#like such an idiot for not just getting rid of the obstacles and moving on

[n3ongold3n]

Ever since i saw the thongTM i could not stop thinking about this 🐳

[s6ngbird]

flowers from beneath — ACT II

series masterlist || navigation

[ warnings ] — m. masturbation, kidnapping, non-con cullingus, lmk if i missed anything

[ pairing ] — hades!coriolanus snow x persephone!reader

[ a/n ] — finally finished!! i really like how it turned out so enjoy!

[ beta read by THE PRETTIEST GIRL EVER @etfrin ]

he already missed you more than words could describe 

the way you subconsciously leaned into his touch and the almost smile you gave him before your mother yelled at him

he thought about you a lot that night, jerking off to the memory of your soft skin and how pretty you were

fuck you look even prettier in person and more fuckable. you also seemed very innocent and coriolanus wanted to get rid of that fast, like blowing out a flame on the birthday cake he never got to enjoy

maybe once he finally had you, he could get a cake and light candles on there, blowing them out with you and then devour you afterwards even though you would probably complain to him that the cake had to be eaten first

he didn't care anymore about having you the nice way, he wanted you now and your mother and all your little friends were just a mere obstacle in the way of you becoming his

so he enlisted the help of two people that knew how to make flowers so beautiful that you would immediately be captivated by the beauty of it

coriolanus didn't necessarily like archane or festus but they knew the most about flowers, and coriolanus did not so this would probably be the first and the last time he'd ask these two idiots for help

he had known them from his academy days, they were smart and knew many things that he didn't much care for but they were backstabbing bitches to felix ravenstill and that landed them a place in the underworld unfortunately

“so you just want a pretty flower?” festus asked, confused by coriolanus’ sudden request for a flower

“no, it has to be eye catching too and make sure that it stands out in a field of soft colored flowers ” coriolanus huffed, annoyed that festus wasn't understanding it, god he really did have a thick skull

“why would you want that? you found a girl that you want to impress?” archane asks, a hint of curiosity in her tone as she looked up at coriolanus 

“that's none of your fucking business” coriolanus said, glaring at archane

“just get me the fucking flower” and the minute he raised his voice, both brunettes scrambled to go find something and coriolanus smirked, glad that he had an authority over them that he didn't ever have during his school days

“bring it to sejanus once you're done” he calls, leaving the room and going to his room to watch you again

as he watched you, he felt his dick strain against his pants, moving to undo his belt before he heard a knock

his jaw clenched, annoyed at the sudden interruption and moving to open the door

sejanus meets his eyes and hands him the flower, looking at it with a hint of curiosity 

sejanus had never seen coriolanus ask for a flower in all his years of knowing him. and sejanus knew coriolanus best so if he didn’t know, then no one else probably knew

“what's the need for this?” he asked, handing the flower to coriolanus 

he snatched it from sejanus, muttering a thank you and shut the door, he wasn't about to explain his master plan to him, knowing that the man was an empath and would immediately disapprove of coriolanus’ ideas

it didn't matter what sejanus thought though, he could finally put his plan into motion now, he gathered all the necessary items needed for what most people would call a kidnapping but he just thought of it as claiming you

he got one of his servants to go up to earth and plant the flower in the meadow, far enough from the water so that none of your little nymph friends could follow you but close enough that you could see it

and then he just waited

it didn't long for you to notice the flower, you had always loved them growing up and wanted to find every type of flower you could, often showing them to your mother when you went home

you saw it and quickly told your friends, begging them to come with you to see the flower but alas, they couldn't go to far from the water

this left you sad but still interested in going to see the flower, so you told them that you were going to see the flower and ran off to the spot where it stood, isolated from the other pretty flowers 

as you got closer to it, you were confused by how you had never seen this flower in the meadow before, especially one that looked like that

it was absolutely beautiful, it was a rose that had red and white petals and something about it just seemed so different then any other flower you had ever encountered

of course you wanted to pick it, you wanted to show it to your friends who couldn't even see it and your mother wouldn't mind, she loved to see when you were excited

your mother did often warn you about certain flowers, telling you that they were no good but would look like the prettiest flowers ever

you didn't understand it though, why would the flower be so pretty if it was dangerous? it just didn't make sense to you and that's why you paid no heed to her words, moving your hand towards the flower and grabbing the stem

then you carefully pulling out the roots and grabbing the whole flower from the ground to make sure none of the roots were left in the ground

unknown to you, coriolanus watched you, standing right below where the flower was, waiting for you to fall in

as you stood up again, wiping the dirt off your dress and analyzing the flower, the ground opened and you fell right through, screaming

you had never experienced this before, screaming for your mother as you descended into the darkness

your mother had made sure to protect you from any dangers of the worlds, so naturally she never told you about the underworld, despite living right above where coriolanus resided

coriolanus caught you since you almost slammed into the ground and he couldn't have his pretty little doll breaking her back from the floor, he wanted to be the only one who could break it

you were expecting to feel some impact from the ground, but it didn't hurt much, feeling your back against something or rather someone 

your eyes widened, and you tried to turn around to see who this mysterious person was

their grip on you was too tight, and you thrashed in their arms, trying to kick and claw at them but it was no use

you heard them whisper something right on the shell of your ear that sounded like “i'm sorry” and you were left confused

not for long though, as you felt a cloth cover your nose and mouth and you started to panic, eventually feeling yourself becoming sleepy and suddenly the world went black

coriolanus felt you go slack in his arms, holding the cloth over for a few more seconds before removing it and cradling you in his arms

you really did look like a little doll to him now and god the things he wanted to do to you right now were absolutely filthy

he made sure that coast was clear before going to his room and placing you on his bed, locking the door behind him

he smiled, feeling like a schoolboy again with a silly crush on a girl he couldn't have, except he did have you now

he grabbed the handcuffs, putting your hands in them and chaining you to his bed

coriolanus really didn't want to do this but what if you tried to escape when you woke up and he wasn't there? or if you tried to hurt yourself?

he couldn't have that happening, after all he was only restraining you to ensure your safety like a good husband would!

but fuck you looked so edible like this that he couldn't help but lift up your skirt and pull down your panties, taking a lick at your pussy

god were you wet for him in your sleep? he hoped so, pressing his tongue against your throbbing cunt, taking longer licks and smiling to himself 

finally you were his and all he had to do was wait till you woke up and while he waits, he'll probably have his dessert

he can't help it, you taste so good!

[apocalypse-shuffle]

PETER HALE | THE ALPHA (teen wolf)

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“Depend Again” (Peter Hale x Gn!Reader)

| You’ve been fighting The Alpha on and off for days now, but what do you do when his actions suddenly start to make sense?

| Reader is always black unless I say differently

| SFW, canon typical action - platonic!reader/precursor to romance

| 900+ words

“The more we fight each other-” Peter grunts, moving out of the way of your next downward strike. “The more I think you’d make a dashing addition to my side.”

You growl, eyes flaring electric blue, making the skin around it appear almost purple as you rush him.

“I’ll pass.”

Peter faints, you stumble, and he hits your side. The specific place he hit makes your knees buckle and forces you to retreat. Despite the fact that you just about fell on your ass trying to stay at a safe distance from him and all that alpha strength, you also take note of the fact that the hit didn’t do anything worse.

You weren’t light enough for the bruise to immediately show but you could definitely feel the soreness. That’s all it was though.

Before she’d died you had seen your Alpha topple the biggest of alphas to their knees with hardly a shove. Wolves like Ennis didn’t cower from your matriarch like they did Alpha Hale, but they did take care not to cross her.

She’d said it meant a lot for an Alpha to not immediately eliminate an obstacle in their path, that’s why she didn’t give anyone who tested her a pass, but you don’t feel very grateful being given a pass right now.

Peter Hale was notorious when the Hale Pack was strong. Left hands always tended to be when you actually knew how pack politics worked. They were infamous in a sense.

Dirty work and trickery fell to them often and considering your older cousin had been your pack's left hand and you were her trainee you knew very well just how conniving Peter Hale was.

That’s why the way that he’s yet to reveal his claws is more worrying than it is reassuring.

Peter was toying with you.

Your breathing falls harshly as Peter honest to god stands back to let you gather yourself.

Frustration bubbles up your spine. You glower at him as he leans back against one of the bigger trees around you and crosses his arms.

“You know what I think, sweetheart?”

“I don’t care.”

He ignores you, not pausing at your interruption. Not even bothering to reprimand you. You scowl.

“I think we’d make a good team,” he sighs. “If only you stopped following my idiot nephew on his righteous path to destruction. There is no righteousness in all of this, there’s just sloppy jobs and martyrs coming back from the dead.”

You chuckle, “Nice speech. But why would I ever consider working with you?”

“Your eyes are blue aren’t they? Or was that a trick of the light that I saw earlier,” he pushes off of the trunk and saunters closer to where you're recovering on the leafy floor. “You’re an omega without a pack. Sooner or later someone’s going to send an Argent, or two, to get rid of the loose end you represent.”

Peter crouches down in front of you and all you can do is give a halfhearted growl. He smiles. Out of all the ways you would have reacted to that, the sense of relief that fills you wasn’t considered.

“You’re too weak to take on any hunter past amateur without an alpha and considering the waste of a beta I made with Scott I still need another pack member.”

He reaches out to curl his hand around the back of your neck and nearly instantly you go lax. Your eyes flutter up to him in panic but all he does is let out a low rumble.

The familiarity hurts.

“I need a good beta if I want to be stable enough to kill the people who took my pack from me. The people who took your pack from you.” His grip gets harder to ignore as he urges you upwards to look him in the eye. “Be my beta and we'll avenge our families together.”

Your body might have relaxed in his hold but your eyes still obviously show the whirlwind of your thoughts.

On one hand you want nothing more than to tear apart every single mother skunt that turned your whole pack, the only part of your family you had left, into smoke and dust.

But on the other, the measly pack bonds you’d managed to form with Derek were urging you not to leave him. Even if he was keeping you from doing what you really wanted.

“You’re killing innocent people,” you try.

Peter scoffs, thumb rubbing circles into your skin as he speaks.

“I assure you every person I killed had something to do with my family’s needless massacre. I’m not a serial killer, Y/n.”

You chew on the inside of your lip.

“What if you get caught? What happens to me if I have to go through another alpha bond snapping?”

“You won’t have to. Not if we’re together.”

You look him in the eyes. Derek will be furious, after everything he’d lose you too. Stiles would probably never look at you the same and you’d only just started getting along. And Scott- well you couldn’t give a shit about what Scott thought, but still. He was a part of the equation, you’d essentially be replacing him after helping him learn some control over his shift. This decision would screw the tentative balance you’d finally managed without your pack, but-

“Okay…Alpha.”

Peter smirks, flashing his eyes at you.

“Good choice, Beta.”

NOTES: Well, I was gone for like a whole month but this was in my drafts so….🤷🏾‍♀️

[thegirlwhowrites642]

Can you write parallels between July and hinny?

The one that always knew

The similarities between James and Ginny are many but let's stick to the ones that have relevance in their dynamics with Lily and Harry.

These two are the romantics. In Snape's memories, we see James pretending to have a sword, talking about heroes and courage, and then we have Ginny who is really no different. Grown-up with the story of the boy who lived, completely fascinated by him and this legend.

So it's not surprising at all that they are the ones who knew long before their counterparts about their feelings. And they make it known, even if their approaches are quite different, and very gendered which is realistic.

James is bold, he right out asks Lily out, the way he does it is very questionable and difficult to be taken seriously but still. Ginny is shy and pretty much wants to kill herself for not being able to stop blushing, yet there's a boldness to her too with the poem. Technically it was meant to be anonymous but is still a very bold move.

Obviously, for the fandom James' approach needed to be praised while Ginny was a psychotic maniac because God forbid, a woman making a guy the object of her affections putting him in a passive position. What is this? Feminism???

James and Ginny are two awkward messes in this specific area, but they are very in touch with their feelings and were certain enough about them to not be able to fully get over Lily and Harry even if they had to wait a while. I'm sure they would both tell you that it was worth it.

The maturity

James and Ginny's behaviors when Lily and Harry were around needed to be changed for them to show their true selves to the objects of their affections.

I mean, the problem could have been solved by locking in a room the pairs, or Harry and Ginny going to the Yule Ball together, but that would've been too easy, no?

It's made very clear by Sirius that while for sure James had some things to improve about himself, his attitude when Lily was around wasn't his average one, he was, well, too James? A very exaggerated version of himself?

And with Ginny, well we know the story. Just like James, she had to stop letting her feelings take control of her actions.

When James and Ginny managed this, oh... how the tables turned...

The one that was clueless

Now it's time to talk about our resident green-eyed idiots.

It took a while for Lily and Harry to understand their feelings for James and Ginny but the pull, the attraction, the Je ne sais quoi, was always there.

Again, with Harry, we know the story. From the inability to take his eyes off Ginny at King's Cross to descriptions of setting suns to Ginny being the first person he looked at on the dance floor. The pull was always there but until Ginny didn't show her true self, Harry's subconscious really didn't know what to do with this attraction.

We know a lot less about James and Lily obviously and yet it's made quite clear that Lily was drawned to James. From the traitorous smile that escaped her lips even when she was angry at him to Sirius a bit too sure assurance that she never really hated James.

The external factors

The real obstacle for these two couples revolves around external factors.

For Harry and Ginny, we have traumatic life-altering events that include possessions, alleged murderers, mortal tournaments, dark lords, and other minor love interests to distract them.

With James and Lily, the obstacle has a name and it's Severus Snape. Lily's best friend and James archnemesis. Let's do a couple of calculations, shall we? James and Lily got married really young, we know that they started dating in their seventh year, so the most reasonable assumption is that they started dating at the start of the year. This means that things between them changed during their sixth year. Now if only something major happened at the end of their fifth year... oh, wait. The moment Lily gets rid of her friendship with Snape and his insistent attempts at putting James in a bad light in her eyes, Lily falls for James, what a coincidence.

The symbolism

Both pairings of Potters enter the soulmates' dynamic. Admittedly, Harry and Ginny a lot more because we have seven books about them and an inside point of view. But a major point of this type of dynamic is the fact that the characters need to be like two magnets drawned to each other so if you want to keep them apart you have to make it impossible for them to be together, and how do you do that? External factors, inability for a long time to be around the other, things like that. Just think about Amy and Laurie from Little Women.

Another important point for soulmates' dynamics is symbolism. The thing is, soulmates are not something that objectively exists. So unless you are writing a world-building where there are like soulmates marks or that kind of thing, the author has to rely on things like symbolism to make the reader understand.

With Harry and Ginny, we have Ginny's name, three hundred different metaphors, Ginny's association with light, Harry's death sequence, and so on...

With James and Lily again we have a lot less material but between the matching patroni and the fact that their love gave birth to the guy who saved the world with his ability to love, the message is pretty clear.

[There's a lot more to soulmates dynamics, and every author has some liberty for variations, but I'm keeping the elements of hinny that jily presents too. There's a lot more for hinny.]

[the-firebird69]

Security wants me to move !! Part 2 #california #security #parkingwars #...

And the sky Dan AKA Dave is a huge a****** it's my clothes for the Giants so he feels he should rat on me and it's working for other people. Turns out we're telling you on the max and the clans and it's going to be a nightmare and they're going to get rid of us and this is what the idiot is like you won't leave the parking lot and do the right thing and his trespassing so I simply put a trespass on him and the cops get them out of there it's ridiculous the guys is a huge idiot and right now the Giants of minor being eaten and it's going to make the other ones much bigger this is going down right now and the max is a little bit more and he says it we're a bunch of dummies and we grab macs I can't figure anything out he's wondering if we're grabbing Max. And we're going to have to check that out and yeah it said my ex and since the Sarah no thanks good try though I don't have interest in a whole bunch of things but I now have it in Dan

Trump

We have to get out of here pretty soon

Dan AKA Dave

So look at me on my own and this little booger tonight keeps riding on everyone he was walking around threatening their friend here so he could have him say stuff

Terry c

Not to say anything but the plan isn't really helping me they never really have and the max don't but they could actually arm the clan and then they would have control of them and then something of course more sinister and it has to do with my people and Governor Dukakis and bunker

Zues

Hehehe that guy is a huge a****** next door LOL

Hera

I'm going to take care of him and we can hear him but really that's what we need is all the stuff hes saying we do admit his son is a complete loser and forces most of it out

Thor Freya

You want everyone else to have everything else you f****** loser

Trump

And she was a huge obstacle on my way and it's really hard to get anything that's why

Dan

You grew up under my roof and you have things because of me now you have nothing because of me no one else would have helped you and you'd start out poor and stay poor

Trump

I guess it's true and now I'm going down

Dan

We're going to bring you down you big mouth and it sucks he needed it to happen I also think cherry cheese was stupid we needed to happen because the max would have taken over our stuff and the clans. So really our friend here is having to do it and you're just a p****

Trump

That's true is I have a big mouth and I'm a loser and I'm going to go out it's ready and I'll probably get killed a lot and he says it too until my people are gone so you can get rid of me as I serve my purpose it's pretty rude but it's also very rude that he's doing it but the max had to make this Giants and they're different we think and they're trying to arm them and he needs to say it and we're making it really difficult if you want to stand for that people want to stand for that they want us dead for that and it says it looks like it just threatening free and I'm actually going to take care of the problem they said that makes sense

Dave AKA dan

I suppose I was doing a little too and the max are after us I get that

Trump

Olympus

[robininthelabyrinth]

Prompt 2: Meng Yao and Jin Zixuan body swap!

ao3

They said that fortune was enamored of fools, and Jin Guangyao, who did not believe in most things, believed in that particular myth whole-heartedly.

He’d figured out quite quickly upon entering the Jin sect that Jin Guangshan loved nothing more than he loved power, power in all sorts of filthy ways and from filthy sources, and normally Jin Guangyao could find a way to work with that. But unfortunately for him, it was also true that Jin Guangshan viewed legitimacy – the stamp of approval by society – as a form of power that was superlative to all others. Even if he did not like his legitimate wife, he would never divorce her; even if he disdained the power his cousins had in his court, he would never act against them. In short, he would never in a million years give Jin Guangyao the recognition he craved, not even if he was obviously more fit for the role of sect heir or even sect leader, not even if he managed to fulfil all the black and filthy little desires in Jin Guangshan’s heart. He would never truly recognize Jin Guangyao as his son.

Or at least – not as long as Jin Zixuan was there.

The logical progression was of course immediately obvious.

If Jin Zixuan was in Jin Guangyao’s way, it meant he had to get rid of him, just as he had all other obstacles between himself and what he saw as his due. He had to be careful about it, of course; the stain of fratricide would be difficult, if not impossible, to overcome, and would give Jin Guangshan all the reason he needed to get rid of Jin Guangyao. But Jin Guangyao was clever, and he was creative, and he was determined – he would find a way, he vowed, to get rid of Jin Zixuan in such a manner as to be able to blame someone else for it.

At the start, he had not thought it would be difficult. He’d met Jin Zixuan, after all, and the man was a complete empty-headed idiot, as vapid as lukewarm dishwater. How hard could it be?

The answer, it appeared, was…very.

Fortune did not merely favor fools: she was mad about them.

Every single plan he came up with failed. Jin Zixuan wandered his way out of tricky political situations, side-stepped yao and demons, simply missed the existence of a honey-trap…Jin Guangyao couldn’t even succeed in putting him into a situation that mildly discomforted him because he was just that oblivious.

He set up trap after trap, situation after situation, hoping that eventually something would hit, but thus far had had no luck. Jin Zixuan wasn’t actually that incompetent, unfortunately; he was a good cultivator, quite talented with his sword, knowing when to retreat and when to advance, so he managed to get himself out of several tight spots even if he was completely useless at actually thinking about or in some cases even comprehending what was happening.

It was infuriating.

But sad to say, that wasn’t his current problem.

His current problem was that that idiot Jin Zixuan had found some – some magic cultivator’s tool or another, which he handled without checking first, and then handed to Jin Guangyao, standing beside him, alsowithout checking it first. And now they had…switched bodies.

They’d both agreed – primarily on Jin Guangyao’s urgent suggestion – that no one should know about what had happened. That it would be a threat to them all, leaving them open to threats by enemies of the Jin sect that wanted to catch them in a moment of weakness. It would be far better that they pretend to be each other for a little while, just until the effect of the item had faded and they had switched back.

Jin Zixuan had naturally agreed.

Jin Guangyao had stored him back in the tiny office that he usually used during the day, told him to do absolutely nothing, and then moved on. He had immediately made plans on how to best use his temporary stint as the real, official heir of Jinlin Tower – a few things that had come to mind at once as things he could achieve, real practical things, things that he could find a way to explain if anyone ever asked, if he really needed to.

Unfortunately…

Well.

Unfortunately, he’d set up a few traps in advance, hoping to get Jin Zixuan into some trouble – and now, he thought grimly to himself, “Jin Zixuan” was going to have to really exert himself to avoid those traps. And unlike the real Jin Zixuan, he was no fool, which meant that hecouldn’t count on fortune and obliviousness to get him out of these situations.

Jin Guangyao grit his teeth together.

This was going to be – a problem.

-

At the same time, in Jin Guangyao’s office

Jin Zixuan poked at the gigantic pile of paper on the desk and grimaced.

“I really need to do something about this,” he said to himself. “No wonder he’s so stressed all the time! He has so much work to do. It’s positively inhumane.”

He sighed.

He’d never really managed to connect with Jin Guangyao, his ever-smiling half-brother, the first and only one that had ever managed to be recognized by their mutual father. He’d tried a few times, a few different ways, but it never really worked – it always felt like Jin Guangyao remained…

Distant.

And, well, look at this nonsense! No wonder Jin Guangyao always kept himself at arms’ length, when Jin Zixuan was living the easy life of a young master and Jin Guangyao was loaded down with this sort of grunt work, meant for deputies and secretaries and the like. It just wasn’t fair.

No, Jin Zixuan was clearly going to have to do something about this.

Maybe even…

Could he help, perhaps, to reduce the burden?

He reached out to touch the pile of paper.

“Ouch!”

He pulled his hand back and stuck his finger in his mouth.

He’d gotten a papercut.

Poor Jin Guangyao, he thought mournfully. His life is so hard!

[kalims]

Hi, it's me Rei, to specify on what kind of comfort and example could be something like how s/o is feeling upset, tries to avoid/distance from Scara, and at some point, he has to confront them what's wrong, I'm not really sure how to explain it, but I hope this can give you an idea of what the story could be? I've seen lots of other prompts from stories like how all genshin males react to their s/o crying etc. This is kind of what I'm thinking, thanks again hope this helps - Rei

the balladeer is a puppet, his master being the professor who constantly toys with the strings attached to his limbs. giving him the power to do whatever, one word of affirmation from the tsaritsa is enough to let dottore to do whatever he likes with him.

though he is a special case, the prototype who once lived a once peaceful life before the fatui saw him as a valuable asset, who wouldn't? it was already in their powers to twist his mind and leave him with the capability of little struggle and choice to obey.

he's yet another individual the tsaritsa can play around with until he has no more further use, it was always that. the tsaritsa has no more love for her people, nor do they.

scaramouche will be damned if they strip him off his feelings too, if so happens then he wouldn't feel the euphoric feeling he desperately tries to rid of when with you. in the end, he's just another boy who wishes that he could live a normal life as a normal person but if only a hollow shell of a body could only do so.

with his little emotions still in tact many would guess that he's perfectly capable of taking care and understanding basic human empathy however he wasn't even human to begin with. along with the fact that people barely approach him for a talk other than business, he's basically a lonely fool who drowns himself in denial.

his 'unlikable' character is a persona he put up to avoid getting attached to meaningless things such as friendships and perhaps love. even if he verbally shows how much he's against the idea, his heart soars in longing to fit in a crowd without being feared or even being held by a special someone.

thankfully you'd shown him how much important love is to a developing person. be it platonical or romantical love, one should always feel the love of someone. the feeling may even change throughout time and grow stronger.

as much as he hates to admit it, frustrating is the only words he'll form when faced with an unknown situation such as this.

lately, you've been more quiet and admittedly gloomy. scaramouche disregards it as a normal occurrence, negative emotions heavily impacts a character. it may drive them to a wall however it is yet another obstacle one must face head on, overcome and grow stronger.

everyday is a lesson, as time passes and years go by one will think back on their life, their embarassing moments, the mistakes they wish to change, regrets, so much more.

now he's realized, a little push by a loved one is enough to overcome problems, move on and become a more mature, and better person than yesterday.

"is there a problem with you?"

scaramouche stands infront of you with crossed arms, in his face. the resting bored look is present as usual, though he looks more... infuriated than usual.

your lips thinned, the familiar growing headache is already pumping in the back of your skull. "excuse me?" you mumble in feign ignorance, he scoffs.

he sighs, closing his eyes and reaching up to fix the slight tilt of his hat. "don't play as the idiot, you're obviously distressed or something and you keep avoiding me instead of being a whiny brat for my attention."

ah, so he's noticed? what a time to down your mood more.

the patience within you is less thicker by the growing seconds. so you do the first thing that comes, an instict: avoid.

"look, I'm sorry but I just have some stuff on my mind. If you mind, I have other matters to attend to." your mother wouldn't be proud at all when she sees you lying straight through your teeth, it wasn't a whole lie. maybe a half but still a lie nevertheless.

she'd be disappointed with you not letting your own lover help.

as you attempt to walk over, he briefly sends you a glance before gripping your arm not necessarily loose, but tight enough you keep you in your place.

"hm, I do mind."

there it was, the frustration.

you furrow your brows in a mix of confusion and annoyance. "what is your problem?"

"what is yours? you have something on your mind, and it isn't anything good. keeping it in won't help you, trust me." he huffs, rolling his eyes and finally letting go of your arm.

you pause, is he trying to console you? unfortunately for him, you're not exactly in a good mood to poke fun at him for doing such an out of character thing.

"leave me alone, please." he stares at you through narrowed eyes, deep in his... technically non-existent heart if it weren't for dottore. he feels it, your frustration.

"...stop, just tell me you idiot. I order you--"

the rope that ties your heavy, whirling emotions break and you're reduced to a sniffling angry and sad mess, he's taken aback when you burst into tears, releasing quiet hysterical sobs.

he's quiet when you lean your body against his still one for support, there isn't anything he can do much but letting you release it.

scaramouche places a hesitant palm over your back and he can only hope that no members or recruits happen to enter the particular room.

[papers4me]

Fruits Basket Manga Review , ch 110

The writer doesn’t need to rush to akito (antagonist) & give us quick background exposition & escalate her mentality to the exploding moment, simply cuz tohru (the protagonist) isn’t emotionally in her most vulnerable moment yet. Tohru’s issues will be presented deeper  with each pov chapter she’ll have. So what should the writer do now?

This is a connected plot, meaning the emotions belonging to the previous chapter are still lingering & needs to be dealt with. There is no stupid laughing & cooking or even dumber momentarily amnesia. Nope! There is this:

-The Art of Writing Slow-Burns: (Lingering Emotions:)

Last time kyo hugged tohru thro the sheets. sth he wouldn’t do if it weren’t for the heartbreaking moment of tohru’s tears & the reason behind them. Why wouldn he do it? cuz he believes he’s the reason of her pain & is setting his mind on leaving her & being imprisoned as a punishment. He  wouldn’t do it cuz he loves her but he did it cuz he loves her. why? cuz love is illogical. Kyo’s heart moved him effortlessly to embrace her & “ his tenderness covered her pain” as the writer put it at the end of ch109.

Last time tohru hugged kyo thro the sheets, sth she wouldn’t do if it weren’t for the comfort of his warmth enveloping her loneliness & providing safety & a home. A home can a person. Why wouldn she do it? cuz Tohru is someone who hides pain behind a smile, someone who thinks she’s ugly & unlovable cuz she’s grieving still after all this time. She’s thinks she’s a burden. But here she confessed to kyo unprompted or advised by anybody. He only asked a fleeting question. but tohru cant hide who she is friom him anymore. Still, he accepted her & tenderly held her thro the sheets & she threw her body at him, she initiated the hug.

The sheet hig is the biggest emotional moment between kyo/tohru yet. It altered how they feel for each other cuz in that moment tohru’s mask fell & kyo was the most honest with himself emotionally. That’s not sth you move from with the stupid ED song. They both try to carry out normally afterwards cuz they live together after all. The slightest touch brings..... sexual tension!!!  it was so bad poor yuki left the house running!!!!!!!!

The writer cleverly escalates the sexual tension as they awkwardly try to find a talking topic, then dissolves it a bit when kto asks if tohru wants to go out together & where, then escalates it when tohru suggests buying eggs cuz she’s awkward, then dissolves it when kyo grumpily agrees but this is just grocery shopping” not a fun going out”, the escalates it when tohru said she’s happy for just bring together with him regardless of the location & kyo looses it! sexual tension explodes!

The target of the slow-burn isn’t the characters... the target is the audience! the writer plays with their emotions & cleverly puts the audience in a place where they desperately want these two idiots together but still remember why they aren’t! that’s very important. Having the readers cheer for a romantic relationship includes the readers understanding the obstacles ahead & how big they are & still cheer. If the obstacles are meh~ the readers will find the couple unrealistic, if the obstacles are so big & the couples emotions aren't buildup properly, then the couple themselves will feel meh~. Glad kyoru survived such writing mistakes both manga & anime ( anime hurt their characters more than their relationship).

-Yuki wants to move on from the unofficial son third wheeling his mom & her man:

The writer jokes abt yuki admitting he felt as a son watching his mon & her bf. I love tha this joke becuz it cleverly addresses the following points:

it is cleverly weaved in with the kyoru incident from last chapter. Sth happen & yuki doesn't know what is & doesn't want to! Yuki represents the audience I talked abt in the slow-burn point above. He is us. He’ll cheer for them to be together & will be so frustrated when they can’t. It adds to yuki confronting kyo at the climax!!! You see in the anime kyo/yuki stopped interacting much in se03. Then tada~~ big fight when it’s a must! & can’t be escaped... Here we still have kyo/yuki moments despite each boy moving away from his issues being the fault of the other. Basically better writing.....

The writer cleverly used this to address that yuki still feels like tohru’s son sometimes despite being more independent now, which is natural as you cant switch ur feelings with a button. But also the writer doesnt stay in this moment long & use it to build the next moment.. yuki/Aya , yuki/machi & aya/mine.... sadly all there dynamics are shortened in the anime like kyoru’s.

-I don’t think yuki/Aya  moment suffered much from the cuts, the entire school parents meeting ep us enough to reconcile the brothers. Aya defended yuki that day & so did yuki. He completely accepted him & stood up to him in front of the mom.

- More aya/mine would’ve been good to see & I would’ve preferred it to yuki/motoko moments in the anime that served nothing. but aya/mine too are stand alone story. They’re the most alike couple in a healthy way. Aya is the guy who protected his woman the most. simply cuz he’s the snake. snakes are secretive. he kept her to himself, even from yuki!!! impressive.

- What I lament from the cut of this mini yuki adventure?

1- This: ( yuki’s facial expressions) This is sth the anime fears, either cuz (a) pretty yuki is 100% pretty all the time, so no expressiveness cuz it leads to showing eyebrows & hiding them under layers of hair is the A.B.C of pretty characters... (b) Yuki in the anime is a prince 98% of the time, except with kyo (they got rid of this in se03 & give them one honest/ugly moment together) & with kakeru (one tiny moment in se03 in match’’s focus ep & then quickly back to prince yuki!)..., ugh!!!!!! I hate how yuki is prince thro & thro in the anime!!that’s why they couldn’t get rid of any motoko content!!! he’s a prince there... heck! school girls float after him the graduation ceremony... what’s up with that!! lol.

2-. This: ( machi with the toy that tohru/kisa/kagura/momiji & kiro like! so cute!!! also, foreshadowing yuki’s future chosen extended family! (his bro & his wife), (yuki & his wife) & best friend/his brother in law! Also, yuki is so himself! no glitters, no bubbles & no pretending anger! <3

Side Notes:

The lovely @mizzraynelly​ made notice kto’s speech in ch109 abt not vising his mom’s grave! Even tho it’s such a minor line, it’s one of the biggest cuts that foreshadow the accumulation of kyo’s guilt towards his mom. Kyo’s thing is guilt towards ppl he loves & fear of hurting them, by keeping this feeling alive in readers’ minds, the writer is making sure that the climax will hurt like sharp knives cuz the readers are on the same wave liength as kyo!!! epic buildup consists of tiny subtle pieces!

 Luckily, kyoru as a ship felt so strong in both manga & anime despite the later cutting half of their moments. Why? cuz the chosen cuts didnt affects the romantic relationship...no... the cuts affects the characters’ own personal struggle... most precisely tohru. Kyo’s own character struggles had better luck in the anime despite the cuts, simply cuz (a) was drawn with very expressive emotions & the anime team lingered on them in his scenes. (b) His character design as a whole was very expressive, the anime team didnt give him constant wide eyes like tohru & didn’t fear expr4essivness will affect for his “beauty “ like yuki. (c) kyo was given one ep per season for his issues which altho not much but way better than tohru (d) most important: kyo’s issues are very universal & very relatable” feeling guilt, mistakes & choosing wrong. That’s sth we all do!!! Tohru’s thing is grieve: this is very personal & most ppl experience it differently. 

I love kyo’s oufit!!! we have a hint of this moment in se03, ep 10 when yuki was fighting kyo... but they made yuki see them shopping as opposed of him seeing them being sexually charged!

I’m so mad this kyoru moment is cut!!!!!! tohru as a woman with pending sexual emotions is so refreshing & underrated in the trope of “ girl saves guys”. Also, it contradicts the pure mom image that’s been suffocating her since se01 ep 1!!!!! oh now i know why it’s cut... That’s why! momma tohru is so pure for such things & only when it’s the last two eps, then will allow her to be a woman choosing to live away with her man by her own desire! Why the anime only allow things ti happen when there’s no escape!!! I’ve always felt tohru/kyo is the type of couple to be expressive emotionally & sexually with each other based on seeing that ALL of their romantic interaction involves body language & I’m so happy there’s a canon proof so early before the future glimpse in finale!!!!!! 

I liked the aya-story, but it felt like the typical “ lesson of the day” formula, so I didnt analyze it much, but I enjoyed the brotherly interaction so much!! It had a gold mine of yuki being himself & so nit a prince! Im so happy I saw it! <3.

Every time yuki looked expressive is a happy moment for me!

[crescentfool]

I need an AU where Ryoji and Minato are in a LDR. AKA, AU where Ryoji actually lived overseas and he’s not the appraiser at all; he’s just a normal human being that coincidentally has a lot of similarities to Minato. Basically, “EVERYBODY IS ALIVE” fix-it fanfic. More under the cut because uh, I wrote 1.3k words to explain these two being mutually pining idiots in a long-distance relationship (featuring hamuko)

For the most part, the AU starts off fairly similar to canon (minus Ryoji being the appraiser, and Pharos existing, etc.). Ryoji transfers to Gekkoukan High School, and quickly befriends Minato. The two maintain the Helper’s Club together (I will never let go of these scenes, it is peak Ryomina), and they learn that they get along really well!  The two get some keepsakes on the Kyoto trip, and their bond is going swimmingly… until Ryoji is called back home. Before he leaves, Ryoji and Minato exchange Discord IDs with each other (OR Skype if you want to be accurate to p3 taking place in 2009-2010, lmao. The time doesn’t really matter for this AU. Ryomina is timeless, okay? that aspect of theirs makes me insane). They promise that they’ll keep in touch- and Ryoji goes back home at the start of December.

This is where the AU part starts to kick in. On Ryoji’s (excruciatingly long) flight back home, he’s hit by a truck at the realization that he’s in love with Minato. So technically!! The first part of this AU is basically Ryoji hopelessly pining for Minato and wishing that he had a chance to tell him that he loves him (and that they could’ve had some romantic experiences together). Ryoji practically spends his flight frustrated since long distance communication gets rid of a lot of communication cues, which makes it hard for him to get his feelings across. He’s effectively only left with his ability to type words (okay, more like, paragraphs) across text- and maybe his voice + hand gestures if he has the chance to video call with Minato.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t stop Ryoji from trying. Of course, time zones are an obstacle to the two getting to talk on a regular basis; but it doesn’t stop him!

At first, they just text each other about their daily happenings, making Ryoji very nostalgic toward his memories and times at Gekkoukan. Many of Ryoji’s responses towards Minato’s texts are generally some variation of “I miss being at Gekkoukan with everyone” (aka Ryoji trying to hint that he misses Minato while deliberately trying to filter himself so that Minato doesn’t realize that he loves him).

Recognizing that Ryoji almost seems sad over text- Minato takes it upon himself to ask Ryoji what he’s been doing overseas. And oh man!! Minato was not prepared for how long-winded Ryoji’s explanations of his days would be- but it made Minato happy to see Ryoji back to his enthusiastic self. What Minato was also not prepared for, was being hit by a wave of, “DAMNG, I miss being around Ryoji.”

(I should also mention that if these two send pictures to each other, it’s always of other objects/people, and never themselves. boohoo for the both of them because they miss seeing each other but they don’t have the balls to directly say that they miss the other one ALKFHLSDHSD i just want them to be pining for each other in the stupidest way possible okay!! i’m insane!! yes i know i have a magic hand that makes these two never send selfies of themselves to each other but so what!!! these two are going to suffer in overthinking their relationship and you will enjoy it too)

After a month or so of near daily texting, they move into a stage where they talk to each other over voice chat (because Ryoji said that “typing messages is time consuming especially when I can explain it better out loud,” TOTALLY. Are you sure about that, Ryoji Mochizuki? Are you sure it wasn’t just, “I missed hearing Minato talk even though I have to be the one to draw out whole sentences out of him?”). Sometimes their voice calls are just Ryoji being an enthusiastic and unreliable narrator, while other times, they’re simply listening to a selection of Minato’s favorite songs together (listen you cannot convince me otherwise that if these two LDR they wouldn’t listen to music together to emulate the idea of “being together in the same room.” it’d be illegal if they didn’t tbh /s).

In any case!!! Once these two start voice chatting, their levels of pining go off the charts. Like, man. Imagine not seeing your “best friend” in person for nearly two months; and not hearing their voice for that same amount of time! Dude, I don’t know what to tell you, but they’re going to be run over by a truck at that moment when they realize that they love each other (again, lmao. they’re very dense and keep attributing each other’s signs as their brains playing tricks on them).

And also! Imagine how much these two would do that Freudian slip phenomenon over voice! Minato could be talking about something that he was doing at Gekkoukan and Ryoji would just respond with something like, “That’s great Minty! I wish I could’ve been there to see it with you!” ONLY TO END UP panicking because he didn’t mean to verbally express his mental nickname of Minato aloud. (Poor Ryoji but also not really he did this to himself by asking to voice call with Minato /s). Or for Minato, he ends up muttering something and Ryoji somehow manages to pick up on what he said (and tries to get Minato to elaborate).

On the note of these two voice chatting, I like to think that Hamuko knows what’s up. I mean… there is no way that Hamuko isn’t aware that her brother is hopelessly pining for Ryoji. I mean, the dude is actually talking to someone on his laptop rather than just looping music so??? Of course she would notice LOL. Being the good sister that she is- she teases Minato about it while they’re going to school together, much to his chagrin. Or, if she’s feeling bold, she’ll stop by Minato’s room to drop something off and leave by saying something like, “Hey Ryoji!! Minato won’t stop talking about how much he enjoys talking to you. He really likes your voic-oh he’s telling me to leave now, bye Ryoji!” Either way, I think Hamuko would be a very vocal advocate for Ryoji and Minato to stop beating around the bush about their feelings (while also being a great person for Minato to confide in and ask advice regularly too, even if he wouldn’t want to bring himself to do it out of embarrassment).

Anyways, I know a lot of this is just “hehe mutual pining but they don’t know it’s reciprocated because they’re too caught up in their anxiety making it hard for them to decode the hints and signals.” BUT! I promise you that they will get together and become their most open and authentic selves (probably because Hamuko set them up or something, she recognizes that they’re too dense LOL).

When they do end up together though!! Well… they’re still pining (because grrr distance), but their relationship is a lot more relaxed since they know that their feelings are mutual. I think they’d only really start doing video chats + sending selfies on a regular basis after they get together, but!! I think even across distance and time zones, they would be really good at communicating and making each other feel loved. Ryoji would be the type of boyfriend who sends a lot of gifts over mail; Minato would be the moral support boyfriend who gets Ryoji to open up (so that Ryoji doesn’t have to shoulder everything on his own).

At the end of the day, all that matters is that these two love each other! When their semesters wrap up- they find a way to reunite in person again (so probably July or August?)... and uh, yeah. Let these two have a happy AU!! And maybe get Ryoji to go back to Gekkoukan for Minato’s last school year (if that’s even possible. I don’t even know and I’m too tired to research that).

If you read to the end- thank you for reading! I have many thoughts about these two in a LDR and I think it’d be interesting to see unfold!

[evolutionsvoid]

Chalice of Oblivion, Keeper of the Forgetful River, Lethe is one of five aquatic beasts that dwell within the rivers of the underworld. Lethe is master of the river that bears the same name, which is known as the river of forgetfulness. Due to her spending most of her time in the depths, many only see Lethe as the stony tower of crowns and cups that may emerge from the river. For newcomers in the underworld, this structure is often mistaken for a natural formation, mainly because she doesn't move all that fast or often. However, she is not restricted to the water, as she can slither into the shallows and even travel across dry land. When not fully submerged, a body of thickened, gooey water is formed. Much like a snail carrying a massive shell, this watery body allows her to crawl onto land and interact with the environment. Tentacles are formed to grab or bat away annoyances, and multiple "heads" are made to aid in navigation and observation. There has been an endless debate over which part is the "true" body of Lethe, as some believe it is the stony spire, while others say it is the slimy form beneath it. Since the gooey body is not seen when she is underwater, some believe this is proof that it is a temporary "appendage" of the main rocky body that is made in times of need. The counter argument is that since Lethe inhabits the waters she dwells in, this gooey body mixes with the surrounding water and is invisible to the mortal eye. Even though it cannot be seen, her consciousness still exists in that watery form. The true fools of this debate are the ones who suggest asking her for the answer, as they apparently are ignorant to what her entire deal is.   As master of the forgetful river, Lethe's power are tied to these infernal waters. The towering structure of her form sucks in vast quantities of water, keeping a portion of the fluid while ejecting the rest. The many "chalices" that emerge from her back carry this water, steeping it with her powers while preserving it for special occasions. Much like the river, Lethe has the ability to empty the minds of those who make contact with her slimy form or tainted fluid. Any water she touches will be given this property, with the potency depending on how long contact was made. To be affected by this forgetfulness, one simply needs to be exposed to this water, no matter the form of method. Physical contact affects the short-term memory of those who are exposed, with a simple splash able to make one forget what they were doing or what had happened minutes before. Any poor soul who is sucked into her body or submerged in this infected water will fall into a comatose state, as their body literally forgets what to do. This is not a permanent state, as one needs to remove the victim from the source and let them dry off for the effects to start waning. However, time of exposure determines how long before they wake, with minutes translating into days before they come to. Those who drink this water will have their long-term memory affected, as the tainted fluid deletes memories and knowledge. It is said that Lethe's water goes after the oldest memories first, moving closer to the present the more one drinks. If one is not careful, they can wipe out all memories of themselves and literally forget who they are. The older a person is, the more water they can ingest before this occurs. Due to Lethe's sluggish nature, many may think themselves safe from her power, but one should know that her abilities are infectious. Any body of water she dwells in will be contaminated with this forgetfulness, the effects growing stronger the longer she sits in it. When she wanders into the mortal realm or other places she shouldn't be, she can easily contaminate water sources for towns and villages, leading to plagues of memory loss and confusion. Thankfully, this contamination is not permanent, as the effects will slowly fade away once she gets out of the water. It is said that the way to tell if the water is infected or not is to watch the fish. If the fish swim in endless circles or float about mindlessly, then the water body is still steeped in her presence.   With her imposing size and mind-wiping abilities, Lethe is a rather intimidating beast to behold and newcomers to the underworld often fear her like the others. Once they learn more about her, they then realize she is the least of their worries. Her titles of forgetfulness and oblivion do not just apply to her powers and home, as she too suffers from memory loss and an empty mind. Lethe is a very slow and sluggish being, content to sit in the depths and do nothing much else. When she moves, it is at a snail's pace and often has no real goal. Turns out that her attention span is incredibly short, and she tends to forget what she is doing. The times when she wanders or leaves the river are usually caused by her deciding to go somewhere but then forgetting the destination. Knowing only that she wanted to be somewhere, but clueless to the place or reason, she will just keep moving and figure the thought will come back to her. It rarely ever does. Due to this slow and absent-minded behavior, Lethe is hardly a threat to the residents of the underworld. The only issues she may cause is when she is close to the surface and has to "sneeze." This act is her clearing out the system that pumps water through her body, be there an obstacle blocking something or a piece of debris causing irritation. To rid herself of this, she will fire a short powerful burst of water to clean things out, which is fine when she is fully submerged. If she is in a shallow part of the river, her towering back will jut from the surface. When she "sneezes," the pressurized water will spray out from her chalices and form a drizzling mist of forgetfulness. This cloud may drift through the underworld, affecting all who are exposed to it. This usually leads to a short outbreak of confusion throughout the underworld, where everyone forgets what they were doing or what was happening for the last ten minutes. Some idiots have suggested that the ruler of this realm talk to Lethe and get her to stop doing that. These dumb suggestions are ignored, as many have already tried to talk with her and have found conversation to be almost impossible. How can she follow such a rule if one cannot even finish a sentence before she nods off?   --------------------------------------- Here is a project I just finished recently that fits perfectly for the month of Kaijune: The Beasts of the Infernal Rivers! Turns out the Greek underworld has more than the river Styx, as there are five rivers in total! And since each river had its own name and characteristics, it felt perfect for a project, so I decided to make sea monsters/river monsters that embodied each! Also a heads up, when I first chose this project, I was going to have each river beast be female. Later I learned some of the rivers were masculine in name and had gods instead of goddesses attributed to it. However, I already committed to all of them being ladies, so I am just kind of ignoring that part. Oops!  

[emilia3546]

Shadowsinger Part 6 - Gwynriel

ACOSF Spoilers! Do Not read this unless you have finished ACOSF and the Azriel bonus chapter

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Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

*****

Azriel was still asleep when she opened her eyes, his hair falling over his eyes as his head dropped onto the back of the chair, had he slept there all night? She couldn't think how he actually managed to fall asleep in a chair of all places. He opened his eyes as she sat up,

"Morning, sleepyhead," she laughed, and he yawned,

"Morni-" and yawned again, setting Gwyn laughing again,

"C'mere, you're hair's all messy." She leaned towards him, quickly tiding it up, brushing it backwards through her fingers, not quite registering how still he had gone until she had finished and sat back, "There we go, that's better,"

"Thank you," he said, his voice much lower than usual, still with notes of sleep in it, she had never noticed it before, and she had to force herself to get up normally, and wash her face, without thinking about that voice. She stared into the mirror for a few moments, mentally preparing herself to face him again, "Gwyn, I'm gonna go and get dressed, I'll see you at breakfast."

"Okay," she shouted back, shit. How was the sound of his voice slowly shredding her self-control? It was just the change in his voice, nothing else, it couldn't be anything else she told herself. She was foolish to even consider it.

Apparently, Cassian and Nesta hadn't emerged yet, so it was just Gwyn and Azriel at the dining table that morning, forcing Gwyn to try to control her thoughts, to push any thoughts of him aside and focus on her food. She hated the silence, it felt wrong, unnatural, and she sighed, anything to break the stillness around them. Even that small sound seemed to wake Azriel,

"Gwyn," she looked up, startled, and smiled, "I just wanted to talk to you about what's going on in Illyria." Oh, she'd forgotten to ask Nesta,

"Okay,"

"I don't know how much Nesta's already told you,"

"I haven't had a chance to ask her yet, so very little."

"Okay, well, the bottom line is that there are those among the Illyrians who hate the changes Rhys has been implementing. Banning wing-clipping, and enforcing it, forcing them to train females, and putting systems in place for those who want help, so they can contact us easily, without their families knowing." Gwyn nodded, good, she'd heard about wing-clipping, seen what had happened to Emerie, it was about time it was finally gotten rid of, completely.

"Okay, so, some of them don't like it, then,"

"No, there are some who have been attempting to ignore the laws, and have failed," he added, seeing her worry, "And then there are those who are restless, hating that they fall under Rhys' jurisdiction. They want an independent Illyria, and freedom to treat their  females how they wish." Gwyn gasped,

"They wouldn't survive on their own, right? They don't have a unified leader, anyone who wanted would be able to invade easily, and their army is paid by Rhysand, they couldn't afford it otherwise."

"Exactly, that's why the wannabe rebels are a minority, but they are there. I promised you no secrets, it's no good trying to protect you from this. There's nothing that could happen in Velaris though, any potential fighting will be in Illyria."

"You're going to fight?" He'd only come back from another war a year ago, and she couldn't face the thought of him, of any of them, on a battlefield.

"Maybe. Hopefully it won't come to that. Hopefully, the loyal Illyrians will be able to stop a full rebellion before it starts. Most of them do support Rhys' new laws, but the minority are very vocal."

"You need to know who is stirring up violence then. And where, and how many, and how strong they are."

"Y-yeah, exactly, have you been reading about this?"

"No, why?"

"Never mind, it's just, you seem to know exactly what to look for, and at dinner last night, you were paying attention to everyone."

"I was just trying to work out what to talk about, I doubt I'd remember it."

"Oh, really, who was complaining, quietly I might add, about the wine running out?"

"Mor."

"Yeah, and what did Rhys say?"

"That it served her right for drinking all his best wine." Azriel raised an eyebrow,

"And Feyre?"

"Laughed at both of them, and called Rhysand a pretentious prick."

"So you don't remember anything?" Gwyn laughed,

"I don't know."

"You instincts are spot-on. It takes months of training for some of my spies to learn to listen to a room like that," he mused,

"Then train me."

"What?"

"Train me. To be a spy, maybe I can help with Illyria."

"Absolutely not, you've not even trained to fight for that long, I'm not letting you anywhere near rebellious Illyrians."

"That's stupid, Az. Train me to help, or at least to listen, I visit Emerie at Windhaven quite often, so I can at least help you get a picture of what it's like there, if nowhere else. Please, I want to be helpful, I'm done being useless."

"You've never been useless, Gwyn, and I will train you, but only so that you have an extra skill set to defend yourself, not so you can go and spy in Illyria." Gwyn huffed,

"Az. You're being stupid, stop trying to keep me safe, train me, and then let me use those skills."

*****

Gwyn was glaring at him, annoyance glimmering in her eyes, he was being stupid, but some part of him couldn't bear the thought of her in danger. She kept her gaze on him as she finished eating, giving him a chance to think,

"I won't say yes," Gwyn shot him another exasperated look, "But," he continued, "You can be a last resort, only if my usual spies can't get in, or can't find anything, then you can go." She narrowed her eyes, considering, and nodded,

"Perhaps Em has heard something, we should ask her today." Azriel nodded, and quickly tidied up their plates,

"You wanna help set up for training?" He grinned, "Should be fun today," Gwyn sat bolt upright,

"Oh no, no, I know that look, you're going to be mean, is there an obstacle course of something?"

"You'll have to come if you want to find out," he slipped out of the room, chuckling as she swore and scrambled out of her chair to follow him. Gwyn's eyes widened at the sight of the course he and Cassian had secretly set up last night before dinner,

"What is it?" She breathed, pretending to be nervous of it, but Azriel noticed how she was shifting her weight from foot to foot, how her voice raised in pitch slightly, she wasn't scared. She was excited,

"It's sort of an obstacle course, but this one simulates enemies, so Cass and I can both watch you fight, without one of us having to be the opponent. And, as a bonus, the second half is brilliant for silent movement training, which is what we'll work up to if you want lessons from me." Gwyn nodded gleefully, and Azriel chuckled at her excitement, "There's only a few things I need to get set up now, the moving parts and stuff. If you like, you can get the weapons racks out and ready while I do that."

As expected, Gwyn was right at the front of the queue to tackle the course, with Nesta and Emerie right behind her, she was bouncing on her toes, waiting, waiting,

"Go!" Cassian's shout spurred her into action, and she leaped over the wall obscuring the course from her view, immediately ducking the padded bar swinging towards her head. She kept light on her feet as she ducked and weaved between moving obstacles, one wrong step and she'd be sent flying. Gwyn kept her focus on one obstacle at a time, facing one, and moving to the next, she rolled sideways, and leaped onto a wall to avoid the final bar, and it slammed into the wood next to her. She gasped, and glared at Azriel, but he chuckled, it wouldn't have really hurt her if she hadn't moved, just left a bruise perhaps, but the near-miss spurred her on, and she sprinted for the next obstacle, but her undivided focus left her exposed for the first 'enemy' to knock her feet out from underneath her. Gwyn gasped and rolled, and Nesta craned her neck to try to see at the sound, glaring at Cassian, and mouthed something at him,

"She says that if Gwyn's hurt, she'll kill us both," Cassian whispered, and Azriel snorted,

"She can try," Gwyn had rolled forwards, her hands automatically raising into her guard, and she easily blocked the next blow from the padded gloves,

"Wait! Az, how do I win?" She shouted when she ducked past and landed a blow, but barely ducked the backhanded counter-strike,

"You run, Gwyn. Run!" He shouted, "You have to beat the obstacles whilst avoiding your enemies, try not to activate the rest of them," Gwyn shot him a look before taking off, and made it past the next obstacle, before another 'enemy' activated, and she was trapped between the two of them. Azriel deactivated them with a quick command to his shadows before they could hurt her, but she was still stuck,

"Azriel!" She shouted, "Make them move, you idiot!" He didn't respond, and just chuckled at her annoyance, "Azriel!" She snapped again, and he reset the course, offering her a hand over the fence to the training ring, and chuckled when she slapped it aside, climbing over herself,

"Not bad for a first try. But, you've got to be aware of your surroundings a bit more, focus on the obstacle, but be aware of the rest of them, both of those enemies were avoidable, in fact, all of them are. When I tested this yesterday, I didn't set any off, Cass set off a few, but you should be able to avoid all of them. You're smaller than us, more agile, use that to your advantage." Gwyn nodded, and grinned when he marked her place, "Beat that next time."

Nesta came within spitting distance of Gwyn's record, a sprained ankle as she underestimated the distance of a jump sending her sprawling to the floor. She was still leaning against Cassian as he fussed whilst Emerie ran the course, only losing when a wing clipped an obstacle, knocking her off balance. She swore, but scrambled over the fence to join her sisters to watch the other females.

"Make sure you cool off, ladies," Azriel called, "Gwyn, you're with me," he stepped aside to a quiet corner of the ring. "First off, I want you to learn to move silently, it should be easy here, there's no stones to move, or creaky floorboards. Go and stand by the wall, and try to reach me without my hearing you."

"Your shadows-"

"They won't betray you, I honestly think they'd rather betray me than you," Gwyn snorted, "Make sure you place your feet carefully, and move slower than you think you need to." Gwyn nodded and Azriel turned his back, waiting for her footsteps to halt as she reached the wall. Ten meters. That was all she needed to cross. She took a deep breath, and fell silent, but after what must have been only a few steps, she rushed, placing a foot too quickly, and Azriel whirled, "Start again, you rushed, move slowly," Gwyn alerted him quickly three more times, groaning in exasperation each time he sent her back to the start, but gradually she started getting closer, only her excitement getting the better of her. She was one step away from him when she scuffed the ground,

"No!" she hissed when Azriel turned to face her, "I can do it, I can."

"I know you can, don't celebrate too early, that's the only issue." Gwyn sighed, and started again, this time remaining silent until she poked him in the shoulder and let out a whoop of delight, grinning at him, and he laughed. She was shining, and his heart leapt with her, his shadows too, her joy becoming his own, and she practically bounced up to him and beamed up at him. There was just something about her, her mere presence lifted his worries, and let his shadows roam, not constrained, but freed. She didn't chase them off as Elain had, or even Mor, she made them sing. He blinked, and realized he'd been staring, so coughed, and forced himself to look away, "Grab a sword, practice your basic movements silently."

Gwyn picked everything up remarkably quickly, it had only taken her half an hour to reach him, and now she was already adapting that technique to the swordplay, even moving the sword silently through the air. Azriel had begun coaching her through it, but now he too fell silent, just watching her, only occasionally offering pointers, and stopped her when he noticed her swings slowing down, her breathing speeding up,

"Go jog a lap, then stretch off, that's enough for today." Azriel stayed to watch, making sure she cooled off completely before leaving her to bathe and change, he should have reports to read from all his spies by now anyway, and Rhys would want an overview this evening.

*****

Gwyn toweled her hair off, and for the first time since she could remember, she had no work to do, Merrill hadn't sent her any messages, any demands more like, and she didn't feel like just sitting and reading on her own. She grabbed her book off her nightstand, and went to find Nesta, but made a face when she heard suspect noises from her friend's room, turning on her heel and heading back the way she had come. She still didn't want to be alone, so she knocked on Azriel's door, and pushed it open at the grunt from inside,

"Can I sit with you, Nesta is, uh, y'know, and I don't want to be on my own. I won't disturb you," she added, noticing the paperwork on his desk, and he smiled,

"Of course, it's just reports to go through,"

"Anything interesting?"

"No. Not yet, but I've only read through a couple, hopefully someone will have something." Gwyn nodded, and settled into an armchair to read. They fell into a comfortable silence, each reading their own material, at ease in each other's company.

As time wore on, Azriel's brows scrunched together, and he narrowed his eyes, even his shadows seemed agitated as they flitted between the two of them. Gwyn set her book aside, and crossed to his side, gently resting a hand on his shoulder,

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing important," he offered her a small smile, "Don't worry," Gwyn squeezed his shoulder softly,

"Az, what is it? Even if I can't help, let me take some of the burden. I won't pretend to know what your job's like, but please, let me help however I can."

"You are helping, by being here, by being safe, you're helping. I have so many people to worry about," he raised the papers, "I can't easily protect them, but you, and the rest of you here, I can keep you safe here. That burden lessens when you're all here." Gwyn softly cleared a spot on the desk, tiding the unusually messy papers, and sat in front of him,

"Did something go wrong?"

"No, I'm just worried it might, honestly, Gwyn, I'm fine." Gwyn narrowed her eyes disbelievingly but before she had a chance to respond, Azriel pushed his chair backwards, and made for the door, "I need to clear my head a bit, I'll be back in a bit."

"Oh, okay," of course he didn't want her help, she was probably just a nuisance, she couldn't possibly understand the stresses he faced on a daily basis. If he needed help he'd ask Cassian, she should leave him alone. But, even as she allowed him time, something made her feet move, made her climb the stairs to the roof.

The stars were beautiful, shining together, and she relaxed at the familiar sight, counting the stars as she had since she was a little girl. She stopped moving at the sight of another figure sitting on the edge of the roof, hunched over, his knees drawn up to his chest, with his great,beautiful wings drooping behind him. Gwyn made her presence known as she crossed the roof and sat beside him,

"Az," she whispered, and put an arm around his shoulders, "Please. Talk to me." he shook his head, staring into the distance still, even as a wing shifted closer to her, "What's wrong?" He just turned to face her, his beautiful face filled with despair, his eyes, usually so full of life were dimmed, empty. Gwyn moved before she knew what she was doing, cupping his face in her hand, and he leaned into the touch, "What happened?" She breathed,

"Nothing. That's the problem. Nothing. I can't even do my job." He broke off and turned away, but Gwyn turned him back,

"Talk to me."

"Rhys has a meeting with all the Camp Lords tomorrow, it could be the make or break moment for the rebellion. I was supposed to get information, who tries to fight his new laws, who wants to fight back, you know. I have nothing. He's going in blind. It's my fault, I failed him. Again." Tears pricked Gwyn's eyes at the despair in his voice, the self-loathing.

"You didn't fail anyone. You did everything you could."

"I could have gone in myself."

"To Illyria? They'd have clammed up completely at the slightest whiff that you were there. You have to trust your spies, and sometimes they won't find anything, and it isn't your fault."

"I couldn't even get them in to some camps."

"Again, they couldn't get in, not you. They work for you, but something that goes wrong on their end does not mean that you let anyone down. Sometimes things go wrong, and no-one is to blame."

"I can't keep letting him down."

"You don't keep letting him down. You could never let him down."

"I did. I wasn't with him when he went to that meeting. I could have stopped it." Gwyn knew the meeting he was talking about, "There was no-one to sniff his drink, if I had been there, she would never have been able to sink her claws into him." Gwyn just nestled into his side, letting him talk, "Fifty years, Gwyn. I failed to find a way to save him for fifty years! And then when he got back, I got injured at Hybern, I forced Feyre to go back to Spring. I am the reason that he almost lost his mate as soon as he found her. I should have known that the queens were after Feyre's sisters in the first place, but I failed them, too." Gwyn rubbed his shoulder, holding his gaze as he spoke, "I was too slow in the battle, he died because I couldn't help."

"No." Gwyn breathed, “He died to heal the Cauldron, you couldn't have done anything.”

"Yes, I could. I was with Helion, his specialty is spellwork. If I'd gotten him there faster, they could have worked together."

"You got him there fast enough to revive him."

"But without Feyre, we never would have had the chance. I can't risk something happening again, for all I know, they might all attack him at the meeting. He'd be fine, but still, I should know if there's a plan like that." Azriel finally stopped for a breath, his gaze returning a little, actually looking at her, not just seeing.

"Az, you have done everything and more that anyone could possibly expect. Plan for what might happen, with what you have, but we can't use what we don't have, so don't beat yourself up about it. Please." It broke her, seeing him like this, miserable, thinking he didn't deserve everything he had built for himself. She couldn't bear the thought of him suffering, alone, thinking that he'd failed those he loved most. Before she could reconsider, she was singing, singing the only song she knew would help him, his mother's lullaby,

Arrorró mi niño

Arrorró mi sol

Duérmase pedazo

De mi corazón

Cierre los ojitos

Ya se va a dormir

Que el pícaro sueño

No quiere venir.

Azriel's gaze remained on her as she sang, his breathing becoming more regular, until his shadows began to dance. She was still leaning against his side when the song finished, and she started again, tears pricking her eyes when he joined in, no hint of the misery left in his voice, just hope.

"Let's get to bed, it's late," she whispered, and Azriel didn't complain as she led him back to his room, but when she turned to leave, she couldn't. He needed her now. She perched on the bed beside him, setting a pillow against the wall, and sang again, stroking his hair as he drifted off to sleep, his head in her lap.

*****

Azriel actually felt rested for the first time in far too long, his mind clear, focused, and he carefully lifted Gwyn into his arms. She snuggled into him as he carried her back to her own room, leaving her sleeping, safe in her own bed. He left her a note,

Gone with Rhys to the meeting, I'll be back this evening. Thank you.

He stole one last look at Gwyn's sleeping form before slipping away.

[farfromsugafanfic]

Sutures - Chapter Five: Murmurs

Genre: Soulmates AU, Idiots to Lovers, slight Enemies to Lovers

Pairing: Yoongi/Named Reader

Warnings (chapter specific): mentions of family illness, a disgusting amount of fluff

Synopsis: “A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” –Jean de la Fontaine

There was only one thing you and Min Yoongi had in common that night. You were both brokenhearted. You only intended to be together for one night, but when you both end up in the hospital the next day you discover that you are soulmates. It could kill you to be apart. As you and Yoongi attempt to sever the bond between you, will another be formed?

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"Sumi!" Jungkook called. "Can you do us a favor?" 

Jungkook and Jimin stood outside your door. You could tell they were up to something based on the smirk on their faces. 

You had been quietly knitting, trying to forget the events of earlier that day with Minki and what happened in the backseat with Yoongi. You still felt Yoongi's lips on your stomach, soft, yet, demanding. He hadn't managed to leave any marks this time, which you were grateful for, but part of you wished you could have a reminder of the secret between you. 

"What?" you asked.

"Yoongi was going to wake up at four to help us with the production on the new song. And it's almost four thirty now. Can you wake him up for us?"

You glanced at the two boys who while they seemed mischievous, seemed genuinely like they didn't want the task of having to wake up Yoongi. 

"Why can't you do it?" you asked, putting aside the hat you were currently working on. 

"He'll be nicer to you," Jungkook said. "He's grumpy when he wakes up." 

You laughed slightly. "All right, fine."

You followed the two boys towards Yoongi's bedroom. You hadn't stepped foot in his bedroom yet, having only been in his studio. You opened the door slowly and tiptoed towards the bed where the boy's form was curled up asleep. Despite being taller than you, when he slept he made himself look so small, his knees curled up towards his chest and his arms around a pillow. 

"Yoongi," you said, lightly shaking his shoulder. "The boys said you wanted to get up at four. It's four thirty." 

You hear an annoyed groan and before you could protest, Yoongi dropped the pillow and pulled you onto the bed, his arms wrapped tightly around your waist. He rested his chin on your shoulder and you felt the soft scratch of his barely there facial hair. 

"Sleep with me," he whispered, his hot breath tickling your ear. 

You reached up to the pillow above you and threw it back towards him, hearing it hit with a solid thud. 

"Fuck you." You attempted to squirm from his grasp, your legs kicking the covers and his legs. Yet, he never loosened his grip. 

"Already have," he whispered, his voice husky. You felt his smirk against your shoulder blades and for a moment you thought he would begin kissing you again. But, as you reached for another pillow, his arms released from around you. 

You got up from the bed and walked out of his room, his scent clinging to your clothes. You stopped to glance at Jungkook and Jimin who stood by the door, wide eyed at what they witnessed. You could only imagine what it looked like to them: Yoongi pulling you onto the bed and kissing you as you playfully tried to push him away. 

"I see why no one likes waking him up."

The two boys awkwardly nodded and walked into Yoongi's bedroom, shutting the door behind them. 

You couldn't help but laugh slightly at the boy's assumptions before walking back towards your bedroom at the end of the hall. 

---

You hadn't spoken to your parents since before the night you and Yoongi met. You didn't call much due to the long distance charges to the US, but you figured you needed to update them about everything. 

"Hello?" your mom answered the phone. "Sumi?"

"Hi mom," you said. "How's everything?"

"Good, busy as always. But, don't worry about us, how is my daughter?"

"Well, there's a lot that's happened since I talked to you last." 

You explained the situation, careful not to tell your mom too much. You knew if you explained that you'd had a one night stand your mom would be disappointed and scold you. Despite being an ocean away in California, your mother still managed to make you feel like you were a fifteen-year-old again who got caught sneaking out. 

"Oh, I'm so happy you finally got rid of Minki," your mother said. "I never liked him. And I can't wait to meet this soulmate of yours, what did you say his name was again?"

---

"Min Yoongi," Yoongi heard as he walked towards your room on the way to the bathroom. He stopped, noticing the small crack in your door. He wondered if you had managed to see him in the hallway, but as he approached he noticed that you were pacing around your room. 

"No, mom, don't Google..." You sighed and pinched the bridge of your nose. "I get it, mom," you said laughing. "He's cute." 

You didn't talk for a moment, but you cutely chewed on your bottom lip which made Yoongi want to replace your teeth with his own. He pushed back the thought as you spoke again. 

"Well, we all agreed it would be best for me to move in with his band so that his career wouldn't be affected and I could continue working online or once things get better do in-person sessions."

You went silent again. Yoongi couldn't hear what your mother was saying because she was speaking so quickly. 

"I know, mom," you said. "I'll be careful. The only trouble we've had has been with Minki. His fans don't know."

Yoongi's stomach turned. Guilt.

"At first, I wanted to go along with what the doctor's said and do the relationship, but I'm glad we didn't now. It may be harder for a while, but we barely knew each other and asking one another to put in effort to a relationship neither one of us wanted didn't make sense." 

Despite your words being Yoongi's rationale, they felt so harsh coming from your mouth. He was glad the arrangement had become easier for you, but there was part of him that felt disappointed. 

---

"How's grandma?" you asked, once your mom had finally calmed down about Yoongi. She had taken it better than you expected her to, however, you were slightly worried she was expecting grandchildren any day. 

"Good," your mom answered. "The doctors say her treatment is going well. As they say, no news is good news." 

You sigh, wishing you could be in the US with your family, but you stayed behind to go to school and by the time you finished, you already had a life you didn't want to leave in Korea. You visited as often as you and your parents could afford, but that was normally only at the holidays. 

You had no siblings and many of your parent's siblings were also in the US or in Busan. Seoul was a lonely city, but you made it work.

"All right, well take care of her and yourself, okay, mom? And tell dad I miss him."

You ended the call after you both said your goodbyes. You sighed in relief at having finally explained the situation to your family, but you couldn't help the worry that formed in your stomach. You were normally able to suppress the constant worry about your grandmother, but every time you talked to your mom it always seemed to worsen.

---

Yoongi stepped away from your door once you hung up, so he wouldn't be discovered. He felt a small pang of guilt from eavesdropping, but your door was open and you had been talking about him. He pushed it away, knowing it really didn't matter. 

He walked back to his studio and sat down at his desk, Jungkook and Jimin listening to their vocals. He wondered what was up with your grandma, while it didn't seem out of place to ask how she was doing, the way your brow had furled and the way you chewed your lip nervously made him think that there was something else going on. 

"Yoongi?" Jimin asked, taking off his headphones. "Everything okay?"

Yoongi shook himself out of it. 

"Yeah," he said. "Sorry, not awake yet." 

---

"Sumi," Namjoon said, knocking politely on your bedroom door. "Do you want to come and help me work out some lyrics?"

You looked at the leader in somewhat disbelief, your eyes wide and your lips pursed. 

"Me?" you asked. "Wouldn't one of the boys be better?"

"Maybe," he said. "But, it's not often we get a perspective of someone outside of the industry, and you've been in your room since you got back. I know it was tough to face your ex and thought you might like some company." 

You smiled, Namjoon was so perceptive, you wondered if he could read your mind. You realized how much easier it would be if you were his soulmate instead of Yoongi's. Namjoon understood you and always seemed to know how to make you feel better. 

"You can bring your project with you," he said, leaving towards his studio and leaving the door open for you. 

You followed the leader to his studio, which had fewer obstacles to enter than Yoongi's. Although, once you entered it was largely similar. A simple design with a few decorations and various awards hung on the wall.

He pulled up a chair beside him and motioned for you to sit down beside him. You sat down and looked over all the equipment on his desk. A normal desktop with multiple monitors, other things you didn't recognize, like a machine with various knobs and switches, and a microphone. 

You remembered seeing most of the same equipment in Yoongi's studio, except he had a keyboard he kept in the center of everything. The black and white keys almost taking over the room. 

Namjoon opened up a notebook with various notes in it. You even noticed a few notes in English, making you smile and remember that the two of you shared the language in common. 

"How'd you get into music?" you asked in English. 

"I always liked music," he said, also responding in English. "I read a lot and eventually it translated into writing. I don't know, it all just kind of happened naturally."

You smiled, noting the way his face lit up as he talked about his passion, his dimples appearing on his cheeks. 

"I understand," you said. "I always liked to teach people when they learned that I speak English. I should've charged when I was in high school for all the tutoring I did, but I enjoyed it enough that I didn't care." 

"What about knitting?" he asked. 

"I was always crafty," you said, laughing. "Whenever I visited my grandmother in the US, she always had a knitting project and she talked about how it calmed her, made her realize she had more control over her fate than she believed. She used to tell me stories about the Fates in Greek mythology and how knitting made her feel like one." You looked down at your project--a black hat. "So, whenever I feel out of control, I knit. Sometimes, I don't even know what I'm making until it's finished." 

You quickly bound off the yarn and slapped the finished hat on Namjoon's head, giggling. You expected him to take it off immediately and hand it back, but instead, he used the nearest computer monitor to adjust it so it sat over his hair attractively. 

"It looks nice," you said. 

---

The two of you worked in comfortable silence, the hat you made still sitting on Namjoon's dyed hair. You'd started a new hat with the same black yarn. You wondered if he had a girlfriend to give it to. You and Minki always used to wear matching hats or scarfs or gloves. He took whatever you made him wholeheartedly. They were probably still sitting in the top drawer of his dresser. You wished you could unravel the yarn and turn them back into a tangled ball of string. 

Namjoon would occasionally run a line past you or hum a melody without realizing. You even found yourself humming the same melody back to him and when you did, he always shot you a small smile. 

"Let's see what fans think of my new hat," he said, taking a selfie with his phone. 

"Wait! Don't post that! Won't they think you have a girlfriend or something?"

He gave you an odd look before looking down at the picture. 

"Does Yoongi have you that paranoid? If anyone questions it, I'll just say a fan made it," he said. "Not exactly a lie." 

Your shoulders slumped realizing the easy solution. It was true that since the shoe incident, you were scared to be visible in the boys' lives. Their careers meant more to them than it did to you. You could be an English tutor nearly anywhere and no one could take knitting from you, but their music could be taken from them. You didn't want to be the reason they lost their passions.

"Come on," he said. "I have to go run this past Yoongi. You're welcome to come along." 

You followed Namjoon to Yoongi's studio, taking your yarn and knitting needles with you. Namjoon rang the doorbell to Yoongi's studio and you had to stop yourself from laughing at the ritual of it all.

Yoongi came and opened the door. He greeted Namjoon and while he seemed slightly surprised to see you, held the door open to you. 

"She's great to bounce lyrics off," Namjoon said. "Surprised you haven't picked up on that yet." 

You sat down on the couch in the back of the studio while the two boys discussed the lyrics and the song. You took the opportunity to go on Twitter, seeing the picture of Namjoon in the hat. All of the fans complimented him, telling him he looked cute and demanding he go to bed because it was late. You smiled, hoping that if the fans ever found out about you, they would have similar reactions.

You went back to knitting, but couldn't help and look up when you heard the sound of the piano. Yoongi was playing the melody Namjoon had been humming earlier and you were impressed by his ability to translate the hums into notes so quickly. 

His fingers slide over the keys naturally--the keys an extension of his fingers--much like the needles you held. Yoongi was serious, but unlike his normal seriousness which was grumpy or sexy (depending on the day), this time he was focused. His lips slightly pouted and his body relaxed. 

Music for him was the knitting to you. It was the creation that helped you escape yourself to feel the smoothness of the keys or the needles beneath your fingers and trust that something beautiful would come from it.

---

You had fallen asleep by the time Yoongi and Namjoon had finished; still occasionally moving your fingers, trying to knit in your sleep. Yoongi smiled, remembering the times he woke up in the studio seeing the notes he'd unknowingly composed while he was asleep.

"Do you want me to wake her up?" Namjoon asked. 

"No," Yoongi said, shaking his head. "Let's not disturb her." 

Namjoon nodded, grabbing his notebook and leaving the room. He closed the door softly so he wouldn't wake you. 

Yoongi looked down at your sleeping form. It seemed he'd seen you sleeping nearly as much as he'd seen you awake since the first time you met. The night you spent together, you'd fallen asleep first, cuddling into his side. Normally, he wasn't the cuddling type, at least not with a girl he'd just met, but seeing the lipstick smeared across your pouty lips and your tangled hair spread out across the pillow, he hadn't been able to resist. 

He grabbed your knitting needles and yarn, setting them on the edge of his desk, within your sight so you could easily find them in the morning. It wasn't the first time he'd moved your knitting needles, for something you loved so much, you often left them laying around. Yoongi opened the bottom drawer of his desk where he kept a blanket for when his studio was cold or when he fell asleep while working. 

He covered your form before shutting off the light and leaving the room quietly.

[twoidiotwriters1]

The believer (Din Djarin x Fem! Reader)

Resquest by: Me, lol. -Val

Words: 3, 343

A/N: Based on episode 15

"I mean it, Cara. You said you needed my help for important things. Being the commissioner of the new republic must be something better than just moving boxes” I complain leaving some on the ground. I walk to her desk.

“We are only relocating some files. Thanks for your help." She mocks. I roll my eyes. "We’re  almost done. Besides, you've already helped me enough by catching the bad guys. Who imprisoned all those thieves? " She tries to try fix it.

"I did" I say through my teeth. "Whatever. But do you promise this is the last one? "

"I promise. You'll see. Soon you’ll be with your Mandalorian. Although ” she frowns and gets up from her chair. “I just got a message from him. He says he will come today "

"What?"

She shrugs her shoulders.

“Maybe he can't wait any longer to see you. But I really need you to finish this "

I sigh. Why would Din come early? We agreed that I would return until Cara no longer needed me or… in case of emergencies.

"Well, where do I put this?" I try to lift another box, but it is heavier.

"Hey! No, we said only light things and you know it " she says, taking the box from me

"Whatever," I go back inside the office to look for more boxes.

**

After a couple of hours, I close the store’s door. I stretch my body and walk back to Cara's office.

Upon arrival, my heart races to see the armor that I already missed too much.

"Din!" I run up to him and throw myself into his arms. I put my arms  around his neck and he holds me by my waist.

“I'll leave you alone. I'll prepare everything,"  says Cara leaving.

I frown and pull away from him.

"Prepare?” I look straight into the visor of the Mandalorian. “What's going on? I thought you would come later "

"I'm also happy to see you," he jokes 

I smile.

"I'm sorry I didn't have a better welcome, but you didn't give me time," I say sarcastically.

"I don't think that matters now," he says changing his tone.

"Din, what is the problem?"

Din sighs and shifts uncomfortably.

"Something happened, I uh- sorry"

"Are you okay? Where’s the child? "

"They have the kid"

"What? Who?"

"Sorry, cyar'ika. It all happened so fast, I couldn't - I couldn't protect him enough ” says Mando, moving away a bit.

"Hey" I took his hand stopping him. "Listen. I'm sure that whatever happened, it wasn't your fault "

"You don’t know"

"Then, tell me"

"Moff Gideon. He kidnapped the child"

My body tenses remembering very well that monster. I clench my teeth.

"Where is he?"

"That's why I came, I need Cara's help." He sighs. "And from Mayfeld"

"Mayfeld? The idiot who tried to catch us in prison? "

"The same"

"Why the-? No, forget it. You'll tell me at the Razor Crest ”I walk towards the exit, but he stops me by taking my arm.

"The Crest no longer exists," he whispers. I frown and sigh at his tone of defeat. I take his hand and force him to follow the path.

“C’mon, we must not waste any more time. Nobody messes with my family "

**

"I don't like your new friend," I complain, sitting next to Din. "He's grumpier than you when we first met"

Din laughs at my pout.

"He's not that bad. He has been a great help"

"That doesn't take away the grumpiness"

"I don't find the charm in you either, princess," says Boba Fett. passing in front of us to open the cargo door. I grunt at the sight. Din puts a hand on my leg.

"Hold on, Cyar’ika."

We both got up to follow Boba along with his partner Fennec Shand. The four of us go out when Cara returns with Mayfeld.

Din steps forward while the others guard him closely and confronts the prisoner.

"Mayfeld"

"Hello, Mando. How long ” he answers, nervous. He looks behind Din and smiles slightly. "Hi gorgeous. It's nice to see you again "

I roll my eyes.

After explaining a bit about his value in knowing the Imperial protocols. We all went back to Boba's ship.

Mayfeld indicates the new course to Morak, where he must infiltrate an imperial database to find out the location of Gideon.

The new mission is to infiltrate to a secret mine, get to the refinery and get the information. A good plan, but after several years of being with the Mandalorian, I know it didn’t always turn out the way we expect. And the fact that they refine rhydonium, an explosive material, is not a good sign.

**

"I don't understand how he can be in a suit like this all the time," I complain, fixing the my  stormtrooper uniform.

"This one really sucks," Mayfeld continues, adjusting his boot.

Two guards to drive the truck with rhydonium and one to check the levels of the material, we replaced them as soon as they crossed a tunnel, it sounded like a good idea. But I can already smell the perspiration of whoever wore my suit.

Din walks towards us also wearing his black suit and helmet. He leaves his armor to Cara.

"Are you okay?" he asks me.

"The faster we do this, soon I will take this off"

"That interests me," I raise my eyebrow and smile. He tilts his helmet making me laugh.

The three of us get on the truck and the mission begins. We pass the tunnel and continue along the path in the middle of the forest.

Mayfeld tries to make conversation with us, but his attempts are in vain. Everything is going well, until an intercepted conversation warns us of certain complications with another truck ahead, and then we hear an explosion not far from us.

"You must continue" says Din "As long as you drive carefully and slowly, the Rhydonium will not explode"

"Good to know" answers Mayfeld.

"It's stable" I announce.

A knock to the side of the truck breaks the silence.

"Pirates. They are trying to destroy the Rhydonium ”says Mando.

We both go out on the roof of the truck and try to get rid of the pirates, but it gets harder and harder when more arrive. While we fight, Mayfeld makes sure the material levels don't overheat.

Every movement I make, makes my heart race, maybe I already have some experience fighting and Din has always helped me to defend myself, but this time it's different and I have to be more careful.

Our only salvation comes when we approach the empire mine. The whole army helps us against pirates.

I sigh in relief.

"Are you okay?" Mando asks. I nod. We both went back inside the truck.

Upon arriving safely at the mine, many people congratulate us on a great job. Of course, being the only ones who could pass an explosive for several kilometers with some pirates as an obstacle, should be cause for celebration.

We walked among the people, some soldiers, stormtroopers and other workers. Mayfeld tells us that a database may be in the dining room, so we keep pretending to know where we are.

When we get to one, Mayfeld steps forward.

"Good luck," Din tells him.

"Ugh, I can't take it anymore" I complain taking off my helmet. I straighten my hair as best I can and sigh. "Surely your beskar helmet is better than this, but I couldn't wear one all the time."

"You get used to it" says Mando.

"I can't go in," says Mayfeld, turning back.

"Why not?"

"There is Valin Hess"

"Who?" I ask.

"He was my boss" Oh no.

"Would he recognize you?"

"I do not know. I was just a field agent, but I won't risk it ” he says trying to leave, but Mando stops him.

"Make it quick so we can go"

Mayfeld denies.

"I can’t  do it, I’m sorry"

"No, I can’t. If we don't get those coordinates, we will lose the child "

"I’ll do it. Give me the data stick ”I tell them.

"Yeah, I don't think it's a good idea either," Mayfeld answers. "You have already attracted attention being a participant in the truck mission, if they see a woman in the database it will be more suspicious"

"That makes no sense"

“Maybe, but look around you. Any boss is a man, imagine what they would do without seeing you trying to enter the system "

“Give me the data stick,” Din interrupts. Mayfeld and I watch it.

"It won't work," says the bald man. "In order to access the network, the terminal has to scan your face"

I shake my head.

"There must be another way"

"Give it to me" Din repeats, taking away his memory

"No, wait" I try to take his arm, but he takes off and walks towards the terminal. "This will end badly"

"Since when has something gone well?" Mayfeld answers next to me.

My body trembles from nerves. Din must be desperate to even think about showing his face.

Mayfeld and I watch him from the entrance. Din walks to the terminal, presses some buttons, waits a second and as soon as I see his hands go to his helmet, I turn suddenly.

"Have you ever seen him without the helmet?" He asks. 

"No, I haven't"

He nods.

“And how do you…? You know. ” I frown at him. "What? Haven't you had sex yet? "

"That is none of your business"

"Hey, it was just a question" he defends himself. "Oh no" he says looking towards the dining room

"What?"

"We have a problem. Hess is talking to him

"Shit"

"I'll take care of it," he says nervously.

Mayfeld comes in to help Din, while my back is still turn on him. What am I supposed to do? I look around for an answer. Which comes when I see a crew member talking with other soldiers. She holds a datapad and the others sign on it.

It could work.

**

“We just call him Brown Eyes. Isn't that right, officer? " is what I hear when I get closer. Completely avoiding Din's face.

"Sir" I interrupt them. Hess turns to see me. "I need you to sign some documents regarding the delivery of the Rhydonium." Hess raises an eyebrow looking me up and down. I extend the datapad to him.

"Are you also part of that delivery, Lieutenant?" points to my uniform.

"Yes sir. They asked me to file the delivery, given the circumstances. Lack of staff ”I know the other two men are staring at me, but there is one look that makes me more nervous.

Hess nods.

"You are the only transport that delivered cargo today" he announces. “Let's have a drink. You too, Miss. We can celebrate," He smiles. " Brown eyes."

I sigh. The three of us follow Hess without saying anything. My eyes are fixed on the floor, but the problem widens when I get to the small table, Mayfeld and Hess are at my sides, leaving Din in front.

I use all my willpower not to look at his face, but I know he is watching me and it only makes it harder. I want to hit him, but that would force me to see his face. Dammit.

“You don't have to be so tense, Lieutenant. You can relax, we are in confidence ”says Hess offering a glass of alcohol. I smile taking the glass. "It’s  really surprising to see a woman on such a dangerous mission"

"It's part of the job, Sir"

“A good soldier, we need more troopers like that. Although, the women here are not as pretty as you. ” I clench my teeth. "Surely your companions agree with me" out of the corner of my eye I notice Din's hand clenched into a fist. "We can celebrate that too, can't we, boys?"

Din lowers his hand whipping his glass in a quick movement, causing the three of us to freak out and… it was just a reflection. My eyes connect with his. That alone was enough to make me lose focus.

Hess wants to ask about Din's behavior, but Mayfeld cuts him off.

"Shall we toast Operation Cinder?" He starts, but I can't hear the rest.

I observe every detail of Din's face. His facial hair, more than a shadow, his brown hair disheveled by the helmet, his profile, jaw, nose, lips and his brown eyes. I can't look away. 

Ever since I've known him, I've imagined what he might look like. He had only told me the color of his eyes and hair. I had touched his face with my hands, but I had never thought he to be… like this. Stars, he’s gorgeous. My cheeks are flushing like they never have before and he tries not to  smile. Son of a bitch. He knows my anxiety is about him. I feel like a silly teenager and the worst part is that I can't help it. To think that this handsome man is… mine. Stupid hormones.

After a few minutes, I shake my head and finally return to the conversation, which has become somewhat more tense. Mayfeld seems to argue and claim something about a past mission and Hess only apologizes for the flaws in that.

From one moment to the next, Mayfeld shoots Hess with his blaster. I turn to him and he seems surprised too, but it doesn't take long for those in the dining room to try something. I pull my blaster out of my stolen uniform and fire in self-defense.

The three of us were silent for a few minutes. Mayfeld has the helmet on Din.

“You did what you had to. We never saw your face ” he says looking at the wall. I follow suit until Mando hides his face again.

"Sorry" I whisper loud enough for him to hear me.

"Security in the common area" say some soldiers approaching. We shoot at them while looking for another way out.

Mayfeld climbs on the fence behind us, under the vents.

"Over here" He tells us.

Din follows him. I keep shooting until I see an opportunity to turn. Din extends his arm to me and helps me up. Both men manage to kick a vent. We leave the building to walk on the ledge until we reach a staircase that leads to the roof.

Thanks to Fennec and Cara who helped us by observing everything from a distance, we were able to return to Boba's ship safely. 

**

"We should talk about what happened," says Din, sitting next to me. It feels better to see him in beskar armor again.

After Mayfeld destroyed  mine and we set him free, the ship ride has a new direction. Fennec and Cara help Boba, although maybe they just want to leave us alone.

‘You must tell him. You're lucky I couldn't do anything to prevent you from going in the truck without suspicion.'

Cara's words echo in my head. But I ignore them, this is not the time. Din must focus on getting the baby back.

“We don't have to. Mayfeld said so. We never saw your face "

"Cyar’ika" takes my hand. "I don't regret doing it" I raise my head looking at his visor.

“It was necessary, I know. Everything is for the child, I understand it ” I grimace. “I know how much your creed means. I don't want you to feel bad about something that wasn't your fault. you had no choice "

"Listen to me" his hands go to my cheeks. “I could make any excuse for what happened, but I don't care that you saw my face. I could tell that you tried to look away and you don't know how much that meant to me ” he sighs.

"It was inevitable" I blush

He laughs. “You and the child are the most important thing and I would do anything to protect you. Regardless of my belief "

He leaves my face and now his hands travel to his helmet.

"Wow, wait, Din-"

"I want to do it"

He slowly takes it off and again I’m surprised to find his brown eyes. I settle in to see him. I touch his cheek and he closes his eyes, bowing to my touch.

“You’re part of my clan, my family. No more secrets, Cyar’ika "

"How could I be so lucky to have found you?"

“The lucky one is me. You never knew what my face was like and still you stayed by my side "

“It wasn't easy” I joke “But I know when a man is worth it. I don't regret staying by your side. And now less when seeing how incredibly hot you are, Brown Eyes "we both laughed

I move closer and press his forehead against mine, closing my eyes.

"I could see how you were blushing, Cyar’ika."

"Don't get too cocky"

**

‘He wants the permission of both’

'All right, pal. It’s time to go. Don’t be afraid ’

‘I love you too, my Little bean. We will see each other again, I promise. '

‘May de force be with you’

**

I stand in front of the door. After the emotional goodbyes, Din wanted to be alone for a few minutes. That happened two hours ago. I know my time is running out. This may not improve the situation, but I can't keep putting it off.

I push the button and the door opens. I enter the room and it closes again.

Din is sitting in his cot, his back to me, without his helmet.

“I know you don't want to talk and I don't know what to tell you that can help” I sigh “But you must know something. I have to tell you, Din "

I sit on the shore.

"It's not a good time"

"I can't keep waiting for that moment" he sighs and turns.

I lick my lips and fidget. He notices my movements, frowns.

"Are you okay? You're hurt?"

"No, I, uh. I'm good"

"What do you want to talk about?"

“Something happened when I was in Nevarro with Cara. Well, it happened a lot before, but I found out when I was there "He comes over and takes my hand" I know it's not the best scenario to tell you, but maybe I can take away your pain about the child- "

"Grogu"

"What?"

"His real name is Grogu" I smile nodding.

“Grogu will always be important to both of us, I am not trying to replace him in any way, it was never my intention. Although” I grimace “ I don't think I thought about this until it happened, but ”

"Cyar’ika"

"Yeah, right. I- uh. Din, I'm pregnant "

You never know what your partner's reaction to this news would be like and I, without a doubt never imagined being able to see this.

"We're going to have a baby?" He whispers. "Yours and mine?"

"Yes" I answer, unsure.

He shakes his head and frowns.

“But, you were in danger, the truck, with Gideon. Is the baby okay? Are you both? " he says quickly making me laugh.

"We are fine, Din"

"But-"

I take his face.

"We are both fine" that seems to reassure him. He's silent for a few seconds.

"Are you sure?" I nod. Little by little he assimilates the news again, now he smiles. He lets out a little laugh. "A clan of four"

My eyes water, I laugh too.

"A family"

"Allit"

We get closer at the same time. My lips collide with his in a tender kiss. Tears run down my cheeks. Din grabs me by the waist to get me closer to him, causing me to end up in his lap.

"Aliit ori'shya tal'din" he whispers near my lips. Family is more than a bloodline. "I love you, Cyar’ika"

"I love you too"

[marvelousell]

My dearest

Pairing: Harrison Osterfield x Female reader

Summary: Harrison realises how his past actions were wrong after seeing you in a wedding dress

Word count: 1.9k

Warnings: Angst, swearing

A/N: Thanks to @harrysleftchelseaboot for tagging me in her challenge I love it and I enjoyed writing this so much! “Don’t you love me?” & “Letting you go was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” were the prompts I used. Hope y’all enjoy this:)

Masterlist || Add yourself to my tag list

*

“You’re getting married.”

A lovely sunny day, the warm weather that wasn’t usual for the beginning of May was a big irony for Harrison. Everyone was loud, chirpy and hyped about today. He didn’t want to come here, he tried to convince his girlfriend to stay home but the whole thing fell in the water. Everything was bright, even his shirt that his girlfriend chose for him to wear was but he sure wasn’t. Harrison was sure that the whole ceremony, people and the weather were harmonised just so he could feel worse.

It was all too much, the flowers that he knew you loved endlessly, the soft white and beige theme with the small details were your choice. He knew how you would always go through those magazines to daydream about your wedding, how you always bragged about having white roses so they could match your dress. 5 years passed and he still knew every single detail about you and your thoughts.

“You alright?” The low voice that belonged to his girlfriend made him sigh, questioning if he really was.

“Absolutely.” The small smile and hand on her lower back was enough for her to believe him. Harrison loved June so much. Her kind heart and open mind was something that made his heart so warm when he met her, however he couldn’t stop thinking about you. He couldn’t stop thinking about that night and how he messed up and how your bitter words after his actions stung.

“I would be nervous if I was the groom’s best man as well. Go look for Ian and help him out it’s a big day for him. I’m going to catch up with Bianca there.” June was a ray of sunshine, she was always here no matter what. Her heart was too big, her kindness and patience were Harrison’s weakness.

“Love you.” The small giggles that escaped past her lips after he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, sent nervous chills down his spine.

Harrison was doing just fine, he had a lovely partner, an apartment, a dog. He had absolutely everything he wanted but somehow he still missed something from time to time and this wedding wasn’t helping him to push that feeling away. He swallowed thickly as his feet brought him to a door which was half open. Harrison wanted to help Ian, be the best friend he could to him on this day and then go home and forget everything. Somehow he knew that his plan was ruined after he saw your figure through the door, cursing silently. Harrison wasn’t sure what it was that dragged his feet closer to that door, eyes never leaving your body.

You looked astonishing and breathtaking. The dress wasn’t dramatic, it hugged your body perfectly and the details in your hair made you look like an angel. You were cursing about your heels still unaware about the man behind the door. Harrison’s throat got dry, breathing was an unknown term at that moment, the heartbeat in his chest was getting more and more hectic after every second. This wasn’t happening. He tried to squeeze his eyes shut and stop whatever was happening but you were always there after he opened them again looking more beautiful after every try.

Was he supposed to talk to you? You two were fine, for your, his and Ian’s sake. June and Ian didn’t know about your past, maybe it was for the best but he still doubted if it this was good for you two. Harrison didn’t want to stand here for the whole time, he didn’t want to feel like this, he didn’t want to look at you in that dress knowing that the last hope he hold onto is going to be gone in a few hours after you say yes.

He was still silent, he got inside without you noticing since you were focused on something else. The accelerated breathing and his stomach churning from the sight of you made the whole room smaller for him.

“You’re getting married.” His husky and low voice was the best he got for you. The lump in his throat was an obstacle so this statement was the only thing he could spit out.

“What are you doing here?” Your fast reaction and words were what Harrison expected. You didn’t see each other for a long time but after Ian came back to his home town and wanted him to meet the girl he met and went crazy about, you two reunited. After it you were always around each other but you stayed silent about your past.

“The d-door was open.” Harrison took a big breath, clenching his jaw from the nervousness. He couldn’t do this.

“You can’t see me before the wedding starts.” You avoided his gaze, gripping the edges of the chair you were sitting on. You weren’t ready either. You weren’t ready for him to be here and you weren’t ready to be Ian’s when the good part of you belonged to another person.

“I’m not the groom it’s fine.” It came out more bitter than he wanted it to be. After it he couldn’t stop imagining if he would be in the room downstairs getting ready for you and your life together if his actions were different years ago. The silence and your gaze shifting to everything but him was killing him he needed you to look at him once more before you say your vows.

“What do you want Harrison.” The words weren’t harsh as before, they were filled with sadness and tiredness. You should be happy, beaming right now yet you looked like a total catastrophe. You didn’t want him to see it but he was too good. He knew you like the back of his hand, he read you like an open book, you just couldn’t hide it from him.

“Nothing. Wanted to see you one last time and have the conversation we avoided for so long.” It was the truth, he wanted to know how you were. He wanted to see his girl one last time before she stopped being his.

“It’s not like I’m going to disappear after the wedding so we won’t be able to see each other.” Although you knew what he meant with his words you wanted to hear it from him. His hair was styled perfectly, the pinkish shirt was a novelty since he didn’t love colours, he was still the most handsome guy ever.

“You won’t but everything we had will.” He still hoped that your feelings didn’t fade for him. Harrison’s heart tightened every time he looked at your rosy cheeks and eyes that were full of tears now. He wished for another chance, another one so he could go back and do the right thing, he wished for a happy end here with you.

“Please Harrison.” You stood up, letting the dress fall down, giving him a harder time after his eyes landed on your figure and the damn white dress.

“Don’t. I just want to know..” He couldn’t even finish, lowering his eyes down on the floor squeezing his fist to stop this feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“What?” Your voices were so fragile, you couldn’t look into each other’s eyes like you used to.

“Don’t you love me?” Harrison throat was burning, burning from those words that he hoped he wouldn’t have to say to you.

“Are you serious Harrison?” Was he really asking you that? Was he really here after everything?

“Please Y/N.” He was begging, he couldn’t continue without you. He was being selfish he knew that but the love he had for you was stronger than every possible feeling he had for June and Ian combined.

“You’re asking me this after you left?” Your eyes were now focused on his, both of your visions blurry from the tears that formed non stop.

Harrison left, he didn’t need a reminder, the constant guilt he was battling with was enough. Was he being unbelievable now? Absolutely. Harrison was the one who exploded, the one who thought that space was what you needed but now he was the one begging for closure. Irony at it’s best.

“Letting you go was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I’m a complicated person I agree. I agree with everything you’ve said that night, I fucking agree Y/N. I was an idiot I still am but believe me I can’t do this without you. I-I won’t be able to do it.” His thumb rushed to your cheeks, brushing the tears away constantly so your makeup doesn’t get smudged. You were still beautiful, you always were in and out.

“Why are you doing this today? Why today? You had 5 years to tell me that and you chose this one? Are you trying to make fun of me Harrison?” Your feelings were sure mixed but right now they were a mess. A mess that you won’t be able to get rid of.

“Because I’m a coward. Someone who thought that you deserved better before. You still do but I can’t help myself. You are the one. You are the one I need Y/N.” He was glad that you didn’t reject his touch, that you didn’t reject his closeness after he pressed his forehead against yours. You were both breathing rapidly, unsure where this will go now.

“June, Ian, you. I c-can’t.” Your head moved slowly. The sobs were stuck in your mouth as you turned away from him not wanting to deal with his blue eyes that made you weak instantly.

“Love.” He tried to touch you, get you to relax in his arms that seemed foreign after a long time.

“Stop it please.”

“Stop what?” Harrison assumed what you were thinking, his voice shaky, afraid to hear the answer you were going to give him.

“This. Us. We’re both happy. We have someone, for God’s sake I-I’m getting married to your best friend. It is a bit too late for us Harrison. I forgive you, I actually forgave you a long time ago b-but I can’t. I’m s-sorry.” Was that the decision you wanted? No, definitely not what you wanted. However it was the decision you needed, both of you needed it.

Harrison knew that, he knew how you weren’t a girl like that. Always putting others and their feelings before you and your priorities, one reason out of many why he fell in love with you.

“I’m sorry that I left that night.” He was whispering, voice barely audible. You said what you needed and now he needed to say at least that.

“I’m sorry too.” Harrison wanted to fight, stay here and not leave like he did once. Still your happiness was the only thing that mattered. The room was getting smaller, he felt the walls swallowing him completely. He moved but he didn’t want to.

“You asked me if I love you.” You started before he left, playing with your fingers nervously. Silence filled the room once again after you took a pause before continuing. Harrison stood near the door, his back facing you as he waited for your words.

“You’re an idiot for even asking. I loved you so much.”

“And I still do.” The corner of his mouth quirked up, relieved that you didn’t stay on the past tense. You were an angel, a true one. He glanced at you before leaving, smiling through the tears just like you did. You were both aware that if he wasn’t late, if you both weren’t silent until now this wouldn’t be happening and he wouldn’t leave again like he once did. Still Harrison knew deep down that his heart belonged to you and so did yours belong to him and it was enough for him, even if he didn’t deserve it.

[and-it-freezes-me]

Accidents Happen - Empty

Summary: There is only so much truth one can take before having to do something about it, after all.

Content: swearing, discussions of accidents, alcohol abuse, a slightly less than consensual kiss, brief mention of suicide attempts

Word count: 4,122

{Part 4} {Part 6}

The world had gone; the only thing left was the expression on Janus’ face.

If he had looked vulnerable a moment ago, that was nothing to the raw pain that took up residence in the amber flecks in his hazel eyes, nothing to the shock and hurt that suddenly seemed to drip from the fragile cheekbones and sharp jaw.

This was the expression that had been hiding under every joke and tease over the past month. In that moment, Roman was more sure of that fact than he had ever been of anything in his life. That didn’t stop him from ploughing ahead.

“I… I never hurt Remus.” There was a kind of fervour in Janus’ voice, as though the idea was repugnant to him. He just couldn’t stop lying, could he?

“Don’t lie to me!” Roman’s voice was sharp despite the muddle of guilt and confusion and alcohol clogging his thoughts. Was he really tipsy already? He’d only had a few mouthfuls. “I know you did something. Remus’ scared - he’s terrified of you!”

He was pointing accusingly at Janus, he realised. What must this look like to somebody else? Roman, standing by the rock, furiously jabbing his finger toward Janus - who looked as though he were about to cry. Crocodile tears, Roman thought.

“I didn’t do anything to him! He -” Panic had taken over, lifting Janus’ words almost an octave, and Roman felt a dark kind of satisfaction take over.

“You’re still lying, Janus - I know you did something. I know you did!” He was shouting now, the words racing around the clearing, tearing through him, ripping into Janus. Roman could see him quivering under their ferocity. Good. “I’ve been watchin’ you for weeks now, waiting for you to slip up, but you’re just too good! The lyin’s in your bones - but you’re gonna tell me. You’re going to tell me what you did to -”

“That’s what this has been about?” There was something new in the medley of agony in Janus’ face now. Betrayal. His voice had dropped back to its usual tone, but now there was something under the words, something pulsing. “You - Fuck! You know, Remus warned me that you’d do this, and I didn’t listen because I’m a goddamn idiot!” He laughed harshly, and Roman kept glaring at him. Finally. Finally, after everything he had done, maybe now he would get the truth. “Hell, even Virgil warned me - repeatedly! When you approached me, I thought you might actually want to be friends. All that guilt over ‘what Remus did to me’ -” Janus didn’t gesture, hands gripping the strap of his satchel, but Roman heard the quotation marks in his voice. “- I thought it might turn into friends, maybe even something more! I thought Remus was wrong about you. But he was right, wasn’t he? We’re all just pawns in your stupid game, where you get to run around playing the hero and trampling over everybody else.”

“Stop lying - tell me the truth! You didn’t even know Remus!” Now it was Roman’s voice that was rising in pitch.

Janus laughed again, his face contorted into something resembling a snarl. His cheeks were wet - no, only his unmarked cheek. There were no tears on the burned side. “Didn’t know him? You’re the one that doesn’t know him! Remus is my best fucking friend.”

“Bullshit! He crashed my car tryin’to get rid of you! He’d rather b-”

“He didn’t crash that car - I did!” The words had been a desperate scream, and left a ringing silence in their wake. Janus’ chest was heaving, and a curious calm had settled over Roman. The very trees around them held their breath, leaning in to hear what Janus had to say. “I crashed that fucking car and I almost fucking died, Roman, and you know what Remus did? He - He dragged me out of that burning deathtrap and he called the fucking police on himself to get the ambulance there faster and then he fucking refused to let me take the fucking fall for my own stupid fucking decisions! Are you happy now?” Janus dragged the back of his hand across his face, but any tears he managed to remove were immediately replaced.

“I…” Roman took a stunned step forward, and Janus stumbled back as though Roman were threatening him with a lighter.

“Stay the fuck away from me, you - Just stay away from me.”

Janus kept his eyes on Roman as he backed out of the clearing, but as soon as he was past the treeline he turned his back on Roman and fled.

-

Are you happy now? Remus had asked him something similar. Happy?

Roman could say, without a shred of doubt, that he had never been less happy.

Actually, he wasn’t sure he had ever been less… Anything. He couldn’t feel happy, not after that. The discovery of the truth at long last had brought no satisfaction - but he didn’t feel sad, either. He had done what he had had to, right? Now he was just… Empty. (Both in a literal and a metaphorical sense - shortly after Janus had left him, Roman’s lunch and the small amount of whiskey he had had had made a reappearance. He was sat by the rock, the puddle of vomit about a metre away from him).

He was shaking, although no tears had come. He didn’t seem to have anything left inside him to expel.

You see people as obstacles in your way, Virgil had said.

You just use me to wipe away the stains, Remus had said.

You just use people as pawns. You just trample all over them, Janus had said.

That couldn’t be completely true. There had to be somebody that Roman hadn’t hurt - but he couldn’t think of anybody.

He had been complaining about how annoying Remus was to Patton just days before Remus had pushed him down those stairs - but that wasn’t his fault, was it? It hadn’t been until over a year later that Patton had stopped talking to him as though they were friends and started treating him as little more than an acquaintance, and even then only when there were other people involved in the conversation. Roman didn’t even know why they had stopped being friends.

He had just fallen out of touch with Virgil. They had been growing up, growing apart, it happened. Maybe he could have done some things better - but now that Roman actually sat down and thought about it, tried to understand, he just remembered trying to cut Virgil out. Why? What had it been?

Oh, yes. Virgil hadn’t fitted in with the group of upperclassmen that Roman had been trying to impress, so Roman had just… But they had just been kids. Just stupid kids. Virgil had forgiven him, right? They still spoke, they were still… Haven’t you hurt me enough? Maybe Virgil hadn’t forgiven him after all.

Logan, then. He’d never… But he had, hadn’t he? Logan had moved to town at the start of highschool, and in their first interaction Roman could remember making three separate jibes at their stiff, unnaturally formal way of speaking. That hadn’t stopped him from getting Logan to tutor him in Calculus, which he had been failing at the time, and then… Never talking to them again. And then there was Wednesday, just three days ago, when he had tried to use them to blackmail Virgil.

And now that Roman thought about it, he couldn’t think of anybody else he had ever considered his friends. There were the other students at school, but he had never spent much time trying to befriend any of them. A Prince, a hero, whatever he was didn’t need friends. He just needed people to nod at in the corridors, people to applaud when he took a major role in a play, people to look at him and remark that he truly was the angelic twin.

I’m your friend - possibly your only friend, Janus had said. At the time, Roman had thought it was a cheap attempt to manipulate him into being dependent on him. He hadn’t thought about it hard enough to come to the conclusion that it was the truth.

Had been the truth. Wasn’t the truth anymore.

Roman wanted to be sick again.

-

Roman’s mum was working the night shift at the hospital and his dad had gone to see a friend on the other side of town; neither of them were there when he finally dragged himself back home. Dropping Remus’ keys carelessly onto the kitchen table, Roman stared around at the empty room. Three chairs, arranged neatly around the circular table. A picture of him taped to the fridge, taken from one of the opening scenes of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Clear surfaces, a bowl of fruit by the sink, a line of deer, each the height of Roman’s thumb and carved from pink stone, on the windowsill. He bought his mother a new one every birthday. His acceptance letter to his first choice of university framed and hung by the door. A silver plated medal he had gotten as a second-place prize in a dance competition he had entered when he had been younger.

There was no sign of Remus anywhere in the room, and Roman knew that if he searched through the rest of the house (barring Remus’ room, which he was surprised they had not already cleared out), he would find the same thing in every room. If a stranger were to walk into their home, they would think that Mr. and Mrs. Wang had only one son.

They kept a few ‘emergency’ bottles of alcohol in the back of the cupboard by the sink. Every now and then, their parents would blow up at Remus for stealing some. At least half of those explosions had been Roman’s fault, too.

Well, at least this time there was no way Remus could have swiped the bottle of vodka from the stash. It was mostly empty, and for the first time, Roman was glad he was such a lightweight.

He was well past tipsy and on his way to being properly drunk when it occurred to him that Remy was probably the only person that would still speak to him now. Wasn’t that sad? His only friend was the guy that sold him drugs. (Where had Remus been getting the Xanax? It was a prescription drug, and they didn’t have any in the house).

There had been a house party that he, Remus, and Virgil had begged Remy to take them to when they were thirteen, Roman remembered. Remy had just turned sixteen, just gotten his driver’s license, couldn’t resist showing off to his little brother and his friends, and had given in easily. Roman had had his first drink here. He had assumed that Remus had as well, but given recent information… Well, maybe not. Remy had said that he was cute, and when Roman had kissed him he had pushed him away and told him to come back in a few years.

Maybe he should.

It wasn’t as though he had anything else to lose, after all - and the treacherous, maggoty thing that had taken up residence in Roman’s stomach, his chest, his brain, whispered that he deserved a reward for finally discovering the truth.

He didn’t deserve a reward, of course. The truth was that he was every bit as much of a demon as Remus was - perhaps even more so - but just much, much better at hiding it, even from himself.

A distraction, then. If he was already damned, what was the harm in using one more person?

-

Roman didn’t know where the day had gone, but it was dark by the time he found himself throwing stones at Remy’s bedroom window. Most of them missed - in fact, Roman wasn’t sure whether a single one hit the large window on the second floor. He wasn’t sure how many of them actually hit the house itself, actually. Unsurprisingly, nobody came to see why somebody was throwing pebbles at the house, although a dog in the next garden did start barking. Undeterred, Roman made his wobbly way closer to the building. There was a trellis working its way up the wall, and he only fell off it once on his way up, landing on his tailbone. That should have been painful, but he was drunk enough that he barely felt a thing. He was singing - how long had he been singing for? Roman wasn’t sure, but as he reached the top of the trellis and knocked loudly on Remy’s window, he was singing ‘Poor, Unfortunate Souls’ in an unsteady tenor.

He wasn’t knocking long before the window slid open, and Remy’s confused face was staring at him. Having nothing better to do with his hands, Roman reached out and plucked his sunglasses from his head, and used them to keep his own hair out of his eyes.

Remy grabbed the front of his shirt. Why had he done that?

Then Roman remembered that he was supposed to be holding onto the side of the house so that he didn’t fall again. Oops.

“Roman, babe, what the hell are you doing?”

“That,” Roman said, holding up a finger importantly, “Isa very good question.” Then he chuckled.

Remy looked mildly alarmed. “Are you drunk?”

“Nu-uh.” Shaking his head, Roman adjusted the sunglasses on his head. They had been slipping down over his eyes. It was dark - why was Remy wearing sunglasses in the dark? That didn’t make any sense. “But then, nothing does!”

He chuckled again, and Virgil’s brother looked even more perturbed. “If you’re here for more pot, I’m out. ‘Sides, babe, it’s almost one in the morning and you’re wasted. Go home, Roman. Sleep it off.”

“Yooooou’re not sleeping,” Roman protested. It was true - Remy was wearing his leather jacket, as though he had been about to go out. “D’you still think I’m cute?”

Remy looked at him again, a frown creasing his forehead. Roman reached over to smooth it out and Remy caught his hand to stop him from doing so. “When did I say you were cute, babe?” He was starting to look suspicious.

“Party.”

“A party, huh? Was this the same party that Remus puked in the pool behind Elliott’s house? When you were thirteen?”

“Uh-huh. You said, you said I should come back in a few, a few years!” Roman beamed at Remy. “So I did!”

“Roman, I think you shoul-”

That was when Roman leaned forward and kissed him.

It wasn’t a good kiss. Even drunk, he could tell that. Their teeth clicked together uncomfortably, their noses squished against one another, and Remy didn’t even close his eyes. Of course, Roman only knew this because he hadn’t closed his eyes either - but he had forgotten, and he had an excuse for forgetting, because he was drunk.

Then Remy’s hands found his chest and pushed, which definitely wasn’t how kisses were meant to go.

Roman wobbled, teetering precariously backward. Was this how he died? Pushed out of a window after his second kiss?

“Shit!” Then he was being jerked the other way, and there was the sound of ripping fabric. His hip bones knocked painfully against the windowsill - he felt that one; Roman was in a heap on the floor of Remy’s room, his would-be murderer and saviour next to him. There was a scrap of what Roman recognised as his shirt in his hand.

“Ow,” he complained, and Remy actually glared at him. Roman didn’t think he had ever seen Remy mad. He reached out to try to rearrange his face into its usual bored expression, Remy grabbed his wrists to stop him. “Why’d you have to push me?”

“You can’t just kiss people, you ass.”

“But you said I was cute!”

“Five years ago, Roman. That’s a quarter of my life! If you weren’t so clearly wasted, I’d be kicking you out of the house right now.” Remy was standing, brushing his jacket down and still scowling. Roman didn’t remember him letting go of his hands, but they were certainly free now. He pushed himself to his feet. Remy only watched as he stumbled and grabbed the chair beside him for support.

“But - But you kiss everyone,” Roman whined, and was surprised when the other man made a hissing sound and gestured for him to keep his voice down. He hadn’t realised he had been shouting.

“Yeah - five years ago. People change when you’re not looking at them, babe.” The endearment had never sounded less affectionate.

Roman pouted. “You wanted to kiss me back then. Why not nowwww?”

Remy actually laughed at that, only there was no mirth in his voice. It didn’t hurt when he took Roman by the shoulder and pushed him until he was sitting on the large duvet that crowded Remy’s bed, but he wasn’t exactly being gentle, either.

“Why don’t I want to kiss you now? What, aside from the fact that you’re trashed and probably using me as some kind of rebound? I do have standards, you know. Being a flirt doesn’t mean I’m easy.” He jabbed a finger into Roman’s chest, and didn’t wait for a response before ploughing on. “Given how little you care about other people, I doubt you’d take the fact that I’ve had a steady boyfriend for three years as a reason not to kiss me. You only care about yourself.”

“I dooo care about others…” Roman protested weakly - but he wasn’t sure he believed his words. This time, Remy’s laughter took on a higher pitch, sounding more like a strangled sob than anything else. Roman just stared groggily at him.

“Oh, that’s rich. You were Virgil’s best friend - do you know how much it messed Vee up when you stopped talking to him for no reason? He was going through hell, and you decided that he wasn’t worth your time anymore. You were supposed to be there for him. How could I ever want to touch you after you hurt him like that!? I only deal to you ‘cause I need the goddamn cash.”

Roman blinked, shook his head, mumbled, “He… He was fine with it…” If his words couldn’t even convince himself, how could he ever convince Remy?

“My baby brother tried to fucking kill himself, and you couldn’t even be bothered to send a message to check if he was okay!” The words escaped Remy in a sound approaching a howl, and he shoved Roman roughly. Roman offered little resistance, falling back into the covers and watching, eyes unfocused, as they billowed around him.

“He… Wha?”

Remy snorted in disgust and took a step toward the door, apparently having regained some of his composure. He was breathing as though he had been running. “I’m not having this conversation with you, not while you’re drunk. Sleep it off and then get out of our house.”

In a way, the restraint with which Remy closed his bedroom door behind him was worse than it would have been if he had slammed it shut.

He didn’t want to be drunk anymore. A weak hiccup left him, followed by another, and then he was crying again, allowing the tears to drag him down into the blissful nothingness of sleep.

-

Roman awoke to sunlight streaming across his face, and immediately wished he was dead. A marching band - one without any particular skill - had set up camp in his skull. His eyes felt puffy, his throat raw, and his tailbone ached with a vengeance.

It took a couple of moments for Roman to realise that he wasn’t in his room, and a few minutes more to cobble together hazy memories of going to visit Remy, and Remy… 

Oh.

Roman might not be able to remember every word of what had passed between them, but he was aware of the important points.

Remy had changed and grown, and he hadn’t. And Virgil…

Roman would very much like to find a hole to hide in and never, ever come out.

Instead, he removed Remy’s sunglasses and left them on the bedside table, on top of a hefty looking textbook. He left through the still open window, half climbed and half fell down the trellis outside, and stumbled home through the painfully loud woods.

-

Both of his parents were waiting for him when he got home. They sat him down at the kitchen table, fussed over him. At first their questions were gentle, concerned. Was he okay? It wasn’t like him to stay out overnight. Why was he covered in mud - and was that blood on his face? Was he hurt?

He just stared at them.

Then they got a little more… Passionate. Dae asked if he had been drinking. Hyun-ki said that they knew he had been drinking, so there was no point lying about it. That was irresponsible - he didn’t usually act like this. Was something wrong? Where had he been?

Still, he said nothing. It occurred to him that he was probably hurting them by not saying anything. He didn’t have anything to say.

They got more angry then. Now wasn’t the time to be acting out - he was supposed to be an adult, and people were already talking about their family. They didn’t need the stress of him suddenly going wild. Things were bad enough as it was, what with everything going on. If he couldn’t behave, he was going to have to be grounded as though he were fourteen again.

The shouting was just hurting his head.

What was wrong with him? He couldn’t afford to be acting like this. Did he want to turn out like Remus?

That was what finally got Roman to say something. Slowly, as though he had all the time in the world, he pushed his chair back and stood. Then he tucked it in again. Finally, he looked them in the eye, one after another. There were tears in his mother’s eyes; Roman had never noticed just how many lines creased his father’s forehead.

“Remus,” he said quietly, “deserved better.”

Then he left the room.

Neither of them tried to follow him. He was fairly certain that they were both glued to the floor in shock at his pronouncement. 

Remus’ bedroom door was open when he passed it. Roman made to close it, then paused and looked inside. There was a large cardboard box on the floor, with ‘Charity’ scrawled across it in large letters, his mother’s looping handwriting. It was half full of books and what clothing Remus had owned that was actually fit to be passed on.

Roman stared at it for a second.

Then he started unpacking it, returning the books to the shelf behind the door and the clothes to the wardrobe. There was a skateboard under the clothing, which he frowned at before pushing under the bed, and a large stuffed lion. It looked almost brand new, aside from the layer of dust that had settled into its mane and along its back. When Roman turned it, its eyes glittered in the light from the bare bulb above him and the sunlight streaming in through the curtainless windows.

There was a space in the dust under Remus’ bed that was the exact shape of the stuffed toy, so Roman returned it to its home.

When the box was finally empty, he collapsed it, folded it up, and dropped it on the floor of the hallway.

Only then did Roman allow himself to enter his own room and lock the door behind him - Remus’ door didn’t have a lock. It didn’t even have a proper handle anymore: duct tape had been stuck over the gaping hole left by its removal, and there was a stone by the door that Remus used to keep it shut.

How had Roman just accepted that when it had happened?

“Do you want to turn out like Remus?”

Because he didn't want to feel his parents’ disappointment turned upon him. That was why. The thought disgusted him. He wasn’t a prince. He was a coward at best, and at worst?

You see people as obstacles in your way.

You just use me to wipe away the stains.

You just use people as pawns. You just trample all over them.

You only care about yourself.

He had a lot of things to fix. A lot of apologies to make. But for now, all he could find the energy to do was to close his curtains and collapse into bed, still muddy, still wearing yesterday’s clothing, the taste of vodka and tears still on his tongue.

The world could wait until he woke up again.

Taglist:

@bloodymari-0666

[thesmoothpudding]

1. Rain

I wanted to write a bunch of ficlets with Chisaki and my oc Nao and I'm using this list.

To get out of Tartarus Chisaki takes part in a redemption program. He have a counselor assigned to him, they meet few times in a week and usually doesn't talk much, at least at the start. Chisaki doesn't know what he got himself into yet.

The redemption program wasn’t a backup plan, because Chisaki never even thought that he may end up in jail. It was just an information he heard about, a small hero agency naively starting up a program to help villains change. It was a thing his men laughed about one day and Chisaki never really paid any attention to it. Till he got caught, his plan, his life, ruined. The only thing that could possibly help him get out, so he could find his Boss, his men and try to repay them for his failure somehow, was the program.

Chisaki didn’t think highly about the heroes that launched it. He expected a bunch of naive, young people, thinking that love and friendship can change the world. Instead he got a tired looking heroine somewhere in her thirties and a creepy looking hero around his age that seemed to hate being there almost as much as Chisaki did.

The man, Nao, ended up being his counselor. But Chisaki already decided to suffer through this, so he could do anything for people he had disappointed.

“It’s raining as hell.”

Nao entered Chisaki’s cell. The thick, metal door shut down behind him only to open in an hour. The hero was dripping wet, his short, white hair was sticking to his forehead, his jeans were positively soaked. Chisaki glared at the wet spot that formed on the padded floor, where Nao was standing.

At least he didn’t have shoes.

The hero’s creepy, wide smile was plastered on his face from the moment he entered the cell. He looked like he had something nasty on his mind and Chisaki kept himself stiff and prepared for anything. A habit he never truly got rid of.

And then nothing happened. Nao looked over his pants, sighed and sat down. He didn’t come closer, respecting Chisaki’s aversion to body contact, he didn’t say anything that would piss Chisaki off, he didn’t do anything suspicious. They met a few times before and Chisaki was starting to realize this was just Nao’s face.

“Is there anything you want to talk about?” He always started from that question. Chisaki shrugged and moved around the bed he was sitting on. He leaned against the padded wall, crossing his legs.

“Not really.”

“Aw, come on, you always say that.” His tone of voice was light and amused so Chisaki only rolled his eyes. “You know it means I’ll be talking, right?”

Upon hearing that Chisaki grimaced, making Nao laugh. Every time he refused to talk with the hero, Nao talked by himself, spilling useless bullshit. It was positively torturous.

“There’s not that much happening around here for me to talk about,” sighed Kai.

“You don’t have to talk about that. Let’s see, how about we talk about rain?”

“Rain?” Chisaki lifted one of his eyebrows high.

“Yeah! Like, do you like it?”

Sitting on the floor, waiting for an answer, Nao looked a bit like a dog. A very big - at least as high as Chisaki was - very suspicious looking dog. That thought amused Kai a bit but he made sure it wasn’t obvious.

“I don’t,” he answered.

“Oh? Why?”

“Why would I like it? It’s annoying.”

“Yeah, I get that.” Nao laughed, brushing his wet hair with his hand. “Like, fall or winter rain feels just sad. And when it’s raining instead of snowing it’s just disappointing.” Chisaki didn’t comment so Nao continued. “But spring rain means the change of the weather. Rain after a hot day feels refreshing and you know, after the rain the sun will always show up.”

“So you like it?”

“Well, I used to not to.” Nao thought for a moment. “It was difficult when it rained. And rain makes my quirk less effective so I usually can’t work well when it rains. But I learned to like it with the time.”

Chisaki knew that Nao had a sweat based quirk and refused to touch people with bare skin most of the time. He didn’t know what the quirk did but if it was sweat based then obviously rain would be a big obstacle for it. Yet this man said he likes it now.

“It makes no sense.”

“Maybe. I can tell you what made me change my view, though. If you told me why don’t you like it?”

Teeth caught Chisaki’s lower lip but he quickly let it go. He chewed on the inside of his cheeks instead. From one side he knew that working together with Nao will bring him his results faster and he didn’t plan spending the rest of his life in jail. From the other side, though, he really didn’t want to share so much stuff with the hero.

But the rational part of him won.

“I have a memory. With rain.” Chisaki looked down, on his crossed legs. He knew he would see his hands laying there if he still had them and forced himself to gulp town thick saliva. Skin on his arms itched a little, he gave the feeling no attention though. “It’s not a bad memory, it just turned bitter with time.”

Chisaki looked at the hero and saw a pleased look on him. He scowled slightly, immediately feeling like he said too much. Nao acted like he didn’t notice.

“My reason is similar, you know?” Chisaki blinked at him, doubting his words. “There was a time, before I became a hero, that I spent with someone very dear to me. One of the sweetest memories I have from that time is when we danced in the rain like a pair of hopeless idiots.” Nao laughed at that, obviously noticing an unconvinced look on Chsaki’s face. “After she died it brought me a lot of pain, but now I cherish it like nothing.”

Kai looked away from the smiling hero.

“Dancing in the rain?” He decided to hide his sudden discomfort with an ironic, bitter tone. “What, did you live in some kind of musical or something?”

“Really far from it, actually,” laughed Nao, shaking his head. “Don’t tell me you never run or hang out in the rain with people close to you?”

“No.”

“Would you want to, once you’re out?”

Chisaki snapped his head and glared at smug looking Nao. The white haired man laughed again.

“We’re not close,” spat Chisaki, hating how he could feel a slight blush tinting his cheeks.

“I’m just joking!” Nao wasn’t stopping laughing, which was making Kai blush even more. His embarrassment was getting more and more obvious and he hated it.

Chisaki was pretty sure he wouldn't start liking rain any time soon.