#// love you all <3

[treasure-goblin]

Reblog to let prev know you're proud of how far they've come and that they are deserving of love and care.

[arthursfuckinghat]

I just realised I completely forgot to show my finished Arthur cosplay so here!!

You can find the process of me making the hat here! Everything including the hat and the materials was purchased second hand and using things I already had (the rope, jeans, journal, neckerchief, etc) so it's a very budget cosplay but I think it turned out well! The total came to about £45, there's receipts here if you're interested <3

[bby-blu-swirll]

insomnia - scenario ! w/ bakugo, todoroki, iida, & kirishima

at the time of starting this,, i posted a whole short a few hours ago, but i can't sleep and it's getting frustrating, so here's some little whatever's so i don't go bonkers in my little corner <3

( in my experience, insomnia is very very frustrating and kinda makes me want to bash my head in and throw myself into the mediterranean, so i may or may not be slightly touching on those feelings here as well idkk )

bakugo :

tbh if you came knocking at his door in the small hours of the morning, he would probably seem a bit irritated ( dw he isn't he's just worried about you and doesn't know how to show it. and he might be just a little irritated, )

"the hell are you doing up this late?"

he'd lean against his doorframe as you explained - you'd been trying to sleep for hours, but you just couldn't get tired, couldn't get comfortable, couldn't keep your eyes closed. and it was just a bit maddening,

with a heavy sigh, he'd open up his door and step to the side ( a silent invitation into his dorm ).

bffr tho as soon as he closes that door, he's pulling you into a hug, rubbing your back, massaging your head and just holding you to his chest. he wouldn't say anything, just hold you, making sure to take deep, slow breaths.

eventually he would pull out of your arms and make his way back to his bed, rolling onto his back. at first you thought that was his way of telling you that you were done there, but after a second of you not moving, he would open his eyes and look over to you, motioning to his chest.

"are you coming or what?"

he would sleep as he usually did, with an arm behind his head, but tonight his free hand was around your waist, holding you close.

he wouldn't draw attention to it, but he would do his best to stay awake until you were out. he'd use his thumb or fingers to draw small patterns on your torso to try and lull you to sleep.

the more you came to his door at night, the less he asked.

eventually it got to the point of you coming in without knocking, and just crawling into bed with him. he never seemed to mind though. as soon as he was stirred, he would look around a bit, see you, and relax again, wrapping an arm around you.

he'd give you a half awake, "you okay?" just in case it was worse than usual, or if it had a more specific cause.

under the circumstance you said no, he would sit up so he wouldn't fall asleep and just listen to you talk until you were ready to pass out in his arms again <3

todoroki :

he understands sleeping problems, they probably plagued him in and out of his childhood.

the first time you had come knocking at his door, he was concerned. he would try to help, offer to make you tea or get you a blanket or melatonin or anything you could need.

but if it got to the point you were willing to wake him up, then you had already tried everything. dragging him into your waking nightmare was the last thing you wanted to do, really.

before he could finish his list of solutions, you had your arms wrapped around his waist and your body weight leaning against his.

"whoa, hon, hey..."

he would hold you up and support you immediately, kissing your head and lifting your chin to face him.

he would push some hair from your face and smile at you. maybe kiss the tip of your nose,

"don't worry love, i'll take care of you.."

he'd lie in bed with you, playing with your hair and just brushing his fingertips across your skin. he would probably lie awake just a bit, racking his brain over you.

he just wanted to help you, and knowing there was nothing more he could do than hold you and try his best to be comforting, it just didn't feel like enough. in perfect contrast, though, he couldn't help but know exactly how you felt.

when he was young and still shouldering his father's abuse alone, he had plenty of sleepless nights that nothing but the sunrise could put an end to. he was, at the very least, grateful he could be one thing he didn't have- warmth and comfort to reassure you that you weren't dealing with all this alone.

all his guilt dissipated when you were quietly breathing in his arms, fast asleep, a few minutes later.

in the future, on those especially rough nights that you found yourself at the door of his dorm, he would always be there for you.

he had begun to insist that you didn't need to keep knocking, and after some time you finally listened. some nights, you just went over before either of you first went to bed in the first place.

he didn't shift much in his sleep, but even when he did, he would always find a way to keep his hands on you. the physical contact seemed to be good for you and your insomnia, so he made it a point to offer that comfort, even when he was unconscious. <3

extra - he definitely started getting a second glass of water for his room at night, just for you

iida :

he did react poorly when you first came knocking on his door in the middle of the night, breaking curfew and the rules of being in each other's dorms past dark. (ESPECIALLY your partner's dorm). just know that it wasn't personal.

he was about to scold you in a whisper tone, but put a full stop to that the moment he noticed that you looked as though you were about to cry.

"uh- y/n? are you alright?"

his voice was gentle and concerned, his intense respect for the rules going out the window the second he saw you hurting. he would hold out a hand to carefully cup your jaw, his worry growing when you just closed your eyes and leaned into his touch.

"oh... come in, darling, tell me what's bothering you."

he would turn on whatever his softest light was and sit you down on his bed. he, of course, would take his desk chair and move it so he could sit across from you. after all, if he had no clue what made you so upset, he wouldn't want to risk making you uncomfortable as well.

as soon as you explained your troubles, he went straight into logical solutions. though his intentions were the most pure, his words were frustrating nonetheless.

"a nice cup of chamomile should do the trick!" "have you made sure you've been off your phone for at least an hour before you retire for the night?" "i've heard wonderful things about melato-"

"iida."

you didn't even want to give him a chance to finish that last thought. you thanked him for his efforts, you really did appreciate them, but you were insistent that this was a continuous issue that you've tried everything and them some to cure.

you explained the frustration of lying awake, tossing and turning, never quite comfortable and never quite tired enough. hour after hour of constant moving and shifting that feel like second and an eternity at the same time.

iida was a man of logic, but he was also a man with a heart. he understood frustration, feeling powerless and completely stuck.

so, where logical solutions had failed, he knew now what was left to do was just to comfort you and be there.

over the course of your relationship, you had shaken him a bit loose of being so uptight. especially when it came to pda and physical touch, and ESPECIALLY when it came to being 1 on 1 inside the dorms. despite all that, he would still normally put up some kind of protest as you tried to weasel your way into his lap before he gave up.

this time, however, he made no effort to stop you from curling up to him once he switched off the lights. he understood this is just where you were right now and what you were needing, and this is all he could do, and he was happy to break the rules for your sake.

so much so, that this became regular. he would leave his door unlocked for you to come in and snuggle up to him however you'd like, and he would wake up for long enough to adjust to you, hold you and ask if you were all right before you could both drift off.

any night without fail, he would do whatever he needed to to help you out, even though that definitely went against his intense respect of the ua dorm code. as long as aizawa never found out, he was free to care for his darling girl another night. <3

kirishima :

he's the kind of boyfriend who's like your built in best friend. except you can make out with him.

the first time you had trouble sleeping, you told him immediately the next morning.

"bro i had the worst time trying to sleep last night,"

and the next

"omg babe it happened again."

and kirishima is honestly the biggest sweetheart, he's just trying to be manly and be there for you, so it's safe to say he would have extended an invitation to his dorm by the third time you mentioned it. maybe even sooner.

we all know he's smart, but his first thought probably wouldn't be all the herbal remedies and healthy living practices that could solve your problem. he probably did some research on them when your issues first started, but the second you found out the didn't work, he dropped them to find some other fix. turns out, it was him.

you would knock at his door, just a bit nervous he would be upset even though he had offered beforehand.

he would know it was you, immediately, and answer all sleepy and half awake. rubbing his eyes, he'd lean against his doorframe and put an arm around your waist.

"hey, baby.. 's it happening again?"

you would just nod and he would lead you inside, his hand never leaving your lower back.

"is there anything i can do, or do you wanna just try and go to sleep?"

he would definitely make sure you were completely taken care of - if you needed a glass of water or wanted a snack, he would personally get you one from downstairs and insist that you don't worry your pretty little head and just get nice and cozy in his bed.

once he was positive you had everything you could possibly need, he would snuggle all close to you in any way.

he probably mostly sleeps on his back, with you lying on his chest. he'd have one hand on your back and the other in your hair, brushing through it gently or just massaging your scalp, just trying to help you relax.

sometimes he'd spoon you, just pressed to you with an arm draped over your waist, holding you close. on those nights, he would probably move your shirt up just a bit to be able to trace small circles on your skin. (his hands are warm too aww)

but no matter how you were lying together, he would always be whispering sweet little nothings to you.

extra lol -

there was one time when you said you wished you could get some fresh air, and he was ready to sneak out in 3 minutes. it was freezing outside, but he just said it was just more reason to keep an arm around you while you wandered the bright and colorful streets of musutafu past midnight.

(iida definitely caught you guys on your way back in, but he let it slide when you agreed to do the dishes for a few nights. (kirishima took most of that responsibility too lol <3) )

if anybody wants me to do this w/ different characters, my inbox is open ! it's also open for any other requests <33

my last few posts have pretty much all been some kind of hurt/comfort so i think i wanna do something more fun and cutesy or smth lol anyway

i love you sm sleep well !! 💗💗

[ameliathornromance]

“You’re okay,” you reassured. “We’ll be okay, I promise.”

Leaning over the edge of the boat, your Orc Boyfriend said in a gruff voice, “Orcs were not made for water travel.”

All you could do was rub his back. “We haven’t even set off yet…” you mumbled just low enough that your partner couldn’t hear.

The two of you had decided to go and explore the wider world. It was a tough and scary decision for you both to make. You both had never ventured beyond your homeland, and your Orc had never faced the prospect of being separated from his caravan.

When he had first announced his intent to travel with you, the whole Caravan had erupted with disapproval. He had silenced them all with barks of reassurance... Although you weren’t exactly sure how he did it, given the yelling and shouting.

Eventually, the Caravan warmed up to the idea. They even offered to escort you both to the docs, but you both declined.

A whole encampment of Orcs suddenly appearing at the docs? People would assume they were trying to plunder a ship and then everything would go to Hell.

If it were only you and your Orc, people would stare yes, but there wouldn’t be as nearly as much panic. And you would let them stare.

What business was it of other people what you and your Orc did together? You were not being forced to go along with him.

The boat eventually unanchored... And you both were off.

Your Orc Boyfriend effortlessly bounced back from his sickness, insisting it was because of his diet, but you saw through his deception. The two of you watched as the land got further and further away from the boat.

As the land turned into a mere strip of green from the horizon, your Orc wrapped his arms around your waist from behind. He placed his head on top of your own.

A heavy sigh escaped him, causing you to look up. Placing your hands on top of his muscular forearms. “And there it goes,” he said, a note of finality rang through his tone.

You give his arm a squeeze. “And there it goes.” You echoed.

The both of you were due to begin a whole new adventure in the wider world... Who knew what excitement was waiting for you out there?

Patreon

[hasello]

Could you tell me more about the cousins au?

GLADLY (even tho there isn't much to talk about lol) Here we go!

Cousins AU is just an au where the 2003, 2012 and Rise turtles (since these are the versions I'm most familiar with) have known each other since always and grew up together. They visit each other very often and just generally treat each other like cousins, hence the name! :D

Here's the age-chart for when they're kids, which is how I mostly draw them in this au. 2003 Leo is the oldest of the whole bunch (THE big bro) and Rise Mikey is the baby (everyone loves him and can ya blame them?).

I haven't really thought about the story, but if I had to explain how they met, I'd say that younger Rise Splinter used his portal thingy wrong in a stressful situation and somehow went to a whole different dimension, where he met another rat-dad. They became friends and then decided to look for even more dimensions and found the third Splinter. From that moment they just visited each other regularly and lived like a big fam!

Also here's a little info about my fav girl. Rise April is the only one who have known the boys since they were kids in canon, so I decided it'd be the same in this au (imagine having 12 brothers, like damn).

Hope this explains things a little! It's not a story/plot driven au, it's just mostly some silly ideas and little stories I come up with! Love y'all <3

[pictureofdoriaaaaaangay]

chaotic book ramble so I can stop spiraling into the abyss: dark academia books you've heard of and probably already read edition

I need to talk about books I love to stay sane please stand by <3

Bunny by Mona Awad. I love this book SO MUCH. it's beautifully written, the characters are all unhinged women, there's murder, there's creation, there's a creative writing class. it drips with insanity and eroticism. reading it is like living a fever dream. you can picture the events of the book perfectly, but could never hope to explain it to anyone.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt. this book is the entire world to me. I love the characters [they're all terrible and irredeemable people], I love the story [they kill a man then they kill their friend and also worship Dionysus], and I absolutely want a friend group just like the Greek class [to reiterate: they are all walking red flags]. it's a book you have to read once, then again, and again, just to notice more and more so you can analyze it and make deductions. at the end of the day, it goes beyond the age-old "moral implications of murder" and delves into "moral implications of love". don't ask me how many times I've read it. that's my red flag.

If We Were Villains by ML Rio. it was only recently that I read this over the course of twenty four hours, and I honesty have yet to recover. I'm not a Shakespeare girlie, but I still loved the way his work was so inherently and intricately woven into the story of the iwwv characters. it was transcendent. it was a tragedy, it was a love story, it was a comedy. it depends on your perception of it, I suppose. but I digress - it's a really good bloody book. expect the ending to make you cry.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, by our lord and savior Oscar Wilde. this, technically, can't really be classified under the textbook definition of "dark academia" since there's not exactly any academia (can Harry even read let's be honest here), but it goes in this list because VIBES. this is one of my favorite novels of all time, and another one I've read one too many times for it to not be a red flag. I mean, the name of my damn blog is my red flag. I love it so much. it's got everything, from art to obsession to murder to gay people to the most heartachingly profound lines you've ever read. I mean, why wouldn't you read it if you haven't already?

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever. this one snuck up on me. towards the beginning, I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but by the middle, I was hooked. by the ending, I was shooketh. reading the author note, I was sitting silently in abject horror. more gay people, more obsession, more murder - what else do I have to say?

this has been a chaotic book ramble. thank you for being here <3

[writingjourney]

hey friends, i'll likely continue to be a bit less active on here. i have a very old senior kitty and she's not been doing well these past few days, she's improving now but my mental (and physical) health plummeted even more as you can imagine. i realize that not spending as much time in this space as i used to is better for me rn. i am not in a headspace to be all happy and bubbly and might be slow to reply to DMs. should i finish any writing despite the creative block i have i'll of course post it and i'll also try to still be supportive of others where i can and queue some posts when i do come online.

i'll be on discord for messages more frequently so if you want to reach me it's @/ibikus <3

[skoff-the-artist]

- The wrong one

[..]The sickly green light of the medical room lamps. The smell of rust settles in a thick cloud on the walls, dripping onto the floor. The grip is tight, painful, impossible to get out of. Disbelief. "Optimus?.." Realisation.

Happy Halloween! :9

[kiwi-smug-silvalina]

Mutuals will get hugged. That is a threat.

[diaryofanidiot]

The Neverland Curse

Summary: MC is on the receiving end of a strong curse. They've been reverted back to a child until they can earn a meaningful memory from each of those they care about. It's up to the Demon Brothers & co. to care for them until then.

CW: de-aging, cursing, slight nyctophobia, tantrums

Chapter List: Prologue 1 2 <3> 4 5 6

Taglist: @avatarofstars @botensbabygirl @mothmothmothmothmothmoth @akira-chan8 @rinizitos @pastatownsystem @stabbylikesnukes @urhigh42 @princessparadisebaby @abadonkori @lucifersimp333 @coffeeandtealol @maxx0inwonderland @letsblazewolf

(Tumblr quit shrinking my gifs >:( )

After what seemed like the hundredth outfit Asmo had me try on, my mood soured. The one he currently had me wearing was the worst by far. It was scratchy and way too warm. Not to mention my annoyance at his millionth squeal right next to my ear about how 'cute' i was.

If any word summed up this "fashion show" as he called it, the word was torture.

"And to top it off..." Asmo reached into a bag and pulled out a funny looking hat. "A cute beret!"

I pushed the foul object away from me. "Azzyyyyy" I whined. "No more. I don't want it!" He was closer than he realized to feeling my wrath.

"Hush. There's only a few more outfits."

I stomped my foot. "No!" I was starting to miss Beel's helicopter treatment. I tore the scratchy top off, feeling better in the tank top underneath it. Finally, my skin could breathe. With a huff, I threw it down and stomped on it. "No! No! No!"

Asmo looked in horror at the way I treated the clothes he just bought me, as if I've just slapped him in the face; but didn't make a move to stop my tantrum.

"Alright, get it out of your system." He sighed, folding up the remaining clothes. I kicked the shoes off, too, before flopping on the floor with a pout. He pet my hair soothingly.

"Huh. Human tantrums are very... mild in comparison." He giggled.

I kicked my feet indignantly and buried my face in Asmo's sweater. He shushed me in an attempt to quiet my frustrations. I heard the door click behind us.

"Asmo, what do you think you're doing?" I heard Mammon's voice but didn't bother looking up.

"(MC's) just got some big emotions right now. I'm handling it."

Mammon must've seen the cause of my distress in the form of clothes piled everywhere. "Like hell you are."

I felt hands wrap under my armpits as I was lifted into the air. I whined and continued to bury my face in Mammon's shirt after he got me situated on his hip.

"Maman, make Azzy stop." I mumbled.

Asmo shot a glare at Mammon. "I'll have you know, Lucifer sent me to get clothes for them. It's only necessary to try them on. Plus they looked so adorabllleee" I felt his fingers lightly pinch my cheek.

Mammon held me tighter and turned me away. "Like I give a damn. You're exhausting my human."

"Your Human?!" Asmo shrieked. "Like you could take care of a kid!"

"I'd be the best at it!" Mammon countered.

They continued bickering for at least another five minutes. I clamped my hands over my ears. Everything was too much!

"Now look what you did!" Asmo was seething. Mammon was holding me way too tightly. Before I knew it, fat, hot tears began to roll down my face.

"No more!" I cried. The two froze, unsure of what to do. Next thing I know, I was yanked out of Mammon's arms with a speed too fast to process. I rubbed my eyes to see a blurry vision of Satan through my tears.

He didn't say anything, and neither did the other two. The look of anger on his face was enough to silence them. The very definition of If looks could kill.

With one last warning look, Satan carried me away while I struggled to stop crying. I could feel him taking deep breaths as we walked.

The bouncing movement of his walking slowly calmed me down until I could look at him. The scowl on his face was scary, but he's saved me from being smothered twice now.

I patted his cheek lightly. "TanTan, mad?"

The scowl quickly turned to a look of surprise as he stopped in his tracks. A chuckle broke free from his lips as he looked at me with bewilderment.

"TanTan, huh?" The chuckle turned to a full laugh. "Even as a kid, you know how to cheer me up. No, I'm not mad. At least, not with you."

I nodded before gently biting on the top of my thumb. "Where goin?"

"It's your bedtime. Those two idiots kept you up way too late."

I shook my head. "Not Maman. He was trying to help me."

"Even so, you need sleep. Belphie was meant to be in charge of that, but who knows where he could be right now." He opened the door to my room and set me down in the connected bathroom on the sink counter. "Cmon, let's get you ready."

I watched as he prepped a toothbrush with paste and held it out to me. "Think you can do it on your own?"

I nodded and took it. I must've made quite a mess trying because he soon took it back. "Here. Open."

With a huff, I sat with my mouth opened while he helped.

I could've done it.

"Alright, now spit." He wiped my mouth after I complied and helped me down. "Will you be comfy sleeping in that?"

"Yea but I'm not tired now." I pouted, returning my thumb to my mouth. He promptly removed it.

"None of that. You'll make yourself sick. And don't lie to me, I can see the tired in your eyes." He poked my cheek.

How dare he. I'm not a liar.

He lifted me back up and set me down in my bed, pulling up the covers around me. "Since you aren't tired, maybe a story?"

I perked up at this. "Yes, please!"

He smiled and told me to wait there while he left to pick a couple out. When he came back, I had plenty of options to choose from. After much thought, I chose the one with the dragon on the cover.

"Good choice." He smiled. "Now get cozy"

"TanTan?' I asked, moving further down the covers.

"Yes?"

"Will you stay with me? Til I go to sleep?"

He nodded, tucking me in the rest of the way. "Of course."

He pulled a chair up and began reading. His voice was nice, and he even gave the characters different voices. Occasionally, he'd swipe his eyes from the page to me. Not that it was needed, it'd be hard to tear my attention away from the fantastical story about a dragon on an adventure to find his family. I was hanging off every word.

But his words eventually turned into white noise as my eyes were forcibly closing themselves. The last thing I felt before drifting off was a hand on my head and a soft

Good night.

<----------------------->

My eyes opened to a dark room. Nervously, I looked around. Satan had left, and now I was all alone. I looked out the window but it was still dark.

Oh right... no sun.

I couldn't tell what time it was, but the dark was starting to scare me. Every shadow could turn out to be a monster or something trying to get me! A whimper escaped my lips as I pulled the covers tighter.

My hand brushed against something fluffy before I remembered Bloo was on the bed with me. I clutched the stuffed bear to my chest as I worked up the courage to get out of bed.

I swung my feet of the side of the bed and quietly ran to the door, Bloo in hand. Reaching up to grab the door handle, I slowly pushed it open. It creaked ever so slightly. I paused, eyes wide in fear of something hearing me.

"Gotta be quiet," I whispered to my bear. I knew he'd understand. The hallway was very dimly lit, clearly most everyone was in bed. Or so I thought.

A blue light emitted from under one of the doors in the hall. Maybe somebody was still awake? I clumsily knocked on the door, hoping somebody would answer. An answer I shortly got.

"Password?" A tired voice called. I recognized it but couldn't remember who.

"Um..." I frowned. Why was there a password? Not fair. "I don't know..."

Shuffling sounds could be heard on the other side before the latch clicked.

"Sorry, Hen- er.. (MC), I didn't know it was you. " Levi's hair was disheveled, and a gaming headset sat crooked from his neck as if he fell asleep during a session. "You okay?"

I clutched Bloo closer to me and shook my head, staring down at my feet. "It's dark."

Levi shifted his weight, seemingly unsure of himself. "You wanna hang out in here? The aquarium keeps the room lit through the night."

Nodding, I let him lead me into his room. My eyes widened at the sight of it. I hadn't been shown the bedrooms on the tour, and this one was even cooler than mine.

Slowly, I walked toward the giant aquarium that felt more like a view into the ocean. A single goldfish stared back at me. Levi smiled.

"That's Henry. I think he likes you." He mused, kneeling next to me.

"Hi Henry..." I whispered. He pressed himself against the glass where my hand lay before swimming off again. I glanced around once more, looking at all the posters and figurines on his shelves. "Who's that?" I asked, pointing at a poster whose face appeared plenty in different parts of the room.

"Ruri-chan!" Levi grinned at my interest. "She's the absolute coolest. In fact, if you like, we could watch one of her movies."

I perked up and nodded. I was no longer sleepy, and a movie sounded great. He pulled up a bean bag in front of his TV and motioned for me to sit while he got everything in order.

"Not this one... this one you need to know previous lore, this one has a bad guy too scary for them.." Levi continued to mumble to himself while he sorted through a pile of DVD copies. "Ah! Here we go! The Magical Ruri-Hana: The journey to the unknown. Perfect for your age right now."

He paused for a moment after putting it in. "I'll have to sort which episodes of the anime you can watch later. I'll make a list so we can binge it."

Levi was buzzing with excitement, occasionally muttering to himself about getting to show me this all over again. My confusion grew once more. I've never seen this before. What did he mean again?

"Ah! Sorry! Ignore me." He must've noticed the puzzled expression on my face.

The bean bag was large enough to share, so I made room for him to sit with me. I felt the weight of the bean bag shift as he plopped down onto it. Next thing I knew, the TV had my full attention as the opening scene began.

Levi must've been up a long time because his initial excitement was soon replaced by quiet snoring about halfway through the second movie. Despite my fixation on the film, the sounds of everyone in the house waking up kept distracting me.

Carefully, I poked Levi's cheek. "Vi... it's morning."

"Hana.. Ru.. needs saved..." He breathed out, still fully asleep.

The footsteps and muffled talking in the hallway outside the room grew more frantic. I decided to pay it no attention while I watched the rest of the movie.

Bzzt

Bzzzt

Levi's phone buzzed on a nearby table, slow notifications at first soon grew to a consistent spamming. The footsteps outside grew louder til they were right outside the door.

The door swung open, hitting the wall behind it with a loud bang. Levi jolted and sat up.

"We can't find (MC!)," Mammon yelled right before his eyes met my widened ones. "...(MC)?"

"Hi Maman!"

"How many times do I have to tell you! Password entry only!" Levi yelled before falling back onto the beanbag. "They're in here with me."

"No shit I can see that." Mammon scoffed before turning his head to the hall and shouting. "They're with Levi!"

"Oh sure. Make this a family gathering, why don't you? Stupid Mammon..." Levi paused the movie while the others crowded the doorway.

The full attention of everyone so early in the morning set my nerves aflame. "...am I in trouble?" I asked, barely above a whisper.

Asmo was the first to respond, pushing past Mammon and grabbing my shoulders. "No, hon. You just scared us when we found out you weren't where we thought you were. It's a big house and you could get lost."

I nodded softly and watched as the brothers gathered their emotions.

"Couldn't sleep anymore. It was too dark"

"We'll get you a nightlight." Lucifer suggested, being the last to come in the room. "For now, let's go have some breakfast. You have a big day today."

I took his hand as we all dispersed, aside from Levi, who wanted an extra ten minutes of sleep; and followed him to the dining room.

"What big day?"

"There's two more people who'd like to meet you." The corner of his mouth formed a small smile. "And after that, we need to go see Solomon. He's figured something out about our...current predicament."

I wasn't sure who wanted to see me, but I do know that I was excited to see Solomon again. Happy with the answer, I set my attention on breakfast.

[employee052]

Timekeeper sends his love <3

blank ver + w/o text

[bby-blu-swirll]

sit on my lap while you do my eyeliner - bakugo x reader

i can't find it now, (i will tho if it kills me) but this is inspired by this tumblr post i saw on my pinterest that was like " 'let me do your eyeliner' gf and 'okay sit on my lap while you do it' bf" lol

pls enjoy xx

bakugo loves your makeup. (he loves your natural face just as much, but he also thinks you look drop dead gorgeous no matter what.)

his favorite days are when you pull out the eyeliner pen. when you look at him and your eyes are rimmed with black, bringing out the hue of your irises, he just folds honestly. subtly, because his pride is too strong to let anybody see him so weak for you, but you've definitely picked up on it.

he loves anything you do with it. a wing, big or small, a messy grungey outline, drawing hearts or stars, anything. he loves watching you do it with such attention to detail and even more loves seeing the finished product and how it might have changed the shape of your eyes. whether it's soft and cute and gives you little doe eyes, or sharp and cutting like a knife, pulling your eyes into dangerous (& admittedly sexy) slits, he adores it.

he doesn't show it much, though. he's not as bad as compliments as you thought he'd be, really, but this is just a bit different.

he can call you pretty, gorgeous, hot, whatever- all he wants. there was no problem there. especially, in front of other people. it was almost like bragging to him.

like once, in the middle of a conversation with the bakusquad, he caught your arm as you were walking by just to press a kiss to your cheek and tell you that you looked beautiful. of course he meant every word of it, but there was a silent emphasis on the fact that he was the one you got to tell you that, and that it was very true. it was like his way of being able to say, "suck it, extras, that beauty is my girlfriend," without sounding like the cocky douchebag he usually did. (bc he knows you don't like it when he's such a cocky douchebag <3)

but complimenting such a specific part of you was a bit more difficult, and he wasn't quite sure how to articulate it. he knew he liked it, but he wasn't sure why. he just thought you looked sexy and sweet like that.

like you did today.

it was one of those lazy saturdays for the both of you, where you slept in a little and kind of just floated through the day, maybe go out maybe not, maybe make out on your bed, who knows.

it was close to half past ten when you were finally up and at your vanity, doing your makeup for the day. your boyfriend was spread out and taking up most of your bed while he studied for the test you had on monday. you thought he was a bit of a nerd for spending one of his only mornings off on school, but you admired his dedication.

neither of you liked silence much, so soft music filled the quiet in your dorm, along with the occasional page turn from bakugo, usually followed by a sigh.

you capped your eyeliner pen with a huff. you had been looking at your face so long, it was hard to tell if it was even. "hey babe?" you turned your swivel chair to face him.

"yeah?" he didn't bother looking up from his book.

you pressed the closed pen to your cheek and blinked a few times. "does this look okay?"

he glanced up for a moment, doing a double take when he saw you. there was no concealer on your dark circles and your eyeliner was smudged underneath your eyes and your lips looked a bit cracked, and he could feel his stomach swell with butterflies the second he looked at you.

"yeah, its.. its perfect." he looked away and cleared his throat, hearing you chuckle slightly.

once you turned around in your chair, his eyes were glued to you. just watching you sort through your makeup tray, trying to find something. the way you knit your brows together, your bottom lip stuck out- his quickly averted his gaze back to his book when you turned to him. he could feel your eyes trained on him as he thumbed the corner the pages.

"hey katsuki?"

he hummed in response, still not looking at you.

you stood up and slowly sauntered towards him, smirking when his eyes flicked up to you every few seconds. you took his book and set it aside.

"the hell are you-" he clenched his jaw when you leaned close to him, still standing. he dropped his voice to a soft tone, just shy of a whisper. "what're you doing, huh?"

"can i do your eyeliner?"

he chuckled and smirked. "'course.."

you grinned and took a seat next to him, your face heating up as his hands found your waist. he lifted you up and set you on his lap, wrapping his arms around your torso and holding you close. his smirk grew as a blush crept up your cheeks.

"just as long as you sit... here." he pecked your lips, mindlessly stroking his thumb across the skin just above the waistband of your pants. "you can start whenever, babe, i'm not stopping you..."

you huffed and bit the inside of your cheek, internally rolling your eyes. his cocky smirk softened a little when your fingers delicately cradled his jaw, turning his head slightly.

"close your eyes..." you kept your voice low, watching his eyes flutter shut.

his skipped a beat when he felt your breath on his lips. he took deep breaths, just inhaling whatever lotion or perfume had you smelling so good.

you bit your lip and did your best to keep your hand steady. it was hard to keep the lines straight when he would squeeze your hips occasionally. but you prevailed nonetheless, keeping the ink close to the rim of his eyes. you were going for a sort of rodrick look.

"okay.." you clicked your tongue and capped your pen, setting it to the side. "you're done~"

he opened his eyes slowly, a playful look dancing across his features. "well? how do i look?"

your breath caught in your throat. his red eyes glowed, half lidded and staring right into you.

"hmmm..." you brought a hand to his chest, the other messing with the hair at the base of his neck. you traced small circles across his skin. "handsome."

"yeah?" he took your cheek in his hand, pulling you closer to him. "that all?"

you shrugged and chuckled a bit, watching his cocky grin return.

"hm, you think i'm hot. coulda just said so..." he pressed his lips against yours softly, which quickly changed to a rough, demanding kiss.

looks like you did end up making out on your bed,,

totally meant to upload this over a week ago,,, my bad lol i've been very busy, sorry this is so crap lol i'll probably rewrite it in the future <33

love you sm !! stay safe & sleep well 💗💗

[god-of-fandoms]

Here it is - a scene from my familiar faces au! I hope you enjoy it!

Tw: cursing, eye trauma, mentions of arranged marriage

---

Nya grunts in pain as she's thrown to the floor for what seems like the fiftieth time tonight. Scrap N' Tap is always rough - she has her growing collection of scars to account for that - but tonight seems different. Colder, somehow, and so much harsher than ever before. Her ribs are bruised to hell and the blood filling her mouth indicates that she's lost a tooth. The chuckling of the crew slowly falls silent, and her blood begins to run cold as a shadow looms in front of her.

Of fucking course. Why else would the pirates stop holding back unless he wanted something?

"Oh, my dear," and FSM the way Nadakhan calls her that in his sickly sweet tone just makes her want to throw up, "I can tell you're tiring of all of this. Why don't you just give in and stop all this pain?"

Nya spits out a mouthful of blood (and what she's almost certain is one of her incisors) at the djinn. "For the last time, dickbag," she hisses at his disapproving glare, "I'm not wishing for shit."

Nadakhan sighs as he floats closer, ignoring her attempts to flinch back. One thing she’s learned since being stuck on the misfortune? The captain has no fucking sense of personal space. It’s a trait that makes her shiver with disgust, especially when conversation circles back to the reason theyre stuck in this tango.

Speaking of which…

“My crew have been searching day and night, and your friends are still nowhere to be found.” Nadakhan’s golden eyes steadily burn a hole into her soul. She looks away, favoring the sight of her blood dripping onto the deck over that of the djinn’s face. “It seems that they are particularly good at hiding where I cannot see. But, my dear, you’ll come to find-” he grabs Nya’s throat in a bruising grip, ripping a strangled gasp from between her teeth as she's choking again, she can't breathe she can't breathe she can't breathe - "I always find what I'm looking for eventually. The other ninja will be in my grasp within the month, and once I have them? They will know pain like nothing they have known before, I swear to you."

He throws her to the floor once again. Her bruised ribs cry out in agony, but the feeling of air entering her lungs again drowns out the now familiar pain. A calloused hand finds its way to her hair, twisting a loose strand, and once again Nya has to fight back the urge to vomit.

"It doesn't have to be that way if you could just tell me where to find them. I can be merciful, and while it cannot be denied that I used to despise you for destroying Djinjago, it was not your intention to do so. Ever since you joined us-" ha, joined as if my only other choice wasn't to let you have him - "I have found it harder to argue against your usefulness. You would make a brilliant pirate, my dear."

Nya gives the djinn no response other than a scoff. She would rather die a million times than to see the day she'd willingly take orders from this son of a bitch. He sighs and turns his back on her, floating towards the center of the Scrap N' Tap arena. She wishes she had a knife to plunge into his spine.

"Your friends would not need to suffer, either, as long as they agreed to cooperate as well. I could let you all help me in my rule over Ninjago. It is... unfortunate that your brother and the nindroid were too late for this deal, but once I have my Delara back and receive infinite wishes I could be persuaded to bring them back-"

"HIS NAME IS JAY, YOU BASTARD!"

Nadakhan freezes. The rest of the crew falls eerily silent as well. Nya has been in control of water long enough to know that this is what it feels like in the calm before a raging storm.

"What did you just say to me?" The djinn asks, his words knife sharp. He turns to face her once again, and shit he's fucking enraged. It takes everything in Nya to glare back at him when her brain is telling her it's not safe run away DANGER RUN-

"His name is Jay, not Delara. I don't give a shit that he looks like your dead fucking fiancee - they could be twins for all I care - that doesn't change the fact that he's his own person. Delara is dead, Captain, and I'd rather gouge out my own eye than let you marry him because you think it will bring her back."

Nadakhan's nostrils flare as he flies towards her, arm outstretched as if to hit her. Nya can't help it - she flinches away, squeezing her eyes shut as she waits for the blow to come.

It doesn't.

After a few tense seconds, she looks up again. Nadakhan floats there, a peaceful look across his face as if he hadn't appeared ready to end her fucking life a moment before. Has he somehow managed to calm himself down

"Let me get this straight, my dear," and nope, he's even more angry than he was before, if the way his words drip with icy venom are a hint of his current emotional state, "Despite what you say about your precious Jay, I'd know my beloved anywhere. He may go on believing that he is not her, but once I have him in my grasp - and I will have him - he'll be whoever I say he is. And once I wed him and gain infinite wishes, I will be able to bring back the soul of my beloved Delara from the departed realm. With her spirit in his body, we will be reunited at last!"

Nya has to actively fight her nausea as she looks at the djinn's dreamy expression. Pure unadulterated horror courses through her. She knew that the djinn wanted to marry Jay under the delusion that he was a reincarnation of his bitchass fiancee, but for him to blatantly admit that he didn't give a single shit about Jay's thoughts and feelings on the matter - to admit to his plan of letting Delara permanently possess his body??? - makes her actively sick.

"You're a monster," she gasps, and it only makes him grin sadistically. "Jay will never marry you! He'll fight back every step of the way, and so will I!"

"My dear, Jay doesn't get a choice. No matter what, I will wed him and we will rule Ninjago together. And as for you..." His grin only grows wider as he looks away from her to admire the gleaming metal of his hook. He gestures to Dogshank and before she knows it the beast of a woman is restraining her, and despite her struggling she won't budge. "You're very against this wedding, aren't you? In fact, if my memory hasn't betrayed me, I recall you saying you'd 'rather gouge out your own eye than let me marry him'.

Nya freezes. The djinn is getting closer, too close, and the way he's gazing at his hook sends a bolt of terror through her. "I - I didn't actually mean that!" she stutters as her efforts in struggling against Dogshank double in intensity. She's completely unable to move, however, and her breathing gets harder and faster as Nadakhan raises the curved blade to just above her left eye. He wouldn't really, would he?

Nadakhan pauses, golden eyes roaming over her terrified face with amusement. "You didn't?" He asks, faux disappointment drowning his voice. He begins to pull away his hook, and the sigh of relief she lets out is embarrassingly audible.

"I guess I'll just have to do it myself, then!"

The hook pierces her eye.

The pain is instant and blinding. it's so much worse than every other injury she's faced as a ninja. It courses through her veins, hot and heavy, with no sign of stopping.

The hook digs deeper and though she can't hear anything she knows she lets out a scream as she feels it tear through her eye, ripping through nerves and tissue. The pain whites out her brain, she can't think of anything else, she can't breathe, she can't see-

It feels like minutes of agony as the blade twists and digs through her eye socket, hell bent on causing as much pain as possible. It's working. She simultaneously can't feel anything but her eye and feels every inch of her body as all of her nerves echo with pure blinding excruciation.

Then the hook freezes, and she's only given a brief reprieve from the pain before it yanks out of her socket, taking her eye with it.

The blinding pain overwhelms her again as nerves are ripped from the space her eyeball occupied moments before. Through her ringing ears, she can hear someone screaming. A minute later, she realizes that those are her cries.

She's dropped unceremoniously to the floor by Dogshank, where she lies in a growing pool of her own blood. The pain is still coursing though her, but it slowly ebbs... along with her consciousness.

Through rapidly closing eyes - eye, she only has one now - she can see Nadakhan as he floats towards her crumpled form. He lifts her chin gently, seemingly admiring his handiwork. Not has never been this tired. At this point, the pain is set aside as her body shuts down. Nadakhan tuts at her visible exhaustion and wipes away her tears (when did she start crying? She can't bring herself to care).

"Poor girl," he mumbles, his mournful tone a sharp contrast to the (rapidly blurring) smirk on his face. "This wouldn't have had to happen if you had just told me what I wanted to know."

Fuck that. She gathers the last of her strength as she glares at him and rasps, "'m not tellin' you shit".

Nadakhan scowls, but it quickly turns into a self satisfied smile. "Even in a time like this, you still have your fire. Good. And as for you 'not telling me shit', I believe you now. But mark my words, my dear..."

Nya is drifting off; Nadakhan's voice is getting more and more muffled as she sinks into her exhaustion. The last thing she hears are the djinn's parting words to her.

"Jay and the rest of your friends will be mine eventually. In fact, I doubt I'll have to look much longer. I guarantee you that they'll come to me themselves."

---

SO DO WE LIKE IT

this took me a crazy short amount of time compared to most of my writing. I'll have to thank @tornoleander for that because I listened to the girl with one eye (Florence + the machine) like you mentioned when talking abt my au and DAMN it got me in the mindset for this like nothing else lemme tell you. If there were to be a ff!au playlist at some point that would definitely be on it (along with nothing by Emily autumn because that gives me serious jay and nadakhan vibes lol)

Im probably gonna edit this soon because I'm so tired and this is probably shit rn. Bear with me though the typos fam.

anyway I really hope you all like this! Your feedback is always important to me so tell me what you think.

as always, feel free to ask me anything about this fic! I'm always happy to answer your questions :D

Thanks for reading this! I hope it makes you more excited about this au.

Have a lovely day!

-Lee :)

[fallstaticexit]

A Promise - end

Epilogue // Previous // Beginning

[setting-in-a-honeymoon]

I just want to say.

Last night, when they debuted "Bob Dylan" and everyone was talking about it on the dash, I started reflecting on my relationship to that song, how overcome with emotion I felt when it came out in 2019, how I sat and talked about it with my homeroom teacher (I was a queer junior in high school who less than a year ago stopped visiting her dad on the weekends and he was an English teacher with a very big heart, you know how it goes) because I so desperately wanted to wrap my head around what that song felt like, what it was making me feel.

"It feels like a love song, but not," was essentially my argument.

And he said, very very gently, "I think this is a break up song."

Now, we can debate all night about what the song is actually about, but that's not why I'm sharing this.

I'm sharing this because I remembered last night that by that year I had already become an avid journaler, and I looked up the release date for "Bob Dylan" and sure enough, when I flipped to that day in my notebook from that year, there was two page entry. One question my teacher I asked about the song stands out to me now.

Do I need to leave for you to love me like you love them?

Because the answer is a resounding no. Fall Out Boy does not need to leave to be loved, and everything they've done this year is a testament to that. They are here, they are here, they are here, and they are not going anywhere, and they love each other, and we love them, so, so much.

I don't know if this makes any sense, but in the quiet now that they've played their last US show, when we're all metaphysically shuffling our feet in the noisy crowded parking lot and basking in the cool night air and pointing up at the moon together, I wanted to share that.

[bunnyreaper]

speak now—pt 2

pairing - john price x f!reader wc - 3k warnings - wedding (left at the altar), exes to lovers, post-break up/getting back together, swearing/insults, wee bit of angst!! notes - this genuinely went off the rails but, here it is!! pt2!! read pt 1 here! have a request? drop it on me! or read this fic on ao3!

Bullets fly all around you, whipping past your ear in a cacophony of death. You're pinned down, too many rifles trained on your position just waiting for you to break cover—and none of the rest of the 141 are around to help you out.

It feels like one peek will have you staring death in the face, and your heartbeat roars accordingly. Yet still, you expected it to be worse, you didn't expect to be as calm as you are.

You close your eyes for a moment, just to think. Your fiancé's waiting for you at home, and you have to get back to him. You can't die here, have to think of a way out, John would be so mad if you died under his watch. The crash of metal and the sound of ragged breaths pull you out of your thoughts, the Captain himself slams beside you, rifle in hand.

"I'll cover you, run."

The last thing you want to do is leave John behind, but the look in his eyes is so commanding, so certain. You've always been able to trust him—always will, even after everything.

Maybe that's why you let him walk away, because you trusted he knew what was best for you—otherwise, why else would he leave you?

With an even calmer resolve, you focus, nodding at your captain one more time before you bolt for the building's exit, firing off bullets where you can.

The adrenaline coursing through you now is incomparable.

You have no training to deal with this, no guidance to help face it—especially when your guiding light is now a blinding problem.

You watch, frozen, heart beating out of control as John stands. Maybe he remembered he left the oven on, maybe he's going to hand you a tissue or something…

His eyes are fixed on you, they're your unknowing something blue, the one thing you couldn't do this day without. You search his gaze for answers and see the swirl of emotion within as he speaks.

"Y/N, don't do it."

The strain in his voice almost sounds painful, like the heartache is slowly strangling him from the inside. And yet, you're frozen. 

John just stopped your wedding, and there's only one reason why. Looking into his eyes now, it's plain as day—he never stopped loving you, and in the final moments as you slipped through his fingers, he decided he couldn't let you go. 

You feel your mouth open as if words are going to come, but nothing does. 

Not from you, not from your fiancé, not from anyone else in the church. 

For a moment, everything is still. Just you and him, a moment of understanding, of reconnection. 

Simon's gruff whisper severs the moment clean in two, as he stands, looming over John. "Captain, with all due respect, sit the fuck down."

More voices flood in, your fiancé's voice going shrill and obnoxious, his mother all but screaming, whispers among the crowd. 

Your fiancé moves first, the tension finally snapping as he lunges for John, a clumsy attempt at a punch dodged effortlessly by the captain. John pushes off the hands now grasping at his lapels with ease, and turns to face you once more. 

Your stony, impassive expression makes his stomach drop. 

"Outside, now." You hiss, before charging forward and pulling him by his arm past rows of scandalised faces—ignoring the commotion behind you. 

You march to the room in which you just got ready—the room where your bridal makeup was perfected, and you had slipped into this beautiful dress, and you slam the door shut behind you both. 

"John, what the fuck?" You seethe, not actually angry, but not exactly calm either. With all the feelings whirling around you, it's hard to settle on one emotion. 

The man takes a deep breath, nostrils flaring, lips thinning. A tense cord pulls between the two of you, stretching and fraying. "I know you didn't want to marry him." 

His eyes are filled with something severe, the sense of internal conviction it took for him to do something so monumental. 

"You knew, did you? How did you know that?" The pitch of your voice climbs rapidly, a choking feeling building in your throat and crushing your windpipe. The tears are right there, just waiting to fall. 

You're still in denial, still so completely overwhelmed that all you can do is process, in real time—and you know John will still be there by the end of it.

His chest rises and falls steady, resolutely calm in the storm, when he speaks, his voice is now steady. He's trying to soothe you by protecting a sense of serenity, that natural protective aura of him seeping through every pore. "I could see it in your eyes." 

Your eyes, you were never good at hiding how you felt from John, or maybe he was just so adept at seeing through you. You look away, mumbling out works you don't really believe. "Maybe you were just seeing what you wanted to see." 

Underneath it all, your plea is clear, convince me. Show me the truth, guide me to the light. 

"I know you, love." His voice softens, and in the corner of your averted gaze you can see his posture shift—you notice the way he so clearly wants to reach out to you. 

"Better than I know myself?" 

Say yes, you whisper in your head. 

"Better than he knows you, at least." John's words cut, but they're heavy with truth, and that tips you over the edge, the tears bursting from you. 

"I hate you right now, John." You say, wracked with sobs, yet you throw yourself into his arms, clinging to him like he's your salvation. His arms wrap around your waist, his warmth seeping through the fine material of your gown. 

He holds you close, tight, like he's not going to let you go again. The crush of him against you feels like home, the anger you felt ebbing away. 

His face buries into your neck, his next words a mumble. "'m sure everyone out there feels the same right now." 

His dry, self-deprecating humour is just his usual, as deep down, John doesn't actually care that he just made a room full of people hate him, if this is the resolution. He only cares if you do, if you still will, when the dust has settled. 

You continue to cling to him as you sob, you'd sniffles breaking the silence of the room. "You ruined my wedding day." 

"If you really wanted it, you'd be out there getting married, not here with me." He sighs, but his arms tighten protectively. "Tell me I did the right thing." 

You pull away slightly, meeting his eyes and searching for the answers you desperately need. You've felt so lost, unmoored without John, and this situation has only added to the swirl of uncertainty. "But... you were the one who let me go." 

A sad smile finds its way to his face, his eyes crinkled and pained. "Regretted it every day since, sweetheart." 

"Why didn't... why didn't you say anything sooner?" 

Why didn't you bring me back to you?

"Thought you'd be happy, wanted to be right, but I know what I saw up there." His hands caress your waist as he talks, his thumbs rubbing over your bodice in soothing sweeps. "Look me in the eye and tell me I'm wrong."  

You know that if you did, he'd drop it, march you back out there, and send you off with a sad smile. 

But he's not wrong. The only time he was ever wrong was sending you off in the first place, and he won't make the same mistake twice. 

His eyes are fixed upon yours, waiting for an eternity for your answer. 

"You... you're not wrong." With the words spoken aloud, a sense of peace washes over you, and you press yourself into John's chest for a moment, letting it all wash over you. 

More tears come, and his hold is unwavering throughout. Soft touches and sweet whispers try to coax you through, coax you back to calmness once more. 

"I'm so fucking confused, John, and it still hurts." You sniffle. 

More than anything, you're wracked with a deep sense of guilt. Because while your fiancé is likely out there heartbroken and suffering, your heart actually feels more whole again than it has in the longest time. 

And that makes you feel like a terrible, selfish person, something you've never thought of yourself as being—but then John hadn't thought of himself as the type of man to lose his self-control. 

Here you both are, but you know everything will be fine since you're here together. 

John's words remind you of such—a quiet whisper in your ear. "I know, sweet girl. We'll figure it out. Whatever comes next can be fixed a lot easier than a divorce, love." 

You nod solemnly. 

Your fiancé and his family can still enjoy the reception and the food, and he can go on your honeymoon and have a blast—you hope it won't all go to waste, at least. You'll move out of your shared flat and split the furniture, and at the end of it all you'll get to fall asleep in John's arms—something worth more than any fancy wedding day or 5-star set meal or holiday to Bali. 

Worth more than the life you almost went and lived with the wrong man.  

"I wish I didn't let it get this far, but I never thought... that you felt the same." You whisper. 

"You still love me?" His sapphire eyes sparkle at the thought of you yearning for him all this time too. 

"Never stopped, but I tried to understand. I tried to assume that you were right and I'd be happier with someone else, but..." The intensity of the moment makes your eyes flutter shut, as you take a moment to gather yourself. "It's not the same, it never has been." 

"I wish I'd stepped in sooner, too. Could've saved you all this heartache." John admits, voice unusually subdued. One look in his eyes tells you he blames himself for this mess, that he's trying to pull you out of the pit of guilt and throw himself in instead.

"What am I gonna do?" 

Tell me what to do. 

"What we're gonna do is take a few deep breaths, but you need to make a choice." He wipes away the wet tracks still coating your cheeks, soft thumbs sweeping adoringly over you, his eyes still burning with intensity. 

"You or him? It's not a choice at all, John." Your laugh is choked with a sense of disbelief. After all this, John would have to summon all his strength, and that of the rest of the task force, just to pry you away from him.

"I'm so happy to hear you say that." His smile is beaming, reflecting your own and shining with the euphoria he feels within. Everything is falling into place, the desperate leap he made was worth it, and both of you are thankful. "But you know what comes next." 

"Yeah..." You nod, dread seeping in as you think of having to go tell a room full of your fiancé's friends and loved ones that the wedding won't be happening, and that you've wasted all this time and money for nothing. 

"I'm happy to play the villain if it helps." There's a half-hearted smirk, and yet John's offer is serious. For you, he'd go throw himself on a metaphorical sword if it meant shielding you from the judgment and hatred.  

"Hah. Think we're both the villains now." You sigh.

The banging of the door forces your attention firmly back to reality.

"Open the fuck up, John, you bastard!" Your fiancé's enraged voice calls out from the other side before he bursts through anyway. 

John instinctively steps in front of you, his arm shielding you from the man's rage. They stare each other down, just as they did earlier. 

"Sorry, sir, I tried to stop him." Kyle appears behind him, panting and panicked. 

Your fiancé does not take kindly to that, his rage continuing to bubble over. "Tried to stop me? She's my fucking wife." 

The word you'd looked forward to hearing now makes your stomach turn. You're not going to be his wife, you're not going to be his anything anymore. 

It takes all your strength to look him in the eye, though the barrier of John between the two of you feels like a blanket of safety. "No, we're not going through with the wedding." 

The words are out, no taking them back now. 

"You've got to be kidding me, really?" His voice grows even louder, and a fit of anger seeps out of him that you've never seen before. "You led me on all this time just to fuck me off at the altar for your coffin-dodger ex?" 

"Woah now, lad." It's Soap now that cuts in, trying to coax your fiancé away from the brewing tension. 

John stands firm in front of you, unwavering, unafraid—though why would he be?

You don't have the same resolve in the face of a man you loved looking at you like you're shit on his shoe. "I'm sorry." You sob, the tears flowing once more. 

"Sorry? For being a fucking whore?" The venom he unleashes makes everyone flinch. Kyle's mouth pops open in shock, Johnny grits his teeth. John's protective stance deepens. 

"Don't talk to her like that." John snaps, nostrils flaring as his chest puffs up and his captain voice makes an appearance.

"You're welcome to her, mate." Your fiancé, ex-fiancé, laughs bitterly. "Thanks for doing me a favour, don't have to watch her make fucking goo-goo eyes at you for the rest of my life." 

"I never meant for any of this to happen." Tears continue to roll down your cheeks, the emotion of the situation, of your guilt, of everything overwhelming you.

"Ignore him, love." John turns and whispers, his hand settling on your back in a comforting gesture, already falling back into the old routine of soothing and protecting you. 

"Oh, you fucker—" The other man snarls, and is about to swing for John once again. In an instant, Simon is behind him, the behemoth soldier showing up just in time to pull him back through the door.

"That's enough." 

There's more shouting as Simon wrestles him away with Kyle's help, leaving the rest of you standing in an awkward, stifling silence.

Johnny's concerned, confused look only adds to the tension in your chest. You worry you've disappointed him, ruined his perception of you. 

As if sensing your distress, he's by your side in an instant, rubbing your shoulders and soothing you. "Everything will be a'right lass, promise."

You struggle to suck in breaths, unable to face the idea of going out into the ceremony room and having more abuse hurled at you. "Johnny, will you... handle things for me?" 

"Aye, of course." He nods, taking his man of honour role very seriously. 

When your breathing returns to normal under the gentle touches of both men, John turns to the younger man beside you.  "Can we have a minute?" 

Johnny simply nods before taking his leave.

The door clicks shut, and the room settles into silence once more—but strangely, a lot of the tension is gone. 

A weight feels lifted from you, at least a little. It's over, even if there's still an aftermath to deal with. 

For now, it's just you and John. 

John pulls you close to him, his arms enclosing your waist as he holds you tenderly. His large arms cradle you once more, and the feeling of safety and comfort and just John rushes through you. 

"Hard parts over, at least for now." He whispers. "'m not going anywhere ever again, love. We'll get through this together, yeah?" 

John takes a moment to just hold you before he continues. "We'll invite him to our wedding he can ruin it... and then we'll have a do-over, call it even." 

"Not funny, John." You say, yet snort a laugh anyway. 

Our wedding—the words stick in your head.  

Yours and John's wedding, where you get to wear the dress you want and do the things you want to do, and just have your boys there to witness your bond. The idea is far in the future, and yet it feels like something certain. 

"Too soon, sorry, love." He mumbles, pressing a sweet kiss to the top of your head. "Johnny'll sort everything out, and you can get out of here." 

You pull away, startled for the briefest of moments. "We can get out of here, together. I'm not leaving you trapped in a room full of people all gunning for you." 

"Appreciate it, darling." 

John's smile is soft and earnest, full of love as his eyes flicker down to your lips, and he stops holding back. 

His hands cup your face firmly before he pulls you in, your lips melting together in a soul-searing kiss. 

It's both desperate and tender—breathtaking in the way it joins you and sends relief flooding through both of you. 

John's lips nip at yours, tasting you and re-familiarising themselves with your sweet plushness. You can both feel your deep hunger for the other, once that's been swirling inside you for years. 

His hands slip from your face, trailing down your bare arms in the gentlest of caresses—the look in his eyes has you completely entranced as he speaks.

"Take my hand, we better run."