#that kind of crazy. like training until drenched in sweat from morning to night or whenever hes available. bc he knows he has potential

[keirientez]

band au rahhhhhhhhhhh

[clarisse0o]

Camp Wiegman-Part 40

Lucy Bronze x Ona Batlle

Alternative Universe : Military School

Words : 5k

TW : Homophobia

Masterlist

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Monday, January 18th; 7:50 AM - School Grounds.

Anxiety slowly takes over me. I’m about to meet my new class in a few minutes. Fortunately, I won’t be doing it alone. Both  Leah and  Lotte are accompanying me on this new adventure, thank God. I would have gone crazy otherwise. As if I hadn’t already had a disastrous night… Nothing is ever normal at home anyway. Everything always happens at once. My nightmares came back stronger than ever. I found myself drenched in sweat in my little bed at three in the morning. I was lucky not to have woken up Lucy. I was in a terrible state. I even had to get up and change. I think she noticed I wasn’t wearing the same pajamas this morning, but she didn’t ask me about it. She’s understood my need for space since her rejection. I don’t want to deal with her until I’ve sorted things out in my head. It’s painful, but I have to look at things positively... I’ve finally granted her wish to sleep in separate beds. Even though it worked against me last night, it’s also what I want now. It was a mistake to get used to being in her arms. I should have known better. I suddenly remembered why I keep my distance from people. But now it’s too late. Too late to regret what’s been done. The problem is, I’ve become dependent on her. That’s an undeniable fact. I found myself lying in bed staring at the ceiling, unable to fall back asleep. Her steady breathing calmed me, reminding me that I wasn’t alone, but I still couldn’t sleep. The realization that it was her, her presence against me, that I missed completely overwhelmed me. I had never reached this stage with anyone before, not even Mapi. Instead of swallowing my pride by waking her up or joining her, I locked myself in the bathroom and slid down to the floor. I was on the verge of breaking down, realizing the situation I was in. Everything hit me all at once, and I hadn’t seen it coming. I let her into my life, and now there’s no turning back. I could have cried out in sheer pain, but I didn’t. I held it in because I had no right to do otherwise. I put myself in this situation. The rest of the night gave me plenty of time to reflect with my tormented mind. I ended up spending the rest of the night on that floor until it was time to sneak back to my bed. I didn’t want  Lucy to notice my suspicious absence. My plan worked, and it’s likely to be very effective next time. Though, I doubt my body can endure this for long. I’m already struggling now. I noticed dark circles in the mirror this morning, and my eyes sting.  Lucy couldn’t see them. I rushed to the bathroom as soon as the alarm rang to cover my face with foundation.

“Relax,  Ona,”  Leah chuckles, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You’re acting like we’re going to a funeral. Your stress is palpable from miles away.”

“You’re funny,” I grumbled. “You both know everyone here, unlike me. It feels like I’m starting school all over again.”

“You weren’t even this tense when you first arrived here,” she mocks.

“I didn’t care about being here back then,” I say, shrugging. “Remember, I was looking for a way out.”

“Not anymore?”  Lotte asks.

“Looks like things change.”

“Little Batlle is evolving!”  Leah jokes. “I thought we’d finally get to see a rebel.”

“Pff, nonsense. Of course, Bronze managed to train her student again.”

That unknown voice was harsh. I look around to find the person who dared to listen in on our conversation. I spot a student I don’t know at all. She seems to be mocking me.

“Got a problem?” I reply.

“Me?” she answers, feigning outrage. “Not at all. I was just saying  Bronze succeeded again in taming the camp princess.”

I furrow my brow. Camp princess? What kind of nonsense is this? How do the students know that nickname? An inexplicable rage builds up inside me. So this is what they think of me here? That I was a little rebel that  Lucy managed to tame? If Alessia hadn’t had her hand on my arm, I would have grabbed her collar by now to make her regret her words.

“Let it go, Athenea,” scoffs a girl who just arrived. “The rumors about her must be true. She’s probably a lesbian who can’t resist the charms of our dear instructor.”

I clench my fists so tightly that my knuckles turn white as snow. This is really not the time to provoke me about that. I take a deep breath, telling myself they don’t know what they’re talking about, but that girl’s smug smile is infuriating. Looks like I’ve already found someone to despise in my new class.

“Let it go, Ona. Let them think what they want.”

I take Alessia’s advice and turn my back on those two troublemakers. I’m not going to stoop to their level by getting provoked. They’re just trying to irritate me, but I won’t give them that satisfaction. The best response is to ignore them. I was ready to continue our conversation until I felt a presence behind me.

“By the way, my name is Korbin,” she whispers in my ear. “You’re going to remember my name very quickly with all the trouble I’m going to cause you… filthy dyke.”

She walks past me, turning around to give me one last malicious smile before entering our classroom. Great. This couldn’t have started any better. She clearly doesn’t know who she’s messing with.

“We should go inside,” Alessia gently reminds me.

I nod without taking my eyes off the doors she just walked through.

“Are you okay?” she murmurs.

I sigh, nodding again while trying to hide my slight tremors. This is the first time I’ve experienced a direct homophobic remark. She pats my shoulder before I follow her into our new classroom. Most of the seats are already taken. Luckily,  Leah and Lotte got in before us and saved us seats in the back. I sit next to Alessia, taking the spot by the window. I take out my supplies and put my bag on the floor, then lean against the wall to get a view of my new class. I quickly spot the infamous Korbin, who gives me a twisted smile. Looks like I’ll have to find out more about this girl.

“Good morning, everyone, to your new Business Management class,” my new teacher’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “I’m Mr. Tompson, your new homeroom teacher for the rest of the year.”

I’m surprised to see a young teacher at the front of the class. He’s nothing like any teacher I’ve had before. I’d guess he’s in his early thirties at most. He has a certain charm with his slight beard and tousled chestnut hair.

“I’ll be your management teacher for the rest of the year. We’ll start off slowly by taking roll,” he continues as he heads to his desk. “Just so you know, I have notes on each of you from your previous teachers as well as instructors. This will help your new teachers and me to understand you quickly.”

 Lucy didn’t mention anything about that… Damn. I’m going to be labeled right from the start. I wasn’t particularly liked by my previous teachers.

“Well, let’s get to roll call,” he says, sitting down. “I want to put faces to the names I’ve read about.”

I sink into my chair as he calls the first name on the list. I glance at Alessia, who smiles at me. I was disappointed not to be in the same class as Alexia for the rest of the year, but maybe this will give me a chance to get closer to others. It might be a blessing in disguise. Maybe I’ll be able to forget  Lucy in the process. I furrow my brow when Alessia nudges me.

“ Batlle, Ona?”

“Sorry,” I say aloud, realizing what’s happening. “Here!”

I look my teacher straight in the eye. His are a very plain brown. He gives me a warm smile. I feel like he’s judging me in some way.

“So you’re the famous  Ona I’ve heard so much about,” he says. “I have mixed opinions about you,” he tells me. “A lot of people seem to believe in you. Let’s see how that turns out.”

“She must have slept with Bronze to get positive remarks,” the bitch from earlier snickers.

“Shut up!” I snap without thinking.

I glare at her to emphasize my words. She just smiles at me maliciously. This girl is pure poison, it’s unreal. Many laugh at her stupid joke. I really didn’t need any more rumors about me on top of everything else.

“Hey, that’s enough!” the teacher shouts. “Quiet down,” he demands, silencing the class. “There’s no place for that kind of remark here, got it?! Next time, you’ll explain your inappropriate comments to the principal.”

“Oh, come on, I was just joking,” she giggles.

“Real funny,” I growl.

- "I said that's enough!" he lectures. "I’m going to finish taking attendance, and then we’ll start the lesson right away as a punishment."

Discontented sighs are heard. They better not even try to blame me. The entire class acted childishly. I rest my head against the palm of my hand until attendance is over. I feel like this day is going to be even longer than I expected. My lack of sleep isn’t helping, but it’s best if I don’t draw attention to myself on the first day. Once attendance is over, he follows through on his threat by starting the lesson. This day isn’t much different from other Mondays. My schedule is almost identical. It’s just the content that changes. Today we have two hours of management, then two hours of math. Since it’s the first day, the hours pass more quickly. The teachers take their time getting into the thick of things. We lost half an hour in each subject listening to their spiel and their attendance list, as they don’t know most of us. Finally, lunch arrives. I was chatting with Alessia on the way to the cafeteria until a brown-haired bundle jumps on me, making me lose the little balance I have. I catch her by the thighs to prevent us from falling to the ground.

- "Oh my Onita, I missed you so much!"

- "Alexia," I chuckle. "It was just a morning!"

- "That’s already way too long. I want to see my crazy friend in class!"

I laugh as she hugs me tighter. This position must look hilarious to the others. It’s exactly what I needed after this disastrous start to the day.

- "Putellas, get down immediately," a voice I know too well commands.

My roommate must still be traumatized by Lucy to have listened so quickly. I turn to see her with a stern expression on her face. I simply adjust my backpack properly, then turn on my heel towards the cafeteria with Alexia, who places her arm over my shoulders.

- "Is there any tension in the air with Bronze?" she asks hesitantly.

- "We’ll talk about it later," I reply simply. "How was your morning otherwise?"

- "Calm... Too calm," she sighs. "I really missed you. Plus, I’m with Alba now. I have to behave seriously."

- "Oh, don’t say that," I laugh. "I’m sure she’s not as serious as she pretends to be, little Alba."

- "Oh, not her... But she makes sure that I am."

- "Hey! I’m not that bad," replies Alba, who must have overheard us.

- "Prove us wrong then," I challenge her. "Let your sister live a little!"

- "Well, she lived with you! She only had comments about talking too much in her file."

- "Oh, they gave you your comments? We weren’t so lucky. They only said they couldn’t agree on me."

- "Not surprising," Alba mocks. "Do you have a good class?" she continues.

- "Eh. I have a bitch who’s taken me as a scapegoat."

- "What’s her name?"

- "Korbin, if I remember correctly."

- "Ouch..." she comments. "Avoid her as much as possible. She’s a pain."

- "I noticed. Do you know her? If so, you’ll need to tell me everything you know about her."

- "No problem," she smiles. "We’ll talk about it at the table."

She winks at me before moving forward in line. I realize this is the first sensible conversation I’ve had with Alba. I mean, I talk to everyone around the table, but never one-on-one. The only people who’ve had that privilege are Alexia and Leah. They were the only ones I focused on because I feel close to them. I regret not opening up more to others. I now understand what Mapi meant when she said I was so hooked on Lucy that I could barely talk about my friends. In reality, I gave her so much importance that I didn’t give the same to the other people around me. I think this distance will show me all the things I’ve been missing out on.

Monday, January 18; 5:00 PM - Classroom

I pack up my things as soon as the Alba rings. I absolutely hate my first classes. I just endured two hours of accounting, and I’d be lying if I said I understood anything. It’s a subject that bores me so much that I don’t wait for permission to start packing my bag. I’m the first one standing when the teacher gives the green light to leave.

“In a rush?” Alessia asks, holding me back.

“Uh, yeah. I need to see Wiegman about something personal. I’ll catch up with you in the common room when I’m done.”

“Didn’t you say you’d study in Bronze’ office after your classes?”

“Oh, right. I changed my mind. I’ll study with you guys, so you can help me with what I didn’t understand if that’s okay.”

“No, not at all. I’d be happy to.”

“Cool,” I say with a small smile. “See you later then.”

I quickly escape from that hellish classroom, heading straight to Wiegman’s office as I mentioned. I know the way perfectly, having been there several times already. I don’t hesitate to knock on the

 door. I open it when I’m given permission to do so.

“Good aft-”

I stop in my tracks when I see not one, but two pairs of eyes staring at me.

“Well, hello,  Ona. What brings you here?”

“I wanted to discuss something with you. I can come back later if I’m interrupting.”

“Don’t be silly, we were just finishing up,” she says. “Come sit next to your supervisor. It shouldn’t bother you to talk in front of her, right?”

She couldn’t have picked a worse time to be here. I must be cursed; there’s no other explanation. Having no other choice, I shake my head before closing the door behind me. I move as slowly as possible to the empty chair next to  Lucy, placing my bag between my legs. My pulse quickens, and I can’t control it.

“What did you want to discuss?” she asks.

How did I end up in this situation? I should have left. The topic I want to discuss isn’t one I should address in front of  Lucy. Anxiety takes over me. I lower my head to avoid facing them directly, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling their eyes on me. I shake my head briefly to regain my composure. Her presence should not influence my decision. I’ve had enough time to think it over during the night. I take a deep breath. I’m ready to defend my point if necessary.

“I want to go back to my room,” I blurt out like a bombshell.

With my eyes lowered, I can’t see their reactions. Judging by the silence that follows, I doubt it’s a good one. Surprise, maybe. I gather my courage and raise my head to indeed see that expression on their faces, at least on Wiegman’s.

“I’m feeling better,” I assert confidently. “I still have restless nights, but I’m not having any more episodes. I’ve already caused enough trouble for those around me because of my personal issues.”

Laughter fills the room. I quickly regret meeting my supervisor’s gaze. It’s hard and filled with anger.

“Are you kidding me?” she hisses. “Are we talking about those dark circles under your eyes? You can hide them all you want, but it doesn’t work with me. I absolutely do not agree with this room change.”

And there it is, as expected. I’m screwed. Damn observant! I thought she hadn’t noticed. We both turn to Wiegman, waiting for his decision. She scratches his head while observing us closely. I’ve noticed it’s a habit when she’s thinking. She looks back and forth between us before finally focusing on me.

“Why do you want this change, Ona?”

“I’ve already troubled my supervisor enough. She’s losing sleep because of me, and I don’t want that to continue.”

“She volunteered for this. She’s doing it willingly. Unless you’ve changed your mind, Ms.  Bronze?”

I sense agitation next to me. She’s probably seething right now. I won’t come out unscathed from this meeting.

“Absolutely not,” she growls.

“Good. In that case, it’s up to you to decide what’s best for your student.”

“Her episodes are unpredictable,” she responds. “There’s no way she can return to her room right now.”

The tone she uses sends shivers down my spine. I don’t even dare look at her anymore. She’s going to hate me after this… Maybe that’s what I was aiming for when I made this decision. I raise my eyes to our principal when she speaks again.

“So the matter is settled,” she says, causing my shoulders to slump in defeat. “Don’t feel embarrassed about such small things,  Ona. We’re here to help you, don’t forget that. We were just talking about the remarkable progress you’ve made in your behavior.”

“Um… right,” I respond indifferently. “Can I go now? My friends are waiting for me.”

- "Yes, of course, you can go."

- "Thank you for seeing me. Goodbye."

I stand up and sling my bag over my shoulder. I head for the door, feeling the weight of  Lucy's eyes on my back.

- "You can leave too, Miss Bronze. We were finished."

I suddenly pale. Damn! I hear her thank Wiegman as I make a run for it to get out of there. I was on a good track until I heard her after slamming the door.

- "Not so fast, Batlle!"

Ouch. It's not a good sign when she uses my last name. I do the exact opposite of what she asked, running towards the exit. I was about to reach the door when  Lucy couldn't control her momentum in the chase and ended up crashing into me as I stopped. Her body pins mine against the door before she grabs me by the collar of my jacket. She forcibly drags me to a room I recognize as the restroom when we arrive. She immediately locks the door behind us to prevent me from escaping.

- "What the hell is your problem?" I snap.

- "My problem?!" she exclaims. "What about yours? You've been avoiding me like the plague since this morning! You haven't said a word to me, and now I find you in Wiegman's office asking for a room change? When exactly were you planning to tell me, huh?"

I've never seen her this angry before. She's so red with rage that I don't even dare to speak. I'm paralyzed. She seems to notice my fear because she closes her eyes for a moment. I could have taken the opportunity to slip away if she weren't standing in front of the door. I don't feel ready to face her now. I probably never will be. But I know she won't let me out of here without getting her answers, thanks to those two determined emerald jewels of hers.

- "Answer me. Explain yourself, or... I don't know. Do something!"

Her tone is harsh, and she's losing patience.  Lucy has never been someone who loses patience. My silence is affecting her more than I imagined. I lower my head, trying to come up with some reasonable excuse for what I've done, but what's the point? There’s none that can replace the truth.

- "I-I can't,  Lucy."

- "Can't what?"

- "Act like nothing happened! You rejected me, and I accept that, but... But don't blame me for distancing myself. I've been hurt by rejection enough in my life. I don't want it to happen again."

Her shoulders slump at my response. It was like she just realized the consequences of her decision.

- " Ona..." she says in a strangely calmer voice. "I-"

- "No, shut up. I don't care about the reasons, okay? I don't even know if there are any, but I understood your choice. You can't or you won't. I don't know, but the result is the same. Either way, I can't let myself develop any further feelings for you."

- "It's my fault we've come to this... I should have maintained my professionalism and avoided giving you false hope."

I laugh bitterly. I don't regret how I feel about her at all. It's her reaction I regret. I say nothing, preferring to play along with her.

- "Yeah, maybe you should have, but it's too late now."

- "I never wanted things to get to this point,  Ona. I-I thought we could stay friends, that I could help you. That's all I was trying to do."

- "You don't get it," I spit out.

She doesn't understand that it's her that I need, the relationship she's denying me. She reignited something in me that had been destroyed in my downward spiral. I'd never felt as good as I did with her by my side. I take a deep breath as I see her watching me curiously. If she thinks I'm going to make it easy for her by saying all this, she's dreaming. Who knows why she doesn’t want me? Maybe she’s seeing someone else, like that girl from the other night. They seemed close and she was pretty cute. I shake my head to get that image out of my mind. It’s none of my business.

- "Forget it. I-I... You know, today I realized that I've deprived myself of so much by focusing on you. I never wanted to feel these things for you, but it's not something you can control. I can't turn back now. Just when I thought I had finally discovered the real you..." I murmur thoughtfully.

- "Nothing is stopping us from continuing..." she murmurs, almost desperately.

- "N-no... I-I'm really sorry... B-but, I need to step back. That’s all I’m asking. If you care about me even a little, then... Stay out of my life until I need you again."

These words hurt, but it's the only solution I've found if I don't want to lose her entirely and waste the progress I've made. Running away has always been my way of protecting myself. I know  Lucy can understand that. She’s always been able to read me with unsettling ease. That’s probably why she looks so sad. She knows it’s the only way to keep me intact. She’s the one who transformed me, but she could also be the one who destroys me in the blink of an eye. That thought terrifies me. I should never have gotten so attached to her or developed these feelings. And then my friends wonder why I don’t open up anymore. It was to avoid moments like this that I stopped trusting new people. I should have kept going down that path. You always end up disappointed, even with someone as perfect as  Lucy.

- "Okay," she resigns. "I want you to know that I never wanted things to get to this point, but I'll give you the space you need so I don’t lose you completely..."

I avoid looking at her so she doesn’t see how much her words affect me and how they sting my heart. She doesn't even try to stop me or change my mind. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive her for putting barriers between us. No matter what she says, I know our relationship isn’t meaningless to her. Or maybe it is. Maybe I’ve been wrong all along.

- "Thank you for respecting my choice..." I say, not without difficulty.

- "It’s not without conditions."

My jaw tightens. How dare she ask something of me? Seeing that I’m not planning to respond, she continues.

- "I’ll give you the space you need, but you’re still sleeping in my room. I’m also offended that you wanted to talk to Wiegman about it before consulting me."

- "To forget about this whole thing, I need to cut ties completely..." I admit. "I knew you’d never let me leave, which is why I went to her directly without consulting you."

- "I figured as much, but that’s not going to happen," she says, frowning. "No matter what happened between us, there’s no way I’m going to let you spiral down again."

- "I’m not spiraling."

- "I know you. This is my condition,  Ona. I also want to keep our evening classes. Just because we had this little falling out doesn’t mean you should jeopardize your education."

I scoff at her words. So this is just a "little falling out" to her? I doubt she understands my feelings for her, then.

- "I’m not planning to jeopardize my education," I reply coldly. "But I’m not keeping those classes. I asked Alessia to help me instead, and she agreed."

My answer seems to surprise her. She doesn’t realize how thoroughly I’ve thought this through. She almost looks disappointed. Knowing that I’m still attending classes, she has no reason to forbid it.

- "I guess that’s non-negotiable...?"

- "Exactly. I need to spend time with my friends and distance myself from you."

- "Very well..." she sighs. "But don’t completely ignore me like you have the last couple of days. I want you to talk to me at least a little."

- "Yeah, whatever you say, Commander. Can I go now that the negotiations are over?"

- "Hmm... I’ll see you tonight," she says as she opens the door.

- "Yeah. I’ll probably be with Alexia before I come."

I walk out with my head held high. I feel relieved of a burden after confessing my feelings and proud of not backing down for once. But that confidence fades once I’m away from her. I have no idea how I’ll feel in the coming days... I’ve focused so much on her these past few months that it feels like I can’t live without her, and the consequences are starting to scare me. I take a deep breath when I get outside. I’m determined to prove to her—and to myself—that I can live without her. If I can make her regret her choice in the process, that would be the ultimate goal. I stop thinking about her when I reach the common room. All my friends are there. I join Alessia and Alexia, who are sitting around a table working. Well, if you can call it that. It looks more like they’re chatting than anything else.

- "Oh, Onita!"

- "Don’t start calling me that," I grimace.

- "I think it’s a cute nickname," Alessia comments.

- "Would you prefer ‘Princess’ instead?" Alexia teases. "I heard that one’s making the rounds at school."

I sigh and nod. Unfortunately, I think I’d rather it be "Onita" spreading instead of the other one. It’s going to remind me of  Lucy, and that’s exactly what I would have preferred to avoid. The first days are going to be very long. I take out my notes while replying.

- "Yeah, it seems so... I wish it weren't the case. I don’t even know how they could have found out."

- "Who knows," Ale smiles. "I heard you were at Wiegman ’s?"

- "Yeah. Bronze was there too."

- "And...?" she asks hesitantly, which makes me shrug.

- "If you want to talk amongst yourselves, I can step out," Alessia offers.

- "No, don’t worry. We’ll talk about it tonight."

- "Hey Ona, you’re finally here!" Alba enthusiastically says. "Want to play a game of foosball?" she suggests.

- "Not tonight, sorry. Alessia owes me some tutoring and it might take a while... I’m really completely lost in my new subjects."

- "To that extent?" Alessia asks. "It’s not that complicated."

- "Oh yes! It’s like Chinese to me, seriously! How can such things even exist?" I grumble.

- "Okay, I get it," Alessia chuckles. "We’ll review everything from the beginning."

I nod with a small smile. I move my chair closer to her with my stuff. I just grab some scratch paper, as I used to do with Lucy... Alessia returns my smile and gets into the groove of going over our lessons for the day. I hope the motivation will be with me; otherwise, I’ll never make it through the year.

Monday, January 18; 8:30 PM - Ona and Alexia's Room

- "How could I have missed so much?"

I’ve just confessed everything to Alexia. When I say everything, I mean the entire story between Lucy and me. I couldn’t keep it to myself knowing how I’m going to feel in the coming days. She would have found out something was wrong anyway, and I doubt she would have stayed quiet without getting answers this time. All I can say is that she is not at all happy. She’s upset that I hid the progress of this relationship from her. I bite my lip, realizing the stupidity of excluding Ale from my life. I should have confided in her rather than Lucy. Her eyes did light up when I admitted that I’ve been sleeping with her recently or when I explained how much I care about her, even now.

- "Are you in love with her?"

- "No... I said I care about her, not that I’m in love with her."

- "It was just a simple question... You know, you’re allowed to be."

- "No, I’m not allowed," I sigh. "I just told you she turned me away. Developing feelings for her would destroy me..."

- "Good grief," she sighs. "Can’t you hear yourself? It can’t be like this. Didn’t you see the way she looked at me at lunch when I was on your back? I thought she was going to kill me with that hurt look!"

- "You’re exaggerating," I roll my eyes.

- "No, I assure you... There must be another reason she doesn’t want to develop your relationship."

- "Whatever... I extended an olive branch for her to change her mind, and she didn’t take it. She accepted me stepping away rather than keeping me by her side. It’s pretty clear as a response, don’t you think? Besides, this break won’t hurt me. She just made it clear that I need to continue being wary of people."

- "I doubt she wants you to react like this..."

- "I don’t care. I just need to clear my mind, and this is the only way I can do that."

- "Alright... If you say so."

I put down the pencil I had between my fingers and let my sketchbook fall between my thighs. It’s been so long since I touched my drawing materials that I’d forgotten the relaxing effect they gave me. As far back as I remember, they were always my best means of escape. Staying in my room with Alexia was probably the best idea I had to escape Lucy for the evening. Lucy hadn’t forgotten that I owed her an explanation, so she dragged me to come with her, but I admit I should have thought of that from the start.

- "Lucy had become my pillar, but I need to prove to myself that I can live without her."

- "You’ve become addicted to her, huh?"

I frown when she says that. It’s not the first time someone has said that to me. Mapi was the first, and I’m starting to question it.

- "No... Haven’t you been talking to Mapi?"

- "Oh, no... Not at all," she mocks.

- "Of course! What did she tell you?"

- "Nothing. She wanted you to tell me yourself. I assure you," she smiles. "But now that you’ve explained everything, I can finally understand what she was talking about, and sorry for you, but I can only agree with her. You’re in love with Lucy, and you’re denying it."

- "That’s not true," I protest.

- "Yes, it is. Just admit it."

- "Definitely not."

- "Say it. It will set you free, you’ll see."

- "No," I say, shaking my head. "You don’t understand," I say desperately, making her sigh.

- "Come here."

She pats her bed. I sigh but join her, grabbing my pillow and hugging it like a stuffed animal. I then curl up when she forces me to rest my head on her shoulder. My eyes fix on a point as I lose myself in my thoughts. Ale’s strokes in my hair, meant to relax me, have the opposite effect. I hate her. That’s how I feel about Lucy right now. All the recent moments of my life are related to her. She has taken up too much space, and now I have to live with this idea while trying to resume my life before she came along. The problem is, I don’t know how it works anymore. She took care of everything. It’s as if she did my thinking for me. I wasn’t ready for everything to turn out like this. I suffocate as I release the lump that had been stuck in my throat for too long.

- "Let it out."

That’s all it takes for my tears to start flowing down my cheeks. I can’t control myself anymore. Everything comes like a tornado. I let myself fall against Alexia, who opens her arms without hesitation. I never thought it would hurt this much.

- "I love her, damn it."

I close my eyes as Alexia encourages me to let go of everything my mind has prevented me from doing. I haven’t cried this much since I’ve been in this damn camp. I’ve felt sad more than once in my life, but I’ve never expressed it so much to others. I feel like I’ve become sensitive to everything. I collapse onto my roommate’s lap as she lets me unload my emotions. She achieved what she wanted. I feel drained. I’ve poured out everything I could until I ran out of strength. Alexia holds me against her, giving me soothing pats on the top of my head to calm me down. I look pathetic with my pillow clutched against me. We stay like this for a while until a muffled noise is heard at the door. I straighten up with my back to it to wipe my face as best as I can. The door opens without permission.

- "Oh, hello Bronze..."

I freeze at Ale’s clearly deliberate hint. I can only mentally thank her for making me realize it was her behind me. I was expecting her if I came too late to her room. I think curfew must be approaching. I squeeze my eyes shut to compose myself before facing her.

- "I was told I’d find you here," she says. "Curfew is coming soon, and it seems you still need to take a shower."

- "I was about to come," I mumble.

- "Hmm... I just wanted to make sure. I was afraid you might skip out on me despite our conversation."

I haven’t discussed this part with Alexia. I didn’t want to rub salt in the wound for now. I guess I’ll have to talk to her about it tomorrow now that she has brought it up.

- "I’m coming. You can go. I’ll tidy up first."

- "I’ll wait."

I sigh and grab my sketchbook from my bed with a brusque motion. I put it away in the cupboard with the rest of the materials, taking care not to turn around even once. It’s only when I pick up my jacket from the desk that she’s likely to see my disheveled state. I approach Alexia, who has already gotten up in the meantime. I give her a huge hug of thanks. I struggle to detach my head from her neck. I imagine her smiling to give her a rare and intense contact from me.

- "Rest, " she whispers in my ear. "It will be okay."

I nod and give her a lingering kiss on the cheek. She smiles softly as we wish each other goodnight. I put my hood over my head to hide the aftermath of my evening. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Lucy, who immediately comments as I pass by her. I simply keep my head down so she doesn’t see my face as we walk.

- "I thought you weren’t coming..." she murmurs. "Sorry for barging in."

- "Trust reigns," I snap. "But it’s no problem."

- "How was your day?" she tries to continue the conversation.

- "Great. Yours?"

- "Good... And your new class?"

- "I’ve had better."

- "With Alexia, I assume."

- "Not just that."

My short, undeveloped responses make her sigh. I would have loved to tell her about my day, but I promised myself to keep my distance from now on. It’s always her who gets my debrief normally, but today it’s not the case. I’ve done it with Alexia and Amba for once. We talked a lot about that pest Korbin. I learned a few things about her, but nothing crazy. All I learned is that she’s not a person worth hanging out with. We finish the walk to her room in silence. I directly look for my pajamas and clothes for tomorrow before locking myself in the bathroom. I stay there for a good half hour for a shower. When I come out, Lucy is already ready for bed but absorbed in her laptop on her lap. I ignore her and lie down on my small bed. I still wish her goodnight before turning my back to avoid the small light she left on her side. She seems determined to leave me alone, as she responds with a simple goodnight in return.

[applepi-1]

They have a nightmare

Daichi x you

Nishinoya x you

Semi x you

andddddd

Tendo x you

training camp

--

Daichi:

You being the manager with Kiyoko for Karasuno, you have to go to training camps. Which you don't mind, I mean, hey you get to see all of Daichi's glory, his bisects, sometimes shirtless, and his thighs, don't forget that perfect smile too. You'd never admit it, but you were quiet fond of the boy, when it came to sleeping arrangements, you sucked at it. You were tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable. Deciding to get up, you head for the kitchen to get a glass of water, when you heard a little noise coming from the boys room. Being the caring and worried manager and friend you are, you cracked it open looking inside. Once you didn't hear anything, you cursed yourself for going crazy, about to walk out until the noise repeated. You looked back in at the noises, one of them were having a nightmare. You tiptoed into the room, holding your arms closer to you at the cold air. You saw Daichi's body moving side to side, it had to be Daichi. You walked over to him.

Carefully trying not to wake any of the other boys, you slid beside him, hovering your hands over his body, not knowing where to put them. You decided to place on on his shoulder and the other on his bicep. Holy shit... this is heaven. You shook him lightly, it took a few times before he jolted away, looking around the room. "You're still at the training camp." You told him quietly, he turned his head to you, eyes widening. "You were having a nightmare. I was in the hall when I heard you." He felt his shoulders fall.

"Sorry, if I woke you."

"Nah, funny thing, I couldn't sleep." You both laughed quietly. "You think you could sleep?"

"Yeah, thank you for waking me, Y/n."

"Of course." You quickly kissed his cheek, making the boy blush. "Good night, Daichi." You got up and made your way back to your room.

--

Nishinoya:

Being Sugawara's sister, meant, staying with him in a room. He doesn't like you being alone, even if Kiyoko and Yachi are there, he wants you in eye sight. You were laying beside you brother and next to Asahi. Nuzzled up into you bed until, you woke up randomly, you sighed, you hate it when this happens. You looked up seeing Noya sleeping sideways above you. You sighed before sitting up, grabbing your phone to look at the time. 1:34, the past five days, you've been waking up early. And it takes an hour to go back to sleep, the sudden gasp made you jump. Turning around to be met with a uncomfortable Noya, he was turning and gripping his blanket, was he having a nightmare? You scooted closer to him, pressing you hand onto his side as he turned, "Noya." You whispered. "Noya, wake up." After shaking him for about an hour, he opened his eyes. "Hey, you okay?" He let out a shaky breath before grabbing your hand, holding it softly. You smiled at the action and laid down a little, squeezing his hand. "Want to talk about it?"

"Not really." You looked up at him, he was already looking at you.

"Feel any better?"

"Not really..." You sighed sitting up again before moving your bed a little closer to his. Laying down a little closer.

"How about now?"

"Yeah..." He squeezed your hand smiling softly, before both of you dozed off once more.

--

Semi-

The guys decided to have one of them sleep in the room with you, incase any of the other players from other schools got any ideas. Semi was the chosen one, mostly because they knew of your crush. You laid on your bed staring at the ceiling, you've been doing this for 5 hours now and it's about 2 in the morning almost 3. You sighed looking beside you at a peaceful sleeping Semi, you reach over, lightly moving some hair off his face, before getting up. You made your way to the bathroom and did you business, you walk out, turning the light off and made your way back to the room. Once you were in there you see Semi sitting up looking around, drenched in sweat. What the? You walked over sitting in front of him, placing a hand to his shoulder. He jumped for a second before realizing it was you. "Hey, you okay...?"

"Yeah, sorry. I had a bad dream, woke up, and didn't see you. Kind of got worried." You smiled a little running your fingers through his hair, getting it off his sweaty forehead.

"It's fine, sorry for worrying you." He shook his head smiling softly.

"It's fine, can, I... can you sleep closer?" Even closer than you already are, your right next to him, you sit back your sitting on your bed. But you smiled and said sure, he scooted over letting you settle on his bed. He immediately wrapped an arm around your stomach. "Is this okay...?" You nodded nuzzling into his chest, ignoring the way your heart was beating so fast.

"It's fine."

--

Tendo-

You and Tendo have been best friends for- well- ever, you knew of his constant nightmares about what kids called him when y'all were young. But you didn't know, he started getting them again, but this time, it was you calling him a monster, a demon. You were sleeping in a room by yourself, you didn't mind. But, at some point Tendo woke up from his dream and looked around for you, when he didn't see you, he got up and walked to the room you were in, he sighed in relief at your sleeping figure. When you guys were young, he'd always find you after or was already by your side when he woke. He walked over to you, sitting down beside you, and gently shook your arm. "Hm, five more minutes." He laughed lightly, making you wake up a little. Rolling over to face him, you opened your eyes. "Tendo?" You can see his messy hair, ruffled clothes, and teary eyes. "Hey, everything okay?" You sat up, rubbing his tears away. "Nightmare?" He nodded his head ashamed. "How long?"

"A week..."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I-I didn't want you to worry. Plus, I... they're about you..." He admitted.

"Me? Oh." You got it immediately and pulled him into your chest. "I would never do that to you, Ten."

"I know... Which is why I never told you." You smiled and scooted over.

"Come on, you can sleep by me like old times." He smiled and crawled under, you nuzzled your head into his neck, letting a leg drip over his stomach.

"Old times, can we cuddle like we use to?" You both laughed a little.

"Whenever you want."

"Everyday." You smiled and looked at his side features.

"I would love that, Ten." He smiled holding you closer before darkness.

[thinkyoureholy]

Blessed With A Curse [1]

.

.

.

Pairing : Kang Yeosang / [fem] Reader

Genre : Angst, Violence, Language, Fluff, Future Smut, Greek God! AU

Words : 3.4k

Prologue. - Next Chapter.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

-Y/N’s P. O. V-

I looked around frantically, my eyes looking for anyone I could trust but I found no one. They all looked at me scornfully, as if I was the dirt beneath their shoes. I begged for them to believe me but I could see they had already made up their minds. 

“I’m telling you the truth!” I shouted, turning on my heel quickly as I looked at them all, “I can swear to you here and now that nothing happened!”

Athena smirked at me, “And do you really think we’d believe you? We know exactly what kind of personality you have, it comes as no surprise really.”

“Fuck you, Athena. I know you’re just itching to have me thrown out so you can impress daddy with your new tricks,” I snapped, taking a step forward but the second I did lightning stuck the floor inches from my feet. 

I looked up at Zeus in shock, “Father...please believe me. I haven’t done anything! You know me! I would never!”

He narrowed his eyes at me, crossing his arms over his chest, “I don’t know you well enough it seems.”

A sharp piercing pain spread across my chest at those words, my eyes glazing over with unshed tears. No, please, you have to believe me! My eyes darted around from one face to the other until landing on her. The moment I met her eyes she looked away, my heart sinking the second she did. I then looked to the man next to her but he did the same, avoiding my gaze. 

“Even you two?” I asked, my voice strained as I tried to keep it from breaking. 

“It’s just-“

“We saw you.” Apollo interrupted his twin sister Artemis, finishing her, stepping in front of her as if to protect her from my gaze. 

“You saw me? You saw what exactly!?” I growled, waiting for a response but they refused to give me one. 

I then moved my gaze to Hephaestus, “You can’t tell me you believe any of this do you?”

“There are a lot of thing you are capable of and fucking my wife is one of them.” He spat out. 

“You have committed adultery and that is unforgivable.” Hera, my mother announced, drawing my gaze to her. 

I balled my hands up into fists, my nails digging harshly into the palms of my hands, knuckles turning white, “Unforgivable? Really? My asshole of a father has slept with countless other women, hell hardly any of us share the same mother but you’re saying what you’re all accusing me of doing is unforgivable? Bullshit.”

“Enough!” Zeus roared as he rose from his seat, “I have decided your punishment.”

I waited anxiously to hear what the punishment he thinks is just for a crime of this magnitude, a crime I didn’t commit. The stern and unforgiving look he cast upon me gave me little hope for any kind of leniency.

“You are banished from Olympus.”

My face paled at his words, my heart coming to a stop in my chest for a few seconds too long. The fear of being banished soon turned into rage, an anger so strong that I could barely control myself consumed my entire body. I felt my body tremble with the anger I was feeling, about to explode any second now.

. . . . . .

I woke up with a start, gasping loudly for air as I sat up in bed. My eyes darted around all over the place, as if looking for something but I didn’t know what. I must’ve woken up my father in the other room as he burst in, looking as frantic as I felt, a sword in his hands. 

“What, what is it!? What happened!?” He shouted, looking around once more before his eyes landed on me. 

I sighed heavily, bringing my knees up to my chest as I ran my fingers through my hair, “Nothing. Nothing happened. I just had a bad dream. I’m fine, papa.”

He took a moment to finally relax, the tension in his shoulders disappearing as he let out a sigh that mirrored mine, “Is it the same one?”

I looked away, hugging my knees closer to my body. Ever since I can remember I’ve had the same dream. Night after night it was always the same. I stood in the middle of what looked like a huge castle, it’s walls so high I couldn’t even see the end of it. The walls were a pristine white along with the columns that were in the room, separated by a few feet in between. Twelve chairs, all decorated differently, none the same were in a crescent moon shape in the middle of the room. I would always be arguing, pleading for my life to people I had never even since. I begged but they never listened. It always ended the same way. I was filled by this overwhelming anger that threatened to consume me but before anything happened I woke up drenched in sweat and gasping for air, my heart beating at a million miles per second. 

“Y/N…” My father spoke in a soft tone, putting his sword down against the wall and coming over to sit beside me. 

He placed an arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close, planting a gentle kiss on my forehead. I leaned into him, wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face into his shoulder. This dream always left me feeling so empty inside, like my heart had been gouged out with the rustiest spoon you could find. I wanted to know what it all meant but I was never able to figure it out. I mean it just didn’t make sense. I have never seen those people before but every time I had that dream their faces and voices were always the same, as if I was reliving some type of memory but that can’t be possible. Not only that but every time I spoke in the dream the voice was never mine, it was deep, husky, and unfamiliar but familiar at the same time, like I knew him or at least heard his voice before.

“This is all his doing…” My father mumbled under his breath, squeezing me tighter in his hold.

“What?”

“Nothing. Just some nonsense your old man is thinking about, don’t pay it any mind,” He said quickly, avoiding my questioning eyes as he evaded the subject. He gave me a tight lipped smile, changing the subject, “Why don’t we start the day early today? The sun is going to rise in a few hours. If we get the morning chores done ahead of time you’ll be able to have a few hours to yourself to relax before we open.”

I smiled back at him, letting what he said earlier go as I nodded. He leaned in and placed another kiss on my forehead before he let me go, rising to his feet. He grabbed his sword and left my room, leaving me along with my thoughts.

-

“Papa I’m heading out! I’ll be back in a bit!” I shouted to my father who was organizing some things at the back of the shop.

“Okay! Be careful!” He shouted back.

And with that I left. It didn’t take long for me to get to my destination and once I was there I began my training. I don’t know why nor do I care but ever since I’ve been able to walk I’ve had this urge to fight. There was something in me that kept me from being still for too long. I never fought with anyone but that’s not to say I never had the urge to do so. There have been countless times when I found myself having to choose to fight or take flight and though I wanted to fight, to protect those that needed protecting I always found myself fleeing. I had come close to picking up a sword to fight but the second I touched the handle of the sword my vision went white and a voice rang out in my head, the words always the same. The voice always warned me to never pick up a sword, a shield, a spear, or even a bow and arrow. The voice was so frightening that I listened to it every time until I stopped trying to involve myself in things where I needed to even think about fighting in the first place. But the urge was still there so I did the next best thing, I trained to fight on my own. I found that when I did that the urge to fight would dwindle and I wouldn’t have to hear that voice in my head the second I did. It was the best compromise I could find.

I looked over at the lone tree that stood a few feet from the cliff’s edge, the roots it dug deeply into the ground keeping it from falling into the sea below. I glanced down quickly at the bag I had brought over months ago with all kinds of weapons. I had buried it in a secure place and used what was in it whenever I pleased. I can’t quite understand why but the moment I touched one of the weapons I felt stronger, more in control of my body than when I didn't have a weapon in hand. I bent down and picked up a few of the daggers, the blades fitting in the palm of my hands perfectly.

“Ah...I must be crazy…” I breathed out, a wide grin spreading across my face as I brought my arm up before throwing the dagger, watching the blade embed itself into the trunk of the tree, “To think I enjoy things like this…” I chuckled softly before throwing another, then another, a surge of energy going through me. I felt like I could run for miles without stopping on this type of energy, it was exhilarating. I picked up my twin swords, they were a bit shorter than the swords used by the soldiers of the kingdom but that was the whole point. They were made so they were easier to carry and hide if I needed to. They were so light I was able to use both at the same time and two swords were always better than one. I turned my wrists, twirling the swords in my hands with ease. I raised them slowly to start training with them but before I could even get one swing in it started drizzling. 

I looked up to the sky in confusion, wondering where the rain was coming from when there wasn’t a cloud in the sky a few minutes ago. Seconds into my staring up into the sky aimlessly the rain got harder, the small drizzling now turning into a full on storm. I sighed heavily, sheathing my blades and secured them behind my back. Seeing that they were secured I hurried over to the daggers that were still embedded in the trunk of the tree. I pulled one out with ease but the second one wouldn’t budge so easily. I pulled as hard as I could but I couldn’t get it out, it felt like it was glued in there. I frowned, grabbing the handle of the dagger with both hands and pulled but it didn’t budge. I grit my teeth and grabbed it as tightly as I could, planting my foot against the trunk and pulled. With the amount of force the blade finally came out but since I was pushing against the tree with so much force I was sent stumbling back, falling back into the now muddy ground. And as I fell to the floor I heard the skies above roar with thunder, lightning striking the ground mere inches from my face. I stared at the ground in shock, my heart beating loudly in my ears, the sound of my heart drowning out the sound of the rain. I scrambled away from the spot the lightning had stuck, my back hitting the tree. 

I didn’t know how long I stayed there just staring at the spot the lightning had stricken but it couldn’t have been longer than a few seconds, another crack of thunder bringing me out of my thoughts. I looked up, frightened that I’d be hit by this next bolt of lightning. I pushed myself away from the tree, stumbling a bit as I looked up towards the sky, my eyes growing wide as bright light shined right above me. But before I could be struck I felt something warm envelope my body, sending me to the floor. I let out a small scream and shut my eyes when the lightning struck the spot I had just been standing in.

“Fucking asshole.” A deep voice growled out above me.

I opened my eyes at the sound of his voice, staring up at the man that was now shielding me from the rain. I stared at him wide eyed, unable to look away from his perfectly sculpted face. He was...gorgeous, he could give any statue any of these artists tried to pass off as the perfect human a run for their money. I’ve seen good looking people before but never like him. He had high cheekbones but they weren’t too high that they took away from the rest of his face. His eyes were that perfect almond shape, eyebrows perfectly shaped and his jawline was so sharp I’m betting I could cut my finger on it. Just as I was losing myself he finally met my gaze, a flush of color rising to my cheeks when his eyes met mine. 

“What the hell are you doing out in the middle of a storm? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Who the hell just stands around waiting to be hit by lightning? Do you have nothing going on in that head of yours or are you just that stupid?” He scolded in a harsh tone, a frown adorning his face.

Yeah, I take everything I said about him being gorgeous back. With a scoff and a roll of my eyes I pushed at his chest roughly, shoving him off of me. He landed on his back next to me with a thud. I sat up and began to rise to my feet when he spoke again.

“What? Cat got your tongue??” He asked, his tone still firm and maybe even harsher than before.

I ignored him and got to my feet, shaking the mud off of me and was about to head back home but I was only able to take a few steps away from him when I felt his hand wrap around my wrist. Without warning he began dragging me with him, I don't know where but I didn’t want to find out.

“What do you think you’re doing!? Let go of me!” I yelled over the rain, struggling against his grip but he was too strong.

I would’ve used the swords I still had strapped on my back but I didn’t really want to have to hear that voice again at this moment. So I kept struggling but no matter how much I struggled his grip wouldn’t let up. He finally let me go when he brought me into a nearby cave, dragging me out of the storm.

“Oh so you can talk, great. Maybe your next words will be ones of gratitude, I did just save your life.” He said in a cocky tone, ruffling his hair with his hand, droplets of water falling to the ground.

“I didn’t ask for your help.” I shot back, taking a step away from him, wanting to make a run for it.

“No, but I gave it to you anyway and help with or without being asked for should be rewarded with a word of thanks.” He said as if lecturing me. 

I stared at him, mouth hanging agape, “Just who the hell do you think you are?”

He seemed stunned by my question, a shadow falling over his eyes as he averted his gaze, “Nobody important.”

Now I was confused. First this man comes out of nowhere in the middle of a storm to save my life only to reprimand me for no good reason. Then he drags me to a nearby cave that I didn’t even know was here and talks to me as if he’s known me my whole life when I barely just met him. Just what is this guy’s deal? I narrowed my eyes and studied his face once more, wondering if I actually did know him. I huffed out a breath, combing back the wet strands of hair that fell over my face. I was grateful for his help but his attitude made me not want to voice my gratitude. So with that I moved to leave the cave and head home, my father must be worried by now. I took one step out of the cave when I felt him grab my hand again. 

I pulled my hand away and pushed him back, my swords now in hand as I faced him, “Touch me again and I’ll cut both your hands off.” I threatened, pointing the blades at him but the second I did my vision went white. 

I groaned at hearing the voice in my head, squeezing my eyes shut. I shook my head to rid myself of the annoying voice that now seemed more distorted than I remembered.

‘You must never fight.’

I stumbled back, slipping on the mud but I managed to stay on my feet. The ringing was getting to be too much, the pain now becoming unbearable. I dropped a sword to bring a hand up to the side of my head, as if doing that would somehow alleviate the pain but it did absolutely nothing.

“Am I not even allowed...to defend myself?” I asked in a choked whisper, knowing the voice wouldn’t respond with an answer to my question, only repeating what I’ve heard so many times before.

‘Never pick up a sword, a shield, a spear, nor a bow and arrow to harm another.’

I cursed, dropping the other sword and cradled my head with both hands as I sank to my knees. The moment I did that the ringing stopped, my vision returning to me. 

-Yeosang’s P.O.V-

I watched as she fell forward, all the strength seeming to leave her body. I took a tentative step towards her, hearing the skies rumble with thunder the second I did. I clenched my hands at my sides, my nails digging into the palms of my hands and drawing blood. The bastard was trying to kill her and now he’s pissed I’m with her in here, just what the fuck is going on in that head of his?

“Ah, fuck it.” I cursed under my breath and quickly went over to her.

I turned her onto her back, relieved to see that she was only unconscious. Without wasting another second I scooped her up into my arms, carrying her deeper into the cave before setting her back down, leaning her back against the wall of the cave. I crouched down in front of her, staring at her face with what others would probably describe as a look mixed with affection and concern. I let out a sigh, reaching out to gently brush the back of my fingers against her cheek.

“I had planned to stay out of your sight but he’s forced my hand. I refuse to let you end up like the others…” I muttered, pulling my hand back to my side as I continued to watch her as she slept soundlessly, “What I did for you was the only good thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. If Zeus wants to use you to get to me then he has another thing coming. I swear to you I will protect you with everything I have, you have my word, as the God of War known as Ares. So long as I live you have my word no harm will come to you. Ever. If anyone dares to go against you I will wreck havoc and chaos upon this world like no one has ever seen before. And that is no mere threat, but a promise.”

I growled out that last part looking up, glaring through the roof of the cave and towards the sky, directing it at the bastard I had the misfortune of calling my father.  

[elefics]

torment / chapter 4

word count: 3.4k

The week after the ball, I heard nothing from Michael. Not seeing him tied my stomach in knots.

It took me a while to realise this was what missing him felt like. It was more intense than anything else I’d felt for a boy before.

I’d had boyfriends, if you could call them that. In high school, I’d had two brief flings with two boys who didn’t know how to be boyfriends (not that I was very good at any of it either, but I knew they weren’t doing it right). It felt funny to put Michael in the same train of thought as high school boyfriends. We’d spoken a handful of times, but the connection I felt to him was different. It was a pull in my core, like my soul was reaching out of my body. I knew there was more to him. I knew I’d barely scratched the surface.

One morning, Cordelia stopped me by the stairs. There was an urgency in her eyes.

“Lyla,” she grabbed my arm tight in her grip. “I need to ask you something, and I need you to answer truthfully.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodding slowly.

“That boy you were with, the warlock, at breakfast. What do you think of him?” She asked.

The wind was knocked out of me. I focused on breathing evenly and keeping myself upright as my hands shook against the banister. I brought all my energy to my core, envisioning blue, calm light there. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I was totally serene. Cordelia blinked, waiting for me to answer.

“He seems nice. A little quiet, reserved. Why? What’s wrong?” I asked measuredly.

She twisted her lips. “I can’t place it. That morning, I had a vision. Something bad – something evil, overwhelmingly so, is coming. I felt it when I looked at him.” Her voice shook. I saw a flicker of fear in our matriarch, and it was only then that I felt something might be…off about Michael.  

“What did you see?” I asked.

“Death. Decay. So much terror and heartache and darkness. I can’t explain it. I didn’t know where else to turn…” Cordelia trailed off.

“What do you mean by that? Cordelia, what happened?” I urged.

“You must be Lyla. I’ve heard a lot about you, and this boy Michael.” An old voice rang out from the top of the stairs.

I recognised the flaming red hair first. Myrtle Snow.

She was meant to be dead. I’d only ever seen her in paintings and pictures. According to Cordelia, she was one of the best women the Academy had ever seen. She was kind, strong, intelligent. Cordelia often teared up by the fireplace when she recounted stories about Myrtle. Seeing her here, in the flesh, with Cordelia trembling beside me, I knew something was wrong. Cordelia would never have brought her back if she wasn’t at her wit’s end. How had I not known? How had we all missed this?

“Myrtle Snow.” Her red glove extended towards me. I shook her hand and smiled weakly.

“Cordelia, dear, I believe we have an appointment.” Myrtle said, looping her arm through our Supreme’s.

Today, Cordelia was off to visit the warlocks, along with Zoe and Myrtle. She had been busier in the last two weeks than she had all year – diplomacy was her priority right now. I could tell she still had her reservations; over dinner, she’d stare into her wine glass for minutes without blinking, churning over the events of the day. She often went off to meetings and wouldn’t be back until after dark. She was up to something, or maybe she suspected someone else was.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Michael, and Cordelia’s questions about him. He was a boy. A warlock, and apparently a powerful one, but as far as I’d seen, he was just…a boy. What could they want with him?

“Girls! Come down here, immediately!” Cordelia yelled. I jumped from my chair, taking the steps two at a time to see what was wrong.

Two new faces stood beside Cordelia. I recognised them immediately, just like I had Myrtle. I’d seen them in photo albums around the house, but had never met them myself – Madison and Queenie.

“My girls. My beautiful, beautiful girls. Your sisters are home.” Cordelia cried. Myrtle squeezed her hand reassuringly.

A few other girls had congregated at the bottom of the stairs. It was like seeing a ghost. One thought ricocheted around the room like a bullet: How?

“Someone make some tea. We have much to discuss.” Myrtle commanded.

That day, over half empty cups, Cordelia told us everything.

That beautiful boy, the one I’d danced with all night at the ball and who’d adorned my neck with diamonds, was more powerful than he let on. My very first thought was, I should have taken what Jerome said on board. Was it a warning? A message?

“Michael brought our girls back. While grateful, I simply can’t see how he could be the next Supreme. Warlocks have never, ever claimed this title. As far as anybody knows, it’s impossible.” Cordelia mused. Several witches nodded enthusiastically.

“He gives me the creeps. Something about him isn’t right.” Olivia, a witch a few years younger than me, said. Her nose wrinkled in disgust. I clenched my jaw defensively.

“I just can’t see it. I went to the ball with him. He seems so…normal.” I spoke up, surprising even myself.

Every pair of eyes in the room swivelled to face me.

“What’s he like, then?” Olivia sneered.

“Quiet. That’s all.” I said, looking into the bottom of my cup.

“He doesn’t seem so bad. He was at our table, seemed like a decent guy…and he saved our sisters.” Penny spoke up.

I was flooded with gratitude, which I’m sure she felt, as she shot a smile my way. At least I didn’t look crazy on my own.

“That may be so. Regardless, I want you all to be more alert. Because tonight, we’re going to the Hawthorne school. Michael is to perform the seven wonders.”

A gasp ripped through the girls.

“I haven’t even had a chance yet! That’s not fair!” Olivia whined.

Cordelia smiled tightly, “This title is a burden, Olivia. You should be glad you’re not in the spotlight tonight,” She sighed. “I am not happy about it. But if this boy is as powerful as the warlocks say he is, I cannot stand in the way of the coven.” She squeezed both the returned witches’ knees affectionately.

“Be ready by dark. Look presentable.” Myrtle ordered finally.

---

The day, and all its confusing revelations, exhausted me. I fell asleep in my clothes at three in the afternoon. I dreamt of Michael, as usual. This time, he was grabbing my hand, pulling me further and further into the rolling green fields beside the Academy, running – I couldn’t tell if it was away from or towards something.

“Lyla. Lyla, wake up. Lyla-”

Sweat slicked my forehead when I jolted awake. My room was empty and drenched in golden light. I sighed heavily, squeezing my eyes shut and open again.

Like a mirage, Michael stood in the yard outside my window. I blinked to make sure I wasn’t still dreaming. He smiled, and without a word exchanged between us I was hurrying down the stairs. Most girls were too busy with study to notice. I slipped out the back door like a ghost.

“Hi.” He greeted me, reaching out for my hand. My skin buzzed at his touch. He immediately led me away from the house, into the field like in my dream. He smiled, but kept his gaze fixed on the horizon.

I wasn’t used to this kind of contact with Michael – his thumb drawing soft, unconscious lines across the back of my hand. He seemed completely at ease.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Somewhere quiet. Away from them.” He cast his eyes back towards the looming shadows of the Academy.

I kept quiet the rest of the way. Instead of talking, I drank him in. I felt like an addict, clinging to any scrap of Michael available to me. His black combat boots crunched against the dry grass. He donned faded black jeans and a black tee shirt, a departure from the more formal attire I’d seen him in. I admired the smooth golden skin of his upper arms, and the freckle near his elbow. The chain I loved so much was hanging across his chest. I bit my lip and tried to keep my thoughts quiet, locking them tightly in a box inside me. I hoped it was enough to stop him overhearing.

Eventually, we came to a tall tree with just enough shade for the two of us. Michael sat down cross-legged and waited for me to do the same. Our knees touched, and neither of us moved away.

“What’s with all the secrecy?” I whispered.

“First of all, I heard you earlier. You called me normal.” He fake pouted.

“Well, they certainly don’t seem to think so,” I sighed. “Why?”

“It’s complicated.” He picked at the grass, scattering blades in the breeze.

“Everything’s complicated with you, huh.” I looked at up him. Every time I thought I was starting to get to know him, another wall went up between us.

He smiled, taking my hand into his. He played with my fingertips gently, traced the lines across my knuckles. “You have no idea.”

“So, the seven wonders test. Everyone’s losing their minds in there.” I laughed. Personally, I didn’t give a shit if the Supreme was a witch or a warlock. But I hated the idea of losing Cordelia…and I didn’t want to fathom that that might be the cost of Michael’s success.

“Will you be there?” He asked softly, looking up at me. His baby blue eyes looked so vulnerable, so innocent. He needed me, whether he’d admit it or not.

My heart swelled in my chest as I nodded. “Of course.”

He leaned closer, our noses half an inch away from each other. “Can I kiss you?” He breathed.

“You’ve never asked before.” I whispered. My heart was in my throat.

“This is different. For good luck. Can I kiss you?” He repeated.

I kissed him before he could ask again. This was different to his kisses at the ball ��� before it was lust, now it was…something else. He kissed me like I was air, like he needed me to survive. His lips fought mine hungrily, moving closer until my back was against the solid tree. His hand cradled the side of my face, tangling into the base of my ponytail. Pinned there, tight against his body, Michael made me forget anything existed at all.

---

The sun was setting by the time I slipped back into the house. Leaning against the front door, my head spun like a coin. I was dizzy with bliss – kissing Michael was how it was supposed to feel, I was certain.

He’d had gone a different route, avoiding the house all together. While the witches were on high alert, we had to keep things quiet. He peppered my face with kisses on that last corner, before he turned right and I continued. I still felt their warmth.

“Where have you been?” Zoe asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

“For a walk.” I’d never been good at lying, but I shocked myself at how easily it rolled off my tongue. I had a feeling spending time with Michael was going to make me a very, very good liar.

“Car’s ready.” She shrugged, leaving the front door open for the remaining girls.

The Hawthorne School didn’t look as nice as Robichaux’s from the outside, but the inside was dark and lush. Wine-red lounges sat on cool cement floors, and every wall was lined with old books. Cordelia and Myrtle sniffed with disdain, claiming the air reeked of unwashed teenage boys. I tried to hide my eye rolls. The witches filtered in, and the cement doors slid shut. We milled around the common area, chatting idly with the warlocks, but the air crackled with anticipation. I hadn’t seen Michael yet.

Ariel and his men stood by the hallway, muttering under their breath to one another. John Henry lit up another cigarette, tapping his foot impatiently.

I made my way to the edges of the room, wanting to melt into the walls. If Michael wasn’t here, I had no desire to be here either. As I inched around the outskirts of the room, I felt a warm pair of hands around my waist. He pulled me backwards into the pitch-black hallway and I didn’t flinch.

“I missed you.” He whispered against my lips. The jeans and tee shirt I’d seen earlier were discarded – tonight, Michael was in a full black suit, with a small silver pendant close to this collar. I laughed softly. It had been a few hours, tops. I had this kid in the palm of my hand. Michael didn’t seem happy to overhear this; he bit down on my lip, then wedged his knee between my thighs. Rocking it there, the friction was unbearable. A moan rose in my throat, but Michael clapped his hand over my mouth before it surfaced. I ran my tongue against his thumb and his eyes darkened, even in the low light. He kissed me again, deeply.

“Tonight, doing all this, know that all I want is to be here with you.” His eyes smouldered with intensity. I believed him.

He pushed me into the room softly, smirking in the darkness. He didn’t come out until he was called.

Ariel’s hand rested on Michael’s shoulder like a proud father.

“Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, is a momentous occasion. The first warlock to ever attempt the seven wonders. Michael Langdon.” Ariel said his name like a prayer.

“No need for theatrics. The first task is telekinesis.” Cordelia said shortly.

Michael summoned the fire poker from the fireplace across the room, landing in his hand with ease. My heart soared with pride, then guilt. How could I be happy for him, and be a witch? Weren’t the two at odds with each other?

“Vitalum vitalis.” Cordelia declared.

A small, brown mouse lay dead on the tabletop. Michael gathered its tiny body into his hands, closed his eyes, and in seconds the animal was alive, sprightly.

“Concilium.”

Zoe and Madison’s bodies were pushed together by invisible forces, and they danced an awkward waltz. This all seemed to come so easily to Michael – he was the real deal.

“Divination,” Cordelia said, scattering a handful of stones across the table. “The locket hidden somewhere in this building-”

Michael immediately rose to his feet and strode to a small cabinet. I hadn’t even noticed it when we’d arrived. But somehow, he knew. The golden locket hung between his fingers delicately. The smugness emanating off Ariel was palpable.

“Transmutation.” Cordelia spoke. There was a smile in her tone – clearly, she thought this would be Michael’s downfall. She was searching for a chink in his armour.

Michael stood in the centre of the room. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. When I blinked, he’d moved twenty feet, to stand beside the warlocks. The boys’ cheers filled the room. Again, with a small puff of smoke, he appeared beside me, across the room. I longed to touch him, but quickly remembered where we were. He smiled softly. I ignored the witches’ sounds of disgust.

“Pyrokinesis.” Cordelia’s voice shook a little now.

Ariel handed Michael the short blade. Without a second guess, Michael sliced his palm open, letting the blood drip into the flame of a candle. The light was brighter than anything I’d ever seen – nuclear, incredible.

“The final task, descensum. Today, I am not asking you to perform this wonder. I am asking you to conquer it. You must retrieve Misty Day.” Cordelia said. My gut twisted – I was torn in half. One part of me knew Cordelia was grasping at straws, desperate for a rule change this late in the game to dethrone any potential Michael had at being our leader. The other part of me knew something about this boy wasn’t magic at all, it was something more.

Ariel asked for a word alone with Cordelia. The room burst into chatter the second they left.

Michael stood beside me, hands behind his back. His confidence radiated like flames.

“Are you nervous?” I whispered, keeping my gaze ahead of me.

“No. I have you.” He whispered back.

After some heated debate, and Cordelia appearing especially flustered, Michael laid on the floor, reciting incantations. Six minutes. That’s all it took. Six minutes for him to descend into Hell, Misty’s own personal suffering, and bring her back to life. He barely broke a sweat.

After standing up and straightening his jacket, Michael glowed with pride. He avoided looking at me, knowing better than to draw attention to us, but glanced my way a few times. I tried to make my thought as loud as possible – I am so proud of you. You’ve done so well. Thank you for bringing our friend back.

“Cordelia.” Myrtle spoke, eyes wide with worry. Our Supreme’s nose had begun dripping with blood, and she quickly stumbled.

“What’s happening?” I asked, rushing to Cordelia’s side. I felt her arms quivering weakly.

“What always happens when a new Supreme rises: the old one fades away. We demand what’s ours.” Ariel spoke, his face hard with determination. The other warlocks nodded in agreement.

“You are a pathetic pompous ass!” Myrtle yelled. It seemed to be directed at all the warlocks, not any one in particular.

“I did everything you asked. I descended into Hell, and I did what you couldn’t. I brought her back. I passed the seven wonders. Unless you want to add another one.” Michael’s said calmy, with a pinch of sass. His expression scorched under the surface.

“No. There can be no doubt. You are the next Supreme.” Cordelia managed, before falling to the floor.

“Cordelia!” I yelled, reaching out for her. Among the chaos, Michael smiled.

---

Later, in a room off the main corridor, Cordelia sat wrapped in a blanket. I hid just outside the door, listening. I had to know what was going on, what they were planning.

Misty brought in a cup of tea, and I ducked into the shadows.

“I knew you for such a short time, but I missed you forever.” Cordelia said softly, looking at Misty in awe.

“You should have left me where I was. That man you sent to fetch me – he gives me the heebie-jeebies. There is something wrong with him.” Misty whispered.

No. I can’t accept that.

“When he came to get me, he was…talking to somebody. Something. I could hear their gibberish, all around the classroom. Evil was speaking to him.” Misty recounted.

“Delia, what have we done? We’ve anointed that boy the next Supreme.” Myrtle lamented.

“He will never be the Supreme. I needed to know how strong he was. I knew there was something…dangerous about him, something dark. I had to keep him close, so we’d be ready. Something is coming. I can feel it. Michael Langdon has already given us an advantage – I have all my girls back with me.” Cordelia smiled.

My heart was by my feet and my arms were covered in goosebumps. There was no way Michael was as bad as everyone said he was. I knew in his core, there was good. I just had to bring it to light.

The women stood to leave.

I quickly snuck away, watching where I stepped so as to not let them know I’d been eavesdropping. Taking a few steps down the corridor, I hid I the shadows like a creep until they’d moved back into the common area.

“How long have you been hiding, angel?” A familiar deep voice asked behind me. I yelped, and Michael grabbed my hand to let me know it was him.

“You scared me!” I whispered, smacking his chest lightly.

He smirked, chuckling to himself. “Listening in on gossip?” He teased.

My stomach churned. “Something like that. They’re worried about Cordelia.” I lied. I focused on that blue light inside me, hoping Michael wouldn’t sense my heart racing. I knew in my heart I couldn’t tell him what I’d overheard, not yet. I had to understand it for myself first.

“How are you feeling, boy wonder?” I asked lightly, tracing the outline of his tie.

“Tired, and seen – I’m sick of everyone staring at me.” He growled, flicking his eyes at the warm light of the common room. He brought my hand up to him mouth, brushing his lips against my knuckles. I shuddered.

“I need coffee. I know a place.” He smiled, taking my hand.

 taglist: @theneverendinghunger @outpostmichael @angelicmichael  @leatherduncan 

[teresa60521-blog]

Side Effects

chapter 23: 6 months

The sweat burned her eyes as it dripped from her hairline but she kept going. The sports festival was tomorrow, a little pushed back from its usual time but she was grateful. Uraraka was desperate to place first. Or anywhere in the top 3. She wanted the satisfaction in knowing that she was good enough to be in her class even with a child attached to her arm for most of the day. She could do this and she wanted to prove it to everyone else.

“Is that all you got?” Bakugou goaded from across the mat. He was helping her train, from the kindness of his heart but mostly from Uraraka physically dragging his (weightless) body to one of the sparring areas.

Uraraka wiped the sweat from her brow and narrowed her eyes at him. She felt as if this was a repeat from their match in their first year; she had lost her jacket and was standing in the black tank top and gym pants she had worn on the arena. She was drenched in her own perspiration, out of breath, and staring Bakugou down as if he were her prey. Bakugou was unbothered, hands in his pockets, able to dodge without having to lift a finger. He wasn’t even on the defensive.

Uraraka ran towards him, all ten pads of her fingers touching, and reached out only to have him step to the side. She wobbled a little but maintained her footing, spinning on her toes and swiping at his arm. Bakugou blinked in surprise and wasn’t fast enough to dodge due to being caught off guard. He started rising off the floor.

Uraraka released him and fell to the ground, sprawling out on her back panting. It shouldn’t have been that hard to get one touch in, in their thirty minutes of sparring. Bakugou appeared over her, hands on his hips like he was a middle aged woman.

“Nice one.”

“It’s not enough.” She took his outstretched hand and let him hoist her off the ground.

“It’s a start.” Bakugou steadied her and placed his hands on her shoulders, looking her directly in the eye. “You got this, you’re gonna kick ass. Maybe not mine or that half-and-half bastard’s but you can definitely kick some ass.”

Uraraka pressed a hand to her mouth and laughed a little, shaking her head. “Are you ever going to call Todoroki-kun by his name?”

Bakugou only scoffed. “Let’s go again.”

Uraraka rolled her shoulders. She kind of wanted to be done but she needed to get more than just one hit on him. They faced each other and then with a nod of their heads they were squaring off. This time Bakugou charged her, palms raised, already beginning to spark. Uraraka knew he wouldn’t actually hurt her, not here at least when it was just the two of them. She didn’t allow herself to touch her fingers together just yet. She waited for an opening.

Bakugou faked as if he were going straight for her but instead he propelled himself off the ground. However, Uraraka had anticipated this. It was one of Bakugou’s signature moves. After seeing it for almost three years how could she have not memorized it? It was almost too easy. She had been waiting for him to use it, as he hadn’t done so in the entire time they were training with each other.

Uraraka pressed her fingertips together quickly and then swiped at him, blindly hitting his arm. He sucked in a breath through his nose and all of a sudden he was floating with no control. Uraraka grinned and grabbed him, releasing him just in time to drop him on his back on the mat and climb on top of him. She pinned his arms above his head. “You need to get a new move.”

Bakugou narrowed his eyes but there was no malice in them. “I just fucked up, that’s all.”

Uraraka giggled. “Naw, you’re predictable.”

Bakugou rolled them over so Uraraka’s back hit the mat. His grin was sadistic. “Let’s go again then.”

And so it went on for another half hour, the two of them sparring, floating or bursting around the room as they do. They waited until they were home to shower, choosing to walk home in their sweaty gym clothes. For some reason it made Uraraka feel the tiniest bit accomplished. She had worked out today, sweat her ass off, maybe even dropped some of the baby weight. Half a pound would do her some good. She kind of liked the thickness she had gained; it made her nostalgic for something that had happened just six months ago.

As they walked up to the house they noticed that the top of Kazumi’s head was visible from the street and they looked down at her through the screen. Uraraka grinned. “Hi baby!”

Kazumi’s head whipped around and up at that and her plump lips twitched in a smile. She began gurgling and raised her arms, her way of saying that she wanted to be picked up.

Uraraka opened the door and scooped her up, kissing her all over her face.

“Are you two ready for the sports festival tomorrow?” Masaru offered, Uraraka blinking herself from her stupor.

“I think so.” Uraraka smiled softly and kissed the top of Kazumi’s head. “Thank you for watching her today.”

“Always, honey.” Mitsuki gave her quick smile before returning to her task.

Uraraka smiled and climbed the stairs, Bakugou’s presence strong behind her. She turned into her room and sat on the bed. “You wanna shower first?” Bakugou asked.

Uraraka shrugged. “I wanna spend time with Kazumi for a little bit so you go ahead.” There was no response but the looming presence was gone and Uraraka moved to the floor, bringing out some toys to play with Kazumi for a little bit.

“I’m sorry we took so long today, it looked like you were waiting for us!” Uraraka said as she jingled toy keys above Kazumi’s head. Kazumi sucked her lips into her mouth and hummed, paying no mind to Uraraka, solely focused on the toys in her hand. “Daddy and I are going to be on TV tomorrow. Grandma will probably let you watch if you’re a good girl. But you’re always a good girl, right?” She pinched Kazumi’s nose and the baby girl squealed in her throat, Uraraka laughing with her. “That’s what I thought.”

Uraraka sprawled on her back and felt Kazumi crawl on top of her, still reaching for the keys. Her small knee was digging in between Uraraka’s breast, the other digging into her arm, but Uraraka didn’t mind the weight. In fact, it was welcome. It made it feel like Kazumi was real and not something Uraraka had conjured up in her mind in the past year. It was crazy that it was already over a year since she had found out she was pregnant and since her life spiraled out of control.

But she got things somewhat back together. That was extremely hard to do.

She lost track of time laying there watching her baby scooch around on the floor. Uraraka was in the process of rolling over when Bakugou appeared in the doorway again, shirtless and hair still a little damp. Kazumi rocked a little on her hands and knees before making fast movements towards him. Well, as fast as she could for somebody who had practically just learned to crawl.

A genuine smile crossed Bakugou’s face as he crouched down and lifted her into his arms, bouncing her a bit. Uraraka would never get sick of seeing that smile.

She left the two of them there in the doorway, Kazumi playing the drums on Bakugou’s face and the latter letting her. Uraraka wanted to stay and watch them but she was aware of her own stench now and she really needed a shower.

Her shower was quick as she wanted to get back to her family and avoid all the intrusive thoughts about parenthood that were still building up in her mind. She wanted one night where she had no worries, no qualms with herself or her situation. She forced herself to remain positive for a little bit as she got out of the shower and toweled off, spending the rest of the night with Bakugou and Kazumi, creating new, happy memories.

Uraraka really had no idea how she had gotten to the same arena she had been in the past two years before. The morning had been a blur of nerves and anxiety and before she knew it she was in her training uniform and out onto the arena surrounded by her classmates and others. It was practically the same as the two previous years, where they all lined up in the beginning to have a speech from a pro hero and to have the rules explained to them.

“As if we don’t already know.” Bakugou scoffed under his breath and both Uraraka and Kirishima nudged him to get him to be quite. He only crossed his arms over his chest and snarled, a clear difference from how he had been the night before with Kazumi.

The first two heats of the sports festival changed every year; their first year at UA involved them doing a race and then a cavalry battle. This year their first task would be a scavenger hunt, where forty of them will have to cross the line with an item they’ve found. Not all of them are the same, but each of them was gold in color and hidden. For the third years, they had definitely upped the course and it would be more challenging physically and maybe even a little bit mentally.

Uraraka thought of nothing and everything at once. She thought about how she was doing this for her daughter and wondered if Bakugou was doing the same. She vowed that she would treat this as if she were fighting to save her daughter.

She wanted to win. She wanted to show everybody that she could do this, motherhood and all. She hoped her parents were watching wherever they were.

Even though she was still a little bit out of shape, she ran with everything she had in her. It was a massive crowd and she used her zero gravity in order to propel herself forward after swinging on a low hanging branch. They were in a forest, somewhere off the main arena and being broadcasted to everybody sitting in the stands. She had a feeling they would be here for the second round as well, as they wouldn’t take us so far off course like this.

She released her quirk and ran through the trees, thankful that nobody else was around her. Uraraka was sure she would be targeted since she was kind of a weak link now. Everybody in their year knew of her situation and a lot of them thought that she didn’t deserve to be there in the sports festival. She knew she got off easy. She knew that the school shouldn’t have taken her back after having Kazumi. But they did. Because she was worthy.

Uraraka kept running, darting in this direction and that when she heard voices approaching. It was a happy accident that she stumbled upon one of the golden tickets almost immediately. Clearly her luck hadn’t dried up. When she picked it up to examine it, she found it was a golden statue of All Might. She laughed a little, wondering if Bakugou would want it. Tucking it safely into her sports bra, she zipped up her jacket again to conceal it. She began running in the direction in which she thought was the finish line.

One foot in front of the other, she reminded herself. She just had to kept pushing. She pushed herself a little too hard when she slammed into somebody’s sweaty back. Heart already racing, she picked herself up and tried to bypass them, but a hand grabbed the back of her jacket and threw her to the ground.

“Where do you think you’re going, pretty girl?” Monoma peered over her with a wicked grin on his face. Uraraka held her breath and tried to get up, but Monoma put his hand dangerously close to her chest.

“Don’t touch me, pervert.” She glared and shoved his hand away.

“You have something I want. Give it here.” Monoma quirked his finger.

“No.”

“You 1-A brats think you’re so special.” The blonde sniffed and shook his head. “Think you’re so entitled to everything. You don’t even deserve to be here, Uraraka Ochako.” He sneered her name as if it were venom.

Uraraka was finally able to sit up and was slowly backing away. She needed to stand up and get away. But Monoma had likely already copied her quirk, even though it was useless in this setting. However, a shining light came and kicked Monoma in the face, sending him flying into a nearby tree. Uraraka felt herself lift off the ground by something other than her zero gravity, pulling her towards the exit and she had half the mind to pull the souvenir from the hunt out of her bra. Only when they had crossed the makeshift finish line did she realize it was Bakugou who had carried her across.

“Thanks,” she panted as she looked at the golden All Might in her hand.

“I’m gonna fucking kill that worthless piece of shit.” Bakugou snarled, already turning to head back into the forest. Uraraka grabbed his arm.

“He’s not worth it. Look, we’re both advancing!” Uraraka wiggled All Might in his face. “That’s great, right!”

Bakugou huffed and looked up at the sky. “That was the easiest shit I’ve ever done.”

Uraraka rolled her eyes but smiled. “Maybe the next challenge will be tougher for you.”

Bakugou crossed his arms over his head. “Nothing is hard for me.”

“Bakugou, you made it!!” Kirishima cried out as he ran towards him, clenching his scavenger hunt item in one hand, arms stretched on either side of him.

Bakugou was already stepping away, Uraraka giggling and not even trying to feel sorry for him. “Shitty Hair, if you even so much as touch- me-” Kirishima collided with Bakugou full force and hugged him, laughing the whole time.

“I’m so happy!” Kirishima gushed and didn’t even flinch when Bakugou punched him in the gut to get him off. It was the impenetrable hardened skin that saved Kirishima from any pain and Uraraka was impressed he could do it without even thinking.

“Do not ever do that again. It’s not even surprising that we both made it, dipshit.” Bakugou stood up and brushed himself off.

“Aw, come on, it was just a bros hug!” Kirishima whined and Bakugou glared at him. Kirishima opted for giving a grin and a thumbs up to Uraraka, which she returned. Bakugou only stomped away from them with his hands shoved into his pockets. It was extremely reminiscent of first year Bakugou. Though, he hadn’t changed much since then, only gotten a little taller and broader. Kirishima had surpassed him in height and Uraraka knew deep down that it bothered Bakugou endlessly.

It took a couple more minutes but the first round was over in what seemed like a blink of the eye. They had their forty students who would advance to the second round. Like Uraraka had predicted, they weren’t brought back to the arena. They were kept in the dark and corralled into a big group in front of Midnight. She smirked down at them.

“So this next game is simple and I’m sure it’ll look very familiar to you. You will split into teams of four and you must stay together for the entirety of the time allotted. One member of your group will wear a bandana showing how many points your whole team has. Your group must collect numbers from the other groups in order to win. The top four groups will advance to the last round.”

Her explanation was flawless and Uraraka recognized that this was exactly like the cavalry battle. But there was always a catch, and that just so happened to be the forest they would be running through.

“You will not be sitting on your teammates’ shoulders. The person with the bandana will be completely vulnerable and it’s up to your teammates to protect them.” Midnight waved her whip around. “You have thirty seconds to pick a team. Go!”

Uraraka was panicking. Should she be with Bakugou? Would Bakugou even want her on his team? She was kind of the weakest link. She felt bad if she didn’t go with Midoriya and Iida and Tsuyu but when she turned to find them in the crowd she couldn’t. Sensations were high and she couldn’t really see anything in her panic. A rough, familiar hand grabbed her upper arm and pulled her towards a group.

“You’re with us.” Bakugou said into her ear. She gazed at Kaminari and Kirishima, the four of them making up a group. Kirishima and Kaminari had dopey smiles on their faces but she knew their stupidity was only half a facade.

“What about Sero-kun?” Uraraka asked.

“The idiot didn’t make it this year.” Bakugou rolled his eyes and Uraraka was shocked. Sero’s quirk was perfect for this kind of thing. Both the first round and the second round. However, Uraraka certainly wasn’t complaining. She knew that if she had been on either Midoriya’s team or Bakugou’s team that they would be moving on. They were both strong in their own way and Uraraka was confident that she could pull things off with either of them.

Bandanas were distributed to the teams and Uraraka took it upon herself to wear her team’s bandana. She could admit that her quirk wasn’t the best for combat and it would be better if she were the one who was going to be protected.

“This doesn’t make you useless!” Kirishima was saying, throwing his arm around her. Uraraka kept eying Bakugou because she figured he would chew Kirishima’s arm off for touching her. However, since Kirishima wasn’t the biggest competition to their relationship, he wasn’t exactly a threat. Kaminari, however, finally learned his boundaries and didn’t touch Uraraka unless absolutely necessary. Which was never.

“I know, Kirishima-kun.” Uraraka giggled and pat his arm.

“I just wanted to make sure cause, you know, any one of us could’ve been wearing this thing.” Kirishima fingered the bandana around her neck.

“It’s really okay.” Uraraka said.

Bakugou sidled up next to her as they got into position to enter the second round. “Oi, she fucking knows already, leave her alone.”

“Well I don’t see you do anything to hype her up!” Kirishima pouted.

Bakugou lifted an eyebrow. “She doesn’t have to be hyped up, idiot.”

Kirishima was about to say something but then the air horn was blown and they darted into the forest. This was much more difficult than the cavalry battle from their first year considering they were going into this blind instead of being able to see where everybody was. They all entered at different points and had to find others in the ten minute time limit. They had no idea how big the forest was but they figured it was at least big enough for all of them to find each other.

“I think that we need to be most wary of Tokoyami-kun and Deku-kun.” Uraraka was explaining as they navigated through the trees. “Dark Shadow can sneak up on us at any moment and we’ll be targeted since we have some of the highest points.”

“Yeah yeah.” Bakugou gruffed and stopped to look around. Then they kept going, stopping every couple of seconds to check their surroundings. Kaminari sounded like he was holding his breath and Kirishima wasn’t doing much either. They were taking this a lot more seriously than she thought they would, but considering that it was their last year and the whole country was watching. They already had internships and job offers lined up but it never hurt to get some more.

Uraraka was starting to think they weren’t going to find anybody when a tree fell down right in front of them. Bakugou was immediately on the offensive, explosions igniting from his palms and in the direction that the tree had been knocked down. The smoke obscured their view but then a figure was running towards them, fist clenched and ready to strike. Uraraka knew it was Tetsutetsu immediately and Kirishima hardened, defending him from striking her.

Kaminari was able to get some revenge on Shiozaki when he shocked her suddenly as her vines crept towards them. He and Kirishima (as well as Bakugou) were simple distractions for Uraraka to dart around and grab the bandana off of Awase’s neck. She made herself weightless and camouflaged herself in the trees, wrapping the bandana around her neck. She tried not to think about how easy this was and it was almost too easy. She tried to be positive though as their points went up by a almost eight hundred.

When Tetsutetsu’s team was out of commission she floated back down and dropped beside Kaminari, who had strengthened his electricity abilities so he didn’t max himself out immediately. They continued on and on, almost directly colliding with Midoriya’s team. They still had their bandana and an extra one, putting them right ahead of Bakugou’s team. It was, again, just like their first year and Uraraka thought it was some kind of sick joke that their teachers were making them recreate the first year sports festival.

Todoroki had just made an icy cage so none of them could escape when the horns sounded again, alluding that their time was up. Bakugou growled and shouted about how it wasn’t fair that he didn’t get to do shit to Deku’s pathetic face but Kirishima reminded him, with a sheepish grin in Midoriya’s direction, that there was still the one on one battles.

Bakugou hadn’t perked up at that and Uraraka just pat his back before wandering to her friends.

“Good job.” She gave them a thumbs up and Iida sniffed, pushing his glasses up.

“You too!”

“Are you mad, Iida-kun? That I didn’t choose you guys?” Uraraka tilted her head to the side.

Iida only looked away and shook his head. “No! I understand that romantic relationships take precedence over friendships at times!”

Uraraka and Midoriya shared a look and a nod. He was mad but too prideful to say anything.

“I’m gonna fucking wreck you.” Bakugou sneered in Midoriya’s direction when he noticed the two of them talking. Uraraka just grabbed his shoulders and spun him the other way.

“I’ll take the angry chinchilla this way, sorry Deku-kun!” Uraraka grinned as Bakugou barked at her about being called an angry chinchilla.

The last round was heavily dominated by their class again with some others sprinkled in from the lower classes. Monoma, somehow, had gotten through even though Bakugou knocked him down in the scavenger hunt. Uraraka really figured he would have stayed down but she was clearly wrong. She tried to avoid eye contact, the memory of him calling her a slut echoing in her mind. If she had to go against him she would give him the fight of his life. There would be a certain amount of pride she would gain from it as well.

Slowly they made their way back to the arena where the crowd was screaming for all of them. It was a stark difference to the silence of the forest and Uraraka welcomed it. There would never be anything like this again; her life was promised to be surrounded by news reporters and chaos. Being cheered for made Uraraka hold herself a little higher and beam. Bakugou was still slouching as usual with his hands balled into fists at his sides. He didn’t care at all about his popularity with the people or the pro heroes. His internship had not been a positive experience and it haunted him to this day.

“Okay~! The time has come, the moment you all have been waiting for!” Midnight announced dramatically, “Are you ready to see these young heroes face off?” The crowd screamed again. The screen behind them came on, just like the last two years. Uraraka had a lot of memories on this field, stage, whatever it was. She was feeling a little nostalgic but willed herself not cry. Those after-baby hormones had long since faded and things like this should not logically make her cry.

The screen started to randomize all their names and then put them in a bracket much like they had seen each year. All sixteen remaining students scanned the screen for their name and when Uraraka found her’s she paled.

Bakugou actually started laughing out loud. It wasn’t the genuine laugh she had heard when he was playing with Kazumi; no, this was sick and twisted and downright pissed. “This is a fucking joke right?”

“Oh shit.” Kirishima whispered.

Uraraka was wondering the same thing herself. She wondered if this was the Principal’s way of splitting them up. The two of them were going to have their long awaited rematch.

“It’ll be fine.” Uraraka said, nervously pressing her fingers together. She made sure not to touch her pinkies together so she wouldn’t start to float away.

Bakugou only snarled and stormed away from her. He probably didn’t want to tell her to her face this time that he was going to crush her. Uraraka felt a little better knowing he was sparing her feelings, but felt awful knowing he saw no potential in her at all.

“Do your best!” Midoriya said, sticking his thumb up right in her face.

Uraraka couldn’t help but laugh. She could always count on Midoriya to feel motivated.

There was a bit of lapse in time before they began; they were allotted fifteen minutes to prepare themselves before going onto the stage. Uraraka stretched in the room she was placed in, calming her breathing, trying to soothe the rapid beating of her heart. She wondered if Kazumi was watching and what her tiny mind would process seeing her parents fighting on TV. Uraraka wanted to make her daughter proud even if Kazumi had no idea what that meant yet.

Uraraka wondered if Bakugou was thinking the same things, or if he had blocked Kazumi from his mind for the time being.

She spent the remainder of her time in the room panicking and trying not to overwhelm herself of images of her going down. She had no idea how she got from her first train of thought to her last but she walked back into the arena looking straight ahead. She tried not to appear anxious but knew the cameras could pick up on her gnawing on her lip.

“You two know the rules by now.” Cementoss, the pro hero who would be protectoring the final portion of the Sports Festival, claimed. “The first one down wins. Whether they be unconscious or not the player must make sure the other cannot get up for at least ten seconds.”

“The fuck is this, wrestling?” Bakugou retorted snarkily. Uraraka could practically hear Kaminari or Sero’s comment from the stands about how the two of them have had lots of practice already. Uraraka rolled her shoulders. She had no problem with keeping Bakugou grounded, especially if she could make him weightless.

Cementoss only sighed and did not give Bakugou the time of day. Instead he called time and took his seat on the outskirts of the playing field. Bakugou and Uraraka stared at each other, one uncertain, the other bored.

Then Uraraka lunged forward, all five fingers pressed together, waiting to strike.

It was a mirror of their spar. Bakugou would dodge and Uraraka would stumble but catch herself. She was getting good at that last part. They danced around each other, punches thrown and skillful ducks and skids backwards done. They weren’t going to give up but it didn’t seem like Bakugou was giving it his all.

“Are you underestimating me?” Uraraka taunted when she almost got a hit on him. Bakugou grabbed her elbow and spun her around, intending on pinning her to the ground. However, she gave a powerful kick to the gut and was able to flip backwards, landing on her feet. She had no idea where she pulled that moved from but there was another moment of triumph.

Bakugou only narrowed his eyes and finally his palms flared. Uraraka tried to calculate his next move and was utterly surprised when he brought his fists to the ground, cracking the cement and sending the rock shards into the air. He was ready to put them on blast and Uraraka was already running forward, getting ready to send them into the air and right back at him just like she had in their first sports festival. She thought she could do it this time, since Bakugou clearly was not taking this seriously, whether he was doing it for her sake or to defy the school she was unsure.

The moment Uraraka reached for one of the concrete pieces Bakugou put them on blast, sending them all flying towards her. Uraraka had no time to react except to block herself from getting hit.

But she wasn’t quick enough to stop the impact.

A rather large piece of cement went right for her arms raised to block her face, hitting both of her forearms and partially slamming into her head. Uraraka had no time to register it before she was blacked out and on her back lying on the crumbled pieces of the makeshift stage.

[latenightscribbles13]

I Am Not (part I)

Day 1

I did it. I DID IT!!!

 Now, I wait.

 Day 2

I don't really know what day it is. The concept of time ceased to exist. One day passes into another, tomorrow merges with the day after, and so forth. We do not need to know anything else. Everything is decided for us. They wake you up. They tell you when to eat and what to eat. They realized eating food for pleasure is a waste of one’s body. So they serve us all the important nutrients in forms of tablets, capsules and powders. Any sort of pleasure is being eradicated. It is not necessary for survival and can only cause distraction. We all have a special purpose in this network, and it has been assigned to us the moment we set our foot in this complex. You will be safe here, they said.

We are. But this is not living. We are not. We simply are not. What, you ask? We are not alive. We are not humans. It’s not how it’s supposed to be. Sterile, white surfaces. White jumpsuits. Blank expressions.

It’s not how it’s supposed to be.

I know that much. I was brought here very young. They tried to mould me into a productive member of the new society. I spend my days in the lab, researching for new, easier ways to enslave people’s minds. I play my part perfectly. But I know. I know.

They lied. Everything they said was a lie. I keep dreaming about the past. They don’t know it. I plug all the newcomers to the dream machine. We can extract all the necessary information from dreams to reach into the person’s core, and tear it out, replacing it with molecules that encourage obedience and loyalty. Sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively. I escaped the machine by volunteering to operate it and analyse the results. If they saw what was inside my head … I would be long gone.

I remember my mother. She was a hearty woman, with long and shiny hair, and a kind smile. She would always take me out for long walks through the forests and the fields. We didn’t have much, but it was enough. It was everything we needed. Sometimes, the bright colours of nature hurt my eyes. Around me, everything is white, white, white. It can drive you insane.

I would have jumped off of a roof a long time ago, had it not been for another dream. It started a long time ago, I think. First, I saw one young man, coming towards me, with a message in his hands. I would always wake up before reading it. Then, the boy was joined by more and more similar dark figures. Until there were nine. They were all wearing hoods, so I couldn’t see their faces properly, but I could feel their rebellious spirit. It made me excited and nervous, all the same. One night, the leader of the group handed me the message, as many times before, and I held onto it with all my might. I could feel the reality barging in already, distant voices disturbing the peaceful landscape of my dreams. Before I opened my eyes, I caught a glimpse of the short simple message.

I am not.

That’s all it said. I am not. And yet, I knew. I knew what it meant and what I would have do. The rebellion was near. The end of this fucked up reality was near. And I needed to do what I did best. Make a drug. An antidote. Something, that would keep the mind clean and free from any sort of control.

Yesterday, I succeeded. That’s why it’s called day 1. It’s the first day of the rest of the life that we know. All I have to do now, is wait. Wait for the boys from my dreams to come. They will know what to do.

 Day 3

I shouldn’t be writing every day. It’s too dangerous. I could be caught at any moment. They are already careful around me when exchanging confidential information. It wasn’t always like this. Usually, they could hardly notice my presence. They thought I was less than a fly on the wall. I’m pretty sure they didn’t even know if I could speak.

But now, they are more cautious. I can feel all those suspicious looks piercing my back whenever I pass them by. They don’t trust me. Maybe they noticed I have been spending more time in the lab, and brought in less successful drugs and analyses than before. I need to be more productive in the following days.

I hope the boys will be here soon.

 Day 5

I didn’t dare to open my notebook yesterday. I spent all day in the lab, improving the dream machine, whilst also coming up with a new drug. I needed to feed them something. They seemed quite pleased, but I still felt uncomfortable under their scanning eyes.

They smell something.

I need to throw them off.

 Day 13

I can keep track of days by drawing tiny dots on the wall behind my bed. It feels good knowing how much time has actually passed.

I dreamt about the boys again. This time, they didn’t bring me a message. They just kept walking towards me, but could never reach me. They just kept on marching and marching, the sound of their army boots resonating through the empty plain.

I woke up sweaty and anxious. What did all of that mean?

 Day 20

This morning, I realized I might’ve gotten it all wrong. I had another dream, but it was all mixed up. I was working on the dream machine, when they brought in a newcomer. They laid him on the bed, and he obeyed without a word, as they had drugged him before, surely. I placed the electrodes to each side of his forehead, and ran the machine. As I tried to feel his temperature, his fingers suddenly latched around my wrist, and his eyes flew open.

I recognized him immediately. It was the Leader from my dreams. What was he doing there? He kept his grab on my wrist, and the machine began printing out images of our meeting. He dreamt of the same thing, as I did. And now we had it on paper. I was paralyzed.

Before I could react, the guards flew in, and dragged me away.

They know

They know

They know

 I sat straight up in bed, heart beating against my ribcage, sheets drenched in my sweat. My mouth was dry, and I kept murmuring the same line -  they know, they know, they know.

It took me a long time to calm down. The waiting was taking a toll on me. Every day was a nervous battle. I kept the antidote with me at all times, it was safer that way. I had to be very, very careful not to lose or break the eprouvette. That would ruin it all. I need to be stronger.

When I calmed down, I realized another thing. Maybe, the rebels will not arrive in tanks or aeroplanes, armed with guns and bombs.

Maybe they will arrive in handcuffs.

 Day 26

I am carefully scanning each and every newcomer. It’s slowing down my working process but I can’t afford to miss any details.

But I am sure they are the ones that will make it happen.

Day 30

No luck so far.

 Day 41

I haven’t dreamt about them in a while. I hope I don’t forget their faces.

I do dream about my mom a lot, though. We are always running around the field, laughing, being free. Then, they come and take me away. I never see my mom again.

 Day 60

I’m starting to lose hope. I am getting sloppier with my work, and I don’t sleep much.

What, if it had all been a mistake?

What if they inserted that dream in my head to test my loyalty?

What if they had been doing that all along?

I’m going crazy.

 Day 99

He is here.

 Day 100

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Internally, I had already stopped hoping for somebody to come. I focused on my research and my everyday tasks to keep my head straight. All the conspiracy theories and all the guessing almost drove me mad.

So I went back to my usual self. I was quiet, invisible, and efficient. How they want me and need me to be.

The antidote was still safely tucked in my bra. It was the safest place, trust me.

I was going about my day, as the prisoner bus pulled up in front of the building. Well, I called it the prisoner bus, but officially it was the volunteer bus. It was full of taken children and young adults that would be trained and brainwashed to serve the system in any possible way. That’s where I came in. I analysed their thoughts and dreams to deduce the optimal position for them. Where would they be of most service?

There were at least 40 new people waiting to be examined. Most of them were scared and confused, but some of them showed stoic resistance. If they only knew how fast the system can break their spirit into a million distorted pieces. Then, they pick them up, one by one, and arrange them in their own way, they paint a new picture that will hardly resemble your old self.

I would know.

Before the night fell, the last of the newcomers was brought inside. He was laid on the bed, and I began my procedure. I washed his face, dried it, applied light blue gel on each side of his forehead, and attached the electrodes over it.

I almost ran the machine, when I realized I forgot to inject him with sleeping medicine. Everything happens for a reason. It was either a really long day, or I subconsciously felt that I shouldn’t put him to sleep.

When I glanced towards his tranquil face, I knew. It was him. The Leader. There was no doubt about it. My heart was racing, and my hands were shaking. The whole body knew.

I nudged him lightly, hoping nobody was watching me from the outside. When I nudged him for the third time, he slightly opened his eyes. He was drugged so he probably wasn’t thinking or seeing clearly. I just wanted him to see my face. It will stick with him, surely.

It was all I could do at the moment.

Then, I put him to sleep, and ran the machine.

Now, lying in bed with this notebook, an important question popped into my mind - where are the others?