#C-TA SWEEP

[shrinevandal]

this whole time i wasnn't following the male yandere tournament blog. What the hell

[shrinevandal]

beloved titular character of one of the most famous and critically acclaimed musicals of all time vs some dead gay teen from an obscure and long-abandoned vocaloid series: who will win? the answer may surprise you

Final Round.

[crow-raven-crow]

i saw that your thinking about doing Hecate hardbroom x reader,so I was wondering if you could write about how Hecate dominates over the submissive reader like the reader is 18+ and always getting into trouble and never listen to the teachers so Hecate takes matters into her own hand when reader gets another detention and tries to skip out on it leading in a chase scene and so on and so forth, it would be nice thank you!♥️♥️♥️♥️

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧?

𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭 - [𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐰 𝟏𝟖+]

✧･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧ :══════⊹⊹══════: ✧･ﾟ｡˚☾.･✧

𝐇𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐱 𝐓𝐀 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: ~2.8k 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬/𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: slight chase, description of anxiety, late/tardiness anxiety, NSFW, fingering, edging, dom!Hecate, sub!Reader, pinning kink, biting, marking kink, slight degradation, alludes to future sex, slight begging kink

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: see above

𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

AO3 link in title ✧･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧ :══════⊹⊹══════: ✧･ﾟ｡˚☾.･✧

✧･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧ :══════⊹⊹══════: ✧･ﾟ｡˚☾.･✧

𝐚/𝐧: so def changed it a bit ! i hope that's okay;;; but it was really cool looking into this character. I know nothing about the show, so accuracy on it is.. hit or miss.. but i might look into it after this

✧･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧ :══════⊹⊹══════: ✧･ﾟ｡˚☾.･✧

You raced down the stone halls, winter's icy breath easily seeping through your coat and making your lungs still. Your heels clacked through the empty hallways, only bringing the fact that classes had already started to the forefront of your mind.

A sense of dread washed over you at the quick glance down at your watch, fully realizing just how late you were. Slipping into the classroom unnoticed would be an impossible feat now. The students always enjoyed talking to you as their spells TA, so your absence had undoubtedly drawn their attention. This was the third time in which you had been significantly late since starting at the academy, and you were hoping that the repercussions wouldn't be too bad..

You placed your hand on the doorknob, taking a quick breath in before turning it and joining the students in the room. As you walked in, their heads shot over to you, their faces breaking into welcoming smiles and causing one to meet yours. You gave them all a small wave before directing your attention to their professor, giving her a nod.

You took your coat off and quietly made your way to you desk, passing behind Ms.Cackle after leaving your things on a shelf by the door. You stopped dead in your tracks, your heart rate picking up as all air left your lungs at the sight of Hecate Hardbroom in your seat, looking at you with a raised eyebrow. You grabbed another chair, moving it directly next to her and taking a seat, nerves coming in and settling themselves within your veins.

"Good morning, Miss Y/L/N," she greeted you with a sidelong glance, her eyes sweeping over your form, and taking you in completely. She noticed the tension held at your shoulders, the slight fidgeting of your rings, and just how well you were able to dress up.. Your pants accentuated your curves, a few buttons of your shirt left unclasped to reveal just enough to tease, and the carefully chosen jewelry added a touch of elegance, bringing everything together with the glint of gold contrasting beautifully with the overall darkness of your outfit.

"Morning, Headmistress.." You bowed your head towards her as you spoke, your shoulder brushing against hers on accident as you did so. Sucking up to her, even in the slightest, seemed to work, allowing the energy between you two to level out. You gave her a small, genuine smile, finally looking at her after her surprise appearance, and turned your attention to the stack of papers that were ready for you to grade.

"Having car troubles this morning?" Her question caused your actions to falter, and a nervous chuckle escaped you as you faced the inevitable. You reached past her for a pen, one hand resting on the back of her chair, while the other hand grabbed hold of the pen, making your chest be directly in her line of sight. Her close proximity sent a shiver down your spine as you felt her breath against your neck, the warmth introducing a familiar yet thick tension between you two. Quickly refocussing on the papers, you started leaving notes and scores on each sheet.

"Yes… I'm very sorry about that.." you said, your voice holding a tinge of guilt. "I've tried to get the issue fixed, but it seems time has been against me lately." You let out a sigh as you explained yourself to her, sulking down slightly at what was to come next. You could feel her eyes burning into you as you spoke, making any remaining focus you had on the papers easily slip away.

She rose from her seat, taking her notes in her hands, and looking down at you. As she passed behind you, her hand brushed lightly across your back, leaving a trail of electricity in its wake. She placed her hands on the desk as she reached the other side, bringing her lips to your ear and whispering, "I expect to see you for detention then, hmm?"

She backed away after a few seconds, taking in the telltale blush that sat against your features and the way your lower lip was gently caught between your teeth. You finally moved to look up at her, only to be met with a wink and the sight of her walking away.

You couldn't help but wonder if she was truly joking.. Though you hadn't interacted with her much during your time here, there was always a certain energy that coursed between the two of you. This interaction was nothing less than the ones before, creating that familiar warmth to pool between your thighs, leaving your mind in a flustered state with desire swirling in your eyes.

~~

You made your final round to the teachers lounge, collecting all the mail for Ms.Cackle. The day had gotten warmer, but there was still a lingering frost clinging against the features of the academy. You passed students in the halls, waving and having small conversations with some as you made your way towards the academy's exit.

A familiar voice boomed through the main hall, your name bouncing against the walls and piercing everyones ears, successfully causing everyone to freeze. You turned around slowly, not knowing exactly what she wanted from you. You saw her at the other end of the hall, her pace fast and demanding, making you remember her statement from earlier this morning and seeing that she was actually quite serious about it.

Glancing down at your watch, your hear sank as you realized that it was well past detention, and shot your gaze back up to her. Panic set in as you saw her fast approaching figure, and you knew you had to act quickly. There was only so much you could do, at this point.. After taking in your surroundings, you took in a sharp breath and ran to your right, hoping to escape the interaction entirely for just one more day.

The sound of her heels echoed as they met the stone floor, the clacks growing louder and closer with every step that you both took. You rounded the corner and ran for the nearest unlocked classroom. Every locked door made doom melt into your chest, your breaths quickening when each one seemed to be a dead end. Finally finding one that was unlocked, you rushed inside, slamming the door shut and resting your back against the hard wood. Your breath felt loud in your current situation, each intake of air making your senses heighten to try and listen out for her.

Your ears rang with your rapidly beating heart, the beat so hard that you were sure it would jump out of your chest as adrenaline coursed through your veins. You pressed a hand over your mouth, your ears straining to hear her approaching footsteps. You shut your eyes tightly, focusing on each click of her heels. The footsteps came to a stop just outside the room you were in, and it set your heart plummeting to your feet, making the rest of the world fizzle and fade away.

The sound of her heels picked back up again, the voice of another professor present in the hallway, and both sounds gradually faded away moments later. You let out a shaky breath of relief, feeling a sense of calm sweep in after the storm you thought you'd face. You turned around, taking hold of the doorknob and waiting a few seconds to ensure that she was truly gone. Just as you were about to leave the room, you were spun around, your hands pinned above your head, and felt a warm body press firmly against your own.

"Leaving so soon?" Her voice radiated over your entire being, her presence alone captivating you in a trance. Her perfume left you dizzy, her warm breath against your neck sending a shiver down your spine. Her tone was curious, but it didn't take away from the overarching dominance found within it. "I didn't see you in detention.. Care to explain why?"

Your heart pounded in your ears as your mind struggled to keep up with your body's reactions. Her lips gently traced along your jawline, her free hand coming to grab your waist, coaxing a whimper to escape your lips. She'd never done this before, but it was something that you could quickly find yourself getting lost in. "I do expect an answer when I ask a question, sweet girl.."

She placed a few light kisses against your neck, the touch leaving your skin tingling and your desire for her growing. You sucked in a breath as she bit down slightly, smoothing her tongue over the area right after. Your voice was shaky, more breathy than you would've liked, and it told the headmistress just how much she was impacting you.

"I-I didn't.. I didn't think you were serious-"

"Of course, I was.." She pulled away just enough to look at you, thinking about exactly what she should do with you. Your pupils were dilated and your chest heaved slightly. Your back arched against the door as she moved farther back, missing the warmth that she provided you and the touch that you oh so craved. "You still need to be punished.. don't you?"

"Yes.." You answered quickly, desperation apparent in your voice and features. You were acting so delicious for her, the way that your body reacted to her touch alone was enough to give her a high. She leaned in close, her lips ghosting above your own. You tried capturing them in a kiss, her grip around your wrists and waist only tightening and preventing you from doing so.

"You want to be taught a lesson? Taken care of, hmm? You've been so good here so far.. so I'll go easy on you this time.."

"Please-" Her lips crashed into yours, her hand wrapping around to your back and pulling you towards her, arching your back into her body and allowing her complete control over you. Her other hand finally let go of your wrists, allowing your hands to come to her shoulders. It traced up your waist, untucking your shirt before tangling her fingers in your hair.

A moan escaped you as she pulled, breaking the kiss and feeling her lips move against your jawline, working their way down to your neck. You tilted your head, giving her more access to the canvas of skin you had to provide. She could feel your heart racing as she met your pulse point, her smile evident against your skin. The marks she left were dark, making her claim over you and showing the world just exactly who you belonged to.

Her hands circled to your front, undoing the rest of the buttons and tossing the garment somewhere to the side. Your fingers worked through her hair, taking apart the bun and watching the long, dark locks flow down past her shoulders. Her lips met yours again as you worked on her shirt, your fingers smoothing over her pale skin and lifting the fabric over her head.

She looked at you, her gaze darkening at the sight of more of your body, untouched, sensitive, trembling, and all for her.. Her hands moved up your torso, flattening over the lace of your bra, circling to the back before undoing the clip and letting it fall. Her mouth watered at the sight of you, her hands coming up to squeeze your breasts after pressing you against the door again.

You took a sharp breath in at the contact, your bottom lip coming between your teeth and your eyebrows furrowing at the beginnings of pleasure she was about to show you. Her lips trailed down your neck, a long kiss being placed in the valley between your breasts before her tongue swiped over your right bud.

A low whimper left you, encouraging her to take your nipple into her mouth and suck and lick the skin there. You needed more, her touch made your mind fuzzy as more moans escaped your lips. She seemed to get the message, her lips coming back up to yours as you felt one of her hands work on the button of your pants.

She slipped her hand under the fabric, her cold fingers meeting your wet slit and making your hips buck. You threw your head back as a low groan left your lips, her fingers working agonizingly slow through your folds, collecting your juices before moving back to flatten against your clit.

The flame that was growing in your abdomen was dangerous, your fingers digging into her shoulders in pleasure. Her fingers slowly circled against the sensitive bud, each movement being so delicious you were sure each one could send you quickly over the edge. Her actions grew in pace, your moans becoming louder and your blush encompassing your entire body, making it hot, burn, as she watched you come undone from her touch alone.

Just when you thought you were going to cum, her fingers moved away from your clit, making whimpers and pleas escape your lips in a desperate attempt to make her continue.

"Such a needy little thing…" She placed soft kisses against your face, the gentleness in the actions heavily contrasting the growing need that coursed through your veins. Her movements picked back up, leading you back to your peak only to stop once more, repeating over and over until you were putty against her fingers. "Learned your lesson yet, sweet thing?"

"Yes- Yes, please.. Let me- Make me cum- please.. pleaseplease-" Your words were mumbled through your lips, desperation and need evident in your tone as your pleading eyes looked into her own. Any and all composure that you had just hours prior was nowhere in sight, your body being held up by her hands and the door, your shirt gone and your pants wrinkled and folded away, a small sheen of sweat and a wild filter of blush covering your skin.

"Only because you asked so beautifully.." Her fingers left your clit, leaving you confused and ready to beg for just a second, before you felt them plunge into you core. The action nearly made you fall over, the suddenness and overwhelming rapture of getting what you desperately craved and needed making you lose balance slightly. They slipped in with ease, your arousal coating her hand and your inner thighs. The action made you see stars, her fingers pumping in and out of you at a rough pace and making moans leave you with every thrust.

You thrusted your hips in time with her fingers, making them course deeper and deeper into you. Her fingers curled, touching your sweet spot and making your walls clench around her. Her thumb moved against your clit, pulling against the knot building in your core.

"I-I'm.. mmph- I- please, Hecate, please- let me-" You kept getting cut off by your own moans, the pleasure she was giving you becoming all consuming as you chased the high that was denied to you times over.

"Cum for me.. cum against my fingers, beautiful.." Her voice alone was enough for the rope to snap, sending you crumbling down as ecstasy took you in its hold. Your body shuddered, your walls clenching around her finders as you came, whimpers and moans leaving you as she helped you ride out your high.

After a few moments, she pulled her fingers from your core. You watched her as you rested against the door with half lidded eyes, place her fingers into her mouth and suck, groaning at the taste of you. The sight alone reignited the flame within you, reminding you that you could never get enough of the headmistress.

You reached out to her, one of your hands resting against her cheek while the other met her shoulder. You pulled her in, kissing her with a newfound ferocity, your tongues dancing together and muffling the sounds that came from the both of you.

She pulled away after a few moments, her lips just above yours as she spoke. "Have you learned your lesson?"

You waited a second to answer, your eyes filtering between her own before a mischievous smirk met your lips. You kissed her again, meeting her lips then moving against her jawline, before kissing just under her ear. Your voice was a low whisper, desire never fading from it as you spoke to her. "I don't think I have.. I might need another lesson, Headmistress.."

Her lips met yours again, her arms wrapping around your waist and pulling you as close as possible. She led you back from the door, turning your body and pinning you against a desk. She pushed your shoulder down, signaling you to lay against the cool wood, and the moment your back was flush against it, you knew it was going to be a long night.

~~

✧･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧ :══════⊹⊹══════: ✧･ﾟ｡˚☾.･✧

𝐚/𝐧: TEEHEE. Hecate Hardbroom? I've never heard of her until I got this request, but she seems like an interesting character.. I hope I did this justice because I know absolutely nothing about this universe other than my little amount of research.

I'm slowly catching up on my requests ! I finished all of the ones that I talked about in that update I did last month, and I've put the ones I'm currently focusing on up on my masterlist !

I'm traveling this weekend to go see HOZIER!!!! so I might be a little mia since I'm driving BUTTTTTT if you want to see more of me, I'm very active on my twitter hehe

I hope you all enjoyed ! It was kinda nice looking into a completely new character

x,

~ 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐯𝐲𝐧

✧･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧ :══════⊹⊹══════: ✧･ﾟ｡˚☾.･✧

𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬: (tagged anyone who asked/wanted to be on the "all works" taglist)

@autumn-leaves-chasing-breeze @weemssapphic @readingtheentrails @finnja555 @barbarasstar @vendocrap8008 @gwendolinechristieiscute @lilfartbox1 @agathaandgwenslesbian @lvinhs @elvira-dear @kimiinou

✧･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧ :══════⊹⊹══════: ✧･ﾟ｡˚☾.･✧

[flyingwargle]

sunaosa week day 3: confessions / asexuality spectrum

things started off innocently enough - folded notes passed in class, shared glances in between sets, memes exchanged through the evening. as time went on, things started to escalate - brushed shoulders while walking side by side, hand holding when no one was looking, hugs in addition to verbal farewells at the end of the day.

their first kiss wasn't until graduation, a brush of lips obscured behind a curtain of cherry blossoms.

osamu became an apprentice at a traditional restaurant and suna was scouted by a div. 2 team in the same neighborhood. with their combined incomes, they rented a shitty studio apartment, working long hours until they returned home to each other's arms, cuddling on the couch, prompting one another not to fall asleep before dinner.

he told atsumu about all this on one of his rare days off while suna was still at the gym. his brother's confusion was palpable. "ya mean ya don't do anythin' more than that?"

"like what?"

"ya haven't had sex yet?"

the long silence that followed was enough of an answer. osamu hung up and atsumu never asked again.

years later, on a random tuesday while clearing the counter after his customers left, the question pops back into his mind. why haven't we had sex?  there are a few possibilities:

a) their shitty apartment was barely soundproof, and the entire building would've heard them.

b) suna moved out after he was recruited by ejp, and their daily routine changed to a monthly routine.

c) they are always so tired when they're finally together that they want nothing more than to cuddle and sleep.

d) neither of them is interested.

what's the correct answer?

the front door slides open. osamu straightens with his customer service smile. "hey, welcome ta-"

he cuts himself off at suna's languid smile, broad shoulders hugged by his team jacket, duffle over his arm. osamu leaves him cloth behind to approach him. "hello, there. i haven't seen ya 'round here before."

"really? i've eaten everything off the menu and then some." he winks, pulling him into a tight embrace. "i happen to be very close with the owner."

osamu chuckles, burying his chin in the soft polyester material of his boyfriend's jacket. "i'll hafta give 'im a stern talkin' ta. it's unbecomin' of him ta give out freebies."

a clearing of the throat makes him jump apart, and osamu catches the unamused look of his assistant manager. suna chuckles, adjusting the duffle over his arm. "i'll go settle down and come back to help out."

"ya should rest. ya came a long way."

"it's fine. i slept on the shinkansen." he slides the door open. "i'll be back later."

osamu returns behind the counter, eyes sweeping the filled tables, their plates full of delicious onigiri and other side dishes. he worked tirelessly to reach this spot, just as suna worked diligently to become a regular on a top team. they've sworn to spend the rest of their lives together, agreed that distance is a small price to pay in the interim.

so why haven't we become more intimate?

they're physical with hugs and occasional kisses. osamu can count on both hands the amount of times they made out using atsumu's definition ("lotsa tongue an' real hot"), and strangely, he doesn't feel the need to push further. suna probably doesn't either, since he never did anything that made osamu uncomfortable.

or maybe he wants ta, an' i just missed the signs. atsumu's always said he was dense. he believes it, himself, so it's honestly a miracle that he even realized his feelings for suna.

just before evening service, suna returns, donning an onigiri t-shirt and hat. he hip checks osamu when he slides behind the counter to help in the kitchen, and osamu is too busy to talk with him. business is steady all the way until closing, and clean-up is quick with an extra set of hands. soon, osamu is locking up, hand finding suna's on the short walk to the apartment.

it isn't shitty nor rented, but a modest one-bedroom with a lovely kitchen, balcony, and den that osamu uses as an office and suna uses as storage. osamu makes quick work of the leftovers to make dinner, and they sit at the table to eat, picking up exactly where their last message left off. afterwards, suna washes the dishes and osamu finishes his paperwork, inputting the day's totals in his spreadsheet, closing his laptop with a satisfied smile.

suna waits for him on the couch, half-asleep. osamu slides next to him, leans his head on his shoulder. "hey, rin," he murmurs. "i got a question fer ya."

"mm?"

"why haven't we had sex with each other?"

a pause. a long pause. he feels suna straighten, voice hesitant. "i dunno. do you want to?"

"i'm askin' ya."

"personally, no, but if it's something you want..."

"no...i mean, it isn't a big deal fer me? i just got thinkin' that we've been together fer so long, but we never..." now that he says it aloud, he can't help but feel ridiculous. why should having sex be an indicator of how well a relationship is doing? there are so many other factors to consider that aren't physical intimacy.

suna moves away, and osamu sits upright to face him, caught off-guard by the serious glint in his boyfriend's eyes. "did something happen to make you think this?" he asks.

"not really. it was a question that 'tsumu asked me a while back, and i never gave 'im an answer, and it sorta...came back ta me. is it just us? it isn't actually normal ta not want sex...right?"

his small smile is rueful. "it isn't. i suspected it but didn't say anything, and i didn't say anything either...i'm asexual. it means i don't feel sexual attraction to others."

osamu stares at him. "huh."

"i figured it out in high school," suna continues. "it was around the time that atsumu came out as bi, and you said something like, gender doesn't matter, you'd like whoever you liked. i wondered for myself, and realized that i was the same as you, except i'd never want to sleep with anyone. that's when i found out about asexuality."

it's the first time that osamu heard of the term, and somehow, it feels...right. he never expressed a desire to sleep with anyone either, even felt disgusted by the idea. but when it came to suna... "i don't think i'd sleep with anyone other than ya," he admits. "is that weird?"

"no, that's demisexuality, which means you need to have an emotional connection with someone before you have sex. i love you and all, but i don't feel that, at all. we can try, if you want."

"no, no, i don't wanna make ya uncomfortable!" osamu says quickly. he squares his shoulders. "i'll live without it, rin. thank ya fer tellin' me this. i'm glad ta know."

"just ask if you have any more questions. we can work this out together." suna reaches for his hand, and they share a smile, one born of love and understanding.

[periodiccompletionist]

Round 3 RESULTS

At 52.3%, Iodine advances! Silicon (S Si I Li C Co O N - 8/118) is eliminated.

At 66.1%, Mercury advances! Beryllium (B Be Er Y Li I U - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 62.8%, Bromine advances! Promethium (P Pr O Th H I U - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 58.5%, Tungsten advances! Silver (S Si I Lv V Er - 6/118) is eliminated.

At 69.2%, Radium advances! Antimony (N Ti I Mo O Y - 6/118) is eliminated.

At 64.3%, Titanium advances! Gold (O - 1/118) is eliminated.

At 57.1%, Uranium advances! Chlorine (C H O I In N Ne - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 52.9%, Iridium advances! Neptunium (N Ne P Pt U Ni I - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 59.6%, Xenon advances! Sodium (S O I U - 4/118) is eliminated.

At 65%, Copper advances! Curium (C Cu U I - 4/118) is eliminated.

At 52%, Calcium advances! Nitrogen (N Ni I O Og Ge - 6/118) is eliminated.

At 64.6%, Carbon advances! Neodymium (N Ne O Dy Y I U - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 60%, Mithril advances! Oganesson (O Og Ga N Ne Es S - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 59.4%, Neon advances! Helium (H He Li I U - 5/118) and Arsenic (Ar S Se N Ni I C - 7/118) are eliminated.

At 70.6%, Bismuth advances! Potassium (P Po O Ta As S Si I U - 9/118) is eliminated.

At 51.3%, Phosphorus advances! Cobalt (C Co O B Ba Al - 6/118) is eliminated.

Biggest Sweep: Bismuth vs. Potassium (Or Neon vs. Helium vs. Arsenic, depending on who you ask)

Closest Match: Phosphorus vs. Cobalt

Most Voted: Uranium vs. Chlorine, with 91 total votes

[aita-alternia]

<setTone: confused> <p> am | (8 sweeps, go|d) the assho|e for |ett|ng my hatefr|end (8 sweeps, burgundy) get potent|a||y sacr|f|ced |n a we|rd fucked up c|own meet|ng? </p>

<setTone: neutral> <p> so, for context, my hatefr|end has a mo|ra|| (9 sweeps, purp|e) who wanted to take them to a c|own th|ng. |'m not ent|re|y sure the deta||s but | have had a few bad exper|ences w|th th|s mo|ra|| so | dec|de to follow them. </p>

<setTone: shocked> <p> |o and fuck|ng beho|d | get there and |t's sketchy as hell! </p>

<setTone: neutral> <p> natura||y | f||p my sh|t. |'m not stup|d enough to f|ght a purp|e (|et a|one a hoard of them) and | don't want them to tear me a new one so | just k|nd of. </p>

<setTone: upset> <p> stand there... </p>

<setTone: confused> <p> eventua||y | get threatened so | |eap out a w|ndow? and my hatefr|end hasn't ta|ked to me s|nce? </p>

<setTone: upset> <p> | know |'m not supposed to care about my k|smes|s ||ke that (we aren't even vac|||at|ng) but |'m start|ng to worry |f they were cu||ed... </p>

<setTone: confused> <p> shou|d | have done someth|ng? and am | wrong for fee||ng bad? </p>

[thecutestmonkeygirl]

She only flushed further at this. “E-even when I c-can’t even get the words out?” She continued on but shrugged at his next statement. “I donno. When I watch my fights I’m in the mindset of finding my mistakes. It’s to learn and be better in the ring, not ta gloat. I’m not sure how I’ll feel but I’m sure if he starts things, I’ll forget what is even on.” She chuckled as her tail gave a wide sweep.

She returned the affection, taking a moment to scratch behind his ears before watching him head off. She took a different path and found her way into the kitchen, looking around to see if she could simply spot Serge.

Blood and Moonlight

Sasuga woke in what was at first an unfamiliar area but as she blinked fully awake she realized it was their closet that Coyote had decorated for them. She smiled and took a careful kiss from her mate who was still sound asleep next to her. It really had been an amazing night with the family and then with her husband. As she slipped from his arms, she took a moment to look at her reflection in the mirror, her fingers dancing over the fresh marks on her neck and hips. She couldn't have asked for anything more from the night and it was with some reluctance that she dressed. She picked out a pair of warm leggings and a short little skirt to pull over them with some knee high boots and a thick sweater. She slipped from the closet and moved to the bathroom to comb her hair and brush her teeth and get ready for the big day ahead. She gave a stretch and headed downstairs only to find a familiar face waiting for her. "Raphael..." she smiled and moved to greet him with a hug. "I see you are still alive." she smirked. "Want some tea? Coffee?"

@banditcoyote

[squidcalamarium]

C-ta sweep :3

I don't even know who that is!!!!!!!!

[annmarcus63]

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Buckle up, long reading ahead

"I'm not hungry" 

"You need to eat anyway" Jaskier makes a face full of distaste, his belly just woke up and the last thing he wants is stew, more so if Lambert cooked it. "I cooked" Geralt adds as if reading Jaskier's mind "try a couple of spoonfuls" Jaskier takes the bowl eager to get on with it. He swallows precisely two spoonfuls without meat or carrots, only broth. 

"For you" says Geralt and places the yellow flower on the nightstand. He takes the chair next to the bed Jaskier is lying on. "I'm definitely not going to eat that" Geralt huffs a gentle laugh and says "It's a present. Ciri helped me to find it. Started snowing a night ago, that's all we could find" He looks at the dying flower a reflection of his own battered body, he's amazed with the gentleness in which Geralt holded it. 

"How's the pain?" Jaskier's eyes travels up to Geralt's, a soft look on the golden ones, like sunset autumn, Jaskier shivers but he's not sure why. 

"Painful. I must say I didn't know chest hair could hurt" 

"So much fucking hair…"

“...Like a dog died in there” They laugh, one of those rare laughs that holds years and years of sharing experiences, of sharing a life on the road, whether or not it's a friendship or merely a companionship. Jaskier regrets it immediately when a sharp pain emerges from his chest, he gasps and goes still. Melitele's magnificent tits, it hurts. 

A warm hand settles over the bandages, a fluttering touch. Touching but not quite. Jaskier opens his eyes, Geralt is there, close very close. "Breathe, slowly" Jaskier follows his instructions, the witcher's hand rising with every breath. Minutes pass, Geralt waits patiently until he regains strength, and then takes his hand away. Jaskier mourns the loss of contact right away.

"How is Ciri?" he asks to break the silence and grimaces at his own trembling voice. He has already asked Triss about her, but he wanted to hear it from Geralt, her father of surprise so to speak. He's seeking some kind of attention or recognition, he guesses, he's always seeking for self meaning in others, specially in Geralt.

"She's fine. She's got a bruised confidence, that's all." Geralt reluctantly takes the bowl from Jaskier's hands and places it on the nightstand, next to the withering flower. "She's safe  thanks to you" Jaskier makes a noncommittal sound "We're outnumbered and you... you save her and I ... don't... don't fucking do that again." Jaskier blinks stunned, maybe is the pain or his medicine muddle mind but the harshness in Geralt's voice hits in the wrong places for the wrong reasons.  

"I had to, Geralt. That thing was about to mashed her like a potato against the rock, Geralt. A po-ta-to." 

"You should've stayed back and let us handle it."

"Well, too late for that!" said Jaskier looking at his mended body and his severed hands. Geralt sweeps his gaze over Jaskier's body, taking in all the bruises and the bandages a miserable expression settles on his handsome face. "The chort threw you across the field. You aren't built for that, we are. You can't do something like that again" 

Jaskier could sense something in there, something the witcher wanted to say but he didn't want to give it to Jaskier. And the bard is tired of starving from Geralt. "Oh, I'm sorry" he feels his inner snappish child break to the surface "I didn't know I needed your permission to help..." 

"You're human, Jaskier..." And now he's talking like Jaskier is a child who doesn't know better. He's almost forty three!

"Oh, believe me I KNOW" 

"It's a witcher's work not yours"

"It worked, didn't it!? so why don't you stick your opinion up your arse and be grateful for just fucking once" 

"You died, Jaskier!" Geralt shouts, the words crashing to the walls and bumping back to Jaskier in a punch that cools him down instantly. “You died and I couldn't do fucking anything." Geralt slumps on the chair like all the weight of the world has finally left his shoulders, his hands that were clenched a second ago now open on his thighs. Jaskier's snappish inner child quiets down. "I... when I got to you, you're already gone." Geralt lets out a shuddering breath and then turns on the chair to face Jaskier. "You were gone." he repeats and Jaskier averts his eyes, suddenly ashamed. “Jask…” Geralt has never said his name like it's worth naming him, like it's worth the sentiment. The bard feels like crying. "You don't have to say anything, Geralt. I get it... I..." 

"Don't. Don't give me a way out, not this time, bard. I owe you, yeah, don't interrupt me for once and listen.” Even if he wanted to interrupt, Jaskier is utterly stunned. He has heard Geralt talking that much only when he's with Yennefer or Roach, never to him. It’s a nice change.  A callous hand lands on Jaskier's wrist, just above the bandages, a careful but intended touch that sends Jaskier's heart on full speed. "I couldn't feel you. You weren't… here anymore" with his other hand Geralt points at his own chest and isn't that poetic? the bard thinks. "I wasn't prepared to lose you, and I'm sorry, Jaskier, I'm fucking sorry. You've been by my side unconditionally even... even when I hurt you, even when I made sure to look the other way.” Geralt's thumb caresses the soft skin on his under wrist, right on his soulmark, and it's so wrong ,so unexpected that Jaskier can't take it anymore. He lets the salt water flow in a river down his stubble. "And I hate myself for making you believe that you're nothing but a travel companion. You're wrong, Jask, I wouldn't be fine if you died, I wouldn't survive losing you." Jaskier lets out an ugly sob. The pain in every inch of his body is nothing compared to this gaping wound with Geralt's name on it, his soulmate. Geralt wipes his tears with the back of his hand, despite being a tender touch the contact feels like a fire setting his skin. "You're my friend, the best I had. But you're much more than that, you're my s..." 

"STOP!" Geralt drives away like he's burning. A desperate expression settles on his face. 

Even when he's so sure that this must be very difficult for the witcher as is the first time he lets himself be vulnerable for Jaskier, he doesn't want to hear it. 

"Stop, please" Jaskier pleads in a broken whisper that rattles up his uneven soul  "You have no idea how long I've wait for this, you've no idea" a tired laugh bubbles from his chest sending spikes of pain all over his body, but before Geralt can act, Jaskier raises his hand to make him stay put. 

"It's not fair. Not after I lost all hope, not after I died and you lost the part of me that has always belonged to you but you haven't wanted it."

"I was a coward…" Jaskier cleans the tears with the side of his hand feeling like a lost child.

"I don't know if you were a coward or afraid or it's because of me..." 

"...Never, Jaskier, I… I’m sorry. It’s my fault…" 

"I've only wanted to belong, to be important to you"

"You are, Jask. I care about you.."

"I know, Geralt. What I said to Triss was born out of my stupid self-pitying side. I know you've cared about me all these years in so many ways. You've been careful with my feelings, not wanting to compromise more than you can give.” That's the reason he has stayed for so long. He hoped, longed and starved for something more, yeah maybe love, but he never expected it. Geralt never gave him false hope. "But, you have also been unkind and selfless at times. You have denied me the slightest recognition, making me feel small and unimportant, like a thumbed page in your history." The witcher made a wounded noise, and Jaskier hated himself a little for it, but he needed to say it and Geralt needed to hear it. 

“I don't want this, not because I died."

"I'm sorry" Geralt whispers with so much sorrow and reverence, like a defeated man amongst an army of creatures ready to take him apart.  And people said witchers were incapable of emotion. Maybe Jaskier is one of those creatures, and he hates it, it won't help to poke at the witcher's gaping wound, and it wouldn't be fair either, not after Geralt allowed himself to feel it. 

"Come here, Geralt" Jaskier groans when he pulls a little too hard after trying to stretch his arms towards Geralt, who rushes forward and moves the chair closer to take Jaskier by the wrist. "Careful" he says. 

"I wish I could touch you." Damn bandages constricting his hands.

"You'd hurt yourself" as if by compensating Geralt holds him tighter by the wrists, not to hurt but to anchor. They're so very close to one another, breath mingling together, until Jaskier rests his forehead on Geralt's and says in a whisper, only meant for them. "Thank you, darling, for letting me see you. But you must understand..." 

"I do" One of Geralt's hands travels up to his neck and stays there. 

"I want this to be real" more tears escape and Geralt wipes them away. 

"It's real." 

"I don't want to get hurt. Not again" Geralt takes his face between his hands and makes him look at him. This close Jaskier can see the tiny pale scars decorating the witcher's skin. "I won't take anything from you, Jask, not anymore. Let me prove this is real. Let me prove how important you are to me." Maybe it's selfish from Geralt for wanting to keep him after he lost him, and maybe it's selfish of Jaskier for wanting Geralt to need him. 

Jaskier nods against Geralt's palms making the witcher smile before letting him go "I’ve kept you awake long enough, you need to rest." Yeah, he’s really tired. 

Jaskier lays down with Geralt's help, every movement is agony but at least he has a pair of strong hands to support the worst. "I'll be back tomorrow." Geralt says standing next to the bed, suddenly awkward which makes Jaskier snort. Only moments ago he couldn't stop touching Jaskier. "You better."

Geralt looks down to him, a warm smile spreading on his lips "Goodnight, Jaskier." 

-

Jaskier recovery is slow and well… painful. Geralt goes every day with food and a single flower, sometimes when the layers of snow are thick, a twig. 

Jaskier thinks it's adorable, he reminds him of a cat but he doesn't tell Geralt that, of course. 

Ciri comes to visit, she is embarrassed and angry with herself for losing her sword, but before she starts blaming herself -like father like daughter- he throws a piece of stale bread from the morning at her head. 

"Ten points!" he exclaims with a punch in the air.

"You wish! Those are five. Ten is between the eyes." Geralt huffs from the window by the corner

"Excuse me ", Ciri says in a very dignified tone.

"No, five are from the neck below, ten on the head." 

"No, ten between the eyes, five on the head and below you lose." 

"Hey! I'm right here"

"Yeah? Well, here's a hundred points to you!" With all his strength and with exceptional care, Jaskier throws at Geralt the first object he finds on the nightstand, a candle. It barely reaches the middle of the room. 

Geralt chuckles followed by Ciri. "It's not funny" Jaskier pouts, he'd cross his arms if it weren't for the broken ribs that is. A moment later, before they stop laughing, Geralt is looking at him intently, like a cat no less. Jaskier is defenseless under the sun in the witcher's eyes, and he likes it so much that he’s falling addicted with that one look. 

"Jaskier is a brave fool. With or without a sword, he'd have thrown himself in front of the chort to save you." Jaskier's heart is fluttering inside his chest, like a moth trying to reach the sun. "He does whatever he wants" Jaskier huffs, blue eyes still on the suns "And I'm grateful for that." somehow Jaskier knows they're not just talking about the chort and Jaskier doesn't know what to do with those feelings, a lot of them, too afraid to grow, too afraid to hope. Oh, but he's a weak man for hope. I'm weak my love and I'm wanting.

-

"I avoided villages as much as I could when we had enough money."

"Geralt, are you confessing that you are stingy?"

"I wanted you to sing for me at night, after a hunt." 

"Wait, what?" 

"I like your voice when you don't have an audience, it's… softer. It helped me lessen the pain from the toxins of the potions"

"Then why did you always say my voice sounded like a cock with the flu in the open?"

"I like the fishy face you do every time I say something negative about your voice."

"WHAT? I…I don't, no, I...I..." 

"Exactly that face, yeah" 

-

It's past midnight and the keep it's quiet, everyone already sleeping, everyone except for him. He's having one of those nights where the throbbing pain it's becoming a little bit too much. His legs are numb and yet oddly present. He's afraid of breathing normally because the last inhale hurt like a bitch. He feels an irritating pressure in the head that won't let him sleep and…

"Jask?" Geralt it's at the door, but before he can ask what he is doing here so late the witcher is already at his side "Where does it hurt?"

"Everywhere"

"Mmmh" 

Geralt purses his lips in that adorable way he does when he's satisfied. "Don't you worry, my dear. Tomorrow morning I'd be as fresh as a daisy"

Geralt rushes to the wardrobe to open it. Jaskier can hear him searching among the vials. "Daisies are usually quiet." 

"Oh I'm sorry am I bothering you with my pain?" And then Geralt walks back to take the usual chair next to Jaskier's bed. He's holding the vial with the numbing salve that Triss brews for him every now and then. 

“The usual." Jaskier huffs and lofty laugh. Geralt puts the vial on the nightstand and reaches for the bandages on the bard's chest. Jaskier whacks at the hand "Hey, no, Triss already changed them.” 

"We have plenty." 

"Geralt..." 

"Jaskier..." and he surrenders under that worried look. Carefully and attentive of every move, the witcher hovers over Jaskier to unwrap the bandages on his chest. The back of his knuckles grazes Jaskier skin every turn. He shivers in delight for that small contact, the pain is now a minor inconvenience. With the bandages gone Geralt can see the palette of colors on the bard skin, black, purple, green, red and yellow in some places, it's not pleasant to the sight so to speak.   

Jaskier suddenly feels self conscious of his body, he has lost weight too, a shadow of his former sexy self. But Geralt doesn't seem to care. "This will help" Geralt deeps two fingers on the vial and Jaskier braces himself for the cold. Geralt has always been methodical and efficient in every task, but this time he's taking his time, applying the salve in small circles on his chest. Jaskier groans, the cold sensation is a relief but the contact hurts all the same. Geralt responds by placing one hand on the back of his head to guide him forward. 

Jaskier rests his forehead on the witcher's shoulder and stays still throughout the process. Geralt smells clean, like lemon soap. Jaskier breathes the scent of his favorite person in all the continent. Like earth and pines, no trace of Roach or onions. 

"Destiny is never wrong. I thought so too, but it has proven me wrong over and over again." Says Geralt above him, now making circles on his left side. "The dandelion on my arm kept me going after...after Renfri." Jaskier is shaking in pain and something more that hurts deeper. He never knew what really happened with Renfri, but he knew she was important to Geralt; he sometimes woke up imploring her name. "I killed her." 

“Geralt”  Jaskier whispers, placing a hand behind the witcher's back, to hold him as much as he can. Geralt is not applying the balm on his back.  

"She gave me no choice.” Jaskier nuzzles his face onto the witcher to offer comfort to both of them. "Your mark appeared a day before her death. I thought destiny was mocking me. A soulmate for a witcher? Come on. But it kept me going, you kept me going regardless of what I thought." Jaskier hisses when Geralt travels to his right side, it hurts the most there. He uses it as an excuse to press closer to the strong body holding him, or is it the other way around? "You've been traveling with me since then." 

"I bet it was quieter," Jaskier says, the fingers of his hand on Geralt's back twitching, caressing through the fabric. 

"Lonelier. Intolerable. A burden. But, yes, quieter" Jaskier hits him lightly on the back. 

Geralt untangle themselves to put Jaskier on the fresh bandages. He starts under Jaskier's armpit.. It's really not necessary but Jaskier presses again against the chest next to him, and Geralt lets him, even if it makes the wrapping a difficult task. 

"You are my destiny, Jaskier." and suddenly he's crying, struggling not to sob to avoid the pain, at least physically. Geralt holds him even after he finishes with the bandages and surprises Jaskier by placing a quick kiss on the top of his head. 

"It's late, you need to rest." Geralt steps aside to put the vial back in the wardrobe. Then he goes back to Jaskier to help him lay down. "Need anything else, water? to pee?" Jaskier smiles and shakes his head "Come here" he says instead "Closer…. Closer!"  When Geralt is close enough Jaskier surges forward as much as he can and places a kiss on the witcher's cheek, right below the eye. "You belong to me too, you know?" Geralt blinks fast "And now who has a fishy face?" It's funny how quickly he leaves the room. Jaskier sleeps with a smile on his face. 

-

"I've never seen Geralt like that. He's making an effort, for once." 

"Yenn, I..."

"Save it, bard. Believe it or not, I'm weirdly ok with whatever you two idiots have." 

"We are not..." 

"There is no a not between you. Was about damn time if you ask me" 

"Yen, I'm sorry..."

"Don't be. What we had was not real. You two are. Do yourself a favor and don't make this easy for him."

-

The day he is able to get up, with a lot of help, he asks Geralt if he can go down for dinner.  

Geralt grabs him by the waist to support his weight all the way down the stairs. Halfway through he starts to regret his decision, with every step the pain grows until he's sweating all over. He hates sweating. The other witchers are already seated on the tables of the main hall, eating and drinking. As soon as he enters everyone grows quiet. He's heaving and groaning which makes him feel embarrassed. In a keep full of strong majestuous Witchers, a weak bard with a few broken ribs it's a nuisance. Geralt helps him sit on the closest table and then goes to the kitchen to fetch them their meal. "Good evening" Jaskier says as loud as he can muster. No one answers. Maybe it will be better if he goes back to his room. And then, Lambert stands up from his seat on another table and goes to sit across from him. Soon after the other witchers follows him, taking their bowls and beers with them. He's suddenly surrounded by handsome and fearsome witchers, Ciri too sits next to him. "We, uhmm, we wanted to, you know?" Lambert makes a complicated gesture with his hands that Jaskier absolutely doesn't understand. “Yeah, so…”   

Cöen slaps him on the head and adds "We wanted to thank you, for saving our cub. For putting your life on the line for her, for us." 

"You don't have to." 

"Oh but we do." Says Vesemir who's entering the hall with Geralt on his back. Geralt reaches his side and offers him a bowl of stew and a piece of fresh bread. "Lambert" Vesemir calls for the younger wolf. 

"Yeah and we are sorry too for not welcoming you properly. We're idiots." 

"We?" says someone in a mocking tone. 

But before Lambert can answer Vesemir interferes "This is a safe place for you, bard." and Jaskier hears this is your home and feels himself crying, but refrains from it. “You’re welcome here anytime”. 

-

"You need shaving," Geralt offers one evening. Which leads Jaskier to be sitting in front of the window with a generous amount of foam on half of his face.  

Geralt is hovering over him with a very dangerous dagger on his hand "You sure this is safe?"

"You better be still." 

"Oh, come on!" Geralt rumbles a laugh and begins to slide the blade with utmost care on the bard's throat. Jaskier watches him mesmerized, completely at his mercy. He could die here, under the eyes like suns warming his skin. He likes this Geralt who's not afraid of touching and caring. He likes to feel loved by his soulmate. "The Djinn taught me that I could lose you." He also likes this Geralt who talks about the past and his feelings, he's nice.  "When I looked at you on Yenn's bed I thought about Renfri. I wanted to wish for destiny to free you and Ciri from me. But I fucked up. I took away Yennefer's choice in the process. Of wanting nothing and wanting no one to need me, I ended up hurting you, all of you." Geralt cleans the excess of foam with a clean cloth, he has finished shaving him but he hasn't stepped aside. Instead he lingers with the cloth on Jaskier's mouth "If only I hadn't made that third wish, not the way I did." 

"It's done, darling, don't beat yourself over it anymore." Geralt's fingers twitch against his bottom lip, the cloth suddenly forgotten. "Maybe I wouldn't have wasted as much time as I did." 

Jaskier raises his hand, withholding the pain, to take Geralt's hand to place kisses on the fingers. "There's still time" 

Geralt laces their fingers together and leans down to kiss the back of Jaskier's hand. They are so close, but still too scared. 

"How do I look?" Jaskier asks, "Good." Geralt lets go of his hand with a growing smile on his face. 

"Oh, come one, I'm sure you have a better review on my looks..."

"You look beautiful". 

-

"I can finally raise my arms to reach for things, it doesn't hurt as much anymore." 

"You're still a duck" Says Lambert while chewing on a bone, these witchers don't have an ounce of decency.

"A sexy duck though." 

“Sure.” 

"Geralt, would you mind passing me that tankard? I want to throw it at Lambert." 

"Yes, love." Geralt answers without thinking and they all stiffen. 

"What did you call him?"

"Yes, what did you call me?" 

"I knew it!" Cries Ciri from the other side of the room. If witchers could blush, Geralt would be the color of a ripe tomato. Triss is giggling and Vesemir is so done with his wolves. 

"I'm going to call my soulmate whatever I want."  Geralt finally emerges from his embarrassment, taking the tankard and passing it to Jaskier.  

"Yeah, he's calling me whatever he wants" Says Jaskier just before throwing the tankard at Lambert's head. 

"Ten points!" Ciri yells

"Five!" yells Geralt back from somewhere. 

-

"Love, uh?" Jaskier teases him.

"I'm sorry." Geralt sighs "I didn't want to make you uncomfortable"

"Me? Puff! no, not at all. On the contrary" By this point Jaskier has reached the witcher by the wardrobe, he takes the clothes that he is folding and places it inside without care.  

"Surprised? yes. Uncomfortable? no." Geralt groans and Jaskier identifies it as embarrassed. Aren't they domestic? Ugh, Jaskier could throw up and probably Geralt too. 

Jaskier grabs him by the waistline of his trousers to pull him towards him. In another time that gesture would have been too flirty for Geralt, now he welcomes it. 

"Why now, Geralt?" the witcher in question who was distracted by the bard's proximity until now replies. "What?"

"I told you, I don't want this just because I died." And just like that the conversation shifts to one that could leave them both hurt. 

"No." 

"No? Then it's because you're no longer with Yen?" oh, that does hurt like shit. But they have to have this conversation, Jaskier has to make sure. 

"What? No. I'm not with her because it wasn't real" 

"It seemed pretty real to me," says Jaskier petulantly. Geralt took him by the elbows bringing him impossibly closer. His hands travel down to Jaskier's forearm leaving a trace of embers behind. 

"This is real." Geralt whispers and caresses the mark on Jaskier's wrist. His mark. 

"Since when?" 

"Since the beginning."

"That's not true, Geralt. Don't lie to me." the bard's voice brakes but doesn't falter. 

"I'm not." Jaskier tries to get away but Geralt holds him. "I've always wanted you. That's the reason I wanted so desperately be away from you."

"How reassuring."

"You're perfect for me, Jask. No one else is. A bard who talks and talks to compensate for what I won't say. A noble who left behind everything to follow a witcher and follow his dreams. A poet, the occasional thief and mediator. Many of my hunts could have gone wrong without you, especially the payment.” They laughed in unison. And then Geralt took him by the chin and looked into his eyes. "These eyes..." says Geralt like a prayer "Beautiful," Jaskier felt like a teenager all over again, that eighteen year old boy who found his soulmate in a shitty tavern and didn't know what to do with his beating blushing heart. 

"Why now?" Jaskier asks again, looking into the witcher's eyes, he finds something he has always wanted but never dared to expect. 

"I was a coward, and I was afraid. I don't want to be afraid anymore" There's so much emotion inside Geralt right now, he doesn't know what to do with them. He's been afraid of them all this time. He rests his forehead against Jaskier and breathes in his scent. He smells like orange blossom and rain. 

"Then don't be." 

"Jaskier," Jaskier's heart breaks a little.

"My soulmate." whispers Jaskier against his ear "Let it go." 

"Would you let me?" Geralt asks, now buried on Jaskier's shoulder. "I understand if you don't, I don't deserve you after what I did..."

"Let it go, darling. I've got you." 

Geralt nuzzles the tender skin where shoulder meets neck, and plants a kiss there. "My soulmate."

Something shifts in Geralt, he grabs Jaskier by the hips and surges forward, their lips colliding. They kiss like drowning people, and maybe they were. It's everything a kiss with your soulmate should be, full of longing, love and devotion. Their tongues dancing, savoring each other. Geralt groans, his soulmate tastes wonderful. Jaskier tries to lift his hands to guide Geralt's kisses, a fucking mistake, he doubles over in pain breaking the moment, in the only way he can. By being stupid. 

Geralt's worried expression appears in his line of vision "Did I hurt you?" Jaskier laughs but that brings even more pain.   

"No dear. It's my fault. Why don't we take this kissing session to my bed so I can't hurt myself anymore." 

"We're not fucking, Jaskier." Adds Geralt exasperated. 

"Now, that's a thought." 

"Jaskier." warns Geralt.

"No, truly I need to lay down, I think something broke."

On the bed, Geralt lays next to him. They kiss and caress under clothes carefully. Jaskier loves him so much. His soulmate, his witcher, his Geralt. 

"You know people say that sex with your soulmate is amazing." 

"Jaskier, no." 

"Jaskier, yes!"

This is it, folks! As usual sorry for the mistakes, bla bla bla.

Hope you like it. I don't have the time to edit it :( I'm an adult.

@mordoriscalling @dustbunnyprophet @fintenciate @kore888 @geekymagicalpotato @gregre369 @theshapeofcool @janjan-the-ninth @zarakem @j-u-s-tmyself @life-as-a-gamergirl @melodymeddler @lawrites07 @youknowwhoiam3490-blog @help-help-i-need-an-adultlt @janjan-the-ninth @strangerzaiah @everything-but-the-not-natural /

Sorry if I forgot to tag someone, love you <3 stay safe and drink water

NOW ON AO3 https://archiveofourown.org/works/47665261

[tezerenotameiki]

i swear to God sometimes i think c-ta’s ideal fantasy future with a-ya would be an absolute domestic nightmare. he obviously wouldn’t want a-ya working or making other friends/connections so instead a-ya would take care of their apartment/home. because it’s a-ya he’d be shit at it and not care and never do anything but that’s all perfect because it’s another chance for c-ta to sweep in and fix it. c-ta kicking his feet and giggling as he thinks about coming home to his cringe malewife who somehow set the toaster oven on fire toasting bread. he gets to save the helpless a-ya yet again! just like he does every single utterly unchanging day.

[creepswrites]

Letter in the Mail (Bubba x Reader)

Read Chapter One here!

This was a long time coming! I'm still not entirely happy with this but... meh, better now than never. I hope you enjoy it! (Minor NSFW warning!)

Bubba Sawyer x AFAB!Reader (they/them)

Summary: Life in the Sawyer family seems to be changing rapidly. Time will only tell if its good or bad change. Rings, letters, and sunflowers abound!

Sitting at the Sawyer’s breakfast table, you pointedly kept your eyes on your plate. The memories of the previous night were still fresh in your mind. Bathing with Bubba had, expectantly, been pleasurable, and the two of you had slept in your room that night.

A fact which Chop Top and Nubbins weren’t willing to shut up about. Apparently, all three brothers heard you fooling around and Drayton had come up to check. Bubba wasn’t exactly quiet but you’d mistakenly hoped that the other three would have let it go, to spare their brother embarrassment.

A fool's hope, in retrospect.

“If you wanted to know about sex, Bubba, you should’a just asked!” Drayton complained, smacking Bubba on the head with a rolled up newspaper, like he was a misbehaving dog. “You got too much damn work to be worryin’ about things like that!” Eyeing you like you’d poisoned Bubba rather than slept with him, the eldest Sawyer rolled his eyes. “It’s all just a trick ta get you weak!”

Bubba gave you a look that was more sympathetic than anything. As though to say “I’m sorry my brother is like this.”

Nubbins and Chop Top however were bouncing off the walls with excitement, chatting about a potential addition to the Sawyer family that had both you and Bubba flushing bright red. “Hey now, no one said anything about marriage!” Drayton’s protests fell on deaf ears though. Once the twins were excited about something, that was all they could focus on.

Though you did feel dizzy when one of them mentioned a baby.

Drayton got everyone’s ass in gear after breakfast. After all, there were chores to be done. You had sweeping, cleaning, and dishes to worry about once Drayton had left for the gas station. Though Bubba seemed to hover a bit more than usual, the routine stayed very much the same. Which you knew Bubba was quietly thankful for. He liked routines, liked consistency. He’d linger in the doorway of whatever room you were working in if he passed by but otherwise he went about his own chores. Nubbins left later in the afternoon to go “roadkill hunting” as he called it and Chop Top was talking about some radio host to Bubba in the dining room when you finally came out of the kitchen. Arguably the messiest room and one you knew Bubba had his own feelings about letting you in there.

He didn’t want you to get hurt. Or, worse, be scared of him due to something you saw in there.

Luckily for him, you’d gotten over it pretty quick.

“Music is my life,” Chop Top rambled on, Bubba half listening, half cleaning his chainsaw. “I l-love a good rock n’ roll song.” The youngest Sawyer watched you as you moved about the room, cleaning and dusting. Despite the dirty apron and worn, yellow kitchen gloves, he still found you cute. The plain white tank top and dirty jeans did nothing to dissuade your boy from admiring you either. He liked watching you listen to music on your Walkman as you worked. Drayton didn’t care if you used it so long as the chores all got done.

Chop Top caught him staring and nudged him playfully. “Hey, hey, are ya gonna g-get married?” He asked excitedly, Bubba blushing and elbowing the scrawny man. “I-I think you should! So does N-Nubbins. C-Clearly you guys like each other!”

Bubba grumbled.

“Hey, j-just cause Drayton says no a-ain’t mean nothing! He’s j-just the cook, ‘member?” Bubba seemed to ponder this before looking over at you, oblivious to their conversation and focused entirely on cleaning and your music. “I-If you wanna m-marry them, you should!” Chop Top snickered to himself like it was some mischievous plan.

Looking down at his chainsaw, Bubba considered it. The concept of marriage had never been properly explained to him. Not because Drayton thought he couldn’t do it, just because Drayton had other important things to teach them instead. Their Ma hadn’t ever married and, according to Grandpa, all four of the brothers had different fathers. Bubba never met his dad, he’d left before Bubba could have any sort of memories. But, when they were younger, Nubbins and Chop Top would tell him about how “Pa” was good to them, bringing them sweets from whatever factory he worked at. Drayton didn’t seem to have any opinion on the matter of Bubba’s dad and would scold Bubba for suggesting he “didn’t do a good enough job raising him” instead of answering any questions about their parents.

(Though Chop Top would later tell Bubba it was because Drayton preferred the twins’ dad over Bubba’s, since he had fond memories of childhood with their dad. Bubba wondered sometimes, had they had another sibling, if he would have continued the cycle of preferring the younger siblings' dad. But he decided he loved his Pa, even if he’d never really met him. He sounded nice enough to Bubba at least.)

But the idea of marriage was still complicated. Drayton never got married and neither did the twins. Grandpa obviously had Grandma but none of the boys had even been alive when they got married.

So Bubba wasn’t sure how to go about marrying you, even if it was something he wanted.

Though, when he glanced over at you swaying your hips gently to a song he couldn’t hear and moving the chicken cage to make sure everything got clean, Bubba decided he’d like to be married to you very very much.

When Drayton and Nubbins finally returned home for dinner, you’d already been upstairs relaxing. Chores were hard but it was relieving when they were finally done. You’d taken a nap in bed before Bubba came to shake you awake for dinner.

You kissed his cheek as a thank you and you tried not to smile to yourself when he lingered at the top of the staircase with a hand over his flushed cheek. He was far, far too cute for you to handle.

Dinner in the Sawyer family was very similar regardless if guests were over. The only difference being one or two less mouths screaming. Though Nubbins and Chop Top seemed to almost make up for that lack in their own volume, tormenting Drayton at every chance they got and Bubba would mimic them.

Meanwhile you sat sipping on some lukewarm soda and watched the four of them like it was some demented tennis match. It nearly became a tennis match when Drayton and Chop Top started throwing things at each other. Bubba was dressed up in his “Pretty Woman” getup, as the others called it, and was particularly chatty tonight.

You didn’t think much of it, quite tired already and wanting to retire to your room for the night. Drayton usually took care of dishes after dinner, or at least some, so once dinner was over you could retreat upstairs.

The Sawyer Family mattered to you, just sometimes the sensory overload could be a bit much.

Relaxing in your bed, you stared up at the ceiling with your hands folded on your stomach. You didn’t hold your breath that Bubba would come in tonight, almost certain he didn’t grasp how much last night meant to you. Maybe he did, in his own way, understand it was important but perhaps not necessarily why it was important to you.

You couldn’t imagine Drayton raised him to put any stock in the concept of virginity. You didn’t either, not really, but there was something in the back of your mind that marked Bubba as important for being your first.

Maybe it was a bit hypocritical of you to think that, but you did.

Hearing your door open softly, you didn’t need to turn to see Bubba creeping in. The twins never opened your door with such softness and Drayton didn’t bother, he’d just shout at you through the door. Something about “respecting your privacy” since you weren’t technically family yet.

As you felt the bed dip beside you, you unlaced your fingers to run a hand down one of Bubba’s arms, still clad in the suit. “You okay?” You asked quietly, finally tearing your eyes from the ceiling to look at him. He seemed to be staring off into space, not exactly looking at you. You didn’t mind, just wondered what it was he was thinking about.

Bubba whimpered before gently laying his head on your stomach, curling a hand over your chest protectively. At least, you assumed protectiveness in his actions. It felt protective. Sliding another hand into his hair, you played gently with his curls and enjoyed the sounds of a Texan night. Loud crickets chirping audible even through your closed window, the soft hum of the barely-working fan you’d plugged in, and your synced breathing.

Bubba gazed up at you with bright eyes and such a soft look it made you blush. “You’re pretty,” you hummed thoughtfully, earning a pleased squeak from the larger man. “So, so pretty…” You sat up to kiss his forehead as he lay in your lap, repositioning himself to lay on the bed more comfortably.

Reaching up, Bubba gently pet your face. The size difference between you two made you blush again, his large hand easily cupping your face without difficulty. His fingers reached up to tangle in your hair as he slowly sat up. “Bub, if you wanna fool around, I don’t think I’m in the mood-” Bubba cut you off with a shake of his head, pressing his forehead gently to your shoulder. “Just wanna cuddle?” He answered you with a happy nod of his head. “Alright then,” you cooed before laying back on some propped-up pillows to give him a better spot to lay and cuddle you.

An opening he happily took, tucking his face under your chin to let himself be held.

After a few minutes of dozing, you were acutely aware of his soft snores and you smiled.

“Bubba, they’re gettin’ away!” Drayton whined as two of the latest trespassers ran out the front door. You and Nubbins had tried grabbing them but the sweat and blood they were covered in made them slippery, more so than normal. Whining, Bubba grabbed his chainsaw and took after the couple with you and Nubbins hot on his heels.

You two were typically quicker, had an easier time knocking over the victims than Bubba or Chop Top. Though you chalked that up to Bubba not really wanting to hurt them and Chop Top being built like a fucking stick.

You hadn’t told Bubba about the letter from the military that came in the mail for Chop Top yet. Drayton asked you not to when you’d stumbled upon the three eldest Sawyers in the kitchen after getting up to get water the previous night. Bubba had taken to sleeping in your room most nights and you’d forgotten to get water before bed after impromptu cuddling. The three had just looked at you quietly, none of them saying a word as the recognition of the letter’s format shown on your face.

Bubba would take it hard, you knew that. You agreed to keep quiet but only on the grounds that Chop Top told Bubba before he left. That had been a week ago.

Vietnam was serious. You knew there was a likely chance the lanky Sawyer twin wouldn’t come back. You didn’t yet decide how that made you feel.

So, you focused on the current chase.

“C’mon Leatherface!” Nubbins hollered as the three of you were gaining on the screaming couple. As far as you knew, they’d been off on their honeymoon, recently hitched. Chop Top was busy with their third wheel friend that tagged along, probably somewhere with Grandpa.

With a surprising lunge, Nubbins tackled the man to the ground and let you kick the girl in the stomach when she turned to scream about her husband getting his back stabbed with a dull shaving knife. Her screaming grated on your ears, you scowled down at her before plunging the knife you carried into her neck, silencing her screams. Bubba offered to carry the body inside while you and Nubbins wrestled with the screaming man.

Something about her made Bubba pause and you tried to swallow your initial jealous reaction. You and Bubba were exclusive, as exclusive as you could be at least. Your relationship wasn’t… clearly defined but its not like either of you had many choices.

You liked Bubba. Part of you hoped he felt the same way but he could be so difficult to read sometimes.

So you focused on tying the screaming man to a chair while Bubba carried the girl into the kitchen whilst Drayton berated the three of you for almost letting them escape. They hadn’t even left the property before you killed them but you knew Drayton didn’t care about that.

Grabbing a towel off the kitchen table, you wiped off your hands and brow, sighing in annoyance at the sweat that covered you. A nice shower before dinner would take care of that and you silently praised whatever was out there that the Sawyers had running water.

Leaving Nubbins to deal with the man, you made your way into the kitchen. The first thing you noticed was the third wheel friend hanging limp from one of the hooks. Seemed Chop Top was done with that guy.

The second thing you noticed was Chop Top talking with Bubba in a hushed voice.

“-be going away for a while, Bubs. Not forever, mind you!” Chop Top seemed to be trying to reassure his younger brother. “Just for a lil while. Got some serious things to…take care of.” Despite his attempts at placation, Bubba was beyond himself with tears streaming down his face and blubbering. He was hugging Chop Top like his life depending on it and practically wailing into his older brothers’ shoulder. “Aw, c’mon Bubs, I’ll be back before you know it!” The taller man shook his head violently, not wanting Chop Top to go.

You stepped out of the room quietly, letting them have their moment. You knew there was a few more days before Chop Top would have to go and you had a sinking feeling the house would be much quieter without him around.

Later that evening, you and the Sawyer family sat around the fire pit out back. Drayton had insisted on a cookout to send Chop Top off, one last night together as a family. The eldest Sawyer was cooking in the kitchen whilst you and Nubbins set up for an outdoor eating area. Tables and chairs pulled out of a storage room and set up surrounded by the sunflowers. It was pretty and Nubbins seemed excited about it and that energy reflected off of you.

By the time Drayton dragged the other Sawyer boys outside for dinner, you and Nubbins had already taken to playing the knife game, a few of your fingers having thin slices decorating them. “Goddamnit Nubbins!” The older man hissed and sent Nubbins running, “We’re slaving away in the kitchen and you’re out here playing games?! On the eve your twin leaves?!” Chop Top laughed as Nubbins got a few smacks from the chili ladle. Bubba fretted over his brothers while you and Chop Top just laughed at the shenanigans. Sitting beside you, the soon-to-leave Sawyer brother handed you a carved piece of wood. The shape was a bit abstract but you could tell it was supposed to be a cat of some sort.

“H-here,” Chop Top smiled at you, “j-just so you don’t f-forget me while I’m gone!” You smiled fondly at the smooth piece of wood. “B-Bubba helped me make it for ya!”

Standing up, you pulled the lanky man into a tight hug, the aching feeling erupting in your chest as you acknowledged that yeah, you were gonna miss this guy.

Dinner went easy with the boys chattering like monkeys as usual, singing, and Nubbins danced with Chop Top around a fire. It felt like home. Not for the first time, but the first time you truly felt it.

Tonight, you were seated in Bubba’s room, watching him pace back and forth. Chop Top was leaving tomorrow and you knew he was anxious about it. As far as you knew, Bubba had never been without his brothers before, not for any extended amount of time.

Wisely, everyone avoided suggesting to Bubba that Chop Top may not come home alive. You knew Drayton had the tendency to always speak his thoughts but it seems he kept those concerns quiet.

Bubba was floundering and whimpering and didn’t seem to want to be touched at the moment but you sat there quietly, encouraging him to let it out.

“It’ll be okay Bubba, he’ll be back before you know it!” You reassured him. “Everything will be alright, I promise.”

He settled on the bed, facing you, and took your hand in his to trace your fingers. It seemed to calm him down, at least slightly, before he laced your fingers together and tugged gently.

You brushed his hair from his eyes, not bothered by the feeling of the still-fresh mask. “I’m not going anywhere, hun.” Your promise got him to look up at you with soft eyes. “I’m staying with you.”

That seemed to be the words he was looking for and you watched his shoulders drop as he calmed down more. Pausing, you watched the larger man open his bedside drawer and dig around in it before pulling out something shiny.

It was the ring the girl had been wearing, the couple. Pretty with a decently sized diamond on it and very clean. “Ooo, did you snag the girls ring?” You tilted your head and smiled when Bubba presented it to you. “It’s very pretty, it suits you-” Bubba cut you off when he tried to slide it on your hand.

A few things clicked in your head at once and you smiled nervously. “Oh yeah?” Your voice was soft as you examined the ring on your finger. “Careful Bubba, might make me think you wanna get married.”

His excited nod made your heart hammer in your chest.

A part of you felt torn. One one hand, you knew it was way, way too early for anything like this. But on the other hand, it’s not like you were going anywhere nor were either of you interested in other people. Plus you could understand Bubba’s anxiety regarding this. He wanted you to stay, he couldn’t bear losing anyone else. He was scared, already losing Chop Top, and he wanted you to be guaranteed to him.

So, perhaps against your better judgment, you nodded and smiled genuinely at him. Bubba squealed with joy and pulled you into a hug, blubbering into your neck. You kissed him sweetly and let him hold you as tight as he needed.

You also let him squeeze your hand when he cried the next morning as you and Nubbins watched Drayton drive Chop Top away.

Pulling Bubba upstairs, you let him pull you to his bed with a soft whimper. He needed attention and you could provide that. Cupping his face, you kissed him sweetly as he climbed on top of you, pinning you to the bed. You trusted him, it didn’t scare you anymore. Still, you couldn’t stop the sharp intake of breath when he buried his face in your neck. “It’s alright Bubs,” you cooed to him as he sniffed, “let it all out, it’s okay.”

Sitting up on your forearms, you watched the large man unbutton his shirt before tugging on the crop top you wore. Blushing as he tugged it up just enough to get at your nipples, your head hit the pillow in a rush as he took your nipple in his mouth. Bubba’s other hand came up to play with the other nipple as he gave them both attention. You wrapped your legs around his waist as he went to town sucking and kissing around your chest, burying your face in his hair to try and muffle your moans.

Bubba propped a leg between your thighs to let you get yourself off. It certainly didn’t take long especially with the large man showering you in kisses and soft bites. By the time you felt your orgasm wash over you, Bubba was already getting comfortable laying on top of you. “D-do you want me to-” The mop of curls shook his head, cooing in contentment. Blushing, you wrapped your arms loosely around his shoulders and decided to enjoy the early morning with him, at least until Drayton came calling.

[suzuki-violin-school]

Pretty Like Momma

I enjoyed writing this WAY too much

Masterlist

Content: kirishima fluff, bakugo angst, cheating, pregnancy, childbirth, somewhat ooc bakugo, stepdad!kirishima, fem!reader, pillow talk

“Hagakure, huh?”

“Yeah. He said he thought it’d be interesting,” Y/n said. She sighed, hanging her head over the back of Kirishima’s couch. “And it looked so weird!”

“...I mean, seeing what’s happening inside would be pretty interesting,” Kirishima said thoughtfully. He sighed, shaking his head. “But seriously, cheating? On someone like you? Disgraceful. We all know Bakubro is impulsive, but it honestly seemed like he loved you, and you don’t do stuff like that to people you love.”

“Yeah. I believed him every time he said it, too,” Y/n said. 

“And you still haven’t told him about...?”

“No.”

Kirishima sighed, gesturing vaguely towards the door.

“C’mon, I’ll drive you home,” he said. Y/n nodded, standing up and following Kirishima. When he opened the front door, Bakugo was standing there, seemingly frozen, one hand up as if he were about to knock. “Oh. Bakugo.”

Y/n stared at him dully, watching as his hand limply dropped to his side. He stared at the ground, the usually dense, high walls surrounding his heart crumbling.

“I’m sorry,” he managed to say. “I was stupid. ...I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I had to at least tell you that much.”

“Yeah. You were stupid,” Y/n said bluntly. She sighed, glancing at Kirishima. “Anyways, I’m carrying your child. Ta-ta.”

She walked away swiftly, not giving him a chance to respond. Kirishima jogged off after her, following her to his car.

...Fuck.

=

Bakugo walked towards the room quietly, not quite knowing what to expect.

It had been a while since either of them had contacted each other. After that day, they had slowly stopped talking- Actually, not that slowly. But Bakugo had heard from Sero, who heard from Kaminari, who heard from Kirishima, the time, date, and location of Y/n’s operation.

Too scared of really having a kid, so she’d opted for a C-section instead.

Bakugo hated how he hadn’t been surprised by that. He hated that he still knew Y/n so well. He hated knowing it was his own damn fault he lost her. He hated himself.

The room was quiet when he walked up to the door, which he thought was odd. He’d expected to hear Y/n talking with someone, as happy as ever, most likely Kaminari or Mina, maybe Uraraka or Deku, maybe Jirou or Kirishima. He hadn’t expected silence. It felt wrong.

That is, until he heard gentle cooing.

Actually stepping inside, it was... A heart-wrenching sight, to say the least. For him. To anyone else, it would’ve been cute.

There was Y/n, sleeping peacefully, propped up in a hospital bed, with Kirishima sitting in a chair next to her, a small bundle of blankets in his arms.

He was beaming, absolutely euphoric, it seemed. Bakugo wasn’t even sure he’d ever seen Kirishima so happy.

“You’re so pretty!” He was saying quietly, focused intently on the child in his arms. “Just like your momma, right? Yeah, you are, you cute little thing.”

Bakugo cleared his throat loudly and Kirishima looked up.

“Oh, Bakugo.”

“Nnn... Quiet, Kiri,” Y/n mumbled tiredly. She opened her eyes slowly, surprised when she saw her ex-boyfriend. “Katsuki? What are you doing here?”

Bakugo winced. The way she’d said it cut deep. She didn’t want him there.

“I just... Wanted to meet them,” he said quietly. The stern look on Y/n’s face softened as Kirishima gently handed the newborn to her.

“...C’mere then,” Y/n said. Bakugo walked over to her, entranced by their child. “Isn’t she beautiful? Her name’s Kotomi.”

“Kotomi L/n,” Bakugo said quietly, trying to wrap his head around everything that had happened. He sighed sadly. “I just... I wish she was Kotomi Bakugo. I- I’m sorry, Y/n. ...She’s cute.”

“Well, actually,” Kirishima said slowly. “Kotomi Kirishima. Y/n’ll be changing her own name in just two months, so we decided not to wait with Kotomi’s name. Less work that way.”

“...What?”

“I proposed,” Kirishima stated plainly. “About a month ago, or maybe two.”

“Wh- Since when are you two together? Why didn’t anyone tell me? I- ...Y/n?”

“Kiri loves me,” Y/n said simply. “He’s good to me, and he’d never sleep with someone else. ...And he wants to help me raise this little girl.”

“But- But I could help raise her, too! I mean, she’s mine, isn’t she? I’m her actual dad!”

Kirishima glanced at Y/n nervously. Bakugo? Upset? Never a good combination.

“You gave up that right the moment you took Toru to bed with you,�� Y/n said. “You don’t get to be her dad. ...You hurt me, and I’m not letting you hurt her, too.”

Bakugo opened his mouth to protest, but closed it again, knowing she had a point. He bit his lip, the physical pain distracting him, even for just a moment, from the emotional pain.

“Okay,” he said, voice cracking. He grimaced, balling his hands into fists at his sides. He cleared his throat. “Okay. Can I- Can I visit her sometimes? ...Please?”

Y/n exchanged an awkward look with Kirishima- With her fiancé. She sighed heavily.

“Sure,” she said quietly. “She is yours, after all, I suppose.”

Bakugo just nodded, turning to leave the room slowly. He paused in front of the door.

“I hope you’re happy, Y/n,” he said quietly. “I love you. And I’m sorry.”

=

Y/n snuggled up to Kirishima, getting as close as she could under the warm  blankets.

“Y/n? You awake?” He whispered, half-hoping she was asleep.

“Sorta,” Y/n mumbled tiredly. “What’s up, Ei?”

“Do you miss Bakugo?” Kirishima asked, getting straight to the point. Y/n hummed contently, hand dancing up and down Kirishima’s back.

“I don’t love him anymore, if that’s what you mean,” she said. She frowned, burying her face in Kirishima’s chest, smiling again when he wrapped his arm around her waist. “It still hurts when I think about what he did, though. He betrayed my trust and broke my heart, but I’m doing so much better now. ‘Cuz I’ve got you.”

Y/n threw one leg over Kirishima’s waist and sat up, straddling him on the bed. He smiled, setting his hands on her hips and squeezing gently.

“I love you, Y/n,” he said softly. Y/n leaned down and kissed him, both of them grinning like lovesick school children.

“Yeah? Well, I love you too, daddy shark.”

Kirishima chuckled, sitting up and adjusting the way Y/n was sitting in his lap.

“I really-”

“Momma? Daddy Ei? I can’ sweep.”

“Kotomi?”

Y/n and Kirishima both turned to see their little girl standing in their bedroom doorway, a teddy bear in hand.

“You can’t sleep?” Kirishima repeated, waving her over. Kotomi crawled up into her parents’ bed, moving herself to sit between them in Kirishima’s lap. “Did something happen?”

Kotomi shook her head.

“I woke up, but I can’ go back to sweep,” she said, leaning back against her mother. “But I’m so sweepy!”

Kirishima took the teddy bear from her, moving its arms like a little puppet.

“Why not sleep in our bed?” He asked, watching Kotomi smile as he made her teddy bear dance. “We’ll have a slumber party!”

“A swumber pa’ty?” She repeated. Y/n wrapped her arms around the little girl between them and kissed the top of her head.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “Maybe Momma can tell you a bedtime story.”

“Oh! Pwetty pwease, can I have a stowy time?” Kotomi asked excitedly, squirming awkwardly and turning around to face her mother.

Y/n nodded, moving to sit next to Kirishima rather than in his lap. Kotomi followed, sitting snugly between the two.

“Am I allowed to help tell stories?” Kirishima asked, tucking the teddy bear into Kotomi’s arms.

“I wike it bette’w when Momma tells ‘em,” Kotomi said. “...You’w bette’w at it than Daddy Katsu’i, though!”

Y/n held back a laugh.

“Yeah? And why’s Daddy Katsuki so bad at telling stories?” She asked, grinning mischievously.

“He’s too noisy,” Kotomi said simply, laying back on the pillow behind her and wriggling under the blankets. “Can you tell me the stowy about Ewi again?”

“You want to hear about Eri again?” Y/n asked. Kotomi nodded and Y/n smiled softly. “Well, once upon a time, there was a little girl with a very powerful quirk named Eri, who lived with a group of evil people who wanted to take her power for themselves. One day, when-”

“She’s already passed out,” Kirishima whispered.

“...She really was pwetty sweepy, I guess,” Y/n said quietly, imitating her daughter. She laid down in the bed again, trying not to move too much and wake up Kotomi. 

Kirishima looked down at his two girls, smiley as ever.

“You’re so beautiful, Y/n,” he said quietly. Y/n hummed in satisfaction, closing her eyes and snuggling close to Kotomi. “And she’s so pretty, just like her Momma.”

“Shuddup and sleep, you sap,” Y/n said, grinning to herself.

[avaritia-apotheosis]

Phantom Children Pt. 5

Hey guys, it's been really busy for me at university so I have no idea when I'll have free time to write this month. Chapter 5 is actually still unfinished, but I didn't want to leave you guys hanging, so here's the first half of chapter 5.

In Which: Another deal is struck upon the ice

AO3 | Prologue | 4 | [ 5 ] | 6

THE PIT SINGS. A low, groaning thing. Muffled like how sounds distort underwater. It reminded Danny of the sounds of Jupiter he would listen to when he really needed to study; the sounds heavily mixed to be more ambient yet still echoing traces of the original, haunting melody of the universe.

The Pit calls for him. No, not the pit—the ectoplasm in the pit is what calls him. Pulls the waves toward him as if he were the moon, bright and full, whispering with garbled voices hello-hello-hello. His core whispers back the same words every time he is near it. Hello-hello-hello. The Pit lingers in the back of his mind and sings in familiar words he does not understand.

Talia calls it a fascination. Ra’s calls it a connection.

A visceral link. Like calls to like. Strange ectoplasmic middle fingers to the laws of the universe—to the great equalizer that is death.

(Danny thinks Ra’s is wrong. Not completely wrong, but not right either.)

When his ghost form is no longer trying to cannibalize his human self, Talia dials up his training. Before, she was merely an observer. Now, she fights him in the ring, teaching him how to dodge with bruised ribs and broken bones. Brutally correcting his stances with harsh jabs and quick strikes. Sweeps him off the floor with a twist of her leg when he forgets how to use his feet. Each day left him with such bone-deep fatigue that mor more once he fell asleep during his sixty minutes in front of the monitor.

They know, now, that the Pit has no adverse effect on him. That he can use the pit more than once.

Bruises and fractures, cuts and scrapes; injuries mean nothing when a dip in green waters will wash everything away.

Even the possibility of insanity starts to feel far-fetched.

Danny should hate this. He should really hate this.

He loved it.

Phantom had always been a fighter. A protector. An underdog matched up against bigger and stronger foes but always somehow coming up on top. He was popular. Liked by the citizens of Amity Park despite his dumpster fire of a reputation near the beginning. Somehow in the year and a half since Phantom’s conception, he went from town menace to this larger-than-life figure. (Ha!) The hero of Amity Park with all of the expectations and responsibilities that came with it.

But Danny—plain, ol’ Danny Fenton—wasn’t any of that. Wasn’t allowed to be any of that. Because Danny Fenton was a wimpy kid who tripped over air and regularly got shoved inside lockers. He was the ghost hunters’ son who was deathly afraid of the paranormal. A C-average student in a family of geniuses.

A persona unwillingly crafted and carefully maintained, because at least this way no one other than Jazz or Wes will be able to connect Fenton to Phantom. Who would believe it?

But here, in Nanda Parbat, he was neither Fenton nor Phantom— he was something more. He had no secret identity to keep from the people who have vigorously researched him. He had no need to hold back.

Here, Danny was free to be Danny.

“Daniel.”

Even if he was called by the wrong-right name.*

Danny floated up from the pit, his transformation seamless as he stepped onto the edge on quiet feet. Tahlia threw him a knapsack. “Ready yourself, we have places to be.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I get my sixty-minutes after the Pit, remember?”

“I did not forget.” She smiled, resting her hand on her hip. “I simply thought that by beloved child might relish a change in scenery.”

Danny perked up, hands tightening around the straps of the knapsack. “We’re going outside?” Tahlia nodded. “Like—outside-outside. With the sky and trees and—and the stars?”

Amusement softened her sharp features, jade eyes sparkling with mirth. “The very same. Though the place we are going to is quite fickle in nature, and I am unsure if we will get another chance to go. But if you really insist on it then—”

“Wait!” He snapped his mouth shut, clutching the bag closer to his chest.

(Family, his core whispered. Family-safe-safe-protect-need-see-confirm-family-home)

The sixty minutes he gets to see his family was…precious. One of the few times the restlessness in his core would draw back; melt away like frost in the spring, leaving some sense of contentment behind. It was his refuge. Sanctuary. Physical proof that what he was doing here—(staying away-away-why-go back-back-return-home-family-home-protect)—meant something.

But.

Outside.

The Pit might have increased his training regiment, but it also allowed him to leave (escorted) the walls of his rooms. And this—

Danny could go outside.

He could go outside.

If he didn’t accept this now, then who knows when the opportunity would arise again? His family wouldn’t mind, right? Jazz did say something about how spending time outdoors is good for one’s health.

He swallowed a lump in his throat. “My…my family will be alright, yes?”

Tahlia cocked her head. “Why wouldn’t they be? You have done nothing wrong that goes against our agreement, and you have progressed wonderfully in your training. I am quite proud.” At Danny’s disquieted expression, she sighed. She raised her hand. “I swear on the blood of the demon—on our blood—that I will honor our agreement and do no harm to the Fentons and your friends during our trip.”

She lowered her hand. “Are you satisfied, habeebi?”

Reluctantly, Danny nods. An agreement from Tahlia is probably the best he could do at this point. “How much time do I have to prepare?” “Everything you will need is in that back. Though, it might do you good to dress very warmly.”

----------

Danny’s first breath of fresh air was biting. It filled the lungs crisp and clean, chilled him to the bones though he could feel no cold. Each warm exhale expressed itself in swirling mists, disappearing into the slate gray clouds above. A facsimile of his own ghost sense.

Fenton did not think much of breathing; Phantom did not need it.

Danny had never realized how wonderous it was to breathe.

“We head northeast,” Tahlia called out. Like him, she is bundled in thick black layers with long leather gauntlets strapped at the end of the sleeves. Her bag secured tightly, and a sword strapped to her back. Her long black hair is bound in a tight braid beneath her fur-lined hood.

The path is covered with snow, deep enough that his first few steps past Nanda Parbat’s gates sinks his leg midway up his calf with a loud crunch. It was hardly as deep as some parts in the Far Frozen, but over there Danny had the choice to simple float over. Tahlia trudged through the snow with a preternatural grace. The path ahead was marked only by the faint traces of footprints almost—but not quite—covered with fresh snow.

Among the many things the League had taught him, this was one: the devil is in the details.

They speak little on their trek. Not that Danny particularly minds, absorbed that he was with world around him. Nanda Parbat, he learned, was built high in the mountains. Cocooned from the rest of the world by the snow-capped mountain ranges that surrounded it. A fortress of wood and stone that seemed distinct yet so carefully hidden. The high walls protected the buildings within from view. Its roofs—elongated and curved—and tall towers modelled after east Asian architecture. Though which country, Danny does not know.

Their destination—past a large protrusion of stone that covered the fortress from view once crossed—was a lake. Frozen a pale blue with ice, surrounded by more mountain walls and the opening of a cave off to the side.

Perplexed, he said “What, are we gonna go ice fishing? Just so you kno, I’m not that big of a fan. The last time I went with my dad I was nearly eaten by a sea monster.”

“We should have enough food for this exercise, Daniel. And you need have no fear of sea monsters, this lake is devoid of any such creatures.” Once they reached the mouth of the cave, she unstrapped her bag, setting it against the stone wall. Danny mimicked the motion. “We are here to train.”

“With…?”

She gestures to the katana strapped to his back.

“With swords.”

A nod.

“On the ice?”

She smiled, leading him to the edge of the frozen lake. “It has become something of a family tradition of the al Ghuls, to cross blades upon the ice.” She plants a steady foot on the lake, walking towards the center with long strides.

Danny followed behind her with some trepidation. He wouldn’t die from frostbite, he was sure, and if he fell he could always fly himself out. But that didn’t stop him from flinching at the rumbling sounds the ice made beneath his feet.

“My father trained both your father and I on this lake.” Tahlia unsheathed her sword as she took her place across from Danny. “And as your father no doubt trained Damian on his own lake, I have the pleasure of training you.” She slipped into a stance. “On your mark.”

Danny slipped into his own stance, feet apart, both hands on the hilt. Then, something nudged at the back of his mind. “Who’s Damian?”

Tahlia tilted her blade, the polished sword gleaming and sharp. “Your brother. Now—begin!”

“Wait, wha—” Danny barely managed to parry the blow.

Sparks flew as blades crossed and Danny twisted off to the side.

He slipped. Head meeting the ice, the deep crackling sound of the lake making him tense.

Tahlia points the tip of her blade against his chest. A single elegant brow arched high in dissatisfaction. Danny glared at her, brushing the fringes of his hair away from his face. “To be fair, you shouldn’t say stuff like that right before a fight. You caught me off guard.”

“If you find yourself in a fair fight, you have failed to prepare enough.” She sheathed her sword before extending an arm to help Danny to his feet. “The goal of a fight is to end it—no matter the cost. Now, take you place.”

Danny picked up his sword, then, hesitates. He looked up at Tahlia. “Did you mean what you said?” Do I have a brother?

Tahlia smiled, drawing her blade once more. “Impress me and you’ll find out.”

Danny narrowed his eyes.

“Now—”

He adjusted his stance. You’re on.

“Begin!”

Danny lunged.

[fuckallthegood0nesweretaken]

New World CH. Ten

Title: Into the Prison

Words: 2752

Warnings: Strong language, canon-typical violence, Thomas being a sexist asshole

A/N: If you’d like to request something, send me an ask. I’d love to write for you! 

If you’d like to support me, buy me a Ko-Fi?

Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

New World Masterlist

Daryl Dixon Masterlist

The Walking Dead Masterlist

Masterlist

~~~~~~~

Dean

Flashlight in hand, Dean walked quietly through the dark halls of the prison. It echoed easily and he made sure to keep his feet light. Rats squeaked in the distance and torn-apart bodies littered the floor. Maggie scrunched up her nose at the smell and jumped slightly when Glenn spray painted an arrow on the wall. Everyone was on edge and it didn’t help when Maggie turned right into Glenn, shrieking somewhat quietly. Dean whipped around, ready to fight, but relaxed when he didn’t see any walkers.

 “Sorry,” Maggie whispered.

 Quickly, they all moved forward. Turning another corner, Glenn made another arrow and Dean walked beside Rick. Looking at each other, Dean nodded and turned a corner at a ‘T’ intersection, knife at the ready. Nothing was there and he went to the left. Walking quietly, there was a thud somewhere in front of the group and when Rick went forward, there were walkers.

 “Shit,” Dean said.

 “Go back! Move!” Rick said.

 “Walkers!”

 Everyone rushed back, trying to get away. Hershel tripped over a body and fell against the wall. T-Dog helped him upright and they continued running. Dean was in the front of the group with Daryl.

 “S’go! This way,” Daryl said.

 Running as fast as he could, Dean heard Maggie scream. He looked back and she was okay, so he went back to looking forward. Daryl opened a door and ushered everyone inside. After doing a quick sweep of the tiny room, Daryl crouched down.

 “Where’s Glenn and Maggie?” Rick whispered harshly.

 “We have to go back,” Hershel said.

 “But which way?”

 Everyone was silent and Rick opened the doors once the walkers were gone. Dean rushed back the way they came, looking for any sign of Glenn and Maggie.

 “Maggie? Glenn?” Hershel whispered into a deserted hallway. Getting no answer, he moved on, following Rick. Dean stayed up front with Daryl and only turned around when he heard Hershel screaming.

 “No!” Rick yelled, shooting the walker biting Hershel. Glenn and Maggie came tearing around the corner. Glenn and Rick helped Hershel up and Dean took out some walkers approaching the group.

 “We’re blocked!” Dean yelled. “Get back!”

 They ran and came across a set of double doors with handcuffs chaining it together.

 “Open the door!” Rick yelled. T-Dog snapped it in half with his crowbar and Dean ran inside, checking for any walkers. He didn’t see any and helped keep the doors shut with Daryl and T-Dog until he closed it off with his crowbar.

 “Hold him down,” Rick said, taking his belt off to wrap it around Hershel’s knee. “Only one way to keep you alive.”

 Rick grabbed an axe and started hacking away at Hershel’s leg. His scream made Dean flinch slightly but when they stopped, his heart dropped. Looking at him, Dean saw that he just passed out. Maggie was holding his head and she was crying, not looking at Rick. Soon, Rick had cut off his leg.

 “He’s bleeding out.” Dean went to grab a piece of cloth laying on the floor, but Daryl held his hand up, motioning for everyone to stay down.

 “Duck,” he said quietly. Rick dropped while Dean and Daryl stood up, pointing their weapons at five men.

 “Holy shit,” one of them said.

 “Who the hell are ya?” Daryl said, inching closer.

 “Who the hell are you?” One of them said back.

 “He’s bleeding out, we gotta go back,” Rick said. “Come around here and put pressure on the knee!”

 “Why don’t ya come on outta there?”

 “Nice and slow,” Dean added.

 “What happened to him?” The one in the wife-beater asked.

 “He got bit.”

 “Bit?” They pulled out their weapons and Dean took out and cocked his pistol, T-Dog drawing his gun too.

 “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy now,” Daryl said. Dean had his eyes narrowed as the one in the wife-beater trained his gun on Daryl. “Nobody needs ta get hurt.”

 “You have medical supplies?” Glenn asked, pushing past the men.

 “Where do you think you’re going?” One of them said. At that moment, the walkers started banging on the door and snarling.

 “Rick, we gotta go,” Dean said.

 “I know.”

 “Who the hell are you people anyway?”  

 “Don’t look like no rescue team.”

 “If a rescue team is what you’re waiting for, don’t,” Rick said. “Come on, we gotta go!”

 Glenn rolled out a cart and they heaved Hershel onto it. Dean never looked away from the men, but he slowly walked backwards.

 “T, the door!”

 “Are you crazy? Don’t open that!”

 “We got this,” Dean said. Only one walker came through the door and T-Dog took care of it.

 “Dean! Daryl! Come on!”

 Dean started walking backwards, Daryl following. Once they were out the door, Daryl slammed it shut and everyone started running back to the cell block. Dean took the rear with T-Dog while Daryl took the front. He could hear the men following and frowned.

  “They’re following us,” Dean said.

 “Follow the flashlight,” one of them said.

 “Go, go, go!” Daryl said. Rick started pushing the cart again, Daryl taking point while Dean was at the back of the group. It didn’t take Dean as long as he thought it would to get to the cell block and when they did, Rick called to Carl.

 “Carl, open the door! It’s Hershel! Carl!”

 When you heard Rick yelling, you stood up fast and ran to the door.

 “Oh my god what happened?” You said, stepping aside so Rick could wheel Hershel inside. “Where’s Daryl? Is he okay?”

 “He got bit. And Daryl’s fine.”

 That was all you got out of Rick so you took your gun out and walked into the common area where you found Daryl. Eyes were locked on the door Daryl was staring at and you readied your gun. You could hear feet shuffling and whispering before you saw them. The one with the gun came in first, and you shifted your stance.

 “That’s far enough,” Daryl said. They didn’t stop walking until all of them were in the room.

 “Cell block C,” gunman said. “Cell four, that’s mine. Let me in.”

 “Today’s your lucky day fellas. You’ve been pardoned by the state of Georgia. You’re free ta go.”

 “What you got goin’ on in there?”

 “Nothing that concerns you,” you said. He looked at you and licked his lips.

 “Well aren’t you a pretty little thing? Why don’t you put the gun down and let me show you a good time?”

 You scrunched your face in disgust. “No thanks. I’m perfectly fine over here.”

 “Then don’t be telling me what’s my concern.” He pulled out his gun and advanced on you. You tried your hardest to not flinch but you closed your eyes for a second. Daryl didn’t like that and he went to stand in front of you.

 “Oh, I see. You two fucking?” He looked at you. “Why don’t you leave arrow-man and let me show you how a real man fucks.”

 He laughed and one of his friends spoke up.

 “Chill, man. Dude’s leg is all messed up. Besides, we’re free now. Why are we still in here?”

 “Your friend’s gotta point,” Daryl said sharply.

 “Yeah, I gotta check on my old lady.”

 “A group of civilians breaking into a prison they got no business in got me thinking there ain’t no place for us to go.”

 “Why don’t you go find out?” You said.

 “Maybe we’ll just be going now,” one of them said.

 “Hey, we ain’t leaving,” gunman said.

 “You ain’t coming in either,” T-Dog said, showing up from around the corner. His gun was raised and so was the prisoners.

 “My house, my rules. I go where I damn well please!”

 “Calm down,” you said. He pointed the gun at you.

 “Don’t tell me to calm down, bitch,” he spat.

 “Don’t talk ta her like that,” Daryl said. “There ain’t nothing for ya here. Why don’t ya go back ta your sandbox?”

 “Hey, everyone relax. There’s no need for this,” Rick said, Dean right behind him.

 “How many of you in there?”

 “Too many for you to handle.” Rick’s eyes moved between you and the gunman, his gun still trained on you.

 “You guys rob a bank or something? Why don’t you take him to a hospital?”

 You furrowed your eyebrows and looked at your brother.

 “How long you been locked in that cafeteria?” Dean asked.

 “Going on like ten months.”

 “A riot broke out,” the big man said. “Never seen anything like it.”

 “One guard looked out for us, locked us in the cafeteria. Threw me this piece and told us to sit tight, he’d be right back.”

 “Yeah, that was two-hundred and ninety-two days ago,” Big man said.

 “Ninety-four, according to my calculations.”

 “Shut up!” Gunman said.

 “We were thinking that the National Guard or the army should be showing up any day now.”

 “There is no army,” you said.

 “What you mean?”

 “There’s no government, no hospitals, no police. It’s all gone,” Rick said.

 “For real?”

 “Serious.”

 “My kids and my old lady,” one of them said. “You got a cell phone or something that we can call our families?”

 “Ya just don’t get it, do ya?” Daryl said

 “There are no more phones. Or internet. Everything’s gone.” You looked at Daryl and lowered your gun.

 “As far as we can see, at least half the population has been wiped out. Probably more.”

 The men looked like they were trying to process the information and gunman lowered his weapon slightly.

 “Ain’t no way,” he said.

 “See for yourself,” Rick said, pointing to the door. The men walked outside, you following close behind. Your weapon was still drawn and you were still tense. Daryl was right behind you and he put his hand on the small of your back.

 “Ya good?” He asked lowly.

 “I’m fine. Just worried about Hershel.”

 “Ya can go back inside if ya want.”

 “And leave some of my boys without any defense? No,” you said with a shake of your head. “Carol and Sam have things under control.”

 “You never said, how did y’all get in here?”

 “Cut a hole in the fence over by that guard tower,” Dean said.

 “That easy, huh?”

 “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” you said.

 “Easy for you to say. You probably haven’t wanted for anything in your life,” he muttered. You rolled your eyes and looked away.

 “So is it a sort of disease?” The big man said.

 “Yeah, and we’re all infected.”

 “What you mean, infected? Like, AIDS or something?”  

 “If I was ta kill ya, shoot an arrow in your chest, you’d come back as one of these things. It’s gonna happen ta all of us.” Daryl said. You bit your lip and sighed, looking at him.

 “Ain’t no way these Robin Hood pussies are responsible for killing all these freaks,” gunman said. “Especially if they have women helping out.”

 You bit your tongue at that remark and tried looking as unbothered as possible.

 “Where’d you come from?” He asked Rick.

 “Atlanta.”

 “Where you headed?”

 “Nowhere, for now.”

 “I guess you can take that area down there near the water,” gunman said. “Should be comfortable.”

 “We’re using that field for crops.”

 “We’ll help you move your gear out.”

 “That won’t be necessary. We took out these walkers. This prison is ours.”

 “Slow down, cowboy.”

 “You snatched the locks off our doors,” the shortest one said.

 “We can give you new locks if that’s what you want,” you said with a shrug.

 “This is our prison. We were here first.”

 “Locked in a broom closet? We took it, set you free. It’s ours,” Rick scoffed.

 “We’re moving back into our cell block.”

 “You’ll have to get your own,” Dean said, crossing his arms.

 “It is mine. I’ve still got personal artifacts in there. That’s about as mine as it gets.” He pulled out the gun again, and you pointed yours at his head.

 “Whoa, whoa! Maybe let’s try to work this out so everybody wins,” the blond one said.

 “I don’t see that happening.”

 “Neither do I,” Rick said.

 “I ain’t going back in that cafeteria for one more minute.”

 “There are other cell blocks,” Blondie said.

 “Ya could leave,” Daryl spat. “Try your luck out on the road.”

 After a moment, gunman spoke. “If these pussies can do all this, the least we can do is take out another cell block.”

 “With what?” Bigman said.

 “Atlanta here’ll spot us real weapons. Won’t you, boss?”

 “How stocked is that cafeteria? Must have plenty of food. Five guys lasting almost a year?”

 “Doesn’t look like anyone’s been starving,” you observed.

 “There’s only a little left.”

 “We’ll take half,” Rick said. “In exchange, we’ll help you clear out a cell block.”

 “Didn’t you hear him? There’s only a little left,” Shorty said.

 “Bet you got more food than you got choices. You pay, we’ll play. We’ll clear out a block for you then you keep to it.”

 “Alright,” Gunman said.

 “But let’s be clear. We see you out here anywhere near our people, if I so much as even catch as whiff of your scent, I will kill you.” Ricks voice got quieter the more he spoke and you knew he wasn’t lying.

 “Deal.”

 ---

 “Pantry’s back here,” Gunman said. It hadn’t taken long to get to the cafeteria and thankfully you didn’t run into any walkers.

 “You never tried to break out of here?” T-Dog asked.

 “Yeah, we tried to take the doors off. But even with the smallest noise, those freaks’ll be lined up outside the door. Trying to get in.”

 “And the windows?” You asked.

 “They got bars that He-Man couldn’t get through.”

 “You done jerking each other off?” Gunman said. “Sick of waiting back here.”

 Walking to the back room, your jaw dropped when you saw the amount of food. You looked at Dean and he was as shocked as you were.

 “This what ya call a little bit of food?” Daryl asked, walking farther into the room.

 “Goes fast,” he looked at Rick. “You can have a bag of corn, some tuna fish—“

 “We said half. That was the deal.”

 “Let’s get a cart. Load up as much as we can,” you said. You holstered your gun and walked toward the kitchen, grabbing a cart and loading it up, Dean helping you. T-Dog and Daryl grabbed some boxes and carried them back to the cell block, you pushing the cart. No walkers popped up and you all made it back with no incident.

 “Food’s here!” T-Dog said. Carl opened the door and you walked through.

 “What you got?” Carl asked.

 “Canned beef, canned corn, canned cans,” T-Dog said.

 “There’s a lot more where this came from, and I’m pretty sure that there’s everything I need to make chili.” You looked at Carl and he was basically salivating at the mouth.

 “You make chili?”

 “I do. My dad and brothers always loved it,” you said with a laugh. “I don’t know if there’s anything to make it spicy, but I’ll look, if you’d like.”

 “Thank you. That sounds amazing,” Carl said, wrapping his arms around your waist. You hugged him back then went to follow T-Dog to put the food away.

 “Time to go back.”

 ---

 Once the food you were promised was safely stored, you got ready to go clear out a cell block. Before you left, your brothers pulled you aside.

 “I know you can take care of yourself, but these men are dangerous,” Sam said quietly, the prisoner’s right in the other room. “We’d both feel a lot better if you stayed here with Adeline.”

 “But I can help with them,” you said, frustration lacing your voice.

 “We know you can, sweetheart. But we also need hands here just in case something goes wrong with these assholes,” Dean said.

 “Fine. But I hope you both know that you won’t be able to bench me forever.” You were really peeved that they were doing this, but you knew that there wouldn’t be any point in arguing.

 “Thank you,” Dean said, letting out a breath. He kissed your forehead and Sam pulled you into a hug.

 “The two of you best come back without any injuries. We’ve had too many of those lately.”

 “Yes ma’am,” both of them said at the same time. You laughed softly and kissed their cheeks before they left the cell block, Carl shutting the door and locking it behind them.

[periodiccompletionist]

Round 1, Side 3, RESULTS

A tie! Both Lithium and Xenon will advance to the next round!

At 58.1%, Gallium advances! Rubidium (Ru U B Bi I - 5/118) is eliminated.

At 85.4%, Sodium advances! Dubnium (U B N Ni I - 5/118) did not get the Dub.

At 77.1%, Selenium advances! Hedonium (H He O N Ni I U - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 58.6%, Copper advances! Netherite (N Ne Th H He Er I Te - 8/118) is eliminated.

At 63.3%, Dysprosium advances! Terbium (Te Er Rb B Bi I U - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 52.4%, Vanadium advances! Boron (B O N - 3/118) is eliminated.

At 67.4%, Curium advances! Caesium (C Ca Es S Si I U - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 73.3%, Nitrogen advances! Livermorium (Li I V Er Mo O U - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 54.8%, Francium advances! Niobium (N Ni I O B Bi U - 7/118) is eliminated.

At 88.9%, Calcium advances! Thulium (Th H U Li I - 5/118) is eliminated.

At 81%, Aluminum advances! Samarium (S Am Ar I U - 5/118) is eliminated.

At 66.7%, Neodymium advances! Strontium (S O N Ti I U - 6/118) is eliminated.

At 56.1%, Zirconium advances! Adamantine (Am N Ti I In Ne - 6/118) is eliminated

At 76.2%, Carbon advances! Fluorine (F Fl Lu U O I In N Ne - 9/118) is eliminated.

At 73.2%, Platinum advances! Tantalum (Ta N Al Lu U - 5/118) is eliminated.

Biggest Sweep: Calcium vs. Thulium

Closest Match: Vanadium vs. Boron (excluding Lithium vs. Xenon)

Most Voted: Copper vs. Netherite, with 58 total votes

[aita-alternia]

a!ta for tak!ng my mo!rra!l’s typ!ng qu!rrk and then essent!ally ghosting herr?

my mo!rra!l (7f) and ! (6.5m) have been togetherr for a sweep now and ! rrecently dec!ded to get rr!d of my old qu!rrk due to some trraumat!c memorr!es. ! wasn’t surre what my new qu!rrk should be, and my mo!rra!l told me !t would be fun !f ! used herrs, so ! starrted do!ng that. well ! guess she must have been jok!ng because s!nce !’ve starrted us!ng !t, she’s been avo!d!ng me l!ke the sun. th!s !s parrt!ally my fault, s!nce !’ve always been the one to starrt converrsat!ons, and don’t get me wrrong, ! want to talk to herr aga!n, but ! have grrown attached to th!s qu!rrk, and !’m scarred to change aga!n — howeverr, !f ! try to apolog!ze to herr l!ke th!s, ! th!nk she’ll just be even morre mad at me, so ! st!ll haven’t spoken to herr. a!ta?