#and I rushed to find the most useless object I could

[liorlen]

gale origin playthru from astarion’s pov or smth like that

[tearskillstardust]

🦢 CHERRY—

summary; wanderer is a bit love-sick, but it's so much more than that.

gender-neutral reader but once i mention 'divine feminine'. no trigger warnings. angst and emotional content. long read under the cut.

Oftentimes when he has little else to do, Wanderer excuses himself to rest near the small ponds of Sumeru. It isn't that he has any particular affection for water bodies or any attachment of sorts, it's just that he has nowhere else to go. It's almost funny actually— how he is completely vibing with his name.

Nahida had objected subtly to it once, 'Our names decide our fates,' and looked at him knowingly. But he merely averted his gaze. he had wanted to question her, 'A puppet can never be more than a wanderer no matter the riches or love it has, don't you know that?', but he maintained his silence; and the desert's too.

No matter what everyone around him seems to think of him, there is no denying the truth that he is a deep thinker. He had thought long before he had chosen that name for himself for when he was about to join the fatui, he had asked himself, what name would he choose had he an option? although all kinds of fancy names came by the end, the first one never left his mind— Wanderer.

There was such simplicity in that name it made it hard to believe that it was one in the first place— yet it seemed to cover his whole life from start to end with a quite plausible summary. He had wandered his whole life— for love, for life and then for survival.

He was not bound by mortal rules and bounds. He was not born of flesh and womb— he was born of energy and divinity. He was clan-less, nameless, identity-less. You could not put him in a box because he refused— like a fire, he only spread whereas the world could spectate only, as it watched his dancing flames with equal measures of fear and awe.

And then there was you. The thorn at the side. The vessel of mortal characters.

He used to be genuinely pissed off at you. At your humanity. At your love and adoration for nature and life, at the way everything and everyone was just so beautiful in your perspective. At how you could see beyond the pessimisms of life into its beauty and serenity. At how you loved the iridescence of dragonfly wings, the smell of paint, the foliage of summer leaves, the dew-wet monsoon grass— how everything, even the most useless one seemed to hold meaning to you.

'Cherry,' you had answered him when he first asked for your name— he was a harbinger back then, the bringer of misfortune. His gaze had been on your vision, the shiny green orb at your side and he had missed your name. 'Oh, I got distracted. Could you please repeat?'

'Cherry.'

What a stupid name.

Meaningless, common and as useless as a leaf on the wind— it could not narrate the story of the tree it once came from, it did not know of autumn, spring, summer and winter now that it had died. Such was your name on you.

You were far from being 'Cherry'. You were the cool mountain breeze, the rush of spring waters on mountain peaks, the distant laugh of lovers coming from the next room, the veil that hides the beauty of the bride, the sheen and shine of rose gold jewels, the falling autumn leaf with its last lesson and sweet kiss. Divinity poured like urns from your essence into your eyes— creating a canvas of spilled gold and sunshine on your features.

'Are you divine by birth?'

You laughed and he cowered from the way the sun seemed to shine brighter at your blooming mirth. 'No!'

The world seemed to have come falling down.

'What?'

You cocked a brow. 'Boring name? Well, let's talk about yours. Sounds like the name of a cheap dancer in a cheaper bar.'

His eyes widened. Nobody talked to him that way.

'Tell me. Why is your name Scaramouche?'

He detached entirely from you thereupon— but his curiosity never died. The worst part was that he could not bear to be cruel to you however hard he tried. He could not find himself ordering his guards to drag you down to his steps or go there and bring you down himself. And it was not just metaphorical; he knew you were born a warrior.

He knew it from the way your lotus-coloured yet calloused hands held your sword in such a determined way, whereas your other hand patted the head of a child as you smiled at them kindly.

You chose to be kind, in spite of being fully capable of destruction. You were not harmless— he had seen you fight once— the entire field had been littered with venom spit from your hands and blade, while your hands sizzled slightly. He had felt a pang of fear and guilt— for he saw himself in your battle-crazed eyes, but he could not bring himself to recognize the much kinder expression you made afterwards.

And the best part? Whenever you used venom to fight, which in itself was a rare occurrence, you always left part of it in your hands. 'So that it reminds me of the truth of pain and death,' you answered when he questioned the act. But there was not an inch of pain or regret in your voice. You had chosen to punish yourself— no wisdom or sense of morality had forced you into it.

And then all of a sudden, once again, everyone and everything he was familiar with was snatched away from his grasp. He was left a wriggling snake once again. He almost laughed when he realized the metaphor he had just used— he was not made a snake by circumstance, he was merely made to realize it.

He thought of you sometimes when he sat down in thought. 'A mortal,' he would think, 'who could harbour such kindness and peace of the soul in spite of being so much aware of their own twilight existence.'

He was in awe every time. He was not scared of your overpowering divine feminine anymore— he recognized and admired it. He thought of your battle-scarred hands that were almost always outstretched in an act of charity.

You were like the eagle of the sky— powerful, majestic, graceful. But under the veil of greatness that was draped on you, you were a lover at heart. A lover of the sky who beats its wings against the harshest of rocks upon the highest of peaks until every single feather falls off so that new ones can grow— a lover who would rather risk death then be separated from the sky.

And he? He was a snake. The snake that lives miles and miles below the very mountain peak you live at— who watches from its cavern with desire. But it's just a snake at the end of the day; It is not a lover or anyhow 'great' or divine or noble. It can only watch as the eagle, its most desired one, flies and conquers peak to peak, whereas it can only hope it would be blessed with death and reconciliation the moment the eagle sights it.

And then once again he would be slapped by the realization that you were a mortal and he was the divinity.

Wanderer watches as the water in the pond ripples slightly— and almost thinks the lily pads are laughing. When he turns to stare at the creeping orchids, they almost seem to mock him.

'Oh, they used to be such a good friend!', Candace happily said, conversing with Kaveh and Nilou. Wanderer stood behind Kaveh who was talking to them animatedly. Kaveh, whom he had recently taken a slight liking to, had dragged him here, saying he would like him to meet an old companion. He listened, yawning at times.

'Where's your friend?', Wanderer questioned before smirking, 'Did they run back to where they were coming from because they were told they were going to meet you?'

'No,' Kaveh smiled back sarcastically, 'They must have found out I was going to bring you along.'

Wanderer hissed slightly whereas Kaveh cackled with amusement. Candace shut them up with a quick movement of her wrist, 'Look there they come!'

When Wanderer turned, the sight made his brain stop working. His throat felt as though he had swallowed a plank of wood and his mouth was dry.

'What's their name?'

'Were you not listening? That's Cherry!'

He could cry.

And he was so sure he did, but he was lucky nobody paid him attention for some times after that. You were the source of everyone's joy as they all hugged you and chattered away excitedly, giving him enough time to calm down.

'Holy shit! I almost forgot! Cherry, this is my friend, the Wanderer!'

His heart skipped a beat. Although he knew you wouldn't, some part of him hoped you would recognize him as the harbinger that tucked a cecilia in your hair. No wait, the boy that tucked a cecilia in your hair.

But you just smiled, and for him, it was more than enough. 'Hello Wanderer, I am Cherry.'

He tried to smile back but couldn't. One question remained stuck at the back of his mind.

He sucked in a deep breath and slightly tilted his head to the side.

'Why is your name Cherry?'

You laughed, the ringing melody and the sun shone vivaciously as it always did when you did that. At this point, he was almost certain that even the sky loved its eagle so much that it stepped up at every chance to enhance its divinity.

'Why is your name Wanderer?'

It struck a chord.

'Why is your name Scaramouche?'

He smiled this time but he didn't have to remind himself or ease himself into it; it came as naturally to him as love for you came to the sky.

This was going to be a long journey.

my first character-specific post! let me know if anything's wrong or if it could be better! also, i will represent different characters with different emojis in fics. so, swan = wanderer! they/them can always be replaced with he/she, i just want to keep the content inclusive. my love to @yuyukami

[lix88888]

Eldritchtale: Error is a silly goose (who sometimes commits genocide)

.̷̮̻͍̒̈́͌.̵͎̩̹̜̤͔̅̿͠.̷̡́̔́̈́͝ͅ was mad. This wasn't unusual, as he was often angry, but the object of his fury usually wasn't His Mate, the one Monster he cared for and who he would never harm.

It made him feel conflicted, and nervous: .̷̮̻͍̒̈́͌.̵͎̩̹̜̤͔̅̿͠.̷̡́̔́̈́͝ͅ wanted His Mate to be with him forever, never leave his side, belong to him like they were meant to, but he had been so obsessed with that Multiverse thing of theirs he had gotten from that weird mortal.

.̷̮̻͍̒̈́͌.̵͎̩̹̜̤͔̅̿͠.̷̡́̔́̈́͝ͅ didn't like that at all. His Mate was spending so much time with his Multiverse, and that was time they weren't spending with HIM! It was unacceptable!

His Mate was being uncharacteristically stubborn about this, even forbidding him from entering the stupid Multiverse unless he made himself a "body" like His Mate had. Bah! A "body", sounded like something useless and pathetic!

But His Mate had been gone for so long already! Millennia! The other Monsters mocked his clinginess, but he didn't care.

.̷̮̻͍̒̈́͌.̵͎̩̹̜̤͔̅̿͠.̷̡́̔́̈́͝ͅ would do anything to be with His Mate.

Having decided to follow His Mate's rule, the Monster moved closer to all the mortals: ever since His Mate had created their Multiverse, a lot more mortals had appeared, just like the first one, the one who had enticed His Mate and made him leave: .̷̮̻͍̒̈́͌.̵͎̩̹̜̤͔̅̿͠.̷̡́̔́̈́͝ͅ hated him most of all, but all those others, too, he considered abominations and parasites. Still, just like His Mate had taken inspiration and made his Multiverse, so .̷̮̻͍̒̈́͌.̵͎̩̹̜̤͔̅̿͠.̷̡́̔́̈́͝ͅ would use those mortals as a guide to make his own new "body" (ugh).

He eventually found a mortal that seemed less awful than the others, and hastily modeled a body that would make him bypass His Mate's Barrier, before quickly jumping inside the Multiverse, where His Mate was.

It felt weird, and wrong, and unpleasant to have a body, to feel so constricted and limited (he didn't know how His Mate could stand it), and he was also a bit convinced he had made some mistake while building it (he dismissed the ridiculous thought as soon as it came up, the Monster was perfect, just like His Mate, and he didn't make mistakes).

"Hey buddy! Who are you?!" a voice shouted. The Monster would have found it annoying, if he hadn't recognized His Mate.

Even in this imperfect, insignificat form, he could always recognize His Mate, and always find him enticing. They were now looking at him with wonder and excitement, his pupils a yellow question mare and an orange exclamation point.

"You look so weird, friend! Wonder which AU you are from..." His Mate trailed off, coming closer and touching his face. It burned! The Monster flinched and moved away, snarling in pain.

"𝓓ᗝภ't tᗝ𝓾ᶜ𝓱 𝓂乇!(DON'T TOUCH ME!)"

He cared deeply for His Mate, but he was angry with him for hurting him. His Mate, however, simply smiled as his pupils turned into a star and a heart.

"Error! It's you!" "𝕎𝓱Ａt 𝓭𝐢𝓭 𝕪σ𝕌 נ𝕌şt 𝓬Ａ𝔩𝔩 爪Ｅ?!(What did you just call me?!)" His Mate simply snorted and came closer, making the Monster move away again. "Well, I can't just call you by your name, can I? These bodies cannot handle those sounds, this is the closest equivalent!"

.̷̮̻͍̒̈́͌.̵͎̩̹̜̤͔̅̿͠.̷̡́̔́̈́͝ͅ resented this knowledge, but he had to admit that even thinking his and His Mate's name was causing him an headache (stupid mortal bodies) and so .̷̮̻͍̒̈́͌.̵͎̩̹̜̤͔̅̿͠.̷̡́̔́̈́͝ͅ , or rather, Error, begrudingly accepted the moniker.

"I go by "Ink", by the way!" His Mate said, putting one hand on his hip as he pointed their thumb at his chest. He then frowned (no! why was His Mate frowing!) and crossed his arms.

"Look at your body, it's all glitched! You did such a rush job! Mortal minds can barely look at it without breaking! I bet touch hurts you, doesn't it?" "ภσ!(No!)" he said, like a liar. "ι 𝓭𝐢𝓭 𝐢t σŇ ｐ𝕌яｐσşＥ, şσ t𝓱Ａt ŇσŇＥ σⓕ 𝕪σ𝕌я Ａᵇσ爪𝐢ŇＡt𝐢σŇş 𝓬ＡŇ tσ𝕌𝓬𝓱 爪Ｅ!(I did it on purpose, so that none of your abominations can touch me!)

Ink then smirked (making Error sigh in relief at the sight of His Mate being happy) and came closer, careful to not touch Error. "Oh really? Not even me?"

Damnit, Error had not realized that. Having His Mate so close was making his new body experience all sorts of pleasant sensations he couldn't wait to explore, but the thought of not being able to touch His Mate while he was inside his Multiverse was torture!

Ink's smile softened as he saw the conflict on Error's face, raising a hand to his forehead, almost brushing it, but still oh so carefully not making contact.

"Want me to fix that? It'll only hurt for a moment, I promise."

Error nodded, the trust in His Mate full and unwavering.

True to his words, Ink's touch only hurt as their index and middle finger made contact with Error's forehead, a shock that ran through his body and then immediately stopped, leaving him able to enjoy His Mate's touch. The Monster leaned into Ink's hand, purring.

"All done, Ruru!" The nickname sent a pleasurable shiver down Error's new spine "Though I only fixed it for me, wouldn't want my "abominations" to touch you after all!" He then let out a laugh, a cute little snorting sound that Error decided was his new favourite thing.

Ink's fingers then moved away (making him growl involuntarily) and a glowing blue rectangle with writing on it appeared before them; Ink started examining the text in earnest, and Error couldn't help but feel angry. His Mate had stopped touching him for that stupid screen! What was so important that demanded His Mate's attention?!

"Error, where did you get the inspiration for your body from?" "𝕎𝓱𝕪 𝓭σ 𝕪σ𝕌 𝓬ＡяＥ?!(Why do you care?!)" Error snarled, clenching his fists in displeasure. Ink didn't even seem to notice, too busy looking at the stupid screen.

"Its code is very interesting! It says that it belongs to an AU that doesn't exists yet, that will form only thousands of years from now! It seems like all of the people who get thrown out of this Multiverse's linear time for whatever reason, end up where we live, always having existed there! Isn't it amazing?!"

"ภσ! 𝕎𝓱𝕪 𝓭σ 𝕪σ𝕌 𝓬ＡяＥ Ａᵇσ𝕌t Ａ𝔩𝔩 t𝓱Ａt şt𝕌ⓕⓕ?! ιt'ş ᵇσя𝐢ŇＧ, ＡŇ𝓭 şt𝕌ｐ𝐢𝓭!(No! Why do you care about all that stuff?! It's boring, and stupid!)" "Aww, Error, don't be like that! I'm sure you'd like it if-" "ภᗝ! ι 𝓱ａt乇 ιt! ι 𝓱ａt乇 ιt!(NO! I HATE IT! I HATE IT!)"

Error felt himself grow so angry that his mortal body almost couldn't contain him: his form started seizing and decomposing, a flurry of glitches running all over his body in an effort for his true essence to break free and destroy everything, but Ink's Barrier, so carefully crafted, stopped him from doing so.

Eventually, he crashed.

He was frozen, and paralized, and blind, but he could still hear Ink sigh and carry his unconscious body somewhere else, all the while chiding him for his tantrum. It hadn't been a tantrum! And he wouldn't have needed one if Ink had just listened to him and paid attention to him instead of some stupid code that didn't even MATTER!

He came to after a short while, laid down on something soft, a bean bag. Ink was seated cross-legged in front of him, on a nest of pillows.

"All good Ruru?" Error snarled in embarrassment and didn't respond, averting his eyes. To be caught so vulnerable in front of His Mate was a source of great shame for him.

And yet, His Mate simply smiled softly (his pupils two pink hearts) and put their hand on his forearm, caressing him with tenderness. Error leaned into the touch, once again counting himself so lucky that someone so amazing as Ink had chosen him.

"What was that all about?"

And there went the sweet moment. Error grew angry again at the thought of the neglect His Mate was subjecting him to.

"You got very worked up, why-" "ι נ𝕌şt 𝓭σŇ't 𝔩𝐢𝕂Ｅ 𝕪σ𝕌я şt𝕌ｐ𝐢𝓭 𝓂𝕌𝔩t𝐢ѶＥяşＥ, 𝐢ş t𝓱Ａt Ａ ｐяσᵇ𝔩Ｅ爪?!(I just don't like your stupid Multiverse, is that a problem?!)" Ink looked sad, but Error ignored the small voice at the back of his mind that despaired at the fact, instead focusing on his anger at His Mate.

"Of course it isn't, you don't have to stay if-" "ａяＥ 𝕪σ𝕌 şσ ＥＡＧＥя tσ ＧＥt я𝐢𝓭 σⓕ 爪Ｅ, t𝓱ＥŇ?!(Are you so eager to get rid of me, then?!)"

At this point, Ink's pupils changed to a green spiral and a blue exclamation point. "Error, are you jealous?" "𝓂Ｅ, נＥＡ𝔩σ𝕌ş?! ᗝⓕ 𝓬σ𝕌яşＥ Ňσt! ιⓕ 𝕪σ𝕌 ⓌＡŇt tσ ＡᵇＡŇ𝓭σŇ 爪Ｅ tσ tＥŇ𝓭 tσ 𝕪σ𝕌я Ａᵇσ爪𝐢ŇＡt𝐢σŇş, ᵇＥ 爪𝕪 Ｇ𝕌Ｅşt!(Me, jealous?! Of course not! If you want to abandon me to tend to your abominations, be my guest!)"

Ink's expression became frustrated, his pupils a red cross and a grey square. "I'm not abandoning you, that's ridiculous." "ᶜσ𝕌𝔩𝓭 𝓱ＡѶＥ ⓕσσ𝔩Ｅ𝓭 爪Ｅ…(Could have fooled me...)" "Errooooor!" Ink sighed, rolling his eyes and leaning back "I was gone only for a few millennia!" "t𝓱Ａt'ş Ａ ⓕＥⓌ 爪𝐢𝔩𝔩ＥŇŇ𝐢Ａ tσσ 爪ＡŇ𝕪!(That's a few millennia too many!)" "Are you gonna make such a fuss every time I go back here?"

WHAT?!

"𝕎𝓱ａt 𝓓ᗝ үᗝ𝓾 𝓂乇ａภ 𝑔ᗝιภ𝑔 ᗷａᶜķ?!(WHAT DO YOU MEAN GOING BACK?!)" he shouted, standing up. Ink looked at him in disbelief.

"I put a lot of work into this" he said, tone slow and condescending, looking up at him "I'm just gonna see it through. I'll keep coming back here till the Multiverse reaches its natural end." "t𝓱ａt'ร tᗝᗝ ℓᗝภ𝑔!(THAT'S TOO LONG!)" "Error-" "ι 𝕎ᗝภ't รtａภ𝓓 千ᗝ尺 ιt! ι 𝕎ᗝภ't ℓ乇t үᗝ𝓾!(I WON'T STAND FOR IT! I WON'T LET YOU!)"

Ink rose as well, putting his hands on their hips as his pupils became a red crosshair and a grey cloud with a lighting bolt coming out of it. "You "won't let me"? Please, elaborate."

Error knew he had fucked up, but his mouth ran faster than his thoughts.

"ι'ℓℓ 𝓓乇รt尺ᗝү үᗝ𝓾尺 รt𝓾ᵖι𝓓 𝓂𝓾ℓtι𝐯乇尺ร乇, t乇ａ尺 ιt ａᵖａ尺t!(I'LL DESTROY YOUR STUPID MULTIVERSE, TEAR IT APART!)"

And then His Mate would be back at his side, where they belonged.

"No."

Error froze. Outwardly, Ink still look as angry as before, but to a Monster was clear as day that now Ink was pissed, his True Form writhing and thrashing in a threatening display.

His Mate had always been powerful, even more than Error himself, but the other Monsters tended to forget it, as Ink never flaunted their prowess and strength.

Error was usually better at remembering it.

"This Multiverse is MINE, Error, do you understand? I worked very hard to make it, and if you actually destroy it all, I'm not gonna forgive you ever again."

And oh, how that threat was effective. Error could not image a punishment worst than His Mate forsaking him.

However, the mere idea that Ink might abandon him for such a disgusting abomination filled him with even more rage, so with a snarl Error teleported away and appeared in the middle of what appear to be papers floating without a care, but that Error can recognize as so much more.

In his rage, Error snatched one at random and ripped it in half, then again and again until the page is only confetti. The Monster was still not satisfied, so more pages follow the same fate.

This is next to nothing, this isn't destroying the Multiverse that Ink worked so hard to create, this is more akin to trying to destroy Mount Everest by removing a rock at a time, but it's still something against the hated creation that stole His Mate, and so Error kept doing it.

Eventually, Ink appeared to yell at him, to scold him and tell him to stop (his earlier rage is gone, replaced with irritation; Error may be doing next to nothing, but it's still ruining his delicate Creation).

Error didn't even slow down: if Ink really wanted to stop him, he could; as it is, Error destroyed even faster, wanting to keep Ink's attention on him.

Ink kept yelling, until they decided to instead ignore Error and start repairing the ripped pages. Seeing as Ink was once again favoring their worthless Multiverse over him, he jumped inside one of the pages, continuing his destruction there.

His mortal form wouldn't allow him to rip it apart as easily as with the pages, but Error is still the most powerful creature inside the Multiverse, second only to Ink, and so he began a chaotic annihilation of everything and everyone he laid his eyes on, with the ultimate goal of making the AU collapse in on itself.

Ink followed, but he, too, is limited by his mortal body and (to keep the illusion that he's part of the Multiverse and not its Creator) is forced to fight hand to hand with Error if they want to stop him.

The battle between Destruction and Creation starts.

Previous Next

=====

Just to clarify the deal with Error/Geno.

Canonically, Error is Geno, because Geno experimented with Determination or something else, and ends up into the Antivoid, where he then gets glitched, crazy and becomes the Destroyer we all know and love.

Here, in this AU, when Geno experiments, instead of being send to the Antivoid, he somehow ends up in the Place Where The Horror Dwells (aka the Void) but, due to the nature of the place, he kinda gets send back in time. As soon as Ink created the Multiverse, all of the people who would eventually end up in the Void materialize there instantly, due to the "getting scattered across space and time" deal, so Geno is there, even though the Sans that will become him isn't even born yet. Clear enough? Then Error simply chose his body as a template at random.

[heartofspells]

Masterpost

@wolfstarmicrofic

Prompt: country road

"Sirius, stop!" calls Remus.

Sirius ignores him, continuing down the road in front of the cottage he'd once felt so at home within. Now he feels faded, a pointless entity, like the ghost Remus has been calling him for over a week. His head throbs, sending an ache through the backs of his eyes, and he squeezes them closed, still not halting in his steps, though they become a bit staggered, giving the other man an opportunity to catch up and grip his shoulder, spinning him around.

"What do you want?" he snarls in Remus' face, glaring at him with eyes that could melt most others to puddles of themselves, but Remus doesn't seem fazed by the intense anger shining from their grey depths.

"I want you to stop," says Remus patiently, quietly. "Just stop and think for a second. I'm not even sure where you think you're going."

"Where else would I be going?" demands Sirius heatedly, wincing around the cymbals clanging in his head. "St Mungos! I'm going to find myself. Maybe – fuck. Maybe this is just some fractured connection. Maybe if I – I don't know! Touch my own arm or something I'll sort of absorb back into me. That doesn't even make sense, but I don't know what else to do!"

Remus stares at him, his hand still gripping Sirius' shoulder. A couple walks past them, casting Remus odd looks at his stance and the fact that he'd seemingly been talking to himself only moments ago, but both men ignore them as the couple increase their pace.

"That's a stupid idea," says Remus finally, and Sirius opens his mouth to retort, eyes narrowing, but the other man stops him. "I know you don't know what to do or what's happening, but this isn't a book, Sirius. It's not some Muggle film where everything just slots back into place so easily. Something clearly happened to you, and until someone figures out what, I think you're stuck like this." Sirius begins to deflate under Remus' hold until he continues, saying, "And you're going the wrong way."

Sirius suddenly jerks away from him, Remus' arm dropping back to his side like a useless log. "I know that," he bites out, "and I don't care. I just need – I need – I – fucking Merlin on a tea table!" He shouts the last bit at the ground, blood rushing into his face forcefully, his head throbbing harder, skull feeling as though it's ready to split in half.

"What do you need?" asks Remus, still soft, little judgement in his voice. "What do you need, Sirius?"

"I don't know!" cries Sirius, eyes snapping back up, landing on the other man briefly before he's spinning on his heels. "I need answers! I need my life back! I need to talk to someone other than you, someone who doesn't despise my existence – "

"I don't despise your existence," denies Remus quickly. "I just…wasn't expecting your existence. It's been an adjustment…"

But Sirius isn't listening anymore, his words falling into a void where they don't matter anymore. His eyes have landed on an object gleaming in the light beside the cottage. The black of it is glossy and smooth, the chrome perfect and blinding. The bars at the top are expertly positioned at just the right height, something Sirius had fought with, using several different charms to get them adjusted. He can hear the rumbling of sounds even as it stands still and alone, abandoned just like him, images of chilled nights spent on a country road and the smell of pine and grease invading his senses.

"Do you see that?" asks Sirius, cutting through whatever Remus is saying. The other man follows his gaze to the bike, frowning in confusion. "That's mine. It's my bike. I've had it for years. Found it not long after I left Hogwarts. It was rubbish. James told me not to buy it, said I'd regret it, but I knew. I could tell what was beneath the surface of something so neglected. I spend ages fixing it up, giving it the life it deserved. I took care of it. Even charmed it to fly. Harry always loved going up with me."

Sirius angles his head in Remus' direction but never removes his eyes from his bike. "And there it is, untouched and unloved. I'm sure Lily or James protected it, but I doubt they do anything with it." He stops and grits his teeth together. "It's mine, and it's here. Same as my jacket that I'm still somehow wearing. Same as all my other clothes and books and photos. Everything that's ever meant anything to me is here. And so am I, but I'm not, am I? Not really. They can't see me, can't hear or touch me. They're my family and I'm just…gone. Dead."

Remus steps forward, pushing into Sirius' line of sight. "You're not dead, Sirius," he says firmly. "You said so yourself. They said it too. You're not dead. You're not a ghost, and I'm sorry for all the times I've called you that because you aren't."

"You're not hearing me," snaps Sirius. "You're not hearing one word. I am nothing! To everyone that has meant anything to me, I don't exist except for laying useless in some bed in the fuck-off ward of a hospital where no one cares! And now I'm stuck with you, someone who doesn't know me and would rather I didn't exist at all." Remus rears backwards a little as though slapped, something hurtful flashing across his face, but Sirius doesn't care. "I don't want you. I don't need you. Take my fucking flat. Enjoy it. Apparently, I don't need it anymore. I just want my family back."

Remus stares at him, not speaking, mouth pulled into a thin line, brown eyes guarded and calculating. Sirius growls under his breath.

"Piss off, Remus!" he shouts. "Go! Get the fuck out of here! You don't want me and I don't need you!"

The other man's gaze never falters from Sirius' face, but his own expression hardens after a moment. "Fine," he mutters, and then Remus is turning on his heel, his disappearance and the sharp crack signaling his departure.

As soon as he's gone, Sirius feels as though a boulder is falling onto his chest. His air is sucked from his lungs, his bones feel brittle and pliant. Everything turns soft. He nearly screams as the worst pain he's felt so far rips through his head, turning his vision white and then black. And then he's being pulled through the tightest of tubes, the sensation far worse than Apparition has ever been. Everything goes dark after that.

[theroastedwretch]

Between the Lines- Ep. 3

A/N: This one is pretty long, partially to make up for just how short the next one will be. Episode 4 comes at you pretty rapid fire by design, so it's harder to stretch out and still make it make sense.

Usual warnings apply, some no no words, innuendo/bad flirting. This one also features a bit more insecurity around body image than usual and discussions of mental illness, so if that's not your thing please keep that in mind.

Index Episode 2

I was cursing at my phone and muttering about stupid 20-somethings getting involved in shit they shouldn’t— and ignoring the irony— when I finally managed to get a grip on myself and start thinking a bit more clearly.

Should I text the others? The Hacker seemed pretty sure one of them was the culprit, and while I wasn’t totally positive, the timing of the threatening call seemed to support that. It had been early on in my communications with the group that it would have been surprising if my number had leaked beyond them by then. 

But if the Hacker was monitoring their phones, could the culprit be as well? I know he’d said he was putting protections on my devices, but if he hadn’t done theirs it was entirely possible someone could have gotten my number that way.

Not to mention, Thomas claimed the message with my number in the first place had come from Hannah’s phone. We’d been working under the assumption all this time that she’d sent it, but her phone had disappeared with her, and Thomas said the call he’d made had been answered by breathing. Despite what Joyce had claimed in Stranger Things, there was no good way to identify breathing.

What if it had been the kidnapper who sent them my number? The issue of “why me” remained, but it did make more objective sense that he would have access to the phone and use it for something other than calling the police (or their hacker friend). 

Hell, maybe my number has actually been a diversion. A random string of numbers sent to confuse them that happened to be my contact info? The coincidence was huge, but possible. In fact, was it even that big of a coincidence? Maybe for me, the person with the number, it felt that way. But on the outside looking in, most combinations of numbers with the right amount of digits would probably call someone. 

I wasn’t an investigator or police. I occasionally dabbled in writing mystery and did some escape rooms. I listened to true crime podcasts. But being that I was the core, stereotypical demographic for most of those things, that didn’t exactly make me uniquely qualified for any of this. 

My mind raced round and round, trying to piece together who I could trust, how I could help, and what my place in this whole clusterfuck really was. I actually had something of a reputation of being good under pressure (but collapsing as soon as it was gone— as shown by the time I’d giggled for like ten minutes straight after rushing around to put out Annie’s kitchen fire as she screamed and didn’t use the phone in her hand to call for help) but this time, maybe because there really wasn’t anything I could actually do, I found myself totally useless.

I’d worked myself up into such a fit that by the time Cleo texted, I was tense enough to yelp at the buzzing phone in my hand.

Thomas? I mouthed silently. The kid takes off after finding out about the body, gets weirdly aggressive at Dan to set up some sketchy deal he refused to mention by name, and then breaks into his girlfriend’s apartment? 

Cleo was clearly uncomfortable with it too, sounding more stilted and awkward than I’d ever heard her, even when confronting her about her newfound love of trespassing. Was he looking at her phone? Had he said something to her? 

It wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility to think he had a key— Annie’s boyfriend had one to our place, much to my chagrin— and Cleo was just as guilty of going in as he was. But something about her reaction put me on edge, so I hoped she’d get somewhere she felt freer to talk soon.

Jessy’s rage provided a good distraction, though I really wasn’t surprised to see the way the paper had “reported” the body. It fit for a small town, whose identity partially stemmed from the idea of being safe and close. How many times in the past had I rolled my eyes at my grandma declaring that “this stuff didn’t happen in her town” when she watched the news for the city I’d grown up in? These were places where you never locked your doors, knew the mailman by name. 

It became crucial to maintain that status quo at all costs, even if it meant relegating a murder to the back pages of a paper. Even if that meant the victim went unremembered.

Of course she was angry. Burying your head in the sand only felt good when it wasn’t your hurt being covered up.

Seeing her so upset brought back that feeling of helplessness I’d had with Cleo earlier. This time, there were things I could say, actions I could take. But nothing that would fix the situation or make her feel better at all. I could only let her vent. Even that felt so useless, it was only the tip of the iceberg.

Thomas’s return gave her something else to focus on, at least, even as I wondered whether it was planned or if his encounter with Cleo had forced his hand. I struggled to still see him as a devoted, grieving boyfriend after all this time.

The news that the body wasn’t Hannah’s perked everyone else up, but made me even more unsettled. As an outsider without any attachment to Hannah, a body appearing right after a kidnapping made things so much more complicated, and more dangerous. 

One was unfortunate, two was a pattern.

There was no way I could say that to them, though, or even the Hacker, so I was left to stew on that on my own through the rest of Thomas’s return conversation. 

Needing to process everything that had happened, I decided to go get some fresh air. I rarely took walks, I didn’t seem to get the cabin fever that others felt, and the pandemic had only made me even more comfortable hunkering down in one place. But suddenly I felt caged, like if I didn’t keep moving, I might collapse.

Something felt off to me, beyond the obvious. Why would the cops confirm anything to Thomas, who wasn’t Hannah’s husband and presumably had only a passing connection to the deceased woman? I knew that privacy in these cases wasn’t as strict as say, hospitals, and who knew what the laws in Germany looked like about that, but it still didn’t sit right with me. Maybe it was a small town thing? 

Googling “how much can the police release to non-family in a missing person’s case” got me nowhere even before I added in the jurisdictional aspect, and I started to get frustrated at how little I knew about any of this.

I’d had dealings with cops before, a rebellious youth plus some impulse control issues had seen to that. I’d dated some questionable men, no doubt about that, made some bad choices. I knew the basics of the law in some areas, but nothing significant. 

All of the recent happenings had me getting really frustrated with my ineptitude and getting pulled into this. I couldn’t say why I’d stuck around so far, really. It just seemed like everyone expected me to, and I didn’t want to disappoint them.

But hell, how was I not going to disappoint them? 

My life had begun revolving around this case, even when it probably shouldn’t. Outside of the movie day and going out with Annie, one of which involved Jessy and the other I still felt guilty over, I’d taken very little time away from this, and it was starting to wear me down.

Still, how did I tell these grieving friends that I needed a break? How would I leave them up to their own devices, considering even with my help they were breaking in to crime scenes, buying illegal items, and having breakdowns over found bodies? They were suffering worse than I was, and even knowing that I would crash, I felt responsible for that.

Hannah had been missing for weeks, and all I’d done was find a cat picture, pry into her medical information, and discovered some emo poetry. Poirot, I was not. I couldn’t help but think that the others blamed me for that fact.

As if hearing my doubts, the Hacker appeared. I hugged my sweater closer to myself despite the day actually being fairly warm, and considered putting him off. But I wasn’t going to make any progress without him, and the sooner we solved this mystery, the sooner I could nurse my ego and return to my life. 

I wasn’t at all surprised to hear he was reading in on my chat with Cleo, though I was a bit that he was watching my video chats. The insecure, dysmorphic part of me tried to remember how many chins I had while on screen, even knowing that he probably hadn’t looked at me once during the call. I knew it was silly, but I’d have to start considering my appearance a little more before turning on my camera. 

I’d meant to come off more teasing when I’d questioned whether my opinion mattered to him, but I knew I sounded desperate for his approval. Still, I was pretty surprised when he answered in the affirmative, seemingly genuine. My face burned when I admitted to the same, but it kind of felt like I owed it to him at that moment.

Of course, he quickly moved the conversation back to the matter at hand, and I tried not to let that sting. Once he admitted to his “flaw”, though, I couldn’t help but question myself even further. Did it extend to not realizing how he came off over chat? Had he not even noticed the times I was flirting?

It seemed like everything had me off kilter today, and I was desperate to hide under my blankets and let myself mope, at least a little. It was so like me, to get feelings for a guy on the other side of the world that I didn’t even know the name of who had no idea I’d spent weeks flirting with him. I felt like a teenager again, pining over a boy who told me that I’d have an easier time finding a boyfriend if I lost weight. 

Really, I thought I’d grown past this.

Massaging my temples as I walked back into my apartment, I let myself flop into bed despite how early it was. Maybe if I crawled into my safe space while texting, things wouldn’t bother me as much. Or I’d at least be less of an asshole and stop focusing on my own bullshit at a time like this.

I felt like I had to push back on his assertion that Hannah couldn’t have hurt herself. I clearly had more experience with depression than he had, and considering how he’d reacted to the SSRIs already, I worried it could break him. Besides, not all methods of hurting yourself came in the form that most people expected. Pretty much my entire early twenties was a testament to all of the ways you could hurt yourself without causing a single bit of physical harm.

I decided not to push that part.

We discussed the cloud entry (I resisted the urge to joke about my own shitty poetry, since I wasn’t making this about myself anymore)  and I was surprised to discover that he’d never met Hannah. He was maybe more invested in finding her than some of the group. 

I wasn’t making this about myself, so I didn’t worry that maybe they were romantic penpals or something. She had Thomas. 

I had to admit I felt pretty good about getting to tease him about the legends, and was glad to see it made him laugh. Not because I wanted his approval, but just because he was usually so serious. Of course. 

Finally, after exhausting all of the leads and updates either of us had— there was no movement on Poke’s number yet— he logged off suddenly and I sighed, taking the opportunity to wiggle deeper into my nest and think about nothing for a while. ___

I hadn’t intended to fall asleep, but I was shocked when I opened my eyes next to find that twelve hours had passed, and I suddenly found myself the topic of the group chat. Maybe I’d grilled Thomas too hard yesterday.

Dan: We don’t know anything about her, why should we trust her?

Seriously Dan? After facilitating some weird deal between Thomas and Poke, you want to start throwing stones? Maybe guilt and deflection, but annoying nonetheless.

I let myself get truly frustrated with them for the first time, reminding them of their responsibility for the fact that they knew nothing about me. Not like I’d been nothing but a vehicle to find Hannah or something to all of them but Jessy, right?

MC: I mean MC: You could ask

Thomas: What?

MC: I don’t have a whole lot of reasons to lie to you MC: Not beyond like “oh yeah I definitely do floss every day”, at least MC: So don’t ask that one MC: I will lie about that

Dan: We can’t even know if you’re telling the truth!

MC: Right MC: But if we’re talking stranger danger, it’s kind of 5 against 1 already.

Dan: Fine, so tell us about yourself

MC: Well that’s super unhelpful MC: I at least ask you guys questions

Dan: You mean interrogate? 

MC: Sure MC: Ask away

Jessy: What color is your hair?

MC: Ha!

I hit send while snorting before realizing that my amusement wouldn’t make sense to anyone in the group. 

MC: Sorry, inside joke… not a very good one. MC: Brown normally MC: But I get bored with that a lot.  MC: So like, less brown right now? I guess? 

Jessy: Oooh! What colors has it been?

I smiled a little, of course Jessy would show something of an actual interest while simultaneously asking questions that helped nothing.

MC: Well, I’ve done red streaks. Not like yours, Jessy, they called it “fire-engine red”. Red fades so fast, so I only did that once. MC: High school was when I did most of it. It was pink for a while. MC: Kept it bleached for a while, but I’m not a good blonde. MC: Blue in college. 

Thomas: Stop Thomas: Why are you doing this?

MC: Because she asked? And because if you guys keep not trusting me, we won’t get anywhere?

Thomas: No. I mean, why are you here?

MC: Because you added me to the group.

Thomas: You know what I’m asking

I groaned. I did, but where do you even start? How do I even explain, when I don’t really know myself? I knew I was on thin ice, though. Jessy liked me, and Cleo was open to me. But Thomas was, at best, neutral, Richy had barely spoken to me, Lilly was totally absent, and Dan… well, Dan was Dan.

What do you tell a group of strangers when they ask why you’re putting all of your energy into snooping around their personal lives? 

The hope that Thomas seemed to be fueled by, that I’d have some unknown connection and solution to everything seemed to have vanished. And that had really been my only connection to these people. 

“Sorry, I might want to bone the hacker you all hate, so I do what he tells me,” was pathetic on so many levels, and would do nothing to help me.

MC: Look MC: I’m an asshole, okay? My jokes are bad, I suck at people, and I’m just generally something of an acquired taste at best MC: But like, how do you walk away from people who want you to help find a missing person?  MC: I don’t know her. It’s crazy I care this much. But Thomas, you sent me all those pictures MC: And you’ve all talked about her so much MC: And I read the articles about it online and that made it so real too MC: I don’t know if I’ll be useful. Frankly, I’m usually not even at the best of times MC: But on the tiniest chance I can be, and I don’t try? I don’t think I’m prepared to be that much of a shit person. 

The silence after I wrote all of that stretched on long enough to make me sweat. Being genuine wasn’t something I practiced much, and I was mostly just glad I hadn’t had to say all of that out loud because I would have stumbled over it and messed it up somehow. However un-charismatic I was online, it was nothing compared to how I was in person.

After what felt like several minutes of nothing, I began frantically thinking of ways to take it all back. Despite the miles and miles between us, something about my words made me feel like I was standing in front of them all naked, so the lack of reply had me fighting not to claw my eyes out.

Finally, around the time I’d hunted down the dusty bottle of vodka I’d gotten as a gift for last Christmas and poured myself a glass with little enough juice that it did more for color than taste, there was movement in the chat.

Dan is typing…

Dan: Fine Dan: Stay

Dan is offline.

Cleo: Right, well… Welcome to the team.

I was a bit surprised to see the hesitation from Cleo, since she’d already called me at Hannah’s and admitted to several crimes, one of which I was complicit in. Maybe she’d only included me before since I was online and couldn’t stop her? Who knows.

Thomas is offline.

Cleo is offline. 

Richy is offline.

Only Jessy and I remained, which I guess I could have predicted at that point. Considering her line of questioning, and our active personal chat, it made sense that she’d be the one least likely to need to mull over my outburst. Which is why, when I saw a notification pop up seconds later, I didn’t hesitate to press it without looking at the name.

As it turned out, It wasn’t from Jessy. Instead, the notification led me back to my chat with the Hacker. 

???: You did surprisingly well.

Despite the fact that I’d normally bask a little bit in the compliment (however backhanded the qualifier made it feel), I only felt irritated. My frustration, insecurity and helplessness bubbled over, and even knowing how little he’d get those emotions from my words, he was the only one here to direct it at.

MC: Thanks? I think?  MC: Or are you just surprised they didn’t boot me out of the chat? MC: Look, I want to help, but you saw how that just went.  MC: I don’t do this, okay? I don’t know how to get people to like me, or trust me, or want to talk to me. Everyone who puts up with me in real life are either people who met me when we were young enough that being edgy and bitchy seemed cool, liked my mom enough to feel like they have to make sure I’m alive, or are getting paid in one way or the other.

???: I believe it went well, MC. You were quite convincing.

MC: Pf. Hardly. For Hannah, you need to find someone else. I can still do the cloud stuff if you want, but there’s got to be someone better to talk to the group.

The moment I hit send, a notification from the person I’d been expecting earlier appeared at the top of my screen.

Jessy: MC! I’m so sorry they acted so mean Jessy: They’re not usually like that, they’re scared. But that’s no excuse.  Jessy: You almost made me cry!

MC: I’m sorry! 

Jessy: No no, it was so nice! 🥰

MC: Mmh, Jessy, I made everyone run away.

Jessy: Trust me, they just didn’t know what to say. They hate being wrong!

While I wracked my brain trying to formulate a response, another notification popped up that I didn’t even bother to click this time.

???: ;)

Smug bastard. ___

After that, things were a little less tense in the group chat. The majority still weren’t particularly friendly,  but they’d at least seem to accept my presence. Dan was still kind of an asshole, but in a kind of way that I was used to, so I didn’t let it bother me. He seemed like the sort that people just kind of ignored most of the time, and I knew what that was like.

The chat wasn’t what I’d consider active, but they checked in on each other occasionally, tried to cheer each other up and touched base with platitudes and support. 

Jessy: MC Jessy: … Jessy: You there? Jessy: MCCCCC

Huh. It was strange for me to be addressed directly at the start of a conversation, but the fact that it was Jessy made it make a little more sense. I suspected she was trying to include me more and humanize me to the rest, a mission she’d kind of taken up recently.

MC: Hi! Sorry, I got a call.

Jessy: Aren’t you popular?

MC: No, no, never. Work. 😩

Jessy: Oh! You know, I don’t think we’ve ever talked about your job.

MC: Well, yeah, it’s not really been important. 

Other than my chats with Jessy, and the time Thomas had grilled me about my intentions, discussing me had been pretty low priority. I’d chime in here and there when the group chat dipped into the easy flow that happened in messages between old friends. And I never missed a chance to make a sassy comment or comment, which they’d quickly learned to ignore or roll their eyes at.

But it was true that in their eyes, I was still just a stranger. Even as I slowly started forming pictures of their lives and getting pulled deeper into Hannah’s world, the group as a whole still didn’t even know my last name. I hadn’t offered it, but they didn’t ask either.

After my hidden meltdown when the body was discovered not to be Hannah’s, I’d probably put up some barriers trying not to totally lose myself in their lives. It was wearing on my mental health in a pretty serious way, so while Jessy and I were continuing to bond, and Cleo had started talking to me more, I felt a bit detached overall.

Jessy: Still! Jessy: You’re always on your phone Jessy: Every time I’m on

I snorted at that, mainly because it wasn’t totally true. I wasn’t a morning person, and she was bright and sunny enough to be way too much until I’d gotten at least two cups of coffee in me. But after that, I did give my phone nearly my full attention.

MC: That’s what my boss just said on our call, haha. 🙃 MC: I work remotely, so I’ve got some flexibility MC: But I’ve been pushing that lately MC: And unlike someone, I’m not cute enough to get away with it

Richy: 😳

For all Jessy tried to hide when she texted non-stop at work, it was actually the worst kept secret. Especially since Richy was on nearly as much during the day. They didn’t acknowledge each other over chat all that much, but there was no way they didn’t notice they were both on.

But since it was just as obvious that Richy wanted to date Jessy…

Jessy: 😤 Jessy: But what do you do?

Of course neither would acknowledge it. They both knew, even if they wanted to pretend they didn’t. I was surprised the group didn’t heckle them for it more. Yet another way they differed from mine, I guess. I’d never live it down with them.

MC: Nothing very exciting. I’m called a “Customer Communication Quality Assurance Analyst”

Jessy: Right…

Yep, that was the usual reaction alright.

MC: Told you 🤣 MC: You know how when you call customer service, that message plays? MC: About your call being recorded? MC: Some companies review those in-house, but others contract out to a firm MC: So I work for one of those

Dan: You’re joking

He didn’t usually get involved when I was talking. He’d respond to the others, of course, but for the most part he preferred to ignore me completely. This would be interesting.

MC: No… why would I be?

Dan: You spend all day spying on people’s calls Dan: Just to open your phone Dan: And interrogate us

I actually was a little more offended than I should have been, which probably gave his point more credence. Still, it felt like there was a note of teasing to it that maybe could work in my favor if I played it right.

MC: Okay MC: Well when you put it that way MC: My life just sounds sad MC: And kind of creepy 😒

Dan: I mean, isn’t it?

MC: Hey 😤 MC: But actually MC: I wanted to be a teacher when I was younger

Jessy: Really?? That’s so cool

I hadn’t meant to prolong this conversation, but since Jessy had definitely become the one that both liked me best and I’d been most open with, maybe it would be useful to let them in a little.

And it was definitely for Hannah and not because I wanted the acceptance of these people. Of course.

MC: Mmh, no, not really.  MC: Could have saved myself a lot of time and money if I’d remembered I don’t like dealing with people that much

Jessy: What do you mean? Jessy: You’re so friendly!

Friendly? Jessy, I’m a raging bitch, covering up for the self-esteem of a goldfish with sarcasm and fake arrogance, the mouth of a sailor, and the gutter-mind of a 16 year old boy. Was that friendly?

MC: Sure, to people I like MC: But I made the mistake of being a TA in undergrad MC: Turns out, people can be really dumb and I have no patience 🤓

Cleo: MC!

Yeah. That would be a bit far for Cleo. She was nice enough, of course, but probably the one that struggled the most with my more insulting quips. Well, Thomas and Lilly hadn’t been much involved with me either, so maybe they’d have been yelling at me even more. Who knows?

MC: Yes, yes. I’ll be nice MC: I just get frustrated easily, I guess.  MC: Having to explain something over and over

Dan: Mmh, I’m trying to picture you as a teacher. It’s kind of funny.

I felt a surge of pride in realizing I’d kept Dan at least marginally engaged. Though actually, in other circumstances he might have actually been the one I was the most similar to. He seemed to also lack a filter and the capability to recognize when running his mouth was okay.

MC: Funny isn’t the word I’d have used

Jessy: Poor you 😫

MC: If I’m being honest, probably poor them 

Jessy: Oh no

MC: 😉 MC: It was better for everyone that I got out of that line of work MC: But it was too late to change my degree unless I wanted to spend way too much time backtracking MC: So I just found a job that would take a degree, no matter what it was.  MC: So now, here I am MC: Both professional and amatuer spy MC: Apparently 

Jessy: That suits you somehow

MC: I don’t know what to say to that MC: Should I be insulted or…?

Again, realizing my role in this group was still barely above the Hacker’s as far as my motives made my heart sink. They were right. My job here was to investigate, spy and uncover. But since I hadn’t really made them aware of just how creepy I was being, I was surprised to see that they considered me a “spy”, or even investigator. 

Jessy: No no! I just meant that you see things others miss Jessy: So it works for you

MC: Oh okay

Dan: Yeah, you’re a regular Sherlock Holmes

MC: Nah, he at least had cocaine to keep him awake. MC: I’m probably more like Harriet the Spy, tbh. 😂

The conversation didn’t continue after that, but I almost felt like I’d earned Dan’s respect even just the tiniest bit with that one. ___

I was somewhat caught off-guard when Richy added me after discussing the Man Without a Face in the legends chat that Jessy had made for us. I agreed with him that Jessy seemed more eager to latch onto the legend than most people would, but it made sense that she’d want to seize any chance she saw to step back from the idea that the killer could be human. 

For my part, the more I thought on the idea that someone would be masquerading as this mythical avenger, the more I saw it as a viable concept. Killers, especially ones that consider themselves righteous, love to glom onto characters that get across the message they want to embody.

My true crime podcasts taught me that much at least.

I teased him about Jessy more to get him off balance than to confirm he liked her— that much was already obvious. I wasn’t crazy about the power dynamics at play there, with him being her boss, but that seemed kind of like a thing that just happened in small towns. There were only so many people to start with. 

I considered lightly flirting with him to see if that was a better tactic, but frankly I couldn’t bring myself to. Jessy was a friend, and she seemed to like him too. I didn’t think he’d ever get up the nerve to ask her, but there was only so much playing in their lives I could justify before it felt icky.

Besides that, there was the question of my shadow.

Ruminating on that led me back to decrypting, a habit I’d taken up while trying to avoid thinking too much on him, his motives, and how much he even noticed about me. Ironically, decryption was the thing that should remind me the most of him, but I could generally focus on Hannah while doing the most annoying parts, since it was to benefit her. 

Sometimes I wondered how she would feel once she was safe. I couldn’t imagine she’d be interested in much to do with me— I was still pretty convinced she hadn’t sent my number— as I’d be mostly a reminder about this horrible time in her life. But would she resent me for the intrusions I’d made into her private life? 

As if sensing my guilt, the next file I opened was clearly another diary entry, once again filled with emotional conflict. It as much more straightforward than the last, written with a bit more clarity and thought rather than vomiting words up as they appeared in her head. 

I bit the inside of my cheek as I read over it a second time. I knew I had to send this to the Hacker, but Hannah’s distress had really been the only thing to faze him since that first, frantic call to her friends. I worried that this one, likely even direct enough for him to grasp the emotion behind, would cause him even more grief.

But he’d also be furious if he found out I kept something from him, even—or maybe especially— if it was out of a desire to protect him. Sighing guiltily, I sent it to him to discuss.

The conversation went a bit unexpectedly, though. Maybe he’d come to terms with our previous findings enough to prepare himself for this one, or maybe he was glad to have something a bit less hard to understand. He probably didn’t read much poetry with his flaw.

I wasn’t prepared for the fucking praise, though. Or really, my reaction to it was the problem. Instead of feeling patronized, it sent a bit of a jolt through me. So damn stupid, getting worked up over some guy telling you that you did a good job. I knew I had a bit of a submissive side but Jesus, really?

Wait. Could he have found that particular… interest… of mine when reading through my chats? Jessy and I got a bit detailed at times when discussing our preferences, after she got used to me it seemed like she enjoyed having someone to discuss things with.

What else had he seen on my phone and devices? He admitted to having full access but said he only looked at case-related things. Still, there was a lot of bullshit to wade through in order to find those case-related items. After he’d said not to worry about offending him, I’d mostly tried to forget he was there whenever I messaged people or screwed around on the internet.

But all it would take was one poorly timed screen-mirror and…

I scrambled to try to remember my recent activities and felt my face burn when I considered all of the possibilities. I wasn’t one to watch risqué videos, being more into reading and writing to alleviate my frustrations. 

Cool. Great. Awesome. He probably knew everything about my kinks and I didn’t know his name.

As freaked out as I was, the fact that I still didn’t know his name was starting to bother me. Especially in light of this recent realization. I could do it, right? Just ask his name? I mean, we’d been talking a while, he said he trusted me. I got the feeling I’d never see his face or talk to him without the distortion, but his name was innocent enough. 

Before I could chicken out, I typed it out, as a request rather than a question, and hit send.

Of course he’d ask why I cared. Of course it seemed ridiculous to him, I’d already suspected he had no idea what signals I’d tried to throw out. 

Would it hurt to try to be more obvious? I wondered. I was cringing at my screen now, trying to both type and shut my eyes to what I was saying as I admitted to liking him. I tried to make a joke of it, using the damn smilies Jessy had gotten me addicted to, but even someone who couldn’t read had to be able to just smell the pheromones and insecurity dripping off of every word.

Jake.

The emotional high of learning that, of being able to greet him properly for the first time, dampened a bit from the clear regret he immediately expressed. Still, he hadn’t left yet, so I I tried to salvage things a little.

Are you dating someone?

How could I not have melted at that? It was the most overt he’d ever been by far. So even when he fled again, I couldn’t keep the stupid grin off of my face. ___

I was pretty ashamed to only realize that Cleo had never gotten back to me about the situation with Thomas until she reached out again, saying that she needed to clear her head before we talked. Still, I should have checked in about it long before now, so the guilt of making it about me, again, pushed away the good feelings from earlier.

Learning that Thomas and Hannah had been arguing, that he no longer had a key to her apartment despite clearly having a way to access it, just solidified my need to check further into him.

Goddamn it folks, stop being shady and stop not telling me things. How is it this fucking hard?

I pinched my nose, attempting to slow my breathing. But learning that he took something from the apartment just shot my blood pressure back up through the roof.

I’d drank as much during this investigation— even ignoring my night out with Annie at the start— as I normally did in a year but I still couldn’t escape the urge for a shot. It was barely mid-afternoon so I resisted the urge, but barely. ___

After getting the book number for Jessy, Jake (that still felt weird) let me know he’d found Poke’s number. I got nervous when he revealed I’d have to call rather than text— I was a millennial, that’s my actual nightmare— and a little frustrated when he seemed to minimize the risk to me again. At this point, he should know I’d stick around even when I’m scared. But it would be really nice to whine and be comforted for five minutes before handing my number over to a suspected criminal. 

Still, I suspected that being comforting wasn’t particularly his style, and that even if he wanted to, he’d have very little reference for how to do it. 

And there was no denying that of the two of us, I was the better choice for handling the people part. I mean, we were still screwed, but I kind of suspected I was the only person he’d managed to charm recently and I still wasn’t totally possible how he’s done that.

So I groaned, put on my big girl panties, and called. ___

A locksmith. All of this cloak and dagger bullshit over a locksmith. A clearly unethical one, but why the hell would they not just pretend like Thomas had lost his own key or something instead of acting like the sketchiest fucking losers alive?

I wasn’t proud of my past associations, but I’d seen drug deals discussed with more grace than these folks were handling an exchange with a perfectly legal business and an obvious cover story.

Not to mention, why the hell did Thomas not know where her spare key was if Cleo did? I wasn’t sure how long they’d been dating, but it was probably long enough for him to know where her spare key was.

For some reason, I started to suspect less that the culprit was either Dan or Thomas, mainly because they apparently made the stupidest damn criminals I’d ever met.

Hannah, your friends are going to be the death of me, I swear. ___

As the group chat exploded into drama over Phil, I groaned out loud. A fight was a long time coming, especially between Cleo and Jessy, but did it have to be now?

I was working when it started, trying to clear my inbox that I was sorely behind on dealing with. Several of the calls I’d reviewed today had serious violations and one of the clients took the negative feedback really poorly. I’d had enough yelling for this week, thank you.

Annie popped open a can of coke behind me and leaned over to look beyond my shoulder at my phone. I tried to casually block her from seeing, but she was tall enough to catch sight of it anyway.

“Hey is that Jessy? How is she?”

“Fine,” I muttered, locking my phone screen and trying to ignore the rapid-fire buzzing. 

“What crawled up your ass?” She snarked, eying up my tense posture and tight expression. 

“Nothing, Annie, I’m just trying to work and no one will leave me alone!” I snapped, pushing my keyboard away from me in frustration.

She threw her hands up in surrender. “Jeez, sorry, I was just trying to help.” She turned away from me, toward her room, and took a loud slurp of her coke as she walked. “Let me know when you’re less of a bitch.”

“Right,” I mumbled to myself, getting myself more settled into my chair. “Focus.”

The incessant vibration wouldn’t let me, though, and I realized that I wasn’t going to get anything done until it stopped. Sighing louder than necessary, I once again got involved in something that had no good reason to be my business.

I felt bad for being relieved when Jessy stormed off and things cooled down relatively quickly after that. I reminded myself to reach out to her later, even though I knew she wasn’t the sort who liked to be left alone while she was emotional. 

The information about Phil was interesting, though. It wasn’t particularly a side of Hannah I’d heard anything about. But then, I’d only heard about her from people who loved her, and it already seemed like no one knew about her depression.

And boy didn’t I know the kind of questionable decisions depression could lead to. Not to mention, having learned that Thomas returned his key during a fight made me wonder exactly what their relationship was at the time of her disappearance. If they were broken up, maybe she’d been acting out her heartbreak in a way that would raise eyebrows in a small town. 

I suppose she could have been taken by a partner after all. Just not the one we knew about.

At the same time, Phil’s comments bordered on the Nice Guy style bullshit I and my friends had heard so often after turning a guy down. Men love to call women sluts for not sleeping with them.

No, I was supposed to be focusing on work. Work. It was bad enough to put off responsibilities for a kidnapping case, it was another to instead speculate on a woman’s sex life when I’d never met her.

Yet I was glad Richy was going to talk to Phil.

I managed to get through about half a day’s work before my phone started again. Spy mode was getting old fast, I have no idea why Jake liked this shit. I just don’t care about other people’s crap this much. I don’t even want to deal with my own social life!

Though it did catch my eye to see that Jessy and Dan were going on a date. Hadn’t seen that one coming, she’d never shown much of a soft spot for him and Dan didn’t strike me as particularly romantic.

But maybe I was just bitter considering “are you single” was the hottest my current relationship had gotten so far.

So much for doing work, I griped and started logging out for the day. Once I started brooding over things with Jake, I was never going to get back on track. I’d learned that the hard way.

Pretending it wasn’t at all to talk to him, I made my way out to the garden and curled up next to a bush to start decrypting in the sun. ___

The sun had set by the time I managed to get anything, but for the first time the picture made me pause. 

A Raven.

To be honest, a large part of me figured it was stupid kids. If this legend was as well known in the city as Jessy and Richy had implied, then it made sense for jagoff teenagers to run around marking things up with it. It was at least more creative than just doing penises like most of the graffiti I saw.

But it wouldn’t do to just dismiss it outright either. 

In fact, the more I thought about it, the more intriguing it was. Because it didn’t matter if it was just graffiti. The how or why of it being there might be totally irrelevant.

But what made it important was that Hannah thought it was important.

I suppose she could have just thought it was cool, or maybe she was interested in the legend or wanted to show Jessy, who clearly had a strong interest in the macabre. But not long after she’d taken it, she’d supposedly been dragged into the woods by the man this symbol was meant to represent.

Had she been pursuing him rather than the other way round? 

Trying to get around explaining to Richy and Jessy where I’d gotten the picture was a bit awkward. They seemed to know I was investigating on some level, and they knew I was in touch with Jake. But they hadn’t really put those things together or realized how deep I was digging, and I was pretty grateful for that. They would have to be offended on her behalf. I was offended on her behalf sometimes. 

But like, the police would be doing it too, right? Going through her personal life and putting it under a microscope, analyzing every word she said and who she said it to. At least I wasn’t her neighbor, her pastor, or anyone she had to deal with regularly. That had to be a comfort, I hoped. 

But I appreciated Jessy keeping Richy from asking more, either way. Her trust touched me, and made things much simpler for now. And processing this with someone other than Jake was strangely nice, despite how much I enjoyed talking to him.

Of course, then Richy had to get in a parting shot about where I got the picture. And the worst part is, he wasn’t even wrong. |___

The guilt of all— the hiding, the lying, the half-ignored responsibilities— it started weighing on me after that. Too much was at stake to back down now, but I could feel the suspicion pointed at me, and it was deserved. 

I wasn’t above half-truths or even the occasional lie, really. Sometimes it was just easier and better for everyone if the truth went unsaid. But this was snowballing out of control and I didn’t know how to stop it.

So I confessed the only thing I could think of that might not ruin everything.

MC: Jake?

Jake is online.

Jake: Hello, MC. Jake: Is everything alright? 

MC: I lied before. MC: And cheated.

I paused, trying to think of how to say it. Which I knew I should have considered before I even started the conversation, but planning wasn’t my strong suit when my emotions got the better of me.

Jake is typing…

Jake: To what are you referring?

Right. I’d gotten so used to him reading things and knowing what I meant before I said it that I just kind of assumed he knew what was going on in my head.

MC: The bet. MC: I’m sending your credits back.

After hitting enter, I quickly opened the app he’d sent me my winnings through and sent them all back. I hadn’t done anything with them, it felt kind of gross.

Jake: I appreciate your honesty, but I’m not sure I understand. You found the information more quickly than I could.

MC: Right, well. That’s because I already knew what SSRIs were for. I’ve been on them for years. MC: I’ve been depressed since I was a teenager. I don’t even know why I pretended. MC: I was just surprised you didn’t know already and then you were SO shocked and uncomfortable about Hannah and I got worried you’d think differently of me too so I just went with it.

He typed and erased several times, and my mind became a whirlwind of regret. Why was I doing this? He didn’t ask to hear all about my problems. It wasn’t like I’d conned him out of a huge prize. But I was so tired of lying, and lying to him felt especially wrong after he’d been letting me in. 

Jake: MC, I never thought less of Hannah for her depression. I was upset to find out that she was suffering.

MC: It seemed like you were, I don’t know, struggling with your perception of her. 

Jake: Not in a negative way, not toward her. And I am sorry that it made you feel like you had to hide or be ashamed in any way.

MC: I’m usually not like this with it, you know? I mean in high school I was, but that went super poorly so I made myself talk about it. 

Jake: You do not have to talk about it if you’re not comfortable.

MC: No, I want you to know. It’s a part of my life. And really so much about me makes way more sense when you realize my brain doesn’t really do what it’s supposed to.  MC: Sorry, dark humor is my main coping mechanism.

Jake: I had noticed.

MC: Yeah, it’s not particularly subtle.  MC: And just so you know, I’m stable. The meds help, and I do therapy as needed. There are still bad days and stuff but that’s always going to be true. MC: That’s part of why I kept pushing about you realizing it was possible that Hannah had hurt herself, too. MC: Like you said, that’s not the case here since you saw it. But it does happen. And I know my friends and family were even more upset when something would happen because it caught them off guard.

Jake: Is that something

Jake is typing… 

MC: Let’s save that conversation for another day, maybe?

Jake: Of course.

MC: But the good news is that maybe it means I can provide some different perspectives on things, right? Like that first cloud entry. MC: Really, I just have to hope that if I get kidnapped no one gives enough of a shit to sort through my stuff like this because there’s nothing good to be found in my sad folder.

Jake: “Sad folder”?

MC: Don’t even try, it’s super old and on a flash drive somewhere that hopefully fell out of whatever box I put it in when I moved here and got crushed by several cars.

Jake: How oddly specific.

MC: Fantasies are what keep a girl going, right? MC: Jake?  MC: Thank you for listening.

Jake: :)

Jake: Thank you for your trust. 

Jake is offline.

Later, after the third or so time that I re-read our conversation, I tried to work out exactly what it was that made trust so important to him. In our particular situation, we did need to trust each other to a point, but somehow it seemed bigger than that. It was like my trust was some precious trinket to him that he was grateful for each reminder of.

Admittedly, at times that trust felt a little bit more like blind faith, even toeing the line on being foolish. But my instincts told me that he was involved for the right reasons, even if sometimes his methods were at times a bit cold. ___

Somehow, maybe the drink I’d mixed while getting ready for my date with Jessy, it hadn’t occurred to me to think that Jake might have been reading along. I’d gotten used to it by that point, hell, sometimes it even felt reassuring. But it wasn’t until it had started winding down and he messaged me that I realized.

Jake: Hello, MC.

MC: Hello, Jake

He always greeted me so formally, it made me think of a handshake and firm eye contact. I chuckled, picturing us meeting for the first time with a handshake.

Shaking my head at myself, I looked down at my phone.

Jake is typing…

Here, he erased, paused, and started again.

Jake is typing…

After a few minutes of waiting, I started to get concerned.

MC: Is everything okay?

Jake: Did you enjoy your evening?

MC: So you were reading along again 😆

Jake: Yes, it seemed interesting that she chose to cancel her date to speak to you. I wanted to see if there was any information that could be useful to us.

MC: Well, did you see anything interesting?

Jake: Why do you believe that she made the decision to stay home and speak to you?

I wondered for a second if it bothered him. We’d never explicitly discussed my sexuality, and Jessy and my rapport sometimes played hopscotch with the line between bubbly and flirty in that way that every bisexual woman has been confused by at some point in their lives. 

MC: Because I’m great 😎 MC: But also Dan kind of sucks

Jake: Regardless, I imagine she would have had a more enjoyable time going out rather than making small talk over orange juice.

MC: Depends on the company I guess 🤷🏻‍♀️

Jake is typing…

Jake is typing…

MC: Did I make it weird again?

Jake: No. Jake: Of course not. Jake: A virtual date was simply a concept I was previously unaware of.

Jake never really spoke informally, but at least lately he’d seemed a little less… stiff. I groaned, suspecting that, despite his denial, I’d made it weird. 

MC: Well MC: I think the voice distortion and hidden face might make it a bit more difficult for you MC: My mom did tell me not to talk to strange men online 😂

Jake is offline.

And there it is.  Not surprising, that could easily have been viewed as an insult. Especially after we’d been seemingly getting closer lately. But my life had totally been taken over by strange men on the internet lately, so I considered it somewhat fair to at least acknowledge that it was weird.

MC: Look, sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. My mom WOULD be rather annoyed if she saw me now. But it’s not like this is even the worst thing I’ve done. MC: Really I think I’m mostly surprised that you haven’t had a virtual date before. MC: It seems like that’d be right up your alley. Computers and girls at the same time.

His status didn’t change after my messages, so after a few minutes I let myself bonelessly sprawl across the couch and sigh. I read through a few bullshit articles online, shared some memes on Facebook, and waited to see if he’d log back on. That had happened a few times, after he’d done whatever he needed to in order to get over the embarrassment, annoyance, or brain breaking I’d subjected him to. He did need me, to a degree, and as inconvenient as my personality was for him, it was more to his benefit to keep me sweet.

Which probably made me a bad person for taking advantage of that for my own amusement just a little. But he could well be using me to find his friend so at least we both got something out of it.

It took longer than usual for him to come back this time, maybe I’d really pissed him off. But around the time I’d started scrolling through some cat pictures on Reddit, he came back.

Jake is online.

Jake: My apologies, something needed my immediate attention.  Jake: I don’t know how my small talk abilities didn’t make it abundantly clear, but I haven’t had the time or opportunity for many dates in the recent past, virtual or not.

My eyes widened a tiny bit. Personal information AND multiple contractions? The language was still very stiff, of course, but there was a tiny bit less formality than earlier. Maybe he wasn’t reading as closely before he hit send. Trying not to chicken out?

Pure speculation, but I liked the thought.

MC: Shame. They can be fun, even without the orange juice.  MC: What with the pandemic and all, it was that or nothing, so I tried my hand at it a few times. MC: Nothing came of it but you know. It passes the time.

Jake: Is that where your ability to connect with the group without meeting came from?

Interesting question, even feeling a bit loaded. I’d already confirmed I was single, of course, and I’d said I liked him more than once by now. But that still left a lot of room between “hermit” and “almost having a partner”, and I wondered if he was trying to suss that out.

MC: Not entirely. Most of my friendships are online ever since I moved a few years ago. I’m not the greatest at initiating conversation so I’ve mostly stuck with keeping in touch with them. MC: Keeping and forming connections aren’t the exact same, but since this lot seems to keep me close because Hannah sent my number, it helps.

Jake: I refuse to believe that you aren’t good at initiating. Jake: Conversation.

Oh, that made me laugh. I wanted desperately to push a little harder on that one, but he’d already logged off once and I was really enjoying talking to him. I got up and poured myself another glass to help me relax a bit further, since the one from my date with Jessy had started to wear off.

MC: I’m actually very shy at first, believe it or not. It’s only once I get comfortable with someone that I become the giant pain in the ass you see before you.

Jake: Does that mean you feel comfortable with me?

MC: Clearly. That’s how transitive property works, right?

Jake: Are you sure that’s the transitive property?

MC: Nope, but it is now.

Jake: Haha. Jake: You are quite intriguing.

MC: Boy, you know how to charm a girl. I guess “intriguing” certainly isn’t the worst I’ve been called though.

Jake is typing…

He stopped. I again waited for him to log off, but after several long beats, he hadn’t. I decided to put him out of his misery a little.

MC: So how much were you able to dig up on me? I’ve been curious.  MC: I can only assume by this point that you know more about me than I do.

If he was surprised or unnerved by the change in topic, he didn’t show it.

Jake: I looked, of course, before I gave you access to Hannah’s information and the spy mode. Jake: It was possible that the reason she had your number was because you were the culprit.

MC: Guess being across the world helped reassure you.

Jake: That was part of it.  Jake: Additionally, everything I saw pointed towards you being a perfectly normal woman.

MC: Normal? You must be bad at your job, sir. MC: But you didn’t actually answer what you dug up.

Jake: No, I did not. Jake: But I suppose you deserve to know. Jake: As you’ve mentioned, I have access to your phone. That allowed me to find your social media profiles and email very quickly. Jake: You don’t list your job on social media, interestingly. Nor the last several.

MC: No way I’m making it easier for them to find the shit I say. MC: I’m not sure I’d get fired faster for the nerdy bullshit or the liberal rants.

Jake: It’s a good idea to keep those separate, of course. Jake: It still would not be impossible to find. Jake: But you also use a nickname on social media and your legal name for work. Jake: And separate emails. Jake: That helps as well.

MC: My, are you this thorough with everything you do? MC: But the analysis is good. Though I’m sure you still found more.

I grinned into my glass a little. There was a chance he wouldn’t pick up on the suggestion behind my comment, but I wouldn’t mind letting him stew on it just the tiniest bit if he managed to. 

Jake: Of course. Being thorough is required in my line of work, so it’s part of my nature.

Damn. Just enough that he could still be talking about hacking. Or he could be volleying it back. And in order to know, I’d have to be more obvious. But I couldn’t let him win like that, so I decided to let it go for now.

MC: I’m not that easily deterred. If you found my work email, you found my LinkedIn.

Jake: Yes, of course.

MC: And knowing my email means you know the username for just about everything.

Jake: Yes.

MC: So, anything interesting?

Jake: Well, to be honest, once I’d found your socials and work information, I had enough to determine you were safe to contact.

MC: And I totally believe that someone we’ve established as being painstakingly thorough stopped there.

Jake: After some of our conversations where I revealed more details to you, I did look a bit further. I connected you to an old username it doesn’t seem you use any longer.

Oh, damn. I should have expected that, but suddenly realized just how many old profiles I had under that name. Everything from dating profiles, to forums, to fanfiction. It went back as far as middle school.

Jake: I stopped after finding an old Xanga and LiveJournal. At that point, it no longer felt appropriate.

Okay, maybe he didn’t find my RPG posts. I hoped.

MC: I would have thought you’d find those entertaining. I was pretty angsty and faux-deep. Almost as bad as my sad folder. MC: Loved me some sparkly HTML backgrounds.  MC: I got them all from a source of course, we can’t all be geniuses, and I considered myself something of a writer at the time. Coding was never my thing.

Hopefully, leaning into the embarrassment would get rid of the blush on my face. Plus, the second glass of wine was certainly helping to loosen my lips, er,  fingers.

Jake: To be totally honest, I was far too busy remembering my own teenage angst to focus too heavily on yours.  Jake: I scrubbed my own profiles years ago.

I smirked.

MC: Hm, now I’m curious what you used. MC: You can’t be too much younger than me if Xanga and LJ brought you back. MC: But I guess you could still be a late MySpace, early Facebook user and still remember those. MC: I’d bet good money you got your hands on a computer young, and probably had even less oversight than I did.

Jake: Mmh, but I thought your mom told you to be afraid of internet strangers.

MC: But she also believed I’d listen. It’s like she didn’t even know me. 🤭  MC: You’re probably not even the worst stranger danger I’ve let myself get involved with.

Another pause, but this one felt a little more comfortable. Maybe he was curious and wondering if he should ask. Or maybe he was pondering the meaning of “get involved with”. Maybe he just didn’t know how to reply.

Still, this time felt rather friendly, like the last hour or so had relaxed something in us both. I had no idea if he was flirting back or just clueless, but I didn’t sense any discomfort beyond maybe uncertainty. 

Jake: MC, I have to go. Jake: But thank you, I enjoyed this time.

MC: Hopefully it made good practice for your next virtual date. 😝

Why would I say that? And why did that thought bother me that badly? Of him taking our conversation and using it to charm someone else? 

That’s not good.

Jake: We shall see. Jake: :)

Well, fuck. 

Honestly, I probably could have dwelled on that for the rest of the night. But nothing sobers a girl up and jerks her out of daydreaming about men quite like a rapid fire confession of lawbreaking from someone who you thought hated you, discovery of a lead on a kidnapping case, and realizing that the initials on that same lead may well match the initials of the guy you were just daydreaming about.

After a nearly sleepless night, I would come to realize that nothing cleared up exhaustion quite like a threatening call and learning that someone you knew was barely clinging to life, either.

NEXT

[chocolix76]

Threw together a beta unfinished first chapter for my SAMS Coraline AU which most likely is not going to be out until next year. I just wanted something to work from whenever I finally start working on it.

Keep in mind this is very much a beta and is unfinished! Think of it as a small teaser.

Word count: 644

Despite the lively appearance of the daycare with its bright blue foam floors to play structures with vibrant colors that matched every color of the rainbow to the ball pit with multicolored plastic balls that glittered under the bright lights, the daycare felt dead to Lunar. To a child visiting the daycare, even the regulars, the daycare felt like a wonderland with the nearly blinding colors that made up every object, to the lively daycare attendant, Sun. Everything seemed perfect, a place where children of all ages could laugh and play for hours with new and exciting things to do every hour, where tears were rarely ever spilled. However, Lunar knew better. He knew this place was far from the lively haven that the children thought it to be.

Lunar knew so much better. He knew that when the large wooden doors swung shut once the last child had been picked up by their loving parents, the lively and vibrant facade of the daycare immediately melted away as if it had never existed in the first place. No child would ever know what happened behind the closed doors of the daycare when the lights went out in the rest of the Pizzaplex, the wonderful building children dreamed of coming to closing to prepare for yet another long day. However, Lunar knew the true side of the daycare all too well. More often than not, he wished he were one of those ignorant children who waltzed into the daycare to play all day and left without knowing a thing. Never once had the daycare attendants neglected them like they had neglected Lunar.

“Sun! Moon! Are we going to do something fun tonight or is it just going to be the same old boring cleaning?” Lunar whined, hanging upside down from the balcony of their room, his head dangling off the edge so he could partially see the ball pit and the daycare beyond. “All you both do is work! Can’t you do something fun for a change? I heard that Monty is having a concert at Gator Golf, won’t you both come with me?”

 As per usual, Lunar’s question was met with an instinctive grunt from Moon who was working at his computer yet again, leaving Lunar wondering if he had even heard his question in the first place. Unlike Moon, Sun immediately rushed over to him, dragging his younger brother back on the balcony by the ankles. From the pinched expression on Sun’s face, Lunar had a feeling he was about to be scolded, but a brief scolding was better than being ignored.

“Lunar, how many times do I have to tell you that being near the edge of the balcony is dangerous!” Sun cried, his voice raising a couple of octaves as it usually did when he was worried or scolding a child, or his own brother in this case. “If you fall off and land head first into the ball pit, Moon isn’t going to be happy that he’ll have to fix you. He’s busy enough as it is and we both know it.”

“You jump headfirst into the ballpit everyday! How is this any different? It’s not like I was about to fall off,” Lunar sighed, sitting up and crossing his arms, wishing just like any other day, that something exciting would happen. “Besides, you never answered my question. I think it would do you and Moon some good to get out of this daycare and enjoy yourself for once instead of stressing yourself out needlessly.” 

“I’m having plenty of fun cleaning up the daycare!” Sun retorted, checking behind him as if trying to find a good opening to escape this conversation. “Besides, cleaning up is more important than a useless concert at Gator Golf. You go by yourself, but make sure to come back before it gets too late.”

[eternal-love-song]

Hungry Mouths To Feed

The Ultimate Maid, Miu Iruma, has two hungry mouths to feed. Kokichi gives her what she needs.

[Kokichi/Miu]

[Talent Swap, NSFW, Smut, Name Calling, Hair pulling, Verbal Humiliation, Oral Sex, Vaginal Sex, Dom/sub undertones]

The sound of glass breaking cut through the noise of the room. All eyes turned toward Kokichi, whose propped up feet on the dining room table had knocked over the soda bottle that now lay broken on the floor. The Ultimate Adventurer grinned at them all, looking completely unrepentant as he shrugged. "Oops."

"Ouma, you little shit!" Miu yelled as she stood from her seat, glaring at him from across the table. Kokichi didn't find the Ultimate Maid intimidating in the least.

 His grin turned wicked as he asked, “Got a problem, slut?” 

Everyone collectively ignored the small squeak she made in response, the way she rubbed her thighs together and fidgeted in place. Except Kokichi. He zeroed in on the behavior immediately, grinning widely as he watched her squirm under his gaze.

"That is very inappropriate behavior," Kirumi, the Ultimate Robot, said with a sigh. She did a very good imitation of a disappointed parent with her furrowed brow and small frown. 

"Sorry, Mom-bot, but I couldn't have possibly known it would fall," he replied, making wide sweeping gestures with his arms.

"Of course it would fall if you set it on the edge like that," Kaito told him, sounding exasperated with Kokichi's antics already. It wasn't like he needed to get involved at all. Several others had already chosen to go back to what they were doing without feeling the need to scold Kokichi or get involved with his business. It wasn't Kokichi's fault that he was nosy. 

"I didn't know it was right on the edge! I was just as surprised as you are," Kokichi lied with a cheerful voice.

"It was your soda!" Kiibo yelled, pointing at him. The Ultimate Magician was another perpetually nosy classmate that could have minded his business, and yet here he was. If anyone ever wondered why he spent so much time teasing Kaito and Kiibo, it was because they made it so easy to do so.

"Oh, was it?"

"Don't play dumb you damn gremlin!" Miu yelled again. She slammed her hands on the table again to get his attention.

Kokichi glared at her and she flinched away from the look before he even made his rebuttal. "Did anyone say the whore could speak?"

"N-no," Miu stammered, lowering her head and her voice both.

"And where do you get off speaking to your master like that anyway?" he asked. "If you're going to start acting out of line, I just might need to punish you."

Miu whimpered, biting her lip to keep from making an even louder sound than she currently had. 

"Please do not antagonize, Iruma," Kirumi said as she stood from her seat. "I'll get the mop."

"What? You don't have to do that, Mom-bot!" Kokichi objected. He snapped his fingers, staring at the Ultimate Maid as he did so. "Hurry up and do your job you useless cunt! You're not gonna make one of your classmates do one of the only jobs fit for your worthless ass, are you?"

"N-no!" Miu replied quickly, rushing into the kitchen to get the mop. "I'll clean it up right away, Master!"

"That's what I like to hear!"

There were several sighs around the table. 

"Ouma, you shouldn't tease Iruma so much," Kaede sighed. 

"Also," Kirumi interjected. "I am not, nor was I programmed to be, your mother."

"Could have fooled me," Kokichi replied. "You nag just like one!"

"I may not have been programmed as a mother, but I do have basic pattern recognition and I can see that this argument will get me nowhere."

"Wow, Kirumi, you catch on faster than the Ultimate Detective!"

Said Ultimate Detective, Korekiyo Shinguji, sighed as he stood up from the table. "Contrary to your reported belief, Ouma, I can also see where this is going. As we are essentially finished here, I am going to excuse myself."

Most of the others had already finished and they agreed that it was better to get out while they could. Kokichi barely spared them a glance as they all filed out, more content to keep his eye on Miu as she quickly mopped up the mess he'd made. He waited until the others were gone, until Miu had begun walking away before knocking his fork off the table, too.

Miu paused when she heard the sound of the utensil hitting the floor. 

"Well, are you gonna pick it up or is that task too difficult for you?" he asked her.

Miu sent him a grumpy look before putting the mop down and walking toward him again. He waited until she bent down before reaching out and giving her a gentle shove, causing her to over balance and fall to the floor. "Alright, what 's the big idea?" she asked.

"I'm just putting you in your proper place," he said innocently. "Do you have a problem with that?"

She growled, but she didn't get up off her knees. That was a tell if he'd ever seen one. "Of course I do!"

"Oh?" Kokichi let his legs slid off the table, putting them down right before her and relishing how she flinched at his feet. "Is the problem that a slut like you isn't used to being on her knees until she has something in her mouth, too? Is the cock whore hungry?"

She whimpered, biting her lip as her eyes dropped to the ground.

He snapped his fingers again. "Answer me, slut!"

"Y-yes, Master!" Her body tensed into a straighter position and she moved closer to him. "Y-y-you're right. I'm just a... a filthy slut that needs to be put in her place."

"I know you are." He reached out his hand toward her face and she crawled forward, nuzzling his hand. "Your master always gives you what you need, right?"

Miu nodded, waiting for him to tell her what to do. 

Kokichi let out a dramatic, put upon sigh. "To be the Ultimate Maid, you sure do force me to take care of you an awful lot."

"S-sorry, Master."

He let his hand brush past her cheek, to her hair, weaving into it before taking hold of the strands and grabbing them tightly. She squeaked as he pulled her head up and forced her to meet his eyes. "Well, don't keep me waiting, you useless bimbo! Which mouth do you want me to feed?"

Miu pressed her thighs together as she squirmed, her mouth opening as she panted. "B-both..." she said softly.

"Greedy, too? You think you deserve to have my dick twice?" he asked. He slid his thumb into her mouth and she started sucking on it immediately. "Should I reward this filthy mouth even though it was so rude to me earlier?"

"Please Master," she said around his thumb. It came out slurred and half audible, but Kokichi grinned anyway.

"If nothing else, you're good at begging." He pulled his thumb from her mouth and pulled her face closer to his crotch, tugging her by her hair. "Alright, don't keep me waiting." He let her go, putting his hands behind his head as he leaned back in the chair. 

Miu placed her hands on his thighs as she rubbed her face against his crotch, mouthing at him through his pants. Kokichi took a deep breath and closed his eyes, enjoying the teasing feeling of her lips. It only lasted a few moments though. Miu was too impatient to ease him for long. She quickly pulled at the buttons on his pants until she could free him, his cock springing up to meet her.

"No underwear?" she asked him. "Which one of us is really the slut here?"

"Wow, it's like you think I care about your opinion or something," he said. "Didn't you have better things to do with that mouth of yours?"

She complied, licking up his cock before gently sucking on the head. He let out a shaky breath, refusing to give her the satisfaction of his moans so quickly. Miu needed to work for it if she wanted to get more out of him. She released him with a greedy pop, only to lick at his cock again, swirling her tongue around the head, before dragging it back down to the base. She hummed in contentment before taking him in her mouth again and making a louder sound in her throat.

Kokichi reached out to stroke her hair affectionately. She whimpered, looking up into his eyes with a pleading expression. She took more of his cock into her mouth, rocking her hips just the tiniest bit.

"Stop that," he told her. "You'll spoil your dinner."

She whined. The sight of her pleading eyes above his cock disappearing into her mouth almost had him whining too. Almost. 

"Lift your skirt," he told her. She obeyed him without hesitation. He tilted his head to see her better, smirking at the wetness he could see trailing down her thighs. "Drooling from both your greedy mouths. I should have known you'd make a mess all over the floor. Sure you don't just mean to hump my leg like the bitch you are?"

Miu moaned loudly, taking him deeper into her mouth and sucking harder. He swore before he could think, letting out a moan of his own. Her eyes lit up at the sound, thighs pressing together even more.

He kicked her thigh. "Spread 'em."

She made a sound like a sob as she spread her thighs. Her head bobbed up and down faster, needy noises building in the back of her throat. He was tempted to let this go on, but he knew she could push him over his limit if he wasn't careful. He tugged on her hair and she whined again as she was pulled off him.

"How about we feed that other mouth of yours now?" he asked in a sultry voice. 

Miu stood up quickly, peeling off her soaked panties and tossing them aside. He reached up and pulled down her top until her breasts spilled out.

"So how should I take you?" he asked, reaching out with his other hand to her dripping cunt. He traced her lips teasingly, watching as she tried to rock against his hand. "Should I bend you over the table? Or take you on all fours like a dog?" She moaned at that and he grinned. "Oh, is that what you want? You put up all that fuss when you really just wanted me to be fucked like the bitch in heat you are?"

He pulled his hand away, holding it up to her mouth. He didn't even have to say anything for her to start cleaning his fingers. He stood up, using his other hand to push his pants down and kicking them off. 

"On your knees, whore."

Miu dropped in place, bending over and flipping up her skirt for him. He smoothed his hands over her rear, squeezing once. She panted, hips swaying in anticipation. Kokichi rubbed himself against her for a moment before shoving his entire cock into her cunt. 

Miu gasped.

Kokichi groaned. "Surprised a slut like you is tight enough to even feel good," he told her. "Did you feel how easily I slid into you?" He pulled out and slammed back into her, hard. She moaned loudly. "You're so fucking wet, Miu." He slammed in again. "I bet the entire class could fit their cocks in here and you wouldn't even feel it, would you?"

"Kokichi," she whined, pushing back against him.

He slapped her ass and she cried out, more out of surprise than pain. "Don't interrupt me!" He set a bruising pace, grabbing her hips and slamming his cock into her hard and fast.

Miu was panting and moaning, her tongue hanging out of her mouth. "S-sorry..." she struggled to get her words out.

"J-just... shut up," Kokichi panted between thrusts. "Cocksleeves... don't speak..."

Miu was a moaning mess after that. She was squeezing around him on every thrust. He stopped holding back his own moans and just slammed into her over and over. One hand reached around her to pinch at her nipple and she cried out in ecstasy. Her body trembled and she babbled incoherently. 

"God, you're s-so useless," he hissed into her ear. "You can't even... even be fucked right."

"Kokichi!" She spasmed around him and it sent Kokichi over the edge. He pulled out just in time to paint her ass with his cum, groaning as he did so. They both spent a few minutes panting and silent. He grabbed her by her hair and pulled her toward him, leaning down so that he could crush their lips together. The kiss was messy and breathless, but they drew it out as long as they could.

Kokichi stared into her eyes, still glassy and half lidded with lust. "You still have to clean up your mess."

She blinked out of her lusty haze. "Fuck you for ruining my afterglow!" she yelled as she pushed him away from her.

Kokichi just laughed, letting himself back into his chair and patting his lap. "Alright, alright. Get over here you big baby."

She climbed onto his lap, resting her head in the crook of his neck as his arms wound around her. She sighed, the tension releasing from her body as she relaxed against him. 

"You were great," he whispered to her. She shivered at the praise, pressing her face farther into him. "You felt so good, Miu. You always make me feel so good. I love being inside you."

Her arms tightened around him. "Thank you, Master," she said softly.

He smiled. "Of course, Miu. You deserve it. You really, really do."

[kazumasougi]

so what’s your verdict on ragnarok? i saw some people say that it was good but not as good as the first game so i’m curious to know what you think. going to play it this summer 😎

okok this might get long so here’s the non-spoilery short of it: i really loved playing through ragnarok but i do agree that i liked 2018 more! I’ll put the significantly longer portion under the cut and ill do my best not to spoil any main story portions while talking about it lol

ragnarok definitely lets you explore far far more. i think theres a couple of places where you can tell they didnt want to drag the story out so they cut stuff for time but i personally feel like the game could’ve very well used that. and i think the fact that 2018 is like a good number of hours longer than ragnarok makes it a little bit surprising when you get to the endpoint.

also unlike 2018— though this matters less to me— there are parts of the game that you can only actually finish once youre done with the main story. it has a few epilogue pieces which are definitely a nice send-off for the game and you can explore just a little bit more, but if im honest it feels a bit empty..? though im not done with postgame so when i get there ill probably post abt it more 😼

storywise i feel like there’s some things that could definitely have improved or been changed in some way… i absolutely loved the new dynamics between old characters and getting to see how theyve grown with each other since 2018. its super heartwarming to me. but some parts really did feel rushed and while the ending was good some parts just felt kind of… abrupt??? i’d love to know how they would have refined the story with just a bit more time because personally it feels like theres still a loose end or two that hasnt been addressed. that said its by no means a BAD story— i really liked going through it! the best way i can think to put it is that it’s an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.

in terms of MECHANICS… i’ll be completely honest some of them were so incredibly frustrating that id considered giving up on some of the fun side stuff they encourage you to do (like nornir chests and whatever else may have you). even some parts of the main quest were a little bit confusing to me…?? at some points there are puzzles that aren’t super straightforward and it got a little tiring to play guess and check. that said there aren’t a lot of them, but it definitely left me a little bit annoyed during gameplay. i should mention though for some of the mechanics in question they DO have a crazy good range of accessibility settings that help you more clearly see things like interact-able objects and targets etc. so making use of those definitely lessened the annoyance for me personally lol. that said it does not work for all of them and if you Want to go collecting extras then you might have to sit there frustrated a few times before it works out 🥲

one more thing i should probably mention in regards to game mechanics is the skill trees… i’ll keep this explanation light as to avoid heavy spoilers but essentially they give you a LOT of skills to upgrade with XP. and i mean a lot. i have not used even half of them they do nothing for me 💀 i would guess this is their way of letting you do more with XP since in 2018 you rack it up faster than you can spend it but there are so many in ragnarok. and if im honest it feels like a lot of them are kind of … useless in combat. or at least very very situational. they do give you the chance to upgrade skills you use the most which i really like but i find it kind of weird how many of them are reliant on hyperspecific situations while also costing a significant amount when you unlock them.

OH. and also. i kind of wish the companion armor had some sort of effect…???? like in 2018 i loved atreus’ healthstone effect because it suited my playstyle. but all companion armor is purely cosmetic. they seem to have replaced that with accessories you can equip them with that have different effects but i also didnt really feel much of a difference with them until postgame 😿 an edge ragnarok has on 2018 though is definitely that you can customize what your armor looks like while taking the stats of another. which is awesome because im tired of making him look like hes wearing a sweater vest at a holiday gathering. ill admit though the menuing is a little bit more confusing lol

ANYWAY. to finish this off i feel like i loved a lot about ragnarok but after having seen what they did in 2018 i feel like they probably couldve pushed it a bit more. that said the story is absolutely crazy and i loooove certain routes they went with it so it definitelys worth playing imo. i just wouldnt expect it to be just like the first game 👍 there are some major changes i havent listed because i think seeing them for yourself will be awesome

[lonewolfel]

Phylogeny: Chapter 7

Read on AO3

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6

Self-harm, hallucination, suggested murder, and suggested suicide (that section will be marked by ** and will be summarized at the end)

King looked over Luz's notes about a portal. He had never understood Luz's interest in it. After all, why leave the Demon Realm when you stay with him? Now though he was glad. It meant he didn't have to worry about trying to find the Echo Mouse that housed Philip...Belos' journal.

"Luz managed to get a working... semi-working portal. Eda and Luz did most of the building though." King said. 

Eda was out of the question. She wanted to keep Luz in the human realm.

"Weh, who can build the portal?" King asked in frustration. 

Flapjack flew off of King's shoulder and landed on a piece of metal. 

King looked over at them in confusion. He walked forward and saw that it was a piece of metal from one of Blight Industries' abomatons. 

"Alador," King said.

Flapjack flew over to King and became a staff. He caught them and looked at the staff. 

He had never ridden a staff without anyone else. King grabbed the staff and mounted it. 

Flapjack rose up into the air and began to fly. King didn't know where to even start trying to find Alador so he just let the palisman take the lead. 

It was both exciting and horrifying for the young Titan. King could understand why witches liked it so much. It was freeing once you ignored the ever-present fear of falling off.

Finally, they arrived at where once the skull had been. Now it held a large version of the Owl House. 

King looked back in the direction that the safe house had been. He knew that Eda would have likely noticed his absence by now. 

King faced forward and looked at the door. He had to do this. He had to get his older sister back. 

King walked through the large version of the house that he had grown up in with Flapjack perched on his horn. They ran across various witches and demons but they paid no mind to them. They were too busy trying to play the Collector's twisted game.

King began to feel frustrated as he failed to see the abomination witch.

Just as King felt like quitting he saw the familiar figure of Alador Blight. He rushed forward.

"King?" Alador asked as he caught sight of the little Titan. 

"I need your help," King said. 

~~~

It was after dinner and everyone was winding down. Ms. Noceda was helping Vee with her homework in the kitchen. Amity was sitting on the couch petting Ghost. Gus and Willow were playing with their palismen. Hunter watched them from the corner of the room (easily the most defensive area of the house) with envy. Hunter wished that Flapjack was here.

Hunter noticed that Luz wasn't in the house.  He went out and saw her dragging a large object that he didn't recognize.

"Luz?" Hunter asked. Luz jumped up dropping the object. She turned quickly and put on a fake smile.

"Hey, Hunter," Luz responded. 

"Do you need help?" Hunter asked.

"Nope, I got it," Luz responded. She then grabbed it and began to grunt as she tried to drag it. 

"I can help," Hunter said. He could help he wasn't completely useless. Why wouldn't Luz let him help?

"You don't understand I have to do this. I helped Belos." Luz cried. Frustration and anger clouded her face. 

"So did I. I helped him for years despite knowing that he did so many bad things," Hunter said.

"If it wasn't for me Philip would have never become Belos. You guys would never be trapped here. Eda and King would be safe without having to worry about the Collector." Luz exclaimed. 

"I understand..." Hunter started.

"No, you don't!" Luz cried cutting him off. "You have no one!" 

You have no one

Hunter backed up in shock. Luz's face contorted from anger to horror. She covered her mouth in shock. 

"A worthless failure not worth anything. I was right they keep you around because they pity you." Belos' voice rang out.

"Hunter, I didn't..." Luz started. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he heard it but he didn't register it. 

Hunter took off running into the forest. He wasn't sure how long he was running for trying to escape Luz and Belos, but when he finally collapsed onto the ground it was dark. 

"Running like a coward." Belos snarled.

"No...I..." Hunter gasped. 

"Pathetic. You should have shown her that she should never have spoken to you like that." Belos said. Suddenly there was a knife in his hand. Hunter didn't know where it came from.

**

Hunter put his hands over his ears. The knife cut into his ear but he barely felt the pain.

"Finish what I created you for. Kill the witches." Belos said. Hunter shook his head and began to sob. "Finish this."

Finish this.

Hunter uncurled himself and began to look at the knife in his hand.

Finish this.

Hunter took off his right glove and rolled up his sleeve. He saw his coven sigil along with green veins running across his arm. He clenched his eyes closed.

"It isn't real. It isn't real." Hunter muttered. He opened his eyes again and saw that the green veins were gone. 

"No, stop," Belos growled, but Hunter paid no mind to him. 

Finish this.

**

(Hunter accidentally cuts himself. Belos tried to get Hunter to kill his friends. Hunter bares his wrist and Belos tells Hunter stopped. The scene ends with Hunter repeating in his mind a line that Belos had used to try and convince him to kill his friends.)

~~~

King and Alador were going over Luz's notes on a portal when Flapjack began to chirp wildly. They both looked at the palisman.

They were flying around in desperate circles with their feathers sticking out all over the place. The frantic chirps only increased in volume.

"Flapjack?" King asked.

The red palisman continued their frantic flight.

"Something is happening to their witch," Alador explained

Hunter, something was going on to Hunter in the Human Realm.

"Like what?" King asked. Dread-filled King. 

"Something deadly," Alador said.

Eda had lied to him again. They weren't safe in the Human Realm. Hunter was dying there and Luz... Luz could be too.

"We need to get the portal open."

[orangejuice707]

Shit posting again bcoz lmao I am jobless

F!MC gets reincarnated into the Mysme universe

No pairings and shit bcoz this fic idea randomly came in my mind .

Genre : isekai

Beware of typos if any

This is a "what happened to MC before she talked with Unknown in the dating app" with a pinch of isekai

_______

She woke up to another day in this cruel world . "Last night's sleep was extremely nice..." She thinks as her eyes are still tightly closed and her body is tucked under the covers in this hot weather...

"Wait..." She realizes something is wrong as she didn't use blankets until and unless it was REALLY cold . She opens her eyes quickly and takes a look at herself .

"These....THESE AREN'T MY PAJAMAS?!?!" She goes crazy realizing that she isn't wearing what she was wearing last night . She hurriedly gets off the unfamiliar bed and rushes to the nearest mirror whilst bumping in several objects in the unknown room . After somehow managing to find a mirror from somewhere she realizes that ....

"WHAT?!?!" She exclaims in horror as she comes to realize that it isn't her face or hair or body.

"This...this has to be a dream..!" She says as she starts pinching her arm which wasn't her arm technically but yeah

She goes around the unknown house and finds a mirror of body length .

"Holy shit...." She observes her pink hair and lilac coloured eyes in shock .

Her body colour doesn't seems to be that much different but still a minor difference could be seen .

"What the fuck..." that's all she could think after she realizes that she is indeed not dreaming and that this is reality .

"What happened to my life..my body and my..PHONE!" She realized that her very dearest, loveliest phone wasn't in her hands . Running towards the bedroom in realization she found it lying on the bed .

She picked it up and checked the time :

10:17

Wednesday xx/X/20XX

She got really confused trying to remember whether it was Friday or Tuesday the day before or not .

To her surprise a giant blue box illuminating cyan coloured light appeared above her and she ran towards the door of the bedroom as... you know gravity exists.

"Haha ... fear not young lady! " a voice came out of the box

"H-HOW CAN U TELL ME NOT TO FEAR WHEN A FLOATING BOX APPEARS SUDDENLY ABOVE MY FUCKING HEAD?!" She managed to say it out loud somehow .

"Ho ho ho! " the voice said and stopped for 2 legit seconds

"Sorry I am not Santa I know BUT I can gift you unlimited money to survive in this world until and unless the plot begins and you go with the flow." The voice said calmly .

"I- I don't even know what to say to that ... anyways who are you?" She asked in confusion .

"Uhmmm let's say that I am a person who helps people cross universes ! " the voice replied

" Wait why didn't I get informed about this?" She asked again

"Well...you see...the last person who was in your uhhh current position was extremely sad and wanted a new life so BOOM a gave her one "

"WHY did u give her MINE though?"

"Young lady it is what it is now buckle up and don't worry about that game of yours you were playing ... uh what was it called again ..? "

"Mystic messenger?"

"Ah yes that one "

Before she could ask anything else the voice disappeared along with the box

"What the-" She was alone once again . No one around her . No mystic messenger characters, No internet from her universe , NOTHING at all ...

She picked up her phone once again "ah..this shit useless now.."

Right after she received a text from the "voice" (most probably) floating in the air which informed her that her role was that of a student until and unless the plot began .

Sigh

This was the same repetitive thing but oh well-

"Wait ...I forgot to ask them which universe I am a part of..." She sighed once again in disappointed but not surprised

She decides to nap once again and figure shit out soon

But little did she know that her life was about to change in like 5 years

5 years later ~

What kinda character is even this ... she has no friends , no family members people at her school and college act like they don't know her...

She thinks to herself as she goes towards her "home" which was actually a small apartment which she realized after 1 day after getting reincarnated.

That voice hasn't sent messages in a while...has the plot began? ... for how long do I have to be so lonely .. even the pink dye from my hair has faded and my brown hair colour is visible now..

She thinks and sighs as she clutches tightly onto her shopping bag while she walks in the busy streets at night filled with commotion caused by people laughing and talking and sounds of vehicles on the main street.

The smoke coming from a nearby place made her cough .

Oh thank god I still have this with me

She thought as she took out a mask from some time ago which had a sky coloured unicorn with purple eyes and pink hair printed on it .

This reminds me so much of the unicorn from Mystic Messenger...hah ... I wish I could play it like I used to 6-5 years ago..

Crossing the streets filled with vehicles she takes out her phone and a brilliant idea comes to her mind

Dragging her feet in the dark streets with a few vehicles and tall buildings she goes and stands in a corner for a while and puts her idea into execution.

Since this universe doesn't have total copies of apps from my universe BUT it has other alternate apps there sure might be a dating app right? Oh god I am so smart but I hope it doesn't turns out like the time I searched for mystic messenger and other otome games and there were nothing of that sort ...

She thinks in half excitement and half disappointment . Heck...she has been in this world for so long that she can't remember most of the stuffs in Mystic Messenger

Downloading a dating app she thinks that it's time to say bye bye to her lonely life in this universe .

Ah let's just walk towards the apartment while finding someone to talk to even though I don't want to really return there...

She again started walking towards her "home" .

She smiled in excitement when she finally found a person to talk to but... the chat seemed a bit weird to her

Ughh things in this universe are so weird .. i am still not used to it after so many years...

Little did she know that it was a hacker in the chatroom (who was also behind her) and that she was getting herself into a real game

___________

This took me like 1 hr 23 mins to write lmao . Imma go and sleep now . Enjoy this weirdass creation of mine!

Yes my inspiration was the unicorn mc pfp in mysme

[absensia-archived]

LIKE THE DRIPPING OF A POWERFUL ADHESIVE OVER UNEVEN FRAGMENTS, THE FAMILIAR HAZE OF BOREDOM SETTLED ON THE BRAIN. THE RUSH OF CAFFEINE COULD DO NOT A THING TO BEAT IT BACK. USELESS TO PEEL IT OFF THE MENINGES. YET THIS BOREDOM IS WHAT KEPT HER TOGETHER LEST SHE FALL APART JUST LIKE THE DISMEMBERED FELLOW IN THE TRUNK. THE PIECES OF MIND HELD TIGHT BY HER NEED FOR SOMETHING SHARPER THAN WEATHER TALK, REPEATED INSTRUCTIONS, AND ANOTHER LUMPY GRAVE...

The agent alighted upon her partner as an object of interest. That is, A SPECIMEN RIPE FOR DISSECTION. As he kept his eyes on the road, she kept her eyes on him, eyes like twin, perfectly round vanity mirrors, kept in a pitch - dark room. They would showed him only what he wanted to see, should he gander a glance her way and find her in the midst of her observation. It was what lay behind the glassy black mirror that she strove to keep hidden from him: he'd have to dig for it, but once his hands were well and dirtied, he'd find a piece of the truth.

A SEED OF CONTEMPT IN THE DARK SOIL, WITH A LITTLE BEIGE ROOT STRETCHING FURTHER EACH DAY, NOURISHED BY THE ENDLESS SLEW OF HOW AM I DOING'S, DID I TAKE TOO LONG'S, AND WHY SHOULD I QUESTION HIM'S... OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER.

But he was not yet a ( grave ) digger. For now, he was only a driver. And Charlotte was only a little tired, wasn't she? Just a little worn down, what with the late hour and the inhospitably cold air and the dullness of a repeat job. Coffee - warmed lips stretched into a half - apologetic, half - amused smile for him to peek at should he require some kind of assurance from the blonde. " That's true, " she conceded. " They wouldn't give weatherman credentials to just anybody, right? [ Surely, they wouldn't just award the guy who looked the most attractive, the most friendly in a smartly tailored suit with a camera - ready smile. ] " It's not like the weatherman is ever wrong. It's not like you should probably learn to question a so - called professional or two every once in a while. Doesn't have to be the weatherman. How about the smiley blonde in her passenger seat? No, no, never mind her. . .

The night should run perfect. In return for his proclamation, Charlotte offered him a confident little nod of her head and widened her smile as he turned on the radio. A few seconds into the song, she reached over and spun the volume knob until the bass of the music could be felt shaking the frame of the car. Whatever the song was, he clearly recognized it. Charlotte, on the other hand, had no idea. Still, she made a show of her tapping her foot along in time to the rhythm. Her face was close enough to the window that she could hardly see herself. But she could see Daehyun. She watched him carefully as he drove, curious to see what fleeting emotions and thoughts she could catch flit across his concerned face, his focused gaze. She was curious to see what her apparent comfort in his presence would spark; would he be relieved? would he be glad or happy? did he care at all? WAS HE TRULY AS CLUELESS AS HE'S PROGRAMMED HIMSELF TO BE?

Plainly, she knew couldn't trust the man, except for, evidently, given the gradual shift of scenery from cityscape to hilly nothingness, getting them to some forsaken spit of land in the middle of nowhere. BUT FORSAKEN WAS THE WRONG WORD. Someone did own this land and that was exactly the point. A name, some dirt, and now... a body to add to that land. Possessions were funny like that.

WHAT BELONGS TO YOU WILL ALWAYS RETURN TO YOU. MAYBE JUST NOT IN THE FORM YOU'D IMAGINE,

" Park down in that ditch, " she told him as they arrived. " We'll move the body out piece by piece, but this way no one will see us. " / @8flesh, CONTINUED FROM HERE.

[ratherhavetheblues]

”JERZY SKOLIMOWSKI’S EO “May all your dreams come true…

by James Clark  2023

Most of us would say that humans are the powers of planet Earth. They have crafted religion, of course; and science. Our film today presents Earthlings in another way.

It begins with blood red flashes in the dark sky. Radiance. As if another being has made a discovery. Planet Earth, but instead of a foreign visitor, there is a donkey. A thinking donkey, in its own way. Thinking by the gut. Within that shimmer, one could see, despite the confusion, two figures: a woman, Kasandra, kissing the neck of a donkey, EO. Both of them work in a circus–she is a dancer; he is out of place.  (Don’t rush to table this matter, “Surrealist.” Even though we see the donkey having a carrot.)

From the circus of the elements, we land in middling Poland, where love is not a joke. The first of the shocks. She had given him a little candy. He had bumped her in fun… But  the circus had gone bankrupt. What had not failed, was millions of shiny metal objects, lying in their poison and uselessness.

Their comments, several months of irregular work. He had a stint in a large barn, where many impressive horses would be shown. In transit, he saw a herd of wild horses. (How did he feel about it?) He was bought by a farmer with many horses, who simply loved these creatures, and would find pleasure for his children. Perhaps he would have remained with the children for the rest of his life. But one late night Kasandra found him, in the easy-going farm. She was not the Kasandra of old. She had been driven by a motorcyclist, who didn’t bother to look at EO. She was drinking beer out of the bottle. Her remarks stink; but love had a part. The sky was pristine. EO eats some bugs on the feces. Kasandra  says, “I have a surprise for you! “Happy Birthday! May your dreams come true! Be happy!” EO is happy. They snuggle. The boyfriend tells her, “Come with me, or stay with the donkey.” /” I have half to go…” That triggers EO to find her. A hopeless enterprise. A dangerous one. EO cries, with that deep heartiness. EO in the hills, looking for the heights. He cries as he walks. A blue tone. The windy dances of forests. (Close-up of EO’s eye and vision.) Bats in the sky. His exhaustion. Three windmills. Up and down. EO cries to be seen. When seen in a town: “Where the hell did you come from?”

   EO comes upon a football game. The noises of spectators: “Blue and White, they make our day!” (Anticlimax?) “Good placement!… Zenek, you can do it! You’re  doing it! A great shot!” Lightning smart! Very balanced.  (Calling for a penalty.) EO, on a hill, watching. Free Shot. A Score! Much happiness! Much fighting! Much display of Advantage! “It’s all because of the donkey!”

The celebration moves to a bar. (EO becomes part of the parade.) “Blue and White, they make our day! We’re the winners! Losing is for weenies!” EO was dragged into this stupidity, as a cute logo. Screaming drunks. And that was only the beginning. He’s able to get out of the place because everyone’s pie-eyed. But he doesn’t know that a tempest is coming. During the riot he was viciously beaten. (In fact killed. And we have to resort, now, to our philosophist/artist. Along this way  we fill-in what is needed of EO:  absolutely dead; but there are actions later (not involving religion and science.. [Keep watching.]) EO pulled along. The attackers begin. A girl holds him, screaming, A car races up. Then, two trucks.. .. Someone notices… “The fucking donkey, in  high beams…Get the fucker!” EO cries. Someone says, “Die!” EO cries, off-screen. But the expression is shattering.

   At this point of the saga, a double attack upon EO, in order to sustain all the animals who have been given barbarism. And yet, in the second outrage, there is a keenness for truth which presents a mighty surprise.

He’s taken to a barn. “Three hooves up in heaven.” Sorry? (for the poor lack of  civility). One says, “Why should it suffer? (The staff goes by without a blink.) Cut to EO, lying there with stitches all around. Clean and “effective.” A worker hears EO crying. He looks around as if he is in a zoo. EO looks up. He calls quietly… Remembering the cleaning of the farm. A part  of her butcher opens from her eye. His fur, still beautiful, so lovely to touch and caress. Pan over his turf. His memory, being embraced by Kasandra. Her hands on his mane. Much caressing in the memory. The reach to see a loving heart. EO’s beautiful eye. The full reach of the skies. EO’s memory of the red places when being mysterious. “I still think, when there were four legs. Two legs up to the knee, and with another…” EO recalls all his great voyagers.  And the dancing moves to make four! He can do it now, by memory.

The Robert Brisson film, of 1966, presents a donkey under stress, but that Heaven makes it all right. Our EO finds bliss in a completely different way.

   Cut to another stable in the dark. EO in a place that doesn’t care. A cart; and a rider with no heart. EO stands there; he looks at those who will present a vision. As the horror takes its way… (The way of planet Earth. Fortunately, there are planets which are not a disgrace.) Outside of the farm. EO in flight. Being attacked. Carrying EO. “So what,” the  one says. “For a fucking horse!” EO cries. A woman reaches into EO’s cage. EO! One has to imagine… Blood red. Steering the poisonous  car, while intent on advantage. The wild music of the hopeless truck. EO’s wildness. EO’s eye, having seen much. Ludwig van Beethoven. Mountains to the heights. Overcoming distance.

Monster: “Damn,I”ve got a cramp in my hands.” Useless movement. Useless garbage. Useless coward. “Damn, why do I always have to screw up everything.”… A hurricane of blue… The author of nothing ends up in a mansion. Its first sight is a lilly-white priest. He shows us two candles. Back, then, the lilly-white-know-it-all. “Blessed are you. Lord of the Universe, the provider of this bread and fruit of the Earth and human labor.” Another woman appears. They whisper together. “… when he gets into trouble,you keep calling him my step-son. What has he done this time?” (And the cries of EO.) Pan to the priest. An appearance of EO in the foliage outside. Hands. Then eating grass. EO cries out, over and over; a long cry. EO enjoying the rich grass of beauty. (1966: “Besides, he’s a saint.” Recall Robert Brisson’s Balthazar.) The killer is gobbling a huge lunch. Back to the church. Deluxe. Across the table, the owner; her powers. But she only stages anger as a hope. After leaving the table, she takes a precious plate and preciously lets it crash on the marble floor. She can see that the killer has killed. “What did you do…? ” was her gutless move. She allows the excuse: “gambling…” But a pretty boy would never understand. She pronounces that she’s sold the place. She will be going back to France. “You won’t get much. I can’t help you  with your debts. You can take some of the family wealth. This was your home, too. Before you gambled it away.” (Gambling was not his worst vice.) She smashes a table. “Your grandmother got it, during the London honeymoon. Isn’t it quite exquisite? Isn’t that so?” The cutlery… The sister throws a knife. The butcher says, “Stop!” (He rushes to her.) “Please stop! Enough! I’ve never lied! Not to you, not to your father.” He looks down. He touches her hair. He kisses her.

   Quick cut. A garden, impressive. Foliage. A sunny day. EO reaches Kasandra. There would be reflections in the skies. The various stables at night, when the horses and donkey become true, finding their mysterious truth. His first love; not to be long, but deep. Coming to a ladder! How he managed. Over the wonderful bridge. Rushing water. EO embraces it all. To be alive! Cut to dusty cows. It was seen by EO. He could imagine it all. A lamb alone. He saw it. The herd. EO sees, and sees very far.

 Poetry, Language, Thought, being the title of a book by Heidegger. While Heidegger slogs with his academic blindness, there came recently, this film, which opened many poems, languages, thoughts. And once again we turn to Proust, for a step of verve. A verve to link with EO. In the Chapter, “The Captive,” we find topspins. EO never lost a moment to sustain his topspins. Here we go to Proust!

“Physically, too, she had altered… and not kept  their form… For, on the contrary, every morning the ripples of her hair continued to give me the same surprise, as though it were some novelty that I had seen before. And yet, above the smiling eyes of a girl, what could not be more beautiful than the clustering coronet of black violets? The smile offers greater friendship; but the little gleaming tips of blossoming, more akin to flesh, of which they seem to be a transposition into tiny waves, are more provocative of desire.”

   When we have passed a certain age, the soul of the child that we were and the souls of the dead from which we spring come and bestow upon us a handful of their treasures and calamities, asking to be allowed to cooperate in the new sentiments which we are feeling and which, obliteration their former image, we recast then in an original creation. Thus my whole past from my earliest years, and earlier still, the past of my parents and relatives, blended by my impure love for Albertine, the charm of an affection at once filial and material. We have to give hospitality, at a certain stage in our life, to all our relatives who have journeyed so far and gathered around us.

It is precisely because this comfort has been necessary to bring grief to birth–and will return moreover at intervals to calm–that men can be sincere with each other, and even with themselves, when they pride themselves upon a woman’s kindness to them, taking,  although, taking things all in all, at the heart of their intimacy, there continually lurks in a secret fashion, unavowed to the rest of the world, or revealed unintentionally by questions, inquiries, a painful uncertainty. But as this could not have come to birth without the preliminary comfort, as even afterwards the intermittent comfort is necessary to make suffering endurable and to prevent ruptures, their concealment of the secret hell that life can be when shared with the woman in question carried to the pitch of an ostentatious display an intimacy which, they pretend, is precious, expresses a genuine point of view, a universal process of cause  and effect, one of the modes in which the production of grief is rendered possible.

   The entry of the young dairymaid at once robbed me of my contemplative calm; I could think only of how to give possibility to the fable of the letter of that she was to deliver and I began to write quickly without venturing to cast more than furtive glance at her, so that I might not seem to have brought her into my room to be scrutinized. She was invested in me with that charm of the unknown which I should not discover in a pretty girl whom I had found in one of those houses where they come to meet one. She was neither naked nor in disguise, but a genuine dairymaid, one of those whom we imagine to be so pretty, when we have not time to approach them; she possess something of what constitutes the eternal desire, the eternal regret of life, the twofold current of which constitutes the eternal desire, the eternal regret of life, the twofold. We  guess, we divine from her stature, her proportions. They are ready and waiting.

So, there is in Dostoevsky , not only people but their homes. Crime and Punishment. But did he ever murder? Those novels of Dostoevsky are not natural.

   The courage of EO introduces a power not understood on this planet, or at least not in effective play. The powers that be have been crazed by cowards and dullards. Other planets surely step forward. But in the dramas of the semi-hopeless, one is seeing. One could be, in fact, in our short lives, a helper. A helper to the cosmos.

[zoe-oneesama]

I wanna know your opinion on the new episodes that dropped (if you’ve watched them yet)

I personally feel Penalteam was way too rushed and Qilin was convoluted to hell and back

Let's start with things I liked:

Qilin:

Sabine is just amazing? Everywhere? It's so cool to see that Marinette inherited her quick thinking from Sabine, and it's nice to see the life of someone else for once.

Ladybug should've let Qilin maim a few cops. As a treat. Especially that meter maid on a power trip. I was nervous that Qilin would be a lesser version of Stormy Weather (just having wind powers) but it's cool that she can split the earth and levitate things as heavy as police vans without even moving from her spot.

Chat Noir really shined in his scenes, I'm proud of him.

The contrast of Qilin shaking off her akuma because Ladybug fulfilled a promise to Penalteam shaking off her akuma because they managed to make her hate soccer and her clone team is really funny to me (and again proves how cool Sabine is)

Penal Team:

The Pre-akuma soccer game was fun, and so was the banter. Cracks me up that Alix wanted a girl vs boy duel and Kim was like "but then we'll LOSE!" XD. And finding out Sabrina and Marc are soccer nerds, like, whoda thunk? (And Nathaniel dragging his feet is such a mood, like, no I DON'T want to kick a ball I want to DRAW plz)

Adrien doesn't know how to play soccer? Uhhhh (Furious Fu Flashbacks) guess he's just good at improv.

Bustier I-always-have-Chloe's-back got red carded first, yessss.

The sheer scale of doing a city wide soccer game with super heroes is just awesome to watch, like, yes, launch the ball half way across Paris to Ladybug.

I'm glad to know the remaining powers, they're pretty cool and I can see them being very useful in multiple situations.

The ability "Fetch" was cute, especially the way Miss Tracker played off her touching the ball with her...dog whistle? Guys this episode was recorded on a potato so I might've missed some details visually.

Again, it's very funny that after Roi Singe uses Uproar on Penalteam, they get so annoyed with each other that Chloe basically hands over the akuma object to make them all go away.

I like that being a hero makes Nathaniel want to join the team to play soccer and I like that Sabrina stands her ground when Chloe wants her to stop playing and join her on the bench.

Aaaand now the things that annoy me:

Qilin -

How you gonna have Sabine show off her being so rooted in her heritage but pretend she didn't teach Marinette even basic phrases in her language?

You put Lila in her art class WHY? She's not even DOING anything, you could've put ANYONE there! It's like the Adrien Rule where they shove her into places she's not needed and doesn't do anything so that we don't forget she exists!

Roger, dude, you KNOW she's not making up a daughter, you could at LEAST back her up on THAT. And thanks a lot Bus Driver Dude who SAW HER USE HER TICKETS, you don't want to say ANYTHING in her defense after she gave you free food? You're all trash.

Marinette shouldn't have taken responsibility for a up-himself meter maid on a power trip harassing her mom and shouldn't have offered to pay, that was the most shoved in, forced, last second "let's make this about Marinette's failings" thing and it wasn't NECESSARY. This episode really said ACAB but still made the victim of injustice apologize to the Cop.

Seeing the Charms now just makes me depressed, congrats Sabine, that'll be useless one episode from now.

PenalTeam -

Bustier really put together this team building exercise for the class that acts like a Hive Mind, like, this class is nearly always in sync because otherwise they'd be individuls

I know Chloe hates Ladybug now or whatever but no one around her is freaked out that she's openly talking about waiting for Shadowmoth to help her get her "revenge" now?? No one else hears this shit???? Hell, THAT could've been Sabrina's wake up call, cuz, wut?!

I hate Mega Akumas. They could've at least made it that Shadowmoth needed to sacrifice a protective Charm to make a Mega Akuma. With Chloe actively on his side, she could've just handed hers over at some point, that even would've solidified her ACTUALLY working with him.

Penalty (the akuma is named Penalty and her team is PenalTeam and it took me too long to put that together) casts this giant yellow net over the city as like "boundaries" and it puts a gross yellow filter over the episode which is why all the screenshots and leaks up to this point have looked like shit.

While it was meta smart to get Alix and Alya out of the way early to justify not giving Alix a miraculous in The Team episode and also not give away that Alya still has the Fox, it is sad that they also used this method to get rid of Viperion and Ryuko (who would've been OP against this akuma) and Pigella (who is pretty useless powerwise...but so was Polymouse, so, wut?). Just kinda thought if they were gonna summon the whole team, they'd USE the whole team.

I'm sad that the remaining heroes didn't get a debut episode to prove themselves as heroic. I said the same for Party Crasher back with Kim's debut, but at least he exchanged SOME DIALOGUE with Fu. Here, it comes across like they weren't chosen because they're good people who deserve it. Hell, half of them were all but told "I chose you cuz you're good at soccer lol."

Also sad we didn't get transformation sequences or kwami intros that played up their individual personalities. I was looking forward to learning a little about Orikko who even in MOB episodes doesn't get many lines.

Also to give all 4 new heroes the same "Oh I can't be a hero because of [x] reason" speech to make Ladybug give them a "pep talk" to speed run justify them getting Miraculouses instead of, idk, BUILDING THEM UP AS HEROES was ughhhhh.

It's just extra frustrating because "Simpleman" exists instead of valid hero episode.

Though I liked the powers, it felt very contrived the way they tried to justify Caprikid's because it barely played into defeating PenalTeam. They made a big deal of it, but they could've just lied or skipped to Roi Singe's uproar. Caprikid probably could've used a different episode to showcase his ability (Genesis) to create anything he wanted.

They had Ladybug decide not to pass the ball ONE TIME and tried to make the episode about calling her out for not being a TEAM PLAYER alkdjfakldfj WUT?! She's been using her fellow team mates ALL SEASON, it's the BACKBONE of her and Chat Noir's beef, and now you wanna pull an "Antibug" and just PRETEND the rest of the season doesn't exist?! She even coordinated perfectly with Alya at the bEGINNING OF THE EPISODE, JUST LIKE WHEN LADYBUG LISTENED PATIENTLY TO THE BULTER IN "ANTIBUG" YET WAS CHASTISED FOR NOT LISTENING TO OTHERS LAKJFLAF!

Minotaurox's ability (Resistance) repels PenalTeam away from him like opposing magnets when they get too close, but the commentator says that his power makes him "impervious to all other powers"? But that's not what happened? If they wanted to show THAT then PenalTeam should've been shown red carding or touching him with her cleats but nothing happens. That's just a niggle since the commentator has no way in universe to know what the fuck he's talking about. It's just weird the writers gave him lines that are straight up lies.

Rooster Bold's ability (Supplemation) is so OP and a literal game changer if used right. He can choose any power he wants (I initially thought that meant he could "borrow" powers from his teammates or the akuma) but no! He just SAYS "I choose the power to score a goal every time I shoot the ball". So if he just said "I choose the power to teleport misused Miraculouses with the snap of my fingers..."

I cannot believe they gave Lila her first lines of the season to TEAM UP WITH CHLOE with 10 SECONDS OF THE EPISODE LEFT LKAJFLADFJ!

I can’t believe I forgot to mention that Rooster Bold DOESN’T USE HIS KNIFE!

[sleep-deprivedracoon]

In the Shadows

Pairing: Ayato x shuumatsuban! F reader

Timeline – After events in Inazuma, Ayato story quest and Irodori festival

Story type – 4 part story (Not a huge series like Diluc x F reader that I am currently writing as well)

Warnings: Angst, abandonment, smut, fluff, violence, blood (This is for the whole story)

Art Credit - Link (@shu690611 on Twitter)

Chapter 3 – Decisions

Flashing lights adorned the night sky as fireworks were launched when the formal wedding ceremonies came to an end. Naganohara Fireworks had specially designed fireworks for today’s celebrations. Ayaka and Ayato had separated from Thoma and you to fulfill their duties as clan leaders and members of the Yashiro Commission. You were grateful that Thoma kept you company as this was the first time that you were among so many people. Although, it was exhausting to be around him as he was pretty popular among people. Your social batteries were still not accustomed to talking to so many people at once but yet you smiled and greeted them as Thoma introduced you to his acquaintances.

“I am sorry, I didn’t expect that they would be looking for me at an event like this.” Thoma sighs.

“It is alright, Thoma. You’re resourceful and people respect you for that.” You reassure him. You were a guest today and this was not his fault at all.

“Heh. But still, it is a lot more than even I am used to.” He pauses. “I wonder if having you around is one of the reasons why they are more talkative today.”

“What does that mean? What do I have to do with it?” You chuckle at Thoma’s statement. No one knew who you were.

“Well, if someone who looks as beautiful as you was present at an event like this, there’s bound to be attention drawn to you. I am just a buffer I assume.” He elbows you.

“It’s not me though, it’s all the work of Lady Kamisato and her handmaidens.”

“Of course, but the muse also matters.” He smiles at you. “You should give yourself more credit, (y/n).”

“Thoma! There’s been an issue with the catering, we need your help!” A Tenryou Commission soldier rushes towards the two of you.

“I’ll be there in a second.” Thoma rolls his sleeves up and you join him. “No, (y/n). Please stay here and enjoy the celebrations. I’ll handle this. Please go find the lady or my lord. I will join you guys when this is resolved.” He hurries away before you could object.

You look around the venue. People were enjoying the festivities of the wedding. After all, it was the most awaited event due to all the controversies surrounding it. Lady Chisato and Lord Kamaji were socializing with their guests. Your eyes scan through the crowd trying to find a familiar face. You start to slowly walk around in search of Ayato or Ayaka but were unsuccessful in locating them. You internally laugh at the irony as to how your skills were useless now that you were out in the open. If you could climb onto a higher vantage point, you probably could have easily located them.

Unable to find them, you decide to move away from the crowd to a quieter place as many men tried to talk to you or tried to force their company on you. It was getting exhausting to stay polite and not smack them in the face. You knew you could not cause a scene as it would reflect badly on the Kamisato clan. The crowd waned as you got closer to the gardens of the Kujou Clan’s family estate. You place your hand on your neck and stretch as you felt stiff.

You feel a pair of hands grab your hips and pull you. On instinct, your reach for a kunai that you skillfully hid in the sleeves of your kimono as you feel your back pressed against another human.

“Easy now, it’s me.” You hear a familiar voice whisper in your ear The smell of fresh pine and Sakura graces your senses and you feel your heart skip a beat. You feel him place a gentle kiss on the back of your neck. You had been in close proximity to him many a time but you weren’t used to it. Ayato’s arms slowly let you go and you turn around to face him.

“My lord, why are you all by yourself? This isn’t safe.” You narrow your eyes at him. This man was reckless at times, disregarding his own safety whenever he was aloof.

He presses his index finger between your eyebrows. “I am fine, (y/n). You worry too much.” He pushes your frown. “How could I not come to see you when you look like an enchantress from a fairytale?” His pale blue eyes were soft. His fingers moved from your forehead, down your nose to your lips.

“M-my lord.” You looked around nervously. He had never been this bold out in public. “You know we cannot do this, not here.” You whisper against his fingers.

“We can and we will.” He smirks as he pushes you against a tree. You yelp in surprise.

“What sweet sounds you make, (y/n)… Now if you do not wish to be discovered, be still and stay quiet.” His lips meet yours before you could formulate any rational thought in your head. You find yourself melting in his warmth as his kisses are more passionate and urgent than usual. He licked the seam of your lips and you parted them, allowing him to enter you while your hips bucked slightly against his.

You hear him moan against you and after a few moments, he pulls back to rest his forehead against yours. Both of you, are equally winded and panting slightly.

“I have been meaning to do that since I laid my eyes on you today.” He began plying you with small kisses down your neck to the hollow under your ear.

“P-please, my lord. N-not here.” You gasp at the sensations that you were currently feeling. You wanted him to continue but you knew that if the two of you were caught, it would stir up a scandal.

He sighs and pulls back. “You’re right. I apologize, (y/n). My primal senses took over me.” He grabs your hand and places a soft kiss on the back of your palm. “Come, let us go join the celebration, shall we?”

You nod and the two of you head back to the crowd. You soon meet up with Lady Ayaka and Ayato parts ways with you.

The night goes on with different festivities, food, and drinks. Thoma managed to help the Tenryou commission and it was soon time for all of you to head back home.

“Did you enjoy today, (y/n)? Sorry I had to leave you.” Thoma asks as the two of you wait for Ayato and Ayaka.

“I did and don’t worry about it.” You smile at him.

“Ah, my lord and my lady. You’ve finally arrived.” Thoma waves at them.

You turn around to see the Kamisato siblings walk together towards the two of you.

“Thoma, (y/n). It was a beautiful wedding, was it not?” Ayaka closes her fan shut.

“It was beautiful indeed.” You smile at her. “I am sure they will live a happy life together.”

“Indeed. I am so happy that their romance panned out! Especially after all those hurdles.” Thoma adds.

“True. But there are more challenges that they must face together as a single unit. I am sure that with the newfound experience that Lady Hiiragi has acquired and the level-headed nature of Lord Kojou, they will be able to overcome it.” Ayato seems lost in thought. “However, the perseverance of their love is commendable. Despite their circumstances, their commitment to one another is something that one should learn from.”

“That’s very well put, brother.” Ayaka places her arm on his shoulder. “It seems like they also respect you and your opinions. Especially Lord Kujou.”

“Hehe. I do not know about that, but I do know that I have a lot to learn from him as well. I should pay him a visit soon.” Ayato nods.

“What for, my lord?” Thoma looks at him curiously.

“Nothing to worry about, I could use his advice on…. Certain matters.” He smiles. “Shall we head home? I think we have all had our fair share of duties and entertainment for tonight.”

“Yes.” All of you respond in unison. Ayato’s eyes fall on you and you try to mask your blush. You avert your eyes from him and quickly rush to Ayaka’s side, hoping that no one would catch your flushed face.

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

The sound of wood clashing against wood echoed through the front yard. Most of the house staff had paused to watch the duel between the two siblings as the sun was setting over the estate. Water was met with ice and their blades skillfully danced against each other.

“You have not bested me in duel ever since you received your vision, little sister. Have you gotten rusty?” Ayato taunts his sister.

“The only thing that has collected rust is your sense of humor, brother.” She charges at him and he parries her attack.

“You’ve gotten good at parrying, brother. Is this because of all the questions that you dodge about your marriage?” She smirks.

“No, it is because of all the comments that I block about your forehead.” He retorts.

You hear people chuckle in amusement. The siblings had a healthy relationship but that did not exempt them from mocking each other.

Ayato had opened up to you quite a bit and he spoke of his sister often. He would burden himself with a lot of work to protect his sister from the petty politics and the ugly side of the tri-commission duties. She was all he had and she was someone who he had complete trust in.

The two of them continue to practice their blade work on each other as you see a small disturbance in a bush behind Ayaka. Your instincts alert you that something was amiss. As you focus your sight on the bush, you see a hint of red, poised and ready to strike. There was someone hiding in the bush. You slowly pick up a sai from the weapon inventory placed for today’s training. You use your training to hide the sound of your footsteps as you slowly retreat away from the people. It was easy as well because everyone was focused on the duel between the siblings. You slowly blend into the background and make your way around the yard.  

As you reach nearer to the suspicious individual hiding in the bush, you realize you were short on time as he lunges towards Ayaka. Using your vision, you shoot a bolt of electric current at the Nobushi. He drops to the ground as Ayaka quickly steps away from him. The samurai regains his footing and charges at you. You block his attacks with your sai and use your feet to throw him off balance.

“Kamisato art: Suiyuu!” Ayato raises his sword as water envelopes you and the Nobushi. You’re soaked but you’d been in worse situations before. Blades of water descend upon the Nobushi as you dodge the blades, anticipating their pattern.

“Get out of the way, (y/n)!.” You hear Ayaka. You quickly make your way out of the circle of water as the Nobushi’s blade grazes your clothing, tearing it from your hip to your knee.

“Kamisato art: Soumetsu!” Ayaka raises her sword and the circle of water is now encompassed by a  blizzard. The blizzard pushes the Nobushi against a wall and he collapses to the ground. Soldiers descend on him, cornering him.

“Scout the perimeter! Leave no stone unturned. Split the team in two and look inside the mansion as well. He might have accomplices. How did he manage to slip past you lot??” You look at the soldiers. A few of them nod at you and rush to investigate. “Are you hurt, my lady?” You rush to Ayaka’s side and examine her.

“I am fine. Thanks to you. I would have missed him if you had not blocked his attack.” She bows. “Thank you, (y/n). You saved my life.”

“And you saved mine, along with Lord Kamisato.” You look at Ayato who was already with the soldiers.

“Lock him up and interrogate him. I would like to know every single detail that he can provide by any means necessary. I also want an investigation on the lapse of our security.” Ayato orders his men.

“Yes, sir!” They handcuff the prisoner and take him away.

Ayato reaches Ayaka and you. “You did well, little sister.” He pats her head. “And (y/n), it seems like the Kamisato clan is more indebted to you than ever. Thank you.”

"No my lord, I was merely-"

“Doing your duty?” Ayato adds and shakes his head. He takes off his coat and wraps you in it. “You’re drenched and your clothes have been damaged.”

“My lord, your coat… There’s no need for it, I can go home and change.” You try taking it off but Ayato grabs your arm to stop you.  

“Absolutely not. You’re not walking around like that, especially at this hour!” Ayaka places her hand on her hip. “Allow me to find something suitable for you to wear. You will stay here tonight, we have more than enough rooms to accommodate you.”

“Ayaka is right. Stay the night.” Ayato’s eyes met yours. The moment you looked at him, you knew that it wasn’t a request but an order.

“Alright, If you insist.” You nod.

“Great! Komugi, please arrange a room on the first floor for (y/n) and also please swing by my room, I shall arrange some clothing for her. Brother, please keep her company until the room is ready.” Ayaka walks into the mansion as Komugi follows her.

“How about you and I engage ourselves in a game of Shogi, (y/n)?” Ayato tilts his head.

“Yes, my lord.” You slowly head into the mansion.

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

You gently fold the Ayato’s coat in your room. After a quick match of shogi, you were led to your room with a pair of clothes for the night and the next morning. You changed into dry clothes and shared a meal with Ayaka, Ayato, and Thoma. Ayato was awfully silent throughout the meal as Thoma and Ayaka poked fun at him. You place the folded coat on a table and head to the window. You open the curtains to gaze at the full moon that shone brightly. You had spent several nights under the windowsill of Ayato’s room staring at this view. You could never get tired of it.

You hear a gentle knock on your door and you open it.

“May I come in? I would like to have a word with you.” Ayato appeared troubled.

“Of course, My lord.” You lead him in. “Is everything okay? You did not seem like your usual self at dinner.”

“Perceptive as always.” Ayato chuckles as stands by the window, leaning against the wall. He looks at his coat on the table. “Have I ever told you about how I received my vision?”

“No, My lord.” You shake your head.

“One night, my father summoned me. You see, he was very ill and had to be resting at all times. He told me I was a successor that the Kamisato clan was proud to have. Once I was back in my room, the vision was lying on the table.” He smiles. “I never wanted to become a clan leader for power or success. I wanted to be a pillar of strength to protect my clan and ensure its prosperity. Were you there that night?”

“Was it the night when your room was unlit?” You shifted awkwardly where you stood. “I was there. I was worried as the servants had not lit your room as per usual. So I peeked into your room, to see a faint blue light by your side.”

“For the longest of times, I had thought that the light of the vision was the only thing that accompanied me that night. But to think that even during my darkest hours, you were protecting me, watching over me, it somehow makes me feel warm on the inside.” Ayato places his palm against his heart.

“My lord… “

“I know, it was your duty. But still, I cannot help but feel this way. Today, when you protected Ayaka without a second thought, I was angry about a lot of things. Mad about the fact that I failed to protect the estate, mad that I could not protect my little sister on time, mad that you had to put yourself through danger to stop the perpetrator in my stead.” He looked away from you. “But then, seeing you protect the people I care about has affirmed some decisions that I had my doubts on.”

“I also deeply care for Lady Ayaka.”

“I am aware of that. You’re a strong woman, (y/n). Seeing you fight today, you are no short of a warrior princess.” A smile appears on his face. “Someday, I wish to cross blades with you.”

“That can be arranged, my lord.” You nod as you take a seat on your bed.

“Hmm. Indeed it can, but I digress from the topic I came here to discuss with you. Kamaji is really better at some things than I am, it seems.” He rubs the back of his head. “(Y/n), over the past few months, I have been completely smitten by you. You have not only reigned over my thoughts but have also won my respect. My way of approaching my feelings towards you might have not been the most appropriate. I should have courted you but instead, I had you sneaking around with me as if we had been doing an illicit act. I wish to longer hide what we have between us. I told you that I would no longer have you in the shadows and I could not keep my own word. But no more. (Y/n), you’ve always been protecting me from the shadows, but now, I want you to stand beside me and be with me.”

“But, that is not right, my lord. You should find a lady who is suitable to lead the Kamisato Clan with you.” Your ears feel hot as you hear the words he has to say. What was he thinking?

“And I have found that lady.” He kneels in front of you. “To be together with the one you love is a sacred thing. I understand the gravity of the situation and I have given it a lot of thought over the past few weeks.” He takes both your hands in his.

“But what about lady Ayaka? What about your retainers?” You feel yourself tremble. You had not anticipated this.

“Ayaka knows and she is more than happy to bless this union. My retainers are well aware of my intentions. I remember the look on my retainers' faces when I informed them of my plans today... Panic-stricken, but unable to muster the courage to say anything in opposition, hehe.” He gently squeezes your hands to calm you down. “Do not worry about them. Do you love me, (y/n)? I want you to be honest with yourself.

“I do.” You whisper.

“Then, as a man who loves a woman and would do anything to see her flourish, may I ask for your hand in marriage?” Ayato looks at you earnestly.

“Yes. Yes, I would like that.” You feel your eyes sting as they are filled with tears. In a span of a year, this man had changed your world for the better. No one knew him better than you and he knew you better than no one.

“It makes my heart swell to hear you say that.” He plants a kiss on the inside of your palm. You lean forward and pressed your lips against his. Ayato leans in to secure you, hands gently placed against your thighs. He deepens the kiss as his hands squeeze your thighs, you pull him closer by grabbing his shirt. His scent was intoxicating and with all the feelings that were overwhelming you at this moment, you knew you needed him close to you, now more than ever.

He pulls away from you, shaking his head. “I should leave now before things get out of hand.”

You pull him back to you and look into his eyes. “Please, stay with me.”

“If I do, I do not think I would be able to hold myself back, (y/n).” His eyes filled with lust hovered over your body.

“Then don’t hold back.” You were barely audible but you meant what you said.

He runs his thumb over your lower lip, staring straight into your eyes moving quickly to kiss you. Feeling no resistance from you, he gently bites your lower lip between his teeth and pulls. You gasp as he had never done this before when the two of you kissed. He resumes kissing you and slides his tongue into your mouth. His fingers comb through your hair while your fingers grip his clothes.

His other hand slowly skimmed down your side and found its place on your hip.

Your breaths were accelerated and your heart was racing. Ayato pulls away from the kiss and he slowly pushes you to the bed. You slowly undo the bindings on his shirt and he peels it off, throwing it on the floor. Your face felt hot from blushing as you place your hands on his bare chest. You ran your fingers over his taut muscles, sending a shudder all over his body. You gulp as you slide your fingertips over his tight stomach and loved how soft and warm his skin felt in contrast to the hard muscles underneath. A yearning for something more intimate came over you as you raised your back for your lips to meet the mole on his chin.

His skilled fingers untie the knot of your yukata, and he pushes your garments just below your shoulder. His lips plant soft kisses on your neck, gently biting and sucking on the soft flesh every now and then. You shiver as his fingers trace the soft skin of your upper arm.

“What would you like me to do, (y/n)?” He asks you as the takes off your clothes, leaving you with nothing on except your undergarment. You cover your bare breasts with your arms.

“Whatever you want, my lord.” Your face was completely red at this point.

“Ayato… I am your fiancé, (y/n).” He chuckles as he slowly pulls your arms away from your chest. “You’re beautiful and there is no need to hide from me.” He kisses your collar bone. “There are so many things I want to do with you.” His lips trailed down to your breasts, as his fingers dug into your hips. As he enveloped one of your nipples in his mouth, you mewled at the unexpected pleasure that shot through you. Pleased by your reaction, Ayato nipped on your hard nipple, shuffling between licking and sucking on it. Your hips bucked against his, feeling his hardness against you.

His hand cupped your other breast, squeezing it forcing a gasp out of you.

“You’re so sensitive, (y/n).” He whispers against your ribs.

His fingers slide down to your undergarments. “Are you sure about this?” He looks at you before proceeding.

You nod. You did not trust yourself to speak coherently.

He slowly pulls the undergarment off you. His fingers brush against your wet slit making you shiver in anticipation. “You’re doing good, my love.” He reassures you.

He slowly pushes your leg apart, his eyes fixated on the most intimate parts of you. You felt flushed and warm. His first touch was along your smooth thighs, fingers trailing slowly downwards, glancing up at you ever so often to see if you were being receptive. You were holding back, you did not want the people in the house to know what the two of you were up to. He ran his thumb along your outer lips, massaging them and pulling them open slightly. Your arousal was obvious.

Your pulse thudded in your ears and between your legs. You needed more of him and shift your hips. His fingers now stroked your inner lips. His strokes were slow, light, and methodical. His fingers slowly found your engorged clit, as he brushed against it, over and over again. You moan audibly. The pleasure was coursing through your body. Was this something that you had been missing out on all these days? Pressure was building within you. Your eyes were closed, as his fingers rubbed circles on your clit. As the pressure peaked inside you, you felt your legs quiver. You were about to give in to it when you feel his pace slow down.

Your eyes flew open as the peak of your pleasure began to wane. You whined at your lover.

“A-ya-to. Say my name and I will let you have what you desire.” He brushes his finger against your clit again, making his point.

“P-please… P-please.. I want more.” You squirm under him.

“All you have to do is say my name, love.” His fingers pinch your clit and you squeal.

“Ay- Ayato... Please… I am begging you.” You whimper.

He smiles upon hearing you beg. “My name sounds so much more better with your sweet voice. From now on, do you promise to only call me by my name?”

“I pro-mise… Aya-ayato.. Please.” You were unable to speak in full sentences.

“Good girl, if I knew that this is how I could get you to do this, I would have resorted to this a long time ago.” He increases his pace and his finger teases your opening. “I can feel your heat, my love.”

You look away from him, this was too intimate for you but you liked how you were feeling. His finger slowly slides into you. Your hips buck at the sensation,  he slowly slips the finger in and out of you while he pleasures your clit.

“Oh God, Ayato~!” You moan as his finger curls inside you. Your body was trembling. He slowly inserts another finger in, continuing to pump them in and out of you. As he curled them inside you, you felt every muscle in your body tense, your throat seizing up as you moaned out loud.

As you came down from your orgasm, you opened your eyes to see Ayato licking his fingers.

“Oh my god…” You pant.

“I always thought my favorite sound was the sound of your voice, I was wrong. I know now that my favorite sound is the sound of your moans. I think I can listen to it all night” He smirked at you.

“Stop teasing me.” You cover your eyes with the back of your hand.

You feel his lips against the top of your mound and your eyes widen. His arms wrapped around each of your thighs as he placed himself between your legs. His face was a few inches away from your core. He lets out a soft breath against your inner lips and a hot jolt of pleasure ripped through you at the sight of him.

You felt his tongue nudge against you, pushing the tip between your lips as he licked slowly, so deliciously slowly up to your clit. It was paralyzing for you. You moaned as you gripped the sheets of your bed. Nothing had ever felt as good and he didn’t stop. His tongue painted your clit, lapping it up and down. You feel yourself reaching the edge sooner than last time. You knew what to anticipate this time and you opened your mouth to warn him. “Ayato – I am going to – I am –"

He pushes his tongue down against your clit, as you feel yourself explode to your impending orgasm. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head as a guttural moan tore through your throat. He slowly stroked your thigh as you calmed yourself down and he dived back in to lap in your juices. You mewl as your clit was still sensitive from his ministrations.

“You’ve been so good so far, my love.” He pulls away and strokes your cheek. His face is slick with your juices.

“I love you, Ayato.” You kiss the inside of his palm.

His face softens as he smiles at you. “And I love you, (y/n). More than you could ever imagine.”

He undoes his pants and slides them off. You see his thick, hard cock between his legs and gulp nervously, wondering how it would fit inside of you.

With your legs still wide open, Ayato places himself between them as he strokes his cock between your folds, lubricating it with your wetness.

“You feel so good down here.” He breathed.

His cock felt scandalously good against your opening. You were going to have sex with Ayato.

“Stay still for me, this might hurt a little.” He slowly lowered himself on you, the tip of his dick entering you. Your heart was pounding uncontrollably.

“Mmm, that’s tight.” Ayato panted as his cock parted your wet skin and began to slide inside you. It hurt a little to be stretched open for the first time, but it was also quite satisfying. Your breath was shaky as he worked to lower himself into you.

“Is this alright?” Ayato looked at you with concern.

“Please keep going.” You managed to say without moaning.

As he completely enters you, you feel full and stretched out. You couldn’t believe that he fit into you. He slowly began to move and you gasped at the sudden movement as it sent sharp tingles inside your body.

His thrusts were gentle, making you used to his girth. He held onto him as your fingernails sunk into his arms. Your insides were trembling, the dull pain was now replaced by pleasure. Your walls clamped down on him as he moved in and out of you.

Ayato bit his lip as he watched the ecstasy on your face. He pulled you into a kiss as he continued to fuck you. You were simply overwhelmed by the intensity of what you were doing.

“Faster, … Please.” You rocked your hips back and forth to meet his pace.

Ayato obliges your request as he picks up his pace. He hooks his arm on one of your thighs and wraps it around his hip causing his thrusts to hit you deeper.

“You. Feel. So. Good.” He grunts with each thrust. His hands slide under your hips lifting them a little as he thrusts into you. You feel his cock graze a sweet spot that coaxes loud moans out of you. Your walls squeeze his cock tighter.

“Gods, (y/n)… I cannot hold on for long.” He continues to thrust into you but his rhythm is sloppier than before. The room echoes with lewd sounds of him thrusting into your wet folds and skin slapping against skin.

“Ayato, Ayato… I need to –“ You quiver and squirm as you wrap your legs around him pulling him into you. Your walls clamp on him as your orgasm bursts through, your vision is blinded by white spots, and your whole body trembles. Ayato also unloads his release as the sensations of your orgasm milks him. A feral groan escapes his throat as he collapses on top of you, knocking you out of your breath.

“You’re incredible, my love.” He pants, trying to compose himself. “Call me vain but I will probably have to stifle a smile every time I think about the fact that I am the first man to make you scream like that and I will be the only man to do so” He slowly pulls himself out of you.

“My lo- Ayato… You’ve always been the only man I cared for.” You cup his face with your hands and kiss his mole again. He brushes your messed-up hair and drops a quick peck on your lip. He then reluctantly gets off the bed to pick his shirt off the ground. “I’ll have a healer send you a concoction for birth control. We wouldn’t want to have a child before our wedding would we?” He uses his shirt to wipe you down there.

“You’re right.” You blushed. All of this was moving too fast and the last thing you needed right now was a child to worry about. Ayato and you still had to face a lot of challenges. You still were uncertain if people would accept you to be his partner.

“Can I spend the night here, (y/n)?” He kisses your forehead to reassure you as he sits back on your bed.

“Of course, Ayato.” You smile as he wraps his arm around you. The moonlight shimmered on your bodies as the two of you fall asleep intertwined in each other’s arms.

[xxlost-cityxx]

ABSOLUTELY NO MINORS

Ship/Characters: Top!Kirishima Eijirou, Bottom!Bakugou Katsuki

TW/CW: camming(Bakugou's a camboy), rough anal sex, anal fingering, choking, spanking, begging, crying, overstimulation, praising, degrading, enthusiastic consent

Summary: Bakugou's famous for being in the top 3 best doms for a camboy porn site, but as he tries to out rank an up and rising couple, his fans get to see the moment he realises he's a submissive bottom

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

Katsuk has been a camboy for a little over 2 years now, starting right off the bat once he graduated high school. As he was 18 and living on his own and with a low paying job, he quickly realized he needed another source of income to live even slightly comfortably in today's world. Then came a random ad that just so happened to catch his eye, a porn site catching a lot of popularity, a few cam stars seeming to live a life of luxury from simply filming themselves for anyone to see. 

Katsuki had to try it out. 

He's had his fair share of horny old men groping him out in public, so why not get paid for them to watch him instead? 

That plan was one of his best ideas yet. He rose to fame so quickly he choked on water after posting his 4th video ever, seeing that his rough, aggressive attitude turned a lot of people on. A lot meant 14,000 at the time. A month into camming and he was making over 54,000 yen a week! And now, with nearly 500,000 perverts at his mercy, it was much more. He started live streaming last year, and it went amazing. Until a new couple joined the camming business. Suddenly 'loving boyfriend rails his curvy brown haired slut' was all anyone wanted to see. This broccoli headed bitch stole half the damn site from almost every other cammer out there! 

So there was only one thing Katsuki could do now. 

He had to fuck someone on one of his streams. 

He blew up the first time he fucked a flesh light, degrading the inanimate object like no tomorrow, easily being labeled one of the best doms out there. So the only way to get back on top was to dom a real person. 

But he wasn't going to fuck one of his weird ass fans, god no. He needed to find someone close to him who would keep their mouth shut. 

After brainstorming and browsing the most popular porn categories, he got an idea. The best way to narrow down his options for what type of person he'd need is by his audience. He quickly went to his profile insights, his eyes narrowing as over 60% were females. He quickly smirked, easily going back to the most popular categories and filtering out what he didn't want to do and what his audience wouldn't be into. And the one that came out ontop, was gay shit. Katsuki was going to dom a guy. And if it meant coming out on top over all the useless cammers, he'd fuck the shit out of a twink. 

"Sorry man, I would've considered it back when we first graduated, but Hitoshi and Kyo would rather stab you than let me take your dick up my ass." Denki said, casually sighing and taking a sip of his coffee. The elders around the coffee shop gasped, giving nasty side eyes which Katsuki couldn't care less about. "What!?" He nearly shouted, Sero and Mina covering their mouths to prevent any laughter from coming out to the point their faces were turning red. 

"Why not ask Sero-" "-Oh hell no! I'm not letting Katsudon fuck me on camera!" Sero shouted, ignoring Bakugou's glare from calling him Katsudon. 

"You really need to fuck a guy for this? Why not stick to your usual content? No.2 is better than much else, right?" "Hell no! I'm the best and I'm going to prove I'm the fuckin' best! Denki's the only twink I know, so help me find another!" Katsuki yelled, a few families being rushed out of the shop. 

After going through everyone that fit Bakugou's qualifications. They had nothing. Bakugou was ready to tear someone's head off at this point. After doing so much research, he didn't have the final piece. 

"Hey Mina, you're a chick. What do you suggest 'suki do?" Denki sighed, folding in on himself. "I mean, we do love our gay shit man." He said in an inhale. "But why not get fucked instead? We know way more doms than we do twinks." She said, tilting her head. "Oh- Hell no!" Bakugou shouted, Sero wincing. "I'm the best fuckin' dom on this shitting porno site and I'm going to prove it!" "Sounds like a bratty bottom to me." Sero mumbled. 

After more shouting and arguing. Kirishima finally arrived. "Sorry, my last client had a lot of knots in their back and thighs! Took a lot longer than I expected." He said with his happy smile, still wearing his scrubs and smelling like coconut oil. "Eiji~! Gimme a deep tissue massage!" Denki whined, rushing over and jumping face first into the bed. "He just gave massages all day dude, give him a break.." Sero mumbled, shaking his head. 

And it was like a light bulb. His brain flashing to massage porn intro's being in the top 100 categories. "Kirishim!" Bakugou shouted firmly, standing up straight. Kiri froze, slowly turning to look at him with fearful eyes. "Y-Yes…?" "Let me fuck you for my cam stream." And it went dead silent. 

And that's how they're here. Setting up the ring lights, almond oil on the shelves and a small white towel for Bakugou to cover his ass with. The plan was that Eijirou would get handsy during the massage and Katsuki would turn around and start domming him. Kirishima is bigger than Bakugou in the height and muscle department, but that was only going to make the plot better. Eijrou definitely wasn't telling him something. After hesitating to agree in the first place, and only after Bakugou promised a share of the money, Kirishima was just so...unnatural at this situation, his movements starting off as more dominating until he took it down to a submissive level.   

Katsuki started the live, giving his quickly joining fans a cocky smirk before standing up, walking back and laying down on the black table. 

The comments were filled with surprise and questions as to who the red haired hulk was beside the table, but they went unanswered. 

Kirishima grabbed the bottle of almond oil, pouring some into his hands and quickly starting on Katsuki's thighs, gently rubbing into the muscles with experienced ease. 

Bakugou's eyes widened at the feeling, his core already getting hot with desire. And as Kirishima's fingers went under the towel to his inner thighs, he fought a gasp. Comments filled with perverted comments telling the redhead to get more handsy and to give the blond a hand job with all the oil. 

But as Eijirou put a knee on the table and nearly climbed over Katsuki to perfectly get his back, Katsuki started panting at the feeling. It wasn't the massage that was getting him. It was the feeling of Eijirou's crotch rubbing against the thin towel, his cock slightly hard underneath his black scrubs. 

As it was about time for the script to move onto Katsuki domming Kirishima, Bakugou was stifling whimpers of shock and embarrassment. His cock aching for him to fuck Kirishima…..actually. His body was aching to be fucked by Kirishima. 

As Katsuki was turned around, His eyes were teary, his fans taking quick, shocked notice and flooding the comments with surprise, degrading, perverted insults about how he looked like a twink instead. 

Kirishima's eyes slightly widened at the sight, and as Bakugou swallowed his embarrassment and shock, he focused on his arousal and his own perverse desires. "F-Fuck me….instead.." He whispered, his eyes slightly squinting and blurring with tears. 

Before he knew it, Eijirou was leaning over top of him with a slick hand around his neck. Bakugou couldn't help but moan at the pressure, his stream struggling to keep up with the influx of viewers and comments about the top 3 best doms getting put in his place by a rando. 

Bakugou's mind wasn't on the donations anymore, not on the follower count or his ranking at this point. He was gasping for air as Kirishima roughly kissed and bit at his body, keeping an iron grip on Katsuki's neck. "Oh fuck yes- Was hoping to god I would be able to fuck your tight ass one day-!" Kirishima breathed against his skin, licking up his nipple to his jaw and nipping at him. 

He suddenly ripped himself off the blonde, walking over to the camera and grabbing it, making a winky face at the viewers as he moved the camera to get a better view of Bakugou teary eyed, flushed and a line of red, darkening hickies and bites. 

He got back on the table, roughly gripping Katsuki's thighs and harshly pushing them apart, an action that would probably make some other guy pull a muscle. He wrapped his arms around his spread thighs, pulling his hips up to meet his crotch, the pale skin against his dark black scrubs finally letting Bakugou and the viewers know what the newbie was packing, and it was a lot. 

"H-Holy fuck-" Bakugou whispered out as his towel was ripped off of him, oil being grabbed off the table and the cap popped open. Kirishima paused, looking up to Bakugou, a silent plea for last minute permission. Katsuki's red eyes met crimson, and he swiftly nodded his head, accidentally earning more donations from the show of submission. 

Eijirou lathered his fingers in oil, tracing the blond's pink hole carefully, giving the camera another adjustment so the viewers could see his perfect view as well; a red faced, teary eyed dom with his tight ass being slicked up so nicely. 

The oil made Katsuki's muscle relax easily, becoming soft under the thick tanned finger, and as he swiftly plunged in the singular finger, Katsuki gasped with shock, his eyes going wide at the foregin feeling. 

Kirishima slowly pumped his finger, adding slightly more oil every time his muscle got a bit too tight, slipping in more fingers every time his rim was soft. It felt like such a short amount of time between preparing to dom his best friend to being finger fucked by him. Eijirou's forearm had veins slightly protruding as he slammed his fingers into his friend at a pace that made vibrators look pathetic. Katsuki's pretty little back was arched so nicely, his muscles flexing and his toes curling, tears falling from his eyes as moan after moan was ripped from him. 

"P-Please! I can't! I can't take it anymore!" He finally sobbed, shaking his head at the man's brutal pace, purposely avoiding his prostate after hitting it every couple times. 

Kirishima smirked, slowly sliding his fingers out only to slide his thumbs inside, stretching the soft muscle as he pleased, showing off the blond's perfectly hot pink insides, his swollen rim slick and twitching. "So nice and pretty for me, hm? You wanna take my fat cock for the first time? Expose how much of a slut you are for cock? For my cock?" Kirishima said seductively, moving the camera again. 

Katsuki nodded his head rapidly, his eyes glued to the hard to see bulge under his black scrubs. "Use your words, baby." Eijirou said firmly, palming himself. "Y-Yes- I want it-! I w-want your fat cock-!" He said, face flushing with embarrassment again. "Good boy~" He cooed, finally grabbing the hem of his pants and pulling them down. 

It was almost like he struggled to pull the front down far enough, his cock just kept following, and once it finally got over his tip, his penis sprung up to lightly slap against his stomach before it weighed itself down. The camera got Bakugou's surprise and shock perfectly, the comments finally going quiet, almost as if everyone had to take in what they were seeing as well. 

Kirishima grabbed the base of his cock, lifting it and letting it slap against Bakugou's hole, earning a slightly muffled whimper from the blond. He gently moved his hips, letting his cock slide smoothly against his hole, his tip teasing the smaller's balls. The comments were filled with encouragement and orders to get on with it. 

Kirishima chuckled darkly, letting his tip catch on the rim, slowly pushing in. Bakugou's eyebrows furrowed before his mouth dropped and eyes widened with the pressure. He let out a guttural moan, his legs starting to shake. 

As Eijirou bottomed out with a groan, Katsuki was shaking and whimpering, his own well endowed cock red and dripping precome. 

The redhead pulled out before slamming back in, the blond shooting up with shock only to be met with a hand on his neck again, pinning him down as the Kirishima harshly forced his way between Bakugou's legs even more, only giving the blond a couple seconds to adjust before he started snapping his hips into the smaller man's ass. Bakugou took in one breath of air before lewd moans poured from him, his voice cracking every time his skin was slapped with another brutal thrust. 

"Agh- P-Please-!" Katsuki nearly screamed out, Eijirou grabbing the back of his knees and pressing them back to meet his shoulders, effectively putting him in a mating press. "Please what, baby? Tell me what you fucking want!" Eijirou growled out, groaning as Katsuki's tight, slicked up boy cunt tried to milk him, pulsing and sucking him in with every movement. "I-I want it harder! Please- Please fuck me harder! Give me more!" Bakugou nearly sobbed, looking at where their bodies were connected with teary wide eyes. "Such a fuckin' slut-! Making all these people think you were a fucking dom, only to start begging for the first fat cock you see! Want it harder? Wanna feel my fat dick in you for days?" He growled, eagerly moving to grab Katsuki's ankles and awkwardly spreading them over Katsuki's head before turning him, ripping his cock out of his pillowy ass and nearly picking the blond up by his ass, grabbing the nape of his neck and forcing him on his knees with his head down. 

He slammed back in, the blond nearly screaming once again as he set another brutal pace. "Y-Yes! Please, god yes! Fuck me more! Don't stop!" Katsuki sobbed, drool and tears staining his lewd face. "Wouldn't fucking dream of it! You love having your little boy cunt fucked, huh? Love how I fucking ruin you on this dick?" Kirishima growled, slapping a hand down on his fat ass, groaning loudly at the sight of all the excess muscle and fat jiggle even more. 

Katsuki's ass slapped against Eijirou's abs every time he slammed into the boy, his back muscles looking so pretty at this angle. 

"Oh shit- I'm gonna cum! Please make me cum! Don't fucking stop~!" Bakugou moaned, arching his back and lifting his ass up higher so Eijirou could hit his prostate at the best angle. "Haven't even touched your cock and you're gonna cum? Fucking do it! Cum on this cock, make it yours and I'll fuck you every day!" Kirishima promised, sharpening his thrusts to where all Bakugou could do is claw at the padded table and scream, staring into the camera as his orgasm was building higher and higher. 

"I- Fuck! I'm fucking cummin'!" Bakugou screamed, his body shaking under Kirishima as his thrusts went unbroken, hurtling Katsuki into overstimulation. He started screaming for relief, but as Kirishima planted his hands into the curvature of Bakugou's spine, he started thrusting purely for his own relief. Groaning and growling above a sobbing Katsuki. "S-Stop! I can't! Slow down~ Please!" Katsuki begged, his cock trying to harden again. His body was on fire, every nerve fried with pleasure he'd never experienced, and Katsuki knew he was addicted. 

"Almost fuckin' there! Gonna cum in your ass- Claim you, make you mine!" Eijirou groaned out, his balls drawing up tight as his own climax ripped through him, filling up the man's stomach with his cum. 

He slowly pulled out, Katsuki in the same position even after Eijirou let go of him. He grabbed the camera, pointing it at Bakugou's gaping and cum filled hole, watching how he pulsed against nothing, forcing the cum to leak out of him despite his angle. 

Not only did Katsuki make absolute bank while taking monster cock like a slut, he took the No.1 spot by over a thousand followers and ratings. 

[invisibleanonymousmonsters]

Seized

An addition to Approval. Do not read this until reading that first. 

Character: Bruce Wayne x Fem!Reader // Damian Wayne x Batmom

Summary: What happens when Talia Al Ghul learns that someone has stolen the affections of her past lover and her son?

Word Count: 3,000 [One Shot]

“Delinquents have been detained. I can hear the sirens,” Damian stated calmly in his comms.

“Good work, Robin. You know where to meet me. You have a minute,” Bruce responded as he whipped the bat mobile through Crime Alley to grab his son.

Just as Damian opened the door and hopped in, an alarm went off within the vehicle.

“The Manor,” Damian thought aloud as he read the screens with his father.

Bruce ignored his comment and was calling Alfred immediately.

“Master Wayne,” the butler instantly picked up. “I followed protocol, but they were already gone when I arrived.”

“Y/N…” Bruce immediately asked.

“They took her,” Alfred told him, distress clear in his tone.

Damian’s head whipped to his father to watch his reaction.

But Bruce’s jaw only tightened and he sped the batmobile even faster.

Returning faster to Wayne Manor than ever before, Bruce jumped out of the batmobile and up the secret entrance to get to the main house.

Damian was hot on his heels. He’d already sent an encrypted message to his brothers, informing them of the situation. It was only a matter of time before they were at the manor as well. Though Damian suspected Jason would not come, instead already starting to scour the streets of Gotham for Y/N and her captors.

Alfred was already waiting for them. “Master Wayne, I am so sorry.”

Bruce ignored him and walked to the master bedroom. Y/N would’ve been sleeping when the attack occurred. It wouldn’t have mattered if she had been awake, she had no training in self defense. She was merely an innocent civilian.

“Father,” Damian muttered quietly.

Bruce turned around to find his son ripping a shuriken out of the door frame.

They shared a look, both recognizing the particular shape and color.

“The League…” Damian muttered quietly, saying what they both were thinking.

——————

Y/N was barely awake.

They clearly had drugged her with something to make her more compliant. Everything was foggy and muffled.

Yet they still tied her hands and ankles together, as if her brain could even manage to get her body to move.

But Y/N could feel the effects of the drugs losing their strength, yet keeping their hold on her.

She squinted as she looked around. The air felt different. It was colder and dryer, making Y/N believe that she was no longer in Gotham. Little did she know, she wasn’t even in the country any longer.

“I do not know what he sees in you,” a woman hummed from somewhere in the room.

Y/N blinked as he listened, but her eyes could not adjust to the low lighting and she didn’t even have the strength to turn her head.

“You are weak. Ripped from your own bed without so much as a fight.”

Then she heard the grunts and clashing of metal.

The woman smiled. “Right as expected, my son.”

Y/N’s brow furrowed at ‘my son.’ Then she finally lifted her head and took in her surroundings. There were swords and other weapons stored everywhere, and there was armor hung from the walls.

“Talia?” She whispered.

The woman chuckled. “Weak, but not utterly foolish.”

Then the door of the room was thrown open.

Y/N looked to see Damian in his Robin uniform.

“My son, finally returned," Talia greeted with a smirk.

“Mother.” Then his gaze flickered to Y/N. Very subtly, he was scanning her body to access any possible injuries.

His gaze turned back to his mother. “What is the meaning of this?”

“You have forgotten where you come from, Damian. You are not just the heir to the Wayne family. Before anything else, you are my son and the heir to Ra's al Ghul’s throne.”

“She has nothing to do with this,” Damian said with a gesture to Y/N.

“She has everything to do with this,” Talia snapped. “She has made you weak.”

Damian said nothing.

“She has taken you both from me,” Talia growled.

“Father does not love you,” he growled.

“A small lapse in judgment on his part, but not something that cannot be remedied. Our love gave us you, and I fully believe he will return to me.”

“His heart belongs to someone else. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you can give up your fantasy.” Then he hesitated to say the next part. “I never plan on returning to The League of Shadows. I wish to stay with father.”

Talia’s amusement vanished at her sons words.

The next second, she unsheathed her sword. “Perhaps I should just kill her and remind you of your place, my son.”

With that, Damian rushed forward and intercepted Talia’s attack with his own sword.

“Do not touch her,” Damian growled.

Their swords continued to clash as the mother and son fought each other. The fight raged on for what felt like forever. Too evenly matched, but also both too terrible at hiding that neither actually wanted to kill the other.

In the distance, Y/N could hear even more fighting. She could only assume it was Bruce fighting his way to her and his son.

Talia and Damian’s swords locked again, both of their stances shaking from the hold.

“Do you really think you and your father stand a chance against the entire League? Why do you think we lured you all the way here? You are outnumbered.” Talia hissed.

“You think us foolish enough to come alone?” Damian smirked right before there was a boom that shook the entire compound.

Talia’s focus slipped half a second, allowing Damian a window to go on the offense.

He flipped his mother’s sword out of her grip and held his own to her throat.

“Yield,” he growled down to her.

“You truly choose her over your own mother?” The hurt in her eyes was clear.

“You abandoned me, used me as a tool to disrupt father’s life. She taught me that there is more to life than killing and destroying. She loves me and care for me, even when I gave her no reason to do so.”

“And it will be the death of you,” Talia warned.

He glared at her. “Yield!”

But he knew she would never. So he whipped out a dart and blew it to her neck – a sedative.  It knocked her out within seconds.

Waiting until he was sure it had worked, Damian sheathed his sword once again and ran to Y/N’s side.

With a knife, he cut the ropes around her wrists and ankles.

“D-Damian,” her voice was still slurred from the drugs and she was weak. How long had she been here without food or water? “I don’t think I can walk."

Damian helped her to her feet. “Y/N, please try,” he begged as he wrapped her around around his shoulders. He was still just a boy, one that was shorter than her. But he wouldn’t give up that easily.

There was another explosion.

“What’s-What’s happening?” Y/N asked as she dragged her feet and held on tightly.

“That would be Todd, most likely taking his job of distracting to an unnecessary level.”

“You all came?” She asked in shock.

“Of course,” Damian scoffed.

Suddenly an object came flying at them and Y/N cried out in pain.

“No!” Damian bellowed as he looked up to see that another League member was attempting to stop their escape. And with it, they had thrown a shuriken that had landed in Y/N’s side.

She dropped to the ground.

Damian screamed as he unsheathed his sword once again and charged the assassin. It wouldn’t take him long. He knew that every minute spent fighting was a minute Y/N was bleeding out and edging closer to death.

He didn’t hold back like he had with his mother and quickly disarmed the enemy. Then thrusting his sword into a nonfatal area of his body, enough to neutralize him. 

Damian rushed back to Y/N’s side, where a pool of blood was forming from her wound.

He knew it was useless, but he still tried to lift Y/N into his arms to carry her. He cried out in both panic and frustration.

The building had now caught aflame due to Jason’s explosions. Damian would need to call for backup, hoping one of his older brothers could help.

Then a shadow was cast over him.

Damian tensed, believing it to be another attack.

But he looked up to find his father standing before them.

However, Bruce’s gaze was on his unconscious girlfriend.

With the arrival of his father, Damian’s cold and calculating disposition melted.

“She’s hurt,” his voice trembled and tears formed in his eyes. “Help her.”

Damian rarely cried. He cried less than grown men. He was raised that way. It didn’t help that his father was not a great example of healthy emotional expression.

But Bruce knew what his sons tears were for: Damian was frustrated, he felt weak, and he thought he had failed his mission. But most of all, Bruce knew his son was crying for fear of Y/N’s death. Because the boy had grown to love her.

As if there were a world when Bruce wouldn’t give his own life to save Y/N.

Bruce bent down and carefully brought Y/N into his arms.

Damian heard her mutter his father’s name, though still delirious from both the drugs he’s sure his mother pumped into her and the blood loss.

“Red Robin, get the jet to my coordinates immediately,” Bruce instructed through his comms.

Damian wondered how his father could be so calm when the woman he loved was bleeding out in his arms. This wasn’t bat business, this was personal. But Bruce spoke like it was just another night of patrol.

A few minuets later, Damian and Bruce had fought their way through the flames and burning compound.

Tim lowered the platform of the jet.

Damian made sure his father and Y/N got on before he followed. He turned and gave one last look at the burning compound that would no longer exist come morning. He did not fear for his mother’s life. He knew someone from the League would come for her – if she didn’t save herself first.

When he boarded the jet, his father already had Y/N on the surgical table that elevated from the jet floor.

Bruce had taken off his cowl, allowing Damian and his brothers to study his expressions.

Damian had been wrong about his father handling the situation like any other mission. For now he could see the terror and worry in his father’s eyes, despite him trying to control his emotions.

Damian looked to Jason, who still had his Red Hood helmet on.

“My grandfather?” He asked his brother.

“Escaped,” Jason muttered.  

Damian stepped forward to help Bruce with Y/N’s injuries.

“She’ll be OK,” he muttered to his father.

All of them had high-level medical training to know.

Thankfully the assassin’s aim was not great and didn’t land in lethal place on Y/N’s body. But she still lost a lot of blood and would need many stitches.

All the brother’s shared a look when Bruce ignored the statement. 

———

Y/N woke up to someone gripping her hand. She recognized from the smell and the feel of the bedding that she was in Bruce’s bed at the manor.

She winced as she opened her eyes to find Bruce was the one holding her hand as he sat in a chair only inches away from the side of the bed.

“Hi,” she whispered to him with a sad smile.

“Hi,” he said back with a smirk.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“Two days.”

Then Y/N looked past Bruce to realize there was someone else in the room.

Damian passed out on the velvet chaise that was pushed against the windows.

“He hasn’t left your side,” Bruce told her. “Dick had to convince him just to take a shower for 5 minutes when we first got back.”

Y/N’s heart melted at the revelation.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

The sound of Bruce’s voice as he said it made Y/N’s gaze snap back to him. Had it shook? Or was she imagining it?

Y/N squeezed his hand that was still wrapped around hers. 

“I know,” she told him with a sympathetic look.

He hid it well, but Y/N knew Bruce. And she knew that her being kidnapped from his own home probably drove him mad with guilt. She wouldn’t be surprised if he’d already designed an entirely new security system to prevent something like that ever happening again.

Bruce took in a shaky breath and opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

He wanted to say that he always feared her being with him would put her in danger like this. 

He wanted to say that maybe she should stay away from him. 

He wanted to say that him and the kids didn’t deserve her. 

He wanted to say that the only reason this happened is because Talia hated that she loved her son better than she ever did.

But Bruce had never been good at saying how he actually felt – or even acknowledging he had any feelings at all.

So Y/N brought his hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles. “Bruce, I know,” she said once again.

“I won’t let it happen again. I promise you,” he told her evenly.

“Bruce, I knew what I signed up for when you told me you were Batman. If I wasn’t willing to face the reality of it, I wouldn’t have stayed.”

“No one would’ve blamed you if you hadn’t.”

There was a knock at the door and then it opened a second later.

Damian jumped awake at the sound. But then he quickly brought his attention to Y/N. “You’re awake.”

But everyone’s attention was on Dick, who was standing at the open doorway.

“Hey,” he greeted Y/N, surprised to see that she was awake. “How are you feeling?”

“Sore. Tired. But I’ll be alright.”

He seemed to relax from her answer.

Then he winced when he looked at Bruce. “They put the signal up.”

Bruce’s jaw tightened.

He was about to open his mouth to ask them to handle it, not wanting to leave Y/N alone now that she had woken up.

“Go, Bruce. I’ll be OK.” Y/N told him, reading his mind.

“I think it’s the Joker,” Dick added with a serious frown.

“Bruce, go.” Y/N repeated.

And he saw the sincerity in her eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her gently, deciding he didn’t care if his two sons were witnesses to the intimacy.

Then Bruce kissed her forward. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Alfred will be here if you need anything. Do not hesitate to call.”

Y/N nodded.

Bruce stood up and acknowledged Damian and Dick. “Let’s go.”

Once they were ways down the hall, Bruce heard Damian stop.

“Father?”

Bruce and Dick both turned to face Damian.

“I wish to stay with Y/N.”

Bruce and Dick shared a look, and then Dick decided to give the two a moment alone and muttered something about waiting in the cave.

Bruce walked back to his youngest son.

Damian’s gaze was glued on the floor. “Mother truly would’ve killed her?”

Bruce sighed. “Most likely, yes.” He saw no point in lying to his son.

“Because she knows that you and I love her?”

“Yes.”

Damian was quiet for a moment. But Bruce knew he had more to say.

“I used to think I had to earn it.”

Bruce frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Mother’s love. I had to earn it. Win in combat. Successfully execute a target. Outsmart a puzzle or challenge.” Damian looked up at his father with a broken expression. “Her love always came with a price.”

Bruce kneeled down to his son.

The boy shook his head. “But Y/N made me realize that I don’t have to earn anyone’s love. I don’t have to prove that I’m worthy of it.” He bit his lip. “She’s not my father or my brother. She didn’t have to love me. But she does…even when I did nothing to earn it.”

“Everyone is deserving of love, Damian.” Bruce gripped his son’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for not teaching you that myself.”

Damian nodded. “So, may I please stay with her tonight? I don’t want her to be alone.” But then he quickly corrected himself. “Unless of course, you require my assistance, father.”

Bruce smirked at him. “I think we will manage, Damian.” Then he squeezed his shoulder. “Look after her for me, alright?”

Damian relaxed and quickly nodded his head. “Of course, father.”

When Bruce returned hours later, Damian was cuddled next to Y/N in the bed. But clearly laying in a position to be mindful of her injuries. Both were fast asleep. The bright television was the only thing lighting the room, as it played a Pixar movie.

Bruce couldn’t help but grin at the sight.

“I got him,” Dick whispered to him before stepping into the room and carefully lifting the boy in his arms, clearing the space in the bed for Bruce to join Y/N.

Bruce moved about the room as he changed into cotton shorts and went without a shirt.

Y/N woke slightly as he joined her in bed.

“Everything OK?” She whispered sleepily.

“Everything’s fine. Did Damian keep you company?”

Y/N smiled and shifted her body so she was cuddle into him. “Yes…my little protector.”

Bruce smiled at that. “Don’t let him hear the ‘little’ part…”

She chuckled. “Good call.” 

And then she was fast asleep once again.

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

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