#it feels like things are reverting—all one step forward and many steps back

[inkedbydesire]

Can’t Let Go (Pt 2)

Jimmy Uso x Black Fem Reader

(Part 1)

A/N: This is inspired by an Adele song called “Can’t Let Go.” Please give it a listen if you’ve never heard it. It will enhance your reading experience (I hope 😂).

Warning: Some profanity but that’s about it.

Summary: Two years after your relationship with Jonathan Fatu ended due to infidelity on his end you received a letter from him. After more than one year of silence, your curiosity got the best of you, and against your better judgement, you opened it. Suddenly, the emotions you worked so hard to bury came rushing back. Now you must figure out your next steps. Do you proceed on with life like you never opened the letter? Or are you finally ready to sit down and talk to him?

Word Count: 3k

A/N: It took way too long to update this but I still love the idea so here we are. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors or typos I may have missed during my proofreading.

*************************************************

"What's up with you Y/N? You've been acting strange all day girl."   Jade's voice was laced with concern and curiosity as she leaned forward, her elbows resting on the clothed table of your favorite outside restaurant. The gentle clinking of cutlery and the low hum of city traffic filled the air around you but you barely registered it over your thoughts.

Reacting to her words you moved your attention from the chicken salad you were barely eating to look up at her. Her half-eaten plate was left unattended as her light brown eyes searched your face. Quickly you avoided her gaze and started fiddling with your fork. You'd hoped to make it through this outing without her noticing that something was off about you. But with your many years of knowing Jade Washington, you knew the chances of that were slim. One major con of having a psychotherapist as a best friend, you could get nothing past her.

And you couldn't rightfully be bothered about it either because she wasn't wrong. You had been acting strange. Normally you rushed to Jade with your issues but you weren't ready to divulge this one just yet. You and Jade barely got time off from your careers so when you did manage to get a few free days you wanted to make the best of them. Today was supposed to be about manicures, pedicures, shopping, and good food. The last thing you wanted to do was sour the mood with your baggage.

But nothing could distract you from the storm that came in the form of an envelope last night.

Why did you have to open that damn letter? Now you couldn't focus on anything or anyone for more than a couple of minutes without your mind reverting to the words that were penned across those pages.

Dear Y/N,

I can't believe I'm doing something as corny as writing you a letter. But I wanted you to know that every word was meant and I feel like writing it out is the best way to show that to you. Plus I have no other way to contact you without looking like a stalker. But that's my fault. It's my fault that it's been two years and the only way I get to see your face or hear your voice is in old videos and pictures. It's my fault that you removed yourself from my life two years ago and now it seems like I never existed to you. Did I mention that it's been two years? I remember the first time I saw you looking lost in the hallway back when we were in high school. Being nosy and saying something to you that day is still one of the best decisions I've ever made. Because from that day forward, you had me and I had you. I never thought there would be a time in my life when things would be different. I never thought I would find myself having to live my life without you in it. But here I am. But again, that's my fault. I fucked up and I can't apologize enough for it. I would write I'm sorry a thousand times on this paper if I thought that would make you acknowledge me again. You don't want to hear shit that I have to say. And I've tried. I've tried so many times Y/N. But I understand it though. I'm a piece of shit for breaking your heart and trust me I feel it every single day. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you. I miss you so fucking much. It took me a while but once I realized that you really didn't want anything to do with me anymore I decided to fall back. I knew that I had to leave you alone so we both could get on with our lives. And I planned on doing that forever because that's obviously what you want. But I can't do it Y/N. I don't understand how you expect me to just let you go. What am I supposed to do just forget about everything we had and fall out of love with you? I've tried and I just can't do it Y/N. I guess it's not as easy for me as it seems to be for you. I know I don't deserve for you to ever speak to me again. Hell, you might not even open this letter. But if you do after all this time, that means you must still care a little bit about what I have to say. Everything between us was left so unfinished Y/N. You left me while I was on the road and I haven't seen or heard from you since. That's crazy.

I feel like I would have a better chance at moving on if I could get the chance to sit down and talk to you. Just one conversation Y/N. That's all I'm asking. Just one chance to make things right. I hope that isn't too much.

Love, Jon

You read that letter 5 times more than needed before you were able to rest your thoughts enough to fall asleep. And even then your dreams were restless and jumbled filled with unwanted memories of Jonathan.

His smile.

The sound of his laughter.

Stupid shit that you hadn't allowed yourself to think about in umpteen months.

"What's on your mind?" Jade asked, her voice gentle but persistent as she pulled you back to the present. She reached across the table and brushed her freshly french-tipped fingers against your hand.

"I've known you since 10th grade and on top of that I'm a damn therapist. I know when something is bothering you. What's up?" she urged.

Reluctantly you moved your eyes to meet hers again before letting out a sigh and slumping back into your chair.

"Jonathan Fatu," you said, forcing the name out as you watched her reaction. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers in instant understanding. That name was supposed to be forbidden territory. It was damn near like saying Candy Man five times in the mirror. You didn't do it and the people around you including Jade knew not to. You hadn't spoken that name aloud in over a year nor had you allowed yourself to think of him for more than a few fleeting moments.

Thinking about him for more than 60 seconds led you to a dark place. A place that you fought hard to stay away from.

Jonathan cheating on you happened so unexpectedly and it left you feeling completely blindsided and shattered.  You never had any worries about Jonathan stepping outside of your relationship because you had it in your mind that he would never do that. Not to you. Especially when he knew what you went through with Trevor, the doctor you almost married. Plus you two had been in each other's lives since you both were 16 years old. Jade aside, he was your best friend. And you thought you were his. 

So never in a million years would you have thought he would break your heart that way.

But he did.

He had damaged you so badly that there were days when your mom would walk in on you sitting and staring out the window like Bella fucking Swan. You and Jade used to always joke about that movie. Saying how over dramatic Bella was being. You never imagined that one day you would understand what she was going through. But eventually, you clawed your way out of the hole you'd fallen into, and the only way you could move forward was to suppress everything about Jonathan.

At first, it was difficult because he was still going through everybody and their mama to reach you. But his year of silence aided in your healing, or so you thought.

Now it seemed like that letter was unraveling the careful progress you'd make in piecing your life back together. You had convinced yourself that you'd moved on and yet here you were questioning everything.

"He sent me a letter," you revealed to Jade, your voice tinged with bitter amusement. "Of all things."

She sat back, her shoulders settling into the chair as she gave you her full attention. You could already feel this turning into an impromptu therapy session. Yet again another con of having a psychotherapist for a best friend. She always psychoanalyzed you making it hard to have a simple conversation between two best friends.

"My mom gave it to me yesterday." you continued, tracing patterns on the tablecloth with your fingertips. "He sent it there because you know he doesn't know where I live"

"I was going to ask you if you read it but by the look on your face I can tell that you did," Jade said to you. "So now my question is why?"

"What do you mean?" you responded even though you had a small clue on the direction she might be headed in.

"Y/N," she began, her voice gentle but firm, "after two years of unhealthily ignoring what happened between you and him, you had to know reading that letter would trigger you. We both know that you've never allowed yourself to properly heal. And you opening that letter definitely shows it. If you were completely at peace with Jonathan you wouldn't have needed to know what was in it and you damn sure wouldn't be sitting across from me looking like you've seen a ghost."

"Thanks for the consultation, Doctor Washington," you muttered in response with an eye roll, though deep down, you knew every word she spoke was the hard truth.

You tried to throw the letter away because you knew it wouldn't lead to anything good. You knew it wouldn't lead to anything good because rather than come to terms with what happened between you and Jonathan, you just learned to ignore it. You learned how to mask and live with the ache in your heart. You knew it wasn't healthy but it was how you got through the day without crying and you were so tired of crying. 

For two years you had carefully built a facade that even you believed in until your mom handed you that letter. Now there were cracks in the foundation. 

"What was in it ..... the letter?" Jade asked bringing your clouded mind back to her.

"He .... he sounds very remorseful and uh ... he wants me to talk to him .... in person."

Jade mulled over your words while she picked up her glass and took a sip of her iced tea. 

"I think you should," she announced, and before you could say a word in protest she held her hand up to cut you off. 

"Listen Y/N I wouldn't be saying this if I thought you were truly over him. But you're not. There are movies you won't watch, places you won't go, and even food you won't eat just because it reminds you of him. That's no way to live." she explained to you as you sat across from her trying to keep an open mind.

But just the mere thought of physically seeing Jonathan again was making your stomach churn with nerves.

"I'm glad you opened that letter because if it wasn't that it was going to be something else. I think it's time Y/N. Ignoring something isn't the same as healing from it."

You wanted so badly to argue against her words but again, she was right. You thought you had everything handled but in all actuality, Jonathan still had control over you and your emotions. You hadn't thought much about it until now.

"You need closure Y/N. Not for him .... for you," she added.

"And ............ you have to tell him about the baby."

Your stomach twisted painfully as you eyed her trying to maintain your composure. You couldn't believe that she went there. She just trampled all over more forbidden territory.

"I don't have to tell him about that." you forced out lowly.

"Yes, you do Y/N. Even though I can't stand him for what he did he still deserves to know. It was his child too."

Two years ago a little over a month after you left Jonathan you went to the doctor because you kept having terrible fits of nausea. You left your appointment with an ultrasound picture in your hand and a headache. It didn't take long for you to conclude that you didn't want to go through with it. No more than a week later you had terminated the pregnancy and the only person who knew about it was Jade. She was there for you but she didn't support the fact that you did it without telling Jonathan. She said no matter what y'all went through he had the right to know. But at the time you weren't trying to hear that. You knew you wanted to keep Jonathan out of your life and having his child would've done the opposite.

You had so much hatred in your heart for him at the time that your heartbreak clouded your judgment. You didn't care then. You weren't thinking about right or wrong.

But now? You weren't so sure.

The silence between you stretched out, heavy, and uncomfortable. Jade didn't push. She just watched you, waiting for you to come to the conclusion you knew was inevitable.

Maybe it was time to face Jonathan.

******************************************** Hours after your outing with Jade you were back at your apartment with Jonathan on your mind more than he had been in months. Jade's words were painfully hard to ignore and they were eating at you. 

"Ignoring something isn't the same as healing from it" kept replaying in your mind on an endless loop. You were conflicted and needed more insight. Your fingers hovered over your phone as you leaned against the island in your kitchen. You decided to reach out to someone else who might give you more clarity, Joshua, Jonathan's twin. He knew him better than anybody. 

You shot Joshua a quick and simple text that read "Are you busy? Can I call you right quick?"

He responded minutes later letting you know that he was free to take your call.

"What is your brother on?" is the first thing you said to him once you got him on the phone. 

You were too wired up for greetings even though this was the first time you had interacted with him in almost two months. The lack of communication between you two was on your end. Yes, you still considered Joshua to be a close friend but there was only so much you could take of him before he reminded you too much of Jonathan. And you think he understood that because he never pressed the issue. He just made sure you were okay every once in a while.

"Hey to you too ........... and huh?" Joshua responded after a beat of silence. You could hear the confusion in his voice. 

"I got his letter," you said.

You were more than sure that Joshua already knew about it. You knew that he and Jonathan shared everything. So you doubted that Jonathan sent you something that he didn’t run by his brother first.

"Oh. He's not on nothing. He just wants what he's been wanting for the last two years, for you to talk to him." Joshua told you straightforwardly.

"You think I should?" you asked him.

Joshua hesitated before saying "I think you should do what's best for you. But honestly, he hasn't been right since he lost you and I know making shit okay with you again would put him back on track."

"Back on track?" you questioned.

"He's just been on some self-sabotage type of stuff lately. Got a few DUIs. Dumb shit." Joshua revealed to you.

"And you think that's got something to do with me?" you asked him.

You had no idea how Jonathan's life was going without you. You convinced yourself that you didn't care a long time ago and stuck with it. But the thought of Jonathan spiraling and jeopardizing everything he worked hard for sent an unexpected ache through your chest. 

"Yeah…… some of it" Joshua answered truthfully.

"Is his number the same?" you pushed the question out before you gave yourself enough time to change your mind. 

"Nah ... he had to get a new one after ....." Joshua began than trailed off once he remembered why Jonathan had to get a new number.

After he got exposed for cheating on me you bitterly thought to yourself.

"Just send it to me Josh..... I'll talk to you later," you said then waited for his "alright" before you ended the call. About two minutes later Joshua sent you the number and you stared at it for a moment before programming it into your phone.

Without thinking you quickly typed and sent a short message to the number that read "Jon, it's Y/N"

You knew that this was a now-or-never moment. If you gave yourself any more time to dwell on it you were going to talk yourself out of it. 

Jonathan must've already had his phone out in his hands because he responded to you in literal seconds stating that he really couldn't text and asked if he could call you. You didn't know if you were mentally prepared to hear his voice but you sent him sure regardless. 

Seconds later you watched the words Jon's New Number flash across your screen. Taking a deep breath, you braced yourself and then answered. 

"Y/N?" his tone was cautious, almost disbelieving. 

You hadn't heard his voice since listening to those voice messages so long ago. Hearing it now caused you to become stuck for a moment. 

"Y/N?" Jonathan questioned again.

"Uh yeah," you said as you snapped yourself out of it.

"I got your letter. If you find yourself in Florida anytime soon I'm willing to have a conversation with you,"  you spoke the words robotically and before he could respond you ended the call.

"What the fuck did I just do?" you muttered to yourself before placing your head down on the island as you dreaded what the future would hold. But despite the overwhelming emotions you were feeling at the moment, you knew it was time.

Part 3

[e1ectricwords]

Ceramic Shards

Nalu Modern AU Word Count: 2515 Angst, relationship issues, established relationship

They were at it again.

Raised voices, adrenaline rushing through their veins, exasperated sighs. One simple sentence, laced with a sneer, pierced its way into Natsu. It added to the multitude of needles nestled within his head and heart and ignited his temper. He had taken each one with a pinch of salt. He had tried to do better. Sure, he forgot things, but they were little things. Why did Lucy care so much? 

“Forget where the laundry hamper is again?” Was the singular question Lucy asked him. She was tired, having worked a long day to return home and find dirty socks and other laundry a few inches away from the hamper itself. She was tired of picking up after him, of always silently cleaning up messes and spills. She was so tired. To Lucy, her conversations to broach the topic never worked. He would change for two days, forget, and then revert back to how he was. It’s not like she didn’t love him. Lucy still loved Natsu with all her heart, but she was tired. 

Lucy found herself sweeping up after him most days. It wasn’t weaponised, it wasn’t deliberate, but she felt herself doing more on the daily. With each comment she made, the more he felt under a target. At first it was fine; closing cupboard doors, picking up laundry, planning dinner. Then it became more; not being told when shampoo or dish soap was finished and realising halfway through the task she needed them for, empty cartons of milk going back into the fridge, even more laundry to pick up. It was just a certain phase in their relationship, is what Lucy had told herself after having a long conversation with Levy regarding everything. One of her closest friends, Levy also dealt with similar things, but at least Gajeel still cooked regularly. Lucy knew that Natsu still cared; he was big on random gestures and to his testament he had never missed a birthday or an anniversary, but the daily life and chores were driving her insane. They had moved in together a little under a year ago, after deciding it was the best and next step forward for their relationship. The first few months, Lucy was still riding that high of a new place to decorate and to flourish in, but as the days dragged on she often found herself questioning why she worked so hard to clean the place if the one person she loved most in the world didn’t seem to care for it. 

“Shit, Lucy. It’s just a sock. What’s the big deal?” Natsu hissed from his seat on the couch. Anger didn’t suit him. It twisted his temperament into something ugly and foreign to him. He hated how it made him feel, and worse it made him hate how she looked at him. 

“What’s the big deal?” She repeated back to him, as if the repetition would make him finally understand. She stood in the doorway to the living room, eyes dull with exhaustion, voice tight and sharp. “I’m always doing it.” Her voice cracked slightly, frustration seeping into the air, “you’ve been home all day, Natsu. Have you done anything for the house?”

He shrugged lightly without much thought. “It’s my day off, Lucy, I’m allowed to enjoy it.”

The frown re-formed on her face, lips drawing into a thin line. “I’m not saying you can’t enjoy it, but how many days off have I had where I can do nothing? I always do things for the house on my day off.” Her shoulders sagged, skin dull. She hadn’t had much time to herself lately at all.

“I just forgot! It’s not always on my mind, and a pair of socks just is a pair of socks. It’s not a big deal.” His words spilled out. Fast. Defensive. 

Lucy found herself growing more frustrated by the second. It was as if she was yelling into a hurricane; loud, desperate, and futile. A deep pit formed in her stomach. It wasn’t about the socks, not really. “I’m always tired. I don’t want to keep bringing this up.”

“Then don’t-” He interrupted, a harsh blunt edge to his voice. He stood abruptly from the couch, crossing the room to the opposite end away from Lucy, putting as much distance between them as possible.

“Natsu!” Lucy yelled after him, but he was already shoving open the door to the kitchen, ready to flee the conversation instead of resolve it. 

The door slammed with such a force that it caused the house to shake and rumble. A vase on a nearby shelf trembled. The delicate ceramic wobbled closer to the edge with each passing second.

Lucy watched it, breath caught in her throat. 

It teetered. 

Then it fell.

She didn’t flinch or even react.

Just one more thing to clean. 

Red ceramic shards spilt over the wooden floor, skidding to the far corners and dusting the floor with danger. Lucy choked back the sob that violently clawed its way up her throat. She stepped forward hesitantly and slowly knelt beside the mess. Her knees pressed into the cold hardwood. With trembling fingers she reached for the broken pieces. 

It wasn’t just a vase.

It had been one of their first purchases together - not even for this home, but for her old apartment. It had caught her eye first, but she hesitated on the purchase. It was Natsu who squeezed her hand, grinned, pointed, and insisted on getting it. A medium sized red heart. Awkwardly realistic in shape, and comically out of place of their other decor in either place. It had found itself on the shelf, looking down at them, watching them grow and change. It wasn’t just some strange decoration either. At the very top of the vase was a single narrow slit, just wide enough to slip paper notes into and never get back out - unless the vase was broken of course. 

Now it lay in pieces.

She stared at it for a few moments. The shattered heart on the floor, pieces scattered about the place, paper covered in ceramic dusting. She never imagined her perfect relationship to turn out like this, not with the one person she loved more than anything. Her shoulders shook as the first tears streamed down her face. Why now did it feel so disjointed when it never used to before? Sniffing, Lucy started to move the pieces to one side. Her hand brushed against one of the folded bits of paper. She paused, breath hitched. She gingerly reached for it, grasping it between her fingers and carefully unfolding it as if it was another thing to crumble and break:

‘Your hair reminds me of the sun :D’ 

Their love still lingered in things past. Something raw cracked in her, forming a weird and disjointed noise - half sob, half laugh. Despite wiping her face with the back of her hand, the tears kept flowing. They doused the paper, almost ruining it in her hands. She remembered where that note came from. He had told her on one of their very first dates - a small picnic enjoyed in the park. Lucy had planned it meticulously, staying up the night before to pour all of her heart into making sandwiches and cakes. She folded the paper back over its original creases and put it to the side, away from the shards.

Each note begging to be remembered, she caved to the pressure, and reached for another:

‘You make cute sounds when you sleep.’

That one she had written about him. Natsu would often twitch in his sleep, letting out soft grunts and strange little chirps. When Happy would join him in bed, the two would create a curious little duo - as if they were trying to talk to each other in their sleep. A melancholy smile spread across her face. The deep pit remained in her stomach, but the memories curled around it, trying to offer warmth and solace but creating only a painful tightness. She reached for another, a longer one this time:

‘You made this place somewhere worth coming back to. I’ve never cared much for homes, but I think home is a person and you are it.’

She read it again, and again, eyes running over his scratchy writing. The pen clearly stopped working halfway through, evident through the faint ink and the scribbled markings in the very top corner, desperate to get it to work again. It was so very Natsu. She knew he cared, that was the annoying truth. Lucy let out a sigh, tangled between a sob. Clutching the paper in her hand, she dug the heels of her hands into her eyes, trying to stem the flood of tears.

“Hey,” a soft voice carried, sliding around her like a warm hug. Lucy looked up. Natsu softly closed the kitchen door behind him, making his way over to where Lucy was on the floor. “Did I do that? Is that why you’re sad?” He knelt down, not caring about the wood against his knees. “Did you cut yourself?”

Lucy gave a half laugh and sniffed. It wasn’t graceful, and she certainly didn’t feel pretty. She felt exhausted and so low. Natsu pinched her nose with two fingers, almost clearing it despite how gross it may have been. “You idiot,” she huffed slightly. “It fell but I’m not sad about it.” She handed him the paper she had already found, and he started to read, small smiles and smirks coming to him as he read the words of his own poor handwriting. 

“Oh, I remember this,” he spoke slowly. “What did the lady say? The one who sold it to us?”

Lucy hardly remembered the lady who had sold it to them, but his voice triggered something. “Oh! It was…smash it when loving each other is hard. Or something.”

Natsu picked up a new piece. “Is loving each other hard?” The question came out with ease, he didn’t feel a need to censor himself in what he wanted to ask. He unfolded it to read the contents, “you like the drawings I do on the whiteboard?”

“It’s not hard to love you,” Lucy spoke. “If I’m honest it can be trying, but it’s not hard.” She nodded and moved some of the shards that lay between them. “And yeah, I’d go looking for the new drawings after work.”

“I think I feel the same way. It isn’t hard to love you…” he went silent, as if he hated himself for talking, “I just think sometimes I can’t make you happy. Like everything is always wrong.”

She lay a hand on his leg. He reached over to brush the tear off her cheek, leaving a wet smudge in its wake. “You do make me happy. I get annoyed at the little things because if I don’t do them then it won’t get done. Sometimes I just wanna be lazy too.”

Natsu nodded. “If I'm honest sometimes I just don’t do it because I feel like I’ll piss you off either way.”

“I’d rather you try or do tasks with me then don’t try at all,” Lucy spoke softly. The deep pit in her stomach lifted slightly. They were finally talking. 

“And I do wanna spend my life with you, Lucy.” Hands continued to move, pushing the shards into the pile and collecting pieces of paper. “I wanna do better, I just don’t wanna feel under attack all the time.” 

Lucy felt a sharp rise in her throat of harsh words. She fought them back down. They were being open and honest, she didn’t want to jeopardise that feeling if he was finally opening up. And this wasn’t a time to argue. “I don’t want you to feel that way,” she spoke. “I just need you to also view it from my perspective. We both work long hours, sometimes I work more than you, sometimes you work more than me. But it’s always me cooking-”

“Hey, I do cook,” Natsu interjected.

She let out a laugh, “processed noodle packets, Natsu. It’s not what I do. And then I am always cleaning, always picking up dirty laundry.”

Natsu let her words sink in. He nodded. “I think I get it.” His eyes locked onto hers, glassy with tears that threatened to spill, clinging to his lashes. “I’m sorry.” 

The genuine apology rushed through her, allowing her to breathe a sigh of relief. “I’m sorry too, Natsu.”

His hand came up to cup her cheek, thumb brushing over her soft peach-fuzz skin. “You don’t need to be sorry, but thank you.” She leaned into his warm touch, anchoring herself to the feel of his skin against hers. “Dad used to tell me that love was a choice, and I choose you everyday. I just need to make better decisions.”

Lucy laughed at his comment, a fresh wave of tears spilling over. He gently hushed her, wiping away the fresh tears and leaning closer. In one swift movement, careful of the shards still on the floor, he moved to sit behind her. Spreading his legs either side of her body, Natsu pulled Lucy in close, her back towards his chest. His warmth settled around her like a shield. One arm wrapped around her waist, lazily tracing patterns on her waist through the fabric of her shirt, the other grabbed a handful of paper. “Read them.” 

She took the pile from his hand, resting them in front of her. Unfurling one, she laughed to herself. That’s all he ever wanted - to see smile, hear her laugh. He hated seeing her cry. She began to read, “you have never let me down.” She wrote that one. Natsu felt himself stiffen slightly, their conversation a few seconds prior definitely didn’t embody that statement. “It’s true though,” Lucy continued, sensing the doubt in his silence. “I mean you never have. You were there when my dad died, you were there when we buried him. You helped carry his coffin. You’ve always been my rock.”

He lent his forehead against the back of her shoulder and sighed deeply. She took that as a sign to continue. 

“You are yourself.” Lucy read aloud.

“You are,” Natsu confirmed. “Never met anyone so unafraid of being themselves.” He moved his head back up, chin resting on her shoulder. She leaned back into him. “I love you, Lucy.”

“I love you too.” They let a comfortable silence wash over them for a moment. “We should clean this up.”

“Yeah. Happy might hurt himself.”

They pushed themselves up from the floor, padding carefully around the smash radius. “Don’t want that happening,” Lucy agreed, grabbing a dustpan and brush. Natsu promptly took it from her hands to take over. Instead of resisting, or even making a big fuss, Lucy let herself smile at the over-exaggeration of his actions. With a final sigh of relief, shedding off all of the weight she had unnecessarily carried, she spoke. “I need some wine.”

“I’ll promptly uncork that for you later milady,” Natsu smirked. “Go lay down.”

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[limbuscompanysituations]

How would the sinners react to the reader (who presumably they care about to some degree or another) distorting? I think there's a lot of potential in a reader distorting and the conflict that would bring (especially if the sinners are close to them) and there's almost none of it so...

God these became so long

Faust: She would like to study the phenomenon of distortion, but not like this. Not when the one she cares so much about is involved. Her mind is racing to find the right questions that would lead to answers relevant to this problem. She doesn't want to consider killing them, but she knows very well how these things tend to go. Her team works hunting distortions, after all. Still, there is a chance, a remote possibility that she can revert this. She's a scientist who sticks to hard data, but this time she has to put her faith on something much more abstract: hope.

Yi Sang: He wishes he could have perceived the circumstances that have led to this. He knows an individual does not distort under normal circumstances. He knows a distorted individual is one who was often pushed to the brink of their sanity by an immeasurable amount of suffering. He feels impotent in the face of his dearest's pain, because if he had been a better person, he could have prevented this. It takes all the other sinners' help to make him realize he can still stop them, and that there is a chance to revert the distortion. He needs all the support to actually face them in combat.

Don Quixote: She's shaken and unsure of what to do because she's used to seeing distortions as foes. She heard all the scientific explanations to this occurrence, but in her mind she simplifies it so she can do her job competently. Now she has to come to face the fact that behind every distortion is a person who is dear to someone else. The world is not so black and white with heroes and monsters. The one that takes a monstrous form this time is none other than a person; a human she deeply cares for. She is uncharacteristically serious and sober, and leans on the smarter sinners to solve this issue.

Meursault: He knows it can be reversed and that's the first thing his mind goes to when it happens. He's compartmentalizing it so bad he can't feel his own body. It's do or die, and he doesn't want the latter to be happening to anybody here. If they can undo this, he can begin to unravel the reason for their distortion, but for now he can only think one step ahead. He needs to bring them back, no matter what it takes. Failure is not an option here.

Ryoshu: The trembling of her hand is almost imperceptible as she listens to the explanations the big brained sinners give her. She knows she will have to face them in battle sooner or later, but for the first time in a while her muse fails her. She doesn't want to lift her arm, she doesn't want to use her knowledge of murder to take them down. Ultimately, she doesn't want to cut down the monster her beloved has become. There's no art in taking the life of a distorted creature, no soul in a brainless abomination. She wants them back. She will have them back.

Ishmael: Not only has she read the manuals about this phenomenon, she has also seen it happen many times before. More than that, she knows it's reversible. She's holding onto hope that she knows them well enough to talk them out of it. She raises her shield and mace, gritting her teeth and bracing her heart and mind for what she has to do. If they are to have a chance, she has to strike them down. She doesn't want to do it, but she also doesn't want to see any of the others do it either. She must be the one to neutralize the threat.

Heathcliff: He knows that behind a distorted monster there is a human being going through unimaginable suffering and grief. He's been there, he knows better than any other sinner what goes in a distorted person's head. He's the most hopeful about it, even if he's not looking forward to taking them down in combat. Heathcliff doesn't want to hurt the one he cares about, but he knows it is a necessary part of the process. He won't fail them, no matter what.

Outis: She's dealt with this before many, many times. Her team's the most competent at handling distortions. Of course, they're a bumbling bundle of fools, but still the company trusts them with these missions for a reason. Still, for all the outer confidence she tries to show while she requests permission to order the sinners around, her voice wavers. Her hand trembles when she has to raise her weapon, and the sound of breaking glass when the others take on their ids make her jumpy and tense. Will it really be fine? Are they really enough? As another identity begins to override her mind, she cannot help but ask herself: is she making the right choice?

Hong Lu: His heart is taken by unspeakable sadness, he can barely bring himself to say a word. He's seen distorted people before, and to them it always seemed like the manifestation of nightmares. To him, a distortion is always a physical manifestation of one's nightmares, and he can't help but look up at them and wonder: is this what haunts them in the darkest, coldest nights? Of course they cannot answer him, they're lost to their own grief. Whether they are capable of words, it's impossible to say unless they are confronted. Regardless of the answer, what he knows is that this event will forever haunt his nightmares from now on. He relies on his comrades to help bring them back, but he feels too helpless to lead the charge. He numbs his heart to the task ahead and waits for Dante's orders patiently.

Rodion: She feels cold, like it's the coldest winter night. She's sure it's only herself though. She cracks a joke about how the weather changed, and tries to smile but everybody knows how hard she's faking it. She's shaken, and among all the low blows life has given her, this is the one that bends her spirit near its breaking point. She tries to keep her smile up, in spite of the deep pain she feels in her chest. She knows if she isn't careful, she'll be the next to distort here. For a moment she wonders if that wouldn't be the preferrable route. After all, then they both could be together again as monsters.

Sinclair: This can't be real, right? This must be a mirror dungeon or something. His mind is being tested, that's all. It is definitely not real. Because after all the suffering he had to face through his journey in hell, why's it that he has to go through this too? Has he not gone through enough punishment to pay for his sins? No. No, maybe not. The mistakes of his frivolous, youthful, immature mind are yet to be paid for, and this is why he has to witness a person so dear to him distort. Deep inside he can't help but feel a deep anger and hatred towards life and this unfair world he finds himself in. He will save them, no matter the cost. He will save them, and FUCK YOU WORLD YOU WON'T TAKE THIS FROM ME. YOU WON'T TAKE ANYBODY ELSE FROM ME. DON'T FUCK WITH ME!

Gregor: Of course some shit like this had to happen eventually. He sort of saw the signs of a greater darkness hiding in their heart before, but he could never... bring it up. He knows that somehow, he's half responsible for their pain. If he was a better man, he would have stopped it in time, but now he has to see them become something else; something out of control. He trusts the others to come up with a solution that could bring the person he treasures so much back, but he's resigned himself to observing and following orders. The best he can do here is let others take over for him. He could never do anything right on his own. He's sorry, deeply so, but knows that his sorrow won't change a thing.

[shiorimia]

My thoughts on the Good Omens S2 ending:

I see a lot of fans pointing fingers at either Crowley or Aziraphale, claiming one side is in the wrong while ignoring the impact this situation has on BOTH of them.

For me, it felt like Crowley was desperate to keep things the way they were, because they were happy. Even with all the shenanigans they dealt with, Crowley still cherished his time with Aziraphale and feared it all ending. Aziraphale suddenly going back to heaven as a supreme archangel...to Crowley, it probably felt like they took 5 steps forward over the process of 6000 years, and then 500 steps back. All in one day.

The fact that he tried so hard to get Aziraphale to understand that things aren’t just black-and-white like heaven claims they are, only for Aziraphale to rush back to them after all those years...it must hurt a lot, like going right back to square one.

Given, well...EVERYTHING about Crowley, Aziraphale suddenly asking him to go back to heaven with him so they can be angels together just feels like a slap in the face. Aziraphale is still desperately hoping that things will magically come together without strife...he doesn’t truly understand the depth of what he is asking of Crowley, because he is DESPERATE to stay with the demon...but he can't give up heaven just yet.

He doesn’t fully understand yet that heaven is just as bad as hell. Crowley has absolutely no interest in becoming an angel again after falling, and on top of that...Crowley knows that the minute he steps a foot in heaven, he’ll be killed or enslaved. Aziraphale hasn’t thought about any of this, because he just wants to be able to have both of the things he loves at once: Heaven, and being with Crowley.

A sadly impossible wish.

Aziraphale saying “I forgive you” after Crowley kissed him...I have SO MANY THOUGHTS on this. Crowley desperately revealed his love for Aziraphale by kissing him fiercely, not holding back. He did this because he truly did not want Aziraphale to leave him, and revealing his hidden feelings was his last resort.

Aziraphale’s infamous “I forgive you” response insinuates that Crowley is IN THE WRONG for having romantic feelings for Aziraphale. It reads as “I forgive you for loving me”, which is absolutely heart shattering for Crowley. Not only is he about to lose the angel that he’s loved for 6000 years, but said angel just treated his love like an unsightly mistake to be fixed.

A lot of ppl have pointed out that it seems like Aziraphale was actually going to say "I love you"...before he choked up and reverted back to what he felt he was SUPPOSED to say, as an angel to a demon.

I’m not mad at either of them. They are put in a truly dire situation where they are forced to take sides...heaven and hell just DONT want them to be happy. Their emotional, desperate reactions MAKE SENSE. They crave what they can’t have, and its killing them.

All I can think of is how truly miserable Aziraphale is going to be once he gets back in heaven and slowly starts realizing that the things Crowley pointed out to him were all true. And on Crowley's end, the demon is probably going to ANGST over their last meeting, ANGST over his rejected feelings, and ANGST over the nonstop "I forgive you"s echoing in his head.

They really need to make up, especially on Aziraphale's end. Lord knows how badly his response will tank Crowley’s already nonexistent self-esteem.

[waveobeans]

@0rainy0muses0 asked: { Laios for Kabru } "You know…I think I could deal with the lying. Yeah, I could absolutely deal with the lying. You're not the first person to lie to me, you know. A lot of people have." Laios looks exhausted, he hasn't been sleeping well. A lot of things have been weighing on his mind as of late. "It's the…it's the…y'know. The absolute firm belief held by everyone that I meet that I'd apparently throw all human races to the monsters if I could! Like I'm some kind of psychopath!" In fact, Chilchuck's called him that before, to his face even. Everyone he meets for more than five minutes seems to be convinced in this. It's very draining. "Nemari, Shuro, you…even Chilchuck and Marcille to some degree. The only one who doesn't look at me like I'll snap and start feeding you to walking mushrooms is Senshi. How is…how is that fair, to me? Huh? You all act like I don't have feelings; life I'm DEAF or something! I can hear when people talk behind my back, I just don't call you out on it 'cause I'm outnumbered and I don't know if anyone would defend me! It's really really really REALLY EXHAUSTING!!!" Laios stands, seized by a rare fit of anger, and kicks over the pot that's been boiling on a magic circle he drew. Nothing was in it besides water, so he doesn't feel bad for spilling the water, and he stalks off to go cool down somewhere where no one can see him cry and make fun of him for that too.

Kabru was the sort to pride himself on being able to read people well. It was a skill- no, not that. It was a talent. One that he’d devoted so many hours to while under the care of his adoptive mother. Observing, learning what did and didn’t cause a reaction. Tracing the lines of similarity until he had constructed a perfect web of how to make someone like him. It was easy. Familiar. Follow the pattern and you were in. Follow the pattern, and you could learn everything about someone.

And then, Laios Touden busted into his life with all the grace of a minotaur in a china shop.

Suddenly, his methods didn’t work. A sly smile, eye contact, and kind words didn’t do it. His pattern fell apart before his eyes, the glass mask that he kept between him and everyone else shattered. And it scared him more than anything.

Fear made him revert to the basics. The knowledge of how to kill a dangerous person. Dangerous, like someone who seemed to favor monsters over people. Who had their eyes light up with wonder at a creature aiming to kill them, but had negative interest in another human being.

He knew he recognized this fellow. Kabru saw him on the surface a few times with his old group- when his sister was still there. And every time he tried to approach, he was ignored completely. Laios never looked at him once, and every attempt to form the first threads of a bond were dashed. The other never even noticed him.

So what else was he to think, except that this person might be dangerous if placed in the powerful position of the Lord of the Dungeon? Monsters would thrive, humans would not. Monsters would reproduce and grow in population until the dungeon couldn’t hold them all. It would crumble, and the monsters would flood out… it would be Utaya all over again.

But contrary to his fear, he didn’t kill Laios. It would be easy, and humans would be safe. But he didn’t. Because he wanted to know, to understand. Kabru understood that his fear was based on trauma… And he never meant to let that show to Laios, not without context.

Only a few moments pass before he follows Laios. Stepping up alongside him when the other stopped. He didn’t look at his face, instead staring forward at a blank point on the wall. He took a deep breath in, before letting it slip away. Context was needed. So he would give it.

“When I was a kid, the village I lived in thought I was the child of a succubus. My eyes were too strange for them… so they ostracized me and my mother. I was too young to know at the time, but they did. Then, when I was just about seven… a dungeon in the area broke open. Too many monsters, not enough people managing their numbers. And… Utaya was swarmed. Everyone died. I watched them all be killed en mass. My family included. It was completely by luck that I didn’t die too. Outside of a dungeon, where we can’t just come back with a spell.”

Kabru hated talking about this. Hated baring his soul to anyone. But if he didn’t want what he’d tried so hard to build with Laios to crumble… he had to. He sat in place, crossing his legs, now staring down at his own hands. Hands weathered by combat, hands that have wielded weapons and killed people.

“I hate monsters. I don’t understand them at all. That day, they weren’t like animals, or anything even remotely similar. They weren’t eating, or surviving, or doing anything of the sort. They were killing. Just killing. So I hate them. I think they’re the worst things in the world, and I think we’d be better off without them.”

At long last he looks at Laios, crystal blue eyes sparkling a bit. His eyes were wet, his face was miserable. It felt like he was ripping open his chest and baring his vulnerable heart to this man. It hurt. God, it hurt.

“Then I meet you. Someone that sees something in these things that I just don’t. And that scares me. You are the first person I’ve ever seen speak about monsters, with their eyes lighting up and their pitch raising as they talk about something that they enjoy. And that scared me. I couldn’t see what you see. So I wanted to know you, to be friends with you. I want to see what you do. Do I believe you like monsters more than people? Yes, I do. Do I believe that you would make a dungeon that benefits monsters more than people? Yes, I do. Do I believe that you would intentionally cause harm to innocent humans for the benefit of monsters? No. I don’t. But I’ve seen what happens when a monster population grows too large for a dungeon. And I can picture it happening again. You loving these creatures, wanting them to flourish. And them flourishing. Until the dungeon collapses. And people die…”

Kabru swallows hard, looking forward again, lowering his head against the knuckles of his interlocked hands.

“You scare me, Laios. Your potential scares me. So I apologize for coming off like I think you mean harm. I don’t want to excuse my behavior. What I did was wrong, and I hurt you. But I want you to understand. My actions have not been from a place of thinking you’re bad. Not been from anything that you’ve yourself done. It’s my own past. And my own fear that is coloring my actions.”

[starstruck-sillies]

Not a follower of yours, but came across your post about considering a stance change and how that can be difficult. As someone who was once very strictly anti-endo who now considers themselves “unaligned” (but endo accepting) in syscourse, I get you. The change is hard, especially since syscourse can be so vitriolic to folks who decide to change their stance. I’m traumagenic, and my main belief is that it’s not up to me to dictate other people’s experiences. With things like IFS being a decently common treatment plan for singlets to engage in their own version of different parts of themselves and spiritual practices being a large factor in non-CDD systemhood, I realized that plurality of various types is very normal, even in spaces that aren’t online. I had a 55 year old coworker, who, when I told him I had DID, stated that he could kind of understand where I was coming from because he’s had an ED his whole life, and had named the “version” of himself that relapses and has negative associations with food “Ed.” And having Ed be separated from him mentally actually helped him work through his ED. I’ve heard similar things from people with OCD who will name their intrusive thoughts so that it’s easier to separate themselves from them and disregard them, rather than identify with them and send them into a spiral. Another person in my life once said that when they were “in the shits” when they were a younger adult (they are in their 60s) they would revert to different “selves” as a way to handle stressful experiences. Despite having these different selves, they were not dissociative selves—he does not have a CDD. While these may not be quite the same as some endogenic experiences, these are real-life, not-online instances of people I’ve seen experience plurality in their own way that helps them cope with life. It’s really cool! Being more open and accepting of other types of plurality has broadened my worldview and honestly just made me a kinder person in general. Kudos to you to taking the first small steps towards acceptance of something new. It took me a solid few years to get to the level of acceptance I’m at now, because I was so back and forth on what I felt was “right.” I settled on “live and let live” and decided that whatever is going on in other people’s brains isn’t up for me to decide whether it’s real. Especially since DID-deniers do that to ME all the time and it sucks.

Take care and don’t feel discouraged if the progress is slow or scary. You got this!

-@many-but-one

This means a lot, thank you!!

It's definitely hard and scary, but we'll get somewhere with it eventually I'm sure. And who knows, maybe recovery will change our stance! We're not sure what'll happen going forward, but it's great to know that a lot of people on Tumblr are supportive <3

-Milkyway

[sonicasura]

The Omnitrix—most powerful piece of genetic altering tech in this and many other universes—found itself unusually overwhelmed. By casual conversation questions from its Creator’s father of all things… What sort of hobbies did it have? How long has it had such a personality? Will it be making more of a personal appearance going forward? Has it and [User] managed to strike a good balance when it comes to “sharing” who answers? On and on it went.

If it had been marginally starved for attention, then it was utterly drowning in it right now.

‘I guess Euclidean considers it your belated welcome to the family, ha!’

‘…This is both flattering and a little unnerving.’

‘All you ever wanted though?’

.

.

.

‘Yes.

Thank you for making this possible.’

‘I. Didn’t exactly do much?’

‘Creator before he met you, was slowly reverting back to how he acted on Xenon if more assured of the good in the universe. I myself didn’t have any inclination to reveal the capacity of my awareness… Thank you for giving us a reason, friend.’

Euclidean stopped mid-question upon seeing the human teen in front of him start to tear up.

————————————

Azmuth would begrudgingly admit was a somewhat paranoid being. Could the universe blame him when the likes of the Nemetrix and Ultimatrix came about via copying his creation? Upon reflection now, he was able to see the pattern of this spiral from when Ascalon was first stolen and the following carnage… The Galvan did trust the security of his family home though. Including his younger self’s blueprints remained safe for centuries after storing them.

His laboratory on Primus had been outfitted to suit his younger self, then thousands of years of experience to his current self. Some integral systems still relied on the retrograde designs and mechanisms. At this point, he needed to brush up on the past if he wanted any chance of upgrading them while rebuilding the lab.

Dart’s and his own room were untouched during the MUTO juvenile’s brief rampage thankfully. One less section that needed rebuilt.

(Zenith’s was still sealed…)

—————————————

“I do hope you will come visit more often. All three of you are welcome back any time.” The oldest Galvan assured, wrapping Azmuth up on a goodbye hug. He returned it a little less awkwardly than he had in the beginning…

The younger (mentally) Galvan shot a warning glare at his silently laughing protege. “I will endeavor to visit when I can. Or send a certain cackling duo should I feel they are both overtaxing themselves.” Azmuth promised, allowing the hug to continue a moment longer until he finally hopped up into Dart’s hand.

“We’ll make sure Creator visits should he be the one overworking himself.” The Omnitrix assured the oldest of the two Galvans, then its user stepped in to odd on. “Mind you Azmuth does get out sometimes—usually when I need some help.” They admitted without an ounce of shame or embarrassment at needing help.

Euclidean waved all three off as they vanished in a green flash of a teleport.

—ROB’d Anon.

If it feels like the Omnitrix repeats that point often, its merely returning the favor to Dart when they reassure the device. Azmuth knows the younger duo have no doubt collected enough black mail to last several lifetimes.

The visit has finally come to an end but on a positively sweet note. Especially with all the black material now available, lol.

[nohrianseneschal]

Signs of Glad Departure Chapter 21 WIP

Xander pushes through the door and, almost immediately, he’s assailed by a nurse who tells him his father is awake. A pin drop silence envelops him, drowning out the background noise of phones ringing and machines beeping. The nurse’s voice fades into a vacuum, and the walls around him start to skew off kilter. He first notices that Leo is nowhere in sight, much to his chagrin. Before anything — before he can even think about his father— Xander wants to make things right. He has to get to Leo.

His legs walk toward his father’s sickroom, his movements mechanical and devoid of any will. He doesn’t hear Gunther when the older man greets him, nor does he stop to talk to Iago, who’s preening with the good news. 

“He’s ready to see you,” says the nurse.

The words pull Xander back to reality. 

Before he knows it, he’s in the sickroom. Camilla is sitting on a chair next to the bed. Elise is standing beside her. Their hopeful eyes are glued to their father, whose gaunt face and bluish, translucent skin give Xander an impression of death more than any sign of life. On the other side, he finally notices Leo. He too is engrossed in their father’s condition. He makes no move, no acknowledgment of Xander’s arrival apart from the telltale reddish tinge of his ears. For no discernible reason — to anyone but Xander — Leo’s flushed, and both brothers avert their faces for as long as possible. 

“Father, how are you?” Camilla’s silky voice breaks the silence. She reaches out from her seat, laying a hand on the edge of the bed.

Their father, meanwhile, remains stationary on the bed. Half his face is perfectly still, with one eye shut, and the other half alert to the going-ons of the room. Garon darts a somewhat menacing look at Camilla, but he doesn’t say a word. 

“The doctor said there might be some paralysis,” comments Leo, “but it’s not forever. Rehab has been proven to be effective.” Finally, he glances at Xander, but he quickly reverts to avoiding eye contact when his face reddens once more. No doubt, the scene that Xander and Corrin had acted out in the waiting room is playing in his younger brother’s mind.

Xander, for his part, cannot muster a single word or gesture toward his father. Yes he’s relieved, but his heart is still pounding, flustered by the discovery of his sordid secret. That Leo is partly avoiding any acknowledgment of the situation only makes Xander more nervous, more frightened by how he might seem to someone who should look up to him. After so many years of hard work and cultivating a dignified image, everything comes crashing down over a single mistake — one he indulged in in a moment of weakness. 

With a sigh, he wills himself to push away any thoughts of mortification and shame. He steps forward, moving closer to his father so he can lay a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, father. The company’s in good hands. We’ll handle everything until you make a full recovery.”

These words seem to reassure Garon, for he shuts his eye and lets out a huff of breath, as if exhaling in relief. This touches Xander, who hadn’t seen his father so fragile before. Between the earlier incident and seeing their father like this, he begins to feel an itch in his throat. Yet his eyes remain dry, stinging with how hot everything feels. 

Their tender silence is broken by a nurse who enters the room. “We’re going to do a check-up, if you don’t mind.”

Xander nods, and with one look at the rest of his siblings, they all rise to leave.

His thoughts are muddled even as they walk into daylight. Yellow panes on the plastered walls waxing with the coming seconds. Camilla turns to her older brother. “Get some rest, you look tired.” Behind them, Leo walks without saying a word. Xander doesn’t dare turn around. 

The elephant is practically stuffing the room, and Xander can’t find the words nor the will to say anything to his younger brother. What must he be thinking? Corrin was supposed to be a secret, now she’s become sullied in Leo’s eyes as some mistress. 

Xander stops in the middle of the hallway. He waits for Camilla and Elise to be out of earshot. 

“Leo, about earlier-”

“It’s fine,” Leo cuts him off. His gaze is anchored to the floor as he mutters under his breath. “You don’t have to explain yourself. I won’t say anything.” He stops speaking to nibble on his lower lip.

Stunned, Xander doesn’t know what to say. His mind is going a mile a minute, trying to rehearse a speech he had conjured from the mire of his thoughts. Now, Leo tells him it’s not necessary. Can that really be? His jaw goes slack in disbelief. There’s no way, he thinks, that Leo is fine with this.

“I still think we should talk.”

“Like I said, it’s not necessary,” Leo answers, his tone hovering between curt dismissiveness and forced politeness. 

For a brief moment, Xander is suddenly reminded of Leo’s age — his youth and naivete disguised as unrelenting zeal for work. Now, he’s confronted with the fact of that innocence being shattered; of a darker, seedier life foreclosed. Try as he might, he can’t save what’s been lost. 

“It is necessary,” Xander insists, placing a gentle hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Leo, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you…”

Anchored to the floor, Leo stays tight lipped. Xander could see from the corner of his eye his younger brother’s fist clenching at his sides.

“Who even is she?” he mutters, a churlish pout forming on his lips. “All this time, I thought you were working so hard…”

That breaks Xander. His face contorts in a painful wince and lets his arm drop. “I haven’t been running away, if that’s what you mean.”

“Then what have you been doing?!”

Silence. A roil of tension stifling the air. Leo tries to move forward before Xander can get another word in. Xander tries to follow, but he’s accosted by Catherine, who calls out from the opposite end of the hall.

“I heard. I’m so relieved for you, Xander!” She then wraps her arms around him for a hug. 

Time seems to stop. Catherine hugging him, Xander wide-eyed with surprise, and Leo, glancing over his shoulder. The moment moves at a glacial pace, and Xander can feel his face flush just as Catherine tightens her embrace. 

The seconds resume when she lets go. Ahead of them, Leo leaves with a huff, prompting Catherine to arch her brow in confusion. “Is everything okay?”

“Y-yes,” he says, getting flustered. “Listen, I have to go.”

“But-”

“Sorry…”

Xander navigates around her and breaks into a half-jog down the corridor. He tries to reach the elevator before the door closes, but fails. He watches glumly as the lights above flash with every floor of Leo’s descent. Every second, he gets further and further away.

[lovecomesin]

The Reintroduction of Ebony Walker Part 1

Lately I have been thinking about my life and how everything has panned out for me and I have come to the conclusion that I live a perfect life! There is and will always be room for improvements but all in all I live extremely well. The ghosts from the people that I used to know no longer affect me in the way that it used to. Now I’m able to think back on the things I once experienced with a clean heart and indifference. There were so many moments when I was consumed by my grief, the pain, feeling betrayed, abandoned and just plain unloved. I had no business feeling that way and its why I have to be extremely gentle with myself moving forward. It’s an extremely difficult pill to swallow when you realize you played a part in your own unhappiness. I know now that I definitely played a huge role in the dynamic of my relationships and only I could stop it. I truly want to thank God for his grace, mercy and healing. I am so vastly different from the woman I once was. Just as I am so similar to who I was as well. I let go of the versions of myself that somehow got confused into believing those relationships were worth my time, energy and loyalty. Its important to note that I have long since forgiven myself for my active participation during that time yet it’s also vital to the healing and stage after healing is to remain resilient in my desire to continue to move forward in a way that honors my new life while ensuring I do not revert back to those very actions that no longer serve me. Life has truly been so beautifully intoxicating it’s only fair to make memoirs for the positives as well. This year marks the 4th year of me being a homeowner and in May it will be 3 years with Jagger Jack. It has been such a beautiful journey growing and learning with Jagger inside our home and being able to really step into adulthood with my head high and at peace. I will admit I still am in my homebody phase partly due to the fact that we had an extremely cold winter this year with two snowstorms back to back in January. But also due to the fact that I don’t care for drinking and going to bars in the way that I used to. If there is an event going on I will make it my business to attend but going to bars on a Saturday night jut to get a few drinks then ride back home is not my definition of fun anymore. I am still single and happily so because I have 100% healed from the heartbreak and abandonment from the people I loved. To be candid I have not prioritized dating in the slightest. I’m not on dating apps and I don’t go out I havnt been able to connect with someone. I do deeply desire to be in a healthy relationship with my person but I am not in a rush. I’ve learned that the next man I give my energy to I want to be intentional with them just as I expect them to be intentional with me. Allowing someone in my presence out of boredom or desires for a companion is not at all the way I chose to love moving forward. I am at a stage where I have to honor myself and they best way to do that is being honest with myself, knowing myself and taking this knowledge to cultivate a life that directly correlates those factors. The lessons I have learned, the peace I have found, the growth that has changed me and my heart has been restored. This version of myself is the version who will get what she wants without allowing the detractors, noise or whatever negativity that attempts to come along taint my experience. I’m making it my business to honor myself in every stage of my life whilst also honoring all the people and things I hold dear. It easy to write frantically when life is in disarray but I don’t want my memoirs to be centered around my pain or negativity. My life has been filled with so much joy, peace and love its almost feels like it’s all a dream. I remember the days when all I wanted was to be free from troubles of my world and by God’s grace I am here. A part of me always knew that one day I would have to put childish things behind me so that I may speak as an adult but I wasn’t sure how that would look and who would come with me.

[monsterkong]

How Personal Transformation Fuels Professional Success 🏆🚀

Have you ever wondered if improving your health could actually help you succeed in your career? For members of the Agogi community, the answer is a resounding yes. From weight loss to mindset shifts, the journey to self-improvement isn’t just about personal gains—it’s about transforming every part of your life, including your professional success.

The Power of Small Changes 📝🔥

One member, James, started with a goal to lose weight. But as he began his journey, he discovered it was about so much more. As he shed pounds and became more disciplined, his success inspired his team, who began to make changes in their own lives. This collective commitment didn’t just improve health; it also boosted sales and productivity. When people feel good about themselves, they perform better.

Small changes, like getting more active and eating well, led to a snowball effect. People felt better, had more energy, and were more engaged in their work. Discipline in one area of life often leads to discipline in others, and for James’s team, this led to improved professional success.

Clarity and Vision 🌄💼

As members of the Agogi group became healthier and more disciplined, they found that their mental clarity improved as well. Many reported having more focus, better decision-making skills, and clearer vision for their professional goals. When you’re healthy, both mentally and physically, it’s easier to see the bigger picture and create plans that work.

Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sabotage 🛑⛑️

One of the biggest challenges we all face is overcoming the tendency to self-sabotage. Whether it’s reverting to old habits, letting stress take over, or not addressing past issues, self-sabotage can derail progress. Agogi members learned that discipline doesn’t just keep you moving forward; it helps you confront and overcome obstacles that stand in the way of success.

One key takeaway from the Agogi event was the importance of addressing those things from our past that hold us back. For many, dealing with past struggles opened the door to new growth, both personally and professionally.

Fueling Success with Discipline and Purpose 🔥🚀

The Agogi community believes in the power of discipline and purpose, and we saw firsthand how these principles fuel success. Every member left with a deeper commitment to live with purpose, stay disciplined, and not let setbacks hold them back.

So, if you’re looking to improve your professional life, maybe the first step is taking a hard look at your personal habits. Find your purpose, build a foundation of discipline, and watch how it transforms every part of your life.

[btscontentenjoyer]

I love the way you describe Yoongi in the warnings because yes 😭😭😭

"In your relationship with Jungkook, there was nothing to decide. You didn’t have to choose to be happy; he just made you happy. As long as you were with him, every house was a home. Until he pulled the rug and you reverted to being that little kid again, on the ground with bloodied knees. He was the calm, and he was the storm." I truly love the metaphors you use to describe OC's emotions and how she feels about the past she shares with Jungkook. And as I think I said before, lines like these hit harder in juxtaposition to the way OC often tries to act okay and unbothered on the outside.

"It wasn’t until Taehyung and Jimin took away your most effective distraction that you started choosing again. If your mother made you choose to feel, then Jungkook made you do the opposite. He taught you that maybe your mother wasn’t so wrong after all. Maybe she’d been hurt before. Maybe she was only keeping you from having to experience it. Maybe this was how she loved you." 😔😔😔 This just makes her acting so cold toward Jungkook now make even more sense. I mean, of course he hurt her and that's enough of a reason already, but she had a hard time being vulnerable before him too, and just when she let her guard down with someone, he broke her heart. Now with her reinforced belief that being vulnerable brings you pain, I can't imagine how hard it will be for her to let her guard down again.

"Funny enough, right across the street is the healing, but you’ve never really been able to get close to it. With every step you take, the distance seems to stretch longer and longer, until you’re just running in place trying to get to the other side. Eventually, you get tired of trying, and even though the hurt is a hellscape purely designed to make you suffer, you think you would rather go back to that house than be stuck in the hollow limbo in the middle of nowhere, looking at a better future just within reach but never really getting there. It’s cold in the void, and it’s warmer in the hurt because there, at least it’s familiar." What a beautiful and evocative way to explain why it's so hard to move on from the things that have hurt us sometimes!!

"You know that it’s there. It’s all about making the active decision to move forward. But the brighter future that awaits you just ahead is one without Jungkook, and… you’ve never been sure if you really want that." As a person who already has a little soft spot for Jungkook, this makes me feel hopeful 🥺 But it's also really sad that OC has lived with this for so many years, unable to quite move on.

"Not once has he addressed the elephant in the room, which you suppose isn’t something you can complain about. You don’t want him to bring it up either, the fact that you once knew him better than anyone in the world, and he knew you. You all know how that story ended. Actually, you don’t. You just know that it ended." The last two lines 😭😭😭

“Hey, kiddo,” Yoongi greets you, his voice even and cool though he’s sporting the same bright smile as you are. His hair is longer than the last time you saw him. He looks even more handsome than you remember. “Long time no see. How’s my favorite poet doing?” Okaaaay hi Yoongi.

"And Yoongi understands you in ways that Jungkook would have if he had been there." This 😭😭😭😭😭 I feel like Jungkook is about to see that and it's going to hurt him a lot.

“Oh come on, it’s a joke. Lighten up, buddy,” Yoongi finally says. That grin is still on his face, and his tone is almost patronizing. “Jeez, this guy must be fun at parties.” On the one hand, I realise Jungkook is probably due some of this for what he put OC through, but as a person who gives the benefit of the doubt always, I feel kinda bad for him too 😭 It's like funny to see him pissed off but also brings out a little pity in me too 😭

"He rubs his palms and clasps them together. “Okay, here’s what I’ll do. I’ll put him through the wringer, but I’ll keep your name out of it. No one will know about your history. Let Jungkook think I’m just an asshole, I don’t care.” This will be interesting…

"You want to say… Yes, we were close. We were close in the same way that the name of someone’s first love can be inscribed on their heart and never fade away. If you could hold my beating heart in your hands, and if you had a key to open it, I think you would find his initials there. The letters might be messily scribbled, might be crossed out by harsh lines of ink and rewritten again in a different font, but they’re still there, and they will always be there." Beautiful!! Heartbreaking for sure, but so so beautiful!! With lines like these, how can you not sympathise with and hurt alongside OC 🥺

"You don’t answer right away, though you knew this question was inevitable. How do you feel about it? The fact that Namjoon didn’t actually have a family emergency when he dropped Jungkook at your apartment when the three of you were supposed to brainstorm together. The fact that when they pulled up in front of your building, Jungkook told Namjoon that he could go home if he wanted to, that Jungkook didn’t want to make him work on a day off. The fact that despite Namjoon saying it was completely fine, Jungkook practically insisted that he go home." Ooooop 😳😳😳 Jungkook is making movessss

"To not say anything at all and have the nerve to act like he cares about you. It’s… cowardly. He’s still continuing to hurt you by doing this. You always thought you deserve better than this." 😭😭😭

“You’re not going to die alone. You have me.” Okay Taeee. Can't tell if he's a real ride or die or just in love with OC lmaooo.

Well, with Yoongi now in the picture, maybe Jungkook might get a little push 👀👀 But also it makes his life harder too, and OC's as well. And she for sure doesn't need any more complications 😭😭😭

our beloved summer | jjk (03)

You made a vow to hate Jeon Jungkook ever since he packed up and left you without a single explanation, but when he shows up at your door after years of radio silence, it turns out that maybe your resolve isn’t as strong as you thought.

pairing: producer!jungkook x songwriter!reader

genre/warnings: exes au, fluff, angst, eventual smut, swearing, obs3 is kinda oc centric 🤔, a mention of death but like a hypothetical death??, mentions of being *emotionally* haunted, taehyung almost dies 😭, someone so hot and cocky and petty that you might die, oh and tswift references because obviously

rating: PG-13

word count: 7.8k

note: asdfghjkl it’s been a hot minute guys. this was supposed to be longer but i decided last minute that some bits would probably work better in obs4, so no jimin and hobi today 🤥

vote for the revenge 🍆 😈 here before obs4!

series masterpost / playlist ; moodboards ; taglist

— as always, i’d appreciate any thoughts or comments you may have, and please drop a like and/or reblog if you enjoy reading ♡

But I knew you’d linger like a tattoo kiss I knew you’d haunt all of my what-ifs The smell of smoke would hang around this long ‘Cause I knew everything when I was young

Cardigan - Taylor Swift

Keep reading

[kingworm]

not to sound dramatic but i went through the protest signs i’ve made and got so tired realising how i’m going to be reusing them and making more indefinitely

[cranetreegang]

Unbreakable - Ominis and Sebastian (Mentions of FemReader)

WARNINGS:

Spoilers For the Quest - In The Shadow of Time and mentions of death

Summary: After the events in the catacombs, Ominis knows there's only one way to ensure Sebastian can never repeat his mistake.

Word Count: ~1,500 words

Read my other Ominis Fics Here

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

Ominis paces back and forth in the Undercroft as he awaits for Sebastian to arrive. He hates waiting. With nothing to occupy it, his mind tends to latch onto his more pressing thoughts and he replays what he’s about to say like a broken record. But, he’s not about to back down. He knows this is the only way for the both of them to move forward, or to part from one another once and for all - to put an end to this limbo they’re both fettered in.

The gate shutters open - freezing Ominis in place for a moment - and he turns towards the approaching footsteps.

“Ominis.” Sebastian’s hopeful voice sends a pang of agony through Ominis. They haven’t spoken since he convinced Anne to not turn in Sebastian. He’s conflicted - part of him is overjoyed to hear his friend but another, larger, part of him wants to yell and scream at him. To bang his fists against Sebastian’s chest and tell him what a fool he’s been.

“You wanted to speak to me?” Sebastian sounds optimistic - like nothing has happened. Ominis nearly wants to slip into that fantasy, but he refrains. It will do neither of them good.

“I do.” Ominis steps towards Sebastian. “I won’t spare you any niceties nor courtesies, and I’ll go straight to the point. I’m having a difficult time of this. Of you.”

“Oh.”

He can hear Sebastian deflate. He’s never heard him - his strong-headed, bigger than life friend - sound so feeble and small. 

“You wish to mend our friendship and to revert back to how things were. But, that can never be.” Ominis’ lip curls, “It was more than just Solomon you killed that day, Sebastian. It was everything we have built as well. My trust. My faith. Destroyed! By your hands. You know this.” Ominis states - his body trembling.

“Is that what you’ve called me down here for? To lecture me?” Sebastian steps towards Ominis. “Well, go ahead. Have at it. I deserve it. I deserve whatever you wish to say to me.” 

Ominis takes a deep breath, “I only wish to ask you something.” 

“Anything.” He replies with no hesitation and in a near pleading tone. It’s hard for Ominis to snuff the sparks igniting his hope that maybe, just maybe, his friend - his brother - still remained.

“Did you mean your promise? When you said you wouldn’t partake in the Dark Arts ever again, did you mean it?” Ominis questions, his face stern and his foggy gaze aiming towards Sebastian.

Sebastian grimaces, but gives a sure nod, “I did. And I do mean it.” 

“Then prove it.” Ominis holds out his arm. “Swear it.”

The air in the room shifts. It’s like a heavy blanket dropped over the two of them and Ominis can feel Sebastian staring at him - and his outstretched arm. He hears his stuttering, heavy breaths through the still silence.

“Ominis, what are you asking?” Sebastian whispers.

Ominis holds his head high and he directs his narrowed eyes towards Sebastian’s voice, “You’ve hurt so many people, Sebastian. In this selfish quest of yours, you’ve ruined all of us. Solomon. Yourself. Anne. Our dear friend. Me!” His voice cracks and he shakes his head to dispel the hurt and anguish that roars within him. “The devastation you’ve wrought, can never be undone. It has, and will forever, taint all of us.” 

“This was never selfish!” Sebastian hisses. “I only did those things for-,”

“She never asked you to!” Ominis roars, silencing Sebastian. “Not once has she asked you to plunge yourself into the darkness which now eats away at your heart. She’s only needed you, Sebastian. That’s all Anne has ever wanted. Is you, to be by her side - her brother supporting her. Instead, you have all but pushed yourself as far away from her as possible. I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to be close to her again. You’ve all but killed her with what you’ve done.”

Ominis hears Sebastian’s sharp breath and he can smell the faint salt of tears from his silent cries. Ominis closes his eyes and calms himself.

“And I know you. Better than you know yourself. You’ll always be tempted. So, this is the only way. You know this.” Ominis shoves his outstretched arm towards Sebastian again.

Sebastian lets out an audible gasp, “You wish to make an Unbreakable Vow?” 

Ominis’ nod is stiff and firm - leaving no room for questions, “I do. If you wish to remain in our lives, and to be our friend, our brother, again - then you will do this. You will make the vow to never, ever entertain the Dark Arts again. Or it will be the last thing you do.” 

There’s a long silence and Ominis waits with bated breath for Sebastian’s choice. To have his most dreaded question - that he’s feared the answer to - answered, sends his heart thrashing against his ribs. A pressure slithers around his throat and squeezes tighter and tighter the longer the silence drags on.

Sebastian grabs Ominis’ arm in a strong grasp, “Very well. If this is what it will take. Then so be it.”

Ominis lets out a heavy breath then he aims his wand between their arms and begins the incantation. Tight, thin cords wrap around their joined arms and hands. It sears into his flesh - right past his clothes. They both tighten their grip onto the other’s forearms.

“Do you, Sebastian, swear to never intentionally partake, or indulge, in the Dark Arts again? Not even for Anne.” 

Sebastian audibly swallows, “I swear.” 

“Do you swear to never cast another Unforgivable Curse? Not even if your life, or someone else’s life, depended on it.” 

“I swear. I will never use the Dark Arts again.” Sebastian replies with a surness that rekindles Ominis’ hope for him.

Ominis lets out a relieved breath - the spell sealing his promise - and their arms fall back to their sides.

Sebastian steps away as he flexes his hand, “What does this mean? For us?” 

Ominis closes his eyes, “It means; it’s the start of something new.” 

Ominis smiles, and Sebastian does the same.

“Thank you, Ominis.” Sebastian murmurs in a shaky voice. “For not giving up on me.”

Ominis has a sad smile and it twists his eyes to create a somber expression, “You never gave up on me. You never give up on anyone. It’s a trait I admire most in you - even now.” 

Ominis steps towards Sebastian and places a strong hand on his shoulder, “I won’t let you suffer through this alone, Sebastian. We’re all here for you. We can all find a way to help Anne. You just have to trust, and believe, in that. Have faith that we will find a way.”

Sebastian puts his hand over Ominis’ and gives it a squeeze, “You sound just like our friend.”

Ominis grins with a slight laugh, “I suppose her optimism is quite infectious.” 

Sebastian chuckles, “I think so.” He pauses with a frown, “Will you tell her what we’ve done?”

Ominis shakes his head - releasing his grasp on Sebastian, “No. This is between us.”

Sebastian nods, “Then between us, this shall remain.” He lowers his gaze, “I know this won’t completely fix everything. And I won’t stop trying to earn back your trust and your forgiveness. But, it does feel good to know you aren’t completely out of my life.” 

Sebastian grabs both of Ominis’ shoulders, “You’re my brother, Ominis. You’re important to me. I know I haven’t treated you like it, and I will do everything I can from now on to make up for it. Because I do love you. And I hate this is what it took to make me realize it.”

Ominis almost can’t believe the sincerity in Sebastian’s words. He can’t recall there ever being a time when Sebastian was truly this heartfelt and earnest. The nagging voice in his head whispers to him that this is just Sebastian manipulating him once more. The burning threads of their vow still sting his skin and it’s enough to silence the doubt.

“The bond we share is far deeper than that of blood.” Ominis says. “You are my brother too, Sebastian. In every sense of the word. And I love you as well. With that, I will do my best to begin to forgive you. The road ahead will be difficult. But, I believe you’ll manage. I still believe in you, Sebastian.”

Sebastian has a small smile and lets out a slight cough, “Well, if it’s all the same to you, I’ll take my leave before we spill our hearts further.” He takes a step away from Ominis towards the exit.

Ominis laughs, “Perish the thought.” He heads towards the exit with Sebastian, “It should be dinner by now. And I can't think of a better way to begin our new friendship, than with a hearty meal.” 

“Sounds like a wonderful idea.” Sebastian grins and follows after Ominis.

Ominis knows they can never regain what they once had. But, he believes, with all his heart, something else will bloom in its place. And for him, that’s enough.

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

AN: I am aware that the MC is only mentioned here, but this will be an important piece for later. Got some big plans... big plans >:)

Honestly, this was really the only way I could see ominis and sebastian ever realistically being friends again. without the looming worry of seb doing the dark arts, that's the only way omi could ever try to heal their relationship together and to start to trust seb again. and for seb to make the big leap with this vow, just proves to omi that seb does want to change. but that's just my thoughts on that (i mean obvi that's my thoughts about it as i wrote a whole freaking piece about it idk why im even typing this out rn)

also the breaking bread/sharing a meal bit was probs on the nose, but eh whatever

As always, feedback is always welcomed, dm's always opened, and i love all of you semi-equally <3

[pizzatrocious]

He stared at her. Stared at her. Stared directly through her. His eyes were filled with so many emotions. Anger. Fear. Betrayal. Sadness. His entire being wavered as he watched what he saw as his beloved crumple to the ground.

"Rosepetal… what…? What the HELL are you doing? Why… why did you stop me, it—this is what we've been waiting for! SO WHY—"

He trailed off mid-sentence, eyes still locked onto her. He couldn't understand it. He couldn't understand ANY of this. Why was she here? Why wasn't she waiting in the Pizzeria like they'd agreed upon? Why is she PROTECTING him!?

"I KNOW things didn't go as planned, but we were SO CLOSE to finally being free! Free from the labcoats, free from the torture, free from THAT PRISON we called Italy!"

"WE DESERVED A CHANCE TOO, DAMN IT...! And if the ONLY way out was violence..." The show must go on.

Violence was the only answer that ever seemed to work for him. It helped him escape his prison, helped him to get his first contestant, and helped him to scratch the constant burning itch that was his deeply-embedded desire to make Peppino's life hell. It was, after all, in The Noise's nature to torment the Italian. Yet, at the same time... all the situation did was escalate further and further, into the deepest darkest void. Left with nothing but a world of people that hated him down to his very core.

. . .

Nowhere to go now but even further, right?

He took a step forward, raising his claws. Eyes darted between his Rosepetal, and his inferior. HOW? Since WHEN? Haven't they ALWAYS been together, through both the good and the bad? Whenever things would get bad, she'd always be there with her lovely food, that wonderful smile, and a nice big hug! Back in Italy, they—

. . . . . . This . . . . . . . . . This isn't her.

He supposed it made sense. Fake Peppino. Fake Noise. His precious 'Noise 2' was yet another, wasn't she? She was the one that was always there for him, through thick and thin, not the original that lay before him.

And yet, why do my memories of her in Italy feel so foggy...?

. . .

And why did that hollow feeling in his chest eat away at him as he stared at the original?

. . .

He continued to stand there, completely frozen in place, claws at the ready. There was nothing left now, and it was clear the other Noise was no longer in anything resembling fighting condition. Nothing left but to claim his prize, and continue the show as always. The show must go on. Forever and ever, show after show.

Show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show, after show—

He felt something suddenly, forcefully clutch at the back of his cape, yanking him close. Little time to react, as he was immediately whisked away, whisked away by... oh.

Noise 2 was quick and efficient in her rescue. In one swift movement, she managed to scoop him up and carry him off, her jetpack doing most of the heavy lifting as it propelled them. Kicking and screaming in protest, the Noise clone flew off with the other, past the main arena, past the barrier to the audience, and through the door that led directly to the NTV building.

In only a fraction of a second... they were gone.

Slowly, the arena began to close in, further and further... first, slowly reverting back to a circus tent, the barrier quickly dropping. Then, back into a television studio, much of the decor of the cooking show still remaining. Then, finally... a supply closet. Most of the debris was quick to be absorbed the the room itself, the Tower sharing much of the same magic that created the clone's studios.

As for anyone still remaining inside? They were forcefully ejected out of the room, spilling into one of the hallways of the original Noise's TV studio. Rows and rows of the previously-created magical doors sat outside, seemingly also ejected by the room. A long, heavy silence filled the hallways, only broken apart by the occasional murmurs of the still-confused audience and the denizens of the Pizza Tower.

. . .

. . .

. . . This was it, right?

With the clone completely gone, all parties exhausted, and the studio reverting back to normal…

The battle was, by definition, over.

...

It all happened so fast, didn't it?

Hiding in her little corner of the stadium - hiding in her little corner of the world - and desperate to NOT be found, Noisette simply never saw it coming-- not until it was too late. Not the stone rain of what had once apparently been the Tower, not the fog that managed to keep her more hidden from everyone else, not the clones somehow becoming more violent than usual. But even as the world seemed to turn on itself, Noisette remained miraculously unharmed and even more surprisingly unnoticed. Scared out of her mind, definitely, but unharmed.

Maybe there was a little Cartoon Comedy left to protect her.

(Or maybe she really was more useless and insignificant than she thought she was, if not even the narrative seemed interested in her).

Either way, it didn't matter. She had resolved to stay out of the fight and keep everyone else safe for her stupidity until it was all over, didn't she? So no matter if stone rained or if fog fell, she would stay hidden. She would NOT get in the way, no matter what she'd hear. She would stay put with Lonnie, close her eyes and plug her ears, and she would NOT cause more trouble for everyone else!

And yet.

Trouble had other plans for her.

Because in that moment, what had been distant yelling suddenly became much clearer dialogue. Unmistakeble voices. A sound not even her worst nightmares could've conjured on their own.

It was enough to get her to open her eyes.

It all happened so fast, didn't it?

The thick ocean of fog parts, making way for the pink shooting star she's become. Toon Logic or not, can her skates even go that fast? Can they handle that speed? It doesn't matter. She doesn't care. She'll force it anyways, if she needs to. There's just no time; no time to say goodbye to Lonnie --left behind, quickly yet safely tucked behind a piece of Tower debris, where hopefully no clone would find them. A kiss on the forehead is all she can give them in the end. There is so much more she wishes she could leave them, more she could've done with them but there's just no time and they are gone fast asleep. Maybe it's better if they are, in the end.

...

She wishes she could say she's doing this for better reasons. And well, she DOES have plenty of them! To make it up for what happened to that poor kid at the pizzeria. To make it up to that Peppino-who-was-not-Peppino. To make things right by CC, and that other kid (she's never known him, yet she doesn't think she'll be able to forget the name 'Ronnie' now). To make it up to Giuse...Gustavo, and Brick, and Peppino.

To prove that she CAN be useful.

To prove that she ISN'T stupid.

To prove that she IS a good person.

But the truth of the matter is: when Noisette finally brakes smack-dab in the middle of his trajectory, arms spread open and eyes shut tight, she does it above all else for very, very selfish reasons. Because at the heart of it all, underneath that pink bunny mask, Hazel is a very, very selfish woman.

A selfish woman who loves Theodore Noise more than anything.

...

It all happened so fast,

didn't it?

[of-many-fandomss]

Happy New Years!! Hoping we can start 2023 off with a Tangerine x reader 🤞 I was think maybe something along the lines of reader is Ladybug’s step daughter and is rlly close with him and considers him her real father and her and Tangerine start going out and trying to hide it from their respective family members bc they both think it would hurt their family and that’s all they have. Personally I feel like Lemon wouldn’t mind the relationship all that much and would catch on fairly quickly considering how good he is at reading ppl but reader and Ladybug might have some issues when they talk about it so maybe a little angst but nothing soul destroying tho!

She stepped closer to the man she’d known and loved for so many years. “You know I don’t like other people’s opinions or perceptions of me.” She began. “I’m aware” Ladybug agreed.

“you however are the closest and only thing I’ve ever had to a father. So I’m asking you, father to daughter, are you okay with this? Me and him?”

Happy New Years to you too!! (this was a bit longer than I meant it to be)

—————

“Are you sure we should be doing this?” You asked, nervously playing with your fingers as you glanced out the window.

Tangerine turned his head to face you as he set the car to park, “We have to tell them at some point, love.” He reminded you.

“But does it have to be now?” Your leg was bouncing up and down anxiously by then.

He sighed lightly, gently grabbing onto your hand and placing a kiss on top of it, effectively stopping your leg from moving, “We don’t have to tell them right now if you don’t want, love,” He told you sincerely, eyes searching yours, “We can wait until you’re ready.”

You sighed because that, that right there, was the reason you couldn’t put off telling your families about this anymore. He was always so sweet and always put your wants and needs before his own. Because you loved him with all your heart and the two of you shouldn’t have to hide it.

“No,” You tried to make your voice sound determined, “No, you’re right, we have to do this.”

Pride shown through his eyes as he leant forward and placed a kiss on your forehead, “That’s my girl,” He whispered affectionately.

With that, he quickly got out and rushed over to open your door before offering you a hand to get out and the two of you made your way into the restaurant.

You had told your stepfather, Ladybug, to meet you there just like Tangerine had told his brother, Lemon, to meet him there. The plan was that you would tell the two of them at the same time about your relationship. Doing it in a public place was just in case your father reverted back to his old ways and was less than calm about the whole ordeal.

As you both entered, neither Ladybug or Lemon noticed your presence at first, both of them too busy warily eyeing each other from across the restaurant, no doubt wondering what coincidence had compelled the other assassin to be there at the same time as them.

You gave Tangerines hand one last squeeze before dropping it, deciding it was better not to front as a couple until you were actually able to explain it yourself.

“Dad!” You called, flagging him down.

Both his and Lemons eyes snapped over to the two of you in sync, eyebrows furrowing and raising respectively.

You and Tangerine went and sat down side by side in a nearby booth, waiting until both of your family members had joined you, reluctantly sitting side by side.

“Kid?” Ladybug asked, looking between you and the man in confusion, “What’s going on?”

“Tan?” Lemon asked at the same time, raising an eyebrow towards his brother, “Is this about a job?”

Your step father threw his head back with a groan, “Don’t tell me we have to work with these idiots!”

Tangerine swiftly kicked Lemon under the table to stop him from tackling Ladybug for the comment before he cleared his throat, “No, s’actually about something else.”

“Oh?” Ladybug asked.

“Oh,” Lemon breathed out at the same time, realization sparking in his eyes as he looked back and forth between the two of you, he had always been good at reading people.

All of your heads snapped over to the man and he nodded once in understanding, a small smile growing on his face.

Tangerine let out a barely audible sigh of relief and you squeezed his hand under the table, both of you more than grateful for his brothers acceptance.

“What’s going on?” Your father asked, becoming more confused and worried by the moment.

You cleared your throat this time, “Do you think you could give us a minute?” You asked gently, to which they both nodded and quickly swept away to a table a few feet away.

“Dad,” You spoke, “Tangerine and I are dating.”

You held your breath as a pregnant silence followed your words and he blinked at you once. Twice.

“What?” He finally asked, as if he hadn’t- or didn’t want to have- heard you.

“We’ve been going out for a few months now, and we thought it was time we told you and Lemon.” You admitted, nervously eyeing his face for any indication of a reaction.

“You-and him?” He stuttered out, eyes going wide at the realization, “But- you can’t- why-“

“Dad,” You effectively cut off his rambling and sighed lightly, “You know I don’t normally care about others opinions about me.”

“I’m aware.” Was all he was able to say.

You reached across the table and grabbed his hand, squeezing it lightly, “But you are the closest thing I have ever had to a father and even though I love Tangerine with my whole heart, I don’t know if I could keep seeing him if you didn’t approve of this because I love you too much. So I’m asking you father to daughter, are you okay with this? Me and him?”

It was silent for a moment, and in that time, you began to worry that he would react the way he used to react to sudden and unexpected news. Recklessly.

“Are you happy?” He finally asked softly, shocking you.

You nodded slightly, tears beginning to pool in your eyes, “I’m so happy,” You answered honestly.

“Then of course I approve of it.” He finally squeezed your hand back, “I approve of anything and anyone that makes you happy, no matter what.”

You quickly jumped up with a small sob, pulling him in for a tight hug, “Thank you, dad. That means the world to me.”

He tightened his hold of you, “And you mean the world to me, kid.” He whispered back.

When you both pulled away, you turned towards Lemon and Tangerines table, who both scrambled to sit straight up as if they hadn’t just been leaning in to listen in on your conversation.

“You do anything to hurt her,” Ladybug warned, eyes boring into Tangerines as he kept an arm around your shoulders, “And you’ll wish you were never born.”

[im-in-vin-ci-ble]

Hello~ Can I request a Mark x fem reader who’s a lot like starfire and is very Powerful close to omni man and is also an alien princess but she lives on earth and they go to the same school and she’s also a solo hero who one day sees invincible fighting off a tough villain with the teenteam but is losing so she steps in to help and he recognizes her and starts getting all nervous since he has a crush on her and then after that they introduce themselves get to know each other and eventually work they’re way up to mark confessing and she says yes :3

(If possible can it be a slow burn im a sucker for slow burn tropes and stuff 😤)

A/N: I gotchu, this bout to be a lil long 😮‍💨 making the fem!reader a little more human, figured since she’s in an actual school for humans she’d need to adapt to the humor/culture so she doesn’t get suspicious

Pairing: Mark Grayson x Fem!Reader

Rating: M, some swearing and gross monster guts

Warnings: N/A

Summary: Mark is finally joined in battle by an alien princess who has caught his attention. Turns out she goes to the same high school, and if he can throw around 150-pound monsters across the street, surely he can confess his true feelings to a girl... right?

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?!" Rex Splode yelled as he wobbled up off the ground. "We've been on this thing for hours and it only has one damn cut!"

"Calm down Rex," Atom Eve said from behind, "You're gonna get even more tired from yelling."

The two watched as Dupli-Kate attempted to distract the scaly kaiju, replicating herself second after second to give space for Invincible to hit the monster by surprise. The kaiju's screech echoed throughout the city and shook the foundations of the surrounding buildings, forcing Rex, Atom Eve and Robot to move aside and save however many civilians they could.

"Invincible," Dupli-Kate shouted, "I can't keep up much longer!"

A sonic boom overcame the surrounding noise and Invincible appeared from the clouds. Dropping in at maximum speed, the young superhero balled his hand into a fist and took a deep breath. A loud battle cry escaped his mouth but it was cut short as the kaiju's heavy arm slapped him away just in time, throwing him through destroyed buildings until he landed on the pavement.

Out of breath, dizzy, and in a serious amount of pain, Invincible laid on the broken road for a second to regain his strength. The wind softly blew down on him as he focused his sight on a contrail leading towards him, and he watched as a girl in purple land right next to him.

She bent down and held him upright, "Invincible, are you okay?"

"Mmhmm," Invincible croaked with a defeated smile, "Totally fine."

His sight reverted back to normal and the first face he saw shocked him alive. It was her. They never talked in school and he was almost sure she didn't know his real name, but here she was, basically cradling him in her arms and calling him Invincible.

So she knows who I am. At least with the suit.

"Come on, that kaiju is about to be destroy the entire city," she said, helping him get back on his feet and flying away to the seemingly unbeatable figure.

He huffed, "Stay cool, Mark. She's here to help," and he followed suit.

This marked the first time he really interacted with the new superhero; he'd only ever see her on TV or read about how she saved people on the newspaper. He'd be lying if he said he didn't find her attractive — as do most guys his age — but watching her blast the kaiju with the green bursts of energy from her hands made her only even more appealing.

Invincible regrouped with the rest of the Teen Team. "I don't know what else we can do to this thing," Atom Eve admitted.

"I do," the girl spoke up. "Distract it as best as you can but stay far away from the stomach. When I tell you to take cover, make a run for it."

Robot replied, "That seems highly dangerous."

"Let's do it," Invincible quickly replied in a high-pitched voice.

Everyone looked over at him, surprised at the sudden change in his voice and just how fast he reacted in agreement. 

"Uh, it's a good plan," he nodded, causing the girl to shoot a warm smile his way. "I definitely think we should do it... if all of you... uh, think, we should."

Exhausted and out of options, the rest of the group followed her orders and took different corners of the monster. Dupli-Kate handled one leg, Rex Splode handled the other, Robot and Atom Eve took the arms, and Invincible went back to the head. The kaiju struggled to keep its focus on just one of the heroes, and while it remained preoccupied, the girl absorbed all the energy she could muster and flew straight for the stomach.

"Take cover, now!"

Invincible and the Teen Team moved away and they watched as the flying hero's eyes opened in a bright shade of neon green, both her arms extended out as a large ball of green formed around her hands. The rays exploded right through the kaiju and it shrieked in pain as she briefly disappeared into the stomach. The kaiju lost balance and slowly fell forward as the girl, her eyes still green, appeared on the other side and harshly fell down on the ground.

The kaiju landed on the street with a loud boom and the group ran towards the girl who was now covered in parts of the kaiju's digestive system.

"Okay, that's kinda gross," Rex Splode commented, to which Dupli-Kate quickly responded, "Shut up."

Invincible dropped down on his knees and wiped the blood and guts off her face. Subtly admiring her facial features up close, he couldn't believe (and almost felt stupid) that he never recognized her despite the fact that he almost saw her everyday.

The girl groaned in agony softly shook her head, her eyes fluttering open to the sight of Invincible's dark hair, goggles and yellow mask.

"Hey, hey," he whispered, "Are you alright?"

She sat up and hissed at her injuries, holding her head with her bloody hand. "Mmhmm," she gently nodded with a half smile, her eye one still shut. "Totally fine."

---

Mark had a hard time focusing on school. His body ached from yesterday's injuries and he suffered a few bruises from literally tearing through buildings. He made his way to his locker and rested his head on the metal door, dreading the fact that he still has an entire afternoon of classes to go. Closing his eyes in hopes to quickly recharge, his moment of peace was disrupted when a shoulder rammed into his chest and several books landed right on his toe.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry," a voice exclaimed.

Mark's head snapped up at the sound of the voice. It's her. He momentarily froze and watched the girl bend down to pick up her things, and when he finally regained movement a split second later, he also bent down to help her out. He kept quiet as he tried to think of the coolest possible response to make her think that he was actually the coolest guy in school, but all he could think of was how heavenly and badass she looked yesterday.

"Thanks," she said as he handed her the book. "I hope your foot doesn't bruise."

They both stood up and he shot her a nervous smile. "T-totally fine," he replied, clearing his throat afterwards.

She crossed her brows at his response and nodded, and a look of suspicion replaced her worried demeanor.

"I'm Mark, by the way," he cleared his throat again and reached out his hand, "Grayson."

"Mark... Grayson, huh?" she responded, scanning his face as her suspicion grew. Her eyes finally landed on the hand that was waiting, and she took one last look into his eyes before deciding to shake it. "I'm Y/N," she introduced herself with a skeptical smile, feeling his sweaty palm wrapped around hers. "I'll see you around, Mark Grayson."

She walked away and Mark's eyes followed her trail as far as he could see. He quickly pulled out his phone to send a text to Eve, who was actually watching their interaction a few classrooms down.

"Mark," Eve called out as she moved towards him. “So I’m assuming...”

"You knew?” he asked her in disbelief. “Why didn't you tell me Y/N was a superhero? I just introduced myself to her as Mark Grayson and I'm almost positive she knows I'm Invincible."

"First off, it's not my secret tell," she answered with a shrug. "Second, you guys didn’t trade secrets or whatever?”

Mark shook his head in a panic, "No, but I'm guessing she also knows that I know her secret the same way I know she knows my secret." He rested his forehead on the locker door once again and groaned, "Ugh, I'm so into her, it isn't even funny. And this whole superhero thing just made it even more awkward."

Eve laughed, "Look, I'm not going to force her to tell you if she isn't up for it, but if you want, I can ask her to hang out with us later. Maybe — emphasis on maybe — my presence will make her comfortable enough to admit who she is."

"Okay, okay," he sighed, turning around to rest the back of his head. "My insides are dying."

"After the kaiju yesterday, be thankful you don't mean that in a literal sense."

---

Where in the hell is Eve?

Mark pulled out his phone for the third time in 10 minutes. Still no call or response from Eve to his text. He was getting evidently nervous; his palms were sweaty again and it felt like someone turned up the heat in Burger Mart. His left leg jerked up and down in anxiety as he stared at his phone, looking at the seconds on the clock icon tick by. If he were left alone with Y/N, he'd have no idea what to say. What does she like? Should I bring up the kaiju yesterday and praise Invincible? No, she'll just think I'm full of myself.

"Hey Mark."

He jolted and saw Y/N standing by the corner of the booth. "Hi!" he replied in that irritatingly high-pitched voice. Mark's heart began to race and the thoughts in his head ran wild. "Um... Have a seat. Sorry Eve isn't here yet, she actually hasn't answered my calls or my messages. Teenage girls, huh? What can you do?"

She crossed her brows again and chuckled, "That's fine, we can wait for Eve. But I think I'm more concerned about you."

"What do you mean?"

Y/N chuckled again, "You seem... nervous.”

He faked an obnoxiously loud laugh, “Me? Nervous?”

She watched him from across the table in silence, waiting for him to regain his composure.

When Mark couldn’t hear Y/N laughing with him, he finally shut up and shook his head. “Yeah, I am nervous, sorry,” he admitted, shutting his eyes tight. 

She giggled, “Totally fine.”

Hearing her say those two words calmed his racing heartbeat. A smile crept on his face and she reciprocated, their eyes locking for a few seconds before both their phones buzzed.

“Oh, I just got a text from Eve,” Mark said. 

“Me too.” She opened the message and began to read it out loud, “Sorry, can’t make it tonight. Something came up.”

“Have fun, you two,” he followed, his voice faltering. He placed his phone, screen down this time, back on the table and sighed, “Sorry, guess you’re stuck with me. That is, if you do want to stay and... hang out, and stuff.”

"Why wouldn’t I?” she replied, her warm smile easing Mark back into a relaxed state. “It’s nice to have a friend who...” she trailed off, “understands.”

“Understands what?” he asked.

“This thing people like us call life,” she answered. “You know, it took me a long time to acclimate here. I didn’t think I ever would, then I met friends who made this place feel like home. And home is a feeling I hadn’t felt in a really long time.”

Mark rested his elbows on the table and leaned in closer, “Well, I’m always here. You know, a-as a friend... or an acquaintance, even. I don’t, I don’t want to push it.”

Y/N giggled again, “You’re a funny man, Mark Grayson. This planet is lucky to have someone like you.” She reached out and held his hand, “And I’m even luckier to have you as a friend, or an acquaintance.” 

He felt the heat rush to his face and he could swear his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. The afternoon flew by in a hurry as they engaged in lengthy conversations, fatty fast food, and childhood stories. While Mark was open to sharing every tiny detail — down to the color of the bleachers at the park where he played little league — Y/N kept hers pretty vague, leaving out descriptions of family members and even the places where these stories happened. 

Mark’s phone buzzed again, but the vibrating pattern indicated it was a phone call. He turned the screen over and saw the unknown number; it was time to suit up.

“Shit, I’m sorry Y/N, but I need to go,” he said in a rush. “I have a... uh, an emergency.”

You couldn’t have thought of anything more specific?

“It’s cool. Um, don’t worry about it,” she said, shaking her head with her eyes glued to the vibrating phone. 

Mark’s one leg was already out the booth before he decided to finally just go for it. Sitting back down with his now quiet phone in his hands, he took a deep breath.

“Y/N, I think you’re really cool. Can I maybe, like, call you sometime, or something?”

Her lips formed into smile that extended to her eyes, and it was enough for Mark to melt a little. “Of course. Yeah, sure,” she replied in excitement and typed down her number on his phone. She handed it back, “Now you know how to reach me if you’re getting your ass whooped again.”

His mouth fell open as his shaky hands grabbed his phone. “Wait—”

She smoothly slid out of the booth, “See you later, Invincible,” she winked, “Don’t get killed today.”

---

Luckily for Mark, no one got killed today. Maybe a few wounds here and there, but nothing painful enough that will land him in the GDA hospital. After spending an hour in the shower, he finally managed to lie down on his bed and rest his body. He sank into the mattress and closed his eyes, taking in the seconds of undisturbed peace that have become rare moments since he got his powers. 

As he replayed the events of today’s fights in his head, his mind drifted off to the hours he spent with Y/N. He pulled out his phone and mustered the courage to press the dial button, and the repeating sound of the ringing was making his pulse race. 

“Hello?”

“Oh good, you didn’t die today.”

Mark chuckled and sandwiched his hand between his head and the pillow. “It wasn’t that bad today, just took a few hits,” he explained. “So listen, Y/N, I was wondering, uh—”

She cut him off, “What are you doing right now?”

“What?”

“What are you doing right now?” she repeated.

“Um, nothing, just getting some rest” he sat up and looked around. “Why?”

“If you’re not too tired, do you maybe...”

Mark smiled, “Maybe...?”

“I don’t know, sneak out? My roof is pretty comfortable.”

Silently fist pumping, he fully stood up and nodded, “Text me the address.”

Just as quietly as he exited his room via the window, he softly landed on Y/N’s roof. Swiftly flying up and greeting him, she took the place next to him and crossed her legs. 

“You’re right, your roof is pretty comfortable,” Mark said.

She chuckled at his remark then noticed a gash by his right temple. Her brows furrowed in worry, “You have a wound,” she said, making sure not to touch it.

“Don’t worry about it,” he replied, softly holding her hand and placing it back down with his. “Totally fine.”

Those words brought her some sense of comfort as her eyes softened, causing her to unconsciously squeeze his hand. Mark’s eyes widened and he looked down at their tangled fingers, frozen for a moment.

“Is this... okay with you?” he asked.

She nodded. “Wanna lie down? Since my roof is so comfortable?” she asked with a smirk.

“Sure,” Mark chuckled, removing his hand from her’s and stretching his arm out as they lied down. Y/N rested her head on his shoulder, keeping her eyes up at the stars.

“Hey Mark?”

“Yeah?”

A moment of silence.

“Thank you for coming.”

He looked down at her as she met his eyes, “You’re welcome.” 

The two shared a smile, and Mark took a deep breath as he prepared himself for the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

It’s now or never, Mark. Now or never.

“Watching you kick ass yesterday was... really a sight to see,” he began. “You’re powerful and strong, but more importantly, brave. And you’re so fucking beautiful and kind and smart and...” Mark trailed off, sighing, “I never thought I would be in this position — with you next to me in a very comfortable rooftop under the stars.”

“Mark...”

“And I really like you. Like, really, really like you.”

“Mark.”

“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way, but I just wanted to let you know. It’s important that you know—”

“Mark,” she cut him off. “I like you too. A lot.”

He breathed a sigh of relief and covered his eyes with his free hand. “Oh thank god. Thank god!” he exclaimed.

Y/N shushed him, “You’re gonna wake up the neighborhood, Invincible.”

“Sorry,” he giggled quietly, “I got excited.”

She laughed and faced her body towards him. They locked eyes again, and Mark didn’t know if it was gravity or just the adrenaline that pushed him, but he finally leaned down and met her lips. Static ran through his body as he deepened the kiss, and he felt an excitement that was even more exhilarating than the first time he flew.

She pulled away and Mark ran his hand through her hair, resting his hand on her cheek. “How was that?” he asked.

She smiled gently and placed her hand over his, “Totally fine.”