#it’s lower effort than my last post rip

[stolos]

This one goes out to everyone who thought he had hip cut-outs in the last post

[golden-afternoon]

wahhh happy birthday Xiao!!! I wanted to finish writing this which I had sitting in my wips for a while now for his birthday but got really sad when I realized I wouldn't be able to get it done in time. Therefore the ending is suuuuper rushed and the whole thing is a little jank but I wanted to post it still even if it's not perfect. May revisit this later to fix it up a little!

Warnings - gn! reader, Xiao dealing with Xiao thoughts in his not exactly healthy ways, blowjobs n face fucking my favorites 😋, wet dreams, aaand I think that covers it?

Bitter.

Bitter was the taste usually lingering in his mouth. Bitter words waiting behind his lips, bitter bile at the back of his throat at best forgotten memories, bitter disdain as he swallows back his useless desires. The unpleasant flavor remains on his tongue most of the time, having come to accept it was simply another burden of his to bear.

How rare then was such a taste of sweetness?

Xiao swallowed thickly, almost on instinct to get rid of the unfamiliar sweet flavor that had begun to spread across his tongue, flooding his senses. His mouth felt incredibly dry and the action had done little to nothing to sate the urge to remove the offending taste.

So, so sweet.

It was so unbearably sweet, he wasn’t sure he could stand it.

So sweet was the sight before him, he could hardly wrap his head around it. The sight of you. You, there before him gazing up with those sweet, precious eyes of yours. You, so sweetly kneeling before him as though it were the most natural position in the world to be in. You, whose fingers delicately had been tracing along the hem of his pants, gently tugging at the silks that lie around his hips to set the fabric loose.

“What are you doing?”

The words left him, coming out in a low, biting tone, bitterness falling from his tongue with practiced ease. Yet, he made no effort to move away. He, the Vigilant Yaksha, the Conqueror of Demons, the great Alatus, was frozen in place like an animal caught by surprise in a field. His brows furrowed together he stared down at you, both trying to piece together the meaning of your behavior and why he had not moved yet. His heart was beating hard enough in his chest that he could hear the blood rushing around his ears in time with each beat.

Yet even with the sharpness of his words, you remained unfazed, simply smiling up at him with such tenderness, unaware that such a gaze made that sweet flavor flood across his tongue again, much to his growing unease. “You may try to lie to yourself Xiao, but it's clear as day to me that you need to spend some time relaxing.”

Even your voice was sweeter than anything he'd ever tasted. It made his stomach churn. No, not churn. That's not the right word. It was a lighter sensation than that. Almost… pleasant, even as it made him almost feel sick. A feeling slowly becoming more and more familiar to him the more time he had spent around you.

The adeptus was ripped from his hazy reverie as the gentle clink of metal hit the floor, followed almost immediately by those nimble fingers brushing against his hips as they gently began to pull down the last bit of fabric separating his shame from your eyes. His hands twitched with the impulse to shove you away, bitter guilt bordering on panic rising in his throat, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He swallowed again, his mouth just as dry as before as his golden eyes sharply watched every movement you made.

“What are you doing to me?” He asked, his normally cool and indifferent tone sinking into a slightly uneven rasp, shamefully hinting at how much you were affecting him.

Xiao felt heat wash over his face as a sweet laugh left your lips, leaving his question unanswered in favor of lowering the dark fabric further and further until his aching cock sprung free of its confines. A gloved hand instinctively lifted to his mouth to suppress the noise that came from him at the feeling, and even worse, the sight of your eyes being locked onto his already achingly hard shaft with such keen interest and fascination. If he hadn’t known any better, he would’ve been certain you were trying to kill him, what with how his heart was beating so hard it felt like it could burst at any moment. He ripped his eyes away from the painfully sweet sight, that strange flavor spreading across his tongue once more as saliva pooled in his mouth.

This was wrong. This shouldn’t be happening. He shouldn’t be allowing this in the first place! If he allowed you to do this, then all it would serve to do was hurt you in the end, he had no right to be so selfish-

A hitching gasp was ripped from his chest as he felt the softest sensation brush against the head of his cock. Sharp eyes immediately came right back to look down at you, his pupils dilating as he sees you with your lips still pressed to the tender, flushed skin in such a gentle little kiss. His dick twitched from the sweet sight, the motion making his sensitive skin lift away from those soft lips, giving him a brief moment of reprieve before it rested back into place, tapping against your mouth and effectively smearing a bit of the liquid leaking from him on those pretty lips, giving him such a shamefully lewd view that it drew a groan from him, unable to be muffled by his gloved hand.

Seeming to be encouraged by his reaction, he watched as your lips parted, that pretty pink tongue sliding out to lick up the mess he had left behind. A growled curse left him as he felt the sinful desires he’d been fending off came crashing in on him, nearly making his knees buckle under the weight of it. A soft hum of pleasure left your lips, seemingly enjoying his no doubt bitter taste. Surely that was just for show, he immediately assumed, slowly lowering his hand from his blushing face, only to instantaneously be proven wrong by your hands sliding onto his thighs for support as you leaned closer, drawing your warm tongue along his part of his length, lingering at the top to collect the rest of the clear fluid that had leaked out.

His restraint was wearing thin as the hand that had just been on his face now found itself settled on the back of your head, his gloved fingers curling loosely into your hair. Xiao remained silent for a moment, his face caught in a strained expression as he looked down at you, his golden eyes studying you with an intensity that he has found himself unable to hide any longer.

Your name left his lips quietly, the rasp of his voice barely audible above the steady rain coming down outside the open window. He began to card his fingers through your hair before managing his next words. “Do you really want to do this? If you keep going as you are, I may not be able to stop myself.” He warned in that same tone, wishing he had been able to speak louder, but he knew that if he had, it would have only made his voice waver.

Those sweet eyes stayed locked onto his as you processed the question, answering him with a smile and a playful little kiss to his head once more. “Then don’t stop yourself.”

Before he could have much time to comprehend those words, Xiao found himself curling his fingers into your hair with a grunt, nearly becoming winded from the feeling of his cock slowly be enveloped into the warm, wet heat of your mouth. Its not the first time in his long existence that he has experienced such intimate pleasures, but certainly it had been a very, very long time since he had even considered indulging himself in things like this. He’d spent so much of his time convincing himself he held no such desires, but here you were breaking down every wall he’d built with such ease.

Another growling curse left him as he felt his tip hit the back of your mouth, having brought a muffled little gagging noise to his ears. He shivered as the reflex simply made your throat tighten for a moment around the portion of him that had pressed towards your throat. That was enough to make him crack.

He adjusted his hold on your hair, curling his fingers in to maintain a firm, almost painful grip before he began to move, teeth sinking into his lip as he began to shift his hips. Vibrations from the sweet little yelp of surprise ran through his cock, only fueling him further in his aching need. Holding your head in place he couldn’t stop himself from dragging himself in and out along your tongue. Archons, you felt perfect. You let your jaw slack slightly to keep yourself from scraping your teeth along his shaft, encouraging him even more. His other hand, trembling slightly from it all, lifted to your flushed face, gently brushing aside and tucking away some loose hair that had fallen across your forehead, his pace never slowing down as those fingers join his other hand in holding you in place so he can keep you steady.

It was no longer a question of desire for him. He needed you. He needed you now more than ever and he had reached a point where he simply couldn’t hold back any longer. He began to push deeper, nudging his dripping head against the back of your mouth again, trying to gain purchase into your throat, but you couldn’t help but gag on his size. He frowned slightly, his eyes locked onto your dazed expression, lips sealed around as much of him as you thought you could take. A quiet grunt, followed by his lowered voice offering soothing words in the best way he could think to. “You can take it. Come on.”

Not the most reassuring thing to say, especially when this was immediately followed by his hands manually adjusting the angle of your head and simply shoving his shaft against your throat again, causing tears to well in those pretty eyes of yours as you gag on it again. Bitter guilt climbs the back of his own throat at the sight, but then he realized that you weren’t backing away at all. If anything, it seemed like you were trying to reach the same goal. Hands on his thighs to steady yourself, lips staying perfectly wrapped around his size, and even more, you kept trying to press closer, clearly seeing what he wanted and trying desperately to help him get there.

He breathed out another curse, the word faltering slightly as it rasped out, his hands grasping harder onto your head as he picked up his pace, thrusting harder and harder, fucking into your face until with one slick motion, he pushed past at last, your muscles loosening enough to allow himself to bury himself deep within your throat. Your nose pressed against his skin as he held you there for a moment, savoring the sweet feeling of you taking him in his entirety.

He let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding, the sound coming out like a hiss through bared teeth. This… this isn't right. So tight and slick around him, this amount of pleasure shouldn't be granted to someone like him. For a moment, even in his daze of pleasure, Xiao seriously considered pulling out, having become overwhelmed by it all, but then, he saw your eyes. Those pretty eyes that have haunted him far more than he cared to admit were now looking up at him in a way that made his heart nearly stop. Such a soft, overwhelmingly sweet gaze up at him through those long lashes of yours contrasted to the sinful sight of your nose bumping against his body, lips stretched around his aching length. All other thoughts immediately left his mind as he stared down at you with lips parted in awe. He may not deserve even a scrap of this amount of pleasure, but who was he to deny you whose eyes looked so positively needy. Gritting his teeth, he curled his fingers more into your hair, drawing a whine of slight pain from you, the sound almost entirely disappearing into his cock as he began to move again, fully intending to be slow and sweet, but perhaps rough desperation was just better suited to his natural bitter nature.

Gloved hands holding you in place he picked up speed, the slick sounds of your mouth and throat being used mingled with the sound of the rain, all of it rushing around to his ears and making his mind melt even more. Archons, he's not even sure how much longer he can last like this. He can see on your face that you're struggling to keep holding your breath but you keep letting him going, not pushing away in the slightest. The feeling of your thumbs lightly digging into his skin as you clung to him for support was nearly enough to send him over the edge.

He nearly growled out his words, wanting to at least warn you, “I think…. ah…. I think I'm at my limit…”

Xiao watched as those long lashes fluttered shut at his words, that sweet gaze disappearing in favor of close eyed focus and fervor, seeming to struggle to do your best to keep going, to hold on as long as you can to bring him over the edge. It drove him insane.

“Xiao!”

He was so lost in the sweet sensation, so close to the edge, he almost didn't hear the voice over the sound of the rain and the slick noises from below and-

“Adeptus Xiao!”

Xiao bolted upright in an instant, panting from the adrenaline as he struggled to gain his bearings, the sound of his blood rushing around his ears mingling with the gentle rain outside making his head spin.

He was… alone. And now rather uncomfortable in the sticky aftermath. Bitter guilt spread across his tongue and gripped at his heart, shaking hands reaching up to grab fistfuls of his own hair in frustration. How could he even think about you like that? Sure he was unconscious but he had absolutely no right to defile your sweet visage with something so selfish and wrong. He had no need for such desires. None whatsoever.

But he could hardly even convince himself of that when he realized it was your voice calling his name from the other side of his door, making him wonder with an ache deep in his chest if this was that bittersweet dream manifesting itself before him.

[ellieluvr420]

Friends? Never. Pt.23 (Ellie Williams x reader)

MASTERLIST (and information about Palestine) Please read!

SYNOPSIS: You and Ellie had been bitter enemies for years now but before that you were best friends. You had always planned to be roommates one day but when that becomes a reality the situation isn't exactly how you both imagined it.

OMG she actually posted, what a day! Sorry guysssss, when I tell you life has been crazy but I'm back and I promise these fics will get finished if it is the last thing I do!

₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧    

“I’m not sick.” Ellie punctuated her sentence with a cough that ripped through her chest and reverberated around the room. 

“Ellie you have a fever, you’re sweating and you’re pale and you just coughed in my face. You’re sick.” You had been going round in circles for too long and you were tired. Clem had brought home a virus from school and despite your best-efforts Ellie had also caught it, though she wasn’t ready to accept that yet. 

“Babe, I’m literally fine.” Ellie jumped out of bed before you could stop her and immediately swayed, you grabbed her by the waist to steady her as her arms wrapped around your neck. Her forehead came to rest on your shoulder as she whimpered quietly. She was clinging onto you for dear life as you huffed at her stubbornness. 

“Yeah you seem perfectly fine.” You snarked at her. “Get back in bed.” The tone of your voice made it clear there was no room for discussion as you gently lowered her to lay back down. 

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was barely audible as her eyebrows scrunched and she pouted slightly. 

“For what? You can’t help being sick.” She sighed but interrupted herself with another chesty cough as you brushed away the hairs that had stuck to her forehead from the cold sweat. “I’m gonna go check on patient zero then I’ll make you some tea okay?” 

“I love you, so much.” 

“That fever’s making you sappy huh?” 

“Fuck you.” Despite her words, her tone was laced with love as she chuckled quietly. 

“I love you too El, sit tight.” You pressed the back of your hand to her forehead once more before leaving her to check on Clem in her room. 

Clem wasn’t much better off than Ellie, she looked sullen, barely meeting your eyes as you walked into her room to check on her. It pained you, wrenched at your heart to see them both so weak and tired.  

“Hi baby, did you get much sleep?” You checked on her through the night, unable to get any decent sleep but eventually exhaustion had taken over and you had collapsed into bed next to Ellie for a few hours. You wanted to remark how much of a miracle it was that you hadn’t got ill yet but that felt like you’d be tempting fate so you pushed the thought out of your mind as quickly as it came.  

“I slept okay, when will I get better mommy?” That caused a pit in your stomach, knowing you couldn’t give her an answer to that. 

“I don’t know honey, it won’t be long.” You could tell by the scrunch of her eyebrows that didn’t help. “Tell you what, why don’t I take you to cuddle with mama while I make you both some breakfast? Does that sound good?” Her eyes lit up and she nodded while sniffling as she sat up. You carried her to yours and Ellie’s room and the smile on both their faces when they saw each other warmed you. 

“Hey kiddo, not feeling any better?” Ellie’s voice was nasally and scratchy but you couldn’t help but smile as she sat up slightly and shifted to make more room for Clem to lay with her. 

“No, are you sick too mama?” 

“Just a little bit baby, but don’t worry about me.” Ellie immediately wrapped her arms around Clem as you set her down on the bed and Clem snuggled into her side as you went to make breakfast. 

“Sorry I made you sick mama.” You heard Clem whisper sheepishly as you reached the door, pausing to her Ellie’s reply. 

“Don’t be silly, it’s not your fault, these things happen. Just focus on getting better hm, you can go back to sleep if you’re tired.” You smiled and walked downstairs to start breakfast humming to yourself quietly. 

When you returned with two mugs of tea, a plastic one for Clem, while the porridge heated on the stove Ellie smiled sadly at you. 

“What’s up babe?” Her cheeks flushed as her eyebrows scrunched, she looked visibly distressed and your heart clenched. 

“Started my period yesterday.” She looked embarrassed, she couldn’t make eye contact as she said it and you almost chuckled at how silly she was being. 

“Oh babe, you’re having a tough time. Cramps bad?” She nodded. “Lucky I grabbed that hot water bottle then isnt it? I’ll go boil some water for it, breakfast won’t be long now. Do you need help getting to the toilet or anything?” 

“No I’m okay, thank you, I don’t deserve you.” 

“Stop saying that!” You scolded gently as you left her to go check the bathroom and make sure you’d have enough pads for her, luckily there were still a lot from the last pack you had found on patrol but Maria was always very good at trying to make sure Jackson had a good supply of period products for the town, people were even attempting to make reusable pads.  

You finished the porridge with honey for Ellie and jam for Clem before filling the hot water bottle and taking everything upstairs, Ellie’s eyes lit up as you walked in, even sick, she was the most beautiful girl you had ever seen, you’d kiss her over and over again even at the risk of getting ill but she had forbid you to try and stop you from getting sick, the thought was nice but you were struggling.  

“Eat up and drink your teas, I can make juice, do you guys want juice?” You felt useless and your rambling indicated that to Ellie as you pressed the hot water bottle to her stomach, barely meeting her eyes. 

“Babe, we’re okay, take a breath.” 

“I know, I just hate seeing you both sick.” Ellie nodded in understanding and smiled before turning her attention to Clem who was eyeing the porridge like she hadn’t eaten in weeks. 

“You put jam in it! That’s my favourite. Thank you mommy.” 

“It’s okay baby, El there’s honey in yours.” 

“You know me so well.” She smiled giddily before picking up her spoon and eating with a satisfied hum. 

“Clemmy, after breakfast do you think you’ll want to nap or can I give you a bath?” 

“We can do it after, I love you mommy.” 

“Aw I love you more sweetie, now c’mon, eat up.” You pinched her cheek gently and smiled as she giggled and continued eating before turning your attention back to Ellie. “Is the hot water bottle helping love?” 

“Mhm it’s perfect, you’re the best.” 

“You’re cute, I’ve got a couple things to do so I’ll be back in a bit okay, shout if you need me.” You smiled and exited leaving to eat and then tidy up the kitchen from making breakfast. You could hear Ellie and Clem coughing every so often but you mostly heard them giggling, even ill and tired, they still made each other laugh and it gave you peace as you sat and ate your porridge.  

You decided to make some orange juice from the oranges you had gotten from the market yesterday as they needed their vitamins and you knew they’d pull the sick card to get out of eating vegetables for dinner tonight.  

₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧   

“You ready for a bath baby?” Clem nodded and smiled as you walked in. “How you feeling El? Need anything?” 

“I’m okay, stop worrying about me.” 

“Just won’t happen, sorry. We’ll be back soon.” You bathed Clem and by the time you were done she was nodding off so you set her down in her bed to let her sleep before returning to Ellie, finding her curled in on herself clutching her stomach. “Oh babe, have they gotten worse?” 

“I’m-” 

“You’re not fine so don’t say you are. You are allowed to be in pain. Want me to rub your back?” She gulped at your stern tone and then smiled sheepishly as she nodded, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. 

“I don’t want you to get sick.” She practically pleaded as you sat and pulled her to lay on your chest, her cheek squishing slightly making her look so sweet. 

“Well I don’t care, just let me take care of you.” You started rubbing her back and the contented sigh that escaped her lips had you grinning. “Clem’s sleeping, she’s never been this tired, I didn’t realise how much I’d miss her whirlwind of energy.” 

“I know, I hate seeing her like this. I was telling her puns while you were gone and she was laughing but eventually she just got tired and wanted to sit with me. She’s not herself.” 

“Neither of you are. Think this virus is gonna take down the whole of Jackson at some point.” 

“Hey at least it won’t happen on the farm.” 

“Just another reason to move, I’m so excited. I did a bit more packing this morning.” 

“Babe wait until I’m better and I’ll help.” 

“Ellie, it’s fine, why are you being so weird about being ill? You can’t help it.” 

“I know, I just feel useless, you already do so much for us and now you’re having to look after us too.” 

“I don’t have to do anything, I do it because I want to, I like taking care of my family. You’re not useless anyway, you kept Clem occupied and happy so I could get things done, so just please drop it, you’re perfect.” 

“You think?” She met your eyes and they sparkled for the first time today. 

“I know.” You smiled and bent down but she put a hand over your lips. 

“Hey, no kissing, I’m not risking it.” 

“What difference does it make? You’re laying all over me.” You huffed. 

“It’s different.” You rolled your eyes and then spotted her tea, you reached for it and took a large gulp of it. 

“See, we’ve already swapped germs, no point holding back now.” You smiled smugly as she frowned until she also smiled, relenting and leaning up to press a sweet kiss to your lips. 

“Happy now?” 

“So happy. If you’ve still got cramps, I can run you a bath, will probably help with the pain.” 

“You just want to get me naked.” She quirked an eyebrow as she snorted at her own remark. 

“I never said anything about me being there, just that I would run it. But glad to know you’re still well enough to have such a dirty mind.” 

“Oh whatever.” She huffed and pinched your waist as you chuckled. 

“Do you want the bath or not?” 

“In a second? I like laying here.” 

“Okay babe.” You pressed a kiss to the top of her head and let her relax into you once more as you rubbed soft circles over her back, Ellie had always been one to suffer in silence and it never annoyed you any less, so seeing her admit, even if it was with difficulty, that she isn’t feeling her best was more than you could have expected from her. “Kinda wish you were ill more often so I could take care of you like this.” 

“Erm... thanks.” She chuckled as you squeezed her slightly and feathered kisses all over her forehead and hair. “Can we just do this without me being sick? I feel like I’d prefer that.” 

“Who are you and what have you done with my Ellie?” 

“What?” She scoffed. 

“Admitting you like it when I take care of you, you’re a different person.” 

“Yeah well, it’s not all bad I guess.” You laughed at her response. 

“Thanks babe.” She coughed as you spoke and you realised you had almost forgotten she was sick. “Okay be quiet and have a nap now, you need your rest, I’ll run you a bath when you wake up.” 

“I’m not that tired.” You weren’t even surprised when she yawned as she finished her sentence. “Shut up.” 

“I didn’t say anything, just stop fighting me hm.” Your free hand came to play with her hair and scratch at her scalp, feeling successful when she let out a hum of contentment. 

“Yes ma’am.” She mumbled before squeezing your waist tighter and burrowing into your chest like it’s a pillow, to her, it was. 

₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧   

“Do you wanna get in with me?” Ellie asked, hope seeping through her voice and face. 

“Are you sure? I thought you’d wanna relax.” 

“I’m most relaxed when I’m with you.” She purrs as she starts pulling at your top, you chuckle and help her rid you of your clothes before you sit in the bath leaving room for her to lay in between your legs. Ellie lets out a content sigh as she relaxes into the tub and presses her back to your chest, letting you lace your fingers into her hair and scratch at her scalp. “You’re so nice.” She hums eliciting a giggle from you. 

“You’re easy to please.” You quip with a kiss to the top of her head. 

“Damn right.” She agrees as her eyes shut and she relaxes back into you, her weight a welcome imposition in your body.  

“How’s your stomach? Cramps got worse?” 

“No they feel a little better actually, you’re a miracle worker.” 

“I think it’s the bath that’s done that babe.” 

“Just take a compliment would you? You’re infuriating.” She chuckles. 

“But you love me anyway.” She can hear the smirk in your words as you speak. 

“That I do.” She rasped out and a comfortable silence fell upon you both as you played with her hair and let the hot water help her aches and pains. 

You started washing Ellie’s hair, lathering it with shampoo and kneading into her scalp as she hummed in satisfaction until an idea popped into your head and you had to suppress the urge to giggle. You began forming a spike with her hair, letting the shampoo hold it in place as you moulded it to sit right on top of her head. 

“Er babe, what are you doing?” She asks suspiciously. You can only giggle in response as you look at the perfect spike a top her head and her confusion as she spins round to face you. “Oh what did you do?” She narrows her eyes before kneeling up in the bath to look in the mirror that faced you both, groaning at her reflection. “Seriously? How old are you?” 

“Er pot, kettle.” 

“Whatever.” She huffs and sinks back down into the water as you continue giggling until you decide to take mercy on her and rinse her hair of the shampoo, returning it to its original form.  

“Sorry El.” You pressed a kiss to her cheek and noted the smile that had puffed out her cheek under your lips. 

“You’re lucky you’re cute.” 

“Yeah, I know.” You chirped before climbing out of the bath to start some lunch. Ellie moaned about you leaving but when you enticed her with tomato soup and a cheese toastie, she was quick to be quiet. You left her with a final kiss on the lips before checking on Clem on your way downstairs who was still fast asleep. 

Lunch was easy enough, you put ‘shaken by a low sound’ by the Crooked Stills on your record player and let yourself get carried away by the music as you made the food, you hummed along and swayed your hips to the beat while wondering how a song about murder could be so damn catchy until you’re broken from your thoughts by a pair of hands wrapping around your waist and pulling you flush to their chest.  

“God you look so good, I wanna tear you apart.” Ellie rasped in your ear as she feathered kisses down your neck, swaying you both to the beat of the song. 

“You make it really difficult to get anything done.” You whispered as you leant back into her, slightly arching your back to push your ass into her crotch. 

“Maybe that’s the point.” 

“You want your lunch or not babe?” 

“Alright I get it.” She chuckled as she let her chin rest on your shoulder, clinging to you like a koala while you stirred the soup in its pot. The song switched from ‘little Sadie’ to the next causing Ellie to shuffle off without a word. All became clear when the record skipped to ‘Ecstasy’ and she walked back in with a sheepish grin. “Dance with me?” 

“If I ever say no to that, shoot me.” You chuckle as you take her outstretched hand and let her spin you into her so your back is once again pressed to her front, her arms wrapping around your waist and swaying to the melody ringing out through your home. You turned to face her and wrapped your arms around her waist as she pulled you in to a hug that was barely considered dancing but enough for you both. You pressed your face into her chest and breathed her in with a smile letting the song play through. You cherished moments like these, your home the backdrop of your relationship and how it blossomed. You felt a pang of nostalgia for all the memories you had already made here but the thought of making new memories in your farmhouse was so comforting.  

You danced until the song finished and the soup began to bubble causing you to break away from her with a quiet groan to stir the soup and cook the cheese toasties, Ellie just observing you with a giddy smile. “I’m gonna go wake Clem up.” She said before leaving you to the quiet of the kitchen. 

When she returned with a sleepy Clem in her arms you smiled at the sight and dished up everyone’s servings before putting them in their respective places on the table. “Thanks mommy.” Clem croaked out as Ellie kissed your hand.  

“Thanks babe.” 

“Anything for my girls, how you feeling Clem?” 

“Better, I’m just tired.” Clem replied softly. 

“I bet you are, once you’ve eaten you can go back to sleep if you want.” 

“Will you lay with me mama?” She directed her attention to Ellie. 

“Of course kiddo. I could do with a nap too.” She did an exaggeratedly loud yawn that Clem giggled at.  

₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ 

You snuck into Ellie’s room to check on them both as they had been quiet for some time now and what you found was one of the cutest things you had ever seen. Ellie was sprawled out on her back, her mouth open, snores that were nowhere near soft echoing through the room because of her blocked nose. Clem was in almost the exact same position except most of her body was lying on Ellie and one of her hands had come to cup Ellie’s cheek from behind where she was laying. It was too cute to not capture the moment so you grabbed the polaroid camera Ellie had been gifted and snapped a pic of them, cringing when the flash went off though neither of them stirred. You stayed and watched just enraptured by them until you decided to go check on the washing you had hung outside earlier.  

The sun was beginning its journey towards the horizon and there was a slight nip in the air as you brought everything inside and began folding all the clothes. It was easy to get swept up in the little things like this knowing what the reality of the world is outside. Mundane activities felt rewarding, calming even. 

As you finished folding the washing, you yawned and noted how the day had taken it out of you, you crept back into Ellie’s room and climbed over the both of them to wedge yourself between Ellie and the wall, cuddling into her side. She groaned slightly and shifted to wrap her arm around you, pulling you closer into her and resting her chin on the top of your head. You laid, content, like that until sleep overtook you and you felt your body growing heavier.  

You were almost asleep when Ellie twitched like she had been electrocuted, making you jump in the process. You huffed and chuckled as she was still deeply asleep before settling in again, rubbing a hand over Clem’s arm and letting your exhaustion finally knock you out for good.  

a/n: idk if it’s just me but when I’m ill i literally sleep the whole fucking time like it’s the only thing I can do sooooo yeah also can anyone tell i love domestic ellie x reader, it just has a special place in my heart

tags: @emiliabby @radioheadfan699 @lil-elliesgf @isitadinosaur @amberputh @maelovescashew @a-little-bit-of-everybody @moonspowder @bready101 @euphternal @elliestwofingers @angelsrotation @drippyop @tphmnv (it won’t let me tag you :0)

[7grandmel]

Todays rip: 06/10/2023

We Are Number 4 (Golden)

Season 4 Episode 2 Featured on: SiIvaGunner's Highest Quality Rips: Volume V

Ripped by NutellaFrenchToast

Out of all frequently occuring memes on the channel, its arguable that We Are Number One (typically shortened to "WANO") is one of the most perfectly refined on the channel. In my posts on Chillin’ Like A Villain and The expanse of meme in past was split, A fiendish trap has now been set; Behind a tree the villains sit, Terror of sport, the Robbie's Net., I elaborated on just how that quality has come to be: the people behind the original LazyTown song provided the public will full access to its original stems, which led to a huge uptick in quality. The bar of quality has become so high for WANO rips on SiIvaGunner to where each new one feels worthy of celebration, its always executed just so perfectly. Even with that, We Are Number 4 (Golden) sits with me as one of the most fun examples in the channel's history.

The concept is simple and immediately understandable - arranging Time To Make History from Persona 4 Golden into We Are Number One's silly ska-like musical style and instrumentation. Both songs are so infectiously gleeful and its a near perfect mesh from the get-go, but like a lot of my other favorite rips on the channel, the real sell comes in the details. Details of the original song are given flourishes that fit the context of a Persona game throughout its runtime, like replacing "Superhero" with "SuPERSONA", or the springy net-toss sound from the original being replaced by the sound of a character receiving lowered stats. It rounds the song out in such fun ways and almost makes it sound as if the Robbie Rotten party are actually in a Persona 4 dungeon fighting - which makes the idea of this being their battle theme even funnier.

That's of course not to say that its a rip sold purely on its details - the instrumentation's usage in replicating the original Time To Make History is simply perfect, and the slight pitch changes in Robbie's vocal performance work to still maintain the original song's tone. The song's climax in particular is immensely satisfying - Robbie's vocals gradually climb in pitch with deliberate pauses inbetween them specifically done to imitate the original song, and yet it doesn't come off as artificial in the slightest - its a damn seamless effort for being so noticeably different from the original vocal performance.

So: to Nutella French Toast, and to everyone else who keep the WANO spirit alive with rips all at this quality - you're absolute titans of the SiIvaGunner team and I personally cherish every single new WANO rip more than the last.

[the-gateway-to-madness]

3Below and Thoughts on Akiridions

Okay so it's mentioned in episode 2 of 3Below that Akiridions learn through "thermogenic cosmosis" or "thermogenic osmosis" it's not entirely clear which. Total technobabble, but if we go for the latter, we can discern what it means through the roots of the words (which is actually backed up by the little gesture Krel makes when he says the term!)

"Thermo"= of or relating to heat

"Genic"= generation or production

If we're bothering to break down the actual meanings, "thermogenic" means "heat producing" and osmosis is the process of a substance moving from an area of higher concentration of that substance to an area of lower concentration of that substance.

This would suggest that Akiridions learn by directly absorbing an amount of energy and by extension knowledge from each other.

My theory is that in the last episode of Season 1, when there's that flashback and Coranda and Fialkov make Aja's and Krel's cores glow, that's what they were doing. Trying to directly communicate part of their experience that they couldn't quite put into words.

Anyway, it's never brought up again, and in order for the audience to keep up the exposition has to happen externally, so- I guess we'll never really know. But this makes sense to me and also could make for cute accidental love confessions where one Akiridion is just trying to teach another something and one of them accidentally lets slip the ✨️feelings✨️

Also the way they portrayed Akiridion reproduction is bs and doesn't line up with any of the established canon in 3Below. If kissing was so risky why would Aja go for it all the time? It's clearly retconned in and it's not well done.

Going by the idea that Akiridions can share parts of their energy with each other, I choose to believe (because in this household there Is No Movie) that either person in the relationship can get pregnant regardless of their sex, and that impregnation involves voluntarily pushing a much larger amount of energy than usual to the one that's going to carry the baby. Life is delicate and an immensely serious decision and creating it should take more effort than "whoops, we kissed too many times". Also Akiridions deserve to be able to make out.

If they want to crossbreed with a species from another planet, theoretically the other species has to carry it (because most of 'em can't do the energy transfer it requires to get the Akiridion pregnant).

here's a bonus picture of my oc if you made it through all that!

And a post compiling all my analyses of Akiridions:

[lawtistic]

tier lists uhh woohoo

“who uses emails anymore” me. because i had to email one of these to myself so i could get it on my computer. now here we are

i went a did a shit ton of death note tierlists and now that i have the urge to shit myself i will post them because i need an excuse to post something on my masterlist when i get around to making that

characters:

i know who that manga guy is but i forgot his name and he is funny and sexy despite being present for 2 pages and thats why hes up there

im a certified sidoh hater btw

there is a number of characters i ranked pretty high just because theyre hot (mello [partially], namikawa, gevanni, lidner, nameless manga guy, wedy)

characters (adaptations):

i didnt watch the 2006 live action because i havent gotten to it, couldnt finish the 2017 netflix version because of the gore, and havent watched the korean musical because i am superstitious and the circumstances of that are triggering so yayyy! so the characters that are on here from those are ones i have seen clips of and feedback and such

and some characters werent on there??? like mikami was in the jdrama and was an important enough character why would u not add him

characters kind of deviate from their og rankings but that is either because i have gotten 8 hours of sleep in the past 48 hours or something stirred in my brain and i was being smart but i no longer remember it

adaptations:

i probably shouldnt have even ranked the 2006 live action and 2017 netflix ver at all but i probably thought the list was looking pretty empty when  was doing this

theres also a lot missing but those are the main ones so i dont care that much

(i would have personally added the add-ons like L change the worLd, another note, and the video games but like i said those are specific additions. i would have also added the one shot, the c-kira story and a-kira story, as well as the relights, light up the NEW world, differentiated the different versions of the musical but but but its okay. i know im rambling but really i do get it [”make it yourself!” no i already made 1 tierlist for this post and also i havent consumed enough of that media for it to be worth it])

ships:

gonna be honest when it comes to L’s successors (excluding B and A) i feel weird shipping them with anyone else BUT each other

i would have ranked b x a higher if a wasnt a briefly mentioned character with little dynamics or personality talked about, and i havent seen enough collective fanon of them to rank them anywhere other than mid

the first 2 tiers are preeetty closely ranked i just put lawlight in the first one because i consume more of it, also i probably would have moved some of these around (like moving kiyomisa down to ohio) but this is pretty old so thats my excuse (i was also kind of hard on matsulight i am so sorry)

musical songs: 

i dont hate any of the songs enough to put it in hunchback 2

also i need jarrod spector to sing an english version of the way things are i would cry. i put that in (the cheap, joking version of) my will but i accidentally said the way it ends and since it was an image that has since been plastered on multiple places its too late for me to fix it despite my efforts to correct it so oh well

ones i just genuinely cant remember were put in ohio (alongside the actual ohio songs) so if you see one in there that should definitely be ranked higher or lower that is why

i know a lot of people liked borrowed time but to me its just the simp version of titanium so i dont care that much

if i could rank the individual parts of secrets and lies i would be so grateful because the first part is pretty ohio but the last section is so boobs tier worthy that i just ended up averaging it out

i listen to the way it ends on loop every single morning

character themes:

this is the tier list i made and since i am very bad at making tier lists there are like 2 useless and unused images and its irritating but tiermaker says i cannot delete them so rip

kira’s theme is my favorite and while i know the three L themes up there are essentially the same thing they are also the same thing and i just put them next to each other

i played mello’s theme c while riding go karts once it was great

[lexr86]

🎃 Happy Halloween! 🎃

This time last year, I managed to get my writing to almost perfectly sync up with the time of year and got a delicious Halloween chapter posted (almost) on time. Here's a little extract from that chapter, the first time Eddie and Lex role play. 🐺

Eddie had just finished towelling off when there was a knock on the trailer door. Lex! He hastily grabbed a fresh pair of sweatpants and threw them on before going to the door. He ran his fingers through his damp hair to try to gain some control over it. He was flushed and excited, and he couldn’t wait to see her. The gig had gone really well, and he and the band were happy with both the money and the opportunity to play for a larger audience than usual. He had gotten home with just enough time to shower off the resulting sweat and grime before Lex arrived. He couldn’t do anything to get rid of his nervous energy though. He was practically vibrating as he went to greet her. He opened the door, about to wrap her in a bear hug and drag her inside, when he caught sight of her and stopped in his tracks.

Oh my god. She was covered in blood. It coated her lips, her chin and all the way down her neck where it disappeared under her tank top. Her arms too... it was dripping from the fingers of one hand. Her clothes were ripped, the old flannel shirt she was wearing over her top was practically missing an arm. And through the rips he could see scars. On her shoulder, across the side of her neck. They looked mostly healed but they were very definitely claw marks, like she had been attacked by an animal...

His eyes flickered up to hers. They were golden and little flecks in the irises caught the light behind him, making them glow. Her mouth was slightly open, and he could see the curve of two vicious canine teeth behind her parted lips. She tilted her head back a little and flared her nostrils as she inhaled through her nose, as if she was breathing in his scent. “Edward... You’ve gotten yourself into so much fucking trouble, Edward.” Her voice was low and she was enunciating her words very carefully, as if speaking around the fangs required more effort than usual. “What were you thinking? Trying to do a news story on a pack of werewolves? Did you honestly think we wouldn’t find out?” She sighed, a resigned sound. “We found your friend, Edward. He wasn’t very forthcoming when we asked him about the footage you took of us last full moon. I’m afraid my brothers got a little enthusiastic... and I may have joined in.”

She raised her hand and slowly swiped her tongue along her fingers to lick the blood. Corn syrup?

“He tasted fucking wonderful though. But that left us with a bit of a problem... because he’s no longer in a state to answer questions and we still need that footage. My brothers wanted to come here and ask you too, but I persuaded them to let me do it instead. Because I like you, Edward, and I think you like me. Or at least you did before you found out what I really am. Still... I think me asking you would be preferable to them, don’t you? Hmmm...?” She laid her hand on his chest and pushed. Her usually short nails were talons tonight, filed to sharp points that pricked his naked skin. He was surprised enough that he took a step back before his brain could muster up an objection. Lex took a step forward to follow him, keeping her palm flush against his chest.

He cleared his throat, aware that he had been speechless for her entire monologue. “Wait.” His shocked voice was barely audible to his own ears. He tried again, putting a bit more force into it, “Wait. Don’t you need an invitation?”

Lex’s lips curled into a toothy sneer, the sharp tips of her fangs pressing against her plump lower lip. “You’re thinking of vampires, Edward. We werewolves don’t need an invitation. We can get in any time we want.” She sounded amused by his confusion and pushed harder against his chest to move him back into the room. She let out a low growl as she stepped over the threshold, and Eddie found himself speechless again as the light hit her fully.

Her costume as a werewolf in the very early stages of transformation was breathtakingly good. Every little detail was accounted for, and the way she moved was like a predator stalking her prey. That’d be you, pretty boy. You’re the prey. He couldn’t help himself from shuddering under her touch. Fuck, she’s going to eat me alive!

The rest of this chapter can be found on AO3. It can be read as a stand-alone chapter or as part of the bigger story.

[dreamweavers]

Delilah had an accident last night 😔

the story: was posing her when I noticed a bit of extra plastic around her knee joint when I bent it for the first time. not thinking much of it and assuming it's just a small error, I snipped that bit of plastic off... but then her leg popped off at the knee. I didn't pull on her leg overly so, just enough to snip off that plastic bit, and her joints seemed like they had the regular stiffness that new RH dolls tend to have.

I tried seeing if I could pop it back on, but noticed that the plastic bit holding it in place looked like it was cracking and bending. I then noticed part of the plastic on her thigh is starting to crack and show signs of stress from me trying to reattach the leg. I didn't want to do even more damage to her leg so I stopped there.

...that's taken from the panicked post I made on the RH subreddit right after it happened. some responses suggested returning it since MGA probably doesn't have Delilah replacements anymore (she's the most popular series 4 char and they're all on clearance now anyway). rather than giving back the Delilah I waited all day to restock online and getting back my $13, I'd prefer to keep her and try putting her leg back on.

I'd be Way more mad if she was full price, but since she was so cheap I'm looking more on the bright side. plus I'm lazy and don't feel like going through the effort to contact the store/company for a $13 doll.

after ripping off the bent part of the plastic hook in her thigh, her lower leg was able to be reattached. I still have to glue it in place so while it won't move, at least it's just the knee. after thinking abt it I realized that of all spots on the doll that could've broken, the knee is the one that would piss me off the least since every other part would interfere too much with posing/photographing/redressing.

[babyjakes]

〈 disclaimer: this blog posts content not suitable for individuals under the age of 18. minors are strictly prohibited from viewing, sharing, or interacting with this blog. for more information on this blog's commitment to protecting minors, read our full statement here. 〉

event | whumptember 2022

prompt | afraid of storms

pairing | daddy!ari levinson x little!reader

warnings | ddlg, SOFT:'-DD!daddy!ari, reader wants to go hide under her bed :'-), just so fluffy so cute so sweet

word count | 577

an | i love daddy ari so this had to be a blurb, something about her wanting to hide under the bed but him trying to keep her out is just :'-) i love them why can't it be me whywhy whyyyy

At the very first clap of thunder, you were jumping out of the navy armchair in the living room, your coloring book and crayons dropping in a mess on the floor beneath you. Your wide eyes quickly filled with tears as you peered out the large windows, the sickly green color of the sky telling you all you needed to know about the impending weather event.

Your feet were moving beneath you before you could even think twice. Speeding out of the living room, you turned the corner to race down the hall. But just as you had entered the archway, the first door on the right swung open; you were lucky to stop yourself in time to keep from crashing right into Ari as he stepped out of his office, a worried expression already plastered on his face. At the sight of you clearly in a panic, his gaze softened. "Baby, hey-"

You tried to swerve past him but it was almost as if he was anticipating the action, grabbing onto you by the upper arm before you could flee. Not enough to hurt you, just enough to hold onto you, he kept you there in the hallway, lowering his voice to a calm, soothing tone as he murmured, "Hey sweetheart, hold on a second." Wrapping his other arm around you, he tried to pull you into his chest as you squirmed lightly against him, "Hey, hey- c'mere, pretty girl. It's okay. You don't have to run, baby. Don't have to run, you're okay."

Legs kicking weakly as he held you gently, you squeezed your eyes shut as tears flooded your cheeks. "Please Daddy, p-please... wanna h-hide under th'bed, please... please let me go."

"I know baby, I know. Shhh," he hummed as he pressed his lips into your hair, the sight of you so terrified ripping the man's heart to shreds. "But remember what we said last time, honey? Under the bed's no place for little girls like you. How about we go snuggle in Daddy's room, hmm? On top of the bed, sweetheart. Can we do that?"

"W-want under," you pleaded as you began to grow weak in your efforts, gradually slumping against Ari's strong hold as your tears only worsened. "Please Daddy, s-so scary... gonna be so l-loud, please..."

"Oh angel," Ari cooed as you finally turned to tuck your head in his chest, little hands coming up to grip the fabric of his sweatshirt in your fists. "My sweet little girl- come here, baby. Daddy's got you." Lifting you into his arms as if you weighed no more than a feather, Ari cradled you lovingly as he carried you down the hall to his room, flipping on a few lamps once inside after closing the door. Before settling down with you on the bed, he was sure to draw the curtains over the windows closed, bouncing you gently in his arms as he kept murmuring sweetly to you.

Once snuggled in safely under the covers, Ari pulled back slightly to look at you, the sight of your swollen, bloodshot eyes tugging at his heart as he kissed your damp nose. "There, baby. See? All safe and warm with Daddy."

"C-can stay here tonight?" you asked carefully, sniffling as the tender man tucked a piece of your hair back behind your ear.

"Of course you can, lovebug. All night, snuggled up with Daddy. Think you can keep me safe from the storm, too?"

[inkyquince]

Hybrid vs period pc anon- ya got it in one! My initial thot, not too lead too much is the period reading as the pc in heat to their hybid senses

content warning. dubcon at best, lots of blood talk, dickhead Eden.

Eden had left you snoozing on the bed, much to your luck. If it had been earlier in the relationship, Eden would have had you up and at em, making his breakfast, no matter what. You knew you were lucky that you were less of a pet and more of a mate now, especially as you felt something warm and wet on your thighs, something thick and heady trickling from your hole. It was always going to be a toss up between cum and blood but the fact that your gut felt tight and knotted with cramps and your body ached didn't help at all to figure out which it was was truly a testament to Eden's methods when it came to fucking.

But sadly, it seemed your period had come earlier than expected. Blood bloomed against the off-white sheets and smeared against your thighs and you sighed. You winced as you got up and awkwardly shuffled, trying to keep your thighs apart, to the shelf, reaching up to grab a somewhat dusty box of tampons and pads. You shook it and froze up. Glancing inside, it did seem that you forgot to stock up last month. You sighed and chucked it to the side, instead opting to strip the bed sheet and let it hand over the low branch in the river to soak the bloodied patch in cold water. You could, and preferred to, soak in a warm bath but heaving the large bucket inside felt like too much effort for your tired muscles so you simply snatched Eden's oversized shirt and shuffled outside, grimacing as you felt more blood seep out.

When the sheet was secured on the branch, the side where you had slept fully submerged in the rushing water with the brown-red spot getting a tad lighter, you wound the loose fabric of your mate's shirt around your hips so it wouldn't flutter as you sat down in the river, exhaling at the chilled water.

You picked and scrubbed the blood coating your thighs before tenderly washing your pussy, the water being colored red for just a moment before it was all washed away.

The sound of twigs snapping had you freezing up for a moment, but the heavy footsteps reassured you that it was just Eden, snorting softly as a deer hung over his shoulder. His tail, usually still, swished slightly in pride at his catch.

He barely dragged his eyes over you as he walked over to his skinning post and you continued to wash yourself until the water ran clear. You made plans to maybe rip some extra fabric up to pad your underwear so your trip back to town wouldn't have you bloodying your lower garments so you could grab some sanitary products.

You stood, slightly unsteady on the smooth stones under your feet and you heard a low rumble. A long shadow cast over you and you leant your head back to blink up at Eden, his ears standing stock still, his eyes fixed on your face.

"Blood."

"Smelt that over the deer?" You gave a small smile, struggling not to shrink down under his gaze.

"Smells different. Not prey's blood, fertile blood."

You blinked and awkwardly rubbed the back of your neck, turning away.

"Should check the sheet for remaining bloodstains." You mumbled and waded over to the sheet, leaning down to examine the patch.

You swore it was only a second that you turned away but almost immediately, hands gripped your waist, yanking you back against Eden's brick wall of a chest. He easily bent down and wrenched your ankle upwards in his hand, yanking your legs apart to roughly grind his tented erection against your poor cunt. The hand on your hip left for only a moment to rip at his trousers, letting his cock pop out with his balls still trapped against the fabric. Eden didn't even let you have a moment before stuffing his cock into your pussy, enjoying the slightly swollen flesh dragging against his cock despite your soft cursing at the sudden stretch.

You flailed a bit and used your palm to lean against one of the larger rocks in the river as Eden used you as a glorified blow up doll, humping at your cunt with such enthusiasm that you felt blood trickle out with every thrust into you. You hissed between your teeth, subduing your moans the best you could and looked back at your mate, probably to beg, only to be caught off guard by him already looking down at you, eyes clouded with sadistic lust. With your eyes meeting, his lips parted in a sneer, sharp canines glinting in the sun.

" I want my pups. Be a good bitch and take it"

Event Closed!

[wrenqueenisboss]

DSMP Angsty Imagines - React to Your Death pt. 2 --- Bench Trio

Part 2 to my series of “dsmp boys react to your death”: Pronouns used: they/them (if mentioned) Warnings: cursing, fight scene (implied), description of wounds, death, grief, threatening, weapons  Note: this is strictly platonic as the bench trio members are all minors Words: 1.1+

The list: c!George c!Bench Trio - (you are currently on this post) c!Wilbur c!Dream c!Technoblade - (coming soon!)

Y/n, Tommy, Ranboo, and Tubbo had always been inseparable. Never was there a moment when any of the four weren’t together. Just a chill day around the server? You bet they were walking around and causing chaos, mischievous smiles upon their faces. One of them had some mental shit to deal with? You’d bet the other three were right there, soothing and distracting. There was a war? Hell yes. The four would be fighting side by side, back to back. If one member of their team stumbled, the others would pick up the slack. That’s just how they were. Until they couldn’t be.

You see, the world doesn’t wait. It doesn’t pause the chaos and cruelty and destruction just so four teenagers can grow up with a proper childhood. No one puts away their swords, lowers their fists, or settles arguments. That just isn’t how life works. Yeah, it’s fucking unfair. 

It’s unfair that Tubbo became president at such a young age, that Tommy had been manipulated and exiled, that Ranboo’s own mind had been taken over, that Y/n had been put through so much over the course of their life. It’s unfair that the best friends were forced to fight in a war. A war that shouldn’t have been going on in the first place.

They gathered their gear together, helped one another don their enchanted armor, polished their weapons as a team, flashed fake smiles in an effort to lighten the god-awful situation.

“Ya know,” Y/n said as they ran the whittling stone across the blade of their diamond sword. “I’m pretty sure we’ve been through worse.”

Ranboo barked a laugh, his smile brightening both his green and red eyes. “Nah, I’m pretty sure this is the worst.”

Tubbo gave Y/n a sympathetic smile as he placed his hand on Ranboo’s shoulder. The enderman hybrid paused for a moment. “Give Y/n a break. They’re trying to lighten the mood.”

“Thanks, Tub.”

Tommy looked up from his own sword with a frown. “There isn’t any fucking point in lightening the point. We’re in a really shitty situation and that’s that.”

It was true. None of them had any real experience with combat. Well- that isn’t exactly true. All four of them had lost at least one life to violence. They’d all tried to fight back, but they were too weak for it to have any effect. They still were. Against people like Dream and Technoblade - anybody,  really - they were at a huge disadvantage.

Tubbo did what he could to break the grim atmosphere. “The only way we can have any hope of making it out of this alive is if we stick together. We fight side by side and no one gets left behind.”

Y/n scoffed, even as their heart dropped to the pit of their stomach. “You all have a much greater chance of surviving. Remember, I'm on my last life.”

Everyone went silent. It wasn’t as if that was a surprise. They were all there when their friend had been pushed into the lava, when they’d lost their second life to blood loss a few years later. Everyone knew that Y/n was on their last life, but it was still scary to be reminded.

“We're not going to let you die, Y/n. And I’ll be damned if you give up and let yourself die,” Tommy’s words were forceful. Yes, they held a kind sentiment, but his tone was all business. That’s what happens when you’re forced into war way before you should.

Ranboo nodded. “We live together. We fight together. And if we have to, we’ll die together.”

Tubbo threw his hands in the air in exasperation. “Goddammit! No one is dying!”

Oh, how wrong he would soon be.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

Tommy, Ranboo, and Tubbo were right there when Y/n was struck down. Right there as the arrow pierced their chest, the tip sparkling red with their blood.

Tubbo let out a shrill scream of anguish, Ranboo froze and then dove to catch their body, Tommy’s gaze darkened to murderous malice as he let a whispered swear fall from his lips.

Y/n’s body was carried to a cave a few blocks away from the fighting. The three boys sitting around their still form, assessing the wound. Honestly, what was there to assess? Y/n had taken an arrow to the chest and died. That was it. It was cruel how simple their death was.

Ranboo squeezed their hand, heart breaking as he realized their warmth was steadily fading. “I can’t believe they’re actually dead,” he whispered hoarsely, voice cracking with emotion. He couldn’t cry though. Another one of the universe’s cruel curses.

Tubbo was already crying. His shoulders already shaking. “We were supposed to live together. We still had so much time. They still had so much time. And now... I guess they don’t.”

Tommy was pacing the cave anxiously. His blond hair, already messed up from the fighting, had been even more wrecked by him fervently running his fingers through it. 

Everyone looked like a mess. Clothes and uniforms were ripped and dirty. There were more than a few bloodstains. Skin was bruised (badly, in some places) and   sported a tapestry of cuts and scrapes that would later heal into thin scars. Not that anyone was new to scars.

The speed of Tommy’s pacing increased before he froze completely, only looking his friends in the eye for a fleeting heartbeat. His gaze returned to Y/n’s still body before flitting about again. “They’re not dead,” he muttered.

“What?” Tubbo’s voice shook as his tears fell.

“Y/n isn’t dead. They can’t be.”

Ranboo rose from his spot at the body’s side to comfort his distraught friend. “Tommy, you’re in denial. Y/n’s dead. They were killed-”

Tommy swatted away Ranboo’s hand before it could even connect with his shoulder. “They aren’t fucking dead!” he shouted. His head dropped forward as he stared at the ground. “Y/n promised. They wouldn’t break a promise like that.”

“Y/n didn’t have a choice.” 

Tommy was too busy forming some stupidly reckless plan in his head to actually hear what one of his friends had said. But Tubbo and Ranboo recognized that look in Tommy’s eyes. Recognized the gleam of mischief, the flash of lividity, the sparkle of determination.

And deep down they knew it would be useless to try and stop him, but they tried anyway.

“Tommy,” Tubbo began. “What you’re feeling is perfectly normal, Big man. It’s, like, the five stages of grief.”

“I don’t want to hear that therapy bullshit.” 

Ranboo tagged on, not letting Tommy protest more. “You’re already going through some of them right now. Denial and anger. Now you just-”

Tommy silenced them with a hand. “Fine. I’ve passed denial, I sure as hell am still angry, but they really should add another stage to that list.” He began walking towards the entrance of the cave, back to the fighting.

“Revenge.”

[moririki]

⤷ A BLOODSTAINED CONFESSION

RENGOKU KYOJURO X READER -> 3.6K
you patch up your fellow hashira after the hardest fight of your lives

REQUEST -> ✰
CONTAINS -> MUGEN TRAIN SPOILERS like before the cut and everything, mentions of blood + gore, so kinda angsty but definitely a fluffy ass ending, reader is a hashira but it's left ambiguous as to what element you are👍, i watched the movie two months ago so my recollection of dialogue and plot may be *slightly* off, near-death experience, idk how to write combat so i just... didn’t, reader lowkey thirsts over rengoku's back muscles and shit because why tf not, idk how injuries work aaaa
MORI'S THOUGHTS -> rengoku my beloved,,, he deserves the world,, i think i should have made this less angsty im SORRY (i rlly heard "extra fluffy" and it just went 👩🏻➡️ straight through my head huh) also i bet you guys missed me and my late-ass posting <3 but here i am!! for now!! yeahhhh!! i feel like the writing in this got a little repetitive so i apologise for that

APPARENTLY, THE DESTRUCTION OF AN ENTIRE TRAIN wasn't enough to end this mission. even with one lower six demon defeated, another much stronger one had replaced it. the arrival of akaza was a significant turning point in the battle, and one that you cursed yourself for missing.

you should have known that this mission would he more dangerous than expected when both you and rengoku had been deployed to the train, alongside three rookies. you should have known better than to let rengoku convince you to stay back and help evacuate rather than let him handle it alone.

he had been so full of confidence- squeezing your hand firmly before rushing off, leaving you feeling slightly lightheaded from the brief contact of his warm palm. you should have wished him luck, told him to be careful, anything, but he was gone before you had the chance.

you made quick work of evacuating the passengers of the derailed train, making sure that they were all confirmed to be outside of the carriages before entrusting their safety to zenitsu and nezuko. it was around when you had carried out the last passenger that you felt the ground rumble beneath your feet, coming from the other side of the embankment that you were currently placed at. 

before you gave yourself time to really think things through, you were shouting instructions to the pair of demon slayers and dashing off towards the source of the noise, hand readily placed on your sword. that was the direction that rengoku ran is all that went through your mind.

the scene that you found yourself facing did little to quell your fears. you reached two bodies first, recognising them as the hapless figures of inosuke and tanjiro. from a glance you could see the extent of their injuries, with the latter laying on the ground barely conscious. the boar-headed one could only stare at the fight happening several metres away, his shoulders slumped in defeat and swords hanging by his sides.

“there’s no opening,” he only whispered, barely audible. that much was true. even you had difficulty keeping up with the movements of rengoku and the demon that he was fighting. the fact that it had already been several minutes and that there was no clear advantage concerned you, and you unsheathed your sword.

“you two stay put, and learn what it means to be a hashira, alright?” you tried offering a brilliant smile, much like you had seen the flame hashira do so many times, but you hoped that yours didn't fall flat. from the slight relief shown on tanjiro’s worn face, though, you took that as a good sign.

without wasting another second, you rushed towards rengoku and the demon, assessing their movements. inosuke wasn’t joking when he said there wasn’t any opening, their movements equally matched. you took the chance and struck when rengoku managed to get the demon to stumble back. bringing your sword down in a vertical strike, you severed one of its arms, before taking a cursory glance back at rengoku to make sure that he was alright.

your wound did little to hinder the demon, as it simply chuckled before regrowing its limb.

“oh? another hashira? don’t tell me you think that this is a fair match,” the demon sneered as you held your sword in front of you, still nervously eyeing the blood that was beginning to drip at rengoku’s feet. it amazed you as to how he was still standing, let alone also ready to keep fighting, but you weren’t going to stop him with that amount of determination in his eyes.

“i wouldn’t say that you appearing after we had to fight an entire train was fair either, but here we are,” you glared at the demon, adjusting the grip on your sword.

“think you can hold on a little longer?” you asked rengoku, still facing the demon.

“always.” you could picture the steadfast smile on his face, lending you his strength whenever you needed it. you took a deep breath, starting your total concentration breathing and launching off of your foot, propelling yourself forwards.

you heard rengoku's footsteps right behind you, dependable as ever. when you swung your sword and sliced through, you knew that the flame hashira was there to follow through with a co-ordinated attack.

despite your best efforts, the upper six demon lived up to its status and provided to be more than a challenge for even both you and rengoku fighting him simultaneously. in fact, akaza had even managed to gain the upper hand a few times, leaving you with a cracked rib that was making it more difficult to focus and control your breathing.

but you and rengoku's big break arrived in the form of a rising sun that leeched itself into your surroundings. the glow was nothing but welcomed by you, though your demon opponent let fear flicker across its face for the first time this night as it turned foot and fled. the invisible adrenaline-fuelled strings that held you up snapped, and you felt the strength from your body sap, too spent to gove chase to akaza.

the bitter taste of defeat crushed you, numbing your senses as you barely heard the cries of tanjiro as he yelled at the retreating figure of akaza. you turned to your fellow yashira, eyes widening and senses returning as you took in the way he had slumped to the floor, head bowed as he kneeled.

"no, don't you dare," you mumbled, dropping to your knees too in front of him. panic gave your limbs a new purpose as your hands stretched out in front of you, seeking out the warmth rengoku still emitted even when mortally wounded.

the most pressing matter was the dark stain of blood that gave his uniform an unnatural sheen that was still spreading. you pressed a hand to the source of it, a large gash across his stomach that was much too deep for your liking. your other hand came to rest on his face, tilting his head up to look at you for any sort of good sign to cling onto.

"you better stay alive!" your voice was shrill, harsher than you wanted it to be, but those were factors you could hardly control more than the blood oozing from rengoku's stomach. you could see how unfocused his eyes were, and how heavy his head was when only being propped up by the waning strength in your hand. your own injuries had been forgotten, cast aside in favour for you to fear for the flame hashira's life.

and still, despite everything, the man still smiled. the blood covering half his face did little to mar its radiance. rengoku raised a shaking, bloody hand of his own, letting it fall heavy against your own as you felt your hold begin to slip.

"you're hurt too, you know." his words were more of a shaky exhale, though you heard it all the same. you felt a smile slip onto yours too as rengoku proved to still be so vigilant in the wellbeing of others.

"you don't need to remind me, shut up and save your energy," you whispered back. you didn't trust yourself to speak any louder in fear of your voice cracking.

"but.. i have to tell you something." the insistence in his eyes was back, burning into you so mich that you couldn't help but lean closer, trying to ease his burden of being audible.

"quit talking like you're dying." you were practically whispering into his ear, close enough to feel the rasp of his breath as he laughed, holding your hand tighter. his other hand came up to your own face, rough thumb brushing against the skin underneath your eye, wiping away a tear you never realised had tracked its way there.

"let me bandage you up." your voice may not have shook, but your hands definitely did as you disentangled them from rengoku's hold, urging him to put pressure on his wound while your fingers found purchase on the hem of your uniform and ripped off a strip of it. it was barely enough to cover his injury but you managed to wrap the severed cloth around his middle a few times, tying it tight and hoping that it was enough to stop the bleeding.

"just.. stay with me until backup comes, alright? you've got tell me something once we get out of here, remember?" rengoku nodded into your palm, smiling at your words as his eyelids fluttered shut. but you were close enough to still feel that he was warm, to feel the slight rise and fall of his chest as he managed to still breathe, and that gave you some comfort.

minutes felt like hours when you had to talk to fill the gap. whether it was to give rengoku something that tethered him to this mortal realm, or a way for you to distract yourself from your own pain, you onew that you would both have to tough it out a little longer, just until the others arrived.

"you know, i've always admired you." you were surprised at both his words and how clear rengoku's voice sounded. your grip on his hand tightened a little, and you leaned towards him so that your forehead pressed against his.

"this is hardly the time to say something like that, kyojuro." you tried not to laugh, the pain of your ribs starting to edge back in as the adrenaline left your body as the sun soaked your bodies.

"i just wanted you to know." you would have responded to the man if it weren't for the shouts that became all too clear. help was here, and everything was going to be okay now.

you didn't want to let rengoku out of your sight, but many insistent hands prised his body from your grip, and with barely the strength to speak there was little that you could do about it except succumb to the pain of your wounds and finally fall unconscious.

recovery was never an aspect of fighting that you looked forward to. when you finally came to, there were a few gripping moments of panic when you asked a nurse if rengoku was here, if he was alive. you had been assured that he was before the pain and medication kicked in again for a fitful sleep as your body healed.

but no matter how you were pressed back into bed, into the constraints of sleep, you never really felt like you were at rest. your mind was still racing to places your body couldn't as it pieced together the events just before you got hospitalised.

when you could finally get up without keeling over, you were stumboing your way through the hallways as stealthily as possible, leaning on walls for support and peering into rooms as you walked past, in search of your fellow hashira. your cards of luck had lined up when you stumbled upon his sleeping figure less than three rooms down from yours.

he looked a lot cleaner, still donning a serene smile even when unconscious and you felt the panic gripping your body loosen its hold. the throb of your most likely broken ribs was enough of an edge to keep you awake, and you made your way over to rengoku's bedside.

there was a convenient chair placed next to him, and you tried not to grunt in pain as you sat down in it. rengoku didn't even stir at your approach, and you resigned yourself to sitting there, studying his figure and resisting the urge to check whether he was actually breathing or not. if you focused enough, you saw the subtlest rise and fall of his chest, just enough to qualm your fears.

your concentration was broken as you heard the sliding door open again, and the hesitant voice of a nurse breaking your intense silence.

"ah, i'm sorry to interrupt but i need to change rengoku's bandages." to prove her point, the nurse raised her arm to emphasise the strips of fabric held by them. you stood up hastily, sending a cursory glance back at the still-sleeping form of rengoku.

like all matters regarding the flame hashira, you found your mouth and body working a little faster than your brain.

"it's alright, i can change them for you. i'm sure that you have plenty of other patients to tend to." the nurse nodded, though she still looked hesitant to hand you the bandages. you gave her a reassuring smile, stretching out your hand to take them. "i've had plenty of experience with this, don't worry."

the nurse appeared relieved, giving you a quick thanks before exiting and letting the door click shut behind her.

you turned your attention back to rengoku's sleeping figure only to watch him crack a single amber eye open and give you an almost sheepish smile. you couldn't help the flooding sensation of relief that drenched your bones, and you returned his gesture.

"i'm glad to see that you're alright." rengoku's eyes never left yours, and you felt yourself grow hot underneath his gaze.

"glad to see you too." you offered a hand, helping rengoku shuffle further up the bed with minimal effort on your side. despite the bandages covering a large expanse of his upper body, his grip on your hand was still stable and you bit back the fond smile threatening to bloom on your face.

luckily for you, rengoku seemed to get the message that he needed to get shirtless without you asking him, which saved you a whole lot of embarrassment. you weren't confident in your ability to look him in the eye and ask him to strip without blushing, though you did exactly that as your eyes raked over his bare skin.

littered with scars and covering taut muscle, it was hard not to let your eyes wander down his form. from the look on rengoku's face, he looked well aware of the effect that he had on you and fixing you with a practically imperceptible smirk. you were quick to ask him to turn around, and he obliged as quickly as someone with broken and bruised bones could manage.

his back was the same story, with broad shoulders and defined shoulderblades that had muscle twitching without you touching it. you sucked in a breath, way too audible for your liking, and tried not to let your hand stretch out to run your fingers down the expanse of his back. you were here to help treat him, not indulge in some fantasy of yours.

your mindset snapped back to professionalism as you grabbed hold of the fresh bandages, opting to put them on after you removed the old ones. while there was no sign of infection, you still grimaced at the bloody sight of rengoku's major wound. you tried not to show how much it had upset you, both now and in the moment, and your attention turned to your slightly trembling fingers.

you were careful to avoid where his skin was obviously discoloured from bruising, not wanting to cause him any unnecessary pain. he was warm to the touch, enough to invite you in with some false sense of confort before burning you alive. the way his back muscles jumped at your touch did little to help your concentration, but you shouldered on.

your mingld escaped you, insisting on recounting those painful minutes where rengoku was vpeeding out on the battlefield. there was a particular focus on his insistence to tell you something, and you bit your lip. surely, he would ask you at some point from now.

"how are your ribs?" rengoku's voice cut through the silence, its rasping edge acting as evidence of hiw soundly he had been sleeping earlier. while it wasn't the question you wanted him to ask you, you were never one to turn down conversation. especially from him.

"worry about yourself, kyojuro. i'm fine." your appliance of the fresh bandage meant that you would now have to be stood in front of him, a development that had your face flaming from the close proximity. silence set in, and all that distracted you from the rise and fall of his stomach was his breath tickling the sensitive skin of your neck. your eyes flickered towards the ceiling, relying on your hands to guide yourself instead.

you dared to glance down and saw rengoku’s eyes fixed on your face already. there was something about his softened features and the look in his eyes that had you scrambling to stare at the blank ceiling again. as much as you would like to retreat at every first sign if danger or confrontation, you knew that you woukd have to talk to him soon, whether it was you or him who brought up the conversation topic from that day.

taking a deep breath, you perched yourself on the edge of rengoku's bed, still maintaining a professional amount of distance from him. still close enough to spot how his smile brightens when you choose to stay. you glanced down at your fingers, twisting knots into themselves as they were placed in your lap. you almost cursed and placed them underneath you to stop that, but instead you fixed your gaze on the flame hashira's ever-present smile.

"do you remember when you said you had to tell me something? right after akaza?" rengoku straightened up a little, nodding. you gave a cursory glance to the bandages safely wrapped around him, and winced as you remembered how much blood had left him that day. 

as if he could tell what you were thinking, rengoku reached forward and took your hand in his. you sucked in a breath at the sensation of his calloused hands, wincing as your ribs ached in protest. you couldn’t bring yourself to break his stare as your fingers intertwined, and rengoku brought you slightly closer to him. the tension was palpable, and you squeezed his hand in an attempt to alleviate some of it.

“what did you want to tell me, kyojuro?” you were still closing the distance between the two of you, voice barely above a whisper because there was no need to talk any louder for him to hear you. everything about him drew you closer, and the thought of pulling away never crossed your mind. you finally stopped, inches away, staring at him expectantly.

“well, there was a chance that i was going to die that day, so i was going to be selfish and tell you that i love you."

it amazed you how he could say that with such confidence when that statement had effectively swept you off of your feet. you were well aware that you looked more than caught off guard- your eyes had widened, and your mouth probably hung open from shock. that was nothing to stop rengoku’s words, though. if anything, it only encouraged him to keep going.

"and when i said that i admire you, i meant it. i admire your strength and how willing you are to help others. i admire you when it's sunset and you're laughing and i admire the way your hands feel, especially here." he guided your hand to his face, letting it cradle his cheek as he rested his own hand at your wrist, not willing to let go. you were sinking into the warmth of his body, letting his borrowed strength keep you upright.

“and most of all, i admire you because i find your beauty striking in everything that you do.” you were silent as rengoku’s eyes searched your own, watching as his lips split as he laughed. “you’re crying again.” you raised your other hand to your cheekbone, feeling the liquid there that began its trek down the planes of your face. you wiped them away with the back of your hand, keeping yourself anchored to rengoku as you curled your fingers around his own.

you felt so light that you could float away, and you couldn’t  help but laugh and grin as you fully processed the confession of the man lying underneath you. tears still rolled down your cheeks, and you couldn’t help the bittersweet pang as you remembered exactly why he was here recovering.

“you really scared me back there, you know?”

“it wasn’t my intention.” you laughed through your sniffle, feeling his warm hand trace patterns on the back of yours. you shuffled forwards and, as best as your shared injuries allowed it, you gave rengoku a hug. while your arms were around his neck, his rested squarely on your lower back, and it was better than anything else you could imagine.

you pulled away, relinquishing the comfort of his arms in favour of looking him in the eye as you prepared what to say next. admittedly, it was a lot easier when you knew how the other person felt about you.

“you know i admire you too, rengoku, and i love you. so much.” joy rewrote itself within his eyes, and they almost glowed with how intense his emotions were after you uttered those words.

“you do?”

your yes came out as a barely audible breath before you were being snagged forwards by him again. you practically crashed against his lips, but you welcomed the sensation, pulling yourself closer to him and settling on his lap.

you sighed into the searing kiss, only truly appreciating his warmth now as you felt it spread through you. you kissed him back intensely, ignoring the dull ache of your ribs to chase the addictive feeling that you only got around him.

around the person who loved you back.

take a look at the menu - ,, ⛩ ·˚ ༘ ꒱

[uncouth-the-fifth]

omg i love prompts, and congrats on 100 followers !! <33 how about "i never realized how meaningful sex could be until we got together" with batman!damian?

354. "I never realized how meaningful sex could be until we got together," with Damian Wayne.

ty!! I love prompts too cause they force me to be more creative than usual, which ya girl struggles with. Batman!Dami was an exquisite choice 👌

A needy moan fell from Damian's lips.

You chased the taste of it, cupping where the soft edge of his hair met his neck to swallow his sounds. Post-patrol sex was fifty-fifty for Damian - either it was the last thing on his case-honed mind, or the necessary stretch his overworked body was dying for. Now, his muscles seemed to float under his skin without tension. Sometimes, your hands would flutter over a bruise or your lips would meet a bandage, but each minor pang was a worthy sacrifice to withstand. You kissed him. The fist of control Damian held over himself unwound, finger by finger.

You tilted back, hands sunk in the sheets behind you, and rolled your hips onto his dick. There was so much to look at that Damian's mind went blank, piercing eyes dizzying over your flush body. His hand braced on your warm waist and pressed into your belly. Damian watched your face steam with lust, watched your pussy fill itself with him until your weight settled on his lap again.

"Yes," Damian hissed, meeting your hips with his.

The tiny plea you gave him was too precious to be bought. "Look at what you do to me, Damian... fuck, baby, look..."

You whimpered at his fullness. The sound guided his eyes to your union, where the outer ring of your cunt wrapped snugly around Damian's girth.

"So full?" Damian cooed. His thumb languished at your clit, circling it in lazy circles. "You're practically bursting with me, beloved..."

You kissed him, wet and wanting and giggling. "Gonna - ah, split me in two, bats."

Niether of you put much effort into moving. You didn't have to, with Damian's injuries and your shared laziness. He liked to soak in each feeling you gave him, and you were content to be studied, so long as his gaze wandered and lingered. It never failed to. Just sitting cozy in his lap was nice, anyway. You'd managed to rip off everything but Batman's leggings, and the armored plates scratched pleasantly at your thighs and ass, putting imprints in your skin the longer you saddled him. His belt, boots and gloves were all over your room, lit by the wall-by-wall view of Gotham. It was too early in the morning for any sun, so you made out Damian's face by the angular planes of golden light framing his skin. Admiring him turned you into an artist. You could plot the shape of the light on his abs well enough to paint, and match it to the gleaming color of his eyes in the shadows.

A hand on your back fished your top half back to him, lips ready and eyes feathered closed for a kiss. Damian hummed when you gave him what he wanted. The sound vibrated low in his chest, thrumming through your own rib cage and filling your heart. Even just that movement stimulated you both. Usually, Damian's skill and determination could ensure at least five rounds of hungry, filthy sex, but his voice is tired and his hands are soft. Niether of you want to rush this. Niether of you need to, because the simple pleasure of kissing is enough to make you cum.

Damian cups your jaw in one hand, almost wrapping his hand around your throat. You're so close that you can taste the shape of each word on his lips. "Perhaps we should fall asleep like this," he humors, blinking lasciviously, "use you as my little cock warmer."

"M' too close," you shake your head. "I can sit on your lap when you work tomorrow. Just some Justice League reports, right?"

Damian scowls, "I don't want to think about Kent while my dick is inside you."

Your blush sinks into his neck and hides there, pressing your nose into his shoulder. Damian's heart flutters when you kiss his pulse. "Then what do you want to think about?"

His warm, calloused fingers play with your hair and enjoy how attached to him you are. You're barely touching the bed. With Damian's cock sheathed all the way inside your sore pussy, you're on him in every other way too, chest to chest, face to face. You're only brought closer when you embrace him around the neck, prompting Damian to scoop you up around your lower back and nuzzle into your cheek. Even the tiniest squeeze forces his eyes shut in bliss - your walls cushion him just right, and pool slick down his thighs. Touching himself was fine when the moment called for it, but nothing could beat this slickness, this velvet.

"You," Damian admits. He gave himself an arm to brace against the plush mattress, then stirred his hips up into yours, faster and faster, "t-touching you... your stomach, your breasts..."

Politely, you pushed your chest deeper into his. He felt your weight move to your knees. "A-ah! Yeah? W-what else?"

"Making love to you while you wear - wear my shirt. Pushing it over your chest, f-fucking you," Damian grit, "the face you make when I make you cum."

Your nose withdrew from his neck and bumped against his, your foreheads together. Arousal burned in your gaze like boiling steam, and you trapped him there, palms on his cheeks, forcing him to watch your lashes flutter and lips part each time Damian plunged deeper. He twisted just out of your hold and slammed his mouth to yours, groans unrestrained - you rode him until his legs were sore, until cum surged into your cunt, so much, liquid spilling in thick ropes down your thighs.

He thrusted and kissed you until you both were sweaty and cum-slick, mouths slowing, breath laboring. Damian released you from a particularly wet kiss, lips popping. He fell onto his back and sunk into the memory foam, sucking down air. You knotted your trembelling fist around the edge of his waistband and panted. The orgasms dragged on as the sex had, languid and exhausted. You waited until your pussy stopped urging his cock to throb to dismount him. This, too, took forever, but Damian's grin only grew as he absorbed your satisfaction. He'd performed well. Damian always did, but that fact was never missed by his ego.

You dropped your ass down on his stomach instead, letting his cock breathe. Like him, you collapsed forwards, squeezing his waist with your calves and snuggling Damian's chest. When his orgasm had faded to a distant warmth tingling in his gut, he was struck with the feeling that no one else had ever done this for him, and perhaps no one else ever would. Sex had once been nothing but a manipulation to him, but this was... this was special. This was something a devil like him should've never been able to treasure, and yet you'd shared it with him. Shared yourself. He hugged you to his chest, heart pounding.

"I never realized how meaningful sex could be," Damian said, slowly, "until you. I... I love you, Y/N."

You pressed a smiling kiss into his chest. "And I love you, Damian. Anytime."

[prinxejeanne]

[[Very short Antisepticeye drabble, HEAVY ANGST WARNING: THIS DRABBLE WILL BRIEFLY DISCUSS THEMES OF POSSESSION, SELF-DEPRICATION, EXORCISM, AND DEATH. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ THESE, PLEASE IGNORE. This is my interpretation of why Anti has certain issues, even though he can't remember its life as a mortal. This is not glorifying anything, so keep that in mind as you're reading. This was also written on my phone, so there might be some spelling errors sjsjsj]]

[[Also! My interpretation of Anti uses he/it pronouns, so that's why the fic switches between the two ^^]]

Anti lowered the knife that he held in his hands, shakily shutting the laptop that had finally posted a video that revealed who he was to his vessel's fans.

It was no longer a secret that had to be kept under wraps... now, everyone would know who he was. Anti let out a rather loud laugh, moving his hand up to feel the small wound on the now-dead mortal's neck.

It took less effort than the young demon thought it would to possess the human, and it took even less effort to kill him.

Still, something felt... off.

Anti didn't care though. He was free to do whatever he wanted. No longer would the demon be forced to sit dormant for months at a time, only allowed a sliver of exposure when the mortal wanted to scare his fans. Anti was no longer a Halloween gimmick.

"Fuck, I'm... I'm free!" he cheered. "I'm finally fucking free!"

He let out a cheerful yelp of glee, standing up and rushing out to the front door of his vessel's home.

Everyone who was there that day- Doctor Shneeplestein, Jackie, and Marvin- they all just... stared at it. They looked horrified. Not happy, just scared.

Why weren't they happy for him?

"Anti, you can't just go around hurting people like that! You're a monster, and you put us all in danger... This is the last straw. We're never letting you come back into this house."

Was it Jackie that said it? Shneep? Who knows?

All Anti could register as he was suddenly restrained was that Marvin stood up and began reading out loud from a small book.

It was... an exorcism spell.

They were exorcising their friend, all for the sake of some stupid, useless human vessel. Why? Why were they doing this to it?

Anti let out a scream as he began separating from the human's body, something that felt as if his nerves were being ripped from the puny vessel below him.

Not only that...

But the human was screaming too.

Anti had failed at killing a fucking human. Something weaker than anything else in the world, and the demon had failed.

As Anti was fully torn from the vessel, he thought that his old friends would have some sort of mercy on him and let him find some other thing to possess.

But Marvin only continued to chant.

They were sending him back to the void.

"Wait, no! Stop! Please, don't send me back there!" it tried to beg for mercy, but it's voice was nothing but distortions as he was forced back into the painful nothingness known to most humans as Hell.

...now, the only sound surrounding Anti in the nothingness of the void was the sounds of his anguished wails. Never again would he trust a mortal.

Never again, would it trust anyone.

He would not let them get close enough to hurt him again.

[chaozsilhouette]

Bitterness of the Eastern King

Thus, begins Season Two for Vanishing Shadow.

I fear I may have once again made it even darker than canon. But as a consolation, you can expect more of our favorite prince. Seriously, his mere presence has resulted in my most popular posts.

Let us all celebrate the release of the masterful Season 3 Finale!

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

They should not have been surprised.

They knew they were under attack. They knew they were facing a world level threat. They knew she attacked their home. Yet, despite knowing all this, they were still caught off guard.

It was a meeting to continue discussing their plans for obtaining the three holy rings and gathering supplies to last them through the journey. Everything was going well. Spirits were high and hearts were full with hope.

However, they failed to take in account just how low the Lady Bone Demon would sink.

“What just attacked us?” Tang asked nursing his latest collection of bruises.

What had once been a humble gathering in discussing saving the world had transformed into a barely contained battleground. Everyone was gathering themselves after fighting off waves of demons and struggling to protect the dronecopter’s engines.

Mei was panting heavily as she leaned on her sword. It had taken everything she had, but she managed to protect the upper left side’s engine without killing her opponents and while protecting MK.

Their beloved Monkie Kid was struggling to come to grips with losing his powers and the staff. He could not longer tank crippling blows with minimal effort. He couldn’t fight on the front lines anymore. He was no longer an asset, but a liability.

Tang and Pigsy both worked to protect the engine of the lower left side. Tang, surprisngly, performed advanced martial arts while Pigsy showed off his skills with a wok and frying pan. The two of them managed to work in nearly perfect sync through years of bickering, but still suffered their share of hits.

Monkie King was responsible for safeguarding the entire right side. Normally this would be a simple task, but with his injuries and the fact he was fighting civilians he found it far more challenging than he’d admit.

All the while Sandy struggled to keep them in the air.

For nearly a full hour they were forced to fend off wave after wave of assaults or risk being ripped from the skies. Yet with each attack, none of the pilgrims got the sense their attackers were happy be doing any of this.

“Desperate souls seeking the keys to their chains.” Sun Wukong stated recalling the dried tear tracks on the faces of more than half the attack force.

“Translation.” Pigsy grumbled as he fussed over MK’s injuries and mental state.

“Megalopolis is a city unique in how it openly inhabits both human and demons with minimal discrimination. In many ways it is the epidemy of my master’s beliefs, but that creates a tempting target.” Wukong explained, voice turning slightly wistful at the mention of the Great Monk. His master always believed, regardless of one’s origin or ability, everyone was capable of doing good and deserved to be treated with basic decency.

He shook off his nostalgia to focus on the current dilemma. “Lady Bone Demon spent centuries honing her skills in crafting soul chains. Magical constructs designed to siphon off all aspects of the victim’s strength, tying down their very essence so that not even death can grant them freedom. A binding technique that can only be broken by a power greater than and more absolute than the caster’s will.”

With each word the group’s horror grew and grew. The King was not helping their fears.

“With MK’s power and my staff boosting her own, I’d say she was able to collar every demon in the city and sent them to hunt us down.” He finished, looking away from their terrified faces. With every word he was adding to his failure, none of them should know this fear, none should know this terror, yet due to his mistakes all he could do was watch.

“Our friends…Our neighbors…” Sandy whispered, thinking of his fellow demons who called the docks their home. The demons he greeted every time he sought out new tea blends. His fellow yoga enthusiasts. The other members of his monthly anger management group sessions. The volunteers at the city’s pet shelter. The people he grew to know and care about over decades of life.

Shackled against their will, forced to obey a true monster.

“Is it possible keep those chains off of us?” Pigsy asked, needing to know if their days as free individuals were truly limited.

“Of course. Until the bond is crafted, they’re simply chains and can be escaped just as easily. But if you are looking for magical protection, I have no idea.” A shaky laugh did nothing to dispel the growing dread and terrified/enraged looks. “I mean I do know of a spell, but I hardly have the power nor the experience to cast such a high level of divine protection.” He was always more of an appreciator of the direct approach. Didn’t need a shield if you could tear through your opponents before they could let out an attack.

His master was always the one obsessed with keeping the others safe. He could really use his master right now. With his comforting presence, soothing arura, and desire to tend to every life even if would put his life on the line. Someone to help him figure this mess out. To tell him things were going to be okay.

“I think round two’s starting up.” Tang announced as more lights appeared in the distance.

Nodding, Sandy pressed a few buttons and gripped the wheel. “Everyone, hold on to something. This is gonna get rough.”

“I’m fine.” MK assured Pigsy even as his heart crumbled under the weight of his uselessness.

Knowing the kid was lying, but unable to give him the proper attention with the approaching danger, Pigsy was forced to return to his position.

The latest assault was the worst one yet.

Whether it was due to the Monkey King’s words or the exhaustion catching up with them, their blows were not as effective. They couldn’t keep this up forever, but they didn’t have any other option.

Mei was the first to falter. Trying to protect both the engine and her friend was taxing but something felt off. With each pass of her blade, it felt like less demons were going after the engine and more were interested in going after her depowered friend.

Weakened and left with little more than a crowbar to defend himself, MK was trapped in a horrible situation. Mei knew if she moved, she’d be leaving the engine wide open, but if she didn’t MK would be killed.

The choice was obvious.

In a blaze of green lightning, Mei scattered the opposing force with powerful strikes. Scores of demons were sent hurtling overboard. MK stared at his old friend both grateful and with immense guilt.

The entire vessel lurched as smoke started pouring out of the damaged engine.

“We’re hit.” The water demon announced as he struggled to keep the massive vehicle level. An attempt that was soon rendered pointless as the second engine on the left side was damaged, this time by their own Monkie Kid trying to protect those who raised him from a group of demons aiming to take advantage of the distraction.

Sensing the craft was compromised, the invading force decided to flee for their safety. Leaving the pilgrims’ full attention on their imminent crash and how only one of them knew how to actually fly.

“Everyone inside! Now!” Pigsy shouted, furious and terrified for their lives.

Monkey King immediately grabbed his student and dashed into the main body.

“I’m sorry,” Mei said to the stubborn chef, not so much as for her actions as for the consequences. “But I just couldn’t-”

“Hey, I’d do the same.” Pigsy faced Mei with a kind smile. He saw everything. Even if he couldn’t go anything to help, he was still proud she chose to protect what was important.

A hand landed on her shoulder, revealed to be Tang who couldn’t be prouder. “We all would.”

“Alright inside all of you.” Pigsy yelled throwing them into the main compartment and closing the hatch behind him.

Being inside the cockpit unfortunately gave them an unobstructed view of how close they were to crashing into a mountain every time Sandy steered them away from crashing into a another one.

An abnormally loud clap burst from the back of the sealed room followed by a golden glow slowly spreading across the entire dronecopter.

“A barrier?” Tang observed, adjusting his glasses to make sure this wasn’t a trick of the light.

“I thought you said shields weren’t your thing.” Pigsy asked the struggling monkie.

“Just because I’m not an expert, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to cast them. My first master was adamant I learn at least the basics no matter how fast or strong I was.” Sun Wukong said, pouring more and more energy into keeping the ship in one piece.

“Sounds like a nice guy.” Sandy grunted from the wheel as he tried to keep them in the air as long as possible.

Sun Wukong was silent at that, but even at his worst the Monkey could not deny all the hard work and effort his immortal master put into preparing him to truly become more than a king.

Something was up ahead. Water. Were they that close to the ocean? Doesn’t matter. They won’t be airborne for much longer. There was only one thing he could do.

“Brace for impact!”

The dronecopter plunged beneath the waves with enough force to launch a geyser of water several stories high. The dark depths hungrily devoured the vessel as it did to a thousand others.

 Like a dying light, the golden barrier flickered, barley clinging to life. Until not even divine magic could remain alit.

The five passengers and small army of cats were alive, but their ship had sustained heavy damage and was taking on water fast. Not even two minutes in and water was up to their hips.

The windows were cracking under the intense ocean pressure, letting in even more water by the gallon.

“Well, ain’t this something. We survive a demon army and now we all get to drown!” Pigsy yelled as he tried climbing the walls to buy himself as much time as he could.

“Hey Sandy. This would be a good time for a cool water adventure vehicle, right?” Mei asked, batting away a fish one of the cracked windows dropped on her face. She was really hoping not to be the reason why her closest friends died.

From the pilot’s seat, Sandy was completely helpless as critical failure after critical failure popped up on the main screen. “I would but-This is a sky drone, its not water adventure friendly.” He was literally beating his own skull as his cats tried to comfort him, and use him as a small island.

“Monkey King! You’ve got to use your powers to get us out of here!” MK pleaded with his master.

“Huh?” Said monkey however had a much different reaction to their circumstance. He was lounging on his side, using handfuls of water to pat down his air whipped fur. “Calm down, a little water won’t hurt- Right, you lot are mortal.” For a brief moment, it was as if he forgot why he never wanted them on this journey in the first place. 

Was it an accident? Or did he truly wish to forget just how easily being close to him could get them all killed?

Suddenly the former airship took on a new rattle as a sound unlike anything that could be produced on dray land echoed through the darkness.

“What’s that?” Mei asked panicking at the deep, rattling moan.

“Something big!” MK squeaked, wondering what else the universe wanted to throw at them.

A statement which proved to be a massive understatement if the approaching shadow was any indication.

Sun Wukong looked at the large figure with a confident grin. “Everyone relax. It’s my old friend. Looks like he’s here to help us out.”

The rushing waters calmed, revealing the face of a massive dragon like beast the size of a palace with glowing purple eyes and metal shell resembling a turtle. It’s golden claws the size of houses were fully elongated and a green glow was building at the back of its throat.

Getting the sense this was not a warm welcome, Wukong felt it was best to clarify a few things. “Hmm, actually friend might~ be stretching it.”

With a single blow, the sinking vessel was launched deeper into the ocean. Until they struck land, within a massive bubble housing an entire city. Somehow they had been perfectly removed from the dying vehicle to stand before what could only be called a palace.

It was breathtaking.

Not unlike the Celestial Realm, everything felt like it belonged to another world. The flawless white walls had no trace of paint yet they seemed to emanate a slow glow. The roof tiles were the perfect shade of teal as they curved in the traditional shape accented with pure gold. Towers forged from the seafloor climbed stories in random intervals, decorated with colorful coral and glowing algae.

In the center of it all was a massive palace that bore a strong resemblance to Mei’s home. The primary difference was the massive gate artistically carved from gold at the front. Whose courtyard they were currently standing in.

“The Dragon Palace of the East Sea. We’re in the Dragon Palace of the East Sea!” Mei cheered, holding an equally ecstatic MK as they took in the majesty of the underwater city. The two young adults cheered at their good fortune.

Both at finding a potential ally and being alive.

“Yeah, this is my kinda-sorta ol’ buddy’s mansion.” Monkey King slid close, while still technically being the closest to the main doors.

“Isn’t this where you got your staff?” Tang asked, doing everything he could not to freak out about how he was in yet another legendary domain of a major mythological figure.

“Yep. Ah, good times. Good times.” Monkey King wistfully said, a spark of gold shining in his eyes.

Pigsy, however, recalled the story a bit differently. “‘Got’ or…”

“Took.” MK finished, seeing a massive flaw in their plan. “You took it. Oh boy…”

“Wait.” Sandy said. “If this is the house of Mei’s extended family, shouldn’t we have brought a gift?” He didn’t want to be rude. Plus, you never know when a little act of kindness could smooth things over. After all, they are trespassing. Technically.

“That is a good point, but it’s not like we planned to end up here.” Pigsy admitted while smiling at his old friend’s heart. If they had time, normally he would whip up one of his grandmother’s famous recipes. There was something about good food and pleasant conversation that allowed strong bonds to form even in the most unlikely circumstances. Or at least be able to tolerate one another.

Monkey King continued to wave off their worries. “Don’t worry about it. Just follow my lead and let me do the talking.” His ears twitched at the sound of doors opening “Oh, here they come.”

The gate rose revealing a humanoid figure who filled their entire courtyard with the sense of power and authority. He was joined by two guards, each wielding a golden spear, and a female demon with blue hair and fin-like ears. Stepping into the light was none other than the Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang.

His human form was tall and quite muscular, sporting emerald eyes with reptilian slits. His impressive mane and beard was a lovely shade of purple, a small bun was held by two golden pieces carved to resemble horns. He was donned in a white robe decorated with elegant teal and gold designs. Wickedly sharp pieces of golden shoulder armor rested on each side, leading to an even greater intimidating presence.

“Smiles, everyone, smiles.” Wukong demonstrated taking center stage.

“Hey Ao Guang!” The simian happily greeted, turning up the cuteness factor. “Haven’t seen you-”

“Dirty Monkey!” The question was cut off by an enraged shout and the release of a draconic arura. “You dare return to my domain after humiliating me before my own court and that of my family. Taking one of the iron pillars of my treasury and turning it into a weapon.”

“Wha? But that was thousands of years ago.” Sputtering briefly, Wukong was quick to try and turn things around while keeping a happy face. “I thought we grew quite close during my journey.”

“And now I learn the Ruyi Jingu Bang hath been stolen. You have given the Lady Bone Demon exactly what she needs to destroy us all.” The ancient king stated as his true form an ivory dragon curled behind him. “Everyone’s lives are hanging by a thread due to your incompetence.”

Wukong could not say anything to counter the hurtful attacks. They were all true. Everyone was in danger because of him. This was his fault. He should have acted the moment he sensed her presence, yet he didn’t. He’d grown complacent in this peaceful era.

But that doesn’t mean he can’t work to make things right. If only he’s given the opportunity.

“I should execute you here and now!” Ao Guang threatened knowing the majority of the Celestial Realm would proudly support his decision.

“We both know that would accomplish nothing but blowing up your own house,” Wukong said, feeling pity for his fellow king. Heaven’s numerous attempts to kill him were common knowledge, along with their equal number of failures. And to immediately manifest his draconic arura? Sheesh, poor guy must have been under incredible stress to slip up this badly.

Slit pupils continued to emanate a pale green glow, yet one could say despite its divine light it grew all the more wicked. “Perhaps, but I doubt the same could be said for your companions.”

At his words, several soldiers circled the group, each one aiming their spears at their necks without hesitation. Even at little Mo.

Okay, he retracted his pity.

For one member, this was not how she envisioned her first visit to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea would go. Admittedly she thought she would be accompanied by her parents, but at the very least she never thought she’d be threated by what should be allies. The whole world was at danger and they were more interested in punishing the ones trying to stop it. With this anger, Mei drew the Dragon Blade forcing the solider in front of her to step back or risk decapitation.

But it had a secondary effect.

“Where did you get that sword?” The ancient king questioned his arura dissipating. He had seen that blade many times before, always in the claws of a relative. Yes, pale imitations have been forged in the past but none possessed the original’s purity and strength. None until this one.

Eyes darting to sides as the guards halted their progression, Mei carefully swallowed knowing her answer could change everything. “My family.” It was shaky and weak, but it was the truth and she’s had a long day. Seeing the unimpressed looks around her she followed with, “It was my ancestors.” Because it was the truth.

She was part of this family. She earned the right to wield this blade. And no one could say otherwise. And even if this dragon was her thousand times great granduncle, he would not stop her from using it to defend those she loved. It was this righteous fury that gave her the strength to bare her teeth, now fully transformed into proper fangs, at the Dragon King far stronger than herself going against every instinct she had.

Seeing a spark of true power, Ao Guang gauged the girl’s spirit with finer precision. “Who are you?”

“Long Mei.” She stated, growing more impatient and less respectful the longer she had to tolerate strangers shoving spears in her and her best friend’s face.

“I suppose it cannot be expected to recognize all your nieces.” Tang cleared his throat, stealing the guards’ attention from their cherished son and daughter towards himself. “I believe you’d be more familiar with Lady Lóng Xiǎo Jiāo.”

The levy was broken by a single name.

“Mr. Tang, a word.” The heiress growled at the use of her formal name, the name she spent so long loathing, green lightning whipped her hair around as a massive dragon curled around her.

The guards gasped at the display, a few of them dropped into a respectful bow at the sight. The signature radiating from the construct was unmistakably that of the four royal clans.

For Ao Guang, that was all the proof he needed. Only a descendent of the Four Dragon Kings could conquer such a potent display of draconic aura with such ease. Along with being able to wield the true Dragon Blade, without a doubt this was a member of his family.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

“You know when we agreed to go on this journey, this was not what I envisioned.” MK complained as he took in their prison cell.

It was dark and musky with plant life sprouting from the cracks in the walls and the ceiling. Every inch of stone was damp, despite the rest of the palace being perfectly dry, making the air feel colder than it actually was. The skeletal remains of the last occupant gave an ominous message, especially since it was still cuffed to the wall. What meager light they had came from the few dim torches placed between every three cells and the window facing the dark depths of the eastern sea.

In total, it was not a scene that inspired hope.

“Meh. You can’t always predict what life’s gonna throw your way. Besides this is a way better start than my first journey.” Monkie King said, choosing to focus on the positives. He wasn’t even stretching the truth. Compared with being tramped under a mountain and having to fight his allies before they joined their group, this was a lazy morning stroll.

Restraining himself from falling into a complete mental breakdown, MK tried to see what could be done to aid in their escape. Because while he adored Pigsy, the idea of breaking out of an ancient prison with spoons was…laughable, to be kind.

“Tang, you work with the Longs, can’t you call them and ask them to explain everything?” MK pleaded. The couple had literally called him mere hours ago.

“I would if I could. But as we all know almost drowning in salt water has consequences.” Tang said holding out a thoroughly soaked phone. His device along with all his precious contacts were all but dead until he could dry it out. Even if he could talk to the Eastern King again, without proof, anything he said would be dismissed. He simply didn’t have the pedigree or status to back up his claims.

As a further kick in the teeth, it seemed being associated with the Monkey King was igniting centuries old grudges.

“What are our chances Pigsy can dig us out while MK is still young?” Monkie King asked, fascinated by the struggling chef and his growing pile of broken utensils.

“I heard that!” Pigsy shot back, breaking another spoon. Snarling, he turned to the lounging monkey. “Last I checked you are fully capable of crumbling mountains with a pinkie, so why don’t you make yourself useful and just make an exit?”

“Can’t, doctor’s orders.” He calmly stated, showing off his still bandaged tail and head. “No strenuous activity for a minimum of 48 hours and it’s only been 37. Plus, I’ve already had to push myself with the whole army nonsense.” Not that he’d ever voice that fighting off all those demons had started to pull on his wounds and he may have possibly reopened one. It was best they didn’t know. They had other things to focus on.

“Using my instructions against me. Wow.” Tang observed in a dry tone.

“Besides, this isn’t so bad. We may be imprisoned, but it’s not like we’re being tortured.” They were essentially being left to their own devices, which easily made his top five imprisonments. “Plus, they wouldn’t harm a hair on Mei’s head.” Ao Guang would never dare risk insulting the other dragon clans with such a disrespectful act as threatening the heir to his brother’s legacy. “She’ll be treated like a princess of the highest order.” And a prime hostage they couldn’t afford to endanger.

“Which she’ll hate after an hour of pampering,” MK stated, knowing full well how much Mei hated being part of such a high-class family when it came to strict rules and traditions. It was why she insisted they use her nickname over her birth name.

Well, one of the reasons anyway.

“Have faith. She’s a Lóng.” Sun Wukong said shifting into a more comfortable position. “They have always been a reliable family. Until then, we best conserve our energy. When she comes to spring us, we cannot hesitate.”

 §~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Turns out running blindly in a dress you just got while holding a sword in a building you’ve never visited was harder than Mei thought.

She had to find the map, free her friends, and get the fuck out before the enslaved citizens caught up with them and turned the city into a graveyard.

Panicking, much like failure, was not an option.

She couldn’t let herself be caught. Her friends were in jail. Sandy was only free due to his cats, and his offer to clean the wreckage of their ship. And she essentially just took advantage of her thousand times great uncle’s hospitality. And locked his assistant in a closet.

She only had one shot at this.

She needed to be smart. Think like her family and choose wisely. The map had to be put somewhere safe. A place where Ao Guang would know no one would touch it, in a place he could ensure it was the real thing.

That door…

Stopping at a door that looked identical to dozens she passed, Mei couldn’t help but feel this one was different. Something was calling to her…

A deeper examination revealed the dragon’s carver around the knockers were more intricate than the others she’s seen. Then there was the two dragon statues on either side. A subtle hint to a room containing great value. Gently opening one door, she slipped inside and eased it closed.

Taking a proper look, she allowed herself a short dance of victory. All around her were ancient weapons and artifacts, either mounted on the walls or on pedestals much like her home.

Oh, that blade almost looked like the Dragon Sword, only blue. Was that the East’s version? Did each royal clan possess one?

Questions for another time.

Ha! There it is.

The map was unfolded on a pillar near the back of the room. Perfectly presented and just waiting for someone to grab it. There was even a little spotlight to give it a contrasting glow to the rest of the room.

She could already hear the word ‘cliché’ being shouted from every direction, but she had to take the risk. But before she could close the distance, she felt the roar of a dragon.

White, purple, and teal lightning struck down between her and the map, transforming into Ao Guang with his arura fully released. “It is never wise to wonder uninvited into the lair of a dragon.”

Putting on a long practiced smile Mei wondered just how she was gonna get out of this.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

“So long as we’re here, maybe we should go over your plan.” MK prodded. “You never actually explained what happens after we gather the three rings.”

Suddenly Tang shot up completely panicked. “Sweet, merciful Buddha! Ma!”

“Eh? What?” Pigsy paused in his escape attempts at the bizarre phrase.

“Ma and the other generals.” Tang started pacing as his worry grew over the new friends he made, who were surely on Lady Bone Demon’s hit list. “I’ve been so preoccupied with everything else, I completely forgot about checking in with them.”

“You’re right.” Eyes blowing wide, MK joined the scholar in his concerned frenzy. “I completely blanked on them. Do you think we’re too late?”

Wukong, however, remained stretched out on the comfortable patch of floor he found. “They’re fine. So long as we don’t take too long obtaining the fire, not a single spec of frost will touch my kingdom.”

“And how can you be so certain?” Pigsy inquired as he continued to chip away at the wall, not willing to take the King’s words at face value given where they ended up.

“As an apology for over using the fillet in the first half of our journey, my master personally crafted a massive shield array to completely surround Mount Huagou.” He could still remember his master’s embarrassment over his past behavior and his desire to ‘make amends for his foolishness’. “The more power an enemy pours into attacking my kingdom, the more powerful the shield becomes. It may not be able to stop weak demons from entering, but a being of Lady Bone Demon’s strength? Pfft. She’d never be able to pass through. Not without having to sacrifice at least half of her full power.”

And while the demoness was truly crazy, he doubted even she was insane enough to pull something like that just to slight him.

“So, they’ll all be safe?” MK pushed, eager to know the Stalwart Generals and all the little monkeys would be safe.

“Yep. So long as they stay on the mountain, they will have nothing to worry about.” Wukong happily explained, turning to his cell mates with a cocky grin. “Did you really think I’d leave my home undefended after everything they’ve endured over the millennia?

As one they answered with nothing but the truth. “Yes.”

“Okay, ouch.”

 §~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Mei had to admit the Dragon King of the East was powerful, but he had gone centuries with a real challenge. Whilst she was still developing her powers, it was through years of street racing that gave her the edge in speed. There was the benfit of him not wishing to hurt her, instead he was trying to use her love for her family to make her stand down.

Which first of all was a cheap tactic.

Secondly, she did love her family. She loved them more than she could put into words, but she loved her friends too. She had so many good memories with each of them. And they were counting on her to free them so they could enjoy even more time together.

No matter what, she refused to let anyone down!

With some tight maneuvers, she was able to reclaim the map, but now she had to pull off the impossible again to reach the exit.

Ao Guang thought he could talk sense into his blood relative, yet she was determined to follow that incorrigible monkey into an early grave. With that map they would only hasten their demise. Why couldn’t she understand that?

“Every word out of his mouth is a lie!” He learned long ago, while Sun Wukong was impossibly strong and had moments of kindness, he was a manipulator and a ruthless combatant at his core. Any deal was merely a new opportunity for him to screw over a new party.

“Then what is your plan?! How do you intend to kill Lady Bone Demon? Are you just going to hide down here, hoping she never looks in your direction? Are you that blind! You cannot imagine she will be satisfied with only his death!” Mei screamed. She demanded to know what was going on. If the fire was too dangerous then how did they plan to fix this mess!

Stubbornly, Ao Guang refused to answer knowing the truth would only be more heartbreaking. “Actions will be taken, but not the kind that will doom the rest of the world.”

“Like what? I barely escaped her first assault. I barely saw a fraction of what she is capable of and willing to do. And you expect me to be calm when apparently the Celestial Realm and Major Kings knew about her release for months, but don’t have an actual plan?!” Mei trembled with barely contained rage. Green lightning danced around her with more fury and wrath than ever before.

That was the source. Knowing beings far older and more powerful than her and her friends knew about this danger yet only the Monkey king bothered to do anything to stop it. Were their lives, was this world worth so little to them that they were willing to let that monster roam free?

Was there any plan, or were they expecting a couples of teenagers to hold the front line until the Monkey King pulled a victory out of thin air?

Walls became scorched and priceless antiques were shattered as the green dragon manifested. It roared against its pale counterpart with raw fury fueled by betrayal and desperation. The ivory dragon remained steadfast in its silence even as the youngling continued to challenge it.

Ao Guang had nothing to say. It was clear no words would calm his relative’s fears. He knew that from personal experience, but he could keep her safe as long as he could. However, for that to be a reality he needed to seal away that wretched map.

Reaching out to take the scroll, he was hardly surprised when Mei raised her arm to block him. Ao Guang grasped her arm, much to his regret. Both dragon aruras vanished leaving behind a vacuum of power that gave the unsettling knowledge something was very wrong.

The map pulsed in the young dragon’s grip.

Two pairs of eyes were consumed by an eerie green glow as the sound of vengeful laughter echoed in the back of their skulls.

Roaring flames

Hunger

Power beyond measure confined

Crushed and starved

Stolen from master

Reunion

Imminent

Revenge

Destruction

Death

Soon

Soon

Soon

Releasing his grip, Ao Guang stepped back in horror. “This cannot be…” Those visions, those emotions…What sort of evil was being unleashed-No! What burden had his family been cursed with?

Confused and scared and so very, very angry, Mei did the only thing she could. Clutching her fist around the map, she ran. She ran past servants and nobles, kicking up dust clouds and over turning rocks, desperate to find the others, to find something to block out those horrible thoughts.

She ran and ran and ran and ran and ran and ran.

She ran down every hall she came across, hoping it would bring her closer to the ones who helped fill her life with laughter. It made no sense how one building could be this big. From the outside, the main structure of the palace was barely two thirds the size of her family’s mansion. Yet as she struggled to find any sign of her friends it almost felt like the building was doubling in size with every turn.

“Why is the Dragon Palace bigger than my house?!” She cried in frustration.

Oh, turn right here.

Ah ha, she’d know those bulging muscles and mohawk anywhere. “Sandy.”

Rushing over to where her tea loving buddy was standing, and a bunch of guards were relentlessly pampering Mo and the other therapy cats (turns out demon guards of an undersea palace can’t resist such cuteness either), Mei was all set to preform a flying hug on the big guy when something caught her eye.

He was standing before a strangely awesome vehicle, complete with a mechanized version of Mo on the roof. It was twice the size of the dronecopter’s original main body with adjustable wheels, retractable tank-like trends, and a stylish paintjob. “What is that?!”

“Our new mobile base.” Sandy announced.

But first things first.

They couldn’t leave their fuzzy buddies behind. Which meant breaking a few bones.

“So, you made this from the smashed-up drone?” Mei questioned as the two of them entered their new base with all the little soldiers. Mei took it all in, especially all the little cat walks and beds built into the walls.

The two of them happily ignored the moans of pain from the guards, who truly weren’t that good at their job.

“Yeah, I mean I tried to rebuild our original customizations, but without your notes it wasn’t gonna happen.” Sandy bashfully admitted, even though Mei was mentally and vocally praising his mechanical skills and speed. “On the plus side, I was able to remove a lot of unnecessary weight and add a few new tricks to our arsenal.”

“Mercy,” a guard pleaded from the windshield. Huh, she really wasn’t thinking about where’d they’d end up while she was thrashing them.

Wincing, Mei activated the wipers to remove the poor guy from his spot of humiliation. After a few tries he was able to rest on the floor.

“Okay, let’s go!” Sandy shifted into high gear and with that they were on their way to find the dungeons. There was something satisfying about driving what was essentially a battle tank/safe house through a pristine palace.

 §~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

“Alright.” After far too many spoons one would ever suspect Pigsy being able to carry on his person and what felt like an eternity a thimble size dent in the wall was starting to form. “Everyone hold tight. I’m getting us out of here in just five or six more-”

“Years?” Tang cut in having no faith in this plan working what so ever. On the plus side, his deadpan snarking did sneak a laugh out of MK. So, he counted that as a win.

Monkey King was just enjoying the show.

Pigsy turned to the unbeliever with a tired glare. “Hey. Ever hear the tale of Yu Gong moving mountains?”

Tag raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the question.

Thankfully before things could escalate everyone was alerted to a rather odd sound. It almost sounded like an engine but way more intense and getter closer.

Suddenly the wall Pigsy had been chipping away at was met with an overwhelming force. The explosion pushed every back as rubble scattered around the cell. No one was crushed by the chunks of stone, but not a single resident of the little cell could claim to be unharmed by the well-intentioned act.

At most MK could barely lift his head to meet the eyes of his rescuers.

“Mei! Sandy! You escaped! You jail breaked us! You broke the jail! Freedom!” MK excitedly shouted before falling limp back onto the ground with a wide grin.

Pigsy made a mental note to have them all checked for concussions before the day’s end.

“And I got the map, too.” Mei leaned out the window showing off her prize to the destruction before her.

Not knowing how much time they had until the guards rushed in, Sun Wukong immediately picked himself up and shoved everyone into the vehicle in a single blink.

“Mei, that outfit is fierce!” Tang claimed as he took in her new dress. One look was enough to tell him it was made of the finest materials.

“You know it. Oh, and I picked up something for you,” Mei said passing MK what she saw in the tailor.

It was a jacket, just his size. But while his old one helped remind him of the simpler times, this one had an arura of maturity and confidence.

“Sweet! I’ve been meaning to try a new look.” MK said, putting on the jacket with a flourish.

“Ready when you are, big guy.” Wukong said eager to leave his latest confinement and get back to saving the world. He didn’t want to lose this momentum.

“We’re missing someone.” Tang said sounding mentally exhausted.

“Huh?” But that couldn’t be right. He was certain he grabbed everyone. Wait. Where’s the pig?

Apparently while MK was trying out his gift, Pigsy returned to the cell to retrieve something very ‘important’. “It’s okay spoony. They couldn’t have knocked down that wall without your contribution.”

“Piggy, no time.” Mei said growing all too aware of how much time had passed since she ran from her relative.

Strapping the chef into the passenger seat and they were on their way.

“Okay, we’re escaping an underwater city…in a van…” Pigsy stated, now in a rational state of mind, before shouting, “Am I the only one seeing the problem here?”

Sandy could only laugh at his passionate friend’s reaction. “Oh, my sweet and sour Pigsy, allow me to introduce you to the Total Environment Automobile or T.E.A.”

“You just wanted it to spell tea, didn’t you?”

Sandy just smiled at his old friend. “Maybe…” He probably could have gotten away with it if his cats didn’t look like they were all smirking. “With this beauty, we will be able to handle practically any terrain.”

With the press of a touch screen, the vehicle was set for submersible travel. Outside pieces shifted as it took on a more water friendly dynamic and became airtight.

And with the palace gates wide open things were finally going their way. Or so they thought.

A single figure landed directly in front of them with tremendous force, fury pouring off them in waves. A tangible presence of barely tempered rage boiled the air around them as their targets inched ever closer.

Ao Guang lifted his head to glare at the approaching vehicle.

Fearful, Sandy hastily twisted the wheel to avoid the humanoid dragon, turning the van a full 180 degrees.

Throwing open the back doors, taking care to not rip them off their hinges no matter how satisfying it would be, the king locked eyes with the troublesome monkey. “I will not allow you to leave with that map!”

Said monkey was swiftly losing whatever patience he had left. “Are you really choosing to be this dense? The Samadhi Fire is the only option of killing the Lady Bone demon. Is your hatred towards me really worth sacrificing our one chance?”

“The Samadhi Fire has proven to be beyond control.” Even now he could remember its power, how even thousands of miles away he could sense the ravenous hunger of the flames and the knowledge nothing he could do would protect his people if it ever drew near. “Especially by one who has not even mastered mortal fire.”

Besides, the simian had much to answer for. He suspected the monkie knew the cause behind those terrible visions and why they were tied to his brother’s family.

MK rushed to his knees. “Dragon King, please! If you know of another way, tell us and we will listen.”

Mei joined in, trying to end this nonsense. “This is our only hope. You must see how desperate the situation has become.”

Suddenly the Monkey King was forced to kneel as he felt a stabbing pain behind his eyes. Visions of vile chains and crying children flooded into his mind, an army of slaves forced underwater. “They’ve found us,” Wukong said gripping his forehead.

Unknowingly, Ao Guang experienced the same images, yet not as clear. Almost as if he was caught in the vapor trail of the original message, but that did not make the meaning behind it any less real.

At his cryptic statement, everyone’s attention was draw upwards into the dark recesses of the sea. Or it once was dark. Now it was filled with hundreds of demons bound by ghostly blue chains that appeared to drain the life out of the waters around them.

“Our neighbors…” Sandy whispered in utter horror. Visions of past battles started to flash before his eyes as he took in all demons, both the old and the young, preparing to strike. The wheel creaked as his grip slowly increased and his breaths became more unstable.

Tang looked to the sonar, which revealed hundreds of unknown entities encircling the palace and were moving closer with every passing second. “If we hope to make it without entering a fight we cannot win, we need to leave. Now.” It was their only hope to avoid a second drowning attempt.

“Ao Guang, now you see a glimpse into what she intends for the world.” Wukong solemnly stated. His tail unconsciously wrapping around MK’s arm. “What will you do?” The question was but a whisper but its weight transcended reality.

The ancient king surveyed the small army of demons. A mere glance was all he needed to determine none of them were close to a threat, but that was not all he noticed. Frightened expressions, frustration burning through glowing eyes, tears blending with the surrounding water. None of the gathered demons wished to be here. They were simply civilians forced to play a part they never wanted.

Taking a deep breath, the Eastern Dragon King took in the motley collection of heroes before him. They risked much with such a dangerous weapon, but in the face of such a threat, even he could admit it was necessary. “If the Lady Bone Demon is able to shackle you in such a state, all hope will truly be lost.”

Jumping down from the T.E.A., Ao Guang stalked towards the palace gates. “I will buy you as much time as I can. Do not disappoint me, Sun Wukong.”

Before the king could go too far a young hand reached out to meet his.

Mei looked her distant relative in the eye and tried to pass on how truly grateful she was, for everything. “Thank you, great, great, thousand times great uncle!”

Even though they never met before nor did they hold the same beliefs, Mei could not deny how much he truly valued family. A mere flash of power and he was willing to take her in, keep her safe. Even now, when he did not have to do anything, he was willing to give them a chance.

For a moment, Ao Guang’s expression soften as he laid a gentle hand across his relative’s. Regardless of the passage of time or blood, she truly held her ancestor’s spirit of loyalty and protection. No matter what happened, he prayed for her safety. For her success. For their victory.

Mei returned to the vehicle and Sandy wasted no more time to get them as far away as possible from the battle doomed to end in needless blood.

As he watched the young heroes flee, Ao Guang focused on the task before him. He aimed to keep his word, which meant he could not falter.

“Out of respect for your predicament, I will forgive such a disrespectful display, but I cannot let such insolence go unpunished.” Sliding into a familiar stance, a dragon of pure ancient power tempered by eons of experience wound around the entire palace in a majestic display. “Brace yourselves.”

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

In the depts of a palace carved from the heart of a mountain, a war council had been called to order. Demons, born or former human alike, gathered to discuss a catastrophe that had been plaguing the land. As one they sat with the hope of finding a solution to preserve their way of life.

This was the Mosaic Court, a collection of the most unlikely of allies brought together to make something extraordinary.

“All new reports, trade, and traffic from Megalopolis has been frozen (No, that was not a pun, Xiulan) and shut down for three days. Scouts and surveillance confirm the presence of a dangerous demon taking residence. Life has been detected but its weak and growing weaker.” Jian, a sable demon, reported. He had just spent the last two days scouting the once thriving city and keeping watch over the ever-expanding wall of ice.

“We can’t risk our scouts moving any closer. Skeleton demons have been spotted along with demons shackled by ominous blue chains.” In his written report, he did not forget to mention how what few demons who managed to escape the first wave of chains were being hunted down by more chains to join the others. Why they were being captured? He didn’t know.

If his King’s suspicions were accurate, then the victims didn’t need to be alive to feed the chain’s conjurer. This was pure sadism at best.

“Has there been any movement detected from the Celestial Realm or the Four Dragon Kings?” Guotin, a white snake demon, asked.

“Nothing atypical, as usual.” The weasel like demon responded.

“Buddha forbid they actually help of their own free will.” Siyu bitterly muttered. The lion-tailed macaque’s nose wrinkled, distorting his green marking, as he tried to keep it together.

“However, surveillance shows that the Monkie Kid, his family, and Sun Wukong were able to escape. They were last seen over China’s Eastern Ocean.” And with that, Jian’s depressing report had concluded.

“Your highness, what should we do?” Renshu, a leopard demon and the council’s resident armourer, pleaded.

The full Mosaic Court turned to the head of the table where their King sat unresponsive.

“Sir?” Guotin prodded.

Yet Macaque remained as he was. Cross-legged in lotus position as all six ears were proudly displayed, in their multi-colored glory.  

“Bàba?” Xiulan innocently asked green eyes stark against their blue butterfly-like mark.

And just like that, a pair of golden eyes snapped open.

“Don’t call me that,” Macaque said on reflex.

The rest of the table smirked at the immediate response, some of the tension dispersing from the room. The adopted Monkie siblings exchanged fist bumps underneath the table.

Groaning at the implications and for falling into such an obvious trap, Macaque rolled onto his hands as he unfolded his legs. Bouncing off his palms and landing perfectly on his throne, the council awaited his decision.

Stretching his muscles, the king looked to those who put their trust in him with utter confidence. “And as for the royal pain and my latest student, don’t worry. I doubt they’ll die so easily, but more than anything Wukong has something planned. We only need to be prepared to pick up the pieces when it falls apart.”

“Is there nothing else we can do?” Huan asked, refilling her pipe. Five fluffy tails rearranged themselves behind her to show her displeasure.

“Not yet. Until the time comes, maintain surveillance at a safe distance. Keep in contact with the courts of the surrounding areas. If the corruption spreads too close to our allies or the surrounding cities, we may have to call in a few favors for emergency teleportation circles.” Macaque listed, thinking about what else they could do to minimize casualties.

“With all due respect, can we not organize an attack now,” Ehuang said with more than a touch of bloodlust. The edges of her lavender mask grew all the more jagged, matching her bared fangs. “The longer the Lady Bone demon is allowed to spread her influence, the more energy she can gather. If we don’t cut her off, eventually only the Buddha will be able to strike her down.”

Macaque stared at one of his precocious students and children. He understood her frustration and worries all too well. Her concerns were valid, however, her ideas were doomed to failure. Macaque’s eyes roved over the council table’s only empty seat with regret.

Others followed his gaze and any further complaints were silenced.

“A full-out assault would only lead to more death. The truth is even if my natural power eclipses her own it is worthless if she is able to steal it from me. We need something that can rob her of her greatest weapon and defense.” Something Wukong was on his way to obtaining, but if his predictions were accurate, it would end in tears and rage.

That he would soothe with shadow.

“Until the time is right, we must be patient.”

For better or worse, it was their only option to secure victory without resorting to the final option.

[gale-gentlepenguin]

ML Fic: Soulmate Survey Part 37

Shout out to @asongeverlasting for beta reading for me and making sure I actually got this out.

Check her writing out on AO3 as Ramblingwren

(Master post)

(Read the fic in a more condensed on Ao3)

(The latest chapter will be up on there once this reaches over 300 notes on tumblr)

_____________________________________________________________

Simularé looked out over the city from the top of the school.  Using her replicated powers, she took the form of Volpina so they'd be able to alter the illusion quickly should something pop out and accidentally reveal the true form of the school. Thankfully the sentimonster didn’t need to do much in order to maintain the illusion; Paris was a surprisingly quiet city.

As far as they could tell, no one in the city outside of the school had any idea what was going on. And that worked out perfectly for them.

“So, this is where Lila has you stationed,” a voice called out, resulting in the faux fox turning around. The figure behind them was a woman clad in dark blue, with blue skin and a feathery fan. She looked confident and the sentimonster instinctively felt that this individual was very much aware of what it was.

Mayura had quickly deduced it was the sentimonster as it was in Lila’s previous akuma form, Volpina. With Lila now Masquerade, it was unlikely she would choose to take such a form. She would likely want to stay in her new form to show it off.

“Do not be alarmed, Simularé, it is your creator. Mayura,” Mayura spoke again.

The shapeshifter leveled a sharp glare at the woman. What made her so certain of that?

“How do I know that is true?” Simularé questioned.

The villainess took a moment to examine the sentimonster. Mayura had to admit that this sentimonster was her finest work to date. The amount of emotion harnessed from Lila to create it made it far more unique, much less of a mindless creature than her previous creations. Amoks were created much like akuma were, locking on to intense emotions before sending off. But unlike akuma, amok can be shaped and tailored with enough focus. Simularé was a special case, as it was made from the conclave of emotions that Lila was experiencing during her breakdown. It had been quite difficult to focus on one specific feeling but Mayura had pushed through. Simularé was sculpted to be Lila’s ideal ally, but it was also so much more than a simple asset. This Amok embodied Lila’s core personality. Her cleverness, her cunning, her mistrust of others, her playfulness, her pride and so much more. To put it simply, this Sentimonster was Lila’s spirit given a new form.

“Trust me Simularé, you would be best not to ask that,” Mayura warned.

The sentimonster felt as if it was being talked down to and clearly did not approve of anyone talking to them in such a tone, save for its master. It charged at the peacock villainess, ready to make contact, But, before it could get close, Mayura stuck out her hand and pinched her fingers together, causing the sentimonster to feel as if some force was pulling its essence out. The pain it felt was indescribable! It felt as if its very being was being ripped out. Mayura was in range to sense the Amok and could easily remove it without difficulty, much like Hawkmoth could with an akuma. Though Mayura had a feeling that letting the Sentimonster know that keeping her out of range of the item was the key to its survival would not be wise. It was best in this moment to display power.

“Stop! Please!” Simularé begged. “I … I believe you! I will do whatever you ask, just please stop the pain!”

The villainess smiled, it seemed there was even more to this Sentimonster than Mayura had anticipated. It had a powerful sense of self preservation, something controlled sentimonsters didn’t seem to have. She took note of that.

“Good. Now, you are going to explain to me your master’s end goal and where Ladybug and Chat Noir are in the building.”

Simularé felt the grip that Mayura had on its essence and held back its burning resentment towards the blue bird villainess. She would behave. For now.

“Okay… I will tell you everything.”

_____________________________________________________________

“Duck!” Ladyice called out as she had Ice Noir lower their bodies to avoid oncoming ice projectiles.

“Surprising that she's only attacking us with ice. She's Stormy weather. You'd think she would be attacking with more, maybe some rain or like a vol....” Ice Noir commented.

“Don't talk about that! Do not give her any ideas!”

The two had skated out of the room and made their way through the now icy hallway while Stormy Weather gave chase.

“I was just saying it seems weird how...mediocre her attacks are.

“It’s like we saw before, the akuma servants are like robots, they can’t react quickly so changing up her powers is likely just as much of a problem. She's probably not as dangerous as we initially thought.”

“So maybe we should face this problem head on now that we aren’t cornered?”

Ice Noir changed direction and began skating towards the umbrella-wielding akuma.

Stormy Weather noticed the approaching cat and raised her umbrella, creating a mighty gale to blow him back and ending him flying past Ladyice to the end of the hallway.

“She can use her other powers… can confirm,” Ice noir commented as he got off the wall, still dazed.

Ladyice skated up to the dazed cat and helped stabilize him. Despite seeming like a wasted effort, the cat’s brash antics actually inspired Ladyice with a way to take her out.

“I just figured out how we can stop her, think you can give her one last charge for me?”

“Why Bugaboo, asking me to rush headfirst into danger? How heartless.” He feigned hurt.

Ladybug rolled her eyes.

“Silly Kitty. Just be ready to hang in there when she blasts you with wind. Don’t get blown back this time.”

“Got it.”

Ice Noir quickly skated across the ice as he drew his weapon. He was ready for her this time.

“Hey breezy weezy! The weather today was supposed to be sunny with a 20% chance of raining Cats and Dogs!” Ice Noir called out, clearly happy with his lame joke.

Stormy Weather saw the cat approaching once again and prepared to send another wind blast at him.

But the cat was prepared this time around and extended his staff to anchor himself to the walls on either side.

“Nice try!” Ice Noir snarked. “But a small little puff of wind won't blow me back again.”

The storm akuma decided instead of creating just another wind blast, she was going to step it up with a cyclone attack! A powerful tornado tunnel would surely blast the cat down for good.

“We were wrong! She can amp up the power too!” Ice Noir exclaimed as he held onto his staff with all his might while his body was being blown back by the massive winds. “This was not well thought out!”

He focused on digging his claws into his staff and doing his best to remain in the wind tunnel. The powerful winds blew into his face and he could see Stormy Weather slowly approaching.

“I don’t think I can hold on much longer, Ladyice!”

He felt his grip slipping. Any second now, he was going to get blown back.

“Don’t worry, Kitty. I got this.”

Stormy Weather didn’t get a chance to react when she felt something tackle her full force and rush her into the wall on the opposite end of the hallway.

The wind died down and Ice Noir was able to land on his skates. He released his grip on his staff and fixed his windblown hair to resemble its original state before quickly skating down the hall to help his partner.

“Nice job, Ladyice.”

The red-clad heroine stood up from her grapple with the storm akuma.

“Actually…”

Ice Noir looked up to see that his partner had shifted power ups. Her skates and ice skater aesthetic were replaced with a suit that had red spacesuit-like plating, a jetpack with retractable wings with red and light blue colors that matches her helmet.

She had changed into her space form, Cosmobug.

“Space power up! Because you can fly through the wind! Genius!”

Cosmobug smiled.

“Well, Stormy Weather is dazed but probably not for long.”

The two heroes noticed her about to grab her umbrella, but Chat Noir’s cat-like reflexes helped him snatch it first.

“Oh no you don’t!”

Ice Noir broke the umbrella over his knee.

“I don’t think she will be as mobile without her powers.”

Stormy Weather tried to stand but slipped on the icy floor she had created.

“Let’s just make our way to the boss,” Cosmobug said. She used the jet on her back to swoop up Ice Noir and fly slowly down the icy hall.

“Just like you to sweep me off my feet. But don’t think I will be a smitten kitten like usual.”

“Oh? Is that so?” The bug heroine raised an eyebrow. “It’s hard to imagine that you haven’t been dreaming about this scenario.”

“It helps that you aren’t riding a horse with the wind blowing in your hair,” Chat Noir joked back, catching Ladybug’s teasing.

Cosmobug quickly moved them to a part of the hall where there was no ice. Both undid their potion transformations, reverting back to their usual hero forms.

“Not keeping the jetpack?” Chat Noir asked. “It is really cool.”

“The room halls are pretty limited, and there's not much mobility, otherwise I might have,” Ladybug confessed.

The two heroes took a moment to catch their breaths and figure out their surroundings.

“We should thank Stormy Weather.”

The cat looked at his partner skeptically, remembering how a few minutes ago, the wind had nearly sent him flying through a brick wall.

“What makes you say that?”

“Lila probably had Stormy Weather out and about to flush out other people in the school and make sure the area was difficult to traverse. She likely sent out a bunch of other akuma to do the same, which means her forces are scattered and we have a better shot of dealing with her with fewer obstacles.”

Chat Noir nodded. He would not have deduced such a thing from one encounter with a weather akuma.

“Good to know, so the plan is to locate her and save the day.”

“No need to figure out where she is, I already have a good idea where she should be.”

Chat Noir noticed Ladybug had already started moving. He quickly followed behind, though he didn’t need an explanation this time. He already knew where Ladybug was heading — to his homeroom class, but he couldn’t say that without revealing what he knew.

_____________________________________________________________

‘This was a ridiculous decision.’

That was the thought running through Chloé’s mind as she ran for her life from a large group of Reflekta clones.

The two or three she had run into early were easy to avoid, but now it seemed like a horde of those tacky clones. And all of the ice that surrounded certain hallways made it impossible to traverse. She was limited in her running space and she was running out. But what made it all worse was that now those Reflekta copies had adjusted to running.

“HOW CAN YOU RUN IN THOSE HEELS!?” Chloé screamed as she ran down the hall.

She just had to try and be a hero. Why was she even doing this? The assistant probably got turned into one of those gross clones or got masked like those other students. She could have just sat back and just waited for Ladybug and Chat noir to find her or let them handle it.

“You can’t run forever” The crowd of clones sang in Rather impressive and creepy harmony.

Chloé took a turn down the hall and went into the door of the nearest room.

She closed the door and locked it before smelling the musty wet air.

“What the… EWW!” She spat in disgust as she realized she had locked herself in a janitor’s closet.

“Why did it have to be in such a gross smelly room?” she moaned.

Unfortunately, her comments caught the attention of the crowd chasing her.

She heard banging on the door.

“You can’t hide, we will find.”

Chloe put her back to the door to keep them out and felt herself slide down it in despair.

Was this how it was going to end? Getting turned into one of those fashion nightmares after hiding out in such a rank smelling closet? She didn’t even save… wait. She did save someone. She saved that old man. It hadn't been glamorous, but she did manage to save at least one person.

“I guess I did do something good after all. May not have been exceptional… but it was something.” Chloé smiled for a brief moment.

She took a moment to look at the positives, Ladybug and Chat Noir would likely come in and save the day, plus there were those other two heroes. Perhaps that would be enough. But she had to admit, finding solace in that was getting harder to do when the smell of the closet was destroying her nostrils. Just then, she remembered she had some nice perfume in her bag that she could spray to alleviate the smell.

“Well, at least I won’t smell awful when they capture me.”

She put her hand in her bag and felt around for her perfume. As she searched, she felt an unfamiliar object in her designer handbag. She pulled it out.

“What is this?”

She noticed a note on top of it. It was a bit dark to read so she pulled out her phone and turned on her flashlight.

“Return to Ladybug after mission?”

Chloé’s eyes went wide. Could this be what she thought it was? How was it possible? She didn’t have time to question it.

She opened the box and out came a floating bee creature, who Chloé recognized right away. It was real.

“Pollen!” Chloé exclaimed with cheer.

“It has been a while, my queen.” the bee kwami said.

Chloé would have loved to revel in this moment more but she knew that door was going to burst open any minute. She needed to be the bee heroine.

“As much as I would love to talk more, we need to hurry. We have some akuma clones that need bashing.”

“Right away, my queen!”

Chloe put the bee miraculous in her hair.

“Pollen, Buzz on!”

_____________________________________________________________

“It is a good thing there are so many copies,” Ryuuko stated as she leaped over a few Reflekta copies.

Viperion swerved and dodged the replicas of his sister’s akumatized form while avoiding getting caught in the bubbles that froze them and floated them up in the air.

Deadzone had been doing a lot of friendly fire thanks to its single minded obsession.

“After this, I really hope I never have to see my sister take this form again,” Viperion commented.

“Right, Adrien mentioned that you were Juleka’s brother. Older brother, right?”

“Older twin brother. But yes.”

“Really? You seem older.”

“I am a grade ahead of her, but we are the same age,” he explained.

“Could have sworn you were at least a year or two older.”

“A lot of people think the same thing. Even my mom forgets, sometimes. Rose, my sister’s girlfriend, says I radiate ‘big brother energy’ or something.”

“You learn something new.”

“What about you? Any siblings?”

“Sadly no. I was an only child.”

“Too bad, I think you would have made a great older sister,” Viperion encouraged

“A snake charmer, are we?”

“Well I am the snake, and I am not charming myself, so I think the more correct term would be dragon charmer.”

“Change that to fun killer because you killed my fun right there.”

Before Viperion could retort, they had made their way down to the end of the hall and noticed that it was frozen off.

“Dead end,” they say at the same time.

“No, Deadzone.”

The two turn to see the deadly akuma amalgamation pointing its blaster at them.

The two heroes looked at the deadly akuma.

“Any ideas?” Ryuuko questioned.

“Just one.”

Viperion moved his hand to his bracelet.

“Second chance!” Viperion activated his power.

“Now we have some options.” Viperion explained.

The akuma fired a bubble blast at Ryuuko, and she was frozen.

“Second chance!”

Things reset to how they were a few seconds before. Viperion grabbed Ryuuko and pulled her out of the way of the oncoming bubble blast.

“Thanks. For a minute there, I thought that thing had me.”

“It did, but I used my power to stop that. we still have to get out of here.”

“Look out!”

Ryuuko got hit with another bubble as they got up, protecting him from an attack.

“This might take a few attempts…”

_____________________________________________________________

Hawkmoth paced inside his lair.

Mayura was out there, his son was out there… and things were not going the way he planned. Masquerade seems to be building a base for herself and was more concerned with that than getting the miraculous. Adrien is MIA, and Mayura isn’t responding.

“I might need to step in. But there is a lot of risk in this. Far too many variables that I can't account for”

Hawkmoth never liked leaving his lair. It had too many risks to it. After Heroes' Day, he had nearly been exposed. And after that fiasco in Shanghai he didn’t want to risk getting taken out by his own akuma. He had already taken plenty of risks that had blown up in his face. Would this be another one of those times he would need to risk his miraculous?

“But it could also be just what is needed to beat Ladybug and Chat Noir once and for all.”

With an akuma this powerful, the two would likely have to use their special powers multiple times. If he can just locate them and wait for them to do so, he could potentially gain the advantage. Maybe Mayura was on to something with her actions.

Hawkmoth walked to the window.

“There will be a right time. I just need to wait for it.”

He felt an itch in the back of his neck. He wasn’t sure what it was but he could tell one thing, something big was going to go down, and he needed to figure out the right call soon or it could cost him dearly.

_____________________________________________________________

“…And that’s her plan.” Simularé finished. “As for Ladybug and Chat Noir… I am unsure. I lost track of them before I was given a new assignment. But they are in the building and they have not tried to leave.”

Mayura smiled at the information. While it was quite unfortunate that she didn’t have the exact location of the two heroes, it was good to know that they were still in the building, and Lila’s plan was certainly something interesting.

“Indeed, that is quite a clever plan. Ensuring everyone in the school couldn’t escape was pretty smart. You likely had a few escapes anyway, with how clumsy some of the akuma were. You are fortunate that neither one was Ladybug or Chat Noir. Still, though, it isn’t your master’s fault for that. They are basically mindless puppets. But then again, it seems that there might be zero escapes since there seems to be no new reports on the subject of a school takeover.”

Simularé let the peacock villainess muse, analyzing her movements as if trying to figure out any advantage it could handle.

“So, the next step now that all communications are cut is to send out a message that Ladybug and Chat Noir have already been defeated, so as to cause massive despair in order to create even more minions. Sounds a bit derivative, don’t you think?” Mayura mused.

Simularé said nothing. It held its tongue. Deep down, it knew that starting any dispute with this peacock was not wise. Especially given that crazy power she had over their being.

“Still, it is quite a plan. And with all those extra akuma recruited and Ladybug and Chat noir cut off from their guardian, they wouldn’t be able to get any sort of back up. They wouldn’t be able to put up much of a fight before all of Paris is under Masquerade’s thumb. I approve of the plan.”

“I am glad you do,” Simularé stated with a forced smile.

Their conversation was cut short when an akuma appeared. Seeing one it did not recognize, the artist akuma prepared to fight. But thankfully the shapeshifting sentimonster stepped in.

“Stand down Evillustrator, this one is not our enemy,” Simularé ordered.

Evillustrator eased and walked over.

“Masquerade has ordered that we start reinforcing the building. She wants this place to be like a fortress,” he parroted.

Mayura looked at the artist.

A fortress? Yes, Simularé mentioned that Masquerade wanted to reinforce the school so that she could ensure Ladybug and ChatNoir would have less chance of escape.

Simularé nodded at the akuma servant.

“Alright, so she wants us to drop the illusion, then?”

“She wants the place to be like a fortress.”

“Go ahead and start,” Simularé motioned. She figured that her master likely didn’t care about the illusion much as she was prepared for stage two. But she would maintain it for a bit.

The akuma moved to the end of the roof and begins working to reinforce the walls

Mayura began moving to the door of the roof to get back down into the school.

“Tell your boss I will be heading to her, and she best be welcoming,” Mayura ordered.

“As you command,” Simularé replied, hiding a large amount of anger and resentment towards the blue bird.

As soon as the blue peacock is out of sight.

Simularé contacts its master.

“Simularé, what is going on? Did Evilustrator reach you?”

“Yes. He is working to make this place a fortress. You want me to maintain the illusion, right?”

“I am about to go public shortly. After I make the announcement. Drop the illusion and make sure this place is a full-on fortress. After that is done, report back to me.

“Yes master. By the way, I had an idea.”

“Oh?”

Simularé smiled sinisterly. She was going to show Peacock why she was sorely mistaken.

“I will report the details to you shortly.”

_____________________________________________________________

“Everything is set up,” Robostus noted.

“Excellent. Let’s do it now.”

The Reflekta camera crew was all set, and Gamer had set it up so the moment they went live, every screen in Paris would show Masquerade.

Masquerade got off her call with Simularé. Something seemed a bit off with her sentimonster but she was intrigued that she had a plan.

“We are live in 5….4…3….2…” the gamer stated before pressing the go live button.

Masquerade smiled.

“Good afternoon, citizens of Paris. You may not know who I am, but don’t worry! You will be very familiar with me very soon. I am Masquerade, and I have decided to make Paris my personal kingdom.”

She paused to let that sink in.

“Now you are likely very alarmed by this declaration and that is normal. It will only be a matter of time before I spread my influence to everyone in Paris.”

She paused to let her words hang in the air before continuing.

“Do not be afraid, I am no monster. I plan on being a fair leader. All I ask is for your undying admiration and absolute loyalty. After that, you are free to live your lives as you normally would. Do not resist and you will have no problems. However, if you do… well, I can’t guarantee your safety.”

Masquerade took a calm breath before finishing.

“This last message goes out to the heroes of Paris, Ladybug and Chat Noir. I know you are here, I know you believe you will stop me, and I know you have allies here. But you will fall to me. Your days of superheroing have come to an end, your miraculous will be taken from you, and I will expose you as the failures you are,” Masquerade finished with venom.

She ended the transmission.

“Now make sure that it is being looped,” she ordered.

“Already is,” Gamer confirmed. “And panic is starting to rise.”

Masquerade smiled. Her plan was already working.

It may have seemed like a simple ego boost, but that speech of hers was a crucial part of her plan. Her charm bracelet could hyper focus on anyone that was akumatized in the past and have their biggest insecurities exposed. But that one by one process took far too long, if the hope of the entire populace of Paris was already demoralized. Then all she needed to do was send out her masks and let them take hold. And all she needed to do was go out there and send the masks.

She could already feel massive amounts of negative emotion from outside of the school. As soon as she headed out of the school, she could easily go and get more akuma soldiers. She could feel her bracelet trembling with all the potential additions.

She was prepared to leave, activating one of the charms to give her black angel wings, but something she remembered caused her to stop.

“Simularé I am moving to phase two of my plan. Get down here.”

It only took a few seconds for the sentimonster to jump from the roof and knock on the window.

One for the Reflekta copies opened the large window to let in what appeared to be Dark Cupid, before it shifted into the phantasm form that was its base.

“Right on cue. So, what is this plan you wanted to suggest?” Masquerade inquired. “And be sure it is not a waste of my time.”

“What if I told you I could get you a Miraculous?”

The sentimonster could feel that Masquerade was very pleased with that idea.

_____________________________________________________________

37 attempts.

It took thirty-seven resets before Viperion figured out what they needed to do.

“Ryuuko, follow my directions exactly,” Viperion instructed. “I know how to win.”

He quickly pulled her towards him to make sure she dodged the first bubble.

The akuma was surprised by the avoidance.

Viperion smiled.

“Your next line is, ‘How did you know I was going to blast at her?'” Viperion stated confidently.

“How did you know I was going to blast at her?” Deadzone parroted in shock before realizing they had said exactly what Viperion had said they would say.

The dragon heroine looked at the determined expression of the snake. She could see experience and certainty in his posture. All her years of fencing taught Kagami the art of reading body language, and the hero in front of her was someone that exuded an aura of confidence. She knew she could trust him.

“Alright, Sassy Snake, I will let you take the reins.” Ryuuko responded.

“Jump to the left in 2 seconds and start running.”

Ryuuko followed the instructions and sure enough avoided yet another bubble attack from Deadzone.

“Head to their left and bounce off the locker at the end.”

Ryuuko dashed past the akuma and jumped as Viperion instructed, perfectly avoiding the barrage of blasts sent her way. Viperion had perfectly mirrored her motion as he explained the next steps.

“Now somersault twice and draw your sword.”

Ryuuko somersaulted as Viperion leaped over her and the dragon turned to draw her sword, now on the other side of the hall.

“Now as soon as it fires a bubble at you, activate your wind! No matter what! I believe in you Ryuuko.”

The last words seemed a bit strange to the fencer. What did he mean by that?

“Will you shut up!?” Deadzone shouted before sending a bubble at Viperion.

“For my final glimpse into the future, you will say, ‘Not so tough now are ya?'”

The bubble contacted Viperion.

“Viperion!” Ryuuko cried out.

The bubble enveloped the snake and floated to the ceiling, taking his frozen form along with it.

“No…” Ryuuko muttered. She looked down in sorrow.

I failed to protect him. He ended up protecting me. He had been backing me up to make sure I wouldn’t do anything reckless.

Ryuuko felt her mind flashback to a few days ago which now seemed almost like it happened a year ago. They had made such a good team back then and now… they get a chance to be heroes again and she couldn’t cover him like he did her.

“Ha, not so tough now are ya?” Deadzone stated with confidence.

Ryuuko’s ears perked up at the statement. That was the line Viperion predicted they would say. That means… Viperion knew this would happen! Which meant his previous statement was to show he planned this. She knew what to do.

Deadzone turned its attention to Ryuuko.

“Don’t worry, you will join him shortly.”

Deadzone fired another bubble right at her, but this time Ryuuko wasn’t moving. She was at the perfect distance to do what she needed to do.

Ryuuko smiled.

“Wind dragon!”

The dragon-themed heroine turned into a cloud and blew the bubble right back at the akuma.

“What!”

The bubble encapsulated the akuma, causing it to freeze in place and then float to the ceiling.

Ryuuko returned to her original form and smiled, seeing how they had finally incapacitated the akuma.

“We did it, Viperion. We took them down. I'm sorry it cost you so much… I won't let you down!”

She raised her blade, upon realizing that her partner was indeed trapped in a bubble.

“Wait a minute…”

Ryuuko walked underneath Viperion’s bubble. She wasn’t entirely sure if this would work, since akuma magic was weird and often unpredictable, but it would make a lot of sense if it did.

“It is a bubble, so this should work right?” Ryuuko questioned as she used the tip of her sword to touch the bubble. She pushed it forward a bit causing the bubble to pop.

Her partner dropped to the floor.

“Ugh… my head.”

“You’re okay!”

Ryuuko hugged her friend, but then realized her sudden action and quickly jumped back up. A bit flustered, she could swear Marinette was rubbing off on her.

“I am glad you are alright, friend. You had me concerned — slightly,” Ryuuko corrected herself.

Viperion was surprised by the quick motions but managed to steady himself.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course. But make it quick, we will need to get a move on.”

“Okay… Who am I?”

Ryuuko froze at the question. She could see the confusion on his face. He was completely serious.

“Oh… that is not good at all.”

_____________________________________________________________

Masquerade is on phase two of her plan and Simularé is starting to make waves.

Who will get to the akuma first, Mayura or our heroes.

What will happen to Viperion now that his memory is gone?

Will Queen bee be the right choice?

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