#rank and file harassment

[556betrayed]

TWU 556 History lesson: this email sent to the TWU 556 Executive Board after screenshots of the unbecoming behavior of TWU 556 officers/ officials and their paid loyalists were exposed.

There were no apologies. And the retaliation for demanding apologies and taking corrective action was just starting. Rank and file would later feel the wrath of corrupt union officers and officials for years to come.

[eaterofman]

Yandere Harem Coworkers x New Hire Reader

Now with a part 2 <3

Good news: You landed your dream job! Bad news: Your coworkers are fucking insane.

CW: Yanderes, workplace harassment, possessiveness, implied stalking, power dynamics, dubcon touching

You hadn't expected a job like this to come so easily.

It really had been a dream job from the moment you laid eyes on the job posting, and they'd even offered you better during the interview! They'd even thrown in an extra sign on bonus! You couldn't believe your luck. You were finally going places.

Really, how could you say no?

Your interviewer was the HR manager, Leon Jacobs. He was a stern looking man, clearly in his late 40's, and didn't seem to have a single flaw in his appearance. His age showed in the beginnings of grey hairs atop his tidy, shortcut black hair, and the creases beneath his eyes. His appearance was beyond intimidating. Dark, scowling eyes picked you apart from behind his glasses as you fidgeted in your chair. Whatever nightmare of an interview you thought was coming, never happened. Instead, you were surprised when he almost immediately offered you not only the job, but an even better salary and bonus than was advertised. You were almost too stunned to speak, as he held out his hand to shake, his dark expression lifting with the slightest twitch of his lips. You took his hand shakily in agreement. In your excitement, you didn't notice the way his hand gripped yours a hair too tight, or how his touch lingered for a few moments longer than it should have. The way his gaze intently followed your figure as you walked out was also missed by you.

"We're so happy to welcome you to the team. Our team will make sure your time working here is as pleasant as possible."

Your trainer is a well respected man, Warren Pen. Warren is a huge man, easily towering over you. While he'd be otherwise intimidating at his size, his warm expression and demeanor quickly puts you at ease. How could you be afraid of him, with his warm brown eyes and bouncy red curls and gentle smile? You quickly learned that he must have a pretty high position in the company. His office alone was almost as big as your entire apartment! The office they give you is nearly as big, much to your surprise. Warren reassures you that it's not a mistake, that they just want you to be comfortable in your new position. You are so very important to the company, after all. As he helps you settle in, you're amazed by his generosity and kindness. You're too happy to question why there's such a big office space right next to his open for you, or why such a high ranking worker would be assigned to train a newbie. You're initially confused about why all your other coworkers seem to cower away from him... until you see him lose it on a poor intern. His demeanor changed from a gentle giant to a raging monster within the blink of an eye, screaming at the intern over a simple filing mistake. You find yourself suddenly on your toes around him, waiting for a verbal barrage over one of your mishaps, but it never comes.

"Don't worry, I'd never treat you like that. They deserved it. You're doing perfect."

Your department's boss is a man named Jax Wright. Jax is a charming man, and the childhood best friend of Warren. He's slim and tall, with black hair and a slightly rugged appearance. He always seems to be in a rush, hair usually rustled and a 5 o'clock shadow a constant on his face. Yet, he somehow takes time out of his busy day to visit you. Or, more accurately, he finds the time to corner you when you're alone or with Warren. You don't want to lose this dream of a job, so you don't mention the way the childhood friends always find a way to crowd around you in the more narrow hallways or the breakroom. They insist you have lunch everyday with them, why would you want to eat by yourself? You really shouldn't deny your superiors' lunch requests, y'know. You ignore the lingering touches as he leans in far closer than necessary to examine your work, hands placed possessively on your shoulders. He loves to give you overwhelming praise, even for the most minor of accomplishments. You're afraid your other coworkers will think the worst of you because of the special treatment, but they seem to be avoiding you nearly as much as they avoid Warren.

"Good job. You're exceptional as always. It's been an absolute pleasure to work with you. Keep being good and you're bound for a raise."

With the rest of the department seeming to avoid you like the plague, you start to believe that you're stuck with just the overbearing childhood friends to talk to. That is until the secretary, Jake Moor, begins to talk to you. Jake is flamboyant, to say the least. He's bright, from his beaming white smile to his wide array of cute, colorful ties he matches with his suit. He's young, in his early 20s, and his bright blonde hair only adds to his youthful appearance. He's almost too much, talking at light speed and somehow being more touchy than your boss. He always finds a reason to pull you into hugs, or rustle your hair playfully. It doesn't bother you much though, he's just being friendly, right? And you really don't want to lose one of the few friends you have in the department. He has some sort of treat for you everyday, usually a homemade meal or pastry you have to find the time to eat alone before you're coworkers steal you away to have lunch with them. His cheerful nature motivates you to stay with the company, he really is your "beacon of light". You even find yourself giggling to yourself as he sends you silly motivational cat pictures throughout your day. He's so cute you don't even question how he got your number when you never gave it to him yourself. You do find it a bit odd that he knows exactly where to go when your car breaks down one day and he gives you a ride home, but you'd told him you lived in those apartments on the east side, remember? He'd never use his position to look at confidential paperwork. Never.

"I brought you in some cookies I baked last night, and here, I even made some dog treats! I've never made them before, let me know how he likes them! How did I know you have a dog? ...you told me, remember? Silly!"

As the weeks pass, you start to become more accustomed to your coworker's odd mannerisms. They still wear on you, but the money is just so good. You need it, where else would you even go? There's no chance you'd find anything near as good, if you found anything at all. You needed this job, Jax and Warren's overbearing natures aside. At least you had Jake, who always seems to know exactly what you need whenever you need it.

You can tough it out... right?

[mockerycrow]

Hey hey, can I request the 141 boys + König's reaction to a random soilder slapping fem! Reader's ass, preferably platonic! where they see reader as a sister. Thank you your work is *chef's kiss*

141 + König’s Reaction to Fem!Platonic!Reader’s Ass Slapped By Rando

cod masterlist

I’m having a 400 follower celebration!!

A/N: I feel ehhh about this one, but rest assured that i tried!! also, all characters are aware you can defend yourself. they are just protective.

You were talking with him softly, leaning an arm on the nearby counter with your hips jetted out. You laughed at something he said, your head tilting to the right for a moment before there’s a loud smack! you make a panicked noise and turn around quickly and you’re met with the face with a young man with a smug face, with an expression like he did something that you liked. Your eyebrows furrow and you prepare to give the young man an ass whooping when he swoops in.

-> John Price

“Keep your bloody hands to yourself, soldier!” Oh, Price is fucking fuming. He doesn’t stand for workplace harassment and unwanted touching for anyone, this is the fucking military—not a place to try to hookup.

Price does not let the man get a word in, even when the man is stuttering out his apologies—that are ordered by Price, by the way—and he drags him out of the kitchen area to file an official report of his behavior.

He subtly threatens the man, ensuring that if this behavior continues, “you will be dealt with. I will promise you on that.”

Price is very aware that you can handle yourself, but he just was not in the mood.

-> Kyle Garrick

He’s seething and Kyle doesn’t hesitate to push the man away from you, shouting, “Have you gone absolutely mad?!”

It does not matter if this man ranks above Kyle, he throws ranks out the window by this point, yelling about how he’s disgusting. “You’re acting like a bloody chav, get ahold of yourself!”

You’re so convinced Kyle is about to punch this guy, but he shows a good amount of self-restraint, spitting another insult through gritted teeth, voice low, “Next time you’re being dodgy, I’m throwing you to the fuckin’ wolves.”

-> John MacTavish

He pushes himself between you and the offender, an unhappy and unamused look prickling at his features. He has a faux-smile, his lips tight and uncomfortable. He laughs and claps a hand down on the man’s shoulder, making the man wince from the force.

“Buddy!” Soap calls him, his tone edging onto unsettling happiness. He’s absolutely furious because no one deserved unwanted touching. Soap sees you as a little sister and he’s always been protective of his little family. the 141

He leans in and whispers something to the man, causing all of the color to drain from the guy’s face and he runs off, causing you to glance at Soap. “What did you tell him?”

Soap just offers you a cheeky smile. “Oh, y’know, If he decides ta’touch anyone like that ever again, I’ll make sure that he physically cannot.”

-> Ghost

Ghost immediately pulls rank, right away. He isn’t the type to do it really, but this is absolute unacceptable behavior. His voice is dripping venom and is rough as sandpaper, nearly snarling with every word—yet keeping a calm composure at the same time.

“Go outside and dig a hole. Don’t stop until it’s as deep as your height.” “W.. What? Sir..—“ “Do not make me repeat myself. Go on.”

He 100% uses PT (physical training) as a punishment on these types of guys, and ordering him to dig a hole is a task laced with humiliation.

His glare screams “I’ll kill you if you touch her again, and I’m not joking”. Ghost is very protective of the ones he cares about, and that includes you,

-> König

Using his size to his advantage, he looms over the man with a deadly glare, the rumors you’ve heard—the terrifying man that belongs on the battlefield? That very man appears in the common kitchen that night.

He’s also the type to pull rank—and this is one of those times no one realizes he’s a Colonel until he mentions it and absolutely does if the guy talks back to him. “What did you just say to me?”

König snarls with every word, berating the man’s behavior, asking him if he would like that done to him or any woman in his life, etc.

You would have to hold this fucker back from actually hurting him, or else you’d end up with König on a two week suspension.

[memecucker]

The complaint alleges how, for more than six months, Palestinian students, Arabs, Muslims, students perceived to be Palestinian, and students associated with or advocating for Palestinians, have been the target of extreme anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and Islamophobic harassment, including receiving multiple death threats, being harassed for wearing keffiyehs or hijab, doxed, stereotyped, being treated differently by high-ranking administrators including Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, an attack with a chemical agent that led to at least 10 students requiring hospitalization and dozens of others, including a Palestinian student, seeking medical attention, and more.

Palestine Legal is representing four students and the student group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), who have all been the target of anti-Palestinian discrimination and harassment by fellow students, professors, and/or Columbia administrators.

“As a Palestinian student, I’ve been harassed, doxxed, shouted down, and discriminated against by fellow students and professors — simply because of my identity and my commitment to advocating for my own rights and freedoms,” said Maryam Alwan. “I’m horrified at the way Columbia has utterly failed to protect me from racism and abuse, but beyond that, the university has also played a role in this repression by having me arrested and suspended for peacefully protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The violent repression we’re facing as peaceful anti-war protesters is appalling. Palestinian students at Columbia deserve justice and accountability, not only for Israel’s decades-long oppression and violence against our people, but for the racism and discrimination we’ve experienced here on Columbia’s campus.”

Columbia has actively contributed to pervasive racism and discrimination against Palestinian students on campus, causing both mental and physical harm. For example, students have been arrested, assaulted, suspended, locked out of campus and their classes, forced to seek medical attention, and forced to drop classes and delay their own graduation.

[zvaigzdelasas]

[Fox News is Private, Pro-GOP US Media]

"I welcome the U.S. and coalition operations against the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists responsible for violently disrupting international commerce in the Red Sea and attacking American vessels," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement. "President Biden’s decision to use military force against these Iranian proxies is overdue."

"I am hopeful these operations mark an enduring shift in the Biden Administration’s approach to Iran and its proxies. To restore deterrence and change Iran’s calculus, Iranian leaders themselves must believe that they will pay a meaningful price unless they abandon their worldwide campaign of terror," he added.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Mike McCaul, R-Texas, who said he was meeting with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when the strikes were called, also praised the actions. He also called on Biden to restore the Houthis' terror designation.

"I’m pleased the president, in coordination with our allies, finally took action against the Iran-backed Houthis following weeks of instability in the Red Sea. Tonight, with these strikes, we are beginning to restore deterrence. The administration must acknowledge it was a mistake to rescind the Houthis designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and re-list them immediately," he said.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, similarly called the action "overdue" and accused the Biden administration of contributing to the increasingly hostile situation in the Red Sea, but said the strikes were "a good first step toward restoring deterrence in the Red Sea."[...]

["]It is important that we follow this action in close consultation with our Saudi partners to ensure they are with us as the situation develops," Wicker said.[...]

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., an ally of former President Trump's, said he was "very supportive of the Biden Administration’s decision to strike Houthi rebels who have been harassing international shipping and trying to attack Israeli and American interests."[...]

Even rank-and-file Republicans have been issuing cautious and rare praise for the move. Rep. John James, R-Mich., a military combat veteran who served in Iraq, told Fox News Digital, "The Houthis are a terrorist organization. They have been striking at U.S. military personnel since late last year and must be destroyed."[...]

"While I support these targeted, proportional military strikes, I call on the Biden Administration to continue its diplomatic efforts to avoid escalation to a broader regional war and continue to engage Congress on the details of its strategy and legal basis as required by law," Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said.

11 Jan 24

[arealphrooblem]

Mutually Assured Destruction Pt 2

THANK YOU SO MUCH to the huge response to this, I never expected that being so new to this circle of writers. I squealed at every like and reblog and comment.

Synopsis: Villain x Civilian. Civilian can sense other people's powers through auras but hides this ability. They are terrified of the most boring person at their office job, who hides the most powerful aura Civilian has ever felt.

Part 1 here. Tagging @heroes-villains-side-blog and @follow-me-into-the-fog

The taqueria was dimly lit with Formica tables and brightly colored murals of vaguely Mexican landscapes, which meant the tacos were obscenely good.

Civilian tried hard not to be grateful as they bit into their taco as delicately as they could, their fingers stained with the mess of the previous taco. Jonathan’s tacos, on the other hand, had remarkable structural integrity and did not break once.

“How are you doing that?” they blurted out.

Jonathan raised an eyebrow as he dotted away taco grease with his napkin. “Doing what?”

“Your tacos don’t fall apart. How?”

“Perhaps that’s my power.” He smirked.

Civilian rolled their eyes, trying not to let the spike in their heart rate show on their face. So caught up in the surrealness of a dinner date, they had almost forgotten just what a precarious position they were in.

In fact, despite the blatant coercion to be here, this did not rank as the worst date Civilian ever had. Not even in the top ten. Jonathan paid for dinner, fetched napkins and extra beer, and allowed Civilian the space to quietly freak out while he ate in contented silence.

“I’ve never had a taco shell that didn’t break in my entire life, so I almost believe you.”

He gives them that same calculating stare he did in the elevator. “You’re not curious about what I can do?”

“No.” (A lie).

“Really? Not even a little?”

“I think knowing would make it worse.” (The truth).

Just knowing his aura has garnered too much attention as it was.

He smirked. “Afraid if you knew, I’d never let you go?”

Hearing their deepest fear voiced aloud caused a dizzy swoop in their gut. It wasn’t just Jonathan Civilian had to worry about. If anyone knew their true power, they would be a target to the Agency, to other villains, to the government. They could kiss their freedom goodbye.

Being “courted” by Jonathan was the least of their worries, and yet it meant the the threat of their freedom as a constant presence. If there was a chance Civilian could talk their way out of this arrangement, they had to take it.

Civilian swallowed. “You’re not actually serious about this, right? This fake dating thing?”

“Of course I’m serious.” He leaned forward across the table and Civilian unconsciously mirrored him. “I have certain plans in place. You are the one person who could disrupt them.”

“The last thing I want is to get involved with whatever the hell it is you’re doing,” Civilian hissed. “I’m not a hero.”

“There’s no way I can know right now that with any certainty. And so, until I do, you will have a very dedicated and considerate partner.”

Civilian bit back a groan as they imagined the kind of gossip this sudden relationship would inspire, especially since Civilian tried so hard to avoid Jonathan before. Wait a second . . .

“HR doesn’t allow workplace relationships,” they said triumphantly. “They would fire us.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, as if he found Civilian’s protests amusing. “That rule only bans relationships between superiors and the people that work under them. It doesn’t apply to us. Don’t worry, I will file our relationship with HR tomorrow morning since tonight marks our first date.”

Shit damn fuck. Civilian could protest the relationship or they could report Jonathan to HR for stalking or harassment but that only puts a target on Civilian’s back for his retaliation. He could kill them or worse -- report them.

Mutually assured destruction.

Jonathan drains the rest of his beer before nodding to Civilian’s unfinished food.

“Let me get you a to-go box and we shall be on our way, then?”

He drove them back to the parking garage at work and walked Civilian to their car. Civilian wasted no time getting their keys out, gripped by the sudden fear that perhaps Jonathan would reconsider letting them walk free.

And indeed when his hand darted out and gripped their door before it could shut, Civilian’s heart leaped in their throat.

“You’re going to leave before our goodnight kiss?” he asked, his gaze expectant and serious.

“What?” Civilian choked.

He held that stare for a moment before an evil smirk broke across his face.

“The look on your face. I should be insulted at how abhorrent the thought is to you. Goodnight, Civilian. I will see you in the morning.”

A threat and a promise.

Civilian feels the weight of his stare all the way out to the streets.

Part Three Here

[hiraya-rawr]

Omg the 12 harbinger idea is so cuuute

The MC gives me (๑•﹏•) vibes. Just someone who is an earnest, hardworking, and a pretty regular person surrounded by these people who are all so confident of their skills.

MC could be a typical Fatui agent who rose up the ranks 😭 like, oh wow you got a promotion and a cool, thick coat now! you're literally just doing your job as a diplomat / politician.

It's a little bit funnier if Reader is a ditz. Like, all the other Fatui agents want to be recruited under you. They also open up to you about their bosses and you treat things according to protocol 😭

"What do you mean Dottore tried to open you up with a scalpel? That's work place harassment! You should file a case to the Tsaritsa."

[harunayuuka2060]

Levi: Eh... What happened to your hand?

MC: It hit a hard surface.

Levi: *confused* Just your hand alone?

MC: Yes.

Levi: ...

Levi: Oh well. Let's get it bandaged.

MC: ...

Levi: ...

Levi: You know, the bruises suggest that you had hit someone across the face.

MC: *just hummed in response, not denying nor confirming it*

Barbatos: This is the footage of the incident. It happened this early in the morning.

Diavolo: Oh, if only you knew how surprised I was when I received a complaint about MC.

Mammon: The jackass had the audacity to complain?

Satan: I'm curious to see what caused them to hurt someone.

Barbatos: Do I have everyone's attention now? Good. *plays the footage*

*It shows MC being harassed by the lower-rank demon who filed a complaint against them*

The lower-rank demon: Hey, angel. You didn't tell me that you were a human once and you died not too long ago.

MC: ...

The lower-rank demon: *pulls out something from his pocket* *and shows it to them*

The lower-rank demon: This is your mother and your sister, right? Guess what I will do to the— *he hasn't finished his sentence yet and he goes flying across the corridor*

MC: *has punched him across the face*

MC: *looks at their hand then at the demon who's now lying unconscious*

MC: *goes to pick up the photo* *then turns around and walks off like nothing happened*

Mammon, Satan, Diavolo, and Barbatos: ...

Mammon: So who wants to beat up that fucking demon?

Satan: *smiles* I'll do it.

Barbatos: I'll prepare the torture chamber.

Diavolo: But wait, is their hand okay?

Barbatos: Leviathan treated it.

Diavolo: Good, good. So about torturing that demon, who wants to cut his pe***?

Levi: ...

Levi: *is in that same position again* *sitting on MC's lap while their head is resting on his shoulder*

Levi: *blushes slightly* *mumbles* You should've gone to infirmary.

MC: *sleeping peacefully*

Levi: ...

Levi: *holds their head so it wouldn't fall*

Beel: Levi.

Levi: !!!

Levi: *has stopped himself from screaming* *whisper-yell* Beel! What the— You appeared out of nowhere!

Beel: I'm just here to apologize to MC.

Levi: Huh? For what?

Beel: They gave me their lunch. I was planning to return the lunchbox but I ate it too.

Levi: ...

Levi: Do that later. I don't want to wake them up just because of that.

[vibratingskull]

The present

Thrawnxf!reader

You have a gift to celebrate the promotion of a certain Grand-Admiral, the perfect time to reflect on your first encounter.

You were smiling to yourself inside your allocated cabin. You finally got the perfect present for Thrawn, one that you were sure he didn’t have in his private collection.

You have been chasing this piece for several months since you've heard of it and now you had it in your hands. You were proud of yourself, these items are rare nowadays and sold for fortunes at auctions… The same occurred in the black market, but threats supported by a Vice-Admiral’s plaque ensured you a decent discount. With the help of a few friends in the Ministry of propaganda your gift had been authenticated and restored in record time. Now you possessed a real museum piece, a witness of past times.

Despite the both of you being in your ninth year within the Imperial Navy, Thrawn had become your superior. He made a huge impression on you when he arrived at the imperial academy with the cadet Eli Vento. An unprecedented case! An alien and a rookie from the Outer Rim, popping in during the last three months of the formation and walking off as Valedictorian, with a rank of Lieutenant and a personal aid.

A lot of the military students were more than happy to strangle him and his rookie pal. Many both enraged and amused at this grotesque situation, how on earth could this blue freak could lead the imperial formation? Some of them decided to test the waters and see how far they could get with harassment, needless to say some got burned at this petty game and Orbar paid for all the others.

You weren't sure what actually happened. Some claimed after his humiliation at the metallurgy lab he sent a group of his friends to ambush and frightened the duo, others said they planned to kill them all along. Everybody added their own spin to the story : it was a fistfight, then someone murmured they all had blasters, Eli would have been wounded by a blade, then he wasn't even here in the first place…The story was a mess.

The real mystery started when the three aggressors simply vanished from the imperial academy. Nobody knew what happened and everyone held Orbar responsible, although behind closed doors, there were sordid rumors: Thrawn would have shot them and simply disposed of the corpses. Even worse, maybe he kept the bodies in his room to feast on his enemies

Pure bullshit!

No need to be a genius to know that if someone came to die within an Imperial Military Academy the perpetrator would be punished in the most exemplary manner. Even Orbar with his high relationship network would endure a hard time, so an anthropophagic alien, alone and isolated…

But no, Thrawn was still free of his movements nevertheless, no odd and mysterious military task force came to dispose of him, so… Maker knows what happened to those boys!

Nobody actually believed those silly rumors, yet the thrill will always be more entertaining than the dull life in the army, and they still impacted the daily life of your friends, well future friends at that time, nonetheless.

Students were now removing themselves from his path, heads low and whispering behind his back, too intimidated by this strange being that seemed to disprove everything the Empire taught them about aliens. If Eli felt relieved and enjoyed his newfound peace, Thrawn still looked unbothered. In fact he always acts like that, whether he is despised or feared, as long nobody gets in his way he is imperturbable.

You talked about the rumors with Eli and his expression when you exposed the theories of your comrades was to die for! A mixture of surprise, shock and disbelief twisted his face in the most comedic way! You both still laugh about this conversation years later. He never revealed to you why or where the three thugs disappeared, even years later he just says it’s a mutual secret between him, Deenlark and Thrawn. Never mind that, you later discovered their students files in the database of Skystrike Academy during an official inspection shortly after your promotion to Commodore.

To this day, you were still fond of the way Eli talked about this "secret" between him and Thrawn. You were truly pleased by the turn of their relationship. Back when you were pushing yourself onto the duo, Eli just played cool to accomplish his duty of translator in the most peaceful way.Their dynamics took a hit when he learned his assignment under Thrawn's command instead of the supply officer position he wished. He terribly suffered off this situation, telling you he had the feeling Thrawn had robbed him of his life and choices. He was in the Academy because Thrawn asked for it and he was once again dragged to the other side of the galaxy because Thrawn suggested it. You sincerely believed it would end extremely bad between them. It wasn't the unique thing to poison their relation, Eli had the sentiment to be invisible next to him. From his alien nature to his military prowess, Thrawn tends to steal the spotlights, and Eli saw himself reduced into the role of puppet to the eyes of the others and they tried to utilize him as such… Fortunately, Eli is more intelligent than what they gave him credit for and he turned off the vultures.

It tooks several assignments for Eli to understand why Thrawn needed him at his side. If Thrawn had the brain, Eli had the guts! Thrawn is intelligent, yet all genius he can be, his tactics are solely based on his knowledge and understanding of the situation. One misinterpretation on his side and everything collapses, therefore, he tends to freeze in front of the unexpected and the vagaries. Put it simply, improvisation is not his forte. That's when Eli comes to the scene! Despite some alleged weakness in direct combat, Eli possesses an incredible survival instinct. He apprehends every situation with his tripes more than anything else, which confers him a significant advantage when hazard comes messed up and jeopardizes Thrawn's initial plans. His reactions are primal, instantaneous and effective. It has already saved you three several times and them both even more.

Time has passed since then, and you were proud of the man your friend has become. More assertive, even witty sometimes and a significant boost of self-confidence. His relation with Thrawn is now more balanced and fair than ever, and it shows during their missions together. Their trust in each other was heartwarming. They are an excellent team!

You missed Eli since his departures for a confidential mission near the Unknown Regions. Sent away by Thrawn, obviously.

Thrawn…

What a character. Since you knew each other, he always profoundly confused you in… every way possible.

To be honest at his first day at the Academy, he made you laugh or rather you laughed at him. He was completely out of place, in so many ways. Because of his alien nature, obviously, but above all he was undeniably an already well trained and competent soldier… Why did he have to go back to a school full of angry and spoiled gremlins in their twenties?

How old was he at that time anyway? You think he was already approaching his forties, you couldn't be one hundred percent sure. His stoic face hardly gave away his age, and years barely affected him. You didn't have the same chance.

Anyway, after the entertainment he provided you the first day he arrived, you didn't care about it for some time. The other students may have enjoyed the luxury of losing their time to bully someone; you did not. You've worked hard to gain access to this school; you were now working yourself to exhaustion to be the best at graduation. Much like Eli, you weren't from Coruscant nor from the borders of the Outer Rim either. You were the "provincial" one, from a planet too far to be a part of the core worlds and too close to be considered exotic…

You couldn't count on a network like some of your comrades to enter the academy. You were granted a scholarship after your results in the Global Exam. This also meant your place in the hierarchy of students was low, and you were a victim of bullying. At least until a certain incident that will give you your nickname and build your reputation within the Academy as well.

So yeah, at first you didn't want to involve yourself with the two. You already had enough to do with yourself, but harassment at the scale of a class will ineluctably cause troubles within said class. Troubles that interfere with your work, therefore with your chances of success, and you couldn't tolerate it.

You were well aware of your reputation among your comrades but weren't afraid to play with it to be left in peace. So you didn't hesitate to intervene when you finally had enough of this whole situation.

One day at the cafeteria, Jamwest Cosblo decided he wanted a "friendly conversation" with the duo and went straight to them. From your place in the line, you couldn't hear the subject of the conversation, yet from the smirk or Cosblo and the decomposed expression of Eli you guessed he tried to impose himself as the new apex predator of the students food-chain now that Orbar was out of the league. Thrawn, always unshakeable, never raised his voice, steady and calm although Cosblo didn’t seem to care and started to get noisy. Apparently, he wasn't going to be satisfied by a simple chit-chat, and you started wondering how Thrawn could handle it. He couldn't reiterate his feat as in the metallurgy lab and Cosblo doesn’t believe in the virtues of diplomacy, you knew this firsthand, plus in a cafeteria overcrowd by bored young adults a quarrel between their new favorite and the feared pet peeve could escalated into a fight…

Your friends, in the line to be served too, started to lose patience and pressed you to get back on track, but it was a unique chance!

If Thrawn and Eli weren't accepted, they were at least tolerated because of the threat they represented. Meaning apart from some resentful hotheads like Cosblo, the mere student wouldn’t dare threaten them again. Cosblo, however, wanted to prove his power and influence by taking down those who ridiculed the former leader and avenged the three thugs whose status were still unknown at that time. His credibility was at stake. He will only achieve his goal if he succeeds against the primary menace, the blue alien who came to ruin the established order among the students. If he makes it and takes the leadership, the harassment will start again, worse than before for the other students will feel entitled to join the party. But if he failed now in front of his potential court, the duo should be safe from future assaults, and you could concentrate yourself on your studies.

Nevertheless, to be effective the situation must be solved by a student, not by the duo himself, either way it will just be a useless victory and not a meaningful action.

While you were actually curious to know what tricks Thrawn would have used in this situation, you decided to take the matter in your own hands.

You signified to your friends to not wait for you and to find them a seat already while you calmly head towards the blondie loudmouth. As you approached the conversation started to get clearer, Cosblo had stopped trying to be quiet a long time ago and drawn attention to them.

“I don’t know what artifice you will use against me, but it's not a stupid plaque that will prevent me from putting you back in your place, blueface!"

Haaaaa… Cosblo and his way of mincing his words, so peculiar. It is your personal gift to him, from a year ago.

"Am I to understand that you are ready to assault a superior over an ego competition?" Thrawn asked calmly. Despite that he had risen from his seat, understanding that logic was useless with a guy like Cosblo. He will need to use another language.

"Those badges only hold the power that we give them, and you…"

Cosblo drew his hand to Thrawn's chest. Oh oh!

"... Have no power here!"

Before his hand could reach its target, you grabbed his wrist, stopping him halfway through. He turned over to confront the one who dared to stop him and nearly choked himself while seeing you.

"J.C…"

You could feel the venom and his unbelief dripping from his tone. As you weren't involved in any of this prior, he didn't expect to see you take action.

"I think that's enough, Cosblo."

"What? What do you care about? Go mind your own business!" He hissed.

"Believe it or not, this is my business."

He snatched his arm from your grasp and lowered his head to be eye-level to you. Something that pissed you off tremendously.

"Since when? If I recall you were pretty chill with us toying with them, why this sudden realisation? You want to play the hero? You want to buy yourself a clean and renewed conscience? Or maybe…"

He lowered his voice to manage his effect, you would have gladly ripped off his smug face but you were here to avoid a public combat. It will have to wait…

"... Maybe you're just sympathetic to them? Does it remind you of some bad memories that you need to cope? To fight against the baddies oppressors will make you feel better?"

He turned the crowd and announced dramatically.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, J.C the heroine we need but didn't deserve!"

Forget about the face, it's his tongue you will rip off. You waited some seconds for the crowd to stop cackling a bit and you seized his shoulder to force him to face you.

"Very clever, Cosblo. But I'm trying to save your head, here!"

He didn't respond, just waited for you to explain with a disdain stare on his face. You were testing his patience and even more, his power.

"Listen. I understand your concerns. Since these two appeared everything started to crumble on itself. But you can't continue what you are doing…"

Now you were the one talking with a low voice, as if you shared a secret with him. You quickly glanced several times at Thrawn's and Eli to see what they were doing. Eli was pushing away some curious cadets and Thrawn was sitting back on his seat yet fully concentrating on you both behind folded hands. His sight dissequated every mouvements, every voice inflexions… In his observation, his eyes lingered at your legs for a strangely long second before locking his eyes right into yours. You turned back your head immediately. You knew you were doing this primarily for yourself but now you actually believed you were saving Cosblo skin!

What sort of gaze was this? You could feel it burn the skin of your back while talking to Cosblo.

"He managed to erode Corbar's authority and get rid of his opponents without suffering consequences, neither from the Academy nor Corbar's family… You can't do that with a simple Lieutenant plaque, his support must come from far higher than what we are all used to!"

Cosblo remained silent but his frustration was evident now that he understood his prey out of reach, well beyond his power. However, he hated most to be scolded like a five year old by a fellow ensign in front of all your comrades. In his plans, he should have been adored and praised by said comrades right now, after administering a well deserved correction to the alien freak… Instead, he was standing like a stud while listening to you why he should retreat before the alien. He could clearly see the interest fading on the eyes of the crowd and was legitimately ready to leave it at that but you had to add something stupid.

"So don't be a moron and give up while everything can be forgotten."

"Don't give me any orders!"

He gripped you by the collar with such force you were lifted from the floor, so suddenly you didn't know how to react. His eyes were flashing and his words were even more chopped.

"I'm tired of your games (y/n)... You need to be reminded of your rightful place. I will also take this opportunity to avenge myself from what you did last year."

By instinct you reached a hand to your boot, but you suddenly fell to the ground. So hard the impact cut your breath. Raising your head you see Thrawn keeping Cosblo on the table by the skull, preventing him from moving.

"I am sorry for this rude action, but I can not tolerate violence between students, especially if it disturbs others."

You get up with difficulties, coughing to get your breath back. The former excited crowd was now mute and stunned, waiting for the next action. You could clearly see them questioning themself: should they intervene? Should they let you all in peace? You quickly realised some were looking behind you and you followed their gaze to see Corbar.

He was here the whole time?

He observed the scene quietly, contemplating the idea of getting back on the top, knowing the students will follow him.

But for what good?

Finally, he simply sat down again to finish his meal in calm, followed by Turuy and then all the students. Peace, it will be.

But not for you.

Turning back again to retrieve your group of friends, you just met crimson eyes fixed on you. You couldn't determine what emotion Thrawn had, yet you knew you're going to hate his next words.

"Cadets, follow me. I will bring you to commandant Deenlark, he will decide for a punishment adequat for your misbehaviour. Both of you."

You would rather be shot straight through the skull than facing Deenlark again. Maker, what have you done? Is this what you get for trying to help others? Cosblo didn’t act proud either, you peered toward Eli for support but he signaled you to play along with a reassuring smile. You complied before Thrawn takes a “rude action” against you to get you moving and followed with a low head, disheartened.

The four of you were heading towards the commandant’s office in complete silence, excluding some painful whines from Cosblo. His bump with the table has awakened an old pain in his jawbone. You would have felt sorry for him to have to deal with pain AND Deenlark but you were in this boat because of him. Everyone for themself!

You sighed and followed behind Thrawn. It was the first time you were this close to him, that you get the chance to inspect him in detail…

You estimated his height to be around 1m80, more than almost everyone here, with some rare exceptions. His posture was impeccable, how did he manage to be this straight all the time? His back must hurt a lot at the end of the day!

Let see… Despite the uniforme you could perceive broad shoulders, long and well developed muscles for his arms and back, his chest seemed toned and firm, and his legs looked strong enough to crush a bone. You guessed he was a type of guy who favored using an electrostaff or his bare fists than a blaster to fight. Cosblo was either suicidal or just stupid to think he had a chance against Thrawn in a one-o-one combat, at least the three thugs knew they needed to stick together to hold a chance.

"Thank you."

"Huh?" You were distracted from your observation by a voice on your left.

"Thank you." Repeated Eli with a slight smile. "For your intervention. You're the first one to have said something."

"Oh! Well, your welcome. After receiving my reward I will make sure to never cross the path of your friend again."

"Everything is gonna be fine. Thrawn has the situation under control."

"If by under control you mean he's about to get me expelled, then yes! He got everything under control." You responded, sarcastically.

"No need to be bitter. I don't think he will support such an idea. As I said you were the only one who takes our defense and-"

"And it wasn't uninterested. Don't give me virtues I don't possess…"

"Maybe you had an idea behind your head, at the end of the day you took your stand against the mass for something you deemed unfair. He will take this in account while presenting your case to the commandant."

So this is how it appeared from a third point of view? Damn, you just wanted peace to work toward your graduation.

You had to query:

"In this case, why am I also to be punished?"

"You did involve yourself in a troubling peace bond situation, after all. Knowing Thrawn as I do, you should take this as a chance to defend yourself, he surely wants you both to have the opportunity to explain the core of the problem instead of Deenlark hearing deformed and exaggerated rumors of the incident. I mean, I think that's what he got in his mind…"

"Well tha-! ... Wait, that oddly makes sense."

It was indeed your best chance to bring all this to an end and to defend your case instead of passively accepting your punishment.

While you were reflecting on this, your group just got to an elevator and followed the most awkward moment in complete silence.

Enough time for you to determine another thing : Thrawn is hot!

In the most literal way!

Now that you were locked with him in an enclosed space you could feel warmth waves impossible for a human organism coming from him. He was irradiating the place. How high is body temperature actually is, 45°C? More? Why would his species need such a high body temperature?

And how Eli could stand 8 hours with him every night? Their room must be an oven!

…

You definitely wanted to tell a joke to break this stifling silence, but you advised yourself you'd better not… Too awkward.

You just cleared your throat, as someone does when they don't know how to break silence.

Which is even more awkward.

…

Why is this stupid elevator take so long?!

…

Finally!

You stepped out of the elevator with relief. You saw Deenlark's office at the end of the corridor and wanted to throw yourself back in.

"You were more bold a moment ago… J.C?" Eli noted.

"(Y/N), J.C. is just my nickname here."

"What does it stand for?"

"Jaws crusher."

He stared at you with wide eyes.

"Pardon?"

You bring yourself closer to him with a lower voice.

"Did you notice Cosblo's way of talking?"

He nodded.

"Well, a year ago him and his friends preyed on a lot of other students. The day he came for me I was in the tech lab with an adjustable spanner, a huge one… Since this day, he minces every word and I got my nickname."

He seemed to process the information.

"I assume this is how you properly meet Deenlark."

"Yep, Cosblo tried to get me expelled, but I used a security camera to clear my name. It's hard to pretend to be assaulted when you're four against one and you throw the first fist." You sighed. "Deenlark was furious, clearly he both classified us as disruptive elements. I don't think he will go easy on us this time."

"We will discover it in a second." Thrawn interrupted.

Since when he was listening to the conversation? You were sure to speak with quiet voices.

———————————

Your trial was finished, and you were relieved beyond words. You thought your future was sealed, that you would be expelled and sent back to your family without succeeding .

But no.

Thrawn was indeed impartiale when he exposed the situation to the commandant and didn't try to sink either of you two. It was quite refreshing in comparison to other superiors. Deenlark, however, was actually displeased to see you all four at the same time. The type of combination he had hoped not to deal with. Ever. He first seemed furious to be disturb in his work, then he just looked tired while seeing who he had in front of him. On the bright side he wanted you all out of his office as quickly as possible, so the lecture didn't take too long.

You get to stay here and complete your formation. You still received a chore : to help clean up the auditorium of your class during a month and Cosblo inherited the Paramedic class, aka the one where the dissections took place, for three months. He was so livid he could faint right there in the middle of the hall, while you were overjoyed by the result.

"Cadet Vanto, please help our comrade to the infirmary. I am sure he would rather pass out on a mattress than the floor." Thrawn inquired.

"I'm on it."

Eli gripped Cosblo's arm around himself to support him and, more or less, dragged him to the medic block.

As you were ready to go the other direction, a voice stopped you on your track.

"Cadet (y/f/n), may I have a word with you?"

You were tempted to say no and run off, but you knew better than getting on the wrong side of the chiss now.

"Yes, Lieutenant Thrawn."

Hum, it rolled weirdly on your tongue.

"Not here, we will need a more private place."

You followed him diligently to a small classroom with a dull light, wandering about what he could have to say to you.

After closing the door, he stood straight and crossed his arms in his back, confident like he was in conquered land.

"You are surely wondering why I ask you for a discussion."

You cleared your throat.

"I didn't properly thank you for your assistance with Cosblo, sir. Thank you sir."

You didn't let anything appear but it was really uncomfortable for you to be alone with him. Isolated, you were taking the measure of his person, his presence. You were slowly taking conscience of his menace.

"There is no use for thanking me, for I was protecting Cosblo from you."

What did he just said? You were the one yanked off the floor by the shirt, not Cosblo!

You were to question what he meant when you noted his eyes kept wandering to your legs again before he locked them back with yours.

"This is what I wanted to talk about with you. Do not try your little trick, you will not be able to pull through with a simple chore if you are caught."

What, in all the creation, was he talking about?

"Try what? Helping you?" You hissed.

He slowly shaked his head with a thin smile.

"I thank you for your intervention, however you can cease your bluff. I know you carry a blade in your boot. This is highly forbidden, but I suppose survival habits dye hard. I can understand that."

Wait! When had he noticed? You've always been careful to hide it. You take a step backward.

"How did you-"

"You are not the only one who observes her peers, Cadet (y/f/n). In fact, I found your profile fairly interesting." His smile was now a satisfied grin.

There was no threat nor mockery behind it but you still hated it.

"I have done my research on you, I have gathered some fascinating results."

"You had no right to do that!" You fumed.

"I do have it when I suspect an individual to be potentially dangerous. For example, someone carrying a weapon inside the Academy." He pointed.

You started to observe your options to get out of here. You realised he purposely chose a tiny room for you to feel trapped and it was effective. He continued without ever raising his voice.

"I wouldn’t have imagined the Imperial Academy would accept the granddaughter of a famous Drug Lord. I am most impressed you have been able to hide it to everyone else."

It sounded like praise but the floor just opened under your feet.

You have worked so damn hard to get here, to distanced yourself from your heritage as you parents did. A military career was perfect to clean your name to the eyes of society, and you're gonna sink and lose all your efforts trying to help a perfect stranger. The one who's gonna drown you.

"So what? You're gonna spread it to the other? Blackmail me? Use it for favors?"

Your voice cracked yet your fists were clenched. You had too much to lose. He may be a better combattant than you, but you were the one with a knife.

You stared at each other in silence. You felt his eyes burning your skin again.

"I will do none of that, you may ease your mind." He spoke gently.

"And why not? If I am what you say, why would you deprive yourself of the price of my capture?"

"Because I know the Empire has its ways with the Drugs Lords. If you are permitted here it is because it benefits someone else in the higher spheres."

"But this is why you can't drop me, not why you won't. Am I wrong?"

"It is because I am curious to see how a profile such as yours will turn on in this system. I am quite interested about what you could become."

He didn't tell you everything. Typically him. You didn’t know at that time he would always answer all the questions without telling the core of the information you're searching, ever. Despite all that you knew he had an idea in mind.

"I think we are done for today. We will meet again, Cadet (y/f/n)." He stated while maintaining the door open for you, letting the light enter.

You rushed out and yelled.

"We are done, period!"

You sprinted to your cabin without looking back. You entered it with such speed you almost slammed into Faro, your roommate.

"Wow! Easy (y/n), what's going on?"

You took a second to catch up your breath before you responded.

"I'm just escaping from a sociopath. Nothing unusual, Karyn."

"And who was it? So I can have a polite conversation with them." She requested with a mischievous smile.

You giggled and flopped yourself onto your bed. You liked this girl, she was two years younger and your little sister here. You would never let anyone harm her.

"The blue one. Don't go near him, I'm having a hard time seeing through him…"

"You mean Thrawn? I've already talked with him."

The sky just fell on your head.

"WHAT?! WHY?!" You yelled.

"I don't know for sure. He approached me after the Academics Exams for Freshmans, not long ago, with my results. He asked about you too." She recalled.

"What did you say to him?"

"Nothing specific, don't worry. But I couldn't let a superior without an answer."

"No, of course not. Just… Be cautious around him, okay?"

"Yes, mom!"

You had enough emotions for now, you needed to rest a bit.

All the evening played back and forth in your mind. Why did he need to search through students files and results? What does he get out of it, you were all just mere children in front of him.

You were most concerned by his discovery of your past, few authorities in the Academy were aware of your roots, even Deenlark wasn’t in the secret. How did he access these datas?

Without realising it, you falled asleep, exhausted from this roller coaster of emotions.

The next day was not the brightest either.

You just realised, by defending Thrawn and Eli you were now sided with them, that you liked it or not. Your group of “friends” wasn’t as welcoming and they passed most of their times ignoring and avoiding you. Only one was gracious enough to tell you it in the eyes. They prefered to cut all ties now rather than be associated with you from now on.

Nice.

Absolutely perfect.

You really had lost everything.

At noon, you were resigned to staying alone when you saw the duo peacefully eating.

You thought about it for two seconds and retraced your steps. Fuck this, there is no reason you were the only one to pay for all of this, and you wanted to clarify things with blueface.

You slammed your tray on their table with a large smile.

“Hi, you two!”

Eli startled, caught off guard, and Thrawn… Well he just saw you coming.

“Maker, (y/n)! What is wrong with you?” The first one shouted.

“What do we owe the pleasure, cadet (y/f/n)?” The second added with his usual nonchalant voice.

“You owe it to yourself, smartass!”

Thrawn merely raised an eyebrow and Eli nearly spat out. You sat in front of them, with giant grin

“You were crystal clear yesterday, you have enough on me to ruin my life. Well I’m not afraid. We can be two to play this game. Starting today, you will have me on your back nights and days. I’d repay myself a hundredfold, you can count on this.”

“And what is it supposed to be, exactly? A threat? A promise? Or a challenge?” He asked calmly.

You were almost sure to see a hint of amusement in his eyes, but who could claim to know what amuse this man?

“Anything that suits you most, sweetheart.” You responded sarcastically.

Silence followed,your eyes locked again.

You both stayed still, him testing your resolution and you didn’t drop your sight from his.

It was a battle of wills .

You didn’t know why he was doing all of this, but you knew exactly what you had to defend.

None of you could have told how much time passed that way, fixed into each other's eyes.

His iris weren’t simply red as his eyeballs, they were incandescent. You could swear they emited a slight glow, like a flame. Fixed on you, his pupils widened slightly, as black holes that could swallow anything within reach. Your skin was set ablaze once more.

What grands designs could be drawn behind those rings of fire?

You wouldn't have said the situation was comfortable, although for anything in the world you would have severed this… connection.

All your senses were muffled, your hearing was stifled and anything outside his fire orbs were blurred in your vision.

At this instant, nothing outside you two existed.

You.

Him.

And the universe that seemed to expand beyond his eyes.

You could have stayed like this for eternity.

Time itself seemed suspended, to carry this instant forever.

Unfortunately, he severed the link. He straightened up his back and answered as nothing happened.

“Do as you wish.”

You were taken aback by the brutal return to reality.

“Wait a second you two! I have a say in this story.” Eli intervened.

“I believe you would appreciate the presence of another human, one that isn't trying to stab us in the back.” Thrawn retorted.

“No! You can’t take those decisions alone.”

While they were squabbling you realised your eyes were itchy. None of you had blinked during this moment. Maker, that hurted. Maybe this moment didn’t happen judging by his facility to break it, maybe you played all this in your head.

Your eyes still hurt nonetheless.

They finally agreed, or rather Thrawn found a way to impose his logic on Eli again.

“Do as you want, in three months it will be your sole problem anyway.”

Thrawn remained silent at this, you used this opportunity.

“While our cards are on the table, Karyn told me you approached her. If I found out you harmed her in any way, I will make you regret it. Am I clear?”

“You do not need to worry about her, I have no ill intent toward your friend.” He responded, cutting into a slice of rare meat.

—————————————————

To say your relationship with Thrawn didn’t start with the best intentions was an euphemism.You used your time at the Academy to tame each other. You first firmly disliked him before you could sincerely say you respected him, then appreciated him, then...

Thinking about it, you had your fair share of notable experiences with him : a dissection, a health class about spatial venereal diseases (you were sure this one was a hazing from the teachers), a wild Graduation Ball were he kinda got drunk, the only time you saw him snap, your long evenings of studying for the final exams, all the times you and Karyn had to cover his traces because he was wandering elsewhere than his assignations, your promotions to all four, ect…

Your life was way more agitated than what you had anticipated. All thanks to one, singular person.

A scratching noise called you back in the present. You realise you were fixing your gift without doing anything. The scratch persisted and you could hear an odd rumble following. You rose from your bed to see what was at your door, and found nothing.

Curious…

Another guttural sound made you look down.

“Hi Rosu! What are you doing here my baby?”

You immediately started to baby talk to the ysalamir at your feet. You took her in your arms and she curled up all against you with a purr of contentment.

“How do you keep escaping your nest? Your daddy must be terribly worried. You wouldn’t want your daddy to worry, right?”

Does yasalmiry understand Basic? You could swear Rosu pulls out her tongue at you on purpose. Checking your chrono, you see it is almost time for your last personal report to Thrawn before your departure.

“I will bring you back to him. Climb on my shoulders, sweetie.”

You put her around your neck while taking your package. She croaked with enthusiasm and pawed your shoulder.

“Of course I have your favorite biscuits sweetie, what kind of aunt would I be if I didn’t?”

You handed her a bite of biscuit that she devoured immediately.

She had almost eaten half of the box when you approached the office of the freshly appointed Grand Admiral. You saw Colonel Yularen and Governor Pryce exit the room, you were not aware of their presence on the ship…

The guards gaved you back your cylinder and let you enter without investigating the reason of your presence, being part of the inner circle of Thrawn could give some advantages on the Chimaera.

The door opening announces your arrival and the hint of a smile appears when he sees you. It is the first time you met him in his new white uniform. It looks superb on him, really pleasant.

Now, let’s keep it professional.

"Grand Admiral Thrawn, I address you with my congratulations for your recent promotion." You made your heels boots resonate while you saluted him, putting the emphasis on his new title.

You like how it sounds.

"I thank you, Vice-Admiral (y/f/n)." He salutes back."I was wondering if you were coming to bless me with a visit before your departure."

"I was on my way to give you back a little rascal."

You kiss the forehead of Rosu before handing her back to him. He offers his arm for her to climb on with a relieved expression.

"There you are my beauty. You know it is not safe for you outside of my office."

She rubbed her head to his cheek to apologize, or to coax him, you will never know, it's a clever species. You let them cuddle to see her mate in their nest. Avaz was in the middle of a nap when he heard his partner croaks. He rose up to his feet and started to scratch the glass.

"Grand Admiral I think we have a couple to reunite."

You watch him manipulate and place back his ysalamir in the nest like she was the most fragile and delicate creature in the universe. There is so much delicacy in his mouvements and tenderness in his expression.

Who was the last person to treat you like that? Certainly not your last partners.

You observe how the two lizards cuddled to great one another, or rather you are observing him observing his dearest pets. It is rare to witness him lower his guard around others, even you. His genuine expression of caring and affection over his protégés never fails to melt your heart, you didn’t want to lose a crumb of it.

"What am I possibly doing for you to smile in such a way?"

Your smile widens.

"If I dared, Grand Admiral, you sound like a proud father." You whisper like a secret.

He chuckles while sitting at his desk, enjoining you to do the same.

"Now, Vice-Admiral (y/f/n), you firstly came for your report."

"Indeed." You quickly become formal and begin to share your findings. He listens to you respectfully behind his folded hands. "I have been observing Admiral Kassius Konstantine at your request since my affectation under his commandment almost a year and a half ago. The least I can say it's that he is driven by his ego and acts when it may be beneficial for his personal interest or his career. I still find his way of combat somewhat, how to say it… Merciful? He allows his enemies to flee for their life if he deems the game unworthy of his time. It has the merit to prevent useless loss of troops and assets, at least. "

"How can you affirm he intentionally let them retreat and not escape his grasp?"

"Because he still got results, his hunting count and victories are honorables. He is not the best, but he is efficient… When he wants to be."

"How every officer should be, however my requested presence here on Lothal tends to prove he is not enough. Anything else?"

"He comes from a politician family."

His eyelid twitches at this. One of the rare muscle reactions he is not able to control when he starts to get irritated. Imperceptible if you don't know him.

"What kind of politician family?"

"The kind to hate you, your strategics, your ways, your tactics. The kind who thinks anything as a price, everything is marketable from titles to lives. Especially lives for titles."

He let a silent sigh escape. He is anticipating some serious headaches.

"No need to be annoyed, his hunger for glory and success derives from an inferior complex. Surely he will prove himself to be a malleable spirit and a useful puppy once in your hands."

"Is it a pike of irony that I hear?" He point with an amused wry smile.

"I would never do such a thing, especially towards you Grand Admiral Thrawn." You bring a hand to your heart, pretending to be shocked."However, having another support in the political field such as him may be useful. Governor Pryce will not always be here and his family's influence outgrows hers on Coruscant. With all due respect Grand Admiral, you truly need someone to cover you up in the political domain. You might want to consider his potential."

"I am considering it."

He let himself slide in the bottom of his seat.

"If you need any other information, you can check this data card. I have gathered anything I could learn about him. From his day to day schedule to his favorite combat formation."

He took the card you handed him with an apparent satisfaction.

"Everyday I praise myself for not having you arrested when we were at the Imperial Academy. It would have been such a waste of your… Investigatory talents."

"Is it sarcasme that I hear?"

"I would not dare insult your skills, Vice-Admiral (y/f/n)." He politely replied.

As much as you appreciate him, his cockiness gives you the urges to rip off his smile sometimes. Other times, you would like to kiss it.

"I truly respect your abilities to always find what you are searching for, regardless of the object."

And still nothing on you and your life prior to the Academy, you thought to yourself. A real ghost.

"You are a valuable member of this team. I would not want your competences to rot or be wasted. So I will ask you to pursue your investigations on Konstantine and his crew, if you encounter someone with potential, let me know."

You have mixed feelings about this. You know it's his way to secure his position in the Empire. To infiltrate every layer down to their roots, with Eli as his diplomat and right hand, Commander Faro and Captain Pellaeon in the Navy, Governor Pryce in politics, Colonel Yularen in the ISB and finally you in the criminal underworld. He selects and places his pawns wisely to have ears and control in every layer of the State.

But the crew of Konstantine, your crew as well, is primarily composed of young recruits, some you have taken under your wing. You are not sure you want to expose a young person to a plan that you don't know the end.

"(y/n)?"

You raise your head with surprise. He rarely uses your name.

You came to understand through the years it was not usual in his culture and was rather reserved to related peoples. You first convinced yourself it signified nothing for him to call you by your name, that he was just getting comfortable around you as he was with Eli. Maybe human's customs had rubbed off on him after nine years. You first thought you were fooling yourself with illusions…

Nevertheless, you must now admit you were convinced he had other plans for you both.

You didn't get those ideas out of a hat. You had collected teeny details and "coincidences" during years that meant nothing separately, but drawn a different painting once assembled. Some dated back to your time in the Academy, things you saw as camaraderie or friendship.

He tends to be more talkative and open, relatively speaking, once his service is over.

His protection and your tiny privileges as his protégé that seem to grow gradually when you come back to him.

You know he felt a connection that day. He told you himself.

And you were utterly petrified by this idea.

What do you surely know about him? What you could swear was true in him?

Nothing.

Yet you were here, helping him although you were not officially under his command. Having his back and covering him everytime he did something deemed shady by other high-ranking officers. You know, deep down your mind, he is preparing something. He wasn't just exiled by his People like he pretended. He is serving a greater design that he doesn't talk to you about. Yet you follow every one of his commands, you advise him, berate him even, putting your career at risk by spying on his behalf. And for what?

To be with him. To stand at his side. To see his eyes shine with pride when your mutual efforts are rewarded by victory. To help write his legend and to be able to say "I was there" when you will tell these stories in the future.

What type of relation is this? Superior to subordinate? Two friends with different social status? A genius and his sidekick? A liar and his puppet? Or were you helping a parasite to suck up the Empire ressources?

You didn't know.

And he was still able to make you dance with his voice regardless.

"Yes sir, sorry sir. I will proceed as you ordered." You respond with a smile to cover your doubts.

"Very well. Any further questions?"

Oh yes, you have a question. A lot of questions.

Why did you send Eli to the Outer Rim? Why did he have to go alone? Why do you never talk to us? Do you actually trust any of us or is it a facade? Who are we to you? How does it happen that you still don't get how politics work here? How does it work where you come from? Where do you come from? Why have you never tried to contact your people in nine years? What is the truth behind your exil? Why do we know nothing about you? Do we matter so little to you?

Do

I

matter so little?

Will we ever talk about us?

Who are you really?

"None Sir. Everything is clear." You answer shortly.

"Perfect, therefore we are done here." He concludes with his usual composed voice. "You may go."

You both rise from your seats befo- Damn! You almost forgot.

"In fact Grand Admiral, I wanted to offer you something."

He raises an eyebrow, waiting for you to develop. You bend over to retrieve your fabric package and hand it over to him.

"This is a gift to celebrate your promotion and your nine years in the Navy."

His sight navigates between you and the package before taking it. You feel the tip of his fingers caress your hand for a split second. He weighs the gift with precaution while you remove your hand quickly, letting him evaluate the package in silence to prevent your cheeks from blushing as you both sit back.

You already have plenty of relationships, but somehow a light touch of him always lets you like you were striked by lightning. A simple gesture on his part could captivate you, a single word from his lips could command you.

Does he know how he affects you? You wonder. If he does, he hides it perfectly.

He inspects the pack from every angle, figuring out what was inside the fabric before he opens it. His movements slow down as he realizes what might be inside yet you can't fathom his expression.

He unwraps the cloth with great care, slowly discovering what you brought him.

He took several seconds to process what he had in front of him.

A book.

An ancient one on top of that.

It is an exceptionally rare item. The only ones he had ever seen were behind glass windows in museums or in private exhibitions by collectors.

He didn't think he would have the privilege to possess one himself.

He hesitates to manipulate it further, he does not want to damage this precious artefact, meanwhile his curiosity urges him to satisfy his hunger for knowledge and to dissect it right here and now.

Lost in his contemplation he stays silent, incredulous, letting you torturing yourself with questions.

You have imagined quite a few scenarios for this moment, but he didn't take this long to react in any of them.

Was this gift a good idea? You were not sure anymore.

Maybe it is too much for a promotion and a decade of friendship.

Wait…

It IS too much!

You have never seen anybody offering this just for a promotion! What were you thinking? Those get sold for millions of credits in auctions, even if you used your network in the crimeworld to get this one in a cheaper way, the risks you have taken and the value of the book you have chosen are just ridiculously high, downright indecent for the intentions you pretend to have.

If he tries to dig about it he might discover there is more than friendship and respect in your mind when you think of him…

"It is unexpected to say the least." He spoke.

Ouch.

"I am sorry you don't like it."

"Please do not misunderstand me."

He takes the book with careful precaution and starts leafing through it, his face cut with a thin smile.

"I appreciate your present, it is a most refined gift. But its value must have cost you a lot, did this occasion truly worth all the troubles? Or is there something you are not telling me?"

He brings his hand to his chin, a typical fashion of him when he investigates. You swallow quickly, regaining your composure by crossing your legs.

"I mean, I won't get the opportunity to celebrate a friend's promotion to Grand Admiral any time soon. I wanted to make it count with something that could hold on your esthete tastes."

He gazes into your eyes with his coy smile, without responding. His pupils widen, he is clearly enjoying the situation.

"Of course, I do apologize. I did not want to question your words, so many people come announcing their failure with offering to sweeter me."

You gesture your hand as if to say it's nothing.

He didn't buy your excuse and didn't bother to hide it from you. You're searching for a way to deviate the conversation.

"What an interesting material. It is not flimsi nor paper, right?" He asked, passing his hand on the edges of the page to feel all of it's asperities.

"It's vellum."

"Fascinating. What language might it be? I have never encountered it until now."

"Unfortunately, nobody knows."

He stops his investigations to gaze at you with a puzzled expression.

"This codex is unique. We know it under the name of "Voynich Manuscript" and is written date thanks to the Vellum that has been carbon-dated. The illustrations helped to cut it under sections, outside of that we can only speculate on the exact content of the text and it's real author."

You see him running his fingers on the hand-drawn figures, following the curves of a limb and exploring astronomical circles traced in a long-past age but still mesmerising today.

"It could give you some intellectual evenings trying to decode it and all its mysteries. It will resist you for sure, maybe you will be the one to unravel its secrets, maybe you will fail. I simply thought you would like to take a real challenge, but if your not up to it… "

He closed the book with precaution, grinning internally. After nine years he realises how far you have grown up, how you are now able to discern and manipulate the needs and the ego of your prey, himself included. He could take some time to admire his work on you.

He is proud of you.

"Thank you, Vice-Admiral. I will take great care of your present."

He rises from his seat to escort you to his door. You feel the ghost of his hand on your back, setting you ablaze.

"Please let me know if you discovered something about the book, I too am interested. Bye my babies!"

You wave at the ysalamiri in their nest, and like that you're gone to pack up and leave, without hearing his answer.

"You will be the first one to know, (y/n)..."

He let your name rolles on his tongue, as if he could taste it.

You just leave without greeting your superior, but he won't hold it against you. He deliberately tried to shake you,he could cut you some slack.

Whether he finds something or not, you just gave him the perfect pretext to call you on something else than work.

It would be a shame to selfishly keep this gem of history for himself when you can be two to enjoy it.

Far from all this ceremonial and protocol, on his own territory, he will have all the time that will please him to scrutinize you through this book.

Then, and only then, he will decide if he could take things further with you… Or no.

There are numerous things preventing him from doing so, some that he can't ignore and could have catastrophic consequences for both of you.

On the other hand, the sole hypothesis to be with you awakens a pain he wishes he could forget and simply ignored.

A characteristic pain in the chest and lungs.

He had already seen what happened to chiss who bypassed these symptoms.

He will need to act on that as well.

But for now he will indulge himself in your sole presence at his side and your endeavour to live up to his expectations.

It will be his unique fancy in this empire where all and everyone is a potential enemy.

His personal luxury.

@exoplorationn @bluechiss

[kneexcutter]

It is what it is

Price x (f)reader

Part 2

ALEXIA! Play Daddy Issues by The Neighborhood

@tapioca-marzipanpan

@do-leannan

@yooforia

Summary: You weren't seen as a high-ranking solider, and you were stuck in a position you didn't want, directly by General Shepard's side. You get a call one day about a new opportunity that will help you.

. Reader is presumed female

Note: I've never played any of the games, so please excuse any inaccuracies. Due to the use of Google Translate, any languages displayed may potentially be incorrect.

There will be explicit sexual content, as well as instances of harassment, cursing, and drug usage.

Callsign: Hound

You had to confess that getting back together with Price and Gaz excited you. Heck, even meeting Soap and Ghost made you happy even though you didn't really know them yet. You settled into your new room more quickly than you had anticipated. Thank goodness, there is still time before lights out.

You sat on your bed, unable to suppress your excitement. This was how peace felt, and you hadn't felt it in a long time. There were no prying eyes on you now. Now that you were able to breathe, you huffed and sat back down on your bed. You stretched your hands to the ceiling. This is something you can get used to every night.

A soft knock came on your door. You raised your head and shouted a quick come in. The door opened to reveal Price, who appeared to be holding something behind his back as he opened the door more to make himself more visible to you.

"Got a minute to spare Hound?"

You sat up and patted the spot on your bed next to you with a smile. Price entered your room and closed the door behind him with his foot so you couldn't see what he was carrying behind his back. He approached your bed and sat alongside you. He was close enough that if he stretched his legs, they would touch yours.

Price cleared his throat before revealing what he was hiding behind his back: a plushie, a dog plushie. You gazed at him for a bit before taking it from him with a chuckle. "What is this for?"

"Well, I figured you can grab this and keep it close if you ever experience nightmares," Price said with a faint smile as he turned away from you a bit.

He genuinely thought about you...

"Thank you John, I love it already, but what if you have nightmares?"

Price chuckled, "I doubt I'll be needing it."

You smiled at Price, and there they were once more—those butterflies. You can briefly detect a change in Price's eyes when he turned to face you, but it just lasted a split second if you were lucky enough to notice it. You placed the plush on your lap.

"What made you pick me?" You inquired. "With all due respect Captain-"

"Had to find people I trusted, and you are someone I trust with my life," Price hummed.

He trusted you, and you trusted him. So, what made you respond the way you did when he touched you? A reflex, perhaps? It was only a polite, welcome gesture… so why? Why do you feel both unsafe and secure at the same time? You were safe, safe with everyone, safe with John...

"I trust you as well, John," you said, exhaling. "With everything…"

Price chuckled a little before asking, "With anything, soldier?" in a softer tone.

"Yes sir."

Price gave you a nod and a little smile as he rose up and shifted your bed. He opened your door before closing it gave you a last look then a salute, "Have a goodnight Y/N, sleep tight yea."

You adjusted yourself onto your bed, letting out a sigh as you closed your eyes soon heading off to sleep.

. . .

Price stared through your file, a grim expression on his face, rereading it over and over, oblivious to Ghost's presence.

"Something the matter Captain?"

Price's eyes never leaving the paper as he answered with gruff hum. Ghost tilted his head slightly confused by the captains response.

"This doesn't seem right..." Price muttered. "You'd think the signs would be there eh..."

"Price."

"Yeah Ghost I hear ya."

Ghost pointed at the file in Price's hands, "That Hound's?"

"Yeah… ever get a gut feeling something's wrong but can't put a bloody finger on it?" Price inquired, lowering the file and closing it.

"Every day, sir," Ghost responded. "Something wrong with the file?"

"Take a go at it, either I'm losing it or there's something else going on," Price said as he slid the file forward.

Ghost took the file and scanned it, his eyes immediately falling on the name Shepard. It was your last name.

Ghost looked at Price then back at the file.

"How long have they-"

Price cut Ghost off, "Look at the other paper."

Ghost slid the first paper, then the second; it was an older picture of you, one in which you appeared younger, as seen by the form of your face. He looked up your surname, it was L/N.

"I don't get it…" Ghost inquired as he examined both documents.

"Me either, mate," Price sneered as Ghost handed him your file back. "You'd think I'd notice something so obvious as that the first time."

Ghost hummed, "Maybe it was an off duty decision."

"No, no, Hound has a family, parents and siblings, this would've come up," Price grumbled, carefully examining the two documents.

"Disappointed you weren't invited to the wedding, Captain?" Ghost commented.

"Far from it," Price sneered. "This doesn't sit right with me, not in the slightest."

"Are you gonna to ask her about it?”

Price shook his head, “No.” 

The way you tensed when he touched you said more than words could. Something happened to you. You were a tough nut to crack, based on the situations you, Gaz, and him had been through.

Kate told him to find out what’s going on through you while she started digging into Shepard. He trusted you, as well as you trusted him, that he knew for sure. Should he wait for you to tell him? Or should he just be straightforward with you?

“Fuckin Hell,” he mumbled under his breath. “God, Y/N what’s going on with you…” 

… 

“Morning Hound, how’d you sleep?” Gaz called out to you from the mess hall. You approached him and gave him a little wave. He was the only one at the table.

There were a couple other people in the mess hall who smiled at you before going about their business.

"Good morning, Gaz," you replied. "Where is everyone?"

"In the training room, Soap wanted to confront one of the novices while Ghost monitors," Gaz shrugged.

You raised your brow, “Right…”

Gaz simply smiled at you. It was a gentle one, able to melt a frozen heart. Although it appeared as though he was gazing through you, you can tell that he was still taking in the reality that you were in fact here, in front of him.

“You okay?”

"Yes, it's bloody brilliant to see you alive and well, it's been so long I nearly forgot what you looked like," Gaz chuckles. "You haven't changed a lot."

You sat across from Gaz, smugly smiling. “Really? Kindly elucidate."

"You still look absolutely stunning," Gaz remarked.

"Pft, you're just saying that," you scoff.

"No, it's true, you still look beautiful, maybe not as good as me, but-"

"Oh really," you said, covering your mouth and laughing.

“Y/N…” 

“Yeah?” 

"We really missed you, and I'm happy you're here," Gaz replied softly.

"I'm glad too," you said while grinning at him.

Gaz missed you. And so did Price. They never forgot about you, you were still dear to their hearts. It hasn’t been a solid 24 hours and they’ve already made you feel warm and fuzzy. They made you welcomed, made you feel safe. Although trust comes a long way, and it isn’t given it’s earned, Soap and Ghost have to earn that trust as you need to earn their trust as well. 

“What were you doin all this time? Like I mentioned yesterday all I heard was that you were doing solo missions.” 

“… the higher up’s like the work I do I guess…” 

Shepard liked the work you did too. A little to much...

“Pretty face does equal elegant work,” Gaz mused. 

"Oh hush you," you giggled. "But yes, I've been doing a lot of solo assignments, took it a day at a time."

"Have you spoken to your family since then?"

A tsunami-like sensation of dread rushed over you. It felt like a spear right through your heart. Shepard killed your parent …  They were taken from you. Not metaphorically or rhetorically or poetically or theoretically or any other fancy way, they were gone. Straight up.

"Hound?"

"No Gaz, I haven't spoken to them… gosh, I don't even remember the last time I spoke to them," you shook your head, sighing.

"Hey, it's alright, it's been awhile for me too," Gaz said softly. "I'm sure Price or Laswell can arrange something for you."

"I don't know-"

Gaz opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it; you looked at him then turned your head to see Ghost approaching the two of you, Soap jogging straight behind him. While catching up to him, Soap had a stupid smile on his face.

"Mornin' Hound, Mornin' Gaz," Soap said as he sat down next to you. You raised your brow at him, greeting him and then Ghost.

"How was the match?" Gaz asked.

Ghost shook his head while Soap grinned. "I wiped the floor with those little fuckers."

"You don't say," Gaz hummed.

"So... anyone up for a match?" Soap asked looking between you and Gaz. Gaz shook his head, "Hard pass."

Soap turned to you, "How about it Hound? Want a go at it?"

"Eh, I don't know..." you hummed.

"Oh come on, it'd be great practice, plus captain says you're a big deal, I wanna see for myself," Soap says, elbowing you slightly.

"I'd tear you apart Soap."

"Oh! Well then come on," Soap says standing up jogging lightly on his feet. "Let's see what you got Hound."

As you stood up from the table, you exhaled a trembling breath. As soon as Gaz got to his feet, he hurried up to you and put his hand on your shoulder while turning to face you. You felt your body stiffen up again, and your gaze rested on his hand, and you hastily shrugged off before giving Gaz a faint smile and trailing after Soap, while Gaz followed behind.

As you reached the training area, you noticed a few other people engaging in their own individual training and competitive matches. You noticed the large ring in the center of the room, where Soap cheerfully walked inside and signaled for you to join him.

You entered the ring looking at Soap, "You sure you wanna do this?"

"Bring it, show me why they call you Hound."

"They call me Hound because I'm good at finding people… but alright," you scoffed.

Soap and you both took a position. You both circled each other until Soap made the fourth move, approaching you and throwing a punch, which you blocked and returned.

The others in the room stopped what they were doing to watch you and Soap, and out of the corner of your eye, you observed them. You also got sight of a man wearing a bucket hat enter the room. Price had came.

Soap had landed a hit on the side of your stomach, so you grunted and elbowed him back, raising your leg up to knee him in the stomach and sending an elbow to his back. You kicked the back of the calf, causing him to stumble slightly but soon recover and throw another fist your way.

"Good shit Hound."

As soon as you heard what Price was saying, a cozy sensation returned to your tummy. For a brief instant, you almost lost focus on what you were doing. But what would his voice sound like in a low whisper…in your ear?

"Shepard knows how to pick em." You overheard someone say. Every single one of the butterflies in your stomach started to burn. You had Soap trapped down with his arm in your hand before you realized it. You lightly stepped on his back. Shepard. Fucking Shepard. Because of him, you're still here. You can't avoid his name no matter where you go. Worse than his presence was his name.

"Ah- okay- okay Uncle!"

You walked out of the ring, past Gaz and Price, after dropping Soap's arm in a huff. Gaz gave Soap a puzzled look, and Price followed you.

"Hound."

As you were ready to enter your room, you paused in your tacks and sighed, turning on your heel.

"My office, now."

You followed Price back into his office, closing the door behind you. His office had a bar-like odor. "Yes sir?"

"You wanna tell me what's goin' on in that head of yours?" Price asked you as he reclined against his desk, arms crossed and head cocked.

"I'm sorry?"

Price hummed, "I've known you long enough to know that look in your way Hound."

"What look sir?"

"Lost."

"I'm fine Captain, just got heated in the moment," you said with a smile.

Price locked his gaze on you, scanning you up and down. It sent shivers up and down your spine. You needed to leave immediately, you needed to think.

"May I go now?"

"What's the rush?" Price asked his voice sounding stern.

You shook your head, "My family...I- I haven't checked in on them."

"Homesick?"

You nodded, "Very."

As you approached, Price sighed and gave you a faint smile. "Understandable; if you'd like, I can work something out for you, yeah?"

"Thank you sir," you said.

"You can leave now," Price remarked, motioning to the door. He observed you exit the space as swiftly as you entered.

"What's goin' on with you kid..."

[556betrayed]

Sigh. Here we go again.

Dear TWU 556 Executive Board Members:

Members have rights to ask questions of their elected union representatives. Quit saying you're bullied when the hard questions are asked.

While we are at it, when will the Executive Board finally stop appointing bullies to serve as union officers and officials?

Why did the EB appoint Sam Wilkins? Have you read the transcripts? Sam Wilkins, aside from being a company cheerleader, has a long history of bullying and harassing the rank and file members of TWU 556 along with violating the statutory Duty of Fair Representation owed to the members of TWU 556.

Quit classifying yourselves as victims as you are clearly not a victim in any of this.

It's long past time the TWU 556 Eexecutive Board starts making amends to those victimized by the TWU 556 Eexecutive Board.

In Unity,

The betrayed Rank and File members of TWU 556

[altocat]

How do the Firsts deal with day long stomach cramps? Because that's the mood right now ahaha....

Genesis is a big dumb drama baby about it, moaning and growing and throwing himself at his companions so they can coo and fuss over him. Angeal basically growls and tells him to stop whining while he low-key makes him some special soup and tucks his little angel into bed and tries his best to ignore Genesis' smug smirking.

Angeal powers through the pain. He took some Pepto and he is going to charge blindly ahead rank and file like a good little soldier despite the fact that he's this close to throwing up and/or crying. Maybe he's already secretly done a little bit of both. I wouldn't check the contents of the main office plant any time in the near future.

Sephiroth fucks off to bed in the pitch black darkness and no amount of harassment at his doorstep is going to get a response. Angeal is allowed inside for some MILD coddling, but Sephiroth mostly just wants to be left alone for the most part. An angry murder-burrito under the covers. Zack is FORBIDDEN from entering on account of the time he cannon-balled onto the bed.

[qdbs-writes]

May I please request headcanons for Cassie, Jacqui, Sonya, and Johnny reacting to their female military S/O being arrested and jailed for a crime she didn't commit because she stood up against sexual harassment and corruption?

MK Peeps x Falsely-Imprisoned!Reader

Cassie Cage

When she first hears that you're in jail, she assumes you were put in the drunk tank or something, but when Security Forces refuse to let her see you or release you she realises that something is wrong.

So Cassie breaks in to see you, and she finds that you're under file for "violating the safety and integrity of Security Forces data" which she knows is complete bullshit.

She visits you in your cell and you explain that you tried to expose some higher-ups for their sexual harassment and then they had you locked up. Cassie is pissed, and she vows to destroy the assholes who've falsely arrested you.

Jacqui Briggs

When Jacqui learns that you're in custody, she knows something has gone wrong because you were a key witness to a string of SA trials.

Jacqui knows about corrupt and sexist power structures: she's an African American woman, but she never expected it to extend to the Security Forces or to impact you.

Knowing she can't trust the Security Forces, she pulls every news outlet she can find into investigating your arrest and the miscarriage of justice that's occurred, hoping media attention would be enough to force your release.

Sonya Blade

Sonya had her concerns about you managing the Security Forces SA claims internally, and all of those suspicions are confirmed when you're held in custody for a crime you would never commit.

When Sonya realises how far the corruption has spread, she gathers all members who are loyal to her and tears the Security Forces apart, stripping those who arrested you of all authority in the organisation.

When she's regained control, she has you released in exchange for the rapey assholes who tried to stop their abuse from getting out, and Sonya will use the fullest extent of the law to punish them.

Johnny Cage

When Johnny learns that you've been imprisoned after trying to expose SA from high-ranking Security Force officers, he leaves and exposes the officers' crimes and your unlawful arrest on his social media, where he has millions of followers.

Soon military police and news helicopters surround the Security Forces base and it's not long before a UN court is held to break down the accusations of SA and corruption that has festered within the Security Forces ranks.

By the time you're released, news cameras and reporters surround you trying to get your opinion, but Johnny comes and guides you away, eager to protect you from any more exploitation.

[coopigeoncoo]

The 3-Cs of 3-A, Chapter 1: The World Turns Upside Down

Chapter Links: Next

Pairing: Eventual Bakugou Katsuki x Fem Reader (it's a very long way off though)

Rating: Explicit. 18+

Tags: Mineta Redemption, Fem Reader, AFAB Reader, Sexual Harassment, Abusive Parenting, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Statutory Rape, Dubious Consent, Underage Sex, Underage Drinking, Domestic Violence, Blood and Injury

Tags are subject to change as story develops.

---

Mineta Minoru is a perverted misogynist whose antics should have had him expelled from UA long ago.

But he wasn’t.

And now it’s your job to fix him.

May God have mercy on your soul.

–-- “Well then, I’ll leave myself in your capable hands,” Mineta purred before popping open the top two buttons on his shirt, sending you a coy look from under his lashes. “Mold me into the perfect hero, Pygmalion!  Make me your Galatea!” he screamed as he ripped open his shirt, buttons flying haphazardly through the air and pinging off the walls and floor.  You throw your arms up to cover your eyes, as though blinded by the pale skin of his belly.  

“Why do you always have to make this weird?” you moan forlornly, already bending down to search along the floor for the missing buttons.  

---

Continue Reading below, or follow the link to Ao3!

Chapter 1: The World Turns Upside Down

In which you make a grave error and start a chain reaction that changes life as you know it.

The only thing you were the best at was trying your best, and honestly, that was pretty darn good.

You had never been given a solo in band class, but the only mistakes you made while playing were small and easily drowned out by the enthusiastic French horn player that sat next to you. Homework assignments were always turned in fully completed, on time, with legible penmanship, but you never managed to break the top 30 academic rankings at your school. Your brief stint as a field hockey player ended with you having never scored a goal despite your team making it to the playoffs.

You rose to all the challenges you were given and performed admirably, but you never truly excelled at anything. You did well and you supposed that was well enough.

It was this long and unwavering history of academic adequacy that led you to make what was ultimately, in retrospect, the worst decision of your young life.

Two options were set before you and neither of them were particularly appealing.

The first was an exhaustively long and detailed research paper on the rise of commercialized hero agencies that spanned from the initial onset of Quirks until today. The second was the same project all of your future classmates had been assigned a week prior: building and maintaining a mock hero agency for the remainder of the school year. Research had never been your strong suit and the idea of working on a singular paper for eight months straight was one of the worst ways you could imagine spending your senior year.

"I think," you murmured quietly, fiddling with the hem of your shirt. " I think I would like to attempt the hero project, Sir."

Since this was the first time you had met the Principal of your new school you were woefully unaware of the horrors that awaited when Nezu's eyes twinkled just so, and your hesitant acceptance set of a shimmer in his beady eyes that would have any experienced member of his staff revising the resignation letters they all had saved on their desktops for easy access.

"Excellent!" He proclaimed cheerily, sharp teeth bared in an unnerving smile as he reached into his desk and withdrew a stack of files. "Most excellent indeed! I'll provide you with all the pertinent records and files for your project. I'm looking forward to seeing what your fresh perspective will bring to the table with no inherited biases!"

"Biases? What biases?" you asked warily.

"Nothing to worry yourself over!,” Nezu assured you as he continued to add to the file stack. “I can tell by your academic record that you're a hard worker no matter how challenging the assignment! Taking on something of this magnitude will really set you apart from your peers,” Nezu said as he added a collection of slim binders on top of the file stack.

"Ah, is that okay though? I'm transferring in during my third year. The rest of my class has way more experience. One of them will probably be a better choice to handle a…more challenging project?" you questioned, becoming increasingly nervous and uncertain as the stack of files continued to grow.

"Nonsense! You're a clever girl, you'll be fine. Besides, all of them already refused to do this. Well, except that one boy. Utada, I believe? He received this assignment originally," Nezu murmured, tapping a clawed finger to his chin gently and his other hand shuffled papers on his desk about into a messy pile before clipping it together and depositing it onto the towering stack of paper between you.

"Oh! Will I be working together with him, then? Like a group project?" you sighed, relieved that you would have a partner to work through this monstrous assignment with.

"Work with who? Utada? Oh, heavens no! He dropped out. Purely coincidental, I'm sure, and not at all related to this project. Now, let's finish up the rest of your transfer paperwork, shall we?"

A weak smile wobbled across your face as you nodded, worried about the workload but knowing you didn't really have much of a choice but to accept.  UA was a high-level, competitive school.  You knew going in that the course work was going to be more challenging than your previous school, but there was no way they would assign anything too difficult, right?

Your newly found confidence immediately faltered as Nezu pushed the towering stack of paper and office supplies across the desk towards you.

“This information should be sufficient to get you started. Make sure to let your homeroom teacher know if there is anything missing and we’ll make arrangements to get it to you. Best of luck!”

Knowing a dismissal when you heard one, you gathered up the stack of files into your arms and carefully maneuvered your way out of the office, unaware of the principal's feral grin that lasted long after you bumped the door closed with your hip.

The project, in theory, was simple: build a hero agency from the ground up. It's the perfect assignment for the Business Course students because it would very likely mirror what awaited them in the professional world once they graduated; working with a hero, constructing an image, supporting the brand, and keeping the budget in line. It was a culmination of two years of accrued knowledge put to the test.

Two years of knowledge that you didn't possess.

Transferring into any program during your final year was already going to be a nightmare, but the specialized and hero-focused curriculum of UA didn't mesh with your previous school's classes as well as you'd hoped. Or at all, really. You didn’t know what got covered in the second year math class 'Deconstructing Destruction: Calculating the Cost of Replacing Public Works' but you had a sneaking suspicion it was vastly different from your Probability and Statistics course.

“Welp,” you sighed as you took in the mountain of paperwork stacked on top of your desk “Time to get to work.”

The syllabus was at the top of the stack and you managed to make it a full thirty pages in before you started hyperventilating. You weren't even halfway through the project outline and every bullet point had at least six additional bullet points underneath it. The breadth and depth of this project was unreal and you had no idea how you were going to manage it.

You set a cellphone timer for ten minutes and managed to work in two full existential crises before the alarm sounded. After that, you took a series of calming breaths and began collating.

Files were broken up by individual assignment, hole punched, and placed neatly into three ring binders with color coded sticky tabs that you could use to quickly access different sections. Due dates were logged in your agenda and calendar reminders were added to your cell phone. It took you hours to organize the entire towering project outline. The satisfaction you felt as you stared at the collection of pristine and orderly binders must be what new parents felt when holding their child for the first time; overwhelming pride and exhaustion in equal measure.

Only one file remained on your desk; the student record for the hero in training that you'd be building an agency for. You sat down in your desk chair, cracked your knuckles, and opened the file to the first page.

"Alright, Mineta Minoru! Let's see what you've got, hero!"

"Oh God," you sobbed into your hands. "He's awful."

[vampyrsutton]

How Are You Alive?

Summary:

DabiHawks get hit by a bodyswap quirk this time and learn just how much therapy the other needs. Oh, and they fuck.

Ao3 Tags:

Bodyswap, Sexual Harassment, Protective Dabi | Todoroki Touya, Implied/Referenced Torture, Ritual Sex, Sort Of, Quirk Accident (My Hero Academia), Quirk Shenanigans (My Hero Academia), Past Sex Work, Blood Kink, How did that get there?, Fluff and Angst, Takami Keigo | Hawks Has PTSD, Implied/Referenced Attempted Suicide, The Hero Public Safety Commission Was the Real Villain All Along (My Hero Academia), Dabi | Todoroki Touya Has Genital Piercings, Dabi | Todoroki Touya Has Issues, Dabi | Todoroki Touya Has PTSD, Dabi | Todoroki Touya Has Chronic Pain, They Need Multiple Kinds Of Therapy, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Implied Aftercare, Biting, Mating Bites, Dabi | Todoroki Touya Acts Like A Bird, I'm Not Even Going To TRY Tagging Top And Bottom, Orgasm Denial, Dabi | Todoroki Touya is a Little Shit, Degradation, Dacryphilia

Notes:

Day 4 of DabiHawks Week 2023!

Theme: Body Swap NSFW Prompt: Ritual Sex (sort of, its the faster way to undo the quirk)

Continuation of Day 1, but can be read alone.

"Seriously, man, just leave me alone already." Hawks sighs, fiddling with his phone as some lower-ranking member of the new PLF insists on hitting on him. Something about ‘being desperate enough to fuck the burnt bastard' means he's down to fuck anyone.

He wants nothing more than to run a feather through the guy the more he insulted both him and Dabi, but both fortunately and unfortunately, fucking said burnt bastard gave him access to enough files to know that while the guy ranked lower than Dabi, he was still high rank in terms of importance. He couldn't remember what for, but the face was labeled in his brain as 'not allowed to kill'. That and being a top-ranking hero meant he was barely tolerated here so killing goons probably wouldn't help him. 

"Aw, come on, pretty bird. Don't be such a prude." The guy sighs like anyone but incels would back him up if they heard. "Wouldn't you rather have a cock that's not falling apart? Something actually satisfying."

Hawks snorts as he sends his location in the manor to Dabi before finally looking at the asshole. "The only metal in his dick is a Ladder and as for satisfying…" Hawks looks the guy up and down, smirking as his phone buzzes and he sees Dabi's on his way. "I doubt you can even satisfy a fleshlight with the amount of small dick energy you put out, but with over 8 inches and impressive girth, buddy, he's doing just fine." 

Hawks watches a vein pulse by the guy’s temple and sharpens his feathers on instinct when the idiot grabs the front of his coat. 

“What? Think that just because you decided to whore yourself out to one of the Lieutenants’ that makes you better than me? Huh, birdie?” The guy sneers, only getting more pissed when Hawks just rolls his eyes. “You fucking bit-”

The goon is cut off by a heat-glowing hand slamming him into the nearest wall by his throat.

“He said fuck off.” Dabi nearly growls as he lets his hand heat enough to make the guy scream. “Are you fucking deaf?”

Self-preservation was apparently not a skill this guy has as he forces a sneer onto a face otherwise twisted in pain. “Are you really so possessive of some hero slut? Where’s your pride as a villain?”

Dabi pulls him away to make his head smack against the wall when he slams him against it again. “He said no so don’t you dare call him a slut, and at least I understand the phrase no means no. What were you planning to do to my mate if I hadn’t shown up to break your neck, huh?”

“Mate? What kind of weird ass roleplay-” He cuts off when Dabi bares fangs at him that never went away when their quirks had been switched months before and tilts his head as though able to understand when Hawks chitters at him. 

“Oh, he said all that did he?” Dabi hums with narrowed eyes. “Remember who he’s under?”

Hawks stares at the guy for a second, sorting through files in his mind. “Specialty is Infiltration so he’s under Toga and Skeptic.”

Dabi smirks, tightening his grip. “So do you want me to kill you or the little blonde psycho? Either way, it doesn’t matter how useful you are, nobody touches our birdie.”

The guy gulps, finally realizing the position he’s put himself in before his eyes glow a sickly green along with where he grabbed Hawks’ coat and Dabi’s hand. “You need me alive if you want to know how to switch back!”

Dabi and Hawks just look at him in confusion when nothing happens, but that stupid quirk swap had taken almost 12 hours and they’d been in enough fights to know some quirks take time. Dabi quickly decides he doesn’t have the patience as he slams the guy against the wall once again.

“What did you do?” Dabi sneers, already texting Toga with his other hand. 

That infuriating smirk is back and Dabi has to fight not to just barbeque the guy. “Let me go, and I’ll at least tell you that.”

“What’s to stop me from just killing you now and reading your file?” Dabi lets his grin turn manic just to see the flash of fear in the man’s eyes.

“The fix isn’t in my file!” The guy hurries out when the heat of Dabi’s hand increases. “Only me and ReDestro know and ReDestro can’t be contacted for the next week!”

Dabi scoffs, holding out his hand as a feather deposit the file in question before cursing when he sees it's true. “Fucking bullshit. Remind me to update that later if we let him live.” He mutters as he shoves away from the guy and delights in watching him slump to the ground with a scared whimper. “There, you’re free. What was the glowing shit?”

“...Dabs,” Hawks speaks up when the guy doesn’t. “You have his file.”

Dabi blinks as though just remembering that and pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “I hate people.” He grumbles before reopening the file and reading. “Bodyswap—oh god dammit! Is the other guy still in jail, birdie?”

“Doesn’t start therapy for another month so probably.” Hawks sighs, seemingly thinking of things before gold eyes narrow dangerously at the guy. “Either fix it now or tell us how to and I’ll make sure you only get your ass kicked rather than killed.”

They both catch the defiance attempting to return to scared eyes, but that’s quickly stomped out by sharp feathers dangerously close to vital areas and Dabi’s hand erupts in flames. “I can’t! I can only reverse it myself if I’m the one who swapped otherwise they have to do it themselves!”

“How?” Dabi glares, flame growing in a warning.

The guy actually whimpers when a red knife moves closer to his crotch. “Physical contact! The longer it lasts, the faster you’ll return to normal otherwise it wears off in a week!” 

"And you can't just switch us back yourself because…?" Hawks prods. 

"You have to actually switch first for either to work! I can change you back tomorrow!" He rushes out, pressing himself further against the wall when Dabi steps closer. "Just find me in the morning, I'll undo it then!" He promises, already planning how to disappear for the next month as soon as he's out of their sight. 

The two look at each other before Hawks shrugs, calling his feathers back. "Fine." 

The guy sighs in relief, but Dabi's hand is still on fire and is suddenly dangerously close to his face. "Don't think you're off the hook, bastard. Don't you have something you'd like to say to my pretty bird?" The villain nearly growls as he turns up the heat to make the other man turn pale. 

The guy just sputters as he looks at the lieutenant in utter confusion. "I- I already- what?" 

Dabi rolls his eyes, cursing under his breath. "Apologize for being a fucking creep, dicks for brains. I should have never had to come over here, you should have stopped after the first fucking 'no', but because he knows you assholes would throw a fit if he fought back, here the fuck I am so apologize. Now." 

"What the hell for? I was just shooting my shot, man, you know how it is, right?" The guy laughs nervously, this for some reason being the hill he's willing to die on. 

"Not after they say no." Dabi sneers before looking over his shoulder. "You good with just fixing this ourselves, birdie? I think he needs made an example of." 

"Wait, no, please. Re-Destro wouldn't like-" 

"Re-Destro isn't in charge anymore." Dabi smirks. "Shigaraki is. And he's left full command to his Lieutenants after he kicked your boss' ass so unless Skeptic is willing to vouch for you, I know Toga's gonna be first in line to skin your worthless ass." 

"But my quirk-" 

"Give Toga your blood and let Twice take your measurements." Dabi shrugs, his smirk growing the more the fool realizes how fucked he is. "Every single one of you is replaceable. Remember that scrub." 

"Toga said get the blood and measurements first then have at it," Hawks speaks up, waving his phone a bit with his own little smirk. "I second that. I call dibs on draining him since Toga's away on a mission." 

"No, you can't be serious! It was just a little flirt-" 

"You put your hands on him without his permission and called him crude things because of who he's mated to as well as not dropping it when you were turned down." Dabi cuts him off, putting his fire out to haul him to his feet to drag him to the meeting room with an overly hot hand. "You're the fourth asshole this week who thinks just because he's pretty but willing to soil himself with the likes of me must mean he's easy. You were the first stupid enough to touch him though so we're gonna use you to nip it in the bud before it goes any further because I swear to god if that feather starts pulling me somewhere because one of you chuckle fucks are trying to do something worse, I'm setting the entire building on fire with all of you inside." 

"Shigs sent out the call for an org-wide meeting. Compress is setting up the video call for those too far away." Hawks hums from behind them like it’s a normal work meeting rather than what's probably going to end up an execution. 

"No, please! I'm sorry. I won't fuck with your bird again, just please-" 

"Why the fuck are you apologizing to me ?!" Dabi scoffs, slamming him into a corner on the way past just to make his head spin with the impact. "For fuck's sake!" 

"Fine! Fuck! I'm sorry, Hawks! Just please make him let me go! I have a wife and kids, man!"

 Hawks winces in almost sympathy when Dabi freezes. "Oooh, yeah, you should not have admitted that." 

"You know what info to get, right, birdie?" Dabi asks evenly, the temperature in his hand slowly rising even as he sounds the calmest he has this entire exchange. 

"Names, relationship dynamic, and ages." Hawks nods, already texting, not minding the secretary status he accidentally put himself in. 

"Good birdie." Dabi hums, returning to dragging the idiot to his doom and letting his lip quirk a little when Hawks coos at the praise. 

"What? Why do you need to know all of that? What are you going to do to them?" The guy's panic is increasing as he finally starts struggling. 

"Just checking if you're worthy of having them." Dabi shrugs. "If it's a legitimately happy family, you might get to live. If we find any funny business, they get set free." 

The way the guy's face turns ghost pale is all the answer Dabi or Hawks needs, but with a non-combative quirk and an enraged Dabi, all he can do is hope the stronger villain gets tired before the results are in. 

Hawks sends feathers ahead to get the doors as they near the stage room and gives the guy a perfectly innocent grin. "Hope it was worth it." 

He highly doubts it. 

~~~ 

Despite the adrenaline high of their little performance that would have usually left them attacking each other the second they were through the door, they barely made it to the door and ended up collapsing into the bed after half-heartedly removing their now soot and blood-covered clothes.

 "Think it's trying to kick in?" Hawks mumbles as he lets himself be pulled into almost overly warm arms. 

"Probably." Dabi yawns. "Probably needs us to sleep to kick in." 

"Mmm, great. Needed a nap anyway." 

This gets a snort out of Dabi, but Hawks is already asleep so completely misses it. 

Dabi is soon to follow. 

This last all of four hours before Dabi's body is jerking awake in intense pain and screaming at the further pain the action causes. 

Fuck! It hurts! Why does everything hurt? He's freezing, but it feels like he's burning from the inside and his skin . Gods, it hurts so bad! He feels like he could cry, but instead, there's just more painful pressure and liquid leaking down his face from his cheeks. He reaches up to touch his face before he notices the gleam of staples in lights they forgot to turn off and the scars connected to them. 

Oh. 

"Dabi…" Hawks croaks out and yeah that is definitely not his voice. When the lump of red feathers next to him doesn't move, he's forced to clear his throat and try again. "Dabi…!" Still nothing, and Hawks is starting to feel panicked before remembering how Dabi's quirk works when he hears a pained chirp and realizes that he was raising the temperature. "Dabi… hurts…" 

Gold eyes finally find their way out of red wings to look at him in his own form of panic before wincing when he moves a wing wrong and hurts himself in the process. "Shit, these things are still heavy. Think you can use any of that Commission training to start calming down while I try to sit up? You have a few new muscles that the quirk swap didn't give me." 

Hawks whines a sound foreign to Dabi's usually gruff throat but does his best to remember any of his training. Instead, where he ends up is back in his early childhood and dissociating as his father puts out a cigarette on his arm. Eh, that works. Makes the pain less at least. 

"Fuck, birdie, not that much." Dabi hisses when his body's temperature drops suddenly. "You'll give yourself hypothermia or some shit." He's whispering, the bird senses probably being too much. 

Hawks groans, trying to find a middle ground, but just whimpering. "How the fuck are you alive? Fuck, Dabi, it hurts!" 

"A lot of fucking spite and illegally acquired painkillers." Dabi sighs, rapidly typing on his phone. "I'll have one of the others bring something up. You're not going to be able to move, and I'll probably fall down the stairs if I try walking with these things." 

"Tell them to hurry. Shit, it even hurts to breathe." Hawks is trying not to grind his teeth due to the pain it causes his face. "You weren't joking about not being able to cry, huh?" 

"With your shoulders, not your diaphragm. Puts less pressure on the stomach scars." Dabi explains, doing a little hop shuffle to get close enough to brush sweat-soaked bangs away from what is normally his forehead. He ends up tilting what is currently his head as his eyes zero in on where blood is coming from an under-eye seam. "Do you always get like this when you see blood?" 

Hawks forces his eyes open and gets a slight understanding of what the Commission meant about his more avian features as he's met with his own eyes devoid of a pupil and trained on something on his cheek with a predatory gleam. The position of the light in the room makes them seem to glow and Hawks feels some almost buried instinct set off alarm bells about a predator. A taloned hand entering his peripheral vision makes him flinch and whimper from the pain the movement causes, but all it does is wipe his cheek like Dabi normally would his tears. 

"Is that what I look like when not repressing shit?" Hawks breathes, some part of his brain afraid to move…other parts not so much. 

"Dangerous and beautiful?" Dabi hums, still staring at the blood on his thumb like he's wondering if it would be weird to lick it or if he even cares. "Like an avenging angel?" 

Hawks feels his face heat up when Dabi's currently gold eyes flick between the blood and Hawks and back with a curious trill. "You always have this reaction to me being feral?" He asks when watching what's usually his face lick the blood from his thumb makes his current cock twitch.

“Insanely horny?” Dabi asks bluntly. For some reason hearing it in his own voice makes the hero blush darker and Dabi smirks at the sight. “Good thing contact is the fix, right?”

Hawks tries to get his embarrassment back under control when he notices smoke leaving what is currently his staples and nods his head shyly before cursing when the angle is apparently wrong and it pulls his neck staples. “Shit, hope you haven’t made my body too much of a bottom because you’re probably going to have to do the work. I think I’ll actually pass out if I try to move that much.”

“Yeah, I can figure out either.” Dabi shrugs.

There’s a knock on the door then and Compress’ voice filters through to them. “I got the painkillers and water so the heathen won’t just swallow them dry.”

“That was one time!” Hawks whines in a way that is without a doubt him even if it’s said with Dabi’s voice. 

“That we saw.” Dabi scoffs, brow scrunched in concentration as he tries to remember how the feathers work, chirping in frustration. 

“Dabi, you have all night to play with the feathers. I would like to go back to bed.” Compress eventually teases, getting a pout out of the current hero and gods was that a vile thought. 

“It almost made it to the door!” Dabi chirps indignantly. 

“Hawks?”

“I can’t lift my head to check so sure!” Hawks sighs, laughing at the offended squawk this gets before groaning when the action jostles him. “Just come in, we’re in our boxers!” 

He doesn’t register Dabi’s look of horror until a wing drapes over his lap to hide the boner from the little blood tease barely a few minutes prior. He can feel the unimpressed look Compress gives them even through the man’s mask. 

“I guess that answers the question of if you’d fuck yourself.” Compress sighs, shaking his head as a shaky feather does manage to take the bottle of pills at least. 

“We didn’t do anything!” Hawks insists in embarrassment, letting the embarrassment seep through to raise his temperature when he hears Dabi mutter a ‘yet’. “Quiet you!”

“Don’t care. Try not to overdose.” Compress sighs, as he hands to bottle to Hawks before taking it back to measure out Dabi’s normal dose when the current villain just squints at the label. “Right, forgot about that.” 

“Babe, I mean this with all the affection in the world, does anything on you work? I thought you were just blurry because of the pain.” Hawks groans, wanting to rub current eyes but sure he’ll catch staples on each other and get attacked by bird instincts the other isn’t used to. “And if you say your dick, we’re waiting it out.”

He can hear the pout in Dabi’s huff and wonders if the scars just usually hide that or if that's a him thing. "Fine. None of my organs have failed yet if that helps." 

"Not comforting but good to hear." Hawks sighs, gratefully accepting the help from the other two in sitting up before Dabi slips the drugs in his mouth and Compress helps him with the water. "I'm getting you a doctor and physical therapist when we win." He decides, batting at Dabi when he mutters an 'if'. " When , asshole."

"You're literally in my body! You tell me my odds!" Dabi scoffs and wow did he always screech like that or was that just Dabi not knowing how to control the bird side? 

"Then give me mine back so I can drop the culprit off a building!" Hawks growls back, smirking a little when the sound still has an effect on his body and what are currently Dabi's wings puff. 

"No, fuck you, I'm keeping it now! That's my target!" 

"I'm kidnapping you both a therapist." Compress sighs, tossing the pill bottle to Dabi. "You know how to dose yourself. If I can hear anything, I'm putting fish oil on your breakfast." 

Dabi makes a gagging noise before scrunching fluffy brows in thought. "Do I hate fish in your body?" 

Hawks can’t help but snort. “Of course, you focus on weird shit like this. I know I like fish because it’s one of the few things I can get away with eating raw without my handlers thinking I need more training so probably.” 

Something sparks in currently gold eyes before Dabi’s trying to maneuver getting out of bed with the wings and extra muscles. “Oh my god, I can get an actual meal in you. Those are going to take a second to kick in, I’m going to raid the fridge.”

“Wha-Dabi!” Hawks scoffs, trying to sit up before yelling in pain and falling back to the bed. “Fine.”

Dabi smirks as Compress sighs, following him out to make sure the current hero doesn’t break his neck tripping over his new wings. “Try not to die you two.”

“I’m not already?” Hawks groans dramatically, getting a snicker from the other two before the door closes and he’s left to let the meds kick in. 

Luckily, Dabi seems to be gorging himself in the kitchen, probably realizing he underestimated the bird metabolism and having to keep going back to the fridge so Hawks has so time after the meds kick in to drag his now loopy ass to Dabi’s en suite to perform some TLC on his own borrowed body. He now understands why Dabi takes nine years in the shower because, despite the villain’s own heat, the water definitely hits differently even if he has to half dry off to retrieve a phone to figure out how to wash himself like this before returning to the bathroom. Despite this, Dabi still ends up finding him fixing whatever staples he managed to fuck up with blood running down various places upon his return. 

“Welcome back.” Hawks hums at the mirror, taking advantage of the numbed senses from whatever Compress gave him to get staples back in. “Mind helping with your back? We didn’t shower after taking care of the asshole earlier and I didn’t want you getting an infection while I don’t know how to do the fever thing.” 

When there’s no movement for a moment, Hawks finally looks behind him with a frown. “Dabs-” He realizes his mistake when he takes in the taloned hand gripping the door and bared fangs as liquid gold eyes devoid of a pupil dance around his current body to where he know he pulled staples. “Oh, fuck-” He tries to make a break for the walk-in closet but his own chase instinct had been trained out of him so long ago that he forgets he just asked for the current bird hero to attack him as he’s knocked to the ground with a groan. “Yeah, shouldn’t have done that.” He wheezes. 

“What the fuck is going on, Hawks.” Dabi pants and yeah, that was a predator sound that followed. “Why do I want to maul you?”

“Predator instincts,” Hawks answers, speaking as calmly as possible to not rile up the hunter pinning him to the ground. “It’ll go away in a second.”

“What do you me- Jesus Christ.” Dabi hisses as he’s hit by an intense wave of guilt and self-loathing. “You live like this? What the fuck was that?”

“Go have a mutant quirk at the Commission and be told that side of you is disgraceful and unbefitting of a hero and will only make everyone you save hate you, no matter how hard you try.” Hawks shrugs, wincing when he realizes Dabi can’t turn off the stress grip so there are talons digging into the scar tissue on the back of his neck. “Tell me how your mental health is doing.”

Dabi groans, seemingly having an entire war with himself and obviously wanting to pull away, but he can’t so it just gets worse. “Why do I have it? Shouldn’t those issues be with you?” 

“You indulged in a raptor thing which is wired to shame at this point sooo…” Another more careful shrug.

“Fuck, Hawks.” Dabi mumbles, slowly relaxing, and for some reason that makes alarm bells go off in Hawks’ head. “Is this why it still took so long for you to wear your crest feathers around us despite us knowing?” He chirps angrily at the nod he receives. “Give me my quirk back so I can go deep fry those fucks. You should have never been made to feel this for being yourself…How are you still alive?” 

“You know those mind control quirks they villainize?” Hawks smiles sadly, nodding when his own face looks at him in horror. “Tried once and now I physically can’t. Trainers beat the shit out of me once I was medically cleared and I couldn’t even escape it.”

This seems to be the last straw Dabi needs to let Hawks go and fly out the door. “I’m killing all of them with their precious golden boy quirk!”

“You still have no training!” Hawks sighs, not even bothering to try to get up until he sees Dabi actually flying with relative ease and looking at him with a smirk. “What the-?”

“You know how you joke about bird brain wanting you to do certain things?” Dabi hums, plucking a feather and sharpening it. “I think I figured out how I actually got a hang of your quirk so fast when I had it. Maybe it's instincts merging with the telekinesis or just the instincts alone, but they’re very cooperative when you listen to them.”

Dabi is dangerous and effective with a quirk that actively hurts him. Hawks doesn’t want to know what he looks like with a quirk working with him.

“Dabi, don’t.” He pleads as he gets up as fast as his current broken body will allow him. “They have my own body booby-trapped against me to prevent this exact thing. Getting information for you guys isn’t the only reason they’re still alive.” Hawks tries to warn, but that only seems to enrage Dabi more. “We don't know what it will do if you get my body killed?” He tries instead.

Dabi looks hesitant now so Hawks takes advantage to creep into the bedroom Dabi had managed to fly into so that if his next plan gets him tackled again, it’s at least on the carpet. “Please?”

Dabi frowns and Hawks suddenly understands why Dabi likes pissing him off so much. Call him narcissistic despite what was just revealed, but he’s cute when he pouts. 

“Hey, Dabs.” Hawks whispers to draw the current hero’s attention back to him from where he was scowling at the door. “Still tuned into the bird brain?”

Dabi frowns more, but the tilt of his head answers Hawks’ question before he does. “Yeah? Why?’

“Perfect.” Hawks smirks as he gets closer to the confused blonde, and runs his thumb through one of the blood streams running from his current body and smearing it over Dabi’s lower lip to watch his pupils expand and vanish as Dabi inhales sharply. “‘Cause I’d like my body back before you do something reckless.”

Dabi seems to be at war with himself, but Dabi’s mind isn’t as conditioned so Hawks is sure that even if his brain is throwing a fit about listening to the predatory instincts drawing him to fresh blood, Dabi will crumble soon enough. 

“I’ll be fi-”

Hawks just shakes his head with a tsk, smirking in a way he knows his body will react to and trying not to blush at how instant of a reaction he gets to witness. Dabi was never going to let him live that down but as long as it worked, Hawks didn’t care as much right now. 

“Come on, pretty bird.” He drawls in a way he knows he likes and gods, was it weird for watching his own face blush to be turning him on, but he is in Dabi’s body. “Give in, baby.”

Dabi’s hand at least releases the feather enough for it to reconnect and coos happily when Hawks starts running a hand through wild blonde hair before he soon starts squirming. “No fair, you have bird biology to take advantage of.”

“Yup, and shiny staples and fresh blood to further distract you on this side.” Hawks hums innocently, moving in a way that he knows will let the light catch not only the staples but also the blood running past a nipple piercing. “Come on, sweetheart. I’ve helped patch you up enough times to know how much you want to attack me right now.” He chuckles when Dabi trills needily before he leans close to a red-flushed ear. “Go for it, baby. We’ll have so much fun if you do.” He feels talons clutch his current shoulders. They’re shaking, but Hawks can hear him panting in his effort to hold back so he drops his voice to a low growl. “Ravage me, pretty bird.” 

That's all it takes for Hawks to find himself flown to the bed and pinned by strong arms and fierce eyes that promise his undoing. He momentarily regrets his choice to rile the usual villain up when staples and seams scream despite the meds, but then he's being kissed like Dabi plans to devour him, and god the villain would be dangerous with unrepressed bird instincts. Dabi's mouth can reduce him to a pile of goo in minutes on the best of days but with untrained bird instincts that demand he fight, dominate, claim mixing with Dabi's already dominate leaning personality and the smell of blood lingering in the room, Hawks doesn't stand a chance even with the slightly superior strength being in Dabi's body grants him. 

The quirk swap must have been bird-lite because this version was ravenous . 

"Fu-Dabs- Mmm~" Hawks whimpers, allowing himself to melt into the sheets as wings cut off his view of the outside world. "Please- I-" 

Hawks is suddenly reminded of the main reason Dabi is dangerous in this situation when the current hero traces talons down one side while tweaking a nipple to make Hawks cry out. With Dabi's body actively falling apart and needing to survive before the League, Dabi is acutely aware of his own body and everything that makes it tick so also has a complete blueprint of how to drive Hawks insane in ways Hawks has no way of knowing. He can't even try to even the playing field since, beyond a few hookups at hero parties, Hawks has never had time or energy to explore his body so only knows of the obvious bird places that he has to protect. 

This leaves an entire power gap that puts Hawks completely at Dabi's mercy and he hopes Dabi's stamina stayed with his body because he's almost dizzy with arousal as he feels feathers helping Dabi get his pants off to rut their cocks together without once breaking contact with anywhere that makes Hawks want to cry with how good it feels. 

"Please~ Wait- Fuck..Too mu-mnmm~Too much! Please, Dabi, fuck!" Hawks finally manages to whine when Dabi pulls away to use Hawks' own fangs against him and bite at places on his scarred neck that apparently still have sensation, the numbness around the places almost making it too much. 

"You wanted this, pretty bird. You know how to make it stop." Dabi teases and fuck Hawks didn’t know his voice could sound like this but he hopes he can figure out how to recreate it later when the villain is back to being a villain to get back at him. Already it has his now pierced cock weeping and Hawks resigns himself to the fact that Dabi's about to fuck him stupid on his own cock. 

The side of a talon flicks a nipple so Hawks can feel the sharp edges and he feels his current cock jump at the danger before he cries out when warm lips clamp around that same nipple to suck on it hard and bit on it, fangs grazing it lightly and Hawks doesn't know if he wants to arch into it or away from it. 

"Dabi! Please~!" 

"Please what, baby?" Dabi chirps teasingly, the clawed hand from earlier reaching between them to start stroking their cocks together and making Hawks moan loudly. "Come on, birdie, I've barely touched you. You're gonna give me a bad rap moaning like that with my voice."

"You-nmnmm~ You know every inch of yOUR-fuck-body, asshole. It's a little OVERwhel-there, fuck please, Dabi~" Hawks' attempt at complaining is turned into a whimpered plea when he finds out a feather had flown over the lube and he was now trapped in the tight, wet heat of what's usually his own hand with his stolen cock rutting against his new piercings to drive him absolutely insane. "Fuuuck~! How are you always so calm?! Anywhere not burned is as sensitive a-AHHH~as one of my feathers?!" 

"You know how I survived before the League." Dabi shrugs, smirking when he moves down to get a lubed finger inside Hawks' borrowed hole, and the temporary villain moans. "You get used to it." 

Hawks bares his teeth a bit at the reminder of what Dabi had to do to survive, but he also knows his mate was strong enough to take care of himself so instead focuses on trying to relax. "Shit, when was the last time you bottomed?" Hawks hisses when he's having trouble. 

Dabi tilts fluffy blonde hair in thought. "…I got the Prince Albert 4 years ago so I think once or twice after turning 18 then it became ‘try it and you get burned’ when I realized this-" He flicks his thumb over the piercing and slit to make Hawks curse and moan, hole tightening for a second before finally starting to relax. "-was enough to entice most people and the patchwork led to a lot of villain roleplay," Dabi smirks at the thought. "They probably had heart attacks the first time I appeared on the news." 

Hawks snorts at his own mental image of some old rich fucker clutching their pearls to the sight of the scarred twunk they let fuck their brains out showing back up to burn down half a forest. "They were probably-shit-" He's momentarily cut off by Dabi finally working a second finger in. "-I wasn't wrong calling you a tight ass, huh?" He jokes before throwing his head back with a curse when Dabi bites his nipple in retaliation. "Son of a bitch." 

"Eh, she did her best." Dabi shrugs, smirking when Hawks sputters and it distracts him enough to get the third in and make Hawks whine. "I still remember where something else is though."

Hawks lifts his head to look at him in confusion before he’s throwing his head back with a curse when Dabi nails his prostate dead on and makes his hips jerk, not once letting up the attention to his pierced cock. "Fuck! Gonna cum if you keep th-Ahhh~that up!" 

"Mmm, no you won't," Dabi smirks before his hand and fingers start working in tandem to pull every sound he can out of scarred lips and drag Hawks to the edge kicking and literally screaming. 

"Wait-Fuck!- Dabi~ Please~ Close- fuck- I'm-NOOO~!" Dabi stopped all contact at just the right moment to send Hawks crashing down without relief and revels in the frustrated sob the current villain lets out as he smacks the sheets. He doesn't even notice the smoke around him until "Nooo~! Why did you stop~" Hawks whines and Dabi honestly didn't even know his voice did that, but he sounds so devastated that Dabi almost felt bad. 

Instead, he shrugs. "Because I can." He hums, sending feathers out to trap stapled wrists when Hawks tries to reach for his dick. "Come on, haven't you figured out who's in charge yet? You may be in my body, but I'm still running the show." 

Hawks bares the little fangs that were left from the quirk swap to voice his displeasure before throwing his head back with an honestly pathetic sound when Dabi runs a talon along the vein of what is currently his cock to make it twitch at the danger. 

"Fine, yes, you're still in charge, now please ~" He begs, and fuck he can feel the pressure around his face scars before he feels liquid running down the healthy skin of his cheeks. A dangerous trill is how he realizes he'd be crying in frustration if Dabi's face would allow before a hungry tongue is licking his 'tears' away and talons are digging into his arms, drawing more blood on one side. 

"Dabi, please~" Hawks whimpers, hissing when fangs and tongue start making the wound on his healthy-ish arm worse, and fuck he'd need to make more of an effort to bite Dabi if this is how hard he got. "God, we're fucking freaks, aren't we?" He can't help but chuckle breathlessly. 

Dabi raises his head to look at him with pupilless gold eyes as he licks the blood from his face with a feral grin. "Complaining, birdie?" 

"Not even a little." Hawks grins with Dabi's usual levels of mania as he strains against his feathers to meet Dabi halfway for a blood-filled kiss that made Hawks' current cock throb . "Fuck- fuck me already, dammit, I've calmed down enough so fucking, please ! God, I don't think I've ever even been this hard in my own body, and I have to deal with mating season every year." 

Dabi raises an eyebrow, having not heard of this tidbit yet, but stores it away for later as he smirks. "Wait 'til you cum, birdie. Bet I can get you to pass out." 

Hawks isn't even going to try challenging him on that, positive Dabi will find a way to do just that before he's pulled into a deep kiss where Dabi does something with his tongue that makes Hawks keen at the attention and fuck Dabi would make such a good boy if he didn't already have the hero so whipped. 

As it were, Dabi has him panting needily and Hawks doesn't even notice the current hero repositioning himself until he feels a cock starting to push in and he's hissing into the kiss from the stretch. "Fu-" 

"Shhh, baby." Dabi hums, kissing away Hawks' whimpers as he works his way in. "I've got you, just relax." 

Hawks is trying, but Dabi's body really doesn't like giving up control so Dabi has to get him back to that point of trying to cry with need before he can finally get into the base. Dabi's cock is definitely bigger, but maybe it's because it's been so long for Dabi's body that he feels so full or what Dabi's doing with his hand that makes it feel like so much he has to bite back an almost sobbing noise. "Please...Dabi…"

"There you go, pretty bird." Dabi coos, chirping lightly in hopes of soothing his trembling mate as he lets the currently taller man adjust. "It's in, birdie, it's all in. You're doing so good for me, baby." 

Hawks keens at the praise, nuzzling into the hand on his cheek like an overgrown cat as he looks up at gold eyes hazily. "Please…wanna hold you…" 

"I'd love that, baby, but you're currently burning a hole in the sheets and I have kindling attached to my back. We don't want two crispy fucks, right?" Dabi hums, running his hand through dyed black hair. 

Hawks didn't notice how hot he was running until Dabi pulls his taloned hand away and Hawks sees how red his palm is. He frowns, wondering if Dabi's ever able to fully enjoy himself with how much concentration must go into not branding his hand onto Hawks' ass when he fucks him, but then Dabi's cooing to get his attention and he decides to figure that out later as he lets himself melt into the sheets, spreading his legs more in invitation. 

He gets to watch pupils pulse in a sea of fierce gold before Dabi plants a taloned hand on either side of what's usually his torso to pull out before thrusting back in hard, wincing when Hawks yelps and clamps down around him. "Sorry, used to your greedy ass." 

"'t's fine, just go a bit slower." Hawks grits out, smoke leaving his cheeks in his attempt to bring the temperature back down. 

Dabi, still being an asshole no matter the body, takes this to mean torturing Hawks by going unbearably slow until the temporary villain actually kicks a heel on the bed in frustration.

 "Dabiiii~ Move~!" Hawks whines like a child not getting his way before moaning loudly when Dabi adjusts the angle to nail his prostate. "Fuck!" 

Dabi sighs with a roll of his eyes. "If I can't walk tomorrow, I'm taking it out on you." 

"Fine. Move." Hawks huffs, squirming and wishing he had his wings so he could use feathers to push the stealer of said wings back into him. 

"Needy brat no matter the body, huh?" Dabi huffs right back before pulling out almost fully and slamming back in like he did the first time, except this time he's met with a loud moan and pleas for more. "Nah, more like a needy bitch, aren't you?" Dabi smirks as Hawks whines at the words. "Desperate for cock no matter whose body you're in." 

Hawks doesn't even try to deny it, knowing how pointless it is by now as Dabi starts fucking him into the mattress, using his wings for extra thrust and making Hawks see stars as he aims for his prostate. "Fuc-I- Fuck, Dabi, more~!" 

Dabi chuckles darkly, leaning his face down to lap at another blood tear as he pounds into the rambling hero. "Can even be your own cock and you'll spread your legs like a whore if it'll get your hole filled, won't you?" Dabi teases meanly, cursing when his hole clenches around his current cock and precum leaks around his piercings. "It's not even your hole and you're begging for it to be filled as long as you can get off." 

He wraps a hand around Hawks’ currently pierced cock and knows he'd be dodging feathers if they were in the right body based on the moan Hawks lets out when he starts stroking him in time with bullying his prostate. "Such a greedy little slut. Gonna be fun waking up after this and your spoiled ass has to handle cleanup for once. I'm sure you'll be whining the entire ti-" 

Dabi screams in pain when one of the wrist feathers bursts into flames before his hair is roughly grabbed and he's hauled into an almost literally searing kiss that makes his thrusts falter.

"Want-" Hawks pants when he breaks the kiss for air. "Wanna take care of you. Wish-mnngh- Wish you'd let me do it more." 

Dabi suddenly misses his scars when he feels his entire face flush red at the raw emotion in his normally jaded turquoise eyes and he's thankful for the wings that snap forward to hide his face. "Shut up!" 

He can hear Hawks snort so takes advantage of the feather cover to get his hands and teeth back on his sensitive spots. Even if his back is screaming at him for the angle with these heavy ass wings, hearing Hawks choke on his laugh to moan is more than worth it and encourages him to continue as his thrusts pick up speed. 

He can tell Hawks is close by how he grips the sheets and spasms around him, moaning like a whore as he begs for more, and he doesn't remember the last time his body came this fast, but making reducing anyone to this much of a mess this fast was an entire ego trip that Dabi was riding right to his own orgasm. 

"Shit, birdie, I'm close. Feel fucking great, milking your cock like this. I know you're close too with how well you're squeezing around me. What do you think, birdie? Want my cum? Want me to stuff the fuck hole you've turned my ass into full of cum that you'll have to help get out later? It’s the only place it can go with the staples, so not like you have a choice if you want it on you at all, and I know my slutty little bird does. There's nothing you love more than the feeling of dripping cum, is there?" 

"AH AHHh~! Yes! Please, Dabi! Please! Gimme! Want your-? Mine? Cum, please, Dabi, please!" Hawks begs, toes curling as he nears the edge and he definitely smells smoke when he almost blacks out barely three thrusts later with the force of his orgasm. 

Dabi feels the second the hero's orgasm hits, not only because of how he spasms around his cock to rip his own out of him but also because he feels like he's thrown underwater as the quirk tries to knock them out to let them swap back. Hawks' quirk has one more demand before it will let that happen, however, and Dabi throws open his wings as he sinks Hawks' fangs into a point on his neck where he knows he can break the skin and croons happily as more blood spills into his mouth and that feeling of home mate wraps around his mind again. This is when he's pulled under by the quirk, chirping happily as he's pulled into unconsciousness. 

He doesn't hold quite the same sentiment when he wakes up in his own abused body a while later, but watching his birdy happily flit around the room to take care of him makes it worth it. 

Even if he'll never admit it.

[inblss]

OF TROUBLED GIRLS & A BRIGHT DREAM RUN RAW. ،، the history of how nbliss came to be.

BEFORE THERE WAS NBLISS, THERE WAS VIXENS. AND BEFORE THERE WAS VIXENS, LOVE BITE WAS BORN.

an underground company by the name of BLACK SKY ENTERTAINMENT hit the public with LOVE BITE’s sound in 2015 as their own attempt at reaching stardom, trying to combat global successes such as TWICE and BLACKPINK. the original lineup consisting of eight girls, members LILA, HANA, EUNHA, DAIYU, EUNJI, MEI, IZUMI, and EMIKO, the group debuted with a video game style concept that slowly gave them the nickname 8-BITE in reference to the video game concept teasers that came out for all eight members.

debuting with an ep titled LOVE MORE featuring a colorful music video for the title track of the same name, LOVE BITE skyrocketed in fame for their fun sound and even better group dynamics, with YOON HANA and KOBAYASHI DAIYU quickly becoming fan favorites. but all of that good energy would begin to crumble not even a few months after their debut ep’s success.

BLACK SKY ENT. was unexpectedly hit with staff complaints of management mistreatment in late 2017, going underreported due to not getting enough exposure. many were quick to even admonish the staff members for trying to ruin the image of a newly risen entertainment company, going as far as to call them ‘ungrateful’ and ‘evil’. but the public would soon take their words back in shock when three of the LOVE BITE girls — DAIYU, EUNJI, and MIKA — would all leave the company for ‘personal reasons’. fans, being rightfully upset and shocked, demanded answers from BLACK SKY, who ignored their countless emails and protest trucks to paint the three as the villains in their story. LOVE BITE tried to make a comeback that year with a single R U IN LUV?, but that and many more would not do as well as their debut.

in 2018, DAIYU, along with fellow members HANA, EUNJI, EUNHA, EMIKO, and LILA, would all file to sue BLACK SKY ENT. for not only mismanagement, but for unlawful sexual harassment and contract violations. BLACK SKY ENT. was launched into immediate hot water, especially with their two most popular members hurling heavy accusations against them. BLACK SKY ENT. did their best to deny the accusations, but dispatch — as dispatch does — revealed incriminating text messages and photos sent by BLACK SKY ENT. management and other high ranking officials, further plunging the company’s reputation in the gutter. the ceo of the company, SEOK HAJOON, publicly stepped down despite no information leaked specific to him, only for news about him attempting to solicit the LOVE BITE girls to famous actors and businessmen for cash under the guise of having them attend private parties as special guests was slapped across every news site in the nation. this news essentially dissolved the company just as quickly as it rose to fame, leaving the girls free but just as lost and terrified.

on september 17th of that year the members of LOVE BITE would hold the very last live as a group in HANA’s home, exchanging tearful sentiments. despite their extremely short run, a bond formed between those eight girls that fans were both delighted and saddened to see. love bite is forever, a fan would write in the comments, and even though they separated into different career paths, the girls couldn't agree more.

following the unofficial disbandment of LOVE BITE in early 2019, the girls would split into different careers — some going back to school, others going into acting, and some choosing to retry their luck in the industry under a label better suited to them. MEI, one of the youngest of the group at just 19, was spotted in talks with a new company named ANGELICO ENTERTAINMENT, most of her fans happy she would be able to debut again.

that same year ANGELICO ENTERTAINMENT would introduce trainees MEI and RANI to each other, the two immediately hitting it off and becoming as thick as thieves. RANI, who had been a trainee in the company since 2016 and lost a chance to debut in a group catastrophically, quickly took a liking to MEI and the two were never seen without the other. so when it was then exposed to the public that RANI had been mistreated by staff, it was with MEI’s help that the two decided to leave the company — right to the company’s rival, FLOWERBANK ENTERTAINMENT, where the duo would soon meet DAEUN and MINGYUE, then later, HYEJIN, marking the group of girls as the FLOWERBANK 5. noise surrounding them would soon die down as the girls seemed to be much happier under their new company, training hard to be given a chance at a debut of their own.

after acquiring VENUS in 2023 and receiving global success under a new label, fans began to clamor for more from the entertainment company. they wanted another group to fawn and gush over, especially pleased with their successes through VENUS and ALLUME. to appease the masses, FLOWERBANK teased the public with news that they would be debuting a new group in 2024, with five selected trainees under their belt.

soon after, teasers began dropping on the company’s social medias. RANI was revealed first, telling a story about a girl who loved to dance. then came HYEJIN and MINGYUE, publicly loved and hated alike by the public due to their backgrounds, while MEI was publicly adored by the masses with her story of rising triumphant from a horrible company. not much was revealed about DAEUN, who would soon leave the group on ‘good terms’ stated by both her and the company. while these four girls were pushed to the forefront, fans began to notice that one in particular seemed to be favored less by the company, which only dragged her out to surface even more. MEI looked to be not as promoted in the group’s teasers, and with no information or reasoning from FLOWERBANK, netizens did what they do best. they searched for answers.

months before their scheduled debut, MEI was under fire for accusations of bullying, an anonymous source filing against her. the public blew up the allegations, demanding FLOWERBANK to release a statement about the news. MEI had denied the rumors, insisting she had been set up, but the public was not having it. she had descended from victim to bully and her name had been tarnished.

with the unexpected bad press surrounding MEI’s name, VIXENS were forced to reschedule their debut to a later date. support was doled out to the other girls in waves, especially after MEI issued a statement not even close to what could be deemed an apology, soon leaving the group after the company quietly terminated her contract. fans waited with bated breath for the group’s first official appearance as a trio, finally free from any negative publicity. until news about MEI broke headlines again.

predebut pictures of MEI resurfaced after the group’s predebut single was released, showcasing explicit scenes and crude gestures featuring what seemed to be MEI and more unidentified characters. despite FLOWERBANK’s best efforts to quell the situation, nasty rumors about MEI began to circulate, forcing the company to put group on temporary hold before the release of their debut ep. FLOWERBANK came out with a statement to let the public know that MEI was officially let go from the company despite the rumors she had been spreading, and the remaining members RANI, HYEJIN, and MINGYUE would rebrand under the new name NBLISS with two new members: VIVIENNE and DAWN.

mixed opinions on the rebranding and new additions were made, but overall netizens were happy to see that the remaining three members were able to debut without anything else holding them back. vocal support skyrocketed after MEI’s termination, launching the group into heightened interest after their ep was finally released.