#I promsies. he gets better with time

[nympippi]

Bruce Yamada post revival!

Here’s the sweet and lovable baseball player!!! He enjoys baseball, and soft jazz!

I tried to make it seem like he’s thinking of spaced out because like canon Bruce has the most memory issues post revival, he has trouble remembering numbers, dates, faces, and sometimes names. It frustrates him, so to keep his mind busy he pops rubber bands on his wrist, and he writes in a memory book!

He’s still very sweet but I think dying put a damper on his personality, he’s spacey, aloof, and calm on most days and sometimes he’s cold, bitter, and mean on worse ones. Those are the days where he can barely remember he’s alive.

I tried to keep it similar to canon with him having his memory and own sense of self being altered because like all the others I think dying left a serious impact on his mental health and psyche.

One thing didn’t change though!! He’s a major nerd for baseball and is an absolute natural at it!

[damn-stark]

Chapter 7 The ballad of a Jujutsu sorcerer

Chapter 7 of Sugar

A/N- I really love how this chapter turned out!!

Warning- Swearing, fluff, ANGST, talks of blood and death, violence, long chapter.

Pairing- Suguru Geto x Gojo!fem-reader

Episode- 2x03-2x04

(Let me know if you want to be tagged)

————

“Suguru…”

He blinks at the sound of his name softly leaving your lips. He parts his lips and looks into your eyes. He notices that you’re beginning to look nervous about something by that one look so he doesn’t say anything, he waits patiently for what you had prepared.

“I—” you cut yourself off before you could finally express yourself because your phone suddenly begins to ring.

Even so, you don’t want this to ruin the moment so you quickly pick it up and decline the call to return to what you can’t hold back anymore.

“Sorry,” you laugh softly. “Suguru—”

Once again your phone fucking rings, this time though since the person seemed desperate to reach you, you pick up the phone and read who it is; Ieiri Shoko.

Fuck her.

You answer the phone and turn sharply on your heels to begin walking down the path instead. “I was in the middle of something,” you greet your friend coldy. “It better be urgent.”

Suguru follows you at your side and without needing to say anything he reaches over and takes your hand in his, basking your cold hand with his warmth. It usually would make you smile, but because of the persistent third wheel on the phone, you don't.

“Sorry,” Shoko excuses her interruption. “It’ll be quick promsie. I just need to know where you put your nail polish? The expensive one, the very dark red one? I chipped my nail today so I want to paint them again.”

You sigh deeply and feel Suguru glance at you with worry because of it.

“It’s in my room,” you grumble and begin to examine the street now since the moment was ruined. “It’s on my vanity.”

Shoko snickers and probes. “What were you doing? Oh! Did I interrupt something?” She teases you. “I thought you were supposed to be working not inside Geto’s pants.”

You groan and move your phone away from your ear to begin rubbing the bridge of your nose out of frustration. Suguru fills with more concern, but it doesn’t seem to be urgent so he waits for you to end the call to ask instead.

“I am working,” you sneer back at the phone after you press it against your ear. “I’m working, Shoko. That’s what you interrupted. Is that all? Or?”

“Yep, that’s all I needed, so I’ll go into your room, drop off some fashion magazines you like buying, and leave, okay?”

Your annoyance falls and an intrigued smile tugs on your lips. “Wait? Really? Is it the new edition?” You ask excitedly.

“Yeah, they began selling it today so I got one,” she says.

You squeal and catch Suguru by surprise. “Okay, okay,” you exclaim. “Don’t look through it, we can look at it together when I get home, okay?”

“Understood—”

“Oh, and Shoko,” you cut her off as you remember her gift you bought her. “Today we passed by this very cute boutique, I bought us matching halter tops! Summer’s approaching so I thought we’d look very nice! Of course they’re different colors so they won’t confuse us.” You chuckle, causing Shoko to scoff softly.

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want that,” she says. “Well now I can't wait to see it.”

You grin and share your glee with Suguru before you focus back on your friend. “We’ll look super cute. Anway, I have to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay? Goodnight, baby.”

“Goodnight, baby, and be careful. All of you,” she redirects sweetly, letting you end the call and put your phone away again so you can put all your focus on your surroundings, and any potentially suspicious people.

“Everything okay?” Suguru finally asks.

You nod as you secure your hold around his hand. “Yeah, she just needed something from my room.”

Silence follows and what you were about to tell Suguru comes rushing back to the front of your head, causing you to once again slowly grow nervous and fearful. Albeit now the courage and blinding hope that was pushing you to express your true feelings is dwindling thanks to that call.

“What were you going to say before?” Of course Suguru doesn't forget to bring that up. He’s so sweet that way…damn.

“I…” you trail off and glance at him, managing to meet his gaze as he watches you from the corner of his eyes.

You really want to say those three words, you want him to know that you appreciate him, that you love him, but that bravery is gone and you’re doubting yourself again. So you push it away and bring out something else instead.

“I recently came to a realization about something.”

“Oh,” he breathes out softly without the slightest knowledge of what you wanted to say. Which is good, you would’ve hated seeing him upset—“What is it?” He queries.

You swallow thickly and drift your gaze away to continue looking around. “After school,” you begin to share with some sense of disappointment since you’re a coward. “I'm going to leave and start a community just for sorcerers. A paradise if you will. They won’t have to fight there if they don’t want to, they won’t have to suffer. I’ll have a school too.” You begin to smile softly at the recurring dream that’s been occupying your mind as of late.

“Students will go out but with an adult chaperone at all times, even if they’re classified as a special grade,” you continue to share. “People can stay however long they want. All kinds of sorcerers can stay and…it’ll be okay to be scared of curses there. I have the money and connections to do it. But…the most important rule will be that non-sorcerers can’t live with us.”

Yes, that's your truth. You don’t hide from it out of shame of what he’ll think.

Albeit you do look over at him to quickly read what he’s thinking. However, when you look at him he’s already looking at you and he doesn’t seem to be bothered or disgusted by that rule. His eyes are soft and awe-struck. And a soft smile plays on his lips before he laughs.

“So you’ll be a communist?” He asks.

You freeze in your steps, causing Suguru’s hand to slip from your hold as he stops a few inches in front of you to wait.

“Well,” you utter a bit in disbelief. “I never thought of it that way.” You pause and sigh deeply. No matter how you try to think of it, there’s no way around that.

Then again, you don’t mind becoming that if it means fulfilling your dream. Besides other sorcerers and your family, what has this world ever done for you?

Nothing good.

“Well,” you break your stunned silence and begin to smile without shame. “Will you try and stop me, Jujutsu Sorcerer?” You tease him and break away from your spot to hug his arm and turn him around to continue walking down the path. “Because if you are, you do have to know that I will fight with tooth and nail to keep my people safe.”

Suguru chuckles. “I won’t expect it any other way,” he says in a sweet voice. “That’s why I love you.”

What?

Suguru stops walking, and lets your hand fall down his arm so you can hold his hand as he stops walking.

“I love you…more than anything,” he says again, letting your brain know that what he said mere seconds ago wasn’t some fever dream. Making your heart begin to pound in your chest, and making a breath escape past your lips at the sound of those words.

Sure he’s confessed his feelings for you when you started dating, he poured his heart out in a way you never thought possible. But nothing beats hearing these three words spoken to you. It’s why you can’t hold back anymore. You don’t have to fear that you’re pressuring him or fear him not feeling the same way. You can share what you’ve been holding back, you can pour your heart out.

“I love you,” you confess in a shaky voice. “I wanted to say it before, I did. And I know that sounds weird now because you said it first, but I was just scared, I didn’t want to pressure you, or have you not feel the same.”

Suguru laughs softly. “That’s ridiculous,” he rebuttals lightheartedly. “You knew how I felt since the first day. And every day beyond that, I haven’t really been discreet.”

Happy tears fill your eyes, and you slowly nod your head. “I know,” you whisper. “But I was still scared.”

“You have nothing to fear, darling, I love you,” he says again whilst he cups your cheeks to then pull you in for a passionate kiss under the stars.

He’s so gentle and slow to make sure he can linger in the taste of your mouth for as long as he can before you have to part away. But when the time does come to pull away though, you slide your hands to the back of his head and pull him in again to move faster and in sync. You pull him back against a tree and slither your hands down to his neck.

Suguru slowly moves his hands down to cup your jaw, but moves one hand futher down until he reaches your shoulder and pulls back from your kiss.

You’re both aching for more, but this isn’t the place, nor is this the right time. So you have to be content with leaving things in the heat of the moment.

“I love you,” you whisper happily against his lips. “I’m glad life let us cross paths, Suguru Geto.”

Said man flashes you a soft smile before he leans in and presses a kiss on your forehead. Blissful tears escape past your eyes, and when Suguru pulls back he chuckles softly before he wipes them away with his thumb.

“Come on,” he whispers. “Let’s get back to work.”

You sigh deeply but follow after him with your hand interlaced with his, and never for a moment in your nightly patrol do you let go of each other. Never do you feel any sense of danger, nor do you see it, so it does mean that your patrol was pretty boring. But since you were with Suguru, he did make your boredom feel less so, because you know without a doubt that if he wasn’t with you and you did this patrol alone, you would have left your post or jumped in the ocean. One of the two.

However, through the patrol, that sensation in the back of your neck returned for a brief moment. Since you were with Suguru and you were watching the streets together though, you completely ignored it and instead kept asking yourself if it was okay if you never let go of the hand you held.

——

*THE NEXT DAY*

Why is it so hard saying goodbye to someone you barely know?

It’s not like you didn’t know what this mission involved. You pondered the reality of it all. It’s a necessary action. For the greater or good.

Yet as you look at her now; her young face and her gentle smile, you feel even more somber about her fate than before.

“It was a pleasure knowing you, Riko,” you tell her softly. “Thank you for everything.”

Riko blinks in confusion and presses you for clarification. “What for?”

You swallow thickly and then whisper. “For what you’ll do. Thank you.” You want to tell her that you’re sorry for not doing more for her; she deserves to live a longer life after all. But you just stay quiet out of fear that what you do say will make her begin to regret what she’s come to terms with for so long.

“Oh,” Riko breathes out before she smiles wider at you. “You’re welcome. And thank you for showing me such a good time, I had so much fun yesterday. I hope your life is as good as you are.”

You beam at her and hold her gaze for a second longer before you throw your arms around her and embrace her gently. Riko seems to get surprised by your action, but she doesn’t question returning your embrace.

Neither of you say anything else on any matter, nor do you pull away quickly, Riko actually holds onto you a little harder. As if she didn’t want to let go.

But she had to so she did and kept her eyes downcast as you moved away before you could try and convince her not to do what she was fated to do.

“Miss Kurio it was nice knowing you,” you direct at the caregiver. “Take care.”

The world is big but there’s a chance you might see her again, plus she’s not the one dying so a simple goodbye for her is more than fine.

“And you too Miss Gojo,” she redirects sweetly.

You offer her one last time before you walk over to Suguru and shoot him a gleeful smile. “I’ll see you later. Be careful okay? I love you.” You grin at the sound of those words coming out of your mouth and completely ignore Satoru’s discomfort.

“I love you too,” Suguru says back with ease and a smile. “Text me when you’re done with your mission.”

You nod and save your affection for later, instead you lastly walk over to your brother. “Be careful, okay?”

Satoru sighs and brushes you off. “Always am. Let me know when you’re on your way home.”

You nod in agreement but let your gaze linger on his exhausted face for a while longer. You try not to be any more overbearing than you already have been, so you don’t tell him anything regarding his needs after not sleeping for two days. You just offer them all one last smile before you turn away and join Haibara and Nanami waiting for you to go on your missions.

As to what they were? Many simple ones that could be done by the managers, but Satoru meddled so you’re here now, walking to a high school, yawning on the job every few minutes.

“How hard was your mission yesterday y/n?” Haibara asks as he looks at you over his shoulder.

“Well,” you roll out slowly, and hide the truth or else Nanami would be even more annoyed than he already is. “Not as hard as Satoru’s or Suguru’s. I slept like three hours last night, they didn’t. So I’m glad their mission is almost over, they’re running on fumes. Especially Satoru.”

Haibara hums softly and looks at the high school entrance ahead. “I suppose even the strongest can exhaust themselves,” he says.

Nanami scoffs. “Of course they do. What kind of comment is that?”

Haibara shrugs. “Well, when you perceive someone as strong like Gojo and Geto, it’s easy to think of them as invincible,” he shares thoughtfully. “I know they aren’t so, they’re like us in every sense.”

You smile softly before you skip ahead to fall beside him and pat his shoulder. “That’s a good way of putting it Haibara.”

“No,” Nanami cuts in in his deep voice that sounds super nonchalant. “Not at all. They’re not invincible…at least not yet,” he mumbles. “But they're not like us, they’re stronger. We aren’t, we probably won’t ever live up to them, we can get close to their level and that’s okay, but they’re different people completely. They will forever bear a heavy weight.”

Is that supposed to be his way of comfort? Or a lecture?

“No,” Haibara argues in a kind but confident voice. “I know we can never live up to be like them. I don’t want to be like them, but they are still like us. Strength doesn’t take away from what they feel. They’re not robots, Nanami. And I think that as friends and fellow sorcerers, it’s our job to at least share some of that weight they carry.”

You begin to smile wider and nod. “Yeah, I agree,” you interject. “They’re strong, we know that. But it’s like Haibara said, we still have to be there for them too. Doing it alone after all sounds pretty sad.”

Nanami sighs and mutters back, “yeah, you guys are probably right.”

Haibara and you share a quick knowing look before you both break out laughing. He has such a morbid way of thinking, but when Haibara and you talk to him he’s so easy to persuade. That or respects the thoughts of Haibara and you. You like to think that. You respect some of his after all.

“Anyway,” you drag out and focus back on your mission. “Where is this curse again?”

“Back of the school,” Nanami says. “Good. I didn't want to run into anyone. They’re always so nosy.”

You scoff and nod in agreement. “Tell me about it.”

Once you walk past the school gates, you meet up with the school principal and he points you to the location that has been giving them trouble. He said he can’t see what lurks around, but the lights flicker, there’s this horrid smell that wasn’t there before, and the students are getting hurt and breaking bones around the area. He said one of the students even tried to jump off the roof; the student didn’t know why, nor did they want to, but it felt like something was luring them to do it.

The principal didn’t say why everything began to conjure up, he was tight-lipped about that, but your manager let you know that an accident with a bullied student happened there a few weeks back. So now you’re here.

Alas when you do make it to the back of the school, all you find is one single curse. It’s tall and has one eye on its narrow head, it has long arms, and a crooked neck. You thought it’d be scarier, but It’s one that could be exorcized by either one of you with ease.

As to who? You play nose goes and Nanami loses all three rounds.

“This is a stupid mission for us,” Nanami grumbles. “It should’ve gone to the first year at Kyoto. He is alone after all.”

You swing his blade bag off your shoulder after you helped him carry it since he’s had to carry it all day yesterday, and you then hand it to him as you respond with annoyance. “Yeah well, my brother meddled.” You sigh and walk back to sit on the sidewalk. “Anyway, I don’t know how you carry that thing around all the time, Nanamin.”

“I can’t go around parading my sword,” he says as he strides over to the curse with his weapon in hand.

“I know,” you retort and swing your leg over the other before you lean back. “But maybe you could order a nice coat and hide your weapon in there.” You begin to smile while he kicks the curse back.

“You could get a cool leather jacket and be like Blade!” You exclaim and watch Haibara stand beside you. “So when you’re out on missions you just throw open your coat and pull out your sword like a badass. Or-or,” you snicker, whilst Nanami swings his sword twice across the curses chest. “Open your coat to slowly reveal your blade.”

“Nanami can totally pull that off!” Haibara interjects with the same amount of excitement. “He already acts so mysterious, that would only add to his cool exterior.”

You both chuckle and miss the way Nanami exorcizes the curse with one last blow.

“Nanami, the power of a curse, the soul of a human, and the heart of a hero,” you quote in a deep voice, making Haibara laugh harder, and making Nanami smile softly at the ground.

“You just need some cool shades,” you point out. “I’ll get those for you. And you have to say it! I promise you, you’ll be dead by dawn.”

“How do you know so much of that movie?” Nanami asks as he walks towards Haibara and you. “It’s weird.”

You sit up and shrug nonchalantly. “Satoru and I watch it a lot. It’s one of our favorite movies. We should watch it tonight actually!” You suggest. “We can make something to eat and have a cool movie night with all of us. I'm sure the guys would appreciate it after they’re finished with their mission.”

“Yeah, I’m so down,” Haibara is the first to agree. “We can make some rice balls, and some dessert for them,” he suggests as he reaches his hand out to you when Nanami reaches you, and you instinctively take it and let him help you to your feet so you can start heading out, and go onto your next mission.

However, just before you can reach your next destination, while you were walking down a city street, that sensation on the back of your neck returns. It lingers now and tingles. You find the instinct to look back again, and that’s when you see him, the same man from the restaurant yesterday.

It can’t be a coincidence can it?

He was in Okinawa yesterday, and now he’s walking down the same street as you in Tokyo? You could say he was after the Star Plasma Vessel, but she’s not with you anymore, that’s obvious, plus the bounty is down already so there’s only one reason; he’s after you.

So now it seems like you’ll have to find out what he wants.

“Dark-haired shaggy man at 6 o’clock,” you share only loud enough so your friends can hear you. “He’s been tailing me since Okinawa.”

Nanami discreetly peers back to take a peek at the man still behind you who's trying to pretend he isn’t after you by pretending to be busy on his phone.

“You sure?” Haibara asks.

You crack your knuckles and nod. “Yep.”

“Okay,” Nanami interjects. “There’s a set of alleyways coming up, lead him in there. We’ll follow your lead after that.”

They didn’t need further explanation, nor did they doubt you for a moment. They believe and trust you, it’s why you love and appreciate them. It’s why you wish that you’ll never stop working together while you remain at school. They’re your partners, your best friends, your family.

“There’s a mini mart up ahead,” you point out discreetly. “I’ll walk in there, you two keep walking, pretend we’re breaking apart for the day.”

“Gotcha,” Haibara responds with comprehension.

You keep looking ahead as if you don’t notice a thing, and when you approach the mini-mart you drift away from your friends, and they do as you asked. The guy doesn’t follow you inside, but he’s probably waiting outside in the alleyway next to the minimart, so you buy whatever snack catches your eye to keep up the act. Before you can exit the store after paying, you pull your iPod out and put your earphones in to pretend to listen to music and look oblivious.

The moment you walk out, just like you predicted, the shaggy-haired man is in the alleyway, leaning against a wall and smoking a cigarette. You keep your eyes downcast, but you feel his stare as you slowly approach the alleyway. The only reason you look up is to pretend and question your route, but once you look like you figured out to take the short way you look down and turn to the alleyway.

Once you’re about halfway down the alley, you hear the man’s feet shift against the ground before you hear his footsteps trail after you. Thus, just before you can turn left into another alley, you stop in your tracks instead and finally raise your head to look at the distant street ahead.

The man’s footsteps continue to approach you, most likely to keep up his act, but you quickly turn around to face him as you pull your earphones out and let them hang over the long loose white skirt that you wrapped around your waist.

“I hope you have a good explanation as to why you’re following me, creep,” you finally address the man, and he pretends to be startled by your question.

“I,” he stammers out as he comes to a slow stop. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just trying to get home.” He then tries to walk past you, but you step in his way and bring him to a sudden halt.

“Who are you?” You press him. “And why have you been following me since Okinawa? I’ll give you three seconds to answer me.”

The man holds your gaze with his jaw clenched for a few seconds. He doesn’t part his lips to try and speak, he doesn’t move. He narrows his gaze into a glare to try and display himself as brave and fearless, but beads of sweat begin to form on his forehead, and that clenched glower is beginning to falter.

“3,” you begin to count down with a menacing smirk tugging on your lips. “2.”

The man’s eyes widen and before you know it he throws his hands out and shoves you back.

You scoff in disgust and collect your footing right away. You then lift your eyes as you brush off the dirt the non-sorcerer man left on your shirt, and see him try to sprint the other way.

Nevertheless, before he can even reach the end of the alleyway, Haibara walks out of hiding and blocks his path as he walks toward the fearful man.

The shaggy man comes to a stop and begins to step back from sweet-looking Haibara when he notices the button on his coat. He then looks back for an escape with thick beads of sweat running down his forehead and finds it in the other alleyway at your left.

But he’s not turning there is he?

The man spins around again and sprints past you to try and run into the alleyway.

“I knew it,” you sigh out and slowly turn to watch the man reach a stairwell on a tall and wide building. “How predictable,” you mumble, and then place a hand on your hip before you peer over your shoulder as you hear Haibara approach your side.

“Boast up?” You ask him calmly as you look back at the man frantically trying to climb up to the building's roof.

“No, I’ll climb,” Haibara assures you.

You hum in comprehension and notice that the man reaches the top now.

You don’t hurry to move, you know Nanami is there to greet him. After all, you all assumed he wouldn’t want to risk getting trapped in the alleyways since he would come across Haibara at one end. So what’s his next move? Climb up because he didn’t think you’d be that smart. “You’re just teenagers after all”.Tsk.

Non-sorcerers are so predictable.

Regardless, you move from your spot a few moments later, once you know Nanami has begun to interrogate the man with his deadpan voice and nonchalant expression. Rather than climbing up though, you manipulate the air around to swiftly throw you up to the roof.

The moment you land you see Nanami walking the shaggy man back towards the edge of the building.

“Tell me what you want with her and we’ll let you go,” Nanami asks with nonchalance. “Simple.”

The man’s heels hit the edge of the ceiling so he stops and looks back with panic in his eyes. You begin to approach them and immediately catch his attention, but trigger no response.

He’s tightlipped, that’s so fucking annoying.

“Unless you like things the hard way,” Nanami says menacingly. “I can make things hard.”

You reach Nanami’s side and notice his shoe print on the man’s shirt. Ha! If only you could have seen Nanami kick the man back. He’s so cool.

“You’re Jujutsu students,” the man says in a trembling voice, and shifts his eyes past Nanami and you as he sees Haibara finally on the roof.

“You can’t hurt me.” The man snaps and lets a faint but smug smile tug on the corner of his lips.

You mirror his gesture with more confidence, and without needing to be told anything, Nanami moves to the side to let you take his place in front of the man.

“No,” you direct at the man sweetly. “We can’t hurt you. But we can for sure as hell come close.” You then gently lift your hand whilst you summon air to gather in your palm, and proceed to flick the man’s chest.

The tap wasn’t hard on his chest, but the air you threw out with that simple action shoved him off the roof as if he had been shoved back by something cold and heavy.

Now you should use the air you can manipulate to create some barrier to catch him before he can hit the ground, but…it’s as you’re watching him fall down into the abandoned ally that you begin to feel relief at the slightest thought that this non-sorcerer could die…

In the back of your head you know you shouldn’t feel the way you do. Sure being a sorcerer doesn’t mean walking down a righteous path, you don’t have to tolerate non-sorcerers either, but while you're a student you cannot harm any non-sorcerer, unless they're your target. They’re the ones you’re meant to protect after all, and yes your own personal mindset has changed from when you first got here, and it also no longer aligns with what the school likes to follow, but you know it’s wrong thinking the way you do.

It’s why you do feel a hint of remorse for feeling the way you do over the man’s potential death; even if you don’t like non-sorcerers.

Yet, that’s still not why you catch him before he can hit the ground. You do it for your own personal gain.

“Tell me,” you yell out as you jump off the roof to swiftly land on the ground to be closer to the shaggy man. Nanami and Haibara follow after you and stick at your side. All while you use the air to lift the man up a few inches so he can see that it’s still quite a drop from where you have him hanging.

“Who sent you,” you sneer and tilt his body down so he can meet your glare. “What do you want?”

The man nervously swallows back before he parts his lips. “Toji Fushiguro,” he finally spills. “He said if his mission failed…that…he'd send me a message and I had to take you by force.”

Toji Fushiguro? Toji Fushiguro?

That doesn’t ring any bells.

“Who is he?” You spat out in confusion. “Who is Toji Fushiguro?”

The man drops his head, making Nanami step forward and grab the man’s collar to yank the man up. “Answer the question,” he demands in a threatening voice.

“I,” the man stammers. “I don’t know. He’s someone that hired me for the job to take her if all fails...I just wanted the money.”

He just repeated himself. He didn’t say why this Toji guy needs you. And it’s doubtful he knows what plans his contractor has.

Could this be related to Riko? But they’re at the school now. They’re safe. So…

“What do they need me for?” You probe as you step closer to the man.

The man's eyes shift to you and he opens his mouth, but before he can even answer, the man suddenly throws his head on Nanami’s nose, causing him to yelp out and back away to grab at his offended area.

You try to react, but since the man wasn’t restrained whatsoever, just propped up basically, he manages to pull a knife out and swings it across your face.

You cry out and stumble back, and accidently let the man go since you lose concentration. Haibara looks over at Nanami and you both grabbing at your wounds and steps forward, while the man makes a run for it even if it looks like he hurt a couple ribs on impact.

And if that's true then he won't make it far.

“Nanami, y/n, what do you need me to do?” Haibara asks with concern as he walks over to you.

You shake your head and stick your hand out to stop Haibara before he can reach either of you. “Go,” you command him instead. “We’re okay. Go, try and catch him. We need to know why they need me.”

Haibara hesitates for a moment before he listens and runs after the man, leaving you to slowly drop your hand covered in your own blood, and use RCT to heal what the man did.

That technique would’ve worked that day that the non-sorcerer took you captive. Albeit you were too scared and broken to even think about it, or actually turn your negative cursed energy to positive. It works like a charm now though. What a relief.

However you are upset you can’t help Nanami heal like Shoko can.

“Nanami,” you call out and approach him as he snaps his nose back into place without as much as crying out, he hides his pain. “Are you okay?”

Said guy turns to face you with his gaze narrowed. “Go,” he brushes you off. “We have no time to waste. I’ll circle around to surround him.”

You study his nose but all you see is blood staining his upper lip now, so you just let out a deep breath before you take the long way out of this alleyway.

Once you’re out on the sidewalk you don’t see Haibara, nor the guy, but you see people stopped and looking behind them with shock, confusion, and some fear.

It has to be him. He rammed past them.

Too easy.

You run down the path that the passersby have opened after the man passed them. You cross an intersection and notice that the light is green, you can see cars speeding forward right towards you, but you simply stick your hand out and manipulate the air to create a barrier that stops the car from hitting you as you run to the other street. People honk and curse at you, but you just flip them off and follow the clues the man sloppily leaves behind.

Luckily the man doesn’t make it far, a random woman seems to figure out that you’re after him and points to an alleyway in between a theater and a restaurant.

You offer her a stiff thankful nod before you turn into the alleyway that has two possible ways out; the path you entered, and one turning the corner.

Haibara is after him, the guy knows that. He also knows Nanami is in this chase too, so running won’t get him anywhere, especially because he’s just a mundane non-sorcerer. So he’d hide if he was smart.

Where though? The theater is the only building here with their roof access open, the other one is locked. He could be there…

But he’d be trapped, so no, he’s down here.

“Tell me why they need me, I'll make it worth your while. Promise,” you taunt him as you slowly walk down the alleyway. “I bet my family could even outmatch what that Toji guy was going to pay you. Or I can.”

There’s silence, but you know he’s around here. He might even be hiding around the corner, so you quicken your stride and look over.

There’s multiple trash cans around the corner, he can be in one of those. It’d be hard to know since the trash is scattered on the ground. You’ll have to check—But…you also don’t want to get your hands dirty by touching those cans. Gross.

You shift your feet to turn and face the alleyway, but before you can move your body you then catch the man descending the theater's roof access.

“You’re going to tell me now—” You come to a harsh stop as the sound of a loud bang rings in your ears seconds before something small and sharp impales your lower back.

You try to react, see what happened, but all you can muster is silence for a few dreadful seconds. A deafening silence that’s accompanied with a blurry vision, and the feeling of your heart pounding in your chest so loud you hear it in your ears. In those few seconds you also don’t feel pain, all you have is the realization that you got shot. You just got shot by the non-sorcerer who was just sweating and stammering out of fear.

A…non-sorcerer hurt you…again. Why?

Yet you can’t even ask, nor entertain that thought anymore because your shock comes to an end, and that pain you didn’t feel before slams all over your back. Not letting you pinpoint where you got shot, not letting you stand on your feet, and knocking you to the ground where you begin writhing in pain.

“You asked,” the man shouts, or mutters, you can’t tell, the pain makes your heart pump louder in your ears, and the pain clouds your head.

“Why you,” the man continues. “Well, you were Toji’s trump card. The brother's prized jewel was Toji’s bargaining chip.” He approaches you and uses his dirty boot to flip you over so you can face him as he towers over you. “Considering I haven’t been called, his plan worked.”

You manage to sneer at him. “What?”

The man shrugs nonchalantly and snickers. He acts so tough now. Just he wait until you heal….

However, as you try to use RCT, the pain only heightens on your back and makes it feel like it’s ripping your insides.

“I wouldn’t,” he says now. “I have my trump card too. You can never be too careful with…people like you.”

You curl your lip into a snarl and throw your hand around his ankle. “I’ll kill you,” you seethe and begin to tap into your fire technique to create your fire-made snake so his blood could boil, but Haibara appears down the alleyway and makes you stop.

“Y/N!” Your friend shouts, making the man jump and then kick your side so you can let go and he can try to escape the other way.

Albeit it seems that before he can make a quick escape, he’s thrown back by none other than Nanami who finally catches up.

“Nanami!” Haibara calls out with slight panic as he falls beside you. “It’s y/n!”

You grab Haibara’s arm and shake your head. “No, let him,” you say through pained groans. “Something’s wrong, we need more information.”

Haibara meets your gaze with concern and then glances over at Nanami. You can’t see Nanami’s reaction, but you hear his fist slam against the man’s flesh.

“Just,” you stammer out. “Get the bullet out. I can heal once you do.”

Haibara’s eyes fall to the blood creeping out of your wound and nervously swallows thickly.

“Haibara,” you snap him from his stupor. “Please.”

Your friend looks at you again and nods before he uses his other hand to grab the back of your neck to try and pull you up. You try to help him by at least shifting your body, but that’s when you notice something awry with you. With your legs…

“Haibara,” you breathe out and grip onto him as fear mixes in with the pain. “I…can’t feel my legs. I can’t feel them.”

Haibara stops what he's doing and meets your gaze with a horrified look. “It’s okay,” he sputters out and lets your hand go to reach for his phone. “We’ll call our manager and take you to Shoko. Nanami!”

Tears roll down your face and everything around you once again blurs, the sounds around you don’t register. You know you’re moving, after a while you leave the man behind and return to the school with urgency, but you don’t actually register the ride home, or the panicked conversations Nanami has with Shoko on the phone. Not while all you feel is your blood pumping in your ears, and the same obilitering pain on your back; as if someone is continuously turning and twisting some sharp blade inside you.

You especially don’t register anything while you also feel something more damaging between all of it, something that’s making itself more present…anger.

It consumes the worry you initially had for your brother, for Suguru and Riko, since it all seems connected. Instead that anger drifts your focus on something else, something you can’t quite make out yet. Especially not while the pain suddenly heightens.

An agonizing pain hits you, and your throat stings as you bellow out when you feel something cold digging through your bullet wound.

It feels like you're on fire, but then it all goes black. There’s some relief, but it’s too quick because you then open your eyes and hear yourself crying because of the pain. You can even hear other voices, but they’re muffled.

“You’re hurting her!”

As far as you can tell that was Nanami, but it’s hard to identify because it all goes black again. Like before it’s only for a short while, but this time when you wake the pain is gone, instead, you feel instant relief; there’s no more stinging or burning sensations. It doesn’t feel like something is tearing you apart from the inside, it’s all gone and there’s sweet, sweet relief as your eyes flutter open.

“She’s awake,” you hear Haibara clearly, there’s no more thumping blood in your ears. He then appears in front of you and you feel joy that you can see clearly again. “Y/N,” he breathes out with relief. “You’re okay. You scared me for a moment there.”

You relish in the ease that runs through your veins, that washes over your muscles and manage a genuine smile. “I was scared there too. Where’s Nanami?”

Haibara grins and points back. “Over here. He's happy you’re awake.”

You turn your head and see him look away so you won’t see his face as he speaks. “Yeah,” he mutters, making you laugh softly before you blink and take note of the bright lights above your head, the bland white walls around you, and the screen at your sides. You’re in the medbay, so where’s Shoko?

You sit up and Haibara grabs your arm just in case you’d fall, even if the RCT Shoko used did not leave any aches. You feel brand new, thankfully.

“Where’s Shoko?” You ask and lower your gaze.

“She went to wash up and smoke I think, she was a bit stressed,” he shares. “She said that the bullet that the guy used was a cursed tool. That’s why you couldn’t heal yourself and take it out.”

You figured out that much. The actual question you’re asking yourself is where that non-sorcerer got that kind of weapon. That man that hired him?

If so, who is this Toji Fushiguro? And what does he want?

Now that your mind is clear and not invaded by pain, you actually begin to figure that out.

Considering this is all happening today, and they wanted you as leverage for Satoru, they’re probably after Riko.

So where is she? And where is your brother and boyfriend? They should be below now waiting to deliver Riko to Tengen, so they should be safe…right?

“Have you talked to Suguru or Satoru?” You blurt and snap your eyes up to look at Haibara.

Your friend quickly meets your gaze and goes serious and stiff. Which is his giveaway that he’s hiding something.

“Spill it out, Haibara,” you press him.

Said man lets out a deep breath and clenches his fist. He remains quiet for longer than you liked so you look over at Nanami sitting by the bed and press him. “Tell me Nanami.”

Nanami slowly raises his head and meets your gaze, unlike Haibara he doesn’t try to protect you by hiding the truth, he says it because he knows you won’t know some form of peace until you know.

“The man we were after said that the Toji guy was going to kill the Star Plasma Vessel,” Nanami says. “When we got to school, we found the courtyard destroyed and buildings in pieces…”

Your eyes slowly widen in disbelief, and your heart gives one hard ba-dum as you feel it creep in again…fear.

“But you didn’t see anyone out there?” You ask quietly.

Nanami shakes his head. “No. At least we didn’t check. We were too worried about you to check.”

It’d be obvious to figure out if there was people fighting outside, so it means…did they make it down to the tomb of the star now? Are they safe?

You have to know. There’s too much of a mess to not go check.

Thus you swing your legs over the edge of the bed. Haibara is caught off guard but he reacts quickly with concern.

“What are you doing? You have to stay here.”

You slide off the bed and shake your head. “No. I’m going to go find them. They might need my help.”

“Help?” Nanami asks. “If that Toji guy had our strongest students do that much destruction then you’ll only get in the way.” He’s harsh but honest.

Yet you don’t care for his honesty now. Not when it involves Satoru or Suguru.

“I don’t care,” you rebuttal softly and begin to walk away. “Oh and thank you guys,” you change the subject abruptly so they won’t continue to argue. “I know we still had missions to do, so thank you. You really saved me. I’ll see you guys later. I’ll let you know if something’s wrong.” You open the curtain that gives you privacy from the rest of the medical bay and actually come face-to-face with Shoko.

“Where do you think you’re going?” She asks and crosses her arms over her chest as she shoots you a pointed look.

“I’m going to find my brother and Suguru,” you let her know.

Shoko holds your gaze and stays put for a moment. “You should be resting,” she points out.

“You made it so I really don’t have to,” you rebuttal lightheartedly. “I’m okay because of you. So now I’m going to make sure my brother and Suguru are okay.”

Shoko sighs and steps aside. “Careful, you idiot. I healed you once today, I don’t want to heal you again in the span of one day.”

You smile at her and shake your head. “I’ll be okay,” you assure her. “I’m sure they have it under control.”

Without wasting another second you then hurry out. Not caring that there’s a tear in your jumpsuit now because of the bullet, or that the bottom half of your body is stained with blood.

You run over to where the tomb is because you hope that’s where they’d be. But the closer you get the more your fear begins to consume you, making it hard to breathe, making your hands tremble, and making a pit to grow in your stomach as if you’re expecting the worst when you keep telling yourself that it’s all going to be fine.

When you walk in the elevator shaft that goes down to the tomb, you try to listen or feel for any sign of struggle, but there’s just silence. It should give you relief, but you feel worse.

They better be okay….

They are, you tell yourself. And keep telling yourself that the entire way down. When the elevator hits the ground and it dings as it begins to open the door, you begin to move out with a straightforward vision. You step out and strain your ears to listen, and squint your eyes to see through the dim hall that you don’t notice the blood on the ground until your feet splashes in it.

“Fuck,” you breathe out and freeze. You’re scared to look down, but you need to know, so you slowly lower your gaze and gasp softly the moment you see Kurio on the ground with a pool of her own blood around her.

Is Toji here?

“Kurio?” You call out quietly.

The woman doesn’t move, you watch her back to see if it’d move as she breathed, but she lay still and silent. You then bend down to see if she’s just weak, but as you check her pulse, her pulse doesn't pump.

She’s dead. Which means…that Satoru and Suguru could be in danger. You’ll have to come back and cover her body later so someone can come and carry her out. For now, you stand up and run down the hall. The closer you get to the end, the brighter it gets, but there’s still no sign of any battle, there’s no voices.

You only hope that Riko—

Before you can finish your thought you come to a halt the moment you step out of the hall. You feel your heart immediately sink while your breath catches in your throat at the sight of…Riko on the ground with blood around her head.

Like Kurio she doesn’t move, not even to breathe. Yet you still call out for her with hope. “Riko?” You take a step forward and only see more dark scarlet blood. “Riko?”

She doesn’t answer so when you reach her you fall on your knees beside her. You notice right away that her eyes are open and still. She’s so incredibly still. But as you touch her cheek she’s still warm.

“Riko?” You call out quietly and with a crack in your voice. “I’m here. It’s Y/N.” You grab her shoulder and turn her to her back. “Riko…” You trail off and slowly check for her pulse on the side of her neck. You immediately don’t feel any sign of life, but you keep your fingers pressed against her neck as if that would change the cruel truth...Riko’s dead too.

And not dead as in she’s joined Tengen, she got shot in the head and died before she could actually reach Tengen. Then again it’s not like you cared if she joined Tengen or not, you deeply hoped she wouldn’t, you wanted her to enjoy her life, to live and enjoy her teenagehood because regardless of all the bad that you face, being one is not that bad. You wanted her to see that, you wanted her to live…

But she’s dead now. She’s actually gone.

“I’m sorry,” you whisper to her shakily. “I’m sorry it had to end this way.”

Tears stream down your face, and in that moment footsteps also begin to approach up the stairs ahead. You don’t even question that it might be danger and shoot up thinking it’s one of the two guys.

“Satoru?” You call out and walk around Riko to approach the staircase. Yet that’s when you see that who’s approaching isn’t your brother or Suguru, this a tall muscular man with short greasy black hair, a scar over the corner of his mouth, and a worm like curse wrapped around his shoulders.

This must be Toji Fushiguro. And if he’s so gracefully walking up the stairs then does that mean that Satoru and Suguru are…no…They’re probably just hurt. But how?

Is this man really that dangerous that he could outmatch Satoru and Suguru, the strongest there is?

It can’t be possible.

Nevertheless, while you’re lost in your running thoughts, the man looks up and spots you, and immediately stops in his tracks.

You lock eyes and narrow your gaze, and fist your hand to get ready to fight if need be.

“Look at how much you’ve grown,” the man says in a deep voice. “I almost didn’t recognize you, y/n Gojo.”

You knew he knew of you because he was the one that hired that goon, but this seems deeper than that. How?

He notices your confusion and scoffs before he continues to speak. “You wouldn’t recognize me, you were just a little girl when I saw you walking hand in hand with your brother several years back. He looked back at me, but you only cared about him so you didn’t even bat an eye my way.”

Okay? That only leaves more fucking questions, but you don’t bother to ask any related to that. “How?” You deadpan.

Toji blinks and squints. “How what?”

You glance back at Riko and then glance past his shoulder to look at the gap in between the lined-up buildings that are laid in several rows behind him. Toji follows your line of gaze and then huffs with a smirk tugging on his lips.

“Oh,” he breathes out and looks back at you. “You’re asking about them. Well does it matter?”

You can’t sense any kind of cursed energy on him, nothing of the sort, so it must mean one thing. “Heavenly restriction?” You ask.

Toji places his hand on his hip and his smirk deepens. “So you have more than just looks,” he quips.

You’ll have to be careful then, who knows what he’s gifted with. It’s why Riko’s dead, it’s why…Satoru and Suguru aren’t after him at the moment. He must be insanely gifted by his heavenly restriction.

Which means you can’t fight inside. Closed quarters restricts your cursed technique too much.

“I gotta ask one more thing,” you interject with your glare burning into him. “Do you mind if we take this outside?”

Toji chuckles. “You have your brother's boldness, I'll give you that. But,” he sighs. “I have things to do, girl. Plus, you’re weak, it'd be a pitiful fight.”

You scoff, and open your fist to use your cursed technique and manipulate the air inside this large corridor to turn calm resting air into gusts of wind that gather in a growing orb on your palm.

“Is that so?” You sneer. “Why don’t we try to find out.”

Toji doesn’t move, he doesn’t seem shocked by your technique, or the growing orb of air growing bigger on your palm. He steps up one stair and calmly parts his lips. “Has your brother not told you to not pick fights you won’t win?”

You ignore him and begin to lift your hand to point your palm at him, but he interjects with a malicious smile on his face.

“I killed Satoru Gojo,” he interjects. “And injured the other guy with the weird bangs, what makes you think I won’t kill you too? Sure the Gojo clan will be up my ass, but it would be good to rid this world of at least one damned Jujutsu clan.”

Did he just say he killed…your brother?

“What?” You mutter coldy, and slowly release the air you had begun to gather on your hand.

Toji grins. “Yeah, a monkey like me killed your brother,” he says again in a teasing tone.

You tap into your fire, making the dragon mark on your arm begin to glow. You want to use it against the man who said that killed your brother, but as you think about what he said you have no strength to fight back. You stay there frozen, staring at the ground with disbelief, feeling all the warmth that this room holds vanish. The warmth that your body keeps disappears, and the warmth that this earth holds fades away, leaving you and this earth cold and frigid at the thought of your brother dead.

Toji recognizes your shock and walks right past you. When he’s behind you he interjects one more time. “Let’s run into each other again once you’re stronger. I’d like to pick up on your offer then. For now…my condolences.”

You don’t bother to look back or respond. He leaves and you continue to stand there frozen in disbelief.

Satoru can’t be dead. He…can’t be gone. He didn’t leave you behind. Please don’t let it be true.

He’s still alive, you know it, you’re sure of it. You have to think that way because you know if you don’t you’ll break. It’s why you push it away, pretend like you didn’t hear those tragic words, and focus on Suguru.

He’s here, you can sense his cursed energy. And Toji did say he hurt him, so you finally break away from your spot and follow the mess a battle left behind, and end up at the edge of a deep gap made near the big tree in the middle of the room.

You look down and see Suguru lying on the ground, so you quickly use your cursed technique to use the air to help you down to where he is. Once you land on the rubble you gasp as you see the long gashes across his chest.

“Suguru!” You call out regardless of whether you see his eyes closed or not.

When you reach him your breaths quicken as your throat closes as you see the blood still coming out of his wounds and blood trickling down his lip. You want to cry too, you want to curl up to avoid the worst, because if he died too then you’d probably cease to exist. There’d be nothing but an empty flesh-made body with a beating heart but no soul.

Toji said he only hurt him, but that doesn’t make you any less right or worried. So you proceed to press your ear against his chest and wait with your breath held.

A second passes before it feels like you can breathe again as you thankfully feel his heartbeat in his chest.

“You’re okay,” you mumble and close your eyes to sigh with relief.

“Y/N?”

You tear your eyes open and lift your head to meet Suguru’s dark eyes.

“Hey Sugar,” you whisper softly before you press your forehead against his and bask in the fact that he’s alive.

Suguru uses the strength he has and grabs your hand.

“Why are you crying?” He whispers softly.

You pull your head back and sniffle. “I was scared. That’s all.”

His lips twitch to a faint smile. “I’m okay,” he mutters.

You laugh softly and nod. “You will be when we get you to Shoko. So come on, I’ll help you up.”

It’s a struggle to get him up since he’s actually very heavy, but he helps you. It’s easy after that, you use your cursed technique to get you back to the stairs. And it’s then that he actually breaks his silence. “Y/N…Satoru is—”

“He’ll be okay,” you cut him off and secure his arm around your shoulders as you begin to climb the stairs. “He’s strong. I know he’ll be okay.”

“Y/N,” he says again, this time with pity that gets you upset.

“I said he’ll be fine!” Your bottom lip trembles and tears fill your eyes again. “I’m sorry…I just need to believe it…I can’t think otherwise. I won’t be strong enough to face that truth. So for now please just let me believe my brother is alive.”

You feel Suguru’s pitiful stare before he whispers, “okay.”

“Okay,” you whisper back.

Shortly thereafter you reach the top of the stairs and Riko’s body is gone. All that's left is a puddle of her blood and her torn headband. You don’t comment on it, nor does Suguru. You just see him look at the spot where she had been last.

What could you say? He’s probably beating himself up over what happened, he lost, what can you say that’d comfort him? It all sounds like it won’t help him.

“Are you okay?” Suguru asks quietly, breaking you from your stupor. “Besides all this I mean. You’re home early.”

He’s the one bleeding out and he’s worried about you?

You sure are glad he’s not dead. He’s one of a kind.

“I…got shot,” you share, making him snap his eyes at you, showing his shock and confusion.

“After my second mission,” you continue to explain. “I spotted this man who had been following me since Okinawa. We confronted him—”

“Since Okinawa? Why didn’t you say anything?”

You shake your head. “Let me finsh,” you brush him off. “We confronted the guy about it and he said he was hired by Toji Fushiguro…the guy you just fought. He said if Toji’s plan failed he’d use me as his trump card against my brother. He ran after, we chased him, cornered him and he pulled a gun out and shot me…fucking non-sorcerer shot me,” you mumble.

“It hurt like a fucking bitch,” you continue. “But Nanami and Haibara brought me home, and Shoko healed me,” you finish. “So we both have had quite a fucking day.” You meet his gaze and sigh.

“Yeah,” he says. “It seems we have.”

You reach Kurio’s body now, and again, neither of you comment on it. All you do is stop to pull off your long white skirt and cover her with it before you walk in the elevator with Suguru draped at your side. The ride up is quiet, the way to Shoko stays that same way as well since all you can both think about is Satoru. One of you thinks of his death, the other denies the truth and clings onto the hope that he’s okay.

Unknowingly one thought you both do share is gratitude that one another is there.

And you wouldn't have left his side until he was healed, but you can’t go on without making sure your brother is okay, or if he’s actually…gone. So when you enter the medbay again you sit Suguru down, and just interject over your shoulder as you turn to walk back out the door.

“I’ll be back.”

“Where are you going?” Shoko asks.

You stop when you reach the door and respond hopefully. “I’m going to find my brother.”

No one stops you or tells you otherwise. They don’t follow after you, nor do you ask for help. You walk to the destruction out in the courtyard and see Nanami and Haibara trying to get rid of the fly heads that swarmed the courtyard. Yaga and a few other teachers are out here too, but no one says a thing to you, they’re careful since they also know what happened.

It’s like they expect you to react badly. But that can’t be further from the truth, after all your brother's killer stood in front of you for a while and you didn’t react. Even if you were known to overreact (which you don't), this moment isn’t one of them. You’re barely hanging on as it is.

And when you see all the open field, the flat land littered with rubble, you expect to see him there, sitting or standing, laying even, but when he’s not obviously in front of you, it—everything…well you can’t even explain what you feel besides desperate.

He’s eveything to you. He’s the good of this world because when you hated your life he was always there to make it better, to hold your hand and comfort you after your parents showed you only cruelness. He was your warmth and your strength.

For so long he was all you had, so if he’s gone, who are you in this vast world? Where are you? You’ll be lost without him.

He’d always find you when you were lost. Late as always, but he always found a way to you.

So you plead now to whatever higher being that exists that he’ll find a way to you. You’ll wait at home if need be, you hate your fucking house, but you’ll go back to wait for him there. You’ll wait at school, where his blood lays drying to the rubble first though. If night comes, if summer passes and fall dries the leaves then you’ll continue to wait.

“Y/N?” Haibara whispers.

You hug your knees tighter against your chest but don’t bat an eye his way. “I’m waiting,” you mumble.

Haibara climbs onto the piece of rubble you sit on and takes a seat beside you. He doesn’t say anything right away, he just exhales softly before he drops his shoulders and looks up at the sky.

“Regardless of today's events,” he interjects softly. “It is a pretty day. Aren’t these kind of days your favorite?”

You glance up but the sky isn’t as blue as before. It looks kind of dull. “I’m currently debating,” you retort and lower your gaze to watch the grounds in case you’d see your brother.

“I have a younger sister you know,” he says, making you slowly look over at him.

“I remember you mentioned her before,” you fill the silence that followed.

“She can see curses too, so I forbade her from following my footsteps,” he pauses and swallows thickly. “And I know,” he continues and lowers his head to meet your gaze. “I can’t relate to what you feel, or compare to the bond you share with your brother, but I know if something happened to my sister I’d feel the same.”

Tears fill your eyes and a wobbly smile tugs on your lips as you interject. “But you’re strong, Haibara. I see it, you have the strength to protect your sister from all the bad. I…never could protect my brother, I always needed him. And maybe if I was stronger I would have been assigned with him and Suguru, I could have helped him and been here, but…I am not strong.” You shake your head and feel your bottom lip tremble as you feel the need to cry. “And if he’s actually gone then…I don’t know who I’d be. If I was stronger I could have avoided this or-or had it so it was me, not him.”

Haibara scoffs softly. “You really think Satoru wouldve let that happen?” He asks.

You laugh softly and shake your head. “No. But I would’ve tried.” Now you’re dangling over the edge of the abyss.

Your friend hums and lifts his head to watch a little bird fly by, you let your gaze fall and watch the grounds again.

“You said you wouldn't know who you’d be if your brother was gone,” Haibara whispers. “I think I know who you’d be. You would be you.”

You blink and meet his gaze again with tears running down your cheeks.

“Of course you’d be a little different, loss will do that,” he continues to say. “But you will always be yourself.”

“How do you know?” You question. “He’s all I know. I owe my life to him. He’s my home.”

Haibara meets your gaze once again and smiles softly now. “I know because the love you have for your brother is something that you’ll always have,” he says in a soft voice. “In order to carry that, to carry his memory with you, you have to keep fighting to live and keep your heart to be you. If you don’t then that’s when you lose.”

He’s so young and not so wise yet, but can you blame him? He’s young. Yet he always seems to know what to say, maybe it’s because he’s an older brother. Satoru always knows what to say, or do, sometimes he may not communicate it right, but he does share that same trait with Haibara.

“Thank you,” you tell your friend as you wipe the tears off your cheeks. “Can I hug you?”

Haibara grins and nods. “Of course, go for it.”

You smile wider before you throw your arms around him. “Thank you,” you whisper again.

Haibara hugs you back and rubs your back. “Of course, that’s what friends are for.”

You smile softly and tighten your hold around him.

“Besides,” he adds. “I don’t believe your brother is gone, he’s strong. He’s not here either so I know he’s fighting. We’ll see him soon enough.”

You pull back and sigh shakily. “I hope.”

“Y/N?”

You gasp softly and feel your lips twitch to a comforted smile as you hear Suguru call out for you. You look over to where his voice comes from and immediately where there was bleak and dullness, the sky regains its bright and soft color. Your once-racing heart slows down to a calming beat. Those breaths that once felt so hard to take, ease back to normal.

As Suguru gets closer to the crater you now notice he’s carrying clothes in his hand. You also see that he’s wearing clean clothes now, he no longer has blood or marks on his face. Yet he still wears a melancholy look that you noticed before too.

“Thank you,” you direct at Haibara again as you stand up.

Your friend pushes himself up and offers you a gentle smile, letting you jump over the gap that was in between the rubble and the rest of the ground. You then meet Suguru halfway and see he’s holding your clothes.

“How are you feeling?” You make sure to ask first before he can say what he needs to say. “Any lingering effects?” You ask and reach over to grab his arm to study him.

Suguru shakes his head. “No, I’m fine. Thanks to Shoko.” He glances over at the rubble and studies the field for a moment in search of his best friend.

“When I got here all I saw was a puddle of his blood,” you let him know, and pull his gaze back to you. “He’s going to be okay.”

Suguru hesitates before he nods softly. “Yeah,” he whispers unsurely. As if he’s only trying to comfort you. “He will be.”

You sigh and slide your hand up to grab his shoulder. “He will be,” you assure him now that Haibara has filled you with hope.

Suguru holds your gaze as he lets out a deep breath, and you feel his shoulders fall before he nods lightly. “Yeah,” he whispers.

You offer him a soft smile and raise your hand to caress his cheek even if there could be people watching. “I’m glad you’re okay. You scared me.”

The corner of Suguru’s lips tug upward just slightly before he grabs your hand and strokes your knuckles.

“I brought this for you,” he says and pulls your hand down so he can place it on the clothes he’s holding—“I want you to come with me to recover Riko's body.”

You blink and your soft smile fades, whilst your heart sinks now. Suguru notices your change in emotions and begins to caress your knuckles with his thumb since he didn’t actually let go of your hand when he made you grab your clothes.

“The Star Religious group has many facilities,” he adds. “But I’m willing to go to each one until we find her. She deserves better than that.”

You nod without hesitation. “Yeah, she does,” you agree. “I’ll go with you, but…what if we run into Toji?”

Suguru’s gaze hardens. “Then we kill him.”

“That’s if Satoru hasn't gotten to him first,” you mention to keep yourself hopeful and avoid falling into the abyss you still dangle over without actually knowing if Satoru is okay or not.

“Yeah that's right,” Suguru agrees in a tone that lets you hear his doubt.

You want to ask him why he’s so sure that Satoru is really gone, it pisses you off that he’s not hopeful, but you remind yourself that people are different with the way they process loss, plus Satoru is his best friend. If he’s too hopeful and you meet disappointment then it will hurt a lot worse, so he probably just doesn’t want to get his hopes up for his own sanity. You need to remember that.

——

*LATER*

Upon going to the first Star Religious facility you started off with blazing hope, but when that turned out to be empty, that light flickered. You went to the second location and when you found nothing there too that flame within you began to dim, but you kept holding onto hope that you’d find your brother.

Yet you went to the third one and that was empty too. Now you’re going to the fourth one, the sun is going down and taking your hope along with it.

As for Suguru’s hope? He kept on a straight face each time, only letting flickers of disappointment show visibly when you’d come across an empty building. However, you know him well, you’ve been intimate and vulnerable together, you can see his sorrow behind his seriousness. And you can guess what he might feel, you can’t be completely sure but from what’s happened you like to think you know.

Plus seeing him be that way adds to the ache you already feel, especially because he’s a lot quieter than usual. You can’t just continue going without at least trying to help in the way he helps you.

“It’s not your fault you know,” you interject and blink to look at him looking at the street ahead. “What happened today wasn’t your fault, Suguru.”

Said man sighs deeply and his gaze hardens. “How can you say that when Riko is dead? When Satoru is gone too.”

You swallow back nervously and avert your gaze. “Because you couldn’t know it would happen,” you tell him softly. “Toji Fushiguro was gifted with Heavenly Restriction, there’s no way you could be prepared for that. But you tried, you fought and that’s what matters. It’s what Satoru will see. It’s what I know.”

Suguru looks over at you, and you look at him with a faint assuring smile. He doesn’t say anything, his sorrow doesn’t vanish at the sound of your words, and it’s doubtful his guilt disappeared either.

“Look,” you add. “What happened today is an accident in life we will have to live with. So the best you can do is learn from what happened and be better. Blaming yourself won't lead to anything good.”

Suguru holds your gaze and exhales deeply before he nods softly in comprehension. Who knows if he’ll listen to you, but you hope he does take it into consideration.

“Thank you,” he says quietly.

You offer him a wider smile. Yet that quickly falters as you look into his kind eyes and remember something that happened to you. Something he might find…disgusting.

Suguru notices your falter because of course he does, and doesn’t hesitate to probe. “What is it?” He asks.

You could keep quiet and not tell him anything you felt about that non-sorcerer today. He doesn’t have to know of your defection, he’s so…righteous after all, he’s so good, he’ll lose interest, he’ll hate you. You couldn’t live with that.

But…you said you don’t want to be the partners that hide things from each other out of fear of judgment, or out of selfishness. You don’t want to keep secrets from him, so he needs to know. And if his heart changes the way it feels about you then…you’ll have to live with it.

“Today,” you begin to say quietly. “When we were chasing that non-sorcerer that had been spying on me. We needed to get information out from him but he wouldn’t speak. So I…threw him off the roof, I caught him of course, I just wanted to scare the information out of him, and it worked. Kind of. But that’s not the point…” you pause and let out a shaky sigh. “The point is that…when he was falling I…felt relief at the thought of his death.”

You keep avoiding Suguru’s face out of fear. You even walk a bit ahead to avoid even catching a glimpse of his reaction.

“Well,” he breaks his silence. “He hurt you…it’s normal.”

You shake your head and mutter. “No. He hadn't hurt me yet.”

Suguru hums, and you feel as if someone clutches onto your heart. You don’t want him to hate you. Not him.

“Do you regret it?” He asks in a quiet voice. “Feeling the way you did.”

You sigh and nod. “I did,” you say the truth. “I felt remorse because I knew it was wrong, because it’s not what I’m supposed to feel as a Jujutsu Sorcerer.”

“That’s right,” he agrees. “And as long as you know it’s wrong, as long as you feel remorse then you can work on what you felt.”

You nod, but you don’t feel relieved yet. “You don’t hate me because of it. Do you?”

Suguru stops walking, so you do too, and slowly peer back to look at him. You’re afraid to read his reaction because you know you’d see what he truly felt, but you have to so you slowly lift your eyes.

And surprisingly when you do meet his gaze he’s looking at you with a soft look and a faint smile. “No,” he reveals. “I don’t hate you because of it. Do you really think I would?”

You shrug and slowly turn to face him completely. “You’re a good person, who feels strongly about your views of this world and your place in it. You often butt heads with Satoru because he contradicts that. So…yes I was scared that you’d hate me because of it.”

Suguru exhales and drops his gaze for a moment. “I could never hate you,” he assures you as he meets your gaze. “If our views in this world change then…they do, I can’t force you to feel the way I do. You have your reasons to feel the way you do, I can never make you forget that. Would it change things? Maybe, but I wouldn't give up on you because of it. That’s not what love is, is it?”

That grip around your heart disappears and you finally feel relieved. But you can’t smile yet. “I don’t know if I will ever go back to the way I felt about non-sorcerers, so please don’t feel like you have to stay with me because you want to avoid hurting me. It’ll hurt, but sometimes we can’t agree to disagree. So please always be honest with me.”

Suguru holds your gaze and nods without hesitation. “I promise I will.”

You offer him a tiny smile and a soft nod. He returns your gesture before you both begin to continue towards the fourth facility with your hands brushing against each other.

It’s not a long ways away now, you made sure to have the manager park the car as close as they could without potentially alerting anyone. But even still the walk felt eternal with your nerves as high as they were.

When you could finally see the facility you looked out for any sign of Satoru, but all you found past the perimeter was that worm-like curse Toji Fushiguro had wrapped around him. It was cut in half and dragging itself away. Which could only mean one thing…Satoru should be around here, and Toji should be taken care of.

Why else would his curse be here without him?

Then again would curses have any sense of loyalty? Without being controlled that is.

Who knows. And who knows how Toji got this curse to bond to him. It doesn’t matter now anyway, his curse is here, bleeding out and stopped in front of Suguru and you. It even lifts his head and tilts it.

“Mommy!” It says, making your shoulders jump out of surprise that it spoke—“Hug me!”

You can’t decide if you feel disgusted by it or strangely awed by the curse. It’s kind of ugly cute.

“What…are we going to do with it?” You ask quietly as if the curse would understand.

Suguru looks at you with the same disbelief he looked at the curse with. “What do you mean what we’re going to do with it?” He asks.

You shrug and point at it. “I could, I don't know, exorcize it, or you could…keep it.” You both then look over at it and Suguru’s disbelief turns to slight disgust. He doesn’t answer you so you begin to lift your hand off your side to get rid of it with your fire.

However, Suguru reaches his hand out and summons it into a ball first. You didn’t think he’d absorb it then, he usually doesn’t like to when you’re around; even after you assure him over and over again that you don’t mind whatsoever, but this time he does swallow the curse.

“Satoru must be here,” you mention as he takes a minute. “I think we found the right place. Come on.” You break away from where you are and eagerly follow the trail of blood the curse had left behind. Suguru tows behind you, urging you to be careful, but those warnings don’t hit your ears with your heart pumping as fast it was with anticipation.

Once you make it past the gate and inside the outside courtyard, you find the reason the curse was out in its lonesome. You find Toji dead in front of a big hole made to the facility's wall. He has half of his torso missing, and his hand is disregarded in front of his body.

You’d say you feel bad, it looks like such a bad loss, but he killed Riko. He won’t get any sympathy from anyone. Actually, you feel happy because it means your brother should be here.

Thus you run inside. The entrance of the facility is empty, but you follow the signs that point to a main hall, you rush down some steps that lead to a corridor lit by eerie red lights, and find metal doors at the end of it.

“Y/N, wait,” Suguru calls out, but again you don’t listen, you run to the doors and pull them open.

It’s only when you open them that you actually stop. Not out of disappointment like the other three times, this time there’s actually people inside, you finally found the right one. You stop because you see non-sorcerers filling the room with thunderous applause, because you see them smile as if they’re proud of something. Yet you don’t know what.

As you slowly walk in the room that thunderous applause seems to get louder, deafening so. You want to investigate more, find what has them all excited, but you notice the crowd begin to part and stop to watch.

When the row of non-sorcerers in front of you breaks apart you finally see what they’re making way for, it’s Satoru. It's your brother, he’s alive, stained with blood, and with his head down, but he’s walking towards you with…Riko’s body.

She’s covered but regardless, seeing her lifeless body in your brother's arms takes away every bit of excitement you felt upon seeing him after you feared he died.

“You’re late, Suguru,” Satoru breaks you from your stupor. “No, I guess you got here fast. There are several Star religious group facilities in the city, after all,” he says and stops walking before you. He then lifts his head and you see how completely numb he looks.

“Satoru,” Suguru calls out in disbelief. “Is that you? What happened?”

“I see you already saw Shoko,” your brother changes the subject.

“Yeah,” Suguru says. “She healed me. I’m fine now.”

How is Satoru fine? Toji said he killed him, and Shoko didn’t heal him so…does that mean he healed himself at those last minutes?

That has to be right, nothing else explains why he’s here.

Then again, not like you care, all that matters is that he’s alive.

“Satoru,” you finally call out with relief, and finally manage to look away from Riko.

Your brother blinks and meets your gaze.

“You’re okay,” you point out. “How?”

“I finally figured it out,” he mutters in that same expressionless voice. “How to use Reverse cursed technique.”

“Good,” you assure him. “I'm proud.”

He hums and blinks slowly again to look back at Suguru behind you.

“Me being safe doesn’t help anything here, does it?” Suguru says.

“I screwed up,” Satoru cuts in, making your breath catch. He just never likes to admit that—“you’re not at fault.”

“Let’s go home, Satoru,” you interject softly and with worry.

“Suguru,” he interrupts coldly. “Should we kill these guys?”

You freeze but still glance around at all the people gathered around and still clapping with stupid smiles on their faces.

“The way I feel right now,” Satoru continues saying. “I doubt I’d feel anything about it.”

“No,” Suguru doesn’t hesitate to answer. “There’s no point.”

The non-sorcerers continue to clap, louder and louder. They don’t stop smiling either.

“It looks like there are only common followers here,” you hear Suguru say, whilst you watch them all still clapping and barely notice Satoru begin to walk past you—“The masterminds who know about our world have probably fled already.”

Then why are they still here? Clapping. Smiling.

You didn’t know why they celebrated before but now you do. You finally know and it disgusts you. They all disgust you. She was innocent.

“And unlike with the bounty they won’t be able to talk their way out of this,” Suguru adds. “The organization had problems to begin with. It’ll dissolve soon enough.”

“No point huh?” Suguru retorts once he’s past the metal doors. “Does there really need to be any point at all?”

Suguru doesn’t respond right away now, he stays quiet so you turn with your head high and made up about the thing that troubled you before.

You no longer feel remorse for wanting that non-sorcerer dead, nor do you feel bad for feeling disgusted by these non-sorcerers clapping and smiling over an innocent girls death. They’re…below you anyway, they’re not worth saving. They’re just mundane non-sorcerers after all.

“It’s very important that there is,'' Suguru finally responds to Satoru's question, causing you to stop under the door frame. “Especially for a Jujutsu Sorcerer.”

You know your point to all this. You’ve known now for a while; fighting for people like you. Getting stronger to fight for them to have a better life from the curses non-sorcerers create, from the evil you’ve seen. You’ll get strong for yourself and for your family. So you don’t lose again. That’s your point.

“Y/N?” Satoru calls out.

You look up at him and hum in response.

“Let’s go home,” he says.

You look back at Suguru still standing inside the hall and hesitate for a moment, you wait until he moves before you move and respond back. “Yeah, let’s go home.”

.

.

.

.

.

A/N- Don’t you guys love it? A cult leader and a communist in the making? Also that worm is now their child. Let’s hope is not a child of divorce soon…

[markosbabymama]

yipppeee!!! :) in that case can i pls get a ck matchup?

i’m 5’3” (160 cm) , i have stone blue eyes but they change to green or grey depending on the day. my hair is wavy and shoulder length and it’s the color of cinnamon. i have dark freckles under my right eye but not my left. im on the lighter-tannish side and i have a sharp button nose.

i’m an aquarius rising and sun , and i’m a pisces moon. i’m an introverted extrovert and an entp. i have anxiety and adhd. i tend to hyperfixate on things very easily. i love film, and writing, and reading. horror is my favorite genre of book and movie. my love language is physical touch and words of affirmation. my aesthetic per-say is modern downtown girl meets 70s downtown girl.

i love music si much it’s a big part of my life. i’m learning to speak spanish and i tend to talk a lot if you couldn’t already tell. rambling is a big habit of mine.

i’m so sorry ml for writing like 3 full paragraphs 😭😭 mwah mwah tysm <3333

u are literally the cutest ever?!🩷🥹

you are made for miguel sorry i don’t make the rules

.

UGH HEIGHT DIFFERENCE !!

he loves to lean down and kiss u literally his favorite thing ever.

he’ll randomly give u piggy back rides or pick u up bridal style and thinks it’s the funniest thing ever

.

loves loves LOVES UR EYES!!!!

literally kisses ur eyelids bc he loves your eyes sm

*looks down at u while ur cuddling him* “when we get married and have kids they better have your eyes, or else i don’t want em.” *slaps his chest* “miguel!”

takes random pics of ur eyes while they’re in light

.

loves to run his hands threw ur hair. it’s therapeutic for him.

definitely tried to braid it and fails miserably but it’s the thought that counts.

randomly buys u claw clips and hair ties🥹

has a hair tie on his wrists at all times just in case.

.

once tired to kiss all the freckles on ur face to see if he could do it LOL

obvi he couldn’t but it’s okay cus he loves to kith u lol.

always admired ur freckles. thinks it’s the prettiest thing on the planet.

.

NOSE KISSES ARE A DAILY THING.

kisses ur nose as many times as human can.

loves to pinch ur nose as well lolz

he loves ur nose sm

.

he’s honestly always by you’re side since he knows it takes time for u to warm up to ppl

especially at party’s.

he will never leave ur side EVER.

only time he does is to get u a drink. but even then he’s like “u sure ur okay by urself? promsie??”

and let’s say u have an anxiety attack/ ur overwhelmed by something

MY GOD HES WAISTING NO TIME

he will run to your side so fast to make sure you’re okay.

will do breathing exercises with you, rub your back, give you water, talk u threw it, he will literally not move from ur side unless you say to.

.

loves how u get so invested in something

like he will literally go out of his way to make sure he knows everything abt ur hyper fixation

no matter wtf it is. it could be abt rocks and this man will search how many there are, JUST to talk to u abt it.

adores reading horror books/ watching horror movies with u.

he’ll wrap his whole body around u with twelve blankets on a couch and just sit there listening to you tell him about facts abt the movie, the cast, where it was filmed, ect.

loves watching u write

will literally just sit next to u and watch

HE ADORES EVERYTHING U DO MAN🥹

.

loves how passionate u are abt music

makes a special playlist just for u.

is proud when u add a song from his playlist to urs

“U LIKE THIS SONG???” *smiles like a six year old*

.

i honestly believe miguel is touchy too so he LOVES when u can’t keep ur hands off him

not in a sexual way, in a loving, caring, sweet way🖤

holds onto ur waist all the time

y’all definitely link arms all the time

he’s always touching u and the other way around. y’all can’t keep each others hands off the other.

“you’re the best thing that ever happened to me, mi amor.”

.

loves ur style and loves going shopping with u.

will hold up a pair of boots and go

“omg this would look so pretty on u mi amor.”

also loves finding lil hats for u to wear.

will blow every last dollar he has to buy u clothes.

*walks in with 5 giant bags* “Y/N, I HAVE A SUPRISE FOR YOUUU!!”

.

UGH LOVES CUS UR LEARNING SPANISH??!?!?!

literally is ur tutor

“Eres el amor de mi vida.” *looks over to him* “what did u just say, miguel? *smiles from ear to ear.* “nothiiinggg.”

u find out like three days later and kiss the shit out of him. LMAO

leaves lil love notes in spanish in ur locker everyday 🥹

so proud of u when u have your first full convo in spanish.

“YOU DID IT!!! IM SO PROUD OF YOU MI AMOR!” *tackles u and kisses ur face.*

so much shit talking happens at school.

miguel: “¿Viste su traje?”

y/n: “Sí, oh Dios mío. ella se parece a mi abuela.”

*both of u dying of laughter*

.

A/N: THIS WAS SO FUN TO WRITE MY GOODNESSSSSS. i really hope u enjoy this cause i had a blast writing it. love ya!!🩷🥹

[whumping-in-the-dark]

Chapter 4: Visitor Pt 1

Just two friends hanging out after a long time ^_^

Speaking of friends, a big thank u to my irl friend for reading through this :D who doesn't have tumblr yet hence no tagging :/ so if there are any grammar mistakes left it's on her 6u6

Ingredients: creepy/intimate whumpers, alluded future noncon [Honestly... more plot than pain. Mostly the introduction of a new character. I felt like wanting to keep the major torture stuff separate. So the hopefully good whump in the next part promsies]

Matt groaned as he shifted once more, trying to find a decent position in which to relax. He thought it'd be easy at first, but the man had tied his wrists actually closer to his knees than his ankles, forcing him to strain his shoulders. Not to mention, his ankles kept twisting the wrong way, and no matter how hard he tried he simply couldn't get himself to lie on his side. Each effort ended up in him nearly slipping off the couch, but flipping back onto his back at the last moment.

The doorbell rang and Matt froze. Who could it be right now? His mind wandered to any possible parcels he could have ordered. Oh right... That stuff he ordered for a friend. It was supposed to arrive the next day from what he could remember but it wasn't too unusual for it to be a bit early.

The semblance of a smile crossed his face-- as best as it could with his mouth stuffed full anyway. The delivery guy recognised him from all the things he'd ordered when he had first arrived here. He knew Matt lived alone.

If only Matt could reach the door before the man.

____

Daniel hummed to himself as he stepped out of the shower. The kid had a surprisingly decent house-- pretty new too by the looks of it. Didn't show signs of anyone else living there either. What a good catch. Pretty body pretty house.

Going through the closet attached to the master bedroom, he managed to find a red plaid shirt and a pair of black jeans that fit him decently. He'd have to get his stuff from the base pretty soon though, if he really decided to make this one permanent.

As he checked himself out in the mirror, he drummed his fingers on the wooden dresser. The whole house had a woody theme, not dark enough to match his personal preferences... but he still liked it.

His eyes fell to the canopy bed, snow-white bedsheets spread out on it... how would his little rabbit look all spread out on it for him, crimson dripping down-

The enthusiastic call of the doorbell dragged him back to his surroundings. Maybe his rabbit didn't live alone after all. Oh well. More toys to play with.

His gun tucked safely behind his shirt, he calmly walked down to the front door. The doorbell rang once more and his hand involuntarily went to the gun. "Protect me, Maria." He muttered under his breath.

Then, with a deep breath, he opened the door. An instant later, they were both pointing guns at each other's heads.

____

Matt watched wide-eyed from behind the stairs, lucky to have rolled his barely functioning body in there just in time to escape the man's notice.

"Ralph, what the fuck?" The man-- in his fucking clothes now-- complained, a strange friendliness behind his tone.

The olive skinned man-- Ralph-- shrugged, beaming. "Finally found you now, huh Danny? You really thought you could stay hidden from me? Me, of all people?"

Matt's brain struggled to jog up with the new information. The two were what... friends? Fuck. He was soo fucked.

The two laughed together casually, as if one of them hadn't nearly fucking raped someone a while ago. Matt doubted the other guy was even half as decent as-- who, Danny? Daniel? Did it fucking matter?

"Come on in now, Ralph." In a flash, both guns were back in their places. "Welcome to my new base."

The man-- Ralph? Did he have a full name-- whistled as he entered, closing the door behind himself. "Not bad. Definitely better than the last one. Who are you sharing it with this time around?"

What did he mean this time around? Had the bastard done it before too? How many times?

"A dark-haired one this time around. Still light-eyed though-- I haven't lost my taste for that just yet." The two began walking to the living room, towards him. "It was his wide terrified eyes that drew me in in the first place. Ah! I'm sure you'll find him pretty too."

"Oh yeah? Fucked him yet?"

Matt shuddered.

"Mhm, not really. I'm planning to experiment a bit with this one. If I had to guess, I doubt my rabbit has ever been with anyone. Should make it more fun, huh?"

Was that an insult? But Matt didn't have time to care. As the pair drew nearer and nearer, he pressed himself to the wall, silently begging the shadows to swallow him up. At the last moment, he squeezed his eyes shut, not willing to even gauge his situation.

"Oh hey! Here he is, huh." Ralph's animated voice reached his ears.

Matt whimpered as a rough hand grabbed his chin, tilting his head up. "Open your eyes, boy." Danny- Daniel's gravelly voice sent shivers down his spine.

Reluctantly, Matthew obliged. His gaze fell on Daniel's-- surprisingly soft-- gray eyes. "See, isn't he so pretty?" A smile danced on the edge of his lips.

Matthew sucked in a shaky breath as the fingers loosened to caress his cheek.

Ralph bent down, hands on his knees and a tilted head, to give his judgement. "Hmm... yeah... I think I like this one more than the last. Definitely more my type." He finished off with a grin, grabbing his hair to steal him away.

"He's still mine, you know." Daniel grumbled.

"Mhm." Abruptly, he let go. Matt winced as he fell flat to the floor, unable to support himself with his compromised limbs. "So, what do you plan on doing first? Fuck him in the bed or--"

"Nonono." Daniel voiced Matt's thoughts, albeit much more playfully. "I told you, I plan on experimenting on him. So let's start with something less sexual."

"Would he still be naked?"

"Well, wouldn't it be a waste of such a pretty body otherwise."

Matt shifted closer to the wall, chest heaving with violent inhales. How the fuck could they just talk about him like he was not even listening.... like he was-- what? A doll?? Tears welled up in his eyes as the two men turned to him, desire so plainly written across their faces. He shook his head as Daniel's hand hovered above him, desperately trying to plead with his eyes.

"Oof! Just look at those eyes." Ralph exhaled. "You might just get me addicted to light eyed boys too."

Daniel chuckled. "I know I know. The tears just look better in them."

"You should leash him, you know. Bet he'd look cute being dragged across the floor like this. It's about time you take his clothes off too. You're spoiling him way too much."

Retracting his hand, Daniel sighed. "Mm yea. Good point. I would have gone easy on him since it's his first day and all but... I don't wanna instill any bad habits either." Standing back up, Daniel ran a hand through his hair. "I'll get some stuff from the garage. Look after him, yeah?"

"Mhm. Don't worry about it."

Matthew watched wide-eyed as Daniel disappeared through the door, almost wishing for him to turn back. The other man seemed like an even crueler bastard.

"So..." Ralph crouched down. "What do you say we get you ready for him, hm?"

Matthew whimpered, shaking his head once more.

"So adorable." The man smiled, leaning forward to tap his nose. "You're right. I'm sure he'd like to watch."

A few minutes passed before Daniel returned, carrying a black duffel bag-- his black duffel bag. His expressions looked more focused now and Matthew feared the worst. Had he changed his mind and was planning to rape him after all? Ditch whatever he called his experiment? Oh fuck no.

"I'm surprised you didn't fuck him yet." Daniel handed Ralph the bag, before taking out a coil of rope from his pocket. Matt squeezed his eyes shut again.

"Alright, don't shy away now, my little rabbit." Daniel's voice came closer.

Matthew swallowed as he felt the rope being wound around his neck, the rough fibers tickling his soft skin. As Daniel worked on the knot, Matthew suppressed his tears. Suddenly, the pressure tightened, nearly choking him as his head was lifted above the ground. Eyes flying open instinctively, he saw Daniel tugging up the rope, a smirk on his face.

"Didn't I tell you not to shy away just now?" Daniel watched as Matt struggled to balance his weight on his knees. "Keep. Your. Fucking. Eyes. Open. Hm?"

Matt narrowed his eyes, giving him his nastiest glare. This fucking--

Daniel's smirk grew. "Let's see how much of that glare is left by the time we're done with you, yeah?"

[arminluver]

Holaz! I’d like to make a request if ya don’t minddd 🥺👉🏼👈🏼

I was wondering if you could do piece (hc, drabble, or anything ya wanna do) about whichever jjk character with a seemingly stoic!s/o but gets all softy on cute things like puppies and shtuff like dat? 🤧

Ty! 💗

of course of course of course :)) i feel like yuji would be stunned out of his mind so i chose him, hope you don’t mind! also, pleasee let me know if this is what you wanted if not i promsie i’ll write you another one! <3

the sun was slowly setting in the background as yuji droned on about being the first years gojo had sent out to exorcise a cursed spirit when he noticed you were obviously not impressed by being ‘chosen’. “come one y/n, i bet you would look better if you smiled more” the pink haired boy tried lifting up the mood. “are you saying i’m not attractive because i know-” you began but stopped when you saw a that a stray puppy had taken an interest in your legs. your normal monotoned voice stoped and your face lit up. “yuji yuji it’s a pup- it’s so cute! the tail! the little paws, the everything!” you screamed, excitement coating your voice. yuji went through every human emotion in the span of 1 minute. the boy had never seen you so light hearted. it was like the spirit of a little kid had possessed you. your voice went up by at least 4 octaves, yuji counted. your shoulders dropped, and you laughed. by the time the puppy had fixed his curiosity and left you, yuji still had his mouth opened, jaw hitting the floor. “oyy, what’s with the face, never seen a cute puppy before?” your voice back to normal. stunned and didn’t know the approprié responce yuji bit his tongue and settled for a simple “i told you you looked better with a smile” in which you huffed with a slight smile on your face.

[babyflossy]

is this real?

pairing; taeyong x female!reader (my future works are gonna be gender neutral unless explicitly stated otherwise)

word count; 1.7k

summary/requested; taeyong wants a calm birthday but you have important news to tell him. I deleted the request for this and I'm pretty sure they wanted smut but I just want this out of my drafts so I'm really sorry! also this was supposed to be a birthday request rip,,, also another instalment of flossy can’t think of titles

genre/warnings; cringey (I'm so sorry), pregnancy (?), fluff

the day had been simple. taeyong had requested you to keep his celebrations to a minimum this year; a true day for him to relax and not have to worry about anything. it had started just as he had wanted, you had made breakfast in bed for him, waking him up with feathery kisses to his cheeks. regardless of his wishes for you to not get him anything, you couldn’t resist getting a few token gifts you knew he would like.

at first, your plan had been to surprise him in the morning, soon after he had woken up. the little wrapped box had never been far from your reach the whole day, even as you found yourself getting ready for the dinner his members had insisted on. every chance you had to give it to him you lost; shaky hands and sweaty palms not allowing you to simply hand over the box wrapped so neatly, a little silver ribbon tied around it.

as you brushed on your blush, convince yourself you would give it to him before you left the house, at least. that didn’t happen, of course, as when you went to get it the only thing you could think of was taeyong’s disappointed face when he opened it. what if he didn’t want it? what if he wasn’t ready.

sure, you had both agreed you wanted kids, but was now the right time? a few months ago he had suggested you to stop taking the pill and just see what happened, but when his company suggested a solo album you had gone back on it. what he didn’t know, and what he was soon to find out, was that in those few weeks of being off the pill you had gotten pregnant.

it had been hell, as expected, keeping it from him. you wanted nothing more than to tell him the moment you found out, but deciding it was only a few weeks until his birthday you managed to hold off telling him. as the weeks dragged on your anxiety only grew until you weren’t even sure if you were ready, let alone him.

a hand rubbing along the bare expanse of your shoulders shakes you from your thoughts and you meet taeyong’s eyes in the mirror, offering him a smile. a frown settles on his face as he toys with the thin strap of the silk dress you’re wearing. the material is tight on your body and it glitters under the artificial light in your bedroom. you think about how you won’t be able to wear dresses like this for a while and sigh.

“you okay?” he mumbles, hands letting your straps go to pull your hair behind your back, leaning down to trail kisses along your shoulder. the action is so caring, so soft and familiar you can feel the familiar tingle of emotion in your eyes.

the brush drops onto the table with a clatter and you stand, turning around to face him. there’s concern still brimming his eyes and you looking away for a moment to calm yourself.

“of course i am, baby,” the suit he’s wearing fits him perfectly and you let your eyes linger down his body before you meet his gaze again, hands rubbing the smooth fabric between your fingers. “you look amazing, as always.”

“not even half as amazing as you, princess,” his hands grip your waist and you feel a sickening twist of your stomach as you look up at him. this was so perfect, you and him, did you really want to change that dynamic? you had heard stories of couples falling out of love after having children and you weren’t sure you wanted to risk it anymore.

“i love you,” with your words, you let your face drop into his chest, closing your eyes as you listen to his heartbeat. you hear him sigh above you and you can tell he sees right through your mask but you’re grateful when he doesn’t push it further. a reply is whispered into your hair before a ringtone breaks you out of your embrace.

“it’s johnny, we should go.”

there’s a chandelier hanging over your head and the crystals glimmer onto the tablecloth in front of you. the soft glittering is calming and a stark contrast to how you feel inside. the look taeyong had shot you when you denied the expensive champagne from the waiter did nothing to soothe your nerves and as you sip your lemon water you question if this is really a good idea.

around you the conversations move too quickly for you to keep up with and you’re close to grateful when johnny turns to you. this is the first time you’ve seen him since you had spilled your biggest secret a few weeks ago, needing to tell someone about the positive pregnancy test. when you were plannnig the day, johnny had made you promsie to tell taeyong before the dinner, but as soon as you had met eyes in the enterance he knew you hadn’t.

it was your first oppurtunity to talk to him and you both keep smiles on your faces so the others around you won’t suspect anything. “why haven’t you told him?”

“i got scared,” you take a sip of water in between your words, “every time i tried to give it to him i– i just couldn’t.”

“you’re a fucking idiot. you know he’ll notice eventually, right? that’s how pregnancy works, dumbass.” johnny teases, the polite grin covering his face is almost comical in comparison to his words. you laugh mockingly and nudge his arm too hard for it to be accidental.

“make fun of me one more time, and i’ll kick you in the shins.”

soon enough, johnny is pulled into a different conversation and you focus on eating your food and calming your heart rate. you vowed silently to yourself that no matter what happens, you’ll tell him before tomorrow morning.

in your daze, the dinner passes quickly and before you know it everyone around you is standing, pulling their coats and suit jackets over their shoulders. taeyong pulls your chair out for you and links his hand in yours as he bids farewell to group. as you’re leaving, you catch johnny’s eyes one last time and scowl at the way he raises his eyebrows expectantly, a sarcastic smirk painting his features.

the car ride home is silent, suffocating. taeyong sits in the passenger seat and watches you frown at the road in front of you, deciding to question you when you're not behind the wheel. the walk into your apartment is silent as well, the same confused expression consuming you as you make your way straight to your bedroom to rid your feet of the heels trapping them.

when you sigh for the umpteenth time in front of your dressing table mirror taeyong realises he's had enough. "what's wrong with you?" the words are firm but hold no malice. in the reflection you watch him run a hand through his hair, his eyes focused straight on you. it’s now or never, you think and reluctantly reach for the draw next to you, retrieving the little box with shaking hands.

when you place it in his lap, the face that looks up at you is nothing but confused. "you got me another present? i told you to keep this–"

"just open it," a nod in the direction of the box accompanies your words and your heartbeat leaps to your throat as you watch him untie the ribbon. fleetingly, you think about ripping it back out of his hands and hiding it again but by now, you want nothing more than to get this over with.

time seems to freeze as he picks up the little white stick out of the clouds of tissue paper. his fingers turn it around a few times before bringing it closer to his eyes. you're not sure why, the two pink lines are visible even from where you're standing. for a heart-stopping moment you think he's going to throw it away, but in an instant he's standing. his arms wrap around you tighter than you think they ever have and relief floods you like a dam breaking.

"is this real?" the whisper is soft and child-like in innocence, taeyong's wide eyes staring at you tenderly. the lump in your throat doesn't allow any words out and you can only nod in reply. the next embrace is longer, and sweeter. he hooks his hand under your head and cradle you to his chest, dropping his face to kiss the top of your head. being held like this does nothing to curb your emotions and the tears start falling before you can stop them. "we're gonna be parents?"

you nod and his lips are on yours in an instant, hands falling back to your waist to pull you into him. the kiss is tender and warm and it shows every emotion you’ve been trying to hide from him for so long. “you’re happy, right?” he asks when you haven’t said anything.

“i'm happy– don’t get me wrong, but i'm so scared, taeyong." the words make him frown down at you, the tears in his eyes making him appear so vulnerable. "what if we're bad parents–"

"hey, hey, hey," he whispers against your forehead, fingers rubbing soothing circles into your waist, "we can't think like that, i'm sure we'll be fine." there's nothing you can do except nod into his chest, exhausted after finally letting out your secret. "how long have you known?"

"a few weeks," you can't help but let out a teary laugh at the shock on his face when you pull away. "i wanted to tell you straight away, believe me i did, but i thought it would be a good surprise."

"that's impressive, i have to admit. i can't wait to tell everyone!"

"about that," you pause, knowing he probably won't like the fact johnny found out about your pregnancy before he did. "johnny already knows."

"you told johnny?" there's disbelief in his voice but you can tell he's not angry. "before me?"

"i'm sorry!" you laugh out, the pout on his face being anything except for funny to you now. "i needed to tell someone!"

"their first word better be daddy to make up for this."

[dcbutinamrev]

The Schuylkill (Historical Lams)

*This is based off of one of my absolute favorite Hamilton anecdotes where Hamilton and his men were ambushed at the Schuylkill River and everyone believed him to be dead but Hamilton returned alive. Why am I so descriptive at writing? I have no idea! So, here! Enjoy this angsy-ish, long oneshot!  Also, I don’t know how military warfares work, so I apologize if I had gotten anything incorrect* 

*** 

Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens wakes to the sound of birds chirping in the distnace, the sun slowly peeking behind the treetops surrounding the camp. He yawns deeply as he slowly sits himself up agaisnt the poutain of pillows behind him, his honey-colored hair framing his angular features beautifully, almost like a golden halo. He grunts as he massages his aching neck and rolls his stiff shoulders up and down, releasing the tension from his muscles. Laurens glances down beside him when he hears soft, cooing snores. He smiles softly when he sees his beautiful Hamilton sleeping beside him, his side rising up and down slowly as his back is facing him. A sign he’s safe and alive. 

Laurens smiles a bit wider as he rolls over onto his side, his cheek in his palm as he combs back a few wavy auburn curls from Hamilton’s face, behind his ear. Hamilton stirs a little in his sleep but thankfully, does not wake. Laurens chuckles to himself as he watches Hamilton sleep. He shifts a little closer to him before pressing a kiss to Hamilton’s russet curls, breathing in the familiar scent. 

Hamilton rolls over onto his side to face Laurens and curls himself up cloer to him. Still not opening those beautiful, yet peculiar eyes of his. Laurens laughs quietly as he answers Hamilton’s request and wraps his arms around him, resting his cheek against Hamilton’s head. The two lay there for a moment or two, enjoying the blissful, domestic moments they have with each other while they can and enjoying the peace. Barely any of the other soldiers are awake. Laurens has no doubt that General Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette are awake, though. 

Laurens glances back down at Hamilton, who sighs contently with a loopy smile on his face. Laurens hums as he leans down to capture Hamilton’s lips in a long, passionate kiss. After a few seconds, the two part slowly for a breath of air, Laurens pressing his forehead agaisnt Hamilton’s. Hamilton finds himself giggling as his startling violet-blue eyes flutter open. Laurens smiles again, brushing back a few curls behind Hamilton’s ear and cradling his jaw before pressing his lips to Hamilton’s once more. 

“Morning, my beauty,” Laurens whispers, his voice husky and thick with sleep. 

Hamilton giggles, making Laurens’s heart flutter. He rests his head on Laurens’s shoulder as he traces small circles on Laurens’s bare, muscular chest. 

“My love,” Hamilton yawns. 

Laurens smiles a true smile and his rich sky-blue eyes glistens agaisnt the sunlight, those same blue eyes that makes Hamilton fall in love with him over and over again. Laurens leans down to presses his lips against Hamilton’s again, letting them linger there for a moment or two before moving them down to Hamilton’s jaw, then to his neck, then to his bare shoulder. Hamilton has to tilt his head slightly to give Laurens space and he gasps when Laurens finds his sweet spot on his neck. The bed creaking as Laurens pushes Hamilton back down on the pillows, the white linen sheets ruffling around them. 

“John,” Hamilton grunts. “We can’t go too far...the others are about to wake...and--” Hamilton gasps again. “And...there’s no doubt the General and the Marquis are already awake too...” 

Laurens pouts as he flops back down beside Hamilton. “You’re right. We should get ready...we have a duty to do...” 

Hamilton hums before pressing his lips to Laurens’s again one last time before swinging his legs around the bed and pushing himself up to get himself dressed. Laurens watches his Hamilton from the bed, admiring his beauty. Laurens gets up himself eventually and grabs Hamilton’s blue Continental coat, Hamilton sliding his arms through the sleeves and turns around to face Laurens once finsihed. Laurens grabs Hamilton’s cravat and wraps it around Hamilton’s neck securely. Hamilton giggles. 

“Your turn!” he chirps. 

Laurens slides on his breeches, then his boots, then his long-sleeved hunting shirt and finally Hamilton puts on Laurens’s dark blue Continental coat along with his cravat. The two stand in each other’s embrace for a moment before Laurens presses his lips to Hamilton’s one last time before finally exiting their tent. 

As they walk down camp together, side by side, shoulders almost brushing, and knuckles secretly brushing agaisnt the other’s, the Marquis de Lafayette jogs up to them, embracing them both before giving them the traditional faire la biase. 

“Monsuire Hamilton! Monsurie Laurens! It is good to finally see you both out and about!” Lafayette says, patting Hamilton’s cheek affectionately. 

Laurens tips his tricorn hat in greeting. “You as well, Marquis.” 

“Alexander, the General would like to have a word with you,” Lafayette says turning to Hamilton. 

Hamilton swallows, suddenly nervous. “I-Is it urgent?” 

Lafayette shrugs. “More or less?” 

Frowning, Hamilton and Laurens follow the Marquis towards General Washington’s tent nonetheless. Hamilton fidgets with his cuffs, chewing on his lower lip as they slowly inch towrads the General’s tent. Once they have arrived, Lafayette opens the tent’s flap for Hamilton and Laurens and follows them in himself. Hamilton and Laurens stand in front of a wooden desk where the General himself sits, observing a map with deep conentration and thoughtfulness. Hamilton and Laurens bow respectfully. 

“Your Excellency,” Hamilton says. “You’d wish to see me?” 

“Ah, Colonel Hamilton,” General Washington says, looking up suddenly. He stands and the trio stiffens immediately. “Yes, I did.” He glances at Lafayette. “Thank you, Marquis. I will take it from here.” 

Lafayette bows before exiting. The General turns back to Hamilton and Laurens before him, arms clasped behind his back, gray-blue eyes flickering back and forth between them. His expression serious and determined. 

“Colonel Hamilton...” Hamilton swallows. “I have a mission for you.” 

While Hamilton brightens, Laurens’s eyes widen and grows stiff again, looking pale. 

“A m-mission?” Laurens stutters. The General raises an eyebrow. Laurens swallows. “My apologies, Your Excellency, sir. But...a mission? H-Hamilton?” 

“Yes,” the General hums. He turns back to Hamilton. “Colonel Hamilton?” 

“Yes, sir?” Hamilton says. 

“Your orders are to lead a small group of men to destroy a flour warehouse before the British could confiscate it,” the General orders. 

Hamilton nods, sharp. “Yes, sir.” 

“W-What?” Laurens splutters. The General and Hamilton both turn to him. Laurens flushes a deep red. “A...a mission? Sir?” 

“Yes, that is what I said?” the General says, though it sounds more like a question. 

“S-Sir, with all due respect, I admire Colonel Hamilton as much as you but...but...don’t you think it’d be safer for him to remain here?” Laurens suggests. 

“I understand your worries, Colonel Laurens, but I need Hamilton for this mission specifically,” the General says. 

“But...I-I could--” Laurens protests but the General cuts him off. 

“Dismissed.” 

Laurens clenches his fists at his sides, biting his lower lip. Hamilton sighs as he guides Laurens out of the tent and back towards theirs. Once inside, Hamilton turns to face Laurens, tucking a loose strand of blonde hair behind Laurens’s ear, then cradles his cheek. Laurens sighs as he leans agasint the touch and presses a kiss or two to the inside of Hamilton’s palm. 

“Don’t worry about me, my love,” Hamilton whispers, pressing his lips to Laurens’s once. “I’ll be safe...” A pause. “I promsie.” 

“You better,” Laurens says with a chuckle before pressing a kiss to Hamilton’s lips then to his brow. 

“I shall return to you, my darling,” Hamilton says, grabbing a sword along his tricorn hat, placing the hat on his russet curls before glancing over at Laurens. His violet eyes sparkling. 

“You shall...” Laurens breathes as Hamilton exits the tent. 

~~~ 

An hour has passed, no two, before Marquis de Lafayette bursts into Laurens’s tent, nearly causing Laurens inkpot to spill over his translated corrospondences. Laurens whips his head over to find Lafayette in a panicked and distressed stat, muttering things under his breath in French, shaking his head. 

“Marquis...” Laurens gasps, rushing over towards his old friend. “Marquis...what happened?” 

“Laurens...” Lafayette rasps before burying himself into Laurens’s shoulder. “Oh, petit lion...” 

Laurens perks his head up sharply. “Alexander?” A pause. “What happened to him?” 

“The General...he...he would like to see you...” 

Before Lafayette could say another word, Laurens sprints out of the tent and down the camp, down towards the General’s tent, bursting in without permission. He freezes when he sees the General’s face in his hands, a letter on his desk, the other aides lowering their heads. Laurens frowns, confused as he marches up towards the General. He swallows. 

“S-Sir...?” Laurens says. 

“Colonel Laurens...” the General mumbles, a pained expression on his face. He looks distant. “Please...have a seat, son...” 

Laurens sits as ordered nonetheless, his heart beating fast as he holds his breath. 

“S-Sir?” Laurens says. 

“The...” the General shakes his head. Laurens notices a tear slips down his cheek, another rare sight. He swallows before metting Laurens’s eyes. “Laurens...Colonel Hamilton--” 

Laurens stands up abruptly. “What happened to him? Is he--” 

“He’s dead, Laurens,” the General says shakily. “Colonel Hamilton is dead...” 

Laurens stares at the General with disbelief and shock. Dead? No...no he cannot be...he can’t...dead? His Hamilton...his Alexander...dead? No.... Laurens shakes his head, vision blurring. He can’t be...he promised...he promised... 

“Mon ami?” Lafayette asks, resting a hand on Laurens’s shoulder. 

Anger suddenly replaces the grief and Laurens shoots up from the chair. He tries to control his breathing, try to keep his emotions at bay but the tear streaks on his cheeks betrays him. He spins around on his heel, itching to release his anger with until his eyes land on the General. He jabs a finger at Washington. 

“This is your fault!” Laurens booms. “If you hadn’t send Hamilton, if he had stayed here! He would be here!” 

Silence. After a few minutes of unbareable silence, Laurens growls low before swiping the General’s map and his work off the desk in complete rage. He grabs the chair he was sitting in and tosses it across the tent, breathing heavily as it smashes onto the ground. The General winces. Laurens paces around the room, hot tears on his cheeks, shaking his head, muttering incoherent things under his breath, blaming the General, blaming himself. 

“Mon ami!” Lafayette gasps, rushing towards Laurens, grabbing both of his arms. “Mon ami, shh. Shh. Shh...Enough! Enough!” 

Laurens buries his face into Lafayette and not being able to hold it in any longer, he breaks. He grabs fistfulls of Lafayette’s uniform as Laurens’s body heaves with uncontrollable sobs, muttering “Alexander” and “No” over and over again until the two both collapse onto the ground, one comforting the other. Then, Laurens screams. 

A day has passed, then two since the news of Hamilton’s death and Laurens hasnt been the same. He’s been more distant, more quiet, more angry. Laurens currently sits in the aide-de-camp office, trying to focus on translating corrospondences but finds it difficult to do so when his friends, Richard Kidder Meade and Tench Tilghman share fond memories they had together with Hamilton, and when he’ll constantly gaze at the empty chair next to him. 

An hour has passed since they began their work when the tent flaps swing open. and a messenger rushes in, panting, face pale and his eyes blown wide. It’s then that Laurens realizes he could hear men barking out orders and demanding the General from outside.

General Washington, seated at the head of the table, stands up immediately. The messanger boy bows respectfully. 

“Your Excellency, sir,” the messsanger boy pants. “They need you. Now.” A pause. “It’s Colonel Hamilton.” 

Laurens stands up immediately, eyes wide. 

“He’s alive.” 

Laurens takes two steps to reach the messanger boy, gripping his elbow. “Where is he?” 

“They’re bringing him into camp now, sir. He’s heading towards the medics--” 

Laurens sprints out of the tent before the messanger boy could even finish. Laurens shoves through the crowded men, Lafayette and the General chasing after him, calling Hamilton’s name. When he reaches the entranceway of the camp, he skids to a stop. There, in front of him, stands Colonel Hamilton looking half-dead and being supported by two other soldiers, one of Hamilton’s arm looped around their shoulders. Hamilton’s wavy aburn hair is dishevled and out of place, a few locks of red curls dangle in front of his half-opened eyes. He seems dazed, confused, terrified. He shivers, teeth chattering. His face is covered with dirt, soot, and a few scrapes of dried blood. His uniform is drenched and covered with dirt. But he’s alive. He’s alive. He’s alive! 

Laurens breathes out a breath of relief before rushing towards Hamilton. Lafayette follows after him, relief and worry over his face. Laurens nods to the men supporting Hamilton up and the two let go. Laurens wraps his arm around Hamilton’s shoulders while he loops the other arm under his legs and carries Hamilton over towards the medics, Lafayette following close behind. 

“Heh, heh,” Hamilton tries to laugh, his voice croaky. He opens his eyes slightly up at Laurens. “Told you I’d return to you...” He coughs, making Laurens flinch. 

“Shh, don’t speak, dear boy,” Laurens whispers low so only Hamilton could hear. 

“Ambushed...” Hamilton mutters. “British--” 

“Shh,” Laurens soothes as he frantically finds the medical tents. 

“Tried to escape...horse got shot...” Hamilton murmurs into Laurens’s chest. 

“Shh, mon ami...” Lafayette soothes, jogging up next to Laurens. “Don’t speak. Save your strength.” 

“Jumped in river...” Hamilton continues. “Walked...here...” 

Laurens finds a medical tent after a few minutes of endless walking. Lafayette holds the flap open for them, Washington included, and follows in after them. Laurens places Hamilton gently down on a cot as a doctor stood by beginning to take off Hamilton’s unformin to attend any possible wounds he may have. Laurens flops down in a chair next to the cot where Hamilton is placed, sighing with relief, his shoulders slumping and he runs a hand through his honey-blonde hair with relief. Laurens leans forward as he gazes down at Hamilton, who’s nearly asleep, and puffs out another breath of relief, muttering “Thank God...Thank God...Thank God...” 

Laurens sighs as he grabs hold of Hamilton’s hand and brings his knuckles up to his cheek, watching Hamilton slowly doze off while the doctor does his work, tending Hamilton carefully. 

He’s alive. His Alexander is alive. He’s safe and alive. And home. 

And that’s all that matters. 

[browniefox]

For complete turnabout, I wonder how it was for other Phoenix to learn that he was a dad! Poor Trucy though, she wouldn't want another dad to leave her 😭

CT!Phoenix is flabbergasted, he is shocked, he is concerned who in the world thought it'd be even a remotely good idea to put him - any him - in charge of a child! The house and office are a mess! Surely this man who is not him is also a mess! And certainly he himself has never so much as entertained the concept of fatherhood. The last example he had of a parents was Manfred, and it's left the whole idea with a bitter taste in his mouth.

(Nevermind the whole concept of having somebody you care for always there, somebody to cook food for, to spend time with. But he doesn't think he could handle the fighting, the teenage angst. Would he react too harshly? Would Manfred's teachings come through and destroy another generation?)

Trucy on her part puts on a good face at first, because a daddy is better than no daddy! But inside, she's absolutely crippled with hurt and owrry. What if her daddy never comes back? And the new one is so much unlike him, what if he doesn't like her? She absoutely has a moment where she cries and gets snot on CT!Phoenix's shirt and they have a cathartic moment of saying how they really feel about all this to each other.

And then Phoenix promsies Trucy that he'll never leave her so long as he can help it. Perhaps he wasn't her father to begin with, and he wasn't going to be her father now, but he was support her and do what he could, so long as she was patient with him while he learned how all of this was supposed to work.

(Of course, though he forgets in this moment, he's not alone here. It's hard for him to remember that Phoenix has a family, a support system, recently reactivated with the downfall of Gavin, who are willing to move mountains for Trucy should she ever need it)

[jaeyleo]

ooh, 'touch aversion' with henrik and anybody? :3

tws: blood, sensory sensitivity

. . .

Marvin isn’t usually scared.

It’s hard for him to tell today where things are. The world feels dizzy around him, like it’s blurry and fogged up and moving all without him. It was hard to connect with Her today, hard to step on the grass and put his fingers in Her dirt to plant in his garden.

He ended up breaking a pot, falling right on top of it. Ceramic clay sticks out of his hand, and he doesn’t move, standing at the wall and holding his hand to his chest. With each drop of gold that hits the ground, he can feel the vibration shatter through him. Marvin can’t tell if his senses are up, or if the Earth is actually quaking this time.... He must be getting close to a reform.

“Marvin?”

The sun startles, breath hitching in his throat. Foggy eyes shake in their sockets, trying to read and match the voice he hears. He doesn’t recognize it today, what’s happening?

“Did you hurt yourself, friend?”

The person takes a step closer, and Marvin straightens agaisnt the wall. His hand squeezes, and blood pools at his feet. With the quaking Earth, Marvin whimpers, fearing he’ll come crashing to the floor at any moment.

“Is everything alright? Can you hear me?”

Marvin pauses, trying to recognize this strangers voice. He feels familiar.

“...... Who is it?”

“It is Henrik. I am Henrik.”

Henrik.

“I hit my hand on a pot, Henrik.”

“I thought so, yes... is something wrong today?”

“I don’t think so,” lies Marvin.

“..... May I look at your hand?”

Morus shakes his head once, rendering himself so dizzy he almost tumbles to the floor. Another few drops hit the golden puddle, and he whimpers again, feeling himself slip.

“Will you sit down for me, friend? You’re worrying me?”

Marvin feels the doctor’s hands come to his shoulders. It’s a sudden and unexpected warmth, a sudden and unexpected loud pulse coming from Henrik’s fingertips.

“Don’t, dont!” Marvin begs, finally falling to the ground. He flails slightly, trying to get Henrik’s hands away from him. “Too loud, t- too loud, Henrik, it’s too loud...!”

“O- okay, Marvin, shhh, it’s okay...”

Marvin gulps his breath down, placing his uninjured hand over his ear. The other is covered as well, but his wrist presses over it instead of his bleeding palm.

“I know you are nervous,” Henrik starts, murmuring every word, “but I need to help your hand. You can get infections, that stone is dirty.”

“I don’t want to be touched right now..”

“I will wear gloves, and I will use my tools to take pieces out. It won’t be so loud... we can even put in earplugs? Yes? Or Chase’s noise canceling headphones?”

Oh. Those are the clunky ones.

Marvin takes a shakey breath, still feeling the vibrations of his own blood hitting the floor like lightening strikes through his body. It almost hurts more than the pot in his hand.

“Do you promsie to stop if I tell you to?” asks Marvin, trying to pull himself together. He should be stronger than this, he’s learned. Humans are less forgiving of behavior than the stars.

“I do promise,” Henrik replies. And he means it, truly. Perhaps Marvin’s humans understand better what he’s going through than Marvin does.

Another shaking breath, and Morus relaxes slightly, letting his hands fall from his ears.

“May I put on the headphones before we start?”

[dadgonedeku]

Bnha Comfort Headcanons

❣️✨~SFW & Gender Neutral!Reader (S/O)

❣️✨~Warnings: mentions of panic & anxiety attacks, nightmares, includes cursing, and includes mentions of other potentially sensitive and personal topics, so please if you’re sensitive to stuff like this then read at your own risk!

❣️✨~Characters Included: Baku, Kiri, Todo, Deku, Mirio, Tamaki, Nejire, Kami, Sero, & Shinsou

❣️✨~Hello! I just felt like writing some fluffy comfort hcs since we’re currently all dealing with rough times and a global pandemic to top it off, so have these! I hope they help at least a little because I know they helped me when writing them!

❣️✨~Also I honestly had no idea what emoji to use for Sero? I went through like four different ones before deciding on a juice box because he was drinking one in one of Kiri’s flashbacks. IM SO SORRY I- IT WAS TWO IN THE MORNING I APOLOGIZE I PROMSIE ILL CHANGE IT-

Katsuki Bakugou💥

💥~ Believe it or not, but he understands what you’re going through, whether it be emotional or physical stress, or even anxiety and panic attacks, he knows the feeling of them all.

💥~ He can most likely relate to nearly everything that can cause those feelings, and he knows that familiar feeling of emptiness, heartache or sadness, and stress above all.

💥~ And truth be told, he’s a hothead and can definitely be a huge asshole sometimes, but with you it’s different.

💥~ He never wants to see you hurt, never wants to see you in discomfort, and certainly never wants to see you in a situation that’s unsafe for you.

💥~ So when he walks in on you crying or you come to him wanting to talk about an issue, he won’t admit it but he’s worried for you, and wonders how he can help in any way. Also he immediately threatens to blow someone through a roof.

💥~ He cherishes you and loves every part of you, it’s not like he’d just ask any random extra to be his s/o, and in all honestly he was the one who asked you to be with him in the first place.

💥~ He’ll hold you close and pet your head, and if you’re crying he’ll bring up his thumb to your face to dry your tears and cradle your face. “Oi, none of that dumbass.”

💥~ You two will stay like that for however long you need or want to, he honestly doesn’t mind, he just wants to make sure you’re okay.

💥~ He’ll tell you how strong, beautiful, and amazing you are, and that he loves every inch of you with everything he has.

💥~ Overall just suavely hypes you up and cradles you in his hold, and won’t even care if you end up falling asleep or passing out on him from emotional exhaustion. He’ll just carry you to bed and stay with you, pressing soft kisses to your forehead and running his fingers through your hair, wrapping his strong and safe arms around you as you rest.

Eijirou Kirishima🥊

🥊~ He feels so guilty and awful that he even allowed you to feel like this in the first place.

🥊~ Like what kind of man ever allows his s/o to be in a situation like that? How could he have ever slipped up and looked over your feelings?

🥊~ Is instantly at your side if you’re upset or crying, and will not hesitate to cuddle you until the end of time. “Gosh I’m so sorry s/o! What’s wrong? Please tell me!”

🥊~ He’s the empathic type, and in all honestly he’ll probably cry if he sees you crying.

🥊~ He’ll make you stop whatever you’re doing and focus on him and whatever he’s saying to try and comfort you, and will apologize for allowing you to even feel that way in the first place.

🥊~ He understands being stressed out or exhausted, and he can relate to the feeling of overwhelming anxiety or sadness.

🥊~ He’ll hold you close or snuggle up with you, securing you in a protective hold as he whispers sweet nothings in your ear.

🥊~ He’ll tell you just how much you make his heart flutter with everything you do and just how stunning you are to him.

🥊~ Will rub your thigh or run his hands through your hair or pet your head until you fall asleep in his arms.

🥊~ Ends up staying and sleeping with you, because it wouldn’t be manly to leave his s/o alone after they had just broke down in front him, plus he just always wants to make sure you’re okay.

Shouto Todoroki❄️🔥

❄️~ He doesn’t completely understand? Like he hasn’t really dealt with having to comfort someone else before?

🔥~ But he gets the feeling of having panic or anxiety attacks or the feelings of being overwhelmed or sad, and longs to help you get rid of them like he’s trying to with his.

❄️~ Immediately asks if you’re physically hurt or in pain, and if you say you aren’t then it’s an instant sigh of relief for him.

🔥~ If you’re crying he will hold you to his chest and warm you up or cool you down, offering a reassuring sensation that relaxes your tense muscles.

❄️~ He will wipe away your tears and press short kisses to your forehead, and will ask you if you want or need to talk about it with him.

🔥~ He will talk you through it and tell you how he has dealt with it or ways that could most likely help you.

❄️~ He will offer to stay as long as you need to want him there, and he silently pleads to himself that you don’t kick him out or ask him to leave, he knows you won’t, but he can’t help but ponder.

🔥~ He seems calm and collected on the outside, and sometimes that is indeed the case, but other times, he’s always worried sick, and every once in a while that leads to his quirk acting up slightly.

❄️~ You don’t mind though, you understand and you try to explain your situation the best you can for him so he can do his best to help you.

🔥~ Overall the two of you end up falling asleep with you on top of him, curled up against a wall as he holds you close. “I love you s/o, never forget that.”

Izuku Midoriya🥦

🥦~ He’s honestly so distraught he doesn’t even know what to do.

🥦~ It takes him a bit to get over the preemptive panic fit before he finally realizes that you need him to calm you down and not vice versa. “I’m so sorry s/o! Please tell me what’s wrong! I want to help in any way I can.”

🥦~ He’ll apologize multiple times, even if it wasn’t his fault, he just feels so upset and guilty that he can’t help but feel somewhat responsible.

🥦~ He’s crying, definitely crying, even if you aren’t, he still will, always, every damn time.

🥦~ He can relate if you have nightmares or panic attacks, and understands how they could make you feel because he’s had his fair share too.

🥦~ He’ll hold you close and mutters things about how he’ll always protect you and will never let anything happen to you or hurt you ever again.

🥦~ He also forces you to take it easy for the next couple of days, because it’s important to take care of yourself too, and our boi had to learn that the hard way.

🥦~ He never wants to see you hurt or upset, so he’ll do anything to make you feel better.

🥦~ He’ll break the rules and stay with you in your dorm for the night or whenever you need or want him to, when it comes to your health and safety he’ll break every rule in the book.

🥦~ The day after he’ll give you little surprises like your favorite snacks or maybe even a hoodie of his that he knows you love.

Hitoshi Shinsou💜

💜~ Honestly doesn’t know what to do at first.

💜~ ‘Shit, they’re upset, oh fuck they’re crying, fUcK whAt do I dO”

💜~ He tries his best, he knows he’s not the most understanding or the most empathetic person, but he’ll still try his hardest for you.

💜~ He understands if you’re having anxiety attacks or are just reacting to being overwhelmed, and he also heavily relates to lack of motivation.

💜~ So if you’re suffering from any of them, he’ll have his own way of helping you through it.

💜~ He will hold you in his arms, rocking back and forth slightly. He’ll try and crack dumb jokes to make you laugh, or tell you stupid stories about himself and the antics that in sued.

💜~ He’ll pet your head and call you ‘kitten’ regardless of your gender. “There there kitten, everything’s gonna be okay.”

💜~ He dries your tears and always finds a way to cheer you up, and will sometimes even turn on a ‘sad hours’ playlist for the two of you to listen to while you hold eachother.

💜~ He offers to drown one of his hoodies in that cologne you like for you to borrow and wear, and you happily agree.

💜~ If you fall asleep on him he just carries you to bed, gets in with you, tucks himself in and cradles you in his arms, never letting go and eventually falling asleep himself.

Denki Kaminari⚡️

⚡️~ The same as shinsou honestly.

⚡️~ ‘Shit, what the fuck what the fUcK why they’re cRyInG whAT dO I dO?!’

⚡️~ He does his best, and he can understand having anxiety or going through a situation that’s overwhelming, but that’s about it. “I’m so sorry s/o, I had no idea, please just tell me what’s wrong so I can help you.”

⚡️~ He just wants to be there with you and make sure you’re okay in the end, and won’t hesitate to blow off his friends if it means that he can help you out.

⚡️~ If he somehow can’t be there for you he will barrage you by sending you memes or voice attachments of him saying stupid shit to make you laugh.

⚡️~ He will hold you close and play with your hair, and he will offer to get you food or drinks in hopes to make sure that one of the reasons you’re upset isn’t because you’re hungry.

⚡️~ He will gush about how much he loves you and how whipped he is for you, and will even go as far as to call himself a simp.

⚡️~ Will not hold back in exposing his friends and their stupid antics in the hopes to make you laugh at least a little.

⚡️~ He assures you that everything will be okay and he will press gentle kisses to your face or the top of your head.

⚡️~ The two of you somehow or someway end up dying laughing while playing video games or making tiktoks at two in the morning, that’s just the magic of Kami.

Hanta Sero🧃

🧃~ He’s honestly really upset for you at first...

🧃~ Like who hurt you? Who’s gotta pay the price? (Highkey Bakugou too but-)

🧃~ He walks in so worried for you, his heart racing and his stomach feels like it’s in his throat.

🧃~ Immediately hugs you and tells you it’s gonna be okay, asks you what happened and why you’re going through this. “I just- fuck s/o, I don’t know what to do, please tell me what’s wrong.”

🧃~ If you tell him what’s going on he tries his best to give you good advice, or also finds a way to say that he understands, which honestly, he probably doesn’t. (At least not fully)

🧃~ There’s like a 45% chance that he will cry, even if you aren’t. He’s just so heartbroken to see you the way you are and he can’t help but feel super emotional too.

🧃~ Offers to go out and get take out or some other food for you both, if you accept then he’s back in seconds to minutes, but if you decline that’s okay too.

🧃~ He pulls you to his chest and tries his best to crack a stupid joke or two in an attempt to make you laugh.

🧃~ He’s the type to praise you to no end, constantly hyping you up whether you need it or not.

🧃~ He loves you with his whole heart, and ends up staying with you for the rest of the day or night until the next morning.

Mirio Togata🌻

🌻~ Mirio is like the ultimate sweetheart, so when you’re upset or if you tell him you’re crying or dealing with a lot, he’s there for you in what feels like seconds.

🌻~ He walks in with a package of your favorite snack food and one of his hoodies that you gladly accept, and as soon as he sees you his heart drops to his stomach.

🌻~ He never wants to see you hurt or upset, and honestly he probably won’t completely understand, but he will do the best he can regardless.

🌻~ He’s instantly engulfing you in a strong and safe hug, his scarred arms wrapping around your neck and the small of your back, and you can’t help but be showered with warmth as soon as you touch him.

🌻~ He’ll softly sing or hum a tune in your ear as you snuggle up to him and softly cry or rest your head against his chest.

🌻~ He’s always showing off that beautiful smile of his to you, and will do whatever he can to make you smile back.

🌻~ He carries you to bed and then repositions to where both of you laying on your side facing eachother, as he wraps his frame around yours.

🌻~ He will pet your hair and assure you that’s everything will be okay, and how he will do anything to make it better.

🌻~ Definitely the type to make you laugh almost instantly, by either telling you stupid puns or sharing even more stories of his misadventures with his quirk.

🌻~ He will gush about how beautiful and amazing you are, and how he’s so lucky to have you in his life. He will say that you inspire him to be better and get stronger so he can keep you safe and sound, and all of those are true. “You’re just so amazing s/o, and I can’t help but fall more in love with you everyday.”

Tamaki Amajiki🐙

🐙~ He completely understands, and has most likely been in the same situation at least once before in his life.

🐙~ He deals with anxiety too, so he knows how it feels and he never ever wants you to go through it too.

🐙~ So if you text or call him he’s at your door in seconds, or if you just tell him in person you’re immediately wrapped in his comforting and safe hold.

🐙~ He tells you how strong you are, and how you never cease to amaze him, he gushes about how beautiful you are and how lucky he is to have you as his s/o.

🐙~ If you cry he’ll likely tear up or cry with you, or he will just lower his voice and hold you even tighter.

🐙~ The two of you end up in a position on a couch or on a bed where you’re laying on top of him with your face buried in his neck, facing away from him as he holds you close to his chest, pressing sweet and short kisses to your cheek or head every once and a while.

🐙~ Talks about how he’ll always protect you and keep you safe while playing with your hair. “I’ll do anything to keep you safe sunshine, please never forget that.”

🐙~ He most likely will wrap you in a safe blanket burrito as he holds you, and he will tell you cute or funny stories about you and him or his adventures with the big three.

🐙~ Overall he says he understands, and assures you that he will always be there or encourages you to talk through it with him, however if you say no, he won’t push it, but instead will say that he’s always around if you ever decide that you do want to talk.

🐙~ The two of you end up falling asleep on top of eachother, with Tamaki’s hands on your head and waist, and your arms on his chest or neck.

Nejire Hado💎

💎~ She is such a sweetheart, and despite her seemingly constant bubbly nature, she can still relate if you’re going through anxiety or if you’re overwhelmed by something.

💎~ She’s by your side in an instant, and immediately engulfs you in a comforting hug.

💎~ If you are smaller than her she’ll just cuddle you as you sit in her lap or rest your head on her chest and entangle your legs with hers. If you’re taller than her then she’ll just curl up in your lap like a little kitten and wrap her arms around your neck.

💎~ She offers to go get your favorite snacks or drinks, and if you decline she’s okay with that, and if you agree, then she’s all for it and she’s back in flash.

💎~ She’ll hold you and run her fingers through your hair, and if you’re crying she’ll dry your tears, tell you how beautiful you are, and then flash you that shining smile of hers.

💎~ Asks you to close your eyes and focus on her voice as she tries to calm you down the best the can while she holds you and rocks you back in forth in her arms. “Don’t worry s/o, everything will be okay just wait and see!”

💎~ She will massage your back, neck, or your shoulders to keep the tension away.

💎~ She will try to make you laugh by telling ridiculous stories about her adventures with Tamaki and Mirio, which of course always seem to make you laugh.

💎~ She just gushes about how amazing and beautiful you are to her, and that she will always help and be there for you when you need it.

💎~ If you end up falling asleep she’ll just smile and move you to a more comfortable sleeping position, or she’ll carry you to bed and snuggle up to you, whispering sweet nothings in your ear as she plays with your hair.

[kylynnpage]

It was finally the night of Coyote and I’s second date. I honestly couldn’t have been more nervous. What was it about this man that made me so nervous! As I was applying make-up on my face, I had started to second guess everything I was doing. Is that to much foundation? Oh gosh, what if thats to much blush! Oh no! Does my mascara look clumpy! I tried to ignore my own anxious thoughts by taking deep breaths. I know what I needed to calm me down. A quick guzzle of wine and a short phone call to Bella. 

“Hello?” She said with that positive pep in her voice. “You’re nervous for your date aren’t you?” 

“Oh my gosh Bells, I have been second guessing everything! And I can feel my heart pounding out of my chest.” I took another deep breath as I paced back and forth in the kitchen. 

“Hun, everything is going to be fine. He seems like a really nice guy, and you are an amazing person. There is nothing to worry about.” I could hear her flicking her lighter in the background. Bella was a light smoker, usually when she is in the bath to make it more relaxing. “If you honest to god need and out, just text me and i’ll call you for a fake emergency. I’ll say my vagina got caught in the drain. 

I laughed so hard at such an excuse. “Yeah because Coyote would fall for that.” 

“There is that laugh I adore so much!” She exhaled into the phone, I could almost smell it. “Now look at yourself in the mirror, give yourself two compliments and then go on that date like you own it.” 

“Okay thanks Bells, love you.” 

“Love you to.”

We both hung up the phone. I did exactly what she told me to do. I looked myself in the mirror and i gave myself two compliments. Without giving myself anymore time, I quickly grabbed the picnic basket and marched out the door. 

I got to the park and searched for Coyote. I hard started to panic thinking I was stood up. Then I saw his handsome face from across the park. He was dressed well for a movie at the park. A white button up shirt with khaki pants. He had almost looked to perfect in that outfit. He finally spotted me as I started waving to get his attention. A big smile had spread across his face as we started walking towards each other. The basket had started to slip out of my hands from my sweaty palms. I stumbled trying to clutch the basket before crackers and cheese went all over the ground. “Oh whoa!” I heard him say. “You’re not going out on me are you?” He said with a gentle laugh. 

“No way.” Was all I could say. Looking him in the eyes after catching me, I had suddenly lost the words of what to say. “Sorry i’m just a little nervous.” 

“Well why don’t we go find a good spot before all of the good spots are taken.” 

“Deal.” 

We walked together towards the inflatable big screen that was sitting by the band dome where high school bands played every year for competition. We found a good spot that wasn’t to far and wasn’t to close to the screen. It was just right. Coyote grabbed the basket from me as I laid the blanket down for us to settle onto. 

“So exactly what movie is playing tonight?” He asked. 

“Well usually I don’t bring guys to romance movies but because the notebook is my absolute favorite love story, I feel like I have to share with somebody.” I grabbed the watermelon I had cut up out of the basket.

“Seems fair. So you’re into romance movies?” He asked like he was genuinely curious about it. 

“I thrive off of romance movies. Since I was a teenager, I have loved romance movies.” We both popped a juicy bite of watermelon into our mouths. “I always dream someday that I a man would give me a kiss in the rain that would make me fall into his arms like I was suddenly on air.” 

“Thats fair.” He popped another bite of watermelon into his mouth. “I don’t think i’ve ever had a chance to kiss a girl in the rain.” He winked at me. 

I suddenly felt my heart racing again. I took deep breaths without trying to make it obvious. “Would you like uh, something to drink?” I pulled out two wine glasses and a bottle of white wine.

“Oh um, I uh....” Coyote then got up and walked away towards the food trucks.

I had suddenly felt like I had just done something wrong. Tears started to well up in my eyes. I had never planned a first date and the pressure was suddenly starting to drown me. I took a few more deep breaths and wiped away the tears that escaped my eyes. When I looked up Coyote was sitting down again, next to me. 

“Well Hi.” I said. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to just walk away like that.”He said with sad eyes. 

“No its okay. But why did you walk away. I don’t stink do I?” 

“No, no.” He laughed, “Its not that at all. I just can’t drink wine.”

“Oh, do you not like white wine. I could go get something different.”

“No, its okay. I mean, I can’t have it period.” He scooted closer to me. “But its nothing you did wrong, I promsie.” 

“Okay. Well, its a good think I brought some ginger ale then.” I packed the bottle of wine deep down into the basket and pulled out some ginger ale along with the crackers and cheese. 

The movie had then started to play as the sky turned a dark navy blue color. Coyote and I had almost devoured all of the food I had packed along with most of the ginger ale. By the time Noah and Allie were reunited after Noah had rebuilt the old windsor home, Coyote had slipped his hand into mine. My heart jumped and I looked down. I then looked at him and suddenly felt a little bit of romance. I looked up at the stars admiring how bright they were shining. The breeze was perfect to make the night even sweeter. It got towards the end of the movie as Noah and Allie pass away together in the nursing home and I could feel Coyotes grip tighten on my hand. He must have seen the tear fall down on my cheek. He wiped it away with his gentle touch. I looked into his eyes as he looked into mine. I was only hoping that at this point he would kiss me.  Suddenly his soft lips locked with mine. And just like that, I felt like I was floating away. I don’t know if it was the romance of the movie or there must have been something in the water, but when we pulled apart everybody else in the park were locking lips. I wanted more but all we could do was look at each other and laugh. Although the wine had become so stressful, the night couldn’t have ended in a better way. 

[beansprouts]

Bean’s Eurovision 2021 Top 5!

(aka Bean’s Eurovision 2021 Song Ranking: Part 5)

This is the S-tier for me, and I would be ecstatic if any of the following artists won.

5) Manizha - Russian Woman [Russia]

I genuinely don’t understand how, Russia being the way it is, this pro-LGBT Tajik refugee utter goddess managed to catapult her modern feminist anthem to winning the Russian national competition. Maybe after charming everyone with internet darlings / rave trolls Little Big last year, Russia decided a conventional Eurovision act was for squares? Or maybe Manizha is just that good? Honestly probably a bit of both. This song is a tour de force. If you’re like me you might need multiple listens to be ready for it, because it exists somewhere outside of conventional genre expectations, but I promsie it’s worth it. If it wouldn’t be insulting to Manizha I would suggest it comes from an alternate universe where electronic music is more freeform and you could combine Russian girl-rap with a sick synth guitar (sitar??) drop without it being weird. I feel I need to mention again how good that drop is. It’s not a dubstep-type drop, but when that first beat kicks in you feel the energy, and it makes the subsequent slowdown for the lyrical belts (”Борются, борются Все по кругу борются, да не молятся”) all the more impactful. That her message reduced so many Russian viewers (and a fucking cultural committeeperson) to pearl-clutching only proves how much it’s needed. People hate to see an immigrant woman win. But, have you seen her? She’s fierce and she cannot be shut up <3

4) 10 Years - Daði og Gagnamagnið [Iceland]

If you follow my tumblr you’ve probably seen me reblog stuff about Daði Freyr, because I think he’s delightful and I love everything he does. In the wake of Hatari’s BDSM-with-a-message shaking the world in 2019, Iceland swung in the complete opposite direction in the best possible way by introducing us to Daði Freyr, potentially one of the most wholesome musicians of all time, and his high-school-found-family-turned-band-Gagnamagnið. Their 2020 song Think About things was written as a sort of letter of hope and acceptance to Freyr’s young daughter who’s too young to form opinions. It’s utterly charming and probably would have (deservedly) won last year’s Eurovision if the pandemic hadn’t caused it to be cancelled. 10 Years, in turn, is a love letter to Freyr’s wife, with whom he’s been married a decade. Freyr’s style is both unusual and distinctive: smooth and simple yet irrestibly catchy vocals, funky brass fills, and the gorgeous experimental synths of a self-trained internet hobbyist. His attachment to his old-school 8bit aesthetic makes him not just endearing to my own nerdy biases, but refreshing to a generation of Eurovision viewers tired of the overproduced and inauthentic bombastic power ballads of yesteryear. Freyr is clearly the musical genius of the group (as evidenced by his frequent covers, streams, and other fun experimental breadcrumbs he clearly releases just for the sheer fun of music) but I also love that he’s always surrounded by his buds. That one in the front is his wife :) You can tell they’re friends, you can tell they’re having such fun, and it’s a straight rush of serotonin to me and anyone else who goes buckwild for found family in fiction. I want to play video games with him. 🎵How does it keep getting better????👯‍♂️

3) Discoteque - The Roop [Lithuania]

The Roop’s Discoteque is the ultimate theme song for dancing by yourself in your room. That is it, I have condensed its essence into one sentence for you. It’s really not hard to get the appeal of that. Haven’t we all been trapped in our rooms for the past year? Don’t we all need to be told that “it is ok to dance alone”? I feel like The Roop made the accompanying dance simplistic for other viewers on purpose. Discoteque is for everyone. Discoteque is a sealed package of pure fun, and it’s addressed to everyone who has heard the chorus of this song. Even though everyone is isolated in their own home right now, we can do the dance ourselves, and it is ok to dance alone. Dance alone, dance alone, dance alone.... 🕺

2) SHUM - Go_A [Ukraine]

Songs like SHUM are the reason that Eurovision exists: a blend between Ukrainian folk (heralding the beginning of spring) and utterly banging hard techno. Where the fuck else would I find Ukrainian technofolk? And more importantly, where else would I find one that goes this hard? There’s a reason why in the past week I have seen videos of almost every Eurovision performer dancing to SHUM, and it’s because SHUM is a fucking banger. I’ve already posted that I think I played this song so much my neighbours are getting sick of it, and I’m trying to teach myself the Ukrainian lyrics. It’s not out of effort, really, it’s just because if you like EDM at all you will fall in love with this song and have it in your brain constantly, and next thing you know you’re learning Ukrainian folk tales about the metaphorical resonance of sowing hemp. It’s such a good song purely on a musical level that anything else it could offer is just extreneous, frankly. But we also have Kateryna Pavlenko’s god-tier cyberpunk queen aesthetic, Ihor’s brilliant flute-playing, and a genuinely very punk video of the band visiting Chernobyl to benefit from Go_A too. The band that never stops serving.

1) Dark Side - Blind Channel [Finland]

Ok, look, nobody is surprised to see me simp for the Finnish nu-metal band. But give me a few paragraphs to convince you that they (or at least this song) merit just a bit of simping. As a treat. From the perspective of Eurovision this song came pure out of left field: electronic pop and hard rock in a harmonious marriage the likes of which the music scene hasn’t seen in decades. Apparently they like to use the term “violent pop” to describe themselves. In many ways the feel like a Linkin Park revival, if maybe a bit more energetic: dark, emotionally vulnerable, and the kind of thing you would belt out in the shower on a bad day. It is also technically perfect. Considering the simplicity of the lyrics it’s easy to overlook all of the compositional details at play here, but from the vocal effects to every guitar riff to the drum solo in the bridge to the sheer energy of the performance, everything is both perfectly engineered to be musically effective yet authentically hard rock as fuck. These boys may have the aesthetic of someone who spends their days crawling out of dive bar dumpsters (affectionate) but they are extremely hardworking with their craft and I wasn’t surprised to see the release of their mini-documentary wherein it’s obvious they are working themselves ragged and should probably be getting more sleep. Not to forget, of course, the message of Dark Side. This song is a tribute to the outsider, to feeling lonely, to being emotionally stuck and needing release. It embodies catharsis. Every human out there (even though some may claim not to) know what it’s like to want to stick your middle finger up at everyone. And it’s that often-maligned part of you this band is channeling with this amazing rock song. I want Dark Side to win because I think, after 2020, what we as a society collectively need is to put our middle finger up, take a shot, throw it up and don’t stop.

Previous parts of my ESC 2021 song review: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

[sergeant-donny-donowitz]

Three’s Company (Cliff Booth x Reader)

Anon request: Hiii! I saw you do OUATIH requests, and I love your basterds fics, so I was wondering if you could do a thing where reader is scared to tell cliff she's pregnant, and he turns out to be a great dad but he's still kinda scared? Thanks !

Let me know if you wanna be tagged in the OUATIH fics! :) <3

"Y/n?! Y/n, come on, say something, please! Please wake up! Y/N, COME ON!"

You opened your eyes and found Rick hovering over you, sweating, teary eyes,  and clearly panicking.

"Rick?"

He sighed in relief, though he still held onto you. "Hey...hey, you ok, sweetheart?"

You nodded...

You'd fainted.

It wasn't the first time.

It was just the first time someone was there to see it.

You tried to get up, just as you always did, but Rick held you down, "Whoa, take it easy, Y/n." He gently helped you up, and led you to a chair in his trailer.

You were his makeup artist.

And you had been since he was a big star.

You were one of his closest friends.

And you had been, since he got his first gig, and you stayed, even at his lowest points.

You and Cliff were all Rick had. And it made his life a million times brighter watching you and Cliff fall in love.

Rick was proud of himself, having introduced you and all.

But at the moment, he was scared.

"Y-you've been working y-yourself to th-the bone, Y/n. I'm sorry. I know I-I'm a handful." He chuckled a little, though he partially meant it. It wasn't just the long hours on set, and the fact that he demanded you be his makeup artist for every single job he took...

You were there when he was at rock botton, along with Cliff, and Rick knew he wasn't always easy to deal with. Especially when you cared so much

"It's not that.”

"You ok? I'm calling you a doctor. I'm gonna get C-Cliff, and-and Imma get you a doctor, and ev-everything's gonna be alright, ok?"

"No."

"Wh-what?"

"I know what's going on. Put the phone down."

Rick was more confused than ever, "W-what do you mean you know? D-does Cliff know? What's happening?"

You were silent, you didn't want anyone to find out like this. In fact, you didn't want anyone to know at all... But you couldn’t go on hiding it.

"What's goin' on, please tell me..." He sat by you, "Please tell me everything's ok..."

"Yeah."

"Well d-don't lie to me either, baby." He smiled, though he was nervous.

You nodded slowly.

They would find out eventually anyway.

"Baby..." You repeated, and nodded again. "I'm pregnant, Rick."

"WH-" He opened his eyes. He'd been holding his breath, ready to hear the worst... He hadn't heard anything so wonderful in so long. "That's great!" He laughed out of pure joy for you and Cliff, and he hugged you, "That's great, Y/n! That's..."

He realized you weren't saying anything.

"What...what's wrong? Cliff knows right?"

You shook your head.

"You can’t keep it from him..."

"I figure I got a few more weeks...” You smiled but Rick didn’t care for the joke. “Y/n, this is serious.” “...I'm scared, Rick...”

He looked into your eyes, and saw the fear. But, he didn't understand, "Wh-why?"

"Cliff's not the type to settle down and have kids and-"

Rick understood then, but he knew one thing that might help you calm down. "He loves you."

"I know him. He's not gonna....he won't....Not a lot to live off on, not enough room for-"

"You have a place. You got a nice little apartment. I could...I could get  you another job, a better one, after all this. You can-"

You shook your head, "Could never get that man to live his pride down."

"He loves you, Y/n."

"Sometimes..." You sighed, having heard that word a million times before from different lips, "Sometimes that's not enough."

"Swear he's gonna love that kid. That's more than enough."

You sat in silence, as a tear streamed down your cheek.

You were afraid,

You didn't know what to do. You didn’t know what Cliff would do...

You loved Cliff, but you knew he avoided talking about kids and settling down. You loved him, but you wouldn't bear to leave your kid, even if it meant you had to leave Cliff...

Sometimes love wasn't enough, and that was ok.

"I never seen him like this, Y/n." Rick smiled softly, and you smirked a little, "Killed his ex-ife, didn't he?"

Rick smirked back, "You believe that?"

"You?"

Rick chuckled, "No comment."

"That's what I thought..." You smiled a little, even though you knew the truth, it was still a joke between you and Rick.

You were both silent for a few minutes.

"Ok. Ok, listen. Listen, you can't k-keep lyin' to him."

Suddenly you heard a voice behind you.

Cliff took his shades off as he walked in, "Lyin' to who?"

You muttered, "Fuck..."

Cliff wasn't the most social person in the world, but he could definitely read a room. "What's going on?"

Rick glanced at you, and saw that you were genuinely scared of telling Cliff.

He stepped up, "Cliff, you gotta p-promsie me something."

"What's goin on?" His eyes narrowed as he glanced at Rick's hand gripped around your wrist.

"Promise her something."

Cliff furrowed his eyebrows, "I'm listening..."

"Cliff. Promise you love her."

He raised an eyebrow, "Whoa...look-"

Rick shook his head. The pressure was getting to him. He looked up at Cliff. “W-well goddamn it, man. Live down your pride a little. I know you don't like showing affection in public, but goddamn tell her you fucking love her." As he walked past Cliff, he hinted, "And fucken listen to her. She needs you, old buddy."

Rick shut the door to his trailer behind him, and it was just you and Cliff.

"You two are scarin' me."

“Clif...I..."

"You're.... you're alright, aint'cha?"

You nodded, "Yeah, I'm...I'm ok."

"And Rick's ok." He knew that for sure.... Rick was such a drama queen, he'd cause a scene if he so much as stubbed his toe. "And I'm ok. And so is Brandy. Us four's all we need. Everything's ok, ain't it?"

"Cliff..."

"What's the matter. What I get wrong?"

"Cliff...it's not just us four."

"Goddamn it." He was frustrated and scared. So much so, that his thinking wasn't clear enough for him to decipher what you just said. "Just tell me what the fuck's goin' on, baby..." He was a fraid of losing you...so deathly afraid of it. After the rumor about him killing his wife spread, people tended to avoid him...And he never admitted it, but he got lonely sometimes.

You were the first one in a long time to show him any love...

And when you said 'not just us four...' he thought you meant you were leaving... “Baby, please...Just tell me...”

You nodded, and sighed, bracing yourself for the worst... "I'm pregnant..."

His heart skipped a beat.

He looked you in the eyes, and saw how scared you were. "Come here...Come here, baby..." He held you in his arms, "We're in this together, ok? Don't you cry, now..." He couldn't stand to see you cry. It broke him...

"How long have you known?

"A month..."

He let go of you, "You should've told me..."

"I-I'm sorry..."

He could see how upset you were, and it hurt him. "No, no, you don't have anything to be sorry about. It's you, and me, and the kid, and Brandy...and Rick. Don't ever be sorry. You're all I have. You and the kid, and..."

You smiled and nodded through the last of your tears, "Brandy and Rick."

He laughed a little as he wiped away your last tear, "Yeah, them too."

Rick smiled softly as he listened in from behind the door, happily whispering, "I knew it!"

As uncertain as his career was at the moment, Rick knew a few things for certain. He knew he needed Cliff's help for most things, but he also knew that you needed him a little more at the moment.

Rick wouldn't tell Cliff about some of his meetings and appointments. He just called a cab, gave Cliff more time off than usual.

Which surprised Cliff, though he didn't catch on at first.

Cliff, in turn, surprised you. He seemed to double the attention and affection he gave to you when he was home.

Your baby bump was barely showing but that didn't matter to him.  You were still his girl, and that was his kid. He loved you both with all hid heart. He held onto you protectively as you fell asleep, resting one hand over your stomach.

He would only sleep if you slept first. He made sure you ate enough. Both Cliff and Rick made sure you rested up between your shifts on set.

Cliff didn't have much to give, but what he could, he did.

One day, you couldn't find Cliff on set until just before he was on.

"Where’ve you been?"

He kissed you on the top of your head and smirked. "You'll see..."

That night, after he dropped Rick off and drive home, you asked, “You gonna tell me where you were?"

Cliff chuckled, "I told you you'll see, baby."

He opened the door, and you were both greeted by Brandy as Cliff turned on the lights.

Then you saw it.

A crib in the corner. 

Sheer curtains hanging around the sides. There was a fluffy white blanket, and a small beige teddy bear with a light yellow bow. The crib was painted a pastel green color.

There was a faint smell of paint.

That's where Cliff was earlier...

You flung your arms around Cliff, a little teary eyed.

He smiled, rubbing your back, "Aww, baby...baby dony cry! Is it the color? I can repaint it! Or the-"

You looked at him,  smiling through your tears, "It's perfect, Cliff!"

"Why’re you crying?"

You shook your head as you looked over the crib. You brushed your hand over the frame as Cliff stood behind you,  wrapped his arms around you, and rested his chin over your shoulder.

"Its just the hormones, you know I get a little emotional..."

He chuckled as he gave you a kiss, "Yeah, I know."

But.... You weren't the only emotional one When the baby was born, Cliff had to put his sunglasses on....

Even if it was 2 AM, and he was inside the hospital with you.

He’d later defend himself, "...first impressions matter...."

But for the moment, as emotional as he was, he knew you had it a lot worse. He held onto your hand, "You ok, honey?"

You didn't answer...you were a little busy.

Cliff turned to the nurses and doctor.

"I NEED  THE TRUTH IS MY GIRL OK??? IS SHE-"

A nurse began to usher him away. "She's fine, Mr. Booth. Everything is fine." She was smiling a little, never getting tired of fathers’ reactions. Still...they could get in the way sometimes.

"But, we’re going to have to ask you to either calm down, or step out."

Cliff looked at you... He couldn't leave you alone. Not now...

Besides.

Rick was outside in the waiting room.

They'd just make each other even more nervous, and that wasn't good for anyone.

Cliff only internally panicked. He held your hand the  entire time...he wrapped his arm around you. He was scared, and you knew it. "Cliff." "Yeah, baby? Anything, you just name it, and I-" "Cliff, calm down." He nodded, "Yeah..." "Think you can do that for me?" He nodded again as he wiped away some sweat from your forehead, "Yeah..yeah, I can do that..." He made sure you didn't catch on to his panicking anymore. He didn’t want to make you any more nervous than you already were. He acted tough, like he always did, but he had never been more scared in his life. He was scared of letting you and the kid down. He was scared that maybe he wouldn't be enough.... He had never been more scared in his life. Not when he saw hordes of hippies, not when he was accused of murder, and not when he saw war. But the next moment... That moment took all his fears away. In that moment, Cliff knew everything would be ok. He heard a baby's soft crying, and it broke his heart...He'd never let anyone hurt his baby. He pulled his sunglasses off... His eyes were a bit puffy, but he didn't care if anyone saw. There was something he wanted to see. You watched as a wide smile played on his face as he saw your baby for the first time. Cliff wasn't scared anymore... No one would ever hurt you, or his baby. Those were two things he could never abide by. So he held you in his left arm, and rested his hand over the baby protectively... He was done being scared. He was Cliff Booth. If there ever was a time to live up to his name, it was now... Now that he had everything he never knew he desparately needed... As the baby nestled into your chest, Cliff smiled softly, and kissed you on the top of your head. He couldn't remember the last time he was that happy... He finally let go of his past. And for a moment, it all seemed so surreal. Then, Rick burst in with a teddy bear half his size, and a bundle of balloons, nervous but happy... It was too real, then... The last several years of Cliff's life had been film and fiction. And loneliness stemming from the fear and rumors surrounding his name... And in that moment, as he held his girl and his baby, he smiled... Cliff Booth was finally ready to start again. This time, he wasn't alone.

[spacebabehargrove]

Keg boys but uh....major character death. I cried writing this so you must suffer. It’s angst with a kinda happy ending.

-

The funeral isn’t nearly as beautiful as it fucking should be. The sun should be shining, the birds should be chirping. But they’re not. No. It’s cloudy and there’s no sounds other than Steve’s crying. There’s no sounds other than Billy’s dry heaving. Who the fuck decided it was going to end this way? They had been living together in California for what? Ten years? And this is what happens? Billy is shaking. He hasn’t been this angry and vengeful in years. He’s gone too soon says the preacher. No shit. Tommy didn’t deserve what happened to him. He fucking fought for his life hard. He fought after every test, after every bandage change. He fought to live. And yet he doesn’t? The asshole who hit him lives? Billy can’t believe that after all of the fighting Tommy did to be alive for Billy and Steve, somebody still took him. Steve’s not in a better boat. Tommy was his best friend, his lover. They’d grown up Together. He’d helped him get over nancy, introduced them both to Billy. God, Steve hasn’t seen Billy so quiet. He’s watching as more and more dirt is piled on top of Tommy’s casket. Steve feels like he’s never going to touch a drop of alcohol again. Maybe he’s never going to drive again. He’s definitely never doing them together. It’s horrendous how one persons choice can end somebody’s life. All Tommy had done that day was get in his car to go get groceries. That’s all he did. But at the same time a drunk person had gotten behind the wheel, and by chance their beautiful Tommy ended up on the same street. Tommy fought for days before he finally croaked. He wrote a will in which everything of his was left to Billy and Steve. He hadn’t told them that things didn’t look as good as he was saying it did. He lied about feeling better. He lied about getting more sleep, eating more. He didn’t want them to suffer like he was. Billy was angry. But he knew that was just Tommy’s big heart. Tommy always watched over billy and Steve. That’s where he got his name angel. He was their guardian angel on top of their boyfriend. He left everything to Billy and Steve. His video games, the pots and pans he picked out when they first moved in. His posters, his notebooks.

The preacher leaves. Billy and Steve stand together.

“He’s such a dumbass. He’s a fucking liar.” Billy finally speaks. It’s the most he’s spoken in a week. Steve looks over at Billy and bites his lip.

“R-remember when he lied about ruining dinner? A-and tried to order takeout without us knowing?” Steve asks. Billy nods, and he shakes his head.

“Such a dick.” He mutters. He looks down at his two rings. He’s got one for Tommy and one for Steve. Their engagement rings. Steve’s got his own two on his fingers. Steve gently grabs Billy’s hand, kissing it gently. Tommy made Steve promsie. promise me that you’ll take care of Billy. Don’t break up just because I’m not there. He needs you Steve.

He wouldn’t lie to Tommy.

“We Can go to his spot.” Steve says. Billy looks over at Steve, tears in his eyes.

“Yeah...get that fucking pasta he never shuts up about.” Billy has a small shaky smile on his lips. Steve nods as he strokes Billy’s arm soothingly.

“You Know he always says that that place has the best soda in town. We should get it, for Tommy.” He smiles. They’re both crying. Billy nods his head and pulls Steve tight against him. Now he’s openly sobbing against his shoulder.

“Get It out baby.” Steve says softly as Billy holds onto him tightly. Billy sobs and sobs until he damn near throws up again. He pulls back after a bit and smiles weakly.

“Let’s go eat. For Tommy.” He says. Steve nods and smiles wide.

“For Tommy.” Steve knows that somewhere, someplace, Tommy is watching over them. It gives him some comfort. And he’s sure Billy feels it too.

[turning-the-kaleidoscope]

“Crash” (One-Shot)

Shigeo’s legs can’t hold him for much longer. 

The weight of the buildings sinks into his being, suspended in the air over his head but as heavy as they’d be if slammed onto his shoulders. His heart pounds with the throb in his temples and he grinds his teeth against it, arms held high, trembling. 

The psychic’s face contorts, stretching with a smile far wider than any smile has business being. White teeth, pale skin, an aura as bright as snow beneath the sun. 

“Well, I’ll be damned,” he says, taking a step forward with long strides of longer legs. “And to think, here I was believing I’d beaten you at your own game.” 

“You were wrong,” Shigeo chokes, and hates how feeble his voice is, how violently he’s shaking, how hard it is to breathe. “The only person losing here is you.” 

The psychic’s smile doesn’t change, though he does halt his approach. “Really? We aren’t even knee-deep in this and you’ve already declared yourself the winner? How immature.” 

Shigeo bites back a cry when another building is slammed onto the stack he’s already holding. The weight redoubles and almost crushes him. Him, and Reigen, unconscious and bleeding on the ground behind him. 

“You really care for him, don’t you? You do know what kind of person he is, right?”

“I do,” Shigeo manages, strangled. “And that’s why I’m not going to leave him.” 

The psychic grins again, and his aura comes to surround him like blades shining in the moonlight. 

“If that’s how you want it. Let’s see how far you’re willing to go.”

The buildings come crashing down, harder and heavier than ever, and it brings Shigeo to his knees. 

He slams into the ground but keeps his arms above him, keeps his shaking hands splayed, keeps his teeth gritted to the point of breaking. His head hangs like a broken marionette’s and his legs prick like needles. They don’t respond when he tries to stand again. 

“I can’t believe this. It’s almost sad. Are you that deluded? Or maybe you’re just stupid.” 

Another building, like the weight of the world, and it’s all Shigeo can do to keep his aura wrapped around them, to keep the buildings pinned and suspended, to keep his eyes open.

“You’re stronger than this, I know you are. He can’t teach you anything you don’t already know. Why do you care so much about him? All he’s ever done is use you. You know that.” 

The weight crushes him harder. Fireworks explode behind his eyelids. Something in his shoulder twists and snaps but he doesn’t have the energy with which to scream. 

“I don’t get you, I really don’t.” 

He can’t see even when his eyes are open. He tastes blood. His legs feel like nothing. His arms feel like too much. 

“He’s holding you back. You’ll never reach your full potential as long as he has you on a leash. He doesn’t care about you, you know that, right? He’s never cared about you.” 

Shigeo doesn’t care about anything else. All that matters is that he keeps this up. All that matters is Reigen. The psychic can come later. The rest of the world can come later. He can come later. 

In the creak of his bones, in the burn of his being, he knows it. He can feel it like a ticking bomb with a single digit left on the countdown. Like the blare of a horn moments before impact. 

He can’t. 

The psychic’s words reach him as befuddled nothings as he forces himself to draw a breath, to make sure his timing is perfect. He blinks until his sight comes back, until he can see Reigen behind him through blurred vision, until he can see how much distance there is between the two. There isn’t much. Barely half a foot. 

Shigeo squeezes his eyes shut again, counts to three, and releases the buildings. 

They come crashing down on them like waves in a tumultuous sea, and bury them until there’s no trace left. 

“... Here--! Hurry up!”

“Nii-san!”

“Kageyama, you--what the hell?” 

“Shigeo-kun, you can lower the barrier, it’s alright, nothing will harm you now--” 

“I’ll get a medic!”

Shigeo’s eyes flutter open slowly, around the same time his barrier dissipates. Ritsu is sliding down the side of a collapsed building, leaping near the bottom and hitting the ground running. Serizawa and Teru are already here, eyes weary with concern and hands outstretched. 

Reigen lies beside him, so close that Shigeo feels his breath, but still somehow not close enough. 

“Nii-san!” Ritsu comes skidding on his knees before he can think, and then his hands are on his cheeks, turning his head to force their gazes together. “Are you okay? Ca-Can you hear me?” 

“Ritsu...” His voice doesn’t sound like his own. Breathing doesn’t come naturally. “I... where...” 

“There’s a team of medics waiting outside,” Teru is saying to Serizawa, in a tone that’s intended to be too quiet for him to hear. “I’ll take him up, you stay with Kageyama. Don’t let him move.”

It doesn’t click, at first. 

And then--

“N-No, wait, I-I--” 

He tries sitting up, but his vision bursts into stars and sparks and colors and his head implodes with ribbons and rivets of something, but he’s too blinded by it to feel anything but vicious, white-hot agony. The scream grates against his throat, but he can’t hear it. 

“--y down, stay down, stay down--” 

There are hands on him, drawing him close. The smell of herbal tea and library books fill his nose, and usually it’s comforting, but not right now. Now it’s too much. He still can’t breathe. 

“R-Reigen--” 

“He’ll be fine, alright? Hanazawa is taking him to the medics. He’ll be alright.” 

The relief hits him in a way that both takes his already scant breath away and lifts the crushing weights from his shoulders. The fact that he can’t breathe doesn’t matter as much as it did, and neither does the aching burn in his limbs and the throbbing pulse in his temples. His lungs feel splintered, and that somehow doesn’t matter either. 

Serizawa’s aura moves through him like icy water on desert sands. He didn’t realize just how much pain he’d been in until he feels it begin to ease. His lungs and throat clear. He breathes. 

“Is... Is he--?” 

“He’ll be alright. But he really overdid it. Right now, I think the best thing for him is--” 

He passes out. 

“... Serizawa told me what you did.” 

Shigeo doesn’t look at him. “What did I do?” 

They’re sitting side-by-side on the couch of the office, with Shigeo leaning into Reigen’s shoulder and Reigen resting his elbow on the arm of the couch and his chin on his knuckles. His other arm drapes loosely around Shigeo’s shoulders. The bandages around his head look more orange than white in the light of the setting sun streaming through the blinds of the office window.  

“You know what you did.” 

“I do know what I did,” Shigeo answers, “but I don’t know what I did that’s worth making a big deal over.” 

“You--” Reigen swallows hard, brings his hand up to his face. “Serizawa said you overdid it. When he tried to look at the damage in your aura, he said--he said he couldn’t even find your aura right away. That’s how far you overdid it. That’s how bad it got.” 

Shigeo looks down at his hands, fingers threaded loosely in his lap. “I... I had to do it.” 

“It could have killed you, Mob.” 

“It was going to kill you, too.” 

“It’s different.” 

“I don’t think it’s diff--” 

“You’re a kid, Mob, a kid. I’ve lived twice the life you have.” 

“That doesn’t mean you weren’t worth saving.” 

“Shigeo--”

“You’ve always told me I should make my own decisions,” Shigeo cuts in. He isn’t an argumentative person, but this isn’t a fight he’s going to lose. “And I made the decision to save you. Even though I knew what it’d mean.” 

Reigen’s arm around his shoulders tightens. “But--why?” 

Shigeo pauses for a long while, mulling things over. He shouldn’t have to explain it. He shouldn’t have to tell Reigen why his life is worth saving. But...

“Because you mean a lot to me,” Shigeo answers quietly. “And you mean a lot to Serizawa, and to the people you’ve helped, and--and to all of us. I wouldn’t be who I am if it wasn’t for you, and... I don’t know what I’d do without you, really. I just...” He bites his lip, averts his gaze. “I wanted you to live, that’s it. I don’t want to lose you.” 

Reigen is quiet. The sun dips further, and the ribbons of light streaming through the blinds move with it, stretching stripes across the office. 

“I don’t want to lose you, either, Shigeo,” Reigen finally says, in a voice so thick that it barely sounds like him at all. “I just--please. Please. Be--be more careful in the future. That’s all I ask. Please.” 

That... That’s something he can do. He can’t promise he won’t do it again, he can’t promise he won’t push himself, he can’t promise he won’t do it for as many times as the people he loves needs saving, 

But he can promise to be careful. And he can promise to look after himself better. And he can promsie to do his best. 

He nods, Reigen pulls him closer, and they watch the sunset until the moon replaces it, and the night eases them, moment by moment, towards tomorrow.

[wilmarenud]

Meeting the girlfriend

Nightwing/Dick Grayson x reader

A/N: This is my first time posting something I’ve written so please be kind. English is not my first language.

Word count: 1180

~~~~

”They are probably gonna have like a thousand questions for you.” Dick was pacing nervously infront of you while you sat on the bed. ”You don’t have to answer any of them, especially if they are from Wally. He doesn’t understand privacy.” Dick was rambeling on and on about everything. You got up from your seat and stopped his pacing.

”Dick, baby, it’s gonna be fine. You’re probably more nervous about this than I am.” You reach out to touch his face. He takes your hands in his larger ones.

”I know, I know. I just want them to love you as much as I do.” He glances up at your face where a small smile has spreds on your lips. ”They are basiclly my family and my best friends.”

”Well, I survived meeting Bruce so I think I can handle some superyouths.” You giggle and Dick smiles down at you.

”Miss Martian to NightWing. We are ready to leave. You copy?” The earpiece let’s out a small sound.

”NightWing to Miss Martian. I copy. I will be there in a minute.” Dick answers the girl on the other side of the earpiece.

”Well, you better get going. Make sure to shower before you get home and if you die on the job, I will personally kill you.” You say and peak his lips. He chuckles and pulls you closer.

”Yes ma’m.” He answers in a mock tone before kissing you passionatley, like he does everytime before he leaves for a mission. At last you pull away.

”Now get out of here and save the world, NightWing.” You basiclly push him out of the door to which he chuckles and walks away slowly towards the closest zeta-tube. You close the door and turn around. ”Time to fix everything for tonight.” You think outloud and walk towards the kitchen.

~~

The mission went well, a simple observe and recon mission. All the original young Justice members sit in the bio-ship on their way towards Mount Justice.

”Remeber, the only reason I let you meet her is because you are some of the few that know my secret identity. And Batman thinks it’s a good idea for you to know things about my private life.” Dick informs the team.

”Calm down, will you? We won’t embarrass you or anything.” Wally says as he presses in a snickers in his mouth.

”And everybody has to shower and wear normal clothes, otherwise I won’t let you inside out apartment, understood?” Dicks tone gets harsher. He’s too nervous for Wally’s jokes.

”We promsie that we will not do anything to make you or your girlfriend uncomfortable.” Aqualad says in his calm voice.

”Thank you Aqualad.” The bio-ship lands and everyone hurries out. ”30 minutes then we are leaving.” Dick screams out and everyone basiclly runs towards the showers to be able to be ready in time.

~~

You look at the table and smiles with a satisfied smile. You managed to get everything ready before Dick and all his friends got here. Dick texted you a couple of minutes ago that they were on their way. The door slams open. Speaking of the devil.

”Hi babe.” Dick comes towards you, lays a hand on your hip and kisses your forehead. You answer with a small hi. You hadn’t gotten nervous until now, when they were actually in your home. The five superheroes pile inte your dining room, standing in a line and observing you: the girl who managed to tame Dick Graysons wild heart.

”Hi, I’m, um, Y/N. Eh, welcome.” You say with a shy smile, waving towards the heroes. Dick had updated you on who was who and how the relationsships looked in the group.

Wally, also known as Kid Flash, was dating Artemis, the archery girl.

M’gann, also called Miss Martian or Megan, was dating Superboy, or Connor as he prefered to be called outsider of missions.

Kaldur’ahm, who goes by Kaldur or Aqualad, was the leader of the group.

The first one to actually present themselfes is Wally. He runs up to you and starts shaking your hand.

”Hi, I’m Wally, aka Kid Flash. That’s my girlfriend Artemis. The green girl is Megan, Miss Martian. The grumpy guy in black is her boyfriend Connor, Superboy. Then there’s Kaldur, Aqualad. So nice to finally meet you. How is it actually living with Dick? What’s that wonderful smell?” You can barely process what he says and you are pretty sure he doesn’t stop for a breath during his whole presentation.

”Excuse him, he has no manners. I’m Artemis, nice to meet you.” Artemis comes up to you and takes Wallys place shaking your hand. You finally react and smile at Artemis.

”It’s okay. Nice to meet you too. To answer one of your questions Wally, that wonderful smell is the food I have prepared for you. I got some fast calories for Wally since I know you need a lot of energy fast.” Wallys face lights up like a child on christmas morning.

”Really?” He asks. You just nod as an answer.

”And I made some more healthy food for those interested. I actually asked the league about special receipts from Atlantis and Mars so that I could make Kaldur and Megan food that reminded you guys of home. And I tried to ask what Connors favourite dish was but I they just said that you eat everything.” You giggle and recive a smile from the young superheroes. ”And for dessert I made Dick’s favourite so hopefully there is something for everybody.” You feel Dick squeezing your hip in appreciation.

”Y/N, you really did not have to go through all that trouble for us.” Kaldur says in a humble voice. ”We would have been happy with whatever you served us.”

”Y/N works a chef so she has been looking forward to cooking this food all week. It’s all she has talked about.” Dick says with a smile, which earns some laughs from the heroes.

”Come on, let’s sit down before the food gets cold.” You say and move to show the table which has all the food on it. When everybody is seated and has a plate full of food you decide to speak again. ”So who has the mest embarresing story about Dick?” You ask getting mischevous smiles from the heroes and a glare from your boyfriend.

Wally starts tellling a story from when Dick was Robin which ends with everybody laughing. The rest of the night goes on until the earley morning and you can without any doubt say that it was the perfect first meeting with the young superheroes.