#get ready for a bunch of analyses and all cause MAN

[dremiruu]

alright i was planning to put out a big celebratory nublar six fanart for chaos theory day but since its 10 and I'm only done with darius I'm putting a pin in that and instead posting the notes i took at the time while watching the show!!

BIG JURASSIC WORLD CHAOS THEORY SPOILERS AHEAD

I'm going to come out with more sane-sounding analyses and all when i calm down so stick around for that -> for this i was just writing down whatever was in my head while watching but it's still fun!! (italicized the best fragments)

episode 1: - oh my fucking god bens a redditor. my sweet boy what have u done to him - darius calling brooklynn just to hear her voice made me tear up :(( - oh my GOD i missed benrius so so much

episode 2: - HE TURNED HIS VAN INTO A HUGE DORK POUCH AWWW LOVE THIS LITTLE (BIG) GUY - "guess we could've looked that up but… well…" BEN. - WHAT THE FUCK WHATTHEFUCK BEN AND BROOKLYNN WHY ARE U DOING THIS TO ME - SHES SO CUTE…… - im crying,,,, - brookes an investigative journalist awww that fits her so well - them bonding over dark jurrassic i CANNOT - ben being obsessive and dealing with constant anxiety ahhh - darius just called ben 'benjamin' i am in shambles - ohhhwwhbgb theyre fighting over trust and brooklynn and ughghhh my babies - awww bonding over candy i MISSED THEM SO MUCH

episode 3: - SAMMY LIVING ON HER FARM AHH - she doesnt talk to her parents anymore??? girl we all KNOW you care, you loved them SO MUCH?? she sacrificed so much for them what the hell happened - BUMPER CARRRRR SHES HEERREEEEEE - AWWW HER AND BENS REUNION!!!!!!! - ben defending bumpy. also i dont like carlos - SAMMY GIRLIE I LOVE U SO MUCH PLEASE GO SEE A THERAPIST. AVOIDING UR PROBLEMS BY KEEPING URSELF BUSY ISN'T HEALTHY. PLEASE - WHATTHEFUCK WHATTHEFUCK HER SEEING BROOKE I AM IN SHAMBLES - SAMMY GUTTIEREZ. STOP. - THE TEARS IN HER EYES - OH MY GOD IM SOBBING WHAT THE FUCK - "And what, Darius? Stop and think about Brooklynn dying, or my family not speaking to me, or Yaz pulling away from me? No. I… I can't stop. I won't." JESUS FUCGIN CHRSIT WHY - ^ im gonna have to post a whole analysis on this scene because wgat the fuck man - seeing them back in their 'hiding from the dinos' selves fbiudsjkbgfskd - Sammy with Brookes jacket awhghh - ^ also i STILL believe Brooklynns alive I DONT CARE WGAT ANYBODY SAYS PKAEASE - ^^ HHDFUSIGIF - alr this is the 2nd scene involving cars and jumping i have to start counting - ok ths is building up GOOD

episode 4: - ben being emo and sighing so somebody would notice him BROO - THEYRE SO CUTE?? benrius married for the double income shenanigans - YEAH BUMPYS A BOSS SHELL BE FINE - BGFDHUJKH THEYRE ADORABLE - i didn't know i needed benrius conspiring together until we got it - BEN HAS A GIRLFRIEND. !!!! - DARIUSES FLASHBACK SJIT?? - these children. (theyre older than me now i think) - oh my fucking god theyre all so traumatised - DARIUS AND KENJI ARENT ON SPEAKING TERMS. THE HELL. - KENJIIIII HEIII!!! - HES IGNORING HIM. WHAT THE FUVKING HWELL - hes an eat-love-climb kinda guyy - WHYRE THEY FIGHTINGG - oh hes BLAMING DARIUS for brooklynn? KENJI KON WHAT THE FUCK - she went to see daniel?????? why. - SAM CALLING YASMINA ALL THE TIME I - KENJ AND DARIUS WITH TRUST - sammy ranting about yaz doing things she doesn't like i- PLEASE communicate. i beg u creator gods make them actually TALK to each other - "I think we should split up." "gasp you and yaz?!" "what?! noo! us! the three of us!!! …why, did she say somethin'?" OH MY GODSHBKJG HOW BAD IS THEIR SITUATION IM SCARED - sammy just tickled the keys off him - THEY LEFT DARIUS TO DEAL WITH IT. - okay them having the emotional conversation ON THE CLIFFSIDE. ok. - KENJI BROKE UP W HER?? alright were getting dinostar then right - ^ christ man i am too good at guessing these things - DARIUS NOT KNOWING HOW CLIMBING ROPES WORK LMAO - okay B&Kenji were cute im gonna miss them - but Brooklynn ignoring him,,, JUSTIFIES IT. I GET IT KENJ OK - POOR KENJI??? WTF??????????? - OH GODFFDHGFBV AND BEFORE HER DEATH TOO WHY - OKAY i get that i should pay more attention to the dinostar crumbs and all but all i feel rn is sympathy for kenji. hes been done wrong ENTIRELY in this scenario and just. man. - HTEY GOT BUMPY

episode 5: - aiaiai darius babY PLEASE - make them COMMUNICATE. PKEAFEEE - kenji calls ds mom more than he does whagthehellman - SAMS STILL CALLING YAZ AGHHH - OK THE TEARS IN HER EYES STOP IT - her and 'benjamin' bickering AHH - SHES SOOOO GIRLBOSS I LOVE LVOE HER - WTF THAT GUYS AN ASSHOLE?? - aaand THEYRE FREEING THE DINOS! - FHUCkin daniel kon - AHH THEYRE SO CUTESY - BEN SUSPECTING SAMMY. AND JUST SAMMY. WHAT THE FUCK - 'but i promise, I do trust you. now.' OOOHHHH MY SWEET SWEET DUDEEE. FUCK U - i get WHY i GUESSS, with his paranoia and all but thats an ASSHOLE move - daniel and kenji ermmbnbgvjsdk - HES TRYING TO MANIPULATE HIM AGAAAINN DUDE ITS GETTING BORING - w6AT. TF. KENJI - ooh the good ol dino chase!! - SAMMY BEING A GOOD FIGHTER AWHGHH - WFAH THAT SCARED ME - ok they made up!! - I KNEW THIS GUY WAS AWFUL - OKAYYYYY KENJ YESSS TALK ABOUT IT!!! FINALLYYYY COMMUNICATIONNNN - YESWSS AHDJFSN THEYRE TALKING - I LOVE THIS SO MUCH TEARS FLOWING DOWN MY CHEEKS AHFGDS - I HATE THIS FUCKING GUY AIGERG SDFJ - YES KENJI GO OFF BITCH!!!!!! - brooke… whatttth, - TF WAS SHE DOING - OH MY FUCKING GOD THE SCREAM I SCREAMT WHEN I SAW THIS DINOSAUR CONTROLLING PERSON NIGHTMARE FUCKING FUEL - WHAT THE FGUCK WHYS SHE SO UNCANNY VALLEY I LITTERALLY JUMPED AND MOVED AWAY IMMEDIATELY - oh he doesnt die :( - still WHO IS THAT?? - oh he does die :) - fr tho - KENJI POOR BABY IM SO SORRY. as if he didnt go through enough already.. - WHY TEHGFHBVCKJS OH WHO ARE U U EERIE FUCKIN - is kenj having a panic attack!!!! - BCFHSDKJFBJKDBFKJVX THEYRE SO CUFKING SCARY WHY ARE THEIR MOVEMENTS SO MECHANICAL - KENJI SAYING お父さん NOW I AM DDYING. I WILL NOT RECOVER.

episode 6: - SHITTTT YAZ'S HEREEE - ohhhh fuck shes dealing with A LOT - DARLING U OK??? - THE FLASHBACKS ARE TERRIFYING - shes so pretty!!!! - BROOKLYNN BITCH WHTWS FD - THEYRE SOOOOO CUTEEEEE - I LOVE HOW YAZS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HAVE BEEN AND STILL ARE PORTRAYED - I'm SO glad to see her dealing with everything and slowly getting over some of her trauma - ooh ok YAZ AND SAMMY - THEYRE SO HSGDIUF - okay so the solution to the problem is. TALK. its just. TALK TO EACH OTHER. - AWHH OK SHES NOT READY I SUPPOSEE - SHIT sam bb i get protecting the ones u love. but u shouldnt hide things from ur gf just so she doesnt feel bad. especially things so huge. - AND YAZ. babygirl. you shouldn't avoid your gf if shes doing something ure uncomfortable with. you shouldn't ignore her and make her feel bad abt it. YASAMY. THIS IS AN INTERVENSION. TALK TO EACH OTHER. ACTUALLY. PLEASE - ^ this is me showing how much im loving this storyline. VERY annoyed. love angst in fav ships. GOTTA HAVE SOME SPICE ONCE IN A WHILE I GET IT - ^^ but if they break up im killing myself - sammY PLEASEEFH DONT ASSUME JUST TALK. PTSD/MENTAL HEALTH IN GENERAL ISNT THAT SIMPLE - theyre both doing wrong things AND I JUST AGHHH -ALTHOUGHH when they finally DO communicate itll be SOO satysfying - EEEE HERE THEY AREEEEEEE - awkward. a little. BUT SWEET - OK NO I CHANGED MY MIND THEYRE SOOOO CUTEEEE - and ben and yazs friendship AGHGHHHG - therapy island. awh okayy!! - YAZS SO PASSIONATE I LOVE IT - 'ohohohhh… let me show u!… benny boy' - this is GOOD. it IS impressive!! - SAMMY STOP IT - YES YASMINA TALK ABOUT IT - I AM LOVING THIS OH MY GOD - JESUS CHRIST BEN - NAH WHAT THE FUCK - WHY. BENJAMIN. - yasammyyyyyy i love u to hell and back WHY R U LIKE THIS - ben&yaz bonding!!!! - YEAHHH SHES HAPPY FOR UUUU - THE BESTIESSSS - OH MY GOD THE FUCKING DINOSAURS ALWAYS RUIN EVERYTHING - ohhh this isnt good!!! - OHHKAY THE GUYS DEAD WHAT THE FUCK - jumping car scene count: 3 - 'big bens got moves' SHE SAID THE LINE - i feel like DPW is gonna play a bigger role in this - ^AND IM RIGHT. - WGAT THE FUCNK

episode 7: - OHKAY WHATS GOING ON - theyre up buttt….. what the hell r they gonna do. they either drown or get eaten by a dino. - YASAMMMYYYYY I MISSED U SO MUCH - AND THEYRE SPEAKING AND SHJOWING AND HFUDSI - okay KENJIS HABING A PANIC ATTACK I AM - quick break to say the mental health representation and how its done in this show is one of the best examples on how to portray mentally unwell characters I've seen lately - WTF DOES THIS GUY HAVE TO DO WITH THIS - bens soggy van is what ure complaining about rn guttierez??? - OK THE SCENE OF BS DEATH I CANT IM SOBBING - them both reaching for the phone ok. - THEYRE ALIVE, - YASAMMYS BACK OFFICIALLY PEOPLE I AM SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP - ben respectfully i love u but that van wouldve died of old age in a matter of a week - SHE HAD A PLACE - he finally got to throw them phones away - I AM SCREAMING OVER THESE YASAMMY MOMENTS IM AHGFSFJSV - 'oh i am so gonna hunt them from beyond the grave' yasmina fadoula will u marry me - oh right they dont have their phones so theyre not gonna be able to find each other - ok so if im picking up what theyre putting down correctly brooklynn was investigating illegall DPW dinosaur dropoffs?? - cant tell if kenjis coming to terms with it or being jealous - WHAT THE FUCK OK SHE EITHER GOT REALLY INTO THAT INVESTIGATING OR SHES ACTUALLY WENT CRAZY - ok this kenji sequence questioning scene was amazing

episode 8: - wgat the aHELL wr they doin - ok darius and kenji awkwardly connecting. good - ^and darius being protective around kenj over brooklynns phone since he left so many voicemails that he doesnt want him to hear? jesus christ man - OKAY my favourite little trio in a truck with a dinosaur chat do we think theyll survive this - tbh the amount of times in these kids lives where the probablity of survival was scary low is. er. sad - ^ not only for them cause of trauma and stuff but for the random bg characters - dude dies after seeing a dino ONCE but six random kids? yeah theyll survive DOZENS without help - quickly ill just say we need a name for the lesbians and their emotional support muscle wall. their dynamic is superb - the kenji and brooklynn video I LOVE THEM - BABYTALK - . POOKIE BEAR. KENJI WENJI. - shit fuckballs they're fighting again - darius. just. talk? - YES THIS IS GOOD TOO THIS IS GOOD - that CAN be a coping mechanism i GUESSS - what. who r u - DPW BOSS? - YEAH I THOUGHT THEYD FALL FOR THAT AGAIN THANK GOD - YOU WERE IN WHAT WITH WHO NOW - ^WHAT THHFSDN - ^^I WAS EXPECTING THIS HIGHKEY BUT STILL - ^^^ its good that he told kenji about this - ^^^^ and its GREAT that kenji's understanding - is this THE video??? - SHE IS WHAT NOW - maybe this is how they get to take these dinos away?? by pretending the dinos are dead in the face of the law?? - 'ooh heyyy!. boo.' I LOVE U GUYS - it IS the video. - OK BUT A LITTLE BIT LONGER - if i was in dariuses place i would NEVER recover - KENJI RESPECTFULLY DON;T - ^DONT BLAME HIM???? - please dont let this be the scary lady - YEAH KENJ ATLEAST URE RESPECTFUL - whats going on with bumpy. - YASAMMMY I WANNA INJECT U INTO MY VEINS - SHESAIDTHELINESHESAIDTHELINE - ^ 'wanna make a little chaos?' WHAT IF I DIE. WHAT IF I DIE YASMINA. WHAT THEN. - 'maybe. maybe not!!!!' BABIES?? - r the dinos drugged or controlled with the same method the inhumane ladys using - ^or are they tranqued out of their minds. idk. - OH SHIT? THEY SHOULDNT KILL AT THE WATERING HOLE guess it isnt really that is it - BENJAMIN NO

episode 9: - now SAMMYS anxiety's spiking - ok bens gonna not die hopefully?? - i love them stalking. the little creepers. hehe - BUMPER CARRR WHATS GOING ON - ^ is she drugged or smth :((( - ^^^maybe shes pregnant?? but idk idk i dont think so - ^^^^ fucking forshadowing - ^^^^^ i sincerely hope its more positive than im thinking - COMMUNICATION!!!!!!!! YESSSS!!! - theyre the cutest!!!! Yasammy charades level teamwork!!!!! - ok i love both the teams - kenji and darius sticking up for each other despite everything. DO THEY WANNA MAKE ME SUFFER - the kon puns im crying - KENJI HELPING DARIUS CLIMB IM SCREAMING - ok quick intermission i LOVE yazs design shes so cute - hndsgjkb JUST FIND EACH OTHER ALREADY - BENJAMIN CMON U GOTTA SAVE HER - 'Are you dying?' WHATRF ESDGUHKUFDGKJBFDXBFVGBUFIDCFGVBKJSDXBC K EFAHBUISDAGEBDBWAUISDFK - ^ NO - ^^ NO - ^^^ NOOOOOOO - WHATTTTTFDSDGJBMGDF - SHE CANT BE - ILL SOB MY EYES OUT I SWEAR TO GOD - BEN HIDING AND CRYING I - I FEEL U IM DOING THE SAME EXACT THING RN - OKAY THEY KNOW NOW - yaz&sammy&kenji&darius reunion1!!!!1! - ^ AND WHERES BEN - BUMPY. U STRONG STRONG WOMAN. I WANT U TO KNOW THAT IF U DIE. I WILL TOO. - IM GONNA KILL MYSLEF/.

(this i fear is where i realise that im going insane)

- CREEPY MICRO BANGS IS AN AMAZING NAME FOR UNCANNY VALLEY WOMAN YEAH - yeah atp i think weve all figured out its an illegal dino selling business - wGAT - yeah WTF WAS SHE DOING - 'no talk. come quick. bumpys dying.' IM FUCKING DYING TOO!!!!!!!! FUCK THIS SHIT OH MY GOD - BUMPER CAR DO NOT. PLEASE. DONT. - WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK I WAS RIGHT - ^ WTF WTF I - thats an egg. - DONT THINK ABOUT IT BUD.

episode 10: - these kids r so traumatised they do not need this - IS SHE RLY DEAD…. - ok so its two separate factors i think?? DPW on one side, creepy micro bangs on the other. right? - ^ this is delving DEEP into the mystery factor… - BEN WTF!!!!! DONT JUST??? DO THAT???????? - OMFG SHES HERE - ^ I HATE HER IHATEHERIHATEHER - SHES WHY THE DINOS R ACTING WEIRD - WHY IS SHE SO FUCKING UNCANNY I CANNOT - ^ SHES LIKEA CARNIVORE DINOSAUR IF IT WAS A HUMAN - ok so SHES the real boss. the unresponsive. wide eyed. controlling dinosaurs. microbangs. woman. - SWHE KILLED BROOKLYNN. - ^ WHAT THE FUCK. - im ngl i DID kinda dig her vibe but AFTER HEARING THIS I JUST CAngfijbdsuif FUCK U - who THE HELL - GET UR FREAKY ASS BOB AWAY - BRUH PUT THAT FUCKING WHISTLE DOWN - IM GOING TO HAVE NIGHTMARES OVER THIS LADY - WHAT THE - theyre way too lucky who the hell is driving that truck - i feel like atleast ONE of them shoulda got injured in that fall - OH MATEO!!!! HI BB - OOP CREEPY BANGS DEAD YIPPEE - AND THEYRE ALL GOING BAZONKAS?? BC SHES UNRESPONSIVE I PRESUME? - ALWAYS THE MFING RAPTORS - okay theyre definitely coca in the loca - WGAT TJR FJCUK EPIC EXPLOSION TYRANNOSAURUS REX - ^ R U SLASH J OR SRS RN - JESUS I LOVE THESE KIDs - where's yaz. - SAMMY!!! - 'Hey, Stripey! Leave. My girl. Alone!' YTHIS IS WHY I HATE THIS FUCKING SHOW /affectionate - AND THE ALMOST KISS HALF HUG IM KMS - WHY R THEY LIKE THIS - HES LETTING THE ALLOSAURUS OUT???? HUHHHHHHH - DARIUS BOWMAN. - IS HE - IS HE FUCKING - SERIOUS RN - jesus christ this BOY. this BOY man. - DIE - DDDDIIIIIEEEEEE - what tf!!!! the broker??? - we still dont know the creepy bangs name…. - so we're getting a 2nd season right - AWW YASAMMY SHOT - HWRFIUSDHGSFDKHAWVBSDXCZKJLGDHSFKLJGBJKESRDFJ - WHYSDHIFUJDIGVBDFS - WHEN I TELL U I JUMPED I MEAN I JJJUUUUMMMMPPPEEEEDDDD - THIS EERIE ASS BITCH KEEPS ON SHOWING UP WHEN I DONT EXPECT IT - DONT GET ME WRONG - PEAK CHARACTER DESIGN - AND THE LOOK ITSELF IS RLY CUTE AND ALL - BUT IF I SAW A BITCH THAT LOOKED AND BEHAVED LIKE THIS I WOULDVE SCREAMED MY INTESTINES OUT AND RAN ALL THE WAY TO AUSTRALIA - THE CREEPIEST CHARACTER IVE SEEN IN YEARS IM AFRAID - oh she still cares about her dinos!!! this makes her a little more human - a little less scary - ok - her movements r less mechanical more affectionate now - less hvfudignb BIGBFI SHE JUST TURNED - thank GOD shes gone - theyre me - 'well that was… unnerving' WELL SAID - YASAMMY HUG!! - YEAHHHH THE LOOK!! - the regular schmegular 'let's save the day' speech. we gotchu darius!! - GASPPP - ok so UNREQUITED dinostar - OH MY GHRHSIUDF THATS SO FUCKING SAD - DARIUS MY BABY I - YEAH!! SHOW UP!!!!! - ofc they are????? - it IS a very brooklynn thing to fo - you kon count him in too!!! - LMAO MATEO I LOVE YOU - YUP YUP BUMPER CAR NEEDS CARE AND SAFETY - IS THIS THE END??? - please give me atleast one more cryptic scene - OH SHES IN ON IT TOO?/BG - bgiudsfgtbfseruifdgkdfx - I FUCKING TOLDF U - I TOLD U ALL - I SAID IT FIRST - HGIUDFSOI;GT;ERASFOICXLBVNIPGRSD - SHE LOST AN ATM - SHES ALIVE - THIS IS WHAT IVE BEEN FUCKING TALKINHG ABOUT - TOLD U SHE COULDNT BE DEAD I MEAN. ITS BROOKLYNN.

(ok all in all. this was. an experience. gonna leave it at that and go take a nap)

[writingsbychlo]

smoke and fire (09)

word count; 13,103

summary; following up a storm, there’s a crash on one of the highways, and things don’t always go as planned in rescue attempts.

notes; there is going to be some big realisations in this part. it’s angsty, but you’ll love it.

warnings; reference to death, panic attacks, car crashes, near-death experience, mild injury/gore reference.

“Holy shit..” You mumbled, staring out at the scene ahead of yourself on the intersection, Newt’s jaw dropped much like your own as you looked out at it all. Smoke curling up into the air, crushed cars and contorted metal with flames curling up. Blue sirens of other ambulances and firetrucks, the other side of the amalgamation of cars, and you stepped down from the ambulance in shock.

The call that had come over the alert ten minutes ago had been no joke, it was a true disaster, the no longer muffled wails of emergency vehicle alerts, the crying of people in pain, the workings of machinery and metal grating against metal to make you shudder in uncomfortable shock. The firetrucks of your own house pulled up next to you, the ambulance having the edge on this case as it was easier to weave through other cars along the highway, and the same look of shock was mirrored on all of their faces. 

This wasn’t the first car crash you’d dealt with, far from it, but it was certainly the worst. Police and traffic wardens were beginning to divert traffic, all the lanes with cars moving in both directions being stopped, and you planted your feet tightly to the ground and wrapped your jacket more tightly around yourself as the strong and chilling winds that had been the cause of the accident came back to claim more victims. The females roared up, only encouraged by the howling winds, and you cursed under your breath at the cold. 

An oil tanker had tipped over, blocking all of the lanes in both directions, broken fences from where it had tipped and cars had simply managed to smash into it and one another repeatedly as they tried to swerve, leaving the mixed wreckage of at least twenty cars littered across the tarmac. Bumpers, glass and framework, and there were too many pieces to began even starting to try and match them to smashed vehicles. 

Opening your door back up and hopping back up into the warmth of the ambo’ cabin, Newt ran a hand over his hair, scratching at the back of his head lightly as he sighed, gaze scanning repeatedly over the sights before him, and Brenda bumper her hips against his as she came to stand next to him. Twisting the dials on the radio, you unhooked the speaker from the set screwed into the dashboard, bringing it to your lips and listening as it crackled. 

“First responder dispatch centre, how can I help?”

“This is the paramedic of Firehouse ‘21, reporting to a call on the bridge entered-” Flicking your wrist up to take a look. “-eighteen minutes ago. Please notify all local hospitals to expect heavy patient incoming, various degrees of injury. Most likely to be expected is concussions, broken bones, burns and smoke inhalation, as well as various lacerations and punctures.”

“Noted, and the local hospitals will be informed. Thank you for your call.” The buzzing across the radios returned, static to fill the space as the call came to an end, and you hooked the material back up. Reaching backwards and behind your chair, you fished around for your bag, snatching it up in one hand and taking Newt’s with you, the man having paced away to stand with groups of firemen as they waited for their instructions. 

This was yet another call that Vince would take control off, ready to discuss a plan with the other house Chiefs to come up with a plan of action, divide and conquer the scene before you all, everybody coming at it from another angle to handle it. Slamming the door shut and wrapping your arms around yourself tightly once again to shield yourself from the cold. Stepping along towards your partner, your cheeks were already beginning to sting from the low temperature, and you came to stand before him, handing him his bag.

“Thanks.” He took the pack from you, hanging it on his shoulder, just with one strap, and tucking his hands securely into his pockets, bunched up in fists for warmth. “You call it in?”

“Notified all hospitals in the area, and gave them a vague list of injuries to expect.”

“Good call.” He mumbled, and you tried to tune into the chatter you were hearing. From what you could gather, the Chiefs had all divided up the area into sections, a certain number of cars and rescues to make. 

Three other teams on sight, one would deal solely with the tanker, neutralising oil and saving the driver from the cabin while making sure that the punctured and leaking tanker never met fire; arguably the most pressured job of them all as they struggled to fight off the looming explosion. The second and third team would split the cars on the other side, the morning rush who had all been heading into the city leaving far more casualties than those on your side who’d been heading the opposite way, and you would be left to deal with those on this side of the overturned tanker that was covering the entirety of the highway. 

There was so much commotion and noise that you couldn’t even hear the racing of the waters underneath, despite the crushing strength of the icy water running under the bridge below your feet, the rumbling of it normally audible when it was this chaotic, right after a storm had hit, but it was overpowered today. You shook again, the chilling temperatures making everything that much more difficult, the knuckles in your fingers already beginning to go stiff with the cold weather. 

“Alright, team. Listen up.” Your head snapped up as Vince spoke, his hands clapping together, rubbing for warmth before they were tucked back inside of his pockets, and you envied the heavy-duty jacket he already had on. “We have everything to the left of the overturned tanker. We are not - under any circumstances - to venture out of our zone. There is spilt oil, fires, and a lot of jagged metal. I don’t want to hear anyone telling other teams what to do.” He shot a pointed look to Gally, he scowled a little, everyone else chuckling and you supposed there was a story that you had yet to hear. 

Vince continued on, commanding the firemen, but you and Newt were able to tune out as you were left to your own devices, the two of you turning in unison to explore the area with your gazes. There weren’t as many cars to be attended to as you suspected there were on the other sides, but it was still over ten, and you worried your lower lip between your teeth as you tried to establish where to start. There were groans of pain, calls for help, and your fingers wrapped around your bag handle as you gripped on and tried to steady your thoughts.

The most concerning of it all was the van on the edge of the bridge. Clearly spun out, the side was dented and scraped from the collision. The barricades on either side of the van were missing, torn and unstable as one of the front wheels hung over the edge, but it seemed reasonably stable, no wobble or shake to it, even with the howling winds. 

“You wanna’ take that one?”

“Oh, no, that’s a treat for you.” You smirked, turning to look at Newt, and he rolled his eyes, holding out his fist and raising his brows. Matching his pose, you twisted to face him more fully, your fist landing on an open palm. “I can’t read you anymore. You used to suck at this game.”

“I have tactical skills now. It’s all about logic. I’m basically a Vulcan.”

“You’re basically a nerd.” You teased, and he scoffed, his good foot swinging up to kick you lightly enough in your shin that it didn’t hurt, but it still made you tremble as you tried to avoid it. He moved again, stepping towards you, and you shoved at his shoulder as you backed away. “Cut it out! I take it back!”

“Yeah, you better. Just for that, you’re taking the van!”

“Rock, paper, scissors!” You demanded, and he shook his head, turning his back on you and wandering away towards the car closest to himself, and you gaped at him a little, before turning back to analyse the van. It would no doubt need to be stabilised, and yet it was barely over the edge, but it was still concerning, and as you peered inside, you could pick up no movement, finding that there was an unconscious driver inside, if not unconscious passengers, too.

Turning back to find a fireman to help you, you jumped violently in shock at finding one directly behind you, your entire body jerking as you stepped back, and a familiar and raspy chuckle met your ears, held low to hide his brief amusement in a tense situation, and you scowled flashy up at him.

“Fucking hell, don’t do that!”

“I’m sorry.” He grinned, holding up a peace offering and apology that made your eyes widen. “I brought you a coat, so you wouldn’t get cold. Might restrict your movement a bit, though.” Thomas lifted the jacket up to sit over your shoulders, and you dropped your medkit to the floor, pushing your arms through your sleeves and wrapping it up tightly around yourself. For once, with the lack of any fires near yourself, you didn’t feel so overheated by the jacket, and instead comforted by it. 

“Thanks, I was freezing, actually.” He only hummed, letting go of the lapels as you fastened it up at the front, pressing down the velcro seals but not bothering to zip it up in case you needed to remove it frequently for your venture. Grabbing your bag from the ground beside your feet again, you stood back up. He was staring at you, a soft smile on his face but there was uncertainty hidden behind it, and you hated that you were at fault for it. 

You knew he was waiting for some kind of response to his actions of only a few days ago, the sweet touch of affection he had offered you after your visit to the vet. The dog was sitting happily and warm back at the station now, probably curled up on the couch, and yet you were standing here in the cold, trying to work out what to say to the man before you. 

Your mind had been clouded these last few days, spinning with too many thoughts to process. Your job, your friends, the life you’d lived for the last half a decade as opposed to the one looking you in the eye now, and whether you were willing to let yourself open up to that change. You wanted to, you wanted to let them in and to know that you had a true place in this house, but with your track record it was hard, and you were unfamiliar with having a family so intense after years of being alone. 

“I just need to think, okay?” Reaching out a hand when his shoulders slumped, he perked up a little as his fingers curled back around yours, loosely but enough to show he appreciated the gesture, and you squeezed gently. He nodded his head, licking over his lips, and while you knew that the look in his eyes was disappointment, there was also understanding. “I need your help.”

He took a sharp breath, his hand pulling back from yours as ‘Thomas’ disappeared and ‘Lieutenant Stephens’ took over. Jabbing a thumb over your shoulder, his eyes flickered to the van, brows furrowing a little. 

“It’s my job to head into that van, and in the interest of being less reckless, I figured you’d want to hook me up to some ropes before I do.”

“The fact that you even consider going in there without any deeply concerns me, y’know.” You rolled your eyes fondly, shaking your head as he stepped back, but he was spinning on his heel to begin commanding his team. The Truck team were already spreading out across the space deemed to belong to your firehouse, and Newt was halfway inside of a slightly crushed car to reach a patient, while Thomas began to gather equipment and a team for the van. 

Stepping over to said vehicle as you waited, you pressed your hand to the back of the van in a feather-light touch. Skimming your fingers across the cold surface of the backdoor, your fingers hooked under the handle, pushing down on the button and pulling the warped metal out, the door swinging open. 

From what you’d been able to see through the windows along the side, there was no movement, but there was still hope to get a verbal response as you called out. The cabin remained silent, and you peered inside, finding only one person sitting within there, a driver slumped across the steering wheel, airbag deployed and beginning to deflate. You suspected lacerations and possible broken lungs, as well as a concussion and one hell of a headache when they woke up. 

Pulling back, you rounded the car, peering over the barricade over the edge of the road and swallowing thickly at the height of the drop down into the river, the waters raging below you, and you checked the sights of the engine. You were no mechanic, and you couldn't tell much from the outside, but it didn’t look like the metal had crumpled too much, meaning you wouldn't have to cut away metal around his legs to get him out, making your job a lot easier if he wasn’t trapped under an engine that had been forced into the main vehicle compartment. 

“Ready when you are!” Brenda was waving a harness at you as you turned to face her, and Minho was busy planting anchors in the ground. Enough to support you, the passenger inside, and the ropes that would be secured around the vehicle to hold it steady. The team were working quickly and efficiently, threading them through the tyres and around the van in various locations to keep it still while you crawled inside. 

Taking the bundle of fabric from her, you dropped it to the ground, beginning to become familiar with these harnesses now, and you were certain you could get it on yourself. Pulling it up after stepping one foot into each loop, you eased it up your legs, tightening it at your waist and around each thigh, making sure that the straps were secure enough to reassure you. 

“You’re going to have limited rope, alright? So, try not to get it stuck on anything, because we need a lot of these anchors, we’re going to have to stand far back and away from the cracking concrete to have any grip.

“How much rope is ‘limited rope’?”

“About three metres.” She winced, and you turned to look at the vehicle, a brow raising. 

“Bren, this van looks about three metres if not more, can’t we get a longer rope?”

“We need all the rope we have for securing the van.” You knew she was right, there was more distance to be covered there, and it as important to keep both yourself and the passenger safe and secure, but it didn’t make it any easier to navigate the carbon and be able to move when you’d be tugging on a leash with no give. “Take a harness into the van, try to secure the patient inside of it. We’re getting another rope and anchor grouping set up, by the time you tend to them, we should be ready.”

“Gotcha.”

She grinned, holding up her palm flat, and you chuckled a little, before slamming your own hand against hers. It may have been a childish gesture, but something about the silly actions of high-fiving in support of one another had relieved just a little bit of the crippling tension looming over you both in the moment, and so as you grinned to one another, it was worth it. “You got this!”

“You bet I do.” You winked, hearing her let out an encouraging cheer, before she was hanging over the spare harness to you and walking away to take the end of your rope through all of the anchors and support set up to take the weight off of her. Thomas was working on another rope, giving you a simple nod as he watched you go, approval and encouragement you were sure, before you were placing your first foot onto the metal of the van, and then a second, climbing up and into the precariously hanging vehicle.

Once you were balanced within, both feet on the wooden backing of the van, you were left to try and navigate your way through the space. It was cluttered, work tools and plywood, all strapped down for security, and you were grateful to see that at least those restraints were intact; if they’d swung forward when this van had hit the railing, there was a likelihood they would have unbalanced the van.

Setting your bag and the spare harness down on the passenger seat the driver was still strapped in, and as you took another step forward toward him, the breath was forced from your lungs, the harness pulling tight around your stomach as the rope ran out, going taut through the anchors and giving you no budge. 

“You okay in there?”

You turned back to look at Chuck, his eyes scanning over the inside of the van, bright eyes and flushed cheeks as his curls blew around his face in the breeze, and you nodded. Looking over the man before you, your fingers took his chin gently, tipping his head up to sit straight instead of at the uncomfortable angle it had fallen to lay at, and checking for a pulse in his neck. It was weak, and his breathing was shallow, but it was definitely there. 

“Anything I can do to help?”

“You can grab a neck brace and the board from the ambo’, I don’t think this guy is waking up anytime soon.” Chuck nodded, moving away to gather the supplies you’d listed off to him, the heavy sound of his boots scuffling on the tarmac fading out as you focused on the man before you. There was a nasty graze across the side of his neck, a fleshy burn from the friction of his seatbelt against his skin, but he could simply be glad he was wearing it, because otherwise, he would have gone through the windshield. 

The airbag was going down, and you pressed onto it, the hissing of air sounding out as you pushed it to help it deflate, giving you more space to work with, and see what you were doing, trying to reach across his body as you waited for the fabric safety precaution to reside. 

His nose was bleeding and it was swelling with purple bruises under his eyes and across his cheeks, a broken nose that was bad and would need professionally resetting, but that was the only initial examination that you could do with your limited range of motion. 

Tugging a little on your rope again, and hoping it would offer a little more give, you were disappointed as it held strong, trying to work out how to get closer to the patient, to be able to properly reach him, and start examining him for the further injuries you suspected he might have.

“Okay, I got the brace and the board.” Chuck was panting slightly, lugging both pieces of equipment, the support like a surfboard under his arm as the padded brace swung in the other hand, and you chuckled. “Alright, set the board down, I’m not sure how I’ll get him into it, but you can tell Brenda we aren’t going to need the spare harness, he’s out cold. I’ll trade ya’.” He nodded, placing the board down on the ground and letting the brace follow. 

Picking up the edge of the fabric you’d left with your bag, you shifted, swinging it over your shoulder and the van rocked a little at your sudden movement, your blood running cold, but it stopped after only a moment as the ropes that the Squad team had set into place held it steady; Chuck’s eyes as wide as yours. “Maybe no more sudden movements, then?”

“I think that’s a good idea, kid.” You grinned a little, trying to reassure the young candidate despite your heart leaping into your throat with fear. “Now, pass me that neck brace, nice and gentle. Roll it cross the floor.”

He did as told, tucking the straps in carefully and pushing it down the slight slope of the van, watching as the plastic rolled unevenly across the floor before getting wedged behind the passenger seat, stuck just underneath it, but the bright yellow plastic was still partially visible. You reached, the straps around your waist restricting your movements and digging into your flesh, almost to a painful degree, and your fingers brushed over it, but you couldn't grab a hold of it. 

“God, I can’t do anything on this freakin’ leash.”

“Oh, please don’t do what I think you’re going t-” You ignored him, fingers working over the latch on the carabiner that was keeping you secure, and you felt the tension around your waist give way from the second that it was unhooked. “You terrify me, do you know that? Do you have no concept of danger?”

“There is no danger, Chuck, I’ll be fine.” Clipping the band onto one of the poles in the headrest so that you could reach it again easily, you stripped off your coat to give you more flexibility, and left it in the footwell of the seat you currently resided next to. “You guys got this van all roped up, and it’s right there. I just need to be able to move if I’m going to save this man’s life.”

You rubbed sweaty palms against the fabric of your pants to dry them off, your first call was to unzip your bag, and to locate a pair of sanitary gloves, before interacting with him at all. Once the plastic covers were sealed over your hands comfortably, you were settling into a slightly uneven passenger seat to get a better look at him. 

Ideally, you really needed the seatbelt out of the way, but in his unconscious state, doing that would probably make the man fall forwards, and so you tried to work around it. Pressing your fingers gently along his chest under the unmoving strain of a locked safety belt, you pressed for hard patches, finding none under your fingers, breathing a sigh of relief as you found no external signs of immediate internal bleeding, muscles tense but skin not having hardened up.

Moving up to his eyes, you lifted one eyelid open, finding the keyring on your bag and unhooking it, flashing the small torch across his eyes, and watching for any pupil reaction. It was fast, an immediate reaction that was impressive and reassuring, and everything about the situation with the man in the truck was looking up. He was incredibly lucky. You were progressively growing more confused, however, as to why he was so heavily unconscious when so little seemed to be wrong.

Even the nerves in his legs were twitching when given stimulus, suggesting that he didn’t even have any kind of paralysis or delayed response time. His body seemed to be handling the shock and the adrenaline exceptionally well, and he should be awake. 

Reaching under your seat, you leaned forward, finding the brace and tugging it out, brushing it off and undoing the velcro seals that Chuck had put into place as it rolled, the ripping down of the two sides separating filling the cabin. 

“Chuck, time for you to go and grab another fireman, I’m going to work out how to get him loaded up onto a board, and out to you guys.” 

“I’m on it.” He gave you a salute, an ‘aye, aye, sir’ following it, and you couldn't help but chuckle at his antics, a heart of gold in the kid for being able to find amusement in the situation. You assessed the situation, ready to try and get him out of here, so that you could follow swiftly behind him, not wanting to be caught in the metal box any longer than necessary. Once you had him out and being carried to the ambulance, you could properly tend to his wounds. 

You’d need to put some disinfectant on the raw skin where his seatbelt had been, clean up his nose, and do a more thorough bodily exam to confirm your results but as far as you could see, there was no harm in moving him. There was only the trouble of getting him onto the board by yourself, in such a cramped and awkward position. Sweeping your eyes over the vehicle for anything to help, you scanned the chair, raising a brow, and twisting to look at your own. 

It took a moment, but your suspicions were confirmed, a handle on the outside of the chair near the door was present, to adjust the angle that the chair was sat at. Testing it, you reached around your seat, pushing the handle down and feeling the chair spring forwards, the wrong directions, and you huffed. Instead, you tried pulling up next, and it began to retract. The more you inched the chair backwards, the further it went, never reaching a limit as it sat halfway flattened, a good bet that the driver’s seat would do the same, and it was the best option you had so far.

 The door on the other side was a little more battered, the metal warped in, and as Chuck returned with Thomas by his side. He took a single look over the cabin, before his eyes were widening, and then narrowing on you. 

“Did you take off your harness?”

“No!” You moved, kneeling a little, half between the man's chair and half on the passenger as you hooked your thumb under the edge to show him. “I just undid the rope so that I could move around and actually do my job.”

“Are you insane? Do you have absolutely no concept of danger?” Thomas hissed, and you stuck your tongue out at him, moving to get a better look at the gap between his chair and the door, and whether you were going to be able to get your hand to the lever.

“That’s exactly what I said!” Chuck agreed, and you sighed at the pair of them.

“Put your rope back on, right now, or else-”

“Or else what, Tommy? What are you gonna’ do, huh?” You paused, raising a brow at him, and his jaw snapped shut. “You gonna’ come in here and make me? Unbalance the van with all your stomping around as you wrestle me back onto the rope? I think not.” His lips flicked up at the sides, lips rolling together to contain his smile, and his head ducked, but you didn’t miss the quiet chuckle he let out. When his head lifted, however, the amusement was gone, and that same endearing concern was back, making you sigh. “You got this whole thing hooked up with wires, I’m perfectly safe. I trust you.”

He swallowed thickly at your words, nodding his head, before his shoulders slumped a little. “Alright, fine. So, you got a plan or what, sweetheart? Because I don’t see how you’re going to get him onto that board alone, so maybe I will have to come in and wrestle you back into your ropes anyway.”

“Oh, ha ha.” You scoffed, adjusting yourself to be able to reach, and wincing as the screeching sound of metal and the slight wobble at the uneven weight distribution toward the driver’s seat brought back unsettling memories of your time in the elevator month’s prior. “I’m going to lower the chair back, and loosen his seatbelt as best I can. We can wiggle the board under him slowly, I’ll get the neckbrace on him, and push him up far enough for you to drag him the rest of the way.”

Thomas chewed on his bottom lip, nodding slowly as he thought through, and watching as you moved to lean over the man. Your hand was pressed tightly between the side of the chair and the metal as you worked your way down, blindly searching by touch for the lever you needed, and finally, you squeezed your fingers over the handle, but barely able to move to pump it and lower the chair carefully. “No sudden movements, okay? I don’t want any extra stress on those ropes.”

“No sudden movements, I promise.”

You flexed the handle, the chair lowering by an inch, maybe a little more, and you kept it up, your arm beginning to ache from the angle you were working at already, but with each squeaky sound, his chair was lowering more and more, straightening his spine out carefully as he lay down, your other hand resting against his forehead delicately to keep his head straight.

As he was lowered further and further, you pumped the chair as far as it could go, getting his body as streamlined as you could, and you were already making progress with him. Chuck was ready, holding the board up for you, and you nodded your head, letting go of a tense breath and leaning back to rotate your arm slowly to ease the cramp that was building in the muscles and tendons of your shoulder.

Shifting between the seats, and standing hunkered over as not to bump your head against the roof, you positioned yourself before him, Thomas holding one side of the board for stability, and Chuck on the other, watching for your advice silently. Cupping his head carefully, glove covered palm under the back of his skull to keep him steady, you lifted his head forwards just slightly, holding him still and curling your fingers in a motion as though to say ‘come hither’, and the board inched forward. 

As the plastic came into your peripherals, you reached out, guiding it to rest on the fabric of the chair under his head, pressing in until they reached the junctions of his shoulders, and then they stopped. Your palm was held up flat to them in signal, and while it would have been just as easy to talk, something about breaking the tense silence felt wrong, as though it would disturb the concentration you all had going.

Supporting his head still, you moved your other hand to lift his shoulders up, grunting a little at the added weight and strain on your arms in the less than ideal position, but it worked. With each wiggle and shift, they got the board a little further down under his body, sometimes stopping when it got caught on the safety belt or his clothing, but otherwise being completely successful. As the board bumped the backs of his legs, still bent over the seat with his feet pressed to the floor, you placed his head down, facing a whole new challenge. 

“What now?”

“I need you to get in here with me.” His face deadpanned, and you grinned, the blank look on his face amusing you. “Relax, not right up here with me. I just need you to pull him upwards very slowly onto the board while I adjust him. Once he’s on the board, I can strap him securely, and get the neck brace on him. You guys get him out, I get out of this death trap, and I see some other patients.”

“Doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Try to keep his head still, okay? We don’t want him getting any more injuries that we could have prevented.” Thomas only nodded in conformation, before he was stepping up, the van wobbling a little as he did, and he lowered himself down to one knee.

Reaching over the man, and inching two thicker-gloved hands under his shoulders, finding it harder to get a grip than you did in just your rubber gloves. He didn't move, though, waiting to be told to do so as you unclipped his seatbelt, the material slinking away across his body and back into the holder. Just as you prepared yourself for the neck brace, turning back to the passenger seat beside it, you watched his head roll to the side, cheek pressing into the fabric limply.

“What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything!” Thomas' voice raised a little, insistent he hadn't, and you fixed him with a questioning look. “I swear!”

You didn’t get a chance to question him, before a loud gasping was sounding in the van, followed by a groan that bounced from the metal walls of the van, and his eyes were snapping open. Everything was still for only a moment, and you tried to process your words, mind spinning and you didn't have a chance to think before he was sitting up roughly, the car rocking with his movements, and he let out another agonised noise at the motions.

“Sir, I need you to rel-”

“What happened?” His head whipped from side to side, face screwing up before he was wincing, and the blood that had dried on his skin from his nose was soon replaced by a fresh gush of red, dripping over his lower lip and along his chin as he panicked. Sitting up further, the car rocked, and his hands flew out, gripping onto the edge of the van for stability. “What the fuck happened?”

“(Y/N), put your ropes back on!”

Your head snapped up to Thomas, his eyes wide as he pointed to the rope you still had clipped to the opposite chair, and you nodded your head at the precarious rocking of the vehicle. A hand grabbed your wrist, jerking roughly in fear as your attention was brought back to the man, and there was another shout of your name from Thomas, falling on deaf ears as the pleas of your patient drowned him out;

“Are we over the river?”

“I need you to calm down for me, okay, can you do that?” You tried to place a hand on his shoulder, to stop the moving that he was doing, but the whole vehicle groaned under the pressure, the sound of snapping and crumbling concrete making itself known, and then came a tearing, a loud banging against the side of the van, and Thomas jumped a little as he backed out of the van to peer over the top.

“What was that?”

“(Y/N) put your damn rope back on, now!”

“What was that, Thomas?” Your voice raised, demanding again as the vehicle swayed and you struggled to remain upright, his jaw clenching and nostrils flaring. 

“One of the support wires snapped, the movement is too much, it can’t take the weight.”

“The supports are snapping?” The patient sounded more panicked than either of you, and the grip that had been almost bruising around your wrist was released, your hand snatched back to your chest as you gripped it supportively. That same large hand landed on your shoulder, a brief push as he struggled to his feet and pushed past you in a haze of blinding fear and adrenaline, the vehicle moving violently as he tried to clamber his way on shaky legs from the van. 

You fell, the pressure from his push making you stumbled and your legs caught on the edge of the passenger seat chair, your body falling backwards and head hitting against the dashboard, shoulder landing on the handbrake and a sharp shock of pain ran along your entire body at the feeling. The sounds of your team members shouting at you, at the patient, at anyone else all became muffled for a second as your ears rang at the collision, your eyes squeezed closed, and you forced yourself to take a deep breath in and out as you processed the pain and tried to suppress it to be dealt with later.

The car came to a steady rest, no longer moving so aggressively but simply swaying, and you tried to adjust yourself carefully to be able to sit up. Thomas and Chuck were watching, with no sight of the patient, and both of them relaxed a little as you came into view. 

“Is he alright?”

“Is he alright?” Thomas seethed, and you blinked a little to clear fuzzy vision as you focused on your surroundings. “That idiot almost just made this van tip. He ran off to find Newt, I assume. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, just a little achy.” You muttered, the understatement seeming to make the throbbing in your shoulder seem worse. “It’s not his fault, he was in pain and confused, he wasn’t thinking clearly, it’s not his fault, Tommy.”

His anger didn’t seem to die down at all, but his resolve broke, and he choked back whatever he had to say, shaking his head. “Can you reach your rope? We need to get you out.”

You regretted using the passenger seat as your test for the lever one, because even at the most outstretched your arm could get, you still couldn't reach it from here without moving. Shifting up onto your knees, the van jerked again, tilting a little further as a sound of metal on stone so piercing it made your stomach churn and body shudder sounded out, another lurch forwards, another wire giving way, and you still couldn’t reach your rope.

“No! No, don’t move! There are two wires doing four wires’ job right now. Please, just stay still. Let me think of another way to get you out, just give me a minute, I can do this!”

Thomas’ voice was frantic, and you took a deep breath, trying to calm yourself as well as him, knowing that while he was all worked up, his mind wasn’t going to be clear at all. “You need to relax first, you’re going to work yourself into an anxiety attack.”

“Relax? You’re hanging over a river in an unstable van that could go at any moment! How could you possibly tell me to relax?”

“Thomas!” His head snapped up, eyes wide, his gaze steady as his eyes found yours, and you watched his shoulders loosen a little. “Please, just take a breath. I need you to not be Tommy right now. I need you to be my Lieutenant, okay?” He nodded, forcing himself to take a deep breath despite how shaky the inhale was, and letting it go slowly. 

“Yeah. You’re right. Okay.” It was like watching him shift into a new person before your eyes, a single deep breath, before he was letting out a sigh, and he stood up from his hunched-over position to look around the area surrounding you both outside of the truck. He let out a ragged sigh, trying to steady his own nerves, and you were struggling to do the same, feeling you the rushing of blood inside of your ears was almost deafening as your heart pounded, palms growing sweaty. 

Distracting yourself, you peeled off the rubber gloves, fixing flexing when they were free of the latex, and you tried to control your jitters. The van was tipped at an uneven angle now, and as you leaned forward, it wasn’t much of a strain to catch sight of the raging river below. The river was raging, the normally calm and steadily flowing waters were trampling anything in their path; branches, twigs and debris jostled in the rolls of water as the storm floods were washing away all the broken branches and eroded concrete it had created, the barriers up the side almost flooding over as the heavy rainfall you’d had was drained away.

One thick blue rope was pulled to its maximum tightness around the front of the vehicle, caught against the car’s metal insignia across the front, and some of the strings were beginning to snap, one thread of cotton at a time coming loose. 

“Hey, Lieutenant?” He ducked back down, eyes wide as he stared at you, cocking a brow in silent questioning. “Not to rush you or anything, but that last rope is fraying, and I don’t think it’s going to-”

The van screeched against the concrete, dragging forwards a little more, and the sound of several voices suddenly shouting filled what had only a second ago been reasonably calm quiet. You couldn't pick out a single voice, it was a calamity of panicked yells and commanding orders, and Thomas had disappeared from the end of the van, leaving you entirely alone. 

It wasn’t a feeling you liked, sitting in a metal tin as it rocked unevenly, the sounds of the tearing rope becoming louder and more common, the more strain put on fewer threads was speeding up the rate at which the rope was giving way, and there was a burning in the back of your throat as tears threatened to burn. 

You sniffled, cursing yourself for being on the verge of tears when you had bigger priorities right now than crying, but you couldn't help it. You were terrified, you were facing a drop of twenty feet while trapped inside of a van, into water that would be well below zero in temperatures, travelling at speeds you’d never be able to kick your way to the surface within, and it was overwhelming. 

A gasping breath, and another one, before your eyelids were growing heavy and as you shut them, you felt tears begin to leak free. You were barely balanced in the passenger seat, your legs aching and muscles tensed as you tried to hold yourself steady at the uneven angle, and parts of your body were growing numb as the dull pain became overwhelming. 

“How ya’ doing in there, (Y/L/N)?”

You couldn't help the weak laugh that you let out, wiping at your cheeks and looking up to face Thomas, his eyes flickering over with concern, but he kept his emotions steady, handling this much better than you were; but then again he wasn’t the one hanging over the edge of a bridge. “You know, just hanging out.”

“Can’t be that bad if you can still make puns.”

“Oh, I’m loaded with them, ready to drop at any time.” You insisted, silently thanking him for the fact that he was overlooking the tears still running down your cheeks and the wobble of your lower lip, instead just offering you a chuckle at the ironic words you had spoken. “So, how’s that rescue plan coming along, or are you just planning to leave me in here? Just when I thought we were getting over our issues..”

“Well, this would be a pretty convenient way to solve all of that.” He grinned, and you wiped your cheeks clear, skin stinging from the hot salt. “We’re just going to get some new anchors into the floor. If we can get a stabilising rope around this van then we’ll send someone in to get you, okay? Just keep holding on for me, you’re doing great, an-”

You squeaked a little at the tremor that shook the vehicle, your eyes going wide and Thomas’ words dying in his throat. That preamble seemed to be the warning, because only a  second later, the van was jerking again, another foot or so over the bridge and the back wheels were almost over the edge now too. 

Your body fell forwards, side colliding with the edge of the dashboard, ribs flaring up with pain and your leg twisted a little as it was caught in the gap between the chair and the flooring. The van was almost perpendicular now, you were pressed to the glass, the board you’d intended to lift your patient out on had slammed into the glass and it as fracturing in one corner, and despite the fear you had expected to be racing through you at this point, you felt an unsettling wave of calm. 

The voices outside were louder, the two ends of frayed rope hanging by the passenger windows, destroyed and useless, and you swallowed thickly, pushing yourself up a little bit and trying to gain your bearings, a headache forming behind your eyes from the stress and the panic bubbling inside of you, but crying no longer felt appropriate. 

“Hey, Tommy, are you still there?”

“I thought you wanted Lieutenant?” He sounded about as stressed as you felt, and you could no longer see him, all of the weight being held on the rope that Brenda was supposed to be holding for you, and you had no doubt that she must be under immense pressure on the other end of the machinery to hold it steady, but the thinner ropes designed for you weren’t going to hold very long. 

“Yeah, but now I want Tommy.” You mumbled, knowing that he couldn't hear you, and you tried to sort through your thoughts. “I’m scared.”

“I know. But I have a plan, alright? You’re just not going to like it.”

“I can’t say I’ve been all that fond of any of your plans, if I’m honest.” He gasped, a false sound of offence echoing around the cabin, and the weight on your shoulders lifted a little. “You can’t be all that surprised. So far, you’ve had me crawling between buildings on ladders and abseiling into elevator shafts that were dropping. It would seem that me and these harnesses just have some bad luck.”

“Yeah, well, if you’d stayed on your rope both of those times, you’d have been just fine.” He teased, and you scoffed at his statement, knowing that there was an air of both truth and falseness about it. “I’m going to lower another rope down to you, and you need to clip it to your harness, alright?”

“Sounds easy enough.”

“Yeah, but then comes the scary part.” He was trying to sound brave and you knew it was for your own benefit, but you were seeing right through him. “I need you to hold still and let the van drop away. We’re going to cut the rope, and the vehicle is going to drop out from under you. We can’t get any more anchors in the tarmac because of the cracks, so we’re going to have to do this the old fashioned way.”

There was a rope being lowered, and the glass underneath of you cracked a little bit more as you reached for it, fingers brushing against the metal of the carabiner, and you felt relief flood through you at simply having it in your hands. Your fingers worked over the catch quickly, unscrewing it to be able to hook it onto the front of your harness, and making sure that you did it up as tightly as you possibly could with the trembling you currently had. Tugging twice on the rope, you let out a sigh of relief.

“Okay, we’re going to cut the final wire, and you need to slide between the front seats before we do. Don’t try to climb, you’ll unbalance the van and it could drag you over the edge with it.”

Your body tensed as you stayed still, daring to shift fractionally to press your feet to the cracking glass underneath you, and it splintered even more, chips beginning to fall away as it threatened to break entirely. “I’m ready.”

It was a lie, a blatant, stone-cold lie, and yet you knew it needed to be done. Only a second after you’d said it, the ground underneath your feet was falling away, the already unstable vehicle tumbled forward with a groan, and your eyes squeezed shut. The breeze it created as it passed you by, the spray of water that came up from the almost deafeningly loud crashing it made as it hit the surface of the icy waters, and ten you were swinging. 

Dangling precariously over the edge, the muffled shouts of everyone above seeming like white noise as you tried to focus on simply holding off the upcoming panic attack that was bubbling within you, the droplets of cold water on your cheeks a direct contrast to the tears that were leaking free. You felt nauseous, a hand coming down to cover your stomach as the other cupped over your mouth, a precaution as you felt your gut twist into knots at the way your centre of gravity was spinning. 

It was the same way that your stomach would flip on a rollercoaster as it shot down a steep cliff, but continuous and without the rush of thrill, each jerk in the rope as you were tugged a few inches back up towards the surface making more adrenaline surge through your body to drown out the screaming fear that was threatening to consume you.

You waited, simply trying to catch your breath, trying not to let the stress get to you any more than it already had, and as the edge of the crumbled and broken concrete came into sight. The tips of your fingers were stinging and sore as you scrabbled against the stonework of the road pulling yourself up until you were on your hand and knees, head hanging, and head pounding.

It was all too much, your body feeling weak and your mind buzzing as you thought over it all, and the flashing lights around you were almost blinding, but it reminded you of where you were. You reached out, a hand wrapping around your own as you were pulled to your feet, and the flushed face of the man who’d saved your life was standing before you. 

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” You whispered, and he chuckled, using his teeth to pull off his glove and drop it to the ground, before a warm palm was closing over your cheek. The other soon followed, thumbs wiping away tears you had forgotten were even present, and you sank a little into his touch as he held onto you. “You have a job to do, Lieutenant.”

“I can spare a second to make sure you're okay.”

You nodded, sniffling a little, and shaking your head free of his grasp to wipe at your cheeks yourself. There was enough adrenaline racing through you right now to give you the power to fight a pissed off bull, your entire body jittering from head to toe, and you could barely think straight. “Really, Thomas, I’m fine.”

He stiffened slightly, and you knew you were shutting him out, but you couldn't help it, you’d been so scared in the moment, and yet, it hadn't been alone. You were scared because for the first time you could remember in your career, there were people who cared about you, and that had somehow made it all the more terrifying a prospect. You’d never had so much to lose before now.

“I should get back to work.”

The silence felt weighted as it hung between you, and your arms wrapped around your body at the chill of the winds that were sweeping over. You knew he hated the change of topic that you’d made, he was reaching out to you once again, and you were too afraid to return it. “I think Newt is just about done here, why don’t you head back to the ambo’ and get him to patch you up, instead.”

“Thomas..”

��I have a team to run.” His voice was firm again, and you felt locked out. You knew you’d messed up, you had done it to yourself, but you hated that he was disappointed in you. It was an unfortunate turn of events, something unexpected that made everything seem like a risk, and yet you weren’t used to having people who cared around you, to feeling like such a close-knit member of a team that it would affect them all so deeply.

He was walking away from you, a frown on his lips, and you wanted to reach out, but you didn’t know how to.

You turned away yourself, regretting the action as you did, and you wanted to glance back over your shoulder, but you knew he was angry. Still, it didn’t help the pain you felt, the pit in the bottom of your stomach, and every step you took away from him with bad blood still sitting heavy between you made you feel like you were wading through wet concrete. It was odd, how only a few months ago this kind of arguing had been the usual between you both, and yet now, it made you feel like you could barely breathe, a weight sitting on your chest. 

You couldn't take it. “Thomas!”

When you turned, he was glancing back over his shoulder, face sitting neutral and a single brow raised as he waited for you to keep speaking, but as you took further steps towards him, his face softened a little further. He turned to face you fully, eyes widening a little and his jaw dropped to ask you what was wrong, but he didn’t get a chance. A soft sound left him as your body collided with his, your face pressing into his chest as your arms circled his waist, and his breath was rushed from his lungs at the impact. 

You didn’t know what to say, and so you didn’t say anything, because, after a moment of shock, he seemed to silently get the message. His head boxed, his arms wrapping tightly back around you as he pulled you up to his height, his head bowing as he held you just as securely as you were holding him, and you let the tension in your body slip away for a second, to let him hold you up.

“We’re okay, I promise. As long as you’re okay.” You barely caught his words, mumbled into your hair, and it took you a second to process them but then you were nodding, and pulling yourself even closer to him in that moment. He was warm, and comforting, and now that you were actually holding him, everywhere he wasn’t touching felt cold.

His arms loosened around you, coldness sweeping in around your hands as he moved, and you stole a further second in the embrace, before his arms were falling away fully, and you were letting him go. His jacket was shucked down his arms, his eyes flickering over your face slowly before he was lifting the heavy jacket up and wrapping it over your shoulders, pulling it tightly around you, the fabric already heavy with heat and comfort he’d created. 

He waited as you pushed your arms through the sleeves, a hand closing over your hand, thumb brushing over your palm as he held it up, your skin littered with grazes and raw flesh from the broken concrete you had climbed over. “Go and get cleaned up, alright?”

It felt easier to walk away now, his gaze hadn't been so harsh and his smile was burning into the back of your mind as he turned from you again, jogging over to join Minho and Fry as they were using the cutters to pry open the metal on the side of a car that had become quite contorted as it had roughly collided into another. Newt was already waiting for you, tinkering around the back of the ambulance as he waited, and when he turned to find you at the scuff of your shoes on the floor, the scowl on his face melted away, only to return a second later with much more power. 

“You took off your damn rope?”

“I couldn't reach the patient.” You whispered, a growl leaving his lips, and as he hopped down from the vehicle, wincing a little at the sudden pressure on his leg but ignoring it to walk over to you, your body tensed up. You were prepared to be yelled at again, to be chastised by your friend, and your walls were shooting back up in protection. 

“I was scared. Don’t fucking do that. That’s not what ‘bestest friends in the whole wide world’ are supposed to do, okay?”

You couldn't help the relieved laugh that bubbled from you, your head shaking a little as he stood before you. “Yeah, well, it’s not official until you get it stitched on a t-shirt for me.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll get an extra-large one. You and Tommy can share it.” He was smirking now, tugging at the jacket you had wrapped around yourself, and you flushed with heat, but didn’t flinch. Instead, you wrapped it a little tighter around your body, like a piece of armour, and smirked back.

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn't you?” He scoffed as you walked past him, hopping up into the ambulance to reach for the med bag of his that was sitting on the floor, and he took it from your grasp, a hand on your shoulder as he pushed you back to sit on the stretcher. 

It went quiet after that, as he held each of your hands up one at a time, mumbling apologies as he wiped disinfectant over each twisting fingertip, and cleaning the small cuts and scrapes across your palms. You had torn nails with dirt stuck underneath, and he took his time to file them down gently so as not to catch and tear any further, and you bit on your lower lip.

It was startling to be cared for so lovingly by another person. 

He took a clean wipe and cleared the dirt from your face, the aloe cooling against your skin as he said nothing about the tracks within the dirt you were sure existed, made by your tears, or the raw flesh of your lower lip from nervous biting. When it was all done, he brushed a delicate hand over your head, tucking your hair away behind your ears, and offering you a friendly and reassuring smile, before packing away his equipment. 

“You were right.”

“I usually am, love.” He grinned, closing up the backdoors of the ambulance and locking them tight, ready to make your journey back to the firehouse. Your legs swung under you as you watched him pack away, pouting a little bit as you realised that you’d lost your own medkit, your lucky charm that didn’t quite feel so lucky anymore, but it had at least found you House ‘21, and that's all that mattered now. 

“About a year. I know it hasn’t been a full year yet-”

“Almost has!” He chirped, and you followed him up to the front, taking a seat in the passenger seat and doing up your seatbelt securely.

“What I’m trying to say is.. thanks.” He started up the engine, backing out of the spot slowly as his job was all done, and you were well in need of getting back to the house. “Thank you for making me stick around, Newt.”

“Thanks for sticking around.” It was a simple reply, but you caught the meaning hidden underneath, and clearly, you weren’t the only one who struggled with really putting your thoughts and feelings into words. Newt was one of the best friends you had ever had, and for the first time, you were finding a home in a firehouse that you weren’t immediately looking to escape from, but saw a future within. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Why wouldn't I be?” He shrugged, eyes fixed on the road, but flicking over to you occasionally. 

“You’re shaking a little.”

You glanced down, finding that you were, in fact, shaking slightly. Your hands balled up into fists, and you tucked them a little further within the sleeves of the coat that you were wearing. “It’s just an aftershock. The adrenaline wearing off.”

It wasn't exactly a lie, the adrenaline you’d been flooded with was beginning to slow down, to fade away, and you were left with slight trembles and some nausea that wouldn't go away for hours, but you could handle that. You’d had the same feelings after the elevator drop, and after going into any burning building for at least thirty minutes, it was always scary. 

You just didn’t want to look any deeper. 

He didn’t push further, but there was a frown on his lips, and despite watching out of the window at the scenery flashing by, you could feel his gaze sometimes move over you, studying you, but silence hung heavy. The car was pulled into the docking bay, and you were still trembling, your mind spinning with everything that you’d encountered, and you hated that it was taking so long for your mind to clear. 

Ever since you were little, all you’d ever wanted to do was help people, to save lives, but there were times when you put yourself at risk to do so. You couldn't help it, when you’d spent so long living alone, you forgot what it was like to have to take other people into consideration. You didn't have much of a family to rely on, but every passing day made the crew of Firehouse ‘21 more and more your family, the people who would be there with you for the rest of your life, and that same burning was coming rushing back to your throat, and the ache behind your eyes. 

The door on the other side of you slammed shut, Newt exiting the vehicle, and your bottom lip shook. Your chest felt tight, and you gripped at your chest underneath the material, a hand freeing from the sleeve to press over your chest, your heart beating erratically underneath. Tears pooled in your eyes, and you took a gasping breath, everything suddenly coming crashing over you, and you could barely suck breath into your lungs despite how much you were gasping and trying to. 

The thoughts in your mind were spiralling so much that they seemed to go into overdrive, a  dizzying array of thoughts that made you feel like you were drowning. It was almost blinding, the flashes of thoughts from within your one head making you feel like you couldn't see, couldn't hear, everything was slipping away into background noise as the unsteady race of your heart, and the support of the door you were leaning on fell away. 

Two hands were holding onto you tightly, pulling you out of the vehicle and your legs gave way, a shock running up your body as your knees collided with the concrete flooring. It was a shock of cold, chilled metal and biting winds against ear stained cheeks, and your lungs were burning as you tried to breathe. 

A warm presence to your side, a hand wrapping over your own and undoing your fingers from the clutching that they held, your nails having dug painfully into damaged palms, and you clung to them instead. It was Newt, the shushing in your ear told you so, holding you tight and steady as you tried to focus, tried to clear your mind and sort through your thoughts, until there was nothing left but the sound of your own sobs echoing around the room. 

You were stronger now, and despite the crying that you couldn't seem to stop, you were able to be pulled to your feet, out of the cold and a wash of heat rolling over you as your feet followed the guidance Newt gave to you, the lights in the rec-room flicking on at his motion over the switch, the pair of your being the first of the team to re-enter upon coming back from a call. You settled down on the couch, curling into the cushions, and trying to get a grip on your raging emotions. 

“You wanna’ take this coat off now? Get comfy?”

They were the first of the words spoken to make any sense, to not be a garbled blur in your ears, and it was at least a good sign as you began to refocus. You nodded slowly, sitting forwards enough to peel the coat from your arms, and it was left sitting over the back of one of the armchairs.

He reached for the remote, the television flickered on in front of you, a movie you didn’t recognise playing on the screen but it gave you stimulation to focus on, your head pressing to the cushion as you sat steadily, shoes kicked off and legs pulled up tightly to your body. 

You didn’t understand much about what was happening on the screen, the characters flicking past and the conversation going over your head, but it was stable enough for you to use as an anchor. The doors opened and closed, you heard the firetrucks pull up, and they progressively trickled into the room. Newt was tinkering in the kitchen behind you, the hob flicking on and the sound of pots and pans clattering lowly, and the couch dipped a little beside you as Brenda sat down.

“Hey, how you doin’?”

Her shoulder bumped against yours, and you twisted your head to look at her, shrugging slightly and offering her the best smile you could. “Better now.”

She only nodded, glancing away over your shoulder, and you had no doubt that Newt was giving them a different story, but it was true. At this moment, you may be fragile, but you had a sneaking suspicion that the panic attack you had was unrelated to the accident at all. You were a paramedic, you worked with firefighter’s, risking your life on a day-to-day basis was just a part of the job description, but you’d made a crack in walls within yourself that you didn’t even realise you’d put up.

You had made breakthroughs in your own mind that you didn't realise needed to be made, and it had been so thoroughly overwhelming that you hadn't been able to handle the influx. Brenda moved, her own coat still sitting on her shoulders and she wandered away to get changed, taking Thomas’ coat with her, and she squeezed your shoulder as she passed you by. 

“Made you some tea.”

Chuck was next, a steaming mug held out in front of you, a mixture of herbal essences curling up into the air and you hummed happily at the smell, reaching out to cup the warm porcelain, your favourite mug holding the drink, and you smiled. “Thanks, Chuck.”

“It’s Gally’s. It had the word ‘relax’ printed in large letters across the front of the box, so I figured it might help.” You brought it closer, sniffling it lightly, and the smell of chamomile and vanilla flooded your senses, your mouth watering a little, desperate to taste, but you resisted. Instead, you blew cool air on it, your eyes flicking up over Chuck’s head as a shadow took over. The boy twisted to look too, his Lieutenant glancing down at him, and he took the hint, offering you a final smile, before he was moving away. 

Thomas took his place, and you sipped your drink as you watched him take a seat before you.

“I’m sorry for getting angry at you.”

“I was being reckless.” You conceded, and his head tipped to the side, his gaze fixed on his hands as he played with his fingers. 

“You were trying to save lives, you were doing your job, and I got protective. If it had been anyone else, I would have understood that. I shouldn’t have gotten mad, when I was supposed to be doing my job, being a Lieutenant, not something else.” He gave out a sigh, like he was chastising himself, and you didn’t want him to, even if he was right. 

“I’m not used to having people who care about me so much. I should have thought about that.” He dared to glance up, a nervous look in his eyes, and your voice remained low, a hushed whisper for a conversation only to be shared between the two of you. “I don’t mean to shut you out, Thomas. Especially not after the other day.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.” You mumbled, a pink heat spreading across his cheeks. “It’s all just very new to me. I know you must feel like I’m playing hot and cold, and I’m really sorry about that, but I’m trying to work everything out. I’m trying to work out how I feel. I don’t know how to act around you, sometimes.”

A cheeky glance passed over his face with that, and you rolled your eyes at him, biting on the inside of your cheek to contain your smile as he grinned. “Oh, cut it out. I don’t mean you, I mean all of you. I’m not used to having a family, or such close friends. I’ve never belonged anywhere before.”

“You belong here, with us.” He was honest now, and a hand was pushing out across the cushions between you both, and offering, and you rested your hand over the top of his own. “So, not even a little bit of it was about me?”

“You’re insufferable.” He was beaming once again, clearly knowing just which buttons he was pushing, but his thumb lifted up, closing over your own. “Maybe it was a little bit about you. There’s something, I don’t know what it is yet, but it’s there. It’s different.”

“It’s different for me too.” He mumbled, and his fingers parted, letting yours slip between his to weave together, and that cocky smirk became more of a bashful smile. At least you know that while he may make you flustered, you had the same effect on him. That smile was back, the one you rarely ever saw, cute and shy as he looked at you, and you felt warm under his gaze, but you were unable to look away.

It was like a weight had been lifted off of your chest as you confessed it all, a rock you didn’t even know was there, like someone had been pushing down on your lungs and you were finally able to fight them off. His hand lifted, moving over the back of the couch, until his fingers were toying loosely with the ends of your hair, a tied back bunch that was falling loose from the stress of the day, and his fingers inched up towards the bobble. 

He waited, checking it was okay, before pulling it loose, fingers working through your hair as it was eased down and out of the pattern you’d put it in, to fall loose around your face. His fingers skated over your scalp, soothing the ache within, and you let your eyes fall closed as you sank into the touch he gave you. 

“That was your right of passage!” You bounced on the couch as Brenda fell into place beside you, unbalancing you a little, and her arms wrapped around you as she twisted you to face her a little bit more. Thomas’ hand fell away as he chuckled, and you didn’t even need to ask her what she meant, before she was barreling on; “You almost died-”

“Brenda!” You grinned at the loud shout Newt let out, and she shrugged. 

“What? She did! She knows she did, it ain’t a secret!” The blond huffed, and went back to his cooking, and you turned to face her again. “As I was saying, you almost died, and we rescued you. You really are a member of the team, now!”

“She already was, you moron!” 

“Newt! Shut your mouth!” She hissed, and he stuck his tongue out, and you felt the cushions shift again, lifting your mug to your mouth to hide your expression while waiting for the next voice to chime in. 

“It’s true, I wasn’t a part of the team until I almost fell into a mince grinder in a factory four years ago when the bridges gave it.”

“Oh, dude, c’mon. We’re cooking.” Fry huffed, and Minho shrugged. “Alright, well, mine wasn’t as exciting. Just a fire where the doorway collapsed, eight stories up. Brenda drove the truck around to the side and Gally smashed the window out, he made me jump out of it to reach the ladder.”

“I caught you, didn’t I?” Gally was stirring his own tea, before he came to sit in the armchair to the side of you all, and your attention turned to him, waiting for his story. “I got trapped in a crumbling building, debris fell on me. Thomas dug me out.”

You turned to face Thomas, his hand still sitting behind your head stretched out along the couch, tapping at the cushions, and he directed his gaze to you when he realised he had your attention. “What about you?”

“My story?” You nodded, and he swallowed thickly. Everyone else seemed just as caught in curiosity, as though they didn’t know the story, and he seemed lost in his thoughts. “Mine is a little different. It came before the firehouse. I was in a house fire when I was younger, my mom was pretty badly hurt, a lot of trauma, she never fully recovered. Newt lived across the road, we couldn't have been any more than six, but he came over the next day, and asked me if I needed a friend. I don’t think I’d be the same person I am if it wasn’t for him, he’s stuck by my side ever since. Does that count?”

Silence hung over you all, and you turned to face him a little more, his eyes locked on yours, despite everyone else in the room, and you nodded. “It counts.”

“So, you’re telling me that I need to almost die to be a part of this team?” Chuck sounded utterly appalled, and you couldn't hide your laughter, the sound mixed with everyone else's as it echoed around the room, harmonious mixing like wolves howling.

“Well, that and passing your exams, kiddo.” You bit your lip upon speaking the words, and the amusement in the room only continued, the hand from behind your body slipping down to rest over your shoulders, and you leaned into him once again. 

The stories continued being passed around, and there was an overwhelming sense of camaraderie as they all relived the moments that had bonded them so intensely. This was what made them a family, and what made them so important to one another. This was what you’d never had before, you’d never fit into a team like this. Every house was different; dynamics and friendships and interpersonal relationships, but you’d never found your fit before now. 

You wanted to fit in, you had wanted it for so long. Craved family and friends and to know that you had a place, and being here with them felt right, and yet it was like dread was hanging over you, sitting on the throne but having a sword on a fraying rope overhead. You were waiting for the other shoe to drop, for something to go wrong, to prove to you that you weren’t supposed to be here, that your life would be spent as a wanderer, and that this was as close as you would get.

“So, what movie are we watching? It doesn’t look very good.”

“That’s because it’s not an action movie, Minho. They’re all you watch.” Thomas sighed, and you shrugged. 

“I don’t know, Newt chose it.”

“Uh, no, wait a damn minute, missy.” The voice was closer than you expected, and Newt came to round the couch, kicking a foot at Chuck and telling him to move up on the other couch, offering you a bowl of pasta by placing it down on the coffee table before you. The gesture went unspoken but not missed, still trying to help soothe you, as though he knew you even better than he knew himself. “I did not choose the movie, it was just what came on when the television turned on.”

“So I can pick something else?”

“No, Min, you have awful taste in movies.” Your partner scowled, snatching the controller from him, and the group began to bicker, discussing what movie you would all watch, as though you wouldn't likely be interrupted by another call, or the end of your shift. You could always hope to reach the end. 

Lips brushed over your ear, and you paused, breath held as you waited to see what Thomas had to say. “What are you thinking about?”

It was a loaded question, the real meaning hidden between the lines. He wanted to know if you were thinking about him, or more specifically, all of them. It all felt too good to be true, too tempting, like a siren song. 

And yet, as warm honey eyes stared at you expectantly, soft and patient, a plate with a freshly-made snack from someone who loved you sitting on the table and a hot drink that was cooling in your hands, you placed the mug down, knowing that right now, you were willing to take part in the illusion, to put all thoughts aside and just accept what you had right now.

“Nothing. I don’t want to think right now. I just want to be here with you all.” He nodded his head, and you leaned forward to put your drink down on the table with your meal. “With you.”

“Okay, angel.”

The pet name made your stomach do flips, his confirmation having a deeper meaning beyond simply acknowledging your statement. He was accepting your feelings, and accepting that you needed time, but that you were processing how you felt. He was just accepting you for your trying, and giving you the time you needed. He leaned forwards, pressing a kiss to your forehead that made something spark in your guts, an excited anxiety at the gesture. 

He backed away, giving you space, and yet you didn’t want it. Shuffling forwards a little more, his face little up in something indescribable as you rested against him, head settling on his shoulder and an arm wrapping around his waist, and barely a second passed before he was holding you back. You didn't want to talk about it, or put any kind of label on it like ‘cuddling’, which Newt would undoubtedly do the next time he got you alone, because you still didn't know what it meant. All you knew was that right now, you wanted it.

For the first time in what felt like decades, you allowed yourself to be truly vulnerable with the people around you.

[sorry-i-ship-drarry]

23. ten times harry fell for draco- part 2 

(Or ten times Harry fell for Draco but one time he didn't fall out )

Part 1

[i highly insist listening to this while reading to enjoy this rollercoaster ]

Until.. 

Until one day draco returned to his so called flat to find it unlocked. He took out his wand in self defense from whatever he’d face . 

“ who are you and what are you doing in my flat ?” draco asked the man his back facing him, looking over the discrete bookshelf 

“ your flat, mister you must be mistaken, this flat belongs to me “ and he finally turned around to face draco. 

It took draco several moments to pace back into normality before he realised who he was facing “ harry ?” 

The other man analysed draco’s face thoroughly before as if something flashed inside his eyes, the cascade of memories hit him. 

“ draco, its you “ harry gave a small smile in surprise 

“ i-i can’t-” but draco’s throat closed down, he couldn’t form even a single sentence, neither in his head nor his heart willed to respond 

“ its been so long “ harry mumbled as he closed the distance between them but draco immediately held up his hand to make him to stop 

“ how do i know its you ?” he said, wishing whoever it was would reveal themselves and stop playing with draco. He had learnt long ago that harry had left and that he’d never come back but when he have, he doesn’t want to believe. 

“ it is me “ harry shook his head lightly with confusion 

“ if you really are him, tell me something only him and me would know “ draco insisted 

harry scratched the back of his neck nervously before he spoke up “ everyone thinks your favourite colour is green but it’s a specific shade of green that only springs up in malfoy manor in the month of april, the kind of green that is so light yet so dark, the kind of green you’ve never seen anywhere but there “ 

Draco kept staring at harry knowing that it was only harry who knew this because there was never anyone else he could’ve said that to “ it is you “ he softly whispered 

“ told you “ harry grinned smugly. Draco wanted to just run in his arms and tell him how much he had missed him in all this he’d been gone but upon seeing harry there, he felt anger and heartbreak. The pain of seeing him again when he had prepared himself that he’d never see him again, the pain of seeing how much he has changed, the pain in not seeing him with tears like he had seen him last time, the pain for being so angry that he had showed up after so long that draco had almost given up, almost assumed the worst.

“ by the look on your face, you don’t seem so happy to see me “ harry narrowed his eyes, his arms in the air, confused. 

Draco wanted to throw something at harry but a much larger part of him told him being angry at him was useless, he didn’t even seem like the same harry anymore, the innocence harry’s face had one held was lost, the decency in his body was lost, even his words didn’t feel the same way anymore, it was almost as if it wasn’t his harry anymore, but he was .

“ where have you been for the past 7 years ?” draco’s eyes became glossy suddenly, he didn’t understood why but he had swore to himself long ago that harry would never be worth his tears. 

" i- what are you doing in my house ?" Harry questioned back

" answer mine first " Draco stubbornly said dropping thing's he bought over the table in the much seriousness of the conversation.

" if you promise to answer mine ?" Harry asked again raising his eyebrows. Harry had no right to question him this way, he wasn't the one who was missing, nobody gave him the right to be this way yet clenching his jaw Draco nodded, crossing his arms simultaneously.

" i- was on the run. A couple of years in Spain, Portugal, alsacce, and Manhattan.. now you go " Harry answered

Taking a deep breath Draco let go " when you First left, grimauld place still stayed yours until after an year later, it eventually became partially mine. For the longest time I thought you'd come back, when you didn't I kept it to myself and took care of it. There's not a lot of places like these "

The other partial truth was Draco lived here because it reminded him so much of Harry that he wasn't ready to let go. He lived in the house that insulted him as a reward for whatever he had put Harry through long ago but mostly because it felt like home, it felt like harry.

" so- you've been living here for how long ?" Harry asked curiously dragging a chair and settling into it. Draco flared, still not letting go of his anger,be wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

" it's my turn to ask a question " Draco reminded. Lightly smiling Harry told him to ask another question.

" did you ever come to Britain ?" He asked.

Harry's face softened, a moment of pain flashed by in his eyes before like a switch he turned it off " I didn't "

" your turn"

" 6 years "

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise but didn't say anything else.

" why are you back ?" Draco asked without a hesitation. He didn't care if the words seemed straight forward or rude, he didn't care, he didn't care about Harry, but only he did so much.

" I'm tired " Harry sighed

" tired of what? Abandoning people ?" Draco spat slamming his hands over the table.

Harry was taken a back by Draco's sudden Outrage but chose not to act against it, he knew he deserved this " I'm tired of running"

Draco bit his tounge so as not to be outrageous again. Blinking for a moment, he took out juice box from the bag of things he bought and passed one onto Harry.

" your turn " Draco sighed as he pulled a chair too and sat in front of him.

" what's with the new look ?" He asked smirking

But Draco didn't wanted to have a fun conversation, Harry didn't deserve the fun side of Draco anymore, he wouldn't ever deserve it again " you can't stay the same forever. Everyone changes" Draco replied with a straight face.

Raising his eyebrows for a moment Harry sipped the juice in awkwardness " your turn"

Draco thought for a moment before finally asking " are you going to stay ?"

" yes " Harry replied smiling.

__________________

Months had passed since Harry had came back and Draco still refused to give harry the satisfaction to as much as even give him a smile. He told himself often that Harry didn't deserve it but everytime Harry didn't look at him, Draco melted his exterior and gave Harry the smile he had always thought he'd give him if he ever came back.

Harry had became acquainted with everyone once again, started teaching defense against dark arts at Hogwarts, went out on dinner's with people, his life had almost fallen back to normal but it didn't felt the same with Draco not being himself. Everyone told Draco to simply forgive him but he didn't. He told them he didn't deserve his forgiveness. Harry understood the madness but it was causing the same heart wrenching pain Draco had once caused but only this time Harry was stronger than before and didn't let it become a hindrance.

Their questions trivia became a small once in a week tradition, they kept all the questions general, some funny, some related to Harry's past but this one specific night of 4th of October took a turn when Harry had came to the grimauld place late for the trivia night.

" you're late " Draco said without any emotions sitting over the usual chair with the usual drink.

" uh- yeah I was- well out " Harry announced as he took off his shoes and took his usual spot.

" where ?" Draco asked curiously.

" well- I- look draco don't be mad at me but you've been pretty cold to me ever since I came back and I am sure I deserve it but you haven't been quite a pleasant man"

" where are you going with this ?" Draco rolled his eyes

" I've been going out with someone and I was out on a date with him. I didn't wanted to tell you because well you just haven't been quite interested in me like before anymore" Harry replied. Draco chewed the inside of his cheek, took a sip of his drink and began

" I don't see why you couldn't had just told me. I am pretty sure we could've adjusted our much less important plans to some other nights so you could spend time with your- is he your boyfriend now- alright, then your boyfriend " Draco said after recieving a nod from Harry.

" i- it's not like that, I do like these night's Draco, it's just - you're just-"

" pretty rude? Cold? An asshole ? Insolent dick ? Much less Caring? " Draco raised his eyebrows in mockery.

" I didn't-"

" but that's what you think, isn't it Harry ?" Draco asked. Harry sighed before nodding

" but it's Only because you are making yourself this way. I know you Draco and I know this isn't you -"

" well Harry you weren't here for 7 damn Years, I'm not who I used to be anymore. And you don't know me and wanna hear another shocking fact, you're not yourself either " Draco snapped and stormed out of the place.

Harry didn't run after draco, he couldn't even if wanted to because he was right. They weren't the same people they used to be anymore.

And that was the end of their trivia night's. They only remained acquaintances, they only waved each other a small high crossing the halls or only nodded at each other whenever met in some unusual situation, they didn't even get along anymore at any of Hermione's movie nights with everybody else.

It was a similar fine Saturday evening at Hermione's place when Harry had invited his boyfriend, drake.

" you're the man ?" Draco asked as he shook his hand violently.

" uh yeah- Harry's told me a bunch about you" Draco looked at harry who refused to meet his gaze.

Draco gave the man a small smile before leaving his hand and walking away and sitting down next to Ron and started talking about the quidditch match.

Frowning Harry assured drake everything was fine and invited him to simply join for the movie. To say the evening was definitely not pleasant. Draco didn't like drake even a single bit, he ignored him or if he couldn't, he only vaguely answered him. He refused to tell him anything about whatever he did or whatever he was going to do or whatever he is doing. More so often he messed up his name. If all of this was done purposely, Harry didn't know but he sure had enough of Draco.

When everyone departed and walking back homes, Harry quickly got hold of Draco and apparated them back to grimauld place.

" next time, tell someone if you're apparating them or they'll splinch themselves. I'm sure you're aware of the Ill effects of disapparating or you've even forgotten that ?" Draco asked Coldly walking into the living room

" this is enough " Harry snapped

" really? What is ? By the way mind me, why have you apparated us here, I'm sure you must have a boyfriend to look forward to and I have a lonesome home to look forward to" Draco vaguely answered.

" you know what I'm talking about Draco. This is enough. You treating me like shit " Harry almost yelled frustrated

" treating you like shit ? Pardon me but I think my actions are quite valid " Draco furrowed his eyebrows

" what about this is valid ? You had no Right to treat the man I like like shit, he did nothing but to make him like you and all you did was fuck it up for him and it's not even just about him, at first I understood your behaviour but now it's just irritating, the way your are. It's like you're not even the same person anymore " Harry yelled throwing his hand in the air

" well I'm not Harry, I'm not the same person anymore. You don't get to say that however I am is invalid because you Weren't here to see me go through my shit. And me liking drake or not doesn't change anything. I may never like him but he'd still be your boyfriend. My opinion doesn't matter " Draco snapped back

" your opinion doesn't matter ? You're my best friend-"

" was, I'm not you're best friend anymore. I'm nothing to you anymore " Draco yelled back pointing his finger at harry and just then they heard a thunder from outside. The wind outside howled loudly, the open window fluttering loudly. The sky outside turned the beautiful shade of saddening grey. They both looked out for a moment before Harry went and locked the window.

" I don't understand -"

" what don't you understand Harry ? We're not the same people anymore, why is it so hard for you understand ?" Draco snapped again. The lightning broke outside and suddenly it started pouring down.

" what went so wrong that you can't be with the same way you're with everyone else!! I left big deal Draco, you don't see Ron getting all worked up about me leaving and coming back. Sure everyone was mad at me but none like you " harry bellowed

" you- I can't believe you. Ron doesn't get worked up because Hermione told him not to. He wanted to break your fucking face when you came back but you want to know right, you Want to know why it's different for me- well here you go then- it's because you left without so much so a word. A damn bloody note, this fucking letter " Draco angrily yelled, violently taking out his wallet from his back pocket and showing the small parchment.

Harry angrily took the note away from him and read it out loud " you are my yellow, I'm just not yours, so long- you- you're still carrying it " Harry softened up immediately

" yes i carry it everyday and you want to know why because my fucking best friend lied to me, left a fucking note after singing a bloody song about confessing love for me and Never came back. I'm mad at you because you abandoned everything, you Ran away without a fucking goodbye to any of your friends, without a fuckin goodbye to teddy. You know what you're an asshole, that's what you are. I was here all by myself when my life was going shit, when everyone fucking left me because they got busy with their own lives,when the only man I thought I loved didn't love me anymore because he said I was too attached to someone who left me,when my father fucking died, when I was framed for a scandal I didn't commit and was put on parole for 6 weeks, when I needed Someone so desperately, when I needed my best friend so much but he had left, but then you show up here after 7 year assuming that one day I'd forgive you, you're wrong. I won't forgive you because you're a bloody asshole who confessed you had been love with me for so long but left as soon as you made a confession. You didn't care to ask me if I ever felt the same way you, because you're an asshole. I spent years loving you ,I waited everyday by this fucking door hoping one day you'd finally show up but you never did until I lost every hope- I th- thought you were dead " Draco's tears spilled down his face until he choked on his words. He broke down pushing his hair off his face, letting go, breathing harshly to come back to normal breathing, to realise he had actually yelled it all out loud. He had tore down his final wall.

" yo- you have no right " Harry Whispered after a few moments

" what ?" Draco asked confused

" you had no right to love me. You have no right to love me " Harry spoke, his eyebrows etched to the center

" yeah ? Well you didn't had the right to love me either Harry " Draco rolled his eyes

" no, you have no right to love after what you'd done to me. You- you were the reason I ran away from Everyone" Harry raised his voice

" me ? Oh so I was that cruel to you, right ? Because I don't remember you ever confessing to me " Draco narrowed his eyes

" yes you. There was always someone or something kept pushing you away. I spent years loving you and you not once checked, not once cared for me. Do you know what it feels like to see Someone you love get along with Someone. You wouldn't know what it's like to fall so hard for Someone and kiss them one and they push you away. I waited so long for you Draco, you have no right to love me anymore. I did my waiting and I've moved on. I don't care. I couldn't keep falling for someone who got off married to Someone who was exactly like me but not me. I've moved on from you draco and I suggest you do the same. Because I'm not in love with you anymore, I did my loving. I won't love someone who hurt me anymore " Harry snapped letting go of his tears, his face become instantly wet with the confessions he had held on for long so dear to his heart. It was like a weight had been lifted when the rain outside now Poured down more heavily.

" well good for you then Harry, you won't love me anymore because you've moved on. You can love drake I don't care. I can't care. If this is my punishment for not knowing how you felt all those years then be it, I'd rather suffer with it my whole life for treating you the way I did but remember one thing Harry, if you ever marry that man I will never show up because I won't be able to see you getting married off to someone I know isn't me. It's my fault I fell for you, and I'll deal with it. Goodbye " Draco snapped, handing Harry the note and storming out without an umbrella. Harry heard the front door shut angrily and fast heavy stomping outside.

He closed his eyes, sat down at the nearest couch, pinching the bridge of his nose. Frowning he felt his face still wet, he was still crying and he couldn't stop anymore. He wiped it off and off but nothing worked, so he let them fall. He looked at the crumpled note in his hand. He read the note over and over again until a tear dropped on the note. He remembered the days he spent away from him crying for just Draco's mere presence, he remembered all those moment with Draco he missed, he missed the smile on his face, he missed his wet musky cauldron smell, he missed laughing off together nights away, he missed the way things used to be, he missed him. He was here and he missed him. And just like that Harry let his last wall drop and ran outside angrily shutting off the door.

He ran down the street searching for the only man he had ever loved. Running turns after turns Harry saw only one figure walking ahead of him.

" Draco " he yelled

The man turned around and harry ran fast towards him until he was only a few centimetres away.

" what, came here to yell at me again, was that not enough ?" Draco huffed out crying, it was raining down so heavily but harry still knew when Draco cried. He still knew Draco the way he used to, he just needed to find him again.

" you had no right to love me back after all this time. I had moved on from you but you- you big screw up had to ruin it for me " Harry replied water dripping down his face

" so what, you came to tell me this again? Look-"

" no, I came here to do this " Harry said and pulled draco closer to him and pressed his lips against Draco's. Shook for a moment Draco pulled away, searching a look of hesitation from Harry but upon met with none, he kissed him back. Harry wrapped his arms around Draco's waist, finding way inside his jacket. Draco put his hands in Harry's hair and pulled him closer. None of them had ever been kissed like before. Harry poured every ounce of memory, every single time he had fell for Draco, every single time he saw him smile, every single time when time stopped around them just so he could look at draco, every single time he wanted to kiss Draco into that one deep kiss. All those years of waiting met with a charming, magical kiss in the rain.

" fuck, I missed you " Draco Whispered against Harry's lips.

" I'm sorry " harry cried, instantly hugging Draco.

" I'm sorry too " Draco sniffed hugging Harry back.

" I missed you so much Draco " Harry confessed. He pulled away to get one final look at Draco and smiled and finally received that one smile Harry had waited months for seeing.

" Draco, I fell in love with you when we were kids and I've never fell out of it. I don't think I want to " Harry confessed.

Draco smiled " I've loved you in my memories Harry. I've loved you for 7 years and I want to love you for so much longer "

Harry nodded, smiling and kissed Draco once again. The wind howling had slowed down and the rain had finally turned into a slow romantic pace as if the universe had finally looked down upon them and was finally happy. The universe was probably so Happy that in coming April the green grass had came earlier and Lasted longer because it knew that green was Draco's favourite, it was the colour of Harry's eyes and his eyes were like coming home, finally at last.

23. part 1

Requests open

This if for @drarry-is-my-therapy @sombrewoodlandfairy for requesting a part 2 and all other notes for making me do this.

Day 22- I'm yours | day 24- concealment charms

[whitetrashjj]

crying my eyes out at your MLA format essays cuz not every queer storyline in media has to be rooted in angst of coming out. i get some of the points you’re trying to make. i also don’t think the show is queerbaiting but jjpope had just as much “evidence” as jiara had. like please explain why jj was so keen on kiara liking john b just cuz she kissed him on the cheek and then went and kissed pope’s cheek?…. like in jj’s mind a cheek kiss means liking someone and he did that to pope. also there ARE shots of jj’s lingering gaze towards pope lets us not lie here lmao. i get that you’re sick of people calling u homophobic i dont think u are for not shipping jjpope i also dont think the show is queerbaiting at all but you go on about “storytelling povs” and “lack of critical thinking” when YOUR critical thinking is literally biased as hell 😭 u can ship jiara all u want but jj and kiara, ESPECIALLY KIARA, are both very much queer coded and if u gonna say they’re not bc of some cheesy sTorYtELLiNg bullshit that u probably learned from a youtube video then you’re just biased to your ship.

You know why I have to write those 'essays'? Cause I get asks like this that brush over a bunch of different topics and I want to make sure I not only address every part of it but also make sure I'm making my pov very clear so I don't have people misinterpreting what I say - even though they still do - or accuse me about random bitching without and reasons or justification. Anyway get ready to do some crying cause you are getting another essay.

I know not every queer storyline has to be rooted in the angst of coming out. I wish there were more that weren't. It's the reason I loved booksmart so much. It's one of the reasons I love Dare Me, because that show had sapphic leads and while their relationship was at the core of the show. It wasn't the fact that they were queer that was focused on. Oh god I could rant about Dare Me forever.

Now my point with JJ and Pope is that we don't get the impression that the boys are currently out as queer. JJ from the start was set up as a bit of a womaniser, a bit girl mad - it would have been very easy to make that gender neutral if he was bi, as I headcanon. With Pope it's the same, I personally view him as gay, but if he was bi/pan it would have been easy to show him like that as we see him attempting to flirt on two occasions. Now this isn't to say that in future seasons they can switch it up as if it was always canon, like they did with Clarke in the 100. My point however, isn't to say that JJ and Pope releasing their sexualities and feelings has to be filled with angst, the example I gave can very easily be played a bit cutely - even if they do address the internalised homophobia that I'm just sure would effect a character like JJ - but just that based on my experiences as a queer person and what I know to be experiences of others that it would realistically play out differently to how it would with a m/f couple. Even then when to comes to friends to lovers in general the removal of physical intimacy when that tension starts to build out of awkwardness is common, it doesn’t play out the same way that ships like JB and Sarah do in which they increase in physical intimacy. 

I didn't bring jiara into this. I didn't go out comparing jjpope and their interactions to jiara, I was simply speaking to how jjpope's relationship was portrayed. In terms of 'evidence' I am more than aware the jiara wasn't written to be a developing romance, anything there was created by what the fans saw and choices made by the editors. But it is also a canon fact that at the very least JJ is attracted to Kie, that all the pogues 'kinda have a thing for her' and that he has 'tried' something with her. Even if the intention of those things wasn't to build to a relationship - they did happen and that's not up for interpretation. I'm not gonna bring up the 'did you tell JJ?' thing cause it still confuses the hell out of me.

The thing with the cheek kisses is that it's not the action in itself that made it a romantic thing. A handshake can build romantic tension when framed that way but that doesn't make every hand shake in that piece of media suddenly romantic, make sense? If you compare the two scenes we have the build up of Kie walking up to John B, a close up of a lingering cheek kiss, the pull back with lingering looks and then the reactions of others who have observed it and picked up on something. It frames it as a significant moment with slow beats. That's how you build romantic tension. With the JJPope one it just flows past it, JJ pulls back from the hug, a quick peck on the check and a 'love you too man' with a smirk and pat on the check. We don't even have a second of Pope's reaction to it. Do you see what I mean?

You can love that moment as a shipper. I mean it's a great moment that really highlights their dynamic. To you it's a dynamic that you see and think oh this would play out so well romanticly, it's a dynamic I see and think oh I love their friendship. Each of those are valid reactions. But it isn't a moment that has been intentionally framed to build romantic tension and suggest a budding relationship.

Darl, I swear to god if I was coming to you with my shipping bias' this would be a very different conversation. I know I will always have them and I will lean into them when I'm on vc with shes, theys and gays and we are getting lost in headcanons but I do my best take a step back when I talk about these things here because I've been in fandoms when you have two extremes and no one relents and it's awful, I don't want to create that space. And once again, I did not bring jiara into this. My original post was not a comparison to jiara.

I am very curious about your perspective on queer coding here. Because yes, JJ has chaotic bi energy and I will die on this hill. But I do not see how he has been queer coded. Other than people seeing a man being physically affectionate with another men and insist that can't be platonic. As with Kie I can see it more, not for a second do I believe that what went on with Kie and Sarah was straight. And I desperately want to see Maddie play Kie as pan to rep her own very underrepresented sexuality! And in terms of how she's written, stuff like being an astrology bitch and environmentalist scream queer to us, I do think it is important to note that the writers of the show being who they are would necessarily have the same impression of what a queer womans traits would be. In regards to that scene in ep 1 where they have the hot touron girl and then JJ, JB and Kie all perking up and doing the nod thing? I don't think anyone has a straight explanation for that.

The 'sTorYtELLiNg bullshit that u probably learned from a youtube video' comment made me laugh cause it reminds me of this guy I had a fight with on the weekend over Remus and Sirius being queer and he decided to undermine my argument by saying 'just because you read it on reddit doesn't make it true' which... yike. Any way, maybe you do but I don't have the tolerance to sit down and watch a youtube video on someone analysing a show. All my interpretations come from years of writing actual essays analysing elements and themes in media. As well as having a keen interest in direction and editing, so I pay a lot of attention to those things and you start to notice patterns. In terms of credentials I don't have any but I do think these 'essays' do an alright job of me not only explaining my interpretation but why. Because I'm not someone to just say things and expect that to just be accepted or think that is makes it true.

[oh-my-may]

Sugar, spice and everything nice ✵ Osamu Miya x reader

making christmas cookies with Osamu! ft. an Atsumu appearance at the end!

pairing: Miya Osamu x gender neutral reader

warnings: very mild swearing? (also this was not proof read so forgive any mistake you might come across)

genre: fluffy fluff

word count: 2.7k

Day 1 of my december/christmas event! I won’t be posting the works in chronological order/ the way they are on the list and rather in the order I like best. Decided to post this one first because I recently also made cookies and it really got me in the christmas mood :) Have fun!

Also sorry that this was not posted on the 1st as I was planning on, but I was really struggling with uni and time management lately, but I wrote this on one afternoon and I am kinda proud!

Your eyes slowly traced over the scenery in front of you: baking ingredients neatly plastered all over the counter, the packages even sorted from biggest to smallest, starting with the flour and ending with eggs. In front there stood a bunch of bowls, all of the same kind and just in different sizes, all of them stacked together. The work space of the kitchen had been cleaned and the light bouncing of the counter almost blinded you if you looked at it for too long. And of course, in front of all the counters, dressed in a candy cane coloured apron and messy hair stood Osamu, who was going over all the ingredients for what felt like the fifth time, making sure nothing was missing. Every now and then he looked up to give you a small smile before he returned to the task at hand.

After a few minutes you had enough and sighed dramatically, leaning over the counter as you stood opposite of him. “Samu, do you really think this is the way to do this?” The man in question looked up at you in confusion, the expression and widened eyes suddenly making him look several years younger. “Why would it not be? I’m just making sure everything is in order.” You bit your lip as a smile made its way to your lips. You finally moved and made your way around the counter, your fingers brushing along the border of the kitchen counter. “Look, I don’t know about you, but to me making Christmas cookies was always more of a messy experience, which in no way is to be seen as negative.” You slowly took his hands, which still hovered over the ingredients, and pulled him closer to you. “What I really like about you is that compared to your brother you like things neatly organized and ordered, but maybe put that aside for today, mh? For me.” He analysed your face critically for just a split second before he sighed and looked away. The way you looked up at him with your big eyes have always had a strong effect on him. “Alright”, he sighed and raised one of his hands to brush over your hair. “Then you’re the boss for today.”

You face brightened up immediately and you clapped your hands in an excited manner as you moved past him to play some festive music and he could only watch in delight, seeing as this made you so happy. He helped you put on an apron and then obliged to your commands as you researched your favourite recipes and slowly got to work.

Frankly, his preparations made the whole process a lot easier and faster in the beginning, as you just had to mix all the ingredients together. Everything was still in order and neatly organized during the first round, you had big fun rolling out the dough and deciding which shapes to cut out of the dough in front of you. You two bickered over the decisions, Osamu insisting on making the cookies look “elegant” with a bunch of fancy decorations like almonds, walnuts, even pistachios and expensive chocolate. You smiled at him as he explained his ideas but then slowly put your hands on his broad shoulders and got on your tip toes, before leaning in and cutting his words off with a soft kiss. You felt Osamu tense up and relax under your grip as his hands followed your hands from his shoulders down your extended arms to your waist, pulling you closer. But you leaned away too soon, tipping the tip of your finger against his lower lip. “You could have just told me to shut up, y’know” he mumbled and you grinned, shaking your head. “We both know that that is not the truth, ‘Samu.” Osamu looked not especially pleased as you clearly compared him to his brother, as they were both the same when it came to this. You giggled and turned away, trying to slip out of his grip. When he didn’t let you, you pouted and reached for the first thing near you – which, unfortunately, was the package of flour. You took a hand full of the white substance and threw it right at him in defence, not thinking twice. Poor Osamu got blinded by the white mist and struggled to breath for a few moments, coughing in some of the powder. “Oh my god” was the only expression the could leave your lips repeatedly as you took in the scene and watched your boyfriend struggle and dance around weirdly in an attempt to get rid of the haze in the air, waddling his arms around. You really wanted to help but all you could do was laugh more intensely with every second that passed.

Eventually, the flour disappeared and all that was left of it was a small film of it on the kitchen counter and the floor. And, of course, Osamu as well. His silver hair was now coated in white chunks of flour and you could see some smudges of it on his face and apron. He considered you throroughly for a while, his eyes scanning your figure from top to bottom, before he also grabbed the flour and you gasped, putting your hands up in defence. “WAIT! PEACE! I want peace! I’m sorry!”

Osamu stopped in his tracks, watched you for another five seconds and then sighed and slapped the flour on the counter. “Fine, then. We should continue on with the cookie baking or we won’t be finished until tomorrow morning. But this isn’t forgotten. I will take my revenge.” You nodded, trying to take his words seriously, but you couldn’t help but let a few wheezes escape your mouth in the process. “You’re right, we should continue.” You got closer to him again only hesitantly, until he took your wrist and pulled you next to him with an annoyed look, but you knew better. Just as much as you, he enjoyed these little games and playful times in your relationship and you smiled at him as you both resumed work on the cookies.

This time however, after the first trays landed in the oven, the dough preparation was messier, as you needed to focus on many things at once. Making sure you got the measurements right, cleaning up the used bowls and other materials and checking on the cookies in the oven. You got a bit more experimental with the cookies this time, adding more spices or other ingredients to create new textures for the dough. You didn’t speak much this time around, rather you enjoyed each other’s company, the festive smell lingering in the room with you and the bright melodies echoing from the walls, finding their way right into your souls. Sometimes Osamu would playfully bump into you as you were cutting out the cookies, and when you looked at him he had already gotten back to work, yet there was a mischievous smile lingering on his lips.

When you were finished cutting out the cookies, you were ready to put in the remaining trays into the oven, but Osamu halted you, putting another figure made up of dough on the tray you were holding. “What’s that?” “A cookie.” “It has a weird shape.” “It’s not finished just yet. Stop judging my work now and focus on not burning your fingers babe.” You rolled your eyes but took his comment with a smile, considering his thoughtful figure scanning the recipes after you were done with your task. There was still flour on his features, but for whatever reason it made him even more charming, as the soft yellow and red lightning from the Christmas decorations illuminated him. Some of the lights were reflected in his dark grey eyes, making it seem like there were tiny stars dancing in them. He looked up suddenly when he noticed your figure not moving, a questioning look in his eyes. But they grew a lot softer and formed into a smile when he took in your features and walked up to you, lacing both of his big hands on either side of your face, squishing the soft skin of your cheeks. “You’re so adorable, sweetheart.” He cooed and moved his nose against yours. Your breath hitched as you finally realized what he had meant. Even though it was already warm in the room, you had still managed to blush wildly at the sight of your boyfriend, your face heating up unnaturally in the process. A chaste kiss is left on the tip of your nose, before Osamu takes his hands off your face and places them on yours instead, intertwining your fingers. “Let’s wait until the last cookies are finished, yes?” He mumbles just above your ear, warm breath brushing along your hair, causing your to shiver. A consenting hum left your vocal folds as you leaned into his large figure, his heartbeat right under your ear beating at a slow and steady rhythm. Before you knew it your bodies were moving slowly, feet brushing over the tiles on the floor along to the soft beat of Cold December Night now flowing through the speakers. There was something incredibly reassuring about the weight of his head on top of yours, his cheek brushing over your hair and his hands on your waist and back trailing nonsense patterns on the fabric of your sweater and yet you felt it right through your skin. During the last chorus of the song your felt Osamus hand wander up from your waist, along your neck to your face, his fingers holding up your face to him, his thumb trailing over your bottom lip before pulling you in for a kiss, starting up slow but slowly pressing you towards the counter, your hips pushing against the edge of it. Your hearts beat sped up with every time Osamus lips captured yours, every single time a bit more passionate than the last. You tasted the sweetness of his mouth, asserting that you certainly where not the only one to try some bits of the raw dough, smiling at this realization. But then something cold and weird hit your face, something with a structure you couldn’t determine right away. Your eyes suddenly opened in shock, staring at your grinning boyfriends face through a soft haze of white. It took you a whole second to realize what had just happened “SAMU!” you screamed in horror, his unstoppable laughter ringing in your ears. You sighed in frustration and angrily moved your hands to your face to brush away the chunks of flour that surely found its place on your cheeks and even forehead. Osamu took a second to look at you, before he returned to laughing wildly. You blew away some hair that was messily hanging in your face, letting the situation wash over you and watching as your boyfriend enjoyed his victory. You couldn’t really be mad at him, you had it coming after that situation earlier today. So there was nothing left to do for you other than sit it out.

After Osamu had finally calmed down, he got closer to you again, his hand hovering over your head. “You look like a vampire, sweetheart.” You just glared at him and he chuckled, sighing. “Alright Dracula, the cookies should be done soon, come on.” He dragged you to the oven, where you prepared the different chocolates to dip in and decorate the cookies with, as well as all the sprinkles and icing. When everything was done, you hurriedly decorated all the baked goods. Trying to make special patterns on the cookies turned out to be a lot harder than you both thought and sure enough one time Osamu got distracted and upset, so he just pressed his in chocolate covered finger to your nose, but you ducked away the second he tried to lick it off. “That’s nasty, keep that kinda behaviour out of the kitchen, Miya.” “But you liked it just a few minutes ago.” He whispered sheepishly and grinned, earning an elbow hit from you. You will sure as hell not sacrifice hundreds of cookies for his horniness, that was for sure. After several such attempts and only two clap backs from your side, he finally gave up and resumed to decorating the cookies. He even got every much into it, which surprised you somehow. He kept on giggling to himself, but he wouldn’t let you see what he was doing. “Not until it’s finished and dried!” he insisted, so you went back to decorating the rest of the cookies.

When you were finished with all the cookies, the first ones you had worked on had already dried and you tried to steal looks at Osamus work. “What were you giggling about earlier, huh? What’s so funny about decorating cookies?” He looked at you almost a bit offended. “Isn’t Christmas supposed to be a holly jolly time? Am I not allowed to be happy and smile?” You sighed and playfully smacked his arm, but he turned away before you could do it a second time. “Fine, take a look. I really tried my best… With some.” He added the last part in a quieter but amused tone as you considered his cookies. You finally recognized the shapes, he had taken many of the human/ man formed cookies to decorate. Grunts escaped your lips as you looked at what could only resemble Osamus team mates, considering the colour of their clothes and hair. Everything else somehow… Didn’t look as recognizable. “What happened to their faces.” “I lived out my inner fantasy – punching a volleyball in everyone’s face. This is what I imagine it to look like.” You couldn’t hold the laughter anymore as your eyes kept on flying over the tray and got stuck on a collection of cookies that all portrayed the same person. “Is that your brother?” you laugh loudly, looking at all the cursed faces on the cookies. Osamu nodded proudly. “Looking as good as never before.”

After your laughter has faded out into a long sigh, your eyes landed on the last cookie that Osamu made, considering it carefully. “Is that-“ “That’s us, babe.” Osamu states proudly and lifts the cookie up so you can look at it better. “I hope I don’t offend you with this, but it’s just really hard capturing your real beauty on a damn cookie. You look nowhere near as bad as your dough twin-“ You cut him off with a quick kiss. “Shut up, it’s perfect. I wouldn’t have been able to do any better.” You giggle against his lips before he pulls you in for another kiss like the one before, this time you could just hope he didn’t have any ulterior motive of pressing baking ingredients in your face. But of course this time you were interrupted as well.

“Eww, don’t you two know that the kitchen is a commonly used space in this house? Would you please mind NOT spreading your hormones across every surface in this damn house?” Atsumu enters the house in that exact moment, the sight in front of him not exactly being the first thing he expected OR wanted to see. When you both turn to look at him he drops his bag, his expression changing to something between confusion and disgust. “What the hell happened with you? Are you not supposed to cover the cookies with chocolate and not other people?” When neither of you answer he just grunts and sloppily moves past you to investigate the products of your work. Osamu rolls his eyes at his twin and you grin, the anticipation building up. You could only imagine what Atsumu’s reaction to his cookie-selfs would be like, but the reality was so much better.

“YA! SAMU! What the hell is this? Ya think this is funny or what?” Atsumus angrily picks up one cookie of himself and points it at his brother like someone would with a sword, however it was not frightening at all. Osamu turns quickly to wink at you, before he answers his brother “I don’t know what your problem is, this looks better than you ever have or will.”

~ Cue them bickering and fighting in the kitchen and you kinda have to intervene before someone gets hurt because this is a KITCHEN and you don’t want to imagine what this could end like with all the knives around and such~

THE END

[igirisuhito]

Title: Blue Ram Relationship(s): Komaeda Nagito/Hinata Hajime Rating: Explicit Summary: Hinata thinks he has his sexuality all figured out. Until one day a pretty woman comes to his workplace in the dead of night. Posted for Day 1 of @tropicaldespair‘s #SDR2Giftober Trigger Warnings: Cross-dressing, Semi-public sex, Powerplay, Sexual frustration, Rough sex, Perving a stranger, I’m sorry all the triggery things are horny

[Ao3 Link]

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Hinata Hajime was a regular teenage boy.

He has high grades and attends an elite school, sure. But like most teenage boys, his spare time was spent playing video games, working his part time job, or jacking off to hot girls on the internet.

As vanilla as a teenage boy could get.

Hinata works as a cashier at a convenience store a block from his house. It's your average suburban Japanese 7/11, an average teenage boy's job.

He works this job most nights, and usually does a longer shift on Sundays. In all honesty, he probably works a bit too much, but tuition for Hope’s Peak Academy is incredibly expensive. He had been enough of a burden to his parents for all these years. Besides, here he can continue to fuel his addiction to cup ramen and kusamochi for a conveniently cheaper price.

And that's exactly what he was doing on this humid Saturday night. The rainy season was finally here, and the warmth was making Hinata's work shirt stick to his skin uncomfortably. The air conditioner in the break room wasn't strong enough to combat heat like this.

It had been a quiet night, likely due to the sheer amount of rain pouring down outside. Hinata was the only one on shift, and even he had resorted to hiding in the break room to read manga. It was difficult to focus due to the loud pelting of the rain on the roof and the dizzying humidity hanging in the air.

Hinata yawned, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes that were lazily wiped away. It wasn't unusual for him to work a late six-to-two shift on a Saturday, but end of term exams had been knocking him around quite a bit. The struggle of juggling both studying and work has been causing him to become more tired than usual.

A loud electronic bell and the sound of the automatic doors sliding open broke him from his daze. Placing his manga face down on the table, Hinata stood up from his chair and made his way out of the break room before sliding into his place behind the counter.

Clearing his throat quietly, he put on his best customer service voice. "Good evening! Is there anything I can help you with?"

He glanced towards the door, seeking out the person who was dumb enough to go shopping at 12am in the pouring rain. He was met with a pair of grey eyes boring a hole into him, analysing intensely for any sort of reaction. Hinata's breath caught in his throat.

Standing near the door was a young woman, quite tall for a girl. Her white hair was pulled back into a small ponytail, still dripping with water from the rain. Dark mascara was thickly applied to her long eyelashes, so long he actually assumed they were fake at first glance. Red lipstick had been painted onto her small yet pointed lips and eye shadow of a similar colour was dusted on her eyelids. The bold colours of her makeup contrasted gorgeously against her pale skin. It was surprising that it hadn't washed off in the rain.

A tight black dress with thick straps clung to her body, fabric hugging at her hips and chest in a way that revealed she was lacking in the latter department. Sheer black stockings stretched over her skinny legs, ending in tall red high stilettos that could probably be used to kill a man if she so desired.

Hinata felt dizzy, blood rushing to his face as he brought his gaze back up to where the attractive woman's own was waiting.

"Ah… No… I'm quite alright…" The girl averted her eyes from his. "Thank you."

Her voice was surprisingly deep and sultry, it made her all the more attractive. Though she seemed somewhat shaken, perhaps even nervous?

The lady slowly made her way over to the snacks section, her heels clacking loudly against the floor with every step. Hinata watched closely, entranced by the gorgeous woman he probably had no right to be staring at as hard as he was.

She bent down to pick up a pack of salted pretzel sticks and Hinata just couldn't resist the urge to sneak a peek. He had always been more of an ass kind of guy anyway.

During his ogling, he couldn't help noticing a few small tears in her stockings, just below where her dress ended. His mind quickly became overcome with a dirty thought so jarring that it made him realize just how perverted he was being. For his own moral's sake, he forced his eyes away into another aisle, hoping she hadn't somehow been able to feel his stare.

She straightened herself up again and grabbed a cold can of Blue Ram from the fridge nearby before heading to the counter where Hinata waited. He avoided her eyes as he scanned her items.

"T-That comes to a total of 500 yen." He mumbled, finding himself blushing madly now that she was so close, enough so to smell the flowery perfume wafting off of her. Get a grip, Hajime!  

The lady smiled and patted her hands on her hips performatively. "O-Oh dear… it seems I've forgotten my purse!"

What? Are you serious? As if I'm going to fall for that.  

Scoffing silently, Hinata stared down at his shiny black work shoes.

"P-Please don't worry about the cost, m-ma'am." He stammered out.

WHAT?! Stop thinking with your dick! That's your goddamn allowance!!

A toothed grin crawled up on the woman's face as she towered over the other boy, suddenly gaining an air of confidence. "Aren't you a sweetheart! Thank you very much-" She glanced down at his nametag, " Hinata-kun. "

She picked up her items before leaving the store, making her way back out into the pouring rain. She left Hinata red faced and humiliated, wondering if he would ever see her again, hear his name on her lips…

He shook his head, snapping out of his daze. Why did he let that happen? That woman knew exactly what she was doing. It wasn't even like she was a smooth older woman either, she was pretty young! And he just let her walk all over him in those fancy high heels.

He grumbled as he pulled his wallet from his back pocket, adding the missing cost to the till. Now he not only had a hard-on but he was out of pocket 500 yen as well.

With a loud sigh, Hinata made his way to the back room, determined to do something about his newfound problem.

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Hinata found himself still thinking about that mesmerising bitch of a woman 3 days later during a quiet afternoon shift. The rainy weather had eased off for the day, the sweltering sun shining through the poorly cleaned windows. Studying in the barely air-conditioned Reserve Course building all day had already left him in a particularly crabby mood. It seems he can't escape the heat anywhere.  

He truly envied the Main Course students for a lot of things. Their talent, their privilege, their dormitories, their stupid uniforms, their obnoxious laughter as they ate. He especially hated the way they tried to steal stuff from the store despite the fact they could absolutely afford it and then proceeding to complain to the school and get him in trouble with his boss purely for doing his fucking job.

Hinata really did not like the Main Course students.

Which is why his mood grew even more sour now that there were a bunch of them eating here today. Another cackle echoed through the store, causing Hinata's shoulders to tense up in frustration.

The obnoxious laugh seemed to come from this boy with neon pink hair who was sporting an ugly blue jumpsuit. He slurped his soba loudly as he chatted amongst the other two students beside him. They consisted of a boy and a girl, both clothed in the Main Course's rich brown uniform.

The girl had long blonde hair that cascaded elegantly down her back, she didn't seem like she was Japanese, though. Perhaps an international exchange student? And the boy had dark hair styled in a flashy unusual manner paired with mismatched eyes. If his goal was to make people look at him funny, he was definitely succeeding.  

Hinata leaned onto the counter with a sigh, resting his head upon his elbows. His shift had just barely started yet he was already so, so bored. His coworker was hiding out in the back doing god knows what, leaving most of the grunt work to Hinata yet again . Jeez, and the guy wonders why he never bothered to remember his name.

The warm weather pulled at Hinata's consciousness, causing his eyelids to droop shut as he receded into his thoughts. He’d been conjuring up an elaborate fantasy that he found himself regularly indulging in the last few days whenever he had the time to.

It would go down on another rainy evening, the lady would come in wearing white shirt, so completely soaked that Hinata could see the lacy black brassiere underneath.  

There would be tears running down her face, smearing her makeup in a way that she still remained beautiful. She had just been dumped by her boyfriend, all alone and out in the rain, just seeking someone to care for her, to listen to her woes. Hinata would listen, take care of her, maybe wrap her up in a towel and sit her down in the back room.

She would confess that she felt feelings for him when he paid for her food, that he supported her in a time of need. She would thank him over and over again, offering to make up for it with her body. Hinata would politely decline, but she would insist, already unbuttoning her shirt.  

He would take her there, bend her over the table and make her feel pleasure like she never had before. He’d thrust so deeply that she would be crying, cumming over and over again from his well-sized cock. He would grab that little ponytail of hers and pull her face up, kissing her so passionately that he smeared lipstick across his own lips.

And finally he would cum deep inside of her (she would be using birth control, of course, Hinata isn’t ready for kids).

Afterwards, he’d call her a taxi, and she would leave her number, thanking him for the best night of her life. Perhaps she would come back, and they would fuck again and again.

The electronic bell dinged, tearing Hinata away from his sweet, sweet fantasy. The automatic doors opened and in stepped another student donning a Main Course uniform and a face mask.

Hinata rolled his eyes. "Welcome! Can I be of any ser-"

"KOMAEDA?!"

He found himself cut off by a loud screech from the pink haired student. Said student jumped up out of his seat and backed off. "Wh-why are you here! Since when did you come here?"

The dark haired one spoke. "Souda, you behave as if you have just witnessed an apparition. Does Komaeda truly strike such fear into your heart?"

"Of course he does! Nothing good ever happens when he's around! I always end up getting hurt!" The pink haired boy, who Hinata presumed to be named 'Souda', protested loudly.

The blonde girl stood up, slamming her palms on the table. "Souda! That is no way to treat your fellow classmates!"

"A-Ah, you're right… sorry, Miss Sonia…."

The student who had just entered the store laughed in a way that was honestly kind of creepy. It was just way too breathy, too pained.

"No, it's completely understandable! I'm sorry that somebody as terrible as myself has caused made you worry for your safety..."

What was that kid's name, Komaeda?

"I'll make this brief, I only came to get a drink." Eyes crinkling from what Hinata presumed to be a smile, Komaeda proceeded to walk away from the group of students.

The blonde girl, Sonia, if he wasn’t mistaken, gave Souda a glare before hopping out of her seat with an elegant swish of her skirt. She wandered over to where Komaeda stood near the drink fridges, her gait rather sophisticated and regal.

"Komaeda, I noticed you're wearing a face mask today, did you catch a cold?" Sonia asked the other, attempting to strike up conversation, probably out of pity.

The boy reached into the fridge, grabbing a can of drink. "Ah, yes. I was only in the rain for a short while, but this awful luck of mine found a way to get me sick." He finished his sentence with a soft laugh.

"Oh, that's unfortunate! I really hope you get better soon!" Sonia gave him a sad little smile overflowing with sympathy.

Komaeda paused for a second, blinking a few times before tilting his head to the side and looking towards her. "Sonia-san, I'm incredibly grateful, but you shouldn't waste your hope on scum like me."

What the fuck? Who talks like that?

The Main Course boy made his way towards Hinata, placing a can of Blue Ram on the counter. With Hinata's somewhat icy glare, he found himself hoping that his customer service smile was enough to mask the hate emanating from his soul.

Now that he was close, Hinata got a much better look at Komaeda's features. He had messy white hair and sharp grey eyes, standing stark against pale skin.

Wait.

It seemed Komaeda realised it too. He had a frightened look in his eyes, as if he were a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.

"You…"

Gritting his teeth harshly, Hinata closed his hands into fists before swinging one of his arms forward, pointing an accusatory finger at the boy.

"You took my fucking money!!"

Panic set in on Komaeda's face, and hearing Hinata yell was enough to force his primal instincts to kick in. He broke into a full sprint out of the store, knocking down a shelf in the process. This shelf just so happened to come down on Souda, who screamed out in pain as the metal pinned him beneath.

Hinata slid across the counter and took chase, abandoning the store and the mess in his haste. Never in his life had he been this angry about 500 yen. Well, it wasn't really about the money, it was about the fact he'd rubbed one out to a man dressed as a woman, that he had been fantasising about a man dressed as a woman. His pride as a teenage boy had been destroyed in one swift moment.

Fancy dress shoes clacked against the pavement as Komaeda ran down the street, desperate to get away from the angry store clerk mere metres behind him. His stamina was incredibly poor. Hinata's wasn't great, but at least he was forced to participate in PE and maintain his health.

Hinata noticed Komaeda was beginning to slow down and the gap between them shortened. Outstretching an arm, he reached for the back of the boy's jacket, fingers barely brushing the material the first go. With a rush of determination he reached out again, this time getting a solid grip, yanking the boy to him.

He clearly hadn't considered what pulling 65 kilograms towards yourself whilst you're still moving would do, because the next thing Hinata knew he was colliding with the Main Course student and falling forward into the pavement. He hissed as gravel dug into his skin, scraping up his hands and elbows as he landed on top of the other student.  

Hinata grabbed the other boy by his hips, flipping them over and straddling his body to prevent any chance of escape. He glared into Komaeda's narrowed eyes, both boys panting heavily in an attempt to catch their breaths.

"You... hah… owe me…" Hinata barely got the words out.

"I… ah…. haha…. I don't…. know you…" As Komaeda wheezed, he tilted his head back to rest against the pavement.

In an attempt to calm his racing heart, Hinata took a big breath of air before exhaling shakily.

"You… you played that sick prank on me… and then you took my money… and now you have the audacity to say you don't know me?!"

"You… you're the one who gave it to me…" Komaeda shot back, a smirk growing on his face.

It seemed Komaeda's mask had been ripped off in the fall, now loosely hanging from one of his ears. His nose was beginning to bleed, crimson liquid dribbling over his dry lips and teeth. His forehead had been grazed as well, Komaeda really had taken quite the tumble.

Suddenly he pushed Hinata hard in the chest, forcing him off his body. An aggressive cough racked Komaeda's lungs, forcing him to sit up as he choked.

"H-hey… are you okay?" Hinata sat back on his knees, feeling a pang of guilt upon seeing the state of Komaeda's physical condition. Had he really just chased down a sick kid?

Komaeda laughed, an incredulous expression painted on his face as he pulled the remaining loop of the mask off his ear. "Don't get all soft on me now, Hinata-kun. I don't need lowly Reserve Course students worrying about my health."

With his patience instantly running out, Hinata was left fuming. Why on earth did he even ask if that guy was okay?! He was clearly just another stuck up rich prick from the Main Course.

Rising to his feet, Hinata wiped some of the dirt off his hands, wincing at the open wounds that had been left from sharp gravel tearing through his skin.

"If I get fired it's your fault!" He spat back, unable to think of anything else to say to save his dignity at this point.

Clenching his hands into fists, Hinata turned away from Komaeda, who was still sprawled out on the pavement. He began his walk back to the convenience store, a little anxious about his employment situation.

Why would a guy even dress up as a chick? Was he getting off on it? Hinata wondered as he walked.

Was Komaeda gay?

Wait, why did the sexuality of a Main Course student even matter to him?

Was… he gay?

Even after finding out that beautiful woman was a man, he still felt so incredibly attracted to him. That flushed out face and those reddened lips had him having physical reactions that he really shouldn't be having.

Hinata buried his face in his grazed palms. This was way too much to process in one day. He paused and took a deep breath, regaining his composure before stepping back into the store.

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After Hinata returned he lied to his coworker, saying Komaeda had been stealing, which was why he left the store so suddenly. Surprisingly enough, Komaeda's Main Course buddies backed up that refute, claiming, "Trouble just follows that guy everywhere." Hinata almost felt bad for him for a second, until he realised it was himself who had to clean up the knocked over shelf.

He didn't see Komaeda again after that.

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Exams were finally over and Hinata now had a chance to relax. He took the late evening Saturday shift to make up for all the shifts he didn't work after the incident, partially due to exams, partially due to fear of running into that Main Course student again. So even if Komaeda had been by, he wouldn't have known about it.

It made the week incredibly boring and frustrating. For some twisted reason, he wanted to see that boy again. He wanted to cuss him out and punch him, show him how useless that Super High School Level title really was against his fists and prove his own worth.

Though, of course, he would be kicked out of Hope's Peak faster than he could agree to the Hope Cultivation Project.

Leaning his elbows onto the counter, Hinata let out a loud sigh at the realisation that Komaeda wasn't the only thing he had to worry about. If he agreed to the project, he could probably quit working. But that would most likely mean he'd never have the chance to see that boy again. Though, it's not like he'd have the balls to approach him on campus anyways.

But if he was talented, he wouldn't have to worry about that kind of thing, right?

Hinata shook the thought from his head, this really wasn't what he wanted to preoccupy his mind with right now.

Perhaps now would be a good time to check if anything needed restocking. Not a lot of people tend to come by after 10pm, which made working these shifts so easy. Though, you were more likely to encounter drunks and unfavourable people. Not to mention the beating Hinata's sleep schedule took if he ever took one on a weeknight.

He yawned and straightened himself up, beginning to peruse the shelves. Usually he left this kind of thing to whoever worked the Sunday morning shift, but he was feeling particularly bored tonight. Somebody must have restocked during the day though, as there were still plenty of snacks stacked on the shelves.

Ugh, the one time he actually wants to work for his money…

Hinata needed something to keep himself from dozing off out of sheer boredom, so he grabbed a can of coffee from the fridge before returning to the counter. He put his palms down and hoisted himself up, sitting up on the surface with his legs hanging down.

Hinata picked his drink back up, cracking it open with a hiss as the air escaped. He took a few large gulps before placing it back down.

He said he wasn't going to think about the Project when he was feeling so tired and distracted, trying to relax, but he really did need to make a decision. He was already in his second year and still unsure of what to do. They were probably going to dump him if he didn't decide soon, and having that choice taken away from him worried him more than agreeing to it.

But he was particularly worried about the consequences of agreeing. There was such a high chance that the surgery could go wrong, be botched. Well, they actually said the risk was rather small, that the Super High School Level Neurologist would be the one leading the surgery. And sure, he trusts in his talent, but letting somebody into your head is just… terrifying.

The door slid open with an electronic ding, startling Hinata. He threw himself off the counter quickly and yelled out his scripted greeting. "G-good evening!! C-can I be of any service?!"

Hinata spun around, turning his eyes to the door and picking up the lingering can that sat on the counter, in full view for any customer to see how he had been slacking off. He saw the familiar brown pleated skirt of the female Main Course's uniform, so naturally he was expecting a girl, yet when he let his eyes wander up he found himself staring at a painfully unforgettable mass of white hair.

"Ko-"

"Ah, you're working tonight. I was expecting the other one." Komaeda muttered, stepping into the store with a rather exaggerated sway of his hips.

Hinata blinked hard, attempting to keep calm enough to recall his coworker's name. "Uh… the guy with black hair?"

Komaeda paused and blinked in return. "What? You don't even know his name? You truly are useless Reserve Course garbage, huh?"

"Hey! I'm not garbage! If anyone here is garbage it's you!" Hinata yelled, slamming his hands onto the counter. "Coming here so late at night in a girl's uniform, what the hell is wrong with you?!"

A sick grin crept up on Komaeda's as he began to move close to Hinata, allowing the other to get a better look at his getup.

He was wearing tall white socks with black flats. His skirt was much too short, showing off an inappropriate amount of thigh with every movement. Beneath the matching brown blazer was a beige cardigan and a white dress shirt, tied up cutesy with a red ribbon tie. This time he wore no makeup and had done nothing with his hair, just the girly clothes.

"It's true, I am pure scum. This hobby of mine may be disgusting, perverted, messed up, whatever word you want to use to describe it." Komaeda paused for a second before leaning closer. "But nothing I do will ever be as shameful as your pathetic attempts to be something you could never be."

Something in Hinata snapped at those words. He found himself grabbing Komaeda's collar, gripping the fabric tightly in his fist before pulling him across the counter. Hinata raised his fist, gritting his teeth as he went to take a swing at the other boy. However, a coherent thought reached his mind in the last second, and he stopped himself before it could make contact with Komaeda's face.

Komaeda's face twisted into a big grin. "Do it. See what happens. I dare you." His eyes swirled with a strange emotion. Excitement? Fear? He couldn’t say for certain.

Hinata's teeth worried at his lip as he considered it briefly. He could hit him, he was right there. Hitting him would bring him the justice and the relief he had been craving all week, spite that had wound tightly up in his gut whilst sitting all those horrendous exams.

He bit down on his lip hard, before letting go of the other boy with a sigh. "You're not worth it."

Leaning his elbows onto the counter, Komaeda propped his chin up with his hands and gave Hinata a wide smile. He kicked his legs up off the floor, allowing it to bear his full weight. "Say, Reserve Course, why are you so angry anyway?"

"I have a name." Hinata snapped at him. "And why wouldn't I be mad? You deceived me and have the gall to keep insulting me like that."

"Calling you Reserve Course isn't an insult, it's a fact. If you're the one getting upset, then you must truly realise how much of an embarassment you are huh?" Voice practically dropping with mockery, Komaeda tilted his head slighty to the side.  

"Shut up. I can tell you're just trying to rile me up." Hinata spat, looking away from the boy in front of him. "Get off the counter before somebody else sees you."

"No thanks! Is that really what you're mad about? A random stranger whom you have nothing to do with just so happens to be crossdressing? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're either a homophobic prick, or you're mad at yourself for being into it." Komaeda stared right into Hinata, refusing to avert his eyes in an attempt to draw his attention back.

And he was successful, as Hinata was now staring with his mouth agape and cheeks red. "I- I'm not into it!"

"I see! So you're homophobic then?"

"No!!"

"Are you sure?"

"Very!"

"Hmph, suit yourself." Komaeda laughed softly before shimmying himself back off the counter. He picked up Hinata's can of drink, making eye contact with the boy as he took a sip.

"H-hey! That's my drink!" Hinata stuttered out, still somewhat shaken by the accusation.

Komaeda recoiled and groaned. "So bitter… how can you drink this stuff?"

The other boy shrugged. "It's coffee, it's always bitter. Why did you even drink it if you don't like it?"

With a dramatic roll of his eyes, Komaeda placed the drink back onto the counter. "Are all of you Reserve Course students this inane?"

"What? What are you even talking about?" Hinata blinked hard, trying to recall if he had missed something.

Komaeda made a frustrated noise before walking around to behind the counter with yet another expression that Hinata couldn’t quite place. He blurted out a "Hey, you can't be back he-" before having his words cut off by the other boy grabbing his shirt with two hands and planting his lips on his.

Hinata gasped, which gave Komaeda the chance to deepen the kiss and lick at the inside of his mouth. His brain was now running at a million miles an hour, trying desperately to comprehend what the fuck was going on.

The guy who's been making him question his sexuality rocks up to the place he works, dressed in a girl's uniform, and then proceeds to rile him up, insult him, before shoving his tongue into his mouth?

Hinata pushed the other boy away from him, his face rapidly heating up and his pants feeling a bit tighter than before. "Look, Komaeda, I really don't appreciate you making fun of me like this!"

There was an utterly dumbfounded look on Komaeda's face that simply furthered Hinata's confusion. "You still don't get it? I'm trying to seduce you."

"Hah?"

"I want you to fuck me, Hinata-kun."

Hinata's mind completely blanked. That was ridiculous. Komaeda was a rude Main course bastard who seemingly just swung by Hinata’s workplace to make a mockery of him, the dots didn't connect whatsoever. Complications aside, he couldn't deny those words sent his teenage boy heart racing. "B-But you hate me?"

"And?"

"And?!"

"You're hot." Komaeda took a shaky breath, suddenly getting a little more nervous, "Just… say whether or not you want to have sex with me."

"I-I do!!” After blurting out the confession, Hinata averted his gaze to the floor. His face felt like it was on fire at this point. “It's just… uh… I've never done anything… uh… with anyone before."

A loud, wheezy cackle left Komaeda, one that caused him to shake and grab at his shirt as he howled. Hinata watched in confusion and Komaeda fought for his breath, still giggling away until the humour finally began to wear off. He stopped and suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh good, I thought I was going to have to break it to you that you’re gay."

"Shut up." Hinata hissed. "You pretty much already did, anyway."

For a second there, Komaeda almost looked shocked, but his expression quickly morphed into a grin. "Was I the one who awakened you? That's incredibly high praise, Hinata-kun."

He draped his arms around Hinata's shoulders, still wearing a cocky smile as he leaned in close once again. This time Hinata took the initiative, twirling Komaeda around and forcing him into the wall behind them before desperately kissing him.

Komaeda flinched, not expecting the rough treatment, but definitely welcoming it. He bit at Hinata's lips as the boy's hands slid down his sides, feeling him up. A moan slipped from Komaeda as a hand ran up his shirt, fingertips grazing along his skin and up to his chest.

Upon feeling lacy fabric, Hinata pulled away from the kiss for a moment. "Are you… wearing lingerie?"

Komaeda giggled softly. "Of course I am, there's no point in dressing like a girl if you aren't going to go the whole mile."

Hinata shook his head, chuckling to himself at the absurdity of the situation. "We're really doing this huh? I don't even have any condoms or lube…"

Komaeda glanced behind Hinata, eyeing the shelf of 18+ items. Hinata followed his eyes, breathing an "Ah." in response. "But what about the store?"

"I can guarantee right now that nobody will come in. I'm not good for much, but this kind of thing I am." Komaeda cracked a near elated smile, happy to finally have his talent be useful.

Despite still seeming somewhat confused, Hinata nodded in agreeance. "Okay… but what about the cameras? Surely they wi-"

That smile on Komaeda's face fell. "If you make another excuse I'm leaving."

"Okay okay!" Hinata put his hands up, stepping back from Komaeda with a huff. He wandered to the front of the store to flip over the 'Back in 5 minutes' sign and lock the doors. He felt it was completely unnecessary, but Komaeda let Hinata waste his time with it anyway.

He decided to take advantage of the moment and grab a pack of condoms and a small tube of lubricant. Any footage on the cameras of him taking the items would go mysteriously missing, after all, the sheer amount of bad luck he had been experiencing for the past week practically guaranteed the night's success.

He opened up the condom pack, ‘Ribbed for her pleasure.’ He couldn't suppress the urge to giggle, pulling one out before slipping it into the breast pocket of his shirt.

When Komaeda looked up again, Hinata was watching him with a nervous stare. His forehead shimmered a little with sweat from the head, and the tight sleeves of Hinata's shirt squeezed around his biceps. He was well built, shirt fitting a little too snugly around his pecs.

He could only hope this Reserve Course boy was as good as he looked.

"Where would you like to do it then, Hinata-kun?"

Hinata shuddered, a rush of arousal burning through him at the sound of Komaeda's sultry voice. It was embarrassing just how much it turned him on.

"T-The back room…" He stammered out, once again forcing himself to look away from Komaeda.

"Well then," Komaeda grabbed ahold of Hinata's twist, causing him to gasp, "The back room it is."

The irony of being led around his own workplace escaped Hinata, who was currently too dizzy with arousal and heat to even walk straight.

Komaeda pushed the door open, pulling Hinata into the break room where it was much cooler, seeing as the air conditioner didn't have to fight with the heat exhaust from the fridges. The two of them paused for a moment, revelling in the cool air as Komaeda swiped at his brow and Hinata aired his shirt.

"S-So, uh…"

Before Hinata could stammer out whatever stupid question that would kill Komaeda's mood, he turned to face him with a smile and put his hands on the boy's hips. Hinata complied as he was slowly walked backwards, admiring the passionate look burning in Komaeda's intense grey eyes. The same ones he admired so deeply upon their first encounter, yet avoided out of nervousness.

This time Hinata was still shaking with nerves, making a startled noise when the back of his knees hit something hard. Komaeda chuckled at his apprehension, voice calm and soothing as he guided him down to sit on the object he presumed to be a chair.

Hinata's thighs shook as Komaeda leaned his hands onto them, using them to balance himself as he straddled his waist in a way that pushed their groins much too close. A soft sigh escaped Komaeda's lips as he settled into Hinata's lap, a smile turning up at the corners of his mouth.

"A-Are you sure this is safe? These chairs are kinda, uh, shitty." He averted his gaze, mouth going dry as he babbled out the words. "I-I-I mean, t-they aren't really meant to support, uh, lots of weight…"

That smile simply got wider, flashing Komaeda's pearly white teeth beneath it. "Mm, we'll see."

Before Hinata could blurt out another objection, Komaeda's lips slotted against his in an aggressive kiss. He barely realised what was happening before Komaeda was already giving swipes of tongue against his lips.

Apparently that was all it took for Hinata's brain to give up on caring about Workplace Safety. His head felt light and dizzy as he reciprocated the movement, moaning softly against the other's lips when their tongues made contact and indulged in a sweet moment of friction.

Komaeda sucked passionately at his tongue in a way that created all sorts of lewd and slick noises that went straight to Hinata's dick. He must have felt it too, because next thing Hinata knew Komaeda was rolling his hips forwards, grinding into the other's crotch in a way that made both of them moan from the soft friction and pressure.

When they finally broke off the kiss, Komaeda was left panting with a little smirk on his face. His cheeks flushed a soft red as his eyes slid down over Hinata's reddened lips, wandering until they fell onto his chest. Pale hands wandered to the collar of Hinata's work shirt, fingers taking hold of the fabric and beginning to undo the two buttons.

With a little bit of Hinata's chest exposed, Komaeda could finally start to see what it was he had been working so hard for. He pressed his hands against Hinata's pecs, smoothing them down across his torso until he reached the hem of the fabric. For the first time tonight, Hinata was completely focused, already raising his arms to make it easier for Komaeda to pull his shirt up and over his head.

The shirt was quickly tossed aside, left abandoned on the floor as the fabric was replaced by hands stroking over Hinata's chest.

A pleased hum could be heard as Komaeda gave his pecs a gentle squeeze. "That shirt isn't very flattering for your body, it makes you look skinny."

“Uh, thank you?”

Hinata wasn’t really sure what to do with his hands as he raised them up to rest on Komaeda’s shoulders, an action that brought out another gentle laugh from him. Removing his hands from Hinata’s chest, Komaeda placed them on top of his own, guiding them downwards past his collarbone and over his chest. Not once did Hinata’s eyes stray from his hands.

Komaeda continued to guide them down, over the subtle curve of his hips until they settled into the pale flesh of his thighs. A light pressure was applied as Hinata buried his fingers into the soft skin, squeezing slightly. This elicited a pleased sigh from Komaeda, who shifted forwards to guide Hinata’s hands to his ass.

A groan barely escaped past Hinata’s gritted teeth as his pants rubbed against his erection. He gripped the flesh tighter, spreading Komaeda’s ass cheeks as he ground his hips upwards. The sensation was overwhelmingly good, sending shocks of pleasure down Hinata’s spine and making his head spin with need .

Those slender fingers returned to Hinata’s chest, brushing over his nipple before taking it between two fingers and squeezing gently. This pulled another moan from Hinata’s throat, and he thrust his hips up again.

“You’re awfully sensitive.” A tighter pinch had Hinata letting out a high squeak, which made him flush bright red in embarrassment. “I know I’m the one wearing a skirt, but if anything you’re more like a girl than I am.”

Hinata resented the way Komaeda’s teasing seemed to go straight to his dick. He pushed his hips forward again, repeating the motion in order to get more friction on his unbearably hard cock. Another rush of pleasure shot through his veins, making Hinata shudder and moan.

In order to silence the awful comments that were shortening his patience in more ways than one, Hinata leaned upwards and pulled at Komaeda’s bottom lip with his teeth. This seemed to get the point across, as Komaeda stopped teasing at his nipples and kissed Hinata deeply, open mouthed and messy.

No teases of tongue, the kiss instantly descended into something filthy and desperate. Teeth clacked against each other painfully as both boys tried to taste as much of one another as they could, the bitter taste of coffee still lingering on Hinata’s tongue.

Hinata’s eyes fluttered closed as he drank in the sensation of Komaeda licking into his mouth and grinding against his crotch. With each breathy moan from the boy above him, he could feel a heat tightening more and more in his lower gut. He moaned against Komaeda’s tongue, gripping his ass tighter and he began to shake slightly with the need for release.

“Wait wait wait.” The boy above him suddenly pulled away, leaving a long string of saliva that broke in the air. He stilled the movements of his hips and spread his palm against Hinata’s chest, “You’re way too worked up. I know you’re a Reserve Course and everything, but surely you’re not going to cum in your pants before we’ve even started?”

There was an annoyed look on Komaeda’s face, one beyond the cocky teasing, like he was genuinely upset by the reaction he had drawn from Hinata.

Hinata’s brow furrowed. “What does being from the Reserve course have to do with anything?”

With a soft little “Hmph,” Komaeda shifted forward and lifted some of his weight off Hinata’s lap. He reached into the pocket of his blazer, pulling the bottle of lube he’d acquired earlier out before shedding the garment and dropping it onto the floor where Hinata’s shirt had landed previously.

Holding the lube in one hand, he began to undo the buttons on his cardigan. Hinata watched closely, focusing on Komaeda’s careful fingers instead of his painful erection in hopes of getting his heart to calm down. Once he’d undone the buttons, Komaeda removed his cardigan, leaving him in a well ironed long-sleeved dress shirt that was rather loose in the chest area.

“U-Um… I’m a little uh…” Hinata’s eyes followed the movements of Komaeda’s hands as the boy uncapped the bottle and drizzled some of the clear liquid onto his fingers.

A rather sadistic laugh echoed off the walls of the room as Komaeda cackled loudly. “You’re so precious Hinata-kun! Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything. Unless you would like to help?”

“Uh, yeah, sure,” Blinking away the confusion, Hinata stared up at Komaeda expectantly, “Just tell me what to do.”

The lid snapped shut and the bottle was placed onto the table next to them. Komaeda brought his fingers behind his back with a flirty smirk. “Well then, could you please move my panties out of the way?”

With a nod, Hinata slowly brought his fingers forward, hooking one around the lacy thong before tugging it out of the crevice of Komaeda’s ass. He tried to ignore the burning in his face as he tugged the cheeks apart a little, giving Komaeda better access as he brought his fingers to his hole.

There was a pause of silence, before Komaeda let out a rather gentle sigh, relaxing his whole body. He then pushed two fingers into himself with relative ease, having already been there numerous times this week. Entranced, Hinata watched Komaeda’s expression soften as he adjusted to the feeling of having something inside him.

It didn’t take long for him to begin moving his fingers, slowly thrusting them inside himself and drawing them back out again. He scissored the digits apart, stretching the tight muscle and ignoring the slight burn.

Unsure of what to do, Hinata settled for observing every little reaction on Komaeda’s face. The gentle bites of his bottom lip, the soft gasps that came whenever he pushed further than he expected to, the dusting of blush on his cheeks. He couldn’t get enough, it was simply so erotic to watch and only made him more excited for the final act.

Noticing Hinata’s interest, Komaeda placed his free hand over Hinata’s right, pulling him closer. He pulled his fingers out of his hole before rubbing some of the lube off onto Hinata’s index and middle finger. The guideless letters floating in Hinata’s mind finally spelled out an answer, he wants me to finger him .

Swallowing down the lump in his throat, Hinata nodded and rubbed his fingers against Komaeda’s entrance. He tried his best to go slow so as to not hurt him, but his fingers easily squeezed in, much to Komaeda’s delight.

All Hinata could process was how warm it was inside another person. He moved his fingers experimentally, rubbing at the soft walls with a childish feeling of intrigue.

“Doesn’t it feel nice?” As soon as Komaeda said that, he clamped down against Hinata’s fingers, drawing a gasp from him. “Think about how good it will feel to be inside an Ultimate. Wouldn't you like that, Hinata-kun?"

Hinata did allow the thought to pass through his mind, being buried balls deep within that soft warmth, the friction as Komaeda squeezed down around him. To answer Komaeda’s question, Hinata pushed his fingers deeper, eliciting a gasp from the other.

“You know… you never did tell me your Ultimate talent?” Lowering his voice, Hinata tried to sound like he had a better grip on the situation than he actually did.

Komaeda fluttered his eyelashes innocently, Hinata couldn’t tell if it was intended or not. “Ah, I never did, did I? It’s a rather boring and worthless talent, but a talent nonetheless.”

Ignoring the seething little rage that burned in his chest at hearing Komaeda say a talent was ‘worthless’, Hinata withdrew his fingers. “So, what is it then?”

There was a soft hum of appreciation from Komaeda, and he slid off the other’s lap. “I won the lottery for my year, I am the 77th’s Ultimate Lucky Student.”

“Seriously?!” Hinata had to keep himself from gasping in excitement, his obsession with talent coming close to overriding all horny thoughts from the moment prior. That’s so--!”

“Lucky?” As he planted his feet on the floor and stood up, Komaeda couldn’t help but insert the snarky comment.

Pursing his lips, Hinata watched as Komaeda leant down and brought his hands to Hinata’s belt. “Cool... I was going to say cool.”

Another soft hum left the other boy as he unclasped Hinata’s belt. That was enough to bring Hinata’s thoughts away from Komaeda’s talent and back to how hard he was. Komaeda undid the button and fly of Hinata's work pants, the other helped by lifting his hips and shucking them down slightly, exposing part of his ass to the uncomfortably cool metal of the chair.

Reaching into Hinata’s boxers, Komaeda wrapped his fingers around the length before pulling it out from beneath Hinata’s sakura printed boxers. Both the relief of being freed from the tight fabric and the sensation of being touched by a hand that wasn't his own were overwhelming, and Hinata practically stopped breathing right then and there.

“Wow, you’re bigger than I expected a Reserve to be.” Giggling at Hinata’s reaction, Komaeda gave his cock a gentle stroke downwards in order to expose the flushed head.

Hinata blinked hard, processing just how stupid that comment was. “I still don’t understand why you think talent and dick size have any correlation.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Komaeda began to slowly jerk Hinata, spreading precum across the shaft whilst bringing his other hand to his breast pocket. There was a loud moan of relief from Hinata, and he allowed his eyes to fall on Komaeda’s hand, his brain dismissing his incredulity.

Withdrawing a shiny packet from his breast pocket, Komaeda brought it to his mouth before tearing it open with his teeth. Using one hand, he pulled a translucent green condom from the packet, allowing the litter to fall to the floor.

He removed his hand from Hinata’s dick, drawing a whine of impatience from the boy that amused him greatly. He brought the condom to the head, pinching the tip as he began to slowly unroll the latex down to fit snugly around his cock. When he looked up again, Hintata was biting his lip and watching with bated breath.

“Adjust it if it’s uncomfortable, otherwise it’ll probably end up tearing.” Straightening himself back up, Komaeda placed his hands on his hips with a soft sigh.

With a gentle nod, Hinata brought his hand down to adjust the condom. It was an incredibly foreign sensation, but necessary, at least this time.

Komaeda slid his hands down his hips, then under his skirt and back up again, giving Hinata a glimpse of the lacy pink panties hidden beneath. He hooked his thumbs around the waistband, and pulled them down to the floor before stepping out of them.

Flashing a flirty smirk, Komaeda wrapped his hand around Hinata’s erection, drawing a surprised yelp from him. He swung a leg over Hinata’s waist, beginning to mount him once again. Angling Hinata’s cock, he attempted to bring it to his prepared entrance. He seemed to be struggling to find it, and bending his arm back was beginning to hurt. Seeing his difficulty, Hinata placed his hand over Komaeda’s and helped him line it up with his hole. With a satisfied exhale, Komaeda placed his hands on Hinata’s shoulders and began to slowly sink down.

Nothing could have prepared Hinata for the sheer heat that engulfed his cock. It felt so much better than his hand ever could, even more so than having his fingers inside Komaeda did. It seemed that Komaeda was enjoying it too, because his eyes were squeezed tightly shut and mouth open wide in surprise.

“Oh shit .” Hinata gasped as Komaeda lowered himself completely, taking the entirety of his length with one movement. He gripped at those skinny hips, desperately seeking something to put him in a little control and his brain succumbed to ecstasy.

"Haha!" Giggling to himself, Komaeda slowly drew his hips back up. "You really are a virgin, aren't you Hinata-kun?"

It felt as though Hinata's face were on fire, "I-I already told you that!"

Bony hands fingers dug into Hinata’s shoulders as Komaeda dropped back down again, forcing Hinata to bite his lip so as to not let out another embarrassing sound. Slow drags up and down, plunging Hinata back into that tight heaven of friction and ecstasy. He allowed his head to tilt back, letting out a gentle sigh as Komaeda set a slow yet pleasurable pace. The kind of pace that set the mood, eased him into it, left both of them craving more. When his eyelids inevitably flickered shut, Hinata felt as though he were floating. The humidity was getting to him, along with those sickly wet sounds and heavy breathing warm on his skin. The warm weight of Komaeda’s body pressing against his made it all too easy to take whatever he was offering, to forget all of that assholeish shit he said and did in the past week.

The need winding around his gut was pulling tighter and tighter, his hips beginning to move up to meet Komaeda’s. He wanted more, if he was going to cum he needed more than just this. Hinata’s eyes flittered open, and he glanced down to his hands. Komaeda’s pleated brown skirt rested just beneath his fingertips, material all bunched up at the sides with a little bulge tenting it at the front. He couldn’t resist the urge to slide his right hands down Komaeda’s pelvis, carefully dragging his fingers over the bulge until he reached the tip.

“A-Ah!”

Startling, Komaeda almost jumped right off Hinata’s lap. His breathing was heavy and wheezy, lungs quietly rattling as he tried to catch his breath. The pale skin of Komaeda's face had flushed to a bright pink, he looked like he was going to throw up.

"Hey, wait…" Hinata murmured, tipping his head back up. "You don't look too hot."

There was a soft chuckle, followed by Komaeda clasping a hand over his mouth as he broke into a coughing fit. He dug his left hand tightly into Hinata's shoulder, stabilising himself as his body shook.

"Have you finally come to your senses, Hinata-kun? Though, can you really be that picky?" He croaked out, giggling between coughs. "You are a Reserve Course student, after all."

Sitting up, Hinata grabbed hold of Komaeda's waist again. "Hey! No no I'm not talking about that. You were sick the other day, weren't you?"

"Ah, I've had a cold that has been rather difficult to shake." Sheepishly, Komaeda averted his gaze to the floor. "Are you worried about catching it? I'm sure it's not something viral."

"I'm not worried about that, I'm worried about you going into respiratory failure!"

Komaeda laughed dryly, an almost bitter sound. "It is always a possibility! Trust in my luck to kill me the second I get a good thing."

Confused, Hinata blinked a few times. "Do you want to stop?"

"Do I want to stop…?"

Komaeda paused, repositioning himself in Hinata's lap as he considered his next move. He didn't want to stop; he was so glad to be finally here, to be doing this. Something so dangerous and taboo, and with a student who was not only beneath him, but a complete stranger.

The exact kind of scenario in which his luck could be completely unpredictable. The nervous feeling bubbling in his chest caused a creepy smile to twitch at the corners of his mouth.

"Not at all!" He chirped.

The cheery tone only furthered the furrow in Hinata's brow. "Seriously, you look like you're about to pass out, let me-"

"Don't get all soft on me now, Hinata-kun. I don't need lowly Reserve Course students worrying about my health."

Hinata blinked hard, recalling what Komaeda had said to him the day he'd discovered his dirty secret. The scowl on Komaeda's face as he glared up at him, the blood dripping down his lips, only to spatter against the concrete.

Komaeda didn't need sympathy. Komaeda didn't want sympathy.

His hands slid under the other's boy's thighs, gripping tightly and pulling him closer. Before Komaeda could understand what was happening, Hinata rose to his feet, picking up Komaeda with him and causing the other to gasp in surprise. He wrapped his legs tightly around Hinata's torso, fearing that he may be dropped.

Hinata pushed him down into the table, forcing him forward until his back was flush against the cold plastic. A can of drink was knocked over in their wake, and Komaeda did not neglect to notice the open manga and discarded plastic wrappers by his head.

Messy…

"Oh? Getting rough with a Main Course student are we?" Komaeda giggled, setting himself off into another series of coughs and barks.

"You were taking too long, it's my turn now."

Hinata slammed his hands down beside Komaeda's head and thrust his hips forward, pressing himself deep into the other boy. Blunt nails scraped against the plastic as Komaeda wheezed, his legs strangling around Hinata's waist.

"You really love this power dynamic thing, don't you? Did you seek me out specifically because you wanted to be fucked by somebody inferior to you?" Digging his nails into Komaeda's skin, Hinata moved with reckless abandon. "You're disgusting, Main Course students really are all the same."

It made Hinata seethe with an unbearable anger. He had never felt this pissed in his life, wound up so tightly that all he wanted to do was hit Komaeda until that stupid smile fell right off his face. But he couldn't deny just how good it felt, being put in his place by a girl dressed in her school uniform, the irrefutable proof that she was better than him.

But Komaeda was not a girl. No matter how feminine he looked, his hips were narrow and chest flat. His skirt had ridden up, exposing his cock that was bouncing against his stomach as Hinata fucked him, having slipped out of his lingerie quite some time ago. His little raspy moans and gasps sounded pretty girlish, though, and that was enough for Hinata.

“A-Ah you’re… hah! Come on you can do a little better than— f-fuck!”

Unable to resist the urge, Komaeda kept taunting him. Hinata was endlessly unamused by this, resorting to tilting his hips in order to get closer to Komaeda's prostate.

At least, that's what he was hoping. It was up, right?

A lucky guess, he supposed, and Komaeda was broken into whimpers. He scrabbled for the edges of the table, gripping tightly as it creaked beneath him.

It was overwhelming, the pleasure and excitement becoming too much for Komaeda. It felt like he was going insane, being rocked into so hard it was almost painful. The little giggles he made amongst the moans and whimpers were involuntary, but with every passing second he felt higher and higher. Closer and closer to reaching something amazing.

Is this what hope feels like?

It was a stupid thing to wonder.

Hinata himself felt as though he were melting, brain fuzzy with anger and arousal. He could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears as he panted, exhaustion beginning to catch up on him even though he was oh so close.

He leaned in close, burning his face in Komaeda's neck as he panted. The movements of his hips were beginning to stutter and slow, he was failing.

"Please…" Komaeda whined, wrapping his arms tightly around Hinata's neck. "Please please come on even a useless Reserve like you should be able to finish me off!"

"Sh-shut up."

The growl came out harsher than Hinata had expected. To apologise, he grabbed ahold of Komaeda's face with his left hand, kissing him firmly on the lips as he attempted to move faster. Komaeda eagerly licked into his mouth in gratitude.

Hinata was unable to hold down all of his sweet moans and pants when Komaeda was tonguing his gums like some kind of puppy. He groaned into the other boy's mouth.

How is he enjoying this so much? Surely it can't feel that good down there…

He creeped his other hand down to Komaeda's skirt, sliding his hand beneath it and carefully wrapping his fingers around his cock. His dick was practically drooling with precum, wet enough that he probably could have been mistaken for a girl. Komaeda's eyes widened in trepidation, and he pulled away from the kiss as Hinata stroked his hand down the shaft.

The word didn't even make it past Komaeda's lips, all he could do was mouth "Faster."

Thus Hinata obliged, allowing his hand to glide faster with the slickness of Komaeda’s skin. It felt incredibly awkward, moving his hips desperately whilst jerking his lover at a much faster pace than he could synchronise with, not to mention just how sloppy and pathetic their kisses were becoming with each passing second. At this point they were just pressing their lips against one other’s and licking.

At least Komaeda wasn’t hypocritical enough to make fun of him for his technique.

Komaeda’s thighs were tensing, and his hips were lifting from the table. He was whimpering like a dog in heat, barely breathing little pleads and begs. He was clearly so close, and Hinata could feel his own release creeping through his guts too.

He broke off whatever semblance of a kiss they were still doing pressed his left hand against the table, using it as a support as he practically jackhammered Komaeda’s ass.

The room was filled with the sound of skin slapping against skin, panting and moaning, as well as the squeaking of the table beneath their weight. Komaeda suddenly yelled out, digging his nails harshly into Hinata’s back as his hips thrust up to meet his hand.

His voice broke as he came, white stripes of cum painting his dress shirt as Hinata stroked him through his orgasm. Komaeda was shaking beneath his touch, breaths laboured and wheezy.

A rivulet of sweat rolled down Hinata’s forehead. He kept thrusting his hips, unconcerned with overstimulating the boy beneath him. He was just so close, he could feel it rising in his chest. Just a little more, just a little more and--

“Hinata-kun!”

There was a loud crack, followed by the sound of metal scraping against itself, and suddenly they were both falling to the floor.

Hinata grabbed a tight hold of Komaeda, gasping when they both landed on the cold linoleum. It all happened so fast. With so much adrenaline pumping through his veins, Hinata didn't even notice he had squeezed his eyes shut at some point.

Slowly opening them again, the first thing he did was look at Komaeda. The boy’s grey eyes were open wide in shock, face still flushed red and lips swollen from their activities, but he seemed mostly unharmed.

He pulled out of Komaeda, dick still aching with a need left unfulfilled as he crawled off of him. Komaeda also sat himself up, dusting off his shirt dramatically as though he hadn't cum all over it moments before.

“Hey… are you okay?”

Komaeda’s only response was to look at Hinata with those wide eyes, then to stare straight past him. A few seconds later he was giggling, soon breaking into a fit of raucous laughter.

Confused, Hinata turned around to look behind himself, eyeing the folding table in a crumpled heap on the floor.

He couldn't believe it.

They’d broken the table. They’d broken the fucking table, he’d been blue-balled by a fucking table, and Komaeda was sitting there laughing like it was the funniest thing he’d ever seen.

[mymelodyheart]

Starting Over Chapter 12 ~The Reckoning~

Jamie quashed his growing irritation as his brothers happily hijacked Claire's attention at the table. After they've gatecrashed their date earlier, somehow, amidst the mayhem of surprise, introductions and small talks, he and Claire ended up joining them.  How the hell did this happen?

He resisted the urge to slam his whisky glass down on the table as he thought of how close he had gotten to kissing Claire. What exactly had he done to warrant this particular brand of torment? He paid his taxes, he'd brought joy to his thousands of fans over the years by playing top of his game in rugby, recycled like nobody's business, donated to worthy causes, and yet the universe chose to fuck with him big time. 

Although he loved his brothers, right now, he was very close to disowning them. Not quite, but close. Resigned, he watched Claire chat animatedly with Willie, Rabbie and Ian, looking delighted and in her element as banters and stories were exchanged. 

"So tell me, while growing up, did you all get along? Or are there a lot of sibling horror stories?" Claire asked, her twinkling amber eyes momentarily landing on him. 

Groaning, Jamie buried his face in his hands. "Christ, I knew this was coming."

"Och plenty of stories, I can assure ye," Willie replied, leaning forward to draw her in. "Once, my sister and I convinced Jamie that he was adopted. It wasnae difficult considering he's ginger, and the rest of us all have dark hair."

"And then Willie told him that his real last name was McTavish ..." Rabbie added.

Jamie cut him off. "Aye, and I got back at ye lot when I said I wasnae coming back after I was sent to uncle Dougal and aunt Maura in Leoch to train for the under twelves rugby." He turned to Claire. "I told them I was glad I wasnae their brother and wee Rabbie here, and Jenny threw a fit. Eventually, Willie sent a message and admitted it was a bad joke. I didn't reply for days. In the end, he was grovellin' for me to come back like a wee daftie."

Her laughter nipped at his heart. "Too bad, I don't have many family stories. My life revolved mostly around museums, archaeological sites and lecture halls. and we're constantly on the move." 

"Sounds pretty exciting to me," Rabbie grinned. "Say, have ye thought of where ye want to continue yer residency?"

Claire sighed, swirling her glass. "Just loosely. Nothing definite. I've thought of Glasgow and Inverness. Or maybe Boston."

Jamie nearly choked. "Boston? Ye better mean Boston in Lincolnshire and not Massachusetts." His voice sounded the furthest thing from normal to his ears.

"Oh, nothing is planned yet," Claire dismissed his question with a flutter of delicate fingers. "To be perfectly honest, they're just rough ideas."

"Weel, whatever ye decide, don't go too far, Claire. I dinna think our lad here would be tae happy to see ye go so early in yer relationship," Ian teased, winking at Jamie.

Ignoring the jest and the uncomfortable shift in his chest, he looked into her amber eyes. "Plenty of time to think things over, aye?"

She gives him a slow nod. "Of course."

"Claire?"

His head jerked up to find Frank Randall standing next to their table. A trickle of sweat beaded and slid down his spine as silent fury gripped his guts. A sudden realisation hit him then as he looked at the man that Claire nearly married and he was shocked to the core. Amid this blurring between real and fake, there's always a constant—which was his jealousy for Claire's ex. It was something he never experienced before. To know that Claire was once his, made him sick and want to throw up. But the unexpected gentle squeeze of her hand under the table immediately stopped the unwanted bout of paranoia in its tracks, taking him by surprise.

His brothers and Ian leaned back on their chairs, waiting for something to unfold as they eyed the doctor with caution. They knew Claire's story, and he could see they were prepared for whatever was to come, their bodies tensed and their faces impassive.

"What is it, Frank?" Claire asked, glancing nervously around the table.

His first instinct was to drag Claire's ex-fiance out of the bar and give him a sound beating. Too bad there's a restraining order on him. Despite wanting to tell him to fuck off, he kept his mouth shut, afraid of attracting attention from those who might recognise them. The thought of all three of them being photographed and their picture passed around on social media was enough for him to restrain himself. He knew it would devastate Claire if ever that happened.

"Sorry to disturb your meal, but can we talk? It won't take a minute."

"Ye don't have to do this, Sassenach," he murmured for her ears only.

"I know, but I must. It won't take long."

Helpless to do anything, he could only watch as she stiffly stood up and followed Frank.

..........

Claire peered over her shoulder and saw Jamie and his family looking at them with the intensity of wild cats ready to pounce. Not wanting to cause a scene, she refocused her attention on Frank and took calming breaths, reminding herself she was in control.

"What do you want, Frank?"

He shifted on his feet. "Claire, I want to apologise for ..."

She raised a hand and stopped him midsentence. "If we're going to rehash everything that happened between us, I'm not interested in hearing it. I don't want to talk about it anymore. I've said what I had to say to you, and nothing has changed." She made a move to go, but Frank's hand shot out and grabbed her elbow, making her jump. The sudden harsh sound of a chair scraping on the wooden floor told her someone stood up abruptly. She turned to look and found it was Jamie, his face looking like thunder. Even from where she was stood, she could see his jaw bunched and his massive chest rising and falling beneath his shirt. She could almost hear the cranks turning in his head. With a stern look in her eyes, she warned him to back off and faced Frank. "Let me go," she hissed in a whisper. "You've lost your right to touch me."

Frank flinched and let go, swallowing audibly when he looked beyond her. "I'm not here to talk about us. I understand it's over. I get it now. I only want to apologise for the things I've said the other night and to tell you that I want to return your belongings."

She looked into his eyes to judge his sincerity but witnessed only honest resignation in his steady gaze. Something had changed in him, but she didn't want to over analyse, still too fraught about what transpired at the hospital less than twenty-four hours ago. "Very well then, I'll get someone to collect it from your apartment."

"No need. I can drop it off at your place." When she eyed him suspiciously, he sighed. "Look, Claire, I said things the other night that I shouldn't have. I was so desperate to get you back no matter what. After you walked out of the A&E, I realised I went too far. I don't want to drag this on any more than you do. The sooner I have your things out of the apartment, the better it is for both of us. I'll have your stuff boxed, and I'll bring them to your place ...Friday at six?"

She wanted to think it over, but that would mean prolonging things between them. Frank was right. The sooner their connection was severed, the better for both of them. "Fine, Friday at six. You drop off my things, and then you're out again. I don't intend to serve you drinks, nor exchange pleasantries with you."

His expression turned grim; nevertheless, he nodded in agreement. "I'll see you at six this coming Friday. Enjoy the rest of your evening." And then he turned and left the bar.

She watched his retreating back as sadness settled over her. It was hard to imagine that she used to love him and that they had been happy once. Where had it all gone wrong? Had she been so blind to all the warning signs? How long have they been together before they started to lose their way? What made him turn so cold and vicious? She remembered the many hours they'd spent making love in the beginning. He'd worshipped her and told her over and over again how much he desired her. And then as time went on, his needs became a priority, and she was just a vessel to relieve his needs. He became more critical of their lovemaking, continually telling her that she lacked techniques to satisfy him until she began to doubt herself.

And then she thought of Jamie and almost laughed. She was drawn to a commitment-phobe and a sexually experienced man. So what were her chances in inspiring the type of lust and attraction to make someone like Jamie wholly want her?  Only in your dreams lass.

A hand grasped her wrist. "Sassenach, are ye alright?"

Claire spun around, and her eyes shot to Jamie's, startled by the intense emotions swirling from them. He looked on edge, the combined effects of worry and something else she couldn't put her finger to etched on his face. His grip on her wrist was like steel, and his shoulder muscles looked tight with strain as if his control could snap at any moment. The instinct to reassure him rose within her, and she lifted a free hand and touched his face. "I'm fine, Jamie. I think I'd like to go home now."

When he spoke, his tone sounded like it could cut glass. "Good. Stay here. I'll tell the lads and sort out the bill."

She wondered what was wrong as she waited for him. Did his brothers say anything about him dating a runaway bride? Did they disapprove? Was it Frank?  Unlikely . Most of the evening, he'd protectively slung his arms around her shoulders or had a hand on her knee, play-acting his claim on her, even though they were sat in the hidden corner away from prying eyes. If his family had been surprised to see that they were together, they showed no indication—only warmth and friendliness.

Scenes from earlier played in her mind, beginning with Jamie's parcel that morning and ending with the way he'd looked at her as if he wanted to kiss her. And in between, a whole lot of touching and holding. Reminding herself constantly that this was just a stunt to help Jamie get his job at the network, would be the smartest course to take. She couldn't mistake sexual attraction, albeit a powerful one, for anything beyond a bodily need. With her mind made up, Claire swore to keep it together, thinking her friendship with Jamie was more valuable than a passing fascination for her crush.

Seeing Jamie walked towards her, she smiled at him, but his face remained expressionless, as he took her hand and led her out of the bar without a word. When he hailed a taxi instead of taking his car, she surmised he'd had a bit to drink.

They rode in silence, but the quiet got too disconcerting. Claire opened her mouth to initiate a conversation and ask if anything was wrong, but she held back midway. His rigid posture told her now was not the time to talk. The air around them thickened and the longer Jamie remained silent, the more agitation gnawed at her. Something was definitely off.  What the hell is wrong with him?  Finally, when the taxi finally pulled up outside her cottage, she was about to thank him for the dinner when he took out his wallet and handed the driver a few pound notes.

"It's late Jamie. Aren't you going home?"

"We need to talk."

"Can we leave it for another day?"

"No."

She didn't like his short, clipped tone. "If you're planning to argue, maybe you ought to leave," she said, as she got out of the car.

She fished for her keys in her handbag, aware he was following close behind. "We need to talk."  Oh, such bloody arrogance!

Once inside the house, she threw her bag on a nearby table and faced him. "Fine! Stay. But only if you tell me why the bloody hell you're acting weird all of a sudden."

"Boston. Ye never told me ye were thinking of going to Boston."

"Wot? Boston?" This time she was confused. "It's just an option among many. I've thought of going there years ago before I started at the Royal Infirmary. Joe has friends there and knows people who can get me into a residency program."

"Ye belong here, Sassenach. Yer friends are here, and ye have yer uncle to think about."

How dare he question her choice when he would go to London in a heartbeat once their fake relationship was over! Inwardly she bristled but forced a sunny smile. "Well, I can say the same thing about you. All of your family and friends are here, and you have obligations that are expected of you. And yet, that wouldn't stop you from going to London once you get the job, now would it?"

"Your circumstance is different. There are plenty of hospitals here in the UK where ye can continue yer residency."

"I know that. But have you considered that maybe I need a change of scenery to find myself again? It's no different to you trying to find your identity and purpose in a new career. I'm supportive of your life choices, so why can't you be supportive of mine?

He pulled back at her words and scrutinised her. The idea of him moving to London made her think of a parade of women eager to get their paws on him. She didn't like the idea at all. But she'd rather die before admitting it. She turned away and sat down on the sofa, fiddling with the straps of her shoes, cursing her inability to remain indifferent. A moment passed before he finally spoke. "What did Frank say?" he asked.

Irritation coasted down her back. Jamie was avoiding her question, and if he thought he would get away with that tactic easily, he was sorely mistaken. "Not much." She slipped off her shoes and massaged the back of her leg. "Same old. Apologies and whatnots. 

She sensed his frown but refused to look at him in the eyes. "Is he still trying to get ye back?"

"No."

"Did he want ye to go back to the hospital then?"

She scooped up her shoes and placed them in a shoe cupboard in the hallway. "No. He wanted to apologise. And since you mentioned Boston, I'm beginning to think it's a brilliant idea. No one will know me there - at least not as the runaway bride. It will be a perfect place to start over again."

His eyes narrowed, and his lips tightened into a thin line. Did he look disappointed? Refusing to decipher the meaning in his expression, she made her way to the kitchen. He followed shortly after.

"If the tabloid stories about ye bother ye so much, why are ye doing this fake relationship with me then?"

She opened the fridge and got a bottle of white wine. "I told you my reasons already. I'm helping you get the job at the network which I'm quite sure you'll get. And meanwhile, while we're a fake couple, I can start planning what I want to do with my life." After grabbing two glasses from the cupboard, she finally glanced at him. "Wine?"

In the kitchen lighting, Jamie's blue eyes were shadowed and the scruff on his face more pronounced. He nodded at her offer, his gaze moving like a rough palm over her skin.  Uh-oh, not good.  Despite dampening her emotions with cold logic, her traitorous body was not having any of it, as her face heated at his perusal.  Damn him!  She hated not being in control. Quickly turning away, she poured the wine in the glasses.

"There's no need for ye to go so far to dodge the tabloid stories. In a year, it will all be forgotten."

"You have a point." She handed him the glass of wine and took a sip from hers. 

"Or ye can come to London if ye want to get away from Scotland. London is far enough," he said, looking directly into her eyes.

"Wot? London?" she gasped. "London is a crazy place, and rents cost a premium."

He placed his glass on the countertop with a clack. "Ye were confident earlier that I'll get the job in the network. Well, so am I. We can share a flat in London." 

She nearly laughed out loud. "Share a flat? With you?" All sort of thoughts and images leapt at the back of her mind. But the one that stood out the most is the ridiculousness of his suggestion. It could never work. "What if you want to bring a girl home? What then?" 

His face flushed, but his gaze didn't waver. "Not once have I ever brought a lass to my apartment nor to Lallybroch." 

"Oh ..." If he'd never brought a girl to his home, it could only mean he took them to fancy hotels. That thought brought a stab of pain into her heart. Life was already complicated as it was, and the last thing she needed was to hear stories of his escapades with his dates. Better scrap London off her list of options. "Well, London is certainly an alternative. So is Manchester and Liverpool. But I'm kind of warming to the idea of Boston," she said casually as she could muster.

"Ye can't just up sticks and move to a country ye've never been to before. Don't ye want to visit the place first?"

"I don't have to. I'm flexible, and I adapt quickly. My uncle and I have lived in many countries while I was growing up. I never had trouble adjusting."

"Sounds to me ye're running away."

"I'm not running away," she shot back. "I'm done with Frank. As I said, I need a change of scenery. I've looked up Boston on the internet in the past, and it seems like a fascinating place. Who knows, I might meet a cute American guy and end up staying there for good."  Who am I kidding?

Darkness clouded his face. "Ye are running away."

"I'm not!"

"Ye are. Ye are putting an ocean between ye and whatever ye're running away from."

Claire snapped. Somehow the thread holding her composure had been stretched so thin by recent events, there was almost nothing left. Red fogged her vision as she put her glass down to face him full-on and gave him her truth.

"Bollocks! You ... of all people have the gall to point out to me that I am running away from my problems. Ha! You can't even commit to anything or anyone that doesn't involve rugby." She shook her head at him. "I've never judged you on how you lead your life, so I would appreciate it if you do the same for me. And even if I'm running away, what business is it of yours? It's my life, and I decide what I want to do with it."

"Sassenach, I'm..."

"NO! I'm not done yet." She tilted her chin in anger. "In as much as I love Edinburgh, it is a reminder to me how I allowed Frank to break me to the point that I don't feel worthy. It's a bloody sad state of affairs, but hey, I am trying my utmost best to do what's right for me even if it seems like I'm stumbling in the dark." She let out a hysterical laugh and shoved her curls back, beyond caring what sprouted out of her mouth. "Do you have any idea what it feels like to feel undesirable and less of a woman? Frank used to criticise how I look, how I touched him when we made love. And, oh, how he would mock me endlessly when I gagged at the things he made me do, making me feel like I'm not enough to tempt a man to lose his mind and heart to her. So I remained with him thinking I'll never be good for anyone else. But you wouldn't understand, would you? Because women come easily to you."

He muttered a string of profanity as he took a step forward, but she pushed him with full force on his chest, making him stagger a step backwards.

"How do you do it, Jamie?" she taunted. "Do you have a small talk beforehand, letting a girl know it's just a bit of fun and you don't do relationships? At least you can make yourself feel better by saying you were honest and then walk away with a clear conscience and satisfaction on your face. How many orgasms does it take to assuage your guilt?"

Jamie remained silent, his gaze ensnaring her and refusing to let go.  How dare he remains so unaffected and calm?

And then she lost it. "Get out!" she screamed. 

"No."

"I said, get the fuck out!"

"I'm not leaving ye." Determination etched out the lines of his face.

"You won't go until you hear it, don't you?" she hissed in crazed vehemence. "Fine. I'm running away! There you have it! Are you happy now that you've finally figured me out, huh? I ran away from my own wedding, and I ran away from my job. Appears cowardly, doesn't it? But I'm too broken to fight, but one day I will get up, and I will heal. And I will find someone who will love me and my flaws."

He made a move towards her, but she stopped him. The last thing she needed was his pity and for him to see her tears that were threatening to spill. "Don't you dare feel sorry for me, James Fraser! I need you to leave now and let me be." Her voice cracked, but she pushed on. "I'm begging you. If you're a true friend, you'll do as I ask." 

Exhausted and nothing left to say, she turned and faced the window. Jamie didn't move nor speak, and the only sound that permeated the room was the ticking of the wall clock. She waited and mentally prayed for him to go so she could cry in privacy. Tomorrow was a new day, and everything would be alright. But tonight she felt precariously out of control, on the peak of something so intense, she didn't know how to handle it. 

The floorboards creaked, and she held her breath and waited for the blessed silence, but instead of walking out, Jamie stopped right behind her. His body heat enclosed, wrapping her in a protective blanket. She held the edge of the countertop in a deathlike grip, sensing him move closer inch by inch until his rock-solid chest pressed against her back.

"Sassenach, look at me," he said in a low gravelly voice. Although she wanted to remain still, she was helpless to resist his command. With no more fight left in her and feeling spent, she faced him but avoided his gaze. Then he tilted her chin up. 

To her surprise, raw lust shot out from his eyes, and his grip tightened, refusing to give her room to retreat. He crowded her space by leaning in so close, the edge of the countertop dug into her lower back. His scent of citrus and cotton steeped her senses, drowning out the voices in her head and their surrounding.

"I'm going to tell ye something, and I need ye to listen very carefully because I'm only going to say this once. Am I making myself clear?" 

Her eyes widened, and her lips parted. She could only summon a shaky nod, too mesmerised and unable to form words.

"I'm done with pretending, rationalising and civility. That wanker Frank has messed up yer mind that ye have nae idea the power ye have to grip me in a hold so tight I can scarcely breathe. I'm so bloody over analysing why I feel the way I do right now even though I still don't understand anything. I'm tired of walking around with a cock that won't go down and sleepless nights every time I think of ye. Are ye with me, Claire?" 

A swirling combination of heat, dread and anticipation diffused inside of her, turning it into a fierce ache coursing between her thighs and tightening her muscles. The way he easily made her body respond left her intoxicated, seizing her with a need she'd never felt before. "Y-yes," she whispered.

Then he spoke slow and deliberate. "Good, because tonight I'm going to make love to ye. If I were a true friend and gentleman, I'd do as ye asked and walk out of that door to give ye the space to rebuild your damn walls. Ye deserve that and much more. But I'm a selfish prick who wants ye so bad I'll trade my soul to the devil for a night with ye. Still listening?"

"Y-y-yes." 

"I'll give ye three seconds to get away from me and lock yersel' in the bedroom. That would be the wisest thing to dae. And if ye choose to walk away, I'll take it like a man, and we'll never mention this again. We'll go back to being mates, forget this whole incident, and go on pretending. But if ye're still here after that, ye're mine. Every inch of yer beautiful body. And I promise ye, ye'll never doubt your ability to cast a spell on a man so powerful and encompassing he'll spend the rest of his life comparing ye to every woman he meets and touches." 

Her head began to spin, as her brain scrambled to catch up with the meaning of his words. "Jamie this is ..." 

"We're done talking, Sassenach. One." 

Her heart lurched, and her stomach dropped to the ground as he moved closer. 

"Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!" 

"Two." 

She gulped, her body poised for escape, knowing it could destroy their friendship, change their relationship forever, opening a door that could never be close again. 

"Christ, Jamie, I'm..." 

"Three. Too late, Sassenach." 

"But ..." 

"Nae buts." And then he kissed her.

[fandom-imagines]

I’d Let You Bite Me Anyday

Chapter One

Fandom: BTS

Pairing: Namjoon (RM) X Reader

Words: 1957

Masterlist

The day seemed pretty normal to begin with. Wake up at six, shower, go to work. It was the journey home when everything began. I was on the train, gazing out of the window when I saw it. A man, probably around 5’8, was…eating a young woman? The gasps of those on the train were what made me realise that it was real, that he was actually eating that woman. People began to dash from the train as soon as possible, rushing home to their families whereas others favoured to stay on the train for safety. Well, it was safe until someone began screaming from the carriage beside me. Looking towards the noise, I saw another fight breaking out. A group of people were trying to pull a woman off a young girl, only to be bitten causing more screams. Shutting my eyes, I quickly left the train which had just arrived at my stop, thank god.

Pulling my hood up to defend myself from the rain, I hung my head. My eyes darted around the streets which were virtually empty except for a few people running home, panic in their eyes. Unsure of how I managed to remain so calm, I entered my flat, locking the door behind me. Sighing, I pull my soaked hood from my head, stripping myself from my coat so I’m not wet. I quickly grabbed my leather jacket from the back of my couch, slipping it over my shoulders before zipping it halfway up. I was currently wearing some black jeans, a white t-shirt and, now, a black leather jacket with a choker wrapped around my neck.

Glancing out the window, I saw utter chaos. Screams were echoing through the streets as a family ran down the street followed by a bunch of decomposing undead? My eyes flickered to the ground for a moment, finally registering what was happening as I shut the curtains so that I was unable to see anything happening outside. Turning back to my flat, I headed to the kitchen, grabbing the bottle of water from the side.

Hey, I might be dead in a few hours, may as well die hydrated.

Banging from my door was what made me place to bottle down. Startled, I rushed into my bedroom, grabbing my pistol from beneath my bed, making sure it was loaded before heading back out towards the door. I carefully peaked through the peephole, seeing a young man looking at the door handle. I hesitated for a moment, eyes widening when he looked up at the peephole to reveal a missing eye and had a half decomposed face. Before I knew it, the outside of my door was crowded with the undead, the banging on my door becoming louder and louder.

“Shit,” I muttered, rushing towards my open window.

Glancing behind me, I turned to the first-floor window, ready to leap out of it only to have the glass shatter to reveal one of those things. The girl, or what used to be the girl, leaped onto me, mouth moving closer and closer to my face as I kicked its torso as hard as I can to try get it away from me. I kicked it one final time before grabbing my gun. I quickly shot her in the head, flinching slightly as I did so, the body falling on top of me as blood began to cover me. As soon as I shoved the body off of me, the door burst down revealing a huge group of those things. I let out a huge breath I wasn’t aware I was holding before lowering myself out of my window, landing safely on the ground, gun still in hand. Most of the walkers had left the street, now residing inside my flat meaning I was able to run down the street, gun in hand ready to shoot anything that came near me – anything inhumane.

~

The only thing I could hear was my panting as I finally reached a stop nearby a seemingly abandoned house. It looked like any other house on the streets: red bricks, closed curtains yet an open window, a white door with a gold handle and a circle window at the top where I assumed was an attic. Glancing behind me on the look out for any people of any sort, before making my way up to the front porch, opening to door and letting myself in.

The inside of the house was ransacked. Cupboard flung open, drawers hanging down, some on the floor and empty packets covering the floor. The couches had been overturned and the television was shattered. The only thing that remained intact was a photo frame on the cabinet besides the couch.

I made my way towards the photo frame, picking it up to analyse the picture. It featured two boys, both having dark hair and they were hugging, huge smiles on their faces.

I heard the clicking of a gun behind me making me place the photo back on the cabinet, not bothering to even turn around.

“Who are you?” A deep voice asked me as I raised my hands in surrender before turning around.

“Who are you?” I mimicked.

“I asked first,” he said, gun pointed at my face.

“What are we twelve?” I asked, quickly grabbing the gun, pulling it downwards and gripping his wrist tightly with my spare hand, forcing him to drop the gun. I immediately pointed at him, placing my finger on the trigger signalling I was ready to shoot. This time he was the one to raise his hands in the air.

“I’ll ask you again, who are you?” I asked, unmoving as I stared into his eyes.

“Kim Taehyung, this is my house,” he nodded which I returned, not lowering the gun. “if I ask your name will you shoot me?” He asked, nodding towards the gun which I slowly lowered, removing my finger from the trigger of the silver gun.

“Y/N, Y/F/N.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair, placing the gun in the back pocket of my jeans, not wanting to give him it just yet. “Your house isn’t exactly a safe place right now, is it?”

Taehyung looked around the mess of a house before shaking his head.

“No, people came in here, so we rushed upstairs to the attic and forced the door shut. Then we heard you and knew you were alone, so I came down to see what you were doing,” Taehyung informed me at which I gave him a short nod.

“We?” I asked, my eyes darting back to the photo.

I now knew that one of the boys in the photo was Taehyung but I was unsure who the other one was. Probably the guy he’s currently with in the attic.

“Jungkook, he’s my best friend. The guy in the photo.” Taehyung answered, running his fingers down the photo. “This was taken a few days ago, right before all this mess.” He continued, pointing towards the door where we both knew horror was currently taking place.

“Is he in the attic?”

Taehyung gave me a firm nod as we continued our eye contact in utter silence. Unfortunately, the silence was broken by a loud banging on the front door which was soon broken down.

“Not again,” I groaned, quickly tossing Taehyung his gun and grabbing my own, beginning to shoot alongside him.

“Upstairs, quick!” He yelled, shifting his gaze towards the stairs behind us, still shooting.

The two of us raced upstairs, climbing the ladders to the attic, trying our best to fight off the monsters that were chasing us. As soon as I reached the attic and climbed in, I saw Taehyung being pulled back down by the walkers. Panicked, I shot my gun a few times, doing my best to miss Taehyung before holding out my hand to pull him up into the attic as he kicked and screamed. I pulled him up with ease, quickly shutting the door behind us as he landed on top of me, our eyes meeting.

“Thanks,” he mumbled, “I owe you.”

“Don’t mention it,” I whispered, hearing a cough behind us.

Taehyung, or maybe I should I call him Tae, lifted himself off of me, not breaking eye contact until I did. I looked behind me to see a tall, brown haired boy, probably early twenties. He looked awkward, fiddling with the sleeve of his black t-shirt.

“Am I interrupting something?” He asked quietly, finally looking up from his sleeves to look at us.

“Not at all,” I said, forcing a smile.

“This is Y/N,” Taehyung said, signalling towards me.

“Hey,” I greeted, “you’re Jungkook, right?” I questioned, despite already knowing from the photo, he simply nodded, “Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, you too,” he shrugged, avoiding eye contact with me, leaving me confused.

I watched as Tae walked over to one of the bean bags, sitting down on one of seven bean bags on the ground. Each of them were different colours, ranging from green to black. Somehow it was still pretty to look at. Jungkook followed him, sitting down on the bag beside him, patting another signalling me to sit. I did so, looking around the room.

The walls were covered in white paint and wooden flooring lay beneath us. In front of the bean bags was a huge television with a few consoles lying in front of a beech coffee table. A single game lay on the table.

Overwatch.

Fun game to be honest.

The walls were decorated with fairy lights which, I assumed, would light up different colours.

It was quite an aesthetic room.

I looked back up at the boys beside me, Taehyung already looking at me.

I tilted my head, confused at what he was doing. We maintained eye contact for a while, before I spoke, breaking the silence.

“Have I got something on my face?” I asked cautiously.

“No, but you’re covered in blood.” He stated, looking down at my clothes.

“Oh,” I whispered, following his gaze.

I had completely forgotten about the earlier incident, being more focused on the two here with me. I did want to make sure that they weren’t a threat in anyway. Considering I had just met these men, they were too kind to me. Then again, I had saved Taehyungs life despite only just meeting him, but that was just the right thing to do. Jungkook and Taehyung did seem to not have any bad intentions, you never know though.

Not until it’s too late…

“Do you need a change of clothes?” Jungkook asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Uhh, yes please. If that’s okay?” I said awkwardly, looking towards him to see a blush on his cheeks.

He stood up, walking towards a closet which I hadn’t noticed.

Well, it is in the corner, Y/N.

He pulled out a pair of jeans and another white t-shirt, similar to the one I was wearing previously. He handed me the clothes, eyes widening as I immediately pulled off my shirt, ignoring them.

“You just change in front of us?!” Taehyung asked, shocked.

“The worlds ending, boys. Why should I care who sees me in a bra?” I smirked, amused at their embarrassed faces as I pulled on the pair of jeans that barely fit me before throwing my leather jacket over it which had somehow survived being covered in blood.

“That is…” Taehyung began,

“A valid point.” Jungkook finished, causing me to chuckle.

“Of course,” I winked, sitting back down on the green bean bag beneath me.

We engaged in light chatter for what seemed like hours before a loud, rapid knocking came from the door to the attic.

Someone is there…

[franklyshipping]

True Happiness Needs No Sound ~ A Jacksepticeye Ego Fanfic

Thiiiiis is a lovely prompt from the snazzy @petunia9402 who is always so lovely on the blog and their prompt is an AWESOME one! This is set with the interpretation that Jameson Jackson has no voice at all btw....LET'S DO THIS!

Jameson Jackson, I'm very sorry to say, was not smiling. Nor had he smiled all day. Jamie was the sort of guy who usually wasn't troubled or self-conscious about himself because he had so many loving people around him who loved and appreciated every single part of him...but lately....Jamie hadn't been feeling it. The Septics were a rowdy bunch, always cracking jokes to make each other laugh, always rough-housing, tickling, playing, all that awesome stuff....but none of that stuff had really seemed to extend to Jamie recently.

The only time Jamie seemed to hear jokes was when he happened to be in the room when they were being told....no-one actively tried to make him laugh with humour. No-one tried to wrestle with him, tickle him, play with him...and Jamie knew why. Jamie couldn't laugh, he couldn't make one single sound. Why waste jokes when you're not going to get a reaction? It was pointless. HE was pointless. That was how Jameson Jackson felt. He was upset, sour, and attempting to cope by gripping a blanket so hard that his knuckles turned white. He couldn't even scream to let his emotions out.

Thankfully....that was when our hero dropped in. Jamie was curled up on the couch in the living room, aimlessly looking at a wall in a dazed manner. That was how Chase Brody found him. Chase grinned as he spotted the dapper gentleman, and immediately sunk down next to him on the couch, rubbing shoulders with him in a true bro fashion.

'What's cookin' in Jameson land?'

Jamie....didn't react in the way Chase expected. Instead of a cheery smile, a playful shove, or an excitably signed sentence, all Jamie exhibited was a light shrug and brief sign.

'Nothing.'

Chase, obviously, was immediately concerned, especially since Jamie hadn't even turned to look at him. Chase sat up straighter and tentatively placed his hand on Jamie's back, leaning in a little to try and see his face to see if he could maybe analyse what was wrong with the sweet guy.

'Hey....buddy you know you can tell me anything....'

Chase spoke softly, making sure his reassuring smile stayed on his lips. Now, in Jamie's mind he would have ideally wanted to be strong. He liked to think he would have been able to tough this sort of thing out like the others do when they pretend that they're not upset....but he couldn't. Jamie just burst into sad, silent tears.

'Everything's just pointless. I'm pointless!'

Jamie's hands looked like they were almost spasming with how shaky his signing was, and Chase hurried to envelop the man in a hug because Chase knew that Jamie needed it if he was going to feel safe enough to reveal what was going on. Chase took a moment to stow away his shock for now as he stroked Jamie's hair, whispering to him gently.

'Hey, hey why would you think that huh? You're a septic, how could you ever think that you were pointless?'

Jamie was shaking his head as he sobbed and sobbed in silence. The only sound that was in the room was Jamie's frantic, jittery panting as he signed.

'How can I be one of you? How can I be a septic when everything about you all revolves around happiness and laughter? I can't do any of that Chase, I can't be like that with any of you! I can't laugh with you, so why should you all even bother with me?'

....Chase was nearly on the verge of tears. Chase's mind was racing with questions. Had someone put these ideas in Jamie's head? Had he and the others accidently excluded him from things without realising? How long had Jamie been feeling like this? Chase's blood ran cold as he wondered how many times Jamie might have been bawling his eyes out while they were just in the next room....oblivious. No. NO. Chase was not having it. Chase cupped one of Jamie's cheeks and shifted a little, so he could look at the shivering, upset man properly as he brought out the voice of the loving dad that he was.

'Now you listen here. Being able to laugh is NOT a requirement to be one of us, being able to laugh isn't a requirement for ANYTHING. We love you so damn much and you bring us happiness just by existing....'

Chase trailed off, making sure that Jamie was still close and embraced as he gave the younger man time to process what Chase was saying; Chase knew better than anyone that it took so much longer to process words in your brain when you feel like crap. Jamie though, much to Chase's relief, started to pant less and less, bit by bit....he was just starting to calm down from it all, just a little. Chase smiled warmly, and murmured with a smile.

'....besides, I know I don't need to hear a laugh from you to know when my humour is tickling you in all the right places!'

Chase took the opportunity to lightly pinch Jamie's cheeks with a fond smile, and to Chase's delight, Jamie blushed and bapped at him; he was even hiding a little smile as he signed.

'Your jokes are awful....'

Jamie looked up at Chase softly, and let him see his little smile, just so that Chase knew he was only in jest. Chase, of course, let out quite the indignant gasp at this apparent rudeness!

'Well....that's just because I save my best material for special occasions! I'll give you one of my best jokes to prove it!'

Chase replied matter-of-factly, before clearing his throat with the greatest amount of exaggeration that he could possibly muster.

'The best joke, in the entire world actually, iiiis....'

Jamie had one of his eyebrows raised a little, especially when Chase trailed off and paused for dramatic effect whilst waggling his eyebrows comically. Then, Chase smirked and did snazzy finger-guns as he delivered his punch-line.

'Anti's dress sense!'

Jamie was biting down hard on his bottom lip. Why? Because it was taking every single ounce of willpower Jamie had inside him not to break out into a grin and shake with laughter at how amazing that joke was, as well as at how utterly bold and brave it was! Luckily Jamie managed to cover his mouth and stop any mirth....but he couldn't stop that bright smile of his; he couldn't help it, Chase always made him smile.

'Ohhhh what's this? Was that, I daresay, a smiiiiile?'

Chase gasped as he cooed, giggling in victory at seeing Jamie trying to cover up his evident happier mood. Jamie shook his head in defiance at Chase....but Chase wasn't going to let that smile go. He inched especially close to Jamie, a grin in place as he growled goofily.

'You'd better show me that smile....or I'll make you!'

Chase made his hands into claws and playfully wiggled his fingers....but what he didn't expect was for Jamie's smile to fade and for his face to fall into a frown; Jamie's melancholy had come back, and Chase stuttered frantically, endeavouring to see what was wrong and how he could fix it.

'....d-did I say something wrong?'

Chase lowered his hands as nerves bubbled in him....but he let out a light sigh of relief when Jamie shook his head....but then he felt like he was being punched in the gut as he interpreted what Jamie signed next.

'....the only point of tickling is to make someone laugh. You're wasting it on me.'

....first off, Chase made a mental note to find out who the fuck provided the first spark that caused this mentality to develop inside Jamie. For now though, Chase took a breath. He was here for Jamie, and he was damn well going to show it!

'Well, I'm sorry but you'll have to say something better that THAT if you don't want the tickles! Oh, plus you're wrong.'

Chase's voice was so strong and resolute, that it took the melancholic Jamie off guard and made him blink up at Chase in surprise; he didn't know Chase had that much assertiveness in him! Now, with Jamie focusing on letting the words start to sink in, that meant he didn't move to stop Chase when he lightly straddled the pondering man.

'Tickling is about trust, bonding....'

Jamie blinked and looked up at Chase, his next words bringing him back to reality....and causing to develop a sweet, wobbly smile. Jamie knew that Chase was too much of a lazy, silly man to even contemplate lying to someone about something, so he knew that Chase meant every word he said. Plus, with Jamie having developed a smile once more and looking much less melancholy....only one thought was in Chase's mind. He had to keep Jamie like this for eternity. So, Chase grinned, growled, and readied his fingers.

'....and giving those you love an absolute wrecking when they need it most.'

Chase snickered and struck, and struck well. As soon as those scratching fingers of his found Jamie's tummy, Jamie was done for. All he could do was grin and wiggle from side to side as his chest shook with sweet mirth; plus he had the most precious dimples you have ever seen on a person. Jamie was also gazing up at Chase pleadingly as he signed at a rather fast pace....he was frantic....because Jamie knew that Chase knew ALL of his tickle spots. 

'But I don't need it I don't I don't I don't!'

Chase giggled fondly down at Jamie, enjoying scratching the man's soft belly as those dimples just got deeper and deeper.

'What do you mean you don't need it? You already look so much happier now, especially with those pretty diiiiimples!'

Chase crooned, squishing the flesh of Jamie's belly playfully; this of course made a) Jamie sign even MORE frantically, and b) hurry to cover his face which was slowly becoming the most delightful dark pink colour.

'I don't have dimples, you have no proof!'

Ahh, that sweet, sweet defiant denial.  At seeing Jamie try to hide himself and try to LIE of all things, this made Chase gasp in utter shock that Jamie would express such dishonest evasion! So of course, he promptly scribbled into Jamie's belly and put on a rather authoritative voice.

'Oh you'd better lower those hands right now mister, or things are gonna get muuuuch worse.....'

Jamie's eyes widened at the more intense tickling, and he arched his back and tossed his head as a result of it all; Chase's fingers were digging in SO much, it was evil! However....Jamie did not, even for a second, move his hands from his mouth; even though the tickling was so bad, Jamie managed the tiniest of glares in Chase's direction. Chase smirked....because oh how he'd hoped for that reaction.

'Fine, if that's how you wanna play....'

Chase purred, letting his hands drift away from Jamie's belly for a few moments, allowing the man to cutely huff and catch his breath. No seriously, every little huff of an inhale or an exhale that Jamie exhibited was so cute that it would have made a rocky cliff aww. Of course though, that bliss of recovery couldn't last forever; Jamie soon realised that when he felt Chase's fingers....splaying over the tops of his thighs.

'No not there Chase please, look I did what you wanted, look!'

Jamie revealed his flustered grin as he signed at fast as he could, gazing at Chase imploringly the whole time because dammit his thighs were so damn ticklish! Of course, Jamie reasoned that because now he'd done what Chase had asked, he'd get mercy, right? Yeah uh....Chase's malevolent smirk currently suggested otherwise as his fingertips kept splaying over Jamie's tense thigh muscles.

'Mmmm, yeah you did....but unfortunately, you took waaay too long to obey me....and now you must be punished!'

Chase then promptly set about pinching the soft flesh of Jamie's thighs, which as you can imagine, prompted quite the reaction from the sweet, sensitive man. Jamie literally started assaulting the couch as his mouth opened wide, and his whole torso was quivering with all his cute mirth!

'Awww look at these tickly squishy thiiiighs!'

Chase's teasing did not help. Yes, Jamie was well aware that he had rather squishy and sensitive thighs but he CERTAINLY didn't need to have it pointed out to him by a meanie tickler! Jamie was tugging at his legs as he gazed at Chase with flustered, watery eyes.

'Shut up shut up!'

Chase giggled fondly at Jamie, gosh he was probably one of the cutest people on the planet. Chase loved seeing how wild Jamie got physically; if he was Jackie's side-kick, all the hero would have to do is poke or squeeze him and get him to flail and knock out all the villains that way! Talking of squeezing, Chase was now rather enjoying doing that to Jamie's poor thighs.

'Or what? You'll keep smiling handsomely at me?'

Chase smugly retorted, snickering at Jamie's sweet red face and sweet bright smile-....and sweet snorts? Oh yeah, that's right people. Jamie had started snorting, a sound which didn't require the involvement of vocal chords; of course, this was something else that Chase decided he must gasp dramatically at, I mean, what kind of playful tickler would he be if he didn't?!

'Ohhh, you intend to snort at me! Well, frankly that just makes me want to tickle you even more!'

Chase grinned as he scribbled over Jamie's thighs, delighting in the torrent of snorts he got in return from his sweet little tickle victim; said victim ended up struggling harder and signing faster.

'No you can't make me snort, I sound dumb!'

Jamie pouted up at Chase amidst his reply, he didn't see how sounding like an undignified pig was anything close to a good thing! Chase of course was VERY quick to disagree with this notion.

'Actually, you sound and look very precious and happy!'

.....I personally love it when someone says something just that little bit more meaningful out of nowhere, and it just really catches you off guard but in the loveliest way. It certainly caught Jamie off guard. Jamie developed a wobbly, happy smile, sniffling and gasping as Chase let him catch his breath for a little bit. Chase then just took the opportunity to just....enjoy looking at Jamie, seeing all the colour in his cheeks, his persistent smile, his jittery chest; he was too adorable.

'You really think that?'

Chase blinked when he saw Jamie slowly sign to him with imploring eyes, and Chase didn't hesitate to nod and grin....whilst subtly shuffling his way down to Jamie's shins so he could ''casually'' rest on them.

'Oh I do....it's so cute how your chest quivers, and how your dimples make your cheeks look even more pinchable....and how your eyes widen when you know the tickling is about to start....'

Chase purred softly, and at first Jamie felt so warmed and giddy at the sweet compliments....but then the happy butterflies in his system started to get more and more active as Jamie listened more. He realised...that Chase was not done. As if on cue too, when he felt a single finger swipe up one of his bare feet, Jamie's eyes widened.

'Wait no wait not my feet you know I can't handle it! I might cry!'

Jamie signed frantically, clinging to the weak hope of Chase maybe having mercy....but ah, that wasn't going to happen. Chase of course awed at Jamie at how sweet and flustered he was....before smirking and setting about scratching up and down BOTH of Jamie's pale soles.

'Awwww don't worry, that's what tissues are for!'

Jamie's reaction was gorgeous. His mouth opened as wide as it could go as the sensitive man arched his back, thumping the couch as his mind raced with shock at how ruthless Chase was being! This was Jamie's equivalent of screaming, his feet were hands down his worst tickle spot, so Jamie did the only thing he could do. He begged.

'NO PLEASE NO NO PLEASE CHASE! MEANIE! YOU MEANIE!'

Jamie scrunched his feet as his pleading signs made Chase giggle fondly, but Chase only set about scratching deep into Jamie's wrinkles as he cooed.

'If you think scrunching up these pretty feet will save you then you are soooo wrong....'

The hardened scratching made Jamie let out a spontaneous snort, before his form just shivered and jumped with his silent hiccups of laughter. It was a rather a precious sight to behold, and Jamie's hands were practically a blur at this point too.

'I'M GOING TO GET YOU BACK FOR THIS!'

Poor Jamie, he was so overcome by the tickles that his brain somehow thought a threat was a good idea! Chase raised an amused eyebrow down at the red-faced thrashing man, and mercilessly scratched under Jamie's toes as he chuckled.

'Oh yeah? You and what ler mood, hm?'

Oh yeah, Chase went there. Poor Jamie was so embarrassed amidst his mirth as Chase brought up the implicit truth of the fact that Jamie could have easily sat up and grabbed Chase's hands at any time....but he was too happy. He was too happy at being tickled and cheered up to make it stop.

'PLEASE! NO MORE! CHASE, MY FEET CHASE!'

Under other circumstances, Jamie would have retorted against Chase's words, but with all the tickling he could only focus on trying to sign coherently. Jamie had little tears trickling from the corners of his eyes, and was weeping with silent laughter....as Chase merely snickered.

'Mmm, they are lovely and soft feet you have here....'

Chase's scratching fingertips never left the undersides of Jamie's poor toes, and by now the poor dapper man had tears really streaming down his face. Of course though, Chase wasn't going to torture him forever.

'MERCY! MERCY! MERCY!'

That was the word that Chase needed to see. He grinned and relented, sliding off Jamie's legs and crawling up to him so he could envelop Jamie in a warm hug; he wasn't completely cruel! Chase chuckled affectionately as he ran his fingers through Jamie's hair, smiling when he felt the panting man snuggle close. He produced a tissue from his back pocket and lightly dabbed at Jamie's cheeks and eyes, whilst murmuring in a soft voice.

'....s-sorry if I, heh, got a little intense on you kid....I just wanted you, well, needed, you to know that we love you so damn much. No matter what you can and can't do, that doesn't stop you being one of us. The best one of us to be honest.'

....honestly, those words alone could have sent Jamie weeping for a good ten years. He didn't though. Jamie gazed up at Chase with watery eyes and a wobbly smile....he felt so damn happy and loved and looked after.

'I love you dad.'

....aaand now Chase was also tearing up, damn you Jamie for making the whole thing even MORE heart-warming! Chase grinned and ruffled Jamie's hair, pulling him closer as he gave him the strongest, most loving hug that he could muster.

'Love you too kid.'

Jamie let out a soft, happy sniffle at Chase's reply....and then let out quite a few more silent giggles since Chase had decided to take it upon himself to mess up Jamie's hair every few seconds for the foreseeable future. Well, that's a good, loving dad for you.

WOOOO HOPE YOU GUYS LIKED THIS FIC LEMME KNOW IF YA DIIIID WOOOOP LUV YOUS XX

[p4nkow]

Hi-hi darling I've seen that your doing prompts so I thought I would send in a request for the FLUFF promts could I please get #'s 17 and 22 with our lovely Deacy. Thank you darling

hello to you darling! thanks a lot for requesting, i hope you like it :) i’ve loved writing for our johnny boy

17. “But I want to hear you sing!”

22. “Dance with me.”

let me know what you think, folks! gif’s not mine, credit to the owner

In almost three years of relationship you’d never seen John so smug, ever. Hot Space, the tenth in studio album by Queen, had finally been released and that’s exactly what you were celebrating that night. Miami had organised a hell of a party and everyone who mattered was there. It couldn’t be compared to a Freddie’s party, of course, but you were still having a lot of fun.

You hadn’t been able to spend a lot of time with John, though. He had been in deep conversations the whole night, so you could do nothing but enjoy the party by yourself and later with the girls- Dominique and Chrissie.

The tracks of the new album played in the background as you girls chatted at the counter, taking a sip of your drinks every now and then.

“I just hope this little peanut doesn’t take my temper. It’s already hard enough with Jimmy” Chrissie said as she rubbed her belly, her back to the counter as she spoke.

Dominique looked at her with the corner of her eye, nodding to the bartender as he spilled her another drink. “Thank God Felix’s a quiet kid- Roger drives me nuts enough.”

You chuckled at her words but you didn’t answer her because of Roger stepped in. “Were you talking about me, love?”

“Speak of the devil” She answered and you took the chance to give a quick glance at John. He was holding a drink in his hand while he was politely making conversation with Miami, Fred and a man who seemed very important. He smiled at you and you wiggled your nose. You could feel his gaze still on you while you tried to keep up with Chrissie’s subject of conversation- Dominique and Roger had disappeared who knows where.

“What d’ya think?” Chrissie asked you and you almost panicked. You didn’t hear a word she said. “I- uhm-“

She laughed and shook her head, looking at John and then at you. “I asked you” She repeated, articulating every word “What do you think about the name Louisa.”

You blushed and chuckled, thinking about how the name did sound. “Louisa May- like Louisa May Alcott!”

“Fuck, I hadn’t thought about it. Well, we still have time to choose. Right now I really gotta pee.”

You softly laughed as you watched her walking away. You took another sip of your drink and then you noticed John approaching you. Back Chat was echoing in the background and due to how many times you had listened to it you knew it by heart. So you started to mouth the lyrics as John came closer to you, his smile growing bigger at the sight of you singing.

“Back chat, back chat, analysing what I say” you mouthed when John stood in front of you. He took your hands in his as he placed a kiss on your cheek, clearly amused.

“You having fun, love?” He asked and you nodded. “Oh yes, I always do when I’m around the girls. Missed you, though.”

You placed both of your hands on his hips and smiled at him, then he cupped your cheeks and placed a quick kiss on your lips. That was all you would get that night- John wasn’t exactly the kind of guy who was into pda. That kiss was his way to say that he was sorry for being busy all night.

“I know, ‘m sorry.”

“Don’t worry, it was nice to spend some time with the girls. If I'm ever goin' to win have to get the last word in!” You just couldn’t stop yourself from singing and John loved the fact that you were going so crazy about his song.

“You’re adorable” He murmured and you bit your lip.

You made your puppy eyes and you asked him “Sing with me, please?”

“Nope” He answered, shaking his head. You placed a hand on his neck, slowly caressing him. You couldn’t resist not to touch him for the whole night.

“Please? C’mon Johnny, come on now wake up, stand up and drag yourself on out!” You murmured in his ear, following the rhythm of the music, and you couldn’t believe yourself when John started to sing along, limiting himself into murmuring back in your ear “Get down, get ready scream and shout.”

You bursted into laughed and you clapped your hands, causing John to chuckle. You always sang together at home- you didn’t know who between the two of you was the most pitchy but while it wasn’t a big deal for you to sing in public, for John it was. You considered it a small victory.

You knew by the grin on his face that he was up to something and you weren’t much surprised when he said “Dance with me.”

“You wanna show people your Disco Deacy moves?”

“Yeah, love. Everyone’ll envy us.”

You were eager to dance with him- the two of you had always the best time in the dance floor. You gave a quick glance at the bunch of people who were dancing- among them you also spotted Roger and Dominique, who waved at you and waved you up to join them.

“Lead the way, Disco Man. I’ll always be your dance partner.”

Prompt requests are open!

[fanficparker]

Ocean Eyes | Haz mini series | Part 6

Pairing: (Strangers to Friends to Lovers!) (Imaginary Love Triangle!) (Accidental Adultery!) Harrison Osterfield x Reader

A/n: It was my first ever fanfic, I earlier posted it on instagram and so thought of posting it here too. It’s trash. Check my masterlist for other fics, one-shots & more parts. IT’S A MINI SERIES, SO THERE ARE A LITTLE MORE THAN USUAL TIME SKIPS. I HOPE IT ISN’T THAT ANNOYING *prays*.

Word count: 2.5K

Warning: Hella Angst, Self-harm references, life threat, blood, deep wounds, conflicting emotions and what not?! Also some major time skips cause it’s a mini-series!

Description: Y/n Y/l/n, a doctor by profession, loner by destiny, having just a little celebrity crush on a British actor Tom Holland. Her whole life changes when she accidentally bumped into a blue-eyed man on a rainy dark night, who was supposed to be Tom’s best friend Harrison Osterfield. What will happen when Harrison starts to fall for her? This celebrity crush on Tom is intended to create some drama ;)

Part 6…

Harrison collapsed, so abruptly that his mate Tom didn’t get any chance to catch him. His head hit the door’s edge and in the other second Harrison was lying unconscious on his own pool of blood. Tom couldn’t even believe what happened all of a sudden, he was covered in sweat, his hands felt numb. Without any further delay, he crouched to the ground, lifting Harrison’s head screaming your name.

“Y/n!” he shouted at his maximum voice. His voice came as a bombshell at your ears, making you rush down.

“Tom what ha…” you were just at the second last staircase when you saw Harrison knocked out on the ground covered in blood. You ran towards him, fortuitous tears spilt all over your face as you reached near him. You sat on the floor, keeping Harrison’s head on your lap. Your breathing became uneven seeing him like this. Covering his nasty cut with your palm you yelled with your now cracked voice, “What happened in here?” , tears dripping down your cheeks falling on Harrison’s passed out body.

“He fainted and got his head hit with the door’s edge,” Tom responded in a shaky voice, extreme fear clearly imprinted on his face. You checked his pupil, instantly sensing that he was already suffering from serious anaemia, and this much blood loss could be life threatening!

“Get your car, we need to take him to the hospital,” you screamed, pointed your hand that was covered in Harrison’s blood towards the outdoors. Tom hurriedly ran, getting his car. With your help he managed to make his mate lie down on the back seat, driving to the hospital while you called your hospital staff to make the operation theatre ready. The neurosurgeon was out of town and contracting another neurosurgeon wasn’t possible right now, you need to get Harrison’s cut operated as soon as possible. The thought that Harrison might have damaged his neurons was haunting you. If he did, then the case was out of your hands already.

•••

As soon as you reached the hospital, the staff laid him on the stretcher as you rushed with them into the emergency room, patting Tom’s shoulder.

“Call Harrison’s family” you instructed getting inside for the surgery. You wore your operating cloak, along with the face mask and surgical gloves. The nurse removed Harrison’s blood-stained t-shirt and the sight of him made you feel like dying. He looked so weak, he had lost his muscles and abs, and his body was covered with self-harm cuts fresh and old. He even wrote some words on him with a sharp object, some of them were unclear but still readable.

Y/n, sorry, come back were some of the readable words. You realized how much guilty he was. His state, his broken state made your vision blurry as tears spilt off your eyes again. You wiped off your tears, sniffing. All you prayed was that he didn’t get any brain damage. You started analysing his cut using scalpels and retractors. You left a sigh realizing that he didn’t damage his brain, but his extremely low blood sugar level, along with anaemia still made his condition serious. You operated him for almost an hour. He was out of the danger zone, but still unconscious. You walked out of the operation theatre meeting Tom and Harrison’s family ensuring that he was safe now.

They left to check him. They didn’t know about the things you knew. Those cuts, the pain he was giving himself. You felt like, you were the one guilty one, for getting Harrison at this stage. For 3 days he was almost starving himself. He is been continuously dripped with glucose supply. It took him 26 hours to finally gain consciousness. Still, he was kept in the hospital for another 2 days, till his blood sugar level normalises.

You, Tom and Harrison’s family visited him regularly in the hospital as well at his home when he was discharged, yet prescribed to take complete bed rest for another 3 weeks. Harrison always talked to his family and Tom while he was at bed rest, but always pretended to be asleep when you were close. Moreover, you too visited him only when he was asleep. Haz was astonished to see how much you still cared for him. Also by the fact that you saved his life, yet still not shared a word with him. The way you caressed his hairs, held his hand whenever he was pretending to asleep was already making him question:

Do you still like him? Or just taking care of him because he was your patient?

The answer is quite clear though!

Which doctor plays with her patient’s hair while he’s asleep, and also if the patient isn’t a child but a full grown up man?!

•••

After 2 days, Harrison was finally discharged from the hospital. For 3 weeks as per prescription, he spent his time in bed rest. He was continuously checked by his family for eating properly. He even had to take a bunch of medicines and was shot with 2 injections daily. But there was a little twist in this part. For the injection, the hospital usually sends a nurse, but instead of the nurse, a senior doctor comes regularly for the same. The senior Doctor Y/n Y/ln.

You came regularly to Harrison’s place, checking his blood pressure, sugar level and for injecting the meds. And still every time you came, Harrison pretended to be asleep, afraid of talking to you. Afraid that he will speak something offensive again, hurting you again. But this silence was killing him. He was dying to hear your voice, to touch your face, feel your lips on his. Every time you came you just did the task and left.

This routine continued for 3 weeks and finally, it was the last day for those injections. Maybe the last day you were visiting Harrison too. You, as usual, came to his room, and he as usual pretended to be asleep, even though Harrison was almost normal by this time. You took a seat on a chair near his bed, carefully searching for a vein in his right hand, successfully injecting the meds. You were an expert in this, Harrison could easily tell that. Your shots didn’t pain or feel anything. The only thing he felt when you gave him shots was the warmth of your soft hands caressing his arms. He wished that he could touch you too, hug you, never allow you to leave him. But these were just his wishes.

“You don’t need to pretend to be asleep,” you said getting up from your seat, making him open his eyes in surprise.

“Y-you knew? ” he asked to which you simply nodded your head and left. This unusual breaking of silence by you lit a hope in the blonde’s heart somewhere…

•••

Days went by like this…

No words shared between both of you. Whenever you were at the same place, whenever your eyes met with him, either of you looked down or turned away. Finally, it was Zendaya’s birthday party and she invited both of you as usual. The party was really great, both of you had a great time, but not with each other. You were talking to Zendaya when Tom interrupted you.

“Y/n I need to rush back home right now, Harry took my car. Can I borrow your car? Haz please drop her to her house, I need to leave” Tom stated, didn’t even giving you any chance to answer. You had no choice but give him the keys.

•••

Your heart skipped an unhealthy amount of beats, nerves starting to cruise through your entire body as you walked towards Harrison’s car.

“Maybe I could ask anyone else to drop me home!” you whispered, looking around, only to see Harrison coming towards you.

“Ma-My car is over there,” he pointed, you nodded, moving towards him. You could see how stiff Harrison’s body appeared, he was surely even more nervous than you.

A drive with Harrison, alone.

You took the passenger’s seat as he began driving, both of you never looking at each other. The usual silence filling in between you making the noise of your breathing and heartbeat clearly audible as well as his. These sounds made both of you even more uncomfortable. Harrison finally decided to turn on the radio, only to lead this silence somewhere else.

•••

“Ma-My car is over there… ” Harrison still can’t believe that he had the nerve to ask you to sit in his car. It was for sure, he could have skipped this situation. He was sure, you could have Toni or Jacob to drop you home, but before you could even make a move, he lead you to his car. But the silence, that bloody silence going on between you both for more than a month was a thing he could never get used to. He had 2 girlfriends before he met you, he even broke up with them, but it felt him nothing, no attachments, no worries. Rather he felt better breaking up with them, but for you everything was different.

He turned on the car’s radio to divert his mind…

‘My neck, the feeling of your soft lips,’

The way his fingers ran softly through your face, the way his eyes outstared yours, the way his eyes darted from your eyes to your lips. The way he slowly leaned in, his lips on yours, moving slowly to rest on your neck. His hands travelling from your cheeks to hold your hands in his, squeezing it gently nibbling your neck. His touch, his lips, memories…

'Illuminated in the light, bouncing off the exit signs I missed.’

Didn’t he had a chance to excuse himself and leave alone? Didn’t you have a chance to excuse yourself, deny his offer and ask someone else? You had, both of you had. And you both intentionally missed it. How can’t you? Those flares in his ocean eyes made everything hazy, except for him.

'All we do is drive…’

That’s where you are right now. That’s where he’s right now, with you. Driving… No interaction, no expressions… Nothing!

'All we do is think about the feelings that we hide.’

You still care for him right? If not then why were you shedding tears fearing that he could die? Why was he harming himself? Didn’t his love shrink over time? Can’t he move on from you? Why didn’t you moved on after that? Did you ever think of getting into a new relationship?

'All we do is sit in silence waiting for a sign,’

This silent drive, where his eyes are glued on the road ahead. The silent drive, where your eyes are glued to your window. The silent drive, where both of your eyes are threatened to fall on each other. Aren’t you waiting for him to make a move, break this aching silence? Isn’t he waiting for you to do the same?

'Sick and full of pride.’

Isn’t he sick of your absence? Isn’t he sick seeing the vacant bed beside him? Isn’t he sick not seeing you try making a new dish for him? Isn’t he sick of missing you? But it’s your pride not to react, it’s your pride not to look at the person who cheated you. Right?! Can’t you just break this pride? Don’t you want to?

'All we do is drive…’

But still, you are enjoying each others company, even when there are no words exchanged, even though you both aren’t even looking at each other, even though you and he are wanting the leeway… Isn’t it?

'Your laugh echoes down the hallway

Carves into my hollow chest

spreads over the emptiness,’

The time when he was facing continuous rejection, the time he was struggling extremely hard with his career, the time when he almost lost all hopes that he could even get signed for the project, he remembers it very well. And one thing he remembers in addition to that struggle- you, your smile, your laugh, your support, all of you. The mere presence of you could make him feel better, he used to forget all the failures and just sit with you, holding you close for hours talking and giggling at even the most non-sense jokes you made.

'It’s bliss…’

Having you by his side was his biggest win. Isn’t it weird you both were just strangers sometime ago, and then you just became inseparable? The way he comforted you, the way he made you feel beautiful, the way he brushed his lips on yours… How can you get over all that?

'It’s so simple but we can’t stay.’

But after what all happened between you and him, you both are finally separated, right? You both don’t care about each other? You both surely can never stay together, right?

'Over analyze again,’

Think… Think… Please think…

Isn’t there a way? Anyway?

That these things could be corrected?

Think… Think… Please think…

'Would it really kill you if we kissed?’

Can’t you drop your pride– for once?

Can’t he face you– for once?

Can’t you both get along– for once?

Just kiss him and you’re back together.

Just kiss her and you’re back together.

Is it that simple?

(Song used: Drive by Halsey)

The song only made you both furious. Even now your ears felt like filling from guilt?!

This needs to stop now.

His hand moved from the starring wheel towards the off button on the radio. Before he could even barely touch the radio, his hand brushed with yours. His gaze instantly shifted from the almost vacant highway road to you. The faint light from the street lamps reflected your eyes shining with tears and his own to you. You were at the same point as him, stretching your arm to shut off the radio.

None of you moved further, hands still touching… Even the slightest touch was making everything seem hazy. Even the music felt like fainting, even though it was still at the same volume. The loud noise of a car horn made your both jolt, back to reality. Harrison instantly gripped the starring wheel, focusing on the road, taking over the front vehicle.

Silence? Again?

Your tongue took over your body, maybe it was just actually bad at keeping things hidden. Your lips parted, faint words forming…

“We need to talk!”

(TBC) (WELL… WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?) (THIS MINI SERIES IS ALMOST AT ITS END)

[samcroslut]

True. (Tig x Reader)

Word Count:1293

Author’s Note: Hay guys! Thought I’d get this out to you before the next wave of exams start on Monday, hope that you enjoy this one. Don’t forget to send in those requests! 

Requested:Hi! I love ur work and was wondering if you’d be willing to write a Tig x reader?? The reader and Tig have been together for a while, and he decides to finally introduce her to the club, and one of the guys does the thing where they hit on her behind Tig’s back bc they need to see if she actually cares for him or is just secretly a Croweater. SO the reader clocks the guy who gets handsy and goes off on him for being a terrible friend to Tig before they all come clean about the test lmao

You and Tig were talking for a while before he asked you to be his girlfriend. With his reputation, it surprised you that he wanted that sort of thing, but here you were, 9 months down the line and happy.

It was well into the evening, the two of you eating dinner and just talking about your days.

“I want you to meet them.” His sudden burst of conversation threw you off. You had never pushed him to introduce you to the club, not wanting to come off negatively but you wanted to meet them, to be part of the family. Looking up at him, his eyes were already on you with his fork hanging from his hand.  Those blue eyes sending shivers through you, how could you say no? Sitting up straight you replied.

“It’s up to you Tig, they’re your family.”

“And that’s why I want you to meet them. You’re my family as well.” He smiled at you, calming your nerves.

“Okay then.”

And that was that. You put no thought to the matter, knowing that you wanted this to happen. Ever since that night everything felt like it was fitting into place. You had the love of your life, a good job and now you were on your way to meet you soon-to-be family. One of Tig’s ring clad hands was on the steering wheel while the other was holding you hand. The size difference always made you melt, his hands were double yours. It made you feel safe.

As Tig pulled into the lot, you felt your stomach start to bubble. You were anxious but at the same time you were excited, ready to start the new chapter in your life.

The lot was pretty empty, apart from the odd member scurrying around or someone entering or leaving. You’d never really been here, only saw from afar. Having always dreamed of becoming part of the well-known clan since you started this with Tig, it was unbelievable to know you were about to meet them all.

As the car came to a stop, you hopped out and rejoined Tig. With your hands interlaced, you made your way inside the clubhouse with a smile spread across both of your faces.

----

The boys had noticed a difference in their Tiggy: the leaving early, staying out of trouble (of course not completely) and the fact he wasn’t found passed out on the pool table with his touchy hands all over multiple croweaters and sweetbutts. So when he walked into the clubhouse with a lady on his arm, it wasn’t a surprise, still a shocking sight to see but nonetheless.

The guys were all hanging round the bar, drinking and smoking. There wasn’t much happening with the club at the minute and everyone was enjoying the ability to live freely. Clay was the first to clock onto the approaching new face. Bringing a beer to his lips, his mind started running, suddenly skeptical of the situation and her intentions with their brother.

The next to notice was Bobby. His face contorted into confusion, never in his life did he think this sight would ever happen. Bobby turned towards Clay with furrowed eyebrows. Clay nodded his head in their direction.

----

“Brothers. I’d like you to meet someone, this is (Y/N).” He looked down at you with those crystal blue eyes and smiled, giving you the confidence that you needed. Hand wrapped around your waist and the other by his side. You smiled at the bunch, analysing the men.

They looked like the stereotypical bike club. Tattoos. Leather. Alcohol and a mean glare. You loved it already.

“Hey..” You raised your hand in a slight wave, smiling back to the young man with a mohawk who seemed to not be able to keep that contagious smile off his face.

“Well this is definitely something. Our Tiggy with a woman! I’m Juice.” He introduced himself and glanced at the rest of his friends, in a way nudging them to speak. Within seconds the clubhouse was filled with hoots and hollers, Tig’s brothers pulling him into a massive hug and away from you. Your heart warmed at the sight of it all, your man in his element, with the people that he loved. Caught up in the moment you suddenly realised that someone was beside you, his hand edging way too close to your arse. Sliding out of his grasp you turned to him with your arms crossed over your chest, astonished that one of his so called ‘brothers’ would do something like this to him.

“Hi…” You trailed off so that you would find out his name. Not caring that if he was a friend of Tig’s or not, you’re not going to get touched up by some random guy.

“Bobby. I must say, Tig is a lucky guy..” His eyes trailed up and down your body in the most shameless way, it made you feel sick. Who did he think he was?

“Excuse me, I’d prefer it if you didn’t look at me like a piece of meat.” The authority in your voice shocked Bobby, now knowing that she wasn’t a regular woman. But some croweaters were feisty. A dirty smirk graced his face and he walked towards you again.

“Come on baby, I’m just trying to have a good time.” His hands grabbed at your hips as his face went to kiss at your neck. You weren’t having any of it. The anger boiling up inside you as you pushed him back, slapping him across the face. Bobby stumbled and his hand shot to the side of his face. The sound caused the room to turn silent, everybody’s eyes now facing the scene trying to figure out what happened. Clay just smirked at the sight, nodding to himself in satisfaction. Tig marched up to you.

“What the fuck happened?” He wasn’t angry at you, knowing that you wouldn’t just slap someone without a decent excuse. You turned to him with an anger clouding your eyes.

“You want to ask your friend that question!” You didn’t care about the what the others would think at this point.

Before Tig had the chance to direct his next question to the, now injured, Bobby, Clay stepped forward and placed his hand on his shoulder.

“It isn’t Bobby, I had to check her out. Can’t let just any random croweater have you.” The president then turned to you, “Sorry about this. Croweaters try and get in with one of the guys and we can’t have that. I was just checking.”

“She has a mean slap, I’ll give her that.” Bobby piped up from his seat at the bar. You smirked at his comment, but still annoyed at how this day played out.

“I’d rather you said something instead of playing games.” You put a hand on your hip as you replied to the older man. He raised his hands in defence before backing away to the bar. Tuning toward your man, you were met with the beautiful sight of him biting his lip, his look blatantly turned on.

“What?” You asked with a slight smile.

“Just didn’t know that my girl was such a badass.” Hands pulling you into him until you were chest to chest. Reaching up to place a kiss to his lips, your arms encasing his neck.

“I love you.” He mumbled against your lips. It was so quiet and slight that you nearly didn’t hear it but you were glad you did. It was the first time either of you had said that.

A blush coloured you face as you kissed him again, this time more rough. Gasping for breath you pulled away and rested your forehead against his.

“I love you too.”

[kuriquinn]

Telanadas [11/19]

Cover Page & Disclaimer

first chapter

Author’s Note: Inspiration for this scene drawn from Dragon Age: Origins cinematic trailer. Recognisable dialogue comes from Dragon Age Origins.

“There is a reason I agreed to travel with you and the idiot,” Sasuke admits, watching her reaction.

“I thought so,” Sakura says, tone soft. No doubt she recognised long ago that if he wanted to leave them, he could have done so with ease. That she never asked him his reasons suggests she wanted to hear them from him.

He deliberates a further minute, wondering where to begin, and decides on the facts.

“Travelling with two Grey Wardens opens doors,” he tells her. “I could not have entered the Circle of Magi otherwise.”

“People aren’t keen on the Dalish anywhere, but that’s one of the harder places to get into,” she agrees. “And Iwa isn’t fond of outsiders either. It wasn’t until I mentioned having the Warden treaties that you seemed keen on staying.”

“Hm.”

“You’re looking for something,” she determines. “Or someone.”

There is a pause where they study one another, both waiting for the other to speak first. Though her face suggests innocent interest, she won’t ask.

“I have a brother,” he confesses at last.

It has been so long since he said those words out loud that they taste foreign on his tongue.

Surprise crosses Sakura’s face, along with curiosity, but she does not interrupt. It is as if she senses the precariousness of this truth, perhaps even the gravity in it, but will not push him to speak of it unless he wishes it. Sasuke intends to leave the matter alone, but the unexpected relief he experiences at his own confession is disorienting.

To deceive her, even through omission, feels wrong.

“I will find him and kill him.”

He can see she was not expecting this, but to her credit the only shock she displays is the infinitesimal widening of her eyes. He waits for judgement to replace curiosity, or even disgust, but the only change he detects is concern.

“Why?” she asks.

Sasuke takes a deep breath through his nose, willing his voice to stay even.

“He massacred my entire clan,” he explains. “Not only did he take them from me, he spilled elven blood. We are a rare and diminishing people. To cut short our lives, in particular amongst our own, is the greatest sin of our kind. He has to pay for it.”

“By…spilling more blood?”

Her question is uncertain, as if she is trying to understand the logic for this and seek something beyond simple, petty revenge. Most people would accept such a premise without question, but she is always so damned determined to see beyond the facades of her comrades.

He finds he does not want her to see him only as an avenger.

“Itachi is no longer considered Elvhen,” Sasuke says. “He is cursed. His continued existence poisons the world around it and everyone he comes in contact with. I have a duty to my family, and to my people, to avenge our loss and remove his stain. Only then can my clan be at peace in the Beyond.”

Sakura is quiet at this, thoughtful.

“If this is so important to you…why haven’t you asked us to look for him while we travel?” she asks delicatly. “If stopping him is as important as you say, nine pairs of eyes are better than only one?”

Sasuke’s jaw clenches, as she hits upon the conundrum he has been wrestling with for weeks. He could lie about it, pretend to be noble and that personal revenge does not matter in the face of the disaster she and her Wardens are trying to overcome. He knows she would pretend to believe it even if she did not.

But if there is anything he has learned in his life, it is that there is no way to overcome a weakness without acknowledging it.

“I am…not yet strong enough to kill him,” he admits grudgingly. “But in helping you end this Blight and facing this insurmountable task ahead of you, I can become strong enough.”

“I think killing a bunch of darkspawn and killing your own brother are two very different matters. One is much harder than the other.”

“Hm.”

He cannot argue with that.

“Did you…did you ever ask him why?” she ventures after a pause.

“No,” he replies, curt. “He used magic to trap me in an illusion for days, leaving me as prey for demons in the Fade. I was lucky another clan found me, and their Keeper freed me.”

Sakura swears. “No wonder you don’t like mages.”

He nods once, uncomfortable admitting such a vulnerability.

He does not wish to speak about this anymore. At the same time, he does not want to turn his back on her and return to silence, and so he asks instead, “Do you have any siblings?”

It is the first time he has outright asked her a personal question of his own volition and not to analyse something she has volunteered. She seems startled by this, and replies, “No…just my parents. Assuming they’re still alive.”

She speaks the last bit in a somewhat quieter tone, and her shoulders hunch a little in sadness.

Sasuke regrets his question. “You need not say more.”

“No, it’s…it’s nice to think about them,” she assures him. “I miss them, but they’re with me wherever I go. They’re the reason I’m still alive. My mother taught me the skills I needed to survive on my own, and my father taught me to fight.” She nods to her axe. “He taught me to be strong. And he was the strongest person I knew. He gave up everything to be with my mother. Even though she couldn’t give him a son and he lost his position in the caste…”

“There are few who would sacrifice their own comforts for such a reason,” Sasuke remarks.

“Yeah.” She smiles, wistful, and then shakes her head. A serious look comes into her eye. “If you don’t mind me asking…what were your parents like?”

The question is one which has caused him anger and defensiveness in the past, a quick dismissal and need to occupy himself with other things.

But this time, as he considers his answer, he comes to a horrible realisation.

“I do not remember,” he confesses, throat tight.

Sympathy suffuses her expression, before morphing into determination. She inches over to sit closer to him and reaches for his hand. For reasons he cannot explain, he does not pull away, but allows her to thread her fingers between his. Instead of empty words, she squeezes his hand; he grips it back and they do not speak anymore after that.

Several hours pass, before Sakura pulls away, murmuring about getting ready to leave again. Sasuke nods and gathers his gear. He toes Naruto awake as he passes, and at the other side of the cave, Kakashi relaxes, going from unnatural stone stillness to animated once more.

It is a quick matter to gather the rest of their things, and though Sasuke is not as rested as he could be, it is better than nothing. His muscles still ache, but it is bearable, and he knows he will not notice it once thy are outside again and facing the cold.

The trek back to the large, ornate door in the hallway is easier than before, with no cultists left to challenge their progression. Sakura fits the key into the lock, and after confirming that the others are ready to venture out, twists it into place.

Once again, ancient gears turn and iron hinges grind against the stone. The dimly lit hall is bathed in brilliant white light that makes Sasuke’s eyes water, as the snowy mountain top materialises before them once more. Far ahead, only an outline within the shroud of cloud-cover, he sees the final cavern. Though almost hidden by dark rocks and snowdrifts it is clear that is where they must go next.

And it is fucking snowing again.

The habitual trudge upward begins, and before long Sasuke’s toes pinch with cold and his clothes sag with heavy snow. He tells himself that it is just a little farther, and as long as they do not stop he can endure it—

His ear flicks as it senses an out-of-place sound. Beside him, Sakura notices him freeze, and comes to an abrupt halt. She raises one hand in warning, the other bracing against her forehead as if it will help her see better in the blowing snow.

Sasuke only catches it in time to snap, “Sakura!” when an axe flies out of the fog, forcing them all to dodge.

Before any of them recover, a dark shape materialises in its wake. A shout echoes across the swirling snow: “For Lady Kaguya!”

 “More cultists!” Sakura cries, hauling her axe up as the man in red robes swings a sword at her. She deflects with her head of her axe, and as he recovers, charges forward, using the axe and his forward motion to leverage him over her head. As he falls, Naruto brings his sword down to behead him.

Sakura slides forward, into the range of the next man coming after her, throwing him aside as well. One of Sasuke’s daggers pierces his neck, and when a third comes at her they lock axes before she headbutts him, knocking him back with her shield.

“More incoming!” she yells, shoving the blade of her axe into the face of another cultist.

“Already on it!”

Kakashi braces himself, hauls back his staff and a giant rock explodes from thin air, barrelling past his companions and into the line of oncoming cultists. Confused and unable to disengage from each other, they are shoved over the cliffside by the invisible force of Kakashi’s magic.

Sasuke darts forward with the rest of his companions as the snow clears, revealing a dreary, flat outcropping in the side of the mountain. Jagged rock structures jut out of the ice, offering paltry cover as fire explodes from above them.

“Another Void-damned mage,” Naruto complains, as more cultists approach. Sasuke shifts to peek around his stone shield, noting another red-robed lunatic with a staff.

“Sasuke?” Sakura’s voice is neither question nor command, but he nods.

With a growl, he darts forward, drawing daggers as he dives between two oncoming cultists. Before they can turn on him, he tucks into a roll, slicing the blades across their bellies as he goes. The scent of blood and viscera fill the frosted air as he keeps running, dropping the daggers and drawing his bow from his side. He continues his fleetfooted advance, shooting one cultist several feet away. As the woman staggers to the ground, Sasuke jumps and uses her body as a stepping stone to achieve lift. After flipping into the air, he lands on another stone outcropping that gives him the higher ground.

“Dirthara-ma,” he hisses as he draws his bow, aiming it upward before letting the arrow fly. It is one of the enchanted projectiles he found earlier, and it soars much farther than a regular shaft wood, ramming into the mage’s eye with a squelching thunk.

Sakura and Kakashi are back to back now, the mage using his staff as both a cudgel and a way to channel his magic. Bursts of flame and ice engulf the enemy at random intervals, while Sakura swings her axe out, cutting across unguarded limbs or lopping heads from shoulders.

Kakashi ducks one cultist that comes at him, hooks him around the neck with his elbow and then presses his hand to his head. A blistering, bloody symbol burns into his skin. The cultist screams in pain, cradling his face as he staggers towards his brethren, before going rigid. Before his comrades even know what has happened, he has exploded into a mess of blood and bone that rips through the other cultists.

“Okay, so I might be a little uncomfortable around mages now too,” Sakura jibes, twisting a remaining cultist’s head to one side until it cracks.

“That was disgusting,” Sasuke informs Kakashi.

“But effective,” the mage replies, brushing what appears to be bits of skull off his mask.

“Looks like that’s all of them,” Naruto calls out from several yards away. “I think we can—”

 An ear-splitting, piercing screech fills the air and a giant shadow darkens the painful brightness of the day. Something moves overhead, stopping the snow from falling on them as thunderous bursts of air echo around them.

The rush of impending heat is the only warning they get. The party scatters in time, skidding to all sides as a voluminous burst of flame expands across the space where they all just stood.

Up above, the dragon howls as though in victory as it swoops past, veering to one side as it turns to swoop back down at them. 

“You had to open your blighted mouth!” Sasuke growls at the human.

“It’s not my fault!” Naruto protests.

Translations:

Elvhen – elves; “our people”

Dirthara-ma – “may you learn”; used as a curse

Fade – a metaphysical realm separated by the waking world by the Veil; a place of spirits; most races except dwarves visit it in their dreams

Comments and concrit are much appreciated, and very motivating! For information about supporting my original, non-fandom related works, you’re welcome to check out my ko-fi tip jar, or my patreon page. 

栗

Next Chapter

[fangirlshrewt97]

What happens when you trap a Black Panther and an Iron Man together?

Author(s): Fangirlshrewt97

For: @lurkerviolin (Happy birthday dearest Chancy, the fic is super rough cause I kind of threw it together in 2 hours, so there are sure to be a lot of mistakes and ooc moments, but otherwise, I hope you like it!)

Rating: General Audiences

Relationships: None

Characters: Tony Stark, T’Challa, Shuri

Warnings: None

Summary: When Tony and T’Challa find themselves captured by a witch, they have to find a way to work together to get themselves out. After all, who else could rescue them?

“Looks like we are going to be here a while.” Tony said as the wards went up around them.

“This is all your fault.” T’Challa said as he struggled to remove the ropes that were binding themselves even tighter around him.

“How the hell is this my fault?”

‘This’ being the situation where Iron Man and Black Panther had decided to go investigate some weird readings that Friday had picked up in the northern part of the Romanian forest while the rest of the Avengers had gone hunting after their baddie of the week. ‘This’ being Iron Man insisting that despite their injuries, there wouldn’t be any danger because it was just some weird signals, and if they did see anything suspicious they could report it to the others and wait, or head back to their temporary HQ and then return with the rest of the superheroes. Which was a relatively sane plan for these two, minus the factor that the weird signals had been magical ley line interference that had effectively fried their electronics and given out their positions to the witch - because of course there was a witch in the middle of the Romanian forest - who had promptly ordered the vines to bind them and drag them to her den. ‘This’ being Tony Stark and King T’Challa of Wakanda being bound together inside of a magical circle with magical wards while a hag - and a stereotypical one with long white hair and a huge mole on her nose and the cackling laugh and the whole shebang - was ominously cooking something in a giant black cauldron.

“Do you want the list alphabetically or chronologically?”

“Rude.” Tony said. His suit had been deep fried by the witch who had hit him with some kind of spell that knocked him out of the sky. It was only because he had a manual button to press for the parachute that he wasn’t a pile of goo inside his suit right now.

“Shut up! You two are the key to my plan! Now stop your incessant nagging before I decide to take your voices too!” The hag interrupted. She looked more frazzled, and the cauldron behind her was glowing green - which if one recalled any disney movie ever was never a good sign.

The two men quietened down as the witch started chanting something. The cauldron started to bubble, almost frothing over but stopping when she finished the incantation.

“I must go fetch something, but in case you try to escape, my pets will be watching you.” The hag told her prisoners before cackling and vanishing in a poof of smoke - because why not?

“I don’t know what is worse, being stuck with the one superhero who has issues with hurting a couple trees which would have bought us enough time to escape, or being held captive by a freaking Disney villain.” Tony grumbled.

“You did not want to hurt a couple trees Stark,” T’Challa said, voice sardonic. “You wanted to drop a bomb that would have wiped out a good section of the forest along with any animals that lived there to potentially get us away from her magical reach. Which if she managed to ping us with her magic and has, apparently, the power to teleport, would not have allowed to escape regardless.

“Whatever dude. What do you think she meant by -” Before Tony could finish his sentence, both men heard a growl guilding up by the mouth of the cave - sorry, den. Continuing the Disney Villain theme, a whole pack of lynx came in, all growling and eying the prisoners as if they were their next meal. “-pets”.

“Shit.”

“Language T’Challa!”

“Shut it Stark.”

“Well they aren’t that big-” And just as Tony started, the eyes of the lynx started to glow an eerie blue - although realistically, if you were in a cave and a bunch of lynx were in it with you, and their eyes started to glow, was the color of the glow the thing you would pay attention to? “This might be a problem.”

“You think?”

“Ok, ok, ok. How about you try to talk to them, cat to cat you know?”

“I just have the powers of the Black Panther god, I can’t actually speak to animals! That’s like thinking you can communicate with metals! Do you talk to iron? Your suit isn’t even made of iron. It’s made of lies!”

“....Wow. Touchy much?”

T’challa growled but tensed when the lynx started prowling around the wards.

“On the upside they can’t get past the wards either, so so long as we wait here nice and quiet, we should be fine. Right?”

As if in response the biggest lynx lunged at them, bouncing off the barrier, but leaving it visible with a crack.

“That response enough Stark?”

“This is a really shitty barrier.”

T’challa took a deep breath as he tried to think of an escape plan. He couldn’t focus though, because Stark was yapping in the background about the terrible wards.

“Tony. I am asking you to please be quiet, we need to get out of here now, before the witch comes back.”

“Tell me something I don’t know your majesty.” The billionaire replied. His tone had shifted from the sarcastic whining he had been doing before to a more serious one. He was thinking.

“You have a plan?”

“Of course I have a plan.”

“Why didn’t you say so in the first place?”

“I hadn’t finished coming up with it! Now do you want to hear it?”

When T’Challa kept quiet, Tony took that as a sign to continue speaking. “I realized that whatever weird signals were coming out of here were interfering with electronics before my suit stopped working, so I used the last of the power to send out a distress signal. So whoever was at HQ should have seen that signal by now and be coming to track us. My worry is that the transmission stopped at the edge of the magic signals, and since we were dragged into this cave, it will take them a while to locate the cave. And if the witch is smart, she probably has hidden it so it can’t be seen from the outside. So we need to find a way to get outside and signal to the Avengers our location.”

“Ok, but we still need to get out of these magical ropes, escape the magical lynx, and whatever other traps the witch has set. What do we do for those?”

“Um, haven’t thought so far ahead.”

T’Challa just sighed heavily. “Alright, let’s do this one step at a time. We need to remove these bonds. Before the cats break the wards.”

“Your claws can’t cut through them?”

“I tried but they keep reforming.”

“Wait, I have an idea. You said Shuri gave that update that allows you to store kinetic energy and release it in blasts right?”

“Yes?”

“I can’t release it here, it would kill you!”

“Your concern is touching, but I meant to save it for the lynx, we could use it to knock them out. For the binds, I just thought of something that could work. Can your claws cut through my suit?”

“What?”

“Can they?”

“I think so?”

“Good. Then cut near my lower back, right below where my wrists are tied.”

“Tony, what-?”

“Just listen. I built in an inflation tube in case I lost power over the ocean or was dumped into it. When the tube inflates, it will push us far enough that the ropes will before loose for a bit. Use that time to get out of the ropes. And when they reattach to me, we just need to cut it temporarily enough to open my suit and allow me to step out of here. Got it?”

“That might actually work.”

“Get to it then!”

“Hold still.” T’Challa ordered before moving to find the dents in the suit, running his claws lightly over the smooth panels before finally feeling a small dent.

“Is this it?”

“I can’t really feel it, but it should be.”

“Ready.”

“Go!” Tony shouted as T’Challa dug his claws in, the suit easily giving way. As Tony said, the raft inflated fast, the ropes loosening enough for T’Challa to jump out of the ropes. Once free, he stood straight and stretched.  

“Still tied up Kitty.”

“Call me Kitty again, and I’ll leave you here for the cats.”

“Yeah sorry. Help me out though?”

T’Challa brandished his claws, kneeling by Tony’s elbow and looking him in the eye before swiping his claws down while Tony pressed the manual suit ejection button. T’Challa grabbed Tony’s hand and hauled him away, leaving the ropes to tighten and crush the suit under their grip.

“Come on, that was my favorite one.” Tony whined as he saw the crushed metal now sitting in the middle of the floor.

As T’Challa opened his mouth, someone clapped behind them, laughing.

“Good hustle boys!” Shuri said as she lowered her arms. Around them, the lynx were all knocked out, and Shuri was standing with a smug grin on her face.

“Wha-” Tony and T’Challa started, looking around and trying to figure out when that had happened before looking back at the princess.

“Stand back.” Shuri said as she raised her hand blasters and aimed for the wards. Both men walked back as far from as they could nad ducked while Shuri blasted the wards. It only took a minute before the wards shattered.

“Come on, everyone’s waiting at HQ.”

“What are you doing here Shuri?” T’Challa asked, jogging a few steps to close the gap to his sister, Tony at his heels.

“Yeah, and what happened to the witch?”

“Long story short?  I came to HQ and saw the distress signal, analysed it using my own tech, found the wavelengths to be unlike anything that could be emitted by electronics, contacted the Avengers, had Wanda identify the magical signal and pinpoint the location of the witch who she then proceeded to kick the butt of, got the location of the cave while they were busy, came here, got rid of the other traps by blasting them, found you executing a truly hilarious plan, and rescued you. Just your average slice of incredibly complex!” Shuri finished, turning around to find both men staring at her.

“You managed to do all of that in … how long has it been?” Tony asked.

“90 minutes.”

“You managed to do all of that in 90 minutes? Tony finished.

Shuri tilted her head, adopting an innocent face “What, like it’s hard?”

T’Challa just chuckled, of course Shuri just rescued them.

“Oh that reminds me brother, I wasn’t sure which photo of you being at the mercy of magical rope and medium sized cats while tied to a man in a tin can I should send to Nakia, so I sent both.”

T’challa’s eyes widened as Tony complained about his suit being so much more than a tin can. “You didn’t.”

Shuri just smiled wider, prompting her brother to lunge for her, but she was expecting it and dodged, running for the cave entrance. “Come on brother, it was funny!”

“Shuri, I can’t believe you!” T’Challa yelled.

She stopped running once they reached the mouth of the cave, a Wakandan sip hovering in midair with the doors open for the three of them. Nakia was leaning against the entrance and staring at her phone, lips pressed together in an attempt not to laugh.

T’Challa froze, causing Tony to bump into him, leaving both men stumbling to stay upright.

Nakia’s shoulders started shaking as her lips turned into a smile, eyes alight with glee. Shuri wasn’t trying to hold back at all, clutching her belly from laughing so hard.

“We be the cavalry gentlemen.” Nakia said, pushing off the edge to greet T’Challa as he approached the door. She ran a finger over a small scratch he had acquired and bent to give him a kiss on the cheek, before moving out of the way to let him board the ship.

“What no kiss for me?” Tony said, earning the glares of all the Wakandans on board. “Just kidding!”

“Let’s just go Stark.”

And so they did, returning to HQ only to see the Avengers watching footage of them Shuri had captured as they came up with and executed their plan. It was going to be a long while before they lived this adventure down.

[trashynoona]

Seasons

Word Count: 4,021

Genre: Fluff lotsa fluff, with possibility of future smut (I mean come on, look at this guy?!)

I took a deep breath, inhaling the cold air of winter. The trees are barren and the grounds were covered in snow. It has been exactly 1 year since I had broken up with the man I thought I was going to marry. We met in Spring 4 years back while in middle school. I had literally fallen for the boy when I tripped over my own shoelace during physical education class. The rest was pretty much history from then on. Somehow, along the way, as we grew older, our goals seemed so much farther apart. He was a happy-go-lucky lad while I was a perfectionist go-getter. We tried, we tried so hard to keep the relationship going, but the harder and longer we tried, the more painful it was when it fell apart.

It has been a year, and yet the feeling of being in love with this boy who is also my best friend seemed so familiar. I liken this journey to a train ride. I wished for it to be a through-train; for the boy to be my destination. But the break up had only proven that I was on a train with many stops. I had went through a massive rebound phase, I thought I had fallen in love, but at the end of the day, I was alone on a train without a known destination. Many times, I had wish to go back to the comfort of the boy; but deep down, I knew I was a child no longer, I could only go forward in this train ride, there was no brake on this ride.

I tucked my scarf tighter to my neck as I scurry to class. Despite having moved to a new city for college 2 years back, the harsh winter is still pretty much the bane of my existence. ‘Huddle close!’ I heard a couple walking past you giggling into one another’s warmth. It brought back memories to the days when I first moved to college with the boy, except this time, I am facing the winter alone. He has moved on. 

I don’t blame him nonetheless, I did cause him a lot of hurt that past one year. While he was still hopelessly waiting for me at our platform, I had moved on to a new station. By the time I realised I wanted nothing but to be back at the platform with him, the boy was no longer there. So I fearfully put on my big girl pants as I continue my train ride along. 

I am terrified of the unknown; I fear the cold without the warmth of another human. But I realised it was pointless to cling onto someone hopelessly if it was not meant to be. 

School has been pretty monotonous, I am trying my best to bury myself in my studies, perhaps this way I will be oblivious to the harsh winter in my heart. 

‘You’re coming for tonight’s party right?’ My close pal Kenta asked.

‘Do I really have to??’ I whined.

‘Duh.’ My handsome friend rolled his eyes as he shove a sandwich down his throat.

‘But its not fair! It’s so cold but I have to dress in cute skimpy outfits...’ I whined further.

‘Well... come wrapped like a dumpling then.’ He replied indifferently.

‘And be the biggest loser at the party? No thanks! I’d rather freeze to death.’ I answered.

‘It’s settled then!’ Kenta gave me a wink before running off to his class.

Damn, I was fooled once again. 

It was 8pm and I had to get ready. I picked up my phone to check the weather app. It was 3 degrees celcius. ‘Tonight is probably the death of me...’ I thought to myself. I opened my wardrobe in attempts to pick out something suitable for a party and the weather. It was no easy task, especially since I simply could not stand the cold. I settled on a woolen pullover and a cute skater skirt. I guess my body will just have to compromise. At least my torso will be warm I thought.

I arrived at the party with Kenta. The music was booming and people crowded in the dance floor. From the corner of my eyes I saw the boy, with his arms around his new girlfriend. He looked very much in love. I force a smile and dragged Kenta to the drink counter.

‘Cheers to the shit weather!’ I quipped.

‘Cheers to me getting laid tonight!’ Kenta responded.

Kenta was an interesting human. He is a massive party animal and narrowly meets the mark of a fuck boy, but he is also on the dean’s list and an awfully loyal friend. It has been a mystery to how this human exist. 

Naturally like bees are attracted to the pollen of sweet smelling flowers, girls flocked to Kenta. ‘Sorry girls, I have to ensure my bae here meets someone before I attend to my needs.’ He told the girls.

‘Fuck off Kenta! I am not planning to get laid! I didn’t even erm, shave.’ I whispered.

‘Too much information girl! Gross. But I’m sure we can find someone for you.’ Kenta half shouted to me with the booming music.

As the night went on and one too many cups of unknown alcohol, Kenta and I began obnoxiously pointing at potential mating partners for one another. 

‘Hey hey, Kenta, that girl in the dress one size too small looks like a suitable prey for you.’ I pointed out.

‘Hell nooooo. I heard she’s clingy as fuck. What about that obnoxiously loud dickhead chugging beer over there?’ Kenta teased. He knows I can’t stand being around chauvinistic dickheads for any longer than 5 minutes.

‘Yeahhhh sure.’ I laughed.

‘How about a bet. If you make out with Mr Dickhead, I will do your laundry for the rest of the year.’ Kenta proposed.

‘Including my undies?’ I asked.

‘Including your hideous granny panties gal!’ Kenta shouted as he raised his cup to me.

‘DEAL.’ I raised my cup to Kenta.

‘It’s just a kiss. I can probably just head over, pass off as a drunk slut, make out with him and walk off all within 5 minutes. Without even having to have a conversation with the dickhead.’ I snickered at Kenta’s flawed proposal. 

I took another shot before I headed towards Mr Dickhead who was soaking in all the attention from the people who just witness him beating some other dude at a beer chugging competition. I tapped Mr Dickhead on the shoulder and he turned around. He was handsome. Very handsome to be exact. In fact, there was something tender and vulnerable in his eyes. 

‘Fuck I am analysing wayyyy too much.’ I thought to myself as I grabbed the stranger by the neck and pulled him into a kiss.

The crowd cheered.

His lips are tender and plump. I moved my lips to pry open his. I had to make sure I was ‘making out’ and not just ‘a peck on his lips’. Kenta can be quite a sore loser when it comes to the fine prints. 

His tongue swiped across my lips before I could put my tongue in his mouth. ‘Classic dickheads’ I thought. Strangely, I enjoyed the way his tongue danced with mouth. His warmth was comforting, I was melting into the kiss. He pulled me closer by the waist and gently stroke the small of my back. ‘He smells much nicer than I thought he would.’ My brain was going into over drive. Time felt still. I quickly pulled away from the kiss and everything seemed to be in motion again.

‘That was very bold of you cutie.’ He smiled as his hands slipped away from the small of my back.

I missed his warmth. ‘He has a cute gummy smile and his eyes sparkled as they disappear into a smile.’ I thought to myself as I observed the stranger.

‘GIRL YOU ROCKKKKKK!’ I heard Kenta cheering as he linked arms with me and we became lost into the crowd. 

‘I can’t believe you actually did it notty girl!!’ Kenta teased.

I shot him a wink and picked up a new cup of unknown poison.

‘Now go find yourself some girl to fuck okay?’ I told Kenta.

‘Promise you’ll text me when you’re home?’ Kenta asked.

I nodded, raised my cup to him before walking over to hang around a bunch of acquaintances. I decided to stay a little longer since I was already out and the music was pretty lit. The poison in my cup pretty much took over and I was dancing and scream singing. I felt a hand ghost around my waist.

‘Hey cutie.’ The man whispered into my ears.

‘Yeah I am not interested.’I tried to walk away, only to have him grab me by my wrist.

‘Dude let go!’ I raised my voice as I tried to escape his grasp.

‘She said let go bruh.’ Somebody else was holding onto my wrist.

I squinted and tried to figure out who it was. The stroke lights and my intoxicated brain made it difficult.

‘Mr Dickhead! It’s you!!!’ I quipped.

‘I think you should be the one fucking off dude. She literally called you a dickhead.’ The man snickered.

‘It’s a term of endearment dumbass, did you not see me smooching him just now?! Do I need to show you again?!’ I yelled before falling into Mr Dickhead’s arm. Once again, I held onto his neck and brought him in for a kiss.

Time stood still once again. His warmth engulfed me. I felt safe. The security of his lips were broken when I felt someone tugging on me. It was the boy.

‘You’re drunk, let me send you home.’ He said matter-of-factly.

‘No. Go back to your girl.’ I answered coldly as I pulled Mr Dickhead away from the boy.

Without really thinking, I dragged Mr Dickhead out of the party with me. I was in no control of my emotions. Tears were spilling out of eyes and I was breaking down in front of some stranger I made out with. ‘Way to go girl’ I thought to myself.

‘Oh my god, I am so sorry. It’s just, ugh. I hate how weak I am. Ugh I...’ I was fumbling with my words.

‘It’s fine.’ Was all he said as he draped his jacket over my shoulders.

‘Why are you wearing a short skirt in such a weather even?’ He asked.

‘Because I did not want to look like a loser...’ I said between sobs.

‘Honey, you would easily still be one of the cutest girl in that party even if you came in your PJs...’ Mr Dickhead announced as he followed me along.

‘Really....?’ I sniffled.

‘Maybeeee not with all that dripping mascara and snot.’ He teased.

‘Shut up. I’m drunk, I get to be ugly!’ I whined.

‘Nobody would’ve believed you were the same girl who pulled me into an extremely sensual tongue twister just an hour ago.’ He teased again.

‘Do you have to make it so gross?!’ I tried to whack him on the chest only to have him hold me closer.

‘Shut up and just huddle up with me. You’re shivering like a hairless puppy!’ He ordered. 

I did not refuse.

The pavement was pretty much covered in snow by the time he had walked me to my apartment. Just as I was about to bid the stranger farewell, I received a notice on my trusty weather app. A hail storm was about to approach. 

‘Woah it sure is getting really cold, you should hurry upstairs snot monster.’ He quipped.

‘Erm... My weather app just announced that a hail storm is about to approach.’ I told him.

‘Well fuck... I live at the opposite end of campus... Guess I can probably try running back and pray hard my super fast reflexes will help me avoid getting struck by raining ice!’ He said in an animated manner as he cheekily jogged on the spot.

‘Do you wanna come up to my place at least until the hail clears?’ I asked.

‘My mum did tell me not to go home with strangers...’ He teased.

‘Fine, die in the hail storm then asshole!!!’ I was drunkenly offended and I threw his coat back at him.

‘Hold up feisty snot monster! I did not say I listen to my mother...!’ He half yelled as he ran along with me.

‘Just promise you won’t jump on me? I know I am pretty dashing, judging from how you threw yourself on me during the party not once but twice?’ He teased again.

Kenta was right, I could never deal with dickheads. But I have invited one home. Fuck my life.

‘Mention that again and you’re going home in the storm!’ I warned before I let the stranger into my house.

Text message from Kenta: ‘YA! ARE YOU HOME?! ITS ABOUT TO HAIL!!!’  

Me: ‘YESSSSS JUST GOT HOME THANK GOD.’

Kenta: “GOOD. THAT WAS ONE HOT KISS WITH MR DICKHEAD BTW.’

Me: ‘ERM ABOUT THAT... HE KINDA WALKED ME HOME AND I INVITED HIM UP BECAUSE I FELT BAD SINCE IT’S ABOUT TO HAIL...’

Kenta: ‘LOL YOU’RE SO GONNA FUCK MR DICKHEAD.’

‘Why did you call me Mr Dickhead?’ He asked.

‘Whaaa...t?’ I jumped and dropped my phone before I could reply Kenta.

‘In the club...? You called me Mr Dickhead? It hurts my feelings you know!’ He pouted dramatically.

‘That’s EXACTLY why you’re Mr Dickhead. Besides, didn’t you call me a snot monster!!’ I argued.

He was giggling at the expense of my annoyance. His eyes twinkled again.

‘Well snot monster... my name is...’ I cut him off before he could tell me his name.

‘Nope. I don’t need your name. You’ll become an acquaintance if we exchange names, and I am not keen of that.’ I answered.

‘So... I am suppose to call you the snot monster?’ He asked, amused.

‘Yes. I am snot monster and you are mr dickhead. And you leave the moment the hailing ends!’ I ordered.

‘You’re not a very friendly host you know that snot monster... I thought... you know... maybe we could cosy up in that bed of yours...’ He smirked as he moved closer to me.

‘DON’T YOU DARE. I HAVE A BLACK BELT IN TAEKWONDO I’M WARNING YOU!!!’ I jumped.

‘I’m kidding. Gosh. Uptight much snot monster?!’ He continue looking at me with a cheeky smile which got on my nerve. But at the same time, that cocky smirk was kinda enchanting.

‘Well help yourself to whatever you need. I’m heading to back. REMEMBER, if you try anything funny, I swear I will leave you crying for your mother.’ I warned as I threw him a blanket and pillow for the night.

‘Got it snot monster!’ He answered. He seemed to enjoy my annoyance way too much.

I guess that’s exactly why I don’t date dickheads.

‘Rise and shine snot monster!!!’ An increasingly cocky annoying sing-song voice was ringing in my ear.

‘Go awayyyyy~’ I whined.

‘You need to eat to nurse that hangover snot monster!’ He sounded more serious this time.

I sleepily opened my eyes to see a handsome stranger leaning on my door. He had a cheeky gummy smile and eyes that scream mischief. My head clicked and I recalled letting the guy I made out with on a dare with Kenta back to my place.

‘Why are you still here?’ I sleepily rubbed my eyes as I dragged myself out of bed.

‘Well... a snow storm followed after the hail storm and we’re pretty much stuck in the building...’ He answered matter-of-factly as he began chewing on the toast he had made.

‘Whaaaaat?’ I asked.

‘Check your trusty weather app if you don’t believe me!’ He said with his mouth full.

I ran back to my room and picked up my phone. He was right. And I was in shock.

‘Holy fuck!’ I gasp.

‘What? What?’ He came running with a slice of half eaten toast.

‘I look like shit.’ I looked at him.

‘Yeah you do.’ He laughed as he took another bite from his toast.

I had no argument for that. I had a massive bed head and my eyes were crusty. I did indeed look like shit. But strangely, I wasn’t too bothered by the fact that the strange handsome man I barely knew saw me in such a horrid state. In fact, it feels kind of natural.

‘Well fuck that shit. You said I would still be one of the cutest even if I were in my PJs didn’t you?’ I teased as I picked up a slice of toast for myself.

‘Yeah yeah yeah whatever.’ He said.

‘Do you really think so though?’ I asked.

‘What?’ He asked.

‘That I’ll still be cute even if I had went in my PJs..’ I said.

He nodded. ‘To be veryyyyy honest, you don’t look too shit right now either. Kinda cute actually.’ He quipped. His cheeky smile was plastered all over his face.

‘Do you have some strange fetish for unkempt girls or something?’ I asked, faced all crunched up.

‘If I do, I would have seduced you by now, snot monster!’ He shot me a wink.

‘Why does he ALWAYS have to be so annoying?!’ I wondered.

‘So... What do you wanna do snot monster. I knowwwww. How about netflix and chill?!’ He looked really excited, his eyes twinkled again.

‘Netflix and chill...?’ I asked, face darkened.

‘The literal netflix and chill dumbass. No way am I going to risk you bruising my beautiful face.’ He whined.

‘I’m glad you remembered.’ I looked at him, pretty proud of myself.

‘Also... erm your heater is broken.’ Mr Dickhead announced.

And so Mr Dickhead and I went on a Gossip Girl binge session huddled in winter gear.

‘Blair Waldorf  FTW!’ He cheered.

‘OMG IKR?! Everyone thinks Serena Van Der Woodsen carried the show, but she has honestly been nothing but a self centered whiny bitch the entire show?!’ I added.

‘Yeah! She comes and goes as she please, gives up a spot in Brown for some useless bratty reason and gets pissed with lonely boy when he decides to date Blair. Like girl.... you shouldn’t have broken up with him in the first place then?!?!’ Mr Dickhead quipped with sass.

It struck me out of a sudden. I was being a Serena to the boy. I left him heart broken, only to come running back when he moved on.

‘Why are you sulking snot monster? Did I said something wrong???’ He sounded concern.

‘It’s not you... remember the boy who offered to send me home last night? He’s my ex... We were really in love, but we grew apart and I broke it off with him after 4 years. I thought I had moved on, but my world came crashing when HE moved on... I’m such a Serena!’ I was sobbing now.

‘Hey hey. It’s okay...’ He said as he stumbled around to look for some tissues.

‘No it isn’t... I was selfish, and now I have lost my chance!’ I was a crying mess.

‘Look snot monster. Look at me.’ He said as he held onto my shoulders.

I looked up as I attempt to wipe away my never ending tears with my hands.

‘He’s not the one for you.’ He looked into my eyes as he tighten his grip on my shoulders.

‘How do you know?! You know nothing! You’re just saying it!’ I cried even harder.

‘I know. and you know why? Because you call him a boy.’ He said.

‘Boys don’t deserve a beautiful woman like you. A man does.’ He continued.

‘You actually didn’t sound too much like a dick for once Mr Dickhead.’ I giggled in between my sobs.

‘Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny snot monster. Come here you.’ He pulled me into his arms as I continued sobbing.

For some reason, it felt so right. My body moulded into his perfectly. He did not seemed to mind some strange girl crying into his shirt. His warmth made me feel safe again. Suddenly the harsh winter seemed a lot more bearable.  

I woke up foggily, as I realised I was still in the arms of the familiar stranger. I tried to move a little to gain grounding of my situation.

‘Hey... You’re up?’ He whispered. He rubbed his eyes sleepily as we both set up; his warmth leaving me once again.

‘The storm has cleared but I figured all that crying must have left you exhausted since you fell asleep so soundly so I thought I shan’t disturb you.’ He explained.

‘Thanks...’ I smiled.

‘Well since you’re up and the weather has cleared, it’s probably time for me to go... My bunny must be starving by now.’ He announced.

‘WHAT?! You have a bunny in your dorm?! How??!!’ I asked, exasperated.

‘Well snot monster, there’s a lot this beautiful face can do.’ He shot me one of his annoyingly enchanting wink and smirk combo again.

‘Well thank you, for everything Mr Dickhead.’ I said as I walked him to the door.

‘Thank you for having me snot monster. I had fun.’He said, his smile seemed almost sad as he walked away.

‘WAIT! My name is...’ 

‘Let’s keep it this way snot monster. I’ll tell you my name the next time we meet!’ His eyes were twinkling again.

‘But... When will I see you again?’ I whispered to myself as the familiar stranger disappeared in sight. Suddenly the winter seemed kinda harsh again.

It was back to the usual grind again. School and lunch dates with Kenta.

‘So.... How was Mr Dickhead???’ Kenta quipped.

‘He’s....nice.’ I said, slightly smiling to myself.

‘Nice? That’s all? Wow he must really suck in bed.’ Kenta snickered.

‘What??? I did not sleep with him???!!!’ I smacked Kenta on his arm before I got up from my seat.

Being the perfectionist that I am, I had pretty stellar grades and I was part of a scholars program by the university. I was going for an exclusive scholars exchange program halfway across the globe. While it is kinda sad to leave Kenta behind, I was kinda glad that I was going away from the harsh winter and into the nice warm Sun. I pulled my scarf closer to myself once again as I scurried to the exchange’s meeting.

‘A very good afternoon to all scholars. It is a pleasure to have you here. Please take a seat and the briefing will begin shortly.’ The professor in charge announced.

I found myself a seat as I casually scanned the room. A familiar sight caught my attention. It was the same annoyingly charming smirk. It was Mr Dickhead across the room. I stared at him wide eyed as he waved. 

‘So as you should already know, all of you represent your majors in pairs and will be heading to our various partnered universities. Here are the names of your partners. Kindly find one another, and take a seat together as we continue with our briefing.

I scanned through the list and found my name along with a Kim Sanggyun.

‘Hey Snot Monster. We meet again!’ Mr Dickhead was all smiles again as he settled down in the seat next to me.

‘You’re Kim Sanggyun...?’ I asked.

‘Guilty as charged.’ He answered with the same cheeky smile.

‘I told you we would meet again didn’t I, Lee Do Hee sshi.’ His eyes twinkled.

‘How did you...?’ I asked.

‘I saw your notice lying on the coffee table the other day snot monster... Why do you look so shock? Surprised that a dickhead like me is a scholar?!’ He quipped.

‘Honestly... yes....’ I snickered.

And so Sanggyun and I travelled together, half way across the globe. I happily strutted out of the airport in my summer dress and sunnies. I took a deep breath, inhaling the summer air. 

‘Ready for the adventure of a lifetime snot monster?’ Sanggyun asked with the same cheeky smile I first spotted at the party.

‘Yes.’ I answered. 

(OH MY GOD. I AM FINALLY DONE. Okay this was quite difficult to write, because ‘boy’ is actually real. I have a super fluffy conclusion planned out, but I thought I’d see the response to this one first. So please show my story, Sanggyun and I some love plzzzzz. This is especially dedicated to all Kim Sanggyun-deprived fans out there!!!!! I sincerely hope sanggyun’s career will take off from JBJ onwards, he really deserves so much more?!)

[bluestarsaber]

Attack on Titian Chapter 103 Review: This isn’t a War it’s a Massacre!

I have been behind my manga reviews, so I’m going to try and get my monthly ones done on time starting with Attack on Titian chapter 103 Assault. Which feels like it should be called Massacred, because it feels like one side is just on the brink of defeat here. Anyway.

Pointless Summary: The Chapter begins with giant hands coming out of debris caring something in the way of an angel holding something pure and it turns out that pure thing is Falco, who has survived Eren’s epic transformation 3 chapters ago. Only to see what has now become the battlefield between The Scouts and The Marley Titians! Which makes him asks what many innocent bystanders in a war asks what is going here, as Mikasa attempts to blow up the hard crystal surrounding the Warhammer user which fails. Which leads Falco to look at eren’s a.k.a Mr Kruger’s titian form, well now Kruger as Falco longer using the title Mr (aww Eren’s going to be so upset) as he just remembers that he was tricked into doing Eren’s dirty work and caused all this death and destruction around him.

Which leads him to remember Rennier is also trapped under debris due to transforming into hands to his little innocent behind as he tries to give him a hand up (I’m sorry that was terrible). Apologising that he got him into this mess, realising that he is alive but unconscious. Que flashback as he remembers what Rennier told him about needing a strong will for a titan shifter to recover serious injuries and also remembers his complete break down wanting to die a few chapters ago, so uh oh Rennier is still in trouble of possibly dying. Falco decides to get help but not before doing one of those power of friendships speech that Rennier’s got and Gabi & him not just enemies so don’t die on him.

We cut to the battle as the Ape Titian throw rocks at the scouts lead by Jean, before two fools attempt to kill him as they get shot down be the Cart Titan and her Panzer Unit. Which lead to a scout attempting to kill her up in the sky since the Panzer units arterially can’t him, only to be saved by Porco who smacked him like a Basketball. Meanwhile Eren attempt the War Hammer titian again only to fail due to the Crystal covering her broke his teeth, but Eren points out she used up all her strength and he got a few more tricks up his selves as he leaves his damaged husk only to transform again. Porco panics saying if only they can take Eren out as soon as possible, but Pieck points out they have the advantage on the battlefield as the Scouts are cornered, running out of fuel and Marely have probably have troops surrounding the area soon as when it comes to numbers Marley wins against Paradis Island. Which lead to Porco to state the obvious that ones they take Eren’s the enemy loses their trump card of controlling the wall Titians and only chance of winning this war, Pieck replying in turn they just only need to protect Zeke right now. Zeke sates that Pieck is correct as Eren’s not his enemy now but Levi as he begins to throw a bunch of rocks in area telling him to come out where ever he is. Flaco as running away from the battlefield but looking at Zeke in awe to how amazing he is, gets spotted by Commander Magath asking what is he doing here. Which Flaco starts to inform him of Rennier’s state, Gabi arrives just as Flaco states it’s Eren’s who is to blame for Reinner’s condition (man the talks are going to be awkward once they find out Falco unintentionally helped Eren).

The Scene changes to the port as the Navy is preparing to dock and deployed troops, one of them notice a small boat with someone one board. Turns out it’s Armin who looks upset maybe even crying for what he is about to do transforms, causing a massive explosion large enough to be seen by those on the battlefield as the Navy it wiped out. As the force of the explosion is felt Pieck concludes this is the work of Colossal Titian taken from Bertolt years ago, Porco realising what the enemy plans is enraged charges recklessly at Eren, only to be intercepted by Mikasa. The Scouts lead by Jean prepares to attack the Cart Titan Pieck prepares for her attack, however due to letting their guards down Levi is able to strike at Zeke’s nape and plant a bomb. It goes off shock the Marley forces in the surrounding, however it’s cut short as the Panzer Unit fires at all directions as the Scouts make their attack.

Sasha makes a Sniper killing the one called Carlo (no I liked him the most) which upsets the Panzer and leave Pieck in a fit of rage and charges at Sasha, however this leads her venerable to Jean’s payback attack as he fires his Thunder spear to his face (ouch that’s got to hurt). The rest of the Scout’s fire their own spears wiping out the Panzer Unit and leaving Pieck on the brink of death as she lands in front of Falco, Gabi and Magath to their horror. As Jean declare he is about to do the final blow, Falco having enough of the death and destruction runs towards Pieck and gets in front of Jean’s targeting direction begging him to stop just as he is about to fire leaving the chapter on a cliff-hanger. The Good: Boy where to begin this chapter is amazing! So much action in this chapter alone, not since perhaps the battle of Marineford in One Piece or the start of the Bleach blood did I felt we were in an actual war zone in a manga I have read. My favourite page has got to be the double page where Flaco is witnessing the Scouts and the Titian warriors duke it out with each other, Isayama has really done well with his art in recent chapters. Falco’s change in address Eren was a nice touch; it felt gradual to me that he what first address him with Mr before dropping the title, as comes to realise why should he address Eren with an honorific given what he has done to his people he doesn’t deserve the respect in his eyes. Glad he still has his caring side as he quickly digs Rennier after saving him, the angel hands really symbolise how good natured this kid is. I like he can assess Rennier’s situation is dire given what he has witnessed and still shows he cares for Reiner as he tries to get him to stay strong as he has both him & Gabi and they want him to live. The team work the warriors show was brilliant as they watch each other’s backs. The tension for when Eren appeared to have eaten Ms Tyber given how ether his or her death with determine the victor for this battle, despite failing to eat her due to how hard the crystal shell is we get an Annie reference possibly confirming she may still be alive. Eren’s growth in analysing his opponent’s situation continues to impress me, as he is ready to get back the fight straight away with a plan (now I just wish I know what it is, guess I’ll have to wait till next chapter).

I enjoy the contrast between how Pieck and Porco assess the situation; Porco who has shown last chapter to be cocky and reckless last chapter has now gotten a bit worried and even scared with how powerful his enemies appears to be and wants to finish the of quickly, while Pieck is the calm one and easily able to calm Porco down and assess the situation is still in their favour and all they need to do is protect Zeke as he attempt to finish of the Scouts and then get Eren to win. Which I love how Zeke agrees with everything she said further showing he trusts her intellect; along with him prioritising Levi as the real threat to him over Eren, probably remembering how easily he was able to cut him up in titian form 4 years ago.

Going back to focusing on Falco; I’m surprised by the apparent care Magath has for Falco wondering if he is alright and such, then it I guess it just goes to further show despite how he treat he still cares for the Eldians that serve under him. Glad Gabi has reunited with Falco, perfect timing to the expressing on her face when she hears that Reinner is in trouble because of Eren sums up the worry one would have if a beloved family or friend was in danger. I think the Highlight for this chapter for many is the reintroduction of Armin in the time skip for this chapter. I kind of like that his hair cut looks like the Ewrin Smith had when he was younger (does anyone notice that those who had long hair have now have it short, while those who had it short now have it long in the time skip or is it just me?). The expression on his face is worth a thousand words of sorrow if you ask me, it really looks as if he is against what he is about to do. Which I’m glad really as it further shows that despite his willingness to give up everything even his humanity order to save it, he still has conflict and issues with the actions he must take to fulfil his goals. I’m intrigued that his titian form has not been shown, guess Isayama wants the keep the suspense of what likes going (guessing Zeke got it wrong). Also, that explosion wiping out the Marly Navy was epic! Porco recklessness continues to grow with the reaction to seeing the transformation former friends titian form, which I’m glad shows outside Reinner he really does care about the other titian shifters presides his brother that were lost to paradise island. Mikasa vs Jaw Titain I’m up for that. I was very surprised that Zeke appeared to have gotten taken out by Levi so soon when the warriors got distracted by Armin’s transformation, but it was thrilling all the same. The Horror was captured on everyone faces on the side of Marley were well drawn by Isayama as they keep seeing their fleet, soldiers and now even their greatest titian warrior taken out. I’m really glad how the Panzer unit was taken out, because I imagined they be taken out that way. I think it was fitting that Shasa would be the first one to take one of them out given her hunting skills we have seen in the past and now here with her sniper shot. The way Pieck responded to the death of Carlo of her unit was what I wanted to see, as the calm and collect individual finally loses her cool and charges at rage when one of her comrades is killed showing that despite ignoring their apparent crush on her she still cares for them. I think that it is fitting that the one who takes the first shot at Pick the moment she lets her guard down is Jean, given her some payback for the battle of Shiganshina 4 years ago. When I said it was a massacre in the title of this review I meant it seeing how the Pazer unit was annihilated and Pieck left in an awful state. Sweet little Falco it’s so fitting that after you have seen so much death and destruction on the battlefield from your side, you would run to defend Pieck just as Jean is about to finish her off. I hope you don’t die, nor Jean. This if you ask me was the perfect way to end the chapter on a cliff-hanger, as it gets you feeling suspense and wanting more for next making you wonder and worry for who I going to die next. The Bad: Honestly I got nothing bad to say about this chapter, that doesn’t sound like a nit-pick.  I guess I’m a little disappointed that that we may not be getting that Levi vs Zeke rematch maybe, but it’s too soon to tell.

Overall Thoughts & Hopes: My Score for this chapter would be 9.5/10 a near perfect chapter with only few nit-picks I can think to complain about. In many ways this chapter makes Marley look like the underdogs in this battle, not to say they are the good guys but given how far the Scouts have come in terms of their strength and Numbers they have manged to successfully pull of a surprise attack on Marley by ambushing their soldiers, wiping out their navy and decimating their Titian Sifters. In regards to the cliff-hanger I can see three scenarios happening:

1.      Jean carries through with the shot killing Pieck, Falco or both. Though I don’t think Falco will die.

2.      Jean doesn’t fire which allows for Pieck to recover and maybe killing him or gets shot by Gabi with her gun. Though he could also survive this scenario.

3.      The least likely Falco gets saved by the intervention of ether Gabi or Rennier if he snaps out of his state.

With Armin I did hear form someone that Isayama sated that Eren and Armin will have conflict with each other not sure it’s true, but given the look on his face before he transformed I can see them arguing in the method of how they fight their enemy heck I can even see Arming wishing he was never the one chosen as the Colossal Titian. Zeke I’m excepting to survive the explosion somehow, though whether the theory of him working with the Scouts I still doubt. Porco I except to be humbled after the battle if it’s not the last battle in the series. Falco, I think will confess to Magath and Gabi what happened between him, Rennier and Eren which will probably have Gabi mad at him until she calms down. I hear Isayama saying a major character will die, I’m not sure who but I except at least one Scout and one Marley warrior to die.