#even as your heart beats and your blood races and the world is big and confusing and scary...

[notbecauseofvictories]

how are we fellas. how's life. I am currently a little sozzled and writing farewell letters to my coworkers, the boss I love, the team I adore, and it sucks unbelievably. But I have decided to take this other job, because otherwise I think I'll get sucked into liking my team and the people there and that's simply not a long term plan. Today the recruiter told me that I have "growth potential" and I think it was meant as a compliment but I wish she'd just said that I was splendiferous and amazing because otherwise I'm stepping off the edge of the earth because someone thinks they can fix me, and buddy, if I could fix myself I would have by now.

[newobsessionweekly]

Join me

Main masterlist | 9-1-1 masterlist

Evan “Buck” Buckley x fem!firefighter!reader

Fandom: 911

Fluff, smut

Summary: They have to shower after each of their firefighting operations and Y/n keeps catching Buck half-naked so often, that she asks herself if Buck specifically want Y/n to see him. And things heat up after a call.

Warnings: Probably poor quality smut, descriptive sex, mentions of blood, injuries.

Requested: No

Words: 1.8k

Requests are open for Buck / Eddie !

Gif not mine, credits to the owner!

“Ok, but there’s two of us now, how come we have to share the same changing room with you guys ?” Y/n stops Eddie from babbling, tired of being afraid someone would peek at her naked body once she’d go out of the shower. Speaking of, just for the record, the shower is shared too.

“Come on, it’s not that bad. Hen’s been sharing changing room with guys for ages! And not only with us, dealt with worse!” Buck turns his head to stare at you out of those washed-out blue eyes while still chewing on his food.

You can’t lie, it didn’t bother you that much to share the locker room with the sexiest firefighters of LA, what really bothers you are the sneaky peak you and Buck been sharing.

Buck was some of the most wished-for firefighters in town and you can’t blame all the girls that are throwing at his feet. With those ocean blue eyes, one painted with that mysterious scar making girls wonder what’s the story behind that bravery and only after they go through his bed are served with the truth; it’s just a birthmark. His muscles are showing up in that uniform, popping out and taking any breath away in a shirt. And not to talk about the uniform. Anyone looks sexy in a uniform.

Leaving behind the looks, Buck is the most selfless person you’ve ever met in your life. He’d do anything to save every single one in a case, no matter is he’s crashed by a car, train, building or any other hard thing that could end his life on spot. He’s always ready to take that risk. You, on the other hand, are ready to follow the instructions.

He’s the most reckless person, but his heart’s so big it wouldn’t stop beating soon. And he knows that. His heart is not only beating for him, to keep him alive, it’s also beating for all the people out in the world that need help, that need him.

What really bothers you are not the looks he’s giving you with any chance, but the electricity you feel run down your spine every damn time he’s around you or even looking at you. His reputation isn’t a secret and all you wanna do is to avoid getting hurt.

You were zoned out for a while, playing with the food and ignoring all the voices around you. Only one stood up in the crowd and you’d recognise even in your sleep.

As alarm echoed through the station announcing a car crash with possible multiple injured, you sipped out of your coffee cup and jump into the paramedic ambulance.

As you walk back into the station, covered in blood, you let the boys to take a shower first. You approach Buck, holding him back for an inspection.

“Could you be more reckless?” you hiss at him, looking down at his bruises and opened cut on his arm.

“I’m fine, Y/n. I just got the usual bruises.” you press a cold compress on his head before cleaning the cuts.

“And a concussion.” you rolled your eyes.

As he stood there, patiently waiting for you to get your job done, his blue eyes searched for your body. From head to toe, you are the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Smart too, very brave and bossy. Shame you didn’t want to stand up and ignore Bobby’s orders. You’d make a great team.

“You know I can take care of myself?” you did know that, what you didn’t know was why all of the sudden you decided to play the doctor on him.

You were scared when he jumped right in the middle of the flames to save a dog trapped inside a burning car. Your heart was racing like it would pop out of your chest any minute and your eyes filled with small tears. Just the smoke, you’d tell everyone.

When he returned safely with the small dog in his arms you could finally breathe out. All you wanted to do in that moment was to hug him and yell a little.

And yet, you didn’t know why your body would react that way.

“You’re all done right now. You should take a shower, you’re smelly.” he nodded.

“Thank you, doc!” he smiled.

You can’t help a smile, cheeks burning red. You liked that, all the funny names he called you all the time.

You made your way to the locker room, keeping your distance. Everyone was back in the kitchen upstairs, Eddie watching your moves. He could tell something’s going on between you two, all the looks, the way you’re inspecting Buck’s shirtless body, like you couldn’t take your eyes off of him.

You remained in your underwear before heading to the showers. You really need to take off the blood. Hearing the water running down, violently hitting the floor, you soon realise it was coming from your usual shower spot, seeing Buck’s shape beautifully contouring on the curtain’s surface.

“You took my shower!” you screamed at him.

“Sorry, doc! Problems with the other ones. They’re out of service.” Buck pokes his wet haired head out. “But you’ll free to join me, if you can’t wait!” he winks.

You can’t wait, the cold air embraces your naked skin, sending shivers down your spine.

“Move!” you demand, joining Buck.

You were full grownups after all, a shower isn’t that big of a deal. You’ve seen him half-naked countless of times before and you suspect he’d seen you as well.

Hot water pouring down your body felt like heaven. Warmth hugging you as perfect as this moment was, not minding Buck’s glancing down at your side.

You peak at him, causing your body to burn up in excitement. Every inch of you desired to be touched and you finger tips aches to trace the shape of him. To help him get rid of the dirt, of course.

His hand touches your arm, cleaning the wound you’ve won yourself today.

“You’re injured.” Buck whispered, so close to you now, can feel the warmth of his freshly minted breath.

“Just a cut, I’ll live.” you joke. Looking up at him, water was framing his face so sinfully. You watched a small thread of water paint his nose, those red juicy lips, then going down his chest, stopping at the lower part of his abdomen. Your eyes locked on his erection, and your hands caressing up and down his worked arms.

Buck cupped your cheeks, locking his gaze in yours. Forehead touching, he searched for your permission before hungrily brushing your lips together.

You splay your hands across Buck’s chest as he swirls his tongue around yours. He got you already high over his touch, but the kissing in out of this world.

He press you gently on the cold wall, water still flowing down over both of you, sneaking under your touch. Your body trembles as his hands wanders up and down, memorising your curves. He stops for a moment over your breasts, caressing one by one very carefully, like he would want to remember their shape. You racked your nails through his messy wet hair and down across his back, his lips escaping a little needy moan.

Buck pauses, lips barely touching, taking his time to look in your eyes as his hand went down. “You’re so beautiful!” You breathe the same air, you share the same desire. He admires your intoxicating beauty while shoving his hand between your legs, making you break eye contact and throw your head in pleasure back into the wall.

His lips ghosts over your neck and your fingers lightly run over his abs and down to his erection. Buck kisses you hard, like his life depends on it, like he’s addicted to your touch and wants to feel your name on his skin a whole lifetime from now on.

Moans and desire flying in the air, Buck plays with your wetness before he impatiently lifts your hips up, forcing you to hook your legs around his waist. You hold on into his shoulders, closing the distance between you, he pulled your hips up and down, setting a peace as he buried inside you.

Sinking into him, digging your fingers into Buck’s shoulder, the rhythm became incoherent as both of your bodies burned in indescribably pleasure. You want him as much as he wants you.

The Earth stops spinning and the whole world evolves around you two. That moment is about you and Buck, covered in exultation and savoury. You feel his pulse inside, fire pooling low in your abdomen, waiting for Buck to put it out for you.

He run his tongue over where your lips meet, your eyes running back in delight as your moans melts together under your kiss. A spring coiling tightly and then being release, both of you dissolving into pleasure under the hot warm water spreading your love into the air.

You stayed there, in that sweet embrace minutes before one of you could do something. You enjoyed the moment and rested on Buck’s arms, tears of joy welting with the water caressing your bodies. Buck didn’t want to let you go, afraid you’d disappear as soon as his eyes would open. Instead, he inhales your smell, so unforgettable. He’s convinced it’ll haunt his mind, his dreams, countless days from now on and he’s sure as hell he doesn’t want to forget any second you spent in that shower.

“I’m glad you came back safely today.” you murmured into the base of his neck, your fingers still lightly tracing his shape.

“Will always come back in one piece to you.” he answers, placing a soft kiss on your wet hair.

You raise your head, searching his beautiful eyes. Buck can’t help a smile, seeing you so vulnerable before him, still trusting him enough to let him admire you like that. He locked you lips again, this time so soft, afraid he’ll hurt you with just a touch. You melt on him with every touch.

“We should go back.” you broke the silence.

“Yeah, we should.” he agrees. “I’ll go first, take your time.” he kissed your cheek and disappeared behind the curtain.

When you returned to the kitchen, everyone was eating one of Bobby’s delicious meals. You grab yourself a plate and sat across Buck, avoiding his sight, afraid you’ll lose your sanity. You’re smelling like Buck and sex combined, the best combination you’ve ever smelled.

He locked your eyes and you both smiled like idiots, still drunk over the moment happened in shower, just minutes before, a few feet away from everyone else. But you don’t care, it was your moment.

“Don’t really wanna know what happened back there, you idiots! Stop devouring each other at table!” Chim jokes as your cheeks burn red again.

[2truehearts]

✦ — BUT DARLING, YOU ARE THE ONLY EXCEPTION.

✦ CHARACTER/S︰ijekiel alpheus & lucas from wmmap (who made me a princess).

✦ SYNOPSIS︰love can bloom and burn in any heart at the first sunlit-brindled brief—whether it be bounded by duty, ice, or disbelief; as long as that epitome of affection is you, they suppose they can make an exception and make some space—or in which they fall in-love with you first glance and sight.

✦ CONTENT WARNING/S︰nothing other than one swear word (fuck), & the general fluff and infatuation (from the character/s) + everything is proofread with the wc 200 - 300 each.

✦ A/N︰making my debut as a manhwa writer on main is not the ideal move but idk where to post it okay (side eyes the 2367838 sideblogs under this one/silly (also the title is inspired by "the only exception" by paramore <3 it's bleeping awesome go and give it a listen!!))

IJEKIEL IS NOT ONE TO FALL IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, to have his world still for a few seconds while his heart overrides and blood races to the forefront of his cheeks—but dear heavens, were you the only exception to that rule bound by duty and a planned future in his chest. you surely weren’t the epitome of grace or as enchanting as the gods, but to him you were enough—more, than enough, truly.

he first met you in an arrangement of his father and your parents from your vague childhood—but oh, how he remembers every second of that first meeting. when the doors opened to you bowing in front of him with a barely-hidden smile of excitement curving the tips of your mouth to look at him with big, bright eyes of wonder staring directly at the copy of the sun—not once backing down to blink or burn away from awe and fluster. so ijekiel does that instead.  his skin flares with the color of blooming carnations, sunlight-prickled hues wide from childish panic at the sudden increased beating of his heart.  was something wrong with him? he felt light-headed and dizzy, stomach twisting, tossing and turning as if he was about to faint from merely seeing you presented before him like the finest muse of a pristine piece of art, incomparable to anything else other than itself. what should he do? should he compliment you? should he act indifferent and use a practiced smile? his mind is trying to adjust to the drastic changes of his swayed heart, but the boy just can’t seem to do just that when he’s faced with a fairytale protagonist right in front of him—and he blinks, catching something from the corner of his eye—and is brought back down to earth when he sees his father’s questioning gaze. then, bows with a smile, greeting you further in to sit down and perhaps enjoy a cup of tea with him?  you said yes out of common courtesy, but that only made his smile grow wider.

LUCAS FIRMLY DOES NOT BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, like come on—who believes in love like that these days? naive little kids? newly adolescent noble ladies? men of high and poor status? it’s simply too . . . unlikely to actually happen in his eyes. the butterflies when you meet “the love of your life’s” eyes? could be the early signs of constipation. the flush in your cheeks when there’s too much prolonged eye contact with them and the dizziness of your heart and mind? could be an oncoming migraine, headache, or a sign you're being possessed by some evil spirit, y’know? anyways, enough joking aside—the point is, he finds the subject some far-fetched fairytale that is highly impossible even with the magic he has—that is, until, you waltz into his life. the things he feels when he's around you is something that could be described as a contradiction. the first gazing into your eyes turns the world upside and back again, the first brush against your fingertips suck all the air out of his chest, the first chuckle that he manages to rouse from deep within your giddy joy paints him a shade darker than his eyes from head to toe—holy fuck were there a lot of firsts that made him experience everything and anything all at once; with most he can't even explain properly without sounding so . . lovesick. god do you make him sick to the last bone with whatever sorcery you possess. in short; when in love, lucas is everything that correlates to being stupidly infatuated and is constantly reeling himself in by a hair’s breadth back to the surface when you smile, laugh, or simply exist next to him—like, can you imagine how utterly moronic it is to see how degenerate he’s become from before you?! . . . but, if it makes you happy, he’ll gladly be idiotic for the rest of his life (though, that depends if you're gonna annoy him or not).

✦ — @khasmies 2023.

[bestedoesmeow]

what about us?

daniel ricciardo & ex!gf reader

request :Heyyyy, could you maybe do a Daniel Ricciardo x Ex-GF!reader where they run into each other at a vacation(they’re both alone), and as they spend time together, they realise they’re not over each other. It could be a mix of one shot and smau

song to listen while reading: pink - what about us

You see him standing there, his gorgeous smile on his lips, holding his beer. His body moves lazily with the rhythm, his lips syncing with the lyrics, "Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive." He talks to the person next to him, effortlessly beautiful, just as you remember him. Suddenly, his eyes catch yours after years. It's the first time in years; you had avoided watching him race, laugh, or be interviewed to avoid eye contact, even from the screen. To forget him: his smile, his touch, his laughter.

Your blood rushes through your veins, your hands slightly shake with the contact, your cosmopolitan leaves stains on your white dress as he makes his way towards you. His steps drawing closer, your heart beats louder, heavier, faster.

"Enchanté," he says, as if trying to remind you that after years, you're in Paris again. Together, but not like before.

"Enchanté," you manage to say, hiding your shaky hands by placing your drink on the nearest table. His eyes are even brighter, more beautiful than you remember.

"It's been years. What are you doing here?" he asks, a big smile on his lips.

"Here for a holiday with a few friends. What about you?"

"We're on summer break; came here with some of the guys from the grid," he points to three guys dancing and drinking next to the cocktail table.

"You look fantastic," he adds, probably unaware of its effect on you.

"Thank you. Yeah, you too," you stutter, trying to smile and avoid flashbacks of your last night together upon hearing his voice.

8 YEARS AGO

"I know, I understand you have to move there, and I fully support you, but what about us?" you say, tears filling your eyes. His hands cup your cheeks, and he gets closer on the couch. Tears well up in his eyes as he watches you cry, perhaps for the last hour.

"We're going to be okay. We can try long distance, FaceTime every night. You can visit me, and during breaks, I'll come here, huh?"

"Promise you won't let me go? Won't get tired of me, the FaceTimes, the long hours of traveling."

He presses his nose to yours, breathing slowly to hold back tears. "I'd never, ever get tired of you, Y/N. If there's something more important to me than my career in F1, it's you. Nothing in this world can take me away from you," he says, leaving a peck on your lips.

"I promise too. I'll try my best to make this work, what we have."

He left home three days after your conversation, and you decided to break up in the second month of the long distance. He was aggressive, stressed, busy. You decided to give him the break he seemed to want. He didn't say anything, but he cried for hours in the motorhome, had the worst qualifying sessions. Meanwhile, you left your house, moved back in with your family, and changed schools.

It wasn't truly over, of course. No one came into your life during those years, not even in Daniel's case. All you could think of was him: the late-night talks, the way he touched you, the way you loved each other.

He was a beautiful trauma.

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

"How's everything going? Are you done with school?" he asks, while you're lost in memories.

"Oh yes, I'm teaching at an elementary school in Boston now," you say, catching him looking you up and down.

"I'm so proud of you, Y/N. I always knew you'd be a great teacher. Look at you."

"I'm proud of you too. You look great in the Red Bull suit," you say, mostly confessing. "I knew all of this would bear fruit."

"You've always been so supportive. I can never thank you enough," he says.

"So supportive that I couldn't bear anyone with any less supportiveness. I am- was addicted to you," he panics, swiftly changing the word.

"Is there anyone? Has there been anyone?" you ask, the words coming out unexpectedly.

"No, it was never after you, and I don't think it ever will be after you."

"I missed you, Daniel. I missed you for days, weeks, months, and years. I learned how to cope with it, but I never learned enough to forget you. You'll always be my favorite person," you say, tears welling up in your eyes. Your hands cup his cheek, and your body shivers with the touch, contact after years. His eyes well up, and his lips curl into a painful smile.

"Thank you, baby. Thank you for everything you sacrificed for me. I love you, I love you forever," he says, kissing the palm of your hand.

"Thank you for showing me what love is, Danny. I'm so thankful. Maybe we're meant to be in another universe?" you say, bursting into tears with your last words. His arms pull you into a tight hug, his lips moving on your hair, leaving peck kisses.

"I don't think I'll be leaving you now that I've found you."

[antis0cial23]

Heart and Lungs

Lewis Hamilton x Reader

Summary: Reader is in a bad crash during a race that Lewis had to sit out

Warnings: Mentions of blood and injury, kinda dark, no use of names, religious themes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The world spun, just as her car did off the track. All confidence left her body with every roll of the car, thanking whatever angel that made the halo that kept her safe. her car crashing into a barrier with the noise of a thousand oceans, maybe a radio, rushing in her ears before nothing, the absence of everything. No sight, no sound, only a taste. A taste of blood settled deep in her bones. All she could do was accept it, and she did. Metallic and hot, sticky and wet. Everything came crashing down within seconds, but every roll of her car was years of her life. Blood. Red. Racing. The car. Crumpled, ruined. Expensive. She felt like she was on a cloud, light. Floating. Then the sun was shadowed. Dark. Cold. And for some reason, it hurt. Pain, sharp yet dull. Everywhere. Just like the dark it was all-encompassing. Final. Or was it?

            He watched from the sidelines as her car spun out, rolling like waves from the far seas. Fear. Heavy, strong. He prayed to whatever god existed or would listen that she would be ok. He heard the gasps around him at the final crash of metal against metal, ringing out in sick harmony. He heard the echoes of questions sent to her radio. Everything echoed. Loud, big. His world shattered in seconds. Crumbling, fading. His vision blurred with black, eyes honing in on her mangled car, mentally on his knees, begging for anyone to listen to his prayers. He was quiet. Silent, empty. He watched the med cars speed by, thinking he would give her his lungs so she could breathe, his heart to hers could beat, his health so she could simply be. Be safe. Be alive. Be well. He sat still, watching. Unmoving, broken inside. He watched as they got her from the car, unconscious, Still, unmoving. Her visor broken, red leaking from under her helmet. Vivid, vicious. Blood. Her upper body resting on a medic's leg, he wished it was him. He wanted to be the one there with her, telling her he had her. Hell, he’d rather it be him unconscious and bleeding rather than her. She would be safe if it was. But she wasn’t. She couldn’t be as blood was left in her wake. Like a sick path to find her, it trailed behind where she had been. She wasn’t dead, no. Not yet. Yet.

            Let her be alive, his prayers changed as he saw her body in a bed. He prayed that her heart was beating, her lungs breathing because if they weren’t, he’d give her his. He’d always have her even if she didn’t have him. If they hit rough waters, he’d be the one to give his life to keep her dry, safe, and alive. Alive. Breathing. Please be breathing. And she was. Heart monitor beeping rhythmically, just like the seas of torment his mind sailed. They used to be kings and queens, ruling the world. But like ancient limestone, it all came down within seconds. He saw the cuts on her cheekbones, her brows, her forehead from the shattered visor. Dried blood stained her beautiful skin red, angry. They tormented him just like the gods who never answered. Who sat and watched as her life was barely spared.  He cursed them and denounced each and every one. For if they were real, it would’ve been him. His lungs bruised, his heart damaged. Not hers, never hers. But gods were cruel. They took. Don’t take her from me. Her heart continued to beat; lungs continued to breathe. For now.

            So lord when I die, I want to live on the outskirts of heaven. She thought. For the first time in days. Wildflowers and honeybees line the dirt roads, that’s where I want to hang my wings. Welcome me from my gates of iron to yours of pearl. Streets of coal to yours of gold. Blue skies and dogwood trees. Her mind wandered, no sound penetrating her skull. Her serenity. Please welcome me to fields of hay, green grass full of shade from the light of you. She wasn’t met with the light of the gates, their reflection but a distant memory. She was met with the light of the sun, shading her face with orange. Please take me still, welcome me to you. Her body hurt like no other pain she had experienced, besides a warm hand on hers, keeping her from truly fading. Maybe not yet. Maybe this is ok. The warmth squeezed her, her name on his lips. His. Him. Oh. He was there, watching over her from wherever she was, by her side. Her angel in the dark, her warmth in the cold. Her lungs when she couldn’t breathe, her heart when hers couldn’t beat. Him. Please don’t take me, not yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inspired and some lyrics used from

[jadeylovesmarvelxo]

Confession 🌸💕

Steve's attack in the Upside Down cements how you feel about him but you think he still loves Nancy.

You don't realise he's in love with someone else.... You.

❤️🌸 18+ Minors DNI, very fluffy, slightly angsty one shot.

If you enjoyed this leave a like or reblog ❤️ I don't give anyone permission to copy, repost or reuse my work 💕

❤️

The bites were bad that was the first thing you noticed as Steve collapses against the cave he was beside.

You rush over to him immediately, the wound around his neck is severe and it makes your anxiety around this whole situation even worse.

Would he be okay? How far could he go before he needed to go to the doctor?

The wounds on his side need bandaged quick and you rip off a piece of your shift to use it as a makeshift bandage.

"This will hurt for a minute okay but we need to bandage this up" he nods and adjusts himself so you can wrap the shirt around him, he winces, hands running through his hair as a pained moan escapes him.

He's covered in dirt and blood and grime, you shouldn't find him attractive like this but you do... God, you had been smitten with Steve since last year.

Ever since you became friends with Robin, ever since all the shit that happened on July 4th.

The experience bonded you, Robin and Steve, being part of the Scoop Troop team, facing the Russians, Steve getting beat up, the drugs they fed all three of you, sharing secrets it connected you.

Steve got his mojo back and started dating, charming girls, being himself and along the way you got to know him better, you helped each other deal with the trauma from July 4th and the days surrounding it.

Sometimes you would have movie nights with Robin and you would wake up nestled into Steve.

"You looked so comfy I didn't have the heart to move you"

The truth was you could happily stay there forever.

That kick started all the butterflies in your belly, heart racing, feelings for him.

Now here you were with him in The Upside Down, along with Eddie, Nancy and Robin because Steve had been dragged into the gate that led to it. Watergate.

You didn't hesitate as you jumped in after him, your heart was pounding, fear mixing with the need to protect Steve and you ended up here along with the others, beating the shit out of those demobats who attacked Steve.

You smile as he's all patched up.

"There, all better" his gaze is soft as he stares down at you.

"Is he okay?" Nancy comes up to you both and you nod.

"All fixed up" you give Steve a small smile and move away, not wanting to see the way Steve looks at Nancy, you know he's still in love with her.

Nearly losing Steve has made you realise that you're head over heels in love with him but it was hopeless because he wouldn't want you, not if he could have Nancy.

Even if he did feel the same you would be a second choice and you didn't want to be that.

"Hey?" Steve's hand connects with yours, his thumb circling around your palm.

"Yes?" you try to ignore the way your heart speeds up at just his very touch.

"Thank you, sweetheart" you shrug like it's no big deal but then pause for a second.

Fuck it, you may die in this hellhole world so if you did you would rather go out with no regrets.

Ever so gently you kiss his cheek, hand rested on his chest.

"I'd do anything for you Steve" his breath hitches and you move away, not looking at the others.

"Let's find some way out of this shithole yeah?"

🌸💕

A week had passed everything was back to well not normal but a now monster free town...

An earthquake had rocked the town after Vecna's defeat and The Upside Down's destruction.

Clean up, restoration and recovery was happening and you were helping Stev go through things in your house that could have donated to help those in need.

Eddie was in hospital after a vicious demobat attack, he nearly died but thankfully managed to pull through, his name had been cleared by a miraculously returning Jim Hopper of any involvement with the murders of Chrissy, Jordan, Freddie.

Max was okay, her leg and arm had been broken during Vecna putting her under his curse a second time but she was healing.

Hawkins would heal too in time.

Steve's hand on your shoulder breaks you out of your thoughts and you continue folding up clothes.

"You okay?" he asks concerned and you nod.

"Just glad this is all finally over" he grins and hoists up one of the boxes to put in his car.

"Shit, tell me about it. Will be nice to not having to worry about facing monsters, worry about losing people I love" he looks up at you and your stomach sinks a little.

He must be talking about Nancy.

"Yeah...you know Jonathan and Nancy broke up?" he surprises you when he tells you he already knows.

"We talked, we talked a lot actually" oh, you figured they would at some point you just didn't realise it would be so soon.

"I'm happy for you Steve, you and Nance are back together right? I know you love her. I'm happy for you" turning away you will the tears not to come, curse yourself for not saying sooner.

Not like it would make a difference if he didn't feel the same way.

"We aren't back together honey" okay, this does shock you and you turn back to Steve confused.

"I thought...you still love her?" he walks over to you, his gaze intent on yours.

"For a long time I did but not anymore and I told her that. Truth is? I'm in love with someone else"

Someone else? "Who? One of the girls you dated recently?" he shakes his head.

"No, that was just sex, me losing myself in that because I couldn't have what I really wanted, who I wanted because I wasn't sure how she felt" he smiles, gaze tender as he looks at you.

"Can you not think of who it is hmm? I'll give you a hint? She's brave, beautiful, kind and so hilarious. She makes me laugh like no one else has, I've fallen in love with her like I have with nobody else and she's standing in front of me right now"

He loves me, tears pool in your eyes and he wipes them away softly.

"Little birdies have told me you obviously feel the same and I'm clearly a dingus who needs to be told everything"

Dustin and Robin, this makes you giggle and he gently kisses your forehead then looks into your eyes.

"I'm just wondering if they are right? Usually are. Being both geniuses and all" to answer his question you kiss him and he's kissing you back, hands running up your back, tangling in your hair.

Briefly you pull away.

"It's always been you Steve, I love you too" you kiss again and he whispers those three little words over and over again.

I love you.

[perpetuelledaydreaming]

Ivy | chapter twelve

listen to: Jessie’s girl - Rick Springfield | Un Coco - Bad Bunny(playlist here)

warning: violence, blood.

word count: 1.5k

series masterlist + read the next chapter early on my ko-fii!!

Carole Bradshaw would have never said that her son had anger issues. She wouldn't admit it. Bradley was sweet as honey and caring as Goose; he was nothing but kind. 

But two things can be true at the same time. 

When Goose was still alive, there wasn't a school report that said otherwise. Bradley always played nice with other kids, Bradley always made friends wherever he went, and Bradley wasn't shy or rude to other people. After Goose passed, though, things started to look less shiny. 

Bradley got into certain fights. Sure, it might be because someone was picking at a smaller kid, and Bradley acted out to defend him. Carole was never mad over that; she fiercely fought teachers and principals that said she should be upset and that Bradley should be sent to therapy. She knew her son. She knew how he truly acted. He was soft with her; he took care of her. He was more mature than any other kid. He wasn't a bully, he didn't have problems, he was fine. 

Then, one day, Bradley broke a kid's nose. He was only ten. 

He didn't mean to. He just got so angry when the kid said that Bradley wasn't allowed to celebrate Father's Day since he didn't have a father. He got to therapy afterward, and even later in life, when his mom passed away, he still went for a little while. He had recently returned after your break-up when he had made a hole in the wall almost as big as your head. 

It was strange, the things he could recall now that he drove over the speed limit to the base. Dozen memories flying by. 

He remembers his mother crying until she falls asleep. He remembers how his father played the piano as he sang. He remembers how your lips tasted the first time you kissed. He remembers his mother stroking his hair as she sobbed silently. He remembers that night in the bar when you walked away after Jake left. He could remember the feeling of his knuckles beating after he broke that kid's nose when he was ten. He remembers your broken moans. He remembers how you cried the night you left him. He remembers the way you laughed with Hangman that day after a dogfight. He remembers how when you disappeared, so did Jake. He recalls the way you were crying in the shower. He remembers how his knuckles beat when he punched the wall next to his face. 

He now could only listen to his heartbeat, the way it was thundering. It was all he heard. He walked passed the hallways of the base without really feeling he was there. It was as if time had gone still around him. Only his breathing and his heartbeat. His memories. He entered the hangar as if he was a ghost. 

And suddenly, he felt like he had taken his first breath as his amber eyes fell on Jake.

It breaks. It suddenly all breaks. Everything with you it's cursed; it is poisoned. There's no way things can be like before because Jake took it away. He took you away from him. Bradley's heart raced, each beat thudding in his chest like a war drum as his feet began to move toward Jake. A torrent of pain overwhelmed him, his veins twisting like a tempest as he walked toward Jake. He knew what he was going to do, not because of a conscious decision -no- but as he felt the tendons of his knuckles straining against the force he exerted on them. 

The weight of his fists, as if the weight of the world, had transferred into his hands. With furrowed brows and eyes burning with intensity, Bradley approached Jake. 

Jake barely had time to register Bradley; neither Coyote nor Payback honestly knew what Bradley was doing; he seemed okay. They didn't quite understand it. How Bradley pulled Jake by his right shoulder, Jake didn't even get it. His brows furrowed quickly before the first blow landed. A jarring crack filled the space between them, reverberating through their bones. The same pain Rooster had felt before shot through his hand, vibrating up his arm. 

Jake fell on the floor, the metallic tang of blood flooding his senses. He held his nose and then gazed back down at it, blood. He barely had time to wipe it off before Rooster was leaning down to continue, but before he could, Payback and Coyote were suddenly trying to hold him. Jake watched Bradley for a moment, the way Bradley's eyes had turned darker, the way his cheeks and neck were red, the sheer hatred in the way he was looking at him.

"HOW FUCKING DARED YOU!?" he screamed at Jake as he struggled with Coyote and Payback. 

He knew. 

Jake could be better and walk out of there, especially now with Phoenix, Bob, and Fanboy entering the room with concerned expressions. But Jake had had enough. He'd longed for you so much time, and he knew that you longed for him too. If you weren't together, it was because of Rooster, because you were still grieving his relationship with him, and he still loved you. If Rooster had stopped thinking that you owed him something, you would've stopped believing that. Jake wouldn't have had to live from moments when he had to steal. 

You could've been together if it weren't for him. 

"You are so blind, aren't you?" Jake chuckled, blood running down his face. Coyote and Payback turned to him wide-eyed, and Rooster stopped moving for a second as he glared at Jake. 

Everything stopped for a moment, the desperate dance of Rooster on Coyote's and Payback's arms. Phoenix, Bob, and Fanboy stared at them, confused. 

"She wasn't happy with you, Bradshaw," Jake breathed out as he sniffled the blood on his nose. "She was happy with me,"

The silence was deafening as it dawned on everyone present in the room what they were both talking about. Jake's sea-foam eyes held Rooster's amber eyes.

And then Rooster slipped away from Coyote's and Payback's hands.  

"You son of a bitch!"

Jake fought back, his fist cracking against Rooster's jaw, carrying all the anger he had held for months, Rooster tried to strike back, but Jake held his wrist as he gave another swing, his knuckles red after he finished. Grunts and groans accompanied the thuds of flesh connecting with flesh, the sound of the people that surrounded them trying to stop them, and the echo of their thuds ricocheting through the hangar. 

In the midst of it, time seemed to slow down. Jake could see the beads of sweat trickling down Rooster's forehead, mingling with the blood of his busted lip. Rooster could feel the blood of Jake in his knuckles, how it tainted them. Jake could remember the first time that he kissed you. Another punch. Rooster could still see those dog tags in his hands. Another swing. Both of them knew better, and yet they continued. The room became a blur of faces, colors, screams, and tugs of people trying to get them away. Pain merged into the chaotic symphony of the hangar. 

And then, Jake almost crashed into the floor. 

It was a split second. Rooster didn't mean it, one final, desperate lunge. He almost managed to collide his intertwined fist against Jake's already bloody nose. Instead, his elbow collided with something else. 

"Fuck!" you cried as you landed on the floor, holding your nose. 

Both men snapped their heads toward you. The adrenaline suddenly began to ebb, leaving behind aching muscles and battered bodies and concern as they watched you on the floor, blood dripping from your jaw as you watched them. Silence enveloped the room as the two men watched you lay there, panting and bruised, the remnants of their anger scattered around them. Blood dripped from their split lips and busted noses, mingling on the concrete floor of the hanger. 

Jake was the first to lean down while Natasha and Fanboy were already helping you stand up. He didn't say anything, though; he just held your face, examining your nose until he was sure it wasn't broken. His eyes met with yours, and you could feel it, the weight of the heartache and shattered dreams. 

Rooster stepped up after Jake gave a step back; Coyote quickly held his friend and walked him towards a chair, leaving the two of you behind. With tears in his eyes, Rooster glanced at your nose. Guilt tighten his throat, anger seething from his eyes. You could feel it. Quickly you shook your head and took his hand. 

"It's not your fault," you whispered to him. "I'm so sorry,"

He didn't manage to say anything. Instead, he looked back at Jake for a moment. They locked eyes, their shared pain etching lines of understanding on their faces. 

And then, Admiral Simpson came in. 

"WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?

an: sorry for making you wait so long!! I was super sick in June which left me with little energy to do anything if I was honest and all throughout July, I have been working on moving to DC! Thank you so much for waiting! I hope you enjoy this short chapter! Next one is bigger, I promise.

Taglist: @laracrofted @double-j @inky-sun @alanadetigy @teenwolf01 @beebslebobs @materialgirl01 @daisyhollyxox@piceous21@elicheel @supernaturaldawning @midnightdevotion @hangrymama @ashann7 @maverick-wingman @snap-crackle-and-pop-blog @ebonyhogan24 @teddyluvs2sing @happypopcornprincess @untoldshortsofthefandoms @xxshea-barnesxx @sweetheart-im-the-boss @je-suis-prest-rachel @bregarc @imagineteller1 @abaker74 @lilylilyyyyyy @nemtodd-barnes1923 @loveless-simp @fucktthisworld @deliciouslydisturbed365 @laluneveillesesureux @emma8895eb @tandefeaffe @potato-girl99981 @jstarr86 @my-soulmate-is-mycroft @mirrorball-6 @grxcisxhy-wp @that-one-random-writer @dempy @zbeez-outlet @djs8891

[morallyinept]

A full transcribe of JAVI GUTIERREZ'S dialogue/lines from the film THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT.

Includes full dialogue, and dialogue from any deleted/additional scenes available.

I've created this as a point of reference when writing for Pedro's characters, and I hope you find it useful. Even if you just want to read the dialogue. 🖤

FULL MASTERLIST OF PEDRO CHARACTERS DIALOGUE

☝🏻Dialogue has been fully transcribed by myself using reference to original scripts (if available), audio subtitles and using my own two ears. Therefore, mistakes can be made, however I have tried to be as fully accurate as I can. If you spot an obvious mistake, please kindly let me know. Where audio is not clear, I have marked with *inaudible* Scenes are separated for ease of reference.

FULL SCRIPT DIALOGUE:

Of course.

__________________

Mr Cage, I’m-

Javi. 

I’m not sure I understand. 

I think so. 

I am Javi. 

__________________

It was fine. Normal. No big deal. 

He was incredible. But also like, super cool. He was taller than I imagined because they say actors are pretty short. 

No. 

He was… just right. 

No, we didn’t bring it up. I didn't bring it up. It wasn’t the right time. 

I don’t know, Gabriela, maybe I am living in a fantasy world. I mean, look who we are talking about here, the man is a legend! 

__________________

Hi. 

Huh? 

Oh no, I’m sorry, I thought that… did you say? No, I… Oh, never mind. Yeah, so along those same lines, I was wondering, and it’s totally okay if you haven’t, but I was just wondering if you had a chance to read my screenplay? 

Mr Cage, this is Ms. Gabriela Lucchesi. She runs all of our agricultural operations. And this is uh, my cousin. Lucas Gutierrez. 

What? What do you mean “retired”? 

__________________

Gabriela said you are really excited about the cliffs. 

Oh, shit! Shit! 

We must go now! 

Faster! 

The General! 

The General! The General forbade me to see his daughter Matilda. But we defied his orders! And now, he wants to end my life. Can’t you see him? 

Stanislavski? Is he part of the resistance?  

I’m sorry, but you can’t quit acting! You can’t! 

Whether you like it or not, you have a gift. And that gift brings light and joy to an increasingly dark and broken world! 

And to turn your back on that gift, is to turn your back on the entire human race  

I’m afraid so. 

If we don’t go now, they will fucking kill us! These people smell blood and they come running. They are almost to the edge of the forest. I can hear them! And Matilda, she is waiting down the coast. We have to go now! We have to jump! 

I’ve always loved her. 

Oh, shit! 

__________________

Are you two close? 

How did you meet Olivia?

Beautiful film.

So what happened? 

No. There's one woman, but uh… sometimes circumstances get in the way of love. And that's just the way it is. Anyway, Mr Cage, what is your favourite movie? 

Number one, Face Off. 

Number two, let me think… uh. The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. 

__________________

It’s hard, like you said, 100 plus years of rich cinema. 

Paddington 2. 

I cried through the entire thing. It made me want to be a better man. 

I fucking told you. 

__________________

Truth, or dare, Nick? 

Did you hate my screenplay? It’s okay if you did. I just need to know. 

I sent it to your agent. He was supposed to give it to you. 

Now? Like, right now? 

I sent it. 

No. Honestly I’m too nervous. My heart is beating so fast. I think I need to go to bed. 

__________________

I just want to thank you all for coming tonight. It means more to me than you can know. And I would like to tell a story. A few years ago, my relationship with my father had deteriorated to the point where we were no longer speaking. He could be extremely difficult, my father. And to be fair, maybe I am not that much better. Haha. But when he got sick, I realised I didn’t want to lose him before we could repair our broken relationship. 

But I didn’t know how. And then one day, about a week before he died… it happened. A miracle. I looked up and I saw on a tiny little hospital TV… Guarding Tess. We disagreed about literally everything, my father and I. Except for this movie. We both loved it. We would quote it back and forth. In a way, my father was Tess. The former first lady, and I was Doug Chesnic, the secret service agent charged with taking care of him. That movie brought us together. So, on behalf of my late father and myself, I want to thank you.

I bet you didn’t know Doug Chesnic could have such an impact on someone. 

Well, thank you for your sacrifice. It was extraordinary. 

So, does that mean you want to be in it? 

I say, yes. Yes. 

__________________

Mr Cage. 

Nick. I realised that if we are going to create a work of art, we can’t just sit and stare at a screen. We have to open our minds to the infinite possibilities of what the cosmos has to offer. 

Divine inspiration. LSD. 

So, I was thinking that maybe our movie would be character-driven. 

Right. Or like big explosions. 

And work on multiple levels. 

And maybe it's just the drugs talking, but what if we had, like a big drug scene?

Fuck, man (In Spanish)

It’s going to be so fucking good! But like, what's it about?  

__________________

In terms of genre, I-I like comedies. But not when it’s just two people sitting around, talking. 

Oh. 

Nick. Listen. You know what I was thinking? Maybe we could have, like a paranoid, thriller-y angle. 

Right. Right. Wait, have they been watching us? 

Fuck! Did you see that? They just looked over at us. 

No, no. Maybe it was just a coincidence. I will look again. Are you ready? 

No, that’s how you spook a bear. 

A fake laugh? Okay, good. 

Oh, no. 

__________________

Do you see them? 

Here. Use me as a human stool. Do it! 

I have a very big head. I’m not gonna make it, am I? Will you tell Gabriela I will miss her? 

No. It’s okay. You go live a good life. 

But then, we will both die, and I could never live with myself after that, so you let go! You let go! 

Goodbye, Nicolas Cage. 

I’ll never forget you. Now you get the hell out of here, you go!

Mr Cage? 

Hey. 

Oh. Yeah… turns out we could have just walked around. 

Whatever. 

There they are!

__________________

Ow! Ow!

You have to drive on acid, you are a better driver than me. 

Because I read that you did all of your own driving stunts in Gone in 60 Seconds. 

The wheelies are amazing. Now drive the car! They’re coming, let’s go! 

Oh! Holy shit! 

Holy shit!

No, Nick. I have an idea. Maybe this movie… maybe it’s about this. About us. Our relationship. 

__________________

You want me to let you in there, huh? 

Regardless of what the consequences are? Because once you go in there… it could change the way you feel about me. Our entire relationship could change, Nick Cage. 

Is it too much? 

I know, I am sorry if it is weird. 

The Rock. 

Con Air. Heh. 

No, it's not creepy. 

Mandy is a masterpiece. 

Of course they are real. 

Made especially for the film. 

Just look at the guns. 

Hmm. About 6,000. 

I am sorry, Mr Cage, but this is not for sale. 

__________________

Hold on, hold on. Your daughter gets kidnapped? 

But who kidnaps her? 

The barrel is definitely not warped. Who kidnaps her? 

It feels like a completely different movie. 

And then what? The finale is about two men saving the girl? That’s terrible. 

Give me the gun. You know the key to shooting well? Controlling your breath. Do you know how to control your breath, Nick? Your heart. Your heart must be still. At peace. My heart… is not still. My heart is not at peace. Do you know why? 

Because you’re lying to me. 

Don’t fucking lie to me. 

Don’t fucking lie to me! 

I know why you keep on talking about this kidnapped girl. You feel guilty about your relationship with your own daughter. 

You are blocked. Creatively. Because you feel guilty about what kind of father you have been. 

Pull! 

__________________

Nick, I need you to come with me. 

I’m sorry to have to take this step, Nick. 

No, it is the only option. 

What? There’s no need to call them. They are here. 

Unfortunately, I can’t do that. You left me no choice! 

Yes. Creatively. 

No, physically he is tremendous. I mean, he will probably outlive us all. 

Ha!

Look, I have grown to care very deeply about your father. And ex-husband. We are working on a movie together. A beautiful character-driven, adult drama. But, he has so many unresolved issues with you, that it is beginning to bleed into the work in a negative way. Isn’t that right, Nick? 

Well, you see he has so many regrets. 

Well, I had a cat die in the kitchen. And my grandmother was never able to get rid of the smell. I am very sorry for the inconvenience, but this is an emergency. Have lunch with us. And let him say what he has to say. Don’t you think that is a good idea, Nick? 

__________________

Wow. That was fucking pathetic. 

No, no, no. I am honestly speechless.

Shit. I think we have more work than I realised, but this is good. This is very good. This is a good first step. 

Gracias. 

__________________

(In Spanish) Well, Lucas. What was so urgent you came all the way up here? 

(In Spanish) Sergio Baldassari? The head of the Calabero crime family? I thought he was dead? 

(In Spanish) You’re the boss. It’s your call. 

(In Spanish) Wait. The election? That means you… You kidnapped Delgado’s daughter. 

(In Spanish) What? Who’s being betrayed? 

(In Spanish) Lucas, what's wrong? What does any of this have to do with me? 

Oh, bullshit. 

(In Spanish) What? No. Lucas, no. I had no idea. 

(In Spanish) Lucas. Calm down! Calm down!   

(In Spanish) Lucas, please don't do this. I swear to God, I didn’t know. No! No! No! No! No! 

__________________

Hi. 

I’m sorry. I should have asked you before bringing them down. 

And I was thinking maybe a kidnapping would work. Our movie would start out as a beautiful character piece, and then slowly change into a more thrilling… 

Would you like to drive out to the cliffs? Clear our heads and think through the third act? 

__________________

So… 

Yeah. 

These? No. I’ve had these. 

I don’t wear them very much. I don’t think they're really me. 

Do you wanna try them on? I think they would look amazing to you. 

Oh, wow! Those look incredible on you. 

Yeah. 

Like, permanently? 

Okay. 

I totally agree. It’s just… easy. 

Well… I guess it’s time to figure out how this thing ends. 

__________________

Nick… I meant what I said back there. Which is why this really hurts. 

I’m sorry, Nick. 

Wait. You were gonna kill me? And are those my golden guns? 

Why the fuck would you kill me? 

My cousin Lucas is the head of the organisation!

The whole world thinks I run it. When my father died, Lucas took over. He forced me to be the figurehead. 

You don’t just leave this world, Nick. You, and everyone you care about, is in constant danger. Why do you think I cannot be with Gabriela? 

Are you fucking kidding me? I can’t be with Gabriela because that would put a target on her back. Wait, you seriously didn't realise that we liked each other? 

You're in the CIA! 

No way. You go first. 

I don’t wanna kill you.

I fucking love you! 

It’s my cousin. He must've known I wouldn't kill you. 

__________________

Faster! 

Okay. You just run out there. You get the truck. You come back and get me. I will keep a lookout. 

I love that plan. I do. But, you are a faster runner than me, even in subpar footwear. I saw how fast you were in National Treasure. 

Not according to the Making Of featurette. 

Wait! So you’re gonna go? I’m going with you. 

There they are! 

__________________

He’s coming up on us. 

On your left! On your left! 

Holy shit! 

Hit the brakes! Hit the brakes! He’ll hit the back of the truck. 

Yes it will, yes it will! Just do it, do it, do it, do it! 

Don’t worry, he’s totally passed out. 

Fuck! 

I’m okay. Are you okay? 

__________________

There are more soldiers coming. We have to go. 

His people could still be in the area. We have to go. 

I have a place. Let’s go. Come, come. Come now. 

I bought this house 10 years ago for a situation just like this. It has everything we need. Food, passports, materials for disguise. We’ll be safe for the night. 

Olivia. I promise you will get your daughter back. 

__________________

The girls are likely being held in my cousin’s compound. It is a monastery that they use as a cover, but it is a fortress. It is impenetrable. There are walls on every side. 

Tunnels. But with metal doors that only open from the inside. Even if it weren’t for all of the armed guards, it is impossible to get in. 

We are going to walk straight in through the front gate. 

Lucas is trying to form an alliance with Sergio Baldassari, the head of the Calabero crime family. 

Exactly. And since no-one has seen him, no-one knows exactly what he looks like. Olivia. Nick says that you were an incredible makeup artist when you met. So, with some prosthetics and a little makeup…

__________________

Wait. Where is Nick? 

He will never make it out if there alive.

Hey! 

Shit, come on. Nick, go. Go! 

Oh, shit! 

Olivia, hand me the guns. They’re right in there. 

Okay, stop the truck. I will slow them down. 

Yes! You are two kilometres from the embassy. If I slow them down you will all make it. 

No! 

I'm never going to have any kind of a life unless I stand up to my cousin! I need this. Now, go. Go!

You stayed. 

__________________

Nick. 

Oh, no, I couldn't watch. I was, uh… I was too nervous. How did it play? 

Really? Oh, wow!

This is… Nick. Thank you. 

Do you wanna ride to the party with me? They want to interview us. Uh, Vanity Fair. 

__________________

DELETED SCENE:

I just want you to enjoy yourself, have fun. You will have the rest of the day to unwind, tomorrow to explore. And the big party on Sunday.

N.A.T.I.O.N.A.L.T.R.E.A.S.U.R.E.2

Colon. Book of Secrets. All caps.

I mean, I can change it, if you want.

I should have changed it. I apologise.

You are right, why would I? It is a wonderful film and a phenomenal password.

Welcome to Mallorca, Mr Cage.

__________________

DELETED SCENE:

Okay. You ready?

What do you say we cut the chit chat, A-hole!

Yes, I'm sorry. 

What do you say we cut the chit chat, A-hole?

What do you say we cut the chit chat, A-hole!

What do you say we cut the chit chat, A-hole!

We cut the chit chat, A-hole!

Chit chat, A-hole!

A-hole!

What do you say, what do you-what do you say- fuck, Javi! What do you say-what do you say-what do you say we cut the chit chat, A-Hole!

__________________

FULL MASTERLIST OF PEDRO CHARACTERS DIALOGUE

[simple-seranade]

What’s a god to a nonbeliever?

Jimmy is done with the jokes, the lack of respect.

Joel wants to see a toy? Oh, Jimmy will show him a toy.

TW: body horror, non-consenual body transformation, hurt/no comfort, blood, swords

(credit goes to this post by @theminecraftbee , sorry if the tag is unwanted lol)

______________________

“Jimmy, this is ridiculous! Let me GO!” Joel strains against the ropes pulled taught against his skin, wincing as the skin chafes.

That damned smile doesn’t leave Jimmy’s face. It looks so wrong, all sharp and so cold it burns. “Now why would I do that? I need you to play a game with me, after all.”

The words send a slimy kind of fear racing up Joel’s spine, and he fights back a wince at the feeling. “What in my name are you on about?”

He can’t move as Jimmy turns away from him, dragging the steel of his blade across a nearby anvil with a wicked screech. “Well, you see, Joel, you’ve been under the delusion that I’m a toy! Such a silly thought, coming from such a big, powerful god, right? Clearly, toys are just so far below you that you never cared to see what they actually were!”

The god barely restrains a screech as the sheriff spins, holding the horrifically sharp blade to his throat with practiced ease. “But not to worry,” Jimmy continues, tone as sweet and acrid as cyanide. “I’m here to help you!”

The metal is poking his throat now, burning hot from the desert sun. “T-Tim-”

“That’s the Sheriff to you.” With a jerk of a hand, the blade leaves Joel’s throat, leaving a thin line of gold as ichor drips from the newly opened wound. “And as your Sheriff, I’m going to show you something.” Jimmy leans in close, and for a split second Joel swears his brown eyes gleam red.

“I’m going to show you what a real toy looks like.”

Joel can only choke back a scream as Jimmy shoves a vial of potion down his throat, the taste thick and ashen and sickeningly sweet. It slides slowly down his throat, coating it and making him cough. His lungs seem to tighten, something tickling in the back of his throat as he coughs again. Golden ichor splatters against Jimmy’s white shirt as blood enters the fray, Joel near heaving in an attempt to clear whatever the hell is in his chest-

Until suddenly, he can’t cough. 

His eyes widen as the air fizzles out of his lungs with nothing but a quiet wheeze. He tries to breathe in, get more air, only for nothing to happen. His mouth is open, he knows what he’s doing should be resulting in filling his lungs with air, but instead there’s just… nothing. A hand comes up and presses his chest, only for it to cave slightly under the pressure. The god fights back the urge to vomit at the sensation, feeling things shift inside him. 

“Rule one: Toys don’t breathe.”

He turns his panicked gaze to Jimmy, who looks at him with nothing but ice-cold apathy. His heart pounds in his chest as he feels his strength seep away bit by bit. Even holding his arm up feels like an impossible task, and he can only watch as it falls limply to his side.

“Rule two: Toys don’t move on their own.”

He’s frozen in place as he feels the steady thump in his chest begin to slow. His gaze is simply stuck looking up at the Sheriff.

“Rule three.”

Joel feels the irrepressible urge to scream with lungs and vocal cords that are there no more. The Sheriff leans down close, his face inches from the god’s as a divine heart takes it’s final beats.

“Toys have no heart.”

Joel screams and sobs from the glass prison of his mind as all connection with his body is severed. He doesn’t know how long he’s stuck there as his world becomes overwhelmed by pain in every single nerve, all while being unable to move a muscle. He’s even shrinking, getting smaller and smaller and Jimmy’s shadow looms over him. He doesn’t even notice when the pain stops, internally shouting from a conscious no one can hear.

He’s vaguely aware of rough hands picking him up carelessly, squeezing what should be his stomach and is instead stuffing. 

“This is really your own fault.” Jimmy says, almost conversationally, like Joel could even respond. “You gods are all the same. So caught up in the sound of your own voices, you forget where your power really comes from.”

The Sheriff leans in close, holding the now-doll up by a single arm. 

“A god is only as strong as their worshippers think them to be. And call me a heretic all you like, but even a ‘god’ such as yourself holds no candle to someone who never believed in the first place.”

[madamvanrouge]

Lilia Vanrouge x Reader

✿Briar's Secret [Part 2]✿

Notes: Angst, fluff? Meleanor's little sister!reader, chief strategist!reader, human-fae war era.

Contains my twst OC Midnight.

Midnight followed his beloved princess out to where the humans stood their ground, fully armed and ready to take the lives of whoever approached them. Midnight himself was a human, in fact, he was the very one who had once attempted the assassination of princess [Y/N] Draconia. The very princess to whom he had sworn complete allegiance and the fragile threads that vested his life. 

He had grown up an orphan, forced into an occupation as brutal as assassination by his own race. His arctic blue eyes had held the coldness of all the winters, kindness was far from what he had. He had taken the lives of numerous fae kind, his hands were stained with deep smears of their blood that would unceasingly serve as a recollection of his immoral deeds that were nothing short of perverseness. 

Yet this very princess whom he had been told to assassinate, had forgiven him, even taken him as one of her own. She'd made him the leader of her private military squadron- the Midnight Solstice. He remembered not what his real name was. Midnight was the name the princess had given him. And it was the only name that held any sort of importance to him.

He'd foolishly fallen in love with her. He, a lowly human, had fallen in love with a fae princess. He had fallen into the trenches of admiration for a woman who would never be his as was decided by the differences between their races. He could never dare to tell her he loved her. 

Not only that, the princess held someone else close to her heart. [Y/N]'s heart belonged to the Right General of Briar Valley's army, Lilia Vanrouge. Midnight understood quite little of why she loved him, given how they constantly bickered with each other, but he could not bring himself to intervene in his princess' love. He would follow her to the bitter end. That was his duty as her trusted assassin. 

Face to face they now were, with the Knight of Dawn, Henrik and the rest of the Silver Owls in glistening metal armour over which the light bounced off to yonder. 

"We come to negotiate peace. If you make no move, we shall listen to your demands." [Y/N] declared. Even at a time like this, Midnight's princess did not hesitate to show kindness and forgiveness to those who were willing to resonate with her pleas and respond in kind. 

"Peace?! With you damned witches? You think you have any right?!" Henrik yelled in quite the odious manner. Midnight clicked his tongue, having to hold himself back from wrenching off that insolent pig's head. 

"Then you leave me no choice." [Y/N] scanned the grounds. She had bought enough time apparently. Midnight could also spot Princess Meleanor, the General and his aide running with the egg into the dense woods of Briar Valley. 

"Hah! As if an immoral creature like you is capable of anything!" Henrik jabbed a short, stubby finger at her. Midnight had to inhale to calm himself. No stabbing big ugly pigs with foul mouths and no cutting their miserable fingers. He had to wait for [Y/N]'s orders. 

The fae princess took in a deep breath before whispering. "Remains of the worlds beyond, assist my need to conquer that which has been sought. Reign of Conqueror." [Y/N] staggered, Midnight helping her up as a dense, crimson mist dissipated across the grounds. Midnight shielded himself and [Y/N] with his defense magic, watching as every soldier fell into a deep sleep, one which could never be awakened from. No true love, no magic could awaken them. They'd rot into bones in this very manner. They were as good as dead. 

[Y/N] coughed up blood, falling to her knees. The usually sprightly princess looked now pale and sickly, the pieces of her face shattering into red fragments and slowly scattering into the winds. 

"Princess!" Midnight crouched beside her. His heart felt as if it had been beat with a hammer. Panic flashed in his eyes. He had known this would happen. He had let her do this as he was in no position to disobey the orders of one who had saved his life. 

"Midnight." The princess clutched the arm of her trusted assassin weakly. "Did I do good?" Her other arm had already broken away into crimson fragments, the very same shade of crimson as her beloved Lilia's eyes. Her torso was now slowly breaking up into similar pieces. 

"Of course, princess." Midnight struggled with his words. He disliked how awkward he was with words. He disliked how he could not say the words [Y/N] wished to hear. He hated himself. So much. 

"I love you, Midnight. Tell big sis Meleanor I l-loved her. Baul and the castle staff too." the princess spoke weakly. She was now almost gone. "I wish I could see big brother Levan one last time." she choked on a sob. The assassin's heart broke as he held her. He struggled to breathe, struggled to come to terms with reality as he watched his loved one perish in his arms. 

"And tell that idiot Lilia-" [Y/N]'s face was now fading away. "He had better marry me. I love him." 

And with that, the last of her was gone. Princess [Y/N] Draconia, gone from this world, without a trace. 

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NOTE: DO NOT REPOST OR PLAGIARIZE MY WORK!

[ladybellissima]

Finding Love Katakuri x Reader Part 19

The strong waves of the sea clashed against the surface and let thousands of water droplets covering the sand. The sound was calming, relaxing, but the situation wasn't nearly comfortable. Finally after running like crazy, Luffy reached the ship with the others and was met with a horrible sight.

Big mom' s pirate crew were surrounding the Sunny with their ships, while Chopper and the others had a hard time in fighting Perospero. Trapped inside his candy, not only the ship was unable to move, the others were slowly running low of air.

"You bastards… Get your hands off of my nakamaaa!", Luffy shouted angered and was about to crash the candy, but a familiar mochi wall stopped his attack.

"It would be better to think about yourself straw hat.", a dangerous voice got his attention and he was met with the angered gaze of  (Y/N)'s husband. Katakuri Charlotte.

Growling they looked each other in the eye like waiting for the other to attack. Katakuri was already exploding inside of anger to finally meeting Luffy, who destroyed everything they had been working on really hard the past few days and on top taking his wife, but to see that (Y/N) was missing ,let his blood pressure raise and body tremble even more.

"Where is my wife.", he growled dangerously and let Luffy raise his eyebrows. 

Before Luffy was able to answer, a loud explosion erupted by the ship and Perospero screamed out in pain. The candy slowly disappeared and let Luffy's crew on the ship cough exhausted. Badly wounded Perospero fell down to his knees, while his look found the serious one of his brother.

"Brother…Katakuri…. I am so sorry… I tried my best to help you out and to make it up to you…", he whispered and fell from the ship and down onto the beach uncouncious. Brulee looked after him worried and called out his name over and over again.

But not only did the Charlottes lose a fight.

"Pedro!!!", Nami and the others shouted shocked, while their loyal friend, who guarded the ship with all he got, took his last breath and crashed to the ground.

" What's the meaning of this!? ", Luffy growled and felt his heart stop for a moment, after noticing his crying crew.

" Luffy… He safed us by attacking Perospero and activating a bomb, he… he is dead…", Nami cried out with the others and let him gasp of shock, but before he could really comprehend what happened, another scream of pain echoed through the air. Quickly jumping on his ship, Luffy found Katakuri, who stepped on one of his crew members.

" Get off of carrot you bastard!!", he shouted and attacked him. Katakuri quickly blocked his attack and found himself trapped in Luffy's big gum hand. Bored his look found his angered one.

"Good, now that I have your attention. Tell me immediately… where is my wife?", Katakuri growled pissed. His mind was racing of thousands scenarios what could have happened to her. The moment the straw hats had arrived, his heart skipped a beat and hopefully, he looked out to catch a glimpse of her beautiful face. To see her bright smile again, to see that she was okay and finally safe by his side. But then the clouds darkened, after realizing she wasn't there, while his mother was stomping through the woods like a maniac. And the first question which haunted his mind was.

What did they do?

Distracted by his worries, Luffy was able to grab his sister Brulee and with Katakuri still in his other grip, he jumped into a mirror, which laid on the ground, to enter the mirro world. Falling down onto the floor, Brulee quickly crawled away and out of the dangerous atmosphere. Smirking Luffy got up and balled his fists.

"Now I can fight you without any distractions…", he spoke angered and crashed the window to stop anyone to get back to his ship.

Katakuri growled in anger and got into a fighting stance.

"(Y/N) is worried about you mochi guy!", Luffy started seriously and let Katakuri stop in his tracks.

"I am not an asshole and I told her that I will tell you her message. Even if you don't deserve it. ", he added.

"Where is she? What have you done to her. I will kill you.", Katakuri shouted angered and pulled himself together to get informations about her whereabouts.

"She is on the way to cacao Island with Pudding and Sanji. We never hurt her and protected her of any harm. She wanted to stay out of this to avoid getting in your way…", he spoke and got into a fighting stance as well.

"Now that you know I can fight you. I am glad that I asked for her forgiveness, because I am gonna beat you here and now! ", Luffy announced seriously, while Katakuri thought about his words.

"That sounds like her….Your crew is the reason of her getting in trouble in the first place. Why did you then kidnap her? For informations? What intention did you have.?! ", Katakuri asked angered and images of her last kidnapping popped up in his mind. Could he really believe his words that she was okay?

" We did nothing. It was an accident. One of my crew members thought she is in danger.", Luffy spoke seriously and had a staring contest with him. Katakuri was deep in thought about what to do. It seemed possible and it sure was believable that (Y/N) said those things.

" For now I have to believe you and trust in her. She is still recovering and weak, but a bunch of idiots like you wouldn't notice. I am glad she is in good hands now and not with the enemy anymore.", Katakuri spoke and hoped that his sister would have a good look on her. Luffy felt a stinging pain in his chest of hearing that. He didn't realize that her wounds were that bad.

" I will fight you and after I got rid of you I will take her back where she belongs. You will pay for taking her away from me.", he growled and shot mochi balls into Luffy's direction. Dodging and jumping out of the way Luffy smirked.

"Sorry (Y/N), I will sure overdo it. ", he thought and collected his energy to start his fight with the strongest of the sweet commanders.

xxx

The fresh air blew against her face, while they flew with high speed towards cacao Island. In a way it felt good and let her ease the pain in her legs. Sighing deeply (Y/N) realized how exhausted her body and soul was. Sitting now on this carpet she was finally able to rest a bit.

"Katakuri…", she thought and missed his presence beside her. She knew it was better to join Pudding then getting to the ship. And she knew that he would have been there. But she also knew that things would become complicated if she and everyone else was there. His mother with her hunger pang, Luffy and his crew, siblings of him who were ready to fight. She would get in the way like at the tea party and that would only cause problems again.

"We are almost there.", Pudding called out and pointed to an island in the distance. (Y/N)'s gaze met hers and Pudding quickly turned away.

Was she afraid of her?

Shouldn't it be otherwise?

After all she was the one who played evil tricks. Silently (Y/N) watched her uneasy gaze unsure of how to speak with her. Sanji pulled her out of her thoughts by tapping her shoulder and nodding towards Pudding to go on. Sighing she got up and sat beside her on the top of the carpet, her look directed to the beautiful view of the sea.

"I have to admit, I was really surprised of your actions…", (Y/N) started and got her attention immediately.

"I found you really nice, kind and beautiful. I felt comfortable around you and told you my fears. It was relieving in having someone to talk to. To share the same fate connected us in a way.. But it was all a lie…or is there a chance that of all the kind words you told me, that there was something the truth? ", she asked sadly and let Pudding gasp of shock. Ashamed she avoid (Y/N) 's gaze for a moment to collect her thoughts. She never had planned to become friends with someone. She gave up on this dream many years ago, but out of nowhere (Y/N) stepped into her life and all her sadness, nightmares and fears to get hurt again, were clouding her mind about what was real.

"(Y/N) I am sorry… ", she spoke and looked up to the beautiful woman beside her.

"I also got in trouble because of you right? The styling, your time passing in showing me some places. I know now how important tea parties are for Mama and how quickly she could take someone's life.", (Y/N) shocked Pudding in coming straight the point.

"I am sorry (Y/N)… I was jealous. I was frustrated about getting treated so kindly. No one ever did that… and I was jealous that you were pushed into a marriage, which lead you to your luck and have someone you like…I didn't believe it. I couldn't… but believe me that I never wanted that the party escalated that much. I am so sorry that big brother Katakuri and you fighted because of me. I am relieved to see that you are still getting along well… ", Pudding spoke while tears rolled down her face. (Y/N) sighed deeply and hugged her for comfort which let her cry even more.

" Our fight would have come sooner or later… It helped a lot to say what was on our minds…", (Y/N) spoke calmly and let her cry.

" I forgive you, but you have to earn my trust again. I still believe that you are a good person Pudding. And even if you don't believe me. I think you are beautiful. I would never lie about something like that. ", she told her and brushed her tears away.

"(Y/N) ~swan your kind words are touching my heart. Pudding~swan don't cry.. ", Sanji interrupted them with his love sick cheering and let the two girls chuckle.

" I will also help you with the cake. It will be finished faster. If Katakuri and Mama likes my doughnuts then it sure will help you too.", she spoke and surprised everyone.

"(Y/N)~swan could bake doughnuts?! How sweet like youuuu..", Sanji spoke, while Pudding felt her jealousy take over. But in a way it was different with (Y/N), because she knew that her heart would always belong to Katakuri. Nodding happily she hugged her again and felt relieved to finally had spoken about everything with (Y/N).

"We are here!", Pudding told them happily and took (Y/N) 's hand of excitement.

"Let's get things started and bake a wedding cake for Mama!", she spoke more than motivated than before.

Entering cacao Island they were met with the whole cake Islands top chefs. Pudding knew that Sanji would get in trouble as a known enemy of them. So she erased their memories and let them believe that the tea party was held like planned. Taking his hand in hers she waved happily and told them how happy she was as his wife. (Y/N) found that quite impressive how skilled Pudding was to trick everyone so quickly. Sanji didn't mind either because he was in his own world of hearts after feeling her beautiful body pressed against his. Leading them into a kitchen, (Y/N)'s eyes got big like saucers of the high tech equipment and variations of sweets.

"Great isn't it? Baking sweets is our main priority so we Charlottes only work with top ingredients and machines.", Pudding announced proudly and ordered the chefs around to take their plan into action.

Chiffon started to make the base chiffon cake and was relieved to have (Y/N) 's help. She was stunned how quickly and skilled Katakuri' s wife handled the dough. Seriously she worked on her own dough,while thinking about her sister Lola, who didn't have such a luck like her brother.

"Is your baby okay Chiffon? I noticed that he wasn't with you, but wasn't able to ask sooner. The little one must be missing you dearly..such a sweet baby boy.", (Y/N) 's caring words let her smile brightly.

"Don' t worry he is a tough one. Did you also plan in having one?", Chiffon asked happily and let (Y/N) cough furiously. Shocked she waved her hands in front of her flustered. "I.. I… Think that's too early to speak about. You see Katakuri and I are taking things slow. So..", she stuttered embarrassed to even think about the act in making one.

His trained body on hers, taking her roughly and kissing her….

Red as a tomato she quickly avoid Chiffon's amused expression and worked again.

Kissing him…

The thought of it let her heart flutter, but she knew all too well that it was a forbidden touch. Biting her lip bitterly she tried to push the longing feeling away.

" Did he show you what's behind the scarf?", Chiffon asked out of the blue and surprised her. It was like she knew what (Y/N) was thinking. Sighing she gave her a sad smile.

"No. I think he isn't trusting me enough to show whatever he is hiding underneath.", she spoke calmly while getting the dough into a form. Chiffon felt bad for asking.

"But it's okay. I have to earn his trust first. I will wait as long as he needs and if he still doesn't want to… Then I accept it. Because I like him the way he is. With and without this scarf.", (Y/N) smiled brightly and let Chiffon gasp of her beautiful words.

" Look Chiffon your cake is ready. Good it looks amazing. And the smell! Incredible! ", (Y/N) pulled her out of her thoughts and she looked at the childish and cheering girl beside her. Chuckling she gave her a friendly clap on her shoulder and hoped that (Y/N) would always stay this happy her entire life.

[monimccoythings]

Arlong x Healer!human!reader Part 1

I will keep writing as long as I get this ideas, these will be all unconnected, just oneshots. I have some stories I would like to try however I've come to find that it is really difficult to write Arlong with a human reader, since he is so bigoted and hateful of humans, I also worry I'm going to make him too ooc for my taste. But I'm slowly getting comfortable with what I want to write and how I want to write it.

PS: Since this bitch of a website only allows a limited amount of characters, this one will have to be cut in half.

Tw: mentions of blood.

The only thing your Island had ever known was peace. Anyone with good intentions was welcomed there. Fishmen and humans lived together comfortably, there were even mixed couples with hybrid children running around. No fight got too serious and no race thought about submitting the other, because all of the villagers understood and knew too well what it was to be subjugated.

Since your mother arrived with you to this island several years ago, you had used your ever growing knowledge about medicine to help your neighbors and friend's lifes get a bit easier. You felt a bit proud of the small clinic you had established and wouldn't change your quiet life for anything in the world.

But one day things changed.

There had been a terrible storm the night before, and some things had been carried over to the sea, nothing too serious, just some furniture, some cloths and part of the roof of a barn. But still, people would want them back, so you decided to help them a bit.

That's when you saw him. A huge unmoving mass laying on the shore. 'He must have been brought by the tides' you thought. Your healer instincts immediately kicked in, he looked like he had been pretty battered. He had very ugly looking cuts, and seemed to have lost a lot of blood. Still, he seemed to be breathing, though with several difficulties. You had to act quick.

You called for Omar, your fishman friend, since he was too big and heavy for you to carry around without risking a back ache. Things seemed normal, just another patient to help. Little did you know that you had bit off more than you could chew.

The second he was laid on the bed, he magically sprung alive and lunged at you like a wild animal, his eyes madly moving one side to the other, baring his teeth and foaming at the mouth. The only thing stopping him from tearing you to pieces was the quick intervention of your friend, who even his prime, was barely able to contain that sharkman's fury. "How is he able to do this?? he is on the verge of death!" You couldn't answer. You found yourself unable to, because the look of deep hate coming out of that fishman's eyes had rendered you speechless. Nobody had looked at you that way. Ever.

After a bit of struggling, the man fell unconscious again from exhaustion. But your heart was still beating furiously inside your chest. If Omar hadn't been there... No. There was no time to think about that, he needed your help. Whether he wanted or not.

Your friend didn't seem so convinced when you decided to send him home to his family. He was reluctant to leave you alone with a dangerous patient. You quickly reassured him that as long as he was unconscious everything would be fine, and if things got rough you would call for him immediately.

After he left, you immediatly went back to action, getting all the materials needed to clean his wounds and start a blood transfusion. You wisely decided that fishman's blood would be the most appropiate given his inherent hostility towards humans. Still, the amount you had wouldn't be enough to make him healthy again. Guess you'd have to call your friend back after all.

As you were cleaning his wounds you couldn't help but marvel at the bulging muscles underneath your cloth. This fishman was enormous, even bigger than some of your neighbors. Gosh, he barely fit into your biggest bed. You shook your head, this was not the time to fantasize, you had to call your friend back and several other fishmen from the village. It was going to take a while...

After several days waiting quietly near his bed with your very overprotective friend by your side, the mysterious fishman seemed to regain consciousness at last. And boy did you regret it.

He was the most hateful, abrassive, headstrong, and rudest patient you ever had the displeasure to meet. How anyone could be so full of hate, you didn't know. At least he wasn't attacking you, he was probably feeling weak due to those days he spent unconscious. Or maybe it was because your friend was always there, supervising, just in case.

Arlong, as he was named (or as he had barked at you when you politely asked) had a deeply rooted hatred for humans, considering you all the scum of the earth and an inferior race to exploit and control. When you told him this island was based on peaceful coexistence between human and fishmen, he was outraged calling it shameful for the fishmen people.

When Omar's hybrid kid, Corcho, came by to bring some food to his Papa, Arlong's face morphed into a sneer of disgust. You had to ask him, because since the child was part fishman, he shouldn't have had any trouble with him. To which he answered that it was the child's fishman half what had kept him from pouncing at him.

You couldn't keep quiet anymore, and decided to call him out on his extremly bigoted behavior towards people that just wanted to help him. He scoffed at you, saying that you humans were just mud for Fishmen to step on.

You snapped at him that you didn't understand how someone could still choose to hate when there could be a chance of both races living peacefully, it was plain stupid. That seemed to do it.

With a snarl and a surprising speed for someone in his frail state he grabbed you by the neck. Omar quickly adopted a protective stance in front of his child, ready to attack without risking your safety.

"You should watch your tongue, human." He spat the last word as if it was venom. His webbed fingers applied the smallest of pressures to your neck, signaling you that he could do much worse if he wanted to. You watched with steady breaths how his eyes scanned your face, in search of fear, pupils dilating like a predator when his eyes met yours. For a second, nobody dared to utter a word, both of you lost in each other's eyes. He carefully sniffed you, and when he found no trace of fear, he harshly let you go with a grunt which turned into a wince of pain.

Omar quickly pulled you away from him, but you barely acknowledged his presence. Your focus was on the wounded fishman in front of you. You tentatively approached him, ignoring your friend's protests. "Don't touch me." He warned, panting. Desperate, you tried to give him something to drink.

"You are hurt, have a glass of wa-" "I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP, HUMAN." He bellowed at you, slapping the glass out of your hand. After a couple of minutes he started breathing normally again. But the memory of what had just happened hung heavily over the room. Arlong was violent, abrassive and a menace to humankind, but you couldn't ignore him in his time of need due to your Hippocratic Oath. You were stuck between a rock and a hard place. What exactly had you gotten yourself into?

[greyskyflowers]

I've discussed it before and since one of my older post about is it being liked again, I'll discuss it again!

Feral Zoro

Feral Zoro gives me so feelings.

The crew goes nuts during battle sometimes and that's not something you can just turn off. And sure, the others can be wild and fierce but Zoro has battle carved in his bones. The rumble of war drums and old prayers said before battle to wrathful gods are all layered in his pulse.

And all that desire, that relentless fury and strength, went from protect myself and my dream to protect them and their dreams.

Protect Luffy.

Nami.

Sanji.

Usopp.

Robin.

Chopper.

Franky.

Brook.

Jinbei.

Sunny.

I imagine that mantra is louder than anything else during those fights, the urge to protect and defend.

Don't you dare let them get past you. Don't you even think of losing this fight. You have to be the best because if you aren't that means someone else is... And what if that person is the enemy?

Failure is not an option because someone is relying on you.

You can cry with grief until your eyes are swollen and dry like the world feels at that moment, or curse every god you can think of with snarled anger at the sky, or let yourself drift away for a little while all the agony and pain you put your body through comes racing in with thunderous noise, later.

But now... Right now you hold it together.

There is no other option.

You stop when your blood has soaked into the earth so much it's started pooling on the surface or until your body gives up and moving is almost a foreign word.

You can rest when they do. When they are safe. You don't stop before then because you can't.

And while I think Luffy is fantastic at leaving it all out in the field, Zoro really lets himself slide into that mindset in a way far different from Luffy.

And I can't imagine it's easy to settle down after those battles. I'm not talking about the small battles or the ones where they leave a little beat up but okay overall.

No.. I'm talking about the ones that change them. Where at some point, or perhaps multiple, the thought crosses their mind that this might be it.

I've never been in a situation like that obviously, but I know how I get when I get anxious and overwhelmed. Even once the problem is fixed and things settle back down, I'm running around checking on things and watching everything. Heart still ready to start running laps again and nerves pulled tight.

That's a work environment. Granted a very important and stressful work environment but no one will die at my job. My loved ones will not be hurt because of something I do or don't do at work.

Now take that to a scale that comprises of the big battles they've had. That's a whole lot of feeling and adrenaline to just let go of.

And I love after fights where the crew just kind of all go limp and happy because it's done and Luffy won because of course he did.

But...

I think Zoro probably paces a lot those nights, silent and one with the shadows. Heavy boots making the softest thud, the gentle chimes from his earrings, and the quiet noise his swords make as they knock against each other.

Pacing the deck over and over if they're on the Sunny.

Up and down hallways if they're someplace different.

Even around the room.

He just embodies that caged tiger vibe.

They can't rush him. He has to relax on his own but they all help.

He's a little unpredictable and wild eyed like this but they're not scared of him, could never be truly scared of someone who is such a huge part of who they are.

They settle him like a tiger.

With space to spread his legs and get out any extra energy. They let him pace his territory and check on them, even though tigers aren't pack animals. They coax him into the kitchen to eat and replace the energy his body burned through, even though he doesn't register he's hungry. They patch him up with slower movements than normal and try to calm him each time he tenses up and his muscles jump.

Sometimes he stays bloody and raw until several hours later, when he's finally calm enough to take off all the grime and blood like it was a final layer of armor left from the battle.

Sometimes it takes longer, and they wait it out with him until he's ready to come back.

And they'll die before they tell anyone but Zoro's a cuddler, especially after episodes like that. Cat like cuddles all the way.

[callsign-relic]

*ahem* so I see you like size difference and wanna scream about it so please do.

Like idk maybe your favorite thing about it?

WHY YES I WOULD LOVE TO SCREAM ABOUT IT THANK YOU FOR ASKING 😀

HAHA but in all seriousness actually being asked this was a pleasant jumpscare so thank you Tag! I hope we can continue to have conversations about this enlightening topic 😌

So my favorite thing about it, hmm… I think I just love the idea that the bigger character has so much power over the smaller one, intentionally or not. With just the wrong movement, the smaller one could get hurt or worse. Yet despite that, there’s such big trust between the two of them that the smaller one doesn’t worry that they’ll get hurt, because they trust their bigger companion and know that they’ll be careful with them, and if something does happen they know it’s unintentionally.

And with that trust, there are many benefits to having a giant friend! Which leads into another favorite thing of mine about it: the bigness of it all, for lack of a better descriptor. Feeling such usually trivial things at such a scale that shakes you up entirely.

A single hand, longer than your entire body, able to cradle you protectively with such care. You can feel the warmth emitted naturally from the palm and fingers around you, enveloping you without even having to try. Maybe they even reach with their fingers to rub gently into you, assuring you of their presence and comfort— as if you could ever forget it when you were around them.

Laying flat against a wide chest, the world rising up and down as your giant friend beneath you merely breathes. Their lungs expanding and reducing from within them being enough to move your entire worldview. You can hear the sound of their heart pumping inside them— a constant, rhythmic beat of the shifting of their blood and the flesh of the muscle as large as yourself. Every pulse sends a vibration through you, the pattern of it lulling you into security.

Or even sitting up on their shoulder, leaning against their neck. You can feel every little movement as their merely turn their head about. Feel the muscles of their neck shift and contract as they swallow. Feel the deep rumbles of just them speaking run through your little body. Not to mention the incredible view— watching the world race past you as they merely walk at a relaxed pace.

Just stuff like that I find really cool HAHA. Though I haven’t thought about it as much, I know there is definitely cool aspects about it from the bigger character’s perspective as well!

This ended up being longer than I intended it to be, but I’ve loved this concept for literally as long as I could remember HAHA. Hope that answers your question! I’d love to hear your thoughts on it too :D

[dabisqueen]

Falling in Love Ch.8

Rockstar Dabi (Touya) x fem!Reader

⇢ word count: roughly 6.2K

⇢ series plot: after receiving a VIP ticket to a concert of the most popular rock band, you go and it proves to be a life-changing event.

⇢ current plot: the first concert proves to be fun and entertaining, but behind the scenes tension is coming to an explosive peak between Dabi, Keigo and you

⇢ warnings: 18+, minors DNI, alcohol consumption, drug abuse, kissing, groping, sex in public, oral (m receiving), deepthroat, lots of dialogue, some hurt, more jelousy 

Personal note: almost at the big finale. A big shout out to @/hunajan and @/crumbly-scrombly for helping me finish this! Couldn't have done it without you 💙

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Even though everyone else kept watching from the side, you wanted to be closer. You wanted to see him in person, see his face with your own eyes, in front of you – not through some LED screen in the back of the stage. 

You turned and let your gaze roam across the area, trying to find a way to get closer to him. Seeing one of the crew members wearing a security shirt walk down the hallway, you followed him, around the corner and down the stairs. 

Flashing your All Access Pass at the men waiting at the bottom, you stepped past the security into the space separating the audience and the stage.

You could see Dabi clearly now, his handsome features, sweat dripping off it, the lights reflecting in the bright azures of his eyes. The lights fell perfectly on his face, emphasizing the sharp cut of his nose and lips, as they kept grazing the grille. 

The pounding drumbeat drove the performance, the crowds were pushing against the railing behind you, their hands raised in the air, heads bobbing to the music, while the security and staff had their hands full keeping the crowd in control.

You knew everyone's hearts were racing, blood pumping, as they sported the hand-horns, feet bouncing off the ground in the air. The crowd surged forward and back in one relentless wave like the wild waves of the ocean during a high tide. 

The LoV showed off with an energy and staging most artists leave until their encore. It was simply the most visually stunning concert you had ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

The level of sound was astronomical, the music roared through the streets for miles and the crowd went crazy. 

Every time the bass drum was struck, you could feel the repercussions within your chest. The floor beneath you seemed to move with the beat of each song. The vibration that each sound produced, felt like current passing through your body.

Dabi was so effortlessly sexy - dark clothes, dark hair and piercings that adorned his features. He was one of the hottest rock stars in the world for a reason, completely taking over the audience with his presence.

The stage presented a spectacular sight and the atmosphere sucked you into the aura of rock music. Plenty of pyrotechnics kept everyone entertained, supporting certain refrains or lines by flashing bursts of lights along the stage.

With Dabi continuing to banter and flirt with the crowd, the stage suddenly went dark after half the concert was over. Excited screams echoed across the venue as black seeped into every inch of the stadium, a promise for something big to come. 

And then everyone fell silent, aching with anticipation. 

Out of nowhere, the venue lit up in a sparkling sea of crimson red. Dabi stood right in the middle of this sea of red, his shirt taken off, showcasing his sculpted chest to the crowd.

He stepped close to his microphone, his lips brushing against it as he shouted, "Are you ready for the next song?"

The crowd roared back in anticipation and Dabi closed his eyes for a second, inhaling deeply before he opened them again, sweat dripping down his temples.

"Cause this song is for someone special," Dabi spoke softer into the microphone, his eyes roaming the crowd until they landed on yours and stopped right there.

You swallowed hard, your hands starting to tremble. Blue eyes that seemed to hold a world of mystery behind them shone like gems in the sea of red while his lips curved up into a soft smile. 

His tantalizing blue eyes never left yours, when he lifted his left arm, his finger pointed at you.

"From the darkness I see the light in you." He whispered into the microphone,

While stringing his pec into the chords to start the guitar riffs, a tightness spread across your chest as you looked at each other, the everything around you starting to fade. 

It was just you and him– nothing else. 

And then, while his gaze never left yours, he started singing, deep and husky.

"Don't stress, don't stress. No one knows what goes on in our heads, our heads. 

We are invisible to the rest, the rest. 

They don't know nothing 'bout what we have, we have."

Tears started pooling in your eyes as you listened to his lines, the world around you dissipating as he continued singing, never averting his gaze.

Taking a deep breath, his eyes slowly shut before he started singing, husky, deep and low, "'Cause everyone's living in black and white. But we see each other in a different light." 

"Infra-Red," as the iconic lyrics burst from both Dabi's mouth and the crowds', he opened his eyes and looked right at you, "I know that you're burning up for me. Fire in your bloodstream, moving through you at light-speed. I see you, I see you. In Infra-Red!"

While delivering one fiery riff after another from his straining guitar, he was standing there with his eyes fixated on yours, singing the lyrics only for you. Among the endless crowd, you couldn’t believe that his attention was only pointed at you. The mere thought of it had your ribs ache as your heart was thrumming with love and admiration.

For the next part of the song, he cast a glance into Keigo's direction, followed by a hint of a nod before going harder on his instrument. Keigo complied, kicking into the song with a low pitch of his bass guitar, adding into the chorus.

"The heat and the light and the way you move, Like nobody else is in the room. I see you, I see you."

While he sang, his stunning eyes, deep as the bottomless ocean, never left yours and your heart started aching, longing for him so much it seemed like you were suffocating. 

The cameras placed below were capturing each and every expression on his face, reflecting them on the LED screens in the back as if proving to all that you were the only one he saw and the only one who mattered during these moments.

When he finished the song with the words, "From the darkness, I see the light in you”, he smiled at you, his face lighting up before the stage fell into darkness again. 

A strange glow arose and turning around, you noticed thousands of cellphones held up into the air, lighting up the crowd with their lit screen. It was a tribute to the band, to their music. 

It was overwhelming.

You brought your gaze to the ground with your teeth sinking into your lip. Hot tears started trickling down your cheek and you let them, wiping them off with trembling fingertips.

He had touched your heart. This was beyond anything you've ever experienced. A declaration of love in front of thousands of people.

Fat tears continued to roll down your face while the band regrouped and the people behind you one by one tugged their cell phone away.

It took a few minutes for your tears to dry up. After having wiped off your face, you inhaled deeply and straightened up again, focusing back on the show. 

As the concert rolled on, the three made sure to keep the crowd on their toes, changing the pace of the concert with every couple songs. Dabi's fresh and clean guitar riffs and shimmers were complimented by Keigo's brutally heavy bass, pulling out grunt after grunt from his overdrive guitar. 

They were driven forward by Tenko’s thunderous drumming, oftentimes high pitched and explosive, other times nice and smooth. It all came together in a blend of novelty, complexity and rhythm that offered surging, propulsive energy.

Right before they dove into one of their songs, Dabi stepped up to the microphone, his guitar hanging loosely around his neck. He pointed a finger into the crowd when he screamed, "For the next song, I need your help."

Lifting the straps of his guitar over his head, he placed the instrument on the floor and proceeded to head off the stage towards you. Leaning towards you, he called at you over the roar of the nearby crowd, "Gimme your phone!"

While the bodyguards had their hands full trying to retain the frenzied crowd behind you two, you shook your head, "Why?"

"Just give it to me, goddammit!" He called again, as he held out his hand, curling his fingers in a rapid motion repeatedly towards him.

Confusion still written on your face, you reached into your purse to retrieve the device and handed it to him. Taking it from your palm, he blew you a kiss, the crowd behind you erupting into screams. 

Strutting back up the stage to the microphone, he grabbed it tightly with one hand while running a hand through his sweat-drenched black hair, screaming, "All the hot girls and boys out there, how much do you love us?"

The reply from the crowd was deafening as Dabi threw you a glance, winking at you.

"Wanna show how much you love us?" His question was again answered by a deafening roar.

Dabi's melodic laughter echoed through the venue with the cameras turning to film what happened in the crowd. Everywhere, women were lifted onto people's shoulders as they stripped off their shirts and bras, flashing their bare tits at the band.

Keigo and Tenko hollered into the microphone while Dabi held up your cell phone and started snapping pictures.

A blue piece of fabric hurled through the air and landed with a soft thud on the stage. At first, you were unsure what it was but when Keigo picked it up you realized it was a thong.

"That's the spirit!" Dabi screamed into the microphone, stretching his pointed fingers towards the crowd, "Now— Show. Me. More!"

Chaos broke loose. Endless pieces of fabric of all imaginable sizes and colors, even some boxers, flew onto the stage.

Dabi laughed as he kept shouting, "Keep ‘em coming."

It went on for minutes and you couldn't help but chime into the cheers and laughter. It was so intense and amusing, seeing all the endless smiles in the crowd, you couldn’t help but get caught up in the middle of it all.

With the entire stage covered in underwear, he gave the phone to a security who handed it over to you. Then Dabi put on his guitar, taking the plectrum to string into the chords.

The first tunes of the next song started and raising your gaze, you saw Dabi looking at you, his eyes soft, a smile playing about his lips as he started singing. Taking a deep inhale, you calmed your heart, smiled back at him and continued watching. 

Halfway through the song, Dabi placed the mic stand in front of him, starting to thrust his hips forward in sexual gestures towards the crowd. As if that was a cue, Keigo came up to him, pressing his body against his, starting to rut his hips into his bandmates side. 

Cupping Dabi's cheek, he urged him to turn his face towards his own, his lips nearing for a kiss.

But Dabi slightly shook his head, pressing his lips into a fine line and Keigo stilled. It was as if only you witnessed the short scene, with the crowd behind you too immersed in the thrumming music.

Keigo's expression turned stone cold and you could see his lips moving as he said something to Dabi. Covering the microphone with his palm, Dabi shook his head again and replied as to which Keigo’s jaw clenched and he turned on his heel, strutting back off to the side.

For the rest of the concert, you watched Keigo as he wore a sour expression, his back always turned slightly towards his bandmate. 

When the show ended with seemingly endless fireworks, you felt elated. Endorphins rushed through you, your heart beating at a million times per minute. You felt like you were part of the crowd that cheered and screamed behind you with no end in sight. 

Seeing the three boys walk off stage you hurried back up to meet up with them, longing for seeing Dabi again. You knew they just had enough time to grab a drink or a towel or do a quick check in the mirror.

Entering the waiting area, you saw the LoV standing there, exhausted, sweat dripping down their faces and bodies. They were all smiles— except for Keigo, whose expression was still clouded over with an unreadable darkness. 

The crew helped the boys re-tune their instruments and adjust the levels for the encore while you stepped closer to them.

You saw a young crew member hand Tenko, his pale locks sticking in wet strands to his face, a dry towel to wipe himself off. He gladly accepted a water bottle, while he continued joking with Keigo over having messed up.

As Dabi turned to see you approach, he walked towards you, circling his arms around your waist, pulling you into a tight embrace while his lips met yours for a kiss.

"Ew Dabi," you mewled into his mouth, struggling against him, his sweaty chest pressed against your top, the damp wetness seeping through it.

Dragging his tongue over yours, his hands slid down your sides, cupping your ass cheeks and pressing you even tighter against him. His lips were coated in sweat and had a tantalizing salty taste to it. His hair stuck in messy wet strands into his face, but his eyes were nonetheless full of passion and fire. 

"Missed ya," he breathlessly panted into your open mouth, and you felt the growing hot erection in his pants pressing against you.

Parting from you, he slid his fingers into yours. Turning towards his band mates, he called out, "I'll see you in five, got some business to attend to—" before dragging you off down the hallway.

“Hey,” Keigo yelled at Dabi over the crowd calling for an encore outside, “Don't have time for this shit!”

“Ain't no shit, but love," Dabi winked at him before turning the corner and disappearing out of sight with you.

Taking another sip from the water bottle, Tenko, sporting a pink blush on his cheeks, murmured, "Fuckin' rabbits."

Keigo's expression however stayed dark, when he grunted, "More like fucking idiots."

Stumbling after Dabi, you both went down a breeze-block corridor.

Unsure where he was taking you, you inquired, "Where are we going?"

"Been to this venue before," he rasped, "Know the perfect place to have some fun."

"Dabi–" you rolled your eyes at him while stumbling after him, "Seriously, do I even wanna ask how you know?"

"Not really," he tilted his head, half-facing you so you could hear him better, a cocky grin on his face.

With a defeated sigh, you continued trotting after him.

At the end of the hallway, he opened a door to a room, empty except for some cleaning supplies and a broom. Shutting the door behind him, he took it and wrenched it between the door handle and the concrete floor.

Then he turned around, "We got five minutes. On your knees."

“B-But— you're sweaty!” You pouted, while he placed his hands on your shoulders, weighing down on you. 

Sinking down to your knees, he opened his fly, his already half erect dick popping out.

“You said I was perfect, no matter what,” he grinned at you, his voice oozing with mischief.

His eyes locked on you kneeling between his legs, a playful glimmer of excitement in them. Licking your lips, you wrapped your palm around his growing girth, rewarding him with slow strokes. 

"We gotta hurry up," he urged, tangling his fingers into your hair, his glowing sapphire blues never leaving your crouching figure.

With a firm hand, he brought your face towards his cock so you could  wrap your lips around the flushed tip of his cock.

The taste of leather mixed with his salty sweat and the sweetness of his precum along your tongue.

Moaning deep in your throat, you looked up at Dabi through thick eyelashes. Feeling him throb in your mouth, you started taking him in, deeper and deeper each time you slid down on his length. 

“Fuck. You look so pretty like that.” Dabi moaned, leaning back to watch you lazily through half-lidded eyes.

You hummed and took him deeper, flicking your eyes up to look at him as you hollowed your cheeks, a familiar heat starting to bloom in your lower region.

"Fuck- Just a little more," Dabi panted, placing his hand on the back of your head.

He started to push you down on his length and you gagged lightly as the tip of his cock pressed against the back of your throat, drool starting to spill past your stretched lips and dribble down your chin.

Relaxing your jaw, his spongy tip breached the back of your mouth and you took all of him in until he was nestled deep in your throat.

Being impaled by him, struggling to breathe you slowly started pulling off his length just to start sliding up and down his fat girth, each time taking him to the hilt, your nose buried in his pubic hair.

“Ohh yes, just like that– shit.” He let out a groan as he felt your wet throat convulse around him.

His cock twitched in your mouth, making it harder for him to stay still as your skilled mouth kept working him silently.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck–" Dabi’s head tossed back, totally blissed out.

Dragging your mouth over his fat cock, his hips started to tremble as he felt his balls tense, his high nearing, “Ready?”

Drool coated your mouth and chin while your eyes, misted by your tears, flicked up to his, your lips stretched around the thick girth of his cock.

You nodded slightly, your tongue stroking the underside of his cock when you slid your hand up his inner thigh to start squeezing his balls.

He groaned, lips parting. “Gonna cum, baby,” 

eyes half-lidded with want.

Dabi inhaled sharply, his gut starting to clench. Grabbing your hair tightly and giving you no room to move, he thrust forward one last time, shoving himself deep into your throat. 

Your face was pressed against his pelvis, as he started pumping ropes of hot cum down your esophagus. And you silently swallowed, struggling not to gag around him, trying to take short shallow breaths through your nose.

"Fuck, so good," Dabi grunted deliriously, his cock spasming inside your mouth, as you continued gulping around him, swallowing every bit of the salty release he was giving you.

When his balls had emptied themselves, he pulled out of your mouth. Inhaling deeply, you tried to regain your breath, while he tugged himself back into his tight leather pants, his azure eyes roaming your spit-covered face. 

“Babe, you’re too good for me,” his voice was so soft when he helped you stand, trailing his fingers over your skin, wiping the drool and cum off your chin with his thumb. 

His lips found yours, his tongue sliding in as he tasted himself on your tongue, smelled the scent of himself on you. 

“Simply amazing," he whispered into your open mouth, and you tilted your head to deepen the kiss while his arms circled your waist to start groping at your ass. Peppering small kisses up your jaw bone, he took the shell of your ear between his lips and let out a little breathy moan.

"But—" he pulled off you, trying to look composed, "I gotta run. Encore."

You nodded and grabbing your hand, he kicked the broom off to the side and opened the door.

Looking back at you while you both strutted down the corridor he said “I'll be all yours in about an hour, ok?”

Offering him a soothing smile, you both made your way back to the stage, his bandmates already waiting, being assisted with their in-ear monitors.

Seeing you both approach, Keigo gritted his teeth then snagged a water bottle from a passing staff member. 

As you slipped into sight, he shot you a dark look, his fingers twitching around his water bottle.

“Got a problem?” Dabi asked, noticing his bandmates' reaction towards you.

“Why would there be a problem?” He pretended to be fine, gesturing around the room with his drink, “Everything is just… perfect.”

"That's not what I meant." Dabi glared at him.

"What did you mean, then?" Keigo tilted his head and shrugged.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about."

"No. And I don't care either." And with that he threw the bottle into a corner, the remaining water splashing against the wall and floor.

Kicking an empty coke can with his boot across the floor, he ripped his bass guitar from a surprised looking staff member before stepping up the stairs towards the stage. 

Dabi was seemingly on edge, as you soothingly layed a warm palm on his arm.

"C’mon," Tenko nudged his head towards where Keigo had disappeared, "Got an encore to deliver."

“Yeah yeah,” Dabi's shoulders slumped as he turned to you and pecked a chaste kiss to your cheek before grabbing his guitar and lifting its straps around his neck.

Stepping back on the stage, not a minute too late, the LoV started their encore. 

The concert was like a drug, a visual spectacle unlike anything you had ever seen and the stadium echoed back the screams of the audience and the sounds of the band.

The LoV ended their concert with fire, fountains of flames rising from the sides of the stage and sparks raining down. After placing his guitar on the floor, Dabi took down to the crowd, high-fiving and touching them. Keigo and Tenko followed suit, taking their time to bond with their fans. 

Eventually, they turned around and walked off-stage, with Dabi pulling you close to him, his arm draped around your shoulder. Tenko and Keigo sauntered behind you, grabbing the towels that were handed to them.

Back in the Catering room, they had champagne waiting for them – several oversized Moët & Chandon Impérial bottles as well as smaller ones.  

Keigo strutted in, a towel drying off the sweat off his face. He wore a sour expression, roughly shouldering Dabi as he went past him.

"What's gotten into you," Dabi snapped at him.

But Keigo ignored him and just grabbed one of the bottles of Moët & Chandon sitting open in a wine cooler to lift it to his lips and started drinking. 

"Don't know what you mean," the bottle left his lips, champagne spilling past them and he wiped it off with the back of his hand. 

Lifting his gaze to stare at Dabi he replied, "The question is, what's gotten into you?"

"Nothing. What's your problem, man?" Dabi stepped closer to him.

Keigo's gold eyes caught yours, one finger pointing at your face as he replied plainly, "She's my problem, that bitch is gonna fucking ruin us!"

Tenko cut in between, "Keigo, that's uncalled for…"

"What the fuck did you just call her?" Dabi growled, his hands balling into fists.

"Dabi, don't—" you closed in on him, laying your palm calmingly on his hand, "Let him speak."

Taking a step closer towards his bandmate, anger painted across every inch of his face, Keigo said through gritted teeth, "Ever since she joined, all you've been doing is fucking her brains out."

Dabi stared expressionless at him, a chilling silence spreading as everyone stopped what they were doing, watching the scene unfold. 

“It's like—" Keigo's golden orbs grew darker as he talked, raking a shaky hand through his wind-strewn ash blonde hair, "You've replaced me, no us with your new… toy!” 

You continue to breathe in a desperate bid to calm the panic you feel clawing up your insides.

“Fuck, I miss you so fucking much–" Keigo stepped closer, staring right into Dabi's glowing eyes, "I hate what's become of you — of us!" 

Nobody was moving, Dabi and Keigo stared at each other and you could feel the air oozing thick with pent up tension. And right then and there, it became clear to you that Dabi and him knew each other better than you had assumed.

After a moment, Keigo lowered his gaze, taking a deep, gusting breath, letting it out through his mouth, “Fuck, need to get out — I'm loosing my goddamn mind." 

Keigo's gaze met yours, his golden eyes before he turned with an irritated grunt, leaving the room, clutching the bottle tight in his hand when he slammed the door shut behind him.

"Fuck," Tenko muttered, to rake a hand through his pale long locks, "’M gonna go after him..."

With that, Tenko silently slipped out the door.

Dabi started shaking, eyes filled with anger and pain while you continued to softly talk to him, taking a grab of his hand. A few moments passed but eventually he stopped trembling, his eyes getting focused again.

You cupped Dabi's face with your hands, "Dabi, are you ok—" 

"Yeah—" Dabi acknowledged with a frown, grabbing a bottle of champagne before slumping down on the couch nearby.

While you joined him, he popped open the bottle and started taking deep gulps of the sparkling liquid. 

"Damn," he muttered, taking another big gulp of the champagne. 

"Hey Touya, it's alright," you kissed him on his cheek, running your hand through his raven hair.

Instead of answering, Dabi took another sip, casting you a tentative smile.

Back outside the room, Tenko managed to catch up with Keigo, "Hey stop!”

He turned on his heels, “What do you want, Tenko?” his body trembling, his eyes red and glossy.

Tenko had never seen his bandmate in such distress before. All these pent up emotions unlocked a wild, feral kind of energy inside of him. All the anxiousness, sadness, betrayal and most importantly rage that he had bottled up, exploded at once.

“I–” the words were stuck in Tenko’s throat, the pressure of trying to somehow fix the entire thing suffocating him. 

He needed time, a breather, a break.  

“Let’s go outside, grab some fresh air, ok?" Stepping up to the bassist, his hand landed on his shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. 

Keigo took a deep breath, humoring Tenko’s effort with a roll of his eyes but followed him down the hall and through the door outside.

They were instantly greeted by a choir of screams from a group of fans waiting behind a metal fence, hoping to get recognized and spend an unforgettable night with a rockstar.

"So, what do you want?" Keigo said lowly, golden eyes meeting red ones.  

Tenko stood there, trying to find the right words to say.

"I know you hurt," he started, "But you may need to accept that Dabi and her are a thing now."

He could see Keigo flinch at his words. Because all he could think about was how he considered Dabi to be special, his actual very first time. And how you got in between them, ruining everything.

But his shoulders slumped, realizing that Tenko was probably right. Yet, he wasn't gonna give up without a fight.

"Cmon Keigo," Tenko tried reaching out again, "Let's just calm down and have a good time ok?"

That sparked an idea in the bassist.

"A good time, you say?" Keigo's gaze drifted over his bandmates shoulder, roaming the small crowd of willing groupies, settling on a blonde in the group.

His lips curled into a smug grin. Tenko turned his head, following Keigo's gaze and landed on the object of desire. 

"Keigo–" the drummer pleaded, "Don't do anything stupid."

But his bandmate's eyes told him that he already made up his mind. Keigo knew he behaved petty and childish but if he was just some disposable piece of trash to Dabi – then he was gonna return that favor right back at him.

“Ok, deal. I'm gonna have a good time~” his grin grew, anticipating, no, gleefully enjoying returning the hurt Dabi had put him through.

This wasn't  just about righting a wrong, or vindicating the same hurt to dabi anymore. This was about taking back what was his, making Dabi pay for the tricks he played on him. It was about mirroring what a joke Dabi had become with you.

And so, he sauntered over to the group of people who started screaming when they recognized him.

Everyone wanted an autograph or more and Keigo closed in on one of the security men, saying something into his ear. 

He knew his intentions were heinous. But he didn't care. He watched how the man in the neon yellow safety shirt stepped up to the metal fence and helped the blond girl up and over it. 

Sighing, Tenko directed his gaze to the floor and turned on his heels, not wanting to witness Keigo grabbing the girl to smash his lips against hers, rutting his hips against her. Silently slipping back inside, he followed down the hallway towards the Catering room.

A few minutes later, Keigo returned as well– but he wasn’t alone. The blond girl in tow, he went straight for the tables, grabbing a bottle of champagne before turning towards Dabi.

Taking a gulp from the bottle he wrapped his arms around the girls waist, cocked his head, pupils dilated. He tried his best to hold her the way Dabi always protectively held you.

“Hey Dabi, do I need to yap out some love song and eat her panties live on stage for this to work?" Not waiting for him to answer, Keigo's hands traveled down her waist, evoking gasps and giggles from her.

“Keigi—" the situation flew right over the girl's head as she returned those gestures to him.

Keigo continued, turning to lock eyes with Dabi, “Or do I need to piss her off first so I can crawl back like some pathetic worm?” 

He looked to you, and Dabi growled, “What the fuck are you getting at, man?”

"Oh nothing nothing," Keigo cooed into her ear and pulled her closer, making her feel his hard on through his jeans.

"Dabi tell me, is yours just as easy to fuck?" Keigo pulled his chin up, a smirk spreading across his face, his hand trailing up underneath her shirt, taking it with as he moved further up. 

"Aah– why am I even asking." Keigo exposed her large bare breast, starting to squeeze it in his palm, "Yours is hopping on your dick like a feral bitch in heat, hope mine’s like that as well–"

The girl, obviously heavily intoxicated, giggled as Keigo continued to grope her bare breast in front of everyone, his eyes never leaving Dabi's. 

Dabi's face went dark with anger and he was about to when Keigo turned his face back to the girl's.

"C'mon, let's go and lemme fuck you as good as I used to fuck him," he turned, pulling the girl after him.

Dabi's face grew a deep red, his lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes shaking with rage. The pain ramped up all the way to searing, blinding agony faster than he could blink.

You all stayed there for a moment in the silence of the room. Jumping to his feet, Dabi ran off into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him, without as much as looking back at you.

One by one, the rest of the crew left through the door, leaving only you and Tenko behind. A deafening silence fell upon the room. Tenko’s crimson gaze fell upon you as you instinctively turned towards him.

"I didn't want any of this to happen!" your voice was shaky with tears.

"It's not your fault," he reassuringly brushed his palm up your back.

You turned to sit down on the couch, hiding your face in your palms. All the tension that had built up overflowed and you noticed your face growing hot, as tears welled in your eyes. 

Tenko looked so different than usual, broken, tired as he took a few steps to slump down beside you, the couch dipping as he did, one leg bouncing rapidly.

You swallowed hard, trying to hold it all in. It proved useless as hot tears freely found their way down your cheeks and you turned to press your wet face against his chest. 

Tenko’s eyes shot open, a blush blooming on his cheeks as his right hand rose to dig into his neck, while the other tentatively laid on your back.

"Hey, if you need to vent, I’m here for you," he murmured nervously. 

"I- I just don't… I don't know where to start." You quietly sobbed into his dark shirt, the tears starting to leave luckily barely visible mascara spots on it. 

“I know it's complicated–," he reassuringly brushed his hand over your back, "It’s like I’m the only one who’s still sane here.”

You swallowed once before continuing, "I've caused this, I'm the one to blame for everything..."

“Hey, don't say that. It's not true." Hesitating a second, he tightened his embrace as you continued crying into his shirt, "When I joined the band, Keigo and Dabi were already tightly bonded to each other." 

He paused, collecting his thoughts "They had both been through some major shit, sharing an intense bond."

The silent tears kept falling while you listened, and you wrapped your arms around him to press yourself against his warm comforting chest. 

The constant blush on his face spread to his ears and his fingertips continued to rub at his neck when his gaze fixated the ceiling, sighing deeply. 

“One couldn’t do anything without the other following," his eyes turned pensive behind disheveled pale hair, "Dabi being the cynical rebel – and Keigo getting off on that."

His palm was warm and soothing against your back as you felt yourself calming down.

"You are good for Dabi–" he added, "He's finally confronting his problems and moving forward."

Then he muttered, "And you are good for me too…" His eyes flew open as his face turned a dark crimson at his sudden admission. "Shit, ehm–”

"Tenko–" As you try to lift your gaze to look at him, his hand came down from his neck, sliding into your hair and pressing your face back against his chest, "Don't look!"

You let out a mix between a sob and a giggle but started to relax in his hold, while he continued.

"Keigo on the other hand breaks further and further." He added quickly, "He's obviously trapped in the past."

You nodded, the warmth of his body, his timid gentle touch so comforting, soothing your rattled nerves.

You stayed like that until no more tears welled, when Tenko’s shoes squeaked against the floor, shuffling his feet.

A hand rose again to scratch at his neck, "Now that we're alone, I was gonna ask you something "

"Of course, anything, Tenko," you moved up to wipe your tears off your face.

"Well, I met this–" but he was cut short when the noise of Dabi slamming the door open thundered through the room.

You both jolted up, seeing him standing there, eyes fixed on the scene before him. His chest was heaving with deep breaths, his pupils enlarged, his eyes bloodshot.

"Getting cozy with my girl behind my back, Tenko?" He growled, wiping the remnants of white powder off his nose as he strutted towards where you were sitting. 

"Dabi, cut it out, I’m just comforting her," Tenko hissed while he continued to hold you. "She needed someone – while you got yourself high again!"

"I fucking warn you, step the fuck away from her," Dabi growled again, his expression darkening.

"Dabi please, he really helped me—" you explained but were cut off as he was on you in an instant, pulling you off the couch and away from Tenko.

"She's fucking mine," he wrapped his arms protectively around you, "Don't you fucking dare touch her again." 

His eyes narrowed as his grip around you almost became crushing. Tenko sat there for a second, visibly shaken, his fists clenching and clenching. You've never seen him like that before and opened your mouth to say something to him when he stood, turned towards the door and left, Dabi's slithered eyes boring into his back.

You slumped against Dabi, your heart ringing still in your ears, as the implications of what just happened slowly sank into your mind. 

"C'mon," Dabi's voice had turned soft again, shaking his head as if to clear the tension from it, "Let's get out of here."

[piercethewon]

❝🧸Hitori Kakurenbo.❞

Kim Sunoo

• Synopsis:

Everyone knows how to play hide-and-seek, one of the most universally known games to ever exist, capable of trespassing every limit in time and space. The rules are simple, if you are the seeker, you count up to ten before your hunt starts, once you have found your prey, you stab them three times in the chest.

• Genre: Horror, tried humor at the beginning, sci-fi. One-shot.

• Featuring the rest of Enhypen members and Choi Beomgyu from TXT.

• Warnings: Violence, blood, knives, injuries, mentions of drugs, swearing, friendly teasing, demons, suggestive jokes.

• Word count: 5k.

―Twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven… twenty-eight…― Sunoo’s heart was beating faster and faster with anticipation, his eyes were closed shut, forehead pressed against his arms as he leaned onto a big old tree, feeling the rough texture of the wood with his hands. He was pretty sure an insect was resting on the back of his hand, but he could not look yet, it was against the rules.

―Twenty-nine…― he paused, dramatic, as if to hold onto the adrenaline rush that flooded through his veins. He waited a bit longer, teasing his prey, imagining how they must be feeling, shaking in fear (or excitement?) inside their hiding spots, or maybe just ready to run for their lives, he was about to find out. ―Thirty! Ready or not, here I come!― he shouted loud enough for the entire forest to hear, and off he was to begin his hunt.

You might think it is a bit unfair to play hide and seek against six people in such a huge place with plenty of potential hiding spots, but the truth is that Sunoo has mastered the game after so many years of playing; all he needs to beat his friends is a strategy, light steps, and his sharp hazel eyes.

The plan was simple, he first needed to find Heeseung, because the eldest gets tired easily and at some point, he makes himself partially visible on purpose. Then, there is Jungwon, who simply sucks at the game and does not care about winning, as long as everyone is having fun. 

Jay is in third place, he tries his best, but it is never enough; Sometimes Sunoo pities him enough to pretend he did not see him, but it is all worth it after the round is over and he gets to hear the older boy’s giggles as he tells the rest of the group how he “evaded” the seeker with his unmatched hiding skills.

Unsurprisingly, Riki is usually found right after for two reasons: One, he likes to hide near Jay to tease him, and two, that kid is way too tall. It is hard for him to hide behind bushes or climb trees without getting caught, but the competitive spirit is there.

Fifth place is Sunghoon, who is not fond of the game… or games in general. He kind of just sits between big trees and stares into the void, dozing off to the sounds of nature and the faint smell of pine trees. His ability to sit still for a long time gives him an advantage.

And last but not least, Jake, the biggest obstacle for Sunoo on his road to victory. The seeker does not consider himself a competitive person, but when it comes to hide and seek he feels like his pride is on the line, thus making him try harder than he would in any other game; on the other hand, the older boy would risk his life to win rock-paper-scissors or even bingo, the most boring game in the whole world, it does not matter to him as long as he wins.

The reason why Sunoo must catch Jake in last place is because he wants him to believe he is winning, only to crush all of his hopes at the last second, you know, like a good friend would, and Sunoo is just petty like that when it comes to asserting dominance over his favorite game.

The seeker grinned to himself, savoring yet another win even though the game was just getting started and there was not a trace of his friends on his radar. His steps got faster, getting closer to a particularly big bush where a lazy player such as Heeseung or Jungwon could be hiding.

His race got cut short though; only a few seconds after he started running, he heard a loud thump behind him.

―I win!― it was Jake, with his right hand placed on the big tree, his breath heavy and his hair a complete mess. ―I climbed the tree and jumped when you left, it’s over!―.

Sunoo stared at his friend, dumbfounded, flabbergasted even. ―What the…― his shock was interrupted by the rest of his friends, who heard Jake shouting and decided to come out of their hiding spots; all of them looked as confused as Sunoo. ―That’s not fair!― he complained, stomping his foot on the ground like an angry bunny.

―Should’ve checked the clouds, sorry mate but I won this one― Jake grinned, sticking out his tongue to annoy his friend even further.

―C’mon Sunoo, it’s just a game, let’s just start over― Jungwon stepped in, eyeing the rest of the group in hopes they would do the same.

―Yeah― Heeseung added ―From now on we can only hide in a three-meter radius away from the base, how does that sound?―. He was not sure either of his friends heard what he said because they were too busy firing lasers at each other through their eyes ―Was the game ever that serious?―.

Sunoo sighed, visibly annoyed ―Whatever, let’s head home now, it’s getting dark―. It sounded like an excuse but it was true, the sun was setting, the forest was getting darker by the second, and the road home was quite long. The boy started making his way back to the city, not bothering to look back at his friends who just decided to follow in an awkward silence.

―We can decide and write rules for hide and seek when we get to Sunghoon’s house, we’re staying the night there anyway― Jay proposed after ten minutes of walking in complete silence, loud enough for Sunoo to hear, as the latter was a few steps ahead from the rest; needless to say, he was completely ignored.

―Wait a damn minute― Jungwon stopped in his tracks, his eyes moving fast as he counted all the people before him ―Where the fuck is Sunghoon?―.

(...)

―I can’t believe I’m letting you guys inside my house after you abandoned me in the middle of nowhere…― Sunghoon complained for the nth time after his friends came back to the forest, only to find him lying in a fetal position under a low pine tree ―What if the spirits of nature had claimed my soul and turned me into a hallucinogen mushroom or something―.

―Don’t worry, we would’ve smoked you―.

―Riki, what the fuck?―.

―What? If you can’t be our friend anymore, at least I want you to be a black stain in my lung, close to my heart― the youngest tapped his chest in a solemn motion, giggling after Sunghoon pushed him inside the house where they were going to have a sleepover.

―My parents and my sister are out to visit some relatives, so the house is ours for the weekend― the mushroom boy explained, heading to the kitchen in hopes of finding something to feed seven hungry young adults for dinner. The rest of the guys gathered in the living room, sitting on every surface possible.

―So, are we going to decide on rules for hide and seek?― Jay suggested once more, taking his phone out and opening the notes app. Sunoo and Jake had been quiet since they left the forest, both boys were sitting on opposite sides of a large couch, staring at the walls with their arms crossed like a dysfunctional married couple ―What’s the point of making rules if Jake is going to break them― the younger one said.

―I know a special variation of the game with rules we could follow― Riki meddled before Jake could speak, which is a relief considering that hell was about to break loose anytime soon between the hide-and-seek masters. ―It’s called Hitori Kakurenbo, I used to play it in Japan with my sisters when I was a kid― he continued.

―But there are seven of us, how are we supposed to play hitori if we are not hitori?― Heeseung asked, genuinely confused, because if his Duolingo classes had not failed him, the translation for “Hitori kakurenbo” would be “Alone hide-and-seek”. 

―I don’t know, I didn’t make the game― Riki shrugged ―All I know is that if you don’t follow the rules, an ancient demon will eat you alive, stab you to death, or both in a 2x1 deal! You can even get the deluxe expansion pack and let the demon haunt your house and terrorize your family for eternity!―. Everyone in the room collectively fell silent after the clarification; it was only then that they took account of the concerning sounds that came from the kitchen.

―Sounds good, maybe Jake will follow the rules if we play with a demon―.

―Sunoo, you can’t be serious, there’s no way that’s real― Jake rolled his eyes ―It’s just creepypasta―.

―Uhm, actually…― Riki raised his hand and pointed at the ceiling, mimicking a nerdy voice ―It’s Japanese folklore―.

―There's no fucking way you guys are summoning a demon to play hide-and-seek inside my house, by the way― Sunghoon’s face emerged from the kitchen door, he was covered in what seemed a mix of eggs and flour.

―Oh, c’mon, I know how to make them leave after the game is over!― Riki pleaded.

―The kid’s probably messing with us, I don’t think we’re at risk here― Jay added.

―I smell something burning…― Jungwon changed the subject, snorting after he saw every color leave Sunghoon’s face as he rushed back into the kitchen.

―I think it’ll be fun― Jake said, trying to make eye contact with Sunoo, but the latter just faced the wall again. Something was starting to tickle the Aussie boy’s stomach, and it was not the hunger this time ―I say we take a vote, raise your hands if you want to play Hitori kakurenbo―. One by one, the six boys were holding their hands in the air, some of them hesitated more than others, but there was a hint of curiosity and anticipation in all their faces.

Sunghoon soon joined, entering the room with two plates full of home-made waffles, a little burnt, but their scent was sweet and warm ―Fine, just explain the rules and we can play tomorrow night―.

―I prefer pancakes―.

―Fuck you, Jay―.

(...)

―This is so embarrassing―.

―C’mon Sunghoon, literally no one’s looking at us― Sunoo reprimed him because obviously there was nothing weird about seven young adults walking out of a department store with a medium-sized bear plushie that had a silk bow tied around its neck along with a heart-shaped card, just a normal Saturday afternoon for unemployed people. Also, Sunoo was not the type to feel embarrassed by things like this, he liked the black bear they had picked and made Jay pay for.

―We look like high schoolers trying to help a friend get a girlfriend― Heeseung said between his teeth, his ears were getting redder by the second even though he was not carrying the toy itself; he was in charge of the plastic bag that contained some other materials needed for the ritual. At least they had not run into any of their classmates yet.

―Nice bear, Lee, is it for your mom?― The mocking voice of Choi Beombyu startled the oldest, it seems like he spoke too soon.

―Actually, it’s for your mom. Valentine's is coming soon, you know?― Riki replied with a grin. It was a lighthearted convo, all of them were friends who liked to tease each other, so they just held some small talk before Jungwon urged everyone to go back to Sunghoon’s house before sunset.

After the boys had entered the Park’s front yard, the youngest of the group stopped everyone in their tracks, standing in front of the door and holding a T-pose ―I think Sunoo should be the one to do it, because he is the master of hide-and-seek―.

―I thought you said everyone could play at the same time― Jay inquired, confused by the sudden change of plans ―Are we really going to let him summon an ancient Japanese demon all by himself?―.

―He will be fine, it’s not scary at all, it’s just a bear!―.

―I’m not worried about him getting scared, I’m worried about him becoming besties with the demon!―. That was a valid point considering that Sunoo had a special and very enviable ability to become friends with almost anyone, including animals, and Jay thought their little group was fine with seven people, there was no need to invite anyone else to their sleepovers.

―Why are you guys deciding this on your own? I live here!― Sunghoon tried to step foot into the conversation but was brutally ignored by his friends, who were too busy throwing the stuffed bear at each other.

―I think Jake should go― Sunoo passed the toy ―He is the reason why we are playing this in the first place!―.

―That’s not true!― The latter replied, handing the plushie to Jay ―He should do it, it’ll be fun to see him scared―. Some of the neighbors who passed by were now staring at them, some looked concerned, and some looked annoyed by their yells.

―Okay everyone, stop!― Jungwon raised his voice, effectively stopping the chaos. He snatched the bear from Jay’s hands and pointed at Sunoo and Jake with it; the scene would have been kind of funny if not because of the boy’s sharp eyes and stern tone; he could be pretty intimidating when in a bad mood. ―You guys are going to play together against the demon― he stated, not leaving space for discussion or complaints ―Maybe some teamwork will keep you from fighting every two seconds―.

The decision was made and there was no turning back now, the two chosen boys entered the house with heavy steps, bringing all the materials needed for the ritual with them.

Sunoo and Jake made their way to the living room in complete darkness; it was past midnight and they were not allowed to turn the lights on, their only source of light could be the TV and some candles, so the first step was to light up the room with some. 

―You are in charge of the candles and the water, I’ll prepare the toy― The youngest said, taking the lead, and even though Jake hated being bossed around he felt a little creeped out at the moment and the least he wanted was to argue with his friend.

Sunoo dropped the contents of the bag over the glass tea table: Scissors, red thread, a needle, a bag of rice, a nail clip, and a sharp knife. He had to focus because it was a long procedure and forgetting any of the steps could ruin the ritual completely, so he changed the channel on the TV to an animal documentary to get some peace from the sounds of birds and the gentle, soft-spoken narration.

First, he had to cut the bear open and take out all the stuffing. He decided to cut the back to not ruin the overall appearance of the toy, there was no need to make the little one self-conscious about its appearance. Then, he filled it with rice and pieces of his nails, a tasty offering, and a mirror self to focus the demon’s anger, respectively.

The last step was to sew the plushie shut with red thread, but there was a slight inconvenience: Sunoo had never in his life used a needle. He accidentally picked his fingers a few times, making drops of blood stain the rice inside the bear, but he got the hang of it eventually. After he was done, he tied the toy’s arms and legs with the remaining thread.

“And just like that, the little possum evaded its predator by pretending to be dead… There is a high chance that strategies of this nature will come to be the most effective means of escape, as most predators find joy in the morbid act of playing with their food while it’s still alive…”

―Yeah, fuck that, if a demon is chasing after me, I’m not playing dead― Jake spoke back to the TV narrator as he returned form the bathroom where he had to fill the tub with water and salt. ―I made a circle of salt around our hiding spots, good luck hiding under Sunghoon’s stinky bed―.

―As if hiding inside his sister’s closet is a better idea, weirdo― Sunoo retorted, holding the bear plushie up for his friend to see.

―If I ruin Sunghoon’s clothes he would literally kill me, and there were no other spots left…― the older boy tried hard to defend himself, because there was no way he would hide inside the parent’s room or the kitchen were all sorts of potentially dangerous things were stored, what if the demon turned the toaster into a deadly bazooka of carbs? ―Anyways… I got the salt water here― he placed two glasses on the table ―Are you sure you want to do this?―.

That was a good question, but at this point they were too far in to go back, so might as well give it a try and see what happens ―Yeah, I’m sure― they looked at each other in the eyes, and for the first time in forever, no one was shooting lasers. ―Let’s name the bear―.

―What about… Choi Beomgyu?―

―No! That would curse him!― Jake definitely knew that, he just thought it was funny.

―Well, what about Osito?―

―Like "little bear" in Spanish?― Sunoo tilted his head, looking at the damaged toy. He thought the name was a bit too obvious, but giving a cute name to a demon would maybe make it less scary, plus it was almost three in the morning, time to start the ritual, they had no spare time to fight ―Sounds good to me―.

They headed to the bathroom, where the smell of salt was so strong it reminded them of the vast ocean… or brine from a cheese factory, either seemed like valid options. Sunoo looked at Jake one last time for reassurance before he threw the rice-stuffed bear inside the tub. ―Sunoo will be the first it! Sunoo will be the first it! Sunoo will be the first it!― he chanted with a stern voice, firmly staring at the sunk toy and trying his best to imitate Jungwon’s demeanor from earlier.

Jake rushed out of there to hide inside Yeji’s room; unlike Sunghoon’s room, hers was a bit messier, but he tried his best not to touch anything and just hide in the closet. Before the game started, both boys had decided (meaning they played rock-paper-scissors) Sunoo would be the first one to play.

Back in the bathroom, the seeker made his way back to the living room, sat in front of the glass table and closed his eyes ―One, two, three…―. His heart started beating faster like it usually does, but not from anticipation this time. His body felt heavier than usual, his voice trembled as he kept counting. ―Four, five, six, seven…― suddenly, the TV went static, filling the room with an awful noise that made every muscle in Sunoo’s body tense painfully, but the burning sensation inside his chest kept him from actually processing what was going on, all he could do was keep counting ―eight, nine, ten! Ready or not here I come!―.

There was no time to be scared, he was the seeker, he was the predator, that stupid bear was at his mercy, the demon was his prey, not the other way around. He picked up the knife and went back to where the plushie was. Inside the bathroom, Sunoo was met with an even stronger smell of salt that pierced his nostrils more than before. 

He was taken aback for a second, but he quickly recovered and took the bear out of the tub, smashing it on the ground. ―Osito, I found you!― he stabbed its chest, piercing through the black fabric and causing some of the rice to escape. ―Osito, I found you!― second stab, a tad fiercer this time ―Osito, I found you!― Last stab, his breath was heavy, his voice had grown hoarse from yelling at a seemingly inanimate object, but its mere presence made the small room’s atmosphere heavier, thicker. Could the ritual be a success?

―Now Osito is it! Now Osito is it! Now Osito is it!― Sunoo was getting tired, as if all of his energy was being drained, which was weird considering that he was used to having a fucked up sleeping schedule. He dropped the bear and the knife inside the tub and left the room in a hurry, snatched the glass of water from the table and sprinted to Sunghoon’s room, locking the door behind him.

The sides of the bed had been strategically covered with a few boxes, a desk and long blankets that hung to the ground to make the perfect hiding spot. Sunoo made his way under it, carefully placing the glass of saltwater beside him.

He was not completely sure of what he was supposed to do at this point, because according to Riki, the demon would start to roam around the house and its presence in the room would be noticeable, but how was he supposed to know when the demon was far away enough to end the game?

A few minutes after Sunoo calmed down, he started to realize how stupid this idea was. Riki had gaslighted everyone into playing a forbidden game, stating that it was the only way Jake would learn to follow the rules of hide-and-seek… Sunoo felt both annoyed and proud at the same time.

“Our studies suggest that the perpetrator of this crime used fear as a weapon to make his victims escape the safety of their homes…”

―Huh?― Sunoo’s heart jumped out of his chest after he suddenly heard a voice coming out of the TV, but something was not making any sense, did Jake leave his hiding spot only to change the channel? Wait, no, the sound was way too clear to come from far away, someone must have turned on the TV in Sunghoon’s room.

Were his friends messing with him? Was this a trap all along? No, that could not be the case because he would have either heard the door unlocking or the window opening, and none of his friends were swift enough to do that in complete silence. What the fuck was going on?

It took everything in him not to leave his hiding spot, essentially because, again, it was against the rules, and according to Riki it was the riskiest thing to do during the game, he could only leave after he made sure the demon was on the opposite side of the house.

Right when he thought that the situation could not get any creepier, he started hearing a metallic sound. At first, he thought it came from the TV, but as the creaking became progressively louder, he realized someone was trying to open the door lock from the outside, so painfully slow it made goosebumps spread through his body. Sunoo held his breath, seconds turned into hours of torture mediated by the fear of the unknown until finally, he heard the unmistakable sound of the door opening. Something was inside the room with him, and it was not human.

He started to panic, frantically looking through the gaps of his hiding spot in search of the demon, but it was too dark inside the room to see anything. He remembered the glass of salt water in front of him; Riki had told him that keeping the hyperosmotic liquid inside his mouth was the most effective way to protect himself from any harm.

In no time, Sunoo started feeling like someone was pulling his clothes, his hair, his fingers, he heard whispers, whoever was inside the room was cursing at him, demanding him to come out of his salty refuge; speaking of salt, the circle that Jake had drawn earlier was melting, unexplainably turning liquid and dispersing, there was not much time left before the demon catches him and mercilessly ends his life right there, getting sent directly to Hell with the same weapon he had stabbed the bear earlier.

He reached out to grab the glass, but it was accidentally knocked over by his trembling, frigid hands. Time froze, all Sunoo could hear was the beating of his heart, and all he could feel was cold water dampening the sleeve of his shirt, but it was not over yet.

He quickly snapped out of his trance, he was scared to death, but he would not give up without trying; there was another glass of salt water in the living room that Jake had prepared in advance for his turn, and that’s where the boy was headed next.

He kicked the boxes that covered one side of the bed and did his best to escape from under it as fast as he could, then he ran like the Devil was chasing him, and he might as well be.

―Catch me if you fucking can, Osito!― the bear’s name was kind of ruining the seriousness of the situation, but Sunoo was determined to get that damn water and win this game once and for all. He reached the living room, luckily the TV and some candles were still on so there was enough light to see the tea table.

He was so close, the key to end Hitori Kakurenbo was right in front of him, but seconds after he had crossed the door to the room, a strange force grabbed him by the ankle and made him stumble and fall flat on the ground. 

Suddenly, all the candles died and the TV was turned off, it was pitch dark inside the room and all Sunoo could do was struggle against whatever had him trapped by his leg and pulled him in the opposite direction from where the table was.

He used all his strength to free himself, breaking free from the grasp of the demon, he reached the position where he thought the water was before the force brutally pushed him over the table, breaking through its glass surface and, once again, spilling the water on the carpet floor.

Sunoo screamed from the pain, he could feel as small pieces of glass dug into his skin, his leg was badly hurt, and he was unable to stand back up.

He could faintly hear a commotion outside of the house, his friends were alerted by the noise and were desperately trying to enter, but it was locked shut. The demon grasped his leg once more and dragged him through the broken glass, eliciting more cries from Sunoo who was very close to losing consciousness from the pain.

Was the game going to end like this? Had his pride taken him far enough as to lose his life for a stupid argument about hide-and-seek rules? Did it ever matter in the first place? He was too tired to think about it, maybe he could seek answers to all of his questions after reaching the eternal state of rest, but that was not going to happen tonight.

―Stay away from him!― it was Jake’s voice, or at least it seemed so ―I win! I win! I win!―. Sunoo felt as cold salt water splashed all over him, cleaning his wounds, and purifying what was left of his spirit. He was completely awake now, and the TV had turned back on, set to static, along with the candles.

―What the fuck just happened?― he managed to ask in a whisper, but the front door was kicked open before the older boy could reply. Their friends rushed inside, turning all the lights back on, fear and worry were painted all over their faces, especially Riki’s.

―I wanted to come earlier, but I was locked inside the closet― Jake explained while he helped Sunoo sit on the floor. Sunghoon immediately left to look for a first aid kit after seeing Sunoo’s bloody injuries. ―I filled a bucket with water from the bathtub, I couldn’t see anything, I just threw it where I thought you were―.

―I guess I’ll have to buy a new table for Mrs. Park― the room was a complete mess, there was shattered glass and salt water all over the floor, a few plates and decorations that previously were on the table were now broken as well, some of the neighbors had been alerted by the commotion and were waiting outside the house for an explanation, everything was a mess, but Sunoo felt strangely relieved. Osito was right at his feet, its fabric was torn apart and covered in wet rice; the knife was nowhere to be seen. ―Let’s go to the forest and burn that thing― there was a silent agreement to that, there was no way they would risk having what was left of the bear somewhere in the house.

It was barely six in the morning when Jungwon had extracted all the glass pieces off Sunoo’s body and treated his wounds, while the rest of the boys cleaned up the house. All of them were now heading back to the forest where all this had begun.

―So… You came out of the closet, Jake?―.

―Is it really the time to be joking around? Yeah, I came out to help you and left you all wet, is that what you wanna hear?― he rolled his eyes.

―Yeah, thanks for that― the younger boy giggled ―Sorry for being so on edge for a kid’s game―.

―No, I should apologize for cheating―.

―Can we let Jay write rules on his notes app?―.

―I would totally love that―.