#so just take this for now ... so glad we agree that the detective has the most hate-able traits but we cant help but love him

[chiqelatasblog]

CHAPTER ONE : The First Failure

-> Ao3 link is here.

-> Prologue is here.

-> Chapter Two link is here.

Pairing : Sub Zero | Bi-Han x Reader

Summary : As you navigate the challenges of this forced union, the uncertainties about the future cast a daunting shadow over your every step. Amidst the grand promises that bind your clans, there lingers a fear—the apprehension of an impending first night that both duty and tradition demand.

The journey ahead unfolds as a delicate dance between obligations, fears, and the pursuit of control in a destiny that feels beyond your grasp.

.

.

.

Two months ago…

‘’The plan is quite simple; gain the trust of the grandmaster. Once you win his, the entire clan will trust you anyway.”

‘’Easy to say but difficult to implement. We've been fighting them for too long, brother. That's why it won't be easy for him to trust me. It may take me months or even years to be able to do what you say! If we could come up with another plan-"

"You will do whatever I say."

Your brother rudely interrupted you, casting a disdainful gaze down at you, his stature towering over yours. Despite not averting your eyes, a subtle shudder ran through your body.

Given your brother's easily provoked and irritable nature, angering him was not only a simple feat but also a dangerous one. To maintain your composure, you tightly pressed your lips together and offered a slight bow of your head as a form of apology.

"It seems that our forces are insufficient to defeat them."

While your brother was speaking, he began to slowly circle around you, just like a hunter observing his prey.

“We need a different plan. We must catch them by surprise so that victory will ultimately be ours. Isn't that right, sister?''

One of your brother's hands grasped the end of your hair, which was falling down to your waist, and pulled it slightly, showing that he wanted to get an answer from you.

"Yes brother, you are right."

“A lot of blood has been shed because of this war between the clans. You don't want to let the blood of our dying brothers remain on the ground, do you?"

‘’No.’’

"Good, I'm glad we agree on that."

Your brother caressed your hair with fake affection. When his movement caused you to shiver more noticeably than before, you got angry at yourself for the weakness you showed and stifled your shiver by nibbling hard on the inside of your cheek. Your brother gave a sinister smile, showing that he was aware of the power he had over you and enjoyed it.

‘’You will gain that man's trust, (y/n). Any information you get there is worth gold to us. You can put an end to this war and take your place among us.''

Your brother released your hair, easily reappeared in front of you in two big strides, grabbing your chin and lifting you up to look at him.

"I know how much you desire this. Don't you want to finally be accepted? Moreover, if you complete this task, you will be remembered as a savior.”

You swallowed. Of course you wanted this very much, you had spent years working non-stop, going from one mission to another in order to be accepted. You were cruel to yourself, but your desire to be appreciated was so great that you often ignored your body's flags of rebellion for you to stop. And now, the opportunity you were looking for was presented to you.

Thanks to your talent, you would frequently execute your missions without detection, accomplishing them with flawless stealth and agility. You never found the need to talk your way out of trouble since you had never been caught.

Consequently, people began crafting nicknames for you, acknowledging your existence despite never seeing you. Ghost, Shadow, Nightmare, Specter, Wraith... Among them, your preferred alias was the Silence of the Night. It carried an air of elegance blended with danger, sounding almost poetic.

The more perfect you were at your duties, the less successful you were at impressing people. As someone with the blood of a noble family, you always made sure that your movements looked fluid like water, graceful and measured. However, most of the time, you would think that you couldn't do it right because you tried too hard for it and it looked like the exact opposite.

Despite your abilities being unknown to anyone in the clan, you remained invisible to them. As a result, you didn't have many people around you to talk to in your life. Over time, this led you to give up on trying to establish a dialogue with them, prompting you to retreat into your own shell.

“Put your worries aside,” your brother said, the corners of his lips turning down in distaste as if he heard your thoughts. "You carry our blood, it is not even possible for you to fail."

You swallowed once more. You wanted to succeed in this mission and prove yourself more than anything and anyone. However, this duty also conflicted with your own values. Yes, the Lin Kuei Clan was your enemy and you needed to deceive them for the future of your own clan.

Only then could you bring an end to this war and lead your clan to victory. For this, you simply had to gather enough information and create the right moment by taking advantage of the element of surprise.

But was this really what needed to be done?

Would you be able to do this?

‘'Men are generally simple creatures. Their thoughts often revolve around fighting and sex; complicating matters too much will only confuse them. The grandmaster of the Lin Kuei is no exception. Don't let his cold demeanor intimidate you. Utilize your femininity to captivate him, distract him, fill his mind with you. Refrain from expressing your opinions on any subject; instead, be silent and observant."

Your eyes filled with tears of despair as your eyebrows furrowed slightly. But you didn't spill them, you wouldn't give your brother this satisfaction, nor would you humiliate yourself in front of him.

“When you become his wife in a few months, your body will now belong to the grandmaster. Do whatever he wants. The more you satisfy him, the easier it will be for you to approach him and learn the order inside."

You knew you wouldn't deny what was said; you were merely a pawn in this war, with no right to voice objections. It was unheard of. Nonetheless, despite the looming marriage in two months, your brother's words induced a knot of tension in your stomach.

"Did you understand what I said, sister?"

You were able to say, "Yes." in a dry voice.

A sinister smile, reminiscent of a snake, appeared on your brother's face. He cupped your face with both hands and placed a small kiss on the top of your head, as if sealing the spoken words.

''Nice, very nice. Since we agreed, you can withdraw (y/n).”

Today

You stood in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do.

About half an hour ago, you were married to the grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. The wedding was held in a simple ceremony attended by clan elders, family members, and high-ranking special warriors.

Even though the wedding dress fit like a glove, you felt like you were suffocating throughout the ceremony. It was as if your lungs did not fit into your chest; no matter how deep you breathed, it was never enough, preventing you from suppressing the growing tension inside you.

That's why you focused your gaze on one place, looking only in front of you, and tried not to lose control. You were a warrior; you shouldn't have been intimidated by a marriage. Moreover, it wasn't even a real marriage; it was just a significant step towards leading your clan to victory.

Still, despite all this, the weight of the task, its reality, and the obligation to meet expectations began to weigh on your shoulders with each passing minute, making itself felt more clearly.

During the ceremony, neither you looked at the grandmaster nor he looked at you. Both of your eyes were focused forward, both of your stances were upright, and there was a distinct gap between you, almost large enough for a person to fit in. It was obvious from every aspect that you were married out of necessity.

“I hope this union will end the ongoing hostility between the two clans. Now we are all a family under this roof; your happiness is our happiness, your sadness is our sadness, and your war is our war too.”

With the echoing voice of the clan elder, the trembling in your body increased even more. When the rings were brought to you in a fancy box to be worn, you turned your body towards the grandmaster, and this time you fixed your gaze on his chest, avoiding meeting his eyes directly.

Even in this situation, you felt small and cornered against the grandmaster's large body. You knew you could easily blend into the shadows and escape from there if you wanted; it would be effortless for someone of your skill. Unfortunately, running away was not an option for you as you had to hide your powers from them.

Your head could only reach the man's chest, and the cool air emanating from him had raised the tiny hair on your body. The danger signals emanating from every part of the grandmaster were clear as day; you could feel his dark aura and dominant nature to your core.

You raised your hand when the grandmaster, who was about to become your husband, reached out to put the ring on your finger. Your hand was shaking noticeably, just as you had feared. You hoped that he would think you were shivering because of the cold.

While shame turned your cheeks pink, you felt the grandmaster's gaze on you for the first time and, unable to help yourself, you stole a glance from behind your eyelashes.

When you directly met the grandmaster's eyes, at that moment your heart was filled with a strange feeling that you had never felt before, as if your heart had fallen into the void.

They were definitely the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen in your life. Dark brown eyes, with the gaze of a predator, were slightly slanted and framed by dark lashes. It reminded you of the snow leopard you encountered while wandering through the forest once, beautiful but also wild. He had a distinct danger that meant he could easily tear you to pieces if you got close to him.

The grandmaster's touch sent a shiver through you as he placed the ring on your finger, his dark eyes never leaving yours. It was as if you were jolted awake from a dream, and you quickly shifted your focus to your hand.

The silver wedding ring on your finger was plain, with a smooth surface that felt cool against your skin, and adorned with only a small, dark blue gemstone. After looking at the ring for a few more seconds, you moved to put it on the grandmaster's ring in the same way, and again the man's intense gaze never left you.

You didn't remember the rest of the ceremony, you were too nervous and stressed. You had no idea how you got to this room, all you remembered was the similar corridors and the cold seeping through the stone walls.

You told the two women who came to help you to take off your wedding dress that you wanted to be alone and asked them to leave the room, and you somehow managed to take off your wedding dress with numb fingers.

With your legs feeling like jelly, you open the suitcase left in the corner of the room, where your belongings are kept. Carefully, you take out the nightgown your brother had chosen for you, unfolding it with a sense of reluctance and uncertainty.

Examining the satin, black nightgown with its long, floor-sweeping skirt and deep slit, a wave of nausea washes over you. The front of the nightgown is once again crafted in a deep V-shape, mirroring the design of the slit, making you acutely aware that it could easily expose your breasts without any effort on your part.

As you slip into the nightgown, your growing nausea intensifies, and an unsettling sensation grips you – akin to being a gift meticulously prepared for presentation. The overwhelming feeling brings tears to your eyes, and your lower lip begins to tremble slightly.

Anticipating the upcoming moment, you frequently refrain from pondering how your first time will unfold. Coming from a noble family, voicing your opinions on marriage is a luxury you don't possess. It's a duty, an obligation shared by everyone in your family, a fate dictated by the needs of the clan's future.

Reflecting on your parents' union, you recognize that, for those of noble blood, marriage is more duty than choice. The realization has always been too daunting to confront. The notion of a stranger, someone you've never met, easily penetrating your privacy has consistently sparked fear, causing your heart to race and beads of cold sweat to form.

And now, you've reached a point where you can't run anymore.

With fingers numbed by tension, you delicately adorn yourself with jewelry left by your mother, seeking to conceal the scar that stretches along your throat. Each piece, though carrying a sense of protection, is recognized as nothing more than a fragile illusion.

When the last necklace settled down to stand in the middle of your chest, the question that you didn't want to think about but couldn't stop from appearing echoed in your mind.

Was he going to hurt you?

You were not oblivious to the whispers that circulated regarding the first night, and unfortunately, the majority of the gossip you caught wind of painted a rather grim picture.

Given your origin from the enemy clan, he has every justification to revel in your suffering. Under different circumstances, you would never hesitate to fight and defend yourself.

Your body, shaped by years of training, is acquainted with pain, and you've acquired the skill to endure it. Yet, despite your ability to suppress pain in your mind to a certain extent, it proves insufficient to pacify the fear welling up within you—a type of fear both raw and primal, an emotion you’re unfamiliar with.

Besides, you had no idea how to satisfy him. Your life was spent in rigorous training, tasks, and strict discipline. Moreover, being an outcast in your clan, you had never formed emotional connections with anyone, making you clueless about how to satisfy him.

Finally, you dabbed on a perfume with an intense scent that irritated your nose, applying it to your wrists and a bit on your neck. The overpowering smell of vanilla engulfed your senses, intensifying your nausea. Due to the stress you had been feeling since the morning, you could only manage to drink water, and the bitter taste of rising bile lingered because there was nothing to expel.

Not now. Not now. I can't throw up now, no. Please no.

While desperately trying to calm yourself down through self-assurance, the door of the room opened quietly, causing you to freeze in place. When Lin Kuei's grandmaster stepped into the room in all his glory, a cold breeze also entered with him.

You trembled like a leaf in the thin nightgown you were wearing. Maybe it was due to the tension you felt, you didn't know, but the grandmaster's large body made the room suddenly feel small.

‘‘What are you doing here?’’

The deepest sound you'll ever hear in your life echoed through the room. You swallowed; you were sure you hadn't done anything wrong, but the way the man was asking made you doubt yourself.

‘‘I was brought here,’’ you said in a soft voice. Compared to the turmoil inside, you were glad that your voice came out smoothly and clearly, without cracking. ‘’Did I do something wrong to make you angry?’’

‘‘I don't want you to be here.’’

As the grandmaster approached you with confident strides, you made an effort to project an air of composure, stifling the inner protests urging you to step back and maintaining a poised posture.

You didn't want him to think that you were afraid of him; it was too dangerous to put such power in his hands already.

Once the distance between you closed, you were able to look at him decently for the first time, having to tilt your head back a little to do so.

He was dressed in a traditional outfit of dark blue and black with the colors of his clan, and there was the clan's crest on a silver brooch attached to the left side of his chest. The grandmaster in these clothes looked more like the Chinese monarchs who passed through ancient times than a warrior in it.

His black hair was carefully gathered, and his complexion, pale enough to reflect the moonlight, framed a masculine face. With an arched nose, thin lips, and a jaw marked by strong lines, his features were striking.

Yet, what left the most significant impression and held your gaze was his eyes. Unblinking, dark orbs conveyed pronounced arrogance, a testament to his accustomed habit of looking down on others, coupled with a commanding power that compelled obedience. His dominant air shifted the room's atmosphere in an instant.

Normally, intimidation never came easily to you, a trait instilled by the harsh experiences your own family subjected you to. Your family, especially your demanding late father and your brother following in his footsteps, shaped your resilience. No one had the luxury of choosing their family, so you learned to keep your guard up and navigate around them.

Despite being a stranger, the man before you exhibited a fundamental difference that set him apart from the individuals in your family within seconds. Wordlessly, through his upright posture and tense shoulders, he conveyed a silent threat, one that lingers and continues to affect you.

‘’This is my room," stated the grandmaster. Although his voice was as quiet as the night itself, it resonated so deeply that it seemed to rumble in your ears. "The fact that we are married does not mean that we will share the same room. This marriage is no more than an alliance; you are my wife on paper, not in reality."

You remained silent, unsure of how to respond. This revelation caught you off guard, and as the temperature in the room dropped, you had no doubt that the grandmaster started to notice your trembling body.

In a whispering voice, you finally managed to ask, "But shouldn't we be fulfilling the binding of the marriage ceremony?"

"I can clearly see that you don't want to do this; you look as timid as a bird," remarked the man. One of his black eyebrows slightly lifted in a mocking manner. "I've heard that birds have heart attacks and die when they get too scared. Is that what happens when I touch you?’’

Despite the cold in the room, your cheeks flushed with embarrassment and a touch of anger at being perceived as weak. The man's words carried a sarcastic, arrogant tone that ignited a surge of anger within you.

You lifted your chin and looked directly into the eyes that were carefully watching your every move like a hawk. This action of yours was bold, perhaps even displaying a rudeness unbecoming of a noble woman, but in that moment, you didn't care.

‘’I am here to fulfill my duty.’’

"We've both just fulfilled what was expected of us already, little bird.’’

You frowned at the sarcastic nickname that came out of his cold voice.

‘’On paper, you are my wife, and I am your husband. We are no more than that. We won't be. If you want this alliance to be sustainable, don't take the ring off your finger, don't try to pry into my business, and keep your mouth shut as long as you're around me. I'm sure you're talented enough to do all of these things.’’

Without giving you a chance to answer, the grandmaster grabbed you by the arm and kind of dragged you after him towards the door, while the coldness emanating from his hand took your breath away.

‘‘Your own room is at the very end of this corridor, I'll call someone in a moment to bring your things.’’

When he closed the door in your face as he finished his words, you stayed where you were in shock. Not only were you kicked out like a little child, you were also insulted.

You stayed there, your rapidly beating pulse create a ringing in your ears, while your breath coming out of your lips created a thin smoke in front of you.

You had failed the first task you were expected to perform. You knew that when you had to report to your brother, he would ask you questions about tonight and wonder if you were successful in influencing him. If you tried to lie, he would catch it very easily. You've had enough time to ignore this concern for now, but you've fallen into a complete unknown about what you should do.

As you walked towards your room with silent steps, you also felt more humiliated than ever. You've never heard of a woman being kicked out of a room on her wedding night.

Marriage was a sacred bond, according to the belief the marriage would end the same way it began. You knew well how important it was to fulfill this, especially for those who care about old traditions, such as your own clan.

Despite the marriage being crafted for an alliance, even if it was merely a facade, both sides exchanged marriage vows. While the incomplete conclusion of the ceremony lessened your concerns about the first night, it now overwhelmed you with anxiety and humiliation that you couldn't fulfill it.

Tomorrow morning, when you emerged from another room, everyone in Lin Kuei would find out the truth. Was the grandmaster's reluctance to touch you solely due to your status as his enemy? Or perhaps, beyond that, did he harbor a dislike for your appearance? Maybe that's why he wanted you out of his sight as soon as possible.

‘’Why does it matter what he think?’’

You said to yourself. Crossing to your room, you closed the door behind you and sat down directly in front of the windows, which illuminated the room with moonlight, without bothering to look inside.

‘’It doesn't matter what he think about me, he is my enemy, and I am his. I need to figure out how I can get this resolved as quickly as possible, that's all.’’

While reassuring yourself, you nervously nibbled on your lower lip. The challenges ahead were proving to be far more demanding than anticipated, yet you hadn't found the courage to vocalize this realization.

[spacexseven]

nice glad to see drunk yans was a hit. yeah i agree that dazai would be 1000% HUMILIATED that he just entirely blew his cover with you but on the bright side thats something he can jot down in his Evidence That Darling Secretly Has A Crush On Me list. its in the same notebook where he scribbles “mr. osamu darlingslastname” with hearts around it and ingredients for love spells he looked up online. he’ll find one that works eventually mark his words. i think for ADA dazai he’d just pretend he doesnt remember to avoid having to have the “im obsessed with you” conversation but rest assured. he is also writing about it in his insane little diary. 

ANYWAY sleepy!drunk ranpo as promised. it’s rare for ranpo to actually get inebriated, despite his gluttony. dulls his detective mind. but it’s alright to let loose on occasion, especially when that occasion gives him and excuse to spend some more time with darling! his flirtation strat is just to put himself in darlings line of sight as much as he can. once he gets drunk he’s pretty much just Gone. you’re honestly amazed someone as talkative as ranpo could ever be this. quiet and subdued. just blearily blinking his eyes and slurring out little whines about how its too loud in here. catch is: he doesnt wanna sleep just any old place, he wants to sleep on YOU. he’ll perch his head on your shoulder and doze off, lay down on your lap, grab your hand and put it in his hair, try to drag you over to the couch and get you to take a nap with him, etc. refuses to go to bed unless you agree to go with him. oh, and theres no waiting until he passes out and quietly slipping away. if you move away from him he’s waking up instantly and following after you, sleepily asking “where are we going” like he was invited or something. ur probably still on cuddle buddy duty when he wakes up hungover too. 

clingy!drunk akutagawa. this one also cannot hold his liquor for the life of him so he’ll start to tilt into Weird after like. 2 drinks if that. typically, akutagawa is pretty avoidant with you. you’re not good for him. he cant focus on the task at hand if he’s close enough to smell you or feel the warmth that radiates off your skin or even hear the lilt of your voice, so he tries to cut down direct contact as much as he can. (stalking is fine tho he can do THAT all day long) if someone actually manages to get him drunk, however, as soon as he sees you he’s gravitating towards you like a magnet. he doesn’t really say much. just attaches himself to you. sits so close his leg is practically on top of yours, gently grabs your sleeve when you walk somewhere so he doesnt lose track of you, stuff like that. he’s just your shadow for the night. might get a bit bolder as the night goes on and actually take a crack at talking to you, but nothing he says is gonna make much sense. WILL try to follow you home be aware him doing that. (also, quick aside…flirty!drunk akutagawa… akutagawa acting completely unlike himself, laughing and smiling and boldly touching you… leaning into whisper salacious things in your ear… pushing you down into the booth or up against the wall… much to think about.)

BONUS ROUND smiley!drunk fyodor. fyodor is even less likely to deign himself with the crude act of drink than the other two. doesnt like being out of his own head, and with all of his various ailments drinking in excess could prove problematic… but gogol dared him to so now he’s half kicked in the ass. normally, fyodor smiling at you is something very creepy that you have to be worried about, but now he almost looks kinda… sweet. just genuinely grinning and lightly giggling like hes having the time of his life just being near you. i mean, it’s definitely still kinda creepy but you know. less so than usual. he probably wouldnt talk much, just the occasional hi :) or something in russian you cant understand. he’d occupy himself mostly with grabbing your hand and toying idly with your fingers or running his fingers through your hair. just little touches. things he rarely affords himself sober. he’ll only stop smiling if you try to leave, pouting and grabbing your hand to try to keep you with him for longer. might try to go after you but he’s very wobbly so youll have to catch him, also contact that he enjoys. he actually wont be embarrassed by any of this he’ll just go that was fun :) the next morning. 

- 🩹

ranpo sleep on me wink wink i cant write flirty akutagawa for the life of me but he lives in my mind <3 also please imagine this w manga fyodor!! he has a very pretty smile lol (if its ooc i do not care once in a while it's good to write him not as evil !!)

cw: yandere characters, obsession, intoxication, implied stalking

ranpo needs to be drunk to be all clingy, but drinking only makes him more shameless about it. he's decided to attach himself to you, literally sleeping on top of you, and so on. he's unnaturally quiet, though, and more...vulnerable? you're suddenly reminded of the fact that ranpo isn't an ability user; just a regular person with an unrelenting mind when you see him blinking slowly and drinking from his cup.

he's never had a reason to hide his infatuation with you, not caring about what anyone else, including you, had to say or feel about it, but now he looks a little shy, staring quietly at you and looking back at his drink the moment your eyes lock, looking a little flustered. it was almost like he was another person entirely.

however, after some time passes and he seems to have warmed up to your presence, he becomes more demanding. stumbles over to drag you towards the loveseat at the back of the room, quickly wrapping his arms around yours so you wouldn't move while he snoozed away. though he's asleep, his grip on you is almost painful and even the slightest nudge would make him tighten his hands. maybe he'll loosen up the more he slept...?

you've never seen akutagawa drink. you've always thought he would be quiet even if he was intoxicated but he seems to be acting...oddly. the previously stoic look melts into a devious expression on his face that reminds you of someone that you can't quite put your finger on, and a dangerous look in his eye, not unlike that of a predator on the hunt. he takes short breaks in between each sip but doesn't seem to be bothered by the alcohol, still silently studying the room and inspecting every individual until—

—he sees you.

his eyes widen a fraction before he catches himself, straightens up, and walks towards you with a confidence that you hadn't expected. he sits next to you and continues sipping from his cup, lmost as though you didn't exist. you get up to leave but his voice startles you.

"where are you going?"

akutagawa had a low, melodious tone when he spoke, something you had never noticed before since he rarely talked to you. you were strangely flustered by the sudden attention on you...you didn't even know that he knew who you were.

"home...it's getting quite late."

he nods, "i'll walk you back."

it was not an offer or a question—this was an implicit order. silently you wonder if he was sober enough too walk around and make his way back later. still, you didn't want to annoy akutagawa, more so when he was drunk and unpredictable. surprisingly, he doesn't seem to stumble around his way or need you to guide the way, seemingly knowing exactly where to go and which floor your apartment was.

would it be rude to not invite him in? he waits outside as you open the door and shuffle in, but before you can ask him to come in, he goes in for a hug. you're frozen still as he sighs in your warmth, then lets go almost as quickly as he latched on, as though he never did anything in the first place. as you watch him walk down the hallway, you wonder just what else he's been hiding.

fyodor is...not really much of a drinker, from your own observations. still, he's not exactly opposed to a few drinks every once in a while, and today, since the sky casino was throwing a party, you supposed he couldn't skip the occassion. he's always had this alluring yet uneasy presence, like something about that sweet smile and the amused glint in his eyes just felt off, but drunk fyodor is...almost irresistable.

you know what he can do and you've witnessed how dangerous he is, but somehow he looks far too approachable now. a soft little smile, nothing like the ones he uses to disarm and charm people, humming under his breath—it was impossible to look away from him.

as nikolai leaves his side, fyodor's eyes scan the room lazily, before they find you. his smile grows a little, and he raises one hand up. a silent request. before you can even think about it, you find yourself making your way over to him, unsure if the slight buzz in your system was from the alcohol or the sensation of him asking for you.

he gestures over to the now empty chair beside him, watching you closely with a sleepy smile.

"enjoying the party?" you nod eagerly, watching as he chuckles and reaches out for your hand, twisting the rings around your fingers. he inspects each one, still humming, before bringing your hand to his lips and placing a kiss on it. you were not expecting any of the affectionate gestures, but you would be lying if you said it didn't feel nice, someone aa attractive and as important as fyodor having only eyes for you.

"you look very nice," he says, eyes inspecting every inch of you in a manner thar should have been alarming but in that moment, it was just nice to be complimented.

you sit like that with him for a while more, him mumbling things in russian under his breath every so often, squeezing your palm and stopping to compliment you ever so often. once, he reached up to touch your hair, apologizing right after for messing up your hairstyle. like that mattered when you were on cloud nine.

an acquaintance of yours calls you over, but fyodor's grip tightens around you, and he frowns for the first time that evening. he croons at you, letting a pet name slip that has you absolutely endeared, asking very softly for you to stay a little longer. he whispers that he likes your presence. the other person is hence ignored.

he asks, again, if you could help him up to nikolai, and his voice, while you know it's not meant to be that way, sounds almost seductive. you have to shake off your thoughts before helping him wobble over to the clown, who was happily entertaining some guests. fyodor smiles at you one laat time that night.

the next day, while you're sure he would not remember the night before, he pauses his steps when he sees you in the hallway, inspects you with those devouring eyes, and smiles, telling you to have a good day.

[theflyindutchwoman]

Just a preemptive apology for spewing this all in your inbox lol 😅

I agree that this felt like the beginning of the larger conversation about uc. I feel like a lot of this storyline requires patience and that's why some people arent the biggest fans of it lol. It took this long just for Tim to get out of denial about his feelings. It's a pretty big issue so I feel like it would be unsatisfying and boring if all it took was one scene and one conversation to fix it.

Plus from Lucy's perspective, uc is something she's been working towards since she was a rookie (except for in season 4 cause I think the writers forgot lol). So I can imagine it would take a lot for her to drop it completely. Especially with her story before the show being her trying to find a career, it would make sense she would cling to something she likes and is good at. I mean she can still be a detective but detective and uc are probably so intertwined in her mind at this point.

I don't know I just don't think the whole thing is as cut and dry as some people think. I'm excited to see where they go with it in the rest of this season. Especially with all the bts pictures we've gotten and how they may fit into this 👀

To be fair, there's patience and there's "waiting for 3 seasons for this storyline to move forward", if you know what I mean ;) Jokes aside, I feel like I'm one of the few who actually enjoy this arc so, in my case, I'm really glad that we are finally digging into this. It has felt stagnant for quite some time, and for good reasons.

Like you said, it apparently has taken this long for Tim to realise how much in denial he has been… And my guess is, he's not the only one here. I appreciate that this is used as a way by the writers to explain why this conversation has been postponed for so long : after all, Lucy has never made a secret that this was the career she wanted and Tim has encouraged her all along (minus the hiccups at the beginning). He knew that when he said they were worth the risk. So they needed to come up with a valid reason as to why it would be a problem. One that wouldn't invalidate Tim's feelings or decision. And now that this is out in the open, we can hopefully focus on Lucy's side of the story. On whether she is in denial too. On her fears - because I refuse to believe she doesn't have any. I do believe that she loves undercover. But like she admitted herself, she has only done short ops. Ops that sometimes went wrong but without any lasting consequences. So while she probably missed her friends and all during those missions, it's entirely different from missing out on a whole year. I'm not sure she has allowed herself to be entirely honest with herself on the subject.

And that's another thing. Her life has changed quite a lot since she decided to pursue an undercover career. Back then, she was pretty much on her own. But now, she has a family. And she lost her closest friend. Things that tend to make you think differently. I don't mean that she can't have the career that she wants, just that these types of events usually makes one reconsider their plans. In a way, this dream of being a UC has been her constant through all of this. And as someone who struggled for close to a decade to find her dream job, I can understand why she doesn't really question it. Not to mention that time and time again, we have seen how Lucy needs to talk things out in order to process them… And she hasn't been able to do that here. Like when she was offered the spot at the UC Academy. She went to see Nyla but it didn't do much. She needed Tim but with all the baggage between them at the time, she barely got to open up about her feelings. He is her sounding board but in this situation, it makes things more complicated. Her feelings for UC and for Tim are so intertwined that she doesn't know how to unravel this whole web. It is so convoluted together. She always shows some concerns about how it will affect their relationship. But not how it will affect HER. Like in 5.20 when she brushed away Tim's question. That's why I like that Tim's feelings might be out of the way first, so we can dig deeper into Lucy's. She has been so focused on Tim that she has neglected herself in the process. And that's also why I loved Chastity's comment. Because it was thrown casually by someone who is on the outside, and far more objective than the team could ever be. And hopefully, this is what starts an introspection from Lucy.

I don't think the writers necessarily forgot about her wanting to do undercover in s4 : she was at the beginning of her P2 career so it made sense for her to focus on that first. But she was still behind two UC ops. The second one being the catalyst for both her relationship with Tim and her career in UC moving forward. It's also no coincidence that Tim has always been involved in her UC ops. Either on the lookout (3.06 and 5.07), as her case officer (5.21), as the one going undercover under her supervision (4.07 and 4.22) or with her (5.01). The only time he wasn't involved from the get-go was during her first solo op (3.14) and even then, he managed to convince Nyla to keep him in the loop. It gave them a sense of safety. So it would be good to see an undercover mission where they can't keep in touch at all. And IF he is really going undercover for a couple of episodes as we have speculated, it would be interesting to see how it would affect them both to be on the other side of the equation. It would offer them a perspective of what the other would go through. That said, I still hope Lucy get to experience herself what it's like to do a long-ish op before making any decision. This has been her storyline above all. But in any case, I can't wait to see where this is going. (And I'm sorry, I feel like I went off on a tangent here and hijacked your reply lol).

[jmdbjk]

I am going to be honest here.

There has been a lot of ... conflict ... on the blogs these last few days.

Like most, when I saw the notif for the live, I turned it on and saw Tae.. at JK's... and dread filled me. Then Hobi was visible and that dread dissipated instantly. I watched the chaos and then it was over in a blink. But the dread came back because I know what happens: the scum crawls out of their corners to start their idiocy. That's the foundation of this dread that creeps in. I'm mostly a positive person but I react with my whole self when I detect the stench of that sort of rot.

I am calling myself out for allowing a toxic segment of the fandom to influence how I feel toward interactions between certain members. It is not the behavior of the members of BTS that is influencing this negativity in me, it is the actions of people who aggressively bully others in order to diminish the bonds between members that does it ... I am aware that it is a weakness of mine. I am far from perfect and I need to work harder at combating that.

In like two minutes, JK came back and adorably (ADORABLY I SAY) folded his underwear and toe socks in front of us for another 12 minutes and then was gone. He had to pack for a trip, get a little rest and be up and running to the airport.

Still, after sleeping on it, I woke up irritated... ticked off... at Tae.

Not for the reasons that I see everyone blowing up over... I was ticked off because of Tae's irresponsibility... because was Hobi really ready to show us his haircut? Hobi, who knows what it all means to us? Hobi who had to say "this is what we all have to do." Hobi who had to come on IG and give us some pics of it after the fact?

I consoled myself with the thought that maybe he was ok with it and told Tae to go ahead ... maybe he thought this would be a good way to break it to us... who knows.

And I calmed down and am fine with it all after I saw the translations. Hobi is a grown man. He can handle it.

I was also concerned that, what if there were things laying around that were visible that maybe Jungkook didn't want us to see? LIKE HIS UNDERWEAR HAHAHAHA! Seriously though, I don't know what, just stuff that would cause him to have to explain... YOU KNOW HOW WE ARE! WE PICK APART EVERYTHING!

Right away there he was the doing the laundry... HIS UNDERWEAR HAHAHAHA! In his 12-minute follow-up live, he eventually said "why am I showing you this side of me? Maybe this isn't something you need to see..."

Anyway.

I am glad Tae and Hobi spent some time with Jungkook. It is still so refreshing to see them being candid and spontaneous and I love knowing they see each other. WE NEVER KNOW ANYTHING UNLESS THEY SHOW US/TELL US!

Tae looking up at Hobi so lovingly and hugging him gave me a sharp pang in my chest. Tae literally going "oops, gotta go, car is here" and poof, turns off the live, is such a normal slice-of-life moment.

JK just going about his business in his own space while his hyungs were there was also just a rare precious moment we NEVER get to see and I am thankful for it!

As for the things I've seen people saying...

If you want to bash me for not taking up sides, go ahead.

If you want to criticize me for not agreeing with your point of view, go ahead.

If you think I am being blind to a situation that YOU believe is happening, go ahead. I don't care.

Hating on one member is not going to diminish the hate another member receives because the hate is embedded in those bad actors BECAUSE THEY ARE LUNATICS WHO BELIEVE IN A FALLACY and adding more hate does not cancel it out. Think about that.

Army fandom is very segmented right now. It is understandable. We all have our faves and we individually move to the beat of that drum.

But do not frame EVERYTHING that happens between specific members to be about the relationship of said members. That is tunnel vision and not realistic whatsoever.

Jimin and Jungkook are the two that I pay closest attention to so I cannot speak on what makes Tae do the things he does. What we see is just a fraction of what goes on. What we see (or do not see) on social media does not prove anything.

I love BTS as a group and I love each individual member. They each have their own personalities and they all love and support each other.

Bottomline: I am on Team Bangtan, what team are you on?

We don't know everything.

[sevcasejay1chicago]

Can I get a Jay Halstead x reader where the reader was SA before she met Jay and Jay get in the mood and reader has a panic attack and finally calms down and tell Jay what happened to her

Undercover(s)- Jay Halstead

Mentions: Hailey Upton, Kim Burgess, Adam Reuzek, Kevin Atwater, O. A (FBI) and Maggie (FBI), Hank Voight

Warning ⚠️: mentions of rape, kidnapping, and panic attacks, PTSD (in a way).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You and Jay have been dating for a couple months now. You were the Special Agent in charge of the FBI task force that was assigned to help take down a known terrorist organization in Chicago. You knew you were in trouble when you first met Jay. The sight of him alone was enough to take your breath away, but the feelings only grew stronger the longer you both worked the task force together. Eight months later, the terrorist group that tried to destroy Chicago was taken down and you were finally approve for a permanent position as a detective with the Intelligence Unit in the CPD.

As a celebration of the end of the investigation and your transfer, all of the Intelligence Unit met at Molly’s. The patio had been pretty quiet until the group showed up, causing the other patrons to leave or go inside.

“So, what made you decide to leave the alphabet squad for Intelligence?” Adam asked, smiling goofily at you above his fifth beer in a little over an hour.

You softly rolled your eyes and leaned into Jay. “Kinda fell in love with the place.” You said, looking at Jay who was smiling down at you.

Hailey giggled. “More like fell in love with a certain detective.” Hailey teased before fake crying. “Yet it wasn’t me!”

Kim laughed and rubbed Hailey’s arm from across the table. “It’s alright Hails. She doesn’t love me either.” Kim fake comforted as everyone else laughed.

“Well, welcome to the family y/n/n (like specifically one Kevin would give). I promise these knuckle heads aren’t always like this.” Kevin said, clinking his beer with your glass.

“Thanks Kev. I really appreciate it.” You said, smiling sweetly at the giant teddy bear. “I’m honestly just glad Voight allowed this.”

“Welp. I think he fell in love with you too.” Jay said, causing everyone to laugh. “But I love you more.” Jay whispered into your ear.

“You’ve got him wrapped around your finger, that’s for sure.” Adam pointed out as everyone agreed.

“Wanna get out of here?” Jay whispered above the noise of your new found family.

“Absolutely.” You agreed, downing the rest of your drink as Jay finished off his second beer. “Well, that’s a wrap for us. I’m exhausted and I require this guy’s protection on my way home.” You joked, jabbing your thumb in Jay’s direction.

Hailey snorted, “Well, we all know you don’t need protection, but Jay does seem to keep trouble away from us and solely to him, so I guess that’s a good strategy.” Hailey joked, causing everyone else to burst out laughing.

“Ha ha. Very funny.” Jay deadpanned, helping you up and over the bench you, Jay, and Hailey were sharing.

“Good night everyone.” You said, waving as Jay led you out of the side gate and to his truck.

~~~~~~~Time Skip~~~~~~~~

The ride home was full of sexual tension to say the least. You shamelessly flirted the whole way to Jay’s apartment. You were feeling overly confident on the high of finishing a case and finally getting told you can stay with the man you’ve fallen for.

Once inside, you spent no time in taking off your jacket and shoes, pulling Jay with you as soon as he had the door locked. You haphazardly took your gun and shield off of your belt buckle as you both stumbled into Jay’s room, setting them on the nearest surface as you fumbled with each other’s belts.

Crashing onto the bed, Jay hovered over you and tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. “Are you sure your ready? I know you said you wanted to wait, and I’m all for this, but are you sure?” Jay asked, searching your eyes as he panted in an attempt to control himself.

You smiled and nodded, “Yeah. I’m sure.” You said, smiling up at Jay.

Jay nodded and leaned down, kissing you softly on the lips before continuing to undress you. Jay was slow, leaving room for you to stop when you wanted to. Once he got your pants off, he stopped when your breath quickened as he touched your underwear. “Hey. You still good?” Jay asked, leaning slightly away to give you some room.

You panted and clenched your eyes shut. “Yeah. Y-yeah. Just go on.” You muttered, nodding as you slightly shook under Jay’s grasp.

This is not how this was suppose to go. You were ready and he loves you. You trust him with your whole being. You want this. You can do this.

Jay watched you try to catch your breath, not daring to move another inch. This wasn’t the breathing of someone who was sexually aroused. You were scared. “Hey sweetheart. Open your eyes.” Jay whispered. “I need you to look at me. I won’t move until you look at me.” Jay said, trying his best to sound soothing and not intimidating.

You nodded and opened your eyes. Tears leaked from the corners as you made eye contact with Jay. He was smiling sweetly at you, being patient and loving as he waited for you to come back around to him.

“Hey you.” Jay smiled. “I’m gonna sit up now. I’m going to take the covers and cover you up. Okay?” Jay asked, making sure you nodded before he did just that. “Good job babe. I want you to get comfortable. Do you want a shirt?” Jay asked, watching as you shook under his blankets. You nodded and allowed Jay to pull one of his shirts over your head.

Once you were clothed, you realized that the shaking wasn’t from you being cold. You were having a full blown panic attack. “J-Jay.” You whimpered, reaching for the one person that made you feel safe.

“Sh Sh Sh. I’m here. I’m right here.” Jay cooed, sitting beside you and wrapping you tightly in his arms. “Breathe for me. Squeeze as hard as you need to, okay?” Jay said, turning his face into your hair as you laid on his chest with your arms wrapped around his torso. “Follow my breathing. You’re okay. We are okay. You are always safe with me. It’s alright.” Jay soothed, running a soothing hand up and down your back.

You nodded, taking a few moments to get yourself together as Jay held onto you and you held back just as tightly. You sobbed for a few moments, wetting Jay’s bare chest, but he just wanted you to be okay. Once you finally calmed down some, you leaned back to look at Jay. ”There’s something I need to tell you.” You sniffed, rubbing your eyes with the backs of your hands.

Jay nodded, leaning over to grab a tissue. He slowly wiped the smeared makeup off of your face before leaning back again. “You know, you don’t have to tell me if you aren’t ready. I can wait.” Jay reminded, tucking your hair behind your ears again.

You nodded and smiled slightly, looking down as Jay let you fiddle with his hands. “I know. It’s just. I just think you deserve to know.” You said as an explanation. “I, um, I was raped while undercover a couple years back.” You whispered, tears forming in your eyes again. “The guy. He, uh, he was suppose to be my backup. But, he was dirty and I, uh, I didn’t know. I got too close. He and a few others. They- they kidnapped me and beat me before they, you know, just before they were gonna kill me.” You stopped and shook your head. “Luckily, O.A., he and Maggie found me and saved me.” You sniffed, letting go of Jay’s hands as he reached up to wipe your face.

“Hey.” Jay whispered, pulling your chin up to meet his eyes. “I’ll wait. When your ready, we can try again, but don’t feel pressured. Okay? I’m so sorry sweet girl.” Jay said, pulling your face into his neck.

You sobbed and gripped onto Jay. Other than Maggie and O.A., the only other person you told was a counselor. You knew this would come up eventually, but you were scared. You felt like damaged goods.

“Sh Sh Sh. It’s alright.” Jay whispered. “It wasn’t your fault. You are so strong and so brave. You are not damaged goods. You hear me?” Jay said, kissing the top of your head. When you giggled, Jay was a little shocked and very confused. “Have you officially lost it?” Jay joked.

You shook your head and sat up. “I swear you’re a mind reader Halstead. I always thought that assignment left me as damaged goods and here you are telling me I’m not.” You smiled, kissing him before connecting your foreheads. “Mind reader.” You whispered, smiling as Jay’s face broke into a wide grin.

[lykaonimagines]

Come Home - Sherlock x Reader

Paring: Sherlock Holmes (BBC) x F!Reader

Word Count: 4,233

Description: Sherlock had sent Y/N away shortly after Mary’s death in hopes of protecting her... and preventing her from stopping him from doing what he felt he had to do to save John. Now that she’s back and has all the details, she’s not sure their relationship can survive it. 

Other Things: Hurt comfort. Angsty but there’s a happy ending. Timeline-wise The Final Problem doesn’t exist, this takes place shortly after the hug in The Lying Detective. Sherlock’s close enough to his mother to talk about feelings.

Warnings: Mentions prior drug use. Overall mentions/references the events of The Lying Detective and things Sherlock did in there (drug use, near overdose, setting himself up to be killed, etc). Breakup. Some swearing. 

Y/N’s fingers flex on the door as she takes a deep breath and finally pushes it open. Dragging the suitcase behind her, she carefully heads up the steps to the landing. Leaving the suitcase there, she clenches her fists tightly and turns to the open door of the flat she’s lived in for years. 

Taking a few steps into the room, she freezes as she finally sees Sherlock sitting in his usual chair. His eyes meet hers hopefully, but drop to the cup of tea in his hands as she feels a scowl pass across her face. 

Looking over his face, her throat tightens as each new detail hits her. Scruff. He never let his facial hair grow beyond when he’s been… so it’s definitely true then. A black eye, the blood vessels in the same eye burst. 

“Have you anything to say?” She asks after a few moments of silence.

“You’ve not brought your luggage in,” he states quietly, his gaze going toward the door briefly. 

“I’m not sure I’m staying,” she snaps.

“This is your home. Where would you go?”

“Is it Sherlock? Is it my home?” She asks as she crosses her arms. “Because my last memory of this place was you sending me away.”

A frown pulls at his lips, “I wasn’t kicking you out of our home, I needed to send you somewhere safe where you wouldn’t have to be involved. You still live here, and we’re still together.”

“I’m honestly not sure about either of those things anymore. You sent me away giving me no real explanation, then ignored my every attempt to contact you.”

“I was trying to protect you from-” he begins before being quickly cut off. 

“From you trying to kill yourself of drug overdose? Or was it the part where you baited a serial killer to murder you? One of those things?” She blinks at the hot tears crowding her eyes. “I’ve talked to John, I know what’s happened since I’ve been gone. So don’t even try to lie.“

“I… wasn’t going to lie to you,” he says softly, getting to his feet. 

“No! Don’t come near me!” She yells and backs further away from him. “You sent me away to follow the most idiotic plan you’ve ever come up with. Broke your promise to me about never touching that shit again. And I find out you were weeks at most from your body just shutting down due to it.”

“I had to-”

“No you didn’t! Maybe John just needed time? Maybe he needed more therapy. He agrees with me that he thinks the entire plan was insane. I’m glad you two have mended all that, and that he’s getting the help he needs and moving forward. But what if he hadn’t made it in time Sherlock? What if he didn’t go along with it? Then what? I was supposed to come home and find you dead of an overdose or get a call that you were killed while in the hospital?”

“There was very little chance he wouldn’t have come,” Sherlock insists trying to take a step closer as she takes another away. 

“You promised me!” She shouts as the tears finally drip down her cheeks. “No more drugs and no crazy life risking crap. You promised. I told you I couldn’t do this if you continued on like that. I asked you to tell me honestly if it was something you could do before I got too deep. Now here we are, you’ve broken both of them, lied to me, sent me away and ignored me for months, and I’m far too deep to just say it’s just some differences we can’t get past and just be friends. What the fuck am I supposed to do now?”

“I’ve hurt you,” he says slowly. 

“Excellent deduction, just figured that out did you?” She growls, turning her head away from him. 

“Please try to understand,” he takes another step toward her. 

“What is there to understand? You didn’t attempt to understand how I would have felt about any of this, why do I have to try to understand your view on it?”

Before he can give a response, she sticks her hand up to silence him. “I don’t even know why I came back here. Maybe I was hoping you’d try to fix this somehow. I should have just stayed where I was.”

Turning back toward the door, she steps out onto the landing and grabs her suitcase. Without turning back she shouts over her shoulder, “I’m done Sherlock. This is done.”

“I- your belongings?” Sherlock asks helplessly from the doorway. 

“John already said he’d box them up and send them to me when I get a new place. Goodbye,” she tugs the suitcase down the stairs as quickly as she can, pulling it out the doorway and slamming the door behind her. 

Tears streaming down her cheeks, she angrily stomps a few blocks away before sinking onto a bench defeated. 

Where could she even go for now? Nearly everyone she knows in the city is connected to her through Sherlock. John has a baby, and Sherlock will surely be going over there. 

Scrolling through her contacts, she pauses as she sees one in particular. Mummy Holmes as she’d put herself in there. His parents home… seems inappropriate but what choice does she have? He rarely visits them as is. He wouldn’t happen upon her there like he would at John’s. And she did always tell her she could come to her for help. 

Swallowing her pride, she taps the contact and holds it to her ear, gnawing at her bottom lip as it rings. 

“Y/N darling! It’s so good to hear from you!” The warm familiar voice greats her and eases the tension in her slightly. 

“Hello, how are you?” She asks weakly and sniffles, quickly wiping her nose with a tissue from her pocket. 

The line stays silent for a moment, “Y/N, are you alright?” 

“I… No. I’m not,” she says swallowing thickly. 

“What’s wrong? Do you need something?” Mrs. Holmes asks concernedly. 

“Sherlock and I broke up,” she admits, the words burning on her tongue. “And I understand completely if based on that information alone the answer is no, but I… I have nowhere to go and-”

“You can come here, there will be a train at 3 and we will pick you up from the station,” she says firmly. “Or I can phone Mycroft and have him send a car to you. You can absolutely stay here dear.” 

“I can take the train,” she responds softly, relief washing over her. “I don’t want to trouble your family more than I already am.” 

“I assure you that you aren’t troubling us at all,” Mrs. Holmes says quickly. “Now you get a move on and get to that train. I’ll have a nice warm dinner waiting for us when we get back. We’ll see you soon!”

Hanging the phone up, Y/N stands up and grasps her suitcase and heads toward the train station with a renewed sense of determination.

-

The first few weeks at the Holmes’ Estate go by relatively quickly. Mrs. Holmes doing her best to make Y/N comfortable, and eventually pulling the whole story from her about the breakup. 

Staying in Sherlock’s childhood room however wasn’t the easiest part of the whole ordeal. Being surrounded by all the little things that made him, well, him. Made even harder by the daily phone calls by the man himself. 

Just one call a day at exactly 8PM. Each time she would watch it ring, his contact photo enlarged on the screen seeming to taunt her. A simple photo of the two of them, him behind her with his chin on her shoulder and one of his relaxed genuine smiles. 

And at the end of the rings each time, he’d leave a voicemail. Sixteen voicemails sitting in the inbox staring back at her each time she unlocked her phone. She couldn’t bring herself to listen to them. 

Now the seventeenth voicemail popped up on her screen shortly after the contact picture disappears, the sinking feeling in her deepening. She needed to figure out something. What she’s going to do, where she’s going to go. She couldn’t stay at his parents’ home forever. 

Walking out into the family room, she freezes as Mrs. Holmes’ voice carries to her, “Sherlock, honey, slow down. What’s wrong?”

The woman in question looks up to see her, and gestures her over. 

Y/N looks away for a moment, then finally gives in and walks over to take a seat next to her on the couch. 

Mrs. Holmes quickly puts the call on speaker and sets it in between them. 

“Mummy I don’t know what to do anymore,” Sherlock’s voice comes from the device sounding defeated and clearly upset. “She won’t answer my calls, she hasn’t responded to my texts, I’ve no clue where she’s gone and Mycroft refuses to help.”

“Dear, she may just not want to speak to you. You can’t force her to talk if she doesn’t want to.”

The line stays silent for a moment before Y/N’s eyes widen at the sound of a sniffle. “I can’t give up. I know I’ve hurt her, I know I was wrong. I know this is all my fault. But I just… can’t. I don’t know what to say or do to fix it, but I want to. I need her. I need to try.”

“You can’t always fix it when you hurt someone Sherlock, there is only so much people can handle or will deal with,” she says gently. 

“I know,” he responds miserably. “I know I have probably ruined it. I don’t know how to accept that fact. Clearly I know it, but it won’t actually process as fact. Every time I think of it my brain goes frantic and tries to think of some way to stop it from being true.”

Y/N points toward the mute button on the phone quickly, making eye contact with Mrs. Holmes, “Darling give me one moment, your father just stepped in.” 

Tapping the mute she looks back up at Y/N expectantly. 

“Can… can you maybe invite him over here?” She asks hesitantly. 

“Are you sure?” She asks asks, seemingly searching Y/N’s eyes. “Once he knows you are here, he may keep coming by trying to talk.” 

Looking down at the couch, she grabs onto the fabric and takes a deep breath, “I love him… I don’t want to be apart from him. That’s one of the reasons I was so hurt. And that he seemed to not think he’d actually done anything wrong. But he sounds remorseful now… maybe…”

Mrs. Holmes reaches over and squeezes her hand tightly, “I’ll invite him, if you decide you can’t face him once he’s here you can just stay in the room until he leaves.”

Y/N nods firmly as watches as she unmutes the call, “Sherlock honey, come visit us in the morning tomorrow. It will do you some good to get out of that flat for a bit, and you know we always want to see you.”

“I… that may be a good idea,” he says slowly and shuffles on the other end of the phone.

“Why don’t you take the train at 8 and we’ll pick you up from the station?”

“Ok,” he agrees easily. “I will see you tomorrow then. Good night.” 

As she ends the call, Mrs. Holmes wraps an arm tight around Y/N’s shoulders and presses a kiss to her head. “Everything is going to be alright dear.” 

-

Fidgeting in front of the mirror, Y/N looks over her reflection for perhaps the hundredth time since she heard the car return to the house. 

Was she ready for this? The question burning in her mind as she went around in circles each time she glanced at the door. 

Placing her hand on the handle, she quietly twists it open and takes a step out into the hallway. His voice carries to her immediately, and she pushes herself toward the kitchen with all the determination she can manage. 

Leaning against the doorway, she looks him over as he talks to his parents with his back angled toward her. 

From his profile it’s obvious he still hasn’t shaved, his facial hair longer than when she last saw him. The black eye nearly gone, but his features sunken in. His hair un-styled and barely brushed hangs dully against his skin. And he appears to be wearing an old t-shirt and baggy jeans she wasn’t even aware he owned.

“Drink your tea before it goes cold,” his mother scolds as she gestures toward the cup in front of him and pushes a plate of biscuits across the table before briefly glancing up at Y/N with a reassuring smile. 

“Good morning Sherlock,” Y/N says after a moment, watching as his entire frame tenses then whips around to face her, a biscuit halfway in his mouth that tumbles out to the floor.

His eyes widen and he stumbles to his feet quickly, taking a step toward her cautiously before rapidly closing the distance between them and throwing his arms around her. Her cheek presses hard into his chest as his arms tighten around her shoulders and he buries his face in her hair.

Her own arms wrap around his waist and she rubs his back soothingly. His body trembles against hers, his breathing sounding labored against her ear.

“You’re here,” his states, his voice muffled from her hair. 

“I am,” she agrees, and tries to pull back to see his face. But his arms quickly tighten and pull her back in. 

“I don’t want to let go of you,” he admits softly. “I thought I would never see you again.” 

“That had been the initial plan.”

His breath catches in his throat and he makes a garbled sound before pulling her body completely flush to his own. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault, I know how badly I’ve ruined this.” 

“Do you?” She asks as she gently runs her fingertips along his spine. 

“I’ve lied to you, I’ve left you out, I sent you away, I broke my promises. I was using again, I didn’t consider what you would have felt if it went wrong. I didn’t even consider how you would feel with it working out. I just expected you to be fine with it even though I hurt you,” he says miserably, his breath warm against her head. “I’ve done everything wrong and I have no right to ask it of you, but I need you, please.” 

She runs her hand slowly up his back and neck until she reaches his hair, twirling her fingers in the curls she finds there and smiles slightly at the almost purr-like sound he makes at the contact. “I need you to look at me and say it.” 

His hold on her slowly loosens, letting his hands go to her shoulders as he takes a step back and her hands move down to his hips. 

His eyes meet hers, the redness and irritation from the tears he tries to quickly wipe away on his shirt is obvious but she doesn’t mention it. 

“I’m sorry, I have royally screwed up, I’m an idiot to have risked us without a thought,” he states as his grip on her shoulders tightens. “I could make promises again, but I know they mean little after what I’ve done. All I can say is I love you, and I need you in my life. I won’t push you away, I’m going to work on letting you in. I won’t use again, for anything. Recreational or case.”

“And?” She presses quietly. 

“And I won’t be as reckless with my life. It’s not just my own anymore. We built a life together and I have no right to carelessly put it at risk.”

Lifting her hand from his hip, she reaches up to cup his cheek. Smiling at him gently as he nuzzles into her palm, “I’ve missed you.” 

“I’ve missed you,” he says firmly, pulling her in closer once again. “Please come home.”

Reaching her other hand up, she grabs ahold of the fabric just below the collar of his shirt and yanks his face down closer to her. “I’ll come home,” she whispers against his lips before pressing them together. 

His lips press nearly bruisingly back, his lips moving in a quiet desperation on her own as his arms slip around her waist. As their lips part, a shuttered breath he lets out ghosts over her lips and his body slowly relaxes into her. 

“Perhaps you should both come have your tea and give yourselves a chance to relax into this?” Mrs. Holmes voice makes them jump as they remember their audience of two.

“Good point,” Y/N responds sheepishly, slowly pulling back from Sherlock. “I’ll just grab myself a cup.” 

Sherlock nods reluctantly, brushing against Y/N briefly as he walks back to his seat at the table. 

Heading to the table herself, she steps toward her usual chair before feeling a pair of arm wrap around her midsection and swiftly tug her back into Sherlock’s lap. “I could sit in my own seat you realize right?”

“Mm, a physical possibility yes,” he mumbles and grabs a biscuit from the tray and brings it to her lips. “However, until moments ago I still thought I’d never hold you again. Therefore for my own health and well-being, you should stay where you are.”

Taking a bite of the biscuit, she shrugs gently and leans back against his chest, “If it’s a matter of medical well-being then I suppose I must.” 

“Good,” he responds quietly as she looks up at his flushed cheeks. His eyes looking across the table at his mother’s warm gaze on them, his father’s arm across her shoulders with a similar smile. 

“I, for one, am very glad you two are working this out. You both seem so distressed apart,” Mrs. Holmes says as she reaches across the table to pat Sherlock’s hand. “And I certainly didn’t want to lose Y/N from the family.”

Sherlock nods in agreement, looking back down at Y/N briefly, “Is this where you’ve been this entire time?”

“Yes, I really didn’t know where to go. I feel safe here, and they graciously let me stay despite the situation. I was here while deciding what exactly I was going to do.”

“You can always come here dear,” Mr. Holmes says with a gentle smile. “You are part of the family, even if our son seemingly does everything to make you want to leave it.”

“Alright fair, I deserve that,” Sherlock responds with a physical cringe. “Where had you intended on going after here?” 

“I was talking with a friend out of the country, had put some thought into moving in with her. I have actually applied for jobs there already,” she says with a shrug.

“Offers you will turn down to return home I would presume?” He asks in an even tone, but his eyes betray a moment of panic. 

“I said I’d come home, I’ll come home,” she reassures him and presses a kiss to his cheek. 

“You’ve been in the guest room here?”

“I put her in your old room,” Mrs. Holmes says with a bit of a smug smile. “I may have hoped it would possibly… inspire a reconciliation.” 

“Sneaky,” Y/N laughs and reaches for her tea. “It did have me missing him even more. There’s something so inherently Sherlock about the room. Including rolling over in the middle of the night and stretching out, only to brush against a piece of paper with soil quality test results on it.” 

Sherlock stays quiet at that, his eyes gently searching her as she turns back to his parents and continues the conversation. 

Twenty minutes go by with his relative silence in their conversation before his head whips toward his parents, “Would it be alright if we stayed here for the day and night?”

“Of course,” his mother responds immediately. “We can have dinner all together tonight. I’ll even invite your brother. A nice family dinner would do us all some good.”

“If you must invite him,” Sherlock rolls his eyes but gives her a tight smile before adjusting his hold on Y/N.

Sweeping her up as he gets to his feet, he carries her bridal style from the room as he announces they’re going up to take a short rest. 

“And if I’m not tired?” She teases. 

“You are. You were up all night thinking about how this would go,” he answers. “You were nervous.”

Pushing his old bedroom door open with his shoulder, he walks through the door to set her on the bed and turns to shut the door behind them. 

He quickly sets to pulling his shoes off then gets on the bed to crawl around her to lay down and press his back flush with the wall, “Joining me?”

Laying back, she grabs the blankets and pulls them over the two of them, sliding in closer until his hand lays on her hip and guides her even closer. 

Plopping her head on the pillow beside his, her eyes start roaming over him once again, “Now then, where did this outfit come from? I’ve never seen you in this.” 

“Under the rest of my clothes. I… have mainly stayed in my bed clothes lately. I didn’t have the motivation for a suit today. I look rather awful don’t I?” He asks with a frown. 

“You look… very worn down at the moment,” she admits reaching out to run her thumb along the dark circle under one of his eyes. “You also still haven’t shaved.” 

“I haven’t used since the day in the morgue,” he says in response to her silent question. 

“You’ve just decided you like facial hair?” She asks with a raised brow, hand slipping down to run along the hair on his jaw.

“Hardly,” he rolls his eyes and leans into her touch. 

“What have you been doing the last seventeen days then?” 

“Staying in bed. In my mind palace. Going between trying to think of any way to change your mind and trying to accept that you were done with me. John came over a few times, forced me to eat, and packed your things. They’re sitting in boxes stacked against the wall. Started unpacking one of them one night, putting your clothes back in the drawer, convinced that if I just…” he trails off into silence and his eyes shut tightly. 

“Convinced that what?”

“That if I just put everything back, that I’d wake up and you’d be there. That you’d change your mind when you saw all your things still in place, realize you wanted to be at home with me. I put them all back after a day, to not cause further problems for John.”

“Well we can put it all back together this time, hopefully permanently back in place yeah?” She offers and lays her free hand on his chest. 

His eyes blink open as his own hand covers hers to move it to the left side of his chest, “If you go again, please just take it with you. I clearly can not handle it well, look at me Y/N.” 

“Something so darkly romantic from the one who always said sentiment was a defect on the losing side,” she teases lightly, pressing her forehead to his. 

“Mhm, still is,” he states, his eyes drifting down to her lips for a moment. “I’m an absolute mess riddled with sentiment for you. I’m losing that battle, and it’s far too late to correct it. I’m in too deep, and I’ll drown without you there. And frankly, I don’t give a damn as long as you stay with me until my time comes.” 

“And that time better be a long ways away, I’m agreeing to this under the condition I’m going to be waking up next to an old man Sherlock in thirty, forty years.”

A small smile spreads across his lips and he exhales deeply, “Just the fact you want that is enough for me.” 

“Lift your head would you?” He says, shifting his arm under her as she does, pulling her in until she rests her head on his shoulder. “More comfortable?” 

“Mmm,” she mumbles, leaning up to press a gentle kiss to his lips. “I’ve missed this.”

“Me too,” he admits, settling his chin on her head and cradling her with his other arm. “Get some sleep love.”

“You too,” she replies as she feels his hold on her tighten. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Will you?” He asks, clearing his throat roughly to cover up the crack in his voice. 

“I will. And if you’re serious about everything you’ve said, I’ll be there every time you wake up.”

“I will hold you to that,” he says softly, turning his head to bury his face in her hair. “I will see you in a few hours then, messy hair and all.”

A giggle erupts from her throat before she can stop it, and she snuggles in closer to his chest, “Messy hair and all then.”

----

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[elixrr]

HEIZOU X READER

DATE / WALK AT WATATSUMI ISLAND

IM FOAMING AT THE MOUTH MAN I NEED THI

Walk At Watatsumi Island,

ft. Heizou | GN!Reader

Moonlit skies illuminated your figure, the iridescent hues caught in the eyes of the stars to reflect onto you, casting away your shadowy silhouette, brightening your colors for the now breathless Heizou to see.

Where has the flirtatious detective gone? He's supposed to be right there, but...

Heizou's confident and flirty air began to waver at the sight of each sparkling star in the sky glimmer around you, like you were the true center of the universe.

You are the center of his universe, though.

He held his breath and stood silent for a while there, lost in the mesmerizing and romanticized thoughts about you that flooded his mind.

Your figure is so clean, so dignified in this lighting, and he simply couldn’t get enough—

“Oh, Heizou?” You killed the beautified silence with your voice and shattered all his fun fantasies with your smile. “You're right on time!”

His heart pounds, the rhythmic palpitation driving him nuts... Heizou remains forever stunned at how you, ravishing you, can steal all of his focus and drain him of all his confidence without a first thought.

Nevertheless, the detective coughs into his hand in recollection. He simply can't let you see him like this! Oh, so vulnerable he was for you.

“My, aren't you dazzling today, darling?” His shield, his cover to mask the ache in his heart that's screaming to squeeze the life out of you and spill just about a thousand other praises for you.

You cough, blushing just a little at the compliment, though you've grown used to his antics.

“Thanks.. But we should head off soon. The moon is out shining tonight, and I want to spend as much time with you beneath it before the clouds come back to cover it.”

Heizou smiles at your bashfulness,

“Alright then, let's head off, shall we?”

You smile back,

“Let's.”

You take the first careful step forward, your eyes and feet guiding your way and his way on this date.

“Let's check out thay waterfall first!”

You beam a smile at him, a smile that he's sure is brighter than the sunlight itself. He nods in agreement.

“Sure, honey pie.” He smiles back at your glowing self, taking your hand and leading you to the place you pointed at.

The night's breeze whirled and brushed against you and your lover as you both passed through, splashing each other playfully with the hyper streams of the waterfall.

It was like a child's whimsical dream, running and playing around the clearest, cleanest waters of Watatsumi, or perhaps the cleanest water in all of Inazuma. Playing around like there was nothing to care about in the world, playing around like the world only consisted of you two, and nothing would stand in the way of your fun—

of your love.

Drenched and tired from the giggles and splashes, you and Heizou took a short rest near a much smaller waterfall, slowly filling a pond to meet the lake next to it. Heizou guides you to one of the large, dry seashells that make up Watatsumi Island, sitting you down and breathing a sigh of relief and relaxation.

“That,” Heizou starts off, panting, “was awesome. That was the most fun I've had in a while! I'm glad to have taken the rest of the day off— especially for you.”

Heizou turns his head to look at you, only to see you smiling as your eyelids plea to close. You were tired, the day was long for the both of you, and he heard you mumble,

“Yeah, I agree...” You yawned and slowly turned to look at him.

Now it was your turn to be amazed.

The soft blue glow of the waterfalls beamed against Heizou's back, blessing his figure with an opalescent glow, darkening slightly when his shadow faced towards you.

The way his hair was drenched, dripping onto his clothes and the area close to him; the way the water droplets rolled down from his forehead, from his cheeks, from his everywhere— everything spoke of beauty, and nothing more.

Then, noticing your fixated gaze, he smiled at you— a smile so soft and genuine, further illuminated and beautified by the glow of the moon and atmosphere.

You fully processed how you were so in love.

You smiled back and sighed, your back falling towards any surface behind you, but your back touched nothing but the grassy fields behind you.

“Heizou?” You spoke, further catching all of his attention, “Can I, uhm.. Lay my head? On your shoulder?”

The moment you asked that question, Heizou never thought he could answer so fast in his life. But the realization didn't hit him too hard, not when he felt your hair brush against his neck, and the weight of your head shift onto his shoulder, scooting ever closer until you found a comfortable position.

He gasped slightly when you spoke up again.

“Thank you, darling.” You barely whispered, and you began to nod off.

The darling doubts that he'll be able to calm his palpitation for the rest of the week.

[ellethespaceunicorn]

Bright Like The Moon: Chapter 4

Chapter 4: We Showed The World That We Exist

Rating: Explicit, 18+, Minors - DNI

Fandom: Night Hunter

Pairing: Walter Marshall x Black!OFC 

Word count: 5.1K

Summary: Kamaria Mansfield is hired at the Minnesota Police Department as an intern. Detective Walter Marshall is overworked and unsatisfied. Takes place post-film.

Chapter Summary: Kamaria and Walter play hooky to deal with unforeseen stressors.

Chapter warnings: panic attack (dissociation episode), oral sex (f receiving), finger fucking, therapy session, squirting 

A/N: Time jumps in this chapter. We’re only skipping a couple of days but it may be a little jarring. But Yada is back!! Un-beta’d, we die like people who tried their best.

Dividers: @firefly-graphics

Support/Reblog banner by me

Cover Art by me

Cross-posted on AO3

Series Masterlist

My Masterlist

Kamaria’s POV

Word has spread like wildfire around the office about me and Walter dating. It didn’t take long at all for news that the grumpy bear of a detective and the new intern are fucking. We actually aren’t even doing that, yet. It’s only been a few days but the rumor mill in the police station is like a damn high school hallway. And I have Nina and Sophie to thank for that.

I swear, no one listens to interns. Like, ever. Unless it is about gossip. And I made friends with the loudest, and the actual kindest, gossipmongers. I know they mean well, they’ve made it clear they are glad that Walter smiles more. I like being the cause of his change of mood, as well.

With everyone aware of our relationship, things are kind of weird. Like, weird around the ex, kind of weird. 

It’s not like Rachel and Walter were super friendly after they decided not to date. Sometimes, and I would never tell Walter this, I feel like he felt for Rachel because she saved his life. A case of transference, perhaps?

But, they at least seemed cordial towards each other. Rachel felt enough of a connection to reach for his hand, the thought still burns in my mind. But Walter and I did have our first kiss after that, so grain of salt, ya know?

Rachel just seems like someone pissed in her oatmeal every time she walks by me. She couldn’t possibly be jealous of me. I don’t get her, honestly. Is it an “if she can’t have him, no one can” thing? Because I wouldn’t have thought she would go for pettiness. Never underestimate a woman on a mission, though. 

Walter and I agree to get to work a bit early so we could hang out in his office until I have to start work. The man may be seen as prickly by most people in the office, but it is like night and day when it comes to me. He can be so thoughtful, and so in tune with my emotions that it can be like he’s reading my mind. Which is both cute and slightly annoying, because I can never hide what I’m feeling. 

Like this morning, for example. My mind has been racing. So many things to think about, from my work to Walter to Rachel to my anxiety about dating openly in the office to what I’m going to choose to talk about in therapy today. And I can’t seem to make it stop or slow down. Which is when I feel a hand on mine. 

I look up to see Walter crouching next to the chair I’m sitting in. I don’t remember sitting down. I barely remember walking into this office.

“There she is,” he says, brushing a hand over my confused brow, “you had me so worried back there.” I notice the fear in his eyes now.

“Sometimes, my anxiety takes over and I just check out,” I mutter, looking around the office, “I remember getting out of my car and kissing you and then nothing until just now.”

“Does this happen a lot?” I hear the tremble in his voice but I don’t mention it.

“Hasn’t happened in months. I can usually sense it before other people can, though. Sort of like a panic attack, but not really because I don’t panic, I just…move? It’s hard to explain,” I ramble on, trying to get my bearings.

“It sounds like your brain is working on autopilot due to stress. I’m no therapist, but I’ve seen how stress can affect people in different ways,” he suggests, holding my hand in his, “I hope I’m not overstepping here, but a new relationship becoming public can be quite stressful. Especially when it’s in a work setting where one person’s ex is also a coworker. It’s no wonder you’re feeling like this.”

“Well, when you put it like that, I can’t deny that it is a lot,” I concede, feeling all sorts of vulnerable.

“You have therapy today around 1, right?” he asks before I nod to confirm, “And where is your therapist’s office?”

“Well, I was going to do it virtually today. But she’s close-ish. Between here and my apartment,” I answer, wondering where this is going.

“I have a suggestion, which you are more than welcome to decline. But, in my head, it sounds like a good id-”

“Baby, you’re babbling,” I laugh, stopping his rant.

“I think you should ask to see your therapist in person. We can take the rest of the day off and I could drive you to the appointment if you’d like,” he urges, “Besides, it’s the weekend. They won’t mind if we skip out a bit early.”

“Skip out early? I didn’t even clock in yet,” I remind him, still thinking about work instead of my mental health. Very typical of me.

“Perfect, then. I still have personal time to use, and you told me you were given some personal time when you signed on, so that covers today. We’ll let your manager know you’re not feeling well on the way out,” he says, moving about his office and collecting his things before realizing I’m yet unmoving, “Fuck! Did I just plan your entire day?”

I smile up at him, adoration in my eyes. “You did, but with the best of intentions,” I comment, standing up from the chair, “You’re right, though. I kinda need the routine of going into the office today and I could use a day off even if it’s only my first week.”

“Look at you, already smiling. I count that as a win,” he hums, reaching for my hand, squeezing as our fingers interlace.

We head out of the station after a short talk with my boss. Tell a man you’re having ‘feminine trouble’ and he all but shoos you out of the building. Thank God for small favors.

Walter heads home after insisting I go home to change clothes and grab whatever I needed to feel comfortable for the rest of the day at his place. Arriving home, I immediately start to pack my overnight bag. I choose to ignore the nagging voice questioning my actions. I might want to stay over or change clothes again for some reason. So, take that, Nag-atha Christie!

I call my therapist’s office and request to come into the office today. I say that my schedule has changed and I would prefer to be seen in the office. The receptionist is super sweet and lets me know she will inform Yada of the change. I hope Yada doesn’t worry. I mean, I’m slightly worried about my little episode earlier but I feel at least a bit better now.

I change into some yoga pants, a loose-fitting top, a hoodie, and some comfy old sneakers. I spot Beary Allen sitting atop my bed and resign to bringing him over to Walter’s house as well. I usually can’t sleep without him so I don’t chastise myself too much for bringing along something for comfort. 

I check my overnight bag to make sure I have everything I need, and some stuff I don’t need but I want to have just in case. And if I reach into my nightstand and grab condoms, then that is my business until it is Walter and I’s business. Not that I plan on doing anything, but I like being prepared for multiple eventualities. In any case, I refuse to let myself feel anything but poised for success. I also refuse to define success, so there’s the end of that.

I hear Walter’s text tone going off in my pocket and pull out my phone.

Walter Marshall: Didn’t change your mind did you, Princess?

Me: Of course not!

Me: I was just making sure I have everything

Me: Including Beary Allen

Me: 😁

Walter Marshall: The…Flash? But like, a bear?

Me: I love that you get exactly what I meant

Me: And you haven’t even met Beary

Walter Marshall: I was right???

Me: You’ll meet him soon

Me: He’s my emotional support animal

Me: I’m leaving now to come to you

You have shared your location.

Me: Now, you can tell where I am at all times

Me: Just as a safety thing

Walter Marshall: Wow ok

Walter Marshall: Thank you for trusting me with this

Me: You’re welcome

Me: Try to act like you didn’t follow my location the entire time I was on my way to your place 😉

Walter Marshall: No promises

I’m already back in my car by the time his text comes through, I know he’s gonna follow me the whole way to his house. It’s honestly adorable. I can tell he misses me when I’m not around. He likes me, and I like him too. It doesn’t take me long to get to his house and he’s standing outside when I park in the driveway.

“You failed to play it cool, Detective,” I laugh, grabbing my overnight bag and Beary from the passenger seat before exiting my car.

“I never promised to play it cool,” he smiles, reaching out to take my overnight bag from me, “Hmm, planning on staying a bit?” 

“I figured it would be best to be prepared,” I propose, clutching onto Beary, secretly glad that Walter didn’t offer to take him as well. No one has ever touched Beary besides me.

“May I address Mr. Allen directly? Or does he only speak with you?” he poses the question completely seriously.

It takes every ounce of my resolve not to melt. “You may address him directly.”

“Mr. Allen, may I call you Beary?” he waits for a response, “I just want you to know I plan on taking care of Kam during her stay here, however long that may be…Yes, of course…I wouldn’t dream of it. So we have an understanding. Shake on it?” He reaches out and shakes Beary’s tiny paw, winking at me as he pulls his hand back. If he’s not careful, I will fall so fucking hard for this man.

Walter takes my hand, kisses it gently, and brings me inside. I start to lean down to remove my shoes, but he stops me and kneels to do it himself.

“You don’t have to-” I start, before being cut off.

“I know I don’t have to, Princess,” he agrees, placing my shoes next to his, “but I want to take care of you today, so allow me to do so, please?”

I open my mouth to protest, but a stern look from Walter makes me rethink that choice and only nod.

“Good girl,” he praises, standing up to hover over me, “I know it must be hard to let someone take care of you, but since I’ve taken on that role, I plan on not having you lift a finger if I can help it. Sorry, not sorry.”

“That’s some Prince Charming shit right there,” I blurt out, there goes my filter flying away in the wind again. Luckily, Walter just laughs at that and kisses my forehead. 

We end up hanging out around his house for a few hours, having far too many snacks and too much coffee. What can I say, we’re both caffeine addicts and snack goblins. The only reason I ignore the voice telling me I’ve had enough snacks is the fact that Walter is hand-feeding me pieces of fruit. He was not kidding about me not lifting a finger. I could get used to this.

Before long, Walter is helping me put my shoes on so that we can head to my therapist appointment. He opens his truck door for me and even buckles me in, shooing my hands away. Holding my hand as he drives, he allows me to pick the music we listen to. When I joke ‘but I thought the driver picks the music and shotgun shuts his cakehole’, he has no clue what I’m talking about. I explain it away as a tv show reference, making sure to force him to watch Supernatural with me at some point.

As The Amazing Devil’s ‘Two Minutes’ is ending, we are pulling up to Yada’s office. I don’t even try to reach for my door handle, waiting for Walter to come around to my side of the vehicle. He lifts me out of the truck and I try not to smile too wide at that. Holding my hand as we cross the parking lot, he steps in front of me to open the door, allowing me to walk in first. I check in with the receptionist and we sit in the lobby holding hands again. This man likes to hold my hand, and I am not complaining about it.

I hear Yada’s office door open and she steps out to greet me. She visibly registers my hand intertwined with the man to my left. I stand, pulling Walter up with me by accident. 

“Don’t worry, he’s gonna wait out here. Let’s go,” I sputter, moving past Yada and into the office. I notice Yada isn’t following me when I sit down. I hear introductions being exchanged and silently die inside. Why does it feel like my mom is meeting my boyfriend? Wait, is he my boyfriend? Oh my God, is he my boyfriend?

Yada comes back into the room and sits in her armchair, grabbing her notebook and writing quickly in it before addressing me. “So, let’s address the elephant in the room, or should I say the giraffe in my lobby. That man is tall as hell. And very pretty,” she jabbers on, smiling away at me, “Tell me all about him.”

I go on to tell her we met, or more correctly he saved my life, just before my last therapy appointment. I mention Faye and that we haven’t met yet. I talk about being in almost constant communication since I gave him my number on Monday. We discuss how he likes to take care of me, and that he did so after I told him about the whole Christopher thing. During this, she is taking notes in her book. When I bring up my episode this morning, she looks up at me.

“So, it sounds like Walter was able to ground you during a moment of dissociation. About how long did it last?” she asks.

“For just a few minutes. I remember getting out of my car, but from walking into the station to Walter effectively ‘waking me up’...it’s just like I was watching myself move but I wasn’t totally in control.” I murmur, finding my favorite spot on the rug.

“I see, can you remember this ever happening before?”

“The last time it happened was maybe five or six months ago after I had to quit the job at the prison infirmary. It was just too stressful. And I guess I have been kinda stressed the past couple of days. Everybody at work knows Walter and I are dating thanks to a couple of friends I made. Nina and Sophie are sweet but they have loose lips.”

“Either way, I am glad you made friends,” she smiles, taking a note, “Are there any other stressors besides a new public relationship?” 

“His ex works at the station too. She’s been kinda giving me the stink eye when we pass each other. She hasn’t said or done anything. But like, she obviously still feels something for him,” I admit, rolling my eyes, “But if that chicken thinks she’s getting anywhere near my coop, she has got another thing coming.”

“Calm down, we don’t need you to be unprofessional in the workplace, no matter how she acts toward you,” she reasons, even though I only half-listen, “Does Walter know about Rachel’s behavior?”

“No, because I don’t want to sound like I’m crazy. I feel crazy. She probably just has resting bitch face?” 

“I think you should tell him about the looks she has been giving you. Get his opinion on it before you discount your feelings completely. He might be able to shed some light on her behavior, or even better, he may be able to speak with her on terms she can understand. And that don’t involve you clubbing her like a seal and hiding the body behind the police station. But you didn’t hear that from me. That’s off the record, Your Honor.” she muses, winking at me before taking notes.

I agree to talk to Walter about Rachel and we decide this will be my homework for this week. Not difficult, but still awkward to start speaking about. I mean, how do you tell your significant other that their ex is problematic without seeming territorial or threatened? Rachel doesn’t strike me as the type to try and come in between Walter and me, but I will be keeping my eyes peeled.

“So are you and Walter using protection?” Out of nowhere, Yada hits me with that question.

“Yada! We haven’t even done anything yet? Jesus, woman,” I cover my face, happy again that my espresso skin doesn’t show the heat behind my cheeks.

“Yet being the optimal word. Got it. Well, use protection. You have every right to have sex and every right to protect yourself. So, don’t be coming round here saying ‘we got caught up in the moment’. Because so did Romeo and Juliet and look how that ended,” she deadpans, throwing her hands up.

“Did you just…never mind. We will use protection. When we get to that point. I’m in no rush and I can’t speak for him, but he at least respects my boundaries.”

“He sounds like a good egg. I like him already. He respects boundaries, he’s attractive, he’s got a stable income, and he liiiiiikes you,” she beams, rising from her armchair to go to her desk.

“I’m glad you approve because I like him and it just feels right with him. We connect so easily,” I say, noticing Yada is looking at me and shaking her head, “What now?”

“You are falling for him, girlfriend, don’t you see that?” she commented matter-of-factly. 

“Shut up, no I’m not,” I answer grumpily.

“Alright, but you are,” she states, tilting her head, “There is nothing wrong with that, by the way.”

“I know. I’m just afraid of moving too fast. That’s kind of my way of doing things, and I don’t hate it but I don’t necessarily like it much either.”

“Love it or hate it, it is a part of you. And you either have to learn to thrive despite it, or work toward changing the behavior. But you know this already, Kamaria.”

“You’re right about that, but I still like the option of just complaining about it,” I confess, shrugging my shoulders.

“Either way, it is your choice. You are still scheduled virtually for next week. You have your homework, as well. Anything else you wanna gab about before we end today’s session?”

“Nope,” I say, letting the ‘p’ make a pop sound.

“Well, then I will let you get back to your tall, dark, and handsome fella,” she smiles, getting up to walk me out. We exit her office and she smiles at Walter, addressing him directly. “She has homework and it involves you, so don’t let her forget.” How she gonna do me like that?!

“Thanks, Yada,” I groan.

Walter is enjoying this way too much because he decides it’s best to pat my shoulder while saying, “Don’t you worry, I won’t let her forget.” He just smiles when I give him a glare that rivals the fire of a thousand suns. He probably thinks it’s cute or something. He holds his arm out to let me exit before him and I’m happy for this because then he can’t see me cursing his very existence. I still let him open the door for me. I also let him open the truck door and buckle me in. By the time he gets into the vehicle, I’m reaching over to hold his hand.

“Done being mad at me, then?” he jokes, taking my hand and kissing the back of it.

“Feed me and we’ll see if I can’t be swayed,” I advise, winking at him.

We grab a quick late lunch and head back to his place. I take a nap for a couple of hours and am awoken by the hearty scent of tomato sauce. I’m pretty sure I fell asleep on the couch, but I’m waking up in a bedroom underneath a light blanket, Beary tucked into my side. Walter must have moved me in here so I wouldn’t be disturbed. He can be so sweet sometimes, I wonder how long he can keep this up.

I get up from the bed, leaving Beary behind and I walk out to the living room to see Walter hard at work in the kitchen. He doesn’t notice me so I sneak up behind him and goose him. He doesn’t react, as if he knew I was coming.

“What makes you think I didn’t hear you from the moment you opened my bedroom door?” he began, only turning slightly to wink at me before returning to slicing french bread for garlic toast, “I used to be S.W.A.T., Princess, so it takes a lot to get the jump on me.”

“So, you’re say-” 

“That is not an invitation for you to experiment on how to get the upper hand, love,” he stops me before I go down that useless train of thought.

“You got me, I’ll be on my best behavior, Sir,” I laugh, pulling myself up to sit on the counter near him.

“Would you like a piece of bread with some tomato sauce on it, Princess?”

“Yes, please,” I pipe up, excited to taste the aromatic sauce. I watch as he grabs a piece of bread, dipping it into the sauce before blowing on it a bit. He turns off the stove and comes to stand in front of me, placing the bite just out of reach. I look at him, confusion painted on my face.

“Tell me what your homework is and you can have your treat, Princess.”

I debate pouting but I know that won’t get me that saucy bread. “I have to talk to you about Rachel. She’s been weird around me, and it makes me uneasy,” I mumble, suddenly anxious.

“What exactly is she saying or doing?” he asks, allowing me to take a bite of the bread, still holding onto it himself.

“She hasn’t said anything to me, she just gives me this bitchy glare whenever we cross paths,” I speak around the bite of bread I was granted, “Honestly, baby, she freaks me out and I don’t like the idea of having to avoid your ex.”

“You shouldn’t have to actively avoid her,” he holds the last bite of bread out for me and places it in my awaiting mouth, “I’ll talk to her. I don’t want to scare her too much. But I do want her to know you mean a lot to me and if I’m lucky, you’ll be in my life for a long time to come. She needs to suck it up and get used to it.” 

“Fuck, that is so sexy to hear you say,” I disclose, reaching up to cup the back of his head, pulling him into a searing kiss. 

I clench my thighs together as I feel his tongue invade my mouth. Strong hands part my legs so that he can slide in between them. Our clothed sexes line up perfectly and I wrap my legs around his hips. A growl rumbles from his chest to my groin. We part to catch our breath, our foreheads resting together.

“Fuck, will you let me eat your pussy, baby?” he practically moans the question and it lights a fire up under my ass.

“Please, yes,” I gasp, wrapping my arms around his neck before he picks me up off the counter and walks us into his bedroom. He lays me down slowly. Kissing from my lips to my neck, nipping along the way. I gasp inwardly when I feel his hand ghost over my covered heat, my back arching at the touch.

“I’m going to take such good care of you, baby. You just relax and take what you need from me,” he whispers, moving down the bed as he hooks his fingers in my pants. He pulls them down, leaving me in my drenched panties. He kisses the fabric of my underwear before pulling those down as well.

He dives into my sodden snatch, using the flat of his tongue to lick a stripe from my entrance to my swollen nub before kissing it. My hands go from gripping the sheets to weaving through his curls when I feel him start to suck on my button.

“Fuuuuuck, Daddy, just like that,” I mewl, his growl vibrating through my clit. I feel his hands grip my thick thighs, pulling me closer to him as he eats greedily. I look down at him, his eyes are closed and he looks like he is in Heaven feasting on me. As if he could sense my stare, his eyes open and we share a heated mutual gaze. 

While still attending to my nub, he reaches up to my mouth and I suck two of his fingers, getting them nice and wet. When he’s satisfied, he leans back and licks his lips, entering my core with his spit-slicked digits and I cry out at the sensation.

“You’re so fucking tight, hot, and wet baby. Fucking perfect, I can’t wait to feel you wrapped around my cock,” he hummed, working his fingers in and out of me slowly until I arch my back to ride his fingers.

I pull him up to kiss me, tasting myself on his lips. His fingers find my inner bundle of nerves, massaging it as his thumb circles my clit. My breathing picks up as I feel the coil in my depths tightening until it snaps and I squeeze my eyes shut in anticipation.

“No, no, no. Look at me when I make you cum,” our eyes lock and I arch off the bed as my orgasm hits me full force. But this one feels different, so much more powerful than ever before. “Fuuuuuuuck, yes! Squirt all over me,” I faintly hear Walter groan those words before I realize my thighs are wet and sloshing noises are bouncing off the walls. Walter looks back up to my face and his pupils are blown wide. “You look so beautiful like this. All fucked out, tears flowing freely.” Did he say tears?

I reach up to my cheeks and feel wetness staining them, my eyes are blurry with unshed moisture. Then the emotion behind it all attacks and I begin to cry fully. I know they are happy tears but I can’t verbalize that to Walter yet and he starts to panic. 

“S’ok…so good…emotional,” I mutter, trying to let him know I’m alright. He seems to understand and nods, going to the attached bathroom and coming back with two towels. I feel wet warmth between my thighs as he cleans me, then dries me off with the other towel. He lays down next to me and covers me with the comforter and I close my eyes in contentment.

He peppers my face with slow kisses, from my eyelids to my nose to my cheeks to my lips. When I open my eyes again, Walter is looking at me with a look that definitely spells out his feelings for me. Instead of putting words to it, we just lay and bask in its radiance. I struggle to keep my eyes open and finally keep them closed.

I feel a kiss placed on my forehead and stir while I hear Walter’s soothing voice in my ears. “You did so good, Angel. Rest as long as you need to, and I’ll be here when you wake up.”

I awake some time later, and true to his word, Walter is still laying next to me. His soft snores are like music to my ears. I lean up and nuzzle our noses together until he stirs and opens his eyes and smiles down at me.

“Hey, baby,” he gives me a quick peck, “How do you feel?”  

“Well…so far, I feel refreshed. But I haven’t tried to walk yet,” I laugh, “That will be the true test. And I need to pee anyway.” At that, I sit up and stretch my arms over my head. I swing my legs out of the bed and stand up slowly. I take my first step and it’s wobbly as hell.

Walter gets up and helps me to the bathroom, because of course he does. He stays in the bathroom with me to make sure I don’t tip off the toilet or slip into the bathtub. I mean, at this point, I squirted all over his hand so I’m sure he can handle me peeing while he’s in the room. He even jokes that he can’t believe I have any liquids left in me. I playfully swat at him and he only grins at me.

We end up having dinner shortly after, the pasta was spectacular and the garlic toast was perfect. The rest of the night is spent introducing Walter to Supernatural. He likes how funny it is, and I feel obligated to tell him that this is one of the saddest shows to ever grace television screens. Once I say that, he vows to still watch the show because it means so much to me. 

We lay down in his bed for the night, talking about what we want to do this weekend. I mention that it would be nice to do absolutely nothing and just be lazy bums all weekend and he approves. Our weekend is spent finishing the first season of Supernatural and me answering all of Walter’s questions about the show. He is so cute getting all invested in one of my faves. And if we take breaks for him to test how many times he can make me cum in a weekend, then that’s our business.

He won’t allow me to return the favor, however. He says that this is all a part of him taking care of me this weekend. I try not to feel undeserving of so much positive attention, but I’m still a work in progress. And that is just fine for now because he is good at making me forget why I was anxious in the first place. My sweet Walter better count his days, because I am going to rock his world when I finally get the chance.

Chapter 5

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i love edgelords <3 adachi tohru x fem reader (part 3) | [Part 1] [Part 2] im late but i finally did it >:D adachi gets clocked by girlboss; featuring: female rage

The formidable shadow burst into a million particles. A satisfied exhale escaped you as you lowered your smoking gun. The leftover rush from the fight was settling in your veins. That has to be the last one, right? Everything was leading up to the end, and you were determined to clear this dungeon. You were getting closer. The finale was drawing ever so near, and you could feel it in your bones.

Turning your head over your shoulder, your hair swayed in the faint breeze. Standing behind and beside you were the seven high schoolers (and bear) you were in charge of. “Are you guys alright?” 

Call it your maternal instincts kicking in, but you wanted to make sure the kids were prepared to keep going. Everyone needed to be at their best if you wanted to stand a chance at defeating Adachi. Losing wasn’t an option.

“Yeah, we’re good!” Chie replied. Honestly, she was pretty fired up. She could fight these shadows, and still be full of energy.

“Yes ma’am.” Kanji added politely. The others uttered similar notions.

Upon everyone’s confirmation, a smile formed on your lips. Glad to see you were all on the same page. “Okay, good. We’re almost to the end, aren’t we?”

Rise, the eyes and ears of the team, nodded. Since the way had been cleared up, her persona had an easier time detecting enemies. Adachi in particular. “Yeah. He should be down that way…!” She replied firmly. Teddy could sense it as well. All of you were almost to the final stage.

“Let’s go then.” You declared, and the leader of the investigation squad agreed. Stepping forward, Yu took charge and led the group.

Inside the winding nexus of concrete paths and caution tape, there was a singular path to the end. Just before your feet, there was a long stretch of path ahead. Taking a deep breath, you took off with the students.

This was it. You’d finally get the closure you had been waiting for.

As you kept up your brisk pace, Yukiko jogged alongside you. She turned her head to face you.

“Are you gonna be okay, Miss (Y/N)?” She held a look of concern. All of them knew that Adachi used to be an important person to you. To face him head on like this would be rough.

Upon hearing her worries, Rise, Chie, and Naoto slowed down to join in the conversation. It was horrible what Adachi did to you, betraying your trust like that. They couldn’t imagine what it was like for a person they liked to turn out to be a completely different person.

“...I’ll be fine.” You replied with a faint smile. To you, this was nothing.

Admittedly, it warmed your heart to see that the girls empathized with you. In fact, the days leading up to the dungeon were filled with talks from the girls. They were there for you in Adachi’s absence, and the reassurance was comforting. It was a reminder you weren’t alone in this endeavor. Your Ex’s reckless and twisted actions affected so many people. Soon to be many more. Whether you were prepared or not, you had to stop him at all costs. Everyone deserved justice.

A confident smirk formed on your lips. “I’m just ready to take him down already.” You joked.

The boys were in full agreement with that sentiment. Not only did they want to beat him up, but also for your honor and Nanako’s. “Hell yeah, we’ll kick his ass!” Kanji cheered, and Yosuke agreed.

The group was successfully hyped up now. The eight of you ran down the long narrow path littered with signs and caution tape. The red mist was vaguely hazy through your glasses. Off in the distance, you could see the end of the line. At the finish line was a figure standing there.

Upon spotting the edge, you picked up your speed. Closely behind, the others followed suit. Once you caught up to the figure, your movements skidded to a halt. All done in stilettos. It was impressive how well you moved in heels.

Adachi’s back was turned to your group. There was a brief pause, then he gradually turned around. As he did so, he offered your group a slow pity clap.

“Wow, I’m surprised you made it this far.” He observed. Though he said it to the group, it was mostly meant for you in particular. The drive you had to beat him was fascinating.

At the forefront of the investigation team, you crossed your arms. If he tried anything, you’d do your best to protect the kids. They took priority, as their personas were much stronger than yours. So you served as the support, and the first line of defense. 

“I’m surprised you can even see.” You retorted as you placed him under heavy scrutiny.

He raised a brow. “Huh? Of course I can see.” For a moment, his dark nature dropped due to his confusion. What kind of observation was that?

You tilted your head curiously. Raising your hand, you pinched the temple of your glasses and lowered them about an inch. Just to be sure. As you expected, the scenery before you was barely visible. A foggy, hazy mess. Without the lenses, it was hard to make him out. You skeptically narrowed your eyes and moved your specs back up. “Really…? Isn’t it foggy?”

The teenagers with you realized you had a point. Does Adachi not need glasses because he’s a shadow or something?

“Oh no, I can see you perfectly fine, (Y/N)...” Adachi shook his head with a chuckle. The fog was nothing to him. In fact, it was comforting more than anything. Smirking, a low rumble left his throat. “And man, you look as lovely as ever~”

Gross. Needless to say, his compliments had you grimacing in disgust. Any of his flirting attempts were like a mouthful of sand. Glaring, you held your hip. Everything he said got on your nerves now.

“Enough.” Naoto noticed your mild discomfort. “Allow me to confirm the crimes you’ve committed thus far.”

“You had suspicions that this world was dangerous, yet you threw Mayumi Yamano into the TV. Knowing full well that Ms. Yamano died here, you did the same to Saki Konishi. Not only that, but you duped Namatame into taking over your murder attempts, while you watched like a spectator at a game. When the disappeared stopped dying, you sent a warning letter to ensure more victims.”

Adachi sighed with disinterest.

“Even when a copycat killer arose, you had the gall as a detective to eliminate a suspect under investigation.” Naoto’s glare burned. “Two people died in the last six months, and a young girl is now in critical condition… but that’s not all.”

“If at any turn something had gone wrong, many more would have succumbed… all for some foolish ‘excitement,’ like a criminal reveling in the chaos he creates!”

Naoto put it better than you ever could.

“You’re disgusting, Adachi. To think you’d go as low as to convince me to turn my back on everyone. These kids have a better grasp on reality than you do.” You spoke up.

Yosuke and the others were surprised by what you revealed. Adachi tried to trick you into joining him?!  This guy was more than messed up.

Admittedly, Adachi was a little hurt by your words. “Oh come on, (Y/N). All I did was put people in here.” He retorted. His tone was normal and flat, as if he was a disinterested child being lectured. “It’s the world that really kills them, isn’t it?”

His gaze wandered over to the red sky. “This world reflects people’s thoughts… which… oh dear… does that mean the real culprits are everyone on the outside, including you?”

What backwards logic. “That may be fundamentally true, but who are you to lead them to the slaughter?” You glared at him. 

It’s true, not everyone was strong enough to face themselves. That doesn’t mean they deserve to be taken advantage of and killed.

“Face it for what it is. If you didn’t do what you did, Mayumi and Saki would still be alive.” Your targeted gaze was narrow and filled with contempt. It was his actions that damned them to the afterlife. “Why don’t you be a man and own up to your crimes, instead of making up excuses?”

“Yeah, to hell with that!” Yosuke barked. Like you said, it was a shitty excuse. “You did that stuff knowing full well those people were gonna die! If that’s not a crime, then what is!?”

Adachi snickered in response. “Haha… you’re so self-righteous.” He retorted smugly.

Chie was appalled by his words. For an officer of the law, his attitude was so out of place. “How can you say that…!? Aren’t you a police officer!?” She questioned. 

He was a detective, the same as (Y/N). While you became an officer to help people, here was this messed up guy in the same field hurting people. He was a walking contradiction. “Out of everything you could have been, didn’t you specifically choose to join the police!?”

“Don’t make me laugh. Just because someone joins the police doesn’t make them some kinda ‘agent of justice.’” Adachi scoffed in a disparaging tone. The credulous precedent made his skin crawl.

Upon hearing that, your fists involuntarily clenched. That crossed the line for you. You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. “What are you saying? That’s the whole point… that’s your job…!” You exclaimed. 

It both horrified and frustrated you to think he didn’t take his job seriously. Bad actors like him were an insult to your integrity as a detective. All of your talks with him of busting culprits, and helping people… it was all a lie. To think you thought he was being sincere when you opened up to him. Helping people and being a detective was part of your identity… so it was personal.

Why would he even bother?!

His eyes met your hardened ones. “Do you really wanna know why I applied, (Y/N)? So I could legally carry a gun… that’s all.” He replied, shrugging nonchalantly. “You’d be surprised how many are like that.”

Brows furrowing, your expression twisted to one of shock. “...You’re joking.” The corners of your lips turned downward. Just to own a gun…? Seriously? He’d compromise the principles of the police, just for a simple weapon?

“You wanted a gun?” Face stuck in disbelief, you stared at him in horror. It quickly changed to one of frustration. The notion was so absurd you had to reaffirm it. With one hand over your chest, your other swung your arm to the side. Though you originally wanted to remain calm when confronting Adachi, it was impossible. Rage was boiling inside you thanks to his absurdity. Growing more heated in the argument, your voice raised in volume. “Then move to the States! Their firearm laws are much more relaxed there…!”

While you agreed it was nice to carry a firearm, you didn’t understand his odd desperation for one. Going so far as to force an occupation just to get one. It didn’t make any sense. “There was no need to incriminate yourself and ruin the integrity of the police! Where’s your sense of honor?!” You argued.

While everyone bore some resentment for Adachi, they could tell your back and forth was much more heated. None of them had ever seen you this angry before. It was very personal between you two.

“Honor?” He tilted his head at you. A short, pitiful laugh escaped his lips. As much as he liked you, preachy garbage like that got on his nerves. “When you’re like me, you don’t get that sort of privilege.”

“Everything and everyone around me was boring. I was surrounded by idiots. Then one little mistake bought me scrutiny, and a ticket to Nowheresville. Why bother with honor or integrity when life is just a sham?”

You bit your tongue. Before all of this, you did think that compared to yourself, he was a lost man. What you didn’t know was the true extent.

“I was bored shitless and wondering what to do next… when I discovered this power.”

Kanji for one, agreed with you regarding honor. A piece of shit like Adachi didn’t deserve powers like the rest of you if he couldn’t even have a single shred of dignity. “For crying out loud… why a bastard like you!?”

“A gift for having to put up with this lame job out in Nowheresville, I guess.” Adachi said simply. His expression was plain again, the one you used to like. “I did that stuff ‘cause I could. And it got interesting, so I watched.”

“That’s your reason!? You can’t be serious…!” Yukiko scoffed. She couldn’t believe how apathetic the man was. It was horrifying to know this was the type of person they were supposed to trust with their safety. “You really don’t care what happens to our world!?”

“Let’s be honest. There’s nothing great about the real world, is there? It’s just dull and annoying as hell.” Adachi held a scowl. “No one accepts that’s the way things are… they’re just stuck with it because they can’t deny it, either.”

“Those who actually succeed in life… they just happen to be born with the magic ticket called ‘talent.’ If you don’t have it, you can either accept or deny that fact until you die. That’s your only choice.”

He averted his gaze. “Once you realize that, all you have left in life is despair. The ultimate game over. Wouldn’t it be better if that kind of reality was wiped away?”

“You don’t actually believe that crap, do you?” You couldn’t help but ask that rhetorical question. Hearing his defeatist rantings made you feel an ounce of pity for him.

As you spoke, you held your hand over your chest. Your eyes flickered with conviction. “Life can be unfair, but what makes it boring or exciting is up to you. Instead of giving up, you work and adapt for the things you want.”

Adachi went silent for a moment. Perhaps processing your words. Then he scoffed quietly.

“You’re so naive, (Y/N)... it kind of pisses me off.” He grinned at you. It appeared the advice went through one ear and out the other. “You don’t get what it’s like to be me. You’re pretty and you have talent. You have it easy, and you can have it much easier if you wanted to.”

It was impressive to him that you were a good detective. However, he wouldn’t have been surprised if you got advantages due to other factors. And even then, you could always be a trophy wife if you ever got tired of working. It wasn’t the same thing for him. He didn’t get those advantages.

“Shut the hell up.” You uttered with wide eyes. 

Instead of screaming or yelling, you were eerily calm. Though you didn’t shout, your voice was laced with burning anger. It was enough to give anyone chills.

He doesn’t get to say that. You spent years of painstaking labor to get to where you were at. Even more for people to start taking you seriously. In truth, you had to spend years in a similar situation to Naoto. In a job you loved, but one where you were held back, shunned, or mocked just for being a woman in a male dominated profession.

Being pretty or ‘talented’ wasn’t strictly a blessing. It can be a curse. Drawing the ire of people just because of how you look. Talent can mean nothing when your mere existence decided your worth. Getting advantages or disadvantages because of how you are perceived. All you wanted was to work hard and be acknowledged for your skill rather than your looks. Even now, you were close but not entirely there.

He knew that, and he had the gall to say you had it easy.

Naoto herself understood how you felt, and she was just as disgusted by his speculation.

“Just where the hell do you get off saying any of this, Adachi?” You spoke up.

“You think you know true adversity because… you were given a slap on the wrist, and kicked out of the city? Your life got a little too boring, and you’re too lazy to spice things up?”

“Instead of turning anything around… you sit there and cry about it?” You scoffed. The rage was boiling over. “Poor Adachi. Wow, I feel so sorry for you. You pathetic piece of garbage.”

“I mean it when I said life is dictated by how you live it. Your life is boring because of your own choices. Holding a pity party whilst doing nothing to improve it isn’t going to change anything.”

“You’re coping when you say ‘that’s how reality is.’ It isn’t. I’m sorry your life is terrible, but not everyone aspires to live the same way you do.”

“So please, don’t patronize to me about your shitty life experience when you’re not even trying.”

“Hell yeah, (Y/N)! Tell it like it is!” Kanji cheered you on. Him and the others had been silent, but they were enjoying hearing you dress down Adachi like this. He needed someone at his level to knock him down a peg.

It was inspiring to hear you talk. It made them fired up for the incoming battle.

“That’s why… this entire farce is pathetic. It’s cowardly to destroy the world and ruin things for everyone else because you want to be cynical. It’s selfish, and childish.” It was hard to believe this was the same man you fell for. Should you even be calling him a man at this point?

His plan to turn everyone into shadows was ludicrous. You stared at him, your gaze shimmering with conviction. “You’re far too close-minded to decide how the world will run.”

Perhaps in another life, your words would have reached him. If your paths had crossed sooner, he could’ve turned it all around. But it was too late. The damage had already been done. He was too far gone now to be reached. The harsh truth was threatening to shatter his ego.

“Shut up…. shut up, (Y/N)...!!!”

Adachi glanced down. A faint blue glow began to overtake his body.

“Be careful! I dunno what’s happening!” Teddy warned the group. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

The blue light continued emanating off his body like smoke. His eyes were glowing yellow. It was the same phenomena that occurred when the others encountered their shadow forms. A haunting realization came to you. Here, there wasn’t a second Adachi to contrast the first. 

Meaning they were one and the same.

“You all saw Shadows as mere monsters, didn’t you!? These things move on pure instinct! They go wild because you defy them!” Adachi’s voice was now distorted. “If you don’t want to be with me, but those annoying little brats… then so be it! You won’t be welcomed in the new world!”

“What new world? La la land?” You asked. A faint grin of amusement tugged on your lips. He was delusional if he thought you’d let him destroy the world and rebuild it in his image.

Adachi was at a loss. He couldn’t believe you were betraying him. The only person who brought him comfort was now against him. He was trapped in a corner.

It was all one big migraine. “Stop… stop trying to act tough, (Y/N)!” He lashed out at you. His composure was gradually getting worse. He was hunched over, as if in pain.

He held his temples, his entire body shaking. “You have no idea what kinda shit I’ve been through!!” He shouted.

“Get over yourself.” You sighed, adjusting your suit blazer. At this point, you’ve had it with him. “I dealt with a lot of injustice and nonsense. You don’t see me crying and scorching the Earth over it.”

Honestly, you didn’t mind being ruthless. It appeared Adachi had made up his mind about how he wanted to live. Therefore, all of the generous empathy you had for him was spent. You can’t help someone who doesn’t want to change.

Adachi yelled out in rage. His body dispersed into particles of shadow. Everyone else got into their fighting positions.

“Here he comes!” Rise warned. “This will probably be our last battle… let’s hit him with everything we’ve got!”

“The world is about to change…” Adachi’s body materialized from the shadows. He whipped out his gun. “Your existence won’t belong there!”

“I thought I could just leave you be, but you’re like a plague… I’ll have to get rid of all of you!”

“So be it.” You exhaled sharply. As you spoke, your vindictive gaze never left him. It was hard to believe this was your reality now. A nightmare made real. The man standing before you, the person you had to fight was your former lover. However, instead of shying away from the truth, you’d embrace it head on. “Let’s go guys…! I’m not letting us lose to the likes of him!”

“Right! Let’s work together! There’s no way we can lose to this bastard!” Yosuke and the others agreed. It was finally time to kick his ass for all the things he’s done.

Looking at the others, you nodded. Whether or not you still held feelings, you’d take him down all the same.

It was an exciting set of circumstances too. Beating your ex, to save the world? A faint chuckle escaped you at how poetic it was. “I’m going to enjoy this.” You smirked. With a snap of your fingers, your card shattered into a million pieces. A shimmering blue flame sparked behind you, and your persona materialized in its place. “Let’s dance, Adachi!”

Adachi hated how cocky you were getting. You didn’t stand a chance against him. He had to crush that semblance of hope. “Shut up…! Get lost! Get the hell outta my sight!!”

“Nope.” You mused. “Let’s go, Isolde…!” Upon channeling your persona, you summoned a protective barrier around the group.

The first strike to him was your Maragidyne. Adachi was hit with a large blast of fire. Not only did you make the first move, it showed your blazing resolve. It cemented the fact that you were serious about fighting him. There was no holding back in this battle.

The adrenaline rush you got from battle flowed through your veins. It was the perfect outlet for all the frustration you had at Adachi’s betrayal. The anger you had over opening up and giving him your heart, of which he took for granted. Also hitting him was just pretty satisfying.

The fight was long and arduous. As much as you hated him, Adachi was a formidable opponent. In order to defeat him, you had to give it your all. Each attack you made was powerful, with  smooth and fluid movements. It truly was a dance for the fate of the world.

The others jumped in with their own attacks. Each move weakened Adachi slowly but surely. His strikes were painful to endure, but you and Yukiko had spells to keep everyone at peak performance. You could keep this up forever, but could he?

It wasn’t before long, Adachi’s figure was starting to wane. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, his strength was dwindling. He was losing. His change in demeanor didn’t go unnoticed by you. In fact, it gave you a burst of energy. It was confirmation for you to keep going so you could finally end this once and for all.

A series of attacks followed your observation. Rise had pointed out Adachi’s state, and everyone in your group sent a fury of attacks. It was time to wrap this up.

It was only a few minutes longer into the fight that Adachi had grown weaker. Upon letting his guard down, there was a moment of weakness, and you took it. You sent the final blow. “Once more…!” A fire blast escaped your persona’s hands and hit the man.

That was it. He stumbled back before dropping to his knees. He was defeated. Adachi visibly grimaced, wincing as he held his shoulder.

“D-Damn… this is lame…” He grumbled as he grit his teeth. “Ngh… oh well…”

“Our world’s gonna disappear soon, no matter what… I didn’t have anywhere to go back to anyways… Everyone’s gonna become Shadows…” He chuckled before being met with a surge of pain.

To your dismay, beating Adachi didn’t completely solve everything. If only it had been that simple. It turned out he was a conduit for the true culprit behind the phenomena, Ameno-sagiri. It had been called upon due to the desire for mankind to live in ignorant bliss. Since they desired for the absence of truth, they would become shadows and live in the darkness of the fog.

You didn’t think you’d fight against a giant disco eyeball, but you did.

Upon its defeat, you opened Ameno-sagiri’s eye to the truth. You and the others showed the supernatural being the power of human potential. The fog was lifted over Inaba.

Once the being faded away, you approached Adachi, who was laying on the ground. You gently nudged the side of his arm with the tip of your stiletto. He’s still alive…

Adachi sighed as he stared at the sky. He was defeated. “So that’s it, huh…?” The world he wanted wasn’t going to happen.

“Fine… Live however you want…” He breathed out. It was clear he still had some lingering influence of Ameno-sagiri. His voice was rough and strained. “If you think… you have the power to change the future… then go right ahead…”

“I’m surprised you don’t know it’s very possible.” You raised a brow. Changing the future has been a believable concept since the dawn of time. Nothing is set in stone.

“Everyone has the power to do that.” Yosuke said in agreement.

Adachi let out a pained laugh. He wasn't sure why any of you were still around. Surely, you'd leave him to rot, right? “Get outta here… The Shadows will finish me off…”

“Just leave me be… you came to kill me in the first place… didn’t you…?” He stared at you and the group. He wouldn’t expect any less. He was a murderer who betrayed your trust.

“No, dumbass.” Kanji said to Adachi.

“You’re joking, right?” You held your hip as you glanced down at the man. Bending your knees, you crouched down next to him.

“You’re not getting off that easy.” From your pocket, you got out your handcuffs. With swift yet gentle movements, you took his arm and attached the restraint to his wrist. It was only fair Dojima got closure just as you did. Adachi needed to own up to his crimes as well. “I said I’d put you behind bars. Unlike you, I keep my promises.”

“Yeah, your stupid game’s over. We’re taking you back.” Yosuke said in agreement. “Live and face your punishment… that’s how it works in our world.”

“...Right…” Adachi didn’t move as you locked his hands up. There was a hint of humiliation he felt being put in restraints by you. It was the cherry on the bitter sundae of defeat. However, he couldn’t bring himself to resist anymore.

Naoto agreed with your wishes. “I’m sure that’s the outcome Dojima-san wishes for as well.”

As you kneeled close to the man, you glanced down at him. Amidst the momentary silence, he met your eyes. “We have the same power, but things turned out so differently for us…” Adachi muttered.

He wasn’t wrong. The two of you were in the same field, and granted the same ability, but that’s where your similarities ended. Like fire and water, you were complete opposites. While he succumbed to his loneliness and cynicism, you were optimistic and driven to your goals. Despite dealing with hardships, you managed to overcome and adapt. You had friends, family, and things to live for.

You were Adachi’s only gateway to a world of color. The exciting life he thought was long dead. He had a taste of it for a moment, and it felt nice… but then he ruined it. Foolishly, Adachi let his selfishness get in the way of his own happiness. He pushed the only person he cared about away. The woman of his dreams slipped out of his grasp, and he was the only one to blame.

Regret was seeping in through the cracks. “If only I had met you sooner… things wouldn’t have gone this way…” He whispered, his eyes softening.

Falling silent for a moment, you averted your gaze. “Maybe so…” You replied softly with a frown. Gently, you lowered his wrists about an inch. As much as you resented him for what he did, you did feel a small ounce of pity. It wasn’t an excuse, but you understood how he got here. “But I shouldn’t have to be the sole reason for you to change.”

You can’t magically fix someone’s problems overnight. Changing isn’t someone else’s responsibility, but your own. Change has to come from within. It wasn’t your job to save someone who can’t even help themselves.

“...Yeah, right…” Despite his begrudging acceptance, Adachi smiled weakly at you. His clarity arrived far too late. The damage was done, but his feelings persisted even now. In the fight he said he hated your resilience. In truth, it was one of the things he loved most about you.

After leaving the TV Realm, you were tasked with bringing him back to the station. You got into contact with Dojima and told him everything. Adachi was carefully taken into custody. As he was taken away by a stretcher at Dojima’s personal request, you didn’t speak any more words to each other.

The teenagers decided to go off and celebrate, but you hung back to go to the station.

Officers and civilians were coming and going through the Junes. As you walked out the glass doors, you were hit with a shining bright glare. What followed was a comfortable sentiment of warmth. Your eyes were shielded with your arm, and you slowly lowered it to glance up. 

The sun was out. The fog was no more. It was a peaceful, sunny day. One that filled your senses with a feeling of tranquility. The light breeze gingerly swayed your locks as you stood there, admiring the sight. How long has it been since you’ve seen a clear day like this? Too long… A small smile crept up your cheeks.

Thanks to Adachi, you were back at square one. A single detective, able to return to the city and resume her life of chasing thrills and avoiding lows. However… that wasn’t entirely true. You grew a lot from this experience. Not to mention all the bonds you formed here during your time in Inaba. It made you appreciate living, whether it be materialistic or minimalistic. Thrills were fun, but sometimes tranquility was better.

Brushing the stray locks away from your face, you continued your walk to the station. Perhaps… you’ll stay here a bit longer.

haha totally not gonna use this as a blueprint for a persona game for girls hahahahahahaha whaaa???

anyways stan p4 detective y/n best mentor character

lowkey i wanted to do another part thats like aftermath interrogation stuff or ultimax or something but omg ultimax is longggg and id rather make my own persona type story instead hhhhh oh well maybe

divider: cafekitsune

consider following if you like my works :D

♡ quotev ♡ wattpad ♡ archive ♡ caard ♡

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

🎵 The Insulindian Miracle

2. "He's a beautiful man. Beautiful and *just*."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Just? Hmm... in what way?"

"In a funky socialist way. He looks out for the people."

"In a nice, crunchy, white working class way of course."

"Yeah, he's not actually just, is he? He's useless."

+1 Communism

JOYCE MESSIER - "Of course. *Some* of them, at least. The ones who work for him -- how else would he have stayed in power all these years... no wait, actually..."

"Corruption! That's how he's done it. Fantastic, würm-like corruption reaching into the bowels of the Earth." She looks at the ground and nods.

KIM KITSURAGI - "The position of my *unusual* colleague does not reflect official policy. I hope you understand -- the RCM does not pick sides."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Of course -- and I don't expect you to share anything he told you with me. I am not a *corrupt würm* myself." She turns to you: "However, if you felt like *discussing* something..."

"...how could I stop you? Are we not human? Are we not *curious* to hear another person's take? It's only natural. We would only be..." she smiles, "gossiping."

VOLITION [Formidable: Success] - Don't fall for it, it's a ploy to get you talking. The honey-mouthed syllables, the smiling, the conspiratorial jokes, all of it!

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - Intellectually speaking... it would be quite *interesting* to hear what she has to say about these things...

ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Medium: Success] - Tell her, she'll *like* you for it.

HORRIFIC NECKTIE - Yes! Your disgusting tie agrees completely. Let's *gossip*.

Sorry, Volition, you're outvoted.

"That money you gave me -- would that make things... *weird*? If I shared information, I mean?"

"Mr. Evrart is helping me find my gun."

"I helped him turn up the heat on the borscht."

"I'd rather talk about something else for now, if you don't mind." (Conclude.)

JOYCE MESSIER - "Weird? Oh no. One of the positive things to come from the Revolution is the *unhindered* exchange of information, you see, even when it comes to *trade secrets*..."

"Which isn't to suggest our talks constitute *corporate espionage*. Even *if* they did -- it would be fine. But they don't, since you logged the money as a donation and this is *clearly* just gossip between friends."

LOGIC [Medium: Success] - The lieutenant might have -- but I don't remember you logging anything as anything, Harry.

2. "Mr. Evrart is helping me find my gun."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Oh!" Her eyes become large and round. "That's so *helpful* of him..."

KIM KITSURAGI - The lieutenant looks at you and you can swear his jaw muscle is trembling.

-1 Reputation

COMPOSURE [Medium: Success] - He's able to contain the anger and surprise.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Easy: Success] - When I said *be wacky* I didn't mean *wildly, grossly irresponsible and damaging to the RCM*.

KIM KITSURAGI - "Unconventional police officers sometimes *lose* their guns. They then go around and tell people about this -- to gauge their reactions. It's all part of *detecting*."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Incredible," she shakes her head. "Simply incredible -- and how is it going? Has this *detecting* produced a gun?"

"No."

"Mr. Evrart says it's *almost* ready to be found soon."

"Mr. Evrart is helping me find my gun."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Ah yes. As you said." She looks confused for a moment.

KIM KITSURAGI - "Please don't get him in a loop. If he gets in a loop it will last *forever*. Ask him to say something else please."

LOGIC [Medium: Success] - That's wrong! You don't get into loops!

JOYCE MESSIER - "Of course. Thank you for the advice -- I'm glad you were here to assist." She turns to you: "Your *other* dealings with Evrart are still of considerable interest to me..."

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Easy: Success] - The lieutenant will be more lenient toward sharing those, hopefully.

3. "I helped him turn up the heat on the borscht."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Did you now?" She's intrigued, if a little confused. "What sort of borscht is he making?"

"Unimportant."

"The cook makes it to keep the strikers drunk. Helps them strike."

JOYCE MESSIER - "The strike brew," she nods. "That's a classic. And by *turn up the heat* I presume you mean *put more alcohol in it*?"

"Yes."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Why, if I may ask? Why make them *more* drunk? Aren't they corked enough already?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes, detective -- what *were* you hoping to accomplish with this strange thing?"

"An act born of sympathy for the working man. I set fire to the fumes of struggle."

"I worship Al Gul in many ways."

"It's uninteresting, I thought it would make the broth taste better."

+1 Communism

JOYCE MESSIER - "Very curious." She blinks both eyes. "A very curious thing to do."

+5 XP

KIM KITSURAGI - "Truly, but that's how he operates. He just does things, ma'am. And then talks about them -- even if it's inappropriate."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - A strange equanimity has overtaken the lieutenant. He's just going with the flow now. Easier that way.

JOYCE MESSIER - "What else?"

We don't have anything else on Evrart to tell Joyce just yet.

4. "I'd rather talk about something else for now, if you don't mind." (Conclude.)

JOYCE MESSIER - "Of course, detective," she simmers down. "Should something come up, later down the road -- don't be afraid to drop by for a chat."

"Until then -- is there anything *I* can help *you* with?"

I exited Joyce's dialogue to make a quick save, but talking to her after midnight opened a new topic of conversation.

JOYCE MESSIER - "You're back. Good." She takes a sip from her silvery thermal cup. "What can I help you with -- at this late hour?"

"It's night. Don't you ever sleep?"

"Answer me a question."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Matter of fact, I don't." She takes another sip.

"Why is that?"

(Better not to poke further) "That's good. This way you can answer me some questions."

JOYCE MESSIER - "I have a medical condition of my own -- nothing unusual, though. I'm *old* you see."

"Old, huh? I think I have that too."

"No you're not. You look young."

(Better not to poke further) "That's good. This way you can answer me some questions."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Don't worry. It's curable -- with *questions*. Ask me some, it'll help pass this night."

7. "I've got some more questions about *reality*."

JOYCE MESSIER - "More lessons in basic reality?" She's positively surprised. "My favourite part of the day! Go ahead, ask me anything."

8. [Volition - Medium 10] Ask for Kim to step away while you discuss the pale.

+1 Kim trusts you.

VOLITION [Medium: Success] - Good idea. Just ask him. He won't make a scene.

"Kim, can I talk to the ma'am alone for a second?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Fine." He steps away with his notes.

VOLITION - See? What can he do. You're a grown man.

"Now -- what is the pale?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Are you sure you're sure? Your colleague seemed adamant..."

"Yes -- what is the pale?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Okay." She concedes. "The pale is the most dominant geological feature of the world, detective -- the separative tissue between the isolas. It is the interisolary mass."

"Wait, and what is an isola?"

"Okay... what is the pale *like*?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "*Isola* is a Messinian word for a continent of matter, enveloped on all sides by the pale. Also: isolation, or land mass. We used to believe there was only one. In the last four centuries we have discovered seven..."

"Mundi, Seol, Samara, Iilmaraa, Graad, Katla, and this -- Insulinde."

"And Insulinde is...?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "An oceanic isola. It comprises mostly of water. Mundi is the largest, Katla the coldest, Insulinde the bluest. What can I say..." She stops. "Each is perishing and dear."

"Okay... what is the pale *like*?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Achromatic, odourless, featureless. The pale is the enemy of matter and life. It is not *like* any other -- or *any* thing in the world. It is the transition state of being into nothingness."

LOGIC [Medium: Success] - The negation of being.

"The negation of..."

JOYCE MESSIER - "That's right -- the negation of being." She tightens her hood around her neck, it's cold outside.

"Is it... here?" (Look around.)

"What are its physical qualities?"

"If we're surrounded by pale, how do you get from isola to isola?"

"How much pale is there compared to the world?"

"Let's return to reality, please." (Conclude.)

JOYCE MESSIER - "No, detective, we're safe." She points to the sea. "It begins there, 6,000 kilometres to the north, and even more to the south, east, and west. You are in the middle of the isola."

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - As your gaze instinctively turns north, a small black pit opens up in your stomach.

"Six thousand kilometres from the end of the world?"

"And... (point north) ...there?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Yes -- that is enough. Many cities are built *much* closer."

"And… (point north) …there?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "An uproar of matter, darling, *rising* into the pale. Rolling. Evaporating even, a great vision. The area of transition between the world and the pale is called *porch collapse*."

"Imagine a grey coronal mist, cold vapour, marked by spores of an opportunistic microorganism -- a mould that's adapted to grow at the edge of the unrest. It's…"

She closes her eyes and breathes out heavily: "... the most *disco* thing you will ever see."

2. "What are its physical qualities?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "It's difficult to describe -- or even measure -- something whose fundamental property is the suspension of properties: physical, epistemological, linguistic..."

"The further into pale you travel, the steeper the degree of suspension. Right down to the mathematical -- *numbers* stop working. No one has yet passed the number barrier. It may be impossible."

3. "If we're surrounded by pale, how do you get from isola to isola?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Oh, it is..." Her lungs deflate, her words sound like a sigh, "...*so* difficult for us."

PERCEPTION (HEARING) [Easy: Success] - A squall of birds, hardware operating in the harbour. Firm, self-evident.

JOYCE MESSIER - "It is possible to force dimensions on the pale -- in modern times we can even compress its latitude, bouncing radio waves from one end to the other. Shortening the path."

"But it is still hard for humans to navigate the pale without getting lost. Or having our minds damaged."

3. "The pale can damage the mind?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Extensively."

"How?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Some say the damage stems from extreme sensory deprivation. Others argue that pale somehow *consists* of past information, that's degrading. That it's rarefied past, not rarefied matter."

"They call it *the blend-over of the self*. The pale does not only suspend the laws of physics, but also the laws of psychology, maybe History, even... The human mind becomes over-radiated by past."

"What does this over-radiation feel like?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "It feels terrible. Absolutely terrible. International standards strictly limit civilian travellers to six days of pale exposure per year..."

LOGIC [Easy: Success] - It's more for her -- way more.

"*You're* not a civilian passenger?"

Let it go.

JOYCE MESSIER - "No, Lieutenant Du Bois. I'm 'Entroponetic Business Class.' I'm cleared -- and trained -- for 22 days of pale transit annually."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - Perhaps that explains her strange pining after the Revolution? Some degraded early memories...

LOGIC [Easy: Success] - Someone *else* you've met may have been *exposed* as well. The strange grey-haired woman in her lorry.

"Do *lorry drivers* pass the pale?"

"Are *you* over-radiated?"

"*You're* not a civilian passenger?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Yes. Carried in the hulls of airships," she nods. "It's a horrific job. Automation will abolish it, soon."

+5 XP

REACTION SPEED [Easy: Success] - You should ask the Paledriver about this. See what she says.

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - That poor woman must have stories to tell like you wouldn't imagine...

2. "*You're* not a civilian passenger?"

JOYCE MESSIER - She's looking out toward the sea, what at, it's hard to say.

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - She's over-radiated. And then some.

5. "What is *entroponetic*?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "*Entroponetics*," she corrects, "is the scientific study of the pale. Or a recent iteration of it, by way of Graad. The study of the pale reaches back 6,000 years -- the Perikarnassians called it the Western Plain."

"Did they... cross it? The Western Plain?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "There *are* signs of pretermodern crossings. Successful navigation of the pale relies not just on technical know-how, but intensive psychological preparation. Some of these tactics have been known for thousands of years."

"What has entroponetics changed then?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Nothing. We remain powerless before the pale. The only real advance in pale transit is the speed with which an aerostatic craft can pierce it. Less exposure leads to less... *effects* later."

"Aerostatic craft?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Hybrid airships, detective. Conventional rotors or jet engines no longer add velocity after the point of reference for motion is suspended -- once you've crossed from near pale to far pale..."

"In essence, we throw them in and they come out the other end -- if we throw them precisely."

"If we do not?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "Then they don't."

VISUAL CALCULUS [Easy: Success] - Gone -- like a skipping stone beneath the surface.

6. "How much pale is there compared to the world?"

JOYCE MESSIER - "The pale outweighs reality two to one -- there is more pale than there is matter. And the ratio is slipping."

"Slipping how? To our detriment or…"

JOYCE MESSIER - "What do you think, detective?" She looks you in the eye.

"It's shrinking. There is more and more of the world."

"It's growing. There is more and more of the pale."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Precisely. One of the few measurable effects of the pale is that it is expanding at an unknown rate."

"An intuitive conclusion of that development is that one day the pale will cover everything -- but this sort of talk is mostly left to extremists."

"It's not extreme at all. It's going to happen."

"Cover *everything*? That can't be. Where would we go..."

Stay silent.

JOYCE MESSIER - "Most people -- and indeed most private and government sector organizations; entire civilizations and religions even -- find handy ways to ignore, or downplay that knowledge."

"I suggest you do the same."

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - *Off we go...* you see the hanged man's mouth open.

"Off we go into the wild pale yonder."

JOYCE MESSIER - "One and all," she closes her eyes. "They say pale is death, but for the Universe."

INLAND EMPIRE - Why should we just leave and leave -- and the world get left behind?

7. "Let's return to reality, please." (Conclude.)

JOYCE MESSIER - "Yes, sweet reality," she stomps her foot. "But before we do, tell me detective..."

"Is this the first time you're hearing this? Do you really not remember anything?"

"Nothing. Just alcohol fumes and blackout."

"I sometimes sense vague shadows of a past, and it's not good."

"I'm getting a sense of who I am, but no, I didn't know this."

JOYCE MESSIER - "Then tell me -- what do you *think* of the pale?"

[ubehalayas-blog]

Edgar and you have been hanging out more than lately, mostly because he always treats me whenever we go out. Hell, that guy has a lot of money. He always buys me things I like, sugar daddy? Yeah. Ranpo had also picked up that we hung out a lot and you do not think he likes it.

“Hey, Ranpo-san, do you want to hang out after work?” you asked as you approached his desk.

“Why not hang out with Ed, since you two are already besties.” He muttered as he bit on the lollipop he was eating.

You sucked on a sharp breath as you immediately knew what it meant, you sighed as you shook your head. Ah, how am I gonna deal with this? Ranpo-san had always been the person I always hung out with before Edgar. I’ve always been close with him, he knew my secrets, I knew some of his… Well yeah, I like to think so. Now.. he’s jealous, I think.

you cocked your head and looked at him, smiling nervously, “Well… Edgar is busy, he told me that he can’t hang out with me.. Today” you said as you bit your lower lip.

“Ahh, I knew” He muttered, still munching on his lollipop as he skimmed through his paperworks.

“So? Will you.. Hang out with me?” you asked again, hoping he would agree to it, at the least just answer the question.

He sighed as soon as you finished speaking, placing down the papers he was holding as he looked at you, “I don’t think so, I still have a lot of work to do, find someone else if you like” He said, a bit cold which to be honest, hurt you.

You nodded, dejectedly. “Alright..” you muttered as he returned to reading the papers.

Walking away from his desk, You suddenly felt a hand on your back. You turned to see Yosano. She gave you a weak smile, “If you want me to accompany you, I’d be glad to” She said with a smile.

You returned her smile then nodded slightly, “Actually.. Thank you but I think I want to go out anymore. Thanks Akiko-san, I’m sorry.”

She still smiled at you, then nodded. “Alright, well then, cheer up, okay?” She smiled, pushing you lightly.

You nodded as You looked forward, right, there’s still a lot of work to do before the day ends. You glanced at Ranpo once and he was still focused on his work. You sighed and walked to your desk, distracting yourself with work.

An hour passed and then two.. Then soon you lost count. You worked until Kunikida stood up from his seat and told the members to go home already because you and the members were already done for the day, you looked at him then to the clock in the room. Woah. You didn’t even notice the time pass, you shook your head then stretched from your seat.

“Hey Clarisse, you good?” You heard Kunikida’s voice behind you.

You turned your chair to face him then nodded, “Yeah. I’m fine.. Why?” You asked, your eyebrows furrowing from confusion.

“Oh, nothing, I noticed you haven’t actually stood up to eat lunch or do something else other than work” He shrugged as he pushed back his glasses, “I know work is important but know you also have to take care of your body” He added.

You looked down and nodded at him, “Yes, I’m sorry, Kunikida” You muttered.

“Don’t say sorry, I was just worried about you” He smiled as he patted your shoulder two times before he left me.

You sighed again, yawning as you glanced at Ranpo's desk. He was still there, although he wasn’t doing any work anymore and his desk is actually clean, for once. You shook your head, not wanting to think about anything related to Ranpo at the moment, your eyes then followed some of the detectives leaving, waving goodbye to them as they exited the agency.

“You sure you don’t want to hang out with me?” Yosano asked as she placed a hand on your shoulder, waving goodbye to Kenji as he exited.

You looked up to her then to Ranpo, contemplating for a bit before shaking your head, “I’m okay, thank you for the offer though, maybe some other time, Yosano-san” You smiled as she looked at you.

She sighed then waved a dismissing hand as she walked away, “Alright, if you really don’t want to” She said as she walked away, exiting the building too. Leaving you and Ranpo left on the floor, some of the President’s secretaries were still there but in a different room.

You sighed, letting your shoulder rest. You glanced at Ranpo. He still wasn’t budging or preparing to leave. “Ranpo-san? Are you going to leave already?” You asked cautiously. Walking up to his desk, checking to see if he was sleeping.

“Oh! Oh.. I, um, I’m sorry. I thought you were awake, oh I mean, asleep... I thought you were asleep.” You rambled, shocked as you were greeted by Ranpo’s eyes wide open as he stared on the ceiling.

You averted your gaze and you could hear him adjusting his chair to sit straight, “I’m.. gonna stay for a while” He answered.

You nodded before leaving his desk and preparing your things to leave, he cleared his throat so loud that You looked up to him, unconsciously. You met his eyes then immediately looked away, “About.. Earlier, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude” He started.

Your eyes widened from surprise, you looked at him again, to be sure you weren't dreaming, “It’s alright, we had a lot of work too so yeah” you muttered as you rubbed the back of your neck, trying to act as cool as you could.

“Yeah and.. About Ed, he’s great.. I hang out with him too and it’s always fun with him but I kind of miss us hanging out too” He cleared his throat, as if he was having a hard time admitting to all of it.

You chuckled a bit to his confession then nodded, “Yeah, actually me too but Edgar always drags me around and all he ever does is talk about you—” You immediately covered your mouth as soon as the words left your mouth, your eyes widened as you slowly look up to Ranpo.

His mouth was open as he stared at you, you shook your head and waved your hands in the air, “Um.. I never said those, let’s rewind and start again, you apologize, we’re good then do you want to hang out now?” You smiled, awkwardly.

He was still a bit shocked but he couldn’t help but to just laugh. You took a big sigh of relief then smiled at him, You finished packing up your things then went up to him, “So? Let’s hang out?” You asked again, smiling at him.

He nodded and smiled at me, he picked up his bag that only usually had his wallet and phone inside. “Let’s go!” He jumped out from his seat and smiled at me,

Ah, There’s the Ranpo I knew, You smiled as you nodded at him, walking first as you led the way outside the agency. You both stopped at a sweets shop and talked there for a bit.

“So I didn’t take you for the jealous kind, Ranpo-san” You chuckled as you ate the cookies you ordered.

Ranpo chuckled as he sipped some of his smoothie before taking one cookie and munching on it, “I am not, I was just putting a show earlier! Cause it was fun, although I took it too far” He mumbled, some of the cookie crumbs falling on his lap.

You shook my head as you watched him and listened to him speak, a bit disappointed and amused with him, “I guess, I should’ve known you, Ranpo-san” You sighed as you pushed the cookies on Ranpo’s side of the table.

A/n: */suddenly posts a random bsd & reader ff

[noxsoulmate]

In Memory...

On this date in 1912, Titanic was lost to the Atlantic Ocean after hitting an iceberg during her maiden voyage. Of the ship’s 2208 souls, only 700+ were saved and brought onto Carpathia alive – you can read more about those heroes here.

To recognize this 111th anniversary, I thought I would give you a little snippet from the search portion of my Tarlos Titanic AU. If you know the movie, you may recognize this scene. But either way, please be warned that this snippet deals with death and grief! I promise that tomorrow’s Seven Sentence Sunday will make you laugh again but for now, please let us remember the souls that were lost in the tragedy of that night.

The eerie silence was oppressive and Judd almost wished for the screams again. At least they had been a sign of life. Now, the darkness lay like a cloak over them, not a sound to be heard but the quiet slosh of water as their boat cut its way through the ocean.

“We waited too long,” he heard Paul murmur, and he had no choice but to agree.

And still, he couldn’t lose hope. Not yet.

“We will find them,” he said with as much conviction as he could, his voice hardly piercing the pitch-black darkness. “And we will save as many as we can while we search for them.”

He had no sooner made this promise to the others, as well as to God when saw the first people floating in the water, their bodies already covered in a thin sheen of ice.

“Lord, have mercy,” Cooper whispered, catching his gaze before they both leaned over the boat and began to gently push aside the bodies so they wouldn’t further disturb their last rest.

Judd had seen many cruel things in his life – but nothing, nothing compared to the tragedy around him. In an uncharacteristic bout of selfishness, he was glad that there wasn’t any bigger source of light than the simple oil lamp hanging at the front of their lifeboat. He honestly didn’t know if he would be able to stomach the full picture he would see.

The silence was still pressing down on them, closing his lungs, taking his breath as he could feel tears threaten to well up in his eyes.

But no!

No, there was no time for that!

He could mourn the dead when this was all over – until then, until the last possible moment, he would give his everything to save as many souls as he could, just as he had promised.

“Is there anyone alive out there?” he screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice finally piercing through the darkness.

There was no reply.

“Can anyone hear me?”

Judd wanted to scream forever, wanted to pick every single person up himself and revive them. But even he reached a level where those most dearest to his heart came first. So finally, he called out for them.

“Carlos! TK! Answer me!”

He was only greeted by more silence and the ever-present darkness as they carefully made their way through the sea of lost lives.

((I usually don't spoil but in this case, I will: this fic has a happy ending!!!))

Many, many thanks to @shadesofdeviant for being the well of knowledge on all things Titanic, to @lightningboltreader for beta-reading, and my whole Titanic discord server for the ongoing support 😘

Noxy's tagging list (please let me know if you wish to be added or taken off): @detective-giggles, @sgirl18, @rmd-writes, @welcometololaland, @paperstorm, @actuallysara, @just-inside-her, @alidravana, @wtfuckevenknows, @morganaspendragonss, @meditating-honey-badger, @heartstringsduet, @bonheur-cafe, @chaotictarlos

[ha1taniwh0re]

Do you take request? If yes then is it alright that I request William's S/O & Sherlock's S/O hate each other everytime they met and when they met they started to fight each other who has a better bf and who is more intelligent. If you like, little smut won't hurt for a fluff at the end 😔

Sure thing, i will try smut but be aware that i wrote it just once so if its not good please have a heart to understand why is like that💕

I really like your idea i hope this is what you wanted💕

Ladys don’t like each other

/reader’s pov/

My boyfriend William, his brother Louis and I went on our train back to London. We were just sitting and eating our lunch but from somewhere detective Sherlock Holmes came to our table.

“AAAAA IS THAT YOU LIAMMM?!”, he said and just sat with us.

“Mr. Holmes pleasure to see you again”.

As Liam was good as always to this detective, Louis and I were super pissed that he came to our table.

“SHERLOCK YOU CANT JUST SIT TO SOMEONE’S TABLE!!”

I heard some girl’s voice. Voice that i hate.

She came to our table and our eyes met.

“(Name) Moriarty”, she said unhappy.

“(Girls name) Holmes”, i said unhappy too.

“What are you doing here??” She asked.

“Me? Just sitting with my PERFECT family. And you?” I said.

She looked at me with stupid face.

“I getting back to London with my SMART boyfriend ”, she said.

“Its cute that he is smart but mine is smarter one here”, i said and hugged Liam’s arm.

“That’s not-“

We heard someone screaming. We came to see what happened and saw dead man. Sherlock asked Liam to compete who will solve this first.

“Now everyone will see that MY boyfriend is smarter”, I said.

“Yeah right eat dust bitch”. She said.

“WHAT DID YOU CALLED ME?!” I said.

I started walking to her but my boyfriend took my hand and pulled me back.

/time skip/

We got back to London and Liam and Sherlock solved it in the same time so I can’t rub it on (girl’s name)’s face.

“Well we solved it at the same time”, Sherlock said.

“Yes, Im glad that we did it on the time”, Liam said.

“Liam im so proud of you!! You did so much today”, i said.

“He did yeah but MY boyfriend did more”, she said.

“Girls let’s stop this nonsense”, Sherlock said.

“I will agree with Sherlock”, Liam said.

“SHUT UP”, we said.

“WILLIAM IS BETTER HE IS PROFESSOR ON UNIVERSITY!!!” I said.

“SHERLOCK IS THE BEST DETECTIVE IN LONDON!!” She said.

“WILLIAM IS BETTER BOYFRIEND HE ALWAYS GIVES ME ATTENTION!”

“SHERLOCK ALWAYS LET ME TO GO WITH HIM ON HIS MISSIONS!”

“GIRLS STOP!!!” They said.

We looked at them a little bit questionable.

“Why are you arguing about this??” Liam asked.

“We are different types of boyfriends. You can’t compare us. We are the best boyfriends in different ways”.Sherlock said.

(Girl’s name) and I just looked at each other and I went to my carriage and she just stood there next to Sherlock.

As three of us got home i went to my and Liam’s room to prepare myself for sleep, but William had other plans.

He got into our room and huged me from behind.

“My sweet lady. You are so cute when you are angry”, he said with that angelic smile.

But in one second that smile became devils smirk.

“But i think you need a punishment for being like that all day”.

He took me to our bed and gentle placed me on it. He looked straight into my eyes and I could see pleasure in his eyes. He started kissing me every where. From my lips to my other lips. My nightclothes were ripped apart.

“Heyyy!!”, I said.

“ I will buy you new one”, he said.

He started kissing me hungry. Like im his dinner or something. As i was enjoying this moment i didn’t release that he took off his t-shirt and unzipped his pants. When he wanted to put that dick inside me we heard knock on the door.

“Ni-sann, (name)-chan dinner is ready”, Louis said.

“Okey, thank you Louis”, William said.

As we heard him leaving the door Liam started fucking me. He didn’t wait a minute more.

“Ah~ Liam”

“Shhh be quite I need to give you your punishment quickly, dinner is ready”, he said.

He started doing it faster and faster. I finished at least 3 times. When I finished 3th time he did the same. I was dead.

“I believe that this is your lesson to stop fighting with Lady Holmes”.

“It is my love. I will skip dinner Im feeling really sleepy”.

I closed my eyes and only thing I heard before he closed the door was his chuckle.

“Good night princess”, he said.

[meownotgood]

Glad we can agree detective Aki is 🤭🤭🤭🤭 but now,,, the smut OOPS-

After fixing your wounds and having to stop some of the bleeding you look down at him as he patches up a cut on your thigh,,,, he's so close and it's just you and him in the room,,,,

One thing happens and now he has you laying on your back as he lifts your legs to his shoulders, pounding into you as he tells you how much he loves you- not caring for how loud he might be getting in the moment

OH YES OF COURSE WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE SMUT. IT'S NOT AN AKI AU WITHOUT IT BECOMING HORNY

when detective aki is fixing up your wounds, unbuttoning your shirt and pulling it off in order to wrap you in bandages, he can't help but blush. when he's this close to you, all he can do is stare at your lips and think about how badly he wants to kiss you. and when you wrap your arms around his neck and tug him in, he's melting into you with no regrets, and before he has a chance to think.

he's kissing you back and carrying you to the bed, he's tearing his clothes off and tossing them aside along with yours.

and god, when he's fucking you, he'd be so gentle... he takes such good care of you, he's careful not to hurt you or agitate your wounds. he asks before he does anything because all he cares about is you. he rolls his hips into you as he holds you and confesses his love to you over and over again, pressing hurried kisses to every single inch of your body.

[obsessedwithdavrick]

Dialogue Day (any day!)

The prompt: Share a section of dialogue that we like from our own work. It can be funny, sad, ridiculous, mysterious, plot-centric or just characters shooting the breeze…anything. It can be from a WIP or a posted fic, short or long.

Thank you @tyfinn the tag!

This dialog came immediately to mind. One of the things I'm really proud of.

From Death of a Socialite

David and Stevie were curled up on her couch eating grilled cheese and drinking hot chocolates, while they watched the final episode of ‘The Great British Bake Off’. The last few days had gotten them through a full season. They were getting close to the crowning of the winner and David was very emotional about it. He guessed it made sense though, he’d been through a lot in the last week. Hell, he’d been through a lot this year. He was fed up with everything. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Maybe he should have a whole life change.

“I’d make a great host on this show, you know,” David said thoughtfully. “I really love cake…”

“You do,” Stevie agreed, nodding while not taking her eyes off the television.

“I especially love pastry,” David continued.

“More than anyone I’ve ever met,” Stevie concurred.

“And I’m very judgmental,” David gestured to the judges with his grilled cheese.

“That is true,” Stevie nodded again. “And… you’re not fussy with what goes in your mouth.”

David narrowed his eyes at her menacingly, but with a tease of a smile. There wasn’t anybody else in the world he would let get away with a comment like that, but he knew from Stevie it was an expression of love.

He sighed and let himself slump into the couch, leaning his head onto her shoulder. “I didn’t get any threatening calls today,” he mentioned, even though she knew.

“I think that is a good sign,” Stevie’s eyes stayed facing forward, but he knew that she was as glad as he was.

“Alexis texted to say she got to mom and dad’s okay though, so that’s good too,” David continued. David was so happy to have his sister home, but the constant anxiety about her well-being might take a little while to subside.

“Are you okay?” Stevie asked cautiously.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” David asked, not moving off her shoulder.

“Well, last time she went somewhere, it was on a private jet with her boyfriend that only scraped through his pilot’s exam because his parents have more money than God, and you didn’t seem to care. Now you are making her check-in and she’s only gone halfway across Manhattan,” Stevie asked.

“Excuse me. How would you like me to react to getting death threats?” David sat up, pulling far enough away that he could glare at her.

“Okay. And while I do regularly give you shit for being a drama queen, I’m going to let it slide this time. However, I think you are going to have to trust that Detective Brewer has this under control. He said he did and I have a pretty good feeling that no calls today equals arrests being made,” Stevie pointed out. She knew what David needed to hear. “You are going to be okay, David.”

“I guess,” David admitted and looked at her warily. “I’m just… not used to trusting people Stevie. Other than you, that is.”

“This has been a pretty rubbish year for you, David. It makes sense to be upset. But I think it’s going to get better,” Stevie patted his leg in a show of affection.

David harrumphed, and gave Stevie a small smile. “It wouldn’t take much.”

“It really wouldn’t,” Stevie said and continued drolly. “Maybe you’ll get a winning scratch-off.”

David rolled his eyes.

“Or maybe, you’ll get free shipping on your next eBay purchase,” she added cheekily.

David pulled his lips into the side of his mouth and shook his head at her.

“Ooh! I know, there will be no one in the queue next time we go to Joe’s Shanghai,” Stevie grinned at David. Her eyes were wide and she had a smug look on her face.

“Now you are just being ridiculous. That is better than winning the lottery. It’s never happening,” David put his head back on Stevie’s shoulder just as the finalists were being led out to the judging area with all the previous contestants, and their dearest friends and family.

“Or maybe, Detective Brewer will ask you out,” Stevie whispered softly.

“In my dreams, Stevie, in my dreams,” David replied with a sigh.

Tagging @demora00 @goodiecornbread @legalgal421 @jesuisici33

[chenfordspiral]

Ever since Lucy came back from uc school I fell like she’s doesn’t want to it anymore because she didn’t seems happy to come back and honestly I hope she doesn’t do uc because I can’t see the show doing deep cover uc things because that would be big time jumps and I can see Lucy being a training officer

Hi anon! Sorry I waited a day to respond, I honestly thought I had posted it already.. whoopsie.

In total honesty.. ever since Jackson's death, I've had the feeling that Lucy hasn't been as interested in UC as she seems to be now. There was no talk about undercover for all of season 4, not until the finale anyway. She seemed hesitant in 5x02, but there was so much other stuff going on, so who knows why exactly she was so hesitant. It was likely a culmination of everything. Either way, I've gotten mixed feelings from her in season 5. She didn't seem happy early on in the season, totally agree. Afterwards, it became a bit more murky (to ME) and wasn't explicitly talked about again until 5x19 when she suddenly said she wanted to be a detective with narcotics or whatever the second thing was so she could work undercover.

To me, that came a bit out of nowhere. Yes, we had her go under in 5x18, but up until that episode, I was sure she was rethinking her decision or at least not explicitly planning on becoming detective to be UC. Maybe that was wishful thinking on my part because I’ve always had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that people person Lucy Chen would actually, for real enjoy being away from everyone she loves and cares about. Ignoring show logistics here (for a deep cover, long term op), I just don't think Lucy really has thought about how much years of deep cover ops would impact her and her life in the long run. That's precisely the reason why I've always hoped they'd do a long term op over the hiatus between seasons so the finale and premiere (and possibly more eps) could be about that and how Lucy would actually feel then.

I also don't like that the shortened season takes away a lot of room for something like that because they have to make conscious decisions about what kinds of stories they want to tell. Although at least this way, the whole issue can't be ignored for half a season and has to be addressed.

Anyway. Whatever other career choice there might be for Lucy, because I don’t want to speculate even though I would kill to see her as a TO, we all know she'd kick ass. We've seen her deal with so many different tough situations, like when both Grey and Tim were in the hospital in 5x05 and she was Acting Watch Commander, or when she dealt with the domestic case with Kyra in 5x11.. she'd excel in every department and I need someone to tell her that. There's nothing wrong in setting your mind on one career path, but there's also nothing wrong with changing your mind.

At this point, I'm just gonna try and sit back and wait to see what they have planned. From all the BTS we've seen so far, season 6 promises to be a good one, with lots of good stuff to come. And while the whole UC thing won't be easy, I'm glad they're finally starting to actually talk about things instead of just brushing them off. They've still got a ways to go, but it's a start.

That was a long winded answer, geez. I'm sorry, anon haha. I hope at least some of this made sense.