#and somehow i believe the show will pass this test. lol.

[aprilblossomgirl]

hi! this is the anon from earlier today again!

i get the disappointment you’re feeling because same. i’ve been looking forward to the show so much, and now i probably won’t even get to watch it live due to work.

anyways, gmmtv is setting them up for failure atm, and it is upsetting for everyone - the actors, the fans and probably everyone who has been working on this project for months and months

there haven’t been too many shows that were broadcast on other paid platforms yet so there aren’t a lot of examples. 23.5 degrees and cooking crush are the most recent (and possibly only??? idk i can’t remember 😅) examples and neither trailer mentioned youtube and they also didn’t put any info about it being shown on youtube on twitter either. for 23.5 they only specified the countries where it was going to be shown on netflix. however, they DID NOT specify that the show was going to be put on youtube in all other countries

idk how the whole iqiyi thing is going to work either, but at the end of the day it’s just another subscription-based platform like netflix so they are definitely going to geoblock the youtube broadcast it in all countries where it’s going to be put on iqiyi - the iqiyi thailand twitter page is the only one having posted about it yet but ig it could include some other countries as well. also, for 23.5 they’re putting the uncut version on youtube and netflix so that’s an interesting fact

i don’t think gmmtv is going to say anything about this whole situation so we will probably have to wait until wednesday to find out if it will be on youtube or not 🙏🏻

Hi Anon, thanks for dropping by again. I don't think I can say much about this broadcasting policy by the company; I could only try to understand based on the published promo materials (i.e., the shows' posters) and perhaps a few 'conversations' among fans on twitter.

And you're right, now that I remember, I think it was not the GMMTV Official account that stated about 23.5 still being broadcasted on the company's YouTube channel outside SEA and Latin America, maybe it was the show's twitter channel or maybe the unofficial fan account of the show that already did the research so they could come up with the information. But I do remember reading such statement, that's how I ended up trying to watch the show on YouTube using VPN (I live in SEA so the YouTube broadcast is geoblocked since it's on Netflix). Some fans already said similar things about this whole We Are x iQIYI case. So, assuming the case would be the same with 23.5 (because both Netflix and iQIYI are paid subscription-based platforms), it is most likely that We Are will still gonna air on the GMMTV YouTube wherever no iQIYI broadcast available. But again, and as you mention that GMMTV probably won't say anything to clarify, I think I would want to wait until Wednesday to make sure.

As I mentioned in the tags of my previous ask/answer, I think all the uproar was more than just, if it's not, about the sudden platform changes. It was due to accumulation of many things concerning the overall promotion (including unclear information about the viewing platform issue) of the show by the company. So that's how things blew up. I would be very 'happy' if this all was just a misunderstanding of the information and turns out the show is going to be on YouTube. However, the thing with having different platforms is the challenge for the fans (both Thai and international) to do the live trending of the show while it was airing. As you might know, it plays an important role in supporting the show, the artists, and the show-maker that could be one of the things that lead to the show's success. So that adds to why things went a bit chaotic yesterday when the new poster of the show came out. Trending would be a lot easier if the show is broadcasted on the same platform across regions. But now we know that will no longer be the case, I'm afraid.

And finally, regardless of that whatever GMMTV is doing right now is not at all a favor to the show, I think it's still way too early to predict about 'setting up the show for failure' simply because it hasn't even started yet. The show involves four fandoms, and I trust that most of the fans are still willing to find a way to maintain their support for the show regardless all these 'chaos' :)

[midnightwriter21]

demon slayer hcs: the hashira men w/ a demon!SO that’s immune to sunlight pt2

characters: fem!reader x sanemi

warnings: blood, injuries, language, angst

pt. 1 w rengoku and giyuu HERE

SANEMI

this poor man can just never be happy huh

now i find it very hard to believe that sanemi would be with a regular civilian

he’s gotta know that his SO is able to take care of themself

SO

ur a slayer and you guys are paired up on a mission together

there were reports of several low ranking demons being sighted in a town

so Sanemi decides to split up and to meet back up when the sun begins to rise

when you don’t show up at the meeting place he knows something is very very wrong

tears through the town looking for you

and he finds you alright

laying in a pool of your own blood

haori torn to shreds

sword broken

he doesn’t even walk toward you

he’s frozen

his blood has literally gone cold

stands there staring at your broken body until the kakushi arrive

when they do they quickly realize that you are alive and sanemi snatches your limp body from them and SPRINTS to the butterfly mansion

he hands you off to Shinobu who gets to work immediately

he waits there for her to give him an update

and boy does she

you? a demon?

his sweet loving girlfriend is a demon?

it can’t be true. you were laying in the sun.

he tells shinobu this and she says that she’ll have to do some more testing when you wake up

it’s 3 days later when you finally do wake up

and when you do you’re greeted with 2 low ranking slayers pointing their swords at your neck

of course they had to keep you guarded in case you woke up and needed a snack

the human kind

screaming for shinobu she rushes into the room

she sends the slayers out and quickly explains what has happened to you

you ask for sanemi

and your heart breaks when she tells you that he hasn’t visited

not once since she told him what you had become

a few more days pass with shinobu running a bunch of tests

she concludes that you’re somehow immune to the sun and that you don’t have an appetite for humans

and still no sign of sanemi

he hasn’t responded to any of your letters either

when shinobu releases you from her care you head to sanemi’s estate

when you knock on his door he opens, looks at you

and then slams it right back in your face

so you leave

as the weeks pass you throw urself into training with Nezuko who you’ve become friends with

but other than to train you don’t leave your estate

you have locked yourself away from the world

believing that sanemi hates you because of what you are

a monster

it’s not until Genya visits you and sees how pitiful you look that something is done

Genya storms to his brothers home

the ground practically shaking under his steps

Genya literally slaps some sense into Sanemi

like actually slaps the shit outta him

Genya is the only person that could get away with something like that other than you lol

not 10 minutes after genya left your home you get a very hesitant knock on your door

you don’t answer

so Sanemi takes it upon himself to walk in

and he finds you sitting on the floor staring at the wall with a blank look on your face

he sets a gentle hand on your shoulder and you don’t react

you don’t move a muscle

you don’t even blink

it’s as if you’re in a trance

he takes in the dark circles under your eyes

and the frown that looks like it’s permanently stretched across your face

and the guilt hits him full force

kneeling next to you and pulling you into his lap

he buries his face into your hair

and he cries

“i’m so fucking sorry”

“if i didn’t decide to split up this wouldn’t have happened”

“it’s my fucking fault”

and then he feels you pull away from him

his eyes are still closed with tears slipping down his face

and then a small cold hand is wiping the tears from his face

“you left me” you say

and his eyes shoot open

to see you with tears in your eyes

he looks away

“i can’t look at you knowing that this is my fault” he says in between cries

“why are you here now?” you ask

he pulls you back into his chest and say

“Genya told me how you’ve been acting and I can’t stand knowing that you’re unhappy”

you push yourself closer to him and say

“if you want me to be happy, then stay”

he takes a deep breath

“i’ll stay”

[inkedroplets]

Wait what Lena/Peggy fic?!? I was scrolling and just had to stop and die a little at the possibility of this existing lol Lena Luthor and Peggy Carter? Two of my favorite characters ever? Together? Time travel? I don’t even care how, just want you to know I would read this ship soooo fast!

Not just time travel but Lena getting yeeted to another Earth.

I don't know where I would even begin to try and explain the plot spaghetti in my head. But essentially it would begin with Lena's portal watch malfunctioning and finding herself on a completely different Earth, scooped up by Coulson.

Much much later, (I cannot stress how much later) the time stone makes an appearance much later and Lena being Lena can't help but run a gamut of tests on it. Which sends her back in time where she happens to meet Peggy...

But here's a really brief snippet just for fun. It hasn't been edited at all and there's very little context but still:

“You wouldn’t happen to be an enhanced individual, would you, Miss Luthor?” Coulson asked

“I’m sorry?” Lena said, the first real hint of discernible irritation shining through her overly calm facade. “Where exactly are you looking, Agent Coulson?” She crossed her arms over her chest, the thin line that was her mouth somehow narrowing even further. There was a flicker of understanding and then horror that passed over Coulson’s face before his expression reverted back to that of a friendly but put-upon bureaucrat that would like nothing more than to punch out for the day. “At your file, Miss Luthor.” He held up a manila folder that he had obscured by his clipboard. “Or rather, what would be your file.” He tossed the empty folder down on the table. “The  problem is there’s nothing in it and not for lack of trying.”

“Does SHIELD not know how to use Google?” Lena glanced down at the empty folder wondering how anyone searching for the name ‘Luthor’  could come back with nothing to show for it. “Funnily enough we tried that too after we exhausted all other avenues. There is no record of, well, you, anywhere. Not a single hit on any of the databases my team scoured and before you try and impugn my team’s tech savviness again, our hacker was incredibly thorough. It's the first time I've seen her so perplexed,” he said. Instead of sounding annoyed or even angry he looked almost impressed. 

“So you think I'm lying,” Lena said, feeling that much was obvious. She was being interrogated, after all. Which was why it surprised her so much when Coulson shook his head. 

“No, Miss Luthor, on the contrary, I believe you are who you say you are. If you were going to try and obscure your identity with an alias, I assume you’d choose something less…” He looked down at his hands for a moment. 

“Less what?” 

“Less conspicuous. Lena. Luthor,” he said, enunciating each word clearly to hammer home the inherent strangeness in the symmetry of her name. 

“One of the many downsides of being a Luthor,” she said self-deprecatingly and gave a halfhearted shrug of apology. “Too many L’s.” 

Coulson who moments ago looked all too happy to let her ramble, perhaps hoping she might monologue her way into revealing something about herself held up a hand to stop her from continuing.

 “That's not the first time you've spoken as if that's supposed to mean something. Your last name,” he clarified. “Should it?” Of course it does, Lena thought bitterly.

[justanamesstuff]

well I was just thinking about all I need universe (as usual on my daily routine) and how/ when did Matty realized that he was in love with y/n?

Hold on...daily? Oh my god!! I do but i've written it haha you're so sweet anon ♥♥

About Matty realizing he's in love with Y/n,

Well, it's a difficult question...their past is still very unknown, even for me 😅 I've started testing the idea that they knew each other for years and then they found each other again but I'm not so sure about it. I'm thinking about writing the prequel...it'll be a long process and I can't promise when I'll share it but I'm trying to find the time. I did say i can't stay away from writing very long, and I miss writing them A LOT!

Apart from that (lol), I think and he told her during 'All I Need' that he'd been in love with her since the start, which I profoundly believe but with a twist. What Matty means saying that is that there's not a single time that he hasn't been in love with her...although this doesn't equals he was comfortable with the information at first. Matty being Matty (very stubborn) thought at the early stages of their relationship that he could control his emotions and stuff, and what he felt about Y/n was just excitement, a crush or something like that...but oh boy he was down for her since the start.

I believe the first time he fully realized he was indeed in love was after they found out Y/n was pregnant and the band was in the exact middle of writing/producing BFIAFL...I can see him rereading his lyrics and recording parts of 'All I Need To Hear' (not even 'I'm In Love With You'), feeling a pang on his chest, his blood dropping all down and thinking 'fuck, i love her'. And he cries about it in front of George probably, because he felt/think it's one-sided when Y/n was in love with him too but deeply scared too (they're really two idiots at first haha).

Another moment I feel is very important (a bit cliché but i see this happening) is during Amelia's birth. Matty wanted to take Y/n pain, help her somehow even though he knew he only could held her hand and whisper encouraging words. And when a nurse passed Amelia's little body to him so he could bring her closer to the mother...Matty is deeply in love with their child but with Y/n too, and he dared leaving a peck on Y/n's lips because he needed to show her somehow what he felt at the moment.

I'm so emo rn after this haha thanks for reading and liking this silly little universe means EVERYTHING <3

[ghastlybin]

HI HI HI PLEASE IF YOU STILL WRITE FOR ATZ I NEED A YEOSANG FALLEN ANGEL AU WHERE HE’S THE READERS GUARDIAN DEMON OR WHATEVER THE OPPOSITE OF THE GUARDIAN ANGEL IS AND HE ENDS UP FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE READER ~ overexcited atiny anon 🙈

I love how everything was all caps except “overexcited atiny anon” LMAO as always, thank you so much for the request :,) I love Yeosang sm and this also took a long time to WRITE SO thank you for being patient and sooooo sorry for being hella late on this ily <33333

Pairing: Fallen angel/“Guardian” Demon! Yeosang x (GN) Reader

Feat: Guardian angel! Wooyoung, (domestic) demon! San, Reaper! Seonghwa, Souls Keeper! Hongjoong, (domestic) Angel! Jongho, bestie! yunho, & other bestie! Mingi

Word count: 13,028 (estimated)

Genre/contents: Demon/Angel! AU, Angst, maybe *some* fluff but don’t quote me, past criminal! Reader AU also lol

!!!!TW: Lotta blasphemy, Lotta cuss words/ mature language, blood, anxiety/fear, nightmare, guns, knives, weapons, near death, hospital mentions, revenge, familial/loved one loss mention, *kinda* gang mention?, past criminal history, youredefgoingtohelllmao, murder, unresolved trauma, kidnapping, poorly written fight scenes, death mention but it’s only brief, angsty overall lmao

Note: Not much to say other than I have no creativity with original names so the main antagonist is just “your enemy” etc. lmao. Also I love Yeosang so THANK YOU for requesting him but also please never fcking tell him about this long ass fic lmao before I get on with the fic, also know that I *tried* with the whole romantic sub-plot, fluffy cute shit but if you know me you know I suck at those 🥹🤟 I also do not know how to end a fcking sentence or stORY and I have thoroughly pissed myself for making this long bc editing is hell, it is 3 AM as of rn its fine if this flops I will cry (jk jk) If you read this, I love you. if you don’t, I still love you. also beware it’s a bit dialogue heavy. Goodnight.

btw Yeosang in this fic is halazia era Yeosang but this was the only gif I found that he wasn’t smiling in which definitely isn’t matching the theme I had in mind lmfao

There was the belief that everyone had their own guardian angel watching over them. Some people believed in it fully, others merely acknowledged it, and the rest dismissed the idea.

Those who believed it often had guidance and lived fulfilling lives.

Those who merely acknowledged it went on to lead normal lives, whether they were fulfilled or lived terrible lives, it was considered normal.

Those who dismissed it led arguably worse lives than the normal route.

But no one talked about the demons.

The ones who raise anxiety within you when something around you was wrong. The ones who send waves of depression that in turn, make you cancel the plans that would turn out disastrous due to some form of danger.

They were the ones that took the guidance you were given and manipulate it somehow to keep you alive, even if a bit reckless at times.

No one ever acknowledged that maybe demons could be helpful.

Demons were aggressive, but they sure did get the job done.

Yeosang never wanted to be a demon. He trained and abided by the rules, well on his way to becoming a guardian angel for whichever soul he was assigned to.

He was the top-ranked angel, even.

All it took was one mistake.

“Yeosang. You’re up.”

Yeosang always did as he was told. He passed every test, treated everyone with respect, he did everything. He thought it was bullshit that one mistake suddenly demoted him to a demon.

Bullshit.

He could think that now. He wasn’t an angel anymore, though he still acted like one. He wouldn’t be someone’s guardian angel either. Not anymore.

“This is bullshit,” Yeosang spoke out loud this time as the head demon showed an ounce of surprise at Yeosang’s language.

“Ha! That was fast. Looks like I just lost a bet.”

Yeosang frowned. He still couldn’t believe his surroundings. Everything smelled like blood and gore and that was how it smelled before he was even let into the title fair.

“Seriously though, you’re holding up the line, fallen angel. Go to table eight.”

Yeosang forced himself to walk forward and into the gross, humid area where every demon was assigned a title, or in angel terms, your soul's commitment.

The real difference, other than being surrounded by demons who had immortal sins attached to them, was the fact that demons weren’t called upon individually onto a gorgeous stage in front of thousands of other demons, proud to be promoted as a God or Goddess, Soul Keeper, Guardian Angel.

No. Down here, it was Demons, Reapers…

“Kang Yeosang?”

“Yes.”

“You’re listed as a Guardian Demon.”

Yeosang began to laugh, causing the man at the table to give him a strange look.

“That’s not a real soul's commitment!”

“What the hell is a soul's commitment?” The man heavily sighed, leaning back in his chair. Yeosang still grabbed the name tag with his name and title on it, but still found it laughable.

“Wait! You already have a human soul bound to you.” The man called out before Yeosang had gotten a considerable distance away.

“What? Like a soulmate?”

“Is there a problem?” A guard came up to them. The man at table eight was now standing as well.

“Nope. I have this under control.”

Yeosang rolled his eyes, “I’m not supposed to be here. I’m a damn angel!”

“Alright, wait in the back of the line again and come back when you have an attitude fix” the guard roughly put a hand on Yeosang’s shoulder. Yeosang didn’t budge but he did flinch.

“Hey, that’s not necessary! I will handle him.” The man at table eight walked around the table and tried to get in between the two as much as he could. “He’s just in denial. They usually are.”

The guard scoffed, “I don’t have time for this. Next time he causes trouble, I’m sending him to the boss. You too, San.”

“You too, San,” Yeosang mumbled under his breath mockingly as the guard walked away. San slapped Yeosang’s arm, shaking his head.

“I don’t usually do that for anyone. You better be grateful.” San went back behind his table and gave Yeosang a small, rusted box that was way heavier than it looked.

“Doesn’t seem like it, but that contains any and everything you need to know about your human.” San sighed, “every memory, every fear, every-“

“Every happy moment?”

San shook his head, letting it slide that Yeosang had interrupted him.

“No. That’s in the angel department.”

Yeosang had already exhausted his explanation, I am an angel. He wasn’t about to reaffirm that to a demon.

“If I have any questions, is this where I find you?”

San scratched the back of his neck, followed by another head shake. “I’m just a volunteer today.”

“Volunteer?”

“Anyone who sins has to volunteer or they are sent off to any punishment of the boss’ choosing.” San sat back down in his seat, “I hear no punished demon has ever come back the same.”

Yeosang shifted the box to his other arm to be sure it wouldn’t fall. All while maintaining a curious gaze toward San, “So it can get worse here. What did you do?”

“I set one fire that just so happened to turn into one giant one- Which is not my fault! I’m not the one that stored kerosene in a shed built with rotted wood… Amateurs.” San looked around the place, waiting for another demon to come up to his table.

“It was so fucking cool though.”

Yeosang furrowed his eyebrows, “Sure. Where do I go?”

“Don’t know. Not my department. Just find a cozy spot and open the box, I guess. Get to know your human that may or may not end up here in less than a century.”

Yeosang walked off, having exhausted any questions he currently had. That wasn’t to say he wouldn’t have any later.

Y/N.

Yeosang read your name and looked into every detail of your life that he had access to. All the while he had found a spot in the corner between a wall and a trashcan that somehow had a slightly less atrocious smell than the entire realm.

He knew your fears, worries, guilts, sins, and pretty much anything that an angel wouldn’t have access to if they were promoted guardian angels.

The rusted box became less heavy as he absorbed more information regarding you.

Yeosang was actually fascinated by you and all he knew were considered the ‘ugly’ parts of you.

And somehow he did not find anything ugly at all.

His entire career as an angel, he was taught what makes a person a good person.

The more that he had learned about you only left an itching in his brain that wouldn’t go away.

How does any of this make a person bad?

Why was this information only demons had access to?

Yeosang closed the empty box after every bit of information had been collected and ingrained in his mind. He had no use for the box but figured he should hold onto it anyway.

He let out a disappointed sigh and looked up at the red sky above him.

Maybe I don’t need your forgiveness.

The past month swirled in his mind. Memories of his rise and fall as an angel created a bittersweet feeling in his chest that even he wouldn’t be able to describe.

I know I didn’t deserve to be easily replaced.

But those thoughts were just thoughts and Yeosang knew they wouldn’t change anything.

The land of the living.

Where everyone had to pay just to live. Everyone had to work and to no avail. Most lived from paycheck to paycheck that just ended up in the hands of the rich again and then it was back to work with no time at all for themselves.

Hell, even semi-immortal, you had to work every day. But not like this.

Yeosang had never been on earth before today. Only caught glimpses during training, but this is earth?

This had to be hell.

Yeosang looked for you. He knew your location. He knew your face, name, age, and even your height.

But he did not know your exact location. Just the town and building where your workplace was.

“Oh, what the hell.” Yeosang mumbled, his shoulders drooping upon seeing just how many people were in the building. Finding you would prove to be difficult.

On his first day on the job and he was already tempted to break the rule of never showing a human your face.

That was a common Angel rule. Demons, well, they had no rules, technically. As long as you aren’t setting fires and causing mass casualties, that is.

Yeosang was an Angel. He was a perfect angel. At least he used to be.

“Yeosang?”

Until Wooyoung got into trouble.

“Speak of the devil and he appears,” Yeosang muttered, pivoting to face his friend.

“Devil? Pssh, you mean certified Guardian Angel?” Wooyoung grinned. Yeosang saw the halo and the very faint wings that only Wooyoung had.

Yeosang felt his heart sink. Jealousy, anger, grief, and even pride, all jumbled in the same pot that contained his emotions.

“Oh.”

Yeosang didn’t mean to hint at his disappointment. After all, it wasn’t toward Wooyoung. It’s not like Wooyoung forced Yeosang to save him from being denounced and outcasted.

Wooyoung didn’t send Yeosang to eternal hellfire, unforgiven, and all of his hard work amounted to nothing.

What was originally Wooyoung’s mistake, turned into Yeosang’s. Yeosang, who would- and did save his friend from the wrath of the gods and goddesses.

“I never got to tell you how sorry I am.” Wooyoung had immediately changed in demeanor, his grin was now a slight, sorrowful frown. “You deserve this halo more than I do.”

“Don’t. There’s no use in being sorry… Being a demon isn’t so bad.” Yeosang forced a smile, even though he was lying. Wooyoung knew he was lying.

“I know it’s killing you inside.”

“You were assigned to a human in here too, right?” Yeosang dodged the subject further. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to talk about it.

He did, but how to approach it? What to say? Would it make a difference?

“Yes. They are named Y/N.”

Yeosang froze, looking at Wooyoung in disbelief.

“My human's name is Y/N.”

Now Wooyoung was in disbelief. No one had told them that a single human would be assigned two vastly different guardians.

Amidst the crowd of people, their gaze had gravitated toward you, watching as you appeared to be quickly walking out of the building.

While Wooyoung saw your actions as you just trying to get home after a long day, Yeosang sensed the danger.

He had an immediate tunnel vision developed for you as well as the strange yet dangerous person who had been following you.

“Do me a favor and let me handle Y/N by myself.”

Then Yeosang left the building and followed the person that was following you.

You knew what you were doing when you pissed off the wrong person. Them being the wrong person only dared you to piss them off more.

All you did was minor. Setting a car on fire, cutting the brakes to their secondary vehicle, and causing a minor injury to this person that was after you, all were minor actions compared to what they did to you.

You knew they were following you, trying to get you alone. They’ve been attempting to ever since their discharge from the hospital.

They were powerful but you were smart.

You rounded a corner and immediately hid. The only problem was, this person wasn’t following you anymore. And judging by the tone they carried in their voice, it seemed someone had stopped them.

“What do you want? Get out of my way.”

You took this time to leave the area completely, now that they were distracted.

Yeosang felt you had left by the feeling of you pulling apart from him. He knew he couldn’t go a certain distance from you, that was just an unspoken rule.

However, he was not prepared for how excruciating it felt.

Yeosang fell to the ground in the most unbearable pain he had ever felt while the person, whom he had revealed to be a wanted serial killer and gang leader, had walked passed Yeosang and in your pursuit.

Yeosang reached his hand up to grab this man’s leg in an attempt to stop him but was instead met with even more excruciating pain from the memories absorbed.

He saw you and this dangerous man’s connection to each other. The man that caused you so much pain.

He murdered almost everyone you loved over a disagreement you had.

You were once a part of a team with that man. A partner in crime, only, you’ve both hated each other from the get-go.

Yeosang felt your emotions, your anger, your grief, but most of all, he felt your unwavering need for revenge.

Yeosang had regained his bearings, the pain eventually subsiding as he was met with the familiar scent of blood, rotting meat, and something he couldn’t attach an existing smell to.

“You’re welcome.”

San.

He must have spotted Yeosang and decided to check on him. Or maybe San brought him back from the land of the living.

“What?” Yeosang hadn’t meant that as a question but more as a statement. San smiled widely, picking Yeosang up off the ground.

“You’re welcome for saving you from having your soul ripped out.” San further explained. Yeosang was still very much confused.

“That’s what happened?”

“Yep. Go too far from your soulmate and not only do you possibly die, but they will eventually die an early death too.” San put his hand on Yeosang’s shoulder and led him towards a seating area as they trudged through a patch of mud and fresh blood.

“They aren’t my soulmate, that’s-“ Yeosang stopped himself and took a deep breath before continuing.

“What about their guardian angel?” Yeosang asked. He wondered if Wooyoung felt the same pain. Thinking about it made Yeosang feel guilty for telling him to stay away from you.

“Guardian Angel? Only humans who are on the borderline of redemption and damnation have a Demon and an Angel.” San sat down on a crate made out of human bones and motioned for Yeosang to sit on a similar crate as well.

“San,” Yeosang groaned, putting his head in his hands upon sitting down. “What does that even mean?”

San sighed in response, but further elaborated, “Y/N, a criminal, has one more screw-up with the law before they are either sent to your old Angel realm or to your current Demon realm where you will both be together, forever.”

San looked around the barren wasteland of fresh and old blood, mud, human bones, and even the occasional demon remains.

“It’s up to you and the Angel. If you succeed, you’ll have a better chance of getting them into redemption. If the Angel succeeds, well, Y/N is coming down here in our humble abode.” San pulled out a canteen full of whatever drink only San knew.

“Crazy how that works. Huh?”

You locked every available lock to your hotel room and even covered the bottom of the door with an extra sheet to avoid anyone from trying to pick the lock.

Nothing scared you, yet you were on edge. You weren’t ready to die, not without revenge.

But you weren’t afraid of dying either.

You received a call, forgetting to turn off your phone, only to see it was just Yunho.

“You can’t just call! What if someone tracks you?!” You spared any form of greeting and went straight into scolding him.

Yunho was silent for a few seconds after you ended your sentence.

“Well, hello to you too. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that they are moving into phase two.”

“What the hell is phase two?”

“Killing you. Y/N. They are planning to kill you.”

Yeosang listened from the corner of the room, invisible to you at the moment, but if you were to take a picture of him, he’d appear.

There were other ways he could make himself visible, even. But he chose to let it play out, observing until something was about to happen.

“Let them try.”

“Y/N, You need to leave town. As your current only friend, I beg you.”

“Goodbye, Yunho. Use a burner next time.”

You hung up before he could protest. You had a plan and you weren’t about to stop it in its tracks before it could start. Not even for Yunho, as much as you hated to worry him.

Yeosang sensed danger again. Only this time, it was impending. A danger that would come in a few hours. When you had gotten ready to sleep, Yeosang dreaded having to use his demonic abilities.

It was the only way, though. He wasn’t an angel anymore, sure, but he didn’t like being a demon.

“I am so sorry.” He mumbled. He touched your head with his fingertips and conjured the worst nightmare he could send as a warning about the impending danger.

Yeosang stood back, grimacing as you began to tremble and squirm, your breathing was out of your control and you had even begun to mumble fast.

“I am so sorry,” Yeosang repeated, looking away from you to avoid the guilt he felt. “But you should’ve listened to Yunho.”

Your heart thudded against your chest, your vision blurry as bile rose in your throat. You were running and whatever- Whomever- was chasing you would be an arm's length from catching you.

You were terrified. The earth beneath you felt like jello that would trip you at any given moment. You tried running faster, jumping, and even flying just to get away.

But to no avail, you were not fast enough.

You screamed as loud as you could, your voice catching in your throat as you slapped a hand against your chest.

You were in the hotel room. The sun had begun to rise, shining through the curtains. You actually slept the entire night for once.

Yeosang couldn’t bring himself to make eye contact with you, despite you not being able to see him.

You had a nightmare, the first since, well… Since you lost almost all of the people you loved.

You knew it was because of your criminal past. You weren’t sure it was even in the past just yet, but the point is, you knew the dangers.

It was just your subconscious telling you to stay away, trying to instill a fear that would burrow itself inside of you until it’s deeply rooted in your mind to stop trying to get justice for your lost loved ones.

“I just have to push through it.” You whispered to yourself. After all, it was only a nightmare.

If you had a vision instead, well, you still would’ve had your mind set on revenge. Nothing was changing that.

Yeosang stared at you, dumbfounded. All of that work and his plan failed. His first time using his demonic capabilities and it was futile. Yeosang, already fed up, slapped his palm against his forehead.

“Oh my fucking god.” He really couldn’t bring himself to look at you. Yeosang stood up and closed his eyes, phasing back into the demon's realm.

“So, I read more about Y/N.” San poured Yeosang a drink, which he downed in one gulp a second later. “They set a vehicle on fire? Yeosang! Why did you gate keep that information?!”

“Gate keep? It’s in the public records.”

San rolled his eyes, hesitantly pouring Yeosang another drink, only for Yeosang to down that in one gulp as well.

“At least take a second to taste it. I brewed it using the herbs in purgatory.” San frowned.

“You can harvest herbs from Earth?”

“You’re funny.” San scoffed, “you’ve never met a reaper, have you?”

“Only the Souls Keeper. Hongjoong.” Yeosang allowed San to pour him some more of whatever he had brewed.

“Reapers are different from Souls Keepers.”

Yeosang groaned. The more he learned, the more he wished this information was just an unspoken fact. He wished there was a way to automatically know everything, whether it was shot up his veins or absorbed in his brain.

“Seonghwa is the lead Reaper. You can go into purgatory and meet him. It’s also your only link with other Angels if they agree to meet you… Maybe you and Wooyoung can meet and get on the same page or something.” San handed Yeosang a key that was larger than his hand.

“That’s my spare key. Do not lose it. It unlocks the gates to the purgatory realm and you won’t be able to leave without it.”

Yeosang looked over the key, turning it over in his hands, and felt the weight of it.

“Seonghwa has the only direct line to the Angels, so you’ll have to talk to him anyway. He’s usually cooperative with most of us demons. Shouldn’t be a problem.”

Yeosang stood up from the chair San had in his living space. It wasn’t much, but San didn’t seem to mind and it wasn’t Yeosang’s place to degrade a house that wasn’t his.

“Thank you, San.” Yeosang held the heavy key in his hands, flashing a quick smile at the younger demon. San smiled back, only wider and longer lasting than Yeosang’s.

It didn’t take long for Yeosang to find the gates leading to purgatory. Especially with the key he had. He wondered if it would have appeared without the key.

Yeosang lifted the key and fit it perfectly into the keyhole before turning it. The black gates had creaked open, the sound echoing throughout both realms.

Once the gates had opened, Yeosang retrieved the key to honor San’s wishes. Yeosang was pleasantly surprised by the change in scent. It wasn’t much of a change, but it sure was better than the amalgamation of many horrid stenches.

“Seonghwa?” Yeosang called out. He had never stepped into the purgatory realm before. Yeosang was then startled by a tapping on his shoulder, immediately turning to face whomever it was.

“You called?” Seonghwa, presumably, raised an eyebrow, dropping the arm he used to tap Yeosang’s shoulder, to his side.

“Yes… I’m Yeosang, I was-“

“I know who you are. You’re the Fallen Angel. The first Guardian Demon.” Seonghwa nodded in the direction he had begun to walk. Yeosang followed, surprised at how much Seonghwa knew about him.

Word must travel fast.

Seonghwa took a deep breath, inhaling the mist that blanketed the realm.

“I admire what you did for Wooyoung.”

“You know what happened?” Yeosang furrowed his eyebrows. He felt a sense of dread, hoping the truth wouldn’t come out and then Wooyoung would be stripped of his Guardian Angel title.

His soul's commitment.

“You’d think your gods and goddesses would know all. But I won’t tell anyone. I know everyone’s story. And if you don’t believe me, ask Hongjoong. He knows the truth too.” Seonghwa gave Yeosang a quick pat on his back. “Hongjoong and I, are not bound by rules or contracts or commitments. We will not tell a soul.”

Yeosang scratched the back of his neck as he followed Seonghwa. “It’s good that you know Wooyoung because I have to talk to him.”

“Can’t.” Seonghwa’s reply was so quick that Yeosang wasn’t sure he heard him right.

“What?”

“Wooyoung is busy with his human. I can’t contact him directly right now.”

“Damnit!”

Seonghwa laughed, “Just go to Earth. What’s the worst he can do? Kill Y/N?”

“Yes!” Yeosang ran back towards the gate, lifting the heavy key again and repeating the process of entering, by exiting.

Yeosang felt you near.

He also felt Wooyoung near. And as soon as he found Wooyoung, Yeosang pushed Wooyoung against a wall, angrily pinning him to it.

“What the hell?! I told you to let me handle them!”

“I can’t just stay away! They are my human too!” Wooyoung stared at his friend, wide-eyed. Yeosang loosened his grip and let him go, not wanting to hurt him.

“You know if you help them, they will be commissioned as a demon.” Yeosang glanced over at you as you continued walking, unbeknownst of their short-lived conflict.

“I know. But there has to be another way without you traumatizing them.” Wooyoung crossed his arms. Yeosang shot a glare at him, following you as he started to feel a tinge of pain the further you walked away.

“It was one goddamn nightmare… And it didn’t work. They are dead set on getting revenge.”

“I can change that!” Wooyoung jogged after You and Yeosang and met his friend's pace.

“You need to go back to the Angel realm and let me handle Y/N.”

“Are you upset with me? I said I’m sorry.”

“Sorry won’t make the gods and goddesses forgive me! It was humiliating, Wooyoung! You shouldn’t have been getting into shit you knew you weren’t supposed to!” Yeosang halted his steps and faced Wooyoung. Every ounce of hurt was evident on Yeosang’s face.

“Yeo-“

“You saw how fast they replaced me! They didn’t give me a second chance! If you make another mistake, I won’t be there to save you!”

“Then why did you?! Why did you lie and say you did it?”

Yeosang was on the verge of letting every tear he held back puddle to his feet. Wooyoung manipulated the future Guardian Angel database. Hacked into it, as humans would call it.

“Because…”

Wooyoung wanted to be sure that his friend had been granted the Lead Guardian Angel souls commitment. But he was caught by Yeosang, who took the fall for it as Angel guards were immediately alerted.

Yeosang yelped, the pain he had ignored had grown significantly larger the further you had walked away. Wooyoung was unaffected.

“Yeosang? Are you okay? What’s going on?” Bombarded by questions, Yeosang had attempted to crawl toward your direction in an attempt to lessen the pain.

He felt a chill run down his spine, sensing danger coming your way.

“Y/N!” Yeosang yelled just before his vision had darkened as the excruciating pain had become too unbearable.

Your mortal enemy was powerful. That was a fact. You were smart. That was also a fact.

You were alert, but he was strong.

You were guarded, but he outnumbered you.

You were even stubborn, but in your mind, you had to be. Otherwise, bad things would continue to happen to good people.

And maybe you weren’t a good person before, but god, you were trying.

One more sin and you swore you would leave it all behind.

It almost cost you, though.

The copper taste filled your mouth as you were splayed on the ground, bleeding and twitching from the pain of being battered by a blunt object repeatedly.

Any ounce of you that fought back before had since depleted, a groan leaving your lips after each hit.

Only for a second did you see the silhouette of a man watching you from afar as you lay there on the pavement, running on your last bit of fumes.

The silhouette walked closer to you and the pain you felt had soothed away somehow. That, or you were completely numb.

“Close your eyes.”

Yeosang shot upright in an unfamiliar- and uncomfortable bed, trying to calm his panicked breaths. He felt you nearby, yet so far away.

He felt the pain you experienced as if it were his own and there was nothing he could’ve done to stop it during the time he was unconscious.

He even saw Seonghwa. His face was the clearest thing you and Yeosang saw while you were struggling to get back up.

You weren’t dead. Yeosang wouldn’t be able to feel the connection if you were. Then again, Yeosang has never experienced being someone’s Guardian.

Nor was he taught what it felt like if they ever died.

He could see you. Your location was vivid in his mind. The beeping of the monitors that kept track of your vitals. The sterile scent, the bright fluorescent lights, the hospital bed, the IV in your arm, how it felt, even. Yeosang saw, smelled, heard, and felt it all.

And then he appeared in that same room as you. He tried to will you into waking up. He shook you, tapped you, and even tried calling your name.

You weren’t waking up.

You weren’t dead either.

Some would say you were stuck in limbo. Purgatory wasn’t limbo. The mist obstructed your vision and nothing hurt anymore. You knew you were hurt, physically and emotionally, but you couldn’t feel it.

You saw the silhouetted man again, only this time he wasn’t a silhouette. Striding toward you, it seemed as if the mist had parted ways to let him through.

“Am I dead?”

“Why does everyone ask that?” Seonghwa couldn’t help but laugh. You failed to see the humor in it though.

“I feel…” you pondered what you felt inside if it wasn’t any more hurt.

“Free? Dead? Scared?”

“Happy.” You spoke. “I feel happy.”

Seonghwa gave you a soft nod and an empathetic smile. “I see. You have lived a tough life.”

“I will wake up soon. Won’t I?” Your heart sank a little at the thought of having to go back. You knew it would entail more continuous pain and disappointment of having failed your mission of getting revenge.

“Yes. It’s not your time. Not yet. You are just here temporarily.” Seonghwa walked closer to you and put his hand on your shoulder. “Sorry to say, but you have to return now.”

Your eyes shot open, immediately recognizing the room you were in. All at once, the pain you’ve felt for years and the pain you’ve gained from being beaten almost to death had collectively returned without a single minute to spare you any preparation.

Tears brimmed your eyes and you couldn’t help but let out a quiet whimper.

“Finally.” A voice you have never heard before startled you, a deep echo traveled through the almost silent room aside from the beeping of the monitors.

You turned your head as much as you could muster and saw him. Black hair, dark eyes, soft skin, a birthmark near his eye, and a faint outline of ash and flame around his body.

“You are difficult, you know that?” He sat in the chair across the room from your bed and he had one foot on the chair, hugging his knee to his chest.

“I’m tired of trying to anonymously guide you. You haven’t listened once, I hate traumatizing people and I can’t keep letting you stress me out like this.”

“Who the hell are you?” You asked, slowly- and painfully, sitting up.

“I’m Yeosang. Your Guardian… Demon.”

“Guardian Demon? That’s not real.” You questioned. Yeosang groaned, “I know, right? Who thinks up these titles?!”

“For a demon, you are handsome.” You rubbed your eyes. You were convinced you were dead for a second, but you remembered the mist-blanketed place you were just in, the man that seemed way too mystical to be real.

You wouldn’t have believed Yeosang was an actual demon if you hadn’t met that mysterious man.

“You actually believe me? Like, you’re not even gonna call bullshit?” Yeosang sat up, straightening his back. You shrugged, “I met another handsome man in this mist-covered area and nothing hurt, so, I might as well believe you too.”

“Ah, you met Seonghwa.” Yeosang stood up and walked towards the window, peeking outside. He sensed danger imminent, again.

“What are you supposed to do? Just guide me?” You asked, “are you like a Guardian Angel?”

“Would’ve been. But yes, in a way. I sense danger, I try to scare you away. The only problem is, you’re fucking difficult to scare and it’s even more difficult to keep you alive.” Yeosang looked at you, crossing his arms.

Ash sprinkled to the ground and disappeared a second later before repeating every time he moved. You weren’t entirely sure he was aware of it. Or how cool it looked to you.

“You’re not very good at keeping people alive.” You glanced at the monitor beeping.

“You’re not very good at minding your own business,” Yeosang remarked. You smiled with a tilt of your head.

“It is my business.”

Yeosang rolled his eyes in defeat. You had a point, as much as he didn’t want to admit it. You were after a guy you had years of beef with.

“Since you’re a demon,” You smirked, pausing to make sure he was listening. When Yeosang raised his eyebrows, his arms still crossed over his chest, you continued.

“Want to help me break out of here?”

Yeosang was still an Angel.

He was kind, despite his witty sarcasm, but you found him to be funny, he was gentle with you and even showed guilt if he thought he had accidentally hurt you, and you’ve noticed how shy he is- For a demon.

He was an Angel in a Demon form. Misunderstood, even. But you didn’t know the full story.

Even if you did, it wouldn’t change your mind. That was one thing you guaranteed.

He took care of you after breaking you out of the hospital, though he still felt conflicted on whether he really should’ve or not.

Point is, Yeosang was gentle with you. He nursed you back to health and was careful not to add to the pain you already felt. You were further unconvinced that he was a demon.

The outline of animated ash and flame did little to nothing to convince you.

You had spent days- Weeks, with him and he never left you. You weren’t aware of what happens when he’s a certain distance from you. He never told you either. He was shy, he made you laugh, he took care of you, watched over you, warned you when he sensed something or someone dangerous, and he tried to help you deal with your pain.

Yeosang, this Yeosang? He was anything but a demon.

He was like your safe place. Your comfort zone.

He was an angel. A misunderstood, fallen angel.

For some reason, fallen angel seemed more incorrect than a demon.

Yeosang knew everything about you too. Your darkest parts, your regrets, fears, everything. And not once did he ever interrupt you to say, “I know.”

He listened.

He learned.

And he accepted you for you.

He wasn’t a demon.

Yeosang had left a note for you while you slept, telling you he would return soon, and that he needed to speak to a friend of his in the demonic realm.

Aside from leaving a note, he left you alone while you slept, avoiding touching you and giving you another nightmare. He still felt lingering guilt from the first nightmare he had given you.

Yeosang trudged through mud mixed with fresh blood and remains, remembering how rancid the scent was down here.

He followed the path until he came upon a familiar, yet dilapidated shack.

San immediately opened the front door as if to expect Yeosang. That same smile he always had was plastered on his face.

Yeosang found himself smiling back.

“Welcome back!” San and Yeosang entered the shack, it was in the same condition it had been in before, but Yeosang didn’t complain.

“How is Y/N?” San poured Yeosang a drink and judging by the smell of it and the way it sizzled, this had been a new and different drink.

“They are okay. Recovering nicely too.” Yeosang accepted the drink and stared at the sizzling liquid.

“Good. You gonna deal with the guy that caused them weeks of recovery or are you still living by angelic means?” San sat beside Yeosang, noticing his stare towards the cup he held in his hands. San chuckled. “I call this masterpiece, blood ocean. It’s not actual blood, though… Ew.”

Yeosang took a sip and immediately tried to suppress the cough he needed so desperately to let out. San laughed in response, “I know. It’s strong. But it’s non-alcoholic if that makes it better.”

“No, not at all.” Yeosang cleared his throat. “By the way, I am not living- But of course, I’m going to deal with this guy. Y/N… They deserve better.”

“Even after all they’ve done before?”

Yeosang nodded without a moment's hesitation, “if you knew them, you’d see the way I do.”

San took a sip from his cup, ingesting it better than Yeosang had. Then he stood up again to take his cup to what would be considered San’s kitchen. Yeosang took another sip, only to decide he couldn’t handle the rest of it, and gave the cup back to San, still full of the strangely edible liquid.

“Blood ocean, is made with a herb from the Angelic Realm, believe it or not.” San came back to sit beside Yeosang. “I asked Seonghwa to retrieve some from Jongho while you were on an Earthly vacation.”

“Jongho… How is he?” Yeosang coughed into his elbow as he asked. San smiled.

“He seems busier since you’ve been demoted… Or promoted… We couldn’t meet up directly but he still passed on some herbs.”

San leaned back in his chair and observed Yeosang. The ash from his outline fell around him, but never on him.

“Do you like having Y/N as your first human?”

“Yes.” Yeosang didn’t hesitate, “I care about them. I like the aura they have. I like that they don’t see me as someone bad just because I’m a demon now. So, yes. I do like having Y/N as my first human.”

“Hm.” San stared at Yeosang for a moment, followed by silence. Yeosang took a deep breath, the aftertaste of blood ocean lingered in his mouth.

“Do you like Y/N?”

“Yes.” Yeosang felt like he was repeating himself. San chuckled, “romantically?”

Yeosang froze. He thought about it before. When you were talking to him about your happiest moments. How he wished he could absorb that feeling too rather than just the bad. He remembered how your eyes lit up as you recalled those memories.

He remembered the way your eyes lit up at a lot of things you spoke about. Your favorite things, mainly, but the memories he, as a demon, couldn’t see or feel.

But he still loved every second.

“Yes,” Yeosang responded after what San felt was an eternity. “I… I do.”

“Never heard of a demon and human relationship before.” San’s smile dropped and Yeosang felt the energy in the room darken even more, considering the realm they were in.

“It’s not forbidden if that’s what you’re wondering. But,” San sighed, leaning forward. “It will hurt when they inevitably die. Even if a human is destined as an angel or demon, it would be years, centuries, lifetimes- your lifetime, before you see them again.”

Yeosang didn’t speak. He just stared at San and tried to grasp the meaning of what San had just said.

“I won’t stop you, but I do ask that you are prepared for the inevitable.”

You, a human, who Yeosang had grown attached to. You who had the power, unknown to you, of breaking a demon’s heart.

If a broken heart was the worst he would get in the end, then he wasn’t afraid. He would go through that kind of pain over and over again if he could if that meant he could see you smile.

Yeosang felt a strange euphoria that had been short-lived when imminent danger clogged his senses.

“Ah, I have to go.” Yeosang rose to his feet and began to head for the door. “Y/N is in danger again.”

San softly laughed, “Already? They usually this stubborn?”

“Oh yeah.”

Like that, the door had closed behind Yeosang and he had raced to the exit that led to the land of the living.

It happened in the morning, shortly after you had read Yeosang’s note. The disappointment and feelings of worry that he might not return, that maybe he just left you for good, had filled your mind.

It happened in the morning while you were distracted by your feelings of abandonment. It wasn’t like he would never return. He was bound to you.

But something awakened inside of you and you felt an attachment to Yeosang.

You were chained to a pipe in a gross, worn down, and seemingly abandoned room. Wherever you were, you knew no one would come looking for you.

Even Yunho, your only current friend, wouldn’t know where to look. And he always knew where to look.

There was one person or being, that you thought of. Yeosang. He was bound to you, after all.

He would know. And for the first time, since you’ve been kidnapped from your home, you screamed a scream that was meant for Yeosang.

“Yeosang!”

You were met by a slap from the very person that caused you pain. He grabbed your face roughly and forced you to meet his eyes.

“Yeosang, huh? Who is that? Someone else I will need to take care of?” He roughly let go of your face and began to pace again. “Someone else I need to release from this world?”

“Screw you! You’ll never succeed.”

You felt comfort, knowing that you were right about that. No one could kill a demon. How would they try?

“I already have.” The guy drew his gun and aimed it toward you. You remained still, unblinking.

The downside if he shot you? You wouldn’t live to see his downfall. The upside? You wouldn’t be in pain anymore.

You smiled, staring down at the barrel of the gun. Not because you wouldn’t feel pain anymore and not to piss off your enemy.

But because Yeosang was there.

And he was pissed.

“How many goddamn times are you going to keep showing up?!” Yeosang’s eyes appeared to have darkened, if at all possible. Your enemy could see him too.

You widened your eyes when the gun went off and Yeosang had been right in the line of fire, but Yeosang just laughed.

“You can’t kill something that’s not alive.”

Your enemy continued to fire and for the first time, you were given the satisfaction of seeing him in fear. Actual trembling fear.

You watched the scene unfold, and how Yeosang, your angel, had become a proper demon at handling the man who caused you so much pain.

“Didn’t think you had it in you.”

You were sat in front of Yeosang, who tended to any wounds you sustained during his visit to San. Your enemy had left in a hurry after getting the lights beat out of him.

“You did say I was bad at keeping people alive.”

“Pssh, I say a lot of things.” You eyed his hands that carefully fixed the bandages that had been slipping off.

“Do you still believe I’m a demon?” Yeosang asked. You watched the ash falling on your skin, only you never felt it.

“Well,” You took in a deep breath. Dust and the scent of mold caused you to scrunch your nose, “I watched you take ten bullets to the chest and you still beat his ass and you seem perfectly fine, so… Yes. I believe you. Always have. Sort of.”

“Sort of?” Yeosang looked at you, yet still held your arm in the middle of rewrapping a bandage around a pre-existing bruise from weeks ago.

“You’re more like an angel.”

Yeosang felt his heart skip a beat. No one referred to him as an angel anymore. No one considered him one anymore either, at least not in a serious way.

Until you did.

“We have to get out of here before he comes back with more people.” Yeosang proceeded to rise to his feet, helping you stand. His touch generated a feeling of anger and fear in you, but he wasn’t aware that his feelings would absorb into you.

Only what he intended was what he was aware of. Still, you somehow didn’t mind.

“Quitting so easily?” You joked. How hard could it be to take down waves of goons with your demon companion?

Yeosang just stared at you, a shake of his head following. “Let’s go.”

You followed him out of the abandoned building, which appeared to be an old church. You laughed at the irony.

“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be writhing in pain in the presence of the Lord’s home?”

“Oh my, a demon in church? Who’d have thought?” Yeosang kicked down the front door after it failed to open the first time.

“Common myth. But if you want me to, I will.” Yeosang continued to walk ahead with you following. You took in your surroundings, seeing nothing but an empty dirt road for miles.

“Now what? Drag me to hell and teleport me home?” You asked. Part of you was dead serious. You were already in hell, after all.

“If I drag you to hell, you will die.” Yeosang put his hands on his hips and thought for a moment.

He was stronger than you. He was a demon after all. You couldn’t take ten bullets the way he did. They actually passed right through him.

You would have died for sure.

“On my back, let’s go.” Yeosang compromised by opting to carry you to your house. You climbed onto his back, still sore, but at least you didn’t have to walk.

Despite how long the trip actually took, Yeosang’s speed made you question what it looked like to any cars that eventually passed by.

Were you invisible? Did they see Yeosang too?

Can everyone see Yeosang now?

“Wait, take me to my friend's house.” You realized you were more than halfway home and how dangerous it would be to just simply return after being kidnapped.

“Yunho?”

“How do you know his name?” You asked, yet immediately dropped the question, “Yes. He has a gate with a code to his house, let alone the cameras fucking everywhere. No one’s getting in or out easily.”

“Language,” Yeosang mumbled as he changed his route. He realized then that he didn’t have access to Yunho’s location. He wasn’t the human he was bound to.

“Please. You’ve said far blasphemous things.”

“Where does Yunho live?”

You shut your mouth, trying to remember where your friend lived. You weren’t bad with addresses, but you weren’t good with them either.

You just remembered that Yunho had a huge house, was rich, and maybe a little paranoid- which he would argue that he’s just trying to be safe.

And you believed him. He was the only person in your criminal reign that didn’t turn on you as everyone else had.

“Take me to the rich side of town.”

Yeosang began to walk again, only to stop.

“Where the hell is the rich side? North? East? South? West? I’m not a GPS, Y/N.”

You sighed, burying your head into his shoulder. Your memory was fuzzy, and you didn’t have your phone on you to pull up a GPS.

Yeosang walked you over to the nearest payphone. He helped you off of his back and allowed you to into the booth as he waited outside.

You used a coin you found on the ground and dialed Yunho’s number.

“Hello! Can I call you back? I’m in the middle of getting banned in fifty countries!”

“Yunho.”

“Oh, Y/N? Long time no hear… I was kidding about getting banned in fifty countries. Just trying to scare unknowns away.” Yunho awkwardly laughed on the other line.

“I don’t think you’re kidding,” You looked out at Yeosang, who had gotten distracted by a stray cat that actually let him pet it. “Remember when you said I always had a place to stay as long as you were in town?”

“Yeah.”

“May I use that offer today?”

“It’s night.”

“Oh my god! Yunho!”

Yunho’s laugh emitted loudly in the booth, even as you held the phone away from your ear.

“Yes! Yes! You know where to find me.”

“I don’t.”

“Again? It’s in the North. Want me to send Mingi?”

“Holy shit, he’s back? yes! I haven’t seen him in a while!” You grinned, glancing outside to see Yeosang suddenly surrounded by two more stray cats and giggling at their cuteness.

“Too bad. He doesn’t drive.”

“Then why did you-“

“Where are you? I will get you unless you’re wanted for something.”

“What? Like getting banned in fifty countries? I’m,” you looked around for a notable landmark. “Just start driving by phone booths. You’ll find me eventually.”

“Fun. See you in three hours.”

You hung the phone up, opening the door. Yeosang was completely unaware that you were done with your phone call.

“Thought animals feared demons.” You crossed your hands. Yeosang looked at you, a bright look on his face.

“That’s very stereotypical, Y/N. Look how cute they are!”

You smiled at your demon companion actually showing happiness.

“Did Yunho tell you his address?” Yeosang asked, not looking away from the purring animals. You shook your head, still wearing your smile.

“He’s actually on his way.”

“Cool.”

Heart thumped, hitched breathing, and a lot of blood on his hands, Wooyoung ran through Jongho’s garden.

He knew Angel Guards would be on their way. They were always fast when sin was committed within their realm.

“Jong…Jongho!” Wooyoung stammered, his voice catching in his throat. “Jongho!”

Wooyoung frantically searched the garden for the other angel.

“Jongho-“

“What? Oh my… What did you do?” Jongho appeared, immediately wide-eyed upon seeing the crimson mess on Wooyoung’s hands and clothes.

“Accident! It- It was an accident! I just wanted-“

“Calm down, meet me in purgatory.” Jongho glanced behind Wooyoung, hearing the guards nearing.

Wooyoung nodded, ran to the nearest gate to purgatory, and entered the misty, gloomy realm.

Wooyoung wiped the blood on his shirt in an attempt to get it off of his hands. He wasn’t completely lying when he said it was an accident.

He never intended to murder someone, let alone another angel.

Nosey angel.

“Wooyoung, what did you do?” Jongho’s voice startled Wooyoung as he entered the realm soon after.

“Accident-“

“Tell me. Now. You have a lot of angels looking for you, it’s a manhunt up there right now so you have five seconds to tell me the truth.” Jongho was stern when he spoke, his arms crossed over his chest.

Wooyoung nodded, collecting his thoughts.

“Yeosang and I share a human. I only wanted to see how long their life was. I… Manipulated the database and absorbed the information to find out how long Y/N has to live.”

Jongho dropped his arms at his side, “so, back up. When Yeosang was publicly denounced for stealing information about the future guardian angels, was that actually you?”

Wooyoung began to cry, nodding. “Yes.”

“I knew it!” Jongho’s eyes went wide again. “Yeosang covered for you!”

“Jongho, what do I do?”

Jongho looked behind the older angel, seeing Seonghwa standing a few feet behind him. His mysterious aura parted the blanket of mist.

“What can we do?” Jongho asked, directly the question towards Seonghwa, whom Wooyoung was now aware of his presence.

Seonghwa didn’t speak and instead snapped his fingers, summoning Yeosang into the realm. Confused, Yeosang hesitantly made his way to the three.

“Wooyoung… That better be paint.” Yeosang couldn’t avert his eyes from the crimson stains on Wooyoung’s clothing and hands. Even more so concerned seeing Wooyoung had been crying.

“Yeosang-“

“What happened?” Yeosang didn’t wait for a second longer, pressing his palm against Wooyoung's arm and absorbing the negative memories he had.

Wooyoung pulled away, but Yeosang already learned what he needed to know.

At first, Wooyoung, Jongho, and even Seonghwa- for a split second, were expecting Yeosang to blow up at Wooyoung for getting into more trouble.

For stealing more information similar to what had gotten Yeosang cast out. For murdering another Angel who caught Wooyoung in the act. Wooyoung still not learning how to cover his tracks or lock a door.

But Yeosang was staring at Seonghwa, the Reaper, with a hurt and spiteful, volatile glare.

“You told me if I guided Y/N to the Angelic Realm, they wouldn’t die an early grave.”

“That’s true.” Seonghwa maintained his composure. He stared at Yeosang, waiting for him to continue. Jongho and Wooyoung stood silent, unknowing what to do, say, or even how to react.

“Two years is an early grave!” Yeosang yelled, shaking the entire realm. Wooyoung and Jongho flinched simultaneously despite not being the ones getting yelled at. Seonghwa, however, maintained his stance.

“Early grave is a grave less than their allotted lifetime.”

Something about Seonghwa’s calm voice only angered Yeosang further. The fact that you had two years left in your life wasn’t something he could accept so easily.

“What about Hongjoong? Can’t he change their lifetime?”

Seonghwa slightly smirked at the younger demon’s naivety. Still, Seonghwa snapped his fingers again, and Hongjoong- Who Yeosang, Wooyoung, and Jongho had seen around in the angelic realm on occasion.

“What?” Hongjoong walked towards the group, the mist parting for him as well.

“I have a favor to ask,” Yeosang glanced at Wooyoung. Hongjoong shook his head immediately.

“I’m can’t cover for your friend.”

Seonghwa looked at the ground, a laugh leaving his lips. Yeosang balled his fists in frustration.

“He’s asking for his soulmate.”

“He doesn’t have a soulmate.” Hongjoong looked at his wrist, checking the time ticking away on his watch.

“Let me reiterate. He wants his human to have more time in their life.” Seonghwa smiled. Hongjoong stared at Yeosang, an unfortunate expression following.

“That is beyond my capabilities. That is up to Y/N and Y/N only. I’m sorry.”

“Holy shit!” You entered Yunho’s house, immediately seeing Mingi. “You’re alive!”

Mingi grinned, taking his hand out of the bag of chips he held to give you half of a hug.

“I should be saying the same! You went AWOL for weeks!” Mingi seemed genuinely happy to see you, as you were with him.

“You went AWOL for months!” You remarked as Yunho had finished locking every lock on his front door.

“Oh yeah, sorry.”

Mingi held out the bag of chips, offering you some. You refused, though. Mainly because there were only crumbs left and Mingi knew this too.

There was something relieving about seeing your old friend in the flesh again. Alive, too.

As far as you knew, You and Yunho were ex-criminals. You, not so much, but Yunho definitely. Mingi was just the friend that tagged along but never participated.

He knew everything and never told a soul out of respect for you and Yunho. He listened to your and Yunho’s advice to lay low, for months until recently.

Despite not being the main target, he was still a target by association.

You were a team once and forever.

“Mingi! Did you lock the back door after taking out the trash?”

Yunho was cautious. Arguably paranoid and for a good reason. By the look on Mingi’s face, he had forgotten to lock the back door again.

Yunho let out a deep sigh, heading for the door. Mingi crumpled up the bag of chips after pouring the leftover crumbs into his mouth.

“If it makes you feel any better, no one would think to get in at this hour.” Mingi checked the time to be sure of what he said was true.

“You never know, buddy.” You gave him a quick pat on his back before walking by him to meet Yunho at the back door.

You stopped in your tracks, hearing an all too familiar voice. Multiple voices. Yunho was compliant, but if it were you, you wouldn’t have been.

“Where is Y/N?”

“Why is your face bruised?” Yunho asked, immediately followed by a groan.

You heard footsteps, and returned to Mingi, pulling him towards the safe room Yunho had installed.

“I need you to be quiet or so help me, Mingi.” You whispered to your confused friend as you slowly and quietly shut the door before covering it with something to make the door less obvious.

You ran up the stairs, looking for a weapon before the other guys found you. The ones who turned on you despite all you’ve done to save their asses.

Didn’t matter now. What mattered was keeping Yunho alive somehow. The worry and fear you felt, you weren’t sure if it were Yeosang trying to warn you to stop and just hide with Mingi, or if it were your feelings.

The fear you would lose Yunho too. PossiblyMingi too, if he attempted to come out from hiding.

Where do you keep the weapons?

He had to have one. No one has this much security and doesn’t have a weapon for added protection.

You turned a corner in Yunho’s giant home, feeling compelled to enter a room you had never been into. It had a layer of security to it as well and for a split second, you wondered why Yunho never used a burner phone for phone calls.

That was beside the point. You knew the password to this door, somehow, and behind it was an arsenal of weapons you never thought Yunho kept.

How he obtained them? You don’t know.

You grabbed a gun, ammo, and a knife that you could easily conceal, and left the room, heading downstairs.

All this while Wooyoung watched you, cursing himself for only being able to give you positivity. He needed Yeosang for this.

As bullets were fired, Wooyoung panicked and Yeosang appeared in that same room with him.

“I’m sorry. It didn’t work! They won’t stay away!” Wooyoung profusely apologized. Yeosang grabbed a short sword Yunho had and offered a look of reassurance to his angel friend.

“Calm down, and leave it to me.”

Yeosang followed your path throughout the house, seeing you as you shot back. He saw your enemy as well, how he ordered a retreat all while having two others take Yunho with them.

“Yunho!” You screamed, running towards them. Yeosang grabbed your shoulders and instilled as much anxiety and fear into you until you had second thoughts.

“Stop! He’s my friend!” You began to cry a stream of frustrated tears. “He’s my only family left!”

Yeosnag didn’t let go of your shoulders but hated every second of it. The fear, the anxiety, the hurt he was causing you. It was debilitating you but it was for your well-being, as strange as that was.

Yeosang squeezed his eyes shut, wanting to scream from your now shared pain, but he held it in as you collapsed to your knees in a hyperventilating, sobbing heap on the carpet in Yunho’s home.

“I’m so sorry,” Yeosang muttered, knowing those were just words in the end. You weren’t any more calmed hearing those words.

Your only family, found family, was in the hands of your enemy. Someone you knew was dangerous. Someone who almost killed you, twice even.

“Yeosang, you have to save Yunho!” You cried out as Mingi pushed his way out of the concealed safe room door. Mingi watched with a frown, seeing you a mess.

He noticed Yeosang too. The outline of ash and flames around his body continued to fall and crackle in a consistent movement.

Then he noticed Wooyoung, who had come down the stairs. His faint halo and wings had a pattern unique only to Wooyoung.

“We can’t,” Wooyoung spoke up, overhearing everything. You looked at him, tears in your eyes. The halo and wings gave his title away.

And you wondered where he had been all this time. You wiped your eyes, your sorrow being replaced by cold, frustrating anger.

There would come a day when you weren’t constantly living in fear, loathing, vengefulness, or regret. Where your heart wouldn’t be in it anymore to keep fighting the wars waging in your mind and with your enemy.

“Why the hell not? You’ve saved me! Why not Yunho?” You argued.

“Yunho isn’t our human.” Yeosang swallowed back the lump in his throat. His emotions were just as high as yours were.

“Well, he’s my human!” You yelled, forcing yourself to stand up again. You couldn’t believe what they were saying.

You would fight for him, as long as it took. Yeosang knew this. Wooyoung knew this.

Yunho was your family. Mingi was your friend.

And they knew you would never give them up so easily.

“I love you.”

You weren’t sure you heard him correctly. Your mind was just playing tricks on you- The demon? The angel? Was any of it even real?

“Now’s not the time.” You tried to walk past him, only for Yeosang to appear in a swift movement in front of you.

“I know. But I love you. I shouldn’t, but I do and I can’t lose you. So please just-“

“So you understand. I can’t lose Yunho.”

“You can’t save everyone.” Yeosang took a deep breath. You scoffed as tears began to leak out of your eyes once more.

“I haven’t saved anyone.” Your voice cracked, and for probably the first time, Yeosang had wrapped his arms around you tighter than you could imagine.

And despite the negative feelings you absorbed from each other, it was the most comforting hug you’ve received in years.

“You saved me,” Yeosang mumbled low enough for only you to hear. Wooyoung and Mingi glanced at each other, silent and confused.

“You want me to save Yunho, I will have to relinquish you as my human and switch with his guardian.” Yeosang cupped your crying face into his hands, wiping your tears away with his warm thumbs.

“Yeosang, no. You may never see Y/N again if you do.” Wooyoung spoke up, moving closer to where you two stood. Mingi took this as an opportunity to speak now.

“Hi, yeah, what’s going on?” Mingi leaned against the railing of the stairs. His head began to hurt from the confusion.

No one responded.

Yeosang accepted the possibility. He told you how he felt, he got to hold you one last time, and now he’s going to save Yunho.

For you. The mortal he would never be able to spend eternity with.

“I’ll do it.” Yeosang felt numb. Wooyoung shook his head.

“I will,” Wooyoung announced. “You know Y/N more than I do. I will be Yunho’s new Guardian Angel while I still can.”

You felt relief fill your chest, your guardian angel- whom you’d barely met, was going to take over as Yunho’s guardian.

He would lead you both to Yunho.

“Hey! Context?” Mingi threw his arms up. You, Yeosang, and Wooyoung looked at him.

“The context is; Go upstairs and get a weapon.” You ordered. “We’re getting Yunho.”

“That’s not context enough, who are they? What is going on? I don’t know how to fight!” Mingi argued. You pointed upstairs.

“You don’t need to fight. Just defend yourself. Go get a weapon.”

Mingi sighed and reluctantly jogged up the stairs, stopping halfway. “I’m only doing this for Yunho.”

You smiled at him in response.

“He could’ve just… Had this one. I don’t know why I got it.” Yeosang lifted the short sword he had brought down but didn’t use.

“Yeosang.” Wooyoung cleared his throat, motioning towards the front door. “A word?”

Yeosang walked away from you and entered the purgatory realm with Wooyoung upon leaving Yunho’s house.

“You know I’m going to be cast out if I re-enter the Angelic Realm.” Wooyoung rubbed his hands together nervously. Yeosang nodded.

“I’m sorry. For bringing you down with me, I mean.” Wooyoung avoided Yeosang’s eyes as he spoke.

Yeosang brought Wooyoung into a hug, “I would do it again.”

Wooyoung felt grateful for Yeosang yet sorrowful at the same time. He felt another feeling, a feeling he didn’t recall feeling before.

He felt free.

No more strict rules, no more need to be perfect for an entire community of angels. No more fear of being caught doing something wrong or needing to filter himself to please the gods and goddesses.

Sure, it wasn’t bad. The angelic realm is and will always be everyone’s dream. Everything is better there.

But it wasn’t for him.

“Since I’m already damned,” Wooyoung started, pulling away from Yeosang’s embrace. “Any last requests?”

Yeosang grinned, “Find out Yunho’s location?”

“And?” Wooyoung raised an eyebrow.

Yeosang’s grin faded. “What?”

“Nothing. Watch over Y/N and Mingi.” Wooyoung began to walk towards the nearest gate into the angelic realm.

And Yeosang watched. The only thing he could do for his damned friend.

Wooyoung raised his hands in the air, a proud and fearful smile on his face as he walked through Jongho’s garden. Jongho hadn’t noticed Wooyoung had re-entered the angelic realm until he heard the commotion of guards rushing to arrest Wooyoung.

And Wooyoung smiled towards him, “catch you in the in-between.”

“That’s not what it’s called,” Jongho mumbled, watching the guards putting handcuffs on Wooyoung.

“Jung Wooyoung, you are to be detained and cast out into eternal hellfire for the sins of theft on two accounts and murder.”

Wooyoung was cooperative. He didn’t fight it nor did he show any form of remorse- Save for the angel he accidentally murdered.

The gods and goddesses didn’t see it that way.

But that didn’t matter.

It didn’t matter for Yeosang, who was falsely accused of theft, and it wouldn’t matter for Wooyoung, who did commit these sins.

“You are to be stripped of your soul's commitment to being a Guardian Angel within the coming hour.”

Wooyoung thought about Yeosang. He thought about you as well, and Yunho, who was kidnapped by your enemy. Mingi, who openly admitted to not knowing how to fight, but was still ready to charge in and save Yunho with you.

For Yunho.

“Can you speed the process up?” Wooyoung mumbled.

“What was that?” A guard asked, giving Wooyoung a warning look.

“I said,” Wooyoung glanced at Jongho and Hongjoong, who had joined in to watch out of curiosity despite being on a tight schedule.

“Speed up the goddamn process.”

Yeosang paced, waiting for Wooyoung’s return. You and Mingi waited anxiously.

Waiting. Just like Yunho was waiting for someone to go save him.

“We’re wasting time.” You’ve had enough waiting. The anxieties that filled you, thinking of what could be happening to your friend at that moment.

“We don’t know where Yunho is.” Yeosang frowned. You felt helpless, and being bound to Yeosang, he began to feel it too.

“Sorry for the delay.” Wooyoung entered, out of breath as if he ran to get to you.

“They took for-fucking-ever.” Wooyoung had the same outline of ash and flames as Yeosang.

Every angel was unique, but every demon was the same.

Equal.

“Yunho. Wooyoung, where is Yunho?” Your voice was desperate in the words you spoke.

“He’s close,” Wooyoung answered, leading the way. Wooyoung winced and groaned with every step, now knowing the excruciating pain Yeosang felt when he was a certain distance from you.

A pain Yeosang understood all too well.

“I thought you said he was close.” Yeosang jogged beside Wooyoung. Wooyoung stopped and doubled over in pain.

“Everyone in. Yunho won’t mind, right?” You opened the driver's side of Yunho’s car and began to hot-wire it, failing to find the keys. Mingi shrugged, “he might mind you hot-wiring it.”

You successfully started the car up as Yeosang helped Wooyoung into the back seat while Mingi sat shotgun in the passenger seat.

“Where to?” You asked, peeling out of Yunho’s driveway. Wooyoung pointed a shaking finger at the street ahead.

You sped up, wondering why Wooyoung was in so much pain. That was a question you’d have to ask later.

The more you drove, the less Wooyoung felt as if he were being ripped apart. Yeosang kept an eye out, sensing danger.

“Here! That building!” Wooyoung pointed straight ahead. You came to a stop, freezing.

This was where you lost your loved ones all those years ago.

That same building, the paint peeling, the rusted door hinges, broken windows, and memories you couldn’t erase.

Yeosang wanted to shield you from it all, but he knew your determination wouldn’t allow him.

You were the first one out of the vehicle, Mingi being the second. Yeosang and Wooyoung followed before you two got hurt.

“Stay behind us, you can die. We can’t.” Yeosang instructed. You smiled, the helpless feeling fading and telling you indirectly, everything would be alright.

You would end this.

Wooyoung took the lead, sourcing Yunho out and finding him tied to a pillar. When the four of you entered altogether, the lights came on and you were all surrounded by the people of your enemy.

Some from before, and some new. But they all are against you. Yunho met your eyes.

He felt relief. Someone came for him after all. But it was short-lived, and he began to wish you or Mingi had never come.

Yeosang and Wooyoung guarded you and Mingi with their eternal lives, making sure no one came near you two. Wooyoung even kept an eye on Yunho, his soul being bound to him and all.

“Y/N. You showed.”

“Let Yunho go. It’s me you want!” You scowled, glaring at the man you called your enemy. He let out a dry laugh, standing beside Yunho.

“I know another way to hurt you.”

He had a gun, waving it around and threatening Yunho with it. It worried and angered you. The fear of losing another person weighed down on you more and more.

But while he had a gun, you had Wooyoung and Yeosang.

They weren’t here to be toyed with.

“If you touch him, I swear to god.” You clenched your teeth, fear evident in your voice.

Looking at Yunho, you saw how calm he was. He didn’t show fear despite the situation. All he wanted was for you and Mingi to be okay in the end.

“Y/N, get back.” Wooyoung grew impatient, charging at the speed of light, and disarmed the man that threatened Yunho. You and Mingi readied the weapons you two had brought along, though both of you were taken by surprise at what had just happened.

Wooyoung protected Yunho as the attack had set everyone else off into a battle.

Yeosang tried his best to protect you and Mingi, delighted to see how well you two held your own. Even Mingi, who claimed he didn’t know how to fight.

Yeosang sensed the danger. He always had, like an eerie premonition. He knew there was a chance you could get hurt at that exact moment.

He saw your enemy, the man who took so much from you, charge towards you when you were preoccupied trying not to get hit by the end of a bat or fist or whatever blunt object that was about seconds from connecting to your head and body.

It was a blur, really. You saw yourself about to be lunged at and suddenly you weren’t.

Your enemy had a crew, but you had two demons outcasted by their gods and goddesses.

Need there be any more of an explanation?

Two years had passed. Almost.

One more day and then it would be two years. Everything was okay again. You were no longer in constant danger, your enemies had been eliminated.

Yunho and Mingi were safe. Wooyoung and Yeosang were the kindest, angelic-like demons.

You, well, you finally began to learn how to live again. Yeosang, Yunho, Mingi, and occasionally Wooyoung were all by your side through it all.

You learned why Wooyoung felt so much pain back then when he was too far from Yunho. You learned that Yeosang had also felt that same excruciating pain.

You two were inseparable.

He treated you right, better than anyone you’ve ever been with, despite being a demon.

As unrequited as it felt, you loved him. He saved your life, what was left of who you called ‘family’, and you saved him, in some unknown way.

Yeosang was acting strange. He still took care of you, made sure there was food on the table, he did everything for you. A gentleman.

Until the end.

He dreaded the end. According to Wooyoung’s information, Hongjoong and Seonghwa’s confirmations, and your state lately, he dreaded the end.

One more day with you. However many hours you had left, he didn’t know. Wooyoung didn’t remember. Any information he absorbed from you, he no longer had access to.

Yeosang wasn’t the one who hacked a database. It seemed unfortunate at that moment. He never told you, though. Yeosang didn’t want to scare you any more than he already had to on occasion.

Yeosang tried his best not to let you know, given that you share each other's feelings.

“Tell me why you are radiating sadness.” You confronted. Yeosang forced out a laugh.

“What?”

“I know you’re sad, but what about? You can tell me, you know.”

Yeosang just smiled and you could feel his heart aching as if it were your own.

“I won’t be here forever. Who knows when I will see you again anyways.” You sighed, slowly putting a hand to your chest to soothe the shared ache you just felt. “Just know it will hurt when I’m gone and you didn’t tell me everything.”

You were only concerned about him. Despite him being a demon and semi-immortal, you still wanted to take care of him and help him the way he did for you.

“If it hurts, I will let it hurt. If it takes us years or centuries to meet again, I will wait.” Yeosang spoke, a slight crack in his voice when he did.

“Anything I don’t tell you now, I will tell you in your next life. And your next, and the one after that one. I won’t forget.”

“That’s so romantic… For a demon.” You placed a kiss on his cheek. “But you are kind of scaring me with all of this talk, so spill.”

Yeosang insisted nothing was wrong, even trying to hide his hurt from you somehow. He dreaded the end so much.

But he loved every second he was with you.

Time of death, 10:24.

The metal blade scraped across the dark red rock, marking another tally.

182,625.

Or, as Yeosang saw it, five hundred years.

All spent without you.

“Yeosang! It’s demon title day!” San startled Yeosang out of the gloomy state he was in as he stared at the new tally mark he carved.

“Let me guess, you’re volunteering again?” Yeosang tried to hide the fact that he wanted nothing more than to cry, impatient that he spent five entire centuries without meeting you.

Yeosang promised you he would wait, no matter how long it took, and he would keep his word no matter what.

“Nope. But you are!” San grinned cheekily. Yeosang frowned, closing the blade inside its shell.

“What?”

San grabbed Yeosang by the back of his neck and led him to the demon fair, where Yeosang had become a demon centuries ago. Yeosang squirmed out of his grip but continued to follow him.

Especially now that he was volunteered and that was one thing, if not the only thing, a demon could not get out of.

“What did I do to be volunteered?” Yeosang walked with San, who guided him to table 8.

“Nothing. I just volunteered you.” San pats his back. Yeosang sighed, sitting down.

“Meet the new demons.” San stuck around as the line of new demons began to walk through toward their tables.

Yeosang looked over at another table, seeing Wooyoung, who San had also volunteered without asking.

Wooyoung waved towards Yeosang but looked about as pleased with being volunteered as he was.

Yeosang looked towards one of the new demons that walked through the gates he’d once walked through.

Yunho.

Yunho walked towards Wooyoung’s table before he realized who he was. Yeosang watched as the two stared at each other in shock.

And he smiled. Yunho looked at Yeosang, who Wooyoung had pointed out, and was greeted with a wave.

Yeosang handed many new demons their designated titles. Guardian demons, reapers under Seonghwa’s division, guards, or demons like San who didn’t have a title- Citizens, San once referred to demons like him-.

He watched the entrance, and a sense of longing took over. If Yunho came, where are you?

That’s when his question was answered. All five hundred years of missing you, yearning for you, wishing you weren’t a mortal- All over.

“Aw, you look like you’ve never seen a demon before.”

Yeosang covered his mouth, pleasantly surprised. Then he pulled you into a tight embrace that he had longed for centuries to do.

“Holy shit.”

Yeosang quickly pulled away as a guard began to look in your direction. He cleared his throat and handed you your designated title.

“Cool. I’m a-“

“Citizen. San calls them citizens.” Yeosang couldn’t contain the emotions he felt- all of which were happy and positive emotions.

“Sweet?”

“Sweet.” Yeosang smiled. “We’ll be able to see each other more this way.”

You hugged him again. “Did you see Yunho?”

“Yes.”

“And that Mingi was promoted as a guardian angel?” You added. Yeosang shook his head.

“Yeah. Crazy how that works.” You chuckled, seeing Yunho and Wooyoung catching up after centuries of a long overdue conversation.

You looked at San, who knew all along that you’d be arriving as a demon. And Yunho too.

“Isn’t volunteering awesome?” San spoke up, jokingly. Yeosang rolled his eyes before sitting down again.

“I will catch you later. I need to finish giving demons their titles.”

You bent down to leave a kiss on his forehead before you left him alone, but he had looked up at the same time, causing your lips to meet instead.

Then you felt the memories you two had, the spark you two had, and the connection you shared five hundred years ago all come back in a flash.

“I will wait for you.”

[mageofseven]

When Heat Cools: A MephistoMC Love Story

Chapter 8

Taglist: @astroseuss @fcxyviixen @jar-of-moondust @marvelous-maniac @ghost-mint @darkflowerav @missloserqueen

"I know you are going through a lot, my friend."

Mephisto shook his head.

"It's MC who is going through a lot; in comparison, I am simply along for the ride."

"Still, you are undoubtedly stressed."

The nobleman gave a small nod.

"However," Dia continued. "I would still appreciate it if you would answer a certain question of mine."

Just when Mephisto thought he feeling his worst, the prince's words made his body tense.

Somehow, he could just sense he wasn't going to like this question of his.

"What is it, my lord?"

Dia pursed his lips.

"Is...your leg getting worse or has MC simply helped you put less focus on your act?"

Mephisto freezed. He knows?? Has he truly made it that obvious? The nobleman knows he was stumbling earlier but surely that was not enough for his old friend to know his secret?

"This is not some new discovery for me, I assure you." The prince explained, knowing well what his friend must be thinking. "I...In truth, I've known since we were barely adolescents, back when you first received your cane. You always put so much effort into concealing your leg issue so I did my best to respect your feelings and hoped you would confide in me about it some day."

Mephisto was physically about thirteen when he had to start using his cane. Diavolo has literally known about his disability for hundreds of years and never spoke about a word about it simply because he could see how hard his friend was trying to hide it and wanted the other boy to confide in him about it instead of prying into what was obviously a sensitive issue.

That never happened though and here the two men are, hundreds of years later, finally addressing it.

The nobleman turned away from the prince.

"My lord, I'd rather not talk about this."

"You have always been so protective when it comes to others knowing about your leg's weakness." Dia frowned, worried. "What is it about your injury that that makes you so determined to hide it?"

Some would probably think it was a pride issue, but that couldn't be further from the truth. With the way Mephisto acts now of days, such a theory would be believable, but this has truly gone on since they were young, since before Mephisto adopted such an attitude.

Diavolo knew his old friend, knew that their must be an important reason why he did not want others knowing about his disability.

The nobleman's heart was pounding in his chest.

"Forgive me, but I have already said that I will not speak of it." He repeated.

This was a topic that no one could know, that Mephisto himself must take to his grave. Even in their closer days, he could not tell his friend about the incident and nothing has changed since then.

The prince released a sigh.

"I suppose some aspects of you still have not changed." He gave a sad smile. "Will you at least let me know if I or Barbatos can do anything to help?"

The nobleman shook his head.

"Nothing can help it, but I do appreciate the thought, my lord."

Dia stared at his old friend in worry. There really wasn't much in his life that the prince could help with, was there?

Eventually, MC was done with her medicinal bath and was ready to go home. The phantom cold was now gone, but the poor woman was now left mentally exhausted.

The tired human even fell asleep with her head in her boyfriend's lap on the way back to House of Lamentation. She slept hard and poor Mephisto couldn't wake her up.

Luckily, Beel had just come home from somewhere (Mep got so lucky it was a kind brother who showed up lol) and had the big guy take his sweet corazón inside to her room.

Of course, Beely did it without a fuss and was very gentle with the sleeping human.

...Okay, so one of the brothers is alright, he has decided. The Avatar of Gluttony has unknowingly passed a test even Mephisto didn't realize he made.

It only took two days after that for Diavolo's message hit Mephisto's parents and hit them hard. Whatever form it took, the son was unsure, but his parents knew it was his doing.

His mother slapped him across the face with enough force to make him stumble back.

"I raised you better than this!" His mother shrieked. "Do you even know what you've done? Do you have a single brain cell that thick head of yours?"

Mephisto steadied himself and avoided his mother's gaze. Yes, by doing this he betrayed his family, something that was he was taught to be incredibly taboo.

He did it to protect MC therefore he did not regret it--however, that didn't mean it didn't hurt to do so. His loyalty towards his family has always been a defining pillar of who this man was as a person; one he was willing to feel the pain of cracking it for the sake of his corazón and children though.

His father step between the two of them--not out of protection, but to take hold of the situation.

"Listen, we need to remedy this situation and quickly." The older man spoke coolly. "I need you to bring your human pet in to--"

"MC is coming no where near here." Mephisto raised his head and met his father's matching green eyes.

"You--"

The husband simply raised his hand towards his wife.

"Lamia, you wanted me to handle this so I'm handling it." He scolded her before looking back to his son. "Your prince has already made it very clear the lives of that human and her child are off limits; you have turned our threat idle."

"Then what to do you want with her?"

"For the time being? A conversation, one that you shall be present for too." The older man explained. "The rest will be explained then."

Mephisto went silent.

"I expect you both in this house tomorrow afternoon. I will have the butler give you the details in the morning."

And with that, his parents left him standing there, fists at his sides.

What the hell are they planning? And worse, what do they have planned if he doesn't comply?

[adrianasunderworld]

I came to a video online about men doing period simulations and a lot of them can't really stand it and I just felt a bit of a superiority from it lol

Imagine if somehow, a student can transfer pain and stuff with their magic, and so out of curiosity they just try to feel what Miss Yuu feels everytime she has a period, thinking she's just being dramatic. Lo and behold they actually ended up respecting Yuu A LOT because the cramps are just so painful

Seeing that would make my day. I would love for a Miss Yuu to somehow get her hands on one of those machines and go around to each dorm and getting the guys to do it, and playing it off like a test of strength. "Come on up and prove you're not a lil bitch!"

I feel like the ones who would not doubt that cramps hurt would be Deuce, Ortho, Trey, Cater, Riddle, Jamil, Kalim, Leona, Malleus, Lilia, and Silver.

Ortho is decked out with all this medical equipment like Baymax. He would know about the statistics about periods and how painful they are on average, even if he can't feel it. As for Riddle, with how strict his mom was, she is still a doctor. She gave Riddle a thorough explanation about science at some point. Even periods aren't his favorite thing to discuss, he still knows better.

Trey doesn't strike me as someone who would dismiss someone who says they're in pain. Lilia has lived a long time, he knows better at this point and has passed that to Silver and Malleus. And like Trey, If you don't feel well, then you don't feel well, why should they not believe you?

Deuce, Cater, Kalim, Jamil, and Leona. Cater, Kalim, and Jamil have sisters, they heard it all, they know, you don't have to tell them. They've heard the chorus of wails because all their sisters cycles sync up, they are not allowed to forget or say they're dramatic. Because that's how you die. Deuce was raised by a single mom. He also knows the drill. Leona was raised in a matriarchal society, of course he has been educated on periods. And you know what, by that logic, Rook and Ruggie too since they're from the same place.

So when Yuu bursts into each of their dorms and tries to get anyone to do it, they are the only ones who will go, "Hell nah, I know better." Then laugh at anyone who is laying on the floor in tears after making a show of "It can't be that bad!"

[purplemninja]

So how'd you get into the Little Nightmares franchise? What made Six your favorite character?

That’s a bit of a tough question, since it’ll test my memory.

I think I heard of LN and learned a bunch of stuff about it from a video called 107 facts about Little Nightmares, and that video included the 2017 comics, so I was able to know about their existence fairly quickly. Plus I misremembered a part of the video and thought that Six’s name was something like Eliza, lol. The video also included pointing out Shadow Six though I didn’t remember it at the time and when someone pointed out “look on top of the table” of the Nome hunger scene, I thought it was the silhouette of the Lady’s head, so I thought that the Lady was there, knowing what was happening in the room and possibly made Six eat the Nome. Especially since she is seen entering the elevator a moment afterwards. And when I saw the secret ending of LN2, I was like “What? Why is there a shadowy copy of Six now?”. I saw Tericho’s “is Six a villain or victim?” Video and he showed one of the moments where Shadow Six appeared in LN1 and I was like “What?! She was in the first game too?!”. Rewatching the 107 facts video, it confirmed the existence of Shadow Six in the first game.

And I don’t remember who, maybe GamingBeaver, I learned some more about the events of the game, and I saw play throughs of LN1 and got to know the events of the game. And when I watched a video on the events of LN1, it of course was the classic “Six is the Lady’s daughter” conclusion (before the devs debunked it). Though I do like AUs where the Lady and Six are mother and daughter. And it was TheLeaderboard's videos of what happens in each part of the DLCs that informed me of what happened in RK's journey.

I think my interest in LN fizzled out a little until GamingBeaver made his video on the ending of VLN, so I thankfully was able to learn of RCG and a piece of Six’s story that a bunch of the fandom doesn’t know about even to this day. So I got to know a little more about Six.

Then some time passed and I somehow heard of LN2 being in development and was excited about it. And I didn’t find out of when it was released until a couple months after its release. I saw and watched GamingBeaver’s video about the story of LN2 and that’s where I learned of the “Six is the Lady” theory that I despise so much. And I watched CoryKenshi’s play through of it to learn more about the events of that game, and I’m still bitter about how he so easily dumped Sasha Six in favour of Baggy and that he denied that Six is a kid just trying to survive and even reprimanded her for “doing this to all of these people”, you know, the people who tried to kill or eat her. I’m still bitter at CoryKenshi for that.

I’ve been really into LN since the release of the second game and I’m still into it currently.

As for the girl in question, I think she’s my favourite protagonist mostly because she was the one I was introduced to first.

It took a bit to realise that Six doesn’t have anything visible on her legs, so I got scared that she might not be wearing anything underneath the raincoat, but then I watched Crazy Cowboy’s video “Funny Chef Six” and it contained this official PNG of Six:

I spotted the white shorts (though I thought they were yellow at first) and felt relieved that she does have other clothes on under the raincoat. And VLN and LN2 reinforced that fact.

Then VLN and LN2 added more to her story and character, which made me like her even more.

And after LN2 came out and time passed after that, I myself went through character development with judging Mono and Six. At first I didn’t want to believe that Six was selfish and sadistic (which Beaver said she was in his video) and I blamed everything on Mono, but later GamerSault made his “Who is Six?” video (which is private now 😞) where he talked about Six’s selfish side but he didn’t demonize her for it, and I also saw a long but great comment on that video where they compared the sh*tty treatment Six gets from the fandom to the sh*tty treatment Chara gets from the Undertale fandom. These two things helped me accept that Six does have a selfish side, though I still don’t believe that she’s sadistic, especially considering the hypocrisy from the fans when Mono does similar things that gets Six labeled as sadistic for, but he does them to a bigger extent and often did them first.

I don’t place all the blame on Mono anymore, but I still do vehemently sympathize with Six. One because I spent my teen years watching Mr Enter’s Animated Atrocities - where I got my strong sense of justice from, and two, I think I slightly see myself in Six. Call me petty or childish but I relate to Six in the way that her efforts are swept under the rug. Back in school, in P.E we were doing a little exercise where we repeatedly go into the starting position that athletes go into for sprinting, and for some reason we were put into pairs for this. I was paired with someone who apparently had something wrong with her legs so she couldn’t go into the ‘sprint start’ position (understandable), so she decided that I had to do it for her turns as well as mine (not understandable). And when I tried to refuse (I couldn't stand up for myself back then, plus the pose is uncomfortable for me) she just whined "BuT yOu HaVe To". And another time in college, we had to design a magazine front cover for a bricklaying competition and I think I misheard the lecturer because everyone made 6 different covers, while ended up making 12, because I thought that’s how many we had to make. Both of these instances I did literally twice as much work as everyone else, but my efforts were not acknowledged or compensated at all. It's a loose and very specific connection between me and Six, but it's still a connection, so I think I feel some resentment when the fandom does the same thing but far, far worse to Six.

So yeah. Sorry for the long read, but this is how I got into Little Nightmares and why I'm a really strong defender of Six.

[asknarashikari]

Then, I guess I'd talk about how the ideology clash between the well-intentioned extremist villains that views their actions as "necessary"/"only choice" vs the one who strives for everyone's well-being in general and/or against wrong actions.

Many of it gets portrayed (CMIIW) as the show setting a problem/stakes (particularly global scale) that seems to be only able to be solved by the former's approach without any alternatives, with the latter keep insisting that it's not necessary to be done while opposing them for doing wrong, until at late part of the show, the solution is found to prove the former wrong.

Dunno if that is done to challenge the viewers and keep them guessing, but the viewers often consider this as the show chickening out of testing the heroes, with said good alternative being forcibly implemented to prove the villains wrong. Thus they'd still consider those villains as being the one in the right and are just being "sensible" and "realistic", just that the story favors the heroes or it "catering to the kids". As "realistically" there'd be no magical solution save people from making tough choices.

Other examples are Ryuki - Shinji opposing Kagawa sacrificing Yui (and anyone he can like his own family) to stop Rider War (solution found later in learning the Rider War backgrounds and Yui threatening suicide - it's more on Yui proving a point, murdering Yui itself will do nothing), or Gaim - Kouta opposing Takatora's Project Ark of murdering 6 billion people to deal with Helheim (solution also found later in Overlords and Forbidden Fruit being introduced).

What'd you think about the above example cases that the villains seen as the right ones to "realistically" save as many people as they could, and the heroes just hindering the best decision (pretending said "forced" alternatives don't exist) with them should tolerating the villains' course of action instead (depicted as "naive people accepting reality"), outside of Geats having a known liar starting the parasite Jamato dilemma?

Well, for one I think that viewers who dislike these plots get bogged down in wanting their fiction to be "realistic" that they kinda forget that... this is fiction. It is by definition not reality, so expecting it to be realistic is... kinda weird lol.

More importantly though, I think that people who think that there is no "realistic" way for better alternatives that don't involve the extreme measures that they think are viable and thus get upset when the heroes do find a better, less extreme way and implement it... are missing the whole point of doing said plots to begin with.

It's not just pandering to a young audience, it's not them being in denial of reality. It's supposed to be a moral lesson to the viewers.

This is what reality should be- a world where we refuse to accept that anyone suffering is a viable option (and if we can't have that, then we try to minimize the suffering as much as possible). That there is always another way if we try hard enough, that we can somehow achieve something better if we fight hard enough for those ideals.

And, particularly in a show like Kamen Rider, which is targeted toward young children, passing on these ideals is considered more important than a "realistic" approach to dealing with the larger issues they supposedly present.

Geats, for all I dislike about the show, said it best: As long as you believe, you can change the world. Never give up on making people happy.

These are the ideals Kamen Rider wants to pass on, so they make stories where the protagonists fight to find better ways than what their reality doles out to them, even if there is a supposedly "sensible" solution available- especially if that solution involves the suffering of people.

While some issues could be handled better (I for one don't think that the modern penchant of redeeming everyone remotely antagonistic has been handled well), I think it's egregious to tell a story where you basically tell them to accept whatever cards reality/fate/destiny/etc handed to them, even if it's obvious that they can and should do better.

Also... this may be a hot take, but if someone considers trying (and succeeding) to find another solution as "chickening out" and "unrealistic" because the protagonists find the extreme solution unacceptable... maybe it's not a story problem and more of a them problem.

[thegeminisage]

i got the terminal back >:)

now..................its time for tarry town

NEAT, there's a hovercraft on this sky island...i could get to all sorts of places with one of these in my saved designs

made it back to tarry town 😭

omg none of the shopkeepers remember me...I BROUGHT YOU HERE!

at least this old guy does 😭

HUDSON HAS A DAUGHTER????

oh Wild. gerudo don't spend time with boys until they become adults...poor hudson lol

the railcar is COOL i can't wait to ride this thing. i wonder whats up with the plains down there...used to be lousy with guardians

lol at this minecart guy selling cursed treasure. dude, why did you take it?

oh wow, it rains here now! i think in botw tarry town never had bad weather??

wow, hudson's daughter has gotta be at least 5...a long time has passed since botw 😭

mattison running off to this railcar as though the guy wont notice the three giant logs i stacked in front of him lol

omg the railcar is so FUNNN i love rollercoasters

this field down here looks completely different! no guardians.............

what a weird custom is. "bye everyone! i'm gonna go live in gerudo town and become a great woman like mom and meet a great man like dad!" this makes no sense. they have classes in gerudo town teaching women how to act around men. you wouldn't need that if they just...were around men?? if it was for girls who were born there i'd get it, i GUESS, but why recall girls born elsewhere? i guess nobody is born there if they don't let men in??? nintendo tried to fix it and somehow made it more confusing lol

oh hold on. the yunoboco boys??? so he's NOT dead????

PRESIDENT YUNOBO...interesting...i wonder why they couldn't show him in the trailers...

YOOOO the sand seal gerudo ladies are down here!!! i cant believe they want me to go all the way to the stable just to sleep before i can continue testing their racecars lol

oh my god you can make your own house lol. is this why they had zelda live in link's? you can't fool me, nintendo. i might be making a vacation home now but there was NOWHERE else for link to sleep all these years except with zelda

1500 RUPEES??? good lord

time to fucking cook. i'm behind on it anyway

ok, dream home!! wait, it's not even IN tarrytown?? this is bullshit lol

omg i thought this empty plot was for me but apparently hudson is waiting on kilton smh I DESERVE TO BE HERE

oh wow this house building thing is REALLY detailed...up to 15 rooms??? jesus i literally am playing animal crossing

WAIT THE MUSIC HERE IS THE HOUSE THEME, IT'S THE ZELDA INSIDE A HOUSE THEME!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

ok, and the catch on the other rooms IS... [drumroll]

oh they all cost money! of course. i thought i'd be gathering materials or whatever

man there's sooo much here i could literally build a mcmansion

a GALLERY??? i can print my photos! and a paddock....

ohhh i need so much more money. oh my god

okay okay i sold half my inventory i have to STOPPP this is so fucking addicting. wow. if ur reading this go to tarrey town

[linollush]

typing my parents because i have nothing to do with my life

Dad

ESTP. As an Se dom, he likes to engage in external activities like biking, fishing, boating, literally the craziest shit in life. He’s also super spontaneous, that’s why our family plans can never go as planned. My aunt told stories about their childhood together and every bit of my father’s actions screams Se dom.

Ti auxiliary, his Se-Ti makes him realistic and practical. My INFP sister and his ESTP ass always clash because he seems to always reject my sister for having unrealistic goals and ambitions because based om his subjective logic, they’re impossible. But hey, his Ti is really helpful in the family. Whenever we got problems, we talk about it but instead of him offering emotional support, he reassure us through blunt but helpful advices.

Fe tertiary: I actually have little notion about Fe in tertiary, but seeing that the third function plays as the “child role” of the stack, my dad is pretty good at socializing and he has no problems with it. He interacts with people for businesses mostly and to get his attorney job done. He’s highly respectable and he likes that. As a father, he’s more understanding with our emotional concerns compared to my ESTJ mom. Usually, he gets upset if he doesn’t get that much attention from us (his daughters) lol and he actually expresses this instead of sulking.

His Ni inferior manifests in his impetuous attitude. An example I could recall was when he told us he would build a bakery in our spare lot near the mountains to sell bread. We thought he was joking, but he seems to be really sure of it only for him to drop that plan in less than a month. 2 weeks passed and he told us that he was going to construct a gasoline station so my mom tried convincing him it will not be worth it. Good thing he listened. He’s bad at envisioning plans and seeing which one will work out, this led to him failing to control his impulsive urges this end up wasting time and money.

Mom

ESTJ. Such an unusual dynamic amirite? But somehow it works.

I’m actually unsure with her MBTI, but I believe she’s an unhealthy one. If she’s ESTJ, her stack is Te Si Ne Fi. I let her take the 16p test because she’s too “busy” to take the cognitive functions one and she got ESTP but her Ni is kind of too strong to be inferior. I was also thinking ESFJ, but she’s far from wanting harmony in a group when she’s the one also disrupting it lmao luvyou mom.

What does make me think she’s an ESTJ is that she’s blunt and she’s impatient with inefficiency. This is why she gets angry with waiters and store clerks when they take so long to get their job done. Her Te is helpful though, when she wants something, she gets it. She ignores the emotional consequences of her actions as long as things are done.

Si-Ne is difficult for me to pinpoint on her. But one thing I’m certain is her inferior Fi. She lacks accountability and self awareness. She refuses to show emotional vulnerability, too. One time we were at one of her close friend’s funeral and I saw her crying so I asked “Are you okay?” and she legit got mad at me. I’d say that this is her biggest flaw. Istg she always gets mad, and her anger is mostly irrational so when I try to argue and make a valid point, she shuts up and that’s when I know she’s realized her actions.

—————————————————————————-

Alright the last bit sounds like a vent lmao. And if one of you lovelies think I mistyped them, you’re probably right so please call me out.

[kikis-writing-world]

Some of y'all liked last time's "transit day dream." This one was a lot more angsty so trigger warnings under the cut. This is long, unedited, ramblings disguised as a loosely thought out plot. Move forward at your own risk lol

Forbidden/Secret relationship F!OC x Eddie Munson (OC because I impose a lot on her and idk didn't feel like it was inclusive enough to be reader)

This thought was heavily influenced by the huge plot point of Dirty Dancing that everyone always forgets: the bad, back alley abortion. And also Ben Folds Five song Brick. That should give you some heavy hints at what triggers lie ahead. Take care of yourselves loves <3 tw: protected sex, failing contraception, accidental teen pregnancy, talk of abortions, "under the table" abortion leading to worse (vague) medical issues, lots of blood.

Goodie two-shoes style OC who comes from a strict family. Mom is a trophy housewife, dad is a doctor, 2.5 kids, white picket fence etc. She's overall a good kid, but who doesn't wanna rebel a little. She meets Eddie as she searches for that rebellion. He's got pot and will sell cheap to anyone who smiles nicely at him. She feels bad about it, but she's try to be sneaky about her rebellion, she can't exactly blow her entire allowance on a few joints.

The two get to know each other and fall into a secret relationship. It's part of the fun, knowing something no one else knows. Her sibling suspects she's got a boyfriend just by the fact that she's so chipper, but she denies. Her parents are too hands-off to really notice any changes. They keep it to everyone but a few closest friends, not wanting it to get around school and get back to her family.

A few months later, she isn't feeling great. She doesn't think much of it at first - there must be a cold going around, there's always an illness going around in the cess pool called a school - but then her period is late. She's mildly alarmed but her and Eddie always use condoms... (Spoiler alert, they're not 100% effective kids!)

She confides in Eddie, freaking out and not sure who else she can talk to. Eddie is just as freaked, somehow loosing even more colour in his already pale face. He's shaking, pacing, fidgeting as he thinks. He eventually calms down enough that he goes to a gas station down the high way and shoplifts a pregnancy test. It's positive.

They're too young, their families, their lives ahead of them- as absolutely terrified and over their heads they feel, they know the reasonable option is for her to get an abortion. (Regardless of what we believe the politics in this world to be,) she can't just walk into any old clinic - her dad is a doctor! A well known, successful one. There's no way it wouldn't get back to him. Even if they go to a different city, it would show up on the family insurance plan. There's no way her dad wouldn't investigate an unexpected procedure.

They ask around and find a place. It's a clinic a few towns over that opens after hours. They'll do it, completely off the record, for $250. It's a lot of money, but Eddie just pushes a few sales, maybe even pawns a few things he can spare. Reader takes as much of her savings as she's able without suspicion. They get the money.

She makes up a sleepover for that night and Eddie drives her to the appointment. They're both nervous as all hell, the ride down quiet except for the radio, turned so low it's barely on. It was too loud otherwise.

They go through the clinic's back door, lights still mostly off. It doesn't settle any of their nerves. The doctor performing the procedure tries to reassure them it's all routine, but he's also a little cagey. Eddie isn't sure if it's because of the illicit affairs or if he's trying to keep the appointments flowing. They pass off the money and Eddie waits in the other room anxiously as it happens.

She's woozy and shaky when she comes out, awake but not totally aware. The doctor tells him it's totally normal and it was totally fine, to take her home. He helps her into the car, wrapping her up with anything he can find in his van to make her comfy. The long drive back to Hawkins is just as quiet as the drive there was. Eddie helps her into the trailer and into bed.

She wakes up in agonizing pain, grabbing at Eddie beside her before she even realizes she's awake. Eddie is just as confused, trying to get the light on as she groans about how much it hurts. When the lights come on, they see the amount of blood on the bed. Eddie nearly faints.

In her pained mumblings, Eddie hears the word "hospital" and snaps back to attention. Of course. He had to get her to the hospital. He scoops her up, bloody sheets and all, and rushes to the van. He barely makes sure she's buckled in, not bothering with himself, before peeling out of the trailer park.

As they near the hospital, her clammy hand grabs at Eddie's forearm. He looks at her, eyes nervously shooting back and forth between her and the road.

"Eddie, as soon as we get there.... you have to leave."

Eddie is flabbergasted. "Like fucking hell, what the fuck are you-"

"They'll call my dad before I'm even in the system. You have to leave."

They argue the rest of the way to the hospital until Eddie is squealing into the emergency bay. Somehow, she convinces him to leave her. (If I had the answers, I'd be writing this as an actually piece by now. You signed up to read this.) He helps her until she forces him back, so the nurses don't see him. He watches her stumble a few steps before he screams out for help. She turns and glares at him for drawing attention, but he needed someone to get to her sooner. He holds up his hands in surrender, backing away. He manages to duck away so he isn't seen as the attendant notices her. He doesn't leave until he's sure she's inside and okay.

It's a long terrifying night, left trying to wash the blood off his sheets and the van and off his hands- all while trying not to think too hard about where it came from and how she is now...

When she wakes up post-op, she has to come clean to her family. Her father knows exactly what happened to land her in this situation and there's no use lying. She refuses to admit who the father was, and her parents assume it's to protect the reputation of the reasonable boy she pulled into her mess.

(Really wasn't sure what would happen from there. Just had some whump feelings but surprisingly my mental health has been good the last couple of days...)

[bratkook]

test drive. (m) pjm.

pairing. biker!jimin x reader , deep six!au genre. smut, pwp word count. 1.8k warnings. dirty talk, unprotected sex, spanking, they almost get caught by other club members note. requested by @imjustfanfictrash​ for thirst night, thank u!! i had to make this deep six related just a tiny bit lol

“Feels soft right?” Jimin chuckles behind you, playful smirk on his lips when he sees the way your fingers grip the leather seat of his new bike. “It’s high quality leather.”

You know he’s just teasing, knowing you don’t actually give a damn about the quality of leather, but you don’t have it in you to bite back with some quick response. Instead your face comes to rest on the same material, cool against your cheek as you moan out a slur that sounds like his name. 

When Jimin had called you over to the club’s shop, voice full of excitement as he gushed over his latest purchase, you hadn’t been expecting this to be the outcome. You were completely blindsided, too focused on the twinkle in his eye as he circled the bike and pointed at each of the features, too entranced with the way his stacked rings would glimmer in the bright lighting above. He knew exactly what he was doing, letting his fingers trail along the bike, trying to come off as innocent when he stood directly behind you, resting his hands along your hips as he slowly whispered into your ear. 

“Let’s take it for a test drive,” he had suggested, voice sounding way too seductive for you to believe he actually meant it. No, he had absolutely no intention of driving this thing out of here with you sitting behind him, that much was obvious as he slyly began kissing your neck. 

You were weak for him, all it took was a few strategically placed kisses and the right words murmured into your ear for you to agree instantly. Turning into a puddle as he slipped a hand underneath the hem of your dress, allowing him to tease you until you were begging for him to do what he wanted. 

“W-what if someone walks in?” you mumble, eyes focused on the door of the shop as he slowly pushes the head of his cock into you. He feels the way your pussy tightens at the thought of being caught, gripping the first inch of his cock so tight he has to pause to catch his breath. 

“You’d like that wouldn’t you?” he teases, ringed fingers coming up to push your hair over your shoulder, allowing him to see the side of your face as he pushed further into you. The warmth of your core has him groaning, teeth biting down on his plump lower lip, eyes dropping down to stare at the way you suck him in. 

Your light blue panties are pulled to the side to make room for his cock, the hem of your matching dress hiked up around your hips and he chuckles to himself when he notices the stark contrast between both of your outfits. Where you wore all pastels and dresses, he wore all black and leather. It was a constant reminder of how different you were, yet somehow Jimin managed to rope you in with his charm, allowing you to see past the rings and leather, past the red tombstone patch adorning his arms and back, seeing him for who he was: a man with so much love in his heart that just so happened to be directed towards you.

“No, don’t—fuck—“ you cry as he bottoms out, “don’t want anyone else to see me like this. Just you.”

He hums at that, letting his hands slide down your body until he was softly gripping your ass, thumb rubbing along the skin. “Don’t worry baby, I locked the door. You’re mine.”

His words make you relax, a shuddering breath filling the air as you adjust to his thick size, the familiar ache that came with taking him slowly subsiding. “Show me,” you mewl. “Show me I’m yours.”

There's a small beat of silence before he’s cursing under his breath, licking his lips over in thought, giving you a brief moment before he starts to rock into you. Slowly at first, inching back before thrusting forward, starting a smooth rhythm until you were begging for more. 

“My dirty girl,” he rasps, jaw slack from the pleasure, seeing the way you soak his cock in your arousal, thick strings connecting the two of you each time he pulls back. “Letting me fuck you in the shop like this.”

A small moan slips past your lips, fingers digging into the cushioned seat as you try to find purchase, the smooth body of the bike not giving you much to grab on to. You give up quickly after, allowing yourself to be rocked against the bike, hoping the stand it was on would hold against the force of Jimin’s thrusts. 

“Ah fuck,” you whimper, eyes screwing shut as he hits the bundle of nerves inside of you with precision, having grown too familiar with your body over the past few months. “Feels good—so good.”

Your mindless babbling has him smiling to himself, leaning over your body and cooing when he spots the way your mouth is dropped open, cheek still squished against the seat. “Yeah? Love my cock so much you wanna drool on the seats, huh?”

A small hum in confirmation is all you give him, succumbing to the pleasure, feeling each small jolt coursing through you as your skin slaps together. The leather of his jacket warms your back from his position over you, zipper of it ticking your waist when he stands back up properly. 

He could feel how wet you are, how it gushes out of you, coats the inside of your thighs and makes a mess of your skin. It has him speeding up his hips, snapping forward so quickly your breathing stutters, a gasp cutting through the air as he delivers a sharp slap to your ass, the rings smarting your skin, delicious heat spreading as you moan out. 

“Again,” you beg, arching your back and jutting your hips back into his, wanting to feel the slight pain that set your body alight. 

“I told you, you’re filthy.” He does exactly what you ask though, spanking you until your ass was sore and you were left slurring against his bike. Your mind felt light and airy, focused on each gasp he lets out, the groans of your name making your climax sneak up on you. 

You always liked it quick and messy, loved when he would sneak you away because he just couldn’t wait to sink into you, loved when you could feel the sweat coating your skin, especially loved when you could hear how fast he was fucking you. The wet squelches fill the air in the dirtiest way, mixing in with the low hum of music playing in the speaker a few feet away, blending in perfectly with the way you cry over his cock. 

“Aw baby, did I fuck you stupid?” his tone makes you shiver, stomach tenses as your chest hiccups when you gasp, only able to nod in a daze because yes, he had fucked you well and truly stupid. He always did, left you crying over it, too lost in the pleasure to do anything else but that. “You wanna cum for me, make my cock messy?”

“Yes, fuck Jimin, please.” you whimper, teeth biting down onto your lower lip so hard you could almost taste blood. The cool metal of his rings makes you shiver as he slides his hand around your body, fingers coming into contact with your clit, wasting no time circling the swollen nub. 

“Wanna feel you, wanna feel my dirty girl cum.” his voice drops as he speaks, thick with want and you wish you could see his face. You don’t have the strength to look back though, resting more of your weight onto his bike as the feeling consumes you, each flick of his fingers making you tremble, your hips bucking against his in search of your release. 

Jimin smirks when your walls tighten around him, making it harder for him to keep up his pace, having his own orgasm quickly approaching. A choked gasp comes from you, morphing into a desperate, drawn out moan of his name when he finally pushes you over the edge. Your mind blanks for a moment, a flash of light displayed against your lids as the euphoric feeling consumes you, your ears ring so loud you barely hear the words Jimin says as he coaxes you through it. 

“Fuck, just like that baby,” he groans, raking a hand through his orange hair, in awe with the way you quiver, weak thighs barely holding yourself up as you cream his cock. He’s fast to grab onto your hips, fingers digging into your skin as he quickens his pace, the aftershocks of your orgasm milking his own. 

“Gonna make you messier,” he adds on, so quietly, speaking to himself as he focuses on where you two connect. The way his cock shines in the light, your sensitive pussy pulsing around him, mixing in with the gentle cries of his name, it pushes him over too. With a handful of messy thrusts he’s spilling into you, curses filling the air as he feels the tingles crawling up his spine. 

You mewl against his bike at the warm feeling, whimper as he continues to fuck you in short, shallow thrusts before he’s pushing in as deeply as he could. The cool metal of his belt is felt against your ass, more warmth falling over you as he wraps his arms around your weak body, tucking his chin beside your neck with a gentle kiss to your skin. 

“Did you really lock the door?” you quietly ask, not minding the stickiness coating your skin. 

“Uhm, no,” he whispers with a grimace, cackling when you instantly stand up and push him off of you. His soft cock slips out of you as you adjust your panties and smooth out your dress, glaring at him when he motions towards your hair too. “Relax, no one comes to the shop this late anyways.”

Before you can even speak, the bells jingle a few feet away, a smirk on your face when Jimin’s eyes go wide and he turns around to cover his exposed self. Luckily it’s members of the club and not a person looking to get their bike fixed, matching patches on their own jackets, and when they spot your flustered expression and the way Jimin not so subtly adjusts himself in his jeans, they waste no time hounding him. 

They’re all laughs as they call him a dog, Hoseok and Jungkook shoving his shoulder in passing before politely greeting you and scurrying off to the back room to grab whatever it is they came here for. 

“No one comes here this late huh?” you repeat, brow raised and a playful expression on your face. 

“Baby, I’m sorry,” he pleads, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you in to kiss your face, a smile on his lips because he knows you’re not actually upset. 

“Take me for an actual test drive and you’re forgiven.” Your hands reach into his back pocket to pull out the keys, twirling them around your finger with a sly smile. “I’m driving though.”

He doesn’t even fight it, agreeing without a thought, because as much as he liked to pretend he was this hardass, you knew he would do anything you asked him to.

[meursaulty]

studying under each of the arcanum scholars is like... [hcs]

sometimes i forget that the arcanum is wizard college lol

the game just gives you ione as an advisor/mentor figure by default, and don't get me wrong, i love her, but i feel bad about ignoring the others. SO... please accept my humble offering of hcs (longish post):

qyburn stellargaze

i'm sorry but he seems like the type of guy to give you stuff like this

you ask him what he wants from you by the end of the week and he gives you 4 different, contradictory answers

but honestly he doesn't care as long as you have something at the end of the week

is one of those professors that cancels class bc they don't want to teach that day

he's disorganized, but it's really because he just has so many projects going on at once, even with your help. he does still want you to actually learn though... he can go on for days answering almost any question you have about astral magic and celestian history/culture if you're just straightforward about it

baba yaga

also a little disorganized, but more on the side of chaotic than forgetful

often contacts you 5 mins before your arranged meeting time telling you to meet her in some other world so she can show you a spell

*gives 50 assignments* *complains about having to grade them all* *proceeds to drop half of them because she doesn't think they're useful anymore*

would give your grade a phat curve at the end just for funsies 🤪

if your wizard is from earth, she would love to hear what children's/folk tales you remember

has made mellori guest lecture at least once (even though it's all stuff you already know, having graduated from ravenwood)

her classes aren’t necessarily difficult, just verrryyy confusing at times. somehow, you still make it out just fine and manage to have a good time?? cyrus drake could NEVER

ignus ferric

lets you work the forge of legends for extra credit but still makes you buy the recipes full price (reagents are pricey and he's gotta fuel his own work somehow)

most of your work with him is helping him develop new spells

likes to go around the arcanum with you to check on the other scholars in the name of ~interdisciplinary study~ ... really more of a social call but whatever

sometimes gives you tasks that are very sketchy in terms of safety. no he hasn't tested them himself. but he'll do them with you!! pyromancers burn bright when they work together!

he's generally one of the more lighthearted scholars, but he'll take it down a notch and be real with you should the situation call for it. pep talks, the cold hard truth, whatever you want...

ione virga

she's intense as a mentor - she likes original work so a lot the time you spend under her is exploring uncharted territory in the field of divination

a harsh grader... you're gonna have to sell your soul for an a

but she isn't tough without reason! she just has high standards, a reputation to uphold, and she wants you to do your very best

growth mindset girlie -- really, she isn't out to get you. she wants you to learn from your mistakes. resilience and problem solving are as important as the magic when it comes to her teaching

she lets up a little by the end of your term, because she knows she isn't easy on you

says she doesn't take late work but she actually does as long as she hasn't gotten around to grading yet anyway (just don't tell anyone or she'll change the policy)

jaki whisperwind

as long as you leave her tutelage having learned something, she's happy

will draw you multicolored diagrams, give demonstration upon demonstration, and explain theories and concepts in 759487 different ways if it means getting you to understand

aesthetically, she's like one of those Pinterest Teachers, but in practice she's actually bearable -- positive, but not in a toxic way

she doesn't believe in grades lol. she will literally give you an a for effort

but she's big on mutual respect. you have to fulfill your duties as a student just as she fulfills hers as a teacher. you can't just do the bare minimum and expect to pass (because you won't)

gives bonus points if you bring her a souvenir from unicorn way

qismah shasa

qismah has the most traditional style of teaching

she of course still has the arcanum flair for making you go out on your own and get practical experience, but solo adventures would be bookended by preliminary research and formal written reports/presentations

^ which you already kinda do in canon at the end of worlds

she makes you edit and revise your reports a million times before your final submission, which is annoying but actually quite helpful for your future work

keeps copies of your best work on the shelves in her office

she comes off pretty serious and focused, but if you're both free, she'll gladly welcome you into her office and tell you stories about mirage or the history of her various decorations/trinkets

tarrak hadfield

proud supporter of hands on experience - whether that's sending you out to face some creature or just sparring with him in a practice room

likes exploring the extremes - how much damage can you do (offensive) and how little can you take (defensive)?

you don't have to do much written work for him. what he really wants to see is improvement in how you perform magic, so most of your grade comes from the aforementioned hands on experience

he doesn't feed you answers. he wants you to assess your own strengths/weaknesses before he tells you them to make sure you're thinking critically about what you're doing. basically, you dictate what would otherwise be your written work

sets aside days to spend outside doing a non-magic/non-combat activity like climbing to keep some variety

velma von venkman [credit to @wizzycore for this dynamic]

velma barely has any pull at the arcanum (src) so you can bet that if you were studying under her, you'd be doing the grunt work with her... she would probably still be trying for her tenure while having you as a student

this means following her around to some pretty nasty places and defeating various creatures/collecting shadow essence to study instead of just reading about said creatures

can't rely on existing research if you are the research

working with her would feel more like a group project at times - she gives you a lot of control over how to go about things

despite how she's mentoring you, she's still fairly new to the arcanum and would be very understanding if you needed an extension/day off ("sorry, velma. can't get my draft in today, new world-ending threat just came in" / "yeah that's cool just forward it to me when you can")

zander

he's one of those flipped classroom people, where you teach yourself most of the material and spend the time you have with him reinforcing it

because do you really want to sit through a telepathically delivered lecture...

a lot of the time he just tells you to go off and do something new/fun/comfortable before reporting back

but there is a point to it ^ he wants you to see firsthand how your own experiences play into the quality of your magic (e.g. what makes a spell really effective? what inner intention, linked to what feeling? then, how do you channel that intention in the future?)

he's more knowledgeable on the theories of theurgy than the combat skills that the savior of the spiral would need, so he teaches you attack spells, but sends you to practice them with another scholar or initiate

one of his class requirements is just sitting with him in his office and joining his meditation. it's actually very nice

[worminstuff]

mcyts as teachers

in my brain. lol. thisisjustmyopiniondontattakpls

dream smp edition!!!

i got way to carried away HOLY

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Mr.Wastaken - math

he’s that one math teacher dude whos friends with all his students

funky👏tys👏 and👏 button ups👏

somehow teaches everything so everyone understands

the students won’t bully eachother if he bully’s them first.

everyone does their work and then when everyone is done and just chillin, he’ll tell a story or just talk to them

Mr.Blade - english

he’s that english teacher that if you ask the right question they’ll go on a tangent and you’ll get to not do work for like 30 minutes minimum.

Mr.Blade seems mean but is super sweet to his students. (especially the quiet ones)

never makes them do presentations

Mr.Jacobs - history

is 100% best friends with his students.

so many handshakes

Mr.Karl is literally the best dressed teacher there is and is so nice to all his students. he is easy going on grading but is a tad hard on late work.

totally doesn’t sneak off to kiss coach sapnap sometimes

Mr. Quack - spanish

HOLA NIÑOS

gets so hyped with his students.

kahoot kahoot kahoot sm kahoot

Mr.Quacks class is the one everyone hopes they get and constantly looks forward to. thinks like baking spanish food, watching spanish soap operas, and many more fun ways Mr.Quack has thought of to show them different aspects of spanish culture

Mrs. Nihachu - art

the classroom the kids with anxiety sit in during lunch

gives her students hugs whenever they need them

has art her students have made for her all over her classroom walls and desk

drawer full of candy

Coach Sapnap & Coach Punz - PE

LETS GOOOOOOOO

so scary. they are so so scary.

also the sweetest somehow.

the duo is always constantly trying to create new games to keep students active and they work hard to make sure everyone is happy and being included if they want to, or have an alternative if they don’t.

they play in team games like kickball and get HELLA competitive, it makes for a whole lot of fun inside jokes between them and their students.

the smack talk- holy-

Mr.Fundy - furry science- jk. biology

the👏most👏fun👏science👏teacher

every time they have labs he wears a funky lab coat and goggles

his students make fun of him and he loves it

is a tough grader but makes the class easy and makes it a comfy place so kids won’t be scared to ask questions when they need

electives:

Mr.Notfound - engineering

he’s the type of teacher to put up a video on days he’s tired

actually really enjoys bantering with students, and is super lenient with how much they can talk during classes

a lot of his work is hands on so there’s many bits and bobbles around his room and it’s always a mess

“you’ll need the stuff for the soddering machines but i’m not actually sure where they are...”

the students are well aware that class is WAY more fun when Mr.Notfound is in a good mood.

Mr.Wastaken drops by when he has free periods cause he loves to annoy visit Mr.Notfound

Teacher Eret - sociology

his room is the safe space where you go if you need a good hug or a good cry

kids also eat lunch here

memes on da walls and things hanging from the ceiling

talks with his hands and laughs with the students when they mock him and do it when he does

“TEACHER ERET! you will not believe what sarah did!!” “tell me right now!”

Mr.Dude - comp. science

is always asking students how they feel like they’re doing

brings lunches for students he notices not having any

“snack break anyone?” opened drawer full of goldfish

stands in the hallways during passing time so he can watch out for his kiddos and make sure no ones being mean to anyone

high-fives all the time constantly

Mr.Soot - drama

literally so dramatic all the time for no reason

relentless hamilton references

he’s the type of drama teacher to adore his students and have them adore him back. he loves hearing all the unique ideas and loves to watch kids grow into their shell as they take his class

his favorite thing is watching quiet kids learn they love acting and become more confident

students share their own scrips and plays they write and he absolutely melts every time

Mr.Shlatt - political science

the teacher that everyone tries to get mad cause it’s funny

starts arguments between students because he loves to watch kids grow into their opinions and learn to debate with others

teaches them how to win arguments and it blows up in his face cause they start using his tactics against him

Mr. Halo - self defense

no 🚫 swearing 🚫 zone

gives the biggest hugs to kids that seem sad

he teaches in mostly talking ways where he explains everything but he also loves demonstration lessons

he always has kids talking to him about other teachers that may annoy them or have given them a bad grade because Mr.Halo always has their back

Mr.Skeppy - money management

he’s that one teacher that isn’t really close with his students but every once in a while he’ll get a group of kids that he enjoys and it makes the class a lot more fun

pizza party after tests if everyone passes

actually holds meme contests for literally no reason

Mr.H - hospitality

has whiteboard desks in his class cause he is THAT cool

is always asking kids what the drama is atm cause he wants to be in the know

has holiday party’s in class for EVERY holiday. if you have him as a teacher you’ll be celebrating every holiday for however long you have him. he just lives for a good party.

also has a snack drawer

Mr.Frost - horticulture

shelves and shelves of plants. gives his fav students ones to take home

literally the sweetest teacher, every student understands you can not be rude to Mr.Frost it’s just criminal to do so

another huggy teacher. he just loves his kiddos with his whole heart

the least amount of work for a class out of all of them

he’s definitely that teacher thay takes his class outside every chance they get, and the students l o v e it

staff:

Mr.Minecraft -headmaster/principal

he’s the reason the school has like 0 REAL trouble makers.

everyone’s scared of him, but only because they don’t want to disappoint him.

he creates the best rallies and makes school events fantastic

100% dances at school dances sometimes

Mrs.Puffy - councilor

everyone adores her. even other teachers.

she councils Mr.Wastaken when he needs dating advice. *cough cough* Mr.Notfound *cough cough*

literally 3 drawers full of snacks.

is the founder of their schools GCA and it’s the best thing

let’s kids skip class in her office when they have a panic attack or are to anxious to go

had to have a chat with Coach Sapnap because of how many kids were coming from his PE class having panic attacks (he felt really bad, he’s just intense sometimes)

loves to sit in on Mr.Quackitys classes

Teacher callahan - substitute

he subs in sometimes and when students find out Teacher callahan is subbing that day they freak the fuck out

so much kahoot

how can one man start such party’s without speaking a word

terrorizes Mr Wastakens classes when he can and LOVES to pop in on the PE classes especially when they’re doing something wicked fun and he feels like beating sapnap at something

[doomedship]

I feel like the Chenford version of the "how it started vs how its going" meme is the same picture. We're in the same place we started. Except we've somehow managed to go backwards because before, Tim's treatment of Lucy could be excused as tough love because he was a hardass TO. Now, he's just being a bully who treats the people below him in the hierarchy like crap instead of with the respect they're due as his colleagues. They should be working as a team by now.

LOL I feel this.

If it were a line graph it would still be hovering around zero, or possibly in minus numbers since we're now back in third party relationship territory.

That's why people are upset about being a third of the way through the season and still being where we are. Because we're spinning our wheels, and there are still so many things that would need to happen to get Chenford in a believable space for a romantic relationship.

There desperately needs to be something serious where they work together and for each other and are shown to be on the same team like they used to.

A reminder that back in the day we got bickering but within the same episode we'd get that followed up with small moments like:

Tim keeping Lucy sane waiting for test results

Lucy telling Tim Isabel's place looks okay and delivering her narcan for him

Tim slapping a criminal for disrespecting Lucy

Lucy telling off a superior to save Tim's reputation over the crash

Tim going in to bat for Lucy with that complaint guy

Lucy recording audiobooks for Tim so he can pass his exams

Tim refusing to go off shift until Lucy ticked all her boxes

Lucy reassuring Tim about the vaccine through a door

Small but crucial moments showing that at the end of the day, these were two people who absolutely cared about each other and would stand against the whole goddamn world for the other if push came to shove. These moments cemented them as a viable relationship with a solid foundation of trust, sacrifice, respect and mutual support.

Can anyone point to anything remotely similar to these moments this season? Any instance where they've shown they're not just about joking in the break room, but will step up and be on the same team when it counts? Will give up something to help the other? Will be there to stop them making a mistake? I just can't think of any.