#text: flawless execution!

[avadaniels]

wait fellow travelers didn't get nominated for best limited series im so mad.

[istarlighti]

I have such a sick idea for my next printmaking project...watch me crash and burn as i learn intalgio AND tackle multiple projects at once 👍

[iydiamartinx]

THIS MEANS WAR VII

Dick Grayson x Reader x Jason Todd

divider by: @cafekitsune & @thecutestgrotto word count: 4.8k synopsis: Gotham’s youngest neuroscience lecturer never planned to get tangled up with two of its most eligible bachelors. Both are determined to win her over—without revealing they know each other… or that they’re vigilantes. But when the Joker takes an interest in her, things get a whole lot more complicated. a/n: Ngl I struggled slightly this chapter, but I hope y'all enjoyed!

GOTHAM’S CHARITY GALA

You had no idea why you’d agreed to the charity gala in the first place.

You hated galas.

They were suffocating affairs filled with overly expensive champagne, smug smiles, and people who pretended their bank accounts made them saints. Everyone there wanted to be seen—wanted to appear generous, compassionate, noble. But it was all just a show. A glossy, expensive performance for a cause they barely understood and would forget by morning.

The rest of your week had been a blur. You’d been summoned back to the research center on short notice after whispers of a possible breakthrough with the experimental antidote for Joker venom. The work demanded everything—your mind, your focus, your hours. You buried yourself in it so completely that you forgot to text Dick back.

Every day bled into the next. You’d wake up, lecture, research, eat whatever you could find, then collapse into bed just to do it all over again. You hadn’t even remembered the gala until Anthony brought it up casually over coffee, asking if you’d found a dress yet.

Of course you hadn’t.

That was quickly remedied. You found a gown the next day—a royal blue silk piece that clung in all the right places, elegant without being excessive, alluring without trying too hard. Thankfully, you’d already written your speech weeks ago. All that was left was to show up, smile, speak, and survive.

Crowds were never your thing. But years of standing at the front of lecture halls and commanding the attention of restless students had toughened you. You gave the speech. You even got applause. And then?

Then it was just a matter of making it through the next hour before executing a flawless Irish goodbye.

Champagne helped. You snagged a flute from a passing waiter with a practiced ease, the cold glass soothing against your fingers as you weaved toward the buffet. If there was one redeeming quality about rich people—it was their taste in food.

You’d just finished fixing your plate when you turned, nearly colliding with someone.

Your heart jumped as you caught the edge of your dish just in time, the food threatening to topple. “Oh my god! I’m so so—”

You looked up.

Ocean blue eyes met yours.

“Dick!” you breathed, startled. “I didn’t expect you to be here.”

His gaze swept down before he could stop it, drawn to the way the deep royal blue hugged your frame. You caught the subtle shift in his expression—the quick darkening of his eyes when they landed on the dress. It was like the universe had chosen that shade with him in mind. 

“Wow,” he murmured. “You look… beautiful. That blue, it suits you.”

You felt the heat crawl up your neck and fought the urge to blush. “Thank you.”

“You never texted me back,” he said, his voice softer now, more intimate over the clinking of glasses and hum of chatter.

You gave a small sigh. “I meant to. I really did. But the lab thinks we might be close to something with the antidote. I’ve barely had time to breathe, let alone check my phone.”

It wasn’t a lie. You had been buried in work. Buried in pressure.

But still, the guilt gnawed at you.

Because the truth was—while your phone sat forgotten under a pile of lab reports and takeout containers—you’d also been quietly freaking out over the fact that you might be accidentally dating two men at once.

You’d meant to text Dick back. You just… got busy.

And maybe, a little, you panicked.

A slow breath escaped him—relief, not frustration. “Thank God. I thought I’d blown it.”

You smirked, tilting your head. “Not yet.”

That crooked, boyish grin spread across his face. “Lucky for me.”

You turned back toward the buffet, needing a break from how he sent butterflies fluttering in your stomach with just a smile. “You hungry?” you asked, more to distract yourself than him. “Because I’m staking claim on that last crab puff.”

“I’m more of a visual feast kind of guy tonight,” he said, still looking at you.

You shot him a look over your shoulder, feigning annoyance. “You’re laying it on a little thick, Grayson.”

“Am I?” he asked, following you to a quieter corner of the ballroom with two drinks in hand. “Maybe. But you disappeared on me for a week. I thought I had to make it count.”

You paused, that twinge of guilt returning. “I really didn’t mean to ghost you. The team’s been on edge—we might finally have something, and I just got swept up in it.”

“I know,” he said, and there was no bitterness in his voice. Only quiet understanding. “It’s one of the things I like about you. When you care, you commit.”

His gaze dipped again, lingering on your dress—on the way the silk hugged your frame and shimmered under the soft lights. His voice dropped, lower now, rough around the edges. “But I’m glad I ran into you tonight. I almost didn’t come… but seeing you in that? Definitely made this night worth it.”

You raised a brow, amused. “What—the dress?”

There was a slight pause. A flicker in his expression. His jaw tightened just a touch before he said, “The dress looks amazing on you. But I like see you in that colour.”

You tilted your head. “Why do I get the feeling there’s something you’re not saying?”

His smile returned, this time with a more wolfish edge—pleased, like he was enjoying a secret you weren’t in on. “Maybe I just have a thing for blue.”

You bit your lip, a playful glint in your eye. “Noted.”

Something shifted in his eyes then. Just slightly. The playfulness remained, but softened at the edges by something more grounded. “You know I meant what I said earlier. I know you’ve got a million things demanding your time. But I don’t mind waiting. I just want to be in the running.”

You looked at him carefully, studying the softness in his eyes, the quiet steadiness in the way he held himself. Your heart beat a little too fast now.

He wasn’t pushing for more than you could give. He wasn’t asking you to slow down or shrink yourself. Wasn’t trying to change your pace or compromise who you were. He just… wanted to show up.

To be present. To try.

And that only made the guilt twist deeper in your chest.

Because he was just so damn sweet. Kind in that quiet, consistent way that crept up on you when you weren’t looking.

And even if the two of you hadn’t talked about exclusivity���even if this thing between you was still unnamed—it felt like you were sneaking around behind his back. Like you were keeping a secret from someone who didn’t deserve to be kept in the dark.

You weren’t doing anything wrong, not technically.

But it didn’t feel right, either.

Not when he looked at you like that.

But before you could find the words to answer or worse spill your guts, he pivoted.

“How long do you usually last at these things?” he asked, a curious edge returning to his tone.

You pushed the fluttery feeling away to give him a dry look over the rim of your glass. “Depends. Long enough to make the speech, shake a few hands, charm a donor or two… and stick around just long enough to sneak a second helping of whatever dessert they’re hoarding at the buffet.”

His mouth curved. “Strategic.”

“Survival,” you corrected.

He leaned a little closer, playful but genuinely interested. “And tonight?”

You glanced at the glittering ballroom, the swirl of tuxedos and designer gowns, and sighed. “About the same plan. I was getting ready to dine and dash within the next ten minutes.”

He let out a low, amused breath. “Guess I intercepted your escape.”

You quirked a brow. “Is that what this is? A rescue mission?”

“Depends,” he said, swirling the amber in his glass. “You want to be rescued?”

You didn’t answer right away.

Instead, you let your eyes scan the room once more—the same painted smiles, the same tired performances. And then you looked back at him, at the ease in his expression, the sincerity beneath the teasing.

A slow smile curled at your lips. “I might be open to it.”

“So then…” he said, his voice dipping again, mischief returning to his eyes. “What do you say we get out of here?”

You raised a brow, wary but amused. “What did you have in mind?”

He leaned in just enough to send a shiver down your spine. “How about we go on that second date of ours?”

You took a second, letting the offer hang there, watching him—how easily the flirtation sat beside the sincerity. And how hard it was not to fall a little deeper into both.

You reached for your clutch, sliding it under your arm. “Lead the way.”

You had no idea what to expect as you slid into Dick’s car and let him pull out onto the dim Gotham streets, the city a blur of gold and shadow through the windshield. Streetlights flickered overhead in slow pulses, casting moving patterns across the interior as you settled into the passenger seat.

“I really hope you were telling the truth and you’re not actually a kidnapper,” you teased, shooting him a sidelong glance.

He smirked without missing a beat, eyes still on the road. “Well, if I were, this would be the smoothest abduction in Gotham history.”

You snorted. “Great. That’s reassuring.”

He glanced at you then, amusement dancing in his eyes. “You don’t seem too worried.”

You bite your lip and give him a gentle grin, “Maybe I’m beginning to not mind if the kidnapper is you.”

There was a pause. A beat of silence where your own words hung in the air—long enough for the both of you to register just how ridiculous they sounded.

“Oh my god,” you groaned, covering your face with your hand as a laugh bubbled out. “That was so bad.”

Dick burst out laughing, shaking his head. ���That was terrible. You really tried to make that smooth.”

“Well, not everyone is as smooth as you, Casanova,” you shot back, grinning as you dropped your hand.

He glanced over, mock offended. “Casanova? That’s slander. I’m at least a few degrees more charming than that guy.”

You rolled your eyes, still smiling. “God, you’re insufferable.”

“And yet,” he said, eyes flicking over to meet yours, “here you are. In my car. Laughing at my jokes. Questioning your life choices.”

You smirked. “I’ve made a lot of questionable life choices. You, however, are definitely not one of them.”

That earned you a curious look. “Oh yeah? What was the worst?”

You leaned your head back against the seat, sighing. “My ex was pretty bad. And… so was my family.”

That made his eyebrows tick up, but his voice stayed easy. “Oh yeah? Me and my old man used to go at it all the time when I was younger. We were like lit matches and gasoline.”

You let out a dry laugh. “Brother, for me. We lost our parents when I was still a kid. It just… unraveled after that.”

His smile faded. “I’m sorry,” he said, quieter now. “I know how that feels. I was adopted after losing both of mine.”

Your eyes met his, and in that moment, something unspoken passed between you. Grief, loss, understanding.

“I’m so sorry,” you said softly.

Dick offered a small smile. “Yeah. Me too. Me and my adoptive dad… we got better with time. And I gained some brothers along the way that I wouldn’t trade for anything—even if they drive me up the wall half the time.”

You huffed a small laugh. “Brothers are the bane of any existence.”

But the smile didn’t last. It slipped, just slightly, before you looked away. “Yeah, me and my brother never got to that point. But… I met Milo and Anthony. They’re practically my family now. Best friends a girl could ask for.”

Dick caught the shift in your tone—the careful way you redirected, the weight tucked behind your words. He didn’t push. He could tell you were still trying, still deciding how much of yourself to share. And he didn’t want to scare that trust away, even if you had information he needed.

“Well,” he said gently, “I hope I get to meet them one day. And properly thank them—for pushing you into going on that date with me.”

You snorted. “You say that now, but they’re nuts. Be prepared to be shamelessly objectified by Milo, who is already talking about rating your ass. Meanwhile, Anthony will be pouring drinks before you sit down and somehow get you blackout drunk on fruity cocktails.”

Dick grinned, completely unbothered. “My ass is out of this world. I welcome the judgment.”

You stared at him. “You want to be objectified?”

“I’m just saying—if Milo’s going to rate me, I want that five-star Yelp review.” He leaned back, smug as hell. “Bonus points if he uses the word phenomenal, juicy, perfect—”

“Oh my God, I get it!” you laughed, lightly smacking his shoulder.

He shot you a bright, unrepentant grin.

“Don’t worry,” he added smoothly, “he can admire it all he wants. You’re the only one who gets to touch it.”

Your laugh caught in your throat for half a second—equal parts flustered and amused.

“Oh my god,” you muttered again, this time under your breath, as heat crept up your neck.

Dick just wiggled his eyebrows. “I’m just setting expectations.”

“Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves,” you said, rolling your eyes—though the corner of your mouth tugged upward, betraying your smile. “You’re just lucky you’re not bad company, Grayson.”

He shot you a lazy grin. “Careful—keep talking like that, and I might start thinking you actually like having me around.”

You smiled to yourself as you looked out the window for a moment, watching Gotham slip past—familiar, but somehow quieter tonight. It was easy with him. Too easy.

The car rolled to a stoplight, and for a moment the only sound was the soft hum of jazz on the radio. You glanced out the window, but curiosity tugged your gaze back to him.

“So…” you started, lips curving. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going, or are you just hoping I’ll keep playing along out of sheer boredom?”

He tapped the steering wheel idly with one hand. “Where’s the fun in giving it away?”

You narrowed your eyes. “You realize this is how horror movies start, right?”

He chuckled. “Relax. No horror. No creepy cabin in the woods. No surprises in the trunk. Just a solid Plan B for people who hate galas.”

You raised a brow, intrigued despite yourself. “Plan B, huh?”

He shot you a quick grin as the light turned green. “Trust me. You’ll like it.”

And oddly… you did.

You didn’t question him as he parked, or when he came around to open your door with a conspiratorial smile. You didn’t pull away when he gently reached for your hand, guiding you across a quiet rooftop entrance, the night air brushing your skin. Instead, you found yourself smiling—giddy, uncharacteristically so—when he stepped behind you and carefully covered your eyes with his palms.

“You’re really committing to this,” you murmured.

“That’s how surprises work,” he said, his breath warm near your ear. 

Surprisingly, you weren’t nervous. He held you steady, each step guided with care, and you knew—instinctively—that he wouldn’t let you fall. There was something grounding in the way he moved with you.

“Alright,” he murmured beside you, his voice low. “Ready?”

You nodded.

His hands slipped away.

It took a second for your eyes to adjust. But when they did, your breath caught.

A full trapeze rig stood before you, framed by a canopy of soft, golden fairy lights that glittered overhead like suspended stars. A soft projector spun slow, dreamy patterns of light across the floor—muted swirls of color like something out of a dream. 

 In the dim glow, a faded wooden sign came into view.

Haley’s Circus.

The space smelled faintly of chalk, clean rope, and wood polished with time. High ceilings arched above, draped in shadow, and at the center of it all—your very own private circus act.

You turned toward him, wide-eyed. “What is this?”

He stood with his hands in his pockets, watching your reaction like he was trying to memorize it.  

“Just a place I come to,” he said quietly. “When I need time for myself.”

You looked back at the trapeze. At the soft glow of lights. The hush of the space. The quiet magic that lived in the bones of the building.

“This is…” you breathed, eyes wide as you took it all in. “It’s beautiful.”

Dick smiled—but it wasn’t the usual flirtatious grin he’d given you. This one was quieter. Softer. More earnest.

“You want to go up?” he asked.

Your head snapped toward him. “Wait—seriously?”

He nodded once, casually. “Why not?”

“I mean, I’ve never even touched one of those before,” you said, eyes darting to the trapeze rig. “Is that… safe?”

He stepped closer, voice low and easy. “Don’t worry. I’ll catch you.”

You blinked, his words settling into your chest like a promise with weight behind it. He wasn’t teasing. Wasn’t just showing off.

You studied him for a moment longer, then bit your lip—half-uncertain, half-thrilled. “Promise?”

His gaze didn’t waver. “Promise.”

And somehow, you believed him.

He guided you to the ladder, steadying you as you climbed. At the platform, he helped you position your hands on the trapeze bar, giving you a few quick instructions—his voice calm, confident, just enough to settle your nerves. Then he offered a wink and climbed down, making his way to the opposite swing.

You watched him move with fluid ease, like the rig was an extension of him. As he began to swing back and forth, his body weight shifting effortlessly, you let out a nervous laugh.

“Who knew you were a circus kid.”

He grinned mid-swing, his legs pumping effortlessly. “My secret talent. Now are you gonna keep stalling, or are you gonna swing?”

Your hands gripped the bar tighter. “You’re gonna catch me, right?”

“I’ve got you,” he said without hesitation.

You took a breath—deep and sharp—and jumped.

Air rushed past you as you swung forward. Across from you, Dick leaned back on his bar, flipping upside down like it was second nature.

“Let go!” he called.

With a small yell and your heart in your throat, you did.

For a split second, there was nothing—no ground, no sense of direction, just gravity yanking you down and adrenaline surging up. Then—

Strong hands caught your arms midair.

He caught you.

You dangled there, breathless, eyes wide, your weight suspended only by his grip. The two of you swung together for a moment, the motion smooth and steady.

Then he looked at you and smiled. “Ready?”

“For what?” you asked, still catching your breath.

He winked.

Before you could respond, he let go of the bar.

You shrieked, the sound breaking out of you in a wild, startled laugh as the two of you dropped in a freefall, crashing into the net below. Your body bounced high, weightless for one giddy moment before settling. Another laugh—pure delight this time—escaped you.

As the movement calmed, you rolled to the side just as he rolled toward you. Your arm found its way across his chest, anchoring you in the quiet aftermath. Breath mingled. Laughter faded. His body was warm beneath your arm, his pulse steady beneath your fingers.

You met his gaze, heart still racing for a very different reason now. You bit your lip—less out of nerves, more to keep yourself from smiling too much.

“Hi.”

His grin widened. “Hi.”

Your body leaned in before you could stop it, and he met you halfway, your lips  met—softly at first, testing the waters. Dick’s kiss was gentle, teasing and curious. His hand slid behind your head, fingers threading through your hair as he deepened it, his body shifting closer until you felt the warmth of him press against you. 

Then, with the kind of grace that should’ve been impossible on a net, he rolled the two of you over without breaking the kiss, settling above you. He smiled playfully into the kiss.

A quiet moan escaped your lips as his hands skimmed down your sides, slow and sure. You arched into him, your own hands exploring—chest, back, the lines of lean muscle beneath his shirt. Your fingers drifted toward his waistband, hungry for more—

But then his kiss faltered.

Just for a breath.

He shifted, pulling back slightly, just enough for you to notice. You froze, blinking up at him wondering if you did something wrong. 

He sighed as if he was physically pained, forehead lowering until it rested against yours.

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” he said quietly, his voice rough with restraint. “Because, trust me, I really want to. It’s just…” He exhaled slowly. “These last few years, I haven’t really dated anyone. It’s always just been quick,, sleep with them and move on. And I don’t want that with you.”

You stayed quiet, watching the emotion flicker across his face as he spoke.

“I like you,” he said, softer now. “And I want to do this right. Not some quick romp in public on a trapeze net—tempting as that is.”

Your expression softened. A slow smile formed as you leaned up and kissed him—gentle, grateful, warm. “That might be the sweetest thing anyone’s said to me.”

He smiled, a little bashful, a little relieved.

“I can wait,” you added with a wicked glint in your eye. “But just saying—fucking on a trapeze net could be fun. It’s pretty bouncy.”

Dick groaned and dropped his face into the crook of your neck. “You are an evil woman.”

You laughed, threading your fingers through his hair. “And yet, here you are.”

“Yeah,” he muttered, lips brushing your skin. “Here I am. Completely doomed.”

WAYNE MANSION

Dick was still riding the high from the night before when he strolled into the manor the next morning, hoodie half-zipped, grin practically glued to his face. He hadn’t slept much—and he didn’t care. Not after that date.

He was passing the kitchen when he spotted Duke slouched at the counter in pajamas, sleepily shoveling cereal into his mouth. The newest member of the family, still adjusting to life under a roof full of vigilantes. After what Joker did to his parents, no one blamed him for being guarded—but Dick liked him. He was smart, grounded, and had a good heart.

“Morning, Duke,” Dick greeted, casually reaching for the coffee pot.

“Hey, Dick. Cute date from last night,” Duke replied through a mouthful of cereal.

Dick froze mid-pour.

Slowly, very slowly, he turned toward the younger boy. “What?”

Duke blinked up at him confused, spoon halfway to his mouth. “Huh? Oh—Jason and Tim were watching your back. Y’know. Surveillance. Can never be too careful with people in Gotham.”

There was a pause. One heartbeat. Two.

Duke paused, frowning. “Everything okay?”

Dick forced a smile that was all teeth and no warmth. “Everything’s fine. And… yeah. She’s cute.”

Duke gave him a cautious nod, clearly sensing the shift but not quite sure why.

There was a beat of silence before Dick spoke again—sounding way too casual.

“Hey, are those two still around?” he asked, sipping his coffee. “Jason and Tim? Just wanna make sure they didn’t catch anything… concerning on surveillance.”

Duke hesitated. “Uh… yeah. Pretty sure they’re still in the cave.”

Dick nodded once, finishing the rest of his coffee in one long, controlled sip. “Great.”

Jason and Tim.

They were dead men.

“Thanks, Duke!”

“You’re… welcome?” Duke replied slowly, brows drawing together. But Dick was already gone.

Coffee mug still in hand like the picture of composure, Dick punched in the code and descended into the cave—cool air rising to meet him, fluorescent lights flickering to life as he reached the base of the platform.

He spotted them instantly.

Jason was leaned back in a chair, boots kicked up on the console, chewing on something that looked suspiciously like leftover gala dessert. Tim sat beside him, hunched over a monitor with his usual half-dead focus, a headset slung lazily around his neck. They looked comfortable.

They wouldn’t be for long.

“Morning,” Dick said pleasantly as he stepped into view, voice smooth as glass.

Jason rolled his eyes. “Morning.”

Tim smirked faintly over the rim of his mug. “Surprised you’re even awake.”

Dick smiled. 

Jason blinked, eyebrows pulling together as he sat up slightly. “Wait—why are you smiling like that?”

“I was just thinking,” Dick said, stepping closer, still maddeningly calm. “How lucky I am to have two very thoughtful, very observant little brothers who care enough to watch my back.”

Jason and Tim exchanged a glance. A silent, oh-shit glance.

The smile dropped as he levelled a glare at them. “I can’t believe you two spied on my date. We had an agreement Jason!”

“It’s a good thing I was watching because you nearly broke our deal. You kissed her!” Jason fired back defensively.

“So did you!” Dick barked. “We agreed not to sleep with her—not that we couldn’t kiss her!”

Jason huffed, crossing his arms. “You were way more into it.”

“Oh, I’m sorry—should I not have been? Should I have called a time-out and asked for your permission?” Dick snapped, sarcasm curling sharp around every word. He huffed, shaking his head. “And what would you have done if there was some action? Called in the GCPD? Batman?”

“No!” Jason barked—but the beat of hesitation was just long enough.

Dick blinked, disbelief hitting hard. “I can’t believe you actually thought about it!”

“Maybe I’d take you out,” Jason muttered under his breath.

Dick’s eyes narrowed. “What was that?”

“Nothing!”

Before either of them could lunge, a voice cut through the tension like a batarang.

“Dick,” Bruce said as he strode into the cave, the weight of his presence immediately dragging the cave back into order. “What did you find out from her?”

Dick straightened immediately, his mouth opening—and then freezing.

Jason, of course, noticed.

A slow, smug grin curled at his mouth as he stepped to the side, folding his arms and practically glowing with glee. “Yeah, Dick,” he echoed mockingly. “What did you find out?”

Dick glared daggers at him before turning to Bruce, carefully schooling his tone. “I need more time. I can’t just ask about her brother outright—she barely knows me. And it’s obviously a sensitive topic.”

Bruce studied him with that unreadable Bat-stare, then gave a single, measured nod. “Fine. But don’t take too long.”

Dick exhaled, barely hiding his relief.

Then—

“You know her too?” Bruce asked, turning to Jason.

Jason blinked, then nodded casually. “Yeah. I’ve talked to her.”

Dick scoffed. Rolling his eyes and crossing his arms.

“Good,” Bruce said without missing a beat. “You look into it too. Better to have two people on the case.”

“B!” Dick’s voice shot up an octave as he whipped toward him, incredulous. “Are you seriously assigning him to this?!” 

He’d been banking on this case as the perfect excuse—to spend time with her, to ease into trust, to keep Jason away under the neat cover of intel gathering. But now Jason had the same damn excuse. 

“He’s already made contact,” Bruce said, completely unmoved. “We use the resources we have. We need to find her brother before Joker finds him first.”

Jason’s grin widened into a full-blown smirk. “Yeah, Dick,” he echoed, tone syrup-slick. “We use the resources we have.”

Dick’s jaw flexed, his gaze narrowing like he was weighing just how fast he could get away with a punch to the throat.

Jason clapped his hands together, “You got it, old man.”

Dick looked like he might actually throw something at him—batarang, chair, whatever was within reach—but Bruce was already turning away, heading back toward the elevator with the kind of finality that said discussion over.

Tim, still in his chair, popped a chip into his mouth and muttered under his breath, “This is better than HBO.”

“Don’t you dare enjoy this,” Dick hissed, his glare locked on Jason.

“Oh, I’m enjoying the hell out of this,” Jason said, practically vibrating with smug satisfaction. He leaned in just a little, voice lower, mock-conspiratorial. “Remind me what we said, Dickie? May the best man for her win, right?”

Dick’s jaw clenched.

Jason winked. Then turned on his heel and sauntered toward the bikes like he hadn’t just poured gasoline on a lit fire.

Tim didn’t look up from his screen. “You two do realize she’s probably going to kill you when she finds out about all of this… right?”

“Yup,” Jason called over his shoulder. “But its worth it.” 

Dick exhaled sharply through his nose, dragging a hand down his face. He didn’t even want to think about what would happen when she inevitably found out.

Right now, between him and Jason…

This meant war.

← Previous Chapter ✯ Next Chapter →

Taglist: @mei-simp, @sept3mberchild, @a-brilliante-mariposa, @feralwolfkat, @mercuryathens, @beepboopcowboy, @lordbugs, @coffeemin, @nikkeora, @yuyuti02, @oooof-ifellforyou, @neogogori, @thatoneloser8371, @rtyuy1346, @nkryuki, @tinybrie, @smithieandy, @yuhhh03, @kazuuhali, @saturnalya, @mrbrightsides25-blog, @kimm4710, @diseasedclitoris, @nutella-hitler, @saltyelise, @justheretochillabitlowkey, @sproutytoad, @uselessnewt, @itsmekalou, @whorrorbellee, @starstruckkenobi, @corpsedogs, @yan-love-reader, @alishii, @sugugori, @gojosnutgobbler

[jhyoos]

Off Limits

chapter eight, nine, ten : sorrows and prayers

soccer player vi x talis reader

mentions: heavy angst, mentions of drug use, romance, timebomb, modern au, college au, lesbianism, caitlyn being a menace, bullying, smut at the end

notes: i merged all the chapters together so veryyy long chapter

<- previous chapter

The energy in the gymnasium was electric, the noise of the packed bleachers reverberating through the air as students cheered, chanted, and hyped up the football team for their upcoming game. It was another Friday during football season, which meant one thing—a pep rally.

You stood in formation with your squad, dressed in your cheer uniform, your hair perfectly styled, makeup flawless, and yet, despite looking the part, you felt completely out of it. The past week had been exhausting—not physically, but emotionally. You hadn’t spoken to Vi, hadn’t answered her texts or returned her calls. Avoidance was the only way to keep your secret buried. If Caitlyn ever made good on her threat, if Vi ever found out the truth about your past, everything would come crumbling down.

It wasn’t fear of what your classmates would think—college students were notorious for having their own vices. But Vi? The thought of what she would think made your stomach churn. Would she look at you differently? Would she see you as weak? As a liability? The idea alone made your throat tighten.

Your squad shifted as the announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers, calling the cheer team to the court. The deafening roar of the crowd was overwhelming, a mix of hoots and hollers echoing through the gym as you and the squad stepped forward. The energy should have been exhilarating, but your mind was elsewhere.

Your eyes swept the sea of faces in the bleachers, scanning rapidly, searching for that familiar short pink hair, that cocky smirk, that intense gaze that always found you first. Is she here? The thought buzzed through your mind, but before you could catch a glimpse of her, the opening beats of your routine’s music blasted through the speakers.

There was no more time to think. No more time to search for her. You took a deep breath, plastered on your best cheerleader smile, and launched into the routine—just another performance in more ways than one.

The moment the music started, your body moved on autopilot. Muscle memory took over as you executed every move with precision—high kicks, sharp arm movements, and perfectly timed tumbles. You cheered, clapped, and flipped, your smile unwavering despite the storm brewing inside you. The crowd’s energy was electric, but your focus was elsewhere.

As you hit the final pose, the gym erupted into cheers. You straightened, hands on your hips, chest rising and falling as you caught your breath. But your eyes were back to scanning the crowd, heart pounding in anticipation.

And then—you saw her.

Vi was there, standing near the back of the gym, arms crossed over her chest. She wasn’t cheering, wasn’t hyped like everyone else. No—her eyes were locked on you, intense and unreadable.

You felt a lump form in your throat.

You should’ve been relieved that she was here. That she showed up. But instead, all you felt was a painful, suffocating mix of emotions. Guilt. Fear. Longing.

You tore your eyes away from her just as the football team was called onto the court. Jayce, along with the rest of the team, jogged out, hyping up the crowd. The energy spiked again, and you forced yourself to clap and cheer like nothing was wrong.

The rally carried on, the gym pulsing with excitement, but all you could feel was Vi’s gaze burning into you from across the room. You hadn’t spoken in a week, yet she was still here. Still watching. Still waiting.

And you didn’t know what scared you more—the possibility of her leaving…or the fact that she hadn’t yet.

After the pep rally, while most of the students funneled out of the gym, your cheer coach waved you over. “You and Sarah, stay back for a few minutes. We need a picture with the soccer team for the school website,” she said.

You sighed internally but nodded, adjusting your skirt as you followed your teammate toward the center of the court. The soccer team was already gathered, the golden trophy gleaming under the bright lights. They had won their big game a few days ago, and now it was time for the school to flaunt their victory.

You and Sarah took your spots, kneeling between the trophy as the soccer team loomed behind you. The camera flashed as the photographer took multiple shots, instructing you all to smile and hold steady. You kept your expression neutral, feeling Vi standing just behind you. Her presence was suffocating, but you refused to turn around.

After the final picture, you shot up to your feet, smoothing out your uniform. Sarah did the same, muttering something about needing to fix her hair. You were just about to step away when, at the worst possible moment, Jayce decided to be his usual annoying self.

“You actually did good,” he said, crossing his arms with a smug smirk. “Surprised they could even lift you up.”

You whipped around to face him, scoffing. “Wow, Jayce. You just had to ruin the moment, huh?”

Your brother shrugged, completely unfazed. “I’m just saying, you’ve been eating real good lately.”

You smacked his arm playfully, rolling your eyes. “Yeah? And you’ve been running too much. Starting to look like a damn twig.”

Jayce laughed, throwing an arm around your shoulders, but as he did, you caught a glimpse of Vi watching the exchange. Her face was unreadable, her arms crossed, her jaw clenched.

She still hadn’t said a word to you.

And it was killing you.

You were one of the last to leave the locker room, dragging your tired body through the door after stuffing your cheer uniform into your duffel. Dressed in low-rise sweatpants and a baby tee, your hair tied up in a quick ponytail, you felt drained from the long day. The only thing on your mind was going home, showering, and passing out in bed.

That was until you saw her.

Vi stood outside, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over her chest. The second her eyes landed on you, she pushed off and walked straight toward you, her expression serious.

“What’s up? Why have you been avoiding me?” she asked, getting right to the point.

Your stomach twisted. You glanced around, seeing too many students still lingering nearby, their conversations filling the air. The last thing you wanted was for this to turn into a public scene.

“Can we not do this here?” you sighed. “Let’s go off campus, please.”

Vi narrowed her eyes slightly, but after a moment, she nodded. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Without another word, she turned and started walking toward the parking lot. You swallowed hard and followed, knowing there was no way you could keep avoiding this conversation forever.

You sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window as Vi drove off campus. The silence between you was thick, almost suffocating. You could feel her gaze flickering to you every few seconds, her grip on the wheel tightening.

"Alright," Vi finally said, pulling into an empty parking lot and cutting the engine. "We're off campus. Now tell me—what the hell is going on?"

You hesitated, gnawing at the inside of your cheek. "It's Caitlyn," you admitted, still unable to meet her eyes.

Vi scoffed, leaning back in her seat. "Figures. What'd she do now?"

You swallowed hard, your fingers gripping the hem of your hoodie. "She has something against me. Something serious. That’s why I’ve been avoiding you."

Vi furrowed her brows, her jaw tightening. "What kind of 'something'?"

You exhaled sharply, finally turning to look at her. "It's not just some high school drama, Vi. This is serious. She—she has videos of me. From before." You couldn’t bring yourself to say it out loud, but Vi’s expression shifted, her teasing demeanor gone.

Vi’s eyes searched yours. "Before," she echoed, realization settling in.

You nodded. "I don’t know how she got them, but she did. She knows. And she’s holding it over my head like it’s some game."

Vi’s hands balled into fists in her lap. "That fucking bitch," she muttered.

You sighed, leaning your head back against the seat. "I feel disgusting, Vi. Like all of that shit I went through is just… ammo for her. I can’t let anyone else see those videos. I just—" You inhaled shakily. "I can't let you see them."

Vi was quiet for a moment before she reached over, her fingers brushing against yours. "Hey," she said softly. "Look at me."

You hesitated before turning to her. Her expression wasn’t one of pity—it was something deeper.

"I don’t care what’s in those videos," she said. "I care about you. And if she thinks she can use that shit against you, then she’s got another thing coming."

Your chest tightened. "Vi—"

"I'm serious." Vi squeezed your hand. "You're not alone in this, alright?"

The air was thick with excitement as the football game was about to begin. The cheer squad was already making their way out to the field, but before you could step onto the sidelines, a firm grip on your wrist yanked you back. You turned, already knowing who it was before your eyes even landed on her.

Caitlyn.

She stood there, arms crossed, eyes cold and calculating as she tilted her head at you. “You really think I wouldn’t find out?” she said, her voice laced with quiet amusement.

You yanked your wrist free, glaring at her. “Find out what?”

“Don’t play dumb,” she scoffed, stepping closer. “You’re still talking to Vi. I have eyes everywhere.”

Your jaw clenched. Of course, she did. It wasn’t just about Vi—it was about control. Caitlyn thrived on knowing everything, using it as leverage to bend people to her will.

You took a step forward, standing your ground. “So what? You gonna run to Jayce? Show him your little blackmail collection?”

A smirk curled at the corner of her lips. “If I have to.”

You let out a bitter laugh, shaking your head. “You’re a horrible person, Caitlyn.”

Her smirk faltered, her expression hardening. “I’m protecting Vi.”

“Protecting her?” You scoffed, rage bubbling up in your chest. “From what? From someone who actually gives a damn about her?”

Caitlyn narrowed her eyes. “From someone who’s going to ruin her.”

Your fists clenched at your sides, nails digging into your palms. You still took a deep breath and calmed yourself down.

For a moment, neither of you spoke. The tension between you two was suffocating, but you didn’t waver. Finally, Caitlyn exhaled sharply through her nose, taking a small step back.

“This isn’t over,” she muttered, before turning on her heel and walking away.

You stood there, your pulse hammering in your ears, before finally shaking yourself out of it and heading out to the field. You weren’t going to let her ruin this night.

Not a chance.

The stadium lights blazed down on the field as you stepped onto the sidelines, the roar of the crowd drowning out the thoughts swirling in your mind. You forced yourself to take a deep breath, rolling your shoulders back. Not tonight. You weren’t letting Caitlyn get into your head.

The cheer squad lined up, the routine already second nature to you as you watched the football team huddle on the field. You caught a glimpse of Jayce sitting in the stands with his teammates, Vi included. She wasn’t looking at the game—she was looking at you.

Your heart skipped.

But before you could let yourself linger on it, the music started, and muscle memory took over. You threw yourself into the routine, every jump, kick, and move fluid and powerful. Cheers erupted from the crowd as you and the squad executed a flawless sequence, and for a moment—just a moment—you forgot about everything else.

As the performance ended, you beamed, catching Jinx and Ekko cheering wildly from the stands. You grinned at them, shooting them a playful wink before jogging over to grab a sip of water. The adrenaline thrummed through your veins, making your hands tremble slightly as you unscrewed the cap.

“You killed that,” Jinx called from the bleachers, hanging over the railing with a grin.

“Obviously,” you shot back with a smirk.

But the moment of victory was short-lived. As you turned, your eyes landed on Caitlyn again, lingering at the edge of the field, arms crossed as she watched you with an unreadable expression.

You ignored her.

The stadium was alive with excitement, the halftime show just about to begin. The cheer squad was in position, the marching band ready to play, and the crowd buzzing with energy. But before anything could start, the entire stadium was plunged into darkness. A hush fell over the crowd, murmurs of confusion rippling through the stands.

Then, the giant screen flickered on, illuminating the field in an eerie glow. At first, it was just a black screen. Then, in bold white letters, your name appeared.

Your blood ran cold.

You barely heard the confused gasps and whispers from the crowd over the roaring in your ears. Your heart pounded violently against your ribcage as your eyes immediately darted to Caitlyn.

She was standing near the bleachers, arms crossed over her chest, a smirk stretching across her lips.

"Turn it off." Your voice came out shaky, barely above a whisper.

Caitlyn tilted her head, pretending not to hear you. Then, with an exaggerated shrug, she turned back to the screen.

The video started playing.

The world around you seemed to shrink, your vision tunneling as the first clip rolled. The dim, grainy footage of you—your past self—filled the screen. The shaky camera, the reckless nights, the dark circles under your eyes, the desperate way you moved. The people you were with. The things you were doing.

A wave of suffocating nausea washed over you.

The stadium was dead silent for a moment before the murmurs turned into scattered gasps.

"No, no, no..." You took a shaky step back, your breath coming in short, shallow bursts. The noise, the lights, the weight of hundreds—no, thousands—of eyes on you, it was too much. Your lungs felt like they were collapsing, your body trembling as the world started closing in.

Your teammates turned to you, their expressions unreadable through your haze of panic. Some people in the crowd had their phones out, recording.

You couldn’t do this.

You had to get out.

Ignoring the voices calling after you, ignoring the stunned and questioning looks, you turned on your heel and bolted off the field.

Your legs carried you blindly through the tunnel leading out of the stadium. The sound of the crowd faded behind you, your breath ragged, your pulse pounding in your ears.

Tears blurred your vision as you stumbled into the empty locker room, gripping onto the nearest bench for support. Your hands were shaking violently as you covered your face, gasping for air.

Everything you worked so hard to bury was out in the open now. Everyone saw.

And worst of all—Vi saw.

The locker room door slammed open as you stumbled inside, your breaths coming in shallow, rapid gasps. Your hands gripped the cool metal of the lockers, trying to ground yourself, but it was useless. The walls felt like they were closing in, the stadium noise muffled by the ringing in your ears.

You felt sick. Your past—your worst moments—plastered across the big screen for everyone to see. The judgment, the whispers, the looks. You could already hear them in your head.

Your legs gave out, and you slid to the floor, your body trembling as the sobs broke free from your chest.

Then, footsteps.

Heavy, fast, and filled with urgency.

"Hey, hey—" Vi’s voice was soft but firm as she knelt in front of you, her hands gently reaching for yours. "Breathe, baby. Just breathe, okay?"

You shook your head rapidly, your vision blurred with tears. "You—You saw it," you choked out, curling in on yourself. "Everyone saw it."

Vi’s jaw tightened, and she let out a shaky breath before cupping your face. "Yeah, I saw it. And? You think that changes anything for me?"

You flinched at her touch, pulling away. "It should," you whispered. "I—I was a mess, Vi. I was disgusting. You shouldn’t even want to look at me right now."

Vi’s brows furrowed, and she leaned in closer, refusing to let you pull away. "Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that."

You let out a bitter laugh between your sobs. "Why not? It’s true. I mean, Caitlyn was right—I’m just some stupid, broken girl who you—"

"Stop." Vi’s voice was suddenly sharp, her grip on your hands tightening. "I don’t give a damn what Caitlyn says. She doesn’t know you. I do."

You stared at her, your chest still rising and falling unevenly. "But—"

"I love you," Vi interrupted, her voice thick with emotion. "And nothing—not Caitlyn, not your past, not anything—is gonna change that."

Your breath hitched, and for a moment, all you could do was stare at her. Vi had never said those words so clearly before.

But still, doubt gnawed at you. "You say that now, but what if—what if you start seeing me differently? What if this—this changes everything?"

Vi exhaled sharply, then without hesitation, she pulled you into her arms, holding you so tightly it almost hurt. "The only thing that’s changing is how hard I’m gonna fight for you," she murmured against your hair.

Your body was still shaking, but for the first time since you ran out of the stadium, you felt a little less alone.

Vi wasn’t running. She wasn’t looking at you with pity or disgust. She was here, holding you together while you fell apart.

And right now, that was enough.

Ekko and Jinx rushed into the locker room, their faces etched with concern.

“Hey, hey,” Ekko said, crouching down beside you as Vi kept her hands on your shoulders. “Breathe, alright? We’re here.”

You were still gasping for air, shaking your head as tears streaked down your face. “It’s—it’s everywhere now. Everyone saw. I can’t—”

Jinx knelt beside you, rubbing your back. “Caitlyn’s a fucking snake for that,” she hissed. “But screw what people think, okay? You’ve come so far.”

Vi, still kneeling in front of you, reached for your hands, squeezing them tightly. “You’re not alone in this,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “I meant what I said. Nothing changes how I feel about you.”

Your chest still heaved, but their words grounded you, even if the panic still clawed at your throat. Ekko was watching you closely, the way he always did when you were spiraling. “You need air?” he asked.

You nodded weakly. Vi helped you up, keeping a protective hand on your waist. “Let’s go,” she murmured. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”

Vi guided you out of the locker room, her arm still firmly wrapped around your waist as Ekko and Jinx flanked your sides. The stadium was still loud, but in your head, everything was muffled—like you were underwater, drowning in the weight of what had just happened.

You were exposed.

Caitlyn had shown the entire school your past, your worst moments, the version of yourself you never wanted to be again.

Your breathing was still uneven, but you forced yourself to keep moving, gripping onto Vi’s jacket like it was the only thing keeping you from collapsing.

Once you were outside, where the air was cooler and the noise was more distant, you leaned against the brick wall of the building, squeezing your eyes shut.

Ekko crouched in front of you again. “Talk to me,” he urged gently. “What do you need?”

You swallowed hard, shaking your head. “I—I don’t know,” you admitted. “I just—I feel like I can’t breathe.”

Jinx cursed under her breath. “I swear I’ll kill her,” she muttered, pacing back and forth. “She had no right—”

“She did it because of me.” Vi’s voice was low, guilty.

You opened your eyes, looking at her through your blurry vision. “What?”

Vi ran a hand through her hair, her jaw clenched. “She’s been trying to push you away from me, hasn’t she?” She exhaled sharply. “Fuck. This is my fault.”

“No,” you whispered. “She did this to hurt me. To make sure I lost everything.”

Vi stared at you, her expression dark with anger, but beneath it was something softer—guilt, regret, something else you couldn’t quite place.

Ekko rubbed the back of his neck. “We need to handle this. Not just let her get away with it.”

Jinx nodded aggressively. “Yeah, we can’t let her win.”

But right now, you didn’t care about revenge or fighting back. You just wanted to disappear.

“I need to go home,” you muttered.

Vi immediately straightened. “I’ll take you.”

Ekko hesitated. “Are you sure? Maybe you should stay with someone tonight.”

You met Vi’s gaze, and for once, you saw nothing but sincerity in her eyes. “I’ll be okay,” you murmured.

Ekko didn’t look convinced, but he sighed. “Alright. But call me if anything.”

Jinx gave Vi a warning look before hugging you. “Don’t do anything stupid, got it?”

You managed a weak nod before Vi gently took your hand, leading you toward the parking lot.

As you walked, she squeezed your fingers, her voice soft when she spoke. “I meant what I said earlier,” she told you. “Nothing changes how I feel about you. Nothing.”

You didn’t respond. You didn’t know how to.

All you knew was that tonight, everything had changed.

The drive home was silent. Vi kept glancing at you, her fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white, but she didn’t push you to talk. You stared out the window, your mind replaying the video over and over again. The way the entire school saw your past. The whispers, the judgment—it was all going to follow you now.

When Vi pulled up to your apartment complex, you hesitated before opening the car door. The lights were on inside, meaning your mom was still awake. You weren’t sure if you were ready for this conversation, but it wasn’t like you had a choice.

Vi walked beside you, her presence grounding as you stepped through the front door. The moment you did, your mom looked up from the kitchen, immediately taking in your red-rimmed eyes and Vi’s tense stance.

“What happened?” she asked, concern laced in her voice.

You opened your mouth, but nothing came out. Vi stepped in. “Caitlyn,” she said simply. “She—she put up a video of her past. At the game. On the big screen.”

Your mother’s face darkened instantly. Her grip on the counter tightened as she exhaled sharply, as if trying to contain her anger. Then, after a beat, she looked at you, her voice softer. “Do you need to go back to Italy?”

The question hit you harder than you expected. It would be so easy to say yes. To pack your bags, book a flight, and leave all of this behind. Run from the stares, the whispers, the shame.

But then your eyes flickered to Vi. She wasn’t looking at you, but you could see the tension in her jaw, the way her shoulders stiffened, like she was already preparing herself for your answer.

You swallowed thickly before shaking your head. “No,” you said, your voice steadier than you felt. “I’m done running away from my problems.”

Your mother studied you for a moment, then nodded in understanding. “Alright,” she said softly. “But I need you to tell me if it gets too much. I don’t want you to go through this alone.”

You nodded, even though you weren’t sure you believed that talking about it would help.

“Go get some rest,” your mother said, reaching out to squeeze your hand before letting you go.

Vi didn’t say anything as she followed you upstairs. When you reached your room, you let out a heavy breath before closing the door behind you.

For a moment, you just stood there, staring at the floor, before finally whispering, “What am I supposed to do now?”

Vi sighed, stepping closer. “We figure it out,” she said. “Together.”

You looked up at her, searching her face for any sign of doubt. But there was none. Just quiet determination.

Vi sat on the edge of your bed, elbows resting on her knees, hands clasped together as she watched you. You sat across from her in your desk chair, hugging your knees to your chest. The weight of everything still pressed down on you, but Vi’s presence made it bearable.

“I know you don’t want to talk about it,” she started, her voice careful, “but I need to understand.”

You swallowed, fingers tightening around your knees. “What do you want to know?”

Vi hesitated before asking, “How bad was it?”

You exhaled slowly. “Bad,” you admitted. “It started small—pills here and there. Just something to take the edge off. Then it wasn’t just pills. It was whatever I could get my hands on.”

Vi stayed silent, letting you speak at your own pace.

“I thought I had control over it,” you continued, your voice barely above a whisper. “But addiction doesn’t work like that. It controls you. And the worst part?” You let out a bitter laugh. “I didn’t even care. Not until it nearly killed me.”

Vi’s jaw clenched, her hands tightening together. “And that’s when you went to Italy?”

You nodded. “Jayce, Ekko, my mom… they staged an intervention. I didn’t want to go, but they gave me no choice. I hated them for it at first, but…” You shook your head. “They saved my life.”

Vi looked at you with something unreadable in her expression. And then, carefully, she reached out, resting her hand on your knee. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, her voice rough with emotion. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Your throat tightened, and for the first time in a long time, you felt truly seen. No judgment. No pity. Just Vi, looking at you like you were still worth something.

She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair before looking back at you. “I meant what I said before,” she admitted. “That I love you.”

Your breath caught.

“I don’t care about your past. I don’t care about Caitlyn, or what anyone else thinks. I just—” She shook her head. “I just want to be with you. If you’ll have me.”

You didn’t hesitate.

You stood up from your chair, stepping between her legs, your hands cupping her face as you pressed your lips to hers.

Vi kissed you back immediately, her hands gripping your waist, pulling you closer. It wasn’t rushed or desperate—it was soft, slow, and full of everything you hadn’t been able to say out loud.

When you pulled away, your forehead rested against hers. “I love you too,” you whispered.

A slow, relieved smile spread across Vi’s face. “Yeah?”

You nodded. “Yeah.”

Vi exhaled a laugh, pressing another kiss to your lips before pulling you onto the bed with her, holding you close like she wasn’t planning on letting go anytime soon. And for the first time in a long time, you felt safe.

Vi’s hands roamed your waist, her fingers slipping beneath the hem of your shirt, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Your arms wrapped around her neck, deepening the kiss as you shifted onto her lap. The warmth of her body, the way her lips moved against yours—it made your head spin.

Vi’s grip tightened as she pulled you even closer, her tongue teasing yours, making your breath hitch. Her lips trailed down your jaw, her breath hot against your skin.

And then—

Knock. Knock.

You froze. Vi groaned in frustration, her forehead dropping against your shoulder. “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” she muttered.

You quickly scrambled off of her, adjusting your shirt and running a hand through your hair before heading for the door. When you opened it, your stomach dropped.

Jayce.

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes narrowing as he glanced past you into your room, where Vi was still sitting on your bed, looking very much caught.

Your heartbeat pounded in your ears.

Jayce exhaled, shaking his head. “So… this is why you’ve been acting weird?”

You swallowed hard. “Jayce—”

“No, no,” he cut you off, stepping into the room. “I mean, I should’ve known, right? The ‘project,’ the sneaking around, the stolen glances—” He turned to Vi, his expression unreadable. “How long?”

Vi stood up, standing her ground. “A while.”

Jayce scoffed. “Figures.” His gaze snapped back to you. “And you—when were you gonna tell me?”

You sighed, crossing your arms. “I don’t know, Jayce. Maybe when you stopped treating me like I’m made of glass.”

His jaw clenched. “That’s not fair.”

“No? Because ever since I came back, you’ve been waiting for me to mess up again,” you said, voice sharp. “I get it—you’re my big brother, you’re supposed to look out for me. But this?” You gestured between you and Vi. “This isn’t some reckless mistake.”

Jayce ran a hand down his face. “Do you even know what you’re doing?”

“Yes,” you said firmly.

Vi stepped beside you. “I care about her, man.”

Jayce looked between the two of you, frustration evident on his face. But there was something else, too—resignation. He sighed heavily. “Just… don’t make me regret trusting you,” he muttered, pointing at Vi.

Vi smirked. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Jayce rolled his eyes before turning back to you. “And you—be smart.”

You gave him a small smile. “I always am.”

He scoffed. “Yeah, okay.” Then, shaking his head, he turned toward the door. “Mom’s looking for you, by the way.”

You nodded, watching as he left, the door clicking shut behind him.

You turned to Vi, exhaling deeply. She grinned, wrapping an arm around your waist. “That could’ve gone worse.”

You huffed a laugh, leaning into her. “Could’ve gone better too.”

Vi pressed a kiss to your temple. “At least it’s out now.”

And strangely enough—you felt relieved.

You sighed, leaning into Vi for a moment before pulling back slightly. “You should probably go,” you murmured, brushing your fingers against her wrist. “I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”

Vi raised a brow, tilting her head. “You kicking me out?”

You huffed a small laugh, shaking your head. “No. Just… I need to talk to my mom and Jayce. And if you stay any longer, I might not want you to leave, puppy.”

Vi smirked, clearly enjoying that confession, but she didn’t push. Instead, she leaned in, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to your lips. “Alright, alright. I’ll go,” she said against your mouth before pulling away. “Text me later?”

You nodded. “I promise.”

Vi squeezed your hand before finally making her way to the window—because of course, she still refused to leave through the front door. You rolled your eyes "Weirdo," you say teasingly, watching as she climbed down effortlessly, shooting you one last wink before disappearing into the night.

With a deep breath, you straightened yourself out and headed downstairs, where your mom was waiting in the living room. She looked up when she heard your footsteps, her expression soft but expectant. “You okay?”

You hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. Just… a lot happened today.”

She patted the seat next to her, and you sat down, resting your hands in your lap. “You know, if you ever feel like Italy is still an option, it’s there,” she said gently. “But I’m proud of you for facing this head-on.”

You smiled slightly. “Thanks, Mom.”

She reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “And this… thing with Vi,” she started, eyeing you. “Is it serious?”

You bit your lip before nodding. “Yeah. I think it is.”

Your mom studied you for a moment before sighing, shaking her head with an amused smile. “Well, as long as she treats you right.”

“She does,” you assured her.

“Good.” She squeezed your knee before standing. “Now, I think your brother is waiting for his turn to lecture you.”

You groaned. “Fantastic.”

Sure enough, as soon as your mom left the room, Jayce came in, arms crossed. “So,” he started.

“So,” you repeated.

Jayce sighed, sitting across from you. “Look, I know you told Mom and me you have this handled, but Caitlyn isn’t someone who just drops things.”

You met his gaze, firm. “I do have it handled, Jayce.”

His brows furrowed. “How?”

You hesitated, not wanting to go into detail about the deal Caitlyn tried to make with you. “I just do.”

Jayce didn’t look convinced. “She’s dangerous when she wants to be. If she tries anything else—”

“I’ll handle it,” you interrupted, voice unwavering.

Jayce stared at you for a long moment before sighing. “Alright. But if anything happens—”

“You’ll be the first to know,” you promised.

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly still uneasy, but he let it go. “Fine. Just… be careful, alright?”

You nodded. “Always.”

With that, Jayce stood, ruffling your hair on his way out, earning a groan from you. As he disappeared up the stairs, you exhaled, leaning back against the couch.

Caitlyn wasn’t done. You knew that much.

But neither were you.

Vi walked beside you, her arm still draped over your shoulder as the two of you made your way through the bustling hallway. It felt oddly familiar—this was the same route she had taken you on the first day you met, when Jayce had introduced you and warned her to stay away. And yet, here you were, hand in hand, her presence by your side feeling like the most natural thing in the world.

As you passed groups of students lingering near their lockers or by the walls, you could hear the murmurs and hushed whispers. Some weren’t even trying to be subtle.

"Aren’t they dating now?""Didn’t Caitlyn say something about her last night?""Damn, Vi moves fast…"

Rolling your eyes, you let out an exaggerated sigh before speaking just loud enough for them to hear. "Funny how this is college, but it feels so much like high school."

Vi chuckled beside you, clearly amused. "Right? Bunch of grown-ass kids.” She shot a pointed glance toward the group, making a few of them look away awkwardly.

As you reached your classroom, Vi slowed her steps, her fingers brushing against yours before fully letting go. She looked at you with a slightly raised brow, her usual smirk playing at her lips. “You gonna be alright?”

You scoffed, shaking your head at her dramatics. “Jinx is in this class with me. I’ll be fine.”

Vi tilted her head, pretending to think. “Hmm… still, I could totally come in, sit in the back, scare off any weirdos—"

"Vi." You gave her a pointed look, though you couldn’t help the small smile tugging at your lips.

She sighed dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "Alright, alright. Guess I'll just have to survive an hour without you."

You rolled your eyes, squeezing her hand gently before letting go. “I’ll see you after, puppy.”

Vi winked. “I’ll be waiting, babe.”

With one last glance, you turned and stepped into class, catching sight of Jinx already sprawled across a seat, her feet kicked up on the chair in front of her. She grinned as she saw you enter, but before she could say anything, you heard Vi call out behind you, loud enough for half the class to hear—

"Don’t miss me too much!"

Heat rushed to your face as a few students snickered. You shot Vi a glare over your shoulder, but she only grinned, shooting you finger guns before disappearing down the hallway.

Jinx let out a low whistle. “Damn, you two are disgustingly cute.”

Rolling your eyes, you dropped into the seat next to her, shaking your head. “Shut up, Jinx.”

"Damn, you really walked in here like you owned the place," Jinx snickered. "Guess Vi finally locked you down, huh?"

You rolled your eyes, setting your bag down before taking your seat beside her. "Im really starting to see how you too are sisters...its not that serious. Everyone dates.

Jinx hummed, smirking. "Nah, it kinda is. I mean, people are talking." She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "Caitlyn looked like she was about to throw hands when she saw you two walking together. Shit was hilarious."

You exhaled sharply through your nose, not surprised in the slightest. Caitlyn would be a problem, but she had already tried to humiliate you once—and you were still standing. Still with Vi.

"Let her be mad," you muttered, pulling out your notebook. "I'm not going anywhere."

Jinx chuckled, leaning back in her seat. "Damn right you’re not."

As the professor walked in and class began, you could still feel the weight of a few lingering stares. But they didn’t matter. Nothing Caitlyn or anyone else did could take this from you.

You had already decided—you weren’t running away this time.

After your class ended, you pulled out your phone to text Vi.

You: You out yet?

A minute passed before your phone vibrated with her response.

Vi: Still stuck in class. 30 mins left. Kill me.

You sighed, shoving your phone back into your pocket. Jinx had already bolted, mumbling something about helping Ekko with a science project, which left you with time to kill.

Deciding to freshen up, you made your way to the nearest bathroom. Once inside, you pulled out your makeup bag and leaned in close to the mirror, dabbing some concealer under your eyes before reapplying lip gloss. The dim fluorescent lights buzzed above as you smoothed out the product, adjusting your hair slightly.

The door suddenly swung open, and through the reflection, you saw Caitlyn stroll in, flanked by two other girls from the cheer squad. They looked at you like they had been waiting for this moment.

Caitlyn leaned against the counter, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. "Hey, junkie. You think you can get with my ex and get away with it?"

You inhaled sharply through your nose, fingers tightening around your lip gloss. Without missing a beat, you discreetly reached into your pocket and tapped your phone’s record button before setting it facedown on the sink.

Taking a slow, deep breath, you finally turned to Caitlyn with a blank expression. "Yes, actually. Was the kissing and holding hands not enough proof for you?" You tilted your head, watching as her jaw clenched. "Those videos didn’t do shit, Cait. This is done. Get the fuck over yourself. This isn’t high school."

Her smirk disappeared. The tension in the room thickened as her eyes darkened with something unreadable—anger, jealousy, resentment. Maybe all three.

Then, it happened.

Caitlyn lunged first, shoving you back against the counter. The sudden impact made your phone slide slightly across the sink, but you had bigger things to worry about.

The moment her hands touched you, adrenaline surged through your veins. You shoved her off with enough force to make her stumble back, but before she could regain her footing, you were already on her.

A punch to the jaw. A satisfying grunt of pain.

One of the cheer girls shrieked as the other whipped out her phone to record.

Caitlyn swung back, her nails grazing your cheek, but it only fueled you further. You grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and shoved her into one of the stalls, the sound of her back hitting the metal door echoing through the bathroom.

"You crazy bitch!" Caitlyn spat, trying to get up, but you didn’t let her. You grabbed a fistful of her uniform and yanked her forward, bringing your face close to hers.

"You wanna ruin my life, Cait? Then come at me like a woman, not a bitter ex-girlfriend throwing a tantrum." Your voice was low, steady—dangerous.

She breathed heavily, glaring daggers at you, but she said nothing.

The bathroom door suddenly swung open again, and another cheerleader gasped, "What the hell is going on?"

You let Caitlyn go, roughly pushing her back as you adjusted your clothes. The girl still recording had a smug look on her face, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

"Send it to me," you told her flatly before grabbing your phone from the sink. You stopped at the doorway, glancing back at Caitlyn, who was still catching her breath.

"This isn’t over," she growled.

You smiled, brushing past the other girls as you walked out. "Yeah, it is."

As soon as you stepped out of the bathroom, you were met with a wall of students crowded around the door. Their faces were lit with anticipation, phones in hand, waiting to see what would happen next. Some were whispering, others outright laughing.

Caitlyn most definitely planned this. She wanted to fight you and humiliate you in the process, turn you into some kind of public spectacle.

Too bad for her—you weren’t the type to crumble.

You rolled your eyes, adjusting your shirt as you scanned the crowd. "Do any of you seriously have anything better to do?" Your voice rang out, cutting through the murmurs. "You're all fucking miserable, trying to bully someone who hasn’t done shit to you."

Some of them had the audacity to look surprised, as if they weren’t just standing there, watching like this was some free entertainment. Others just smirked, enjoying the drama.

You scoffed. "Well, guess what? Your comments don’t bother me. I’m that bitch, and you all are just my followers." You tilted your head, flashing a smirk that made a few people shift uncomfortably. "Every single one of you can kiss my ass."

With that, you pushed through the crowd, making sure to shoulder past a few of the bystanders who thought they had something to say. The hallway was buzzing with whispers behind you, but you didn’t care. You had made your statement.

You walked straight out of the building, not sparing a single glance back.

The moment you stepped outside, the cool air hit your skin, but it did nothing to cool down the heat still pulsing through your body. Your knuckles stung slightly, but you welcomed the pain—it was proof that you didn’t just sit there and take Caitlyn’s bullshit.

You ran a hand through your hair, exhaling sharply before checking your phone. Several notifications flooded your screen—texts, missed calls, and social media tags. The fight was already spreading. You barely had time to process it before your phone buzzed again.

Vi: Where are you?Vi: Jinx said something went down??Vi: Are you okay?

You sighed, typing back quickly.

You: Outside. By the parking lot. I’m fine.

It didn’t even take a full minute before you heard the heavy, familiar stomp of boots against pavement. Vi rounded the corner, her sharp eyes scanning you from head to toe as she stalked over. Her gaze flickered to your face, to your hands, and back to your face again.

“The fuck happened?” she demanded, voice low but tense.

You lifted a brow. “Caitlyn.”

Vi’s expression darkened immediately. “She touched you?”

“She tried,” you corrected. “And she lost.”

Vi let out a sharp exhale through her nose, her fists clenching like she was imagining what she would’ve done if she had been there. But as soon as her eyes landed back on you, they softened just a bit. “Are you okay, though?”

“I’m fine,” you assured her. “Just pissed off.”

Vi stepped closer, her hands coming up to gently cup your face. “You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

She let out a breath before leaning down to press a lingering kiss to your temple. “She’s fucking pathetic,” Vi muttered against your skin. “Did she really think she could pull some high school mean-girl shit and get away with it?”

You scoffed. “Apparently.”

Your phone buzzed again, and you glanced down to see a message from Jinx. Attached was a video. You clicked on it, and sure enough, it was footage of the fight. Someone had recorded the entire thing—the insults, the first punch, Caitlyn hitting the floor.

Vi peered over your shoulder, watching with an amused smirk. “Damn. You didn’t hold back.”

“She deserved it,” you said simply, locking your phone.

Vi chuckled, shaking her head before lacing her fingers through yours. “Come on, babe. Let’s get out of here before someone else tries to start shit.”

You didn’t argue. With your fingers intertwined, you let her lead you away, leaving the chaos—and Caitlyn’s bruised ego—far behind.

The next morning, you walked into the Dean’s office with your head held high, refusing to let Caitlyn or anyone else see you sweat. She was already sitting there when you arrived, dressed prim and proper, her hands folded neatly in her lap like she hadn’t just gotten her ass handed to her yesterday. She flicked her eyes toward you, and you could practically feel the smugness radiating off of her.

Let’s see how smug she is in a few minutes.

You sat down across from her, keeping your expression neutral as the Dean adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat.

“I assume you both know why you’re here,” he started, looking between you and Caitlyn.

You nodded. Caitlyn, however, took that moment to put on her poor, innocent me act.

“Yes, sir,” she said, her voice softer, almost sweet. “I was attacked yesterday in the restroom. I was just trying to have a conversation, and she suddenly got violent—”

You let out a sharp laugh, cutting her off. “Oh, really?”

The Dean raised a hand, signaling for silence before turning his computer monitor around. The moment the screen lit up, Caitlyn stiffened beside you. Video footage played, showing the exact moment she had cornered you in the bathroom, her voice loud and clear as she taunted you. Then, another clip played—one you hadn’t seen yet.

It was security footage from the hallway, capturing her shoving you first.

Your lips twitched. Busted.

“Well,” the Dean said, turning the screen back toward himself. “That certainly clears up a few things.”

Caitlyn’s face drained of color. “Wait, I—”

“There’s nothing else to wait for, Miss Kiramman. The evidence speaks for itself. You instigated the altercation, verbally threatened Miss Talis, and initiated physical contact first. This is not only inappropriate but completely unacceptable behavior, especially for a team captain representing our school.”

Caitlyn’s jaw clenched.

“Effective immediately, you are removed from your position as cheer captain,” the Dean continued, flipping through some paperwork. “Furthermore, due to your behavioral misconduct, you will be placed on probation, which means you are also suspended from participating in cheer activities for the remainder of the season.”

Your eyebrows shot up. Damn. You had expected some punishment for her, but this? This was perfect.

Caitlyn, on the other hand, looked like she had swallowed a lemon.

The Dean slid a formal document across the table. “Please sign here to acknowledge your disciplinary action.”

Her hands curled into fists before she snatched the pen and scribbled her name down in angry strokes. You sat back in your chair, watching her seethe, before giving her the pettiest, most satisfied smile you could muster.

When you finally stood and left the office, you spotted Vi waiting outside, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. As soon as she saw you, she pushed off the wall and walked over.

“Well?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

You smirked. “Caitlyn’s out. No more cheer, no more captain title. She’s on probation.”

Vi let out a low whistle. “Damn. So she really got her shit rocked twice in one week?”

“Seems like you’ve got a psycho ex, Vi,” you teased, bumping your shoulder against hers.

Vi grinned. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

With that, she threw an arm over your shoulder and pulled you in, pressing a kiss to your temple as you both walked away from the office, leaving Caitlyn and all her bullshit behind.

Vi led you into her house with that same cocky stride she always carried, tossing your bag onto the couch before taking your hand and guiding you up the stairs. You’d been here before—when you met Vander and Silco, very awkwardly after sneaking out of Vi’s room post-hookup—so the familiarity wasn’t new, but the situation was.

Now, you weren’t just sneaking around. You were her girlfriend.

Her room was exactly what you expected. The walls were deep red, covered in band posters—Metallica, Nirvana, and some punk bands you didn’t recognize. A few posters of half-naked bikini models were tacked up haphazardly, classic Vi style. You rolled your eyes at them, but your attention was quickly stolen by something else.

A poster of you.

In your cheer uniform.

Your jaw dropped as you let out a loud laugh, stepping toward the wall to get a better look.

“Vi, what the hell?” you said, turning back to her with an incredulous grin. “You’re such a dog. You really ordered my poster?”

Vi flopped onto her bed, arms behind her head, grinning like she had no shame. “Yep.”

You shook your head, crossing your arms. “You know that’s weird as hell, right?”

She snorted. “What’s weird about supporting my girlfriend?”

You looked back at the poster, still laughing, before smirking over your shoulder at her. “Then I’ll be ordering some posters of you ASAP.”

Vi lifted her head, amused. “Oh yeah?”

“Yep,” you said smugly. “Full-size. Multiple copies.”

Vi sat up, smirking. “I’d actually love to see what pictures you pick out.”

“Don’t test me, Lanes.”

She leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees, voice dropping into that teasing tone. “Oh, I am testing you.”

You rolled your eyes, but your smile didn’t fade as you walked over and plopped onto the bed beside her. Vi grabbed your waist, pulling you into her lap effortlessly, her arms wrapping around you.

“So,” she murmured against your jaw, pressing a kiss there. “You staying the night?”

You tilted your head slightly, pretending to think. “That depends. Are you gonna try anything?”

Vi grinned against your skin. “Baby, I always try something.”

You sat comfortably in Vi’s lap, her arms wrapped securely around your waist, fingers drawing lazy circles on your lower back. The dim light of her room cast soft shadows across her features, making her look even more tempting than usual.

“Are your parents home?” you asked, glancing toward the door just to be sure. “What about Jinx?”

Vi smirked, already knowing where this was going. “They’re not gonna be home until four a.m. Jinx is spending the night with Ekko.” She tilted her head, watching the way you processed that information before adding, “We’re good.”

You narrowed your eyes at her, pressing a finger against her chest. “I’m gonna kill you if anyone hears us.”

Vi’s grin widened, but she nodded in mock obedience. “Yes, ma’am.”

Before you could say anything else, her hands found the hem of your shirt, her fingers grazing your skin as she slowly lifted it. You shivered at the touch, breath hitching slightly. Vi’s eyes darkened with something unreadable—something hungry—as she took her time sliding the fabric up your torso.

She made sure to brush her knuckles over every inch of exposed skin, as if savoring the moment. Then, with a final tug, she helped you slip the shirt over your head and tossed it carelessly onto the floor.

Her gaze raked over you, taking in the sight, her lips parting slightly before she looked up to meet your eyes. “Damn…”

You bit your lip, resisting the urge to roll your eyes at her obvious admiration. “You gonna stare all night, or…?”

Vi smirked. “Just appreciating my very beautiful girlfriend.”

Your face warmed at the compliment, but you didn’t let it show. Instead, you leaned in, fingers threading into her short pink hair as you pressed your lips to hers, silencing whatever teasing remark she was about to make.

Vi’s hands were everywhere—palms gliding along your waist, fingers gripping your hips, holding you closer as your lips moved against hers. The heat between you both was undeniable, a slow-burning fire that flared hotter with every kiss.

Her tongue slid against yours, drawing out a soft gasp from you as her fingers traced up your spine, sending shivers through your body. She smirked into the kiss, clearly pleased with herself, but before she could say anything cocky, you tugged at her hair, making her groan.

“You play too much,” you murmured, lips brushing against hers as you spoke.

Vi chuckled, her grip tightening on your hips as she leaned back slightly against the headboard, pulling you further into her lap. “Nah, I just know exactly what you like,” she whispered, voice low and teasing.

Your fingers dragged down her chest, feeling the toned muscles beneath her tank top. “Cocky as ever,” you muttered, rolling your eyes, but you couldn’t deny how good it felt to be close to her like this.

Vi smirked, tilting her head slightly. “You love it.”

You didn’t answer—not with words, at least. Instead, you kissed her again, deeper this time, fingers curling into the fabric of her shirt as if pulling her even closer. Her hands roamed, one sliding up your back while the other settled on your thigh, gripping it just enough to make your breath hitch.

Just as things were starting to heat up, a sudden thud from outside Vi’s room made you both freeze.

You pulled away, heart racing. “What the hell was that?” you whispered.

Vi sighed, resting her forehead against your shoulder for a second before looking toward the door. “Probably just the wind or something. No one’s home, remember?”

You gave her a pointed look. “Vi, if one of your dads walks in—”

“They won’t.” She grinned, rubbing soothing circles on your thigh. “But if you’re scared, we can stop.”

You scoffed, shoving her shoulder lightly. “I hate you.”

Vi only laughed, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. “Nah, you love me.”

You bit your lip, hesitating for a second before murmuring, “Yeah… I do.”

The teasing glint in Vi’s eyes softened at your words. She didn’t say anything right away, just held your gaze as if committing this moment to memory. Then, slowly, she leaned in and kissed you again—not rushed, not desperate, but something softer, something more certain.

Like she wanted you to know she felt the same way.

Its been a hour and Vi's mouth hasnt left your cunt, sucking your clit and licking your juices like you were her last meal. Your fingers were tangled in her pink mullet, hearing her moan everytime you tugged a little too hard.

You were on your fourth orgasm you didnt know if you had anymore in you.

"Vi please," you moaned. She only replied with giving your sensitive swollen clit harsher sucks as she moaned into it, making you jolt and gasp loudly in response.

She then pulled away, making you sigh in relief. She then got on top of you giving you a messy kiss which you returned, you could taste yourself on her tongue.

"Fuck you taste so good," she says before playfully licking your cheek and getting off of you.

"Im starting to think you're a dog in heat...," you say teasingly.

"I always am when it comes to you, beautiful," she says.

Vi makes her way towards her dresser, taking out her strap and hooking it onto herself. Her seven inch hot pink dildo that she used in pride. The first time she used it on you she was gentle and loving, but now looking at the smirk on her face its gonna be the complete opposite.

You gasped when Vi grabbed you by you ankles and pulled you down to the edge of the bed. She got in between in your legs, putting them on her shoulders.

She lines her strap with your entrance before she pushes her length into you in one swift movement, making you moan "Fuck!," you moan out.

Her hands went down to the bottom of you thighs, putting you into a mating press your knees to your chest before she started thrusting into you. "Vi Jesus," you moan out.

"You're so tight in this position, baby," she teased "I'm gonna go faster."

She kept her word as she started to basically pound into you, looking down at you as she watched her dick make a bulge on stomach each time she thrusted. The sounds of your moans filling the room.

"Dont stop baby, please," you whined as you already felt yourself getting close.

"I dont plan on it, baby," she says as she continue the same pace, giving you a forehead kiss.

Crazy that shes babying you as she's rearranging your guts.

She was basically using you as a sex doll, taking advantage of your flexiblity. The thought of it made your pussy walls flutter.

She was focused, sweat dripping down her forehead, her biceps flexing as she held you down by your thighs, and most importantly her moans from the base of the strap rubbing against her clit.

She was so hot and it was pushing you over the edge.

"Im coming," you announced after a few more of her powerful thrust, you came. Your juices coating her cock as she slowly thrust into you, making squleshing sounds.

She put your legs down and pulled out of you. "Come on. Face down. Ass up," she says.

You didnt hesitate to roll over on all fours. She suddenly gave you a hard and harsh slap to your ass, making you yelp. You looked back to her see her with a cocky smirk on her face.

This was gonna be a long night.

Your body ached in ways that were both frustrating and satisfying as you blinked awake, the soft morning light seeping through the cracks in Vi’s curtains. The soreness settled deep in your muscles, a not-so-subtle reminder of the night before. You stretched your arms above your head, groaning slightly before rolling over—only to be met with the cool, empty side of the bed.

You furrowed your brows. Where the fuck was she?

Sitting up, you ran a hand through your tangled hair and immediately noticed that Vi had dressed you in one of her t-shirts at some point during the night—a Spider-Man one, to be specific. You huffed a laugh, shaking your head. That girl was such a dork.

Swinging your legs over the side of the bed, you stood up, only to immediately regret it when your knees nearly buckled. Your legs felt like jelly, and you had to grab onto Vi’s dresser to steady yourself. Jesus.

You took a deep breath, gathering your strength before going through her drawers and grabbing a pair of her boxers. Pulling them on, you finally caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror.

“Oh, hell no…” you muttered.

Your hair was a mess, lips slightly swollen, faint marks dusting your collarbone. You looked like you had been tossed, turned, and thrown into another dimension. With an exasperated sigh, you pulled your hair into a ponytail, doing what little you could to make yourself look somewhat presentable.

The smell of breakfast suddenly hit you—bacon, eggs, pancakes, the whole nine yards. Your stomach grumbled in response, and you finally left Vi’s room, rubbing your tired eyes as you made your way downstairs.

As you stepped into the kitchen, you stopped dead in your tracks.

There they were. All of them.

Vi. Jinx. Ekko. Vander. Silco. All casually sitting around the kitchen like it was just a normal morning. Vi was by the stove, flipping pancakes. Vander was sipping coffee, Silco reading the newspaper, Ekko munching on bacon, and Jinx—

The moment her eyes landed on you, a devilish grin spread across her face.

“Well, well, well…” she drawled, leaning back in her chair. “Look who finally decided to wake up.”

You shot her a glare, but before you could even think of a comeback, she smirked.

“Someone was turned every way but loose last night…”

Your jaw dropped.

Vi choked on a laugh, nearly dropping the spatula. Ekko covered his mouth to keep from laughing out loud, and even Vander let out an amused grunt. Silco, of course, remained unreadable, casually sipping his tea like he hadn’t just heard Jinx air out your business at the breakfast table.

Your face burned as you gaped at Jinx. “Are you fucking serious right now?”

Jinx only grinned wider, wiggling her eyebrows. “Oh, I’m very serious.”

Vi finally turned around, biting her lip to hold back a laugh as she looked you up and down. “Damn, babe, you good? Need me to carry you to the table?”

You glared at her, snatching a piece of bacon off Ekko’s plate. “I hate all of you.”

Ekko patted your shoulder with a smirk. “Nah, you love us.”

You groaned, stuffing the bacon in your mouth as you slumped into a chair. Vi placed a plate of pancakes in front of you with a smug smile. “Eat up, princess. You’re gonna need your energy.”

You shot her a look, but as you stabbed into your pancakes, you couldn’t help but feel… warm. Embarrassed? Absolutely. But surrounded by them like this—laughing, teasing, eating together—it felt good.

Maybe even a little bit like home.

You took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering embarrassment as the laughter around the table finally died down. Your plate was nearly empty, save for a few stray crumbs from the pancakes, and the warmth of the morning sun streamed through the kitchen windows, casting everything in a golden glow.

Vi was sitting beside you, casually picking at the last of her bacon, while Ekko and Jinx continued their endless banter across the table. Vander and Silco, despite their intimidating presence, seemed more relaxed in this moment—Silco sipping his coffee as Vander leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, observing everything with an amused glint in his eyes.

For the first time in a long while, you felt something unfamiliar yet comforting—peace.

Vi reached over and tapped your knee under the table, catching your attention. “You good?” she asked lowly, her voice dipping into something softer, more intimate.

You turned your head slightly, meeting her gaze. Her expression was open, searching, as if she was making sure you weren’t still shaken from everything that had happened yesterday. From Caitlyn’s failed attempt to humiliate you, to your fight, to the meeting with the dean, to finally spending the night in her arms.

And yet, despite everything, you felt okay. Maybe even better than okay.

You gave her a small smile and nodded. “Yeah. I am.”

Vi studied you for a second longer before nodding in satisfaction. “Good.” Then, because she could never resist, she smirked. “So, you’re saying I rocked your world so hard last night that you woke up feeling like a brand new person?”

You groaned, pushing your plate away. “Why do I even like you?”

She laughed, throwing an arm over the back of your chair, bringing you closer. “Because I’m hot, charming, and madly in love with you.”

Your stomach flipped at how easily she said it—like it was the simplest truth in the world.

You didn’t say anything back, but the way you leaned into her touch, resting your head against her shoulder, was enough.

Jinx, of course, had to ruin the moment. “Alright, lovebirds, get out of my sight before I start gagging.”

You rolled your eyes, standing up and gathering your plate, but Vi beat you to it, swiping it from your hands before you could move. “I got it,” she said, taking your dish along with hers to the sink.

You stayed behind and helped dry, playfully bumping your hip against hers as she rinsed off the plates. Vi shot you a smirk, flicking some water in your direction. “So… you gonna start staying over more now?”

You narrowed your eyes, pretending to think about it. “Hmm… I don’t know. If Jinx keeps embarrassing me first thing in the morning, I might have to reconsider.”

Jinx, who was sprawled out on the couch, yelled back, “Too late, sis. You’re part of the family now.”

That made you pause.

Part of the family.

You had spent so long feeling like an outsider, like you were constantly running away from everything, trying to rebuild yourself into someone new. But here, surrounded by these chaotic, loud, and sometimes overwhelming people, you felt something settle inside you.

You belonged.

Vi must have noticed the shift in your expression because she set the last plate aside and leaned in, voice dropping into that same gentle tone from earlier. “Hey.”

You blinked, looking up at her.

“You ready to go?” she asked, brushing her fingers against yours before slowly lacing them together.

You glanced around the kitchen one last time—at Vander, who gave you a small nod of approval; at Silco, who merely raised an eyebrow, sipping his coffee; at Ekko, who gave you a knowing smirk; and at Jinx, who, despite her teasing, looked genuinely happy for you.

And then, finally, you looked back at Vi—the girl who had once been nothing more than a reckless flirt, a player, a challenge you swore you wouldn’t fall for. But now? She was something much more.

She was yours.

You squeezed her hand, exhaling softly before nodding. “Yeah. I’m ready.”

Vi grinned, tugging you towards the door. “Then let’s get out of here before Jinx finds a way to traumatize you again.”

As you both stepped outside, the crisp morning air hit your skin, waking you up even more. Vi reached into her pocket for her car keys, but before she could grab them, you snatched them out of her hand with a mischievous grin.

“Let me drive,” you asked, twirling the keys between your fingers.

Vi immediately narrowed her eyes. “My Mustang? Fuck no.” She reached for the keys, but you took a step back, holding them just out of her reach.

“Please,” you pleaded, looking up at her with the best puppy-dog eyes you could muster. “I’m a good driver.”

Vi groaned, her resolve clearly wavering. She ran a hand down her face before sighing heavily. “You’re killing me, babe.”

You only batted your lashes in response, still waiting.

She sighed again, long and exaggerated. “Fine. But—” she pointed a warning finger at you—“please be careful. Drive slow if you have to. I swear if you so much as scratch her—”

You laughed, throwing an arm around her neck and pulling her in for a quick kiss. “Relax, Vi. I got this.”

She still looked skeptical but let you take the lead, watching as you confidently unlocked the car and slid into the driver’s seat. Vi groaned again as she got into the passenger side, mumbling, “This is gonna be a disaster.”

You smirked, revving the engine. “Have a little faith in me, baby.”

Vi just shook her head, but there was a fondness in her eyes as she buckled her seatbelt. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t make me regret this.”

With that, you pulled out of the driveway, a victorious smile on your face as Vi grumbled beside you. And as the car sped off down the street, the sun rising higher in the sky, you couldn’t help but feel like this—this moment, this morning, this girl—was exactly where you were meant to be.

The End.

taglist : @mommymilkers0526 @rhian88 @wrappedinvines @prettybunnyscorner @s7nburn @ghutzz4gutz @pornoangelz @veladeangl @hauntedbydreams @taurtel @lorasdolly @catvi6luvr @savedforlaterr @eggphobic @alex-thegiraffeboyy @artfairyyyyy @jordynhartley2001 @ellieslefttit @h0n3yf0rlif3 @rizzscary @bjjeweledx @cherrybomb2298 @brooks-lin @vintagekarma @ags-artnstuff @axolotl-arsonist @mingitheii @baylegend6 @kiiramiz @lez-zuha @jupitism @that0nyx @tuddiezsstuff @truebluekenzie

[dirtysvthoughts]

𝙗𝙖𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣! [1𝗄 𝖼𝖾𝗅𝖾𝖻𝗋𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇] - part. 1: the destination

synopsis: you and your boyfriend have been working nonstop. performances on his end and endless meetings on yours. when you both finally get a break, he proposes you two get away for a few days. little do the both of you know that this “baecation” will provide physical, emotional, and sexual healing.

general tags/warnings: smut, pwp, female! reader, boyfriend! chan, non-idol! chan (professional dancer! chan), vacation/baecation getaway, lots of teasing, lots of dirty talk, lingerie on reader, hotel room sex, balcony sex, pool sex, basically chan and reader are just horny lovebirds

this part’s tags/warnings: cooking and food, kissing, tinges of suggestive material, mentions of the beach, waterfronts, etc.

word count: 2.6k

notes: well, she’s finally here! baecation is ready for you all to consume and i really hope you all like it! 🥹 thank you again for 1k, it still feels very surreal and i’m so lucky to do one of the things i love and share it with you guys. now before i get too sappy, let’s get into it shall we?

taglist will be reblogged!

——

quite frankly - you’re over it.

for the past month and a half, you’ve been pushing your limits at your job. your boss designated you as the lead of a project and on top of that, you had to put in overtime to ensure that the project workload AND your individual load were still up to standards. while you knew things would be worth it in the end (your project commissions and overtime would give you an extra $2,500 dollars on your paycheck), you would be lying if you said your mental and physical health were starting to deteriorate.

today especially, you realized things were going to get worse before they got better. as you shut down your workspace, you felt ounces of your energy leave your body. too much happened for your liking - your teammates argued about the project’s direction, your boss complained about the most minute details in a presentation you were to give in a few days, and to culminate the day, your company laptop malfunctioned while you were working and it had to be sent to i.t. for it to get fixed. at this point, you were ready to head home, wrap yourself up in your covers, and forget about everything and everyone.

you’re not sure if you heard people say goodbye to you as you left the office, but if they did, you were too tired (and too agitated) to care and respond back. as you enter into the parking deck of your office building, you fish for your phone and see some missed texts from your boyfriend, chan.

channie ❤️: hey, just wanted to check on you

channie ❤️: i’ll probably be over later tonight

channie ❤️: so much is going on, and i really want to see you

you breathe a sigh of relief at seeing your boyfriend’s name appear on your screen, but you also can’t help but worry. your boyfriend chan was a professional dancer - and a damn good one. he’s been dancing since he was three, and it’s his first love. he teaches at three of the most popular dance studios on a weekly basis, drawing in huge crowds of avid and eager learners. his instagram comments are always flooded with words of praise - handsomeness and talent catching the eyes of millions. his sharpness, keen eye for detail, and flawless execution made him the target for entertainment companies and he was often called in to be a backup dancer or choreograph for popular idol groups. currently, he’s preparing to dance with a popular boy group after their latest comeback broke records.

he did mention that his rehearsals were getting a bit more intense, especially since this group in particular were about to start their promotion period. there were days where he complained that his body ached and times that you helped take care of him, so you just had to pray and hope that today wasn’t as harsh on him.

you and chan have been together for a year and a half after meeting at party hosted by a mutual friend. you weren’t sure that you two were a good match for each other, but after a few meet-ups and intriguing conversations you realized that you two had more in common than you thought. whatever one of you might have lacked, another made up for in actions or words. you two complemented each other and you had each other’s backs. even through some rough patches, you both realized that there was no one else you wanted to be with. there was no going back.

as you started your car engine, you shoot a quick text back to chan, thanking all higher powers you would at least have some better solace this evening.

babe 😏: you too? i guess we can talk about later when you come by. see you in a bit, love ya ❤️

the drive after work feels somewhat longer than normal, the traffic almost making you reach your limit. but you finally find yourself back in the comfort of your apartment, kicking your shoes off to the side and dropping your bag and blazer to the floor. you breathe a huge sigh of relief as you enter your bedroom, take off your bra, and flop onto your bed, letting the sweet scent of your bedsheets fill your nose.

you find yourself drifting into dreamland a few minutes later, but the grumbling of your stomach and the fact that you still had the rest of your work clothes on brings you back to reality. despite some opposition from the rest of your body, you get up and grab some loungewear from your dresser and head for the shower, hoping to relax your tense muscles.

after you come out the shower and change, you head to the kitchen to start on dinner. you decide on chicken fried rice - one of you and chan’s favorite meals to eat together. you pull the ingredients from the fridge and the seasonings from the cabinet, asking your smart home device to play serene, chill music. the instrumentals fill your space, and you get to work - washing the chicken first.

as you finish garnishing both plates, you hear your doorbell ring. you check your camera, and smile as you see your boyfriend come into view. you quickly wash your hands and answer the door, embracing chan in a tight hug before he can even say anything to you.

he’s surprised at how you rush at him, but it quickly melts into a soft smile as he wraps one hand around your waist and one on the back of your neck. he gently sways you back and forth, rubbing the small of your skin. after nearly eight hours of rehearsal, all he wanted to do was spend the rest of the day with you with no worries.

“hey you,” he whispers, glowing smile still on his perfect features. you finally make eye contact with him, a smile coming on your face, beaming at the fact that you were finally with your love. “hey,” you respond, going up on your toes to press a kiss to his soft cheek. chan takes the opportunity to place his hand on your chin and places a kiss on your lips. he quickly realizes he missed this wonderful feeling, and he deepens his movements, smirking when you can feel yourself lose all control and give into his desires.

you have to force yourself to come off him, knowing that if this continues dinner would be long forgotten. “c’mon babe, i made your favorite!” you take his hand and he drops his bags by your door, the familiar blending of seasonings wafting through his nose. “you made chicken fried rice?!” chan beams, entering the kitchen, his mouth nearly drooling at the plate full of goodness. “man, i really needed this today, thank you baby,” he places a kiss on your cheek this time as he goes to wash his hands. you can’t help but blush as you take the plates to the table, taking your seat as chan follows behind you.

“i’ll eat deliciously,” he affirms you, toasting your fork to you, taking his first bite and nodding in agreement at your cooking. you give him a minute to eat before you ask him anything.

“how have rehearsals been?”

“in one word, crazy,” he sighs. “i had to come in early to teach one of the members since he had an overseas schedule when the group had practice. then we had to rework some formations and drill the choreo over and over to get ready for filming tomorrow. i’m excited for filming and all, but im just tired.”

you sigh, shaking your head in agreement. “that’s understandable, things at the office have been crazy too. i love what i do, but this overtime is driving me crazy. i can’t wait to be finished so i can get this big bonus.”

“you’ve got this through. and when that check comes, it’ll all be worth it. just make sure you take care of yourself in the meantime. you know i’m proud of you right?” he rubs your back, his hand softening your tight muscles.

“thanks,” you respond shyly, smiling at your lover. “you know i’m proud of you too. you’re living out your dream everyday and you’re having fun doing it. your hard work is paying off too, chan. if i haven’t told you lately, you’re doing amazing. but you also need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself too, okay?”

he nods in agreement. “it’s only fair cause i asked you to do the same. i promise i’ll take care of myself.”

time passes by pleasantly, empty plates now in the dishwasher, conversations continuing from the kitchen table to the couch. your head rests on chan’s shoulders, your right hand on his leg.

“so when do you guys film the performance video?”

“tomorrow, and it’s supposed to last two days. then we have promotions with the group, but they divided us into two groups, so i only have to perform at music shows during the second week.”

an idea pops into your head, imaginary lightbulbs flashing rapidly. even though you were working overtime, you were scheduled for absences on friday and monday and your boss hadn’t rescinded on your days off. if chan only had to work until thursday, that would mean for once - both of your schedules would align.

“wait.. so that means you have a break after the music video?” you question. “even if it’s a short one?”

“yeah, what are you getting at?”

you sit up from your boyfriend’s shoulder realizing that the planning you completed in your head might have actually worked. “chan,” you exclaimed, “i actually have a break too! i get friday and monday off! chan, do you know what this means? we finally have the chance to spend more time together!”

your excitedness makes chan swoon, but it also brings a tinge of sadness. you were right - you two have been so busy that you had limited time together. between him dancing and teaching and with your work project, moments like these where you two could get away for a minute were rare.

“we should do something special then baby! we could go to dinner,” he gasps coming up with a new idea, “and i’ve always wanted to take you on a night boat ride! remember when i sent you those pictures from japan?”

earlier in the year, chan went overseas for another performance opportunity and during his time off, he and some of his other dancer friends took a boat ride with the city lights gleaming over the large body of water, waves that could lull anyone to sleep with their calming effect. it was a sight to behold, even through a 7 inch phone screen.

“yeah i do! those pictures were gorgeous,” you admire, thinking how back them you wished you were with chan on that boat, head resting on his shoulders like you did earlier, taking peeks of your boyfriend every now and then. he would be staring into the distance, somehow managing to look more handsome than anyone else.

“actually, i kinda want to do something grander than a date night though..” you hint, playing with your hair as you temporarily avoid eye contact. “i’ve been seeing this idea on insta for a while, and now i dream of doing it with you, chan. why don’t we take a trip together babe?”

“like a day trip?”

“mmm, i was thinking more like for the weekend. and it doesn’t have to be somewhere ridiculously far either, not like bali or anything! matter of fact, there’s a beach that i found right off the coast and the city is stunning!” you pull out your phone and type in the name of the beach in the search engine. you pass your phone to chan, images of beautiful blue water and white sand flooding his lenses.

“ah, crystal beach!” chan recognizes the name. “some of my friends have been there before, they said it was really nice! they said there’s a waterfront hotel right in front of the beach, and from the right floor you can get the perfect view.”

suddenly, you can envision the two of you on the fifteenth floor, sunrise glistening through the windows as you sleep in chan’s arms, legs wrapped around his waist, head on his chest. nothing else would matter in that moment expect for you two. no work, no projects, no eight-counts - just you, your lover, and the gentle ocean breeze.

“so, what are you thinking? should we go for it?” you ask.

“let’s do it babe! we’ve never done something like this before, and we can make some great memories out of it! and from the looks it, we could both use some time away from all of this,” he gestures towards the windows, overseeing the big city that encased you two.

“yeah,” you nod in agreement. “i think some time away is long overdue. and it’ll be good for us! honestly, i was thinking about us waking up together, and now i can’t wait to get out of here!” you both share a quick laugh as you head comes to the familiar space of chan’s shoulders.

you two share a few moments of silence before chan taps your leg twice as your eyes look into his, “do you wanna leave friday morning? we can get there by the afternoon, chill for a bit, and then get dinner or something.”

“m’kay, that sounds good to me. do you want me to reserve the room or do you wanna do it?” you ask, rubbing his shoulder.

“i can reserve the hotel room! don’t worry about it babe.” you kiss chan’s cheek as a thank you, fingers intertwining with his. chan pulls out his phone, typing in the hotel name, leading him to the website. he then locks his phone, already making plans to make this the best trip for you both.

some more time passes, you and chan watching random youtube videos, laughing at funny moments. but soon it comes time for chan to leave, he has an early morning because of the music video filming.

you walk with him to the door, handing him his bags. you go on your toes to kiss his cheek one more time before he leaves. “good luck on filming, i’ll see you on friday!”

he bends down to press a gentle kiss on your lips, hand caressing your jaw to deepen the feeling. you return his passion, tongues moving together like choreography. when you separate, his lips form in a smirk - he loves the feeling of leaving you breathless.

“if i get out early on thursday night i’ll text you. if i do, can i spend the night?”

“of course, baby,” you smile at him, biting your lip. “i’ll see you soon, okay? you need to get some rest.”

“okay, okay, love you baby,” he says leaving one more kiss on your lips.

“love you too, text me when you get home!” you respond as he opens the door, waving you goodbye, signaling with his fingers that he would affirm he got home safely.

chan closes the door as he walks to the elevator, hearing your door lock, making sure you were safe. he quickly gets out his phone, the hotel’s website coming back into view. he chooses the dates, chooses two people to occupy the space, and it takes chan to the room selection. he scrolls until he find the perfect room - one with a king size bed, and a balcony view, hopefully one that would overlook the beach.

before he reserves the room, he texts one of his friends that stayed at the same hotel.

hey yeonjun, i need a favor.

which exact floor were you on when you went to that hotel at crystal beach?

[legendary-69420]

Instagram Throwbacks 4

Chapter 16 : Part 4

(Racing Hearts : VOLUME 3 )

racing hearts

IG Stories (Charles’ POV) — Polished, Subtle, and Too Close for Comfort

📹 [Instagram Story: @charles_leclerc]

🎥 Clip 1: Charles in his car on the way to the airport. The camera is on his lap, showing his phone screen with Mark Spencer's latest Story playing. It's Mark singing Dancing Queen loudly. Charles sighs audibly. ✨ Text on screen: Please, someone take his phone away.

👀 Viewers’ Reactions:

“NO CAUSE THIS IS THE BEST RESPONSE.”

“He’s so tired but he loves it.”

“Charles Leclerc playing the role of exhausted husband.”

*“Charles' Instagram before Mark : Professional, No shit, Just here for business Charles' Instagram after Mark : More of Charles being Charles , PR nightmare. I love this new Charles Ngl” *

______________________________________________________________

📹 [Instagram Story: @charles_leclerc]

🎥 Clip 2: Charles filming a close-up of Mark's face while he's sleeping on the plane, mouth wide open, drooling. ✨ Text on screen: Jet lag hits everyone differently.

👀 Viewers’ Reactions:

“No bc WHY did Charles do him so dirty.”

“I would simply pass away if my friend posted this.”

“I love their relationship so much.”

“NO because how tf he still looks so handsome while being goofy??!!”

______________________________________________________________

📹 [Instagram Story: @charles_leclerc]

🎥 Clip 3: Charles quietly filming Mark trying to push a door that says "PULL." Charles zooms in on the PULL sign. ✨ Text on screen: Elite athlete. Can’t read.

👀 Viewers’ Reactions:

“I'M CRYING.”

“This is why they need to be monitored at all times.”

“Athleticism ≠ common sense confirmed.”

______________________________________________________________

📹 [Instagram Story: @charles_leclerc]

🎥 Clip 4: Charles zooms in on Mark during dinner. Mark is devouring pasta but most of it is around his lips.

✨ Text on screen: World champion diet, apparently.

👀 Viewers’ Reactions:

“I’m laughing so hard at how Charles just CLOWNS him.”

“Mark deserves to eat in peace.”

“The 'World Champion Diet' got me dead.”

______________________________________________________________

📹 [Instagram Story: @charles_leclerc]

🎥 Clip 5: A slow-motion video of Charles tossing a snowball directly at Mark’s back. It hits him perfectly. Mark turns around, clearly stunned. ✨ Text on screen: Flawless execution.

👀 Viewers’ Reactions:

“He’s so proud of himself LMAO.”

“The precision?? Olympic level.”

“Mark’s about to start WW3, watch.”

______________________________________________________________

📹 [Instagram Story: @charles_leclerc]

🎥 Clip 6: Charles standing next to Mark in front of a mirror at the gym. Charles flexes his bicep. Mark immediately flexes next to him, grinning like a fool. ✨ Text on screen: Some competitions never end.

👀 Viewers’ Reactions:

“They’re so unserious, I love them.”

“Not Charles competing with THE Mark Spencer.”

“The duality of athletes.”

______________________________________________________________

📹 [Instagram Story: @charles_leclerc/@scuderia_ferrari]

🎥 Clip 7: Charles and Mark standing in front of a group of fans at a meet-and-greet. Mark is talking animatedly, hands flying around. Charles turns to the camera and says, "He hasn't stopped talking for 15 minutes." ✨ Text on screen: Send help.

👀 Viewers’ Reactions:

“They’re literally best friends/ bfs who won’t admit it.”

“Imagine being at this event and witnessing THIS.”

“This is friendship goals on steroids.”

______________________________________________________________

(Dividers by @cafekitsune)

[onlyforyoukook]

what love left behind

— 005 i just want to talk

The campus is already buzzing with energy when you arrive, the usual morning chaos amplified by the latest gossip. You can feel it before you even step through the gates the lingering stares, the quiet murmurs, the not so subtle glances thrown your way. It’s suffocating, but you school your features into indifference. You’ve dealt with worse.

Yuqi walks beside you, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her hoodie as she sighs dramatically. “You do know that everyone thinks you and Haechan are fake dating, right?”

Haechan, on your other side, scoffs. “Excuse me, fake? The way I see it, I upgraded Y/N’s reputation. Now everyone thinks she has taste.”

You roll your eyes. “So, you’re saying you upgraded me?”

“Exactly.”

Yuqi snorts, nudging you with her shoulder. “I hate to agree with him, but you did post that picture out of spite. The execution was flawless, but c’mon, babe, you could’ve at least kissed his cheek or something. Give the illusion some life.”

“I would’ve let her,” Haechan adds smugly.

You ignore him, focusing on the pavement ahead. “It wasn’t supposed to be a big deal.”

Yuqi side eyes you. “Chenle and Rheya made it a big deal. That picture of them went everywhere. The moment you posted with Haechan, people lost their minds. And now—” She gestures vaguely at the students around you. “You’re basically the main character of campus drama.”

You don’t respond.

Because it wasn’t supposed to be a big deal. It was just a petty response. A way to even the playing field, to show that you were fine. That you weren’t affected. That you weren’t still thinking about the fact that you had blocked Chenle on everything and left without a word. That you weren’t still reeling from what you had been too much of a coward to tell him.

Your grip tightens around the strap of your bag.

“Alright, this is where I leave you,” Haechan announces as you near the front of the main building. He grins, throwing an arm around your shoulder. “Try not to miss me too much, babe.”

You shove him off with a scoff, and he laughs before disappearing into the crowd. Yuqi lingers a second longer, studying your face with a knowing look.

“You good?” she asks, quieter this time.

You nod. “Always.”

She doesn’t look convinced, but she lets it go. “Text me later.”

And with that, she heads off, leaving you alone.

You exhale slowly, adjusting your bag before making your way through the courtyard. You can feel the eyes on you, but you ignore them. You just need to get to class. You just need to—

“Y/N.”

Your feet halt.

It’s like a reflex—like your body knows that voice before your brain can even process it. A voice you haven’t heard in so long. A voice that used to feel like home.

You don’t turn around. You start walking again.

Chenle steps in front of you before you can get far. His presence is so sudden, so familiar yet foreign, that you almost stumble. He looks the same, yet different his sharp features framed by slightly messier hair, his usual self-assured expression now laced with something unreadable.

“Can we talk?” he asks.

You stare at him, heart pounding. It’s been too long since you’ve seen him this close. Too long since he’s looked at you like this.

You don’t say anything. You move to step past him.

“Y/N.” His hand catches your wrist, and for a second—just a second—you freeze.

It’s the smallest touch, barely there, but it sends your mind spiraling back to every moment before this. Before everything fell apart. Before you left.

“Let go,” you say, voice quiet.

He does. But he doesn’t back off. “You blocked me on everything. You disappeared. And now you—” He exhales sharply, eyes searching yours. “Can you just listen to me for a second?”

Your fingers curl into fists. You can feel the weight of everyone watching, feel the way the entire campus has come to a silent standstill. People are taking pictures. Recording. Waiting to see what happens next.

And then, out of the corner of your eye, you see her.

Rheya.

She stands just a few feet away, perfectly put together, her gaze cool and unreadable as she watches the scene unfold.

Something in your chest snaps.

You don’t wait for Chenle to say anything else. You turn and walk straight toward the nearest building, shoving open the bathroom door the second you get inside. You grip the edge of the sink, breathing hard.

Outside, Chenle is still standing there, jaw tight.

Rheya steps beside him, watching you disappear into the building before turning to him. “Who is she?” Her voice is smooth, almost pleasant.

Chenle doesn’t even hesitate. He exhales, shaking his head like the answer is obvious.

“No one.”

His voice is steady. Believable.

But Rheya doesn’t look convinced.

Instead, she pulls out her phone and texts her friends, to look everything up about you.

masterlist - previous - next

- taglist ; @serenedreamscape @haechology @spacejip @chenlesfeetpic @413ktz @galacticpurpl3 @slayhaechan @bananinhazz @jaeminnanaaa17 @flaminghotyourmom @iraa567 @toroufriteh @vrsexles @joneborder

[redbirdandbluebird23]

Flawless Execution

Written for @dickjayweek 2025 Day 5: Relationship Reveal

Masterlist

"Taste this?" Jason says, right before a spoon of red sauce appears in Dick's line of sight.

Dick does as asked, not bothering to take it from Jason, just leaning forward and letting Jason feed him. He considers the flavour profile for a moment before settling on, "Needs more pepper."

Jason hums and disappears back into the kitchen as Dick returns to flicking through their streaming services to find something to watch.

"What about Ratatouille?" Dick calls over his shoulder in the general direction of the kitchen.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen it.” Jason answers.

“It’s good! And it’s about food which seems fitting.” Dick says with a smile.

"Alright then. But if it’s shit, I’m never letting you pick the movie again." Jason says. 

“Deal!” Dick smiles and switches back onto a random cooking show on normal TV while he waits for Jason to finish cooking. These moments are rare and as new as their relationship, so Dick's happy to just sit back and enjoy being able to exist in each other's presence for a little while without having to hide what they are.

Jason comes back through a few minutes later and leans down onto the back of the sofa with his arms crossed, watching (and probably judging) the chef on screen chopping onions. Dick can't resist turning his head and pressing a kiss to the corner of Jason's mouth, causing his boyfriend's cheeks to gain an adorable pink sheen.

"Pasta's just cooking and then we're all set." Jason informs him.

"Perfect." Dick smiles and presses another kiss to his cheek.

Jason matches his smile and ducks his head, pressing his own kisses along Dick's jaw before shifting up to kiss him properly. Dick twists on the sofa for more leverage as he slides a hand into Jason's curls and tug to deepen the kiss. Until Jason pulls back.

" Fuck ." Jason mutters and darts back into the kitchen, probably to stop his pasta sticking, as Dick laughs.

He listens to Jason moving about as the aroma drifting out of the kitchen makes his stomach rumble. He's considering whether to get up and offer his help so he can sneak a bite or two as his phone rings.

Babs' name flashes up on the screen and he groans; he told them all he was taking the night off and not to contact him for anything other than a planet ending emergency.

He says as much as he answers the call.

" Turn on the news ." Comes Babs' response, her voice sounding rougher than he's heard in a long time.

It's exactly that which causes him to jolt forward and grab the TV remote, switching straight to the Gotham News Channel. It's only the fact he's still sitting down that stops his legs giving out as he reads the headline and tries to focus on the images on the screen.

" Dick? " Babs prompts.

"When?" He chokes out.

Babs swallows loud enough for him to hear it through the phone. " About an hour ago, though current time of death estimate is believed to be between two and three hours ago. "

"Who's handling it?"

" My dad. He wouldn’t dare let any of the rest of them near this. "

"Who-" He stops and takes a breath. "Who was it?"

" They don't know. That alley's a blind spot ." Babs says quietly. " Bruce wants everyone at the cave within the next thirty minutes. "

"Okay." Dick finds himself agreeing.

" Dick… I can't get in contact with Jason ." Babs says, her voice tight. It's not an accusation, not yet . For now it sounds more like worry.

"I'll… Leave Jason to me." Dick says, glancing towards the kitchen. "Can you send me the pictures? From the scene."

" Okay." Babs agrees, not asking why, not when she probably needed to see them for the same reasons, to make sure it’s really him . "See you soon ."

"See you."

He hangs up, drops his phone onto the sofa, buries his hands in his hair and pulls so he doesn't scream. He gives himself until the count of five to get his breathing under control and calm down, and then he gets to his feet. His phone buzzes with an incoming text and he picks it back up and flicks through the pictures Babs has sent. He sees white skin, green hair and a red smile, looks long enough just to clarify that it really is him, that there's no doubt this time, and then he makes his way into the kitchen.

Read on Ao3

[bonefall]

while i do agree with the sentiment that bloodclan should be more nuanced as an entity i still believe it is wrong to portray them as the necessary "response" to clan injustice (haven't read the books in years but i am pretty sure that bloodclan started with no connection to the clans) / an opposition to the clan's flaws. some of the thing scourge did was out of selfishness and bloodclan isn't the other colour of the black and white debacle with the clans. the clans are heavily flawed yes, but it isn't realistic to completely say that their structure had no redeeming qualities altogether and that all outsider groups is fundamentally better than the clans.

all clans and groups are flawed in their own way and i believe we shouldnt brush past the things that other groups (the sisters and what they do with their toms *cough cough*) did solely to be able to degrade the clans and their culture.

Buddy, you're setting up a strawman. I promise you that if you look into the reduxes I've made of BloodClan, Guardians, The Sisters, and the Tribe, you will see that I don't make any of them a "flawless" alternative to Clan life.

Nor do I say that the Clans have no redeeming qualities. In fact, you can browse the "Clan Culture" tag to see the various expansions I've made to show how these traditions, values, and technological advances make Clan life so alluring.

The overarching theme of BB is that the nature of culture is change. For better AND for worse.

With respect, I think there's something insidious in the wording of "the things the other groups did." We're talking about fan responses to a work that consistently demonizes and degrades foreigners to make the Clans look like the "best way to live," justifying xenophobia. These are not real groups, they are writing choices.

In the franchise with some pretty extreme examples of misogyny, the authors said "What if bizarro world where women rule and have no men... woag..." and only includes a single Clan-alligned member of this culture, with a BAD opinion of them, who can't even do his diplomatic job because he HATES them so much.

In the same franchise that shows Fireheart getting bullied, facing prejudice, and fighting a murderous tyrant who publically executes a mixed-race character, their endgame villain is an outsider, like him, but this one IS a godless heathen who HATES love and friendship and banned families.

In the VERY same franchise which made its first non-malicious group barely able to get through an arc without needing to be saved by Clan cats, totally unable to defend themselves, framed as "whiny" for not wanting their clearly 'inferior' culture to be forcefully changed.

And I'm re-stating all this because, again, no offense to you in particular Anon, but I've been seeing a few people with a sentiment like yours lately. Complaints into a vacuum that don't make targeted critique of anyone's fanworks, gesturing at this broad "woobification" which is apparently out there somewhere over the rainbow, saying things like "well Scourge is selfish" or "well Moonlight abandoned her 13 year old" as if we haven't BEEN knew.

As if we're not all directly responding to these choices. As if I haven't written ESSAYS on this topic.

Since this was about BloodClan in particular though, and you admit you haven't read the books in years, please go back and actually read Rise of Scourge before trying to make critique of the ways fanon rewrites its origin. It's EXPLICITLY a response to the Clans, in the text, that the Erins wrote, it is canon that fanon is working with.

And you want people to take that out and approach it a different way... why? Because it's so incredulous to you that a nation forms in response to a threatening neighbor? That a common enemy through invasions is a way that people might choose to unite, and encourage their new culture to value brutality? Because you don't like the idea of Clan Culture's XENOPHOBIC BATTLE CULTURE affecting surrounding communities??

Could YOU, maybe, be doing this "woobification" thing I keep hearing about? Can I play this stupid game too? What's our stupid prize? Can it be a lollipop? Do we get stickers

TL;DR, ok.

[sylus-hds-7213]

Mephisto is 'returned' after being 'deactivated', along with a business card, the words "just in case" scrawled on the front.

- @corruptedsignal

Sylus leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk as he studied Mephisto’s motherboard. The glowing blue lights of his PC flickered in sync with his focused gaze. He had plugged the AI’s core into his terminal, running diagnostics to see if there were any signs of tampering or unwanted modifications. The business card that came with the “returned” Mephisto was still sitting on the corner of his desk, the words “just in case” scrawled on it.

As the motherboard hummed to life, Sylus navigated through Mephisto’s systems, impressed by the precise and flawless repairs. Whoever had fixed Mephisto had done an impeccable job. Not a single thing seemed out of place, and yet, there was something about the whole situation that had Sylus intrigued. It was almost too clean, too well-executed.

After running several system checks and running the AI’s performance stats, Sylus’ eyes narrowed when he reached a particular segment of the code. There it was, a small but noticeable line that caught his attention. It was a custom program embedded in Mephisto’s system, a personal touch that wasn’t part of the usual protocols.

Mephisto had been programmed to sing "Happy Birthday" in German.

Sylus clicked his tongue in annoyance, a wry smirk tugging at his lips. "Atlas, you clever bastard," he muttered. "Sending Mephisto back with this weird little quirk. What's your game?"

He clicked through the settings and activated the module to output the result in text, since Mephisto’s shutdown prevented him from hearing the song for the moment. The text appeared on the screen, the familiar birthday song in perfect German, with every note painstakingly coded.

Sylus couldn’t suppress a small chuckle despite himself, but it was short-lived. He gritted his teeth as he glanced at the contact information provided on the business card. A few more clicks later, Sylus sent a message through the contact details on the card

I’d like to hire you, Atlas. I’ll pay 120,000 a month. Let’s talk business.

[yuzurujenn]

[2025.02.09] Kyodo News - Yuzuru Hanyu, tearful Echoes tour finale: Full Comment

Yuzuru Hanyu, the two-time Winter Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating, performed in the ice show "Echoes of Life" on the 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Funabashi, Chiba. The solo tour, for which he served as the executive producer, concluded with a passionate performance of 15 songs over more than two and a half hours. After skating, Hanyu, deeply moved, thanked the audience, saying he "skated with all my soul," while his eyes welled up with tears.

Hanyu completed all seven performances, including those in Saitama last December and Hiroshima this January. In the short program from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, to Chopin’s "Ballade No. 1," he executed the quadruple salchow, triple axel (a 3.5-revolution jump), and a flawless quad-triple loop combination. His performance was breathtaking, thrilling the audience of approximately 8,300 people. "I was able to end it with a performance that couldn’t have been better. I’m a bit in a daze right now," he said, soaking in the sense of accomplishment.

The full comment from Hanyu after the performance is as follows.

Q: Now that the "Echoes of Life" tour has come to an end, how do you feel right now?

A: I just feel like I really gave it my all. Also, the scale of the people involved in this ICE STORY is something unparalleled. So many people have been a part of this. I am filled with gratitude for how many people have moved and worked for me.

Q: This was your final performance, and you wrote the script and performed. How would you rate your own sense of completion in terms of this project?

A: I was able to finish with a performance that couldn’t have been better. I’m a bit in a daze right now. I can’t fully express it with just words or text, and I think that this ICE STORY is something that can’t even be fully expressed by skating alone, it’s something one-of-a-kind. It really makes me happy that today’s performance, direction, and story will be preserved in footage and remain in the memories of the people who came to see it.

Q: You presented a variety of programs, but your "Ballade No. 1" was particularly remarkable. The rink for the show was a bit narrow and dark. How did you approach performing "Ballade No. 1" today?

A: TV Asahi (who asked the question) has been following me all along, so I think you know, but I’ve really struggled with it from the very beginning. Looking back at the short program, it was a short program under the old judging rules, and in the second half I did two jumps. They were a triple axel and a quadruple-triple (two consecutive toe loops), and I really felt how difficult the jumps are. There's a different kind of tension to the free program, and unlike the free program, there's no room to recover (from stamina). That's what makes the short program so difficult, and I felt that again throughout this tour. And on top of that, I had already done four pieces before during 'Piano Collection,' so I was already thinking, 'This is tough,' before going out to do the 'Ballade.' Also, performing with show lighting was something I wanted, but it was also challenging, especially since the rink size changes depending on the venue. It was difficult, but thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, including the ice crew, I was able to make it work.

Q: It’s just finished, but do you have any plans or ideas for the future?

A: (immediate answer) No. Zero. (laughs) Honestly, I’m kind of in a daze right now, and my mind might not be working as clearly as usual. But more than anything, I’m just reflecting on how special it is that so many people gathered together, and I’m taking in this moment deeply, appreciating the present as it is.

Q: Previously, you said that skating = living. As you look toward the future, what kind of way of living do you want to show?

A: One thing I’ve realized and reflected on while writing this story and completing this tour is that 'the future is something no one can know.' That’s the biggest thing that stayed with me during this tour. It was the same with the (2022) Beijing Olympics, but there are times when you feel like no matter how hard you try, it won't be rewarded, and no matter how many good things you do a day, and no matter how many good things you repeat, something unfortunate is bound to happen in the future. That's why I can't easily say that this is the way I should live my life, but for now, I want to live the present, believing in my heart and my own sense of justice and moving forward.

Q: What was your mindset as Nova (yourself in a virtual space) during the fourth song, "Mass Destruction -Reload-"?

A: That song itself is a battle song. So, I'm fighting with some kind of sound, using sound as a weapon, or rather, with sound, well, how can I put it, persona. In the Persona game, there is an enemy called Shadow, and I'm using sound to summon my own persona and fight. I wonder how to explain that to the general public (laughs). Essentially, I felt like I was enveloped in sound, dancing, and using positive emotions like joy and fun to crush negative emotions like hatred.

Q: For today’s "Danny Boy," during the Saitama performance, I felt a sense of relief. Today, there was a feeling of calm. What was your mindset while skating?

A: (pauses for a few seconds) "I’m thinking back on it now, trying to remember what kind of feeling I had. At that moment, I was just focused, doing everything I could. I was skating with the image of praying with my whole body. That prayer was something that is at the origin of Danny Boy, a prayer for the deceased, but it's also a prayer for the hopes of everyone here, for my own personal happiness, and for the staff who helped create this show. There were many different prayers all mixed together, and in the end, I was just praying through the music, with the intention to express it all as one."

Q: Was there also a prayer for the purification of hatred, in terms of the story?

A: That scene is when Nova finally begins to realize that life has sprouts again in a world where it has almost completely disappeared. It's like a prayer for life to grow around him, or rather, that each and every life will grow, and that everyone will live. At the end, he says, 'Everyone, live.'

Q: Looking back at the progression from the first to the third installment of 'ICE STORY,' loneliness has been a consistent source of inspiration throughout. In every work, there is always an answer provided to the concept of loneliness. What does loneliness mean to you now, having had these experiences?

A: I don’t really think of it as loneliness. There are times when we have to fight alone, and of course, everyone has these moments. But we can't share everything with others. It's a very sad thing, but we can't share all our suffering or joy with others. In that sense, I feel like everyone experiences loneliness. But that's also why humans use words, write, and express themselves. What I wanted to convey in Nova was that even if you're alone in that world, as long as there are words, records, or sounds, you're not truly alone. I don't really think of myself as lonely, these days. But I wanted to express the feeling of 'It’s okay' to the little loneliness that exists within everyone, the kind of loneliness that no one else notices.

Q: Just like in competitions during the season, the performance kept getting better and better as the shows progressed. After these 7 performances, is there anything you feel you’ve surpassed or achieved?

A: I've also started new training, not just increasing my range of motion or improving flexibility, but focusing on how to move my body more effectively and how quickly I can recover. I've been working on refining my movements, as well as enhancing the fluidity and beauty that are my strengths. I started practicing this around the time of the Hiroshima performance in January, and now I finally feel that it's coming together. So, I truly feel that I can continue to evolve and improve from here on out.

Source: https://digital.kyodonews.jp/deepedge/ice-show/94275/

[erikaslumbers]

Do you by any chance know what the timeline is for Och-kan’s life prior to Xihucoatl’s death? I know there are some documents in Tollan about Kulkulkan performing experiments on children but I’m not sure which (or any) were implied to be about Och-Kan

thank you for the ask!

to be fully frank, i'm not completely sure either 😅 i'm not the best at putting timelines together (to the point it's the only thing i cant either figure out or make up in a coherent way about team xbalanque either) but going through the notes:

this is for sure about him:

"all who have become dragons before him"??? does that mean he actually has/had siblings running around??

(side note, since this is found here, behind the door with the pyro totem puzzle, i wonder if that was Och-Kan's birthplace)

then we have this note, that many seem to think is also about him:

but, if this one was ordered to be "neutralized", and was personally neutralized by the regent, wouldn't that mean he was killed? (apparently, the Chinese text says the subject was "executed" by the Regent, as in put to death, but I'm not certain)

also he was deemed "unfit for dragonhood", while Och-Kan is called "flawless creation"

so I honestly doubt it's him but (treasure hoarder voice) another test subject that was deemed still flawed and killed

edit: or (likelier) it is him and i was bsing/read it too literally 😅

another note mentioning Och-Kan for sure is this one. it seems that Xiuhcoatl was not only aware of Och-Kan's existence, but also aware of his failing to become the King:

this one might kiiiiinda connect to him, since it mentions experiments on Flamelord's Blessing and we know he had it, but it could also be about experiments on Saurians in general and not him specifically

I haven't found any other readable that seemed to be connected to him. I mean there's some about Kukulkan and some of his followers doing experiments outside of Tollan but these must not be about him

the only other mention of him I seemed to find is the dialogue from Ehecatl during the WQ

i'm guessing the (kinda vague and nothing new) timeline is:

Kukulkan creates him > decides to not keep him in Tollan for too long > leaves him in a human tribe > at some point he gets imprisoned by dragons > at some point Xbalanque frees him > he goes with him > he's a crucial part of the plan to raid Tollan by shutting the mechanisms > Xiuhcoatl dies and we know the rest very helpful and detailed, i know

i hope this is slightly helpful, because i'm not 100% sure either and that is why we need a full show/patch series about him tbh

[aihoshiino]

I’m curious as to what your opinions are on the ships in ONK. I’m guessing you’re not an Aquaruby fan (neither am I) but what do you think of Aquakana? Or any other ships in ONK! Personally my favorite is Ai x Happiness :)

AI X HAPPINESS IS THE ONLY OSHI NO OTP THAT MATTERS YOU'RE SOOOO RIGHT ANON

Out of the "official" OnK ships tho, you're right in that I don't really care for AquRuby, at least as presented in the text. It was never going to be a ship I was on board with since I'm just too exhausted with anime being the way it is about sibling incest to even pretend to take it seriously but the manga itself also seems to have the same attitude. Since 123, Ruby's feelings for Aqua have mainly been treated as a joke that relies on having Ruby act out a caricature of an archetype that was ALREADY shallow and dated in the 2010s lmao. I think Ruby -> Aqua would at least be interesting to read about if the story was actually willing to take her seriously and properly examine her feelings in a way that feels consistent with her character and to actually dig into the reality of a person developing incestuous feelings in a society that condemns incest rather than using her as a gag prop. I care less about it being incest and more about it being badly written incest basically LOL

AquAka I think it's interesting on paper and there's a lot of elements to it I think are really neat to chew on in discussions and character analysis but as a ship, it doesn't really work for me in execution. Part of it is that I don't really like how Aka handled most of Akane's stuff post TB and most of it is just that the majority of their "real" relationship happens like... offscreen, in a time skip? So there was no real time to get attached to their dynamic as a real couple and I'm the kind of person who mostly gets invested in ships based on the strength of their moment to moment banter and rapport. AquAka have a lot of big, dramatic moments but I didn't feel like they quite had the necessary downtime rapport to serve as the connecting tissue that would've made it land.

It also doesn't help that I feel like, a lot of what *I* think is interesting about AquAka is really not what the fandom sees in it LOL So it's really hard to discuss the elements I like without people getting Genuinely Angry At Me for daring to say the relationship is unhealthy or that both Aqua AND Akane completely fucked up and that's why it didn't pan out. That conflict and tension and the simmering undercurrent of codependence and toxicity that both of them unintentionally brought to the relationship is sooooooo fascinating but I feel like so many people actively talking about AquAka just kind of ignore that and treat it as an entirely wholesome, uncomplicatedly good relationship and Akane as completely flawless within its context. I think that's both unfair to Akane and kind of boring but I've also really drifted away from the question here, huh...

Anyway! AquKana is the 'canon' OnK ship I like the most by far! I wouldn't say I'm like Actively Shipping It in the sense that I go out of my way to seek out fanworks about it, but I think they're cute together and I like them, especially in the anime - I've said before it was the adaptation that made me actively a fan of Kana and that goes for AquKana, too. Like I said up there, a couple's moment to moment banter and dynamic is really important to me and that's a big part of the AquKana appeal to me. I really like the way they bounce off each other and I particularly enjoy the way Kana encourages Aqua to be a better version of himself - not necessarily in an "I can fix him" way but in that his friendship with Kana encourages him to be better out of respect and fondness for her. Kana serves as a sort of window into life as a normal boy for Aqua, with no revenge or ulterior motives, and in that space a lot of Aqua's worst traits that are exacerbated by trauma get softened and filtered through a kinder lens. I also really love the ways Aqua's support helps to uplift and encourage Kana to do her best - she was such a lonely person for so long, seeing the way she glows once she has someone to shine for is so sweet.

I definitely don't feel as strongly about it now as I did coming right off the anime because it's been pretty out of focus for a while... Honestly, come to think of it, I think that's part of why AquAka didn't really hook me at all. It's hard to get invested in something that's making a character you already liked more feel so bad LOL

Circling back to Ai, though... Ougghh it really does kill me there's no straightforwardly lovey dovey ships for her in OnK. I'm a lifeform that draws sustenance from seeing my faves getting loved and doted on, especially when they're someone as starved for love as Ai... don't get me wrong, I love KamiAi and AiNino because yandere love is pure love but sometimes I just want to see nice things happen to her...!!!

Anyway this is the part where I pull out my License To Be Cringe And Free and admit that I do have a whole bunch of crosscanon OTPs for Ai that I've written with friends LOL Honestly I do feel very spoiled with how many I've gotten to write and how good they've been... I've even commissioned some art here and there. So if you're ever on an internet walk and stumble across a piece of art that makes you go "hold on, why is Ai holding hands with Rinne Amagi from EnStars" or something, you have this bitch to thank!!!

[wtfsheikura]

Chapter 2

I BLINK RAPIDLY, MAKING SURE that Y/n isn't a mirage.

My meeting with the Gojo Holdings board of directors just wrapped up, and I stopped by the hotel bar for a drink before meeting up with some friends to party. I don't get to come to Vegas often, so I take full advantage of its nightlife when I do. The last thing I expected was to see Y/n Geto being accosted at the bar by some creep.

I'm distracted when my phone buzzes with a text, coincidentally, from her twin brother.

Suguru: Don't play too hard while you're in Vegas.

Satoru: I can't make any promises.

Evidently, he didn't deem it relevant to tell me Y/n was going to be in Vegas the same week as me.

Suguru and I have remained close since high school, staying connected through calls and texts when he moved to London ten years ago after graduating from culinary school. However, I haven't seen Y/n since the summer after high school. We fell out of touch when she moved away to college, and our paths never crossed over the years.

I slip my phone into my pocket to avoid any more distractions.

"Hello, N/n." Her childhood nickname passes my lips like it was only yesterday when we were hanging out in the backyard of the old Miller house.

"Gojo." She gives me a curt nod but averts her gaze.

Despite her cold greeting, warmth floods my chest at her use of my nickname. It almost makes up for her mask of indifference and her refusal to make eye contact. The Y/n I grew up with was friendly and affectionate. In contrast, this version is distant and guarded.

"Suguru didn't tell me you'd be in Vegas," I say, sliding into the seat on her left, avoiding the chair her unwanted guest just vacated. The creep may think he got away with how he treated Y/n, but he's mistaken.

Y/n finally meets my gaze, fixing me with a scowl. "Do you and my brother make a habit of discussing my whereabouts?"

"No, not usually," I answer with a hint of amusement.

"He told me you're living in London and heading up the European division of Geto International. That's impressive," I commend her.

My conversations with Suguru usually revolve around sports, business, and our one-night stands. His family is a sensitive subject, and he doesn't talk about his parents, or share much with me about Y/n's personal life.

Y/n tugs her lower lip between her teeth, a habit that hints something is bothering her—at least it did when she was younger.

"He exaggerated the truth," she says with a hint of cynicism. "My dad put my step-brothers in charge of the European division when he shifted his focus to global expansion, and I report directly to them." There's bitterness in her tone, but I'm unsure if it's directed at her dad or step-siblings.

"You're a senior executive at an international real estate firm. That's something to be proud of." I rest my arms on the sticky bar counter.

"It's fine, I guess," Y/n replies curtly. "Sukuna and Nanami give me full autonomy, which I appreciate," she adds in a softer tone.

I'm captivated when she picks up her martini, tilting her head back to finish her drink in one gulp. Her impeccably manicured nails are painted crimson red, matching the lipstick stain she's left on the glass.

"My mom says that if someone tells you they're fine, it means they're anything but," I muse, shifting my focus from her mouth back to her eyes.

"That sounds like something Hanako would say," Y/n replies with a faint smile.

She turns her attention away from me as she tries to flag down the bartender. He's preoccupied with two flirtatious women at the other end of the bar, lining up a row of shots in front of them. While Y/n is momentarily distracted, I take the opportunity to observe her more closely.

She's dressed in a pristine ivory suit with a white lace camisole peeking out from under her jacket, complementing her smooth, pale skin. Her h/c hair is tied up into a flawless high ponytail. Her e/c eyes are dull, like the spark inside her has been diminished, and she has a stern expression etched on her face, begging the question, what happened to make her so jaded?

"Is there a reason you're still here?" Y/n's exasperated tone jolts me back to the present. "Don't you have business to attend to or something?" She waves toward the exit, her voice betraying a trace of uncertainty.

"Are you that eager to get rid of me, N/n?" I lean in closer, inhaling the scent of her perfume—a mix of jasmine, lavender, and vanilla.

God, she smells incredible.

I have the compelling desire to close the distance between us and draw her close. But, considering her indifferent reaction to seeing me, I doubt she would appreciate it.

As I look around, I'm aware that every other man in the hotel lobby is watching her, waiting for their chance to approach her. They're shit out of luck because if I have anything to say about it, she'll be leaving with me. I'm certain Suguru would prefer Y/n go with me than stay alone at the hotel bar surrounded by men she doesn't know.

Looking down to regain my composure, I notice she's traded in her Docs for designer bold red heels.

"Of course not." Her voice drips with sarcasm. "What are you doing in Vegas on a Friday night?"

"Why do you think I'm here?" I challenge her.

She tilts her head to examine me, tapping her lips with a red fingernail, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "I've heard you're quite the ladies' man and that you travel a lot for work. So I assume you're wrapping up a business trip or here for a weekend of debauchery. From the stories Suguru has shared with me, I'd guess the latter."

I furrow my brow. What the hell has he told her? Sure, I avoid committed relationships like the plague, but that doesn't make me a womanizer.

"Which is it, Gojo?" Y/n taunts me. "And remember, I'm on a first-name basis with your mother, so you should think twice before lying."

I press my lips together to suppress a chuckle. It's nice to see her sassy side shining through the guarded mask she's hiding behind.

"I'm here for both," I admit casually. "Gojo Holdings had an emergency board meeting this afternoon. Tomeo had a conflict in his schedule, so I flew in from London to attend on his behalf."

I leave out the fact that the urgent meeting was to discuss a business deal with her father.

My family owns Gojo Holdings, the largest real estate firm in the country. When my dad retired three years ago, my oldest brother Tomeo stepped in as CEO of Gojo Holdings. He made my other brother Akira Chief Financial Officer, and I was shocked when he named me Chief Operating Officer.

Nine months ago I volunteered to head up the new Gojo Holdings office in London, which means I've spent the majority of my time there. Despite Suguru's hectic travel schedule, we meet up at a bar or club a handful of times a month now that we live in the same city. Coincidentally, I haven't crossed paths with Y/n since I've been there.

"If you're here for business, how does pleasure factor into that equation?" Y/n asks with a raised brow.

I swivel my chair to face her. "I'm an opportunist. I never pass up the chance to sprinkle in a little pleasure." I wink.

Y/n shakes her head with disappointment. "What happened to you, Gojo? I don't recognize this version of you."

She's right. It's apparent that we've both undergone significant changes since high school.

Before my accident I was a confident person. After, I remained unfazed on the outside, putting on a front for my family and friends. In truth, it was a crushing blow every time I was with someone who couldn't see past my physical flaws. First with Suki, followed by a string of unsuccessful first dates during the summer after graduation. Even now it's a hit to my self-esteem whenever a person treats me differently when they get a close look at my face.

I learned early on that I'm not the kind of guy a woman takes home to meet her parents.

From experience, I've learned that most women can't resist elusive men. They abandon their instincts and repulsion when drawn to a charming playboy who has no interest in commitment. My scar works in my favor. It garners sympathy and allows me to portray the detached flirt who will give a woman a night she'll never forget, with no unwanted strings attached.

"I could ask the same thing about you," I fire back. "The Y/n I knew would never be so quick to judge and would have greeted me like an old friend, not like a stranger."

"At least I'm not a Casanova, bragging about my conquests like they're trophies," she retorts sharply, like I've struck a nerve.

Damn, that was harsh, but true.

I'm used to snide remarks about my playboy lifestyle, but it bothers me that Y/n thinks of me that way.

I pick at her abandoned cork coaster, my hands itching for something to do.

"Sorry to disappoint you, N/n, but what you see is what you get. The same can't be said for yourself," I say bluntly.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she snaps, her eyes blazing with defiance.

I lean in toward her so only she can hear me. "Where's the optimistic, cheerful girl who viewed the world through rose-tinted glasses I grew up with?"

Ironically, we're both concealing our true selves, just in different ways.

Y/n narrows her gaze at me. "Stop pretending like you know me." I don't miss the hint of sadness in her voice.

I drum my fingers against the bar top, considering my next move.

"You're right, N/n. We're practically strangers," I admit. "But I want to change that if you'll let me."

"What do you mean?" Her voice betrays her curiosity.

"Spend the night with me," I state boldly.

I know Gojo doesn't have any siblings but this is for the plot

[franticbindings]

I spent a lot of time thinking about what my favorite cards would be to submit to a poll bracket a few months ago, and one unexpected conclusion that I came to was that I ran across a number of cards that I think would be pretty justified being in a "best" Magic card bracket that was at least attempting to be something other than completely subjective.

Normally when you're talking about "best" it's tricky because there are a lot of dimensions to what makes a card good. The main ones for me would be:

Mechanical Design (does the card do something unique/interesting?)

Aesthetics (the art, name, flavor text, concept and the way that all of that harmonizes with what the card does)

Historical Relevance (did this card mark a shift in design of the game? was this card important in various competitive formats? does it otherwise embody a particular moment in the history of the game, including stuff like "popular inside joke"?)

The thing is that there are cards that are hard to argue aren't slam dunks in all three categories. One of the main ones that jumped out at me as a card that I didn't really have much personal affection for but really did feel like it was everything you could hope for in a Magic card was Delver of Secrets.

Innistrad marks a turning point in a lot of ways; the first set with double faced cards and the set that debuted Magic's modern engagement with popular culture as a focus for set design. Delver of Secrets uses double faced cards and transform to execute on a reference to The Fly, but the translation to Magic's aesthetic is flawless enough that you don't need to know about that movie to understand why this card exists or appreciate what it's trying to do. A wizard doing unethical experiments and becoming something else is a natural fit, and there wasn't an attempt to extend the similarities to the movie beyond the concept even though you could have.

Visually, the front side is a striking composition - with the mantis in the hand and the shadows behind the person. The back side is a very effective bit of body horror imagery. It's not something I want to hang on my wall, but it's effective at everything that you need it to be. The cages of empty specimens and evocative flavor text all tell a compelling story with the very limited space.

The transformation trigger looking at the top card of your library is a good representation for a researcher, and from a mechanical design element has a surprising amount of depth of play; Magic has lots of things that interact with the top of the deck, allowing you to set up the transformation or make use of the knowledge of what you're going to draw in some other way like shuffling away a dead draw. Revealing the card that you draw is a drawback since some cards become much less effective if your opponent knows about them; the better your opponent, the worse it is that they know what is in your hand. The fact that it's optional to reveal the card creates the potential for a bluffing situation.

Delver of Secrets was a premier threat across multiple formats (legacy, pauper, more than one standard format) for many years, being the namesake of a variety of aggressive and highly interactive tempo decks that would stick a cheap threat and then back it up with removal and disruption in order to keep their opponent off balance long enough to seal the deal.

[abookishdreamer]

Character Intro: Nosos (Kingdom of Ichor)

Nicknames- The Dark Plague by the people of Olympius

Crow by Aegle

Scrooge by Apate

Age- 38 (immortal)

Location- The Underworld

Personality- He's a quiet, intuitive, brilliant deity that has an infinity in all things morbid. He has keen interests in things many would consider strange- like death. He's currently seeing someone.

He has the standard abilities of a god except shapeshifting. As the god of illness, plague, & disease his other powers/abilities include pestilence manipulation, infertility manipulation, having supersonic eyesight, necrosis inducement, microbial communication, poison generation/manipulation (toxigenesis), and limited vitakinesis (healing).

Nosos is the eldest child of his parents Nyx (goddess of the night) & Erebus (god of darkness) as well as the eldest of his siblings Apate (goddess of fraud & deception), Keres (goddess of violent death), Arae (goddess of curses & hexes), Charon (Ferryman of the Underworld), Achlys (goddess of the death mist, poison, misery, & sadness), Thanatos (god of death), Hypnos (god of sleep), Nemesis (goddess of retribution), Hemera (goddess of the day), and Aether (god of the upper atmosphere, celestial bodies, & heavenly light).

He lives by himself in a reasonably sized Victorian style house built out of blackwood. Inside the color scheme is pale green, gray, brown, dark green, & black. The flooring is black marble while weeds and thorn branches decorate the windowsills. There are framed vintage medical art & diagrams as well as the heads of several taxidermied animals, including a dragon's skull. There's also wood and leather furniture & there's a constant smell of cleaning solution and rubbing alcohol.

Notable physical features include his long dreadlocs- which is always tied neatly away from his face and his flawless dark ochre skin.

Nosos has a few pets- three crows named Scar, Cloak, & Shadow as well as a hellhound named Ghost- due to his albino fur.

He's fluent in Latin.

Nosos is extremely knowledgeable about all diseases and illnesses that can affect any & all beings of the three realms.

He'll typically start out his day with a session of meditation before going out on a run with Ghost through Shadowstone Park. Nosos will feed his crows their meal of sliced grapes, pomegranate seeds, nightshade berries, and rat meat before leaving.

He and his parents used to be very close. They shared a lot of trauma during the rule of Kronos (Titan god of the harvest, time, & fate). His parents were part of the king's esteemed guardsmen while Nosos served on the council as the High Healer- a learned deity in histories, science, and medicine who provided counsel to as well as handling the health & wellbeing of the king.

Things were more than well during The Golden Age. Shortly after the birth of the king's son Aidoneus- who will later be known as Hades (god of the dead), Nosos started noticing unsettling behavior regarding Kronos. It began with hallucinations of his father Ouranos (primordial god of the sky), then his constant requests of essence of nightshade to help him sleep, followed by his growing maltreatment of his heir and wife Queen Rhea (Titaness of fertility, motherhood, & comfort). Nosos was even ordered to try the meals of the king because Kronos thought his food was at risk of being poisoned. Nosos searched through all available texts to find a cure for the king's mental afflictions- even traveling to the Underworld to seek counsel from it's ruler- Kronos' brother Krios (Titan god of stars & constellations), but he was met with a nonsensical rambling that included the statement, "There's a battle brewing in the stars."

Things only got worse when Kronos ordered all of his servants to be executed. Anytos (Titan god of anonymity & secrets) handled the hangings and beheadings at first while Nosos handled the cleaning of the bodies before they were sent off to the crematoriums. A cataclysmic wave of illness & disease soon plagued Titanius. Weeping sickness amongst the dryads, Blue Fever afflicting the beings of the Underwater realm, and no being (no matter where they lived) was able to escape the grasp of the Black Death- a bubonic plague pandemic that occured all throughout the realms (though the Underworld had the lowest rate of mortality).

Kronos became convinced that all these ailments were the fault of Nosos- that he was conspiring against him. The king ordered Nyx and Erebus to bring their son to him so that he could revoke his immortality before taking his head. Nosos & his parents escaped, where they hid out in the Underworld in the Tartarus region.

He wanted to prove his worth as a deity, so Nosos volunteered in the most well known battle of the Titanomachy- The Fall of Mt. Othrys. His parents participated in the battle too. Before he could actively participate, Nosos suffered a near catastrophic fall when a giant hurled a boulder at him. Any other being falling from such a height would've been killed instantly. Being an immortal deity, Nosos was seriously injured- breaking almost every single bone in his body. The new king of the liberated country/realm now known as Olympius presented him with an Imperial Gold body brace, crafted by the blacksmithing cyclopes. That moment was also when Nosos was introduced to the deity that would eventually become his mentor- Asclepius (god of medicine). When he was nearly healed, Zeus (god of the sky, thunder, & lightning) treated him to a night in a brothel- complete with a few whores dressed as wet nurses. He became enamoured with one that night- a mortal named Anatolia, but she was a married mother of two.

He was so ashamed and embarrased about his lack of conviction in the war that it was many years later that he gathered the courage to face his parents again (who made their permanent residence in the Underworld). By that point Nyx had given birth to three daughters- with her currently pregnant with Charon.

A typical breakfast for him are buttermilk biscuits spread with pomegranate and blackberry jam, burnt strips of bacon, slices of wheat toast topped with black butter, & an egg omelette (added with black olives, red pepper flakes, and spinach). He also likes a big bowl of Earthly Harvest raisin crunch cereal.

A go-to drink for him is an obituary cocktail- a drink made with gin, dry vermouth, & absinthe. He also likes ginger ale, earl grey tea, beer, mojitos, his homemade ash plum-spinach smoothies, nightshade berry juice, water, classic martinis, pomegranate wine, chocolate almondmilk, and dark & stormy cocktails. He doesn't like coffee.

As time went on, Nosos started pulling more and more away from his family till he moved out of the Mansion of Night. His youngest siblings are total strangers to him, but he is aware of them. Nosos feels forgotten, not by his siblings as so much his parents. He doesn't want to seem like a needy petulant child begging for his parents attention, so Nosos just keeps away. Every once in a while he'll stop by briefly for a few minutes while Erebus packs some leftovers for him. It does make him feel a bit better knowing that his parents still want to initiate contact with him- with their e-mails, phone messages, & invitations to family gatherings.

Nosos' sister Apate is one of the reasons he tolerates traveling out-of-realm. She doesn't put any pressure on him to be anything other than what he is and she doesn't believe in the heirarchy that exists among the deities. She even invited him on a night out to a club she was DJing in Crete. He managed the loud music and the sweaty beings through gritted teeth.

He sent Keres a bouquet of black dahlias & a handwritten note to congratulate her on the success of her film Blooddancer.

Nosos' main source of income comes from overseeing the Necrodegmon Institute of Morturary Science, the oldest & most well known mortuary school since Olympius was founded. It's located in the Underworld. He also examines the shades before their official placement. Nosos also models for The Black Label, the menswear brand of his friend Moros (god of doom).

Even though he holds no ill will towards Hades, Nosos does find it disrespectful that he wasn't offered a seat on The Dark Council.

His favorite dessert is his mom's nightshade berry baklava.

Nosos feels an unspoken kinship with not only Apate but with other deities that have been chewed up and spat out by pantheon like Rhea & his mentor. He was disgusted when he learned that Asclepius had his godly abilities stripped away as well as never being allowed to practice medicine again.

The mentor/mentee relationship has now shifted into a geniune friendship since Asclepius' punishment. Nosos will travel to New Olympus to see him at his cottage while they reminisce about the bad ol' times while sharing a blunt and drinking a few beers. They both commiserate on how alone they feel & are, especially since Asclepius' wife Epione (goddess of soothing pain) filed for legal separation and their two youngest kids still live in Kos with her. Nosos does feel guilty about keeping a certain secret from him.

Some of his favorite sweet treats include ash plum sorbet, dark chocolate almondmilk ice cream, and pomegranate sorbet.

After much self reflection, Nosos made the decision on his own to seek out therapy. While in New Olympus, he'll also go to his scheduled appointment with his therapist Pathos (god of emotion). He has walked out several times whenever his percieved failure at battle was brought up until he collasped emotionally- finally pouring out his heart to Pathos. Another topic of discussion has been Nosos' unsuccessful attempts at romantic relationships. He's now coming to terms regarding his actions of love bombing & getting attached quickly despite the other partner's feelings.

He used to date Paean (goddess of physicians) and Iaso (goddess of cures & remedies). Both relationships lasted a few weeks, with a pattern of Nosos pushing for commitment right from the start as well as constantly sending them unwanted gifts.

Now, Nosos' been seeing his mentor's younger sister Aegle (goddess of good health) for a while. He was instantly physically attracted to her when she stopped by for a visit. Wanting to break the cycle of his previous bad behavior, he acted cold and aloof towards her, but at the end of the day when Aegle was getting ready to leave, Nosos asked for her number. He invited her to his parents' ranch where they made out heavily in an empty stable. They slept together for the first time at his place. He likes the fact that Aegle doesn't see his failures when she looks at him. Nosos also enjoys hearing her laugh and catching the citrus scent of her hair. During a late night phone call she told him "I love you." He could only reply by saying "Oh" before hanging up.

In the pantheon Nosos is also friends with Lelantos (Lantos) (Titan god of air, the unseen, & hunting) as well as Phonos (god of murder).

He's thinking about having Aegle as his plus one when he goes to the wedding of Moros and Oizys (goddess of anxiety, misery, & depression).

He enjoys listening to folk, rock, grunge, and classical music. Nosos has enjoyed every bit of music Moros has recorded thus far.

In his free time he enjoys watching TV (his go-to being science & medical documentaries as well as true crime shows), reading, taxidermy, sailing (along the River Lethe), hellhorse riding, and cooking.

Nosos' all time favorite meal is a spinach salad topped with black sesame seeds and pomegranate vinaigrette along with a beef and broccoli stew served with steamed brown rice. He also likes his mother's scorched chicken with beef patties & his dad's bourbon barbeque ribs. His favorite take out order is jjajangmyeon. There's a hole-in-the-wall place in the Underworld that makes the best!

"Death is the cure for all diseases."