academia

A Bakugo x Reader fic “Nighthawks”

[junoswrites]

love island the game season 2 Kassam fic

Prompt: ‘Are you scared?’ ‘Of course I’m scared!’

Casa Amor was a near duplicate of the Villa. Huge pool, communal bedroom and cameras. Cameras everywhere. Sanghee had begun to suspect that even the slightest twitch would be caught on camera so that the producers could catch their nights with the Casa Amor boys in excruciatingly edited detail.

They were having their first night as Casa Amor, enjoying their well fought for cocktail party. Sanghee tightly grasps the brightly coloured cocktail. Her second drink of the night and she already regretted the two drink limit after watching Graham and Marisol make out across the pool. Felix had erupted into a terrible kissing expression that naturally only Priya was interested in. Suddenly she wasn’t so sure that the cocktail party was that worth it. Amidst the neon lighting and elongated shadows, Sanghee’s mind was hit with an intense need to get a breath of fresh air.

Stumbling out of the deck chair she was reclining on with Hope, Sanghee grabbed the extra cocktail that Marisol had left behind. Marisol wasn’t going to miss the cocktail anytime soon, and the producers had already seen Chelsea down four flutes of bubbly without a peep. The swing presented itself as a divine haven of solitude. Until she realised that it was already occupied.

“Did Lottie ask you to fetch me,” Kassam’s dry tone carried over in the cool shade of the evening. Dressed in a loose jacket and dark shirt, he leant back against the pillows with ease. For a guy who supposedly needed to charm at least one of the girls to keep his place in the show, he was deceptively calm.

Sanghee shrugs, “People have begun the preview of future bits. Unfortunately since I’m not Felix or a producer, I haven’t been fully appreciating the view.” Sanghee carefully settles onto the various pillows, sipping the precious drink. Kassam’s lip curled, “you’re still here?” Sanghee takes a bigger swig, closing her eyes as the alcohol entered her system with a jolt, “You didn’t stop me.” Peaceful silence descended. As the evening breeze blew, the swing’s gentle sway led to Sanghee leaning to feel how the scenery melted the pounding of her headache to a dull throb. Listening to the faint sounds of splashing in the pool from the other Islanders jumping in and Arjun’s loud laughter, a faint smile formed. The brightening stars burst on her upturned face like spray.

“Rough night,” Kassam notes as Sanghee’s eyes flit open to see him staring at her glass. How he noticed was beyond Sanghee, but she sighed, “You could say that.”

“Why?”, Kassam raises a brow, turning towards her with crossed arms. Sanghee laughs, “It’s nothing.” At first, he didn’t respond, only glaring at the violet sky with a frown. Then he sighed, turning back to her, “Are you scared?” Sanghee throws her hands up after setting her drink down, “Of course I’m scared! I’m scared I’m going to get dumped when I return from Casa Amor. After the ‘Disaster Recoupling’ when Lucas picked me, both of us were sure we were going to switch.” Kassam mused on the admission of vulnerability, tugging on his earlobe. He glanced at Sanghee before gingerly placing a hand on her shoulder.

“I might not be the best at comforting a girl,” his voice is a murmur above the ambience sounds of the party a distance away, “but you should take it slow.” His large hand is soft, but slightly clammy despite the cool evening.

Sanghee gives a weak smile, “That’s all the advice you got for me?” Kassam’s hand drops as he shrugs, moving to his earlobe again, “Whatever.” “What about you then, are you scared?” Sanghee leans toward him, eyeing his unreadable expression.

“Sure…I am,” came the slow reply, “Lottie’s been…intense.” “I thought you’d like intense. The other Islanders seemed to assume you were into that from what Lottie tells us,” Sanghee grins. Kassam tugs on his earlobe, glaring at the general direction of the pool, “Whatever it is, I’m not tied down or anything.”

“That’s a relief,” Sanghee laughs, “I might be violating her ‘Girl Code’ if she found me talking to you here.” Kassam frowns, “I guess it’s good that you’re feeling better enough to take the piss at me.”

“Thanks,” Sanghee grins, a bigger smile this time. “You know, You’re actually not so bad,” Sanghee laughs, running a hand through her hair absentmindedly. “I was scared of you since I first arrived at Casa Amor.”

The day bed squeaks as Kassam shifts, edging closer. In the dark shadow of the nearby shrubbery, Sanghee can barely make out the slight grin on his face as he replies. “Let’s change that then. You’re not too bad yourself.”

[junoswrites]

love island the game season 2 mc moodboard

kim sanghee • 25 • Streamer | Influencer • Cambridge

[junoswrites]

love island the game season 2 moodboard

kassam • 26 • techno dj • newcastle, england

[junoswrites]

love island the game season 4 moodboard

Youcef • 27 • Paris • Fashion model •

“voted best looking philosopher in college”

[junoswrites]

LITG masterlist

litg season 2 oc: Kim Sanghee

moodboard

litg season 4 oc: Eve Tay

moodboard

LITG S2

kassam

moodboard

fics

are you scared?

youcef

moodboard

fics

honesty is the best policy

rose petal

[junoswrites]

Honesty is the best policy

love island the game fic

After Eve rejects Tom during breakfast, she shares a moment with Youcef.

“Stay put”, Tom smiles eagerly before moving off the bed to leave for the kitchen. Eve raises her brows, “I’m not a dog?” Tom’s cheeks are coloured with embarrassment, “Well, everyone likes breakfast in bed.” Eve’s brows cross and before her lips part again to retort he saunters out.

“Forget it.” Eve says to the empty bedroom, “I can’t stand not being taken seriously.” She rather not stay obediently when she wasn’t even in a romantic couple with him for crying out loud.

—

Padding across the cool bedroom tiles, she quickly emerges from the bedroom freshly changed. The kitchen is filled with familiar scenes of the Islanders getting breakfast. Kobi and Lexi are flirting over their respective cuppas, Bruno offering a bowl of congealed porridge to a disgusted Cora. Eve’s eyes rove round the room to rest onto Angie. “How was last night,” Angie raises her brows knowingly. A coffee mug is slid across the kitchen counter, condensation pooling around its rim. “I’m becoming your clone pretty soon. This is my second friendship couple after Kobi dumped me,” Eve groans as she sips the icy brew. “Thanks,” she adds sheepishly for the coffee. Angie chuckles dryly, “Well, we could always wait for more new boys.” Eve shrugs, “let’s hope they don’t send in more…people that fit Friend Island than Love Island’s requirements”

Tom’s voice sounds out from behind them, toting a tray of toast. “I thought I told you to stay in the room? Breakfast in bed?” Again with the breakfast in bed. Tom pushes the tray towards her midair and Eve steps away with Angie slipping away wide eyed. Turning, she spies the fellow Islanders trying too hard not to look like they were waiting for her response.

“Look Tom, I’m going to be…honest,” Eve squares her shoulders, “The toast is a great gesture. The thing is, I’m sorry but I don’t think we’re too compatible. I told you I don’t like being told to wait and you ignored me, clearly we need to find other people. Why don’t you use the lovely toast you’ve made to graft?”

The speech seemed to knock the wind out of the poor man. “So this is you rejecting me?”, he sighs. “We’ll,” Eve pushes off the counter to stand behind him, “I’m steering you to more compatible Islanders.” She pushes the man’s back softly towards the reclining Cora and Valentina who’ve retreated to the daybeds, “Go on tiger.” As the deflated Tom is blown out the kitchen by her brutally honest rejection, Eve clasps the now lukewarm cup of coffee, draining the last drops. Her eyes concentrates onto the distant skyline in frustration. She needed another cup of coffee to get over what just happened.

A warm hand taps her shoulder, “Eve?” She whirls around, already recognising his voice. “Youcef,” Eve purses her lips, “What’s up?” Youcef is leaning against the kitchen counter behind her, the perfect image of calm. Good for him, her mind was about to burst from its collection of conflicting emotions. Youcef’s dark eyes flit to her empty mug, then to another chilly cup in his hands, “You look like you need this.” Her frosty expression melts as she sighs, shoulders slack, “Mm, I do. You’re amazing, Youcef.” “I know I am,” Youcef grins in his usual suave fashion. Eve laughs, “Sure you are. Are you going to tell me how the French are different in their methods of rejection?”

She casts a derisive look at his cool demeanour as his lips quirk upwards at her snark. “No,” he replies, “Si je suis honnête, I was going to say that it was admirable that you rejected him. Being truthful is always better when it comes to dealing with people.” Eve leans against the bar counter, idly tracing the droplets of condensation near her cup, “I just can’t stand leading him on. Not that I’m afraid of hurting him but I can’t stand wasting time pretending to like men.” Youcef stays silent, waiting for her to continue. She shrugs, “I guess it’s unfair. Inconvenient for both of us even.”

Eve catches his brief shock at her choice of words. “Maybe it’s the way I’ve been brought up, back in my home country we’ve just prioritised function and practicality,” Eve elaborates. “When I visited Singapore, my impressions was that your people are more laidback than what you’ve shown us in the villa,” Youcef remarks. Eve laughs, feeling the punch of homesickness in her gut , “I can always show you around Singapore, the touristy spots aren’t enough to properly soak in our culture.”

He wistfully smiles, “Ah, I still remember the impressive green architecture in your airport. This time, you could introduce me to the best dining spots as my private guide.” Eve laughs, tilting her head as she quips, “Isn’t Thabi the professional tour guide? I bet everyone can come along to give me some pointers. I’m afraid I’m not very good with tours outside of an art museum.”

Youcef’s response is ambiguous, “It wouldn’t be the same. A beautiful woman like you showing me an equally unique city, who would want extra company?” Eve laughs, rolling her eyes “If you stop your excessive flirty lines, then I’ll personally bring you to all the best places to grab a bite, I promise.”

Youcef nods, leaning close enough for Eve to spot how the morning sun coloured his dark eyes golden. She freezes, cup of coffee midair. He continues to speak, seemingly oblivious to her shock at their closeness.

“I hope you’re being honest this time too. Because I’ll hold you to that promise.”

Eve laughs, her voice peaks nervously at their increased proximity, “Of course! Honesty is the best policy, right?” Youcef winks cheekily and the spell is broken, as he seemed to retreat back into his usual persona before leaving the kitchen.

Angie bursts into the kitchen a minute later, “What the hell was that between you and Youcef just now?” Eve rolls her eyes, “Just a conversation between mates. Honest.” Angie snorts, glaring playfully, “Sure you’re being honest.” Eve just playfully punches her shoulder, “Yea yea…”

(si je suis honnête - If I’m being honest)

[junoswrites]

love island the game season 4 mc moodboard

• Eve Tay • 22 • Art Curator • Singapore

“gives beautiful things tender loving care”

[junoswrites]

POV: meeting youcef on the hot tub date.

MC moodboard

Rose Petal

Eve

“Hubble bubble toil and trouble,” Najuma hums as Eve squints into the setting sun and the surrounding horizon. The sunset’s rays cast angled slopes of light against the two women sitting on the rooftop. The thought of being picked alongside the feisty Najuma made her mind race with nerves, she was probably going to have to speak up later on. “Remind me to finally laugh at your joke once we come back from the date,” Eve grins at her attempts to lighten the mood. Najuma snorts, throwing herself onto the copious pillows on the bench next to her, “Alright, alright. ”

“I’ll bet there’s going to be more trouble once we’ve had our dates. It’s almost time anyways,” Najuma rises from the pillows sporting her signature winning grin. “Drama, huh,” Eve’s matching smile creeps onto her own face, “sounds fun.”

—

Scented steam wafts from the hot tub, obscuring the two forms hidden. The translucent veil clears to reveal a man on the left rocking while sitting in the heated waters. His dark hair is dyed with dirty blond combed higher than the rising steam and when Eve wrinkles her nose at the sight she swear she can somehow smell his pomade. Waving madly with a suave grin, he stands with a splash, “Ladies! I’m Bruno. Don’t mind the steam, it comes with this whole package.” Motioning to his well toned physique, Najuma bursts out into loud laughter. Eve grins, leaning onto Najuma for silent support as the girl wraps an arm around Eve’s shoulders in comfort.

Najuma slides into the hot tub enthusiastically after both girls introduce themselves, facing mystery man number two. “Nice to meet you both! What’s your name?” Eve follows suit, careful not to slip and fall into the hot tub in front of the nation.

“I’m Youcef, it’s very nice to meet you both,” the second man rises with a slow smile. Eve purses her lips as her eyes examine him. The water runs down in rivulets over his lean body, tracing lines down his toned arms. Well defined cheekbones and a strong browbone. He wouldn’t look out of place in an advert off some of those fancy boutiques in London or in Singapore’s downtown shops.

Youcef absentmindedly retouches his fringe to flash a steady look towards the girls. One that Eve was pretty sure was directed at Najuma. Of course, two men in the hot tub but both of them were not a match, Eve sighs internally. Time to play the game, Eve reminds herself as she flashes a flirty grin that she can manage as best as she can to Bruno. He returns her flirty grin with a heated wink.

Mid way through the conversation, Eve leans back to pick up a nearby floating rose petal, but it slips out of her grasp to float over to Youcef. Shit. “Being a Parisian modelling is simply exhilarating-,” Youcef’s thick French accent is stopped as it laps against his half submerged bicep. Eve is midway in hastily plucking the petal from his arm, bursting out in an apology, “Sorry! I was…playing with the petal?” Even she can’t believe how ridiculous she’s sounding, letting her hand fall into the water with a splash.

His gaze slides over, as Eve laughs nervously. She was already fucking it up. “Naturally, as an Art curator, you’ll be drawn to pretty things. Maybe we can be your new subjects?” Youcef grins suavely. Eve laughs dryly, unable to stop the words leaving her lips. “Then explain how I’m distracted enough to play with a petal while I’m in a hot tub with you two?” Bruno and Najuma burst out into laughter, Bruno reaching over clapping a hand onto Eve’s shoulder. “At this point you’ll beat me at the standup game,” his easy grin makes Eve’s shoulders ease.

Youcef does a double take, stare intensifying as his brows are raised. A softer smile emerges on his face as Eve raises her brows, before he winks and rejoins Najuma and Bruno’s conversation. Eve’s heart pounds against her swimsuit , the sudden painful sensation a mildly disconcerting one. She was screwed.

Youcef

He wouldn’t lie, he had originally voted for Najuma to come on a date with him and hoped for a good chance to win her over and secure his place in the villa. Najuma seemed like the type of girl he wanted typically. Passionate, smoking hot and feisty. Love Island was going to help him secure more jobs and he needed a safe choice to give him the victory.

Unfortunately the producers decided to make the hot tub date a double date. That meant he had to share a date with two other islanders. Still, the cameras were rolling and who was he to deny them a good show? Rolling out all the stops, he focused mainly on Najuma with perfect execution of carefully placed French lines and his signature flirty smirk. As expected, he had a good foundation to getting her wrapped around his finger.

Eve’s presence had hit him like a truck. Unlike the tiny petal that had grazed his bicep before, her slim fingers that danced against it seconds later to pull it away left a trail of heat that made him shiver.

“Naturally, as an Art curator, you’ll be drawn to pretty things. Maybe we can be your new subjects?”

A classic line, one that always made the ladies swoon no matter the delivery. Her reply sent him off kilter.

Eve had playfully insulted them. Did she not care about her chances in the show? They were not supposed to tell her who picked who for the date, so she could have very well ruined her chances. He couldn’t understand her.

Refocusing his attention on her, her dark eyes and long hair with the way her eyes shined when she talked about her job, her passions. Youcef noted the way her slim fingers fiddled with themselves and he wondered how it would feel to lay a hand on them to stop her fidgeting.

He caught himself. What was he thinking, fantasising about holding her hand? He was a grown man with such juvenile thoughts, he should be ashamed. He was screwed.