#red is the color of a hero so no need to be afraid.........

[screentunes]

15/08 🧣

[cheeryp]

"Red is the color of a hero, so there's no need to be afraid..."

8.15.2024 • Ayano's Theory Of Happiness

[bakuslove]

IT’S IN THE LITTLE THINGS

﹒ॱ˖ 🖇️ FEATURING. pro hero!bakugo x feminine!reader

﹒ॱ˖ ☆ CONTENT. fluff, sfw, established relationship, pro hero!bakugo, no pronouns are used for the reader but they’re written to be feminine WC. 825

﹒ॱ˖ 💬 SYNOPSIS. Katsuki never needed words to tell you how much you mean to him.

Katsuki doesn’t say ‘I love you’ often.

In fact, those three little words never leave his mouth during the first few months, almost a year actually, that you’re together. No matter how much he wants to say them, he finds it impossible for them to slip off the tip of his tongue. 

He gets red in the face at the mere thought of how difficult it is to tell you the very thing you’ve said to him to months now and he’s convinced there’s something wrong with him. 

He’s been a pro hero for years now, facing some of the world’s most terrifying villains on the daily, but you... you still make his hands sweat like he’s some sort of stupid middle schooler too afraid to confess to his crush. Except now you’re his girlfriend. Of nearly a year. The hard part should be over now. Yet he’s stuck trying to say the words he wishes he could say from day one. 

But his inability to speak his mind around you doesn’t seem to bother you nearly as much, and that’s because you were able to witness the things he did for you and only you. 

Katsuki never needed to say ‘I love you’. Even if the moment called for it, even if the words scrapped against the inside of his ribs and clawed up his throat, even if they danced on the tip of his tongue when you looked at him like that, Katsuki never needed words to tell you how much you mean to him.

Every word he ever needed to tell you was in the little things. The little things he did for you without you needing to raise a finger or bat an eye or part your pretty lips to ask. 

From the very start, he found ways to work you into his schedule. From waking up just five minutes earlier than you so he could make your coffee just the way you like it to sorting your laundry by colors, whites, and delicates just like he does with his own. From making you an extra portion at dinner even if he wasn’t sure you were coming over to buying you your favorite fruits to keep as a snack at his place when you started visiting more often. 

It may have taken Katsuki almost a year of having you in his life for him to say those three little words, but you knew he loved you before they were spoken. You knew from the way his hand would find the small of your back in crowded spaces and from how he’d always make sure to pick up when you call no matter what he was in the middle of doing. 

Katsuki’s love for you was nestled in the corners and crooks of the littlest things he did for you. 

“Did you buy these?” you ask over your shoulder just loud enough to trump the sound of running water.

“Why the hell else would I have strawberry scented shit in my shower?” Katsuki mumbles, arms crossing over his chest as he leans against the doorway, watching as you undress for your shower. 

“Aw, don’t tell me you like me or something~” you tease, flashing him a smile before disappearing behind the shower curtain.

But it still isn't even the bottles of body wash or separate bar of soap -that you’re certain he bought for you but seems to be getting enough milage for you to suspect that he must be using it too- that proves his affection for you.

It happens after your shower when you’re getting ready for bed, applying that lotion that makes him crazy all while wearing that Dynamight t-shirt he gifted you for when you spend your nights with him. It happens when you let you a gentle sigh, leaning your head on his chest as his hands grip your thighs and pull them over his lap. His course palms are rough against the silky smooth plush of your thighs and your hair smells so, so heavenly, the words just slip from his mouth.

“I love you,” he breaths, eyes glued to where his other hand now caresses your own, the scarred pad of his thumb ghosting over your knuckles.

But you don’t squeal, you don’t laugh, you don’t cry, you don’t even get angry at him for taking so long. You don’t react in any of the ways he imagined you’d react in the hundreds of times he played out this scenario in his head before. Instead, you smile at him, soft and sweet like you always do, your pretty eyes shining in the dim lighting of his bedroom, and you press a lingering kiss to the stubble on his cheek

“I love you too, Katsuki.”

Even after he finally let himself say the words he’s been meaning to say for so long, he never stopped telling you just how much he loved you. Not only with words, but in all the little things he does for you each and every day. 

[crystaljade22]

Forgotten Batsibling Pt2!!

Y/N: Your name

H/N: Hero Name

F/C: Favorite color

TW. Sad stuff, guilt, self-blame.

It’s been a month since Y/N died. After the flames were doused, the fire department and the police scoured the building looking for the body of the fallen hero. The only thing they found of the lost hero was the mask. There was no body left to be found, no remains, no ashes. The warehouse fire consumed all of them. The mask stays inside of the case which once held their suit, now empty. A memoir to the house without you, empty.

Bruce has tried his best to be strong, to be the hero that Gotham needs. But he can’t help but spend hours looking at the mask with regret and guilt. Regret for letting you go in to save Jason, and guilt for not realizing that the savior needed to be saved. Guilt for letting another child die. 

Damian has refused to even enter the Batcave. All he sees is a constant reminder of the sibling he once had, the person who would go to the moon and back for all of them, now gone. He swears he can still hear your voice calling his name from downstairs, and he can’t help the tears that spring to his eyes when he thinks about you. 

Your room hasn’t been touched since their death, the door shut and locked up. No one has ever been able to look at the room, their guilt or sadness overpowering their will to do so. 

Dick constantly wishes for just one more patrol with you, to hear your voice one more time. He regrets every moment he tried to get away from you, or left you behind. He glances behind him, hoping that you’ll be right there, just like you usually would despite his attempts to shake you off. 

Tim has noticed now when his coffee runs out and tastes different than usual. Whenever he’s on a mission, he notices that his success percentage is lower than normal. There is no one there to jump in when a step goes in the bin. No one waiting to check on him after a mission. He’s finally noticed and acknowledged the fact that you’re gone. And he’s shut down any emotions that come with it. He is probably the only one in the family who could open your bedroom door, but he can’t bring himself to do it because he feels he isn’t worthy to do so. 

Now Jason on the other hand, can’t pull himself out of his work. He feels he can’t take off the mask because if he does, he’s afraid he’ll crumble and fall apart. He keeps telling himself to stay strong, and to stay Red Hood because right now, the people of Gotham don’t need Jason, they need you. They need H/N. As soon as Jason takes off the mask when he gets to one of his safe houses, he instantly breaks down. All he can see is the moment he knocked you down, and caused your demise. The last thing he saw of you was you holding the beam up for him to escape. He swears he can feel you watching over him, even though he caused your death. All he can think is that he’s the reason you're dead. He killed you, the only person who ever seemed to care, even when he had tried to hurt you. 

You didn’t get the proper funeral that everyone felt you deserved. The people of Gotham mourned for days, the Commissioner and the Mayor themselves speaking at your funeral. Funny enough, even the Joker took the day off despite the clear opportunity he had to go and create utter chaos. There was no body to bury. The city lowered an empty casket into the ground, and then erected a statue of you over it. A memory forever ingrained into the people of Gotham’s minds of the hero who once lived to save the city. 

Of course, Bruce had to figure out how to tell the press that Y/N Wayne was gone, without revealing the fact that you were H/N. They managed to make up a story of you falling seriously ill, and succumbing to it. They played it off to the media as having a private funeral and having the body buried in their graveyard. Y/N was buried beside what was Jason’s grave, an F/C flower sprouting from the dirt over the empty casket. The gray headstone reading:

“Here lies Y/N. A sibling, friend, and a loving person. May their memory live on. 20XX-20XX”

Now, for the super short scenario.

Damian stood at the grave, looking down at the gray stone. Tears stung his eyes, rolling down his face, but he didn’t care. The rain hid them anyway. He stood soaked and cold, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t feel it anyway. The cold rain continued to pelt his body, leaving him soaked to the bone. His eyes fall to the F/C flower, its petals still bright. All he could think about was the fact that there was nobody under his feet. All that was there was an empty box covered in a layer of soaked dirt. He couldn’t help the sob that escaped his throat at the thought of never seeing you again. The last he saw of you was you running into the building to save Jason, a brave face filled with worry plastered onto your face. He couldn’t help but blame Jason slightly, but he knew that you went in fully knowing the risks of what you were doing. As he stared at the grave, he couldn’t help but feel like someone was watching him. Something was telling him, he needed to go back to Robin. The people needed Robin. He wiped his eyes, standing up straighter before turning and heading back for the manor, determined to prevent another family member from dying. Little did he know, after he had left the grave, a figure stood over the grave, reading the stone. Their shoulders rose and fell with a laugh before the figure disappeared into the rain. All that remained was a crumpled F/C flower, the petals littering the ground.

[thehusbandoden]

Hii, i really liked the claustrophobic reader story. Could you write a part 2 with other characters? (Bakugo, Todoroki, Kirishima, Denki)🥺🥺

A/n: of course! I'm so glad you liked the first part, I hope these are just as enjoyable! Don't be afraid to request again at any time! <33

Comforting Claustrophobic Reader Part Two

(Bakugo, Shoto, Kiri, and Denki)

Genre: fluff/comfort \\ total word count: 1,911 \\ posted: 12/07/2023 \\ requested

Notice!: I don't know much about claustrophobia so I'm sorry if I offend anyone!

Warnings!: claustrophobia, tight spaces, crowds, y/n being flirted on (but not really), a chick trying to get eith Shoto, and a scatterbrained partner (lol). Please let me know if I miss any! <3

Part One (Dabi, Spinner, and Shigaraki)

Part Three (Tamaki)

Bakugo Katsuki (455 words)

"Stupid extras." Bakugo murmured, banging his fist against the door.

You and Bakugo were just locked inside of the small janitor closet together, and by the sound of it, it was Denki and Mina's doing.

The small room and the feeling of Bakugo's warm back pressed against your chest was starting to give you a panic attack. Your breathing was growing heavier and you were starting to sweat.

You could hear Bakugo's voice in the distance, but you couldn't focus on it. You started hypervenelating.

"What's wrong with you?" Bakugo growled, throwing a judgemental look over his shoulder. His crimson eyes slightly softened at the sight of your panic.

"I-I-I need a-air." You pant, your hands beginning to shake.

"Woah woah. Calm down." Bakugo demanded, turning around. You were pressed further against the wall and your eyes welled up with tears.

"Don't move!" You hiss, your hands shaking further.

"Calm down.. please." Bakugo murmured, not knowing what to do.

You violently shake you head, not knowing how to express yourself.

"Shhhh." Bakugo murmured, slowly caressing your head, trying to calm you down. "Can I hold you?"

You nodded, unable to say anything else.

Bakugo immediatly pulled you into his chest, wrapping his arms around your waist, his hands running up and down your shoulders comfortingly.

You focussed on Bakugo's warmth, listening to his deep voice murmur to you. Your breathing started to slow as you clung to him, greatful for the lack of walls pressing against you.

After a few minutes you started to calm down further, sighing as you rest your head agaisnt his broad chest. Bakugo made a small coughing sound before starting to slowly pet your hair.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong now?" He murmured, his voice low and deep.

"I'm claustrophobic." You murmur, burying your face in his chest. He smelt good.. almost like campfire.

"I'm sorry, y/n." He murmured, tilting your chin up to look into his crimson eyes.

"Sorry for what?" You were entranced by his powerful gaze.

"Those idiotic extras put us in here to try and make me.." his cheeks turned a slight hue of pink. "Confess."

"C-confess?" Your mouth opened slightly.

He nodded, his ears also changing color.

"I-I really like you y/n.." he whispered, looking down at you with his intense crimson eyes.

"Y-you do?" Your cheeks were stained with dark red.

"Yes.. I do." He whispered, caressing your cheek.

You slightly leaned into the touch, making him smirk.

"Do you like me back?" He purred in your ear, causing your face to grow hotter.

You nodded, your face flushed in both embaresment and attraction.

"Can I take you out then?" He smirked, playing with your hair.

"Why yes.. I'd like that.."

Todoroki Shoto (555 words)

Shoto was too busy talking to his coworker to notice how stressed you were. He knew about your phobia, but he's never seen it in affect. You've been married for two months, together for eleven.

You were currently at a pro hero gathering. Some of the top heroes were there, and their fans and some newer ones filled in the space.

There were people everywhere.. and you were tired of feeling trapped. As a woman accidently brushed against you, you pressed yourself against Shoto's back, burying your face into his dress shirt.

He didn't say anything, but you could feel his hand reaching behind him to touch your waist, holding you agaisnt him. You started to have a panic attack, gently tapping Shoto to try and get his attention.

Everytime you did he gently squeezed your waist in response, almost like he thought that you were just giving him affection... as a hero passed by you too close for comfort, you pinched Shoto's skin, finally getting his attention as he turned to look at you, looking both confused and slightly irritated.

"What is it love?" He murmured, wrapping his arms around you as he leaned his ear against your mouth, knowing that you prefer to speak to him and only him.

"M-my phobia... it's acting up and I feel like I can't breathe..." You whisper, hiding your face from everyone but Shoto.

Shoto frowned, leaning down to kiss you softly.

"I apologize, love. I'll be more vigilant next time." He murmured in your ear, kissing your temple softly as he slowly brought you towards the exit, shielding your body with his.

"Shoto! Shoto it's you! I'm your biggest fan!" A woman screeched, pressing herself against Shoto's arm. She held onto his arm tightly, hugging herself against it.

You started to hyperventilating, and Shoto wrinkled in nose in disgust. He didn't mean to be rude.. but feeling anyone's touch besides yours caused him to want to hurl.. especially if it was someone like her.. obsessed fangirls who don't respect the fact that he's happily married.

Shoto gently pushed her away, frowning.

"I'm glad you admire me, but keep to yourself. I have a wife, and shes all I'll ever need."

The woman teared up before bursting into sobs, running towards the other side of the room. Shoto quickly pulled you out of the building, embracing you tightly when he found a quite and open place for the two of you.

"Shhh it's okay my love. I'm sorry.." he murmured, littering kisses up and down your face.

"It's okay.. just hold me." You whimpered, wanting to be drowned in his warmth.

He quickly obeyed, holding you against him for several minutes. He didn't care how long it took you to calm down, as long as you felt safe he would be happy.

After about ten minutes you calmed down kissing him softly in gratitude. He kissed back with a smile before pulling away, stroking your cheeks. "Sorry about that 'fan'." Shoto sighed, kissing your nose.

You playfully huffed before kissing his own nose. "It wasn't your fault. You rejected her and got her off of you.. I'm not mad at you."

Shoto smiled wider, kissing you yet again.

"And I'm sorry for not noticing. I'll do better next time, my love."

You smiled again. "I trust you."

Kirishima Eijiro (359 words)

You and Kirishima were on vacation for your first year anniversary. You stayed in a large, luxurious hotel, and were pampered quite a lot.

You and Kirishima spent most of your time in your hotel room, but decided to go down to the hot springs in the morning.

Luckily Kiri was able to get you two a private spring, so you two were alone. The warm water felt amazing, and Kirishima's wide grin as he told you stories was contagious.

After a few hours of chatting and relaxing, the two of you dried off and got ready to leave. As you walked back to your hotel room, there were far more people than before. You didn't think about it much, holding Kiri's hand as you smiled politely at whoever looked at you and wrinkled your nose at the several guys that looked at you longingly.

Kirishima isn't extremely jealous, so he kept to himself, smiling down at you as you walked; smirking as he saw you wrinkle your nose at every flirt.. causing him to gape in shock.

You get to the elevator, and you fail to notice the very tight space when you walk in. It wasn't until you were forced against Kiri's side, a wall, and an old lady that smelt like kitty litter did you notice the tight space and start to react.

Kirishima instantly noticed and pulled you to his chest, moving himself so you wouldn't touch anyone else, and you wouldn't have to look either. Your back was facing the wall, one of Kiri's hands behind your back so you wouldn't brush against it as he held eye contact with you, smiling softly.

He didn't press himself against you, but he was quite close. A lot of people grumbled at him but he ignored them, his free hand stroking your cheek to maintain your undivided attention.

After several minutes you reached your floor and Kiri cradled you to his chest, walking out with you as he made sure that you weren't touched by anyone or anything else.

He continued to hold you as he made his way to your sweet, opening the door with one hand while the other held you by your waist. Once you two were in he let go of you, smiling down at you.

"Thank you.." you smile, caressing his cheek. Kirishima's smile widened as he gave you his signature grin.

"It was nothing." He kissed you sweetly, rubbing your shoulders slightly. Pulling away, he winked at you before heading into the small kitchen that was attached to the sweet.

You giggled as you sat at the island, watching him tie on his 'kiss the chef' apron. He grinned at you, his ruby eyes sparkling in adoration.

"Hungry?"

Kaminari Denki (542 words)

You have no idea how your clingy boyfriend convinced you to go to a party.. but he did.

And now you were surrounded by a bunch of strangers, and that idiotic boyfriend of yours let go of your hand.

You were swarmed by complete strangers, and you can't find the one person you know... lovely.

Your breathing quickened as you felt bodies being pressed against your own, a few rare apologies thrown into the mix.

You were starting to have a panic attack as you searched for Denki in the crowd, trying to spot his bright yellow hair. You looked for several minutes until you spotted him. Hurrying to his side, you hugged him from behind.. and then you realized that it wasn't him.

The man smirked at you, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Before he could say or do anything, you hurried away, pushing through the crowd. After getting within a safe distance, you tried calling him.. it went straight to voicemail.

You hands started to shake as you tried and found an exit, needing to calm down. As you get to the exit you hear Denki calling your name, but you ignore him, leaving the building.

You find a secluded area and slowly sink to the floor, shaking uncontrollably. Denki rushed to you a few minutes later, his eyes full of confusion and worry.

"Y/n!? What's wrong?" He tries to touch your shoulder but you push his hand away.

"Y/n my darling sunshine.. please..." He whispered, his eyes growing wet as he kneeled beside you.

"I told you about my phobia." You whisper, eyes welling up with tears.

"Phobia.. what phobia..?"

"I have claustrophobia Denki! And you just left me in there!" A few tears fell down your cheek.

Denki's eyes widened. "I'm sorry.. I-I didn't know.."

"I told you! Twice before the party and like three times when we first started dating!"

"I'm sorry! It must have been my adhd.." he whispered, gently placing his warm hand on your cheek.

Sighing, you lean into his touch, tears cascading down your flushed cheeks.

"I'm sorry baby.. I really really am.."

"I told you I didn't want to go.. and you promised to hold my hand the entire time.."

"I'm really really sorry baby.. really I am. I got distracted, I'm so so so sorry.." he whispered, gently kissing your tears away.

You blushed at the contact, the two of you were still new to physical affection.

"I need you to remember next time.. okay?"

"There won't be a next time.. I won't try and make you go to a party ever again."

You smiled, giggling quietly. "We'll see.. you forget things a lot."

~~~~~

Part One (Dabi, Spinner, Shigaraki)

Masterlist | Navigation | You can tip me here <3

Bakugo's masterlist | Shoto's masterlist | Kiri's masterlist | Denki's masterlist

Reblogs and feedback are greatly appreciated <33

~~~~~

Do not copy, repost, nor plagiarize my work. Ask before you translate or use my work in any way -minus reblogging.

[silver-ink-iron-words]

“ – and then, you see, they both hold the scale, and say – ”

“How’s it going, boss?” the henchman said, ambling into the interrogation room.

The hero sat tied to a chair, just as planned. The villain hunched across from them, head down, elbows on their knees.

“The truth potion works,” the villain said.

“That’s great, boss!”

“It would be. If ‘sharing all their secrets’ didn’t mean all.” The villain jerked their head up, glaring at the hero. “It’s been hours and we still haven’t gotten to the good stuff! [Hero]’s just been rambling about how Dragon Tales is a – what was that word you used again?”

“It’s an isekai!” the hero exclaimed.

The villain’s frown deepened. “And that’s a secret?”

“This info’s highly secret,” the hero said.  “In the wrong hands, it could destroy the light novel industry.”

The villain put their face in their hands. “What the fuck are you even talking about?”

“You can’t ask them anything more specific?” the henchman asked.

“I tried, but it never works,” the villain said. “Instead they just reveal some other secret that isn’t worth anything. Here, watch. [Hero], what are your agency’s security passcodes?”

“I have no spatial intelligence,” the hero said. “I’m banned from loading dishwashers in three states.”

The villain groaned.

“Hold on, I might have something for that,” the henchman said.

They went over to their worktable in the corner, and tinkered a bit with the potion, adjusting the ingredient levels. Then they returned, and stood in front of the hero.

“Will you drink this please?” they said softly.

The hero gulped. “Do I have to?”

“If you don’t, [Villain] will make you. And I don’t think I have to tell you that they’re in a pretty bad mood right now.”

Reluctantly, the hero drank.

The henchman returned to their boss’s side. “Okay. Try asking them something again.”

The villain returned their attention to the hero. “[Hero], what is your biggest secret?”

The hero bit their lip in an effort to keep their mouth shut.

“Oh?” The villain leaned forward with a renewed interest.

The hero shook their head rapidly, eyes afraid. The veins in their forehead stood out.

“You don’t need to hold it in, [Hero],” the villain said, smiling. “Whatever it is, you should just get it off your chest.”

The hero was changing colors from the strain. Eventually, their mouth flew open like a waterspout.

“I have a crush on [Henchman]!”

“What?” the villain and henchman cried in unison.

Once the floodgates were open, the hero couldn’t stop.

“They’re just so strong, and dependable. And they’re always so gentle. Have you noticed that? Sure, they’re rough sometimes, but only when they have to be. I have this recurring dream where [Henchman] and I are fighting, and then they pin me to the wall with their big, powerful arms, and then – ”

“Okay!” the villain yelled, bursting up. They began rushing towards the door with a beet-red henchman in tow. “We’re taking a break. We’re going to let that wear off, and then reconvene. Jesus.”

The hero had never been more grateful for a break in their life.  

[spahhzy]

When little Jaune Arc got to the playground, he honestly thought it would be the same old playing by yourself thing. Most of the other kids were in the process of being trained by their families in the way of being a huntsman.

Jaune sighed. He, too, wanted to be a huntsman... but for some reason, his family never wanted to train him. No matter how many times he asked or begged, it was still a resounding 'No' from both mom and dad.

Jaune feet kicked up some dirt as he made his way towards the swing set, but to his surprise, instead of it being empty, their was actually someone sitting in the swing next to him.

Timidly, Jaune got into the swing next to the stranger, feeling a bit uncomfortable as the stranger face was covered with a hood, but Jaune did his best not to pay attention to the stranger but them sitting and NOT doing anything wS beginning to scare him.

???: Don't be afraid friend.

Lil Jaune's blue eyes widened as he heard the stranger speak, how did he know!?

???: I promise you I mean you no harm, I'm just here to think is all.

Jaune: o-okay...

???: Why are you here all alone?

Jaune: ...uhm cause I-I don't have any friends.

???: Really, well, that makes two of us...I too don't have any friends....well, that would be a lie...I had one good friend but I haven't seen him in a long time.

Jaune: Wow... I'm sorry, I'm sure you guys were very good friends.

???: You betcha, you could say we were inseparable!

Jaune: Wow... I wish I had a friend like that... Everyone is just off being cool heroes and stuff...

???: You want to be a hero?

Jaune: Oh boy, do I, that's like my dream!

???: What does a hero usually do?

Jaune: Hero's....uh they help those I need, like in the stories and fairytales.

???: So you want to help people?

Jaune: Mmhm! I wanna help everyone!

???: Everyone, you say, hmm? You know what, you're going to be someone hero one day, I can already see it.

Jaune: Really, sir, you mean it?

???: Mmhm! And you know what, if I may, could you help me out? Think of it as part of your hero training.

Jaune: But I'm not a hero...

???: Not with that attitude you won't be. Think of this little request as the stepping stones of your training!

Little Jaune pondered for a moment but reluctantly nodded if he could begin to start being a hero in training then he would help the stranger.

The stranger reached into his cloak before pulling out...

Jaune looked on in awe...their in the strangers hands was a small blue sleeping... kitten?

???: Can you watch after this little fella here? They have been through a-lot...

Jaune paled...he couldn't bring home a cat, his mom and dad would be upset!

???: I know what you're thinking, and don't worry, only you and some other folks can see them.

Jaune: Really...

???: Oh, most definitely! Your mom, dad, and sisters will see nothing.

Now Jaune was beginning to have doubts...a invisible cat?

Jaune: Wait...who are the other people who can see them?

???: Bad bad people, they tried to hurt the poor fella. I don't have names, but I can tell you one will have a metal arm with red eyes, another will be snow witch with a scar on eye, another will have gold eyes and cat ears just like our friend here and another one will have silver eyes and a large scary stick...

Jaune just gulped. These people seemed like real villains. Why would they want to hurt this poor cat!

???: lastly, watch out for the silent double colored terror... she will be the most persistent.

Jaune just nodded as the stranger gently handed him the blue kitten.

???: You're gonna be a great hero, Jaune. I can already see it in you.

Jaune: Y-you think so?

???: Oh yes, I already see a little bit of my friend in you, and he was my greatest hero.

Jaune: Wow!

???: Yep, but it's time for me to go now, little hero. Remember, take very good care of our little friend here, and when the time is right, I will meet you again in a land where fantasy comes to life!

Jaune: O-okay, uhm...

???: J.C.

Jaune: J.C?

???: mmhm!

Mama Arc: Jaune, honey, come on its time to go!

Jaune: coming mom...uhm thanks J.C for...giving me a chance to become a hero.

Jaune then carried the kitten close to his chest as he turned his back to the stranger, who waved at him, Jaune turned and waved back before finally returning to his mom as they both left the park, and Jaune found it weird but he thought he saw bright blue eyes coming from the stranger...ah well must have been a trick of the light.

The stranger watched as Jaune and his mother left the park before looking at his hand that began to fade away.

???: Yes, you will become the hero, Jaune...my hero!

A gust of wind blew around him as his hood fell and revealed a mess of blonde hair and a slightly old face marred with a disturbing chesire grin and bright blue eyes.

CCJaune: My hero forever!

[davidchiemcore]

its kagepro day so im gonna try to assign lyrics to each drdt character! some of these are more stretches than others but i went through all of the music route songs to find what i felt were the best fits

teruko: "She, however, had disappeared. Her warm words, repeated over and over, easily turned to hatred in my brain" Dead and Seek

xander: "So what do you think of this heat, and our values that just so happen to meet? 'Not so bad, is it?' When we open our eyes, and clasp our hands…" Children Record

charles: "With a hardened heart, I resign to loneliness, living out my days seeing only 'things'" Imagination Forest

ace: "Just as it came to my ears, I heard; 'you want to survive, yes?' Waving over the wriggling world, the skyscrapers seemed to tremble, this voice seemed unmistakable; it was my own, which I tired of hearing" Headphone Actor

arei: "'I'm so lonely' although I said it, I won't ever change. I'm so disgusted by myself, that I can't help but sneer" Yobanashi Decieve

rose: "The meanings and dreams and circumstances cobbled together make a head sunk in endless thoughts" Konoha's State of the World

hu: "With fear in their eyes, they cry 'I'm just a monster' So I tell them, 'That's not true at all, red is the color of a hero, so there's no need to be afraid'" Ayano's Theory of Happiness

eden: "Boys and girls, face forwards, finding hope in only the shimmering heat. Recall, and bring to words, your miraculous encounters and farewells…" Children Record

levi: "The alarm that starts ringing says to the lonely me: 'you're a cold hearted fool'" Transparent Answer

arturo: "The dogwood in the garden was so beautiful I couldn't help but look at it enviously. In contrast, I'm such a hopeless case" Never Lost Word

min: "If you're asking about my results, well, they're fine, I guess. On the recycled paper was a perfect 100% score. While grinning shyly, you sat down on the chair next to me, you, the one with the low grade" Transparent Answer

david: "It's like torture, but i cant say so- I'm drowned in cheering, but... 'Am I really that good?' I'm just a bore - I don't get it!" Kisaragi Attention

veronika: "A lifetime of anxiety awaits you tomorrow 'Now, now, this can't really be it?' If you, swaying, etch the beat into your mind you'll see that this isn't so bad" Mekakushi Code

j: "My face is like an open book, for some reason I get so nervous that even my voice squeaked! What's wrong with me?! This is pissing me off! I'm such a fool" Yuukei Yesterday

whit: "If I'm wishing for a dream that can't come true. then I'll embrace this blurry past" Lost Time Memory

nico: "There was a puppy, rain-soaked like me and i begged it to understand me. I embraced it and said 'you wont bully me right? Let's become friends without words' " Shounen Brave

[xoxokomorebixoxo]

Into the Madhouse (Yandere!MHA x Reader)

Chapter 2: Danger

The sirens blared through the wall speakers. Red tinted the wall through the shining alarm, alerting every one of the dangers breached. Y/N ran, her footsteps stomping over hard tile, ponytail swishing behind her. (Skin Color) hands gripped the clipboard pressed tightly to her chest. How did this happen? They were so careful! They had security all throughout the facility making rounds down each leveled hall. How did someone slip past?!

Screams and shouts of orders echoed in her ears. Y/N gasped for breath as she ran further and further, eyes on the lookout for Izuku. 

Keep your head held high. If you need to use your quirk to get him back don't be afraid. This is your job.

"Izuku Midoriya," sneakers screeched to a stop. The (Hair Color) haired girl pressed her back against the wall. Slowly, the female glimpse around the corner. Around a dozen security guards had the greenette surrounded, one hand raised in the air, the other braced by their side, poised to grab their taser if necessary. "Please come with us back to your room."

Green locks bounced as the freckled man shook his head vigorously. "No," he muttered," I-I don't belong here!" 

Y/N pushed the clipboard back to look at her notes. 

Name: Izuku Midoriya

Age: 27

Reason For Bringing Here: Izuku Midoriya, once a hero from UA then became a vigilante, came after killing multiple villains. He's been on the run for some time, doing hero work without an up to date license. Instead,  Izuku had many villains captured before police arrival or, worse, killed. Unable to control his power during times of anger,  Izuku had murdered many villains. He is in violation of quirk use and murder. All Might, former mentor, offered Izuku comes to the facility rather than thrown in jail to work on changing his ways and becoming a hero again.

She looked up,  gasping in surprise. A series of whipping black and green lines formed around Izuku's form. His eyes were glowing. Filled with fear and a hint of anger. Two fists held close to his chest, prepared to fight. "I-I did nothing wrong... I don't belong here! I never meant for this to happen."

One of the guards stepped closer, their left hand wrapping around the taser.

Izuku's eyes snapped to the man. In a flash, the greenette's arm raised, shooting black whip in the guards direction. Izuku’s black whips lashed out with lightning speed, ensnaring the guard who had advanced. With a powerful tug, he sent the man crashing to the floor, his taser clattering away. The other guards staggered, their shouts merging into a frantic uproar.

The room was filled with the sounds of the whips slicing through the air, Izuku’s face twisted with a mix of fear and anger. He struck out indiscriminately, his quirk wreaking havoc as he cleared a path. Adrenaline fueled his desperate escape, and he darted down the hall, his heart pounding.

Rounding a corner at full speed, Izuku nearly collided with Y/N. Breathless and wide-eyed, he skidded to a halt. “There’s been a mistake!” he pleaded, his voice cracking with urgency. “I don’t belong here! Please, you have to believe me!”

Before Y/N could respond, the guards’ footsteps grew louder. They were closing in, their shouts growing more insistent.

"Maybe you don't belong here," a sad smile grew on her face," but we have orders to help you." Her eyes glowed a soft blue as she activated her quirk. A tranquil aura radiated from her, enveloping Izuku. His eyes widened in surprise, and his body grew heavy. Within moments, he slumped to the floor, unconscious.

One of the men on security stopped as he rounded the corner,  eyes lowering in appreciation upon seeing the escapee asleep. "Thank you. We'll get him to his room immediately." He stepped forward only to freeze as Y/N's eyes glowed once more, stopping the man in his tracks. 

"This patient is in my care until another doctor takes the case." She lifted her chin, staring down her nose, leveling her eyes with the men before her. "You shall take him to his room, but I will follow. I should be there when he wakes up. Do you understand?" Various guards nodded. Y/N tilted her head down in return. "Good. You shall lead the way."

~

Izuku's head throbbed as he slowly regained consciousness. The sterile white walls of the room and the soft hum of machinery made it clear he wasn’t in his usual environment. Groggily, he turned his head and noticed Y/N sitting by the door, maintaining a respectful distance.

"I'm sorry for using my quirk on you," she said softly, her voice echoing with a tinge of regret. "We had to sedate you for your safety and ours."

Izuku, still disoriented, struggled to sit up. "I’m so sorry for what happened. I’m a hero—I’m supposed to be out there protecting people, not hurting them."

Y/N's expression grew serious. "You’re here because during your recent mission, there were casualties—people you didn’t mean to hurt. You’re in treatment now until we’re certain you can resume your role as a hero safely."

Izuku’s eyes widened in distress. "I never meant to kill anyone. I was only trying to save them."

Y/N nodded, her gaze softening. "I understand, but until we can be sure you’re fully in control, you need to stay here. It’s for your own good and the safety of others."

Y/N walked over and sat down next to Izuku’s bed, her expression both concerned and curious. “Izuku,” she began softly, “I need to understand more about why you turned to vigilante work. Why did you choose to deal with villains in such a drastic way rather than bringing them to justice?”

Izuku’s eyes dropped to his hands, his voice shaky. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I felt like the legal system was failing—too slow, too corrupt. I thought I could make a difference by taking matters into my own hands. But… I lost control. The villains I faced were dangerous, and in my desperation, I made mistakes. I never wanted to cross that line.”

Y/N listened intently, her gaze unwavering. “And now, knowing that your actions led to casualties, how do you feel about those decisions?”

Izuku’s face was a mask of regret and determination. “I know I made mistakes. I want to correct them and prove that I can be the hero people need, without resorting to violence. But first, I need to figure out how to control my power and make sure I never hurt anyone again.”

Y/N nodded, a soft smile grew over her face. "Then," she started," I'm sure you will make your recovery in no time."

[shuuyaspace]

Day 4 - Ayano’s Theory of Happiness

「red is the color of a hero, so there’s no need to be afraid」

[sashi-ya]

𝑹𝑬𝑩𝑶𝑹𝑵.

⊱ pairing: 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘢 𝘹 𝘨𝘯! 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 ⊰

tw: angsty. but sweet. his first time touching your face. a/n: first time posting a fic with him. I've written stuff in the past, but never actually showed them to the world. I love him, and I wish I could protect this baby moth with all my heart. I'm not a bnha writer, but I really needed to write something for him this time. wc: 651

You have always loved his body, no matter how scarred, how hurt or thin it was.

The liquids that made him shiver have already dried. They tried to stop him, to hurt him, to kill him… but never once tried to help him.

Tenko can control his quirk now… he does. That scientist promised he would, right? Touch me. Touch me I beg you.

“I have to… I have to fight” “Touch my skin, all five fingers. My face, please”

His red eyes scan you; his now more muscular frame goes up and down. Tomura needs to breathe; his head is a mess.

You take a few steps closer to him, your hand reaching his wrist. As you have always done; never his fingers… “don’t you ever touch my hand”

“Are you sure?” he asks, fixing his eyes on your arm. “Yes, I am” you murmur, pressing your forehead to his, over his dishevelled white hair.

His dried lips, painful scars of a punishment he didn’t deserve, of his own power against himself, separate.

“You know… I thought about you every time I felt pain inside that thing” he whispers, with the lowest tone possible, but still audible.

You try to stop your tears from scaping your eyes, your frown shows how painful this all has been… how many times you tried to stop him, how many times you tried to make him run away…

“I remembered the times you cure my wounds, the cream…ngh, my head hurts” he grunts, still without touching you. He won’t show, but he is scared, terribly afraid of hurting you. You have always been there, but he never could touch you, and he never allowed you to come really close to him.

You place a kiss on his forehead, if you can’t stop the headache, you at least can feel his warmth once again before the inevitable happens. You won’t stop him, you simply can’t.

Everything around trembles, the hospital is about to collapse. What looked like a hero, it’s only dust next to him. The red cape over his back, protects him… or is that you?

“I will forever cure you” you mumble after your lips separate from his scarred skin.

Tomura looks at you, the pain behind his eyes, the shine he never had… He slowly moves his arm up, and you let go of his wrist; you trust him. But, if he finally kills you, it would be ok, you can’t afford a life without his touch anymore.

You can feel the warmth of his palm coming closer to your cheek, you tremble… you aren’t afraid, not really. You are anxious to feel his touch, after so many years.

Index and middle fingertips barely grazing your cheek, and then, his thumb over your lips. You can feel his hand softly shaking. His ring finger touches your jawline.

It’s just one finger. You can do it, Tenko.

A tear runs through your cheek, but you never blink, you just wanna keep watching his face. You wanna see his expression when finally, his palm, his five fingers are able to feel the warmth of another flesh, only because he wants to love, not hurt, not kill.

Both take air, perhaps your last gasp. His pinky, those the kids use to make promises, finally lands on your neck.

He widens his beautiful hurt eyes. You are still breathing. Your skin is still your usual color. Your lips are still as kissable as he always think they are.

“I can control it… I can touch you” he mumbles, in complete awe. For the first time, you can see a light shining on his orbs.

“Yes, you can…you can…” you cry, pressing his whole hand against your face. With tears wetting his palm, and a smile of relief garnishing his face.

Come back. Now that you have reborn, there is still so much we need to do.  

[lovelyiida]

types of dates mha guys would take you on :)

INCLUDES: KATSUKI BAKUGO, SHOTO TODOROKI, TENYA IIDA, IZUKU MIDORIYA

WARNINGS: implied gender neutral reader, pure fluff

MASTERLIST

WORDS: 650

BAKUGO would be one of those guys that would take you to the carnival for a date. He’d be quite shy the first hour or so being alone with you, but after you held his hand so tight on that rollercoaster he was back to his cocky self.

From mimicking your screams to making fun of your cuteness when he won you that big plushie you wanted, seeing you so happy just made him melt. even though he doesn't express that, you can tell by the way he looks at you with such softness.

after many rides, hilarious ice breakers, and enough food to put you in a coma, the both of you were beat and ready to go home.

but of course, the date couldn’t end properly without riding the Ferris wheel :)

You held onto him so tight as you could barely look out the glass. knees buckling tight together as you quivered in fear, feeling your hair blow in the wind. hearing the distant screams of other people on rides to the jackpot jingle of the carnival games.

Cursing under your breath, you hear him let out a fit of laughter.

Bakugo wraps an arm around you and pulls you into his side closley.

even though bakugo himself was afraid of heights, that wasn’t gonna stop him from protecting you and making sure you were alright. “Hey look at me,” his voice was stern and caring as his strong hands softly held your face. Hearing your whimpers of fear made him frown, “y’know if you sit here crying like a baby you’ll miss out on the view.”

Finally, you looked away and gasped in awe. The multi-colored lights danced through the shadows of the night sky, feeling like a giant looking down at the people enjoying their lives.

You smiled at Bakugo and held his hand, a light blush cascades over his face. “I told you it wasn’t bad, you big baby.”

TODOROKI would take you on a walk, it may not be as romantic as the others but I believe this one suits him the best.

See, it didn’t matter to him where the location was as long as he was with you. So walking to no random destination and just talking and getting to know each other was enough for him.

He wanted to do this every day, escape from the world just for a couple of hours and be with you.

Seeing the way you lit up about certain topics made his head skip an extra beat. From the way your hand would brush his when talking, to the way you’d bite your lip in embarrassment when attempting to flirt. It was so cute to him, this bright bubbly feeling he felt flowing through his body felt so foreign and new it should be scary, but it wasn’t.

It felt right as long as he was with you.

one day it rained extra hard, the both of you were unprepared and ran under the nearest bus stop. todoroki saw how the both of you were drenched head to toe. cursing to himself he ringed out the water from his shirt.

looking over he sees you in a fit of laughter, you were laughing at him.

he watched as you ringed out your hoodie also, you were still laughing. looking up at him you smile, face glistening from the rain and hair wet.

letting out a sigh you look away towards the rain.

"y'know todoroki, I always loved the rain."

looking at you, he smirks.

little did you know he always loved you too.

MIDORIYA will absolutely take you to a hero’s convention, no augments needed.

Since the both of you shared a common interest in heroes more than others, why not take you to the biggest convention in the city? And to say the both of you were excited was an understatement, the both of you were floored. he could rewind your reaction to him giving you a ticket over and over again.

he remembers the way you were jumping up and down like a little toddler in the lunchroom, he remembers the tight hug you gave him that made him absolutely red from the face down.

when the day came, the both of you were decked out in hero merch.

the both of you had a great time! Visiting hero to hero, booth to booth, game to game, your feet were sore, your mouth dry, and the both of you were completely tired.

Carrying heavy signed merchandise in your book bags and just having a blast overall, you were so happy to be spending your time with Midoriya sharing something the both of you enjoyed dearly. And he was too.

“I had a great time, Midoriya. Thank you so much,” you chuckle placing a small kiss on his cheek. Which made him blush super hard and stammer like an idiot.

watching you walk into your house and close the door he jumps in the air.

Like the geek he was, he thanked all might.

IIDA would take you to a fine arts museum, like the art whore you were, you were very excited.

you were in the classroom when you overheard iida talking to midoriya about visiting the art museum in the city for a special exhibition, little did he know that artist he was seeing was your favorite and you were going the same day as him.

when you bumped into him that day, you decided that the both of you would tag along together.

it may have not been a date to you, but it was a date to him. he had such a large crush on you he was absolutely delusional.

You and Iida would sit and marvel at huge paintings and have so many philosophical conversations after. it was odd having so many similar opinions and ideologies as him since the both of you never really talked until this date.

And sometimes you would goof around, the setting didn’t change the attitude after all.

Posing weirdly trying to imitate certain paintings, laughing at how Iida would totally butcher them (in a bad way lol). Or taking the most random photos or what you perceived as “common art,” like the men’s restrooms water fountain. Or that blue pen by the entrance desk (and some sneak photos of you iida took himself).

Iida had so much fun with you, so much fun that it became a regular "date" spot for the both of you.

hey guys! thank you guys for all of the support i'm getting! already 100+ interactions on my first post yay :)

make sure you guys put in some requests so that I can get to writing!

also, if you want to be tagged in things, I just put up my tag form, so don't be shy and fill that out!

- LOVELYIIDA <3

[simiansmoke]

an angry kiss in the rain (Mario)

It didn't matter how many times he stressed that it was monsoon season because there Mario went, like an idiot, straight into the jungle as the sky sat pregnant above with a looming due date.

At first, DK didn't mind shooting the shit with the Mushroom Kingdom's mascot. They usually fooled around on the outskirts of the Kong capital where a few powerup blocks provided a couple hours of entertainment, but after a few rounds of power-up tag (where the point was to beat the power out of the other, but keep their own) DK was ready to call it quits early. Maybe it was a form of animal instinct, or the fact that he'd lived in Kong country all his life, but one whiff of the air had the fur on his shoulders rising with the blossoming static around them; "Time to go-"

Or it would have been if the resounding cry for help deep in the jungle didn't spur the red-shirted hero to action. DK had a hold of him by the shoe at first when Mario attempted to blow past him. "Dude, we can't help them right now. We gotta let the storm pass first."

"You'a kiddin' right?" Given how he looked at DK like he'd grown a second head, the Kong realized his company was probably unfamiliar with just how a rescue mission would not play out well in the next ten or so seconds. "It'sa little rain. You won't melt."

"Mario-wait!" DK lost his grip and for a moment watched as Mario breeched the forest-line of fan palms and birds of paradise leaves. In any other circumstance, he may have let Mario fuck around and find out, but with the addition of another likely stranded before the storm, DK galloped after him, albeit annoyed.

"Hellooo?" Mario called out, slapping overgrown caladiums out of his face as he ventured in deeper. As the sky rumbled above, he rolled his eyes. DK being afraid of a little water was ridiculous considering someone in his kingdom was in need of assistance. It didn't occur to him they might have been worried about being out and about. Mario didn't notice a single drop of rain before the bottom fell out.

The force of the downpour was unlike anything he'd seen-well...in this case, felt, because as soon as the wall of water barreled down on him with the strength of a pent-up season, he face-planted into the dirt as it instantly mutated to mud. Caught off guard and dazed, he couldn't seem to pull himself up under the furious force. Not good-he thought, scrabbling at the ground with a frantic air once he realized he couldn't quite get his face up and out of the puddle that was quickly forming around him.

Mario was lucky he liked such an ugly color, because without the bright red beacon, DK wouldn't have been able to find him through the blinding wave of water. Just trying to move beneath the force was a work out in itself, but since this wasn't DK's first fuck around and find out rodeo, he managed. Scooping Mario up, he laid the plumber out to dry, dangling off his arm which he scooted partly under his body to give Mario some break from the beating as he turned and pushed through the heavy rain until he made it to the cave entrance they had luckily passed by on the plunge into the suicide mission.

When the roof of the cave cut off nature's assault, DK coughed in the contained oxygen after having held his breath for much of Mario's retrieval. An involuntary shake wracked his body in an attempt to rid his fur from the wet feeling that at this point, probably only a long time napping in the sun would fix.

"W-wow." Mario stirred on his wet and hairy perch, peering at the mouth of the cave which was now curtained with a waterfall. "You...probably should have warned me about that-"

"Oh yeah? My BAD." Annoyed, DK flicked Mario off him, not caring if he hit the cave wall and knocked himself unconscious. At least then he wouldn't have to listen to Mario's macaroni. "I would have let you enjoy the taste of your foot in your mouth if there wasn't probably some kid out here - doing what they should be and waiting it out." It was almost like they'd learned all this as kids, the hard way or otherwise.

"Yeah, well!" Mario stood, wringing out some water from his hat. "I can't just sit back whena some kid's calling for help. Unlike you, I have a heart."

The barb was almost as insignificant as a splinter, but it stung enough for DK to stomp the few steps over and wring his fingers into the front of Mario's shirt and lift him a few feet off the ground. "Yeah, I'm SO heartless. I made sure you didn't drown in the mud where your brains come from!" Desperate to throw the idiot into a wall or slap him around, DK knew he couldn't compromise their temporary shelter, so he did the next best thing he could to spill some fury. With his fingers wrenched skull-crushingly tight to the front of Mario's shirt, he jerked the squirming mushroom mascot up to collide their mouths together in a mash up of a bite and a suffocating kiss.

Mario's sporadic squirms stilled with the aggressive action, and his hands flew up as if to swat the Kong back, but a tug of guilt kept his gloved hand poised in the shape of a scratch that he rested against DK's cheek. He had been so wrapped up in being the hero that he hardly noticed that DK had come to his rescue instead.

With enough of his fury foisted upon Mario's mouth, DK breaks for a breath, accepting the uncertain palm poised on his cheek as he bumps his face forward into it...dammit, he wanted to stay mad. "If anything gets to suffocate your dumb ass, it's me."

Face joining the color of his shirt, Mario gave DK's cheek a thankful pat. "N...noted."

[rubykgrant]

Who better to use for the Color Wheel than the most colorful group of space (menaces) heroes! No armor though, drawing that hurts me. They're also just kinda floating around with no structure, don't worry about it.

Sarge is up the highest, and that means HE WINS! RED WINS! FOREVER! Anyway, he's forcing Grif and Simmons to give him a boost (literally, but this is also helping with moral). Grif is just- yeah, fine, whatever. At least he's properly ORANGE. On that note, Kai needed help finding her Yellow spot, but she's having a good time and enjoys the chance to show-off some cute poses. Locus is more of a mossy/sage Green, but he can be more vibrant for the purposes of being included (also, he's kind of more relaxed being part of the group now). Tucker is also Green. I could have put him over in the pale blue/Cyan with Carolina, but I like to imagine his color more minty. On that note, I love the idea him and Carolina actually having a really strong bond and close relationship, so they get to do a fist-bump.

Church is also pale-blue, and right beside him in true Blue is Caboose. Church has given up on struggling, there is no escape from Caboose's love~ Behind Caboose in the Blue is also Butch Flowers. I just kinda felt like throwing him in there, and his pose mirrors Locus. Doc is naturally Purple, between Red and Blue (and close to Pink). He's doing a little peace-sign, partially because he still believes in at least TRYING to find peaceful solutions... and also to show that there are TWO of them in the Purple, including O'Malley as well! Donut is the mighty warrior of PINK, and don't forget it. Also joining him is Simons (who has technically been hot-pink/magenta before, so it counts). He's trying not to panic, because Sarge won't hold still, and he's afraid this is all gonna fall apart. It's been a while since I did a big group picture! This was difficult, but I'm happy with how it turned out~

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

A Page, Turning

There’s another me on the page, another me in the mirror.

This is part 15… of 20. Your hand is frozen, afraid to see what lies on the other side.

(I have a goal to finish this saga in late 2023 or early 2024 so wish me luck on powering through the last few installments 😅)

The Tale of the Cursed Raven:

Part 1 I Part 2 I Part 3 I Part 4 I Part 5 I Part 6 I Part 7 I Part 8 I Part 9 I Part 10 I Part 11 I Part 12 I Part 13 I Part 14 

“Do you know what drives a story forward?”

He asked the question without looking up from her manuscript. His tone was flat, but edged with sternness as he cut a line of red ink through a sentence. The color fuzzily bled into the parchment paper.

“No. I don’t,” she replied. Truthfully, innocently.

Her mentor slashed through another section, indicating off the offending areas in telltale red. Each strike of the quill made her flinch, as though those strikes were cutting through her instead of through her work.

“Time?” she offered, her guess echoing in the dark room.

He set his papers down and scoffed. The full extent of his gaze settled on his pupil. Discomfort gnawed at her.

His eyes were empty ones. They did not belong to a man, but what remained of one. Just a husk being blown around in the breeze.

“It’s the characters.”

“Characters…?”

“The people we write about.” He slapped the back of his hand against the marked-up manuscript. “A rock won’t cast itself into a lake, it needs someone to throw it. An adventure does not begin if the hero refuses to answer the call. And what good is a rich world and lore without beings to bask in it?”

A light bulb went off in her head.

“Oooh. So characters… make things happen!!”

“Not just that. It is through the characters that a story is shaped. The outcome, the ending… it is the result of all the characters, their choices, and their bonds and connections with one another.”

“Everything is connected?”

“Yes.”

In his circle of candlelight, his empty eyes seemed to soften the slightest bit. He slumped forward in his seat, pressing his forehead against a palm. When he looked down, written words were a blur.

“… I realize that now,” he murmured. A soft groan rushed through his teeth.

“Teacher?” She placed a tentative hand on his arm—the arm still gripping his quill. The raven could feel the muscles under his skin stiffen at the touch.

He pulled away. This time, he did not make eye contact as he spoke. The flickering flame of a candle was his companion, his solace.

“Readers have their reasons for seeking stories. They want to relate to someone, they want to meet new faces, they want to cry and to celebrate with them, they want to be loved. They want to escape.

“Stories make us feel things, child. And just as the characters impact their stories, so, too, do those stories change the world.”

He slammed both hands down on his writing desk.

The candle wobbled, and papers flew into the air. They slowly drifted down, big bales of white against and the shadows they projected along the walls. White feathers and black feathers in a gentle rain.

“The real world. It puts hope into people’s hearts, and it can tear them down just as easily. It’s your role as storyteller to bring the feelings put on the page to life.“

“Feelings…”

I don’t even fully understand my own yet, she wanted to protest. But the words and the composition of them eluded her.

The raven’s mouth remained sealed shut.

“There’s no soul to your characters. Rewrite it,” he commanded gruffly, jerking his chin to the papers scattered at her feet, “and this time, make it something worth reading.”

The gemstone set in her magical quill has not fully cleared yet. Once a clear, deep navy, it now has tendrils of black threaded through it. Plumes of smoke floating up sweetly into the night.

Raven closes her fingers around the writing implement. A book is on her lap, open to a fresh double spread.

Doubts louder than the screeching baby robin swirl in her head.

You’ve never gotten a grip on your unique magic. What happened all those other times you tried to tame it? You failed. Even when you try to cheat and use tools to help channel the magic, you fail.

High quality parchment, enchanted inks, quills made from the feathers of rare birds… No matter what you use, it never works.

The problem isn’t the magic or the conduits, it’s you.

Your own weakness.

Each nasty thought is a little black bird, taking root and roosting where it shouldn’t. The doubts collect into a familiar feeling, a dark cloud suspended above her heart. A group of them, a swarm.

An unkindness of ravens.

She frowns, pressing the nib of her quill into the corner of her first page. It leaves an imprint, a dent. Proof of her existence.

I know I’m weak.

Her confession causes the darkness to cave in, crashing upon her in a thunderous roar. What is left is the quiet that comes after a storm has settled, and a soft, resolute realization.

I was never strong to begin with, but… I can still give others strength, can’t I? That’s my role. Not a storyteller, but someone who gives support.

She crinkles her brow, shutting her book. Raven lays her pen flat against the cover, then her hand on top of it.

Maroon leather dappled with spots of sunlight. Pockets of light in a place of shade.

Characters are connected. To the world, to their stories, to other characters. And even to me. Then…

I should have the power to change it too.

To make that magic real myself. To turn dreams into reality.

Her eyes drift shut, and a match strikes, igniting a flame inside of her. A warm buzz skitters across her skin. Magic hums in her veins, manifesting at her fingertips.

“The future is but a blank page. Allow me to guide you through this story.

“Quoth the Raven!”

Something in the air shifts in response to her plea.

She sighs and reaches—this time not within herself, but outward.

To the robin.

There is momentary nothingness.

Then the ground at her feet falls away in one clean chunk.

She’s suddenly sailing through a void, book and quill slipping out of her grasp. The whirring of a great plummet rattles her bones, chilling hands tugging at her skin.

What is this?

Raven doesn’t entirely understand what’s happening, but for once the unknown does not frighten her. Curiosity pulls her deeper down the rabbit hole. Her insides skip, almost embracing the call.

It feels so natural, so expected, for an entirely new experience.

Is this… how it was meant to be all along?

An impact is her answer. Raven’s feet connect, spirit anchoring to a new space.

Sharp pangs spike along both arms. She hisses, expelling a deep breath through her clenched teeth.

But worse yet is the pain in her chest, a boulder cast into a raging river. Her eyes sting, and her throat is torn asunder, left raw and frayed.

The world explodes into another existence, painting everything over with a coat of jet black. The sky, the plants, even Raven, rendered by the night.

A curtain descends, falling across her head in silken waves. Chords of color dangle from the darkness. All shades of blue, all pulsating with pain.

She recognizes them.

The rich blue-violet of Fear, the palest pastel of Forgotten. A cobalt so deep that it was nearly black—Despair.

These must be…

Raven naturally extends a hand to the colors—introducing a new flash of pain down her arm.

Whispers snake along her skin and slink into her ears, indiscernible and unwelcome. There’s a slight shove against her shoulder, testing her sturdiness.

Don’t push me out, she coaxes the robin’s mind space. I’m a friend. I’m just like you.

The sky shudders.

A harsh wind roars, blowing her bangs and pigtails back.

Blue soars through the darkness, weaving ribbons of a pure and cloudless color. Those streaks, Raven realizes, are drawn by a whole flock. They’re loosely defined, existing as nothing more than outline of some bird-like shapes—but the air is theirs.

Her heart fills with melancholy, sadness seeping into the cuts and gashes already there. Salt rubbed in the wounds, reopening scars.

Her pulse picks up pace, her blood rumbling like thunder. The birds passing overhead are a scene put on fast forward, their shadows racing for the sunset.

This feeling is familiar.

Raven shakily takes Despair in her stiff, aching fingers, rubbing a thumb along it. There is no glossiness or sheen to the darkness, no light that refracts.

Icy images slam into her.

A nest. Shattered eggshells. Feathers and beaks. Robins clamoring together. Wings spread out. Takeoff.

Blue, endless blue.

Uneasy steps to the edge. Clumsy footing, a slip. Infantile wings flapping in desperation. A small body falling, falling, falling…

Fallen down.

Raven nods slowly.

Once upon a time, you were bright-eyed and hopeful. You dreamed of the sky, and exploring it with your loved ones.

One misstep and disaster struck. Your wings were injured, and your dream shattered.

Separated from your family and unable to fly, you don’t know what to do. You’re scared that you’ve lost everything—including yourself. You think that this is where your story stops.

She digs her nail into Despair.

But I’ve seen beyond ever after, and I know that ‘the end’ isn’t truly the end.

The deals offered to her. The hands she had held. The promises not kept.

All those times, I thought I was done for—but life still went on. No… I moved on. I continued living. I went to a new place, I met new people, I experienced new things. What hurt me before made me stronger.

Her shoulders sag, burdened by an unseen weight. She stands tall and lifts them, picturing arms supporting her on both sides and a hand upon her back.

“You’ve truly changed—here, at our Night Raven College.”

She smiles.

My wings are broken too. Not physically, but it keeps me from flying. They’re still healing. I’m not yet ready to see the sky again. But I know that, someday, I’ll be able to fly once more. The same goes for you.

Your story is your own. It’s only over if you let it be—if you let the story write you instead of the other way around.

This page can’t turn to the next without you.

Raven’s breath echoes into the ground, oscillating outward in waves.

Tha-thump.

Tha-thump.

Tha-thump.

She feels a heartbeat buried in the earth. Deep below the dirt, the sound dullened by the distance and the substance piled between them.

Her own pulse slows, matching it. Exhales, long trains of secrets unwinding themselves and drifting up into the sky.

Slow, steady—calm.

Tha-thump.

Tha-thump.

Tha-thump.

Their heartbeats align, becoming one.

Breaths coalescing.

Willing the flow of the feelings, guiding them with a channel formed by her hands.

A radiant blue pools in a circle around Raven’s thumb. The shade of the sky seeps into Despair, coloring the whole chord. It bleeds down into the others—Fear and Forgotten and more.

Before long, Raven is standing under a curtain of sky blue. Cool to the touch, and comforting. She feels like she’s surrounded by plush clouds.

A passing breeze pats her cheek as she sifts the strands between her fingers.

This is… my answer.

She falls back, setting the color to the wind. No grass or ground bothers catching her.

The world vanishes, and she’s tumbling through that vast, wonderful color. Sinking into a beautiful abyss with no bottom.

Free falling, flying.

Blink.

Everything implodes, converging in her tiny body.

The moon and sun and clouds and stars all fold up and pack tightly inside of her. Aurora ribbons and storms with silver linings. Even the shadows slip in, riding upon slivers of light.

The sky is bottled up.

Shoved into her.

And she’s back.

Raven opens her eyes. Real sensations slowly piece together again.

Wobbling wetness in her eyes, trails blazing down her cheeks. Her breath expels in deep, heavy pants. Head swimming, her slight form shaking violently.

The aftereffects hit her all at once.

Nausea makes its home in her gut, dampening her attire with sweat. Pressure presses down hard on her skull, threatening to crush it like an overripe fruit. A consistent, dizzying pain creeps at the corners of her vision.

She gulps and looks down.

The gem set in her magical quill is nearing a pitch black. A single thread of color hangs in the delicate balance, refusing to be overtaken by obsidian.

But the robin doesn’t move a muscle. It regards her with an eerie calmness, eyes wide and innocent.

Waiting for what is next.

“... So, here you are."

The quiet but resolute accusation pierces the forest.

An impish young man seats itself beside them at the lake. He wears a brilliant green vest, a jacket draped over his shoulders. When he grins, there is the flash of fangs and a glint in his big, ruby eyes. They beam out from behind uneven, dark bangs streaked with magenta.

"Vanrouge." Their smile is bitter. "How kind of you to join me in the audience. A bit late for it, though."

"I thought I sensed a familiar presence—and I was right. That magic was your barrier after all." He casually crossed his legs. "Tell me, old friend, what brings you to Sage's Island?"

They laugh. "Meddling in others' affairs, are we?"

"Isn't that precisely what you're doing?" Lilia meets their harsh words blow for blow. It comes as naturally to him as swordplay.

"We never did see eye-to-eye on these things. The path to true happiness never does run as smooth as we want it to, do we?”

"I see that you have no intention of backing down." He frowned. "You have a special interest in this one, or...?"

They dip a finger into the lake water, causing its surface to ripple. The rings rise and fall so easily.

"This story--her story-- was set into motion long ago. It is far past the point of no return. Whatever you do and say now cannot sway the path she has chosen to walk along."

"Ah, but you make exceptions for your own actions?"

"How is she to develop if she cannot overcome the simplest of obstacles?"

"Simple? Even I can see that you're being needlessly cruel and unusual."

"And you are being needlessly lax and indulgent. Time has softened your barbs, O’ Crimson Demon.”

“We don’t speak of the past,” he says quickly. “Not here.”

“You treasure your time here so, even when you are short on it yourself. Worry for yourself, and not for the juveniles you seek to coddle.”

The words hurt—but behind them is a blunted kind of darkness, something deeper and more sullen. An anger and a sadness not shown to the world.

He suddenly understands.

A personal vendetta, then, he ventures. "If this is concerning the Loveless King of old--"

"It is no longer about him. It is about his successor, the one who bears his legacy."

"What is the point of making the child--any child--suffer so? Does she truly deserve to bear the sins of her forefather? Can you not allow her to live and let live?"

The only sound is the water washing everything away.

"Answer me, Estella."

She holds up a finger, silencing him.

"... Listen. Watch. The next scene of the story is unfolding. The finale is afoot.”

A pair tromps through the woods, each person a considerable distance apart. A boy in a headscarf is far ahead, calling out into the thicket through cupped hands. His gloomy partner trails after him unenthusiastically, hunched over and muttering curses.

"No luck so far..." Kalim sighs, his shoulders sagging. "Poor Raven! She must be so confused and cold and tired out here all by herself."

Idia sighs too--much more despairingly.

“‘Poor Raven’ this, ‘poor Raven’ that… Where’s MY ‘poor Idia’?!" he muttered to himself. "I was right in the middle of a game when the headmaster put out that 'urgent' summons and it cost me the match!"

I’ve just been taking Ls left and right lately... First it was Azul-shi pestering me for 'just a little favor', and I felt bad for him so I caved!! That’s the LAST time I decide to have a heart! I had to give up that precious concert ticket to someone that doesn't even appreciate the art of idols!! Then Floyd doesn't do the ONE job he had to do, and I missed out on some limited edition in-game prizes… And now being sent on a rescue mission I didn't ask to be a part of...!

Hell hasn’t known true fear until it’s met with a raging gamer...!!

"Oh, I know! I'll have Jamil run her a hot bath and prepare a banquet to welcome Raven back once we find her. That way, she'll be able to relax and get comfortable again," Kalim babbles ahead of him, all smiles again. (His sadness never lasted that long, Idia had noticed.)

Kalim glances at his partner, then gasps. "Oh gosh, Idia! You look so worn out! You've been so hard at work trying to help us find Raven, it's no wonder you're tired! Should I have Jamil prepare a hot bath and a banquet for you too?"

"N-No!!" Idia snaps. "A-Anything but that!! I think I'd rather die..."

"You feel like you're going to die?! Oh no, should I call a doctor for you?"

"D-Don't do ANYTHING for me, I'm begging you!"

Idia's plea echoes through the forest, shaking the leave above them. They rattle, producing a light, shifting sound. And then...

A chirp comes from far away.

Kalim leaps at the sound. "Did you hear that just now? It sounded like a bird...!!"

"I-Is it really that surprising to find a bird in a forest? Even a shut-in like me knows that's basic common sense..."

"Eh, really? I'm more used to seeing birds in cages. They bring in lots of them at some ceremonies and property openings I've been to. Then we cut a big ribbon and all the birds get released into the sky!"

Kalim glances in the direction of the chirp. "Hey, maybe if we go to the bird, we can ask it for help!"

"H-Huh? That's the first decent idea you've had all day. Birds have the aerial advantage in a situation like this." And the sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can retreat back to my bedroom to catch up on the event, Idia adds. "M-Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to be paired with you after all. It can be useful to have a party member with a high Animal Language stat!"

"Oh, I'm not good at Animal Languages at all!"

"... Wh-What?"

"I just kind of get a gist for what they're feeling by listening really hard!

"H-How are we supposed to communicate what we need help with to any forest animal then?!"

"I can try my best!"

"What if your best isn't good enough?! I-I take back everything I said, being stuck with an extrovert's the WORST!!"

"Don't be like that, Idia!! We can definitely power through this together!!" Kalim rushes over to his upperclassman's side and--to Idia's horror--links arms with him. "Come on, let's get going before we lose the bird!"

"W-Wait, don't just go deciding that on your own...! A-And be careful, I’m not an athletic otaku! D-Don't pull on my arm, you'll dislocate itttt...!!"

Idia's protests go largely ignored or not registered. In the distance, critters scatter on little paws and hooves. Away from him, away from them.

Kalim drags him along the twisted road ahead and toward an uncertain outcome.

Only the hope of a birdsong to guide them.

Elsewhere in the woods, another pair struggles.

"Tch. I can't believe I was woken up from my nap for this,” Leona groans, batting a branch out of his way. Leave it to the headmaster to call us in to do his dirty work. “If he can’t keep an eye on the canary, that’s his problem, not mine.”

“Oh, quit it, will you?” Vil retorts with a sigh. “It’s exactly this kind of attitude that reflects poorly on both yourself and your entire dormitory.”

“You can’t possibly be happy about this.”

“I’m not--but you certainly aren’t making this any more bearable for me.” Vil grimaces as he steps over a large twig. The path before him is long and littered with environmental hazards: rocks, mud, and bugs--none of which he had dressed for. “The least you can do is go about this gracefully.”

“Oh, I do apologize, your majesty. I didn’t realize we were on our way to greet the Queen of Hearts herself,” Leona spits. “Wouldn’t want to offend her with poor manners now.”

“So you think it’s appropriate to offend me with your poor manners instead?” Vil huffs.

“Not like I have a choice. You see any other sorry saps around?”

Their sour exchanges are nothing new, but it offers Vil temporary reprieve from the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Like a pool of fabric clenched in a fist, it gathers, twisting into a concentrated lump. An inkling of dread.

“... Something is wrong,” Rook had said. He, who was always smiling, had unmistakable panic in his eyes that night. “Something is terribly amiss.”

Vil hadn’t thought anything of it until the summons had come.

They had all anticipated the same old thing. Another emergency meeting with some inane demand from the headmaster, some offloading of responsibilities onto the dorm leaders. Expected, shared reluctance and complaints to match the headmaster’s crocodile tears.

It was simply that his niece had gone missing, and he sought her safe return. There were groans and eye rolls to be had, immediate rejections of the request as he scrambled for a bribe or a blackmail that would convince them.

The man was so flippant--yet he pleaded with such an intense desperateness. Not acted, nor exaggerated.

From the night before, Rook’s foreboding warning had arisen fresh in Vil’s mind. And again, now.

Danger on the horizon. A tragedy on the brink of becoming reality. The huntsman had a penchant for sniffing them out.

“... Rook, you absolute fool of a man,” Vil grumbles. “What have you gone and gotten yourself entangled with now?”

“Bleh, why’d you have to bring him up all of a sudden?” Beside his fellow dorm leader, Leona glowers, his ears flattening. “Cut it out or you’ll will him into existence. It’s already bad enough I have to put up with one pain in the tail.”

The wind passing through set the leaves above them rustling. Papery thin and delicate, the foliage may as well have been papers being shuffled and sorted.

“It’s rude to eavesdrop,” Vil shoots back. “Do you mind?”

“Can’t help having better hearing than the average human,” he shrugs, infuriatingly smug.

“Oui, Roi du Léon! That is but one of your many charm points!!”

“Yeah, that’s... right...”

Leona’s face slowly falls. Vil’s own expression matches his. Neither of them had noticed a third person emerging after them from the thicket. Not a smell, nor a sound, to give away his presence.

He stands between the duo, the brim of his feathered hat obscuring his eyes. A blonde bob cut, the rich violet and crimson band of Pomefiore upon his arm.

Rook casually tips his hat, causing Leona to shudder and back away. “Bonjour. What a coincidence it is to meet two kings sharing a stroll. It must be destiny that our paths crossed!”

“Oh good, you’ve jinxed us,” Leona drawls, passing Vil a glare. “Go figure.”

He doesn’t deign to acknowledge the lion with a response. Instead, Vil steps toward his huntsman. “Rook, just what is going on here?”

“Hmm?” His smile is far too dazzling for the circumstances. “Are you curious about my day? I’ve only been out taking in the sights and sounds of nature myself.”

“Be serious!” Vil considers shaking him by the shoulders, but thinks better of it. “This wasn’t the ominous attitude you had yesterday.”

Leona scowls. “Your first mistake was to trust Rook with anything at all.”

“As though you’ve been of any more use?”

Their sharp quips are met with a voice like a gentle caress.

“Roi du Poison, Roi du Léon.”

Rook tenderly took each of their hands in his. He playfully swung their arms from side to side in a simple dance, his lips forming a musical chuckle. “Oh, I’ve had the honor of witnessing the most marvelous scene!! It sets my heart aquiver at the thought.”

“What...” Vil sways with him in a confused daze. “What are you on about now?!”

“Looks like he’s finally lost his senses,” Leona simpers. “Tragic, really.”

“You’re not providing any concrete answers, Rook,” Vil protests, tugging on their linked hands—as if to snap him out of his trance. “What happened when you went out last night?”

Rook smiles dreamily. “What indeed. You see, I’ve looked beyond the looking glass and glimpsed the birth of new magic not once, not twice, but three times! First Monsieur Spade, then Monsieur Crabapple… Fufu, I’m quite the lucky man.”

“The first years that came into their unique magic,” Vil recalls. “Yes, I’m aware. Then this third incident must be…”

A bird sounds somewhere in the forest.

Leona immediately catches on. Quick as a cat, he pounces on the opportunity presented to him. “You’ve seen the canary. Well, track her down for us. Poor old Crowley’s beside himself without his golden girl.”

Irises in slivers of green peer out from the shadow of his hat. “Non, I’m afraid I can’t allow that. We mustn’t interfere at a time as fragile as this.”

“You’re making this real unnecessarily difficult. Step aside before I make you.”

The frustrated growl in Leona’s tone does little to frighten him. Rook laughs softly, looking fondly upon the woods surrounding them.

“A flower of evil is most beautiful when left on its own to bloom. If plucked, that vitality dissipates with time.”

He wishes to see it at the height of its beauty.

Pure, noble, and true.

At the end of a path is a clearing--and in that clearing is a raven.

She's crouched to the ground and deliberately made her presence as small as possible. Beside her is a basket. She stares into it, as if afraid to disrupt whatever is inside.

"Raven!!"

She turns at the call of her name, eyes swelling at the appearance of Kalim and Idia from behind the trees.

"Wh...”

“You’re okay!” Kalim tackles her in a smothering hug. “Everyone was so worried!!”

“Speak for yourself,” Idia mutters. “Assuming that everyone will just smile and agree with whatever motivational stuff you spew out... Th-This is why I can’t stand the sparkly, outgoing types irl!”

“You came looking for me?” Her words are tentative.

“Bzzzt, wrong. The headmaster cried and begged for us to find you,” Idia sneers, refusing to meet her curious eyes. “Some of us have more important things to do than random side quests.”

“Uncle did?”

It’s surreal to say.

Shame and shyness well up in her chest. She wonders what he must have been feeling when he discovered her note, wonders if she’s worthy of such worry. Raven is trapped between an apology she can’t bring herself to utter and the questions that fill her head.

“We’re so glad we found you!” Kalim finds her hands and squeezes them. “Let’s go back.”

“Back…?” She’s bewildered by the word. Blinks several times to reacclimate herself to it. “To everyone… to Night Raven College?”

“Gahahah! Of course, where else could we mean? Right, Idia?”

“D-Do you really need my input on this… There’s literally no other place we could mean.”

“... That’s right,” Raven agrees, just barely audible. “Night Raven College is my one and only home. My nest.”

She cradles the basket to her chest, hanging her head low. Her shadow is cast over the contents, odd bobs and ends collected from the forest, remnants of the place she once resided in.

Both the old and the new, together. Something borrowed and something blue.

“... I want to go home,” Raven says quietly, “if you’re willing to have me.”

“Huh, what kind of stupid question is that? The quest was to come and find you. There’d be no point in it if they didn’t want you back with them.”

“There’s people that would miss you if you just up and flew away, Raven. Friends and family,” Kalim adds. He doesn’t speak with the same scathing bite as Idia. “You should have seen how the headmaster was acting, it broke my heart!”

“Yeah, ngl it was p pathetic.”

“That... certainly sounds like Uncle.” There’s a slight laugh concealed in her statement. Amusement at the ordinariness of it.

She sucks in a breath and wills herself to stand. Her legs wobble, no steadier than a newly hatched chick taking its first steps. “I’d better not worry him any more than I already have.”

“You can lean on me for support if you need it,” Kalim offers, offering his shoulder. “Let’s get you back safely!”

“Finally.” Idia turns and starts grumpily tromping in the way he came from. 

He fumbles with his noise-cancellation headphones, wanting to wash away the outside world from his senses. As he slips them over his ears, he overhears Kalim and Raven behind him.

“What were you doing all the way out here anyway?”

“I was looking for something for the longest time. But now I think I’ve found it.” She pauses. “No... a little birdie helped me find it. A piece of the future.”

The junk in her basket? She was looking for that? Idia scoffs and tunes them out. Whatever.

Soft instrumentals play the opening notes of a song. The Fates will soon join in a harmonious choir, spinning the story of another hero. Behind him, Raven gives a rapt observation over the music.

“Ah... The sky is so blue today.”

Blue?

Idia inclines his head, a hand shielding his eyes from the shining sun. Above, a deep, permeating blue expands in all directions. He hadn’t much noticed it before--not when he was so often cooped up in his own bedroom.

It’s so bright, so hopeful.

A wind blows. Drying up tears and lifting their spirits up. Idia’s fiery hair whips in the breeze, shimmering in the sun as he braces himself against it.

Right before the lyrics begin.

“Oh yeah, the sky’s really pretty today!” Kalim notes. “I’ve always wondered what makes the sky blue? Sometimes it’s more and sometimes it’s less.”

“I wonder too.”

The Fates erupt in Idia’s ears, heralding destiny ever closer.

[so-sures-blog]

Detective Pixane AU

Summary: PIXAL Borg is one of the best detectives in Ninjago City. She can solve any crime, fight any bad guy, save every person. That is, until, the Sons of Garmadon grow right under her nose and she meets the flirty criminal Snake Jaguar. And he’s the type of criminal that breaks a career, not makes them.

Tags: Flirty Zane, BAMF PIXAL, Asshole-but-still-a-good-person Cryptor, Matchmaking Ninjas

Based off prompt from the-modern-typewriter

“Hello?”

Detective PIXAL perked up, turning away from the computer at the sound of the unfamiliar voice echoing through the empty police precinct.

PIXAL ran the voice through her memory banks and upon reaching a match she sighed and stood up, stretching her artificial joints before walking towards the entrance of the police station. “Yes? What is it you —” PIXAL’s smile dropped once she saw exactly who was at the front door. It wasn’t exactly the person themselves that made her pleasant smile fall, but rather what they were holding.

Right on the freshly waxed floors of the police station stood four of Ninjago’s greatest heroes, dressed in their brightly colored gi’s and holding a prisoner between them.

The Ninja looked extremely out of place, the Green Ninja’s feet shifting awkwardly and looking almost guilty while the Red Ninja merely crossed his arms. The Gray Ninja was holding the prisoner by the arm while the Blue Ninja stood a couple paces away, ready to zap him if he tried anything.

“Oh, hello, Ninja,” PIXAL settled on, because she didn't really know what to say. She kept her eyes fixed on the Green Ninja, steadfastly ignoring the prisoner gazing at her.

“Detective,” the Green Ninja nodded respectfully. “Sorry to bother you so late, but we recently apprehended one of the SOG members causing trouble while we were on patrol.”

“I understand,” PIXAL said. “Thank you again, Ninja. I’ll take care of the criminal.”

The Green Ninja nodded professionally and proceeded to shuffle out of precinct, looking more like an awkward teenager at his first school dance than the leader of an elite ninja task force. The rest of the Ninja bid their goodbyes, and soon it was just PIXAL and her newly acquired prisoner standing in the lobby.

PIXAL closed her eyes. 1… 2… 3

"You would think," Snake Jaguar said conversationally. "That dealing with all the hardened criminals on a day-to-day basis, your colleagues wouldn't be so afraid to pass me to you.” He smiled, blue eyes gleaming. “I am cuffed and harmless.”

"You,” PIXAL informed him flatly, “are the bane of my working life. And you are anything but harmless. Come. I need to revisit your file.” PIXAL grabbed his arm and dragged him to the interrogation room.

The precinct waiting room was empty apart from the two of them; it was late, with the Commissioner heading home and the rest of the officers calling it a night after they went over the reports the Ninja had deposited on of the most dangerous gang in Ninjago: The Sons of Garmadon. The Sons of Garmadon were a gang rising in prominence in Ninjago City. The threat levels were rising so quickly that the police force had grown concerned, and had to team up with Ninjago’s greatest protectors: The Ninja.

Now, PIXAL didn't mind the Ninja; they were vigilantes, but good people who risked their lives for others. They were a force to be reckoned with, going up against villains and winning with power, skill, and sheer willpower. They fought on when the police despaired but were still gracious enough to offer a hand and lend information to the police — even though it was clear that they could do more with the knowledge than the officers ever could.

What PIXAL did mind about them was how they kept bringing in a certain criminal to her, and how it was suddenly her job to extract information from him. Normally, PIXAL wouldn't mind this if it weren't for the fact that he was peculiarly flirtatious and always managed to escape the police after he had been apprehended.

PIXAL had tried to pass him off to her partner and half-brother, Cryptor, but he and Snake Jaguar had swiftly exploded into an argument that left both sides with more than a little animosity between the two. Not that PIXAL couldn't relate to Snake Jaguar’s bitterness — Cryptor was known to be antagonistic and temperamental. There was a reason she was partnered with him.

“Here we are,” PIXAL sighed as she reached the interrogation room and sat him down, still cuffed. The file slapped down on the table between them and she began flipping through his records.

Name: Unknown Alias: Snake Jaguar

Affiliation: The Sons of Garmadon

Allies: Rocky Dangerbuff, Mr. E, Ultra Violet, Killow, the Quiet One (?)

Profile: Criminal rose in the ranks of the gang after saving the life of SOG General Mr. E. He is a high-ranking member in the inner circle of the gang along with partner Rocky Dangerbuff. Information on the criminal before joining the Sons of Garmadon is unknown.

USE EXTREME CAUTION: Criminal is highly trained and able to escape the security measures

PIXAL frowned at the lack of information in the file. She tapped her fingers against the table, pursing her lips in focus. The portfolio of Snake Jaguar felt so vague, and left too many gaps. But PIXAL has seen him so frequently and she knew there was more to him. There was just so much going on, and so many open pieces of the puzzle. How can one know a person without truly knowing them?

"You look tired, detective," Snake Jaguar said softly. PIXAL broke out of her thoughts to see him watching her from across the table.

"Bane. Of. My. Working. Life."

“I could bribe someone to do the paperwork for you?”

PIXAL surprised herself by letting out a soft laugh, and through Snake Jaguar’s own surprise a pleased expression settled on his face. “Thank you, but I’ll do my own paperwork. You can help me by not committing crimes anymore.”

“Ah, but then how would I get an excuse to see you, detective?” Snake Jaguar teased back, at something inside her chest fluttered. Oh, she must be glitching again — that’s been happening more frequently while she’s questioning Snake Jaguar. She should probably check that out.

Before PIXAL can respond, there’s a screech of the door opening and Cryptor walked in. Quickly, PIXAL and Snake Jaguar straighten up, and to her horror she realized that she and Snake Jaguar had both been leaning towards each other from across the table.

"PIX, have you read the Ninja's reports from last week? It —" Cryptor stopped at the door, his red eyes flicking between PIXAL, who was promptly busying herself with paperwork, and Snake Jaguar, who was glaring right back at Cryptor.

PIXAL held her breath, waiting for the moment her brother would inevitably lose his cool and blow up …

“They dumped him back here again?” Cryptor scoffed derisively. He walked in, red eyes scoring across Snake Jaguar with contempt before turning to PIXAL. “As if the rest of us are equally equipped to deal with super villains. Bastards.”

PIXAL blinked. Well, that was unusually tame — for Cryptor’s standards, anyway. “We are nindroids, Cryptor. We are more than capable of taking care of gang members and lowlifes. I doubt the Ninja have found anything useful in their interrogation and handed him to us.”

“Leftovers,” Cryptor rolled his eyes. PIXAL shook her head. Unlike her, Cryptor was less fond of the Ninja — he had too much pride to ask for help and their partnership to take down the Sons of Garmadon more than aggravated him. PIXAL could understand where he was coming from, she supposed — this was the whole reason they were created. Cyrus Borg had only begun investing in AI when he saw how overwhelmed the police were with common crime.

While the Ninja were off defeating supervillains and saving the world, the police were struggling against common hoodlums. They didn’t even have any proper weapons! This was why PIXAL was created in the first place — her and Cryptor. They were made to assist, working with the police to create a safe place in Ninjago.

This was why Cryptor was so upset. The police had let the Sons of Garmadon — a simple biker gang — grow into power until they had to go asking the Ninja for help. They had failed their jobs, and now innocent people were at risk.

PIXAL shook her head again. Now was not the time to dwell on this.

“What was it you wanted to talk about, Cryptor?” She asked.

“It's about the Ninja,” he said, and his eyes flicked towards the prisoner. “I’ll tell you later, when you aren’t tied up with your … prisoner.”

PIXAL looked down, realizing for the first time that Snake Jaguar was still there, listening to the conversation intently. PIXAL felt a bolt of alarm. She had completely forgotten he was there. If he had heard something he could take back to his gang …

“Yes, that would make sense,” PIXAL nodded curtly. “Are you finished for the night?”

Cryptor nodded. “Unless you need help with that one?” He arched an eyebrow.

PIXAL shook her head. “No, that’s alright. I can handle him. I’ve done so before.”

Cryptor was already turning away and walking out the door. “Just don’t overwork yourself and stay up too late. You’ll just burn yourself out for tomorrow and be useless,” he said gruffly.

PIXAL shook her head, unable to hide the small smile against her lips. She knew he was concerned for her, in his uncouth way. “Goodnight, Cryptor.”

The nindroid slammed the door closed in response.

PIXAL turned towards Snake Jaguar to find his crystal blue eyes already upon her. A sense of almost anticipation swept through her, and it lingered throughout the entire room they were alone in. “You heard what he said. We’ve wasted enough time. Stand.”

Snake Jaguar stood from the chair he was sitting in during the exchange and walked towards her, hands cuffed from behind his back as PIXAL began thoroughly patting him down. Her hands traveled along the planes of his body, folding into leather and pockets and pulling out all matters of utensils to help him escape — anything could be a weapon. PIXAL could feel his eyes burning into her — bright blue orbs of knowledge that tracked her movements, drank in every detail of her; from the tips of her silver hair to the purple wirings on her cheeks to the green glow of her eyes.

PIXAL didn't turn to face the criminal. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop looking at me like that.” PIXAL tried to steel some authority in her voice. “You are beginning to get on my nerve circuits. Are you going to be staring at me the whole time?”

“Only if you continue to feel me up,” Snake Jaguar responded amusedly.

PIXAL cannot stop the indignant gasp at the shameless insinuation. “I am not feeling you up!” She glared fiercely.

“Oh no? This is the fourth time you’re feeling my chest,” Snake Jaguar’s eyes were very bright.

“One can never be too thorough when it comes to you,” PIXAL snapped back. She keeps her hands very professional as she searches his jacket pockets to come up empty.

Snake Jaguar let out an amused hum before falling silent. After a moment, he suddenly asked, “Who is he to you?”

“What?” PIXAL looks up from her searching at the sudden question. Snake Jaguar stares back at her, unusually serious.

“Your police partner, Cryptor. Who is he to you?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just curious. He seems to care about you a great deal. You seem close.” Snake Jaguar averted his eyes. “At least, as close to someone with his personality can be.”

PIXAL paused in her searching, turning up to stare at him. Her processors whirred, trying to come up with a reason why he would ask something like that out of nowhere. An idea came to the forefront of her mind and she smirked.

“Cryptor can be prickly, I’ll admit. But that just makes the moments he’s not all the more special. He is simply very serious about his job.”

“As are you!” Snake Jaguar retorted. “And yet you do not get as temperamental as him.”

“Cryptor is only tempermental because he is frustrated. He is passionate about his job and is very good at it.” PIXAL said calmly.

“It seems you care about him a great deal,” Snake Jaguar said icily. It suddenly felt as if the room had dropped several degrees in temperature.

“Indeed. Cryptor is my partner at the police force,” PIXAL said lightly. “And my half-brother.”

She felt Snake Jaguar stop at her words, and was grateful her face was turned away from him so he couldn’t see her smirk.

“Your half-brother?” He repeated.

“Yes, that’s what you call it, isn’t it?” PIXAL hummed, more focused on searching the criminal for any weapons than the conversation at hand. “Someone created from the same source, yet different? Cryptor and I were both made from Mr. Borg, but we are both different in ways that can only be discerned as being half-siblings.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Not at all. Cryptor and I both love each other, in our own way. It is what it is.”

“Do you have any other siblings?” Snake Jaguar asked curiously.

This time PIXAL looked up, narrowing her bright green eyes suspiciously. “You seem awfully invested in knowing about my family, Snake Jaguar. Any reason I should know why?”

He quickly shook his head, and PIXAL found the action oddly endearing. “No! Not at all. I was just curious. I just …” he trailed off, looking frustrated. At himself, at the situation, or at her, she didn’t know. “I just want to get to know you.”

PIXAL blinked, surprised, and something strange glitched in her chest. She must be malfunctioning again. She looked down again to hide the small smile growing on her face as a pleasant feeling bloomed in her chest.

“I have a younger brother.”

Snake Jaguar looked surprised that she even answered, but soon a bright smile lit up on his face. “You do?”

PIXAL nodded. “Yes, shared between Cryptor and I. His name is Mindroid.”

“Why is he called that?”

PIXAL’s memory banks were suddenly flooded with the jokes Cryptor said once they met their honorary little brother for the first time, and she couldn’t quite hide the grin that grew on her face. “Because he’s short.”

Snake Jaguar barked out a laugh, and PIXAL could not help the amused giggles that escaped her as she remembers Mindroid’s enraged and indignant face whenever Cryptor would call him “half-pint” or “toaster” or “last out of the factory line and ran out of scrap metal”.

When their laughter finally faded, PIXAL looked up to see Snake Jaguar already watching her. His crystal blue eyes were bright as he looked at her, and his smile was soft.

“You are beautiful when you smile like that,” he said. PIXAL was taken aback with how gentle his voice sounded. How fond . “I’ve never met anyone quite like you. You’re amazing.”

Snake Jaguar hummed in acknowledgement, not taking his eyes of PIXAL as he let her step back to regain herself.

PIXAL cannot quite stop the small gasp that leaves her at that, staring up at him with wide eyes. "R-right." PIXAL’s voice processor must be damaged. She never stuttered. "I think you're all done."

No, that was absurd. Not let. He was cuffed. He had no weapons on his person and no key to escape. He may be a skilled fighter, but he was no ninja, nor Elemental Master.

A shiver went down PIXAL’s spine at the thought.

"Come along," the detective said. "You know how it goes by now."

"Indeed." The Snake Jaguar’s head tilted. "You know, there is a reason that the Ninja keep dropping me off on your shift instead of interrogating me themselves. You know that, right?"

PIXAL froze.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

The Green Ninja’s apologetic looks.

The Red Ninja’s flirty winks.

The Gray Ninja’s amused eyes.

The Blue Ninja's excited glances.

"Just something to think about," Snake Jaguar said cheerfully, then walked off in the direction of the cells. "Now, come lock me up."

PIXAL released a shaky breath and quickly hurried after him.

She was going to murder the Ninja.