#eep not seen this week's yet

[celestelunia]

Is it possible for you to write a Ruggie x fem!Reader where she writes him love letters (you can just mention them not write them if you don’t wanna) and he’s trying to track her down (because she’s been hiding her scent with perfume or sm) and when she does find her, she runs away because she had a plan in mind and he catches up to her and asks her out. Please and thank you

-🥐

Hi 🥐! Thank you for the request!

2 Ruggie requests so far! I hope I can get better at writing him lol! Practice makes perfect as they say~

Hope you enjoy it. ^^

Warnings: none

Characters: Ruggie, Jack, and reader. Reader is she/her.

"Another letter?" Jack asked as he watered his catus.

"Yes!" Ruggie said as he stared at the letter in his hand. This was the 4th one in two weeks! "I just wish I could figure out who it's from!"

After making sure his catcus was all good, the wolf turned to look back at Ruggie. He wasn't sure why he came to him to talk about this, but he also figured Leona wasn't much better. "Whoever it is, they're pretty smart. Putting a different scent on the letters." He said as he could smell the subtle scent of flowers from the letter. Maybe it harder to track down the person's scent.

"I know. Crafty little minx." Ruggie muttered as he let out a sigh. He had never gotten anything like this before. It was exciting, to say the least. He never saw himself as somebody that people might like. In a romantic sense, of course. Not to mention, the women back home were rather strong-willed, but he got the feeling the one leaving him these notes were different. Normally, the thought of a female trying to get his attention terrified him, but this was different.

"Judging by the grin on your face, I'm guessing you don't hate this?" Jack asked as his tail slowly swayed back and forth. While he wasn't sure about things like romance, he was happy to see his senpai so happy.

"I don't. Something about this chase is... exciting." The hyena said as he pocketed the letter. "I will find them. It's only a matter of time. Shyeheehee."

Over the next week, Ruggie did his best to stake out the areas where he had gotten the letters. It didn't help that the person who was sending them kept changing where he found them.

As he sat in the classroom, his nose twitched as the faint smell of flowers caught his attention. A very subtle and familiar scent! Without a second thought, Ruggie jumped up from his chair and rushed out of the room. The handful of students who were there looked confused as their classmate booked it out of the room faster than anyone had seen him move.

Ruggie raced down the hall before he arounded the corner, and as he did, the hyena stopped in his tracks. Bluish-gray eyes met with startled [color] eyes.

"You're..." Ruggie whispered as he recognized the girl in front of him as one of his classmates in potions. In that moment, his eyes moved towards a familiar envelope in the girls' hands.

Ruggie sudden appearance caused you to freeze you as you had completely forgotten about the love letter in your hands. When you saw your crush move his gaze moved towards the letter in your hand, you let put a small "eep" before hiding it behind your back. A move that you suddenly regretted doing the moment you saw that grin on Ruggie's face.

"Found you~" Ruggie grinned, but that victory was short-lived as he watched you suddenly turn and run. "Wha!?" He blinked before snapping out of his surprise. "W-wait a sec!" He yelled as he took chase.

'Noooo!' You mentally screamed in your head as your body went into fight or flight mode, and it was no surprise that you chose flight. You weren't ready for this yet! You had a whole thing planned out! You had spent a whole month putting this plan together, and he already found you? How was that fair!?

Hearing Ruggie's voice call out, you glanced over your shoulder to see him running towards you. "Ah!" You gasped before pushing yourself to run faster. Why was he chasing you!?!?

Hearing the small cry you let out as he noticed you running faster caused the hyenas ears to twitch. Why were you running? Not like it mattered. He wasn't about to be outdone on speed! Ruggie had finally found you, and he wasn't about to let you out of his sights now!

As you ran down the hall, you suddenly turned and placed your hand against the top of the railing before you jumped and flew over the edge. A move the Savanaclaw student wasn't expecting...

With wide eyes, Ruggie ran over to the edge as he looked down in time to see you land before tucking yourself into a roll as you gracefully landed on your feet, not losing an ounce of momentum. You had jumped from the second floor like it was nothing! "Whoa." He whispered impressed before he realized you were getting further away. Jumping from the second floor, Ruggie landed with ease before he resumed his chase.

Students around the courtyard stepped away as they saw you jump from the second floor and ran like your life depended on it.

As you ran, you glanced back over your shoulder to notice that your crush was nowhere in sight. Slowing down a bit, you spun around to get a better look behind you as you start to walk backward. Catching you breathe, you looked around before letting out a sigh. Looked like you had managed to escape him! Take that, you cute hyena!

Or at least you thought you did. Seems you celebrated too early.

You short lived happiness faded when you suddenly felt your back bump into something or someone rather in this case. Tensing up, you leaned your head back and saw Ruggie looking down at you with a grin.

"You're pretty fast!" Ruggie laughed as he reached out to grab your wrist the moment he saw you were about to run again. "Come on now. Why are you trying to run? I caught you fair and square."

Pouting softly as you glanced down at his hand that was gently yet frimly gripped around your wrist. Looks like you were caught.

"You got me." You said with a sigh as you turned to look at Ruggie. "I yield."

Noticing you weren't going to run, he slowly released his hold on your wrist.

A moment of silence surrounded you both as you didn't really know what to say. It wasn't like you were planning to confess today, and your whole plan was now ruined!

"You are the one, right?" Ruggie's voice called out as it snapped you out of your thoughts. "The one leaving me these letters?" As he asked, the Savanaclaw hyena pulled out a couple of your letters that he happened to have on hand.

"You kept them?" You asked as you looked up at your crush with a soft blush. You weren't expecting him to have them.

"Well...yeah." Ruggie said, suddenly feeling a bit bashful as he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "No one has really given me this kind of letter before." He admitted, and in this moment, you couldn't help but think how adorable he looked. "Look. I'm not one to sit around or wait if there is something I want."

You said nothing as you waited for him to continue.

"H-how about we go out this weekend? If you're free." He added before clearing his throat. He really wasn't used to being this straightforward and honest most of the time. This was definitely new territory for him.

At the question, your eyes widened slightly as the soft blush against your cheeks darkened. Ah. So much for your plans, but somehow, you weren't bothered by that anymore. The plan was to make him notice you, and it worked.

"I would love to." You replied with a happy smile as you held out your hand with the letter you had planned to drop off for him today. "I guess I can give this to you directly now." You added with a laugh.

"I guess so." Ruggie smiled as he enjoyed the sound of your laugh. Reaching out, he took the letter as his ear twitched happily. "How about from now on, you deliver any and all letters to me directly?"

"Deal." You agree as you place your hands behind you back and smile brightly up at him.

Feeling himself blush, Ruggie glanced away with a smile. Your smile really made him feel like he was looking at the sun. It was beautiful...

Seems he would need to brag about his date to Jack next time he saw him.

Meanwhile, Jack was doing his daily jog as he suddenly sneezed. Coming to a stop, he rubbed his nose as he looked up at the blue sky above him. He wasn't sure why, but he got the feeling Ruggie was going to come bother him soon...

[shadowdaddies]

Hello beautiful, I love your blog and your stories help me continue living with these characters. An idea, Elain has mate but they haven't done anything important, one night she wants more.

smut + lingerie + roses??? 🩷

EEP I love this request🥰 this is so sweet and romantic and I love it

Blush

Elain x Reader

Warnings: fluffy smut below the cut, oral f!receiving, minors dni

The mating bond clicked for you nearly a week after meeting Elain. It was easy to fall in love with her kind, gentle nature, as natural as the fall of a soft Spring rain. The bond snapped for you, however, shortly after your friendship began. Elain had invited you to Rita’s with her and her family, the two of you having an incredible night until a female came up to you, unprovoked, and spilled wine on your dress, muttering an insult about you under her breath. You couldn’t hear what she said, but it was enough for Elain to grab the female by her arm - a look of anger that you didn’t realize possible for someone so sweet taking over her features - and demand that she apologize to you. 

The moment Elain turned back towards you, you saw something in her eyes you’d never seen before, and the bond snapped like a lightning strike. You ran outside onto the street, trying to catch your breath as you tried to grasp what had just happened, panicking over the thought of losing your new friend, when Elain approached you cautiously. “It snapped for you too, huh?” she whispered, and you turned to her. 

You couldn’t hide the shock on your face. “For me too? Elain, you knew about the bond?” She nodded shyly, wringing her hands in a show of her nerves. “The bond snapped the moment I saw you exiting the bakery that day. I wanted - needed, to know you, but I wanted you to be able to choose for yourself how you felt about me without the pressure of the bond.” 

Your eyes welled with tears, unable to comprehend how the cauldron could bless you with this kind, thoughtful, protective female as your mate. The two of you went back to your apartment, staying up the rest of the night talking, getting to know each other and discussing the bond. You both decided that it was best to take the time to get to know each other further before moving forward with the bond, and that was the start of your relationship with Elain.

~~~

Months had passed, and you were head over heels for each other. The two of you were inseparable, spending nearly every day together as you practically became a member of the family. You knew you were ready to accept the bond on your end, but much like how Elain wouldn’t pressure you to recognize the bond, you would not pressure her to accept it. 

Instead, you worked with Rhys to plan a romantic night away at the Moonstone Palace - you would cook for a change, light candles, and decorate with flower petals. The two of you hadn’t been physically intimate yet - your intention was simply to make Elain feel as special as she made you feel. 

When you arrived to the palace to decorate and start preparing for the evening, only to find candles, flower petals, and gauzy curtains draped everywhere. It was breathtaking, and before your mind could register what was happening, Elain floated around the corner looking like a goddess in a sheer blush dress that left little to the imagination.

She gave you her signature shy smile, but the coquettish gleam in her eyes made your stomach flutter. Looking around at the decorations, Elain explained, “Feyre helped me orchestrate all of this for us. We have the place to ourselves for the night.” You let out a soft laugh - of course Rhys and Feyre would have been scheming together. 

Walking over to Elain, you greeted her with a soft kiss, wrapping your arms around her waist as you took the moment to just hold her. You took in a deep breath, her scent of jasmine and honey like a soothing balm to your senses. Elain leaned back, taking your hands in hers as she toyed with your fingers. “I have a surprise, if you’ll follow me,” she whispered as she took your hand, leading you to a large sitting room. 

One wall was entirely open to the snow-covered mountains, the view only partially obstructed by the pink gauzy curtains draped throughout the room, twinkling fae lights illuminating the space to glow golden pink, and red tones. Pink and red flower petals scattered the floor with the exception of the center of the room, where a low-standing table was surrounded by lush patterned cushions. On the table was a bottle of sparkling wine, along with an assortment of chocolate covered strawberries and sweet cream. 

Elain looked at you, love filling her eyes as she fidgeted with her hands, bringing you back to the memory of that night when you first learned of your bond. Brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, you admired her beautiful brown eyes, whispering, “this is so beautiful. I wanted to surprise you with a special night, but of course you would think of something even more incredible. I love you, Elain.”

Elain’s eyes filled with unshed tears as she smiled at you, laughing softly as the two of you felt each other’s joy through the bond. “I love you, too,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss you with more fervor than ever before. She walked you backwards towards a pile of cushions, the two of you laying down on them as you continued to explore the feel of each other. You ran your hand up her waist, rubbing soft circles below her breast as she softly moaned. It was a magical sound, one that you felt as though you could live off of, never needing anything else as long as you existed.

You rolled on top of Elain, running your hand through her long hair as she gave you that coquettish grin that had your core pulsing with need. She batted her doe eyes at you, hands toying with the straps of her dress as she teased, “I don’t want to pressure you into anything, but I do have a new purchase under this dress that I’ve been longing to show you.” 

Your face flushed, barely able to form a coherent thought as you nodded, gasping out a “yes, please,” as you watched, entranced by Elain. She sat up slightly, slowly slipping off each strap of her dress before turning around and kneeling with her back to you, gesturing for you to undo the laces on the back of her dress. You obeyed, watching as the garment fell, exposing Elain’s stunning form. She stood, kicking the fabric of the dress to the side as she showed her new lingerie - a blush strappy teddy with iridescent floral patterns, chiffon ruffles above her behind that accentuated her figure flawlessly. 

You found yourself emotional once more at her beauty, this ethereal being who had graced you with not only her presence in your life, but her love. You reached up, hands eager to feel her, worship her, but she pulled them away. Elain smirked at you as she shook her head. “I would like first honors,” she spoke in a low, sultry voice as she tilted her head towards you, gesturing for you to lay back. 

You blindly obeyed, eyes glued to Elain as she strode over to you, kneeling between your legs as she softly traced her nails up your thighs. She took her time, memorizing each inch of your body as she lifted your top, kissing the exposed skin as she went. Elain moaned softly as she found that you weren’t wearing a bra, losing her patience as she lifted your shirt the rest of the way off. Giving a teasing lick to one nipple, she massaged the other breast, occasionally running a teasing finger across the increasingly sensitive bud. You were mewling, arching into her in a silent plea for more contact. Elain obliged, sucking and gently tugging on your nipple before switching her actions to your other breast.

You threaded your hands in her hair, rolling your hips against her as you moaned her name repeatedly. Elain laughed against your stomach as she slid down your body, stripping you of the rest of your clothing as she went. She paused at your hip bones, pinning them down with surprising strength as she sucked dark marks on each of them before moving to place a kiss just above your clit, the word “mine,” a whisper and a promise on her lips.

Elain held your legs open, one arm pinning them down as she pushed two fingers into your mouth. You sucked instinctively, swirling your tongue around them, Elain cooing, “good girl,” before latching onto your clit without warning. She sucked the bud hard, tongue swirling wildly as her fingers muffled your moans. Your eyes were rolling back, already nearing your climax when Elain withdrew her fingers, pumping them into you without warning. 

You let out a silent scream, back arching as you were overwhelmed with pleasure. Elain curled her fingers against your walls as she licked and sucked your clit, and you quickly went over the edge, chanting her name like a prayer as she worked you through your orgasm. 

You came down, vision coming back into focus to see Elain above you, licking her fingers as the fae lights cast her in an angelic glow. Your heart leapt with adoration as you pulled her down to kiss you. You pulled back with a smirk, murmuring, “my turn,” as you flipped Elain onto her back, straddling her hips as you took your time admiring her in all her beauty and her lingerie, eyeing the sweet cream on the table as you planned your next move.

[novankenn]

20 Weeks after... The Day after... Everyone is Irish

(Post that Started it All / Post that followed after)

Weiss was nervous as Joan her now steady girlfriend lead her towards the entrance to a fairly massive two story stone and timber home. She knew it was only a formality considering Joan had already announced their relationship to her family... no Weiss was mostly okay... it was Pyrrha and Jaune she was concerned for.

Pyrrha: JAUNE! Stop!

Jaune: I'm sorry! Did I hurt you? Are you okay?

Pyrrha: Jaune please, I'm okay, you're just doing it again... you're hovering and you don;t need to... I'm okay. We'll be okay.

Weiss looked over her shoulder and watched as Jaune hovered about the showing Pyrrha Nikos. While Jaune had announced his own relationship to his family... they had yet to find out about the bundle of joy that was on its way. Though with how much Pyrrha was showing Wiess and Joan figured that maybe there was more than one bundle on the way.

Joan: Ready, Snow-Angel?

Weiss blushed, as she always did when Joan used that pet name. Unable to control her voice she just nodded. The door was yanked open just as Joan raised her hand to knock...

Joan: MA!

Moma Arc: About time the four of ye got here! Get you arses inside, it's a bit chilly out here... and YOU!

Jaune: MA?

Moma Arc: You best be ready, 'cause you knows the rules young man!

Pyrrha: Jaune what is she...

Moma Arc moves past Weiss and Joan to get beside Pyrrha and gently takes her hand to assist her towards the door.

Pyrrha: Oh hello!

Moma Arc: You just come along deary, and welcome to the family.

Pyrrha: Um... Jaune?

Jaune: You see Pyr... um... it's like this... um we're having a baby and no Arc...

Moma Arc: nor McMurray is ever born to thee unwed... so little missus... welcome to the family.

Pyrrha: I... I...

Moma Arc: Girls! You know the drill!

Arc Sisters: Aye!

Pyrrha was shocked to see the homely and welcoming interior of the mansion D'Arc... but not as much as her seeing the sea of at least two dozen girls with various lengths and shades of blond hair.

Jaune: God damn it! Their all here.!

Moma Arc: You dang right they is! Girls!

Pyrrha was lead to a love seat and took a the free space next to Weiss. Joan no where to be seen, with Jaune also vanishing.

Pyrrha: Weiss are you okay?

Weiss: I'm scared... Pyrrha... terrified.

The pair of young ladies were startled when the drums, penny whistles, fiddles and hand clapping started.

Weiss / Pyrrha : ...

ARC Family: Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

Pyrrha and Weiss began to blush as a pair of the Arc family, two adorable young girls no more than maybe seven or eight came skipping through the room carrying bouquets of Lavendar and Heather over to Pyrrha and Weiss...

Weiss / Pyrrha: Ah? Thank you?

ARC Family: Over hillways up and down Myrtle green and bracken brown Past the shielings through the town All for sake of Marie

Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

Pyrrha / Weiss: ...

Joan and Jaune reemerged from amid the gathered Arc clan, both in formal suits with kilts... causing both Weiss and Pyrrha to blush even more at the fine figures their significant others cut.

ARC Family: Red her cheeks as rowans are Bright her eyes as any star Fairest of them all by far Is our darling Marie

Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

Pyrrha / Weiss: EEP!

Two of each of the sea of blonds helped them from the love seat while pushing Joan and Jaune into the now empty seat.

ARC Family: Oh plenty herring, plenty meal Plenty peat to fill her creel Plenty bonny bairns as well That's the toast for Marie

Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

Jaune: They are so going to be pissed at us...

Joan: At you, Jaune. Pissed at you.

Jaune: I'm not...

Joan: You know the rules... we were born together... we get married together...

Jaune: I know... I know...

ARC Family: Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

Jaune / Joan: ... so beautiful...

(Images generated by perchance ai text-to-image)

ARC Family: Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

Joan is placed next to Weiss, while Jaune is paired with Pyrrha. The quartet quickly finding themselves gently being shuffled along into the backyard...

ARC Family: Step we gaily, on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm and row on row All for Marie's wedding

/==/ SO NOW it is confirmed... I've totally lost it! /==/

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

Abby my love I am DYING to know more about ‘Blood and Fur’ from your WIPs 👀

Eep I had a feeling that was going to come up. @livwifeofkarl I'm tagging you too since you asked the same. I want to preface with this is very much a WIP and I dont even have a full outline yet.

So it's a Vianton fic, and the premise is Anton trying out new jobs before he gets the one as the park ranger-- most night work, and so he gets to see more of the vamp group inadvertently. That causes the Te Aro wolf pack to hang out more with the vamps, and then you know, pining, non-established relationship....eventual smut. Yeah so not much plot. Text Snippet:

“Mein wolf…” 

Yes…

Yes, your wolf. Anton growled or moaned, not sure which into Viago’s neck. How long had he waited to hear those words? That sincerity? That possession? How long had the flames deep in his gut simmered, each passing week being fueled by sweet smiles, friendly banter, and hips touching but never at the right angle. This angle, flesh pressed against flesh, delicate skin cool against his hot, increasingly furry abdomen. Fallen leaves, not quite dead, no longer alive, and juniper bushes… Viago’s scent was suffocating Anton as his tongue dipped into the cleft of the vampire’s neck, sharp fangs grazing the tender flesh and coaxing an intoxicating moan from the man’s mouth. 

“F..fuck,” the werewolf breathed as he sucked on the tender flesh of Viago’s throat, hands wandering but finally settling on the vampire’s hips, ripping at the soft silken pants.

“Vat vas it you usually say mein schöner Wolf? Werewolves not swear–” 

---

“...Oi, Mate! You okay in there?” A loud pounding to the door of his room woke Anton from his very very vivid dream. He found himself sweating profusely, claws out, bare chest heaving as he processed the room around him. His blanket and sheets were no where to be seen, and he still had his joggers on, although the shirt he went to bed with seemed to be missing as well. That and well, the uncomfortably large hard on straining at his sweats.

“..Ye..eah!” He managed to shout as he shot up out of bed, “Fine! I’m fine!”

“You sure? You were swearing in your sleep, you never do that!” Clifton yelled from the other side of the door while Anton scrabbled to find his shirt, which he strangely found on top of his reading lamp. 

“Yis! I said I’m fine Clifton, just a dream is all.”

[pipermca]

Resonance

Author's note: I am not sure what to do with this story. It's a prequel to a fic that I haven't started posting yet, starring some very minor characters from that story. 😅 But my brain wanted to work on this, so I let it, and this is what came out. However I don't want to post it to AO3 yet because I need it to be a bit separate from the main fic until that one is well underway.

I'm posting this here just to have it down someplace. That way it's out of my hair. Once I start posting the longer, main story, I'll clean this up again and post it to AO3.

Enjoy. :)

Title: Resonance

Rating: PG for descriptions of violence

Tags: Bluestreak/Hound, Bluestreak & Smokescreen, Continuity soup, Post-apocalypse, Soulmate AU

Word count: 5100

Every sensor in Bluestreak's haptic net was tingling. Or that's what it felt like, anyway. And when he attempted to ignore the constant pings from his sensors, all he could feel was his fuel pump thudding away in his chest, or how loud his ventilation systems had become. So instead he put all of his focus on following Smokescreen, and stepping as quietly as he could. But the scattered gravel and broken glass crunching under their pedes sounded like fireworks, and he winced at every stray sound they made.

Bluestreak was so intent on moving as stealthily as he possibly could that he ran into Smokescreen's left sensor wing when he stopped.

"Eep!" Bluestreak squeaked, then clapped a hand over his mouth, his optics wide.

Smokescreen reached out a hand to steady Bluestreak as he reeled backwards. "Good job staying close," he said quietly. He smiled and patted Bluestreak on the shoulder. "But maybe leave just a bit more following distance next time."

"I'm sorry!" Bluestreak whispered, flattening his sensor wings against his back.

"It's all right. Just let me peek down there, and if I don't see anything I'll let you know." Smokescreen pulled out his weapon and slipped into the darkened building they'd been heading towards.

Bluestreak crouched down beside the doorway. He pulled out his own weapon and held it ready, his thumb nervously caressing the trigger. He looked up the street, then down the street, then up above him, over and over. Left. Right. Up. Left. Right. Up.

He hated this. He hated everything about this. They had been forced to venture further and further from their shelter to look for fuel and other supplies, creeping into places where they knew the Quintessons had been seen. There hadn't been any sightings of prosecutors in a few weeks, but with communications down and the city in ruins, they had no way of knowing whether the aliens were just hiding around the next corner. They'd also run into bots like themselves, people just trying to scrape by with what they could find. Most of them had been friendly, and shared information and fuel with them. But others had not been friendly at all.

He felt lost. He felt like they were on their own. Even Primus didn't seem to give a scrap about what happened to them.

As soon as Bluestreak had that thought, he cringed internally and offered up a silent prayer of apology. He knew that there were some things even Primus couldn't fix.

Bluestreak was completing his fourteenth visual sweep of the ruined street when Smokescreen reappeared in the doorway. "It's clear. C'mon," he said, and Bluestreak followed him inside.

Like most of the other stores they'd searched today, this one looked like it had already been looted of anything useful. But Bluestreak started opening cabinets and boxes anyway, hunting for anything they could take. "I don't think we're going to find anything here, Smokey," he said. "This is a waste of time." He knew he sounded petulant. He didn’t care anymore.

"Maybe there's something in the back," Smokescreen said. With a sigh, Bluestreak followed him through the doorway into the rear of the store.

As expected, there wasn't much in the back of the store, either. Bluestreak found a packet of rust crisps in the drawer of a desk, and Smokescreen found five small datapads. He pulled the battery cells from them and slipped those into his compartments. Then he jerked his head towards the back door. "Let's head back up the alley and see if there's any places we missed on this stretch."

He had just come through the door to the alley when Bluestreak saw it: a long black tentacle dangling from the sky above them. Reflexively, he swung his gun up and fired, severing the tentacle so that it fell onto the ground in front of them.

Dropping into a crouch, Bluestreak skittered back into the safety of the doorway, waving his gun back and forth above him, looking for the rest of the prosecutor. Or worse, rest of its argument. But all he could see above him were the bombed-out and crumbling towers that sat above the retail space.

"Where'd it go? Where'd it go?" Bluestreak hissed.

Something touched his shoulder. Bluestreak yelped and spun around. His finger twitched on the trigger, and fired before his processor even registered what he was shooting at...

Smokescreen.

Smokescreen's hand closed firmly around Bluestreak's wrist. "Maybe we're done for today," Smokescreen said quietly, and glanced at the hole in the wall right beside his head.

"Oh. Oh!" Bluestreak dropped his weapon, wincing again as it clattered to the ground. "Oh Primus Smokey, I'm so sorry!"

Smokescreen picked up Bluestreak's gun and tucked it into his compartments. "I'm fine," he said. He gave Bluestreak a smile, but this time it looked forced. "But we should go before someone – or something – comes to see what that noise was."

"The prosecutor!" Bluestreak whirled around again to look at the tentacle he'd just severed from the prosecutor.

Except there was no tentacle. Instead, a length of wires, wrapped with black insulation, lay on the alley floor. One end was torn and bent, obviously ripped from its connector, while the other end was smoking and melted from Bluestreak's blaster shot.

"I thought..." Bluestreak walked a step, then two, into the alley to nudge the cabling with the tip of his pede. "I thought it was..."

"I know. And I understand," Smokescreen said. He put his hand on Bluestreak's shoulder again, this time telegraphing his movements carefully. "It's starting to get late. Let's get back home."

***

Bluestreak sat with his back to a corner with his head buried in his arms. He hoped that if he made himself small enough, no one would notice him there. Inside his chest, it felt like his spark was singing a mournful dirge.

Everything was broken: his job, his life, his planet. Nothing was right. And nothing he did was making anything better.

Maybe he could just put himself into stasis. Someone could wake him up when the world had fixed itself again. But for now, he just wanted to be left alone.

At the sound of a pede scraping the ground purposefully, Bluestreak sighed. He should have known.

"Skyfall found three whole cases of Nukecool. I grabbed a bottle for us to share," said Smokescreen's voice.

"I don't want it."

A pause. "Are you sure? It's the good kind, with the red label. You always told me how much you really liked this flavour."

"You can have it."

Another pause. "Are you all right?"

Bluestreak's reply was sharper than he meant it to be, but who cared? Everything was broken. Maybe he could break his last remaining friendship, too. "No."

Smokescreen slid down the wall to sit next to Bluestreak, and set a bottle down beside him. Bluestreak didn't have to look up to know that Smokescreen was looking at him with that intent expression he always had when he was listening fully and attentively. "Did you want to talk about it?"

"You can't psychoanalyze me out of feeling like... this," Bluestreak said.

"No," said Smokescreen agreeably. "But I can still listen."

"What's the point of talking about how absolutely fracked we are?" Bluestreak lifted his head and looked up at the ceiling of the half-crumbled transport tunnel they were taking shelter in. He gestured with both of his hands, taking in the shadowy walls, the small piles of gathered supplies, and the groups of bots huddled here and there among the scavenged crates. "You've lived through the same things I have. The Quintessons arriving. The attack on the Senate. Praxus losing comms with the rest of the planet, then the invasion coming here, and-" Bluestreak's voice cut off in a warble of feedback, so he shook his head and looked at Smokescreen. He didn't care if his friend saw the streaks of coolant that had been running down his cheeks.

"I definitely remember," Smokescreen said quietly.

"Yeah." Bluestreak blinked several times, trying to clear the image of the Quintesson prosecutors' tentacles smashing through doors and windows of the shops on his street, and dragging out the people they found inside. Bluestreak could still hear the screams of those they took. He remembered watching Treadlight, the paint specialist across the street, get pulled into a prosecutor, shrieking in terror. He remembered scuttling from building to building, trying to avoid the squads of allicons roaming the city. He could still smell the acrid burnt metal of corpses who had been shot in the back as they ran. "And now... I almost killed the only friend of mine I know who's still alive."

"You didn't. I'm still here."

"But I could have! I almost did!" Bluestreak glared at Smokescreen. "So no. I am not 'all right.'"

Smokescreen was silent. When Bluestreak glanced away again, Smokescreen put his arm around Bluestreak's shoulders. "I am sorry. I didn't mean it like that. How about... Are you going to be all right for the moment? Right this second?"

Bluestreak grunted, realizing what Smokescreen was angling for. "Yeah. I guess. I'm not going to start screaming for the Quintessons to come finish us off, like Padlock did." He directed his glare at the ground in front of his pedetips, but leaned into Smokescreen's embrace. "I just feel useless like this, jumping at everything."

"You're not useless," Smokescreen said. "You're really observant. You're good at spotting things that others have missed. You're an excellent shot." When Bluestreak just grunted again, Smokescreen patted his shoulder. "And you're not the only one who's struggling." With his other hand, Smokescreen gestured at the other bots in the tunnel with them. "Everyone here is going through something. No one's been spared. So, you aren't alone in feeling like this."

Bluestreak looked around. Scattor was sitting with a group, but rocked back and forth muttering to himself. Evac stood by the tunnel entrance on guard duty, but flicked his rotors at every little sound. Windrazor sat alone like he always did, staring off into space just like he had ever since his spark resonant was killed. Every single bot in the shelter looked haunted in some way or another.

"I know," Bluestreak said with a sigh. "Thank you for that little reality check."

"Here," Smokescreen said, and handed Bluestreak the red bottle. "This might help, too."

Bluestreak accepted the bottle, and made a small sound of surprise. "It's cold!"

Smokescreen grinned. "Yeah. Glyph broke out some of the chill packs for this. I think it was worth it."

With a happy sound, Bluestreak took a big swig from the bottle. He savoured the familiar flavour, rolling it around in his intake. He sighed happily, then handed the bottle back to Smokescreen. "And what about you? How are you holding up?" When Smokescreen did not immediately reply, Bluestreak added, "You're always so... steady. And I really appreciate that. But you're struggling too, right?" Bluestreak waited while Smokescreen took a drink from the bottle. "But if you need to unload on me, you can."

Smokescreen tipped his head back and rested it on the wall behind him. "All I can think about is how nothing is ever going to be the same," he said. He stared up at the ceiling, expressionless. "Even if the Quints left tomorrow, so much is destroyed now. Buildings. The city. People. And who knows how bad things are outside of Praxus." He closed his optics. "It seems so unreal to me that just a few months ago, everything seemed normal. We knew that the Quints had arrived and there were some negotiations happening in Iacon, but... That was so far away. It was just news and politics. Who cared?" He opened his optics again and looked down at Bluestreak. "That last night, I dragged you out to that horrible movie-"

Bluestreak laughed at the memory. "That was really bad."

"I am sorry. Barricade suggested it. He said that his partner Prowl had really liked it. I should have known better than to trust his judgement about anything art related," Smokescreen said with a grin, then sobered again. "I wonder where they are. I hope they're both all right." He sighed, then continued. "After the movie, we went to The Rusty Strut for drinks, and I remember we got out of there way too late..."

"I was late opening my shop the next day," Bluestreak said.

"Like I said, way too late. And that morning there was news about the attacks in Iacon. Then something about the Senatorial Guard getting decimated. That afternoon, planetary-wide comms went down. And then that evening, just a few hours later..." He shook his head. "Like I said, I can't believe it's only been a few months."

Bluestreak shuddered, and Smokescreen fell silent.

After a few minutes, Smokescreen patted Bluestreak's shoulder again. "Did you want to sing a hymn together?" When Bluestreak sat up and stared at him in surprise, Smokescreen shrugged. "I hear you humming them sometimes, especially when you're feeling really stressed."

"A hymn?" Bluestreak narrowed his optics. "You don't have a religious circuit in your entire frame," he said.

"No. But you do. And if it'll help you feel better, I'm willing to give it a go. Who knows, maybe it'll help me relax, too," Smokescreen said. Then he smiled. "But be forewarned, I am a horrible singer."

With a quiet laugh, Bluestreak said, "That's all right. Primus doesn't care how good of a singer you are. He just cares what's in your spark." He thought for a moment, then said, "Do you know the words to Gather the Sparks? That's the one I think I hum the most."

"Nope," Smokescreen said. "But if you sing it through once, I'll join in the second time around."

***

Bluestreak did not know whether it was the bottle of his favourite drink, or singing a calming hymn, or talking with Smokescreen the previous night that had done the trick, but he definitely felt better in the morning.

Things still felt pretty dire, of course. The shared rations were still slim. Everyone still looked like they were on edge, except for Windrazor, who was still in shock after the loss of his spark resonant. At least Skyfall seemed to be able to get him to take some fuel once in a while.

But this morning, Bluestreak's spark felt lighter. The future didn't seem so dark, somehow. Even the colours of the early morning sky seemed more vivid.

The whole world felt more hopeful.

Smokescreen noticed Bluestreak's new attitude, of course. He had always been tuned into his friends' emotions like that. When Bluestreak didn't have a good explanation for why he was feeling better, Smokescreen shrugged. "I'm just glad to see you smiling again, a real smile this time," Smokescreen said, slapping his friend on the back. "I missed that."

Bluestreak ducked his head, but felt his smile broaden. "Me too."

They were just discussing where they should start their scavenging run for the day when Stakeout tore into the shelter, his tires sending up bits of glass and gravel as he braked.

"What's wrong?" Evac asked, his rotors flaring outwards. He peered down the tunnel. "Are you being chased? Is it Quintessons?"

"No!" Stakeout said, transforming. He looked... Well, he looked elated, an expression that Bluestreak hadn't seen the dour Enforcer wearing before this. "It's the army! They're here! They're setting up a triage center with fuel and doctors and shuttles and everything else in Lucent Plaza." He laughed. "I think we can finally get out of here!"

As excited voices rose around them, Smokescreen spoke over the noise. "Wait... What army? Last we heard the Senatorial Guard got wiped out, and we all saw what happened to the Civil Defense here. Who is actually down in the plaza?"

Stakeout shook his head. "I don't know. The livery on the shuttles is all different. Some of them have Senatorial Guard emblems, some have Vosian insignia, and I saw at least one with a mining company logo. But I saw the people myself, and they're Cybertronians, not Quints."

Smokescreen pulled Bluestreak aside while Evac and the others started making plans to get everyone to the plaza. "Maybe I've just been too stressed for too long, but..." He sighed, a frown twisting the corners of his mouth downwards.

Bluestreak felt the same excitement in his spark that the others in their hideout were expressing, but Smokescreen's frown tempered his reply. "What is it? Do you think that the Quintessons might be using Cybertronians to lure people in just to capture them?" Bluestreak asked.

"Something like that," Smokescreen said with a small smile. "Am I being too paranoid?"

"Maybe a little. Usually being paranoid my job," Bluestreak said, returning Smokescreen's smile. Bluestreak flicked his wings. "But to be safe, let's not go rushing down there. Let's go scope it out first, and then we can decide what to do."

The drive to the plaza was mostly clear, although they needed to detour around two destroyed bridges. They approached from the east, circling to the top of the Torus Bridge that overlooked the plaza.

Even though Bluestreak had felt more and more happy as they'd gotten closer to the plaza, he paused at the top of the bridge and scanned the horizon carefully. Even bombed out like they were, the tall towers of Praxus could still be hiding any number of the smaller ships that the Quintessons used. But the two larger ships, the ones that had hung in the air like coiled razorsnakes over the city for months, were nowhere to be seen.

Bluestreak's elation ratcheted upwards once more.

In the large plaza below them, a dozen shuttles were parked, with bots streaming into the plaza from all directions. It looked like organized chaos, with some bots directing weary Praxian residents where to go, while others helped bots form neat queues in front of various tables. Obviously injured bots were being escorted to one of the ships, while more bots circulated handing out what looked like energon cubes.

All Bluestreak could feel now was an insistent urge to be down there, in the plaza. It felt like an almost visceral pull on his spark.

Smokescreen's sensor wings tipped upwards. "Is it me, or do a lot of the bots down there have the Prime's insignia on their shoulders?"

Bluestreak squinted, then gasped when he confirmed what Smokescreen had seen. "They are! It's the Wing of the Prime! And can see a few Hand members, as well."

"I thought the Hand of the Prime was just... I dunno, protection from paparazzi," Smokescreen said. "And the Wing is just clerics and curates. The Prime is just a religious leader. He doesn't have an army."

"Well, yeah. But maybe they've been, I dunno, training for something like this." Bluestreak gestured at the motley array of vehicles in the plaza. "And they obviously have some help, right?" His wings quivered behind him as he peered at Smokescreen. "Do you believe now that they aren't really Quintessons trying to trick us into getting ourselves captured?"

"Yeah. I believe it now." Smokescreen backed away from the edge of the bridge. "And I can practically feel you vibrating with excitement. Let's get you down there before you blow a relay," he added with a laugh.

The pull on Bluestreak's spark got even more insistent when they entered the plaza. A red-plated truck waved them down at the perimeter path. "Do you need medical care, or fuel?" he asked. His shoulders bore the insignia of the Prime's Hand.

"No. We're fine, thankfully," Smokescreen said. "Honestly we're just looking to get out of here." He glanced skyward. "Are the Quints really gone?"

The red bot gave a half shrug. "They peeled out of here about a week and a half ago. No idea why. We waited to make sure they were really gone before moving in." He gestured at the ships. "As soon as we were sure, the Prime gave us orders to get as many people to safety as we can. If there are more here than we can carry, we'll call for more ships. But we will get everyone who wants to leave out."

"Where to?" Smokescreen asked.

"We've got a couple of bases set up, places where we can regroup and figure out how to fight back." The red-plated guard pulled himself to his full height. "We're gonna take Cybertron back from those squidbrains, one way or another."

Bluestreak listened to the exchange impatiently, scanning the crowd behind the Prime's guard. He didn't want to leave, not yet. What he wanted to do was drive through the crowd. He wanted to see all the people here.

...Which was weird. Bluestreak normally hated crowds. As Smokescreen thanked the guard, Bluestreak shook his head to clear that thought. Seeing everyone here was more important than his dislike of crowds.

The moment Smokescreen turned away from the guard, Bluestreak grabbed his hand and pulled him forward, into the crowd.

"Whoa, Blue, where are we going?" Smokescreen asked. "The bot back there said that the signups for an evacuation flight are over that way."

"I want to go this way," Bluestreak said, his optics scanning bots they passed. He wasn't sure what - or who - he was looking for. All he knew was that he'd know them when he saw them.

Smokescreen laughed. "You're acting like you found your spark resonant or something."

Bluestreak barely even heard Smokescreen as he wove around groups of bots, tables of supplies, and ramps of shuttles. He knew that this was the direction he needed to go in to find...

...? What was he looking for?

Bluestreak slowed as they circled around the landing gear of a squat, utilitarian transport. As they came out the other side, his optics landed on a boxy green truck. The truck was helping a blue Vosian load boxes into the bed of a hauler.

When he stopped and looked up, the truck's gaze met Bluestreak's immediately.

He had the bluest optics Bluestreak had ever seen. And when he smiled, Bluestreak's processor could only catalogue the way it made the truck's optics crinkle up at the corners, and how kind it made him look, and how much Bluestreak wanted to have that smile directed at him forever and ever.

Bluestreak was suddenly standing in front of the green bot. He didn't remember walking over to him.

Smokescreen was talking to someone behind him. "I'm sorry, I know we're probably not supposed to be back here, but my friend-"

"I'm sure we can help you out," said another voice. "And I think I know what's going on." Bluestreak assumed it was the Vosian talking. But that wasn't important now.

"I know you, I think," the green bot said. His voice thrilled Bluestreak's audials, as though he'd always wanted to hear this voice in particular. The green bot held out his hand, and Bluestreak reflexively reached out his own. "I'm-"

Their hands touched.

As soon as their fingers made contact, something surged inside Bluestreak's spark. The excited twirl that his spark had been doing all morning suddenly swirled into a dance, weaving a complex design with another, matched spark. From that dance rose a song, a joyful anthem of celebration. And for each note that Bluestreak's spark sang, the harmony was sung by its mate.

"Oh," said the green bot softly. His smile grew, as did the brightness of his optics.

That single word sent Bluestreak's spark into another burst of radiant joy.

Smokescreen was saying something, but Bluestreak wasn't listening. He wanted the green mech to speak again.

"I'm Bluestreak," he said.

"Hound," said the green bot, his optics not leaving Bluestreak's. "I'm Hound."

"I'm so happy I found you," Bluestreak said, but those words didn't feel adequate to describe how he was actually feeling: the rapturous elation of finally finding what he didn't know he was missing his whole life.

"Same. Yeah, I feel the same," Hound said. "All morning I've been... I mean, I felt something that..." Bluestreak could feel him – his name was Hound! – fumbling for words, and he felt a surge of sympathy for him.

"Did you seriously just find out you have a resonant?" Smokescreen said. With an effort, Bluestreak peeled his gaze away from Hound to look at his friend. Smokescreen was smiling and shaking his head. "Only you would discover your sparkmate in the middle of a warzone."

The blue Vosian touched Smokescreen's shoulder. "Let's give them a little while to get acquainted," he said, and he winked at Hound.

"Thanks, Thundercracker," Hound said, not looking away from Bluestreak for a moment.

Bluestreak looked back at Hound, and was lost in his optics once more.

***

"You mentioned you had a shop here. What did you sell?"

"I'm a glass smith, and I sold the art I made, along with some other stuff."

"Art? Like what?"

"Oh, mostly glass pieces for decoration. You know, stuff like sparklers and window spinners, but I also did a lot of custom works for bots to have installed. Have you see those taillights some people have, with the internal prisims? I made those first, before they got really popular."

"Those were yours? That's amazing! They look so neat!"

"Thanks! I was pretty proud of them," Bluestreak said, and shifted closer to Hound. He was finally able to look away from his spark mate (wow, what a weird thing to think, that he had an actual spark resonant) at the bustle of bots working around them. After recovering from the initial shock of discovering each other, both Bluestreak and Hound wanted to help unload supplies or organize the medical queues – something to help the effort. But Smokescreen and Thundercracker (the Vosian who had been working with Hound) told them to sit and take a little time to get to know each other better, and Smokescreen offered to take Hound's place for a while. Neither Bluestreak nor Hound argued too loudly about that, since getting to work meant not touching each other.

Hound turned and looked at Bluestreak again. Every time he did that, he looked as though he was surprised to see him sitting there. "So, did you ever think you might have a resonant?" Hound asked.

"Sure, I thought about it," Bluestreak said. "Who hasn't? I've seen the same romances as everyone else. It's appealing, thinking you might have someone out there who's your perfect match." He rubbed his hand up Hound's arm, feeling the slight texture in his matte finish. They hadn't stopped touching each other ever since their first meeting; there was something about keeping that contact that made Bluestreak's spark sing even louder. He leaned into Hound's side as he kicked his pedes back and forth over the edge of the crate they were sitting on. "But resonants are so rare and so... I dunno, almost mythical, something that happened to other people, that it was more of a fun fantasy than thinking I might actually have one. Of course, I did eventually make a trip down to Greater Monoplex, just to see if I could feel anything. But aside from the excitement of being on a trip to a place I'd never been, I didn't feel anything odd. Maybe we just didn't get close enough or something."

Hound listened patiently as Bluestreak rambled on, waiting until Bluestreak finished before replying. "When did you go to Monoplex?"

"Oh... It must have been about thirty or forty quartexes ago." Bluestreak smiled. "I needed to save up for the trip."

"I was called to serve Primus about seventy quartexes ago. That was in Sentinel Prime's service, of course," Hound said. Hound's fingers curled around and under and through Bluestreak's as he talked, tangling and untangling their fingers over and over, just like he'd been doing since they first sat down. Hound smiled and shrugged. "I wanted to come to Praxus, eventually, just to see, but... Other things seemed to be more important. And like you said, resonants are so rare. I never once thought that I might actually have one."

"We were both so wrong," Bluestreak said. He flicked his sensor wings upwards as he added, "And hey, if you're in the Wing, just think! Since you've got a resonant, you might be the next Prime, and I could be your Protector!"  But as soon as the words left Bluestreak's vocalizer, he knew it was the wrong thing to say. Even if he couldn't have sensed the horror and distress and do not want he was feeling from Hound's spark, the expression on Hound's face would have made him back up immediately. "Oh, Hound, it's just a joke. I'm joking! I'm sorry," he said, squeezing Hound's arm tighter. "I wouldn't know the first thing about being a Protector."

Hound nodded and relaxed, both in body and spark. "I can feel that now," Hound said. He smiled. "This is going to take some getting used to, especially as we get to know each other." He started twining his fingers around Bluestreak's again: over, under, through. "But I have no doubts about your ability to be a Protector. It's the thought of losing the current Prime that made me..." He shuddered in Bluestreak's embrace.

"Have you met him?" Bluestreak asked quietly. He remembered seeing the ceremonies and celebrations when the new Prime was selected by the Matrix. When Hound nodded, Bluestreak asked, "What's he like?"

"He is kind, and intelligent, and thoughtful," Hound said. "When you talk to him, you can tell that he really cares about every single bot on this planet, whether they believe he is the voice of Primus or not." Hound looked around the plaza and at all of the bots there: those of the Prime's Hand and Wing, and the survivors they had come to help. "This was all his doing. He wanted to make sure we rescued as many bots as possible from places where the Quintessons have been. Without his leadership, pulling together disparate forces from all over the planet, none of this would have happened."

"I hope I get to meet him some day," Bluestreak said.

Hound smiled at him, sending another swirl of joy through Bluestreak's spark. "Well, I'll need to report back to the Master of Songs when we return to Tyger Pax," Hound said. "After that, if you stick with me, I can definitely introduce you to Megatronus Prime."

Bluestreak leaned his head on Hound's shoulder, watching the bustling around them. "I'd like that," he said. "And I have every intention of staying by your side for as long as I live, now that I finally met you."

"Nothing would make me happier," Hound said softly.

THE END

Look for this fic's sequel in The Prime and His Protector, coming to AO3 sometime soon!

[number-1-kuaidul-fanboy]

Mochi Date

YGO Rare Pair Week Day 8

Prompt: Free Day!

Pairing: Kuaidul Velgear/Fukamura

Word Count: 1035

Summary: Kuaidul asks Fukamura out on a date and feeds him mochi.

Author's Note: This fic involves two characters currently involved (in Fukamura's case, introduced in) Go Rush's 3rd season. No plot details are given away and I don't specify when this takes place but if you want to be completely spoiler blind and haven't seen at least episode 117, this could have potential spoilers.

@ygorarepairweek

“You!” The moment Kuaidul finally located Fukamura, conveniently hiding in his ball form on a park bench, he beamed brightly and pointed him down. “You’re coming with me, cat man!”

Kuaidul charged at the little ball of darkman and scooped him into his arms with a happy little hum. Fukamura let out a startled yelp.

“What?! Why?!” The darkman was squirming in protest. “What are you doing?! I haven't done anything to your brother, I swear!”

“Oh, I know!” Kuaidul couldn’t help but chuckle. “You know I trust you!”

“Then why?! What is this?!” Fukamura bounced out of Kuaidul’s arms and onto the ground.

Kuaidul chuckled again. Putting his hand on his chest, he cleared his throat. “Kuaidul Velgear, the lone space warrior following his heart’s compass, requests a date with you, Fukamura.”

“H-huh?” Fukamura’s absolute terror was replaced by total bewilderment. “You want to… what?”

“Oh?” Kuaidul chuckled to hide his nerves. “You haven’t heard of dating?”

“I have!” Fukamura shouted louder than he intended to, his cheeks bright red. “But…” His ball form’s arm raised to point an accusing finger at Kuaidul. “Why would YOU want to date ME?”

Kuaidul grinned a little. “I happen to find you attractive. Is that so strange?”

Fukamura looked away, fidgeting with his fingers. “I didn’t think you found anyone attractive… Besides maybe yourself.”

“Ha!” Kuaidul couldn’t help but huff with laughter. “So you admit I’m very attractive? Is that a yes then, you adorable creature of darkness?”

Fukamura frowned, raising his hand to his chin. “Would I have to leave my society-avoiding domain?”

“Not if you don't want to. After all, I can always just do this.” Kuaidul went over and scooped Fukamura’s ball form into his arms again, ruffling his hair with his fingers.

Against his better judgement, Fukamura broke into a brief purr. He struggled to bite it back as he replied,

“I guess… I’m curious what a date… with someone like you… on Earth would entail.”

“Perfect!” Kuaidul couldn’t help but hug the squishy little Darkman, making Fukamura groan in annoyance a bit.

“So… did you have a plan?” Fukamura asked after a while of being hugged.

“I didn’t think I'd get this far!” Kuaidul exclaimed, louder than he needed to.

“O-oh…” Fukamura couldn’t help but laugh a little.

Kuaidul held Fukamura up, staring up at him with a bright smile. “Do you like food? I can cook!”

Fukamura raised an eyebrow. “YOU can cook?”

Kuaidul nodded eagerly. “When I can steal Maki-san’s kitchen for a while, yes! I indeed can and do cook! What would you like? I assume not udon? Since that would be cannibalism for you?”

“U-um…” Fukamura buried his face in his ball form, overwhelmed by all the questions, and the fear that Kuaidul might drop him as a prank. “I-I like… mochi…”

Kuaidul blinked. “You want to eat mochi as a meal? I thought that was a dessert?”

“U-uh, well-”

“I like your style, Fukamura!” Kuaidul cut in excitedly before Fukamura could think of a reply. “Mochi for lunch it is!”

He carried Fukamura's ball form all the way to Maki’s kitchen, still holding him when he greeted her.

“Greetings! Kuaidul Velgear, brother of Yudias, requests-”

“You want to use my kitchen again,” Maki cut in.

Kuaidul’s eye twitched for a moment. “Yes indeed! I am going to create mochi for my new boyfriend!”

He presented Fukamura to her. The darkman shied further into his ball form with a startled ‘eep’.

Maki let out a confused chuckle. “Ooookay… Well, you’ve yet to completely destroy my kitchen so far so…” She was taking steps backwards out of the kitchen as she spoke. “Do your… thing with your… ball friend there.”

“Gladly!” Kuaidul placed Fukamura aside on a stool before grabbing his trusty cookbook and flipping through it. “Let’s see… Mochi, mochi… Mochi! Found it!”

Kuaidul grabbed all of the ingredients and instantly got to baking the recipe.

“And voila!” Kuaidul did a fancy twirl to turn around and show the completed tray of mochi to Fukamura. “A sweet mochi lunch for my sweet little boyfriend!”

“Can you really call me your boyfriend when it’s only a first date?” Fukamura asked, looking away.

“Are you implying you don’t want a second date with me?” Kuaidul asked, placing the tray of mochi aside.

“That… um… depends…” Fukamura put his hands over his red blushing face.

“On how much you like my mochi?” Kuaidul asked, taking a piece of mochi in his fingers.

Fukamura frowned at him, huffing in annoyance. “It’s hard to mess up mochi.”

“Then I should have no problem securing that second date, huh?” Kuaidul winked as he held a piece of mochi up to Fukamura’s face.

The Darkman’s gaze shifted to the treat. Licking his lips, Fukamura took the piece of mochi in his mouth and ate it one bite. He let out a small delighted squeak.

“Ah. So I did well then,” Kuaidul remarked, patting Fukamura on the head as he would a cat.

“Th-this is…” Fukamura buried his face back in his ball form, his next words almost too quiet for Kuaidul to hear. “This is the best mochi I’ve ever had…”

Kuaidul immediately scooped Fukamura in his arms again, exclaiming, “And you’re the best boyfriend I’ve ever had!”

Fukamura poked his head out, raising an eyebrow.

“How many boyfriends have you had?”

“One!” Kuaidul was beaming ear to ear as he answered.

Fukamura sighed, unable to fight back a smile. Kuaidul carried Fukamura over to the nearby table, placing him in one of the chairs and the tray of mochi on the table. Fukamura fully emerged from his ball form to sit in the chair.

“Have as many as you like, cutie,” Kuaidul slid the tray over to Fukamura. “I made plenty.”

Fukamura’s cheeks reddened further. “Only if you eat some of it too… it would feel weird to just… have you stare at me while I eat.”

“Alright.” Kuaidul sat in the chair next to Fukamura, taking a piece of mochi in his fingers. “Deal.”

Fukamura looked away with a smile. Kuaidul was, unfortunately, growing on him… Slowly but surely… The idea of that second date was sounding more and more appealing to Fukamura…

[amunisence]

Secret Admirer (Phobos x Reader)

Consider this a late Valentine's Day post. I've been working on this on and off since last year and decided to finish it up for February. Enjoy!

As a Science Tower intern, you love the opportunity to work on Project Nexus. This is despite the Director's high expectations. Due to your coworkers' gossip and overall stress from your tasks, your impressions of Director Phobos were negative before you had even met him. His reputation had truly preceded him.

It was your third day at the Science Tower when you first encountered the Director. You were being shown around the building by your superior, Dr. Christoff, as much as he could before returning to his tight schedule. This was out of courtesy since getting lost was rather common for you at that time (didn't help that everything looked the same to you)

"What are you doing?" a low commanding voice thundered from behind eliciting a small "Eep!" from you. You peeked over your shoulder to the tall grand figure that spoke just moments ago. You whipped your body around and scurried backwards away from the seething giant.

Christoff, to your surprise, was unphased, "I was simply giving the new intern a tour of the facility since the layout can be confusing for newcomers. Is that an issue, Director Phobos?"

That is Director Phobos?! You had seen the statues, but you had no idea the Director was this grand- he actuallywears the cape?!

"I can take it from here, Jebediah. Carry on."

You pondered what that meant as Dr. Christoff turned away from Director Phobos and walked off with clenched fists.

"You need not be afraid--it is only natural for such an awe-inspiring facility to intimidate a lowly intern such as yourself," the corners of his mouth tugged into a wide toothy grin, "That is why I shall personally give you a tour," Phobos said gesturing to himself pridefully, "Only a fool would refuse such a privilege."

You immediately caught on that Director Phobos thought very highly of himself. As if his regal cape wasn't enough, his manner of speaking more than accentuated his ego.

While you wanted to politely turn down his request, you're bright enough to figure out your tour with Dr. Christoff has been put on hold indefinitely. You needed someone to show you around. With a forced smile, you agree to allow the Director to give you the tour.

"Splendid! Wise choice," Director Phobos beamed. He proceeded to take you on a very long-winded yet memorable tour. Shockingly, you found yourself enjoying it. The Director would elaborate on the importance of certain sections (some you were sure you weren't allowed in anyway). You couldn't help but giggle at times when he would demand your coworkers to focus on their tasks despite causing a scene wherever he went. You found the stories he told made certain locations easier to remember; though you wondered if you even had the clearance to hear them.

After the tour to your own shock, your heart would start to pound relentlessly whenever the Director was nearby. For some reason, the special attention that he gave you that day left an impression on you. A very inconvenient one at that. These newfound feelings were difficult to manage alongside your work. That's why you decided to write Director Phobos an anonymous letter expressing these feelings and how they developed in hopes that it would help you move on. 

The first obstacle was getting this letter to the Director. You can't just waltz up to his office and slide a letter under his door right in front of security cameras! After all, who knows what could happen to you if he's displeased by your confession (especially from an intern).You even addressed it "God Emperor Phobos" in hopes of getting brownie points if he found out it was from you. Therefore, this task required a different approach.

For one week, you paid attention to any potential opportunities to slip your letter amongst his files without being detected. Before you knew it, the perfect one presented itself to you. After one particularly long and grueling meeting, the Director took Dr. Christoff aside and chastised him. While everyone else was preoccupied with leaving, you took a casual stroll past the Director's seat. You managed to slip your letter into his thick folder of paperwork undetected and escaped to the hallway. You breathed out while clutching your frantic heartbeat. You were positive your chest was about to burst any moment, but you had to continue as if nothing happened.

~

Phobos shut the door to his office. "How dare he." He about ended Dr. Christoff's life right where he stood back at the meeting. "Opposition to MY perfect vision?! Preposterous." Not only was he irritable from lackluster results on sleepwalkers, but now he had to snuff out a new growing "doubt" amidst his staff. In another fit of rage, he forced his bulky folder onto his desk with a substantial thud. An envelope slipped out from sheer force and landed before Phobos's feet. He knelt down and irritability nicked it off the ground. He didn't recognize the envelope. In fact, he didn't even remember having any mail that day. Assuming it was work related, Phobos grumbled and sat down at his desk.

"Hm?" he hummed in confusion as he glanced at the front of the envelope. There was nothing on it except for "God Emperor Phobos" written neatly in the center. It was rather informal looking to be work related. Phobos ripped open the envelope and slid out its contents. He unfolded the single piece of paper and found a hand written letter.

"To God Emperor Phobos,

My initial impressions of you were unreasonable, unapproachable, and insufferable. I have now, however, expanded my horizons and see there is so much more to you. Your zeal for the project is very admirable and motivating. Your grand presence fills whatever room you're in. The way you are able to give purpose to the most insignificant of us has given me a sort of pride I have never felt before.

Due to recent events, I have found myself thinking about you rather frequently. When you aren't occupying my thoughts, my heart pounds at the sight of you. Forgive me, I know it's silly to say such things in my position.

I do hope my words haven't troubled you or caused any issues. I've written this letter in hopes of moving on from these inappropriate feelings.

Sincerely,

Your Secret Admirer"

Phobos sighed out as he finished reading the letter with one hand partially covering his face. At first, he didn't know what to make of it. One thing he knew for sure though was that his anger had oddly vanished after reading it. Perhaps I read it too fast. He thought and reread the letter figuring its contents hadn't sunk in properly. Then it happened--he smiled. Genuinely. Nothing like the prideful grin he usually wears. He also couldn't help but laugh at the innocence of the letter's contents but in an endearing way--not from a stance of superiority. Phobos even felt his own heart skip a beat from his secret admirer's confession.

"Oh Secret Admirer, you flatter me and have made my day. But who are you? I simply must know." 

Phobos continued to ponder this into the next day. He had trouble focusing on the most trivial of things as if the letter had put him under a spell. In what little downtime he had, Phobos wracked his brain for any clues to who his secret admirer could be.

"S-Sir?"

Phobos broke out of his trance and found you in front of his desk with a fresh cup of coffee.

"Ar-Are you alright, sir?"

"Yes, yes, I was just... you know..." He didn't finish his sentence which felt odd to you.

"Well, I have your coffee. I'll just set it here." While placing the mug on a coaster near his stationary, you couldn't help but be flustered under his gaze. The letter hadn't helped like you hoped it would. Not only does your heart rate still increase in his presence, but now your face gets absolutely flushed. As your own eyes happened to glance over his desk, you stopped for but a moment. Your temporary paralysis was caused by the sight of your letter on the Director Phobos's desk. As brief a pause as it was, your whole demeanor had changed in a single moment.

A single moment that Phobos had unfortunately observed: your stiffened composure, your startled expression, and your hushed gasp. You quickly moved away from his desk and attempted to leave in an effort to preserve what little dignity you had left.

"How has your internship been so far?" Phobos asked you casually.

You think for only a few seconds before saying, "Like any job, it can be stressful, but I feel like I'm given a purpose here. Project Nexus has given me a sort of pride I-"

"-have never felt before. Is that correct?"

To your horror, Phobos, letter in hand, had used your own words against you. Everything inside you wanted to apologize profusely for the letter. However, you stayed silent bracing yourself for the worst with your head down in flustered embarrassment.

"You know, it was peculiar. When my disgruntled self returned to my office yesterday, I came across this letter haphazardly tucked into the folder from the last meeting I attended. When I read this letter, it turned out to be a confession from a secret admirer. At first, I was stunned. My anger had vanished, and I felt... elated," he paused and stood up.

"This letter had both flattered me and improved my mood. I was so tickled and delighted by this note that I decided right then that I needed to find my secret admirer and offer my gratitude." Phobos moved out from behind his desk and slowly approached your blushing figure. He placed a finger beneath your jaw and gently tugged your chin to face him. "Thank you."

[themanirealityshifter]

🔥🐉My Partner in WoF DR🐉🔥

===================================== :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Dragon Form } •

• { Name: SunBeetle } • • { Nickname(s): Sun; Beetle; Sunny (yes, i know, there is a canon character named Sunny, but i think, just like humans, multiple different dragons can have the same name) } • • { Tribe(s): SilkWings and SandWings } • • { Age: 8 } •

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Pronouns: He/It } • • { Gender Identity: TransMale (+ questioning) } • • { Romantic Orientation: Aroflux (+ questioning) } • • { Sexual Orientation: Aceflux (+ questioning) } • • { Other Orientation(s): Ambiamorous; Questioning alterous, queerplatonic, sensual, and aesthetic labels } •

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Parent(s): BrittleBush and HoneyBee } • • { Sibling(s): None } • • { Other Family Member(s): Unnamed Family Members } • • { Partner(s): Stormbreaker } • • { Best Friend(s): All of Stormbreaker’s siblings; A couple of yet-to-be-scripted Dragons } • • { Friend(s): None (as of right now) } •

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Description: Golden yellow scales with hints of deep orange on the spine, forelegs, and wings; Orange antennae, claws, and spikes; Sandy-brown undertones on the stomach, chest, and back of legs; Four bat-like wings; Scales are very shiny and polished; SilkWing-like body and snout; Looks like a SilkWing at first glance; Blue eyes } • • { Personality: Same as in CR } • • { Accessories: Sun earring on right ear; Several gold studs and hoop earrings on both ears; A good hoop nose piercing; A small pouch on back left leg } • • { Abilities: Flamesilk; Can speak Human; Fire-breath; Can go without food or water for a long time (a week at most); Shape-shifter; Poisonous tail-barb; and Animus magic } • • { Extra Personal Facts: Wingbuds had been bigger than usual and oddly shaped as a dragonet; Was born on Pyrrhia and has traveled to Pantala multiple times; Talons and forelegs are constantly seen spattered with paint or ink } •

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Location: Pyrrhia (Rain-Night Kingdom) } • • { Diet: Pretty much anything except for poisonous things and Humans } • • { Pet(s): Sloth (named Eep) } • • { Extra Fact(s): Same as in WoF script } •

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Human Form } •

• { Name: SunBeetle } • • { Nickname(s): Sun; Beetle; Sunny } • • { Species: Human } • • { Age: 21 } •

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Pronouns: He/It } • • { Gender Identity: TransGuy (+ questioning) } • • { Romantic Orientation: Aroflux (+ questioning) } • • { Sexual Orientation: Aceflux (+ questioning) } • • { Other Orientation(s): Ambiamorous; Questioning alterous, queerplatonic, sensual, and aesthetic labels } •

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Parent(s): None (Was born a Dragon, so has no Human parents) } • • { Sibling(s): None (Was born a Dragon, so has no Human siblings) } • • { Other Family Member(s): None (Was born a Dragon, so has no Human family members) } • • { Partner(s): Stormbreaker } • • { Best Friend(s): All of Stormbreaker’s siblings; A couple of yet-to-be-scripted Humans } • • { Friend(s): None (as of right now) } •

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Description: 6’3”; Blond hair in a fluffy mullet with the tips dyed maroon and blue; Bright blue eyes; Same body type as in CR, except a bit more masculine (cuz of the T); Top and bottom surgery scars; Round silver-rimmed glasses; Pale skin; A sun tattoo on the inside of left wrist; A SandWing-SilkWing-looking birthmark covering whole right shoulder blade } • • { Personality: Same as in CR } • • { Accessories: Three silver earrings in both ears, two holes in both ears having small silver hoops and left ear having a sun earring while the other just having another silver hoop; A black conch piercing in right ear; A silver hoop helix on left ear; A silver septum piercing; Two silver nose piercings; Silver stud snakebites; Several rings and bracelets } • • { Abilities: Shape-shifter; Can speak Dragon } •

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Location: Pyrhhia (Rain-Night Kingdom) } • • { Diet: Pretty much anything except for poisonous things and Dragons } • • { Extra Fact(s): Same thing for Human Form on WoF Script } •

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

• { Partner in DR (Human Form)(Picrew Form) } •

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: =====================================

(posted with my boyfriend’s permission)

[twisted-wonderland-shenanigans]

Welcome back, my lovelies~! We’ve got another story on our hands, and I’m glad to share it with you all. Joining us today is a certain android deity: Ortho! Say hi, Ortho!

[Greetings, everyone! Fauna Taleweaver was so kind to invite me to share a few stories with you all.]

“Eh? Hey, are you really a god? You’re more…metal-y than any of the ones I’ve seen so far.”

[Oh? Why, yes, I am a god. According to my historical records, there have been several deities in the ancient times that wore grant metal armor to war and even in peace. What’s so unusual about the fact that I am made of metal? Even Deuce Spade wears his armor with pride.]

I guess every deity is unique in their own way.

“Hrm…so what’s this story you’re gonna tell us, huh?”

[It’s one of my favorite memories with my big brother and younger sibling.]

Huh?! Wait, Ortho…what do you mean ‘younger sibling’? I thought Idia was your only brother?

[Well, you see Fauna Taleweaver, that was the case…for a long while anyway. But centuries ago, that changed. In fact, I’ve gotten big brother’s permission to share his side of the story!]

“Really? That recluse???”

[Believe it or not, my big brother was the one who put everything into motion, and…he even made me see my duties in a new light and change the way I rehabilitate broken souls! You see…]

WARNING: Implied character death but nothing descriptive; tagged just in case. I wasn't sure what else to tag it under, but please let me know if I need to add another tag and I will do so as soon as I can! Story under a readmore for length, but mostly focusing on the wholesome character growth!

////

“Greetings, number 5294831! Your colors are looking brighter by approximately fifteen percent–an improvement compared to last week’s scans. Oh? Number 1574, you’re looking rather dim according to my current data. My brother upgraded my systems and functions just this morning, so let’s see what options are available to assist you.”

Idia watched in silence as Ortho worked, observing the younger deity floating about Limbo as he checked on his wards. Everything seemed to be going according to design–not that he doubted his skills of course. And yet, he couldn’t help but gaze at the vast cavern, a soft frown on his face. ‘There are far more souls here than normal,’ he thought.

Everywhere he looked there were souls, each one in a deplorable condition. Most had arrived in varying shades of gray, some barely clinging to a hint of the once vibrant colors they were meant to have. Some he could see even from afar the cracks in their core, looking like fragile glass ready to shatter at the slightest touch. Others…they were so far faded that he almost missed one that floated by in front of his face.

Lost…fragile…broken…these were the souls that Ortho focused on the most, working around the clock to restore the bright hues they once held. It seemed a Herculean task, for every soul he saved, two arrived in danger of fading away forever. Even though this part of the job wasn’t in his lane, Idia could see how distressed his little brother was to see these souls vanish, too weak to survive…

What in Seven’s name was even going on in the mortal realm that so many souls come to them practically taped and glued together?

Sighing, Idia uttered, “What a drag…being a mortal should be easy mode compared to the nightmare god mode we deities have, even when they’re not fighting lame wars. At least it should be way easier than getting an uber deluxe limited edition Hizu Matsune figure…”

[:...Hi…zu…?:]

“Eep!?” he squeaked, staring at the tiny humanoid shape hiding in the nook near the entrance. “D-Don’t do that!”

The tiny body quickly retreated, huddling into a nook in the stone wall with a whimper. It was then that he realized it was a mortal soul–or rather, a child’s mortal soul. What were they even doing here?! There’s only ever been adult or elderly souls here in Limbo…maybe there has been an uptick in teenagers and young adult souls, but…children??? That shouldn’t happen…

[:...s…orr…y…don…hurt me,:] the little soul whispered quietly, their transparent ‘body’ flickering like a flashlight’s failing battery. [:P…lease…:]

Realizing that they were scared of him, he hesitantly knelt down and–in as calm a voice as he could muster–he spoke softly and said, “I-It’s okay…I’m not going to hurt you. You don’t have to be scared…” Oh Sevens, he wasn’t good with children–well, people in general anyway, but still! Taking a breath, he asked, “How uh…how did you get here? Shouldn’t you be over in the fields of Purga…tory…”

As soon as the words left his mouth it finally sank in the condition of the soul itself: dark cracks creating a spider web effect across its surface, black-violet ooze staining the inner core, and the color…the original color of the soul had all but completely faded from existence. It was impossible to tell what color it originally was, just like the other broken souls.

[:I…don’t…remember,:] the soul said, its voice distorted as they covered their head in their hands. [:It’s dark…and scary…mama…papa…where are you? You…you promised…you would come get me before…:]

“Before…what?” Idia asked, voice quiet.

[:...the monsters…:]

He felt a chill go down his spine at this, though he couldn’t quite place why as he asked, “What monsters?”

[:Monster…the monsters…! They’re coming! The monsters are coming!! AAAAAA-!!!:]

The soul–though it had no lungs–unleashed a haunting wail so shrill that Idia’s blood ran cold and his ears began ringing, forcing him to cover them. Before he could even think of calling for help, a blur of black and blue appeared next to him and a gentle lullaby began to play from the speakers built into his frame. Idia could hear Ortho’s muffled voice as he said, “Please settle down, number 429754. Your core is in critical condition and cannot take much more stress. Please don’t worry–there are no monsters here. You’re safe now.”

Whether it was the music or his words, the ghostly wails died down to quiet whimpers, the corporeal form curled into a tight ball before fading away and leaving behind a faintly glowing glass orb. As Ortho picked up the core and held it close, Idia saw the black-violet ooze spread further and recognized the all too familiar material.

Blot…

“...how did this happen?” Idia asked.

Ortho seemed to hesitate, looking unsure of what to say before looking down. “I found this one in the remains of a small town,” he finally said. “It was overrun by a pack of Soulless Ones. Deuce Spade and Rook Hunt managed to stop them from escaping to the next mortal settlement, but…there were only five survivors out of a roster of three hundred mortals.”

Soulless Ones…mortals whose souls were corrupted by blot, leaving behind a hollow shell of their mortal bodies to become twisted and mangled amalgamations of corruption. These abominations become little more than zombies, seeking out uncorrupted mortals in search of their own lost soul until nothing is left. He’d heard from Azul how the other deities were struggling to contain the spread, but…he never imagined it could ever get this bad.

“How did you manage to save this soul?” he asked. “I thought mortals attacked by those things had an instant-KO?”

“According to my scans of the mortal shell, they possessed DNA from a deity relative–inconclusive if parent or a distant. By my calculations, this was the only thing that kept their soul safe long enough for me to slow the spread of blot. Now, however…their core is unstable.” Though his eyes closed in a smile, Idia could see that it didn’t quite reach the same way it normally would. “Once I take them to the Stardust River for their first cleansing, we may begin tailoring a proper recovery plan to mend the cracks and heal their light.”

“Eh? You haven’t taken them to the river yet?”

“No. My simulation program indicates that a full submersion in its current state would cause unnecessary stress on the soul, accelerating the spread of blot. I’ve been applying drops from the vial that Lilia Vanrouge gifted me to help with mending some of the cracks. Once the soul is sufficiently calm, I will take them to the Stardust River.”

He felt a pang of guilt that refused to leave him be, taking his focus away even from his gaming match later that night. As the God of Death, Idia rarely interfered with the lives of mortals, let alone interacted with them. Yet seeing his younger brother struggle to understand how to soothe such a young soul traumatized by creatures that were never meant to exist…

Then, he remembered the sadness in Ortho’s eyes, the sheer worry in his voice as he gently tended to the fragile soul. With a deep breath, he released it in a nervous sigh and uttered, “Why am I doing this to myself…?” before pulling out his phone and dialing a number.

—----------

“Good morning, number 429754! How are you to…huh? Big brother? What are you doing here?”

Turning to face the small android, Idia crunched down on the snack he’d been munching on and said, “Watching Hizu Matsune music videos before we watch the series Shimmer Heart Sugar Stars. There’s a new season that just released today, and we already finished the first two seasons last night.”

“Huh?” Ortho uttered in confusion, shaking his head in disbelief. “But…you’re never here in Limbo unless I am, and you’ve rarely shown any interest in interacting with mortal souls for very long.”

Idia shrugged and said, “After what happened yesterday, I couldn’t stop thinking about what you said. So…I figured I’d try something different.”

Looking in the direction that he pointed, he gasped in amazement and said, “You managed to get them back into their corporeal form! How did you-??”

“Well…you said you couldn’t start the recovery plan until they were calm enough to take a dip in the river, right? After everything they’ve been through…I reached out to Lilia for a few cheat codes.”

“Cheat codes?”

“Yeah. Compared to us, he’s boss level in terms of kids and childcare, so he’d know a few strategies to calm one down, right? He said to find something that interests them, so…” With a wide, toothy grin, he gestured to the screen displaying bright and colorful characters singing and dancing together as he said, “After remembering how they reacted when I mentioned Hizu Matsune, I came up with the ultimate gaming strategy! Using top notch music videos and anime shows with the perfect amount of cheerful and sappy cuteness, it’s the perfect plan to calm them and catch up on my backlog, sending them on the path to a visit in the Stardust River! Pretty clever if I do say so myself. Sound good, Shims?”

“Huh? Shims??”

The soul looked up at him, a flash of pink-red light flaring within as they smiled and nodded. [:Can we…watch more, please?:] they asked, pointing to the screen.

“Sure, Shims.” Tapping away at his keyboard, the screen changed to an opening theme song with a peppy beat, the soul swaying and bouncing happily to the music. “We should be done with this season within a few hours if we don’t take breaks.”

Ortho, despite having a mask covering his mouth, looked gobsmacked as he stared at the two. A moment later he shook his head, activating his scanners and examining them closely. “Oh! Readings indicate that the soul’s color’s are showing a twenty percent increase! They’re still faint, but by comparison to the five percent it was yesterday it is still an improvement.” Looking up at Idia, he said, “At this rate…we should be able to take number 429754 to the Stardust River in less than a month! You’re a genius, big brother!”

[:Shims…:]

“Huh?”

[:Shims…my name is Shims,:] the soul said, pointing at the screen again. [:Shimmer…makes me happy. Call me Shims…please?:]

“Oh…of course, Shims!” Giggling, Ortho said, “Perhaps we can find more fun things to help with your recovery plan. And perhaps I can incorporate this method to ensure the recovery of the other souls! May I join?”

“Sure,” Idia said as he and Shims moved over so he could have a seat. “Should we start from the opening again?”

“Yes!”/[:Yes!:]

—--------

Every day afterwards Idia made time to enter Limbo with Ortho with a new series in hand, finding that Shims enjoyed listening to him ramble for hours on end about his favorite shows and games and manga. With each storyline he told and the characters that brought the story to life, he could see the enchantment on their transparent face grow and the color blossoming brighter. There were times he was forced to ease back when the core reacted to the blot, which had slowed its spread yet still remained present. Ortho kept reassuring him that they were making good progress and that the stardust drops were helping, but he couldn’t help but feel anxious each time he saw the pain on their face.

Finally–after what seemed like an eternity–Ortho deemed them ready for the journey. Only…

“It’s okay, Shims. We need to make our way to the Stardust River if we are to begin your recovery program.”

[:No! Don’t want to leave!:]

“But don’t you want to feel better?”

[:Noooo…the monsters are out there! Please don’t leave me!:]

Ortho sighed as he moved back, hovering near the crevice that Shims had hidden themselves in. “What am I going to do with you?” he wondered aloud. “This has never happened before. What protocol should I follow…?”

Idia watched as Ortho pondered over what to do, frowning in concern. Sure, Shims had gotten better at speaking and had come out of their shell more, but now it seemed like they had reverted to their terrified self again. By now the blot had spread farther than it had in the beginning, consuming more than half of their core and ooze starting to seep out. What were they going to do? Even if their soul was part deity, it could only preserve their core for so long before it was consumed…

“Big brother, what are we going to do?” Ortho asked, snapping him out of his thoughts as he noticed how bothered his younger brother was at this situation. “We can’t leave them here for much longer, and we’re running out of time.”

“I…don’t know,” he uttered, looking back at his phone at the messages he’d gotten. “Lilia mentioned that some kids could be stubborn, but he never said what to do in this case. I don’t have a cheat code for this and they don’t want to watch or play anything…”

“...you were able to connect with them, big brother.”

“Eh?”

“You were the one who managed to help heal Shims’ soul core so we could even make it to this point.” Gesturing to the hiding soul, Ortho said, “They might listen to you if you speak to them.”

He swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling a surge of anxiety in his chest. It was one thing to chat with them about different characters and storylines, but to try and talk to them about normie stuff?! That was hard enough the first time around! How was he supposed to do this?! He didn’t have time to prepare a strategy or-

[:...big brother…:]

He froze, staring at the soul as they stared up at him. “What…did you call me?” he mumbled.

[:Big brother…:] Shims repeated, looking ready to cry despite not having the capability to do so. [:I don’t want to go…I don’t…want to be alone again…:]

“...you…won’t be alone, Shims.” Crouching down so he was sitting back on his heels, Idia watched them for a moment before he said, “I know you’re scared, but…there’s a whole world of fun things and friends to find back in the mortal realm. Don’t you want to go and see it all again? Discover something new?”

[:But…the monsters…:] Shims’ colors began to dim again, curling into an even tighter ball than he’d seen before. [:The monsters are still out there…what if they find me again?:]

He didn’t know how to respond. ‘I always thought mortals had a permanent easy mode compared to the nightmare levels,’ he thought to himself. Looking up at the souls floating around them, something finally clicked in his mind. “...they might be there, Shims. But…if you keep hiding away, worrying about what kind of crazy scary mobs are out there…you’ll miss out on the chance to build the life you want to live.”

[:Huh…?:]

“I understand now…it doesn’t matter whether you think someone is playing on safe or easy mode–your idea of an easy playthrough may be someone else’s nightmare difficulty. And that’s okay.” Thinking back on the games he introduced to them, he said, “The point of every game is that–no matter how many times you get knocked down–you get up and try again no matter how many times it takes to reach the final boss. The journey would be long and difficult, but you’ll always find companions to help you through each level until you can beat the game and move on to the next campaign. Life may be tough, but–” glancing up at Ortho–who gave him a smile–he said, “with the right NPCs by your side, even the scariest monsters can be defeated.”

Was it his imagination, or had some of the other fragile souls drifted closer…?

[:...I…I’m scared,:] Shims said softly. [:What if…what if I can’t get back up?:]

“Then…Ortho will be there to pick you up.” Holding his hand out to them, he said, “And then when we meet again, we can play games and trade stories–just like we have been doing.” With a genuine smile, he said, “No matter how much of a normie you become, I want to hear how your campaign goes…okay?”

Shims looked from his hand to his face, slowly reaching out to rest their hand into his palm and allowing him to pull them out of their hiding place. Then, in a quiet voice, they asked, [:Will you…come with me, big brother?:]

A warm feeling spread in his chest, and he nodded as he said, “Sure…if you’re okay with having two brothers now.”

The smile on their face grew so wide he couldn’t help but grin back, Ortho happily moving over to hold their free hand in his. “Let’s go,” Ortho said. “The Stardust River awaits!”

////

[...and after the blot was cleansed from their core, we were able to restore their light to the point they could safely be reborn. Due to the nature of their heritage though, not all of their memories were cleared to allow a clean slate.]

Oh no! Were…were they okay?

[Of course, Fauna Taleweaver! In fact, they were able to live very well in several life cycles before choosing to stay with us as a new minor deity. By my calculations, they should find their calling within the next few centuries–I can’t wait!]

“Fynaaah…Faun, are you tryin’ to make me cry with all these stories?!”

Awww, you really are just a softie on the inside, huh, Grim~?

“I’m not soft! S-Stop laughing at your future god!!”

Heehee…anyway, thanks for sharing that story with us, Ortho. Oh, and thank Idia for us too!

[Absolutely! If any of your followers have any further questions about souls or the Underworld, I am happy to oblige!]

[fardell24b]

Spider Quinn 01: Quinn and the Spider

Spider Quinn

Let’s do this one more time. My name is Quinn Morgendorffer and for the past several years, I have been the one and only SpiderGirl. But let’s start at the beginning…

01 Quinn and the Spider

It was an ordinary day at Lawndale High. Quinn Morgendorffer certainly thought so as she headed to her science class.

“Good morning, Class,” Ms. Janet Barch said. “The field trip is today. I hope you have given your permission slips to the office. This field trip will cover much information on Genetics and Entomology, so be sure to take notes. There will be a test next week. Oscorp is one of the leading companies in biotechnology today. Too bad it’s lead by a MAN!”

Everyone in the class was familiar with Barch’s opinion of men, so they didn’t asks questions about that.

They were soon on their way.

“Have you heard about Brooke’s latest surgery, Quinn?” Sandi Griffin asked.

“I have, Sandi,” Quinn replied. ‘Ew!’ She didn’t want to think about it.

“I haven’t, Sandi,” Stacy Rowe answered.

“Wha-at?” Tiffany Blum-Deckler asked.

Sandi sighed.

“What do you think this field trip is about?” Quinn asked, trying to change the topic. ‘Something about genes?’

Sandi glared at Quinn. “Qui-inn! That is a question I would expect from the mouth of that girl who lives with you!”

“No, she would already know, Sandi!” Quinn pointed out. She didn’t like to be reminded of Daria by Sandi!

Stacy gave a nervous look.

“I give you that, but you don’t need to know, Quinn,” Sandi said.

“I hope we don’t have to wear those ugly safety goggles,” Stacy said. “Ugh!”

“Would those make me look fat?” Tiffany asked.

Quinn sighed.

“Back to Brooke,” Sandi said.

“Let’s not,” Stacy said.

Sandi glared at Stacy.

“Eep!”

“We are talking about Brooke,” Sandi said.

“She’s suddenly so weird,” Tiffany added.

“I wouldn’t know,” Quinn said. “I haven’t seen her around.”

Sandi sighed.

The bus soon arrived at the destination. Ms. Barch supervised the class as they disembarked. “Make a straight line as we wait for our guide.” She grumbled as the thoughts of her ex husband came to her mind yet again. ‘I hope it’s not a male!’

‘How likely is that?’ Quinn wondered.

A guide soon approached. “Welcome to the Oscorp Lawndale Genetics Laboratory,” she said.

Ms. Barch gave a quick smile before they followed her inside.

After going through other rooms, the class entered a room filled with cages containing spiders.

“One project is the addition of genes from multiple species to create a hybrid,” the guide explained.

Quinn noticed that one cage was empty. She wasn’t the only one.

“One of them is missing,” Joey Black said.

“The researchers are probably working on it,” the guide said.

In fact, the spider had escaped! It was spinning a web near one of the air vents. A sudden gust dislodged it from the web!

It fell on Quinn’s shoulder! She noticed it. “Ew!” She tried to brush it off. But it bit her.  “Ugh!” She squashed it. She then went pale and her vision went blurry.

“Quinn, are you OK?” Stacy asked.

“Dizzy!” Quinn said, before stumbling.

Sandi saw Quinn stumble after Stacy asked if she was OK. “Ms. Barch! Quinn isn’t feeling well.”

“Wha-at?” Tiffany asked.

Sandi saw that the bite site was swelling.

“What’s wrong?” Ms. Barch asked.

“Quinn’s not well!” Stacy answered.

“There was this spider,” Quinn explained.

Ms. Barch looked at Quinn.

“Class, we’re going back to school.”

Nurse Chase turned to Quinn. “Here’s some antivenom.”

She injected it into Quinn’s arm.

“Good thing, you have it.”

“There are spiders that Pavlov misses. But you still need to go home for the rest of the day.”

“Thanks,” Quinn said.

Helen was home early.

“Mom?” Quinn asked as she came inside.

“I was concerned when I received the call,” Helen responded.

“I’m feeling a little better.”

“Go up to your room and rest.”

Quinn didn’t argue.

Quinn entered her room in a daze. She looked at herself in the mirrors. “Gosh! I look pale!” She flopped onto her bed. She was asleep before she hit the sheets. She began to dream.

In the living room, her father was fretting. “Quinn was bitten by a spider! On no! We should take her to the hospital!”

“Jake! The school nurse gave her antivenom,” his wife, Helen said reassuringly. “She would have sent her to the hospital if she had concerns. We’ll see how she is in the morning.”

“The morning?”

“Yes.”

Quinn’s sister, Daria was in her room, on the phone with her friend Jane Lane. “…. So now, Quinn is recovering in her room,” she said.

“I suppose whatever date she was going on was cancelled,” Jane said.

“No doubt.”

“You’re going to be easy on her?”

“Not a chance,” Daria answered. “She will be back to her usual self tomorrow.”

“Or maybe she’ll be more insufferable.”

“Is there a word for insufferabler?”

Later that night after her parents and Daria had gone asleep, Quinn stirred, but remained asleep. However, she then started sleepwalking. She got out of bed and went downstairs.

She grabbed some food from the fridge and ate it. She headed back upstairs and to bed.

She awoke after sunrise. “I feel better, but something’s weird… What is it?” She went over to her mirrors. Something was off about her appearance. She found that her abdominal muscles are more defined. “What’s going on with me? Is this a nightmare?”

She decided to try to go back to sleep.

She awoke again and looked at the time. “Breakfast!”

She slipped at the top of the stairs. She summersaulted and then landed on her feet. “What just happened?” she asked herself. She wasn’t sure.

Helen was preparing breakfast when Quinn entered the kitchen. “How are you this morning, Quinn?”

“I feel a lot better.”

“We were worried.”

“You mean, Daddy was,” Quinn responded.

“Yes.”

Daria then entered the kitchen. “Oh. You’re up and about,” she said.

“I feel a lot better,” Quinn said again.

“I didn’t expect otherwise,” Daria said.

Quinn met Sandi and Stacy at a door as she arrived at the school. “Are you feeling better, Quinn?”

“I do,” Quinn responded.

Sandi gave a dubious look. “There’s like, a Fashion Club meeting this afternoon.”

“That’s fine,” Quinn responded. “I’m a lot better.”

Sandi gave another dubious look. “Good,” she said.

Later, in between classes, Quinn saw Brooke Peterson approaching.

“I see you were sent home yesterday,” Brooke said.

“So what?” Quinn asked.

“Something happened, didn’t it?” Brooke asked.

“Something,” Quinn murmured.

Brooke then tried to attack Quinn. Some sort of tingle caused Quinn to move out of the way. Brooke tried again, but she missed!

“Uh!” Brooke said. She swung again, hitting another locker. “Stay still!”

Quinn moved out of the way again.

Brooke then leapt at her.

Quinn jumped, quite high, right over Brooke!

Quinn was confused, something was definitely happening to her. She ran.

Quinn ended up on the roof. ‘What is happening to me?’ she wondered. ‘Was it that spider?’

She suddenly realised that she needed to get to class. She grabbed the doorknob. Her hand than somehow stuck to it. “Oh no!” she said as she panicked. The knob then came off in her hand. “Oh no!” Then a web came out of her wrist! “Ew!”

She was shocked and sat down. ‘What has happened to me so far?’ she wondered.

She sorted through the memories from earlier in the day. That her muscles were more defined. That there was some sort of danger sense that allowed her to avoid being hit by Brooke. That she was sticking to things. And that a web had come out of her wrist. She thought more on this before looking at her watch. “Yikes!”

Quinn ran late into History.

“You’re late, Ms. Morgendorffer!” Mr. DeMartino said.

“Sorry, something came up,” Quinn said.

“That’s alright, Ms. Morgendorffer. Just don’t do it again!”

The rest of the day went by without further incidents.

“See you at the meeting,” Sandi said they left the school.

‘I didn’t forget the meeting, Sandi!’ Quinn groused to herself as she walked away from the school.

She headed downtown. ‘This is a good time to test what I can do now.’

She looked at her right wrist. “What can I do with these webs?” She looked at a nearby building and remembered seeing a spider spinning it’s web.

“Right!”

She produced a web but it didn’t get far.

“Again!” she said with determination.

The second web came out faster and hit somewhere higher on the building.

She then jumped high, but came down on the ground.

‘I’ll try again.’

She ran and shot a web. This time she swung up at an angle. But she still slammed into a wall.

“Ugh!” she said as she fell down the wall. But not far. She found she was sticking to it. “Oh!”

‘I’m sticking to the wall! Can I climb down? Or up?”

She moved down the wall to the ground. “Even more like a spider! Ew! But can I climb up?”

She then climbed up.

She got to the eave. “Time to try swinging again,” she said as she looked at it. She produced webbing again, and swung.

This time she ended up on the roof. “That worked!”

She walked to the edge of the roof, and shot another web.

Soon she was going from rooftop to rooftop through Lawndale’s downtown. But she soon came to the edge of the downtown, where it and the suburbia met. ‘This is going to be more difficult,’ she thought as she looked over the sprawl towards home.

She swung to the ground.

As she went towards home, she wondered if she could swing from trees. There was only one way to find out.

She shot out webbing and it connected to a branch. She smiled and swung. She found that it worked, but not as well as in the built up area.

Ten minutes later, she swung up onto the roof of her house. She looked back in the direction she had just come. ‘I wonder what the future has in store.’

[palaceofpassion]

How did Jaune and May react when they first met each other in Only Hunters story? It must be a surprise and maybe a happy coincidence for May since Jaune was sweet to her.

I hope this is fine!

I've been wanting to write this for a while, just I don't know if it came out well.

"This is a really stupid idea..."

And yet, no matter how many times he kept telling himself that, Jaune had still made his way out beyond the parts of the school that no one visited.

He'd scoped out this place before and had thought that perhaps giving his followers a little night video would be... well it would be good.

And it didn't hurt that the moon was brighter tonight than it had been since he started.

"Okay... you can do this... you can do this..."

Despite knowing that no one would be here, he couldn't help but feel nervous. After all he was finally going to bare it all, and... he wasn't sure how well that would go over. He knew that some of his followers, specifically White Snow, KnightlyDreams, and DragonPetals were really into it. But...

"No... no you talked to Wallflower about this you can do this."

Wallflower had been a major help to him, discussing on whether he was comfortable or not doing this. Finally after much deliberation he knew he was ready for this.

They'd supported him for so long... what was a little flesh to show?

"Sigh... even Pyrrha hasn't seen me naked yet... I feel like I'm messing up here."

Though, little did he know that he wasn't actually alone.

Coming from the other end, going to the exact same secluded spot, was another famous Only Hunters user, Wallflower herself had been planning for this moment for weeks now.

"Mmm! This is going to be such a special thing, I hope Valiant likes it."

Though she wouldn't say it outloud, she'd found herself crushing on Valiant. He was handsome, from what she'd seen, and he was just the sweetest thing. He made her feel well... he made her feel like Jaune did, and that was absolutely fantastic as far as she was concerned.

She loved feeling sexy, but she loved feeling like someone was watching over her and caring for her more than even that.

So she'd planned to create a special set just for him.

Of course these feelings left her conflicted. On one hand, she did enjoy being with Jaune, but on the other talking with Valiant had meant a lot to her. Though she supposed it was a moot point. It wasn't like she woudl ever have the courage to really confess to Jaune, especially with the way Pyrrha looked at him. And well... she knew that ever meeting Valiant would be beyond her.

So for now all she could do is dream, and feel like a princess who was actually wanted.

"Ugh! Why is it so dark!" She whispered to herself, so stuck on finding her way that she didn't notice the other body suddenly getting closer to her.

It only took a few seconds but, there was a loud crash.

"Ouch!"

"Ow!"

Jaune's eyes widened as he realized he'd crashed into someone, even more so when he realized he was about to fall ontop of them!

Thinking quick, and subconciously, he shifted his body wait so that way he would take the brunt of the fall.

May panicked! She was now ontop of someone, and she wasn't wearing her special bra either. Her pillowy massive bust pressed against the boy? Below her, smothering his face in her, thankfully, covered chest.

"Wha!?"

The muffled voice echoed from within the chamber of her tits.

A strong hand reached out, grabbing her by the waist causing her to let out a cute little "Eep!"

Eventually she pulled herself off of the tangled mess, barely being able to get a good look at who was beneath her.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry1"

She called out, to frightened and messed up to alter her voice.

"No no I'm sorry I did'nt mean to."

Her eyes widened even more, turning into large saucers as she got a good look who was beneath her.

"Ja...Jaune?!"

"Huh?"

Jaune's attention finally focused, his eyes barely just getting used to the dim light of the moon.

"...Wallflower?!"

He couldn't believe it.

In front of him was Wallflower herself! There was no way he'd mistake that body of hers or the unique mask she wore!

"Wha?! You oh uhm!"

May couldn't believe it! Jaune watched her stream!

Only when she'd pulled away, did she finally come to a realization.

Though she'd identified him as Jaune... she'd recognized the shirt... it wasn't particularly unique one. But it was one she'd seen stripped off dozens of times. And... then se noticed the loose fitting pants that bulged as he practicallyd evoured her with his gaze.

"Va...valiant?"

"Oh shit!"

Jaune hadn't meant to be found, so he hadn't really prepared himself!

What's more how did- He looked at his shirt... "Right... uhm yeah... hey... Wallflower... I see you were uhm... were you going to uh use this spot?"

Wallflower just stared at him for a while.

"Wait... did you say my name?"

"Jaune..."

May had one chance, and she wasn't going to let it go through. Slowly she removed the mask, "Jaune it's me."

"May!?"

For who knows how long, both of them sat there, staring at one another.

Neither knew it just yet, but this would greatly alter the course of their channels and lives.

And in JNPR's dorm, one redhead stared at her screen saddened by a lack of her two favorite creators... though... she couldn't help but feel an auspicious occasion had just taken place. And that perhaps she would soon be the luckiest woman on Remnant.

[anniefall]

A Cure for What Ails you

Sfw, Levi x Reader, No Warnings—just shit jokes, Continuation of part 1

They say everyone likes someone that can make them laugh, but not much is said about how it feels to be the cause of that laughter. Levi is finding out.

You aren’t upset.

You aren’t upset.

…Maybe you’re a little upset.

Training hadn’t been horrible, per se, but it’s clear to you and everyone else that even now the Scouts are on another level. Despite surviving Trost in the initial battle for the wall, you just don’t have the experience fighting real Titans the way they do—and unfortunately, it seems that real-life situations are the only true way to evolve and improve your ODM skills. It's a horrifying thought, that you won't know how good you are until you fight for real.

You’re only a true Scout once you’ve made it back alive.

Words you’d heard Captain Levi imparting to other transfers during their very first training exercises ring clear in your head, sounding truer to you every moment.

You’d joined the Scouts because you believed in their cause, now more than ever—but it’s only taken a few months for the doubt to settle in that they wouldn’t be better off without you.

“Oi.”

“Eep!”

Too late, you realize the presence to your left—no longer alone in the room. Levi eyes you with a single arched brow as you turn to face him bashfully.

“Hey!” You clear your throat, trying to recover from the noise you’d just made, “Thought you’d be in a meeting all afternoon.”

“Something urgent came up that needed Erwin’s immediate attention, so it turns out I’m spared from his constant yapping for another day.”

You snort, once, mouth tilting up on one side momentarily, “it’s nice how close you are with your commander—I couldn’t imagine speaking so freely with Pyxis, even if I stayed with the Garrison for a hundred years.”

“Callin’ me old, brat?” He grunts, and you smirk again.

“I would never, Levi,” you tell him, testing the waters. You want to speak with him like Hange does—free to joke and to tease. You want to be closer to him, despite yourself, and it hadn’t seemed that he was averse to the idea.

He’d been the one to tell you to call him by name, after all—at least, when you weren’t obeying a direct order.

“I’m surprised you think so little of me.”

He clicks his tongue against his teeth, a habit of his, but even if he doesn’t reply to your coy tone you see his face soften a bit.

“What’s your issue, anyway?” He prods, shrewd eyes trained on your face, “you were thinking about something pretty hard when I came by. Looked like you hadn’t taken a decent shit for a week.”

Sometimes you forget.

Levi, for all his cool indifference and unflappable demeanor, is one of the most deeply understanding people you have ever met. You’ve seen firsthand how he can read situations and people, alike, like books from Erwin’s expansive shelves.

His jokes may not be all that funny, but they always seemed to come just in time to disturb any gathering negativity. It is difficult to focus on your worries when your superior is hurling toilet humor at you.

It’s not so much the surprise that gets you, this time, but the genuine affection that floods your chest at the idea that he might care for you, too. The doubts that had plagued your mind when you had snuck away into this room dissipate in order to make room for the soft joy that warms you to your very bones.

You laugh, again, full and yet, somehow lighter than a feather. Your eyes crease at the corners, your hand flies up to hide your mouth as if somehow that might stem the tide, but the carefree giggles keep coming—eager to free themselves after spending all day with nowhere to go.

“Oi, oi, oi—did you finally snap under all the pressure or something?”

Still laughing, you struggle to open your eyes wide enough to look at him. Your vision blurs a little at the edges, but you can see the way he stares at you as if wondering if he’d broken you.

That thought nearly has you doubling over. Hange had been right, he really has no clue what to do.

It’s cute.

He takes a cautious step forward as if thinking you might fall over. You don’t, though—eventually the laughing fit dies down into chuckles that are easier to manage, and you straighten yourself out as best you can.

He watches you. Your cheeks are flushed with the evidence of your joy. Your eyes are bright and glittering. Your smile is so wide it could split your face.

You’re beautiful like this.

The thought is sudden, and it tramples him like a stampeding horse—his heart beats like hooves pounding the ground.

To think that he said something to make you look at him that way…

“Thanks, Levi,” you sigh, and the tension has left your shoulders for a moment while you lean against the wall. You let your head fall back against it. Your eyes fall shut. You look peaceful. “You always know exactly what to say.”

He thinks he really doesn’t—but for you, he might be willing to stumble around in the dark if it means you would give him that smile just one more time.

[intheticklecloset]

You're the Coolest (Haikyuu!!)

Primary Universe

@happyandticklish We're going back in time again! Consider this a bit of backstory for the events of "Burn Some Calories." I personally really love this one; there's not enough ticklish Noya in the world and he's so dang cute! Thanks so much for the fun prompt! Enjoy! ^^

~

This little first-year was at once making him look really bad and pushing him to do even better.

From the moment he’d introduced himself, Yuu Nishinoya had taken the court by storm. The kid was a natural libero, able to receive and defend better than anyone Asahi had ever known before. His bright smile and outgoing personality lit up the gym, making practice both more fun and more intense as everyone strove to do better, inspired by his energy.

Asahi admired him greatly for that. He, too, promised to work harder and improve in all areas so he could be worthy of sharing the court with Noya. As time went on, though, he found that it didn’t seem to matter how hard he worked; the first-year was always several steps ahead of him. While Daichi, Suga, and the others began to serve better, block better, and spike better, he himself – the ace of the team – remained steadfast in doing just as well as he always had. Sure, every practice was helping him improve, but only marginally compared to his teammates. Noya was always smiling and encouraging, but Asahi felt more and more like he was being left behind, and the weight was crushing him.

All of that changed one night after practice.

“All right, guys,” the captain announced, “time to call it a day. First-years, clean up. Second-years, put the gear away.”

Everyone shouted their affirmation and scattered to do as they were told.

Noya came bounding up to him, grinning. “You were great today, Asahi! You’ve been working on your serves, right? I can tell.”

Asahi gave him a tired smile. “You don’t have to do that, Noya.”

“Huh? Do what?”

“Act like I’m making such great progress.” Asahi gripped the ball he was holding before tossing it into the bin nearby. “I’m obviously not.”

“Sure you are.” Noya looked up at him, eyes wide and earnest. “If I’m having to work harder to receive them, that means you’ve been working harder to improve them. It’s logic.”

“That’s more a testament to how amazing you are than anything.”

“You think I’m amazing?”

Asahi looked down at his underclassman, astonished. “Of course I think that. You are amazing, Noya.”

Noya beamed, gently pushing his fist into Asahi’s chest. “You’re amazing, too, ace.”

“Not compared to you. You’re so…so energetic and adaptive and tough, and I’m…I’m none of those things.”

“Tough? I’m not tough,” Noya laughed. “You’re the tough one.”

Asahi tossed another volleyball into the basket. “Yeah, right.”

“You are!”

“Noya!” Tanaka snapped from the supplies closet. “A little help would be nice!”

“Hang on a second, Tanaka,” the libero called back. “I’m giving a pep talk here.” He turned to look up at Asahi again. “You’ve got to believe in yourself more, dude. I can see you’re improving. All of us can. Why can’t you?”

“Sure, I’m improving. Just not enough.”

“Everyone moves at their own pace.”

“I’ll never be as awesome as you.”

Noya frowned, and the look was so unusual for him that it gave Asahi pause. “I’m not as invincible as you think I am, Asahi. I’ve got weaknesses, too.”

“I have yet to see one.”

“Where do I start? My test scores are average at best, I’m total crap at serving – kind of why I chose to play libero, honestly. Oh, and don’t get me started on my luck with girls—”

“I meant physically,” Asahi said quickly, putting an end to that train of thought. “Physical weaknesses. On the court. I haven’t seen any.”

Noya hesitated for a moment, suddenly looking embarrassed. He glanced around to make sure no one was listening in, then lowered his voice. “Look, I’ll admit something to you, because you need the encouragement and I trust you. But you’ve got to promise not to tell anyone else, okay?”

Asahi swallowed, nodding.

“I’m ticklish,” Noya said quickly, cheeks turning pink as he spoke. “Like, stupidly ticklish. One poke and I’m completely useless.”

Asahi stared at him. He scanned him up and down, his mind automatically filling in the blanks. Ribs, sides, waist, knees. All places he’d attack first if he were to tickle Noya. Not that he was going to, of course. Not after the libero had specifically said he trusted him.

“Oh,” he said at last, voice soft. He blinked, straightened. “Well…I suppose that counts.”

“Nishinoya!” Tanaka yelled.

Noya whirled around and ran to him. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming!”

Asahi watched him go, then blindly – as if in a daze – picked up the rest of the volleyballs and helped take down the net, putting it away for the night. Ticklish, he thought, and that was all he could think. Noya’s ticklish. Noya’s ticklish. Noya’s ticklish.

Once the gym had been cleared up and cleaned up and the captain had locked the doors, Noya found Asahi again, prancing up to him as if it was the first time he’d seen him all week. “So, feeling better now, ace?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah, I guess so.” Asahi took one glance at the libero’s smiling face and lost all control. He wanted to see that smile more. Wanted to make him smile like that more. He was dying to hear what Noya sounded like when he was tickled. So, in a flash, he grabbed the little first-year’s sides and squeezed.

As promised, Noya immediately burst into giggles and crumpled to the ground, his legs giving out beneath him. “Nohohoho, Asahi!” he pleaded, holding up his hands defensively as the ace knelt down to join him and dug in again, more purposefully this time. “Nahahahahahahahaha! P-Please, I tohohohhohold you, I’m reheheheheheally ticklihihihihish!”

“You had to know I’d want to see for myself,” Asahi countered, beaming at the adorable sight but lightening his touch slightly.

“Ahahahahahahahaha! Sehehehehehee?! I’m n-nohohohohohot so tohohohohough, am I?”

“You’re the toughest person I know, Noya.” Asahi snatched up both of his wrists and held them above his head, using his free hand to wiggle his fingertips into the grooves of the libero’s ribcage. Noya spasmed, laughter spilling out of him faster than he seemed able to keep up with. “You’re just a sensitive guy, that’s all.”

“Tehehehehehell that to the lahahahahahahadies!” Noya retorted, squealing when Asahi found the backs of his ribs and kneaded there. He tossed his head back and laughed unguarded. “STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!!”

Part of Asahi thought he should stop, but another, stronger part of him found that he simply couldn’t. Noya losing control of himself like this was just so…so unprecedented and unusual, not to mention the cutest thing he’d ever seen. He swung a leg over to pin his thighs down and dug in a little harder, enjoying the shriek he got in response.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE, ASAHIHIEHEHEHEHE!!” Noya begged, smiling uncontrollably as mirth burst out of him in helpless waves. “STOP, PLEHEHEHEHEASE, I CAHAHAHAHAN’T TAHAHAHAHAKE IT!!”

“You’re really ticklish, huh, Noya?” Asahi asked, half-teasing, half-serious. He trailed his fingers down to the libero’s belly and scribbled there. “It’s kind of cute.”

“SHUHUHUHUHUHUHUT UP!! I’M NOT CUHUHUHUHUHUHUTE!!” Noya insisted even through his frantic cackling and squirming. “I’M THE COHOHOHOHOHOOL, CONFIDENT LIHIHIHIHIHIBERO!!”

Asahi laughed with him at that. “Oh, are you, now? Not so cool and confident when I’ve got you pinned down like this, hmm?” He poked at Noya’s belly button, chuckling at the “eep!” he got as a reward. “Let’s see. Where’s your worst spot?”

“HAAH?!” Noya made a distressed noise through his giggling, twisting every which way under Asahi’s grasp. “N-Nohohoho, no, plehehease don’t, I cahahahahan’t take it! Reheheheheally!”

“I haven’t even found it yet!”

“Y-You wihihihihihill,” Noya replied, sounding nervous, his eyes panicked. “T-Then you’ll nehehever want to stop. Nohohoho one ever dohohoes.”

At that, Asahi pulled back, releasing Noya entirely as he climbed off of him. He frowned. “Whoa, dude, I’m sorry. Is this…is this traumatic for you?”

“No,” Noya groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes, still laying on the ground. “It’s just…I’ve got this reputation, you know? You were telling me yourself that you think I’m some awesome, unbeatable volleyball star. I…I like being cool like that. And this undermines that coolness.”

“Then why did you tell me?” Asahi asked. “If you were worried it would ruin your reputation?”

“Because it’s you,” Noya said, uncovering his eyes to look at him. “I trust you.”

I trust you. Those words again, with more meaning this time. Asahi smiled at him. “Then do you believe me when I say I’ll never tell anyone else about this? I’ll preserve your reputation. Don’t worry.”

“But…” the libero looked away, seeming embarrassed again. “My worst spot makes me sound ridiculous when I’m tickled there. There’s no coming back from that once you’ve heard it. That’s why I…I don’t want you to try it.”

Asahi felt a little wounded. “Why? Do you think I’ll think less of you?”

“Everyone always does. Once you lose your cool, you’re no longer cool. You know?”

“Noya, I’ll never think you’re not cool just because you’re a little ticklish. That’s silly.” When the libero didn’t answer, he continued, “But if you want me to stop here, I will.”

Noya turned to look at him again, and he frowned. “You really want to, don’t you?”

Asahi could feel himself blushing, but he couldn’t help it. “I mean…yeah. Tickling you just now was…was fun. I’d like to hear what other sounds you make. But not if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Ugh.” The first-year covered his face with his hands. “You’re the cool one, Asahi. I’d never let anyone else do this, you know? You’re the only one allowed to see me like this.”

Asahi’s heart leapt. “So…is it okay? Or do you want me to stop?”

“It’s my thighs.”

There was a pause. Taking that as an invitation, Asahi cautiously reached out to try said spot, but stopped when he realized Noya was still hiding. He leaned forward and gently pried his hands away, forcing him to make eye contact. The ace smiled, then carefully grabbed one of the libero’s thighs and squeezed.

Noya spasmed again, his smile back in an instant, and just as instantly covered up again.

“Don’t hide,” Asahi said, pulling his hands away again. “I want to see that smile.”

“You’re the worst,” Noya whined, giggling. “The actual worst. I can’t believe I’m letting you do this to me-EEEEEE!! NAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

Asahi chuckled, scratching and scribbling along his thighs, enjoying how the lightest touch forced him into this amount of hysterics. “You know what, Noya? This is way more than just cute. This is cool.” He found the inner thighs and kneaded, making the libero toss his head back and scream like a banshee. “This is really, really cool.”

“NO IT’S NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOT!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHASAHIIIEEEEEE!!”

“Yes it is! Seeing you laugh so freely like that, like you don’t care who’s watching or listening? That’s really awesome. You’re the coolest, Noya.”

“SHUT UP, SHUT UHUHUHUHUHUHUHUP!!”

“Don’t be rude! I’m your upperclassman. I know what I’m talking about.” Asahi left Noya’s thighs, darting back up to his ribs and scribbling wildly, enjoying the tussle of trying to keep up while the little libero squirmed around on the ground, curling up, giggling wildly. “You’re so cool. The best first-year in the bunch. Don’t tell the others, though.”

“Please,” Noya wheezed, grabbing onto Asahi’s wrists, too weak to actually push them away. “Please, stohohohohop tehehehehelling me I’m cohohohohool whihihihihile you’re tihihihihihickling me!”

“But you are!” Asahi insisted, grinning at how red Noya’s cheeks were becoming. “I already thought you were cool, but your laughter is awesome. I think you’re cool whether you’re ticklish or not. I want you to believe me. Do you, Noya? Do you believe me?”

“Yehehehehehes, all rihihihihight, I’m the c-cohohohohohoolest kid on the theheheheheam!” Noya relented, giggling so hard he was gasping for breath. “Plehehehehease, stahahahahahap it! Let me gohohohohoho!”

Beaming, Asahi did as he was asked, allowing Noya to catch his breath before reaching down to squeeze his shoulder. “You’re the best, you know that? When you’re around I always want to do better. To improve. Having you share this with me and letting me indulge a little bit makes me feel like I can do anything. Because if our cool, confident libero trusts me enough to do this, there’s nothing I can’t do. Right?”

Nishinoya looked up at him incredulously, then burst out laughing all over again. “Oh my god, you’re such a sap!” he cried, clutching his stomach as he rolled onto his side. “All right, fine, you’ve convinced me. I’m glad my being so stupidly ticklish makes you feel invincible.”

“You’re not stupidly ticklish. You’re extremely ticklish,” Asahi countered, reaching down to scribble at his belly. “Because you’re an extremely cool person.”

Noya beamed, giggling, allowing his friend to have a little more fun at his expense.

From that day forward, he never called his sensitivity stupid again.

[someone1348]

This prompt was from @the-inverse-oreo / @the-tickly-oreo

Prompt #16, You broke another rule, did you?

People in this: Ler!Sam, Lee!Dream

(PLATONIC ONLYYYYY!)

Tw: none this is adorable!

With all that being said enjoyyyy :]

___________~☆°♡°☆°♡°☆~______________

Security watch

As the days passed they blended together. At first he was okay but as the minutes passed he became antsy and started rebelling in whatever way he could.

During his little plans he continued to forget he was being watched and the whole thing was under high alert and gaurd,

About a week now sam had been seeing these small actions of anger he decided to call his very own "temper tantrums" and decided not to interfere unless things got bad.

The worst he's done was kick things and shout insults at the camera, he now broke the camera on purpose, grabbing a new one sam entered the cell pushing down his smile at the childishness and going on "gaurd mode"

"HAHA HI SAM!" Dream giggled

"Hi Dream, Why'd you break the camera?" He asked in a gentle voice

"Because i can sam! You think you have power over me but really its me who holds the power and the minute i get out of here ohhoho! It'll be so much fun!"

Sam sighed "yeah well that ain't happening anytime soon bud" he cleaned up the broken camera pieces replacing it as dream made airplane noises behind him,

Dream tends to act like a child when he's tired especially if he's over tired which by the looks of it he hasn't gotten much lately, the dark haze under his eyes and giggly voice and actions say it all.

Sam didn't mind dream could do whatever he wanted as long as he stayed in the prison and didn't break any rules which he just did, which reminds him,

"Dream"

"Yea?"

"You broke another rule, did you?"

Sam said with a slight giggle as he turned to the masked man staring down at him with intimation.

",,,nooooo~" dream said smirking "i did nothing of the sort! You can't prove it! Im innocent!!" He spouted out as sam rolled his eyes with a smirk

"You remember what happens when you break a rule?" He teased hovering over him as dream was backed up into a corner

"No no SAM SAAAMM!"

"Quit screamihing" sam giggled

"AHHHH- EEP NONONO WAIT!-"

Sam lunged forward skitering his wiggling fingers up and down his ribs as he slowly slid down the wall to the floor sam following right along with him.

"Ee!!! Hehehey! Tickles! It Tickles!!!" Dream stated giggling from the light sensations still fluttering over his ribs

"Nohohohoho!" He brought his knees in shaking his head side to side

"You know what happens when you break a rule dream~ you know you've been breaking aloot of rules recently, I'm starting to think you're doing this on purpose~" He teased as dream growled in between his giggles

"Nohoho i DOHohont!" Sam giggled moving to his lower stomach right underneath his bellybutton.

"Are you sure about that dreamlee?~"

"OH BE QUI-NAHAHAHA WAIT!"

Sam smirked dipping a finger into his bellybutton as dream kicked out in front of him.

"STahaAhaAHAP! You're MEAHAean!!!"

"Oh you haven't seen the worst of it yet, you want mean?~ this is what you get for breaking the camera!" Sam darted his hands up to his underarms, Dream immediately clamping them down.

"NAHAHAHAAHA SAHAHAHAHAMMM!!!"

"this is what you get!" Sam giggled "Tktktktktktktk" wiggling his fingers more the more he struggled.

"AGAH! HAHAHA SAHAHAHAM SAM PLEAHAHAHASE IHIHIHIHIT TIHIHICKLES SO BAHAHAD!!!"

"Mhmm i know it does buddy, does this make it worse?, Tickletickletickletickle~"

"EE!"

Sam laughed a bit blowing a raspberry into his neck,

"NAHAHAHAAHA PLEAHAHAHASE!"

"Okay Okay, you get mercy for now but break another rule again and there will be no more mercy" sam said sternly as dream nodded super fast,

Sam helped him up and said goodnight leaving the cell.

'Oh im so writing on the walls tomorrow'

Dream thought to himself smirking and going to sleep

_________________________________________

i hope you all enjoyedd!! :]

-K

[mittensmorgul]

Mittens, you are in the TNT loop watch, right? Is it true that they keep skipping episode S15E09? Someone commented on Bob Wess latest Destiel video that 'in the last few run-throughs, they'll have "The Trap" listed in the channel guide on TV but are actually showing another episode in its place'. Bob also mentioned that WB keep pulling out his video because of The Trap footage. He had to put elaborate watermark and elevator music in that portion of his video for it to be on YT after 3 tries.

Hi there! I'll start by saying that I know about Bob Wess's videos, but as yet haven't had a chance to watch them. I fully intend to, but I think maybe I should start with this one... eep...

I DID make a post the last time 15.09 was on the TNT schedule: https://mittensmorgul.tumblr.com/post/651446540445024256/dear-the-tnt-loop-i-thought-i-was-having-a

because the schedule said it was to immediately follow 15.08. Instead, they showed 15.08 TWICE IN A ROW. I thought I was going nuts... I was like... what... what are they doing?! I even checked the website (not just my tv program guide) and the TNT schedule page even said it was 15.09 The Trap. It just... wasn't.

For those living in the US (I believe it's region locked), this is the official TNT schedule page https://www.tntdrama.com/schedule. Unfortunately, you can't go back two weeks to see it still, but for next time it comes up (probably August, considering they're only up to 2.05 on Tuesday morning-- no eps Monday for the holiday). They average about a season a week (sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less... the number of eps they show per day, Monday-Thursday, varies).

The first time or two they show a "new" season (I've ben watching the TNT loop since s7 was the "new season" so I've seen this happen nine times now), they used to skip a "filler" episode here and there, but I'd argue that 15.09 is the furthest thing from a filler ep there could be. It sets up the final conflict with the ultimate big bad of the entire series, after all! It sets up the players in the game and the stakes, and shows them everything they have to lose, and shows what they're willing to do to fight for it. Like... this is not fluff.

And it was the ONLY episode from s15 they skipped in this run through the loop. I honestly don't remember what they showed in the previous run through the loop (it would've ben January, maybe?)

But if you go through my tags for the TNT loop, you'll notice that occasionally they do something truly baffling. Like this: https://mittensmorgul.tumblr.com/post/650906557530472448/dear-the-tnt-loop-yall-done-fucked-up-today-the

In s14, they showed 14.15 and 14.16 in the wrong order, even going as far as swapping their episode numbers. 14.15 is Peace of Mind, and 14.16 is Don't Go In The Woods and yet...

[ID: a screenshot of the TNT schedule from May 11, 2021 showing Don't Go In The Woods labeled s14e15, followed by Peace Of Mind labeled s14e16. /id]

(just check the superwiki episode page for the actual episode numbers and original airing order.)

So that made for an odd viewing experience.

I went back through my tag to January, the last time I watched s15 on the loop, and either didn't notice they messed with 15.09, assumed they were dropping episodes like they usually did with new seasons (if it didn't air), or else it was one of the eps that I just wasn't home to watch. Sometimes, as an adult, I have to adult, unfortunately...

That is wild, if WB was messing with *just* that portion out of all the videos he's put up, but since I haven't seen his show yet, as I said, but I have been meaning to watch it. So I can't speak to why WB would've attempted to have it taken down regardless of Fair Use of the clips for the purposes of discussion and review (which is what I believe Wess's show does, if what I've heard is correct). For reference, here is a link to his youtube channel. Now that I have it open again, I suppose I should sit down and watch some of them...

I also have no idea personally if this is just some oopsie on the part of TNT-- like if the copy of the season they were sent for broadcast is glitched or if this was a programming error on the part of the person who sets the schedule, or what. I try not to assume bad faith because sometimes these glitches do happen. But if it is specifically happening only for this one episode, it kinda makes you think there's something more to what's going on. I have the blu ray of s15 now, so I guess I'll be watching that if they try to skip 15.09 again... but again, that wouldn't be until probably August. They only post their airing schedule two weeks in advance, so right now Supernatural listings only go through 4.01 on Thursday, June 10.

[yeojaa]

( ROSERAIE. )

What you had - so brilliant and beautiful and bright it was almost impossible to look at head-on - was what was tearing you two apart.  It was your love that would be your demise.  

pairing.  jjk x f!reader.

genre + rating.   my take on a hanahaki!au.  pretty heavy on the angst.  general.

tags / warnings.  mention of minor character death, breaking up, soulmates, angst, unrequited love, sick character (hanahaki), bittersweet, non-idol.

wc.  3.2k

beta reader(s).  my forever queens, @hobi-gif​ @snackhobi​!  you both bring such hope and joy (hahahaha) to my life!!!  and of course, the loveliest angels @joheun-saram​, @pars-ley​, and @ditttiii​ for reading through and giving me excellent feedback!

author note.  this is a part of @goldenclosetnetwork​‘s 23 | jungkook’s birthday project.  it’s my first time writing a hanahaki au so...  i have a lot of headcanons for it but i’m not sure whether it all came across in the story.  😰  eep.  anyway, please enjoy and feel free to leave any feedback.  i would love and appreciate it!  most importantly:  happy birthday, kook!  💖

Your parents were a young match.  Together from the tender age of eleven, they’d shared pieces of themselves readily, trading secrets in tree houses and blanket forts.  Nothing was held back - a childhood crush brought to life by playful ribbing and sugar-coated snacks.  Where your mother went, so did your father;  she was his light as much as he was her shadow.  Two halves of a destined whole, earnest and pure.  Friends first.  

It made perfect sense when they shared their dreams - the same one they’d had since they could remember - and it was identical:  swimming in the ocean with a faceless friend, families on their respective four and three-week long road trips.  They’d recognised each other immediately, felt the click the moment they stepped off the camper van.  Your father had called it cooties;  your mother said butterflies.

It didn’t matter that they’d never seen each other’s faces until that moment.  There was the spark.  Recognition.  The rest was history. 

Jungkook’s parents have been soulmates since the early 2000s.  His father had lost his wife - his first soulmate - exactly one year prior to their meeting.  He didn’t have his recurring dream until a fortnight before he met his wife.  Hadn’t expected it, either.  He’d been talking about his day in his local support group (it never got easier, he’d discovered) and he’d mentioned it in passing, glossing over the details of the vivid new pictures painted against his eyelids.  His second wife - his second chance - had attended after losing her son.  A complete chance.  Serendipitous. 

It wasn’t always simple, though.  The heartbreaking endings came just as often as the happy.  

There were people who lost their soulmates before even meeting them.  They’d never know they’d lost their first one until the next dream came - if it came.  If they were lucky enough.  

There were message boards and dating sites.  Places people stripped themselves bare and spilt their secrets to the world.  Desperate for love, they detailed their dreams and hoped that their other half was somewhere out there, reading those same words.  

Some, though, never found their special someone.  Life came at you fast and from all directions - or it never came at all, caught somewhere across the globe in the form of someone you’d never meet.  Those were the most painful circumstances, as if fate was cheating the system.  Here’s a love you know you have, but that you’ll never experience.  It was terribly cruel. 

(But when was life ever fair?)

There were stories about those that never found their puzzle piece and how it felt, whether it hurt.  Most said it was a quiet ache, something you never really noticed until you thought too closely about it, like a scar that had healed over or a loved one gone a long time.  Painful in an explicable way and only - luckily, miserably - softened by ignorance. 

Others spoke about it like death, missing an integral part of themselves.  It played a large part of their life, shaping and changing them with each passing day.  They couldn’t fully live without their person, even if they’d never met them.  It was simply the principal of the matter. 

You’d never quite existed in either camp.  You’d always wanted to find love but you hadn’t rushed it.  You figured you’d meet your happily ever after at some point.  Maybe at your work - caught between the shelves or returning an overdue book - or maybe out with your dog, walking the same route you took every day.  They’d show up one day.  You were sure of it. 

Love had a way of surrounding you. 

Your best friends - because of course the two of them would fall for each other (it was nauseating) - had found each other young too, on the grounds of the elementary school you all played on.  They’d been bonded since the beginning, secrets exchanged in art class and atop monkey bars.  You’d cheered them on the whole way, giddy in a way you couldn’t describe.  Being around it  felt like standing beneath the sun, scorching heat warming you all the way to the core.  It didn’t matter that you didn’t have it for yourself (yet). 

They’d come.  Eventually.  You felt it in your bones and later, you’d learn, in your shins.

He’d come around the corner fast as a bullet, headphones in and hood pulled over his head.  You’d barely have time to avoid him, poor coordination lending itself to disaster when only one of your feet would make it out of his path of destruction.  

BANG!  

It was something right out of a campy romance novel.  Guy goes jogging, runs headlong into his dearly beloved and nearly gives her a concussion.  He feels bad for her scraped knees and falls in love with her dog.  His morning runs become theirs and six weeks later, over a late night bite of contrasting gelato flavours - green tea for him, bubble gum for her - they fit the pieces together.

Jungkook’s the faceless boy you’d always dreamt of, one hand on the wheel, the other resting easily on your thigh.  He was the one with the slick black AppleWatch and long fingers.  You’d never imagined he’d be covered in ink, immaculate designs running the length of his forearm all the way back and across his shoulders.  In fact, you’d never thought about tattoos at all. 

You get your first and only one with him - intricate red looped around your wrists and over your pinkies.  Your own, very real string of fate, sealed and signed forever in rouge. 

He was your Prince Charming, your best friend, your bonafide soulmate.  You’d done everything together - skydiving, snorkelling, silly photos atop the Eiffel Tower.  He’d adapted to your distaste of onions and took them all, meticulously picking them out of stir fries and sauces until not a single sliver remained.  You’d learnt to tolerate his unbearably fast driving, white-knuckled and silent when he’d tear around corners too fast in a car too low. You fit perfectly, filling all the spaces he could never, keeping him whole even when he was broken.  

Your love was of fairy tales but it was better than that too.  Real.  Concrete.  Solid.

Until it wasn’t.    

The two of you had never had any other choice.

That’s what it feels like, at least.  He’d done his best - tried every little thing he could’ve possibly imagined - and it’d all amounted to nothing.  He’d gone through all the motions, explored every avenue, given everything he had.  It wasn’t working.  This thing he wanted with every fibre of his being, that he’d hoped for his whole life, just wasn’t working.  It wasn’t for him.

“I’m sorry,”  he cries, and he knows you know he means it.  You can read it between every line of his expression, tucked among the neatly scrawled india ink in faded red, underlining the passages you’d written together.  He is sorry.  He’d never meant to do this to you, nor you to him.  He’d wanted to give you it all - make all your hopes and dreams come true.

Sometimes, fate just had other plans.  

Because what the two of you had - so brilliant and beautiful and bright it was almost impossible to look at head-on - was what was tearing you apart.  It was your love that would be your demise.  

And he can’t bear to hurt the one he loves.  

He’d tried so hard.  Really, he had.  You had too, more than he ever deserved. 

There was simply no other option.  You’d always come up short.  You weren’t the one for him - not anymore - no matter how badly you wanted to be.  You weren’t the one meant for him.  You’d fumble for that ledge - held so impossibly high, just barely out of reach - before falling right back to where you began.  The bottom.  He couldn’t stand to see you there, brought to your knees once, twice, a hundred times.  

He’d lose count if not for the petals.

Little ones, at first.  Tiny pieces of silk you’d found on your pillowcase, outside the shower, in your water glass.  They’d been unassuming - reminders you could easily ignore.  

Then they’d grown, velvet softness that made it hard to breathe, that had him rubbing soothing circles over your skin, earnest vows winding like vines around your airways.  Neither of you had had any idea why it was happening.  You were soulmates - bound to each other and destined since the beginning.  Your love wasn’t unrequited. 

“We’ll figure it out,”  he’d said.  Sworn.  “We’ll get through this.”

Your heart had broken with each promise;  his had too, differently, but in perfect tandem.  

(Spring still came, steadily, with a rose garden blooming within your insides and freesias in your nose.) 

It wasn’t his fault.  You would never blame him, even when it was his fist that broke yours, splintered it into a million pieces that cut worse than the thorns in your lungs.  You knew this was just as hard for him.  He’d had to watch you wither away, even as a patchwork of flowers blossomed in the spaces he’d thought he could keep safe.  He hated it - could barely take it.  It kept him up all night, tears in his eyes.  Even when he slept - managed it, every few days - it’d prompt him awake in a cold sweat.

If he’d known then what had changed, maybe he could’ve fixed it sooner.  Maybe he could’ve saved you the heartache.  (Weeks later and during a coffee break with the new girl at his startup was not how he’d expected to find his answer.)

“I love you,”  you tell him, an ocean of sadness.  He loves you too, more than anything, more than there are stars in the sky.  He loves you with every part of himself - and yet he knows now that’s what’s causing this.  He loves you, but not in the right way.  Every touch he offers is wrong, leaving you bruised, broken, barely breathing.  It’s a disease - a venereal infection that seeps beneath skin and bone, settling within the marrow.  It changes you from the inside out, realigns your DNA until you’re mutated and miserable. 

The realisation is devastating:  his love causes more harm than it heals. 

So he stands there now, caught in the distance between you, eyes melancholy blue.  His composure is frayed, crippled beneath the weight of your circumstance.  He tries to memorise your face in these last moments - the colour of your hair, the shape of your stare.  How you sound in the morning - voice raspy with sleep, dust caught in your eyes.  The way you hold him close and the feeling of your eyelashes against his neck in the early hours.  

Jeon Jungkook doesn’t want this to end.  He doesn’t want to lose you, give you - this - up but he has to.  He has to, for you.  To give you a chance.  

Even after having so little - only five short years - you were about to lose the rest of your lives.  

You pack your bags - he helps, folding your favourite sweater (one of his, in truth) alongside your toiletries and undergarments - and you prepare to do the thing that you should never have to do.  You sign papers, dot I’s and cross T’s, and put all your treasured memories away into cardboard boxes to never be touched again.  You label them neatly and dress tape over edges;  Band-Aids meant to hold together the deepest wounds.

You’re going under by anaesthetic and he’ll be here, where he has everything he wishes he could give you.  A love he doesn’t deserve, within arms he wishes were yours. 

He wonders whether he’ll still feel the pull once it’s done or whether his heart will stay there, tucked somewhere beneath the dug up roots.  Whether it’ll be safe, undiscovered like a long lost treasure.  

It’s best this way.  He tells himself that - loops it on repeat until it’s the only thing he can think.  It has to be better.  For you, for you, for you. 

He knows he’ll carry you with him forever.  Like the air in his lungs, you’ll keep him going.  

He’s snapped back to the present, to the small hallway of the home you’d built together.  The traces of you are gone - all the photos hidden away, your row of shoes missing from beside his.  It’s strangely bare.  He knows it won’t last long.  She’ll be here next week.

Your hand pushes against his cheek, thumb caressing along the seam of his bottom lip, right where the freckle sits.  He’s a thief - a criminal, a sinner - when he dips his head, presses back into the warmth of your palm.  This isn’t for him to take but he does anyway, eagerly and with deep regret. 

“I love you.”  Your voice cuts through all the white noise and agony - a beacon in the night, guiding him home.  

He smiles, half-hearted and weak and not even his.  Every part of him screams at him to beg you not to do it, to accept him for the man he is - lost and weak and sorry.  He almost drops to his knees - fights tooth and nail against his aching limbs not to - and brings a hand to yours.  The red threads looped around your wrists fit perfectly together, the ends of inked rope caught around your pinkies matching when his fingers slot between yours. 

Don’t do this, he pleads, without words or hope. 

“I’ll love you forever,”  you tell him - promise like he had you.  “You’ll always be the brightest star in my sky, Jeon Jungkook.”

He almost cracks - seams near splitting, adhesive tearing from skin - when you return his smile and he can see how hard it is.  You’re already broken, all the pieces of your puzzle in terrible disarray. 

You’re trying, for him. 

“I’m so sorry,” he answers, because that is kinder than an I love you that doesn’t mean what you need it to.  Because you deserve better - you deserve it in the same way you mean it. 

So he’ll let you leave and he’ll pray this isn’t the worst decision of his whole life.  

“I’ll see you.”  

He hopes so.  He can’t bear the idea of losing you again.  He doesn’t think even she could fix him if he had to. 

“Be safe,”  he whispers, in a voice that stutters your stare and shatters what little resolve you have left.  He sees it in your eyes - all the crystallised parts of your composure turned to ash.  He wishes he could be sorry.  He’s not.  

“I love you,”  you repeat with an air of finality. 

Jungkook does the same:  “I’m sorry.” 

You leave, ushered into the back of your mother’s tiny sedan.  She helps you with your bags and your seatbelt, rubbing your shoulder carefully when baby’s breath slips past your lips and falls all over your lap.  She meets his stare when she climbs into the driver’s seat.  He tries to read her expression.  Understanding?  Resentment?  Gratitude?  

The car pulls away with a groan, disappearing down the tree-lined street.  Jungkook stands in the doorway for far longer than he should.

He’s moved on - settled down with the girl of his dreams.  Literally.  

She’s nothing like you, sarcastic and stubborn with a staunch refusal to ever come second best.  She laughs maybe a bit too loud, giving him shit when he orders in another car part.  She’d eat an onion raw, if she could, and takes showers hot enough to slough the skin from her bones.  They have a home together and in a year’s time, he thinks he’ll propose.  He’s not in any rush, though, because he knows she’s his forever.  

(Knows it, even though you’d once been that same shining star to him.  He has to believe it won’t happen again.  Life can’t screw someone twice, right?  Lightning never strikes the same spot or something like that?)

Still, he tries to forget the feeling of you.  

It isn’t as hard as he’d thought it would be.  The love exists as it always has, just differently, in the palm of his hand and not the space behind his ribs.  You’re his best friend and he is disgustingly, unbelievably lucky.  

He’d gotten his second chance.  Even if he’d once resented it, he had everything now.  

You still go for your morning runs and he still changes your oil because you’d never learnt how to.  His parents invite you for Sunday dinners;  you’re gracious enough to decline them.  You don’t see it as pity - you just don’t want to intrude.  (It isn’t your place any longer.)  You accept all the changes readily, without regret.  You promise you’ll go by one day.  

Your parents never speak to him.  He doesn’t blame them.  At the supermarket, on the street, in passing when he’s coming and they’re leaving - it’s radio silent.  

It’s been six months and you haven’t dreamt at all.  They’d hoped - prayed - that you’d find someone new after him, someone to treat you right.  You don’t mind, you tell them.  I’ll meet my special eventually, you say (again, again).

He wonders whether you resent them for it - their concern, perhaps a bit overbearing and offered with a heavy hand.  If you do, you say nothing, playing along each time they suggest you meet another friend’s son, another junior at your father’s accounting firm.  You don’t understand the sad way they watch you. 

“I’m sorry,”  he mumbles one night, seated at the neighbourhood cafe you’d frequented on your first date.  Your idea, because you loved coffee and, in your old words, this was your place.  The start of it all, where he’d knocked you hard onto pavement and stolen your heart in the process.

You don’t remember it now.  Not in the same way. 

This is somewhere you come for their great matcha lattes, where you waste a few too many evenings when you just want to get out of the house.  It isn’t the place he’d told you he loved you or where you’d resolved your first fight.  

(It’d been stupid.  He’d forgotten to pick up groceries for your first dinner with your parents.  You’d been so stressed you’d snapped at him, carrying tension into the rest of the evening.  He’d apologised with an almond croissant and your favourite green drink.)  

It’s like a wall has gone up, splitting your heart in two.  The part of you that’d once been Jungkook’s remains out of reach, caught behind a gate neither of you have the key to.  

“For what?”  You quip, a milk moustache presenting itself over the rim of your mug.   

Jungkook shrugs.  He can’t make you understand.  “Y’know,”  he mumbles into his red bean mochi bun.  It sticks to his teeth and coats them in soft white flour.  “Just— everything.”  It’s not enough, either as an explanation or an apology.  It falls terribly short, barely worthy of a participation trophy.  

“It’s fine.”  You say it every time, clockwork in response to the same apology he always gives - out of the blue and vague.

“No, but I’m—”

You level him with a glare.  It might’ve hurt once but now it settles like a scolding from a sibling.  He reminds himself this is how it should be, you there and him here - two parallel lines.  

The guilt never goes away. 

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