#does this little interaction still make me laugh 12 years (oh god 12 years) later you bet it!!!

[ncassidy]

favorite scenes in once upon a time | 1.01, pilot

[imagines-hoarder]

House Warming - Bucky Barnes

Summary: Hopping through some standout moments in making Bucky's apartment a place worth coming home to. (This definitely could have been a headcanon but I refuse to do headcanons at this time.)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader

Word count: 2.6 k

Warnings: fluff with a lil angst

A/N: I have finished all the assignments left for my degree and decided to sit down and write today. This is probably trash but idc because it has been written and therefore I may as well release it. It's been a while since I've written and years since I've truly tried dipping my foot into a different fandom, but I figured I'd give it ago. Please don't forget to leave comments, I love interacting with y'all. Thank you @bwbatta​ for the dividers! xoxox

Masterlist

It all started with a damn candle. A ‘sandalwood & vanilla orchid’ candle tucked away in a reused cyan jar.

“I found it at the art market down the street last weekend,” you said as you placed it in the corner of the living room window. “You know we have to support local business.”

“And I shouldn’t assume this is your way of telling me my place smells, right?” Bucky quipped from the kitchen island, a cup of coffee in his hand and a lazy smile on his face. He’d just gotten back from a 12-day mission with Sam, and the last thing he had on his to-do list was to buy candles.

The smile grew firmer as you put yourself into his arms. “Complete opposite, actually. I bought it cause I thought it smelled just like you.” You hid your face within his chest, and he thanked the stars that you couldn’t see the warmth rising in his cheeks. His barren apartment felt a little bigger with a candle in the windowsill.

From there it became decorative pillows… and a couch to hold them. The small living room had quickly become a mess by the time you both had brought it up to his fourth-floor apartment, furniture wrap and packing peanuts strewn everywhere.

“I still don’t know why you needed to buy a sofa this big,” Bucky grumbled as he leaned over the back of the beige three-seater, looking down at your splayed out across its cushions.

“Don’t get me wrong, babe. I love the transient bachelor look you’ve got going on here, but you need more furniture than an armchair,” you mumbled between heavy breaths as you tried to regain control from maneuvering the couch into the apartment.

“And the pillows?” A laugh fell from your lips as you watched him look at the indigo cushions with a remarkable amount of disdain. Who buys pillows made just to look nice on a couch?

“They add character.”

“I didn’t think character was an area we were lacking in. Transient bachelor, remember?” He walked around the couch and shifted you over so he could lay beside you. You instinctively curled into him as you both closed your eyes. For a second the place felt like home. “I also don't know how you plan for us both to fit on this couch every day along with the pillows.”

“Don’t worry about it,” You looked up from his chest with a mischievous glint that made his heart skip. “It’s a pullout bed too. I’m sure it’ll be firm enough even for you.”

The home improvements didn’t stop there, but Bucky refused to admit how much he enjoyed them.

He liked having a place and person to come home to. After you had bought neutral bedding for his room, you’d spent an evening putting together ‘his and hers’ trestle bookcases for either side of the bed. He’d try to keep up his crabbish demeanor as you argued that ‘you needed a place to set your books for when you slept over,’ and a side table could no longer contain the small collection you had spilling over. Even still, he couldn’t find it in himself to banter much about the minor changes you made to make the place feel lived in.

And God, did he love living with you around. Between missions, his continued therapy, and trying to find his place in a world that had tripled in opportunity since his youth, he knew that he never had to question who he was and where he fit in when he walked through that door. You still occasionally slept at your own apartment when he was away, but he could always count on you being asleep in his bed by the time he came home.

One toothbrush in a glass became two, and from there, hand creams, face masks, and cotton pads cluttered the bathroom counter, packed away in their clear containers. You had made sure to keep lavender bath salts on hand for the late-night baths you took together when he woke up in a panic, unable to close his eyes again for fear of falling back into a nightmare.

It took time and working through plenty of hesitation before Bucky could progress from sleeping on the pull-out sofa to the bed, but ever since, you found your nights attended by restlessness whenever you weren’t wrapped in his arms.

Once your lease was up and you had a lengthy conversation about your inability to rest without him, you quickly filled the apartment with brown boxes. Bucky had been no less than astounded by how much you fit into them. From then on, no nook or cranny was without a vase or shelf.

“How many mugs does one house need,” Bucky asked skeptically while he continued to carefully pull them from their paper wrappings.

“Oh, come on! They’re fun!” You exclaimed, wrapping an arm around his waist as you took the Charlie Brown mug from his metal palm. “Plus, we go through enough coffee around here to justify some extra mugs.”

After you put the mug into the lowest shelf of the cabinet, you busied yourself with filing away the spices one cabinet over. No matter how much he tried, Bucky couldn’t pull his eyes away from you, lost in your own world as you chipped away at unpacking your belongings, making yours his, and vice versa. The domesticity in the little things you did was something he could get used to, and he wanted to return the feeling of normalcy as much as he could. He was far from the average boyfriend, but you remind him that could be a good thing. You never wanted to be average, but in these small moments, as you both did what normal couples do, he felt that he could create a new normal with you.

“So your Christmas gift came in already, and it’s too big to hide.” Your awkward tone carried over the phone as he exited a station ten minutes away from the apartment. Even though his neck ached and the cold nipped at the top of his ears, he couldn’t stop himself from releasing a breathy laugh.

“I thought you said you were good at this gift-giving thing, doll,” he teased you as he maneuvered his way to your shared apartment.

“Oh, don’t you fret, baby. I am the best gift-giver in all of New York City. I just slightly miscalculated how big this thing was and have realized it won’t fit into our closet.”

He tsked with a smirk on his face. “If you say so.”

“Hey, you gave me my Christmas gift a week ago.”

“Yeah, that’s because I didn’t know if I’d be back before Christmas.”

“Well, you will be, and I’m glad you are,” your voice softened lovingly as he pulled out his keys to the front of the building.

Bucky had gotten used to your love, but he’d vow to never take it for granted. All the pain he’d endured had somehow led him to you, the person who didn’t see his broken pieces as a burden or a project but as a potential to be whatever he desired.

When he hung up the call and unlocked the apartment, his brows furrowed into one; the apartment was pitch black. It was only when he heard your soft footstep walking towards the entrance that his face relaxed.

Before he could even kiss you, you had your palms firmly placed over his eyes. “No peeking; your gift is in the living room.”

The uncertainty in what you could have got him made his stomach clench. “Is it an animal?”

You slowly dragged him through the front hallway, making sure to avoid crashing into the entryway storage table. “I’m sorry to say it’s not alive.”

“Is it a nice welcome-home spread with candles, fruit, and the pullout bed all set up?”

He could feel your eyes roll to completion. “Easy there, sergeant. That’s for later.” You pulled him down to sit on the couch, and he kept his eyes closed as you pulled your palms away, moving to turn on a lamp. “Okay, Buck. open up.”

When he opened his eyes, it took him a moment to understand what he was seeing nestled against the wall; when he did recognize it, he could only form two words “Holy shit.”

“Holy shit indeed.”

He was quick to stand up and cross the room, eager to get a good look at the walnut centerpiece. “Does it work?”

You scoffed as you moved to kiss his cheek. “What kind of girlfriend would get her ancient boyfriend a broken phonograph console?”

He didn’t even attempt to answer as he bent down to wrap his arms around you, his lips eager to find yours. “A fucking Magnavox radio and phonograph,” he mumbled against your lips.

“A working Magnavox radio and phonograph, you mean.” When you pulled away and saw that his face held a glow reserved only for special occasions, you knew you had made the right choice. “I’ve got some records wrapped up if you want to open those now too.”

You yelped in surprise as he picked you up and made his way towards your bedroom. “I’ve got something else I’d like to unwrap first.”

Bucky Barnes had grown up in a period when the average family could seldom afford nice things or much of anything at all. The Great Depression has resulted in the slogan ‘Make it do or Do without,” being ingrained into what memories he still had, and 'doing without' had become commonplace for the Barnes household.

That’s why every gadget and gizmo you added to your household left him in awe. For much of his life, including the decades he spent as a weapon for Hydra, he hadn’t been allowed to call anything his own; he was still getting used to living so plentifully, both in love and in life. But now, he could barely move and he thought it had all been taken away from him.

The attack was supposed to have been contained, at least three miles away from the apartment. Anything less, and he would have made you visit your family upstate instead of just suggesting it. By the time Sam had told him that there’d been some confirmed damage within a block of the apartment, Bucky was already on his way home. He couldn’t think of anything but the worse: you trapped in a collapsing apartment building or pulling up to find no building there at all.

He felt his lungs fill with air again as he pulled up to your building, completely intact regardless of the severe damage less than a five-minute walk away. It felt like both seconds and hours between when he parked his outside and unlocked the front door.

“He doesn’t have his phone on him, mom. How am I supposed to…” you trailed off from your call as he walked into the living room, turning your head away from the Breaking News report you’d been glued to for the last hour. “Wait, I’ll call you back. Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll call you back.” Your eyes never left his as he walked over to you, hanging up the phone with worry in your eyes. “Buck, are you oka-”

You couldn’t even finish your sentence before he pulled you off of the couch and into his arms. His grip was less reserved than he usually kept, but he made sure not to hurt you, eager to keep you in his arms, where he knew you were safe. A single tear fell from the corner of his eyes as he realized the real possibility that he could have lost you if you lived even 5 minutes closer to the attack. You stayed like that for a while, gathered tightly in his arms as you both settled onto the floor You didn’t push him to verbalize his fear; you already understood it. And it took this occurrence for him to realize he never wanted to experience this feeling again.

Bucky was quiet for the rest of the evening, and while it worried you, his fear had been evident enough not to require questioning. The city-wide cleanup had lasted all hours of the night; for the first time in all the years you had lived in the city, the sounds of the whirring of vehicles clearing debris off the street had been too close to ignore. The sun was rising before a single word was said between you and Bucky, tangled together on the sofa as the first ray of light made itself known.

“You’ve spent so much time piecing this place together, doll.” His voice was raspy. You know he hates when you see him cry, but his pain was always evident in his voice. “And it could have been all wiped away in seconds.” You let a heavy silence settle between you as you traced a pattern into his shoulder. He couldn’t bear to say it, but you knew what he meant: You could have been gone within seconds. “I just… I don’t ever want to feel like this again.”

You’d both gone through so much to make your relationship work. Nearly normal was as close as you would ever attain to being an average couple. The distance, the days without contact, and the ever-present fear that anything could pull you away from one another was something that had taken time to work through.

You looked around the living room and saw the place you had built together. There were photos and books scattered on any flat surface, a leftover mug half-filled with cold tea, and a record left out on the phonograph. The apartment looked like what love felt like; a messy combination of everything you and Bucky. But this apartment could not contain everything that ‘home’ was; only Bucky could do that.

The words fell from your mouth before you could restrain them. “Maybe we should move.”

Your eyes found each other, and you both sat in silence, though it felt lighter, invigorated with the new proposition.

Before he even responded, you could see tension dissolve from his shoulders. “Where do you want to move?”

You hadn’t thought that far ahead, only being able to provide him with a shrug. “I don’t know… maybe upstate, maybe somewhere else.”

“Your mom would like you being Upstate.”

“My mom would love us living next door too, but I don’t see that in the cards anytime soon.” You got a ghost of a smile for that.

“We could probably afford a house if we moved out there,” he said as he moved his lips to meet your forehead.

“Buck, I’d move anywhere with you. As long as we have each other, then we have all we need to rebuild this place.”

He pressed soft kisses to the crown of your head, and you swore you felt his chest flutter. “Tomorrow, I’m gonna look for some places, bigger ones too.” He tilted your head up to find your eyes, and you were sure that all of the love you carried for each other was incredibly visible at that moment. “You have made this apartment something worth coming home to. Now let me give you a house to make a home.” Your skin tingled with adoration as you pulled him as close as possible, burying your face into his neck.

You didn’t want to let go. You wanted to lay in this room, in this bed, and in this moment until the end of time, but you knew that something bigger and better was on the horizon for you and Bucky.

“All I heard is that you’re buying me a house.” His laugh was music to your ears.

[abandoned-ax]

Im on the team pt - 4

Pt 1 Pt 2 Pt 3

Haikyuu x ftm reader

Summery: 1st day of the training camp

When we came back for the longer training camp I was much more relaxed. Last time it was only one night but just a few weeks later and were back. Everyone’s been starting to try new things, I think last training camp had everyone realizing we don’t match up at all. Iv been working with Noya a bit more on receiving and everything a libero does as well as working with Tanaka on spiking. But the most interesting thing Iv been doing is helping Kagayama out, he’s working on a new kind of set and asked me if I would throw for him one day after practice, I was hanging back a bit myself just not wanting to leave the gym and so I decided to help him out. I’m seeing a new side to him I didn’t know, I’m used to seeing him as the perfect setter like he could do anything, but seeing him struggling and frustrated is new. The day before we left for training camp we were practicing his set and he got angrier then I had ever seen him, he threw the ball and shouted.

“Ahhhhhh! Why can’t I get it!”

I’m immediately on the ground trying to figure out what to do to help calm him down, but the only thing I can think of that he likes is volleyball. Sooo

“Kageyama!” He pauses to look at me, “umm I was wondering if you wanted to take a break from your set and maybe help me with mine instead.” I guess that got him to pause since he was now just looking at me, “is just Iv been wanting to work on it for a while now but it’s just, your so good at it and I just wanted to ask for some pointers, and it just seems like you could use a break so.” His breathing has started to even out a bit more, he looks a bit caught off guard.

“Ughh yeah I can do that.” So for the next half hour we worked ok my set, I made sure to praise and complement him on his set to make sure he knew how talented he was, I’m sure working so hard on a set and not being able to get it is really frustrating. After a while we were both tired so we moved to sit down drinking our water in silence.

“Thank you for helping me out, and you know for calming me down.” His voice got quieter as the sentence went on but I understood what he was getting at.

“It’s all good kageyama. I bet it’s frustrating.” He looks over at me and we make eye contact, it’s nice.

“Iv always been able to get it, and I just haven’t had to do something new like that in a while.”

“I know it’s frustrating, and I know I don’t know a lot about volleyball but even I know your one of the most talented players, you’ll get it, it’s just going to take a bit of time.”

“Thanks (Y/N)”

I smile over at him happy I could help in anyway, he pulls out his phone to check the time, “holy shit it’s late.” I look over at his phone and realize it’s 12:30 already!

“Oh wow.” Kagayama looks over at me and we start laughing, both realizing how wild it is that we stayed here for that long, “oh my god our buss to head to training camp is going to be here is like 4 hours!” Kagayama starts laughing louder.

“Holy shut we should head home huh?!” Both of us calm down our giggles before moving to walk home, we walk mostly together till we half to part ways, “well I’ll see you in a few hours Kags.”

He smiles at me a little “yeah I’ll see you in a few hours.” And with that we split ways.

It’s before the sun comes up that we have to be at the busses so naturally everyone is very tired. I meet Tsuki and Yams there but once Kagayama shows up I move over to him, he’s looking through his bag and so I ask “making sure you packed everything?” He look up startled but his gaze softens when he sees it’s me, “yeah after how late we got home last night I didn’t really have time to pack properly.” I giggle at him, “lucky I pack like a week in advance.” He chuckles “maybe I should start doing that to huh.” Coach gives a little speech and tells us all to get on the bus, I was originally planning on sitting wish Tsuki and Yams but they ended up sitting together and Kags asked if I wanted to sit with him so that’s what I did. Not long into the drive I ended up falling asleep with my head on Kagayamas shoulder, and he fell asleep with his on my head. But we were rudely awoken by Daichi “come on idiots were here.” I know I have a massive blush in my face so I get up and move to get off the bus quickly, I hear Daichi chuckle at us but ignore it and move quickly, one off the bus I move to find Tsuki and Yams, “so I see you’ve become friends with the king?” Tsuki says skeptically, “oh shut it Tsuki.” Yams laughs at us as we see Nekoma come out to greet us.

I walk over to where Kenma is talking to Hinata excited to see him again since we talked a bit at the last training camp and he seems super cool, “hey Kenma!” He looks away from Hinata and smiles at me “hey (Y/N), I was just talking to Hinata about the camp.”

“Oh yeah! It’s in a different place, do you know why?” Kenma chuckles at that question “yeah it’s a bigger space and a bit cooler here, but there’s a lot of bugs.”

“Fuck I should have brought bug spray.”

“It’s ok you can use mine if you wanna,” he says smiling a bit.

“Are you sure that would be ok?”

“Yeah I don’t mind!”

“Thanks Kennma.” I smile at him but the moment is cut short by a super tall guy yelling over at Hinata “hey did you grow taller yet?!” The two start bickering and I give Kenma a surprised look,

“that’s Lev, he’s the new kid for us.”

I giggle at the distressed look he gets looking over at the tall kid.

“I’m guessing he’s...a lot.”

“How’d you know?”

“I mean he did interrupt our conversation by yelling at Hinata about his height.” Kenma laughs at that.

“So (Y/N) you play any video games?” Me and Kenma talked the entire walk to Karasanos room, finding we have quite a bit in common, from our love of the same video games to our inability to sleep most nights. He’s nice to talk to, his calm and quiet tone is relaxing to listen to and his more subtle demeanor is cute.

We all put our bags in the room and got ready for our first game today. I didn’t play in the first few, but after a couple they switched me into the libero spot for a while and then I played middle blocker. We aren’t doing too good tho, haven’t won a single game, and after the 8th time doing the run for the loosing team I think I’m gunna die. When the end of the day came around we all collapsed after our last run.

“Ughhh I don’t think I can breath” I hear tanaka yell.

“We lost every game, how’d we lose every game.” Suga asked

We looked into the gym to watch the one game that’s still going, we are nowhere near that level. Daichi sits up and says he’s going to work on the synchronized attack, so everyone started to scatter.

I look over and see Tsuki walking away from the gym most of our team was using and Yams yells over at him “you aren’t going to practice Tsuki?” Tsuki turns around “no, we practice enough already.” And starts walking away, I knew Yams was probably itching to go practice his serve so I tell him, “go, I’ll follow the giraffe.” He smiles gratefully at me and I starts chasing after the blond boy.

“Tsuki wait up!” He doesn’t turn around so I start running faster till I catch up with him. “ughhh why are your legs so long!”

“There not that long yours are just short.”

We pause for a moment, it’s awkward. Me and Tsuki have never had an awkward moment, I don’t like it.

“Aren’t you going to practice?”

“No, we do that enough, everyday for hours we practice, I’m done for the night.”

I’m so lost on what to do at this point, I want him to come practice but I can’t force him too,

“Hey glasses kid,” I hear a voice say and turn around Tsuki stopping in his place, “oh and (Y/N)” it’s Kuroo from Nekoma.

“You guys wanna come practice with us? We could use another blocker!” I look over to Tsuki hopefully, maybe this will be the opportunity to get him motivated. Tsuki looks up and with the fakest smile on his face he says “sorry, I’m all done for the night.”

Kuroo and one of the other guys I think from Fukurodani are both appalled by his response,

“You know he may not look it but he’s one of the top 5 aces is Japan.”

The owl looking guy stands up taller and puffs out his chest looking proud. It’s cute!

“Yeah I think he’s still upset he’s not in the top 3 anymore.” I chuckle, there fun, you can tell they all joke around a lot.

“Well I’m in.” I say walking up to the gym and yelling back at Tsuki “don’t make me do this alone.” The three others stay in the door continuing to try and convince Tsuki to join.

I’m walking through but jump when I her “oh hi” from the floor, looking down it’s the tall kid who was talking to Hinata earlier. He looks like a baby dear before it can walk!

“What happened to you?”

“Kuroo did.” I laugh back at him. He sits up more going over to sit agains the wall and I move to sit next you him.

“Your a first year right? How long have you been playing?” A guy like him is clearly a powerhouse, I assume he’s been playing for years.

“Oh I just started!” He says with a goofy grin on his face,

“You just started!!”

“Hey! How long have you been playing!” He says in an amusing accusatory tone

“Well, I kinda just started too!”

“Haha were tied.” I smile over at him, he looks kinda intimidating but he certainly doesn’t act it as he giggles at our interaction. I think back to when I first saw him earlier he was with Kennma, I wonder where he is?

“Hey your on the team with Kennma right, I just talked to him earlier today and haven’t seen him around much since?”

“Oh Kennma?” I hear Kuroo yell jogging over to us “he went to go play some video games, he’s not really the type that needs to practice, nor do I think we could get him too!” He chuckles.

“Oh that reminds me! Did you get Tsuki to join?”

Kuroo gets a cocky smile on his face looking over his shoulder to see Tsuki looking angry. I get up but before I Kuroo I say “great, you made our tall guy with glasses angry.” I laugh at him sarcastically, he laughs back loudly and we go to start our first practice game of many.

An: hey guys sorry it’s been too long, I’m currently thinking I’ll make this a Kenma x Reader X Kuroo or maybe a Tsuki X reader not sure yet!! Let me know what you think!!!

[palbabor-writes]

I know you said you only might accept pregnancy requests depending on what it is so I wanted to try 😅 how about shigaraki and reader break up while she’s unknowingly pregnant with his child and he bumps into said child years later and connects the dots that it’s his? If you don’t like it feel free to ignore this request 😊

I liked this nonnie.

I am terrified that by saying that I’m going to be inundated with pregnancy HC’s, lol. But, this request I really leaned into. Plus, it’s more about a kid than a pregnancy. 

So, thank you for asking and letting me slip out of my comfort zone. It’s always good to do that every once in awhile and this ask was a great reminder of that.

It’s a bit melancholic, but I think it fits with Tomura, at least, in my mind.

Now, this is not in canon. This is not like, pre-war arc, or post-war arc. If anything, it’s more of an AU. I’d put Tomura in his late 20s to early 30s.  

warnings: none really, just some sweet, sweet interactions and mild angst 

Hestia Hestia, in Greek religion, is the goddess of the hearth, a daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and one of the 12 Olympian deities. When the gods Apollo and Poseidon became suitors for her hand, she swore to remain a maiden forever, and Zeus, the king of the gods, bestowed upon her the honor of presiding over all sacrifices. 

The shouting noise of children set his teeth on edge.

Toga had insisted that the bus stop by the school was the best place for the information exchange.

They won’t look for you there, she’d assured him. It’s like hiding in plain sight. Yeah, it’s patrolled, but it’s only an old security guard who does the rounds. Besides, he’s retired from the police force, she qualified, and was more like a lazy cat than an attentive scent hound.  

It’s the best place, really.

So, Shigaraki had made the long trek across Tokyo.

He kept to the shadows as he weaved his way through back alleys and streets. Although the dominance of the League had waned some over the years, he was still a wanted criminal, responsible for countless death and threats on hero society.

He was still the King of his slice of the underworld.

Besides, he reassured himself as he loitered by the bench under the bus stop, he could trust Toga.

She had improved in leaps and bounds as she came of age; deadlier, sleeker, more attuned to the ebbs and flows of the world around her. She wasn’t that girl who chattered about blood anymore.

Oh, she still held a strange fascination with the fluid. But she had more control over those impulses that drove her. If she said it was the best place, well, who was he to argue? Toga had been with him from the beginning, a vital ally. Hell, at this point she was close to being a friend.

Shigaraki is still musing when the ball taps its way to his feet.

It clatters against the pavement; the rubber shuttling it along the loose rocks and leaves. Unthinkingly, Shigaraki lifts his shoe to balance against its unbound movement, stilling its lulling bounces.

Must be from that schoolyard, he thinks, his red eyes flashing up at the low chain-link fence that separates the school grounds from the busy street.

There’s no child dashing their way to retrieve it, so he lets his gaze slip from the teeming masses of giggling youngsters. It’s a pretty blue. The ball looks new. Hardly a scuffed and battered thing.

He keeps it under his sole, toying with it, rolling it meditatively as he slips back into his thoughts.

“Hey! That’s mine!”

It’s a small voice that calls to him and he turns his head back to the fence, looking for the source.

It’s a girl.

She’s leaning against the metal, her hands clutching into the links, cocking her head inquisitively at him.

Her nose wrinkles at his silence, and she shouts another demand.

“Mister, that’s my ball. Toss it back.”

“Aren’t you supposed to say please?” Shigaraki taunts, his lips lifting in a quick grin. He’s not sure why he’s bothering to engage with this kid, but something about her plucky attitude resonates with him.

She leans away from the fence, that scowl deepening on her soft features.

“Aren’t grown ups not supposed to steal things?”

He laughs at her snark. He can’t help it. Oh, this kid’s fun.

Carefully slipping the ball into his hands, he moves closer to the fence. He can see her a little better now.

She’s still got that deep frown on her face and her dark hair is gleaming in the afternoon sun, some strands catching the light, reflecting a deep, auburn, hue. He’s just about to chuck the ball to her when he catches sight of her eyes.

They’re red.

Not that red eyes are unusual. There are plenty of people milling around Tokyo with them. But hers are different.

No, these eyes are like looking into a mirror for Shigaraki. They flint and glare with the same sheen as his own. It’s a prefect reflection.

His feet suddenly feel heavy, leaden, and he can’t lift his arms. Who is this child? Why does she-

“Ok, ok, mister. Can I please have my ball back? You’re still stealing it if you don’t, so I’m not apologizing for that. I might... if you give it back to me, cuz’ it’s my ball, not yours. And, stealing makes you a thief.”

She’s rolling those uncanny irises at his stiff form, and a huffing sigh escapes her small mouth.

“What’s your name?” Shigaraki asks, hands trembling over the rubber of the ball.

“Not supposed to tell that to strangers, mister.”

He smiles again, bemused. Well, he thinks begrudgingly, she’s a clever little thing. Whoever she is.

A sharp bell echoes across the yard and she turns her head at the sound, her dark hair tumbling around her shoulders.

“Here,” Shigaraki relents, gently flipping the ball over the fence, bouncing it to her feet.

“Thanks,” she murmurs, quickly snatching up her prize. Those red eyes of hers meet his own, and he can feel a low shiver echo up his spine. What’s up with this reaction? It almost feels visceral, like some sort of otherworldly pull on him.

“Sorry I called you a thief,” she apologizes, quickly bowing her head, ducking those eerie eyes from view.

He’s not sure what to say, so he continues to watch her. She doesn’t seem perturbed by this, opting to giggle at him as her little head lifts.

“You’re weird,” she assess, a smile finally spreading over her lips, her cheeks rounding and softening. 

Tch, she’s rude, but she’s also cute, Shigaraki thinks, snorting at her frankness.

She turns, dashing away from him, her dark hair flowing around her back as she goes.

Shigaraki shakes his head, trying to dislodge those lingering questions that keep floating to the back of his mind.

He’ll never see her again, he reasons, wandering back to the bus stop. Trying to tamp down the urge to look for her again, to pinpoint her from the other giggling and shouting children on the playground.

But he did see her again.

He comes back to the stop a few weeks later.

There’s no information pickup this time. There’s no real reason for him to even be on this side of town.

He just can’t get her out of his mind.

This little kid had shaken something within his psyche. He kept dreaming about her. Well, not her, really. No, there was someone else haunting his dreams.

He hasn’t thought about you in years.

But now? Now, he can’t get you out of his head. He even feels like he can feel you some nights, warm against his side. He sulks in the memories of the familiar touches that the two of you shared, the love that you’d pressed into him, so, so long ago.

He saw the girl in those moments. Resting in your arms as you looked up, your eyes bright against her dark head. The girl would laugh and run to him, those reflective red eyes shining with mirth. 

It was fucking strange.

He both hated, and loved, the repetitive nature of these illusions. They made him feel safe and warm, but they also chilled him to his very bones. It was unsettling.

Unsure what else to do, he’d back come to the bus stop.

It’s early afternoon. Close to the time he’d visited it before. He waits on the lonely bench, his hands pressed together and that strange tremble races through his veins.

This is stupid, he thinks, his eyes lowering from the sea of kids, all twisting and turning in a heap as they play. It’s an impossibility, really. The chances of that girl losing her ball again is minuscule. There’s no way he can call to her either. It’s a waste. He shouldn’t even be here.

He’s standing to leave, when that small voice reaches him.

“Oh! You’re back.”

His head whips around, his long white hair glowing against the sunlight.

There she is.

She’s gripping the fence again, and she’s staring right at him.

Shigaraki smiles. It’s a gentle lift and he can feel his heart tapping a rough tattoo against his ribs. He steps toward her, kneeling when he gets close, careful to not overstep his bounds.

He’s not wanting to startle her.

No, he’s wanting to talk with her. Maybe she’ll drop some kinda clue why he’s so drawn to her. Or maybe she’ll morph into any other child again. Plain, uninteresting. Slipping from that odd ghost that she’s become to his subconscious. 

He hopes it’s the latter. But part of him also longs for it to be the former.

She’ll hop to the fence around 3:15.

She looks for him now, used to the routine of his presence.

He told her to call him Tomura, and the name falling from her lips made his heart ache.

Tomura stopped by on Fridays. Careful to not stay too long, to not draw too much attention to himself.

At first, he’d sneak her little trinkets. 

A little plastic toy of his, one that he had since he was a kid. She’d squealed with delight and clutched it to her. He’d grinned at that, remembering how he’d once held onto the thick plastic himself. 

Once, he’d just plucked a nearby flower as he walked to the school, presenting it to her outreached grasp. He’d watched proudly as she tucked it behind her ear, the color glossy beside her hair.

She’s still a sassy little thing. But she’s softened a little, too. Her voice losing that early, untrusting, edge.

He didn’t ask her much. Sometimes they both just sat in silence as she sketched designs into the dirt. Sometimes he would listen to her chatter about her day. Her classmates, her teacher. Once, she’d even pressed something over the fence to him.

It was a drawing.

He’s not sure if it really was all that well done, or if it’s just his heavy bias toward her. But he loves the mix of color and lines. He’d asked who the people were.

One was her friend, Kenji. One was her teacher. One was him.

He’d pinned it to the wall in his room. Displaying it, flaunting the gift. He looked at it every morning, admiring her work.

He’s late one day, and she scolds him, her small arms draping over the fence.

“I didn’t think you were going to come,” she chatters, her red eyes lingering against his, the two colors casting back the same hue.

“Was running behind,” Tomura replies, leaning against the low concrete barrier, resting his back against the fence.

Her little hands reach for his hair, playing with the pearlescent tendrils, weaving some into knots and braids. 

He doesn’t mind.

“Hey, Tomura,” she says, working a tiny hairband into her creation, her voice curious.

“Hmm,” he hums, careful to not shift his head, not wanting to disrupt her hard work.

“You didn’t ask my name again. At least… not after that one day.”

“Do you want me to ask?” He queries, his pulse lifting.

He’d wanted to ask her again, but he didn’t want to startle her, to shatter these innocences that they shared.

“It’s Beryl,” she answers. She says it confidently, and he turns to face her.

She grins at him, wiggling one loose tooth playfully at his serious expression, trying to tug a laugh from him.

“Beryl?” he repeats, unable to keep that awed hush from his raspy tones. It’s a pretty name. It suits her, really. But it’s strange. It’s not Japanese. 

You hadn’t been Japanese. 

“That’s a good name,” he assures her. “But, it’s not… you don’t hear that name very often.”

“Yeah,” Beryl concedes, her vermillion eyes roving over his face. “My mom’s not from here.”

His nostrils flare at that.

He hasn’t asked her about her mother. He’s unsure if it’s a general disinterest on his part, or trepidation. He fears it’s the latter.

Gulping, he tilts his head at her, feeling that soft braid she’s plaited into his hair shifting.

“Who’s your mother?”

“Who is she? She’s my mom, silly.”

“No,” he pauses, ignoring that creeping tremor that’s working its way to the top of his skull, his skin prickling and cooling. “I mean…what’s her name?”

“Oh! Her name is-”

“Beryl! Beryl, it’s time to come inside.” A teacher is calling for her. 

Tomura startles away, drifting to his feet and pacing quickly back to the bus stop. He can’t help the snarl that etches its way across his lips. He’d been so close. So fucking close…

He chances a glance back at the fence and catches sight of Beryl. She’s dashing across the playground, her dark hair waving in the sun.

Japan is about to slip into summer. School will come to a close, moving into a long break. He won’t see her again for almost a month.

His heart sinks at that realization and he grits his teeth. Slipping his hands into his dark trench coat, he steps across the street, away from the bus stop, away from the little girl that’s feeling more and more like his own.

Edit: oh hey. so, i couldn’t stfu about this and created a sequel: Materfamilias 

hahaha & part iii

[pathological-peoplepleaser-alert]

Hospital Playlist : Season 1

So, I recently re-watched season 1 of Hospital Playlist in preparation of season 2 that’s going to be released on the 17th of June, and I have a couple of thoughts that I want to share. Warning: It’s going to be filled with spoilers, so for those looking to avoid that, please don’t read more. Also, this is a looooonnnnggg one :)

“Hospital Playlist” is a Korean Drama that follows five doctors in their 40s who have been best friends since adolescence as they form a band together. While the log-line appears simple, the depth in the script and acting will enchant any audience. The narrative is free-spirited and quirky, reverberating friendships forged by love and time in a heart-warming style.

This slice of life drama realistically tackles what occurs within the white walls of the hospital. From ungrateful patients to the long wait for donors, it has it all. This drama covered plenty of cases, each of them as sad as the next. I recall when Yang Seok Hyeong, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, had a patient who delivered a baby with anencephaly. He was considerate enough to not allow the mother to hear the baby’s cries by playing loud music in the delivery room and quickly escorting the baby away from the mother. I teared up during that scene, and I still tear up just thinking about that. I watched it as a case in a K-Drama, but it is many people’s gruesome reality, and all I can offer are my sympathies.

Despite zoning out during the technical aspects and elucidation of medical terminologies, I could feel the gravity of an operation and the burden of Atlas resting on the doctors when they held the scalpel. I liked the fact that there wasn’t any hospital politics. Rather, the show focused on the doctors, as they tried their best to save their patients. I mourned during the losses of life and celebrated with the characters after a successful surgery.

The ensemble cast for “Hospital Playlist” was flawless. The sincerity of the actors and the efforts they had put into studying and understanding their roles were clear as day. The chemistry between them was organic and the banters, natural. While they didn’t verbalise every emotion, the viewers could feel their familiarity, like they were real-life friends on screen. I was on an emotional rollercoaster as I watched this, rooting for them through hardships and cheering whenever they laughed.

“I wondered why my life was getting so difficult. It was really tough. But all of a sudden, one day, I realised how much time I was wasting. Wasting my life away like this because of what she did to me was doing a disservice to myself.”

Jo Jung-Suk did a flawless job portraying Lee Ik-Jun. This was my second time witnessing a drama with Jo Jung Suk, and while I wouldn’t applaud his performance in “Oh, My Ghostess!” (But in his defence, I found that script to be problematic) I absolutely loved him in “Hospital Playlist”. Lee Ik-Jun is an assistant professor of general surgery. He’s funny, sociable, laid-back, charming, and a dotting, single father to his son, Woo Joo.

The first time I, as the viewer, was introduced to him was gold. Naughty little Woo Joo had managed to put a blotch of super glue to a Darth Vader helmet, which was later worn by his father. During an emergency at the hospital, Ik Jun showed up decked in Darth Vader gear and bravely holding a light saber, demanding that the helmet was unglued from his head. He got his wish, but only after performing surgery while wearing the helmet.

Watching Ik-Jun and his son together is heartwarming, to say the least. You can tell how much he loves his son, as seen by the way he prepared meatballs from scratch, including the ketchup, excitedly for his son, only for the latter to claim he wanted meatballs, causing the former to trip on his way to the kitchen. I also adore how most of the bonding scenes we see between them happens over sandwiches. I find that very precious.

Ik Jun is also very friendly to everyone. He warmly welcomes the medical students, greets his colleagues with a smile, and most notably, plays as a matchmaker between Jeong-won and Jang Gyeo-wool, even if it is so the latter could assist him on more surgeries. His relationship with his sister is also beautiful. I love how authentic they are, from their bickering and the hidden ways they care for each other.

Ik Jun provides comic relief plenty of times— I nearly fell off my chair laughing when he mimicked a train, and also upon seeing how adamant he was to eavesdrop on a private phone conversation of Kim Jun-wan.

“I don’t deserve to be a doctor. I can’t control my emotions. I empathise too easily.”

I must admit, Ahn Jeong Won has a soft spot in my heart and is my favourite from the group of friends. An assistant professor of pediatric surgery, Jeong Won gets overly attached to patients and takes every loss personally. Due to his sensitive nature, he’s detailed in everything he does, earning the teasing nickname of “Buddha” from his colleagues.

Hardworking but overemotional, there have been many instances when Jeong Won swears to quit being a doctor after a patient has unfortunately succumbed, and it’s only through the insistence of his oldest brother does he continue his job. He’s immensely religious and has a close relationship with God, and considered being a priest until the season finale.

His interactions with his young patients tug on all my heartstrings. From the gentle way he gets the permission of small children to check their vitals, to the dedication with which he treats his patients and dissolves their fears.

One of my favourite quotes of this drama was said by him, “Do you know why doctors only give vague answers such as ‘We can’t be sure yet,’ ‘We don’t know yet,’ and ‘We need to observe a bit more?’ Doctors must take responsibility for their words, so we must be careful. There’s only one thing we, as doctors, can tell our patients with certainty. ‘We will do our best.’”

Despite being born from a wealthy family, Jeong Won is nearly broke, spending all his fortune anonymously covering the hospital fees of poor patients.

Chae Song Hwa summarised Jeong Won’s personality neatly in episode 12 when she said, “Lastly, there’s you (Jeong Won). Seeing others enjoy good food makes you happier than when you are eating it yourself.”

“If the doctor gives up on the patient, he isn’t a doctor anymore.”

At first glance, Kim Jun Wan appears cold and scary, but there are so many dimensions to his character. He’s blunt, assertive and has a reputation for telling his patients what they need to hear, not that they want to hear.

However, he’s possibly the most caring person, having allowed Jeong Won to, in his own words, “mooch” of him for years now. He was also always nagging and hovering over his friends, keeping a stash of chocolates for them. He stepped up as the Chief of the cardiothoracic surgery department multiple times, whether it was to act as a shield to his mentee or to reprimand his juniors about the importance of (a patient’s) life and how every single decision taken by a doctor has to be thoughtful and absolute because there’s no way to reverse such things.

A great example of his outer versus inner personality is when he’s questioned by a medical student on why he chose to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. While he claimed that he became a surgeon after asking his professor which job would allow him to get the most money, with a glimpse of a flashback scene, it was revealed that when back as a student, Jun Wan was given the opportunity to witness a surgery and then, to touch a beating human heart, and felt life, that solidified his decision to choose cardiology as his field. Recalling that scene gives me goosebumps even now. That was magical.

Jun Wan is also a huge foodie, his only competition being Song-Hwa.

“What have you done for yourself lately?”

Chae Song Hwa is an associate professor of neurosurgery. Discerning without being too critical, she is intelligent and is often the mother hen of the group. Respected by her juniors, she has also been fondly dubbed the ‘ghost’ due to her busy schedule that has left several of her colleagues wondering whether she has time to eat or sleep. She was everywhere and knew everything, which allowed her to quietly look after the residents of the hospital and the patients.

Despite being buried under piles of work, she still made the time to grade her juniors papers, and I’m reminded of one of the first instances the viewers were given of her, which was when she comforted a patient in the elevators of a hospital. The only female professor in neurosurgery, she is kind to her patients.

I adore how decisive she is, being extremely clear about what she wants, drawing boundaries while still being friendly and radiating professionalism to those around her, despite the hardships she might be going through. She routinely goes camping during the weekend and is the embodiment of positive self-love.

Some of my favourite moments in this drama was literally just Song Hwa and Jun Wan aggressively eating like they’ve been hungry since the dawn of time. Song Hwa might have claimed that the reason she ate so rapidly, so full of zeal was because of growing up with older brothers, but Ik Jun was quick to shoot her down and note that they all looked boney.

“My time is too precious for that. I want to live doing the things I like. And the things I want to do right now.”

Probably the most under-appreciated character, Yang Seok Hyeong is a treasure. My first opinion of him was ‘mama’s boy’ and while I was correct, wow, I had not expected the reason why. In his youth, Seok Hyeong was not close to his mother at all, and we could even see him ignoring her phone calls. But after everything that happened with his dad, he grew closer to his mother, developed a new sense of protectiveness and appreciation for her, and I adore that.

He was also the reason the band reunited in the first place, making that his condition for working at the Yulje Medical Center. Despite seeming aloof, he was an open book to his friends. He didn’t like to bother or intrude on people and usually kept to himself, gaining a reputation for being a loner whenever he was not around his four friends.

Throughout the season, he was trapped in a whirlwind of turmoil, from the news of his unexpected brother to his father’s death and his surprise succession to the company he wants no ties with. He maintains a calm exterior and braces through the troubles.

Seok Hyeong lives up to the sensitivity his job demands from him, softly informing expecting mothers about the risks of their pregnancies while encouraging and empathising with them when things get hard.

He prefers to stay in the shadows and allow people the opportunity to sort their messes out themselves, after reminding them that he’s only a call away if they need him. He’s an excellent confident booster and appreciates those who are responsible.

These characters stayed not only in my mind but also in my heart. Each of them has such vivid personalities I can’t entirely capture in words. Their insecurities, struggles, and feelings were so real and incredibly relatable and easy to empathise with.

As conveyed by the title, music plays an important part in this T.V. serial, by allowing the characters to reminisce their college days and also allowing them a breather from their stressful life. There are thousands of words in the English language, and yet, I can’t string together enough of them to express how I felt when Jo Jung Seok sang Aloha.

The doctors use music not only as an outlet to release their frustrations, but also to express their thoughts and feelings. To heal. Listening to the songs and the covers made by the band lightened my heart. The labour they put into practising the songs made the moments more precious.

Through the music sessions in this T.V. serial, I found my affection for each character increasing. I found myself surprised to recognise some of the songs considering they are quite old, but I hummed along and felt the air around me thrum with glee as they sang.

I also found it rather ironic that Chae Song Hwa is considered to be a bad singer (her pre-routine of gulping down raw eggs fascinated me on an odd level) although the actress who plays her, Jeon Mi Do is a talented singer.

Therapeutic and well-written, I marvel at the writer’s ability to weave together arrays of mundane subplots into endearing bliss, leaving lingering positivity after every episode along with a yearning to watch more.

I’m a huge fan of writer Lee Woo-Jung’s Reply series and was hesitant to start this drama, afraid that it would fall short of expectations. But having watched it, I can safely say that those concerns were unnecessary, and whatever expectations I had were only exceeded. I couldn’t recognise any leading plotline of this drama. To me, it simply showcased the daily life of five doctors.

As it is character-driven, there is a slow progression of the drama, which needs some time getting adapted to. It was also a little hard trying to keep track of the multiple characters initially introduced, but within three episodes, I was able to get a hang of things. The dialogues were witty, impactful and sharp, capturing my attention from the beginning to the end. However, despite containing a plethora of humorous moments throughout this serial, there was a subdued layer that focused more on the community than the plot.

I must admit, however, that I found the first episode to be subtly chaotic and slow-paced. I couldn’t grasp the concepts or connect with the characters until the second episode, after which I had no qualms.

I loved the character arcs in this story. It was a pleasure to observe their journeys and diligence as various storylines diverged or amalgamated, how they grew as individuals while maintaining their core values. The flashback scenes were fascinating to watch and compare how they are now to how they used to be.

The cinematography was stunning. I was in awe at how different shades and tones of light could impact not only the setting of the scene but also the mood of the viewers.

I recommend “Hospital Playlist” to anyone who likes to watch T.V. serials possessing the perfect amount of drama, laughter, angst, warmth and love. This serial is a truly rare gem in a basket of rocks where the storylines are solid without being too predictable.

[spencessmile]

Matchmakers

Pairing - Spencer Reid x Reader 

Summary -  When glances are stolen, smiles are thrown the BAU team takes it upon themselves to become matchmakers. 

 Warnings - None

Word Count -  1415 words

And all imagines/fanfics/blurbs are written solely by me so please don't steal my work and post it without my consent. Happy reading! 

Requests are open! 

** 

Morgan and Garcia stood in the kitchen watching Reid watch you. Spencer had his chin propped up on his right hand as he watched you talk with Hotch and Rossi about the last case. 

You've been with the BAU for six years and it was safe to say that you gave your heart to the awkward-looking Doctor as soon as you stepped through the elevator doors. It started out a small crush but after being and working alongside Spencer almost every moment of every day, your little crush turned into something even bigger.

However, you may be head over heels for Spencer, but you had to remain professional. Being a profiler it's your job to interact with people all day and every day, you couldn't possibly wear your emotions for Spencer on your sleeve. 

For a team of profilers, the team never suspected a thing and you were glad it was that way. You really wanted to make the first move and ask Spencer out but you were afraid Spencer wouldn't feel the same way about you. You always felt afraid of saying anything because if Spencer didn't feel the same then you would ruin the one thing you and Spencer do share; a close friendship. 

You finished your conversation with Hotch and Rossi and headed back to your desk to complete some pending paperwork. Your desk is stationed right in front of Spencer's desk.

He sends you a small smile before returning back to his work. As you continue to work away you can feel Spencer look up at every once in a while. You tried to not notice but it was getting hard. 

"Oh my god," Garcia said, taking a bite out of her granola bar. "They would such a cute couple. Why can't Reid just get up and ask her out?" 

"It does have it bad, doesn't he?" Morgan said. 

"Reid has been staring at her for the" Garcia looks at her watch. "27 minutes."

Morgan shakes his head. 

"I mean you'd think being around profilers Reid would try to play it a little subtle but lover boy is in deep." 

Morgan looked over at Reid who had a small permanent smile stuck on his face. "He couldn't be any more obvious if he tried." Garcia nods her head in agreement. 

"What are you guys doing?" Emily asked as she and JJ walked in the bullpen holding takeout boxes. 

"Watching lover boy obsess over Y/N." Garcia motioned towards Reid. 

"I can't believe he thinks we don't know," JJ says, eating a french fry.

"What's it been?" Prentiss asked. "A year. Reid couldn't be any more obvious." 

"That's what I said," Morgan says stealing a french fry from JJ. "But we know Reid, he won't just go up to Y/N and admit his feelings. Someone else has to give it a push." 

Garcia sets on Prentiss words for a couple of seconds until a light bulb goes off in her head. 

"Prentiss you are a genius." 

"Garcia, you have the wrong person." Prentiss jokes. 

"Matchmakers," Garcia spoke. 

Morgan looked at her knowing exactly what she was thinking."Baby girl, you can't be serious right now."

"Oh but chocolate thunder I am." She grinned. "We are going to stop out of our profiler shoes for a second and step into our matchmaker shoes for a second." Garcia points. 

"I'm down," JJ says. "What's the plan?" 

"Come with me," Garcia replies. 

You look to see Morgan, JJ, Prentiss, and Garcia huddled around the small kitchen table, talking quietly among themselves. Seconds later you watch JJ walk out of the bullpen and Garcia walks towards Hotch's office. 

"Y/N?" Hotch calls out for you minutes later, walking out of his office. "Could you go down the hall to the storage unit and pull some DNA match records for his file." He hands you a file. 

"Sure thing." You grab your keys from your drawer. 

"Reid, go with Y/N." Hotch orders. You look over at Spencer and he awkwardly stands up. 

"Shall we?" You ask and he nods. You notice how Morgan and Prentiss exchanged smiles looking at both you and Spencer. You and Spencer walk down the hall, you unlock the door and Spencer reaches for the light. 

"Alright, the case files should be," You looked around, reading the numbers on the boxes. "There!" You point to the 5th shelf. "I'm going to need something to stand on." 

"Here take this." Spencer moves a stop stool over your way. 

"Thanks." You place the case file you were holding down on the table. As you were stepping on the stool you tripped over your feet, losing balance. 

"Whoa, whoa, I got you. Be careful." Spencer held you from falling back, his hands wrapping firmly around your waist. His touch sent fireworks through your body.

You grabbed each box carefully handing them to Spencer one by one. You turned around to face Spencer and his hands were still firmly holding your waist. Spencer's brown eyes stared into yours and you thought you were going to combust into pieces. 

"Help me down?" Spencer held out his hand for you as you climbed down. 

"Thank you." You say. "Whoa okay 12 boxes." 

"Shouldn't take more than an hour." 

"Easy for you to say genius," You open the first box. "You have super speedy reading abilities." You point out. "This would take me all day." Spencer looked at you. "Okay, maybe two days, tops." You say, sliding a box his way. "Get to it genius." 

Three hours passed but these boxes were a complete mess. Everything was misplaced. 

"Who the hell went through these case files last?" 

"I remember Hotch saying it was Gideon." 

You'd been working at the BAU long enough to meet and work alongside Agent Gideon. Gideon was known for being messy when it came to papers. 

"That explains a lot." You laughed, your head tilting back. Spencer watched the way you smiled, your eyes shined in the light. Spencer was in complete awe of you at that moment. 

"I bought coffee!" JJ says, entering the room and handing you and Spencer a coffee. "How is it going?" 

"We're getting there." 

"Okay, I'll leave you to it then." She says, walking off. 

After another hour, you had one box and Spencer had the other one. You opened your box and immediately found what you were looking for. 

"Spence, I found it!" You said happily. You did your little happy dance. 

"Sorry." You said, slightly embarrassed. You bit down on your lip so happy you found the document. 

Spencer's arms were crossed across his chest and he was smiling at you. 

Oh, how much you loved that smile. 

"What?" Before you could get any more words out, Spencer pulled you in by the waist and kissed you. You were taken back by his move but you kissed him back. 

Spencer pulled back, "I-I'm so sorry." He said. "That was so unprofessional and inappropriate." 

"Spence," You breathed, moving closer to me. "It's okay." The look he gave you was like he was almost relieved at your words. 

"You wanna know something that I've always wanted to do?" 

"What?" 

You leaned in and laced your lips with Spencer's, he kissed you back immediately. Spence pushed you against the filing cabinet and kissed you harder.  "I really like you." You whispered. 

You were almost afraid of his answer. 

"I really like you too." He said, leaning in again. 

After a couple of seconds, you heard cheers and claps. You both broke apart to see the whole team standing by the door frame. 

"Way to go pretty boy!" Morgan cheered on Reid. You looked over at Reid and he was blushing. 

"Yesssssss!" Emily said high fiving JJ. 

"Finally! We've been waiting." Garcia says. 

"It's not polite to watch." You say.

"Ha ha, very funny Y/N," Morgan said. 

The team leaves you two alone and you look over at Spencer, who has his arms wrapped around your waist. 

"What's wrong?" He asked, almost pulling back. 

"We have our own personal matchmakers." You said, motioning to the team. 

"That we do," Spencer replied, pecking your soft lips. 

** 

Two souls are sometimes created together and in love before they're even born - f. scott fitzgerald  

[purplehairedwonder]

Hearts With(out) Chains Chapter 12

Fandom: One Piece Rating: PG-13 Pairings: Gen (eventual Lawlu) Words: 4629 Characters: Trafalgar Law, Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Chopper, Usopp, Brook, Zoro, Nami, Franky, Smoker, Tashigi, Doflamingo Notes: I’m taking my turn at the Corazon!Law AU because my brain won’t leave me alone until this is written down. Tags will be updated as the chapters come out.

The story title is based on the Ellie Goulding song “Hearts Without Chains.”

The nickname Doflamingo uses for Law in this chapter is a nod to the story “Worth” by Doctor_Cyance.

Warning: This chapter contains the description of a panic attack.

Summary: Law is reclaimed by the Family when he's 17 and, with Doflamingo holding the lives of his crew as collateral for his good behavior, eventually becomes the third Corazon. Years later, trapped by his impossible situation, Law finds a strange connection to Monkey D. Luffy, which offers a glimpse of something he's repeatedly had ripped away from him: hope.

Previous chapters: Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Read also at AO3 / FF.N

After leaving the control room, Law followed the echoing cacophony of the fully collected Straw Hat crew through the halls of the lab. Smoker trailed behind him, tension on the acrid air surrounding him. The moment Law had realized what he’d let the vice admiral hear about his past, he’d debated whether to let Smoker return to the Marines with that information. But the feeling of Vergo’s heartbeat stopping in his hand was still fresh in his mind, and he didn’t particularly feel like ending yet another life today after everything that had happened.

If the other man tried to talk to him about it, though… Well, Law couldn’t make any promises then.

As he walked, Law considered his situation. With Vergo dead, the main source of the rumor of Law’s disloyalty was gone. Law had the dead man’s Den Den Mushi in his pocket, and even if he had recorded Law’s words, Law would simply destroy the recording. For a brief moment, Law considered ending his partnership with the Straw Hats since he’d taken care of his main target, but he dismissed the idea almost as soon as it crossed his mind. Law could pretend he’d never seen Vergo on Punk Hazard, but Doflamingo would hear of Vergo’s death eventually, and, considering the cause of death, there would be no mistaking who had killed him.

Not to mention, Law had obviously failed in the mission he’d been sent to complete—and he couldn’t imagine finishing it now. Not when he couldn’t shake the startled recognition that had struck him as he and Straw Hat had shaken hands that the pull in his chest had gone still, as though Law were where he was meant to be.

No, even with Vergo dead, Law was still just as stuck as he had been the moment Vergo had arrived on the island. He had no choice—either for himself or his nakama—but to continue on the path he was on.

Laughs and shouts bounced off the lab’s metal walls, and, as Law and his stewing shadow approached the source, Law recalled the blueprints he’d been provided; this must be the Biscuit Room, he thought as he stepped into the large, colorful space. He’d wondered at the name as he’d pored over the schematics on his way over, but now he understood. Smoker stepped up next to him and made a disapproving sound at the sight of what was clearly a space for children—children who had become science experiments for a mad clown.

Law narrowed his eyes, assessing the scene in front of him. It seemed the Straw Hats had taken care of their enemies with alacrity. Both Caesar and Monet were wrapped in what Law hoped were Seastone chains (he had warned them) and slumped against the wall. The cat burglar stood not far from them, hands on her hips and a small smile curving her lips as she watched the antics of her crewmates. Smoker’s second stood on the other side of the captives, clearly having taken it upon herself to guard them. G-5 soldiers milled about close to the swordswoman, refusing to fully engage with the pirates.

“Oh, Torao! You’re here!”

Law looked up to see Straw Hat across the room. He was perched atop the back of a couch next to Zoro, who appeared to be dozing. Long Nose sat across from them, his slingshot in hand. It looked like they’d been in the middle of a lively conversation before Law had caught the other captain’s attention. Nico Robin sat next to Long Nose, one leg crossed primly over the other and her hands clasped in her lap. She was smiling, as though enjoying whatever her nakama were discussing. The cyborg sat on the floor next to her. The skeleton, for his part, was wandering around the room, playing a jaunty tune on a violin. (At this point, Law didn’t have it in him to question where that had come from.)

That left the tanuki, Black Leg, and the samurai. Considering none of the children were present, Law had a feeling he knew what the little doctor was up to, anyway. Law idly wondered if he was having any luck treating the children before shoving the thought aside; he didn’t like thinking about his own history with looking to other doctors for help.

“Straw Hat-ya,” Law replied, stepping further into the room.

“What happened to that Verto guy?”

Law tightened his grip on Kikoku briefly. “Dead.”

Straw Hat simply nodded, but outraged noises erupted from the other side of the room. Law turned to look at the prisoners.

“What?” Caesar gasped loudly. “But he’s—”

“So, he was right,” Monet said, the quiet betrayal in her voice more painful than Law had expected it to be. “You were a traitor after all. I didn’t believe him when he told us.”

Though he hated the Family as a whole for what they had taken from him—and continued to take as they held his crew’s lives over his head—Law had spent years with people like Monet once he’d been brought to Dressrosa. And he didn’t hate them all as individuals. Monet was a lot like Law himself, having been rescued by the Family after an unspeakable trauma along with her sister. But, unlike Law, she hadn’t been freed from the corrosive influence of the Donquixote Pirates. She’d been fully indoctrinated and would never believe the truth of who Doflamingo truly was that Law had witnessed on Minion Island. Doffy had her undying loyalty.

Law’s jaw tightened. “He didn’t give me much choice.”

“I can’t believe you teamed up with these… idiots,” Caesar said, lips curling in disgust as he looked at the Straw Hats.

“Idiots?” the cyborg called. “That’s super rude.”                      

“These idiots kicked your butt,” Long Nose reminded him, aiming an empty sling shot in his direction. “So, what does that say about you?”

Caesar made some incomprehensible frustrated noises in response, but Monet simply looked at Law, her usually placid expression tinged with hurt. “Why, Corazon? After everything the Young Master’s given you?”

Law snorted, an ugly sound that caused Monet to recoil. He knew exactly where he stood with Doflamingo—the Warlord’s tool and plaything and the means to an end—and none of it was for Law’s sake.

It was never for anyone’s sake but his own.

Doflamingo liked to act like he was generous with his Family, but all he really knew how to do was take. He gave but took twofold in return—his gifts came with strings, literally and figuratively. The cost was unflinching allegiance to a madman, pieces of one’s soul irreparably damaged by every act of loyalty, every drop of blood spilled in the name of a man who believed himself a god. And the Family was happy to pay the price; Law once had felt the same before he’d been saved.

Doflamingo was also unflinching in taking from those who refused to pay fealty. He’d taken Cora-san all those years ago for saving Law. He’d taken Law’s and his friends’ freedom on a no-name island in the North Blue. He took the very existences of his enemies in Dressrosa, using Sugar’s abilities to erase them from memory and enslave them as toys.

It was fitting, Law had thought when he’d first learned of the scope of the operation in the kingdom; Doflamingo was a puppet master, literally pulling strings. He saw others as his toys to play with as he wished. Law was nothing more than another one of those toys, though a supposedly privileged one, sitting on the Heart Throne. But it was nothing more than a gilded cage. Law’s eventual purpose was still to die for Doflamingo’s immortality. After everything else he’d taken from Law, he also intended to take Law’s life. And he expected Law to give it willingly; anything else would break the illusion of Doflamingo’s complete control.

“He’s given me nothing,” Law replied coldly. Nothing that he hadn’t taken back countless times over as he whittled Law down into the shape he wanted as his Corazon, anyway.

Monet opened her mouth to reply, but she was cut off by a loud wail as the Straw Hats’ little doctor came out of a side room.

“Chopper, what’s wrong?” the cat burglar asked, hurrying to his side.

“I’ve tried everything I can think of,” he said, “but the drugs in their system are just too strong, and I don’t fully understand their interactions.”

“Of course, they’re strong,” Caesar sniffed. “I made them, and I’m a genius.”

“Shut up, clown,” Nami hissed before turning back to her crewmate. “So, what does that mean?”

“If I can’t get the drugs out of their system, they won’t get better,” the tanuki sniffed. “I can treat the symptoms, but I can’t cure them.”

“Let Torao take a look!”

Law jerked in surprise as rubbery limbs wound tightly around his shoulders and the too-loud voice rang in his ears. (His concussion complained with a painful pang in response, and Law winced.) He hadn’t even noticed Straw Hat moving from the couch. Law prodded at him with Kikoku’s hilt in a futile attempt to dislodge him, but Straw Hat just grinned at him.

The Straw Hats’ doctor eyed Law uncertainly. “I don’t know, Luffy…”

“He’s a good doctor,” Luffy said with a decisive nod. “He saved me.”

After several failed attempts to detach the other captain—the freaking limpet—Law sighed and satisfied himself with the biggest eyeroll he could manage.

“Do you think that’s a good idea, Luffy?” the cat burglar asked. Her suspicions remained, and Law could respect that. Someone on this crew needed to exercise some common sense.

“Torao can look at them,” Straw Hat said, unswayed.

“Don’t I get a say in this?” Law demanded. Being talked about like he wasn’t present was one of his (admittedly many) pet peeves.

“Shishishi,” Straw Hat chuckled. “You’ll look at them, won’t you?”

In hindsight, as Law followed the tanuki to the room he’d been seeing the children in, he’d like to say he agreed because disagreeing with Straw Hat over it would be too much trouble, and, with his head injury, he didn’t have it in him to argue. But the truth was that there was something in the wide, trusting grin Straw Hat effortlessly threw in his direction and the responding warmth in his chest that made the agreement roll off his tongue before he could stop it.

He listened with half an ear as the tanuki explained what he’d already tried with the children and what he’d found. Though Law wasn’t privy to the exact goings-on in the lab, he had a sense of how ugly some of the projects Doflamingo had his fingers in were, so nothing he heard surprised him.

“L-look, Corazon,” the little doctor said once he finished his recitation, voice trembling slightly as he turned to face Law, hooves on his hips. “These kids have been through a lot. They’re scared and in pain and want to go home. D-don’t make it worse, okay? O-or I’ll kick your ass myself!”

Law had never seen anything less intimidating—and his best friend was a polar bear mink, which said something—but he still respected the sentiment. That protective instinct toward a patient was the attitude a true healer should have, one Law had seen in his parents as they fought for the people of Flevance while it was ravaged by plague. And, despite all the blood he’d spilled over the years, it was a feeling he could feel stirring deep, deep within himself, too.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Law replied. “You probably shouldn’t be here while I work, though.”

“What? Why?”

“My methods are… unorthodox,” Law settled on. Though the Ope Ope no Mi’s effects were bloodless and painless, that didn’t make them any less disturbing to most people who saw them.

The tanuki hemmed and hawed for several moments, and Law felt his impatience growing until he just opened a Room and approached the kids. The little doctor yelped and followed him.

“You’re that man from outside,” one of the kids said as Law approached, frowning at him.

“I am,” Law agreed.

“What are you going to do to us?” another child asked, arms crossed defensively.

Law felt his eye twitch at the assumption he was there to hurt them, but Law had attacked the people who were trying to help them escape. He wasn’t entirely sure what to say—he knew a thing or two about being a traumatized child, but that didn’t make him an expert on dealing with others.

“Corazon here is a doctor,” the tanuki said, coming up next to Law.

That piqued the interest of some of the children.

“A doctor?”

“Like you?

“What kind of name is Corazon, anyway?”

“Law.” Everyone turned to look at him in surprise. “That’s my name,” he clarified, startling even himself. “Corazon is a title, but…” But he didn’t work for the Donquixote Family anymore now that he’d sided with the Straw Hats, did he?

He glanced down to see the Straw Hat doctor looking at him curiously. “What?” he demanded, feeling suddenly uncomfortable, like he was being looked through rather than at. He couldn’t help but be reminded of Bepo when looking at the small creature, and Bepo had always known Law better than anyone—often better than Law himself.

“Nothing,” the little doctor squeaked before looking back at the kids. “Doctor Law here is going to look at you. I’ll be just outside if you need me!”

With that, he glanced back at Law once more then left the room, closing the door behind him. Law, curious at the tanuki’s sudden agreement to leave Law and the kids alone, turned back to the children. He took a breath and unsheathed Kikoku to perform a Scan.

-----

Once Law was finished his work, he left the delighted children chattering to each other about what it was like having their body parts removed and opened the door. The Straw Hat’s doctor was sitting just outside, and he perked up at Law’s appearance.

“Well?”

“I was able to remove all traces of the drugs from their system,” Law said. “But most of them will be dealing with the effects of long-term exposure. With rehab, they should all be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Law said, slightly annoyed at having his professional opinion questioned. Though he didn’t truly blame the tanuki; whatever Caesar had been experimenting on with these children, he’d given them some incredibly potent drug combinations that Law had never seen. Anyone without the power of Law’s fruit would have had a hard, if not impossible, time treating these children.

As Law had initially Scanned the children and seen the degenerative effects of the drugs they’d been exposed to, he’d been reminded of the charts he’d seen in his parents’ clinic of patients with Amber Lead Disease and the devastating effects on the body; he’d had to forcibly shake himself from the memory to continue working.

He started as the tanuki hurled himself at Law and wrapped his little arms around Law’s legs. The Straw Hats were far too affectionate for Law’s comfort.

“Thank you!” he said, looking up at Law with teary eyes. “I didn’t know what I was going to do for them!”

“It’s nothing,” Law said, lightly shaking his leg in an attempt to remove the other doctor. He was finding himself saying that a lot around the Straw Hats, he realized. He wasn’t sure he wanted to examine that any more closely.

The tanuki finally released Law’s leg and wiped his eyes with a hoof. “Luffy was right.” He gave Law a weak smile. “So, thank you for this. And for saving Luffy when I couldn’t. Law.”

Law opened his mouth to wave off the thanks again, but he shut it when he heard his name. Looking at the little creature, he felt his chest clench as he was reminded of Bepo when he’d called earlier. “I knew it, Captain. I knew you were still in there.”

He thought of the small feeling of satisfaction he got from healing Black Leg’s fracture, from knowing his hands could still heal after everything else they’d done.

Maybe Bepo was right, and the boy he’d sworn to follow no matter what thirteen years earlier was still in Law somewhere. Law had long thought that boy dead in the North Blue, but Bepo had always been the wisest of the Hearts.

“They’re your patients, Tony-ya,” Law said, recalling the doctor’s name from his—frankly ludicrous—wanted poster. “I was just helping out.”

Chopper’s face lit up at Law’s use of his name, but he tried to hide his pleasure. “That doesn’t make me happy, you bastard.”

Law’s lips twitched as he left Chopper to deal with the children now that they were no longer poisoned and headed back to the Biscuit Room.

When he entered, Straw Hat perked up immediately, as though he had a radar for Law’s presence. “Oi, Torao!”

“How are the children?” Nico Robin asked, eyes following her captain’s gaze.

“I removed the drugs from their systems,” Law said. “They should be fine with some long-term treatment.”

“What?” Caesar squeaked. “You shouldn’t be able to—”

Before Law could open a Room to shut the clown up, the cat burglar smacked him on the head. “Shut up, you slimy bastard. You’re lucky Torao here was able to help the kids. If he hadn’t been able to…” She trailed off, but the implication remained.

“Still not my name,” Law muttered.

“Still doesn’t matter,” the cat burglar replied in a singsong.

Law sighed and rubbed a hand over his face then looked back up at the other Straw Hats. “Now what?” He had no idea how long he’d been working on the children, but if his waning stamina was any indication, it had been a while. It must be getting late.

“The Marines called for backup,” Nico Robin said, “but the closest ship won’t arrive until tomorrow.”

“Captain Tashigi will be taking charge of the children,” the cat burglar added, a softness in her expression. “She’ll take good care of them.”

“And our next stop is Dressroba!” Straw Hat said.

“Dressrosa,” Law corrected automatically, stomach tightening at the thought.

“From the maps, Dressrosa seems to be fairly close,” Long Nose said, pointing to some maps spread out on a table between the sofas.

“It is,” Law agreed. “Maybe half a day.”

Half a day to figure out how to extricate Law and his nakama from Doflamingo’s strings.

It wasn’t enough time.

The cat burglar nodded thoughtfully as she came up next to the table and looked at the maps. She was their navigator, if Law remembered correctly. “It’s too late to set sail tonight,” she said. “We thought we’d leave in the morning.”

Law nodded curtly. “Fine.”

“So, you want to tell us what we’re walking into when we get there?” Zoro asked, arms crossed and eye narrowed.

Law opened his mouth to respond, but he was interrupted by the muted sound of ringing. Law reached into his coat pocket and found his Den Den Mushi waiting to be answered.

There was only one person that could be.

“Shit,” Law cursed.

He had no interest in letting the Straw Hats or Marines overhear this call, so he quickly formed a Room and Shambled into the first space that came to mind: the control room. He landed on the couch in place of a pillow he’d switched with.

He set Kikoku to his side and stared at the snail for a moment before answering.

“Doffy.”

“Corazon,” Doflamingo replied. Law tried to listen for anything off in his voice, any sense he knew Law had really betrayed him after all. “How is the mission going?”

Law hesitated only a moment as he calculated the best response to give. “It’s done.”

“And there were no… complications?”

Law knew he was imagining it, but he couldn’t help but feel like Vergo’s corpse was staring at him from across the room.

“No. The intruders were taken care of.”

“That’s good to hear. I’ve been trying to call Monet but haven’t received a response.”

“She was injured during the fight,” Law said, the lie falling from his lips without a second thought. “I treated her wounds, and she’s currently sleeping.”

Doffy hummed in response. “I see. And Caesar?”

“The clown is locked away in his lab,” Law replied, allowing his disdain for the scientist creep into his voice. Doffy wouldn’t be surprised by it. “I don’t know how Monet puts up with him.”

Doffy chuckled. “She does it for me.”

“Of course.”

“And when do you plan to return home?”

“I’ll set sail in the morning.”

“Excellent. I knew you were the right man for this mission. Until tomorrow, little bird.”

Law grimaced at the nickname as he hung up the call. The Birdcage haunted Law’s nightmares to this day, and he felt like nothing so much as a caged bird in Doflamingo’s service—and the man knew it. The nickname had become more regular since he’d started bringing Law into his bed, an act that had truly felt like clipping his wings.

And now the little broken bird was going to try to fly again.

It would never work.

Law could feel his heartrate picking up as his thoughts started to whirl.

Like he’d told Violet that morning—had that only been this morning? It felt like a lifetime ago—he was Doflamingo’s creature, possessed by the man inside and out.

He lifted a hand to his chest, only to find his entire arm shaking.

Doflamingo was a Warlord and a former Celestial Dragon.

Heat rose in his face.

Who was Law?

Bile rose in his throat.

Doflamingo was a dragon to Law’s bird.

He was going to throw up.

What was Law doing?

Law pushed himself to his feet and took a few unsteady steps forward and managed to round the couch, but his vision spun in front of him.

What was he thinking?

His feet tangled under him with his next step, and he crashed to the floor behind the couch.

He was going to get his nakama killed with this futile venture.

His breaths came in jagged pants, his tight chest struggling to inhale and exhale, and all he could hear was rushing in his ears.

Everything Law had done for the last nine years had been to keep his nakama safe, and now he was going to fail them completely.

Law’s entire body shook, and he curled in on himself.

And now he was going to get Luffy’s crew killed, too.

He screwed his eyes shut and put his hands over his ears as he struggled to breathe. The walls were closing in on him. He could feel the wood of the treasure chest beneath him and the treasure they’d shifted to fit Law into the chest at his back. The lid of the chest wouldn’t move since Cora-san had placed another chest atop it to disguise Law’s hiding place.

Law tried to summon a Room to escape, but his powers refused to cooperate, slipping through his fingers like sand.

Cora-san was going to die because he’d helped Law…

A cold sweat clung to his body.

The deafening cracks of gunshots, one after another, rang through Law’s ears and tears streamed down his face.

Law couldn’t make a sound because of Cora-san’s powers. He opened his mouth to scream but nothing came out except for ragged breaths.

He flinched hard as he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder.

Wait, a hand? Law was alone in the treasure chest.

The hand withdrew, and Law slowly opened his eyes. For a moment, all he could see was a blur in front of him—then red came into focus.

Doflamingo had worn red that night.

Law jolted backward until his back ran into something solid. He hissed through clenched teeth.

“—orao? Can you hear me?”

Law blinked slowly as a voice started to form words amidst the rushing in his ears. He felt the hand return to his shoulder, but he didn’t fight it off this time. Who—?

“Hey, Torao. It’s me. Can you hear me?”

It was Luffy.

Luffy hadn’t been on Minion Island.

Right.

Law wasn’t on Minion Island. He was on Punk Hazard.

Law wasn’t a sickly thirteen-year-old boy anymore. He was twenty-six and one of the most feared pirates in the New World.

Luffy squeezed Law’s shoulder when it was clear Law wasn’t going to freak out again.

Gradually, Law felt his heartrate slow, and his chest loosened, allowing him to take deeper breaths.

“Straw Hat-ya,” Law finally managed, voice rasping from his struggle to breathe. He pushed himself up off the floor, but his limbs felt like jelly, so he simply leaned against the back of the couch and pulled his knees up to his chest. He wrapped his arms around his knees.

Shame started to creep up the back of his neck as he realized he’d let Luffy see him having a panic attack—he hadn’t had one in years—only hours after making an alliance. He’d shown his allied captain how weak he truly was on the eve of taking on one of the most powerful men in the New World.

But Luffy simply smiled when Law acknowledged him and sat down next to Law, mirroring his position with his knees up to his chest. He rested his head on his knees and turned to look at Law.

Law resigned himself to questions about what had happened and was already considering how to reply, but Luffy surprised him.

“I used to get them after Ace died,” he said quietly. “Out in the forest alone when I trained with Rayleigh. I’d remember what happened and then I couldn’t breathe. I’d feel Ace dying in my arms and the fire in my chest all over again.” A soft smile returned. “But it got better when I saw my nakama again. They got easier to deal with when I wasn’t alone anymore.”

Looking at the other captain, Law realized that despite the grin that seemed permanently etched into Luffy’s face, he’d been through a lot in his short years. They had that in common. But where Law had retreated into himself to cope, Luffy turned outward. After coming to Dressrosa, Law had been too afraid to show any sign of weakness around the Donquixote Family, so he bottled everything up until it exploded. And the explosions tended to be violent.

“Doflamingo called,” Law said after a few silent moments by way of explanation.

“That Mingo’s a bad guy, huh?”                      

Law’s lips twitched tiredly at how simple Luffy made the situation. He rested his chin on the top of his knees. “Yes, he is.”

His eyes were getting heavy. Between the extended use of his fruit today and now the panic attack, Law supposed it was amazing he was even still awake. It was nothing new, though; working himself into unconsciousness was his preferred method of sleeping, despite the frequent protestations of his crew.

Law swallowed at the thought of his nakama back in Dressrosa.

“We’ll get him,” Luffy said confidently. “We’ll get Mingo, and we’ll save your nakama, Torao.”

Law grunted a response, and that seemed to be enough for Luffy.

They sat like that for a time, Luffy quieter than Law would have expected he could be. Despite the way Law’s thoughts had been a whirlwind before, they were quiet now. Gradually, Law’s eyes drifted closed, and he thought he might have felt an arm wrap around his shoulders before he went under completely.

Next chapter

[dalgikiss]

Catch-22 // h. iwaizumi

index

part 12

What the fuck does that mean, wait a little longer? 

Iwaizumi threw his gym bag on the floor, yelling an apology out his room when his mother complained about the noise he was making. 

Wasn’t waiting two, almost three years long enough? How much longer was he supposed to wait? The rest of his life?

Angrily changing out of his uniform and almost slipping as his foot got caught on his pants, he threw himself on his bed, staring at the ceiling where you had taped a photo of them posing in various ways after one of their practices.  

“It’s so that we’re the last thing you see at night and the first thing you see in the morning!” You had told him, making grabby fingers so that Hanamaki would hand you the tape. 

You had admired your work on his ceiling when you were done before turning to face Iwaizumi with a grin. “If their faces- You gestured towards the three other boys who were currently fighting over the last yakult “-scare you, just focus on me instead. I’m prettier than all of them anyways”

Matsukawa looked up from where he was prying Oikawa’s hand off the yakult cup. “You’re ugly as hell”

“Hey!” You threw yourself onto him, forcing your way to the drink and Iwaizumi had only stared at the rest of you and then back at the photos on his ceiling. 

It wasn’t until you all yelled and then he heard a crash, looking over to find his lamp on the ground and his shelf askew while books were scattered around the floor.

“Pick up my shit before I throw you all out the window” 

He jerked out of his memories when he heard his mother calling for him, reaching up and ripping the photo off his ceiling. 

“Hajime! Come down for dinner!” 

He stared at your smiling faces one last time and shoved it into his desk drawer before making his way down to the dinner table. 

Oikawa probably just didn’t know what he was talking about

x.

You stared blankly at the chalkboard, the teacher’s lesson turning into background noise. Math just wasn’t meant to be learned, you had come to this decision in your first year, watching the numbers begin to scramble with the letters on the board. 

The flowers Oikawa had drawn on the corner of your notebook had turned into a mini garden, complete with a smiling sun and a buzzing bumblebee. You could always ask Iwaizumi for the notes later. 

Your hand froze in the middle of shading in a stripe on the bee as you realized what you had internally thought. 

Thinking back to your last interaction with him made you jittery, shaking your legs with nervous energy and maybe was it your imagination but things seemed to be going downhill between the two of you. 

Right, maybe not Iwaizumi then. You took a deep breath out your nose before returning to work on your miniature garden. You didn’t notice when Iwaizumi had glanced over at your notebook, shaking his head silently at your half empty page. 

Once the teacher had given the first signal that class was over, you had raced out in a heartbeat to go bother Hanamaki and Oikawa, leaving Iwaizumi to sit there quietly by himself. When you returned, you stared at the math notes that had been placed on your desk, Iwaizumi’s name scribbled on the lines. 

“Thanks” You whispered, looking up so to make sure the teacher didn’t catch you talking. He didn’t say a word, pretending to not have heard you but the way his ears turned pink said more than enough. 

x.

“She’s staring at me again” You poked Matsukawa’s ribs and he looked up from his phone, turning his head slightly to see Ryuoko unabashedly staring at you from the other side of the hallway.

“Maybe she should go out with you and not Iwaizumi” Matukawa teased, “She seems to be obsessed with you”

“Great” You grumble, pressing yourself into his side in a weak attempt to make yourself seem smaller “love my number one psychotic fan”

Pretending as though Iwaizumi’s girlfriend wasn’t busy staring you down like you had murdered her family, you shoved your head into Matsukawa’s way to stare at his instagram feed. 

“Your big ass forehead is in the way” His nose twitched in irritation, pushing your head away with his free hand

“My forehead is NOT big, you asshole, take it back!” You pressed against his hand, refusing to let him win.

“It’s huge! You’re blocking me!”

“You just have a small phone, stop pushing me!”

“Move your freaking head if you don’t want me to push you”

You pouted, letting him push you away with a final shove. Taking a sneak peek at the direction Ryuoka was once standing, you let out a relieved sigh when she was no longer there. Matsukawa took a look at your dejected expression, rolling his eyes before pressing his palm against your forehead. 

“I’m kidding, your forehead is perfect sized” 

You rolled your eyes in return but accepted his makeshift apology anyways, letting your head roll back onto the window behind you. The sound of your classmates completely immersed in their conversations, laughing hard at jokes made you wonder when the last time you had that kind of interaction with Iwaizumi, the hand that’s still resting on your forehead slowly beginning to lull you into sleep. 

You only jerk awake when Matsukawa lands a small slap on your forehead, startling you. Before you can open your mouth and ask him what the absolute fuck was that for, you dick! He nods to the other side of the hallway where Iwaizumi had appeared in your classroom doorway, hand reaching out to gently tug on Ryuoko’s arm. 

The both of you watched as he whispered something lowly, facial expressions contorting from one of apprehension to one of frustrated annoyance as Ryuoko flipped him off, brushing her hair over her shoulder and walking away. 

Both you and Matsukawa flinch when he looks in your direction, immediately pretending to be extremely interested inside the nearest classroom, earning a few weird looks from your classmates when you stand outside their doorway awkwardly. 

Matsukawa crouched behind your back, your small frame doing absolutely nothing to hide his 6’2 frame. 

You took a step backward after making sure Iwaizumi was no longer there, almost falling over Matsukawa who had moved too slow.

“Are you stupid? Why would you hide behind me when you’re bigger than me in every aspect?”

“It’s not my fault you’re the same size as a child!”

He took a quick glance out the hallway, checking to see if the coast was clear before helping you out the classroom, a faint apology on the tips of his tongue for barging into the classroom so suddenly. 

“I wonder what that was all about,” Matsukawa said and you shrug, thinking back to your actual last conversation with him in your room. 

“You think they broke up?” he teases, leaning too close to you, “Bet you’d be happy about that” 

You scowl, flicking your fingers against his forehead. “I’ll kill you”

“They’ve been having a fight” You explain, pinching the bridge of your nose. It’s an Iwaizumi thing, a habit you seemed to have picked up from the days you spent with him and you hastily pluck your fingers away to rub circles into your temples. 

“Oh yeah, he mentioned something about her making him choose between us or her” 

“He told you?” You almost gave yourself whiplash, turning to face him so quickly you had a headrush. “What else did he say?”

Matsukawa furrowed his eyebrows. “It’s not like you to be so nosy”

“Just answer my question!”

“He didn’t say anything. I told him you avoiding him was for the sake of their relationship though”

“You did what? Oh my god, I can’t believe you. I’ve gotta transfer schools, I’m going to change my name, dye my hair- do you think blue is a good color for me? Holy- I have to learn a whole new lang-”

Matsukawa wonders if he should throw you onto the other side of the hallway to make you shut up. When the bell rings, he thanks every listening higher deity up in the heavens and makes a mental note to stop by the shrine that he passes by on the way home from school to say his thanks. You don’t seem to have noticed the bell had rung though, still going off on a tangent that he had stopped listening to once you had started. 

You paused when Matsukawa put his hands on either side of your face, eyes growing wide when he brought you closer to him before scrunching your face up, already knowing what was coming. 

“Shut the fuck up” 

He smacked your forehead against his lightly, the action disorienting your vision for a couple of seconds and effectively silencing you. 

“The bell rang, go back to class” Without another word, he walked away, taking a small peek back to make sure you had begun moving. 

You inhaled deeply and exhaled before turning the doorknob of the classroom, taking your seat. The tension between you and Iwaizumi had just met a new high, one that couldn’t have been beat. 

At least, that’s what you think.

[slimeyslimeyballsack]

If You Only Knew, You'd Hate Me Chapter Four

Pairing: Bucky Buchanan x OMC (Zebediah Kaskitt)

Summary: Bucky and Zebediah had a fleeting interaction years ago and Zeb has been hung up on the boy ever since. Even with his arrogant and dismissive exterior, Zeb still tries to make a connection.

Warnings: swearing, that’s actually it, this was a mild chapter, Bucky being dumb af

Tags: @thebtrmuffins @diagnosed-crazy @lykenbcrn

Ask if you'd like to be added or removed

Part One Part Two Part Three

_

Bucky woke up with his legs intertwined with Zebediah's. His eyes went round. He quickly detangled himself and sat up, legs dangling off the bed. He looked at Zebediah, who was still sleeping.

"I don't hate you."

He doesn't know why he says it. He won't be able to hear him. Still, he continues.

"I don't even hate zombies, I think. I just, my parents, I have to be perfect for them. If I'm different, they," he paused. "But I deserve it. I just want to impress them, but I feel like I can't, no matter what I do. I'm scared of them."

Zebediah doesn't move. He doesn't show any signs that he hears what Bucky is saying. Seeing him sleeping, free of stress, made it that much clearer how much he carried when he was awake. It seemed so noticeable now that he saw him so carefree.

"You're stronger than me. You've gone through so much. The whole world's been against you, and you keep smiling. You're just a good person, all the time. I'm not. I'm a bad person. I don't know if I can be better."

He checked his phone. It was after six. He wasn't going to school today, but he still needed to be home before his parents woke up. He took one last look at Zebediah, deciding to write his number down before walking home.

_

Bucky was gone when Zeb got up. He went to check his phone and a small slip of paper fell onto the floor. He picked it up to see a phone number written in immaculate handwriting. Bucky signed behind it. He put the number in his phone before texting: Hey, did you get home alright?

His pa walked into his room.

"What are you doing? Come on, time to get up. You can have breakfast on the go."

Zeb rushed to get ready, grabbing his breakfast and walking toward Zebina's.

"Zebina, you have no idea what happened last night."

Zeb ran toward her, resting his hands on his knees when he reached her porch.

"Did you run here?"

"Yeah I was late, but that's not the point. Guess what happened last night?"

"You actually stu-"

"Bucky came over!" He cut her off.

Zebina's eyebrows jumped into her hair.

"He what? Why?"

Zeb recounted his tale. It was bittersweet. He had had a successful interaction with the guy he'd been dreaming about for years. But the reason he ran into Bucky made him sick. He knew people like Bucky's parents first hand, and he wished Bucky didn't have to deal with it.

"That's crazy, I- I'm happy for you."

Zebina was incredulous. She had been ready to console him when Bucky never gave him more than a passing glance. She was not prepared for Bucky actually talking to him, nicely, at his house. That had been completely out of the realm of possibility.

When they got to school they didn't sit in their normal spot. They, instead, sat with the wolves. Zeb had received a text saying that he had and that he would be staying home today, so he didn't mind where they sat. They took their seats between Willa and Wynter.

"He doesn't hate me."

Zeb leaned in to whisper to Willa when the rest of the group was distracted with a conversation. She looked around the room.

"He's not here today."

"Willa, you know who I'm talking about right?"

With everyone's attention turned to them, she settled back into her spot. She didn't say anything more about it, but she did give him a half-smile and a nod. The conversation moved on and eventually the bell rang, the wolves and Zebina letting out a howl. Willa gave Zeb a little nudge, encouraging him to join in.

Zeb exchanged texts with Bucky sporadically throughout the day. He actually hadn't expected him to really answer him.

Me, 7:17 am: Hey, did you get home alright?

Bucky <3, 7:43 am: Yeah, I won't be at school today though

Me, 7:43 am: okay, feel better

Me, 7:44 am: and ice it

Bucky <3, 8:26 am: I will

Bucky <3, 9:06 am: What are you doing after school?

Me, 10:01 am: nothing I don't think

Me, 10:01 am: why

Bucky <3, 10:19 am: I need to talk to you

Me, 11:04 am: why?

Bucky <3, 11:44 am: I'll let you know later.

Me, 11:46 am: okay

Bucky <3, 11:50 am: Is it okay if I come over?

Me, 12:37 pm: yeah

Me, 1:39 pm: it'll be like 15 after class

Bucky <3, 1:40 pm: Okay, see you then

_

Bucky managed to get a group call with the Aceys after school ended. There was no way he was inviting them over in his current condition. He also wanted to get a head start on walking to Zebediah's house, so he started the call as he walked down the street. He had a Seabrook hoodie over his head to cover up his bruises. The group exchanged small pleasantries chatting a bit before Bucky cleared his throat.

"Hey, guys. Remember that zombie guy. He would always give me compliments just like randomly?"

"Oh my god, that kid? He's such a loser." Jacey laughed.

Bucky didn't really like Jacey much, but they needed another Acey after Tracey bailed. There was a silence while everyone waited for Bucky to comment.

"Yeah, he's going to be joining us, like an Acey but not. His name is Zebediah. So Jacey? Shut up."

"So, does this mean we don't have to be mean to zombies anymore?"

Lacey quickly shifted the conversation to avoid potential drama. They did not need that. The question did surprise Bucky. He didn't realize that he was making them act that way. He just assumed that's just how they were.

"Yeah, but not too nice."

"Oh, thank goodness. Because, like, it was honestly so tiring. Like, its just so much energy you know? And I just-"

"Stacey, shut up."

Stacey interjected in the middle of Lacey's little rant. The conversation moved to a more casual topic and Bucky wasn't really paying attention. He was thinking about Zebediah, and how he was going to tell him about joining the group. He was worried that his parents would see his true intentions, or someone else would. He didn't want people to think he liked Zebediah. He also didn't want Zebediah to think that he hated him. He rounded the corner of Zebediah's street and easily excused himself from the call.

"Here goes nothing."

_

Zeb found Bina and the wolves after school.

"Hey, Bina and I are going to study after school, anyone want to come?"

Zeb could see Bina's face fall at the statement, then brighten up again when everyone said they couldn't, including Zebediah. So, in high spirits, the three embarked on the journey home. Bina and Wynter happily bantering back and forth. Wynter brought out the talkative side in Bina and you could tell that Wynter was just happy to have someone listen to what she was saying. Zeb, not wanting to be engaged in pity conversation, put his earbuds in. No, he was not listening to music. He took the time to think about what was going to happen.

Zeb was excited to see Bucky. Yeah, he just saw him yesterday, but like that was several hours ago. He was curious as to what Bucky had to say to him as well.

He'd wave to Bina and Wynter when he left them at Bina's house, skipping the rest of the way home, eager for their meeting. He walked in to see Bucky already sitting down. He was laughing with his pa and dad.

"You've got yourself a good one, Zeb." His dad clapped his hand on Bucky's back.

"Okay, well, we need to talk so bye."

He grabbed Bucky's hand and pulled him upstairs into his room, shutting the door behind them.

"Have fun you two."

"Dad!"

Zeb could feel his face getting darker. He looked down to see their hands still together. He looked back up to see Bucky grinning at him. He quickly removed his hand, wiping it on his pants. He didn't think it was possible to be more flustered than he already was.

"So, I, uh. What did you want to talk about?"

Zeb gestured for Bucky to sit on the bed, following quickly behind him. Bucky looked him in the eyes. Although they were about the same height standing, Bucky had a longer torso, so Zeb had to look up to see into them. Wow, they were such a pretty brown.

"I've been thinking." Bucky placed his hand on Zeb's. "I actually really like you, Zeb, like a lot."

Zeb froze. Bucky liked him. Bucky Buchanan. Bucky "pro keeping things the way they are" Buchanan liked him.

"This is unexpected, to say the least. I actually have been daydreaming about this for a long time. Wow, that's embarrassing to say out loud. I think this is actually-"

"You talk too much."

Bucky cut off Zeb's rant, quickly catching his lips in his own. Bucky pulled Zeb flush against him, Zeb reaching up to cradle his face. It was everything Zeb had thought it would be. Yeah, it was clashing teeth and hunger and neediness. But it was also fireworks and warmth and it was perfect.

"Zebediah Kaskitt!"

Zebina was in front of Zeb. She pulled an earbud out of Zeb's ear. He grinned sheepishly at her exasperated face.

"What is up with you?"

"Bucky."

"So the usual." Bina laughed.

The two exchanged 'I love you's and Zeb waved a goodbye to Wynter. To follow his daydream, he skipped the rest of the way home. The fantasy was interrupted when he saw Bucky fidgeting on his front porch. He slowed down a little bit to watch him, stopping and leaning against a pole. Bucky switched from playing with his hands to fiddling with a lawn ornament, panicking when the plastic cup he was spinning fell off.

Zeb decided to step in before he could do any more damage. He jogged up to his porch waving at Bucky. He grabbed the cup Bucky had semi refitted onto the iron rod.

"That wasn't me."

"Mhm." Bucky chuckled at him. "Come on. We can talk in my room."

Zeb pushed the door open. His dad and pa sat at the kitchen table.

"Hey. This is my friend Bucky. We're gonna talk up in my room, okay?"

"Just keep the door open. Do you want any snacks?"

Zeb looked at Bucky, who gave him a blank stare.

"Maybe later."

Zeb gestured for Bucky to follow him up the stairs. He led him into his room, making to keep the door open.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

Bucky took a deep breath before starting. "I want you to join the Aceys. You wouldn't have to change your name or anything, just hang out with us. But don't get a big head or anything about it, and don't act too friendly in front of people."

Zeb was dumbfounded. Sure, Bucky wasn't professing his love, but it was a step in the right direction.

"So I can act all friendly when it's just us?"

"Shut up."

Zeb laughed, looking sideways with a lopsided smirk.

"So, does this mean I get to wear actual clothes?"

It was something that Zeb couldn't have even thought about happening a year ago, and here he was, doing it with Bucky. Bucky shrugged and nodded.

"Rad. You want some snacks?"

Zeb didn't wait for a response. He jumped up and grabbed Bucky's hand, pulling him off the bed and out of the room. He walked him down the stairs into the dining room. Pa had set out some broccoli and even ranch. He must have known how badly Zeb wanted to impress Bucky. Ranch was only brought out during special occasions.

"So, Zeb, introduce us to your boyfriend."

Zeb looked to see Bucky blushing, and from the heat on his face he was looking similar. Black blood pooled in his cheeks. His dad snapped his fingers in his face, turning his attention back toward his parents.

"What? No. He's not my boyfriend, just a friend. Dad, Pa, this is Bucky. Bucky this is Zelon, my dad, and Zamian, my pa."

Zeb was a little nervous. He expected to see disgust on his face, or malice, but all he saw was a growing confusion.

"Well, Buckster, tell me a bit about yourself."

Zelon went to pull Bucky into a side hug, Zeb grabbing his arm in the air, wrapping it around himself instead. Bucky gave him a grateful nod and Zeb made up an excuse about Bucky not liking strangers touching him. The group sat down and Zeb gave Bucky a nod to go ahead and start talking.

"Oh, well I was previously cheer captain but gave it up to become student president. I'm the best cheerleader on the squad."

Bucky tapered off. Everybody knew everything about Bucky, except Zeb's parents. Zelon and Zamian continuously assaulted him with questions, smoothing them over with the occasional over the top compliment.

"You are quite the handsome young man," Zamian said.

He leaned against his husband, legs crossed and one hand splayed across his chest. Bucky made a face; his brows furrowed and his nose crinkled. This couldn't happen; he hoped to god that Bucky wasn't homophobic. That really wouldn't help better their situation, and it was entirely likely considering his parents.

Bucky <3, 4:02 pm: do you want to leave

Bucky <3, 4:02 pm: I can make up an excuse

Me, 4:02 pm: Yes, please.

"Hey, Bucky and I were gonna head out. I gotta go upstairs I'll be down in half a sec."

Before Bucky could respond, Zeb ran up the stairs into his room. He lifted up a floorboard and pulled out the money he had saved. $162.17. That should be enough to buy new clothes. He shoved the ziplock bag filled with change and a ridiculous amount of ones into his back pocket. He ran back downstairs interrupting his dad's spiel about the economy or something boring like that. He was about to walk out when his dad spoke up.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

Zeb closed his eyes and pursed his lips, sighing through his nose.

"Love you. K bye."

He started to open the door before his dad cleared his throat. He turned around and hugged them both.

"Okay bye."

He pulled Bucky out of the house before they could embarrass him further. They walked for a little bit. Instead of heading toward the gate, Bucky made a turn back into Zombietown. Zeb was still too frightened about his reaction to mention it. Bucky found an alley with some wood boxes for them to sit on.

"You have two dads?"

To Zeb's surprise, his words weren't filled with disdain. It was a genuine question. Zeb nodded.

"How?"

"I was adopted."

"But why do you have two dads?"

"Because they love each other."

"You can do that?" Bucky's eyebrows shot up.

Zeb laughed. Did he really not know?

"Yeah, you can do that. Guys can like guys. Girls can like girls."

Bucky's jaw fell slack. "So that means I could like boys?"

"Yeah, or you could be like me and like both."

"So you could like anybody?"

Bucky's tone was a sort of mix between bewilderment and excitement. It was like a kid's when they saw their older sibling do something cool. Zeb shrugged and blushed. He was doing more blushing today than he would've liked. He wasn't overly fond of the way he looked when he blushed. It was like ink blotches on his face, neck, and ears. His hair hid his ears and back of his neck but the rest was on full display. He threaded his fingers through his hair, pushing it back out of his face.

"In theory, yeah, but right now I kind of got my eye on someone. They're, uh, actually the reason I joined cheer squad."

Zeb quickly decided he did not like the feel of the air and refocused the conversation.

"And, you could decide that you actually want to be a girl or you could decide that you don't want to be a guy or girl."

Bucky smirked. "Nah. I'm definitely a guy. I'm Bucky; I'm the epitome of manliness."

He flexed and made a couple of poses, letting out little grunts of effort. Zeb giggled, bringing his hand to his mouth.

"Whatever you say, big guy."

Zeb patted his hand on Bucky's chest, letting it sit there for just a moment too long before abruptly pulling away. He cleared his throat and stood up, mumbling something about how they should go before all the good stores closed.

They walked back toward the gate, this time in a more comfortable silence. They checked through the gate and Bucky didn't seem to notice the funny look the guard gave. He led them far into Seabrook, farther than Zebediah dare go by himself. In all honesty, it was making him a little frightened. He knew what people around here were like and what they were like toward zombies. He stuck closely to Bucky, shrinking in a little when he saw people pass by. They came up to a small store, and Bucky pushed the door open and leaned against it, beckoning Zeb to go in first. He did so and was almost immediately greeted with the unhappy face of a middle-aged woman.

"No zombies. I'm going to have to ask you to leave or I will call Z-Patrol. Now."

[whisker-biscuit]

In the Name of Science: Chapter 2

Fandom: Sonic Movie (2020)

Rating: T for unethical experimentation, implied violence and gore, and implied torture

Summary: Tom and Maddie didn’t make it in time to rescue Sonic from Robotnik. Hopefully it’s not too late to save him now.  Unfortunately, hope is hard to come by in the labs of the mad doctor himself.

Note: things are going to start getting really unpleasant from here on out. This chapter is still pretty tame, but proceed with caution.

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

Dr. Ivo Robotnik, M.D. Log 2

Subject regained consciousness at 10:12 MST during initial quill examination, and was verbally hostile upon contact with lead scientist (Dr. Ivo Robotnik, M.D., PhDx5). Subject placed in temporary holding enclosure for injury recovery as well as spoken interview, which was conducted at 10:30 MST. Transcript attached below.

…….

Sonic is brought into a much larger room than the one he’d woken up in. From his position between the two floating egg-robots, he can see that this one is set up with a lot of strange machines and tables and equipment that he couldn’t possibly hope to recognize, much less name. It almost looks like a secret evil lab from one of Tom and Maddie’s movies.

This association is what really makes the reality of the situation sink in.

“Hey, uh, what’s that?” He stares at a giant tube-looking thing in the corner, trying to distract himself from darker thoughts.

Robotnik ignores him, fiddling with his recording equipment, but Agent Stone follows his gaze.

“That’s an MRI machine.”

“Oh. What’s that do?”

“It’s a –”

“I know you’re having a splendid time fraternizing with the alien lifeform, Stone, but the most important homo sapiens in your life would very much enjoy your full attention.”

“Of course Doctor, sorry!” The assistant practically prances to his boss’ side, a goofy smile on his face. Sonic doesn’t understand any of it.

Turns out it doesn’t matter either way, because the hedgehog is suddenly carried above a large metal container with an open top. With another flick of the scientist’s wrist, the robots drop Sonic and he hits the inside of the pen, hissing as all his bruises are aggravated. The ceiling door closes automatically with a whoosh.

The teen makes a few pained noises while he tries to reorient himself. He’s always healed pretty quickly but this hasn’t been nearly enough time since the fight, and his entire body is revolting. He picks himself up into a sitting position as best he can to get a better look at his situation.

He’s in a cage large enough for him to lay down and stretch in any angle, but it’s not much bigger than that. Most of the walls barring one are thick mesh with thick metal reinforcing them from behind, and half the floor is the same. The other half is covered in something that looks suspiciously like a dog bed. The ceiling is just solid metal with no mesh, and it’s roughly the same proportion as the length and width.

Sonic scoots to the front of the cage so he can watch his human captors through the single “open” wall, if bars he can only stick one finger between counts as open. His restraints are weird – they sort of resemble his rings, circled around each individual wrist and ankle and keeping them together in a way he hasn’t quite figured out yet. He tries to pull them apart without much luck.

Robotnik seems to notice the attempt, because he waves a hand in the air without turning towards the hedgehog.

“Don’t bother! Those are highly magnetic and in tune only with each other.”

“….What’s ‘magnetic’?”

“Ugh, never mind.” The scientist does a little whirl to face the cage, holding a microphone connected to the machine behind him. He taps the mic and nods in satisfaction when it echoes. “Agent Stone, start the recording procedure please.”

The assistant gives affirmation as he flips a switch. Mechanical humming fills the air. Robotnik clears his throat.

“Log date: May 14th, 2020, 10:30 am MST. First official verbal interview with extraterrestrial subject, serial designation 06231991. It is unknown whether subject will be verbally hostile, so any redacted statements during this recording will be result of vulgarity and/or dialogue irrelevant to scientific development.”

He steps up to the cage, which sits just below his eyelevel, and observes Sonic a moment. The teen stares warily back.

“Subject, do you have a title you refer to yourself as?”

“Um…”

The man heaves a giant, put-upon sigh. “A name?”

“Oh. S-Sonic. I’m Sonic.” He kicks himself for tripping over his own name. This is just talking, why is it making him nervous?

“Sonic.” Robotnik says the word like he’s about to rip it to shreds. “So, Sonic, what would you say you are?”

“A hedgehog.”

“Did you base that name on the Earth creature sharing similar features?”

“No? I’ve always been a hedgehog.” Sonic lets himself relax a little bit. It really is just talking; he can do that just fine. “S’not my fault you guys named something after me.”

“I see. How long have you been on Earth?”

“Ten years.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirteen, I think.”

The scientist pauses at that, tilting his head down a little bit in a way that’s hard to read. “Really? You’ve been on Earth for most of your life?”

“Yeah…”

“Remarkable. Living here all this time right under our noses.” He strokes his mustache with a glint in his eye. “If only I’d discovered your presence sooner, everything would have been so much cleaner.”

Sonic’s fingers curl together.

“Oh well, no need to dwell on what could’ve been, until I finally unravel the science behind time travel at least.” Robotnik lets out an arrogant laugh. Stone mirrors him from behind. “So my elusive little subject, what’s the maturation rate of your kind?”

“What?”

“Hmm. You really don’t know much of anything, do you?”

It’s said with such a belittling sneer that the teen averts his eyes for a moment, feeling his face flush.

“Least I don’t dress like a bad guy from the Matrix,” he can’t help but mumble. His captor’s eyebrow twitches.

“My aesthetic is downright prodigious, thank you very much. But we’re getting off-topic! I asked about your maturation rate, you’re not smart enough to figure out what that means from the context clues, and frankly I’m getting bored by all this hands-off interaction for the sake of formal procedure. Would you say you’re closer in relative age to a child, adolescent, or adult?”

“I don’t – I don’t know, maybe teenager? Maybe?” Sonic hates that he doesn’t know, that he has no reference for knowing. He doesn’t even have the confidence to pretend that he does.

“Oh, really. That’s very interesting.”

The hedgehog feels every quill stand up on end at Robotnik’s suddenly subdued voice. He watches as the man’s expression morphs into manic contemplation. Agent Stone seems to sense the change, because he turns off the machine that’s recording their conversation.

“You’re an adolescent then. Thirteen years old, hiding here on this planet for whatever reason, honestly I don’t really care what sort of sob story you’re peddling but I have no doubt it exists. It’s no wonder you’re so ignorant.”

“I’m not ignorant!” He raises his voice like that will help prove his point.

“Oh, but you are. An obtuse, uneducated little creature that exists in a place it does not belong. Tell me, how many humans have you made direct contact with? Let someone see the real you, had a two-way conversation on equal footing…given physical contact.”

Robotnik lifts his hand and presses one finger against the bars, as if pretending he’s petting Sonic’s head again. The teen inches away towards the back of the cage, practically baring his teeth.

“Stop it.”

“Answer the question, hedgehog.”

“No! It’s none of your beeswax anyway, so back off!”

The scientist throws back his head and cackles. He comes down from his mirth fairly quickly and wipes a tear from his eye. “Everything about you is my ‘beeswax’, my pokey little fellow. I own you. I own your powers, your thoughts, your feelings, all of it. I’m astounded it hasn’t sunk in yet.”

“Cause it’s not true, Eggman! I’m me, and that’s it!”

The air around Sonic starts crackling. Robotnik places a hand in his pocket.

“Is that what your flatfoot nursemaid told you? Thank god I got you away from such fictitious foolishness, who knows what other absurdities he was filling your spiky little head with.”

“I told you not to talk about him like that!”

Full of angry energy, Sonic launches off of his heel and rams into the front bars in the same moment Robotnik pulls out a remote and presses a single button. Electricity that doesn’t belong to the hedgehog lights up the entire cage, leaving Sonic to experience the full brunt of it with his whole body pressed against metal. He stiffens up with a wordless cry and loses both his momentum and the power coursing through him.

It discharges outward and short-circuits whatever was generating the voltage running through the pen, saving the convulsing teen from further pain. He’s twitching so much that he doesn’t even notice the ceiling door open up again, nor the floating robot that drops inside to pull away several more quills. They’re still pulsing with energy.

Robotnik closes the door behind the robot as it leaves, then turns to regard his subject who’s making little mewling noises as his muscles seize against his will. He rolls his eyes at the display because really, the voltage was not that high. It didn’t even last more than a few seconds because of the creature’s rude outburst creating that blackout in his beautiful container.

He signals to Agent Stone, who is quick to turn on the recorder again.

“Note: next question involved reasons for subject’s existence on Earth and opinion on humans, at which time subject became hostile and attempted assault. No harm came to present researchers due to precautionary measures, and subject has been successfully and safely contained. Verbal interview will be postponed for later date until subject recovers and is more willing to discuss reasons for coming here without becoming violent.”

The man shuts off his mic and passes it to his assistant, yawning with a hand pressed to his mouth.

“Walk with me, Stone. I do believe it’s a fine time for sleep, now that all the immediate excitement is over.”

“Yes, sir!”

They leave the quivering hedgehog alone with the hum of a million machines and state-of-the-art security. Halfway down the hallway, Robotnik stops.

“Oh, just a moment.” He taps his gloves a few times and something whirrs to life back in the room. “There we go!”

“Sir?”

“Almost forgot to set up a sustenance bot for the little thing. I’m so used to wonderful, unfeeling robots with no need for constant nourishment, it’s easy to forgot that these fragile organic bodies require food and water, ha!”

“Uh…but Doctor, you’re also –”

“Don’t remind me of things I don’t like being reminded of, Stone!” The scientist snaps. He runs a careful hand through his hair and straightens his jacket rather prissily. “Anyway, you said something earlier about dinner being Argentina-inspired?”

Stone beams and his shoulders lift with pride. “Yep! Milanesa a la napolitana with a sprinkling of oregano and curry powder. Should be done within an hour.”

“God, that sounds lovely. In the mean time I’ll be setting up some analysis programs for the blood and quill samples and making another written log report. Do not disturb me unless I either call you directly or dinner’s done.”

“Of course, sir.” Stone hustles down the hall and makes a right turn. Robotnik turns left.

“Now then,” he says gleefully to himself, rubbing his hands together as he plops down in his Important Analysis Chair. “Let’s get this spiky ball rolling!”

…….

Additional quill samples taken after verbal interview to compare dormant and active power input of subject. It is predicted that while the active quills contain infinitely higher levels of energy, dormant quills are still capable of significant power.

After full physical recovery is reached, more thorough examinations of anatomy will be administered as well as analysis of speed, endurance, and power production. In the interim, behavioral training will begin in earnest. Subject has demonstrated capability to defer to proper authority with enough prompting.

Goal by end of week is to not need prompting. 

End log

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A/N: Sorry for the wait, I’ve been SUPER busy this week. Hope the longer chapter made up for it though! As stated above, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better, so just make sure you’re aware of that going in.

Also, originally I was going to have a side-by-side of Tom and Maddie working to find Sonic, but then I realized I have no idea how to make that work. If anyone has suggestions feel free to let me know, otherwise it’s going to be solely Sonic and Robotnik focus until (if) he’s rescued.

Thanks for reading, and have a good one!

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

[narnie3313]

Finally

Genre: Romance, Fluff, Little Spicy, Some Angst Rating: Everyone Warnings: Language

Setting: Y/N (your name) became friends with Kirishima in UA and when you all graduated he and Bakugou became roomates and Kirishima offered you the spare room so you live with them. Kirishima is your best friend, you’re all 21 and are still sidekicks for the time being. Bakugou mostly ignores you since you don’t need to interact too much anyway.

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 This is my first fanfiction/imagine so enjoy....working on other stuff and improving as we speak :D

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“Honeys! I’m home!” You recognize the voice instantly as Eiji comes bounding through the front door.

You can’t help but laugh at his endless energy and constant smile. “Dinner’ll be ready in 20!” you call. It was your turn to cook tonight since you all work on a rotation so you’d decided on a quick beef stirfry so you didn’t have to do much after the shitty day you’d had.

“Awesome! Thanks y/n!” You hear him call just before the click of his bedroom door closes. Same routine every night; Announce he’s home, quick workout in his room, shower, then he spends the rest of the night in the living room with me and Katsuki (if Kat isn’t a moody bitch that night…..). You’d gotten so used to the routines of your roommates that it was all just second nature now after living together for 3 years.

*

*

“Dinner’s ready, guys!”

Almost as if they’d been waiting behind their doors, both boys rooms open up and they come grab their bowls and move to the balcony. Another routine. Every night while you eat together, you sit on your balcony overlooking the city and talk about the jobs you did during the day.

“Seriously? I had a run in with a civilian the other day that carried a ‘wand’ around and pretended his quirk was soft puffs of air.” you said as Kiri almost fell off his chair laughing. Bakugou just sat staring over the city. Some days he’d talk and share tiny snippets of his day but today he seemed extra broody.

You always checked on both the boys at night to make sure they were ok since you know that they both bottle their emotions up so every night you’d knock on their doors, walk in and ask if they need to talk or if they’re good and usually you’ll just get a “I’m fine.” from Bakugou. Kiri on the other hand would almost always talk your ear off for at least half an hour and you’d hug him then head to bed.

When you noticed how quiet and indifferent Katsuki looked you noted “I’ll have to pull whatever is going on from him later.” You didn’t want it to disturb the dynamic at home anymore than he usually does anyway.

As you all finished eating, Eiji took the dishes and washed them while you settled in front of the tv to wind down. You laid on your stomach on the shaggy rug while Katsuki perched on the corner of the couch and when Eijirou finished with the dishes he took up the other corner. You wished you could say it was nice just sitting like this in the quiet but something just felt off. You and Kiri kept giving each other little glances and then looking to Katsuki, who was completely ignoring the tv and staring down the hallway towards the front door. “Hey man, you good?” Eijirou asked.

“What?” Katsuki replied turning his head abruptly towards the redhead. “I’m fine. I’m going to bed.”

“O-Oh ok. Night.” You could hear the concern in Eijis voice as you watched boomboy walk to his room, his regular tall, strong stance now hunched and slow. Something was definitely up. He was already home by the time you’d gotten home today but he had stayed in his room so you hadn’t seen or heard anything from him today.

“What do you think?” Breaking you out of your thoughts, Kiri asks.

“Something is up. But there’s no way he’ll actually talk to me about it anyway but I’ll still go ask like usual and I’ll meet you in your room? It’s getting pretty late anyway.”

With that, you stood from the floor and slowly walked to Bakugous door. You always had to take a breath and straighten yourself up before knocking.

You’d never let yourself be taken back by his brash words or personality, I think that’s why he’d just kind of learnt to co-exist with you in the apartment. He’d known he and Kirishima had needed a 3rd  roommate to help with the rent and you were just a logical choice. Over the years he’d gotten used to your presence and (you’d like to think) maybe even shared the same sort of respect for you as he did with Kiri.

*Knock Knock* “Bakugou, can I come in?”

“…..Do I ever have a choice?”

“Well, not really. I just knock so I don’t walk in on anything gross.” You say as you walk in with a chuckle. You instantly see him sitting on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. His head raises slightly as you see his crimson eyes half heartedly glaring up at you slightly.

“What’s going on? Eiji and I can see something’s off. Wanna talk?” Same as you offer every single night. But something is different tonight. He doesn’t answer. He just drops his head back into his hands and you see his breathing hitch. You don’t know whether you should walk over and place a hand on his back or rub his head or hug him…. All of a sudden you see a drop on his carpet and you realize….He’s crying. Katsuki, fucking, Bakugou is actually crying. You know the world must have stopped because never in a million years would he have allowed anyone, except maybe Kiri see him in such a state. Which makes it all the more worrying.

“Sh-Should I go get Kirishima?”

“No.”

“Do you want me to go?”

“……No.”

With that you slowly walk over so you’re standing just to the side of him and place a hand on the top of his hunched back and sit next to him. Instantly feeling him loosen a little under your hand you rub a small circle.

“What happened?” You ask, watching his tears hit the ground.

“…..I lost someone.”

“What? Well that happens sometimes, Kat. People go missing a lot in our society. We can help you find them.”

“NO. I mean I LOST someone today, y/n.”

You suddenly realized the gravity of what he was saying. Someone died. He’s lost a civilian today. Suddenly you felt the need to pull him to you and just stroke his hair to help him. None of you had ever been so unlucky as to have someone die….well….not until today.

Before you could even think, your body was moving. Your hand that was on his back now wrapped around his shoulder and the other in his hair pulling his head down to your chest as you hold him tight. He doesn’t even fight you, but you feel his breathing getting more irregular and start to hear him sobbing and trying to hold it in. Taking a second to look around his room you only now start to notice the mess. Lamps, tables, pictures, posters…..all on the ground shattered and broken and torn. You realize he must have done this before you got home because you hadn’t heard anything. Looking around more and scanning over his bed, you notice the dark stains on his pillows. You feel your heart break knowing he must have been laying in here crying about this all while you were out there doing your own thing and cooking.

“Katsuki….I’m so sorry.” You know it doesn’t change anything. It won’t bring the person back or ease his pain. You feel so useless. You just hold him tighter, noticing his breaths starting to slow a bit, then feeling him leaning back into you slightly and you notice it…He’s fallen asleep. He must have exhausted himself with the rage and sadness. You can’t just leave him but what will he do if he wakes up in your arms tomorrow? Will he be angry at you for invading his space? None of that matters right now. He needs someone and he said no to you getting Kiri so what else are you meant to do….?

You lean back and try and shuffle up the bed slightly to try and get him as far onto the bed as you can but being as big as he is, it’s not an easy task. He stirs just as you give up and move one hand to the top of the bed to pull down his pillows under his back and your head, all while still letting him lay over your heart and stroking his hair. Only now in the light of the city coming through the window can you see how red and swollen his eyes are. Then you notice the bruises on his arms. When he’d been out of his room he had a jacket on, you guess to hide the bruises…..?

As you feel yourself slowly drifting off to sleep, you can still feel the small hitches in his breath and you hope beyond hope that you can have a proper conversation about it tomorrow and help him. But for tonight, he just needs the comfort. So that’s what you’ll be.

*

*

You wake up unable to feel the arm that’s still under Bakugou. Neither of you had moved at all during the night, waking up in the exact same position, and you just know that you’re going to have hella body aches later on. You can see the blondes chest slowly rising and falling. He’s usually up well before sunrise so he must have really needed the sleep. You’re not game enough to move incase he wakes up so you carefully take your phone out of your pocket and see 3 messages from Kirishima.

Rockishima  

*11:34pm*

Hey everything ok?

 *12:24am*

Don’t tell me you’re sleeping with him for Christ sake hahaha

 *1:13am*

Ok please don’t kill me for the last message but seriously….you guys good?

 Goddammit Eijirou.

 *8:24am*

Jesus Kiri really?? No I didn’t sleep with him. Not in that way anyway. He passed out and I didn’t want to leave him alone. Something happened yesterday but I didn’t get much out of him before he fell asleep. I’ll try talk to him more today. Sorry I didn’t get to have our chat last night either.

 You put your phone down next to you and thank god that you have the day off because honestly…you wouldn’t be able to move Bakugou off you if you’d needed to. The years had definitely been kind to him. He was always in good shape but pushing himself to always be better only made him better. He had bulked up considerably and suddenly shot up and now stood at 6ft 2…..towering over you who stood only 5”3. He’d improved his quirk over the years as well. Now he could fire blasts further without his gauntlets, he could produce small, almost silent blast which helped on recon missions. You’d never expect someone as explosive as Bakugou to be good at gentle and quiet missions but he’d surprised you. You were friends with a couple of people from Best Jeanists agency from the years of missions, some of which required teaming up with different agencies and heros and sidekicks. You’d even had a few missions with Bakugou and Kirishima. How you got teamed up with them though, you didn’t know. Your quirk was only really helpful once most of the work was done. Everyone else would wear down the villains and distract them while you watched until you felt their bodies weaken then you could control their muscle structure, effectively rendering them immobile and docile, making it easy to capture them.

Rockishima 

*8:35am*

Shit. Ok let me know if you need me to come home. I’ve got a day of paperwork anyway to catch up on the captures of the week so not too busy.

   *8:36am*

All good. I’ll do what I can. See you later.

 You let out a sigh that must have been a little louder than you’d expected since you suddenly felt Katsuki shift against your side. You stiffened almost instantly hoping not to have accidently woken him if he needed the rest. You watch as his arm moves from being tucked at your side and is suddenly thrown over your waist. All of a sudden, there’s a hand grabbing your hip and pulling you so you’re front to front against Bakugou with his head still at your chest and he’s holding you there tight….You wonder how often he must do this with his pillows and cover your mouth as much as you can trying to muffle the giggle. You feel his head move slightly and you are acutely aware of just how close his head is to your breasts….so close you can feel his burning breath on your chest….

 It doesn’t feel like he’s waking up just yet so you will your body to relax a bit, only now noticing how you’d tensed up at his movements a moment ago. you can feel yourself slightly brushing your nose through his hair, which, despite being so damn spiky, is surprisingly soft….and smells amazing. Like a campfire….and fuel. Which makes sense considering his quirk.

You can feel yourself drifting back to sleep with the strong yet gentle grasp of his arm over your waist.

When you awake again you’re on the bed alone but tucked in with Bakugous blankets but aware of how much colder it is….What time is it? You look for your phone only to see it on the bedside table next to your head.

2 New Messages

Boomboy

*2:43pm*

Lunch is in the kitchen. Make the bed. Went for a run.

 Rockishima

*2:56pm*

Got an early mark so I’ll be home about 3:30. Did you get to talk to him?

 “3PM?! How did he get up before me?! Dammit!” You get out of the bed quickly and throw your phone in your pocket and head towards the door before remembering to make the bed. Of course he needs order you think rolling your eyes. Looking around the room again you decide to clean up the broken glass and paper and try and make the room a bit better for him to get back to. You head out and straight into the bathroom for a shower.

As you’re getting out and wrap the town around yourself you hear Kiri come in the door and yell for you.

“I’m in the bathroom Eiji!”

Suddenly you regret your choice in words, or rather your lack of words, because he swings the door open quickly without so much as a knock, the surprise almost causing you to drop your towel.

“JESUS KIRI! WHAT THE FUCK?!”

“AHHH SORRY!” He says walking out and closing the door as quickly as he’d opened it.”I just thought you’d be cleaning or something, you usually lock it! I just wanted to see if you’d spoken to Bakugou?”

“Ok.” you say opening the door and walking to your room. “1. I didn’t lock the door because I was home alone and 2. No I haven’t. I fell back asleep this morning and when I woke up I was tucked into his bed and he was gone with a message saying he’d gone for a run so I imagine he’ll be back shortly. Wait here while I get dressed.”

“Ok so what happened exactly?”

“I told you I don’t know. he just said he lost someone yesterday.”

“Ok? And? People go missing all the time and it sucks but it happens…?”

“That’s what I said too but he doesn’t mean like that Kiri.”

“What? No. You don’t mean….?”

You walk out dressed and just nodding your head as you see Kiri slump against the wall and throw his head back.

“Dammit. No wonder he was off. So what happened last….”

You both turn as you hear the front door open. “Don’t say anything to him. I don’t know if he wanted anyone to know.” you whisper to Kirishima as he nods.

“Hey man! Look like you pushed yourself pretty hard. You still up for training?” You watch as Bakugous head looks to Kirishima then gazes down past Kiri to your face and lingers for a second, and you could swear you see a tinge of pink on his cheeks. He jerks his head back to Kiri too fast for you to really see though.

“Let’s go.” Is all he says as he throws a dangerous glance to the redhead. You watch as they both exit and just before the door shuts, you could swear you catch Katsu staring at you.

 What the hell was that? you whisper to yourself as you start busying yourself around the apartment.

*

*

Through the noise of your headphones you hear the click of the front door and look up from the book you’re reading on your bed, having left the door open to see when the boys returned. You wait to see them walk past your door into the living areas or the bathroom but everything starts feeling as if it was moving in slow motion… First you see a large figure start to enter your door frame and immediately notice it’s not one of the boys. The guy spots you and extends his arm but before he could do anything you roll off your bed down the side and under the bed as you watch his feet walk around the other side you rolled off, you roll out the other side and run out of your bedroom, slamming the door behind you hoping to buy you some time.

You turn right towards the front door and run straight out into the corridor only to run head first into someone. You feel your heart sink as 2 large hands wrap around your biceps holding you still. You instantly kick at their shins and when you hear a loud “WHAT THE FUCK Y/N?!” only then do you decide to actually look at who you ran into. Bakugou….looking more than a little surprised and an equally shocked Kirishima right next to him.

“What the hell’s the matter?!” they say together.

All you can get out is, “There’s someone in the apartment!”

Before you can even finish your sentence both of the boys have dropped their gear and are at the front door. You stand on the opposite side of the corridor watching as they enter slowly, giving each other silent cues. They’ve always worked perfectly together. Like twins that can read each others minds. The years of training had only strengthened that and watching them move as one was truly fascinating. You stood, holding their gear, outside watching them sweep each room before Kirishima came back out and took the gear from you with a concerned look as he spoke;

“We checked each room. There’s no one there.”

“Are you sure you didn’t just see something?” Bakugou said in his usual brash tone as he came towards the front door.

“Yes you condescending prick. I know what I saw. There was someone there. I heard the front door click and I just thought it was you guys home so I sat up on my bed thinking I’d see you guys walk past, then there was a guy in my doorway and he started reaching his arm up at me so I rolled off the bed and under and out the other side and ran. Then obviously ran into you out here.”

You could see Bakugous face change from his regular scowl to something like confusion as he looked at Kirishima and shrugged. “Well there’s no one there now.”

“Ok fine.” Kirishima pulled you into a hug, taking note of the look of fear on your face. Facing villains everyday was normal for you but when it was in your own house. Your safe space….it made the experience feel different.

“I’ll start doing dinner. Boomyboy, take her and sweep the house again with her so she feels safe yeah?” Kirishima said as he started to walk inside.

Bakugou just looked at you with a look that you couldn’t really make out. Concern, maybe? But still, he obliged. He let you stay behind him as he walked into your room. Your first thought was under your bed or your closet so as you got down on your knees and saw nothing you felt a little better. as you walked towards the closet, you felt sick in your stomach though and brushed it off as just nerves. How wrong you were.

The moment you opened the closet door something, or someone, fell into you and before you could even react, Bakugou had knocked the guy into the opposite wall as you saw the explosion from his palm. Kirishima appeared at the door suddenly hearing the commotion and when our eyes left the intruder for a second to look at Eiji, the intruder was gone again.

Kirishima rushed to crouch next to me then looked at Bakugou, whos eyes where stuck on the slight dent where the intruder had hit the wall, then looked at you and rushed to you.

“Y/n, what happened?” Kiri asked. Bakugous eyes never leaving the spot on the wall.

“I-I don’t know. I went to check the closet…and someone fell into me. Bakugou blasted him over the other side.” You say looking at Bakugou who hadn’t moved nor looked away, but you noticed he was shaking.

“Dude, you ok??

“Kiri….I think he’s in shock. Look at him….” You say.

Kirishima stays in place where he is as if he doesn’t know what to do as you slowly, as if approaching a wild dog, get to your feet and take slow, soft steps towards Bakugou. Reaching out a hand touching his shoulder, you step in front of him to see his eyes completely lost.

“Katsuki. Look at me.” You say cupping his cheeks to make him shift his gaze. “It’s ok. No one was hurt. What’s wrong?”

You watch as his eyes slowly move to yours and a mix of tears, confusion and anger start to burn in his irises. “Th-That was the person who died yesterday. I saw them die. I….I wasn’t fast enough. The building dropped. He was crushed….H-How?”

You and Kirishima share a glance, not knowing how to proceed, so you just hug him, only to find him gently grab your shoulders and push away, never breaking eye contact.

“How did he get in here? Where did he go? It’s like he is materializing in different spots because I checked the closet and he wasn’t there.” Kirishima says, standing next to Bakugou.

“Maybe it’s a quirk? Maybe he didn’t die. Maybe he got out Kat.” You say, your eyes never leaving his.

“I-If he got out then….that means….he wasn’t a civ.” He says shaking his head. You and Kirishima give each other a glance, knowing that you have to try and get more of the story out of him. You take Bakugous arm and sit on the end of your bed with him while Kirishima crouches in front of Katsu.

“Tell us what happened.” Kirishima says to Bakugou simply.

Bakugous eyes trail down to the ground as he grips his knees with a bruising strength.

“We were just out on patrol and saw a building on fire. Didn’t think too much of it but as we got closer to investigate…” His breath hitches and you can see him tense, “As we got closer, we saw people inside and saw that the building supports were gonna come down. We ran in and got, what we thought was, everyone out. Did what we were meant to do, waited outside for the emergency services but I turned around to scout out the building and make sure there was no one around….and….” You could see the way his eyes darted around behind his closed eye lids and knew that it must have really gotten to him. For Bakugou to be this shaken….”…and I saw someone inside the flames. I didn’t even think before I moved…I was just back inside the building with the flames around me and I couldn’t see the person anymore so I yelled out and heard something behind me so I turned around and I saw him. It was a man that looked like he was in slow motion and he raised an arm like he was reaching for me….but before I could get to him…a support fell on him and I tried to get to him but too much of the floor dropped on him and I couldn’t do anything. The next thing I knew, I was back at the agency being sent home due to shock.”

“Di-Did they find any bodies in the rubble?” You asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t asked.”

“Maybe he didn’t die? Might be a teleportation quirk?” Kirishima says as he stands up.

“Doesn’t explain why he was here though. If he survived. Or why y/n heard the front door. Or why he was sat in a closet?”

“True. Call Jeanist and see if he can tell you if they found bodies in the rubble? At least with that answer you’ll know if it’s either the same person…or maybe a shapeshift quirk.” you say to Bakugou.

“I’m going to do dinner. We all need to eat.” Kirishima says, already out the door.

Bakugous eyes stay glued to the floor.

“Everything will be ok. We’ll sort this out.”

“How the fuck do you know that? Yesterday I thought someone had died on my watch, now today their haunting me?” Bakugou says in his blunt tone.

“Not to make this about me, but it kinda seems like whatever or whoever it is, is after me?” You say with a small giggle, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

Bakugous eyes were suddenly on you and there was no mistaking the emotion radiating from him this time. Fear.

“Hey, cool it. We face worse than this everyday. We’ve got this.”

His eyes were just stuck to yours. You could see he was playing over every single scenario in his head and could watch the emotions on his face change. From fear to guilt to anger back to guilt.

“Hey, do you remember that time we all sat in that shitty little car park late at night, eating those disgusting chips from the petrol station with the broken sign?” You ask. Hoping to distract him.

He looks at you with an expression you can’t read. “Um, yeah. Why?”

“That was the first time I heard you laugh, you know that? Also the first time I ever saw you smile.” You say, a little embarrassed but that feeling is quickly replaced with accomplishment when he looks straight into your eyes and you can see the corner of his lip twitch up a little.

“Wow…you in love with me or something, huh?”

“Hey, not gonna lie. I had a massive crush on you in the last year of school, but who didn’t?” You say rolling your eyes with a giggle.

Bakugou looks at you with a strange expression and his eyes start to dart around your features.

“Did have? Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“Well, you’ve never been the most approachable guy Katsuki.”

“Better than letting people take advantage of me.” He says dropping his head for a second, then looking back at you. “Remember any other weird little facts like that?”

“Oh, um….a couple,” You say with a little blush, and it does not go unnoticed. “I remember that I was the person the teachers trusted enough to let you out of the restraints after the sports festival our first year since I could subdue you a bit.” You say with a chuckle. “I remember the first day we went driving with Kirishima. You were holding the door so tight your knuckles turned white because you were so scared of his driving.” This one you break out into an all out laugh. Bakugou follows you and laughs as well.

“Oh yeah? I seem to remember your nails ripped the shoulder of our seats you were holding so tight too.” He said laughing harder.

“Hey! We both know that bastard doesn’t pay enough attention to the road! Can you blame me?”

Bakugou just kept his eyes on you as your head settles back to watching him. Before you could move or gather your thoughts or even think of another memory, one of his hands were on the back of your neck into your hair and the other was on your waist as he pulled you closer and his lips were on yours. You couldn’t help but look at him in shock as he kissed you.

Bakugou was kissing you. HE kissed YOU. You had dreamt of this moment. You’d never gotten over your feelings for him, just hidden them so as not to conflict with the living conditions or the friendship you’d built with him or Kirishima. But here, in this moment, you didn’t think about that. Instead, couldn’t help but surrender to him, closing your eyes and taking in his scent. The smell of fire was even stronger since he’d just finished a workout. Your hands found their home in his hair, gently grasping onto him to remind yourself this was actually real. When he noticed you soften to him, he leaned into you slightly as his tongue flicked across your lip, as if asking for entry to your mouth. You opened your lips slightly and he didn’t miss a second. He was gentle. Like he was testing the waters to see what you’d allow him to do.

 “Dinner’s ready guys!”

And just like that, he pulled back in shock and you were left leaning forward with his hands not leaving your body but his head directed to the door.

“Coming!” Bakugou yelled back. He turned his head and rested his forehead on yours and looking softly into your eyes, “Are you ok?”

Were you? It felt like with just that touch of his lips that he had pulled all the air from your body. You’d kissed people before and it had never felt like that. So why….

Before you could think too much, Bakugou stood up with your hand in his, kissed you on the cheek and walked led you to the door before dropping your hand and walking to the kitchen.

The whole time you were eating he would keep glancing at you. The same while you did the dishes. The same while you took up your spot on the shaggy rug to watch tv. You were tense….but not in a scared way….tense because you didn’t know what that kiss meant…or if it meant anything for that matter. But why would he kiss you? Why would he be that soft? You’d seen Katsuki with women before. He was rough. Just like his attitude. He was dominating.

You couldn’t bring yourself to focus on the show or anything else.

“Alright, I’m going to bed. We’ve all got the day off tomorrow, yeah?” Kiri said, standing to head to his room.

“Yeah, I’m not back till Thursday next week.” Bakugou followed up.

“Um, y-yeah I’m off tomorrow and back on Monday.” You answer looking over your shoulder to give him a gentle smile goodnight.

“Cool. Go out for breakfast?”

You and Bakugou nod as Kirishima heads down the hall and you watch as his door closes. As you go to turn your head back to the tv, you notice Bakugou looking directly at you with a look on his face you can’t really make out in the city light. You start to feel nervous about what he could be thinking. Without warning, you stand up and walk out to the balcony and lean on the railing hoping the fresh air will clear your thoughts.

 Not long after you drop your head to look at all the lights of the city, you hear the glass sliding door open and without looking you know its Kat. You know this is going to be an awkward conversation so you psych yourself up to say the first word. He kissed you. He made this situation awkward so you’ll be damned if you’re going to have this talk on his terms, you reason. Ok. We kissed. We’re both adults, it meant nothing. We’re friends. We can move forward without it being wei……………rd……

All your thoughts leave your mind when you feel two large hands rest on your hips and his body press flush against your back. What is he doing….You feel his head drop down to your neck as his hot breath brushes your skin as he presses a kiss to the skin just behind your ear. You feel your whole body and insides just melt. NO. You’re not a school girl! You need to talk about this!

You turn quickly hoping to surprise him and break him out of whatever trance he’s in. “Stop.” You say with shaky breath. But he doesn’t move, and you’re aware of just how close he is to you and your lips.

“W-we need to talk about this…and the kiss….before….” You freeze….knowing that adding the ‘before’ part is implying there is something more coming….Your cheeks turn bright red at the thought of you….and Kat…..together.

“What is there to talk about?” He says standing up and putting a little more distance between your faces.

“W-Well, we’re both adults…” “Mhm…” “And you kissed me…and we’re friends…” “Mhm…” “I’m sure we can just forget about it and pretend it didn’t happen….nothing has to change…I guess.” You can feel your voice break at the last few words even though you’re trying to hold yourself as strong as possible. His eyes stare right through you and you swear you can feel a beam of heat from his eyes into yours. His…gorgeous…shining….red….eyes….Dammit y/n you are not 18 anymore!

“And if I don’t want to forget the kiss?” he says as confident as ever. How did he go from stressing out earlier to this?!

“Well….wa-wait…what?”

He grabs your chin with his hand and tilts your head up to look at him. “Do YOU want to forget the kiss?”

“I-I…..No….But,”

“No buts. Yes or no. Because if you do, I’ll walk away right now and go to bed and pretend none of this ever happened, but if you don’t…..”

“’Suki…..”

His eyes slightly widen and you can see he likes the pet name you’ve never used before since you thought he’s berate you for it being all cutesy….

“Say it again” He says as he leans in and presses another kiss to just under your ear. “If you don’t want this, princess, you need to push me away. Now.”

You rest one hand on the railing and the other on his chest but don’t push. Everything in your mind is screaming at you to push him away. Don’t let this go further. Don’t take this risk. But your body is begging to pull him closer. To feel the heat of his body on yours.

Your body wins. He’s placing slow, gentle kisses along your neck and shoulder as your hand finds his shirt and pulls him closer and that’s all he need to confirm what he needed. Within seconds, he placed a hand on your cheek and the other stays on your hip. Pressing a soft but yearning kiss to your lips. This time, he doesn’t ask for entry, your body just gives way instantly. When his lips leave yours, you feel the air pull from your body all over again. His kisses are slightly harder on your neck, mixed with bites.

“ …..’Sukiiii” You can’t help but let out a moan as his bites and kisses and licks getting harder. When he hears you whimper that little name he lets out a low growl from his chest and you know this night isn’t going to be all snuggles and kisses…..It was a long….long night.

[probablyjustamagpie]

Chapter 1 is done!

or the first draft at least. Lemme know what you think before I inevitably delete this in embarrassment

I remember flying for the first time. I felt invincible, free from earthly constraints. And then I got a face full of sap-ridden pine needles. 

 Nine years later, and my luck doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Today had started off high, when I managed to snag the last cinnamon roll from under my sister’s nose (she’d already had three, the brat)(come to think of it, how did she even fit that many in her stomach? She’s tiny!), and I spent the afternoon soaring over the garden, feeling much more like myself than like a girl trapped in a castle. Father had even offered to take me into town for a new dress rather than fetching for the tailor.

Then dinner came around. Que me, a magic user, at a table of nobles who would have me sacrificed to the gods in two seconds flat giving the opportunity. All of these social events left me feeling stickier than if I was covered in pine sap. It wasn't as though I could slink away later either, not when the gathered lords and ladies all wanted to marry their sons off to the Imperial Princess. Maybe I didn't even want to marry a man (I do, but that's beside the point here). The aftermath is worse though, with all the dimwitted nobles vying for attention

“My Lady! I haven’t seen you since your brother’s wedding!” An older woman exclaims. Her ridiculously tall beehive updo sparks the slightest recognition, as do her tawny wings, but I’m left at a blank for her name. I spent most of Brenton’s wedding trying not to interact with all the stuffy  nobles who I didn’t recognize. The seven-year-olds Mirin hangs out with at these events are much more fun, even if I am practically 16.

“Oh, yes. Well I don't get out much, after all. Plenty to do here. At the palace, with my studies and all.”

“Ah, yes. I remember my studies when I was your age. Though, I don’t really use them much now. Your husband takes care of everything darling, so don’t fret!” Oh. I remember this one. Countess Ryelle. Lower down the chain of command, brainwashed into a useless sack of jewels and satin by her husband. She used to be one of the brightest people in the empire. I used to admire her, till I met her.

“Is that so?” I try not to sound sarcastic. “Oh, would you look at that, my father is calling me over. I’ll be seeing you.” never, I add under my breath.

My father pulls me aside. I’m not mean enough to lie, unfortunately. “Aria, the Prince of Mordu is here. I wish you would dance with him.”

“Must I?”

“At least pretend to enjoy these events, he may be your suitor.”

“Fine.” It comes out bitter and angry, much more than I truly feel. Dancing is fun, despite who attends these events. Still, my steps are forced and awkward as I approach the prince.

His hair is close shaven, and he looks at least 5 years my elder. Not to mention that he isn't Symphinian, and though humans aren’t bad, they always want to touch my wings. Nevertheless, I smile, trying to look like I’m genuinely afraid he might say no to a dance.

“Hello,” he says, curt, but not unkind. His voice has an unfamiliar twang to it. “Have you come to ask for a dance?”

“Yes. I am Princess Aria.” I nearly fall over when I curtsy without spreading my wings, trying to make the human prince more comfortable (I think it's ridiculous, but Father insists), and he grabs my arm. His grip is firmer than necessary, and I try not to shudder.

“Try not to fall at my heels, Princess. I’m afraid it happens all too often.”

“Is that so?” I ask, brushing off my dress. I hate it when 

“Why yes. Who wouldn’t want to dance with I, Prince Hayden of Mordu?”

“I’m sure my brother wouldn’t.”

He seems genuinely taken aback at my statement, before he laughs.

“You surprise me. I wouldn’t mind taking you as mine.”

I suppress another shudder at the thought of being considered his property. I extend my arm and flatten my feathers, pretending the whole interaction hasn’t made me feel very, very slimy. “Shall we?”

“We shall.”

I suppose dancing with Hayden isn't the worst thing. He seems unsure of the steps but insists on leading which is, frankly, obnoxious, but he at least doesn’t reach to stroke my wings at all. The Reolan prince I had danced with earlier had desperately wanted to touch them (Like I would let a stranger touch my wings. He clearly hadn’t read up on the Symphinian etiquette, even though Reola has the second highest population of us in the world).

I still walk away from the dance feeling sticky with his intentions. No matter the customs the royal courts of the world had seemingly agreed upon, 16 still felt like too young to be married off.

When the night began to draw to a close, I spotted Finnigan stationed at one of the exits. Tap his shoulder from behind, and whisper in his ear.

“I’ll see you on the roof later, ok?” before ducking back into the ballroom.

I don’t have time to see his reaction before my father calls attention to himself. 

“Lords and Ladies gathered here, I must apologize. Princess Aria has accepted a proposal, Prince Pascal of Suther!”

My heart drops. The prince in question was the worst of the lot I’d danced with. He’d touched my wings despite my protest, and would hardly let me speak. He was sandy haired, weak limbed, and generally an entitled weasel. Had I chosen (as my father had said I would be able to do, on my birthday)(he never really did care for me did he? To much like his wildfire late wife, who he snuffed out) it never would have been Pascal, not in a million years. And the cherry on top, the part that really got a fire stirring in my veins, was that Suther was the worst kingdom in Aoris.

See, Suther was where the Cruel King lived, as Finnigan and I called him. He had no restraints or hesitations when it came to magic. The moment I got married I would be signing  my death sentence, doomed to be sacrificed publicly or to quietly ‘disappear’. Like my mother had. As my father had sworn, per her last wish, would not happen to me. But apparently, dying vows mean nothing to a man like him.

I’ve lived years like this. Expecting the worst. But the feeling of betrayal is incomprehensible. You think your mind can come up with the worst things imaginable, with no limits of reason, and real life turns out to be worse. I take a deep breath. In, and out, in and out. Don’t explode. “They will be married in a month's time.”

My…. birthday. I will be married on my 16th birthday won’t I? That's when my life is going to fall apart. Pyla, it's already falling apart(who the hell am I, praying to Pyla? I’ll probably be sacrificed to her specifically).

“I wish all of you safe travels home.”

The nobles trickle out, until Pascal and his mother are the last two in the ballroom, besides Father and Mirin. The adults talk off to the side, as the prince approaches me

“Hello.” Pascal says, like we haven’t met.

“Hello.” It's tight and forced as a hold back my tears.

“You look sad, darling,” he strokes my wing and I draw the tight to my spine, instinctively moving back a bit. Mirin grips my hand, holding tight.

“Hey! Don’t touch my sister’s wings.”

“What did you say?”

“Don’t touch her wings. You can’t do that until you get married, or unless you are family. Or like, really, really close friends.”

“Oh. Why didn’t you tell me, darling?”

“I did. You didn't listen.” I practically whisper. 

“Well it doesn’t matter any how. In a month's time I can touch them all I want, isn't that right my little blackbird?”

“Jackdaw, actually.”

“What?”

“I have the wings of a jackdaw.”

“Does it matter?”

“Female blackbirds are brown, like Mirin’s wings. Mine are those of a jackdaw, jackass. Like my mother’s.”

Mirin ignores the swear. She’s heard worse from Father. But she squeezes twice. I need to calm the fire in my gut. Literally. Two squeezes means I’m getting hot.

“Mirin, why don’t I take you off to bed?”

“Ok, Ari.”

I swing her into my arms, and head to the door when Father stops me.

“Aria, you have a guest, where are you going?”

“It's getting very late. Someone needs to go to bed.” I tell him. Mirin yawns for added effect.

“Oh, a maid can do that. Come and talk with your fiance.”

“I don’t care.” I think Father sees the fire in my eyes, because he lets me go.

I bring Mirin to her room, and give her a good night hug.

“Is he a bad man, like the ones that took Mama?”

“I don’t know yet Miri. I don’t know.” I let the tears fall.

“Mama was brave, you said. You can be brave too.” I can be brave too. A plan begins to form in my head.

“And you as well, but it's practically midnight, so off to bed with you now.”

“Fine. Love you Ari!”

“Love you Mirin.”

Though I started crying with Mirin, it's not until I've locked the doors to my room that the downpour starts. I let myself sob so there is nothing left in me, lettting the hurt and betrayal spill out. The fallen tears begin to drown my fire, and I’m left feeling like a husk, empty and dry.

I wipe the final tear from my eye, and take a ragged breath. With no tears left the fire returns to my veins, for after all, a dry husk is a very flammable thing. The ornate clock on my wall reads 12:27. I shakily stand, and walk to the balcony. I shake out my wings and breathe. In and out. In and out. I wake more as the cool night air enters my lungs and dries the remnants of tears from my skin.

I get a slight running start and soar up onto the roof. As expected, Finnigan is waiting for me. I ran to him. He swoops me up in a hug, blotting out the stars and moons with his wings.

“Aria, are you ok?”

“Not in the slightest.”

I disentangle myself from Finnigan, and sit down. He follows suit. Mirin and I, as well as my brother when he’s home, live in the westernmost tower of the castle, and the roof is inaccessible without flight. It’s flat, and the ramparts protect us from being seen for the most part. Not that anyone is looking. 

We’ve spent so many nights here together, ever since we could both fly. To think that was eight years ago seems wrong, we were the same age as Mirin then. If we aren’t careful she might just end up joining us up here.

But that won’t happen. Not with what I have planned.

“Do you want to stay here?”

“What do you mean?” Finnigan asks, surprised.

“Do you want to stay here? Do you really want to be my bodyguard for the rest of our lives? To stay in the castle and never explore? To pretend not to have magic for the rest of time?”

“Well, not when you put it that way.”

“Does it ache? For you. It aches when I can't use it.”

“Yeah.”

I let my hands catch flame, the way my body has been begging me to do all night. 

“I’m getting married, Finn.”

“I thought-”

“Yeah. I thought too.”

“So?”

“Pascal. I’ll be married to the Cruel King’s son.” I stand, and let the fire go as I lean against the rampart. “I’m going to die, Finn.”

“What? Your father swore. He swore this would never happen.”

“He probably got a large dowry. He doesn't care. We knew that.” I look out to the west, away from this all. You can see the faint glow, for in the distance, of the burning forest.

“What are you going to do?”

“Me? Oh nothing… much.”

“Do tell.”

“What do you say we run away?”

[mercysingstheblues]

This Christmas || Samcedes

Who: Sam & Mercedes Evans, family and friends.  When: 3 Years Later Where: Samcedes’ Household What: A look into the future as Samcedes host a Christmas gathering for their friends and family. 

Mercedes: “Red or green?” Mercedes asked her daughter as she held up two different bows from her dresser. The preteen studied carefully as she pretended to be in deep thought. “Green,” she answered with a doubtful smile. “Red,” she came again looking more satisfied with her answer. “How about we do both?” Mercedes settled as she made her way to the bed where both her children sat. “She likes when o do pigtails anyway so might as well stick to what works.” She handed the red bow to Sammie who went to work helping her perfect her little sister’s hair. “Are you excited to see everyone?” She asked making small talk. “Yes! Grandpa said he something really special for me. I think it’s a car.” Mercedes side eyed her daughter with a shake of her head. “You are 12, I can guarantee you it isn’t a car.” She smiled at the pout of her child’s lips as she continued to twist Grace’s hair. “Fine, then I’ll settle for nothing less than Beyonce tickets. Floor seats.” “Negotiate a ticket for your mom and I’ll throw in dinner at your favorite restaurant.” Mercedes added. She was definitely her child. They made quick work and Mercedes asked Sammie if she would take her sister downstairs and she would join shortly. She did her makeup not really caring to look extra spiffy. She was tired and her feet were too swollen for her to worry about looking cute. After being satisfied with her attire she finally made her way down the stairs spotting Sam laughing it up with Quinn. She smiled at the sight in front her knowing Sam had to be doing one of his many impressions by the look on Quinn’s face. “Any chance he’s coming tonight?” A voice met her as she made it to the bottom. “God I hope so. I’m so ready for him to be out. Grace came early three weeks at that. Sammie was five days early but this one doesn’t want to seem to leave.” She hugged Finn who helped her down the last two steps. “Well I’ll be 50 dollars richer if he does. So maybe put in a good word for me?” She laughed at his reply. “I make no promises but I’ll see what I can do.”

Sam: He teased Quinn mercilessly, making her blush as he imitated Mike being caught in the act by the practice nurses just the previous week. “I swear Quinn, I’ve never seen him so embarrassed! You’re gonna be giving me and Cedes some serious competition..” Quinn giggled in spite of herself and shook her head. “ I don’t think so- you’re still the King and Queen of Freak! I can’t believe you guys are on your third kid!” A tiny mew, came from the tiny bundle she held carefully in her arms. “Seems like he’s waking up..Better go feed him..” she chuckled a little self consciously and he grinned, peering down at the newest addition to his best friend’s family. “Jeez he looks so much like Mike...Lizzie looks a little more like you, but Oliver has Mike all over him..” Fixing her with a serious look as his smile faded he asked her softly, “You happy?” Quinn nodded, smiling widely. “I’m so happy Sam...Thank you..” she reached out, laying her hand on his, “ You didn’t take advantage when I threw myself at you that time and I remember what you told me then- that Mike would find a way..and he did..” Sam shook his head slowly, “ No need to thank me, Quinn. Just glad to see you guys happy and finally free of Kitty. Even Missy seems a lot happier and Sammie said she’s one of her best friends now.” Leaning forward, he kissed her on the cheek, saying “You guys deserve this..” Looking up, he bit his lip, hiding a grin as he spied his wife aiming down the stairs. He knew she was feeling pretty uncomfortable- she kept saying she felt like a stuffed butterball, but to him she was breathtakingly gorgeous as ever. He smiled as Finn, helped her down the last few steps, no trace of the former jealousy he’d once felt. She was his, had always been, even when he’d been too dumb to see it, and boy did it feel good. “I’ll leave you to your feeding..if you want some privacy you can use one of the guest rooms upstairs..” he told the blonde before making his way over to his wife and catching her around the waist. “Hey Hudson,” he greeted Finn jovially, before kissing his wife lingeringly on the lips. “Hmmm...I’ve gone too long without a kiss from you, gorgeous..” He bent down and gave her belly a gentle kiss. “How’s my little grinch doing?” he teased her as he straightened, his hand stroking the tight mound of her stomach over the soft material of her dress. “Oh God..think I’m gonna be sick,” Finn complained, grinning at his friend’s antics. “Whatever bro, I saw the tears you were crying on your wedding day..Rachel has you so damned whipped, “ Sam bantered back good naturedly, bursting into laughter as Rachel herself came up, threading her hand through Finn’s arm, and watching how the big guy softened to a big pile of jello as he gazed at his tiny wife.

Mercedes: softened in her husband’s arms.  This was one of the big changes they had made in strengthening their marriage and she loved the fact that them touching without any awkwardness was so simple and easy now.  So much they had missed out on being shy and far from transparent with one another.  Now was like a 180.  They communicated more, always talked things through and never left anything off the table.   Long gone was any need for jealousy when it came to him and Quinn and seeing them converse and laugh just now only warmed heart cause she herself got to know Quinn on a personal level and they had now become the best of friends.  These past three years not only did she rejuvenate her marriage but her friendship with Sam as well.  He was her ride or die and she couldn’t have been happier.  “Baby, don’t tease him.  I think it’s cute.  Two of my favorite people found love with one another and I got a Goddaughter out of it.  They’re perfect.”  She smiled at the couple in front of them.   She then turned her attention to her husband fixing her mouth with slight grimace.  “He’s still chillaxing like my womb is a utopian wonderland.”  She looked down at her extended belly as if she could will her labor through penetrating glares.  “Plus, I’m wearing slippers cause none of my fancy shoes fit. Also this baby and I voted and we refuse to be in any Christmas photos.” She folder her arms as of her word was final knowing she would never get away with that one.  

Sam: He laughed at the disgruntled expression on her face, sliding a hand into her hair and kissing the pout away from her lips. "You so are going to be in every Christmas photo..you're sexy and gorgeous and you know it.." It was amazing how much he loved her, he'd thought he'd known how much back when they were first married, but he'd soon learned how fathomless everything he felt for her was. He felt the clap on his shoulder that indicated his father was standing behind them and wrapping his arms around his wife he turned to see his parents and in-laws standing in front of them. "Don't you ever get tired of kissin’ up on your wife?" his dad asked, shaking his head. "Nope," he retorted, pressing another kiss to her soft lips. "Not at all..And before you say it," he fixed his mother and his mother-in-law with a look, "we are not doomed..In fact I think you can safely say, we're exactly where we want to be.." Mr Jones threw back his head and laughed. "That told you, sweetheart," he said to his wife, grinning. "I always knew, though, you two were meant for each other. I'd never have let you marry her if I hadn't have known that." Mrs Jones smiled nodding "I think we can say that three children in, you are definitely sticking together. One might have been an accident..but three? That has to have been on purpose.”

Mercedes: “Three kids and 13 years,” Mercedes added.  Despite them not being all glorious years of marriage she was still for the time she had with Sam.  They stuck together through thick and thin and what probably would be the toughest test to their marriage and they survived.  “I’m still questioning how you gave away my hand in marriage to a seven year old dad.”  “It was easy, watching the two of you interact when y’all were younger.  It was obvious he was hooked.  He had that same look in his eyes I had when I met your mother.  The look that he had just found his match.” Mr. Jones admitted.  “What a lovely match y’all are.” Mr. Evans chimed in.  “Yes, thank you for making our son so happy.  Thanks for the beautiful grandkids.” His wife added. “I’m just glad we are finally getting a boy.  For a moment I thought I chose wrong when we got two girls back to back,” Mr. Jones joked receiving a nudge from his wife.  “Dad!” Mercedes fussed.  “Oh stop you know I love my baby girls from the moon and back.  I only kid.”  Mercedes shook her head with a warm smile as she rested her head on Sam’s shoulder surveying the scene in front of her.  She was surrounded by family and friends that she loved and adored and felt like at that moment she couldn’t be any happier.

Sam: He gently pulled her away from their parents, his arms around her guiding her to stand by the huge Christmas tree the dominated their entrance hall at the foot of the stairs, festively decorated in gold and red. “It’s great to see everyone happy and whole..I thought for a time Mike and Quinn would never get their shit straight..Kitty certainly made it difficult for them..but now that she’s marrying that Ben Israel geek, she could wait to give them full custody of Missy and go after his millions. Always said she was deadlier than a rattlesnake that one. I’m stoked to finally see that back of her.” He turned her slightly towards him, eyes twinkling devilishly, a smirk twisting his lips. “You wanna know how to induce labour?” He whispered conspiratorially, lips brushing her ear as he leaned in towards her, then dropping his head down to nuzzle her collarbone. “Wild, rampant, hot sex..so what do you say?  Everyone’s busy eating..talking..whatever..they’ll never miss us...Just you, me, upstairs in that big old bed..” he grinned enticingly, tugging her towards the stairs, threading his fingers through hers. “If it works, then amazeballs..but if not...try, try and try again..not to mention, it’s good practice for the next one..” Clearly, he reflected, much later on, in the early hours of Christmas Day, watching his wife hold their newborn baby boy, that old wives tale had worked a trick very nicely...He picked up her hand as she held the baby in the crook of her arms and kissed it gently, with all the love that he felt for her now and always. “Thank you, Cedes...not just for this...but for all of the Christmases that have gone before..”

[eldritchsurveys]

781.

Your ten favorite movies

Movie number one: The Fountain 1) Who’s the main actor? >> Hugh Jackman. 2) When did it come out? >> I want to say... 2007. 3) What’s the genre? >> Er... hmm. Fantasy? Maybe? I’m going to ask google. ...Oh, apparently Wikipedia classifies it as an “epic romantic drama film that blends elements of fantasy, history, spirituality, and science fiction”. Like, okay, sure, whatever dude. 4) Do you know where it was filmed at? >> I don’t, but I’m about to find out because that’s an interesting question. ...Ah! Montreal. 5) How old were you when you saw it? >> The first time I saw it was... probably not too long after it came out, so early 20s. I rented it from Netflix back when that was new and was a DVD-only service. I didn’t pay it a whole lot of attention at the time and was mostly confused by its storyline (I wasn’t as practiced at following nonlinear timelines and heavily allegorical plots back then). The next time I saw it was a whole different story and tbh that’s a frequent occurrence with me, which is why I always go back to rewatch/reread certain things later on in life.

Movie number two: Sunshine 1) Who’s an actress in this movie? >> Rose Byrne.

2) Out of 10 stars you’d give it? >> I mean, 10, I guess? It’s a top favourite of mine, so... 3) Did it have a surprise ending? >> No. I mean, it had a kind of weird twist for the climax? But the actual ending was kind of what you’d expect. 4) How long was it? >> 1hr 47min. 5) Did you first see it in theatres? >> Nope, but god, if only I could... Movie number three: Interstellar 1) What’s this movie rated? >> PG-13. 2) Did critics approve of it? >> If I recall correctly, yeah, it was pretty widely praised. Mostly for the, you know... Nolan-ness. 3) Who were you with when you saw it? >> Sigma and I went to see it, and then we went to see it again, and then we went to see it yet again, lmao. 4) Did this movie make you cry? >> Sure the fuck did, sure the fuck does. 5) Who are five actors/actresses in this movie? >> Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Ellen Burstyn, Jessica Chastain. Movie number four: District 9 1) Is the main actor your favorite actor? >> No, but I generally enjoy watching Sharlto Copley in stuff. 2) Do you know how old he is? >> No, and that’s not a detail I care to look up. 3) Did this movie make you laugh? >> I mean, yeah, there were a few funny bits, mostly because Wikus is a fuckin dork sometimes. But mostly it was not a laughing matter. 4) Last time you watched it? >> Uhhh... hmm. Maybe a year or two ago? I tend to avoid it because it gives me way too many feels. This is a common thread with me and things I really have emotional attachment to -- you’ll notice I’ll find excuses not to rewatch or reread them because I’m afraid of my own feelings, lmao. 5) Are you the appropiate age to see it by yourself? >> Well, yeah? Movie number five: Requiem For a Dream 1) What made you mad about this movie? >> Nothing made me mad, exactly. That’s definitely not the emotion I feel when watching it. 2) Was it based on a true story? >> It might have been based on real things that happen to real people, but not in any concrete “this is historical fiction” sort of way. 3) Do you wish it was real in any way? >> I’m sure a lot of it is real for a lot of people... I definitely do not want my life to go in that direction, though. It’s very much a “pay attention to that hole in yourself before it consumes you” story for me. 4) So what’s it about, anyways? >> The intertwined stories of four addicts. 5) Did they make a video game out of this movie? >> That... would be disturbing as fuck and I would not play that, lol. Movie number six: mother! 1) Did this movie bore you at any time? >> Oh, absolutely not. I was on tenterhooks the entire time. I even had to pause it at one point so I could have an anxiety attack. (That was also the moment when I realised I was definitely going to rate it 5 stars on Letterboxd. Listen, it makes sense, I promise.) 2) Was there a kiss scene? >> Er, well, the main characters were romantically involved, so there was kissing. 3) Who was the protagonist (main character)? >> The Mother, I guess. I don’t remember what she was called in the credits or in director interviews or wherever (she doesn’t have a name in the movie, no one does). 4) Have you seen this movie more than once? >> Nope. I sometimes consider watching it again because I do feel the need to, but that’s an experience I have to really be prepared for and I feel like I’m never prepared, lol. 5) Last time you saw it? >> Uh... I want to say... a year ago? Movie number seven: The Prince of Egypt 1) What is this movie’s genre? >> Er... I guess, like, animation. Which isn’t a genre to me either, but hey. (Maybe “family” or “adventure”...?) 2) Are there any kid actors in this movie? >> Probably, since there’s a fair number of kids in this movie and I don’t think they were all voiced by adults... but hey, maybe they were. 3) Where did it all take place? >> It’s animated so it technically just takes place in a studio. But the movie’s setting is Egypt and thereabouts. 4) Who was the biggest star in the movie? >> Like, as in... most famous actor in it? I really couldn’t say, it’s an incredibly star-studded cast all around. 5) What year did it come out? >> 1998. It was the first-ever movie I saw in a theater! Movie number eight: Quills 1) Main actor and/or actress? >> Joaquin Phoenix and Kate Winslet. 2) Is this a one-time only movie? >> Like, it didn’t have any sequels or anything, if that’s what you mean. 3) Is it a sequel to anything? >> No. 4) How much money did it make? >> I don’t feel like looking that up. Probably not a whole lot. 5) Favorite part? >> Oh god, uh. I couldn’t even pick one. Any of the dialogue scenes between the Marquis and the Abbé, also any of the scenes where the Abbé is overcome with horniness lmfao. Movie number nine: Event Horizon 1) When did you first see this movie? >> 2005, when I was in a psych hospital. It was one of the only films they had on tape.

2) Did it take a second time for you to like it? >> Nope, I loved it immediately. And proceeded to watch it every day for like a month. I don’t know how anyone in there put up with me. (Everyone being overmedicated probably helped.)

3) Does it have a happy ending? >> It doesn’t. Most horror movies don’t, right? 4) Who would you recommend it to? >> People who love gory space horror, and especially space movies of that particular nineties variety, you know what I’m talking about. 5) What’s its theme song? >> It doesn’t have one. Movie number ten: Repo! the Genetic Opera 1) Do you still have the movie ticket? >> I didn’t see it in a theater. I had planned on seeing it at a Vampirefreaks sponsored theater event in SoHo, but the line was so long I gave up and went home. Ended up hating it when I finally did get around to watching it, and then watched it again like a year or so later and loooooved it. Funny how that happens sometimes. 2) Favorite part? >> Oh man, how could I even choose? Maybe the Thankless Job scene. Or Night Surgeon! Obviously I’m going to pick anything Nathan-centric, lol. 3) Were there any songs you knew in this movie? >> No, the songs were written for the movie. 4) A quote from this movie: >> I’ma get lazy and say “Zydrate comes in a little glass vial”, sue me. 5) Were the main actors/actresses a perfect match or not so much? >> Like... romantically? Wasn’t that kind of movie. But as far as how they interacted in general, it was a really fun cast. Random Questions 1) Which one have you seen most on DVD? >> Actually, the only one I recall ever watching on a DVD is The Fountain, because I rented it from Netflix. 2) Which one have you seen most in theatres? >> Interstellar (3 times). 3) Did your parents like any of them? >> The only one my father saw was The Prince of Egypt because he took me to see it, and he complained about the skin colour of characters (not dark enough for his liking) in the car on the way home. While I was just basking in the divine afterglow of having just seen something beautiful that had changed my tiny life. 4) Which one did you see with your best friend? >> Well, Sigma was my best friend at the time we saw Interstellar. 5) Would you see #1 again? >> I do rewatch it sometimes, but not very often. It’s a real emotional trip. 6) Is #4 a movie you can only watch every once in a while? >> Yeah, and I mentioned that in one of the answers. 7) Was #5 hard to understand? >> Only if you have a hard time keeping up with multiple character arcs. Or if you’re just completely clueless about the mental mechanics of addiction, maybe. 8) Did you see #2 the day it came out? >> I didn’t. 9) Do you have #3’s movie ticket still? >> I think I kept at least one of the tickets for a while, but I never keep that kind of thing for long. What I really miss is the posters we’d gotten at the Franklin Institute showing. Those were nice, and I’d looked forward to putting one up in a room of my own one day. :( 10) Are there any sequels to these movies coming out? >> Not that I’m aware of. 11) Does your best friend like #9? >> --- 12) Did #10 have horrible special effects? >> I wouldn’t say that. 13) Who directed #6? >> Darren Aronofsky. He directed three of these movies, actually. 14) Did #8 scare you? >> Nah, it wasn’t that kind of movie. 15) Does #7 have a better effect at night? >> No, lol.

[bobasheebaby]

Unwanted Guest- Lucky Number 7?: Crimson Rain 12

Pairing: Bastien x Liza; Olivia Nevrakis; Frank Moore (OC)

Written for @kinda-iconic @choicesjulychallenge Choices July Challenge

Word count: 1,098

Warnings: Angst

Summary: When the last person Liza wants to see shows up will they be able to put their past behind them or are things too broken to mend?

A/N: @darley1101 asked for the Bitterness prompt from @kinda-iconic Choices July Challenge for Liza x Bastien with Liza’s father. This is what the muse did with it, there will be a follow-up to this mess. This takes place on Mischief Night or October 30th. (It matters!)

Series warnings: talks of pregnancy loss, fear of pregnancy loss, anxiety, depression. Set within Crimson Rain but pulling the major pregnancy drama from the main series. All the fluff and angst with minimal mobster drama.

Let me know if you want to be added or removed from the taglist.

Disclaimer: I own my OC’s, the rest I’m simply borrowing from PB for a bit.

“I’m coming! I’m coming! Hold your god damn horses!” Liza shouted as she waddled to the front door. “Usually the house is full of people but no, not today, where the fuck is everyone?!” She muttered under her breath. She paused to catch her breath before throwing the door open, her jaw dropping slightly when she saw the familiar tall muscular frame, although his hair was much greyer than she remembered, having successfully shoved the last few interactions with him from her mind. Her eyes narrowed, her jaw tensing as she spoke, the words dripping with disdain. “What did I do to deserve the pleasure of your visit?”

The older man straightened, clasping his hands behind his back. “I heard what I thought had to be a rumor since you left, looks like it’s true.” He sighed shaking his head. “You couldn’t just see him for the bad news he was and get out could you?”

Liza felt the rage rise in her as she fought back hormone triggered tears of anger. “Listen up dad, because I only intend to say this once. You don’t get a say in my life anymore, you haven’t had a say in a damn long time. I obviously didn’t want you to know how happy I am because I knew you’d only try to tell me I made a mistake.” She paused taking a breath. “Only I’m not the one who made the mistake ten years ago, you are. You are the one who discounted a damn good man based on his profession and tried to deem him unworthy of me.” She paused, grimace spreading across her face as a sharp pain spread across her abdomen. No not now. Where the hell are they? “Then you chose to come here not because you missed me and regretted discounting the man I love, or even because you wanted to check on me, but because you wanted to again tell me that I was screwing up my life. I’m not the one who screwed up, you are!” Her hands curled into fists at her sides as another pain shot through her. “You wrote Bastien off before getting to know him, and in doing so you lost your daughter and two granddaughters, not to mention this one.” Her hand uncurled, gently caressing her stomach. Thump. She kept her face stern and flat, hiding the smile she could feel threatening to grace her lips at the baby’s response to her touch. I’m okay tadpole, just keep put a little longer. I am not going to be forced to give birth with this man present.

“You have two other kids with him? One wasn’t enough?” Frank Moore said with deep distaste.

Liza bit back the urge to scream, who the hell was he to come here after ten damn years and criticize the life she built? How dare he come in and destroy all happiness she’d been feeling as the birth of her healthy tadpole approached? “Olivia—”

“Oh yes the girl he raised. She’s still around?”

“I think you mean Olivia, our daughter. He stepped up at twenty five years old when her own aunt wanted nothing to do with her, he adopted her six years later. She hated me at first, I had to win her over and prove to her I was worthy of her trust and love and now she is as much my child as she is his. Blood doesn’t mean a damn thing, but then again I think you would know that wouldn’t you Frank? I mean it was so easy for you to walk away from your only daughter when she wouldn’t allow you to control her any longer!” She bit her lip, to hold back a scream as another pain shot through her.

“I wanted better for you than this!” He shouted gesturing at the large home, though she knew he meant everything that came with it.

“Why? It’s a damn good life. I have two girls now, a husband who loves me, a child on the way, who the fuck cares what he does. Besides you always taught me to protect myself and fight for what I wanted, so did it really surprise you when I fought against you and your control?”

He stared at her unsure how to answer, questioning why he had come across the country in the first place. Did I make a mistake in pushing her away? “I guess you’re right, I shouldn’t have been surprised that you would fight even me for what you wanted. I—” He shook his head. “ I should go.”

Liza doubled over, hands clutching her round stomach as she let out a pained scream as another pain shot through her.

“Liza!” Olivia sprinted up the path, hand instinctively going for her concealed dagger, eyes wide with fear. She rounded on the stranger. “What did you do?!”

Liza straightened slightly, gritting her teeth through the pain, one hand still clutching her abdomen. “Liv, I’m fine, he didn’t do anything. I’m nine months pregnant, Frank’s appearance just surprised me and now tadpole wants to come.”

“Okay, how close are the contractions?”

“I have no clue I’ve been here arguing with him!” She gestured at her stunned father.

Olivia shot Frank a look, considering if she could get away with stabbing him. She turned back to Liza. “Let’s go sit and we’ll track them, and I’ll call Bas.” She ushered Liza back from the door.

“Where the fuck is he?” She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to focus on anything but the pain. “Where were you?”

“Hope and I convinced him he needed to run a special errand and Hope went with him. I was putting the guys through the paces.”

“What errand?”

���Don’t worry about it, couch now.” She turned back to the door, quirking an eyebrow at Frank standing awkwardly before she slammed the door in his face. “Where’s Buttons?” She asked looking around as she guided Liza down on the couch. “He would have chased Frank away.”

Liza lifted her brow in question. “He’s in the bedroom. He and Pickles were sleeping and I closed the door.”

“Yes I know that was your father, don’t take me for a fool.”

Liza let out a laugh that turned to a pained scream. Further in the house they heard scratching and loud whining. Olivia looked down the hall as she pulled her phone from her pocket. “I’m not leaving you when you’re in pain, just know your door…”

“Yeah, I know, just call Bas and tell him to get his ass home!”

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[kyle-valenti]

small towns make for small friends 1/?

for @larenoz and their amazing prompt for milenti background (and future mylex?)

read on ao3

*

Small desert towns, however sparse and anachronistic, gave away knowledge to the people that dared to live in them. For instance the long stretches of roads in and out of Roswell were used for specific things by the locals. One road led to the airstream and dairy ranches, one led out of the town to better things, one circled tourist attractions for tin foil hat visitors, and one rounded around the various homesteads of people daring enough to lead a small life.

There was nothing too off-putting about seeing a car stopped along the stretch of road to his airstream home; Michael was almost certain it was a townie. Dead cell service littered this specific road, so there was a possibility the driver needed help. Not something he usually cared about, but it was near the end of the month and he was tight on rent after paying up his bill with a stubborn Maria Deluca at the Wild Pony.

He slowed down about a mile back, trying to identify which Roswell citizen he would be dealing with only to have a strong suspicion that the SUV didn’t belong to the usual country folk. Thinking through his mind’s catalog of car owners he kept for business use, he remembered all too late that the grossly shiny vehicle belonged to Kyle Valenti. Just the thought of having to talk to the asshole made Guerin begin to speed up again to drive past, but the more logical part of his brain still pressed… It was doctor's money. It was the chance to screw Valenti over, because there was little chance in hell the doctor remembered anything from the auto shop class the jock used to ditch.

In the end he stopped, but he’s all fired up for a fight even so. Walking up from behind the back of the SUV, he knocked on the driver’s window before reaching it and looking in. When Valenti rolled down the tinted window, he looked like hell. Red eyes, disheveled black hair that mousse no longer held up, and a hollow stare accompanied with a tight jaw.

"Crying over your car?” Michael jabbed. “Promise it's not that pretty.”

"Car's fine," was the exhausted response, no usual arrogant bite to hear. "Thanks for stopping.”

Michael couldn’t help but stare, unprepared for what he had secretly hoped to be a fight. Confusion won over, although mocking still slipped into his tone as he drawled. "Thanks?”

Dark brown eyes stared at him now, and while there was the tiniest traces of anger, there was an overpowering desperation to them as well. "What do you want from me, Guerin?” he asked. “I’m really not in the mood to see more blood, so how about we do the highschool reunion thing where you break my nose later.”

"More blood, huh?” Michael prodded, too caught up in the past to be anything then violent. “Who'd you kill?”

A flicker of pain trembled through Kyle Valenti’s face, activating that one nerve that always stood out, before the man turned on the ignition and sneered at the open road, not even looking at Michael as he rolled up the window and peeled off the dirt and onto the blacktop, leaving Guerin so confused that he thought about the interaction all the way home.

The Wild Pony was one of the few reliefs Michael found in this dusty town, somewhere between the alcohol, Deluca’s constant stream of snarky insults, and a large supply of people to deck whenever the mood struck him. (It struck him often.)

Tonight he felt more calm, having made some good money between fixing a truck and selling some copper wire on the side. The whiskey Maria served him was nice and cold (positive reinforcement for squaring his tab) and the acetone he slipped into it gave him an even better buzz. While he was focusing on the intoxicating feeling and how it calmed down the constant overstimulation of the magnetic fields he was always on the edge of pushing, he noticed an unusual guest at his favorite bar. As far as possible from the bar itself sat Kyle Valenti cornered up in the back of a booth.

Maria was opposite Michael behind the bar for the minute, and he nodded to her. “What’s up with Valenti?”

Her face fell a little, sadness rising up that she hardly ever showed. “He lost a patient during surgery. You know Sam Cooper? His kid. Nine years old, got real messed up on a dirtbike without a helmet.”

Trying not to remember how his last words to Valenti were now deeply horrible, he replied. "Oh. They related?”

“No, Guerin,” Maria snapped at him, judgment all over her face. “People don't need to be related to care about each other. Foreign concept for you, I know.”

“Just a question, Deluca,” he huffed, but she had already sent him another glare before walking off to serve another customer, leaving him to fight any feeling of guilt.

Because he wasn’t guilty. It wasn’t his fucking fault that Valenti sucked at being a surgeon, or that he had stabbed at a fresh wound. Who cared that the asshole jock was finally learning that he wasn’t invincible and that hard times existed?

In the end, Deluca was too good at getting under his skin.

Grabbing his drink, he sauntered over to the corner booth and sat across from Valenti, every nerve of him on edge in case things went sour. All he got in return was Kyle’s confused narrowed eyes and equally as tensed muscles.

"You're a third of the reason Alex Manes left, you know that?” Michael growled out at him. "And full offense, I hate you.”

There wasn't anything Valenti said to that, which was probably best because any excuse wouldn’t go over well.

"That all said, you want a beer?”

Kyle stared, silent still, but exhaled a long breath that’s more or less an agreement. Michael gestured at Deluca, who had been giving them a hawkeyed stare the entire conversation (if you could call it that), and he wasn't surprised when she walked over with the drinks herself, all huffy. Her lips are pursed, and her eyes are cautiously looking back and forth at the interaction, but when the drinks are dropped off and Valenti works on the beer she’s given him she turns to glare down Michael. "You scratch even an inch on my floor if you start fighting and you're banned for a week.”

“Just me?” he asked her, a smug grin on his face. “I'm touched.”

She made a face at him per usual, but he didn't miss the way she left with a small squeeze on Kyle's shoulder. It was quick and soft, but it was also supportive. Michael couldn't imagine being on the receiving end of something like that from Maria Deluca, but the man’s face doesn’t even change. No smile, no lean in, just another small exhale.

It seemed like the only thing Kyle Valenti was capable of doing right now was drinking and breathing in and out. As much as he despised sharing anything deeper than highschool alma mater with him, Michael had to admit he was familiar with the feeling.

When things had dragged out and the doctor was now silently on his fourth beer, Michael gave up. "Gotta get out of your head, Valenti.”

"Ever seen someone die?” Kyle snapped, suddenly coming to life with a violence that he hadn’t expected was boiling underneath after such calm silence. Immediately Michael was on edge, but not because he thought he would be attacked. More because he could sense how much Valenti wanted to attack himself. “Ever felt it?”

Begging his mind not to bring up the memories of Rosa Ortecho that answer that question, he stayed quiet and still for once.

Valenti shook his head, a scoff ready. “I don't know why I ask. If you had, you'd know that's impossible.” Before Michael could even decide on what to say, Kyle added, “Just leave me alone, Guerin. Half the town already hates me for failing, I don’t need you sitting across from me adding reminders on how I suck.”

Partly to break the mood, partly because of the emotional emphasis on the word that translated as simple emphasis, Michael laughed.

It didn't go over well. “Excuse me?”

“How you suck?” Michael commented, a smirk finding its way to his face even if things were about to dissolve into the bar fight that Deluca was worried about.

All Valenti did was glare. “Are you 12?”

“Nah, just bisexual. Much easier to take everything dirty,” he replied, tilting his chin up in a defiant challenge. All he needed was one reason to kick Valenti’s ass despite this meeting and tilt everything back into its normal axis where the world of Roswell contained Michael Guerin and Kyle Valenti as sworn enemies who wouldn’t spend a second in each other’s presence.

But there wasn’t even the tiniest of reaction to the declaration. No judgment, no disgust, no arrogance. Just clear annoyance at his grief being interrupted for something juvenile. "How I suck is none of your business.”

"How, or who…?” Michael asked. Self-loathing for being observant and curious enough to ask would be a problem for later.

Kyle Valenti only stared him down, and with that Michael almost dropped his whiskey. Almost. It was good whiskey. “Well look who joined the 21st century. Karma’s a bitch, right?”

When all the doctor does is look away again, the temper in him flares up. He slammed the glass down heavily on the table, ignored the way that Deluca looked up immediately, and glared so fiercely that Valenti ought to thank god heat vision wasn’t one of his alien powers. He leaned over, his voice a venomous whisper. "Afraid I'm going to rat you out? Call you names? Make your life hell?”

“I’d understand,” was the even response the brunette gave, eyes looking unsure but jaw tight and resolved.

Standing up, Michael decided that Deluca could put this on her tab since it was her fucking fault. Spitefully, he snarled, "I'll wait a week or two,” even though he had no plans to do anything. Maybe it’d put the dick in his place just being scared, or maybe the man was an adult not scared of being out now anyway. All Michael knew was that the irony in Kyle Valenti being bisexual was crippling, and without thinking about anything but all the shit the jock pulled in highschool, he spat out, "you owe me a blowjob”, and left.