#if the good things were because someone prayed then that's mighty nice and all; but if that's what it takes I'd rather learn to stand

[rainbowdaisy13]

TTPD The Anthology Summary Part 1 *IMO*

This is viewed through a queer lens because I believe she is fucking done playing nice so now she’s throwing it in our faces—FUCKING SEE ME

1) Fortnight—

I was supposed to be sent away but they forgot to come and get me/I was a functioning alcoholic till nobody noticed my new aesthetic

*MIGHTY GOD we start right out the gate sad as hell—no one noticed her queer flagging both quiet and loud and that pushed her from being a functioning alcoholic to a not functioning one. She then says to the fans who refused to acknowledge her truth “I hope that you’re ok but you’re the reason” FOR ME BEING INSANE

*Mentioning wanting to kill people that’s a first and I love it

*I love you it’s ruining my life OUCH 🤕 yes that sounds like something straight people deal with 😑

2) TTPD-

*I’m sorry I can’t remember what mutual said this, but I love love this as coming from Karlie’s perspective. It absolutely fits. She ground Taylor in a way no one else can

*First mention of suicide—both can’t live without the other

*Were crazy—owning the demons together

*The wedding ring line—GOD

3) MBOBHFT—

*I see this one as Taylor viewing herself as a commodity, also as someone who is broken and needs to be fixed so that she remains lovable. It also gives me Cardigan vibes without the redemption arc

4) Down Bad—

*Love this Alien Abduction theme. Melody is even spacey sounding. The entire song uses alien motifs and I adore it. Fave line “they’ll say I’m nuts if I talk about the existence of you” Brilliant 👽 Also the concept of an Out of this World Love

5) So Long London—

*Cool opening—beautiful when they layer her own voice

How much sad did you think I had in me? 😫

*I see this song as a My Tears Ricochet 2. Taylor giving all her youth to someone for free. You say I abandon the ship but I was going down with it—I truly believe she tried and begged them to let her come out for years and she was always shot down—2 graves 1 gun, more murder imagery

*So Long London, so long Big Machine

6) BDILH—

Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking song

These people only raise you to cage you 😫

*Sarahs and Hannahs/braided hair/church/Elders making decisions—giving cult/LDS vibes

Stay away from her -Elders are yelling this—to who? Taylor? So Taylor needs to stay away from HER interesting

*Shed rather burn it all down than listen to them complain about her sexuality and how it impacts them

My good name, it’s mine alone to disgrace —absolutely shots fired at Scott Swift

*Soliloquies line is incredible—“I’ll never see” is such a burn 😆

*This isn’t a phase, this is who she is!!

*YOU AINT GOTTA PRAY FOR ME!! GET THEM ALL BITCH—SHOW THEIR ASSES

*This is my choice!!

GET 👏🏼 THEM 👏🏼 ALL

NO YOU CANT COME TO THE WEDDING PERIOD

7) FOTS—

*Pretty Baby, much like Babydoll is reserved for women and gay men and theys and thems. We don’t call straight men this 😒

*Fresh out the slammer—realllly trying to get these idiots to understand that she’s felt jailed /caged/trapped

My friends…Watch me daily disappearing 😫 fuck

Wearing Imaginary rings 😫😫😫 Says hello to paper rings says hello to imaginary lockets

*It’s gonna be alright she did her time!! 🥹

8) FLORIDA!!!—

I adore this song—my second fave on the album and absolute fucking banger. So glad Florence agreed to this they makes an amazing duo vocally—main vibes—Florida is the place Taylor wants to go to fucking escape the mess she lives in day to day. Anything goes, everyone is there hiding from something—the law, family, winter—nothing is too weird or unaccepted—and a certain someone has a house there 😎

My friends all smell like weed or little babies 😆

Florence’s verse is chefs kiss—Earl had to die vibes, watching bodies sink into the swamp, just full on misandry I LOVE IT—is that a bad thing to say in a song?? 😆 GET THEM ALL

Also I bet this song made Swifties uncomfortable 😆

FUCK ME UP FLORIDA 🤘🏼🤘🏿🤘🏾

9) Guilty as sin?

The Gay Longing/Gay Sex Song

*Another* suicide reference—but she’s just joking right swifities?

👀

No no that’s fine she just described an orgasm and if she’s not touching the person, let’s assume the pic below ⬇️ is like HEY THIS IS THE SEX IM SPEAKING ABOUT—it’s very much giving The Man pose for getting dome👀

And then the Jesus reference is just chefs kiss—gay sex is seen as sin and unholy by idiots and she said ok then bitch, what if I tell you the sex is so good we ARE what’s holy??

👀

She literally said messy top lip kiss and got away with it like 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

10) WAOLOM—

I just……this may be my favorite song of hers ever. It’s absolutely incredible in its intensity, rawness, and truth as well as being a banger

Every lyric screams her pain

My bare hands paved their path/you don’t get to tell me about sad/ If you wanted me dead you should’ve just said

I leap from the gallows and I levitate down your street —Witch Imagery again!!

WHOSE AFRAID OF LITTLE OLD ME

👹YOU SHOULD BE 👹

Shots fired again at Scott Swift!! Let’s hear one more joke—they mocked her pain because they truly thought they could convince her she wasn’t gay 🫥

GODDDD 😫

Put narcotics into all of my songs—“a drug or other substance that affects mood or behavior and is consumed for nonmedical purposes, especially one sold illegally—a drug that relieves pain and induces drowsiness, stupor, or insensibility”

SHE SAID I HAVE TO USE MALE PRONOUNS AND FAKE REFERENCES TO MEN IN MY LYRICS SO YOU IDIOTS STAY STUPID AND HAPPY

and that’s why you’re still singing along 😎

Just WOW

Brilliant and Heartbreaking and RAW

🤍🤍🤍 We love you Girl 🤍🤍🤍

[no1shouldknoe]

Imaginary vows for an imaginary husband

Hi. Before I say anything else, just want to let you know that you look really handsome. And that if it’s just the looks we’re talking about, I did so damn right saying I DO today.

We’re here, you have successfully convinced me to be here. So, congratulations.

Just between us, marriage was a long and hard talk. While other couples breezily go through it, ours consisted a whirlwind of much technicalities and what ifs, especially from me.

You see, I always say I know my worth but my dating history would show that I am always on sale. Objectively, I know what I bring to the table and that I should be with someone who brings more. But deep inside, all I ever really wanted was someone to hug me at the end of the day and tell me I did well filing all that pleadings or writing those resolutions and decisions, and that’s it’s okay if I was not able to save the world today because I came home and all is well. It would be really nice if he can cook me some good dinner, too. Objectively, I deserve someone high and mighty, but the bar is so low that I would settle just for the bare minimum. And me being pisces, that didn’t really sit well. I was always all or nothing. Then there was you.

In retrospect, I have always known, that saying yes to you is a no-brainer. You’re charming, smart, awfully kind—even kinder than me, you have money, and you make good food. And you’re also very handsome, too. You’re everyone’s dream guy. But I am myself. I came from a place of love, but I came from a life filled with heartbreaks and disappointments, too. I am a lot to take and you’re too good to be true. And all throughout our relationship, I just kept waiting for the shoe to drop. I couldn’t help but think that soon you’ll be done with me. Soon it would get tough and it would just be me again. Soon things would be ugly and I would have to call it ‘cause you don’t want in anymore but you feel bad you can’t call it quits. But the shoe never drops. It never did.

All the good, the bad, the ugly, you were, and you are with me. And true enough, every night I came home you give me a hug, tell me I did well, cook me a nice meal, and then some more. Although with the LDR it was not always the case, physical-presence wise. But you still give me so much more than I could ever dream of and pray for.

To love you is to be vulnerable, and to feel all safe and snuggled even with all my walls down. To love you is to heal, from the biggest wounds to the smallest papercuts I did not even know exist. To love you is to affirm to myself that I am a good person, and I deserve good things coming my way.

It is when it dawned on me, that if the purpose of my life is to be defeated by greater and greater things, only so I can meet you in the middle, and be with you to see through the end, then I would do everything all over again in a heartbeat. In this lifetime, and even in the next.

And with all these, I say yes to you. With that is an eternal vow that you have all of me and all that I ever will be. I love the love and life you give me, and I promise to forever appreciate and reciprocate a thousand times more.

[a03bkdk]

no quirks bkdk fic rec list (p 2)

thirsty gay wingman fic by lalazee

((smut-14130-1/1))

Oct 11, 2019 "Thinkin abt besties-since-birth BkDk goin to college together, Dk begrudgingly bein Bkg's wingman w/chicks & lamenting his big gay crush. One nite, Bkg cant get laid, hes drunk in a shitty mood, so Dk propositions him, which turns into the best night ever & the WORST consequences."

My tweet got 366 likes & 66 reblogs, so that was more than enough reason to write about it.

romeo and romeo by supercrunch

((10473-1/1))

There’s a nasally howl from the neighbour’s place. Izuku looks up – it’s the very loud, very blond guy living in the unit opposite. They’re technically in separate blocks but their balconies are close enough they can see into each other’s living rooms. He’s dancing around in his pyjamas. Yodelling at the top of his lungs off-key, swinging his Pomeranian around by the armpits like a furry ragdoll. “You’re a dog! You’re a fluffy little yellow dog and you’re a pain in the ass but you’re still my favourite shit-stain, yeah!”

Izuku bursts out laughing. The neighbour’s head whips around. He yelps when he sees him, tossing the dog on the couch and scrambling out of view to hide in the hall.

Izuku drops the watering can and runs back inside to find his phone.Small Might: Guys. I've decided i have a crush on my neighbour.

(quarantine baking: a balcony romance)

mechanical bull by warschach

((smut-27573-1/1))

Katsuki has a track record of bad choices, it's a condition, but Izuku might be the one choice that's right.

battle of the bands by roadtripwithlucifer

((smut-168158-26/26))

'The rules are simple. Battle of the Bands. Local bands send in a single track to the radio station, and ten tracks are selected. Over the coming month, the songs play on the station and listeners vote on the top five. The top 5 play a live concert as part of a music festival, then the top 3 at a larger, indoor venue. The top two have the honor of opening on the first stop of All Might’s retirement tour – here. In Izuku’s home town. And finally, the winner gets the ultimate prize. Getting to spend the rest of the tour, forty cities, across the country as All Might’s opener. Three months. Same tour bus. Shoulder to shoulder with the greatest musicians the world has ever known.'Izuku Midoriya is a broke college student presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. But winning isn't gonna be easy, especially when one band's aggressive blonde frontman seems to be dead-set on making Izuku's life a living hell.

oh my god! they were roomates! by phatye

((smut-79108-57/57))

“Don’t go through my shit, and if there’s a tie on the door, then fuck off!” Katsuki growled. “...what?” he asked. Katsuki glared at him. “This is fucking college, and I plan on getting laid a lot! I don’t need some nerd cockblocking me! And what is with all the fucking toys here!” Katsuki had moved over to his shelves. “Are you a fucking child or something?!” This was not what he was expecting.

shades of blue by young_crone

((smut-22525-1/1))

Echoes filtered down the white hall as he descended the stairs toward the locker rooms, reverberating from the pool. A whistle, the sound of breaking water. He swiped the towel over his face, paused. The sliver of cerulean catching the sinking sun pouring through the skylights, the red and white lane buoys, the burn of chlorine.Izuku ran a hand through his curls, snagging on a knot. The clock on the wall reminded him how late it was. A minute wouldn't hurt. He worried his lip. Just a glimpse.

k-9 by warschach

((smut- 18304-1/1))

Izuku takes in a stray on one rainy night, except it's not a dog, it's a dog shifter who goes by the name, Katsuki. After the initial wave of panic and embarrassment, Izuku thinks his new pet/roommate is pretty cute.

sucker punch by warschach

((smut-41551-1/1))

But, whatever, Disney Boy over there was—

Prettying up real damn good that Katsuki got kind of distracted—totally understandable, like god those CGI pine eyes—and didn’t see the straight path he made for the metal trash bin in the center of the area until he was tipping forward and waist deep in discarded bottles, plates, balled up tissues sticky with he prayed was chocolate ice cream and nacho cheese.

Mina howled behind the gate. “Look, Katsuki returned to his home.”

(or Katsuki works security at Six Flags and moonlights as a derby dude and continuously looks uncool around Izuku)

may I take your order, dipshit? by supercrunch

((6373-1/1))

So, like, maybe Bakugou wasn’t really the best choice for this whole pizza delivery shindig.

(Midoriya in love, Bakugou in denial, and way, way too much cheese.

A BakuDeku romance in thirty minutes or less. )

raise me so high (your sins become my pedestal) by stardust_painter

((smut-10804-2/2))

After his boyfriend cheats on him, Izuku wants to do something stupid. The question is how stupid does he want to be.

The answer is very stupid apparently.

eye for an eye or whatever by tobiyos

((smut-4049-1/1))

“I’ll make it up to you!” Izuku says brightly, lifting his head from Katsuki’s lap.

Katsuki’s eyes narrow but he isn’t still pushing Izuku away so. Progress. “Fuck are you gonna do to make it up to me?”

“Hmm…” Izuku says quietly, tapping at his chin. “Oh! You’re still a virgin, right?”

Katsuki chokes on his own spit and promptly renews his efforts of pushing Izuku away by the forehead. “Fuck off,” he wheezes, “get out of my room.”

leap of faith by ladyofsnails

((28771-4/4))

Midoriya Izuku is just a random kid who loves art, analyzes everything, and is obsessed with the (in)famous hero Mighty Spider. He's got a loving mother, a great uncle, and maybe not too many friends that aren't those two but he's working on it.

And then a random cute boy shows up at his school, a spider bites him, he meets his hero under the worst possible conditions, and it all goes to hell. Now he's got villains on his tail, a promise to keep to a dead guy, and a washed-up hobo as his mentor.

Here goes nothing.

green is the warmest color by gloriousporpoise

((smut-12287-2/2))

“Woah, someone call the fire department,” Eijirou says, elbowing Katsuki squarely in the ribs. “That guy is smokin.’”

“I literally hate you.”

Here’s the thing, though. Eijirou’s a certified dumbass, but his current observation isn’t even a little bit wrong, much to Katsuki’s displeasure.

“Think you can get his number?”

Or, Bakugou is a painter without a muse.

you and i collide by ethereals

((smut-20442-9/9))

And not that Bakugou’s the type to sexualize a potentially dead body; especially one that he just accidentally murdered, but the man has some pretty solid DSL’s. He would hit it, with more than just his car.

OR

in which rich fratboy! bakugou is a badass who accidentally hits poor med student!izuku with his car and chaos ensues therefore.

97.6 FM by jamjars

((smut-32249-3/3))

Izuku can’t stop listening to the radio host with the deep voice who sounds like he’s stuck in 2010. It’s a harmless crush. That is until he starts calling into the show under the pseudonym Deku.

Or Radio Host! Baugou x Listener! Midoriya

give me that sweet love by xsxuxgxax

((smut-32768-9/9))

Things Katsuki needs to excel at: be hot, be clever and pretend to be nice, let Izuku kiss him publicly, let Izuku fuck him privately…

(sugar baby katsuki and sugar daddy izuku pretty much)

dance with me by astralchaos

((30161-10/10))

Mina pulled up a video of a young man, seemingly teen, dancing to a popular new hit, and Izuku felt his heart drop to his stomach. His skin prickled and felt clammy as he started sweating nervously, not daring to move or make a noise. His eyes were glued to the screen but he didn’t see anything – his brain was too busy going into overdrive and freaking out.

Because Mina was showing him a video of himself. The one he uploaded last night.

How on Earth did she find this? He had barely a few thousand views, he wasn’t popular, and it’s not like he was even any good, especially compared to her or Kacchan–

“That move was sexy as hell,” Kacchan said, and that was when Izuku realized that his childhood friend – his longtime crush – also leaned in to watch the video Mina was showing him.

puppies puppies by Esselle

((15491-2/2))

"So after doing all that," Katsuki says, "you're just going to settle here? Tatting up wannabe bad boys?"

"You think all guys who have a lot of tattoos are wannabes?" Midoriya asks, so smoothly that it throws Katsuki.

"Wh—no, I mean—maybe!" Katsuki says. "You'd know best, wouldn't you? Are you a bad boy?"

The words are out of his mouth before he even realizes it, and he regrets them immediately. There's a figurative list of things that one should never do, and probably high up on it is asking dark-haired sailors with ocean green eyes and black swirls of ink all across their barely concealed muscles if they are bad boys.

--

Katsuki thinks he has everything he needs in life: a successful pet shop, an occasionally reliable assistant, and the unconditional love of the twenty puppies he’s raising for adoption. But when the tattoo parlor next door hires Midoriya Izuku, a hot sailor with an affinity for dogs, it makes Katsuki wonder if he might need something more.

Like… a piece of that ass. Maybe. He’s figuring it the hell out as he goes.

im gonna make a part 3 later ergaegrggjnjuvuh

[peach-the-owl]

How about a scenario with each of the M9 where the child calls them Mom or Dad.

Yes… just yes 😊

You call them Mom/Dad

Child of the Nein (Mighty Nein & Child!Reader)

Jester

You and Jester were shopping and causing some mischief around Zadash, nothing crazy of course. Something caught the corner of your eye, a doll dressed up like a warrior was sitting proud in the window display of a toy shop making your eyes sparkle with excitment. You run over to Jester and tug at her dress while bouncing in you feet.

"Mommy! Mommy look! Can I get that doll please?" You say without a second thought, pointing towards the shop. Jester looks at you astonished for a moment, this was the first time you’d called her mom. You give her a confused look when she doesn’t respond right away and watch her press her hands together as if she were about to pray and a large smile stretch across her face.

"You think of me as your momma?" Despite the smile Jester sounded like she was about to cry. You tilt your head to the side confused, had you said something wrong?

"I’m sorry, should I not-"

"No no, don’t be sorry." Jester quickly cuts you off. "I’ll happily be you momma!" She picks you up and places a few kisses on your cheek and forehead before placing you back down and taking your hands in hers. "Now let’s go get you that doll." With that you both practically skip over to the toy store. You were really glad you got to meet Jester, she was everything you wanted in a mom, especially compared to your old caretaker, whatever happened to them? You didn’t know and you didn’t care anymore because now you had someone who actually loved and cared about you.

Nott

You’d accidentally called mom once before but Nott had easily accepted the roll, having already seen you as her own child. Afterwards it came a little easier to refer to her as such but only when you’re in towns or cities on a small break between adventures. It was kinda funny in a way how it was easy to call her mom in such domestic places but once you were on the road again you'd go back to calling her by name. Nott didn’t mind of course, adventures were intense with little time to think about names and/or titles so it wasn’t much of a surprise that you would do this.

Caleb

Caleb has always tried to distance himself from others, scared to let people into the shell that is his life and yet you had still managed to find a way in. At first he’d brush it all off finding an excuse for why you were just tagging along with him, but over the years he began to warm up to you, seeing as you were his only loyal company besides Frumpkin before you’d met the rest of the Nein.

"Hey, Caleb?" Your little voice pulls him away from his daydreaming. "I want to show you something, I’ve been practicing really hard." He shifts a bit so his full attention is on you. You take a deep breath and pull a cocoon from your bag, Caleb’s taught you a lot now it was time to put it to the test. There’s a slight glow and flash Caleb watches as you body shifts and turns into the form of a cat, your cat form pads over to him and hops up for a closer look. With a quick gesture of his hands the spell wears off and you quickly change back to yourself, you stare up at him with a large smile as he gives you a proud look.

"If that was your first time successfully casting Polymorph you did wonderfully, I’m proud of you." He kneels down and places a hand on your shoulder, a small smile placed on his features.

"Thanks!" You beam at him, giggling a little. "But that’s because I’ve got you as my teacher papa." The word sorta slipped out without your knowledge, effectively shocking him. You happily skip off to tell everyone what you just accomplished, leaving Caleb still kneeling down in deep thought.

You’d called him papa, you saw him as a father figure, someone to look up to and depend on. You looked at him the opposite of how he saw himself, and had done so without a second thought or regret. "I don’t deserve this." He mutters to himself as he watches you skip over to Jester and Nott to tell them of your accomplishments.

Caduceus

You let out a huff, confused and conflicted on what your thoughts were doing, was this supposed to be a good thing or a bad one. Caduceus walks into the little inn room seeing you huff around a little.

"You alright? You’ve been huffing around a lot." He stares at you concerned. You look up at him and he could now see the slight gloss that glazed over your eyes, he kneels down and you instinctively walk into his waiting arms. "Would you like to talk about it?" He asks calmly, you nod after a moment.

"It’s been so long since the last time I saw my family and…" You hold back a small sob, "and I can’t remember what they look like anymore. Is that bad? I’m I a bad kid for forgetting my own family?" A few tears spill over but Caduceus catches them.

"Tell me, do you still know their names?" You nod your head. "Can you still remember the lessons they taught you, or maybe the games they played with you?" Again you nod. "Then you haven’t forgotten them, so long as you still have memories with them you haven’t forgotten them. You’re not a bad kid, far from it."

"Thank you papa." You pause, having caught your own words and look up at Caduceus. He looks surprised at first, but that quickly turns to a gentle smile and he places a soft kiss to the top of your head. You didn’t think much on it before but you had to admit every time you tried to picture your father in your head all you could see was Caduceus, and honestly that wasn’t so bad.

Fjord

Being back in Port Damali always left a nice yet uncomfortable feeling to you, it was where you were raised with the beautiful open sea but the conditions you were raised in weren’t exactly ideal. Which is why you were always greatful when Fjord had agreed to take you with him all that time ago. You find yourself walking along the beach, old habits die hard I guess, not that you minded. You hear someone come walking up from behind and look over at Fjord as he approches.

"Brings back memories doesn’t it." He says, taking a seat on the sand, you join him.

"Yeah, it felt like so long ago… time's weird when adventuring." This earns you a chuckle.

"It sure can be. You know we could recreate that scenario, I could pretend to be unconscious and you aggressively poke me with a stick." He jokes, now getting a chuckle out of you.

"That’s stupid," you playfully push his shoulder. "Don’t be ridiculous dad." You quickly place a hand over your mouth once you’d caught what you just said. Slowly you turn to look at Fjord who’s staring right back, a look of astonishment on his face.

"Did you just call me dad?" You didn’t notice the smile that started to form on his face.

"I’m sorry, I just sorta slipped out, I didn’t mean t-"

"You see me as your father?" He cuts you off a bit, his voice filled with joy. You turn to face him again, seeing him giving you such a caring and joyful smile.

"Well, yeah… I-I guess. You were the first person who treated me so nicely and you took me along with you, it just… felt right to say." You admit a little sheepishly.

"Then by all means, don’t let me stop you." Fjord then pulls you closer to him and stands up with you in his arms, as he places a gentle kiss to you temple. You were glad you had decided to take that beach walk all that time ago, meeting Fjord was by far the best thing to ever happen to you. As for Fjord he was happy to give you something he never had as a child, a father to look up to and depend on.

Beau

Another day another training session, kicks and punches being thrown every which way, thankfully you had the stamina to keep up with Beau. It could be a little tiring but it was necessary to keep your reflexes sharp, then you get punched in the jaw, not too hard that it'd break but enough to leave a bruise later.

"Don’t go drifting off into Lala land. Keep your eyes on the enemy or else that’s going to happen again." You give her a thumbs up and make sure you dodge the next attack she throws at you. When your training is finally over you take a seat and rub at your jaw a bit, feeling where the bruise was forming. "Here, this’ll help." Beau sits down next to you and hands you a healing potion and a cup of water.

"Thanks mom." You say nonchalantly.

"What did you just call me?" Beau asks in surprise. It takes you a second to actually register what you just said, you go stiff when realization sets in.

"Ummm, n-nothing I just said thanks." You look away to try and hide your embarrassment.

"I’m falling for that (y/n). Do you seriously see me as a mother or something?" Beau asks, genuinely curious to your responce. You let out a sigh.

"Yeah, kinda." You finally admit. "It’s just that even though I know you don’t care much for stuff like this, you treat me better then my real parents ever have… guess I just started projecting a little." You scratch at the back of your head and look away from her a little, feeling embarrassed to finally admit to all this. Beau places an arm around your shoulder and pulls you in closer to her side.

"I’ve never claimed to be good at this, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care. I like you kid, you got a good spirit to you. So if you want to see me as a sort of mother figure then sure I’ll take it, and if your parents somehow found out and don’t like it that’s just too bad for them." She puts on a goofy smile and ruffles at your hair, making you relax and laugh a little at her antics.

Yasha

One of the few things you liked when it was just you and Yasha traveling alone was the number of flower fields you managed to come across, Yasha’s love and collection of flowers had passed over to you. You spend hours looking through the wildflowers until you found a good handful of them that you and Yasha would then braid into each other’s hair (if your hair is long enough), or sometimes you’d just roll around in the grass. It wasn’t much but these little moments were nice temporary distractions from the troubles that weighed you both down. After putting in the last flower to Yasha’s braid she stands and looks at you.

"How do I look?"

"You look like and angel mama." She body stiffens and her breath hitches a little at your words.

"You-you called me mama." Hearing her say it out loud made you realize your mistake.

"I’m sorry, it just slipped out." You apologize, now feeling bad for the slip of your tounge.

"No, i-it’s ok. Just surprising." She kneels down and gently pulls you in for a hug which you return. "You know…" Yasha starts but let’s her words drift a bit before continuing. "Zuala and I had always wanted a child."

"You have?" You look up at her with big, curious eyes at the mention of her deceased wife.

"Yeah… and I always thought if we did, they would be a lot like you." You smile and cuddle into her more as she tightens her grip on you a bit, as if the second she lets go you’d disappear from her. You stayed like that in the field for who knows how long, just savouring each others presents.

Molly

Taverns, where you can get all the latest gossip, at least decent meals and loads of entertainment from drunken idiots thinking they're some big hotshot, and music one can never forget the music. Taverns were also a place where sketchy individuals would prey on poor unsuspecting souls, which is why you were always super careful and alert to the people you would interact with. Some said sketchy individuals had just asked you "innocently" to join them and see something cool in the alleyway, you had to hold back a laugh at these armatures, did they really think you for an idiot just because you were young? Well that wasn’t going to stop you from having a little fun of your own.

"Before we go, I should really ask if it’s ok." You say faking your own innocence, except yours was much more convincing as you make your way over to the bar where Molly was flirting with one of the locals. You tug on his coat to get his attention, he gives you a quick side glance. "Hey papa," now you had his full attention as he whips around to look at you with a shocked expression. "Those men over there say they want to show me something cool in the alleyway, can I go?" You ask still playing your little game as you point to the now nervous men. It still took Molly a second to register your words but once it clicked into his head what was happening he gives you a sly smile.

"No no, you stay here while your papa has a chat with them." He say loud enough for the men to hear, he stands and the men dash out of the tavern. "Armatures." He mutters, sitting down again.

"Aww, are they really your child? They’re such a cutie." The woman Molly had been talking to coos at you. You give her a smile.

"Well it was-"

"Yes they are." Molly cuts you off, picking you up and placing you on his lap. You look at him a little confused and he pokes your nose, then he goes off making up a story of how he found you and took you into his care. You playfully roll your eyes at his tall tale that the woman and now a few others were eating up unaware of all the contradictions in the story. Behind all the exaggerations and using you as a chick magnet there was genuine affection Molly had towards you, a part of him liking the thought of you being his kid, even if it wasn’t by blood.

[pengu-hours]

I swear to god you don't deserve anything good in life you say to respect first nations people but you don't wanna respect anyone else you are so fucking weird get it together or get lost bitch. We all know you are more than mentally ill. I pray god takes you to the highest level of hell. If you don't wanna respect dead people go die and see if anyone cares, I hope you die in the most painful way.

yeah because this ask makes you so mentally stable. i can only assume you're christian based off of your details about sending me to the depths of hell and mentions of god, to which i say: i don't give a fuck. christians piss me off so much. there's more than just your religion in the world and if nothing was said about religion at all, keep your mouth shut. not everyone has to believe what you believe. i don't even believe in hell. also i never said not to respect the dead. i'm indigenous, respecting the dead and doing rites and things is part of our culture. i said i wasn't gonna just leave it alone because that person is obviously not dead if you look at everything objectively. the person that sent the ask said i should be glad she's not dead, to which i think is also bullshit. i don't wish death on that person by saying this, i just wish they didn't fucking fake it. it's horrible and disgusting to fake suicide for attention, and if you do that, you need serious help. i have nothing but respect for the dead, and i have several friends that are among the dead now, i'm no stranger to it. but i'm also no stranger to lunatics faking their deaths. i'm not gonna grieve for someone i don't know, people die every 11 seconds across the world but you feel no pain every 11 seconds, do you? a child is kidnapped every minute. bad shit happens in this world all the time. do you constantly live in grief because of it? no. i'm not affected heavily if this person is gone. of course i have normal decency and respect for life and it saddens me if they truly are gone, but the whole situation is uncomfortable. it's sketchy as fuck and filled with lies, nobody knows the truth anymore. with nini, we knew she had actually died. she didn't fucking fake it. but nobody fucking knew this girl, she just popped up out of nowhere and while she was here she made me feel weird because she was pushy and sent a bunch of asks acting as if we were friends when i didn't even know her. i hope karma comes back for you, oginalii. also idk what you mean by im not more than mentally ill, because literally that's what's wrong with my brain? my brain doesn't produce chemicals or regulate things properly. i'm not a psychopath or anything like that and i actually do therapy and have for years. i'm one of the kindest people you'll ever meet and i've literally given up my own belongings and money (of which i have very little) to make sure my friends were okay. i brought one of my bullies snacks during snack time in 5th grade because i felt bad that his mom was going through a hard time and had no money to buy him snacks. the other funny thing is that i know many of my friends would care if i died. many MANY people would care if i died. staff from my school that i bonded with, old friends, relatives, current friends. probably even some people i don't know. people in my band at college and in my major. it's what we do when we lose someone. you think you're so high and mighty but your god doesn't even care about you, much less exist. why would he allow anyone to suffer if he knew what would happen to them. you're his plaything. a toy. a pawn. you mean nothing more than that to your god. have a nice life though, and thanks for trying to misconstrue things i said just so you could be a vindictive bitch, it was very entertaining.

[the-silentium]

Murphy day Pt.3

Masterlist - Part 1 - Part 2 -  Part 4

Pairing: Bad Batch x Reader

Words: 2302 words. I know it’s short! But it needed to end there.

Warnings: None.

A/N: This chapter is not the end like I thought because something went terribly wrong somewhere and I ended up far away from my initial plan. So here it is, the best chapter ever to finish 2020.

Fors is an Original planet. I do not give permission to people to use it for their own fics, the planet, the animals, the Nightmares, the lore or anything related to Fors. Thank you.

You found solace in the fact that the rain wasn't as heavy as what you were used to. Instead of the torrential rain that barely allowed you to see a meter before you, the only handicap you had was the discomfort of your clothes sticking to your skin and to Wrecker's armor. With a smile, you thanked yourself for choosing a dark outfit despite the clear sky that greeted you early in the morning, your initial light blue shirt would have forced you to throw yourself in mud to save what you had left of dignity.

Speaking of dignity, you couldn’t stop chuckling along with Wrecker at the shining star guiding the group. Tech would sometimes turn around to glare at the both of you, but really, there was nothing he could do to save himself at this point. 

The dry phosphorescent poo mixed with puke he fell in earlier finally kicked in now that the sun was hidden behind the dark clouds, illuminating his armor like a mighty beacon leading your steps towards salvation. Most of the sticky mixture had washed off his armor by now, getting rid of what he couldn’t remove by himself, leaving the light parts of his armor stained in the phosphorescent color. 

“Don’t take it like that Techie! At least the smell is gone!” You laughed along with Wrecker. 

At the sound, Shiny fussed, jumping happily on his tiny legs until he bumped into Crosshair who crouched slightly to calm him with a pat on the head. Shiny walked near his favorite sniper, his green horns illuminating proudly his steps like a young star that somehow found its way down onto this nightmare of a planet. Watching the duo from your venture point behind them, you thought about how opposed those two were but strangely enough, seemed to be the most comfortable around each other. 

Well, maybe you would be returning home alone after all. 

If you made it home that is. 

“Are we close?” Hunter stopped walking to fall back at Wrecker’s side. 

Squinting your eyes to protect them from the rain, you adjusted your grip around Wrecker as you moved your head forward to get a better view of your position. 

“Almost there!” You reported cheerfully, your head falling back in its place on the hard pauldron, your forehead comfortably pressed at the base of the black helmet that protected Wrecker from the rain. 

“Enjoying yourself?” The gruff voice reached your ears again, although this time there was something new in his tone. You shrugged it off, passing the fault on the occasional water drop that fell in your ear.

“Can’t say I don’t.” You replied sheepishly, a smile stretching your lips despite your best efforts. 

It was nice to be treated like that for the very first time in your life. Not like a damsel in distress, you still wanted to smack him for that, but to be treated like you were important. Like someone cared. It was warming and comforting so you’d take it while it lasted. Plus, it allowed you to recharge your batteries for a bit as well as giving time for the muscles in your legs to relax and stop contracting painfully. 

“She likes me Sarge!" 

His arms tighten slightly around you as he bumped his brother playfully, your feet hitting armor in the movement. 

"It's nothing to be so happy about." You mumbled under your breath, low enough that the rain swallowed your words. 

"I don't see why." Hunter walked a bit faster so he had a visual on you, head tilted slightly to the side. 

"What?" You asked at the same time Wrecker did, who turned to you, a smile on his lips that you couldn't see under his painted helmet. 

A yelped from Tech at the front alerted you that he tripped. Again. 

"I don't see why he shouldn't be happy that you like him." He clarified. 

Your cheeks suddenly became very hot as your brain finally remembered that his hearing was far above average. To make it worse, Wrecker's visor was now solely fixed on your face and you were sure that he was analyzing the pink covering your cheeks.

Looking around for an escape, your eyes found the perfect getaway in the shape of an endless field of glowing purple flowers in the distance. 

"Look! We're here!" You blurted out with too much enthusiasm, unlatching your hands from behind Wrecker's neck and pushing yourself out of his arms so suddenly that he didn't have the time to adjust his grip. 

You hurried on your feet despite your aching knees who met the hard ground without warning, your desperation to escape the subject propelling you forward, passing Tech the glorious shining star and into the meadow towards the river where a grey ship was stationed on the opposite bank. 

" 'cause 'm far from a catch Sarge." You repeated the words you've heard so many times before, feet entering the cold water to get to the other side as soon as possible. There was no way he could've heard that one. Not over the rain, the current of the river, and a good couple of meters separating you. 

"What was that?" You yelped in surprise, Tech's eyes widening in turn following your outburst. He must have run after you. 

"Nothing." You breathed, a hand over your heart in an attempt to calm it down. 

"We should cross the river in tandem. We'll have less chance to get dragged by the current." He dropped the subject and offered you his hand after getting in the waist high water with you. 

"Good idea." You took his warm gloveless hand in yours, lacing your fingers with his for a better grip. 

You walked at the same pace, each of you using the other to balance yourself. Your feet slipped once under the strong force of the current, sending your heart into a frantic rhythm until your boots passed the small inch of slippery rocks and found a good grip into a bed of mud. Tech had stopped walking, his grip tightening around your fingers as much as you did around his in your panic. 

You nodded to tell him that you were ready to start again and he followed your lead. With small steps you made it to the other side safely, Tech got out of the water first and turned around to offer you a hand. Grateful, you let him pull you out of the mad stream.

"Thanks, Tech." You huffed on your knees, breathing deeply to force your heart to work faster, providing more blood flow through your body to fight against the cold of the water. 

You heard three splashes behind you, the remaining boys must have decided to follow Tech's idea and cross the current with each other. With a quick glance, you confirmed that they were indeed following the example, Shiny secured under Wrecker's arm. 

"You're welcome." He presented his hand again to help you up. 

Just as your hand lifted to his, a movement just behind him caught your attention, a hiss reached your ears, stopping your heart. 

Time slowed for a second, Tech's residual glow illuminating two elliptical pupils staring him down with a predatory glint and rows after rows of thin razor sharp teeth and terrifyingly long fangs creeping their way over his head. 

You saw Tech's head turning to see what caused the sound, his other hand flying to his holster, but you were faster. Your heart started beating again, pumping blood like never before, your hand shot out to close around Tech's outstretched one and with a sharp pull, you made him dive into you, away from the deadly clasping maws. 

"Get up! Get up!" You stressed as the remaining Batchers yelled to know what was wrong.  

Ignoring them for the most urgent matter, you pushed him off hurriedly all the while keeping a firm grip on his hand, turned around, and pulled him after you in the opposed direction. 

You turned your head to see if the beast was following and sure enough, the draconic head of the Basilisk was gaining ground, its powerful body waving rapidly on the wet grass. Its dark scales made him hard to discern under the clouded sky, although his eyes and his three-forked tail made a stark contrast. 

"Don't stop running Tech!" You yelled, praying that he wouldn't trip like he did all the way here. 

"Don't worry!" 

The ground shook under your feet, both your heads snapping back at the impact. The basilisk disappeared underground, digging a hole with its strong and heavy body, using the thick spikes covering the whole length of its body to dig and move around away from its preys' eyes. 

"It went underground!" Tech panicked. "This thing can go underground!" 

"We have to get off the ground! Now!" You yelled over the rain. 

The ship was now forgotten, too far behind to even hope of getting there in time. You had two options, climbing the Waytree which you were sure Tech couldn't possibly climb in his armor or get up the rock promontory. 

The ground rumbled beneath your feet, telltale of the Basilisk getting closer. 

"Up there!" You pointed to the top of the inclined rock overlooking the meadow. 

At this point, Tech took the lead, running faster than you, pulling you with him in his wake to get to safety. The unusual speed along with the wet grass slipping underneath your boots almost made you trip more than once. 

"Tech, are you two okay?" Hunter's voice barely resonated out of the clones flashing wrist armor piece. His voice managed to calm you to some point for some unknown reason. Maybe it was because he saved you from hungry teeth before. "Tech!" 

"Fine for now." He answered in a slightly higher tone than usual. "Not for long." 

"Hang on." The line cut and you found out that it panicked you more. 

The shaking intensified to a point where you thought for the second time that day that you were done. Your heartbeat resonated in your head, the sound of the rain filled your ears, the splatter of the water hitting your skin made you numb and the vibration beneath your feet put you on edge. 

With a scream on the verge of your lips, you finally made it to the promontory, Tech pulling behind him until you reached the very end of the rock. 

A crash erupted behind you, the Basilisk erupting from under ground where the soft ground let place to something way too hard for it to continue digging. 

You saw the brille protecting its eyes retract as its maw opened in a warning hiss, slowly creeping its way towards you. A quick glance behind showed a nothingness that scared you to the bone. Either you jumped into the abyss and broke a lot of bone at your landing four stairs below or you could get chewed and digested by a gigantic snake. 

Tech grabbed his blaster, aiming at the approaching beast, the hand still gripping you tightening in fear. 

Before he could fire, the Basilisk screeched in pain as a blaster bolt hit him right in the eye. The sudden sound made the both of you jump, Tech's shoulder bumping you enough for you to lose your balance.  

"Tech!" You yelped, pulling onto him to regain footing. 

The Basilisk continued its ascension of the rock, crawling its way towards its prizes. Blaster bolts rained onto its side, infuriating the creature. Turning around in a hiss, the Basilisk changed its target, choosing to hunt the remaining clones instead. As it roamed away, the forked tail hit the promontory aggressively, the resulting shockwave projecting you right on your stomach to the ground, your top half dangling over the edge, hand still trapped between the engineer's who had lost its footing and fell off your perch. 

Luckily, your left foot caught into a fissure, keeping you anchored. 

"Don't let go!" He pleaded, panic lacing his voice. 

"Never." You gritted your teeth, locking your bones in position. 

With a colossal effort, you forced your boot down deeper into the crack while trying to pull Tech back up with your body half over the edge. 

Rain traveled down your face, dripping onto Tech's glasses that you now noticed had a flashing red light on their sides. Wet strands blocked your peripheral view, allowing you to concentrate solely on your task of saving your newly acquired friend and forget the other three fighting a gigantic carnivorous snake without any knowledge on its species. 

A sudden bright light illuminated Tech's eyes, the raw fear in them screaming at you to not drop him gave you a boost of strength. Ignoring the burning of your muscles, you forced your arms to pull harder, to push your limit and pull him up. 

Your grip on him was slipping, his wet deadweight too much for your small fingers. Surely, if you both survived this, your fingers would be sore and bruised. 

Slowly, inch by inch, you managed to pull him back on the rock, your arms shaking under the effort and groans falling from your lips. Tech managed to grip onto a crevice of his own, helping you in your critical task. He almost had his elbows secured on the rock, prompting you to put all your remaining strength behind this one last pull. 

The second his elbows touched the rock, your foot slipped and you immediately let go of his hand to not drag him down with you. 

It was disappointing to finally know that no, your life doesn't flash before your eyes moments before you die. You'd have loved to see your dad one last time before… well. 

Screams pierced your ears right before darkness engulfed you in a sickening crack.

[sheadre]

Aurora Borealis (Jiang Cheng x Reader) Part Five

Summary: Zhu Ran'En (Reader) the imperial princess, was sent into exile for a crime she did not commit. Meeting Jiang Wanyin, the Yunmeng Jiang sect’s leader was not just a chance meeting. Their fates were written in the stars however, her relations to the royal family will never let her live in peace. How will she manage to save the kingdom while trying to keep Jiang Wanyin away from the snakes of the royal family?

Word Count: 3076

Warnings: fluff, romance, blood and violence, idiots in love

Previous Chapter - Series Masterlist

Preparations for the arriving attack were made and now you waited nervously for everything to play into completion. The calm mask you wore usually was nowhere to be seen, it was replaced with a deep frown on your delicate face. Jiang Wanyin haven’t said anything ever since you showed him your curse but did not treat you differently. It felt like he accepted that as a fact about you and that was that. The dark dragon’s powers provided you with the ability to use resentful energy for cultivation. It was a legend, a myth circling around the kingdom since decades. Your mother used to tell tales about the mighty dark dragon who protected the kingdom from the northern tribes’ attacks.

You remembered when you begged the Heavens to give you enough power to bring peace to the kingdom and stop your cousin and uncle in destroying it completely. That night was quiet when you decided to spend three nights and days praying in the temple. The last night was the hardest as you knelt there without eating or drinking anything. Your lips were chapped and dry, your bones hurting and your skin prickling with how long it’s been since you last washed your face properly. Your eyes kept drooping as you knelt, murmuring prayers to the heavens. Suddenly, the candles at the altar were blown out by the strong wind hitting you as well and knocking you off balance as you knelt. Tears that stayed unshed now rolled down your cheeks and you quickly wiped at them as you tried to get your bearings back. Suddenly, a hand reached out for your hand. A white, pale hand with slender fingers, a white sleeve ending at the wrist of the person standing in front of you. You looked up in surprise as the person seemed to almost glow. You were greeted with a handsome young man smiling softly at you. His face looked so feminine that you could’ve mistaken him as a woman if he would wear a nice hanfu and some make-up.

“I heard your prayers, your highness” he spoke softly, kindness radiating from his heavenly presence. His voice was gentle like velvet, caressing your ears with every word he spoke.

“W-Who are you?” you asked confused. “How did you get in the palace?”

“I am Xie Lian, your highness, I came in behalf of the Heaven’s Court” he explained patiently. You accepted his hand to help you up but pulled your hand back once you were standing on your feet.

“Why?” you asked again even more confused. Why was a heaven official here and what did he want? You prayed for inner power to defeat the evil, confidence in yourself and strength to move forward even when you’re knocked down. You were so confused, you didn’t even question if he was some lunatic or was talking the truth.

“You prayed for it yourself” another male’s voice scoffed from the side. Your head whipped to the figure who was leaning against a pillar lazily. He was dressed in red clothes, his hair let down freely and a black eyepatch hiding one of his eyes. His presence felt… dark.

“You wished for powers to protect the weak and I was sent to grant your wish” Xie Lian smiled at you gently. You took a step back unbelieving of what was happening. How could you be worthy of the heaven’s attention like this? You wanted will power, not real power. Seeing the frightened expression on your face, Xie Lian took a step closer and placed a gentle hand on your shoulder. “The Heavenly Emperor sent me himself and he has a good reason to do so.”

“What reason?” you asked curious. Imagining heaven to have no snakes in the court would’ve been a careless thought, outright stupidity but while people live on the earth, they only care about their petty lives. Xie Lian smiled uneasily and sighed.

“That is unfortunately-“

“You’ll realize how shitty is the afterlife, princess, once you pass on” the other man huffed his handsome face in a scowl interrupting the man dressed in white. You narrowed your eyes at him, eyebrows furrowed but only rolled your eyes in the end at how he was speaking.

“San Lang! Do not be rude to the princess!” the official scolded the red clothed man.

“It does not matter, I have been through worse…” you sighed heavily, tired of everything. You had no energy left as you have been feeling agitated these last few months. No matter how you tried, you couldn’t get everything back to the way they were. It seemed like everything was trying to bring you down. “What do I have to do?”

“Are you this willing to accept such a curse?!” San Lang huffed in disbelief, his eyebrow raising on his forehead high. His chuckle was both mocking and disbelieving as he shook his head. You smiled at him sadly and nodded.

“I may end up in a bad situation but I am ready to protect those who I care about” you said, your heart thumping hard in your chest with determination. You were ready, no matter what you had to do. You had nothing else to lose, your life was not a big prize in exchange of the lives of thousands. “The evil my uncle and cousin are trying to bring onto the kingdom needs to be stopped.”

“Close your eyes, your highness” Xie Lian said and you obliged. You felt the tip of his index finger press against your forehead in the middle before you felt energy surge into your body. You distinctly heard his voice murmur words but everything was a blur. The next time you opened your eyes and everything seemed normal was the next morning. You were woken up by Lili who ushered you back to your quarters while most of the palace was still asleep.

A hand on your shoulder made you jump with a start, surprising you out of your memories. You looked up to see Wei Wuxian look at you confused and worried. His dark eyebrows drawn together as his lips parted to say something in case you wouldn’t recognize him. Your lips pulled into a smile as you motioned for him to join you at the small table by the lake you chose to spend your breakfast at.

“Wei gongzi” you greeted. “Would you like some tea? Or… wine?” you pulled out a small bottle of Emperor’s Smile from your sleeve looking around. “Jiang sect leader forbid everyone from drinking in Yunmeng. But I asked Lili to stash away one for me.”

“Sometimes I do wonder if you’re truly a princess, your highness” Wei Ying chuckled as he accepted the bottle. “Have your highness left all manners of a lady behind in the palace?”

“Sometimes we have to leave manners when it comes to business” you winked at him before both of you let out a mirthful laugh. It was easy being around him, Wei Wuxian was nice and kindhearted even if he tended to hide his concern or pain behind indifference or jokes.

“What kind of business, your highness? Are you implying about asking for my brother’s hand in marriage?” he raised one of his eyebrows playfully. “His heart is already yours, your highness.”

“We always talk about me asking Jiang Wanyin’s hand but shouldn’t he be the one to ask for mine?” you sighed with a sad smile. For the first time in a while, you admitted to someone that you truly cared for the sect leader. Wei Wuxian’s eyes looked at you with curiosity.

“But would you?” his head was tilted to the side. “If his stubborn ass refuses to?”

“That is much more complicated than just a proposal, Wei Ying” you shook your head. “I’m a fugitive, sent into exile, a princess out of the emperor’s favors. Besides… I’m not sure I will live long enough to become a good wife.”

“In the end the only thing that matters is what you feel” the Yiling Patriarch smiled at you with a pain in his brown eyes you were familiar with. “Look at me and Lan Zhan, your highness. Even if I became the villain so others could live peacefully, even if I sacrificed everything, I ended up with the one I was meant to be with.”

“It is still not the same” you chuckled sadly. “Especially because it’s not a hundred percent sure that someone will resurrect me after I die.”

“Who knows?” he grinned at you and lifted his cup before downing its contents. “If you have a good enough reputation?”

Later ~

Dark clouds gathered up above Yunmeng when a disciple ran back through the gates with caution and urgency. He reported seeing the soon arriving army of the three generals. You chewed on your lip with your heart beating fast in your chest. Lili was still away and you had no idea if she managed to get a word with Xiao Pei.

Yunmeng alone wasn’t enough to defend the kingdom and stop the generals. The wait was excruciating as you stood with Jiang Wanyin in the main garden. Both of you were tense as the overwhelming silence stretched between you. It was similar to when you awaited the next showdown between you and your cousin. A sizzling, tight tension that could blow up in a second. Though this time you were standing on the same side with this man.

“Wanyin” you spoke up suddenly. Calling him by his name was not uncommon from you and it always drew his attention to you. Oh, how you loved it when his brown eyes found your form. You stepped closer to him when he turned to you with a frown on his handsome face. “If we survive this… you can ask anything of me. I will do as you say for I am already in debt to you. You’ve given me much help already and I want to express my gratitude.”

“Anything? Are you sure?” his lips pulled into a small almost invisible smile. “I ask you to stay alive. You have much to accomplish on this world, besides… who could beat a dragon, your highness?”

“It is a curse, A-Cheng” you scolded playfully. “Though, I have to admit you have a point. It would be much more easier if I could just scorch the enemy to death with my breath, no?”

You saw the excitement and childlike glee in his eyes at that idea making you laugh mirthfully. You’ve never been so smitten with another person like this. Wanyin was fascinating in every sense for you and you couldn’t help but want to explore all of his buttons by pushing them as far as you could.

“You’d like to see that, don’t you, A-Cheng?” you chuckled making his face grow red as he crossed his arms in front of his chest huffing in embarrassment.

“Just follow our plans, your highness and nothing will go wrong” Wanyin huffed impatiently making you smile fondly. His light blush covering his cheeks told you how embarrassed he was in your presence. Up until you revealed your true nature, Wanyin was struggling to figure out a good plan of attack, his only plans were of defense. Telling him about the full extent of your powers made him let you change some of the battle plans. As you looked at him, your heart started aching knowing that even if he accepted you for who you became, you could still not give him what both you and him wanted. You knew you were soulmates but this lifetime, you were fated to not have an ending together.

Your ears picked up the sound of drums and the marching of soldiers making your heart thump harder against your ribcage. Both of you unsheathed your swords, bodies tense, ready to attack any minute. The enemy soon appeared at the gates Yunmeng Jiang disciples trying to fight them back. Running through the gates, you were soon faced with the first attackers. They were wearing silver armor, crying out to urge themselves into battle while lifting their swords high. Dancing through the onslaught of soldiers was easy, cutting them fatally with every step. Blood splattered on your face and clothes as you moved forward. You were aware of how far you’ve broke into their forces, a lone flower in the sea of weed. Most of the soldiers just went forward without really noticing you unless you were right in front of them. You glanced back at Wanyin when you had a moment to gasp a breath of air in without anyone attacking you.

He nodded at you from afar signaling for you to make your next move. Sheathing your sword, you quickly raised a dark black fog as wide as you could around your form. It was one of your abilities, the HeiWu 黑雾 was one of your favorite tricks. It was harmless but made the enemy blind as long as they were surrounded by the fog. You watched the soldiers of the enemy lose their sense of direction and walk around aimlessly, their faces shocked and terrified. You didn’t need to do anything because the moment they noticed someone get close to them, they cut down their own comrades. Leaving them to kill each other, you walked out of the fog to see Jiang Wanyin still struggling to keep the enemy back. There were many casualties on both sides and a sense of regret filled your heart. So many lives lost to a handful of people’s power hunger. Taking out your erhu, you started playing E’meng keeping a bunch of soldiers behind an invisible wall. Tears rolled down your cheeks as you watched them hold their heads in agony from the notes of your song. Fortunately, the song’s effect was only strong enough to make them pass out.

You suddenly heard battle drums play out a new rhythm and a new wave of soldiers ran out from the enemy’s side. Your eyes widened knowing that they were too close or rather you were too close to the enemy. You wouldn’t have time to retreat back to your side. You were about to start a new song when you were pierced through the chest with an arrow. You blinked a few times in shock until the pain registered in your senses. You lifted a hand to the bleeding wound, your fingers painted with your blood. Before you could do anything, you were yanked backward, strong arms circling your torso, pulling you into a firm chest. The smell of magnolias and the imperial court’s luxurious oolong tea – that was specifically made for only the royal family – filled your nostrils.

“Xiao Pei” you mumbled surprised as you clutched onto your old friend while he held you. He was flying through the sky back to Jiang Wanyin but his hold on you was stable. His handsome face turned to you and a small smile graced his features as he looked back at you.

“I am here, Ran’En” he replied.

Jiang Cheng’s PoV.

The sect leader panted heavily as he slashed down another soldier charging towards him. Using Zidian helped him to thin the lines of the enemy. General Zhou, Li and Huang was attacking relentlessly. He was doubting those three really thought over what they were starting with a rebellion. Overthrowing the power of the emperor was not an easy feat, especially if they were doing it so openly by marching through the kingdom.

They were out of time, the enemy’s lines seemed to be never ending, soldiers swarming the place. Blood was staining the lotus pods’ water while dead bodies littered the courtyard. Yunmeng’s forces were pushed back that they were now trying to defend the walls and gates. He remembered the day the Wen sect massacred his family. Seeing his parents’ bloodied motionless bodies lying in front of Wen Chao’s feet. His hand clenched around the handle of Sandu as he gritted his teeth. The only difference between the past and the present was the fact that he was the one massacring an army that attacked Yunmeng.

“Jiang Cheng” Wei Wuxian pointed in front of him with furrowed eyebrows and slightly parted lips. Wanyin couldn’t determine if his brother was truly this stupid or just fooling around. They were in the middle of a battle and Wei Wuxian decided to point at the sky. He reluctantly looked up to see a man dressed in exquisite clothes fly through the sky with a woman in his arms. It took him a moment to realize who that woman was. He took a deep breath at seeing that she was safely back but cursed himself for letting her in on the planning. He never liked her idea of going into the enemy’s lines so far but her reasoning eased him into the idea.

The man dressed so expensively landed a few feet away from them. The princess pushed away from him and tried to stand on her feet but was clearly not able to. Wanyin looked at the woman in shock when he saw the arrow piercing through her chest. Everyone stood in shock as she fell to the ground coughing up blood. Wei Wuxian was the first to gain his bearings back and hurry over to help her.

“Ran’En!” the unfamiliar man’s voice thundered as she lied there. Wanyin turned to the newcomer who was wearing clothes from fine fabric showing how high in rank he was. The man crouched down to the princess and took her in his arms, lifting her up easily again. Wanyin had to admit, the stranger was handsome, an ethereal divine being from a fantasy novel. Thump. His heart clenched uneasily as he watched the man hold the princess in his arms like she was the most precious thing in the world. He couldn’t stand seeing the princess being so close to that man and Wanyin struggled to find an answer to why.

“Xiao Pei… Thank you for coming” the princess said weakly as blood dripped down her chin.

“Say no more, Ran’En” the man, Xiao Pei shushed her gently before turning to Wei Wuxian. “Get a healer! Now!”

Wanyin just stared at the two of them without his brain processing much of what was happening around him. He was the reason the princess was in that condition. He should’ve helped her, not nearly sacrifice her!

To be continued…

[thiswasinevitableid]

Can you do 60 for indruck, NSFW? Thank you so much! Love your work!

Here it is! I set it in the same world as this sternclay fill. Credit to @bellafarallones for playing in this space on discord. Apollo is from my Super hero AU

“All I’m sayin is it seems mighty unfair to me that one fella gets a handler-assistant type deal and the rest of us don’t.” Duck crosses his arms as Ned fiddles with the pen on his desk.

“You’re not wrong, dear boy, but Apollo was in high demand from the higher ups-”

“Because he’s a shallow dipshit with a mean streak who’ll be good for ratings?”

“Precisely. He demanded in his contract that we allow his twin to continue his work as his photographer and assistant. He has over a million followers on Instagram, so those photos will be a boost to the show. Just try to get along for the camera’s?”

“His brother ain’t even on camera.” Duck mutters.

“I meant with Apollo.”

Duck shrugs, defeated, “sure thing, Ned.”

As he walks back to the main house, he mulls over the fact that the twin (Indrid, he thinks that’s the guys name) bugs him more than Apollo does. Apollo is vain, mean, and selfish, but at least that gets him things, even makes sense for the kind of show they’re on. Indrid gains nothing by helping him out here. Except protection from the bully, which Duck finds to be the worst kind of cowardice. Hopefully Vincent, this season’s bachelor, will see through the “influencer” and send him packing ASAP.

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

Four weeks in, and this is exactly what Duck was worried about. Not only is Indrid hovering around his brother like a nervous moth (excet when cameras are near, at which point he ducks out of frame), he’s doing fucking nothing to reign him in.

A few frontrunners are starting to emerge, and with that claws are coming out. Barclay, a chef and all around nice guy, is the target of choice. Nico and Josh both took bites out of him this morning. But Apollo sunk his teeth in like a dog on a fox, calling him, among other things, a pathetic, six-foot puppy dog who no man would ever want. The cook left noticeably teary eyed. Duck was about to block the cameras from following when Joseph beat him to it. Which is weird, because he thought Joe couldn’t stand Barclay. Apollo flounces off, but Duck corners Indrid where he’s been stoically watching his brother be a raging asshole.

“What the fuck man?”

‘Wrong twin.” Indrid says flatly, indicating his silver hair, tied back in a half-bun. His dark roots are showing and his eyebrows are black, unlike Apollo’s immaculate blonde dye job and bleached brows.

“Nope, right one. You’re his handler, cant’ you fuckin intervene when he’s doin’ shit like that? Or are you just here to let him hurt whoever he feels like?”

Indrid fixes him with a bitter smile, “If there were a way to make my brother be kind or, indeed, see others as people, don’t you think I’d have found it and used it everyday since?”

“I-”

“You people have no idea how much I’m already doing. I kept him from going after you yesterday by reminding him he looks ugly when he yells on camera. And if nothing else console yourself with the fact you all have only to deal with him for a few months. Some of us have endured twenty-eight years of it.”

With that, he turns and stalks from the room. As he leaves, Duck can’t shake the thought that his black denim jacket and worn jeans fit him better than Apollo’s designer ones ever could.

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

Indrid understands why there’s so much alcohol on set, but he can’t partake (too bitter) and it makes Apollo even harder to handle than usual. Which is why Indrid is out on the grounds at ten p.m, intending to hide from his brother until dawn.

At six weeks in, fan favorites are getting more established and Indrid, needing to predict Apollo’s mood in order to do his job, is keeping a close eye on them. His twin is well-liked for being snarky and hot, though he suspects the large number of contestants means there have been limited chances for his unpleasant side to be showcased. Joseph is another, because of course he is, movie-star handsome with an interesting past. Barclay is beloved for the very things that the other contestants torment him for. And Duck? Duck is quickly becoming the one people think Vincent will choose.

Indrid thinks they’re right. He’s charming in an understated way, funny, and while Apollo needles him for his “dad bod,” Indrid and Vincent have both noticed the muscles in his arms. Who gives a damn about flat abs? Indrid would much rather have something soft to rest his head on while those green eyes look lovingly down at him. His crush on Duck is useless, persistent, and must be hidden from Apollo at all costs.

His foot catches something solid and he tumbles over the obstacle to land ass-first on the lawn.

“Ow.” He glares at the object. The object turns out to be Duck Newton, who's obviously drunk as he sits up.

“Sorry man, thought no one’d come out here. Oh it’s you, it's, uh, fuck, fuck c'mon” he snaps his fingers as he searches his thoughts, “It's cute Apollo!”

“Indrid.” Surely Duck didn’t mean to use that adjective. Right?

“No, I’m Duck?”

He snickers, “No, I meant I’m Indrid.”

“Ohhh, right. You're Indrid. I'm Duck. That's the big dipper” He points at the sky. Indrid follows the line and grins, delighted.”

“It is!”

“Uhhuh. C'mere, can show you more.” Duck pats the spot beside him and lays back. Indrid scoots closer and reclines as well, making appreciative sounds each time Duck shows him a constellation.

As they’re studying the sky, the other man whispers, “Can I tell you a secret? I, I think Joe’n Barclay are into each other now."

“The way they look at each other is not exactly subtle.”

‘“Heh, yeah.” he links his hands across his belly, “I think they're in love. You ever been in love?”

“No.” He sighs, not wanting to dwell on that pile of baggage, “You?”

“Nope. And, uh, don’t, don’t tell anyone but I don't think I am with Vincent. Maybe I could be? Does that make me a bad person? He's nice, think he likes me a lot but, I, I dunno.”

“Not being in love with someone doesn’t make you a bad person. No more than loving someone does.”

Indrid is hard to surprise; years of getting out ahead of his brother and father taught him how to see things coming. But nothing could prepare him for Duck rolling to hide his face against Indrid’s chest. Not knowing what else to do, he pats his back, notices a woodsy scent tingling his nose.

“You smell good.” He winces; that was too creepy, now Duck will pull the comforting bulk of his body away.

“Thanks. I bought a bunch of cologne when I realized I was actually going to be a contestant. News clothes too. Thought it would give me an edge but...I dunno, can't compete with a guy like your brother.”

“Join the club.” Indrid reaches up to toy with a lock of Duck’s black hair, expecting Duck to bat him away. Instead, he sighs and turns his head to give Indrid better access.

“You could compete with ‘im. You're cuter. Nicer too.”

“Oh. Ah. Thank you.”

Duck’s fidgets with the mothman pin on Indrid’s jacket, “You wanna cuddle?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“No one cuddles with me. And we ain’t allowed to cuddle Vincent yet.” He looks up, lips pouting just enough to be charming.

Indrid let’s a purr enter his voice, “That’s a shame. I’m happy to cuddle.”

Duck rolls more of his body onto Indrid, resolutely nestling his head under his chin and tangling their legs together. His hands stay on Indrid’s chest and shoulders, though he’s now drunkenly petting Indrid’s collarbone, making him shiver. He expends four months worth of daring in a second, wrapping his arms around the curves of Duck’s torso. When Duck’s fingers brush skin instead of shirt, Indrid whimpers, then bites his lip and prays it went unnoticed.

“You don’t get cuddled much either, do you?” Duck murmurs thoughtfully.

“No.”

“Damn shame, you’re real good at it. Can cuddle me any time.”

Indrid “mmhmms” knowing the promise is like the stars; bright and comforting in the darkness, but ultimately beyond his reach.

Three day later, he drops his guard; Apollo’s been on his good behavior since Vincent’s been spending more time with him. You’d think Indrid would learn by now that all his venom has to go somewhere.

He’s huddled down in the rec room trying not to cry; it’s pathetic enough that he let such childish insults get to him, but to cry over them would confirm everything his brother said.

“Indrid? You, uh, you okay?” Duck’s reflection in the darkened T.V approaches his own.

“I'm fine.” It’s the same inflection he’s used hundreds of times, but Duck sits down on the couch all the same.

“Do you, uh, need a hug?’

“No.” He replies a hair too quickly.

“Do you want one?”

“......Badly.”

Duck opens his arms and Indrid shifts on the cushions, doing his best to curl his long limbs so they’ll fit in his embrace. The shorter man notices, concern flashing on his face.

“You wanna talk about it?”

“Not particularly.”

“Okay. You, uh, wanna hear the most exciting news of the day?” He waits for Indrid to nod, “there was a cougar sightin’ in the foothills near here!”

“That is both very exciting and alarming.”

“Doubt it’d go after folks, they try to steer clear of people. We don’t have ‘em back home, but you learn what to do when you’re also learnin how to deal with bears.”

“How does one deal with a bear? Other than buying them a drink.”

Duck snorts, relaxes further into the couch, “Depends on how soon you see ‘em…”

They emerge two hours later, and Indrid is so engrossed in their conversation about hiking incidents that he runs smack into a camera man. While he’s apologizing profusely, Duck guffaws, steadies him, and leads him off in search of somewhere to watch the sunset.

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

“Oooh, ooh, look, sea lions!” Indrid points to the distant wharf.

“Good eye. Man, those fuckers are big. Glad none of ‘em were in the water when we did that fuckin cliff dive.”

“I for one would pay good money to see my brother chased by a sea lion.”

Duck chuckles, pops the tab on his WhiteClaw. They’re having dinner on the beach, a gourmet spread meant to encourage them to show off their pallets. Indrid took Barclay’s recommendation and ordered the whole, grilled snapper, which he assumed he’d be eating alone; Vincent’s attention has been on Duck ever since he went swimming this morning. Duck seems to be enjoying it, but come dinner time he demurred (“gotta let some of the other fellas have a chance”) and brought his basket of fried oysters over to join Indrid on the sand.

“Speakin of your brother, kinda surprised he didn't make any digs at this whole, uh, situation.” Duck gestures to the torso Indrid is currently aching to lick droplets of saltwater from. To subdue the craving, he licks salt from his fingers before replying.

“I, ah, the last time he tried to, I reminded him of all the pictures I have of him eating. He hates to be seen eating. Most of the time.” He tilts his head towards his twin, who’s chowing down next to Vincent without a care for the cameras. Indrid sets his hand on the warm sand, “I’ve been trying to, well, reign him in as you suggested. Or at least make him think twice about his choices.”

(Indrid omits the part where he’s most likely to risk it if Duck is the one with the target on his back).

Duck sets his hand down beside Indrid’s, brushes sand from the side of it with a calloused thumb, “Mighty good of you. But, uh, think I mighta read things wrong that day. You gotta handle him how you think best. Just, uh, just promise me you won’t sacrifice your own well-bein’ for my sake, or anyone else’s. We’re all grown-ass men; we can handle it.”

“I promise.” He lies.

The other man leans back on his hands, green eyes drifting across the waves. Indrid would gladly sit in silence the rest of the night, it’s so easy to be comfortable in the lull when it’s Duck filling the space beside him.

Eventually, the ranger murmurs, “It’s so fuckin breathtaking. The ocean, I mean. Maybe if you live on a coast you get used to it but man, it is somethin;.”

“More so than the forest?”

Duck smiles, “It’s like apples and oranges. Monongahela got its own charms; you’d have a blast takin pictures and drawin there, believe me. If, uh, if Apollo and I both make it to the final four, uh, maybe we could take a few hours durin’ my hometown visit and I could show you my favorite spot.

Indrid imagines the two of them beneath the trees, walking hand in hand.

“I’d like that.”

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

“You know you’re just a distraction, right?”

Indrid doesn’t look at his brother, just flips the page in his book, “I doubt that. You’ve said, often, that I’m too off-putting to be interesting.”

“Not when there’s competition for someone superior; Duck knows he might not win. You’re his back-up if he doesn’t, and a way to kill time until the end. Once Vincent sends him home, which he most definitely will, he’ll keep you around until something better comes along.”

“Don’t act like you know him.” Indrid hisses, looking up just in time to see something scurrying behind the triumph on Apollo’s face: fear.

So, his brother has a new weakness. He’ll tuck that away for later; this is shaping up to be an unpleasant conversation, but not one requiring quite that degree of weapon.

“You should thank me. If I weren’t so captivating, Vincent would spend all his time with Duck. Then you’d be without any attention at all. Even Duck’s taste isn’t that abysmal.” He grins his several thousand dollar smile, “he and Vincent are probably laughing about it right now.”

Indrid stands, crosses the tiny room, “Shut up, Apollo.”

Then he slams the door. There’s a yelp, followed by “you hit my nose, you pathetic excuse for a man, ow, open this door this instant I’m not done with you!”

He flicks the lock and sits back on the bed. There’s a tin of sensory putty on his nightstand and he opens it, playing with it between his fingers. Duck brought it for him after a museum date with Vincent. The image of him not only thinking of Indrid when he saw something, but then buying it for him just to see him smile makes him want to grin and hide his face in a pillow like a teenager who just got asked to prom.

But maybe this date is going differently.

Indrid squeezes the putty, repeats the mantra he’s had since he was a child, “Apollo always lies. Apollo always lies.”

Eventually, he’s calm enough to work on some tattoo commissions, is coloring away when there’s a knock on the door. A secret knock Duck invented as a goof. Throwing open the door reveals the shorter man wearing a suit jacket and an exhausted expression. Indrid gestures to the bed, shuts and locks the door as Duck slumps on the mattress and sets his head in his hands.

“Whelp, that was a shit-show.”

“What happened?” Indrid sits cross-legged beside him.

“Vincent went in for a kiss and I, uh, I turned him down. I mean, he took it well because he’s a sweet guy but I, I feel like shit.”

“There’s no shame in not wanting to kiss just yet.”

“That ain’t the problem. I, I wanna kiss someone on this set, but it ain’t him. Indrid” he looks up, green eyes watery, “Indrid, I think I’m fallin in love with you.”

“Oh. I, are you sure-”

“The whole night, and I mean the whole fuckin night, I was thinkin about you. Thought how nice the trip to the botanical gardens would be with you there to point out color combos and get excited about butterflies. Wanted to hold your hand over dinner. Fuck, when they brought out the dessert menu all I could think was how fun it’d be to order one of each thing to surprise you so you’d do that thing you do with your hands when you’re real excited.” Duck turns, sets his hands on Indrid’s shoulders, “‘Drid, if you don’t want this, I’ll back off but-”

Indrid cuts him off with a kiss, let’s strong arms pull him down to the bed and presses as close to Duck as he can, as if any space between them might be a way for the universe to push them apart.

“Than fuck” Duck pants, cupping his face, “wait, fuck, what do we do now? I can’t string poor Vincent on.”

“We’ll get them to let you out of your contract. It can’t be that hard, right?”

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

“Absolutely not” Ned shakes his head, “dropping out of the show is out of the question.”

“But that ain’t fair to any of us. Can we at least tell Vincent the truth?”

“No, it needs to look as if he naturally decided not to choose you. If not, we could be accused of manipulating results; the last time that happened, the ratings tanked for that season and the next. And my predecessor was fired.”

Duck looks at Indrid, “Guess I’ll just...pull back? That way Vincent won’t have a reason to choose me and’ll let me go soon.”

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

“Droppin out is outta the question, huh?” Duck mutters to Indrid as they watch Barclay and Joseph walk off holding hands, the host eagerly asking them questions as they go.

“I suppose he didn’t drop so much as sprint.” Indrid glances at the rose in Duck’s hand, “congratulations on making the final...well, final three now.”

“Thanks? Guess Apollo’s pretty happy about it too.”

“Yes, but his ego needs no stroking.” Indrid smiles, “maybe this means you’ll get to show me the woods?”

“I hope so. Huh. What are they gonna do with the rest of us when it’s not our turn for the hometown visit?”

The answer turns out to be: drag everyone to each hometown. Because they no longer have Joe’s trip to do, Ned decided they needed more scenes of the contestants exploring where their competitors came from.

Kepler is first, and tonight is the night Duck’s been dreading. His romantic, home-town date that everyone expects to end with at least some kissing. He manages to make it through dinner, even enjoys showing Vincent the down-town he spent years roaming. But as they start down the river walk for a romantic stroll, his heart is trying to smash its way out of his ribs.

“It’s alright, you know.” Vincent stops, guiding Duck to face him, “the fact you want to be with Indrid.”

“I, uh, fuck, I, I don’t not know, uh, fuck-” he closes his eyes, “how’d you know?”

“I’m more observant than I get credit for.” Vincent brushes his cheek, “I’ve had a hunch for weeks now, but I kept you around because I liked having you here, even if I suspected it wasn’t going to end with us together. I’m very fond of you, Duck. You deserve someone who makes you happy. I promise I’ll send you home this next rose ceremony”

“Christ” Duck chuckles, “you’re a hell of a guy too, Vince. I hope whoever you pick treats you right. I, uh, can I, should we…?”

Vincent plants a chaste kiss on his cheek, then smiles, “go get him.”

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

“Any twos?”

“No. Go fish.”

Apollo grumbles as he takes another card. Given Duck and Vincent are on their date, neither he nor Indrid is having a good night. Before Indrid can make his ask, his twin says, “How do you get people to like you?”

“Why do you care? You’ve made it this far, so obviously Vincent likes you a great deal”

“I don’t just mean him. I, I mean, I want him to like me. To want me. But I suspect he’d like me better if other people did.”

Indrid idly taps his cards, “I suggest you stop acting like our father.”

“I’m nothing like him!” Apollo squawks.

“Oh, but you are. Everything he taught us you still hold as true; you’re just the newest version of men like him. Self-absorbed. Cruel. Shallow. I’m amazed you’ve gotten this far with Vincent, given that the age difference means you’d be caring for him in his old age.”

“I, I can care for him. I will!”

“Apollo, I wouldn’t trust you to care for a potted plant.” He sets his cards down.

“At least I’m not a-”

“Ambitionless deviant who has to ride his brother’s coattails to survive?”

“Wha--how-”

“Like I said; you’re just like him. Down to your insults.” Indrid stands, “I’m going to bed. I suggest you do the same.”

His brother remains speechless--a rare state for him--as he closes the door and heads for his room. He doubts Duck will do anything on the date (hell, the two of them have only been able to steal some kisses now and then), but the whole charade has him feeling low.

There are far more cameras in the rented house than there were a few hours ago. Which means the rest of the crew is back. Does that also mean…

“Hey, sugar. I was just lookin for you.”

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

Duck’s glad his door is open, because otherwise Indrid would have smashed it to pieces dragging them both through it. He’d only gotten out the barest explanation before the taller man was kissing his face and tugging at his clothes, purring “mine” over and over again.

“Yep, all yours.” He shuts the door as Indrid mouths at his neck, “which also means you’re all mine.” He yanks Indrid’s black sweater up and over his head, sends the matching t-shirt after it a moment later. Indrid whines, fumbling with Duck’s dress shirt, and he gets an idea.

“Uh uh, only good boys who show me why they deserve it get to feel me up.”

Indrid groans into his shoulder, fisting the fabric of his jacket “What constitutes good behavior in this instance?”

“One sec, don’t go nowhere.” He starts to step past him, pauses to grips his chin and pull him into another kiss, “and no peekin.”

As he digs through his bag for the strap on he brought just in case, he keeps an eye on Indrid to be sure he’s following the directions. The taller man’s fingers twitch, but his head stays still. God, Duck is going to memorize the shape of each of the tattoos decorating his skin with his mouth.

“You did real good.” He slips around Indrid once more, resting his back on the wall. Indrid notices the new bulge in his pants and thuds to his knees.

“May I?”

“You better.”

Indrid undoes the button of his fly. Then he looks at Duck over the rim of his glasses as he takes the zipper between his teeth and pulls it down. When the black silicone of the strap breaks free, Indrid cocks his head as if unsure of his options. Duck doesn’t really have a plan--he just wants to be with him, to make him feel good and show him just what weeks of pent-up desire have done to him--but he’s starting to regret that choice.

Indrid flicks hair from his face and wraps his lips around the head of the cock experimentally. He hums, sucking on it a moment, then pulls back blushing, “This is going to sound strange but, ah, I, I really like that. It’s such a lovely texture on my tongue, it’s, it’s almost soothing to suck.”

“Guess you better keep suckin it then, huh?” Duck runs the fingers of his right hand through Indrid’s hair.

“Is that really alright? It can’t feel like much on your end.”

“Don’t mean it ain’t fun to watch. But, uh” he touches the edge of Indrid’s red glasses, “it okay if I take these off?”

Indrid nods and Duck slides them free, tucks them into his breast pocket for safekeeping as Indrid draws the cock into his mouth again. He focuses on the head at first, humming and moaning as it bumps his cheek. Then Duck sees him swallow and relax the muscles of his jaw as he presses closer. Little puffs of breath tickle Duck’s skin as Indrid gets most of the cock in his mouth, cheeks hollowing and head bobbing as he sucks. Hungry noises burlbe up his throat, and the more he lets himself go the messier he becomes, spit coating his lips and eyes fluttering closed in bliss.

“Okay, I lied.”

Brown eyes shoot him a disbelieving look.

“This ain’t fun. This is one of the hottest fuckin things I’ve ever seen.”

Indrid wiggles happily on his knees, left hand dropping to rubs his own cock through his jeans.

“Needy little thing, gotta have somethin down your throat and around your dick at the same time.”

“MMMhhmmm” Indrid purrs, the picture of filthy perfection.

“If, if you swallow the whole thing, I’ll let you finger-fuck me.”

Both hands fly to his thighs with an excited moan. Indrid’s brow crinkles with determination as he slowly, carefully brings his lips to the base of the toy. Duck groans out “good boy” and shoves his pants down, Indrid helping to drag them to his ankles. Indrid keeps his left hand on Duck’s hip while the right hovers below his folds. Duck takes it, the toy making the angle a bit awkward, and guides it against him.

“Start with one.”

Indrid nods, moans reverently as he obeys. Duck curses, looks down to find Indrid watching him attentively. Duck is going to wreck him. Then he’s going to cuddle him to sleep and wonder at the fact he got this lucky.

“You’re doin’ great, sugar. Promise I’ll tell you if you need to adjustOH, ohyeah” he lets his head rest against the chipped white of the door, “that’s the spot. Fuck it, add one more, Ahfuck, yeah, those artists fingers are fuckin perfect for this.”

Another purr and then a sharp, choked noise. Duck looks down, realizing he rolled his hips without meaning to. Before he can apologize, Indrid grips his thigh and shakes his head.

“You like that?”

“Mmhhmmm” Indrid traces a heart on his belly.

“You’ll pull off you need to?”

“Mhmmmm.” Indrid curls his fingers as his stretched lips manage to grin.

“Fuck!” Duck giggles, “okay, if my darlin wants his face fucked, that’s what he’ll get.” He keeps a hand on Indrid’s shoulder as he lets loose, grunts and curses mingling with the increasingly wet moans of his cock claiming Indrid’s throat. Soon he’s out of words, too busy with the sight of himself forcing Indrid’s lips apart as he tightens around his fingers. Handjobs are a toss-up for him most days; sometimes they work, other times he can’t cum from them at all. It turns out what makes it very easy to do so is-

“‘Drid, fuck, fuck, sugar, yeah, right there, rightthererightthere ohfuckyeah.” He cums, jerking his hips hard enough to punch a new, high sound from Indrid’s throat. The other man pulls off, rests his cheek on Duck’s belly with shuddery, satisfied sighs.

“Y’know” Duck unbuttons his shirt from the bottom up so Indrid can more easily nuzzle the skin there, “I had this whole plan where I was gonna fuck you with this and then ride your face to cum.”

“I’m not opposed.” Indrid grins, bouncing a bit.

“Yeah, but I’ve only got one in me tonight. So” He tosses the shirt away, pulls off the harness as Indrid nibbles his hips, “if you wanna cum, you’re gonna have to do all the work.”

An edge enters his smile, “I can manage that.”

Duck hits the floor with a whump, Indrid trapping him on his back and climbing atop him, all the while kissing him with abandon.

“May I fuck you?”

“Hell yeah.”

“Condom?”

“Dop kit, bathroom, aw come back.”

“Patience, sweetheart” Indrid blows him a kiss, returns a few moments later doing an inelegant dance to kick his jeans and boxers away, “got one!”

“Good, now get back down here before I-AHfuck!” Indrid is on him and in him so fast it knocks his breath away.

“Before what? You’re not going anywhere, you’re mine, alllllll mine.” He drags kisses across Duck’s cheek, then bites his chapped lip as he looks down at him, “right?”

“You know it, nnng, fuck, that’s it sugar, be a good boy and cum for me. Fuck, darlin, wanted this so bad.” He locks his fingers into silver hair to keep Indrid in kissing distance as the other man whimpers, thrusts shallow and rabbity.

“Want you too, so much, I’ll be worth it, I swear, I’ll be good, I’ll, I’ll make you so happy.”

Duck rests their foreheads together, “You already do.”

There’s a high, gasping moan, almost like a chirp, and Indrid rides out his orgasm in drawn-out rolls of his hips. Then he collapses, laughing, on Duck’s chest.

“I, I’m sorry, I just never thought I’d get this. Someone wanting me. Choosing me.”

“I mean, I went on a T.V show to find love, so I know a little somethin about that fear. But I also know findin you is better than anythin I ever imagined.”

“Likewise.” Indrid nestles closer, one hand reaching out to hold Duck’s where it’s flopped on the rug.

“...You realize this means there’s a fifty-fifty chance your brother will win.”

Indrid shrugs, lifts his head to smile at Duck, “I leave that to Vincent. I already got my prize.”

[yoursinfulurges]

Toxin and Venom

Slight Dark!Peter Parker x Dark!Reader

Description:

In which a seemingly loving relationship appears greater than it is...

There was something rather terrible about this young man's naive exterior. Though nobody could pinpoint where exactly the dreadfulness laid. His eyes shined a little too brightly, and his words were coated in thick sugar, enough to appear disingenuous to the skillfully trained ears. But there hidden behind is smile concealed the sinister morals of a true manipulator.

Oh' but she was no better herself, twisting words to favour her narrative. Playing as if she was nothing more than a meek little prey.

Warnings: pure angst with an underlining layer of toxicity.

Disclaimer: This is a REWRITE of one of my old stories dated back to a year ago, so if it sounds familiar that is why. This story was originally written for Jung Jaehyun from NCT but seeing as though I've fallen out of love with kpop at the moment, I wanted to repurpose it for my new followers that I've harbored since The Venom Within, as I'm very proud of the way it was written and concluded that I wanted to share with you all. I did improve and change quite a lot so you won't be reading the exact same story and I decided to add a twist to it.

Note: This is more so a college au so the fact that Peter is Spiderman is insignificant...

Word Count: 4.k

_____________

Your boyfriend, Peter, had always been the most kind and caring person you knew. Ever since you met him, and even after months of dating, he still acted like the bashful, kind Disney prince you took him for. Only treating you with nothing but respect and admiration; you often wondered if this boy was even capable of making an insult, or had a bad bone in his body. Fore he acts way too nice and sweet for his own good. Controlling at times but it was with all good intentions...

Originally, you thought the kind gestures and lovely sweet talking was his way of subtly flirting, but after years of dating him, you came to the realization that it was just simply him. Peter didn't need to pretend to be kind and sweet like other guys; given that it was like second nature for him. You loved the boy to death. He showered you with so much love, spoiled you with affection. Treated you like his queen; His shining jewel. Out of the two years that you'd been together, not once has he wronged you.

    That is, up until this exact moment...

You stand there in the middle of the kitchen, tears streaming down your cheeks. At this point you had stopped listening to what he was saying. In fear that if you continued to listen to his harsh words, more of your love would begin to fleet away, and you couldn't afford to lose any more. Despite of all your excessive yelling, you loved Peter. And he meant so much to you. But seeing him in this state, angry and hostile, attacking you viciously with his words, you began to question your future with him.

You couldn't quite fathom what brought on this newfound aggression in your relationship. Though, you had a slight seeking suspicion that it was from all the post-exam stress you both had to endure. Weeks upon weeks of studying and sleepless nights finally took its toll on the both of you. Thus bringing you to this exact moment in time. The once loving home corrupted by the harsh spoken words that fell from both of your lips. Anger and aggression filling the room, space welcoming the negativity with open arms. You had both tainted it...

That was not the boy you fell in love with, but instead somebody meaner, a-kind to venom...

Then again, you weren't a saint yourself either, words you wouldn't have ever thought of saying spilled out of your mouth like toxin. You needed to do something fast to mend your relationship back together...

The mere thought of breaking up with the man hurts you so dearly. You just wanted your loving boyfriend back from what ever abyss he dissapeared off to. Typically your fights never lasted this long, but this one proved to be quite challenging. You just wanted him to stop yelling. But in fear of the unthinkable outcome of your protest, you kept shut and held onto the remaining pieces of your heart. You knew for a fact that Peter would never dear to lay a hand on you, so you tried very desperately to push those thoughts aside. However, his following statements made both tasks very difficult. It was as if he was challenging your composure. Like he wanted the flood gates broken.

Like he wanted you to cave in to the malicious voice whispering in your ear...

His words could've very well be from all the stress, ..or pent up insults and remarks that he'd been silently keeping in. You had no way of telling. You prayed and hoped that it was the first one rather than the assuming latter. Because maybe then, you would consider forgiving him. Even though the words punctured you like bullets, penetrating your inner layers and hurting you in more ways than one. This was not your Peter... You questioned the morals behind his words, were they intended to hurt you, or was it just in the heat of the moment. Regardless, you knew that his words would be something that lingered on forever in your head.

"I don't even know why I stayed this long with you, honestly! What do I even see in you! Stop being so unreasonable! You're easily replaceable, so i don't see why you're acting so high and mighty. News flash y/n, i could do a lot better!"

         And there it was...

His current state and demeanor rivalled that of which the one you used to know. The soft spoken, kind, sweet, shy Peter. The one that still plays with legos despite being nineteen years old. You'd give anything to have him back...

You always knew that Peter could do better, but hearing this from him was a lot different than you saying it to yourself in your head. Before you had started dating you knew he had a chance with Michelle. She was a very pretty girl that went to your university, she was also Peter's chem partner... Michelle was nice, smart, and talented. You were very aware of the little 'thing' they had going on. So to your surprise, when you heard rumors of a certain Peter Parker, looking to ask you out, you almost didn't believe. Hell, you laughed straight into Brad's face and told him he was delusional. If only a hesitant, blush faced Peter wasn't stood right behind you to prove you wrong.

Ever since that day, you questioned Peter's choice. Why did he choose you, when he could've had a chance with Michelle? Someone he was more compatible with... You figured that he saw something special in you that nobody else did. Though, his previous statement proves you wrong and tells you that he doesn't even know why he gave you a chance. You're at a drift, not knowing where this relationship is headed, or where to stand. Knowing that you were replaceable to Peter weakens you. Were you really that insignificant to him? Were you a chore to be around? If so then why did he stay for two years? All these questions ran through your mind as you're frozen in a state of shock. How do you follow such a thing?

You stand silently, wails threatening to break free from your lips, as you shake. Instantly covering your mouth with your palm. You watch as he screamed at you more, words blocked out by the ringing in your ears. Truthfully, you were glad you couldn't hear his words, not knowing how to reciprocate to any more of his personal attacks.

The familiar feeling of despair began to conjure in the pit of your stomach. The tightness in your chest began to focus on your beating heart, constricting you like a boa preying on its meal. Everything around you became a hazy blur as the non stop ringing became more prominent. The cause being your angry boyfriend and his heart-wrenching words. Jolts of anxiety began to climb up from your figure tips, like a thousand spiders crawling on your skin. A feeling you know all too well crept up from behind you. You were beginning to feel frantic and scared, as your breathing became unstable.

You were becoming erratic, desperate to end the fight and be in his arms again.

"What!? Huh, not gonna clap back with some snarky remark. Admit it, you know im right!"

Peter's face was a striking shade of scarlet while he paced back and forth, hands finding themselves tangled in his hair as he mumbled inaudible words. His hair, you remember running your hands through his curly, brown locks this morning when you woke up. Oh, how happy and blissful you both were twelve hours prior to this moment. You both were so content and hopeful with the prospect of your relationship. Being able to finally spend time with each other after a stressful week. Originally, you had planned a date night with Peter. But things began to make a turn for the worse when he began to insult every little thing you did. Now here you were, an hour and forty-five minutes late for your reservations.

A taste for bitterness began to fill your mouth, as your insides churned. Waves of sadness and despair hit you like a tsunami. You suddenly couldn't stand the thought of staying in the same room as Peter. Let alone sleeping in one. Fore his words had impacted you like an arrow through the heart. You felt sick, disgusted, vulnerable, and above all else, hurt.

"God, you're such a fucking bitch sometimes!" Peter spat, but soon after stopped, noticing your sudden change in demeanor. Your once, fuming and aggressive facade was replaced with a much more subdued, fragile, hurt exterior, mirroring how you felt inside. You had given up. The bandage that held your heart together snapped.

You looked up at him, hurt written all over your face. Instantly, Peter rushed your way. He wanted to wrap his arms around you, apologize for calling you a bitch. But stopped when you held your hand out and shook your head, a sob erupting from your mouth. Suddenly, all the hurtful things Peter said rang through his own head.

Oh...

Shit!

"Baby, I-" He started, not knowing how to follow. His mouth suddenly became dry, letting out a sigh of regret. Voice coming out weak and pained. His chest tightening at the sight of what he has done to you. No no no no no no.... Peter knew you weren't the type to forgive and forget. Even if you both manage to somehow recover from this, he knew that his words would always be in your head. You would constantly doubt yourself and his transparency, thinking if it was all an act.

Regret began to eat away at him once again when he noticed your uneven breathing. Another punch in his gut when he took note of your shaking. Peter's eyes quickly darted to yours, his heart breaking when he saw the amount of fear in them. He was uncertain if you were scared of him or your emotions. He wanted it to be the second one. Peter never wanted you to see him in that light. Yet here you were, having an anxiety attack because of him...

He knew that feeling all too well, having suffered from anxiety of his own, but the fact that he was the one to force you into that state shattered him..

"Don't call me that...." You spat coldy, backing away slowly into your shared bedroom. Making sure he didn't follow and locking the door. Once in the cozy room, you sob like la llorona conveying grief. You couldn't bear to see all the happy pictures of you two, when he said so himself, you're nothing special to him. Without thinking, you began to rip off every Polaroid, framed pictures, and drawings from the walls. Not caring of ripping them. You threw them all on the floor. Your vision becoming clouded by tears as you sob. Ruining the white fabric of your oversized sweater with your makeup contaminated tears.

Your body halts, the last remaining picture was of the both of you on your first date. You always considered that day as the happiest moment of your life. But now knowing that you're just a pit stop in Peter's life, the memory manifests into something much darker than obsidian.

You inhale as you looked at the picture one more time. It was you kissing Peter on the cheek. He donned a beautiful cheshire smile, his freckles displaying proudly under the sunlight. He wore a red, hooded sweatshirt with his hero, Iron man's logo depicted on the top right corner. You always love it when he wore sweaters, especially that one. You remembered every emotion you felt as the picture was being taken. Even if you didn't, your expression held it all. You radiated happiness as the butterflies in your stomach became restless. You were so happy...

You sob lightly, your thumb caressing his face as you looked fondly at the picture. Suddenly, words that fell from his mouth earlier replayed in your head. He had purposely attacked your deepest insecurities. Jabbed and taunted you. The Peter you knew would never result to something so cruel and petty. Without putting much thought into it, you began to take the picture out of its frame.

Your ears perking up when you hear the familiar sound of the lock being picked. The jiggling of the doorknob was something you grew accustomed to. Having locked yourselves out of the bedroom on more than one occasion....

Taking one final breath, you rip the picture in two and retreated into the master bathroom. Once the door was slammed shut and locked, all hell broke loose. As if it couldn't have gotten worse alright. Your wails grew louder and more repetitive that you were being to sound like a banshee, mourning for her decaying heart. Eventually, you found yourself curled up in the bathtub, suppressing your cries into your knees as you lowered your head.

Peter finally succeeds in picking the lock, after what seemed like hours, and once he creaked opened the door of your shared bedroom, his heart broke in two. Parts of him began to deteriorate, he wished he had never said those hurtful things. He felt numb and out of touch with reality, sensing his anxiety looming over his shoulder. Peter knew that one of your biggest insecurities was never meaning much to somebody. And that weren't fond of feeling worthless and neglected. He knew your background and upbringing well enough to know just how much you disliked being treated as such.

All he wanted to do was hold you in his arms and kiss your tears away. A pool of sadness brimmed his eyes as he evaluates the damage. From one corner of the room to the other, pictures were left scattered and discarded. The framed drawings of him that you illustrated, sat on the floor of your bedroom, frame cracked and shattered. The Polaroids he held ever so dearly to his heart, littered the bed and floor. He broke down in tears when he sees the torn picture of you both.

How could you vandalize such a treasured memory. But then again, how could he hurt the most precious thing in his life. Seeing the picture ripped apart like this, he knew that somehow he affected your perspective on this whole relationship. His previous words had tainted such beloved memories, and twisted them to seem like nothing more than a one-sided love. He made you question whether he truly loved you or not. Suddenly the realization kicked in, and it kicked in hard. A tsunami of guilt and regret pierced through is heart. His insides churned and it suddenly became very hard to breathe. He suddenly became really aware of how dire this situation was. His following actions may break your relationship if he didn't act wisely.

Peter bends down to hold your piece of the puzzle, a river flow of heart ache cascading down his cheeks, wetting the captured image of you. Your sobs, which had begun to sound like cries of help, due to lack of air, rang threw Peter's ears. Suddenly he grew extremely concerned and rushed to the door, dropping your image.

Immediately, you stop when you heard soft knocks coming from the other end of the door, which was soon followed by cries and sniffling sounds.

"Baby, open the door!" You don't comply with his words and stayed seated in your place, hugging your knees tighter.

"W-what are you gonna do if i don't? Pick the lock and violate my privacy! Just go away P-peter! W-why don't you go find another girl to replace me, because apparently, i-i mean nothing to you!" Screaming at the inanimate door, or more so the person behind it, as you let out a cut short wail. You hated yourself for how weak and broken you sounded. Wishing, you could drown out his stupid words that had already engraved itself deep in your brain.

"Y-you said s-so yourself! I'm easily replaceable! I-if i had known that this relationship was just gonna be one sided then i would've never wasted my time!" Apparent in your tone and words how truly distraught you were, Peter cried harder, cold sweats engulfing his body. He winced at the thought of how broken you were. It only lead him to wonder, what exactly happened and what brought on this fight. Sounding more so a statement rather than a question in his head.

He parted his lips softly, a small whimpering sigh rolling off his tongue.

"Please y/n, just open the door. I-i just want to see you. Please... I-I need to know that you're okay...." his words laced with mixed emotions, such as sorrow and remorse. Despite his current emotional state, Peter's stature looked anything else but composed. God, he was freaking out..

Incoherently mumbling a soft 'please' as he laid his forehead onto the wood door. His hand resting above his head, fist balled tightly, as if ready to start pounding. He was desperate, eyes screwing shut tightly causing a flow of tears to glide down his cheeks. Peter's jaw clenched tightly in frustration, as he beat himself over and over again for saying such things.

After much hesitance, you stood up and made your way to the door. Peter hears the small shuffle and quickly straightens himself out. After seconds of hovering your hand over the knob, you twist it open, instantly unlocking itself and setting free all the pent up emotions. You crack open the door, almost immediately, Peter rushes in and hugs you.

You don't return the hug, silently stiffening in his arms. At that moment, the last few bits of composure you had built back up snaps loose. You become a crying mess in Peter's arms. Feelings of unmeasurable sadness cascade down your cheeks, onto his black long sleeve shirt. You try and push him away, but fail due to his strength. His muscular arms constricting you as if you would fade away.

"Listen to me please." He says softly, tears lightly streaming down his cheeks, though, not to the caliber of yours.

You sniffle lightly, thrashing in his arms. Though, it was no use, his hold was so secure that no amount of resistance would break you free. So, you could do nothing else but endure what he has to say.

"I'm sorry-

Sorry doesn't fix anything Peter, it's just a word!" The teary-eyed male hissed at your words. The amount of hurt and venom your tone held was enough to make his jaw clench and his hold to tighten.

"I know it doesn't, but it's a start. L-look, i didn't mean to say that. I don't know what came over me, or what caused me to say those things. But what i do know is that they were a hundred percent untrue. And i want you to know that..." He pauses briefly to wipe away your tears with his thumb. Dipping his head into the crook of your neck. He took in your floral scent, hoping it would help him regain composure. You feel a tug on your heart at how utterly hurt and small he sounded.

"I love you with all my heart, and that you are the most unique girl I've ever met... If anything i don't know how i even managed to get a girlfriend as beautiful and amazing as you..... Wanna know why I'm with you?" You nod lightly into his chest. His hold readjust itself as he lays his head above yours. Almost content with your slight gesture, but he needed to be sure you were happy.

"It's because you accept me for who i am. You don't pressure me to be perfect all the time, you welcome my flaws with open arms; don't expect anything from me and shower me with so much love everyday... I want you to know that i could never replace you, not that i would ever want to. How did i ever get so lucky... Please y/n, you are one of the most important people in my life.... I-i can't loose you too..." Peter couldn't fathom a future with out you in it. He grew frantic, thinking that this day could be the last together. And that there would be a slight chance that you didn't want to forgive him again. He couldn't let that happen...

"Please say something...." He sighed whilst tears brimmed his eyes, taking your tightening hold on his shirt to keep moving forward.

"Do you remember when we first started dating, that night i texted you that i was frustrated and my anxiety was acting up... And you came over in a heart beat, even though you lived fifteen minutes away... Y-you told me to let it all out, and i cried in your arms for an hour, complaining about everything. I felt so ashamed for crying in front of you, but you told me that i was so brave for accepting my feelings... I know what i said must've hurt you a lot, but I'll do better... I'm sorry for triggering you like that." Peter's tone was barely above whisper, and if he hadn't have said it directly above your ear, you would've missed it. There he was... your Peter....

You thought back to the said memory and smiled fondly, that was the night you both realized that you wanted a more serious title on your relationship. Finally labeling each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. You thought back to all the happy memories you both shared and confirmed that a silly little fight wouldn't get the best of you. Yes, his words might've hurt, but his actions now out ways all of his petty insults. You give into your flourishing heart and forgive him.

Backing away from his chest lightly, you look up at him, gasping slightly at his blood shot eyes. You hesitatly reach up to cup both of his cheeks. Wiping away the remaining tears that streamed down his face. He smiled lightly and leaned into your touch, taking one of your hands in his and place a soft, delicate kiss on it.

"We'll be okay...." You smiled at his comforting words before planting a passionate, loving kiss on his lips. Peter smiled lightly before taking your wrist on his hold and guiding them to wrap around his neck. He deepens the kiss and pulls you closer by your waist.

It was then that he realized that he wanted you to be the only women in his life. And that he wanted nobody else. Suddenly feeling an overly compelling urge in his heart to make up for his actions overcomes him. He was determined to trap you in his web of love again. He couldn't loose you too...

You smile in content, 

          portraying the victim always worked...

'Indeed, we'll be just fine.....'

Perhaps they were both awful people, fooling each other with the reality they both created. But it was done with the intent of love, sick twisted love... He was possessive and she was insecure. And together they were toxin and venom... God forbid anything that tries to get in between them...

_____________

End Note:

For those that don't understand, take notice in Peter's words and how drastically different they are from when he was mad to when he was apologizing. Sweet at first glance but if you really dig deep you'd notice how sugar coated everything seemed, like he's saying what you want to hear. And as for the Reader, I purposely left out how much she contributed to the fight in the beginning to make it seem as though she was the victim, when in reality she was also at fault. The anxiety aspect of this story was very much 'real' since I described what it felt like for me and I wanted her to suffer from anxiety yet have something be a little off. Now, I'm not claiming that the bedroom part was a whole scene to feed her victim persona, but that's up to how you want to view it. This story is subjective and can be taken however way you want to.

[flarewrites]

ICU In My Dreams

Pairing: Bakugo Katsuki x Midoriya Izuku︱Rated T ︱Crack, Bad Puns & Pick-up Lines

Sypnosis: High on anesthesia, Katsuki falls for his husband all over again and tries to woo him with extremely bad pick-up lines. 

Katsuki wakes up in a hospital bed.

Or maybe he wakes up in heaven that just coincidentally looks like a private hospital room, because damn, is that an angel standing next to his bed?

He cranes his neck to get a better look, which is obviously a bad choice, because instantly, a sharp pain shoots up his neck and Katsuki lets out a string of violent curses.

The angel turns around, and Katsuki’s heart swoops.

He’s got the cutest fucking face Katsuki has ever seen - big round green eyes that sparkle and shit, the cutest fucking nose, and damn those plush kissable lips.

Also, bless the gods, are those freckles?!

He reaches out instinctively to touch one, but the angel grabs his hand and gently pushes it back down.

“Kacchan?” Oh damn this is so unfair, he’s even got a nice voice. “Are you okay? Do you know where you are?”

Katsuki frowns. That’s a goddamn stupid question; of course he knows where he is.

“This is heaven,” He tells Izuku confidently. “Are you the angel assigned to me?”

Izuku blinks at him.

Across the room, someone bursts into laughter.

“Oh man, this is great.” The person says, coming into Katsuki’s view. “Dude, I am so filming this.”

The newcomer has red spikey hair and is decked in some sort of hero gear, although Katsuki can’t wrap his mind around why anyone would fight shirtless. He’s also got really sharp teeth, but despite appearances he seems pretty harmless, though at this point Katsuki doesn’t give a fuck if he’s good or bad. He’ll fight him either way for interrupting their conversation.

“Fuck off,” He growls, much to the amusement of the other. “Can’t you see we’re busy?”

The man snorts. “My bad, bro. Please continue.”

Katsuki would like to, but the fucking moment is ruined, so he leans back and pouts as Izuku checks on him.

“You’re not in heaven, Kacchan.” The green-haired boy tells him, much to his disappointment. “You’re alive, and you’re currently in the hospital fresh out from surgery. I’m the nurse assigned to you.”

Huh. That sucks.

“I want to borrow your phone,” He says instead. “I need to call God because i think i found one of his missing angels.”

Eijiro chokes on his water.

Katsuki promptly ignores him, gazing up expectantly at the not-angel whose face has turned an alarming shade of red.

“You’re high on anaesthetic,” Izuku says, amused. “Kacchan i don’t-”

“Who’s Kacchan?” He demands, annoyed that Izuku hasn’t once used his name. “My name is Bakugo Katsuki. Call me Katsuki.”

“Okay, Katsuki,” The smile on Izuku’s face is fond, but it's obvious that he’s trying not to laugh. “Katsuki, are you hungry?”

“Depends,” Katsuki says, eyeing a particular area of Izuku’s body. “Do you have a footlong?”

At this point, Eijiro isn’t even trying anymore. He laughs so hard he wheezes, and Izuku has to shove another cup of water in his hands before the man dies of oxygen deprivation.

“Man you are so going to hate yourself later,” Eijiro tells Katsuki when he finally stops laughing. “I can’t watch any further and since I have enough blackmail material already, I'll leave you two to it.”

He gives them both a little wave, then turns his heel and promptly exits the room.

Katsuki has never been more glad to see him leave.

“Is he someone i know?” He asks Izuku when it's just the two of them. “Why is he here?”

“He’s one of your best friends,” The other replies. “You two were on patrol when some villains attacked the area, so you went in to help, but they caught you off-guard and you were...impaled.”

Izuku’s voice breaks at the end, and Katsuki’s heart clenches painfully. For some reason he doesn’ t understand, it hurts to hear Izuku’s voice in distraught.

“Did I win?” Katsuki demands in an attempt to distract the other. “Did i kill those stupid villain extras?”

“Hmm?” Izuku looks up at him, and then he nods. “Oh, yes you did.”

Well, that’s great news. So why does the green-haired male look so crest-fallen?

“Listen, angel,” He says, reaching forward to grab the other’s hand. “Keep your evening free, I want to take you on a date.”

Izuku stares at him. “I already have plans tonight.”

“What about tomorrow?” Katsuki suggests. “Or the day after tomorrow.”

“I’m not quite sure my husband will appreciate it,” Izuku says, the corner of his mouth lifting a little. “You see, he can be quite the possessive type.”

Katsuki tries not to feel so dejected. Of fucking course this beautifiul man is already taken.

“I don’t see a wedding ring,” He mentions, carefully examining the others’ left hand. “Your husband doesn’t have to know. It can be our dirty little secret.”

Alright, in his defense, Katsuki is not in his right mind, and definitely a little love drunk. He’s a lot of things, but certainly not a homewrecker because fuck you, he does have morals.

“I take my ring off for work because I don't want to lose it,” Izuku says patiently, watching in amusement as Katsuki scowls at the additional information. “Even so, I'm not going to cheat on him with you.”

Katsuki pouts. “But I'm a catch.”

“So is he,” Izuku replies, giggling.

Katsuki is getting very annoyed at this nurse’s “husband”, but he’s been known to fight for what he wants, so he isn’t going to give up so easily.

“I can be better than him,” He declares. “I’ll win him in a fight. Call him over now, I'll fight him.”

Izuku stares at him for a while, and then the nurse bursts out laughing.

Katsuki hasn’t been more confused in his life. What part of that sentence was funny?

“You’re my husband, dumbass.” Izuku says, green eyes swimming with mirth. “Also, you’re not fighting anyone. You can barely even walk!”

Wait a minute. He’s his what now?

“I’m your husband?” Katsuki asks, bewildered. “What? How? When?”

“We've been married for a few year,” Izuku is handing him a cup of pills now . “It’s time for your medicine. Eat these and sleep first. We’ll talk when you wake up.”

Katsuki frowns at the small plastic cup. He doesn’t want to sleep, he just wants to talk to his husband. “I don’t need all these. All I need is some Vitamin You.”

Izuku snorts. “Would you like some vitamin D while you’re at it?”

“Can i?”

Izuku winks at him. “If you take these like a good boy.”

Yeah, Katsuki has never scoffed down pills as fast as he did now, so imagine his disappointment when Izuku merely gives him a peck on the cheek before turning to leave.

What the fuck. He’s never felt so betrayed.

“You promised,” Katsuki says petulantly. “At least give me a proper kiss.”

He watches in satisfaction as Izuku turns back to him and sighs.

“You’re such a big baby,” His husband complains, but leans down to press a chaste kiss on Katsuki’s lips. “Sleep, or i won’t be here when you wake up.”

“I’ll divorce your ass,” He grumbles, pouting when Izuku gives him a pointed look. “Fucking fine, i’m sleeping!”

He’s not though. Well, until Izuku steps out of the room, he’s going to be as awake as he can so he can watch that mighty fine ass leave. It really is a great ass, Katsuki thinks, peeking from one slightly opened eye. How-

“Kacchan!”

Fuck, he’s been caught.

Katsuki tries to look less guilty when Izuku strides towards his bedside once more, arms crossed and mouth pinched into a thin line.

“I’m not leaving until you sleep,” He says sharply. “Kacchan, you really need to sleep to get better.”

“I don’t want you to go,” Katsuki says, fighting the sudden urge to close his eyes, because fuck why are his eyelids suddenly so heavy? “I want to talk more.”

“We can talk when you’re better,” Izuku says, and oh no, his voice suddenly sounds so far away. “Sleep, Kacchan.”

“But-!”

“Sleep,” Izuku says again, gently pushing him backwards. His head hits the pillow and then everything goes black.

The last thing he sees are those wide, sparkling green eyes before he lets his consciousness get pulled under.

----------

Eijiro plays the video for Katsuki when he visits him the day after he’s discharged and Katsuki nearly burns the whole apartment down with his second-hand embarrassment.

“I did not just ask if you have a footlong, what the fuck.” Katsuki whispers, horrified. He wants to go back in time and strangle himself. “Fuck you, Shitty hair, delete that.”

“Nah,” The damn bastard leaps out of his reach, and Katsuki is way too comfortable to catch his ass so he flips him off instead. “This shit will go down in history, my man. It's priceless.”

Izuku, his little shit of a husband, is still laughing even after the video ends. Katsuki would know, because the green-haired male is currently curled up next to him, and he can feel his whole body shaking.

“For what it’s worth, I thought it was cute.” Izuku says, wiping the tears away from his eyes. “I was worried sick when you came in all bloodied and unconscious, but it was a relief to see you be your usual self.”

Eijrou stops sipping his tea and stares.

Katsuki has the sudden urge to blast himself to space.

“What,” Eijiro says carefully, setting his cup down. “Did you say?”

Izuku doesn’t seem to catch wind of the situation - or maybe he does, since Katsuki didn’t marry him for his innocence - because he cocks his head to one side, and says, “Kacchan occasionally-mmph!”

Eijiro never gets to hear what Katsuki occasionally does; he’s too busy vacating their apartment like his ass is on fire because knowing his best friend, it might just be if he’s late by a fraction of a second.

He slams the door shut and prays Izuku makes it out alive.

Posted on AO3 too :D

[canyouhearthelight]

The Miys, Ch. 95

More intrigue~~~~ And some humor, because when humans get scared, some of us make jokes.

It took a sedative and Lyric for me to get some sleep before my clandestine meeting with Antoine.  Conor and Maverick had both protested, calmly but firmly, and at length. In the end, they only conceded if someone they trusted could follow me in disguise.  Their first choice - my sister - was entirely out of the question, since she was entirely too recognizable… especially to Antoine.  Xiomara was out as well, since there was very little chance anyone associated with Jokul would not recognize her somehow.  Same thing for Charly.

Fortunately, Arthur was able to pass Xiomara’s muster for disguise within the twelve hour deadline that we had to work with. An hour and a half before I was due at the Undine, I was pacing with worry that I would actually have to go alone. A traitorous voice in the back of my head wondered if Antoine had a point earlier - was I really hiding behind people?  However, before I could wrap myself too tightly in a panic attack, the door chimed with a request for entry. Praying fervently to any takers that Xiomara found someone to follow and observe at a distance, I composed myself to answer the door.

As expected, Xiomara stood on the other side, casual grin shining like the sun as she leaned against the door frame. What was entirely unexpected was the man standing just over her shoulder.  Slightly taller than me, he was rocking back and forth on his heels, hands in his khaki pockets as he craned his neck to look around like everything was unfamiliar. A hideously striped button-down strained across his stomach. That can’t be comfortable, was all I could think. Why doesn’t he have clothes made that fit better? Any discomfort he was experiencing didn’t even trickle into his expression as he gave me a cheerful smile.  Silver, unkempt whiskers matched the unruly hair on his head, but something eerily familiar stared at from dark brown eyes framed by thick glasses and rosacea.

Shaking my head, I have Xio a confused glance.  Her smile never waivered, however. “Hey, Xiomara…” I said slowly. “Come on in…”

“Thank you,” she gave a small mock-bow. “This is my friend Solozo, thought I would introduce him to you.  He had an idea for an event.”

I nodded, still squinting at the unfamiliar man. “Yeah. Yeah, sure, both of you come in.”

“My deepest gratitude, Miss Sophia,” Solozo nodded as he passed. “Surely we are interrupting you, but you invite us into your home the same.” His accent was so strong I could hear it even over my translator. Italian, but not quite the Neapolitan I was more familiar with from Before.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Xiomara made herself at home with a cup of coffee from my kitchen. At the same time, Solozo looked around my living room.  Small comments here and there washed over me as I noticed he had a stiff leg, giving him a rocking sort of gait. “Sir, I would love to hear about the idea for your event,” I ventured politely, getting him to turn and face me instead of my plants and photos.

“Wine and cheese tasting,” he beamed. “Now, I don’t drink, and I can’t eat dairy, but I’m going to see what Meece can do to fix that.” Smacking his stomach for emphasis, he continued. “I want to taste all the cheese I never could before, and I think everyone else should have that experience. Everyone eats cheese?”

Something was really bothering me about this man, but I felt terrible. He was being perfectly pleasant, and I was the person who handled this sort of thing. But something was just… off. “I think that’s a splendid idea. All cultures have a sort of wine, all cultures have a sort of cheese. No pun intended,” I conceded. He chuckled as I continued. “But… I’m confused, Xiomara.” I turned to my friend, still smiling and leaning on my dining table. “Not to be rude, but you could have asked Mr. Solozo to send me a message and I could have contacted him in the morning.”

“She could have, yes,” Solozo interjected, extending his stiff leg to take a seat. “Gout, it’s on the list of things to have looked at. But I needed to speak to you tonight, Miss Sophia, do you understand?”

I shot off the couch, bolting for the entry to the hallway as I realized what was bothering me. “Your accent. It was here, now it’s gone. Xiomara, what the hell - “

Before I could finish, she walked over and smacked the strange man on the shoulder. “I told you that accent wouldn’t hold up.”

Removing the glasses, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I dropped it on purpose, just to make it fair,” he explained in a much more familiar, wry tone.

It took every ounce of restraint I had not to knock Arthur’s head off his shoulders. “You ass!” I shouted, grateful that Maverick and Conor were already awake - as evidenced by the head poking around the corner from the bedroom and the other one poking in from the now-open entrance. “Arthur’s disguise, ladies and gentlemen!” I cried dramatically as I threw a pillow.

“Hey! It works, doesn’t it? I had you fooled at least. And it’s not like I’m going to be talking much anyway.”

Xiomara was still laughing. “I thought the walk was a nice touch, personally.”

He scowled the best he could. “You bet me that I couldn’t hide the sword. The walk was just - incidental.”

Now that I wasn’t angry anymore, I made my way over and leaned closer to look at his face. “Whoever did the nose and the rosacea did a good job,” I admitted. “And the stubble?”

“Unfortunately, that’s mine.” He scratched under his chin for emphasis. “I haven’t shaved since before Alpha shift. This shit itches by the way.”

“The blue dye to get it that color probably didn’t either.”

“Not at all.”

“Did you bleach your hair, too?”

He pulled back, fixing me with a malevolent stare. “Very funny.” He turned away from me, puting the glasses back on and muttering. “I’m in my forties, remember? I actually just had the dye removed.” He ran a hand through his hair before shaking it back into a dishevelled state and fluffing it to stand up.  “You can bet your ass I’m dyeing it back before I teach class in the morning.”

Maverick entered the rest of the way into our quarters, allowing the door to the corridor to close again.  “I had no idea you were completely grey.”

“Prematurely,” he confirmed. “Even Before.  It started to go in my twenties, but at least it didn’t fall out.”

“So what was with the accent?” I asked. “That was entirely unnecessary, to be honest.”

He scoffed. “Are you kidding? As soon as I dropped it, you knew who I was.  I would call that necessary to fix.” I heard him mutter something that sounded like ‘amateur’ before he continued. “My family is originally from Italy, remember?  The accent is Sicilian.”

“Wait,” I sputtered. “Did you seriously name yourself after the guy who failed to kill Vito Corleone?”

“You can’t prove a thing. Could be a family name.”

Xiomara leaned over and swatted his arm. “Yes, it’s from The Godfather.”

“You also tend to hate Sicily and deny they are part of Italy,” I pointed out.

“They’re Greek and you will not change my mind.” 

Maverick looked thoughtful for a moment, before slowly confirming his suspicion. “So you are using the name of a hit man - apparently a bad one - from a movie that is over a hundred years old, because you hate Sicily?” He grimaced, and I could only imagine the headache he was getting. 

“He did kill Brasi, though. He just didn’t manage to kill Vito,” I pointed out.

“You aren’t even speaking English at this point,” he wailed in mock-despair.

Arthur cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow. “I took the name of an incompetent mob boss to try to make anyone with Jokul feel comfortable in the event I need to show up later in a more obvious way and have to reuse this.” He gestured at himself before patting his fake stomach.  “Besides, it’s funny to use the name of an incompetent around actual incompents.”

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen,” I sighed dramatically. “Once a warlord, now you are all that you hate most in the world.”

“Still not racist,” he pointed out, complete with finger guns.

“Says the guy who hates Sicilians,” Xiomara argued.

Arthur just waved a hand dismissively. “I’m Italian.  That’s like Sophia saying she hates people from New England.”

I wanted to argue, but the very physical shudder that wracked my body made that impossible. I settled for clarifying. “Only in a general sense.  I’ve met several very nice people from New York and New Jersey.  But when I go there… blehhhhh.”

“Exactly.”

Xiomara glanced at her datapad. “Okay, we have just enough time to get to the Undine for your meeting, Sophia.  Let’s get this show on the road.  Solozo, you’re going to follow her at six to eight meters.  Meander, look at things, just make sure you keep her in your sight, got it?”

He rolled his eyes. “I know how to do protection detail, Madam Kalloe.”

For emphasis, she smacked his arm again before helping him up. “Good.  Make it count and you can keep the sword.  I don’t want to sit through any more criminal trials if I can avoid it.”

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[rokutouxei]

the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

ikemen vampire: temptation through the dark theo van gogh / mc | T | [ ao3 link in bio ]

The challenge seemed pretty simple: to try to befriend the university bookshop’s most sour employee, Theo van Gogh. As a literature major with a boatload of book recommendations on her back, it ought to be a simple task indeed. But as she uncovers what lies between Theo’s pages, the more she finds it harder to become closer to him without having to put the feeling directly into words. What can she learn from Theo about what it means to stay—and how can she teach Theo about what it means to let go? | written for ikevamp big bang 2020!

[ masterpost for all chapters ]

CHAPTER 11 OF 22

I tell her, grief is not a feeling but a neighborhood. This is where I come from. Everyone I love still lives there. - brenna twohy

--

She wakes up with one thought: that maybe she should apologize.

She can barely get out of bed carrying said thought in her head. She knows Theo is blunt, and maybe even in some ways a little too hardheaded for his own good, but—he couldn’t have meant any harm by saying that. And she’ll be damned before she admits this to him, but in a way, she’s starting to see that he’s a little right, after all.

That maybe she’s just looking for answers in the wrong places.

But at the same time… would it have killed him to say it a little kindlier? She nearly spills her coffee squeezing her mug too tight thinking of his face up at the rooftop—the rooftop she’d so nicely brought him to even if he had no right to be there in the first place—thinking of his voice, the words he said echoing over and over in her head. She’d replayed it over too many times now that she can’t even hear clearly in her mind what was said, just that it hurt. Just that it felt like being staked through the heart.

Sure, maybe he had good intentions, but isn’t the road to hell paved with just that?

“I hate you so fucking much,” she angrily shouts to no one in particular, half-meant and half for spite, grabbing her bag to go hunting for some advice.

--

The inside of Theo’s mouth tastes dull and coppery; he doesn’t know if it’s from the apology resting on his tongue or from the way he bites the inside of his cheek nervously. She never misses a day of coming to the bookshop, but it is Sunday at 2 pm and she is nowhere to be found.

His hands naturally gravitate towards his phone, and in his head, he forms the text message over and over again. The simplest I’m sorry, I overstepped and the most complicated I hadn’t meant to, and I shouldn’t have done it, if you would only forgive me- they’re written and rewritten in his mind in between each time he instinctually reaches for his phone.

He never does.

For the first half of the day, he tells himself it’s because he’ll feel better about calling her to apologize, rather than just sending a message. But he never does. And even when he thinks he’s ready to send a message to ask her if they could meet instead, the courage falls apart the moment he clicks on her name on the messaging app.

He’s never been that good with his words. Maybe when he figures what the best ones to say are, it’ll be too late.

--

Her first candidate is Vincent.

Vincent would know what to say. Or at least, he seems like the person who would know what to say, for any moment, for any problem. He just seems like the angel who has all the answers. But at the same time, consulting about Theo for Vincent doesn’t seem like the greatest idea. Besides the fact that Theo had made a parallel between her and Vincent to drive the point home. Maybe this was something she shouldn’t bring up between the brothers. So not Vincent.

Her next candidate is Arthur.

Arthur, of course, works with Theo, and is with Theo for basically most of the week—he’s easily the only other person she knows that’s as close to Theo as Vincent. Arthur would have a mighty piece of advice for sure, especially when it comes to Theo. She’s pretty close enough to him to talk about something like this as well. But the problem is that Arthur would also have a mighty piece of mind to show Theo if she’d reached out to him, no matter how much she will say about not telling Theo. Arthur can get pretty heated, and that’s not what she wants. So not Arthur.

Her last candidate is Dazai.

Dazai is her best friend and thus will probably understand her point of view the most. He understands how much she feels about getting out of this place and how much it matters for her, and will likely stand by her side if she tells this story. Of course, this just means that his scales are unfairly tilted for her—if he decides to bust out the scales at all. He’s pretty carefree as he is, and she could already hear what he’ll tell her—to “just let dumb dog lie”, meaning, to stop if he doesn’t care about her to begin with.

And she doesn’t want to do that.

So not Dazai.

She orders a hot chocolate from a different café (Vincent might be able to catch the look in her eye, and she doesn’t want to give out a clue, not when Theo presumably also came home in a bad mood) and walks down a random street, going nowhere in particular. Sundays are her designated chill days—the days where she doesn’t do work as much as possible or at least spend as much time as possible relaxing. This is why she goes to the bookshop on Sundays. But maybe not today. Instead, she walks. And the walk is helping in clearing her head, for sure, but she really wants someone to talk to, and—

She passes by the administrative building and it clicks.

--

“Come in!” he calls out from inside, and she enters the room with a spring in her step to seem a little more upbeat than she actually is.

“Hello Professor Newton,” she greets, shutting the door behind her with a smile. “Am I interrupting something?”

He murmurs her name lowly in surprise before shaking his head. “Not really, may I help you with anything?” he asks, although very carefully, as if already knowing she wasn’t here on official business.

Which was great, because that means she didn’t need to work too hard to get him into the mood. “It’s personal,” she says, with an awkward grin. “Is that okay?”

She makes her way to his desk but he gets up, instead gesturing towards the sofa on the other side of the room. She’s pretty sure this sofa is not his, but instead the other professor’s—the one with the room linked to his—but hey, if it’s in his spot, right? She takes a seat on it as Isaac crosses the room to a low table.

“Tea or coffee?”

“Coffee please!”

She hadn’t expected Isaac to be so open to talking to her about something… personal. She would say they were friends, but the older man didn’t seem to be so keen on her—or maybe he’s really just a recluse. Isaac’s doing his Ph.D. in some convoluted science, a full four years older than her. And… he seems so smart.

And that’s exactly why she chose him. Isaac is easy to fluster and surprise, and sure, maybe he’s one of the more socially inept people on the campus, but he still has a warm heart—that much she knows—and good, attentive pairs of eyes and ears that make him great at giving advice. He can seem cold, but her nights with the astronomy club prove that in the right circumstance, he is anything but.

She is praying that he is the same today.

He hands her a small teacup filled with coffee, placing the containers with sugar and milk next to it. He seems to have one filled with tea in his hands, and he gingerly sits down on the seat next to her. Instantly she feels like some teenager on her first trip to the therapist, about to lay down all her worries to be unwoven together and laid down in neat, straight strings. She’s nervous, sure, but also very comforted.

Isaac clears his throat and then sighs. “I… I don’t know why you’re going to me about this?”

“I think you’ll have the kind of thing I want to hear?” she offers, but she’s not too sure either. Isaac takes a sip from his tea.

“Aren’t you supposed to go to hear advice you need, not things you want to hear?” he quips back, but then purses his lips. “But if you’re so keen, let me hear it anyway.”

She sinks into relief.

--

Arthur elbows Theo gently. “What’s up with you today? You’re gloomier than usual.”

“Leave me alone, Bespectacled Demon.”

“Oooh, that’s new—and spicy. Little Miss upset you over something?”

Theo glares. “It’s none of your business.”

“I see, correct again, then,” Arthur says, clapping. “You know, sometimes I have to pause and wonder what she sees in you, when you’re all prickly like that all the time.”

For a moment, Theo wonders if she’d confided to Arthur. There’s really little by way of finding out, because Arthur generally talks as if he knows about everything in the first place. And Theo wasn’t in the mood to pry, or even bend under Arthur’s curiosity. Last night went into a direction Theo would not have expected it to go to, and now—now he only feels even more protective of the girl, by her similarity to Vincent. Maybe he should have been gentler after all.

“Thinking about it, big man? I’m telling you, you have to tell her what you mean sometimes. It’s better for you and—well, it makes girls swoon.”

“Do you live only to annoy me?” is what Theo decides to answer with, pushing Arthur away.

To which, Arthur smiles, leaning against the counter. “Sometimes the things that are best for us are the most repulsive at first.”

--

Isaac listens to her.

She outlines as much detail as she can with her heart already thumping in her throat. About growing up, about wanting to go away. About bringing Theo up to the rooftop because being there makes her feel safe. About the conversation they had, about what it made her feel. About how Theo usually talks, about how she feels like he didn’t mean harm in the first place, but it still hurts.

And the more she says the sillier she feels because—of course she goes to a professor, goes to the singular person she knows that seems to have been shoulder-deep into academics his entire life. Why is she talking about this to Isaac? Maybe she should have gone to Dazai.

Carefully, she puts the teacup down on its saucer and takes a deep breath once all that she can say has been said. She doesn’t have the courage to even look at Isaac now, feeling like he’s looking down on her. Why wasn’t she doing something more important instead of worrying about all this—like, why isn’t she working on her portfolio for submission instead? Or maybe she can try and do extracurriculars that will make her CV do a little bit better than anyone else’s? If she’s so keen on going away, then maybe she should be working on that instead of—all this.

Worrying about one mis-said thing.

“I’m sorry, it feels rather stupid to be consulting you about this, now that I’ve had time to think about it—and do it,” she says, cringing as she does. “It was me who asked for permission for us to hang out there too in the first place… And yet here I am.”

Isaac taps his fountain pen (covered, thankfully) thoughtfully against his face. He doesn’t have a notebook with him, but he’s been twirling it between his fingers as she was talking. He says it helps him think; and at this point, it’s just a tic that he does when he’s deep in thought. This makes her feel flustered for a moment; is he really taking her so seriously? Over something so little?

“But this isn’t about the rooftop,” Isaac says, slowly. “This is about Theodorus.”

She blinks. “Well… yes, I guess,” she offers. And then: “I’m sorry, Isaac, I shouldn’t have come here after all… I didn’t want to waste your time, maybe I should have just… told you on the next session at the rooftop that I won’t be bringing him there anymore…” She closes her grip against her bag and begins to stand up. “I think that’s really all I wanted to say—"

“No,” Isaac says, suddenly, and his voice makes her sit down again. Isaac is like that, but he’s still a professor, and, well, he can have quite a voice when he decides to. “I—I mean, you didn’t… come here to tell me that, didn’t you? You came here to ask me for…” he bites his lip. “Advice.”

A flutter of joy begins to grow in her stomach. Dazai is right—it is some sort of exciting when Isaac comes out of his shell. “…Yes, if you had any,” she answers, now more steady. “Of course, if you don’t, it’s entirely alright… I just needed to tell someone, I think.”

Isaac is quiet for a moment. Then he begins. “Don’t worry about the rooftop,” he says. “Come and use it as you please—I trust you’ll be responsible for it.”

Well, that wasn’t the advice she expected. “Of course, sir.”

“I wouldn’t have entrusted the keys to you otherwise,” he says, before looking up at her. “And no sirs. I’m  not— I’m not talking to you as your club professor right now. I’m talking to you as your…”

She looks up, but she doesn’t make any sound, looking at him intently.

Isaac coughs, then looks away. “F—friend.”

(A burst of color at the back of her eyes. Holy shit, screw romance, why does friendship feel this good?)

“Yes,” she says eagerly, “I never thought I’d hear that from you ever.”

He refuses to look at her and hides behind a sip of tea. When she giggles at him, he groans. “Can we go back to your problem, please?”

--

The tea in the pot is long cold when she left Isaac’s office, the rest of the faculty already having driven home. Outside, the streetlamps are only beginning to flicker on, illuminating the familiar avenues in their still-weak orange glow.

And she is standing outside the physics building feeling very, very small—perhaps the kind of way a culture of bacteria feels like sitting in a petri dish underneath a high-tech microscope.

Very small, and very, very seen.

Isaac had fumbled for words and stuttered and his sentences ran over each other—but he gave his advice anyway, tried to make sense of the knots of a feeling she had handed him and undo them, weave them into something a little more understandable. And yes, sure, this Isaac, bungling up his words and pausing every few seconds as if recalibrating his mind is very, very different from the Isaac she’d seen once in his higher physics classes (she and Dazai secretly sat-in: she didn’t understand a single word but it was so refreshing to see Isaac in his natural element), but it was this Isaac who was her friend, who was trying his best to help her when even he seems to be so dense to his own emotions sometimes.

She had expected Isaac to give her a new point of view; to see the situation the kind of way a hard scientist would, in between hypotheses and laws and experiments, the kind one applied the scientific method on and one could plaster many tables and charts in a paper for. Of course, since she was seeking advice, she wouldn’t have said it out loud, but deep in her heart she hoped Isaac would say something like “Ditch him” or “It was a wrong thing to say”—the kind of thing Dazai would say but at least from the mouth of a man who isn’t too obviously on her side. But instead, Isaac said:

“The longer you deny the facts the more undeniable they become.”

Said it like it was fact, like it was some sort of sure scientific law that should have been known to common man. Kind of like gravity. Said with absolute truth—said as if she should have had the basic common sense to learn about this. But Isaac had learned this adage the hard way too—in his experiments and trials when things didn’t go right, when the math didn’t add up, the harder he tried to disprove what was already there, the worse his time became.

Science isn’t about changing what is already there. It is about understanding what is, and then deciding how we can change the way we move around it, how to harness it, to make our lives a little better.

And the science of it is this: she doesn’t want to apologize to Theo. In fact, maybe she ought not to. It was him who dealt the blow, so why does she have to be the one making excuses and apologies out of it? But at the same time—she doesn’t want to also be the reason he doesn’t want to apologize. Sure, she’s hurt, but at the end of the day…

She still wants this friendship back.

Theo is good company and she’d love to have him back.

Luckily, she knows just the right way to science their way back into friends.

--

She’s always in the bookshop on Sundays.

Even in the worst of weather. Even if she doesn’t have to buy anything. Even if all she’ll do inside is look at the fresh stock in the New Reads section for an hour and then go home.

She comes on Sundays and Wednesdays, no other days of the week.

So when she doesn’t come on Sunday, Theo feels a little unsettled.

And when she comes in on a Monday—Theo is even more taken aback.

She doesn’t peer through the window to check inside like she usually does, just hops off her bike once she rounds the corner, locks it into the bike rack (sadly out of Theo’s vision, so he doesn’t get to actually gauge her expression before she comes in) and then pushes the door open; the bells on the doorway tinkle when she does so.

Theo tries to put a little pep into his voice when he says “Welcome to Dragon’s Hoard,” but the only thing the dragon in him is hoarding right now is … well, remorse.

It’s an off hour for her too—four in the afternoon, perhaps after class?—but it doesn’t seem to matter to her as she strides right up at the register. It’s a good thing Arthur went out to get them some coffee a few blocks down, so Theo is alone.

“Nice weather today, huh?” she says by way of greeting, once she gets there. It’s not bad. Rather windy, and she’s definitely got on extra layer of outerwear on for the temperature.

But she’s not here for the weather and he knows.

He was preparing an apology, to be rather honest—and he didn’t feel like he could get away with a simple I’m sorry, not when he ran his mouth like that. He hadn’t finished thinking about said apology though, and Arthur was already teasing him for spending so much time zoning out thinking of how to appease the “Little Miss.” No matter. Despite the unreadiness, Theo attempts to form words anyway: “Look, I—I’m sorry,” he says, looking her straight in the eye to make sure she sees he means it.  “I said too much and I didn’t consider. I shouldn’t have.”

“Thanks,” she says, beaming at him in a way he thought she would never let him see again. “That means a lot. Sorry for running out on you like that, too.”

“You had every right to.”

“Still, it wasn’t the right thing to do.” She takes a deep breath to steady herself. “I’ve been chewing on it for the past few days and… you were only looking out for me, and I wanted to thank you for that. Couldn’t have killed you to say it a little more gently though.”

He grimaces. “I’ll try better.”

“Thanks, Theo,” she says with a smile. “I kind of don’t want to say it, but I also think you’re kind of right about it, actually.”

“About what?”

“About why I want to go away and all that.”

Theo only nods quietly, watching as she stares out the window like she’s deep in thought. Sometimes he wonders what kind of things are actually going on in that mind of hers. She seems to always be considering something for the future—never stopping in one place.

“Maybe you are right that I don’t really need to go away,” she says, still not facing him. “Maybe I’m just psyching myself out for an out there that isn’t really as good as I dream it will be. But you know? Maybe it’s a lesson I’ll have to learn on my own.” She turns to him with that confident expression on her face again. “Maybe I’ll need to go away and then consider staying. Think you can live with that?”

He snorts. He doesn’t mean to, but it comes out of him, and with that sound he feels like they’re back to before once again. “You make it sound like I have a choice in this matter.”

She laughs. “Hmm, well you do, but you’ll have to work a little harder than that to get me out of your life now that we’re friends. Just wanted to say thanks for putting that thought in me, yanno?” She cocks her head to the side. “...And, really. You were the first person I wanted to tell about me passing the first round and all that. No spite this time.”

And it feels right to tell him. She hadn’t gotten to because she felt like she wanted it to sink in first, and then they got into the fight before she was able to tell him at the rooftop, but—it feels just right as breathing to be telling him about this. Sure, he’s supposed to be nothing more than a distraction, but he’s proven himself to be a very worthy distraction, so full of intellectual discourse and banter from the beginning. This isn’t going the way she thought it would be going but it’s a good place. Besides, now she knows—that Theo just wants the best for her.

But before Theo can say his congratulations properly this time around, she says, “I was thinking, maybe you could save your claps and instead help me get a book…”

--

A ten-minute argument over student discounts, staff discounts, and what friendship ought to actually mean later, it is decided, by way of Theo’s gratefully granted apology, that she gets to go home with an anthology of modern poetry, at staff price.

[ampmiscfiles]

To Us You’re Worth Everything: Chapter 11

Start from the beginning

Peter groaned as he opened his eyes and sat up. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was in a park, and he wasn't sure how he got there.

Stretching, he lifted his hand to scratch at his itchy cheek, meeting a crusty substance. Frowning, Peter picked at the dried substance on his face before pulling his hand away to look.

Peter felt the blood drain from his face as the dark red, almost black, flakes peaked out under his nails and on his fingertips. Following down from his hands, his arms were marked with dark streaks, some places thicker than others. His clothes were stained in blood, blood that clearly wasn't his.

Quickly, Peter lurched to the side, throwing up what he had had for supper.

What had happened?

Crawling away from the tree he was under and further into the bushes, Peter wrapped his arms around himself, panic seeping in.

He had no idea what was going on. He didn't remember anything after leaving the group home, but clearly something had happened.

Trying to calm his rising panic, Peter closed his eyes and let the sounds of the park wash over him. The cool breeze rustling the tree leaves. Children laughing on the distant playground. Dogs happily enjoying playing with their owners. Couples chatting happily as they walked the pathways.

It was nice, and Peter felt his heart rate slow.

Opening his eyes, he took a deep breath before fully analyzing his situation. He couldn't exactly exit the cover of the bushes looking like he did. There was no way a blood covered teenager would be ignored.

Looking around, Peter sighed in relief as he caught the strap of his bag buried in between the bushes. He grabbed it, pulling it out and brushing off the twigs and leaves. He started at the set of pajamas he had thrown into the bag when he changed. He knew he could swap out what he had on for them, but they were all he had. If he waited till nightfall, he could change and find a laundry mat. There was a good chance that he would be able to find some loose change by then, plus no one would be around to possibly catch a glimpse of what he was washing.

Releasing a sigh, he laid back on the soft grass, trying to remember anything from the night.

Whose blood was staining his skin and clothes? Why was it there? What happened to the person it belonged to? Had he tried to save someone and suffered a blow to the head? It would explain the lack of memory.

It was the only option he would allow himself to consider, because he wasn't sure he could handle it being anything else.

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

Tony pulled the cap further down his head and put on his sunglasses as he exited his car.

He was surprised to find himself looking at a rather public park. If the kid was trying to stay low-key, this was a risky place to be.

Holding up his phone, he began the trek toward the location of the tracker. He wasn't sure what he was going to find, if he really found anything at all. Peter could have ditched his bag at some point, or even managed to have found the tracker and took it out.

Praying for the best, he continued on.

His phone ringing temporarily removed the tracker location as Pepper's face filled the screen. Frowning, he answered her call.

"Hey Pep, I'm-"

"Tony!" Pepper shouted into the phone. "We have to find Peter! There's been an incident not far from the home. Another body, the worst of them so far."

Tony felt a cold dread seep into his bones.

"They found blood in the alley beside the home Tony. They think who ever killed the man, caught him there and then took him away. Tony.....that maniac could have Peter!"

Pepper's hysterical sobs filled the phone.

"Pep, Pep, listen to me!"

There was a sniffle on the other side of the line as Pepper tried to compose herself.

"Has anyone talked to the kids?"

"Tony! They're missing too!"

"Great." Tony huffed, running a hand down his face.

"Pepper, I want to you focus on finding Wanda and Pietro."

"But Peter-"

"I'm handling Peter. Just, just trust me here Pep. Let me do this."

There was silence then the shuffle of someone moving around.

"Ok Tony. I'll call the others and tell them to focus on the twins." she took a deep breath. "Please, find my son, Tony."

"Let me know when you have the kids." Tony said, disconnecting the line.

He stood in the middle of the sidewalk, the calm, sunny day a stark contrast to the feelings inside him. On his phone, the little light continued to blink and Tony prayed he was going to be happy with what he found.

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

Pietro looked at the building before him with wide eyes.

"You can't be serious."

"I am." Wanda said, eyes narrowed in determination. "We're going to make sure things go the way they need to."

Pietro huffed out a breath and ran his hand down his face before turning to her.

"We can't just walk in there, Wanda."

"We're not, but Kent and Kathy Matthews distant cousins are." she said casually.

"Now I know you're not being serious."

"I am. Now put on the rest of your outfit."

"Exactly what are you planning to do? This place is littered with cameras and, relatives or not, they're not going to let us see them. We don't even know if they're awake! They weren't exactly in the best of shape when they were brought in. Cl-those two random criminals did a work over on them."

"You forget," Wanda smirked. "I managed to get into the heads of the Avengers. I think I can handle things here."

"Again, the camera footage?" Pietro pushed.

"We'll collect it before we leave. No traces left behind."

"Ok, but what'd your goal here?"

Wanda paused, looking away from her brother and toward the building.

"We both know who's in that building, Pietro. They've mistreated him. Physical, mental and verbally abused him. I can't let them get off as easy as they're going to. Jail isn't good enough." she said, looking at him out the corner of her eye.

"I think you feel it too."

Pietro didn't respond for a moment, choosing to let her words sink in. She wasn't wrong. He didn't think a simple jail sentence, even if it was life, was good enough for all the damage they caused.

Squaring his shoulders, he took Wanda's hands and gave a squeeze.

"Yes, you're right. I think it might be a good idea for our cousins to do a little....reflection on their actions. Maybe try to picture themselves in their victim's shoes."

Wanda just returned the grin he flashed her.

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

Tony's anxiety spiked a little as he got closer to the location of the tracker. He was growing a little weary at the fact the signal hadn't moved at all since he locked on to it.

"Please let him be ok." Tony muttered, stopping where the tracker blinked.

Frowning, he looked around the area. Maybe Peter had ditched the tracker after all.

He had just about decided to continue on down the path when I slight shuffle from the bushes next to him caught his attention. Slowly, he made his way over, pushing aside the foliage.  

"Peter!"

Peter jumped, surprised by the shout as much as the fact someone had managed to sneak up on him. Rolling over, he stared wide-eyed into the equally wide-eyed face of Tony Stark.

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

Pepper ran her hand through her hair as she waited on Sam to return to the car. Her nerves were strung tight as images of what could have happened to Peter flew through her head.

She barely knew the boy, but she had immediately fallen in love with him.

How could anyone not?

It was so easy to see past the evidence of abuse to the sweet boy buried inside. They had already glimpsed him through interactions with Spider-Man.

Peter held Spider-Man in such high regard that it was as if he saw himself as two separate people. That Peter Parker and Spider-Man weren't the same person.

Maybe that had been how he was able to maintain his upbeat attitude, because he clearly didn't hold the Peter Parker side of himself in such a light.

Still, somewhere out there was a lonely kid in desperate need of help.

She couldn't think anything less.

She couldn't think he wasn't.

She looked over as Sam opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat.

"Here." he said, handing her an iced coffee. "How are you holding up?"

"Been better." she sighed.

"Well, I'm not about to help matters." Sam winced as Pepper turned her puffy eyed face towards him.

"The twins are missing."

"They're what?" Pepper yelled.

"Just got off the phone with Steve. The kids bailed and haven't been seen since. They've tried finding them, but no luck."

Pepper narrowed her eyes.

"You don't believe him."

"Oh, I believe Steve wants me to be believe they can't find them. I think the truth is they don't really want to."

"Why not? Peter is already missing, now they are to!"

Sam sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"He think they know, or at least Nat does, where they went."

"And I'm guessing she's not telling, nor is she going after them herself."

"She wouldn't let them go if she didn't think it was something they needed to do or they couldn't handle. I'm sure they're fine. Let's just focus on finding Peter for now."

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

"Well, I just got off the phone with Sam." Steve sighed, sitting down at the table next to Clint.

Peter's case file was once again spread out before them.

"Let me guess, he doesn't believe we don't know where they are."

"Well, we don't." Steve replied, motioning between Clint and himself. "She does."

The two looked over as Natasha typed away furiously on her laptop.

"Leave them be. They can handle their business. They'll be fine."

"You're not leaving us much of a choice." Clint huffed.

"What do you two know about the mysterious killer the police are chasing?"

Steve frowned as he shared a look with Clint before turning to Natasha.

"I know the police are mighty territorial about it. They're been very clear they don't want our involvement. I think its rather stupid considering the increase in attacks, manner of violence, and the fact there has been no real connection from one victim to the next-"

"Other than criminal history." Clint finished. "I may not approve of the guy's methods, but he's not exactly attacking the innocent here."

"Still, none of the other vigilantes in the city go that far-"

"Frank Castle and Deadpool-"

"Haven't been seen in the city in months. These attacks have only been happening the past two." Steve shot as Clint shrugged.

"Fine. So what's the point, Nat?" Clint asked, ignoring Steve's eye roll.

"Considering the Matthews, I decided to look into some of Peter's other foster families."

"And?"

"A few of them have joined the victims list."

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

"Ma'am, I afraid we can't just let you in to see the Matthews. They're in police custody. You would have to have permission to-"

"I'm sure it won't be a problem for us to have just a few moments with them." Wanda smiled, her eyes flashing red.

The man stood frozen and silent for a moment before a dopey smile crossed his face.

"Of course. I don't see why not. I might do them good to have some family chastisement."

"Thank you."

The twins followed behind the doctor, Wanda stretching her powers out to touch each person they passed. They couldn't afford for anyone to give fully accurate descriptions of them, even if they were disguised.

"Around the corner is the room they're located in. Just give the officer outside the room your names."

The two nodded towards the man as he shuffled off back the way he came.

"So far so good. Let's see your next trick." Pietro whispered into Wanda's ear.

"Prepare to have your socks knocked off." she smirked, leading the way.

As they approached the room, the officer stationed outside stood to face them.

"I suggest the two of you turn and leave. This couple is under arrest and police observation."

"We're their cousi-" Pietro started before being cut off.

"I don't care who you are. No one is getting through that door. I don't know how you made it this far, but I'm going to have security escort you-"

"Surely you understand our need to see family." Wanda smiled sweetly, her eyes flashing red.

The officer looked at the blankly before nodding with a smile.

"Please, go right in."

"Thank you."

"Wow. Those training sessions are really paying off." Pietro whispered in her ear as they entered the room and shut the door behind them.

"Nat is brutal." Wanda replied.

The two stopped talking as they took in the ghastly sight of Kathy and Kent Matthews. The damage Clint and Natasha had inflicted had been highly underrated by the officers and social worker that had taken Peter away.

"Well, is it wrong that I don't feel at all bad seeing them this way?" Pietro asked, stepping up to the foot of Kathy's bed.

"This will pale in comparison to what I'm about to do." Wanda said, eyes narrowed. "They're bodies have been pushed to the limit, but I'm going to break their minds."

Pietro watched as Wanda stepped in between the two beds.

"I want you both awake for this." she said lowly, raising her hands and touching their foreheads.

The Matthews gasped in both pain and shock as their eyes flew open and consciousness returned to them.

"Hello there." Pietro grinned, leaning down on Kathy's bed.

"Who the hell are you?" Kathy asked, voice raspy.

To her right, Kent looked at the two intruders, unable to speak as his mouth was to swollen.

"It doesn't matter who we are." Wanda hissed. "What matters, is that you understand the atrocities you've committed, and that you will admit to your actions."

"You're insane." Kathy's eyes narrowed. "We're not admitting anything. How did you even get in here?"

"Tsk tsk." Pietro frowned, shaking his head. "That's not what we wanted to hear."

"No, it isn't." Wanda glared.

"Get out!" Kathy rasped.

"Not without a little parting gift." Wanda smiled wickedly.

"I'm going to let your mind pick itself apart. Everything horrible thing you've done to someone, you're going to know what it's like. You're going to feel the pain you've caused. You'll be begging for mercy long before it's over. I hope it wrecks you."

Pietro watched as Wanda's finger tips swirled with red magic as she placed each of her hands on the forehead of Kathy and Kent.

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

"Kid, what happened?" Tony panicked, pushing to himself into Peter's hiding spot. "Are you ok? You're covered in blood!"

Peter couldn't speak as Tony frantically checked him over for any serious wounds.

"Jesus, kid." Tony sighed. "You had us all worried."

"H-how did you...."

"I put a tracker in your bag." Tony answered, no longer guilty for his actions.

"You put a tracker in my bag?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Pete, I know the signs of avoidance better than anyone. It was written all over your face and body language. You had no intention of facing what was coming your way." Tony said, still studying Peter for injuries.

He knew the boy healed fast, but some wounds healed faster than others. Pepper and the twins would be furious if Peter was returned without care.

"I...I can't..."

"Come on kid, let's go get you cleaned up."

"No." Peter said, pushing further back from the billionaire. "I'm not going with you."

"Pete," Tony sighed. "You have three of the most powerful and influential people in the world focused on you right now, how far do you think you'll get?"

Peter frowned, looking down at the grass.

"They need to focus on someone else." he sniffed.

"And who would that be?"

"Anyone but me."

Tony narrowed his eyes as Peter still refused to look at him.

"Kid, they're not the only ones looking for you. Your little stunt, as I'm sure you know, wasn't unnoticed. The home called the police. Your description is out there and they're looking for you. Where do you plan on going?"

Peter felt the uncomfortable sting of tears in his eyes.

"I thought so." Tony frowned. "Come on kid, let us help you."

"You can't!" Peter yelled, pushing away further. "You can't help me and you shouldn't help me! You're wasting your time, all of you! You'll take me back and wish you hadn't! Just leave me alone and you'll be better off."

Tony watched as silent tears slid down the boy's dirty face. In all his years, he couldn't say a child's tears had ever affected him as much as Peter's did.

"You can't disappoint them, Peter."

"You don't know me."

It was true. Tony didn't really know Peter. Hell, he didn't really know Spider-Man all the well. Sure, he had worked with him enough to get a bit attached to his upbeat attitude, but these past few days had thrown all he knew out the window.

Spider-Man and Peter Parker were both the same person, and yet not. Peter had worked hard to give them a distinction. It was a little concerning.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Tony finally crossed, what he was positive was, the last line.

"Look, Peter. You're soulmates with Wanda and Pietro, and they love you already. Pepper was ready to adopt you the moment we learned about your situation. As soon as she does, and she will, that makes you my son and I protect what's mine. So, we can do this one of two ways."

Peter finally looked up at Tony's words, a feeling of dread creeping up his spine at the tone.

"One, you come with me willingly. Two.......I put you in a suit and take you back by force."

Peter froze.

He couldn't be serious.

A long look at Tony's face told him he was.

Peter's thoughts whirled inside him. He wanted to feel anger. Anger at Tony for tracking him. Anger at Tony for threatening him. Anger at Pepper wanting to adopt him.

Anger and Wanda and Pietro for being their soulmate.

He was supposed to age out of the foster system and be on his own. Never find his soulmate or mates.

Never hurt them.

Never cause them sorrow.

That's all Peter Parker was good for anyway.

There was only one choice.

Forgoing his bag, Peter darted out of his hiding place. He was small and fast. There was no way Tony would be able to catch him. He would just have to keep running until he couldn't anymore.

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

"Wow. These are brutal." Clint winced as he looked over the crime scene photos of Peter's former fosters.

"They're some of the worst." Natasha nodded with a frown.

"The Matthews were pretty nasty." Steve frowned. "Maybe they were worse."

"Or maybe the Matthews just got lucky enough to be victims of a break-in instead of this guy." Clint replied, completely unphased by his mentioning of the strange event surround the Matthews.

"Should we look into them?" Steve asked, crossing his arms.

"Normally I'd say yes," Natasha shrugged. "But I could really care less at this point. Whatever they did, they paid for it. Looking into them won't change anything now."

"This guy is all over the city." Clint whistled. "I mean, the killings have no pattern to place. The only links are criminals and the fact they all happen at night."

"Does anyone know if Peter was looking into this?"

Natasha and Clint both paused.

"I mean, he's on the streets every night as Spider-Man. I can't see him ignoring it."

"He's not the only vigilante out there, though." Natasha replied, leaning back in her chair. "Maybe they all are."

"I know that look." Clint huffed. "Who's at the top of your list?"

"There was an attack in Hell's Kitchen not to long ago. I can't imagine the Devil of Hell's Kitchen isn't investigating."

"Does Spider-Man know him?"

Natasha shrugged at Steve's question.

"Spider-Man has been seen talking to him once or twice. Just how well they know each other is unclear."

"Why are we asking this again? I'm pretty sure local law enforcement doesn't want us 'intruding on their territory'." Clint scoffed.

"The Matthews are about to be involved in a high profile crime case." Steve said, looking up at the ceiling. "If the guy doesn't already know about them, he will soon."

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

Tony sighed as Peter darted out the bushes. He had really hoped the kid would come along willingly.

"FRI, launch the suit."

Back at Tony's car, the emergency suit engaged.

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

Peter had a brief ting of his Spider Sense before he found himself enclosed in, what he knew, was an Iron Man suit.

Tony hadn't been lying.

"Let me out!" he screamed, watching as the ground got further and further away.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Peter." FRIDAY's calm voice filled his ears.

"Releasing you from the suit would cause you serious injuries from your fall."

"This is kidnapping!" Peter shouted, desperate to reason with the AI.

"Technically it's a rescue." Tony's voice came through the speakers. "You're a runaway kid. I'm rescuing you from the streets and possible danger."

"I didn't ask you to!"

"I'm going to anyway."

As he tried to decide if the risk of breaking out of the speeding suit was worth it, a thought struck him.

The voice of anger that had rose up in him, was silent.

The time the voice should have been the loudest, and there was nothing.

He didn't know what to think of it.

"Trust me kid. You may not think it now, but you're going to thank me later."

Peter didn't reply.

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

Pepper snatched up her phone as it buzzed in the console.

Sam watched as she fumbled to turn it on to see the message.

/I've got him. I'm taking him to the compound. He's escaped from one home, he'll escape another./

A tear slipped down her cheek as she quickly sent a reply.

"Please tell me it's good news." Sam said, looking at her hopefully.

"Tony found him. He's taking him back to the compound."

"Well, I guess we should go alert the cops and the home."

Pepper nodded, putting the car in drive.

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

“Incoming call from Boss.”

“Patch him through FRIDAY.” Steve replied.

“I have a special package in the way. Make sure you secure it when it gets there. I’m about 10 minutes behind it.”

“Package? You order us something special, Tony?” Clint smirked.

“If you consider the insecure, disgruntled, wonder twins teen soulmate ‘special’, then yes.”

“What do you mean ‘10 minutes behind’?” Natasha asked, raising an eyebrow at Clint and Steve.

“He’s in the suit. Kid tried to run again. Hence the ‘secure it’ warning.”

“You put the kid in a suit?” Steve groaned. “Tony...”

“No choice Cap. You'll see when why when he shows up. I'll be there shortly."

Steve pinched the bridge of his nose as the line went dead.

"Well, come on boys. Let's go greet our little Spider-Baby." Natasha smirked.

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

Peter felt his nerves spike as the compound came into view. He knew as soon the suit landed that would be it for anymore escape attempts.

He most likely wouldn't be allowed out of anyone's sight any time soon.

"Your vitals are concerning, Peter. If they continue in this fashion, I will have to alert Boss of your distress."

Distress!

Of course he was in distress!

This was the last thing he wanted. He wasn't supposed to come back to the compound. He wasn't ever supposed to see any of the Avengers again! Spider-Man was supposed to leave New York. Branch out somewhere new. Maybe even become an entirely new vigilante even!

It had been a small thought in his mind for a while. He loved being Spider-Man. It was the only good part about him anymore. Spider-Man was useful and, for the most part, people loved him.

Spider-Man was everything Peter Parker was not.

Spider-Man was also easy to track. If he left New York, word of him showing up somewhere else would spread quickly, and no doubt the Avengers would be on his doorstep before he could blink.

No, Spider-Man would have to take a break and let a new hero step in for a bit.

It was sad, but also ok. It didn't matter what suit he wore, he was still Spider-Man regardless.

That, however, was quickly becoming a distant option.

He would be trapped with the Avengers, with his soulmates. There would be no way to hide all the things wrong with him.

They would learn quickly that he just wasn't meant to be loved anymore. He lost that right when May died.

When May died, he learned he should have been left alone.

"Prepare for landing, Peter. I have alerted those at the compound of your condition since Boss hasn't arrived yet."

Tony wasn't there?

Peter wasn't sure why that bothered him. The man had only betrayed his trust over and over, there was no reason to care anything about him.

Immediately, Peter felt the guilt creep up on him.

This was exactly part of his problem. Tony had done what he had to, and Peter was being his normal, ungrateful self.

This was why he didn't deserve kindness. This was why when someone did show a hint of care, Peter knew they were wasting their time and would ultimately be disappointed in him.

There was a jolt as the suit landed and a brief moment before the pieces separated, revealing him to Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, and Clint Barton.

"Welcome back little spider." Natasha smiled

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

Wanda leaned against the car as she waited for Pietro to round up the security tapes. She felt confident in the knowledge that, when they awoke, Kent and Kathy Matthews would be screaming their guilt.

With any luck, they'd never spend another night without the nightmares of what they saw.

"Got them." Pietro grinned, holding up the tapes as he stopped next to her.

"Good." Wanda smirked. "Maybe we won't be in quite as much trouble."

"Oh, we'll definitely be in trouble. Still, if ends in them paying for what they've done, I'll gladly take whatever punishment we're given."

Wanda nodded in agreement as she pulled out the keys to the car.

"No way!" Pietro said, snatching them from her hand.

"You almost killed us on the way here. I'm driving back. I want to be able to see Peter again."

Wanda puffed out her cheeks in frustration.

"My driving is perfectly fine and I want to see Peter too!"

"Then get in the car. I'll deliver us safely back to the compound."

"Whatever." she huffed, grumpily getting into the passenger seat and crossing her arms.

[so-i-dont-forget-again]

So I Don’t Forget Again: A Breath of The Wild fanfiction

Entry 101: Toruma Dunes

 Before going to bed, Chief Riju and I took a trip to the spa. It was absolutely amazing. I was so relaxed my mind just kind of faded? My right arm was a little sensitive, and was very tense according to the… Spa ladies? Masseuses? I’m not sure what they’re called. The spa is attached to an inn so right after the massage I was given a room to stay in for the night. With my body so relaxed I actually fell asleep.

While I was sleeping, I had a dream. I think it may had been a memory. We were watching the courtyard from high above. A Sheikah was demonstrating some of the guardian’s functions to some knights. My heart leapt in my throat despite it not doing anything. Just walking around. The princess eagerly watched. She spoke of how it was incredible how we could now control them and added that it shouldn’t be long till we know everything about them. When she spoke, she was interrupted by the King. He asked in a demanding voice what she was doing here. His face was stern unlike now that he’s a spirit. The princess spoke of how useful learning about the ancient technology would be for driving back the Calamity. Once again, she was interrupted by the King. He said he already knew that and elaborated on how as princess there was a duty she had yet to fulfill, gaining her spiritual powers. He told her to stop treating that as some game to which she retorted back saying that she was already trying her best. She spoke of how she prayed tirelessly at the spring of courage. Once more she was interrupted. He said she was wasting her time. She needed to unlock her power and dedicate her time to nothing else. She said she was, there was nothing more she could do. She wanted to now focus on the technology since it was something she could do, but the king said that she is the only one with the power that can seal the calamity away, it was paramount that she finally unlock it. He then decreed that she have nothing to do with the technology anymore and commanded that she focus on her training. He then spoke of rumors that were being spread about. About how she is the heir to nothing but failure. She had to prove them wrong or else there would be nothing at all. I believe having read so much about her trying and failing caused this to resurface.

When I woke up Bossa Nova had his head resting on my chest. I wanted to get up, but he was just too cute, I couldn’t wake him! Once he did, I went looking around the bazaar for something he could eat. There wasn’t that much vegetation for him to just graze on whenever he wanted. I got him a Hyromelon since they also have lots of water in them so in a way, I’d be making sure he got something to drink as well. Even with it’s hard outer shell he scarfed down the whole thing right away. He must have been very hungry. I apologized by getting him another one. I tried hugging him, but he knocked me over, laid on top on me and kept rubbing the top of his muzzle on my face.

I went to The Noble Canteen for a Noble Pursuit but the woman behind the counter said that I looked much too young for that drink. Then the person behind me said that I’m much older than I look. It was Calisa! After getting our drinks and some mushroom risotto we sat in the lounge area and ate. I thanked her for vouching for me, but she said that the least the Gerudo could do for the person who saved them was let them have a good meal.

It was really nice chatting with her. We talked about traveling for a bit before we started talking about the town. Since it had been so long since she was last here, it felt brand new to her. I asked her if she had ever taken the cooking or wooing classes. She told me that every Gerudo takes those classes. A saying around here is that the best way to get to a person’s heart is through their stomach. It’s but one way of wooing a person. She regaled me with her early days where she first set off out of the town searching to get caught up in a whirlwind of a romance and passion. That she did find, not in a voe, but exploration. Before then she had never even set foot out of the town. Then suddenly she was thrust out into the world only armed with what she had learned back home. She spoke of her many failed romances. The wooing classes did help, but she felt that if anything it was more so of a class about how to interact with someone even with the culture shock of them not being raised Gerudo. Though she did add that the classes may have changed over time.

She then told me of a communal kitchen area where anyone one could cook anything they wanted and said that she could teach me recipes which are good to know for travelers. After getting a stone pot and ingredients we made many dishes, like chilly simmered fruit, mushroom risottos, curry rice, omelets, and some clam chowders. It was so fun learning from her. I told her about my time in the Sheikah Village and how I wound up learning from Koko. I should go back so I can teach her what Calisa taught me. It’ll be so much fun!

Calisa wondered what we were going to do with so much food. In the end I ate all of it. She commented on my appetite. I told her how I never get hungry or full. I just eat when I need to heal and not much else happens, though… now that I’ve eaten more dishes, I forgot how delicious food can be. And cooking in of itself is so fun! I think I’ll eat something at night when Bossa Nova is asleep. Though the smell of the food may wake him. I guess I’ll just have to figure it out when we leave here.

As I was dinning, we overheard a conversation between a woman with a guard. She had found the man of her dreams and soon after getting married he fell terribly ill. The only thing that could cure him is a certain medicine, the medicine is made from the innards of a molduga a giant and mighty fish/worm like creature which burrows through the sand. She wanted help killing one but none of the guards are to leave the town. The Yiga had been acting extremely aggressive since their leader was killed and they didn’t want to risk any of them getting in.

Sidon better make it home safely. And the Gerudo women with him hopefully are safe too.

I didn’t notice myself until Calisa placed a hand on my shoulder. She told me that before I go running off into the desert, I should protect my skin. She found an alovera plant and snapped a piece off and told me to rub the goopy inside on my exposed skin to protect it from the sun.

Bossa nova and I ran around for a while searching. When we noticed the wind picking up, we started heading back to town but before we knew it, we were surrounded by a sandstorm! I would have used the Sheikah Slate’s map, but it wouldn’t do anything. The side that showed the map and the frozen time images was just blank and no matter what I did it wouldn’t do anything. Bossa Nova buried his paws into the ground, and I held on to him. This way we at least weren’t being tossed around by the wind as much.

When the wind died down we were finally able to see. The Sheikah Slate was working again, so we made our way back to town, but as we did so the ground began to quake. The sand next to us began to pick up. It then leaped out and when it came crashing back down it almost swallowed us whole! Thankfully I was quick to draw my bow and shot it in that maw with a bomb arrow. I had Bossa Nova keep running as I shot at the thing. I decided to try shooting it when it was in the sand. It didn’t get hit but I think I discovered something. I think it senses vibrations on the ground. When I shot a bomb arrow into the distance moments after it exploded on the ground the creature leaped up there. After using up most of my bomb arrows the creature was finally felled. Using the Sheikah Slate I found it was the molduga we’d been searching for!

After taking out it’s innards I found it hard to leave. Unlike the moblins and bokoblins who’s bodies turn to smoke upon death this creature’s corps just laid atop the sand. It felt like such a waste to just leave it there.

I gave the items to the woman and she was so thankful. She was instant on giving me three hundred rupees. Calisa approached me asking why I looked odd. I told her about the molduga. She then stared at me for a moment before saying I certainly hadn’t traveled for long, but I had the soul of a traveler. She had us take her to the body.

She had me make a fire and taught me how to figure out what meat on an animal is salvageable and how to turn the meat into jerky. As for the scales and fins we could use them to make cloaks to protect Bossa Nova and myself from sandstorms and other elements. She told me that I could bring the bones to Death Mountain and have the Gorons reforge my weapons with the bone to make them more durable and stronger. If I couldn’t do that then the bone still could be used to make arrowheads. As we were making the jerky some Yiga attacked. Working together we were able to fend them off. She said I was more of a warrior than a traveler, then asked why I’m traveling. I told her everything about saving the champion’s spirits including the princess’, finally defeating the Calamity… about fulfilling my duty as her guard. I hadn’t realized it till talking with her, but I don’t think of this as my duty anymore. I just want too. I want to learn more about my past, who I used to be, who I knew, and I want to learn about this present, it’s future, the people here now, and who I can be.

With so much meat it took a while to make it all into jerky. There was still more meat even late into the night. Calisa left to sleep in the town while Bossa Nova and I are still out here. Bossa Nova doesn’t care for the heat, but he seems to resist the cold well. Perhaps it’s because he’s lived in Zora’s Domain. The water can be freezing there at night.

Maybe Sidon is there now? Deep in those waters, those little spots and his fins so gently glowing. Maybe he’s writing me another letter saying he’s alright, of battles he and the Gerudo had against the Yiga and were victorious.

I miss him. And with Bossa Nova nearby I miss Friend.

The day was alright, fun even, so why do I feel so alone now? I hate this.

First Page , Previous Page , Next Page 

[voltagesmutter]

Yoosung’s Match

Doing something different-ish, focusing on a series without the smut, lolol. After starting Yoosung’s route, I am so soft for him! I wanted to a series where him and mc share interests, including LoLoL. 

Pairing: Yoosung x OC (Dove)

Summary: When a stranger enters the RFA chat, no-one expected an almost female version of Yoosung to be the participant who would be the key to beginning their parties one more. Will their similarities pull them together or will another come in and sweep her away?

Warnings: None, only reference to game from day 1-11 so spoilers for those not played Yoosung.

Note: This chapter is based off day’s 1 and then day 5 from Yoosungs route. Written in the form like the chatroom. Features clips and conversations from the game but also own created content. Focuses on certain chatrooms rather than every individual one, wish to focus more on developing a storyline with Yoosung than the whole party and gameplay.

Chapter 1: Dove has entered the chatroom.

[Dove has entered the chat]

 Yoosung★: Failed my midterms fml T_T

707: Cuz u played LOLOL all night lol.

Jumin: If you want to work for our company, you should take care of your GPA.

Yoosung★: I’m still on the list?! +_+

Jumin: Yes.

707: Nice~ Can’t believe u get to work straight after college lol

707: In this day and age!

Zen: Lame. It’s nepotism.

Jumin: It’s called recruitment actually.

Zen: It’s giving a free pass instead of actually training the worker.

Jumin: Whatever. I couldn’t care less what you say.

Zen: What’s the difference between recruitment and nepotism?

707: Thought they r the same? O_O?

Jumin: It’s nepotism if you recruit a person you know and they aren’t of any help.

Yoosung★: Oh… So you become a candidate for nepotism the same time you’re recruited!

Zen: 

707: Wait!!

Yoosung★: Why?

Zen: ??

707: Think someone entered the chat room;;

Jumin: Dove…?

Zen: Wtf. How did it get in here?

707: Hacker!

Yoosung★: Hacker!? Therae’s a hacker in ouer room!!!

Yoosung★: Sevnee do somethign!!

Zen: Hey, typos. -_-;;

707: Wait a sec. I’m searching.

Jumin: Who are you? Reveal yourself. Hey, Assistant Kang.

Jaehee: Yes, I am here.

Zen: You were so quiet I thought you went somewhere.

Jaehee: Nothing was out of the ordinary so I was just watching

Jaehee: but I see something has just happened.

Yoosung★: omg

Jumin: Why is a stranger in our chatroom?

Jaehee: No one can enter this chatroom without installing the private app we use… It seems someone has downloaded the RFA Messenger.

Yoosung★: I thought Seven let only us download it?

Dove: Hello…

707: I traced the IP…

707: It’s from Rika’s apartment.

Yoosung★: Rika’s apartment?

Jumin: Where was it?

Jaehee: The location is not revealed. I know it to be classified.

707: Anyways, someone must have broken into her apt.

707: It talked now, so it must be a person ^^;

Jumin: Quit shitting around.

Jumin: Dove… Who are you?

Jumin: Reveal yourself, stranger.

Jumin: If you do not reveal yourself, you will pay.

Yoosung★: Yeees! Who are u?!

Zen: Use proper english please.

707: If it doesn’t say anything I’ll hack in and find out.

Zen: …Maybe

Zen: one of my fans?

Dove: Reveal yourselves first. I’m the most confused one here…

Jumin: How fierce.

Zen: Are you a woman?

707: Zen. Be more serious, plz?

707: And wait a sec on the woman thing.

707: Looking it up.

Yoosung★: Should we… introduce ourselves?

Jumin: Are you serious…?

Jaehee: I think it is a bit too early for that.

Zen: Hi. I’m Zen. (24 yrs old) Musical actor… Don’t look me up on the internet.

Zen: It’s embarrassing.

Yoosung★: Zen, you’re so brave!

Jumin: Guess he wanted to show himself off.

Zen: No way~!

Zen: 

Yoosung★: Omg… a photo too.

Jaehee: My eyes have been cleansed.

Jaehee:

Dove: Oh, I haven’t heard of you, sorry…

Dove: Yes to before, I am woman.

Zen: What?!

*Heart break appears on screen*

Jumin: I see that he has zero interest in his privacy.

707: Lolol

707: My nickname’s 707.

707: Real name is a secret.

707: Fyi, Zen’s real name is Hyun Ryu.

Zen: Your name’s a secret but not mine?;

707: U don’t care anyways lol.

Jaehee: 707 does have the strangest name so I understand the secrecy.

707:  The name’s too holy to be spread around~ I’m gonna pray after I finish hacking.

707: Just remember me as the 22yr old young hacker lol

707: Where I live is also a secret.

Zen: So many secrets;;

Yoosung★: I’m Yoosung Kim! I’m a college student… 21 yrs old.

Yoosung★: 

707: So warm and fuzzy here

Zen: Lol. Seven, you don’t have any selfies to show?

707: Nothing recent.

707: Oh and also!

707: Jumin’s the heir of a pretty famous corporation and Jaehee is his assistant. 27 and 26 yrs old respectively.

707: You have a better sense of who we are now, Dove?

Jumin: Why did you say that…?

707: Doubted you’d do it urself.

Jumin: Stop shitting around.

707: Oh, fyi, Jumin has the cutest cat.

Jumin: Hey.

Jumin: Why are we talking about Elizabeth the 3rd to a stranger?

707: The cat’s name is Elizabeth the 3rd.

707: 

Yoosung★: That info’s a bit useless…

Yoosung★: We’re not even close with this Dove person yet lol

Jumin: Can’t believe he showed a photo of Elizabeth the 3rd to a stranger…

Jumin: Idiot…

Zen: Stop talking about cats. Giving me goosebumps.

Jaehee: I suggest that we take care of this stranger first.

Jaehee: Could it be that we have a security breach?

Zen: True. Dove, how did you get in here?

Yoosung★: Is it really in Rika’s apartment?

707: Yup. It’s for sure…

707: How did it get the apartment password?!

Zen: Where the hell is the apartment?

Dove: I came here while chatting with a personal called ‘Unknown’. Do you know him by any chance?

Dove: But anyway, I’m Dove. 

Jumin: Unknown?

Zen: Maybe he just didn’t set a username?

707: It’s mandatory to set a username so he must have set it that way.

707: Maybe…

Yoosung★: How did you end up chatting with that person?

Jaehee: I see.

Jaehee: Where did you download this messenger app?

Jaehee: Dove, you are quite strange as well.

Zen: Do you think this person’s a creep? No way.

Dove: I got it in the app store, I just downloaded it and then was suddenly in a room with unknown and now all of you…

Dove: I just wanted to play games lolol

Yoosung★: You like games too!

Yoosung★: I love games.

Yoosung★: Wait!

Yoosung★: Did you say lolol as in LoLoL?!

Zen: Dude. A girl won’t play that game;

Zen: Don’t ask stupid questions.

Yoosung★: T_T

Dove: Does the wizard of Tarth ever lie?

Yoosung★:

Yoosung★: Yoousung.exe has stopped working.

Yoosung★: You play?!

707: Anyways.

707: I should trace the person who distributed the app.

 [Day 1]

[7:00 am]

Yoosung★ entered the chat

Dove entered the chat

Yoosung★: Do you know that Zen always complains about being single these days?

Yoosung★: But I’ve never even been in a relationship T_T

Dove: Are you not interested in girls?

Yoosung★: …I guess…

Yoosung★: I feel better when I team up with a girl character when playing games.

Yoosung★: And it makes it more interesting if there’s a girl in the guild…

Yoosung★: Was you serious when you said you played?

Dove: Level 69 Mage at your service

Yoosung★: I…

Yoosung★: I’ve rarely met a girl who plays! 

Yoosung★: Are you in a guild?!

Yoosung★: I’m hoping to be a guildmaster one day.

Dove: Ever heard of ‘Tribe of War’?

Yoosung★: We are sworn enemies!

Yoosung★:...

Yoosung★: But my special talent is defending the peace! So I guess I can let our guild war slide

Dove: You bring peace to the world young sir!

Yoosung★: 707 play’s sometimes!

Yoosung★: Maybe we could have an online meet up!

Yoosung★: Since we can’t in real life.

Yoosung★: I wish he would give us the address to Rika’s apartment…

Dove: I’d like that!

Dove: But we have the party to focus on!

Yoosung★: I really like you T_T

Yoosung★: It’s only been a day and I can’t wait to meet you lolol.

Yoosung★: I have class at 9 so I have to go take the bus now.

Yoosung★: The poor fate of a college student…!

Yoosung★: I have to go now. I’m almost running late!

Yoosung★: Dove, let’s talk soon! >_<

Yoosung★ has left the chatroom.

 [18:02pm]

 Dove entered the chat

Yoosung★ entered the chat

 Dove: Hey Yoosung★.

Yoosung★: Dove, hey^^.

Yoosung★: Today’s the day you joined the organization.

Yoosung★: Usually at this hour, I would have been playing games…

Yoosung★: but I couldn’t really calm myself down.

Yoosung★: Why don’t we talk more about ourselves?

Dove: Well what would you like to know?

Yoosung★: Well, all Seven told us is that

Yoosung★: you’re a cute girl.

Yoosung★: I want to know… your interests, what you do, and things like that in detail.

Yoosung★: I do want to ask you directly.

Yoosung★: But it does feel a bit too soon for that…

Yoosung★: I would just like to talk to you like this and get to know you gradually.

Dove: I’d like to get to know you better as well.

Yoosung★: A girl who plays lolol and wants to know me

Yoosung★: Are you really real? 

Yoosung★: This isn’t a whole thing of 707 playing a prank is it…?

Dove: Lol I hope not.

Dove: I’m very real, even though I don’t really feel real living in someone else's apartment…

Dove: But I’m excited for the party, I hope I do right by you all.

Yoosung★: I think all the organization members are thinking the same thing.

Yoosung★: If you could do what Rika used to do

Yoosung★: we’d get to host parties again!

Dove: I’ll do my best!

Yoosung★: Do you feel pressured because of everything I’m saying?

Yoosung★: If V donates his photographs, then I’m sure a lot of people will come.

Yoosung★: So you don’t have to worry so much.

Dove: Thank you! 

Yoosung★: Sure!

Yoosung★: Tell me whenever it gets hard!

Yoosung★: I should go play games now!

Yoosung★: There’s a pretty important showdown today.

Yoosung★: Wish me luck so I can win!

Dove: Good luck oh mighty defender of peace!

Yoosung★: Thank u >_<

Yoosung★: Then see ya~!

Yoosung★ has left the chatroom.

 [22:30] 

Yoosung★ entered the chatroom.

 Dove: Yoosung★ your still up?

Yoosung★: Hey, you here too! 

Yoosung★: I can’t believe I’m talking to the new member~

Yoosung★: I still feel dazed.

Yoosung★: I can’t even focus on gaming today.

Yoosung★: I have so much on my mind because of you…

Dove: All good I hope Lolol.

Yoosung★:

Yoosung★:  My mind’s going blank now -_-…

Yoosung★: I can’t get thoughts of you out of my head…

Yoosung★: Haha

Yoosung★: Thank you so much for helping.

Yoosung★: Even tomorrow… you could escape Rika’s apartment…

Yoosung★: Delete this app

Yoosung★: and never talk to us again.

Yoosung★: I would really miss you if that happens.

Yoosung★: Please… don’t abandon us.

Dove: I won’t.

Dove: I promise.

Dove: Beside you owe me a meet up on LoLol!

Yoosung★: Yes! Yes. 

Yoosung★: As soon as everything is settled with party.

Yoosung★: I don’t want to feel like I’m pressuring you too much.

Yoosung★: Oh the time! I best be off, I have an early start tomorrow.

Dove: Goodnight~

Yoosung★: Goodnight!

Yoosung★ has left the chatroom.

[Day 5]

[9:40]

Yoosung★ entered the chat

 Dove: Goodmorning Yoosung!

Yoosung★: Dove, goodmorning^^

Yoosung★: I’m just brushing my teeth!

Yoosung★: Did you… see the photo Seven posted?

Yoosung★: I really miss it…

Yoosung★: It would have been nice if Rika was in the photo too…!

Yoosung★: Seeing the photo makes me get excited about the next party ^^

Dove: You looked so young and different!

Dove: I like your hair blonde, it suits you better!

Yoosung★: You do?!

Yoosung★: I kinda dyed it because....

Yoosung★: I thought it would help get a girlfriend.

Yoosung★: But since you like, that’s got to be a good sign right?

Yoosung★: I’m curious to know what colour hair you have.

Dove: I mean I would show you if 707 gave me image permission.

Dove: But I guess for now you see me like this Dove: [Website Link]

Yoosung★: THAT'S YOU?!

Dove: That was me at the LoLoL convention in the fall.

Dove: I cosplayed as my character.

Yoosung★: C-Cosplay!

Yoosung★: This is all too much.

Yoosung★: A pretty girl who plays LoLoL and cosplays.

Yoosung★: I-

Yoosung★: I have to go! My break is almost over!

Yoosung★: And just when it was all getting good.

Yoosung★: Bye Dove! Yoosung★★ has left the chatroom.

 [14:36]

707 entered the chat.

 Dove: 707~ Hello!

707: Hello!

707: I was scrolling through the chatrooms and saw you almost kill Yoosung★ earlier.

707: I’m still struggling to believe that that's you.

707: Especially since I’m the only one whos seen the real you.

Dove: Well if I could send photos to you all.

Dove: You can’t laugh but…

Dove: I love sharing photos of my food.

Dove: I really want to send some to Yoosung★, he’s always asking and checking I’m eating.

707: For the sake of the apartment location I can’t allow it.

Dove: Oh come on, Mr.Defender of justice!

Dove: I just want to share some snack photos every now and then.

Dove: There’s a vender outside who sells these buns in the shape of fish, stuffed with chocolate!

707: They are-

707: My favourite.

707: Beside HoneyBuddha Chips.

Dove: HoneyBuddha Chips…?

707: You’ve never…?

707: I’ll bring you a bag to the party.

707: Only a bag though.

707: But once you start them, you’ll be addicted to them.

707: Like me.

Dove: I look forward to it!

707: Gahhh.

707: Just got work again….

707: About the photo’s… I’ll see what I can do.

Dove: Thank you 707~

Dove: You're the best!

707: Lol, tell me something I don’t know.

 707 left the chat.

[18:25]

 Dove entered the chat.

 Dove: Yoosung, how was the library?

Yoosung★: Dove, you're here!

Yoosung★: I missed you hehe.

Jumin: You two are really warming it up.

Yoosung★: What are you talking about~!

Dove: Did you guys see about Zen?

Jumin: I saw Zen injuries himself.

Yoosung★: Yeah I saw too.

Yoosung★: Don’t worry Dove, Zen is the kinda guy to bounce straight back!

Jumin: I’m sure it’s torture for him to rest right now.

Jumin: Haha…

Yoosung★: Jumin… I feel like you’re enjoying this…;;

Jumin: Being with Elizabeth the 3rd is always enjoyable.

Yoosung★: Oh, you’re with your cat right now;;

Dove: I once went to a cat cafe!

Dove: I feel like you’d enjoy it Jumin.

Jumin: A cat cafe…

Jumin: I’d rather spend time with that narcissist then eat cat.

Dove: No you silly!

Dove: It’s a cafe where you get to go and eat with cats.

Dove: You can feed them, pet them whilst taking loads of cute photos! It’s really cute.

Dove: Hold up, let me just…

Dove: Look the one fell asleep atop of my head!

Yoosung★: Wait, you can send us photos now?!

Jumin: I need…

Jumin: To ask assistant Kang about investing into one of these…

Jumin: I fear if I went to one, Miss.Elizabeth would become jealous of smelling other cats upon me.

Jumin: But I like this, very much.

Jumin: If you’ll excuse me, I need to make a phone call about producing one of these for Miss.Elizabeth.

Jumin left the chat.

Yoosung★: You are really cute~

Dove: Aha thank you! 

Dove: I had the best time when I went.

Yoosung★: I can’t believe I get to see the real you.

Yoosung★: Before anyone else as well!

Yoosung★: Well except 707 and Jumin… 

Yoosung★: But before the others and the party as well!

Dove: I asked 707 about it earlier.

Dove: I wanted to be able to send you photos of my food, to prove to you I’m eating.

Yoosung★: You asked him so you could send me photos?

Yoosung★: Thank you. MC.

Yoosung★: For appearing in front of me.

MC: Yoosung, you’re cute.

Yoosung★: Me?!

Yoosung★: Guys tend to not like being called cute…

Yoosung★: but why do I feel so strange hearing it from you?

Yoosung★: I should go to bed now. I don’t know if I’ll sleep though…

Yoosung★: Are you going to stay up?

MC: Yes.

Yoosung★: Okay.

Yoosung★: Don’t work too hard ^^

Yoosung★: I feel bad if you’re tired.

Yoosung★: Then I’ll get going!

Yoosung★ has left the chatroom

[maiuoart]

Massive DragaSwap Asks!

Heya, Folks! Got a massive information dump for the wonderful DragaSwaps! 

@rofa1309​ Ohboy! This is actually my favorite, because Azure actually sleeps hilariously and adorably!! 

Azure sleeps like a literal egg; Meaning he curls up, arms under his head, hands cradling his skull slightly, while his wings completely cover and wrap around him while his tail’s magic goes out, leaving him with his boney tail nub! 

Though it would be a hell of a lot easier if Azzie would just... Y’know, move his horns like his brother?? Like, keep them back or position them some DIFFERENT way?? He prefers to never move them, but that’s alright... He seriously loves curling up and being literally compacted. I wouldn’t be surprised if you had him in your home, you’re trying to look for him; And here you haven’t found him ALL DAY... But you open a closet door, and here you just see something that shouldn’t be there... Low and behold, it’s fucking Azzie sleeping like an egg in your closet xDDD

Abyss? He sleeps easily with his ability to move his horns. Normally ends up sleeping on the magical-substances, honestly! Doesn’t hurt him though, he’s so used to sleeping on them, on his hood, but it does shock him awake when he’s able to pinch his hood magic.

However if they really could; They could turn their magic off within their horns (And other spots containing their magic) but they only do this when regenerating from fights! 

Oh, the brothers would be very cautious if it’s a new person their meeting! Actually, they have to be; They wouldn’t dare go near someone/thing/monster without fully understanding the situation at hand. So basically, that won’t happen... At least... With Azzie.

However, if you’ve already known them for a bit but not much or something to that affect;

Azure would be watching your moves and curious of what you may be staring at. 

He’ll focus really hard on whatever spot you’re daydreaming at and trying to see if he finds the appeal of... What is that? A rock? Why? What’s so special about it? And he’ll literally get closer to you to try and view what you are; And if you jolt when he gets too close; He’ll probably be so focused on the spot himself he’ll either; -Not notice you jumping, with furrowed brows and trying so hard to figure out the meaning behind your staring at a thing -Or if you make a noise; He’ll accidentally hiss and jolt himself before asking you questions!

Abyss, well...

Truth be told, he’d keep staring at you. He’s the jokester, so he’ll begin to make small tail movements around your direction and keep playing around like that until he finally gets a reaction from you. Either his tail, flaring his hood a bit, ‘sssss’ing softly or the like; And when you jolt? He’s going to rightfully laugh and chuckle, make a few jokes where he can.

If it’s a first time meeting; He’ll stay hidden and keep a close watch on you. Though, he’s the more curious one, ironically; Had to be, after Azzies accident. If you’re, lets say... About to fall off a cliff or something; He might help ya out but without showing himself. If he somehow ends up doing so, however; He would be as tense as you. His hood would flare, his eyes would darken as his eyelights would turn to tiny slits, waiting for you to make a move first... If you showed that expression though, he would relax a bit and chuckle, then start telling you to watch where you step and quickly get you both back on the ways you were heading.

But, if you catch this boy in his Feeding Frenzy... Walking in on him while he’s Eating; Could literally be anything, but he would become more than aggressive. With his mind on the concept of Food only; you better turn right around as soon as you hear his rumbling and warning hiss he will no doubt do. He’s... Very feral when in this area. His Food, His Feeding; You better pray he has a full stomach so he doesn’t chase after you. 

Lord only knows what the fuck he’d do if he managed to still be hungry!!

@inkswirl​ Both brothers would be... Well! Very enthralled with that!! After the whole jolting and semi freaking out because you had somehow came right up and asked them, anyways! 

After the shock;

Azure would fluster a bit; Never had a picture taken at all or had someone wanting to look at him like they didn’t want him dead or something! Though he’d be super flattered, he would actually try and say he isn’t that interesting due to all the low self-esteem in his mind raging, perhaps trying to get you to draw his brother instead??? But all in all, if you were a bit more insistent, he would ask shyly if he could see it afterward. 

Abyss wouldn’t care at all which way it would go; You might get a bit annoyed with the picture taking, though... Film is easy to convert, especially with Magic Waves he would give out and basically say he isn’t doing anything when you become frustrated at the camera for not being able to take ‘Good Pictures’ of the brothers... Even Azzie is disappointed, but Abyss wouldn’t care. No photo evidence. Yet, you sketching them? Yeah, he’d be all for it and sit and sun bathe, take a nap while you do your thing; Because it’ll be drawn, so theres no real danger in it.

@desithecubi They both are flattered and say you’re mighty adorable, too!! Thank you for the hugs~ ♥

Both of the guys would prefer night; But thats due to the fact they’re nocturnal! Though if they could, especially Azure, he’d try to become a day-bird... He HAS tried, but it’s failed so much... Doesn’t stop him though! He turned to half/half while Abyss is all for the night. 

There are rare days though they’ll be up during the days; But that’s probably due to work or someone disturbed them! Or their minds won’t let them rest~

Yes! Both brothers have the ability to merge or camouflage with their backgrounds/surroundings! However, it takes a bit of time for it to completely cover them, so they have to be stealthy... It’s quick to disappear, though! It’s due to so much magic within that makes up their horns and everything, that it’s used to help them go basically invisible! It’s why their so rare for; No other Monster in their area can do this, making them the perfect candidates for being Protectors!

 That’s actually two different terms of Hunter; 

Azure's meaning is he literally Hunts for food and patrolling around. His brother is whats called a Watcher, where he stays in place. 

Hunters for Humans is what I have called the Mages right now; They’re out to get any Monster they can; Whether it be for Magic, Dust, whatever treasure they can get their hands on, or even just for kicks. It’s literally like those people who have a lot of money and hunt Lions or other rare breeds of animals and some WILL kill for sport.

I have already answered this one, @blacklynx14​! 

Here ya go! ♥

Actually!! This is slightly flipped; Both the brothers are constantly out in the Forbidden Forest making rounds and making sure trespassers are taken cared of. Mainly with kindness, but they both aren’t scared to get forceful! The Monsters where never Underground and don’t plan to be; Though, ironically most would prefer it rather than being up in the open due to previous attacks way back when they could remember by Hunters. It would be hella-lot safer, that’s for sure! But ever since the Brothers were put as Protectors, everything has been... Good?? Better??? It’s seriously nice; Even though some may not be very welcoming to them :’)

Nah, the Royal Guards are deeper within the Forbidden Forest. What Azure and Abyss are? Their much higher than that, so they have no need for it! But, most of the RG’s are very jealous, because the two get to see from outside the Forest, basically!

But when the brothers get bored and feel no other living forces around? Well, Abyss is the Sunbather. But if he sleeps for far too long, Azure will actually come and push him or have a bottle of cold water to wake his brother up!

Azure likes to; 

-Soar in the sky high above the trees, will even go into the Mountains for a while! He’s the explorer and enjoys to sight see. Sometimes, he’ll even travel as far as he can go before the beads on his outfit warn him to turn back. -If he’s able to find any small creatures; He ends up so side tracked playing with them, he doesn’t realize he’s been gone for hours! Especially little cougar cubs and baby bears... And he becomes great friends with a lot of the woodland and other creatures! At least they don’t judge him... -If it’s super late at night and there hasn’t been any humans wandering within their territory for a long while; He’ll actually go to the Village of a particular one to make sure the Humans are alright. There is a certain Human too he enjoys to hang out with, or... Did. 

Abyss enjoys;

-To literally stay in one spot and laze about. And if he can easily catch critters that go in his path, he’ll eat them out of boredom. -He seriously loves pranking his brother, but he has a dark twist to it. Azzie is and has been sick of his humor though. -One of his favorites is to eat squirrels and chipmunks in front of Azzie and Azure’s actual reaction is getting Pissed The Fuck Off and Abyss loves it. (No, worry not; The Animals don’t suffer long. Abyss makes sure it’s quick.) -He... Will watch his stomach digest his food when he’s extremely bored. It’s like watching tv for him. -Go into their Village and talk with other Monsters and just try to have an enjoyable time. Sometimes it’s hard, but at least a few of them don’t mind what he is!

For the Ask they were talking about; Go here!

Ohhhh, you got some pretty cool hobbies, Rofa!! That water painting sounds super relaxing and ultra pretty ♥ But Hobbies for the boys, huh?... Well, lets see...

Azure is the one who ventures, so hiking is his main thing! But if not hiking, he really does enjoy to cook~ Feeding animals is also his ordeal, while learning from the humans of their medication things! He’s very curious how they heal!! Not to mention, want to heal animals, as well!

Abyss is the one who’s all about making clothing from furs and hides. You wouldn’t think he’d be the one to make clothing or anything, but he’s gotta do something productive so his brother doesn’t yell at him... He’s also the fire maker, a bit of a pyro, and enjoys to cook, too. Very big foodie, always looking how to get herbs or learning how to cook; But he’s also good with working and construction types. Building firepits to camps, he’s very much the builder despite not looking like it!

I have not really thought of them quite yet; So if people have ideas for them, I wouldn’t be opposed to hearing you out!! 

And because it’s a Swap verse; Yes! My Grillby would be a Gillby, the Water Element! 

Yes, actually!! A very good relationship; Abyss and Asgore get along very well together. It’s actually because Abyss shows interest more in the Monster heritage that Asgore is happy to have him in their area! 

But, that brings up the question for Azure... Toriel is fine with both the boys; But Asgore might be very weary of Azzie due to his interest in the Humans and then how he got hurt. Still though, he watches out for both of the Brothers and makes sure their alright! He’s still a loveable Goatdad! Just questions Azzie’s place sometimes...