#maybe ill animate this and make her go ^_^

[hey-itsdollie]

It's me again🥲

This request is a bit more for comfort, but can I please request a Ness, Kaiser, and Sae x reader who's experiencing a bit of a health flare up?

It's nothing serious to go to the hospital, but its to where she can't do much for a few days or something? Specifically a breathing issue. So, she's basically just constrained to her bed for a while and can't do a lot of physical stuff, including taking a shower by herself. The only thing she can really do is sit up to watch stuff on the couch, but even that can be limited to having to lay down.

She feels a bit guilty about it, so she doesn't ask the boys for help. She doesn't even tell them it's happening, she just uses the excuse that she's feeling lazy. She also is too embarrassed to ask for help to shower, so she's just silently suffering in bed feeling gross and lazy.

Maybe the boys find out and eventually get her to agree to them.helping her out, maybe by helping her shower? Just some cute hurt comfort bc I've been feeling gross bc i can't shower until this health thing goes down lolol

Ofc no pressure as always🫶 take care!

Sick day

i'm so sorry you're not feeling well. Coming from someone who has a lot of respiratory issues myself, I hope you feel better soon!

‧₊˚ ┊ In which the bllk guys take care of their ill s/o

୭˚. ᵎᵎ featuring » ness. kaiser. sae.

⋮ ⌗ ┆cw ⪼ fluff/angst, female reader, mentions of illness, use of pet names, established relationship

── .✦ Alexis Ness

It had been a week and your sickness wasn’t letting up. You were starting to feel frustrated, you couldn’t move around much unless you wanted to break into a coughing fit. And you felt so exhausted and gross to the point you couldn’t spend time with your boyfriend at all.

In fear of getting him sick or worrying him you didn’t tell him that you were sick. Only that you were lazy–luckily he gave you your space.

For now at least.

Ness was willing to give you space but a whole week? That made him concerned. Has he done something to upset you? Well, you were still messaging him daily but not seeing him? That’s weird.

So out of the pure concern in his heart your boyfriend went to your place. Using his spare key to get inside, only to find you laying on the couch. Some anime playing on the tv as you looked half dead.

“Huh Lex?” You muttered not expecting him to come over unannounced. But you were far too tired to even lift your body up. Not that you could even if you tried.

“Angel what happened?” He questioned quickly kneeling before you, his eyes racking over your sick state. Ignoring the embarrassed look you had internally thinking about why you hadn’t contacted him on your wellbeing.

“How long?” Ness asked softly, already bringing you into his arms, carrying you to the bathroom. You let out a levered breath, “A week… I didn’t want to concern you…”

The male shook his head and started the bath, “save your energy. I’m here now, I’ll take care of you Angel.” His sweet words made you tear up, questioning how he could still hold you in his arms even though you felt disgusting and looked gross.

But in Ness’s eyes he saw his sick girlfriend, one who tried yet couldn’t take care of herself. He wasn’t going to judge you on your state, he wouldn’t dream of it.

Ness wiped your tears as he placed you gently into the bath–after getting your permission to strip you of your old clothes. His gentle hands moving across your body as he bathed you.

Soft words of reassurance left his lips as he spent his time to care for you.

Immediately laying you in bed after the bath. Ignoring your words of concern as he went and used your kitchen to make you dinner and prep your medicine.

── .✦ Michael Kaiser

Kaiser knew something was up, you haven't contacted him nearly as much as usual. And you weren’t asking to hangout or go on dates. It’s been nearly a week and there was no sign of you. To say he was concerned was an understatement.

He knew your health could get bad at times and just from that mere fact he rushed to your home. Knocking on the door and after not getting a response he used his spare key to let himself in.

"Mein Liebling?" He called out taking his shoes off by the door as he walked around. Your home wasn’t as clean as it usually was. Knowing you enjoyed cleaning and keeping things in certain places.

Kaiser made his way through the apartment, coming up to your room and peaking inside. Finding you staring up at the ceiling.

“You aren’t dead right?” He questioned coming to your side as you glanced at him. It didn’t take a well trained doctor to tell him you were sick after looking at you.

“Oh my, why didn’t you inform me you were sick?” He sighed, rubbing his head as he took your hand in his. You didn’t say anything which he could only guess was due to your throat hurting.

“Guess I’m becoming your nurse.” He smirked and felt your temperature. Taking note of it before he helped you out of bed leading you to the bathroom. “Let’s get you feeling refreshed first. Need me to help you?” He asked in which you nodded lazily.

Kaiser propped you up in the shower, letting you lean against his body as he washed you–all the way from the top of your head down to your legs.

He murmured compliments to you, almost as if he was praising you. Saying how strong you were for even leaning against him and staying awake.

“I’ll make you some food and bring you some medicine.” He hummed fully ready to spoil you in your time of need.

He had fixed your pillow and made it more comfortable for you, noticing that you couldn’t move certain ways without coughing.

── .✦ Sae Itoshi

Sae had already figured out you were ill. Knowing you tended to isolate yourself whenever you didn’t feel well. So after a week he took the upcoming days off, went to the store and bought soup and medicine, and then went straight to your house.

Sending a message in advance so you wouldn’t be startled at his arrival.

Sae parked the car, grabbing the things he bought for you. His hands were full of not just soup or medicine but some snacks and flowers that were your favorites.

Sae walked in finding you sitting on the couch, tissues surrounding you as you coughed into your hand. The tv playing some movie that you lost interest in.

“Hi blossom, how are you?” He greeted slipping his shoes off and walking into your apartment, not even commenting on your appearance as he placed the items he bought away.

Shortly coming over to you to check on you. Your eyes looked up at him, he could see the exhaustion in your features, running a hand gently through your hair as he looked at you lovingly.

“I bought soup, are you hungry?”

With a nod in response he got up and placed the soup into a bowl, grabbing a utensil for you and bringing it over. Sitting beside you as he fed you carefully.

Sae didn’t question why you didn’t contact him, nor did he force you to move too extensively. He was there and was going to let you use him and order him around if you so wished. 

He let you rest after eating, already moving around the place cleaning your home. He opened windows to let some air inside, made sure you had some water to stay hydrated, and moved your body to lay in a more comfortable position.

The flowers he bought were sitting in a new vase, near the window sill. He sat watching tv, waiting patiently for you to wake up so he could tend to whatever you needed.

©hey-itsdollie please don't copy, change, or steal my work. Thank you!

[seungiesz]

‧₊˚.FACE 2 FACE! bang chan x reader smau

4. the wank bank

“holy shit. jeongin i’m actually going to kill you!” you screamed as you shoved him forwards as he was making his way to the couch.

“a boy can’t make a joke on twitter anymore?” he asked, picking up the pace to avoid getting hit by you once again.

“first you’d have to be funny,” felix chimed in from where he was in your kitchen.

“anyways! back to important things,” jeongin said as he rolled his eyes and took his seat on the couch. “i’m gonna connect chris’s stream to the tv”

felix and you walked through your kitchen to join jeongin on your couch. at the same time you all heard the doorknob jiggle, causing you all to look over.

“daddy’s home!” hyunjin announced as he and seungmin walked into the apartment.

“great, now shut up so we can put big daddy chris on the tv,” jeongin responded.

“never call him that again,” seungmin begged as he made his way over to the couch, simply wanting to check out this ‘chris’ guy you were all watching.

and right on cue, jeongin was able to connect the stream to the tv and the five of you were finally able to see the chest of a man on the screen.

“alright guys, i’m gonna get started. today we’re gonna be making some simple spaghetti” chris started, as he moved back from his camera, revealing the apron he was wearing over a black crew neck and a pair of grey sweatpants. 

“ugh he has such a boyfriend fit on, i need him” you say grabbing onto jeongins arm and shaking it.

as chris eventually started to get further on into the cooking process, he began reading and answering questions from the chat.

“what’s my favorite game? i don’t really play any like that. maybe one day ill try it out,” he answers as he strains some pasta.

“y/n look it’s a sign, you should game with him!” jeongin pointed to the screen and looked at you.

“speaking of games, do you know the streamer ‘y/n’?” chan reads from his chat, causing all of you to freeze for a second. “yeah i’ve heard of her, saw some of her streams, she seems sweet, and she’s really funny.”

“holy shit chris actually knows who i am!” you freaked out, bouncing your leg out of anxiousness.

he continues on the stream, “i would love to collab with her, if she ever gave me the chance, she has this presence that kind of draws you in”.

you and jeongin are beyond fangirling at this point. felix and hyunjin just staring in shock, while seungmin is just laughing at the whole situation.

“i mean, it’s not like i’ve gotten the chance to talk to her. i guess i just kind of scare her away. you guys think if i dm her, she’ll just type back ‘ahhhh’?” chris giggles as he jokes around with his viewers.

seungmin just laughs harder, “oh he violated you. this is amazing. he might be my new favorite.”

“min, you’re so close to getting kicked out,” you warn him, causing him to only continue laughing.

from the tv you hear, “if i get 10,000 subs, i’ll dm her and ask to collab,” you freeze again. hopefully no one would actually do it, right?

you see a little animation pop in on the screen:

user jeongINyourmom gifted 10,00 subs

you slowly turn your head to the side, to see the culprit himself holding his phone, “yang jeongin i’ll actually kill you”.

“i’m just tryna help a girl out” jeongin puts his hands up in defense, barely hiding a smile on his face.

before you even got a chance to answer, you feel your phone go off. you look at the tv before checking it, only to see chris holding his phone up to the screen and showing his viewers that he did in fact dm you.

<<previous || series masterlist || next>>

tags=@atsumiez @camixiez @christ4ls @darling-eos @idiotmaterial @burntbag @iovemeorleaveme @hinanitiram @threevracha @nujeskz @inniesbestie @0sunshinecryptid0 @atinyniki @jiniretsleftear @skz8riley @otterluver05 @strawberry1143 @casewonnie @hannieslovebot @babigriin @yxna-bliss @akindaflora

[ppilotco]

been playing a lot of the gba fire emblem port on my switch so naturally had to insert my oc in there, obviously

[oh-no-its-bird]

Trying to make slightly simplified shape/design references that I can maybe animate with. If I retain the energy and motivation to animate, I mean. Crossing my fingers !!

Cracks me up only a little bit that Orochinatsu is the youngest but also heads taller than the others. Truly youngest friend/sibling core

Might continue w some other ocs later, just bc its fun. Probably Haruka, let's be real. Maybe the other early konoha teens I dont think Ive posted much ab, like Orochinatsu's occasional on again off again Inuzukan girlfriend who only takes them on dates when its convenient for her (he's just happy to be there 👍) or the gloomy Uchiha boy who got to be Haru's decoy boyfriend that one time, or Shikasada's fiance. So many ocs such little time ,,, they consume me, I fear

[sluckythewizard]

TABLET WENT DOWN FORA MINUTE SO I WAS REDUCED TO USING PAPER AND PEN. so anyway ive been watchign this show thats kinda neat u guys prolly never heard o it its called wondey luts

[sukibenders]

The way people are becoming anti-children nowadays is really sad. And I'm not talking about people not wanting to have kids of their own, that's fine and something that shouldn't be shamed nor up to someone else to debate. No, I'm talking about the people who adamantly hate these little humans for simply existing, wanting to ban them from spaces due to them having emotional reactions that they are still learning to understand (you know, the kind of lessons that everyone had to learn and figure out at one point). It's gotten to the point where I've even seen these types of people genuinely support children being harmed and deny their hurt under the consensus of "Well then maybe they shouldn't be there," in your average public space. Like, imagine thinking hating on children, people who need assistance and guidance, is something to be proud of.

[skitskatdacat63]

Wish I had it in me to color all of these rn but alas! Let me know which Rüß you like best...?

Comparison to this same concept from more than 3 years ago(urghhh the passage of time kills me):

I didn't realize how bug eyed my style was atp LMFAO

[musical-chick-13]

Oh, having a LOT of feelings about this anime (positive).

[prismbearer]

I'm Frankenstein-ing Persiflage's diffuse rn and first attempt was not horrific actually except I still somehow didn't manage to shrink the eyes enough still lighfidnndjd

[red-dyed-sarumane]

very slowly we are working on the maximizer plushies outfit. unless i suddenly have to do something i should have her shirt/skirt done tomorrow & then i have to do her coat & headphones

[landoughnut]

Puppy Plans - CL16

masterlist - request

pairing: charles leclerc x fem!reader

summary: leo somehow escaped charles' apartment in monaco, and when a girl who lives nearby finds him, charles decides he needs to know you

w/c & a/n: smau | send in ideas for charles I beg 😩

yourusername

liked by friend1, bestfriend, friend2, user1, and 896 others yourusername I found this cute puppy in my yard, I'm going to kidnap him 🎀

view all comments

friend1 HELP ME

bestfriend GIRL YOU CAN'T KIDNAP A DOG 😭

yourusername if it's cute then yes I can

friend2 girl that is definitely someone's dog... maybe you should go knock on doors 🙂

yourusername but hes happy here eating a pup cup 🤧

friend2 yourusername what if his owner sues you

yourusername friend2 I'd win in court for animal abandonment 💪

friend3 AWH HE LOOKS SO SOFTTTT ♥︎ by author

yourusername update: I'm going to return him, he ate my favorite pair of shoes 😔

friend4 NOOOO I NEED TO MEET HIM FIRST

yourusername friend3 BUT HES A MENACE

friend4 yourusername ... a cute one 🥹 ♥︎ by author

user1 I'm getting puppy fever omg

user2 am I tripping or is that leo leclerc

user3 I WAS THINKING THAT

yourusername who is leo 🥸

user3 yourusername GIRL??? charles leclercs puppy....

yourusername user3 you say that like I'm supposed to know who that is

bestfriend user3 excuse her... she lives under a rock

yourusername oh I looked him up and he's so fine holy 😍 

bestfriend charles_leclerc

friend1 charles_leclerc

friend3 charles_leclerc

user2 charles_leclerc

user5 charles_leclerc

arthur_leclerc charles_leclerc

friend4 ARTHUR???

yourusername OH MY GOSH YALL SHUT UPPPPP

charles_leclerc yourusername I see leo's in good hands 😉

yourusername I'm going to kill myself.

yourusername charles_leclerc HOW DO I KNOW YOU'RE NOT LYING ABOUT HIM BEING YOURS

charles_leclerc yourusername why would I lie about this 🤨

charles_leclerc why am I arguing over my dog yourusername dm me so I can pick him up please 🙏

yourusername charles_leclerc fine...

user6 WHY ARE WE SO CASUAL ABOUT CHARLES LECLERC BEING IN YOUR COMMENTS???!!!??!

yourusername Idk man I live in monaco so I suppose this isn't that crazy

charles_leclerc

liked by yourusername, lando, carlossainz55, arthur_leclerc, and 1,952,170 others charles_leclerc reunited 💪🐾

view all comments

bestfriend yourusername BROOO WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU MET UP ?!?!?!?!?!?!??!

yourusername IM SORRY ILL TELL YOU LATER

arthur_leclerc yourusername  can I gossip with you guys too 🥰 charles keeps going on about you and it's getting annoying

charles_leclerc arthur_leclerc WHY ARE YOU TELLING THEM THAT ⁉️

carlossainz55 hermano do you have a crush? 😏

charles_leclerc MON DIEU NO ‼️

carlossainz55 charles_leclerc it's okay to admit it, talking about feelings is important 🙂‍↕️

charles_leclerc carlossainz55 PLEASE ENOUGH THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING

lando why are we making fun of charles

lando can I join

arthur_leclerc lando leo escaped his apartment and ended up at some girls place who lives near by and he found her through insta and then they met up to return leo and now charles is obsessed with her

charles_leclerc pass me the gun.

yourusername charles_leclerc so you think I'm pretty 😍 I like my men obsessed

charles_leclerc yourusername whattttt haha who said that 😅

lando charles_leclerc and yourusername sitting in a tree, k i s s i n g

charles_leclerc oh my gosh.

lando first comes love, then comes marriage

charles_leclerc lando die.

lando then comes the baby in a baby carriage

carlossainz55 UNBLOCK ME PLEASE ITS LANDO IM SORRY

yourusername justice for lando ✊

carlossainz55 yourusername thank you. I like you

charles_leclerc carlossainz55 just for that you are staying blocked 🥰

carlossainz55 charles_leclerc NOOOO IM SORRY

user7 dang this was chaotic af

user8 charles made himself look extra good for this post to impress a certain someone 😏

user9 he doesn't have to even try though

yourusername user9 exactly

arthur_leclerc yourusername now hes blushing

charles_leclerc arthur_leclerc LEAVE ME ALONE

yourusername I'm not doing anything tomorrow 😊 in case you want to do something

charles_leclerc YES PLEASE

charles_leclerc I mean, yeah sure

georgerussell63 🍿🍿

charles_leclerc

liked by yourusername, carlossainz55, arthur_leclerc, f1, and 2,873,611 others charles_leclerc merci beaucoup leo ❤️

view all comments

yourusername 💗 ♥︎ by author

charles_leclerc ❤️

carlossainz55 congrats hermano 🥳 ♥︎ by author

lando YAY IM BACKKKKK

lando 🙂

user10 why are you being so dry

lando user10 im scared to say anything cause he will block me again

charles_leclerc lando im glad you're intimidated

arthur_leclerc YAYY A NEW BESTIE

yourusername you know it 😎

charles_leclerc shoo.

scuderiaferrari bella coppia ♥︎ by author

yourusername grazie mille 🫶

lewishamilton now we just need leo and roscoe to meet 🐶 ♥︎ by author

maxverstappen1 why is she with you

charles_leclerc because I'm just, well, better 😈

georgerussell63 carmen wants me to pass on the message that she's dying to meet your girlfriend

yourusername YESSSSS I'LL COME TO MERCEDES NEXT RACE

mercedesamg yourusername oh yeahhhh 😎

scuderiaferrari mercedesamg back tf off 😤 she's ours 😒

yourusername wow I've never felt so wanted 🥹 #teammclaren

mclaren yourusername HELL YEAHHHH PAPAYA FOR THE WIN

charles_leclerc yourusername MON AMOUR??? HOW DARE YOU 😨

yourusername charles_leclerc sorry love, I've been learning about f1 and so the only thing on my feed is videos of people making fun of ferrari's strategies

scuderiaferrari yourusername next year will be our year 🥲

bestfriend REMEMBER I HAD HER FIRST 😒

charles_leclerc well I have her now so 🫵🏼😂

yourusername ladies ladies there's enough of me to go around

charles_leclerc yourusername im not sharing though 🤺

oscarpiastri so like... what did I miss...

oscarpiastri MY DAD HAS A GIRLFRIEND NOW????

[deardiarywrites]

dealing with the blues : how to manage negative emotions and more ૮꒰◞ ˕ ◟ ྀི꒱ა rotting vs resting

i know how upsetting life can be sometimes. you want to get better but something happens and life just keeps pushing you down, and you fall further and further into a rut. and because of that, you start to feel even worse. "why am i not doing as good as the others?" , "why am i so xyz?" , "why am i not like her?" etc etc. cmon my love. this isn't the time to compare yourself to others and feel even worse but to slowly dig up the soil, and find out what is actually going on. ♡ just take a day off, babe seriously. sometimes you just need to let yourself be upset and be unproductive yk? there is nooo shame in being unproductive as hell for a day or two. take your time and have a good break. now talking about breaks, we have a problem. are you really resting or rotting? RESTING makes you feel good, happy and energised ROTTING makes you feel guilty, unproductive, sluggish a lot of the times, instead of resting and recharging our minds, we are feeding our minds with lots and lots of brainrot, indulging in bad habits in the name of "resting", avoiding important work etc which in return make us feel even worse! well, resting isn't supposed to do that, right? resting is supposed to recharge you, get you ready to fight again. so next time you choose to 'rest', be mindful. do not indulge in things that you know will make you feel worse. doomscrolling is not resting. stalking your friends is not self care. intentionally avoiding important work is not self care. binge watching series by wrecking your sleep schedule and then feel guilty abt being on your phone all day is not self care. self care and resting is doing things you love which will nourish your mind and distract you for a little while, so that you can take a step back and just be aive for a bit.

an example of a day off could be smth like this ( just an example, please remember that everyone's life is different and so is yours. adjust accordingly ) : ʚɞ do not set any alarm, let yourself wake up naturally and when you do, pick up that book you have been meaning to read for a long time. ʚɞ have breakfast ʚɞ do 1 thing you really love and which makes you super happy (dancing, singing, acting etc) ʚɞ talk to someone or write abt how you are feeling ʚɞ try to create smth. a quick diy project, a lil sketch, crochet, a new dance move, a song cover, a poem, a video, photography etc ʚɞ do 1 imp work which you have been putting off (homework, stdy for a test etc) ʚɞ delete instagram for a bit and surround yourself with positivity. use tumblr, youtube, pinterest instead. ʚɞ go outside, even for just 5 minutes. ʚɞ maybe call up your friend/s and play smth ʚɞ take cute pics of urself ʚɞ maybe post smth cute on tumblr wink wink ʚɞ have a cute night ritual and then go to bed. ₊⊹ monitor what you have been consuming lately what you feed your mind and body actually matters (lol what a shocker). so tell me, have you been eating well? sleeping well? surrounding yourself with positivity? or have you been consuming content which further degrades your mental and physical health? try to replace unhealthy junk with healthy stuff. fix your fyp, choose "not interested" for posts which no longer resonate with you. declutter and reorganise. i really, really suggest trying a quick digital detox for a day. ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ talk to someone who you feel safe with. you can even text me, ill try my best to respond <3 please talk to someone when you feel upset, communicate bbgs, communicate! even if it is hard and uncomfortable. if you feel like you have no one to talk to, talk to a stuffed animal or a tree or yourself. let those thoughts and feelings out, don't hold them inside your body. release them. observe them. try to understand them. but never let negative emotions become a part of you. they come and go, like any other emotion. you will be just fine. even when it feels like it is the end of the world love you always,

@deardiarywrites

[clockwayswrites]

The Haunting of Danny Fenton Chapter 4, Part 3

Masterpost, (pls no editing or concrit. I am still ill, editing is hard)

“Go deep sea fishing, mother fucker!”

Well, that was sure a phrase to wake up to. Danny wasn’t convinced that someone in the room had actually said it. Maybe he was having a lingering dream. The hand in his hair was nice though.

It was nice to be touched.

So many of that Titans were easy with their touch. Kori was constantly hugging people or draping herself over their shoulders. Nightwing was the same, but he’d also just touch people as he passed them, like he was taking count. Gar loved to sit on a couch with people as an animal. Cyborg was big on high-fives and Donna clasps on shoulders. Raven wasn’t a toucher, but somehow Danny knew that she was reaching out to her teammates in her own way. He wondered how Wally would be, once he was back. He looked like a hugger.

Danny’s pillow shook with laughter. Not wanting to actually be awake yet, Danny turned his face further towards the darkness with a little mumble of noise. The hand scratched satisfyingly against his scalp.

“Is he awake?”

“I don’t really think so,” Danny’s pillow said, “but I think it’s going that way.”

“Good timing, pizza will be here soon!” Another voice chirped.

“You have to make sure he eats.” That was Flash. He could tell by the static hum.

“We will,” the Pillow said. “Gar’s been good about that.”

“Course I have,” replied who must be Gar.

Gar… gar gar gar, gar fish! Beast Boy. Beast Boy had been feeding Danny. His food was pretty good and the vegan stuff was easy on Danny’s stomach. He’d been nauseous on and off since Flash showed up to haunt him.

“Wally,” an accented voice said. Oh, Kori, right. Who was Wally? “It is still your turn.”

“Yeah, but my acting hands are a little busy.” Oh. Oh. Flash was Wally?

Wally.

That fit him, Danny thought. Wally. Cheerful. Also dealing with him has been a real ‘where’s Waldo’ sort of thing. Danny’s own bad joke made him laughter. The snicker was smothered by his pillow.

“Everything good over there, Dick?”

“Probably!” the Pillow said. The Pillow was named Dick?

Danny rolled over enough to peer up at the person he was resting on. It was Nightwing. Or Nightwing without his mask. Unmasked Nightwing was called Dick?

‘Nightwing is a real Dick.’

Really?

“Really?” Danny asked out load. He twisted until he could see Flash. Wally. Whichever. Sure, he as looking at Wally upside down, but he still tried for a scowl. “Really? You secret code to get me into the tower was a joke about his name?”

Wally shrugged. “What? Knowing a hero’s secret identity is a big thing and you didn’t even know you knew. I thought it was pretty prefect, and besides, it worked!”

“I can’t believe you,” Danny said.

“No, this is peak Wally,” Raven interjected dryly. “It’s very much a thing he would do.”

Danny blinked upside down at the rest of the crowd. All of the Titans that had come to support and wait for the Flash were gathered around, sitting on stools and pillows in a semi circle around several pile of cards.

“Are those Uno cards? Aren’t you playing Go Fish?”

“Super Mega Ultra Go Fish!” Gar said, complete with jazz hands.

“Right, what is—no, wait!” Danny spread an arm out, stopping himself. He slipped a little, though Nightwing made sure he didn’t fall, bless him. “Knowing a hero’s secret identity is a big deal! Why are all of you using real names?”

Nightwing—Dick—shrugged and Danny shifted with the motion. “Because we trust you and wearing a mask all the time sucks.”

Danny blinked up at him. “What?”

“You were a hero too, Raven likes your vibe, you nearly killed yourself to help Wally, and you’re kind,” Dick said like that explained it. “We trust you.”

“Oh. Okay?” Danny still didn’t get it, but what else was there to say? “Now what the fuck is Super Mega Ultra Go Fish?”

“You have to do the jazz hands,” Raven said.

With her usual deadpan tone, Danny didn’t know if she was joking or not.

He did the jazz hands anyways.

“Super Mega Ultra Go Fish—” Gar did Jazz hands “—is the Titan’s special version of Go Fish. It’s been developed over many years of friendly games, brutal arguments, post battle insomnia, and one very boring abduction by aliens. We add a new word each time it goes through a major shift, so this is version four!”

“Right,” Danny said, drawing the word out. “And there are Uno cards?”

“And flash cards!”

“Trivial pursuit cards if you’re unlucky.”

“Candy Land—”

“That explains the monopoly board, I guess,” Danny mumbled.

“—and one of Raven’s old oracle decks if shit gets really weird.”

“Y’all are way too proud of yourselves,” Danny said. After a beat he added, “and are so teaching me how to play.”

“Yes!” Gar cheered. “Super Mega Ultra Go Fish has a new player in town!”

“After food,” Dick said, looking at his phone. “Pizza is here. Danny, do you think that if we all move upstairs that Wally will stay around?”

Danny tilted his head in thought. “I think so? It’s always been about his proximity to me, right Fl—Wally?”

“Yep. It’s like you’re my focus point. I don’t know if the machine expands that though based on its location. We can only figure it out if we try though,” Wally said.

“Okay, I missed a lot of that,” Cyborg said. “Translation?”

Danny paused in sitting up. “Huh?”

“Wally is staticy to us. We don’t get every word of what he’s saying,” Dick explained as he reached out to steady Danny.

“Oh that’s… huh. Something to look into. Um, I’m Wally’s focal point but the machine might expand things to you all. We won’t know what the anchor is, me of the machine, until we try,” Danny explained. “Or that’s basically it.”

“But if he disappears, we can get him back?” Kori asked.

Danny nodded and finished sitting up with a little waver. “Yeah. He won’t really disappear, I’ll be tied to him, it will just be y’all's perception of him.”

Kori nodded back. “Okay, then we try.”

“Then we try,” Wally agreed and came to stand by Danny.

If he could have taken Wally’s hand, he would have. Instead he walked out through the door, to the elevator, and rode it up. Everyone else watched Wally so intently that he started to fidget.

They reached the personal floor.

The elevator dinged.

Wally was still there.

[cressidagrey]

Holy Ground - Chapter 2

Summary:

Nobody knew that Azriel found his mate. Until she nearly died. This is the aftermath.

Warning:

Rhys Bashing (as usual), Inner Circle Bashing (kinda), Referenced/Implied Sexual Assault, Referenced/Implied Domestic Violence, Discussion of Religion(?), Chronic Injury/Pain/Illness, Minor Character Death (It's probably nobody you love), Magical Work Accidents, Explosions, Injuries

If any of this triggers you or makes you uncomfortable, please take care of your own mental health and don't read it.

Azriel’s shadows liked to spoil his mate rotten.

Not that Azriel could find anything wrong with that.

She deserved more for putting up with him. 

More than new tea from the Dawn Court and her favourite chocolate covered, wafer thin cookies from a small bakery near the Sidra…more than the occasional embroidery thread they snuck her…More than whatever animal he went to go hunt, to cover his bed in even more furs just for her. 

He nearly had enough Sable furs to have a blanket made for her for Winter Solstice…

Azriel also had half a mind to go sneak in her office later that day. 

Just as a treat for not killing either of his brothers. For being civil. 

Rhys had come over for sparring, unnannounced. 

Azriel had hoped to have some peace and quiet today, but it seemed like Rhys had other plans. 

Currently Cassian and Rhys were wrestling with less sense than they had had when they were just kids, and Azriel was cleaning his weapons, watching from the sidelines.

Azriel couldn't help but roll his eyes at the sight of his brothers roughhousing. It was typical of them to turn a simple sparring session into some kind of ridiculous competition. He focused on sharpening his knives, trying to ignore their antics.

"You know, we could also actually train properly," he called out, his tone dry. "Instead of wrestling like a bunch of children."

Cassian looked up from his grappling with Rhys, grinning. "Oh, come on Az. Don't be such a stick in the mud. Loosen up, have a little fun for once."

Azriel's expression remained impassive. "I'm perfectly capable of having fun, Cassian. But I prefer to do so without rolling around in the dirt like a wild animal."

Rhysand chuckled, standing up and clapping Cassian on the back. "It's good to let loose every now and then, Az. You should try it sometime. It might make your brooding sessions a little less depressing."

Azriel just grunted in response, not willing to engage in a verbal sparring match with Rhys. He continued to clean his weapons, hoping that the training session would end soon so he could escape his brothers' teasing.

“When did you even come home yesterday?” Cassian asked him.

Azriel looked up from his work, his expression neutral. "Around 11," he said simply.

“You didn’t come to dinner,” Rhys pointed out. “You were missed.”

He highly doubted that.

And maybe he had made that mission in Dawn just a little while longer, so that he knew that dinner would be over and when he came home, he wouldn’t need to be alone.

Azriel just shrugged. "I was busy," he said, offering no further explanation. He knew his brothers were just trying to rile him up, and he wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of a reaction.

*Are you still pissed of at me?* Rhys asked him mentally with a sigh. *I get it. But you don’t need to avoid everybody else, just because…*

*I’m not avoiding anyone,* Azriel replied, his mental voice tight. *I’m simply choosing to spend my time how I see fit.*

“I was busy,” he repeated aloud.

Cassian rolled his eyes. "You're always busy, Az. You know, there's such thing as taking a break once in a while. Spending time with your family."

Or he could spent time with his mate. He could spent time with his mate, who let him brush her hair and even braid it …who pressed kisses to his horrible scarred hands and smiled at him. 

If it was a choice between Irena or a family dinner where he didn’t want to stay longer than an hour or two, because he was still too fucking pissed off at Rhys…the choice was easy. 

“Or is there a special somebody?” Cassian teased him.

Azriel glowered at him. "It’s none of your business." He went back to working on his weapons, his expression tense.

*You can’t keep panting after Elain for the rest of your life,* Rhys said mentally. *Look, I know I didn’t…I am sorry. But she’s happy with Lucien and…*

*Don’t worry, I’ll go to a pleasure hall and pay for it if I want to fuck somebody,* Azriel shot back viciously.

Or his own hand would suffice. More than suffice, especially if…especially if Irena had let him kiss her the evening before…sometimes he waited until she disappeared into her room, and he buried his face in the pillows that smelled like her, fisted his cock and rutted like an untried boy for seconds before he came all over himself. 

It was still better than any other sex he ever had had before.

Cassian raised an eyebrow at him. "It sounds like you need to get laid," he said, chuckling. "Maybe that'll help with your bad mood."

Azriel shot him a glare. "Mind your own business, Cassian. My love life is none of your concern."

Rhysand gave him a sympathetic look. *We just want you to be happy, Az. You deserve happiness.*

“Ohhh, touchy,” Cassian said with a snort.

Azriel just gritted his teeth, his temper rising. "Cassian, if you don’t shut your mouth right now, I swear to the Mother, I’ll shut it for you."

Cassian just grinned at him. "Come on, Az. I’m just teasing you. Lighten up."

Azriel's grip on his weapons tightened. "I don't like your teasing, Cassian. And I certainly don't appreciate you making assumptions about my personal life.”

Mostly he just wanted his brothers to leave him the hell alone.

And then...then before he could say another thing...he felt the shaking.

And then the sound came. An eardrum shattering explosion, the very foundation of the House of Wind shaking. It was terrifying him.

Irena was down there in her office. Nesta was in there. 

He was moving before he was even thinking. 

*Merrill's office, Master!* the shadows screeched.

Azriel was already running.

Cassian hot on his heels, so was Rhys.

Azriel was faster, heaving shadows around his limbs as he rocketed down the spiral stairs of the House of Wind.

Level Two, Straight to the right. Clearly...Clearly the epicenter of the blast. Of the explosion…of whatever had happened.

He pushed as hard as he could, legs burning as he hurtled down the hallway to Merrill's office.

He wasn't the only one. "Merrill!" He could hear Gwyn's shrill voice screaming, coming to a stop in a hallway of what had once been Merrill's office but now was just...

It was a mass of wood and rubble.

He barely slowed down, scrambling into action. Gwyn was already digging through it, so where Nesta and Emerie. Cassian landed behind him, immediately moving some of the debris.

His shadows swarmed as he and the others quickly dug at the rubble. Looking, desperately looking.

He moved another piece of rubble out of the way...a piece of blue cloths. The same blue cloth that he knew covered Irena's body, the scent of poppies clinging to her...Without a thought, he grasped and then dragged, a hoarse shout that was her, that was her...

He felt as if he were choking, as if he were drowning as he dragged out her body. Bloody, bruised, broken but still...still there was a faint flicker, a faint, thready heartbeat.

His heartbeat pounding in his ears, he tried to pick up on her heart. There was barely a flicker. Too fast, too faint, she was barely holding on. Barely hanging by a thread.

There was blood pooling on her abdomen, dying the blue dress she wore bright scarlet red, He put pressure on that wound immediately, leaning on her with nearly all his weight, his fingers slick with blood. "Damn it, stay with me, love," he demanded sharply.

Azriel felt like he could barely breath. Like he was falling, tumbling down as he tried to will her to stay with him. Stay. Stay. Stay. Please stay. Stay...

Rhys was there suddenly, checking her pulse. "Breathing is erratic. She's in shock," he told Azriel with a grimace. "Mor is getting Madja..."

"Az..." her voice was so weak, but he turned to see dark brown eyes watching him, brows furrowing.

"Just keep breathing, Love," he told her, trying to stop his voice from shaking.

He could barely hear what was going on around him. It was as if he were in a bubble, a world of just himself and her and the desperate beat of her heart under his fingers.

"I am sorry," she whispered.

"There is nothing you need to apologise for her, Irena," he promised her sharply. "Absolutely nothing."

Irena's eyes drifted shut. Azriel felt like something was dying inside him as her heartbeat fluttered against his fingertips. His world was collapsing, shattering into pieces as her breath stuttered.

"Stay. Just stay..." he was barely aware of what he was saying, his eyes frantically searching hers. She had to stay. He would do anything to keep her here. Anything.

"I am still owing you that flight," he told her. She hadn't let him take her flying yet. They had snuck away in the library...in the rooftop garden...in her office. But he had never gotten to take her flying. He had never gotten to take her out into Velaris. They had never had a date at a fancy restaurant, had never gone to see the symphony. There were thousands of things that he hadn't yet gotten to do with his mate, because they had all the time in the world.

Irena just stared at him, her eyes pleading, as her heartbeat slowed, fluttering weaker and weaker. Azriel felt a sharp pain in his chest as fear clawed at his spine. "Just hold on a little longer, love," he whispered. "Please."

And then there Madja. Thank the cauldron. There she was.

Azriel could barely manage to let go of her, his mind consumed with the singular thought of Irena's laboured, erratic heartbeat as he moved back. Madja immediately set to work.

He lunged for her head, lunged to pull it on his lap, to touch her with blood slick fingertips, her normally rosy red lips pale, her skin even whiter than usual.

"Hurts," she whispered, as Madja set to work, barking orders.

"I know, I know, love," he whispered, touching her cheek with his fingertips as Madja got to work.

His eyes searched hers as he murmured those words over and over, as if he could somehow hold her in this world through sheer force of will alone.

"We haven't had enough time," he whispered desperately, leaning his forehead against hers.

She was slipping away. He could feel it. Feel her slipping, feel her heartbeat slow. Feel the thread that tethered her to this world fray, fray, fray...

No. He couldn't lose her. Would not let her leave him. He had waited far too long for her. Far, far too long to let her slip through his fingers.

"Stay with me," he pleaded. "Please stay with me."

But her eyes were slipping shut, her head lolling to the side. He gently patted her cheek, trying to urge her back to consciousness, but he didn't think he was even really aware of what he was doing, where he was. The world had boiled down to a desperate litany, in his head. Stay...stay...please...don't you dare...

“I am going to be so furious with you if you die. We may have our first fight,” he told her fiercely.

He needed her to know that he would be there to be furious with her if she dared to die, that she couldn't die. Couldn't. That she had to stay. Had to keep fighting. There were too many things ahead of them...a wedding to plan, children to have, years and years of life to live.

“Az,” she breathed his name, her eyes not even open anymore.

“Open your eyes, Irena,” he demanded. “Look at me, love,”

Her eyes finally fluttered open at his command. It was barely more than a slither of brown, but he latched onto it, taking it for what it was. A chance. A moment to get through to her.

He wasn't sure what he was saying, but the words spilled forth from him, a litany, a desperate prayer. "Please," he breathed, "don't go...don't you dare..."

He was dimly aware that the others had gathered, but he didn't dare look away. Didn't dare look away from her as he cradled her head, trying to pour all of his prayers into those words. All of his hope and desperation.

"You can't go." A statement. An order. An absolute certainty in his voice. "I will not let you go."

He wouldn't. Would never, ever let her go. Would drag her back from the Cauldron's grasp with bloodied and broken hands if thats what had to be.

She didn't speak. Didn't need to. He could read her answer in her eyes, the determination in those brown eyes as she tried so, so hard to stay.

It was as if she were holding on for him, because he had asked her to. Because it was him there with her. Like she would fight until her last breath because he told her too. He didn't deserve this beautiful creature, who was willing to fight for him, willing to live for him.

It was something primal, something desperate, something fierce as he whispered those words over and over, like a prayer. "Fight. Fight. Fight."

And she listened. She did. He could feel her hold on, just barely grasp hold of that tether that kept her in this world. Just barely keep her eyes open.

Just look at him.

And she did, those dark eyes unfocused but open, staring up at him, watching him. Trying so, so hard. It nearly made his heart stop in the most terrible way that she was struggling for him.

And he was so proud of her. Of the way she was fighting like she was. Of the way she was grasping, hanging on to life like she was.

The seconds stretched too thin, feeling like eternities and only the slightest of moments. But her eyes were open, if only barely. She hadn't given up. Hadn't let go.

He was dimly aware of the others, Gwyn hovering with a worried expression, Madja murmuring quiet instructions to the others, Rhys kneeling not far away. But he barely glanced at them, barely dared to take his eyes off Irena.

He was certain that if he looked away, if he let this tenuous thread sever, that she would die. That as long as he kept her here, she wouldn't slip, wouldn't let go.

He had one hand on her cheek, her skin still clammy and pale, as her eyes slipped open and shut. But everytime, they would find his face. His eyes, like he was the only thing tethering her to the world. It hurt. Hurt so much to see her barely holding on, only that last sliver of determination keeping her here.

"Please," he pleaded, whispering those words like a prayer, like he would be praying to a vengeful god. Those moments felt like eternities, stretching on and on with only his desperate whispers. "Please..."

The world felt so still, so silent as if the world was holding its breath. Azriel's eyes locked on Irena, silently begging her, asking her to please, please...

Live, live live... he whispered those words over and over, a desperate plea to the Mother, the Cauldron, to anyone who would listen. To Irena, the only person in the entire world who truly mattered in that moment.

Her eyes were growing glassy, slipping closed only to jerk open again. Stay he demanded. Keep looking at me. Please.

She tried. Mother, she tried. Her eyes drifted to him, the smallest hint of life, of a spark there in those dark brown eyes.

He hardly dared to breathe, hardly dared to move. Afraid that any wrong move could tip her over the edge, could pull her into that chasm of non-existence that she was desperately clinging too.

He felt something pricking at his eyes, felt something in his chest cracking, breaking at the sheer intensity of emotions thrumming through him. It hurt. Hurt so much to see her like this, so pale, barely holding on, barely conscious...

“Alright,” Madja said quietly. “Good girl. You were so very brave.”

"Will...will she be alright?" He asked, voice hoarse.

He didn't let his eyes drift from Irena's face, her half lidded eyes staring at him. It filled him with such an intense pang of relief and fear at the same time. Relief, because she was alive...and fear, because they had been so close to losing her.

"She's not out of the woods yet," Madja warned. "But she'll make it. She lost a lot of blood. It will take some time to get her vitals stable again."

He felt like he could breathe for the first time. It was almost dizzying, the sheer, intense relief that flooded through him. Irena was here. Irena would live. It filled his veins with an almost drug like euphoria, that made him light headed, a smile twitching at the corners of his lips.

He barely managed to keep that feeling in, the pure euphoria from showing as he smoothed a strand of hair back from her face. "Thank you," he whispered, voice hoarse, eyes finally dragging away from Irena's face to look at Madja. "Just...thank you."

He looked back at Irena, taking in her face. Alive. Still alive. Still here with him, not gone. The tension seeped from his shoulders, a strange sort of exhaustion taking over. As if all the adrenaline that had fueled him, the fear, was slowly draining out of him like water.

“Merrill,” Irena whispered, her voice near silent.

Azriel felt his fingers brush her cheek, just the gentlest touch as he tried to keep it together. It had been too close. Too, too close. He couldn't stop the overwhelming feelings flowing through him of elation and fear as he looked down at her as he looked down at her, alive. Alive and breathing and whispering soft words. "Shhh," he whispered softly. "Save your strength. Don't strain yourself."

He looked up finding Cassians gaze who just shook his head. Merrill was dead.

Azriel couldn't quite process that information, not in that moment. His eyes were still drawn to Irena, still unable to take his eyes off of her for more than a moment. His fingers brushed her cheek again, just the faintest touch as he pressed a small kiss to her forehead. "Rest," he instructed softly. "I'll be right there.” He promised.

“Being here to her room,” Madja said quietly.

“My room,” he corrected.

The priestesses dormitory was locked from males. If he even tried to get in there it would’ve end well for him. And he wouldn’t leave her side.

“Your room?” Gwyn asked sharply.

“Gwyn,” Rhys said quietly.Azriel didn't even acknowledge Gwyn's words, didn't have the energy. All he could focus on was the way Irena's eyes had drifted shut, the steady rise and fall of her chest. She would be alright. She was going to be alright. She was alive. Right now, in that moment, thats all that mattered.

“Az, how long have the two of you…” Cassian asked hesitantly.

Azriel just shrugged, his hand resting on Irena's hair, smoothing back from her face. “Two years. She’s my mate,” he said flatly as he gathered her up. 

“Mate,” she rasped. “Mine.”

“Yours,” he agreed softly.

[the-korova]

The thing about the “for our economy” scene with Silna and Goodsir isn’t just that he’s complacent in the colonialist violence he is guilty of, it’s that he’s resigned to it. I think he’s aware of the bleak absurdity of trying to explain to a woman from the other side of the world that strangers arrived and murdered her father for the potential that someone else might maybe make some more money some day, I think he feels it it is inevitable. Surely he knows that even if he’d stayed home, someone would be there explaining this to her or someone like her because The Empire was set on Expanding Forever; that’s the nature of colonialism and its bestie capitalism. Certainly he is much more jaded by the end of the expedition than he is at the beginning, but I don’t think he jumped on the ship a twinkle-eyed idealist, naive to violence. Maybe he believes the expedition is for The Greater Good, the way Adventure and Discovery are so often romanticized in the western world (which is of course itself a product of colonialist propaganda a la Manifest Destiny and The White Man’s Burden etc etc and shouldn’t go unexamined), but he’s not, ya know, stupid.

The thing about Goodsir is that he is an anatomist. He’s cut up 20 dead people. Doubtless he’s watched the autopsies of many more. In order for him to do his work, which I think most of us would argue is important and justified, people have to die. Maybe illegal autopsies and anatomy lessons performed on stolen bodies were for the greater good but they were still exploitation. Maybe an autopsy is done for the good of the living (making sure the crew won’t get sick from a yet undetected illness) but it comes at the cost of a life (David Young, afraid to die, begging to go to his grave in one piece).

Goodsir feeds Jacko (who is a symbol herself of colonialist disruption and theft) the tinned food knowing it will kill her if it is indeed contaminated but he knows that she will die either way if it is, regardless of if she eats or not. If the crew succumb to lead poisoning and there is no one to care for her, she will still die. He makes that calculation and chooses to risk her because then at least he’ll know. And he does it kindly, sweetly even, but he still does it. He covers David Young’s face but he still cuts him open. He loves Silna, but he was part of the party that killed her father. There is no unalloyed good in his world.

He makes the same mercenary calculations later when he chooses to kill himself. He knows he likely isn’t going to live for much longer and makes the choice to take as many mutineers with him as he can for the good of the other party. Once again his work can’t be done without exchanging death for life. As he dies he doesn’t picture other people, he pictures specimens in isolation buuuut they aren’t just any specimens: he pictures a flower, a crystal and a shell - things that grow. They don’t embody “life” the same way one might initially think of life, but they do grow. They can be studied without gore or loss. A flower on a pristine white table is the idealization of scientific discovery, a bloodless fetishization of academic examination. He’s fantasizing about animal, vegetable, and mineral in blank isolation; beautiful and simple and pure and clean. This idealization is a balm, juxtaposed with the imagery of Goodsir: bathing himself in poison, cutting easily corrupted flesh, bleeding out on a dirty bunk in a dark and dingy tent.

Now what I’m NOT saying is that medical science and colonialism are the same thing and that doctors are the same as The English Empire or whatever - what I’m saying is that I think Goodsir is a way more compelling character if you consider that he is aware of, on some level, the evils of the expedition he is on and makes the calculated choice to participate anyway because he is resigned to exchanging loss for progress. And maybe that doesn’t justify his actions, but it does feel a lot more complicated and interesting than just assuming he has no idea of what he’s participating in. I think he’s much like a lot of western white people, making calculated choices while living on occupied land under the thumb of capitalism, resigned to the reality that we alone can’t stop The Machine: aware but guilty of participating anyway.

[mullermilkshake]

Late night caller

Part 17 <- Part 18 -> Part 19

You and Jinwoo talk, because it's what builds a healthy relationship.

Yandere!Jinwoo Sung x Fem Hunter!reader Tags - Pregnant reader, not much besides discussing relationships/ relationship strain, kissing

<<< For more Dark/Yandere content, click this link to go back to the Masterlist! >>>

<<< Or back to this fic's Master list. >>>

I have only watched the anime and haven't gotten round to reading the manhwa yet. Please refrain from spoilers.

TAG LIST CLOSED

Please let me know in the comments for any Korean baby names you'd like to see in the randomiser for the babies names!

“That was wonderful, my dear.”

The Chairman cleared his plate and bowed his head respectfully to you with a smile. Jin-chul had been quiet most of the night, only small talk with you and answering questions asked and not the other way around.

Jinwoo looked dessert drunk, eyes glossed over with a sweet smile in your direction now and then. His hand found yours under the table, discreetly padding his fingertips over the back of your hand during conversation.

“Thank you, Chairman. You’re too kind.”

You weren’t exactly at ease, but the night went better than expected. It continued through the evening with light conversation and discussions about the twins and polite questions that still put you on edge.

“We aren’t finding out their genders until they’re born.” Jinwoo stated the fact precisely and to the point, regardless of the two other men in the room looking at him like he was mad.

“You aren’t? Hunter Cha is finding out tomorrow, actually. Maybe you could go with her?”

Going with her was inappropriate, you weren’t nearly as close to Hae-in as some people thought. You were not best friends, nor sisters, just two people with an understanding and no ill will.

“Yeah, we decided to leave it as a surprise. But I think Jong-in is the best person to go with her, seeing as he’s the father, don’t you think?”

The Chairman nodded in agreement as you cleared his plate. “I understand, it’s just that with the second pregnancy, Hunter Choi has taken on more responsibilities.”

You hardly ever saw Jong-in any more. It was a harder pill to swallow than most, knowing each other before you awakened later than most. Jong-in was reliable, usually consistent and kind, but lately, his behaviour changed drastically.

He just wasn’t around anymore.

“Maybe I’ll call in on Hae-in tomorrow, see how she’s doing at least.”

After speaking with her last night, her jittery behaviour put you on edge. There was something about her shifty eyes, watching Jong-in every so often as he sat with the other woman the Chairman dumped on him. In truth, Jong-in appeared quite smitten, though that could have been a show he put on to make the association happy.

Shame. I really thought he and Hae-in would make it. 

“That sounds perfect, thank you… Well, we better go, it’s getting late.”

Chairman Go stood first, Jin-chul hung on every movement and followed him towards the front door with a chorus of thank you’s and reassuring words that the association would back away.

After he left, Jin-chul remained for only a moment, adjusting his tie to waste time to be out of earshot.

“Tonight was eye opening. But, if you wish to go down this road, be sure to make it wholeheartedly true, not as one-sided as it is.”

You didn’t anticipate the audible gasp that slipped your lips out into the hallway. But everyone heard. As Jin-chul left for the exit, you stood there watching him.

Was it that obvious for how conflicted you were about Jinwoo’s confession and where your own heart lied? In truth, you were confused, you wanted to let go and let things proceed in their own way but how could you?

After the front door closed, the tension shifted. Jinwoo turned and wandered into the kitchen before you could say a word. Shit. He said it didn’t matter if you felt the same, but obviously he was just as conflicted too. He was the father of the babies you were carrying, and he made you feel safe. Was that really enough to settle with and give it a real try? Wasn’t that what you were already doing?

“Jinwoo.” You said, hugging your arms and swaying a fraction as he started washing the dishes with his back to you.

“Jinwoo...”

“Dessert was so good, we should make it again sometime soon.”

“Jinwoo.” More authority this time.

“Dinner too, that was spectacular, we should really keep that recipe handy-“

“Jinwoo… look at me please.”

He stopped sorting the dishes, running the steaming hot water into the basin to create enough bubbles to clean the dried up sauces on the ceramic.

“What is it, baby?”

Despite the tugging in your stomach because Jinwoo didn’t look your way, you kept your distance. “About what Jin-chul said… I-I think we should talk-”

“Ignore him. He’s being dramatic, we’re just fine how we are. If people take issue, then let them.”

That wasn’t the point.

“I’m not talking about whether people have an issue… What Jin-chul said about-”

Jinwoo finally turned to you with the sweetest smile that never reached his eyes, his hands dripping soapy bubbles at his feet. “Don’t worry about that. We talked about it already, didn’t we? I don’t expect anything from you, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Could you see yourself being married to him, for real? Like real, real. Not just pretend and make believe to keep the Chairman at bay, which clearly worked, but for a real shot at married life with a man you never saw yourself with until the programme brought you together.

Did you need him? Could you want him as much as he wanted you? You weren’t even sure how much that really was, in honesty. In other words, you had no clue about him, more than just his favourite hobbies or the colours that didn't interest him, the dessert that he could never refuse and the pair of shoes he could never throw out because they were too comfortable to lose.

You weren’t sure what you needed, and considering it confused you, shook your foggy brain up with an imaginary centrifugal force to make you dizzy. What did you need? What could you possibly want?

He loved you, he did so much for you and you still were in the dark.

“Jinwoo… Just how much do you actually love me?”

His eyes widened a fraction, he blinked rapidly in an attempt to fool you and stifle it though you noticed immediately. He dried his hands and took yours so that you followed him. 

“Come with me…” He led you towards the bedroom and halted between the threshold. “You can stay up tonight, Beru. But keep the TV down.”

Beru emerged and knelt, never saying a word which still startled you. He kept his head down as you backed away, though Jinwoo kept moving. You never had time to stand and watch the ant’s movements over towards the living room.

Standing in silence set your stomach on a fine edge, a pit of something you couldn’t register on his face like a mask. You couldn’t tell if he was going to lecture you, or the opposite, but you weren’t even sure what that was.

“Jinwoo-”

“Come sit down, we’ll talk in here.” He warmly patted the space beside him on the bed.

“O-okay.”

When you did, Jinwoo took your hand lovingly and placed it between his own with a reassuring squeeze. “You really want to know just how much I love you? Because I was going to wait until the twins were born, or maybe when we got married… but, if you want me to be transparent about it, you need to let me say everything. Can you do that?”

You just nodded, the anticipation was slowly killing you.

“I never thought that I would have ended up here when I first saw you. It took some time, but when I realised, I fell hard for you… You’re beautiful, intelligent, and you make me smile on dark days. When I’m exhausted and dirty from a dungeon, you are the first person I want to be around. You challenge me, push me to be the man I know I always was deep down. The man I want to be… I was truthful when I said I’d let you walk all over me.” He chuckled, but it didn’t match his expression.

“I love you to the point that I’d do literally anything you ask, in a heartbeat. I just don’t want to be away from you, I couldn’t bear it. I know it’s been difficult adjusting, and it’s not the way I would have done things either, but it’s the cards we've been dealt with and we should make the most of it, together. But that’s if you want it too, so don’t listen to Jin-chul, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

You lingered in the pause, a moment in silence that was not wasted on you. Jinwoo continued. “I love you for you, and I’d do anything for you. Anything. I never wanted to spring it on you like this in case it drove you away. I’d hate not to see you all the time.”

He spoke to you like a husband of twenty years. But he wasn’t. Not yet. But he could be.

“You love me.”

“I do.”

“I…” You couldn’t say it until you were sure. 

So you did the next best thing until you could sort your head out. You kissed him.

Sweetly, without an ounce of passion or lustrous touches. Just a kiss, then another, and another. Jinwoo caressed your cheek, cupping it so that your head rested into his palm. Each pull from your lips, a long drawl of poetic sounds in a room with a heavy silence that weighed less with each second.

“I love you, baby.” He said, pulling away for only a second before gravitating back to you.

Jinwoo felt his way to your belly, grazing it before touching your waist before you disappeared in his arms. It was desperate, but he held back like he was afraid to go too hard because it would break you.

“How much?”

He never missed a beat when he pulled you onto his lap, shuffling back for more space. “More than the world.”

You sucked at his bottom lip and pulled off his cardigan in an agonisingly slow motion. “And you’d do anything for me?”

Just how far would this man go for you? You weren’t sure.

“Anything.” 

The way Jinwoo slipped the straps from your dress off of your shoulders tickled your skin into goosebumps. Your heart swelled by how his fingertips ran down the exposed skin on your arms as though he was admiring art, taking in each inch with a careful eye and every subtle, invisible word under his breath.

“Would you still love me if I was turned into a magic beast?”

Jinwoo stopped and watched you with a quizzical look, he softly tittered and played with a strand of your hair as you sat over his thighs. “Of course I would. Out of all the things you could ask, why that?”

It seemed perfectly logical in your mind, things like that could probably happen, it probably happened once already and no one found out yet. How could they if the person turned into a magic beast couldn’t talk?

“I don’t know.” You drew back, a little embarrassed by your impulsivity. Jinwoo pulled you closer and pressed his lips on your collarbone to the crook of your neck. “With the way things are going and what’s happened so far, anything is possible, I guess.”

“I’d love you even if you were a magic beast, if you were a worm or if you were somehow transformed into a toaster, I’d still be here.”

You let him kiss you again, but your mind grew more curious in challenging ways. It was as though you wanted to test him, to see just how far he’d go. While it wasn’t wise, your sudden inquisitivity merited more depth.

“Would you change yourself for me?” You weren’t sure if you wanted the answer, but still asked.

“If that’s what you wanted me to do-”

“Don’t do that. Please, don’t change, Jinwoo.”

He never said anything after that, he just continued locking lips, casually adding tongue whenever it was appropriate. If he would willingly change himself without hesitation, what else would he do?

What if there was a dungeon break and something like Jeju island happened again? Jinwoo would keep you and the babies safe, that was a given. Despite your S-Rank status, your abilities weren’t exactly combative to fight something of that calibre.

You had missed Jeju island, you hadn’t awakened until two months later. Though it was discussed, you only knew of the aftermath, not the full details. Everyone seemed to want to forget it, but just the thought of another break like that made your skin crawl.

It was likely you’d never know the full details, not from Jong-in, Hae-in or Baek, anyway.

But what came after a break like that? If Jinwoo couldn’t maintain order with the association whilst you just kept strategic exits plastered around the place, transported tools and only healed yourself, what happened then? 

Raiders. Thieves. Bad people who would take the shirt from your back just because they could and hurt you and the babies in the process.

You wondered how Jinwoo would handle something so atrocious.

“Would you kill for me?”

Jinwoo halted and froze, his eyes wide open enough to tell you had gone too far. “Shit. I’m sorry, I’m just thinking out loud, we’re having children together and I’m getting worried about stuff that’ll never happen-”

“I would.” He said, so sure of himself. “We’re going to be parents… I think when push comes to shove, we’ll both do it if it came down to it.”

He had a point.

“I don’t really know what I’d do until I’m in that position-”

The bedroom door knocked, heavily though singular. Three clunks, followed by a controlled response.

“Sire, my sincerest apologies for the intrusion. Someone is at the door for you!” 

Jinwoo dropped his head to your shoulder and cursed under his breath. “Just ignore it, Beru. Finish watching your show.”

The brief moment of quiet was enough for Jinwoo to taste your skin again- “ My Liege, they are quite insistent!” 

You left Jinwoo’s grasp before he could protest, he yanked the door open faster than you were certain he meant to. “Beru, we’re busy-”

The front door knocked, well it was more of a frantic banging. Beru hunched over, his head missing the ceiling with his posture.

“Wait here.” Jinwoo marched on over to the door.

You ignored his instruction and followed behind him at a distance, clutching your baby bump on instinct. When the door opened, you stood next to the rather large ant and watched on in awe at someone you didn’t expect to see this time of night.

“It’s late. What are you doing here?” Jinwoo asked, his hands defensively on the door and the frame like a barrier.

Jong-in cleared his throat and tried to rub away the dark circles under his eyes. “It’s Hae-in. She’s missing, and I can’t find her.”

Part 17 <- Part 18 -> Part 19

Thank you for reading and all of the support on this fic! ❤️ Likes, reblogs and comments are appreciated and I appreciate you all! See you next time 🤗

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DISCLAIMER - Crossposted from my AO3 - I do not own any of the characters or anything from the anime or manhwa. This is a work of fan fiction and is absolutely not representative of the views or intentions of the original creator(s).

Also please don’t post any of my work without permission thank you!