#ooc... i have never written them before but i tried my best oops. anyways she's just so mean i love her

[arklay]

oh oh! maybe 26 for the micro stories for whoever you want?

26. how dare you + diana wesker.

words: 2.2k warnings: topic of death, mentions of injury [read on ao3]

“Can I help you?”

Diana watched as the practised composure on Chris and Jill’s faces fell the moment they were finally met with the woman they had come to talk to. They nervously looked between one another a few times, as though they were trying to figure out who should speak first, and Diana tried not to roll her eyes. Resting her weight on one hip, she raised her brows and shook her head slightly as if to say ‘well?’

Jill opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again just as quickly. Diana already knew what news they were here to deliver, and it made the ordeal of these two fumbling about in front of her all the more amusing.

She grasped the doorknob and began closing the front door to her house when Chris’ eyes darted up to meet hers before he spoke. “Can we come inside and talk to you?”

Diana held his gaze for a moment, considering it, then she pulled the door all the way open again as she stepped aside, motioning with her hand for them to come inside. As soon as she closed the door behind them, she made her way over to the dining table with them trailing after her, then she sat down, nodding towards the chairs across from her as she entertained them, giving them permission to sit.

“What is it?” Her clipped tone made the pair look up at her suddenly as they settled in their seats. They exchanged another one of those looks before Jill chewed on her lip.

“We have bad news,” she started hesitantly, and offered Diana a sympathetic look. “We’re sorry to inform you, but… Captain was killed during our last mission to investigate an incident in the mountains.” She gulped as Diana just stared at her – blue eyes intense as they cut into her – then when she spoke again, she tried to keep her voice gentle, seeing as this news would have affected anyone else. “With the destruction of the mansion we were in, his… body couldn’t be recovered.”

Diana slowly nodded, making it seem as though she was trying to process this information – not like Wesker wasn’t perfectly fine or anything, lying in their bed upstairs, no doubt listening in on the conversation as they had discovered his hearing had become slightly enhanced by the virus. Staring off into the distance, she blinked a few times, making a show of trying to will away any tears that threatened to come to the surface, slipping into the same demeanour she had pulled the last time officers had told her that her husband had died.

Funny that both times she knew the true nature surrounding the incidents.

“Killed…” she whispered. “I haven’t heard from him all week, I-I figured something had happened, but…” Diana’s voice trailed off as she abruptly got out of her seat, unceremoniously pushing the chair back and causing it to make a loud, grating screech across the floor.

She made her way over to the sink and pulled a glass out from one of the cabinets, fumbling ever so slightly before she filled it up with water. The silence between the three of them was deafening, the tap running being the only sound in the quiet house. She hoped she was making the two of them uncomfortable – it was quite fun to watch little people squirm. Even after what Wesker had done to them, she was curious as to why they were still trying to be respectful.

Maybe they’re still processing it, she thought.

She supposed they must be professional regardless, but she wanted to see them break, witness how the events at the mansion had affected them.

“I wish to know how he died.” Diana let her voice waver as she gripped the edge of the counter. These fools should be easy to deceive, she could try and coax out some more information, even though she was well aware of the way the Tyrant had impaled Wesker. “Was it those… freaks? The cannibals?”

Chris’ eyes widened then he looked at Jill. They hadn’t thought about telling her how he was killed, and sitting here in her kitchen with her back to them wasn’t the best place to come up with such a story. “You really don’t want to know.”

Diana whipped around to glare at him. “Tell me what happened, Redfield.”

She revelled in the way he gulped at her harsh tone, but even then, he held her gaze defiantly as he internally scrambled to come up with a convincing answer. She had only ever met Wesker’s team a handful of times, but she knew for a fact that he hated being spoken to in such a manner. Oh, how she wished for him to take the bait, bite back and lose his composure, let it slip that the fair and reliable captain had betrayed them all.

Chris didn’t know if he could tell her. Being vague though? That should work. “He was stab—”

“You’re telling me a paper cut killed my husband? Are we speaking of the same man?” Diana scoffed, convincing irritation building up in her voice, and she loved the way he grit his teeth at her interruption. 

“We should just tell her.” Jill turned to Chris, and Diana could hear how tired the woman was, wondering if she had slept at all since the mission. “It will be in the paper soon anyway, and she deserves to know.”

Chris sighed heavily as he stood up out of his chair, clasping his hands behind his head and walking in a small circle. Come on, meathead. Talk back to me, make this interesting. Jill turned her attention back towards Diana, taking a deep breath as she tried to find the right words without saying too much.

“The mansion, it was infested with these monsters,” she began, and Diana came to stand by the table again, placing her hands on the back of the chair she was sitting in before, and she tilted her head to the side to show she was listening. “We found evidence that showed Umbrella was behind it all, they made what they called B.O.W.s. with some virus… and Wesker, he—” Jill cut herself off to look down at her hands, her fists clenched on the table’s surface. “He knew about it all. The whole time.” She glanced up to meet Diana’s stare as she lowered herself to sit at the table again, but Jill averted her gaze almost instantly. “Led us into a trap to collect data for Umbrella…”

“But his own failure of an experiment turned on him,” Chris huffed as he turned back towards the table.

You little prick.

Diana wanted to kill the man for such an insolent remark. Who did he think he was? She watched the shock cross his features as he realised what he had just said in front of her. But he didn’t break the eye contact Diana had started when she locked eyes with him as her jaw clenched and her lips pulled in a scowl.

Jill interjected to detract from the tension in the room, but the two were still glaring at one another, hardly paying attention to her. “He called it Tyrant – ‘the ultimate lifeform.’ But it, um, it impaled him. Right in front of us.”

Diana glanced back at her because of the way her voice grew quieter the more she spoke, and she was met with the sullen look on the younger woman’s face. Everything she saw in Spencer’s mansion was obviously taking its toll – that, and losing more than half of her unit. Looking closer, Diana saw the dark circles starting to form under her eyes, confirming to her that Jill definitely hadn’t slept much since.

Grow a spine, girl.

“Did you know he was working for Umbrella?” Chris asked, voice rather accusatory, earning a slight flare of Diana’s nostrils.

“Chris…” Jill’s eyes darted between the two as she cautiously warned him.

“Yes.” That was all Diana said, sharp and resolute. She could only imagine one of Wesker’s brows raising as he wondered what her plan was, why she had changed tactics. But she knew for a fact that he would be quite amused by what she was going to say next. The way Chris’ confidence seemed to waver under her gaze made her far too satisfied, encouraging her further. “Why does that surprise you? Do you not communicate with your partners?”

He almost backed down from the steely look in her eyes, the daggers she was throwing his way. She was so unsettling; he couldn't understand how Wesker looked at her and didn't feel uneasy every time their eyes met.

“Of course I knew he worked for Umbrella,” she continued, remaining unbothered by the way Chris glowered at her. “But I was not aware of this”—she made a small gesture with her hand—“conspiracy that they manufacture bioweapons.”

Diana delighted in the irritation that flashed over both of the S.T.A.R.S. members’ faces. Poor things, did you think I would feel sympathy for you? Jill’s head snapped to look over at Chris, no doubt wondering if he felt the same anger she did over yet another person not listening to what they had to say about their experiences during that long night. Diana would probably bet she was trying to hold back tears of frustration.

Jill grit her teeth before she spoke, trying not to show her ire and direct it towards the woman they had come here to console. “We thought he could’ve been security or something, but there was a film with a picture of the R&D team for the bioweapons, and he was right there.”

“And you’re sure it was him?” Diana asked. This was quite an interesting development actually; she would love to see a picture from when Wesker used to work at the Arklay Laboratory.

Perhaps William has a copy somewhere.

“Stupid shades and everything,” Chris muttered under his breath but Diana caught it. He should be glad she wasn’t standing near the knife block or she would’ve thrown one right between his eyes. How could he say such a thing when he knew his captain wore them for his photophobia migraines? It made her rather sad how often people made fun of him for them, even if it didn't bother Wesker.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” Jill said out of frustration, and Diana could practically see the wheels turning in her head. Jill looked up at her and tried to calm herself as she remembered that no matter their issues with Wesker, he had just died and they were talking to his wife. They should’ve just told her and left. “If you don’t mind me asking, do you know anything about his life before the army?”

Diana feigned shock at the question, tearing her eyes from the two as she let a frown form on her face. She knew what he could spare to tell her, some things he was still uncomfortable elaborating on, though his childhood was a mystery even to him, his perfect memory somehow had no recollection of the events that occurred before he turned… What was it? Eight? Her gaze focused on her hands and she ran her thumb over her ring finger, the pad feeling each of the stones on her engagement ring.

After a while of merely sitting in silence, not bothering to answer Jill’s question as she played her part – the mourning widow still in denial as she grieved – Chris scoffed. “She’s probably working for them too.”

“Watch your tongue,” Diana spat, venom dripping from her voice.

“They’ve been paying off most of the city from what I hear, and if they had Wesker in their pocket, it’s—”

Diana was standing in front of him quicker than he could even process, almost knocking her chair over as she stood, and he was surprised she didn’t slap him. But that look in her eyes... It felt like one in and of itself.

“How dare you come into my home, disrespect my dead husband, then make such unfounded accusations?” It was probably quite an image to see a woman with such a tiny frame, wearing a cozy looking dressing gown and slippers, make a man like him have his eyes darting to look anywhere but at her. She basked in the way she could unnerve people so easily. “Get out of my house.”

Jill quickly stood up from her seat and spoke, trying to calm her at least a little bit. “He didn’t mean it, we’re both still—”

“You as well.” Diana gave her a pointed look that had her stepping back slowly, as if she was some wild animal Jill didn’t want to anger and get mauled by. “And I don't need your mock sympathies.”

Once they had scrambled out the front door and Diana heard the car they’d arrived in drive away, she let out little more than an exhale as a chuckle to herself, and a hearty one sounded from behind her as well. She turned around and looked up to see Wesker in nothing but a pair of sweatpants standing at the top of the stairs.

“That was quite mean, dearheart,” he playfully scolded her.

[caffeinetheory]

There’s Gotta Be A Reason

Follow up to Everything Stays requested, well they got me to consider it, @mystery-5-5

this is Jason’s point of view, and he may seem a little ooc for him but i wanted a softer take, hopefully it will make sense, also sorry for the long wait, i kept putting off finishing it ‘cause i want to hopefully make something that’ll stand with the original

(I ended up skipping the last verse because i wanted to focus on Jason not Mari also if this is all over the place sorry, I’ve been working on and off with it and it was longer then I meant to make and took way longer, oops )

///

The bruises still lingered on his arms and the dried blood was still sticking to his skin. They were the only things Jason could feel at the moment, he was numb. Completely numb and barely knew his own name. Only one thing stayed in his mind untouched by the madness of the pit, loving bluebell eyes that seemed to hold the world to him and a soft voice drowned out by whatever had brought him back. 

There's gotta be a reason that I'm here on Earth

As memories slowly came back to him there was one constant, a girl. She was special to him, he knew that much but he couldn't place why for the life of him. Maybe she was the reason he was back, no that couldn’t be it. Talia made sure Jason knew he was theirs because he owed them from bringing him back.

But why was she the only thing he could remember, there has to be something. The distant memory of what must have been her laugh is sometimes the only thing keeping him sane.  Something in the back of his mind tells him he should hold back, but what was it?

Gotta be a reason for the dust and the dirt

Seeing the grave for the first time was jarring. He really did die didn’t he. Pain enveloped his mind as he tried to remember, but it hurt to much so he just let it go. There are more important matters at the moment anyway, like getting out from under their control. That was one thing he could never forget, he didn’t like being told what to do.

The changing of the seasons never changed my hurt

It must have been at least a year since he was brought back and he still under them. The plan was coming together, he’d run with their weapon. It was bad enough they were messing with his life but a CHILD! That wouldn’t stand. Another spring was coming, that was when he’d make his break. All that was left was to get the kid on board.

So what's it worth? What's it worth?

Saving Damian may have been a mistake, the kid was an absolute pain, but it felt like the right thing to do. Weird to think he could do the right thing but something told him that was what he should do.

Damian told him where to drop him off, a manor. It brought the pain in his head but he ran to the shadows before it could get worse. There was something important about the manor but it wasn’t the right time to figure it out.ashes of memories were becoming more frequent while he was in Gotham.

Worth another shot of whiskey and another sip of gin

Being passed out drunk was one of the only things keeping the pit’s madness under control, if you can even call it that. If he was drunk he couldn’t go out and fill the need to kill, be the Hood. Bottles littered the floor, the weapons he could run with strewn about on every surface there wasn’t a bottle. This wasn’t right but what else could he do, remembering hurt but something told him it would be worth the pain. 

Another drop of poison that is slowly sinking in

Was he ready though, that’s the question.

Downing the last of the whiskey in his shit apartment he made himself a drunken promise. This would change. Fight through the pain and go back to the manor, check on the kid, see if he can find out why it causes the pain that only happens when he is trying to remember the before.

If we're going down together, better take another hit

Dick was the one who found a lost Jason looking lost in the manor gardens. 

“Jay…”

“...Dickie”

The brothers broke down in each others arms. This started a practice between the two, every over day they would meet at a coffee shop and Dick would help him with his memories. It was slow and it hurt the older boy to see his little brother hurting so much but they made it work.

We won't be here forever, so let's make the best of it

It was a year and a half later he got to see Roy again. You couldn’t separate the for weeks afterwards. They helped one another, became a duo. What they did wasn’t exactly legal but when was being a vigilante ever legal. 

They were the fuck-ups but they worked. They did what they could to help when others wouldn’t. Roy helped with relapses and the intrusive thoughts, Jay could keep Roy grounded. Together they were the Outlaws, others would join them from time to time but it was something that was theirs.

Walking down to the burial ground

The day he finally saw his grave was a jarring one to say the least. It was the day everything finally fell into place. That laugh that could be heard when he was alone explained, the hard to control urge to mame clowns, and red crowbars making him uneasy. It all made sense, why that clown was still alive would always baffle him but that wasn’t his problem.

With a sad song in his brain

It also brought back the sweet voice in the back of his head. Always there but he could finally hear it again. Soft bliss like bells on a warm spring day. Pure comfort, he knew it went with the eyes, but no one could tell him who they belonged to. At first he thought it was Dick, but that wasn’t right, but who else had known him and been close to him?

General Cloud is an old man now

When he saw Bruce again with no masks in the way he didn’t know how to feel. There were a thousand questions going through his head, the loudest being why...why didn’t you do anything? At this point did it matter though, what’s done was done. It was clear he had gone through enough already, no wasn’t the time to stab an old wound… since when did I think about others like that?

But it feels like yesterday

Despite the open invitation to stay at the manor Jason avoided it as much as he could. The photos and halls bringing back what he assumed were memoires, memories hurt. It was a pain he wasn’t ready to quite fully face, that was until he saw the hidden frame. It's simple black outline was hard to miss in the library. It was with his favorite book, why his favorite book was a worn red leather bound book written entirely in French he wasn't sure but something told him it was more than what was contained on the yellowing pages. 

He was on the front lines, stranded on the beach

Memories from a gala not to long after he was adopted came flooding his head. Feeling lost because he was alone, Dick had classes and Jason was by himself in forein country. Baby pink and calm also flashed in his mind. There still wasn’t a clear face but she was real! He knew it! Walks throughout the city, along the Seine and thorough every back alley. She lead him to all her favorite places, showed him the lights that reminded him of the stars, showed him kindness when he felt alone. Was she the reason the madness wasn’t completely gripping him, but how could that be?

Crawling to his best friend, floating in the sea

Roy had found him thumbing through the yellowed pages seemingly lost in his own head. Roy saw the picture and things started to make sense, but for now he needed to take him back home. The next few weeks Jason wasn’t fully there, the memories were hitting him like a flood, sweeping him away. It was hard but he made himself swim, he pushed them back but not away. He still had a mission to attend to.

But he didn't make it, he still can't believe

Every Time he tried to remember now nothing new comes, he knows there is more. There has to be doesn’t there. This can’t be all, Jason Peter Todd knew there was more, what was the key to a lock he couldn’t find?

How arbitrary fate is, he says

Jason thought he had everything there was in his memories at this point, it had been at least 3 years since he died and more than a year since he was free from the League’s influence but her name always eluded him. The one time he tried to ask Dick they both got called away on something urgent and Dick would evade the question every time. Who was she and what had happened that her saying name was akin to saying the cursed words that would bring the devil himself to the living room?

There's gotta be a reason that I'm here on Earth

Something felt different as Red Hood took out the latest drug cartel with Arsenal, something he couldn’t put his finger on. It was a good different though, like something good was going to come his way soon. 

Gotta be a reason for the dust and the dirt

Visiting his grave still felt weird to Jason, but it was a place he could think clearly. No one bothered him there, it was just him and the old him. Something in the back of Jason’s head told him that the old him, old memories would finally be clear in the coming months. A single marigold laid on his grave as left, a small smile on his face as the gate closed behind him.

The changing of the seasons never changed my hurt

Spring came and went, so did most of the summer. Still nothing new has happened but Jason kept the positive thought in his head. He had made it this far, what was the point of giving up now. That didn’t mean tracing his scars to try and bring back more memories didn’t hurt when nothing came up, but at least Roy could always distract him.

So what's it worth? What's it worth?

Fall was about mid way through when Bruce had gotten a call from someone in the Watchtower, who he didn’t know but he could tell it wasn’t expected. Why would someone move to this godforsaken place, a Leaguer no less? Did they have a deathwish? 

Worth another shot of whiskey and another sip of gin

The anniversary of the Outlaws forming was quite the weekend bender, the whole family insisted he celebrated, kept him out of the area for some reason. Roy took him to Star City to get wasted, sure he was going clean but it was a special case, and maybe it hurt his family wanted him gone for awhile… he really thought that after all this time they didn’t see him as a problem kid anymore, that he had improved, at least he still had Roy by his side.

Another drop of poison that is slowly sinking in

The hangover the next day sucked ass, Roy and Jason could agree on that. But it got his mind off what his family didn’t want him to know about. 

If we're going down together, better take another hit

A few weeks later Jason got called to help with a case in Gotham. With everyone, which was weird with how they seemed to be trying to keep him from the city the last few weeks, but if his family needed him he would better. That’s what family was for after all wasn’t it?

We won't be here forever, so let's make the best of it

With Red Hood’s help the villain team up was taken care of quickly. Something told Jason to hang around for longer though, so he did. Taking up an old patrol route. The feeling came back, and for a reason he couldn’t explain it brought a smile to his lips.

There's gotta be a reason that I'm here on Earth

Jason had finished his patrol earlier than usual, he was one of the only ones out that night. He could hear voices from the living room, something told him he should go in but he couldn’t get himself too. What was this feeling? 

Then the voice that was always telling him how he mattered, how much they cared, the one that helped him, came through the ajar door like it was meant just for him. There was a sadness in it that made his heart break, she didn’t deserve to feel that sad. She was an angel and she deserves all the happiness in the world. 

Gotta be a reason for the dust and the dirt

Curiosity was getting the best of him, why was she here? As she talked about a chain he had an epiphany Marinette!!! Her name was Marinette, and with that everything fell into place. She was his light, his reason to fight even if he didn’t know it.

Something she said made him forget about the joy he felt, “I think that’s why I couldn’t let it be real, let him go… I always wanted to be by his side, with him through thick and thin.”

She still loved him? She didn’t know he was alive? How much pain had she been going through? He couldn’t catch his helmet before it hit the ground making everyone look his way, he was into much shock to care though, she was real and staring right to his soul. 

The changing of the seasons never changed my hurt

At first she was tense and ready to fight but Dick called his name and that was all it took for her to launch herself at him. Any punch he got her deserved...wait she was holding him like he would disappear if she let go. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and Mari just held him closer. Regaining his thoughts after the initial shock Jason returned the hug just as tight, “I’m here, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere,” he needed it just as much as she did. Lighty petting her hair as he helped calm her down, she was really in his arms again. 

How long had it been? Too long and she was there now, that's what mattered. He had a lot of time to make up for, and gosh darn he was going to.

So what's it worth? What's it worth?

They had both changed so much since they were in their teens but he could still see her beauty under all the scars, she maybe slightly worse for wear but she was still his Mari. the look she gave him looking into his eyes, he knew she could still she him in there, and even if she didn’t know it she was the reason. He had found his reason to live again. The calling was right, something good was going to happen eventually, and the wait was more than worth it.

Worth another shot of whiskey and another sip of gin

They spent the rest of the night together, talking and just being together. When Jason awoke with movement on his chest he was worried then seeing Mari he was at ease. She took his hand and lead him like a  puppy to the kitchen where they could eat breakfast. 

Eventually she had to go but they exchanged numbers and he was already planning a date. They had years of lost time to make up for and like hell he wouldn’t start as soon as he could. She was his light and he was going to keep that light close as much as he could.

Another drop of poison that is slowly sinking in

Seeing Mari sitting on the dock swinging her legs like when they would hang out in Paris brought a smile to Jason’s lips. She looked stunning in jeans and a red hoodie, a red that reminded him of his costume, she took off her headphones upon hearing him, a grin burst onto her lips when she saw him. She brought a warmth to his chest he never wanted to leave. Holding out a black helmet to the girl of his dreams she got on his bike holding him together then she needed to, Mari was having time time of her life as they speed down the docks at high speeds. She really was perfect.

If we're going down together, better take another hit

We won't be here forever, so let's make the best of it

When the night ended Jason made a promise to himself, and by the look in her baby blue eyes she did too, they would make this work. 

Life might be short but with you by my side it will all be worth it...

///

Finally finished and I hope the wait was worth it <3

[karens-vest]

first & last // davekat soulmate au angst

first of all, all the words are lowercase i'm sorry i don't usually do that in fics but i wrote this a while back & decided to post it here. also, the spaces between paragraphs are pretty small because i ran out of lines & had to delete them. also like everyone is ooc Oops Sorry.

angsty af

dave strider was sitting impatiently at his desk, watching the clock. it was the last day of school and he was determined to find his soulmate. all of his friends already have, they talk about all sorts of colours. jade talks about an olive green, john talks about a light pink, rose a jade, and dave talks about black and white. the same black and white he's seen his whole life. even his brother has a soulmate; some dude named jake english.

the bell rang, interrupting his thoughts. taking his time, he placed his things in his bag. dave wanted to be the last one out so he could leave easily instead of being trampled by everyone. he slung his bag over his shoulder and exited the room, making his way through the hallways and out the door. he texted his brother that he wouldn't be home for a while.

"hey dave!" he turned to see john, his best bro.

"'sup, egbert." he did one of those coolkid head nods.

"i'm about to go see roxy, where are you going?" john was referring to his soulmate; roxy lalonde, rose's cousin.

"just on an adventure through the depths of the world to find my soulmate. it'll be dangerous, but worth it." he said it ironically, but if it took searching the world to find his soulmate he'd do it.

"haha, good luck with that, dave!" john saw roxy waving at him and his smile grew. "listen, i have to go, hope you find your soulmate!" with that, john ran towards his girlfriend. they hugged and did some couple shit before leaving together.

dave thought about going to find jade, before remembering it was her date night with nepeta. rose was in a school club so that was out too. he knew this was his 'mission' but he wanted some help.

dave decided to just walk around a bit, he didn't know shit about his soulmate and where they'd be but he has to try and look. starbucks first? sure, why not. the blond walked through town to a nearby starbucks when he realised something. what if his soulmate doesn't even live there? what of he lives on the other side of the world? what if they never meet?

"hello, david." dave turned to see rose's girlfriend, kanaya. "i was hoping to see you here, there's someone i'd like for you to meet."

"alright, who?" kanaya motioned for him to follow her, and he was led to a jade green car not far from where they were. the troll opened a door and started talking to someone inside.

"i already told you i don't want to go to the fucking mall," a short troll was dragged out of the car by kanaya, and the jade blood walked to the other side of the car and got inside, driving away. the boy that was left was yelling curses even though he knew kanaya couldn't hear.

dave raised an eyebrow, was this the dude she wanted him to meet? his breath caught in his throat when the boy turned, and he could tell the same thing was happening to the other. dave's world was brightened, he saw a strangely powerful looking colour in the boys' eyes. a colour. well, this was new.

"what the fuck are you staring at?" dave felt his heart shatter into pieces, his world break around him. no, this couldn't be happening. he's heard of instances like this when someone didn't return the feelings. how could this be happening?

dave shook his head, "nothing." he fought the word passed the lump in his throat and looked away. oh he couldn't wait to tell dirk he finally found the person he was supposed to spend forever with, but he didn't return the feelings. perfect.

the male rolled his eyes, "yeah, whatever. who the fuck even are you anyways?"

"dave strider." he could feel tears coming, and he squeezed his eyes shut. thank god his shades hide his eyes. "and you?"

"karkat vantas." he was annoyed. it was clear. "just so you know, i'm only talking to you because kanaya thought i should. i have no idea why she would even suggest it since so far this is most possibly the stupidest encounter i've had all year."

the words stung dave's heart, but he kept a stoic face. "yeah, whatever."

(-(-(

dave and karkat had become friendenemies after that. they fought a lot, but had a friendship going. dave had to hide his feelings, which surprisingly wasn't easy even though he's a strider. everything karkat did seemed to make him smile. even his insults he found hilariously adorable. nobody knew about how he truly felt, except dirk who could tell when dave was lying about not meeting his soulmate.

"your music sucks." dave was showing karkat some of the songs he's written. dave didn't tell karkat they were written for him.

"they're ironic, dude, you wouldn't understand." karkat rolled his eyes when he said that, secretly he enjoyed the music.

(-(-(

"you have to tell him, dave." rose had found out about dave's crush on karkat using her therapist powers.

"i can't, rose." he shook his head, a few tears threataning to spill from his eyes. sometimes thinking about how he's destined to love karkat but karkat's destined to love someone else really got him down. bro wasn't the best helper so he decided it was good that rose knew. "it'll totally ruin our friendship if i do, and i really don't wanna fuck this up."

"you won't, it'll be fine. trust me, dave." rose put a hand on dave's shoulder, before her phone went off. the screen showed a message. it was kanaya. she turned to dave who nodded.

"you can go, be with your soulmate." he gave a half hearted smile which rose mirrored before she left. when he was sure she was gone he layed down on has bed, turning on his side. he threw his glasses to the other side of the room and let it all out. all the tears he had held in for the past two years him and karkat had been friends. he was breaking the 'strider code' but he didn't care. the code was bullshit to him. right now, he just needed to be himself. he needed to just cry it out, like a normal person.

(-(-(

"hey, karkat?" dave turned to his friend who was currently typing away at his computer.

"what, strider?" he seemed to be failing at coding something.

"what do you do if you think you've met your soulmate, but aren't really sure?" if dave had been paying attention he would've noticed karkat's fingers halt for a second before returning, this time hitting the keys much rougher.

"how the fuck should i know? not like i've ever met my soulmate." it seemed as though he was glaring at the screen, anger practically radiating off him.

"yeah you're right, it was a dumb question." dave went back to reading on his phone. it was silent other than the sound of computer keys until karkat started coughing. a lot. dave looked worriedly at his friend, hesitantly rubbing his back. "you okay?" he asked when karkat was done.

"uh, yeah, i'm fine." if dave had looked over, he would've noticed blood on karkat's sleeve. but he simply went back to reading on his phone after he was totally sure karkat was alright.

(-(-(

"we haven't been hanging out much, anytime i try talking to him he always cuts the conversation short," dave was pacing around his room while rose was listening to him. "i think he's mad at me or something."

"does he have any reason to be?" rose raised an eyebrow, karkat had never actually been mad at dave. just fake mad.

"he's karkat. doesn't really need a reason." dave sighed and sat down next to rose. "i just hope our friendship hasn't been ruined. i hope it wasn't my fault."

"if you don't know what you did, you probably didn't do anything." rose said as dave fell back on his bed.

"nobody really ever knows what they did in situations like this." his arms were over his face and he sighed. "be honest rose, do you think he's ignoring me because my stupid ass did something and i have no idea what?"

"i don't believe so, but i wouldn't know. i haven't seen your conversations." she looked at him, "but i doubt it. what you said about karkat not needing a reason isn't exactly true though.

"sure it may seem like he gets mad for no reason but i think he's just scared." she smiled a little, "kind of like you are."

he sat up instantly, "i'm not scared!"

rose raised an eyebrow, her smile teasing.

dave sighed, "yeah, i guess i am kind of scared. but just because i know karkat doesn't share my feelings."

"you said he looked surprised when he first saw you," she began. "so how do you know he wasn't surprised due to the fact he saw colour for the first time."

dave shrugged, "i dunno, but he also seemed really annoyed i was staring at him. that kind of made me think he didn't feel the same way, he would've understood." he looked down at his hands. "he hasn't showed any affection towards me, even though we've been friends for a while. nothing even platonic."

"that could be because he's scared of being in a relationship, even one he's destined to be in." she thought aloud, and dave thought for a second it could be true before shaking his head.

"no. that can't be it." dave couldn't think of any reason why karkat wouldn't have told dave he saw colour.

"maybe this is all in your head." rose was getting a little impatient, and tried not to show it. "maybe you're thinking too much into this and really he is your soulmate."

"he would've told me. i know he would've." dave looked at rose seriously.

"maybe you should talk with jade and nepeta on the matter," she suggested. "they seem to know about romance."

dave nodded, "i'll do that."

him and rose exited the room and then the house, going their seperate ways.

(-(-(

"he's been ignoring me, i don't know what to do." dave sat in the living room of jade and nepeta's house, retelling the story he had told rose.

"well karkitty can be somewhat aloof at times, but i don't know why he would completely ignore someone." nepeta furrowed her eyebrows in thought, which jade silently thought was adorable but didn't mention.

"maybe he's sick?" jade threw out an idea and dave facepalmed after a moment.

"god i'm an idiot, i think he is." he looked back up at nepeta. "what are troll sicknesses like?"

"usually very painful," she frowned and jade reasurringly squeezed her hand, as if saying if nepeta ever got sick she'd be there for her. "but i don't think kar-" she cut herself off with a gasp, her eyes widening.

"what? what is it?" dave's eyes had also widened under his glasses, he was worried about karkat. very worried.

"he's a lowblood." olive tears were gathering at the corners of her eyes. "they don't live very long, and since he's a mutant i guess that gives him even less time."

dave quietly stood up without thinking and ran out the door, through the town, and back to his house. his feet carried him to his room where he collapsed on the floor. his glasses were off and his head was in his hands, loud sobs escaping him and tears spilling through his fingers. this couldn't be happening. his love, his soulmate, his precious crab was going to die without knowing dave's true feelings. he didn't know what to do. after a moment of just loud crying, he reached out to his phone and dialed numbers.

"he-"

"rose he's dying he's dying and there's nothing i can do i'll never get to be with him i'll never get to hold him i'll never get to tell him how much i love him." his sobs rang through the phone, kanaya heard what was going on and had a look of shock on her face. her moirail, her precious moirail was going to die.

"i'll be right over."

(-(-(

dave, rose, kanaya, sollux, gamzee, and terezi were all standing inside the hospital room which karkat was assigned. although, dave wasn't exactly standing. it was more him on the floor sobbing, head in his hands and glasses askew. nobody knew what to do. nobody had seen dave like this.

the troll in the bed opened his eyes slowly, he knew he didn't have much longer. "dave," his hoarse voice rang through the room. the blond looked up, his red eyes glossed with tears not caring that everyone there could see his eye colour. "dave."

dave stood and walked to karkat's bed, he was crying too. despite what he was telling himself, the blond took karkat's hand in his. "karkat.. i'm so sorry. i'm sorry i didn't know, i should've been there."

karkag shook his head weakly, "no dumbass it's me who should be sorry." dave was confused. "i should've told you this before it was too late, it doesn't mean much now, but you're my soulmate. i saw colour that day we met."

dave felt his whole world crash down, just like that day. more tears were pouring out of his eyes.

"i'm sorry, because of me we could never be together." karkat began to cry as well, red tears joining clear on the bed.

"we can be together now." dave lowered his head, and gave a sad smile. "be my boyfriend? even if it isn't for long."

karkat nodded, "yes dave."

dave captured karkat's lips in a kiss, which would be their first and last. "i love you karkat. i always will, even when you're gone."

"i love you too, dave. i always will, even when i'm gone."

/\/\/\_/\___________________

[princeandreis]

“You Did WHAT?” (Race x reader)

A/N: I’m not sure I’ve ever written for race but I was bored and feeling lots of love for my fav so here we are prompt: this post @fanficspromptsandfun (but the opposite lol) word count: 687 pairing: racetrack higgins x reader includes: ooc race, verbal argument, fluff/angst summary: the reader, a girl newsie, is beaten up by the delancey brothers and hides it from race by telling him she hurt herself ~~~~~~~~ You’d had a terrible day. First, it rained. Then you dropped your meager lunch of bread and cheese into the muddy gutter. And now you’d gotten yourself injured by running into the Delanceys. What were you going to tell Race? He already worried about you selling by yourself enough as it was. It had been all you could do to convince him to let you sell without him; you’d never hear the end of it if he found out you’d been hurt while he wasn’t there to protect you. You picked yourself up off the ground, panting, the Delancey brothers’ laughter echoing in the fading daylight. You were tough as nails, but they’d gotten you good. Oscar had come up to threaten you, and then Morris jumped you from behind. You examined yourself gingerly, assessing the damage. A few bruised knuckles from when you tried to throw a punch; a sprained ankle; a few random scrapes; a broken rib or two, it felt like. Sighing and trying hard not to cry, you mustered your strength and hobbled toward the lodging house on your good leg. Race would be so upset if he found out what had happened. He had always hated the Delanceys more fervently than any other newsie; your being hurt by them would just drive him up the wall. He was so protective of you, which you really did appreciate, but he’d never let you go out alone after this unless you made up some excuse for what had happened. And so you decided to tell him you’d tripped and taken a hard fall into the gutter. It wasn’t very convincing, but it was the best you could do. And anyway, it sounded closest to reasonable. But “reasonable” was not a word that would have been used to describe Race when he saw you. He’d been relaxing with the other newsies, having just gotten home a half hour before you. When he saw you come in soaking wet, limping, with a black eye, his expression turned to alarm and he clambered off the threadbare couch and ran to your side. “[Y/N], what happened?” he asked, checking you over for damage. His hands were so gentle. “I fell in the gutter,” you told him, hoping you sounded convincing. “I tripped and twisted my ankle and landed weird on my side.” “What about the black eye?” he asked, disbelievingly. Oops. You scrambled for an answer, but he was working out what had happened. “You had a run-in widda Delanceys, didn'tcha?” You didn’t answer. “Didn'tcha,” he repeated almost accusingly. “Race, I–” “No, [Y/N]!” Race half-yelled. “I can’t do this with you anymore! You keeps gettin’ hurt and I don’t wanna have to keep worryin’ about you! From now on–” “No!” you yelled. “Don’t finish that sentence. You don’t tell me what to do! You’re my boyfriend, not my dad!” He muttered, “Yeah, cause you don’t have a dad.” You stopped cold. “What did you just say?” you asked, your voice dangerously soft. “Oh, c'mon, [Y/N], you know I didn’t mean that,” Race ammended. “No, no, it’s true,” you answered. “I don’t have a dad, so that gives my boyfriend the right to do his job of controlling me.” “[Y/N], that’s not what I–” “Just leave me alone!” you shouted, storming out of the room. “[Y/N]!” he called. His voice thundered. You turned around slowly at the doorway. You asked, your voice soft as a lion’s growl, “What do you want?” “I just want you to know th–” his voice faltered. “–that I worry about you. I don’t want you to get hurt. It’s dangerous out there, y'know? And especially since you’s a girl, I just… worry. I’m sorry.” He took your hand gently and kissed it, looking at you with those big blue eyes, and you knew he really was sorry. You pulled him in for a hug. “All right, I forgive you.” He gave a little sigh from over your shoulder. Things would be alright. Race pulled back from the hug. “Now, let’s go see how we can rough up those Delanceys.”

[waveswordswhispers]

Little Things We Treasure Chapter One: Learn the Constellations

*waves*

A Kakasaku fic here! I finally got it written lmao.

I don’t know how many chapters this will be but expect more than one!

For @yolkygoblin for dragging me into this hell (I love, you don’t worry and also THANK YOU VERY MUCH)

Please no ship bashing or hate, Sakura is over eighteen.

Fluff!

Possibly ooc, I’m sorry!

Kakashi has to be honest, he doesn’t think much about doing mundane, normally things that so many others have already done.

He doesn’t quite get the appeal of stargazing, not really, not even during the comet showers that has so many people clamouring about the shooting stars.

Not like there has been anyone to drag him outside before, and it reminds him of his old team, how they used to laugh and point out constellations, Obito and Rin screaming joyfully whenever they saw a shooting star, Minato always joining in, childishly making wishes with them while Kakashi ignored them.

It’s something he certainly regrets but there’s nothing he can change.

He’s walking home one night from his office, reading his Icha Icha Paradise books (Sakura lets him keep his collection as long as she never sees it and he never breathes a word of it to her) and he looks up for some unexplained reason.

He blinks, stopping in his tracks.

The sky is full of stars, shining as far as he can see.

He knows the constellation’s names by heart, Rin and Obito spent hours trying to teach him but he can’t quite pick them out.

He tries for bit more, footsteps in the background coming closer before stopping next to him.

“Kakashi,” Sakura suddenly says and Kakashi looks back down, Sakura looking up at him, raising an eyebrow, mud staining her clothing, dirt lining her hair. “What are you doing?”

Kakashi laughs sheepishly. “Ah, Sakura. Welcome back,” he greets her, lifting a hand in an attempt to comb the dirt of her now almost grey hair, the other quickly stowing the Icha Icha Paradise book in his pouch.

“Nice to see you too,” Sakura replies, her green eyes glittering with joy. Kakashi grins and looks up again.

Sakura follows his gaze, instantly pointing at a group of stars.

“Look, Aries!” she exclaims and Kakashi frowns, trying to follow her fingers that were connecting the stars. “And there’s the Big Dipper!”

“Hm?” Kakashi can only attempt to make sense of what she’s saying and pointing at, not quite getting it.

Sakura stops for a moment, staring at him curiously, a sudden look of realization spreading over her face.

“You don’t know the constellations!” Sakura shouts, eyes crinkling when her laughs rings out in the empty street, not an ounce of teasing in her tone, just surprise.

“Well, I know the names,” Kakashi defends himself, not quite ready to admit he doesn’t know anything she’s pointing at.

“It’s fine,” Sakura replies, grasping his hand yanking him down the street as she breaks into a run. “I’ll teach you!”

Kakashi lets himself be tugged along but stops right before they pass by their apartment, digging his heels in but it’s not enough to throw Sakura off balance in the slightest.

“You should shower and change first,” he explains when Sakura huffs in protest. “And eat. I’ll cook for you,” he adds.

“I’m fine!” Sakura answers playfully but listens anyways. “Don’t burn down the kitchen!” she calls over her shoulder, throwing a over the top, concerned look at the kitchen and then him.

Kakashi groans, shuddering as the one time incident floods back into his mind from where he had buried it.

“It was one time!” he yells and Sakura cackles. “Gai’s not here right now!” he adds and Sakura only laughs harder.

Kakashi manages to make sure the smoke alarms don’t go off and by the time Sakura’s finished eating, it’s later than he likes but according to Sakura, it’s the perfect time to see all the stars in the sky.

“I have a mission tomorrow,” he grumps. “Tsunade will kill me if I’m late.”

Sakura’s putting the last of the dishes away and she pauses, her lips quirking up into a smirk.

“Aw, Kakashi-sensei, didn’t realize you were actually scared enough to care about your, ahem, habit that you never bother to fix.”

Kakashi glares at her, pulling on his mask, grabbing a blanket in case it gets chilly out.

“She’s scary,” he mutters and he almost automatically adds, ‘have you met the woman?’ but his brain works for once in its life and bites it off at the last moment before his mouth can land him a death sentence.

Sakura seems to know that and grins cheekily before grabbing his hand and yanking him along with enough force to pull his arm out of its socket.

“Oh well, we won’t be that long!”

“That’s what you always say.”

“The sky’s clear tonight, you don’t get many chances like this! And if you listen,” she pauses, throwing a exasperated look at him, “maybe you’ll learn faster, and then it will be quick!”

Kakashi snorts and glances away quickly when Sakura’s grip tightens, her smile dangerously sweet.

“Got something to say, Hatake?”

Her tone is deceptively calm, the one she uses with people when they have particularly riled her, and she is zero point five seconds from unleashing her wrath on them, or prepared to give them the quickest, but most painful treatment she is capable of.

A gulp and Kakashi replies, “No,” oh so very quietly because, he wants to be able to walk tomorrow.

Sakura beams.

Two hours later and it’s quite pleasant.

Sakura has taken them to a quiet spot that he hasn’t known about, a pleasant surprise and the bonus is, it’s far, far, far away from anyone.

He has a new hiding spot and he thinks he’ll be stealing it from Sakura when he needs a break from social life.

Technically, Kakashi has learned and memorized all the constellations within the first fifteen minutes because he’s not that dumb, but Sakura looks like she’s having so much fun that he doesn’t want to end it.

It has nothing to do with the fact that he wants to see how long it takes before she figures out he’s faking it.

None.

At all.

Okay, maybe a little.

“So, again, Big Dipper, Lupus-Hey!” Sakura punches him lightly in her terms, it might as well have been a hammer slamming into Kakashi’s arm but he manages to not make a noise. “Are you even listening?”

“Yes,” Kakashi lies, watching her stand up and loom over him, her eyes narrowed suspiciously, hair blowing in the slight breeze, her intimidating effect slightly ruined by her hitai-ate slipping down to cover one eye.

She quickly goes to push it back up and says, “You’re not!” with great conviction.

“Well there’s Leo,” Kakashi points, connecting the stars a lot slower than Sakura but connecting them nonetheless. “And then the Big Dipper. Virgo. Gemini. I am listening!” he rebuts firmly.

Sakura swats his head before plopping back down beside him, collapsing onto her back, rolling her eyes. Kakashi figures he’s won this round.

“What’s your favourite?” she asks after a bit of comfortable silence, stretching her arm out towards the sky, hand reaching upwards before it dropped back to her side.

“Hm,” Kakashi hums, tilting his head back and glancing at Sakura out of the corner of her eyes. “Let me see.”

Sakura props herself up on one arm and raises an eyebrow.

Kakashi notices how the moonlight falls on Sakura, her normally light pink hair appearing almost a silver with a touch of rose, green eyes reflecting a clear, turquoise colour, skin just barely glowing.

She’s beautiful.

“Aries,” Kakashi answers, connecting the stars with ease. “The best constellation there is.”

Sakura rolls onto her stomach, side eyeing Kakashi with a huff.

“You sap.”

“But you love it.”

“Do not,” Sakura shoots back cheerfully, knocking him to the ground.

“So do.”

“I know you have your Icha Icha Paradise book in your pouch, and I am not adverse to stealing it and burning it or somewhere along the lines of making sure it’s not readable anymore.”

Kakashi immediately shuts his mouth. Sakura doesn’t make idle threats, at least not towards him.

He’s had to learn the hard way.

For a while, he lays there, listening to the soft whisper of leaves a gently breeze blows through the trees, the quiet melody of crickets lulling him into a somewhat relaxed manner.

He’s well aware that it is way, way too late and past the time to even get a decent amount of sleep.

He’s going to late tomorrow and Tsunade will most definitely kill him.

Sakura chuckles softly, seeming to follow his train of thought and pats his shoulder apologetically. Kakashi shakes his head and pats her head gently, making her giggle.

Sakura sighs sleepily, her eyes fluttering shut every now and then as she struggles to keep them open.

It looks like she’ll fall asleep right there and then and Kakashi is going to have to carry her back to their apartment before her eyes snap open.

“A shooting star!” She’s wide awake, sitting up so fast that Kakashi is convinced she’ll get whiplash, one hand accidentally smacking Kakashi in the face, the other pointing excitedly at the sky. “Make a wish, Kakashi!”

Kakashi lazily tracks the shooting star until it falls out of sight, choosing not to make a comment.

Sakura spins around, her expression ecstatic, her expression a mix of Rin’s sternness and Obito’s enthusiasm.

“What did you wish for?” she asks, eyes wide with wonder before she winces.

“For my nose to stop bleeding,” Kakashi replies dryly as Sakura mutters a sheepish, “Oops,” and grabs a handkerchief, gingerly dabbing at the blood.

Kakashi pulls off his mask, letting Sakura clean off the blood and healing what little pain he feels.

“I’m really sorry,” Sakura apologizes.

Kakashi shrugs.

“Didn’t hurt that much. How about a kiss?” he inquires slyly and Sakura jerks away, immediately slapping the back of his head.

“Pervert,” she grumbles. “I’ll really break your nose if you try that again.”

“Gomen, gomen.”

Sakura huffs and curls up next to him, leaching off his body warmth.

Kakashi doesn’t protest.

He throws the blanket over them, too far down the road to dreamland to even consider moving.

Sakura’s almost asleep, her breaths slow and steady when asks, “Kakashi?”

“Hm?”

A loud yawn and then, “What did you really wish for?”

Kakashi opens one eye lazily and then shuts it.

“My wish? For you to be happy of course.”

Sakura laughs quietly.

“Kakashi.”

“Yeah?”

“You didn’t have to wish for that. I already am.” Kakashi smiled and curled his arms around her.

“A wish well spent regardless,” he announces, drifting in and out of unconsciousness.

“Sap,” Sakura concludes.

“Your sap.”

Sakura chuckles, the sound muffled by Kakashi’s chest.

They fall asleep, the constellations twinkling above them in the clear night sky.

Kakashi wakes up the next morning with rain pouring down on them and Sakura sneezing, the blanket doing little to help them as they sprint home.

Tsunade berates him up for being late and Kakashi has to spend the next week sneezing and taking medicine while Shikamaru and Ino snicker at him.

Still, as Kakashi glances at the sky each night, when he can see the constellations, he recites them each slowly and surely.

He’ll have them memorized by heart by the next time he sees Sakura.