#and also apologies if i disappear without a trace from time to time

[darkkitty1208]

If I haven't responded to messages in a while, I promise it doesn't mean I'm ignoring you/don't like talking with you; it just takes a specific level of willpower (and willpower--for me at least--has nothing to do with interest and more to do with the level of dopamine I'm running on) for me to respond sometimes. Or, you know, maybe I just got busy and forgot. Or answered it in my head instead. Anyway, I swear I still love y'all 💖

[pirateprincessblog]

sixth sense >> j. yunho

𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫.: while all of the city loves their superhero and is ready to defend him with their lives, you seem to be the only fool looking at the bigger picture. and the only one to loathe spiderman. 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: jeong yunho x f!reader 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 10k 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬: angst, fluff, enemies to lovers, superheroes and supervillains, spiderman!yunho, villain!reader

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: loss of a loved one, injuries, bl00d, SA attempt, mentions of suicide 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: this one was in the basement for a year now, thought i'd finish it and see if it helps my writer's block :)

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫: 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲.

***

when will spiderman be held accountable for the consequences of his actions?

yes, your superhero saved your city multiple times. yes, he saved that old lady from falling off the building. yes, he fought off an alien giant that threatened to blow up the continent. yes, he saved that school bus from drowning. that's his job. he is a superhero. it is expected of him.

have you people looked at the aftermath? victory and relief blinds you, you fail to see the demolished buildings, wrecked cars, shattered windows of your favourite shops. has spiderman ever stayed to assist firefighters clear up the scene? has he ever comforted people who were still paying off that car that is now on top of a building somewhere? people who just got their apartment? people who have just opened their shops?

no. spiderman doesn't care about those things. he cares about glory, praises and rewards. he vanishes until a new threat emerges, appearing only when the city has already suffered destruction, and sometimes causing further damage himself. what good is a city that you have to rebuild every few months, watching it get demolished every single time?

wake up, people. it is time to hold spiderman accountable.

the publish button is clicked without hesitation. third article this week, and no sight or sound of the notorious hero. your teeth bite the inside of your cheek again, abusing the already wounded flesh as your eyes scan the article one more time. this one should get his attention. it has to. slowly over the past few months, people are starting to understand you. those who once called you a fool are now on your side, demanding at least an apology from the man who successfully hid after every battle.

"leaving early?" your coworker asks, eyes not moving from his own screen.

"yes." you answer, shutting your laptop and safely putting it away in its bag.

"going home to write more mean things about spidey on your little hate blog?"

"not that it is any of your business, but i am going to the cemetery."

the smirk drops from the man's face, and his eyes notice the flowers on the edge of your desk. "oh. sorry."

"yeah. see you tomorrow, wooyoung."

last time you were here, it was still summer. the grass was green, and the sun reflected the shiny letters on the tombstone. flowers decorated almost every grave, lots of colorful bundles and candles making the place less morbid. now, it was the opposite. you haven't visited since august, and it was already october. autumn has made the grass dry and brown, and tombstones grey and gloomy. his name didn't shine anymore. it was just letters on a stone.

"hi, baby." a shaky whisper leaves your mouth, almost disappearing with the wind. you crouch, placing fresh white lilies in front of the stone. fingers reach to graze the silver letters, tracing each one before tears blur your vision. "i brought you your favorite."

he never had a favourite flower. not until you gave him a compliment that made him blush for a week every time he looked at you.

"you're as pretty as a white lily, seonghwa."

"w-what?"

"what?"

"pretty? i am supposed to be handsome." his cheeks are a pretty pink shade, and his eyes are shiny as he looks at you flustered.

"you are handsome. and you're also very pretty. you're my pretty boy."

and he was.he was beautiful in every way. his eyes, his lips, his words, his soul. he was one of the purest people you've ever met. selfless, full of love and so sweet. you met him in a coffee shop where he worked, and lost him there too. three years ago on this day you met him. one year ago on this day you lost him.

"i miss you. i miss you so much its burning me inside out." you sob, fingers subconsciously caressing the stone like you once caressed his face. "he'll pay for it. i promise you. he will."

a week passes, and still nothing. the city hero has retreated who knows where, unaware of the boiling situation inside you. even as you sit in the emergency room, you do not react to the alcohol making your open wound bubble, instead thinking of ways to get to the man behind the mask.

"what happened again?" the doctor's assistant, who had just arrived in the room flushed with papers in her hands, asked as she looked at your leg.

"we were at the zoo, and we failed to hear that there was a viper on the lose. we found it when my crazy sister casually ripped the animal off her leg and tossed it over my head." your sister explains as she holds your niece, bouncing her on her hip to keep her occupied.

"time is crucial. had you come a few minutes later, you'd be dead, young lady."

"okay." you simply reply, emotionlessly watching as the doctor rubs ointment on the exposed flesh before wrapping it up.

your sister sighs. "right, thank you doctor."

"you must rest for a few days. no walking unless you absolutely must. see me again in a week."

you stand, walking over to the assistant and taking the note, as if you didn't hear what the doctor just said. "thanks. bye."

"i am so sorry." your sister apologizes, then rushes outside to catch up with you, struggling to carry her daughter. "wait!"

"i'm not walking fast."

"why are you like this?" she finally grabs your elbow, making you turn around and face her.

"like what?"

"like this! numb! like you don't care whether you live or die! don't you think about your family? your niece who has to see you like this? the only emotions she sees on you are rage and grief, and it makes her sad to see her once happy auntie turn into whatever this is now."

your eyes land on your niece, the five-year-old resting her head on her mothers shoulder and looking at you with sad eyes. with your fingers, you move the bangs out of her eyes, caressing her cheek in the process. "i don't care whether i live or die."

"what?"

"you heard me. i don't. if i live, i get to avenge seonghwa. if i die, i get to be with seonghwa. simple as that."

"listen," she pulls you aside, hiding you from curious eyes. "i hate to be the one to tell you this, but you need to move on."

"no."

"listen to me-"

"leave me alone. don't touch me." you yank your arm from her grip, hitting your niece with your elbow in the process.

the older woman gasps, and so does the child, before her eyes become shiny with tears and lips form a pout. you gulp, stepping back.

"don't ask about me. don't call me. don't visit me. forget about me."

the ground sways beneath your feet as you walk home. brain cluttered, heart racing, and leg aching, you barely make it to the park and fall on the wooden bench. you've never felt this ill before. not even when you got drunk on your last birthday. the autumn sun mercifully warms you as you doze off on the bench, not having the energy to care about whispers and pointed fingers.

when you wake up, you almost have to peel your eyes open. your lips remain shut, and you struggle to breathe. once your eyes gets used to the dark, they lock with other ones. a scream leaves your mouth, but is muffled by a hand firmly planted on your face. the stranger sits on your legs, having full control over your body. fuck, is this how you'll die?

"come on now, sweet thing. you were all sprawled out in the middle of the park. it's basically an invitation. why the sudden rejection?"

you were ready to be wounded. you were ready to be held captive. you were ready to be tortured. you were ready to die. but you were not ready to have another man touch what belonged to seonghwa. his touch still lingers, and you will not allow him to tarnish it.

"there, there. it'll be over quickly. or not. i'll decide how you deserve it."

his other hand doesn't bother to take your clothes off. instead, he unzips your jacket, then rips your shirt open. the cool air hits your clothed chest, and tears graze your cheeks as you realize there might not be a way out of this. he is strong, and big. and scary. the city is full of people, making it easy for freaks to blend in. you couldn't tell whether he was human or not.

his eyes glow in the dark, and they are hungry. hungry for your flesh or your essence, you did not know. you only knew one. seonghwa. finally, you cared whether you live or die. you'd rather die before this man touches you. you didn't want to live to go through this. you'd never forgive yourself.

"you're boring me." he sighs, annoyed. then, he removes his hand from your mouth. "scream, cry, beg. go on."

sharp pain cuts through your head, making you wince and shut your eyes.

"what the fuck?" you hear him say, then get off you.

when you open your eyes, your vision is... colorful. you no longer see the man, but a shadow that glows red, yellow, green and blue. you gasp, blinking a few times. it stays the same, and it scares you. what did he do to you?

"are those fucking fangs?"

your fingers reach to touch your mouth, and indeed: fangs.

"stay the hell away from me." he steps back.

"no- wait!"

the man you ran from is now running away from you. and you chase him, seeking help in danger. you follow the figure, soon catching up to it and knocking it to the floor. "no! get off me, you monster!"

"what did you do to me?!" your hands grip the fabric of his clothes, shaking his body for answers. "what did you do?!"

he spits in your face, causing you to fall back and give him a mere second to get up. thinking he is faster than you, he stops behind a tree to catch his breath. but you see him. you smell him. and you'll kill him.

"did you just fucking spit on me? after trying to rape my unconscious body?"

a choked gasp leaves his mouth, seeing your figure appear in front of him. "i'm so-"

before he can finish his pathetic apology, your fangs sink into his neck, causing him to shriek in pain. a foreign force takes over your body, making your nails plunge into his stomach, and fangs release liquid inside his flesh. once his squirming stops, you step away, letting his lifeless body fall to the ground. you no longer see vibrant colours, and your vision turns normal.

you don't get the chance to be surprised by your own actions, because you feel a rock hit your back, causing you to shift your attention to a family behind you, fingers pointed and jaws dropped. "viper!"

***

when you called in sick, everyone rushed to your door to make sure you're alright. you had never called in sick before, except the week when seonghwa passed away, and since then, you've been a raging workaholic. working for yourself, for him, and for spiderman. for his destruction. for his misery. you wanted him to feel what you felt that day. you wanted him to feel what you still feel every day. dying little by little, hoping to reunite with your lover but not having the confidence to do anything about it. you wished to see the hero grieving and miserable.

and it might be possible now more than ever. you stand in front of the mirror, finally gaining control over your vision. you could switch to infrared whenever you wanted, and you were quickly learning what exactly is happening in your body. it took you waking up and seeing your changed face in the mirror to finally visit an old friend.

"a radioactive viper." the scientist explained after examining your vitals. "gave you its powers. so cool."

"mingi, nothing about this is cool."

"is too! you can see infrared, you have venom in your fangs, and, uh, you have fangs! you just need to learn how to control all of it." he pokes your forehead, then makes his way to his desk and sits. you follow, desperation evident in your voice.

"mingi, please-"

"knock-knock!"

you run to mingi's closet, not wanting to show your fangs to another poor soul and scar them.

"you don't have to- oh what the hell." the blonde man gives up, letting you hide. "come in!"

"you free?"

"sort of. what is it?"

you watch through the crack as another tall man enters the office, a backpack loosely hanging from his shoulder. he is dressed casually, in loose black jeans and a red and blue college jacket. his hair is dark and falls over his brown eyes, which are curiously examining mingi's messy lab.

"experimenting? i've never seen your lab this messy."

"i just finished a research. nothing of importance so far. what's up, yunho?"

"i was hoping you'd help me with an assignment."

"come on! i finished college ages ago!"

while they're busy bickering, you slip from the closet and carefully make your way to the door. they sit at the round table, mingi finally obliging to help with the assignment. as the student reaches for his notebooks, he catches your figure by the door.

"hey, aren't you that journalist?"

fuck.

"you haven't dropped anything in a while. is everything alright?"

you can't tell if he is worried, or just thirsty for more of this one sided drama you have with the spiderman. you turn around, and your fangs retract in time. he also fully turns around, spinning on his chair in the process and eyes locking with yours.

"yes, it is. just... a writer's block. i'm taking a break from..."

"hating spiderman?" he finishes for you, causing you to furrow your eyebrows. "jeong yunho, nice to meet you."

"jeong yunho?" you repeat, name familiar in your ears. "the spiderman photographer?"

"guilty." he replies, a smile dancing on his lips.

mingi watches from aside as the tension thickens between the two of you. not many words are spoken, but each one feels like drawing a weapon and wielding it. a duel of words.

"say, why exactly do you dedicate all your time to him?"

"i thought you were a fan of my work. how do you not know?" you bite back, a sour smile decorating your equally sour face.

"oh, i know. i just wanted to hear it from you. after all, i am a fan of your work." yunho folds his arms across his chest, then leans against the table with his back. "but i am also a fan of spiderman. after all, he pays for my bills and tuition."

"i am not repeating what i wrote. countless times. you are free to visit my blog or read the newspaper. i have to go."

you turn around, angrily stomping towards the door. mingi sighs, relief washing over his body too quickly.

"i hope i cured your writer's block. i'll be waiting for your article, miss journalist."

you don't have to look at him to know that he is smirking. and you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror to know that your fangs are fully visible again.

it was the second time since the bite that you had the urge to kill someone. and it was the last time you looked normal. now, as you looked at your reflection in the mirror, you didn't know whether to be worried or excited. your fangs and vision were fully controlled, but the scales on your neck and jawline and viper eyes not. you don't seem to have any kind of power over them, and it limits you.

or frees you.

you are yet to decide. do you stay inside and learn to hide it, or do you unlock your full potential.

your eyes land on the opened article on your laptop screen once again.

viper - new threat or an escaped lunatic?

it's been a little over a week since the park attack. the family who witnessed it referred to the woman as the viper, describing how her eyes shined and fangs were smeared with blood when she turned around to look at them. they also described her way of moving and speed as something they'd never seen before, even though they all had encounters with heroes other than spiderman.

speaking of spiderman, will he wait for another attack to happen before he reacts? we all know of the uproar my friend and colleague received after calling him out. she has disappeared, called in sick, and never returned. is it possible that he has intervened? after all, she was onto something.

tick-tock, spiderman. lots of questions, accusations, and whatnot awaits you, yet you hide somewhere in your lair, letting all of this happen. letting the people you once helped to turn against you. it's time you stepped out and stood up for yourself.

if the viper is indeed a new threat, you have an opportunity to prove that you are not what she says you are.

wooyoung has unknowingly taken your side with this article. and it is all the encouraging you need.

it doesn't take you longer than a day to sew a hooded outfit for yourself, in order to blend in with the darkness and help you move easily. and it takes you less than a week to get spiderman's attention in a way that could've been avoided. you have raided almost every jewelry shop, broken cafe windows, destroyed parks. simply, you made everything you laid your eyes upon wilt.

at this point, you loved the thrill. cries for help were music to your ears, tearful faces pretty to look at, and your name on many articles and news stroking your ego. you could only imagine the look on spiderman's face as he watches people begging him for help. but you are yet to reach the main goal of this show.

you couldn't wait to show yourself to him. to finally make him see for himself what power you possess. to not only see it, but to feel it, and to beg you to stop.

and it happens on a late night as you sit on the edge of your building, legs hanging above the still busy streets. the dark hood covers the scales on your neck and jaw, but leaves your bright yellow eyes exposed. you scan the city, looking for a particular swinging figure. and you spot him, coming this way. he doesn't seem to notice you, taking his sweet time shooting webs and swinging from the buildings. until his web catches your leg instead of the brick wall, and you swiftly break it.

his sixth sense works in his favour, because he is quick to shoot again, this time next to you. you let him be, watching as his rhythm gets disrupted and he hangs from a single web before regaining control. while he takes his sweet time to adjust, his gaze seems to lock with yours, and you see the way the big white shapes widen in shock, representing his eyes. you only smile, then turn around, as if walking away. he skillfully lands in front of you, in his usual spider stance.

"who are you?" he doesn't hesitate to ask, taking slow steps towards you.

"come and find out." you reply, stepping back. little by little, you reach the edge of the building, your heels hovering above the streets. "if you dare."

with that, you let your body fall. the cool air and gravity envelop it, sending shivers down your spine. and surely, in no time, the masked man is in your vision. he catches up to you, shooting a web and swiping your body in the air with a single hand. your hands hold onto his shoulders, gripping the red and blue fabric as anger boils inside of you. finally.

"gotcha." you hiss into his ear.

"what?" he asks, not sure if he heard right. but once your teeth sink through his suit and into his neck, realization hits him.

he almost drops you, pain ripping through his body as he struggles to reach any kind of surface around him. you don't release any liquid inside yet, rather choosing to keep him on the edge. but the pain of the bite is enough to break him, and he loses control of his webs and becomes dizzy. just in time, you jump on a nearby fire escape, leaving his limp body hanging from a single web and hitting the brick wall. even for spiderman, that must've hurt. and you are not sorry for it.

he'll take this as a warning.

you have him where you wanted him since day one: unconscious, powerless, and vulnerable. all it would take is a single bite again, a proper one this time. and you'd be happy and content. but not before breaking him, little by little.

"i'll stomp on you, you little insect. i'll feed on your pain and misery." you seethe as you watch people open their windows and try to help him, pulling on his limbs and almost tearing him apart, trying to be the one to save the hero. with a nearby fire extinguisher, you break the single web by throwing it his way, making his body fall to the ground. you turn to leave, but not before spitting on the floor where he lays and people are gathered around him.

***

you lay awake at night, thinking of your next step. he doesn't know who you are, and you plan to make it clear. so much that when he sees you in your human form, he'll stay away from you. you want his fear, his tears, his grief. you'll feed on it like a starved vulture, not stopping until he wails under your touch.

sitting on top of the building has become your new favourite spot. you could go higher for a better vision, true. but this one has the cafe. this one feels like seonghwa and the memory of him. you can almost smell the soft vanilla that lingered on his skin, and the coconut that made his black hair soft and shiny.

a lily lays in your palm, its petals pearly white with a few red stripes. it reminds you of his face, before he took the last breath. pretty pale face, with blood streaming on the side of his head and coating his cheeks and neck, white sweater soaking it up.

you don't know how many times you've replayed that memory in your head. but you know you'll do it many times again. it is your biggest motivation.

"it's a bit cold tonight for sitting here, don't you think?"

if his plan was to catch you off guard and scare you, he failed miserably. "it is perfect."

he hums behind you. "you could've killed me. you didn't. why?"

you pull at a petal, ripping it away from the bud. "it would've been too easy."

"who are you?" he is persistent.

"careful." you warn, pulling at another petal and watching it fall on the street below. "you know how it ended last time you asked that question, spidey boy."

"what do you want from me?"

you sigh, feeling bored of the conversation already. you rip out another petal, and another, until there is only one left. "what makes you think i want something from you?"

"you've been causing trouble left and right. robbing places, but returning everything after a few days. as if you wanted to get my attention. or are you simply that sick in your head and you love to play god with people?"

"i don't want anything from you. i want you."

he is taken aback, lips struggling to form a sentence.

you feel him step closer, but you don't budge yet, back still facing him. "tell me one thing, spiderman."

"what?"

"do you feel sorry for the damage you're doing to this city?"

"wh-" his word comes out broken, and his breath hitches as you throw you head back, yellow eyes looking right into his. a wicked smile dances on your lips, your hood falling from your head and finally revealing your face to him. "you."

"peekaboo." you rip the last petal, and in a swift motion, stand up and latch yourself onto him.

he falls to the ground with a grunt, arms planted on your waist in order to keep you away from him. your nails dig into his wrists, and his fingers dig into your flesh. his grip is as strong as yours, causing you to wince and pull away.

"i asked you a damn question. you know who i am, you're familiar with my work. tell me, do you feel- oof!" he tackles you to the ground, this time him being on top.

"you think i care about pretty cars and fancy shops when i need to defeat an alien army?" his long fingers wrap around your neck, squeezing its sides and ridding you of oxygen. "you think i have time and energy to stop and think before attacking or dodging?"

your nails reach for his neck, finding the hem of his mask and trying to pull it off his head. once he realizes what you're trying to do, he takes both of your hands in his single one and pins them against the cold concrete above your head.

"how about this: next time, you come up with a solution. i'll gladly let you handle it, and i'll stand aside and take notes. is that good enough for you, doll?"

"let go of me." you foolishly demand.

"hmm... no." his grip on your neck intensifies, until your vision starts to darken. "good night, my little journalist."

you had hoped it was just a dream. how could you let your guard down? instead, you are awoken by cold water splashing your face. you find yourself in a foreign room and a cozy bed.

"oops. did i wake you?"

your head turns to the figure that sits on the bed. "you."

"me. and your bestie." the photographer points at the scientist who stands at the door.

"where am i? why am i here?" you take in your surroundings, forgetting that yunho has now seen your true nature.

the bedroom you're in is a simple one; with a bookshelf, a gaming table, and a comfortable bed. you haven't slept in such a soft bed in a while. once you finish examining the room, your eyes lock with the photographer's, and you finally realize. you're in his room.

"it's okay." mingi assures, stepping in before your fangs dip into his neck. which is covered by a turtleneck. "you can trust him. i do."

"trust someone who just poured water in my face?" you grumble, wiping the liquid with your sleeve. you then notice you are not wearing your clothes. instead, you wear a blue and red college jacket you've seen once already. the colours that make you sick to your stomach. "why am i wearing his clothes?"

"i'm right here, journalist. you can talk to me, i don't bite."

the way he calls you journalist is familiar to you. but mingi calls you that too, so you drop it. "why am i wearing your clothes?"

"well, in case aunt may barges in the room, it's easier to explain the scales than the whole inej ghafa aesthetic you had going on."

"in what world is that easier?"

"guys," mingi sighs, "i really have to go. promise me that you won't kill each other."

"where are you going?" you ask, disbelief evident in your voice. he can't possibly leave you alone with the photographer.

"believe it or not, i have a family and a job." the blonde man says, putting on his leather jacket. it is odd to see him wearing anything other than a white lab coat.

"and i don't?" yunho raises an eyebrow at his friend.

"you," mingi walks over just to flick the photographer's forehead, "have a day off. i'll be back tonight."

"but-!" he doesn't let you finish, waving and slamming the door of yunho's room on the way out. "asshole."

silence envelops the room, and you didn't know how much you needed it until now. the vengeful voices in your head have taken a break, letting you enjoy peace for the first time in a while. you lay in a stranger's bed, wearing his clothes, and listen to him breathe.

"you have questions." he wakes you from your meditation.

"i do."

"go on." he turns his body towards you, still sitting on the edge of his bed. "i'll answer truthfully. i promise."

you pull your legs close to your chest, hugging your knees and resting your chin on top of them. "how did i get here?"

"mingi found you unconscious in his lab when he returned from the toilet. then, he brought you to my place. you know he has a big and loud family. he assumed you'd like the peace and quiet here."

he isn't wrong. you do like the peace here. and you also like the coziness of the jacket and the soft blankets, no matter who they belong to or the colours. "you know what i am?"

"you're not a what, journalist. you're a who. and i know who you are. you are y/n, my favourite journalist from nexus daily, and viper, my new favourite villain."

"so i'm a villain?" you scoff.

"well, yes. anyone that harms civilians is considered a villain." he tilts his head slightly, trying to maintain eye contact with you as your eyes stay locked on the silver rings on his fingers. "go on. ask."

"why haven't you handed me over to your spidey friend?"

yunho hums. "i guess i could. but it is not my fight. it is none of my business. he can come find you yourself."

"you say mingi found me in his lab. i had an encounter with spiderman last night. he choked me until i passed out, so he could've handed me over to whatever forces. or destroy me himself. i doubt i found my own way there." you're puzzled, memories of last night flooding your brain.

"maybe he wanted to give you a chance to rethink your decisions. a chance to change."

"nothing will change my decisions and goal." you glare at him. he nods, disappointment evident on his face. "have you snapped any pictures of me? sold them? how much am i going for?"

"no, i haven't. do you take me for that kind of person? to take pictures of you while you are unconscious and vulnerable?" he is now even more disappointed, furrowing his eyebrows as he looks at you with intense eyes. "you think mingi would drop you off here and leave me alone with you if i was like that?"

"you can't be mad at me for asking."

"i'm not mad, i just..." he sighs. "i'm not mad."

you're silent for a while, as is he. your gaze is locked on his slender fingers that play with the rings, similarly to how you play with the hem of your top when you're thinking or nervous. when a light breeze brushes your cheeks, you realize that his window is tilted open. you wrap yourself in his jacket, and he notices. without a word, he stands up to close it, letting you take in his whole figure. he is taller than mingi, and his black turtleneck shows off his slender figure. wonder why he hides it under oversized hoodies and jackets.

"your turn." you say as he sits back on the bed, averting your eyes from his body before he catches you staring and teases you.

"why do you hate him?"

"you know-"

he interrupts, "no, i don't. i only know there's more to it than your articles tell. there's more to it than a demolished city."

instead of answering, you opt for avoiding his gaze. you stare at the spiderman photographs on the wall above his desk, resentment growing with each picture you notice. "it's none of your business."

"true, it isn't. but if you want me on your side, you'll have to tell me. what is it that he did that has you using your powers against the city?" he sits closer to you, and for a moment, you think he wants to take your hands in his. but they only move for an inch, before resting back on his lap. "you're not a bad person. at least you weren't, that's what mingi tells me. he still believes that you are not a villain. and i wish to believe it too."

"he made me a villain." you finally lock eyes with him.

"spiderman did?" yunho tilts his head again, confused. it reminds you of a curious puppy.

"yes. he took everything from me, that reckless bastard. and i intend to take everything from him, before i take him. and i'll keep protecting the city from the foolish avengers, i'll take down each one of them if i can't keep them away, and i won't stop until i am done. then, i'll surrender. i'll rest."

at the mention of avengers, yunho tenses. "tell me."

"they don't care about anything when they fight. they ruin whatever they touch. they ruined my life, he ruined my life! he took my lover away from me." tears prick your eyes, announcing their glorious arrival. you grit your teeth, brain replaying the horrid memories of the day. "we were at a cafe, celebrating the anniversary of the day we met. foolish, i know. but it was special to us. everything was normal, until the news announced that we stay inside wherever we are and do not exit. we could see a giant swinging a bat or something left and right, and spiderman just throwing anything and everything at him."

tears have soaked your cheeks already, just like then while you both crouched under the table that day. you shook from fear, and he held you, kissing the top of your head and assuring you that everything would be okay while stroking your hair.

"when they were in front of the cafe, that idiot of a hero swung a car at the villain, and fucking missed, sending it through the window and-" you hiccup, burying your face into the sleeves of the soft jacket, "and-"

"it's alright." yunho hushes you as he stands up and sits next to you, resting his back against the headboard. he carefully pulls you into a hug, caressing your hair as you cry into his chest. when you don't push him away, he rests his head on top of yours. "you don't have to-"

"and it landed on him. on seonghwa. everyone ran away, they left me alone with him. half of his body was stuck underneath, and i couldn't pull him out. he didn't feel his lower body, he just begged me to leave him there and save myself. but i couldn't. i went out on the street, didn't care about the fight going on, and called for help. even foolishly thought spiderman would hear me and just lift the damn car. but he didn't. he kept throwing vehicles and whatnot around, above my head, into the buildings, and so on. he saved the city, but he killed the love of my life. my reason to live."

if you weren't violently sobbing and shaking, you would've heard his heart beat faster where your head rested against his chest.

"i am so sorry, doll."

and if you weren't swallowed by the veil of an opened wound, you would've heard how familiar that nickname sounds.

the photographer assured you that you could stay as much as you wanted. and you appreciated it. you enjoyed the coziness of his room, the cooking of his aunt, and the company of jeong yunho himself. he was kind and funny, and didn't push you like mingi did. you felt like your old self with him. until you'd catch your own reflection in the mirror, and the shiny scales brought you back where you were.

you didn't forget about your goal. but yunho's company made your heart calm and brain clear. he kept you occupied while he was there, and charged his aunt with it when he wasn't. yunho also didn't push you to forgive spiderman, or anything similar. he never spoke of it again, wouldn't even mention him when he came back from work.

"i brought treats!" he came earlier one day, just when you were changing into your clothes. he stopped with a box of muffins in his hand, eyes looking at his discarded jacket and brows furrowed. "where are you going?"

"i'm leaving, yunho."

"what? why?" he pouts subconsciously.

"i overstayed my welcome. and i am delaying my goal. the sooner i do it, the sooner i get to rest."

while he attempts to formulate an argument, you pick up the jacket from the bed and approach him. the brown eyed man observes with curiosity as you place the jacket into his free hand, then rise on your tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek.

"thank you. i felt like myself the past few weeks. like the old me. and thank you for listening and not judging. it means a lot to me."

he blushes furiously, the tips of his ears turning hot and red as you step back and smile at him. "i- i- don't go."

"i must."

"isn't there another way?" he shoves the jacket back in your hands, as if that'll make you stay. "the avengers will crush you."

"this is the only way. he needs to learn. no amount of talking will save him. i gave him many opportunities."

"please don't go. i- i grew fond of you. i don't want anything to happen to you." he admits. he puts the treats aside, then grabs your shoulders. "i can talk to him for you."

you scoff. "you're cute. no."

dropping the jacket on the floor, you turn your back on him, and make your way to his window. you hear him huff out of frustration.

"even if i stayed, yunho, my heart still belongs to seonghwa."

"journalist?" he calls when you step out of the window.

"yes?"

"go easy on him. he may not be as strong as you were."

"no promises."

and when you jump out, he whispers to himself: "i know i am not as strong as you were."

***

finding the hero was a challenge once again. you didn't practice any fighting. you didn't have to. your venom was enough. it had to be. what was he compared to your bite? you have also shortened your goal. you won't go down on his level. your plan was to kill someone he cared about, but killing him would do enough harm to his family already. if they knew what he was.

"finally," you breathe out, seeing the blue and red figure swinging through the streets.

but before he can properly land on the rooftop, another figure jumps on top of him, pushing him to the ground and delivering a punch. you step back, watching as the creature relentlessly hits his masked face, all while he struggles to fight back.

"oh, no you won't." you rush to them, jumping on the stranger's back, pulling him away from the man on the floor. "he is mine to kill!"

"who the fuck-" the figure throws you on the floor, pinning your hands to the ground and yanking your hood off. "you."

"you- you bastard. how are you alive?" you stare at the eyes that you first saw that night. the eyes that were once lifeless. because you were the one who drained the life out of him.

he smiles disgustingly, then looks over at the hero. "he saved me."

you were wrong. it wasn't your essence or your flesh, it was both he craved. and you won't give it to him. not then, not today.

"he saved you only because he didn't know what a sick and twisted bastard you are!" you push him off you with your feet on his chest, sending him flying to the other end of the rooftop.

the hero that was once on the floor runs over to you, helping you stand. "are you hurt?"

"get your fucking hands off me." you push him away, but he doesn't budge. you try again, punching his chest, kicking and screaming. he simply takes both of your hands in his, and cups your jaw so you can calm down and look at him.

"help me get rid of him, then we can solve this. torture me, kill me, do what you want. but help me kill this whoreson."

"why? who is he?"

"he is a shapeshifter." he seems to hesitate a bit before continuing," and a rapist."

a faint grunt is heard, and you both look his way. he stands there panting, no longer in his human form. he is hairy, and has taken an almost werewolf-like appearance. then, he looks at you with the most evil smile you've ever seen. and you know you have to move. but your legs stay on the ground, frozen and disobedient. his figure speeds up, sharp teeth gleaming under the faint city lights and red eyes hungrily taking you in. just before he can jump on you with his jaw wide open and his pointy tongue peeking out, the hero grabs you by your waist once again, shielding you with his body.

the creature latches onto spiderman's back, digging its claws into his back, causing him to yelp. even though that's where you wanted him, it makes your heart twitch with pain. he doesn't let go of you, still hugging you close to his chest and shielding you from the blood thirsty claws.

it is not until they break through his back and chest, and almost pierce through you, that the hero pushes you away from him. he falls to the floor once again, fingers digging into the concrete and pained moans and groans leaving his mouth.

"go! leave!" he yells at you.

"no!" you yell back. "i am not leaving without at least one body tonight!"

the creature retracts one of his hands, only to point it at you and make a gust of wind pull you close to him. his open hand catches your body by your neck, raising it from the floor and squeezing it. you gasp for air, nails desperately clawing at the hairy hand, but to no avail.

"silly little viper." he growls. "it will be me who will leave with not one, but two bodies tonight. you and your little friend."

the hero uses the moment of distraction to hit the werewolf, making him release you. in a split second, spiderman skillfully avoids the kicks and punches, as well as the bite attempts. one bite must've taught him enough.

"please, leave!" the hero begs.

"no!" you refuse, joining him in the fight.

your speed allows you to dodge the attacks, as well as landing them. you are not as strong, but you have found his weak points. his sides, crotch, and neck. then, he pushes you away with a gust of wind once again, and focuses on the masked man. when you stand back up, you are tired. sick and tired of being tossed around so easily. bruised, hurt, and angry.

you look at the two, ready to give it your all this time. then, you stop. blinking a few times, you wonder if you're seeing right. there's two red and blue heroes in front of you, both in an equally bad condition. suit ripped, blood seeping through the fabric, and heavy breathing.

"what the fuck?" you breathe out.

"please, you have to go. we'll solve our issue another day, i promise." one of them shouts, stepping over.

"no! i told you we'd solve it once we get rid of him! don't leave, we are so close!" the other joins.

they both sounds identical, look identical. and you are torn. if you leave, the real one might get killed, which would fulfill your goal. but the fake one stays, still terrorizing the women and girls in the city. if you stay, you'll have to choose which one to save. and how can you possibly know which one is the real one? their masks are ripped in a few places, identical as well, but it doesn't help. even if they took off their masks completely, you couldn't tell. you have never seen spiderman without his mask on.

"i don't-" you stutter, looking between the two. "i don't know what to do."

"i am the real one, journalist."

"no, i am! you work for nexus daily and-"

"your boss is ruby allen!"

"we met on this rooftop twice already!"

"and you threw yourself off it the first time!"

"you had lilies in your hand the second time!"

the other one quiets down. and it confuses you. if he were the real one, wouldn't he keep talking? you raise an eyebrow, looking him up and down. "aren't you going to keep proving you are the real one?"

"i don't have to." he whispers, then steps closer.

you step back, confused as ever. "and why not?"

"because," he sighs, then, with his bloodied hand, takes the ripped mask off. "the lilies were for seonghwa."

"yu-" you choke on the word. "yunho-"

"i am so sorry, doll. i am so sorry it had to be this way."

"that's not- you can't-" at a loss for words, you put a hand over your mouth.

your biggest comfort for the past few weeks was your biggest enemy. the person you swore to kill. the person who killed your lover.

"don't do this to me." you cry.

"i'm sorry, journalist."

"the hell with you two!" the shifter turns back into the werewolf, running full speed at you.

"save yourself. please. i'll find you afterwards. i promise." he smiles at you assuringly, eyes glossy with tears, as much as yours.

"i will kill you, jeong yunho. maybe not today. but one day i will."

"i know, doll. and i won't fight back. i'll make it the easiest kill for you."

taking one last look at his beat up face, you hiccup and hide a sob, then run. run until you can no longer, collapsing in a narrow dark street, face buried in your bloodied hands. you finally free the sobs that have accumulated in your throat, tormenting you, and heart aching as the brain processes the newfound information.

how are you to kill jeong yunho?

***

among all the shapeshifter headlines, one of spiderman catches your attention.

spiderman missing!

he has been missing for weeks now, and no amount of hanging at the rooftop, by his window or at the lab could bring him back. you hated spiderman, but you liked yunho. and each thought of yunho was betrayal to seonghwa. your heart wished to move on, accepting defeat, yet your brain was stubborn. you wanted to carry out your plan. you wanted to destroy spiderman. but how can you, when he has the kindest eyes and the sweetest smile you've ever seen since seonghwa's passing?

the cool air does nothing to you as you walk on the edge of the building, hoping to see the familiar red and blue swinging among the skyscrapers. he must be holed up somewhere, recovering all by himself. when you left him, he was already in a bad condition. he heals faster, you know it. but how fast can one heal when someone has had their hands pierced through their body?

with a sigh, you climb back into your room, and suddenly, a hand finds its way over your mouth. another one holds your waist in place, while the person lowers their head on your shoulder, lips brushing against your ear shell.

"it's me, journalist." his breath is hot against your cheek. "i'll let go now. don't scream, doll."

once he does, you don't hesitate to jump to the other side of the room, grabbing the nearest object to shield yourself. the floor lamp is yet to prove effective, but you hold it pointed at him just in case. "how do i know it's you?"

"he doesn't know you hate my guts. relax. it's really me."

your eyes finally take in his form. he is still in his ripped suit, holding his side, blood seeping through the fabric and leg limp. his face is swollen and full of cuts, and his breaths shallow.

"what are you doing here?"

"i didn't know where else to go." he admits.

"so you came to the death's door?"

"window, technically."

you scoff in disbelief. "you're a fool, jeong yunho."

"my fate is inevitable. it is only a matter of time when i meet my end, but before that, i need you."

ignoring the fuzzy feeling in your stomach, you set the lamp down, not breaking eye contact with him. you need to have him in sight at all times. "where are your little avengers?"

"someone told me you didn't like them. besides, i want you to get your revenge. i promise i didn't know what he did to you, otherwise i'd never-"

"you seem so relaxed about the fact that i'll kill you." you interrupt him. "why is that? what are you planning?"

he limps over to your bed, dropping on it on his side and letting out a hiss in pain. "i had time to think. seonghwa's death is the only death i know of. how many more are there? all because of my reckless fighting."

you wish to say that he doesn't deserve to utter seonghwa's name. but his face scrunched in pain and bruises, and blood covering his body are enough for you to swallow your words. he really had nowhere to go?

"after-" he coughs, then yelps, holding his side, "after we kill the shapeshifter... you can come find me in mingi's lab. i thought i'd make it look like a suicide, so you don't have anyone on your back and you can live freely."

"stop that. go to sleep, we'll talk in the morning."

were it not for his current state, you wouldn't let him stay inside this long, let alone sleep over. but you still have a heart, and you still remember that beneath the ripped mask is jeong yunho. the man that made you feel human again. the man that made you not visit seonghwa's grave in a while, because his name shined in your face as if yelling cheater. but seonghwa would never do that, even if you had found someone else by now. don't stop living because of me, he said with his last breath.

but how can you live with all the damage you've done by now, under the excuse that it is for him?

upon exiting the room, you miss the way yunho's warm brown eyes follow your figure, lips curved in a light smile. if he was going to die, he was glad that you would be the one doing it. at least one person will be at peace.

***

"i don't want it to look like a suicide." you say as you sit on the edge of the building, legs hanging above the city street.

"what?" the masked man asks. "why?"

"i want them to know i did it."

conveniently, the hood covers your eyes, which are burning as tears announce their arrival. with each hour that passes, you pray that the shapeshifter doesn't appear. if he does, you pray that he kills you, so that you don't kill yunho. and if he doesn't, you pray that he kills yunho instead of you doing it. not because you don't want the city to hate you, or the avengers after you, but because you don't have the heart to do it. not after those weeks with him, and not after last night.

not after you had climbed into the bed sleepily, forgetting that you have company in it and forgetting that it was the reason you were sleeping on the couch in the first place. cold, shivering and a mumbling mess, you had found your way into his arms, nuzzling your head into his bare chest and soaking up his warmth. he smelled like blood and sweat, but felt like the fluffiest cloud on the sky. the cloud just before the sun sets; the orange and pink one, the prettiest one. the last one.

you woke up before him, cursing yourself for getting in there. to make things worse, you got up fast, accidentally elbowing him on his side and causing him to grunt in his sleep. wherever he was hiding and whatever he did must've tired him, because he doesn't wake up. it gives you a chance to properly look at him. and when you finish examining his flushed face, his bruised cheekbones, his cut lips and jaw, and his fluttering lashes, it gives you a chance to change your mind.

you sit on your window, sewing his suit. the blue and the red suddenly pretty shades, and no longer waking anger inside of you. and you hated yourself for it. you hated yourself so much for it that you considered jumping off the building you're sitting on right now. but you know he'd catch you, and you'd have to explain.

"if you do that, the whole world will hate you." yunho whispers.

"they can't hate me if i'm dead."

"no-"

"we have company." you interrupt, not wanting to hear anymore.

the shapeshifter is back in its spot again, glimmering eyes piercing through you like the sharpest knives. yunho gulps next to you. "there's something different about it."

you hum, examining the creature. it is in its werewolf appearance, teeth on full display and dripping with blood and saliva. "the insect and the reptile. the party can now begin."

"yeah. it seems to be..." you examine it as it leaps at you, "glowing."

just before he latches onto you, yunho pulls your body into his, then wastes no time in throwing you on the creature's back. fangs yearning to pierce his skin, and fingers pulling at his hairy head, you hold onto him for dear life. one wrong move and you're dead.

while yunho distracts him, you still struggle to bite him. not because he's moving too fast, but because his skin seems too thick for a bite. and then, fear swallows you whole. maybe you bit off more than you can chew.

the shifter senses the change in your demeanor, as does yunho. it's almost as if you can see his eyes widen under the mask right before you feel unbearable pain on your neck. its singular hand wraps entirely around it, and you swear you hear your bones crushing under his grip.

no amount of yunho's distracting works on the being. its eyes stare deep into your soul, and it's the last thing you see before your vision blurs and finally darkens.

seonghwa, here i come.

***

you always thought that seonghwa would be waiting by the gates for you.

not only is there no seonghwa, there is no gate either. just endless light. no corners, no ceiling. just a vast floor and space. you thought dying would be... well, you didn't think about that part much. you only thought of reuniting with your lover. and if you did think about it, you didn't imagine it so dull.

where was the pain? the suffering? the regret? the desire to be alive again?

"darling?"

ah. there it is.

the guilt.

eating you up alive as you turn around, eyes locking with familiar ones that you've missed with your entire being. up until recently, you cried yourself to sleep, wailed and tortured yourself, wishing to gaze upon those brown eyes one more time. yet why can't you look at him right now?

"what are you doing here?" the sound of footsteps bounces off the non existent - or invisible - walls, and make you bite the inside of your cheek.

your gaze is fixed on his white attire; a loose white linen shirt and white pants, along with a simple white bracelet with a familiar flower as a charm. 

"my love," he calls, voice so soft it has you melting on the floor. literally. he crouches in front of you, holding you by your shoulders while your legs feel like jelly. "oh, darling."

your face rests in his warm palm which holds your head up for him to see. finally, you look at him again. he still smells of vanilla. "seonghwa."

"what did the world do to you, my sweet?" 

you smile into his touch. "it doesn't matter now, does it? i'm here."

you expect him to smile back. yet he doesn't. he examines your bruises and cuts, gently feeling them under his thumb as he holds your jaw in his hand. "what troubles you?"

he summons the guilt once again. he knows. he has to know. why does he make you say it out loud?

"i think i fell in love with your murderer."

that's when he smiles. not mischievously, not condescendingly, and not in any way that would make you feel worse. the smile is soft and genuine, just like his whole being. do you even deserve park seonghwa, even after death?

"say something." voice a mere whisper, you beg. "please, hwa."

thoughts race, and hands shake. you can't seem to hold eye contact longer than two seconds. yet seonghwa simply presses his plush lips against your forehead, erasing every thought you had for a split second. he gives you peace.

"it's not as if it matters anymore. i'm dead anyway."

"that's where you are wrong, darling." he helps you stand.

"what?"

"you're not dead. you are unconscious."

"then why-" you step back, making seonghwa's hands fall from your body. suddenly, you feel cold and empty. you wish you could jump into his arms and bury your face into the crook of his neck, just to smell and feel him properly one more time. "why are you here?"

"i came to tell you that you need to let go."

"never." you gasp in disbelief. "i could never let you go."

"i'll always be in your memories. but, sweetheart, you need to move on. you need to let me rest as well."

you never thought of it that way. by holding grudge and seeking revenge, you didn't let his poor soul find peace. "this isn't just about you or me. it's about countless others who died the same way."

"the sooner you realise that i died so that thousand others could survive, the sooner you'll be at peace."

"but why you, seonghwa?" your voice cracks. and it shatters seonghwa's heart, you can see it. it makes you feel even worse, causing him pain when he should be resting in peace. "why did it have to be you?"

"because if it wasn't me, then it would've been you. and all deities know that i wouldn't be able to survive losing you."

"hwa-" you cry out.

"you have to come back, journalist."

"don't call me that." you step back, furrowing your eyebrows.

seonghwa's expression shifts. he doesn't look at you with a loving gaze anymore. as if he wants to anger you, scare you away back into life. "journalist."

"stop."

his facial features start melting, taking a different shape. eyes, nose, lips, hair. no longer your seonghwa. "don't die on me, doll."

"stop it! stop! don't call me that!"

"god, please, wake up." his voice is the last one to change. "come back so you can kill me, dammit."

you didn't know you were holding back a scream. a painful shriek, rather. one that has you almost stop breathing, but it wakes you up from the deep slumber.

"seonghwa." you pant.

"i got you." the voice says, and you feel arms wrapping around your shaking figure.

back at the rooftop. seonghwa gone. yunho alive. chest painful from sobbing. scratch marks all over your face. your own hair between your fingers. bloody insides of your cheeks. how long were you hurting yourself subconsciously?

"why would you wake me up? i was finally with him." you feel betrayed.

"you had unfinished business." yunho replies, still holding you in a hug which prevents you from further hurting yourself. "you have a hero to kill."

the sooner you realise that i died so that thousand others could survive, the sooner you'll be at peace.

why did he have to be so good, even after his death? why did he make everything so much harder?

in the corner of your eye, you see the creature. he is back in his human form, all beat up and very much dead. yunho himself doesn't look great, either. his mask is barely holding together, and there is claw marks all over his body. you were supposed to help, and you let him down.

"i'm ready whenever you are." the dark eyed man interrupts your thoughts. "i won't tell you to make it quick or painless. i'm sure it wasn't like that for you. you don't have to go easy on me."

your eyes watch as he rips his mask apart, then fidgets with the fabric as he awaits your decision of his fate.

"you are really ready to die for a stranger?"

he scoffs to himself. "not only for you or seonghwa. for everyone else i've damaged and haven't taken accountability for."

he died, yet thousands survived.

the sooner i make my peace with it, the sooner seonghwa will rest in peace himself.

"any last words for me?" he offers, tilting his head to look at you. puppy-like. just his style.

"actually, yes." will the self hatred and guilt go away by themselves? "there's a fried chicken place that works until late."

"huh?"

"i'm not waiting for you or carrying you." will seonghwa regret what he said to you?

"oh." yunho is confused more than surprised. he isn't sure whether this is one of your games or you are genuine. until you turn around as you reach the edge of the building and smile at him.

"hurry. i'm quite hungry."

yunho can't help but roll his eyes and smile as he watches your figure fall from the building. he will catch you. he always does.

he even forgot he wasn't wearing the mask anymore.

maybe you spared him so that you can plan his demise without anyone interfering. maybe you had a change of heart. or maybe, he was dead already, and was given the punishment of falling in love with you but never being able to have you.

whatever it was, he wouldn't give up the current moment for anything in this world; the two of you sitting on his window, eating crispy chicken, ignoring the fact that you tried to kill each other not that long ago, and the sneaky glances.

if this was his fate until the end of times, he won't complain. he will embrace it with arms wide open. he'll fall from the building again. he'll willingly let you bite again. he'll take claws through his body again. all of it, if it meant it guaranteed your happiness.

[cryptidghostgirl]

-Alastor x spouse!gn!reader:

Alastor and his Spouse had been together ever since they were alive and his spouse had always been his right hand in life and death. Just giving a helping hand if Alastor needed it, watching proudly as he became a powerful overlord. But then Alastor disappeared and no one knew where he had gone to, not even his beloved spouse. After a year or so of searching and waiting for their husband to come back, they accepted that he was gone and went on to become an overlord themselves, getting some tips from Rosie here and there. After a while they became isolated, only ever going out to gossip with Rosie or attend meetings with the other overlords. And they were never really a fan of the media or technology either. Only ever listening to their husbands radio, sometimes even joining in. So they weren’t aware of their husbands return, only seeing him for the first time in 7 years at one of the meetings with the other overlords. And they were pissed.

Sorry, that was really long.. my bad :[

Also, no pressure if you don’t want to go write this <3

A/N okay one, don’t apologize. Two, this ask is awesome. Three, I hope what I’ve done with it makes you happy :)

Wrath (Alastor x Overlord!Spouse!Reader)

Pairing: Alastor x Gn!Reader

Warnings: Tame as heck for the most part, ngl.

Word Count: 1,820

Master Lists:

Master Lists 

Hazbin Hotel Master List

Y/n had never known life without Alastor. They had grown up together, shared a wild childhood in the back streets of New Orleans. Nothing can ever beat that type of love and so, when they were fifteen and terrified and he asked them on their first date, how could they say no?

One date turned into two and before either really had time to sit back and take stock of their lives, they were twenty and married. Alastor had a budding career as a radio host and Y/n found a simple joy in the life of a house-partner. Things had been happy, they had been good.

The pair had always been inseparable, attached at the hip. That first night Alastor had come home, eyes wide and suit soaked in blood? Y/n had handed him a damp towel. Even their entrance into death had been together, shot by a hunter while burying a body.

It had been a joy to watch him grow and change, to witness the way their husband built a life for them in the world of the living and nothing changed that when they entered Hell. They were his right hand, his everything. That was why it hurt so much when he disappeared one day without a trace.

Alastor had never done that before, not tell them what was going on. He'd been gone for days, weeks at a time on rare occasions, tracking some demon he was intent on killing or the like. This was different. They always talked before hand, he always made sure Y/n was safe and set up with their mutual friend Rosie for their protection. This time, there hadn't even been a note.

In tears, Y/n had wandered their way into Cannibal Town. Rosie's smile had slipped from her face upon welcoming them into the little shop she ran, quickly ushering the demon into the back room. Y/n, while they had been a right hand in their first life and this one, had never been an active part in Alastor's work. Sure, they leant a hand if he needed one, but the occasion he did was rare and most of them helping him was through making sure he had a hot meal to come home to and a loving environment to exist in. They had never had a life without him in it and refused to believe they were entering into one now.

The first weeks were rough. Y/n stayed with Rosie, in the same guest room they always did but, they barley left it. When Rosie suggested they start looking for her lost partner, Y/n had jumped up. It was a shred of hope, something to hold onto.

A year of searching went by. Rosie tried, did everything in her power to keep Y/n happy and hopeful, to keep her safe. Time is the cruelest master of all and not even Rosie could stop the doubt it brought to her friend.

"I can't do this anymore, Rose." Y/n admitted one day as they drank their coffee, "I... He's not coming back."

"You don't know that!" Rosie had insisted, grasping Y/n's hands across the table.

"We've been looking for a year. There hasn't been the slightest bit of evidence. I... I can't do it anymore. I have to move on."

And move on they did. With their husband gone, there were empty shoes to be filled among the overlords of Hell and who better to fill them than Y/n? They worked hard, training. They grew strong and it payed off at last when two and a half years after their husband's disappearance, Y/n managed to take down an overlord, officially indoctrinating them into their ranks.

The more time went on, the more feared of a figure they became. Y/n had hoped it would have been a distraction, carrying on Alastor's legacy. The loneliness ate away at them. He had always been there, and now he was suddenly gone. The more powerful they became, the more they retreated into themselves. They became a rumor, a name whispered behind closed doors.

Y/n still held out a spark of hope that one day, Alastor would return. As they hit the seven year line since his disappearance, that too fizzled out. Things were getting bad in Hell, the last extermination had been the most brutal in history. Just the other day, word had come in that Heaven wasn't even going to wait their normal year before the next one, only a meager six months. Even with Y/n's aversion to all things media, they were only a painful reminder of what they had lost, after all, they managed to hear about it. It was a big deal, and a terrifying one too.

Of course, in response to this, Carmilla had called a meeting. When Carmilla Carmine called a meeting, there wasn't an overlord in all of Hell who wasn't going to show up. It was serious, she meant buisness.

Y/n had dragged themselves out of the place that had become their home over the past seven years. One of the first things they had taught themselves how to do was to travel through shadows, the way their husband had. With a snap of their fingers, the shadows took them, spitting them back out in the waiting room of Carmilla's offices.

Looking around, Y/n caught sight of Rosie and approached their oldest friend.

"Hey, Rose." they hummed placidly.

"Oh! Y/n! What a pleasure to see you here." she smiled back, turning to face them, "I half expected you wouldn't show."

"You know me." Y/n shrugged, "I come when it's important."

"I'm worried about you." Rosie admitted after a moment, her smile faltering slightly, "You've been spotted out and about less and less."

"I'm fine, I promise." Y/n weakly reassured, "I'm drinking water and touching grass or whatever. I just... socializing isn't super my thing anymore."

"Yes but, you're putting a target on your back doing that." Rosie insisted, "People are going to start wondering, start questioning your power and authority. You should at least go rough someone up, or start a business! Establish your presence."

"Don't worry, Rose." Y/n smiled, their mouth full of razor sharp fangs, "Let 'em come. I can take care of myself now."

"That you can." she relented.

Y/n turned, surveying the room which held a handful of Hell's other top overlords. They recognized a couple, but there were a few they didn't know. They let out a sigh, eyes turning to the elevator doors as they slid open to reveal Zestial.

Y/n raised their hand, intending to wave a greeting to the oldest and most respected of their group as he entered the room, but froze. Their hand at chest level, their eyes went wide as they caught sight of a familiar shock of red hair.

"Fucking... Al?" they whispered, their arm falling to their side as they took half a step forward.

"What did you say?" Rosie asked.

It sounded like her voice was coming from somewhere underwater, the world was spinning.

"What's the matter?" Rosie asked, following the path of Y/n's gaze.

As her eyes landed on Alastor, standing clear as day at the other end of the room and casually conversing with Zestial, she gasped lightly.

"Oh my."

"I'll be back in a second, Rose." Y/n hissed through clenched teeth, their hands balled into tight fists.

With fluid, silent footfalls, they stormed across the room and came to a stop beside Alastor. The room fell silent at the sight. They all knew of the pair's story, had heard from Rosie about how long and how hard Y/n had searched for their husband. Hearing the silence, Alastor turned, his eyes locking with Y/n's.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, placing a hand gently on the top of their head, "How have you been, darling? Zestial was just telling me about what great strides you-"

Y/n harshly took his hand from their head, the strength with which they held his wrist cutting Alastor off. They took a step forward, now just an inch away from Alastor as they glared up at him. Fury coursed through their veins as he watched them in mild confusion.

"Seven years." Y/n scoffed.

Alastor made no reply, simply continuing to watch his spouse as they practically frothed at the mouth.

"Seven fucking years." they repeated, releasing the grip on his wrist.

"I'm here now."

The slap echoed through the silence like the crack of a whip. Alastor stumbled back to slightest bit, his hand raised to his cheek.

"You..." Y/n took a deep breath, trying to calm themselves, "Al, where the fuck were you? How... how long have you been back?"

"A few days." he admitted.

Y/n's eyes widened as they processed the information.

"A... a few days?" they scoffed, "A few days? You know what? You didn't tell me when you left, why should I have expected you'd tell me you were back."

Y/n turned away from him, rubbing their forehead in irritation. Alastor hesitated before taking a step forward, placing a hand gently on their shoulder.

"Lov-"

"What?" Y/n spat, spinning back around to face him.

Their teeth were sharp, elongated and dripping. Tears welled in their eyes. Alastor's breath caught in his chest.

"Fucking what?!"

"Please, let me make it up to you." his voice was soft and gentle, the same one he used when they were alone together.

"I..." Y/n took another deep breath, "I don't know if you can."

Tears were streaming down their cheeks now, falling thick and fast. Their body glitched, half transformed into their full demon state and half staying as their more human public face. It pained him to see. If he had had any other choice, he would have done something different. He had never wanted to hurt them. Alastor reached out, grabbing their hands in his.

"Please, let me try."

"Why should I!" Y/n screamed back at him, pulling their hands out of his reach, "Seven years! Seven fucking years! You promised me. You promised me we'd stick together."

The grief seemed to be winning in its battle over the anger as the glitches slowed. Their teeth shrunk back to normal and their voice faded, becoming softer, weaker.

"I'll explain everything just please, please give me a chance."

Y/n sighed. Lifting their hands to their face, they pressed their palms into their eyes. They stood like that for a moment, unmoving and silent. Alastor waited, tense with anticipation. At last, they looked up at him once again, their arms falling loosely to their sides.

"Fine." they sharply stated and Alastor's smile grew, "After the meeting. You get as much time as it takes me to drink a cup of coffee. Deal?"

"Deal."

----

A/N ngl I wasn't super sure how to end this fic but I really like it and this was such a fun request to write. I love and angry reader.

[thebluediner]

HIIIII... anyways this is my first time requesting a fic so I hope this makes sense and if it doesn't just try and bare with me . okay so let's say reader and Billie are dating but media doesn't know about it until like the Met Gala where reader and Billie are kinda matching outfits ( maybe Billie's met gala outfit from 2023 and Emma Chamberlain met gala outfit from 2024 idk they looked a little similar in my head ) and like Billie gets taken to do an interview at the met gala and like gives subtle hints that her and reader might be dating and you can do whatever else you want with the rest of the fic ( also you can make the met gala whatever year you want it to be )

a/n: hiiiii baby, I hope you like it (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) finished this up just in time with the met gala this year. I know you waited so long lovie but I hope you love it

𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙢 #𝟱

𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙮𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙤'𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙨𝙤, 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙢𝙚.

time: the day of the met gala

you stood in the middle of the hotel room your hands intertwined and placed on your front looking over at the window at the sunny blue skied day. it's was quiet and stunning you always liked weather like that it's made you feel safe. it reassured you how you could wear anything without covering it up with a jacket or something for reasons like " just in case it rains" that made you feel free. your eyes blinked when a sharp pain pierced your skin.

someone muttered an apology before their hand pats over the hurting part of your body reminding you were you were. the tranquil space you thought you were in suddenly disappeared and replaced with reality.

you were in a luxurious five star hotel located in new york that carried probably every other guest of the met gala. there was chaos around you.

one of your many hairstylists took control of the assessing the type of hairstyle you would go for because by the looks of it the others didn't know how to deal with your type of hair. so that resulted in gel , combs , small brushes , water , extensions and much more than you could comprehend being brought over.

your dress finally found its way right in front of your eyes. your doe brown orbs traced the material inspecting it of any faults that would appear in the lens of the many cameras that would be surround you later that day. originally it had a pink lace under-top that it went with but it didn't speak to you so you got it removed.

when you look at this dress you don't regret it because it's the most beautiful thing you've seen but the moment the thought passes blue ocean eyes with the perfect eyelashes , pretty button nose and the most kissable lip come to mind and you wasted no time in rethinking your judgement. the thought brings an uncontrollable smile and blush to your face.

the stylist smiles at you with some kind of knowing eyes but instead of teasing you or anything she hands the dress over to you so you could wear it. the material lands in your hands and you swear a huff escapes your lips because you didn't expect it to be that heavy. the people around you giggle at your wide eyes reacting to your stylist.

she leads you to another room to get changed but she stays outside in case you need anything from her. you felt like a little girl when you slipped your phone to try and send some kind of text to her.

-billie my dress is so heavy wtf

-okay that was totally an excuse to talk to you

-but anyways I miss you already

-man my dress is so tight

-I had a feeling about that but I miss you too my love

-I'm gonna try and not pounce on you when I see you tonight

you giggled reading the message which you instantly regretted forgetting your stylist was waiting for you a couple of feet away. you eyes look at the dress you've placed on the bed knowing time isn't going to be your friend if you keep being a lovesick puppy. you groan a bit before typing in some words to billie.

-fuck okay wait I need to actually get dressed

-I'll see you later sexy

-I love you and good luck out there

you threw your phone on the bed before hurrying to get into the dress. it took a few grunt and yelps before you were able to slip into it. you opened the door for the stylist to hook on the ribbons and pull them as tight as possible to define your waists more. a scream escaped your lips causing a couple of eyes to peak and see the commotion all for them to laugh at the realisation.

you knew you liked the dress and hopefully the media will too but more importantly you hoped billie would love it. you weren't going to the carpet together but separately so you would meet later inside the venue.

time flew the sunny days turned into a sunset and by that time your hair was done and you felt like a member of a royal family. glasses of champagne were served around the room just to ease the nerves and celebrate the work done so far. soo enough you were being escorted out of the room through the hallways which was way too small for the puff of your dress which caused shuffling sounds throughout the long pathway. getting into the elevator was worse since you discovered only one other person could fit in with you.

once you reached the lobby you wet met with a bunch of men in tuxedos carrying wildly decorated umbrellas from the early ages. you turned back to your assistant and stylist in question at the random men. your assistant instantly froe realisation she forgot to mention the last minute planning but your manager saved the day when she quickly briefed you on the plan. upon explanation these men where going to surround you i attempt to hide you and the dress from the cameras outside the hotel.

it was definitely fun hearing the screaming around when you wet outside covered in ruffled lacy parasols matching your dress just to be kept a secret until the very red carpet leading up the stairs though it was obvious sitting down the car seats was harder than you thought so you more so slouched.

''do not rush into that building without spending at-least twenty minute on the carpet'' you manger instructs you as if she could read your mind and knew the plan.

''excuse me... I was not going to do that'' you huff rolling your eyes but then silence enveloped the scene. your eyes traced back to the women accompanying you in the car.

''no really I was not...'' yet they still gave you questionable glances making you sigh in defeat.

''okay yeah maybe but I won't any more promise'' you say with a foolish smile being caught guilty. you picked up the tiny model of a pink hat placing it on your head before turning to them to ask an opinion. with their thumbs up you pace it to be a bit more firm so it won't fall out

when you arrived at the events there were people all around the venue screaming it's was crazy. the moment your vans door slid open you were gently guided down paying great mind to your shoes and the mobility the dress provided. from the other van the men assembled in front of you pulling our the matching parasols acting as your companions more than bodyguard. it was funny and definitely a concept to play into.

the moment people around got a glimpse of you the screams roared and pierced through the venue. people were shouting your name for recognition, some yelling over to compliment you and some purely for your existence. the dress cascaded over your feet brushing onto the carpet as it flowed onto the ground leading you onto the main carpet. when you got there you realised so many other celebrities have entered way before you as some were already headed towards the doors.

you didn't see her but she definitely felt the air switch when you entered. billie was way above the stairs standing tall on her platform heels and tight corset pushing her breast up she looked to die but you hadn't seen that yet. she was busy with her interview with a journalist from a big media company but somehow billie couldn't hear anything she said the moment she saw your figure down the stairs. the camera totally caught the moment of total loserism she just displayed but with a little pat from the journalist she seem to find a way out of the trance.

''sorry... it's so busy it's easy to get distracted'''billie muttered an excuse for her behaviour but there was a reason this journalist was from a big company she was the best, maybe a little too much.

'' you know we've realised you like being associated with her'' the woman didn't have to mention your name and that made billie feel a bit too excited. so of-course that cheeky lip bite and a flashing smile slipped

'' who wouldn't she's a very beautiful and talented woman'' billie says her eyes always finding you just like the cameras flashing each second.

'' that's really kind of you billie, you wouldn't mind us relaying that to her when she comes up the stars would you ''

''not at all let my girl know how pretty I think she is'' that was a total slip up but billie didn't let it show though it shocked her as well. with a quick smile and her eyes scanning were you were for the millionth time before she accepted finneas's hand to guide her up the stairs joining the main event.

not later than a couple of minutes later you found yourself in the palms of the same journalist. you exchange pleasantries and a few girly screams at each others outfits.

'' whatever this is I love it girl way to fit in into the theme'' she says pointing to the men that surrounded you with parasols covering you at every angle possible.

'' ah! thank you babes the creative directors knew the vision very well''

'' you know who else saw your vision?'' she said teasing with her cameraman even laughing along with her.

'' girl who?'' you asked throwing a skeptical look at her not knowing what's coming in next.

''billie eilish was here a couple of minutes ago and asked me to really her message of how beautiful and talented her girl is''

you weren't aware of the look on your face but the camera picked up the way the corners of your lips twitched into a bigger smile at the mention of billie alone with some shy laughs which you covered with your hands hovering above your face trying to hide it.

'' she's very sweet can't wait to see her inside'' the way your heart pounded against your chest at the thought of her made you grow a little impatient.

'' you two are sure excited to see each other'' she said in a way that made you think she knew something you didn't

''pretty girl are always my favourite you know that'' you admitted even though you might've been revealing a little too much. after the interview you gave her a playfully curtsy before you and your companions rised up the stairs.

when you arrived up the stairs you were met with your assistant and manager once again. they quickly thanked the men around you which you did the same without a fail to mention the fun you had with them before they drifted away in polite smile leaving you alone. with a few words of encouragement and warnings to not get carried away with the drinks in there they pushed you into the gala.

yours eyes didn't even bother to look around and admire the interior design and the archived designs you were after one person. your eyes searched frantically around the room to no avail well until you felt a hand on your exposed shoulder. when you turned you eyes turned to lighter ones leaving you with a rushing of excitement.

'' oh my lady way to bless us with your beauty this evening'' billie said with a copy of the english accent trying to fit the role as she complimented you in awe going as far as throwing in a curtsy.

'' well thank you my lady though I see more beauty in you this fine evening'' you gave her her own set of compliments your hands squeezing hers in excitement with a giggle at her antics

the night was going to be long but at-least you were going to be with her from here on, even for the after party.

[stagtorccio]

SORRY, SORRY charlotte alden x afab!reader request: reader purposely being “naughty” at a party to piss charlotte off, the two of them return home and she doesn’t waste a second, bending reader over the kitchen counter and making them apologize properly. continuously edging them until they’re spent purely from that before absolutely banging reader so fucking hard that they can barely function. warnings: dubcon(?), porn without plot, spanking (like once), tease and denial, fingering + strap usage (r!receiving) word count: 591 author's note: this one's kinda lackluster... #still in angst mode. also i had to pirate status update for the formatting. enjoy 1080p charlotte alden! yippeeeee

[ mdni, 18+ ]

𓃢𓃦𐂂 ── .✦

The party was dull– until you made it interesting. 

Spilling just enough beer on Charlotte’s shirt to make her jaw twitch. Letting a friend’s hand linger too long at your waist while Charlotte watched from across the room with that polite, tight smile. 

When she said “not tonight”, teeth gritted, voice low, you only smirked and disappeared into the crowd, letting your hips roll a little too slow while she was watching you dance.

By the time you’re home, the door hasn’t even latched shut behind you before she has you by the wrist, dragging you into the kitchen like there’s a leash coiled around her fingers. You barely have time to breathe her name before she spins you, bends you hard over the counter, cheek pressing to cold marble as her palm flattens between your shoulder blades.

“You think you’re clever?” Charlotte hisses against your ear, not even bothering to take off her coat. Her knee kicks your legs apart, hands roughly dragging your jeans down to mid-thigh as she unbuckles your belt. 

“You wanted my attention? Hm? You got it. Now say sorry.”

She makes you repeat it. Over and over. Voice breaking with every pass. Hands tied behind your back with your own belt. Her fingers are cruel– bringing you up to the edge again and again, breath caught in your throat, thighs trembling, slick trickling down the inside of your leg, until you’re hoarse with apologies and soaked through. Every whimper earns a satisfied hum from her, a mockingly gentle kiss to your temple as if in praise.

Then comes the real punishment.

When she finally unties your wrists, they drop limp. You don’t even flinch when her hand grips your hair and drags your head back, neck arched, lips parted, the humiliating shine of sweat and tears catching the fluorescent light. 

Her coat hits the floor. You don’t see it. You just hear the rustle of leather as it falls, followed by the low scrape of her heels, stepping out of them like she has all the time in the world.

“You wanted to be a brat?” she murmurs, sliding her fingers down the curve of your spine, tracing slick skin. Her palm cracks against your ass, hard enough to leave you gasping, maybe enough to leave a mark. 

“That’s fine.”

She doesn't even bother with her strap at first– though you can feel the telltale bulge of it through denim. She kneels behind you, spreading you open with her hands, breath hot between your thighs. No teasing now– just her tongue, relentless and precise, turning your cries into something pathetic. Every time you clench, she stops, holds you there, dripping and delirious, until you sob for her to finish it.

Finally, you hear the slow, deliberate unzipping of her jeans. Your breath hitches. 

She tugs the waistband down just enough to free the harness, sleek black strap attached at the base. Lets it sway between her thighs. Presses the tip right to your entrance, just enough to feel it, not enough to let it in– grinding it in slow circles while you tremble, whine, curse under your breath.

And when she finally does slide the strap inside– thick, without warning– it feels like too much too fast. Her grip locks tight around your hips, pace merciless, a ruining rhythm.

She leans down over your back, teeth grazing your neck. When you shiver, you feel the brush of her lips curving into that mean, mean smile.

“Don’t worry, baby,” she murmurs, “I’ll make sure you’re sorry.”

[freakywrites]

Helloo! I'm the anon who asked for the ghost headcannons, I loved it! Thank you so so much♡

We love the ghost being a girls girl bcs yess and her just drifting past the sakamakis as if their nothing lmao

I was wondering if you could do headcannons of like each individual sakamaki when they find out that their significant other is from another world and is shifting to see be with and their a bit forgetful so they sometimes forget to shift

If that's okay!

OMG NO WORRIES I’m very forgetful but I do have a story for you! Anyways here is your long waited fic!

Warnings:none

Parings- nb reader x Sakamaki brothers (separately)

Shu

At first, he didn’t think much of you randomly showing up and then disappearing without a trace.

But soon, he would side eye the empty space you would sit at.

He didn’t miss you.. it’s just that your presence has become the norm, and with you gone, the world is a…little restless. He was restless.

But again, you will show up out of nowhere, and he would grumble a “you’re late.”

You would smile and apologize, snuggling close to him as he leaned you his headphones to listen to music. ah yes, this is much better. Again, he didn’t miss you…

he’s just used to you.

Reiji

He pressed the bringe of his nose as he looked at the clock it’s been a month, and yet you haven’t shown up.

To say he was pissed was an understatement he was ENRAGED. How dare you not take account of his time with you?

He tapped his foot waiting, thinking maybe today was the day he got to see you.

He flinched a bit as he felt you hug his side, giggling. “Im back!” You yelled, and he responded with a hard pat of your head and scolding.

“We made you a schedule just for you to ignore it?” He grumbled, and you apologized. “Sorry I guess shifting time is different from regular time.” You said, thinking out loud.

Ayato

What a whiny boy he is constantly sighing and grumbling.

Checking the time and marking the calendar.

He would wait at where you last appeared and whisper. “I guess not today.” When you didn’t show up.

Finally, when you did, he couldn't help himself from basically tackling you and bombarding you with questions with mixes of sulking.

“Where have you been? Didn’t I tell you to visit me daily?” He said, frowning, and you nuzzled him “I can’t EVERY day sometimes I forget.” you replied, and the vampire pouted “try then!”

Kanato

He was kinda scary when you forgot to visit him.

It was a mix of being clingy and delusionally jealous.

He would mumble to his teddy bear about missing you.

Then it turned into a spiral of missing you to wanting to kill you because their might be a chance that you have another favorite person in your world. How dare you.

So it won’t be a surprise when you visited he threatened your life.

“For the last time Im not two timing you please put the fork down.” You said, and Kanato’s eyes glare. “How am I to know you're not lying?” He question.

“I forget ok! I’m sorry! Look I’ll spend extra time with you today, ok? Promise!” You yelp, and the vampire pouts, looking at a cake next to him before stabbing it aggressively and shoving it in your face with a smile. “Ok! Eat this it’s very sweet! Teddies favorite!” He cheered

Out of all of them, why did you pick this one?

Laito

Like Ayato, he is also rather clingy moaning and groaning about you but not in a whiny way but a princess waiting for her prince way.

He would pay no mind to you being gone, but if it’s too long, he tends to miss you so.

And you’re finally here appearing to him at the side of his bed. “I must be dreaming! If it isn’t my dear love” he said, hugging at your waist, and you hum.

“Sorry I took so long - promise to come back next time!” You said, and Laito pouts and puts on his whiny voice. “Just stay forever! What’s more important than me?” He demanded, hugging you tighter “I can’t do that, you know why!”

He glances up to you before pulling you close to him “then will you at least spend the night?” You nodded and agreed.

Subaru

He is ANGRY very, very angry he gets extra snappy when you aren’t around

picking fights and breaking walls, he was like a hurricane passing the halls.

He would ruffle his hair in frustration when you don’t show up in your designated spot.

He reminds himself he can live without you, so if you think not showing up will make him like you you’re WRONG…

..But oh, when he sees you, he grows weak, but he can’t show you that part of him... Not till you sweet talk him.

“Aw Subaru, please don’t ignore me." You plead as you watch him turn his head to the side. “Where…have you been.” He grumbled.

“Im sorry life’s getting busy- look. I promise not to take too much time next time, ok?” You said, tilting his head to you, his eyes finally looking at you, a twitch of tenderness escape his hard gaze. “Fine…”

——————————————————

A/N

☕️

Ngl I had to google what shifting was 😭 it’s basically like lucid dreaming I think? Which is like really cool. It’s kinda short n sweet idk how to make headcannons I kinda write like a book more than a list- tried to keep them mostly in character? Anyways I’m sick! Winter sucks but the cold is so nice.

(P.S I thought I posted this n was scavenging my account thing I might have deleted it accidentally or it got taken down for an odd reason turns out it was stuffed in my 99+ drafts some where forgotten and dusty bc I clicked save instead of post (this happens a lot to me I need to delete some stuff) no longer sick but still am forgetful u.u

Anyways hope you enjoy !

Love y’all XOXO💋💋❤️❤️

[ninikrumbs]

Invisible strings part 2

pairing: suguru geto x fem reader. mostly fluff. angst if you squint. A/N: sorry it took awhile for part 2, I procrastinate a lot. I also wrote this sleepy so this might not be worth the wait. This was oirginally a muti jjk men drabble but I thought it would fit suguru best. part 1

The sound of clinking glasses irritates your ears, the lack of sleep finally catching up to you. Its not like you weren’t sleeping, you just weren’t sleeping well. Memories or should you say dreams of kind eyes and strong arms still haunt you every night, making you toss and turn in frustration.

It was strange yearning for a man you’ve never met or quite possibly doesn’t exist. You started researching about dreams, soulmates and red strings. Even your friends have noticed your sometimes vacant eyes, so lost in your daydreams. They assumed it was man, and they weren’t exactly wrong, but you didn’t know how to explain without seeming like a complete delusional lunatic.

So here you were, making polite conversation with strangers in a fancy new museum opening that one of your friends invited you to. They were getting worried that you were hung up about some guy, so you said yes to appease them. And to be honest it was a bit nice to go out, getting all dolled up in a fancy dress, makeup completely flawless. Who knows, maybe this time you’d meet a man that wasn’t a figment of your imagination. Yet you doubt anyone could ever compare to the man that lingers at the back of your head.

You practically zone out of the conversation, only hearing bits and pieces as you nod along, pretending to listen. It wasn’t until Miwa nudges you with her elbow that you everything comes to focus again.

“What is it?” You whisper.

“Are you okay? You’ve been zoning out for the last 10 minutes.”

A blush creeps on your cheeks as you smile sheepishly, “I’m fine, just a bit tired.”

“We can go home.” She offers, but you don’t miss the way her eyes quickly glance to the cute guy with a top knot.

You smile knowingly, squeezing one of her hands, “No, you stay. I can go home first.”

“Are you sure?” Her filled face with worry,

“Positive.” You smile reassuringly. You’ve been here for two hours, you have proven that you were a stable human being capable of going out and socialize. Now your bored and wanna go home to mope about a guy conjured up by your lonely heart.

She stares at your face, trying to discern if you were lying before she sighs, “Let me at least walk you to the entrance.”

You take her up on her offer, linking your arms together as you said your goodbyes to the group.

“I wonder where Shoko is?” Miwa pondered as you walk to the door. The three of you came together and you lost her during the first hour.

You smirked, “Oh probably shame smoking out-”

A hard shoulder bumped into yours making you stumble back, if it wasn’t for your linked arms you would’ve fallen on your butt. Did this person not have eyes? The again you also weren’t looking, but that is beside the point. Also, were they made of stone? It felt like the almost dislocated you shoulder.

Irritated, you whip your head back to give the culprit a piece of your mind.

“Do you not have-

“My apologies, I-

The both of you came to halt, eyes widening as you take in each other. You were rendered speechless, your brain short circuiting at the sight of the man who lived rent free in your head for the past few weeks.

“I-” He opens his mouth to say something before closing it again, his amethyst eyes tracing your face.

He was at loss for words and you wondered why. Did he recognize you too? But that would be impossible. right?

“Your-”

“Hey, man! You made it!” An arm wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him away. In a matter of seconds he was surrounded by a group of people, slowly drowning him in an ocean of fancy gowns and well pressed suits. His distraught eyes catches yours before he disappears from your sight completely.

Oh, my god.

Did that really happen? Were you hallucinating? did you drink to much champagne? or did you think about him too much that you conjured him into existence? You could feel your heart thudding wildly in you chest as you spiraled.

He was right in front of you, in his three piece suit and perfectly styled raven locks. Gazing at you with those somber eyes. Looking so solid and tangible. Real.

A tug on your arm brought you back from your thoughts, Miwa’s confused face mirrored yours,“Did you know that guy?”

Good question. “I-um..”

What were you suppose to say? Yeah, I see him almost every night in my dreams.

You pursed you lips before shaking your head, “Honestly, I’m not sure. I feel like I’ve seen him before.”

“How can you forget someone that hot?,”Miwa asks, genuinely baffled. She looks behind me and grins, " and apparently very popular.”

You look back and surely the crowd had grown. Some were even taking professional photographs. Damn, who was this guy? A sudden realization came over you making you excitement drop.

Sighing, you start walking towards the entrance again, “Its doesn’t matter. Lets just go.”It didn’t matter. He was obviously some well known hot shot in the business world. Maybe you just saw his face somewhere; in a magazine or an online post. You probably forgot but your subconscious brain didn’t and it decided to make him the star of every single dream. That made the most logical sense, rather than some red string of fate binding you two together, making you destined to meet. That was sounding more ridiculous by the second and you felt absolutely stupid.

Stupid, yet your feet were glued to the marble floors the moment you reached the entrance, unable to move. Doubt and uncertainty clawed at your pounding heart. Were you really gonna leave? You felt like the moment you step out to the sidewalk, your were walking away forever. From what? You don’t know, but you do know that there’s some sort of gravitational pull that’s stopping you from taking another step, unless its what you truly want.

You were scared. This could end up with you on the first page news as some psycho stalker trying to hit on some rich dude. And it almost makes you give in, to walk away, to not take the risk and choose to stay in your safe bubble of ignorance and bliss. But could really live your whole life with regrets and what ifs? You were walking around feeling so empty because of this stranger, and maybe this way you’ll get some answers and if your really just delusional then at least you’ll be able to try and move on.

And if you were right, well.. you didn’t wanna get your hopes up just yet.

“Miwa, Ill be right back.” The last things your hear is here calling out to you as you practically sprint away from her, trying to make your way through the crowd to the direction where you saw him last.

The crowd was suffocating and you were feeling a bit over stimulated as you quickly look around, trying to find that familiar head of hair. To your disappointment, all you could see were snobby socialites and art buffs. You let out a heavy sigh, heart falling to your feet. Were you too late?

You took a step to fast and a waiter almost crashes into you with his tray of champagne glasses, you swerve and successfully avoid him but it throws you off balance, your high heel clad feet stumbles over each other.

It probably wasn’t time for you to make a fool of yourself today because before you could fall on your butt again, a big warm hand grips your waist and steadies you. Thank the heavens. You look up and smile to thank your savior. “Gosh, thank you so-”

The words disappear from your tongue, lips parting a fraction as you gaze into soft violet eyes. A small reserved smile curved at the corner of his lips, his voice deep and honeyed as he spoke. “Were you looking for me?”

“What?” You were taken aback, how could he have possibly known that.

Seeing your surprised face, he chuckles. The sound makes your heart stumble like your feet did. After a moment, his hand left your waist, but you didn’t have the time to get disappointed as his fingers trace down your arm, before reaching your fingers. He gently holds your hand up to his lips, leaning down and placing a soft kiss on your knuckles. You feel you neck and cheeks heat up. The gesture was too intimate to come from a stranger.

His amethyst gaze flits to yours, poring over you so intensely that it makes your hold your breath in anticipation. “Because I’ve been looking for you.”

You scoff in disbelief at his words. “You know who I am?”

For a second, he stares at your joint hands almost wistfully, “I couldn’t forget even if I tried.”

You stared at him incredulously, still unbelieving that this was happening. Expecting to wake up in your bedroom at any moment. Yet so much seconds pass and all you feel is his warm hand in yours as he gazes at you with too much fondness and familiarity from someone you just met. His smile was small and hopeful, almost desperate, as if trying to stop you from denying whatever this was.

You thought this was gonna be the end, but it seems like this was just the beginning.

taglist: @vveils @sa4vvyyt

[reccyls]

hi!! sorry to ask, but what are mai’s symptoms in mitsuhide’s sequel?? like how would the tragic end play out? thank you!

Hello! Please don't apologize for asking, I'm happy to answer questions! (If I do know the answer, of course). I'll put the details beneath the cut, I've actually finished the tragic end as well

Mai's symptoms here are that she sometimes fades out of existence. She becomes invisible to others, they can't hear her voice, and she passes through the people she touches. It starts off as just a few seconds, brief enough that other people think it's a trick of the light, or maybe they're too exhausted. But eventually it becomes nearly permanent.

There is a way to check for Mai's presence, however: the ringing of a bell. It was something that belonged to her in the modern day, and she gave it to Mitsuhide to repair. When he gives it back to her, it is now something that belongs to both the past and the future, so the universe can't erase it since it "belongs" to the past. Therefore, Mai always brings the bell with her and rings it to make her presence known.

The original speculation regarding the cause of Mai's symptoms were her actions to save Nobunaga from the Honno-ji incident. However, it's later theorized by Sasuke that it's not Mai saving Nobunaga's life that caused the timeline warps: it's actually her saving Mitsuhide. Not just once (he should have died after Honno-ji as well) but twice (during Yoshiaki's trap). Therefore, the guidebook pages going blank (and eventually Mitsuhide's name specifically also disappearing from the guidebook) are the unvierse trying to correct this by causing Mai to disappear, thus making history go back on the right track.

This was said in confidence to Mai. However, Mitsuhide happened to overhear this. Now, Kicho and Motonari haven't been sitting their idly either. So Mitsuhide figures he'll kill two birds with one stone: he leaves the Oda forces and begins raising a third army on his own, to draw strength away from Kicho and Motonari. He is planning to go into battle against the Oda forces and lose, cementing Nobunaga's continued rule, and also dying to erase himself from the timeline to stop Mai's symptoms.

(Note that earlier in the route, Mai had almost run away silently from the Oda to try and avert this: maybe if she wasn't around to influence Nobunaga or Mitsuhide anymore, the symptoms would stop getting worse and Mitsuhide wouldn't be driven to drastic measures to try and stop them. Masamune is the one who catches her and helps to convince her to stay. Masamune is also the one who confronted Mitsuhide after he declared his intention to leave; he calls the two of them "a matched pair" given that their immediate first thought is to do some sort of self-sacrificial stunt to save the other.)

In the tragic ending, Mai figures out Mitsuhide's second aim during a war council with the others. She absolutely does not want Mitsuhide to do this, and so, she silently leaves the war council and decides to go through with her original plan. She writes a farewell letter for everyone and then vanishes without a trace. The letter is discovered the next day by Ranmaru, who realizes what Mai has done and informs the others.

The tragic ending then skips ahead a few months, to a final confrontation between the Oda, and Mitsuhide's rebel army. Mitsuhide is soundly defeated, and he comes face to face with his old comrades for the first time in a long time. However, all Nobunaga does is to give him a letter: the one that Mai wrote before she disappeared.

Here is where I clearly remember the language used in the text, it was that evocative: after reading the letter, Mitsuhide fell to his knees "as if his soul had left his body"; everything he had done, all for nothing because Mai was gone.

As penance for his betrayal, Nobunaga gives Mitsuhide a mission: find Mai. No one believes that she has truly disappeared forever.

The last scene of the tragic end is another timeskip, this time a year or perhaps more later. Mitsuhide is wandering the country, constantly searching for any trace of Mai. Earlier in the route, there was a discussion about how Mitsuhide's life was a road that led to hell. He muses to himself how hoping against hope is a kind of hell in itself, but one that he willingly walks into, because he must believe that Mai still exists, and that he can find her.

And we end with the sound of a ringing bell, carried by the wind. One more chime, this time fainter. Mitsuhide smiles and asks if she is playing tag with him. But regardless, he gets up, and follows the sound, because he would follow her anywhere, even to the depths of hell.

[schrodingers-romy]

Diner Vignette [Usagiyama Rumi x Reader]

Pairing: Usagiyama Rumi x GN!Reader Word Count: ~800 [Ao3 Link]

Summary: A soft little moment at a late-night diner

Warnings: none afaik, some kissing i guess, just some sweet vibes

Notes: i've wanted to write some fluff with my wife for a long time! (also the comment i make about soft teeth grinding being a sign of contentedness from rabbits is true! however, loud or very insistent grinding can be a sign of pain or distress, so if you're unsure which your rabbit is doing please record a video and show it to a vet to be safe <3)

The city lights filtering through the raindrop-slick window reminded you of an abstract painting, all rounded smears and bubbles of color. The soft, dreamlike quality of the view only cast the sight of your girlfriend sitting across from you in even starker relief. Your sleep-heavy gaze brightened as you focused on her.  

Rumi was still in her hero costume, fresh off patrol when she met you at your favorite diner. She was a little late, because she ran into some trouble that day; evidence of which was present on her face in the form of small butterfly stitches running across her split eyebrow. When she had bounded into the restaurant, twenty minutes late and damp with the night’s first traces of rain, you had taken care to press a gentle kiss to the wound. Even though you knew she was impossibly strong, you still felt the constant itch to comfort and care for her every miniscule injury. (She had laughed when you doted over her after she simply stubbed a toe, but she didn’t push you away. She didn’t need your care, yet she basked in it all the same.)

 Her tardiness worked in her favor somewhat, anyways. By the time she slid onto the bench across from you, there was already a fresh plate of waffles sitting on the table, ready for her to devour. Your own food was sitting in front of you, untouched, until Rumi arrived. (When you told her you were waiting, she let out a small huff and then insisted on feeding you the first forkful, as a sort of wordless apology, though you hardly were starving in the time she was absent.)

Now, she was happily plowing through her food, blueberry syrup smeared across her lips in a sticky purple gloss. Rumi tried hard to swallow before she spoke, a rare instance of politeness, but sometimes she forgot in her haste to tell you about her day. (You were a little disgusted with yourself that you found her garbled speech endearing.) You listened intently, chin in your hands and elbows propped up on the table, your own empty plate pushed to the side. You had already offered up your own meagre tales from the day, but you were tired, and the prospect of listening to your girlfriend was infinitely more appealing than talking yourself.

After the last forkful of waffles disappeared into her mouth, Rumi made to wipe her face with a napkin. You reached out a hand to stop her.

“C’mere,” you said, voice a little slower and softer than normal. Rather than leaning across the table, she got up and joined you on your bench, sliding close enough that your thighs were pressed warmly together. She was uncharacteristically quiet, and her ruby eyes watched you curiously.

You didn’t give her a verbal reply, instead closing the distance between you two and pressing your lips together.

Rumi’s lips were tacky with sugary berries, and she tasted like them, too. As you melted into her, you thought that the kiss would have been sweet without them, anyways.

It wasn’t an efficient way of cleaning her face; in fact, you really just made more of a mess. But she giggled at your antics, when you broke apart, and snatched her napkin to gently wipe your own face clean. So, it was more than worth it.

“Did you miss me today, sugar?” Rumi purred, teasing.

You tsked. “You’re more of a ‘sugar’, with your sweet tooth,” you replied.

“Ah, you see, that is precisely the reason why I picked you. Because you’re so sweet.”

“Says the sweet talker. You sure you’re not tasting your own honey, bunny?”

You both blinked at each other for a moment, before bursting into simultaneous laughter.

“That was all so cheesy,” you wheezed.

She was no better, cackling so loudly it echoed in the bare diner. “We’re both so tired, aren’t we? Our minds have gone loopy!”

The both of you continued to break out into scattered giggling fits, leaning on each other for support as you steadied your breaths and rode out the waves of amusement. Eventually, the true tiredness won, and Rumi’s head began to rest more heavily on your shoulder.

You reached one arm around so you could run your fingers through her hair, as her carmine eyes fluttered shut. A soft teeth-grinding noise drifted from her, something she once told you was a rabbit’s way of showing contentedness. You smiled at it, shifting so you could press your mouth to the crown of her head, a subtle kiss.

You knew that soon, you would have to dart your way through the still pouring rain, back to your apartment. You would have to peel off soaking clothes, then take a warm shower together that you would both be too tired to make heated, before you could finally stumble to bed.

You didn’t dwell on any of that, however; you savored the moment, holding your love close to you as the dreamlike patterns of lights outside flickered across the rain-frosted glass.

[sorvqlz]

Yandere! Slenderman (as a teenage human boy) where s/o is cutest person in school and they are also now go on same collage as him. This is like anime romance.

Yandere! Human Slenderman (Elias Slater) x Cutest S/O

1800s AU – (becuz Slenderman is ages old)

Hello! I always try to be as realistic as possible so if it doesn't meet your expectations I can gladly redo it since idk if this is what you expect I still hope you like it 😅

also! If the reader has any pronouns of female or male pls forgive me bc I reread it many times just incase but there's still a possibility I didn't correct everything! So I apologize for it!

Alsoooo! I gave Slenderman a human name and I think I'll make up a backstory for him in my au!

⸻

The first time you met Elias Slater, you were only a child. A quiet, somber boy with piercing dark eyes and a presence that felt unnatural, as though he existed between this world and another. He had always been there—watching, lingering in the periphery of your life like a shadow stretching too long in the dim candlelight.

Now, years later, you found yourself at the same university as him. You were the darling of society, the picture of grace and innocence, admired by gentlemen and envied by ladies alike. Wherever you walked, whispers followed. Your charm was effortless, your beauty ethereal.

But among all those admirers, Elias was different.

His gaze was not one of admiration, but possession.

⟡

It was a crisp autumn afternoon, the golden leaves rustling as you strolled through the cobblestone paths of the university garden. You had enrolled just weeks ago, eager to embrace your studies and the newfound independence that came with them.

You never expected to see him here.

Elias Slater was a name rarely spoken, and when it was, it was in hushed tones. The son of an aristocratic family, known for their wealth but feared for their secrecy. No one truly knew where their fortune came from, and fewer dared to ask. Elias himself was an enigma—tall, impossibly graceful, and quiet in a way that felt wrong.

“Miss (Y/N),” his deep voice pulled you from your thoughts.

You turned, surprised to find him standing mere steps away. You hadn’t heard him approach. “Oh! Mister Slater. How unexpected.”

His lips curled into the faintest smile. “Fate has a way of bringing together those who belong to one another.”

You chuckled politely. “Is that what this is?”

His dark eyes never wavered from yours. “Yes.”

⟡

Days turned into weeks, and Elias became a constant in your life. He was always near—offering his arm as you walked to class, appearing at social gatherings though he had never been known to care for them before.

“You needn’t trouble yourself,” you laughed one evening, as he draped his coat over your shoulders after you forgot yours. “I assure you, I am quite capable of taking care of myself.”

He studied you, his gaze unreadable. “I do not doubt your strength, my dear,” he murmured, adjusting the fabric with unnerving care. “But a delicate thing such as yourself should never be left unguarded.”

There was something about the way he spoke, the way his gloved fingers brushed against your shoulder, that sent a shiver through you.

⟡

Then, the disappearances began.

First, a young man who had been courting you. Gone without a trace.

Then, the lady who had whispered envious words about you at a ball. A tragic accident, they said.

Then, your closest friend, who had warned you in hushed tones about Elias Slater.

You could not ignore the pattern. You could not ignore him.

One evening, as you sat in the dim glow of your candlelit chamber, a shadow passed over your window. Your breath caught. Before you could react, a hand gently traced along the doorframe.

A deep, familiar voice broke the silence.

“You’ve been avoiding me, dearest.”

Your heart pounded as you turned, finding Elias standing just inside your room. The door had never opened.

“You frighten me, Elias,” you whispered.

His expression did not change. If anything, his dark eyes softened, as though your fear was something he cherished. “I would never harm you.” He stepped forward, his fingers brushing against your cheek, his voice a mere whisper. “But I will not allow this world to take you from me.”

You tried to step back, but he was faster, his arms caging you against the wall with eerie ease.

“I have waited too long, watched too many foolish men try to claim what is mine.” His breath ghosted over your ear. “No more.”

Terror clawed at your throat. “Elias—”

His lips ghosted over your trembling fingers, his gaze dark with something both reverent and possessive.

Elias’s eyes followed you from the gloom, his whispered vow lost in the howling wind

“You belong to me, now and forever.”

Yet you ran, the pounding of your heart and the beating of your wings of hope carrying you away from the man who was both protector and captor.

⟡

Years passed—a century of loss and regret for Elias, whose obsession and despair led him down a dark path. Tormented by your absence and unable to let go, he sought forbidden rituals whispered in the depths of ancient grimoires. In a final, desperate act, he sacrificed the last remnants of his mortal soul to gain unearthly power. The transformation was agonizing and eternal: he became Slenderman—a spectral entity bound to the shadows, an ageless guardian of the dark and twisted corners of the world.

No longer a boy with eyes of solemn promise, he now roamed the earth as a creature of myth—a tall, faceless figure cloaked in eternal night, with tendrils that whispered secrets to the wind.

In the present day, decades melted into centuries, and legends faded into folklore. Yet Slenderman’s spectral vigil continued. One night, amid a bustling cityscape that had long forgotten its ancient past, he felt it—a stirring in the fabric of existence. A presence both elusive and achingly familiar drifted through the urban maze.

⟡

Curiosity, mingled with a haunting hope, drew him toward a quiet corner of a public park. There, beneath the soft glow of streetlights, he perceived a spark of recognition—an echo of the person he had once adored. But as the figure drew near, the spectral being realized the truth: this new soul was not the one he remembered, yet carried within their the very essence of the precious spirit he had chased through time.

Their eyes, bright and unaware, held no trace of the past, no memory of the man who once vowed eternal possession. In their new life, they were free—a reincarnation, reborn to live without the shadow of his obsessive love.

For a moment, as the modern world whirled around him in oblivious haste, Slenderman lingered in silent agony and bittersweet hope. The reunion of souls was not as he had imagined—a bittersweet convergence of time and fate, where one loved soul was lost to memory and another blossomed, unaware of the darkness that had once haunted their shared past.

Slenderman faded back into the night, his presence a reminder of what once was and what might have been. Across the city, the reincarnated reader, now a young adult immersed in the vibrant pulse of modern life, felt no recognition in the fleeting shadows or whispered legends of the past. Yet, deep in the recesses of his spectral heart, a part of him held onto that ancient, unfulfilled bond—a connection that transcended time, destiny, and the boundary between mortal and myth.

⟡

In the silence of the night, the legend of Elias Slater, now Slenderman, remained—a tale of forbidden love, tragic loss, and the eternal chase of a love that, no matter the centuries, never truly dies.

Author's note: Their dynamic is a haunting dance between obsessive devotion and the painful necessity of freedom. On one hand, Elias’s relentless, possessive love stretches across time, transforming him into a myth; on the other, the reader’s escape and eventual rebirth symbolize the bittersweet liberation from a doomed, all-consuming passion.

[hailturinturambar]

Golden Flakes.

Pairing: Galadriel x Mirdania

Word count: 2.887

Author's Notes: English is not my first language, so I apologize for any mistakes or confusion. Requests are open, check the information before requesting. My heart is big and I love all the characters, what can I say. And although I ship Annatar x Mirdania, I'm tired of everyone pitting my beautiful girls against each other. So this story is for them.

Warnings: Anguish. Mild sexual content, nothing explicit.

Summary: For countless ages, Galadriel has pursued the Great Enemy, Sauron, throughout Middle-earth. And when the Orcs attack Men in Middle-earth, Galadriel returns to Eregion, seeking salvation for the Elves. However, new companions arise in Eregion, and Galadriel never imagined that she would find comfort in Mirdania.

Eregion, the Kingdom of the Elven-smiths, was the jewel of all the Elves who dwelt in Middle-earth. Proud, wise, and cunning were the Elves of Eregion. Great knowledge they also possessed, and the works forged by them were considered the most precious by the Elves.

Friends of the Dwarves they were too, and trade between the two peoples was peaceful and friendly. Yet, the shadow of the Dark Lord weighed heavy even on the smith-Elven people, and they feared the return of Sauron. They all feared him, but so much time had passed that Sauron was becoming a long-forgotten memory.

Because the whispers said that Sauron had been defeated, or simply disappeared from all of Middle-earth. But the malice and cruelty of Morgoth's servant continued to contaminate the whole land, all the air, as if not even with his departure could his evil abandon Middle-earth.

In Eregion, however, the Elves found a small refuge from the Orcs that Sauron had brought, who had spread throughout Arda without the Master's steady hand. But Galadriel was as impulsive as they, and she would not give up until she was able to find the last trace of Sauron.

This was her burden, was it not? For when Galadriel departed Valinor with the Noldor, she knew that eternal sorrow and bitterness awaited them in Middle-earth, but freedom as well. The price, in the end, was not worth the freedom, and the losses were countless.

The most brutal of them all, the death of Finrod. Because Galadriel could not forgive herself, she did not want to forgive herself. She could not forgive herself until Sauron was destroyed, until he paid for all he had taken from her.

And he had taken much from her. Finrod had not been the only one Galadriel had lost, and when darkness filled the sky, and only the stars could warm Galadriel's breast, she remembered the happier times in Middle-earth.

Times when she had known Celeborn, and loved him deeply, only to lose him to war as well. Never to be able to see her own husband again, to live consumed by the doubt of whether he was still alive, or if she could still find him before she left for the Halls of Mandos.

These were the thoughts that drove Galadriel, year after year, age after age, in the endless hunt against Sauron. But the tracks proved nothing, and Galadriel began to doubt her own thoughts, her own memories.

And she felt so alone, because even her own company had challenged her, the very Elves of Lindon no longer trusted her, and this hurt Galadriel deeply. How could she bear to live in Valinor again, surrounded by beauty and peace, when so many others suffered in Middle-earth?

Elrond, Galadriel thought, was wrong. For she would never lay down her sword, not while Sauron lived, not while Sauron was the poison that contaminated all Middle-earth. This war was not over yet, perhaps it never would be.

So Galadriel fled. Honestly, she was not a prisoner, of course, but that was how she felt when she jumped out of the boat, because she did not feel worthy of that honor, that blessing forged with the blood and suffering of so many Elves.

All that was left for Galadriel was to keep swimming, always moving forward. And she did, she did not know when to stop. She was certain of this when she found the survivors of a shipwreck. Lost, just like her.

Yet, not all of them were lost, not like her. For she was the one who was an outcast among them, an outsider. A lonely, companionless Elf. Like Halbrand, who had lost many things to the Orcs, to the Dark Lord, she supposed.

Halbrand, Galadriel thought, was her chance. Because with the help of Halbrand, the last living person to know the Enemy's plans, she could finally find Sauron and free all beings in Arda from his evil influence.

Galadriel, however, never imagined that she was on the side of true evil, the most dangerous being that walked freely in Arda. And so, she accompanied Halbrand, finding a companion, when she believed she was completely alone. Halbrand, was like a long-lost friend.

He understood her ambition, her deepest, darkest desires, he even encouraged them. For Galadriel, that was enough, because together, they could defeat Sauron. But in the end, they could not. Because Sauron's rule took new forms, and so did the Orcs' master.

And Galadriel, alone and unaware, believed Halbrand's words, Sauron's words. She fought alongside him, against Adar, against the Orcs, against their enemies. But were they really enemies? Adar was right, the desire for revenge was blinding Galadriel.

It would be a long time before she understood Adar's words, until she believed that there was a life beyond this one, beyond the endless hunt against the second Dark Lord.

It was when the Orcs wounded Halbrand, not that she yet understood how they had managed to wound Halbrand while the volcano was collapsing, that she swallowed her pride and knew it was time to meet Gil-galad in person.

Riding endlessly, without pause or rest, Galadriel took Halbrand to Eregion, to the safety and protection of the Elven healers. She was surprised, honestly, she was embarrassed as she gazed upon Elrond. How could she begin to explain all that had happened?

She felt so much shame, so much guilt, that only Elrond could understand what she was feeling, or she had thought so, after so many ages alone, far from her husband, a husband who was lost, who knows, forever.

Elrond soothed Galadriel and begged her to stay in Eregion, at least while Halbrand recovered, but time was running out and the Elves were not safe. The defeat of the Elves was approaching and they would have to leave, to Valinor, to home, once more. And Galadriel could not bear it.

In Eregion, when the sun shone and Elves and their families walked smiling through the realm of Lord Celebrimbor, the birds sang beautiful melodies, melodies of ancient days and the Undying Lands. Songs that still held sway in Galadriel's heart.

In silence, she walked, observing the elven families, she almost felt envious of them, because she felt so alone. Lost in thought, she did not notice an Elf walking towards her.

All Galadriel noticed was the sea of parchment before her feet, as one of Celebrimbor's apprentices apologized. Confused, Galadriel watched her. Surely she did not know this apprentice, Galadriel was sure she would remember her.

“I was distracted,” Galadriel said. “I apologize.”

With a slight smile, a smile that had not come over Galadriel in a long time, she helped the young elf gather the scrolls from the floor. Her face was dirty, Galadriel noticed. She must be in the forge with Elrond and the others.

“Lord Celebrimbor asked me to come looking for you,” Mirdania said, still flustered. “This is not how I expected to meet you.”

“What do you mean?” Galadriel asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Well, you are a legend,” Mirdania said, smiling. “The Commander of High King Gil-galad’s Northern Armies, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

“I believe I need to know your name first, do not I?”

“Oh, of course.” Mirdania nearly dropped the scrolls again. “Mirdania.”

“Mirdania.” Galadriel said, with a sincere smile.

Mirdania smiled at her, before walking away, always dropping some of the scrolls along the way. Galadriel did not remember meeting Mirdania before, the Elven memory was too good for her to have forgotten one of Celebrimbor's apprentices.

But that would not be the last meeting between them. Because as Galadriel walked to the forge, watching Halbrand and Celebrimbor talking, so close, so reserved, she felt a persistent gaze on her. As if from a distance, someone was watching her.

Of course she was watching, how had she been so slow to notice? Alongside the other smiths, Mirdania was looking at Galadriel, even as Halbrand tried to get her attention, she did not even pay attention to the King of the Southlands. All of Mirdania's attention belonged to Galadriel.

For long weeks they stood side by side at the forge, while Halbrand had not recovered and Celebrimbor was eager for advice from the mortal. But Galadriel's concern was still there, for something did not seem right.

She had been right, after all. When Halbrand’s name had not been listed in the lineage of the last family in the Southlands, she had known that she had been deceived all along. That Sauron had taken advantage of her, that he had deceived her. That he had trapped her in his web of lies, as he had done with so many others.

She had known this when Elrond had saved her, when all she could see was water and she could not breathe on her own. Yet, Galadriel could not bring herself to speak of what had happened, to speak of how Sauron had revealed himself to her.

All that mattered was finishing the Three, even if to do so, Galadriel needed to say goodbye to the last memory of Finrod, the sacrifice would have to be worth it, she needed to fix what had broken.

Alone in Celebrimbor's forge, Galadriel watched the flames. The Three were ready, but everything felt so wrong. Because Elrond no longer trusted her, somehow he had become suspicious of Halbrand as well, and seemed even more hurt with Galadriel for not being honest with him.

A single tear ran down Galadriel's face as she heard footsteps approaching the forge. Quickly, Galadriel wiped away the tear, staring at the approaching visitor.

She sighed in relief, realizing it was only Mirdania. The apprentice smiled at Galadriel, removing the smiths' apron as she approached her. She already knew about Halbrand, Galadriel thought, as she noticed Mirdania's gentle smile. No, she could not know, otherwise she would not trust Galadriel either, just as Elrond no longer did.

“We have all been worried about you, Lady Galadriel,” Mirdania said.

“We need not be so formal,” Galadriel murmured. “And I doubt very much that the others share your concern.”

“How could they not?” Mirdania said, astonished.

She walked over to Galadriel, sitting down beside the smiths’ bench. Galadriel, Mirdania thought, looked hurt about something, but she would not ask, she would not be intrusive. Not with Galadriel, never. But she could keep her company.

“Lord Celebrimbor nearly snapped moments later, recounting your condition when you returned to the forge.”

Against her will, Galadriel laughed, remembering Celebrimbor's startled look. Perhaps running wet to the forge had not been the wisest or most intelligent idea, Galadriel realized that now. But she needed to be sure that Sauron was not there to influence anyone else.

“It was my fault.”

“Was it?” Mirdania asked. “What could have been your fault?”

How could Galadriel be honest with her, when Mirdania looked at her with such admiration and wonder? Galadriel, however, did not feel worthy of such adoration. She had made a terrible mistake, a mistake she would not forgive, so how could she forgive herself?

“It does not matter.” Galadriel murmured.

“Well, we’re not angry with you,” Mirdania said, touching Galadriel’s hand. “On the contrary.”

“What is this supposed to mean, Mirdania?” Galadriel asked, feeling Mirdania’s gentle touch on her hand.

“Well, whatever you did,” Mirdania said. “We know you only meant well. Do not you?”

But it was not true, was it? Because if Mirdania was right, if Galadriel was not to blame for Sauron's return, why did she still feel the heaviness in her heart, as if evil must be eating away at her spirit?

Then she understood. What she felt was guilt, but not guilt because she had been Sauron's partner, because it was not true. But guilt because she had not been honest with Elrond, or with the High King. But Galadriel felt so ashamed, how could she confess what she knew?

She could not. She would not accept the rejection in their eyes when they learned the truth, not when Elrond already looked so hurt, so wary of her. Sauron, Galadriel thought, was truly the Great Deceiver. Even without words or whispers, he was already making Galadriel doubt the loyalty of Elrond, the one she trusted most in all of Arda.

And if Mirdania could believe that Galadriel was good, that she had not helped Sauron with intent, with true evil, perhaps Elrond could also see the truth.

Mirdania looked patiently at Galadriel, letting her think on her own, letting her mind deal with whatever was bothering her deeply. Mirdania, honestly, was nervous. She had never been around Galadriel for so long, much less alone with her.

It was funny, Mirdania thought, how she looked so silly next to Galadriel, because she wanted for once, Galadriel to notice that she was there, that she deserved to be seen by Galadriel.

The same way Mirdania saw Galadriel. Perhaps only she could see Galadriel's true side now, noticing how small tears ran down Galadriel's face. Mirdania had noticed the Mortal King's departure, but she did not care about him.

In fact, she had not even spoken to him the entire time he had been in Eregion. And whether he had disappeared, or done something to hurt Galadriel, Mirdania was sure she would be happy if she never had to see Halbrand's face again.

“Thank you, Mirdania,” Galadriel said, breaking the peaceful silence that had taken over the forge.

“You do not need to thank me, of course.”

As Mirdania smiled, she felt Galadriel caress their clasped hands. It could be nothing, Mirdania thought, just a small gesture of thanks, a completely normal thing between friends. Friends touched each other, right? It was no big deal, she finally decided.

Only that was not quite true, because Mirdania could feel a heat building in her chest as she was grateful for the flames burning in the forge, or Galadriel would notice the blush that Mirdania knew had come over her face.

“But will you allow it?” Galadriel asked.

“Allow what?” Confused, Mirdania asked, staring at Galadriel.

“May I be grateful.”

Even though she did not fully understand the meaning behind those words, Mirdania knew that she could trust Galadriel, more than any Elf, save Celebrimbor, in all of Middle-earth.

She nodded, with a small smile, but still not understanding. The gentle touch of Galadriel's hand left Mirdania's as she moved her hand up Mirdania's arm, gently.

The touch was light, delicate, almost feather-light, and Mirdania felt goosebumps rise up her body, but she remained silent, just watching Galadriel. Then Galadriel's hand reached Mirdania's face, and she stroked it gently.

It was a good, gentle touch, a touch that felt so right. Mirdania, without realizing it, closed her eyes. Galadriel smiled softly, bringing her face closer to Mirdania's. And all Mirdania could feel was the warm touch of Galadriel's lips against hers.

Softer than the purest silk of Valinor, and Mirdania was too enchanted to think, to do anything but kiss Galadriel back. Like everything else about Galadriel, the kiss was firm, determined, as the Commander's tongue took control of Mirdania's mouth.

Galadriel did not let go of Mirdania's face, bringing her free hand to Mirdania's hair, pulling it hard, causing Mirdania to moan. Which only intensified the kiss, as Galadriel's body was so close to Mirdania's, it was as if they were one.

But Mirdania did not care, wrapping her hands around Galadriel's waist, pulling her body even closer, so that there was no space between them, if that were possible.

Mirdania continued to pull Galadriel's body, until her was lying down and all she could see was Galadriel above her, her lips never parting, never pulling away. Galadriel's golden locks fell against Mirdania's face like golden flakes.

And as Galadriel pulled harder on Mirdania's hair, she wrapped her legs around Galadriel's waist, panting against her lips. All Eregion could be in ruins, and they would not be able to notice.

Because Mirdania's dress was riding up slightly as Galadriel kissed her passionately. Mirdania gasped, tugging at Galadriel's dress, because she could not keep her hands still, not while Galadriel moaned her name softly. And when Galadriel's leg rubbed against hers, Mirdania feared her moans would become too loud.

After all, any of the blacksmiths could come in at any moment, they probably would, to check how the Rings were, but in that second, while Galadriel's kisses went down Mirdania's neck, she did not worry about anything else, besides returning the kiss with even more desire.

Like a golden cloud, Mirdania's hair was spread out, and Galadriel's hair covered Mirdania's face. Never did Mirdania think she would have a sincere moment alone with Galadriel. She never thought they could be anything more.

Galadriel's kisses grew lighter, and she sighed, breaking the kiss. A gentle glow came over Galadriel's face as she smiled at Mirdania appreciatively. Galadriel's hands touched Mirdania's face.

“Will you visit me later?” Galadriel whispered against Mirdania’s lips.

“How could I not?” Mirdania sighed in response.

And as the fire of the forge reflected against Galadriel's golden curls, giving her a divine glow, as if all the light of Valinor belonged to her and no one else, Mirdania knew that she would not leave Galadriel's side so easily.

Dedicated to my dear friend and Artania supporter!! @valar-did-me-wrong  💕

tag: @iwanderbecauseimlost

[lotusflowerbreakingthesurface]

PingXie Moments Compilation

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝟖𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐚𝐨𝐦𝐢 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥!! 🎉

On this special day, let's reminisce about PingXie moments in the book∼ Fanfictions are indeed tasty, but the canon moments are also delicious, right? (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

Truthfully, I planned to compile all of them in one post, but I realized that there are too many PingXie moments, I'm afraid if I post them all, I will become a PingXie Bot, thus I picked some moments (and some jokes) that I thought were quite memorable and interesting. It's only 40 moments, it doesn't follow the timeline, perhaps only 80% of them.

Warning: Spoilers! Very long post! CP-oriented post! It's a compilation of PingXie moments in the book, naturally, there are spoilers. I added a little notes/meta/comments/related interviews as supplementary files. And I'm not an expert in the Chinese language (as you already know, I use mtl) so I put the source below, just in case you want to check the Chinese raw or other translations yourself. I apologize in advance if there is any mistake m(_ _)m

(Since there is a limit to insert images, I went with quoting them.)

Sources: Chinese Raw | MereBear's Translation | 瓶邪bot | Original Image by 刘巴布 | Divider by @anitalenia

1. Daomu Biji Vol. 1: Seven Star Lu Palace Chapter 2

As I was talking, I saw a young man walking out of the front door with a long thing on his back that was tightly wrapped in cloth. I knew at first glance that it was an ancient weapon. This thing was indeed very valuable, and if it sold well, the price could go for more than ten times its worth.

Note: In the book, it was their first meeting. But in an old Daomu Biji mobile game, NPSS added this line (it seems that he forgot about it later though):

“The first meeting with Zhang Qiling was not downstairs of Uncle Three's house, but at Wu Xie's full-month celebration, but they both forgot it.” ☆

2. Daomu Biji Vol. 4: Snake Marsh Ghost City (Part II) Chapter 18 | Chapter 47 (MereBear)

He continued, "I am a person without a past and a future. All I do is to find find my connection with this world. Where did I come from and why am I here?" He looked at his hands and said calmly, "Can you imagine that if someone like me disappears from this world, no one will find out, as if I have never existed in this world, without leaving any trace? Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I often doubt whether I really exist or am just a phantom of a person."

I was speechless and thought for a while before saying, "It's not as exaggerated as you say. If you disappear, at least I will find out."

3. Daomu Biji Vol. 6: Ancient Building Under the Dark Mountain Chapter 39

Pangzi gestured for me to ask Men You Ping. I looked at him and heard him say, "About five hours ago, you appeared where you are now, in a deep coma, barely conscious. We gave you a simple first aid, and then five hours later, you woke up."

I waited for Men You Ping to continue speaking, but he shut up.

"That’s it?" I asked in surprise.

"That’s it." He said in a muffled voice.

[....]

Pangzi nodded and said, "Xiaoge and I have been in another cave, which is relatively dry, but I will come here to get water every once in a while. When I found that there was suddenly another person in the cave, I was scared to death, but I recognized you immediately, called Xiaoge, and rescued you together. You were already dead, so if you really need to find someone to save your life, I, Pangye, was still qualified to make a guest appearance. Later, we were afraid that you might have broken bones, so we didn't dare to move and just waited here for you to wake up."

Note: Xiaoge gives Wu Xie mouth-to-mouth resuscitation here. Someone analyzed it and NPSS confirmed it. Here is the analysis:

“If you want to perform CPR on a person who is not breathing without moving the body, the most basic and important thing is artificial respiration. Judging from Pangzi's tone, the whole rescue process was completed by him and Men You Ping. But there is a key word here: "guest appearance". Pangzi did not play the main role in the rescue process. So who played this main role? I think everyone should understand.” ☆

4. Daomu Biji Vol. 6: Ancient Building Under the Dark Mountain Chapter 49

He leaned against the stone wall behind him and said calmly: "He and I can't leave."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" I cursed.

He suddenly smiled at me and said: "Fortunately, I didn't kill you..."

I was stunned. He spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You--" My head buzzed.

He still smiled at me, his head slowly lowered, and sat there, as if he was just taking a rest. However, the surroundings were completely silent.

Note: There once was a typo in the first draft, but it was edited later.

Edited version: “还好，我没有害死你……”

Unedited version: “一汀烟雨杏花寒好， 还好， 我没有害死你......”

“一汀烟雨杏花寒” comes from an ancient poem “戴叔伦：燕子不归春事晚，一汀烟雨杏花寒”, it describes the scenery of late spring and expresses the feelings of melancholy and separation. ☆

5. Daomu Biji Vol. 7: Stone Shadow in Qiong Cave Chapter 18

Men You Ping did not answer her. Instead, he turned to me and said, "Take me home." Then he walked out without looking back.

6. Daomu Biji Vol 8: The Finale Book 2 Chapter 3 | Part 2 Chapter 54 (MereBear)

I was stunned for a moment, and then froze. At that moment, my mind became blank.

I couldn’t describe the emptiness in my heart. I suddenly didn’t know what I should do.

Dead? You’ve got to be kidding me.

Is he really dead? Hey, what kind of international joke is this?

"Wake up. Let's go home." I patted his face, suddenly finding it all very funny. I turned to Pangzi and laughed. "Look at Xiaoge."

"I know." Pangzi said on the side, his voice was very low.

Then, my hands began to tremble uncontrollably. I looked at my hands and found that there was no sadness in my heart. My consciousness did not react, but my body instinctively felt despair.

I thought to myself, he’s really fucking sitting there, he’s really fucking dead. Men You Ping is really fucking dead!

There were actually such things in this world, and Men You Ping could actually die.

[....]

My instincts were collapsing under the pressure, but all kinds of uncomfortable feelings were still leaking out of the "pressure cooker" of emotions. I felt that I couldn't let my emotions run wild, because if I got sad, I might die here. I feel very strange in my heart, not just sad. I don’t know if others can understand my complicated feelings. First there was despair, then more of a distrust of what I saw. My mind went blank for a long time before all the emotions in my heart came to the surface.

I have always wondered how I would feel if Men You Ping died. I thought that maybe I was extremely sad, or maybe I had thought about it too much and done too much mental preparation, so I became numb and felt that I could totally bear it. Now that it has really happened, it has turned into a strange mood that I can’t even deal with.

After that, I was in a dilemma, not knowing whether I should be sad or pretend to be calm and endure the pain. In the end, the former gradually prevailed. I did nothing beside his body, just stared blankly.

But just when I felt that tears were about to fall, I suddenly saw Men You Ping's hand move and scratch the floor!

Comment: I feel like "Wake up. Let's go home." is the answer to Xiaoge's "Take me home." in the previous moment, don't you think so? And here is the description of Wu Xie's feelings when he thought that Xiaoge died. It's quite long and depressing... T_T

7. Daomu Biji Vol. 8: The Finale Book 2 Chapter 25 | Part 2 Chapter 76 (MereBear)

"I came to say goodbye to you." He said, "It's all over. I thought about my connection with this world, and it seems that the only one I can find now is you."

Comment: Is this the kind of connection that Xiaoge was looking for in Daomu Biji Vol. 4?

Note: In the Live Broadcast Interview on June 11, 2021, there was a question about what "嫩牛五方" Nenniu Wufang (Iron Triangle + HeiHua) think of Wu Xie, and this is Xiaoge's part:

NPSS: For Zhang Qiling, Wu Xie is his only connection with the human world. He can live without any connection with the human world. After so many years, Wu Xie was the opportunity that made him willing to connect with the human world, which was also something that required courage for him, because connecting with Wu Xie means connecting with other people. At the beginning, Wu Xie was just one of the many people he had saved, but Wu Xie reached a state of transcendence through his own qualities. He was able to attract another person who was not a mortal. There is such a person, when you look him in the eye, you will have this feeling-

Host: This is that person, this is the person I am looking for.

NPSS: Yes. ☆

8. Daomu Biji Vol. 8: The Finale Book 2 Chapter 27 | Part 2 Chapter 78 (MereBear)

That night, we found a relatively dry place and lit a fire. Sitting in front of the fire, he silently looked at me for the first time.

I also stared at him for a long time. Since he kept looking at me like this, I began to wonder whether the focus of his gaze was actually on me. When I found that he was really looking at me, however, I felt very strange. I said, "Is something wrong with me? Is there a monster behind me?" I asked him several times, but he didn't respond. I thought this person was not very normal at ordinary times. Now in this situation, I definitely couldn't understand and didn't need to understand. But after a while, he suddenly asked me for a cigarette.

9. Daomu Biji Vol. 8: The Finale Book 2 Chapter 28 | Part 2 Chapter 79 (MereBear)

I screamed as I rolled all the way down the hillside. I knew it was a very steep cliff with a drop of at least thirty meters, so even if there was snow below, I would never be safe.

[....]

Just when I was about to despair, I suddenly heard a movement outside. Then, my flailing hands were grabbed by someone, and I was pulled out of the snow pit. I gasped for breath, and saw Men You Ping grabbed the back of my collar and pulled me out of the snow with force.

My eyes still saw a pink color, which was quite blurry. I looked at him, and I was so angry that I asked him: "Why did you come back again?"

He looked at me, then at the cliff above his head, and said to me, "I heard your cry for help."

Note: This is one of the famous PingXie moments, which later someone brought up this scene again in the comment section of the online version of Sand Sea 3 Chapter 5 (Chapter 116 on MereBear's site: Like a Red Bean in the Exquisite Dice, My Love for You is Deep in My Bones) in 2014. Here is the famous comment that is still circulating around in the DMBJ fandom:

“The moment I fell, holding my neck, I thought I couldn't speak anymore. The sky of Motuo was still empty, just like the Changbai Mountain. But this time, no one would jump down thirty meters to pull me up. I asked him why he came, and he said he heard my voice.” ☆

However, people still doubt where this quote actually comes from. As someone said, what I've mentioned before is the most likely source since it is the earliest one that can be found. The site was closed down, so I can't check it myself.

10. Daomu Biji Vol. 8: The Finale Book 2 Chapter 28 | Part 2 Chapter 79 (MereBear)

"That’s fine, do whatever you want. If you really knock me out, I have nothing to say, but I hope you know that if you need someone to accompany you to the end, I won’t refuse." I said, "I want to accompany you. This is my own decision, so don't worry about it."

Top comment: One is a confession that travels thousands of miles away, and the other is a stumbling pursuit. ☆

11. Daomu Biji Vol. 8: The Finale Book 2 Chapter 29 | Part 2 Chapter 80 (MereBear)

Men You Ping nodded, and I asked him: "If this is not the case, according to the promise, who should be the next in line for the Old Nine Gates?"

"You." Men You Ping said.

Me? I was stunned for a moment: "You mean, I was supposed to stay behind this bronze door for ten years?"

Men You Ping nodded, and just as I was about to ask him to clarify, Men You Ping suddenly reached out and pressed the back of my neck, and I lost consciousness."

12. Excerpt from 《与邪共予起灵书》 or see more here

I saw Menyouping standing in the dazzling light of the bronze door, as if waiting for me. It turns out that not everyone has left me. He is right here, behind this mysterious bronze door, looking forward to meeting me again just like me. Ten years, it sounds like a long time that cannot be passed, but when that moment comes, we will definitely feel the brevity of time. Its brevity may just be because you are looking forward to a reunion. You use your ten years to exchange my lifelong innocence, then I will use the next ten years and more ten years to exchange your ten years.

The passage above is related to the famous quote “用我一生换你十年的天真无邪” (I'll give you my whole life in exchange for your ten years of innocence).

According to this post, this sentence first appeared in a forum interview in 2010. When NPSS talked with readers about the final ending of the characters in the main story (Daomu Biji Vol. 1-8), he used the sentence "用自己的一生，再换你十年的天真无邪" (I'll give you my whole life in exchange for another ten years of your innocence) to summarize the ending of Zhang Qiling and Wu Xie in the main story.

NPSS's interview with Nangong Ling, the owner of PingXie Bar on Baidu Post Bar or Tieba (a popular Chinese forum) at that time: The Long-Delayed New Year Interview on March 11, 2010 ☆

Q: Is Wu Xie the most miserable person in the whole book? Is it true that one of him and Pingzi (Xiaoge) will die in the end?

A: Wu Xie is the most miserable, his life is a doomed tragedy, but Lao Zhang is not easy either.

Q: Then?

A: It delayed the occurrence of the whole tragedy.

Q: Then they suffered a tragedy together?

A: I use my life to exchange for your ten years of innocence.

And there is a follow-up. On November 1, 2011, NPSS participated in a symposium at Shenzhen University and interpreted the meaning of this sentence. ☆

Q: How do you understand "用我一生换你十年天真无邪" (I will give you my whole life for your ten years of innocence)?

A: On a very quiet night, I was sitting in front of my computer, chatting with an online friend who was my reader. She asked me if I could describe the whole story in one sentence. Then I thought about it and realized that the story could be described in one sentence: "用我一生换你十年的天真无邪" (I will give you my whole life for your ten years of innocence). It is not a very equal exchange. It is an infinite sacrifice of one person for another in exchange for a limited benefit.

13. Tibetan Sea Flower Part 1 Chapter 39

I said, "I don't know. I always feel that it's safer to be around Xiaoge. If he's not around, at least having his statue is better than having no statue at all."

14. Sand Sea 2 Chapter 53 | Chapter 92 (MereBear)

"Are you really willing to bear it?"

"I have no choice."

"You have a choice, you just can't see it."

"That means there is no choice."

Sigh

"Then will you tell him all this?"

"No."

"Then what will you tell him?"

"I will tell him that he is just a patient, and from now on, he can rest."

"They won't let you say these words."

"I won't allow them to stop me."

15. Sand Sea Part 3 Chapter 5 | Chapter 116 (MereBear)

玲珑骰子安红豆，入骨相思知不知

A dainty die with red beans engraved in it, don't you know, is a love yearning that penetrates to the bone?

(—Rediscovering Wen Tingyun by Mou, Huaichuan)

Note: As we know, this candy is only a title, but it has a deep meaning. “玲珑骰子安红豆，入骨相思知不知” is a passage from a poem by Tang Dynasty poet, Wen Tingyun (温庭筠), it's the second poem of two love poems in his collection of poems 《新添声杨柳枝词二首》/《南歌子词二首》.

井底点灯深烛伊，共郎长行莫围棋

玲珑骰子安红豆，入骨相思知不知

The poem is written in the voice of a woman, expressing her attachment to her lover, in the first line, it means she earnestly asked her husband not to miss the return date when he travelled far away. It is the woman's deep longing for her husband and the strong love she has for him that is hard to let go. The second line means the lovesickness that goes deep into the bones, revealing -once again- the woman's strong love that is hard to let go. And the words "Don’t you know?" (知不知) vividly expresses the woman's long separation, the difficulty of reunion, the deep pain of missing him, and even the fact that she wants to talk to no one. It can be said that the ending is natural and the aftertaste is endless. What the readers feel is the sincere and passionate love in the woman's heart —Baidu Encyclopedia

Since there is no way for me, a complete novice, to explain it through semantic and syntactic analysis, please visit here or here for more explanation.

In WeChat interview on August 6, 2013, NPSS said the reason why he chose that title:

Q: Sanshu, I would like to ask you, in Sand Sea series, when Wu Xie was slashed in the throat by the man in white, why was the chapter titled "玲珑骰子安红豆，入骨相思知不知"?

A: I chose that chapter title because that was the emotion I felt at the time. ☆

16. 2014 Chinese New Year Special "Fantasy" Chapter 27 (Epilogue) | Chapter 2.31 (MereBear)

When the sun absorbed the fog and dispersed it, the black fog completely dissipated. I turned my head to see where Men You Ping was, but saw the sunset shining in from the window next to me.

It was over, I was stunned for a moment and realized.

I was back in the small power station.

My hands and feet slowly revived, and the severe pain in my nasal cavity began to attack. The throat was full of the smell of blood, and all the blood turned into a paste in my throat.

In all the moments of coming back, I always felt a very sad emotion in my heart, which would make me silent for a moment.

Don't make the illusion too beautiful because it will eventually disappear. You think you have obtained and grasped it, but in fact there is nothing. This kind of memory is no different from my real memory. People themselves cannot really own anything.

17. Ten Years Chapter 31

This was written for me, he knew I would fulfill my promise. He hid the clue in Chen Pi Ah Si's nose, which really gave me face.

I clenched my fists, and a sense of security that I hadn't felt for many years suddenly rose from the bottom of my heart.

Note: The bolded sentence is an additional sentence in the physical book of Ten Years.

18. Ten Years Chapter 36

In the past ten years, I have had many dreams. I dreamed of him when he was young and I met him when I was young.

19. Ten Years Physical Book

"Not only that, if you can truly believe that you can do this, you can do anything." The voice in my heart answered me, "But, believing in yourself may be the most difficult thing in the world."

"What's so difficult about believing in yourself?" I asked.

"Just like you can't believe that you can walk on the water, only a very few people can truly believe in themselves." The voice in my heart answered me, "You can't even believe that you really entered here and heard these words."

A vast pool of water suddenly appeared in front of me, and the water surface was as calm as a mirror.

I looked at the surface of the pool and touched it with my feet. It was cold water. The waves spread and quickly disappeared at the end of the visible range. I saw a figure appearing very, very far away.

It was a familiar back, it was Xiaoge.

I stepped on it and fell into the water.

Then, I woke up. I looked up at the bronze door.

It was a dream, the door was still closed tightly.

I looked at my hand, and the wound was not cracked.

Comment: I really like the implication here, Wu Xie trusts Xiaoge more than himself...

20. Ten Years Chapter 41

"The people in that village make a dessert from glutinous rice and brown sugar. Since there’s plenty of rain in the village, a special weed called Yuzai ginseng grows there. The petals of this weed are put into the dessert, and are said to help with memory. Of course, it’s only a local legend."

I kept yawning as I spoke. My consciousness began to blur, but I didn’t stop talking.

I don’t know how long I stayed up, but in my hazy state, I suddenly felt someone slowly sit down beside me.

I hesitated for a moment, turned my head to look, and the other person also turned his head to look at me.

Pangzi slowly woke up and looked at us.I saw a familiar face, indifferent eyes, reflecting the light of the campfire.

People say that when you forget someone, the first thing you forget is their voice. But when he spoke, it wasn’t unfamiliar at all.

"You are old." He said

The music was still flowing, in this place closest to hell.

Pangzi came up, hooked his arm around Men You Ping's shoulder, and caused him to stumble: "How can we compare with you, Xiaoge? And you were willing to come out!!"

Men You Ping swayed from all the jostling.I pulled down my sleeve, covered the scars on my arm, and stood up.

He smiled at me and I lifted my bag: 'Let’s go."We just…haven’t seen you for a long time.

....

I live at the North Sea and you at the South Sea,

I asked the wild goose to pass a letter but was told they could not.

Each of us held a cup of wine and talked amid spring wind with peach and plum blossom,

For ten years we missed each other before lamps during night rain outside.

Note: About the poem, MereBear has already explained here. This is the Chinese version:

我居北海君南海，寄雁传书谢不能；

桃李春风一杯酒，江湖夜雨十年灯。

In short, it's about friendship, a happy gathering and how deeply they missed each other after they parted.

There is an interesting meta about Xiaoge's "you're old", read here.

Top comment: So when Xiaoge explained the amnesia brought by the heavenly gift in Sea of Lights, he looked into Wu Xie's eyes and said "there will be a little left", which means that Xiaoge faced endless darkness in the door, lost his perception of time, and had to use his remaining memory to try to recall Wu Xie's appearance. The words "you are old" in the past ten years contains Xiaoge's deep and heavy longing for Wu Xie.

21. Daomu Biji Extra: 2019 Mid-Autumn Festival

If Men You Ping said something, then it was fine, but he wouldn’t say anything. Instead, Zhang Haike kept telling me that as an outsider follower of Zhang Qiling, I should take care of these things. Fuck that shit, I thought to myself. I’m a guardian, not an outsider follower. He said that if I did well, I could start the special procedures that would give me the surname Zhang. I could be called Zhang Xie or Zhang Wu Xie in the future. Of course, I could also follow my master and be called Zhang Qixie.

I was so angry that day that I thought my liver was going to burst.

22. Daomu Biji Extra: The Other Shore | The Other Shore (MereBear)

It was too cold here, so after I died, I wouldn't be degraded. I would exist here for thousands and millions of years. I could sit here and let the wind and snow freeze me. According to my experience, hundreds of years later, Men You Ping would see the moment he was seeing now.

I seemed to be seriously ill and chose this ending myself. I was surprisingly calm and had no regrets. Although I could not be truly eternal like him, I found a way to coexist in the same time and space as him.

[....]

I didn't expect it to be so romantic. In this world, there was no other person who could use death as a romantic condiment so naturally.

Note: I think almost the whole short story is candy with a knife, but I can't possibly put it all here. There is a good PV about this short story, you can see it here or here.

Top comment:

”When we first begin to truly love someone, our greatest fear is that the person we love no longer loves us. What we should be afraid of is that even though they are dead, we still can’t stop loving them.”

23. A joke that is written by NPSS and posted on the official blog on Weibo

I hope this letter finds you well, I have heard that Wu Xie is well-informed, has a strong memory, is wise in all things, knows everything about the world like a little snow falls on a red stove and melts immediately, and often stays by the side of the patriarch as the two musical instruments strike the same note. I will come on the moon to meet you.

I looked at the letter, and Pangzi also looked at it, looking at me with an awkward look. I touched my nose and said, "What is this, Chu Liuxiang?"

Note: This joke was about the Zhang family sending a letter to Xiaoge and Wu Xie. “笙磬同音” (the two musical instruments strike the same note) is a metaphor for harmonious relationship as a family, but is often used in wedding congratulations. ☆☆

24. Thousand Faces Part 1-001 | Part 1-Introduction 2 (MereBear)

She looked at me and said, "Wu Xie, what is the secret in your heart? Is there anything you will never let anyone know until you die?"

I looked up at him, and a thought moved in my heart. She tilted her head and caught it: "Ah, you have it in your heart."

I smiled awkwardly. Yes, my thoughts moved just now.

I did have one.

I asked Ah Tuo: "Isn't this embarrassing?"

"That's something only you know." Ah Tou looked at some group photos I had hanging in my study room. "If I tell you a secret that I think is the most incredible. You have to tell me the thought you just had."

[....]

She looked at me, "Let me guess first, do you want... to live forever?"

[....]

"I do, but this is not my secret." I said to Ah Tou, "If there is no afterlife, then I want to live forever. I still have a lot of things I want to do with my friends, but I am not afraid of death. The richness of my life is second to none. I have enough. However, I agree to your conditions."

Note: In the second line, "我抬眼看着他" (I looked up at him), if it was referring to Ah Tou, "他" should be "她". I don't know whether it's a typo or not, some say it's not, and I check the Chinese raw, it still hasn't changed. If it's not a typo, "him" in "I looked up at him" can actually refer to Xiaoge, someone explained it on MereBear's site. Nevertheless, it doesn't change the meaning of "if there is no afterlife, then I want to live forever". Later, in Notes in Rain Village: Courtyard Chapter 12 or Notes in Rain Village: Part 2 Chapter 17, it was emphasized again:

Maybe I don’t believe in the afterlife.

Moreover, the afterlife is meaningless to me. I will not have a more thrilling life than this one.

On the ancient road, I met the ancient soul.

25. Restart Part 1-Not a Chapter | Restart Part 1 Chapter 112,5 (MereBear)

I drank to my heart's content that night. In the past ten or twenty years, I spent my days alone imagining things, panicking and being cowardly. At this moment, I understood the meaning of all of this.

I said to Bai Haotian, "I always hope not to disappoint others. Although it is difficult, I have finally reached the point in my life where I will be satisfied if I can just not disappoint one person."

[....]

I dreamed of the Tibetan Lama Temple, the floating ribbons in my dream, and I dreamed of everything, where I belonged, where my life belonged to, but I dared not touch, emphasize, or solidify it. I was afraid that I was not worthy of those memories, those times. Even though I had done so many things and controlled so many other people, I still did not dare to say any beautiful words.

26. Restart Part 1 Chapter 141 | Part 1 Chapter 141 (MereBear)

What was so important about me? I was a person who would have to say goodbye to Men You Ping one day in his life. I was a person who delayed Pangzi for getting rich and getting married. I made Xiaohua bankrupt, separated Xiuxiu from her closest relatives, and made my parents live in fear that I would follow Uncle Three’s path. I was far from worthy of the name "innocent (无邪)" my grandfather had given me. But in my confused first half of life, I lived an incredibly wonderful life. I had seen countless wonders in the world. I had the most amazing partner with the most stories in the world. We sang loudly on the cliffs, chanted the sutras on the snow-capped mountains, drank wine in the Gobi Desert, and watched the moon on the sea.

I've had enough in this life.

In Sina Weibo micro interview on August 03, 2018, NPSS talked about the bolded sentence:

Q: In the past ten years, Wu Xie's inner demon was Xiaoge. Ten years later, is Wu Xie's inner demon the life span? In the Reboot, he mentioned it many times. I feel depressed when I think of "I am a person who will have to say goodbye to Men You Ping one day in his life".

A: Most people in life will eventually say goodbye. For the one who leaves first, everything will return to peace. The one who leaves later will feel a little painful. It's not that scary. It's just unwilling to accept it.

27. Restart Part 1 Chapter 204 & Chapter 208

"...You have to understand what love is. Love is like a ghost. You can't see it when it comes, and it makes no sound when it leaves. Even if it's there, it's moving around. This thing doesn't make sense, it's fucking haunted. When you see it, it'll just pat its butt and leave. You ask it if it wants to leave or not. If it doesn’t go, you’ll have to light three pillars of incense. If it goes away, you can't find it back even if you burn down the house..."

[....]

"I just want to know what's behind the bronze door. If I'm about to die, can you please whisper something in my ear?" I said in the direction of Men You Ping.

There was no response from the other end, so I said, "If I am about to die, just say something in my ear, and then I will leave with peace of mind. Otherwise, you can't send me away even with three pillars of incense.

28. Restart Part 2 Chapter 12 | Chapter 12 (MereBear)

...But when I saw the look in Men You Ping's eyes when he looked at the rain, I didn't know what year or century he was thinking about.

It was so annoying to partner with a god.

29. Notes in Rain Village Chapter 5

Men You Ping looked at the snow. The wind was blowing in the wrong direction, and the snowflakes kept drifting in. His hair quickly turned white.

I wonder what he would look like with white hair.

30. Notes in Rain Village Chapter 15

"If I were your child*, would you not allow me to smoke?"

"Ah, I don't know, but you fell into a crack in the ground in the middle of the night. I don't have a daughter with night blindness." I glanced at Men You Ping, who was leaning against the door and looking at the two of us. His expression seemed to say, "You two both fell into a crack in the ground, what's there to discuss?"

Note: "If I were your child" is “如果我是你生的” in Chinese raw. There is a comment saying:

“The sentence "if I was born by you (如果我是你生的)" is very interesting. Children usually only use the word "birth (生)" to their mothers, and should say "if I were your child (如果我是你的孩子)" to their fathers. Xu Lei (NPSS) used the word "birth (生)" to Wu Xie through the girl's mouth, and I dare not think about it too much.” ☆

Comment: It's not the first time NPSS used the "birth" joke to Wu Xie, and I still remember how Wu Xie's word in Restart "我他妈能生四个" (I can give birth to four) is like a well-known joke in the fandom. So, I can only blame NPSS for how normal I feel about PingXie Mpreg fics and how many there are.. (ᵕ—ᴗ—)

31. Notes in Rain Village Chapter 17

Men You Ping walked towards us, one step, two steps, three steps, six or seven steps.

He walked to our side, and I looked back at where he was just now, and he was no longer there.

Don't worry about it, I thought to myself, we couldn’t go up, so he walked down.

32. Notes in Rain Village Chapter 23

The two dismantled caissons were finally put up with a simple scaffolding. Men You Ping was so damn cool, I had no idea how he dismantled it. Apart from the movements, I found his extreme concentration and skill really enviable.

33. Notes in Rain Village Chapter 24

I felt a little dizzy after drinking and had a very long dream that night. I dreamed of snow-capped mountains and my own ending.

It was the first time I had this kind of dream, but I knew that I would often dream about this moment from now on.

In this world, everyone was a circle and Men You Ping was the only eternal straight line. We were strung on this straight line like Buddhist prayer beads, heading for the other side that Buddha could see. It was just that the other side was an infinite time and space.

34. Notes in Rain Village: Courtyard Chapter 4 | Chapter 9 (MereBear)

At about 9 o'clock, I was looking at the yard from the window and saw Men You Ping tidying up the moss in the yard alone. I leaned on the windowsill, he sorted it out for more than two hours, and I watched him for more than two hours.

I didn't know if he liked my plan or not, but I thought if Pangzi liked it very much, he might like it a little.

35. Notes in Rain Village: Travel Chapter (Physical Book Version)

That night I had a dream. I dreamed that all the happiness here turned into little elves, flying around people. There was also one behind Deren. His face was constantly changing, but the elf was still shining.

"Don't worry, it's okay." In the dream, Men You Ping said to me. The elf behind him hid in his hair and looked at me shyly.

36. Notes in Rain Village: Travel Chapter 43

It just happened to be the last moment of sunset, and the sunset glow on the sea turned colorful. We parked the car and unloaded the poultry and livestock. Pangzi went in to prepare dinner with his friends, and Men You Ping and I sat on the embankment by the sea.

Source: Here

37. Notes in Rain Village: Pastoral Chapter 8

Then I saw a very magical place: there was a place far away in the starry sky, where the stars were very dense, and those stars were like waterfalls sliding down from the sky, rushing all the way to the clouds below the train.

"The stars are falling," I said to Men You Ping, sounding like a nonsensical child. "Falling, falling down."

38. Notes in Rain Village: Pastoral Chapter 33

When I was halfway up, even though I was wearing a raincoat, I was completely soaked and looked very miserable. I knew I would not give up, but I still felt a little desperate. As if I had sensed something, I suddenly stopped and looked back.

Men You Ping was standing behind me.

I didn't know when he came, but it was just like ten thousand times before.

39. Looking for the Dead in the Sea of Lights Chapter 24

As soon as I walked out of the circle of light from the bonfire, Men You Ping rushed out from the darkness on the other side of the camp, in the opposite direction from me. He jumped on his horse, leaped over the bonfire, rushed behind me, and lifted me onto the horse with one hand. Then, two men and one horse rushed towards Pangzi.

40. Queen Mother's Ghost Banquet Chapter 82

"I, I, I..." I tried to describe it, but I couldn't see clearly with my eyes squinting. I murmured, "I need Xiaoge. I really need him this time."

That's it. Obviously, it's not all of them, but I'm spent haha. People in the Chinese fandom often said that PingXie is a Chinese-style cp and pure love “纯爱” type of ship, which I think it's indeed true. Their heartfelt moments are often hidden between allusions and metaphors, and the strong bond between them mostly relies on the emotional attachment rather than just physical touches or skinships. To me, it makes them so unique and interesting. What's more the taste of pure love that people often associate with this cp/ship is actually pretty rare itself. In the end, they did care for each other regardless of what people used to define their relationship (⁠人⁠*⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠)⁠｡⁠*+♡

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝟖𝟏𝟕!ヾ⁠(⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠*⁠)⁠ﾉ

[mur4qw]

ending 6.

short fanfic with my vision of how he will act.

"You disgust me."

No.

“I hope I never see you again.”

No...

"Goodbye, Doe."

No!

The black-haired guy immediately jumps up from his seat and tries to grab your hand, but nothing comes of it. It's like you disappear into thin air, without a trace. Without unnecessary words, without unnecessary emotions, you simply disappear.

– Please don’t leave me! I don't want to be alone again!

Tears flow from the eyes and flow down the cheeks. An unpleasant sensation, but painfully familiar. Everything around also disappears, leaving him in complete emptiness. A cold black void envelops a regular guy inside and he falls exhausted to his knees. John sobs quietly and wipes his tears with the sleeve of his jacket.

What went wrong this time? What did he do wrong? He tried so hard. He tried. Did he really not deserve to be loved? How many times does he end up like this again? Alone, no one needs, abandoned and in tears. Doe tucks his legs under himself and hides his face in hie knees, continuing to cry quietly. There is nothing else left for him. Restart the universe again? For what? To experience again this vile feeling that gnaws at him from the inside, tearing him into small pieces? John hugs himself tightly, trying to imagine that you are hugging him like that and howl, choking on his own tears, which were already painfully burning his eyes. The jacket and jeans quickly become wet from tears and become soaked with them. He's used to it. He is used to it. Absolutely don't care.

"Fucking stalker!"

But he's not like that...? What the fuck is that even supposed to mean? People are strange, but from here they are so interesting and desirable, but Doe will never understand them. And they will never understand him either. Sniffing one last time, John gets up from the cold floor and looks forward at the brightly flashing “end” icon.

– The end, you say...

Doe bursts into hysterical laughter and hits that fucked up icon, fucked up colored with the same fucked up content.

– Why?! Say, why?! Why didn't you even give me a chance?...

The trembling hands continue to mercilessly try to break this damn "little reminder" that he was abandoned again.

Abandoned.

Each blow became weaker and weaker, all the anger instantly disappeared somewhere again, leaving behind an unpleasant aftertaste of something strange. Doe can't hate you. He still loves and is waiting for you. He can't be mad... He shouldn't be mad at you. It is not your fault.

– Sorry...

Empty apologies echo throughout the equally empty room and John squirms at the sound. His tear-stained eyes look lovingly at the icon and John weakly smiles.

– I’m sorry, but I still love you so much, YOU.

well, i don't WANT to hear y'all yapping "doe canonically can't cry, he can't cry".

he CAN cry, he can make ANY liquid he wants. he CAN make himself cry if he wants. and of course he will cry. he's not emotionless. don't mischaracterized him. pls.

[bygiornogiovanna]

Hello there! Apologies if I sound rude! But may I request a scenario where Giorno and Josuke are hit by a Stand and act different?

Giorno acts hyper, bubbly and adorable while Josuke acts super shy, timid and cute? And Reader has to deal with all the cuteness?

Flip The Switch (Giorno Giovanna/Josuke Higashikata x GN! Reader)

anon, u are offically my ˢᵐᵒˡ bean. in your further requests *if there will be more, please sign yourself like that.

the images below represent both me when I read your request and saw how POLITE (and adorable) you were and y/n seeing josuke/giorno ily so much

also excuse that my requests are taking so long. i'm just lazy.

to anyone who requested something, I see your requests!!! and i am working on them, they will come...eventually haha

also, happy one year anniversary to this blog!

"You don't stand a chance against my stand, Y/N L/N!" bluffed the villain under the boss's command, Akari Massimo. He was a tall, light-skinned man, probably in his twenties. If you looked past his evilness, you would see a handsome young man, with golden eyes and a beautiful, healthy white hair, whose smile was nothing but sweet and charming. However...His power of turning one into its opposite wasn't that sweet and charming. His Stand, Flip The Switch, could turn you from woman to man, from sweet to mean, but worst of all...from powerful to weak. Of course, your lover could easily defeat him. The problem was...your lover wasn't there.

You were honestly scared. You weren't weak, but you weren't strong either, so you didn't know what his stand would do to you. You had to buy some time until him or his friends arrived. You couldn't risk it.

"Do you really think all that cheap talk will scare me? Oh please, I've encountered people way scarier than you!" you let yourself do what you knew the best: annoy people. He seemed one that loved his pride, and he wouldn't stand the fact that someone like you would dare insulting him like that.

"I suggest you keep your mouth shut if you want to live! You have no idea what my stand, Flip The Switch, is capable of!" Massimo said and you huffed.

"What is it going to do? Turn me into a cat? Please, it sounds pathetic." you saw his left eye twitch and a satisfied smile crossed your face. "Actually, I wonder, if you use it on yourself, would it turn you into a clown or into the whole circus?" you gave him your sweetest, most fake smile.

You saw his stand appearing behind him and launching an attack towards you. You managed to avoid it, striking back, managing to scartch his face. "You fucking bitch, you scratched my handsome face! You'll pay for this!" he said and you swore you could see fume raising from his ears.

"Oh my..." you said, and before you knew it, another attack was right about to hit you, but...

☆Giorno Giovanna☆

"Not on my watch." You heard Giorno's voice and, suddenly, he appeared in front of you, blocking the hit with his body. You gasped and your eyes filled with tears when, after a few seconds, he didn't get up.

"Giorno!" you voice broke and you felt like your knees would give out when you saw your precious lover laying on the ground while clenching on his stomach.

"Awh, what a shame. Poor blondie boy couldn't save his poor little lover." Massimo said mockingly and he was about to say something else, but you heard Giorno mumble—Golden Experience Requiem.

"Uh oh...If I were you I would start saying my prayers." you said cockily and, before your enemy could react, he disappeared without a trace, probably trapped in the Infinite Death Loop. "Giorno, amore mio, are you okay?!" you rushed to his side, kneeling worriedly before him.

"Y/N..." he started softly and nothing seemed wrong...Until the blonde immediately crashed into your arms, hugging you tightly. "I missed you so much, tesoro!" Giorno yelled and you could swear you never heard him sound so excited.

"I-...Giorno, amore, are you okay?" you laughed and he hugged you tighter, laughing too. The moment you heard that, everything stopped.

Giorno Giovanna, the Don of Passione, laughed.

A sound so heavenly. You last heard him laugh more than two years ago. Giorno never laughs—all somebody, mostly you, can get out of him is a faint giggle. That's all.

You looked at him in shock and the blonde boy looked at you with a cute face, confused. "What's wrong, tesoro?" he asked in a smooth tone and he touched your cheek.

"...you laughed..." you whispered and a smile made its way onto your face. "It's been so long since I heard you laugh. Are you sure you are okay, amore?"

"I'm fine, promise. You don't have to worry about me." he said and his voice sounded ao tender, so smooth and soft, love-filled even. Although Giorno was never aggressive towards you, he never displayed his affection, and especially not in public.

You thought it was just the adrenaline and the fear of losing you making him act like that, but no. This kept going on for multiple days, Giorno acting the opposite of his usual personality.

In the small amounts of time you had alone, because, apparently, Giorno was extremly clingy, never leaving your side, you were thinking about what could've possibly happened for your dear boyfriend to act like this.

Then it hit you.

It was Massimo's stand.

Flip The Switch did that to your boyfriend.

Not that you complained, it was very cute to see your stoic boyfriend be a big baby, but...That wasn't Giorno. You had to talk with Bruno, to find a way...

Suddenly, your trail of thoughts was interrupted by your baby boyfriend coming home and directly jumping in your arms, whining about how much he missed you.

Giorno Giovanna, Italy's biggest man, was whining in your arms.

Yep, you had to do something about it.

☆Josuke Higashikata☆

"Not so fast." Josuke's smug voice could be heard and his tall frame shadowed yours, blocking the Stand's hit with his body. You felt like the world stopped when you saw your boyfriend groaned in pain, taking a few steps aside.

"Josuke!" you yelled and turned him to you. "Are you crazy?!"

"In love, yes." he said smugly and chuckled, clearing her throat. "See? I'm all fine, don't..." he stopped and then scrunched his nose, as if a rush of pain went through him. "Oi, Koichi, Okuyasu, handle this guy f'r me!" Josuke yelled and his two friends nodded, fighting with Massimo.

The pompadour boy fell to his knees, coughing a little. You kneeled by his side, softly rubbing his back, trying to comfort him.

"My love, are you okay?" you asked sweetly, your soft hands caressing his hair. You were the only one allowed to touch the man's hair whenever you want without getting yourself killed.

"I-...I...I a-am okay..." he stuttered, the sound of his words coming out as breathy. You were relived to hear, but then it hit you. Your boyfriend just stuttered.

Josuke Higashikata stuttered.

He shied away from your arms, hiding his blushing cheeks. You frowned confused and you looked between him and Massimo. Quickly, you put the pieces together.

It was Flip the Switch's work.

"Josuke..." you whispered to him and you hugged him tightly. Instead of hugging you back, he squirmed shyly, as he did the first time you hugged him. It made your heart melt and you chuckled softly.

"Y-Y/N what...a-are you doing?" he whispered back.

"Hugging my boyfriend? Is there something wrong?" you chuckled and hugged him tighter, making him blush embarrassed.

"N-no...Everything is okay..." his voice was barely above a whisper and he hugged you back, awkwardly and slowly.

You chuckled and nuzzled your face in his neck. Maybe it wasn't that bad that he protected you from Flip The Switch's attack—now you can be the one who teases and makes him flustered.

It will be fun. Won't it?

[slavdollz4mangione]

Okay your last set of head canons really brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for writing it, and thank you to the anon who came up with the idea.

I know we know absolutely nothing about his family situation, and objectively they probably tried their best to give him a happy fulfilling life (and still are helping him in every way they can)

But a part of me wonders if there’s an unintentional kernel of truth to what you wrote. Maybe *he* felt that way, considering how desperately he was running from his past. Even if his family didn’t mean to suffocate him, maybe they accidentally did. I don’t know.

More than anything that happened in December, I really want to know what happened to him before (and simultaneously feel like a vulture for wanting to know). What trauma could this nice happy Catholic Italian family have inflicted on him that he felt the need to run so far? Cut them off completely? It can’t just be about the family business right?

I also feel sad because he broke away from everyone he knew so he could start over, have a shot at real freedom. And now he’s in a cage, financially beholden to the same people he was trying to escape. I know they’re his parents and love him, but I wonder how he’ll feel about having gone to such lengths to break away only to have them bail him out again. It’s one of the reasons I’m praying the fundraiser can cover majority of the costs. It would be a shame if he’s back under the same family control he tried so hard to escape if he’s set free.

For someone who valued his autonomy so much, he’s had every inch of it snatched away from him now. Seeing those shackles on him makes me so sad. They feel ominous somehow, like a mockery of the life he wanted to live. It’s like watching an angel get dragged to hell.

I don’t know this man, and to be honest I don’t even know men *like* this man. He’s not my father or brother or son or friend or lover, and yet I find my stomach in a constant state of discomfort because of what he’s going through. It’s like neverending static in my body now. Even if he walks away a free man this very minute, there’s something irreversible about the trauma he has gone through.

I look at him and think, I could have loved this person, if only I had known him. I think a lot of us are so invested in what happens to him because we might not know him but we recognise some innate goodness in him, and we can’t help but mourn for that lost innocence. I just want him to escape this circus and disappear and have life compensate him a million times over for everything that’s been taken from him.

Sorry for the trauma dumping in your inbox. I think you’re very kind (we’ve spoken through your asks before) and I really want to thank you for listening and responding. Have a nice day ♥️

hi angel!

first of all don’t apologize for your ask, i love having conversations with you all, no matter what the subject is or how heavy the topic might be <3

i’m SO so happy you enjoyed my hc :,) i’m not gonna lie, i had a hard time starting it because i didn’t want to project on lu and really wanted to keep it as respectful as i could. that’s why it took me so long to post it (i’m sorry to my lovely anon who requested it and again thank you so so much for being so patient <333)

with that being said, i understand what you mean, i can’t say i haven’t thought of it myself.. like i said i’m sure lu loves his family and they love him just as much, and i’m more than sure they’re doing everything they can to support their son, no matter what conspiracy theories people might be throwing online; but surely it couldn’t have been all sunshine and rainbows if he felt the need to run away without a trace and be missing for months without contacting his relatives.

i remember reading something about his mother being very overbearing but i can’t remember where or how valid the source of that statement was so i brushed it off.

i think lu is the type of person who goes out of his way to always be of help and assistance to the people around him, i feel like that’s one of the ways he expresses his love.

i don’t want to say he might’ve been a people pleaser but i see myself in him a lot and i’ve been described as one so.. and at one point, it truly gets too much, you feel like you keep on giving and giving without receiving the same kind of support in return and it makes you question yourself like “am i not worthy enough of the same kind of love and support back?” even if you’re of course not doing those things waiting for something in return!

he might’ve been going through a lot mentally (and physically obviously with his back issues) that it just made him snap one day and he felt the need to start over or he’d never break out of that cycle, be there for everyone around me while i feel stuck in this constant suffocating feeling type of way.

i hope people keep donating even if we reach our donation goal, donate for his commission, donate on new funds that might be started later, keep sending him letters to let him know he’s not alone. i truly do hope he finally gets to feel like he’s not on his own, that whatever burden and trauma he might’ve been carrying with himself for years doesn’t have to be dealt with alone anymore, and most importantly, when he’s found non guilty on all charges and gets his freedom again, that he can live the life he’s always wished to live; no family or friendship expectations, no more feeling suffocated by his surroundings, just him taking all the time in the world it’s gonna need for him to not only heal from the unresolved trauma he might be carrying but also from the ptsd his arrest and everything that came with it is gonna give him, what he’s going through will never leave him and i wish i could take it all away for him i really do.

luigi is the type of man and person in general we won’t find again for another 50+ years, he’s so so special and i don’t even think he realizes how much. i remember saying this in a ask i answered once but, when i first saw his face i felt my heart drop to my stomach; i felt like i couldn’t breathe for a moment because he looked so familiar to me even tho prior to that perp walk video i had no idea he even existed. and i know how crazy i might sound for some and people might call this unhealthy parasocial behavior or whatever but i truly feel like in another life, i knew him; i’ve never felt this strongly connected to a person before without being able to explain it.

in the end, all i know is that i truly believe from the bottom of my heart that he’s innocent, and i pray and pray and hope to god, to the universe, he gets released a free man, and that he finally gets to be who he is deep down in his heart, and lives the rest of his life the way he’s always dreamed of.

[analogwriting]

The Other Side of Paradise

Chapter 18: A Tear in Space (Airlock)

Killer x gn!reader word count: 3.7k a/n: me??? disappearing without a trace for a month and a half??? i would neverrrrrr (if you happened to see the other chapter title, no you didn't) tags: @tremendoushorsepatrolgoth, @h0n3y-l3m0n05 @kattywhomper @ttalgi first|next

“So…what’s the deal with the masks?” 

You were currently shooting for the music video, but it was basic blocking and getting used to things. No real recording or official takes. Most people weren’t in their get ups, just loungewear. You and your band were also in comfortable clothes, but you were still wearing your masks, naturally.

“What do you mean?” You were looking through the blocking script, off stage by the snack table. Law was standing next to you, scrolling through his phone. They were currently setting up the next scene so you were taking some time to go over things.

“Exactly as I said it.”

You looked up from the script, glaring at him before rolling your eyes. He couldn’t see it, but surely he felt it because he shifted a little, clearing his throat.

“I just mean, we’re not recording video, so why wear the get up?” He straightened up a little, putting his phone in his pocket. “No one is in the outfits. Even you guys aren’t fully dressed.”

You shrugged. “We like to live in anonymity. It’s nice to be able to go out in public without being flocked.” You turned back to your script, making some small notes. 

“Well, still. There’s no one here besides coworkers.” He folded his arms, studying you as you worked on editing your script.

“And how can I trust that someone won’t take a photo for some behind the scenes or leak something?” You paused, turning to look at him once more, folding your arms.

Law was silent for a moment as he processed what you said. Then he shook his head. “Everyone here is under contra-”

“Doesn’t matter. People still leak shit all the time. We have our way of doing things. It’s not hurting you.” You were honestly annoyed with the sudden third degree.

The man grimaced, clearly not liking that you cut him off, but you didn’t want to talk about things anymore. You were absolutely exhausted. Things like this wore you out quickly. You were stressed because there were so many people you didn’t know. There were tons of people working that you didn’t trust so you had to be extra hypervigilant.

“Is the voice modulator even necessary? All four of you have it on. What’s the issue of us hearing your voices? There’s no way that-”

“What’s the issue in general, Law?” You set your script down with a long sigh. “It’s not harming you. This is just how we do things. We don’t trust anyone. This is our gimmick and it has been since day one. It’s one thing to ask about the masks, I get it, but to keep prying? You’re getting on my fuckin’ nerves.”

You didn’t even wait for a response before you walked off. You were too on edge, ready to blow. You needed to chill out before you said something you regretted or did something stupid.

--

The rest of the blocking went smoothly. Law didn’t try to talk to you again, but he did keep glaring. You’d probably have to apologize or at least apologize to Corazon. You were just stressed and overwhelmed with everything. You figured you’d give it a little time before approaching it.

It had only taken a week to get the blocking down, now you were doing the actual shooting. Technically, you were doing two songs. One that featured Law and his band was doing one that featured you. You didn’t mind, but you were tired already. You didn’t know if you wanted to collab again anytime soon. This shit was absolutely exhausting.

You still had a couple more other music videos to do. And recording in general. Your work was just getting started and you were ready for the biggest nap of your life and you weren’t sure when that was going to come into play unfortunately.

“Well, hey, Robot Voice.” You looked up from your clipboard. You were looking over some suggestions for changes that you were given. Law was standing there with a smug look on his face. You narrowed your eyes.

What the hell did he want now?

“Robot Voice?”

“Yeah. That’s you. Since you don’t wanna talk to us like a normal human being and use that voice mod.” You shook your head and sighed, you didn’t have time for whatever antics.

“What’s with the sour mood? Are we beneath you?” There was heavy mocking in his voice.

You slammed your clipboard on the table, drawing some attention to you for a moment before people went back to what they were doing. “What is your fuckin’ issue with me? I’m just standing here and you’re coming to bother me. What do you want? What is your goal?”

Law raised an eyebrow and snorted. “It’s like talking to his twin,” he mumbled. 

Your eyebrows scrunched together. “Twin? He? What are you on about?”

“Well, the last time you snapped at me, you kind of sounded like someone I know. The short temper, the language, the way you speak in general.”

You just stared at him, wondering if he was going to elaborate.

“You ever met Kid? You know. From the Victoria Punk?” You felt everything around you stop. The world stopped spinning, your heart stopped beating and you fell absolutely silent. You didn’t even dare move.

“He’s got a short temper like you do. You guys even have the same cadence in your speech. I wonder if you guys are from the same area. Where are you from again?” He looked over at you before pausing. “Uh…are you okay?”

You were clutching onto the table, the world had begun spinning really fast and you weren’t sure if you could keep standing like this; even breathing was starting to get hard. Reality was hitting.

Up until this point, it had been whatever for the most part. Sure, you were at the same company as them, but it hadn’t really set in just how close you were to your plan - to them. This was also the first time someone had said their names to you in a long time. No one in the friend group really said their names. Just referred to them as ‘them’ or not at all. 

But it was setting in just how close you were. To whatever outcome you were trying to achieve - that you would have to come face to face with them eventually. Could you even do that? You figured enough time had passed…

“Y/n?” The voice calling out was far away, but it couldn’t have been Law. He didn’t know your name. You looked over, but everything was blurry.

“Take off their mask! That’s clearly the issu-”

“Don’t touch them!” You heard a smack. “Gig! Get over here, we need your-”

Then it went silent as you passed out.

--

There were about two or three different voices mumbling around you. What happened? What was going on? Suddenly, it hit you. You’d more than likely just had some kind of panic attack from a mere mention of your old friends. You groaned in embarrassment, covering your face.

“They’re awake!” 

“Unfortunately,” you mumbled, wanting to disappear. You couldn’t believe you passed out because of that.

Slowly, you sat up, grumbling a bit.

“Are you alright? What happened?”

You took a moment to adjust to your surroundings. It looked like you were in the dressing room. Your bandmates were at your side and a couple of your friends were rushing to your side to join everyone.

“I-” You paused for a moment. Did you tell them? You sighed, might as well.

“I don’t really know. Law mentioned Kid by name and it just sent me into a tizzy…” You looked down at your hands, feeling Hop start rubbing your back. When you mentioned Kid, the room fell silent - a somber feel settled on everyone.

“I just wasn’t expecting it, I guess. I mean, I know we work at the same company, it was bound to happen but I guess…I guess it never really hit until now.” You let out a long sigh, covering your face. “Just threw me into a loop that’s all. Combined with working all day and skipping breakfast and lunch, probably just set me off.” You shook your head, looking at everyone.

“Sorry for worrying all of you.”

There were several protests to your apology. Didn’t matter who apologized and for what, there would always be protests.

“Well, everyone packed up for the day,” Hop began, motioning everyone to get back and give you room to stand. 

“So, let’s go get some dinner and rest, yeah?”

You looked at her with wide eyes. Wait, everyone packed up for the day? “How long was I out?”

“A couple hours. They assumed you collapsed from exhaustion and overall not taking care of yourself…” Hop glared at you as she paused and you looked everywhere but at her, avoiding her stare.

“They decided to call it a day. They wanted you to get some rest.”

You sighed, covering your face with your hands. You were so embarrassed right now. You couldn’t believe that not only did you faint in front of everyone because of the mere mention of your former friends, but for a few hours. Yeah, you also weren’t exactly taking care of yourself lately because you were trying to get everything together, but still. It was embarrassing all the same.

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled into your hands, your friends groaning and rolling their eyes.

“Apologize again and I’m going to actually fight you.” Bubblegum shook his head, standing up and stretching.

“Let’s go eat and get some rest for real this time.” 

You didn’t have a choice but to obey. You nodded with a small groan, your stomach rumbling at the same time. Well, good timing, at least.

--

Corazon cancelled work for the next day too, wanting you to rest. You tried to tell him that you were just fine. You had eaten, rested, and good to go, but he just insisted on you taking another day. So, you did. 

The next day you just sauntered around your apartment, working on songs and other things. It had become somewhat of a stress relief for you. You had never seen yourself as someone who would do something like this, but here you were. You had always been more logical and on the business side of things, you didn’t think you’d be a creative person. 

They do say that all it takes is a traumatic experience to bring out the artist in anyone, you supposed that’s just what happened to you. Your childhood love, best friends, and only family member you had left just up and disappearing on you was traumatic whether you admitted it or not.

“I thought you were supposed to be resting?” Bubblegum appeared out of thin air, making you jump. 

“Oh fuck,” you mumbled, putting a hand to your chest in an attempt to calm your now racing heart. “I thought you were out with Hop and Dive.”

Bubblegum snorted, shaking his head as he handed you a bottle of water. “Nah. I decided to take this time to tweak with the masks a bit.” He shrugged, drinking from his own bottle before plopping on the couch next to you.

“What are you working on?”

You shrugged, leaning back to take a swig from the water he gave you. “Nothing really. Just jotting down some lyrics and stuff that’s popped into my head the last couple of days. Some vent writing. Stress relief - those kinds of things.” 

He nodded, glancing at what you were writing. “Who would’ve thought an engineering student, a business student, a law student, and a customer service worker would end up forming a band. It’s like the opening line of a terrible joke.” 

You snorted before falling into a small fit of laughter. He was right - it did sound like the opening of some kind of shitty joke. 

“Well, now we’re here. And we seem to be really good at it.” With the rate you had grown, it appeared that you all were doing something right. And the dedication of your fanbase was something that just drove you to do better.

“True. But, look at us. We were all some of the best students. Of course we succeeded.” He snorted, standing up and stretching. “Alright. I’m going back to work. I’ll leave you be so you can do the same.” Then he headed back to his bedroom where you’re assuming that he just appeared from earlier.

You sighed, stretching a little before settling back down to work.

--

The day after your ‘rest’ day, it was back to business as usual. You acted as if nothing had happened, though people seemed to be cautious around you - as in, everyone was afraid to make you work too hard. Which honestly? Annoying as shit.

“Here, let me carry that for you,” one of the staff from the agency held out his hand for the clipboard in your hand and you finally had enough of it. Luckily, your friends that were working on set knew you well enough not to baby you, but everyone else didn’t seem to get the fucking memo.

“It’s just a fucking clipboard - oh my fucking god.” You slammed it down on the table and headed to the dressing room where you tore off your mask and tossed it onto the couch before sitting in one of the chairs. 

You were seething. You didn’t like this. You didn’t like the fact they were treating you as if you just woke up from a coma. All you did was faint. It wasn’t even that big of a deal - and you took a whole day off! You were fine now, why couldn’t they understand that? You weren’t even doing anything strenuous. You knew your limits and you were doing well to take care of yourself so it didn’t happen again.

You heard a knock at the door. “Who is it?” you barked, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“Cora.”

“Come in.”

The door opened and closed, signalling he walked in. You didn’t even bother looking at him. You didn’t want to take your anger out on anyone because it was just you that was just agitated. No one particularly did anything besides annoy you, but nothing yell worthy.

“I heard you snap out there. Are-”

“I swear to all things holy if you ask me if I’m okay I’m not going to be.” If you had to hear that one more time, you might just explode.

A sigh came from the man and he sat down on the sofa where you tossed your mask. 

“Fair enough.”

You turned around to look at him finally; he had taken your mask in his hands and was looking at it idly. You sighed, speaking calmly and slowly, trying not to be snappy. “Listen. You have got to tell people to stop treating me as if I’m going to break. Because this is actually going to drive me insane. I’m not some sickly Victorian child. I’m perfectly fine.”

“I just wanted to be careful. I didn’t need you passing out on us again. We’re already falling behind schedule-”

“Then you shouldn’t have had me take off yesterday! I told you that I was fine.”

 He set your mask down next to him as he leaned forward, looking at you with a serious and concerned expression. “And what if you passed out again? Then we would’ve been in the same position, if not worse. It’s better to take some time off when things happen than having to keep doing half days because you’re too stubborn to let yourself rest.”

You glared at him for a moment, falling silent. You knew he was right, you just didn’t like it. A harsh sigh fell from your lips as you folded your arms and looked away from him. 

A small chuckle fell from his lips and he shook his head, muttering something to himself.

“What?” You looked at him, still scowling. What was so funny?

“Nothing. Just thinking.” He sighed a little, looking at you. There was a fondness in his eyes, like a parent looking at their child. “There’s no ill intent. We just are worried, that’s all. I’m worried.”

You put your head in your hands. “You don’t need to be. I didn’t faint because of the work. It was because-”

“Because of what Law said?” 

You stopped, slowly removing your hands from your face to look at him. He had a soft expression on his face.

“He told me what you two had been discussing beforehand. It didn’t take me very long to figure out the rest.”

“So…you know…?”

Corazon sighed, crossing his legs. “What I know is that you’re related to Kid. I mean, the resemblance is there to those who have worked with him. You used to be close with the group and dated…Killer, I believe? However, whatever you’re plotting, I have no idea. I don’t know what brought you here, but I’m assuming something to do with them. It wasn’t my business to ask.” He shook his head, holding up his hands and you just stared at him.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Figured you had your reasons and you’d tell me if you wanted to.” He shrugged again, putting his hands in his lap. “You are quite secretive, after all. Figured you would’ve told me to mind my own business if I asked.”

You just stared at him for a long moment, processing. After a moment, you sighed, putting your head in your hands again. At least you could hear their names now without freaking out. And he was right, you would’ve told him to mind his own business if he had asked.

“I’m assuming that hearing their names caught you off guard, put things into perspective, reality hit you and it was just a lot to process. You fainted because you were overwhelmed. I’m sure your lack of eating and working so hard was also attributed but that was the icing on the cake.”

You stared at him through your hands. Maybe you had Corazon all wrong. You just thought he was some goofy and aloof guy, but it seemed he had his head on his shoulders more than he let on. He seemed to be more aware of things than you realized. It didn’t really make you wary of him, but you felt like you could trust him just a little more. Not completely, but there was an understanding more than before.

After a moment of silence between the two of you, you finally removed your hands from your face. Would you tell him everything? The plan? Or maybe you would just tell him what he needed to know. Though, he seems to have the gist of it. You sighed, straightening yourself out.

“Okay. You’re right. Kid is my cousin. We took him in when he was a child, so he’s basically like a little brother to me. Heat and Wire were our neighbors as was Killer. We’ve all been basically attached to the hip since we were small. Killer was my first and only love. We’ve been together since childhood.” Your voice began to strain as emotion clawed its way up your throat. Tears stung your eyes and you could feel a headache coming on immediately.

“They just…stopped talking to us once they made it big so…we wanted to get back at them. Make it big and then rub it in their faces. Only we wouldn’t cut off all of our friends. We didn’t forget where we came from like they did…”

Corazon listened to you intently as you spoke, saying nothing. He waited until you were finished. “Have you spoken to them?”

You shook your head, sniffling and wiping your eyes. “No. They cut us all off. We even went so far as to come up here, but we were turned away. We haven’t heard anything in so long. Over a year at least…” Two years? Time was running together and you couldn’t tell anymore.

The man across from you nodded as you spoke. “That’s why you have the masks and identity change? You wanted to do it anonymously and then just do an unveiling. Kind of send them into shock?”

You paused for a moment. “That’s the thing…” Your words trailed off, not knowing how to explain.

“You didn’t actually plan on getting to this point and never thought that far ahead?”

You looked at him for a moment. He really seemed to hit everything on the head right now. He knew you better than you seemed to know yourself and it was weird. You supposed he was from the top entertainment company in the country and was brothers with the CEO, so he had to have some credibility.

A simple, jerky nod came from you. You couldn’t even speak. The words weren’t coming.

Corazon watched you for a moment and nodded. “Okay. Well, that makes sense.” He leaned forward. “You’ll figure it out as you go. I’ll help you however you need. I mean, as a manager, I am under contract to keep your identity secret so I won’t be tattling. Not that I would. When it comes down to it, this isn’t my business. As long as you do your part of the deal, making music and working with us, I see no issue.” 

He offered a small smile. “However, as someone who sees you and your band as one of my own at this point, if you guys need anything, just let me know. I’m here for you.” He reached over, patting your knee before standing up.

You just looked at him, trying to process everything that was happening. You weren’t expecting that kind of reaction. You were expecting to be called childish or insane for it. Though, you supposed he was right. As a manager it wasn’t his business why you joined this line of work. You weren’t expecting him to be supportive.

You watched as he walked to the door. “Now, pull yourself together. We got work to do, kiddo.” He winked before heading out.

What the hell just happened?

NEXT