#ITS HERE

[willgrahamscock]

[i-restuff]

TMNT Mutant Mayhem | Teaser Trailer

[baudshaw]

1. Isle being forested. Mounds are in the background.

2. Isle had more land that’s now covered by the clouds.

3. The child (probably the King) is with other children, alongside a guardian of sorts.

4. The child looks at an Abyss-style manta..

5. The guardian looks angry, and is presumably from Vault.

6. More multi-wing mantas are being shown.

7. The boat heads to the flourishing Isle Temple, with isle being shown.

8. “Many years later”… so it’s definitely canon

9. “The story continues” the most interesting part to me. The Two Embers will not only have a story that connects with the game, but it sounds like the “start”. Maybe Two Embers will appear to people who haven’t played Sky, causing them to watch the show before playing the game?

Side note: There are human sounds, and the music is a combination of “Overture” and “The Invention” (forest elder theme)

[moonbiit-arts]

kacchan takes care of izuku after he came back to ua [sobs]

[spiderzlover]

HAPPY SPLATOON 3 ANNIVERSARY!!!🔥🔥

Music: Koi wa Chaos no Shimobenari (Haiyore Nyaruko-san W op)

[duchi-nesten]

Chapter 2 of @hannahmanderr's DPxML fic "The Prince, the Huntress, and the Camembert" just dropped and here's my art for it! <3

[READ CH.2 HERE!]

bonus valerie's real thoughts in that car

[lilybug-02]

Small but mighty.

Part 15 || First || Previous || Next

—Full Series—

This is a little shorter than the other Parts, but its my birthday give me a break ;) Hope you all have a wonderful day! A little present from me to you <3333

[strawberryspence]

Steve Harrington has always loved the sky.

How vast, and complex, and free it is. How it changes colors with the season and weather. Sunsets and sunrises, and the things they signify. Some may hate the way it makes them feel smaller, but Steve loves it. He feels safe being a tiny particle under this big sky.

At the early age of six, Steve remembers his mother, sitting beside him in the garden. She was the one who thought him cloud watching. Laying mindlessly in the garden, as they both point out at shapes at the blue sky. There’s a cup, a shape of a heart, a bear. One even looked like a guitar! It was one of the only things they did together for fun.

At thirteen, the sky becomes Steve’s only companion. His parents has left him again, alone in a big quiet house. He’s been in the pool for almost three hours, floating aimlessly as he stares at the sky. There’s different shapes, and it makes him a little less lonely knowing that he’s at least not alone as long as he’s under the big sky.

At seventeen, Steve finds the beauty in the night sky. The dark canvas, with the shining stars and the moon looking down at him. He doesn’t cry, because Harrington’s don’t cry. But there he was, laid in his backyard, nursing a broken heart from the first person he’s ever loved. He’s alone again, and he thinks he’ll always be alone. Just him and the big vast sky. However, there’s more important things now, more than heartbreaks and loneliness, like 12 year olds that get experimented in labs, a girl getting pulled in his pool and to her death and monsters living underneath him. Although underneath the big dark sky, Steve feels like he’s being wrapped in it’s darkness, almost like a comforting blanket.

At eighteen, Steve finds a real friend. Not the sky, but Robin Buckley. A friend he found under the night sky as the place they met went into flames, including Billy Hargrove and Jim Hopper. It’s cruel, but one of the things Steve has learned is that there’s always lost, and there’s always gain. Two nights after the fire, Steve asks, if Robin would lay beside her on the ground. They watch as dark sky turns as the sun rises, too scared to go back to sleep because only then can the nightmares haunt them again. They watch as colors mix from darkness to brightness, and the for the first time in a while, he has someone there with him.

At nineteen, Steve meets Eddie Munson. Really meets him, a brand new slate from what they had in high school. It’s the night just after they come back from the upside down, his bits have been eaten and they’ll probably go back there again tomorrow. Nancy has some kind of plan and he wants to sleep, but he can’t. They sit at the back of the trailer, away from people that could see them (specifically Eddie) smoking a cigarette.

“I can’t believe you guys have been doing this for years.” Eddie says, disbelief apparent in his voice.

Steve shrugs, “I don’t either. They’re—“ He pauses, thinks about El who’s only 15 and has the weight of the world on her shoulders, thinks of Will who’s been through hell and death, thinks of Max who’s still grieving her dead brother only for it to be used to lure her into death, he thinks of the kids, the kids who’s all barely 15 fighting this entity, “They’re all too young for this.” He finishes.

Eddie gives him a look, Steve doesn’t like it. It feels like he’s being studied, he feels naked under Eddie’s eyes. Like he can see through him, see the pieces Steve has hidden for so long.

“You’re young too.” Eddie answers back, tilting his head, “You, Robin, Nancy, even me.”

Steve shrugs, “I guess. I just want this to end already.”

Eddie looks away, staring at the skies as it finally starts changing its hues.

“I don’t really like sunrises.” Steve looks at him, offended and ready to defend his dear old companion.

But Eddie continues, “I’ve always liked the sunsets more, you know? Sunsets are— endings. But they show you that even endings could be beautiful.”

Steve stares at him, watching silently as Eddie smokes. Steve knows the sun is rising now, and he’s never been one to miss it when it’s right in front of him. But there’s something about the way the different colors are hitting Eddie’s face, the light dancing on his skin and his brown eyes illuminating the colors, like it’s lighting him up in ways Steve has never seen before. It’s breathtaking, Eddie’s breathtaking and it makes him feel things he’s never felt before.

When the silence grows heavy, Eddie breaks it with, “Plus I really like it when the sky turns orange.”

It’s the first time Steve has ever ignored the sky.

At nineteen, Steve learns that the sky could also be red. He doesn’t remember much, just Dustin crying over Eddie’s body as the red sky above him thunders on, menacing and cackling at their demise. The clock just struck, four fault lines running across the town above him. Vecna got Max and Eddie’s dead in Dustin’s arms. It’s hard to look up at the sky then, when they finally emerge from hell. Steve thinks that no clear blue sky, or no dark starry night, can ever give him comfort again.

At twenty, almost three months from the first Vecna fight, the sky is permanently gray and stormy. Steve Harrington is bones and meat. Nothing else. He is nothing but a body, weary of the life that has been given to him. They fight for the last time. Steve wants to run away, pack his bag and never look back but as long as his under this fucking sky, he will always remember that he abandoned them. He fights, he fights, he fights. Eddie’s dead, and Max is in a coma, and Steve Harrington fights until it ends.

They get Max back, but she’s forever changed by the experience. They win, the skies turn back to blue and Steve wants to vomit. If this is what it means to win, then why does he want to die? Why does winning feel so much like losing?

At twenty-two, Steve moves to Boston with Robin and Nancy. It’s a weird group, his best friend and her girlfriend, who was also his ex-girlfriend. But they’re Steve’s family (aside from the kids) and he’d go anywhere if Robin asks. He hasn’t laid in his back to watch the clouds in three years, he hasn’t stayed up to look at the night sky, he hasn’t watched the morning sun rise to it’s beauty and he hasn’t watched the sunset in a while.

It’s a conversation they’ve always avoided. Robin knows that Steve used to love the sky, he told her just as much, how it feels like a companion he’s always had. She doesn’t know why he stopped, why he stopped looking up and pointing out random shapes, or random constellations. Why he hasn’t been waking her up in the morning just so he can show her the sky changing to another beautiful color, morning after morning. All she knows was it stopped after Eddie died.

Eddie’s death has always been hard for the three of them. This one person who’ve they known for almost a week, leaving such a big impression in their lives. She knows Nancy has stash of metal music, smiling with a sad grin whenever Metallica comes on. Robin has multiple guitar pins, always an electric guitar in the color red, pinned in her coat, in her bag, in her bedroom and anywhere else she can stick it on. And Steve, well, Robin held his hand as he got his first tattoo. A D20 dice, just above his demobat scar. Robin’s still not sure if he cried because of the pain of the needle or the pain of having the same scar, in the exact same place, of someone who didn’t survive it.

It all comes out one day. The anniversaries has always been harder, not only were they far away from the kids, but the Vecna spring anniversary always hits them the hardest. It’s also Eddie’s death anniversary, to make it worse. Robin plans it all out, they stay in all day. Just watch movies, eat snacks, stay wrapped in comfortable blankets. The three of them fall asleep in the middle of their fourth movie of the day, all tangled together and it’s days like this— like this that makes it harder to ignore the fact that it should’ve been the four of them rather than just three.

Robin wakes up with Steve not beside her, Nancy still sleeping peacefully beside her. The digital clock— they all can’t stand the silent tick tocking of a clock, reminds them too much of a grandfather clock, no matter how big or small— blinks at her, it’s almost 5:21 in the afternoon. From where she is sitting, she can feel the cold wind brushing her feet, the door of the apartment balcony open. She stands up, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders and walking out to the small balcony.

It’s a surprise to see her soulmate watching the sky start to change colors, the sun impending to set in a few more minutes.

“You’re watching the sunset.” Robin states, making Steve look up at her.

“Yeah.” He replies.

Robin sits beside him, putting the half of the blanket on his shoulder, the half on hers. They watch as the colors start to change. The blue shifting to pink and purple.

“I stopped watching the sky because of Eddie.” Steve starts, startling Robin. It’s been a conversation waiting to happen for years now, but she didn’t think it would happen today. She finds her footing almost immediately, “Why’s that?”

Steve isn’t looking at her, just watching as the sky dances in front of him. Robin have imagined hundreds of ways that this conversation could go but she never expected him to say, “I think I could’ve loved him. Sometimes, I think I do love him.” She had her suspicions, that maybe her bestfriend isn’t entirely straight. But she didn’t connect the dots that it was Eddie who made him realize this.

Steve continues, “He said he loved sunsets, he loves when it turns orange. Because it showed people that endings could also be beautiful.”

Steve has watched maybe hundreds, maybe thousands of sunsets in his life. But this one— they stay quiet, Nancy comes out a little later, sitting on Steve’s other side and holding his hand through the sunset. Together they watch as the day of the anniversary ends, with what Steve could only call the most beautiful sunset he’s ever seen in his life. It turns into the most beautiful hue of orange and Steve breaks.

“That’s him.” Robin tells him, as she wraps him into a hug, as Steve finally cries on her shoulders, both grief and pain chocking him as he sobs harder, “It’s okay. Eddie’s okay now, and he’s letting us know. We’ll be okay.”

“We’ll be okay.” Nancy reassures, hugging the two of them.

Only then does Steve find comfort in the sky again, with the two people he loves and he knows loves him and under the sky as an old friend watches over.

At twenty-six, Steve graduates with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Atmospheric Science.

Steve doesn’t avoid the sky anymore, he studies it now, writes the weather news for a big Boston channel. He stops to point out random objects in the sky, has a telescope set up for constellations. He drinks a hot cup of coffee, every morning, watching as the sun rises.

He lays in the grass with Dustin and Suzie’s son and teaches him how to cloud watch. He takes time to send reminders to Max and Lucas to wear a raincoat if he sees that it’s going to rain in California. He talks to Will and Mike for hours, just trying to describe to them a weather phenomenon so Will could draw it and Mike could write it for their latest best-selling comics. He knits El a gorgeous sky blue scarf, because he knows how cold it gets in New York.

Wayne calls him, every other day, to ask how the weather is in Boston and Steve asks how the weather is in Indiana. Steve spends a few months in a year in the guest room of the farm house Joyce and Hop bought in 1986. He stays and writes about the stars and the planets, because the skies are so much clearer in rural places.

He still lives with Robin and Nancy, but they’ve moved to a house now. He’s got equipment for sky watching at the backyard and the girls surprised him with sunroof in his office. They have a dog named Hetfield and cat named Sabbath.

And more than anything, Steve loves sunsets. He has the time of every sunset for everyday charted in his room. He stops, whatever he is doing, however important it is, just to go out and get a glimpse of the sun setting. Sometimes, at home, the girls accompany him, like an unspoken ritual, to just watch the sun setting. He waits for it to turn into some shade of orange and smiles when it turns to the color.

It’s a hello, a how are you, a comfortable hug.

It’s an old friend in the form of the sky.

It’s Eddie Munson just checking in.

→ @undreaming-fanfiction’s beautiful addition (p2)

→ dustin henderson & sunsets (p3)

-> the alternate nicer, fluffier sunrise fic

[giginings]

okay hear me out: prompt 4, kink 2, karina. i suck at writing my thoughts out but basically: you’re the choreographer as they prep for the concert and karina catches you staring at her one too many times.

“ didn’t know you wanted me this badly “ + semi-public sex + karina - aespa

masterlist + 500 likes milestone

warnings : semi-public sex, kind of dub-con, oral (f. receiving), a bit of degration, fingering

it was wrong. that was what you kept telling yourself as you watched the girl warm-up for your ongoing practice session. but it can't be that bad if no one knows you catch glances at her ass every once in a while, right? right?...

caught up in your daydreams, you completely miss her saying your name for the third time. it wasn’t until the girl raised her voice until you snapped out of your reverie. “hey, are…are you okay? you’ve been zoning out a lot lately.”

well, what were you supposed to say to that? ‘oh yeah my bad, i was fantasizing about you crushing my head with your thighs.’ instead, you just shrugged it off with a short “nah i’m cool, i just got distracted.” if only karina knew she was the one clouding your head.

days later, you and the girls had a group practice. of course they all did amazing, but karina was the one you couldn’t help but pay the most attention to. it was mesmerizing, the way she moved. with every sway of her hips it felt as if she was pulling you in. it was undeniable that you had it bad for her.

sooner or later (you honestly lost track of time), it was time for them to go, but you felt your blood go cold once karina said she would stay behind, claiming she needed more clarification on the first step. however that appeared to be anything but true when she diligently locked the door behind the other three, her eyes sending daggers through you, settling right in your stomach.

“i’ve seen you.” the girl starts off, as you stood there, no idea what to say. “i’ve seen you stare at me when i dance. i’ve seen you stare at me when i walk by. you think i don’t, but i do. you’re not very discreet about it either. as if you have no shame.” it felt as though she was getting closer and closer, and once she was face to face with you, you realized that she had been getting closer.

“i don’t— i haven’t been—“ “so now you lie? you check me out like a pervert and then you lie to me about it?” you could feel your heart beating in your chest, breathing even faster than you were before. she suddenly dropped to her knees in front of you, tugging at your leggings. “should have put you in your place a long time ago,” you could hear her growl below you.

“‘rina-“ “be quiet.” “but what if they see-“ “then who’s fault would that be?” you realized you had nothing in response to that. once your leggings had been gone and out of her way, she used her hand to push your legs apart. “so fucking wet, you’re leaking through your underwear baby. bet you’re getting off to the thought of them catching us.”

karina ran her finger up your clothed, soaked slit as she spoke. her finger started to rub your swollen clit through your underwear. “‘rina please…” your plead came out as a whimper, your eyes watching her as she teased you. “please, what? want me to ruin this slutty pussy baby?” her words went from your ears directly down to your cunt, a pathetic moan emitting from you.

“yes, yes— fuck, ruin my pussy please?” that was all she needed to hear, wasting no time to tug down the piece of fabric that was blocking her from your cunt. slick stuck from your pussy onto your underwear, causing a snicker to leave the girl’s mouth. “didn’t know you wanted me this bad, baby…” karina’s tongue suddenly attacked your clit, her thumb teasing your hole.

the pleasure drew out a cry from your mouth, the sudden action catching you off guard. her thumb pushes itself into you, exploring your gummy walls. you gasp, her mouth sucking on your clit. the newly found feeling of pleasure caused you to squirm above her, karina’s open hand gripping your thigh to keep you still.

she was messy and urgent with her movements, as if she had been craving this. she switched out her thumb for her index and middle finger, beginning to finger fuck you. the squelching sound of your cunt was loud enough as is, your cries and moans adding onto the noise. at this point, you were bound to get caught. she nipped your clit with her teeth, a yelp exiting from you.

“so fucking wet, could eat this pussy all day.” the girl mutters from under you, eating you out as if it’s the first meal she’s had in years. you could feel your orgasm building up, and your heightening moans signaled that. “karina- ‘rina i’m gonna cum, fuck—!” your climax was intense. karina let you ride out your orgasm, her movements starting to slow down.

when the girl pulled away, you could see your arousal covering her chin and mouth. the grin on her face said a lot. she adored how cute you looked fucked out, strands of your hair stuck to your forehead and your mouth slightly agape. karina got back up onto her feet, the back of her hand wiping her mouth. she took the time to lick her fingers clean of your arousal.

“see you tomorrow at practice, ___.”

[dangersoupartist]

hey

hey guys

it’s finished

03 LEOSAGI LETS GOOOO

dark background version:

[jaal-ama-daravv]

Introducing, Heinrix van Calox

the tortured lover

[llitchilitchi]

[kofi]

[mossmurdock]

vampire!geto letting you do his hair is something that can be so personal actually. he's borderline meticulous about his nightly routine, some type of multi-step process you've never been able to keep up with no matter how many times you try to participate.

you've settled on watching him go through the motions. it's such a simple thing, so unbelievably practiced and languid. he matches the flow of his own hair, smooth and perfect. you're a little jealous, envious of his routine and how rewarding it must be; but the feeling of your admiration for him overrides that envy completely. turns into something soft and sweet.

most nights, he'll pretend not to notice you watching him so intently. he'll work the fact into a passing conversation just to make you feel embarrassed later on, whether it be in front of guests or just the two of you. but tonight, he catches your eyes in the mirror, still guilty of your admiration for him.

he says your name and he makes it sound too much like a song.

"what are you looking at?” he asks, already knowing the answer. you think he wants to hear your voice while you’ve been caught in the act.

“you." you reply, looking back down at your hands. they're still dawned in a polish you said you would have gotten rid of days ago. for the past month, you've dawned gloves at geto's parties to hide the state of them, slightly ashamed at the humanness of it all. there's a shine you just cant replicate in your own skin, an immortality you've realized you would never be able to reach. they’re never as polished, never as smooth as you would like them.

and for the past month, geto has made sure that the gloves subtly match his suits. while he entertains guests, he will pass you by and slyly squeeze your hand.

"have i told you you're beautiful, geto?" you ask. you don't have to hear his voice to know he's been flustered, you catch it because you never stop looking. there's an out of place pause in the combing of his hair, his eyes flicker to yours through the mirror of the vanity. "you have told me plenty," he replies flatly.

"are you tired of it?"

"i never said that," he corrects. he puts down his brush and gestures for you with a sort of finality, like he's come to a conclusion. "come here."

you go, but not before sneakily bearing gloves that sit on the night stand. you hide them behind your back as you step by his side; a proximity that's close enough for him to feel comfortable. its satisfying to see that he’s pleased with your proximity, he used to be so frustrated with your distance.

the eye contact between the both of you should be enough to drown in, but neither of you let up; a constant exchange between rock and wave.

“finish this up for me,” he demands. and you would say the command was sudden, but you know he’s onto you with the way his eyes dart down your body. he's caught on. your gloved hands clench behind your back.

“i wouldn't want to ruin it,” you try to sound convincing. “you shouldn’t have to start all over because i want to fuss with it.”

“it isn’t fussing if i’m asking you.” he turns, facing the mirror and granting you access gracefully. “go on,” he urges.

you pause for only a second, fooling yourself into thinking he wouldnt notice the feel of leather. your hands hardly make it half way before their in geto’s clutch. he grabs you by the wrists in a movement you hardly are able to follow, before turning gentle as he guides you closer to him. you’re pressed up against him once more as he turns and begins to delicately peel the fabric off for you.

he begins by loosening them, careful not to snag your actual skin, and then moves on to rolling them off. when they are bare, he remains silent in his scrutinizing, simply grazing his fingers along the lines embedded in your skin. once he seems satisfied, he turns them over, palms facing his thighs, and brings your knuckles up to his lips. they’re cold and smooth and he spends too much time having you know this; having you know the intricacies of his body.

he chuckles when you break and draw your eyes away from his own, your face heats at the seer of his own gaze. if he were at least trying to be a little funny, you could have taken this obvious flirting more lightly.

“there,” he says, breaking the silence and finally letting your hands fall from his own. “you’re ready now.”

again, he turns his chair back to the vanity, handing you an innocent smile as he looks at you through the mirror, waiting for you to start. he doesn’t mock your slight shaking. geto simply leans into you, fighting no urge to hide a hum of pleasure as you begin brushing, like he’s never been touched by anyone better.

he’s too beautiful for his own good, but you aren’t able to say it this time, too scared of declaring something else.

[yanderederee]

ClinicVisit

March29th, 2004

Before… › here! › next! › …

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✦

Baji jerked awake suddenly, the sound of his home phone ringing unusually loud. He’d been waiting for the sound all weekend….

… what for again?

He lay there spaced out, gathering his barings after the third ring.

“Ah shit, the vet!” He grumbled, and ran to the phone, hoping it didn't go to voicemail before he made it.

“Baji Keisuke, hello?” He quickly uttered into the phone after pressing the answer button. Still gravely from sleep, he felt a little embarrassed for how he’d sounded.

Waiting, he realized it took a lot longer for them to respond than he thought it would.

“Hello?” He spoke more clearly.

“O-oh.. Uh, Hey, Baji…!” Spoke a meek voice, nothing like the middle aged women he’d left the stray cat with a few weeks ago. It took him a second, not recognizing the voice over the phone.

“I-It’s y/n… Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” You replied to the silence with more composure.

“Oh… Uh, no problem. What’s up?” He yawned, scratching his scalp with vigor. He’d been having his hair slicked back more than usual these days, now that your study sessions were becoming more frequent, what with midterms next month.

“Right, so, I was kind of bored, and went shopping,” You began to explain, a little rustle could be heard in the background, making him guess you were fiddling with a plastic bag. “And I found these Adorable little cat sweaters! And, there were these limited edition flavored treats, so I picked some of those too!”

Baji found himself smiling warmly at your excited voice, the rush of adrenaline from waking up too quickly began to easing. Peace immited the empty apartment as you spoke in his ear.

“So… Have you heard anything back yet? A-about Songo’s recovery?” You asked, seeming to shrink your voice after realizing that you’d been talking for two and a half minutes straight. Earning a little chuckle, Baji replied honestly.

“I’ve been expecting a call for a few days now, nothing yet though. I was thinking about checking up at the clinic after breakfast.” He noticed the little plate of rice and salmon his mom had fixed before work.

You seemed to perk at the mention of visiting the little feline. “Oh, can I come?! I’d really like to see her!” You beamed. why was his face suddenly so hot? “Uh… Sure, I guess.” Baji looked at the time. Barely 7. You really Did call early. He heard you giggling over the phone and his heart squeezed again.

“I can drive by in half an hour to pick you up?” He asked, starting to take off the wrap from his breakfast.

“Drive?” You asked, obviously confused.

Shit, he thought.

Still, you hadn’t seen him for what he was; a delinquent. He had yet to reveal anything about himself, behind his thick rimmed glasses and slicked back hair.

Of course you didn't know he drove a motorcycle. Sure, he associated with some questionable classmates, but you never looked further into it.

He struggled to think of an excuse, it's not like he wanted to lie, but maybe admitting he drove a motorcycle was too soon.

Wait, why was he so focused on keeping any of this a secret from you? Sure, it was a more approachable appearance, but he wasn’t meant to be. Why worry so much over how You saw him?

Oh.

He thought to himself, prolonging the silence plaguing the phone call. ‘I don’t want her to think poorly of me,’ to get scared of him like any other girl who spotted him crossing the street.

“Baji? A-are you there?” You asked, worried.

“Oh, sorry, I misspoke– Or uh, no I… I mean, I can meet you at that one intersection in half an hour, that okay?” He asked, cursing himself with a furious blush taking over him. How and why the hell did he mumble so much?!

Before giving a verbal reply, he was graced with your chiming giggle once more. “Yeah, I’ll meet ya there! Oh, I’m just going to dress casually, it’s a weekend after all.” You mentioned, almost as though to insinuate he should do the same. Was he reading that right? He wasn’t sure, Chifuyu was the one who got these kinds of things, hell, even Ryusei.

“Right. See you later.” He gruffed, hanging up the phone immediately, screaming at how fucking awkward he felt.

—------

True to your word, you stood by the intersection that split your home direction from Baji Keisuke’s.

You were indeed dressed casually. Not in the usual cute school uniform he was used to seeing you in. Appropriate for the weather, you sported a trendy sundress and sandals. He loved the way your hair also matched, done just a little different than usual.

You were so cute.

He couldn’t tell until he got closer, but you also had something tightly gripped in your hands.

“Looks’ like you made lunch for an entire sports team, for christsake.” Baji found himself leisurely jabbing. Gripping the furashiki tighter, you readjusted the bento boxes in hand.

Deciding he wasn’t ready to give up the image you have of him in your head, he made sure the fake thick rimmed glasses were clear of all smudging, and hair pulled back without its part this time.

His closet was a little on the alternative, he noticed today. He knew he had a style in the works, but not a lot else.

So, a pair of summer shorts and a fitted black t-shirt and some tennis shoes later, there he stood.

Once you’d noticed his arrival, you go ahead and blind the poor guy with a sunshine like smile, a happy chuckle, to credit his jab, no doubt.

What the hell?

What was that light?

Why is he spacing out?

You wore your hair differently?

The neckline of your dress was lower than your school uniform, earning a innocent view of your collar bones.

Your collar bones.

“Baji?” Pupils wide and still recovering from the shock, Baji found himself thrown back into reality. Now face to face with your resting curious face.

“Sorry, sun caught… In… the glasses.” He replied.

…

Silence.

…

…

…

‘HOW LAME!’

Baji Keisuke screamed in his head so loud he was sure his head would explode with how loud it was. That's why his face was getting red, right?

It was so painfully obvious that he was simply starstruck by your more relaxed form. Unlike Baji, you were one to read situations, and move on ..with a bit more confidence.

“Well, I was doing some research on what kinds of food are good for cats, and what helps them with recovery…” you lugged the awkward shape in your non-dominant hand. You had at least four bento boxes worth of food, all neatly wrapped with no wrinkles or edges.

“I was bored so I kinda made some. It's all good for both humans and cats alike!” You gave a thumbs up, clearly proud.

Baji seemed unimpressed. “Why’d you bring all of it though?” He asked. “It’d be less trouble to have brought her just one box? There’s no way she can eat that much.”

Scrunching your eyebrows, you gave half an eye roll. “Well, I thought some of Sango’s new kitty friends might appreciate a home cooked meal as well, don’t you think?”

Baji laughed, your reasoning seemed sound but it was obviously not the whole truth. “And what if they don’t accept outside food? Vets have to be careful what they feed their patients.” He teased gently. You made it so easy for him, too.

“Well, I guess I have no choice but to eat it; won’t I? A picnic wouldn’t sound too bad.”

“So what, you wanna join me?~” you offered.

“For a picnic?” He asked. You nodded, earning a more thoughtful expression to ghost over Baji’s features.

Baji’s never had your cooking before. Realizing this may be the opportunity to do just that, he shrugged. “No harm in it, I guess.”

Keisuke gracefully slid the furashiki’s handle from your hand into his own—-another trick he learned living with an overworked single mother. You almost looked like you were going to protest, but you were quickly stopped by the grin on your classmate’s face.

Composing yourself within a matter of milliseconds, you asked, “Baji, have you thought about getting contacts? I’m sure it’d make you look more mature.”

“And speaking of,” You continued, glancing at the wavy black hair pulled tightly into a low half bun half ponytail. “Your hair’s so healthy looking, wearing it up all the time is bound to give you split ends.”

Now, Baji has never been a fan of being lectured, but it was kind of hilarious how ironic it was. He purposely disguised himself from the very things you encouraged.

He just couldn’t help himself when he laughed, stifling it as best he could. “Hey! What’cha laughing at?” You pouted again, bumping his arm with your elbow.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✦

The vet was close by. Baji knew it well, since he’s been a regular in their rotation of stray felines. The current vet said so himself, that Baji could make a good vet one day. He kind of liked the idea, but how lame.

Baji knew he was going to do something awesome, like professional motorbiking or something.

Once he walked in, he held the door open expectantly for you, another gesture he didn’t remember doing before, even for his mom. “Morning Kei!” Smiled the middle aged receptionist, coming to a stand. “Good morning.” The two middle schoolers greeted her in unison.

“Well aren't you cute! You finally got a girlfriend, oh I knew you would, such a kind boy like you–” Baji interrupted her with a rudely loud grunt. “She’s the classmate of mine who found the long hair calico,” He announced, as though he’d told the women about you before.

Sensing his embarrassment, she let out a gentle ‘ope’ and retreated.

(You almost thought you heard ‘nosy hag’ being whispered under a breath, but surely not Baji.)

“Well, amazing news Kei! It looks like Sango here has made a complete recovery!” Announced another familiar worker, sporting a lab coat and gloves.

“Sango!” You chirped once seeing her cleaned and conditioned fur. “She’s so beautiful!”

The vet, you assumed, paused at your words, struck. “Oh you must be Keisuke’s girlfr–” “Classmate.” Baji corrected naturally, the air awkward, but laughably so. “Right, well, I’m happy to say not Only has she made a wonderful recovery, but Sango is also taking to the faux legs like a fish in water!”

“She’s already tried them out?” Baji stepped closer; the close proximity of his presence behind you suddenly making you feel small and– a flush took over your face and a shiver was sent through you. Weird.

“She sure has, wanna see?” The vet asked, not giving either of them a chance to reply before displaying the faux legs, which seemed more wheel-like, but smart design made so there was a functional joint to switch between laying down and standing.

Inspecting the advancement of modern tools, the two of you marveled as the vet sat Sango’s nubbed lower half into the seat, strapping her in snuggly.

Like a dog excited to see its owner, Sango swirled in circles toward Baji, pressing her cheek against his waiting hand with a loud purr.

You both watched as Sango ran back and forth between you two, the vet, and random toys. “She’ll need some time to get used to the balance difference, and has one last round of antibiotics. After that, she’s off to the races.”

The relief almost made you cry. You cradled the affectionate little cat to your cheek, obviously over the moon.

“By the way, has she eaten yet?” You ask, gently reached for Baji’s wrist, attempting to will it closer for access to the folded bentos. Baji internally screams again, your soft skin against his feeling starkly different.

He was having a stroke, right? He felt like he was going to puke, what the hell—

“I made a bunch of nutrient rich cat meals and treats!” You admitted, pulling out one of the– Wait, Baji had miscounted the last time he looked, there were definitely— Eight boxes. “I thought we could share with Sango’s friends!” You asked, expectantly.

Unluckily, not many animals actually were kept in clinics.

“Guess I did go overboard.” You laughed, seemingly unfazed. Yet, how come Baji took notice in a little look of disappointment. The expression went completely unnoticed, otherwise.

It was only then he started to notice how closely he hovered over you. It must be uncomfortable for you. He cursed himself before adding some space for your sake. “Say, if you’re looking for a bunch of cat friends to have lunch with, I know a place.” Baji attempted to tease.

Obviously thrilled by the invitation, you were curious where he meant.

“Sango should be ready for domestic life by tuesday!” the vet said happily, with a farewell gesture. “And Kei!” Sang the receptionist, giving the boy a thumbs up. “Let your hair down, stop bein’ such a stiff!”

Baji was baffled by the insult, he seriously Almost barked at her.

Upon leaving the clinic, you happily twirled around to face him,

“So, where’s that place with all your cat friends?~”

[touteslesfilles]

feeling like: an elitist snob

[astrobei]

love in slow motion

“Are you offended that people think we’re dating?”

“No,” Mike says immediately. “Of course not,” because, again, he should be so lucky.

Will’s baffled expression does not change. “Then why would I be?”

“So– okay, fine, whatever. Should we, like, tell them to get their heads out of their asses and that we’re not– um– dating, or–”

“I think,” Will cuts in, “well. You know what would be funny?”

Honestly, Mike doesn't know what he thought being Will Byers' fake-boyfriend would entail, but he definitely didn't think it would involve this many ugly Christmas sweaters.