#Has snapped once and I was unprepared for how loud they actually are in person

[warriormoustache]

Got my first shrimp goby pair last week and this is my impression of them so far.

[kzlove]

connie's sister's got it goin' on

jean thought his friends were bluffing when they told him connie's sister was the shit.

warnings : slight suggestive, eren and armin are pervs, jean speaks a lil french, not proofread

part two

-

driving in the rain sucked ass.

connie had conviced jean to go out with him to a few places that still made his head spin when he tried to think about it.

of course, connie was like this kid that was never allowed outside of his yard.

anything fun? yeah of course the homies gotta go with him.

sadly, eren was too busy catching up with college work, and armin had tutoring on saturdays.

sasha has a boyfriend, and mikasa is practically obsessed with her girlfriend.

the only person that was free was jean, who never minded going out with connie.

safe to say, it was never boring.

but of course, connie's unprepared ass never checked to see how the weather would be when planning to spend the day outside.

so they were driving back to connie's in the middle of what seemed to be the beginning of a thunderstorm.

"mother nature needa close her legs." connie grumbled, watching the road like the passenger princess he was.

jean rolled his eyes in return. before he could get his word out, lighting struck loudly.

ooo mother nature didn't like connie for that statement he made. it rained harder, if even possible.

jean was able to get them both to connie's house safely, parking outside due to connie and a few other family member's cars parked in the garage.

yeah.. connie had a big family.

in the home was connie, his parents, his younger sister, three younger brothers, and his older sister.

the older sister was rarely at the house though, having a job and her own place in another state.

but with their parents away on their anniversary, someone had to watch the kids.

and connie really isn't that reliable. the poor kids wouldn't even step foot out of the house for school or eat anything other than junk food.

so his older sister decided to come down and help out.

"i hope you don't plan on going home in this weather." connie said, turning to jean with a light frown.

once again, before jean could respond, something had interrupted him.

this time, it was connie, taking the keys of of the ignition and dashing onto the porch, hood over his head in a jiffy.

jean groaned in annoyance before following suit.

"you didn't have to do all of that." jean complained immediately when he made it to the porch.

connie mocked the boy beside him, unlocking the door and holding it open for jean in a cheesy smile.

"i'm home! what's that smell?!" connie yelled over the tv, his three younger brothers playing the game loudly.

jean heard loud footsteps, but didn't pick up his heaad while he balanced on connie to take his shoes off.

"it's actual cooked fuckin food- jesus connie i thought i told you to tell me if you were bringing guests!" jean heard an unfamiliar voice yell from the stairs.

jean looked up and goodness..

the sight before him was gorgeous.

there you stood, wearing a white t-shirt that barely even left your hips.

you were filled out in all of the best ways, a mean scowl on your face directed towards the man beside him.

all jean could think about was 'if you could see it from the front...'

what snapped him out of his thoughts was your eyes on him as you cleared your throat.

jean muttered a small sorry and turned around, giving some privacy at least.

"wouldn't have to if you'd wear some goddamn clothes." connie shot back, rolling his eyes with an exasperated groan.

"i'm sorry you still haven't fixed the fan in the kitchen so i sweat fucking bullets when i have to cook." you scoffed, walking back upstairs.

jean turned around when he heard you were halfway up the stairs.

and goodness was that ass fat-

"okay jean. you can use the bathroom near my room to shower and shit. i'm gonna use my sisters." connie said, gesturing to upstairs.

jean nodded, swallowing lightly and making his way upstairs.

he walked into the bathroom near connie's room like he was told to, and immediately called the boys group chat after he'd shut the door.

that definitely didn't include connie.

it was a conversation made when tey were planning a surprise party for connie, and never ended up deleting it.

it's only really used to play imessage games now though.

eren and armin immediately answered, confused as to why this chat was being called.

"bro y'all are fake." jean whispered harshly, glaring at the phone.

"what'd i do this time? the aloe vera was mika's idea." eren complained, rolling his eyes while propping his phone up.

jean disregarded what was said.

eren's hair was down and he was shirtless, some comic book in his hand.

armin looked like he had just gotten back from his tutoring session.

his bag was in hand and his phone wasn't showing his face like it always was.

"why didn't either of you tell me his sister was like that?!" jean exclaimed quietly, raising his eye brow.

eren bursted into laughter, making armin follow along and pause in his steps through his house.

jean cursed quietly, turning his volume down to hide their ill jokes and laughter.

"aye! tell mama if she done fuckin that lawyer she with, i got a big one waiting in my lap!" armin joked, grinning at the camera.

"let her know papi extraña ese lindo coño!" eren said, pressing his tongue between his index and middle fingers teasingly.

jean rolled his eyes, ignoring his friends whistles and moans.

a few knocks at the door got jean's attention, making him pale.

"please don't let anyone hear them." jean begged under his breath, before getting ready to hang up.

eren and armin noticed, and laughed at him and his predicament.

"remember! tell her it cures to the right! presses right on that g-spot!" "she could wear whatever she want, i can fight and my name is moanable! i'll fight that man for her too!"

jean hung up quickly, opening the door.

to his luck, you were standing at the door holding a fluffy pink towel and some clothes.

"hey. jean right? connie said to bring you some clothes. sadly, i could only find this towel." you explained, gesturing to what's in your hand.

jean swallowed before nodding, taking the pile of stuff from you.

"thanks." he said quickly, before taking the pile of stuff from you.

he decided on getting in the shower and trying to take his mind off you before he had a.. problem.

~

when jean came out of the shower, he made a beeline straight for connie's room.

he felt like he might die if he seen you immediately after his shower.

luckily, connie was in there with a blunt in his mouth and the video game already on.

"took you long enough." connie mumbled, still holding onto the spliff.

jean rolled his eyes and took a seat on the bed, kicking his legs up and getting comfortable.

connie took another look at jean and chuckled. "you look like you got a compression shirt on." connie teased.

jean flipped him off, swiping open his phone and opening a random game.

connie began playing music, the tunes blasting out of the sound system he and eren hooked up to his tv a year back.

before he could get any further into the song, his door was thrown open and in came his older sister.

"if you're gonna play music, play something good at least." you said, nearly shouting over the music.

jean quickly grabbed the remote and muted the speaker to clearly hear you speak.

you were wearing some pants now, though it didn't really do you any justice.

they were riding up your thighs, cupped right under your butt.

jean had to force himself to look away.

thankfully, connie had begun speaking to you to catch his attention.

"get out of my room! and put some proper fuckin' pants on. you look like a slut." connie complained immediately.

you rolled his eyes and flipped him off immediately.

"dinner will be ready in five, do not light that in here." you warned, picking up his nike slides and tossing them at him.

before he could throw them right back, you walked out and slammed the door hard.

so hard, the hoop behind it fell off.

connie groaned in annoyance, complaining about how he had just fixed the shit and now it's broken again.

the man stood up, stretched his limbs out, and looked towards jean.

"let's go smoke this before we eat." connie said, walking out to the balcony attached to his room.

jean followed him, happy for the roof his parents had built in for them.

by them he meant connie and, well, you.

they had the biggest rooms with a balcony attached to both.

connie sat on one of the chairs and jean sat across from him, leaning back as he watched his friend light the spliff.

"this is the first time you've hung out with me in a hot minute, jeanboy." connie stated, taking a pull.

jean chuckled, kicking his legs up on the extended couch. "yeah well, you know i'm always buried in work." jean replied.

connie nodded, handing the spliff over to jean after taking two more pulls.

jean ashed it a bit, but before he could pull it to his mouth, it was snatched out of his hand.

he looked up and seen you, spliff tucked between your plump lips.

"you're in my spot, jeanboy." you teased, taking a seat beside him.

connie rolled his eyes, though he half expected you to find your way out on the balcony for the spliff he rolled.

because if there was anything connie was good at, it was rolling.

never too thick, never too skinny. just right and good enough to get you high.

you took a pull, blowing the smoke out of your nose with a long sigh.

"haven't smoked in so long." you chuckled, leaning back and closing your eyes.

"what happened to that lawyer you were with? daddy let's you smoke now?" connie snorted, looking at you from the corner of your eye.

you put your middle finger up, choosing you ignore his comment and hand the spliff back over to jean.

he took a pull, face turning a bit red after a slight realization.

your gloss hand stained the brown paper a faded pink.

he tries to ignore it, blowing the smoke out of his mouth and handing it back to connie.

"you connie's new friend? never seen you before." you questioned, leaning back onto the seat.

jean shook his head, taking another pull. "m'actually one of his longest friends. just real busy." jean said in return.

you nodded, raising your eyebrows lightly and looking at connie.

"ya hear that? i actually have friends." connie teasing, shooting you a lazy grin.

"mhm. he's probably staying for the weed." you shot back, gratefully taking the blunt from him.

jean choked lightly, chuckling at the bewildered face connie had immediately made.

"i'll have you know i made him some mean friendship bracelets when we were in middle school." connie scoffed, sitting up from his seat.

you rolled your eyes and mocked connie under your breath, before handing the spliff to him.

"what's your major, jeanboy?" you asked, turning your attention back to the man next to you.

jean raised his eyes to look at you, before leaning back.

"i'm majoring in fine arts." jean replied, looking up at the dangling stars on the roof.

you must've hung them up there when you were younger.

jean heard you coo lightly, turning his attention right back over to you.

you were pretending to pose a bit, smiling. "draw me like one of your french girls." you joked.

jean has heard that line so many times from other girls that tried to hit on him, but for some reason?

when it came from your mouth, he seriously wanted to draw you.

he laughed lightly, rolling his eyes and looking back at the ceiling.

"alright. i gotta piss. don't fuck my sister, jeanboy." connie teased, handing you the roach he left behind to toss out.

no promises.

you flipped him off again, before placing the roach in the tray.

it grew silent between the two of you, not exactly knowing what to say to each other.

"you don't speak spanish, right?" you questioned, looking at jean.

jean shook his head. "french, actually." he informed, not taking his eyes off the ceiling.

you sat up with a start, a smile adorning your face.

"seriously?" you exclaimed, face lighting up like a kid on christmas.

he could feel you scanning his face, and confirming his statement on your own.

his jawline, his nose, his eyes. if he wasn't completely french, some part of him definitely was.

"then you'll seriously have to draw me." you chuckled, relaxing back into your seat.

"are you fluent?" you questioned once more, leaning your head onto the back of the seat.

jean nodded, sitting up to face you. he had a question in mind.

"say some thing." you demanded lightly, nudging him with your arm.

jean inhaled, thinking about what he wanted to say.

then, it was almost as if a lightbulb appeared atop his head.

"je voudrais dormir avec toi." jean said with a smirk, looking you in your eyes.

his accent was heavy, which just made you even more interested in what he just said.

"what does that mean?" you asked, shifting closer to him with a small smile on your face.

jean put his finger to his lips, deeming his words a secret.

he just knew connie would kill him if he found out what he said to his sister.

"since you've asked so much of me, how about i ask something in return?" jean suggested.

you nodded, agreeing to answer any question he had.

"what did happen with you and that lawyer guy?" he questioned, looking at you.

you sighed, leaning back into the seat.

it grew quiet once more. you were hesitating to answer his question.

maybe he should've kept his curiosity to himself.

before he could take it back though, you spoke. "ah. i dumped him. much too controlling. don't tell con?" you smiled.

he knew what you were talking about.

connie goes hard for his family. it was obvious when he told his little sister's bully to 'get yo bumass brother' and beat the shit out of him.

imagine what he and his friends would to do the guy if he found out what he did to his sister.

"but that's good. means you can really draw me like rose when connie's asleep." you whispered in his ear, running his hand over your waist.

jean swallowed thickly, feeling you lean into him. "you know where my room is." you whispered, pressing a kiss to his jawline.

he never responded, only watching as you walked into your room.

jean was so bragging about this to eren and armin.

but only after he comes out of your room later tonight. he'll need the proof.

je voudrais dormir avec toi -> i would like to sleep with you

[xoxo-teddybear]

Chaotic Family Tingz - Bakugou Katsuki

Bakugou x f!reader ft. Older brother L/N Ryu and Younger brother L/N Itazura

Warnings: Cursing, Crack, Fluff, Tatted Bakugou bc ✨SPICE✨

Summary: You have a very….special family. You were nervous to not only bring your Tatted, motorcycle riding boyfriend to your home but also to show your very loving boyfriend your insane family. Unfortunately, the truth cannot be hidden for long. Unfortunately for your boyfriend, Bakugou, he learned the truth in a very L/N family way.

BAKUGOU’S MASTERLIST

A/N: Heavily inspired by Good Luck Charlie. ALSO, I wrote this more based around Y/N and her life but Katsuki plays part in it. I still think it’s good bc imagine Bakugou being in this situation 😆🤣

You and Bakugou Katsuki have been dating for a year. You fell in love with the Bakugou Katsuki.

He who had a sleeve full of tattoos, who wore black combat boots and chains, who rode slick black motorcycles yet was a total softie when it came to you

Even though you had been dating for over a year, you didn’t bring him home for multiple reasons

1. You wanted to be sure he was the one before he met your crazy family, 2. You didn’t want him to meet your crazy family

Notice how we keep saying crazy?

Eventually, Bakugou got tired of waiting. He wanted you to be comfortable but he also wanted to know you loved him enough to think he was the guy you would want to bring home to meet your family

Meeting the parents and meeting the family is a big step and shows that you really want him as part of your life. It would mean a whole lot to him

And when he requested to meet your family and you shut it down again, he began to question you

“Do you not want me to meet them because…of me? Do you not want them to meet me?”

You looked at your boyfriend with a sad look as he stared at you like a kicked puppy

“Baby, no. Of course I want my family to meet you.”

“Then why haven’t they?”

“….Because I don’t want you to meet them.”

“What?”

“Suki! They’re insane! I’m just- *sigh.* What if their craziness drives you away from me?”

Bakugou laughed at you in disbelief. Leave you? Like hell he would. Bakugou’s done a whole lot in his life and you are the one thing he got right.

“Yeah no. Sorry princess but you’re stuck with me for life. I’m not going anywhere.” When he said that, he kissed your knuckles before leaving a kiss on your lips which convinced you to let him meet your insane family

He celebrated right in front of you

Anyway, what you need to know is that you’re family is….crazy crazy. Crazy as in things are never boring in your house because things are always happening

(Mind you, the actions below happened before you said yes to letting Katsuki meet your family)

Now back to what we were saying

Bad things happen a lot. Things like your little 11 year old brother, Itazura, always getting into trouble at school. In fact, this time he got into so much trouble that his teacher called for a parent teacher meeting

Not wanting to get in trouble at home, Itazura had you and your brother pretend to be his parents and go to the meeting

Now you said no in the beginning, but he blackmailed you by threatening to tell your parents you broke their priceless-antique wedding china and so you had to give in

It didn’t take much convincing for your older brother, Ryu, to join in on Itazura’s plan. Ryu was a very….simple person.

“You’re just gonna give in like that?” You asked him

“I mean, in the end it just saves time.” He said, referring to how Itazura will always find a way to get what he wants

“Yeah, that’s fair.”

And so, you and Ryu posed as Itazura’s parents. You dressed in your mom’s work clothes while Ryu dressed in a suit and put on a fake mustache for gags

You both presented yourselves along with Itazura to his teacher, who can barely see straight, and the plan went on perfectly. You guys got away with it!

That was until Itazura’s teacher, who was named Mrs. Iko, saw you at the movies on a date with Katsuki

And this is where it all goes down. Take a seat my bitches, and bros, and non-binary hoes cuz shits about to get real

(Shoutout to you if you get the reference ;)

—

*Ding Dong*

Your brother was sitting on the couch with his boyfriend when all of a sudden the doorbell rang, catching Ryu’s attention.

Opening the door, Ryu was met with the sight of Mrs. Iko. She took notice of his younger clothes, appearance, and mustache-less face. “Mrs. Iko? What’re you doing here?”

“Mr. L/N!” Mrs. Iko said with a shocked face and hand over her mouth. “You look so much younger! And your mustache has disappeared!”

Ryu grew visibly nervous at her words and gulped before letting out a shaky laugh. “O-Oh! Right! Yes, Uh- yes I’ve always been known for my Uh- youthful looks! And I just recently shaved- wanted a new look, you know?”

“Oh, well that doesn’t matter. I’m afraid I have some awful news.” Mrs. Iko said with a worried face as Ryu listened. “It’s about your wife.”

At that, Ryu’s longtime boyfriend, Daisuke, stood and walked towards the two. “Your wife? You have a wife?”

“No.” Ryu said.

“You don’t?” Mrs. Iko asked.

“Of course I do!” Ryu said, turning to her. Mrs. Iko looked around as if everyone in the house was crazy (they were) before speaking.

“Who are you?” She asked Daisuke.

“I’m his boyfriend.” He said. At that moment, you walked into the house holding Katsuki’s hand, ready to introduce him to your family, totally unprepared for what was about to go down.

“Hey guys! We’re back from the- GAH!” You said, yelping once you saw Mrs. Iko in the house. Mrs. Iko looked at you and Katsuki in shock as she pointed to you both.

“And here she is with her boyfriend!” Mrs. Iko exclaimed. Ryu felt pressured to play along and tried to save Itazura’s secret by keeping the husband act going.

“You’re cheating on me?!” Ryu said to you. “You’re a married woman!”

“You’re married?!” Bakugou asked you with an angry and hurt voice.

“No! No, no, no, no.” You said with a nervous laugh, trying to reassure him.

“You’re not?” Mrs. Iko asked.

“Of course I am!” You said, snapping your head to her. At that moment, Itazura walked in from the kitchen, but once he saw Mrs. Iko, he quickly turned back to go to the kitchen once more with a shocked expression.

“Geeeh!” He exclaimed before turning around, unfortunately caught by you.

“Uh- ITAZURA!” You shouted from the door as Bakugou held you close by the waist as a way of claiming his territory just in case things were in trouble for the two of you. Don’t worry, they weren’t. He believed you when you said you weren’t married but he’s starting to notice the weird shit that goes down in this house.

Itazura then came back, slowly poking his head in from behind the door as he stepped out. “Yes, Mother?”

Hearing you referred to that, Bakugou’s eyes popped before looking down at you. “Okay! I’m starting to see why you didn’t want me to meet your family.”

You nodded your head in a very ‘yeah…sadly,’ type of way.

“Uh- Itazura,” you said, walking towards your little brother. “Mrs. Iko has found out that your father and I are having problems.” You said in a ‘help us out of this you evil mastermind,’ type of way.

“Uhhh..and does she know that you guys are the reason I misbehave?” Itazura said, loud enough for Mrs. Iko to hear, hoping she would.

“Oh, I do now!” Mrs. Iko said sympathetically. Itazura came in like the evil mastermind he is and pulled out his fake tears.

“Well, maybe some good can come from all this pain,” he said with his fake tears and pouty lip towards his teacher. You faked a laugh before whispering to your younger brother.

“Hehehe…dial it down.” You said to him before turning to his teacher. “Um, Mrs. Iko, if you’ll excuse us, this family has some healing to do.”

“Which! I would like to do with just my parents and their apparent significant others,” Itazura said pointing to Daisuke and Katsuki.

“Welp! You should be on your way! Stay warm now!” Ryu said, beginning to escort Mrs. Iko out the front door by her shoulders. “Don’t wanna freeze off your toes!”

Unfortunately, right before the two reached the door, your actual parents came in. At the sight of them, you and your siblings flinched, sighed, and groaned before facing them. Luckily, Itazura came in once again to try and save the day in his lying ways.

“Grandma! Grandpa!” Itazura said going in to hug his actual parents to play his part. Your parents looked down to your brother in confusion and suspicion, well aware that your brother can get into some mischievous trouble.

“What’s going on?!” Your mom said, shaking off your brother’s hug.

“I’m Itazura’s teacher, I came to talk to his parents.” Mrs. Iko said introducing herself and gesturing to you and Ryu, to which the two of you scrunched your faces at being caught.

“We’re his parents.” Your dad said, gesturing to your mom and him. Mrs. Iko grew a face of utter shock before Itazura opened his mouth again.

“Hahaha, that’s right grandpa! You’re my dad!” Itazura said before whispering to Mrs. Iko. “He thinks he’s the president too.”

Your mom looked unimpressed at your brother’s lie until she caught sight of Bakugou in his white v-neck tee, and his big beefy arms covered in tattoos, holding his green bomber jacket, wearing his black ripped jeans and black combat boots. “Who are you?”

“Hey, I’m Bakugou Katsuki.” Your boyfriend said, waving with his gentler voice. Your dad looked outside and pointed to the foreign vehicle in their driveway before turning to Katsuki.

“Is that your motorcycle?” Your dad asked, making you nervous before you jumped to stand next to Katsuki to defend him.

“Um, yeah, about that-“

“I love motorcycles!” Your dad exclaimed with a smile.

“We’re dating!” You proudly said with a bright grin as you wrapped your arms around Katsuki’s as he looked down to you with a loving smile, loving when he heard you say those words to other people.

“Will you stop throwing that in my face?!” Ryu said, still playing his act.

“We’re not doing that anymore.” You blankly said to him with a dead stare.

“Great! Because I was getting a bit confused,” Ryu said and wrapped his arm around Daisuke’s waist.

And on that night, Mrs. Iko left, just as confused as Ryu.

—

“Alright,” your mom began, beginning to speak to you, your siblings, Daisuke, and Katsuki. “You, you, you, you, and you, sit. Now.”

“Uh, sorry,” your boyfriend said, “but I’m not your child. I don’t think you can tell me what to-“

“Did. I. Stutter?” Your mother asked with her devil eyes. Your gentler father stood behind her with a pleading look to your boyfriend to try and convince him to save himself. Katsuki felt his heart shake in fear at your mother’s tone and he opened his mouth to speak before closing it and taking a seat next to you on the couch.

“Mama Bear?” He asked you, referring to your mother.

“Mama Bear.” You confirmed. Bakugou nodded his head before relaxing into the couch.

“Okay. Now somebody tell me what’s going on.” Your mom demanded. You and Ryu remained quiet while your boyfriends sat in confusion. You all looked to Itazura who sighed before giving in.

“Okay, fine. I was getting in trouble at school and it got to the point where I had to have a parent teacher meeting. I didn’t want to get in trouble at home so I blackmailed Y/N and Ryu into being my parents so I could get away with it.” Itazura then explained.

“I guess somewhere along the line, Mrs. Iko caught me and Katsuki together so I guess she came here to tell Ryu, who she thought was my husband, that I was having an affair.” You then explained. Ryu was just sitting on the couch with his arm still around Daisuke before he raised his hand.

Your mother sighed at her oldest child being so..childish. “Yes, Ryu?”

“Uh- no I was just wondering if I could put on the fake mustache again.” He stupidly said with a genuine heart. You and your younger brother sighed in disappointment at his idiocy before turning to your parents.

“So? Are you going to punish us?” You asked your mom. She smiled at you sweetly before taking a seat in front of you on the coffee table.

“Oh, sweetie…..of course we’re going to punish you.” She said while placing a hand on your knee. She then stood to hand out her dealings. “Itazura, no video games, no sleepovers, no tv. Ryu, Y/N - no phones, no tv, no going anywhere after school. All of you, grounded. 2 weeks. We’re letting you keep your laptops for school work so if you need to communicate, use those. Am I clear?”

You and your siblings all nodded before your mother sighed and addressed the last thing. “Now finally, what did you say your name was, sweetie?”

“Oh! Uh, Bakugou Katsuki.” Your boyfriend said. Your mother smiled at him kindly before dropping that smile and giving him a look.

“Age?”

“18.”

“Grades?”

“Straight A’s.”

“School?”

“U.A.”

“Tattoos and Piercings. Why?”

“Most of them are to honor the people in my life.”

“Motorcycle. Why?”

“It was a gift I decided to not let go to waste.”

“Are you an asshole?”

“Only to idiots.”

“Why my daughter?”

“Because when she smiles everything in the world instantly makes sense to me.”

His last answer made you smile at him in awe as you scooted in closer. It also made your parents smile before your mom reached over to place a hand on his arm. “Welcome to the family, Bakugou.”

—

“So that’s your family, huh?” Bakugou asked as you both sat in your backyard on the hammock looking at the starry sky.

“Heh, yeah. A bunch of clowns.” You said, resting your head on his shoulder as his arm held you close.

“I don’t think so. They seem fun.” Bakugou said, trying to uplift your spirits.

“Fun. Crazy. Same shit I guess.” You said causing you both to laugh. Katsuki sighed in gratitude at finally getting to meet your family and allowed his head to drop on your own. “Umm..you’re not gonna leave me though..right?”

“Never.” He said with a small laugh and kiss to the crown of your head. “Like I said, you’re stuck with me. Besides. I now know if I’m ever bored, your family will always be around. S’like free entertainment.” He said making you giggle. “Plus, Itazura doesn’t seem so bad. I don’t know, might wanna pull a few pranks on him just to teach him a lesson.”

“Aww, baby.” You said kissing his cheek. “No you don’t, it’ll backfire on you and he’ll set your ass on fire. Doesn’t matter if you’re 5 years older than him.”

Bakugou widened his eyes in offense before chuckling and cuddling in closer as you both swung on the hammock. That was when you raised your head to look at him. “So…when can I meet your parents?”

Bakugou’s eyes once again popped as he thought about his timid father who was a doormat to his demonic mother. “Uh…I don’t know..They’re kinda…insane.”

Here we go again.

Taglist: @sxcker4you @aomi04 @tessabrown101 @ebiharachan @is-this-ash @iris-shihabi @sxturn-stars @isolight @lanantoine @whatdidshesayyy @qtsuki @lazyafgurl @dessykcm @misssugarless @unicornlover25 @sweethcnvy @hanamura-manami @thisuserlovesyouandyouandyou @ssurewhynottt

[luimagines]

Hi! First of all, I wanted to let you know that your writing makes my heart melt! All of your works are as funny as they are incredible, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with your blog!

If it’s okay to request, could you write something about the boys having to dance with the reader? And when they do, they start to catch feelings for the reader but don’t realize it? If it’s okay, of course ♡ have a good day!! And please, take all the time you need if you write it!

Masterlist

If I had a nickel for every time some one requested a detailed scenario where you can dance with Link, I'd have two nickels.

Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

I should have known there were those who yearn. (And I listened to the song you referenced anon, and it's nice but I personally like Sam Smith's version better.)

But yes, I'll see what I can do.

Part 1 will include Warrior, Sky and Four

Content under the cut!

Warrior

Warrior wasn’t sure why the princess thought that throwing a party for the hero was considered a good thing.

Or at least not without warning them about it first.

He supposed she was just excited to invite heroes of the ears into her home and wanted them to feel that at least their efforts were appreciated.

But he hated this.

And Link knew he wasn’t the only one to think so if the looks of his companions were anything to go by.

But even as he makes his rounds amongst the elite, the fake and the genuine, he tried to make sure that his friends were at least have a comfortable time. He wanted them to know that they didn’t have to keep a face like he did amongst this group so if they wanted to have fun and dance and eat then they could.

They were guests in his home as well.

But no matter where he looked and no matter how many rounds he made, he noticed that were nowhere to be found.

Confused, he ventured outside the venue.

And as he looking for you, he just sees a silhouette against the moon light on top of one of the decorative rocks out in the middle of the rose bush maze.

There was no one else around and then again the guards and people were too drunk and joyful to notice someone breaking the ground rules of conduct or if they noticed, they simply did not care.

He makes his way toward the shadow and stalls for a moment when you look his way.

The way the light hit your frame seemed delicate and ethereal with an otherworldly glow to your hair and skin. The royal purple garb they gave you as a gift for not having anything suitable to wear to the party hugged your curves and angles in all the right ways. Someone must have offered you some jewelry to go with it because he doesn’t remember you having the gold necklace and matching head piece that pulls your hair back into a crown of curls tat frame your face in a divine manner.

Link found himself unable to breath for a second.

You smile and say, “I’m just taking in some air.”

“Not enjoying the party?” He blurts, worried for a moment that you’ve been uncomfortable this entire time... by yourself.... away from everyone.... just sitting in the darkness with the sounds of music and laughter in the background.

“It felt weird to be at a heroes party when I myself- am not a hero.” You shrug and lean back casually on the rock. “Here to drag me back Capitan?”

Warrior blinks and registers the change of pace in the music and will deny to the end of his life where he found the nerve to do what he does next.

He smoothly places the his cup of lightly bubbled alcohol on one of the lower rocks and holds out his hand to you. “Dance with me. Just once.”

You blink and also tune into the music behind the two of you.

It’s a slow dance.

You gradually smile and reach out to him, pulling yourself from the rocks surface and into his arms. “Just one dance.”

Warrior tries to hide the gulp that threatens to noticeably bob his Adam’s apple and places his hands on your waist and holds your hand respectfully. “Have you danced before?”

“Technically.” You answer and place your own hands in his and on his shoulder, pulling yourself closer to him. “I while I know how to dance with the elite, it’s just never been my scene.”

“I know how you feel.” Warrior takes the leads and guides you through the steps of the song. He’s been through countless hours of training for battle- and not those that end in bloodshed- but those that take place in the ball room with the nobles and high end society that would have one looked at him scorn and distaste.

He doesn’t blame you for wanting to get away.

But he does want you to enjoy yourself... if only a little bit.

The steps come naturally to him and he takes a moment to spin you around before you trip over your own feet.

A small giggle escapes your lips as you twirl and send the fabric billowing around you.

Warrior is struck stupid by the sight and almost steps off beat with the music. He’s quick to correct himself but he seemed to have your laughter on his mind on repeat.

“I’d stay out here with you if I could.” He admits as he repositions himself against you, trying to lead you away from the rose thorns and the maze itself so neither of you get caught up in it. “But unfortunately my disappearance won’t go unnoticed for long.”

“Oh...” You blink and look up into his eyes. “I suppose you really only have time for one dance, huh?”

He’s unprepared by how disappointed you sound and it would appear so are you with how quick you try to cover it up.

“It’s fine! You’re an important figure here, I guess it’s only natural that every one would want your attention. I hope you enjoy the party though. Unlike me, you deserve the recognition.” You smile genuinely but your eyes look like they’re trying to get some unknown message across.

“If I can somehow get away again-” Warrior rushes to keep your smile there and to include you in the collective joy the party was supposed to bring. “-Will you save another dance for me?”

You hum and tap you finger to you chin in thought. “It hasn’t been that bad being out here by myself...”

Warrior really hopes that you let him dance with you again even when you pull apart to the end of the music. 

But you grin and reach up to boop his nose with the same finger. “Alright soldier boy, since you asked so nicely I’ll save the last dance just for you.” 

Warrior laughs a little breathlessly and has to force himself to step away from you. He hopes to any and all who can hear them that’s he’s not actually blushing right now. “Ok. I’ll be back then.”

“I’ll be waiting.” 

Sky

Sky was sure that every one was having a great time. 

The music was loud and energetic and his friends were all off doing their own thing while the festival was in full motion.

It was a celebration for the people’s loftwings since it was usually the time of the year that they left their rider’s side- presumably to go lay their eggs for the next generation of riders.

But it was all fun and games for everyone involved.

Wind and Four seemed to be in a highly competitive match of toss the sack with Twilight being the point keeper on the other end. Wild and Hyrule were busy enjoying the food and no doubt collecting the recipes (Sky was hoping that Wild would make the food so he was no way inclined to stop him). Time and Warrior were off in a corner, talking to each other with a cup in each of their hands. Legend stood next to them without a cup but he seemed to be more interested in the décor and loftwings themselves.

But you...

Sky stopped walking along the ribbon perimeter and looked over to you.

You were by yourself... You didn’t particularly happy..

And that just won’t stand.

With subtle determination, he marches over to you and taps your shoulder.

You seem to blink back into the present and raise an eyebrow to him in return.

He can see the question on your lips just as you’re about to say it so he juts his head into he direction of the dance area with a simple hand out in your direction.

He hopes his intentions are clear.

You eye his hand and snap your mouth shut with a soft click. Sky gulps  suddenly, a strange bout of nervousness attempting to choke his system as you take your time to think about his offer.

Sky would never force you to do something that you don’t want to do but really (and he has no idea where this urge comes from) wants to dance with you.

Just once.

Just once to see you smile and enjoy yourself.

To see you happy.

You place your hand in his, soft and small and so much different than his own. “Lead the way, Boy Wonder.”

You smile and he returns your gesture, gently pulling you toward the open area as the next song starts. It’s light and airy and it’s enough to keep you moving even if you both stall for a minute to just sway side to side in each others arms.

Sky didn’t know that he’d feel so whole and accomplished by just holding you.

Emboldened by the tune of the events, Sky takes a step back and twirls you around as the music flows up and down again just in time to bring you back into his arms.

You laugh. “Perfect timing.”

“I do try.” Sky winks.

You giggle to yourself with a small shake of your head but you keep swaying with Sky across the dance floor.

The music comes to an end and Sky does his best gentleman’s bow as he lets go of you completely- even if he finds that he doesn’t want to. “An absolute honor to dance with you.”

The music starts up again in a similar tune but all he would have to settle for is just one dance. It’s all he’s comfortable with asking from you. 

“Sky wait.” You blurt.

He turns around to see that... well you seemed to have startled yourself as well.

“I um..” You bite your lip and vaguely gesture to the musicians in the distance. “They’re not done.”

Sky smirks a little. “But the song is.”

“I uh... Just one more dance?” You hold your hand out to him this time and he stares in shock.

Not for long though.

He’s quick to place his hand in your and pull himself back to you. “I’d love to.”

Four

Four was excited to show everyone around the Festival of Fools. It was his favorite time of the year where everyone got to be silly and destress and play and eat and dance.

Four had always run around trying to do what he could never get away with on a typical day but right now he had to make sure his traveling companion didn’t actually burn the town down.

He loved them but he’d lying if he said that he wasn’t just the tiniest concerned over their facial expressions when he said that anything goes really- no laws but those of the people apply today.

Which made him the temporary babysitter for some of the more rowdy ones.

But he had lost sight of you a while ago.

Not that he was concerned or anything but... He did want to spend time with you.

The festival doesn’t happen everyday and he knew that there would only be so many days left that he’d be able to spend with the group and even less so that they’d be given a chance to relax and unwind.

That thought urged him forward to find you.

If only to make sure that you were having a good time.

He had found you by the food court where you munched on a meat stick and watched as the people came and go.

You looked bored.

Now Four knew that parties weren’t entirely your scene and you weren’t the kind of person to go and throw yourself into the middle of it all.

That being said it still rubbed him the wrong way when you looked like you would rather be anywhere but there.

 He oughta do something about it.

Just across the street a band had begun playing music for the people to dance to, now that they’ve usually had their fill for lunch.

Four saw you look over and smile, basking in the edges of their amplified joy and amusement.

He grinned and ran over to you, tugging your hand into his own and pulling you close to him. “Dance with me!”

“Wha- Four? Where’d you come from?” You dropped the finished stick in shock and followed him as he dragged you to the open space just beyond the food cart.

“I live here.” He laughed and spun you around. “Just one dance!”

“I- but- Four!” You dug your heels into the dirt and stopped the both of you from reach the destination. “I can’t dance! I- I’ve never danced.”

Four turns to look at you and smiles encouragingly. “Just let loose, it’s easy. There’s no right way to move, you just do. Just feel the music and my lead.”

You bite your lip and Four takes the moment of hesitation to pull you forward again. you let him and soon find yourself on a dirt arena with lively music and people all around you.

“Don’t let go of my hand ok?” Four grins.

You find yourself grinning as well and soon you’re both spinning and jumping and leaping and twirling around each other to the beat of music.

It’s fast and fun and within moments on simply holding onto Four you find yourself laughing uncontrollably as he throws you around like a rag doll in which ever way he likes.

He’s stronger than you imagined him to be but then again... He’s a blacksmith.

It shouldn’t be all that surprising.

Somehow in the midst of it, he throws you in the air and over his head, catching you in a spin and letting you catch your breath and the music dies down and another begins.

“You ok?” Four asks, a little breathless himself. He doesn’t think he’s heard you laugh so hard or for so long.

It’s nice.

“That was fun!” You managed to say in between your giggles.

Four’s grin widened and even if he knows it’s not your style.... and he only asked for one, he holds his hand out again just in time for the next crescendo to begin.

You look up and look at him and his hand...

You don’t hesitate to put your hand in his and he pulls you close to him again.

You spin and laugh and jump and twirl well into the night, completely forgetting about the others until you have to turn in for the night.

Four’s feet hurt by the end of it and he’s exhausted but to see and hear you smile and laugh and enjoy yourself in what is arguably his favorite time of year was completely worth it.

He hopes that he can spend more time with you... He hopes for just one more dance before it all ends.

Part 2

[leviiattacks]

How about Levi x reader, where they get set up on a blind date by their friends as a prank, but actually end up liking each other

note :: honestly not my best at all but it was cute i guess T___T kinda an opposites attract thing also it’s a modern au !!

for some reason hange and sasha wake up one morning and decide they want to wreak havoc

it’s not peculiar coming from them

after all they are always up to something

like the one time sasha purposefully trapped herself in an elevator with a hot guy

or the time hange tried to make coffee with an energy drink mixed in it??

OR-

okay you’re getting sidetracked

but the point is they have no real reason for this new venture of theirs

when do they ever have a reason though?

somehow today their scheming has led to them begging you to go on a blind date

“he’s not my type i mean he’s old and whatever but you would like him” sasha’s stuffing her face with a buttery croissant

she doesn’t sound very convincing

then again, you have no objections to the idea

you’re single

you’re lonely

if it doesn’t end in love well ??? guess you could fuck

and if you don’t fuck well ?? you got to go outside and get some fresh air

BUT

the idea of blind dating makes you squirm

the uncertainty which comes along with the situation is intimidating

honestly, part of you is worried you’ll end up making a mortal enemy at dinner, not a lover

the other portion is petrified you’ll end up on a date with a murderer

what if it ends up like that one netflix show and you end up getting stalked????

you shudder at that thought

BE OPTIMISTIC Y/N!! YUP YUP OPTIMIST ERA!!!

levi feels the same way but his version of nervous is very different to your own

his fears are very different

what if his date appears prim and proper but it’s really just a huge facade hiding how their house is a pigsty?

imagine the third date in is a movie night in and he walks into a landfill site...

what if his date chews their food obnoxiously loud?

what if they just dislike him?

that’s why ideally he would prefer dating someone he knows beforehand

but there’s no one he knows already that he’s interested in

that’s exactly why when hange calls levi and asks him if he’s willing to go on a blind date on such short notice he scoffs and tells them that maybe if they got a life they would know that his answer is a straight no

he’s used to people not pairing well with him

he guesses it’s because of his sardonic personality, maybe it’s his occupation - he is constantly busy after all. perhaps it’s his foul mouth

erwin told him the last time he had a date that he should probably ease up on the cursing but it’s levi...

he isn’t going to change for anyone.

and really if him being little mean is that much of a deal breaker he won’t bother looking for anyone

he’ll go it solo he supposes

“LEVI. PLEASE. you both would fit together like jigsaw pieces.” hange is practically begging

then they stop for a second and wiggle their eyebrows “that can have many alternative meaningssss~”

levi purses his lips and shoots them a hard glare

“shut it, i’m not going. i’m busy.”

“busy doing.....?”

“cleaning i need t-”

“NO??? do it some other time please they’re smart, fun AND not boring at all.”

hange gives him a pleading look then explains how his mystery date has already agreed for sasha’s sake and he really can’t stand you up

“you want me to go on a blind date with one of SASHA BRAUS’ friends????”

he looks at hange in utter disbelief because that means you just have to be loud mouthed and annoying like jean or connie

or just be as stupidly unfunny

he shakes his head rejecting the idea completely

“i enjoy sophisticated people.”

hange sighs heavily

“give it a chance! c’monnn what if i bribe you?”

little does levi know hange and sasha have purposefully picked you out because of the way you’re both polar opposites

where levi loves order you’re disorderly, where he follows his own rules you don’t follow any at all, where he is disagreeable you’re agreeable in every way of the word

where he is cold, you are warm, he’s a night owl, you’re an early bird, you’re day and he’s night

everything about the two of you is different

that isn’t necessarily bad, but sasha and hange find it hilarious enough to set you both up on this date

if it fails it’ll still be funny

you’re rummaging through your closet looking for your favourite perfume because to be frank you are NOT showing up unprepared

like?? what if he moves in to hug you and he smells the scent of the chicken you were cooking today

yeah you did have a shower but sometimes you wonder if the smell lingers

you KNOW it doesn’t but it’s a matter of principle

imagine he leans in and smells marinated chicken

you think you’d die on the spot if that were to ever happen

shoving a pack of mints in your purse along with your emergency pepper spray you give your outfit a once over

it’s nothing too extravagant but it’ll do the job

at this point, everything is great! you’re walking out of your door and you’re pumped up

you’ll be early for once and there’s a spring in your step

making a good first impressions is key here

you’re so close to your uber BUT

then you hear it

it’s almost inaudible but you’re sure you hear a mewl come out of the alleyway to your right

you’re about to ignore it because you aren’t even sure if you’ve heard it correctly

and it’s late you don’t feel like wandering into an empty alleyway

but the sound only repeats itself

fuck.

cautiously venturing inside you see it.

eyes softening you look at the stray kitten in front of you and bite your bottom lip and scoop him up in your arms you’re debating if running back to your apartment and leaving him there is the best option

what’s the other option?

well you could bring the cat along with you...

it would be a funny story for the future if the date goes well

now. unlike you levi is nowhere near late

in fact he’s ten minutes early waiting promptly outside of the restaurant in his white button up

he fiddles with his collar and wonders how the actual hell he got talked into doing this

hange offering to buy him cleaning supplies free of charge is probably it

8:15pm, you were meant to be here five minutes ago

if you’ve stood him up he’s going to end hange for wasting his precious free time

especially when he rarely interrupts his schedule for anyone.

a few moments of silence pass and he thinks

how do you look? 

not like it matters to him

but he’d just like to know

okay, so.

it’s 8:30pm now

levi is royally pissed off that you even have the audacity to show up

you’re holding your knees as you puff in and out

“I’M SORRY. i know i’ve wasted all your time but i saw a stray on my way here and i couldn’t leave him”

the updo your hair is in is disheveled and fly aways stick out

you’ve ran here after your uber broke down that much is obvious.

to be fair, your explanation is believable and he would have let it slide if and only if

you had NOT brought the fucking cat along with you???

he’s eyeing it with disgust as it purrs up against you and you coo at it stroking its fur

“you want to sneak a cat into the restaurant?” he asks in pure disbelief

sheepishly grinning and scratching the back of your neck your response is “well i know we can’t but if you tried to i wouldn’t mind because i really like this cat :-(”

when hange said he’d have fun they were lying

but at least they didn’t lie about you not being boring.

he picks the cat up with one of his hands

looks it in the eyes

sighs then places him carefully into your purse

“don’t let him be seen.”

you light up and try to hide the grin forming on your face

he isn’t that bad

he’s a little too serious for your liking but you can handle that.

the two of you walk into the restaurant and fuck you because the cat has to start mewling and screeching

coughing rather aggressively to cover it up it miraculously goes unheard

he shoots you a sturdy glare because he’s able to hear the muffled sounds

luckily, no one else is standing near you or is within earshot.

gulping you realise this is not a good first impression at all

late to the date, bringing a cat with you, begging him to help you sneak the cat in

you feel guilty, he probably expected way better

“oi, move your ass” he snaps

you look up realising you’ve been too lost in thought to see levi walking in front of you

“sorry” you mumble

he doesn’t respond but he does look back at you

you can’t gather anything from his face because it’s either plain or he’s got his brows furrowed

currently it’s showing no signs of distaste so he must be accepting your apology

he’s kind enough, steps out of the way to offer you the space to sit down first

he sits after you and you have no idea where to look

then the cat cries again from your purse

“lucifer, shhhhh”

you’re patting him and try to silence him

“you’ve named it already?”

laughing to yourself you’re happy he’s initiated the conversation first

“he’s a little sneaky so i called him it. do you have any other names you’d like?”

“why would my input in this matter be relevant?”

“you’re basically his family now!”

he’s covering his mouth with his hands and you swear you can see the pink tinge of a blush creep upwards and flood his cheeks

but this man doesn’t seem like the type to blush over anything.

composing himself he sticks a hand out and finally asks “what’s your name?”

coming back to your senses you realize it’s been twenty minutes since you’ve met and you haven’t even had the manners to ask his name even after arriving late

“Y/N!! what’s yours?”

play it cool!!!

he doesn’t respond instead stares at your purse and points with his index finger

lucifer has escaped again and now you really are regretting bringing him along with you

whilst you’re grabbing the cat and hushing him your date hums “try to guess it.”

well, that’s spontaneous, he doesn’t seem like the type to entertain himself with games

you think hard, he’s serious but he is kind, you guess that’s why he reminds you of sebastian from the little mermaid

get it? because he’s sweet but he’s a crab so he’s crabby??

god that joke is AWFUL because it doesn't even take into account the actual character of sebastian the crab

but you have no other guesses available.

“hmm... sebastian?” you jokingly ask

“it’s levi.” he deadpans.

oh wow you couldn’t be more far off

playing around with your fingers in your lap you fidget nervously looking around for a waiter to interrupt the conversation

levi has to sense your unease because his tone loosens up

“...do i really look like a sebastian though?”

looking back up at him your bite your lip keeping a giggle in

you can sense the ghost of a smile on his face

“yeah like the crab from a little mermaid”

at that he scowls but he inquires what exactly that means

the rest of the date goes without a hitch, sure there’s a few moments where lucifer attempts to sneak away but levi has no problems stopping him

it takes a while but the conversation flows easily after the awkward barrier from before is broken down

it’s lighthearted and calm.

he’s humorous in a way you can’t describe

levi’s mannerisms are cute, everything about him is endearing despite the serious front he has

and you can’t quite put your finger on it but his demeanor is charming

overall you find yourself enjoying the date even more than you expected

now the two of you are walking away from the booth and the fresh night time air hits your face as you step outside

turning to him you smile radiantly and without allowing him to get a word in you take your opportunity by the reins

“second date?”

you don’t normally make the first move but you’re eager

and to your surprise he’s just as eager as you are.

it doesn’t even look like he stops to think before he nods and agrees to meet with you again.

exchanging numbers with him you wave as you and lucifer part ways with levi feeling satisfied

and to his shock after you leave it settles, levi thinks he just might enjoy your presence

well, that’s a first for him.

he guesses what they say about opposites attracting is true

[asupernaturalgirl]

I’ll Always Be Here to Help You

Sam Wilson x Fem!Reader

Request:  If you don’t mind, I wanna request maybe something like sam and the reader previously being lovers in the past but they separate and she becomes a lab rat for hydra or something like that, and he saves her and what not. Very cliche yet cute in my opinion. 🙂🙂❤️   @jeonsblackgf-writes

A/N: Hey, All! I have to admit, this one made me a bit nervous. This is my first Marvel One shot and I wanted it to be so good so I hope you all like it. Also, this is written in 3rd person, which is new for me in one shots so I hope you don’t mind.  

Warnings: torture, breakups, hydra stuff

H/C: Hair Color, S/C: Skin Color

There’s a moment when you’re watching something about to happen, something terrible, where you so badly want to turn your head, to avert your gaze, but something is still fixing it onto whatever is happening. Car crashes, accidents, injuries. You would never purposefully enjoy watching something so terrible, but your brain doesn’t make the connection between something about to happen and needing to shield yourself from it. 

That was exactly how Sam Wilson felt as he watched the screen in front of him. He wanted so badly to turn, to leave the room. Steve had even approached him to try to get him to leave, but some sick part of his brain wasn’t allowing him to even step a foot away. He watched as the sick criminals injected something into her skin. Her skin. It was so grey, so much paler than her normal (S/C) tone. Bruises and bloody injuries lined nearly every part of her body. 

Her (H/C) hair, which he had loved so much, was matted and dirty. It was so unlike you, so rare for you to be so weak, so hurt, that he almost didn’t recognize you at first. It was her screams of pain, her desperate pleading that brought him back to reality and allowed it to actually sink into his brain. Hydra was using her as a lab rat. They had no plans to actually turn her into anything, they were just testing all of their materials on her. 

He hadn’t seen her in so long. If he had known she was in danger, if he had known that this would have happened, he would have done anything to make sure she was safe. 

“I’m sorry, Y/N,” Sam sat down at the park bench, holding her hands tightly as he tried to explain the very thing he was dreading explaining to her. It was worse than he imagined. “I can’t force you to wait for me when I’m off god knows where, fighting in the Air Force.”

She turned her head. Sam Wilson, the man who meant everything to her, the man who she’d been with since she was in 10th grade, was breaking up with her to go into the military. He didn’t want her to have to forsake her health and life so that he could live his own. “Sam, I don’t care about where you’re going. I’ll go with you. There’s nothing keeping me here anymore.” 

He shook his head. People walking by looked over as the two of them spoke. Tears poured out of her eyes. She was still trying to keep from sobbing out loud, although she wasn’t sure how much longer that would actually last. 

“You need to live your own life,” He was strong with his statement. As a rescuer, his job would be dangerous and take up a considerable amount of time. “Even if you came with me, I wouldn’t be around much. I can’t drag you to some unknown location and then force you to stay there without any friends and family. This is for the best.”

Y/N didn’t want to even look at him. She turned your head slightly and crossed her arms. She felt like a child who wasn’t getting what they wanted. Sam meant everything to her and it hurt her that he was leaving without even giving her an option in the matter. 

“I love ya, sweetheart,” He ran his hand along her back, trying to comfort her. He hated when she cried and it hurt him even more that he was the one causing those tears. “I’ll come back and visit you when I get the chance.”

That had been the last time he spoke to Y/N. The last time he spoke to her before she was captured, he left her on a bench. The guilt began to spread in his chest at the thought. She must have been so terrified, so lost when Hydra captured her, and he wasn’t there to help. “We need to get her.”

Steve nodded his head. “Where do you know her from?”

Sam watched as she withered in the chair they had her strapped in, screaming for help. His chest constricted at the idea of Y/N in so much pain, the idea of someone hurting you like that. She had absolutely no business being there. “Her and I dated when we were in high school and a little bit before I joined the military. I broke up with her.” 

Steve’s face dropped. He had no idea that she had been so close to Sam. He knew that his friend must have been devastated. Moving forward, Cap placed his hand on Sam’s shoulder. “We’re gonna get her, Sam. I promise you.”

…

Sam was flying over the base, trying to find some weak point to enter through. It was easy to find the location. Because they had received the video via hacking, all they needed to do was look at the location codes. Rumors had been circulating about a Hydra base closeby, so once they had a general spot to look in, they found it rather quickly. 

“Sam, the third window to the left in the back looks unguarded,” Clint said through the earpiece. “Goes into a small closet. We did a quick X-Ray check and it seems there’s no one guarding that either.” 

“I’m goin’ in,” He said quickly, rerouting his position towards the back of the large base. He was surprised no one had found them yet. They were able to get into the base rather easily, which sent shivers up his spine. It was never this easy. 

Apparently, it was right to be worried. As soon as he broke through the window and closed his wings to begin walking through, three men immediately charged him. He dodged them quickly, throwing one into the wall as he kicked another in the face, knocking him out. The last charged forward with a knife held in hand, but he quickly grabbed the man’s arm, bending it backwards. The sound of a bone snapping echoed through the small closet and he screamed out slightly in pain. Sam quickly pushed him into a cabinet while his defenses were down and slipped out before he tried anything else. 

He walked carefully through the hallways, not wanting to draw any more attention to himself than he already did. He hoped that the three men were the only defenses they put up against him, but he seriously doubted that. 

The one thing that kept him going was thinking about Y/N. She deserved none of this and he would make sure she was safe before anything else. He pressed on the small bud in his ear. “I’m in. You see anything else?” 

“There’s a couple of guys fighting down here,” It was Natasha this time. “Steve and Clint are trying to hold them off while you’re down there. Try to get to her quickly.” 

“Well, it’d be a whole lot easier if I could see a damn thing down here,” He turned the corner, but could only see about 3 foot in front of him. The combination of dark walls and a lack of windows made it quite dark. “You’d think an organization that has been around for this long would have enough money to turn on some lights every once in a while.” 

“Ha Ha, Wilson,” Natasha said sarcastically. “Just find Y/N and get the hell out of there.” 

He went into overdrive mode. Occasionally, someone would pass by, almost completely oblivious to the fact that they had an enemy raiding the base at the moment. They were unprepared and by the time they realized they had to fight, Sam already had them on the ground. 

One room in particular stuck out to him. There was a breaker box right outside the door for electricity. This meant they likely needed quick access to the controls here. He was wary, unsure of what he may find inside. He prayed that if she was there, no one else would be. He needed to get her and leave as quickly as possible. 

He opened the door quickly, ready for a large fight. There she was. Y/N. She was sweating, but shivering at the same time. Her eyes were huge as she turned towards the door, caught off guard by the loud sound. He would never forget the expression of relief that crossed her face as soon as she saw him. 

There was a man frantically trying to undo her restraints, likely trying to evacuate her before Sam could get to her. He quickly rushed forward, tackling the man to the ground. He grabbed the man’s head, hitting it against the concrete floor until he was seemingly unconscious. Sam pried the key from the man’s hand and rushed to unlock them. 

“Sam, what are you...what are you doing here?” Y/N questioned. She was shocked. She had prayed that someone would help her, that someone would save her from the absolute misery she was experiencing. The person she expected was definitely not her ex boyfriend. 

“Found a video of you being used as a lab rat,” He started, moving to her legs now that her arms were free. “There was no way I was going to let you stay here. Can you walk?”

“I-I don’t think so,” She looked down at her hands. “I’ve been here for a few weeks so my legs are so weak.”

It hurt Sam almost physically that they hadn’t even let you out of the chair. As soon as you were completely unshackled, he leaned down and lifted you into his arms, quickly carrying you throughout the facility. 

This time, there was seemingly no one left to fight. He went through the same way that he came in, making sure he didn’t take a bad turn. Taking the wrong turn here could be the difference between life and death. Steve was waiting in the same closet he’d broken into, his eyes surprised as soon as he saw Sam come through the door with the girl in his arms. 

Steve helped Sam out and sprinted with them as they made their way back to the jet. He could feel his arms beginning to grow heavy but he knew he couldn’t let you go. You wouldn’t be able to walk by yourself. Your muscles were likely atrophied at this point. 

As soon as the team got the go ahead, they were taking off. A doctor had rushed forward to help Y/N, taking care of the most dramatic injuries first. He cleaned off a few deep wounds. “These likely needed stitches when they happened but they’re too old now. Stitching them would just cause the infection to be trapped inside.”

Sam watched as they worked, making sure that she wasn’t afraid. He felt the need to use comic relief, as he normally did, but refrained. It would likely be in bad taste at the current moment. After a few hours of poking and prodding, there was a few minutes where Y/N could just soak everything in. She had been rescued, saved from the most terrible people by Sam, her old love. 

Sam sat quietly on a chair next to the small gurney. He looked down at his hands but kept a close eye on you to make sure you didn’t need anything. “Thank you, Sam.”

He looked up, surprised by her words. Why would she ever think she needed to be thankful for him for this? He got her out of a situation that he wouldn’t have wished on anyone. “You could have just called me if you wanted my attention. You didn’t have to do all this.”

A grin crossed Y/N’s face. He was the same old Sam. Even though he was a superhero and looked quite different physically than he had before, he still had the same personality. “Yeah, I might have to think about that differently next time.”

Sam slowly walked towards you and grabbed your frail hands in his large ones, giving you a comforting squeeze. His eyes were sincere as he looked down at you. “I meant what I said when I saw you last, Y/N. I love you. Even though we haven’t seen each other in years, I’ll always be here to help you.” 

[thiswasinevitableid]

29 for indruck nsfw? i am already amused thinking about what sport either of them would play

Here you go!

29. I’m a professional athlete and I just fired my personal assistant and my manager sent you over but you don’t even know what sport I play or who my team is

When you’re in an aggressive profession it’s best, in Duck’s experience, to be as calm and friendly as you can the rest of the time.

But this whole shit-show is testing his fucking limits.

It’s been two days since he found out his perfectly fine P.A was working for the Wallstreet Journal, hoping to learn that Duck was somehow using his T or his identity to gain an unfair edge in matched. Ned fired him on the spot, thank god, but it took less than twelve hours for the guy to publish some fabricated piece on his attitude and for Duck to remember why he needed an assistant in the first place. He’s gotten so used to having one that he keeps forgetting stuff or dropping the ball on appointments, and the last thing he needs right now is to look like some stupid hick.

When Ned texts him to let him know his new P.A is en route, Duck groans “thank fuck” loud enough to startle the cat from her tree.

He goes to the door when someone knocks, but doesn’t open it.

“Who is it?”

“Indrid Cold? I, ah, Mr. Chicane said this was Duck Newton’s address and I’m supposed to start as his assistant tomorrow.”

Duck opens the door, “Fuck tomorrow, you’re startin today. I gotta focus on strategy with Minerva the next two days if I don’t wanna show my ass Friday night and it’s real fuckin hard to do that with people callin me left and right.” He guides the startled young man inside, then stops to take a deep breath, “sorry, lemme try that again” he holds out his hand, “Nice to meet you, Indrid.”

“Likewise, Mr. Newton.”

“Duck is fine. It’s a nickname. You bring your stuff with you?”

“Yes, it’s all in my car.”

“Good. Here, lemme give you the, uh, the grand tour, so to speak, on the way to your part of the place.”

Indrid smiles and nods, hanging back slightly as Duck leads him through the house. They cover the living room, kitchen, Duck’s bedroom, then come what was once the garage door.

“This here’s the gym; you can’t find me in the rest of the house, I’m probably here.”

“Goodness” The other man’s eyes widen behind his red glasses, “that’s an impressive array. I mean, I know professional athletes need to train but I, ah, I assumed you did it on site with the rest of your team.”

“Team?” Duck closes the door, spots Indrid’s fingers diving into his pockets to hide their twitching.

“Yes.”

“Which team?”

“Your...sports team?”

“....you got no fuckin clue who I am, do you?”

“No.” Narrow shoulders sag in his sweater.

Duck chuckles, “Figures.”

The silver haired head snaps back up, “Mr. Chicane didn’t say it was a prerequisite for hiring me.”

“Guess he didn’t. And I guess it ain’t. Just hoped they’d hire someone who knew what the fuck he was gettin into.”

Indrid crosses his arms, “They gave me a very thorough job description. I assure you I can do every part of it. Laying out your pre-workout and scheduling appearances isn’t rocket science, and it doesn’t matter if the dry cleaning I pick up is for a, a baseball after party or some sort of charity basketball fundraiser.” It dawns on the taller man that he’s just snapped at his boss. He contracts in on himself, staring down at his black converse.

Duck takes the chance for a more careful look; all of his clothes are second hand, chosen as if he’s cosplaying a jock who went into white collar work. There are piercing holes in his ears, flecks of silver polish on his nails. This job application was a hail mary and Ned Chicane went ahead and caught.

“No harm done, slim.” He rests a friendly hand on Indrid’s arm, “think it’s time I enlightened you.”

His office doesn’t get used much, so a sprinkling of dust greets them as he flips on the lights and reveals posters, magazine covers, and newspaper clips bearing Duck’s face. The gloves he used to win his first fight hang in a place of honor, right above the photo of him and the other fighters from Amnesty Boxing. It’s an older photo, taken the first time they sent a team out of state, sun-faded to the point the writing on it is disappearing. It makes him smile all the same.

“This does explain the set of instructions for helping you cut weight if needed.” Indrid takes in the posters, then turns his attention to the corner dedicated to Duck’s model ship collection. He cocks his head, says more to himself than Duck, “boxer. Interesting.”

“Were you just gonna bluff about knowin who I was until I said somethin?”

“That and look for clues in the rest of the house.”

He smiles, “Like a man with a plan b. C’mon, lemme show you your room.”

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

Alright, so Indrid should have researched Duck Newton before turning up at his house so he didn’t come across as ignorant and unprepared. But he was busy running every Taskrabbit and UberEat he could get just to scrape up enough to keep his landlord off his back. Sue him for not wanting to sleep in his car again.

He never expected to get this job; live-in P.A who doesn’t have to pay for groceries (buy them, yes, since that’s one of his jobs) is not the kind of luck he’s familiar with. He keeps waiting for the catch, so nervous that when Duck pops in on him unpacking he assumes he’ll scold him for his wardrobe.

“I, should I buy some more professional clothes?”

Duck takes in the two duffle bags and backpack, “Up to you. I don’t mind you lookin like the little art punk you are, but a dress shirt or two might help if we gotta go somewhere real upscale. Don't worry about buyin it yourself; just use the same card we do for groceries.”

Indrid is still hung up on why the fact a man three inches shorter than him calling him “little” makes his chest burn. Luckily, the phone rings and distracts him. Then it rings again. And again. And again. All while the inbox doubles every time he looks at it.

This turns out to be the catch; the work is actually hard. Everyone and their uncle wants to interview Duck, get him to sponsor something, or proposition him. Four hours in, he’s overwhelmed, overstimulated, and ready to hide under the desk. His fidget necklace isn’t helping, so he pulls out his chewable one; it often helps him think in high pressure moments.

The phone rings again and he growls at it.

“You’re allowed to let things go to voicemail, y’know.”

He spins in his chair, black rubber moth still in his mouth. Duck leans in the doorway, tank top soaked in sweat and towel around his shoulders

“I, I’m sorry. I just don’t want to drop anything important.”

“Ned handles the fights and the money, and anyone I care about has my private number for emergencies.”

“Right. I knew that.” Indrid can’t have his boss thinking he’s a total space-case.

Duck smiles, “What I’m sayin is; ain’t the end of the world if you don’t get back to everyone right away. Besides, right now you need a lunch break, slim. Lemme go rinse off and I’ll join you.”

By the time Duck enters the kitchen in an old “NIN” shirt and jeans, Indrid has his protein bowl laid out for him and is finishing microwaving a hot pocket for himself. Before he can scurry away, Duck pats the seat beside him and Indrid sits down, preparin to politely listen to Duck talk about himself or his sport.

He talks for ten minutes about the trees he saw on his run that morning before asking Indrid what he did before coming to the house. Indrid explains about his art and his side hustles in tarot and palm reading, about the run of bad luck that saw him without roommates and lost him his steady gig at a coffee shop. Duck makes genuinely sympathetic noises, lets Indrid change the subject when the fact he was on the edge of disaster makes Indrid’s chest tighten. They’re still talking about music as Indrid returns to his desk and Duck goes to meet Minerva in the gym.

By the time Duck’s fight rolls around that weekend, Indrid is feeling much better. He has a system of sorting emails that works for him, some mothman stickers to help him organize the paper calendar on his desk, and more confidence in his ability to spot callers with ulterior motives. He’s shut down two separate ones looking to trap Duck into interviews where he’d be forced to defend his very identity. Duck overheard his responses to the second one and brought him back a fancy creme brulee latte from his breakfast as a thank you.

He doesn’t go to the fight; it’s a small one for charity and Duck has Ned to manage him, Minerva to train him, and Leo to coach him ringside. He doesn’t need his P.A. Instead, Indrid finishes up his correspondence for the day, makes sure Duck’s breakfast is all set in the fridge, and confirms the masseuse is coming in the morning.

Once in bed, Indrid gets sucked into the commission he’s doing and is lost to the world until a tired, satisfied face pokes through his door.

“Oh! Hello Duck. Did it go well? Do, ah, is there something you need from me?”

“Yep, I won like I thought I would. And nope; was just poppin in to say goodnight.”

No one’s said that to him in a long time. The bitterness of that realization is sweetened by Duck’s smile.

“Goodnight to you too, Duck.”

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

Minerva is sick, which wouldn’t be a problem except for one part of his workout. He could skip it, but he needs to keep everything sharp for when they go to L.A.

“‘Drid? You got a few minutes?”

His assistant appears in the doorway, black jeans and white “Cramps” tank-top fitting him in a way that makes Duck want to hold him face down on the floor and find out how to take his breath away.

“What do you need?”

Duck points to the heavy bag, “You up for bracin this while I hit it?”

“I...I am not as strong as Minerva.”

“You don’t gotta be; this is just to keep the damn thing from swinging while I’m doin this speed drill.”

“Alright.” Indrid takes off his glasses and sets them on the folding chair, joining Duck, “how do I hold it?”

Duck shows him, does a few test punches to make sure he won’t send the poor guy flying. The round clock dings green, and he’s off. The bag wobbles for the first few seconds, then Indrid seems to find his footing and holds it stable enough for the drill to work. When the round ends, Duck steps baack, “okay, you can let go until the next round.”

“Goodness.” Indrid stretches his hands, “I feel for your opponents. I’m jarred just from that.”

“You need to stop? I got two more rounds at least, but if it’s hurtin you I caan skip ‘em.”

Indrid shakes his head, smiling, “nono, I like helping you with this. It’s exhilarating.”

The bell dings.

“Glad to hear it. Now brace it again.”

By the end of round three, Indrid is panting loud enough for Duck to hear him over the fan. He looks up, glove still on the bag, and finds them face to face.

“Minerva said three to five rounds for this. You wanna keep goin?”

Indrid, breathless and grinning, nods, “Can’t have you slacking off, now can we?”

Duck wants to bite his lip, just to see what happens. Blames the thought on the adrenaline. Then discovers the exact same thought waiting for him when Indrid, cleaned and in his most respectable clothes, joins him in the car to go to an interview.

Ned gave the P.A a list of likely questions, so they practice those as they creep across the Bay Bridge. But Duck notices that on both the trip there and back, whenever there’s a lull in conversation Indrid is on his phone reading about boxing. Duck knows the other man fixates on topics that interest him; knowing one of Duck’s passions has earned that distinction makes him smile.

After that, he starts inviting Indrid to watch him train, or shares his thoughts about matches with him. That’s all it takes for Indrid to start drawing him into long, animated conversations about his sport. When Indrid asks why there’s such debate over the proper way to wrap hands and also how does Duck do his, Duck demonstrates.

“Here, ‘Drid, now you try it on me.”

The P.A moves the wraps slowly, deliberately, moving Duck’s hand like it’s a priceless treasure he’s readying for transport. Every time he bites his lip in concentration or brushes hair from his forehead, Duck has to remind himself to breathe.

“Done.” Indrid is still holding his left hand, “Did I do well?”

The boxer tests the wraps, wiggles his fingers and clenches his fists. Then he squeezes Indrid’s hand, “you did perfect, slim.”

Duck can wrap his hands in his sleep. But whenever he’s home, he finds Indrid and asks him to do the honors. Indrid does them every time. Perfectly.

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

Indrid stands in the green room with Ned and a cluster of arena employees. The roaring crowd a few walls away echoes through the screen. He’s never seen Duck fight, but this event required all hands on deck to handle P.R, scheduling, and making sure Duck had what he needed to win.

Duck and his opponent enter the ring. Touch gloves.

Indrid’s pulse climbs.

Then the bell sounds and no useful noises come through the T.V. Just the announcers shouting and being drowned out by the crowd. Indrid gives up on parsing the cacophony, focus only on Duck. He’s seen him practice, but in a true match he’s a different beast. His opponent is faster, that much is clear, but Duck is patient, steady, blocks and weaves until he can land blows that make Indrid hurt just watching them.

Duck is magnificent like this. Indrid has to draw him like this, has to capture this and keep it forever, he has to, he has…

He has a hard-on in the middle of the green room.

He sticks it out long enough to see Duck win and then bolts to the bathroom so it can be taken care of by the time the boxer is done with the post-fight interviews.

They go out to celebrate, and Duck never nudges Indrid aside to let someone more important sit next to him. And as the drive to the hotel, he nods off with his head on Indrid’s shoulder.

It only gets worse after that.

Duck will coax him into joining him for a run with the promise of a fancy breakfast. On cheat days, Duck orders food to the house or takes Indrid out to lunch, and somehow the thing he wants when not focused on macros is always the thing Indrid mentioned he’d been craving. He invites Indrid on hikes with him, starts taking him to all his events even though he seldom needs help or herding at them (“yeah, but it’s nice to have someone to crack jokes with”). And on days when Indrid needs to be alone, or wants to see other friends, Duck simply smiles and closes the door.

The most dangerous days are the ones without anything on the schedule. Then it’s all too easy for Indrid to pretend that they’re something they’re not while he draws at the table across from where Duck is building his model ship. Too easy to imagine that the water-wise garden Duck tends is something he put into their house, not his house that Indrid happens to live in. Too easy to admit that Indrid wants to look after him for no payment except being looked after in return.

Duck reciprocating his feelings is within the realm of possibility. Indrid’s caught him staring when he walks in on the P.A doing yoga, and the casual touches long ago made the leap from accidental to deliberate. He also knows that Duck can’t fire him--only Ned can--and hopes that might lead to the boxer slinging him over his shoulder and tossing him on the bed one of these days.

There’s also the tabloid site circulating a photo of them with a caption claiming he’s Duck’s “boytoy” in spite of them only being two years apart. They’re not even sitting that close in the picture; Duck’s just smiling at him like he’s the only thing in the world, that’s all.

Currently, he’s having an easier time keeping his feelings buried because--ever since they landed in Vegas-- Duck has been a dick the rest of the day. Well, as much as a dick as he can be; his offenses are mainly snapping at people and lacking his usual patience.

When he scolds Indrid over something silly in the hotel that night, Indrid turns and stares at him over his glasses.

“Duck, what’s wrong?”

“Wh-uh, fuck, nothing, why do you, uh, fuck, I’m fine.”

“You just snapped at me in a way that was completely uncalled for.” He crosses his arms, “is it the fight? I know it’s a big one but that’s no reason to be rude.”

Duck scratches the back of his neck, “You’re gonna laugh at me.”

“I swear I won’t. Or, if I do, it will be after you leave.”

That gets a smile, “I’m uh, well, I’m what you’d call ‘horny as all fuckin get out.’”

Indrid’s immediate thoughts would solve the problem at hand while creating a new and far worse set, so he keeps them to himself and replies, “If need privacy, I can come back later and hold all your calls.”

“Nah.” Duck sits on the bed, “You’re not supposed to get off before a fight. Makes you too relaxed.”

“That strikes me as an old wives tale. Old boxers tale?”

“Either way, it’s one Minerva still believes. If I lose, she will ask about every possible cause, includin that one. Better if I just cat nap before I start all my pre-match stuff. Come get me in fort minutes?”

“Of course.” Indrid waves and closes the door before he offers to lay down in the hopes of Duck having a wet dream while holding him.

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

Duck wins, though it’s a tough battle to get there. He fucking hates these Pay-Per-View fights, they try to make it sound like he’s got beef with the other guy. In reality, once he’s down from a knockout, Duck is the one who helps him to the other side of the ring.

There’s a flurry of press afterwards, of questions and congratulations while all he wants to do is shower. He gets clean, promises Ned they can all go out to celebrate later. As he and Indrid finally escape to his suite he’s forced to admit that--if the thoughts of hitting the “fire” button and fucking Indrid against the wall are any indication--his problem from earlier hasn’t gone away.

“Do you need me to see if I can get a masseuse up here? You look very stiff.”

“Just uh, just tense.” Why did he tell Indrid he liked those jeans on him? He’s worn them as often as he can since.

Indrid cocks an eyebrow, “Still pent up even though the fighting is done?”

“Yep.”

The P.A shakes his head, hiding a smirk, “Do you need me to find something for you to watch?”

“No.”

“I mean it, this place has all the good channels.” He’s so earnest, picking up the channel guide like it, rather than those fucking jeans and shirt with Duck’s name on it, has what Duck needs.

“No.” He growls.

Indrid sighs, sets the book back down, “This mood is annoying us both, so just tell me what kind of porn you want and I can go out and buy it.”

“Unless they got somethin called ‘boxer jackhammers skinny artist until he cries’ we’re gonna be shit out of luck!”

The P.A blinks, “Duck, this is Vegas, I can probably find that. Or look for it on your laptop…” he trails off when their eyes meet. Duck knows he must look like he’s ready to jump him. Indrid licks his lips, “Duck? What, ah, what exactly lead to this situation?”

“You really wanna know, slim?” Duck steps across the carpet, notices Indrid padding over the black and blue patterns to meet him.

“Yes.”

Duck removes Indrid’s glasses, “Had a dream about you while I was on the plane. Woke up havin just finished fuckin you open. First thing I thought was “no big deal, ‘Drid’s right here. We can do the real thing once we get to the hotel.’ Then I fuckin remembered that we couldn’t, and I know for damn sure that if I jerk off I won’t feel satisfied because you’re be over there” he jabs his thumb at the door connecting their rooms, “so close and completely outta my reach.”

“So keep me right here instead.” Indrid purrs, fingers tentatively finding Duck’s hips. The light contact splinters his self-control and he practically tackles Indrid onto the bed, kissing him as the taller man moans and paws at his clothes.

The kiss takes the heat off enough to clear the steam fogging up his head and sits up, “This really okay?”

“I would have said if it wasn’t now for goodness sake please get back down here.” Indrid yanks him forward by the front of his shirt, smashing their lips together. He’s humming and sighing every time Duck touches him, rolling his hips to display a quickly forming hard-on.

“Aw, sugar, you gettin excited just from kissin’?” Duck grinds down just to see him gasp.

“Y-yes. I, Duck, I’ve wanted this for months.”

The implication of those words slam his desire into overdrive, “You sneaky little thing, that why you kept runnin around in tight clothes?”

“Most of my clothes h-hang off me.” Indrid holds tight to Duck’s thighs as the boxer strips his shirt off, “but yes I, I did start wearing what you liked more often.”

“Ain’t that thoughtful. And what were you hoping would happen, slim?” Duck yanks his sweats off and kicks them to the floor.

“This.” Indrid’s eyes keep slipping down to stare at Duck’s dick.

The boxer strokes himself lazily, “like what you see?”

“So much.”

“Then how about a closer look, sugar?” He crawls up Indrid’s body to straddle his face. It looks even better than normal framed by his thighs.

“Do I get to touch too?”

Duck guides his hands onto his ass, “As much as you want. You gonna be sweet and let me fuck your face, or am I gonna have to hold your mouth open?”

Indrid opens his mouth instantly, a whimper creeping out of it as Duck strokes his hair. The sound morphs into a louder, but muffled, moan when Duck sinks down. He teases his dick against Indrid’s lips, drags slick across his chin, feels his jaw tremble with wanting to close. Duck shifts so his dick touches Indrid’s tongue, “get to it. Oh fuck” he braces a hand on the wall, “heh, didn’t know Ned screened for cocksuckin skills.”

Indrid shakes his head, brown eyes wide as Duck roughly rides his face.

“No? He didn’t make you demonstrate on some of the other fighters? Didn’t make sure you could make a whole gym cum to prove your mouth was good enough for me?”

“‘O” Indrid shakes his head again, silver strands sticking to the pillow as he kneads Duck’s ass in a way that makes him groan.

“Too bad for them. Because now they ain’t ever gonna get a chance.”

A whimper and write of the torso; Duck glances over his shoulder to watch Indrid buck his hips in the air, pre-cum clear on his crotch. His feet, still in their shoes, point and flex as he moans around Duck’s dick.

“You like that, don’t you sugar?” He threads both hands into Indrid’s hair, pinning his head down or pulling it closer as it suits him, all the while gently rubbing his scalp “like knowin’ that you’re doin well.”

A harder suck in reply.

“Then be a good little cocksucker and make me cum.” He holds his head down and let’s loose, grinding and grunting in pursuit of the heat that starts at Indrid’s tongue and is steadily curling up into Duck’s belly. The other man holds him tight, moaning and licknig and sucking until Duck cums on his mouth, the lasts bursts of it happening against a slackening jaw.

As soon as his legs cooperate, he climbs off and guides Indrid to sit up in his arms. His attempt to check on the other man is interrupted by a frantic kiss.

“I was gonna ask if you wanna keep goin’, but I think I got my answer.”

“Yes, I mean no, I mean please don’t stop yet. Please I, we can do whatever you like, we can do just this, you can drag me out on the balcony and fuck me in full view of the city-”

“Easy, slim, easy.” Duck cups his cheek, “let’s start with somethin simple. Get naked and get comfy on your back for me. I gotta go grab somethin from down the hall.”

His memory turns out to be spot on; the vending machine on this floor has toiletries, including condoms and a travel bottle of lube. He buys ten of one and three of the other, drops them in the pockets of his robe and hurries back to Indrid. Sprawled on the bed, he looks painfully vulnerable, like someone who got used to life kicking him and telling him to stay down.

It’ll be different when they’re together, Duck can promise that much.

“Seem to recall you wanting me to keep you here.” He grabs a handwrap, holds it where Indrid can see, “how do you feel about me usin this?”

“Extremely good. Oh, oh hello.” He laughs when Duck rolls down beside him to pepper his face with kisses. The process of trapping his hands to the headboard is prolonged thanks to their mutual need to keep kissing every five seconds.

“Now” Duck kisses his shoulder, “I didn’t bring any toys to fuck you with, so it’s just gonna be my hand.”

“You say that as if it’s a disappointment to me and not incredibly sexy.”

“Some folks don’t think you’re fuckin ‘em unless you use somethin dick-shaped.” Duck shrugs with a flicker of sadness from the last time he had that conversation.

“Tell me who insulted your body or your skills in bed and I shall stand outside their window with a megaphone informing them of how terrible their manners are and how they missed out on the finest man in the world.”

“That’d be funny” Duck leisurely kisses his belly and hips before sitting up, “but you’d have to get outta bed.”

“True. Ah well, a sternly worded email will have do OOOh, oohhhyes.” He wiggles his hips as Duck presses in the first finger, relaxing under his touch.

“Get the feelin you’ve done this before”

“Yes.” Indrid’s chest is flushed and Duck reaches up his free hand to play with his nipples.

“What’s the most you’ve taken?”

“Th-three, I believe. I, ah, I’m usually facing away so I sometimes lose track.”

“You're takin four tonight. Can’t believe anyone would wanna miss out on how you look when you’re getting fucked.” He teases the second finger to prove his point and Indrid’s mouth curves with bliss.

“My ass is many people’s type; my face not so much.”

“Fuck that.” Duck pushes the second finger in. Indrid arches, then sighs as Duck keeps working him open.

“I find it difficult to care what they thought right now. I, ahhhn, it’s much more fun to think about you.”

“About me…?”

“About right you’re doing right now and, AH, what we can do next. I do so want to sit in your lap in the hot tub back home.”

“Can manage that. What else?”

“I’d very much l-like to fuck you, however you’ll let me and, and I want us to do it right after you train some day, you look so good like thatAHgod.” The third finger is in and Indrid is now steadily pushing down on them, “and one of the times you get me to run with you I expect a blow job in reward oh, ohfuck” his eyes are wild and eager, “please do the last one, I’m ready, I want it so badly, please.”

Duck begins teasing the fourth finger, “Think all those wants of yours sound real good. You wanna know mine?”

“Absolutely. AHaahnnnahgod” The wrap tightens as Indrid clings to it, trying to stabilize himself as Duck fucks his hand into him hard.

“Soon as we get home, I’m gettin the strap-on and fuckin you for a solid hour at least. Gonna leave you so fuckin raw and relaxed you won’t wanna do anything but lay there, and you’ll goddamn get to because you’re mine and I’m gonna take care of you.”

“Duck” it’s a happy sob, Indrid’s cock bobbing in the air.

“Gonna take a trip somewhere private, just the two of us, and you’re gonna spend the whole fuckin time tied up, to the bed, a chair, whatever the fuck else I feel like so I can ride your dick whenever I want.”

“Yes.” Indrid is barely getting out words between his cries.

“And the next time you have the fuckin nerve to wear tight jeans the day I gotta fight, I’m gonna shove a vibration plug up that cute little ass and lock your cock in a cage so we can both be horny without bein able to get off.”

“Duck please, I’m close, please touch-”

He wraps his fingers around Indrid’s dick and works him over hard and fast, “Soon as I’m done with that fight, you’re gonna blow me in the locker room so I can focus on nailin your ass into next week when we get--ohfuck!” Cum hits his chin as Indrid gasps and squeaks, scratching at the wraps and the headboard.

If Duck ever loses his memory, he hopes this is the last moment to go; Indrid Cold, happy, safe, and satisfied while he moans Duck’s name.

Indrid is boneless as Duck undoes the bonds, though he rallies enough to pull the boxer into a hug so he can cuddle him like a teddy bear. He kisses his throat, feels his pulse even out beneath his lips.

“Duck? Does, ah, does this mean what I think it does?”

The phone rings right as he’s about to answer. It’s probably Ned, so he holds up a finger and grabs the receiver.

“Go for Duck. Yeah, yeah that’ll be fine” he nods as Ned explains the plan for their exclusive, late night dinner, “yeah, tell ‘em five; you, Minerva, Leo, me and” he winks at a beaming Indrid, “my boyfriend.”

[yukipri]

Marco’s Bauble Part 6 - a One Piece Mermaid AU Text Story

Next update for Marco’s Bauble!

Sorry for not posting much this past week, it was...eventful, and exhausting, and didn’t leave me much sanity for doing much other than just Living ^ ^;

In which Marco makes an appearance, and is Tired. He’s too old for this shit.

Continues off of, and should be read after:

👒🐟Marco’s Bauble Part 1

👒🐟Marco’s Bauble Part 2

👒🐟Marco’s Bauble Part 3

👒🐟Marco’s Bauble, Part 4

👒🐟Marco’s Bauble, Part 5

~~

Marco has an awful headache, and it's been getting worse all day.

It's now night, but he wants to finish reviewing the last of the surveys he's collected from the 2nd Division before he can grant himself rest.

Even though Ace is officially no longer in the running for the position of 2nd Division Commander, his presence and Pops planning for him to be appointed had led to the decision that it's time to find a replacement for Oden's old seat anyway. And so they'd taken surveys from the current members, to see if anyone's interested, or would like to nominate one of their peers.

While many in the 2nd Division had been excited at the prospect of being under Ace's command (no doubt influenced in part by the former Spade pirates among them), they're also a unique division, used to being without the direct guidance of a Commander after so many decades without one. They report to Pops, and to Marco, but other than that have a culture of flexibility that few want to go out of their way to change. There were very few nominations from among them, most opting to voice hesitant hope in Ace returning, or suggesting they don't need a Commander after all.

The lone candidate that stands out is Marshall D. Teach. The man's been on the crew for around as long as most of the other Commanders, so age and experience-wise, he fits. He doesn't stand out, but Marco knows he's strong in combat, and efficient at completing missions, if with a slightly worrying tendency towards unnecessary brutality. Only a couple of 2nd Division members mention him in their surveys, and it's mostly in reference to his seniority, not necessarily character.

Marco frowns. He doesn't strongly dislike Teach per se, but he doesn't quite like him either. The man's always struck Marco as a little off, certainly not enough to chase him off the crew, but enough to leave Marco with an uneasy aftertaste after their interactions. Marco honestly doesn't know how he'd feel about him as a fellow Commander, sitting in at all of their meetings with access to confidential information about the entire crew.

Marco needs to gather his findings to report to Pops. But without a clear answer from the 2nd Division, he supposes this is a good time to consult in his fellow Commanders.

Which is terribly convenient, because a large number of them are gathered just a mere two doors down from Marco's room.

Marco wonders if they're trying to be subtle, because they're not. They always seem to hold secret meetings in Jozu's room. Jozu, who as the 3rd Division Commander, has his room located only two rooms away from Marco, the 1st Division Commander, with the 2nd Division Commander room between them lying empty. Most things that go on in Jozu's room can be heard in Marco's, and vice versa, but the other Commanders always seem to forget.

In this case, Marco doesn't quite make out exact words, but it's more because he doesn't care to try, because he knows from experience that he could if he wanted to. In fact, Marco's been doing his best to shut them out this entire night, but they're being so obnoxiously loud, and he can hear Izo's piercing laughter and the unmistakable THUNKS of Jozu cracking his shoulder against the walls. Marco also thinks he hears his name a few times, which means they're probably gossiping about him. Which, of course, is all the more reason for him to not want to know, because goddamnit he's tired.

But unfortunately, even if he were to wear earplugs, Marco can't shut out his brothers entirely, because none of them are bothering to conceal their blazing Haki signatures. And why would they, while they’re at home on the Moby? But with all of the strongest members of the Whitebeard Pirates gathered in one condensed spot, and it's like this bright light in the corner of Marco's mind that won't go away. Damn his sensitive Observation Haki. Marco hopes they're not keeping Pops up, because they're certainly not helping with his headache.

He honestly finds it a little unfair that his brothers are socializing while Marco's still working, but that's how it usually is, and Marco's used to being mature about it. He just hopes that whatever they're planning, it doesn't lead to a mess afterwards, or at least leads to one they can clean up by themselves.

The last time there was a "secret meeting," they managed to get a handful of Commanders in on a prank to shave hearts into Vista's chest hair while he was drunk. Marco had unfortunately been informed of the operation, which Thatch had started. It lead to a pretty awful hangover squabble in the morning, which resulted in Izo losing a slice of hair to Vista's blades, flipping his shit as a result, and Namur having to fetch a handful of devil fruit users from the sea.

On the topic of Thatch, Marco wonders how he's doing, and whether the letter he sent his brother has safely reached its destination. Probably not yet, but in a few days; the blue gulls can be surprisingly fast, but they still need to cross the Calm Belt and then some. Marco hopes that Thatch's enjoying his time away, and almost feels bad for not actually sending him his hair wax as requested, but Marco thinks that perhaps a little makeover will do his friend some good. He's traveling with young people, might as well dress like one.

And that, Marco thinks regretfully, is something that only an old person would think, and old people need sleep. He slowly stands up, and grunts when his back pops. He really is getting old, he feels like he's getting closer to Pops every day, and isn't that a frightening thought.

Luckily for Marco though, he has a little cheat, and Marco activates it by turning on his flames. The soft blue fire momentarily consumes his body, bringing not burning heat, but a pleasant tingle. When it fades, Marco's joints are no longer popping, and he feels marginally better, if not necessarily younger.

It'll do for now, to get him through this task, and then he can sleep for a few hours before making his morning rounds scouting around the ship.

And so he stands up, brings a notepad and writing utensil just in case the idiots two doors down actually have anything helpful to say, and leaves his room.

~~

"THE DRESS CAN'T BE PURE WHITE, YOU'RE BASIC," Izo's shrieking, when Marco opens the door.

Marco stares down, because Haruta's ass is blocking his feet.

There's an awkward silence.

"Haruta," Izo breathes. "You're shit at keeping watch."

"You're shit at keeping watch," Vista agrees.

"You're shit at keeping watch," Rakuyo nods.

"You're shit at keeping watch," Jozu sighs.

"You...could improve on keeping watch, a little," Namur concedes.

The last brother to speak is wearing dark eyeliner that Marco's never seen on him before. It's clearly Izo's work.

"It looks nice," Marco tells him, and Namur's blue skin flushes purple at the compliment.

"Of course it does," Izo snaps. "Marco, we're having a Secret Meeting that doesn't involve you. If you don't terribly mind..." He gestures with manicured nails back the way Marco'd come.

Marco sighs. "I don't care what you're talking about, and I'll leave in a second if you can keep it down, I can hear you from my room, yoi."

His statement's followed by curses all around and wide-eyed looks of horror. Marco shifts his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose as he sighs again.

So they really were talking about him, and by their reactions, were planning on playing a prank on him. Subtle.

(He wonders if they'll attempt to dye his hair green again (Just like a real pineapple! Thatch always insists with his trademark grin). It's almost a tradition at this point, attempted once every five years or so, and Marco tiredly notes that he's probably due another attempt. His brothers have yet to actually succeed, and Marco may be getting older but isn't about to let them get the best of him now. He'll need to be careful with what he washes himself with in the near future.)

Marco appreciates his brothers' playfulness at times, but also wishes they could sometimes act like the forty year-old men they are, and not gleeful pre-teens.

"I just have a question, and then I'll leave," Marco says, deciding to ignore his brothers whispering frantically at each other because it's late and he doesn't want to waste energy scolding them. He just wants to get this business over with, his bed is calling. "Regarding the appointment of the 2nd Division Commander, the members of the division are undecided, and Teach is the only candidate who stands out. Before I mention him to Pops, if anyone wants to give their input--"

Marco's wholly unprepared for the shocked gasps of horror.

"What, no!"

"Why would you do that?"

"You can't!"

"That seat's reserved for A--"

Vista steps on Rakuyo's foot, like he does under the table sometimes when the Commander gets a bit too chatty. Except there's no table in front of Jozu's bed to conceal the movement, and Marco's eyebrows rise ever higher.

Marco didn't think the other Commanders would have such strong opinions regarding a division other than their own, especially now that Ace's out of the running. They certainly hadn’t cared before, when the topic had been brought up at a Commanders meeting. Their reactions mystify him, but no one bothers giving further elaboration and they all avoid Marco's questioning gaze.

"...Alright then, I won't mention Teach to Pops, and will inform him that the majority of 2nd Division prefers the Commander seat remain empty for now."

There's a collective sigh of relief, which is also mystifying, but a mystery for the next day, Marco decides.

"A question for you, Marco," Izo says as Marco's turning to leave. "You're not...planning on leaving the crew any time soon, are you?"

Marco blinks. "Why would I do that?"

"Oh, oh good, just making sure," Izo nods, and everyone else looks like bobble head dolls, and Marco can’t find a single sliver of himself curious enough to care.

"You should feel more confident, they'll all be here with us soon," Namur says shyly, and kindly, and Marco feels like he ought to feel comforted if only he knew what for.

"Thanks, yoi? And good night. Try to keep it down," Marco says, before leaving the cramped room.

"We will!" his brothers chorus like school children.

~~

~~

Part 7 takes us back to the Merry, where Sabo confronts Koala.

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!

Any comments are immensely appreciated, been feeling super drained and really in need of motivation ;_;

❀ ❀ Send YukiPri an Ask! ❀ ❀

Read the next part: Marco’s Bauble Part 7

~This ask has been added to the Mermaid AU Text Headcanons Compilation post~

[t-lostinworlds]

Green-Eyed (Tom Holland)

A/N: This was supposed to be short but I got carried away as always. I don’t think this is the best I’ve written but I’m hoping it’s not as shit as the usual aha. Also to the anon I’m sorry if this took a lil longer than expected hun. Hope you still like it! <3

Pairing: Tom Holland x Fem!Reader

Requested:

Warnings: A dick-ish (if u squint) jealous!Tom and typos.

Word Count: 3.6k

Masterlist in Bio

-:-:-:-:-

"Pretty please?" Tom dragged out his last word as he rested his head sweetly on your shoulder, sporting his best puppy-dog eyes with bottom lip pouted to make it harder for you to resist him.

You groaned in dismay as you threw your head back on the couch, eyes screwed shut to try and ignore the face of your handsome but very annoying best friend. "Why me Tom? And why'd you ask me this so fucking last minute?"

Tom has decided to tell you just now that there's a charity gala tomorrow, and that he wants you to be his plus one. Countless of a-list celebrities would be there to support different causes, so imagine the upmost dread you're feeling just thinking about joining Tom when that wasn't even your type of crowd, when you've never been to an event like it to begin with. Plus, you know he will have friends there too, if he hangs out with them, what would you do then?

The event tomorrow starts at six p.m., and he's just told you this now, clock showing eight-thirty p.m., who would not be annoyed? Better yet, who wouldn't be terrified?

"You're my best friend, you're the one I want to the there with. Come on, it's for charity, you never say no to charity."

This motherfucker...

You turned to him with a glare, arms crossed over your chest at his foul play. "You're not playing fair you know that."

Tom sat straight back up, body turned fully to face you, eyes still showing the same gleam as he pressed his palms together, resting it under his chin to beg. "Just please? You won't feel left out I promise. I'll be right there with you all night." He reassures as if he was able to read your mind, but being friends for long enough, you had no doubts that he probably could, to an extent of course.

Let's be honest, there was no way you'd say no. One, it's for charity; and two, it's Tom for heaven's sake, you never can. But the fact that you are simply unprepared to go to an event like this, it's daunting.

"I don't even have anything to wear."

Tom only chuckled sheepishly at that, hand coming up to rub on his shoulder, a nervous tick of his you've grown to adore, even if you've been trying so hard not to.

Got to have those boundaries.

"Uh, I already bought you a dress and Christine is going to help you with everything else. So please say yes." He shot you the brightest smile he could muster, one where it showed his rows of teeth with his eyes all crinkled. You blinked at him in deep surprise.

He already had this thought out huh?

"You are unbelievable Holland." You grumbled.

Tom chuckled in response, smug grin in play as he wriggles his brows at you. "Now, will you do me the honors of coming to the gala with me Y/N?" You rolled your eyes at him, sighing in disbelief but nodded anyway.

"Fine."

And just like the kid that he is, Tom threw his hands up in the air, shouting a 'yay' in pure glee before wrapping his arms around your rigid form to give you a tight squeeze, you playfully pushing him away in feign annoyance.

You were still nervous. How can you not be when you have no idea what to expect during this gala, who you were going to meet, but with one look at this stupid boy—who is also a big celebrity which you tend to forget—beside you, you felt yourself relax a little.

How bad can it be?

***

"Wow."

Tom gushed, the phone he had on hand lowering ever so dramatically, tearing his eyes off of the screen to scan you from head to toe. You felt your cheeks warm at his reaction. "Does it look okay?"

"Okay? You look fucking gorgeous. I knew I picked the right dress." He exclaimed all proud, sauntering over to you looking incredibly handsome himself, the color of his suit—not exactly matching—but coordinating with yours just right.

"You did."

Best believe you're the last person to stroke this man's ego, but you have to give credit where credit is due, he did pick the right dress.

It was a short, red satin dress with the waist embezzled with a silver crystal belt. The back was bare along with a plunging v-neckline to match, making it look sexy and classy at the same time. And the fact that it fitted you perfectly, it made you feel elegantly beautiful in the most sophisticated way.

How has Tom managed to get you the perfect size? He "borrowed"—his choice of word when you insisted he stole it—one of your dresses and used it as a guide. A clever boy.

Your hair was up in a messy bun, small curls falling freely to frame your face, one that sported just enough make up just to enhance your natural beauty and not make it look superficial.

"Damn, I can't take my eyes off of you." Tom muttered under his breath, eyes still glued to your figure and you can't stop your heart from skipping a beat at that.

Whether he meant to say that out loud, you don't know, unable to decide if he was playing with you in a best-friend-banter kind of way or if there was an underlying meaning in his tone, but you can't seem to think about that now. Not when the nerves were already eating you up inside out just thinking about the event, thinking about which celebrity you were going to meet and if you weren't going to make a big fool out of yourself, so you cleared your throat.

"Tom quit ogling we're going to be late."

Tom shook his head with a shy chuckle, blush prominent on his cheek as he made way for you with a curtsy. "After you mi lady."

"Thank you Christine!" Tom called out before both of you were out the door, him helping you in his car like the gentleman that he is and then driving towards this most awaited gala.

***

You were actually having fun.

Tom has introduced you to a few of his 'famous' friends and you were delighted to see that they were just as sweet and kind. You've met a couple artists here and there too, just casual conversations, one after the other, you and Tom going through it together as he's never left your side the moment you two arrived, just as promised.

That until he decided to get you a drink.

Standing in your place you looked around the extravagant hall of the humongous mansion—or castle more like it—admiring the huge chandeliers that adorned the ceiling along with the beautiful murals that coated the space. You were busy appreciating the artwork that you didn't notice someone was approaching until they spoke.

"Hi, I'm Calum." Startled, you let out a small squeak as you looked for the owner of the voice, eyes meeting brown ones and you felt your whole face heat up once you recognized who it was.

Calum Hood from 5 Seconds of Summer, the band you've been a big fan of for how many years now.

You shook his hand with a shy smile, whole body going timid once he gave it a gentle squeeze before letting go. "Oh, hi, uh Y/N, and yes I know who you are. I love your new album."

"Oh really, thank you so much." Calum chuckled with a grateful nod, eyes looking at you in a way that's made the butterflies in your stomach tingle a little.

"I don't mean to come off weird but I saw you just standing there and you look really beautiful and I needed to say hi." You blinked, surprised at his words.

What kind of fanfiction is this?

You flashed him a sweet smile, a small giggle coming out of you as you responded bashfully. "Thank you. You look really good too."

The conversation just took off from there. You asked him about their new music while he asks you anything mundane that comes to his mind. You keep on laughing at something clever or stupid he had said, proximity just close enough to prove that you were having a great time. When you finally calmed down, Calum cleared his throat, hand rubbing behind his neck nervously.

"Mind if I get you a drink?"

Before you could even do as much as move your mouth to give him an answer, a deep voice spoke just behind you,

"I'm sorry but she already has one."

Your head snap back to see Tom, face stern with jaw clenched tightly, a certain glint coating eyes. The obvious anger you can see yes, but there's something else mixed with it, one you couldn't pinpoint as to what exactly it is yet.

"Ah, Mr. Tom Holland. Nice to meet you mate." Calum greeted politely, the bloke already knowing that you came here with Tom having that you've told him.

"Likewise." Tom's lips only quirked up just a tad bit as he took Calum's hand with a tight grip, not too obvious but you noticed it nonetheless. Calum only chuckled with a knowing nod, giving Tom a certain look— like he realized something you haven't—before turning to you with a charming smile.

"I'll leave you two to it. It was nice meeting you Y/N." Calum says as he pulls you in for a warm hug, your arms wrapping around him with a small squeeze in return as you responded with just as much delight. "You too Calum."

You watched him walk away, Calum giving you one last look over his shoulder with a small wave before disappearing into the crowd.

"Well, there goes my daydream of being a musician's girlfriend, touring around the world while singing their songs in the crowd and being their number one fan." You joked, but Tom didn't find even the tiniest of humor in your statement. In fact, it only made him angrier, nostrils flaring as he gave you a pointed eye roll.

You furrowed your brows at him, utter confusion covering you from head to toe at the look of pure disdain on your best friend's features. "What's up with you?"

"Nothing." Tom shrugged, eyes never meeting yours since the moment he got back from fetching you a drink, said drink that's in his hand but by the looks of it, he has no plan on giving it to you, not even his full attention.

"Well, it surely doesn't look like it's nothing Tom." You frowned at him in concern, hand going up to give him comfort but he blatantly rejected the gesture.

"Let's call it a night, I'm not feeling well." He grumbled, not even waiting for an answer as he quickly turned on his heel and walked away. You tried your best to catch up with him, following closely behind with nothing but bewilderment plastered on your face, still oblivious to the reason of his sudden change in attitude.

"Tom, slow down a sec." He ignores, still walking at a fast pace, not having any sense of empathy at the fact that you were wearing high heels. That's when you felt your anger boil too.

"You know what. Fuck it, if you're going to be a bitch for no goddamn reason then I'm taking a cab." You hissed, and that made him stop. Tom took one deep breath before turning sideways, offering you his arm to hold, gaze still avoiding yours at all costs.

You rolled your eyes and moved ahead, too much pride coursing through you to let his bitchy attitude slide, making sure to bump his arm purposely as you quickly made your way to the parking lot with Tom now following you.

***

The ride home was silent to the point that it was deafening, Tom not paying you any mind as if you weren't there at all.

You now understand that he was angry at you, fuming even. If the way his face was practically red up to the tips of his ears, the way you can practically feel the heat radiate off him wasn't a dead giveaway, then, the tight grip he had on the steering wheel and the speed the car was going, would be.

But as to why exactly that is? You have no fucking idea. As far as you know, you did absolutely nothing wrong.

Letting out a deep sigh, you turned your body to face him fully, just wanting to get this over and done with. "Tom, tell me what's going on."

"It's nothing." He muttered under his breath, eyes dead set on the road ahead. You scoffed. "Don't fucking lie to me."

"I said it's fucking nothing now leave me the fuck alone." Tom barked, the car lurching forward at his sudden burst of frustration.

You were never one to sit still and take bullshit, especially when it's Tom being a dickhead. When that happens due to whatever reason, you're for sure the one the first one to call him out on it. Besides, him driving this fast while angry is never safe.

"That's it, pull over."

"What—"

"Pull over or I'm going to open this fucking door without hesitation." Tom groaned, fully infuriated but did as told knowing you were nowhere near playing, just the tone you had, he wasn't going to risk it.

Once he put the car in park you shot him a glare, voice stern as you ordered. "Get out of the fucking car Tom."

He didn't say another word of protest as he harshly took his seatbelt off and got out of the car, slamming the door shut to make a point of how mad he was.

You were glad the place where the gala was held was detached from the city, a forty-five minute drive to the nearest highway, so the road was pretty much deserted, nothing but endless trees in view. The only source of light was a couple of street lamps, the car's headlights and the bright, full moon that shone high above.

You followed him out and in front of the car, leaning your weight on the hood as you stared at the tensed back of your best friend.

"Now tell me what the fuck is going on with you." When he didn't even do as much as turn around you growled in warning.

"Thomas."

"Alright!" With one deep breath, he finally turned to face you, jaw still set as he shoved both of his hands in the pockets of his slacks, a two-second pause before he finally spoke.

"I'm just frustrated, angry and fucking annoyed." Tom's voice turned low, his eyes casted on the grass where he was standing on, just two feet away from your place on the car.

"At me?"

He sighed, taking sharp intakes of breaths before finally lifting his head up to meet your eyes, so many emotions swimming in his brown ones with a frown on his lips to complete his whole troubled look.

"No, not entirely at least. I'm just, I left you for a second and when I came back the next thing I know you're having such a great time, laughing and flirting with this Calum guy—"

"Calum Hood."

"I don't fucking care what his last name is." Tom snapped, and that's when everything fell into place for you, lips pursed as you tried your best not to break into a smile.

"What is so wrong with me flirting with him Tom?"

The boy lets out a exasperated sigh at that, hand coming up to run through his hair in frustration that it made a curl go astray, a tasteful sight to you especially with him all agitated.

"I just didn't like the way it made me feel okay? Just seeing you laughing at his jokes, getting so close to him at times, just seeing you with someone else I just, it's just—"

"It makes you jealous?" You finished his sentence for him, your heart pounding due to excitement, warmth filling you up at the thought of your best friend getting riled up just thinking about you with another guy, because you feel just the same when you see him with another girl.

"Yes goddammit! It makes me so fucking jealous!" Tom exclaimed, all fucks thrown out the window as every feeling his been bottling up for years now comes bursting out, spilling right on the brim. "It was hard as is trying to fend off these guys who can't stop staring at you, who won't stop hovering over you because by the gods above you look absolutely breathtaking tonight. I really can't blame them because you stole the whole room, but it doesn't make me feel any less frustrated."

"Frustrated on what Tom?" You asked softly, his gaze cutting off with yours as he lets out a sigh, hands falling limp on his sides as he looked up at the starry sky.

"Frustrated because I wanted nothing more than to pull you closer to me, to wrap my arm around your waist to make them back off, but I couldn’t, I had no right to. I wanted to make them see that you're there with me so they need to fucking scram, but what power do I have? I'm just your best friend." Tom was pacing now, going on a full on rant with his hands swinging about to express his emotions and you let him. You sat still and watched as he pours all his heart out, watched with a stupid wide grin on your lips.

"But I want to be more than that Y/N. I don't want to be just your best friend and tonight just slapped me in the fucking face that I genuinely don’t want to be with anyone else but you. But then you went and said that you wanted to be a musician's girlfriend, it just made me so mad and hurt and just—" He stopped himself, head hanging low as he tried to regain his breathing.

You shook your head at the boy with sigh. "I was kidding Tom. I don't want to be a musician's girlfriend; I want to be an actor's, the one who plays Spider-Man to be quite specific."

The way his head shot up so quick to look at you in pure shock made you laugh, hopeful brown orbs staring you down as he made his way towards your spot on the car. You uncrossed your legs as you let him in between them, let him move even closer until his hands took home right on your waist, giving them a tender squeeze as a smug grin slowly formed on his lips.

"You mean—"

"You know, Andrew Garfield, I heard he's single again." You shrugged casually, teasing smirk in play, your little revenge for him being kind of a dick just earlier. Tom's head fell forward to land on your shoulder, arms wrapping fully around your form with a proper whine.

"Y/N."

You let out a hearty laugh, cupping his face with both hands as you pull him off of you, just enough to be able to look at those lovely brown orbs, his bottom lip all jutted out making him look unbearable adorable.

"Of course I meant you, you idiot. There no one else I want to be with other than you Tom." A sweet chuckle escaped Tom's lips as he pressed his forehead against yours, vicinity rightly close to be able to let the tips of your nose brush against each other.

"How are you so beautiful?" Tom sighed in pure adoration. You didn't respond with words, you just tilted your head a little to place your lips right on his, satisfied breaths ringing in your ears as the two of you cherished the feeling that you've been craving for far too long, mouths fitting perfectly like two puzzle pieces, a kiss filled with nothing but utter bliss, pure love.

"I love you." Tom whispered the moment you pulled away, eyes showing not but sincerity and you felt your heart grow ten times its usual size. You hummed, fingers playing with his hair on the nape of his neck fondly. "And I love you, you jealous dork."

With a few more kisses under the moonlight—some sweet and chaste, some not so much—the cold air finally got to the both of you, making your way back inside the car with wide smiles, unable to wipe them off.

"Let's go back to the gala?" Tom grinned, left hand steering while the other sat warmly on top of your thigh, a gesture so sweet until he decides to give it a teasing squeeze every now and then. "What, so you can reintroduce me to everyone, now as your girlfriend and not your best friend?" You joked to which Tom only shrugged with a hum. "I don't see why not."

You shook your head at your man, squaring your shoulders as you said nonchalantly. "I mean, if you want to it's okay. The matching pair I have under this dress can wait."

Tom choked at that, tearing his eyes off the road to give you a swift glance to see if you were serious or not. You only shot him a knowing wink in response, lips curved up teasingly, but nowhere did it show on your face that you were lying with what you just said.

That's made you arrive back home in lesser time that's for sure.

-:-:-:-:-

Like, Reblog & Leave a Comment if you enjoyed! Let me know what you think! <3

Tom H. Taglist: @spacebitch2 @hollanddolanfangirl @keepingupwiththehollands​

[imissjoongsmullet]

Too Far and Over and Out

Pairing: Bang Chan x reader

Genre: smut

Summary: The last part in a very dirty Bang Chan series in which a one night stand leads to a bunch of fuckery.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

In this final installment, Chan makes you pay for kissing another and things reach a boiling point. 

Warnings: graphic sexual content (duh), swearing, fuck buddies, violence, choking, a bit of degradation, unprotected sex (be safe kids don’t be like Bang Chan), bit of romance, bit of angst

Word Count: 3K

Author’s Note: Ok. I never expected this series to receive the amount of love it has (heck I didn’t think this would even be a series!) so  just want to thank every single person who’s read it and left comments in their tags or reblogged or shown me any kind of support ♡ You have no idea how much I appreciate it! Thank you so much and if you like my writing, be sure to check out my other stuff cause I will be back with more~ ♡

►

"What the fuck!"

The voice is startlingly loud compared to the hushed conversation you'd been in for the past few hours. Before you can even see where it came from you’re pulled from your new lover’s arms. Realization hits you like a dreadful bomb when you see the dark haired man you’d been kissing crash into the wall after being pushed by a shorter, blond haired guy.

Fuck.

Chan twists around and his eyes are wild. He grabs you by the arm and, without a word, drags you from the scene. You want to say something to make him stop but you’re still so perplexed by everything that’s just happened, all you can do is whimper at the painful grip he’s got you in. He looks around furiously as he takes you into a narrow hallway and through the first door he sees.

You let out a yelp when he yanks you in after him and immediately throws you against the wall, blocking you with his frame.

“What the fuck was that?!”

You stare up into his searing gaze, for the first time actually afraid.

“What do you mean?”

The corner of his mouth curls up but it’s not a warm smile. His eyes are fire and he’s not going to let you get away.

“What do I mean?” he scoffs, “You’ve got to be kidding me! You acting like a cheap whore is what I mean!”

The comment hurts and he has no right to talk to you like that. You want to speak up but he doesn’t let you.

“Tell me,” he goes on, jabbing you in the shoulders, “you do this with a lot of guys? Huh? You let them fuck you too? How many guys have you spread your legs for lately?”

The image of him and that other girl flashes through your mind and with it, all the anger and frustration you’ve been feeling towards him swells, threatening to burst from you at any moment.

“Answer me!” he yells, banging his hand against the wall.

“You’re an asshole, you know that?” you spit back and try to shove him off but he pushes you back with ease, his hands now tight around both of your wrists.

“You don’t talk to me like that,” he snarls, pressing himself too close for comfort.

This just rouses your anger further. “I’m not afraid of you,” you retort, still trying to pull yourself from his grip. He squeezes the blood from your wrists for a few painful seconds longer before one hand lets go and shoots up to your throat, applying a dizzying pressure.

“Well maybe you should be scared cause you’ve really fucking pissed me off tonight.”

You’re eyes flutter. It’s hard to breathe and for a moment there’s nothing you can do but gasp for air.

“Coming in here tonight, looking like a grade-A slut, it’s disgusting—”

You tear his hand from your throat. “Don’t you dare call me that!” you pant, trying not to choke on the air that rushes back into your lungs. “You’re the one that came here to pick up girls!”

His eyes widen for the fraction of a second but then they turn vicious once again. “You were the one sticking their tongue down a stranger’s throat!”

“As if you weren’t on your way to do the exact same thing!”

“Only because you left the moment things got real with me!”

“That’s—” you start but he cuts you off.

“You’ve been ignoring me for days what do you expect me to do huh? You're the one that disappea—"

“Fine, okay? Maybe I’m scared!” you let out in a voice shakier than you’d like to admit, “maybe I don’t want any of this confusing stuff! Maybe I just want things to be simple!"

“Well, I’ll make things simple for you then,” he interjects and presses himself flush against you, crashing his lips into yours.

You gasp into his mouth but can't help but kiss back. It feels like the floor has just been wiped out from under you and you swear, if Chan wasn’t holding onto you so tightly, you’d be falling down to god-knows-where. It takes more than a few moments for the initial shock to wear off but when it does, you manage to break the kiss.

“What are you doing?” you gasp, looking up at him.

“Making things simple for you,” he replies, instantly kissing you again. His hand slips into your hair to the back of your head so he can bring you nearer, letting his lips take yours more deeply. You let out an involuntary whimper. You’re so weak for him already that, when he pulls away for a brief instant your legs tremble.

“From now on, you’re mine and mine alone,” he breathes onto your lips before claiming them again. His free hand roams around to the small of your back to pull you impossibly close. His grip on you is tight but his tongue is soft and wet against yours, making you moan.

“I want you to be mine,” he says with another chaste kiss, “and I’ll be yours.” He doesn’t give you any time to respond for his lips find yours again and again, only growing in desperate passion and you can’t help but let him. He feels so good on you. His words echo in your mind as your hands find their way around his back and shoulders.

You feel a tug at your waist and you move, walking with him. You follow blindly until he twists the two of you around and pushes you down.

Your fall is broken by soft plush. You hadn't even realized you were in a bedroom up until now. He's on you in a flash and has somehow taken off his shirt in the process. You gasp into his mouth at the sudden weight of him on you. His hands find your wrists and pin them to the mattress while his hips are already starting to slowly grind into you.

You’re finding yourself looking for breath because his lips are merciless, kneading and tugging at yours as if it were their sole purpose. His familiar smell envelops you, reminding you of the incredible things you’ve done together. This only fuels your eagerness; you kiss back with more fervor and feel the side of his mouth curve up.

Without warning he rises, bringing you up with him until you’re on his lap on the bed, your legs straddling him. He fingers the hem of your dress and brings it up. You shift a little, allowing him to take the fabric up all the way over your head, leaving you in your bra and panties. He takes a short moment to ogle your body before meeting your eyes and capturing you with another kiss.

His hands roam the skin of your back, massaging you into him in a blissful, slow rhythm. You whine when he brings his lips down to your jawline, going down to your neck, where he knows exactly how to make you go crazy.

You let out a moan and press your fingers into his shoulder blades. His bare skin feels so nice. You let your nails run random trails up and down his back, feeling him start to harden beneath you.

He’s at your collarbones now, sucking you purple while his hands unhook your bra. His lips come off with a pop and he looks up at you dazedly. You know what he wants; your bra is off in a flash giving him more territory to mark.

He’s even more fervent than usual, sucking and biting bruises into your skin from your neck, your shoulders, all the way down to your breasts, making sure no one will ever be confused about who you belong to.

The feel of his lips, his teeth, the pain and pleasure, it’s tantalizing. Your breath grows heavy and, slowly, you start to move your hips into him.

The effect is instant.

“Fuck,” he sighs against your breast, “fuck, I want you.”

He raises his eyes to yours again and, shit, he’s never looked so good. There’s not nearly enough time to appreciate him though because he suddenly pushes you down onto the mattress and tears off the rest of his and your clothes. He looms over you and pins your wrists once again as you feel him position himself over your entrance.

“Chan?” you ask wearily but whatever you’re going to say next gets cut off because he snaps his hips into you all at once, filling you up so much, so fast, you let out a piercing cry.

The sound is stupidly loud and you’re scared someone might have heard you, but then Chan’s lips are on yours again and you forget everything.

“Shhh,” he hisses into you as he starts thrusting himself into you relentlessly.

But you simply cannot be quiet. His dick is so hard and you are so unprepared for this. You want to clasp yourself around him but he’s got you pinned tight so all you can do is cry out under him as the initial pain starts to turn into pleasure.

“Bad girl,” he pants and his hand comes over your mouth, stifling any sound you make. His voice shakes with the rhythm of his thrusts and you can now see just how far gone he already is. You’re stuck beneath him, unable to do anything but let him ride you until his spills over. And he will soon if he keeps going like this, you can tell. The way his face is slack in total ecstasy for you, brows slightly furrowed, lips parted; it drives you wild. You can barely breathe with his large hand covering your mouth and most of your nostrils but all it does is drive you closer to your high.

“Fuck,” he pants squeezing into your wrist, “fuck.” He pulls out swiftly, only to flip you over onto your stomach. Then he grabs your hips and pulls them up and back towards himself. You manage to get on your elbows just in time for him to slam himself back into you and recommence his assault on your body. The new angle he’s hitting you at makes you shudder. You bite into the pillow under you to keep from screaming as he bounces you around like a rag doll.

A hand takes hold of your forearm and pulls you back. At once, your lewd moans are released into the air, a thread of drool extending from your parted lips down to the pillow you’d been biting into.

Chan’s other hand clasps over your mouth again, pulling you up against himself.

“I said be quiet, baby girl,” he whispers hotly in your ear, never slowing down his hips.

You whine into his palm weakly, feeling yourself start to shake. You know you’re being too much but you’re out of control.

“Such a loud little whore,” he spits and he lets you go.

You bounce into the mattress and before you can do anything, his hand is at the back of your neck, holding you down. You’re suffocating in the plush pillow he’s keeping you locked in. Your desperate cries are now barely audible, which is probably a good thing because he’s somehow picked up his tempo, snapping his hips into you with an almost cruel intensity.

“You’re fucking mine,” he grunts, “you hear that?”

He’s panting and groaning above you and you wish you could see his face. You’re starting to struggle for breath and you’re seeing stars. You still hear him but everything is growing fainter by the second. You make out a few more mines until the rapid thrusting comes to an abrupt halt and you feel him release inside you. He lets go of your neck and half-collapses on top of you. He rides out his orgasm slowly, his lips grazing the skin of your back as he moans softly.

“Fuck, baby.”

You’re still catching your breath when he moves off you and when he turns you onto your back again you’re met with his signature smug smile.

“You thought we were done?” he says, cocking an eyebrow.

You open your mouth but don’t know what to say as he spreads your legs and promptly gets down in between them.

His tongue is on you at once, lapping up the mess he’s made.

This time, you clasp your own hand over your mouth to keep from letting everyone at the party know what’s going on.

But he’s not being quiet either. He moans into your heat like it’s the best thing he’s ever had.

“I’ve missed your taste,” he says before his tongue enters you. He goes in and out a couple of times and then moves up toward your clit, trailing softly around the most sensitive area, listening to your breath as an indicator of what to do next.

He looks up at you once and curses.

“You look so fucking hot,” he breathes, before sticking two fingers in you at once.

You gasp and he smirks, coming up to kiss your lips while his fingers continue to pump in and out of you.

“I bet you’d like to moan for me right now,” he whispers against your lips.

You can only let out the tiniest, most desperate whine for him, nodding.

He bites into your bottom lip. “Hmmmm,” he hums into you, curling his fingers inside you. “How about you choke on my dick instead?”

Your eyes go wide at the sudden remark and he’s already moving off of you. He lays down and tugs you on top in reverse so you’re facing his already hardened cock. He grabs you by the hips and brings them to his face so he can finish what he’s started. His lips are on your clit, sucking and a shriek escapes you.

“Get to it,” he orders and you do as you’re told, moving down and wrapping your lips around his cock.

“Good girl,” he moans against your center and his hands start to massage your ass.

You coat his length with your saliva and start to move up and down, slowly at first, getting used to his size as you always have to.

Even now it’s hard to keep quiet. He just knows exactly how to touch you to drive you nuts. He’s sucking at you with such eagerness, swirling his tongue against you, fingers squeezing into your ass, pulling you closer and you’re finding it hard to even focus on anything but your own pleasure. So you sit there, whining helplessly around his cock and, thankfully, that seems to work for him. The vibrations of your voice seem to spur him on. He moans into you just as you moan into him and you start to feel his hips move. At first he’s rolling his hips into your mouth slowly but after a minute or so he’s turned to bucking up into you, making you gag.

His dick twitches and pulses under your tongue, which prompts you to start hollowing out your cheeks. You want to hear him more so you move against his hips, trying to take him deeper. He claws at your skin and groans so deliciously against your clit. You feel yourself near your high.

“Chan I’m-” you start.

“I know,” he cuts in, voice muffled. His tongue travels up and down again before he starts sucking exactly where he needs to.

You squeeze your eyes closed as you moan around his hard cock, taking him in all the way. Tears stain your eyes because Chan is not letting up. His lips play with you as wave after wave of pleasure surges over you, making you shake.

You’re crying around his dick, digging your nails into his thighs as you cum and cum and all of a sudden, you feel him release inside your mouth and and the back of your throat. You gag but are unable to move so you let him fill you, swallowing him down until he comes to a stop.

You feel him tugging at your hips so you turn around to face him. He’s looking up at you, lips glimmering and eyes full of bliss. He takes your hand and pulls so you fall down into his arms. His fingers travel over your neck and collarbones, where your skin has turned all kinds of purple.

“So is this it then?” you ask, following his fingers with your eyes.

He kisses your temple and that’s a first. “What?”

You smile. “You’re just going to mark me 24/7 so no one else can have me?”

“I might have to, yeah,” he replies.

You roll your eyes and face him. “You won’t have to.”

“Oh?” he says, raising his brows at you, “and why is that?”

You mimic his chiding look and answer, “I’m not gonna say it.”

He let out a chuckle and pulls you closer. “Always so loving, you are.”

You lie in silence for quite a while, just staring at the ceiling, minds trailing off to whatever. It’s so nice. You almost think you might fall asleep right there in his arms, when there’s a sudden knock on the door and you both shoot up in panic.

Instinctively, you roll off the bed, taking the blanket with you. He stumbles after you, shouting at the door for people to ‘don’t come in!’

The two of you wait in fear for a full couple of minutes before getting up. The amount of rumors that would start if someone would find you two like this would be disastrous.

When nothing seems to happen, you go around the room collecting your clothes and try to make yourselves look at least a little presentable for the outside world. You run your fingers through his fucked out hair as he pulls your dress down further over your legs. You give each other the okay and approach the door. He cracks it open just a bit and peers out into the hallway. It seems to have emptied but he hesitates nonetheless. You’re about to say something when he turns around to face you.

“You know,” he starts, taking your hand, “I’m serious about this.”

His eyes are piercing yours. You feel your whole body heat up and, for once, it’s not because you’re horny.

“I want you to be mine and mine alone,” he adds, swiping the ground right from under your feet again.

You don’t know what to say at that. You just stare at him as his hand comes to cup your cheek.

“You’re so cute when you’re speechless,” he chuckles and pinches the skin. And with that, he opens the door and walks the both of you out.

So you suppose you’re going to have to rethink your opinion about Christopher Bang. Yes, he’s loud and obnoxious; and yes, he might have an ego more inflated than a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade float. But he’s also sweet and funny, and let’s not forget he knows how to fuck your brains out.

And he is your boyfriend now,

so you suppose he’s alright.

♡

[pollenat]

NCT 127 Returning to you from the war

➛ Note: Inspired by American war movies, so I had the times of World War II in mind while writing this. This is in no way meant to romanticize war. I wanted to focus on the reunion part - something that I do consider romantic. Some are lighter, some are more serious. All according to my imagination.

TAEIL

The waiting was the worst. Surrounded by a large crowd of people similar to you - impatiently expecting the train to appear - you felt small and useless. The vehicle’s interior possessed something of the utmost value to you, a part of your heart, and so with each passing minute the half that remained kept beating quicker as if it could feel the other coming closer. Your chest was about to get torn apart by the strength of gravity pulling you to your celestial body, Moon Taeil. Somewhere someone yelled, somewhere else another person sobbed and you couldn’t decide whose behavior fitted your feelings better.

As soon as the train stopped on the station, people started pillowing each other, everyone trying to climb the living pile of human beings. Your own best bet was a metal fence just asking to be climbed. Hands glued to the railing, you watched over heads of different shapes and sizes. The sobs and screams raised in volume. Men dressed in green rolled out of the train’s exit. They were too far away for you to make out their features. Somewhere in the back of your head a voice was telling you that it’d be impossible to miss Taeil, and yet, the minutes passed and no man reminded you of him. People screamed, either from happiness or relief. Some more impatient spectators tried pushing through the crowd. The living wall turned out to be too thick.

“Bobby!” an elderly woman screamed from somewhere to your right. Startled, your eyes darted in the direction to find reunited mother and son.

Someone laughed warmly next to you. A strange, but familiar voice. In a state of shock, you looked back, to where Taeil stood to your left. He was smiling widely. His cheeks were hollow. One of them had a razor cut on it. His right hand landed on your back. He seemed awkward, unsure how to react to your frozen state. A thumb rubbed your back.

“Taeil!” Perhaps an eternity passed before you realized.

You jumped off the railing and straight into his unprepared embrace. Taeil had to take a step back under your weight, but your tight hug made sure to keep him in place. You were both much weaker versions of yourselves, compared to how you were two years before. But with adrenaline pumping your blood, your arms gained something of a superhuman strength.

“So you were waiting for me after all?” He teased, but his strengthening arms told you just how relieved he was to see you. And you understood. Joking was his way of dealing with tension.

“How did you find me? I was searching for you in the crowd and couldn’t spot you.” Neither of you weakened the grip.

“You were sitting on a railing. Of course I noticed you.” His voice came out muffled, as he hid face in the side of your neck.

Someone elbowed you while pushing through the crowd, and you cringed in Taeil’s hold. His head quickly left the hiding place, as if to tell the stranger off. You saw a rare grimace of detestation decorating usually gentle features. But he didn’t snap at the woman who paid you no mind. Instead, he pulled you to the exit, arms still circled around your features.

“Let’s get out of here, hm? I’m never looking at a train again.”

“Even when we go on holidays?” Taeil looked at your face, the remnants of grimace now nowhere to be seen.

“Ask me again in a week.” Although people were screaming and weeping in the background, you heard his laughter loud and clear.

JOHNNY

Someone called for you. Busy cleaning your shelves, you welcomed the new distraction with a sigh. The past few weeks you’ve been doing nothing, but keeping yourself busy. Anything would do, as long as it kept your head away from the contents of the letter. The last one Johnny has sent you, two months before. You’ve written him back twice, and neither of the messages were answered.

Conclusion seemed obvious, though you’ve never received the bad news. You were kept in the dark, and you’ve welcomed it with last bits of hope that he’d return soon.

With one last glance at the room, you walked downstairs.

“There’s a package for you at the doorstep.”

“And you couldn’t just pick it up?” Your sibling smiled a little, though they quickly bit their lips to hide it. “What are you being so weird about?”

Opening the door, you expected a postman in his dark blue uniform. Not someone dressed in dark green and reminding you of a familiar face. A tall silhouette with wide shoulders and a flirty smile. It quickly dropped the teasing facade to spread into a wide sign of genuine happiness.

“Get it? I’m the package!” You didn’t, but stunned into silence, you could barely understand what was happening.

Johnny brought you to his chest, cheek to cheek, as he hummed happily to himself. As if he had a melody on mind, trying to lull you into sleep. You’d eventually wake up and realize that he was just a dream, because though you hoped, you were sure he was dead.

“You always laugh at my jokes, what’s with you today?”

“Pinch me.”

“What?” Johnny looked at you as if you had lost your mind. But who knew, maybe you did.

“Pinch me.”

“Babe- This is pretty public-”

“On my face.”

“Ah, alright I guess.” Two of his fingers pressed at your skin, signaling your brain through the nerves that indeed, you were awake, and Johnny was very much alive. Even more! Standing in front of you!

“Why would you scare me like that?”

“You asked me to pinch you-”

“No, I meant the letters! You didn’t answer!”

“You see, it was the element of surprise.”

“You and your surprises!” You mumbled against his skin, now returning the embrace with newfound strength. “I thought you were dead.”

Johnny calmed under your tight grip, mumbling sorry’s back to you. It was as if you were writing new letters, now on each other’s skin with whispers and few happy tears. Your hands crawled around his silhouette, forming a picture before you could take a good look at him. To be honest, the picture didn’t matter, just the fact of him being with you.

TAEYONG

It took you a few weeks, but eventually you got used to the woman’s chatter. She’d tell you about her war theories, what her youngest did when she wasn’t around, what her husband liked to eat for dinner. She needed to talk, and you just nodded every now and then, asked a question when something she said was actually interesting. The polite atmosphere had to be upheld - you were working right next to one another. There was no place for feuds.

“I’ve heard some of the boys are already returning.” The woman told you. She was standing behind as you fixed the threads.

“Sounds too good to be true.” Had the machine turned on a second earlier, you’d have had one finger less. “Shit.”

“Have you got someone returning? I hope they let my oldest out.” She made no comment regarding the almost-an-accident. After all, it was just another day at the factory - things happened. Someone in a row in front of yours has even lost a leg. But that was just an unpleasant memory at this point.

“Yeah, I do have someone.”

She kept insisting on sharing that part of your life with her, but you didn’t know what else to tell her. It’s been months since your last letter from Taeyong. At that point, you were trying to get used to the thought that the news could have been bad. But they’d have told you, wouldn’t they? The possibilities were hard to gulp down, and so you returned to work.

Not long after, a wave of talking disturbed the production hall. You dropped the shears and looked around, trying to catch whatever made everyone so talkative all of sudden. Down the corridor, made in between stations, you caught a glimpse of green, so uncharacteristic for the browns and grays that workers wore. The green moved down, closer to your row. It had a spring to its step, an enthusiasm of a child.

You abandoned the material in another hand, now curious who had the courage to pass the factory’s gates. Silence took over the hall, and echoing steps joined a duet with the machines. It was coming closer and closer, until from behind the ragged material, a face appeared. Big eyes placed on thin features. An excitement written all over bitten lips.

“Taeyong?” Hardly believing it to be him, you didn’t call aloud. The woman you worked next to walked to your side.

“He’s yours?” You didn’t answer, eyes stuck on him only. It was as if you tried to find a reason not to believe in his existence. A flaw that would tell you it was all just a hallucination. It made no sense for him to be there - neither the place, nor the timing was right.

When he met your gaze, it was as if someone turned the lights on. Everything became clear. His cheeks spread under the weight of a smile. The spring turned into a run, and soon enough, your limp body was locked by a key to it all - Taeyong.

“You’re back.” You stated the obvious. Taeyong pulled away to look at your bewildered face. A shadow of doubt clouded his forehead, as if your disapproval was a possibility. “Oh fuck, you’re back.”

He didn’t answer, there was no time for him to do so. As soon as you swore, you pulled him back to you. The hollowness he left filled once again. This time, hopefully, for good.

YUTA

“Have you seen him?” A friend asked you. Reading through a wrinkled newspaper, you almost didn’t catch their words. But the question’s sense was enough to bring your heartbeat to speed up.

“Seen who?”

“Oh, come on!” They grabbed the paper straight out of your hands to hide it behind their back. “You know I’m talking about Yuta. Everybody knows about the two of you!”

That’s a story from two years before, when the man mentioned was just a neighborhood’s troublemaker and no soldier. And it’s not like there was any depth to you and Yuta. He has clearly shown it by the lack of communication you’ve suffered. Yes, there was never a label put on the you two, so distancing yourself from the mess would’ve been a logical thing to do. But somehow, as the time passed, you felt longing. You missed his teasing, dirty jokes, flirty smile, and just the sight of that beautiful face of his.

“And what exactly do they know about the two of us?” The friend opened their mouth. “There’s nothing to know, because we’re nothing.”

“So, like you didn’t send each other steamy love letters or something?”

The question made you laugh, partially because of the bluntness, partially out of bitterness. No letters. No communication. Nothing. You didn’t even know he came back.

“No? Search my drawers if you want to. There’s not a single thing with Yuta written on it.”

“Oh, come on!” You turned to play with the fountain’s cold water. Despite the gloomy aftermath of the war and a busy everyday, you’ve found some time to celebrate the Summer. “(y/n)-”

You hummed at them to continue, but no words came out. Irritated by their silence, despite the clear sign for continuation, you looked up to see them staring at the space behind you.

A pair of hands landed on your shoulders, joined by a scream meant to scare you. Surprised (alright, terrified), you were quick to turn around. The person responsible was none other, but Yuta himself. So he really was back.

His wide smile shone next to the Sun, a welcoming gift he offered you. One of his hands remained on your shoulder, as if it was completely okay to touch an almost-stranger like that.

“Look who’s that.” Yuta turned to the side, his smile turning cold at your friend. His head motioned for them to leave. They were quicker than your reaching hand - abandoned you alone with the man as if that was okay. Yuta sat down next to you on the fountain’s edge. “My favorite neighbor.”

“Oh, am I? Do you even know my name?” But he didn’t grow annoyed at your tone. If anything, your words have made him even happier.

“So you did miss me!”

“Why would I miss you?”

“Because I’m me and you’re crazy in love with this guy.” There he motioned at himself. “

“We’re not even friends, so relax. Welcome home, or whatever.”

Yuta was watching as you stood up and walked away. As far away from him as possible. That meant few meters, until he caught up to you and pulled you through the bushes to a small private space. Somewhere you’ve used to meet. His arms circled around your waist, but you didn’t stop him.

“Don’t be mad now. I needed to see whether you’d miss me.” “I mean two years is enough to get over someone.” “And did you?” “Hm? “Did you get over me?”

You had no answer to that. Because yes, you still felt it. Your silence was enough for Yuta. His grip tightened and he pulled you closer to his face.

“It’s alright. I didn’t get over you either.”

DOYOUNG

After a couple of days of constant rainfall, you’ve forgotten what a sunny day looked like. The gray sky has loomed over your head as if in sync with your anxious thoughts. A companion to your walks in the mornings and evenings. At least it has somehow made you less alone. If you were sad, then the world was too.

The Sun’s return felt like a promise. Things were going to be okay. Eventually, hopefully. Its rays woke you up and walked you home, a substitute companion. It has taken over the gray sky’s role, but did better. The blinding sunlight was drawing a smile on your face with its warmth. It carried your body in a light step, made it take up a longer route home.The world seemed much more enjoyable than it really was.

The house you’ve lived in stood in its place. The white wall now slightly yellow, while the light bounced off of the windows. It felt like a proper home. Like it’d shield you from the doubts and wrongs of real life.

Stepping inside, you caught the sound of your grandmother’s voice. She didn’t tell you about a guest, did she? You were in no state to appear in front of others. Your shirt had a dry oil stain on it.

“Oh, it must be (y/n)!” She sounded excited. “Where have you been for so long?!” 

Her voice was floating from the dining room, and so you headed towards it, right after taking off a bit too tight pair of shoes. There was no escaping now that she heard you making a ruckus in the hallway. The guest would have to deal with your tragic state.

“At work! Where else-”

There, in front of the old woman, was a male silhouette. A thin and tall person with wide shoulders. His shoes were black and tatty on the tips. Trousers were somehow too long, so their dirty ends pooled behind his heels. The jacket could use some proper ironing, but it didn’t matter because your eyes reached where the collar made space for the neck. A pointy chin, opened lips, hollow cheeks, the tip of a nose and finally, the dark eyes.

A long year has passed since the last time you’ve heard him say your name. It was hoarse, filled with disbelief and quiet. Nevertheless you could hear him well.

“Doyoung?” He closed the distance, never looking away from you.

His arms have always been strong, but now you could feel more muscles than fat. His cheeks, although always slender, were now sunken, dark. He smelled of sweat - his favorite cologne nowhere to be found. Hugging him didn’t feel the same to what you were used to, but you were more than ready to make new customs.

“Why didn’t you let me know you were coming back?” He leaned back, so you could look at one another.

One of hands let go to wipe a smudge of oil off your cheek.

“It was meant to be a surprise.”

“You big old goof.” He faked a frown. Faked, because his wide smile couldn’t be hidden.

JAEHYUN

Hugging yourself tightly, you scanned the crowd in search of the promised land, or at least the one Jaehyun has told you about before he was shipped off to fight for the country.

From all you remembered, it had dark eyes, a handsome face and strong arms. The rest was an unknown you were willing to find out, had it been the same as you’ve seen it last, or different, as an effect of its stay. Frankly, you didn’t care how much he has changed - you just wanted him back.

Someone ran past you, screaming incoherently. The motion of a person moving so close made you take a step back, straight into a stranger’s chest. Or maybe not a stranger’s.

“Sor- Jaehyun!” He laughed, proud of his little prank. “How long have you been standing here?”

“For quite some time? I was waiting until you’d realize.”

There was a desire to punch him in the shoulder, but you busied your hands with embracing him instead. It was even better than getting an offended yelp out of him. Although you’ve been crying over how little you remember of his hugs, having him in your hold again made every fact came back. The way he liked your hands the best. How long he needed the embraces to last. Where his nose needed to hide, before he could sigh happily.

Jaehyun promised you a land you were looking forward to, but knew all about.

The only surprise was a weird texture of his skin at the back of his neck. One of your fingers played with it when the man in your hold shivered. The time for welcoming embraces ended.

“What was that?”

“Ah, nothing.”  Jaehyun looked to the side, but as soon as he realized that it was like showing you the place he didn’t want to uncover, he put his arm there.

None of his tactics worked. The redness of burns ended at his jawline. You could see it clear as day.

“Don’t be weird about it. I can see your scars.”

Jaheyun groaned in frustration, changing sides so you couldn’t see a thing. He stood in stubborn silence, waiting for the end of whatever he thought needed to end. Nobody spoke for some time, until you couldn’t hold it in any longer and asked “Are you that ashamed of them?”.

“Am I still handsome with them?” His question was a laughing matter. How could a scar make him any less beautiful? “What are you laughing at?”

“Haven’t you heard that scars are considered very attractive?”

Jaehyun looked back at you. The arm he was using to hide his neck dropped to the side, and he seized your body questioningly, as if there was an answer to all the things that bothered him. Well- who knows? Maybe there was?

“Are they? I thought that was just a myth, you know, to make people feel better.”

You smiled teasingly, looping fingers at the edges of his belt.

“Well, I would most certainly disagree with that being a myth.”

He nodded, considering your words. At a silent question of your raised eyebrow, Jaehyun exhaled, grabbed one of your hands, and pulled you towards the station’s exit.

WINWIN

Sicheng stood in his bedroom with an expression one could only call unreadable. He felt weird without his uniform, regular trousers and shirt irritating his tormented body. They should be his solace, solid ground to stomp on with the war behind him. And yet the material was an unwelcome texture that covered the visible marks of his maturity. He wasn’t a boy anymore, like his room presented - with its childish wallpaper and a small collection of toys placed neatly on the shelf. Sicheng was a man raised by the military. If there had been something he was the best at, it would be shooting and carrying out the orders.

That’s partially why he was wary of coming face to face with his old life. Realizing how twisted he had to be now in comparison to his younger self was something he wanted to avoid. Of course, he failed the task as sentiment took over him as soon as he saw his plastic horses on shelves. But the picture he was now looking at, tucked in the frame of the big mirror, was even more overwhelming. He didn’t remember why it stayed at home instead of being in his pockets through it all. The nervousness of leaving must’ve  made him forget about it.

After a longer moment of hesitation, his hand abandoned the safety of his thigh to grab the photograph and look at it from a smaller distance. Slick paper was aging quickly, but Sicheng couldn’t find it in himself to curse whoever did such a poor job for the large amount of money he had to pay. You were smiling fondly at him from the picture, and he imagined you doing the same once he would see you. Sadly, doubt had a strange habit of returning to him so often these past few years that the dreams of your grin quickly turned into ones blurred by his own tears. What could await him by your side?

Both excitement and dread pushed him to leave his house behind and ride a bus to find out how disturbing the reality was. Many things stayed the same, like the raw walls of your flat’s corridor or the depth of your neighbor’s wrinkles. Only little things changed and yet they were difficult to spot.

In front of the old doors he had second thoughts and was close to turning around. As soon as he did that, his usually steady hands let go of the bouquet of flowers, and he made too much noise gathering them together.

The entrance behind him was opening in sync with his legs straightening, so when he stood up, your eyes were already watching his. In all honesty, he expected you to look alien, as if it was the first time he has ever seen you. But it was completely different. You were familiar in every possible aspect of existing. The changes were like in your surroundings - little, invisible to someone that didn’t know you as well as Sicheng did. The man in front of you could instantly point out the difference in your hair’s length, a new scar decorating your face, how thin you’ve become thanks to the harsh years of war... All of these brought him both sadness and happiness. Sadness, because you were affected and happiness, because the memory that kept him sane at night was identical to the reality.

He was so lost in the sight of you, he didn’t even notice how strange he looked to you, although your face was an open book just for him to read. Maybe if he had noticed, he would lose all of his courage and eventually escape the daunting atmosphere.

“Hey.” He managed to say in the softest of tones that remained the same even after the war. His hand gripping the ruined bouquet of flowers shot in your direction to offer the small gift. “It’s been a while.”

His words sounded so dumb to you, and yet you couldn’t bring yourself to hold the laughter back. Not at them, but rather from happiness you felt. Sicheng smiled shyly when your fingers skimmed his meanwhile taking the flowers. One could say that you were magnets - naturally pulling towards one another after just a simple exchange of touches.

In your embrace, he didn’t think about the doubt, he thought about you. Just you in general. Happy, teary-eyed, with harsh hands and soft kisses, in your lowest low but on the cloud nine as soon as he returned into the picture. How could he feel doubt when your salty lips were endlessly smooching his dimples?

JUNGWOO

Your first thought seeing the boy you used to know, was just a confirmation that somehow you’ve lost any certainty about him. 

Kim Jungwoo has changed in almost every possible aspect. There were shadows of wrinkles on his forehead. Hair that he used to wear long was still short from the army. Cheeks, usually full and pushed to the sides by a genuine smile, were now thin and falling in on themselves. Lips looked pale. Though you couldn’t see their texture, you knew they had to be dry. Only his eyes remained somehow similar as they held the last bits of innocence. Brown orbs were swinging between focus and the lack of it, easily getting distracted by the simplest things. Jungwoo’s body language was similar - he would either attempt the bad-boy-leaning-against-a-counter pose or catch himself returning to standing straight as his head turned to look at something. Two men that he was with were bent over their drinks, talking to one another without paying too much attention to their third companion.

“Is this really Kim Jungwoo?” A friend spilled her blond locks on the table as she positioned herself to take a better look at the young man in question. “My my, hasn’t he changed a lot?” 

Her wide eyes turned to yours. The message she was trying to send you wasn’t clear. What did she expect you to say in return?

“Why are you looking at me like that? I’m a little surprised too.”

“A little? You’ve been basically drooling for at least ten minutes now.” Blonde slapped your arm teasingly. “But hey, not judging. Little Jungwoo sure turned into a dreamboat.”

Embarrassed by her words, you turned your head away. You were unwilling to admit she was right. Because yes, the innocent boy that has always been incredibly shy, changed into an attractive man with confidence radiating off of his body. You couldn’t accept the change both in him and the way your own eyes were yearning to look at his features.

When his eyes met yours, you froze in the seat, a sheepish smile turning into a straight line. Jungwoo didn’t wait. A wide smile blossomed on his face, and he instantly walked over.

Without anything else to do, your gaze landed on Jungwoo’s on. He must have been as shocked as you by the chance meeting. His lips were parted and thick eyebrows have risen high up. None of them overshadowed an evident smile.

“Jungwoo!” Your friend sang from the spot next to you.

The young man spared her a single glance as he welcomed her, but quickly returned to stare at your face. You could feel the knowing gaze your friend was giving you. After few awkward seconds of some sort of a staring contest, she elbowed you to do something.

“Maybe you should go and catch up?” The girl offered with clenched teeth.

Startled, you finally pushed yourself up and out of the crowded booth to stand next to Jungwoo. Slightly intimidated by his bold gaze, you asked “Want to go for a walk?”

The laughter he answered with was bold and confident, but Kim Jungwoo wasted no time in offering you his arm.

“Happily.”

MARK

The first thing his sleepy features did, was frown. The headache was painful, but seconds later it left, as he remained frozen in place. You wouldn’t have noticed, had it been not for your position. His face was in your peripheral vision, just above the book you were reading.

It came out of nowhere. Nobody knew when he’d wake up. All you had to do was wait, because he could breathe. As a very tired doctor has repeated to you every day - time was the best remedy. And so you waited. The fact that he finally woke up? You didn’t believe it. Frozen in place, unsure whether to stay or call for a nurse, you waited. If the time was the best remedy, then it had to be the best judge as well.

Mark’s eyelashes fluttered before he allowed the world inside. As soon as he did, he closed them as well. On and off again, he blinked rapidly, trying to get used to the light. The book closed in your hands. His nose scrunched. Fingers straightened at his sides. An inaudible voice told you to reach for them, but you gripped the book tighter instead.

“Is he waking up?” You looked back at one of the five men that were all locked inside the hospital’s room. His left arm was gone, but it didn’t stop him from looking positively at the world. Every then and now he’d busy you with a small talk, and you’ve grown sympathetic towards him.

“Yes.” Upon turning back towards Mark, his dark eyes met yours. His face didn’t change an expression, but you knew he recognized you. Something about the sparks in his eyes that every author loved to bring up.

A small smile of relief blossomed on your features. The spreading warmth told you - it’s going to be alright now. If Mark had woken up, then he had been on the road to fast recovery.

“Hi.” You knelt down by the side of his bed. The corner of a nightstand pressed painfully at your body, but you wanted to be as close to Mark as possible.

Still sleepy, with eyes half-closed, he smiled back. His hand moved a little in your direction, but it was too weak to reach it. Not the one to deny him, you beat the distance yourself, transporting his hand to your face. It felt cold against your cheek.

“Hi.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Hmm-” a yawn blocked him for a moment. “Tired.” His voice was hoarse, as expected from someone who has slept for almost a week.

“That’s alright. You’ve been out of it for quite some time-”

“Have I? How long?”

“Six days.”

“Ouch.”

His reaction made you giggle quietly, and his small frown was quickly replaced by another smile. You couldn’t stop yourself from placing a comforting kiss on his forehead. Mark watched you silently, his eyes still glossy.

“I should go and call the nurse. They need to give you a good check, now that you’re awake.”

“You’re going?” He looked as if you have kicked his puppy. Fingers attempted to lock around your hand, but it was fruitless. Mark was weak, and he couldn’t even hold a limb up.

“I’ll be right back.” Before he could say anything more, you left. Although aware that nothing felt real, you didn’t want to start the topic of war. The time would come. For now, you’d like to act as if it has never happened.  

HAECHAN

The concrete blocks felt hot under the palms of your hands. Compared to the pleasant warmth seeping through your trousers, the firsthand contact felt like touching lava. You wouldn’t have known, but you could only guess it had to be as painful.

The radio speaker has been repeating all day, like a mantra, the weather was a gift at the end of the war. You didn’t feel like the hotness was any sort of a gift, though you haven’t decided yet, whether you loved it or not. The last year was nothing, but a series of undecided opinions. Lonely, watching as your entire neighborhood disappeared, you felt like the whole world has died. Now, all that remained just broken shells of tortured souls.

You remembered the past. The games of hide and seek, limited only by the crossroads at the ends of your street. Stolen cigarettes smoked behind the closest factory. Rumors repeated every time you saw someone, because there was not much happening in the lives of teenagers stuck in their little world.

The noise of an engine filled the street’s void. A woman hanging laundry on a balcony on the other side of the street, looked down to search for its source. Your head turned too, but the hotness bouncing off of the asphalt made it impossible for you to make the features out. Only one thing was sure - a car was coming your way. You didn’t want to stand up for nothing, so you placed hands on your feet as if to nail them to the ground.

“Where is the orchestra? Where are the balloons?”

It couldn’t be- could it? He had to be a mirage. The last time you saw Lee Donghyuck was a year ago, when he sneaked into your bedroom in the middle of the night. The next morning he was supposed to leave for the war, so he decided to kiss you goodbye. One small kiss that tasted of cigarettes was all you remembered him for. And his striped pajamas. A stark contrast to his current green uniform.

The man jumped off the car’s back and waved at the driver to go. The other man honked before pressing the accelerator on.

“You won’t even stand up to welcome me?” His words made you push yourself up.

For some reason, although he stood in front of you, real, he didn’t feel right. There had to be a hook, a switch that would make him fade away into oblivion once the wrong motion was made. You wanted to believe in him, but the loneliness you experienced has left a mark on your mind.

“What’s up with you?” He took your sunglasses off. “Oh, you’re so happy to see me, I left you speechless, right?” A brilliant and cocky smile lightened up his features.

Stuck in a loop of opening and closing your mouth, because you had so much and, simultaneously, so little to say, you never answered. Instead, your eyes wandered around his face, taking in all the signs of change that the past months have left on him.

Donghyuck was missing an ear. Where your eyes were used to seeing a shell-like organ, there was nothing. Your fingers reached for the empty spot and rubbed at the still delicate skin.

“Pretty cool, huh?” Although he tried to sound brave, you caught the glimpse of uncertainty in his voice.

He has rarely shown insecurity, so the idea of experiencing that new part of his- Perhaps the whole idea of being able to experience him, made you finally smile.

“It’s super cool.”

“Yeah, I know. Captain said I will be getting a medal for my service.”

Laughing to yourself, because that was such a dumb thing to worry about in the present moment, you embraced Donghyuck’s frame. He returned it instantly, locking his arms so tightly around you, it hurt. But- You know what? There was no but. You accepted the embrace laughing.

➛ pollenat’s list of headcanons

➛ pollenat’s list of shorts

➛ pollenat’s list of scenarios

[hailhydra920]

Fight On

Pairing: Bucky x reader

Summary: Bucky has a long way to recover. Songfic. Song is Fight On by For King and Country

Warnings: Blood, violence, nothing too bad though

I was there

On the day

That your world changed

“Bucky!” You screamed as Bucky fell off the train.

The last thing you saw were his scared blue eyes as he fell toward his death. Your eyes began to well with tears as the thought of Bucky’s body crashing onto the white snow filled your mind. Steve hugged you as you soaked his uniform with salty tears.

“He loved you.” Steve whispered to you as you sobbed loudly.

“I-I just wish I could’ve saved him.”

You were scared

Unprepared

For the heartbreak

Bucky lay in the snow. His heart beating rapidly in his chest. He was cold and scared. Luminous blood covered the snow beside him. Frantically, his eyes scanned his body for any injuries. So far so good. Then, he saw it. His arm. It wasn’t attached to him anymore. He screamed.

His heart was beating a thousand miles a minute. Bucky scanned the area above him, looking and tying to listen to the train, but there was nothing. He needed to get back to his friends. Heck! He needed some serious medical attention! All his thoughts began bouncing around in his mind like a pinball machine. The dark red snow was the last thing he saw before blacking out.

Everything you knew

Faded out of view

Stole a piece of you

The stench of bleach and chemicals filled Bucky’s nose. He awoke in some sort of hospital, at least that’s what he had concluded. But he was strapped down, not something very hospitable if you asked him. Everything came crashing down on him, and his eyes snapped toward his left arm. It was there, but it was not the arm he knew. It was made of metal. It reflected the lights above him and had a red star painted on the shoulder. Cautiously, he tried wiggling his new fingers. He heard little gears click and hum as he moved his fingers.

“Ju like ze new arm?” A person said as he walked toward him.

“Who are you?” Bucky barked.

“Ah, straight to ze point, ay Soldat?” He chuckled.

“Answer the question.”

“Ju vill be our Soldat. Hydra’s to be exact.”

“Hydra?” Bucky asked before cursing.

The man chuckled again. “But not to vorry. Ju vill be reprogrammed to do our bidding.”

Bucky tried to break from his restraints, but they just tightened against his flesh.

“Have a nice rest, Soldat.” The man said before stabbing Bucky with a needle.

If I could

Oh I would

Be your hero

You looked at the soldier in front of you. His hair was now longer and peskier. But you weren’t focused on that. You were focused on his eyes. There was a raging sea inside of those blue eyes. Waves of rage, hurt, and confusion crashed upon his rocky shore of reality. You knew the man you once loved was still in there, but it was buried deep down.

“He’s more stable now.” Steve said standing beside you.

You put your hand against the glass separating you from Bucky. Steve looked at his best friend who sat in a lonely room.

“He needs you.” Steve said looking at you.

“S-steve. I-I don’t know if he even remembers me.” You said looking at the broken man.

“The Winter Soldier is really all he knows. Maybe you can help bring back Bucky. He’s hurting, and I can only do so much as his best friend. He’s trying to remember; I can see it.”

You looked at Steve and then back at Bucky. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Be the one

Who would take

All the arrows

“Hey.” You said entering the glass room.

Bucky looked up at you and it took every ounce of strength to not engulf him in a huge hug. He looked so scared and confused. And those eyes. Man, could they tell a story.

“I’m Y/n, and I know this can take some getting used to.” You said shooting him a gentle smile.

“Why am I here?” Bucky asked, his voice just above a whisper.

“Well, we saved you from Hydra. And let’s just say that they didn’t treat you very kindly.”

“I know that, it’s just, why save me, when I’ve killed so many others. You should be helping others who are actually worth it. You should help the people of the family members I’ve killed. I am the last person who should be saved. So why me, of all people?”

Save you from the pain

Carry all the weight

I know that you’re brave

You were a bit taken back by his comments. You wanted to help him. You wanted to share that load of sorrow and guilt with him. Take some of that burden away from him. But what you really wanted was your Bucky back. You couldn’t stop yourself from what happened next.

You hugged him. He froze and didn’t move, but you didn’t care. You wrapped your arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He hadn’t had physical contact for so long, he didn’t really know how to react. You threaded your fingers through his hair and his eyes slowly closed.

“I know you can get through this, Bucky. Be the brave soldier I know you are.” You whispered as you hugged him for a few more seconds.

Once you pulled away, Bucky missed how it felt. That feeling of comfort and love.

“I, uh, also brought you some food. You don’t have to, um, if you don’t want to. I just thought you might—“

“Thank you.” Bucky said cutting off your rambling. “I am actually quite hungry.”

As if on cue, his stomach growled, and you held back a laugh.

“Well, I’ll let you eat your food.” You said getting up.

Sudden panic began to well in Bucky’s chest. “Will you come back?”

You heard desperation in his voice as he spoke. You smiled and nodded your head. “I promise I’ll be back later.”

Bucky let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and gave a you a ghost of a smile. “Thanks again., Y/n.”

“Anytime.”

Fight on, fighter

Don’t let anyone steal your fire

Fight on, fighter

The spirit is alive inside ya

“I-I can’t. The screams, the memories, everything! Th-there becoming too much.” Bucky groaned as he shook his head.

“Bucky.” You spoke softly. “Look at me.”

Shakily, Bucky looked at you. The storm in his eyes was getting worse. You could practically hear the screaming winds of despair and the loud crash of waves of grief spilling over. You took his shaking metal hand into yours and squeezed it.

“I need you to fight. Okay, Bucky.”

“It’s a fight, I-I don’t think I can win.”

Your heart almost broke upon hearing that. You hugged him again and this time he hugged back. He let out a few shaky breaths before relaxing in your arms

“Please fight, Bucky. For me, please, please fight.”

There’s a power

That you hold

That you lock down

Bucky punched the punching bag ferociously. His thoughts mocked his endeavors as he tried to free his mind from the horrid memories. He just wished they would go away. That he could be free and forget about everything he had done. THUD! Bucky was taken out of his thoughts as he saw that he had knocked the punching bag off it’s chain. Again.

“Bucky? Are you okay?” You asked entering the training room.

You walked toward him and took his hands in yours. “You’re holding it in. You have so much strength.”

“But my strength can also cause harm.”

“I wasn’t talking about your muscles, Bucky. I’m talking about in here.” You said pointing to his heart.

“I don’t understand.”

“Bucky, you can save you. You are strong enough to conquer this. Just trust in your friends, but most importantly, trust in yourself.”

Let it breathe

Give it wings

Set it free now

Bucky squeezed his eyes shut. He didn’t want to remember, but he had to. Sometimes memories hurt more than reality. Like the whole world just crashes down on you. Deep breath. He was a monster. A life taking monster.

“I killed so many people with these hands.” He whispered. “Destroyed so many people’s lives.”

Bucky laid on his bed. His blue eyes focused on the blank ceiling. He was starting to remember who you were. What you meant to him. He loved you. He couldn’t deny it any longer. And even if you didn’t know it, you made him feel stronger. More human than he had felt in a long, long time.

A noise came from outside his window, and he froze. Was it Hydra? No, it couldn’t be. Right? Suddenly, he felt something hit his flesh arm. He quickly pulled out the tranquilizer dart. He cursed. Then his eyes slowly began to close. Then, there was darkness. Something he knew very well.

Time to make your mark

Break the prison bars

Show them who you are

Bucky woke up in a dimly lit room. He heard people chattering on the other side of the room, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying.

“Ah, Soldat. It’s nice to have ju back.” A Hydra agent laughed.

“Let me go. Haven’t I done enough for you?!” Bucky growled as he clenched his fists.

“Uh, no, ju haven’t. Ve need ju Soldat.”

“I’M NOT YOU’RE SOLDIER!”

“Ju vill alvays be our Soldat.” Another Hydra agent said.

Bucky wasn’t going to become their soldier. He wasn’t going to let them take away his happiness and turn him into a mindless killing machine. Energy began to surge through him. Energy that was powered by his love for his friends, his hatred for Hydra, but most of all, his deep love for you.

Bucky roared as he broke from his restraints. The straps that were containing him snapped, and he stared right into the Hydra agents’ eyes. Their eyes were swirling with terror.

“My name,” He stated, strength resonating from every word. “Is Bucky Barnes.”

Fight on, fighter

Don’t let anyone steal your fire

Fight on, fighter

The spirit is alive inside ya

“Ze asset is out of containment. I repeat. Ze asset is out of containment.” One agent said as Bucky began attacking the agents in the room.

Bucky fought like there was no tomorrow. All things considered, there really wasn’t a tomorrow for him if he fell into the hands of Hydra again.

A crackly, but firm voice came over the intercom. “Longing.”

“No.” Bucky breathed as he punched someone in the face.

“Rusted.”

“Please, stop.” Bucky groaned as he fought the Hydra agents and his own mind.

“Seventeen.”

“Leave me alone!”

Bucky grabbed a nearby table and smashed a group of agents.

“Daybreak.”

Stronger than you ever thought

I know you’re stronger

Braver than you were before

I know you’re braver

“Furnace”

He wasn’t gonna let them take him away from you again. He just had to get through it. He could overcome this. He had to. Soon, all the agents in the room were either dead or unconscious. The trigger words wouldn’t stop coming over the intercom. He felt his mind getting fuzzy.

“No, I can’t.” Bucky whispered. “I have to stay strong. I have to fight. If not for me, for Y/n.”

“Nine.”

“Bucky!”

“Y/n?!” Bucky exclaimed as he heard your voice from the other side of the door. “I’m here!”

“Benign.”

“Th-they’re calling out my trigger words. I-I don’t know if I can resist it.”

“I’m just on the other side of the door with Steve, Bucky, but I need you to be brave. Can you do that for me? I’m right here, so please fight this.” You said as Steve was currently trying to get the door open.

Oh, you don’t have to be afraid

Together we’ll face it

So don’t ever stop, no matter what

Cause you’re gonna make it

“Homecoming.”

Bucky took a few deep breaths. “Can you keep talking to me, Y/n? I-I don’t want to lose you.”

“It’s okay, Bucky. You’re not gonna lose me. I just want you to focus on my voice. You can overcome this.” You said trying to use a soothing voice.

“One.”

“You are so much stronger than you think. You are more than just their soldier.”

“Freight car.”

“I love you.” You said, tears rolling down your cheeks, as the last trigger word sounded out of the intercom.

There was silence. That was never a good thing.

“B-bucky?” You asked trying to compose yourself.

Silence. You began to cry and Steve hugged you.

“Y/n? Steve? You there?” Bucky coughed.

“Bucky! You did it! You were not affected by the trigger words!” You exclaimed.

“I couldn’t have done it without ya, doll. I just wish I could see your pretty face right now. And I love you, too.”

“Don’t worry, Buck. We’re working on opening this door, and then we are getting the heck out of here!” Steve said.

Fight on, fighter

Don’t let anyone steal your fire

Fight on, fighter

The spirit is alive inside ya

“Bucky!” You exclaimed as the door opened.

You engulfed him in a huge hug and he chuckled as he held you tightly. “I missed you, doll.”

Steve cleared his throat.

“You too, pal. Get in here.” Bucky said as you and Bucky held your arms open.

Steve walked over and you guys all had a nice group hug. Suddenly, alarms began to blare loudly.

“Maybe we should get out of here.” Steve said as he hit an incoming agent with his shield.

“Agreed. We can celebrate when we get home.” You said as you all got in fighting positions.

“Let’s fight these little buggers.” Bucky said as they charged out of the room.

They still had to get out of the Hydra base, but he knew that with his friends at his side, he could conquer anything. He knew that with you by his side, he could become a little more like himself every day. And that love and freedom was worth fighting for.

[dragons-and-yellow-roses]

I just... I just love my kids so much

To be clear, these aren't kids that I birthed or adopted, they are not my legitimate children in any way, but they're still my kids

I work at a summer camp as an area director, with my best friend as my co-director. We have a staff of three: Sam, Gavin, and Aaron. I knew them when they were campers, I taught Sam and Gavin Metalworking merit badge.

I was there when Aaron was an immature 12 year old and screamed "Baby rage!" At another camper until the camper finally pushed him. I lent him my nametag for a day so that he could collect one from every staff member. He collected so many and put them all on his shirt, walking around in a suit of armor made of nametags.

I called Gavin "Northern Tier Guy" once because I hadn't quite learned his name yet and he was wearing a Northern Tier jacket, but it stuck for the rest of the week, even when I'd learned his actual name. He was the smartest one in that merit badge class, always raising his hand and knew more than me about metalworking.

Sam was the sweetest. He was the only camper to show up to ASL Night, so my co-teacher and I had a lot of fun teaching him basic signs and then looking up random ones. He still remembers the alphabet, numbers, and the word "wigwam."

But now I know them even better. Now I've gotten the chance to spend every day with them and talk with them in a more real way.

(They've also said I'm the "cool parent" between myself and my co-director, and that makes me feel pretty good. I'm the "parent" they go to to ask things like "Can we crush chalk in the vices?" (Crushing chalk in a vice is one of the most satisfying things ever, I highly recommend it.) And of course they know I'll be serious and lay down the law if I need to, because I have. But they also know that I'm the one that will let them use the microphone hooked to our sound system so that they can try to scare scouts.)

Aaron once walked two miles to our sister camp on the other side of the lake at 2am so that he could post questionable pictures of Among Us characters on their dining hall.

The other day Aaron asked if he could yell at me, and he's usually a very sweet kid so I okayed it, if only out of curiosity. He proceeded to yell "YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB!" I yelled back "THANK YOU! IM SO PROUD OF YOU!" And he ended our strange conversation with "THANKS, YOU TOO!"

One night I was up late in our area with Aaron and a couple other staff members when Aaron said "One of these days I'm going to snap at Gavin. I'll be respectful about it, but I'm going to." We had a discussion about it, because if there are problems between my staff members I'd obviously like to figure it out sooner rather than later. Aaron told me that their personalities just don't work together well, and Gavin hasn't done anything to warrant a huge discussion yet, but he thinks it will happen. I told him that I'd be there to mediate if it ever came to that, but since then I've seen immense growth between those two. I really respect how open Aaron was with me about that problem, and how he was ready to have a discussion with both Gavin and I instead of simply attacking Gavin.

Speaking of Gavin! Onto that young man.

My co-director was wary of him at first because Gavin isn't always easy to work with. He's driven and tries a little too hard and can come off as demanding. One day during our training week he seemed especially impatient and it was getting on everyone's nerves, so I took him aside and we had a heart-to-heart. This poor kid was just so stressed because he was feeling unprepared and was having trouble making friends. It helped my co-director and I realize that there's so much more to him than the rude facade he puts up, and I'm glad he trusted me enough to let me in so that I can be a better director and friend to him.

Since our very first conversation I saw a lot of myself in that kid, and that was only strengthened with that heart-to-heart and how much I've gotten to know him. I can tell that he trusts me quite a bit now, which makes me extremely happy. I can also see that he's a lot happier now.

You know when Gavin seems the happiest? When he's teaching Metalworking or Electronics. He took the initiative to write up a proposal for Electronics merit badge and present it to our camp director to convince him to let us add it to our list of badges we teach. He's extremely passionate about Electronics, obviously, and teaches it amazingly. I remember on either Monday or Tuesday he told me he was happy and having such a good time teaching Metalworking. The smile on his face and enthusiasm in his voice were enough to make me nearly cry.

And finally, Sam! I think he was the first one to call me the "cool parent."

He has very pretty long hair that he lets me braid whenever, and that's not super important but it does make me very happy.

The second I got his phone number, before I even really knew him, I put him in my contacts as "Sam My Child." He's just immensely son-shaped.

This son-shaped man is also a bisexual, and I learned that when a camper painted a rock with the bi pride colors and he enthusiastically whispered "Bi pride!" It made me super happy that he trusted me with that information, and I told him I'm proud of him. I tell my kids that I'm proud of then so much because they deserve it.

Sam is also the one that wanted to use our sound system microphone to try and scare campers. He's a smartass. I lost my voice the other day and couldn't speak above a normal tone, which was obvious to everyone but I wouldn't admit it and kept saying that I was fine. My best friend knows I'm stubborn, so he asked if I would dismiss everyone from lunch. That's a job that requires a loud voice. A loud voice that I didn't have. But I wouldn't admit it, so I choked out a dismissal that no one heard. Sam looked at me, with a glint of assholery in his eyes and a smile on his face, and said "What happened to 'I'm fine?'"

I was just thinking about them today and I was overcome with pure love. I love them like I would love any person that was my actual child. I just *clenches fist* love them so much. I can't even write how much I feel for these kids because words can't describe it. These words do them no justice, they're just some of the most wonderful people I've ever met. Yeah they cause me a lot of stress, yes I've considered strangling them, yes I would move heaven and earth for them.

[blackcloverdatabase]

English Translation of Novel 2: Chapter 4 - Captains’ Dinner Party (Part 2 of 2)

(No illustration this time since, sadly, there’s only one illustration per chapter.)

Here is the second half of chapter 4! Less goofy antics in this one since more time is spent fighting in this chapter, but still a fun time with the captains, Julius, and a very stressed out Marx.

And if you haven’t read part 1 yet, you can read that here. 

--- Captains’ Dinner Party: Part 2 ---

“Th-the Wizard King! YOU……!! Where have you been loitering about this whole time!!?”

Marx screamed, halfway to tears. He knew it was just a projection of Julius, but he was just about ready to fling himself upon him.

“Ha ha, sorry, sorry. I got too absorbed in analyzing these golems over here.”

“Too absorbed my foot! Everyone’s been waiting for you! Where are you!?”

In response to Marx’s desperate screams, Julius looked a little troubled.

“……I’m in the dungeon, the same one where we had restrained those members of the Eye of the Midnight Sun. I made a barrier and then reconstructed some of the old golems.”

‘……I see. That room was a blind spot. It certainly is very large and sturdy. That barrier is probably why I couldn’t reach him before,’ Marx thought to himself.

“It’s just, uh… remember how I told you that there’s a magic space inside the body of that golem? I was wondering what that space was like, and while I was looking at it, I accidentally got inside……”

As he spoke, Julius’s voice sounded more and more embarrassed.

“I used up my magic power…… so now I can’t get out… I’m stuck inside.”

“………………..”

In that moment, Marx didn’t feel anger, nor sadness, nor pity. All he felt was “nothingness”.

“That’s why, uh, this is hard for me to say, but…”

Julius glanced at everyone in the room before scratching his head again.

“……Could you… all come… save me?”

 “Kah kah! So, it’s safe to say that… those golems are on the other side of this door, right?”

“That’s what he said…… Ah, but, as expected, we’ll have to go through that barrier. There’s a crazy amount of magic power comin’ outta that thing.”

The captains had arrived at the door to the dungeon. While Jack and Yami were talking, the other captains stood motionlessly. Julius was behind that door. All of them prepared for battle as they approached the door to the dungeon without a word, each of them holding feelings that could not be said.

“Jeez, I’m not even going to bother reminding you that you’re the Wizard King! Still, please don’t forget that you’re a 42-year-old man! You’re getting old! You should take better care of your body……”

“……Yes……yes……yes……yes……”

……Actually, Marx had been lecturing Julius through his communication magic throughout the whole trip to the dungeon, so it wasn’t that quiet, after all.

“Hey, Julius. This barrier, it locks people inside, but those comin’ from the outside are free to enter, right?”

“Huh? Y-yeah. That’s right. I have the switch to operate it. “

“……I see.”

‘In other words, once we step foot inside that barrier, we have to defeat the golems and free Julius, or else we’ll never be able to get out……. Well, if push comes to shove, I could always use my Dimension Slash to tear through the barrier, but that would be a bad idea. If I fail to take them all down with that attack and one of those golems ends up escaping, everyone would be pissed.’

While Yami was thinking, Nozel asked in his usual icy tone,

“Do we know our enemies’ numbers and what their abilities are?”

“There are ten golems. What I’ve confirmed about their abilities so far is that they are immune to magic, and they can copy the abilities of other magic users. When you attack them with magic, they are able to analyze it, granting them both immunity to that attack and the ability to copy it. Being hit by an attack just once is enough for them to use it just as if it were its own. By the way, no matter how beat up the golems are, it seems to have no effect on the magic space inside them, so you can attack them without worrying about me.”

Julius answered smoothly without a moment’s pause. Everyone couldn’t help but wonder how he got trapped even though he knows so much about the golems.

“Also, this fact might be the most troublesome thing about them, but-”

It sounded as if Julius was about to say something vitally important, but,

“……Huh, wait, sir!? What happened!?”

His transmission was suddenly interrupted. Marx repeatedly tried to reestablish a connection, but to no avail. No matter how many times he tried to reconnect, there was no response.

“……Woah. What, you can’t get through? Now that’s creepy. Usually, in scenarios like this, you discover that the guy you were talkin’ to died a weird death.”

“D-don’t say something so ominous! I’m sure that our connection just became unstable like it was before!”

Marx snapped back at Yami’s joke with a pale face. Vangeance stood behind him, contemplating out loud,

“It’s also possible that his magical power has been completely cut off…... this is a scenario I’d rather not contemplate, but staying in that magic space for too long may leave some kind of negative effect on the human body… Either way, we should save him as soon as possible.”

As he spoke, Vangeance pulled his grimoire out from its pouch.

“Nonetheless, there is still much we don’t know about the enemy. None of us know what exactly is going on inside, so we cannot create a clear strategy. Be on your guard.”

“…….Hmph. So, you think you can take the lead for this battle just because you’re the captain of the Golden Dawn?”

Nozel sarcastically retorted while he took out his own grimoire.

“In short, we should destroy them in such a way that they are not immune to. Attacking them with an object like what we did with Poizot should be sufficient…… I can destroy golems with abilities such as these by myself. Why don’t the rest of you go back and continue eating your dinner?”

“W-what are you saying, Nozel-san!? The Wizard King asked for ‘everyone’ to save him, so we should all go save him!”

Rill responded with desperation in his voice. Charlotte spoke up from behind him with a sigh,

“……Rill. Do you want to save the Wizard King, or is it that you don’t want to go back to the dinner party?”

“O-of course I want to save the Wizard King! A-also…… I don’t want to get stabbed.”

Their exchange of words may have sounded like they were fooling around, but both of them were holding their grimoires, taking a stance with no openings as they faced the door to the dungeon. Everyone was ready for battle.

“…….zzz…….zzzz……zzz……zzzz”

….Except for Dorothy. All that could be heard from her was the sound of her snores. She reached this place while asleep, and she opened her grimoire while asleep, too. Since she’s a person one cannot hope to understand, Yami just categorized her as an anomaly and said,

“Alright. Is everyone done preparin’?”

Yami asked as he drew his sword. After confirming that everyone nodded their heads (except for Dorothy) he put his hand on the doorknob.

“Then, let’s all remember to be on guard.”

He said idly as he threw open the leaden doors.

 …In truth, they were all a little off guard.

No matter how strong the enemy was, they were seven captains of the Magic Knights. There was no way they could lose. None of them were flagrantly unprepared. However, they came in with the assumption that they “couldn’t lose”, which gave birth to inattentiveness.

……If it weren’t for that, then, surely, they wouldn’t be in this mess.

[Sensing, magic response.]

A shrill voice screeched the moment they all leapt into the room. It was the golems, pitch-black skeletons, and, just as Julius said, there were ten of them. They were scattered throughout the room, but once the captains were reflected in their silver eyes, they swarmed toward the intruders with lightning speed.

“Ewww, these guys are way creepier than I thought they’d be! I, like, don’t want to have anythin’ to do with them! Hey, like, one of you boys do somethin’!”

“Kah kah! And I don’t want to have anything to do with your girly-girl impressions, either!!”

While Yami was joking around, he ran straight for one of golems. Jack leaped up from behind him.

“Darkness Magic: Dark Cloaked Avidya Slash”

Yami started by swinging his sword straight toward the enemy. A sharp black blade extended from his sword and struck the skeleton with dreadful force. The blade sliced the skeleton in two, but still, the skull continued to rattle.

[Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-ii-I-iit, it hurts, storing in, memory-y.]

“Slash Magic: Death Scythe!!”

The skull and the rest of the body that was still attached to it was cleaved in two by Jack’s aerial attack. However, they weren’t finished with their attacks. He attacked a second, then a third time. He continued his downpour of blows until, in the blink of an eye, the skeleton’s body had been cut into little pieces.

“Kah kah. I see. After it has been hit by magic, it can copy it……  but if we cut it up this much, it won’t be able to move anyway.”

Jack analyzed the situation as he landed. Just as he said, the skeleton, cruelly ripped to shreds, moved a little with a creak before ceasing to move completely.

“Now, what do we do with the rest of them~”                                                                              

Rill prepared his brush and palette as he aimed for the skeletons. Vividly colored paint-like magic danced around his palette, steadily gathering around his brush. He created a torrent of color, as thick and long as a serpent.

“Painting Magic: Spring of Restriction”

Waving his brush like a baton, he fired a torrent of magic at the skeleton, which wrapped around its body in a flash. The magic then slowly converted into stone, encasing the skeleton’s body inside and sinking into the ground. What was depicted upon the earthen canvas was a single painting of a spring.

[It hurts-ts-tsts-, storing-ing-ing in mem-memory……]

As it was enveloped into the center of the painting, it became completely restrained. Before long, it became utterly silent.

“A-fu-fu-fu~ It seems that completely restraining its movements before it copies your magic is also effective~”

Rill said with glee.

“……As I said, this is just like that time with Poizot. Don’t leave things only halfway finished.”

Charlotte chided Rill as she walked past him, slowly lifting her hand toward the skeleton.

“Briar Creation Magic: Limb-Cleaving Briar Lance”

As she cast her spell, countless thorns shot out from behind her with bullet-like momentum. Dozens of sharp thorns pierced its body, and the skeleton, along with the painting, shattered into pieces.

“What would you have done if it broke out of its restraints? If you’re going to fight, do it right.”

“It was fine. Restraining them is a more sure-fire way to bring them down, after all.”

“…Hmph.”

As they argued back and forth, the two moved on to their next target.

And then, finally, in the back,

“Mercury Magic: Silver Spear”

Nozel fired spears of mercury in the back to support the four in front. The spears pierced through the skeletons, stopping them in place and creating a gap which allowed either Jack or Yami to slash through them, Charlotte to pierce through them, or Rill to make them part of his paintings. Thanks to their downpour of attacks, half of their enemies were already shattered to pieces.

“……Amazing!”

Marx exclaimed, watching the situation from the back. Though they knew little about the enemy, they didn’t falter. They instantly identified the enemy’s weakness, established a strategy based on it, and each one of them performed their role with ease. It was a brilliant performance, a suppressive attack that demonstrated the experience they’ve gained from countless battles. There wasn’t a bit of awkwardness or strain in their teamwork. Each of them understood how the others wanted to move, reading two, even three moves ahead. There was a sense of unity Marx could feel as they fought.

‘As one would expect, there’s nothing that can stop the seven of them, though one of them is asleep…...’

As Marx watched in relief, Vangeance, who was observing the state of the battle from the back, yelled,

“Three golems in the 12-o’-clock direction are amplifying their magic power! We don’t know what they might do, so bring them down quickly!”

However, before anyone could react to his instructions,

[Initiating synchronization between all devices.]

When one of the golems said this, the eyes of all the golems that had been defeated began glowing red. The eyes of all the golems that were still alive then began to glow the same color as well. All of this happened in an instant. It truly was just a single instant, but……

[……..Synchronization complete. Now returning the pain.]

The five remaining golems cast their magic all at once.

[Darkness Magic: Dark Cloaked Avidya Slash]

[Slash Magic: Death Scythe]

[Painting Magic: Spring of Restriction]

[Briar Creation Magic: Limb-cleaving Briar Lance]

[Mercury Magic: Silver Spear]

The golems fired all the captains’ magic right back at them.

“Seriously…… hey!?”

Yami muttered in shock while dodging the golems’ attacks. The golems they hadn’t attacked yet were using their magic, which means…

“……T-these guys, aren’t they afraid of copyright infringement!?”

“Kah kah, this isn’t the time to be joking around…..I don’t really get it, but it looks like these guys can use any attack that was used against any of the other golems, just as if it was hit by the same attack.”

Jack said when he landed near Yami after dodging the golems’ attacks.

“And now, that means all the spells we just used are no longer effective against any of them… right?”

‘And no matter what attack we launch from here on, if they “synchronize” again, they’ll become even more powerful…,’ Yami thought.

Everyone understood this from the previous attack and switched to fighting defensively. Of course, not all options were lost. They can hit all the golems with a wide-range attack like Nozel’s “Silver Rain” and Vangeance’s “Great Tree Misteltein” and use objects to attack any golems that are left. However, if they do that, they’ll destroy more than just the room they’re in, they’ll destroy the barrier and beyond. Unlike the time they partially destroyed the area when they captured Poizot, there’s a risk that they’ll cause the room to totally collapse.

The most certain way to defeat the enemy would be to restrain them and then destroy them all at once, but all their restriction spells were no longer effective.

Except…

“……Everyone! Just one is fine! Defeat one of the golems and bring me its skull!”

Marx shouted to the group once he made his realization.

“What’s with you all of sudden? If you want a skull, there’s a golem we already beat over there…...”

“No, I need something intact! If it’s damaged to that degree, I don’t think it will function!”

“……Function?”

Yami said as he furrowed his brow. When he saw Marx’s earnest expression, he scratched his head as if he thought the request was a pain in the ass.

“……Jack, Charlotte! Help me out against this guy who’s the closest to me here! Everyone else should keep the other golems from gettin’ close!”

The others swiftly moved into formation in accordance to where Yami pointed his finger. No one asked any questions or demanded any explanations. Marx, the Wizard King’s one and only trusted aide, the capable man who assists the Wizard King in his duties on his own, said he wants the skull of one of the skeletons. That’s all the reason they need.

“Slash Magic: Schack Knife”

Jack made the first strike. He slashed the skeleton a countless number of times, just deep enough to create small fissures throughout its body. In response to his attacks, the skeleton headed toward him with fearsome speed.

“Briar Creation Magic: Corpse-Hunting Briar Tree!!”

Charlotte fired her magic in response, but it didn’t do much damage. Her briars made a direct hit on the skeleton’s body, but the skeleton knocked them all away and continued charging forward. However, her briars also hit its face, obscuring its vision for just a moment. And, in that moment,

“Alright, well, sorry ‘bout this. I’ll be takin’ your head.”

Yami appeared behind the skeleton, sword in hand.

“Darkness Magic: Dark Cloaked Magic Blade”

He swung his black blade across, cutting the skeleton at its neck, and, with a second swing, its detached torso was slashed in two.

Jack’s attack was used to attract the skeleton, then Charlotte used her magic to obstruct its field of vision, giving Yami a chance to land the finishing blow. To make sure this sequence of events wasn’t interrupted, the others held the movements of the other four skeletons at bay. Though Marx had requested the skull himself, he was once again struck with admiration for their skill.

“Here, bowlcut. It might still be capable of movin’, so be careful.”

“Ah……yes!”

The skull was casually tossed to Marx while he was lost in thought. It certainly was still rattling about, but that was no problem at all. As long as he had a model to work with……

“Uwaah……Sorry, Yami-san! There’s two golems headed straight for you!!”

Rill yelled out in a panic as two golems ran straight toward Yami. Since Yami was occupied with Marx, he was slow to react.

[Painting Magic: Spring of Restriction]

“!!”

The golem that Yami had just slain fired Rill’s magic straight at him.

‘Looks like the wounds I gave it were too shallow,’ Yami thought.

“……Tch!”

Yami leaped to the side to avoid it, but the colorful torrent of magic struck his leg, stopping him in place and binding him to the ground. While he was immobile, the two other golems prepared to fire their magic at him, but,

“Time Restraining Magic: Chrono Stasis”

In a single instant, the golems were captured within spheres of magic, and they stopped moving completely. Or rather, they were forced into complete suspension.

……There was only one person capable of this.

“Hey there, looks like I managed to make it in time.”

It was the Wizard King, Julius Novachrono. He gallantly appeared on the scene with his usual gentle smile.

“I was able to see what was going on from within the golems, but… um… y-you did a great job, everyone! Very commendable! Yeah… uh, yeah.”

……Well, he was acting a little more awkward than usual.

“T-the Wizard King!? How…!”

Rill exclaimed in surprise. Everyone else stared in astonishment behind him. He was trapped inside one of the golems, so how did he get here…?

“……I got him out.”

Marx answered everyone’s questions with an exhausted look on his face. He held the skull in his hands, his fingertips curled around its lower jaw.

“I was told that, when you press this part of the skeleton, all the contents of the magic space inside it are ejected…. Well, I’ve never done it before, so I was anxious about what would happen when I pressed it, but….”

The finger that pushed the skull’s lower jaw was still shaking. It was clear how anxious he was.

“But, you couldn’t have known which skeleton he was inside of…. Ah!”

As he was talking, Rill made a face of realization. Marx nodded his head before continuing,

“They said they would ‘sync’. In other words, ‘each of them sustains the same state’. Based on that, I thought that maybe they shared the same magic space… and it seems I was correct.”

‘Or rather, I’m really, truly glad that I was right. I was practically gambling,’ he thought. If he was wrong, then it was possible that Julius would have been trapped in one of the already shattered skulls. Just thinking about it made Marx shudder. No, it’s possible that they would have been able to restore the skulls back to normal after the battle, but who knows how long that would have taken? Plus, Yami probably wouldn’t have been rescued. In any case, he was incredibly glad that his plan succeeded…

[It hurts……ts…..ts-ts-ts-ts, storing, storing in memory-y-y……]

“!!”

Just as Marx had sighed in relief, the skeletons which were sealed away began to tremble.

“W-wait, sir!? They’re moving! The skeletons are moving!?”

“H-huh? A ha ha, I guess I was weakened more than I thought!”

After Julius replied to Rill, he turned toward everyone and said,

“Everyone, on my signal, I’ll release my spell! Immediately afterwards, everyone should attack togeth-

“No need.”

Yami interrupted Julius’s instructions, taking a stance with his sword.

“I’m gonna slice them in two, so all you need to worry about is stoppin’ them if any of them are still movin’.”

A tremendous among of magic power rose from his blade like black smoke.

“Kah kah! Hey, Yami, what’re you planning to do this time?”

“What, you ask? .......As I said, I’m slicin’ them in half. Those skeletons.”

Yami answered Jack’s question and aimed for the remaining four skeletons.

“And the space around ‘em.”

“Darkness Magic: Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash”

With one swing of his blade, the four skeletons, as well as Julius’s magic, was sliced in two. The skeletons continued to rattle about, but,

“Everyone, stay where you are!”

Julius shouted, firing off spheres of magic with unmatched accuracy. They hit the skeletons, causing them to shatter without a trace.

“……It’s…over.”

After examining the black dust left behind by the attack, Marx sunk to the floor in relief. This time, it truly was over. The only problem left was……

“Y-Yami! What was that magic you used earlier!? To slice through my magic like that… it’s amazing! It even broke the barrier…… Hey, show it to me one more time! One more time!”

…how to scold that old magic maniac.

 “I’m really sorry!! I never thought things would blow up like this……”

Julius was surrounded by everyone else, offering his most sincere apologies.

“Kah kah. I don’t really care~ Thanks to this, I got the chance to slash some guys up.”  

Jack happily informed him, glancing at the skeletons’ remains gathered in the corner of the room.

After the battle, everyone collected the skeletons’ remains and repaired the dungeon room to ensure that no evidence remained of the battle that took place. Of course, they did all this without calling for the Magic Appraisal Division or the disposal team. They didn’t want to make this a big affair, or rather, they didn’t want anyone else to know that the Wizard King, the man who stands at the top of the Magic Knights, got himself into such a mess.

“A ha ha… your criticism is helpful, but….”

“No buts! Things turned out okay this time because all the captains happened to be here, but what would you have done if all this happened and you were all alone!? This is why I keep telling you! You need to be more aware of the fact that you’re a 42-year-old-man!!”

“…… Yes……. yes……. yes…… yes……”

Incidentally, Marx continuously scolded Julius the whole time they were cleaning up. Marx was telling Julius everything that needed to be said, so the others felt no need to say anything as they waited for Marx’s anger and disgust to subside. In fact, they may have even felt a little bad for him.

“……Now then, everything has been put in order, so I’m leaving.”

“H-huh!? You’re going home already!? What about the dinner party!?”

Julius uttered in shock at Nozel’s words. Nozel responded with his usual cold expression,

“Because of the time it took to dispose of everything, the food has likely cooled, and the drinks have presumably become lukewarm. There’s only so much time we can spend here at headquarters, so I believe it would be prudent to suspend this party.”

“…………”

He was right.

“Moreover…”

He paused and turned around, facing everyone once more.

“……You understood once you saw our battle earlier, correct? Even without throwing such parties, we captains are able to come together and acknowledge each other’s true strengths.”

“………”

Julius’s mouth hung open at Nozel’s surprising words.

“Of course, I refuse to recognize anything else aside from their strength. First of all, I am opposed to sitting at the same table as any captain who is not a royal or a noble. I still do not agree to the idea that the rank of Captain should be given to such riffraff……!”

He realized that he allowed something akin to rage leak into his words and then coughed as if to regain his composure.

“However, I am aware that, regardless of my stance on the matter, all the people here have the strength necessary to be a Captain. Moreover, it’s a fact that they are capable of fighting beside me…… as long as that fact remains, then that is more than enough.”

“……Well, that was a roundabout way of puttin’ it, but I agree with ya.”

It was Yami who interjected. Nozel glared at him, but he went no further before taking one step away.

“Our everyday relationship definitely sucks, but we can work together when we need to do, so you don’t need to worry ‘bout helpin’ us out with our private lives.”

He looked Julius in the eye and said, as if it should be obvious,

“The Order of Magic Knights you created isn’t that weak.”

A gentle smile appeared ever so slightly on his face as he said this.

“Yeah…… you’re right.”

Julius replied, returning Yami’s smile. After making his moves both officially and unofficially in these past few weeks, there is one thing Julius has become aware of. They are – the Magic Knights of Clover Kingdom are - even more steadfast than Julius ever imagined. It seems that he never had to play any tricks on them at all. They’re perfect as they are.

He knew that they had the power to repel any hardship that comes their way, and, he can feel that, little by little, they’re growing stronger. Knowing that is enough.

“….. Now then, can we leave?”

Julius was immersed in warm feelings, but Nozel’s frank words wrenched him back to reality. He lightly scratched his cheek as he said with a wry smile,

“Y-yeah. That’s right. This isn’t really the right atmosphere for a party, either… And, as Yami said, it doesn’t look like there’s any need for me to interfere in your personal relationships with each other. Ha ha, the cooperation you all showed earlier was magnificent!”

……Well, the truth is, Julius already knew that. Private lives aside, they demonstrate a tremendous ability to cooperate the battlefield. He has known this for a very long time now. He didn’t prepare this dinner party to confirm that……

“……What’s wrong, Julius? Do we have somethin’ on our faces?”

“Ah……no……”

Realizing that he was subconsciously observing the captains’ faces, Julius hastily averted his gaze.

After the Star Festival, the Crimson Lions and the Purple Orcas will have new captains, and they will be back to having nine captains. In other words, this was the last time the seven of them will be able to meet like this. He wanted to watch them all eat and drink together at least once. All that official business he told Marx about didn’t matter to him.

The real goal of this party was for everyone to get along and eat together.

“……Its nothing. I’m sorry for causing you all so much trouble.”

However, this wasn’t the time nor place where such private thoughts could be said, and it’s true that both the food and the alcohol have reached a questionable state. For now, he’ll give up without a fuss.

“……Plus, it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to watch you all fight together.”

“Huh? You say somethin’?”

“……N-no. It’s nothing.”

Julius answered Yami’s question with his usual gentle smile.

In truth, Julius could have escaped from the magic space and defeated those skeletons by himself. Moreover, he was lying when he said that he ran out of magical power. If he had, he would not have been able to escape from that magic space, and he wouldn’t have been able to cast his spells twice afterward. He believed in the strength of his captains, and he knew they would work together. However, he wanted to confirm in practice how well the captains could cooperate with one another after losing Fuegoleon and Poizot. And so, he came up with this little “adventure”.

It was terribly unscrupulous of him, but it’s unlikely that this group would have the chance to work together like this anytime soon. Joint exercises take a lot of time, people, and energy to set up, and such exercises wouldn’t show their true power. For starters, no one else would be able to compete with them. In that sense, these golems were a unique opportunity. He had to take some scolding, but, in return, he got the chance to watch them in combat. It was a cheap price to pay.

……Well, his dinner party has also washed away, but there’s no helping that. He’ll set another one up the next time he gets the chance.

As Julius was thinking, Yami was staring at his face and said,

“Somethin’ about you feels fishy…… Mind if I get serious and read your ki?”

“N-no, ha ha! Nothing will come of that even if you do! More importantly, look, if we’re leaving, let’s hurry up and get out of here!”

The instant Julius made this suggestion in a panic, Nozel bowed his head and said,  

“Well then, I’m leaving.”

Without hesitation, he turned his heels and walked toward the exit. It may seem rude to simply leave like that, but considering that it’s Nozel, he did a good job sticking around.

“Well, that’s too bad! A fu fu, to think such a special chance to eat with everyone would get suspended! I wanted to talk some more~!”

“Kah kah! Is that so? Then, you can sit next to Charlotte next time, too!”

Rill and Jack exchanged words with each other as they followed behind Nozel.

“……Nonsense. Do you really think I’d put up with your foolish attempts at entertainment a second time?”

“……zzz……zzz…….zzzz…….”

The other Captains also headed toward the exit as they chatted with one another. Not a single one of them wanted to continue the party. Everyone must have hated it after all. Charlotte even said that it was “foolish”. However, that, too, is fine. You certainly can’t say that their relationship with one another is “good”, but that’s exactly why they should clash with each other, argue with each other, and elevate each other. Cultivating one’s character through friendly rivalry is how the Order of the Magic Knights was established. Julius had meddled because he was afraid they were dragging each other down instead of raising each other up. If its ever needed, he’ll enact an even larger plan.

However, based on what he felt earlier, that won’t be necessary. The Captains are serving as exemplary models to their squad members for how such friendly competition should look. It may not be long before the entirety of the Magic Knights does the same. If they can raise each other up and act as one, then they can surely overcome even a tough situation like what lies ahead…….

Julius thought to himself warmly as he followed behind them.

“…..Like I said, you’ve been grinnin’ like a maniac since earlier. It’s scarin’ the hell out of me, so can you stop?”

Yami said as he walked beside Julius. Julius realized that he let what he was thinking show on his face again. He maintained his expression as he turned toward Yami,

“Hm~? It’s nothing. I was just thinking about how much you’ve all grown.”

“……What the hell?”

Yami said with a snicker. Then, he suddenly made a startled expression and said,

“H-hey, are you serious? I vaguely felt this earlier, but have you been thinkin’ lewd thoughts about me……!?”

“You know, I’ve been thinking about telling you this for a long time, but those jokes of yours trouble the people around you more than you think.”

Julius replied with a wry smile as he placed his hand over his chest.

“E-everyone!”

Marx yelled out as they were leaving. For some reason, he was sweating, and his lips were trembling. He wore a pained expression, as if there was something important that needed to be said… but he didn’t want to say it. However, before long, he steeled his resolve and spoke,

“I was thinking… about how to make the drinking party more… exciting, and,”

He tucked his quivering hand into his robe,

“I reserved a private room… where we could sing while we drink after dinner.”

And pulled out a leaflet for a certain bar.

“………”

For the second time that evening, everyone froze in silence. Marx truly was a capable man, and a very diligent one at that. Because he’s so capable, he arranged for the possibility of an afterparty. As a result……

“Wha……What are you doing, Marx-san!? Trying to make the party exciting with people like this…… that’s impossible, you know!!?”

Those insulting words came from Rill, who clung to Marx as he pleaded, his eyes wide with panic.

“Also, singing!? Are you insane!? Doing that with these people…… paints such a chaotic picture!”

“There’s no helping that! This was a last-minute decision, so I couldn’t find a reservation anywhere else! With people like this, I couldn’t simply reserve a restaurant that’s open to the public! We would disturb their business!”

Jack approached Rill and Marx with a glint in his eyes as they continued their insulting exchange.

“It’s fine, Rill~ You can sit between me and Charlotte. I can listen to all you’ve got to say. Kah kah,like what you really think of us, for example~”

Jack said as he put his hand on Rill’s shoulder.

“Hey, Jack.  I never agreed to going to such a place…..”

Charlotte retorted with an indignant look on her face.

“Huh, what’s with you? Sounds interestin’ to me. I’m going~”

“……Wha?”

Charlotte whipped her head around and responded in a voice several notes higher than her usual range when she heard Yami say he was going. Then, she lightly coughed and said,

“W-well, as I said earlier, since it’s hard to say what a group of stupid men might do…... I-I’ll come, too!”

Hearing this made Yami and Jack turn pale.

“……L-like I said earlier, what’s with you today!? You’re after my life, aren’t ya!? If you’re gonna kill me, just make it quick! Just stop doin’ all this weird stuff to keep me in suspense!!”

“C-calm down, Yami! You just need to offer her something as a sacrifice…. Okay, let’s offer her the deer kid!”

“You bastards… stop fooling a-……! I-I understand. If that’s what you say, then I’ll grant your wish and end your lives right here. Prepare yourself…… Rill.”

“Wait, why are you starting with me!?”

“Ha ha! Everyone, let’s calm down for a bit.”

Vangeance interjected with a wry smile just as a chaotic atmosphere began to drift in the air. He then turned toward Julius.

“The one who proposed we have this dinner party was the Wizard King. I believe that deciding whether we go to the afterparty or not should be left to him.”

With those words, everyone’s eyes were on Julius.

“…..Hmmm. Let’s see.”

Rill’s eyes were full of tears. Nozel’s eyes were full of disgust at the idea of having to go. Marx had a pleading look in his eyes. Yami’s eyes were telling him to do whatever the hell he wants. Looking at all the different thoughts reflected in their eyes, Julius happily scratched his head and said,

“…Well then, we’re all here, so let’s go.”

 And so, the afterparty from hell began.

 --- The End ---

Afterparty!? With singing!? Ahhhh, this chapter ends too soon….

Did anyone else find Nozel very relatable in this chapter? The dude just wanted to go home.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. My next target is the 3rd novel, the Book of Yuno. So, expect to see a translation for chapter 1 of that book next week!

[hockeysweetheart]

My point of this is literally anything Romantic with Gale Peeta’s name isn’t far behind...  I mean who can blame her .... 

Catching Fire Chapter 2

Then I looked up and there he was, ten feet away, just watching me. Without even thinking, I jumped up and threw my arms around him, making some weird sound that combined laughing, choking, and crying. He was holding me so tightly that I couldn't see his face, but it was a really long time before he let me go and then he didn't have much choice, because I'd gotten this unbelievably loud case of the hiccups and had to get a drink. We did what we always did that day. Ate breakfast. Hunted and fished and gathered. Talked about people in town. But not about us, his new life in the mines, my time in the arena. Just about other things. By the time we were at the hole in the fence that's nearest the Hob, I think I really believed that things could be the same. That we could go on as we always had. I'd given all the game to Gale to trade since we had so much food now. I told him I'd skip the Hob, even though I was looking forward to going there, because my mother and sister didn't even know I'd gone hunting and they'd be wondering where I was. Then suddenly, as I was suggesting I take over the daily snare run, he took my face in his hands and kissed me. I was completely unprepared. You would think that after all the hours I'd spent with Gale - watching him talk and laugh and frown - that I would know all there was to know about his lips. But I hadn't imagined how warm they would feel pressed against my own. Or how those hands, which could set the most intricate of snares, could as easily entrap me. I think I made some sort of noise in the back of my throat, and I vaguely remember my fingers, curled tightly closed, resting on his chest. Then he let go and said, "I had to do that. At least once." And he was gone. Despite the fact that the sun was setting and my family would be worried, I sat by a tree next to the fence. I tried to decide how I felt about the kiss, if I had liked it or resented it, but all I really remembered was the pressure of Gale's lips and the scent of the oranges that still lingered on his skin. It was pointless comparing it with the many kisses I'd exchanged with Peeta. I still hadn't figured out if any of those counted. Finally I went home. That week I managed the snares and dropped off the meat with Hazelle. But I didn't see Gale until Sunday. I had this whole speech worked out, about how I didn't want a boyfriend and never planned on marrying, but I didn't end up using it. Gale acted as if the kiss had never happened. Maybe he was waiting for me to say something. Or kiss him back. Instead I just pretended it had never happened, either. But it had. Gale had shattered some invisible barrier between us and, with it, any hope I had of resuming our old, uncomplicated friendship. Whatever I pretended, I could never look at his lips in quite the same way.

Chapter 7 Catching Fire 

"I've heard enough for the moment. Let's skip ahead to this plan of yours," he says. I take a deep breath. "We run away." "What?" he asks. This has actually caught him off guard. "We take to the woods and make a run for it," I say. His face is impossible to read. Will he laugh at me, dismiss this as foolishness? I rise in agitation, preparing for an argument. "You said yourself you thought that we could do it! That morning of the reaping. You said - " He steps in and I feel myself lifted off the ground. The room spins, and I have to lock my arms around Gale's neck to brace myself. He's laughing, happy. "Hey!" I protest, but I'm laughing, too. Gale sets me down but doesn't release his hold on me. "Okay, let's run away," he says. "Really? You don't think I'm mad? You'll go with me?" Some of the crushing weight begins to lift as it transfers to Gale's shoulders. "I do think you're mad and I'll still go with you," he says. He means it. Not only means it but welcomes it. "We can do it. I know we can. Let's get out of here and never come back!" "You're sure?" I say. "Because it's going to be hard, with the kids and all. I don't want to get five miles into the woods and have you - " "I'm sure. I'm completely, entirely, one hundred percent sure." He tilts his forehead down to rest against mine and pulls me closer. His skin, his whole being, radiates heat from being so near the fire, and I close my eyes, soaking in his warmth. I breathe in the smell of snow-dampened leather and smoke and apples, the smell of all those wintry days we shared before the Games. I don't try to move away. Why should I, anyway? His voice drops to a whisper. "I love you." That's why. I never see these things coming. They happen too fast. One second you're proposing an escape plan and the next... you're expected to deal with something like this. I come up with what must be the worst possible response. "I know." It sounds terrible. Like I assume he couldn't help loving me but that I don't feel anything in return. Gale starts to draw away, but I grab hold of him. "I know! And you... you know what you are to me." It's not enough. He breaks my grip. "Gale, I can't think about anyone that way now. All I can think about, every day, every waking minute since they drew Prim's name at the reaping, is how afraid I am. And there doesn't seem to be room for anything else. If we could get somewhere safe, maybe I could be different. I don't know." I can see him swallowing his disappointment. "So, we'll go. We'll find out." He turns back to the fire, where the chestnuts are beginning to burn. He flips them out onto the hearth. "My mother's going to take some convincing." I guess he's still going, anyway. But the happiness has fled, leaving an all-too-familiar strain in its place. "Mine, too. I'll just have to make her see reason. Take her for a long walk. Make sure she understands we won't survive the alternative." "She'll understand. I watched a lot of the Games with her and Prim. She won't say no to you," says Gale. "I hope not." The temperature in the house seems to have dropped twenty degrees in a matter of seconds. "Haymitch will be the real challenge." "Haymitch?" Gale abandons the chestnuts. "You're not asking him to come with us?" "I have to, Gale. I can't leave him and Peeta because they'd - " His scowl cuts me off. "What?" "I'm sorry. I didn't realize how large our party was," he snaps at me.

"They'd torture them to death, trying to find out where I was," I say.

"What about Peeta's family? They'll never come. In fact, they probably couldn't wait to inform on us. Which I'm sure he's smart enough to realize. What if he decides to stay?" he asks.

I try to sound indifferent, but my voice cracks. "Then he stays."

"You'd leave him behind?" Gale asks.

"To save Prim and my mother, yes," I answer. "I mean, no! I'll get him to come."

"And me, would you leave me?" Gale's expression is rock hard now. "Just if, for instance, I can't convince my mother to drag three young kids into the wilderness in winter."

"Hazelle won't refuse. She'll see sense," I say.

"Suppose she doesn't, Katniss. What then?" he demands.

"Then you have to force her, Gale. Do you think I'm making this stuff up?" My voice is rising in anger as well.

"No. I don't know. Maybe the president's just manipulating you. I mean, he's throwing your wedding. You saw how the Capitol crowd reacted. I don't think he can afford to kill you. Or Peeta. How's he going to get out of that one?" says Gale.

"Well, with an uprising in District Eight, I doubt he's spending much time choosing my wedding cake!" I shout.

The instant the words are out of my mouth I want to reclaim them. Their effect on Gale is immediate - the flush on his cheeks, the brightness of his gray eyes. "There's an uprising in Eight?" he says in a hushed voice. I try to backpedal. To defuse him, as I tried to defuse the districts. "I don't know if it's really an uprising. There's unrest. People in the streets - " I say. Gale grabs my shoulders. "What did you see?" "Nothing! In person. I just heard something." As usual, it's too little, too late. I give up and tell him. "I saw something on the mayor's television. I wasn't supposed to. There was a crowd, and fires, and the Peacekeepers were gunning people down but they were fighting back. ..." I bite my lip and struggle to continue describing the scene. Instead I say aloud the words that have been eating me up inside. "And it's my fault, Gale. Because of what I did in the arena. If I had just killed myself with those berries, none of this would've happened. Peeta could have come home and lived, and everyone else would have been safe, too." "Safe to do what?" he says in a gentler tone. "Starve? Work like slaves? Send their kids to the reaping? You haven't hurt people - you've given them an opportunity. They just have to be brave enough to take it. There's already been talk in the mines. People who want to fight. Don't you see? It's happening! It's finally happening! If there's an uprising in District Eight, why not here? Why not everywhere? This could be it, the thing we've been - " "Stop it! You don't know what you're saying. The Peacekeepers outside of Twelve, they're not like Darius, or even Cray! The lives of district people - they mean less than nothing to them!" I say. "That's why we have to join the fight!" he answers harshly. "No! We have to leave here before they kill us and a lot of other people, too!" I'm yelling again, but I can't understand why he's doing this. Why doesn't he see what's so undeniable? Gale pushes me roughly away from him. "You leave, then. I'd never go in a million years." "You were happy enough to go before. I don't see how an uprising in District Eight does anything but make it more important that we leave. You're just mad about - " No, I can't throw Peeta in his face. "What about your family?" "What about the other families, Katniss? The ones who can't run away? Don't you see? It can't be about just saving us anymore. Not if the rebellion's begun!" Gale shakes his head, not hiding his disgust with me. "You could do so much." He throws Cinna's gloves at my feet. "I changed my mind. I don't want anything they made in the Capitol." And he's gone.

Chapter 8 Catching Fire 

Does everyone look younger asleep? Because right now he could be the boy I ran into in the woods years ago, the one who accused me of stealing from his traps. What a pair we were - fatherless, frightened, but fiercely committed, too, to keeping our families alive. Desperate, yet no longer alone after that day, because we'd found each other. I think of a hundred moments in the woods, lazy afternoons fishing, the day I taught him to swim, that time I twisted my knee and he carried me home. Mutually counting on each other, watching each other's backs, forcing each other to be brave. For the first time, I reverse our positions in my head. I imagine watching Gale volunteering to save Rory in the reaping, having him torn from my life, becoming some strange girl's lover to stay alive, and then coming home with her. Living next to her. Promising to marry her. The hatred I feel for him, for the phantom girl, for everything, is so real and immediate that it chokes me. Gale is mine. I am his. Anything else is unthinkable. Why did it take him being whipped within an inch of his life to see it? Because I'm selfish. I'm a coward. I'm the kind of girl who, when she might actually be of use, would run to stay alive and leave those who couldn't follow to suffer and die. This is the girl Gale met in the woods today. No wonder I won the Games. No decent person ever does. You saved Peeta, I think weakly. But now I question even that. I knew good and well that my life back in District 12 would be unlivable if I let that boy die. I rest my head forward on the edge of the table, overcome with loathing for myself. Wishing I had died in the arena. Wishing Seneca Crane had blown me to bits the way President Snow said he should have when I held out the berries. The berries. I realize the answer to who I am lies in that handful of poisonous fruit. If I held them out to save Peeta because I knew I would be shunned if I came back without him, then I am despicable. If I held them out because I loved him, I am still self-centered, although forgivable. But if I held them out to defy the Capitol, I am someone of worth. The trouble is, I don't know exactly what was going on inside me at that moment. Could it be the people in the districts are right? That it was an act of rebellion, even if it was an unconscious one? Because, deep down, I must know it isn't enough to keep myself, or my family, or my friends alive by running away. Even if I could. It wouldn't fix anything. It wouldn't stop people from being hurt the way Gale was today. Life in District 12 isn't really so different from life in the arena. At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead. The hard thing is finding the courage to do it. Well, it's not hard for Gale. He was born a rebel. I'm the one making an escape plan. "I'm so sorry," I whisper. I lean forward and kiss him. His eyelashes flutter and he looks at me through a haze of opiates. "Hey, Catnip." "Hey, Gale," I say. "Thought you'd be gone by now," he says. My choices are simple. I can die like quarry in the woods or I can die here beside Gale. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay right here and cause all kinds of trouble." "Me, too," Gale says. He just manages a smile before the drugs pull him back under.

Chapter  9 Mockingjay 

By the time we reach the town square, afternoon's sinking into evening. I take Cressida to the rubble of the bakery and ask her to film something. The only emotion I can muster is exhaustion. "Peeta, this is your home. None of your family has been heard of since the bombing. Twelve is gone. And you're calling for a cease-fire?" I look across the emptiness. "There's no one left to hear you." As we stand before the lump of metal that was the gallows, Cressida asks if either of us has ever been tortured. In answer, Gale pulls off his shirt and turns his back to the camera. I stare at the lash marks, and again hear the whistling of the whip, see his bloody figure hanging unconscious by his wrists. "I'm done," I announce. "I'll meet you at the Victor's Village. Something for...my mother." I guess I walked here, but the next thing I'm conscious of is sitting on the floor in front of the kitchen cabinets of our house in the Victor's Village. Meticulously lining ceramic jars and glass bottles into a box. Placing clean cotton bandages between them to prevent breaking. Wrapping bunches of dried flowers. Suddenly, I remember the rose on my dresser. Was it real? If so, is it still up there? I have to resist the temptation to check. If it's there, it will only frighten me all over again. I hurry with my packing. When the cabinets are empty, I rise to find that Gale has materialized in my kitchen. It's disturbing how soundlessly he can appear. He's leaning on the table, his fingers spread wide against the wood grain. I set the box between us. "Remember?" he asks. "This is where you kissed me." So the heavy dose of morphling administered after the whipping wasn't enough to erase that from his consciousness. "I didn't think you'd remember that," I say. "Have to be dead to forget. Maybe even not then," he tells me. "Maybe I'll be like that man in 'The Hanging Tree.' Still waiting for an answer." Gale, who I have never seen cry, has tears in his eyes. To keep them from spilling over, I reach forward and press my lips against his. We taste of heat, ashes, and misery. It's a surprising flavor for such a gentle kiss. He pulls away first and gives me a wry smile. "I knew you'd kiss me." "How?" I say. Because I didn't know myself. "Because I'm in pain," he says. "That's the only way I get your attention." He picks up the box. "Don't worry, Katniss. It'll pass." He leaves before I can answer.

Chapter 14 Mockingjay 

Gale makes a sound of exasperation. Nonetheless, after we've dropped off the birds and volunteered to go back to the woods to gather kindling for the evening fire, I find myself wrapped in his arms. His lips brushing the faded bruises on my neck, working their way to my mouth. Despite what I feel for Peeta, this is when I accept deep down that he'll never come back to me. Or I'll never go back to him. I'll stay in 2 until it falls, go to the Capitol and kill Snow, and then die for my trouble. And he'll die insane and hating me. So in the fading light I shut my eyes and kiss Gale to make up for all the kisses I've withheld, and because it doesn't matter anymore, and because I'm so desperately lonely I can't stand it. Gale's touch and taste and heat remind me that at least my body's still alive, and for the moment it's a welcome feeling. I empty my mind and let the sensations run through my flesh, happy to lose myself. When Gale pulls away slightly, I move forward to close the gap, but I feel his hand under my chin. "Katniss," he says. The instant I open my eyes, the world seems disjointed. This is not our woods or our mountains or our way. My hand automatically goes to the scar on my left temple, which I associate with confusion. "Now kiss me." Bewildered, unblinking, I stand there while he leans in and presses his lips to mine briefly. He examines my face closely. "What's going on in your head?" "I don't know," I whisper back. "Then it's like kissing someone who's drunk. It doesn't count," he says with a weak attempt at a laugh. He scoops up a pile of kindling and drops it in my empty arms, returning me to myself. "How do you know?" I say, mostly to cover my embarrassment. "Have you kissed someone who's drunk?" I guess Gale could've been kissing girls right and left back in 12. He certainly had enough takers. I never thought about it much before. He just shakes his head. "No. But it's not hard to imagine." "So, you never kissed any other girls?" I ask. "I didn't say that. You know, you were only twelve when we met. And a real pain besides. I did have a life outside of hunting with you," he says, loading up with firewood. Suddenly, I'm genuinely curious. "Who did you kiss? And where?" "Too many to remember. Behind the school, on the slag heap, you name it," he says. I roll my eyes. "So when did I become so special? When they carted me off to the Capitol?" "No. About six months before that. Right after New Year's. We were in the Hob, eating some slop of Greasy Sae's. And Darius was teasing you about trading a rabbit for one of his kisses. And I realized...I minded," he tells me

I remember that day. Bitter cold and dark by four in the afternoon. We'd been hunting, but a heavy snow had driven us back into town. The Hob was crowded with people looking for refuge from the weather. Greasy Sae's soup, made with stock from the bones of a wild dog we'd shot a week earlier, was below her usual standards. Still, it was hot, and I was starving as I scooped it up, sitting cross-legged on her counter. Darius was leaning on the post of the stall, tickling my cheek with the end of my braid, while I smacked his hand away. He was explaining why one of his kisses merited a rabbit, or possibly two, since everyone knows redheaded men are the most virile. And Greasy Sae and I were laughing because he was so ridiculous and persistent and kept pointing out women around the Hob who he said had paid far more than a rabbit to enjoy his lips. "See? The one in the green muffler? Go ahead and ask her.If you need a reference." A million miles from here, a billion days ago, this happened. "Darius was just joking around," I say.

"Probably. Although you'd be the last to figure out if he wasn't," Gale tells me. "Take Peeta. Take me. Or even Finnick. I was starting to worry he had his eye on you, but he seems back on track now."

"You don't know Finnick if you think he'd love me," I say.Gale shrugs. "I know he was desperate. That makes people do all kinds of crazy things."I can't help thinking that's directed at me.

[my-miraculous-headcanons]

𝕮𝖆𝖙𝖋𝖎𝖘𝖍 : Part I

[Next] [AO3]

In all his seven years of being a pirate, Adrien had never been truly stunned enough to fully break character. 

The infamous Chat Noir had a reputation to uphold. Handsome though he may be, he was frequently described as a creature that crawled out of the very depths of hell. He showed no mercy, took pleasure in watching his victims beg, and was considered a strategical genius, although his strategies were borderline suicidal at times. (They always work, didn’t they?) With how often he danced upon the fine line between the dead and living, he even had rumors circling the far kingdoms of being immortal. 

Of course, what not many know is that pirates were typically theatrical. A lot of the fear they invoked from the masses was brought about by intentional performances, usually for the purpose of making their lives easier. Black Beard was a stellar example; Adrien knows the man likes to set the ends of his beard aflame before pillaging merchant ships, and really, who in their right mind would not comply to the demands of a man whose face is framed by hellfire? 

Yes, their performances may be considered overdramatic, but it’s effective. 

Which is why Adrien has never truly allowed himself to break character. As Chat Noir, he is dangerous, cocky, and clever. His crimes are typically large-scale, like defeating an entire fleet of 63 naval ships with just his one, or single-handedly taking control of an entire town and turning it into a pirate rest stop by faking the mayor’s death and impersonating his son. 

Hah. That last one is definitely one of his favourite adventures.

His crimes are big and loud and meant to truly broadcast just how much of a threat Chat Noir truly is, going hand-in-hand with the persona he had created. Naturally, this led him to, at some point, decide that robbing the seaside palace belonging to King Tom Dupain and Queen Sabine Cheng of Merveilleux was a fine idea. And, of course, kidnapping their only daughter to ensure a safe departure, just to add a little pizazz. 

Things did not go as planned, however. It was rare when things don’t go as planned.

It was even rarer to find a King, the type of men Adrien was used to being stoic bastards, break down into messy tears and bow at his feet.

“Please return my daughter,” he begged. “Please, I will give you anything you desire, you will be allowed to leave peacefully, but please, do not take my beautiful little girl away from me.”

Adrien, along with every member of his crew, were stunned.

“Uh,” Adrien— wait, no— Chat Noir said, darting his eyes around the vast throne room. “Are– Are you crying? Please stop doing that.”

For some reason, this makes King Tom sob even harder, leaning his head even further to the ground until his bow could go no lower.

“No, just. No. Get up.” 

He’s aware that he’s getting flustered, but he can’t find it in himself to care. He had expected many things to happen in this heist, but for the King to immediately bow before his feet was just... Not on the list of things he had considered feasible. He was wholly unprepared for this interaction, and taking a look at the faces of his crew, they look no more prepared than him.

This was just really uncomfortable.

Thankfully, Nino finally enters the throne room from the door directly behind the King, along with the three other crewmates he was given to retrieve Princess Marinette. The perfect distraction.

Nino was momentarily halted by the sight of the sobbing man in front of his Captain, but he continued to walk forward and whisper the news into his ear.

“We could not retrieve the package, sir,” he said. “We searched the entire castle. She’s nowhere to be found.”

And this is when things really started to get confusing.

“What the actual fuck,” he says, not really caring if the King hears him or not. “He’s begging for her return, Carapace. He’s already gotten news of her kidnapping, and we didn’t tell him. Her Majesty was already passed out on the throne from the news. Look at her! She was like that before we even got here!”

Just as he said, Queen Sabine sat unconscious on her throne, tear tracks staining her cheeks. He’s thankful, truly, that she is no longer awake, because if she’s anything like her husband, Chat wasn’t confident that he’d be able to handle their combined blubbering. 

“I don’t know what to tell you, Captain,” Nino says, grimacing down at the sobbing father. “It wasn’t us.”

That drastically changes things.

Without Princess Marinette physically being in their possession, they cannot promise to drop her at the nearest port in return for their safe departure. A lie like that could end up with the King believing that they either kept her or killed her, breaking the deal, and would result in him sending out every single ship at his disposal in order to eradicate Chat Noir and his crew. A fleet of 63 ships was one thing, but having hundreds of ships on their tail? Really, really bad.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Chat Noir snaps at the King. “Get up! Stop your crying and begging, I’m sick of it! Are you a king or are you an infant? Up, up!”

King Tom scrambles to right himself, once again surprising the pirates. It was difficult to tell, with him pressed so far to the ground, but now it was evident that the man was easily the tallest and the beefiest man in the room. However, with his eyes so red, and the way he sniffles miserably, he still somehow managed to make himself seem rather small.

A part of Adrien is envious of Princess Marinette. Seven years ago, he remembers the way his own father had reacted in the face of his only son’s disappearance. Cold, impassive. Just like most noblemen.

“We do not have your daughter,” he says, clearly catching the King by surprise. “I won’t deny that we planned it, but unfortunately, that didn’t seem to pan out. We are only here to take whatever valuables we can find, and leave.”

“There is nothing more valuable in this palace than my beloved daughter,” the man whispers to himself. “I... I do not care what you take. Strip the walls bare for all I care. It does not matter.”

The King turns, drags his feet as he approaches his wife, and kneels before her. He takes her hands, buries his face into her lap, and shakes.

Adrien knows he isn’t the only person in the room that feels very, very guilty at the sight. They may not have personally kidnapped the girl themselves, but there’s no denying that if she had been taken just recently, then the ones responsible for poking holes in the castle’s defense and making her kidnapping possible was them. 

“Your guard is incompetent,” Chat says, causing the King to look over his shoulder. “They rely on numbers to make up for the fact that, in one-on-one confrontations, they fight predictably with the use of chivalrous technique that typically leaves them open to attack. They have no concept of the idea of fighting dirty, their speed suffers for the sake of accuracy despite the former clearly being more important than the latter, they have no control over their emotions and their presentation, which makes them appear as weak as they are, and their uniforms are impractical and a hinderance in their performance. They favour—”

“What good does that do me?!”

The King was towering him in seconds, his roar loud enough to make the walls tremor. In that instant, and just for that instant, Adrien felt genuine fear, and had taken a step back at the furious gleam in the King’s eyes.

“My daughter is gone! My guard has already failed! What use is this knowledge to me when the worst possible outcome has already been reached? I cannot pull off a miracle and get them in shape fast enough to save her! By that time, she could already be dead! There was no ransom, no demands, they must be... She could be...”

Just as King Tom began to wilt as his mind ran wild with the possible fates of his daughter, Chat Noir intervened with a confident smirk.

“True, you could not pull off that miracle. Your guard is incompetent and have no chance at retrieving her. However,” Chat’s grin is wide and devious. “We do. Tell me, your Majesty, you are capable of paying in more than just things like diamonds and gold, are you not? Say, immunity in your country, land, unlimited supplies, ships, and more?”

“I, er,” the King stutters, opening and closing his mouth reminicent to a fish. “I can only go as far as to promise pardon for past crimes, but as for the rest of your demands... Yes. Yes, I am capable of that.”

“Well then,” Chat Noir holds his hand out. “I think we can come to a deal, don’t you agree? Land, supplies, ships, and official pardon for our past crimes... in exchange for the return of your daughter.”

Without even a second of hesitation, the King takes hold of the Captain’s hand, shaking it firmly.

“Deal.”