#Plate Type Detection

[jrnam]

Why AI Based Traffic Management Systems Are the Future of Urban Planning

In the past, city planning was largely focused on infrastructure—roads, highways, flyovers, and signals. But as urban populations grow and mobility demands increase, traditional traffic systems are proving inadequate. They’re often reactive, slow to adapt, and disconnected from the real-time flow of life on the roads. Today, city planners are rethinking the very foundation of mobility. The solution? Intelligent systems powered by artificial intelligence.

The AI based traffic management system is revolutionizing how we view traffic—not just as a problem to be managed, but as a dynamic ecosystem to be optimized. With smart technologies like computer vision, real-time analytics, and machine learning at their core, these systems represent a seismic shift in urban planning. They are the building blocks of smart cities, enabling smoother commutes, faster emergency responses, and safer roads for everyone.

The Challenge with Traditional Urban Traffic Systems

Legacy traffic control systems were built on rigid rules and limited automation. Most rely on static signal timings, manual surveillance, and siloed data from isolated systems. These outdated frameworks result in:

Prolonged congestion during peak hours

Delayed emergency response due to inefficient routing

Lack of insights for future planning

Increased emissions due to idle times

Higher operational costs for city authorities

Simply put, traditional methods can no longer keep pace with modern urban life.

This is where AI based traffic management system step in—bringing intelligence, automation, and adaptability to the forefront.

What Is an AI Based Traffic Management System?

An AI based traffic management system uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to monitor, manage, and optimize traffic flow across a city or campus. It works in real-time, collecting data through advanced sensors, computer vision cameras, and edge devices.

What makes it intelligent is not just its ability to see what’s happening, but to understand it. These systems interpret vehicle behavior, predict congestion, detect violations, and adjust traffic controls dynamically. They can even prioritize emergency vehicles, reroute traffic during events, and deliver data-driven insights to planners.

Unlike conventional systems, which require extensive manual effort, AI-based solutions are autonomous, scalable, and designed for continuous improvement. They learn from traffic patterns over time, becoming more effective with every use.

Key Components of Intelligent Traffic Management Systems

An Intelligent Traffic Management System typically includes the following:

Computer Vision Cameras: These cameras capture video footage and use AI to detect vehicles, pedestrians, lane violations, and more.

Edge Computing Devices: These process data locally to reduce latency and support real-time decisions.

Machine Learning Algorithms: These models learn from historical and real-time data to improve prediction accuracy and traffic response.

Integrated Control Systems: These manage traffic signals, barriers, and display boards, enabling dynamic control based on current conditions.

Central Monitoring Dashboards: These offer a comprehensive view of all traffic inputs and outputs, helping planners make informed decisions.

One powerful feature suite within these systems is GateGuard, designed specifically for access control, vehicle monitoring, and smart surveillance.

Deep Dive: GateGuard and Its Advanced Features

GateGuard is an AI-powered module designed to monitor, track, and manage vehicle entry and exit with unmatched precision. While it's ideal for use in controlled environments like campuses, factories, or gated communities, it also plays a critical role in large-scale urban mobility systems. Here's a breakdown of its features:

1. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

GateGuard uses AI-enabled cameras for instant license plate detection. With high accuracy, it can identify registered, unauthorized, or blacklisted vehicles in real-time. Whether used in public traffic surveillance or private campus monitoring, ANPR is critical for law enforcement, visitor management, and security.

2. Vehicle Classification

Every vehicle is categorized by type—car, truck, bus, two-wheeler, etc. This data is vital for enforcing traffic rules (e.g., truck-restricted zones), improving toll collection, and designing infrastructure that aligns with usage trends. In urban planning, understanding what kinds of vehicles frequent which roads enables more intelligent zoning and infrastructure decisions.

3. Entry & Exit Management

GateGuard seamlessly logs every vehicle's entry and exit, tracking the time, frequency, and duration of stay. This system works not just for private properties but can also integrate with city-wide surveillance to monitor real-time road usage patterns and spot anomalies.

4. Boom Barrier Integration

A standout feature of GateGuard is its integration with automated boom barriers. Based on pre-set rules—such as approved license plates or time windows—the system can open or restrict access autonomously. This not only increases efficiency but also reduces reliance on human guards and minimizes potential errors.

5. AI Alerts and Notifications

Whether it’s an unauthorized vehicle, prolonged parking, or unexpected reverse driving, GateGuard immediately notifies the concerned authorities through a centralized dashboard or mobile alert. This quick response system improves both safety and operational efficiency.

6. Analytics and Reporting

Beyond surveillance, GateGuard offers rich data analytics—peak entry times, high-traffic days, repeat visitors, vehicle-type distribution, and more. These insights are invaluable for traffic planners, enabling them to refine road layouts, design better checkpoints, and prepare for future demand.

GateGuard is a prime example of how AI based traffic management system can bring control, clarity, and foresight to traffic management, something traditional systems simply cannot offer.

Real-World Applications of AI Based Traffic Management Systems

Cities around the world are adopting AI-powered systems to future-proof their infrastructure. Here’s how these systems are already making an impact:

1. Smart Cities

Municipal authorities use Intelligent Traffic Management Systems to monitor intersections, reduce congestion, and automate violation detection. These systems adjust signal timings in real time based on vehicle density, helping reduce travel time and fuel consumption.

2. Factories and Warehouses

GateGuard-style solutions are used to track logistics vehicles, manage loading/unloading schedules, and ensure only authorized transport enters the premises. This minimizes delays and enhances operational security.

3. Corporate and Educational Campuses

AI-based entry and exit monitoring improves perimeter security, maintains a log of vehicle traffic, and enables touchless access—perfect for modern, tech-enabled workplaces and universities.

4. Residential Complexes

Homeowners associations and building managers use AI systems to ensure only approved vehicles enter. GateGuard allows for automated visitor tracking, emergency alerting, and seamless parking management.

5. Transport and Logistics Hubs

Large hubs use AI based traffic management system to streamline inbound and outbound vehicle flows, minimize idle time at checkpoints, and increase throughput.

Benefits Beyond Traffic

Investing in AI traffic solutions brings broad benefits, not just for commuters but also for policymakers, businesses, and the environment.

Improved Public Safety: Faster detection of risky behavior—wrong-side driving, overspeeding, or illegal parking—means quicker resolution and fewer disruptions.

Cost Savings: Automation reduces the need for large manual staff and cuts long-term operational costs.

Reduced Carbon Emissions: By easing congestion and idle time, these systems contribute directly to cleaner air.

Data-Driven Planning: Real-time dashboards and historical trends provide urban planners with the tools they need to make informed infrastructure decisions.

Disaster Management: During emergencies, AI systems can prioritize critical routes, guide emergency services, and coordinate evacuation paths more effectively.

The Road Ahead: A Smarter, Sustainable Future

As we move further into the age of smart cities, the need for scalable, intelligent, and responsive traffic solutions will only grow. Whether it’s through integrated systems like GateGuard or full-fledged AI Based Traffic Management Systems, these technologies are laying the foundation for urban environments that are not just livable—but future-ready.

Governments, city planners, and private stakeholders must work hand-in-hand to ensure widespread adoption of these solutions. From updating policy frameworks to investing in infrastructure upgrades, embracing these systems is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s an urgent necessity.

Conclusion

The future of urban planning will be defined by how intelligently we move people and goods through complex environments. AI-based systems are no longer experimental they’re real, proven, and already transforming cities worldwide.

By adopting an AI based traffic management system cities can move beyond the old model of reactive control toward a proactive, adaptive, and efficient urban experience. With intelligent tools like GateGuard leading the charge, we’re not just solving traffic we’re unlocking the full potential of urban life.

[cherrreid]

you are the best thing that's ever been mine,

from vi

ᰔ pairing . . . b. wayne !

ᰔ with . . . a wife!reader / batmom !

ᰔ category . . . fluff , suggestive , one - shot

ᰔ in which . . . for anyone who has ever hoped for a second chance.

ᰔ TAGS . . . domestic bruce wayne. dilf energy maxed out. wife!reader. reader is younger than bruce but was not mentioned. alfred supremacy(he's my dad guys). child wrangling. emotionally constipated but trying. batkids being menaces. batdad malfunctioning before coffee. kisses like vows. touch-starved billionaire behavior. gentle smut if you squint. robe removal as a love language. heavy on the softness. suggestive content. emotionally vulnerable bruce wayne. minor language. too much love. may cause unrealistic expectations of breakfast.gentle smut if you squint. robe removal as a love language. heavy on the softness. suggestive content. emotionally vulnerable bruce wayne. minor language. too much love. may cause unrealistic expectations of breakfast conversations. ooc. second chance but in a found family way. alfred addresses reader as "m'lady" because yes. & he's british. yes.

ᰔ look around . . . m. list && detective comics m. list

────── vi whispers . . . ᰔ

001. "for anyone who has ever hoped for a second chance." heh.. GUESS WHERE I GOT THAT FROM!!!!

002. also also for @cinnamongrl2006 for being patient w me😭 & kidnapping me back to the fandom ilysm

003. "poor attempt in being poetic" i mean it. I CAN'T 💔💔

004. but im trying chat.. if there's a grammatical error,,, IM SORRRYRYYRYRYRYRYR😭😭😭😭

005. can u guys tell that i want a baby. but i don't wanna give birth. i don't wanna do that w a man. my family is against adoption for some reason. && i wanna take care of a child URGHHHHHHHHHHH

006. might as well be a kindergarten teacher

you normally wake up to him.

his arms already wrapped around you, sometimes the pressure of his gaze heavy against your skin before your eyes even have a chance to flutter open. sometimes, he's gently sweeping an errant strand of hair away from your forehead, planting a kiss on your cheek with that rare, faint softness you only ever get from him.

but today, the bed is immobile, & he's immobile.

your body slips smoothly from his, as if unsticking yourself from something holy. it's a bit colder without him, even in the huge heat of the master bedroom, but you smile anyway.

because this? this means something.

this means he trusts you.

enough to sleep without his armor on.

enough to remain sleeping even when you leave.

you look back at him▰face oh, so gorgeous, a small furrow still between his eyes from years of nightmares & fights & weights no one should bear. the type of man who's never let his guard down.

except with you.

you slide into something more relaxed, softer. something less... scandalous. not because you object, but because the children are another story. they adore you, they do▰deeply. but they also understand how utterly undone their father becomes when you so much as inhale anything remotely enticing. & none of them want to witness bruce wayne malfunctioning before coffee.

your naked feet pad against the chilly halls of wayne manor, ringing a bit off against marble & history. you walk by framed portraits. some old, some new. family, in all the disarray of ways it has created. & your fingers run over the railing like muscle memory.

the kitchen has the scent of heaven. warm coffee, toast bread, warmth.

"good morning, m'lady."

alfred's voice is a soft violin string, smooth & proper, but containing that unmistakable tenderness he can never quite keep from you.

your own head tips up in a smile. "the kids aren't up yet?"

he sets down your plate with gentle care. "i woke them up a bit earlier. they'll be here any moment now."

& as if called, you hear the beat of footsteps▰light but purposeful.

damian arrives first. of course he does. always the first to train, first to cross the line, first to tell you that your coffee is an abomination.

his shoulders are squared, his stance precise, but when he catches sight of you, something flashes in his hard green eyes. something much more… genuine.

"good morning, damian," you tell him, voice relaxed.

he nods, takes the chair next to you. "good morning."

& it's genuine. reserved, almost abrupt, but not cold. no longer.

he's trying. adjusting. learning that love doesn't equal weakness.

he hasn't forgotten his mother. not at all.

but he regards you as if you could be something he never believed he'd ever have. a second chance at love. at tenderness. at home.

soon after, the others trickle in. tim with sleep in his eyes & coffee already in hand, dick with that easy grin that never quite fades, jason with a grunt & a smirk & hair still damp from a too-hot shower.

“morning, mom,” dick says, pressing a kiss to your cheek as he walks by.

jason could only let out a grunt & a nod as a greeting, stealing a piece of toast.

“morning,” tim mumbles, voice muffled by the coffee mug.

they all greet you now as if it's the most natural thing in the world. like you've always been there.

& perhaps you have, kind of. not only in the manor.

but in their spaces.

in the wounds they didn't even realize needed to heal.

in the mother-shaped holes no one wanted to discuss.

you chat. about little things. silly things. jason's failed cooking attempt last night. dick joking with tim about his new crush. damian rolling his eyes at them all but not budging from your side.

you're giggling at something. most likely at jason & dick arguing over whose socks were stolen▰when the air changes.

& you sense him before you see him.

bruce wayne sweeps into the room like a storm in silk.

dark cloak sagging loosely over his muscular build. hair still rumpled. eyes relaxed the moment they light on you.

"good morning, love," you murmur as you rise to your feet, arms around his neck.

his hands▰big, roughened, gentle▰wrap around your waist as he bends toward you. you kiss him & he exhales into it like a man who's been down too long.

his lips linger an extra fraction of a second. your noses touch.

the children groan in the background. alfred clears his throat, pointedly gazing at the scrambled eggs.(he's used to this. give this man a raise.)

you pull back, hardly stifling your smile.

he regards you as if you're the only thing sane in a world of madness. like you're gravity. home. peace.

breakfast goes on. bruce arrives halfway through, hand never really leaving yours. his fingers brush your knuckles beneath the table. his thigh against yours, a quiet comfort. a habit he can't break.

at last, one by one, the children slip away to do their business▰patrol briefings, training, reading, vanishing into wherever the manor engulfs them.

alfred gathers the dishes. you offer your aid, but he waves you off with a sly grin.

"bon appétit, m'lady. i think the master has something in mind."

your eyebrows rise, but your hand settles into bruce's. his hold is quick. but gentle.

he escorts you upstairs, through the corridors. quiet envelops you, warm & intimate. the bedroom door closes behind you, & the world slows down.

his robe comes first.

then yours.

& then his lips find yours again. urgent now, but still reverent. still like he’s learning your shape all over again. like you’re holy & he’s not sure he deserves to pray but he will anyway.

his hands on your back. your nails in his hair. the quiet sound of breathless laughter. of wanting. of years of love built in silence & shadow & something deeper than words.

the room is full of the stillness that follows your kiss, the one that leaves you gasping but fulfilled, like something holy. bruce relaxes against the bed, his chest heaving as if the world has just been put on pause to this moment. his body under yours, you & he both snarled in sheets, warm skin, limbs against each other in the only way that feels right when it's just the two of you.

he strokes your hair, fingers tracing against your scalp in a way that causes you to dissolve even further than you ever knew you could.

"you okay?" his voice is low, a little rough around the edges, like he's struggling to maintain control, to not let the walls he's spent years constructing fall down entirely.

you nod, your chin on his chest, listening to his heartbeat steady under your ear. "yeah. more than okay."

his hand moves down the length of your back, his fingertips tracing over the curve of your waist, the warmth of his touch setting your skin afire. nothing is rushed about the way he touches you any longer. this is the post-coital warmth of something authentic, of that place where language is unnecessary.

his fingers wander down to your side, drawing slow, careful lines. you let your eyes fall shut for a moment, the sense of being so utterly comfortable with him a pleasure to behold. it's a precious thing, the vulnerability bruce lets himself feel in your presence.

"i love you," he tells you, the words raw but soft. "i don't know what i'd do without you."

you smile softly, lifting your head to look at him, your hands resting on his chest, over his heart. "you’ll never have to find out."

the air changes between you once more, not with such haste as last time but with that slow-burning heat that always comes after moments such as these. you lean in to kiss him again, gentle at first, like the morning sun that doesn't hurry to come up but slowly fills the space with light.

but there's a hunger there too, a silent longing that never really goes away, not even after all that you've shared. his mouth makes the kiss deeper, & soon, you & he are lost in rhythm with one another again.

bruce's hands move up your spine, drawing you in as if he's trying to commit to memory the way you fit against him. his lips find your neck, kissing down the curve of it, his breath warm against your skin, making you shiver. your hands grab at his hair, drawing him in.

& then▰just as the world outside would have it▰there's a knock at the door.

"sir, m'lady," alfred's voice outside.

you could hear him clear his throat before continuing. "breakfast was▰wonderful, but perhaps you might join us for the remainder of the day's activities?"

you & bruce stand stock-still, eyes huge. alfred has impeccable timing.(possibly because of the kids.)

bruce groans, but there's a smile on his face, & he kisses you goodbye one more time, his lips brushing yours lightly. "we'll get them next time," he says, his voice low, almost playful.

you smile quietly, a quiet, contented noise that hangs in the stillness of the room. there is no hurry to move away. indeed, the two of you remain like that for a bit longer, your bodies entwined, still warm from the moments you've just shared.

eventually, the two of you rise▰smiling, because it's the sort of thing you'd both do, all the years & masks aside. you both put your clothes back on, every moment with him another page in a book that's never really done.

as you enter the hallway, hand in hand, the sound of your children's voices echoes down the stairs. it's a gentle symphony, the cacophony of their personalities resonating in the air. & you know▰this is home.

you're not merely bruce wayne's wife anymore. you're their mother as well, in every way that counts.

you're not only damian's second chance in love▰but everyone's. the kids' chance to embrace the love of a mother. alfred's chance to embrace you like his daughter. & bruce's chance in embracing the warmth you offer to him.

their second chance in everything.

© MINORLYATFAULT 2025

[sirxlla]

Hi! I see you accept requests so I want to send a promt 🥹💖

Batboys when they accidentally get jealous of reader's brother please 🤲

They Mistakingly Get Jealous of Your Brother (Batboys)

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

Dick: "Hey, if you didn't want to be with me anymore would you tell me?" He asked you with worry in his tone.

"Dick, Why would you ever think I don't wanna be with you? I love you." You looked up from where you were chopping onions for dinner.

"Well, I- Who's James?" He asks with that same level of nervousness in his tone.

"Oh, James is my brother. We don't have the same last name because he's only my half-brother. We share the same mom but not the same dad. Now that I think of it I probably should've had you meet them a long time ago."

Dick nods, his worries sated. Dick's not really one to ever get jealous. He only really gets hurt by the idea that you might not want him anymore, which prompts you to reassure him you'd never want any other man on this Earth or the next but him.

Jason: "Be honest are you cheating on me with Johnny?" He came into the kitchen as you cooked dinner for you both.

"Johnny?" You laugh and Jason looks confused and starts to get angry rapidly.

"Why the hell are you laughing?! It's not funny, Y/N!" He slams his hands on the kitchen table, the tone of his voice and the sound of his hands slamming on the table snap you out of your laughing.

"He's my brother!" You stay a bit startled. Jason notices your semi-scared tone as well as your level of sincerity.

"Oh." He says with the realization of his overreaction.

"Yeah, Oh. Don't you ever slam shit around when you're mad at me again." You say with a serious tone as you pointed at him.

"I'm sorry, I- I got jealous 'cause I'm afraid you were gonna leave me. I know that's not an excuse, and I'm really sorry." He slowly made his way over to you and hugged you.

"I'm so sorry, Babygirl. I'll work on my anger. I'm so sorry."

Bruce: "I see you were out with Frank all evening." He said with a flat tone but you could tell by his body language he was jealous. "You know he's married."

"Bruce, for being the World's Greatest Detective, you didn't even bother to look at his last name before he got married?"

"N- No. Why would I do that?"

"His last name was L/N. He changed it to his wifes when they got married."

"Oh. I-"

"You assumed, yeah. He's my brother and one thousand percent, not my type. You have nothing to be jealous about. No man compares to you, so quit overthinking."

You slip onto his lap and run your fingers through his very messy hair from the bat cowl, gently cleaning some grease pain from around his eyes.

"Plus no one pulls off the raccoon look as well as you do." You kiss his nose and give him a hug.

Tim: Tim isn't usually the type to confront things head-on when it comes to relationship things; he doesn't particularly like assuming or hurting your feelings. Your brother had come over to his car jack from your house, and Tim had seen him leaving.

He didn't ask you about him at all; all he had was his age and hair color, and he's memorized his license plate.

He's not confrontational, but that did not stop him from searching your brother to the ends of the Earth like an ex-girlfriend researching her old man's new girlfriend before you two were getting into bed.

You caught a glance at his computer and it made you laugh. "Oh, my god. You're such a weirdo." You teased him. "He's my brother, Timmy. You could've just asked, I wouldn't've gotten upset." You close his laptop and hug him.

"We promised to be honest with each other, but with that also comes you asking questions when you're curious. Don't stalk people; not only is it weird, but you also stress yourself out for no reason. It's gonna take you ages to calm down for bed."

You rub his back and play with his hair stopping only briefly to turn the light off on your bedside table. His head rested on your chest. Tim's an overthinker, so he's kinda glad you stopped him before he got into borderline conspiracy theory territory.

Damian: "Tell your weird ass boyfriend to stop stalking me. He keeps sending me these threatening messages about 'staying away from his woman.'" Your brother texted you and showed you a photo of some flowers Damian sent Theo with a note. It caused you to laugh and snort which you best believe Damian heard.

Damian sent Theo a text that said, 'You best lose her number.' which Theo sent you a screenshot of.

"BABE!" You laugh as you see the message. "MY BELOVED BEAUTIFUL MAN, COME HERE!"

"Yes?" Damian asks as he leans on the doorframe like he hasn't been sending your brother threatening messages.

"Say Hi to my brother, Theo." You put Theo on speaker as you gaze into Damian's green eyes, which widen when he realizes Theo is your brother.

"Hello, Theo. I'm Damian, her boyfriend." Damian hopes that Theo doesn't mention what he's said to Theo due to him not knowing Theo told you already.

"I already told her, Dude." Theo's voice leaves the speaker of your phone and Damian's heart falls into his ass.

"Forgive me, I jumped to a conclusion, Theo." Damian surprisingly apologizes because normally he doesn't do that at all, but he realizes his assumptions were incorrect.

Masterlist

Send me prompts if you'd like

[therookieimagines]

Not that he cares..or he does..- Tim Bradford x fem!reader 3/?

Summary: You’ve been living with Tim for a few months now, and after some intense staring contests Tim’s finally ready to admit how he feels, but what happens whenever things take a spicy turn?

Warnings: SMUT AT THE ENNNND, Tim calling you a whore and slut

It had been a good month or two, you were healing great and ready to get back into policing, but with slight changes, you felt like with the feelings that were arising towards Tim after living with him for some time would get in the way of your work, so, you were transferring TOs to Harper until you could become a detective. It wasn’t that you were doing anything inappropriate with each other, you both just, shared a bed, and a room..and a closet..you were basically dating without the dating. Tim had gone back to work about three weeks ago, diving head first right into cases, but not without calling you every hour on the hour, he couldn’t help it, you had been shot, maybe it had healed now but what if something happens? Again? He had to make sure you were safe.

Tim groaned at his desk holding the phone to his ear listening for the third time as he heard your voicemail “this is y/n! Leave a message, unless your Bradford or Nolan, then just text me” he was growing irritated with every passing second. “Harper! I’m leaving to go run a personal errand, I’ll be back in twenty” he said sternly before his desk phone started to ring loudly “hello? Y/n?” He answered quickly, hunched over his desk waiting for your reply “Tim? Why are you calling me like something happened are you okay?” You asked softly, he could hear the sound of dishes clanking faintly in the background “why didn’t you answer? I thought something might’ve happened you know whenever I’m calling from work it’s a-“ you cut him off with a giggle “it’s a check-in, I know, but I was doing dishes and didn’t realize my phone was on the bed, I’m sorry, I’m okay though I swear” you reassured as you finished drying the last plate, trying to stifle your groans in pain as you reached above you to put one of Tim’s thermos’s away “hey hey, what was that? That doesn’t sound okay to me” he asked starting to bite his nails “ya know what no I’m coming home” he decided before you were quick to cut him off “Tim Bradford. Stay on your shift, criminals need you out there to ruin their fun, just like you ruin mine” you teased “I’m cleaning the apartment for us, that way we’re not dealing with any messes tonight” you explained feeling terrible Bradford had to come home and clean up after you the last couple of weeks because of your injury, he never actually minded it though, taking care of you was just like his job as a cop, he knew he was doing good, especially if it meant making sure you were happy and safe. “F-fine but..I’ll be home at 7pm sharp, got it?” You heard his voice say, you could tell he was still uneasy but you knew he’d be quickly distracted with the first call he got.

Tim was truthful on his word, the door unlocked at exactly 7pm, not a second later either, you watched as he immediately dropped his things by the door walking over to you “how’re you? Those noises you made earlier did not sound like stretching you sounded hurt, did you fall or run into something?” He asked worried, placing his hands on your shoulders examining your body “Tim, I’m fine, reaching above my head is still painful but..it’ll be alright, these things heal” you smiled patting his shoulder before sitting down “so, how’d your date go that Lucy set you up on?” You asked curiously, you knew Lucy had her own little scheme going on, you could tell the second she started asking about how you and Tim were handling living with each other. “What?- o-oh I didn’t know..you..knew..” he admitted sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly “she was..nice..definitely not my type though, she wouldn’t stop instagramming her food, like honestly why can’t people just enjoy a meal?” He ranted, you just watched him smiling as he continued on and on as he poured himself a drink “hey why aren’t..you..answering..” Tim trailed off noticing you watching him in awe “why are you watching me, you creep” he teased sitting down in the recliner not far from where you were on the couch.

“Seriously!” He groaned dropping his head “quit staring at me! It’s creepy and weird!” Tim continued setting his drink down walking over eyeing you suspiciously, you couldn’t hide your smile, you knew he wasn’t being serious, but the fact he was trying to be was adorable to you, he was doing his cop tatics on you like he would on a call, his hands firmly holding his regular belt, his glare stern and his eyes slowly clouding to a shade darker. “Ms. L/n, do I need to issue you a ticket for staring an officer of the law down?” He asked squinting his eyes “try it, I’ll take that ticket to court, officer Bradford” you smirked, the giddy smile never leaving your face once though, Tim stayed strong though, fighting every muscle in his body not to smile or laugh. “Unless..you explain yourself on why you’re staring at me?” He offered crossing his arms, all of his known intimidation tactics “you don’t scare me, Bradford!” You laughed leaning back on the couch, only for him to take a step closer “that’s officer Bradford to you” he corrected in a stern tone “oh my gooood! Fine! I was staring because it’s calming to see someone so…brutal and scary become so laid back and relaxed” you explained, Tim scoffed playfully “when have I ever been brutal!?” He asked sitting back down, this time next to you, on the floor “uhm, my first call? They shot at us and whenever you apprehended them I saw you, that body tackle was pretty brutal” you remarked “I did what I was trained in the academy to do!” He defended, you just laughed smiling as he just shook his head at you. “I just mean that..i don’t know” you sighed letting your head fall back “you’re just..comforting to watch” you shrugged looking towards him again, this time he was the one staring, taking in everything that was you.

You both kept taking turns for at least ten minutes before finally Tim broke the silence “alright it’s killing me” he huffed leaning up onto his knee placing a hand on your cheek “over the last year and a half..y/n I’ve loved you more and more everyday” he admitted, you watched him closely nodding your head before he pressed his lips firmly against yours, you weren’t sure if you should kiss him back or pull away, he was still technically your TO. You chose to kiss back though, wrapping your arms around his shoulders as he slowly made his way from the floor to the couch next to you “I never realized it until the night you made the backup call..I knew you were different from my other rookies but..not like this” he whispered pulling away from your lips, much to his minds dismay. “Don’t worry, Tim..I..I love you too, even if..you’re a rude asshole sometimes..and I wanna hit you..with a baton..-“ “hey! Where did all of this brutality come from!?” He yelped leaning away from you smiling “I’m just saying! I love you despite all the times you get on my nerves” you laughed leaning closer to him attempting to peck his lips, but he just kept leaning farther and farther back until he fell onto his back on the armrest, you kept moving though, eventually hovering over his body, your hair tickling his nose lightly. “Careful, rookie.” He warned, almost like you were going into dangerous territory, you were confused up until you realized just where your hand was, right above his growing erection, resting at the waistline of his jeans. “Shit sorry” you cursed moving it to hold his hand, you were now riddled with insecurities and embarrassment, why’d you put your hand there? What if he didn’t want things this fast? Were you a whore for moving this fast with him?

Tim could see the nervousness in your eyes, he kissed you once again, squeezing your hand gently before placing it back where it was only this time a few inches lower, you could feel a knot immediately form in your stomach as you felt how big his ‘package’ really was, I mean the police slacks were good to show things off but they could only do so much, so this was a lot bigger than expectations. “You’re alright, no need to apologize” he whispered running his hands through your hair pulling your head closer to his as he pressed his lips closer to yours, using his other hand to pull you basically onto his lap, only your hips were placed on his thighs. “Look at me, are you alright with this?..” he asked raising an eyebrow “we don’t have to, you know that, l/n, I’ll never force you into anything” he reassured, you knew every word he said was the truth, anytime a call was too much for you, he’d always make sure you were okay, never forcing you to do anything you were uncomfortable with (evictions were the worst for you growing up bouncing from house to house). You never answered him though, your mind starting to race again “I-i want to..” you whispered but your brain kept going back to the same topic, the moment he sees your scar he won’t be into you as much. Tim could almost read your face like a book, you wanted to but you were conflicted with something, he studied you, trying to figure out the cause without forcing you to speak, that’s whenever he spotted one of your hands fidgeting with your shirt, pulling and twisting, rolling the fabric between your fingers as you struggled to find the words.

You didn’t need to though, Tim effortlessly lifted you carrying you towards your bedroom before gently laying you on the bed, not wanting to hurt you anymore than you had already been hurt in your life. He pulled off your shirt running his eyes up and down your torso before his eyes landed on the distinct scar on your abdomen, he slowly lowered his head resting his chin on your hip bone “this is what’s bothering you?” He asked, at first you thought he was upset, you were probably being silly right? You shouldn’t be this stuck on a stupid scar. “Hey, I’ve got em too, from my time being deployed..my time serving as an officer..in our line of work those are like our little marks of how long we’ve been working as officers” he explained, your eyes were glued to him, watching as he sighed standing up, pulling his shirt and jeans off of his body “I’ve got them, it’s alright” he whispered slowly crawling onto the bed kissing your stomach all the way up to your lips “I’ve always thought you were beautiful..” he whispered against your lips, his words and kisses slowly became more aggressive, his hands running through your hair as you grinded your pussy against his thigh. “Fucking hell” he grunted gripping a fist full of his comforter, he so badly wanted to fuck you into the bed, show you just how badly he’s wanted to fuck you since the night he gave you a ride home from your friends party. You and your friend were sober but you weren’t dressed like it, he was completely shocked at the time, that someone as modest as you during your shifts would dress in such short shorts and such a tight t-shirt, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of you, perfectly masking it as annoyance, he was very much hiding that fact he wanted to tell you exactly how he felt right then and there, how much he loved you and wanted you.

You took notice to Tim’s face, he was concentrated on something heavy, something that was turning his knuckles white from the sheets, as you grinded your hips yet another time that’s whenever you felt it, he was harder than he had been that whole night. “Fuck me, Bradford.” You said sternly, using a fistful of his hair to pull him down to eye level “I want you, to fuck me however you want, just, with a condom please” you asked/demanded, you could see something in his eyes flicker, almost like he had been conflicted and then made up his mind. He quickly leaned away from you, ripping your sweatpants open down the thigh, giving him perfect access to press his fingers against your clit playing with it roughly watching as your back arched, all because of him. It was fueling Tim with something he never felt before, watching you do that all over his fingers made him feel powerful and more of a man than ever “oh just wait, baby, you think this is good, just wait” he whispered biting his lip smirking, he slowly lowered his body until he was eye level with your pussy, your thighs twitching with anticipation as he blew lightly over your lace thong. “You were these just for fun..or did you have a plan to seduce an officer tonight?” He asked slowly pulling them off, he had to keep them safe, just incase he wanted to see you in them again, you bit your lip anxiously, not wanting to answer his question in fear of answering wrong and not getting the pleasure you so desperately needed.

Tim growled furrowing his eyebrows landing a harsh slap to your inner thigh, resulting in a light squeal out of you in response “answer me whenever I’m speaking to you.” He growled resting your legs on his shoulder using barely any strength to tug you to the end of the bed, his lips barely ghosting over your bare pussy. “N-no I just h-hadn’t gotten around to laundry y-yet” you whimpered, squealing whenever you felt his warm tongue leave a strip across your clit, he wasn’t finished though, using the tip of his tongue to trace figure eights around your clit. Right as you approached your climax, Tim pulled his mouth away, you whined desperately trying to pull his face back down between your legs, but he quickly grabbed your hands pinning them to the side “ah ah.” He tsked, grabbing handcuffs from his side table using them to keep your hands restrained to the side of you to the bed frame “okay how long has that clasp been there?” You asked never really noticing how quickly the bed you’ve been sleeping on for the past months turned into a sex chamber “did it whenever I first moved in, didn’t mention it to you whenever you moved in because I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable” he explained casually as he placed a condom over himself lining his cock up before pushing into you quickly, it only took a few moments before he bottomed out inside of you, you couldn’t help but let out a moan as you felt his tip brush against your cervix.

Tim groaned loudly, you felt so much tighter than he thought, he couldn’t stop his hips from moving though, desperate to chase the one high, fuck the one person he’s been dying to for the last year “fuck just like that, god damnit your pussy feels great” he growled, lifting your legs over his shoulders giving himself a new angle to fuck you at. You couldn’t process everything happening, you didn’t even know Tim could be this sex experienced, you always marked him off as more of a vanilla dude, but here he was, throat around your neck gently as he slammed his cock into you so hard you knew there’d be bruising tomorrow. “Fuck! Tim please! I’m gonna cum” you begged, his grip on your throat tightened as he halted his thrusts “what the hell did you just call me, rookie?” He growled, ghosting his lips over yours “I-I’m sorry, sir” you whimpered, trying to move your hips in any way that would get you some sort of release, but Tim just held your hips down, using your pussy to his own advantage “I’ve wanted to fuck you for so long, fuck it’s better than I’d hoped it would be, holy shit” he panted, you whimpered loudly, desperately pulling your shirt off, screaming out Tim’s name as he latched his lips around one of your nipples, his teeth nibbling and biting as you squirmed under him.

You could barely think straight anymore, you hadn’t ever made yourself feel this much pleasure, no toy, hand, or man ever had you like this before, and Tim made it look so easy, like it was nothing to have you basically mush in his hands. Tim’s grip on the sheets were tightening, he had abandoned holding your neck long ago, not wanting to cause you any bruising above the waist or seriously hurt you, he could feel himself about to cum but he had to hold on, he needed to know how good it feels for you to squeeze around his cock. He could tell you weren’t going to last long either, your moans and whimpers were growing a lot more high pitched and frequent and you were basically dripping onto the bed you were so wet “come on, show me how much you want it, work for it, rookie” he teased, flipping you both over watching as you desperately rode his cock, your nails scraping down his chest as he bucked his hips up to meet yours pulling away. You gasped as his fingers started attacked your clit again, this time the knot in your stomach was too tight, immediately bursting, Tim moaned loudly throwing his head back as he felt you tighten around him, your pussy throbbing desperate to get every last drop from his cock as he came deep inside of you, the condom busting rather quickly. Both of your hips didn’t stop though, Tim’s just got rougher “god damnit your pussy feels so amazing, fuck” he cursed, you felt as he quickly got hard again inside of you, this time you felt every twitch and thrust, you were highly sensitive now and Tim was hungrier now for your second climax. He showed no mercy as he repeatedly pulled out only to push right back into you bottoming out, flipping you onto your stomach so he could lift your hips into the air, fucking you deeper, you swear you could feel his cock poking the inside of your stomach he was so deep, but he just kept going, wrapping his hand around your neck to pull your bare back against him, his lips ghosting over your ear “cum for me, rookie, wanna see that tight pussy squeeze my cock, like the desperate rookie you are” he spat, it just made you hotter, the way he talked down to you always did something to you, the way he had little regard over your feelings sometimes but then would turn around and care so much about you if anything happened.

“Fuck you like that, slut? Like whenever your commanding officer calls you out for the little desperate slut that you are?” He continued pushing your face back down into the pillows, you moaned loudly trying to push your hips back into his, but he continued to fuck you at his pace, only whenever he felt your body tense did he pull out replacing his cock with his mouth, licking up any cum that dare leaked past his lips, your legs twitched trying to close to get his mouth away from your clit but he just held your legs open, continuing to lick any part of your thighs and pussy clean. “Now, I think I deserve some payment for my amazing services” he panted leaning up glancing to his still hard cock back to you “I just wanted to see how good my girl tasted” he whispered, you whimpered sealing your fate as you dropped to your knees taking his cock into your mouth, you already knew you wouldn’t be able to handle the entire thing, so you took it slow, swallowing around him as he slowly bucked his hips into your mouth. It lasted about two minutes before Tim scoffed “may I show you how it’s done, slut?” He asked, you looked up at him through your lashes, nodding, never taking his cock out of your mouth, he grunted grabbing your hair and his cock leading it down your throat “breathe. Don’t stop breathing just breathe throw it” he coached, his tone no longer rough but more of caring, not wanting to see you choke (but secretly a little). As he nearly bottomed out you gagged around him, causing him to stumble slightly, stabilizing himself with your shoulders, he quickly thrusted into your mouth, sending his cock back down the back of your throat, remembering his words you moaned around him, his pace picking up, and his grip on your hair tightening before you felt a warm liquid shoot down your throat and pool in your cheeks as he pulled out, smirking as he slightly ran his tip over your lips leaving a coating of cum for you to lick clean. “Such a good girl” he whispered kneeling down to meet you “let’s get in the shower-“ you cut him off with a tired whine in protest, your legs felt like jelly and you were not about to stand in the shower for 30-45 minutes, no way. “Okay then let’s get in a bath, clean up, and we can watch this new true crime show I found, seems like something you’d be into” he shrugged, you smiled softly, even after calling you a desperate slut, he had already had a movie planned for afterwards “I guess…only if…you leave your shirt off..” you agreed using his hand to help yourself stand, Tim quick to stand to help stabilize you as he walked you to the bathroom “what is up with you and me being shirtless, l/n?” He asked as he helped you sit down next to the tub, allowing him to lean over to turn the water on and plug the drain “I dunno..you’re just..really nice to look at” you smirked giggling, before you knew it you were uncontrollably giggling “now what?” Tim asked, not being able to contain his smile as he watched you lean against the wall for support “I’m sorry! It’s just..we just..had sex!..” you whisper-yelled giggling loudly “seriously!? Are you a child or something!?” He laughed as he helped you into the warm bath, your muscles almost immediately relaxing as he slid in behind you, pulling you back to lean against his chest.

“I love you, y/n..and I know..with our jobs..but we can figure it out..right?” He asked softly, placing a soft kiss to the top of your head, you leaned back resting your cheek on his shoulder “we can..and we will..” you whispered, reassuring him before placing a gentle kiss on his jawline and turning back around to face the faucet, letting Tim start to rinse your hair out.

Part 4 lovelies? Or start getting some one shots out there?

[adore-laur]

CAKE

——

Harry pulls into the parking lot of the bakery he used to work at irregularly, the faded burgundy bricks a familiar sight. It hasn't been revamped much from when he was in his mid-twenties and struggling to earn a livable wage by juggling pastry-making, bartending, and training to be a chef. While he's not necessarily fond of those stressful workplace memories, the one that stands out the most is when he saw your pretty face again in the bakery. It was fate at its finest, and the rest is cherished history. He'll always be grateful for this place.

Over five years later, he is back with exhilaration thrumming in his chest. He's older now, his life wildly different than before he met you—now, he has a steadfast romance that keeps getting better, two precious daughters, and another baby on the way, all in a house where the ocean breeze kisses his skin every morning. He never envisioned being lucky enough to live out his dream so profoundly.

Harry steps out of the car, enjoying the subdued sunshine. He spins his key ring around his pointer finger, a smile already lifting his lips as he shoulders the front door open. The scent of baked bread and hints of vanilla greet him, along with the bakery's owner, Doreen, who gives him a cordial wave. She's a short woman in her sixties who has been running the place since before Harry was born. The long grey braid tapering down her back swings back and forth as she wipes the storefront windows with a rag. An apron is tied around her waist, the well-worn fabric dusted with flour and smears of blue frosting. She hasn't changed one bit.

"Hello, dear," Doreen says, briefly pausing her cleaning to kiss his cheek. Even on her tiptoes, Harry has to bend down to close the gap. "I know something you don't!"

He inhales deeply, that warm thrum returning. "You sure do."

She grins mischievously. "It's in the fridge, top left shelf. Help yourself."

Harry walks toward the two-section glass fridge behind the counter. A week ago, you did a blood test that could detect the baby's gender earlier than an ultrasound. At your request to keep it a secret for now, the obstetrician wrote the results down and sealed it in an envelope, which Harry then brought to the bakery and ordered a two-tier vanilla cake with either pink or blue frosting inside. Only the baker would know until it was sliced into by you and him. You both wanted a different type of reveal this time around. Last pregnancy, it was kept a surprise until birth. You're both too excited to wait this time.

"Thank you again for doing this," Harry says, taking the white bakery box with a yellow sticky note that has Styles Family scribbled on it. "If you ever need extra help around here, don't hesitate to give me a call."

"Oh, don't worry about me." Doreen places her hands on her hips, winking at him. "I'm sure you have your hands full at home."

He laughs softly. "I do, but they're wonderful little helpers. I could always bring them in, even if it's just to taste test."

"How old are they now?"

"Four and one. Our oldest is in her first year of preschool."

She shakes her head in disbelief. "Goodness, how time flies. Plus a bun in the oven?"

"She's eleven weeks," he replies, smiling proudly.

"How is she feeling?"

Harry thinks back to when he left this morning, leaving you lying in bed sandwiched by the kids still in their pajamas. "Pretty fatigued, but she knows what to expect by now. She's doing everything she can to stay motivated."

"Well, I was happy to hear the news and so honored to be one of the first ones to know such a special secret," Doreen says, pinching his earlobe affectionately. "I baked my best cake for you. Oh, that reminds me!" She scurries over to a nearby table to retrieve a wrapped plate with an assortment of desserts, no doubt baked by her. "These are for you and your girls."

Harry's heart swells, and he pecks her cheek with gratitude. "We appreciate it so much. And I'm serious: I'll put my old apron back on if you need me to. I still know how to make a mean batch of macarons."

She shoos him away with her cleaning rag. "Go on, you silly boy. Be with your family."

He beams on his way out of the bakery, wanting nothing more.

——

Harry arrives back home in the late morning, feeling grateful that it's the weekend. The house is quiet, and he'd bet money that his girls are in the same position he left them in an hour ago. Arguably, that's what Sundays are for—cuddles under warm sheets and no obligation to be anywhere else.

The front door snicks shut, and he walks the short distance to the kitchen to set the cake box on the island. His fingers itch to open it and sink a knife into the layer of frosting, but he refrains. The time will come.

Instead, he heads to the bedroom, keeping his footsteps light. Sure enough, you're curled up with two little girls tucked into the outline of your body. Harry commits the view to memory before sitting on the edge of the mattress. You stir awake from a light sleep, your eyes opening and finding him. The first-trimester fatigue is obvious, and it's as endearing as it was the first time.

"Morning, lazybones," he says softly.

You yawn, stretching your arms, and the fierce urge to hold you close and never leave this bed rushes through him. "Hi. Did you get the cake?"

"I did." He strokes the bridge of your nose with his knuckle, sensing your lethargy. "Feeling okay?"

"So-so. I was a little queasy earlier."

"Did you eat yet?" he asks, and you shake your head in response. "Want me to make something?"

"I don't have much of an appetite, but I'm sure the girls would love a big breakfast," you say. Harry smiles, taking a moment to admire their innocent faces still deep in sleep. He hopes they're having pleasant dreams.

"Okay. I'll be in the kitchen."

"Wait for me, please." You carefully sit up with a dazed and adorable look in your eyes.

Harry sighs fondly and says, "You need to listen to your body. Don't resist rest."

Pouting, you shed the blanket and swing your legs over the bed, ignoring his sensible advice. "But my body's telling me that it misses you."

"Sweetheart..." He cuts himself off, realizing he has no way to refute that. He knows wholeheartedly because he feels it too. Working full-time and coming home to parent with you leaves little room for quality time together. Consequently, there was never time to squeeze a babymoon in the past four years. He'll have to ponder that idea more in-depth, especially now that your pregnancy is swiftly heading to the halfway mark. Probably smart to plan a trip during that sweet spot, when you're not too physically uncomfortable. He wants to have fun with you, away from the kids. Explore an exotic place and luxuriate in romance with no one around.

"Harry?" you say, pulling him out of his titillating trance. He was just beginning to envisage you naked on a canopy bed in Fiji, the evening sun casting over your dips and curves. Lying there all majestically, waiting for him to feast on you. Paradise personified.

"Sorry, just musing." He clears his throat and thinks of innocent things, like buttermilk pancakes and hash browns.

"Uh-oh," you reply playfully before standing up and leaving him with a tempting view of your bare legs. As you freshen up in the bathroom, Harry leans over his daughters and kisses their heads. They both stir minimally, their disheveled curls rustling against the pillows. He wonders if his genes will ever have mercy in that department when the next baby arrives.

Eventually, you follow Harry into the kitchen, and there's a familiar thrill in having a brief window of alone time before the kids require attention. He smoothly pulls you into his embrace and asks, "How's our baby?"

You look down at your stomach and lift the silk camisole covering it. "Finally making an appearance, I think."

Pulling back slightly, Harry assesses the tiny protrusion—it's much tinier than the last two were around the same eleven-week mark. "Oh, hello there," he murmurs with a winsome smile. The proof of you carrying a child is nearly unnoticeable, at least in a physical sense, but the smallness keeps it a secret from any outsiders. Inside this home, it's his to savor.

You laugh, silently marveling over it with him, then glance at the cake over his shoulder. "We could have cake for breakfast."

Harry pulls you close again and waddles your conjoined bodies forward until your back meets the island. "That depends on if you want to find out now or later. It's up to you."

Looping your arms around his neck, you contemplate for a few seconds before saying, "Let's wait until later tonight—at least until I'm feeling better."

"Absolutely. Maybe we can head down to the beach at sunset with the girls. Have a mini celebration."

You nod. "I'd like that."

"Done deal." The thin strap of your silk camisole slips down your shoulder, and Harry groans when the curve of your breast peeks out. He cups it in his palm, and your body reacts by pressing into him even further. "So, what's your final prediction?" he asks, kissing the tender flesh there and readjusting the strap. Focus, he tells himself. The girls need breakfast.

You make a show of thinking long and hard. "Unforeseen quadruplets? I'd be a medical mystery."

Harry narrows his eyes, suppressing a grin. "Hysterical." He widens his stance until he's the same height as you. "C'mon, give it to me."

"Final prediction is... girl," you say assuredly. That word tugs at his heartstrings, the ones belonging to the instinctive protectiveness he has toward his daughters.

"I'm sticking with boy," he says for the sake of a friendly husband-wife competition.

You quirk your brow and slowly back out of his embrace. "I can't believe you're not trusting my womanly intuition."

"I've guessed correctly the last two times," he reminds you. "Don't underestimate my mojo."

"All right. Best of luck, baby."

——

Harry shivers in an overdramatic fashion while holding his youngest daughter, and she giggles, thoroughly entertained. He always enjoys the walk down to the private beach, where the expansive view never ceases to amaze him. At sunset, it's even more phenomenal. The wind carries a coolness to it, and the sky transpires into heavenly hues of lavender, teal, and marigold. No matter the weather, he makes an effort to watch it fade into the night alongside his family.

Tonight is extra special, and as he glances back at you trailing behind with the cake box and two empty champagne glasses in one hand and your eldest's small hand in the other, his excitement intensifies. He was patient all afternoon, even crawling back in bed with you and the girls to bask in a catnap under the warm sheets. Afterward, the laziness continued as you all watched a movie together on the couch and ate takeout. Now it's time for dessert.

Near the shoreline, Harry sets down his youngest and removes the quilted blanket from around his shoulders. He shakes it out and watches her toddle on the sand. She just started walking on her own last month, and he can never be too cautious with her curious nature. There's nothing more bloodcurdling than a child wandering off without a sound.

The girls go off to play with their dolls near the sandcastle they built near the hammock. It's far enough from the waves for them to be semi-unsupervised.

Harry lays the blanket down and sits. You join him, passing over the glasses. He brought a bottle of grape juice as a substitute for wine.

After pouring juice into each glass, Harry hands one over to you and lifts his in the air. "Cheers to growing our beautiful family. Cheers to being happy, healthy, and perpetually sleep-deprived. We make an amazing team, and... I just love you. Inexplicably so." He clinks his glass with yours and takes a hearty sip, never taking his eyes off you.

"Cheers," you say, letting the tart liquid travel down your throat.

Harry rubs his palms together and says, "Ready?"

You give him a smile only he knows the meaning of. "Let's have some cake."

He slides the box over and fingers open the seal. When he lifts the top, you shuffle forward and melt into his side, staying there as he stares at the coating. It's only plain white buttercream frosting with swirly pink and blue dollops caressing the circular edge, but the part that makes him teary-eyed is the cursive icing that reads Baby Styles. Although it's his third and most likely last child, the feeling never gets old. Each experience challenges him in an entirely new way. It's unexpected, enlightening, and emotionally rewarding. And to do it by your side is the greatest accomplishment he'll ever know.

Wiping the corners of his eyes, Harry picks up the knife. You place your hand over his grip on the handle and kiss his bicep. "No peeking," you say, closing your eyes.

Harry does the same and rests his forehead against yours. Slowly, he maneuvers the knife to blindly cut a triangular slice. His heart pounds in anticipation. The bet he made with you doesn't matter anymore. Either way, he'll be ecstatic.

"You look first," he whispers, his lips brushing yours with each syllable.

"No, you do it," you whisper back.

"You know, we never discussed what the prize is for whoever guessed correctly," he says, shifting the knife so the slice breaks free.

"I know what I want."

"Yeah?" he murmurs, nudging his nose with yours. "Tell me.”

"I want to go on vacation somewhere far away, just me and you."

"Remember what happened last vacation?" His eyes are still closed, and vivid memories play behind his lids.

"Yes, I do,” you say. “You got me pregnant, but that was only because there was something in the Italian air."

He laughs and captures your lips in a quick kiss. "Is that the only reason? I seem to recall you—"

"Daddy, what flavor is the pink stuff?"

Harry's eyes shoot open, and for a split second, he sees that yours are still shut as his head whips toward his eldest daughter skipping over with her favorite doll in tow. His youngest follows her, picking up handfuls of sand along the way.

Brows furrowed, he looks at you again to find you staring at the cake with a dumbstruck expression. He honestly forgot it was there, too caught up in the intimate moment he was sharing with you, where the darkness enhanced the warm sensations of his skin touching yours, the grape scent of your breath, and the way your sensual words sent shivers down his spine.

All that floats away when he sees creamy pink frosting in the middle of the sponge cake. It's a delicate shade of pink similar to the newborn hospital hat they put on his firstborn daughter. Similar to the sunrise the day his second daughter decided to come into the world.

Pink. Another baby girl.

Making a spontaneous choice, Harry pulls his sweater off and sprints full speed toward the ocean, shouting with glee. He hears your shocked guffaw as he tumbles forward into the shallow water. The coldness is a shock to his system, but it doesn't compare to the fact that you're having a girl. He hoped for it deep in his heart. He dreamt it.

You walk over to him, eyes glassy and holding a large forkful of cake. "I was right!"

Harry heaves big breaths, adrenaline rushing through his blood vessels. His sweatpants are soaked, but it's the last thing on his mind. He clumsily reaches you and places his palms on your stomach, kissing it repeatedly. "I love you, I love you, I love you," he says, overwhelmed with emotion. He looks up, his next words intended for you. "You made our dreams come true, baby. And I don't know how to repay you, but I’ll try. I swear it.”

"You've already repaid me, Harry, by being the most devoted and dependable father to our girls."

He smiles, his cheeks hurting. "Three girls now. Holy shit.”

You collapse in his arms, crying and laughing with happiness. He catches you and gently brings you down to the sand. The wind whips around both your bodies, not able to penetrate the heat of this unforgettable moment.

Amidst bites of cake and promises of a couple's vacation to wherever your heart desires, a shout of "It's strawberry-flavored!" carries over, nestling deep in Harry’s heart.

Life couldn't be sweeter.

——

[saoirseyun]

BENEATH MIDNIGHT RAIN ━━━━ . . . ‘CAUSE CAREFUL, BABE— #01

SYNOPSIS — An unlikely duo that is you and Chuuya and finding a close relation you have with him. Little did you knew, will this rendezvous pursue (alongside another, secretive third thing, love.)

CONTENT WARNING — beast spoilers, not canon compliant, references to capitalism, not really unrequited love, kinda angsty, strangers to friends to lovers, teasing, suggestive, religious imagery, canon typical violence, light depictions of violence/blood, oblivious chuuya

AUTHOR'S NOTE — ....heh. guess who's coming out with another fic idea!

WORD COUNT — Less than 2k words, not proofread

—After dark bluffs of you and Nakahara Chuuya aggressively swearing at the unfair life lived together were all too frequent for both ends. Too frequent for a liking? Ehh, what does it matter? When both parties are having fun, right? It ain't no sin. It also ain't like you haven't been sinned for life beneath Port Mafia work and influence which then takes upon a hefty toll that charges and cramps the muscles and bones.

Perhaps that was the back pain kicking in. Who knows? You stretched your body out slightly at the minor break of idea, delicately after a painful knot discovers in you.

Quick case, great work detective. You thought with a laughing stock smile.

Though in any, any case to continue off—this even unending mislead conversations left to no abandon after the sense to flaunt around how things are always too imperfect and stained with dark blood on carpet floors and reeks the hallways for months maybe a potential years in advance. Helpless! Chuuya stiffs at your quirk humor so sudden and unapologetic to comedic rule or timing.

Whatever the hell a joke does, finally, do suit like a joke.

What can he say? It's his definitive meaning! Chuuya chuckles at the thrilled drama. Show upfront abandon script.

Ah, yes.

The guiltless romanticism and nonsensical fun of it.

Strangely to which how it felt so enough to you having heard all of that sicken rotten words from him. As it happens... Consider restless hours from having to work for the sadistic and narcissistic ideals of the higher-ups—that is being Chuuya's boss of the infamous Port Mafia, Dazai Osamu and of course alongside your own—and restless, restless crunches in order to force out results out of their employees under two or so hours. Faults for their ears if they ever do discover the gossip... Let's be realistic, it's definitely yours but Chuuya's head may be safe...? You can't tell who really is this Dazai fellow.

Chuuya looks like he's having the time of his life—once a chance in a single lifetime type-of bullshit as he goes off. Beautifully, might be added, as if his boss has spurred and fed a starved for purpose and reason black hole. It's not gluttonous, but extremely, deathly, just hungry for something.

A sensation unfulfilled. A plate, porcelain, even raw to chew as desperation for breath, kind of.

It's sickening. You love it, don't you?

"Right! Now he's tellin' me to go off overtime when he knows for shit I can't leave base HQ without a restless bone in my body nagging me to get back in there!"

You're just as converse another second with him to such setting underneath a cover of the bus stop's roof against its rubber glass. Flatly sat on the bench next to the friendly gravity manipulator you made come accustomed towards now a times. It wasn't anything special or new experienced—but you—you were there accompanied with him. "I can't help but be flabbergasted every single time! I'm at my limit!"

"If you were," You deject, reproach as friendly as you do seem for Chuuya, "I would've noticed. You're still holding things in now? I'm offended. I thought I knew you." Regardless, there's hardly any sincerity or impact to effort when you answer. You just took Chuuya in, like accepting.

You didn't noticed either, did you? When you stared... Stared and stared longer until you blink twice at once and held back sore eye tears. Hands to your lap, unsure, you let him rant.

He needs it anyway.

"Hey, hey. You can't expect a man to open up as easy as that. I know it's been days since the first meeting but still—I gotta learn to trust you thoroughly."

"Sounds like you've never had a friend."

"...Friends that won't be able to last long," You stuff a laughing stocking out those bashful cheeks. You're as smug as ever, and that's not okay, y'know? That's a bad start in hindsight. "When neither likes being next to each other's breath any longer since, well, simply... Things don't fit right."

Chuuya left a shaky scoff, the rain on your heads drips from the bus stop's eaves and his fingers fondled with one another. Touching thumbs as he breathes in and out so slowly in motion and pace the sudden briefing of a meaningless and lonely world shared and ignited by but two stranger-to-friends acquaintances. The heel of his shoe digs into the ground and sparks a glare, amused. Very much well amused at you. "Do you leave first or do they?"

"It depends," You admit with an unbearable amount of instability in your tone, voice, and prominently those gestures seeming so sheepish—skittish and at fear for their blood almost! Chuuya helds back, choking down upon himself, and disrupts the moment unprepared. You blinked, however he moves his hand to signal 'continue'...

Just as you did,

"I mean, mostly they feel more of situationships and ending up being nothing more. When I do just assumed me and them were friends, then allowed this distance to form... We drift apart."

"You're terrible at contact."

"...T-terrible?!"

You're humbled. Thanks Chuuya, it didn't needed to be known so widely! Widely, in question, that is the passing card and flickered lights ruined by the rain and its gruesome but peaceful atmosphere. Your head flicks to his direction, a smirk to his face when you realized at once—albeit the talk and relapse of distance, hard was there to be found between you and Chuuya. Daresay though, inbetween? You slide to your right on the long stools, "Not that sort of contact, Chuu."

"If it isn't, then you wouldn't have reacted."

"Oh you, don't act as if it isn't common sense. Besides, if I did it you would've been uncomfortable,"

"You're just as bad as me. If not a hundredfold. You don't look like a man who dates."

Man down! He's fallen out of excuses and brags, has he? Isn't that too soon—oh so declared 'already'!? It's humorous. When he, similarly to you, slides to the edge of the long stool by his left opposite to your own side. Now it's even, as above so does below. "Please, honey. Port Mafia don't do that type of distractions..."

"It's hard enough to anyway. When boss has been restrictive and tight to these damn missions and deadlines. Plots, schedules... The dangerous ones."

Because the god they believed in left so long ago must people and man nature place their trust at blood-thirsty hands and stakes for beg. What is there to live if in the end meets death? It's complimentary. Con...temporary. As a means necessary to ends, cutting corners. This is the result of raw undiagnosed beliefs and religions slashed short of hope. What can he say? Chuuya has nothing to do but be Dazai's sick and twisted little pawn moreso rather than a bodyguard, "...Which, you can't leave?"

Here's the point though! "Why would I leave?" Cause everything, at least to him at some rate, is fine and adjusted to his own set of standards and understanding ways of life—and where can he go about next? Not when the Sheep's roaming the streets unruly—powerful, much more unpredictable than before—and Paul Verlaine at threat if ever he does leave... "I can't see the best reason in order to, alright? All I wish is for that damned Dazai to screw up somehow and fucking suffers a painful death. Can't be having to be done by myself." Chuuya rants without proper direction. "Port Mafia scum gets loyal."

You watched him smoke. Yeah, take out the regular pack of cigarettes pulling himself back together at reality at hand and chokehold the redhead until a long period of time, as it feels like. Even when his gloved hands and to those fingertips has it felt burnt already, y'know? Just when you know, you know, and that's it.

That it's addiction—

"Would you say that you're the loyal type too?"

That question takes him off guard when you uttered the courage to ask him this varied thing, valued and prosperous loyalty unbound... But it doesn't take a guilty man to reply long. "Yeah," He admits, like it or not sort of deal when he tells it to you out the open with the smoke graining his lips crust. "I hate it, don't worry. Because I honestly wouldn't know what to do if I were to lose him still; it's an odd feeling to be getting for your own boss that I proclaim to hate and wish killed someday." Chuuya snickers. Stomping down the cigarette to the ground useless just as quickly as it was lit by his lighter.

"And, y'know what's stranger? Storing this strong feeling of guard knowing how it'll always be unrequited, worthless in the end."

"If I were to fall in love, I'd be hopeless. I probably wouldn't have move on as ever. Nothing's new under the sun."

"...It has yet to experience more millennials of sunrises and sunsets, especially the moon." You argue. "I wouldn't say you're far from being saved from non reciprocated affections." So you cross your arms and promised him this:

"Let's continue meeting like this until the time's changed drastic."

The boldest statement Chuuya exactly—no, precisely needed to hear from someone today and it works as a charm to fallen gentle of loveable submission. He leans to the shoulder, "Then... I guess it doesn't hurt waiting for your bus back to your street with you."

It would've been the better move to go be fearless and take himself to your home. Alas, saved for another day, another time, the second night that is yet to come approach.

That's all you have to know, upon the clashing headlights beginning to ignite entrance and reveal a classical yellow bus. A goodbye to the mafioso, left unsent.

[thatfinewine]

THE RICK AND MORTY SEASON 8 FIRST LOOK JUST DROPPED!

( twitter, youtube )

Typed up and added the script to this post just because. :D

- - - - - - - - - - - ✂

(The scene opens with Rick and Morty listening to a true crime podcast in their spaceship.)

Podcaster voice: You're about to learn the horrible fate of the Oak Point High lacrosse team, whose annual retreat took a bloody turn... But this podcast isn't about autopsies or graphic reports or their fascinating murders. We're not here to do that--

(Both look annoyed. Rick turns off the podcast.)

Rick: Too bad, someone else will.

Morty: It's a big market, man.

(The ship gives an alert and shows a model of a large spacecraft.)

Ship: Cryo-Ship detected.

Rick: Ooh, power's still online! (Burps.) What do you think, Morty? A bunch of sleeping beauties? Wanna go tap on some glass?

Morty: That could be fun! We- we haven't done one of those in a while. Think they have a basketball court?

Rick: Basketball court, huh?

Morty: Ball is life!

(They fly to and land inside the cryo-ship. Rick turns on the lights and whistles. They start walking around, looking at the cryo-pods with aliens placed into cryo-sleep inside of them.)

Rick: Holy shit! Look at this place! Damn, Morty! It ain't just your run-of-the-mill arc ship. This thing is gold-plated!

(Morty knocks on the glass of one of the cryo-pods.)

Morty: Wow. Where do you think they're going? Colonizing a new planet?

(Rick accesses the ship's computer and laughs at what he sees.)

Rick: Heh, looks like these guys flung themselves into space after wrecking their homeworld. This'll be like taking candy from a baby... if that baby was in a coma!

Morty: Oh! We're- we're robbing them?

(Rick gestures to the computer screen.)

Rick: They robbed their planet first, Morty.

(The two find a giant sealed vault door and run up to it.)

Rick: Whoa, mama! You see this, Morty? This thing is fancy! Computer said it's got super-rare hyper-coal inside. The planet they left is a husk, Morty! They sucked their marble dry!

(Rick attempts to get inside by pressing a button on the vault computer. The vault computer denies him entry.)

Cryo-ship computer voice: Access denied.

Rick: ...Huh.

(Rick frowns and removes a device from his labcoat and puts it on top of the vault's computer, trying to hack his way in. The vault computer beeps twice, showing he is still denied access.)

Rick: Alright, on second thought, let's just blow a hole in the ship and drag the vault home.

Morty: WHAT?!

(Rick ignores him and pulls out a bag from his labcoat.)

Rick: Help me with these charges.

Morty: Rick, I'm fine with taking candy from a baby, but I draw the line at blowing up the stroller!

(Morty grabs the bag of explosives. He and Rick start fighting over it.)

Rick: What the hell, Morty! We're not LITERALLY robbing babies!

(The bag tears and Morty falls backward. The explosives in the bag fly across the floor. One hits the floor and activates.)

Rick: Goddamnit, Morty! Look what you did!

(Rick activates a forcefield to shield them from the blast as the device explodes. An alarm from the cryo-ship's speakers begins blaring as fire spreads from the explosion. Sprinklers from the ceiling turn on and begin raining water down to try to put out the fire.)

Cryo-ship computer voice: Fire detected. Emergency cryo-wake commencing in 30 seconds…

(Morty starts running up the stairs back to the main area of the cryo-ship, and Rick follows behind him.)

Rick: You little shit! You woke 'em up!

Morty: Fine! Let's get out of here!

(Rick grabs the collar of Morty's shirt and yanks him back. Rick types something into the cryo-ship computer.)

Rick: Fuck you! I'm not leaving without that hyper-coal!

(The ship shows a red X over two of the cryo-pods, both on separate levels of the ship. Rick starts pulling his own ears into points to make himself look like the aliens inside of the cryo-pods.)

Rick: Now go find that other pod with a dead guy in it!

(Rick pulls Morty's ears into points as Morty yelps like it hurts.)

Morty: Hey!

(Rick continues talking over him.)

Rick: Sub-bay 18!

Morty: What dead guy?!

(Rick begins removing his own clothes so he's naked like the aliens in the other cryo-pods.)

Rick: Just get in the pod with the bones! Or don't and get thrown out an airlock!

(Rick grabs the skeleton from the open pod and puts it into a box. He puts the box inside of a small chamber, closing the door and hiding the box. Rick climbs inside of the now empty cryo-pod.)

Cryo-ship computer voice: Cryo-wake in 10 seconds…

Morty: RICK!

Rick: You did this to yourself, Morty! Your dumb-ass moral compass has really fucked things up!

(Rick slams the cryo-pod closed. Morty screams in panic and starts running to find the other cryo-pod to hide in.)

Morty: Oh God! Oh jeez!

(Rick and Morty title card.)

[discotenny]

If he wanted to, he would

Goro Akechi, formerly famous teen detective and current convicted felon, is standing at your door with a bag of take out and two bottles of drinks. A familiar sight.

“Here,” he says, handing you the bag and strolling into your apartment so casually it’s like he owns the place.

It’s a common routine so much that you don’t even have it in you to argue your surprise anymore. Every now and then, your boyfriend would show up at your door without notice with a gift in tow. While you’d have planned meetups throughout the week, the sight of Akechi standing awkwardly through your peephole is always a welcomed shock.

You follow him to your kitchen counter and set down the mystery food he brought over today. The savory smell released from the closed bag is warm, and you wonder how good the food must be if the smell is already so enticing. A familiar logo on the receipt catches your eye. You choose to ignore how sizable the bill is.

“Oh, isn’t this from that new restaurant I was telling you about yesterday, Goro?” You look at him with a teasing smile and catch him turn away to your cabinets.

“Do you seriously only have one clean glass?” He pulls it out with feigned annoyance as he ignores your tease.

“Well, I wasn’t really expecting company on a Tuesday night~” You walk over to him and wrap your arms around his shoulders from behind. Faintly you can feel him grasp the glass tighter in an attempt not to drop it in surprise.

“W-well! I-I passed by it on my commute and just happened to be hungry so-“

You laugh into his back, which causes him to stop his flustered ramble. “Well, thank you. Even if this was just a ‘so happened to be there’ type thing.” You move his hair out of his neck and press a small kiss to the crane of it.

For the sake of the glass, Akechi places the cup down with a sigh. He lifts up your hands gently, guided by a soft “up,” and turns around. His own hands find their place on the bone of your hips, bringing you ever closer to him.

For just a few moments, he stares at you. Maroon eyes cross over your face and you let him examine you without any comment. His gaze shifts from your lips, a small quiver in his own at the sight- to the apples of your cheeks, and you can just barely make out the softening of his features. Finally, his eyes settle on your own and you’re able to fully indulge yourself in the moment with your lover.

His eyes- his beautiful, wonderful eyes. They look at you with a restrained softness, as if he’s scared to push further with his affections more than this. The quiver of his lip emphasizes his nervousness but the softness of his features show just how much he cares.

Slowly, one of his hands moves towards your face, brushing away a stray piece of hair. Softly, Akechi presses a kiss to your forehead before pulling away. You want to chase after him and fully press your lips into his, but you know any further might cause him to explode in a fluster filled frenzy.

“Do you want ice in the glass? I’m fine drinking from the bottle,” he says, going back to the cup in the counter. There’s a light blush on his cheeks as he lifts it up for you to see.

“Oh- you can use that one! I’ll wash one from the sink,” you say with a smile, “I should also go ahead and wash some plates for us to eat on.”

“You don’t have any clean plates either?” Akechi says with an incredulous expression. With a half annoyed sigh he continues- “I’ll do the dishes, you can just go ahead and set out the food.”

As you unpack the bag- several containers of hot food fill up your small granite island. A variety of dishes, probably one from each category of the wide menu. If it were anyone but Akechi, you probably would’ve been surprised someone cared so much to bring this much food.

The sink begins to run and you catch sight of Akechi slipping on your bright pink dish washing gloves. As he gets to work, you can’t help but want to tease him once more.

“Hey, didn’t you work from home today? What commute did you even make?”

“W-well-“

⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩

BIG BIG GORO BOY MOOD

[tinydefector]

Hi!! 😆

Can I have Soundwave x human reader (smut pls (ง ͠° ͟ل͜ ͡°)ง)?

People didn't write him much, my husband need more love 😔🤌❤️✨

Thank for reading this!!

Stress relief

Soundwave x human reader

Warnings: Smut, Oral, Cockwarning

Word count: 1.5K

Request and ask open, read pinned post

Soundwave masterlist

__________________

"Soundwave can you re-check that scanner for me, I can't reach it to recalibrate its systems from here" the human's voice calls out to the intelligence officer, as they move around Soundwave desk in a scattered fashion trying to find maps and energon signals.

 Soundwave helm tilts slightly at the request as he turns to observe his human.he runs his own diagnostics, clearly indicating the scanner does not need recalibration. Soundwave almost uncanny mix of voices patch together speak:  " assistance not required. Scanner functioning adequately."  He remains standing quietly, typing away at the large computer with his servos while his tendrils rearrange scattered data pads. 

Their eyes meet his visor, looking up at him slightly frazzled. "Are you sure they are?" 

 With a sigh, he re reviews the scanner readings again, analysing more closely given the human's evident fatigue. His displays flash as data is processed.  "Confirmation: scanner calibration within normal parameters. However, you appear in need of recharge." The mixed voices of Knockout, Starscream and their own voice echoes back at them as He awaits a response, sensors attuned to subtle cues that could indicate the depth of exhaustion and other issues requiring assistance. 

"I'm fine soundwave" they call out while moving back to continue working, soundwave wraps his digits around them, pulling them back against his form, his visor tilted down to look at their eyes, he knows full well they are exhausted and Fatigue was catching up to their smaller frame. "I promise soundwave, I'm fine"

Soundwave detects elevated stress levels and the possibility of accident or harm at the current state of exhaustion. Soft ventilations cycle through his frame as his digits gently but firmly enfold the human in a protective hold.  "Statement: physiological indicators suggest otherwise."  His visor dims softly. Forcing the issue would risk negative impact, not only on his work but their work too.  

"I'm not gonna win this argument with you am I?" 

 Soundwave's visor remains dimmed calmly as the human speaks. He processes their words carefully before responding.  "Negative." They sigh softly and press their head against Soundwave's shoulder plating, each of his steps echoing throughout the halls.   "Are you going to stay with me tonight, or does megatron have you working even more?" Soundwave processes the question, sensing his partner's wish for company while recharging.

 A brief comm link check confirms he has no urgent tasks requiring his attention for night's cycle. "Megatron: aware of mission status. No tasks assigned to Soundwave at this time. I will remain for your recharge cycle"  he responds as the doors to his quarters slide open upon their arrival.   

A soft nod comes from his little lover as they lay against him. Their body is exhausted, but their brain isn't willing to shut off. After laying against soundwave for another ten minutes with no luck with falling asleep, they sigh, fidgeting around while trying to get comfortable.

 His vocalizer hums a deep, resonant tone, One digit begins tracing lazy circles on the back, slowly tracing their spinal column, "Systems are monitoring. Please attempt to rest,"  comes another of his recordings.

"Not tired," they whisper while looking up at Soundwave, leaning into his touch, enjoying having him focus on them instead of work. They had both been overrun with work as of recent.

helm tilting minutely as nonverbal concern radiates through his plating.  " Do you require distraction from responsibilities through additional stimuli?"  

They sit up resting on Soundwave's lower torso, hands spread out across the Decepticons chassis. "I am tired, horny and frustrated, soundwave, and with  everything happening, when we get even a small amount of time together, you get called away," they mumble. 

 Soundwave cycles a calm ventilated sigh, processing their words. His field pulses with understanding and care for their concerns. "Your doubts are logical. However, my function is to maximise efficiency of all personnel. A brief interface encounter now could provide valuable recharge. I will ensure we are not disturbed."  His field and plating radiate gentle invitation. 

 A soft gasp escapes their lips as soundwave pulls them further up his body. The Decepticon's digits caressing their body. Leaning in closer, they press their lips to his visor.  A low hum resonates from Soundwave's vocoder. One digit trails tenderly down a flank as another cradles them, holding their form against plating of his chest as a loud purring sound vibrates from him.  

A small squeal leaves their lips as Soundwave discards their clothing quickly with nimble digits. Dimming the lights, Soundwave carefully lowers his battle-mask with a soft hiss, His purple optics glow softly in the darkness, as a talon traces down his lovers form, tracing patterns into their skin.

Leaning close 'til his ex-vents whisper against skin, Pressing a gentle kiss to willing lips in silent promise, he commits this moment to memory. A soft content sigh falls from the human's lips as they kiss him back. It's slightly awkward but neither cares at that moment.

Soundwave runs soft kisses along their neck, chest, and hips as he brings them closer.

At the human's content sigh, gentle pulses from his plating as cooling ex-vents whisper against sensitised skin, his touches trailing softly yet deliberately to relax tense muscles and ease away lingering worries. 

As Soundwave’s glossa finds its way between their legs, soft moans fall from their lips. Small hands move to grip his helm. "Soundwave." At the human's soft calling of his name, Soundwave rumbles acknowledgment against flesh, his servos gripping hips to hold them steady as he runs his glossa across their needy sex. drinking in their essence, committing every hitch of their breath, and fluttered responses to permanent memory files saved only for him. 

As warmth spreads within the human's pliant frame, Soundwave's field surges in adoring pulses, lips, and glossa blessing willing flesh in turn as his devotion shows through electronic hums and tender strokes. Their head rolls back as their back arches, soft whines leaving them with each stroke of Soundwave’s Glossa as it presses into their sweet form. "Soundwave, please," they whine out, their hands attempting to pull the mech's face closer. 

At their breathless plea, Soundwave rumbles acknowledgment, Talons gently part willing thighs as his glossa delves with new focus, oral prehensors savouring each hitching gasp and soft cry his ministrations draw forth. As warmth peaks within the willing human, Soundwave dedicates all sensors to saturating their body. It doesn't take long for them to reach release, so much pent up energy, stress and frustration slips away as they go boneless in the Decepticon's hands. Soft pants leaving their parted lips as soundwave cleans up the mess with his mouth. Gentle affectionate rumbles leave him, field swelling with pulses of devotion and gratitude as he cleans every trace of pleasures with care. His glossa traces tender after-touches as their body goes lax in his hold. 

Optics remain darkened as he simply dedicates sensors to monitoring each slowing ventilation and relaxing muscle, wishing only to ensure their full tranquillity. Soundwave raises his helm to cradled hips,kissing it lightly and nuzzling farewell against flushed skin beneath laboured breaths, inhaling the musk of their sex and skin. 

A final hum resounds through his plating, and powerful yet delicate digits stroke through human hair with utmost care. his array's interface plaque shifts aside, hisses open and pressurises his spike.Optics flare softly to gaze upon at his lover's relaxed features. Secured in cradling servos and pulsing field, the human's lax yet willing frame I'd slowly pressed against his body, content simply to maintain sensory contact,

soft whines fall From his human's lips, as they take him in their body stretching with a loud moan. A few soft thrusts are all it takes for Soundwave to settle into them, cradling their body close, At his lovers soft sounds of pleasure, Soundwave rumbles gentle reciprocation, cradling their sated form securely against his form with one arm as his other arm retrieves a datapad

Ever once in a while his optics flicker down to monitoring his partner's relaxation even as his digits skillfully operate the pad's controls. Data streams across the display - ship schematics, translation algorithms, delicate encryption sequences - yet his true focus remains solely on the human resting atop his array. 

Here in isolated peace, all doubts dissolve. His frame supports theirs. Tired eyes slowly drift closer as soft breath even out, indicating they had fallen asleep, small hands are spread out across his chassis, their body moving slightly with each breath they take. This was true contentment. At the human's soft, steady ex-vents and relaxing muscles, Soundwave's field cycles in waves of tranquil pulsations, a digit gently strokes their hair, back and shoulders as his embrace holds them securely. 

“rest well little one” his voice mumbles softly for no one to hear but himself. 

[letmedixonyou]

i'm not yours - part 9

summary: Daryl and you are friends. He dated Leah. You told him you loved him and things fell apart. Will it ever go back to normal?

Daryl keeps looking for the clues connecting anyone to your beating incident, and you try to fix his vinyl player while he's out of the house. When he comes back you have a sweet conversation and finally go back to being friends again.

words: 2.8k

warnings: swearing, mentions of killing (walkers and people)

A/N: Hello, muffins! Here I am with another part. I checked for mistakes 3 times, but it seems okay to me. Again, English is not my first language so the errors will probably occur to the English natives. I can also say already that there are going to be 15 parts to this, so we have 6 parts to go! <3

Read previous part here!

NEXT PART HERE: part 10

Daryl visited you and took care of you every single day for weeks. It almost felt like nothing had changed between you two; like everything was normal again. But was it really? Or was it just a façade that you two put up so you didn't have to deal with the unresolved issues? You tried not to think about it too much and just enjoyed the fact that Daryl was close again, even though he wasn't very chatty these days. Maybe he's still holding a grudge about your feelings for him, or maybe he just doesn't know how to return to being your friend again. He would bring you new books and some comics to read, so you wouldn't get bored, but boredom got you pretty fast after reading your third book in a week. You started missing movies right about then. You thought about your favourite TV shows and how your family would watch them all together after dinner. Now, all you can do is push through with your memories of it and an incredible imagination.

He would cook for you, usually something simple and quick that you could reheat if you wanted to, before vanishing for entire nights, trying to find out who had beaten you up. You had your suspicions, but you didn't tell him about it. Why? You were scared of what would happen. The information, or rather a clue, would make him go into a fight mode, for sure. You knew him well enough to admit that. So you kept your thoughts to yourself.

That didn't stop him from continuously asking you about the details or anything you remembered from the fight. No matter how many times you told him that it was dark and you didn't see or hear them, as they did not speak, just occasionally grunted while driving their feet into your body. He kept asking and trying to make sense of who would want to do this to you. Your tongue itched with an answer. For you, it was obvious.

You were glad that he was clueless like this. Maybe he just didn't want to believe it or found it hard to create that type of scenario in his head. Maybe it was too much for him to handle right about now. You didn't blame him, he had a lot on his plate as of late - his best friend fell in love with him, his girlfriend broke up with him because of the best friend, and he has chores and duties in Alexandria that he has to do, even if he is tired and doesn't want to, and now he turned into a detective, trying to solve a case - all of it probably making a huge mess in his brain.

You busy yourself with some reading once again, but it was starting to get excruciatingly boring. How many times can you read the same plot in multiple books? Putting it down on the sofa armrest, you suddenly remembered that you still had Daryl's vinyl player that needed to be fixed. That would be a good distraction, you thought and slowly pushed yourself up. The pain was less prominent now, so you could move a little bit better, although Daryl would scold you for even trying. It didn't matter how many times you said you felt fine and walking and moving around didn't hurt much anymore, he dragged you back to the sofa every single time. This time, he wasn't here, so you could freely roam around for a while.

You step into your bedroom and open your wardrobe. Reaching up onto the shelf, you pull the vinyl down, alongside many different tiny parts in a white cloth bag. You also pick up your screwdrivers, glue and anything else you'd need before attempting repair. Once you got everything you needed, you took it to the living room and put it on top of the coffee table. Leaning down, just enough to not feel pain in your ribs, you examined the vinyl player. You were a good tinkerer and you had a good understanding of electronic shit, although the player was old which required some knowledge about old electronics. You didn't have that, but you decided to try anyway.

After hours of fiddling and fidgeting, glueing and trying to pull tiny bits apart and put them back together again, you sigh deeply realising that making that playing vinyl records on this thing is going to need more than just a couple hours of repair. You most definitely will need some help from Eugene, as he is the only person with enough knowledge about this stuff.

After another hour of carefully glueing the tiny, broken bits to the exterior of the machine, you feel drowsy and you close your eyes for a minute, just to rest them. Before you realise it, you start quietly snoring, a screwdriver loosely in your hand. Your mind is blank for the first time since the incident. You feel like you can fully enjoy some sleep. Using your brain for more than reading books was a good idea, after all.

Daryl's head started to hurt about two hours ago when he checked the path you were beaten up on for the bazillion times. He was trying so hard to find out who attacked his best friend that the rage of not knowing was slowly sipping out through his veins. He could've sworn there was a red, hot, bright aura around him.

He went to the place where she was beaten up, thinking that he would get some good clues - maybe a blood trail or some footprints, or maybe a goddamn piece of fabric that was tugged off of the aggressor's clothes, but whoever did this was smarter than that and cleared everything within a couple of miles radius, making sure that there was no way to track them. He felt impressed at how meticulously they'd worked to cover the tracks, but most of all he felt helpless and angry.

It's been weeks since he started looking and Y/N wasn't much help. She kept saying it was too dark to see and she didn't catch a glimpse of any of the people. It didn't help that they hadn't spoken during the fight either, because maybe if they did, Daryl could've track them by the tone of their voice, questioning everyone in Alexandria one by one. But since there were no clues, he had a hard time finding anything. It bothered him to the point he kicked and punched an innocent tree a couple of times.

He finally decided that it was time to go back and check on his best friend. He wasn't going to find anything anyway, so he may as well use his time to help her recover and get on their feet again. Frankly, helping her recover helped him relax, even after the hardest of days. He didn't speak much around her, his mind still recalling the fact that she was indeed in love with him, but he tried to move past it as best as he could. Nothing was more important than her getting better right now.

Besides catching the people who did this to her, and potentially beheading them.

When he opens the doors, the sound of her snoring comes to his ears and he can't help but huff a half laugh at it. He remembers the countless times they went on supply runs and her snoring attracted walkers to their location. He never told her about it, he just took care of the walkers silently.

He takes his crossbow off his back and leans it against the wall before walking into the living room. He stops in his tracks for a second when he sees what lies on the coffee table in front of her.

The vinyl player.

The same one that ended up being chucked out of the window by Leah when they had a fight a few weeks ago.

His brow furrows as he steps closer to the table. He realises that she must've been present when he and Leah had a fight. Has she heard them? What exactly did she hear? How did she end up at his house that evening? How did she get the vinyl player and why would she take it?

He looks at her, asleep with a screwdriver in her hand. She looks peaceful. The bruises on her face faded a little, changing colour from purple and reds to blues and greens. The cut on her lip was healing nicely, a scab was drying out. Her hair looked messy, brought up in some sort of ponytail, where many different strands were sticking out from the sides of her head.

He looks at the vinyl player again and takes another step closer. He wasn't paying attention to where he was stepping, in his confused and surprised state, and his boot kicks the coffee table, making one of the tools roll off and fall to the floor with a clash.

It wakes her up with a jump, and she rubs your eyes a little, trying to make her vision less blurry.

"Daryl?" her voice sounds groggy and faint.

"How did you get my vinyl player?" Daryl asks with no hesitation, the urgency in his voice is enough to make her come to her senses.

She looks at the coffee table and her eyes widen a little, like she was surprised to see the vinyl player too. But no, it wasn't surprise, it was... embarrassment. Like she got caught doing something she shouldn't. She keeps looking at the vinyl player and he can see her cheeks flush and uncertainty flashing across her face. She was definitely feeling the need to escape from the situation, but she knew there was no escape. All she could do was face it.

"I...I found it on the ground," her voice is quiet. When she looks at him, he knows the answer to the questions yet to come, but felt like he must ask them.

"Found it on the ground?"

"Yes."

"Where exactly did you find it?"

"Outside your house," she says, avoiding his gaze. Her cheeks burn a deeper shade of red.

"When?"

"If you are asking me if I've heard you and Leah fighting, then yes. I have," she says; a sigh escapes her lips.

The silence was deafening for good couple of minutes. Daryl decided to take a seat next to her, staring at the vinyl player. She stayed quiet, looking at it as well. He was trying to figure out how to ask more questions; how to prod about what she's heard... what she knew. His hand reaches towards the platter, dragging his fingers on top of it, feeling the cracks.

"I haven't heard much," she finally breaks the silence and he looks at her. "I left pretty much straight away."

"But you've heard something," he says slowly.

"Yeah," she licks her dry lips. "Is it worth getting into it?"

He thinks about her question. Is it? Is it worth it? Does he really need to know what she heard? It wasn't that important, Leah and him are over now. But part of his brain believed it was crucial to know. He needed that information, needed to know how much she knows...

"Yeah," he says slowly. "I want to know."

"Well, I've heard her screaming about me..." she starts carefully, biting the inside of her cheek. "Something about me knowing more than her."

Daryl looks at her for a second, maybe trying to gauge her reaction to it, or maybe he was trying to focus on anything else than Leah's words echoing through his mind. He knew that she indeed knew more than Leah, more than anyone ever. He felt the most comfortable sharing with her. He remembers all the times he opened up and it felt great to be heard and listened to, probably the first time in his entire life. Somehow, he knew she was the right person to tell things. Trustworthy.

Back at the CDC, when he first opened his mouth to share, he was nervous. What if she judged? But all of this melted away when she sat there, listening, nodding, not asking questions, just soaking the information in. Maybe it was the alcohol in his veins, but it made him want to open up even more, get the stuff off his chest. Once he finished, it felt... cathartic. Like he was lighter.

He looks up to her eyes.

"I also heard her saying that... you're not worth it," she added and looked away. He could sense her anger in the words spoken, spitting them out like they were acid on her tongue.

"Mm," he murmured quietly, looking away from her and at his boots. He doesn't get embarrassed very easily, and yet his cheeks seemed to burn a little.

Again, the silence resounded in the house, you could almost hear the buzzing of electricity from one of the lamps. Daryl couldn't look up. Leah's words seemed to be burned into his mind, slowly making him believe he is not worth anything. He started to believe he doesn't deserve good things in life.

"It's not true. Leah was wrong," she says, putting her hand on his knee and squeezing it tightly.

"And you say that as a person who's in love with me?"

"I'm saying it as your best friend," her words hit him like a tone of bricks and he finally looks up at her, eyebrow raised. "You are worth so much."

Daryl wants to believe her. No, he needs to believe her. For his sake, for the sake of his mental stability. He takes a few deep breaths and and then looks down at her hand on his knee. His hand gently places over hers and he squeezes it lightly. Her reassurance was everything. You could say the only opinion he cared about these days was her, even though they haven't been great friends for awhile.

He beats himself up for not reaching out sooner. He hated he fact he's lost her for so long, and lost himself in the process. She loves him. Yes, it is more than a friend, but ultimately, she loves him. For who he is. She never judged, never tried to change him or push him to do things he didn't enjoy. She's one person he always felt comfortable with. He still does, even after she told him she loved him.

He thinks back to the time and thinks about why he was so angry at her for that. She wasn't making moves at him. She just... shared her feelings. Angrily - that was an understatement - but still. He sort of understood why she'd blow up the way she did. He spoke about Leah quite a lot and thinking about it now, it may have been to convince himself and her that he was happy with her and he did love her. Part of him did love Leah. But maybe it wasn't as strong feeling as he thought it was...

"You okay?"

Her voice brings Daryl back. He huffs and nods lightly.

"Yeah. I will be," he says and his lips curve into a smile.

"I mean it, Daryl. You're worth it. And I hope you do find someone who appreciates you," her little smile makes him scoff.

"Someone like you?" he retorts.

"No," she shakes her head vigorously. "Not me. You made it clear it's never going to happen and I accept it. But I hope you find someone who can make you believe you are worth everything and more."

Daryl looks at her with a grimace on his face. He did say that, didn't he? He said that her and him will never going to happen. For some reason, her words made him feel sad, just for a second. He wouldn't have been able to register it if he wasn't focusing on it that much. He shakes his head.

"I've sworn off love and relationships," he leans back on the couch and put his head on the sofa back. "It's just going to be me, my crossbow and my best friend."

"Your best friend?"

Her smile beams from ear to ear and Daryl can't help but notice the shine in her eyes when he said it. Like she wasn't sure if he was serious about it. Like she waited months for him to come back, to finally be her friend again.

"Of course. Can't live my sorry ass life without ya," he sighs. "Who else am I going to tease and laugh at?"

"You mean laugh with?"

"That too."

She giggles and he realises how much he really missed her all these months. He missed her laugh and their banter. The way he felt so free around her. The way he knew she could tell him she killed someone and he would help her cover up the tracks. She was his best friend. And going back to being friends with her felt good.

[jrnam]

The Smart City Solution: Why AI Based Traffic Management Systems Are Essential As cities grow smarter, managing traffic with traditional systems is no longer enough.

AI Based Traffic Management Systems bring real-time insights, adaptive control, and automation to urban mobility reducing congestion, improving safety, and enhancing the overall quality of life.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing the way smart cities move and operate.

[sixpennydame]

dark side of the moon⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ [chapter 2]

Pairing: Yakuza!Levi x F!reader

Word count: 6.2k

Newly out of prison, Levi is thrown back into life in the yakuza.

Series Content/Warnings: mafia/yakuza AU, flashbacks, slow burn, mystery, cyberpunk, sci fi, non-binary Hange Zoe, eventual smut, dark content, graphic violence and sexual content

Author's Note: A huge thank you to my beta reader @bitchymanlet - you were such a big help through this!

next chapter/masterlist/AO3

“Inmate 012025, Ackerman. It’s time.”

With a loud thud, the heavy, titanium doors slide open, and bright light fills the small cell.

”Hands against the back wall. Make it quick.”

Levi stands up and walks to the back of his cell. With a sigh he raises his hands and presses them against the wall.

Immediately a guard grabs his arms and places them behind his back, before clicking the cold cuffs around his wrists.

“Don’t give us any trouble now, Ackerman.”

As if he would do something today, of all days.

The two guards lead him down the corridor, past all the other cell doors; Levi can feel the other inmates staring out from the tiny window on their cell door. Their eyes follow him, wild and predatory.

But Levi Ackerman had never been their prey.

One of the guards presses a code into a keypad and another heavy door opens. There’s a series of offices, all behind thick-plated, forcefield glass.  The three men move toward a desk where a woman with blue hair, deep wrinkles and uninterested eyes types in the air. With a blink of her eyes, the screen before her disappears.

”Ackerman, Levi?”

Levi nods and the woman takes a device that scans his eye, confirming his identity. 

“Hold out your right hand.”

He does so, while she scans another device over his wrist. There’s a sharp sting, and then the glowing tattoo of his inmate number - 012025 - was gone.

“That takes care of the detection device implanted inside your wrist,” she informs in a monotone voice.

Levi touches the silver button behind his left ear. “What about my cerebral comm system?” 

“It’s been completely deleted. You’ll have to have someone reactivate it.”

The woman moves to a back room and returns with a large vinyl bag.

”Here are your belongings. You can change there.” She gestures to a door just outside their office cluster. 

Levi takes the items, walks to the room and closes the door. He steps out of the grey prison jumpsuit and stands there in just his underwear, looking at the stack of clothing he hasn’t seen or felt in almost five years: a black t-shirt, black combat pants, boots, socks..

He puts on each item, and wonders if he’ll feel different - if he’ll revert back to the man he used to be before he was put behind titanium bars.

But he doesn’t feel different. He doesn’t feel….anything.

When he finishes dressing, the guards walk him to the outer gate of the prison. The forcefield comes down and Levi takes his first step outside as a free man.

”You’re late. I’ve been waiting out here for over 30 minutes,” comes a voice from behind him.

Levi turns to see a tall man with sandy brown hair leaning against a cherry red vehicle. “I thought you’d done something to get another year added to your sentence.”

”Tch, as if I had any say in what time they’d release me.”

”You look like shit.”

”Takes a piece of shit to know one.” 

Both men glare at each other, then the tall one smirks. “Good to see you again, Levi.” He pats him on the shoulder.

”You too, Farlan..” Levi replies warmly.

”Come on, let’s get you out of here.” 

The car’s engine purrs as Farlan weaves in and out of traffic. Levi is enveloped by the leather seat, the glow of the neon accents inside reflecting off of Farlan’s dark suit coat.

”Looks like you’re doing well for yourself,” Levi says.

“The last few years I’ve been managing all our legit businesses, making sure they look good on paper. At least good enough that nobody will snoop around further.”

”So you’re a paper pusher,” Levi remarks. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

”Beats fixing the books for underground gambling rings,” Farlan answers defensively. “It’s the same concept though, just a different arena. I’m suited for this.”

Farlan had always been smart. He knew how to work the angles and how to get people to let down their guard.

They’d met at the orphanage they were both put in during one of Neo Tokyo’s efforts to, “alleviate the growing population of homeless children littering the city’s streets.” Farlan had convinced Levi that his calorie bar - the only thing they received for dinner - was infested with invisible larvae and that if he gave it to him he'd get another one. Finally figuring out he’d been conned, the next day he punched Farlan in the face and took his daily ration. 

They’d been friends ever since. 

During their teenage and young adult years with the Ackerman clan, everyone knew their names. They had their hands in almost every backalley operation - from gambling to fights and everything in between.

And if Farlan had been the brains of their operation, then Levi was the brawn. Farlan could shake people down through intellect, and when that didn’t work, Levi would beat them to a pulp. Together, they were feared and respected.

They had been equals. But now, after five years, Levi felt left behind.

“So where are you taking me? I need a shower.” Levi scrunches his nose at the musty smell emanating from his clothing.

”To your apartment. I made sure they didn’t touch anything. It’s all there as you left it.”

”Probably a dusty mess…but thanks for looking after the place.”

”Wasn’t that hard. Not like you had much stuff in there.”

”…and Isabel?” Levi asks tentatively, afraid to know the answer.

”Still functioning, and still entirely devoted to you. She could barely contain her excitement today.”

Levi felt a rush of relief. He never thought he’d feel any sort of affection for an android, but Isabel was different. She was a friend and comrade, and had saved his ass on more than one occasion, stitching up his cuts and gashes from a fight or standing beside him during a back alley brawl. But he was often surprised by how human she behaved sometimes, tearing up when she’d see a dead animal on the side of the road, or stealing food to give to a needy family. 

Sometimes he thought she was more human than he was. 

The buildings grew higher and higher the closer they got to the city center, their reach seeming to pierce the orange-red sky of the late afternoon. The next thing he knew, Farlan was pulling up to his apartment building, both of them entering the elevator decorated with layers upon layers of graffiti, and finally walking down the hallway and standing in front of his apartment door. 

It was finally hitting him. He was free.

”I bought you some suits, hopefully they fit. Though you do look like you’ve bulked up a bit.”

”Not much else to do in prison but exercise. I tried to train as much as I could, too. I wanna get back into the ring.” 

“After all this, you still want to fight?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“It’s just…nevermind. Take a shower, get dressed,” Farlan hesitates. “Oyabun wants to see you this evening.”

“Oyabun…” Levi repeats, the word turning sour in his mouth. “Your professionalism is getting on my nerves. You don’t have to talk to me like I’m some new recruit.” 

“That’s who he is, Levi. He deserves our respect.”

Levi grimaces. “So Kenny’s pulling my leash already, huh?”

”Levi.. I know things were…strained between the two of you before, but he kept you protected while you were in prison.”

”Bullshit.”

”Believe what you want.” Farlan waves his hand in surrender before walking towards the door. “I’ll be back this evening.”

”Don’t bother, I can drive there myself. Where’s my bike?”

“It needed some tuning up since it’s been out of commission for so long. Isabel’s getting it ready for you.” Farlan turns to grin at his friend. “So you’re stuck with being chauffeured by me just a little longer. See you in a few hours.”

The door shuts and Levi is surrounded by silence. It’s a different sound than he’s used to; even though it’s the space he lived in for years, it feels unfamiliar and new.

His eyes scan the room; it really was exactly as he left it. Always the minimalist, his small sofa nestled in a corner across from a dining table with two chairs. No pictures, no books; the only personal item was an antique ceramic teapot and two cups.

”Petra.”

Suddenly, the lights fade up in the room, as if the apartment itself was coming to life.

”Welcome back, Levi,” the female voice resonates in the space, “it’s good to have you back. I haven’t been activated in such a long time.”

”Yeah, I’ve been…away.”

”Shall I prepare you some tea?”

”That’d be great,” Levi pulls off his shirt, “but I’d like to take a bath first.”

There’s a chime of recognition and then, “The bath water is ready. Please relax, sir.”

”Thanks.”

Levi had always felt prompted to treat Petra respectfully, even though he knew she was just an apartment AI - an assistant built into almost every home in Neo Tokyo. But it was so rare for him to hear a kind word from anyone in his life, so hearing her voice made him feel like he was being reunited with an old friend.

He takes off his clothes and turns on the shower, taking a sponge to wash away the dirt and grime from his body and hoping in some small way, that it might wash away some of the memories as well. 

But those proved harder to get rid of. He knew only time could do that.

He finally sinks into the steaming bath water and a heavy sigh escapes his lips; he can feel his muscles relaxing with the heat, years of built up tension slowly melting away. The Martians of Neo Tokyo knew what an important resource water was, but now Levi felt it in his very bones. 

Stepping out of the bath, he looked at his naked body in the mirror. He was bulkier than he was five years ago, Farlan was right about that. His lean, muscular frame, useful for street fighting and cage matches, was now replaced by more defined arms and chest; it was noticeable now, even beneath the tattoos swirling on his body. 

A giant eagle, designed in the classical Japanese style, stretched across the length and width of his back; its wings outstretched and talons out, as if attacking prey. A red moon shone from his right shoulder and clouds wrapped around his torso, swirling up his abs and around his pectoral muscles. Over his left pec was the Ackerman clan crest, the Japanese character for power, 力, encased inside a circle.

That had been his first tattoo, when he was initiated into the Ackerman clan as a teenager. That felt like an eternity ago now.

His yakuza tattoos covered many of the scars Levi had received throughout his life, but there were new scars from his years of incarceration. He collected them all like badges of honor; evidence that he’d survived another day.

He found his electric shaver and erased the light stubble growing on his face, then decided to shave his undercut again, just like he’d always had it. But this time, he kept his hair slightly longer than it had been before. He slicked it back with a comb, exposing the sharp features of his face - flawless, except for one scar running through his right eyebrow, breaking it in two and barely missing his eye.

He’d forgotten how he'd received most of his scars, but that one…

…he’d never forget that night.

Wrapping a towel around his waist, he walks to his bedroom.

”Petra, I’ll take that tea now. Green jasmine.”

”Right away,” she responds. 

As Farlan had promised, there were several suits hanging in the small closet. The yakuza were old fashioned, and clan members always preferred the look of the classic, tailored suit, in contrast to the bright and bold fashions prevalent on the streets of the city. Levi scans each one and decides on a dark navy blue suit with a white shirt. In a drawer are several ties, but he decides to forgo them and instead keeps the top two buttons undone, slightly exposing his chest tattoos that start just under his collarbone.

If Kenny wants him to wear a suit then he’ll do it his way.

He rummages through another drawer and finds his gold earring stud. The hole in his ear has grown smaller but he pushes it through, wincing just a bit as it breaks through skin. He welcomes the pain, though. Pain has always made him feel alive.

“Your tea is ready, sir.”

Levi takes the tea cup from the food preparation compartment and eases into a chair that’s facing his balcony window. How long has it been since he’s had a steaming cup? Tea wasn’t the type of contraband that could be obtained in prison, no matter what an inmate had to trade. He lifts the cup to his lips and takes a sip, breathing in the aroma.

”These are imported leaves from off-planet. Where did you get them?”

Petra blinks on. “Mr. Church wanted to make sure that you had the best for your homecoming.”

Levi’s lips turn upward into a faint smirk. 

Farlan.

He guesses his old friend can afford things like this now. No more slumming it like they did when they were kids. He’d made his way in the world, and now Levi wanted to as well.

But first things first…

He finishes his tea then grabs his suit jacket. “Petra, I’ll be back later,” he says to the room, before stepping out of his apartment and into the city streets. The sun was just starting to set, creating a copper glow to the sky as it reflected off the high rise buildings and skyscrapers. Neo Tokyoites filled the sidewalks, bustling from one place to the next, but no one drifted an eye toward Levi as he walked along the city streets - just another face in the crowd. 

The city hadn’t changed much since Levi had left it, but even if it had, he could make it to his destination with his eyes closed. He takes a right, then a left, turning into a narrow alley and scaring a cat or two before arriving at an unmarked door. 

He knocks once, a pause, then two more quick knocks.

There’s commotion on the other side of the door, as if someone is scrambling towards it. Then it bolts open.

“Aniki! I knew you’d come!”

A small red-headed young woman throws her arms around Levi’s neck, practically throwing his body across the alley. 

“See? Didn’t I tell you he’d come right away?” she boasts as she pulls him through the space Levi had once used for training. His punching bag was still there, gathering cobwebs in the corner, along with his other training equipment, but the rest of the room was now littered with electronics and various tools.

And sitting in another corner was Farlan, scrolling through his comm device as he lounged in one of the only chairs in the entire space.

“Isabel knew you wouldn’t stay in your apartment for long, so I thought I might as well just wait for you here. Saves me a trip, anyway.” Farlan smirks.

Isabel can hardly contain her excitement. “The trio is back together, just like old times!”

Old times…Levi thinks as he looks around the space. Everything - and he’s sure everyone - has changed, but it’s a relief to see that Isabel is still the same. 

Levi puts his hand on the top of her head. “Glad to see that Kenny didn’t get rid of you once I was arrested.”

“What? No way! Farlan got me out of there the moment you were busted. He’s been getting me steady work ever since, working on bikes and cars, even some augments here and there.” Her face beams, “Kenny may have thought me a useless android, but I’ve been making my own way.”

That also gave Levi some relief. Throughout these past years, he’d wondered what had become of the spunky little android he’d saved from the wrecking yard. 

Levi had always had a soft spot for things that were considered broken beyond repair. 

“Isabel, I need you to reboot my cerebral comm connection.” 

“Oh yeah, yeah, not a problem.” Isabel takes his hand again and leads him to a part of the room with a computer connected to a multitude of cables. 

Levi sits on what looks almost like an examining table, leaning his face into the light above. “You’ve got quite the set up here.”

“Since I’m not a certified augmentation android, I have to stay under the radar, so most of my clients come from Farlan or from word of mouth.” 

Isabel rolls her chair over to Levi. “Just turn your head to the right for me…” One of her small hands finds the silver button behind his left ear and with one swipe of her tool, pops it out.

 “Let’s see what I can do here..”

There’s a slight sense of pressure as Isabel sticks a cable into the port, connecting Levi to her computer. She rolls back over to her station, clicking her keyboard methodically.  

“All your contacts are still here…at least they didn’t try to wipe your memory for names and information.”

“Oh they tried,” Levi remarks, “but it didn’t work. Seems my Ackerman genes are good for more than just kicking people’s asses.”

“I bet that pissed them off,” Farlan adds, still scrolling through the air with his pointer finger as images only he can see moves across his eyes.

“Almost there..” Isabel says, intensely concentrated on her computer screen.

There’s a few more clicks of her keyboard, and then Levi feels a slight jolt of electricity through his head.

“And that should be it.” Isabel rolls back over the Levi, disconnecting him and replacing the silver button. “You should be connected to your old contact list now.”

“Thanks.” Levi pats her head again and she grins from ear to ear. 

“I’ll have your bike ready for you tomorrow.” The red-head responds while Levi gets up from the examining table. Farlan gets up, giving both of them a look that says it’s time to go. As Isabel walks them to the door she puts a tentative hand on Levi’s arm.

“Aniki…once the word is out that you’ve been released, people are going to wonder when you’ll start fighting again.” 

“That’s a good question, and one I’m about to get an answer to,” he responds. 

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

The Ackerman Clan headquarters was housed in a nondescript, four-story building, just on the outskirts of the entertainment district. The only thing that made it stand out from the other business buildings was the Ackerman crest emblazoned next to the door; no other signs were needed, and inhabitants of Neo Tokyo didn’t have to be fluent in Japanese to know its meaning…

Power. The word that’s synonymous with Ackerman.

Farlan pulls up and the door to his car lifts up automatically. “Oyabun is in his office - I assume you remember where everything is.”

“You’re not coming in.”

“Nah, not this time. Kenny wanted to meet with you privately, and I have a meeting to get to, anyway. I’ll see you later this evening.”

Levi steps out of the car, straightening his suit jacket before stepping up to the door. The moment he touches the handle the door unlocks for him.

At least he knows he hasn’t been completely shut out of the organization.

There are voices coming from the second floor - new recruits, most likely, being made to clean and prepare dinner for the evening. Levi remembered the hierarchical structure well; it was something he’d also had to go through in his teenage years. But unlike the others here, he wasn’t recruited into this clan.

It was something he was born into.

The elevator takes him to the top floor, which was reserved entirely for the clan’s leader. Levi walks through the empty reception area and knocks on the office door.

“Come in,” a low, gravelly voice answers.

Behind the door is a room split in half; the front part serving as a reception area and in the back, a broad desk surrounded by pictures of past leaders. The man behind the desk grins broadly then stands up, gesturing to Levi to come in. His face shares many of the same features as Levi: a sharp profile and even sharper eyes of a stormy grey hue. He’s taller than Levi, however, and leaner, with a powerful aura that fills the entire space.  

“Look who’s back from the dead,” he says, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Levi scoffs at the phrase, but it’s true; the last few years in prison made him feel like a corpse, a half-life that dragged on and on. In a way, he has been resurrected.

“Kenny…” he says sharply, “you wanted to see me.”

”Of course I did! It’s not every day that I can celebrate the release of my nephew from prison.” He gives Levi a once-over. “You survived with all your limbs, that’s good. And you look strong,” he frowns, “but not any taller.”

Kenny laughs at his own joke and then offers for Levi to sit, but he refuses, standing in front of the broad desk with his arms crossed. 

“And no better sense of humor either,” Kenny deadpans before sitting on the edge of his desk. “Always so serious. But no matter…let’s get right to business.”

At that, Levi finally sits, though he’s on edge and alert, not sure where this conversation might go.

Kenny walks behind his desk where a katana sword is displayed. He picks it up and slowly removes it from the sheath.

“You know, Levi, we Ackermans have been feared for our strength for generations, even before we were yakuza. This power has shaped us into what we are today. I’ve been preparing you to take on this role someday, but you’ve been a pain in my ass from the beginning: disobedient, disorderly, and headstrong. That fire in you needed to be beaten into submission.”

Light glistens off the katana as Kenny moves about the room. “I let you do those cage matches because it gave you a purpose and kept you compliant. But when you started earning huge sums of money, and weren’t paying your dues to me and your brothers - well, that just wouldn’t do.”

Kenny stands in front of Levi now, the katana held loosely at his side. “I hope your time in prison taught you a thing or two about respect, Levi. What I say, goes. Always.”

He pauses, as if expecting to get some sort of reply from Levi, but gets none.

“You were supposed to lose that match - that was the deal we’d set - not beat the humanoid within an inch of his life. You lost me an incredible amount of money, and respect from the Reiss Agency. So you needed to be taught a lesson.”

Levi’s hands ball into fists in his lap, his nails digging into his palms. He takes a deep breath before he responds. “Consider the lesson learned. When can I start fighting again?”

“Fighting?” Kenny laughs. “You think I’m gonna put you in the ring again after that stunt you pulled? Abso-fucking-lutely not. It’s time you started preparing for a bigger leadership role.”

Levi grits his teeth. He wants to grab that katana Kenny holds and slice him right down the middle. 

He could do it - he’s strong, probably stronger than Kenny now. He could do it and finally be free. 

He takes a breath. No, this isn’t the time.

Be smart…

Kenny presses a button on his desk and a few seconds later, a tall, blonde woman enters.

“Sir,” she says in a stern, serious voice.

“Levi, you remember Caven. She’s my wakagashira now.” He grins. “The title you should have had. I suppose you’ll have to usurp her someday.” Levi can tell that it gives Kenny no greater joy than to think of the two of them fighting for the role and for his approval. 

Caven’s eyes slide towards Levi, her body on edge, as if Kenny could call for them to fight any minute. Kenny laughs. “But that’s a problem for another day. Caven, introduce Levi to the new shatei - he’ll be in charge of them now.”

At that, Levi stands up. “What? I don’t want to be in charge of some brats.”

“Oh, but you will, Levi. Because what I say goes.” Kenny’s eyes darken and his voice lowers. He walks towards Levi, looking down at him, the katana still in his hand. “Got it?”

Levi looks away, wordlessly conceding to Kenny’s demand. He turns to follow Caven out of the office.

”I guess this is when I’m supposed to welcome you back,” she says coldly.

”Don’t bother. We don’t have to pretend that we like each other.”

They both walk down the stairs to the second floor. “I’m not sure what you mean, Levi. You’re my brother. We’re all family here - or did you forget that while you were in prison?” 

Levi clicks his tongue at the statement. He always thought the yakuza’s obsession with family laughable; if this was supposed to be a family, then it was the most dysfunctional one he’d ever known. 

Not that he’d really ever known anything else.

The brief times he’d ever felt the true bonds of family was when he was with Farlan and Isabel, or as a small child, when it was just him and his mother. But those years were fading from his memory with every year he grew older.

“Speaking of which,” Caven opens the door to the second floor, where there are clattering and raised voices coming from the living area.

”I told you to clean this place up!”

”I did! Why can’t we just have androids do this?”

”There are no androids here, idiot. Oyabun is against it. Now hurry up, our brothers are gonna be here soon.”

Caven pinches the bridge of nose and gives a heavy sigh. “Connie! Jean! Get out here.”

Two young men emerge from the room: one on the smaller side, with silvery grey hair and a buzz cut; the other tall and lanky, his light brown hair growing slighting over his undercut. 

They both look at each other then at Levi, mouths slightly agape. Caven clears her throat, clearly disappointed at their sudden lack of manners.

”Connie, Jean, this is Levi. He’ll be your big brother from now on and will prepare you to be a true member of the clan.”

”Levi… Ackerman…we heard all about you,” Jean says, bowing deeply. When he sees Connie still standing there staring, he pulls him down as well. ��It’s an honor, sir…uh, aniki.”

They both stay in a bow and Levi shifts uncomfortably. “What am I supposed to do with them?”

”Take them around on neighborhood patrols and payment collections. You know, standard stuff.” Caven raises an eyebrow. “Unless you’ve forgotten the basics.”

Levi gives Caven a cold look, then walks over to his new younger brothers, their bodies still at a ninety degree angle. 

“Ok, that’s enough. You don’t have to bow to me.” Levi looks around the space as they stand up. “You were cleaning?”

Jean rubs the back of his head nervously. “Yeah…then we were gonna start cooking dinner after we finish this…”

Levi’s discerning eyes continue to survey the room, seeing every hairball and clump of dirt left behind. “Oh, you are nowhere near finished.” He hangs up his suit jacket. “You. Baldy.” His finger points at Connie. “Go get the mop. Jacques – ”

“...it’s Jean, sir..” 

“-- get a rag and start wiping everything down.”

“But we just cleaned —,” Connie interjects, but when Levi glances towards him, his mouth clamps shut.

“I’ll leave you all to it, then,” Caven says, sauntering away. “Good luck, you two.”

Connie and Jean immediately start their tasks. Levi rolls up the sleeves of his dress shirt.

”I’m sure you’ve heard lots of things about me, but one thing you should know right now: I do not tolerate filth.”

”Yes, aniki!” They both answer.

”I’ll start on dinner prep. You two join me when you finish here.”

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

It’s not long until other clan members start ambling into the building for dinner. Levi hears their voices before he sees them, and the corners of his mouth curl into a slight smile.

”It smells cleaner in here! Could it be?” 

A tall man with long, blonde hair strides into the kitchen. “If it’s not the man himself! Oi! Levi’s back, everyone!”

“Pipe down, Eld, the whole damn neighborhood can hear you,” Levi chides, before shaking his hand. “Good to see you again.”

“Shit, I don’t believe my eyes. Levi!” Another man enters, patting Levi on the back generously. 

“Gunther..”

“It’s about time they let you out..” comes a lackadaisical voice from the back. Levi turns to see a third man, arms crossed, leaning against the wall, a cigarette hanging from his mouth. 

“Well you know, Oluo, I had to get back here and beat your ass back into shape.”

Eld and Gunther laugh, but Oluo frowns. “Come on, Levi, I’m a lot stronger now. You’ll see.”

Levi feels a bit uncomfortable with all this attention on him, but it’s expected; these are men he’d known since they were new recruits. He’d done jobs with them, showed them how to take a punch and even give them when needed. It’s amazing how much they’ve changed in just these few years.

He wonders what else has changed in this organization. 

“I see you’ve met the little brothers,” Eld says, grabbing Connie and putting him in a headlock.

“I’m in charge of them, actually.”

“Damn,” Oluo laughs. “Hope you two are up for it.”

“Up for what?” Jean asks.

Oluo smirks as he sits down with the others at the table. “For the daily ass beatings you’re gonna get if you don’t keep the damn place spotless.”

Everyone laughs except Connie, Jean, and Levi, who looks at his two little brothers. “They are right about that.”

Connie and Jean eat their food quietly, listening to the stories being told around the table by the others about Levi. He shifts in his chair uncomfortably; he doesn’t particularly like being talked about like he’s some history report, but he’s content enough to listen, especially as the conversation shifts to updates on the clan and its newest exploits.

Hours pass with more stories being told and alcohol being drunk, until Caven walks through the door, a serious look on her face.

“There’s been a disturbance at Club Azure. Some members of the Jaeger Clan are causing a scene and harassing the hostesses. Levi, Kenny wants you to take care of it.”

Before Levi can even respond or refuse, she’s on her way out the door, but stops, glancing at him behind her shoulder. “And take Connie and Jean with you.”

“Fucking Jaeger Clan, thinking they can mess around on our territory,” Gunther says, his hands balling into fists. “Unfortunately for them, Levi’s back.”

Without a word, Levi gets up from the table and grabs his jacket.

“Those Jaegers won’t know what hit ‘em,” Oluo adds. 

“Come on,” Levi finally says to his two brothers, who scramble away from the table and file behind him. “Let’s get this over with.”

Levi hadn’t realized how much time had gone by that evening until he stepped out into the brightly lit streets of the entertainment district. Signs flashed and holograms coaxed patrons to step inside their clubs, while drunks stumbled around them, yelling about which bar to hit up next. 

Pachinko parlors, night clubs and host and hostess bars lit up every corner of every block; and when these institutions closed in the early morning light, there was still entertainment to be found in the sex clubs and soap lands. 

And every one of them was protected by the Ackerman Clan.

“Does Hange still own Club Azure?” Levi asks as they make their way to the club, an easy walk from the clan headquarters.

“Yeah,” Jean answers, “but I’ve heard times have been tough over there.”

“Tough for a lot of the clubs these days, I heard,” Connie adds. “Members of the Jaeger Clan have been busting shit up around here recently and scaring customers away.”

Levi wants to ask more about this Jaeger Clan, but they’ve already arrived at the doors of the club. By the time the three men enter, there are raised voices amidst the smooth jazz music.

“We got ourselves a non-aug!”

Levi hears a voice say over the others. He looks over to the source of the noise and sees a man - probably no more than nineteen or twenty - being slapped by one of the hostesses.

“Don’t you touch me,” the woman says.

A few seconds later, he sees the man backhand the woman.

And that’s when something ignites in Levi.

“Stay here,” he says to Connie and Jean, wasting no time in walking toward the disturbance. The man grabs the woman’s face hard, saying something about not fucking with the Jaeger clan.

“Oi.”

From then on, Levi goes into combat mode, the rest of the world fading away as he throws the man across the room. He senses the rest of the men gathering around him; he deals with them one by one, barely breaking a sweat.

The leader reaches for a weapon in his jacket, but Levi is faster, his knife in his hand in the blink of an eye.

Even in the heat of the moment, his breathing is calm, his heartbeat is steady, and his concentration is laser focused. He feels his strength coursing through him.

The feeling of his fist against skin, his punches sending a resounding crack across the room…

This is who he is. This is what he does.

He blinks a few times when he sees them scrambling away, the room incredibly silent, until - 

“Thank you so much, um..”

You’re in front of him suddenly.

Your dress does little to hide every curve of your body, and every bit of skin that is revealed shows not a single tattoo or augmentation. He blinks a few more times to focus on your face, and it’s like time stands still. Tears have formed in the corners of your eyes, probably from the force of the blow to your cheekbone, but your eyes are still bright, undefeated. 

No longer able to hold your gaze, he gives you his name and turns away. 

Why is his heart beating so fast?

When he reaches the bar he turns around to see you being whisked off by another hostess.

“Whew! Well that was not how I wanted this evening to end.” Hange says, leaning against the bar and looking at Levi. “And when I called Caven, I had no idea you were gonna show up. I didn’t even know you were out of prison.”

“I just got out today.”

Hange laughs and pours him a drink. “I bet this wasn’t the welcome you had in mind.”

“Who’s that girl? The one that got hit.”

“That’s Luna. She just started here today. Guess you two have something in common there.”

“She’s not augmented?”

“Nope. Pure as snow. Not that I’ve ever seen snow before.” Hange pours a drink for themself and downs it in one gulp.

“Where is she from?”

“Earth… Why do you want to know so much about her?”

That breaks Levi from his concentration on you. He doesn’t answer, but instead shifts on the bar stool and takes a swig of his drink. 

“It’s natural to have those urges, Levi. You’ve been in prison for so long,” Hange’s voice has a teasing lilt.

“Fuck you, Hange.”

“Not even on a good day, Levi. But she might.” Hange gestures to the dressing room where you’ve been taken.

Wanting to get away from the conversation, Levi gulps down his drink and stands up. “I’ll take my guys and search the perimeter of the club to make sure they’ve left.”

“My hero, just like old times!” Hange yells out, as Levi and the other two walk towards the exit of the club. “Don’t be a stranger!”

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

“Hange has a new girl working at Azure.”

It’s the first thing Levi says to Farlan when he picks him up the next morning. He hasn’t been able to think about much else since last night.

”You’re not usually interested in the products.”

“She’s from Earth.”

”So what?” Farlan counters.  “There’s lots of Earth refugees here; in fact, many of them work in that sweatshop Kenny has, making fake….”

”She’s not augmented. At all. Not one mark or change.”

Farlan looks up. He knows where this is going. “That’s not a rarity for Earthlings, Levi. It’s a coincidence.”

“What if it’s not?”

”What difference would it make now? What’s done is done, Levi. You can’t change the past.”

”That’s easy for you to say.”

”Look, I know you want answers, but you’re not gonna find them in some girl from Earth. You have a chance to start things over. Don’t stir shit up.”

But it was too late. Levi’s curiosity had already been piqued. His gut told him there was more to you than what you seemed, and he wanted to know what that was.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

Glossary of terms:

Oyabun - title given to the leader of a yakuza group

Aniki - “older brother”, used to refer to someone who is considered a superior

Wakagashira - a lieutenant, works directly under the Oyabun

Shatei - “younger brothers”, they work under the more experienced “older brothers” (kyodai) of a yakuza clan

Pachinko Parlor - a mechanical game like pinball, used for gambling

next chapter/masterlist/AO3

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[i-am-aristiana]

I wrote a glossary of TF terms.

PLEASE NOTE: These terms are a mix of canon and fanon. It changes from continuity to continuity, and from fanfic author to fanfic author. It’s only a guide, and I have no intention of saying I know more than anyone else. Please take it with a grain of salt.

A NSFW section exist, I will publish it in another post.

Miscellaneous terms

Berth: Bed

Bond: A permanent connection spark to spark from 2 or more Cybertronians. Can be between conjuxed couple, but also happens with twins/triplets/etc, or combiners.

CNA: DNA

Amica, Conjuxed Amica: Very dear friends, but not more than friends. Another James Roberts creation!

Conjux, Conjux Endura, Conjuxed: Married couple. Thanks James Roberts for that one! :)

Em field: Electronic field emitted by the Cybertronian that another can read / detect, no human equivalent

Energon: The blood of Cybertronian and what they drink as “food’.

Enforcer: Police officer

Kibble: All the parts that had to be removed for one reason or another. It grew to mean parts of alt mode visible in their other modes as well.

Pad: Tablet computer

Split-spark twins: Twins created from a single spark, and it “magically” turned into 2, similar to identical twins. Though they don’t necessarily have the same physical appearance.

Subspace: A storage area that doesn’t physically exist, yet they use it all the time. Thanks the 80’s for the art errors and pulling a weapon out of thin air for that term.

Body part, SFW

Aft: Butt

Armor: The outer part of the frame, what’s easy to see and colourful.

Audials: Ears

Chevron: Part of the helm, on the forehead, that looks like 2 colorful prongs. See Prowl for red chevron.

CPU: Brain

Dermas: Lips

Doorwings: Wings on the back of the Cybertronian made with his front vehicle doors. See Prowl.

Digit: Finger

Exvent: Exhale

Finials: Part of the helm that protrude from the helm. See Drift.

Frame: Body

Glitch: Either when a Cybertronian “crashes” or a very doratory term.

Glossa: Tongue

Helm: Head

Intake: Mouth, throat, lips. This one changes a lot depending on the author.

Nasal ridge: Nose

Optic: Eye

Oral lubricant: Spit

Ped: Foot

Plating: The outer part of the frame, what’s easy to see and colourful.

Processor: Brain

Protoform: Inner part of the “skin”, under the plating or armor.

Sensory horns: Part of the helm similar to ears in humans. See Jazz.

Servo: Hand

Spark: A ball of energy that contains the “soul” of the Cybertronian. Considered located in the chest

Strut: Bone

Type of Cybertronian:

Combiner: A team of Cybertronian that, when transforming, can combine into a giant being instead of individuals. See Devastator or Defensor.

Aerial: Type of frame for a flier that doesn’t look like a Seeker

Conehead: Frame type of fliers very similar to Starscream, except they have their nose cone on their helm, looking like they wear a giant cone

Femme: A Cybertronian having a “feminine” shape. Though some exceptions exist, see Strika

Grounder: Type of frame having wheels. Often derogatory.

Kaonite: Cybertronian from Kaon. Often associate with large, strong frame type, and mainly Decepticon

Mech: A Cybertronian, often “male” shaped but not always

Mechling: Teenager

Praxian: Cybertronians from Praxus. Often a frame type associated with the appearance of Prowl, Bluestreak, Smokescreen, Barricade

Seeker: Type of fliers associated with Starscream frame type

Sparkling, sparklet: baby, children

[lovesim09]

the proper way to use ancient powers

I remember White Star saying that Cale didn't know how to use his powers properly, he was partly right of course. Cale didn' t absorb them properly, he didn't get rid of the will of the previous owners, and as a result his power is weaker. However, I think White Star is also not using his power properly. First of all, we have never seen him use his Dominating aura. After all, Cale only has a "shell", which means White Star should still have one. Imagine fighting someone who uses a power similar to dragon fear. Cale people would have a much harder time fighting than normal, no matter how you look at it, apart from the dragons, Cale and Choi Han, the others would have a similar reaction like when they first met Eruhaben. White Star knows how to use the remaining abilities that the dragon slayers had. Probably because he's the warrior type.

Another thing is that each power that Cale has has some additional functions. Why does White Star have such basic powers?

Cale powers:

Super Rock - rock control, body strengthening, before he started talking he was like a danger detector. Power filtering?I'm not sure what to call it, but when Cale first used the crown, he said something about him being busy filtering the power they had from the crown.

The Indestructible Shield - Summons holy looking shield, tree control, dead mana absorption using trees. The ability to absorb other powers.

The Sound of the Wind - Creates whirlwinds, allows the user to move quickly and fly. Detecting Divine Artifacts. (I'm not sure if I'm right, but the thief most likely destroyed her plate to divide her power. )The second part of the power allows user to hear wind elementals (this is cheating, you have an informants that almost no one sees).

Fire of Destruction - Summons thunderbolts, can create something like a sea of fire. Purifies dead mana and black despair. In part 2, with the help of the artifact, can purify Jiangshi.

Sky Eating Water - Summons pillars and spears of water. In part 2, she learned how to make rain and chains similar to those that imprisoned her. She also created a tsunami.

Vitality of the Heart - healing ability, but only injuries inflicted after gaining this power. Keeping the owner alive if his body is unbalanced. Longer life, as we know the previous owner didn't die until he was 150 years old. Cale said that this power can regenerate limbs, I don't know if he was exaggerating or if he knows this from the book and information about how Taylor could have ended up (I'm afraid the author will eventually remember about it). Regeneration that makes you cough up blood 😂. The body and blood has more vitality, as confirmed by World Tree and Duke Fredo.

Dominating Aura - An aura similar to that of a ruler. The aura can make others want to submitting. Immunity to dragon fear. Allows to control a crown that likes to drink blood. In part 2, the aura has become so strong that it can compete with God. Also have an imitation of the power of a saint of the God of Chaos.

Blood Drenched Rock - Instills fear of death, Cale Created an isolated space using this power. According to Super Rock their powers are similar, which means also has offensive abilities. The user appears to be covered in blood, when uses this ability. (yes I gave it a different color because this power did not belong to the heroes )

And on the other side we have the powers that belong to the ancient white star.

White Star powers:

Wall of Water - Supposedly the strongest defensive ability, at least according to CJG. Creates a wall of water. (Is that really all?! I understand then why he tried to get Water of Judgement.)

Wind - In most situations White Star used it as a wall of wind or to push enemies away. We don't even have a name!

Fire of Natural Disaster - A dangerous ability that, when combined with Sword of Disasters, creates a truly dangerous combination. Can control something similar to lava.

Earth - Allows you to change your appearance. We don't know the name and other abilities.

Annual Rings of Life - has only half power. Allows to see a person's time but not all. It allows you to recognize people with warped times. It can determine when something died or how old objects are. Can be used by a person with Thames blood.

Sky attribute - control the rain, the wind and even the sunlight using clouds. Summons Thunderbolts, which were stronger than those created by Fire of Destruction. Even dragons had trouble stopping them. Allows you to move in a place full of dead mana. Need to absorb dead mana or black despair regularly. Dead Man's power stops it from destroying the owner of that power from inside. The power comes from the Demonic race.

Dominating Aura - similar to the power of Cale Henituse. It may be weaker though. Never used.

Wyvern Control - Can control wyverns. Stronger than the ability Choi Han has from Syrem.

Sword of Disasters - It has a power similar to natural disasters. Stronger ability than what Syrem had. It can easily destroy the dragons' shield. Even the Indestructible Shield couldn't stop the attack for long.

Abandoning your Life - The power to allow the Sword of Disasters to become stronger. Allows you to sacrifice some of your lifespan in exchange for power. Using this ability also allows you to grant your dragon slayer powers to someone else.

As for powers stronger than those of the heroes of ancient times, they are surprisingly weak and non unique. To me this looks like a power that was not properly developed by the original owner or abilities wrong used by the current owner. I wonder why we haven't seen the wood power of the ancient white star. He wanted to imitate him and didn't even try to look for his wood ancient power. It'll be funny if Cale ever tries to use them and accidentally unlocks their potential. Because he decided to listen to the voice of AWS. I still think it's stupid to get rid of the previous owner's will. These were their powers, they know better what these powers can do. Not to mention that these are people who lived in ancient times. They know the history better than anyone else. It's like Cale gave someone the Record and didn't explain anything. Okay Poor example, he could do that.

[reallyromealone]

Title: birthday gift

Fandom: STAR TREK THE LOWER DECKS

Characters: T'Lyn, D'vana, D'Erika, general crew

Fic type: fluff

Pairings: /

Warnings: male reader, reader insert, child male reader, fluff

Notes:

Summary: (name) needs to find his mom a perfect birthday gift, who other to ask than his aunt? Who was on a star fleet ship?

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

(name) clung to his stuffed Caitian (a gift from his aunty), the three year old looking around the star fleet ship curiously and tried to stay out of the way while he snuck around, his mama training him since before he could remember to sneak, though a little clumsy he avoided detection.

'wheres Dava' the tot thought determined, his mama told him that auntys ship was the only star fleet that could be trusted, the woman telling him tales of how strong his aunty was and the boy looked up to her quite a bit. The boy looked at the adults running around and chatting, wearing those strange uniforms that the boy felt looked like they could use more dazzle.

Maybe he could tell aunty!

He didn't realize now big the ship was, too small to look at the map unfortunately and trying to avoid any officers that would get him in trouble.

Especially because he was supposed to be in bed, at home and safe.

But he needed help from aunty.

'aunty is a doctor! And a science lady!' the boy remembered her uniform and decided to follow the people in the same ones, his small legs trying to keep up but couldn't.

Then he smelt it, food.

He sure was hungry...

Aunty could wait a few minutes... After he got a snack.

Looking around he saw (food) on a table, sneaking his little green hand up and stole a plate "WHO TOOK MY FUCKING FRIES!" a loud gruff voice bellowed and shook the table above (name) who froze mid chew, trying not to whine in fear and before he knew it he locked eyes with a large Bajoran "a kid? What are ya doing out of kindergarten?" (Name) Was lifted up and nervously hugged his stuffed doll "wait we only have one Orion on deck..." The brunette human mumbled and they took in the boys clothes "Lutenant Tendi, report to meeting room one"

(Name) Was settled into the large man's arm, suddenly very shy and unsure what to do, he wasn't trained yet for what to do if he got caught "that's a cool toy, it reminds me of our doctor" the giant said to the boy who looked down and at the doctor "I'm Shax and that's T'ana, over there that human is Jack and that's the captain of the ship, her name's Carol"

(Name) Shyly waved at them "what's your name, sweety" Carol asked, never too maternal but tried to be sweet to the boy who seemed stunned while they all walked towards the meeting room "(name) Tendi, of the Winter Constellations!" His voice filled will pride and they immediately knew who this child was related to "That explains the fucking toy " T'ana said with a playful huff, the toy was practically a carbon copy "aunty said this is a cool siemtyst!" The boy butchered the word scientist and Shax huffed a laugh "she also gave me this!" And the little boy pulled out a dagger "she had this when she was little like me!"

"V-very.... Interesting" Carol said awkwardly while they walked into the meeting room where Tendi was waiting "Is something wrong... (Name)?!" The Orion Scientist immediately rushed to the tot who was honestly pretty chill now that he knew he was safe "hi Dava!" He wiggled out of Shax' hold and ran over to meet his aunt and clung to her legs "what are you doing here?!" She panicked and lifted him up "Dava! I need your help!" The boy asked panicked and the woman looked alarmed "are you ok?! Is your mom ok?!"

"I-I wanna get mamma a birfday gift A-and I can't at home because mama can't see! I need your help!"

Tendi couldn't be mad at the boy who was the pride and joy of the family, though he was a male and couldn't take over the family he was still beloved none the less.

"Does your mom know you're here?" She asked and the higher ups tried to not giggle at the boys silence "maybe...?"

"(Name)."

"No...."

Given the rest of the day off, Tendi wandered with the boy to go call her sister so she knew her son was alive and well.

"OH THANK FUCK! (NAME) DONT SCARE ME LIKE THAT! ILL BE THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!" Her voice panicked"Sis, he's fine and healthy, until you get here don't worry! He's in safe hands" she promised her sister who in turn could feel a headache form "I'll get a ship out as soon as possible, I have to go tell your papa everything is ok" D'Erika sighed "(name), listen to your aunt and be good! I love you both!"

"Love you mama!"

"Love you sis!"

A cot was put together in Tendi's bunk "Sup little dude!" Mariner said loudly to the boy who was now in more comfortable clothes, wearing Starfleet merchandise that would probably give his mom a heart attack but (name) was happy enough "An Orion male, how peculiar" T'Lyn said calmly and leaned towards the boy "they don't typically leave their home planet often, correct?"

"(Name)s been a risk taker since he was a newborn, honestly this level is a bit impressive!" She praised her nephew "now, we need to find you a birthday gift!"

And thankfully Mariner had a LOT of contraband.

The four sat together and went through all the cool stuff "oooo! This might be it!" Tendi held a small rod and clicked the button, two spears shooting from each side "this is totally her!"

(Name) Seemed happy with it, setting down his toy to look at it "careful, bud" his aunt warned him but handed him the weapon "can we put mamas name on it?"

"Hell yeah we can!"

"That seems appropriate" T'Lyn stated.

D'Erika was stressed while walking into the Starfleet ship, though on better relations with them due to the trade agreement she still didn't trust the Starfleet one bit.

But she knew they would keep her sweet boy safe.

"MAMA!" a tiny voice called out, little foot steps could be heard and the Orion woman turned to see her beloved son running full speed with her sister not to far behind "(name)!" The woman lifted the boy and held him close "are you ok?!" She fretted, though she raised him to be capable be was still a toddler "I'm ok!"

"Why did you run away like this?! You know better! You never go on a trek like this without backup!"

"I had aunty!"

"And he did this for you" D'vana said, smiling at her sister before holding up a gift bag "he wanted to find you the perfect birthday gift"

The woman looked confused, looking down at her son who grinned ear to ear, not even aware of the heart attack he nearly gave his mom "birfday!" He cheered, the woman taking the gift "we can open this when we get home..." She said softly, eyes unreadable and the Starfleet officer smiled "you two get home safe and (name) stop scaring your mom!"

"Ok aunty!" He wasn't gonna keep that promise.

When (name) returned home, he was slumped against his mom's chest with a sweet expression and cheek looking chubbier while pressed against her shoulder. Sitting on her bed, she set (name) carefully on it, watching with loving eyes as the boy slept like a little starfish before turning to the birthday gift her son travelled half way across the galaxy for.

Carefully opening the bag she recognized the weapon... It was a duel spear.

Upon careful inspection she noted an inscription 'T'erika Tendi - happy birthday, love (name)' clearly in inscribed by her son but most likely a Starfleet officer, the boy just learning to read after all.

It was a sweet gift, the boy always wanting to find the coolest stuff for her, knowing she worked hard for him and his papa every day.

It's why she shot down any engagement offers, she wanted him to be a kid...

"I love you, (name)" she kissed her tots forehead before looking over to see her husband sound asleep on the giant bed, star fished out and couldn't repress the soft giggle.

She loved her family so much.

[burningembers91]

Take a Chance - Oh Kyeong-Tae x Fem!Reader

Synopsis: Oh Kyeong-Tae is a dedicated police officer. He just needs someone to take a chance on him. That person is you, the beautiful detective who’s looking for a partner as passionate as you are. Kyeong-Tae can’t help but fall for you, but relationships between colleagues are frowned upon and he finds himself caught between his dream job, and the woman of his dreams.

A/N: someone please explain to me how the actor who plays Kyeong-Tae is almost 35. I thought he was 21, but he’s older than me 😱 Also, I found THREE different ways to spell this character’s name, so I’ve gone with the most popular spelling I found.

Typed on my phone when I should be working 😬 so there may be errors

Oh Kyeong-Tae had always known he’d wanted to be a police officer. Ever since he was a young boy he’d dreamt of serving his community, protecting the people he cared about.

The day he graduated from the academy was the proudest day of his life, but he quickly learned that not all officers of the law were as passionate as he was. Many of his colleagues were liars and cheats, doing the bare minimum for an easy life and yet somehow managing to soar through the ranks with ease. He was laughed at by his seniors for showing enthusiasm, throwing himself into even the smallest of cases.

If a woman had her handbag stolen, Kyeong-Tae would work round the clock to make sure her belongings were returned. If a petty fight broke out, he’d be there to stop it. He didn’t understand why his colleagues didn’t put the same amount of effort in, didn’t understand why they reserved all their energy for the big cases that involved rich or influential victims. Surely, as a police officer your job was to protect each and every citizen, not just the ones with the big bank accounts.

He’d spent five years in uniform, never understanding why he wasn’t advancing as quickly as the other rookies. Was he not working hard enough? He solved every case put on his desk, and he was out patrolling the streets from dawn until dusk, and yet opportunities just kept passing him by. He wondered if maybe he was just invisible, if he somehow didn’t stand out from the crowd. He’d always been that way, had always blended into the background a little too much. In school he was picked last for sports teams, left out of class projects and never quite seemed to fit in with any of the groups at school.

As an adult he never had much luck with women, his dates never extending beyond the third one as something better always came up for the women he dated. But his parents had always told him that if he kept his head down, and worked hard, it would all pay off in the end.

While Kyeong-Tae was sure he was as invisible at work as he was everywhere else, he hadn’t realised that you had noticed him. You were sick of the layabouts who cruised through life getting everything handed to them on a plate, simply because they knew how to schmooze the right people. You were tired of working with people who didn’t give a shit about the victims of crime, who came to work simply to rise through the ranks. You’d worked your ass off to get where you were, had given your blood, sweat and tears to the force in exchange for a detective’s badge.

Your job in Major Crimes was your entire life, almost every waking hour spent at your desk or on the street. You’d spent the last six months as part of a team cracking down on gang activity in the area, but you could see some of your colleagues weren’t as enthusiastic as others. They dragged their feet, showed up late to meetings and only seemed to put the effort in when the higher ups came to visit.

You were desperate to have someone on your team as dedicated as you, someone who put an equal amount of effort into every case. You’d heard about Kyeong-Tae from numerous members of the public, their constant praise of the young officer a refreshing change of tone. You couldn’t figure out why your colleagues weren’t singing the same praises, and decided you’d find out for yourself whether the officer was worthy of a place on your team.

From the moment Kyeong-Tae joined Major Crimes, he hit the ground running. The two of you were the first ones in the office and the last ones to leave. You worked well together, and for the first time, Kyeong-Tae felt like he belonged somewhere.

He’d be forever grateful to you, the detective who took a chance on him. You were beautiful, and confident, and quite possibly the greatest officer he’d come across. He found himself thinking of you more and more outside of work, his dreams filled with fantasies of the two of your entwined between his sheets. He found himself getting lost in you during briefings, hanging on to your every word like it was gospel. He couldn’t get enough of you, and finally he had to admit to himself that it was more than just workplace admiration. He was hooked on you, so head over heels some days he thought he might explode. You were the first person to see him, to really see who he was, and Kyeong-Tae spent his lonely evenings thinking about how it would feel to kiss your lips, to hear his name roll off your tongue as he buried his head between your thighs.

But relationships between colleagues were forbidden, and as your subordinate, Keyong-Tae didn’t stand a chance. So he kept his fantasies to himself, his growing feelings for you only surfacing when he was alone in his apartment at night.

He continued to work hard, to show you he was worthy of a place on your team. But with each day, he fell harder for you and the stark reality began to set in.

Kyeong-Tae finally had his dream job, but it came at a price. He had almost everything he wanted, but he couldn’t have you.