#if anyone wants to react to this please don't confirm or deny anything!

[isaac--r]

NOOOOOOOO I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THEM CRY ON A SLIDE REEL AGAIN!!

Okay so it kinda looks like they decided to go to sleep because they were homesick, so they created a way to simulate their home land in the dream realm. This, I'm pretty sure, is completely unrelated to their plans with the vault, and whatever they were cooking for the Eye.

Something tells me this was supposed to be a Regular Naps thing, and not a Let's Go to Sleep Forever thing (it kinda reminds me of the Mima room in Aniara). By all means, they should have been there, awake and rafting and painting and playing and whatnot in the Stranger by the time we got to them, but something went wrong, and they didn't wake up, and since they weren't there to tend to the ship, the structures decayed and the dam eventually broke.

What killed them though, I'm unsure. Maybe they died of hunger or dehydration in their sleep (likely), or maybe they actually got killed by the Eye somehow, in the way they feared (less likely).

One of them is missing though! And sure enough, it's One Antler Owlie, the mysterious bird who is DEFINITELY awake and 100% stalking me in broad daylight. And won't. Even. Talk. To me. Baby I'm right here!

Unless :) Owlie is in a Certain Place :) (they most definitely are, I just like the idea that they're too shy to approach me)

So to recap, chronologically speaking (from those four exposition slide reels): 1) the Eye sends them a signal, and they somehow manage to build a ship as big as the whole MOON they live in, to get closer to the Eye. They start worshipping it too. Seems like the Stranger wasn't cloaked at first, so for all we know these birds have been there longer than the Nomai (since neither they nor we ever saw the Stranger). 2) they scan the Eye and see a vision of it killing them. They get angry and destroy their Eye temple, and cloak the Stranger (and get it closer to the sun? unclear). They also do something else, but that information got burned. 3) they watch pictures of home and just cry. and I fucking cry with them, man. They make themselves a nice Go Home VR system for when they get homesick. One Antler Owlie is among them. 4) WHO FUCKING KNOWS THIS ENTIRE REEL IS BURNED. All I know is it ends with some owls packing a box that could contain, oh, say, a body slightly taller than ours into a giant vault and then lowering the whole thing underwater.

Also they won't let me hang out with them in the dream world. Guess they don't like sea creatures (lucky for me, they don't seem to like seafood either).

I am having SO MUCH FUN

[lets-try-some-writing]

For Secret of the Primacy: I don't know if anyone else has asked this, but does Optimus accept Megatron's request? If he does, how to the other Decepticons and Autobots react? If he doesn't, what is Megatron's reaction? Does Optimus take his time to answer?

(Feel free to delete this if someone has already asked/requested something like this.)

Ah yes, an excuse to write for this au. Fantastic.

Previous part here.

━━━━━━ ⊙ ❖ ⊙ ━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⊙ ❖ ⊙

Megatron's offer was a... delicate thing for Optimus to consider. Megatron was his life long foe. Adhering to his request and coming to the Nemesis was akin to stepping into a burning building and praying to any watching higher power that a beam didn't drop on his helm and kill him. But failure to comply was not only an emotional risk, but also a lost opportunity. If he went with Megatron, he would potentially gain access to Decepticon data as well as information regarding his Sire. It was a win for him, and yet it left him suspicious. What did Megatron want?

Out under the stars, Optimus considered in silence until he decided to simply ask.

Optimus: What do you desire from me in return.

Megatron: As I already said, I wish to know more of your origin.

Optimus: You know everything of relevance. What is it you truly seek?

Megatron: Confirmation, or perhaps closure. I am not unfeeling, Prime.

Optimus hesitated, his logical processors left running through countless scenarios as he contemplated. This could end horribly very very quickly. And yet... the offer of information and the chance before him could not be overlooked. Megatron would have killed him already if that was what he wanted. The warlord was looking to gain something from their interactions, and Optimus highly doubted keeping him as a hostage was the full plan. He was, at his core, replaceable. Not to mention if need be, he could still do severe damage to the Nemesis before being brought down.

It was a logical and relatively sound offer. Thus, Optimus requested a day to prepare, and they went their separate ways with a place and a time to meet. Optimus returned to his team and informed them that he would be going on a week long scouting mission and due to the distance, would largely be out of contact. Ratchet wasn't pleased, Arcee wasn't either. Bulkhead and Bumblebee were confused more than anything. But none present wanted to deny Optimus what they assumed was a poor attempt to ask for some alone time. To them, there was no other mech who could use a break more than their Prime.

Ratchet prepared Optimus some rations and requested an update daily. Arcee slipped Optimus a hidden blade to keep in his arm guard in the event that something happened. Bulkhead patted Optimus on the back and wished him well, and Bumblebee gave his Sire a hug. It was a simple but heartfelt farewell for what the team assumed was a simple trip. Guilt plagued Optimus's mind as he elected to not tell them of his plans. They would never allow him to leave, at least not with Megatron. This he needed to do alone. It was dangerous, but in the worst case scenario, he could always call for a ground bridge, or even fight his way out. He'd been on the Nemesis before, and he could hold his own for a limited amount of time against the Decepticons. Megatron was a mech of honor when he felt like it.

It was risky, but there was much to be gained... at least, that was his hope.

He made his way to the designated meeting point even though he knew the team would worry the moment they saw his signature moving far faster than it should have. Once he was at the meeting place, Megatron emerged from a ground bridge and beckoned him to follow with a smile. It was unnerving and Optimus quietly readied his hidden blade just in case things fell apart. However, after venting deeply, he followed Megatron through the portal with only a quick message back to Ratchet.

[[If this doesn't work, I hope you will forgive me. I want to know the truth, and if all goes well, I will gather other vital information as well. Thank you for everything Ratchet. I pray that I will return to you soon.]]

With his message sent, Optimus followed his enemy and stepped aboard the Nemesis. Unease rattled his spark as Megatron smiled and led the way to the Command deck. Optimus did not know what he should have expected, but a vial of sedatives to the neck was not on his list of potential outcomes. He wheezed and his vision blurred, but before he lost consciousness, Arcee's gifted blade found its mark, slashing across Megatron's face even as Optimus was forced into recharge.

When he returned to consciousness, he was strapped down on an examination table and a series of cables connected to his processors through ports normally well hidden. He was too sluggish to move and his whole frame ached. All he was able to do was listen as Megatron began to make plans with Shockwave and Knockout.

Megatron: Does he possess the correct coding?

Knockout: Surprisingly, yes. Despite his physical age and maturity, his coding has not completed its development. He could still theoretically be moved from one frame to another-

Megatron: Excellent. Get that relic out of him and prepare to transfer his spark to a protoform. Ensure the protoform in question is adequately adjusted.

Knockout: My Lord, I will gladly obey, but you must realize that tampering with the relic is highly dangerous! Not to mention moving him to a new frame could cause incredible stress-!

Megatron: What are the issues that concern you, Doctor?

Knockout: The Matrix is tied to him. Trying to remove it could kill him! If you want him dead then by all means go forward with this plan, but if you want a live Prime, he needs that relic at least until I can create a stabilizer to replace it.

Megatron: Very well. Leave the relic until there is a way to remove it. Anything else?

Knockout: He may have the correct coding, but putting him in a protoform is just asking for all sorts of mutations. He needs a stabilizing element, a CNA contribution of some sort considering there are no hot spots for him to go roll in.

Megatron: Then find someone aboard the Nemesis. I want him and that relic dealt with before the cycle's end!

Optimus watched in horror as Megatron grinned down at him. Knockout simply sighed and raised a blade with a murmur about not wanting to damage such a fine frame.

Optimus Prime finally came to fully understand just what his Sire endured as he was picked to pieces for a purpose he did not know. Memory faded in and out as the Doctor worked, but all the while Optimus recalled searching for Ratchet, desperately hoping the mech who treated him so tenderly would come save him. His attempts to call to the team were fruitless, and in his moments of awareness, he noted Knockout had removed his tracker or otherwise blocked the team's ability to find him. He was stranded and alone.

What a foolish decision it was to come to the Nemesis. He regretted it more with every moment and only found himself aware enough to actually process data once more when he came online in a far smaller frame. He was without many features, his new body not yet adjusted to his CNA. The Matrix wrapped around him almost like a ribcage in order to fit his small form. But aside from a few familiar features such as his finials, he also noted a few smaller adjustments, namely the duel datacables that he sensed distantly on his back.

He could not speak, he could not act. Alone and weakened, all he could do was go limp when Soundwave and Megatron came to look him over.

"He has accepted your CNA well. Take care of him Soundwave. Orion's sparkling should be preserved at all costs. I refuse to allow his memory to fade."

Soundwave collected Optimus and carried him as if he weighed nothing. Optimus, having endured his forced reformat, merely groaned. Of course, Megatron was not to be trusted. What a fool he was to even believe in a vague concept of honor. Megatron was always obsessed with his Sire. Was it really a surprise that he would try to claim what little remained of Orion Pax? He was lucky to be alive...

Soundwave took him away, and before Optimus knew it, a new schedule formed for him. He did not fully understand, but the warlord, seemingly drunk on whatever the dark energon did to him, had fully devoted himself to preserving that which remained of Orion. Megatron held no love for him. Instead, the Decepticon instructed Soundwave to tend to Optimus. That tending came... with adjustments. Every cycle he was trained in the craft of the spymaster and dutifully educated in the ways of the original Decepticon creed. Soundwave was not loving or affectionate, but he was a devoted teacher.

Cycle in and cycle out, Optimus obeyed. He couldn't fight, not when his very frame seemed so frail. He could not trust his limbs, nor could he trust his mind without wondering if his thoughts were influenced by the Matrix or Soundwave's teaching. He'd fallen for Megatron's trap, and now he remained until the warlord grew tired of him. He could only hope his team were safe and that they could continue the fight without his aid.

Locked on the Nemesis in a frame not his own, Optimus learned. And given time, he learned one important skill.

He learned to bide his time and scheme.

[justarandomreaderxoxo]

CHAPTER 1: THE UNEXPECTED CALL

Tony Stark x daughter!reader

Pronouns: She/Her

Age: 14

Warning: OC character death

Summary: An unexpected call shakes Tony's world as he knows it, as a young woman claims to be his daughter. How would both react to meeting each other for the first time?

A/N: Hey there, this is my first time writing a fanfic. I am not a native english speaker but i have tried my best. Anyhow if you find any warning missing or any other problem, please let me know. Comment if possible, feedback may help me better my writing.

Word Count: 1117

The day was like any other. Tony Stark, genius billionaire and playboy, was immersed in the heart of his technological kingdom. Holographic screens displayed intricate blueprints, while the rhythmic hum of machinery provided a background symphony to the genius at work. Tony's focus was unparalleled, but little did he know that the rhythm of his life was about to change.

Amidst the controlled chaos of his lab, a discreet ping echoed through the air, signalling an incoming call on his secured line. Always curious, Tony swiped the holographic screen to accept the call. A flicker, and the holographic display revealed the face of a young woman. Her features were a curious blend of determination and vulnerability, and her gaze carried a weight that seemed incongruent with her years.

"Tony Stark?" The girl's voice was steady, but beneath the surface, there was an undeniable undercurrent of uncertainty.

Tony, ever the master of nonchalance, leaned against his worktable and quirked an eyebrow. "Who's asking?"

The young woman took a deep breath, steadying herself before continuing. "I'm Y/N Y/L/N. You... you might not know me, but I believe you're my father."

Tony's eyes widened in genuine surprise, a rarity for a man accustomed to being several steps ahead. He straightened up, studying the unfamiliar face on the holographic screen. "My what now?"

Y/N sighed, the weight of her words palpable even through the digital interface. "My mother passed away recently. I found some things that led me to you. Which leads me to believe I'm your daughter."

Tony's initial surprise transformed into a mix of skepticism and calculation. He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he considered the revelation. "Well, I've had my fair share of fans and impostors. What makes you think I should believe you?"

Y/N met Tony's gaze without flinching. "I don't want anything from you, Mr. Stark. My mom's gone, and I don't have anyone else. I just thought you should know. I don't need your money or your pity."

Tony leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "You've got guts, kid. I'll give you that. Fine, let's run some more tests. If they check out, we'll talk."

And so began the unexpected chapter in Tony Stark's life. The subsequent days were a whirlwind of medical examinations, DNA tests, and scrutinizing glances exchanged between father and potential daughter. Tony, ever the skeptic, was cautious but couldn't deny the similarities he saw between them.

As the tests came back positive, confirming the truth of Y/N's claim, Tony found himself grappling with a reality he hadn't anticipated. He had a daughter – a child he never knew existed. The revelation stirred a mix of emotions in the usually composed Stark. Uncertainty, guilt, and a hint of paternal protectiveness began to weave their way into the fabric of his daily existence.

Tony decided to meet Y/N in person. The arrangement was made for her to visit The stark mansion in malibu. As he waited in his lavish home, Tony couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness, a sensation foreign to the man.

Arrival of a Tony’s Royce can be heard, signalling Y/N's arrival. The doors opened, and there she stood, a mix of confidence and vulnerability. Short, stylish hair framed her face, and her attire exuded a refined elegance that Tony found oddly familiar.

"Mr. Stark," she introduced herself, extending a hand.

"Ms. Y/L/N," he replied, taking her hand. The handshake was a subtle dance of acknowledgment and understanding, the unspoken recognition of a connection that transcended genetics.

They sat in the expansive living room, surrounded by the panoramic views of The ocean. The peaceful waves served as a backdrop to a conversation that would shape the course of their lives.

"I never knew," Tony admitted, his eyes scanning the cityscape as if searching for answers. "Your mother... she never told me."

Y/N nodded; her gaze fixed on Tony. "I didn't know either until she passed away. Found some unsent letters, some mementos. Pieced it together."

The silence hung between them, pregnant with unspoken words and missed opportunities. Tony, always the master of deflecting emotions with humor, attempted a grin. "Well, welcome to the Stark legacy, kid. It's a bit of a rollercoaster, but the view is fantastic."

Y/N chuckled, a genuine smile breaking through the tension. "So I've heard."

As the days turned into weeks, Tony and Y/N navigated the awkward dance of forming a connection that should have existed for years. Tony, the absent father, struggled to reconcile his larger-than-life persona with the intimate role of a parent. Y/N, the brilliant prodigy, adjusted to the newfound reality of a father who was as flawed as he was iconic.

Stark Mansion became a backdrop for their evolving relationship. Tony, never one to shy away from grand gestures, spared no expense in introducing Y/N to the finer things in life. Dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants, exclusive access to cutting-edge technology, and glimpses into the glamorous world of the Stark legacy became routine.

However, amidst the opulence, there were moments of vulnerability and sincerity. Late-night conversations in the dimly lit living room, where Tony shared stories of his past and Y/N spoke of her mother's sacrifices. These were the moments that forged the foundation of their father-daughter bond.

The world soon learned of Y/N Y/L/N's existence, and the media frenzy that followed was something neither of them was prepared for. Paparazzi hounded their every step, and tabloids dissected their relationship with speculative fervour. Tony, accustomed to public scrutiny, shielded Y/N from the worst of it, becoming an unexpected pillar of support in her life.

As the months passed, Y/N's presence began to weave seamlessly into the fabric of Tony's life. She proved not only to be his daughter but also an asset to Stark Industries. Her prodigious intellect and business acumen were undeniable, and Tony, recognizing her potential, welcomed her into the world of Stark Enterprises. The skeptical billionaire discovered a newfound pride in his daughter's abilities, a pride that transcended his own ego.

One evening, as they stood on the balcony of Stark Mansion, the moon light glittering below them, Tony turned to Y/N with a rare sincerity in his eyes. "You're not just a Stark, Y/N/N. You're my legacy. And I have a feeling you're going to make it even more remarkable than I ever could."

Y/N met his gaze, a mixture of gratitude and determination in her eyes. "I don't plan on disappointing, Dad."

Their journey was not without its challenges. Y/N's hesitance to fully embrace the Stark name, Tony's struggle with the responsibilities of fatherhood – these were hurdles they faced together. But within the complexities of their relationship, a genuine connection blossomed.

[sizzlingpatrolfox]

https://www.tumblr.com/sizzlingpatrolfox/741968357112283136/thank-you-for-talking-about-mijoo-cause-i-just

Do you really not realize that you react to Daeun the same way taekookers react to jennie and mijoo?

What's the point of looking for ways to not believe that Jimin had a girlfriend? Since when is this something unreal or bad? I guess most pjms just want him to have a boyfriend, not a girlfriend, and that's funny. The photos of Jimin will never be leaked and he will never walk with his girlfriend/boyfriend by the hand in Paris. Because he has a brain and he knows how to hide his relationship. So will you always now deny his relationship with someone (who is obviously not a guy) because there is not enough evidence? Well, it's convenient.

Do you remember that picture of the guy in Jimin's sweatshirt? Pjms had no problem with the theory that this was his boyfriend. But now we have a girl who literally lived in the same apartment with Jimin for a while and suddenly you have a thousand reasons not to believe that they were in a relationship. And I don't give a fuck about this daeun, I'm just sad that pjms turned out to be no better than taekookers. I really thought that if there was obvious evidence that Jimin had a girlfriend, pjms would accept it. But it turned out that you all also know how to look for reasons not to believe in what you don't want to believe.

Pjms please raise your hand if you really believed Jimin was dating that guy wearing his shirt.

No hands raised. Exactly.

Because nobody actually believed that. Sometimes a joke is just a fucking joke and that's why being straight is so wrong, because you have no sense of humour.

I don't even have to look for reasons to not believe. In fact, it looks like you are looking for reasons to believe in it because how the fuck does someone find an unknown actress on Instagram and starts looking at her stories?? How?? That's what's weird to me. She wasn't an idol, she has absolutely no relationship to any member or anyone from their circle of friends. You literally clinged to a completely unknown actress after Santa Monica beach rumour failed, after Jimin being a parent of two failed.

"I don't give a fuck about this daeun" meanwhile you have her notifications on😭

Did you know a trans woman who owns a gay bar blocks away from Jimin's home followed him and only him on Instagram? That zzinu, Jimin's best friend, goes to her parties? She follows all of BTS members now, but for a couple of years she only followed Jimin. Did you look for her circle of friends to check if someone else lives in 91? Literally so many people I could connect Jimin too if I really wanted to and was jobless and obsessed enough to go stalking their Instagrams. But I just don't care. I was never the type of fan to go searching for that, I didn't even know about daeun until months ago, while y'all have been talking about her for years. That's how irrelevant the whole thing is 😭

Is this man living with Jimin, too? Wait, no, I mean.. Did he live with Jimin for a while?

Hell, even Jimin and Jungkook had the same dishware during the same you say daeun was living with Jimin. I wonder how can Jimin have the same items as two other people simultaneously, he was dating both at the same time?

A mattresses shop followed Jimin and Jungkook only for a while, and then followed Hoseok. I assumed that meant they had bought stuff from there. Were the three of them sleeping together?

I have made jokes about Jimin and women, too. I've also been around people, "fans" like you who so badly want to gossip about things that just don't exist and it's annoying. I don't mind talking about Jimin dating anybody, I just don't see anything worth talking about it in the relationship you so badly want to believe in, so bad that you go searching strangers Instagram stories trying to come up with something to make a case. I'm sure you can find someone to talk about it, since it's so confirmed and obvious there must be a lot of people out there ready to discuss it, so just go find them. I don't see anything worth discussing and I just keep going in circles on this topic.

I don't even talk about taennie except mentioning in passing the fact that they were fucking, because I don't have anything to say about taennie either. And it doesn't mean anything that I don't know what to say. It just means I don't have anything to say, like 😭 oh my god look at tthe same table what a lovely couple 🥰🥹 is that it? Jimin is literally not even part of those conversations - he's nowhere in the picture and all you want to discuss is inanimate objects. Just think about that. You're literally asking me to discuss inanimate objects. And that's what you're just not getting it and mistakingly think that I have a problem with Jimin dating women. I don't have any problem. It's you who takes offense on the fact that I don't believe in this particular rumour. Why do you have a problem with me wanting to see at least a photo of them together? Let's unravel that first.

"If there was obvious evidence" that's the thing. It's not enough evidence to convince me. If you're convinced, that's on you. To me, you're no different and you're just as ridiculous as jikookers who thought Jimin was living with Jungkook because they owned the same pots.

[traumasurvivorshelpingsurvivors]

TWs: dehumanization, emotional abuse, child abuse, possible false memories, unreality & psychosis

looking for reassurrance/validation and maybe advice if applicable

so sometimes i think of a really fucked up memory early in my childhood, i honestly dont know what triggers it. i dont know exactly when it happened either but it had to've been really young since it was about potty training? i remember my mother becoming frustrated with me and took off my pants, put me on a stack/mess of newspapers, and said something like "here, since you want to piss everywhere like a dog." i dont remember how i reacted in the memory only that we were watching tv and nobody around did anything about it.

the worst part of this is that i cant even tell if this is a real memory or not. i dont want to believe my mom would do something like this to me nor would she admit to doing something like this so i cant ask her. this very much strikes a bell with the kind of content of my dreams that i often mistake for reality, but it feels so real to me & there's nothing that happened in it that couldn't actually happen in the real world. i didn't 'remember' this before i developed psychosis so it just feels like a false memory has been implanted in me. it makes me feel deeply uncomfortable (at least i think, trying my best but thanks alexithymia) but i could be reacting that way over something that never even happened.

Hi anon,

It sounds like this memory was traumatic for you, whether or not it happened. I guess what I would ask is, if it is real, what would that mean for you, and if it isn't real, what would that mean for you, and how does each outcome compare? Because even if this didn't happen, it's still quite upsetting for you, and understandably so.

If it did happen, you didn't deserve to be treated that way and it must've felt dehumanizing to go through that, especially to be called a dog. Especially when we're children, I feel like we're most susceptible to absorbing and internalizing our experiences in significant and long-lasting ways. What someone may see as a minor event (not saying this is in any way minor, but often times the adults in our life don't think much of how they treat children) may deeply impact a child. I feel like this has something to do with the fact that, as children, we have just been flung into reality and are trying to navigate our identity and space in relation to others, and because we're so "new" to this world, it's especially easy to internalize how others classify or treat us.

Not everything has to actually happen to be traumatic or upsetting. Sometimes our own imagination can be deeply disturbing. That being said, something I've noticed across anons in the past who are looking to confirm or deny an upsetting memory, is that genuine memories tend to come attached with a strong emotion, like anger, disgust, sadness, fear, or a combination thereof. The thing is that, if this didn't happen then there's no consequence because it's not real. But a strong emotion such as deep discomfort can be evident of something more.

It's ultimately not my place to say if it's real or not. Only you can truly determine what you experienced or didn't experience, it's not really anyone's place to dictate that for you.

Best of luck in figuring this out. I hope I could help, and that you're doing alright. Please let us know if you need anything.

-Bun

[babyboyblasty]

CHAPTER 10:

"You look nice, Deku" Uraraka smiled, her hands held behind her back as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet in a childish manner, looking at her green haired friend. "Is there anyone in particular you're trying to impress?" she gave him a knowing look that Izuku stuttered and blushed to.

"No! O-of course not" he immediately denied and averted his eyes when that only seemed to make Uraraka's smirk widen. Izuku knew he was a terrible liar and Uraraka could be very scary sometimes. "But um, hypothetically speaking.. if I /were/ trying to impress someone- which I'm not- but hypothetically speaking do you think they'll.. you know. Be impressed? Hypothetically."

Uraraka looked her friend up and down. Izuku's fashion sense has definitely improved since the beginning of their first year. Both Tsuyu and herself had made sure to teach Deku and Todoroki a thing or two about dressing themselves since they were completely clueless sometimes. Midoriya was wearing brown, cuffed corduroy pants with a forest green oversized short sleeve button up, a lighter green long sleeve underneath that to create layers. The red shoes were never going away though and Uraraka gave up in trying to get him to wear another pair of shoes. He looked good and Uraraka noticed how his hair was a bit neater too so he obviously put a bit of extra effort into trying to style his curls. In fact, looking around the common room it seemed that Deku wasn't the only one who put a little extra effort into their appearance today. Half the boys there looked like they were going off to a party instead of a casual class outing. Even Iida looked like he was trying out a new hairstyle. No glasses either.

"Umm, Uraraka-san?" Izuku waved his hand in front of the girl's face to get her attention. She zoned out for a bit there and she blinked, turning to face him again.

"Oh, right! Well, /hypothetically speaking/ right?" she smiled and he nodded, "I think they'll be very impressed." Deku beamed and her eyes shifted to Todoroki who was just arriving downstairs. "Oh, look! There's Todoroki-kun. Let's go talk" she grabbed Deku's hand in hers and took him with her. He looked very good! Todoroki's aesthetic was more of a simplistic/classy style with neutral colors. This time he decided to switch it up and was wearing a white t-shirt with an unbuttoned, loose fitting pale blue and white striped dress shirt over that. He had black jeans and white sneakers too. He looked very good. "Oooo~ is there anyone /you're/ trying to impress, Todoroki-kun?" Ochako teased.

"Yes."

Ochako didn't expect such a direct answer but giggled anyway at her blunt friend. Deku on the other hand didn't find it as funny.

"Is Bakugou here yet?" Shoto changed the subject and looked around the common room but didn't spot the explosion quirk user anywhere. He felt a little disappointed.

"No, Kacchan isn't here. Neither is Kirishima-kun" Izuku really tried to keep the bitterness out of his tone. He knew that they were best friends but did they really have to be glued at the hip 24/7? Deku doesn't like the way he starts to feel when he thinks of those two together but he can't help it.

"Oh" Shoto mumbled. There was an awkward silence where no one said anything for a few seconds until Uraraka couldn't stand it and broke it.

"So how are you feeling, Todoroki-kun? Are you still tired or are you feeling a bit better from earlier?" Ochako questioned. That got Izuku's attention and he turned to Todoroki with a curious expression. Was he sick? Todoroki didn't mention anything to him today. He wondered why he didn't tell him.

"I feel better, thank you. I'm excited to be going out with my friends" he smiled briefly and Izuku returned it. After that things started to go back to normal as they talked about what stores they wanted to go to and if they had anything in particular they wanted to buy. The common room was filled with brief conversation before the 'ding' of the elevator was heard and everyone turned to look at a nervous Kirishima standing on the far opposite side of a bored looking Bakugou. Izuku felt a knot form in his throat and Todoroki felt his heart skip a beat, their faces heating up a little at what girl Kacchan was wearing. He looked good. Hell, even if he was in his normal body and wore that he'd look good.

"You're here!" Mina rushed forward to hug her two friends in a crushing hug which Kirishima gladly returned. The girls may or may not be feeling smug at how everyone reacted to seeing Bakugou. Yeah, they did that.

"I said I would go with you extras, didn't I? Now let go, pinky" Bakugou groaned. She smiled wide before stepping back.

"This'll be so much fun!" Mina jumped up and down.

"Everyone please form a single file line for attendance! As class president I must make sure everyone is accounted for before we vacate school grounds" Iida made sure to grab everyone's attention by speaking loud and clear as well as waving his arms about. Where he pulled the clipboard from no one knows but Iida started to check off names in the class roster to submit to Aizawa sensei once they come back in a few hours. "Alright. Everyone is here. We can go now" he nodded in confirmation.

The class had to take the bus to go to the mall so Iida stayed by the door until everyone was inside before going in himself. Bakugou was planning to sit with Kirishima but the redhead as soon as he was in the bus went and sat beside Sero instead. Katsuki was confused since they always sit together and even Sero was looking between the pair in confusion. "You don't mind, right Bakubro?" Kirishima awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. Bakugou just shrugged and moved on to find an empty seat to which Kirishima let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding.

"What was that?" Sero questioned once Bakugou was out of earshot.

"What was what?" Kirishima turned to him.

"That. You always sit with Bakugou so why all of a sudden did you decide to sit next to me? I don't mind but I was a little caught off guard, man. You know, you've been acting weird ever since the night we played games in my room. Is everything cool?" Sero had an idea of what was happening but he wanted to hear it from Kiri himself.

"Yeah, everything's good. I just need to sort some things out for myself first" he explained and Sero nodded, leaving it at that. Kirishima appreciated that about Sero. He knew if it was Mina or Kaminari they wouldn't stop pestering him about it. Kirishima just wanted some time to hopefully figure out why he was all of a sudden feeling so weird around Katsuki.

On the other end of the bus, towards the back, Bakugou found an empty seat. Everyone else seemed to be already sitting with someone else but he didn't really mind it. Once seated, Bakugou put his elbow up on the edge of the window and looked outside. He felt someone slightly tap his shoulder though and looked up to a shy Koda. 'May I sit here?' he signed and Bakugou raised an eyebrow. He rolled his eyes and signed back 'go for it' and Koda smiled a little, quickly sitting down beside Bakugou. Aizawa did mention that because of his quirk, he may experience hearing loss in the future if he didn't take the proper precautions so Bakugou has been taking JSL classes from Koda since the beginning of their second year and developed a somewhat mutual understanding with the guy. He really wasn't all that bad, just a little quiet. And while they weren't friends friends, Bakugou knew that if he ever needed a quiet place to study or just hang out for a bit without talking, he could go to Koda's room. The same went for Bakugou. If Koda ever wanted to spar or wanted pointers to help in improving his fighting skills, Bakugou is available.

Now that everyone had a seat, the bus began to move. The ride was going to take approximately fifteen to twenty minutes so he just wanted to use the break to relax. Bakugou could tell Koda wanted to say something based on the way he would look at him every few minutes but then look away though. "What is it?" he finally asked a little less than halfway into the trip and Koda shook his head. "I know you want to say something, now what is it?"

Koda looked hesitant at first but then signed 'how are you feeling?' with a sincere look. Maybe if it was someone else Bakugou would have told them off for getting into his business but Koda was someone who earned his respect and admiration throughout their time together in UA and who he saw as an equal.

"Why do you ask?" he asked instead, a bit defensive, and Koda responded by signing 'this is a big change and I was just wondering how you were doing.' Bakugou shrugged. "It isn't something I can't handle. Besides, today is the last day of the quirk so I should be back to normal by tomorrow morning" Bakugou mumbled, adding in a "thanks" as an afterthought. Honestly speaking, Koda has been the only one who's asked him how he felt about this whole quirk situation. The rest of his classmates all just seemed to be having fun with it and while he didn't mind, it was nice to be asked.

'You're always welcome to come hang out with me and my bunny if you ever need quiet time,' Koda offered. 'He told me he misses the angry blonde boy with the warm hands" he joked. Bakugou smirked a little with a "tch, sure whatever. Tell 'im I miss the furball too" leaving his lips. After that Bakugou and Koda fell into a comfortable silence where Bakugou closed his eyes to rest for the few minutes they had left on the bus ride.

Everyone else in class 3-A never thought they'd see the day where they all wished they were in Koda's place. The anivoice boy was sitting perfectly still so as to not wake the pretty blonde that had leaned his head on the other's shoulder sometime along the trip and was now sleeping peacefully on him.

[word count: 1775]

( this fan art isn't in correlation with the story chapter but oH MY GOD LOOK HOW PRETTY GIRL BAKUGOU IS- 😩)

[rueitae]

don't even celebrate Christmas but the combo for December 25 is quite intriguing 😏

This is way late. I lost the original post and only remember the hitman/spy part. Maybe it was enemies to friends to lovers too? Sounds about right.

Roughly 2800 words. Read here on A03.

A Deal and A Dare

~~~~~

The world falls away around her, the shipping crates she hides between feeling like an enclosure rather than a single wall between her and the guard station. The clicking of her fingers across the keyboard narrows her focus on the job. Information from the factory downloads into her laptop, a green bar filling in across the bottom of the screen, inching closer to the perfect copy.

They’ll never know of her presence if she did it correctly. And Pidge always has a perfect extraction.

It’s her biggest job ever, hired to gather as much intelligence on Lotor as possible - the most reclusive man on the planet. So she’s huddled in a corner of the facility he frequents, near the shipping dock and the closest computer to her exit.

Her heart pounds through her ears, a smile stuck to her face - the rush of the job never gets old.

When the copy is complete, her hacker icon dances with fireworks on the screen.

“Bingo,” she whispers. Pidge enters lines of her exit code, erasing any indication of her presence.

She slams her laptop shut and stuffs it into her bag, draping the straps around her arms. The window above her is easy to climb to, and her escape is easy and undetected.

But her heart rate won’t go down until she’s safe in her air conditioned hotel room and the money for the job has been wired into her secure - and very private - bank account.

The summer sun beats down on her bare neck and for the first time she actually regrets cutting her hair to do field work like this. With her luck she’ll probably have a sunburn by the time she gets indoors. She tugs down on her ski mask for what feels like the hundredth time, making sure her face and hair are hidden at least.

Next paycheck, I’m getting a nice full body suit, she grumbles to herself.

Steam rises from standing water all over the docks, so Pidge pay no mind to the mosquito she slaps dead on the back of her neck.

Then nothing.

~~~~~

Pidge groans as a foggy awareness tickles the front of her brain. She lies on a soft fabric, arms clutching a fluffy pillow under her head. It’s serene, and for a few blissful moments it’s as if she’s back in her hotel room and catching up on sleep.

But… isn’t she on a job? Pidge doesn’t remember transferring the data to Honerva yet, or even getting back to the hotel.

Fear strikes her heart. Honerva is not so forgiving of a late assignment. More importantly - why doesn’t she remember walking back?

She moves her eyes in a flurry, searching her surroundings. Familiar items come into focus as she comes out of her sleepy haze, her computer, a duffel bag full of clothes and toiletries, and a drying swimsuit from when she made use of the hotel’s pool.

Her heart rate slows, but a feeling of wrongness hangs over her head.

She moves to sit up and investigate, but her legs and wrists refuse to separate. It trips her off balance and she yelps, the floor greeting her face with a loud thump.

Plasma cuffs hold her wrists and ankles together. The swirling magenta bands are stronger than iron and near indestructible. Pidge knows better than anyone, the technology is her father’s.

A knot of dread twists in her stomach as she realizes - that had been no mosquito bite.

Tranquilizer

“Mornin’ sleeping beauty.”

A male voice fills the silence, growing more clear by the syllable. He rounds the bed cautiously, a handgun lowered but ready. Pidge growls as the pieces of the puzzle come together. She’s been kidnapped by a sniper with enough skill to have tracked her not only to her job, but with the intelligence to know her temporary hideout.

She needs more information. Who is he and how did he find her? Why has he taken her? Who does he work for?

“You need something from me,” she guesses, remaining still, sizing up his demeanor. Why else would a sniper leave her alive if not for her information?

He wears a tight navy shirt, covering - but also showing off, to Pidge’s frustration - his neck and muscular arms. A utility belt is around his waist with equally snug pants, housing his holster and sheath for a knife. His face isn’t hidden, and wears an easy smile while his body looks as if it can react to any retaliation on her part on a moment’s notice.  

“Kind of,” he says as he holsters the gun. He pulls the hotel key card out of his pocket, flashing it at her between two of her fingers as he lazily sits on the edge of the bed. “I figured you’d be more comfortable in your own space to talk,” He leans in closer and she scoots back, but not enough as he hooks a finger under her facemask and rips it off her head, “Ms Gunderson. The nice lady at the front desk was able to tell me which room you were staying at.”

“I’d be more comfortable without these restraints,” she spits, testing the cuffs to relief some of her anger knowing full well they won’t budge. “Let’s get this over with and - hey, what are you doing?”

The sniper sets the key card on the bed and bends down, scooping her up like a sack of potatoes while she shrieks at him. “The name’s Lance,” he says as he drops her back onto the bed and sits himself at the end of it. “But,” his mouth curls into a smirk, his teeth are so pearly white they practically shine, “you might know me better as Red, mercenary services for hire.”

There are numerous ways she can respond to him. She can confirm that yes, she’s heard of him and his decent work reputation - and more infamous flirtatious one - on the Network. She can make a jab at it. She can deny it, keeping the information to herself, stroking his ego to make him talk. But she chooses neither, her heart beating wildly, still ascertaining what exactly this sniper wants with her.

“Why do you wear blue then?”

Lance has the decency to gawk in indignation. “Blue happens to be better camouflage then red,” he says hastily, arms crossed as he defends himself. “And I like the color blue.”

“But,” Pidge presses, thrilled to be in the captivity of a sniper with vanity. “You call yourself Red? Why not just call yourself Blue?”

He flicks her a flashy grin, running a hand through his brown hair. “Because I’m red hot with my aim and with the ladies.”

To Pidge’s consternation, heat rushes to her cheeks. His uniform is a bit distracting and she has first hand experience with his sniper skills. From what she remembers of Lance’s Network profile and how he acts now, he’s not rash; it’s all too inviting to relax.

But he’s still an assassin, and letting her guard down is an easy way to either get herself killed, or blackmailed.

“Well, I’m not into bondage,” she says casually. “So just tell me what you want from me.”

His jaw drops, eyes wide as saucers, sputtering, “I would nev- AGH!” He forgets that he leans on an arm with the other still in his hair. He falls off the bed and onto the floor.

Pidge raises an eyebrow. Such an awkward response from a self proclaimed - and documented - Casanova?

“Now we’re even,” she tells him with a huff.

Lance is to his feet quick, a testament to his profession, though his face is a red blushing mess.

Pidge snorts with a smirk, leaning back on the headrest of the bed, bound hands limp on her lap. “You’re living up to your name, but you’re nothing like your flirtatious reputation.”

He’s taken aback in indignation. “This isn’t a date,” he tells her. It takes a blink of an eye for his body to stiffen and to cross his arms. The professionalism and intimidation is spot on… if not for his fumbling at her teasing.

“I know you have information on Lotor,” he begins.

Pidge bites her inner lip, and hopes her face does not betray the renewed influx of worry in her gut. Her laptop is heavily encrypted, and there’s no way this… Lance can bust it. Still, paranoia is strong and she has a job yet to complete.

“And what if I do?” she counters vaguely.

Lance rolls his eyes. “You have a reputation, Pidge, and I saw you get the job done. Lotor doesn’t want to be found though, so I need you to hand it over to me.”

The pieces of the puzzle click into place. Lotor hired Lance to stop her from giving information on him to Honerva. Well, she can still throw him off.

“So,” she says with a knowing grin. “What kind of reputation do I have?”

He glares at her, not answering right away. “If I tell you, will you give me the information?”

Pidge shrugs noncommittally. Lance throws his head back with a groan of frustration.

“The Network says you have a 99% success rate,” he begins. “That’s wild for a hacker.”

Her nose twitches, annoyed at being reminded of her less than perfect record, though far and away the best one of her peers. “Information Retrieval Specialist,” she corrects. “Hacking is just what I do to get the information.”

“Whatever,” Lance dismisses. His brows furrow in annoyance. “You’re the best in the business and super reclusive.” He leans forward, scrutinizing her. “And you’re pretty.”

Pidge nods to each of his points, until the last, when her own eyes threaten to jump out of their sockets. “That’s not in my profile!” she protests.

“It’s not,” Lance agrees, pointing a finger at her. He has the audacity to look pleased with himself at her reaction. “But you are pretty cute.”

Her face is so hot it might explode. The only people who compliment her like that are her own family, not attractive men in form fitting clothing who have her hogtied on a hotel bed.

Oh quiznak, maybe she’d lied earlier.

She can’t decide whether to call him out on it or get on with the information on Lotor, but Lance does it for her. His face glows red and his mouth gapes, stammering, “quiznak. No - I’m not lewd or anything. This is strictly professional. I don’t usually do the kidnapping thing.”

Pidge frowns, concentrating on steadying her breathing. “Then why me? It’s not like I keep information in my head.”

Lance takes a deep and wanders over to the window. He inserts his fingers between the panels. Sunlight peeks through - sunset she guesses from the angle and orangish tint. Foreboding settles in her gut, she’s slept for far too long.

He refuses to look at her, resting an arm on the wall. “My orders were to take you out,” he confesses solemnly.

Pidge’s heart catches in her throat and she tenses. She’s not safe yet.

“But honestly, I hate the guy,” he continues, curling his hand into a fist. “And I’m sick of doing his dirty work. He’s got a lot of friends of mine under his thumb.” He looks her in the eye, gaze steely. “So I want the information to take him out, and I’d like your help to do it.”

Pidge grits her teeth, face warm with anger rather than embarrassment. “No,” she says quickly. “You’re breaking your contract, and you expect me to break mine to help you? I’d like to keep my reputation in tact.”

“I can make it worth your while,” Lance says, stalking back towards her. “Answer carefully; I have you exactly where I want you,” he threatens.

Well, he wants to negotiate rather than kill her, so maybe she can still talk her way out of this. Emboldened, she holds up her cuffed hands and says “On a bed?”

“No!” he squawks, backing up against the wall - as far away from her as possible. “You know that’s not what I mean!”

“Look, my client is someone I’d rather be on the good side of,” Pidge levels. “I have a career to think about. If you can’t offer me better than an apprenticeship and a high tech lab, then you’re out of luck.”

Lance grits his teeth and paces the short space between the bed and television. His eyes pin shut and brows knit together in inner conflict.

“Partnership. 60-40,” he declares. “I’ve got a warehouse full of tech that’s all yours. Not just sniper stuff, your kind of stuff.”

“My kind of stuff?” Why does a sniper need with encryption software and small tools to work on microchips and motherboards? Has she misjudged his intellect?

“I have a collection,” he clarifies, “a big sis in the Garrison, a mechanic friend, and a place large enough to hold it all,” he flashes her a grin as he leans over the foot of the bed. “You’d have your pick of equipment and I’ll take on your targets too.” He holds out a hand, close enough she could take it. “Just help me take down Lotor.”

Pidge chews on her gums, considering. A partnership is tempting, with Honerva she can only expect an apprenticeship for an undetermined amount of time, and probably limited access to equipment. To be in charge of her own lab so soon in her career is beyond her wildest dreams.

And to have a sniper at her call - a reputable one at that - is a bonus. Doing a little digging for him is a small price to pay.

She hums, keeping her relaxed demeanor though her heart bubbles with excitement on the inside.

“You’re not half bad,” she admits. There are precious few sniping spots at the docks so he must have made the shot from a very very, long distance. And to be able to find her hotel at least meant he has some street sense. He might be just what she needs.

She curls up her knees and rests her elbows on them, leaning forward, locking their gazes together.

His blue eyes are hardened from enough missions, he’s less likely to bail out of a tough job - he will take the tough shot. He’s easy to tease - entertainment for her.

“50-50 split,” she counters, pointing both index fingers at him. “And I live there.”

Lance curls the fingers of his outstretched hand. “I’d need some time to get ready. I only have one bed.”

Pidge grins. “You know, you’re a lot more flustered over this stuff than your reputation says,” she chides. “You sure my being there won’t deter any date nights?”

Lance stammers, retracting his outstretched hand in exaggeration, indignant. “I can bring a date anywhere. Bringing Lotor down is more important.”

Pidge sighs dramatically. She’ll have this sniper wrapped around her finger. “Look, if you’re serious about this job, you can’t have any distractions, so probably better if you lay low on the fake dating scene.”

Lance bristles. “It’s not fake! I have a legitimate good time taking girls out to parties. We have relationships. It keeps eyes off me for more underground reasons.”

Realization tickles in her brain. “Actually… it may not be a bad idea to gather information. Lotor hates witnesses, so the more of them there are, the safer we are.”

Lance smiles. “So that’s a yes?” he asks hopefully.

Wrapped around her finger and all to herself. “If you don’t mind flirting with me at the Union Gala next week.” She snickers internally. “You’re already most of the way there - though I usually prefer puns.”

Lance’s face glows bright red, but he steels his gaze quickly, it seems she’s used this jab one too many times.

“I’ll do you one better,” he says evenly. “If I can successfully woo you, we split 60-40,” he points a thumb in his direction, “and I get the 60.” He sticks a foot onto the bed and leans in. “I’ll prove my reputation isn’t just talk.”

Pidge scoffs. Lance may look nice physically, and his goofy demeanor charming, but there is no way she’ll actually fall for him. “I doubt it. You’re no Casanova - you’re a romantic.”

“Okay if we’re going to be working together, you tell no one about this conversation,” he says with an accusatory finger pointing at her. “I’ve spent years building this up - I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

Pidge grins. Maybe this will be fun. She’s never had a partner outside her family before, and Lance seems like an entertaining guy - more personable than most who have their profiles on the Network.

She extends her hands, presenting him with what are technically his handcuffs. “You’ve got a deal, partner.”

[phanbliss]

i'm asking out of a place of wanting to understand, so please don't assume i am accusing you or attacking you, but regarding a post you reblogged recently, it was an ask where templeofshame claimed that if dnp weren't together it would be kind of like "baiting" us but i really don't think that's fair? they haven't EVER said or pretended to be in a closeted relationship, only been friends that joke a bit about their occasionally romantic tendencies, i have friends who think me pt.1

this ask is long due to there being several messages, so i’m putting it under a cut. the post in question: x

me and my best friend are together when we’re really not. we’ve said so, but eventually just stopped denying the claim while occasionally joking about it. i think its unfair of us to act like they owe us something? they don’t owe us a “coming out” (i agree with op tho that coming out has issues of it own, but its the most relevant term) neither do they have to tell us if they aren’t together. 

however we perceive their relationship is our business, and as long as we aren’t toxic about it pt. 2  then really we shouldn’t care about ppl calling us “silly shippers” cause shipping them isn’t weird or rude, i, myself, truly believe they are together, but i don’t think that they owe us anything. they are real people with their own complex lives that we may not understand, heck, that THEY may not understand and they are just living their truth. for whatever reason, they may feel that they don’t want to tell people that they’re in a relationship (if they are in one) pt. 3but neither do they feel the need to (and in my opinion, shouldn’t feel the need to) explain and clarify their status to us.

 it isn’t in any way baiting or manipulation. if we decide to invest our lives and our time into writing fanfics and making art then that is our choice! they are obviously fine with it so long as it isn’t shoved in their faces, but they don’t owe us clarification, maybe i’m misunderstanding something, i just don’t think it’s fair to say that they are being manipulative pt.4simply by being themselves? 

they are their own people with their own reasons for keeping private or not telling us. they have never pretended like phan is real, have even denied it in the past, never made merch or something that has catered to shippers specifically. they have simply let us be (even if dan was quite rude about it before, but i believe he has improved a lot over the years) and made some quips about it. they choose to share parts of their lives with us and however pt5 the phandom reacts to that is our “issue”. 

in summary, i believe that it is unfair to say that if they aren’t together it means we have been baited and manipulated and “wasted our time” because i really don’t think that’s fair to the good times we have had while shipping them. they are real people that owe us nothing about their private lives and can hide or reveal as much or as little as they want. i do believe that some people DO “queerbait” irl, especially ytbrs, but dnp have never pt.6acted fake or overly romantic to seem like they’re in love, their bond, in my opinion is genuine, and whatever we read into that is valid, but it doesn’t mean that they owe us an explanation. 

i think i should end this now, but before i go, know that i do NOT intend this to be a dig at anyone, just wanted to share my perspective and ask your opinion about what i’ve just shared. i just see ppl acting like dnp could qb us and it kind of makes me think. have a nice day, take care, peace out! end 

ooof anon, i appreciate that you sent this to me, but i’m really not the right person for it! i’m not one of the smart people in this fandom, nor one of the cool ones, so discussing things with me over anon is not as fun and rewarding as sending an ask to one of the popular people haha. but i’ll reply with my thoughts anyway!

we’ve had discussions about this on IDB before and my opinion hasn’t changed since the last time i said anything on this subject.

TO BEGIN WITH:  i in no way believe they are consciously encouraging the shipping to make money. they are two people in a long term relationship that navigate a difficult world of being queer, being popular and trying to stay private.

1) “me and my friend” - while i definitely appreciate and understand that, we have to try to not compare dnp to ourselves if we want to make a proper point. i could say that me and my friend x haven’t talked in 2 years but i still consider them a friend, which doesn’t mean that it’s the norm for everyone - same goes for the “me and my friend” arguments concerning dnp. i don’t mean you necessarily, i mean things i’ve seen over the years. “me and my friend always say i love you! we live together! we spend all our time together! we’re platonic!” - that’s awesome but it doesn’t mean anything about dnp

2) i don’t think @templeofshame acted like dnp owe us anything. i took it more as like at this point, dnp admitting to having been platonic this whole time (lol i’m laughing while typing this) would have been a form of queerbaiting. templeofshame never said they owe us a “coming out” or anything like that

3) you have to remember that their audience is largely queer. to a lot of the younger fans, they are some sort of role models and maybe even eye-openers when it comes to their [fans’] own sexuality. they are most likely aware of this and definitely accept it.

4) the biggest thing i guess i should explain is why i believe that them having been platonic this whole time would have been some form of queerbaiting and… and there is no way to put it while still being nice? so forgive me, this is my opinion and i’m not trying to start drama.

they DEFINITELY benefit off phan. they have since the start (or at least dan). back in their younger days, people didn’t really ship them as much as assume they were a couple, that’s how they behaved and most people would jump to that conclusion. when shit hit the fan (vday + general life stress) and dan started lashing out, shipping got real hard. and dnp could have left it there, could have left shipping as that elephant in the room that we’re not allowed to mention, but no

slowly, gradually, they went back to accepting shipping. they haven’t denied anything in years and in many ways they encourage it. and really, no one will make me believe that they - as in the joint brand of dan and phil - would be as popular as they are without the shipping. lots of people watch them for their chemistry and hear of them through phan. they themselves no longer shy away from it - see tatinof fanfic scenes, their fanfics in tabinof, all sorts of things i’m too tired to mention - lots of recent things from this year.

so yeah, i believe they are very aware of phan and accept it, and if they accepted it while being two bros in ~other relationships~ or ~perpetually single~ then yeah, i would feel it’s wrong. not because they said something outright but because 9+ years of certain behaviors are as good as admitting to it. 

they are basically out at this point, both as not being straight and being a couple, and i’m happy they got there on their own terms.

bottomline - i firmly believe they’re together and all that is missing is an actual confirmation - which we don’t ‘need’ - but if they weren’t together, we’d be right to be upset by this point.

idk if this answered your ask but i’m really tired and as i said, i’m dumb so you’re better off asking someone cooler than me hah :)