#; the one in charge is here (ooc)

[ask-the-totally-real-peppino]

(I am gonna make a post about this now, before it possibly gets out of hand hfdkf

I really appreciate that you guys want to show me your Fake Peps and Clone OCs, and I love to see them!

But many people are asking for Pep's reaction to them, and unless I know you (and thus your characters) or you give me some more information, I am just going to give you a cookie cut answer of 'Yes, they'd get along' bc Pep is friendly to everyone, or the occasional 'No, they will not get along, and they will fight to the death' for aggressive fakes/clones

You are more than welcome to imagine your own interactions with Pep through art or writing etc, and show me that!

Also, please please please, do not expect me to draw your fakes/clones. I am not a free art machine, and if I do it for one person outside the occasional gift, I have to do it for everyone and that is just not fair to me or my wrists hgkdf

Okay, thank youuu)

[nobuverse]

( Sengoku era historiography is so wild because honestly depending on which source you go to, Nobunaga can be considered an ambitious, revolutionary force of good or a complete monster.

I was looking at tales surrounding Heshikiri Hasebe the narrative completely changes every time. Sometimes it's "he killed a tea master who betrayed him", sometimes it's "he tried to kill this guy he was having tea with because he insulted him" and then it can even be "Well he cut a table in half with a sword while confronting someone he thought was betraying him but it turns out he had made a mistake so he gave him the sword as compensation to say sorry"

And that's not even getting into the highly controversial stuff with the temple burning.

I may be an uncultured westerner who can only read translations of this stuff, but man do I understand why Fate's Nobunaga gets the Innocent Monster skill. )

[ofgentleresolve]

♡.

[lastmurianwarrior]

((Been the wildest couple of weeks. The animals I mentioned in the last ooc post have all either found forever homes or been taken in by a rescue.))

[berat-adil-emre-yukime]

It's Pride Month, you know what that means

Huh, what?

Do you want me to like, make the UNSC gay? What?

[stick2vamp]

sebastian with a touchy reader who can't seem to take their hands off him ? :3

𝜗 ˖ ❝ poke, poke! ᵕ ♡

— in which you get too handsy for your own good. ✧

↷　 sfw 𓈒 no warnings 𓈒 well bitch sebastian warning 𓈒 tried to make this as in character as possible but honestly may be more ooc 𓈒

UNESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP ☆★ — under the assumption you aren't dating yet.

SEBASTIAN doesn't honestly care that much when you touch him, he just likes to pretend like he does to see your reaction. Whether you freeze up and stop your actions, or continue to do them out of defiance: either amuses him. He does have his limits, though.

You're fine to touch his tail. Many Expendables do it on accident when buying things anyway, so he has gotten used to it. He won't bat an eye when you lightly touch his tail. Sebastian will, though, tease you and push you. It's not a fair trade that you get to just play with his tail like that. Don't you think he deserves some compensation? Of course, he isn't being too serious, but if you end up coughing up some research... well, he'll gladly take it off your hands.

But Sebastian will only let you do that. It's better than nothing, isn't it? Oh, how generous he is. You're not allowed to touch his hands, fins, or 'lure'. Yeah, no, you aren't getting your grubby little hands on him like that. Well, maybe if you paid for it. How does 1,000 research per second of touch sound?

Sebastian does not enjoy physical touch, nor does he see a need for it. Perhaps, in the past, he would've yearned for it. But now, he is quite literally different.

But let's say you're a loyal customer, a frequent visitor whom Sebastian has come to actually pay attention to. Sebastian, being the oh-so-sweet shopkeeper he is, might let you hang around and touch him a bit more. If you promise to keep buying from him, that is.

ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP ☆★ — under the assumption you are dating.

SEBASTIAN still has no need for physical touch, but he understands that you do. And being the best boyfriend there is, he'll of course give it to you.

Except, you still need to return the favor. Expect a lot of physical attention from Sebastian, you reciprocating, then Sebastian flipping it onto you as if you were the one initiating it just to get you to do something for him. What do you need to do for me? Why, you just need to cut him some slack. See, not so hard, is it? How kind of him to give you such an easy task.

That aside, as his lover, you get to touch more of him. His tail is not the only thing up for grabs anymore. Feel free to touch him wherever. While he can't guarantee a position reaction, he won't stop you from petting wherever you want.

His fins? In your hands. His light? In your hands? His cheeks? In your hands? Go ahead and squeeze to your heart's content. The two of you have all the time in the world down here, after all.

Rarely, Sebastian will initiate affection with you without any ulterior motives. When you question his antics, he just laughs into your shoulder. Really, do you expect him to be mean all the time? These moments become more and more frequent as time goes on. Free of charge, too. You're the only one he'll give a 100% off discount to. The things he does for you.

[yzashaven]

2023 KINKTOBER︰10﹒01 / 10﹒02

꒰ —♡ B R E E D I N G ﹒ PART 2 ꒱

EVENT MASTERLIST !

FEATURING ! childe, tighnari, gorou, wriothesley x fem!reader

WARNINGS ! ofc breeding!!, "accidental" use of aphrodisiac, mating press, use of handcuffs, bottom-not-so-bottom gorou, ooc idk

NOTE ! yza posting late again... SORRY LOVE YOU GUYSSS i've been trying to balance my sleep sched with school so i've been doing and resting okay lately! ANDDD THIS IS NOT PROOFREAD...... also short.... anyway

event taglist— @yukiitaooo @scara6 @peakalatus @kanaedd @returningluv @im-the-ruler-here @scarafixation @kateybuggi @hanni7 @asimpforpeople @ju1yyyzzz @saturnsapothecary @alexiassleeping @cheeze-noo @supercoolusernameomg @shining_dhei @uchihaeirin @black-rxse @3herri-berri @anon-eu @gojoswife201 @abeitriz @chlebek1 @mechanical-lily @breadybuu @dawning-bliss @poisonedmoonl1ght @scaraismybbgreal @nothingfuninthislife @hellithides @eunchaeluvr @doumastip @pandash @cuntz0ne @zomzomb1e @bitchylillyrose @apocalypticchimera @wolfiafan10 @zxdksimpo @kikosaidbye

—CHILDE

oh, him? another family oriented man, of course daily breeding is a must!! he is straight up addicted to the feeling of your walls surrounding his cock, and when you're cumming? even better.

"just a little bit more, baby~" childe says for the umpteenth time; it seems like he's just making up excuses now to keep releasing ropes of his cum inside your cunt, making you whimper at how sore your body is from the overwhelming amount of pleasure being given to you by him. his body weight holding you down in a tight mating press on his luxurious bed, "feels good, yeah?" he continues his merciless and rough pace, snapping his hips against yours in the perfect rhythm. "you need more, don't you? tell me how bad you need me to fuck you senseless—to breed you full of my seed~"

—TIGHNARI

experiment purposes... and maybe also for pleasure. an experiment including breeding and pushing your limits with the addition of a few drug testing as well to see the possible side effects of a few herbs he's using to create a new medicine. don't mind if i include some overstimulation here too <3

"this is okay, yes?" tighnari's fingers thrust in and out of you at a slow pace, creating a wet sound with each movement due to his cum that was deep inside your pussy, mixing with your own, prior to the encounter from earlier. "still aroused, huh? that drug seems to be a rather strong aphrodisiac then, hehe~" you whine from all the built up pleasure as the sensitivity of your body increases with each passing contact you have with one another. he then abruptly pushes back deep inside you, letting the fluids overflow from the sides, coating his cock in the sticky, white liquid, "let me help you sooth yourself~"

—GOROU

hear me out when i say that he's already extremely sensitive after a few rounds, and by that i mean around 3 or 4 rounds, and it'll take less time to reach that point when you focus on his ears or tail throughout the session :3 btw you're on top for this one but not the one in charge

"d-don't... sensitive..." gorou whimpers softly as your fingers tangle themselves in his hair, ever so often making contact with his ears that twitched slightly upon feeling the warmth of your touch. his hands grab onto your hips and guide you up and down his length, "oh, already so full~" he comments upon seeing how your thighs had your mixed fluids of arousal dripping down them; he then flips you over, laying you down with your legs spread wide just for him as he began to thrust deep and relentlessly, "god—you feel amazing, and you look so damn pretty... all for me~"

—WRIOTHESLEY

handcuffs. yes. he is just so in love with the idea of having you completely at his mercy below him as he breeds you full of his seed, with no choice but to take all that he has to give you. slightly rough wrio !! <3

"fuck, fuck...!" wriothesley curses as he empties out yet another load inside your pussy, the 5th creampie and counting. you weakly moan under him as your body spasms a bit due to how used your body was after hours of continuous fucking. "gotta make sure i breed you right~" he says and slams back inside you, earning a loud whine to leave your lips as you tug on the thin metal that restrained your hands just above your head, "just a few more, alright? shit—your cunt just feels too addictive not to fill up~"

[deathfavor]

Thoth @ the chaos the other gods put him through

[lvlyghost]

Cold Nights

Pairings: Simon "Ghost" Riley x F!Reader

Summary: Reader doesn't show up for morning training. Ghost doesn't know what to think.

Word Count: 794

Tw: fluff, angst, mentions of being sick, soldiers being scared of simon lol, ooc simon probably, he calls reader kid, i think that's it🤭

A/N: I'm sick and this came to my mind, I just want simon to take care of me okay???🥹🤧 this is super bad as usual. still hope you like it. pls remember english isn't my first language, corrections are welcome ✨💖

Masterlist✨

Ghost doesn't see her at the cafeteria, nor the training room. He's disgruntled. His eyes keep drifting apart from the soldiers in front of him, waiting for the next round of endless push ups he's gonna make them go through.

Why isn't she here?

His body feels restless, pacing back and forth.

Soap doesn't say anything, just shifts his weight from one foot to another.

"Johnny," he calls him. "You're in charge."

"Lt.?" He quirks a brow, not understanding. That's so unlike him.

"Got things to do."

He storms out of the room, the walls rattle when he closes the doors.

It's a cold day. Just like the day before.

Days used to mean nothing to him.

Time.

Until she came along. Three years ago.

That woman... he sighs.

Was it something he said? Didn't they talk about it last night?

Everything was fine.

Or so he thought.

-

"We shouldn't be out here, kid." He mutters. It's freezing, he can see her trembling even beneath her hoodie. Well it was actually his. The hoodie completely swallowing her small form.

"I know, I know!" She laughs. Her cheeks a beautiful shade of pink. "I just... it was too loud inside." That he can agree on. "Is it true?" She asks a few seconds later.

Simon stills. Choosing his next words carefully.

"What?"

"What Soap said." A heartbeat. "About us."

There's a silence that falls between them.

"Those were the words of a drunk man."

"Were they?" her smile is contagious. Damn her and her beautiful soul. "Would you come with me if I asked you to?"

He stares directly at her, trying to find any sign of doubt. He's always mesmerized by her gentle nature. That's something he never knew. Perhaps that's why he was so drawn to her. Longed to be wherever she was. Breathe the same air.

"I'd say that's highly inappropriate." He states. "And that you've had too many shots of whatever poor excuse of a whiskey Johnny made you drink."

"Price called it piss water." She shooks her head. "You're changing the subject!"

Simon chuckles. He really does.

"You've got such power over me no one else could ever have, kid."

And he's doomed.

-

He's trying so hard, going through the events of the night, trying to remember. What happened? Nothing out of line was said. She seemed content when they parted ways, right after he had kissed her good night outside her room. Simon saw the way her eyes lit up with a spark he never saw before. The longing stare. Remembers vividly how she had stopped him, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt pulling him down for another heated kiss.

He walks down the corridor with long strides. Hands balled into fists. He shouldn't be this mad. But that was the effect she had in him.

He tries to cool down. Ghost was scared too. What if she had changed her mind and didn't want anything to do with him? He was messing up his head at the mere thought.

He finally makes it to the room, knocking twice before her soft voice tells him he can come in.

Inside the room, all the curtains were closed, not a single ray of light made it inside apart from the lamp casting shadows around. Furrowing his brows he closes the door behind him with a low click.

"Kid?" He calls her. Immediately rolling on her side she welcomes him, red eyes, stuffy nose and looking disheveled.

"Sorry I missed training." She apologizes. Changing to a sitting position and waits for him to sit next to her.

"What's wrong?" He demands with a soft voice. She's still wearing his hoodie from last night. Rubbing her eyes she gives Simon a tired smile.

"I'm just really sick Simon." She answers, he can hear her hoarse voice now.

"Bloody hell, love." His hand goes straight to her face, caressing her cheek. "Did you go to the infirmary?" Closing her eyes, she rest her head against his hand.

"Mhm. Got some painkillers prescribed. Still feel horrible."

"Good, it'll take some time for you to feel better. You need to rest, okay?". The look he gave her leaves no room for discussion.

"Wasn't planning on leaving my bed you know?" He smiles ever so slightly. "Would you stay with me?" When he doesn't answer right away she adds: "never mind you'll catch whatever this bug is and i don't ..."

"Sweetheart," he interrupts her rambling. "Scoot over."

She looks at him wide-eyed.

"You... you don't," she stutters.

"No, I don't mind at all. If there's anything you need just tell me, copy?" She nods, staring at his blue eyes. "Told you we shouldn't have been outside last night."

"Even if it meant catching a cold, I'm glad we did, Simon."

[jazjelspen]

scarlet and silver lining

(alastor w/ daughter reader)

(fem reader/notproofread!/apologies for anything ooc still trying to get used to writing fics again lol/possible part 1 after the epilogue)

[Prologue]

You never truly got along with your 'father', not even in life until the passing of his mother.. your grandmother.

Technically she wasn't exactly your grandmother, and Alastor wasn't your father.. at least not by blood but by adoption papers. Poor Nana, she just wanted a little grandbaby running around the house before her days started getting counted down.

Alastor knowing that he didn't want to go through the trouble of finding a wife nor did he want to deal with the issues that came with that let alone the process to conceive a kid, with a heart full yet a hesitant hand he then signed your papers.. adopted you for the kind old woman at the age of six.

Orphaned by your parents sudden passing, you never truly found out why or how they died. Only thing you knew was that it was sudden, unprovoked, unasked for. They were healthy yet from what you could hear from the cops that took you from your empty home was that there was blood, lots of it.

With no family to take care of poor little you, you got thrown in an orphanage and stayed there hoping to be rescued and loved someday.

Till one day a man with a large smile and clean-cut clothes walked in with a gentle old lady, both talking to one of the adults in charge of the place. Eventually while touring the building they managed to find you hidden in a corner reading a picture book, reading about a baby deer finding his way in the world without his mother, this intrigued the lady and she started to speak to you.

No matter how much the man tried to get the lady to start moving to look at more options she was so stuck to you, your innocent and your little voice attempting to use big words entranced her poor heart and in that moment she just knew you had to be her granddaughter. After she said the word, the adult responsible led them to talk more and sign papers and the rest is history.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

That was all you were willing to think far into when it came to your past, not wanting to remember what once was before falling into Hell.

You died around the 1940s, you followed in your fathers footsteps and created your own radio show before you died and being the daughter of Alastor in life had it's perks when he was famous in your home of New Orleans.

Although, you kept your secret deep in the ground when it came to your connection to Alastor. No way in hell would anyone know he was your adoptive father, you knew it'd only make you an even bigger target.

Especially to Vox, your boss and the demon that owned your soul.

Also the man that hated your father with his guts, but of course he didn't need to know any of that.

Your contract with him allowed you to be on his show, have a segment of it, get the royalties from it and be under his protection and his roof, in exchange you do any job he asks you to do no matter how hard or long it gets.

God did you hate transitioning from radio to TV, you were never fond of those color video boxes.. they lacked personality and were shallow in the content they produced. but hey, you needed to survive in hell somehow so why not just throw your soul to this TV guy to stay safe from the exterminations and other ruthless sinners.

You died around the time when the Radio Demon was barley getting the word out and showing his true power, the day you recognized his voice and heard his name blasted everywhere was when you knew he was worser than you thought, you didn't think he was this much of a sadist in life.. he must've hid it incredibly well from you then.

And you hated him for that.

Hated him for killing innocents, his sadistic tendencies, his power, his smile, his singing and his lies. His lies that he was your kind ol' dad that would do nothing wrong.

God.

But here you were now in present time being forced to be at the Hazbin Hotel by Vox.

Your hand currently leaning over to knock on the door ready to knock. You'd be warned that Alastor was here, and were warn to be more careful with your words and actions considering how badly Sir Pencious messed up before. This time bringing no technology with you but your head, memory, and a few things to sleep a few nights at this establishment. You were told that you would get more royalties and more perks like even getting your own show to rule over completely if you succeeded in this mission.. and god did you need your own place and studio so that Valentino didn't bother you any longer.

Your lips parted to let out a shaky sigh, a sweat bead running down your forehead down to the side of your face.

'c'mon ____, keep it together will ya?..' your thoughts scolded at you,

Your free hand wiped it away before finally knocking on the door of the hotel, hands shaky and your practiced smile of years

The door opening and being met with the princess of hell, Charlie Morningstar.

You could've sworn you felt the red eyes of a certain radio demon stare at you full force behind the princess's back.

Charlie gasped, seemingly more than ever excited to see someone new.

Your lips parted and started to move, you thoughts racing as you could feel more people stare from behind the royal.

You knew you'd regret doing this mission, Alastor being involved in it should've kept you away..

but if there was a chance to either get a solution to fully get away from the V's or to benefit from them if you did all this right, then so be it.

"Hello.. you must be Charlie right.. My name is ______ and I heard you are redeeming sinners? Your highness, I believe in your cause.. please help me relieve myself of my sins."

Your hands went from holding your luggage to clasping together with a face full of worry and a need to get better. Even you were unsure if you meant what you said, but you just knew that you knew what you had to do no matter what.. you would benefit from this somehow.

"Please, let me redeem yourself in your Hazbin Hotel, Princess Morningstar."

(hello readers!! thank you so much for taking a look at this epilogue of a possible new pic series! I actually made this fanfic almost three years ago on quotev but I want to bring it to life in a different fashion and new writing, so I hope you can stick around till the end of this series!!)

[blightcd]

Loghain falling in love with Maric AND Rowan? Having to watch Maric fall in love with Katriel, Rowan want to be with Maric instead of him, then when he and Rowan do get together not being able to stay with her because it’d be wrong in his mind when she loves Maric more than she could ever love him. Then not being able to be with/stay with either of them so sad tragic really

[nobuverse]

( Playing through Atlantis did give me the idea once more that I'd really like to place a Chaldean Master verse for Misato ?

Anyone want an overdramatic/pretentious teen with a heart of gold for the savior of humanity ? )

[froggybells]

So what’s the deal?

Sanemi x fem!reader

a/n: HI I AM BACK AGAIN this time my wonderful boy sanemi needs some love. he might b a little ooc but i like to think he wouldn’t resist a beautiful woman (wink wink) reader is totally a tease bc i feel like he would totes get flustered LOL

synop: amidst hashira practice, you get the bright idea to tease sanemi.

Word count: 1k

Part 2 —> here

Part 3 —> here

The first time Sanemi Shinzugawa laid eyes on you, we saw you as nothing more than a pest- always getting into things that you shouldn’t, and seemingly oblivious to the obvious irritation you caused him. He couldn’t help but wonder why no one else shared his frustrations. 

Soon something changed. His feelings of irritation soon changed into some sort of possessiveness- needing to make sure you weren’t hurt because it’s obvious your dont know how to take care of yourself. 

“Shinazugawa! I don’t understand why I can’t go practice with Tomioka? I was walking by yesterday and saw you trying to kill him! I’m a Harshira too, damnit!” You yelled at him. 

“He’s too weak for you to practice with! Plus, you’re too idiotic to do things on your own.” Sanemi stated firmly, giving you a glare. He doesn’t care if you’re a Hashira, he’ll still treat you like an idiot. 

“I’m literally the first sun breather in generations!” You said, pointing your wooden sword at him. “Does that not make me powerful enough for you?!” You sighed, rubbing your temples. Suddenly, you looked at him with a sly smirk on your face. That couldn’t be good, you thought. 

“Sanemi,” He flinches at the use of his first name, “Let’s make a deal.” He pauses, a deal? He’s definitely curious at your offer. What kind of deal could you make? “And why would I agree to that?”

You scoffed. “No matter how you act, you still respect me and my strength.” He turned his head away. “Tch- fine. I’ll agree to your stupid deal, but it better not be a waste of my time.”

”Let’s do a real practice battle. Not training. If I win, you’ll let me battle with Giyuu,” God, you using his first name made his blood boil, “If you win, well, you can decide the punishment.”

A hint of a smirk appeared on his face. A practice battle? This was going to be easy. “Alright dumbass, you’re on. You won’t win. Not against me.” You drew your wooden sword, getting into proper position. “Let’s get this over with.”

He laughed at you, “Don’t cry about getting your ass kicked when I’m done! Got it?” You charged quickly, ignoring his words, landing a blow to his knee and chest, quickly zipping away. He hisses in both pain and annoyance, but quickly regains his composure, a smirk on his face as he watched you zip away. “You have some speed, I’ll give you that much. Let’s see if you can do it again!” He barked.

He took off after you, aiming for your leg, but you jump quickly. “Too slow ‘Nemi!” You got a hit on the back of his head, knocking him over. 

He lands on the ground with a thump, groaning in pain before quickly scrambling to his feet. ‘Damnnit,’ he thought, ‘She’s a lot faster than she lets on.”

“Don’t give up yet Sanemi! Come at me!” In a flash, he’s over to you within a second, hitting you in the stomach. The force knocks you over, hailing a cloud of dust. 

His vision now clouded, he couldn’t see where you ran off to. “I”m ending this here!” You yell, kicking his back, forcefully knocking him over. “I win!” You gleam, now sitting on his back. 

“Get off me dumbass!” He screams as you kick his sword away. “Nope.” You say, popping the P. “I said get off me, damnit!” You smirk at his words. “Oh yeah? What’ll you give me in return?” He struggles some more, groaning in annoyance as he can barely move. He let’s out a scoff, narrowing his eyes at you. “What do you want, you brat? I’ll give you anything, just get the hell off me!”

You look down on him. “You have to go on a date with me.”

His face turned red. “What?!” He sputters. You have to be joking, there’s no way you’d seriously as him that. “You want me to go on a date with you? Seriously?”

“As serious as I’ll ever be! Can’t our just imagine it! Us strolling around under the cherry blossoms? It’ll be beautiful!” A slight blush dances around your face. He feels a slight fluttering sensation in his stomach- seeing you blush like that was weirdly cute to him. But nonetheless, he was still surprised. why would you want to go on a date with him?

”You really want to go out on a date with me?” He questions, looking up at you, a slight flush on his cheeks from embarrassment. “Of course ‘Nemi! You’re attractive, I’m attractive. You’re strong, I’m stronger. We would make the perfect pair! So what do you say,” You finally step off of his back, helping him to stand up. “Will you go on a date with me?”

The red tinge on his face darkens as you help him up, standing at his full height. He looks down at you, his expression slightly vulnerable. He lets out a huff, not being able to look you in the eye. “Fine, I’ll go on a date with you. Dammit, you’re so stubborn! But just this once, got it?”

”Just this once!” You lean in to whisper in his ear. “Unless you beg for more~” You tease at him. You begin to walk away, a dark crimson staining his face. “Well then, I’m off to my estate! I’ll be back in the morning to discuss our arrangement!” You wave goodbye, not looking back. The truth is, your face was just as red as his, and you couldn’t bear the thought of him seeing you this way.

”Damn Woman.” He mutters in frustration.

[twilightcitysky]

Everything Is Meant (long S2 analysis, part 1)

I cannot figure out for the life of me how to make gifs so this will have to be a gif-less essay. If anyone more tech savvy than me wants to reblog with relevant media, please do!

I've seen a lot of people saying how Aziraphale's actions in the final ten minutes come out of left field and are OOC, and when I first watched the episode I felt the same, but now I think I couldn't have been more wrong. And I don't think Aziraphale is being controlled... I think the entire season showed us exactly what was going to happen.

On first watch, what struck me was the number of plot points that seemed disconnected. I couldn't figure out how Job related to the present, or the Victorian era, or the Nazi zombies (still at sea on the zombies part tbh). I didn't know where the Maggie/ Nina subplot was going, or why we were bothering with it. Then I put my "psych hat" on and it was like seeing one of those 3D pictures come into focus. It's a psychological networking rather than a plot-driven one, which is what Neil told us to expect.

Detailed analysis under the cut, with spoilers:

I went back through the season in my head and started asking myself: why is this element there? What does it contribute?

1. Start with scene one. Why include it? Does it matter for the climax that Az knew Crowley as an angel? YES. It's actually huge. Angel Crowley was joyful, he was bursting with delight at creation, he was idealistic. He wanted to be a part of everything rather than run away from it, and that's still how Aziraphale feels. He loves being a part of things. He's a joiner. He's a landlord. He dances at clubs and he makes human friends and he learns magic. Crowley the demon doesn't seem to want any of that, and I think that's hard for Az. He wants Crowley to be free of the cynicism he thinks prevents him from enjoying life now. At some level, I think he senses that Crowley is depressed (empathy's not his strong suit but I'm sure he's aware that Crowley's in a "what's the point of it all" kind of mood; see the eccles cakes scene). He wants to fix it. Aziraphale is a fixer. Metatron offers him a chance to do that.

Another thing is that Aziraphale knows Crowley ended up Falling just for asking questions that seemed innocent. That's not okay with him. He thinks that with the two of them in charge they can actually MAKE the changes that Crowley wanted to see way back at the beginning, starting with a suggestion box.

2. Okay, now Jim. Obviously Gabriel/ Jim is the central mystery, but why does he matter? First and foremost: he's there to show Aziraphale that angels can CHANGE. Gabriel terrorized and threatened Aziraphale. Az has been terrified of him. He ordered Aziraphale's execution. And now here he is, drinking hot chocolate, doing noble self-sacrificing things, with morals that suddenly align with Aziraphale's. What an absolute game-changer that must have been! He thought Heaven was unfixable, but here's Gabriel in his shop for weeks, slowly convincing him otherwise.

Then two other things happen. First, they find out that this all happened to Gabriel essentially because he fell in love. He was fired and his memories were stolen and the only reason he recovered was because Beelzebub happened to give him the one thing that could save him. That must have seemed like incredible luck. Now, how does Aziraphale feel about memories? He lives in a bookshop that is stuffed to bursting with the records of all of human history, essentially. His memories of his time with Crowley are incredibly precious. He sees, there at the end, that everything he is can be taken from him as a punishment for falling in love. Aziraphale doesn't have a magic fly container. He'd be forever robbed of Crowley, his life, himself. It's a very real threat in his mind when Metatron intervenes.

Which brings us to the second thing. Metatron saves Gabriel. Not only that, he prevents him from being punished for loving Beelzebub and lets them both go. What better way to win currency with Aziraphale? HE doesn't want to go off to Alpha Centauri, he never has, but suddenly he sees that Metatron might protect his relationship. And he's probably the only entity with the power to do so.

So we come to two conclusions: Aziraphale, when he goes off to talk with Metatron, is feeling like maybe it's not intrinsically bad to be an angel. He believed all the angels sucked, and only God was good... but now he sees that even Gabriel can change. He met Muriel, and he likes them. (He also had a huge crush on angel Crowley, which is neither here nor there but he loves Crowley in all his forms.) So if Crowley became an angel again, would that really be so bad? In his mind, it wouldn't change who Crowley is. It would just make them both safer and allow them to be together. (He's wrong! And Crowley doesn't see it that way! But this is a key miscommunication. Aziraphale doesn't really believe that becoming a demon changed Crowley. Back to the first scene, which Aziraphale references during the Job minisode. In his eyes, Crowley is the same person (just more cynical because of what's happened to him)-- so why would it matter if he's an angel again? I truly don't think he was trying to save Crowley, or saying that Crowley would be Better as an angel. To him, it doesn't matter what Crowley is. Which is reductive and harmful, but not the same as thinking Crowley needs rescuing from himself.)

Second conclusion: he sees that an angel and demon can be in love, but they have to run away to be together. Gabe and Beelz couldn't go home again. Earth is Aziraphale's home, but after the attack on the bookshop he learned that without Heaven's protection he can't really keep them safe there. Metatron says: "Come with me, do this thing, and you can have guaranteed safety AND be with the love of your life". Poor Aziraphale wants this with every fiber of his being. All he's ever wanted was for Crowley to be safe. He's never been able to offer it. Over the past four years, he thought they were safe, but he's just learned that he was wrong.

This is getting long. Continued in Part Two!

[apolloscastellan]

You roll like thunder when you come crashing in | Luke Castellan

Pairing: Luke Castellan x female zeus!reader.

Summary: Luke gets injured during capture the flag and you go crazy, it forces you to confront your feelings (Angst+fluff).

Word count: 2.7k

Warnings: injury, loss of blood, use of y/n, female pronouns used to describe reader, ig this is ooc Luke, pre-tlt. Not beta'd we die like men, english isn't my first language, etc.

A/N: This is my first ever time publishing anything I've written so pease tell me what you think!

Luke feels like he’s been struck by lightning the first time he sees you. He is sitting down beside Thalia’s tree, talking to her absentmindedly, when he hears the most gut-wrenching scream he has ever heard. He sees you stumbling up the hill, covered in blood and dirt. You are holding up the body of your satyr protector, who struggles to walk. Catching up to you alarmingly quickly is one of the most terrifying monsters Luke has seen in a long time. You seem determined to keep running, even as your protector attempts desperately to get you to leave her behind. Luke knows he shouldn’t, but as he watches you give up trying to run away and prepare to fight, he wants to step outside of camp limits and help you. It seems like you don’t need his help, though, as you pull out a dagger from the back of your cargo pants and charge against the monster. Luke unfreezes then, calling out for the campers who can hear him to go “find Chiron!” When he looks back at you, you’re finishing the monster off. He forgets every protocol and safety rule when he sees you stumbling, sprinting towards you and catching you just in time before you pass out on his arms.

The first thing you notice when you wake up is that you are not in your room, or anywhere you recognize. You’re also not outside, the view of the sky that had become usual to you covered by a wooden ceiling. You sit up and look around, no one seems to be there, and when you look out the window you realize that it is probably because it is already dark outside. This must be the camp your protector was talking about, you realize. They are not very good at welcoming newcomers, it seems. Once you find a mirror to check that you don’t look crazy you decide to go outside to try to find someone who can confirm where you are, and hopefully help you settle in. When the wind hits your skin for the first time, you feel a chill run down your spine, you wonder how long you were unconscious for. You follow the voices you can hear singing to a plain terrain. A huge campfire lights up the place, teenagers and kids of all ages congregate around it singing, talking, laughing and eating s’mores. They are all wearing matching orange t-shirts. They look like a cult, you think, and the thought makes you giggle. That seems to pull somebody’s attention, and before you can realize what’s happening, there is a quiet murmur going around and everyone is looking at you. You freeze, suddenly feeling like you are crashing a party you were not invited to. You’re about to turn around and run when a boy with dark brown curly hair and a mischievous smile runs up to you. He couldn’t be older than sixteen, but something about him makes him look as if he is in charge.

“You’re finally awake” He whispers with a sigh.

“Sorry, I really don’t mean to be rude but do I know you? Also, where am I? And Why is everyone staring at me? It’s a little creepy”

He laughs openly, turning around to stare the rest of the kids down.

“Everyone, go back to your own conversations, there is nothing to see here” It’s a little crazy that he thinks it’s gonna work, but it’s even more crazy that it works, and everyone turns around within seconds. He extends his right hand towards you “I’m Luke Castellan, welcome to Camp Half-Blood.”

“y/n” you say, still shocked by his obvious power and shaking his hand. “So, this is the place Leela was talking about.”

You look around, Luke’s eyes fixated on you. Leela was your satyr protector, you met her only a couple weeks before arriving at camp. He is still looking at you when your eyes finally find him again.

“It is. The safe haven for demigods. How much do you know about Greek mythology?”

“A fair bit, the same about Camp Half-Blood, is that how you called it? I’m curious and there’s a lot of awkward silences when you’re traveling across the country” she jokes. “I know about the idea of camp, and about the cabins, the godly parent… When will I get claimed? Leela never told me that.”

The smile immediately drops off his face, an awkward grimace taking its place. He looks around, as if trying to find an excuse to run away. He comes back to the conversation empty handed.

It has been a year since you had arrived at Camp Half-Blood. You had found your place, in more ways than one. You were surprisingly good at sword-fighting, archery and Greek, and you had made many wonderful friends. But still, something was missing. You hadn’t been claimed. And because you had never met either of your parents, you couldn’t even rule out half of the options. You had tried everything, from becoming the best at every activity, to giving the most generous offers, but nothing seemed to work. Luke, who had become your best friend, was pulling his hair out in frustration. In your behalf, because how dare the gods ignore someone as wonderful and kind as you, but also in his because no matter how much he knew he loved you and wanted to be with you, he could not make a move without the fear that Hermes might claim you someday. His dad was not the most reliable of fathers. So he went about his life pretending he wasn’t dying inside to be able to kiss the sadness away from your face. The same sadness that was overwhelmingly present as you got yourselves and your team ready for capture the flag.

“Okay” he said as he clapped his hands to get the attention of the rest of the kids, knowing expanding your winning streak would be the easiest way to make you feel at least a little bit better. “Everyone knows what they’re doing? Good, if you don’t, go see Annabeth right now. Blue team, this victory is ours!”

The kids scatter as he walks back up to you. You’re fiddling with your armor, visibly frustrated. He lets you continue to try on your own until you groan in desperation. He takes the strap from you and buckles it himself.

“What’s wrong?” he asks next, his voice soft.

“Today’s the anniversary of when I first got to camp” you whisper. “And I know, I know that people wait for longer, that some never get to know who it is but I can’t help feeling this way. I’ve tried everything, it’s not fair.”

Luke’s heart breaks hearing you talk about your godly parent, the one person who is supposed to take care of you. But that is how the Gods work, they only care about themselves. He promises then, that he’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you. For now, he pulls you close to him, wrapping his arms around your body and placing his chin on your head. You pull apart as the bell that signals the start of the game rings through the forest. 

“I’ll see you after our win?”

“Definitely.” The smile on his face stays as he picks up his shield, running away from you.

He turns around right before you lose sight of him, giving you a military salute with his sword, pulling a giggle out of your mouth. You have been tasked with watch-out duty. You are a decoy, pretending to guard the flag so the kids in the other team come after you. You’re a good enough sword fighter to keep them entertained for a while on your own. You are bored for a while, until a group of three young Ares kids surrounds you. They are inexperienced and eager to prove themselves which makes them reckless. You could fight them off easily, and get them on their way, but you know that part of your mission is to stall them so you do your best to not give them your best moves. You’ve been sparring for a little bit when something throws you off. Someone is screaming your name. Through the forest you can see a little girl running towards you. Annabeth looks like she’s crying, which is enough to worry you, Annabeth never cries. The Ares kids try to use the distraction to attack, but you dodge their hits, quickly disarming them before running towards the girl screaming your name.

“Y/n! Come quickly! It’s Luke!”

He is the first thing your eyes lay on when you get to the clear Annabeth has led you to. He is on the floor, unconscious, his face covered in blood. You fall to your knees next to his body. Your hands are shaking, aching to do something, anything. There is not much you can do. You haven’t prayed in a while, having given up, but now, as you tear apart your t-shirt to cover the wound and stop the bleeding, and yell at the younger kids to “go find Chiron!” you beg any God that will listen to not let you lose your best friend. Someone touches your shoulder, whispering that you should move away. You’ve never felt this much rage. How dare someone tell you to walk away, to leave Luke’s side in this moment.

“Get off me!” You don't recognize your own voice as the scream leaves your mouth.

You realize slightly too late that the voice telling you to move was Chiron, but as you turn to apologize you are left speechless. The floor where Chiron had been standing just seconds before was completely burnt. When you look up, you realize why. There, shining above your head, was a lightning bolt.

“Zeus” Chiron said, his voice solemn, as the campers who had gathered to see what had happened, kneeled. “Energymaker, King of Gods, Father of Men. Hail, Y/n Y/l/n, Daughter of the Sky God.

You sit outside the back door of the infirmary for three days, unwilling to talk to anyone. For almost all campers, you’ve disappeared. They won’t let you see Luke, the Apollo kids take turns trying to convince you to go to your Cabin and get some sleep. You refuse. That's a new development, you have a Cabin now. A place where you belong, forever, not a temporary solution, or a rest stop, a place of your own. But the thought of walking into an empty, eerily silent mock of a home has you wanting to crawl out of your skin. You’ve become so used to sleeping through the noise of the Hermes Cabin’s campers you doubt you’ll be able to sleep on your own. And what are you going to do without being able to walk two steps and lay in Luke’s bed? Luke, who is currently unconscious inside the infirmary. Luke, who for some stupid reason you are not allowed to see. Luke, who is the reason why you haven’t even processed that you have been claimed. You have been claimed by Zeus no less. The king of the Gods, one of the Big Three. You can’t think of the implications, not when your best friend is battling between life and death so close to you, yet out of reach. You play with the food Annabeth had brought you, trying to forget the worry in her face as she tried to get you to say something. You know that Luke would have wanted you to move, take care of her and all the other campers, but you can't. He can’t be disappointed when he is unconscious. Still, you try your best, nodding at her words so she knows you’re listening. The door opens as you give up eating for the night. Mark, the Head Counselor of the Apollo Cabin looks down at you. He motions you to follow him with his head and you do so wordlessly. You don’t know what to think, and then you see him. He is sitting down, his back propped up with a pillow. He has bandages covering his reopened scar, and he gives you a sad smile when he finally spots you. You freeze for a second, unable to believe your eyes, before running and launching yourself towards him.

“I’m going to kill you” you say through the tears streaming down your face, hiding in the crook of his neck. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

You try to pull away but his arms stop you. You feel him shake his head.

“Don’t you dare, I’m fine.”

“I thought you were dead. I thought…”

“I’m ok… I’m ok now.”

“I got claimed.” You spit out suddenly, which makes Luke pull back, looking at you with wide eyes, a silent question in his face. “Zeus”

You can see his expression turn mournful as he remembers his old best friend. You’ve heard about Thalia, the quiet resentment you held for the girl who had undoubtedly held Luke’s heart had once made you feel terribly guilty. Now, you feel a sort of kin with her you had never felt before. You wish she was still here. You can see in Luke’s eyes he feels the same way.

“Daughter of the king of the Gods” he says finally, trying to be upbeat. “What a power trip. Hope it doesn’t get to your head. How’s the empty cabin? Much easier to sleep I hope?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t been there yet” you breathe in and out. “I couldn’t leave you. The thought of anything happening to you…”

“Y/n…”

“No, let me finish. I need to get this off my chest.” 

Alone with yourself for the past three days, you had had a lot of time to think. That is all you had done. Think about yourself, and your dad and your friends and the danger all of you were under just for being born. But mostly, you thought about Luke. And how he was the only person you felt truly comfortable with. And how you had this weird, guilt-inducing dislike of Thalia, not because she wasn’t good, you had never met her, but because she had Luke before you ever did, and you couldn’t stand it.

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking these past few days,” you finally breathe out. “And I have come to a couple realizations. Luke, I'm in love with you.”

It comes out of your mouth like a shot, unplanned and unbridled. You don’t know how you had planned to say it, but it was not like this.

“You’re what?” too embarrassed to look him in the eye, you shift your gaze to your lap.

“I’m in love with you. I don’t know how it happened, and I honestly don't know why I’m telling you. I guess watching you almost die made me realize life’s too short to keep secrets. You don’t have to say anything at all, but I love you.”

He’s already looking at you when you finally look up, his eyes wide, his mouth open. Nobody says anything for a couple of seconds. You search your brain for a joke, something to say to dispel the tension. You shouldn’t have said anything. You should’ve just kept it to yourself. Before you can continue further down your spiral he finally breaks his trance, pulling you towards him from the front of your ripped t-shirt and kissing you. Your lips move against his almost instinctively, and you can’t think of anything that’s not the taste of his tongue when it finally makes its way to your mouth, or the weight of his hands that have now shifted to your waist. You pull away when both of you need to breathe, but he doesn’t let you get very far.

“I love you too. I’ve loved you from the first day I met you. I’ve always known, you are it for me. I love you.”

At a loss for what to say, you kiss him again. Your hands cradle his face before moving to his curls. You kiss each other as if trying to convey the magnitude, the finality, of your feelings for each other. Luke is right. This is it, for both of you, You have finally found your person. Everything else is background noise from that point forward. You don’t care that the Gods are unfair and neglectful, or that you were born to a world destined to kill you. As long as you have Luke, you know it’ll be alright.

[apollogeticx]

✧˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ CHEMTRAILS OVER THE COUNTRY CLUB ♡·˚

— [♡] ; When you're facing the fallout of a forbidden romance with Toji, he comes back to pick up the pieces ｡°. fushiguro toji

tags: dad's best friend, fem!reader, forbidden romance, angst, healing, second chances, age gap, a bit ooc toji but not too much!

wc. 5.3k

Toji Fushiguro was back in town after three long years. You could still remember the day he left, a cool spring morning, the sun just breaking through the clouds as your father embraced him, clapping his back like old times. You were younger then, eyes wide with admiration, secretly hoping he would look at you differently one day. But he never did. Not until now.

When Toji first returned, you felt a pull in your chest, a desire you couldn’t shake off. He was different—broader, rougher around the edges, yet those same eyes lingered on you a little longer now. It didn’t take long for the first stolen kiss. It was late, just outside your father’s house, and you could barely breathe as his hands cupped your face, his lips crashing into yours like it was the only thing keeping him alive. Every touch since had been electric—secret, urgent, dripping with the tension of everything that could go wrong.

But it had to stay hidden. Your father trusted Toji like a brother, had been talking about his return for weeks, thrilled to finally have his best friend back. And all the while, you and Toji exchanged knowing looks, hands brushing in the hallway when no one was watching, a shared understanding that this thing between you was becoming impossible to ignore.

It all came to a head the night of the party. The house was packed with family and friends, laughter ringing out, music playing in the background. You had spent the evening avoiding Toji, knowing that even a glance would betray what was going on between you. But as the night wore on, you found yourself outside in the quiet, leaning against the railing of the porch. That’s when Toji came out, his eyes dark and full of the same need you felt.

"We shouldn’t," he whispered, but his lips found yours anyway, desperate and hungry. His hand trailed down your waist, pulling you closer until there was no space left between you, only the heat of his body and the thrill of the risk.

But neither of you had heard your father step out behind you.

"What the hell is going on here?"

His voice was ice, and you froze, the blood draining from your face as you pushed Toji away. But it was too late.

Your father’s face twisted in rage as he charged at Toji, fists swinging with an anger you had never seen before. Toji didn’t fight back. He didn’t even raise his hands to defend himself, just took the blows as if he deserved every single one. His jaw was clenched, eyes flicking toward you even as your father’s fist collided with his face again.

"Stop it!" you screamed, tears spilling down your cheeks. "Dad, stop!"

But your father wasn’t listening, his anger blinded by betrayal. You were trembling, unable to breathe as you watched Toji take hit after hit, blood streaking down his face. He never struck back, only stood there, shoulders tense with guilt, eyes filled with something between regret and longing.

"Get out of here," your father finally spat, stepping back, his chest heaving as he pointed toward the street. "Get the hell out of here, and don’t come near my daughter again."

Toji glanced at you one last time, his lips parted as if he wanted to say something. But he didn’t. He just turned and walked away, blood dripping onto the pavement, his broad back disappearing into the night.

You stood there, sobbing, fury bubbling up inside you. "How could you do that?" you shouted at your father, voice breaking. "You don’t get to decide who I care about!"

"Care about?" he barked back. "That man—he's been seducing you behind my back!"

You shook your head, tears falling harder now. "I wanted it. You don’t understand, Dad. I—"

"I don’t want to hear it." He cut you off, his voice hard but broken. "He’s gone, and that’s the end of it."

But it wasn’t the end for you. It couldn’t be. Not with the way Toji had made you feel, not with the way you had needed him. The night stretched on, the echoes of your father’s anger fading as you stared down the street, hoping that somehow, Toji would come back.

But deep down, you knew he wouldn’t.

The house felt hollow after that night. The laughter and noise from the party had long since faded, leaving only a tense, uncomfortable quiet that weighed on you like a suffocating blanket. You had locked yourself in your room, the door shut so tightly that even the world outside felt distant. The darkness of the room was soothing in its isolation, a retreat from everything that had shattered in a single moment.

You couldn’t face your father. Not after the fight, not after what he had done to Toji. Every time you closed your eyes, you saw Toji walking away, blood dripping from his lip, his eyes so full of guilt that it tore something deep inside you. And your father’s voice, still ringing in your ears—his anger, his betrayal. How could he understand?

Days passed, and you barely noticed. You hadn’t left your room, hadn’t eaten, hadn’t even showered. The world outside had become a distant memory, reduced to the muffled sounds of your father moving through the house or the occasional knock on your door that you ignored.

"Please," his voice would come through the door, softer than you’d ever heard it. "Just come out and eat something."

But you didn’t. You couldn’t. The ache in your chest was too much, a heavy emptiness that spread through your limbs, making it hard to move, hard to breathe. The bed had become your only refuge, the sheets tangled around you as you curled into yourself, trying to find warmth in the coldness of everything that had happened.

You missed him. More than you could admit, more than you thought possible. The memory of his touch lingered on your skin, the way his lips had felt against yours, the way his hands had held you like you were something precious, something he needed. But it was gone now. All of it. And all because your father couldn’t understand.

A soft knock came at the door again. You ignored it, pulling the blanket tighter around yourself.

"I’m sorry," your father’s voice came through, barely audible. "I shouldn’t have done what I did. Please, just talk to me."

But you stayed silent, tears slipping down your cheeks as you buried your face in the pillow. Talking wouldn’t change anything. Nothing could change what had already been broken.

You heard him sigh on the other side of the door before the sound of his footsteps retreated, leaving you alone again in the quiet. The loneliness felt like it was sinking into your bones, but you welcomed it. It was better than facing the reality outside that door, better than pretending everything could go back to normal.

Time passed in a blur, and the exhaustion that clung to you was overwhelming. You didn’t care that you hadn’t eaten in days, that your hair was a tangled mess, or that the air in your room had grown stale. None of it mattered anymore. Not without Toji.

The days bled into each other, the walls of your room feeling like they were closing in. Your body ached from lying in bed for so long, but the weight of everything made it impossible to move. The darkness had become your constant companion, the silence your only comfort. Each breath felt like an effort, as if you were trapped under the heaviness of your own thoughts.

Your nails, once long and neatly kept, were bitten down to jagged edges. You hadn’t even realized you were doing it at first, but now the skin around them was raw and red, angry welts forming from the constant gnawing. Each bite was a small release, a way to keep your mind from spiraling further into the pit of despair that had taken root inside you. The pain was grounding, but it didn’t last. Nothing did.

You barely noticed the footsteps outside your door anymore, the occasional knocks blending into the background noise of your misery. Your father had stopped trying to get you to come out days ago, though you could still hear him sometimes, pacing outside your room or talking quietly to himself. His presence was more of a ghostly figure now, a reminder of the fracture between you that neither of you seemed capable of mending.

You stared at your hands, the torn nails a stark reminder of how far you had fallen. Each broken piece felt like a reflection of what was happening inside you—destroyed, unraveled, unable to be fixed. The thought of Toji walking away, bloodied and silent, haunted you. He hadn’t looked back, hadn’t fought for you. And that was what hurt the most.

Another knock on the door. You didn’t respond, just like you hadn’t for the past few days. But this time, there was something different in the air, a tension you hadn’t felt before.

"Someone’s here to see you," your father’s voice came, hoarse, as if he hadn’t slept in days.

You stayed quiet, too drained to even muster the energy to refuse.

There was a brief silence, then a heavier knock. "It’s me."

Toji’s voice cut through the fog in your mind like a blade, sharp and unexpected. Your heart lurched, the pain in your chest flaring up all over again. You thought you had wanted to hear from him, to see him, but now, with him just on the other side of the door, it felt like too much. It felt like opening a wound you hadn’t even begun to heal.

But still, you didn’t move. You couldn’t.

"Please, just… just talk to me," Toji said, his voice low, almost pleading. "Your dad… he’s worried about you. Hell, I’m worried about you."

The tears were already forming in your eyes, the overwhelming emotion making it hard to breathe. You bit down on your already torn nails again, feeling the sting of the raw skin as the tears slipped down your face. He wasn’t supposed to be here. He was supposed to stay away. That’s what you had resigned yourself to—his absence.

"Come on," he pressed gently. "At least let me in for a minute."

You didn’t want to let him in. You didn’t want to face him, to confront the mess that had been made, the shattered pieces of what you thought might have been something real. But the sound of his voice was too much, too familiar. Your hand moved on its own, reaching for the door handle, your body trembling as you slowly twisted it open.

Toji stood there, tall and silent, his eyes soft with concern as he looked down at you. His hair was slightly disheveled, his clothes casual, like he had just come from his own place, but it was the weariness in his face that hit you the hardest. He looked just as broken as you felt.

Your father stood a few steps behind him, watching with an anxious expression, but he didn’t say anything. He just gave a small nod to Toji before walking away, leaving the two of you in the tense silence of the hallway.

Toji took a step forward, his gaze flicking down to your hands. His expression tightened when he saw the state of your nails, the angry red skin that lined your fingertips. "You’ve been…"

You pulled your hands back instinctively, hiding them behind your back. "I’m fine," you whispered, but your voice cracked, betraying the lie.

Toji’s face softened even more, and without saying anything, he stepped into your room, closing the door behind him. The room felt even smaller now with him in it, his presence overwhelming in a way that made your heart race. But it wasn’t just that—it was the way he was looking at you, as if you were fragile, as if you might break at any moment.

"You don’t look fine," he murmured, his voice deep and quiet. He reached out, his hand gently brushing the side of your face, his thumb grazing the corner of your lip in a gesture that was achingly tender.

Your breath hitched, the tears coming harder now. "Why did you come?" you asked, your voice barely a whisper.

"Because I couldn’t stay away," he said, his voice full of the guilt that had been hanging between the two of you. "And because you need to hear this from me—I’m sorry. I never wanted this to happen. I never wanted to hurt you."

Toji stood in the dim light of your room, taking in the state of everything. It wasn’t just you that had fallen apart; your surroundings mirrored the chaos inside you. Clothes were scattered on the floor, books and papers tossed haphazardly across your desk, and your bed was a mess of tangled sheets. It looked like a battlefield of emotion, each item a casualty of the war waging inside your heart.

He swallowed hard, his chest tight as he looked at you. You were curled up in the corner of your bed, still clutching your hands as if hiding the raw, bitten skin would make the hurt go away. Your eyes, red and tired, avoided his, staring blankly at the floor.

Toji sighed softly, stepping closer. He wanted to fix this, to fix you, but he knew it wasn’t going to be as simple as cleaning a room or brushing your hair. This was deeper, more painful. But he could start with the small things, with the things he could control.

"Let me help," he said quietly, his voice a low rumble in the quiet of the room.

You didn’t respond at first, your body still tense, shoulders curled inward as if you were trying to shield yourself from the world. But after a moment, you gave a small nod, the smallest sign of trust. Toji took it, knowing it was more than he deserved.

He crouched down in front of you, carefully taking your hands in his. His touch was gentle, his fingers brushing over the raw, irritated skin around your nails. "You shouldn’t have done this to yourself," he murmured, his voice soft, almost scolding, but filled with concern.

You glanced at your hands, shame flickering in your eyes, but Toji shook his head. "It's alright," he reassured, giving your hand a small squeeze before letting go. "Let’s get you cleaned up, okay?"

Toji stood and started moving around the room. It wasn’t in his nature to fuss over anyone, but for you, he did. He picked up the clothes scattered on the floor, folding them with rough, but careful hands. He straightened the books on your desk, pushed your chair back into place, and even tossed a few forgotten wrappers into the trash. It wasn’t much, but it made a difference. Slowly, your room began to look less like a disaster and more like a place where you could start healing.

You watched him the entire time, your gaze softening as he worked. There was something almost surreal about watching Toji—someone so strong and untouchable—doing something as simple as folding your clothes. It was comforting, in a way, seeing him take care of the little things when you couldn’t find the strength to.

Once the room was back in some semblance of order, Toji turned back to you, his eyes landing on your hair. It was tangled, knotted from days of neglect, falling in disarray around your shoulders.

"You need to brush that out," he said, a hint of his usual gruffness returning.

When you didn’t move, still staring down at the sheets, Toji hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, grabbing the brush that sat on your nightstand. He wasn’t exactly the type to play hairdresser, but he could see how much you were struggling, how much you needed someone to take care of you, even in the smallest ways.

He sat down on the edge of your bed, positioning himself behind you, the brush in his hand. "Hold still," he muttered, as if it was the most normal thing in the world for him to be doing this.

You sat frozen for a moment, unsure, but as the brush began moving through your hair, gently tugging at the tangles, you found yourself relaxing. Toji’s movements were slow and careful, as if he was afraid to hurt you. He worked through the knots with surprising patience, never once pulling too hard.

The rhythm of the brush moving through your hair became soothing, a small distraction from the storm inside your mind. Toji was silent the entire time, but his presence was comforting in a way you hadn’t expected. It was as if he knew that words weren’t what you needed right now, that just being there, helping you in these small ways, was enough.

After a while, your hair was smooth again, the tangles gone. Toji set the brush aside, his hand lingering for a moment as he tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. The gesture was so gentle, so unlike him, that it made your heart ache.

"You look better," he said quietly, his voice low and rough. "More like yourself."

You glanced up at him, your eyes meeting his for the first time in what felt like days. There was something in his gaze, something soft and unspoken, that made the weight in your chest lift just a little.

Toji stood up, stepping back from the bed and taking a deep breath. "Come on," he said, his voice returning to its usual firmness. "Your dad’s been worried sick about you. Let’s go talk to him."

You hesitated, the thought of facing your father making your stomach twist. You weren’t sure you were ready to deal with everything that had happened, but Toji’s steady presence made it feel a little less daunting. He wouldn’t leave you to face it alone.

Toji walked over to the door, pausing as he looked back at you. "You don’t have to say much," he said, his tone softer again. "Just… let him see you. Let him know you’re okay."

You took a deep breath, pushing yourself up from the bed. Your legs were shaky, weak from days of inactivity, but you managed to stand. Toji stayed close, his presence solid, grounding you as you moved toward the door.

With one last glance around the now-neat room, you followed him out, the weight on your shoulders just a little lighter. You weren’t sure what would happen next, but with Toji by your side, it felt like maybe, just maybe, you could start to put yourself back together.

The walk down the hallway felt longer than it ever had before. The quiet hum of the house seemed heavier, as if the very air was weighed down by the tension that had built up since that awful night. Each step you took felt unsteady, not just from the days you’d spent locked in your room but from the weight of what awaited you at the end.

Toji walked beside you, his hand hovering near your lower back, close enough to feel his presence, but not quite touching. He was giving you space, but you knew he was there—steady, solid, ready to intervene if things got too rough.

When you reached the bottom of the stairs, you saw your father sitting at the dining table. He was hunched over, his hands clasped tightly together in front of him, his knuckles white. His eyes were red and tired, deep circles etched beneath them. It looked like he hadn’t slept in days, and you realized, with a sharp pang of guilt, that he probably hadn’t.

The moment he saw you, he stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. His eyes widened in a mix of surprise and relief, but there was something else there too—something darker, deeper, that made your stomach twist.

“Thank God,” he breathed, his voice strained, almost breaking. He took a step forward, but then hesitated, his eyes flicking to Toji before returning to you. “I didn’t… I didn’t know if you’d come out.”

You stood there, frozen, not sure what to say or how to feel. Part of you wanted to rush into his arms, to let him hold you and tell you everything would be okay. But another part, the part that had festered in your room for days, was still so angry—at him, at the situation, at everything. He had been the one to drive Toji away, to shatter everything, and you weren’t sure if you could forgive that just yet.

Toji, sensing your hesitation, cleared his throat softly. “She’s alright,” he said, his voice low but firm, cutting through the silence like a blade. “She just needed some time.”

Your father’s eyes flickered between the two of you, the tension thickening in the room. He was still trying to process everything, still grappling with the reality of what had happened between you and Toji.

“I’m sorry,” your father said suddenly, his voice cracking with emotion. He took a step toward you, his eyes pleading. “I didn’t mean for it to get this bad. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but… seeing the two of you like that…” He trailed off, his gaze shifting to Toji with a mix of resentment and guilt. “I just—he’s my best friend. I never expected…”

Toji stepped forward, his expression hardening. "I didn’t handle it right either," he admitted, his deep voice unwavering, but with a hint of regret. "It’s on me too. I should’ve—” He paused, glancing at you before continuing, “I should’ve thought about what this would do to her. To you."

Your father let out a heavy sigh, running a hand over his face. He looked older than you remembered, worn down by the weight of what had transpired. “I was scared,” he confessed, his voice quieter now. “I didn’t know how to handle it. Seeing my daughter and my best friend... it just felt like everything was falling apart.”

You took a deep breath, your hands trembling slightly. The anger that had once burned inside of you was still there, but it was softer now, dulled by the exhaustion of the past few days. “I didn’t mean for it to happen like this,” you said, your voice quiet but steady. “But it wasn’t just Toji’s fault. I wanted it too. I—”

Your father raised a hand, cutting you off. “I know,” he said, his voice strained with emotion. “I know it wasn’t just him. I just… I can’t help but feel like I failed you somehow. Like I should have protected you from all of this.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words settling over you like a heavy blanket. You hadn’t expected this, hadn’t expected him to blame himself. It made the knot in your chest tighten, the ache in your heart grow sharper.

Toji, standing beside you, crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. But you could see the tension in his shoulders, the way he was holding himself back, trying not to escalate things.

“I don’t need protecting,” you said softly, breaking the silence. “I’m not a child anymore. I’m... I’m sorry that this hurt you, Dad. But it’s my life. My choice.”

Your father’s eyes softened, his anger seeming to melt away as he took in your words. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. It was clear that he was struggling, that part of him wanted to argue, to fight, but another part—the part that loved you—was beginning to understand.

“I just want you to be safe,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I want you to be happy.”

Toji glanced at you, his eyes dark and unreadable, but there was something in his expression that told you he felt the same way. He hadn’t wanted this to end in chaos, in broken families and shattered trust. But it had happened, and now the pieces had to be put back together.

“I know,” you replied, your voice gentle but firm. “But I need to make my own choices, even if they’re not the ones you would have wanted for me.”

Your father nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I just… don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t,” you promised, stepping closer to him. “But I need you to trust me.”

The silence stretched between you all, heavy but no longer suffocating. It was a fragile peace, but it was a start. Your father exhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping as he accepted the reality of the situation.

Toji shifted beside you, finally speaking up. “I’ll leave, if that’s what she wants,” he said, his voice rough but steady. “If it’s better for her.”

Your father looked between the two of you, his jaw tight. He was torn—torn between his desire to protect you and the knowledge that you had already made your choice.

But when he finally spoke, it wasn’t anger or rejection that filled his words. It was resignation. “I don’t want to lose either of you,” he muttered, rubbing his hand across his face again. “But this... this isn’t easy for me.”

Toji nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “We’ll figure it out.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, there was a sense of unity in the room. It wasn’t perfect, and there was still so much left unsaid, but it was a step forward. You felt a strange sense of relief, like the weight that had been pressing down on your chest for days was finally starting to lift.

“Alright,” your father said, his voice breaking the silence. “Let’s take it one step at a time.”

It had been a few days since that tense confrontation, and though things weren’t exactly back to normal, the weight between you, your father, and Toji had begun to lift. The house felt quieter, more at ease. You had started to heal, both physically and emotionally, though the scars from the fight still lingered.

This evening, though, there was something different. You stood in front of your mirror, brushing the last few knots from your hair as you prepared to leave the house for the first time in days. The thought of spending time outside, with Toji, no less, brought a flutter of nervous excitement to your chest, something you hadn’t felt in a while.

Your father stood in the doorway of your room, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed. He didn’t say much as he watched you, but you could feel his presence. He had been quiet ever since that night, his protective instinct still there, but softened by his understanding that things had changed. That you were making your own choices now.

“You sure about this?” he asked after a few moments of silence, his voice low and careful, as if he was afraid of saying the wrong thing.

You turned to face him, meeting his gaze in the reflection of the mirror. “Yeah,” you said softly, smoothing down the fabric of your shirt. “I think I am.”

Your father’s brow furrowed, and he sighed, stepping into the room. “I know you’ve made your decision, but…” He hesitated, glancing toward the hallway where you knew Toji was waiting downstairs, likely awkwardly shifting on the couch, unsure of his place in this delicate balance. “Just be careful, okay?”

“I will,” you assured him, turning to fully face him now. “I know things aren’t… perfect yet. But I’m trying to move forward. I think we both are.”

Your father nodded, running a hand through his hair in that familiar way he always did when he was anxious. “He’s waiting downstairs,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s still weird, you know. Seeing him here, after everything.”

You smiled faintly, stepping closer to your dad and wrapping your arms around him. He stiffened at first, but then relaxed, his arms coming up to hold you gently. “Thank you,” you whispered, pressing your cheek against his chest. “For giving us a chance.”

He let out a shaky breath, patting your back gently. “Just… don’t let him screw this up.”

You laughed softly, pulling back to look at him. “I won’t let him,” you said, your voice more confident now. “And if he does, you’ll be the first to know.”

With a final nod from your father, you grabbed your bag and headed down the hallway, your heart racing as you neared the stairs. You could already feel the tension in the air, the awkwardness that had settled between Toji and your father still palpable, even if neither of them acknowledged it outright.

As you descended the stairs, you spotted Toji sitting on the edge of the couch, his broad shoulders hunched slightly as he stared at the floor. He looked uncomfortable in a way that was rare for him—like he wasn’t sure if he should be here, or if he was overstepping his bounds just by waiting for you.

When he saw you, though, his expression softened, and a small, almost shy smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “You ready?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual, as if he was trying not to disturb the fragile peace that had settled in the house.

You nodded, feeling a wave of warmth wash over you at the sight of him. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Toji stood, towering over you like he always did, but there was a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. He was still rough around the edges, still the man who could take down anyone in a fight without blinking, but there was something more vulnerable about him now. Something you knew he had only begun to show because of you.

As the two of you made your way toward the door, you could feel your father’s eyes on you from the kitchen. You glanced back, catching his gaze. He didn’t say anything, but there was a look in his eyes that spoke volumes—concern, yes, but also acceptance. He was still uneasy about all of this, but he was trying.

Toji hesitated at the door, his hand resting on the knob as if waiting for some unspoken permission. Your father’s presence loomed in the background, a silent reminder of the tension that still simmered beneath the surface.

“Take care of her,” your father said finally, his voice low but firm.

Toji turned to face him, his expression serious as he gave a small nod. “I will.”

There was a beat of silence, and then your father spoke again, softer this time. “And take care of yourself too.”

Toji’s eyes flickered with something you couldn’t quite place, but he nodded again, understanding the weight of those words. It wasn’t just about you anymore—it was about him too, about making sure this fragile new beginning didn’t shatter before it even had a chance to grow.

Without another word, Toji opened the door, and you both stepped out into the cool evening air. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the street, and for the first time in what felt like forever, you felt like you could breathe again.

As the door closed behind you, you glanced up at Toji, who was still tense but trying to relax. “You okay?” you asked softly, reaching out to take his hand in yours.

He looked down at you, his expression softening as his fingers intertwined with yours. “Yeah,” he said, giving your hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m okay.”

And for the first time in days, you believed him.

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