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phan3145 · 11 months ago

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Title: Slippery Slope. Fandom: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Rating: T. ( Cursing, intensity) Pairing: Eventual Noa x Human!Reader

***Note: I have no idea how this became 6.6K words, I just like writing in Noa’s POV apparently 😭

Chapter 3: Homes and Shelters

Noa

He heard what she said, but could not understand the meaning behind the words. She was too intelligent to think he would fit in the hole with her. He would rather weather the rain than try to fit both of them under that piece of wood. Surely, she would as well. Was this an empty offer in hopes of a peaceful end to their meeting? Was he meant to decline? She was watching him closely, but did not offer any assistance as to how he should respond.

Huffing, he chose the safest option, “Will not…fit.”

She looked confused for a moment before letting out a series of noises, which he assumed was her version of hooting. It certainly wasn’t a cackle, but the noise was still pleasing to his ears. Her hand covered her face then, she seemed to be thinking. Finally, she shook her head, letting her hand slide down before dropping back to her side, “Not here. Do you remember the massive rock formation before coming here? I assume you had to climb it to follow me.”

Climb it? He more or less just leapt to the top, but he supposed for a human climbing would have been necessary. She didn’t need to know that though, so he agreed, “Remember it.”

She showed her teeth, Echo’s version of smiling. She nodded her head in that direction, “Good, go there. I’ll meet you.”

She crouched on the ground then, leaving him confused once more as she dropped down into the hole. He took quick steps to approach her, watching her hands reach for the wood that would cover her. He found himself in the same position as before, his strength halting any progress she made to pull the heavy object on top of herself.

She looked up, only slightly surprised, sighing, “Not this again. What’s wrong?”

“How do we…meet there?” He wondered, “Why not…go together?…Why are you…back in the…ground?”

“I have to open the door,” she said, as if that somehow explained everything. He felt his brow furrow with frustration. Seeing this, she continued, “The entrance is blocked, you can only open it from the inside. To get in I have to go through here.”

That’s when he noticed. It wasn’t just a hole, a larger pathway underground laid behind her, so dark he hadn’t seen it before. He assumed this was a hiding place, not thinking anything of it when he had stopped her from covering herself before. This was a way into her nest, no wonder she had seemed so afraid when he stopped her.

“A…tunnel?” He offered.

“Yes,” she nodded. “I’ll meet you at the front of the rocks…Noa, let go, you’re letting water in.”

At that, he noticed the rain had picked up and water was indeed soaking into the dry dirt beneath her. The scraps of cloth she used to cover her body were already smeared in dirt, but with the rain it soaked through and clung to her legs. Her chest covering was also wet, he assumed from when she had hauled him up from the river. He hadn’t noticed before, but now he could see there wasn’t a single part of her that was dry. Even her hair had quickly taken in the rain, branching strands allowing individual drops to fall down her face, just barely missing her eyes.

It…bothered him. He knew Echo’s got cold easily, and they were frail as a species. This rain had a biting chill to it, still being too early in the season to be comfortable. He worried that without fur she would get sick from cold. She was smart, he admitted to himself, surely there would be a fire in her nest. If not…maybe he should make one for her so she could stay warm.

With that thought, he let go and took a step back. She gave him a curious look before she decided not to waste anymore time, shutting the wood over top of herself. The noise he heard once it came all the way down surprised him. It sounded almost like…metal.

He leaned forward, wanting to get a closer look at the cover to her tunnel. He saw the edges, having run his hand over it enough to know that it was wood. A second glance revealed that it was actually a trick. Rusted metal was slotted into wooden branches, and rope was hooked around notches carved into the branches. He pulled at the rope, feeling no give. His fingers traced the ridges, following it’s length to the top of the covering.

He stopped, reaching the middle to find more layers of rope, tied and crossed over one another. They held dirt and tiny sprouts of plants that would mimic the floor of the forest. He moved to the opposite end, remembering that he couldn’t pull the object off of her completely. It had been connected to the ground somehow. Brushing rocks and dirt aside, he could barely glimpse two stumps buried next to one another. Holes had been carved into each one, and more rope was threaded through and tied to the back end of the cover. He wondered how much upward give there was, attempting to raise it once more when his arm was jerked downwards.

Shock was immediate. Why could he not open it now? He paced back to the front, pulling upwards only to find a finger’s worth of space. He lowered himself to the ground, squinting his eyes to see there was rope tied to a metal protrusion on the inside. Unless he wanted to break it, which he easily could, he couldn’t get in from the outside. She blocked off her entrances after she was done using them.

His instincts warred inside of him. This Echo was similar to Mae, very careful and seemingly very mistrusting. He had practically forced her to speak, only now realizing that she had never answered his question. Why had she saved him? Why avoid the question when she seemed so honest about everything else? Perhaps, she did not know herself. In that way, she would be different from the two humans he met before, doing something good just because it was right. Not all humans were alike, just like how all apes were not alike. Would it be fair to pass judgement on her so early?

He sniffed, acknowledging how complex all of this was. While the Echo had been honest with him, from what he could tell once she did start talking, he had doubts that her claim of being alone was true. She was intelligent, but she could not have done this by herself, she must have had help.

Backing away from the cover, he began to walk in the direction of the rock ledge he had followed her from. After a few paces he stopped, looking from the cover to the stone structure, only now seeing the direct path. There were no trees or bushes, just grass and a few wild flowers. Roots would have gotten in the way of the tunnel. That seemed obvious now, but he was truly impressed by how simple it was.

He wondered how long it would take the Echo to get inside of her stone nest, imagining moving while crouched was slower for her than it was for him. Thinking back though, she hadn’t been crouched, she’d been on her hands and knees. It was unusual, not something ape would do…but then again she wasn’t ape.

Reaching the rock edge, he did not have the running start he had before, and from the back it was even steeper. The rain had picked up enough he could feel it on his skin beneath his fur, so he decided scaling up would not be in his best interest right now. He found himself scaling the side instead, which was considerably dryer. The rocks formed in a naturally slanted edge, the top keeping the side he was climbing from being water logged.

Choosing to go around instead of up would also allow him to get a better lay of the land. He would need to remember that this is where she can be found. For safety reasons. He had no intentions of coming back here unless the Echo posed a threat. If she remained true, then after this he would leave her be to live out the rest of her days…how ever long that may be.

He swung himself around the side, landing towards the front of the stone structure. He paced for a moment, wondering where her ‘entrance’ was. He still saw only stone, no opening big enough for something Echo sized to pass through. Hesitating, he wondered if she had tricked him, if this was a trap. Or, perhaps he was in the wrong place?

A noise caught his attention. Eagle Sun was overhead, alerting him with warning chirps as he descended gracefully, looking to land. He quickly raised his left arm, but to his surprise, Eagle Sun glided past him. It landed on a stone ledge to his left.

“Stubborn bird,” he grumbled.

Eagle sun took no offense to the term. The rain left his feathers oily, the water sliding mostly off of him as soon as it landed. He dared not bother the bird further, only recently getting in its good graces. Eagle Sun meant a lot to his father, and now, in a short amount of time, he had come to mean a lot to Noa. Eagle Sun preened at a wing before turning to chirp once more, pulling him from his thoughts. Seeing Noa’s gaze returned to him, Eagle Sun began to peck at the rock next to him.

He huffed, the bird probably found a tasty bug to munch…

No.

That’s when he saw it. A rock, whose layers went against the grain of the other rocks around it. It was surrounded…but not attached. Had Eagle Sun just showed him the Echo’s nest? He approached tentatively, scratching Eagle Sun under his chin as a reward. Feeling sufficiently praised, the bird then launched himself back into the sky. Odd, to leave so suddenly, but not his concern at the moment. He would return.

Over the pounding of the rain around him, through the bottom of his feet, he sensed movement. A heartbeat. He tracked it, sensing it closer to where he now stood. More sounds of movement became audible to his ears. He waited, not actually knowing what to expect. Water dripped down his face, threatening to slip into his nose. Wiping it away, he called the Echo’s name. A new muffled sound was heard from the other side of the rock.

“Just wait, I had to change.” Her voice soothed, “I’m about to move the rock, don’t stand too close.”

He heard more metal, a grunt from the echo, and then the rock was pulled aside. In front of him was an opening, it was wide enough for him to fit, but he would have to bend as he entered. The height only reached to the middle of his chest. He hoped it was bigger on the inside, otherwise he was starting to believe this Echo enjoyed being in small spaces.

He bent at the waist, allowing his head to enter first, comforted once he saw the mouth of the rocks open up. He would be able to stand with ease, even stretch if he so desired. His first few steps were hesitant, scanning his surroundings to make sure there was no ambush waiting for him in the dimly lit space.

She stood in the center, hands in front of her, as if she knew that he was scanning for potential threats. The way she read him made shame burn in the pit of his stomach. He felt it was justified at first, and perhaps it was, but the more he thought about their situation, the more he saw how unbalanced it was. She was the one putting a lot of trust in him; inviting him into her nest and saving his life. Between the two of them, he was the one who hadn’t shown her trust.

Thoughts of Proximus and the events that took place in his Kingdom weighed heavily on him…and now it was causing a chasm sized rift between him and this new Echo. He never expected to meet another one, but that was not the point. The one in front of him was watching him, eyes searching his for some sign he didn’t know how to give, confusion consuming his mind.

He wondered what she had meant by ‘change,’ but looking at her now, it made sense that she had changed the cloth covering her body. He was unsure what to call what she was wearing. Mae had worn pants, which he found this Echo wearing too, but Mae had also worn a shirt. What she wore looked similar but not quite the same. There were two layers now covering her torso. One piece of cloth covered her chest and stomach, and the second layer wrapped around her arms and sides. It was similar to his mother’s robe, but…more. He had never seen an Echo wear two. Was there a purpose?

She tilted her head and raised her brow, questioning his too long stare. He looked away then, taking a moment to shake the water off his fur. From the corner of his eye he caught her raising her arm up, shielding herself from any splashing. He thought to tease her for that, but was distracted before the words had even formed in his mind. His attention had been pulled towards the massive stone next to him. This…was what she moved?

Unconsciously he felt his hands raise, gripping the rock to test its weight. His arms opened wider, wanting a better hold as he attempted to move it. He was able to, but only just. His concern equaled his confusion, how did she move this?

“It’s easier to seal than it is to open.” She offered, taking small steps towards him. He didn’t move, allowing her to explain, “I brace my back up against the wall, and I use my arms and legs to push it in place. Moving it to where it is now, I use the chain wrapped around it. Sort of a lever and pulley system. It’s still really heavy though.”

His eyes scanned over the chain, wrapped around ledges of rock and looped over several times. The metal is rusted, much like the cover outside had been. He noticed she had wrapped cloth around the length of the end. That is probably where she grips it from….still very dangerous.

“You…can lift…by yourself?” He questions.

Her eyebrows raised in a mocking way, “I lifted you, didn’t I?”

He made a sign of annoyance with his hand, arguing, “I helped.”

“Oh, did you now?” She hoots again, that same sound from before making something inside of him sing.

“More…than rock.” He huffs in a sort of finality.

She swivels her head in a sort of half agreement, turning away from him to go deeper into her nest. He decides to follow her like a shadow, curious as to how she survives living under a rock.

He must admit, whether she carved this herself or the formation was already like this, the space was impressive for an Echo. She kept a small fire going off the ground, on a natural shelf next to a worn spot in the rock. The smoke exited from there cleanly, and behind the fire was something shiny that bounced the light of the flames off of it and around the nest. It was not as much light as a torch would give off, but it was enough to give vision in the darkness. Echos did not like the dark, he remembered this from Mae. She always huddled by the fire on their journey, choosing to look away from Noa in favor of facing the darkness.

You never know what’s out there, she had said. Usually, nothing was out there that an ape had to fear, but an Echo? Echo had to fear everything. He moved on from the fire, noticing an alcove below it with woven baskets, three of them to be precise. One was filled with peaches, another with apples, and another almost empty basket that held…

“These, are grapes.” She explained, picking up the basket and plucking a fresh one out of it. She popped it into her mouth, “It’s a shame that I have to walk so far to get them, but where they grow is amazing. I go every few weeks and bring back a basket, I’d bring more but they would turn into raisins before I could finish them.”

Strange, he had never seen these before. She noticed his curiosity, offering him the basket. He hesitated a moment before taking one. It was round, and felt like it could be easily crushed, like an egg. He knew it wasn’t poisonous since she had already had one, but he was still hesitant when he allowed it to fall into his mouth. He was careful to bite it with his canines in case it was harder on the inside than it looked.

It was not hard. Juice exploded inside of his mouth, the outer layer of skin barely tougher than the inside. He could see the appeal, sweetness coating his tongue differently than a peach or an apple would. He liked it, it was a new flavor of sweet. New and different, but not unwelcome, much like the Echo in front of him.

“It’s good, huh?” She asked, looking like she already knew the answer.

He nodded, wanting more but not daring to take what she did not offer. He still felt as if he was standing somewhere he should not be, that slight level of danger not leaving the back of his brain. Looking down at the basket in her hands, she sighed, “Why don’t you finish them for me? You’ve had a rough day, seems like you could use a treat. Besides, if I don’t start working on these, they’ll spoil.”

He took the basket from her with unsure hands, looking from side to side as if he was meant to do something with it other than hold it. She turned her back to him, grabbing an apple before making her way to the corner opposite him. It was away from the fire, but he could see raised from the ground a slab of stone. Not round like a normal nest, long and rectangular like a drying table. There was cushioned material on top of the slab, many sheets of cloth piled on top. She lowered herself onto it, crossing her legs before taking a bite out of her apple.

They stared at each other for an endless amount of time it seemed. She was waiting for him to do something, but much like before, he didn’t know what. He broke eye contact with her to look at the new fruit she had presented him with. Grapes…dictionary…cackle. He was learning quite a lot from her. He plucked a few more of the fruits from the basket and shoved them into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. Noticing her lowered position, he decided to follow her example, crouching on all fours on the ground. The basket was placed in front of him so he could grab handfuls at a time. His gaze traveled to the open mouth of the cave, the rain still coming down.

After a moment, his eyes turned back to her and found her also looking towards the outside world. She took another bite of her apple, eyes distant as she seemed to be thinking on something. He understood that, turning his attention back to the rain outside. He was not always able to stop his head from thinking sometimes. He would think of how to finish a project he had started, or come up with a solution to a problem that was not directly in front of him. Sometimes he needed that, his body and heart becoming still in a way that would help him figure out what he should do. The new responsibilities weighed on him, wanting to be the best thing for his clan but not knowing how he could accomplish that. Fixing things was easier.

Then there was Caesar. Raka’s tales would keep him up at night, wondering how one ape could make such an impact that he was still known after all this time. The first elder…possibly the wisest. His laws were simple, but even the core of his clan held similar beliefs to his original laws. And there were more…more that would be lost to time in Raka’s books that no ape could read.

Fear struck him then, would the true Caesar be lost to time? Raka was the last of his followers, trying to teach Noa in his last few days of life what he knew, but it didn’t make any sense. Raka had been a follower his whole life, surely he could not have covered everything in a few short days.

What was he to do? Caesar had a vision, living in a world where apes and humans lived side by side. That vision was lost somehow. Why? What had happened? Even Mae hadn’t filled in all of the gaps, she had given him more pieces to the puzzle, but it was incomplete. He knew, if he could complete the puzzle, he would understand the vision, the answer that would bring peace among the species. The idea alone, of apes and humans living side by side, was nice.

Like this. This was nice.

The quiet was…peaceful. She did not feel the need to speak any more than he did, so they both sat eating their fruits. They were not fighting, or trying to kill each other. In fact, she had done the exact opposite as she had saved him. She had even fed him…when was the last time someone else had given him food? Probably not since he was a youngling. Of course, food was collected in large amounts, whether it be fish or fruit, but they all had to add to the collective once they were no longer younglings.

He found his eyes returning to the Echo, taking the time to look at her while she seemed entranced by the rain. Does she even realize the compassion she showed him today? The mercy in saving his life? She was more of a follower of Caesar than he was, not knowing for certain that if their roles were reversed that he would have done the same. Maybe he could teach her of Caesar? Maybe they could learn together?

Her eyes suddenly shifted, locking with his, surprising him with the quick turn from distracted to focused. “Your eyes are burning a hole into me. If you have something to say, you should say it.”

His eyes widened in shock, and his mouth decided it didn’t want to work. All he could do was continue to stare at her, trying to put all the words he wanted to say in the right order. He found he could not, and the longer the silence stretched the more he felt the courage to tell her his thoughts slipping away.

She hummed, standing to bring the core of her apple to the fire. She placed it in carefully and watched as it burned. Her arms came to wrap around herself, and the shift in her posture told him she was uncomfortable…nervous. What had he done? Was his staring that insulting? He didn’t mean to.

A deep sigh escaped her, then she swallowed, “What happens now?”

She had not turned to face him, and he found himself even more confused. How did she expect him to answer that? Did she mean in this moment or in the future? Was she thinking about the future?

“Apes are…territorial, yes?” She asked, attempting to clarify. He grunted in way of answering, picking up the basket as he pushed himself into a standing position. She swallowed again, “Am I in your territory? I knew your clan was somewhere nearby, but I have no idea where you’re actually located. If you’re on the other side of the creek…would me staying on this side be a possibility?”

This surprised him, he took a few steps towards her, “You would…leave?”

She turned to face him then, her eyes widening. She must not have heard him stand; her uneasy gaze trailing from his feet, to the basket in his hands, and then back up to his face. Whatever nerves she felt at his closeness seemed to ease once she met his eyes, sensing no immediate danger. Still, she took a step back, fingers digging into the material of the cloth around her arms, “If you tell me to. I don’t really have a choice.”

“This is..your home.” He said, though it sounded more like a question. He returned the basket to its place, eyes squinting at the Echo’s sudden change.

She huffed, “This is not my home. This is a shelter, a safe haven…but a safe haven can be as temporary as the rainy weather. I would miss it, sure, but I can’t go against an entire clan. I’m just one person, and even if I wasn’t, it’s your world Noa…I’m just trying to survive in it.”

Her words, her body language, it pulled at something within him. Though she had said she was the only human here many times, now, in her eyes, he could see that she was truly alone. For all her courage before, she saw what he had not until this very moment. He may not have harmed her, but her very existence could potentially pose a threat to his clan, meaning that this peace between them only lasted as long as he allowed it. He had the power here, she was at his mercy.

“S-Stay…” he found himself saying. It was gruff and weak sounding. He tried again, much clearer, “Stay…there is no reason…to leave.”

“There’s not?” She takes a step towards him, “Then I’ll ask again, what happens now?”

“Do not…understand,” he was able to say this time around. “There is peace between us.”

“Yes,” she agreed. “What about your clan? Surely you have to inform them of my existence, the two other apes at the river saw me. They’ll report me to your…leader? Council? Highest ranking ape?”

He chuffed, “No one higher…than me.”

Her entire face fell at that, eyes widening, “You…wait…you are the leader of the Eagle Clan?”

His chest puffed out at that, “Yes… I am the Master of Birds…there are elders…they provide council…but it is my decision whether you… stay or go…I say…you stay.”

Her breathing seemed to become more shallow by the second. She nodded her head, walking over to her nest and sitting down. His head tilted, confused by her actions. Her eyes darted left and right, not truly seeing anything as she wrapped her arms around herself even tighter. He took small steps towards her, crouching once he was close enough to push his face into her line of sight. Only then did she truly see him.

“You are…alright?” He asked.

She opened her mouth, only to close it. She shook her head, “I’m scared.”

His head tilted again, brow furrowing, “Why?…Said you could…stay…you are safe.”

She laughed humorlessly then, the sound making him want to curl his lip. That sound was awful, like eating non-ripe fruit. “Noa, you can’t possibly know what it’s like to have everyone and everything you love ripped away from you. To have a home and a family one day, and then the next day you are alone and surrounded by death. When you are alone, like I am, there is no safe. And you…you’re…”

She did not finish, shaking her head again. He was sure he knew what she was thinking despite her hesitation to say it. He was ape. A very powerful one at that. She was human. Vastly different, and yet not so different that he did not understand her fear.

His hand nudged her knee, “Understand…more than you…think.”

Her eyes searched his then, “If our roles were reversed, how would you feel? What would you want me to do to show you that you could trust nothing but my words?”

He thought about it, only coming to one conclusion. He stood, towering over her at his full height. Her head craned to look at him, not afraid but curious about his sudden movement. He extended his arm then, waiting for her to take it. She did, very hesitantly. He pulled her up, a small gasp of surprise as his other hand came around to grip the back of her neck. She stiffened immediately, and he allowed it as she locked her other arm against his shoulder in an attempt to keep her distance from him. He would not force her, wanting her to understand on her own that there was no danger with him. He stood still, keeping his muscles loose but firm in their hold, waiting for her to relax on her own. It took her longer than he would have liked, her breathing quick and harsh as his eyes remained focused on hers.

He tried to keep his breaths even, scenting her fear now that they were this close. If he was calm, she would be calm. He hummed slightly, a few sounds he would use when around newborns. It was meant to calm them when they were meeting new apes for the first time. It seemed to work, he felt her body relax. She let out a long breath through her mouth, the arm against his shoulder going slack, trailing down his forearm before dropping all together.

He was pleased by this, but still wary as he noticed her eyes were unable to meet his. They darted from her hand in his, to his opposite arm that snaked around her shoulder, out of her line of sight, and back to his face. He would have to continue without her eye contact for now, deciding instead to close his eyes as he began to bring their foreheads together.

He needed to bend his knees to match her height, but he didn’t rush it, slowly tilting his head downwards so she would understand what was happening. She did not fight him as they met skin to skin, her breathing even and her scent neutral. He could feel her heartbeat, slightly elevated, but not much more than it had been before. Then he felt it, on her next exhale of breath she increased the pressure, resting her forehead against his. He felt a smile tug at the corner of his mouth, allowing his breathing to match hers.

“Thank you,” he breathed against her, eyes opening.

Her eyes flicked open in surprise, finally meeting his. He hadn’t realized she had closed them as well. She held his gaze then, her voice a whisper as she asked, “What?”

He slowly pulled away, watching her match his movements, “You saved my… life…have not said…thank you yet…Rude of me…you have…my trust.”

“Trust?” She parroted.

He brought their heads together again, a brief touch as he reassured, “Trust.”

She nodded slightly, and he felt the up-down glide of her skin against his. It made the hairs on his neck rise, her skin so much softer than an apes. He felt her pull away, head turning towards the cave opening before she announced, “The rain stopped.”

He pulled away, taking a step or two away from her for good measure. She didn’t seem fearful anymore, which he was grateful for, but he noticed a pink tint across her face. He shrugged it off, ape ran warmer than human. Better that he warmed her quickly in this cold, wet weather. He bent down, leaning forward to see better outside.

“I should go now,” he reluctantly admitted. “Said I would…return by nightfall…Sunset has started.”

“I’ll walk you out,” she offered. His brow rose at that, watching as she returned to the fire, grabbing the basket that still contained a decent amount of grapes. He was ashamed to say he did eat at least half of them. She made her way to the exit, carrying the basket in her arms. She ducked her head and passed through the open mouth, turning and giving him an expectant look, “Whenever you’re ready, Master of Birds.”

Her teasing put him at ease, deciding this ‘walking him out’ was an Echo custom. He reached the mouth of the cave, but before he could bend she thrust the basket into his arms, something she was in the habit of doing it seemed. He chuffed, “Ate more…than enough.”

She brought a single shoulder up, “Then take them with you, share with your clan. Or, save them all for yourself. You can return the basket to me the next time we see each other.”

Next time.

He hooted, “Have no choice…but to share…if I take them now…Sunset Brother will…scent food before…I step into village...he is like…vulture.”

The response he received made him stand up straighter, proud to hear the cackle she released. She let out a contented sigh as she stepped away to make room for him to leave. He lowered himself then, ready to depart on a joyous note, but stopped short when he scented something familiar.

He straightened, scenting the air.

“Noa?” The Echo questioned, “What’s wrong?”

Anaya…and Soona…but where…SOONA!

Without realizing what he was doing, the basket was flung from his grasp, and a full open-mouthed snarl ripped from him. He heard as well as saw the Echo scream when he lunged for her, grasping her shoulders and pinning her to the ground below him. The whizzing of the weapon past his ear gave him enough time to shield the Echo’s left side as rock met stone and exploded into many shards around them.

He heard Anaya and Soona then, hooting and hollering as they made their way towards them. He sighed through his nose, Soona was a little too good with her sling. He remembered the Echo below him then, raising himself off of her to make sure she was not hurt.

The sight below him hurt worse than if Soona had struck him. When he had taken her to the ground, he had immediately framed his hands around her so he would not crush her. He could also leverage his body more to one side to protect her from any falling rock. In that time, she had brought her arms up to wrap around her head and her throat in a protective manner. Her legs were curled inward and he could see her body trembling.

To make matters worse, though it seemed such a small thing, her body was wet again from the soaked ground beneath her. He remained frozen, unsure what to do. Anaya and Soona were practically on top of them now, the sounds of their footfalls pounding against the ground.

“Noa!” Soona gasped, “You are…alright!”

Anaya added, “We saw…you go into Echo nest…but did not see…come out!”

Before they could get close enough to touch him, or the Echo, he screeched out several warning hoots, shocking both of his friends into stillness. Unfortunately, it caused the Echo to flinch and curl in closer to herself. He sighed through his nose then, leaning down to nudge her shoulder with his knuckles. She let out a high pitched whimper that made him quickly tear his hand away from her.

Shit.

Anaya grunted then, forcing his attention back to his Sunset Brother. Without making a sound, which was rare for Anaya, he signed, Echo is scared. Need to move away. Slowly. Do not touch again.

He normally wouldn’t mind being advised by Anaya or Soona, but at that moment something inside of him bared down in his gut. He wanted to ignore him, he wanted to tell them both to leave, that the Echo would be safe with him. She was scared of them, not him.

But then he saw Anaya’s expression, and he was reminded of that night his brother had admitted to being scared in Proximus’ kingdom. Whatever she was going through, Anaya would understand better than anyone else. His head also reminded him of the events that took place before he and the Echo found themselves on the ground. He had reacted, like an ape would, but with no time to explain, the Echo probably only heard his snarl and saw his canines as he lunged for her. She was scared of them right now, all of them.

He did as Anaya instructed, backing away and motioning for them to take the same amount of steps back. Soona, looking guilty, signed, Did not mean to scare her. Thought you were trapped or hurt.

He quickly signed back, Not a threat. Saved my life. Could be helpful to Eagle Clan.

Soona hesitated then, signing back, She is Echo. Could be dangerous. Helpful how?

Not sure yet. His hands slowed before he signed with vigor, Something tells me that if we trust her we will find out.

Soona huffed through her nose, Do not understand. Another Echo. Could end badly like the last one. Will trust her for now. She saved your life.

He clasped his hand on Soona’s shoulder, her hand coming up to hold his. Trust, just like he had told the Echo. This is why he trusted Soona and Anaya above all other apes, with the exception of his mother. Speaking of Anaya…

He tensed and snorted his nose at Anaya, who had snuck away during his and Soona’s silent conversation. He was in front of the Echo now, who had not moved a muscle outside of her trembling from the position she had been in. He moved towards Anaya, but Soona held him back, signing to him, Wait.

Anaya, crouched on all fours, moved to his belly in a similar way he would sleep sometimes. His face was close to the Echo’s, or at least where it would be if it was not for her arms. Anaya made small hooting and humming noises, similar to what he had done back in her nest. Anaya’s sounded far more playful than his had, where he was trying to soothe, Anaya was trying to encourage.

He was stunned when he saw her slide her arm away from her eyes, the one covering her neck soon following. Anaya hooted happily but did not move from his spot. He was sure he had never seen his Sunset Brother hold this still since they were both newborns. The Echo looked Anaya up and down in the face, and something in her eyes must have alerted Anaya that her attention was his. He saw Anaya slowly rise up into a sitting position, almost losing his balance but hooting happily when he caught himself.

Then the Echo smiled, easing her body up into a sitting position. She didn’t quite mirror Anaya, she was still guarded in her place on the ground, but she had opened up to his noises. Her eyes blinked rapidly, for what purpose he wasn’t sure. Once she was done, he saw her take in the scene around her. Her gaze swept from Anaya, to Soona, and then to him, and something in him softened when he noticed she visibly relaxed more when her eyes found him.

He nodded towards her, attempting to assure her that Anaya was fine. Said Ape noticed her new posture, looking between her and Noa before pointing to him, “That is Noa…and Soona…and Anaya.”

Anaya pointed at himself to finish off the trio, hooting happily as she seemed to follow. She swallowed, on edge before she breathed out, “Hello, Soona. Hello, Anaya.”

Soona practically fell over, looking to him as if he had been untrue with her. He supposed he had not explicitly informed her about the Echo’s ability to talk. At this point, meeting two humans already that could talk, this should not be such a surprise to her. Anaya took it in stride, raising a hand in greeting, “Hello, Echo.”

#planet of the apes #pota #kingdom of the planet of the apes #kotpota #noa #noa x reader #noa pota #fanfiction #planet of the apes x reader #anaya #kotpota anaya #anaya pota #soona pota #soona #kotpota noa #kotpota soona #x reader #slippery slope series

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hufflepuffwriter1995 · 4 months ago

Text

Falling For The Prince

Fandom: Fourth Wing

Pairing: Aaric Graycastle x Xaden’s Little Sister Reader

Notes: This was edited with the free version of grammarly. Please be kind

Requested: This is my first official request, and I am so excited! I hope I do justice to it.

I wasn’t stupid, I knew Aaric Graycastle hated me, undoubtedly because I was a marked one. It may not make sense to me, to hate the child for the parent's sins, but it seemed a popular notion. So I did my best not to take it personally, that is until today. I knew the second I heard that I would be facing him in challenges that it wouldn’t be an easy fight. The look of pure hate in his eyes told me as much. Still, I never imagined it would end in me being unconscious with a fractured eye socket, broken ribs and a torn ACL. Laying in the infirmary afterwards, waiting for Nolan, I tried my best to figure out what the hell his problem was.

Aaric always fought hard, it was in his training, but he always stopped when someone tapped out. Today he didn’t, it was like his rage took total control and he wouldn’t stop until I was dead. The last thing I saw before passing out was Imogen and Rodic desperately trying to pull him off me. Taking advantage of the silence, I tried my best to focus on the why. Surely this couldn’t just be because I am a marked, not with that much anger behind him. My silence was cut short by Scylla, my dragon making herself known.

“Your brother is here. Violet is being tortured. I have informed him of your condition, little one.” My dragon’s voice left little in the way of argument, but I still let out an annoyed huff. Xaden was about to become truly insufferable. Before I could muster a response to her, the door opened and Garrick came running in.

“He’s dealing with Violet, but I am under orders to get you the hell out.” My brother’s right-hand man didn’t waste any time in gently lifting me into his arms, turning on his heel, ignoring the protest of the healers, and walking out. “Who did it?”

“Aaric Grayscastle, it seems he hates us marked ones.”

“Xaden is going to kill him,” Garrick muttered, letting out a sigh. “It’s not because you are marked, it’s because Xaden killed his brother for what he did to you.”

“Now I’m confused, Xaden never killed anyone with the name Grayscastle that I recall.”

“That’s because it’s not his real name.” Garrick’s voice dropped to well below a whisper as he carried me to where our dragon stood waiting. “His real name is Cam Tauri.” All at once, everything made a grim kind of sense. I didn’t remember Cam very well, but I knew his brother a bit too well. Being Xaden’s little sister, as well as a marked one, had earned me the unwanted attention of his older brother. He made my life hell, but it wasn’t until the man had almost killed me, that Xaden snapped. With the fury of an overprotective brother, he killed the prince and grinned while doing it. I knew the official story wasn't the truth, that Xaden didn’t want the world to connect me at all to the bastard's death, but it seemed now like it may be a mistake.

“So he’s taking me away because of that?”

“No, he no longer trusts the school. Violet has been tortured for the past three days. He planned on forcing you out but when he got the word you had been sitting in the infirmary for three days waiting on Nolan, well it confirmed it all for him. So I am taking you home.”

“No, you are taking me to my brother. Violet…”

“You can see her when we get you home.” Garrick’s tone was harsh, his no-nonsense tone that told me I had no say but to listen to him. “You need Brennon.” He said softly, his eyes softening. “You have been waiting for three days for help. They wanted to use you as a cover for what is happening to Violet, they hoped you being hurt and left unattended would be enough to distract him when he got here.”

“He speaks the truth,” Sgayel said softly, her voice surprising me. So rarely did my brother’s dragon take advantage of the link between us, Scyall being her sister and all.

“I can hold on to her,” I whispered, even though I knew it was useless. I wouldn’t be riding my dragon back.

“I am well aware, you are riding with me.” As he approached Kokov, the dragon looked at me, blinking slowly. Suddenly I was in the air, being lifted by magic as Garrick got on before I placed gingerly in front of him.

“Let’s go.” I sighed, closing my eyes as I nestled into Garrick.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🐉~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been two weeks since everything went down, since my brother and Violet brought half the war college to our home. During that time I was trying to track Aaric, or rather Cam but he seemed to be good at avoiding me. I was about to give up when I found him in the library, head bent over a book.

“I remember you. I don't remember most of that time, to be fair I blocked it out. But I remember you. You were kind, you told me you were sorry for my father's death. You said I shouldn't have to pay for his sins, that you didn't agree with what was happening.” He started to speak, his brows pinched but I continued, not giving him a chance to cut me off. “I can understand hating my brother but to stoop so low as to hate me when I haven't done anything to you. I thought you were better, but you are just like your brothers.” With that, I turned on my heel, leaving him to Jessica giggling in my wake. The girl was my friend, had been since diapers but I couldn't deny she had formed a fast friendship with the man.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🐉~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“She's right you know, when it comes to her you are no better than your brothers.” Jessica said as she sat down, long brown waves falling around her shoulders, an amused look on her face. Aaric sent her a glare, even if he couldn't deny the fact.

“You have, from the moment I met you, told me how you hated the fact people hate my family because of what our relatives did. You told me you hated that I was being punished for my brother's choices. Yet you do it to her. You almost killed the poor girl because she's Xaden's sister.”

“He killed my brother!”

“But she didn't! She tried to stop him and besides she doesn't hate you for what your brother did to her.”

“What the hell are you on about?” Jessica hesitates for a moment before sighing.

“Your brother attacked her. Tried to kill her because of what her father did. Xaden didn't want anyone to know for fear of what they would do to her.” Aaric stayed quiet, his eyes on her before sighing.

“I didn't know that.”

“We aren't meant to speak about it. He will have my hide for telling you about that. Now go apologize to her and show her the man I befriended.” She smiled at him, patting his shoulder. He scowled but stood, having seen just what happens if he didn't listen to her.

Thankfully Y/n was easy to fine, she was out with the dragons, Scyraa giving him a glare as he slowly approached. Y/ turns to him, raising a brow.

“You are right. I haven't been fair to you. I am.. better than my brothers. I hope to prove that. I didn't realize that my brother…”

“Xaden covered it up and ill have you keep that between us. He will be furious.” Y/n says slowly.

“Listen about that challenge..”

“I won't forgive you if that is what you want. You will have to prove it to me. Show me that you aren't the man you acted like. If you do that then we can talk.” Her dragon lowed her head, blue scales glittering in the light, her eyes narrowing in distaste.

“I look forward to it.” He muttered, watching as she mounted, her eyes locked on him. Scylla let out a huff of smoke, the heat washing over him, a warning in and of itself. As he watched her fly away, he found himself hoping she gave him a chance. And that it self made him wonder if maybe he had officially spent too much time with Violet.

#fourth wing imagines #aaric graycastle #aaric x reader #book imagines

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bimboothefool · 2 years ago

Note

Reader was taken kidnapped by Wally and taken to his world. But what Wally didn't expect is that all the other characters would start to remember memories with the reader as a child and discover the truth of their colorful world.

( Now it's up to you to decide what will happen! Will they help the reader get back to the real world or will they become so attached to the reader that it would help Wally keep them there with them FOREVER. )

ℌ𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔶 ℑ’𝔪 ℌ𝔬𝔪𝔢

𝔗𝔞𝔟𝔩𝔢 𝔬𝔣 ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔰: Kidnapping, Yandere Behavior (You know the drill keep this shit in fiction.), Amnesia, Possessive Behavior, Wally manipulating the others, and Gaslighting

𝔄𝔲𝔱𝔥𝔬𝔯’𝔰 𝔏𝔢𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯: Thank you so much for this request and I apologize for taking so long so much came up, but regardless thanks for the request let’s jump right in!! Keep in mind it could either be read as platonic or romantic regardless spoiler alert they don’t see you grow up.

- Wally was surprised to see you after all these years. Same thing with the rest of the crew, your eyes are definitely different instead of that whimsy you’ve once held. You’re rather cautious, it still wows them how different you are now.

- Wally did believe for the time being that he’s the only one who truly remembers you and for a while that’s true. But once you’re in their world things started to change.

- Eddie and Frank are the first few to notice that you looked oddly familiar. When he asked specific questions about your childhood it started to click for him.

- Sally and Julie are shocked that you remembered the lines of a play or the rules of a game. They start to ask themselves the same questions why do you look so familiar yet different.

- Howdy, Poppy and Barnaby are a bit unnerved when you remember stuff like the residents orders or certain joke punchlines. Even certain recipe ingredients. How come you know those things.

- They all meet together to discuss the possibility of how they felt so familiar with you, but this is seemingly their first time meeting you. They all come to the conclusion that they’ve met you before. [Excluding Wally since he fully remembers you.]

- For a while they’re all happy to have you back, but you’re getting homesick. You constantly ask questions on how to get back to your world. But they’re not even sure if it’s possible.

- But only Wally knows a way in and out of their world and keeps it out of your grasp. He even starts manipulating the others.

- “We have them back, why let them go now? Don’t you all miss having our best friend?” He asked the others as they’re all conflicted. Sure they miss you and love you, but was keeping you here really right?

- This could go one of two ways. The first being they do buy into Wally’s twisted line of thinking, why go back to such a troubled and dangerous world? You can stay here and everyday is nothing, but joy and laughter.

- They’ll start gaslighting you into buying into this logic as well, which really freaks you out and you start lashing out. They see this as you throwing a tantrum.

- Another way this can go down, they aren’t sure and start asking you why you want to go home. And you explain that yeah your world isn’t perfect, but it’s still your home.

- Soon they all start talking about how to get you back home, out of Wally’s watchful eyes. You all start to unraveling and untying the mysteries of their world and Wally’s existence.

- Either way it’s ultimately up to you to really choose your own path on how things will play out.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my stuff please feel free to check out my other stories from other fandoms, along with reblogging and commenting on it! If you like my art and wanna commission me for some art, head over to my kofi!

#the clown speaks #my writing #welcome home x reader #welcome home arg #welcome home x y/n #welcome home x you #wally darling x reader #eddie dear x reader #frank frankly x reader #julie joyful x reader #sally starlet x reader #barnaby b beagle x reader #howdy pillar x reader #poppy partridge x reader

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tm-trx · 2 months ago

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Pit Babe 2, ep 1

Pit Babe is back and I decided to do recaps again because I had so much fun doing it last time.

Notes from the TV journal:

it’s been a year and Babe is still having nightmares about Way :( - kudos to the production team on the nightmare sequence though

“Mama loves Papa” and we’re back \o/

that’s right, defend your boy Charlie

Willy creeps me out and I hope that’s the point and not a misread on whatever’s going on with him and the “tick tack” mumbling - creepy mysterious racer out to cause trouble is way more fun to me

I probably should have done that rewatch of season one because I didn’t remember anything about who has what senses so all this serum stuff is confusing

but also, Charlie is on board with human testing now? and they’re trying to develop a serum to remove the special senses? or trying to give them back to Babe? am confused

I know it’s for plot purposes, but if Kim has always wanted to be number one on a team then why’d he join X-Hunter in the first place? He is now doomed to be the third wheel once again, with this new kid gunning for Babe - I like Kim, so I’m hoping for more for him

the Chris face reveal was disappointing and confusing - the camera work was great but the writing (subtitles?) dropped me out of the scene because Chris’ reactions felt off and I kept trying to figure out if he knew ahead of time that he looks like the dead friend of his new employers and that’s why he’s not reacting to the situation - the subtitles seem to suggest he did, but that whole scene still came across weirdly anticlimactic

whatever is going on, it means more angst for Babe so I am here for it; also I really like Nut so I’m glad they found a way to bring him on to season two

Final thoughts:

Who else is now thinking about that comment one of the cast made about Babe/Charlie NC scenes being reduced this season because they’re “old marrieds” now? Can’t help thinking they front-loaded the season when I realized how much we got this episode. I find it both interesting on a production/actor level and amusing on a fandom level at the same time.

Is Dean actually dead?! That whole breakout setup was so weird. I hope Dean's not dead.

I’m not super invested in the serum/Tony’s back plot threads, but hopefully it makes sense in-universe at least - I’m definitely going to go back and rewatch bits of season one to refresh my memory of the lore

I am all in on aggressive!Charlie in defense of Babe - jealous!Charlie is fun too

Relatedly, it is still so refreshing to have a “little guy on top” pairing, after all the nasty fandom wars over the very idea.

I am so so curious about what direction they’re going to take with the new racer. The trailer didn’t give us much but hinted at multiple possibilities. (Please let him be creepy and not just arrogant.)

Edited to add: I completely forgot to point out how great the race was. One of the highlights of the episode for sure.

This was a great start to the new season and a really fun episode. I’m excited for whatever’s coming.

My Pit Babe 2 recaps: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13

#pit babe 2 #pit babe 2 spoilers #thai drama #ql drama #bl drama #pit babe the series #tmtrx watches dramas #pit babe 2 recap

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kisscastellan · 3 months ago

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BURNING TOUCH | C. STEWART

pairing ➵ cole stewart x fem reader

synopsis ➵ you’ve only ever seen him in flashes of golden, cropped hair. cerulean blue eyes glazing over the room but never quite meeting yours. you crave his attention, but when you finally get it in the form of a partner Op mission, is it truly worth it?

wordcount ➵ 12K

content warnings ➵ major secondhand embarrassment at times, mean!!!!! cole, mixed signals, reader lowkey doesn’t know how to drive, reader is so down bad it’s pathetic, cole is aware of your feelings the whole time and kind of takes advantage of that, cole being a manipulator??? you might dislike him so much you probably won’t root for them anymore lol…takes place before never fade, character death, suggestive scenes and mentions of s*x, cole stewart is warning enough

a/n ➵ this took so much out of me. i was writing this for the better part of the week, long nights of staying up and having my eyes burn and fingers cramp from writing. this better not flop or i’ll literally cry. i didn’t reread and fix any mistakes after 7k words in and i dont have a beta so if you see any mispelling or sentences out of wack, ignore it pls. i swear my fingers had a mind of their own and i barely planned this fic out and yet it came together?? i didnt notice how hard it would be to write a fic this long and not keep repeating the same phrases/words so sorry in advance, i hope you enjoy!

i know theres not a lot of us the darkest minds fans but to the few that are, i did this for you!!!! i hope there will be others coming across this fic that like it enough to dive into the world of tdm and join the fandom because we need more ppl

p.s i am obsessed with this song and i feel like it fits their situations so please listen to it wherever in the fic you see fit!!!

YOU’RE UNSURE WHY Alban has called you into his office. The sound of your ballerina flats echoes off the league’s facility walls. You wipe your sweaty palms on your pencil skirt, and when that doesn’t work to calm you, you curl your fingers into your palms, leaving crescent shape marks on your skin.

Did you do something? You don’t remember doing anything to break league policy. You were just some nerdy, IT girl! All you did was stick to the computer labs, hacking away for any information the league needed. You know they rescued you, and the other researchers from the quiet, leda corp base in Oregon. You know they needed the little research you guys had on IAAN—so much so they offered you a place at the league in exchange for your loyalty and skills, but did they finally have a reason to boot you?

You thought you were doing good, amazing even. You were the most qualified person down at the labs! They can’t just kick you to the side and let you fend for yourself after you literally betrayed the government for them.

And if they did..you wouldn’t see him again.

Ugh here you go, always having your trail of thought go back to that stupidly annoying, stupidly beautiful, stupidly everything you’ve ever wanted; the man of your dreams.

When you first saw him, you’re a hundred percent sure time stopped. No, literally, the time had stopped. The field agents that broke into the leda corp base you were stationed at had froze all the clocks in the facility and set them back at least fifteen minutes, giving them ample time to get in and out with the packages (aka the kidnapped researchers) while not alarming the actual leda corp workers, deceiving them into thinking they had more time on their lunch break.

You remember him carrying you when your legs gave out from all the running, which reminiscing back, you’re really embarrassed about. But that didn’t deter him one bit, he looked back at your crumpled body and hasted you onto his. Eyes jumping side to side as he takes turns in the facility’s building, watching out for any security or leda corp. It was like you weighed nothing to him, which was probably the case. Your evidence? His strong, muscled body rippled against yours as he ran to the league’s SUVS outside.

You never really saw him frequently after that. If his non official title of “league’s golden boy” was anything to go off of. Which meant he was always ever on the field, constantly being given ops to lead and complete.

But you were content! Especially when you see him all dirtied and bruised coming back from an op, sweat clouding his temple as he bit his bottom lip in controlled pain, a little stumble to his step as he made his way to get bandaged up. You think you might’ve died and then got resurrected when his gaze trailed across the room, and set his eyes on you. It was only for a second of course! But you swear you almost started stripping right then and there and possibly traumatizing a couple of psi teenagers along the way.

You reach Alban’s office, lightly knocking twice to signal your arrival. You wait for his voice to call out a “come in!” And let yourself twist the doorknob.

“Good morning, Miss ____. I hope you found your way quite well. If you may,” Alban stated, arm out to point you to the only other empty seat in front of his desk.

It was now you realized there was another figure in the chair next to yours, and to your sheer luck, it was him.

Did you manifest this? All those days of you quietly trailing him as he made his way around the base, hiding quickly behind walls and pillars when he turned with confusion at your aforementioned footsteps behind him.

Okay fine, maybe you were a little stalkerish. And okay, maybeeee you were a little creepy. But he saved your life! He was quite literally your knight in shining armour, or in his case, black tactical gear.

You realized you might have been gaping a little too obviously, lips parted in barely concealed adoration as you watch his charming, white smile falter in a little awkwardness at your blatant staring. Bemused blue eyes, looking between you and Alban, sending him a look presumably meaning ‘are you catching this?’

Alban clears his throat to break your trance, cutting the silence with conversation to ease the weird tension in the room. The weird tension you caused.

“I suppose you already know Cole?”

Cole goes to introduce himself, hand out to shake yours. When you touch him, you swear you almost let out a whimper. His hand, so firm and filled with aged callouses, held yours so gently you might delude yourself into thinking he wants you to have his babies.

“I’m Cole Stewart, and you must be the famous ____ Alban has been telling me about. I have to say, he didn’t mention you were so adorable.”

Ahh, there it is. That southern hospitality. Growing up, you weren’t particularly attracted to accents. You thought it was a bit cliche when you saw girls your age fawn over British accents of celebrity heartthrobs, but the way his words roll off his tongue, sweet like cornbread, you turn putty into his hands.

Which—you’re still shaking by the way. You let go of his hand, and bring your gaze from his lips. God, can you get any more embarrassing?

“I know I’m Cole! I mean, you’re Cole. I know you’re Cole! We, we met before. You and the league went on a covert op in Portland to rescue the kidnapped researchers and I..I was one of them! So yeah we met before. You actually saved my life, and I didn’t get to thank you for it—and I am still talking, okay, I’m going to shut up now!”

Apparently..you could.

Cole purses his lips and you swear he seems a little mildly uncomfortable. His cheeks look a little red but that could be due to the terrible air conditioning the league has.

Great, first words you speak to your self proclaimed soulmate and he already thinks you’re a grade A freak.

“Okay….,” Alban chokes, clearly experiencing a wave of second hand embarrassment. “Now that introductions are wrapped up, I wanted to tell you exactly why I called you in.”

You sit up straighter when you hear Alban go from friendly, to serious. Aware that this is no laughing matter.

“We know you were with Leda Corp for quite some time before we picked you up. Now, I know you’re not a field agent but because of this, I’m aware that you know your way around one of their facilities, and how they work. How they move.” You can hear the emphasis in his voice with how he makes the words he says leave a purpose.

“Cole here will be going on a solo op, deep undercover at one of Leda Corp bases in Pennsylvania . And I want you to go with him.”

You emit a squeak as you take in everything he’s saying. From the corner of your eye you can see Cole sending you a glance from the sound you made, and you can clearly see him doubting your part in this op.

Alone…he wants you to join Cole…alone. Pennsylvania ? That’s at least a little under two days from California, not counting the stops you’ll need for fuel and sleep, and said undercover mission at the actual base.

You’re going to be alone with Cole for at least a few weeks, and you don’t know whether to jump for joy or walk out this office, straight into the armory where the league keeps their guns, and shoot yourself.

Before you can celebrate, you hear Cole huff from beside you. Apparently, not happy with this arrangement at all.

“Alban, you know I’m not an idiot. I don’t need a partner for this. I know my way around computers and I’ve done undercover ops before with ease. Frankly, I think it’s dangerous if ____ comes along. She’s not trained and that could cause a hindrance.”

Damn, way to completely block your feeble chance at romance.

Alban fixes a stare at Cole, conveying him to back down. Not to argue with him.

Cole looks like he just might not listen, lips opening and closing before he finally licks them, and swallows. He slumps against his chair, and rolls his eyes so far back he resembles a bratty teenager.

“Of course. I’ll go with Cole and help in any way he needs. Not that, he needs any help other than for the mission of course—,” you whip your head to Cole who’s staring at you in perplexity from your accidental innuendo. “I mean, I’m sure you don’t need help for the undercover part either. That wasn’t some dig at you. I’m just letting it be known I’ll be of help. Yeah, that’s what I wanted to say.”

You’re out of breath by the end of your word vomit, observing back and forth between Alban and Cole. Praying to God to let the earth swallow you whole and never let you see the light of day, since distinctly, you cannot act like a normal human being.

Cole gets up without one last glance at you, and swiftly exits the room. Without a doubt thinking to himself you were the most incompetent, and bumbling fool to ever exist.

You’re not so sure he thinks you’re adorable anymore.

Alban sighs and raises his eyebrows in contemplation. Seemingly regretting his previous instruction.

“You’ll be heading out come morning, so pack light and have a conversation with Cole on your route. The league will be giving you a car and a couple of hundred for a few stays at a motel. Once in Virginia, there’ll be a safe apartment where you two will reside and you’ll both go from there.”

You nod and get up from your seat, tripping over the carpet below you. Your hands drop on his desk to steady yourself and you look at Alban sheepishly, who now is wondering how on earth you’ve survived in the league so far.

He stares across your shoulder at the door, indicating you to leave.

You make your way to the door, and walk out.

This day will haunt you for eternity.

“There’s no way you did that.” Vida grimaced, olive toned hand coming to brush through her electric blue locks. Sometimes, you find yourself jealous of the teenager. She didn’t care for what other people thought of her, and expressed herself freely. Something you’ve always wanted to do, yet you were caught up in your awkwardness.

You were the only adult Vida was friends with—other than a certain Cate Connor. Similarly, Vida was the only person you were friends with in the league. Everybody else were mere coworkers.

You sighed and grabbed your face in your hands, stomach churning in shame and anxiety, and to be honest a little bit of lust at the thought of your encounter with Cole. God, were you a masochist?

“Sadly I did, and sadly, I can’t take it back. Just please comfort me and tell me everything will be okay and that he doesn’t hate me. Oh my God, what if he hates me? He probably thinks I’m the biggest freakazoid to step foot in the league!” You cry out, fingers gripping down on your lower eyelids.

Vida’s face morphs into one of disturbance as she watches the pinks of your eyes fill your face.

“First off, stop doing that with your face. Before he walks in and really thinks you’re a freak,”

You gape at her as you follow her instructions, arms crossing in defiance.

“Second, it probably wasn’t even that bad. I haven’t met Cole but from the way these idiots act he seems like he’s pretty nice. I don’t think he took anything personally.”

You bite your lip as you think over Vida’s sentence, hands coming to cradle your abdomen.

“No, no it was definitely bad. He seemed annoyed and I made an INNUENDO! Vida, can you believe it? I literally made it seem like I’d offer up my feminine aspects! I don’t think you understand, Vida! I MADE IT SEEM LIKE I WAS OFFERING SEX.”

The blue haired girl jumps back at your volume, and lifts up her arms in an ‘okay.’

“Again, I’m sure it wasn’t that bad. It was a simple mistake.”

You cry out as you shout, “IN FRONT OF HIS BOSS.”

Vida finally allows herself to express her true thoughts on the matter, unable to comfort you in your situation. Her expression is one of horror as she says, “honestly, yeah, that’s downright fucking terrible. I’m actually feeling sorry that you exist right now.”

You dramatically slide down the wall of her room, basically sobbing to your heart's content.

“I don’t think I can do this..I never want to face Cole ever again.”

She watches you bitch and moan until she rolls her eyes and gets up from her bed, sitting across you to grab ahold of your shoulders.

“____, it’s okay. In a few days time he’ll forget about this and you’ll be skipping your way across the United States, hand in hand, eloping on the east coast.”

You sniffle, hands coming to wipe the snot from your nose. “Really?” You hopelessly mutter, face filled with pathetic love.

“No! Who forgets a first impression like that? I honestly pity the both of you.”

Your jaw is hanging open as you view Vida, she smiles innocently and brings up her ring clad hands to push up and close your jaw. Shrugging in mock sorry.

You don’t stop crying that night.

You feel a wave of deja vu wash over you when you see one of the familiar black, league suvs parked in front of the facility. A pretty blond sits on the hood of the car, arms folded across themselves as he waits patiently for somebody.

That somebody being you.

While Alban had insisted on you and Cole conversing over the plan for the op, tying up any loose ends to be as quiet and neat as possible, you two actually hadn’t seen each other since the meeting. Which you were partly grateful for and partly not. You were glad you didn’t have to see more of Cole yesterday after that horrific encounter, but now you have to face him with no idea on how to go from there.

Cole was dressed in all black, chest covered in a t-shirt and legs clad in jeans. His sparkling belt twinkled in the sunlight if you paid close enough attention, which you always did to anything pertaining Cole and finally the star of it all—his beautiful leather jacket. He really did look like he walked out of every teenage girl’s bad boy fantasy.

When he spotted you, he sent a dazzling smile. That honestly surprised you.

Did he forget about yesterday? Maybe Vida was wrong, maybe he didn’t care. Maybeee He had an epiphany and realized you’re the love of his life and he definitely dreamt about you last night too.

Cole hopped off the car and walked towards you with the posture of someone who has never felt a day of insecurity in their lives. Spine straight, shoulders back, head held high. Once he was in front of you, he moved to grab the duffel in your hand, and motioned for you to follow him to the backseat of the SUV for you to place your backpack filled with necessities.

Once he placed your pathetic excuse of luggage in the back, he swung the door closed and dusted off his hands together. “Well, that should do it.”

You eye him as he opens the passenger door for you and he watches as you buckle in, a glint in his eyes when he hears you mumble a “thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he smirks. And closes the door after him.

You survey him from the windshield as he makes his way to the driver seat, buckling himself in and inserting the key to start the ignition.

He turns his head to you and gives you a pointed look.

“Ready?”

You’re ashamed to say you gawked for a few seconds before stuttering, “y..yes.”

Cole whistles out an elongated ‘okay,’ and drums his fingers on the wheel, before turning to you again and releases out,

“As much as it is flattering, no more innuendos, K?”

Your mouth drops to form an “O” and you continue to stare at him, petrified, as he nonchalantly pulls out of the driveway without a care in the world. Starting your route across the continental United States.

He did not forget about yesterday. Vida was right, and he did care. He didn’t have some sort of epiphany and you are not the love of his life. Instead of dreaming about you, he probably had a nightmare.

When you and Cole finally talk, it’s sunset. Eight hours into your journey. You’ve crossed two state lines now, California to Nevada, and now, Nevada into Utah.

It wasn’t hard getting past government checkpoints, since you were both adults and weren’t hiding possible psi teenagers in the car. So everything went relatively smoothly.

Cole had turned on the radio about thirty minutes ago, humming along to the song that was playing. Surprisingly, the track that was on was one of your favorites.

Wow, can he get any more perfect? Beautiful and great taste in music. Talk about a killer combo.

Cole clicks his tongue before he glances at you, blinking a few times before bringing his eyes back to the road.

“So, how old are you?” he probes, tone sounding seemingly disinterested.

“Twenty-five, although I’ll be twenty-six soon.”

He nods and contemplates answering your unspoken question, your overt curiosity of his age hanging in the air.

He appears to drop the conversation, and you believe that’s the end of your short lived schizophrenic romantic tension.

Until you notice the way he fidgets in his seat and his sultry voice fills the car.

“I’m twenty-one. Just turned though.”

Twenty-one?! There is no way this casanova of a man is TWENTY-ONE. You can’t believe you’ve been acting a fool for a younger man. Five years wasn’t a big difference, but you’re still feeling like a cougar.

“Oh.. you’re, you’re a little on the young side.”

You curse yourself for stammering.

“Well don’t let my age stop you now, sweetheart.”

You’re sure he can see you short circuit from his peripheral vision from the pet name he uses. You clasp your hands together in caution to keep them away from the button of your jeans, in case you start taking off your pants in a pink clouded judgement.

“Relax, sweetheart. You’re so jumpy it kind of makes me antsy.”

When you don’t reply, Cole continues.

“You know your behavior rubs off on people right? So, if you’re chill, I’m chill. Got that?”

You try to focus on his words, but your brain locks onto the word ‘rubs’ and shuts off. You know what you want to be rubbing on.

You bring a hand up to your hair, skillfully looping it around your fingers in an attempt to calm yourself.

“Sorry, I’m just a little awkward.”

“A little?” He deadpans.

“Okay, a lot. I wasn’t the most popular growing up so I didn’t have much peer socialization and I guess that stuck throughout the years.”

He bites his lip in thought, “I can see that.”

Wow, way to kick a girl while she’s down. Now that you’ve exchanged approximately a hundred and eighty-one words with Cole (yes, you’ve been keeping count), it’s safe to say he’s a bit of a jerk. He’s not the rudest person on earth, no, but he weaponizes his sweet smile and southern charm, to appeal to others when he’s really a hidden asshole.

“Sorry, not everyone wants to be a perfect Cole Stewart.” You reply, scoffing.

“Not everyone can be.”

You narrow your eyes, what the fuck is this? Gossip girl?

Does he think you’re in a shitty 2000s drama? Because if you were, it wouldn’t be gossip girl. It would be pretty little liars, and Cole’s devilish ass would be A.

If Cole notices he’s upset you, he doesn’t show it. And frankly, you’re not sure he cares.

“You’re a bit full of yourself. Has anyone told you that?”

Cole gives you his award winning smirk, blue eyes snapping to you and back to the road all in a second.

“Only everyone who’s ever met me, yeah.”

“Well it’s not cute.”

He throws his head back in laughter, and kisses his teeth in small confusion. Unsure of where your sudden hostility came from.

“Down girl, I’m kind of missing you from a day ago. Innuendos and all.”

And just like that, you’re back to that blushing, ridiculous mess he’d had you in since the moment you saw him.

Missing you? Oh my God, he said he misses you? Of course he’s teasing, but you’ll lock that sentence away for the next time you daydream about him. Maybe in a scenario where he comes back from an op, touch starved and a lonely mess. Begging for you and—wait, you still haven’t answered.

“W..what? You, what are you, huh..?”

He lifts his eyebrows in mock surprise. Looking at you and shaking his head, “didn’t know it’d be that easy to get that version of you back.

“Say, do you act like this around any other guys? Because I’d say I get pretty jealous, and I don’t like to share.”

You think your heart skipped a beat. No, no you’re sure your heart skipped a beat and you haven’t felt it pulse since you noticed and how are you still alive, is your heart still beating? Maybe you should tell Cole to stop by the hospital, wait, no, that’s dangerous. Maybe he can give you a once over? If your heart stopped you’d think he know, would he give you cpr? His large hands pressing repeatedly down on your chest, big enough to maybe cup one of your boobs? Oh god, now you’re thinking of him breathing air into your lungs and now you really want Cole to administer cpr—

“…Yahoo? Earth to easily flustered girl? Are you there? Or did I break you?”

And as quick as he had you, he lost you again with that.

BREAK YOU?

Cole is roaring with laughter right now. Finding large amounts of humour in your current predicament.

“It really is that easy with you, wow. I can’t lie, I am greatly amused right now.”

He’s driving with his right hand as he places his left elbow on the window, head placed on his left palm.

“Man, I’m beat,” he yawns. “Let’s grab a stay at a motel tonight. Although we don’t have enough funds to get two rooms, so please, keep your hands to yourself. Alright?”

“As if I’d ever put my hands on you!”

“Whatever you say, sweetheart.”

Booking a room at Rosa’s Inn was fairly easy. You and Cole posed as obsessed, newlyweds. Stumbling into the lobby, playing perfectly drunk on love with each other. It took a bit of convincing on his end, ‘we can’t let them be even a little bit suspicious, I’m not that old, remember?’

Living in a post-apocalyptic world where young people are scrutinized and taken to camps sure does suck.

Cole steps out of the room’s bathroom, hot steam pouring out from his even hotter shower. His skin is a hue of a rosary shade of pink, stray water droplets falling down his bare chest. He doesn’t seem to mind his semi-clothed state, as he tightens the towel wrapped around his waist and makes his way to his backpack. Pulling out a fresh pair of pajama pants.

“Hello? Put a shirt on as well!” You call out, face blooming into a blush.

Cole moves to face you, hands on his hips as he takes you in with his eyes. You’re bundled up beneath the blanket with a book on your lap. He’s not sure which number it is, but he thinks you’re reading Harry Potter.

“This is how I sleep, sweetheart. Don’t like? Don’t look. However, I really doubt the fact you don’t like it.”

You slam your book shut and place it on the nightstand, sticking your nose up to him.

“You sure do have a chatty mouth.”

Cole crawls onto the bed you now realize is not as big as you had originally thought, body mere inches from yours.

“Yeah, yeah. You should see my brother’s.”

You tilt your head.

“Brother?”

Cole winces, and you realize he didn’t mean to let that slip. You wonder if you should do the good samaritan move and let it go, but after all his bitchy remarks today—you won’t.

“I didn’t know you had a brother.”

He leans back against the headboard and closes his eyes, “there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

You study his face. Not caring at the fact he can feel you analyzing him.

“How old is he?”

Cole swallows so slowly, you fear he might have a lump stuck in his throat.

“He’s seventeen. My liam, he’s seventeen.”

You're afraid Cole can make out the pity in your voice you try to drown out. “Seventeen? That would mean…do you know if he’s safe? Is he in a camp?”

Cole sits up and avoids eye contact, his tone clipped when he says

“Yes! No.., I don’t know. Last I heard he was in Caledonia. A camp in Ohio. There was talk of an escape but most of the prisoners were killed in the process.”

You bring your hand out in an attempt to comfort him, freezing in the air when you see him move away from your touch. You steadily bring it back down into your lap.

“I’m sure wherever he is, he’s fine, Cole. If he’s anything like you.”

Cole lets your words seep into the room. The fingers on his right hand fiddling with each other.

“What about you? Any siblings?”

You shake your head no and pause when you realize he probably can’t see you facing the other direction. Though with the way Cole acts, he has eyes and ears everywhere.

“No, no siblings. I’m an only child.”

Cole quietly chuckles, no sign of humor in sight.

“Must be nice, huh. No younger siblings to worry about with psi, old enough to not be inspected with paranoia in public. Lucky you..” you don’t take offense to the blatant bitterness he venomously spits out.

You move a little closer to him on the bed and you swear he takes a sharp inhale of breath.

“You’re old enough too, Cole. A few years older than the age cut off of IAAN.”

You survey him as he looks back at you and grins, the kind of fake one people do when they’re hiding something bigger.

“Right. You’re right. I was old enough.”

He lays flat back on the bed and pulls the covers up his body; you take that as a sign to shut off the lamp and follow suit.

While he faces up, you face towards him. On your side.

“Do you think our world will go back to how it used to be?” You say so softly, you’re unaware if he’s heard it.

Your breath hits his neck and if the lights were on, you’d see the goosebumps trailing his anatomy.

He turns his figure to face you and you’re so close you can practically taste him if you dream hard enough.

In the dark, your eyes make out his dead blue ones on yours. And it’s like you can finally witness all the traumatic wounds he’s acquired in his lifetime.

“It’s never going to happen.”

And just like that, your fantasy comes crashing down.

Because you know Cole isn’t talking about your world.

He’s talking about the two of you.

When he turns his back to you, you wait at least thirty minutes before you let yourself cry. Tears soaking the pillow beneath you. You try your best to conceal your sniffles, a few ugly snorts leaving your voice box.

If your eyes weren’t soaking in tears, you might’ve seen a not so asleep, and very much awake Cole tense up. His body seeking a path deeper into the comforter.

Two hearts breaking that night.

Ten hours and a state line later, you’re closer to Colorado than you are to the rest of Wyoming. Cole was speaking to you freely, last night’s blues long gone from his mind. You were even driving now, taking over to let his cramping arms rest. You suppose it’s for the best that he doesn't entertain you…entertain a relationship..a relationship with you. He doesn’t need you distracted for the mission and you need to be prepared for anything.

His attitude towards you now has mellowed you out a bit—you think. He hasn’t said a word to purposely fluster you and get your panties in a twist, which was progress in of itself.

The forest’s greenery is all you drive by on the deserted highway, misty air fogging the pavement.

Cole is curled on his seat, leather jacket off his shoulders; instead, it’s laid across his body—acting as a blanket.

He might be napping.

Or he might be avoiding an exchange with you.

Who knows? You’re just glad you don’t have to look him in the eye, because you’re not confident in your ability to hold back your tears.

Cole twitches in his sleep, eyeballs hastily moving underneath his closed lids.

You try to ignore his weird movement and focus on the road, but Cole’s soft breaths went from slow, to a heavy drag. Lungs pushing out more air than in.

He’s shivering now, not so much to wake actually wake himself.

There’s a car on the road. You admire the shining color of the ruby red sedan in front of your SUV.

You drive for minutes longer until you cannot ignore Cole anymore. What started as a shiver has transcended into consistent compulsing. Worry trickling your voice as you attempt to lure him from his warring slumber.

“I’m sorry,

I’m sorry…I don’t

…claire.”

You struggle to make out the words he’s articulating, his dialogue thick with sleep.

You’re scared and you don’t know what to do, don’t know how to wake him up without having your gaze leave the windshield. Hell, you don’t even know why you’re driving! You’ve never been a good driver to begin with. Cole is shaking so hard now you’re terrified he’s having a seizure. He speaks clearer now, still stuck in a state of sleep.

“Liam don’t leave, they’ll help us. You can’t leave. You can’t leave me. You’re all I have left now.”

You lift your eyes to him and let one hand grab him, shaking him to awareness.

“Cole! Cole please, wake up. It’s just a nightmare. It’s not real!”

You’re dubious as to if he can hear you from within his little comatose state, so you try again. Harder.

“Cole, goddamn it, wake up!”

You look back at the road and literally scream in fear as you almost hit the red sedan from earlier and pull off on the gas to create some distance.

“Fuck you, Cole! This is all your fault. If you don’t wake up, I’ll never forgive you. Wait, I take it back. I’m sorry! I will forgive you. I do forgive you. Whatever is happening right now in there, you got through it. So, please just wake up. You’re scaring me and I’m not good with this kind of stuff. I need you…so just please—”

His eyes splinter open, then immediately shut, flinching from the blinding, penetrative light of the outside world. He sits up in his seat and his jacket falls from his body.

“Alright, alright, woman. You can stop screaming now.”

You rotate to him in glee and relief, “Cole! Thank God you’re awake. You scared me—”

You should’ve paid more attention to the way Cole’s sleepy face goes from fatigued, to down right horror-struck. And you definitely should’ve paid more attention to the road as you whip back so fast you almost break your neck, but it’s too late. In all likelihood, you’re positive you lost your voice from the unholy screech you bestowed into the car. Your SUV collides with that same red sedan and slides off the road; into the highway’s ditch.

It’s soundless for what feels like forever, the only audible thing being yours and Cole's haggard breathing.

Soon, he breaks the tranquility.

“What was it you were saying about needing me?”

Eventually, you’re back on the road. This time, with Cole in the driver’s seat.

It’s been two days and a half since your early visit to the grave and you are at last in Kansas, 3,000 miles into your journey.

Cole mentioned stopping at a grocery store to stock up on quick food (and to siphon gas from nearby cars, which you were impressed with the first time you saw him doing it)

Your legs ache from being in a vehicle for more than twelve hours each day, but you couldn’t complain. Not after the shit you got you both into.

Cole parks behind the store, the car hidden from view. He twists the key and slips it into his now blue jeans pockets, turning to you to say,

“Go on ahead and find some food for us to eat. I’m gonna go and do my thing.”

You listen without a fuss, and keep conscious of your surroundings. Making yourself acquainted with the cars parked in front.

There’s one car, two cars, red car, blue car—hold up, why were you reciting Dr. Seus? You must be losing your mind.

As you continue walking you abruptly stop. Red car? You leisurely twirl around and really look at the aforementioned tincan.

That’s definitely the same sedan you crashed into!

Call it a coincidence or fate, you just hope they don’t recognize you and demand a bill for reparations.

You’re in the abandoned supermarket, browsing the aisles as you pick anything that sounds even remotely filling. Stomach grumbling in anticipation at the calorie filled “dinner” you’ll be having with Cole tonight.

Hehe, like a date!

You’re giggling to yourself without a care in the world until you fix your gaze up and make eye contact with brown eyes. Eyes that are definitely not Cole’s. Eyes that flash blue and you’re sent thrown back, spine colliding into the very sharp edges of the shelves.

“Fucking shit…” you groan, eyes rolled back into your head from the pain. Stupid fucking super-powered kids, now teenagers are even more pains in the asses.

“C’mon let's go, Priya. Just—just leave it there’s no time!”

You move to sit up and again, you are sent down. Face pushed into the floor.

“Dude! What’s your deal? I won’t snitch!” You bark, teeth grinding against each other to stop the moans of pain from leaving your throat.

“Yeah right, like I’d believe anything an adult says.” The brown skinned boy snarls, his emotions so strong the veins on his neck are protruding from beneath his skin.

The girl he called out too, Priya, grabs his arms and pulls him back. Head shaking in disagreement at the unnecessary amount of force he’s using on you.

“Let’s just go, she’s not worth it.”

And with that, they disappear out of the store. A car’s ignition fading out of sound as it drives off.

You’re still on the floor rubbing your back when Cole walks in, his boots crunching on chip bags and soda cans in disarray. When he sees you he tilts his head in skepticism.

“What…,what happened here?”

You close your eyes and lay on the ground, in a moment to ground yourself.

“You don’t even want to know blondie.”

You wish that was the last time you encountered those kids who thoroughly kicked your ass, but of course the universe wasn’t on your side.

Maybe this is what you get for being nosy. You should really mind your business sometimes. Better yet, glue yourself to Cole’s back so he doesn’t have to wind up in the messes you cause.

It’s a day later when you see Priya and the boy again, their striking red car now outside of a stranded mall.

You were only supposed to walk in, do a look around for anything you needed and walk out as Cole siphons gas again.

In spite of that, you couldn’t ignore the sobs coming from above you as you sneakily hid behind many of the damaged counters. Climbing your way up the dead escalators with the sound of a mouse.

“It’s okay Priya, I’ll get us out of these. He won’t be back until a few minutes. Please, stop crying.”

Priya doesn’t respond and continues to choke on her own spit, the fear evident in how she breaks her voice bawling.

“After everything..we’ll go back again. I don’t want to go back to that stupid camp. Where we’ll be separated.”

The boy lets out a whine at Priya’s agony, desperately trying to say anything to help her feel better.

“We won’t! We won’t! Don’t worry, I’ll save us. I will.”

He stops his reassurances when he hears your footsteps. You know they’re thinking you’re probably the skip tracer who caught them, and you’re feeling extra bad you haven’t announced your presence otherwise.

The boy glares when he sees you and you haven’t seen a look of hatred that bad since you accidentally stole Callie’s science books in the fourth grade.

“You!” He hisses, anger taking over his senses.

“Me?” You exclaimed

“I knew you were a good for nothing skip tracer. You’re all such pathetic, lowly cunts.”

You bring your hands up in offense

“Woah, I’m no skip tracer. I’m actually going to be your white knight because I am releasing you.”

You walk over behind Priya and undo the knots in the rope, the girl immediately rushing to her friend’s side to mirror your actions.

When she’s done, they both rub at their raw wrists. You know they’re doubting your intentions but you don’t mind. It’s hard being a teenager in this world now.

Priya is the first to speak up. She’s clutching the boy’s arm into her chest from behind him. Her words are basically squeaking out of her.

“Why did you help us…”

You watch for a second and are simply unsure of what to say. You know why you helped. Because it’s wrong and kids should never be in those godforsaken camps. Yet you’re having trouble voicing it out loud.

The boy has enough of your silence and his eyes spark cerulean again, but doesn’t do anything but intimidate you. “Well then, go on. Answer her.”

“It was the right thing to do. Of course I’ll help. I don’t like or trust the camps. And I definitely hate skip tracers even more. So there was only one real option left to do.”

The two give each other a glance and seem to communicate with their eyes. You can see something deeper in them than friendship. The care he handles her with as he grabs her tiny hands into his, the admiration that practically bubbles out of her for him.

They look at you and give you little smiles, well at least Priya did. Curly haired boy just curled his lip.

“Well, whatever it was, thanks. You saved our asses right now.”

“Yay, time for celebration.” You joke as you pump your fists in the air, but that’s short lived as you hear the sound of frequency fill the room. The teenagers crumpled to the floor in pain, screams of terror in the air.

You turn to look at your intruder and get pistol whipped across the face, the force of it reeling you on the ground.

You can’t even bring yourself up to defend you and these vulnerable kids because you have a gun now pointed at you, with a very trigger happy man behind it.

“You bitch! These are my captures. My rewards. I’ll be damned if I let some thieving bitch steal my money.” He spits, saliva spraying your face.

“You are one sick son of a bitch, you know that?”

He eyes you with mock pity, thin lips frowning in sarcasm.

“Whatever darling, you should’ve stayed out of my way.”

He maneuvers around you to get to Priya and her boyfriend, and you just can’t. You can’t let anything get in between this sweet boy and his even sweeter girlfriend. They’re just kids. They don’t deserve to get seperated. And you don’t know what compels you. Maybe this moment takes you back to the night at the hotel. Cole opening up for the love he has for his brother Liam, the suffering he endures from the separation of his brother. You see the same look of love in Priya’s eyes, in her boyfriend’s. Not quite the same type of love, but love nonetheless.

That is why you get up, with all your might, and run towards him. Arms stretched out to do something—anything, to get him away from them.

He whirls around and brings his weapon back up, barrel an inch in front of your face

“Oh, no you don’t—”

Bang

You never knew what death felt like. You always thought it’d be something quick and fast, like a flash. Hitting you so hard you cannot recover. Then nothing. Just darkness. Not even misery.

You never knew what death felt like. And today, you don’t have to as you watch the bloodied body of the skip tracer fall to the floor. You’re confused as your hands fly to your face, dabbing it all over in happiness that it wasn’t blown off.

You peek up and see who you now want to be the father of your babies, Cole, standing there with a gun in his hand. A gun he had to use because you couldn’t stay in one place.

He tucks his firearm underneath his jeans, as he trips over to you. Legs moving so fast, he almost loses his balance.

Cole grabs your face in his hands and you’ve never seen him look so scared before.

“What were you thinking!”

It slaps you as you come to the conclusion you could’ve died today and tears well up in your eyes. Small drops of water streaming down your face.

“I don’t..I don’t know. I’m sorry, I’m sorry Cole. I’m such a fuck up. I don’t listen, I get us into car crashes, and now..now,”

He calms down as he considers your crying, hands now falling off your forefront and onto your waist. Pulling you into a hug.

“It’s okay. Really, It’s okay sweetheart. I’m not..I’m not mad. Calm down, okay?” He strives to soothe you, but it doesn’t help.

He hauls away from your ear to yell out

“Can somebody turn that fucking thing off?”

Priya and her boyfriend scramble to the device, setting it off. Sighs of relief leave them as their mind and ears recover from the attack.

If you weren’t so busy crying, hanging onto Cole’s body for support, you would’ve noticed the effect the frequency had on him. Almost like it hurt him. Same way it hurt Priya and her boyfriend.

The black boy, who you now know as Kalil, shocks you with a hug. You can feel a wet spot on your shoulder as he thanks you for saving his Priya, for saving him. When he pulls back, he schools his expression.

That tough boy act will never leave him as long as he has Priya around to protect.

When Priya goes to thank you, she squeezes you so tight you can’t breathe. You rub her back until she deems it okay to let go.

Cole waits in the SUV as you say your goodbye to the psi teenagers, and they make their way into their red car. Driving off into the beautiful Kansas sunset. Never for you to see again.

You watch Cole as he angrily paces back and forth in front of you in the rusty, dingy motel you found yourselves in. His shirt is clinging to his form as he lifts his arms to hold his face in his hands, the sleeves straining against his biceps.

You know he’s upset at you. You tried so hard to avoid his line of sight throughout this whole op. You don’t know when his attitude toward you shifted—where that initial southern hospitality went. Well, wherever it is, you hope it finds its way back because you don’t think you can deal with this aggravated Cole anymore.

And you know—you know you should be apologizing for almost getting you two compromised. Your near death probably traumatizing him further. Adding to the already heavy baggage he has to carry. But you can’t help the way your eyes unconsciously rake across his form, his booted feet all but silently stomping inside the room. You always knew Cole was stunning, hell that’s why you have a stupid, school girl crush on him, but the way he looks now, arms littered with scars, old and new, black cargo pants held up with a belt, you just can’t stop yourself. And you know you should be on your knees right now begging for forgiveness, yet here you are now imagining yourself on your knees for something completely different.

“I can’t leave you alone for one second without you getting hurt, can I?” He seeths, teeth gritted together as if he were in pain.

You lick your lips and bite down on your bottom, eyebrows downcast in shame as his disappointment fills you.

“I..I’m sorry, I, I didn’t know what to do—”

Cole cuts you off with a sharp look, boots padding over to stand in front of you. He’s never been this close to you before. Up close, you can see all the scars littered across his skin from years of training. His blue eyes are like the deepest depths of the ocean, light long gone from the world’s beating. You don’t know what’s worse, staring straight into his eyes maintaining the strongest of eye contact you’ve ever held in your twenty three years of living, or staring at his plush pink lips that you know are about to form a sentence that will hurt you deep into your core.

“That’s the thing! You never know what to do. You’re always going around and being reckless, almost getting us caught. God, I should’ve just pushed to do this myself. You’re irresponsible and you don’t know what you’re doing.”

With every word he spits out he takes a step forward, and you take a step back.

“You’re a liability! A nuisance. You could’ve gotten yourself killed, which you almost did. Hell, you could’ve gotten me killed. Do you not think about the safety of your team members?”

He keeps going, and going, and he doesn’t stop. Not until your knees hit the back of the motel’s bed and you drop onto it with a soft plop.

You look up at him and hope he can see the apology in your eyes. The sincere regret you’re trying and desperately failing to convey. Wet eyes shaking back and forth between his as you whisper, “I’m sorry.”

“I just wanted to help them. They were scared and they were hurt. And so, so in love. I couldn’t let anything happen to them. I just couldn’t.”

Something in his expression shifts as he watches you come undone at the seams, your face scrunched up in agony as if the mere thought of those two kids losing each other kills you.

Cole doesn’t know what crazy projection you placed onto those two kids, Kalil and Priya, is doing to you. Are you envious of their love? He doesn’t get why a grown woman is losing control over her dignity over an emotion so flickering as romantic love.

Cole knows you have a crush on him. It was fairly obvious the first day he laid eyes on you, wasn’t the first day you laid eyes on him. At least that’s what he thought until he introduced himself and you stammered out an ‘I know I’m Cole! I mean, you’re Cole. I know you’re Cole! We, we met before. You and the league went on a covert op in Portland to rescue the kidnapped researchers and I..I was one of them! So yeah we met before. You actually saved my life, and I didn’t get to thank you for it—and I am still talking, okay, I’m going to shut up now!’

Cole remembered thinking damn, you need an adderall. He also remembered the familiar feeling of burning in his veins, the fire flushing his skin a subtle red—he doesn’t know whether his psi abilities caused his blush, or if his blush—and by extension you, caused the flame to ignite his body.

You were pretty. There’s no denying that, maybe even beautiful. Your complexion was glistening with a little sweat in the dark room, whether that was from the adrenaline earlier, or the warmth of fire radiating off his body he now recognizes as his psi powers reacting to you, he doesn’t know. But that doesn’t stop him from doing what he does next. Maybe he should’ve given it more thought. You were four years older than him; closer to five—which wasn’t a lot but you were already an adult when the IAAN disease broke out. You’ve seen life, probably had your rebellious teenage phase, partying and drinking and all. Yet he felt so much older than you, it felt wrong. He felt the need to protect you, shelter you from broken and dangerous things. He doesn’t know where this feeling came from, but right now, in this room, he is the most broken and dangerous thing.

And as that last thought leaves him, Cole kisses you.

His lips move against yours, hungrily trying to capture all of your taste. He can feel your confusion from the way he went from a hundred to a thousand all in the span of five minutes, but he doesn’t stop. Your soft lips hesitantly start to push back against his and he feels your hands slide up beneath his shirt, onto his waist. He releases a sharp breath from the feel of your cold hands on his chest, palms no doubt feeling the burning sensation circulating his body.

“Cole, Cole you’re heating up..” You try to whisper into his mouth but he lets out a dismissive hum, his kisses distracting you from your remark.

“Ignore it,” he purrs. He should really back off you now, he can feel his control slipping from the hold he has on his red abilities but he can’t stop. He physically needs you against him, on him, he’s sure now that any other woman is completely ruined for him because of you.

He moves back to pull you up with him, off the bed. Cole breathes out a “jump” that you obediently listen to, legs wrapping around his taut waist. He’s still kissing you, not once leaving your form as he moves across the room to push you up against the wall. He can feel your lungs desperately grasping for air, as your hands slide up his biceps, neck, and finally to his head; fingers scratching at the roots of his military cropped, blond hair.

He finally lets go to inhale, head moving into the space beside your head. You take this as an invitation to wrap both hands around his nape, lips sensually placing open mouth kisses on his neck.

And he lets you have this—have the moment you’ve been fantasizing about since you met him. He lets you touch him, kiss him, as you slowly rock against his pelvis. He knows he’s whimpering like a teenage boy; like a pathetic virgin. But isn’t that what he is? Cole is twenty one, which made him fifteen when IAAN happened. And life wasn’t normal after that—he didn’t get to party, didn’t get to be a troublemaker teen. He feels inadequate for you—he doesn’t know how to please you. And God, does he want to please you.

Cole knows you’re experienced, well, enough experience to embarrassingly overshadow his lack thereof; if the way you’re making him feel is enough to go off of. He lets you keep going, wetting his neck and finally making your way back to his mouth, his eyes open in minor shock when you push your tongue down his throat but close again as he lets you lead. Cole can feel the hand he has pressed to the wall start sizzling, eyes opening to the burn mark he’s made on the tarnished wall. He feels you release him to inspect the sound and he can’t let you know he’s a red. It would physically kill him to give you the knowledge that he was unlucky enough to be the exception to the age cut off of IAAN. So what he does next honestly will take his ego a million years to recover.

Cole moves the hand on the wall to the back of your skull, locking you in place as he loudly pants into your mouth to distract you. If he was anyone but Cole, but the man you had an infatuation on, he knows this obnoxious moaning would be a turn off rather than a turn on. And he lets himself relish in it for a second, let’s himself obsess over the fact that anything he does—enchants you. And he allows himself to love it.

Cole tightens his grip on your thighs and hauls your bodies back, sauntering over to the bed.

You can’t actually believe this is happening.

You. Cole. You and Cole. You and Cole kissing.

This must be a reward from the universe for your good deed today. Thank you Kalil and Priya, you chant in your head.

Cole is the most gentle you’ve seen him. Paying extra detail to the way he handles you. He’s hovering above you like a hunter to prey, but in this minute he’s caring for you like no other.

His hands smooth down your sides, reaching the bottom of your shirt. He leans off your mouth to attach his lips to your ear, whispering, “do you mind?”

Mind? Do I mind? You almost tell him he can do whatever the hell he wants with you for as long as he pleases in a love induced hysteria but you choke out a “no” and he pulls your shirt off of you.

You watch Cole breathe you in, his flushed cheeks painting his pale skin. You think he looks a little shy but you brush it off, there’s no way Cole’s ever shy.

Cole grabs your hands and sets it on his hips, wanting you to mimic his actions.

And oh my God, you’re UNDRESSING COLE STEWART.

His shirt is off in the next second, your tops thrown to the ground. You graze up his chest, liking the way his abs constrict with his inhales. You take notice of his light pink nipples, the color complimenting the rest of his complexion.

He stops your gawking with his tongue, teeth clashing in a dominating battle.

What happens that night is both a curse and a blessing.

Something between you and Cole had changed.

You’re not quite sure if it’s for better or worse.

It’s now been a week into your way across the United States. Two days since that fateful night, and five since the beginning. You and Cole have reached your designated safehouse (re: apartment) and already called your rooms.

Now a matter of wait before you embark on Leda Corp’s doors.

Your Leda ID badges were waiting for you on the coffee table, stolen from two Michigan native employees who were supposed to start this month, but had received a call from their Leda to let them know they won’t be needing their services anymore.

That call being from the league. In reality, Leda will be needing services. Just not from those two.

Your ID reads “Inanna Sparks,” one of the mentioned employees. And when you tilt your head to catch a glimpse of Cole’s, you see a “Spencer D. Sparks.”

Huh, they must’ve been married.

You and Cole don’t talk for the two day wait period. It’s awkward and suffocating getting used to live with someone else, even when you know this will all end sooner rather than later.

You’re just begging for your first official day to start.

The first day on the job takes you back to the time of your capture. The ceiling in this base is higher, but all Leda Corp facilities look almost identical. You're dressed in a tight, office pencil dress. The cloth muted in color. Your lab coat hangs off your body almost perfectly, copying the perfect fit of your shoes.

When you had impatiently waited for Cole in the morning, heels repeatedly tapped the ground. You swear he paused from your outfit. No doubt taken aback.

Surveying his clothes, a blue button up tucked into grey slacks. An identical to your lab coat hanging from his shoulders.

“They sure didn’t hold back with your wardrobe.” He commented, blue eyes diverting back to his pockets to fish out the car keys. Undoubtedly trying to conceal the hunger that resides in his chest.

“Can’t say the same for you. You look plain.”

“Haha, very funny.”

You were doing a day’s work, fingers memorizing the smooth feeling of the keys. Everytime your coworkers call out to you to remind you of your break, you let them know you wouldn’t be taking one to appear as if you’d not want to disappoint. When you were really trying your damn best to get into their software.

Fuck, when did their system get so advanced?

You didn’t see much of Cole, or Spencer you should say. Spencer, your husband. Since he worked in another department, but you know you’ll be clocking out together. Making your way to your temporary home.

Twelve days into your op, you hit a breakthrough. You finally broke down their firewalls and made your way into their files containing everything they had on IAAN. And when you say everything, you mean everything.

Quickly log out your assigned computer and stand from your desk. Heels clicking the ground as you make your way out of the lab.

Where did Cole say he worked again?

You maneuver your way through the white halls, the smell reminding you of a busy hospital.

You turn a corner and bump into a solid chest, head banging against it so hard you see stars.

“Sorry!” You murmur, and keep your head down as you attempt to walk by them.

“Sweetheart, it’s me.”

You spin on your heel to face him.

“Cole! I was just trying to find you.”

“I know, I felt your want two miles away.”

You’re offended and lightly shove him back, his hands coming up to stop your wrists.

“I’m being serious. I think I found what we need.”

“You found the,” he stops himself. He analyzes the hallway before deeming it unsafe to conversate. Grabbing your forearm as he drags you to a room he’s somehow acquainted with.

Shutting the door behind him, Cole starts blurting his question.

“The cure. You found the cure to IAAN?”

You nod brainlessly, skull moving up and down in a swift motion.

Cole permits out a sound mixed between a laugh, and gasp. Overjoyed with your share of research.

He licks his lips and runs his hand through his now slightly longer, short hair.

“Okay, okay this is what we’re going to do. We’re going to sneak in through the back tomorrow and download everything we need and then get the hell out of here.”

Cole still looks in shock. You know he’s excited about the information. Already brimming with curiosity.

He notices you eyeing him and you feel sparks fly in the room. Your breathing is the only audible thing ricocheting off the walls.

And then he kisses you. He kisses you so hard your legs give out. That doesn’t deter him though, because he just moves to hold you up by your waist. Lifting you slightly off the ground, a singular stiletto slipping off your feet.

You hear the door swing open and a throat clear. Cole moves away from you after he knows you’re able to hold your own weight. You kneel down to fix your shoe, and move back up to hastily tidy your coat.

The man at the door is slightly older, glasses perched on his large nose. He looks disappointed and disgusted at your unprofessional behavior.

“Please, pick another room next time.”

And he walks out.

Cole spins around to you and feels the need to explain himself.

“I didn’t know what else to do. We would’ve look suspicious—”

You hope he doesn’t see the sadness in your face as you lift your arm up to stop him.

“I know..I know. It’s…okay.”

“..is it?”

Cole rolls his eyes, and you know he’s about to pick an argument.

“So what? You just let me kiss you and we won’t talk about it?”

You’re bewildered and are at a loss for words.

“It was for the mission what is there to say..you’re the one who kissed me.”

His features are enraged, mouth curled into a snarl. You know his fists are closed without even having to take a sneak.

“Oh, so was having sex for the mission too?”

Cole knows he crossed the line when you step so far back away from him, he thinks you’re ready to sprint out the door.

He knows he crossed the line. Distinctly because he’s the one that said nothing will happen between you. He didn’t even have to imply it your first night together. He practically painted a sign and attached it to your figure with the words Hey! yeah I’m talking to you loser! We’ll never be together!!

You purse your lips to hold back the water in your eyes.

You don’t even give him the satisfaction of a reply and walk out the door.

You and Cole don’t make up till the night after your break in of Leda Corp.

You guys make your way back to your apartment and you watch as Cole sews the flash drive into his jacket.

He lifts it into the air with a content smile, displaying a startling resemblance of rafiki with simba.

“And there we go. Covert op finished with a breeze.”

Cole finishes with hesitance, bothered by your lack of enthusiasm.

As if fed up with your attitude, he drops the jacket to stand up. Feet taking him to sit in the sofa across from you.

“Come onnn, what’s it going to take for you to talk to me again?”

“An apology, perhaps.” You glare.

He swings his head side to side and tongues his cheek.

“Okay, totally fair,

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said and I was wrong and I shouldn’t have let myself get so angry.”

You know he’s guilty from the way you see the fidgeting of his right fingers. The noticeable tick you picked up on your first few hours driving together.

You face your lap with your hands clasped together. Not wanting to look at Cole in fear you’ll forgive him.

But he’s persistent, you’ll give him that. As he gets up to kneel in front of you, strong hands making themselves at home on your face.

“Please sweetheart, please forgive me.”

He plays dirty.

He’s aware of your feelings for him and he manipulates himself in ways to appease you. Not ever letting you escape from his grasps.

He plays dirty, yet you don’t care.

You lean in and he waits impatiently for you to connect. Cole smiles into the kiss and licks into your mouth, your tongues binding themselves together.

You kiss, and kiss, and kiss until the loud ringing of a phone pours into the room.

Cole ignores it and proceeds to lose himself in you, but you don’t. You delicately propel his shoulders back, disconnecting with a string of saliva.

“Cole..you should get that.”

He composes himself and nods once, then twice and then for a third time.

“Ye..ah. Yeah I should go do that.”

His feet catch on the carpet, staggering him.

You’re afraid the phone will stop ringing before he reaches it, but are pleased when you hear him answer with a breathless “hello?”

It’s quiet for a few odd moments before an alarmed Cole is practically yelling into the phone.

“Liam? I thought you were at a camp—”

Liam must’ve interrupted his sentence because Cole is quiet again. Eyebrows furrowed in concern for the boy on the other side of the phone.

“Just…stay low. Meet me here at this address. __ ___ ____ ___. Apartment 53. And please, for the love of God. Do not get caught.”

He hangs up and his hands move to play with his hair.

“Change of plans, we have to stay here for a couple days longer.”

When you meet Liam, you thought you were seeing double.

He stands paranoid next to Cole, untrusting of you. His blond hair is lighter than Cole’s. Straws of yellow reaching his ears.

You know he’s only acting this way because he’s down right terrified of adults. League agents in particular.

Cole rolls his eyes with irritation at his brother’s antics. Apparently uncaring of why.

“Lee, stop being weird. You’re scaring her.”

His brother fixes him with a glare so enraged, you’re afraid he’s going to pounce on him.

“I’m scaring her? You brought me into a house with a league agent. I’m the one shitting my pants!”

Again, Cole rolls his eyes and makes his way into his room. Not before calling out, “I’m league too, or did life on the run knock some screws loose little brother?”

You examine Liam as he regards his brother, no doubt pissed to oblivion.

“You are such a jerk.”

“This jerk is the reason why you’re not cuffed up, fifty miles away in a car making it down to a camp. You’re welcome.”

Liam gets quiet after that. Obviously thankful for his brother, but still mad.

Cole is back in the living room with his boots laced on his feet. Keys thrown back and forth between his hands.

“I’m going to go pick us up some food. You two, play nice.”

And with that Cole leaves.

You wished you had stopped him though. You wished you had done anything but call out a quick bye, words covered with fondness.

You didn’t know Liam’s presence would be Cole’s demise

The last time you and Liam saw Cole was when his lean body was shoved aggressively into a government van. Outcome from the fact that Liam was noticed by your nosy, elderly bitch of a neighbor.

You didn’t even get to stop Liam from running away with the wrong jacket.

The jacket with the flash drive.

It wasn’t long before Cole was back at the Los Angeles league base. Safely rescued by the infamous orange Ruby Daly and her blue teammate, Vida Bautista.

Cole was grateful for the rescue. He’s no damsel, but it would’ve been one hell of a pain in the ass if he had to get himself out. He’s glad he’s important enough in the league that they even considered retrieving him. If it was anyone else, he’s sure they would’ve been six feet under by now. Long forgotten by the same organization they endangered their lives for.

Cole was grateful to Ruby for the rescue.

What he wasn’t grateful for were her words of urgency as she kept repeating the same two words, tangles of her mind deep in his.

“The flash drive. Cole, the flash drive.”

And damn, he knows he should be trying his very best to think of that stupid little thing, but he’s finally back and he hasn’t seen a glimpse of you.

Now he’s imaging you. How you’ll react when you know he’s safe and sound. Maybe you’ll do a little squeal and jump in his hands, eyes sparkling with affection for him.

He thinks back to your three weeks together. The fighting, the bickering, the kissing.

When he remembers someone was currently into the depths of his mind, living the memories he’s replaying along with him it’s too late.

He blushes a crimson so red, and stutters out an apology you wouldn’t believe this was the same Cole three weeks ago.

He sees Ruby regard him in disgust and watches her walk out.

He calls out “sorry!” to Alban for his lack of participation in Ruby’s mindhunt and follows her out.

They pass the showers without her noticing he’s trailing behind her and he shoves her into the bathroom with the little force he can muster with his injuries.

Cole draws the curtain and turns on the faucet.

Ruby reminds him of Liam; the way these two are so paranoid beyond belief. He fights her off him when she moves to attack him. Which was his fault really, maybe he shouldn’t have been manhandling traumatized girls.

“Calm down! I’m here to talk about Liam!”

He can tell she knows her jig is up from her attempt to act clueless of this “Liam” he knows they both know.

He listens as she tries to scold him on something about bringing his brother back into the league. The infatuation she has for Liam is so plainly obvious.

He tells her his old address in North Carolina and sends this teenage girl on a wild goose chase for his jerkass little brother.

When Ruby walks her legs to leave, she turns to him with a scornful expression.

“Instead of teasing me about your brother, maybe you should put on your big boy pants and figure out whatever the hell you have with that girl. The girl from your op.”

She sadistically smiles at the way his features drop. He hates that this girl can enter and leave his mind as she pleases—literally.

And with a bounce of her black curly hair, she walks out the showers.

Cole takes this time to himself. Leaning back on the stall.

He doesn’t get to relax for long before the curtain opens again and he sees you.

“What were you doing in here with that girl? You know she’s sixteen right?”

God, how he missed you. You with your feelings, not all of them innocent but all so sweet. You with your jealousy. You with your little bursts of anger.

You could almost punch an already beaten up Cole for the way he laughs at you. Not taking you seriously.

“Relax, I was filling her in about Liam. Showers are the only place not recorded.”

You’re embarrassed at your over exaggeration and drop your shoulders.

“Oh.”

“Yeah..oh.”

You move to place a hand on his shoulder and for the first time, he lets you. You move it to his face and he leans into your touch.

“I’ve missed you.”

You don’t understand why Cole denies himself of this. Of your love for him. You know he wants you too, otherwise he wouldn’t have happily participated in all of your frivolous activities.

You see the moment he pulls back. Shields himself from feeling any longer.

And you can’t take it anymore.

“Why are you like this?”

“…Like what?”

“Like an asshole! Are you playing with me? That has got to be the only explanation. You let me kiss you and touch you, you get mad when we don’t talk about it and when we do, you get mad at that too. So what’s it going to be this time?”

You must’ve hit an already exposed nerve because Cole looks close to strangling you.

“Why can’t you understand we can’t be together.”

“And who’s saying that?”

“I’m saying that. I am. Sweetheart, take a look around. How can we focus on us, when the u.s has turned to shit and we’re fucking with the government every second of the day.”

You stubbornly turn to the water droplets sliding down the wall, your wet clothes sticking to your body. The small container you both are in is fogging up with steam.

“That doesn’t stop other people so I’m not sure why that should stop us.”

He stands to his full height, and he’s still so mad. You don’t like when he’s mad. Especially at you.

“Because other people aren’t reds!”

Chills cover your body despite the heat of the shower. A puzzle scatters in your broken relationship with Cole, yet there is finally that one missing piece, waiting to be put together.

“But..you’re twenty-one?”

He laughs, though he doesn’t find it all that funny.

“Unlucky me.”

You shake your head and motion to grab him, but Cole doesn’t let you. He walks backwards, minding his step to not slip on the water.

“Cole, I don’t care what you are. I love you, and I’ll always love you. And even if you don’t love me back, I don’t care. I just want you to allow yourself to feel what you feel for me.”

Cole’s in torment.

He doesn’t like hurting you, he doesn’t know why he does it. He’s scared of losing control. Every Time he’s angry, he can feel the little flame in his chest waiting to explode in a hot fire.

“I’ll hurt you. Hell, I’ve already been hurting you.”

“Cole, you can hurt me till my heart physically cannot handle it anymore and I’d still choose you.”

You know that’s what breaks him because he runs to you. Pouring all his desires into you as you become one. His bruised hands are roaming on your body, anywhere you’ll let him.

And that’s everywhere.

You love Cole.

Cole saved your life not once, but twice. Your own personal knight in shining armour anywhere you went.

You love his short hair. The color of the sandy beach. And you love his ocean blue eyes even more. His thin lips and high cheekbones, strong arms and long legs.

You love everything about him.

You love Cole.

And Cole loves you.

#kisscastellan #the darkest minds by alexandra bracken #the darkest minds #tdm #the darkest minds: never fade #cole stewart x reader #cole stewart #liam stewart #ruby daly #vida bautista #cole stewart angst #cole stewart fluff #cole stewart x you #the darkest minds fluff

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tragicclownwrites · 1 year ago

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Why the ending of "Sponge-Cano!" was great SquidBob fodder

Hello! I'm back with an analysis post as I came across something recently and wanted to share some thoughts.

I'm likely late to the game here, but I saw an old post in which the author (a fellow SquidBobber) was upset by the ending of "Sponge-Cano!" and I just have to say... huh!?

Were we watching the same episode? 🤨

Needless to say, I was thoroughly perplexed by this reaction because I personally read into it much differently. Then again, I am a clown.

Therefore - in the spirit of friendly fandom discourse - I wanted to provide another perspective on this episode. Absolutely no shade to the OP either - people are allowed to have differing opinions, after all.

If you're with me, let's clown around below the cut!

The lie that started it all

Before we dive in any further, let's take a look at the scene that started this whole conversation.

Essentially, after Squidward's heartfelt confession to SpongeBob, while he's hanging on for dear life over a boiling volcano...

Squidward: "Please SpongeBob, I didn't mean any of that! I do appreciate your friendship. I am grateful. I'm… I'm… I'm grateful for the life I'm living! Who knows how long I'll have it? I learned that from you, remember?"

He says this after being rescued by his true love SpongeBob:

Squidward: "You know SpongeBob, in light of everything that just happened... I lied to you. I am not grateful for anything! I mean look at me. I don't even have a roof to sleep under, anymore!"

Now, this is the moment that had the OP so heated about this episode. After everything he said, after SpongeBob saved his life, he just... lied?

Weeeell, not exactly.

The truth always reveals itself

Now, for my hot take... I don't think Squidward was lying at all when he said he was grateful for SpongeBob.

Before you immediately decide that I've completely out-clowned myself this time, just hear me out!

There are a few reasons Squidward may have reacted the way he did in the aftermath of the volcano debacle.

He's Squidward

Our man's just lost his whole fucking house for the billionth time

The reality of what he just said is slowly catching up with him

He's Squidward

Unlike his more chipper counterpart, the guy doesn't exactly wear his heart on his sleeve and has been shown to struggle with vulnerability and admitting failure. I mean, he can barely manage to apologize for his less savory actions without choking and sputtering like a fool!

However, when his life was on the line in this scene, he was vulnerable in more ways than one. Physically, he was quite literally dangling over an active volcano - you can't get more vulnerable than that! Emotionally, he bore his soul to SpongeBob because he thought he was going to die and wouldn't have another chance to say any of that again. Keep in mind, he truly believed he wouldn't live to see SpongeBob ever again.

I've mentioned this in my Reigisa x SquidBob masterpost, but there have been several other instances where - particularly, in a dire situation - Squidward will openly admit that he has always liked/cared for SpongeBob. And similarly, he's also tried to take it back or act like he didn't mean it when everything turns out okay or if other people aside from SpongeBob hear his confession.

So, as much as he "hates" SpongeBob and can't stand him, when it really counts, the truth always reveals itself.

Is it possible that he was just trying to play at SpongeBob's heartstrings to save his own ass? Perhaps.

But then, he accepts his fate. He loses his grip, giving everyone a tearful farewell. That is, until his little yellow angel comes to his rescue.

SpongeBob: "Squidward, I always knew you felt that way. Aw, buddy. Thanks for finally opening up to us."

⬆️Just look at the pure love in his eyes! (*Patrick voice*: LOOK AT IT!) The sappy sponge was even prepared to sacrifice himself for him. 🥺

While there was absolutely no way SpongeBob would actually let Squidward perish - promises be damned - it wasn't until Squidward poured his heart out, putting his true feelings towards SpongeBob out in the open, that he was saved from certain death.

You know how they say, "the truth will set you free"? No kidding!

As for why SpongeBob was completely fine with Squidward's lie after the fact (another point of contention for OP), well... he loves him. Period. And I think, despite his emotional constipation and frequent annoyance with the sponge in question, it's pretty clear Squidward loves him, too.

Therefore, SpongeBob wasn't upset by Squidward's outburst here because, as naïve as he may be, I don't think that fact is lost on him either.

In conclusion...

I think it's safe to say that "Sponge-Cano!" was a pretty great episode to add to the ever-growing SquidBob pile.

And if you thought the scene I talked about above was the last of it, ohohoho~ 🤭😏

You. Just. Wait.

At the very end of the episode, after Squidward loses his home and complains that he no longer has "a roof to sleep under anymore," SpongeBob does what SpongeBob does best: he offers to help him out.

Even after Squidward's selfish actions in "Can You Spare a Dime?" (which had some great fodder as well, such as *ahem* Squidward making SpongeBob wear a sexy maid outfit), SpongeBob still lets him stay at his house for an indefinite amount of time. Continuity? I don't know her.

To which, this gets even better.

Squidward doesn't refuse and find somewhere else to crash. After all, wasn't SpongeBob the reason he was miserable enough to be sacrificed in the first place? Why would he subject himself to even more SpongeBob, if that were the case?

At SpongeBob's house, he doesn't sleep on the couch or in a spare room. He doesn't even take SpongeBob's bed for himself while SpongeBob sleeps elsewhere - just like he did in "Can You Spare a Dime?"

NO.

The two of them share SpongeBob's bed. As in, they sleep in the same bed together.

Are these two fucking serious!?

They totally cuddled. Maybe even kissed.

All that to say, as much as Squidward whines and gripes about how much SpongeBob makes him miserable, it's clear to see that - even in the face of life-threatening adversity - SpongeBob's presence in his life is the key to his happiness. In this case, the key to his survival as well.

Now, if only our favorite grumpy octopus would take that spongey key, embracing him fully, to unlock that door... 🌈

#anyways i love this ship #and this episode was one for the books #i will die on this hill #my adhd ass spent the whole morning on this lol #no regrets #spongebob #squidward #squidbob #spongebob squarepants #sbsp #tragic clowning #episode analysis

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oasisdew · 6 days ago

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Toxicity in AkiUge and why Kizu is a goddess!!

Disclaimer:

This meta was originally published on Twitter and Facebook on September 13th, 2020, and saw noticeable pushback across given fandoms in every existing platform.

Since then, I’ve revisited and revised some of my views as we got newer canon materials and my own understanding of Kizu's narrative style evolved. While certain perspectives of mine have changed, the core of my overall understanding of it is still unchanged.

Given the current Tumblr environment, where discussions feel more balanced and receptive to newer interpretations compared to before, I’ve finally decided to bring this piece after almost five years of writing it here. Also for archival purpose. Feel free to engage or to ignore 🙂‍↕️

*SPOILER FOR MANGA AND MOVIE*

TW - Abusive behavior, toxicity in relationship and toxic traits in characters.

AkiUge relationship - detailed analysis.

Those who have read the Manga please feel free to point out ANY Manga panel that might discredit what I am saying here.

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Disclaimer (2) : Akihiko and Ugetsu BOTH are unreliable narrators when it comes to their story, so rather than their internal monologues it's better to focus on how their story unfolded.

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Disclaimer (3) : Another thing is, Given actively tries to de-romanticize all the harmful tropes that are found in Shoujo or BL Mangas or in any romance for that matter. Things like presumed soul mates, irreplaceable first loves, over possessive behavior, over obsession, being a push over for the person you love, loosing your own identity for love, being so very protective of your loved one that you won't allow them to grow, one sided hopeless crushing, too much giving and not demanding anything in return in a relationship, getting too much spoilt by the one you claim to love and then pretend obliviousness, Stockholm syndrome, Lima syndrome, using one sided Love to coax unsuspecting people who have feelings for you to have sex with you, sexual violence turning into pity party and becoming true love, use of Sex as replacement of love and then it evolving into love or being unable to let each other go BECAUSE the sex is so good you become addicted to it, all of it, ALL DISGUSTING TROPES that we find in romance genres usually, she addressed them all.

So if you are into any of them, and are likely to cry over 'but they were soulmates!' or 'but it was first true love!' or 'noooo but they had chemistry!' then given is probably not for you. Given doesn't romanticize love. Given treats love rationally and beautifully. And given doesn't say romantic love is be-all end-all thing of one's life.

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I was holding on to do this solely because of how lazy I am, no other cause. But there had been many posts asking about this relationship in here, and particularly one teenage girl asked me to explain it as I have understood it.

So here I go.

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Okay, first of all, to understand AkiUge relationship we have to take it into account that Aki, and probably Ugetsu too, came from broken homes.

Especially Akihiko, his parents don't seem to love or care for him too much, seeing that they let him go with handful of money when he was merely sixteen.

Admittedly we don't know much about Ugetsu's familylife, except for the fact that he came from a very influential family and his grand father is a politician. Also his father probably is in civil service if I am remembering it correctly.

But he too, had a mansion all by himself when he was mere sixteen. Doesn't feel like a very loving warm atmosphere to grow up into.

So this loveless childhood affected them both and they had issues with properly loving someone because they, both of them, hadn't been loved properly during their childhood.

But apart from that, there's also another thing to take note of. Ugetsu has some psychological problems right from his childhood, which were inherent to him.

Kizu has hinted on it. In just a few panels she showed us what kind of person Ugetsu truly is. He thinks that he is always chasing music and death, but there's a twist into it, when he is fantasizing about death it's not himself he is trying to kill, it was the little ants or bugs that he kept killing without any reason or remorse.

Ugetsu, as Akihiko has said in his lovestruck monologue, does feel more than anyone. His feelings are as his music is, intense.

But he DOESN'T feel for others.

He didn't feel sympathy or empathy for the bugs when he was a kid, and he doesn't really care much how he hurt Akihiko again and again. His very intense feelings revolves around himself.

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Anyway, back to how AkiUge relationship first started, two teenagers who had already had not much of other meaningful relationships or love in their lives to begin with, met.

Akihiko especially was enamored at the first sight. The sheer amount of talent in someone so close to his age as is said that Ugetsu had, was enough to make Akihiko, the confident young blooming talent himself, loose some of his confidence and shine. Ugetsu was beautiful physically and his music touched Akihiko. He fell hard and fast, it was described like an obsession in the Manga. It WAS an obsession. Akihiko was very young and he didn't know any better. He lost his own path in music and tried to chase Ugetsu.

I see that many people seem to take that monologue of him 'virtually giving up on music' very literally, which was not the case. Akihiko had never stopped playing Violin. The day Ugetsu broke up with him (for the first time) they were performing together. He just put a stop on his own music and gradually became a shadow of Ugetsu's.

Akihiko is many things but petty is not one of them, except for him thinking that he felt immense envy, there has been no sign in the whole canon story of him ever being jealous of Ugetsu. He loved Ugetsu with his all. He keeps bragging about Ugetsu being a prodigy, he calls Ugetsu prodigy or genius in front of his face and in front of others casually, without there being any malice. He took Mafuyu to his concert, he worries about how Ugetsu is not properly dressed or hasn't combed his hair for his performance.

Akihiko is overall a very caring person and NOT a jealous person. But yes, his relationship with Ugetsu affected his music terribly because he tried to blindly follow him.

There's one thing to notice here. Ugetsu more than once said, actually every time there's a mention of Akihiko's music he kept saying that he thinks that Akihiko's music is delicate.

We need to remember that music has always been symbol of heart/love in given.

So, when Ugetsu is saying that Akihiko's music is delicate, it means that Akihiko's heart and how he loves is delicate too.

Which was not to Ugetsu's liking. He didn't like it, and Akihiko probably tried to change his own delicate style to match Ugetsu's intensity.

The point is that they were musically not compatible, and Akihiko tried to change that and chase Ugetsu with everything he got. Which in turn made Ugetsu feel suffocated. Akihiko is basically a clingy lover and Ugetsu is afraid of commitment. So when Akihiko was chasing him with everything and they were in a relationship, that somehow became Ugetsu's liability.

Ugetsu couldn't feel free with his music with Akihiko constantly chasing after him, and for Akihiko giving up his own music to chase Ugetsu's had become painful.

Again music here is actually being used as a metaphor for their relationship.

Basically, how Akihiko and Ugetsu coped with their loveless childhood had been wildly different.

Akihiko became clingy, always trying to please his loved ones in the hopes of being loved back.

Ugetsu became commitment phobic. Afraid of loving or committing himself to anyone.

So much so, that he couldn't stand to receive even a couple mug from Akihiko as a gift, cause it somehow meant a physical embodiment of their commitment to each other?

Ugetsu didn't fall for Akihiko the way Akihiko fell for him. But he was touched by Akihiko's passion for him. He got spoiled on the feeling of being loved. When Ugetsu was telling Mafuyu about their relationship, that's what he said, 'for me to be swayed like that, it was because I slowly got spoilt.'

The point in this relationship had always been this, their relationship was never on an equal ground. It had always been Akihiko chasing after Ugetsu and Ugetsu merely indulging his feeling because 'the feeling of first love was fun', which later gradually changed into him using Akihiko's feeling to feel high occasionally and withdrawing his own to be in control of the whole relationship and situation.

Yes. He said he wanted to break up with Akihiko because being with him was painful for Akihiko, and I see people zeroing on it and using it to defend Ugetsu.

But being with him wouldn't be painful for Akihiko if he could let Akihiko be himself, if he could appreciate Akihiko's music aka love and not try to change it from delicate to something else for his own taste. Akihiko's music was good, just delicate. It didn't need changing.

And secondly, what did he do to lessen Akihiko's pain? Broke up with him from his own side and used Akihiko as emotional punching bag depending on his own mood? That DIDN'T show care much less love for Akihiko. If anyone thinks that hurting someone willingly could be a form of showing love, please know it's not.

Their relationship had become a power play for Ugetsu, and gradually for both of them.

The one time AkiUge had sex in Manga timeline, Ugetsu came back from a concert, was acting very loving and seductive towards Akihiko, 'I am back after so long and you are sleeping?' 'did it (the music) make you hard?'

And when Akihiko reacted to it, he is all, 'Why don't you ever learn Akihiko?'

Because yes, right then he was going to have sex with Akihiko, he was wilfully inciting reaction in him, knowing full well that Akihiko wanted more from him, wanted his affection, which he wasn't going to give him, just sex, and then he was going to hurt him again. That was all in the plan, because Akihiko doesn't learn, no matter how Ugetsu tortures him, he stays. What a power he had over him! At this point it was not just something spontaneous, it had become totally cold hearted willing manipulation in his part. And Akihiko had become almost immune to this game. Too used to it.

There's also another thing. Ugetsu told Mafuyu that he 'loved Akihiko to death' and interestingly we don't get to see his facial expression there at this panel. I don't doubt his words here, but I doubt if he really understands himself. Because right after, in his monologue, we see him reminiscing about the joyful moments he had with Akihiko and thinking desperately that he 'wanted to be with' Akihiko but he was in love with music. Implying that he couldn't be in love with Akihiko?

The bottom line is, he wanted to be with Akihiko because how Akihiko made him feel, but he couldn't commit his own heart to Akihiko because of who he himself was as a person.

Also, I believe Kizu had done amazing research into creating all the relationships in given. All toxic traits in relationships, she managed to address them all, and very beautifully too.

Yes, what Akihiko and Ugetsu had, it felt like love to both of them. The amazing feeling, the rush of first love. But how she had structured their story? It's more limerence than love. If anyone has read this long ass essay till here, I would like them to search limerence in Google.

That word fits Akihiko and Ugetsu's relationship to the T.

And that feeling can be way more intense than real love, and just as much unhealthy.

Anyway, the thing is, even if a relationship starts with hard and fast one sided feeling, it can still develop into a healthy beautiful one.

That didn't happen with AkiUge.

Because Ugetsu didn't have any compunction in hurting Akihiko, emotionally, physically or mentally. Not once in the course of Manga did we see him regret what he did to Akihiko. He felt sorry for himself, not for Akihiko, not once.

He didn't care where Akihiko was when he wasn't there, or when he kicked him out on a whim, knowing full well that Akihiko had no place to go to.

He only cared what he himself would do if Aki didn't come back.

As I said before, Ugetsu has some deep rooted issues, which he couldn't overcome when he was with Akihiko, rather he was getting worse.

Clinginess, inability to communicate, even occasional emotional unavailability can be overcome in a relationship if both parties involved love each other and try to compromise for each other's sake. But when one is so tangled in one's own self that they don't hesitate to hurt the other one over and over and it becomes a pattern, that's when the relationship already failed.

When Ugetsu broke up with him, Akihiko didn't have a place to go, he DIDN'T want to go anywhere for that matter, cause he wasn't the one who wanted to break up. The way Ugetsu broke up with him seemed too much like ripping off a band aid, it was not easy for Akihiko to accept it.

And I don't think he took it seriously at first. They were living together. And he didn't leave Ugetsu's place, neither did Ugetsu make him leave. So it was like the break up didn't happen?

They gradually developed an unhealthy pattern. Everything would be just like it used to be for some days, and then Ugetsu would slowly feel suffocated in the semblance of an committed relationship, then he would find a way to hurt Akihiko where it hurts the most.

He would justify it in his own head thinking it is best for them both. But won't stop playing the game again and again.

THROUGHOUT THE MANGA UGETSU NEVER STOPPED PLAYING THE GAME.

After the last fight they had when he was sleeping with someone on the bed he shared with Akihiko, and Akihiko left for good, he was still waiting for him to come back. After such fights Akihiko most probably went back to him right after and they used to go on with their lives like nothing had happened. This time when it was almost clear that Akihiko wasn't coming back, he chose to unpack his own very adult problems in front of a kid who is much younger and whom Akihiko considers a valuable friend.

No other adult did that. Akihiko used his own experience to help Uecchi, but burdening the kids with their own fuck ups, no other adult person did that in Given. Even when their hearts were breaking they were keeping or at least trying to keep their masks intact in front of the kids and kept reassuring them.

Akihiko didn't have any friend either, but he wouldn't think of unpacking his own trauma in front of a kid.

That's what Ugetsu did, he turned the whole thing into a pity party for himself. And in front of someone who is Akihiko's friend essentially. It's copybook toxic abusive behavior. And Ugetsu might not be able to understand this in himself, but he has almost every toxic tendency.

Pleading with and telling others, minors at that, how you only hurt people because you want what is good for them? Not willing or trying to change yourself but wanting people to understand why you did things to hurt someone?

As I said, copy book abuser toxic behavior.

And teenagers please beware of it in anyone. Mafuyu is a very smart capable kid. Kizu wrote him, so he is able to dodge that manipulation, not fall for the trap...

But the sweet temptation of fruitless pining might look very beautiful to you. It's not. It's dangerous.

OK, moving on, sometimes later when Akihiko found the courage to go see Ugetsu, and to tell him that he wanted to try playing different kind of music, Ugetsu hit him. Because to him it seemed like Akihiko was quitting violin?

And I see people saying 'oh no, he just wanted the best for Akihiko!'

Just NO! Even if Akihiko really meant that he was going to quit violin, it doesn't justify Ugetsu's actions, and he had no reason to act the way he did. It's obsessive behavior! It's not wanting what is best for another person, it's wanting to be the one who made decisions for them! Akihiko should have been free to choose whatever he wants to do with his life, music or otherwise. Moreover, Ugetsu himself didn't want any kind of commitment between them.

But, here's the twist, actually he didn't want commitment from his own side. He totally wanted Akihiko's heart to belong to him completely.

And when you put it like that, it becomes understandable. Yes he hurt Akihiko because he was hurting himself and afraid that Akihiko will leave him for good this time.

But it had nothing to do with selflessness and to color it as selflessness makes Kizu's efforts useless.

Ugetsu hurts Akihiko when he clings to him, he hurts Akihiko when he tries to leave. He just hurts Akihiko for every emotional turmoil he himself is having. And that's a pattern. It's not an one time thing.

Ugetsu Murata might not be a black and white pure villain character, but he is one of the most selfish characters in given. Nothing about him is selfless.

When Akihiko was trying to break things off with him for good after CAC, these all came to an head.

I for one was really shocked and appalled when Ugetsu said 'I am not stopping because you are going to break up with me.'

Because, firstly, it implied that they were in a relationship? Which... Akihiko might have thought that he held on to his feelings for Ugetsu, but he also thought that to Ugetsu he was only a sex buddy or gigolo.

Yes, Ugetsu kept sending mixed signals, it had become a game and deep down Akihiko knew he was being played with, but to blatantly imply something like this when at long last Akihiko was trying to move on? It's very manipulative behavior.

And secondly, it totally implied that he didn't want Akihiko to break up with him? Which... if Akihiko had even one ounce feeling left for him it could have become very painful for him to hear this confession from Ugetsu just when he was ready to move on.

The fact is Akihiko stopped being in love with Ugetsu way earlier, what they still had was just trauma bonding.

And he already found true love in Haruki, that's why it didn't affect him much, except for how it startled him somehow.

But if he wasn't so in love with Haruki, a confession like this could have derailed every progress he had made.

Trauma bonding is a very powerful feeling. It makes people too much Co dependent on each other. It makes people do things that from deep down their heart they don't want to do.

And just as Ugetsu has every sign of being the abusive manipulator, Akihiko carries every sign of being the victim in an abusive relationship. He has strong feelings of trauma bonding towards Ugetsu. He is afraid of Ugetsu. He is distrustful of him. He literally told Haruki that he is afraid to go back to the basement.

Right after Akihiko started living with Haruki, there had been a panel showing him outside of Ugetsu's house, contemplative look on his face, and when that chapter came out, we the readers thought he might have had been thinking about going back to Ugetsu or yearning for him. But in retrospect, it was him trying to face the source of his trauma. Because he had to face it to get rid of it.

When during the first day performance of CAC Akihiko went to Ugetsu's, his body language was totally of an abuse victim's. He couldn't look at Ugetsu's face or eyes when he was telling him that he was going to leave the place. He was totally expecting to be hit or emotionally manipulated again. And he was right. Ugetsu climbed on top of him, yelled at him and hit him. Asked him manipulative questions which we saw made Akihiko question his own music during the performance. Ugetsu's facial expression is dark here. Almost too painful and revolting.

Akihiko's facial expression here is heartbreaking. He was afraid of descending into hell again.

And he was so shook he had to seek comfort from his only source of light, Haruki, right after.

He waited for Haruki outside their apartment to welcome him home, he waited to be welcomed home. He needed the assurance that there was a place where he wasn't going to get hurt just because he wanted to be loved and showed his vulnerable side. Haruki was and had always been Akihiko's safe harbor. Haruki kept everyone safe, he kept Akihiko safe too. He had become the home that Aki yearned for so much. Under this security, under this knowledge that even after he showed Haruki his worst side he was still cared for, regardless of if he was loved anymore or not, at least cared for, Akihiko gained his own light and music again.

The thing to understand is, right after Akihiko had hurt Haruki, he had decided to get worthy of Haruki, if for nothing else, at least so that he could wipe the hurt he had subjected Haruki to. At least to let him know how much he actually was loved and wasn't used, how much Akihiko did need him and how much he was worth every single thing that he thought he was not worthy of. Akihiko hurt Haruki because Akihiko was trash, not because Haruki wasn't worthy. That's what Akihiko needed for Haruki to understand and believe.

But Akihiko couldn't do that or even try to redeem himself until he could get out of his trauma. It took him three months of close contact of Haruki's light and care to believe in his own worth again. It took him three months of Haruki teaching him how to keep ballance in a relationship, how to care for people without expecting anything in return, or how to just not be toxic, to shed off the two years old trauma he had subjected himself to.

Okay, I will end the rant here with the examples of Ugetsu crying and Akihiko crying.

Kizu is, as I say over and over, a Goddess, and no panel means nothing.

Why we see front view of Ugetsu's crying broken face, and why we get only the side view of Akihiko's crying face (and Haruki's for that matter) has cinematic relevance.

Ugetsu IS a broken person. He showed no sign of self improvement, no sign of trying to break the toxicity he built upon himself. Not self love, nor the love for another person, could help him. He stays in the basement feeling pity for himself, waiting to be saved.

And here in this panel, he cried for his own self. He cried because at long last Akihiko was free from his clutches. His tears were not for Akihiko, Akihiko found love, Akihiko found music, he just witnessed it himself. He cried because he was feeling sorry for himself.

And that's what he deserved and got from audience too. Pity.

Ugetsu Murata is one very pitiful character.

And my heart breaks for him.

Akihiko on the other hand cried the same night, the same time, thinking of Haruki. Not because Haruki had left him, no, Haruki had left him way before.

He cried that night, after he felt free from his long lasting trauma, because he had hurt Haruki.

And his monologue? He had to tell Haruki that he loved him, he had to tell Haruki that he was sorry! Not because he was expecting to be accepted anytime soon, he wasn't, he was in no hurry to conquer. He had not dared to hope for his love to be returned.

He cried because he had hurt the person he loved the most, he cried because he had hurt Haruki's already fragile self esteem, he had made Haruki feel that he was in a superior position just because Haruki fell in love with him. The person who falls in love is never the inferior one, the person who mocks that love is, but we tend to forget that.

Akihiko had to make himself fit so that he could look Haruki in the eyes and tell him that.

And that's why he was ready to struggle to become worthy of Haruki. He had made up his mind. Akihiko here? Is the strongest Akihiko. He doesn't need anyone's pity. He has things to fight for.

And that's what he gets from the audience too.

Not pity. Who dares feel pity for Akihiko?

Hatred, for that one lapse he made that one fateful night, from a portion of fans.

And it's understandable when you don't want to dig too deep in your character study or when you are a teenager full of rage. Akihiko wouldn't mind being hated by these fans.

And from others, full compassion and love and support for what he truly is, a beautiful young man who almost got broken but still stood up and learnt to love and live for the person that he truly loved. To save that person and get saved in return.

Akihiko, who fought to get better and was rewarded for it. The best and sweetest reward of them all. Haruki's love.

#given meta #AkiUge critical #Akigetsu critical #Akihiko Kaji #AkiHaru #Meta

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caelanglang · 1 year ago

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Who are your fav skk fanfic writers and why? Do you have their works that you love the most that you don't mind sharing here? 💘

this... this is such a hard question, *brings out a whole safe of records* /j (no srsly it's gonna be a long read--)

Here are a list of authors i really like :3 Their ao3 links/handles are:

the_most_happy: love how emotional their work can be! they have smut and fluff works, and most of all—which i think the the most delicious one, is the way they write angst <3 I actually made a bunch of fanart for their fics/aus when I was just getting into the fandom :3 They're writing is like going into a spicy sexy emotinal adventure... idk how else to describe it xD my fav fic of theirs... augh so hard to choose... In Loving Memory caught me so off guard (cuz i forgot to read the tags and immediately dived into it the moment i saw their post about it hhhh)

forest_racoon: The fluff and softness and magic in their writing is so good! I love the energy and comedy and seriousness and everything in their writing! it's always so fun to pick up any of their works~ Don't be tricked tho,, the angst they deliver have the same gravity ToT it's just so... augh... I first found them through Plate :( and have reread it several times (please check out their other works too it's all so amazing!!)

devilrin: love how she writes. period. the emotions and the poetic energy of it?? the angst?? so. good. the skk energy in their writing is more mellow(?) it feels more realistic—it's like watching people instead of characters ;w; (very cool how she world builds an entire life outside of her fic for her characters actually, got to witness the behind the scenes first hand myself its pretty insane to me) The fic that ruined me tho is Down to a Sunless Sea (which is so angsty im so--)

themadtree: The energy in their writing is just so amazing. it's very hard to stop mid-way! The dialogue feels very fun and engaging and you really get very attached to the characters because of how energetic and full of life they are. Whimsical is the best word I can think of to describe the reading experience of their work :3 They made a bunch of fun aus; their brain is just so amazing (pirate au and avatar au like broooooo) My favorite is Mors Vincit Omnia (yummy pirate au!)

StarshipDancer: one of the first ao3 writers whose name i decided to remember by heart (which means a lot considering how bad i am with names) because they are my most searched user in ao3 xD The fluff is just so addicting. The sillies and shenanegans are so on point for me, idk it just scratch this itch so perfectly in my brain. I draw a of inspiration from my skk sketches from their works actually :3!! READ EVERYTHING THEY HAVE PLS ITS ALL SO GOOD (you should check the fluff week collection augh) Without Words is one of my most reread ones... I think... I reread a lot of their works tho...

setosdarkness: let's be honest. i think everyone whose dived into ao3 skk just knows her alreayd xD she's such a kween for that, making sure we are so well fed with so much fun skk writing. Her works are so fun to read! Very comedic and has such similar energy to the gag moments and bickering and shenanigans of the anime skk for me idk why. I love how fun and unique each fic scenarios are :3 (no srsly you'll never run out of food made with so much love by athina-san)

xLillyle: I am working with Lilly for a Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood skk au!! (its Royai skk BUT it's also beast!skk) it's been so exciting to work with her :3!! You can check some of the teasers here. She made an iwaoi!skk fic recently so if that's you're type hehe *starts bawling*

there are lots of other amazing authors there but these are the ones that came to mind and i am most familiar with for now :3 Here are some other fics ~~

When I Awake: Ghost(?) Writer Dazai and Musician Chuuya. yummy angst. silly skk

castle out of couches: My favorite domestic fluff skk. it's my must read. Halfbloom is such a master of the fluff in comedic tone and capturing that skk domestic softness idk how they do it. it's just so good.

In One of the Stars I shall be Living: A sweetheart wrote a fic about my little prince skk au TT it's so well written and I am so in love with all the references and angst ueueue

Five Steps: My favorite skk knight x prince au TT

The Best Worst Thing: Another sweetheart wrote a fic based on my silly sketches ;w; it's so cute waaaaaa

okay. i am. so sorry for the long answer. I just love a lot of stuffs from these incredible writers. feel free to drop by again :3 these are the ones that comes to my mind first so i may have missed out on a bunch oop

#sorry again for the long reply #bsd fandom has so much good food #inbox #recommendations

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hxrsheykisses · 5 months ago

Text

INTRODUCTION POST !! 💋

This is where you know some things about me, what I write, rules, and etc! So basically just a good rundown of everything!

ABOUT ME !!

I am a writer who loves to make sure that my readers are happy with each chapter I post. I love making others happy because it always ends up with me being happy as well! Whenever I post a new chapter to a fic or post something on here for you guys, it just makes me feel whole!

You can call me many names such as Bri/Kissy/Hershey! I don’t care, I just like the thought of people calling me that for whatever reason!

I do take requests! So if you guys ever have a request for me then I will be happy to do so! It doesn’t matter to me how many times you request because why should I care? Keep them coming PLSSSS! However, if you do wish to send in requests then make sure you read the rules for that in this post so that we can both be on the same page!

I don’t care if you inbox me or dm me. I love you guys and once you follow me, you are automatically my friend. I don’t care if I known you for 2 minutes, you are now my friend and we will be talking🙏

For those who came from my ao3 account—first, HAIIIII!!! Second, this blog is mainly Eltingville Club crap because we are STARVING. The fandom is small and when a fandom is small we have to fend for ourselves and work together like a squad. If you know the struggle then you’ll understand the pain and suffering. Am I still pissed that the pilot never got picked up? Yes. Yes I am.

Please don’t be scared of me guys. I know i’m pretty gosh darn famous underneath the Eltingville tags on Ao3 (🌚) but please come out of your shell🥺 (I’m lowkey kinda scared of you guys too)

RULES FOR MY BLOG !!

Please don’t be weird. Like, don’t be weird as in problematic weird. I love me some “weird”people who have a shit tom of OCS, self ships, and all of the above cause I eat it up everytime. ALL. DAY. LONG. If you legit DM me a whole OC lore rundown, I’ll most definitely hype you up the whole time cause the lore drop is lowkey fire and is burning down Joe’s comic shop🙏

Guys, we don’t bully here… I know how saddening it can be to be in a fandom where it’s mostly crickets besides from the heinous crap you scramble by online but let’s not allow it to get to our brains. We are ALL in a hassle for Eltingville Club shit and we need to stick together. Teamwork makes the dreamwork.

Please spam like my shit. Please. If you don’t then I’ll ghost my fic on Ao3….dont make me do it /j

RULES FOR REQUESTING !!

If you want smut, then automatically it will be the epilogue time setting. I do NOT know how old these weirdos are at the beginning and I am NOT taking any chances. This is genuinely my worse nightmare so guys please inform me if I should go with this or not, cause i’m lowkey scurred, remember, we MUST stick together and we have to help each other out🙏🙏 PS, I know i’m a minor but guys…let’s be for real. Also…uhhh, if i do. smut or something suggestive…erm, most of the time the reader will be leading cause I actually don’t know how to make the reader not be in control. Like im talking about FULL control whenever I do this. Sorry guys💔🙏

If you have the NERVE to rush me to get your request done there are two things that could happen to you. One, I will purposely take longer to make your request as a vengeance🌚 or I’ll just get rid of your request and proceed with my day

If you couldn’t tell from the “About Me” section of this post—YES. YES I DO TAKE REQUESTS FOR OCS AND SELF SHIPS. YES. Send them in along with some important information about them (Personality, interests, appearance, and their relationship with so & so) so I can get to WORK

GENERAL INFORMATION !!

I’ll try to make a link to all of the Appreciation Inboxes you guys send me because those are genuinely so sweet and I want everyone to see them (if you want yours to be private then just DM me instead!) AUAUAUAU♥️

There will be some posts dedicated to my fic on AO3 (headcanons, oneshots, drabbles, etc) because it’s always nice to have some small extra stuff that doesn’t follow the storyline exactly, just some cute stuff. The link for the fic will be on this pinned post at the very end!

Welp, that’s all that I got for now! Thank you so much for reading this and sticking with me, I hope to see you guys soon while I start to fill this blog with endless Eltingville content. Drink and eat regular and take good care of yourself because YOU matter! Love you!💋♥️♥️

#eltingville pete #eltingville josh #eltingville jerry #eltingville bill #welcome to eltingville #the eltingville club #headcanon #oneshot #drabble #bill dickey #jerry stokes #josh levy #pete dinunzio #KISSY 💋#y2k aesthetic #pink aesthetic

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therealmylesmorales · 8 months ago

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My Baby, You’re All Mine|| Claire Redfield

Warnings: College!AU, usage of drugs/alcohol, maybe ooc Claire (I’m still getting used to her character shut up), masc!r also low key simp R but whatever

WC: 900

Notes: The fandom may love Leon Kennedy, but you Claire Redfield, shall be mine 🫶🏾

The frat house was busy. As Claire pulled you closer to the almost mansion, the urge to leave was overwhelming. People were outside, puffs of smoke leaving their lips as they took a drag of whatever they were smoking or drinking from their cups or bottle in their hands.

Not your scenery. And Claire knew that.

As you both walked up the steps, Claire turned to see the grimace on your face and pulled you both to a stop.

”You upset with me, baby?” She asked, a slight frown on her lips.

”No,” you answered quickly. Even if you were upset with her, the feeling would never linger. “But, why did I have to come? This is your friend’s party.”

Claire had to stop herself from rolling her eyes at you. “Because, I want you here. And you know some people here— Leon and Ada. I’m sure Chris is around here somewhere.”

“Wow, your brother, your best friend and his girlfriend,” you said sarcastically, earning a pinch from Claire. As much as you loved those three, you weren’t in a socializing mood. Claire must’ve sensed that.

She tossed her arms over your shoulders and you immediately went to pull her in by her red jacket. “How about this; we stay for an hour—“

”Ten minutes.”

”Fourty, and I’m completely yours for the weekend,” she compromised. “Finals are kicking my ass, baby. Let’s just chill for a bit. Please?” She added, knowing it was hard for you to say no.

You sighed at Claire’s growing smile, both knowing she already won. “Your time’s starting now.”

A giggle came from her as she finally let you both in the house. The music was louder, but thankfully not deafening. From the corner of your eyes, you could see one of the few friends that you didn’t share with Claire by the stairs.

Maybe this party wouldn’t be completely bad.

”Go get a drink,” Claire said, already taking a few steps away from you. “I’ll come find you later, alright?”

”Mhm.”

You passed by your friend before you made your way into the kitchen, making yourself a drink like Claire said. Even over the music, you could hear a person making their way to you.

”I’ve never seen you here before.”

The person looked vaguely familiar. From your film class, maybe? You didn’t care to remember.

”I don’t usually come to parties,” was all you said, trying to cut the conversation short.

She didn’t seem to get the message. “I know— we share a few classes together. You don’t really talk in there either. I’m Eva.”

“Nice to meet you,” was all you said before you tried to walk off.

Emily seemed to follow after you. “Y’know, I’m glad that you are here. I’ve been wanting to see your pretty face outside of class.”

Oh. Ew. You paused in your steps to turn to her. “Right, I should probably get back to my girlfriend.”

”What, Claire won’t let you have any friends?” She teased. “I won’t hold you for long. Promise.”

You didn’t answer at first, looking at your phone to check the time. Giving her five minutes probably wouldn’t hurt. It would probably make the time go by faster.

That was probably a mistake, seeing how she immediately talked your ear off once you stopped walking away from her.

You tuned out the girl’s voice, taking a long sip as you scanned through the people around you. You lost sight of your friend when— Emma?— started to talk to you. But as you started to look for them again, a pair of baby blue eyes made you freeze.

Claire, sitting on a couch, looked less than pleased with what she was seeing. Even from your spot, you could tell her jaw was clenched in irritation. Leon and Ada were sitting next to her but you didn’t pay them any mind. You could see Claire raising her hand to you, you thinking she was only going to wave but a different action followed.

Her finger curled, beckoning you over to her.

Mindlessly placing your almost empty cup on the table next to you and, albeit rudely, cutting off the still rambling girl, you followed her command.

“Hey, baby,” she said once you were close. Claire pulled you down to the open seat next to her and threw her legs over your own once you were settled. “Making friends, hm?”

”Not willingly,” you answered, kissing her pink painted lips; you could taste the alcohol she was drinking and reached for her cup to take a sip of your own. “She was mostly talking to herself.”

Claire only hummed before looking to where you were previously standing; the girl was still staring you both down, possibly debating if she should bother you again. Claire pressed her lips against your cheek, the one that was facing the girl; a stain of her lipstick was left over as evidence.

”Can we leave now?” You asked, once she was finished marking you up.

Claire smiled. “Last I checked, I still have ten minutes. But, you can stay right here until I’m ready to go.”

You could only groan as Claire leaned over you to start another conversation with Leon. You weren’t completely ignored by the brunette, a thumb rubbing comfortably circles on your neck.

You did not like parties, that was true. But, you did like Claire. You could learn to like things because of her.

#claire redfield x reader #resident evil 2 #c: Claire Redfield #myles writing #claire redfield

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asirensrage · 5 months ago

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Saudade - Chapter 31

Rating: Explicit Pairing: Mikey x OC, Hanma x OC, Ran x OC, Mikey x OC x Draken Fandom: Tokyo Revengers Warnings: swearing, violence, threats of violence, murder, smoking, sex, consensual sex between teenagers, alcohol, recreational drug use, mention of trafficking, torture, family neglect, mentions of sexual violence. isekai OC. memory loss. unbeta’d **warnings are not exhaustive** Summary: No one seems to realize she doesn’t belong until she finally runs into her “new” brother, Hanagaki Takemichi. Now, hearing his story, Takara makes the choice to help him and hopefully find her way home, but faking it til you make it only lasts so long when you start losing the memories of the life you had before. As Takemichi becomes the only family she’s ever known, how far will she go to protect him?

notes: Well, we've made it past the halfway point of this fic. That means it's all downhill from here...or is it? I hope you've been enjoying it so far. I have. I love reading your comments and theories. Please keep sharing them. Thank you. As always, expect spoilers for the manga from here on out.

also on ao3

fic masterlist - prev chapter

Mikey doesn’t tell her why he wants to meet. He just tells her to get ready and meet him outside. He’s alone when she comes out, motioning for her to get on his bike and offering her his helmet. She accepts it, buckling it on before she wraps her arms around him. He takes off.

Takara turns her head, actually watching the way the world blurs around them as he speeds. It feels so simple on the back of a bike. There’s nothing more pressing than trusting the driver to take her where she needs to go, to make the right decisions. Takara can close her eyes if she wants to and let go. It’s better than smoking.

Mikey finally stops and Takara recognizes the area as one he’s taken her to before. The small taiyaki shop is open and she can smell the pastry and sweet sugar mixing with the scent of the ocean. Mikey gets off first before helping her down and he leads her to the wall that borders the water. He lifts her up without asking, setting her down to sit on the top of it before joining her. There’s no taiyaki this time, just the two of them and the sound of the waves.

Takara pulls her knees up to her chest and watches the water. Did she ever see the ocean before she came here? She can’t remember anymore.

“Takemichi told me everything,” Mikey says, drawing her out of her thoughts.

“About the future?”

“About you.”

“Oh, right.” Takara sighs and looks over at him, resting her cheek against her knee. “He mentioned he let it out by accident.”

“Hm,” Mikey nods. “Why do you protect him?”

“What?” she frowns and sits up, crossing her legs to face him better. “What do you mean?”

“He said you woke up one day as his sister. If you know you’re not actually his sister, why do you protect him? Why hunt down anyone who stood in your way to save him?”

“Why not?” Takara snaps, insulted by the question. “Even if we didn’t start as siblings, we are. Blood doesn’t mean shit if you don’t want it to. Besides…” she looks back at the water. “It’s not that simple.”

“Explain.”

She’s tempted to pull out a cigarette again, anything to ease the nervousness that burns in her. “Takemichi doesn’t know this,” she says softly. “You can’t tell him.” She looks at Mikey, trying to stress the necessity of it. “I haven’t…when I first arrived here, I had memories of this life, of growing up here with Takemichi, but it was faded. Like an old movie that you barely remember when you saw as a kid. I couldn’t make everything out, but I knew that it was there, that I had seen it. That I had lived it…even if I haven’t. But now…it’s switched. The life I led before I woke up here, before I was Takara, is…missing. There are things I don’t remember.” She takes a deep breath, trying to shove down the emotions rising up. “I’m losing who I was. The life of being Takemichi’s sister is becoming clearer and I can’t…I can’t even remember my brothers’ names or what my parents looked like...I just…I only have Takemichi now.”

“You have us.”

She snorts. “It’s not the same. He’s the only one who remembers what it was like before I showed up, when he was an only child. I don’t belong here, Mikey, but I can’t–I know I can’t return. So I’m stuck. I’m stuck living a life I didn’t ask for, with a brother who’s going to…to leave me here with a version of himself who isn’t him and all I can do is try to make sure he makes it to the future, that I protect who he’s going to be. I owe him that.”

“You don’t owe him anything,” Mikey says. “You didn’t ask for this, did you?” He waits until she shakes her head. “You’re not alone and you’re not stuck. I told you before, Kara-chan, you’re ours.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It is. Besides, Takemitchy isn’t the only one who knows now.”

She inhales sharply because that was true. “You disbanded Toman.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I won’t be the cause of their deaths. I made a promise to protect my friends. I will.”

It’s only because it’s Mikey that she says this because she knows that someone who has played the game long enough knows how the system works. “Another gang’s going to take Toman’s place.”

He’s silent for a long moment. “Yes.”

Takara nods, more to herself than anything. “How are you going to protect them from that? Who’s going to stop them from going after the former Toman members? You’re the reigning champions. Someone’s going to want a shot at defeating you, even if you’re not playing.”

“I will be.”

It takes her a second to realize what he’s saying. “...you disbanded Toman.” She watches him nod. “But you’re still playing?”

Mikey looks away from her. “If I want to protect them, to make sure they all get the future that they deserve…then I have to control it.”

It makes sense. It makes perfect sense but it’s such an act of fucking sacrifice that Takara wants to shove him into the ocean for. Even if she’s planning on doing the same thing. “You think they’ll let you?”

“They won’t have a choice.” He says it with conviction and she’s not sure if either of them means his friends or the potential opponents that await in his future.

“And if they want to join you?”

Mikey doesn’t answer.

Takara thinks about what she’d do. If anyone tried to stop her from winning something this serious, she’d cut them down…or out of her life. “Let me help.”

“No.”

Takara turns her entire body to face him. “I am going to be involved. Unless you kill me, I will find my way into whatever gang you lead because I need to know Takemichi will be safe. It won’t be enough to just trust you, Mikey. I will dig my way in one way or another.”

“Kara-”

She cuts him off. “No. You told me that you’d kill anyone who hurts me, Mikey. You said you would have helped me track down every member of Toman who betrayed you and kept me from helping my brother. That still stands. So let me fucking help you. If you help me protect Takemichi and keep him alive and safe, I’ll stand at your side. We can protect everyone better together.”

His eyes feel like they’re burning into her. “You’ll stay?”

“God himself couldn’t keep me from leaving…as long as Takemichi is safe.” She holds out her hand to shake. “I can be your vice-captain or the ace up your sleeve as everyone underestimates me. I swear, Mikey. In return for my brother’s life and happiness, I’ll stay with you.” She gives a small sardonic smile as she huffs. “Besides, where else am I gonna go?”

“We’ll have to cut them all out. You won’t be able to have the relationships you have now.”

“I know,” she nods. “I don’t care. I’ll give you everything in return. Just let me help you protect him. I need to know he’s safe. That he’ll be safe. Nothing else matters. Not even being alone.”

Mikey takes her hand. His grip is firm and warm. “You’re not alone.”

“Neither are you,” she says softly. She tightens her grip and nods. Takara waits for him to let go first, but he doesn’t. Mikey adjusts them so that they’re more holding hands instead of shaking them. “So,” Takara asks. “What’s the plan?”

🛼

Mikey doesn’t plan on starting to distance himself from his friends until after Takemichi goes back to the future. So he can’t stop him. The letter he’s planning on leaving in the time capsule is something hopeful for his friends because if the plan works, then neither of them will really be in contact with the others in twelve years.

The Takemichi of the future is only the way he is because he lived without her. He never had an older sister. Her alienation won’t have a big impact. Not until he comes back from this past and expects to see her. That gives her twelve years to work with.

Since it is their last week with his friends and with the Takemichi she knows is her brother, Takara is going to make it a good one. Everyone is surprised when she reaches out, but when she gives the excuse of promising to teach Mitsuya’s sisters and celebrate the end of a school year, they agree.

They don’t rent out an entire rink, but they do take over one. Takara has to teach most of them how to tie their skates properly and she holds Luna and Mana’s hands to help them stand while the others work themselves out.

Takara takes the time to kneel to be on the girls’ level. “Alright, it’s going to be a little scary, but it’s okay. You’re wearing padding to protect you and we’ll start slow.” The others she leaves to fend for themselves. Some, like Hina, listen to the lessons she gives the young girls. Takemichi can barely stand and watching him struggle and whine about it as he clings to the sideboard is enough to make Takara bend over laughing hysterically.

Mikey and Yuzuha don’t need any help. The two of them take to skating easily and Takara is pretty sure it's a translation of their skill in fighting. Though that didn’t explain the others. Mitsuya is steady but not confident. Hakkai seems to think he is going to fall and he does. Multiple times. It does not help when Yuzuha pushes him, just because she can.

Takara pulls Luna and Mana, skating backwards so she can keep an eye on them as she teaches them how to move and catch their balance. They should be in gymnastics with how young they are to help them because being able to move with fluidity can only serve them well, but Takara is well aware that not everyone can be able to afford things like that. So she’ll help as she can.

When the girls need a break, racing on their own to get back to their brother who praises them for their hard work and skill, Takara finally moves like she was born on wheels. It’s not the same as ice, but it’s pretty close. She speeds around people before showing the others different skating turns and spins that can be done. She leans back, trailing her fingers against the floor as she balances herself carefully backwards. She pulls herself up by her core and thigh muscles before making the choice to really stun them. She does a back handspring, landing on her wheels. She can hear the shocked exclamations of her friends before she skates forward and does a makeshift running front flip. It’s years of practice that keep her on her feet even as her skates skid out a bit on the landing. It gets her a round of applause from anyone who saw. She laughs and waves it off, thanking them.

She heads back to her friends, but before they can ask questions about how she learned it all, she does something that she knows might help part of the first stage of their plan. She smacks Mikey on the shoulder and says, “Tag! Catch me if you can!” and takes off.

He knows what she’s doing. She knows he does. That doesn’t stop him from chasing though. The game between them devolves quickly. Takara is laughing. Mikey is faster than her simply because of the force he can use in his legs to push him forward, but Takara has more experience and skill. When Mikey moves behind one of the bars set to help people who need it, she slides under it to tag him. As he chases after her, she yanks Takemichi in front where he’s clutching the sideboard and throws him in Mikey’s way.

Their friends cheer them on and the game finally ends in a draw as the two of them get kicked out. Takara laughs as she drags Mikey back to the group. The others have already relinquished and returned their skates and argue over where they’re going to eat. As the two of them catch up, Mikey squeezes her hand as she leads him to the bench to take off the skates. It’s a silent thanks. Takara just nods. She knows what he means. This is a memory that going to be burned into them, a reminder of why they’re going to take over the shadows to keep their friends in the light.

🛼

The time capsule happens without her. She’s not a part of that and doesn’t plan to be. Instead, Takara takes the time to strategize. She doesn’t actually know that much about gangs or territory or the route of power, but she’s good at thinking on her feet and she knows people. The more information she has, the more she can plan. She’s better at strategizing against other teams and utilizing the skills of her own to their best ability. Mikey’s skill is strength and charisma. Takara’s skill is being still underestimated and her speed and mind.

If she had woken up as Kisaki’s sister instead of Takemichi’s, the world would have trembled.

With the gaps in her knowledge and the free time she has with it being a makeshift summer vacation, Takara does the only thing she can. She researches. She doesn’t ask any of Takemichi’s friends for information, though she’s tempted at the very least to ask Yamagishi for his information because she knows he’s good for it from what she’s heard from her brother. She can’t let anything get back to Takemichi though, so she focuses on reading the news…and asking Yuzuha.

“You’re going to do something stupid again, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” Takara agrees. “I don’t think so though. I think if I get this right, it’s going to pay off exponentially.”

“Toman’s disbanded. You still going with your plan to sleep your way up?”

She laughs and grins at her friend. It’s not meant in insult. Takara leans forward, resting her chin on her hand as she braces her elbow on the table. “I think that with Toman gone, there’s a power vacuum. I need to know who’s going to fill it.”

“And dig your way to the top?” Yuzuha asks. She doesn’t sound judgemental. It sounds completely honest and questioning. Takara loves that about her.

“If I had my way, I’d be at the top. That way I could keep Takemichi safe completely.”

“Not if someone used him against you.”

“I’ll kill anyone who tries.”

Yuzuha stares at her for a long minute. “Okay,” she finally nods. “I used to be a runner for Taiju and the Black Dragons. I would collect the money they made off of their security gigs. I have a lot of contacts with people who buy shit from people like him. I’ll ask around and if I hear anything, I’ll let you know.”

“You don’t have to-”

“I know,” Yuzuha cuts her off. “But I have a feeling that you won’t just be keeping Takemichi safe. You’ll be protecting everyone in Toman who gets out. That means Hakkai too. If you help me keep him out of this shit and safe, I’ll help you.”

“Quid pro quo,” Takara muses. “Alright.” Takara nods and holds out her hand. “You can be my ace in the hole and I promise to the best of my abilities, I’ll keep our brothers safe.”

Yuzuha takes her hand and shakes it. “Deal. Now, there’s a lot you need to know…”

🛼

tag list: @raith-way @zeleniafic @veetlegeuse @chickensarentcheap @residentdormouse

@themaradwrites @kingsmakers @thatmagickjuju @awkwardchick87 @hayatoseyepatch

tr tag: @mitsuwuyaa @blackfire2013 @bleach-your-panties @reiners-milkbiddies

saudade tag: @thisbicc @scythegal @bontenxo

network tag: @pixelcafe-network

#tokyo revengers fic #shuji hanma x oc #ran haitani x oc #mikey sano x oc #sano manjiro x oc #tokyo revengers oc #tr oc #tokyo rev oc #tokyo rev fic #sano mikey x oc #mikey x oc x draken #haitani ran x oc #hanma shuji x oc #fic: saudade #oc: takara

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not-goldy · 1 year ago

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I was listening Taemin's Guilty and am I the only one who hears a subtle hint of "Lie" in it? Its a damn shame we haven't gotten another song like Lie by Jimin. He would absolutely own a track like that cause I could actually hear him singing Taemin's Guilty. And he would have ate that song & choreo up. Wwe already seen what Jimin could with that cause we saw that temptress at work during that Guilty challenge that he did with Taemin. That is what I have been wanting so badly from him during his solo work. Give me sultry Jimin & some kick as choreo that only he can pull off and we will watch others struggle to try to recreate. Give me Guilty, Give me WHO ft JK 2.0. Give me Under The Influence. Give me Earned It. Give me I'm A Slave For You. Please I beg Jimin.

Eh?? Subtle hint???????

The said hint

Its the concept of the song, the tempo, mentioning Lie directly etc

He's been compared so much with Jimin in the past because they had similar sounds and style and I honestly thought Jimin would be making music in that genre forever but I'm glad he went the other route of evolving his own unique style too.

Lie and Guilty are two of the greatest Kpop hits and I recall when Guilty came out fans were making mashups of the two songs and all it was epic.

Two amazing talented singers and musicians.

I actually like Taemin's music. Guilty reminds me in part of his Advice with his signature hook and all but I do see the similarities with Lie also.

You see, you have to be patient with Jimin. He needs to make music that feeds his soul and that comes from his soul first. His best hits are songs he'd searched deep inside him for. He has his own idea of what he wants his discography to look like, he has his own musical journey he is on. He's an artist and an entrepreneur and he gotta test what makes money what don't what needs money and what don't.

You want lie, well he's done Lie and he's moved on to other things too. Perhaps he's not in the same mind frame he was in when he came up with Lie and Promise.

Remember how Tae kept making melancholic songs and I told yall my boo single and depressed and then he started with the happy songs and said welp dude went and got himself a girlfriend.

Jimin is happy 😊

He is is a good place he wants to spread that joy and love. He wants to celebrate that love let him. He's not gonna conjure fake deep wounds and sing about the trauma he doesn't have anymore. Taemin is out here singing about using people, breaking hearts to a good rhythm and we love it. Not all art comes from a dark place. What he is doing is art too and I'm tired of people expressing dissatisfaction with it.

He said he's finally free and he means it yall are just some tortured souls walking earth. And not to psycho analyze yall but you were drawn to the wounds he had and now that it's all healed you can't relate. Don't you think it's why we victimize him the most? Poor boy who got bullied by his younger team mate, half his own Fandom hates, his company hates him, Billboard hates him, every body hates him- and yet he isn't crying about it in songs, he isn't leaving the said man or his company and we are confused as to why.

Whywhy.... tell em that it's human nature. Why why

This is where I start singing Michael Jackson on yall

Not everything he puts out there will resonate and that's fine. It's still good music. Its just coming from a different place now.

Not everything gotta be so intense yall need to learn to be happy

Sultry Jimin will come in due season. It's summer time baby enjoy the sunshine- pan intended

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apathycares · 11 months ago

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Why I think the ending of MHA makes sense (manga spoilers)

So I came out of hiding specifically because MHA ended and this blog started off as a place for me to ignore my other works/fandoms and write stuff for MHA so it's a given that I talk about it. Just a little disclaimer – MHA is not my first fandom, and I've been watching anime for forever, so I'm not biased when it comes to shipping or how mangakas end their work. I'm purely speaking from a place of my own sense of objectivity.

Also, since I don't think I've shared my opinion on stuff too much here so it might be weird to my current followers (hi!!), I'm gonna do it headcanon style.

Midoriya being a teacher is not farfetched – some people have said it would've been better if Hori made him a strategist or something along those lines, but you all have to remember that his only goal has been to be a hero. If he wanted to become a strategist he would've (a) thought about/been suggested that when he was quirkless and (b) there's nothing TO strategize since the big bads are all gone. Hawks is running the Commission. Police exist in this verse. He wanted to be a hero fully, so if he wasn't able to do that, then the next logical step would be to TRAIN the next heroes.

Bakugou wouldn't have become number one straight out of high school. Bffr. I know it's anime and we don't have to use real life logic but it's been said over and over again that rankings are both based on feats achieved and popularity, and even though that man has accompanied A LOT, he's always going to be rough around the edges, and as a hero, people are just not going to rock with that. But, given Endeavour's example, I think he could become number one with his feats alone as the years go on in spite of his attitude.

Midoriya not keeping in touch with the rest of his classmates except Bakugou (or maybe not being able to, whichever way it was translated) is NORMAL. How many of you keep in touch with your high school classmates after the fact, regardless of how close you were? How many of you outgrow your very real and very deep friendships? Eight years is a long time. Bakugou being left makes sense because they've known each other forever.

No ships were confirmed. Please let us leave the ending of that as it is. BUT! Let's all ship who we want, create for the ships that we want regardless. That's the beauty of fandoms. We can toy around and find joy in it, but PLEASE don't push that a ship is canon when it's not. As an old head anime fan, there's a distinction between those two. We can all have fun and accept that the series ended with no ships.

Continuing off of the previous point, I LOVE that the manga ended with no ships. That just gives us full liberties to do whatever the hell we want in this fandom and have fun without people rearing their annoying heads and writing shit comments about their pairing being canon. No one gets any ammo.

Aizawa cutting his hair is a crime.

Did they give Touya an ending??? Why can't I remember??? Well, the fact that he didn't is another crime

Everyone else's endings were solid (and I don't see much discourse about this so let's leave it at that)

See now that I'm thinking about it again, Aizawa cutting his hair isn't a crime....but why did they do him like that???

Giving Midoriya a hero suit at the end of it and Bakugou holding his hand out was GOLDEN (I'm indifferent about the suit because Teacher!doriya would've been a solid ending, but the holding the hand out squeezed my heart that was a BEAUTIFUL ending to the entire Deku/Kacchan storyline)

Some people are mentioning that Bakugou calling him Deku destroyed it but y'all forgetting that THAT'S HIS HERO NAME. Stop being lame.

I wanna know the full rankings of everyone just to gauge where Bakugou and everyone else are. Maybe Hori might do a lil something, who knows, but I don't think we need a MHA Shippuden.

High key, if we do get a spin off or something, we need a Misadventures of InsertSomeoneHere to see what a DITL of them at 24(?) looks like

Now that I'm looking at this...the fact that I watched this at their age and it ended with them being 24 and I'm currently 24 is.......

Anyways! Those are my very rushed thoughts. As much as people like to play around MHA, it was a great manga, it had a solid ending for the lore that the story was going for, and it was a great ride. I'm excited to see when all of this gets animated and we can ride this ride again, but this fandom will always be special to me.

#bnha 430 #mha 430 #bnha spoilers #mha spoilers #bnha x reader #mha x reader #apathycares #apathycarestospeak

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spookydanamulder-multifandom · 8 days ago

Text

hi! i've written another chapter of my hunger games fafic and i'm just gonna leave it here and hopefully wait for some kudos hehe

it's my variation on "so after" moment (it's kinda spicy)

you can also read it on ao3

fandom: the hunger games

katniss everdeen/peeta mellark

summary: Katniss and Peeta are roommates now, doing their best to heal and bond. And, oh boy, do they bond...

rated: M/E

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

I wake up from the nightmare. Again.

There was a time when my dreams became less vivid, but lately, they’ve intensified. Sometimes I’m scared to fall asleep.

I glance at the clock—it’s almost 3 a.m.—and head toward the door. I need Peeta. Luckily, he’s my roommate now, so I don’t have to look far.

Peeta moved in with me two weeks ago, after our latest mental breakdowns, and it was the best idea ever. It’s so much easier to live with someone in a house this big than to live alone. We clean together, we cook together—things I could never motivate myself to do on my own. And it’s wonderful to have him so close. We spend a lot of time together, and it really helps my mental health, which definitely needs improving. We finally have time to bond in a normal environment. I can safely say we’ve become best friends. Haymitch laughs at us and doesn’t believe there’s nothing more than friendship between us—but it’s true.

Of course, sometimes it’s hard. Like when I think about his lips—and I do that often. Or when I catch a glimpse of him shirtless. I’m only human, I tell myself. We’re just the bestest of friends. Sharing a bed occasionally—strictly innocent, of course. We did share a kiss once, a long time ago in the house by the lake, but I guess he forgot about that. We were desperate, and it was strictly platonic. Hot, but platonic.

I head to his room—which used to be my mom’s—but notice light coming from the kitchen downstairs. I decide to go there instead. He probably woke up too. That’s just how it is in this house: one of us is always up.

The sketches are incredible. His parents and brothers—just like in the photograph.

“Hey. I couldn’t sleep,” he says with a smile. How does he always manage to smile at me?

“Hey. If you had a nightmare, you could’ve come to me.” I sit down at the table next to him and take a sip of tea from his cup.

“I haven’t even had a chance to have a nightmare. I didn’t sleep at all.” Peeta gets up and pours me some fresh tea. “What about you?”

“I had a bad dream and wanted some company.”

“Always happy to help, roomie.” He winks at me. I hate when he does that because I never know how to hide a blush. Why am I acting like some stupid teenager—after all the things we’ve been through?

“Thank you, roomie,” I laugh. “What have you got there?” I nod toward the notebook under his arm.

“Oh, nothing interesting. Just some drawings of my family. I’m trying to draw them from memory.”

“Can I see?”

“Sure.”

“This is beautiful, Peeta,” I say from the heart, giving him a comforting smile. We rarely talk about his family. He didn’t know for a long time what exactly happened to them, and he’s still not ready to talk about it. Every time we pass the remains of his bakery, he looks away.

“Thanks. I want to draw every person we’ve lost. I couldn’t save them, so I want to save the memory of them.”

“It’s a great idea. Maybe we can write something about them. Like our plant book, but with…”

“With people.” When he says it out loud, it sounds a bit silly, but I’d love to have something like that. Just to remember our loved ones.

“Yes. We don’t have a photo album, so it could work.”

“Let’s do it then. That way we’ll have something to keep our minds busy, too.”

During the call, I tell the doctor about our idea for a memory book, and he’s very pleased. He says it will help us gather our thoughts and that he’s proud we came up with something like this. It means we’re ready to heal. He even promises to send us some paper and painting tools.

We nod in agreement, pleased with ourselves. We finish our tea, heads buzzing with thoughts. Strangely, they’re pleasant ones—about the people we knew.

We sit in the kitchen until the first rays of sun reach our tired eyes. In the morning, we go to our beds for a little nap. During the day, nightmares aren’t as common. I have a scheduled call with Dr. Aurelius at noon, and I need some sleep beforehand—those conversations are usually exhausting.

A few days later, we start our project. It feels like old times, back when I had a broken ankle and we’d sit in my room all day drawing and writing. Those weren’t good times, but I find some comfort in remembering them. It was the first time we did something together that wasn’t for the show.

Days go by, and our book fills with memories. We laugh, we cry, we reminisce.

Peeta still works in town until late afternoon, and when he’s not working, he bakes. He’s the only baker in our District, so he has a lot to do. Sometimes I help, but I don’t have much patience for baking—it’s usually easier for everyone if I stay out of the way. I usually spend that time with Haymitch, trying to convince him to participate in our little project or I hunt. Sometimes Delly comes by, and we hang out together. She sews, and I try to knit.

After all the work is done, we have the evenings to ourselves. When the weather is nice, we sit in the garden—I write, and Peeta draws. When we get tired or overwhelmed, we go for walks. I’ve never felt this good in anyone’s presence. Sometimes I feel a pang of regret that I didn’t notice Peeta before everything went to hell.

Spending time with Gale was nice—he was my best friend—but being with Peeta is a completely different experience. He’s sweet, and now that I know him better, I feel like I can be more myself than I ever was with Gale.

The only thing worrying me in this situation is the feeling growing inside me. Every time Peeta smiles at me, my heart melts, and it’s getting worse every day. It’s even worse when I catch a glimpse of him changing his clothes or working shirtless in the garden.

On Sunday, we go to the lake. It’s September, but the days are still hot. It’s a long walk, but worth it. It doesn’t look like it will rain today, so hopefully we’ll be home before dark. Not that I mind spending the night by the lake again...

We settle on a wooden jetty, dipping our feet into the cool water. Peeta closes his eyes and enjoys the sun. When he sits like this, I have a chance to shamelessly look at him. His hair is longer now, framing his handsome, tanned face with blonde waves. His freckles are more visible than ever because of all the work outside. It suits him. He looks healthier this way.

I wonder how he sees me. I rarely look in the mirror, but when I do, I’m not happy with what I see. My hair is much shorter because I had to cut off all the burned strands. I still have a scar on my forehead from the feast at Cornucopia. It’s hardly visible, but I can see it—and I hate it. I’ve gained some weight since Peeta came home from the Capitol. That’s the only thing I’m happy about. He feeds me all the baked goods, and I have more of an appetite these days. There’s generally more food for all citizens now. Most people still struggle with poverty, but it’s nothing compared to what was before.

The water is very tempting, and I really want to go in, but I can’t bring myself to take off my clothes. My whole body is covered in scars, and I don’t want Peeta to be disgusted by the view. I haven’t taken care of my scars like he did with his, so most of them are still red. I look like a patchwork.

“You know what?” Peeta snaps me out of my thoughts, and I quickly look away from him.

“Huh?”

“I feel like swimming. It’s so hot.” He says, getting up with a bit of struggle from his artificial leg.

“But you can’t swim.” I laugh.

“You taught me once; you can do it again.” He takes off his shirt, then his pants, standing before me in his boxer shorts. Shit.

“Well, I see you’ve already decided. But if you drown, I’ll kill you.”

“Deal.”

Should I... take off my clothes? What do I do?

He tries to swim, but his leg pulls him down, so he has to hold onto the wooden pillars. It doesn’t stop him from fooling around. He grabs my feet and tries to tickle them, then splashes me and does pull-ups on the jetty.

“Go on! I can watch you from here.” I feel stupid—he’s not ashamed to show me his body, and I can’t do the same.

“Noooo. Come on, it’ll be fun. You need fun!”

“Peeta, I don’t feel very good. I’d rather stay here, okay?”

“Okay.” He’s not the kind to want me to do something I don’t want to do myself.

He jumps off the jetty, and the water splashes all over me. I laugh, then grow concerned because Peeta’s not coming back to the surface. I hope he’s just joking, but I’m ready to jump in anyway.

“Hi!” Suddenly, he pops out, splashing even more water.

“Not funny!” I try to look angry, but I can’t hold back a smile.

“Now you’re just showing off.”

“Maybe.” He grins and winks at me.

I roll my eyes and try to act indifferent, but I actually really like watching him do pull-ups.

After a while, he gets out of the lake. He looks so stupid—hair dripping, wet boxers clinging to his body. He puts on a t-shirt, which immediately sticks to him, outlining his muscled torso. Very stupid.

“Katniss? Hello? Are you listening to me?”

“What?” Somehow, I got distracted.

“I asked if we should be getting back.”

“Yes, I think so. Let’s go.”

We wait until the sun is completely gone, leaving only orange and grey clouds behind, then go home.

We head back home and step out of the forest just as the sun sets. We stand for a while on the edge of the woods and watch the sun hide behind the mountains.

“It was a good day.” I say, resting my head on Peeta’s shoulder.

“I enjoyed every bit of it, honestly. I needed a day like that.”

“Yes, me too. Thank you for it.” Oh, I enjoyed some things a little too much.

“It was your idea to visit the lake, actually.”

“But you came with me, so thank you.”

“Anytime, roomie.”

We eat supper while watching the news on TV. I hate watching TV, but I want to know what’s going on in the Capitol and other districts. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all the changes and the new government.

“I can’t wait for the first free election,” Peeta says with his mouth full of porridge. He says exactly the same thing every day.

“Me too, but we all know Paylor will be our new president. She really carries out her duties, and everyone thinks she’s a good candidate.” I’m not that into politics, but the idea excites me. And by choosing a new president as good as Paylor, everyone will forget about Coin…

“I know she’ll win, but the very idea of having a chance to vote? Wow.”

“Yeah, wow.” Sometimes I forget we had our roles in the way things look now. Of course, I’d rather forget, but watching the news every night doesn’t help.

“I’m going to bed. I’ll clean the dishes in the morning.” I decide and head upstairs.

“I’ll do it in a minute. I want to watch some more of the news. Goodnight, Katniss.”

“Goodnight.” I wave to Peeta and disappear into my room. I take a quick shower and don’t even know when I fall asleep.

Without thinking, I get up from my bed and run to Peeta’s room. He’s asleep, but when I come closer, he opens his eyes. He’s a light sleeper.

At first, I dream of Peeta. Naked Peeta. Kissing me. In my bed. Why can’t I always have dreams like that?

Suddenly, Peeta disappears, and I feel a wave of panic. Instead of Peeta, there’s a heavy, cold mist covering me.

“Peeta? Peeta! Peeta!” I scream, but only in my dream. I wake with a sudden urge to find Peeta, trying to shake off the feeling of this horrible mist.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, concerned.

“Can you hold me?” I ask, a bit shaken.

Peeta pulls back the blanket, inviting me into his embrace.

We lie in our usual position. My head rests in the crook of his arm, and he spoons me.

“I had a dream that I lost you. Please, don’t ever leave me.”

“I won’t.” He murmurs into my hair, gently stroking it.

I don’t know what’s happening to me, but the feeling of his body being so close drives me crazy. The memories of him by the lake today flow through my mind, causing a funny feeling in my stomach.

I turn to face him. He meets my eyes with a warm smile. I move my face closer, and he brushes my nose with his. I glance down at his lips, and every kiss we’ve ever shared floods back to me. I can’t stand it anymore.

Finally, our lips meet.

“Peeta…” I whisper.

“Katniss…” he whispers back. Now he’s looking at my lips too.

“I need you.”

I tilt my head, giving him access to my neck, and he takes the opportunity. I can feel his hardness pressing against my leg, and it turns me on even more. I’ve felt him like this before, when we slept together on the train, but I always ignored it. I thought it was just natural. Of course, it is natural. But now it makes me want things I’ve never even let myself imagine.

The kiss is soft and searching at first, but it quickly grows hot and passionate. He cups my head in his hands, and I trace his jaw with my fingers.

I let my hands wander over his back, and he does the same. He breaks the kiss when he reaches just above my bottom. He looks at me, searching my eyes for reassurance. I just smile at him, and he grins teasingly.

I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him into another kiss—this one fiercer, full of desire. I feel hunger building inside me, a hunger for more.

I pull up his shirt, and he takes it off. Now it’s my turn to take care of his neck. I shift my body so I can sit on his lap, and I feel the full weight of his desire. I kiss every exposed inch of his skin, occasionally returning to his lips.

I pause when he reaches for the hem of my shirt. The inevitable is about to happen. He reads my expression and asks gently:

We’ve seen each other at our worst, but to me, Peeta is so perfect that I feel like I can’t compare. The way he looks at me though—so full of love and tenderness—I can’t resist him.

“Is everything alright?” His voice is raspy.

“Yes, I just…” I rest my forehead on his chest, resigned.

“It’s so wonderful, all of this… And you’re so wonderful… I just don’t want you to be disgusted by my body,” I say quietly.

“Katniss, of course I won’t be disgusted. How can you even think that?” Peeta lifts my chin, his eyes tender. “You’re beautiful.”

“How can you know that? You haven’t seen my body. You don’t know how awful my scars are.”

“If you’re uncomfortable, we can stop right here. But scars or no scars, I already know—you’re beautiful.”

I lift my arms, allowing him to take off my shirt. Slowly, he pulls it up, and soon I’m bare before Peeta Mellark. He looks at me with a kind of admiration I never expected. He really thinks I’m beautiful.

He gently lifts me off his lap and lays me down, kissing my body. He traces each scar with his fingers, kissing them one by one. Then he moves to my breasts, cupping them—they fit perfectly in his palms.

Before moving lower, he meets my eyes again, silently asking. I take his hand and guide it there myself.

"You're perfect. Your body is perfect." He says and I don't know what to say, I'm not used to hearing compliments, especially in situation like this, besides I think I forgot how to even form words right now.

"Ever since that night by the lake, I can't stop thinking about you and the feeling of you on my lips."

"Really? I thought you forgot and I was going crazy thinking about it."

"I'd never forgot kisses like these."

I’ve seen naked men before—always wounded, desperate, in need of help. Nothing about it was exciting. Sometimes it was even repulsive. But Peeta’s body drives me wild with desire. I need him—right here, right now.

It’s not that I’ve never touched myself—I have, but always as a mechanical way to ease tension. It’s never been about pleasure. Not really. But when Peeta touches me like this, it’s like he’s awakening something I didn’t even know I was missing.

His fingers move slowly over my slick center, searching, learning, exploring me like I’m a secret he’s determined to uncover.

Quiet moans escape my mouth, and I can feel how much Peeta likes what he hears. I reach down to touch his arousal, and he kisses me fiercely.

“Katniss, I want you. I need you,” he murmurs into my mouth, like he’s reading my mind. I pull him closer, letting him settle between my thighs.

We stop kissing for a moment, our foreheads touching, tension thick between us.

“Can I…?” he asks, pausing just above me, eyes searching mine one last time.

“Yes. Yes, please,” I whisper, my voice pleading.

He holds himself back, reverent in the way he moves—like he’s afraid that any sudden motion would shatter the fragile beauty of the moment.

My fingers tighten on his shoulders, and that’s all the permission he needs. Slowly, carefully, he presses into me. My breath hitches as my body yields to him.

When he finally enters me, it’s with a tenderness that steals my breath. There’s a moment of stillness—heat and tension mixing as my body adjusts around him, the world narrowing to just this feeling.

It hurts a little, and I gasp—more from wonder than pain. I like the feeling.

“Is everything alright? If I do something wrong, or cross a line, just tell me,” he says. He’s flushed and barely holding back, but he waits.

“Everything’s perfect. Don’t stop,” I whisper, smiling at him. I just want to feel him moving inside me.

My eyes flutter shut as he sinks deeper. Feeling him this close is overwhelming—more than I ever imagined.

We move together slowly, like time doesn’t exist. Every touch is a question, every breath an answer. There’s no rush. He explores me like I’m sacred, and I can’t tell where I end and he begins. Our sighs and moans grow louder as we draw closer to the edge. In the back of my mind, I hope Peeta remembered to close his windows tonight.

Suddenly he pulls out, and I feel warmth spreading across my stomach and thighs just as I cry out—from pure delight, from a feeling I’ve never experienced before.

Peeta hushes me with his lips, but he can’t stop his own moan. His head drops to my chest and we breathe together, heavy and warm.

We stay like this in a silence that says more than any words ever could.

After a moment, Peeta gets up and goes to the bathroom. He returns with a towel and helps me clean up. Then he comes back to my arms, and I run my fingers through his hair while he traces gentle circles on my arm.

We’re still speechless, so we just lie there, holding each other, wrapped in this beautiful moment. From now on, everything will be different.

“You love me. Real or not real?” he whispers after a while.

“Real,” I tell him.

#fanfiction #everlark #ao3 #the hunger games #hunger games #thg #katniss and peeta #katniss everdeen #peeta mellark

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