#I Was Sleepy & Then Had To Figure Out How To Properly Explain This

[thesoulesscollection]

Soul, I must have missed it, but what happened to Choc's mouth?

Ooh, I don't think I've ever explained this in posts about him so here it is. Also, I realized that Choc has a lot of mouth trauma. Though I'm still working out his entire design, it may not be the most accurate representation. 

If anyone else wants to know more about him I don't mind sharing some ‘lore’ of Choc. 

There've been a lot of unreliable stories that float around the clan about how he got them, how he got all his scars in general but those around his face are the one that drew in the most attention for people. Now it's relatively unknown which is the true story in the midst of the fabrication as Choc himself tends to play along. He's a good storyteller and can do so with a straight, poker face. 

Sometime in his late thirties it'd appeared to have happened during his long stint away from the clan. He offhandedly detailed it as  needing too serious other than having to help his sister and that stuff went down. But in his return came the fresh gnarly scars traveling up his face up his cheekbone like a mockery of a smile. It wasn't the only thing though as his teeth have been replaced with a gold set,  then both his tongue and gums were stained a permanent black color. Overall people find his smile creepily uncanny and grossly weird while others simply got used to it, finding him to be the same goofy old man.

Though over time, people did smarten up, to realize it's likely to be an illness that went to affect him. An ailment that affected his taste and overall hunger when he suddenly lost a hugely unhealthy amount of weight and muscle. 

Weird and gross fact; he can actually open up his mouth a lot like a snake unhinging its jaw with his tongue being abnormally longer than normal. 

[floralcyanide]

― 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚜 (nsfw)

⌯ pairing: bale!bruce wayne / afab!reader ⌯ warnings: smut, unprotected sex, penetrative sex, oral sex (f receiving), overstimulation, fingering, nipple play, friends to lovers, love confessions, mentions of fear toxin (dcu), no gender affirming language other than anatomy description ⌯ word count: 2.5k ⌯ summary: based on these prompts: “I dreamed of your legs wrapped around my waist.” and “How do you always end up under my blanket?” your best friend bruce wayne has been missing for a while. when he comes back, he has a confession to make. ⌯ author’s note: this took a little while to write because I wanted to write an actual fic for bale!bruce. I hope yall enjoy (:

divider credit: @arminsumi | @firefly-graphics | @cafekitsune ⌯ masterlist

this fic has been cross posted to ao3.

ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴘʏ, ʀᴇᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇ, ᴏʀ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀs ᴏɴ ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ, ᴀᴏ3, ᴡᴀᴛᴛᴘᴀᴅ, ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏ ᴡᴇʙsɪᴛᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ɪɴ ᴀɪ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀs ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʀᴛɪғɪᴄɪᴀʟ ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴄᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀʏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴜsᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ᴛᴏ sᴇʟʟ ғᴏʀ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

You’re busying yourself by folding laundry, trying your best to get your mind off your best friend Bruce. While his job is very demanding, and he goes away for a while sometimes, he’s never been gone this long. You’re beginning to worry- so much so that you’ve lost sleep and the ability to eat properly. But you know Bruce, and you know he’s resilient. It’s just a matter of time. But, of course, he was presumed dead for years before now, and that will always haunt you. So it’s not entirely irrational of you to worry.

A knock at your apartment door startles you out of your sleepy stupor. You set down the towel you were folding before shuffling to the entrance. You peek through the peephole to see none other than Bruce standing there. You swing the door open, and Bruce immediately wraps his arms around you. You do the same to him, holding him tightly, fearing that this is some hallucination from lack of sleep. Your face is buried in Bruce’s chest, and his scent tells you that this is real and he’s really here with you. 

“Where were you?” you whisper, tears threatening to spill from your eyes.

It had been quite a few days of radio silence from Bruce. You know he’s Batman, and he keeps you updated on his safety status. But he, of course, doesn’t tell you details of the villains and crimes for your safety. You’re his childhood best friend, so you knew he was Batman before he even told you. The day he told you, you just laughed. “I know, Bruce.” But you were still very concerned about his well-being after trying to approach one of his enemies. 

“One of the guys I was after had a toxin,” Bruce pulls away from you, looking around to ensure no one would hear, “It got to me.”

You furrow your eyebrow, “Come in.”

Bruce enters your apartment, waiting for you to close and lock the door. He shoves his hands into his pockets, unsure of whether or not he should explain the situation at all. But he knows he owes you an explanation. 

“A toxin, huh?” you ask, crossing your arms as you lean against the door.

“Fear toxin.” Bruce clarifies, “It makes you hear and see the things you fear the most, but they aren’t really there.”

You shudder, “That sounds horrifying. And you said you experienced it? How long did it last?”

“I was out for a few days while Alfred worked with someone to make an antidote. I saw things. Things I didn’t want to.”

You pull away from the door and slowly walk to Bruce, “Do you want to talk about it?”

Bruce looks at you as you stand before him, “No, but I probably should anyway. Considering the things I was seeing.”

You pull the sides of Bruce’s jacket together, holding onto them as you search his eyes. They’re different, and you figure it’s from whatever he experienced from the fear toxin.

“What did you see, Bruce?”

Bruce grimaces with a nervous laugh, “Are you sure you want to know?”

You look at him and nod, still clutching his jacket. 

“I saw you,” Bruce sighs, shaking his head, “Something kept hurting you and killing you over and over. And there was nothing I could do to stop it.”

You stare up at Bruce with a frown etched on your face at the thought of your best friend feeling helpless. 

“That sounds awful,” you say.

“It just made me think about a lot and realize things I didn’t see before.”

Bruce turns his thoughts over carefully, choosing what exactly to say next. He had always loved you, sure. But Bruce never thought of it as a romantic thing. Not until the fear toxin made him see things and feel things he had never felt or seen before. He wants to protect and care for you so you never have to go through what he saw you go through. Even though it isn’t plausible that you would, Bruce still wants what is best for you because he does love you. A little more now than he did before. You, on the other hand, have always loved Bruce. You've been enthralled with his presence since you were kids playing in the Wayne Manor backyard. Everything he did amazed you, especially now with him helping the people of Gotham. His intelligence, softness, even the cockiness he sometimes lets seep through. Even before, when he was a slightly bratty rich guy, you loved him. Bruce's absence for days has made your feelings for him more intense. With love comes worry and concern.

“And what would that be?” you ask.

Bruce pulls your hands from his jacket, enveloping them in his, “You’ve always been here for me, and I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner. I love you and will always do anything to protect you.”

“I love you too, Bruce,” you say back, not realizing the total weight of his words.

“No,” he says, “I really do. It’s taken me this long to see, but I do love you. And not like a best friend.”

Your face softens, “Bruce, you don’t mean that-”

“No, I do mean it,” he says, squeezing your hands.

There’s a pregnant pause before Bruce slowly leans down to capture your lips with his in a swift, gentle motion. The world seems to stop around the two of you, the sirens outside quieting and the sound of your washing machine fading away. Bruce lets go of you and cradles your head in his hands, deepening the passionate-turning kiss. You wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him ever closer. Bruce slips his tongue past your lips, battling yours for dominance, which you gladly let him take. He guides you backward until the base of your spine is pressed against the kitchen counter. Bruce moves his grasp from your hair to your thighs, where he hikes them up around his waist. He smiles into the kiss, and you pick up on it.

“What?” you ask, pulling away briefly.

“I dreamed of your legs wrapped around my waist.”

You feel a warmth spread along your ears at that confession. Trailing your palms up Bruce’s neck and past his jaw to his cheeks, you stare into his eyes. A smile spreads across his face into slight laughter, to which you mirror. 

“What else have you dreamed of, Bruce?”

“Want me to show you?”

A nod of your head leads to Bruce walking you to your bedroom, still perched on his waist. He gently lies you down on the bed before climbing over you, his strong arms on either side of your head. He lowers himself onto you to kiss you again, his weight on his forearms by your ears. Bruce then moves to your jaw, teasing you with small kisses and nips. You can’t help but giggle at the feeling of his stubble on your skin, tickling it. Bruce travels down your neck and then down to your torso, where he lifts your shirt and kisses your stomach. You watch with content as he tugs your shirt over his head so he can reach higher to your breasts. You don’t wear a bra when at home, so Bruce has easy access to them. He softly kisses your skin, avoiding the areas you want him most. You open your mouth to joke about it, but before you can say a word, his fingers pinch one of your nipples as he lays his head by the other. Bruce shoves your shirt to your shoulders, resuming his previous position of pressing his cheek to your left breast and toying with the right one with his hand. With a slight movement of his head, Bruce is now suckling your unoccupied bud. Your hips buck into his stomach, and you feel his length growing hard against your leg. Bruce gazes up at you through his lashes, his eyes a little darker than before. Your hand finds its way to his hair, fingers tangling themselves in it. 

Bruce tweaks your nipple with his teeth as he rolls the other with his fingers, making electricity jolt through you. A gasp leaves your lips at the sensation, your grip on Bruce’s hair tightening briefly. He leaves open-mouthed kisses along your breasts before moving down your sternum and stomach, toying with the hem of your sweatpants. Bruce glances up at you to ask for permission, and you nod.

“You can touch me.”

Bruce pulls your sweatpants down, and you kick them off the rest of the way. He bites and licks the skin of your thighs before cupping your clothed heat with his mouth. Bruce flattens his tongue against you, dragging it upward against the cotton material of your underwear. You whine at the contact, wanting something a little more direct. With your hands still in Bruce’s hair, you remove them, moving them to pull down the barrier between you and Bruce’s mouth. He helps you with a knowing smirk. He softly kisses your clit before letting his tongue delve into your wetness, a sharp inhale through your nose letting him know it feels good. You would be lying if you had said you hadn’t thought of this exact moment before. Bruce steadies your hips with his hands, his fingers digging into your flesh. When the tip of his tongue comes in contact with your bundle of sensitive nerves, you attempt to buck your hips up to no avail. Bruce is incredibly strong, so you had no chance of moving. But he begins to guide your hips up and down, making you ride his tongue on his own accord. You move with what he’ll allow along with his guidance, and pleasure flowers through you. Bruce coaxes a finger into you, the feeling of him exploring you with it making you moan loudly. When he finds your spot, he adds another finger to circle it slowly. You gasp, biting your lip to keep from moaning too loud again.

“No,” Bruce shakes head, pulling away from you and stopping his movements, “I want to hear you, sweetheart.”

“Fine,” you exhale, hands clutching the bed sheets.

Bruce resumes pumping his fingers in and out of you while pressing his fingertips to your spot every now and then, eliciting noises from you that you’ve never let out with anyone else. He laps at your clit simultaneously, and he allows you to move your hips freely as he spreads your legs with his free hand. You feel yourself becoming lost in pleasure, your head cloudy and letting out noises without a second thought. Bruce feels you tightening around his fingers, signaling you’re close to release. So, he pulls away from you and sits up on his knees. You wriggle at the loss of his fingers, but he quickly replaces them with the tip of his hardened length. Bruce holds you still with one hand as he drags himself up and down your weeping cunt with the other. You pull your shirt the rest of the way off as Bruce slowly pushes himself inside you. Giving you a moment to adjust, he peels off his own shirt and tosses it before continuing to thrust slowly into you. 

When he’s entirely inside, he notices you taking deep breaths, “All good?”

“Yeah,” you nod, “It’s just been a while.”

That and Bruce is well endowed, so you have to relax fully to take him comfortably. When you finally feel comfortable enough to move, you give your hips an experimental roll. Both you and Bruce groan at the feeling, to which Bruce pulls out a little before pushing back in. 

“Don’t be shy, Bruce,” you joke, “You can go faster.”

“Be careful what you wish for,” Bruce smiles deviously down at you.

He picks your legs up and lays them on his shoulders before he begins to pound into you, leaving you gasping for air. You grip Bruce’s biceps, his rhythm is merciless as your bed frame squeaks underneath you. He moves you upward to the pillows so you can rest your head on them and so he can grip the headboard for leverage. Bruce’s hips snap forward rapidly, just as he assured, and he has to put a pillow above your head so it doesn’t slam into the bedframe. Your moans are incoherent at this point, and your eyes are wound shut.

“Look at me, babe,” Bruce says, moving a hand from your thigh to your cheek, bringing you out of your fog.

You open your eyes to gaze into his, Bruce pressing his chest to yours and fucking you at a new angle as he puts his forehead against yours. You gasp and pant into each other’s mouth before finally embracing in a heated kiss. Deciding to switch up the angle, Bruce removes your legs from his shoulders and spreads them apart as far as they go. You howl into the kiss as Bruce hits that spot inside you, driving you crazy. 

“Right there, Bruce,” you manage to stutter, “Right there!”

He hooks his arms under your knees, slamming you against him even harder than before. Bruce presses a thumb to your clit, rubbing tight circles into it. You curse, no longer caring if your neighbors hear you or your bed slamming into the wall. Heat builds up in your belly as you struggle to maintain eye contact with Bruce, stars flooding your vision. He hits that spot inside you harder than before, sending you over the edge in a snap. Your walls clench around Bruce, causing his orgasm to unfold shortly behind yours. The feeling of him emptying into you coaxes your release to last longer, and Bruce not letting up on your clit adds to the overstimulation. You cry out as another orgasm washes over you, and Bruce hisses from his own overstimulation. He curses under his breath as he pulls out of you, hurrying to your closet for a towel. Bruce cleans the two of you up as you work to bring yourself back to Earth. 

“That,” you say, Bruce hovering over you, “was amazing.”

“You’re amazing,” Bruce says, and you both laugh at his cheesiness.

Rolling over to lie next to you, Bruce pulls the blanket on his side of the bed over him, and you do the same. But the ownership of blankets doesn’t last long as you cuddle. You manage to pull Bruce’s blanket over to your side, much like you used to when you were both younger. You had sleepovers a lot, and you’d always somehow end up stealing Bruce’s blanket.

“How do you always end up under my blanket?” Bruce sighs.

You peek at him, opening your closed eyes momentarily before shrugging, stifling a laugh. Bruce pulls your head into his neck before kissing your hair, allowing you to doze off. Even if the things he saw during the toxin’s hold on him were disturbing, at least it allowed him to see things more clearly and find his way to you. 

[revelboo]

I've been reduced to checking your page everytime I open tumblr just to see if there's a new Starscream post (you're feeding my obsession, please continue) (ily and your writing)

Aww! Thank you!

I’m dropping the taglist, since it’s apparently not behaving properly anyway and I greatly overestimated my motivation and ability to remember to monitor and keep it updated anyway. I’m not savvy enough for such things. My unorganized, goblin brain just wants to write.

Everything is Alright Pt 33

Starscream x Reader- home

• Wings trembling as he slowly shifts, he comes out of recharge by degrees, his head rolling forward and he groans as he bumps his helm on something hard. A building? It takes a few confused moments to remember where he is. Why he’s sprawled in the grass. And to feel the spot of warmth in the palm of his hand shift. Optics flicking down he just stares at the tightly curled nest of pillows, blankets, and soft human laying in his upturned palm and tries to figure out how you’d managed that without him noticing.

• What he does notice? The way you’re curled as tightly in a ball as you can get and the fact that you’re shivering from cold. You’d discovered him and still chosen spent the night outside with him even though it’s far too cold for you? Because you’d wanted to be near him. As he curls his servos, you stretch out an arm from your cocoon and grab at him. Like you’re afraid he’s going to leave again and you think you can hold onto him. Venting softly, he curls his servos more firmly about you.

• Shivering in the chill morning air, you lift your head to see him watching you. It’s his expression that pulls at you, he almost looks perplexed like he can’t figure you out. The feeling’s mutual. Why ditch you only to follow and spy on you unless it was some sort of test? Unless he’d been trying to do the right thing and hadn’t really wanted to follow through. “You left me,” you say, hating how sullen those words sound. Like he owes you something.

• “I did.” He lifts you closer to his chassis, cupping you against him until that shivering lessens and you lean into him and his heat. How to explain that it had been to keep you safe, but he was too selfish to just let you go? His little caged bird almost sounds hurt at being freed. Like you think you’d been abandoned. Unwanted. Running a servo over your hair as you lean into him, he tries to think of an excuse, a lie, but can’t. No, doesn’t want to lie to you. “I wanted to protect you.”

• He feels you press your cheek against him and wonders if you can hear the thrum of his spark like he feels your little heartbeat. Does that rhythm soothe you the same way? A now familiar sound you need and search out because it means everything is okay? “Maybe I don’t want to be protected,” you mumble, voice sleepy as you touch his canopy and idly trace spirals on him to make his wings shudder, because surely you don’t understand he can feel that. When he looks down, your eyes are closed. Almost asleep against him, lulled by his heat. “Maybe I just want to go home, Star.”

• Home. The words feel right even as you say them. He stiffens against you, the servos cupping you to him pressing you tighter until you slap a hand on his canopy cause you can’t breathe. He’s staring down at you as you frown right back, too sleepy to figure out what that look is for. It’s cold and he’s warm. Safe. “Home,” he murmurs, shifting you in his grip so he can transform around you and the terror of that smacks you fully awake as you find yourself in his canopy. Willingly going back where you’re not an equal, but you’re needed as hilarious as it is, because this giant, alien robot does need you.

• “That human whose vehicle you got into. A friend?” He asks, watching you flinch and look around trying to figure out where to focus on. Seeing as you chew on your bottom lip in a tell he knows and rumbling around you as his turbines scream. Because you’d gotten into a vehicle with a stranger. Primus help him, you’re far too trusting. You need him to look after you. Warmth spreads through him to mix with the irritation that you’d do something that foolish. You need him to protect you, and he’s willing to fight for it. Even Megatron if need be to keep what’s his.

Previous Next

Early birthday present. I can’t assemble it until Saturday anyway, so that works out.

[ros3ybabe]

First Impressions 🎀

I've had 4 of my 5 classes so far (one doesn't start til october) and I definitely have some thoughts on them, so I thought I'd share my first impressions!

Principals of Accounting II:

the professor seems a bit disorganized, nervous, and semi chaotic but I like his energy

so many people in southern attire, I was a bit surprised

might take a decent amount of study time and energy to keep my grade up in the class, but I'm always up for a challenge and I definitely know I'm capable

gotta figure out a time efficient study routine for this class

Learning (Psychology)

professor has an accent, no idea where he's from, but it's a cool and thankfully understandable accent

feels very content heavy. I definitely want to buy the textbook for this class

need to find a way to stay awake, that's one of the classrooms that make me sleepy

that professor likes to talk for sure (1 hour and 15 min of just the syllabus? man's can talk)

Integrated Survey of Organic and Bio Chemistry

the professor is definitely a science guy, him being the professor makes perfect sense

i really like how he explains and teaches

appreciate that all the content needed is already posted to our class online and all the slides are available already

I love science based classes because I know how to succeed in them and this one seems no different

I have a friend in the class so that's nice!

Intro To Business (Online)

lots of content

lots to do

I gotta make sure I time manage for this class cause otherwise, I'm gonna fall behind

an introduction video?? why not just a discussion post?? ahhhhh

Overall, with working full time, this is going to be an incredibly stressful, incredibly busy semester, but I'm so up for the challenge, and I know I can do it. I just gotta study efficiently, time manage properly, and keep disciplined. I WILL be successful.

til next time lovelies 🩷

[waywardstation]

Don't Fall Asleep

Chapter 3

Ingo plays a card game with Akari while staying with her for a second night. They both hope everything goes as well as the first night.

FINALLY the chapter where Ingo and Akari find out what's really going on!!

CHAPTER 2 HERE

OR read on AO3!

BE AWARE this chapter involves a scene where Ingo experiences a fabricated death, and how it feels is described in an adequate amount of detail, if you as the reader want to be wary of or avoid that.

Enjoy!

—————

“Ok, next one. Would you rather…” Akari squinted at the card’s small print before blurting out a laugh. “A, perpetually feel itchy, or B, always feel like you’re about to sneeze?”

“Oh,” Ingo shook his head, laughing a little with her. “Both are horrible!” He thought about it intently, leaning his elbows against the table and resting his chin against his clasped hands.

The two of them sat at a table Akari had pulled out near her irori, surrounded by game cards scattered about from the many previous rounds before. The sun had long since set, and dinner had been finished a couple hours back; with Ingo’s tattered uniform folded up on top of his makeshift bed and Akari’s extra layers tucked away in her dresser, they had gotten comfortable, and had nothing left to do but play the game until they decided to sleep – which Ember had already since done, curled up and listening to them both from where she lay curled up in the blankets on Akari’s bed. 

“Hmmm… alright, I’ve got my answer.”

Akari then considered the pair of cards in her hand. Ingo could tell she was trying very hard to think like him and try and figure out his choice — if she guessed this one correctly, she’d win the game. She only needed one more point, but then again, he did too, so it was close.

Finally Akari picked out the second one, presenting it to Ingo; it had the letter ‘A’ on it.

“Incorrect!” He announced, causing Akari to smack her hands against the table enthusiastically (And inadvertently scare Ember out of her sleepy stupor).

“What? No way! You’d seriously rather need to sneeze forever?” She shouted at him. “That’s horrible!”

“It sounds favorable compared to constantly scratching at an itch that will not go away!” Ingo couldn’t keep his laugh out of his voice. “I just couldn’t go with that option.”

“Yeah, well, if you feel like you’re always about to sneeze, you’re always gonna be walking around taking those weird deep breaths and gasping,” Akari shot back at him, before imitating the buildup to a sneeze with dramatized expressions and noises. “Ah, ah, agh-! See? You’d look insane!”

Ingo only laughed again at her display, shaking his head. “Then it’s good that this is only a hypothetical choice, right? Alright, next one.”

He leaned forward to reach for the next card in the pile, holding it close to read it.

“Would you rather… wake up one day as A, a Slowpoke, or B, a Magikarp?” Ingo made a face at the question. “Hmm.”

“Oh, this one’s hard,” Akari hunched forward, face scrunched as she tried to decide. “Uhh… ok. I got it!”

Ingo then looked at his pair of choice cards. If he got this one right, he’d win. If not, Akari would have another chance to do so. He did not mind either outcome. With a bit of uncertainty, he held up the ‘B’ card.

“Nope!” Akari raised her hands up. “Wrong!”

“Well to be fair, I couldn’t recall what a ‘slowpoke’ was in order to properly assess,” Ingo excused himself.

“Oh, dang-” The celebration died down as Akari realized. Another card, while few and far between, had mentioned something that he couldn’t recognize. She should have picked up on that and discarded it or explained, but she had gotten too into the game, and Ingo never pointed it out, preferring to guess rather than stop everything just to have her explain. “You should have told me! They’re like these little pink guys. Uh, imagine like, if a bidoof was shaved.” She kept thinking. “And if it had a long tail. And big eyes, and curly ears, and these tiny pointy teeth!”

Ingo made a face at the horrific creature his mind conjured up. The description sounded sort of familiar, but surely what he imagined was much more hideous than the actual thing. 

“And you’d prefer that over a Magikarp? You’d have the opportunity to evolve into Gyarados.” He was well aware of Akari’s admiration for big, powerful Pokémon.

“Ok yeah, but Slowpoke’s evolutions have one thing that Gyarados doesn’t.” Akari held her hands up off the table, flexing her fingers open and closed. “Hands! Opposable digits!”

“Alright, fair point.” Ingo would also prefer those to fins regardless of how big or strong he’d be, he supposed. He’d have to ask if Akari could draw these Pokémon out for him later, but for now, he just set the card aside with the others. “Your turn to draw.”

“I’m gonna get this one right, prepare to lose!” Akari grabbed up the next card from the stack and held it close, like she didn’t want Ingo peeking before she read it – as if that would change anything. “Would you rather A, get married with clown makeup on your face, or B, give a huge speech on stage in your swimsuit?”

“Every card is just presenting two equally horrific scenarios!” Though he was more amused with it all than opposed to it. Repeating them to himself quietly, Ingo then weighed the options in his head. “Alright, I’ve got my answer.”

Looking down at her choice cards, Akari went between them, thinking hard again. She really wanted to get this one right and win, Ingo could tell as he waited and watched her. Finally, the teen held up the ‘B’ card for him to see.

Ingo let the tension hang for a moment before he clapped his hands together, a smile in his eyes. “Correct!”

“Really?” Akari gawked, as if she had expected to be wrong, but that quickly gave way to joy. “Yes!” 

But then joy gave way to mirthful curiosity; Akari leaned against the table with a big grin, thoroughly entertained with Ingo’s choice. “So you’d seriously rather do the swimsuit speech over the clown makeup wedding?”

“I have publicly spoken enough times by now to find it the significantly less stressful option… even in these hypothetical circumstances. And I could deal with hiding behind a podium while I spoke, if it meant I didn’t have to frame and hang up the results of the wedding photography.” Ingo defended his pick. “I am surprised you’re surprised, seeing as you bet on that choice.”

“I guessed! I didn’t know!” 

The earnest confession made Ingo laugh. He reached forward to begin collecting the cards. “Well, you won the game regardless, so congratulations to you, Miss Akari.”

“Can we play again?” Despite asking, Akari began to help Ingo, grabbing her piles and handing them to him as he stacked them all together. “One more game?”

Ingo considered it. While it was admittedly a very enjoyable game, and quick to play between only two people, it was getting late (the game’s addictiveness was entirely to blame, he was genuinely having fun), and unlike Akari, he did not adapt as well to altered sleeping hours – something he couldn’t let get any worse being as exhausted as he already was. “As enjoyable as it is, perhaps tomorrow we can continue; it may be best to mind our sleep schedules now.”

“Oh. Yeah, of course – I’m sorry.” The disappointment was superficial, quickly dissipating as Akari realized that Ingo had had sleep on his mind since this morning. He needed to get to bed.

Ingo handed Akari the full deck of cards, and she packed them away back into their box. Pushing her chair back, she got to her feet and went to put it away in her unit’s storage chest. They did play like, five games anyways, and she was kind of tired too. “But if we play again tomorrow, we gotta do it with Rei and the Professor, and Zisu too! I need to know how they’d answer some of these!”

As Akari put the game away, Ingo went to pick up the lanterns that they had set on the table.

“Done?” He looked over as Akari closed and locked the container. She nodded, so Ingo blew the set of lanterns out, one after the other. The room first dimmed, then darkened entirely, save for the few weak embers glowing in the sandpit.

The wood flooring creaked quietly as they headed for their beds. Akari gently lifted up a sleeping Ember just enough to slide beneath her covers, and Ingo moved his folded coat and hat over to get under his own blankets.

“I like these sleepovers,” Akari yawned from across the room. “We gotta do them more often. It’s more fun when one of us isn’t sick.”

She had a point, as most of the times he’d stayed over here, or she’d stayed with him, it had been when one of them had come down with something, and the other had come over to help out. Or when unfavorable weather had prevented them from getting back to their own places. Though, it seemed Akari had forgotten that he wasn’t staying over tonight just to play cards, he was staying here out of her own hopes that company and a different sleeping environment would prevent another instance of his recurring nightmare. So in a way, it sort of still felt the same.

“We can certainly schedule more in the future.” Was all he said instead.

"Goodnight, Ingo.” “Goodnight, Miss Akari.”

He had expected that to be it, but after a moment he heard Akari again in the darkness, quieter. “I hope being here, you sleep ok again tonight.”

So she hadn’t forgotten.

“Thank you, I hope so too.”

He really, really hoped so.

Ingo turned onto his side and pulled the blankets over his shoulder, up to his neck. His heavy eyes glanced around the dark room again – the simple walls, the wooden flooring, and the irori with its heated sandpit. It all didn't feel as foreign as the night before. There was no reason to feel guarded.

Ingo closed his eyes and settled into his pillow. Despite being hesitant about staying tonight, he was grateful for the company, and for the game that kept his mind entertained and focused on fun things. He was comfortable and relaxed. Last night was ok. Tonight would also be ok, and tomorrow would be too. 

–––––

Darkness, at some point, gave way to dim light.

Ingo sat up, rubbing his eyes again as the familiar sound of the starlys’ morning songs reached his ears. He looked over to see waking light filtering through the unit’s window, and once again Akari and Ember still laid fast asleep under it, curled up together.

Another night had been kind to him it seemed, and for that he was grateful. Very, very grateful.

Leaning into his knees, Ingo sat there in his gratitude, taking in the gentle sounds of the morning until he became aware of the dull, empty ache in his stomach. He glanced over at Akari a second time — she had wanted him to make those pancakes again, hadn’t she? Now would be a good time to start on that.

As quietly as he could, Ingo once again got up, got dressed, and slipped through the door to head over to Choy’s store for some fresh ingredients.

The air was crisp in the way only early mornings could make it as Ingo closed the door behind him, and stepped out onto Jubilife’s street. There were a few people out and about as usual under the pink sky, and Tuli and Ginter were just pulling their Ginkgo Guild cart into its usual spot as he made his way across the road. Reaching Choy’s storefront, he began to assess the various boxes of berries that had been set out.

“Good morning, Warden Ingo!” As Ingo browsed the wares, Choy greeted him. Giving a glance to Ingo’s product of interest, the shopkeeper walked closer. “Back again already; returning for a repeat purchase, I’m assuming?”

“Good morning, Choy. You are correct,” Ingo nodded his head. “Same as yesterday, I’d like a-”

Ingo stopped as something fluttered sporadically from under his rib cage. It pressed noticeably before relaxing, leaving a tingling heat to fade into the flesh around it.

“-Ahem!” Ingo coughed into his fist reflexively, and Choy gave him a rightfully concerned look. He stood there for a moment, then tried again. “Apologies. I um, I’d like a fourth pound of oran berries, and some of those c- ghk-”

The Something pushed again, hard. Ingo’s hand went to the hot pressure beneath his sternum, clutching a fistful of his tunic as he leaned forward against the boxes. It wasn’t so kind as to relax this time, instead cramping tighter with another breath, another beat of his heart.

“Warden?” Choy was reaching out to him now, but Ingo reflexively stepped back for a reason he couldn’t even explain. He choked again and the cramp twisted with another wave of pain, pulling everything attached inside with it. Every breath was tightening it. It was like his heart was-

A heart attack.

He was having a heart attack, wasn’t he?

What else could it be? Was this what it really felt like? He didn’t know.

This couldn’t happen to him — he was healthy. Wasn’t he? He was young… enough. Surely. He had no pre-existing medical conditions. None that he’d known about, at least. Right? 

He didn’t know. He couldn’t know. He’d lost all that out in the berating snow he’d woken up in. The sudden realization sent a bolt of fear through his chest, which only seized another heartbeat into cramping against the twisted tightness.

A crowd of Jubilife’s villagers were suddenly around him as he took another step back into the street; he hadn’t noticed them gathering. Ingo sank to his knees, and hands too concerned with grasping at the bloated blaze in his chest couldn’t catch him when he collapsed over onto his side. To his horror, the circle that had gathered only moved away to make room for him. 

A painful gasp, filling lungs squishing the fragile, failing, distended heart against his breastbone. They were all just standing there, staring down at him. And he could do nothing but stare back from where he laid against the ground, a sideways view of just their legs. 

He was aware they were talking all around him, but he couldn’t make out what anyone was saying. He was too busy clutching at the still-tightening cords inside his chest.

Why was nobody helping him?

…No one could help this. Pesselle was probably just several yards away inside the Galaxy Hall, but she wouldn’t have what he’d need to stop this. What he’d need to be saved. No one in Hisui did. He was going to die out here on the street, a spectacle. Did he know anyone in the crowd? It hurt so bad inside him. Akari was going to find him like this. Probably after everything had already… happened.

“Augh-!” Ingo gasped as it pulled again, hot agony pulsing in another wave. His ribcage was compressing another swell, his lungs twisting with it. It felt too big. His body reflexively curled with the pull, as if that would lessen the searing strain. 

Wait, wait, please — He wasn’t ready yet. This was too sudden. He had so many people he couldn’t leave yet, so many things he still had to do and say, all of them suddenly nothing but blanks in his collapsing mind.

As Ingo blinked the stinging tears from his eyes, he saw it. Behind the spaces of the crowd that had gathered who stood slanted in his sideways view, just a few feet away, were the legs.

The gangly, stretched black legs. Standing in a way where they were perfectly aligned with his tilted view against the ground. As if it was the rest of the world that was slanted, not its broken stance. 

The legs exceeded his failing vision, jutting up to the left and out of his field of view. They just kept going, leaving him unable to see the body they were connected to. Their direction went right into a building anyways, if he had his placement right. What he was seeing just couldn’t work. 

But they were there.

This thing was here with him. Watching him. 

“Would you rather.” A voice he could suddenly hear, whispering right in the ear that was pressed against the ground. Ingo couldn’t even turn his head – it would pull everything inside even tighter with it. “A, this happen here, in front of everyone? Or B, out on the mountain when no one is with you?”

The bloated bundle in his chest, already straining too tight, twisted again. Amongst the fire searing everything inside his chest, something tore.

“AHGK!” Halfway between a choke and a cry, Ingo recoiled. Something that was suddenly tangled tightly around him constricted with his movements, and wood cracked hard against him as another horrific scream rang out to his right.

“Ingo!” It was Akari’s voice he realized, shrill and panic-stricken as he gasped where he lay. Ember was yowling. Everything was so dark, he couldn’t see. He felt hands grab his side within a moment, yanking on him to pull him over onto his back. Had she finally come outside and found him? “What? What?” 

Turning his head, Ingo blinked hard, and the darkness gave way to both Akari’s form, leaning over him and looking scared out of her minds. Ember was still howling and pacing around the room, set off. He was lying against the wooden floorboards of her unit, covered in cold sweat and tangled in all the blankets that had made up where he slept. The still-night sky poured weak ambient light into the room through the window, and rain beat hard on the roof above them, just like the sensation buzzing in his chest. B-bmp. B-bmp. B-bmp-

He was still in Akari’s unit. And it was very early in the morning, if not the middle of the night.

“Akari-!” A gasp more than a sentence, Ingo blinked through the residual tears meant for the pain as his heart refused to stop pounding — a particularly scary sensation at the moment. He was flooded with emotions; relief that it wasn’t real and he was alive. Frustration that he had once again been subjected to such torment. Shame that he had done this in front of Akari again, at such a time of the night when he’d startled her out of sleep. And profound terror that it had been different this time, and had felt so authentic, so painful. 

It was all so overwhelming to realize.

It had happened again. 

Despite changing his environment to feel more at ease, to escape the dread, it had happened again. 

And it had changed to fit the location. It had taken the game, something that had been a comfort, a reprieve, and twisted it.

It had maintained feeling realistic. The thoughts, the sensations were all so vivid, so visceral.

“I’m so sorry, I thought-! ” Ingo sucked in a deep breath through tight teeth, holding his chest as he tried to sit up. There was no pain anymore, but he could still feel the sensation. He had died just moments ago. “My heart-!”

“Is this what it’s doing to you?” Her appalled reaction only brought another swell of remorse that she had to witness this. This was so much worse than what she’d seen at The Wallflower, and he knew it. This was exactly what he was afraid would happen. “Ingo, this is- this is… horrible! I didn’t know it was like this!” 

Another lingering tear slipped out as Akari wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug. Ingo held her back with one arm reluctantly, feeling her head press against his shoulder — he didn’t want her to feel his heart still hammering inside his chest. He kneaded his free hand against it.

Ember was still upset. Growling, she whipped around and yowled in their general direction, looking around restlessly with her quills sticking up.

“It’s ok, Ember!” Akari reached out and pulled her partner Pokémon close between them. “It’s ok!”

Ember pressed against them both, quills still raised but reducing her aggression to a low growling. She turned in the small space and pressed her forehead against Ingo’s side, huffing. She stayed stiff like that, staring around the room with her head against him, but thankfully it seemed she had calmed down. Akari turned her attention back to Ingo and held him tightly, letting him process and giving him a chance to calm down and say something. But when he didn’t, and it became clear he wouldn’t break the now-heavy quiet that was just stretching out longer and longer, she decided she would. 

“…I’m sorry you had to go through that again.”

The warden stared right through the floor with distant eyes. With half his mind still floundering somewhere else, he left her hanging in silence for longer than he meant to. He sputtered when he finally realized. 

“No, no… it was,” He sucked in a breath, a stalled understanding finally clicking on what she was referring to. “different this time.” Another pause, wondering if he should go further. “I believe I was once again led down the wrong tracks. This isn’t a recurring nightmare.”

Akari pulled back to look him in his eyes. “What?”

—————

“Here, it’s not as good as what you can do, but it’s the best thing I can make.”

With Ember curled up comfortably in his lap as he mindlessly pet her, Ingo tilted his head up to see a cup of steaming tea in one of Akari’s hands, and a full plate staring back at him from the other – A large helping of fluffy yellow eggs and crispy pan-cooked shredded potatoes, the latter of which she’d salted generously. 

Scrambled eggs and hashbrowns, that’s what they were. Wow. That was something he hadn’t had, much less thought about, in… as long as he could remember.

“Thank you,” Ingo graciously took the cup and plate, staring down at the latter as Akari sat down beside him with her own. She didn’t sound too proud of the meal’s quality, but it looked plenty fine to him — he was so focused on it, he hadn’t even realized Ember still hadn’t left his lap for Akari’s.

After he’d woken everyone up four hours before the sun was set to rise, Ingo had known there was no going back to sleep. Not for anyone. Even though he felt like he hadn’t gotten any sleep in the first place, he was too nervous to do so, and Akari was too concerned to leave him alone.

So as the hours had passed, the both of them had sat together and talked about it by her irori, where the heated sand in the pit warmed them. Ember had even chosen Ingo’s lap as her place to curl up as opposed to Akari’s. The level of clinginess had been admittedly uncharacteristic and a little surprising, but Ingo had appreciated that she had wanted to comfort him. Only when the earliest glimmers of sunlight began to peek through the window did Akari get up and declare she would make breakfast today, telling Ingo to just sit back and relax.

And so with no strength to argue, he resigned himself to running his fingers through Ember’s warm fur as the teen began to prepare breakfast for them both. 

“Are you gonna work today?” Akari asked in between mouthfuls of egg and potato.

“No. My schedule at the dojo is open for the day.” A rather short reply for the considerable amount of time it took to answer. “So I am slated to depart for the highlands, to visit Lady Sneasler and her kits.”

“Mmm.” Akari hummed in acknowledgement. She was being careful with him, talking carefully. She had been since his nightmare, and a part of him was disappointed that he’d made her feel like she had to do that. “Can I come with you?”

Or B, out on the mountain when no one is with you?

Ingo’s eyes hardened, tearing the phrase out of his head with a harsh mental rebuke and crushing it. He then turned to consider Akari’s offer, softening. “Yes. Your company would be appreciated. Thank you.”

“Of course.” Akari spoke into her hot cup of tea as she took a sip, careful again. Ingo began to eat, and they were quiet until he set his empty plate down beside him, and went back to petting Ember again.

“Do you still not know why it’s happening?”

It was asked with a reserved voice. Ingo knew it was coming from a place of wanting to help, but being scared it would pressure him to open up to her about something he maybe wouldn’t want to. Perhaps about some unshared traumatic event that had possibly happened recently.

That was not the case, and as morbid as it sounded, Ingo didn’t know if he was thankful for that or not. It gave no possible reason or explanation for this suddenly happening, and no hints about how to diminish or get rid of it. And that’s what bothered him the most. “No. I don’t. None of it makes any sense to me.”

The first true instance of these nightmares had dup up the raw, forcefully-buried memory of a horrific accident and intensified it horribly. But this one, it had reached down so deep that it had dredged up a fear from the very pit of his stomach, so visceral yet dormant, he hadn’t even been aware he feared it – the possibility of suffering a failure of health that Hisui had neither the technology or knowledge to save him from.

Now that it had been pulled to the forefront of his mind, it terrified him.

What was he possibly going to experience next? What could be worse than that? Ingo didn’t know, but he was stricken with the notion that his brain could somehow find the answer. Why was his mind turning on him so viciously?

It was all over the place, except for one thing. There was one constant.

Those legs. That stretched out Somebody that he could never see. It had been there with him again.

What was that even supposed to be? Was it someone he was supposed to know? Was that why he couldn’t see the rest of them? Was it possibly the man who looked like him? No, NO. That immediately felt wrong.

So then, what was it supposed to be? A representational figment of death? Did his subconscious think he was going to die soon?

“The only recurring thing, the only constant has been this… well, has been these legs.” Ingo forced words out of his mouth, so that he could focus on those instead of the ones spiraling down in his head. “These last few instances, I’ve seen something standing close by to me.” And every time he had spotted it, it happened to be closer to him than the last. “But I’m afraid I can never see anything clearly past the legs. They’re just too long, and too dark to make out.”

There was no response, just silence, and Ingo thought he’d have to return to the horrors swimming in his head. Maybe he’d started delving into things he shouldn’t with her.

“Legs?” Akari finally reiterated. The amount of concern in her voice caught Ingo off guard.

“Yes,” Not knowing what else to say, Ingo turned to see Akari was now staring right at him, and Ember had raised her head up, the first movement she’d made since she first settled onto his lap.

“Did it have one big eye?” Suddenly not at all careful or gentle anymore, Akari pointed at one of her own, shutting the other for emphasis. 

“Uh-”

“-Or what looked like a neck full of these huge, thick red teeth?” She next pointed at her neck, exposing it by tilting her head up.

“I don’t… know-”

“-Or like this weird, long white hair that’s stuck up above it?” She raised both arms straight above her head.

“I- yes- yes, it had that, I believe-” Ingo was growing genuinely unnerved. She was acting like she knew what this was.

“But you’re not-” Akari stopped herself and studied him with scrutiny. “You said it happens every few nights? The last time you had one was last night, then two nights before that was uh, the other one,” She was trying to construct a timeline in her head. “When did you have a nightmare before that?”

“I don’t know,” Ingo looked down at his fingers, trying to solidify the hazy math in his head. “I know the night before the nightmare involving Draugr, I was alright. And… the night before that was fine as well. But I believe the night before that I had a- well, I wouldn’t say it was a nightmare. Perhaps more of a premonitory dream-”

“So then that’s three nights,” Akari kept track for him, though she spoke slowly, as if trying to keep track of something herself. “Was the next gap between the nightmares four nights?”

Ingo thought about it for a while, muttering to himself to recount the events and count with his fingers. His frown pulled when he stopped, concerned with the answer, though not understanding why past the fact that Akari had guessed it. “I believe so… yes. It was.”

“Oh man,” Akari stood up and began pacing and shaking her hands out, which only fed Ingo’s unease as he watched her. “Oh man. Oh man, Ingo-”

“What?” 

“-I know what this is!” She didn’t stop pacing as she talked. “This is a Pokémon! You were right the first time! That’s why Ember was so worked up, she could tell it was there! Ember-!” Akari gestured to the now-alert quilava. “-That’s why she hasn’t left your side, she knows! These- these nightmares! The nights in between getting closer together, it’s all like a countdown! At least, I think it is- I mean, I know what’s supposed to happen at the end of all this, I just didn’t know it came on gradually-”

“What kind of Pokémon would cause something like this?” Ingo tried to get her back on track before she spiraled too far. He didn’t know what she was talking about, and all this buildup was scaring him — had he not been taking this as seriously as he should have? Akari’s own reaction wasn’t helping. He couldn’t recall a Pokémon that could do all of this to a person, but he also knew he had lost knowledge of many, many Pokémon that he either hadn’t personally encountered here in Hisui, or that Akari hadn’t described to him, just like the Slowpoke from last night. Was this one of these Pokémon?

“Does Darkrai sound familiar to you?”

His gut recognized it in a way his brain did not, telling him that this Pokémon and what it was doing to him was serious, but not being able to explain why. “Um, Somewhat-”

“It’s a Pokémon that makes people have these terrible nightmares!” Akari barely gave him a chance to finish his sentence, spilling out her explanation now. “It like, enters your dreams while you sleep, and turns them into nightmares! I think it feeds off of them, or thrives, I can’t remember- but it will keep people asleep and put them through nightmares that don’t end-!”

“Akari-” Ingo attempted to get her to slow down.

“-But you keep waking up after them! You’re not stuck! But you’re so tired, and they’re happening closer together; maybe it just keeps deciding to return to you, or maybe it’s like, counting down – the nights are like perfectly following a pattern! And then you’ll- uhm, we need Cresselia, the feathers-!”

Another Pokémon that only sparked a glimmer of familiarity. Ingo couldn’t keep up with all of this, but it sounded like she was saying this thing was invading his brain and exploiting his worst fears to harvest them, and that it was only going to get worse from here. “Akari, please, I can’t understand-”

“Ingo, if you go back to sleep, you’re not gonna wake up this time!” Akari stopped pacing now, turning on her heels to face him.”The pattern, it’s- the next day is tomorrow! It has to be tomorrow! It’s going to keep you asleep, stuck in a nightmare that keeps going on and on indefinitely! And I don’t have a feather, and Cresselia isn’t here, and-”

Akari’s words gradually blurred at the edges as sleep deprivation pressed on it. He didn’t understand what she was talking about but he knew that he had known at one point. And this thing , it was eating his mind. His mind, when turned against him like this, terrified him. It was an inaccessible vault that kept everything about him out of his reach. But this thing, it could go in there and find whatever it wanted – worries, fears, insecurities, trauma – and twist it into just the right shapes to reach down deep and activate the most raw, visceral, and ghastly reactions it could ever want. 

It already had. Twice.  

This thing looked for weakness, and uncertainties in the psyche. And Ingo, in this broken, empty state Hisui had left him in, was a man with many more uncertainties than he was even aware of.

No wonder it had attached itself to him like a parasite. No wonder it kept coming back to him.

“-Ingo. Ingo!”

The static lifted, and Ingo’s thoughts gave way to the worried teen shaking his shoulder.

“Ingo, you cannot go back to sleep.” Akari’s expression was firm now. More confident, more sure of herself. “Do. Not. Go. To. Sleep. Ok? Not until we figure this out.”

The thought of forgoing even more sleep already made his poor, exhausted body ache for it, but the thought of experiencing all of this without end was as unbearable as it was terrifying. Ingo blinked, frazzled. “Alright. I will keep my engines running.”

“Ok, good.” Akari then pulled out her Pokéball and held it out. “Come on, Ember.”

Jumping down off Ingo’s lap, Ember returned compliantly. Ingo wondered if she was going somewhere when she pulled on his coat, urging him to get up and follow. “Now you and me, we’re going to the Professor’s office to see if we can find anything on Cresselia, and where to find it.”

[zaebeecee]

To Sever A Loveless Bond

••RadioDust Soulmate AU••

Part 27/27

First chapter | Previous chapter

Read on AO3

•••

Hey y'all, look, I finished it

...the first part, anyway. Sequel incoming.

For those who didn't see it last time, highly recommend reading this fic by @fletchingbrilliant for some insight on Alastor's backstory with Bael in our extended multiverse canon.

•••

When Angel woke the next morning, rain was still tapping against the window of his bedroom, though it had lessened from a loud and raging torrent to a soft, gentle drizzle. He took a deep breath, moving to rise from his bed, but he was stopped by a rather insistent arm wrapped around his body that tightened its grip and dragged him back into the warmth of the blankets. Angel squeaked, the haze of sleepiness immediately chased away by the sudden reminder that he wasn’t alone.

That explains all this fuzzy, he thought, raising one hand to run his fingers across the tawny fur he was using as a pillow, its gentle rise and fall indicating that his bedmate was still sound asleep. Even with that, Angel couldn’t trust that he hadn’t been dreaming, and it took him a moment to steel himself and actually look up.

Alastor, as predicted, hadn’t budged even a little when Angel tried to sit up (save the whole grabbing him thing). His hand was wrapped around Angel’s upper arm, just tight enough for his claws to dent skin without piercing, his arm curled around Angel’s shoulders and keeping him tight against the Radio Demon’s side. Angel laid his head down on Alastor’s shoulder again, gently petting the fur and tracing the scars that interrupted its pattern, his eyes moving over Alastor’s body and eventually landing on his left arm.

Whatever it was that Alastor had been using the previous night was apparently temporary, and Angel had figure that, at least on an intellectual level. Still, it was jarring to see the way the arm just… stopped, ending in a somewhat uneven and scarred stump that had to have been excruciatingly painful. Was he supposed to ignore it? Should he ask how he was doing? He’d never worried about tact all that much before, but he really didn’t want to hurt Alastor’s feelings.

Heh. There’s a sentence I wouldn’ta thought a few months ago.

Angel closed his eyes, putting the matter aside for now. There was so much he didn’t understand and really didn’t know how to react to, and freaking out over just one thing wasn’t going to help. He bit down on his lip, not really sure what he was supposed to be doing now; with the rush of the previous night finally cooled, he was left with nothing but a lot of questions.

What did he want to do?

What did Alastor want to do?

Had he even really forgiven Alastor for everything?

Angel huffed out a sigh and turned his head, burying his face in Alastor’s fur. He stayed like that until he felt, then heard, the rumble of the other Sinner slowly coming back into consciousness. He nearly raised his head, but then stopped, unable to stop wondering if Alastor was going to think better of what he had done and flip out again. Angel was pretty sure he wouldn’t blame him, but if he did, he was probably gonna kill the bastard.

“...sha?” Alastor asked after a long moment, his voice groggy and thick with sleep. Angel couldn’t help smiling at the sound, finally raising his gaze just enough to peer up at Alastor, who was watching him with half-lidded eyes.

“...mornin’,” Angel said, keeping his voice soft.

“Nnh.” Alastor closed his eyes and let his head roll back to rest properly on the pillow. “...you keep making me sleep.”

“I ain’t doin’ shit,” Angel countered.

“Well, it surely isn’t my fault.” Despite his words, Alastor’s tone was still gentle, and he didn’t seem inclined to let Angel go. Resigning himself to another few minutes in bed (oh, the horror), the spider slipped his arms around the other demon’s waist, hugging him closer. “...that wasn’t a dream.”

Angel shook his head. “Nope.”

Alastor let out a sigh, and Angel couldn’t tell what it meant. The Radio Demon tightened his grip, however, so… was it relief? Was Alastor afraid it hadn’t happened? “We’re in a different room.”

“You brought us here last night.”

“Did I?”

“Mhm.”

The air was heavy, but Angel didn’t feel that weird distance between them this time, not the way he had when he’d last gone to see Alastor in his room. Alastor was clearly feeling it, too, as he cleared his throat before he spoke again, a little hesitantly. “I… confess that I am uncertain as to what… protocol is, now.”

“Hey, I ain’t got no clue either,” Angel said honestly. He tightened his grip on Alastor. “...I’m still kinda mad at you, y’know.” Alastor’s hand tightened on his arm. “You were real mean to me.”

“...I know,” Alastor whispered. “I don’t–... I’m not exactly… skilled… at making things up to people.”

Angel hesitated. “...d’you wanna?”

“Yes,” the other Sinner answered immediately.

Angel couldn’t help smiling. He sighed and looked up, his movement spurring Alastor to turn his head to look down at him once more. “You’re a real pain in the ass,” Angel muttered, cupping Alastor’s cheek with one hand and leaning up to kiss him. Alastor started, then practically melted as he returned the kiss, pulling Angel to his chest.

About thirty minutes later, they finally got up, and Alastor put his own clothes back on, finally dry from their impromptu soak. Angel pulled on a sweater and shorts—both different from the last night since Alastor had completely destroyed those—and went to prepare breakfast. When Alastor emerged, looking the same sort of put-together as he always did, Angel put a mug of coffee in his hand and instructed him to sit.

“Hello, Fat Nuggets,” Alastor greeted as he sat at the table, and the hellpig’s answering snuffle made Angel melt.

Nuggie likes him. I shoulda known I was done for.

It wasn’t until they were both sitting and eating that Alastor spoke again. It was tentative, like he was less than eager to broach the subject. “So… I suppose you won’t be moving back to the Hotel.”

Angel stopped, glancing up at Alastor. He probably should have expected that, though honestly, it hadn’t crossed his mind. “I… I dunno,” he said honestly, looking back at his plate and pushing some scrambled eggs around with his fork. “It ain’t just because of…” He gestured between the two of them. “Y’know. All that shit that I moved out. Or… I dunno. Maybe it was. …I dunno what I wanna do,” he confessed, sighing as he leaned his head on one fist.

“...you need time.” When Angel looked up again, Alastor was watching him thoughtfully. “It’s been a very long time since you were on your own, hasn’t it? Before the Hotel, you lived at the Vee’s tower, and you’ve been under contract with Valentino for a great many years. I understand the desire for space, sha.”

Angel giggled, just a little. “I guess you would.” He sighed again, shrugging. “...yeah. Maybe that’s it. Just… some time to be on my own and think, y’know?” He smiled a little humorlessly. “I dunno if I could just move back in immediately, anyway.”

“You know as well as I do that Miss Charlie will drown us all in her tears of joy if you ever decide to return, no matter how much time has passed.”

“Yeah. That’s probably true,” Angel chuckled. He tilted his head. “...can I still see you?”

Alastor’s smile didn’t look at all like the one he wore because he had no choice. No… this one looked like it was entirely him. “Of course, Stardust. Whenever you like. I’m starting to believe I don’t truly need space away from you, not like I do everyone else.”

Angel grinned to himself and ducked his head, going back to his food. It was probably going to be difficult, but for the first time in years, he was pretty sure everything was going to work out alright.

•••

When Alastor was fifteen years old, he had sworn to himself that he would, forevermore, be the one in control of his own fate. Every time his world had been upended, he had been the one to set it right again, always returning to as close to what he’d had before as he possibly could.

Now, for the first time he could remember, Alastor was simply letting a new normal rise up around him however it wished to manifest.

He returned to his work at the Hazbin Hotel, making a new radio broadcast for the first time in over a month and reveling in the sensation of fear he could feel emanating from the city below. He cheerfully relayed the story of Angel breaking Vox’s face before pitching the spider’s new solo career, encouraging all the degenerates listening to look into his work.

Alastor was sure that people were going to be buzzing with his choice of words. ‘My darling Angel Dust.’ Let them wonder, he decided. The rumors would be hilarious.

Things quickly returned to mundanity, and for once, Alastor actually found himself happy with that. He tended to his business, made his broadcasts, ate some Sinners who got bright ideas to try and attack the Hotel, and made frequent trips to see Angel at his apartment. The spider seemed to be thriving in his new work, though he confessed that he didn’t really know what to do with the sudden influx of money he was making; it seemed the only thing he had really  gone out of his way to buy was a full wardrobe for Fat Nuggets, who was incredibly tolerant of his father putting him through a little fashion show so that Alastor could see all of his new outfits.

In the end, Alastor declared it a sensible use of Angel’s money, as Fat Nuggets was incredibly cute.

Charlie appeared quite grateful for the drama to have finally died down, and was going out of her way to speak to Alastor more frequently, with simple greetings and questions about his day or compliments for his last broadcast. Vaggie, too, began making overtures of friendliness, though they were mostly limited to eye contact and a nod of acknowledgment when they were in the same room, so long as she didn’t need to speak with him. He and Niffty began to truly talk, and it was only then that he realized that even she had been holding herself back from truly confiding in him. It was with no small amount of hesitation that she admitted to him her trips out of the hotel had been to see Angel’s brother, Arackniss. It was… surprising, but when he didn’t make any threats, it was as though a switch had been flipped in the little maid, and she began gushing to him like she had a thousand things to say and no one to say them to.

It was because of her that, one evening, Alastor went to the bar for a glass of whiskey. Husk was as curt as he ever was, but as Alastor finished, he said, “You know, Husker.” The bartender froze; he didn’t look at Alastor, but he was clearly listening intently. “Niffty told me something very interesting.”

“...what would that be?” Husk asked slowly, his eyes traveling until they met Alastor’s with a look of mixed defiance and trepidation.

“You should speak with her.”

“Who?”

“Miss Cherri Bomb.”

The glass in Husk’s hand cracked as his ears laid back and his eyes went wide. Strangely, for once, Alastor didn’t feel like laughing. He just set down his empty glass and got to his feet, straightening his lapel. “...you…” Husk began, but that was as far as he got.

“I won’t kill her.” With that, Alastor turned, heading back for the hallway to his bedroom. He took a moment to glance back, and he saw Husk still at the bar, leaning on his elbow with his head in his hands. Alastor wondered what he was thinking, but he was pretty sure he would never know.

He didn’t find out if Husk did or not, but the old cat was marginally less hostile the next time they were in the same vicinity, so Alastor counted that as some sort of progress.

And then… the day he wasn’t willing to admit he was hoping for finally arrived.

When Alastor entered the lobby, there was an alarming amount of activity for such a small group of people. Niffty was furiously cleaning every surface she could reach, a manic look in her eye. Charlie was pacing and babbling to herself the way she did, her tone suggesting she was fretting. Vaggie, who looked like she had been following her girlfriend around and trying to calm her, was sitting at the bar and letting Husk pour her some kind of dark alcohol that made her wheeze and cough violently from a single sip.

“Miss Charlie,” Alastor said as he approached, “you shouldn’t be so worried. What are you afraid is going to happen?”

“I don’t know!” Charlie said, throwing her hands up. “I just want everything to be perfect!”

Alastor laughed. “Oh, my dear child, nothing is ever perfect in this Hotel. I’m beginning to think that’s the point.”

Charlie groaned, running her hand through her hair and wincing as her fingers got caught in a tangle. “Ow ow ow I know but I just don’t want him to rethink everything when he gets here,” she grumbled, using her other hand to free her fingers and then detangle the lock in a way that left hair sticking up at odd angles.

“I sincerely doubt you need to worry about that.”

She opened her mouth to argue again, but before she could, the door opened. Alastor felt his ears perk up as he swiveled his head to look, watching as Angel Dust stepped through into the lobby. He blinked a few times, registering that everyone was present, before he asked, “Is there a party happenin’ or somethin’?”

“Angel!” Niffty squealed from the ceiling. “You’re here!”

“Welcome back, Angel!” Charlie said, her bright tone marred by the wavering tears that were predictably beginning to form. “We missed you!”

“You still got a tab,” Husk called. Vaggie just waved, but she was smiling.

Alastor… didn’t know what to say. It was a little ridiculous, because Angel was just moving back in, exactly the same way as he presumably had before, and they’d seen each other not infrequently over the past several weeks. Even so, when Angel looked at him, words completely failed him.

Angel Dust was very, very good at stealing his words away from him.

It seemed, however, that Alastor wasn’t going to have to make that decision. Angel dropped his bag rather abruptly and broke into a run, heading straight for Alastor; the Radio Demon suppressed his knee-jerk urge to dodge or flee, instead manifesting his shadow arm and holding his hands out as the spider jumped into his arms, wrapping two of his arms around Alastor’s neck. “Hi, baby,” he said with a wide grin.

Alastor laughed, gently swinging Angel around with the momentum of his leap. “Hey, sha,” he said fondly, tipping his head backwards in acceptance as Angel took his face in his hands and kissed him.

Everyone else was looking at them, but he didn’t care, not anymore. Let them do whatever they wanted. Angel was back in the hotel. Angel loved him. He loved Angel, and he now believed he had since before any damn soul mark had tried to pretend to control his fate. The mark didn’t matter.

Really… the mark hadn’t ever mattered, had it?

All that mattered was that Angel Dust was happy. As long as that was true, then for what felt like the very first time… Alastor could be happy, too.

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The noises echoing down the long hallway were a distorted and animalistic howl, doubling over themselves and turning the human-like screams and cries of pain into a noise one might expect to hear from something crawling out of one of the deepest pits of Hell. The lights stuttered, dimming and brightening in irregular bursts as electric surges threatened to burst the fluorescent bulbs that lined the ceiling. The closer they got, the louder the noises became, but they also grew clearer: fear, pain, horror, rage, confusion… it all coalesced into meaningless vocal static.

Vox opened the door to the observation room and stepped inside, Valentino and Velvette following behind him and stopping just out of his line of sight. It was a smallish, dark space, similar to their television control rooms but about half the size, with one wall dedicated to a large one-way mirror. Blink stood at the console just below the glass, rapidly typing into a computer set into the console as his eyes flicked between the screen and the scene beyond the mirror.

“He seems to have regained a not insubstantial amount of his strength,” Vox observed as, on the other side of the glass, a huge arc of blood splattered the mirror and distorted their view.

Blink continued his work, even as he said, “We’ve gotten to the point that even our security team can’t control him. We finally received the angelic shackles from Overlord Carmine, but no one can even get a grip on him without losing an arm, much less get anything on him.”

Valentino snorted under his breath. “Do we still have Security? That’s a lot of corpses.”

“The number is, admittedly, dwindling. I’ve already put our PR team on advertising for Sinners here in the city and for Hellborn in the rest of Pride.”

“Right. We’ll handle this,” Vox said. “Where are the shackles?”

Almost before he had finished the question, an intern scurried over, holding a pair of wrist shackles that were practically glowing with golden light in the dim observation room. They were detached from one another, both instead sporting mid-length glowing chains with locking hooks on the other end. The intern was holding them in a length of black fabric, avoiding touching the metal himself, and seemed very eager to release his burden when Velvette took it from him.

“Open the door, Blink.”

With a hydraulic hiss, a panel in the wall sunk into itself before sliding away, leading to a small, dark corridor that ended in another hydraulic panel door. As the first closed, the second opened, and the Vees entered into the large, blood-spattered, corpse-strewn holding chamber.

The moment they were inside, the Sinner turned to look at them, his expression crazed and almost panicked. He was more human-like in appearance than many Sinners, a scrap of someone’s flesh hanging from the sharp horn curved out from his forehead and his skeletal wings nearly vibrating with manic rage. His eyes widened as he registered Vox’s face. “You fucking bitch,” he snarled, baring his teeth.

Vox raised an eyebrow. “My my, Adam. You look terrible.”

“Wh– oh, fuck you.” Adam turned to fully face them, raising a bloody, clawed hand, palm up. “I am gonna rip that screen right outta your goddamn head!”

Velvette laughed. “Oh, come on, luv. You know just as well as we do that you’re currently at our mercy. Why don’t you be a good dog and sit?”

Adam spread his wings, howling with fury, then launched himself at them. Vox felt Velvette and Valentino move away from him to different parts of the room, standing his own ground until Adam was almost close enough to grab him. He then sidestepped, the Sinner’s nails ripping through nothing but empty air just before Vox grabbed him by the throat and dug his own metal claws into his flesh. Adam’s scream was muted by the pressure as Vox fed electricity into his neck, then flung him at Valentino.

Adam stumbled, coughing up a mouthful of blood, and almost caught his footing before Valentino pistol-whipped him in the side of the head and sent him staggering backwards. When he grabbed Velvette by the arm and yanked, there was a wooden click as she detached her limb, upsetting his balance and practically forcing him to slam himself into the back wall. Velvette swung her other hand, flinging the shackle towards him, and with a loud click it fastened itself around his wrist. Vox took up the other shackle from Velvette’s abandoned arm, offering her limb back to her and slinging the metal around Adam’s other wrist. Both chains fastened themselves to the wall, melding with it until the join was completely seamless.

Gasping for breath, Adam tried to surge at them, but the shackles pressed against his wrists with a sizzling hiss, drawing a scream from him. “Fuck’s sake,” Valentino hissed, reaching up to rub his temple with closed eyes. “Can we rip his tongue out?”

“You can scream with a tongue,” Velvette said condescendingly.

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Vox said. “Will it, Adam?”

Slowly, the Sinner raised his head just enough to glare at them, even as his lips curled into an unpleasant smile. “Okay. Fine. I’ll play your little fuckin’ game, you cunts. What am I doing here?”

Vox shrugged, keeping his expression passive. “No idea. Seems like the nebulous concept of redemption realized you’re a piece of shit and decided to correct its mistake after you got stabbed to death by a maid.”

Adam’s eyes widened. “...the fuck.”

“Look,” Vox said, before they could derail, “you should consider yourself very lucky that we’re the ones who found you. Do you have any idea what any other Overlord would have done if they’d found you? If Lucifer had found you?”

“Oh, what, should I be grateful or some shit?” Adam spat a mouthful of bloody saliva to the ground. “Blow me, you walking Betamax.”

Velvette grunted as she finally snapped her arm back into place, twisting it around more than 360 degrees to test its range. “Why are we keeping him alive?”

“Velvette,” Vox warned. He didn’t continue, keeping his focus on Adam. “We can keep you here for a very, very long time, so I suggest you cooperate. It’s for your safety as much as ours, really. We don’t know how you ended up down here, but you have, and your power is absolutely nothing like what it used to be. You go around acting like an asshole and you’re going to die.” He raised an eyebrow. “But, now that you’ve calmed down, we have an… arrangement we’d like to strike with you. After all, we did make such good business partners before you, y’know. Got stabbed to death. By a maid.”

Adam narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck are you–... fucking RCA square-headed cunty motherfucking…” His words trailed off in a grumble before he clicked his tongue sharply. “Whatever. I’m calm.”

Vox smiled. “Good. Because if you cooperate, we would be more than willing to arrange a private meeting between you and, say… Lucifer’s daughter?”

Slowly, Adam’s lips began to curl into a wide, sharp smile. “Oh,” he breathed, his eyes growing manic once more. “I’m listening, bitch. Hit me.”

•••

I can't believe this part of the story actually came to an end. Thank you so, so much to everyone who's commented, given kudos, or even just read and enjoyed my work; it means more to me than I have words to say.

And yeah, that's a sequel stinger. I'll be putting up the first chapter of the direct sequel to this story, as well as another fic in the same universe, very soon.

[smellslikechahnspirit]

[Book]

Are we good for each other?

6. Some explaining

Bang Chan x F. Reader

Synopsis: Written according to y/n trophy. A story about how you two met. Both having a difficult life, finding peace in each other. Not without lots of drama. Just read it, it's great.

Genre: Enemies to lovers, soft, some smut, drama

Warnings: Under eating, depression, toxic ex (Let me know if I missed something)

Word count: 2254

______________________________

[9:19 AM]

He helped you to the living room and back to the couch. You were super dizzy again, understandable, since the situation from moments ago, but you obviously still hadn’t eaten. “Come on, let’s get some energy back into your system. I ordered Pho. It’s my favourite, and I figured you might like it too. I’m gonna make sure you’re being healthy.”, he spoke as he put down the Pho in front of you, along with a spoon and some chopstick.

“I appreciate you a lot.”, you said and grabbed the chopsticks ready to eat. The only problem now was, that your hands were incredibly weak. You tried grabbing some noodles but failed, and again and again. Chris saw you struggling and took the wooden sticks from your hands. “Gosh I hate seeing you like this… here let me.”, he said as he got some of the noodles for you and brought them over to your mouth. “No, I wanna do it myself.”, you said softly and pouted, then took the sticks back into your own hands.

“Yea well this isn’t gonna work… you can’t hold them properly. You’ll give yourself a hand cramp. Wait, one second.”, he said and ran towards the kitchen. When he came back you already saw what he had in his hands, and started laughing. “No.”, you said. “Yes!”, he said back at you. He gave you the cute frog themed, kid chopsticks. He still had these laying around, from when Will and Ben came over.

You took them from him and finally was able to eat. It was amazing. “Wow, I’ve never had this dish before, but it’s insane…how did I not know about this?!”, you fake cried out, from happiness. “I know right…it’s like angels pissing on your tongue.”, he said. You both laughed at his funny comment.

As you both continued to eat the meal, Chris had put on something funny on his tv. After a while when you both were finished you kept on watching for a bit, laughing when a joke was made each time. Eventually you quieted town because you became sleepy. He watched you secretly as you dove off to dreamland.

[5:45 PM]

You heard a noise coming from somewhere, quickly opening your eyes. Turned out you and Chris fell asleep on the couch. You looked around with a blurry vision since you just woke up, and rubbed your eyes for a second.

Suddenly the front door opened. It was Jisung. He walked in also very exhausted but then for different reasons. Since he just spend the entire day training. When he looked up he saw you staring at him. He gave you a smile and waved. Then instantly dropped his bags and went to his bedroom.

When he plopped down on his bed, that’s when he realised what just happened. And got very confused. He got up as fast as he could and walked back over to the living room. You looked at him and he looked at you with big eyes. You tried getting up to greet him properly, but couldn’t really because of you leg.

He noticed and walked towards you. “Who are you an-”, he said but you interrupted him. “Shush, Chris is still sleeping hihi…I’m y/n, a friend of Felix. He asked me if I could help Chris out for his assignment, gaming. Nice to meet you!”, you said whispering. He gave you a bow and introduced himself as well. “So if you’re helping him out with gaming, why are you both here sleeping on our couch?”, he asked confused.

You decided to keep everything between you and Chris private for now, since you knew Chris would��ve felt the same way, since the job and all. “Well..”, you said. You explained everything that had happened this morning. The meeting up, the gym, the hospital.

Obviously you left out the part about you and Chris almost having sex. As both of you had the casual convo, he also told you about his day. You felt like you were getting closer to him already. You two seemed to share a lot of things and had a lot in common. He was a nice person you stated to yourself.

“Yeah so now I’m just waiting for the rest of the guys, since we promised each other to talk about our first days off together. They could be here any minute. We’re gonna have dinner together. We haven’t done that in a while since we live in separate dorms now of course.”, Jisung said. You liked that. You loved seeing best friends taking time for each other.

Even though they were colleagues and kinda had to be friends, they genuinely were and you admired that. “Around what time would they arrive did you say?”, you asked him. “Around six..”, he answered. You looked at the time on your phone. “Oh my gosh! that’s almost, I should leave…”, you said in a hurry wanting to get up.

Chris had woken up from your loud voice. “Hmmm…leave? Whut..”, he said all sleepy. Chris then realised Jisung got home, and instantly sat straight up. Wondering what you two have been discussing.

“Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”, Jisung then asked him. He had been laying under a blanket for the last few hours and Jisung didn’t notice before. He ignored him, then got up very fast and got a shirt from his room. As he walked back into the living room he noticed the other guys arriving.

You said hi to all of them and properly meet them for real this time. Only a few minutes went by, everyone saying hi to you and explaining the situation AGAIN to everyone, when Jisung noticed Chris leaving the living room to get to the kitchen quietly. He walked after him.

“Hey.”, he said. “Hey.”, Chris said back. “So is there anything we need to know?”, Jisung said implying the scene from before, when nobody else arrived yet. “No, uh, it was just very hot and she has already fallen asleep. I just took it off and-“, Chris tried to cover his tracks, but stopped immediately since he is against lying, especially to his friend.

“Okay no sorry, I don’t wanna lie to you. But can you just forget about it for now. I don’t want to talk about it. Just trust me, nothing happened.”, Chris said to Jisung. Jisung just smiled and nodded. “I understand, just know if you wanna talk about literally anything, you can tell me, you know that right? Bro’s before hoes.”, Jisung said. It made Chris laugh and gave his friend a side hug. They both went back to the living room.

Chris saw you having a nice time, and saw how polite and nice you were to everyone. He always found that very important in people. He already liked you so much but that feeling was growing stronger and stronger. He thought about what had almost happened between you two this morning and got excited again. He decided to walk up to you, who was having a convo with Felix on the couch.

“Heeey…took a nice nap?”, he asked you, cutting off Felix, who was telling you a story. You turned around to face Chris and now looked at him. “Hey…yeah it was nice to get some genuine nap time for once hehe.”, you said.

Felix looked a bit irritated. You noticed. “Hey Chris, Felix just told me something about a new season coming from that game I played this morning, so exciting right?”, you said trying to lighten the mood. The only thing Chris could think of was you.

“Yeah, that sounds awesome. Hey I wanted to ask you…will you stay for dinner? We’re all eating here tonight, you might as well stay, or no?”, he asked, still paying no attention to his friend. You looked over at Felix. “Would you like it if I ate here too?”, you asked Felix.

He was about to answer, then Chris interrupted him again. “He won’t mind! Let’s go and pick out what we’re ordering!”, he said as he stood up, wanting you to come to his laptop to browse the food sites. “Wait, I was kind of in the middle of something with Felix… you just pick something with the others, as I said before I like all kinds of food.”, you said, wanting to stay with Felix. “Ah he doesn’t mind, come on… I want your opinion this time..”, Chris said, meaning no harm and was truthfully just excited for you to eat here again.

Yet he didn’t notice how uncomfortable you got due to his behaviour towards his so called best friend. “Well, I-“, you were about to speak again when Felix this time interrupted you. “What is your problem man?”, Felix asked him a bit angry. Everyone looked at the two now and were all very confused since these two NEVER fight.

“What do you mean, Felix?”, Chris asked, not understanding the problem. “Can’t you just leave her alone for a few minutes, you’ve spend the entire day with her, can I just have a nice conversation with my friend here?”, he spoke standing up now. Chris walked towards Felix, calmly since he truly didn’t get why his friend was so mad at him right now.

“Felix, calm down. Can you explain to me what’s going on?”, Chris replied. “You. You’re the problem. Why are you trying to claim y/n? I thought it would be nice to have a friend around, and help you out. But, it’s like you can’t take it when I talk to her for a second.”, Felix said.

To Chris this all came very unexpectedly, since they’ve only spend one single day together. “Bro, why are you so wined up right now, we were just having fun, what’s the big deal?”, Chris asked him as he hold Felix his shoulders trying to calm him down. But Felix stepped back and pushed his friend away. “Piss off…”, He said and walked away, into the kitchen to be alone.

You and everyone else were very confused and when they looked at you in question, you just shrugged. “Be right back…sorry.”, Chris said and walked after his friend. You hopped over to the kitchen as well, you just didn’t enter and waited at the door, but still able to hear their following conversation.

“Felix, I’m sorry if I did anything to upset you, it was never my intention, but please help me understand. This isn’t like you. What is truly going on?”, Chris asked him once more.

“You’re truly dense I see. I obviously have a thing for y/n…I have had a thing for her way before I met her in person. She was the only person I could tell secret things too and she never judged me. Not that I can’t trust any of you, but since she’s a girl, she just gets it differently. I thought having her at the company would be awesome, and turns out she’s incredible in real life too, let alone how drop dead gorgeous she is. And what do you do? You steal her from me. I know I do not own her in any way, but I met her first. I’ve seen the way you look at her. It’s not fair. I am angry at you Chris, why would you do this to me?”, Felix spoke as Chris watched him pace around the kitchen while telling his story.

Chris was hurt. Hurt because he hurt his best friend. “Felix…I didn’t know any of this…why didn’t you ever say anything?”, Chris asked. “Because everyone would’ve just warn me about the fact that online people could be dangerous and what not. I knew she wasn’t dangerous, but telling you…you would’ve just told me to stop contact. I didn’t wanna risk it.”, he said.

Chris looked at him worried. “Felix, if you would’ve told me how you felt about it all, I would’ve listened to you, like I always do. I’m your best friend…why would I ever intentionally want to take away your happiness?”, Chris said.

“Well, it seems like you have today. You two had fun today, didn’t you? I heard from Jeongin what happened at the gym, and about how you weren’t able to do any game training, the actually reason why she’s with you in the first place. She hated your guts. And now all of a sudden you both seem to get along very well. Did anything happen between you two? Did you kiss her? Come on tell me.”, Felix said almost crying due to anger.

He didn’t want this to be his reality, he would be so heart broken. Chris just stayed quiet.

Then you walked in. “I’m going home.”, you said softly. They both looked up at you surprised. Both wondering if you heard any of the convo between them. “No, don’t leave please...”, Chris said. “Please don’t go…”, Felix also said.

“I’m going, and neither of you are gonna say a single word. I’m done with this. How childish are you both? You’re best friends and you’re gonna let a girl like me come in between that in a single day?”, you said. They both looking down.

Both wanting to say something like, how you weren’t just any girl. But they stayed quiet. “You better make up, and figure this stupid shit out, other wise I’m not coming back tomorrow. Bye.”, you said and left. The boys were left together in the kitchen and both walked away. They each needed some time to think.

Part 7

...Masterlist...

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

© 2022-2025, smellslikechahnspirit • No posting on other sites or platforms, rewrites, or translations

[auspicioustidings]

Firewatch Part 14

Summary: You visit a grave as our story comes to an end.

Words: 1.9k

You wondered if Johnny had snuck into bed with you. He had done it the last time Simon was on watch and it had been admittedly sort of nice waking up bundled in him. He was pretty cute when he was sleepy. 

He hadn't, the warmth was from Dosia which was strange because these days she usually was either outside or cuddled up with Price if Simon wasn't around like the little traitor she was.

This was not Simon's bed.

–

“You've been through quite the ordeal! Can't believe you were in the forest all this time. Surprised you never came across our Firewatch, they live out there. Or they did I suppose.”

“I- sorry, what do you mean?”

“Didn't you ever notice that tower from your old place? It was a watchtower for wildfires, the men who ran it had a cabin out there as well. Shame about what happened.”

“The fire…”

“Ah last I heard between air support and the trucks coming in to help from all over it's looking like they have it contained, but these things tend to burn for days or weeks before we can really relax.”

“What about the men in the forest? What happened to them?”

The sheriff blinked at you.

“How exactly did you survive out there all this time?”

–

It wasn't as bad as it could have been was what people kept saying. The tower was gone, but the fire had never ripped through the town thanks to quick detection and action to contain it. 

In the span of six months you had lost your home to fire twice over. You were living out of the little bed and breakfast while paperwork was sorted. There was a lot of red tape involved in bringing someone back from the dead, although it was curious how much easier it was made by the sheriff having not properly filed the death certificate in the first place. You weren't as officially dead as you should have been. 

Everything would be wrapped up soon and then you didn't really know what you would do. You had money from the Insurance claim on your cottage (that had been a wild series of phone calls to increasingly senior people as you tried to explain that you were the owner who had perished in the fire), but you had no clue what to do with it. 

You knew you had been putting it off, but it was time to go visit the grave. Maybe then you'd figure it out.

–

It wasn't anything fancy, just a rustic headstone set in the ashes. Dosia wasn't super interested, instead going to rub up against your visitor. Wonders never ceased.

“Knew she'd come around eventually.”

“They do say absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

“Does it?”

You glanced over at Kyle and your heart thumped. The last time you had seen him had been weeks ago when he was disappearing into smoke and embers.

“Yeah, yeah I think it does.”

You both stood and stared at the gravestone, Dosia's ears pricking before she took off towards the treeline. You weren't worried, you were pretty sure you knew who she was in a rush to see. She completely ignored the man walking towards you and Kyle on her way. 

“Ouch.”

“She still hasn't forgiven you for saying I should've got a dog you know.”

“Still think ye should swap her for one.”

“He cried when we thought she didn't make it out.”

“Away and biel yer heid Gaz.”

You had missed them. You had really, truly missed them. It was overwhelming being on your own after always having them around. You were angry a lot at little things like how difficult you found a busy shop now. They had done that to you. It didn't make your stupid feelings any less complicated. It didn't make you feel any less like kissing the new scar on Johnny's arm or the bruises healing on Gaz.

“So you buried your girl in the end huh?”

“A few weeks before the fire. We were planning on bringing you to see it.”

“This close to town? Bit risky no?”

“Aye, reckoned ye were worth the risk.”

You took a deep breath to calm yourself. It was a strange thing looking at your own grave. Why put it here to bring you to see it? To prove that they weren't holding you to some impossible dream girl standard anymore?

“Was supposed to be a birthday present, but we're a bit late now aren't we little bird?”

Price looked tired as he emerged from the treeline. It must have been an awful few weeks for him. There was still the remnants of the fire to be looked after incase it blazed up again. It had taken out the cabin and the tower, nothing left but smouldering wrecks and a nasty looking burn creeping up his neck. All of those drawings in Simon's room gone. You don't know why that was one of the things that made you the saddest.

“Didn't feel much like celebrating anyway” you answered truthfully. 

Your birthday had been 5 days after the fire and you had spent it for the most part staring into the void and napping. You hadn't felt like celebrating your new found freedom at all. 

“We did actually get you something. Still have it, if you'd like.”

You wondered what it was. As far as you knew nothing survived the fire. But they were just things and things didn't seem all that important anymore. Not when Simon finally joined you, a purring Dosia in his arms. He was slow due to a bad left leg it seemed like. 

“OK.”

Simon let Dosia down even though she was very reluctant to go so he could take something from around his neck. He handed you the corded necklace. It had a key on the end.

“Happy birthday sweetheart.”

“What's it for?”

“Havnae given it a name yet, thought we'd leave that for you tae do.”

“It's a 20 minute drive out the other side of town, just on the treeline.”

You stared at them. You knew what they were talking about. There was a crumbling cottage out there, you knew because you had considered buying it when you had first moved here but it was more expensive than the one you had went with and you couldn't afford it. You had completely forgotten it was there.

“Hope you don't mind sweetheart, but we took the liberty of getting the electrical work done.”

“And the roof, sorry luv I know you're a good roofer but my heart cannot take watching you do that again.”

“Tae be fully honest the whole thing is already done. Got a wee bit carried away.”

All those trips into town. The way they'd come back looking tired. They had been building you a home. 

“But… no wait, that's not… you were going to let me go?”

“Couldn't keep you in a cage forever little bird.”

“You'd have gotten arrested!”

“Would we aye? For what?”

“For kidnapping me!”

“Funny thing sweetheart, nobody in town is talking about the fire because they're too busy talking about the miracle girl. Apparently survived months in the forest on her own, told the sheriff she was quite the survivalist.”

“Yeah well! You! I!” you huffed, trying to come up with any reason that you had lied that didn't sound like “I love you”. “It was a cooler story.”

They laughed and it made you smile. You couldn't do it in the end. They were not bad men, you couldn't tell the truth knowing it would see them punished and put away. When you didn't know if they were dead or alive it had brought your feelings a stunning clarity. You had fallen stupidly in love with them. 

“So what's next?”

“Don't know honestly. We're camping out and keeping an eye on things. Once the danger has passed we rebuild” Price said, hand massaging at his shoulder.

“I'm pretty handy with a hammer.”

“Yeah?”

“Suppose I could help out” you offered, fighting to keep the stupid grin off of your face as you held up the key  “after all my cottage is pretty nearby right? And this guy is going to be useless with that leg.”

“Watch it sweetheart, my teeth are still intact.”

–

John liked to joke that you would combust if you didn't have a project. Once the cabin was rebuilt (5 bedrooms, incase they had visitors obviously) you helped where you could with the tower, once that was done you wanted to redo the kitchen in the cottage, after that you talked him into taking in an abandoned dog (honestly very easy what with you and Kyle both giving your best puppy dog eyes). Dosia surprisingly seemed to enjoy the new addition, bullying the german shepherd into doing whatever she wanted. The pair of them mostly came and went as they wanted between the cottage and the cabin, thriving running wild in the forest in between. 

Simon tried to get you into football which you sort of did. You had no interest in the big games, but you'd both go and cheer on the local team when they had home games. Inevitably you both looked a mess having gotten into a bit of a paint fight when you had insisted Simon have a little flag on his cheek. You threatened to de-fang him at least once a week. Both Dosia and Riley were absolutely in love with him which both you and Johnny sulked about. You thought maybe, for Riley at least, that Simon felt safe. His leg never quite healed right so he was more cautious and slow moving now, something you thought she might find comforting. 

When Johnny wasn’t grumbling about the animals wanting nothing to do with him, he was whining at you to not get out of bed. You had never met a lazier creature than John MacTavish on a duvet day, he just wanted to cuddle and watch movies. When he was on a hyper day he wanted to redecorate which almost always ended in a fight because you disagreed on what would look good. Everytime a big video game release rolled around the two of you (and sometimes Gaz depending on the game) would just hole up for a weekend and do nothing but play. Luckily Price indulged you and usually kept you fed and watered. 

Kyle had only been half kidding about making a fire fighter out of you. It started as therapy really, a way to try and control the nightmares. He took the lead in teaching you about all the equipment, letting you observe drills and even buying you custom fitted kit. While you never did want to be near a fire again, you learned to be less scared of the idea, you learned to believe that you would know what to do if anything happened. When you hadn't panicked at a little bin fire in your cottage and instead had just dealt with it, you had showed up at the cabin bursting with excitement to tell them. 

The Firewatch went from 4 to 5. You enjoyed it, the peace and quiet and the stars as you sipped hot chocolate and looked out onto the forest. You didn’t really know what the future held for you, but against all odds you had found a family and you were well and truly happy. And if sometimes you found yourself looking through the binoculars just to check on said family, you figured that was just karma.

[r3starttt]

Amoeba

a/n: third part of don’t delete the kisses (lmk if you noticed the Dina x Ellie reference 🤞)

pt.1 | pt.2 | pt.4

Warnings: a little bit of angts(? lots of fluff. homophobia. mentions of suicide.

“Between the gasps, I was swimming laps”

Echo chambers inside a neighborhood

In centerfold, humility’s shown

You’re not as good as what your mama’s sewn

Nobody yet everything, a pool to shed your memory

Could you say you’ve been tired? You haven’t called your family twice

I can hope tonight goes differently, but I show up to the party just to leave

The delicious and soft aroma of sweet bread wakes you up. Before you can even open your eyes properly, you feel your stomach growl. How much have you been sleeping for?

The warm of the sun coming from a big window besides you doesn’t help as you try hard to open your eyes. You rub them, yawning and stretching your legs.

It was probably the first time since you moved to this place that you didn’t felt exhausted.

You grabbed your phone to check the time, it was 10:30 am. How on earth could you slept for so long? you usually don’t make it pass 9 am, your body simply wakes you up and once your eye open there’s no way to feel tired enough to go back to sleep.

“Did I wake you up?” Ellie’s voice bring you back to reality, you finally turn around, there’s two plates on top of the kitchens counter with what seemed like hotcakes in them. Your heart felt like melting. “No… did you just cook our breakfast? How long have you been awake?”

Still a little bit sleepy you stood up from the couch you’ve slept in last night. Giving slow dizzy steps towards the counter and sitting on one of the few chair that were along it.

“Not too long, probably an hour” you could only see her back and her messy hair as she looked trough the many cabinets of the kitchen “what’re you looking for?” “The fucking maple syrup! I literally bough it like… three days ago”

“I bet you forgot it at the store” a sleepy chuckle came out of your mouth, already craving the very tasty hotcakes displayed in front of you.

“No I didn’t, I’m not that stupid” just before you could speak back she found it, whispering a ‘yessss’

She turned around and sat next to you, covering her plate with and exaggerated amount of syrup “That’s a lot” “it’s not” “it is”

Probably she was just as hungry as you were because none of you spoke again último both plates were empty, not even a crumb left.

“No, lemme do it” you pushed her away from the sink, she’d already done more than enough by cooking something for both “Why did you wake up so early? Didn’t you say how your day started like…. suuuper late?” with your hands you lifted both sleeves of your sweater, starting to wash the dishes.

“Couldn’t really sleep” she replied, almost too fast “Why?” she stood in silence for some seconds before explaining “It’s gonna sound super cheesy, just forget it”

“Now I really wanna know” you laughed “Did you dream of me? Of us? Did you marry me and started the most pretty cliche life with me?” she groaned

“Actually yeah, but you were so different…. and we were younger too” could it be? “did I have the same name?” you glazed at her quickly, but enough time to see her sudden change of expression “How’d you know?”

“I’ve had the same dreams, I freaked out when I first met you” you could hear the way the chair moved abruptly, her footsteps getting closer to you

“It made me feel nostalgic” her figure finally appeared on the corner of your eye, you were about to finish cleaning the last glass “and you haven’t even got to the best part” the sarcasm on your voice made her feel so confused,

Were you being serious right now? “What does that even mean?” her arms rested on the counter, watching you clean the glass “I’m not gonna spoil you our failed romance, just go to sleep and you’ll see” “You’re fucking with me” her hand slapped your shoulder slightly “I’m not! You’ll see what I mean tonight” all dishes now clean, how convenient.

“Is this what you meant yesterday? Is that why you asked me about-“

“Yes, but you don’t believe in those things, it’s fine”

“We’ve really met before then? Isn’t creepy?”

“Not really, I mean, not literally”

“You think we are soulmates then?”

You shrugged

Wooden floor sounding loudly as you walked to a small coffee table where you’d put all your bags the day before. Everything you’d bought and everything Ellie had insisted on buying you. There were just a few bags, you didn’t want to carry much.

“I can’t believe you suddenly believe in all this” you chuckled “well, we both dreamt about it. It’ll be too creepy if it was just a coincidence or something” she was just following you through the apartment, walking behind you whenever you moved.

“Have any plans for today?” you we’re hoping she didn’t, it would’ve been cute to stay all day with her, or maybe go out again. But she nodded, she did have plans for today.

“Gotta go see my parents, family reunion or some shit” you hummed “then I’ll go already, I don’t want you to be late or anything”

“I won’t”

-

“You know if you bring a girl this is over” Ellie’s mom looked furious. Her dad was just sitting besides her, trying to calm her wife down and trying to convince Ellie to stay a little more to properly talk.

But both of them were so stubborn and easily blinded by anger. No one could really intervene once they started shouting at each other.

“What’s the matter with it? I’ve been a fucking perfect child for this entire family but I’m not allowed to do one thing for myself?” she was so mad, her fists tightening more and more every time her mother spoke back.

“You are, just….not something like this” her mom finally calmed down, sitting besides her husband and staring back at Ellie with the must blank expression ever. it was infuriating.

“We’ll it’s either her or you two, and I’m not gonna quit to my life anymore just to please you” the whole room stood in silence. Everyone could fill the tension but it was completely quiet.

“Then don’t ever dare to come back”

This words made everyone feel disgusted, an unexplainable shiver running trough the ambience, touching every inch of skin of those present.

“No… shit, mom I’m sorry alright? I just” the knot of tears forming on her throat didn’t allow her to speak properly “what am I supposed to do? why can’t you accept it?”

“Get a man Ellie, grow up and start acting like an adult”

“Why not a woman? If it’s about the money, she’s rich alright? She has a great job, she lives in my same building, you know it’s not-“

“She lives there?”

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

“You’ll find another place then. I don’t want you to keep talking about this, I trust you’re gonna do the right thing”

-

You haven’t heard of Ellie since that day in the morning when you left to your apartment. You could hear her when she came back but decided not to bother.

She’d told you about her parents, how they weren’t so supportive now that she’s an adult. She’d told you how much it overwhelmed her the idea of visiting them or just having any type of contact with them.

And it’s not that you could do much about it either. You’d only have one date and knew her for almost two months so far so you weren’t quite sure about how to help or comfort her, also, you didn’t have the time to go and find out right now.

You were busy placing every new decor you’d bough with her and taking the chance to clean everything.

However you were thinking the whole day about her, well, the old Ellie you’ve met somewhere else. Could she have any effect on your new Ellie? on your new relationship?

It gave you anxiety to think about how she’d react when she knew what had happened, if she ever got to see it.

Would she understand? Would she hate you? Would she just ignore it? Would she even let you know If she knew what happened?

And the most darker and cozy the ambience got the more your anxiety grew, because you feared that night came and Ellie could see something that made things change. That maybe it’ll affect her as much as it did to you when you first saw it all.

You feared that the story could somehow repeat again, maybe as a karma type of thing. You feared that not you or her could handle it.

Because you’d wait her forever, you’d do anything for her. But something you did knew and something you were sure about was that whenever someone hurt her, she’d never forget about it, she won’t forgive, not easily.

10 pm

Weird to not have a single text from Ellie, she always sent you dumb stuff or tried to convince you to go with her to work or eat together.

“You haven’t texted me all day. U good?”

“Can you come over? I feel like shit”

“Wanna talk?”

“Just cuddle, hurry”

-

She’d been sleeping next to you for almost an hour now.

When you came in she didn’t say anything, her eyes looked puffy, her nose and cheeks were slightly red and her hair was a mess.

You decided not to ask any questions, she’ll tell you everything eventually, when she’s ready to talk about it.

You’d been running your hands trough her hair, caressing her back and arms, hugging her tightly and whispering to her how everything will be fine, how you wouldn’t leave her side ever. Reassuring her that you would stay as long as she needed. Until she fell asleep.

So now you were just cuddling with her. Arms around each other’s warm bodies, the whole apartment in complete silence, just Ellie’s heavy breathing as your hands kept on palming and caressing her back.

She started to cry on her sleep, saying random words and murmurs that made no sense. Whispering a bunch of unfinished phrases and letting out small whimpers.

You assumed maybe it was the stress, or whatever situation her parents had put her in some hours ago.

Until you heard your name. Could she be dreaming about the two of you again? Should you wake her up? Was she experiencing what you feared the most? So fast already? Maybe you-

Her eyes opened abruptly, letting out a loud gasp as if she was out of breath.

“Ellie, hey…. I’m here shhh” small pats on her back as she tried to compose herself. She was breathing extremely heavily “What happened?”.

Her eyes met yours and only there you realized about the tears on them, about the sweat on her face making some of her baby hairs stick on her face.

“You’re here” her body practically jumped to yours, embracing you with her arms, tightly “What is it? did you have a nightmare or something? El?” you could practically hear her heart beat, so loud and unsteady. Almost too fast.

She murmured something, her voice was too shaky and teary to speak properly “I don’t wanna lose you”

Your hands ran trough her hair, trying to not panic and make things worse for her. You leaned on her and kissed her head, gently.

“Good….”

-

“Why’d you do something like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Leave everyone and everything like that”

“That wasn’t really me, don’t worry ab-“

“Just why? you had so much privilege and fucking friends, I was dating you, we were best friends”

She couldn’t go to sleep after that, she didn’t really tell you about the dream she had but you already knew.

And you thought she’d understand, but maybe you were wrong, maybe she never did and you just convinced yourself about it because you two were in love.

“I felt overwhelmed, I thought you-“

“I feel overwhelmed too but it’ll pass, there no fucking need of killing myself”

Was she being serious? How were you supposed to reply back?

“Is it because of your parents? We don’t need to talk about this if you’re not feeling like”

“No it’s not” it is “and It’s important that we talk about it because that fucking detail just changes everything, how am I supposed to live like this with you knowing you could do it again?”

You’d make her dinner this time, but at this point it wasn’t possible for either of you to even touch the food anymore.

“Did you see what happened after I died?” she nodded, maybe the lack of knowledge was troubling this whole thing. “Is that why you’re mad? I didn’t see it”

You were trying your best to not explode, but you felt like punching her right in the face. How could she speak like this about you? About everything?

How could she be so selfish and stupid right now.

“I’m mad about the whole situation, why’d you leave me and not even talk to me about it? Why didn’t you tell me how you were feeling? Why’d you have to be so selfish? I was left alone after that, your parents moved out of the town.”

So they did take care of her as you’ve asked them to. And she did search for them to have some support as you’ve insisted.

“That was someone else Ellie, things are different here. I won’t leave you, I’m fine”

“How do you know? if we met again is for a reason”

“To actually end together maybe?”

“I don’t think so”

The immediate regret on her face was something you’ve never seen before. But you’re now too focused on your own pain to care.

“You know, the reason of those letters, the reason of why I didn’t died earlier and the reason why I’m here right now, making you fucking dinner Is because I care about you more than I could ever care about myself”

You could feel the salad flavor of tears slowly appearing in your throat. The tears slowly blinding you as rage built in your heart. It was physically painful.

“And it sucks and I know it’s not how any of this should’ve been but it it’s, and we can’t change what we’ve experienced” she stood up from the chair she was eating at, almost running towards you “but I’ve tried over and over again to make us work, and I’m tired of you not understanding. You’re supposed to love me Ellie, why can’t you?”

“I really thought you’d get over it, I really thought you’d understand in this life too. But you always let the anger in you fuck everything”

She tried to hold you, to speak, anything to try and talk and not fuck yo things again. Because you were more than right and she knew it.

“I guess we’ve changed, maybe you’re right snd we are just not meant to be anymore”

“That’s not what I meant! my mom she- they don’t want me to be with you, I’m sorry I’ve been feeling like shit today, please let’s talk Mhm?”

Her hands were on your face, cleaning every tear that ran along your pretty eyes and your pretty nose, along your shaky lips and all the way to your jawline.

But you stopped her, because you didn’t care about any explanation she had now. It was fucking stupid from her to act the way she did and maybe she was right, maybe you two weren’t meant to be.

Maybe it was all an illusion.

“I’m mad at them and you’re right, I let the anger blind me but I’ll promise I’ll control it. Just let’s talk, please” you wouldn’t reply, not verbally or physically and it made her feel so horrible to see you like this.

“She wants me to stay away from you, but I chose you over them. I love you, I really do-“

“I’ll make her a favor then”

Hopefully it was an illusion.

[disc4rain]

A Gross Invasion of Privacy

Or: how I lost access to my caregiver

I'm disabled and need a caregiver to handle everyday chores. Where I live, that type of help is provided by the state and is a basic right for people who reach a certain disability threshold (aka: me).

I recently moved and had to register for a new caregiver, which took a couple months. I live in a less populated area now so it's fair, they don't have a big office with people at the ready.

I also have a boyfriend but we don't live together and he can't help me outside of weekends. That will become relevant later.

CW: mentions of sexual intimacy and kinks

Turns out my boyfriend and I like to do some kinky stuff in the bedroom, and since I live alone due to my disabilities, my place is where it all happens. (I swear this is relevant.)

While sex toys need to be cleaned and put away after use, some things like bondage accessories don't typically get dirty. And sometimes, putting them away is a waste of time.

I have a bondage thing in-between my bed and mattress, and I never remove it because a) it doesn't get dirty, b) it's a pain to set up and I'm too physically handicapped to handle it, and c) it's virtually invisible unless you're making the bed.

I also have drawers with bondage and sex-related things in my bedroom, but most of it is organized in non-descript boxes within those drawers.

All this to say: my bedroom doesn't look like a BDSM dungeon.

Even then, I asked my caregiver not to touch the bedroom at all. It's in her contract, pretty much all her tasks have a mention like "except the bedroom."

She met my boyfriend when she first came in, and I told her he'd help out on the weekends and with certain tasks. He also takes care of cleaning the bedroom. She joked about her girlfriend being the one doing the cleaning at home, because cleaning her home feels like work to her. The way she said it was a bit awkward but like "hey, I'm gay too, no judgement here" which was good news.

I recently had to take more powerful medication because my health got worse, and I've been very sleepy pretty much all the time due to that. So one day, my caregiver was cleaning up the kitchen area and I was pretty much nodding off on the couch. She told me not to worry, she could finish up and leave even if I fell asleep, so I did.

I woke up after she left because my neck hurt and figured I'd go rest in my bed. I went to my room and immediately noticed the bondage accessory between my bed and mattress was visible, and my blanket was tucked in (which never happens).

Several things on the shelves had been moved around, and most importantly, some of the boxes in my drawers had been opened and not closed properly.

Having a caregiver is hard to accept, because you have to trust someone else with your body, your hygiene, your home, and so much more. Knowing she went into my bedroom when she wasn't supposed to and found out everything there was to find about the last bit of intimacy I felt I had left was a horrible feeling.

I didn't do anything about it because I didn't know how to react. I just kept to myself and refused to do anything sexual after that. It felt tainted, somehow. I felt like an exposed freak, even though I'd done nothing wrong (my bedroom was off-limits, and it looks normal unless you make an effort to look deeper).

My caregiver didn't show up after that, so I called the administration and it took a couple weeks before I got an answer. They sent me a mail which roughly translates to:

"Sir,

Miss [caregiver] no longer wishes to work with you due to the incident on [date at which she went in my room].

We respectfully remind you that our employees must be treated with respect and not exposed to any obscene behavior.

We strongly suggest you find a caretaker more adapted to your needs and behaviors."

I don't know what the fuck she told them but they won't send anyone over to my place. I can't afford a private caregiver so I'm fucked.

I don't want to explain myself to them, I'm obviously fine with telling them my caregiver got into my room when she didn't have to, but I don't want to tell them she found my bondage stuff and the box where I keep my sex toys. I don't want to explain that to anyone except the internet I guess. I don't want my face associated in their minds with the kind of thing I do in the bedroom.

I'm not gonna sacrifice my dignity like that, god knows I've compromised with it too much already. I can't live on my own, I can't work, I can't vote, dignity is maybe the only thing I have left and I'm not compromising on it. It's gonna sound stupid but I would rather die or get sicker than humiliate myself in front of these people.

[salamanderinspace]

How Many Holes Make a Grave Digger?

short Good Omens season 2 fic. On Ao3 also.

(full disclosure: I didn't watch episodes 5 and 6.)

Elspeth tried to "be good." She went to a more reputable inn for the night, but only ordered corn porridge--that's what a good one does, yeah? Good and virtuous ladies don't make themselves fat on roast in the middle of the week. She only took one pint and turned in early. In the morning, she had a wash--something she never enjoyed, what with the cold and the damp creeping in her ears and making her feel all moldy.

When she went down to pay, she gave the barman a guinnea, and waited for her change at the bar. A lot of sad sacks were strewn around at midday, out of work and out of hope, burying themselves in ale. Some looked at her a little too long. Too too long, in fact, as the barman didn't return. "Oi!" she called. "My change, sir?" He didn't come out. What does a good and virtuous young woman do? she wondered. Certainly not go jumping over bars and making demands. She looked around, and as she did, luck would have it, she saw someone pass out the window. A constable. She ran him down, catching him on the sleeve, at which he drew his baton.

"What's this?" he barked.

"This innkeeper is jacking me for my change, sir," Elspeth explained. "I paid him a guinnea and he went in the back."

"Oh yeah?" He looked her up and down. "And where'd a rat like you get a guinnea? Found it in the gutter, didja? Run off or I'll take you to the station."

He seemed to mean it, so Elspeth did as she was told. She kept the rest of the money close, after that. She thought of going to a lawyer but couldn't be sure he wouldn't do just the same. No--she needed to look like a credible lady, first, so she went to a shop and ordered a dress. "Can't I just wear it out?" she asked.

"I've got to order the fabric," the tailor lady huffed. "And it'll take time to do the adjustments. You never bought a dress before?" She looked suspicious.

"Me mum handled all that," Elspeth lied. "Before she passed." The fib was automatic, and the urchin kicked herself after. Lying wasn't "being good," was it?

The lady said to come back next week, so it was another week sleeping in the gutter. Without Wee Morag to watch over her, Elspeth couldn't rest but in short snips, for the danger of men lurking. She developed a cough. In a week she fetched the dress and paid the hefty price for it, and with a hefty tip, the tailor let her have a wash there. "You're not going to ruin it with your filthy streaks," she said, but she looked sympathetic.

Elspeth went and got a bite to eat. She felt desperately sleepy, after, but still had nowhere to lay her head, and she figured she should go straight to a law office. "I'm here to buy a farm," she announced, after waiting on the hard chairs in the waiting room. Her dress was too warm in some places and too cool in others. She couldn't slouch properly in her chair, either, as that would pull on the laces.

"And your husband?" asked the law man, without looking up from his letters.

"Dead," Elspeth said. Another lie.

"Sorry to hear it," he said, not sounding sorry. "Well, what's the property in question?"

"Was hoping you'd help me find one."

"Were you?" He looked up at that, and raised a brow. "That can be a time-consuming matter," he said. "My hourly rate--"

"Yeah, I can pay," she answered.

"Very well. Come back next week, and we'll look at a few properties."

That bit went as smoothly as one could hope. Most places were out of Elspeth's price range, and she had to settle for a very wee lot with only a few sheep and chickens established. "Will you be needing to hire day labor?" the lawyer asked.

"Ah, no, I've got it," Elspeth said. She signed the papers and the lawyer left her with a bill. The house on the land was small and dark--no windows. The only nice thing about it was that she could hunt and fish at her leisure--though she'd have to teach herself how to do the fishing, as she'd never had a proper pole for it.

The days were long and lonely and hard. The lies came often. Merchants who wouldn't do business with an unwed woman. Merchants who tried to take her for twice the value of their goods. The money ran out before winter and she was forced to creep into the neighboring manor's coal-cellar and take a little, just a little, to get through. She imagined herself as a miner, digging for ores. Sometimes there was pretend and sometimes there were lies and it all ran together.

She'd imagine Wee Morag with her. Would talk to her, make jokes, even share a touch or two. She began to wonder, after all she'd seen with the two strange men in the graveyard and their dark magick, if spirits were a great deal realer than she'd thought when she was hawking corpses. She'd never seen a ghost, after all, not until … whatever those men were. On her market days she dawdled at the occultists' stall, and eventually struck up a conversation.

And her cough never really went away.

The days were a river of sameness. The same chores, the same dark and damp. She planted crops, which got blight and died. Paying the doctor for a bad lambing wiped out her savings. The sun rose and set and she drank and slept and it started to feel like there was very little reason not to go and get another vile of laudanum.

And if there was nothing to lose. What could it hurt to..?

That's how Elspeth found herself under the full moon, with the occultist and his eleven apprentices. The smell of charcoal and goat's blood, of briars and late-season lavender. The crisp air of October. Her heart beat with the chanting, the initiation. She called out to Wee Morag and felt her return. She swore herself to her Dark Master. She was no longer alone. She would never be alone again.

And she would never "be good."

[flockrest]

directly referring to this / @gloryseized

     Tulin loves learning, even if it can get pretty boring sometimes with the Elder when he's running his Gatherings or with Mum when she's tryna teach him stuff like how to properly dust off hammocks.

     Tulin really, really loves Link, and there's no but or though or even if 'bout that.

     It figures, then, that he'd really-really-really love learning with and 'bout Link, which is something that's been true and holding true ever since the hero stepped foot into these peaks — 'specially now that they've started language lessons!

     Hylian Sign, it turns out, is somehow way more and way less finicky than what he knows of Rito Key. The movements are smaller and can get real compact — kinda quieter, in a sense — so it's taken a lotta fine-tuning on both their parts to allow Tulin to do more than just understand. It's different from everything else he's currently learning and trying, but, y'know, he thinks he's been doing a good job of picking it up!

     He must be, 'cause even Dad seemed a little lost and very impressed when he recounted all that he and Link went over this time during dinner tonight — lightly testing him on everything and turning to Link for the answers he wasn't sure of. Which is, like, Dad-speak for answers he doesn't know, and how neat is that?! Tulin basically knows more 'bout this than his dad, now! And-and Link's getting better at making out bits and pieces of Rito, too: when he started teasing Dad 'bout falling behind for the first time in his entire life in warbling tones, his friend jumped right in and joined Dad's side on teasing him back!

     ( Totally unfair of him, by the way. Tulin had to swipe a bread roll from him when he wasn't looking for that!

     ...And then passed him his last piece of trout when Link caught him mid-bite 'cause he felt bad, but the point stands! )

     Hehe. Link really is the coolest. And the nicest! They'd touched some more on how to talk 'bout others in his people's tongue today — hard to explain when the Hylian equivalents don't really tell you anything useful 'bout anyone, and probably harder to wrap your head 'round when that sorta blankness is what you've grown up with — but Link hadn't complained, or pretended he completely understood so Tulin would stop, or anything else like that.

     He'd stopped anyway though, 'cause it's a lot and he can be a patient teacher as well! As long as Link knows they have words that mean something like I like you without actually saying that, or I hate you without actually saying that, he's perfectly happy to leave recognising them and how to use 'em for next time. Maybe he can even try showing Link some Rito Key! Ooh, ooh, can Link whistle? Can he get Uncle Harth or Mr. Huck to make him one? How awesome would it be to see him say you-that-I-like? Or— or you-that-I-love!

     ...Which Tulin, now that he thinks 'bout it, doesn't know how to even remotely say in Hylian Sign.

     That's no good.

     He leans further out from his roost, keen student for the last time tonight as he watches Link go through the motions of, "I love you." It looks pretty simple and very doable, so it's with a huge smile back that he shuffles to the very edge of his hammock, wings rising to wholeheartedly repeat after his friend—

     —Only to fall straight out, directly onto Link with an oof!

     "Tulin," Mum's voice cuts in from above them, and that's totally unfair of her, 'cause it's not like he meant to fall! S'not his fault — not for that, and not for how he suddenly can't stop laughing, giddy with almost-sleepy silliness and the warmth that burst in his chest when Link caught him.

     "Sorry," he says when he's got his breath under control again. He pushes himself up from where he's landed, eyes bright as he straightens, shakes out his wings, and tells Link, the way he told Tulin: "I love you!"

[behindcloseddolls]

Porcelain Prison: A Moral-Ethical Analysis on the Youngest Doll

Let the music guide you into the world of porcelain stares and silent suffering. Press play before you begin reading.

Not all prisons have bars. Some are hidden in plain sight, causing suffering to those who are not even aware of it. Rosario Ferres’ chilling short story “The Youngest Doll” explores a world where women are crafted to be admired and possessed. Set in patriarchal Puerto Rico in the 1970s, it utilizes magical realism to show how beauty and tradition can be used as tools for exploitation. It follows an old aunt who is bitten by a river prawn and then devotes herself to caring for her nieces, crafting dolls for them as gifts until they get married. Later, it is revealed that the men around them have been exploiting both her and her youngest niece throughout the story. In the end, the niece’s doll, her aunt’s final gift to her, seeks revenge in their place. The story serves as a reminder that greed and abuse cause lingering damage that affects many people.

Figure 1. A doll's cracked face.

Exploitation and deception are depicted in the story as springing from greed and having dire consequences on both the victim and the people around them. The doctor attending to the aunt willingly avoids treating her wound properly, as it 

— “has been paying for [his son’s] education these twenty years” (p. 247). 

Because of this, the aunt becomes lonely and self-conscious for many years of her life. Later on, the doctor’s son marries the aunt’s youngest niece and forces her to sit on their balcony

— “so that passersby would be sure to see that he had married into high society” (p. 248).

As he makes money from selling parts of her doll, the niece begins to eerily resemble the doll. Eventually, her husband is attacked by prawns springing from her eyes, serving as retribution for the suffering of the aunt and her niece.

Figure 2. A close up image of a prawn. Even amidst a life full of hardship, the aunt perseveres to be a beacon of love and hope for her nieces. She uses the finest materials for her dolls, not to profit off them, but to create high-quality gifts for her nieces. This symbolizes her selfless nature, trading money for sentimental value. — “The birth of a doll was always cause for a ritual celebration, which explains why it never occurred to the aunt to sell them for profit” (p. 245).

This sets a clear contrast between the aunt and the doctor, as the aunt believes that life is about loving and caring for other people, not using them for personal gain. In the end, it is one of these very dolls that protects her youngest niece and punishes the doctor’s son, who had benefited from her suffering. Through the aunt's quiet resistance against exploitation, her love becomes an everlasting force for justice, showing that true care leaves a deeper impact than selfishness ever could.

Through its shocking events, the story gives a strong warning to readers to be cautious of others’ intentions. The doctor was a trusted figure who “assured [the aunt] it was nothing” (p. 243) when she was bitten by the prawn, but turned out to be hiding sinister motives. The youngest niece decides to marry the doctor’s son — “because she was intrigued by his sleepy profile and also because she was deathly curious to see what dolphin flesh was like” (p. 247).

Unfortunately, the doctor’s son similarly uses her for money and status.

Greed can easily become a prison that deprives people of their sense of humanity. It causes people to disregard others’ well-being and leads to oppression and abuse. “The Youngest Doll” reminds us to stay wary of people’s motives and fight against the trap that is greed.

References: Ferre, R., & Velez, D. (1986). The Youngest Doll. Feminist Studies, 12(2), 243. https://doi.org/10.2307/3177967 StockCake.com. (n.d.). Cracked Porcelain Doll. StockCake. https://stockcake.com/i/cracked-porcelain-doll_502035_734298

Baldaquinn. (n.d.). Exactly why passed prawns are scary : r/AnarchyChess. https://www.reddit.com/r/AnarchyChess/comments/is7b5k/exactly_why_passed_prawns_are_scary/?rdt=52735

[starberryshuu]

Waking Up with Iso

Iso woke up to the unfamiliar feeling of warmth, his face pressed against something soft. His brain, still sluggish from sleep, barely registered the situation until he inhaled and caught the faint scent of something familiar—Julie.

His eyes snapped open.

He was lying against her, his head buried in her chest.

Iso froze.

Julie, still asleep, had her arms loosely wrapped around him, her breathing slow and steady. It was a completely innocent embrace—at least from her perspective—but for Iso, alarms were blaring in his head.

What the hell—

His body tensed, his entire existence caught between the instinct to escape and the realization that any sudden movement might wake her. His mind raced, trying to piece together how he had ended up here. Then a strange calm seemed to settle over him. He wasn’t exactly sure why, but this wasn’t as bad as it should have been.

The last thing he remembered, they had been watching a movie in the common room. Julie had been extra moody all day, still avoiding Chamber like he was a plague. Yoru had left early, muttering something about not wanting to deal with whatever weirdness was going on. Iso had stayed behind, figuring he’d keep Julie company for a while.

They must have fallen asleep.

Swallowing, he carefully shifted his head, trying to get a better look at her. Julie’s expression was peaceful, completely unaware of the awkwardness of the situation.

This is fine. I can get out of this. No sudden movements—just... careful.

Julie stirred.

Iso immediately shut his eyes, trying to stay as still as possible, almost feeling like a kid caught doing something he shouldn't.

Julie let out a small, sleepy sigh before adjusting slightly, hugging him just a little tighter in the process.

I am going to die here.

Iso’s breath hitched. So much for avoiding it.

The universe had to be punishing him for something.

Swallowing hard, he weighed his options. He could try to slip away before she woke up, or—

A new voice broke the silence.

"...What the actual hell?"

Iso stiffened.

He didn’t have to look to know who it was. Yoru.

Standing at the doorway.

Staring.

The air grew thick with unspoken judgment. Iso didn’t dare move.

Julie, oblivious to everything, mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep.

Yoru took one slow step forward. Then another.

"...You know, I was gonna get coffee, but I think I lost my appetite," Yoru deadpanned.

Iso finally cracked open an eye and shot him a warning glare, as if silently begging him don’t make this worse.

Yoru, the absolute menace he was, smirked. "You comfy, man?"

Iso clenched his jaw. "...Shut up."

Julie stirred again, this time mumbling, "Mmm… warm… tickles…" before sighing contentedly.

Yoru took that as his cue to leave. He didn’t need to witness what happened next. "Yeah, I’m out. Good luck explaining this one, lover boy."

With that, he left, laughing under his breath.

Iso exhaled sharply. This is fine. I can still fix this.

Then Julie yawned, stretching slightly before slowly blinking awake.

Her arms tightened briefly around him before her eyes focused.

And then—

Silence.

Still half-asleep, she furrowed her brows. "...Iso?"

Iso swallowed. "Morning."

Julie blinked again, looking down at how they were tangled together. Slowly, her expression shifted from confusion to understanding—then to sheer horror.

A beat.

Then:

"WHY ARE YOU IN MY CHEST?!"

Iso, exhausted, simply sighed. "...I woke up like this."

Julie scrambled away so fast she nearly fell off the couch, her face burning red. "WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE ME UP?!"

"BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO DIE?!"

They stared at each other, both equally flustered.

From somewhere in the hallway, Chamber’s amused voice floated in: "Ah, young love."

Julie buried her face in her hands, groaning.

Iso closed his eyes. "Kill me now."

Julie, still covering her face, groaned louder. "This is so embarrassing. I can’t believe I—ugh!" She flopped back onto the couch, kicking her legs in frustration.

Iso, now sitting up properly and rubbing his face, exhaled sharply. "You think you’re embarrassed? I woke up in that position. Yoru saw everything. I’m never going to hear the end of this."

Julie peeked at him between her fingers, her face still flushed. "You could have woken me up sooner."

"I tried to move, but you hugged me tighter in your sleep!" Iso shot back, exasperated.

Julie gasped. "Lies! I don’t do that!"

"You literally did!"

Before she could argue, they both froze at the sound of slow clapping.

They turned toward the doorway—Chamber stood there, absolutely delighted.

"Magnifique," he said, giving them a slow, deliberate applause. "A wonderful way to start the morning. I must say, Julie, you have quite the affectionate nature. I had no idea you were so… welcoming."

Julie shot up, pointing an accusing finger at him. "DON’T YOU START!"

Chamber only smirked, stepping forward with an amused gleam in his eyes. "I must admit, I am deeply impressed with your choice, Iso. You move quickly."

"I didn’t choose anything!" Iso snapped.

Julie flailed her arms, still incredibly flustered. "It was an accident! A dumb, stupid accident!"

Chamber let out a low chuckle. "Ah, yes. Accidents. The kind that lead to—"

"STOP." Julie cut him off immediately, her face somehow growing redder. "I KNOW YOU’RE ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING GROSS!"

Chamber placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "Julie, mon trésor, you wound me. I was simply going to suggest that accidents often lead to new discoveries. Perhaps you and Iso have uncovered a newfound comfort in each other?"

Julie was about to throw a pillow at him.

Before she could, Iso, still clearly exhausted, ran a hand down his face and sighed. "Can we just—not do this right now?"

Chamber chuckled, watching as Julie fumed but ultimately collapsed back onto the couch, covering her face with a pillow.

"Fine," she grumbled. "But I swear, if Yoru tells anyone, I’m moving out."

Iso crossed his arms. "You really think you’re gonna stop him from running his mouth?"

Julie let out a dramatic groan. "I’m doomed."

Chamber, still enjoying every second of this, gave them one last amused look before walking off.

"Don’t worry, ma chérie," he called over his shoulder. "I shall only tell a few people."

"CHAMBER, I SWEAR TO GOD—"

*********************************

Utterly Doomed

Julie buried her face into a pillow, her entire body burning with embarrassment. Iso sat beside her, rubbing his temples with a resigned sigh.

"I need a redo on this morning," she mumbled into the pillow.

"You and me both," Iso muttered, leaning back against the couch, clearly still recovering.

Before either of them could recover, Yoru entered the room with a slow, knowing smirk.

"So," he started, crossing his arms, "anything interesting happen last night?"

Julie peeked out from behind the pillow, eyes wide. "WHO TOLD YOU?!"

Yoru raised a brow. "Told me? Oh, so you’re admitting something happened?"

Julie gasped, realizing she had just walked right into a trap.

Iso groaned. "Yoru. Leave it alone."

Yoru ignored him, looking at Julie with pure amusement. "Look, I just think it’s funny, really. First, you’re avoiding Chamber like he’s going to eat you alive, and now, you’re waking up with Iso in your arms?"

Julie made a tiny, distressed noise and pressed the pillow tighter against her face. "I WAS ASLEEP!"

"Yeah, sure." Yoru snickered. "That’s totally what it looked like."

Julie felt her ears turn bright red.

And then, as if things couldn’t get worse, Chamber appeared in the doorway, a cup of coffee in hand and an infuriatingly smug look on his face.

"Ah, yes. Quite the adorable scene this morning. Iso, mon ami, I must say, I did not take you for the type to enjoy such… intimate sleeping arrangements."

Julie let out a tiny squeak and curled further into herself.

Iso just sighed. "I was asleep."

Chamber took a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze flickering back to Julie. "And you, ma trésor? You looked quite comfortable. A new habit of yours, perhaps?"

Julie peeked out from behind her pillow, her voice barely above a whisper. "N-No..."

Chamber hummed. "Curious. First, you refuse to come near me, and now, you’ve taken to clinging to Iso in the night. Should I be jealous?"

Julie squeaked and pulled the pillow over her face entirely.

Yoru, snickering, leaned closer. "Julie, at this rate, we should start expecting you to wake up tangled up with someone new every morning."

Julie peeked out again, voice small. "D-Don’t say it like that…"

Chamber chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, Julie, mon ange, you truly are a delight to tease."

Julie, still burning with embarrassment, peeked up at him with wide, nervous eyes. "Y-You tease me too much lately..."

Chamber smirked. "Oh? But you make it so easy, ma chérie."

Julie, completely overwhelmed, could only bury herself deeper into the couch, making tiny distressed noises.

Chamber, utterly pleased, took another sip of his coffee. "Ah, this is the best way to start the morning."

Yoru, laughing, patted Julie on the head. "Face it, you’re doomed."

Julie whimpered into her pillow. She knew it too.

Utterly Doomed (Part 2)

Julie stayed curled up in the couch, refusing to lift her face from the pillow. She was completely and utterly done with today.

She could still feel Chamber’s gaze on her, smug, and Yoru’s presence mocking. Iso, at least, had the decency to stay quiet—but she knew he was suffering too.

Her mind kept flashing back to this morning. The warmth. The firm weight of Iso pressed against her. His hair tickling her chin. The way his arms had automatically settled around her waist like it was natural. And worse—how she didn’t immediately push him off.

She let out a tiny, muffled whine.

Yoru smirked. “What, embarrassed because you liked it?”

Julie made another tiny, strangled noise.

Iso threw a cushion at him. “Shut up.”

Chamber, still sipping his coffee like a man watching the best entertainment of his life, leaned against the counter. “Oh, but I must agree with Yoru, ma trésor. You are quite… affectionate when you sleep.”

Julie peeked out from the pillow just enough to glare at him. “D-Don’t say it like that!”

Chamber smirked. “Like what, exactly?”

Julie pouted, her face still burning. “Y-You always say things in a weird way!”

Chamber raised a brow. “Weird?”

Yoru, still snickering, leaned closer. “Ohh, she’s catching on.”

Julie turned to Iso for support. “I-Isn’t he always talking funny?! It’s like half the time I don’t get what he means, and the other half, I feel like I shouldn’t get it!”

Iso, who absolutely understood what she meant, sighed. “Yeah. Welcome to the struggle.”

Chamber simply smiled. “Ah, mon ange, if I speak in a way that confuses you, perhaps you should ask for an explanation?”

Julie squinted at him. “…I don’t trust you.”

Yoru burst out laughing.

Chamber placed a hand over his chest, feigning offense. “Ma chérie, you wound me. I am nothing if not an honest man.”

Julie’s pout deepened. “A lying, sneaky, dishonest flirt of a man.”

Chamber chuckled. “Ah, but now you understand. Progress.”

Julie let out a frustrated groan and threw herself back against the couch, covering her face. "Why do you always tease me?!"

Chamber leaned closer, his voice smooth and amused. "Because you are adorable when you fluster."

Julie squeaked.

Iso, rubbing his temples, sighed. "Chamber, leave her alone. You’ve done enough damage today."

Chamber chuckled, stepping away. “Very well, very well. I shall be merciful.”

Julie peeked out at Iso, who was visibly tired of everything. She whispered, “…How do you deal with him?”

Iso just shook his head. “You don’t.”

Yoru, grinning, added, "You just suffer."

Julie let out another small, defeated whimper.

This was her life now.

Utterly Doomed (Part 3)

Julie was trying to move on.

She really, really was.

She ignored the way Iso kept glancing at her like she might spontaneously combust. She ignored Yoru’s barely hidden smirks whenever she so much as looked in Chamber’s direction. And she definitely ignored the way Chamber kept acting like he had won something—because if she acknowledged that, she might just die on the spot.

She just needed distractions.

So she focused on the game in front of her, mashing the buttons furiously as she played against Yoru. She was losing—badly—but that was fine.

At least she wasn’t thinking about waking up pressed against Iso’s chest.

Or Chamber purring innuendos into her ear.

Or how flustered she got when she finally realized what all those things actually meant.

"Oi."

Julie blinked, snapped out of her thoughts.

Yoru was grinning.

"You suck at this," he said, effortlessly landing another combo that destroyed her health bar.

Julie scowled. "Shut up."

"Can’t. I’m too busy winning."

Julie whined in frustration, gripping the arcade controls tighter. "Just let me win once!"

Yoru smirked. "Where’s the fun in that?"

Julie huffed, leaning forward to focus. She was determined now. She was going to—

—lose.

Again.

Yoru laughed as her character dramatically collapsed on the screen.

"You’re the worst!" Julie pouted, crossing her arms.

Yoru stretched, looking way too pleased with himself. "Maybe if you weren’t so distracted, you’d actually stand a chance."

Julie froze.

Yoru grinned wider.

“…What are you implying?” she asked suspiciously.

Yoru just shrugged. "Nothing~."

Julie squinted at him, feeling her face warm up.

Iso, who had been watching, sighed. “You are kind of spacing out a lot today…”

Julie covered her face with her hands. “I HATE EVERYTHING.”

Yoru snickered. "Yeah? I bet Chamber would love to hear that."

Julie let out a high-pitched scream of frustration.

"DO NOT BRING HIM INTO THIS."

Yoru cackled.

—

Later that night, back at HQ, Julie tried her best to avoid Chamber.

She was careful. She took different hallways. She darted into rooms if she heard his voice. She pretended to be super busy whenever she saw him from a distance.

She was doing great.

Until she wasn’t.

Because as she turned a corner, she immediately crashed into something warm and solid.

Julie froze.

A hand gently steadied her by the waist.

"Ah," came that voice, smooth and deep, "ma douce, I was wondering where you had been hiding."

Julie looked up and locked eyes with Chamber.

Her brain stopped working.

She yanked herself away so fast, she nearly tripped. "I—I wasn’t hiding!"

Chamber raised a brow, amused. "No?"

"N-No!"

Chamber smirked, stepping closer. “Then why do you run from me, hm?”

Julie’s face was on fire. "I-I—I was just busy!"

"Hmm. And yet, whenever I enter a room, you mysteriously disappear."

Julie sputtered.

Chamber leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a silky whisper.

"Tell me, mon ange… do I make you nervous?"

Julie’s soul left her body.

She made a noise—something between a squeak and a dying gasp—before she whirled around and bolted.

Chamber laughed.

"Ah, I truly adore her."

Utterly Doomed (Part 4)

Julie refused to acknowledge what had just happened.

She did not get flustered.

She did not feel heat creeping up her neck.

And she definitely did not run like some scared little animal after one (1) French man leaned too close and used his stupid, smooth voice on her.

Absolutely not.

…Okay, maybe she did.

But that wasn’t the point!

The point was— she needed help.

And unfortunately, the only two people she could ask were Yoru and Iso.

So here she was, standing in front of their door, reconsidering every life choice that had brought her to this moment.

She took a deep breath. Knocked.

Silence.

Julie frowned. She knew they were in there.

"Guys, open up."

More silence.

Her eye twitched. "I know you can hear me."

Still nothing.

Julie narrowed her eyes.

"Fine," she said sweetly. "If you don’t open this door in five seconds, I’m telling Brimstone you two broke his coffee machine last week."

Immediately, the door flew open.

Julie smirked.

Yoru scowled. "You’re evil."

Iso just sighed in defeat.

Julie strode in, shutting the door behind her.

"I need help," she announced.

Yoru groaned. "If this is about Chamber again—"

"It is," she confirmed.

Yoru threw himself onto the couch, looking done.

Iso, sitting at his desk, gave her a weary look. "What did he do this time?"

Julie fidgeted, tugging at her sleeves. "…He cornered me."

Both of them immediately stiffened.

"Did he touch you?" Yoru demanded, already looking ready to throw hands.

"N-No!" Julie waved her hands frantically. "Not like that! He just—he got really close and—and talked in that voice—"

Yoru groaned. "Oh my god."

Iso pinched the bridge of his nose. "Julie…"

Julie pouted. "What?! I didn’t know what to do! My brain just—stopped!"

"Yeah, no kidding," Yoru muttered.

Julie flopped down onto a chair, burying her face in her hands.

"I hate this," she mumbled. "I hate him. I hate his stupid voice and his stupid face and his stupid—stupidness."

"You hate him so much you run away like a blushing schoolgirl?" Yoru teased.

Julie whipped her head up, face burning. "Shut up."

Yoru smirked.

Julie groaned loudly, slumping back in her seat. "How do I make him stop?!"

Iso sighed. "You don’t."

Julie gaped at him. "Excuse me??"

Iso gave her a look. "You ran. He knows now."

Julie blinked.

Yoru snorted. "Yeah. He’s like a cat. You run, he chases."

Julie stared at them in horror.

"So you’re saying—"

"—he’s gonna have even more fun messing with you now," Yoru finished smugly.

Julie let out the most miserable noise imaginable.

"I am," she declared, collapsing onto the floor, "so, so doomed."

Yoru and Iso exchanged glances.

And for the first time in history—

—they actually agreed on something.

Utterly Doomed (Part 5)

Julie, despite knowing that she was doomed, refused to accept her fate.

She was not going to let Chamber get away with this.

She was going to be strong. She was going to be fearless. She was going to look him in the eye and not crumble into a flustered mess—

…The moment she actually saw him, she immediately turned on her heel and walked the other way.

“Pathetic,” Yoru muttered behind her.

“I know,” she whispered back.

But she was not ready to face him!

Ever since that moment—that mortifying, brain-melting, soul-leaving-her-body moment—she had been avoiding him like the plague.

If she sensed his presence, she took a detour.

If he entered the room, she suddenly remembered something very important she had to do elsewhere.

If he even looked in her direction, she looked away so fast she almost got whiplash.

It was working.

…Or so she thought.

Because one evening, he finally caught her.

Julie had been carefully making her way through HQ, eyes peeled for any sign of danger.

Then, as she turned the corner—

"Bonsoir, ma douce."

Julie froze.

Standing right in her path, arms folded, wearing that infuriatingly smug expression—was Chamber.

Oh no.

"Where have you been hiding, hm?" he asked smoothly.

Julie panicked.

"Hiding?? I wasn’t hiding! Who’s hiding? Not me!" she laughed way too forcefully. "Haha! What a weird thing to say! Anyway—I gotta go—"

She tried to escape.

Chamber stepped in her way.

Julie almost slammed into his chest.

Her face burst into flames.

"Julie," he purred, "why do you keep running from me?"

Her soul left her body.

"I—I’m not!" she stammered.

Chamber tilted his head, eyes glinting. "No?"

"N-No!"

"Hmm."

He leaned down.

Julie squeaked.

"Then why," he murmured, "do you look like a rabbit caught in a trap, ma chère?"

Julie, whose brain was short-circuiting at an alarming rate, blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Because you talk weird!"

Chamber blinked.

Julie clamped a hand over her mouth.

She did not just say that.

She did not just call Vincent Fabron—possibly the most dangerously charismatic man on Earth— weird.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

To her utter horror—

Chamber laughed.

Julie wanted to die.

"You wound me, ma petite," he chuckled. "Weird? Is that truly what you think?"

"Y-Yes!" she stammered.

"And yet," he mused, "you seem to hear me so often."

Julie whipped around.

"I—I don’t have time for this!" she spluttered, marching away at full speed.

She did not look back.

Because she knew—she just knew—he was smirking.

And that realization haunted her for the rest of the night.

Utterly Doomed (Part 6)

Julie was not okay.

In fact, she was the opposite of okay.

After that horrifying encounter, she had locked herself in her room, face buried in her pillow, mentally screaming.

She could still hear him laughing.

She could still see his smirk.

And worst of all—

She could still feel how close he had been.

Julie kicked her blanket in frustration.

"This is so unfair!" she whined.

She hated how he got under her skin so easily.

She hated how he made her brain stop working.

She hated that—despite knowing he was an absolute menace—she still…

Nope.

Not thinking about that.

She groaned, pulling the blanket over her head.

"Stupid Chamber," she muttered.

Unfortunately, Julie’s suffering did not end there.

The next morning, she was determined to act normal—to prove that she was unaffected.

That lasted exactly five minutes.

Because the moment she stepped into the common area, she locked eyes with Chamber.

And her entire brain malfunctioned.

Julie: stops walking.

Chamber: raises an eyebrow.

Julie: spins around and walks out.

Yoru, watching from the couch: "Wow."

Iso, sipping his coffee: "Pathetic."

Julie’s greatest weakness, however, was her own curiosity.

Because no matter how much she wanted to ignore him…

She couldn’t stop wondering what he was thinking.

Does he know how flustered I am?

Does he find it funny?

Is he planning something??

The more she thought about it, the more paranoid she became.

She found herself stealing glances at him, trying to figure him out.

Unfortunately, Chamber noticed.

The first time, she had been peeking at him from behind a book.

Chamber, without looking up: "See something you like, ma chérie?"

Julie: chokes on her own spit.

The second time, she had been watching him from across the room.

Chamber, casually sipping his wine: "Ah, such intense eyes. If you wish to admire me, my dear, you need only ask."

Julie, nearly dropping her cup: "I WASN’T LOOKING AT YOU!"

Chamber, utterly amused: "Hmm. If you say so."

The final straw came when she caught him smirking at her.

Julie, eyes narrowing: "…What."

Chamber, tilting his head: "Pardon?"

Julie, crossing her arms: "You’re looking at me like you’re up to something."

Chamber, lips twitching: "Am I?"

Julie, suspicious: "Yes."

Chamber, leaning forward, voice smooth as silk: "Ma douce, if I were truly plotting something…"

Julie leaned back.

Chamber’s smile deepened.

"…You would not see it coming."

Julie fled the scene.

Yoru and Iso, watching all of this unfold:

Yoru: "She’s so doomed."

Iso: "Completely."

Utterly Doomed (Part 7)

Julie was on edge.

Not because she was angry.

Not because she was annoyed.

But because Chamber was still smirking.

And that was never a good sign.

She tried ignoring him.

She tried avoiding him.

She even tried pretending he didn’t exist.

None of it worked.

Because no matter where she went, somehow, he was there.

And every time their eyes met—

That stupid smirk.

At lunch, she sat as far away from him as possible.

Chamber, sipping his wine from across the table: "Distance makes the heart grow fonder, non?"

Julie: "The only thing growing is my suspicion."

Chamber: "Ah, so I am on your mind, then."

Julie: chokes on her food.

In the training room, she was stretching when he walked by.

Chamber, watching her touch her toes: "Such impressive flexibility, ma chérie."

Julie, immediately standing up: "WHY ARE YOU TALKING."

Chamber, utterly composed: "Am I not allowed to admire?"

Julie, face heating: "No! Admire somewhere else!"

Julie tried hiding behind Yoru.

It was a mistake.

Chamber: "Ah, Yoru, how fortunate you are. To have such a soft, warm presence behind you."

Julie: flies out from behind Yoru like she’s been set on fire.

Yoru, looking at Chamber like he’s the devil himself: "STOP DOING THAT."

Chamber: "Doing what?"

Yoru, exhausted: "EXISTING."

Julie was desperate.

She needed an escape plan.

A way to counter his attacks.

So she turned to the only person she could trust—

"Iso."

The Chinese duelist glanced up from his book. "Hmm?"

Julie leaned in, whispering. "I need help."

Iso raised an eyebrow. "With what?"

She looked around, as if afraid Chamber would hear her from across the building. "With… him."

Iso stared at her for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"You’re hopeless."

But even hopeless people had one last resort.

And Julie?

She was willing to take the risk.

Which is why, the next morning, she marched straight up to Chamber—

And smirked at him first.

Chamber paused.

Julie: "What? Surprised?"

Chamber, amused: "A little."

Julie, crossing her arms: "Yeah, well. I figured it out."

Chamber, intrigued: "Figured what out?"

Julie: "You’re just trying to fluster me."

Chamber, smirking again: "Am I?"

Julie, standing her ground: "Yes. And it won’t work anymore."

Chamber, stepping closer: "Oh? How bold of you to challenge me."

Julie, regretting everything: "I—I’m not challenging—"

Chamber, lowering his voice: "You’ve declared war, ma douce."

Julie, realizing she’s made a mistake:

"…Wait."

Chamber, eyes gleaming: "And I always win my battles."

Julie, panicking:

"WAIT—"

She turned to run—

But Chamber caught her wrist.

She froze.

He leaned in, so close she could feel his breath against her skin.

"Tell me, ma chérie," he murmured, voice smooth as silk, "if I whisper something into your ear right now… will you still claim to be unfazed?"

Julie’s soul left her body.

She ripped her arm away and bolted.

Yoru and Iso, watching from the sidelines:

Yoru: "Dumbass."

Iso: "She was doomed from the start."

Part 8: The Unavoidable Truth

Julie’s heart was still racing as she hid in her room, lying face down on her bed. The sound of her frantic breathing filled the air, the weight of Chamber’s words still hanging in her ears.

What had she done?

She couldn't escape him, no matter how hard she tried. His presence was always so overwhelming, so hard to shake off.

But…

That moment—

It was different.

He had sensed her challenge, her attempt to stand her ground, and he had turned it all back on her with a single glance.

Her thoughts swirled like a storm, trying to make sense of everything, but it was futile.

She couldn’t think straight.

She couldn’t do anything but feel like a fool.

She should’ve known better than to confront him head-on.

The next day, when she ventured outside her room to grab some food, she almost walked straight into Chamber’s path.

He was there, standing in the hallway like some kind of predator, smirking that devilish smirk that made Julie’s insides twist in confusion.

Chamber, observing her awkwardness: “Ah, ma chérie, I see you’ve returned to the battlefield.”

Julie stiffened. “I—”

He took a step closer, closing the distance. Julie instinctively backed away, her back hitting the wall behind her.

Chamber, leaning down slightly to meet her gaze, his voice low and teasing: “I must say, your retreating form is quite… captivating. You seem to run from me, yet I can still feel you pulling me closer.”

Julie’s face flushed instantly. No, no, no. She couldn’t do this again.

Her mind raced, but she couldn’t find her words. She just stared at him, too flustered to move.

Chamber, his tone softening just enough to be dangerously sweet, reached forward and brushed a lock of hair from her face. “I understand, ma douce. The truth can be difficult to accept, but it’s already clear. You want me to push you. You want me to keep going.”

Julie took a sharp breath, instinctively raising her hand to push him away, but—

It was too late.

He had already drawn her in with his words, his presence, everything about him. And the worst part? She knew it.

Her chest tightened. She wanted to scream, to run, but she couldn’t.

Chamber straightened up, his smirk turning into a grin. “You have a lot of pride, don’t you? It’s admirable. But remember—” He paused, his gaze shifting to her lips, “—pride comes before the fall.”

Before Julie could even react, he walked away, leaving her breathless and completely unsettled.

After what felt like an eternity, Julie found herself in the kitchen, trying to prepare a meal, but her thoughts kept drifting back to him.

She glanced over her shoulder. He wasn’t around, but the weight of his presence still lingered.

Her fingers fumbled as she chopped vegetables. She was trying so hard to ignore him, but all the subtle comments, all the knowing smirks, the moments that had left her heart pounding in confusion—they were all so close to overwhelming her.

"Julie, you alright?"

She froze, knife mid-air, before looking up.

It was Yoru.

His expression was more serious than usual, his eyes watching her closely.

Julie tried to force a smile, but it was weak, barely a twitch. “I’m fine, just... thinking.”

Yoru raised an eyebrow. “Thinking about what?”

She hesitated, then shrugged, feeling her cheeks burn. “Just... about things.”

He didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t push her. Instead, he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms.

The silence between them felt heavy, but it was a welcome change from the silence she had been battling on her own.

After a long pause, Yoru broke it with a dry chuckle. “You’re really avoiding him, huh?”

Julie’s heart skipped a beat, and she turned her gaze back to the vegetables she had almost ruined. “W-who?”

“Chamber, of course.” Yoru’s voice was laced with amusement. “You’ve been acting like he’s the plague. Thought you two were friends?”

Julie’s eyes widened at his words. “N-not really!” She shook her head violently. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Yoru simply shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Okay, okay. But just... don’t let it bother you too much. I know he’s... difficult, but you know what you’re getting yourself into when you’re around him.”

Julie paused, her mind racing. Yoru’s casual dismissal was enough to make her feel like she was missing something—something important.

Was it really that simple? Was she making a bigger deal out of this than she thought?

Before she could ask him, the door to the kitchen opened.

There stood Iso.

He looked between the two of them, then sighed, shaking his head. “What did I miss?”

Julie, still feeling the unease in her chest, simply muttered, “Nothing, just... being stupid.”

Iso blinked in confusion. “Stupid? What happened?”

Before she could answer, Yoru, always eager to deflect, said, “Julie’s just overthinking things. Same as usual.”

Julie shot him a look, then turned to Iso. “I think it’s best if I just... don’t think about him for now.”

Iso smiled softly. “Fair enough.”

But as she watched them both, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Something had changed in her—and it wasn’t just about her relationship with Chamber. It was about herself.

She had been pushed into a corner, and now, no matter what, she felt like she couldn’t escape the truth: there was no denying it anymore. She was slowly but surely becoming too aware of how he affected her.

The question wasn’t whether she was going to confront him again—it was when.

Part 9: The Final Straw

The atmosphere in the house was tense, even though the day seemed like any other. Julie tried her best to stay busy, avoiding the hallways where Chamber usually lingered, but the closer she got to the living room, the more she could feel the pull of his presence.

It wasn’t like she could just ignore it, or pretend she didn’t feel it when he was near. Chamber’s aura was impossible to escape.

Julie tried to focus on the task at hand, her heart hammering in her chest. She was pacing the hallway when she heard footsteps behind her.

It wasn’t just anyone.

Chamber.

The heat in her chest flared immediately. She froze, knowing what was coming. She tried to walk away, but his steps quickened, closing the distance between them.

"Running away again, ma chère?" His voice was low and teasing, and it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "It’s becoming a habit."

She gulped, her body tense with the sudden onslaught of nerves. He was too close. Far too close.

"Chamber, please..." Her voice faltered, but it didn’t stop him. He was already beside her, standing with his usual arrogant, self-assured smile.

His hand reached out, touching her arm gently but possessively. "Why do you fight me so much, hmm? You know what I want."

Julie took a sharp breath, her pulse racing. This wasn’t supposed to be happening, not like this. She wanted to pull away, but his grip on her was firm and unrelenting.

"Chamber, stop it. I—I don’t want this," she stammered, her voice shaking as she tried to keep her distance. But her body betrayed her, her heart beating erratically in her chest.

He wasn’t listening.

With one fluid motion, he pressed her back against the wall, his face dangerously close to hers. His fingers brushed the side of her neck as he leaned in, and Julie’s breath caught. There was no escape now, not from his touch, not from the tension crackling between them.

"You're always so strong with your words," Chamber whispered, his lips just inches away from her ear, "but your body is telling me something else."

Before she could say anything else, his lips crashed onto hers.

It wasn’t gentle—it was commanding. Powerful. And Julie’s body was frozen, caught between the overwhelming force of his kiss and the overwhelming storm of emotions threatening to swallow her whole.

From across the room, hidden in the shadows, Yoru had seen it all.

His fist clenched tightly, his jaw setting in a hard line as he watched Chamber corner her like prey. He had watched for weeks as Julie was pushed around, as Chamber toyed with her feelings, testing her boundaries. But now… this was too much.

He had been silent, hiding his frustration and jealousy behind quiet indifference, but this? This was the moment that snapped something deep inside of him.

Without thinking, he stepped forward, the sound of his boots hitting the floor echoing louder than he’d intended.

Chamber, still deep in the kiss, didn’t even notice at first. But Julie’s eyes went wide, her heart pounding in a new way as she saw Yoru approach.

"Get off her," Yoru’s voice was low but filled with an unmistakable fire.

Julie pushed against Chamber’s chest, her hands trembling. She wanted to escape, but it felt like she was being held captive by both of them, in different ways.

Chamber’s eyes flicked over to Yoru, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Ah, I see. So, the boy’s finally grown some teeth."

Yoru didn’t respond, his gaze hardening as he took another step closer. His body was tense, his fists clenched at his sides. He wasn’t backing down.

"I said get off her." His tone was cold, the fury bubbling beneath it unmistakable.

Julie, still breathless and shaken, pushed harder, breaking free from Chamber’s grasp. Her body was still tingling from the heat of the kiss, but now she was shaking with something else—fear mixed with relief.

She stumbled back, her heart racing.

Yoru moved forward quickly, grabbing Chamber by the collar and shoving him back, his chest heaving with the raw emotions surging through him. "Don't touch her again," he growled, his voice dangerous.

Chamber raised an eyebrow, amused and a little impressed. "Well, well, it seems our quiet Yoru has a lot more to him than I thought."

Yoru didn’t care for Chamber’s playful tone. This wasn’t a game anymore. It had never been a game to him.

Julie stood there, frozen, watching the two of them. Her mind was in chaos—she didn’t know what to think, or who to turn to. But one thing was for certain: this had crossed a line.

"Yoru, I—"

Before Julie could speak, Yoru’s gaze softened, just for a moment. He turned his attention back to her, his voice calmer, but still filled with an edge. "Get away from him, Julie. You don’t deserve that."

Chamber chuckled softly, brushing himself off. "A protective little knight, huh? Cute. But she’ll come around, just like always."

Julie could only watch, still in a daze, as Yoru finally turned his back on Chamber and walked over to her. He didn’t speak as he placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her away from the scene.

Chamber watched them leave, his smirk never faltering.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Julie’s heart was still racing as Yoru led her out of the hallway. His hand rested lightly on her shoulder, a silent reassurance, but it didn’t quite reach the depths of her panic. The kiss. Chamber’s touch.

She wanted to scream, to run away, but the quiet of Yoru’s presence grounded her. His protective aura wasn’t just a façade; it was real. Still, the moments that had just passed kept replaying in her mind. The kiss. The way her body had reacted.

She stumbled slightly as Yoru gently guided her back toward the living room, not speaking, but the tension in the air spoke volumes. Julie felt small. She felt… confused. So confused.

Yoru didn’t ask her if she was okay. He didn’t need to. His expression said it all: he was furious, but he wasn’t going to push her. Not yet.

But Julie couldn’t stand the silence between them.

"Yoru..." Her voice came out quieter than she’d intended, small and uncertain. She couldn’t look him in the eyes, though she felt him standing so close.

Yoru didn’t turn around immediately. He was breathing steadily, his jaw tense, his posture rigid. But when he did finally look at her, there was a softness there that she wasn’t expecting. He didn't say anything, but the way he met her gaze—steady and comforting—was enough.

"Yoru, I..." She felt a lump in her throat, the confusion and frustration bubbling up again, a wave that threatened to drown her. She didn’t know how to make sense of everything that had just happened. Of the emotions swirling in her chest. Of Chamber’s games. Her own reactions.

Yoru took a step forward, his gaze steady but softening. "Julie… you don’t have to explain anything to me. But I just want you to know, you don’t need to face this alone."

Julie’s hands trembled at her sides, her heart skipping in her chest. She had so many things she wanted to say—questions, doubts—but none of them seemed to come out right. She was overwhelmed, too flustered by everything, by the pressure.

“I didn’t mean for this to… I didn’t ask for it,” she whispered, almost to herself. The words sounded more fragile than she wanted them to.

Yoru nodded once, his expression unreadable for a brief moment, but there was something almost protective in the way he stood in front of her. "It’s not your fault. You know that, right?" His voice was soft, yet there was that underlying firmness to it. "Chamber’s not someone you need to figure out. He’s a... problem we’ll handle, okay?"

Julie felt like she could finally breathe for the first time in what felt like forever. But even as she nodded, still unsure of what was really going on, she felt Yoru’s presence—steady, unwavering.

The sound of footsteps broke the silence.

Chamber was coming toward them.

Julie’s heart immediately skipped, her instincts screaming to get away. But Yoru was already standing in front of her, blocking her from the man who had crossed all the lines.

Chamber’s smirk was still in place, but it looked more like a challenge now. His eyes flickered to Yoru, then to Julie.

“So, what’s this, then?” His voice was laced with amusement, though the glint in his eyes told a different story. "You don’t want to share the pretty girl, Yoru?"

Yoru’s response was nothing but cold silence. His eyes were narrowed, but there was no anger there—only a quiet, dangerous calm. He wasn’t going to rise to Chamber’s provocations this time. Not when Julie was right there, clearly shaken by everything.

Chamber took a step closer, but Yoru didn’t move an inch.

"Do you think I care about your little… games, Chamber?" Yoru said quietly, his voice controlled but sharp. "Don’t you dare cross that line again."

Julie’s heart skipped another beat. There was a deep intensity in Yoru’s voice that she’d never heard before. His words were a warning.

Chamber stopped in his tracks, seemingly unfazed by the challenge in Yoru’s voice. His smirk remained, but it was tinged with something darker, something she couldn’t quite place.

"Fine. I’ll back off." He raised his hands in mock surrender. "But remember, Julie," he added with a dangerous edge in his tone, "you can’t hide from me forever. Sooner or later, you’ll come to your senses."

Yoru moved between them without a word, and Chamber gave one last glance at Julie before turning away.

Julie’s chest was still tight. It was hard to breathe, hard to think, after everything that had happened. She felt exposed, vulnerable—but not in the way she had with Chamber. It was different now.

Yoru turned to her, his expression softer than it had been moments ago. His hand reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Are you okay?" His voice was quiet, and the sincerity behind it made her feel both comforted and exposed at the same time.

Julie nodded, though she still couldn’t look him in the eye. She wasn’t sure if she could trust her own thoughts at the moment. "I don’t know… Yoru. This is all so… confusing."

Yoru exhaled softly, stepping closer to her. He didn’t say anything more, just gently wrapped his arms around her. His embrace was warm, safe, and Julie found herself sinking into it despite her racing thoughts. She didn’t understand everything, not yet. But maybe it was okay not to have all the answers right away.

For now, all she wanted was to stay here, in the safety of Yoru’s arms. It was the only thing that felt real in a world where everything else seemed to be spinning out of control.

Chamber could wait. He would always be there. But Julie wasn’t ready to face him anymore—not yet.

For now, she needed time. And Yoru seemed willing to give it to her.

[dagger-n-ravvi]

Chapter Ten: Don't Leave Me Behind

Jade and Azul must deal with the consequences of their actions, and realize that Floyd is more serious about Riddle than they thought.

No warnings for this one!

Previous | Next Chapter | Fic Index

A03 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47890741/chapters/120739675

Jade’s phone begins to play the opening notes of a chaotic anime theme that he recognizes immediately. He hesitates for a moment, then picks it up.

“Hello Floyd. I trust that you're back on the surface with Riddle, if you’re using this?”

“Jade help.” 

Jade blinks, taken aback by Floyd’s tone. It’s not nearly the vengeful, angry one that he had been expecting. “Help?”

“So I was gonna squeeze you and Azul both for trapping me in a sleepy cubby with Goldfishie, AND YOU DESERVE IT.” Jade flinches, yanking the phone away from his ear. “But Goldfishie FINALLY let me lick him and Jade. JADE. HE NEVER HAD AN ORGASM BEFORE.”

“... Never ?” Jade sits on his desk, fighting between disbelief at the news, alarm at Floyd’s tone, and lingering guilt over the trick he played on them last night to buy Azul another critical, few hours. He knew that Riddle was inexperienced, but how could he have NEVER gotten curious enough about his own body to figure out something so basic? Even by accident? Surely he’d had wet dreams at least…? “Are you sure?”

“YES! And it makes me so sad and angry and I have to keep HOLDING BACK. SO MUCH?? It’s soooooo hard, and I just want him to be happy and bossy and sexy like when I tease so I won’t HAVE to hold back. But I don’t know howwwww and I don’t want to hurt him!”  

“…. Hmm. I can see that you’re at a loss. Tell me what you know about him so far,” Jade frowns thoughtfully.

“Ok, but you and Azul both gotta just STOP for a bit with scheming and strategy and money stuff, ok? For a while? Please? ”

Jade’s eyes widen. Floyd almost NEVER says please, and certainly not in that tone.

“Not FOREVER, but just until Goldfishie isn’t so… so…?” He can almost see Floyd’s hands flailing around as he searches for a word that properly describes just how virginal, inexperienced, and VULNERABLE Riddle is.  

“Very well. Let me get Azul, and we’ll talk about how to help. Good?” Jade stands and begins searching for Azul. They’re currently in their new office in the Sunshine Lands, which they’ve been using as an emergency base of operations for the past two days. The trash can is overflowing with takeout wrappers, coffee cups, and a broken chair that Jade may or may not have thrown against the wall in a fit of frustration. Two foldout cots are pushed up against the wall, draped with crumpled blankets and pillows. Their competition is now… dealt with, but it wasn’t easy.

“Azul? Are you awake?” He calls out gently.  

Azul looks up from a chair, holding a coffee mug that’s ninety-percent espresso. A stack of brand new contracts are half sorted into three, neat piles across the desk. His hair is disheveled and he looks exhausted.

“Love, Floyd’s run into some trouble.”

“Trouble?” He stands up with a slightly guilty, worried expression. “Did Riddle hurt him?”

“No, but Riddle is involved.” Jade sits down across from Azul and places his phone on the table. “Floyd you’re on speaker. If I understand correctly, Riddle is extremely virginal, and you’re feeling overwhelmed?”

“Extremely what?” Azul frowns. 

Floyd explains the situation. Azul’s eyebrows raise as he listens, and he exchanges a glance with Jade. When he’d heard that Floyd had become sexually interested in Riddle, he’d assumed it was a temporary infatuation. They’d had a mutually antagonistic relationship at school, and Floyd’s unique ability to get under Riddle’s skin was nothing short of hilarious. Azul had strongly suspected that three days stuck together would both exhaust Riddle into not seeking revenge, and give Floyd’s hyperfocus the ample fill it needed to let Riddle go and become ‘bored’ of him.  

But for this to blossom into genuine affection…? Azul more than suspected that Riddle was sexually inexperienced. While the DEPTH of that inexperience is surprising, the fact that Floyd would struggle with it is not.

“Floyd? Is Riddle there?” Azul asks after a moment of thoughtful silence. Jade reaches over and squeezes his hand in silent thanks, and Azul gives him a tired little smile. 

“No. We went to a cafe for lunch, since Jade trapped us with only like. SIX crabs for breakfast. He’s at the table and I went around back.”

“I packed more than that! They were probably hiding,” Jade protests.

“Or you ATE some,” Floyd accuses.

“Did you actually look?”

“...Ughhhh.  Anyway we’re at lunch. I told Riddle I needed a leak.” Floyd glances back into the cafe from where he’s standing outside in the parking lot. Riddle is enjoying his lemon tea with two sugars, which he insisted on getting after finishing two slices of strawberry tart. He wasn’t aware of their conversation yet.

Azul nods thoughtfully. “After lunch, call us again somewhere we can all talk. It sounds like we owe him an apology, and if you really feel that way about him, then it’s time we all had a more serious talk about what he wants and expects. Jade? Do you have anything to add?”

“Hmm… perhaps we can all have a good dinner together, and discuss this in person?” 

“Let’s see whether he is even willing to forgive us first,” Azul suggests gently. If he were in Riddle’s position, he certainly wouldn’t be willing to make amends and play nice so easily.

“‘Kay.” Floyd hangs up, and Azul takes a long drink of his espresso before glancing at Jade.

“What do you think of all this?” He’s beyond tired, but he knows Jade very well. He’ll want to support Floyd no matter what, but even so, he can tell that he’s worried about something. If they can discuss it now, in this moment of privacy, then he’ll have a better idea of how to manage the coming conversation.

“Mmm…” Jade crosses his arms and looks away for a long moment before finally responding. “I know that Floyd loves him. That is confirmed. And I’m happy that my brother found someone he can connect with… but…”

He looks up at Azul sadly. “But what does this mean for our group? I like Riddle well enough, but do we want to… bring him into the fold? We’ve always been a trio.” 

Azul nods thoughtfully. "Riddle's rigidity for rule-following does make him a possible liability. But then, so do Floyd's mood swings. And your own insistence on occasionally throwing things into chaos with a secret better left unspilled…”

“I have no idea what you mean~” Jade chuckles.

"Naturally. And I… I have my own liabilities. No one is perfect. No one who exists in this world does not have weaknesses, and flaws. You know that better than anyone else. But if Riddle DID want to join us, and what Floyd is saying is true?" 

Azul runs a finger around the rim of his coffee mug. "Things WOULD change. We would be somewhat responsible for ensuring that he stays safe, and that's no easy feat if he’s truly as virginal as the driven snow. Frankly, I'm surprised that Floyd hasn't broken his heart already and sent him running off in tears. That gives me a little hope that he'll last more than a week in our company. And if he does? Well. There's little use in speculating about a future that's not yet come to pass. But Riddle is an exceptional mage, and on track to become an extremely competent lawyer. And what an asset that would be..."

Azul shakes his head with a wistful smile. "But you were more concerned with change. What change most worries you?"

Jade leans back with a heavy, uncomfortable sigh.

“Perfection is not what I seek. I seek a life worth living. Filled with entertainment, and the things that I like and want to experience.” Jade muses. “On the one hand… an inexperienced partner is a challenge. I relish the novelty, and there’s a part of me that wants to see where this goes. But…”

Jade crosses his arms a little more tightly across his chest. “But what if this inclusion ends up… splitting us apart?” 

“Ahhhh,” Azul sighs. He understands now. Life has a way of throwing them into unexpected places, and often the only thing they can do is try to stick together. The thought of splitting up is… uncomfortable. 

"Jaaaade. Splitting up over Riddle? I don't think that will happen," Azul hums. "Floyd was literally at the brink of panic trying to figure out how to communicate his sexual desires to him. I'd give it two days before he ran screaming back into our arms, begging to be satisfied. However..."

Azul puts his cup down on the table with a long sigh. "If Floyd does eventually want to leave us to be with Riddle? Then holding him back would only make everyone miserable. No matter how much we might want to, we can't keep our partners. People grow, and change.  It hurts to lose someone you love, but it would hurt so much more to force a relationship to stay together, simply to avoid that pain. If someone does not wish to be with you, then you can only give them the space that they need to leave, and if it's appropriate, let them know that they are always welcome to return."  

Jade chuckles faintly. “Listen to you. When did you become so good at giving advice? You know that letting someone go is easier said than done.” 

"Of course it's easier said than done. There's a reason my strongest contracts are all signed by lovers who were too frightened or angry to let a loved one move on," Azul smilesinto his espresso.

“Perhaps you are right. He was so desperate on the phone… May I share something with you that he may find disturbing?” Jade asks slyly. 

“Always~”

“There is a strong part of me that wants to watch Riddle devolve into a slutty, hedonistic mess. I’d quite like to make a class for him, given what a diligent student he was at Night Raven~”

"Frankly, I find that more practical than disturbing, Jade. The thing that disturbs me is trying to imagine how Riddle got to the age of TWENTY THREE without ONCE achieving climax. Truly the repression his parents inflicted on him knew no bounds," Azul shudders.

“I heard rumors that Riddle lived a fairly strict life, and his mother was quite the general. He never spoke much about it himself,” Jade muses. He wistfully imagines unintentionally revealing to Riddle’s mother that they ‘corrupted her baby boy.’

“… Breaking him out of his shell would be marvelous .” He sighs, happily imagining her screaming.

"Oh yes," Azul smiles, permitting himself to imagine perfect, pristine Riddle helplessly overcome with pleasure between Jade and Floyd's clever hands. "But first let's see if that's even what he wants. We've already started this relationship by forcing him into an uncomfortable position. Let's not continue that unnecessarily."  

“Of course.” Jade shakes his head. ”I honestly just thought that Floyd was just looking for a pet. This has become… far more complicated.”  

"Floyd? Make things more COMPLICATED?" Azul lifts an eyebrow with a fond, little half smile. "Shocking."

“It’s delightful… ” Jade curls up on Azul’s lap with a happy little sigh as Azul fondly pats his head.

A few moments later, Jade’s phone plays Floyd’s signature ringtone. He picks it up immediately, nearly knocking Azul over in his haste. “Hello Floyd. Is there anything else you need to tell me?”

"Hi Jade~ Nope, you're already on speaker. Here ya go Goldfishie."

“Jade… is Azul there too?” 

Jade exhales slowly, and looks over to Azul who nods. “Yes. He is.”

“Good because I need to speak to both of you.” Jade leans away from the phone a little and braces for the yelling, but Riddle’s next question is calm, and measured.

“Why did you need my magic?”  

Jade relaxes just a little, and Azul winces slightly. Starting off with the hard questions, he sees.

"A competitor of mine was exploiting a loophole in the legal system to ruin perishable shipments to my Mostro Lounge branches in the Sunshine Lands," Azul explains. "They employ several mages, and in order to speak with them on... egalitarian terms, it was necessary to ensure that those aforementioned mages did not interfere."  

“I see. If you were intending to fight an injustice, then why didn’t you just ask me?”

Azul taps his fingertips together, wondering exactly how much detail to go into. In another time, a younger version of himself would have quite happily lied to Riddle and let him believe that their motivations were pure. He still has that impulse now… but he’s earned a little honesty.

"Injustice? The Sunshine Lands' justice system was perfectly content to let this behaviour persist," Azul hums. "By that definition, I was not correcting an injustice, as dictated by the letter of the law. Morally justified or not, our ‘discussion’ was likely viewed by our competitor as coercion and blackmail. I didn't ask you because candidly, I expected you to refuse. Does this explanation satisfy your question?"  

"... For now. I know WHY you did it, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't wrong . It also left me in a very uncomfortable situation, as I was without my unique magic when someone attempted to assault me and steal my hair. I would have thought you respected me enough to approach this without such blatant coercion," Riddle growls.

"That is my fault and I take full responsibility,” Jade soothes. “Though from what I heard, you were highly capable despite lacking your Unique Magic. Very impressive.”

"At least you have the guts to admit it and apologize.  I AM quite capable, even without it. However, you still ruined my graduation party and essentially kidnapped me. I expect you to make that up to me."  

"I also apologize. I misjudged the situation, and clearly hurt your feelings,” Azul replies easily. “If you would like, we can, at the very least, replace your graduation party. Just give us your specifications. Jade, Floyd and I are highly experienced in matters of food service."

"…Hmm. Well, it had better follow the Queen’s Rules for the Graduation Banquet," Riddle demands. "Additionally, I expect an apology tart."

"I see. Ah... what is in this apology tart?" Azul asks cautiously. "I know that strawberry is quite popular…?"

"Absolutely not! Rule 542 covers the appropriate fillings for apology tarts. I suggest you look it up~" Riddle says smugly.

“Yellow fruits only. Lemon is the typical choice, but yellow peaches are also acceptable,” Jade murmurs, putting his in-depth study of Heartslabul’s rules to use. Azul gives him a nod of thanks.

"I see. We will look up the relevant requirements," Azul says, suppressing an amused smile. So this is Riddle’s idea of punishment, is it?

"And make sure you decorate with both red and white roses." Riddle adds sternly. 

"Yes, I understand," Jade says tiredly. "Floyd? Are you coming home soon?"  

"Oh yeah. Haven't been home in days," Floyd says slyly. "Should be there by tonight."

"We'll be ready." Jade hangs up the phone with a faint sigh. “We have to get ready right now, don't we?"

“Evidently,” Azul groans, pounding the last of his coffee.

[marvelmusing]

By Your Side

Part of the Tender Loving Care AU

Pairing: Vampire!Aleksander Morozova x Vampire!Fem!Reader

Summary: The claiming process had tired both you and Aleksander out, but when you wake the next morning you’re both eager to spend the majority of the bonding period together.

Warnings [18+]: smut, half asleep grinding, clothed sex is the only way I can describe it, assisted masturbation kinda, over clothes handjob, usual vampire themes and blood consumption, mentions of non consensual vampire turning (of the reader)

My Masterlist

For a moment, you don’t know where you are. As you come into consciousness, your stomach flips and your heart thuds at the unfamiliar surroundings. Then, as more awareness returns to you, Aleksander’s scent registers in your mind before you hear the sound of his steady heartbeat.

He’s already awake and most likely noticed the sudden change in your heart rate. His hand smooths gently down your back, which eases some of the tension there created by your rather frazzled nerves.

He says your name softly and you hum in response, head too heavy to form any words.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

It’s only when you swallow that you realise how dry your throat is, but you manage to answer with a quiet,

“I don’t know.”

He waits patiently as you attempt to sort through everything you’re feeling and describe it to him properly.

“I’m happy and I’m so glad we did this, but physically I feel… shaky and my stomach hurts a little.”

He hums.

“That’s perfectly natural, milaya.” You frown as he pushes the covers away from his body. “Wait here a moment.”

Your fingers curl around the fabric of his shirt.

“Where are you going?”

He places his hand over yours, giving you an encouraging squeeze before he’s loosening your hold on him.

“I’m getting some water for you.”

You want to protest, all you need is for him to stay with you in bed, but he presses a reassuring kiss to your temple and murmurs,

“I won’t be long, sit yourself up a little for me.”

He smiles when he returns to see you propped up against his pillows with a sleepy look on your face as you yearn for him.

“Good girl,” he whispers as he kisses your forehead and settles back into bed beside you.

He hands you the glass of water which you sip tentatively as he begins to explain,

“My venom is still in your system and your body is trying to figure out whether it’s a threat or not.”

“Will this happen every time?”

“You want me to bite you again?” he teases softly, to which you murmur into your glass with a shy smile,

“Maybe.”

“It won’t be like this every time,” he assures you. “Next time your body will recognise my venom, meaning it will be much stronger with no side effects.”

You hum in thought as you continue to drink. The water is helping to clear the fog from your head and remove the uncomfortable taste in your mouth.

“Do you feel like this too, because of my venom?”

He shakes his head.

“You’re still young. Your venom is much lighter than mine.”

At that, you look down. When Aleksander had bitten you, it felt incredible and you had hoped he felt the same way when you had bitten him.

“I thought you enjoyed it.”

He hooks a finger under your chin, guiding your eyes back to his.

“I did enjoy it.” The look in his eyes is genuine as he traces his thumb over your jawline. “With time, your venom will linger longer in a person’s system, lengthening the effects. Based on what you gave me yesterday, I think your venom may be as strong as mine.”

You blink at him.

“Really?”

He nods with a small smile, taking the glass of water from you when you yawn.

“It’s still early. You can go back to sleep if you would like.”

Burying your face into the crook of his neck, you mumble a concern even as the two of you settle back down under the covers.

“Don’t you want to get up?”

He shakes his head.

“I want to hold you for a while.”

»»---------------------►

When you wake again it’s with a small hum of pleasure in your throat. Something flat and firm is settled between your thighs as you lie on top of it, the warmth encouraging you to nestle closer which provides some friction to your core. You sigh.

Unable to stop yourself, you grind down, rolling your hips against the solid mass. A prickle of pleasure buzzes over your skin, clit tingling with the friction of your panties.

The scent of your own arousal has your nose wrinkling, but then something far sweeter catches your attention. Something familiar and safe, something you want to lean into.

The rocking of your hips is subconscious now, pleasure buzzing in your head as you seek that wonderful friction.

Pressing your face closer towards the scent, you realise you’re not resting on a pillow. Lifting your head up and blinking sleepily, you meet Aleksander’s eyes.

A mortifying rush of heat floods over your skin as you attempt to move away.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t-”

He pins an arm over your waist, keeping your core pressed to where you had been grinding against his stomach. As you stare at him, he licks his lips, eyes impossibly dark as he says,

“Don’t stop on my account.”

The arm around you moves until his palm is splayed over the small of your back, encouraging you to continue. He guides you, keeping the motion slow as you roll your hips against his body and you can’t stop yourself from whining for him.

“That’s it, there’s my good girl.”

The embarrassment of being caught has you hiding your face from him as you soak through your panties. He watches intently as you press your face down onto his chest, breathing his scent in sharp pants as your pleasure builds.

His other hand slips under the sweatshirt you’re wearing - his of course - and squeezes your breast gently.

That singular touch has you gasping, desperate for more, for whatever he will give you. He hushes your whimpers as the friction becomes frustrating, not nearly enough for you to climax, leaving you dangling over the edge of bliss.

“Do you think you can cum like this?” he asks gently, raising a brow when you shake your head. “No?” He hums. “I think you can.”

The muscles in your legs jerk, sliding over the sheets on either side of Aleksander’s body. In response, he grasps onto your hips with both hands, taking complete control of your motions. Neither of you notice the movement causes his shirt to ride upwards.

His name falls from your lips, over and over as your body burns with need, your impending orgasm clawing it’s way through your stomach.

When Aleksander senses you nearing the peak, he tugs the bottom of your panties aside, allowing your soaked cunt to slide over his bare stomach.

A choked moan catches in your throat as you feel his flushed skin against yours and you cry out as your cunt squeezes around nothing.

Aleksander’s jaw tenses and a low groan wracks your body as you climax, slick spreading over his stomach in a near primal claim as he continues to move your hips against him to ride out your high.

When you give him a small pat on the wrist he slows to stop and you slump down over his chest as you catch your breath. His heart beat is strong against your ear and the pleasure in your body thrums to the same rhythm.

“Feeling better now, milaya?”

You hum, pressing a soft kiss against the pulse point in his neck. His stubble scratches lightly over your lips, tingling the sensitive skin there.

“Thank you.”

He shakes his head, no doubt intending on telling you that he doesn’t need your thanks. Instead he frowns as your hands run down his body and you nuzzle your face against his neck.

“What are you doing?”

Another kiss to his thundering pulse before your answer him.

“I want to make you feel good too.”

His fingers curl around your wrist as you skim the waistband of his boxers.

“You don’t need to. I’m not expecting anything in return.”

Sitting up a little, you nod in acknowledgement.

“But I want to. Will you show me how?”

He breathes out a small laugh.

“In all honesty, milaya, after such a lovely display from you it won’t take much for me to finish.”

Heat blooms over your cheeks, at the thought of him being so affected by you.

Following his gaze, you eye his sizeable erection as it strains against the fabric of his underwear. He licks over his teeth before he says casually,

“Just touch me.”

He sees the hesitation in your eyes, fuelled by a lack of experience and self consciousness. Aleksander takes your hand and places it over his clothed bulge, clenching his teeth at the sensitivity.

“Have a good feel of it, milaya.”

Curiosity fills your features as you cup his erection with one of your hands and Aleksander tilts his head back at the feeling of your small hand over his heated cock.

Cautiously, you rub your hand over the length of him and he moans softly. The sound of his reaction encourages you to continue, rubbing a firmer circle over the base before you trace your way down to the tip.

He groans louder this time, his jaw tense as his fists bite into the sheets beneath him. Not only can you hear his heart beat pounding in his chest, but you can feel it in your hand as you squeeze his cock lightly.

His breathing catches as he chokes out another moan and you continue to rub against his bulge.

“So close,” he says lowly, his eyes fluttering closed.

Just as Aleksander did with you, you keep the pressure the same as you stroke his clothed cock, slowly encouraging his climax.

His eyes squeeze shut and his hips jerk forward as he orgasms. Watching him throw his head back, pearly teeth bared and his throat bobbing frantically, you’re in awe.

He sucks in air shakily, chest heaving, and a blissful smile spreads over his features as he sinks comfortably onto the mattress.

As his eyes open, he looks down at you, watching the way you lean forward and press a delicate kiss to the soaked fabric near the sensitive head of his cock. He groans lowly.

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

You giggle.

“I hope not.”

He smiles widely.

“Come here.” You’re already moving towards him, crawling your way back into his arms. “Let me kiss you.”

He takes your chin between his fingers as you slide your hands over his shoulders, then he kisses you.

“Such a good girl for me.”

You practically glow at the sound of his praise.

“Are you hungry?” he asks.

Instinctively, you glance down at his throat, pulse still thrumming after his orgasm. You wonder whether he would taste better now than he did yesterday.

“Not that kind of hungry,” he scolds you lightly with a small smile and chuckles at the sight of your pout. “No biting each other today, alright?”

A small frown creases at your brows.

“Why?”

Aleksander shifts, resting his back against the headboard as he tucks you into his side and begins to explain,

“During the bonding period, with every bite, I would take a piece of you, keeping it for myself. And vice versa, you would take a piece of me. With too many bites, we would no longer be two individuals.”

Your frown deepens.

“What does that mean?”

He hesitates and the arm around you moves so that his fingers can trace over the skin of your shoulder.

“We would know each others every thought - every want and fear and desire - constantly. Slowly, we would become the same person and end up turning on one another.”

Your eyes widen.

“I don’t want that.”

He nods in agreement.

“Neither do I.”

You nod also, eyes still wide as you repeat to yourself,

“So, no biting.”

He smiles softly, dropping a kiss onto your shoulder, hoping to reassure you.

“No biting.”

Even as he coaxes you into the bathroom to clean up before breakfast, he can see this new information is on your mind.

“Is that where the mind reading stereotype came from? Bonded vampires?” you ask as he runs a cloth under the faucet of his bathroom sink.

He glances over at you as you sit on the closed toilet lid.

“I assume so.” He squeezes the excess water out of the cloth, then he begins to wipe you clean. “Although, after knowing someone for a long time you can anticipate their thoughts and behaviour. Not to mention, with our heightened senses we tend to notice things others don’t.”

“And after hundreds of years together, you would know someone pretty well.”

He smiles up at you.

“Yes I think you would.” He presses a kiss to your temple, before he begins to clean himself up too. As he’s placing the used cloth in his laundry hamper he adds, “I hope I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable about the bond.”

“You didn’t and I’m glad I know about it. It’s just that… you didn’t have to tell me about it.”

His expression falls slightly, misunderstanding what you’ve said, and you hurry to find some way to explain what you’re feeling.

“No I mean that-”

Frustrated tears well in your eyes and Aleksander looks alarmed by the sight of them which makes you feel worse for reacting like this. He’s been nothing but kind to you and it’s driven you to tears.

“You could have left me in the dark about it. You could have taken more from me, and I wouldn’t have known, you could have taken all of me, like he did. But you didn’t. And I don’t know what to do with that.”

When he realises what you mean, that he could have taken something so precious - your humanity - like your sire had, his heart breaks for you and he opens up his arms to coax you to him.

“Oh little one, come here.”

Tears flow freely down your cheeks as you throw yourself at him, burying your face against his chest and clinging tightly to the fabric of his shirt. He rocks the two of you from side to side, allowing the sway to soothe you as you sniffle into his shirt.

“I will never take more from you than what you’re willing to give me,” he vows, curling his arms protectively around you. “I will never take you away from what makes you yourself.”

He feels you nod before you mumble,

“I know. You’re too good for me.”

Aleksander cups the back of your head firmly, but he’s gentle as he pulls you away from his chest so that he can meet your eyes.

“You deserve every ounce of happiness I can give you.”

He brushes his other hand over your cheek, wiping the tears that continue to fall. He leans forward, kissing your forehead, cheeks, the tip of your nose, and once he reaches your lips you’re smiling.

“Starting with breakfast,” he adds, taking your hand in his and tugging lightly. “Come, I’ve made you something.”

He leads you into the kitchen, sitting you down on one of the barstools at the kitchen island. Then you watch as Aleksander prepares breakfast, swinging your legs as you wait for the surprise he’s made.

From your deductions based on the ingredients gathered, he’s making pancakes, which brings a smile to your face.

As he’s preparing toppings, he opens up a small jar and your eyes widen at the scent.

“Is that?”

He smiles with a nod as you lean closer to eye the jar.

“AB positive - your favourite. I used it for the raspberry compost, I have no idea how you drink it neat.”

When it comes to food both you and Aleksander share a love of sweet treats, but your taste in blood differs drastically.

“Here.”

He places down a plate with three fluffy white chocolate chip pancakes stacked on top of one another, accompanied by a silver fork.

With the addition of two generous spoonfuls of the blood and raspberry compost, you tuck in.

“Good?” he asks as he flips his own pancakes.

You struggle to find the words to describe how incredible it is.

“This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life.”

He narrows his eyes playfully.

“You said that about dinner three nights ago.”

A smile tugs at your lips.

“Well, you’ve outdone yourself.”

The grin on his face is almost boyish and you swing your legs happily as you scoop up another forkful.

»»---------------------►

For the rest of the day, you enjoy spending time together in Aleksander’s apartment. Occasionally, no matter what you’re in the middle of doing, you’ll begin to fidget and Aleksander will tug you into his arms.

He was right, physical contact not only helps to form the bond between you, but it soothes you in a manner unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.

Not long after lunch, you and Aleksander are cuddled up on the couch together, his arms around your waist and your legs draped over his lap as you nuzzle into his side.

Aleksander sighs, before murmuring into the crook of your neck,

“I should go out for a little.”

The two of you had discussed this - intentionally putting some distance between you so that your bond wouldn’t be too overwhelming. After all, you had lives outside of one another. You wanted to be able to go to work or meet up with friends without needing Aleksander with you.

“Okay,” you whisper.

He sits up straighter, pulling away from you but you don’t move at all. He smiles.

“You have to let me go first.”

You hum.

“No that doesn’t sound right.”

He laughs softly, before he repeats in a teasing tone,

“It doesn’t?”

You shake your head.

“Nope.” He kisses you gently on the lips, which breaks some of your resolve to keep him here. “How long will you be gone?”

“I’ll be home before dark.”

Referring to this space, with you in it, as his home is what gives you the courage to let him go. He stands up, adjusting the cushions that he had been sitting against.

He rounds the couch, leaning over the back to press a kiss to your forehead when you turn to watch him as he retrieves his shoes and coat.

“Find something to busy yourself with, there isn’t anything you aren’t allowed to touch or look at. What’s mine is yours.”

He cups your face between his hands.

“Promise me you won’t sit in silence waiting.”

You nod.

“I promise.”

When the front door shuts behind him you feel the sudden urge to cry, before you take a deep breath and make a plan for your afternoon.

»»---------------------►

When Aleksander returns to his apartment, he’s greeted by the smell of warm vanilla and the sound of Vivaldi from his record player.

He can hear your heart beat jump at the sound of his return, but he can also sense your excitement and relief at him returning. With the bonding period drawing to a close, he can feel the connection between you both like a string around his soul.

As much as he’s loved having you close, he’s glad the day is almost over, he can’t wait to sink his teeth into you again.

He manages to shut the door behind him, despite the large number of bags and the pizza box occupying his hands.

When you appear at the end of the hallway, looking at bags with a curious frown on your face, he glances down sheepishly.

“Staying away was harder than I anticipated.”

A smile tugs at your lips as you approach him.

“So, you relied on retail therapy?”

He laughs softly and you help him carry the bags into the kitchen. As you place them down on the countertop, you can’t help but notice a few items in the bags. A small velvet box, likely containing some sort of jewellery. A soft looking sweater. Some fluffy slippers.

“Aleksander,” you whisper, touched by his thoughtfulness but concerned by how much he had spent.

“They aren’t all for you. This one is for both of us.”

As he places the box down, you can smell the mouthwatering combination of freshly baked dough, melted cheese and cooked blood.

“You mentioned you wanted to try blood base pizza. I thought I would grab one on the way home.”

Gifts forgotten, you open up the box and immediately pull out a slice, humming with delight as you bite into it eagerly. The blood they’ve used has a sharp flavour mixed with some herbs meaning it doesn’t taste too different from a regular tomato base. Even so, it tastes amazing.

“If you were hungry you should have made something, milaya,” he scolds you lightly.

“Wanted to wait for you.” Placing your half eaten piece of pizza back in the warmth of the box, you turn around. “Besides, I did make something.”

The smile on your lips is shy as you hold out the large plate with a victoria sponge cake on it.

“I used the raspberry compost, I hope you don’t mind.”

He smiles widely as the sweet smell of buttercream, raspberries, and vanilla fills his senses.

“It’s beautiful.” You beam at him. “Would you cut us both a slice for after dinner?”

With a happy nod, you place the plate down and fetch a knife and two small plates. Aleksander smiles softly at the sight of you already so comfortable in his kitchen as you slice the cake for you both.

He settles his hands on your waist, kissing your cheek and holding out the first plate to assist you.

»»---------------------►

marvelmusing Tag List: @dreamlandcreations @blanchedelioncourt @idaofinfinity @slytherheign @ellooo0ooo @vixenofcourse @dumb-fawkin-bitch @jane-arthur @ilikefictionmen @budugu @watersquirtpewpewboomm @mysweetlittledesire

TLC Tag List: @holamor @that-sarcastic-writer @vaguekayla @ramadiiiisme @patniera

Aleksander M Tag List: @nyctophiliiiiaaa @jazmin2211 @wooya1224

BB Characters Tag List: @rachlovesactors @noortsshift @aikeia @weallhaveadestiny

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