#the truth behind our fics only he and his lovers would know

[thisismeracing]

do you think there's some truth to what some people have been saying, that charles is boring in bed? i feel like that might be true, like I’ve always heard that the better good a person is the Lea they believe they have to work at it. Thoughts on Mick and Lewis?

That sounds like kind of a personal question (as in the pilot’s personal life) and I don’t feel really comfy speculating about it, I’m sorry, love! ❤️

Though, I must say that this “pretty ppl don't put in an effort in bed” is not accurate especially because it generalizes a lot of people (and beauty is more like a social construct than anything, that means for some you can be considered pretty, and for others not that attractive, depending on where you are in the world too. Would it impact how you act in bed? I don't think so, maybe for some, but not for others). Also, what it means to be boring? Not open to trying new things? Only into the usual missionary? That’s a tough question too

If I were you I wouldn't bother with those things, the whole deal here is to imagine an alternative universe, so try letting your imagination speaks 💖

let’s talk

[owmyeyeballs]

Batstarion Fic

I had to. Batstarion is too adorable for words. He's still a spawn in this fic, because I say so. Tav is Silence, my tiefling monk, and she's so done with her adorable weird vampire

It’s probably nothing. Of course it’s nothing. He’ll show up any minute. He’s fine, everything will be fine… Silence had been pacing so long, she wondered she hadn’t worn out the Elfsong’s shiny floorboards. Astarion was missing. Astarion had been missing for hours. Usually at this time of day he would be lounging at her side, reading a book and cradling a glass of wine. Ordinarily Silence wouldn’t have worried quite so much, but since the death of Cazador, Astarion had been a mess. Joyous one minute, on the verge of weeping the next, and through it all, extremely reluctant to leave Silence’s side.

He probably just needed some space. He’s probably just gone to track down some prey. He’s probably totally fine, and hasn’t fallen victim to a vengeful spawn, or a Bhaal-crazed murderer, or…

The door opened, and Silence turned in worried expectation, only to find Wyll regarding her sympathetically.

“Still no sign of our favourite bloodsucker, I take it?”

“Nothing. I should be out looking for him.”

Wyll came to stand by her, and rested a hand on her shoulder.

“You should be with the rest of us at the bar, relaxing. Astarion’s a grown man. There’s no sense worrying until we know for sure we have cause.”

“He’s barely been out of my sight since Cazador, and this city is dangerous, and…”

“And Astarion has two hundred years of experience navigating those dangers. I tell you what, if he’s still gone in another hour, I’ll join you, and we’ll go looking for him together. But until then, try to relax. I know Astarion’s been a little out of sorts since taking down Cazador. But so have you.”

Silence opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again. In truth, Wyll was right. After coming so very close to losing her lover, she had barely relaxed once.

“… You may have a point.”

Wyll smiled warmly, and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

“Try to relax. If you won’t join us downstairs, at least sit down for a while up here. Even with your light feet, we can hear you pacing your way through the floorboards!”

As he left her to rejoin the others, Silence took his advice, collapsing on her bed. The absence of Astarion laying beside her, holding her close, did little to ease her worries. Without the vampire to hug, she clutched a pillow to her chest instead.

“Where are you, Stars…”

Her eyes drifting aimlessly across the elegantly furnished room, until they came to rest on her alchemy bag. A thought darted across her mind, and she leapt to her feet once more, taking the bag and rifling through the contents, until at last her hand closed on the bottle she wanted.

“I mightn’t be able to sniff you out, but I know who can!”

Scratch had settled quite happily into the Elfsong, and had already become a familiar presence at the bar, delighting in being petted and fed treats by patrons in various stages of inebriation. Seeing Silence, his tail began to wag, and he loped across the room to meet her. The taste of the animal speaking potion still lingering on her tongue, Silence knelt to scratch behind his ears.

“Hope you’re keeping well, Mistress! You haven’t joined us tonight! You’re missing out! There’s been singing!”

“I’m well enough, but worried,” Silence replied. “And I think you might be able to help me. Do you think you can track someone for me?”

Scratch tilted his head, the wagging of his tail slowing a little.

“I think so… But is it Astarion you want me to track? That… Might be a problem.”

Silence felt her heart begin to race in fear.

“Why? What’s happened? Do you know something?”

“He’s alright, Mistress. Well, I think he’ll be alright. But he made me promise not to tell!”

Silence frowned.

“Not to tell me what? Please, Scratch. I’ve been worried sick!”

Scratch let out a low whine, and tilted his head again.

“I don’t know… He said he’d bite me if I told! But… He likes you so much. I don’t think he’d like you to be worried… That makes telling you alright, doesn’t it?”

“I think so! And don’t worry, I won’t let him bite!”

Scratch let out a sigh, his tail wagging once more.

“If you go back to your room, Mistress, I’ll bring him to you there.”

Giving Scratch one last pat, Silence rose to her feet, halfway between relieved and worried.

What in nine Hells have you gotten up to, Stars?

Silence didn’t have long to wait before finding out.  She had barely settled back onto her bed when she heard Scratch’s claws clicking merrily on the floorboards, and her lover’s voice raised in indignation.

“If you don’t drop me at once, you filthy hound, I’ll visit you tonight and drain every last drop of blood from you! Do you hear me? You miserable fleabag, I mean it!”

Scratch came bounding into the room, something white in his mouth. Something winged and flapping angrily, and yelling in Astarion’s voice as it was dropped at Silence’s feet. A bat. A white, fluffy, red-eyed bat.

“At last! Ugh, I’m covered in your slobber, you beast! I ought to…”

Red eyes looked up at Silence, and blinked.

“Ah. Darling. I… Suppose I ought to explain.”

Silence knelt, and scooped the bat – Astarion? – up off the floor. He flapped his wings clumsily, trying to get his balance, and clawed feet gripped at her hands. Torn between laughing and shouting in disbelief, she stroked her thumb over soft, fluffy white fur.

“You’re a bat.”

Astarion heaved a sigh, and shot a glare at Scratch.

“I’ll deal with you later, mongrel. Now, shoo!”

“Ignore him, Scratch. But you can go back and have fun with the others.”

Tail wagging and tongue lolling out happily, Scratch left. Astarion gave an annoyed huff and folded his wings. Or, attempted to. His control over them seemed to be somewhat lacking.

“Well. I suppose an explanation is in order. I found a book, you see. When we were looting Cazador’s palace. A book on vampires, and vampire spawn. Turns out the bastard was keeping even more from us than I realised!”

He waved a wing angrily, nearly falling from Silence’s hands. She quickly sat down on the bed, and set Astarion down on a cushion.

“Turns out I’m capable of more than I realised. All of us spawn are. Apparently Cazador didn’t want us to get any ideas… According to what I’ve read, I ought to be able to turn to mist, to walk upside down on ceilings, to… Well, to turn into a bat. It took some experimenting, but I figured it out! Only…”

Silence bit her lip to keep a laugh from bursting out.

“Only you can’t work out how to turn back?”

Astarion groaned, burying his head in his wing in embarrassment.

“More than that, I can’t even figure out how to make this useless form fly! I’m stuck as a winged rat, scrabbling around on the ground… Do you have any idea how many times I’ve nearly been stepped on? And the kitchen cats tried to make a meal of me! I had to beg that damned mutt for protection! And… Are you laughing? Is this funny to you?”

Unable to hold in in any longer, Silence let out a snort of laughter, and only laughed harder as the little white bat gave her what he clearly imagined to be a ferocious glare.

“I’ve been worried about you, you precious bastard! And all the time you were a cute little bat!”

She scooped him up again and pressed a kiss to his furry head, holding him up and taking in the long, twitching ears, the leaf-like nose, the sharp little teeth he revealed as he shouted.

“Will you take this seriously? Imagine what the others are going to say! The sheer indignity will kill me!”

“That’s what you get for skulking around and playing with powers you don’t know how to use! Now, where’s this book? We’ll see if we can’t find a way to change you back.”

“Outside, on one of the tables out the back. Assuming no one’s stolen it, that is. Wait, you’re not leaving me here? What if the cats come back?”

Silence, paused, halfway through placing Astarion down on the bed again. He flapped his wings in indignation, and she sighed and placed him on her shoulder instead.

“There. Stop getting yourself in a flap – literally. Those wing claws are sharp!”

At last, with Astarion settled on her shoulder, Silence made her way downstairs, where the tavern rang with cheerful singing. Astarion let out a slight groan.

“Let’s get out of here, quickly. This form has sensitive ears, and that drunken caterwauling is making my head throb!”

Silence tried her best to avoid the rest of the party as she made her way to the door, but with no luck. Spotting her, Gale cried out.

“Ah, there you are! Joining us at last? Come on, pull up a chair, pour a glass! Hello… What have you got there?”

“Oh gods...” Astarion groaned, as Gale approached, looking curiously. “He’ll be insufferable…”

“Well, aren’t you a chatty little fellow?” Gale asked, reaching out to stroke the bat’s head. Astarion snapped at him. “And bitey! Reminds me of Astarion. Any luck tracking him down?”

“Don’t you dare tell him!” Astarion hissed. “I’ll die of embarrassment!”

Gale couldn’t understand, Silence realised. Not without the animal-speaking potion. Although… Her eyes darted to the bar, where Halsin stood close by. Sure enough, the druid was smiling, having clearly understood.

“It seems our pale friend is in something of a predicament! How have you managed that, Astarion?”

“Astarion?” Gale frowned, and looked around the bar. At long last, his eyes returned to the bat currently fuming on Silence’s shoulder. “He isn’t… Is he?”

Well, there was no avoiding it now. One by one, the others turned their attention to Astarion, who hid his face in his wings.

“That’s Astarion?” Karlach cried, leaping from her seat and coming to pet his fur. “He’s so cute! And soft! Aren’t you just precious?”

“Certainly an interesting development,” Wyll remarked. “Could be useful for scouting ahead, or getting to places we can’t…”

“Have you figured out your wings yet?” Halsin asked. “Many druids struggle with flight when they first take a winged form. I can offer some advice, should you need it?”

Astarion flapped his wings angrily, brushing away Karlach’s hands and nearly falling from Silence’s shoulder in the process.

“Unhand me! Gods above, get me out of here!”

“Aww, listen to the cute little squeaks!” Karlach exclaimed. “Is he having a little tantrum?”

“He’s… a little overwhelmed. We’re going to go back upstairs and try to figure things out. See you all later!”

The book, thankfully, was where Astarion had said it would be. An ancient volume, full of loose and torn pages, which Silence briefly flicked through curiously. Arcane diagrams, bizarre illustrations, archaic text…

“You can browse it upstairs! Hurry, I can hear the cats coming back!”

“Alright, calm down. Relax, I’m not going to let you be a cat’s dinner.”

Making a brief detour past the bar for a bottle of wine, Silence hurried back upstairs, and settled onto her bed, the book in front of her, Astarion settling himself onto her lap. Pouring herself a glass of wine, she tried not to laugh as he clumsily attempted to open the cover with his wings, and failed, a giggle bursting out.

“Will you stop laughing? Do you have any idea how hard these wretched things are to control? They feel as if they ought to work like hands, but they don’t! I can’t pick anything up, I can’t turn pages… I can’t even scratch my nose!”

“You’ll figure it out in time, I’m sure. In the meantime…”

Silence gently scratched at the delicate, leaflike nose with one fingertip. Then, unable to resist the soft fur, turned her attention to the fur around his ears. Astarion closed his eyes, letting out a little sigh.

“Well… that I could get used to…”

With one hand now dedicated to bat-scratching, Silence opened the book with the other.

“Right, where were you up to?”

“There’s a page marked with a ribbon. Turn to that one.”

Silence obliged, turning to a page covered with illustrations of bats. Cruel-looking things, not at all like the fluffy white creature in her lap. Seemingly content in his lover’s lap, satisfied that his problem could soon be solved, and rather enjoying having his ears scratched, Astarion yawned, showing off those sharp little fangs again.

“Now, then. If you’d be so good as to turn the pages when I tell you…”

Peace settled over the room. Silence could make little sense of the archaic style of writing, but Astarion seemed to be puzzling it out. She sipped her wine, humming idly, the bat’s fur so very soft under her fingers…

“I wonder… Would you mind?”

Astarion flapped a wing clumsily at the glass in her hand.

“Seriously?”

“What? Perhaps things taste different in this form! It has to come with some perks!”

Silence gave a snort of laughter, but lowered the glass to Astarion’s level all the same, watching him lean over the rim.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“Ugh! Gods, if anything, it tastes worse!”

The white fur around his mouth was now stained red, and he clumsily tried to wipe it with his wings. Silence rolled her eyes, and drained the glass herself.

“Now, if you’re done experimenting, ready for me to turn the page?”

How much time passed, Silence couldn’t say. After a while, it occurred to her that she was no longer being asked to turn pages, and the tiny body in her lap was making a rather curious sound.

“Stars? Are you… purring?”

“Hm?” Astarion twitched an ear in her direction, his eyes closed. “I… I suppose I am.”

He yawned again, and the purring resumed. Marking the page, Silence closed the book and set it aside. Gently picking Astarion up, she lay down and settled him on her chest, high enough that he could nuzzle into her neck.

“You seem comfortable, and I’m tired. We can read more in the morning.”

When Silence woke, it was to a familiar figure in bed beside her, arms wrapped around her waist, nose nuzzled into her neck. Letting out a sigh of relief, she stroked a hand through Astarion’s white curls, and scratched lightly at a pointed ear. Not as twitchy and delicate as his bat ears, but still adorable. He gave a sleepy hum of pleasure, and held her tighter.

“Well, last night was interesting. You figured out how to turn back.”

“Not consciously, but it seems the form wears off when I sleep. I think I’ll do some further reading before trying that again.”

“That sounds wise,” Silence agreed, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “Though, for what it’s worth, you do make an adorable bat.”

[odxrilove]

BIRTHDAY BOY (TEASER)

PAIRING: mingyu x f!reader

GENRE: fluff, friends to lovers, bday party!au? kinda confession!au, uni!au but not really mentionned

WARNINGS: , flirting, swearing, alchohol, drinking, one mention of being high (not yn or seventeen), etc typical party stuff, game of truth or dare, minghao is annoying x1 (jk), yn gets jealous a bit, yn and mingyu are in love ewwww, huge make-out session (borderline smut...) (JKKK. or am i), lots of tension + more?

WC: 440 for the teaser, +8.1k for the full fic

SYNOPSIS: It’s Mingyu’s birthday party, and Hoshi lets something out under the influence of alcohol. Apparently, you have two gifts prepared for him– completely throwing out the one-gift tradition your friend group strictly follows. However, Hoshi’s a liar — and a bad one at that — but it’s already too late. Even though Mingyu knows he’s supposed to be excited about all the gifts he’s receiving tonight, he’s (not so surprisingly) only interested in everything you’re giving him.

A/N: this was supposed to be a cute short drabble for his bday but exams happened and suddenly i found myself writing 8k of tension during summer break. rec song - i dont understand but i luv u by seventeen 

FIC TAGLIST: @etherealyoungk @simpforyongbokk @luvhyun3 @haew0nz comment or ask/send an ask to be tagged!

back to masterlist !

THE FULL FIC IS OFFICIALLY OUT !

Mingyu hums, raising his head to look at the end of the hallway, where the door to the balcony is situated. When he returns his gaze to you, he tilts his head cutely, licking his lips. “You wanna wait by the balcony? I told the guests not to go on there too much so that i won’t get a noise complaint from the neighbors. I think it’s safe if you go there.” 

With a smile, you nod at Mingyu, “yeah, that would be great. Thanks.” You place one of your hands on the wall next to the kitchen before leaning in so he hears you better over the music. “Don’t die in there by the way! We haven’t even gone to Iceland yet like we planned to years ago– it would be a waste for you to miss out on our extravagant bucket list, right?”

Mingyu’s laugh fills your ears, the sound making you smile from ear to ear. “C’mon, who do you take me for? Seok– Oh sorry.” Mingyu cuts himself off, lifting his two hands in the air with one still holding all the shot glasses. The girl, who just bumped into Mingyu, and who you recognize as one of your classmates from your major, pushes her hair behind her ear, blushing at your friend. 

Before she leaves, she mumbles a few words, but the music is way too loud for you to make out what it was, and then she’s gone. 

You don’t pay too much attention to it, as does Mingyu, who’s already back to look at you. It’s not the first and certainly not the last time someone is going to bump into one of you two at his party. 

“Sorry, what were you saying?” You turn back to Mingyu, crossing your arms and making the silver necklace you’re currently wearing shine even more under the flashy led lights. 

“Ah, sweetheart, you never listen do you?” Mingyu brings his free hand up to your jaw, tapping on the underside of your chin with his index finger. “I said, you need to stop biting your lips when you’re nervous. They’re too pretty for that.” 

You can’t speak, your entire vocabulary having left your body. His hand then turns to cup the underside of your jaw, his thump grazing over your bottom lip, ultimately smudging a bit of your lipgloss. Your mouth falls open a bit at the shock but he doesn’t stop. “A pretty color.. for pretty lips. Suiting.” His thumb sweeps one last time over your lip before he retreats into the kitchen. 

“Wait for me by the balcony, I'll grab our drinks for us.” 

general taglist: @0x1lovebot @fairybinie @blaqpinksthetic @odetoyeonjun @pockyandme @soobin-chois @soobisms @junityy @kaimal @laylasbunbunny @jaeyunverse @enhacolor @honglynights @starry-mins @bibinnieposts @raevyng @yoonzin0 @hoeforcheol @pearlygraysky @4xiaojun

please do not copy, repost or steal any of my work. all content belongs to @odxrilove

[acciotherapists]

Little Sparrow: Chapter Two

Loki x Reader Mafia AU

When Tony Stark's little sister wakes up deep in enemy territory she assumes her life is over. She'll be killed or worse: used as a bargaining chip against her estranged brother. What happens when the mafia leader, Loki Laufeyson, offers her a deal she can't refuse? No sentiment. Only revenge. What happens when the truth is revealed? Will she betray her only family or betray the man she loves to hate? Little Sparrow is an enemies to lover's fic riddled with betrayal and spice!

Loki quickly moved me into our shared room, though he quickly assured me there would be two beds as he saw my eyes widen. “It’s simply for appearances, darling,” he promised. “If I’m to protect you from even my own men, as you claim it was one of them that did this to you… then they all need to believe you’re mine,” he growled. “They wouldn’t dare touch what’s mine.”

He left me alone after that as his phone rang and he took the call outside. I didn’t have anything to unpack so I simply sat on the bed. The only bed. I tried not to worry as he told me there would be a second one brought in but could I truly believe the boss of the Asgardian gang?

I felt my phone buzz and I pulled it out, checking the now cracked screen. It was damaged from the attack but still usable.

Tony: Where the hell are you?

The door opened and I jumped as Loki entered the room, eyeing the phone in my hands.

“Hiding something, little one?”

I knew there was no point in lying; he’d just figure it out anyway.

“Tony texted me. He wants to know where I am.”

“And what did you say?”

“Nothing yet. You walked in before I could.”

His phone rang again and I could see his brow furrow in annoyance as he looked down at the screen.

“Respond. Tell him you’re fine,” he hissed, before answering the phone and turning toward the door. “This better be urgent,” he growled, closing the door behind him.

I quickly began typing.

Y/n: I’m okay. Just laying low for a bit but I’m okay.

He responded instantly.

Tony: I’m glad you’re okay but where the hell are you?

Y/n: I’m just staying with a friend for a bit. I’m ok.

Tony: Alright, kid. Just call me when you can and be safe.

I tried not to scoff at the message. Be safe. Yeah, right. Be safe deep in enemy territory with a man that would easily kill me and with no way out.

****

“This better be urgent,” Loki hissed as he slammed the door to his and now Y/n’s room.

“We found him, boss. He’s got her blood on his knuckles,” the voice on the phone answered.

“Bring him to the pit,” Loki growled, hanging up the phone and leaving Y/n alone.

He made his way to the pit quickly, finding one of his men tied to a chair.

“You’re certain?” Loki asked Syf and she nodded. “He was the last one to leave the base before she was attacked and he returned shortly before you found her with blood on his knuckles.”

“And you’re certain it’s her blood?”

“We didn’t exactly test it,” she chuckled. “But he admitted it as soon as we began our questioning.”

Loki looked at the man sitting in the chair, a strange fury settling in his chest.

“What shall we do with him, boss?”

“Take him for a one-way ride.”

She nodded and signaled for another group of men to escort him away as he struggled. When they were finally gone Syf approached Loki.

“What is it about this one?” she asked him, being careful with her words.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’ve never killed a man for a woman before… especially not for one who’s with the Avengers.”

“My reasons are my own,” Loki hissed. “Question them again at your peril.”

She backed off and Loki left the room, leaving more questions than answers.

****

When Loki reentered our now shared room his face was contorted with anger and I could practically see the gears turning in his mind as he tossed his jacket on a nearby chair.

“What exactly is the play here, Laufeyson?” I hissed, getting straight to the point. He was already angry so I saw no point in beating around the bush.

“What do you mean?”

“You told me to tell my brother I’m fine but said nothing about where I am. What is the point of me being here? On top of the fact that I have no clothes, nothing to sleep in, and a raging headache, you’ve told me nothing about this plan of yours other than you intend to keep me here.”

He chuckled darkly. “You’re free to leave whenever you wish, pet. I will not hold you hostage." I could see him watching me carefully, as if waiting for some sort of reaction but when he found nothing he sighed and tossed his shoes into the closet.

“I’ll have Frigga go with you to get some clothes tomorrow.”

“That’s not what I meant, Loki,” I sighed. “What am I even doing here?”

He smirked, slowly moving closer. He gently moved his finger under my chin. “You’re escaping, pet.” He slowly stood again. “You’re escaping that dull life of heroism,” he chuckled. “And you’re here so I can protect you.” He lifted the covers and I looked at him curiously.

“What are you doing?”

“Tucking you in.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, sure. What are you really doing?”

“Oh, would you just lie down? I’m taking the couch for tonight. My men will have a new bed brought in tomorrow.”

“I don’t want to kick you out of your bed.”

He shook his head. “It’s fine, little one. Just lay down.”

I reluctantly complied and he pulled the blankets up to my chin. As he pulled his hands away from the blankets his finger gently brushed my cheek and there was something familiar in the gesture that I couldn’t quite place. He cleared his throat, blinking rapidly as if trying to clear his mind of something that troubled him and his face softened.

“Do you prefer the lights on or off?” he asked and my heart squeezed at the somehow familiar statement.

“What did you just ask me?”

“Lights on or off?”

“Off is fine,” I replied.

He searched my eyes and there was an uncomfortable tightness in my chest. 

“Why did you ask me that?”

“Old habit, suppose.” He left no time for me to respond before flicking off the lights and retreating to the couch.

****

Loki lay tossing and turning for much of the night, though he found the sound of Y/n’s breathing to be a calming escape from the thoughts in his mind.

[hebuiltfive]

In Light Of Recent Events

2004 Jeff and Penny have been living rent-free in my mind.

Not sure if I'll go further with this one at the moment, but it was prompted by this post here.

Tagging @firstonthescene because it was also prompted by our discussion the other day and I thought you might like to see it!

AO3 link here, but the full fic is below the cut!

--------------------------------

“You look as though you’ve hardly slept a wink. Have you been awake all night?”

Jeff grumbled in response to Penelope’s questioning. Did he really look as terrible as he felt? He yawned, maundering down to the breakfast bar and ruffling his hair, which only served to make it even more untidy and unkempt than before. He slid onto the stool beside Penelope’s.

“Good morning to you too, Penny. Here I thought you Brits had more manners.”

Without skipping a beat she poured him a coffee from the cafetière and slid it over to him with a smile.

Another yawn, this time stifled, and Jeff raised the cup to his lips. The scent was strong, helping to alert his senses far before the taste could. Bitter and potent; whoever made this batch was certainly a coffee lover.

That ruled Penny out.

“You haven’t yet answered the question, Jeff.” She no-so-subtly prompted as she returned to her newspaper. Only Penny would have possession of the latest copy while on retreat on a private island. Perhaps Parker had done a quick supplies run before sunrise for her…

“It’s fine.” Jeff claimed, though doubt laced his words.

He cast a quick glance out of the veranda, at the still pools that lay beyond. In spite of the early hour, he realised it was far too quiet considering the amount of people the villa was currently host to. “Where is everyone?”

“I believe most of them are down at the beach, though Brains could still be cooped up in his lab.” Penelope folded the paper and lowered it. She twirled in her seat to better face Jeff. “If I were you, I would try and get a few more hours of rest.”

From above the crease where Penny had folded the paper glared the unmistakable eyes of the Hood. Jeff stared back with a scowl.

Manicured nails clicked in front of his face. “Don’t look at that. It’s over now.”

“Is it?”

Jeff was reluctant to believe it. He tore his gaze away from the printed photo.

“I don’t know, Penny, something tells me we’ll be seeing him again, sooner than any of us would like.”

“That is out of any of our hands and a hurdle we shall jump if it gets to it. Right now, Jeff, you need sleep.”

“Can’t.” He replied stubbornly, jumping off the stool with a large stretch. Something in his lower back clicked. He was getting too old for this. “I’ve got to run a post-mission report by the President.”

“Let Scott or Virgil handle it.”

“They’ve already been through enough. They deserve a break.”

“As do you.”

As they all did, Jeff thought to himself. International Rescue’s work very rarely led them into dealing, first-hand, with criminals who sought to obliterate them where they stood. Jeff found himself eternally grateful for Penelope’s unwavering support. Without her, they’d all be… well, he’d rather not think of that.

“I’ll try and get some nap time in after the call.”

“Nonsense! You’ll go for a nap right now.”

“Yes, mom.” The quick quip was thrown before Jeff could rein it back in.

Penny, though she pretended to be unimpressed by his jibe, elegantly slid off her perch with an amused smirk. “Your mother would tell you the same as I, Jeff, as well you know. Now, get yourself back to bed.”

Jeff chuckled. He observed the sun, now fully risen over the horizon. He had come so close to never seeing it again. His boys had come so close to never seeing it again. Now, in the distance, he could hear the laughter and cheers of the family as they played on the beach below the villa, under the warmth of that radiant star.

They were home, but it had been close.

Too close.

For a moment, Jeff acknowledged the truth behind his lack of wanting to sleep. It did not solely lie with the report he was due to give. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the face of that tyrant, of the man who had tried to take everything away from him. The man who had so very nearly succeeded.

He saw his boys suffocating.

He saw his youngest almost fall to an early, gruesome demise.

He saw Lucille’s disappointed face from beyond the grave as she scrutinised his actions that had nearly led all of them to the point of no return.

Jeff hadn’t slept — didn’t want to sleep — simply because he couldn’t.

Penny’s expectant curiosity caught his attention. She was good at reading people. It was what made her an expert field agent, but rarely did Jeff find it comforting when the skill was used on him.

Today, for once, he did.

Her hand gently lay upon his arm. “It will pass, Jeff.”

“Will it?”

Perhaps it was the lack of sleep that made Jeff feel like he was on the verge of crumbling. The weight of all that had passed had begun to press down upon him heavily.

“These things take time.”

“What if I don’t have time, Penny?” Desperation overtook his normal ability to suppress those nagging worries. “He knows who we are, where we are! A man like that might have no end of friends who would happily pick up his dirty work while he’s locked away. What’s to say he hasn’t already tattled? What’s to say we’re not already being targeted again? What’s to say we’re not just sitting ducks?”

“Jeff.” Penelope gently coaxed him back from the threat of his spiral.

He felt ridiculous, almost embarrassed to be so worked up over something that, as Penelope had already claimed, was now in the past. It didn’t stop his fear. John, arguably the member of the team who was the least likely to get into any peril from their actions on Earth, had been the sitting duck yesterday. Who was to say one of his other boys wouldn’t be a target tomorrow?

A sigh passed between his lips. Perhaps there was an argument to be made regarding his lack of sleep after all.

Determined to not appear overwhelmed, despite his feelings on the contrary, Jeff offered his best smile. “I know, I know. Listen, I need to go and make this call. I’ll be up in the Round House. If the boys ask, tell them I’ll be down for lunch.”

“That is unless sleep gets the better of you, of course.”

Her eyes did not pity him but sympathy was evidently present. Jeff knew that, for as long as Tracy Island needed her, for as long as he needed her, she’d remain, no matter how long it took to clean up the mess.

“Thank you, Penny.”

“What ever for?”

“All of it.”

The morning passed by easier with the help of Penelope’s words.

She did not need to know about the thirty minutes of catch-up sleep Jeff sought when he reached the Round House, nor did she need to be aware of the extra forty minutes he caught after he’d finished his call with the President, but he knew, as he returned to that kitchen at lunch, that she would correctly surmise it.

[littlemissheavenonearth]

Hey there again! Your last fic was amazing, so I was wondering if you do a more challenging one , which is enemies to lovers! (Joe fic)

Can't wait to see it!! ✨

thx for this request! Here it is:

Love Don’t Lie (Joe Elliot X Reader)

a/n: I wrote this with my bestie @elliotts-personal-property! She’s so talented ❤️

Joe Elliott. There were many words I’d use to describe him. He was a loudmouth, a know it all, a bit cocky, and overall just irritating. I got a headache just thinking about him. It was as if he got a kick out of seeing me get all riled up over him. Of course luck would have it that I’d be his next door neighbor. I had the absolute joy of knowing him since I was seven, when my family first moved into the neighborhood. My luck didn’t seem to want to end, because it turned out both our fathers went way back, from when they were in primary school. Those two thought it was the greatest thing that we lived next door to each other. They would always go on and on about how we’d “carry on the family tradition and best best friends.” That couldn’t have been any further from the truth. From the beginning we got off on the wrong foot, which didn’t help. “Do you like football?” he asked with clear excitement laced in his voice. “It’s alright, but I much prefer netball.” “That game’s for sissies.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him. From then on there was always one little offhand comment or another from him. He always felt the need to voice any and all of his opinions to me. That got old, and fast. We disagreed on just about everything. Constantly fighting like cats and dogs from the moment we met at seven up until we turned sixteen.

Every time he’d come over he either bother the hell out of me or give me the silent treatment, which I actually preferred. I couldn’t even escape him in the comfort of my own home when he wasn’t hanging around. Being next door neighbors in a terraced house there was never any peace. His bedroom was situated right next to mine, and I swear it was his life's mission to make as much noise as humanly possible. I couldn’t count the number of times I had banged my hand against my bedroom wall, hoping he would turn his music off or down at the very least. In school he was a bit better and we ignored each other the best we could, considering we had multiple classes together. He did try to strike up a few conversations every once in a while, which I for the most part would shut down. Without looking away from the teacher he half whispered to me, “We’ve got a test today?” “Yeah, I thought you knew. Since you seem to know everything else.” “Oh don’t even start with me Y/N.” “Is there a problem you two?” Our English teacher asked. “No-” “Yes.” “Sorry sir,” I said with a fake smile, “Everything’s alright,” I added, getting the final word in after he had tried to cut me off.

Throughout the years our parents would always have us hang out, since they were convinced we were best buds. As we got older, anytime our parents wanted us to hang out we’d make an agreement to pretend to go out, only to immediately abandon each other to go on our own separate ways until we had to go back to our respective families. There was one day though that was different. I watched as my fathers car took off down the street and out of sight. “You can go now,” I told him. I glanced over at him to see that he hadn’t moved from his spot on the couch. “Eh, I don’t really feel like it,” Joe said, kicking his feet up and resting his hands behind his head, making himself more comfortable. “Since when?” He replied with a smile, “Since now I guess.” I sighed in defeat, knowing there was no point in trying to get him to leave now. “Fine. I don’t want you bothering me though.” I eventually headed upstairs to my room, which he quickly followed behind. I couldn’t tell if he was following me around just so he could be a nuisance or not. He stayed there in my room with me for the whole duration of our hang out. We both mostly kept to ourselves, but every now and again he’d ask me different questions. Joe looked through my records before asking, “You like Queen?” Barely glancing up from my book I nodded, “Yeah, who doesn't?” He held out my copy of Sheer Heart Attack to see, “Can I put it on?” My demeanor towards him slightly changed as I flashed him a quick smile,“Sure.” That was one of the very first days I felt like we actually got somewhat along. I didn’t seem to mind having him around. For once I didn’t feel like ripping my hair out by the time he had left. It felt a bit weird after that, knowing in the back of my mind how normally I couldn’t stand him.

But there are some exceptions. Over the years I’ve noticed Joe getting bullied for his personality. Now don’t get me wrong, I hate the guy, but a guy in our art class one day made fun of Joe’s band posters. I think it might have been a Thursday afternoon, like the second to last class of the day. I was sitting in the back of the class sketching humans. I wasn’t good at drawing, but it was a fun thing to do. Joe loved music, rock n’ roll specifically and he wanted to make something related to that as an art project for class. He made band posters of famous bands and one band I hadn’t heard of before, “Deaf Leopard” I think it was. I’m not gonna lie, that band name did not sound bad. 

That Thursday afternoon, Joe was finishing up his “Deaf Leopard” poster, like final touches or something, I try my best to not pay attention to him. 

“Your music posters are lame,” I heard someone say. The Joe I know would respond quickly with a retort, but this Joe remained quiet. He was looking down at his poster. 

“What? Are you gonna cry?” Teased a friend of the guy. This was getting on my nerves, so I stood up.

“Hey!” I yelled from the back of the classroom, yeah, it got the attention of everybody, they all turned their heads, “What’s your problem?”

“You’re really gonna let a girl stand up for you?”  Joe just watched what I was gonna do. 

“And you’re really just gonna stand here making fun of my boyfriend’s drawings? ‘Cause that’s lame of you.” I honestly did not care that I called Joe my boyfriend, I didn’t try any other ways, but this seemed like the only way to get the arsehole to piss off. 

I definitely think that the guy had other things to say, but instead of saying them, he and his friends just walked away. And by then, class had ended, Joe and I decided to walk to our next class together. 

“Hey, thanks for stickin’ up for me,” 

“No need to thank me, Joe. I’m only stickin’ up for ya ‘cause you’re an incredible artist. They’re jealous. Honestly, I’m jealous too.” 

“Nah, I’ve seen your art. It’s incredible.” 

“Thanks.” 

We made it to our next class, science. Joe sat in the second to last row and I sat behind him in the last row. 

“Welcome, children.” Said Mr. Smith, our science teacher,, “We are gonna be doing a lab today.” As usual, the students groaned. Mr. Smith began telling us which groups we were gonna be in. 

“Joe, Y/N, you two will be a group.” Of course we are. We got up and went to our lab. I poured water into one of the graduated cylinders and then put it on the scale. 

“Joe, could you tell me how much the water weighs?” 

“Uh, according to the scale, it weighs about 10 grams.” I nodded and wrote it down in my notebook. 

What we did most of the class was observe how the temperature of the water changed depending on the type of salt that was put in it. It wasn’t all that interesting, I prefer biology over chemistry. 

“Alright, thanks everyone for today’s class. See you all tomorrow.” I usually walked out of the classroom to leave the school as fast as I could so that I could get away from Joe. Something in me made me stop this time, I stopped to wait for Joe and I have no clue why. 

“Are you waiting for me?” He asked.

“Yeah…” I hesitated, supposedly embarrassed by this. He had a knowing smirk on his face, but how could he possibly know, if I don’t know why I waited for him. 

We walked out of the school and in the direction of our houses. I usually walk on the sidewalk, but Joe wanted to take this path in the forest that rarely anyone ever goes on. 

“I got a question for you, y/n.” 

“Yes?”

“Why did you call me your boyfriend in art class today?” Heat rushed to my cheeks quickly and I wanted to hide.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I tried, but Joe saw right through me. 

“Y/N, don’t lie to me.” 

“I wasn’t lying, I had no idea what came over me.” Joe frowned at my response, like he wanted to hear something else. 

“Are you sure? The Y/N know would never call me her boyfriend. In fact, Y/N hates me. Do I hate her?” He paused and looked into my eyes, I looked back at him too, waiting for an answer to the question, “No, no I do not. In fact, I never have. We were just so different and it was so difficult for us to get along that I managed to convince myself that we hated each other.” The way he said those words was so powerful. It really got me thinking.

“I hated you because I thought you hated me…” ” He stepped closer to me and took my hands in his, “Joe, I felt an emotion for you that is actually the opposite of hate. And for a very long time too.” 

He leaned down a little bit so he was closer to my height, “What if I told you that I feel the same way?”

“Can you prove it to me?” I smirked, he nodded and lifted me up. My legs wrapped around his waist and my arms wrapped around his neck. Then, we both leaned in at the same time and kissed. 

After years of convincing ourselves that we were enemies, it all comes down to this. I won’t deny that Joe is the love of my life, except when our parents ask, then we’ll both deny it, but I don’t mind holding his hand while walking to class or lightly kissing on our walks back home. I love you, Joseph. 

[how-mytearsricochet]

If We Were Villains fanfics - a thread by me

Since some of you asked me to recommend some IWWV fics in order to process that devastating ending, here’s my personal thread. I vividly hope  you're gonna enjoy it :) 

1. what is woven into the lives of others - helloearthlings - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 I think this is the most popular IWWV fic since the first review on Goodreads has posted a link to this story, but that’s only fair given that it is masterfully crafted. The story’s centre is Oliver and James' reunion, and therefore Oliver’s journey to find him.

2. you've got me wrapped around your finger (do you have to let it linger?) - orphan_account - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

This is a “what if..”  and explores how things could have been if the night of their last party -the one in the library, talking through King Lear’s riddles- Oliver would have figured out the truth in time and they would run away together.

I’ve read it an embarrassing number of times, and each time it has the ability to broke my heart in shards not only for the two of them but for the bigger picture of those six as a family (I’m a sucker for a good found-family trope and this one didn’t fail to deliver a heart-warming feeling with only using spare details, shreds of memories and careless laughter from a payphone at 2am).  

Also, there’s this brief inner monologue that perfectly encapsulates Oliver’s perspective and his ardent loyalty for his real-life Shakespearean Tragic Hero:

“I never blamed him. Forever, I will blame the plays. I will blame the theater. I will blame myself and I will blame Richard, but I will keep James safe".

 This is it. This is canon for me. I’d tattoo it on my skin if I could, there’s so much sentiment in these few lines. Also, can we please talk about the prose? "but the sparrow had begun to open its eyes, and I met James' glazed eyes with my own", it had me in tears.

 3. as if it were the first - Chapter 1 - crownsandbirds - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 This is another reunion fic; it takes place two years after Oliver’s release from prison, and in this universe, we found a broken James who is living -literally- under Alexander and Colin’s wing since his failed attempt to suicide six years ago.

 It’s written by James’s pov, which allow us to know the real reach of his feelings, how pervasive is his sense of guiltiness, how broken beyond recovery he is –“James doesn't self-harm physically anymore, but he doesn't think he'll ever stop looking for opportunities to break his own heart"- so buckle up for some angst -but really, when it’s not angst when we’re talking about two Shakespearean lovers?-.

 Bonus point: the story gives us an intimate view over Alexander and Colin’s relationship, a criminally underrated couple in IWWV in my opinion.

4.  the dead man's float - misandrywitch - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 Another reunion fic -yeah, you can practically sense our desperate need of a closure whatsoever after M.L.Rio thrown us under a bus with that last line- passed with full marks not only for its peculiar use of a theatre structure which resembles the original novel’s structure -enter, final act, exeunt- but also for the honest portrait of its characters. There are not cheesy moments nor big declarations of love, which is something that represents the original characters: James and Oliver never opened up about their feelings, not even in the end (M.L.Rio once highlighted the importance of Oliver’s answers to James, a simple “you know why”; not even in that moment, behind the bars, they can state their feelings for each other), they’re only capable of Great Acts as papa Shakespeare taught ‘em (aka: go to prison for a crime you didn’t commit. Aka: fake your own death in order to recreate the only non-tragic Shakespeare novel. Aka: ME SICK AND TIRED OF THOSE THEATRE KIDS).

 Despite the premise, I very appreciate this Oliver: long gone the insecure shy obtuse kid, we now find a practical man that knows what and who he wants, who doesn’t step back in front of a confrontation with James -but still, he would blindly follow him to the end of the world-; and I deeply cherish this James Farrow who openly admits and accepts that he’s not the flawless Tragic Hero the Dellecher decided for him to be, so he's finally free now to live his life according to his own rules and desires, that it’s okay if  he’s a bit coward; human.

 BONUS SMUT FIC - cuz sometimes a brief first and only kiss in the middle of a school play is not enough, no matter how poetic it was

no other companion - crownsandbirds - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 Christmas came early this year. You’re welcome

 Now, some secondary fics, shorter but still impressive

 1.     home is where it hurts - crownsandbirds - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 This is through Alexander’s point of view, and it focuses on the weight of Richard’s death, the motifs that led him to say that fatidic and excruciating “nothing”. There’s a lot of James and Oliver here; there’s this part that to this day is still impressed on my brain:

"Oliver and James were truly a pair of the kind Alexander had only seen in books, old classical books that talked about turning a river into blood and defeating Gods. The prince and his companion, Hamlet and his Horatio".

2. And Therefore is Winged Cupid Blind - Civilbloodoncivilhands - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

Set during the third year of Dellecher, the clique is in the middle of one of Gwendolyn’s classes; Oliver is oblivious, James is whipped, Richard is a dick and Alexander is the queer queen we all know and love.

3. Merely a Madness... - sapphicfratboy - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 This is a close-up on James Farrow's private life, from his first kiss and first crush to the encounter with Oliver.

 Something I really appreciated here beside the impeccable prose is the way the author sticked to the truth of the facts: the students of his father that used to slip in the library with him, Oliver’s love for old rock band t-shirts, James addressing his own father as “Professor” in a sardonic way etc

4. Maybe This Is Where It Ends (Take A Bow) - fathand - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 A brief "what if..." if James would have gone to prison. Short but incisive. 

[buckyownsmylife]

friendzone - chapter 1

The one where director!reader is forced to work alongside her new work crush and the idiot who broke her heart

For general warnings and author’s notes, please go to the fic’s masterlist.

“C’mon, just give me a chance…” I was not having a good day, to say the least. Oh, no, not at all. Not a good year, perhaps - let’s go there, yes, why not? I deserved it, after all. This was all my own doing, and I never allowed myself a single second to forget it.

“Not gonna happen, Evans.” I might have closed the door a little harder than necessary if all of the gazes that fell on me upon entering the set were any indication. “I’m sorry, I know, I just- Where’s my coffee?”

I usually wasn’t this bitchy, but having to work with your ex-boyfriend - your cheating, lying ex-boyfriend - usually had this effect on a person, I imagined. Sending a grateful smile to the PA who had the guts to approach with a steaming cup of joe, I set out to put as much distance as possible between me and the man who was still following my every step.

Why did I ever think a slammed door would stop his pursuit, I would never know. Five months, hundreds of ignored calls and texts, and the guy didn’t quit it. Hell, he even managed to force his way into my dream project, just to force me to talk to him.

I was determined not to give up. He couldn’t be rewarded - not for what he did, not for what he was doing to me right now - but his ego stopped him from even seeing the error of his ways.

He just kept pushing, and as the director of the movie he was starring in, I couldn’t completely ignore him. As much as I wanted to.

“Is everything okay?” My body immediately relaxed at the sound of the (now) familiar English accent. “What’s going on?” It was clear that Henry wanted to outwardly ask me if Chris was bothering me, but he refrained from doing so. Like the gentleman he was - or, at the very least, someone able to think about the consequences of his actions before doing something he’d come to regret - he didn’t want to put me in a weird position, or even potentially complicate his work relationship with his co-star when he truly didn’t understand what was going on.

It’s not that I didn’t want to tell him. I did. But we’d only known each other for four weeks - the time since pre-production started, plus the week since we started filming. It didn’t matter how much we’d clicked in that time, he was still a relative stranger to me.

Even if I were to trust him… why would he even care about my past with another man? We weren’t yet friends, and nothing romantic was going on, despite all of the dirty dreams I’d been having since our eyes connected for the first time.

I knew I wasn’t the only one who suffered from his superpower. All of the people attracted to males - even some who swore they weren’t - had the same lustful haze in their eyes after spending seconds in his presence…

… and I’d been there before. The woman standing on the sidelines while their lover enraptured the world. Never again, I’d sworn. Never again, I still reminded myself under my breath every time Chris popped into my brain, life or heart. and yet, there I was: five whole minutes into staring into clear blue eyes and no words left to say like I’d unlearned the entire English alphabet simply because Henry Cavill decided to rest his gaze upon me.

Men really did make women go dumb sometimes.

“Nothing that involves you,” Chris spoke from behind me, two hands coming up to seize my waist and pull me against his chest. “You don’t have any reason to be concerned, I can assure you.”

… or insane.

“Get your hands off of me.” I don’t think I’d ever used this tone on Chris before, so his instinctive reaction to let his hands drop to the side of his body could probably be explained by that. But the truth? I didn’t even know I was able to make such a guttural voice until his actions led me to see the world in shades of red, in a way much similar to the one I used to stare at while we were in love, and yet so drastically different it confused and terrified me.

“Do you even have a scene to film today, Chris?” I asked, deciding to completely ignore Henry while I still had to deal with the manchild that was my ex-boyfriend. It took him a while to answer, but after some hesitation, he nodded.

“Yeah, it’s the-”

“No, you don’t.” I knew I was being silly, but fuck. This was my movie set, and he couldn’t just keep doing this - interrupting my work schedule, my dream job because of a romantic past he screwed up.

“Go back to the hotel. I’ll film Henry's solo scenes today.” His nostrils flared, his temper once again getting the best of him, but when he opened his mouth to argue… “Go.”

I was tired of letting him take the reins of my life.

[babylovepresley]

thinkin’ about you — elvis presley x reader

summary: you are elvis presley’s former lover… at least you think you are. the year is 1960, and he is finally returning home from the service… but you haven’t heard from him since the day he left memphis and got on that plane nearly two years ago. what is left of you both?

word count: 2k

content warnings: 18+ sexuality mentioned, ANGST, possibly an unhealthy relationship, references to religion and god

read & listen along: https://open.spotify.com/track/1fDFHXcykq4iw8Gg7s5hG9?si=c2I7yoRJQMOSZEIrxLHCsg

writer’s note: hiya lovebugs! this is just a little something i conjured up when i was supposed to be doing homework (hehe), and i thought perhaps you’d all like to suffer with me. it’s not my best work, as i have had quite an overwhelming day and this is the best i could produce. this is my first fic posted, and i truly hope you all enjoy! remember requests are always open, and i am forever sending you all plenty of love and light!

dedicated to: my darling friends that promote my obsession with writing angst, though it hurts them in the end <3 (@eliseinmemphis my sincerest apologies lover)

It’s a cold day in March when he comes home; his hair wispy and long, touching the tip of his forehead beneath the large issued cap. When he first went away, the cap seemed to swallow his sleepy head and make him seem like the boy I first met all those years ago— when life was kind and he smiled with his tongue between his teeth. A patron moves to turn the television up, standing on the counter and nearly knocking over a young man’s grits that sat untouched on his plate. The soldier huffs and puffs as the camera follows him; his lean figure cutting through the tv and leaving an ache in me heart. Did the scars from our childhood playing wear off? Did the inside of his left pinky still glow red and raw from the movement of his ring? Does he still think of me?

He swallows, and my own throat constricts watching him. Life had become so difficult after he left— the beginning of us did not matter, I only wanted to get through to the end. And now we’re here, or rather he is. All I can do is stand and watch in our hometown diner, as he glows for the entire world. My coworker comes up beside me, placing her tray down on the crowded counter and side eyeing me.

“Yes Minny?”

“Sugar, I hate to do this… ‘specially today of all days… but—“ always walking on eggshells, Minny was. In fact, I’ve noticed that every other waitress today has been side-eyeing me with pity; wondering what I must have done to him to be here instead of greeting him with open arms, perpetually on my knees for him. The truth is I never did anything to him… and I guess that’s why he never found it important to write to me.

“You need me to close… don’t you?” I smile. I didn’t have it in me to be cruel right now, though I wanted to scream and cry can’t you see I’m busy lamenting a man I don’t know anymore?

“I’m sorry y/n, it’s just that my daughter wanted to stop by the Graceland gates tonight to.. well.. you know…” she trails off, itching an imaginary scratch behind her neck. It isn’t her fault that her daughter looks at him the same way I did, or still do. It’s been a long time since I’ve laid my eyes on him, and I wonder if they still fill with the warmth and affection I once saw him have for me.

“It’s okay Min, I don’t mind at all! I’ll probably just make a cup of tea for myself and clean the jukebox tonight… have a feeling I finally wanna clear out a certain someone’s records….” I giggle, though I’m laced with a bitter agony in my throat; I never wanted to hear his voice again, but I know one sound falling from his pouty lips would cause me to stare in adoration and declare my god, where have you been?

I turn my head back to the television, because I simply cannot bear not looking at him… not after three years of staring out the window and praying to God that he’d somehow be sitting outside my door, waiting for me all the while. He has changed so much; poised and gifted with the confidence that can only affect a young boy who dreamt of the strength and masculinity he exudes. He left me a scared boy, with heavy shoulders that I ached to massage into a restful stature, and came home a man; broad and unashamed. I simply can’t wrap my head around it as the camera pans to his face, spotted with the cold sting of snowflakes as he nods his head in thanks. It’s ridiculous.. I feel jealous of a force of nature simply because they get to live and die on him; when I have faced far more triumphs and little deaths as a result of his person.

Still, he looks afraid as he shuffles through the crowd of women waiting to grab at him. I feel nauseous just looking at it, and I find myself tugging at my uniform in an attempt to deflect from the obvious want situated in each woman's eyes. Many years ago, I would’ve moved through the sweaty crowd gathered by the gates of that airport, and used my handkerchief to wipe the nervous sweat on his eyebrow; my hands ever-so delicate on his cold cheeks. And he’d look up at me and smile, the apples of his cheeks pressing his eyes into a squint; “you miss me lil?”

But now I stand here, as unknown to the world as the words he said to me the first night he pulled me by bare chest to his and mouthed a sonnet only he could tell. Memphis has changed, he has changed, but I haven’t. Maybe that’s why he didn’t write. Maybe that’s why I’m living in the in between; Elvis’ girl or not? Lover or former flame?

The hours pass by with the creaking stools signaling the end and beginning of each meal, my nails making a dull clack against the cracking counter. Before I knew it, the street lights flickered to life, and my coworkers' cars pulled out of the lot, blowing kisses out their windows in a silly “goodnight!” gesture. The diner is lonely without the murmuring of the town, but I find it to be deeply comforting while I clean. The TV has been turned off, and the jukebox unplugged, leaving me with nothing but my pitiful thoughts and slight hiccups as I cry and clean the corner booth.

In the midst of my cry, for him, for me, for his Mother, and for any semblance of a future I had once dreamt of, I failed to notice the front door being pulled open and the slight ting of the bell. The wind from outside climbed my bare legs as I wiped, shouting out a quick “We’re closed honey, I’m sorry!”. Why look up when I always know who it’ll be— whether it be a neighbor, the town drunk or a church choir member.

“Oh… ‘m.. ‘m sorry” the stranger stumbles out, and I can physically feel the soft tapping of his loafers on the sticky linoleum floor. I’d know that voice in death, when the grim reaper kisses me goodnight, I’d be begging him “please.. let me hear his breath one last time”.

With all of my strength I turn to him, staring down my old hero. My spray bottle has long been abandoned, spilling on the floor beneath me and wetting the tips of my white shoe. I couldn’t care less. Nothing could’ve stopped me from following his voice— nothing could have prepared my heart for the sight of him in front of me. I feel the ache of my brows pulling down on my face, and the cold air drifts through my parted lips to remind me that this is real… he’s here. After all this time, he’s here. I’m silent as I watch him distribute his weight; left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot.

“Ya see me on TV today lil?” His thick voice cuts through the air; still gravelly from the cold morning air he sucked in earlier that day. A part of me wanted to coddle him; coo “oh poor baby” for the pain in his throat. But the other part of me wanted to laugh in his face at the incredulous question. In the end, that’s just what I did.

“Did I- Did I see you on TV Elvis?” I barely manage to get out, as my throat begins to constrict with sobs. Bastard. At least we both are in pain from the words we can’t say, I think to myself.

“W-well I noticed the TV ain’t on.. so I thought I’d ask…”

“You thought you’d ask me if the TV was off because you wanted me to watch you come home today?”

“Baby I know it ain’t been that long,” he chuckles, his hands digging deep into the pocket of his black slacks. I once sewed a hole he tore in those slacks, and I remember the way he kissed my cheek in thanks— I still feel the burn of his lips. “know my girl hasn’t gone all dumb on me”.

My girl. As if he had any right to call me that anymore. My anger bubbles to the surface, as the chemicals I dropped sting my nose. We stand polar opposites of one another. On one end of the diner, we have a lowly waitress who dreamt of a family and a small life but now spends her days covered in bacon grease for the creepy men in town to ogle at. On the other end, with hair still blown back from the influx of winter wind coming through the corner window, stands a god amongst men. He has the world in his hands, and it dawns on me that he could have any family or anyone’s life that he could ever want— small or large it wouldn’t matter, it’s all small to his strong flesh.

Unchanged in my agonizing swirl, I threaten, though no matter how hard I try I could never be crossed with him in tone, “You don’t get to call me that no more Elvis”.

He shuffles uncomfortably, and his lips curl inward with a tremble. He has taken an interest in the floor, and I wonder if he remembers the time he stayed here until 4 am with me scrubbing them down. He looks at the tiles just as intently as he did then, though now it seems like he feels just as dirty as them.

“I ain’t… I m-meant to write you y/n honest—“

“Oh you MEANT to write me, huh?”

“Yes! Yes I-I-I did I just got caught up ‘s all…”

“Caught up?”

‘Yes Lil! Caught up!” he extends his arms out to his sides; desperate for a positive response.

I can’t hold back the building sobs anymore, it hurts too much— makes me want to reach my arms out to him like a child and cry for help. I’ve bared my soul to him in far too many ways, and he deserves to see the mess he’s made of me.

“For two years E?” the tears sting my cheeks, as I hiccup in a breath.

For a moment, I see him take a step toward me. Ever the holder, Elvis always showed love through his touch. There would be nights I’d wake up sobbing and afraid at the idea of never getting to feel the velvety touch of his fingertips in or against me ever again. Those nights still haunt me, and the idea of him touching me is almost too much. No man has touched me since him, and I’ll never want anyone else to ever again. I move from his reach, and walk beside him with a wipe of my nose as he panics.

“B-Baby I tried! T- The Colonel”

“The colonel,” I stop in my tracks and smile spitefully with a small shake of my head “It’s always the Colonel E, isn’t it?”

“Oh c’mon y/n whas’ that supposed to mean?'' he follows behind me as I stomp past him and behind the counter, desperately grabbing at anything to appear unaffected; but he knows me. Elvis knows me more intimately than I know myself, and I’ve come to resent him for it. I can’t bear his cluelessness, and I can’t live with all of this hurt inside of me for any longer.

“ELVIS! He has taken EVERYTHING FROM YOU. Money, your Mother, your life, me! You’ll just let him take and take and take,” I throw the bulk of napkins across the counter and into his chest in anger, though I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I hurt him. Strange how he seemed fine all the while I was dying for a single word from him. “until there’s nothing left of you— of us!”

I move around the counter, and it feels as if I don’t keep moving I’ll collapse in a heap of tears. My finger jabs into his chest, and he flinches with the intrusion. For the first time tonight, I see tears forming in his eyes, yet his stained cheeks indicate they have been falling for a long time as he struggles to inhale from his own pitiful, silent sobs.

“One word from you Elvis, that’s all I wanted.” I sob, barely coherent as I lay my hands on his chest. He grabs them, and the shift in my stomach nearly makes me lurch in pain. I feel him now, so real and warm and so mine. I could never forget his touch, and now that I have it again I doubt I’ll be able to breathe without it. We cry quietly for a moment, holding one another as if we were foreign to each other; like he hasn’t consumed by body and soul whole and left it to rot in his chest.

It’s silent save for his uneven breathing and the gentle scuff of my feet; unable to stay still as my body betrays itself. I pull away, and he mumbles a “no, no honey stay” as I wipe my eyes and regain my strength. He paws at my apron, trying to pluck me closer before I scold him for his mistakes.

“Elvis, please just go. I-I’ve lived without you, I’ve cried each time I saw your house, or-or heard your records. I’ve grieved you before you were even gone, and I know I can do it again. So please baby, please just go” I whimper out, smoothing down my skirt and pinching my thighs beneath the frilly mess. I can’t look at him, though my eyes thirsted for the pinch of his brow for so long.

There are very few women who can say Elvis Presley laid himself in front of her and wept. I’ve seen him cry before, in fear and anger, and each time I have taken him into my arms and quelled him into relief. But nothing could prepare me for the sight laid out before me.

My man, a god, falls to his knees in front of me and cries with outstretched palms, “Do ya think I’ve forgotten ‘bout you?”

His eyes appear to burn as they flutter closed with a gulp, his large hands gripping onto the bottom of my skirt, “Oh God baby, ‘ve messed up somethin’ awful, I know.” he cries out, wiping his nose with his sleeve like a boy. A chuckle builds in my chest at the antic, as it reminds me of the boy I’ve cried for all along. He licks his lips, panicking at the thought of rejection. “ ‘ve always tried to be so good for ya and look what I’ve done now… look what your satnin’s done now…” He chokes out, ever the fallen angel.

His arms wrap around me, and I stumble forward with the force of his pull. It’s no use in fighting, I think to myself, I can never purge myself from the feeling he gives me. I don’t think I’ll ever want to— I can never shed the feel of him. The feel of Elvis; an irrevocable heartbreak. My upper body falls on top of him, my breasts pressed against his strong shoulder as my hands slide flat down his back; the wool of his jacket slightly burning my wrists. I feel his cries against my hips, as his arms lock around the backs of my legs; hands clasped in fear that I’ll soon pull away. His shoulders shake as I lean over him, and chills run down my flesh as his thumbs soothe the backs of my thighs.

Against my skirt he wails, “Kiss me. Please God, kiss my sins away. ‘ve done so bad by you baby— let me know I ain’t the devil incarnate..” his nails dig into the thickness of my thighs in desperation.

Who am I to deny him?

[cantstoptheimagines]

Swan Princess (Prince Friedrich | Bridgerton)

Summary — You and the prince have never gotten along.

Requested by @acupnoodle — hii, if requests are open and if you write for prince Friedrich (bridgerton) could i get a fic where shes a princess and his childhood enemy(enemies to lovers) and they meet at the ball after a long time? and theyre shocked to see each other? obv they have to dance tgt being royalty but they “hate” it, and she starts getting jealous of daphne dancing him. ends in fluff please? Thanks!!!

Warnings & Other Tags ➳ Frenemies to lovers; playful teasing; jealousy from both Reader and Friedrich; the princess gets rather possessive by the end of this.

Notes ➳ Word Count is 1,325. ➳ Reader uses feminine pronouns (she/her), is referred to as ‘Princess’, and wears dresses. ➳ This request immediately made me think of ‘The Swan Princess,’ so that movie provided a lot of inspiration for this!

FAQ | Masterlist | Fandoms | Requests | Coming Soon | Schedule  

Another summer meant another social season. Another round of hot weather, in which doting lords and ladies paraded their most eligible sons and daughters around like prized cattle. Another bout of seemingly endless promenade sessions with boring men, all of whom were only interested in the jeweled crown upon your head.

All eyes were on you (or so it felt) as you helped yourself to yet another glass of champagne. A waltz was in full swing on the dance floor. Thankfully, none of the bachelors in attendance had been smart enough to ask questions about your dance card always being full.

In truth, there was only ever one person on your dance card. And it wasn’t by your choice. Because while another summer meant another social season, it also meant you’d be forced to keep up close relations with your worst nightmare.

You scoffed at the thought of his sparkling eyes and golden locks. Whenever he came into view, young women would always straighten their postures while the less appealing (when compared to a prince, at least) bachelors would furrow their eyebrows, unable to hide their envious hearts.

Not to mention that smug smile of his. It always seemed to spread over his lips at the strangest times, usually whenever you appeared to be particularly miserable.

As the orchestra was preparing to play yet another waltz, someone cleared their throat from behind you. You rolled your eyes at the sound. Setting your glass aside, you readied yourself to reject whoever the latest suitor may be.

Turning to greet the pathetic soul, you were quickly cut off, “I suppose even the ugliest of ducklings can become a swan when the time calls for it.”

Your fake smile dropped at Friedrich’s comment. You scoffed, quickly losing all sense of decorum at the sight of the queen’s nephew.

“And it seems that toads can be handsome princes,” you replied, “even if it is for only one night.”

Friedrich’s eyebrows rose in surprise, “You’re sharp this evening, aren’t you?”

You shrugged, taking the opportunity to glance around the room, “Always am.”

“And what of your dance card? Might I write my name?”

Your expression turned sour, “Your name is already on it, you fool. You know that.”

“Yes, I do. It just feels good to hear you say it,” he hummed. “If you’ll excuse me, Princess. Before our dance, there is another person to whom I must attend.”

“Better them than me.”

He gave you a sarcastic smile, complete with narrowed eyes, before turning away. You had half a mind to stick your foot out in order to make him stumble. Sadly, Friedrich made a quick retreat, almost as though he knew what had been running through your mind.

You watched with curious eyes as he made his way through the sea of guests until he came upon the person he had been searching for. The woman was none other than Daphne Bridgerton, who had been recently named the Diamond of the Season.

Friedrich’s gloved hand extended itself as a blush spread over Daphne’s cheeks. You furrowed your eyebrows, wondering why your chest had suddenly started to ache.

The two glided around the dance floor with the other guests. They were a vision of grace and beauty next to one another. With a deep sigh, you quickly approached Friedrich’s aunt, Queen Charlotte. She raised her eyebrows at you expectantly.

“My Queen,” you greeted, offering a curtsy, “I ask that you provide me with an introduction.”

Another ridiculous rule for the social season. Any lady who wished to interact with a potential suitor must first be introduced by another member of her party.

A smirk slowly made its way onto the queen’s face, “To whom?”

You turned to scan over the crowd until your eyes paused on a head of dark hair. With a mischievous glimmer, you pointed to the man, and muttered, “Him.”

The queen’s eyes followed your line of sight. Her gaze trailed over the man you had chosen. She held out a hand, which you quickly took, and began leading you through the crowd of guests. With a glance, you spied Friedrich watching the two of you with a curious expression.

If Friedrich can have a Bridgerton, then so can I.

Violet Bridgerton’s eyes widened at the sight of an approaching queen and princess. Why royalty had suddenly decided to descend upon her family, she wasn’t sure, but she definitely couldn’t complain about her sudden improvement in social standing.

“My Queen,” she smiled, “and Princess! How lovely to see you both—!”

“As you know, Lady Bridgerton, our dear princess is only here for a short while on a visit. Her family is very close to mine,” interrupted Queen Charlotte. “It seems, however, she may soon have a reason to stay.”

You nearly grimaced at her words, but contained yourself so as not to make a spectacle of yourself. You could still feel Friedrich’s eyes burning into you.

“Oh?” stuttered the matriarch. “And why is that, Your Highness?” 

“One of your strapping, young sons seems to have caught her attention,” said the queen, before turning to the man in question. “Benedict Bridgerton.”

Benedict froze in surprise. His brothers slowly allowed teasing grins to spread over their faces. The eldest quickly clapped Benedict’s shoulder, shoving him closer to you. Queen Charlotte stood aside, watching as the man took your hand into his own and pressed a gentle kiss against the fabric of your glove. 

“Princess,” he said, “would you like to join me for a waltz—?”

“Actually, Lord Bridgerton,” another voice cut in, “I do believe I have the honor of the next dance with Her Grace, though I’m sure there are plenty of other wonderfully kind ladies who would love to join you.”

Each of you turned to find Friedrich with a blank expression. You spotted Daphne on the dance floor, dancing the night away with the Duke of Hastings, smiles on both of their faces.

Friedrich extended his hand. Slowly, Benedict released his grip, knowing he couldn’t compete with the queen’s nephew. He quietly muttered, “Another time perhaps.”

“Perhaps,” huffed Friedrich, quickly leading you to the center of the dance floor.

The ache in your chest was gone. Friedrich placed your free hand on his shoulder before his met your ribcage. The two that were connected remained so as the orchestra began playing another tune. His eyes occasionally glanced over at Benedict with a glimmer of an emotion you had never seen in Friedrich before then.

“What’s wrong?” you asked, lacking your usual teasing tone of voice upon realizing how tense Friedrich was at the moment.

“You are quite annoying, you know?”

You scoffed, “If you dragged me to the floor just to insult me, I’ll happily take my leave—!”

“No. You won’t,” he interrupted. “While you may provoke ire within me, Princess, I must tell you that I do not wish to see you with another.”

Your eyebrows furrowed. Friedrich slowly twirled you beneath his arm before pulling you closer than you had been before. The two of you were so close that even Lady Whistledown would be blushing at the sight.

What a scandal this will be in the morning.

Your proximity left you quietly gasping for breath. Friedrich’s eyes flickered over your features, examining every aspect of you, deep in thought. Finally, he licked his lips and spoke once more.

“I will not see you with another.”

His stern tone sent shivers along your spine. You risked a glance at his lips, swallowing any retort you may have had. Instead, you asked, “What are you saying, toad?”

Friedrich chuckled at your attempt at an insult. It was obvious he was getting to you. He relished in the way you trembled in his arms as he traced shapes into the fabric of your dress. With a smile, he clarified his words, despite believing he had made his intentions very clear.

“That you’re mine, swan princess.”

[impale-me-radio-daddy]

Return to Radio Hall

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an alternate universe, once conceptualised, must be in want of a fic. This collaborative event by Bapple's Orchard is brought to you by our collective need to stop @bapple117 from writing a full-length Radiostatic romance novel set in Regency era England*. We've got so many great contributors, with art, short fiction and music, and so if you enjoy this piece I highly encourage you to follow the link to the masterlist for the event below to go see everything that my friends on the server have done.

*They could, and we know they could, and that is why we must stop them.

⚜Summary: Having made his fortune in the New World, Vox Vee returns to visit his former benefactor, Lord Alastor.

⚜Pairings: Vox/Alastor

⚜Content Notes: Unrequited love, Regency era AU, depiction of illness

The weather on the road to Radio Hall was treacherous; great peals of thunder accompanying the rumble of the carriage over the stones on the road as the rain sheeted down.

This ought to have been a triumphant march, the return of a protégé who had proved his mentor wrong, had made his fortune, had won the great game of life. Instead, Vox sat alone in his carriage as it ascended the hill towards the estate, the rain on the windows providing little distraction from the matters that troubled him.

Valentino would have said something to calm his nerves, something witty that made him scoff, if he had been there, but his lover had declined to accompany him across the Atlantic.

“Maybe for a season in Vienna or Paris, amorcito.” Valentino had sucked his pipe, eyes glinting red. “But not for this. You want to go visit your fusty old lord-of-the-manor, you can go by yourself.”

Of course, Valentino was more than capable of entertaining himself while Vox was gone, but Vox couldn’t say the same for himself. He’d spent the voyage over staring at the far horizon, for all the world like the protagonist of some interminably long work of literary fiction fixing his sights on some lofty goal, but all it had achieved was to make Vox wet and cold.

It had been seven years. Seven years since their catastrophic falling out. Lord Alastor had been his closest friend, his confidant and supporter, all of that blown away in an instant.

You will never be my equal.

That was the last thing Alastor had snarled to him, rage seeping from behind the man’s beautiful smile, and the thing that had kept Vox afloat all these years was the urge to make that statement a lie. To meet Lord Alastor again, perhaps invited to a soirée by a mutual acquaintance, to catch his eye across the room and to smile at Alastor as Alastor smiled at the world; with perfect, assured confidence. To say, without speaking, I’m not merely your pet commoner, your charitable project. To smile, with only teeth- I belong here now.

And he had done it. He had made his fortune, not in a way that Alastor would have approved of, but a fortune nonetheless. He had friends, and lovers, and power, and a life that any man alive would have been envious of. He’d been so close, so damn close to swanning his way back across the Atlantic with a retinue in tow, to being invited to all the balls of the season, a hot commodity simply by virtue of his status as a wealthy and unmarried man. But none of that mattered now.

Vox watched the rainwater slide over the window of the carriage, making his view a grim, grey blur. Alastor always had to do things on his own terms. Alastor had to have known that he was planning his grand return; a house in Kensington and a thumb on the nose to everything Alastor had said about him. Vox would have flaunted it. Alastor would have hated it.

That was when the news had come, from one of Vox’s cousins, still living near Radio Hall.

That Lord Alastor was sick.

That he might not last the month.

And of course Vox had thrown all his neatly laid plans aside and booked passage at once, on a ship that he didn’t even own. The whole way there he had prayed that he wouldn’t be too late, that Alastor wouldn’t have the final word in their argument. What was the point of years of striving, if he didn’t get to be right? If, in the end, he still had to come crawling back to Radio Hall?

The carriage crunched to a halt outside the main doors, a pair of footmen hurrying out to greet him with umbrellas. Vox shielded his face with one hand, peering up the front facade of Radio Hall, and smiling as he caught sight of the light from the window in the west tower. Alastor’s bedroom. He wasn’t too late, after all.

Escorted inside, he brushed off the entreaties of the attendants that he get settled in his rooms and change his clothes, making a bee-line to Alastor’s valet, Mr Husk. “I want to see him.”

Mr Husk looked him up and down, as insolent as ever. “Didn’t expect you to show your face,” he said, tone amused. “Thought you of all people would be glad to see him in the ground.”

“Then you are fucking mistaken,” said Vox, a crack in his voice. Alastor had been his greatest friend, his confidant, had been so important to him. Was so important, still. “Show me to his rooms.”

The ascent to Alastor’s tower was a familiar one, but Vox found himself viewing the passage with fresh eyes after so long away. The heirlooms and paintings that lined the walls seemed faded, the space itself more confined and dark after years in spacious white-painted apartments. Even the carpets were more ragged and less luxurious than Vox remembered them. Had it all fallen into ruin in his absence, he wondered, or had it always been like this, faded and rotten, with Vox too blinded by Alastor’s charm to see it for what it was?

He’d been in Alastor’s rooms countless times; late nights drinking in his little study and putting the world to rights, or playing cards with other friends before the fireplace. He had been young then, and naive, excited to have such an invite to the man’s inner sanctum. When Alastor had started to speak of the occult, in abstract, hypothetical terms at first, swirling the last of the whiskey in his glass, Vox had listened, rapt.

And when it came down to the less theoretical matters, more practical matters, Vox had listened and learned, a willing apprentice.

They’d traveled Europe together, scouring the collections of rare book dealers and antiquarians, a month here, a month there, and those not in their intimate circle had assumed him to be Alastor’s lover. Those close enough to see clearly knew the truth, however; that Lord Alastor’s obsessions lay too bloody and too deep to be sated by a simple man like Vox, or by any man for that matter.

It was on these trips that he’d laid the foundations for his trading company, connections with Alastor’s friends and with people who wished to curry Lord Alastor’s favor. He’d met people for whom a thousand pounds was a trifling amount and borrowed seed money from them, all from under Alastor’s watchful shadow.

He’d seen more in their friendship than friendship, or perhaps he had hallucinated it, just as he had imagined the painting in the halls to be grand and glorious, their frames golden rather than peeling gilt.

Now, the place smelled like a sickbed; like blood and feculence and rot.

“Mr Vee to see you, sir,” said Mr Husk, his tone bored.

Alastor’s voice was silvery as ever. “Let him in.”

Alastor’s bedroom was no different to the version in Vox’s mind, each ornament and piece of furniture committed to memory. The four-poster bed with the Radio family crest carved into the headboard; a stag recumbent on a field of thorns. The stuffed crocodile that Alastor kept in the corner. The fireplace, a brass basket of firewood before it.

Alastor smiled at him, face gaunt and tired. He sat up in bed, robe loose around his shoulders, blanket at his waist, a stack of pillows behind him.

Vox froze in the doorway, caught between the boy he had been and a hundred versions of the man he hoped he would have become by now. He had envisioned this moment so many times, but somehow never like this. Never with Alastor bedridden and sick, collarbones prominent at the neckline of his robe. The Alastor in Vox’s mind had been an invincible thing, dressed in red and laughing as he danced across a ballroom.

“Hello, Voxxy.” Alastor lowered his eyelids, his lank hair falling half over his face, his teeth glinting in the firelight. “How was the new world? Was it as glamorous and glittering as you had hoped? Did you have a nice vacation?”

Vox swallowed, heart in his throat. How dare he? How dare he sit there and pretend like the last seven years hadn’t even happened? As if Vox had just this moment walked from the room and returned, his absence as notable as the space between breaths.

“Alastor.” Vox forced himself to take a step forward, into the light of his former mentor’s fireplace. “I, uh-”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you come to grieve at my bedside?” Alastor tilted his head, the sly, teasing smile on his gaunt face instantly familiar. “Since you came such a long way, I suppose I could lay down and be quiet for a little. Though I’d prefer if you didn’t paw at my bedclothes, they’re enough of a mess already.”

“Alastor!” Vox choked.

“And your heart is worn on your sleeve, as ever,” said Alastor, a roll of his eyes as Vox stepped closer. “I thought I told you to guard your feelings better.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything that you told me to.”

“Yes. Yes, I suppose it has.” Alastor sighed. “Why did you come here?”

For one brief instant, Vox was the stag faced down by the hounds, frozen in place before he could flee into the night. The wind howled outside, rain dashing against Alastor’s window.

You will never be my equal.

Those were the words that had echoed in his ears all these years. Those words that he desperately wanted to be a lie, those words that he had fought to disprove. Every brick of the empire that he had built, every late night and every bloody victory had been in their service, and somehow it hadn’t been enough. He wasn’t Alastor’s equal. He was rich, but still of common birth. He was a competent magician, but he lacked Alastor’s natural talent. Faced with tragedy, all he had was rage and bluster while Alastor would keep smiling even on his own deathbed. Vox stood at the foot of Alastor’s bed, looking down at the man he had called friend, unable to say because I belong here.

“I heard you were dying,” said Vox.

“I’m afraid that’s true.” Alastor gave a gay little laugh, and narrowed his eyes when Vox winced. “Don’t look so shocked. A lifetime of good food and bad magic is bound to catch up with one eventually.”

“Can I help?” Vox asked, his heart once more on his sleeve.

“Well, that’s an ambiguous offer if ever I heard one,” said Alastor, his tone playful.

“You know what I meant,” growled Vox.

“And more’s the shame,” said Alastor. “I thought perhaps you’d want the final say on things. I know I would, in your shoes.” He was talking circles around Vox, the same way he always had.

“We’re not the same,” said Vox. A peace offering. I will never be your equal. “If I can help you-” If I can save you, he left unspoken.

Alastor gave him a long look, his smile tight lipped, then patted the bedspread beside him. “Sit,” he said, and Vox did.

This close to Alastor, the smell of death was stronger; a smell like a carcass left in the sun, and even in the light from the fireplace, Vox could see the strained lines around his smile.

“There’s no loophole to this one, old pal,” said Alastor. “Believe me, I’ve checked. Damn thing’s eating me from the inside.”

“There must be a way-” Vox protested, but Alastor interrupted him.

“Do you plan to spend my last days down in my library, as I wither up here? Or would you rather spend them here with me?” Alastor wrinkled his nose. “Well?”

“Alastor,” breathed Vox, staring.

How many years had he spent as a young man, waiting for something like this from Alastor? Theirs had simply been a friendship; a precious friendship, and Vox had been a fool to want more than that. But he had dreamed. Of being someone that Alastor might want to spend the rest of his life with. However long that would be now. A few days, or weeks, or more, perhaps.

With the utmost care, he reached out to his old friend, his mentor, the man who had taken him in, the man he had raced hare-brained across the Atlantic to return to, and took him into his arms, embracing him.

“You are a sentimental fool,” said Alastor, quietly, but he did not pull away. His thin body relaxed against Vox’s, his face against Vox’s shoulder, and he gave a single, shuddering breath.

You belong here.

[marblesphere]

Omegaverse! Alpha! Gojo Satoru x Alpha! OC/Reader

Okay, first thing first. !!Warning!! This is an Omegaverse fic, but this DOES NOT contain SMUT at all. It's a perfectly SFW, BUT I still would like MINORS DO NOT interact, because this fic still contain Omegaverse element. I do explain a little about the heat cycle. I prefer to think this is in gray zone because the genre itself. And there’s some namecalling too (bitch)To be honest, the fic could even be written without any omegaverse element actually. I put some omegaverse element just for fun. I have never wrote one and want to try it. So, with the warning out of the way, please enjoy this super long one shot.

Oh, the name is changeable by the way. And we have a SIMP Satoru here. So, I apologize if you are looking for headbutting enemy to lovers trope. I... don’t think my skill is that good to write that.  🥲

Happy Reading!!! Enjoy!!!!

It's raining…

The sound of pitter pattering rain finally registered in my ears.

I don't know how long it has been raining or how long I have stood here. But I do know that my school uniform is soaked thoroughly. The only saving grace is the color of the uniform is not white.

I exhale a small sigh, a white puff formed out from it. This shows how cold the weather is. My mind reels back to the event that happened not long ago.

"Hisaki-chan, let's break up.

"Eh?" I was taken aback by his statement. "What's this? A new type of prank?" I felt a bad feeling when they showed up together.

"Sorry, Raika-chan. I know this is wrong. But… But I can't lie to my heart. I like Hibiki-kun." My best friend, no should be soon to be ex best friend apologized as she cried.

"It's all my fault, Hisaki-chan. I… I am the bad one. Don't blame Himeka. I am your boyfriend yet… her smell…Himeka-chan’s smell is really pleasing. I think she is my partner…No, I am sure about it."

Realization finally dawned into me. Their secondary genders have manifested. Hibiki is an alpha and Himeka is an omega. It’s not like I am upset they find each other smell pleasing, but… "I see...How long…how long you two have been going out behind my back." I clenched my fist.

"Sorry, Raika-chan… I know I am wrong. I am sorry." She cried.

"Please answer me." My voice came out steadier than I would have thought.

"2 months." My soon to be ex, no it should be now ex-boyfriend answered.

"2 months… I see… 2 months…. So, why you wait until now?" I frowned.

"Hisaki-chan, don't blame her. You can blame me all you want. But please don't blame her. Aren't you two best friends?"

"Were is the correct word." I tilted my head. "You have a lot of time to tell me before you make this kind of decision. Yet, you didn't? Why? You thought of me as a spare in case something went wrong? You were waiting for my secondary gender to manifest so you will know which smell is more pleasing?! Disgusting!"

"I am not thinking like that." He shook his head.

"Whatever. I don't care and do not want to care. You could just tell me the truth and I will understand. Yet, you choose this kind of method. If you two have finished revealing your disgusting affair to me then you two can go now." I shrugged, gestured the exit to them. 'I can't cry yet…'

"Hisaki-chan!!" He frowned.

"Please don't act like you didn't do anything wrong. Don’t use secondary gender as an excuse. Cheating is still cheating. You have no right to justify it, It's disgusting. If you don't want to go, I will go." I slung my bag. "Oh, and you can consider this over, the friendship and the relationship." I slammed the door, not caring whether they answered or not.

That's the end of the flash back. "I thought… we will be those rare couple that will stay together even after our secondary genders manifest. Seems like the dream ends now.” I smiled mockingly. I…picked up some sign early, the way they looked at each other, the way they spoke to each other. I… want to believe that was not true. Because I tried, I tried hard to become his ideal.

People might have told me it's fine to be just yourself. Better search for another one if he can't accept the way we are. I understand but, even so, I want to make an effort. Loving someone is about compromising after all. In the end, it was no use. And… somewhere deep inside my heart… I feel a little relieved. I… don't need to keep up or make a wasted and unappreciated effort. I might not love him as much as I thought.

Middle school, second year, second semester is the last time I spent my time in my old middle school. Due to my father's job, we moved to Tokyo. I was put in a prestigious school, Rubrum Academy. Where I start over with my new circle of friends and a new love. ~”~

 Woman and man, the genders that exist on earth. But research shows that aside from being woman and man, there is a secondary gender. The invention of second gender shed some light to some mysterious cases of human bodily function and personalities. For example, the sudden surge of libido in a certain time and will last for a period of time. Sometimes, it’s so severe that they will attack a random passerby. Or some people getting attacked by not intentionally bumping into their partner. It’s not just simple assault, the victim suffered severe injury. Or sudden strong various smell that made people feel lightheaded. So, researchers start to do intensive research, of course with the consent of people. Fortunately, the calmed down attackers are all cooperative. They described their feelings to the scientists.

Scientists also make research by interviewing some long-lasting married couple and some quickly divorced couple. Long-lasing healthy couple usually have two patterns, either one of the partners comply with their partner’s need or they switch depend on the mood. The quickly divorced couple usually because they refused to compromise with each other, leading to a frequent fight and then divorce. Thus, they finally confirmed the existence of secondary gender.

Those secondary genders are categorized into 3. Alpha, just like the name has suggested, it’s the leader of the pack. People with this trait is usually charismatic and dominating sometimes to the point of arrogant. They have a high leadership skill, easily making other people submit to him, either with charisma or intimidation.

Beta, if the alpha is the leader, then beta is sort of like vice-leader. They have sufficient charisma and leadership skill, but fell a little short compared to an Alpha. Usually, they are in the middle zone of Alpha and Omega, the normal one. They are not dominant or submissive. Or they can be depending on their needs. And Beta is the most common secondary gender in the world.

Lastly, Omega, is described as people who aroused a protective instinct of alpha and beta. They are generally viewed as more submissive, only to their partner. They don’t like conflict, and always try to be a peacemaker.

And lastly, those are only general views of secondary genders, not all omega is submissive. Not all alpha is charismatic and not all beta is normal. Whether the secondary gender is, in the end, human compatibility still depends on their personalities, interaction and compromise.

Though existence of secondary genders is confirmed, it’s not like it affected much of people’s daily life. There are some changes, but not drastic. Secondary genders are developed in their teens, around 14-17. When they fully developed it, a new organ is also developed, a scent gland. And heightened sense of smell. And the cycle of heat. Whether you are alpha, beta, omega or gamma. Well, whatever your main gender or secondary gender are, you will have a heat cycle. It’s usually fully manifest when you are 20. There are some cases that it manifests earlier than usual, but it’s always after the secondary gender is fully developed.

Heightened sense of smell is not an ability that can track people. It's more like people can smell their body pheromone when they are in close proximity, the maximum radius is only 2 m, just to that extent.

Heat cycle is very consistent, it's once a month. The period of heat cycle is usually 3 days. There won’t be any affect in your daily life. There’s already a law that allow 3 days off when your heat cycle hits. The changes that were mentioned above include this. After the heat cycle is fully manifested, you usually need a partner… well, if you judge you don’t need one is okay too.

So, for the partner thingy. Most people after manifest their secondary gender will submit their id card to a matchmaking consultation. There, they will have an expert to find them a partner, usually a month or two months before their birthday, just like blind dates. Because the heat cycle will manifest 1 to 3 days after their 20th birthday. If their partner matches with each other, they will most likely get married at a later time. Most married couples will say their partner has a very pleasing smell, this is very subjective. I am certain no one will say their own partner smells bad after all.

Though this can be used as a reference. Scientists have made some research according to this theory. They first have a few couples smell a belonging to one that is not their partner. The result 65% said those belongings smell bad, 35% said they didn’t smell good or smell bad. And then they did another test, having single group of people divided to male and female and have they smell their counterpart belongings. The result 65% didn’t have the same opinion, while the male A might say female A smell good, female A might not say the male A smell good. 20% with the same bad opinion and 15% with the same good opinion.

Again, they put male and female with the same good opinion of their smell in a blind date. Some couples with the same bad opinion. And lastly, some couples with the same bad opinion. The result, 25% with different opinion get along very well, some even become a couple at the end of bind date. 5% with the same bad opinion managed to last until the end of blind date, but didn’t have any interaction. And 8% with the same good opinion become couples at the end.

In conclusion, having smelling good smell coming from other people doesn’t mean they are automatically your destined partner.

And this doesn’t matter if they homo or hetero, the existence of secondary genders actually make society is more open to same sex couple. So, many businesses like this are booming like there’s no tomorrow. They boasted a 100% rate in finding your future partner.

And the last change is a mating mark. Like the name suggests, a mark that is proof they are mates. It's not required to have a mating mark, but most people do to show their loyalty to each other. Mating mark can be given after your secondary gender has developed and determined. This is no small matter, because the mating mark is very restrictive. Any person who has received mating mark will become more territorial of their partner. Some even find it repulsive to have another people approaching them. And when your hit cycle hits, you can only have your partner with your mating mark, if you already have one to claim you. Or else, nothing will work, not even suppressant pill.

Fortunately, we are already at the age where secondary genders have already integrated nicely as part of daily life. Unlike the times when the existence was discovered. It can be said, chaos ensued. A nation almost collapsed due to many misunderstandings of secondary genders. ~”~

 "Do you reaaaaallllyyyyy have to go back to your hometown?" A pouty white head whined as he rocked the chair back and forth.

"It can be helped, Satoru. It's a job." I smiled.

"We can just leave it to another team. Why does it have to be you?" The chair stopped with a thump and he towered over me.

"Because it's my hometown? I knew the city better than the other team?" I blinked, amused at his antics.

"Technology has advanced so much. We could just use a map." He snorted.

"Are you worried?"

"Worried? Why would I?" He turned his head away, obviously averting his eyes.

"Thank you, Satoru." I smiled lightly. "Look at me please."

Satoru very slowly and reluctantly turns to me. I wrap my hands around his head and pull his forehead to mine. "Don't worry. Nothing will happen to me. And I will never choose him over you. Rest assured." I closed my eyes as I spoke.

"I am not worried about you choosing him over me. I am obviously way better than him. Why would you choose him over me? If you are, then your head has some problem." He pulled me closer as he wrapped his long limbs around my waist.

"It's not like I will stay there forever. Just for a few months in the name of exchange study program." I smiled. "I am just sent to scout."

"But still."

"Satoru." I pressed my lips onto his soft one. "I will call you."

"Video call."

"Yes."

"Every night for 3 hours."

"Okay."

"Then, I will give you permission to leave my side for a few months." He pouted like a small child.

"Thank you, Satoru." ~"~

 When I moved to my new school. I made a new circle of friends. Most of them have manifested their secondary genders but they don’t change their dynamics that much. It’s just their personalities. And to my surprise, my secondary gender is Alpha. I always thought I will be a Beta actually… not that it matters much. Besides, according to my friends’ opinion, I do act like an Alpha, a quiet alpha temperament.

So an alpha like me getting together with the most alpha-ish alpha like Satoru is a very very rare case. Because Satoru is a very perfect example of a template alpha… to be honest, whether he is alpha, beta or gamma actually no one is as annoying as he is. We started as friends. I know him through my new classmates who became fast friends, Shoko.

We hang out, play, getting roped into his shenanigans and then…one way or another we just end up together. And it was no surprise to the other, they have long predicted this. They even bet how long it will take to get us together. Even after I was revealed as an Alpha, they all have the same reaction. Satoru is a simp for me. He might be template alpha to the others, but in front of me, he is just an omega begging to be spoiled by their partner.

I almost sputtered my drink when I heard this. I… didn’t realize this at all. I might… have spoiled him more… because he always has this cute begging face when he did. And then Satoru said it doesn’t matter whether he is alpha or omega or beta or gamma. He only wants me… even way before my secondary gender manifests. At first, he tried to flaunt his alpha-ish traits, being reliable, charismatic or something along that line and then when it was revealed I was an Alpha, he changed his tactics, to let me spoil him. and, I think I took the bait.

Of course, it was only the start. He did all sort of things behind the scenes and well… I fell in love with him.

And another thing that I found out after I was transferred here is Rubrum Academy is the headquarters of a government organization that combat extraterrestrial lifeforms which we gave the name witch and familiars.

They are called witches due to their likeliness to human women. They have intelligence and can communicate with each other using their own language, which we call a song. Because it really looks like they were singing. And familiars because they are beast-like lifeforms with very low intelligence.

These extraterrestrial lifeforms have abducted people from earth to their plane. Scientists said they were abducting humans to seek their life force. To awaken their one and only Queen. To be honest, there are still a lot of questions about them. For example, why do they need to abduct humans? How they managed to tear a space open. Tearing a space requires astronomical energy. But they can do it with ease. Especially witches. And what is their purpose after they awakened their Queen? World domination? This is the most plausible conclusion we draw. And not to mention, during the last biggest raid in Rubrum Academy, when we were in our third year of middle school. We managed to wound the almost awakened Queen, only the hand and boy it was a gigantic hand and put her to sleep again.

My father is one of the scientists that worked in government. And I also exhibit some potential in being a hunter, a name we gave to the combatant. Thus the transfer. Anyway, whether it’s my daily life or love life. I am very fulfilled. As for our conversation just now is because a new command I have received. The spirited away rate in my old hometown is abnormal. Thus, I was briefed to scout and report any clue regarding to this. Given I used to live here, I might be the best choice. ~”~

 “I am Hisaki Raika, nice to meet you.” I smiled as I introduced myself.

"Hisaki-san is a Rubrum Academy student exchange from a study exchange program. She will stay here for a few months. Please welcome her." The teacher said. "Any question?"

The students start being noisy, Rubrum Academy is just as popular as the rumor said. "I have question." One student raised her hand.

"Okay, Yanagawa-san."

"What is your secondary gender?"

"It's alpha." I answered and here it comes, gasps of surprise. Female alpha is not that rare, but still uncommon. Because most females are either 20% omega, 70% beta and 10% alpha. While males are 30% alpha, 65% beta and 5% omega.

"Do you already have a partner?"

"...Can I keep that as a secret? I don't really like to talk about my private life." I smiled politely.

"Sorry for prying." She apologized.

"No problem."

"Are there any more questions?"

"Hisaki-san… are you by chance the Hisaki-san that lived here until middle school?" Another boy asked.

"Yes. I moved to Tokyo in my second year of middle school. Until then, I did indeed stay here." I answered.

"As I thought. Hisaki-san, I was your schoolmate. Kitamura from 2-B." He grinned.

"Kitamura…-san… Ah, Kitamura Yuhei-san. It has been a long time."

"Hehehe. I am happy that you still remember." He grinned.

"Okay, Hisaki-san will sit over there. And Kitamura-kun, you will be Hisaki-san's guide for the rest of her stay." Sensei instructed.

"Yes." ~"~

 Class 2-C, the class I transferred into. And now it's lunch time. As a transfer student with a different uniform, I stick out like a sore thumb. I almost fail to have my lunch of not for Kitamura-san's nice save.

"I am glad I can have my lunch before it ends." I laughed.

"Hahaha. Hisaki-san sure is popular. Well, we are really excited that someone from Rubrum Academy came here. Who would've thought it's Hisaki-san. You did disappear suddenly that time…Ah, sorry!!" He apologized.

"There's nothing to apologize for. I was hesitant to transfer or not, that's why I didn't say anything. Then, a lot happened, so I decided to transfer at the last minute." I said.

"...Is it because of the break up…?"

"Hm?" I tilted my head.

"Ah, no. You see, after you moved away, there was a rumor about your break up with Yanagizawa. The rumor said you can't accept the fact that Yanagizawa and Takemura-san are partner and you raised a hell of storm…" He trailed off.

"Is that so?" I blinked.

"Is that really true?" He asked.

"What do you think?" I asked back.

"Well… I don't think Hisaki-san is the type to do that. I might not know you very well. At the very least, from what I have seen, I think like that." He spoke.

"Did they say anything?"

"You mean Yanagizawa and Takemura-san. Not really, all they say was it's their fault and not to blame you." He answered.

Amused expressions etched to my face. They truly didn't say anything except misleading everyone. "Yanagizawa-san cheated on me."

"WHAT?!"

"They said they are partners, but he should break up with me first before getting together with each other. Instead, they went out behind my back while Yanagizawa-san was still in a relationship with me. If that's not cheating, I don't know what is."

"What?! He did?!!!! What a scum!!!" He scolded. "No wonder you moved out just like that. If I were you, I would have done the same. And gave him a few punches before that."

"You believe me?" I blinked.

"It's a lie?!"

"It's not." I shook my head.

"Then I believe in you." He nodded. "Let's have them clear up the misunderstanding. Yanagizawa and Takemura-san are also enrolled here."

"There's no need. It's already in the past. Even you said it now, no one will believe it."

"But, it's not fair that you got wronged."

"Thank you. But it's fine. Let them think whatever they want. I do not care. Thanks to them, I met wonderful people in my new school. When you fully trust someone, you will either get people for life or lessons for life. I have experienced them all." I smiled.

"..."

"What's wrong?" I titled my head at his dazed expression.

"Ah! No! It's nothing! I think I know why you are alpha." He quickly covered his face with his hands.

"I see?" I blinked. ~"~

 Few days later news of my return spread amongst old classmates. Most of them have visited me at lunch time to catch up a little. Though there are still some that asked about a certain rumor. Apparently, Kitamura-san somehow blabbed about the truth to them, so they come to verify. I just answer truthfully to them.

Now after a week. The main hero, heroine and their entourage finally make their appearances. "Raika-chan." The now older Takemura-san, Yanagizawa-san and my group of friends back in the middle school are already waiting for me in the school gate.

"Long time no see, Takemura-san." I nodded politely.

"Aw, don't be like that, Raika-chan. We are best friends." She pouted.

"Were." I corrected. "We ceased to be best friends or whatever relationship we had 3 years ago. We are not that close. Please refer me to my last name." I said.

Her smile falters a little. "Then is Hisaki-chan okay?"

"I prefer you use another honorifics, but it's okay, I guess." I shrugged. "So, is there something I can help you with, Takemura-san?"

"Hisaki-chan, it's our fault. You don't need to hold a grudge anymore. You can even hit me if it makes you satisfied." Yanagizawa frowned as if saying I was being unreasonable.

"You seem to be mistaking something, Yanagizawa-san." I looked at him. "Do I look angry? I don't hold any grudge on either of you. I will accept your apology now, but that doesn't mean I will become your friend again. If you don't have anything to say, I will take my leave. And please use another honorifics." I walked pass them.

"Wa-wait, Hisaki-chan."

"Yes?"

"We are going to karaoke together. Do you want to go? We can also catch up a lot. I heard you are attending Rubrum Academy. Amazing! I want to listen a lot about that." She smiled.

"Sorry, I already have an appointment. But my after-school time is already reserved."

"Then, I will come to get you tomorrow." She smiled. ~"~

 Coming back right to my temporary abode, I reorganized some facts that I managed to get this week. There is an urban legend. If you go to a certain place at a certain time on a certain day, you will be spirited away. The most legit lead I have. I will have to scout tonight. But right now, I put on a video call with Satoru.

"Rai-chan~~~~~" His whiny voice came out as soon as we were connected.

"Good evening, Satoru." I smiled.

"I am so lonely."

"Be patient."

"I can't." He sobbed.

"Don't be so needy." I rolled my eyes.

"Because Rai-chan didn't give me my daily hug. I can't even smell your scent in my body anymore." He pouted.

"I gave you my blanket."

"It's not strong enough."

"I did imprint my scent on you."

"It's starting to fade."

"...But you said you gave me permission."

"...I don't know it's this unbearable. If I have known, I won't let you go."

No, this had nothing to do with secondary gender. It's just Satoru being needy and whiny and clingy.

"Be good, Satoru. When I come back, I will let you cuddle me all day."

"...really?"

"Really." I nodded.

"...okay…" He nodded.

"I will tell the dorm leader to have you sleep in my room."

"You will?" His eyes lit up.

"Yes."

"I am going to pack now."

"Oh, should I hang up?" I teased.

"No!!! I still want to talk." Came the reply. "Do you know…" So we continued chatting while he packed his things. Most of the chat just him complaining how lonely he is, how dreadful Suguru and Nanamin are. Maki, Nobara, Shoko and Tsumiki keep showing off their partner to him. Yuuji didn't get his jokes, while Megumi just straight up ignored him.

…Now that they have pointed it out. He does seem like an omega is to their partner. Maybe it's because he is Satoru?

"Rai-chan, you can't think of another man while I am with you. I will be so jealous that I might have just locked you up and kill whoever inside your mind now."

"But I am thinking about you." I answered honestly.

"Oh…" A pinkish tint appeared on his cheeks. He was so caught off guard that he didn't make a comeback as usual. "What a coincidence, I am also thinking about you too. I always think about you." He grinned as he stroke the tribal tattoo like mark on his right side of neck. The same mark is also on my left neck which I covered up with make up in school, to avoid troublesome questions.

"Have you finished packing?"

"Yep."

"Then I will call the dorm leader. I will call again after you settle down in my room."

"Okay." He nodded quickly.

Dorm leader agreed as long as he didn't set foot in another place that is not my room or cafeteria. It didn't take long to convince her since alpha Satoru becomes omega Satoru to his alpha Raika is pretty much an open secret to everyone in Rubrum Academy.

Another call from Satoru is here again. "Rai-chan."

"Have you settled down?"

"I have. Smells like you. Want to stay here forever." He took a deep breath to take in my scent.

"The bed is too small to accommodate two people."

"Let's change to a bigger bed."

"Let's not do that. The school will scold us." I sweatdropped.

"When we get into college, let’s have a bigger room for the two of us and of course a bigger bed." He pouted. "And then we can lay there all day cuddling."

“But I haven’t agreed to anything yet.” I smiled. “I don’t even know that if we are going into the same college and it’s still 2 more years?” I giggled. Then I see his jaw is hanging down as he gapes. "Satoru?"

"Noooo!!! Rai-chan, move in with me! We will go to the same college too!” He cried out.

“Eeehh? I wonder about that?” I knitted my brows in fake thinking pose. “What should I do?”

“Rai-chan~~~”

"Why don't you beg?" I smiled with a commanding tone.

His breath hitches at my tone. "Ra…Rai-chan… want… want to stay with you, please… need you…" His eyes watered as he spoke with a desperate tone. "...please…"

"Good boy. I will ask permission from my father later."

“Re…really?”

“Yep, really.” I nodded

"Th…thank you…" His pretty smile bloomed. ~"~

 When the clock strikes 11 at night, I donned up my gear. Just the black version of our school uniform but without school emblem. Instead, there’s a button indicating we are student of Rubrum Academy and a function to camouflage my scent. I grab my chosen weapon, an ootachi. The height of it is even taller than me, but I still can swing it like there’s no tomorrow. So, it’s not a problem at all. now, off I go.

The place that the urban legend said is a park near the center of the town. A certain day and a certain time, they have to be Wednesday and midnight. And today is Thursday, but I don’t think what day matter at all. They are witches and familiars we are talking about. I put on a goggle vision that will allow me to see whether there’s disturbance in the space and if there’s witch or familiar nearby.

“Kyaaaaa!!!!”

“Himeka!!!”

“…I am just trying to do my mission, but I met annoyance instead.” I sighed, pitying my luck. But my goggle gives me a reaction. “A familiar.” I who have been standing on a lamp post quickly jump to another one until I arrived at the crime scene. I see 2 familiars are chasing 2 people. “Ha…” I exhaled. Half having the mid of leaving these two being abducted, but then against it. So, even if it’s annoying, I still save them….half-heartedly.

“Wh-who are you… wh-what’s that thing? Wh-what are you going to do with u-us…” He stuttered, standing in front of Takemura-san who is peeking behind him, clutching his uniform sleeves and is forever having her watery eyes. I roll my eyes at them and then jump back to the lamp post and go back to my abode. I don’t think they will leave there anytime soon. So, it’s a waste of a time waiting for them to disappear. ~”~

 Next day, I go to school like usual. “Good morning, Hisaki-san.”

“Good morning, Kitamura-san.” I greeted.

“Have you heard the latest gossip?”

“Gossip? What kind?”

“Apparently yesterday Takemura-san and Yanagizawa-kun were attacked by some sort of monsters. Those two were trying to investigate that famous spirited away urban legend.” He whispered.

“Attacked? Monsters?”

“Right. I am sure they are just saying that for attention.” He snorted. “There’s no way that monsters exist. Tsk tsk tsk. They become more and more despicable. I wonder why those two still stuck with them.” He clicked his tongue.

“You mean Kurokawa-san and Kunnugi-san? Well, because they are best friends?” I blinked. “They are betas, right? Takemura-san is a template omega, you know. One look at her will arouse any protective instinct of normal human being.” I blinked.

“…Will you?”

“Do I look like someone who has any protective instinct to her?” I raised my brows, amused.

“I guess not.” He laughed.

“How about you, Kitamura-san?”

“Hmm… I don’t. I don’t dislike her nor like her. Moreover, after listening how they treat you made my impression of her turned worse.” He said.

Our class is also buzzing with this new gossip. “That’s just a load of bull.” Kitamura-san rolled his eyes. “If they were truly attacked, they should have just reported to the police. Why bother saying it now? And you think they can escape without any injury if they were attacked?”

Kitamura-san’s reasoning seems to make sense for them. And they also begin to lean more into Kitamura-san. “Think carefully, why a couple go to a park at dead of night. If not doing something that should not be seen.”

“…Why are you so against them anyway? Did Takemura reject you or what?” One of the students asked suddenly.

“That…” Kitamura-san looked at me. I just smile and nod my head.

“Why are you looking at Hisaki-san?”

“Don’t tell me this involved Hisaki-san?” Female student A gasped and the whole class got rowdy.

“A rectangle love?”

“Is this related why you suddenly moved back then?” Female students B looked at me.

“A little.” I smiled.

“What? What? What? We are curious! Can you tell us?”

“I don’t really mind. It’s all in the past anyway.” I answered. “Then, Kitamura-san, please go ahead.”

“Hehehe. Now, let me tell you this story.” He grinned as he narrated the story of my first love.

By the end of the story, they are all ahh'ed and ooh'ed and finally understand why I take such a stance against them. Suddenly, I am the baby of the class. I mean sure, I am a little bit shorter. Everyone suddenly crowds around me, some are patting my head, some are speaking some encouragement words, some even said they will chase her away the next time she comes here.

“Let’s not go that far, okay? There’s no need for you all to trouble yourselves like that. But I appreciate your thought.” I laughed lightly.

“…” They suddenly in a daze.

“What’s wrong?” I blinked.

“No, we just finally realized why you are an alpha.” They said in unison. By lunch time, everyone already knows about my past involvement with them. The power of technology and internet are so scary. And now, two angry beta females are glaring at me.

“Why are you spreading false rumor?” Kunnugi-san growled.

“False rumor? I did nothing of such.” I blinked.

“Don’t play dumb! You told people that Himeka stole your boyfriend! Who do you think you are! Just because you are jealous of Himeka, you did that despicable thing!” Kurokawa-san slammed my desk.

“You got it wrong.” I sighed. “I have never once said Takemura-san stole my former boyfriend. What I said was only the truth, it’s Yanagizawa-san cheated on me with my best friend. I never once said it’s Takemura-san that started the whole thing? Or did she?” My voice lowered.

“Of course she didn’t!” Kunnugi-san retorted.

“Then, it’s no problem. All of the students here also heard it’s Yanagizawa that cheated, not Takemura-san stole. Was that right, everyone?”

“Yes. That’s true. We all heard that it’s Yanagizawa-kun got together with Takemura-san behind Hisaki-san’s back. No one said it’s Takemura-san stole her boyfriend.” All of my classmates nodded, agreeing with me.

“I do not know who started twisted the truth. If you want to search the culprit, it’s best to trace the rumor. Not come to me.” I yawned.

“Even so!” Kunnugi-san yelled. “Even if Yanagizawa-kun got together behind your back, what right do you have?! They are partner, of course it’s natural they got together! If you want to blame, blame yourself for not being his partner! You don’t need to slander them!”

“Oh? Well… Yanagizawa-san did say they were sure they were partner by smell alone. Yes, if they are partners. It’s natural that they got together. I just didn’t understand why he chose that kind of method to break up, rather than make a clean break with me. If you were on my place. What would you think? Having your then best friend and then boyfriend dated behind your back, while you two were having a relationship? Don’t use secondary gender as an excuse. Human is high intelligence animal. They should be able to think the consequence of their own action. Human relationship is not based on how good they smell. It’s interaction and compromise.” I sighed. “If it’s only based on how good they smell. Then half of the male students back in our middle school is Takemura-san’s partner then. They all said she smells good.”

Kitamura-san bursts out in laughter at that. “Indeed. That will be the very case. Don’t justify cheating by using secondary gender as excuse. If they were so-called destined partner, why didn’t Yanagizawa like Takemura from the start. I heard you all meet him few days right after Hisaki-san got together with him. At that time, he didn’t have any reaction. Rather, he is very devoted to Hisaki-san. He started acting weird after they got their secondary genders.” He snickered nastily.

“Uwaa… the worst. So he judge people based on their scent? So creepy. Besides, scent is very subjective thing. If you don’t like someone, of course you find their scent repulsing.” Female Student D shuddered.

“Then, does that mean he was waiting for Hisaki-san’s secondary gender manifested and judge who smells better?” Female Student F questioned.

“I heard Hisaki-san is a late bloomer. Her secondary gender manifested at 15, almost 16. Maybe he didn’t have the patience anymore?” Male student A added.

“Scary… what a scum…” They murmured.

“You all!”

“Hisaki-chan!” Our classroom door slid open for the second time. A watery expression Takemura-san walked to my table. “Hisaki-chan, I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t like Hibiki-kun. You can hate me all you want. But please don’t slander Hibiki-kun.” She sobbed.

“I didn’t slander him. I only said the truth. He was cheating on me. No matter what the reason. If you still feel he is not cheating. Why don’t we ask all other people in the internet anonymously. Let them judge whether he was cheating or not.” I smiled maliciously.

“No… Please don’t.” She shook her head pitifully. “Hibiki-kun was just didn’t know to bring it up without hurting you.”

“Oh? You sure about that? All I saw was how happy he looked like while spending time with you right after he told me he was busy.” I smirked wider.

“That’s…” Her eyes widened.

“Did you know? I knew you two were having an affair even before you two told me. Some of nice classmates told me. But I wanted to believe in you two. I keep praying you two would bring it up yourself and cleared your names. But you didn’t. instead, the time he got busier increase. Even though he doesn’t have club practice. How weird.” I giggled. “I was in denial. Until you two snapped me back to reality by justifying cheating saying you two were partner, soulmates or whatever.”

“I…” Her tears drop like crystals.

“But I am very much thankful to the two of you. No, to all of you.” I looked at them. “Thanks to you, I learned a lesson for life.” I smiled.

“Hi…saki…-chan…” She hiccupped.

“Himeka!!!” It’s the third time for today, I pray the door won’t be broken. His eyes widens at the sight of his crying girlfriend. “You…” He stomped to me. “What did you do to her?!” He roared.

“Oi, Yanagizawa. Don’t go too far!” Kitamura-san got up from his desk.

“Shut up!” He bellowed. “This has nothing to do with you!” He then turns to me again. “What did you do to Himeka?” He growled. “You better speak or…”

“Or what?” I taunted. “What are you going to do?” I rested my chin on the back of my propped up hands, eyes narrowing slightly.

“I will do this.” He gritted his teeth and grabbed my collar pulling me out of my desk. “Speak!” He glared.

“Oi! Yanagizawa!” Kitamura-san walked to us.

“Don’t worry, Kitamura-san. Don’t come any closer or you will get caught in this.” I said, eyes shining brighter than usual. I grab his hand and twist it away like it’s nothing. “Don’t touch me. You are filthy.”

“You!” He lunged to me.

“You better stop it if you want to stay forever cool in your beloved eyes.” I rolled my eyes and dodge the very easy attack and swiped his feet, making him tumble down magnificently.

“What’s happening?!” Sensei roared. Someone apparently reported our fight. And now we are in principal office. I narrated the story but their version includes how I make Takemura-san cried and how I spread nasty rumor about them, and how Yanagizawa-san stepped in to defend his girlfriend’s innocence.

“I see. I understood the problem. But Yanagizawa-kun, you raised your hand first. No matter what’s the reason, violence is not allowed. You will be punished, suspended for 4 days. Is that clear?”

“Yes…” Yanagizawa hung his head.

“Sorry, Hibiki-kun… because of me…”

“It’s fine.” He assured her.

“And, Hisaki-kun.” He turned to me.

“Just because you are a exchange student from prestigious school, that doesn’t mean you can just do whatever you want. Slandering people is not a good conduct. I believe it’s just a misunderstanding.” He sighed.

“With all due respect sir. I did tell an old story of mine to my classmate, but I didn’t twist the truth. I do not know who changes the content and uses that to slander Takemura-san. And frankly, I do not care. It was all in the past. It has nothing to do with me.” I shrugged.

“…Then, you shouldn’t tell that story of yours.”

“My classmates asked me, I figured it was just an old story anyway and won’t do any harm. It’s just a story about me being heartbroken by Yanagizawa-san. That’s all. And I want to get along with everyone since we have a sharing story session.” I replied.

“Fine. Hisaki-kun, I know it’s a self defense, but you also provoked Yanagizawa-kun. You will be suspended for 2 days and I will have to tell your school about this.”

“Understood.”

“Now go back to the class.” He sighed, rubbing his temple. ~”~

 “Are you okay, Hisaki-san?” Kitamura-san asked worriedly. He has been waiting outside the office.

“Yes. I will be okay. I just got suspended by 2 days and they will report this to my school.” I nodded.

“You are not okay at all.” He cried.

“No problem. I am glad you didn’t meddle or you will get punishment too.” I laughed.

“But it’s not fair. You were only doing self-defense.” He grumbled. “And, your uniform…” He sighed, referring to my in not so good state uniform. The collar has been pulled forcefully that it become a little loose. The buttons are also popped out broken, only the first two, so it didn’t show much, but my collarbone. “Here.” He offered me his blazer.

“No, someone will be fussy if I have other people’s scent. Don’t worry, I still have my track suit. I will change to that.” I declined his offer.

“You…have a partner?”

“Yes. But keep this a secret for now.” I grinned.

“Roger.” He laughed. He has a feeling he will have a good laugh later. Then, I change into track suit and continue my lesson. ~”~

 “Rai-chan~~~~” This is what happened every time after the video call connected. Satoru is wrapping himself with my blanket and hug my pillow.

“You fit in nicely, Satoru.” I giggled. “You are not in my room, how rare.” I commented.

“We are here too, Rai-chan.” I heard Shoko’s voice and the angle changed showing all of my friends and kouhais together.

“Everyone, long time no see. It’s only 2 weeks though.” I waved to them.

“I heard you requested new uniform? What happened?” Suguru asked.

“The news spread fast. I just barely finished the call about that.” I sweatdropped.

“I was there at that time. Did you meet horde of familiars or witches?” Megumi inquired.

“Really? Are you okay, Rai-chan?” Tsumiki quickly quipped in.

“Don’t worry. There was horde of low class familiars. They weren’t enough to tear my uniform, this is because…” I told them about the accident and how I got suspended. Right after I finished, Satoru stood up and then there’s chaos.

“Wait, Satoru!”

“You are seriously going there? Right now?”

“There are no more train.”

“I don’t care!” He practically roared. “How dare he, how dare he!”

“Satoru.” I called. “Sit.”

“Rai-chan…” He gave me a kiity eyes. I can see the ears flattened and tail tucked in between his legs.

“Don’t be hasty. Sit down first.” I said again.

“…yes…” He sat back down and curled himself with my blanket and pillow again.

“Amazing as always.” Yuuji blinked.

“Bizarre as always you mean.” Megumi sighed.

“I have reported my findings to principal. Indeed, the number of the familiars are abnormally large. They might have sent you guys soon. So wait until then, okay Satoru?”

“Okay, I hope the quicker the better. Need to scent Rai-chan soon. He mumbled. We then chat about anything, the usual mundane thing and I continue my work at night, exterminating familiars. Until now, there is still no witch spotted. But I have a feeling one will pop out soon. ~”~

 Since I have been suspended for 2 days, I didn't do anything except enjoy my free time. Principal Yaga has called me to assure me, there will be no problem at all and to just enjoy my free time or collect more information on familiars.

This is what I will do. Going out to town to take a walk, while keeping my ears open on new urban legends. Or anything that might be related. So far, the most famous one is still in that central park. What a coincidence tomorrow is Wednesday. Let's try it out.

I spend the whole day dilly-dallying until the school is over and back to the house, video calling Satoru.

The next night, again donning the black uniform and vision goggles, I checked out the central park.

The park is more eerie than usual. There's no sign of life, not even a small animal. My goggle hasn't picked up anything yet, but my feeling told me something is here.

A faint song entered my ears. "Bingo." I grinned as I sped through the park, avoiding anything that can produce a sound. I stopped short and hid myself behind a tree when I finally found them. A horde of familiars and a witch. The witch is communicating with those low intelligence beasts and then produces a barrier.

'Uh oh.' A warning bell rang inside my head. If I am trapped in a barrier, I will be instantly found out. The caster can sense everything that is inside the barrier. I make a mad dash to the outside, hopefully out of her range. I panted roughly as I just barely got out of it.

"Need to report this quickly." I murmured and pulled out my phone. My team will come here as first part of reinforcement. Which means, Satoru is coming. ~"~

 Satoru has been hugging me ever since he arrived and refusing to let go. The first thing he did right after meeting me was scenting me. He will whine if I pull away so I let him be for now. "How do you feel having a bear crushing you?" Shoko snickered.

"Very heavy." I answered dryly.

"I am not a bear."

"You are a teddy bear."

"Okay, I am a teddy bear."

“…” Shoko and Suguru looked at how quick he changed his stance.

"So we are going to check later?" Suguru asked.

"Not today, let's do it tomorrow. You guys have just travelled here. Rest up, we will do it tomorrow. We most likely have to fight hordes of familiars. Right now, I only spotted one witch. I am not sure if there are more hiding away.

"Okay, I will have my shikigamis to collect more information." Suguru nodded and pulled out human-shaped papers. "Go and become my eyes and ears." He commanded. Those papers then flew outside of the apartment.

"Where will you guys stay?"

"Next you." Shoko grinned.

"I will stay here." Satoru tightened his hold.

"Yeah. We didn't count you when we rented the rooms." Shoko said, rolling her eyes.

"Is that so? Then, let's eat outside. I found this cozy new cafe. It matches our taste. We can have private rooms too. Lest you know his alpha pheromone attracts annoying bees."

"No, I think his omega-ish attitude makes him even more confusing and more annoying bees are coming for him. So yes, we would like a private room."

"I am not annoying."

"Yes you are." Shoko and Suguru deadpanned.

"Rai-chan~" He looked at me.

"Satoru is cute." I smiled. His smile also blossomed. "But I don't like it if you attract annoying bees."

"I won't. I promise, I won't. I don't even want other people approaching me. They are going to make your scent go away. I don't like it." He shook his head vehemently.

"Then you better stick to me all the time."

"Of course. Nothing is better than that."

"...Don't forget we are here too." Suguru sighed.

The four of us then have a nice meal in a private room. And yes, we do get weird looks. It's like they were trying to determine whether Satoru is an alpha or omega. His scent is clearly an alpha, but he acts like an omega. Though it's said that not all alpha is dominant. Most of the alphas they have met are like that. They must also have realized that I am also an alpha. Alpha couple is the rarest couple. Because they usually clash with each other. But then again, people's relationships are not completely determined by their secondary genders, so they didn't let their stares linger too long.

"Actually, I think most people in Tokyo have somehow got used to how Satoru is like this, so when we get the weird stares it kind of feels refreshing…?" Shoko started to question her sanity now.

"I know right. Even I feel it is a little refreshing." Suguru agreed.

"Satoru, order."

"Yes." Satoru quickly pushed a bell implanted on the table to call for a waiter and then proceeded to list every menu that fits my taste.

"If other alphas see him like that, they will mock him as pathetic." Suguru laughed.

"And then got demolished by said pathetic alpha." ~”~

 “Here are your orders.” The waiter is back with our orders.

“Thank you.” I smiled politely.

“Please do enjoy.” He then left the room.

“Satoru, feed me.” Overjoyous Satoru quickly picked some dishes and put them on a plate then slowly fed them to me.

“This alpha power couple really doesn't shy away from PDA.” Shoko sweatdropped.

“Acting shy will only encourage some idiotic people to push their already pathetic luck.” I answered as I munched my food.

“And you were surprised when you came out as an alpha.” Suguru sweatdropped. They then told me any interesting news from school no, they were complaining how annoying Satoru was. He was annoying even before meeting me, getting a little more annoying after meeting me and becoming much more annoying when I am not at his side.

As for the source of their problem is floating in cloud nine being fed by me. In short, he didn’t hear anything they said. Or he most likely filtered out anything they said. After a meal, we decided to walk around in the garden not far from here to help us digest food. ~"~

 The next day, I am back at school. While Satoru and the others already got permission to leave for a week. Until we complete our mission here.

So here I am, surrounded by my classmates again. After the whole ordeal, my classmates are all completely on my side. Takemura-san and Yanagizawa-san's reputation took a hit. Though no one say it out loud, sometimes they whisper to each other when she is there. Actually, I am in the same situation. There are some believe I am still madly in love with Yanagizawa-san and are doing everything in my power to break them up.

"...Their nose must be clogged." My classmates shook their heads.

"Yeah… They didn't know there's already another smell on Hisaki-san. A scent of dangerous alpha at that." Another lamented.

"No wonder Hisaki-san is thankful for them. She already has another partner. And a strong one at that." Another added.

"We will definitely have a good laugh at them later. I can feel it." They broke into laughter.

"When that time comes, we better get our video camera ready."

"Don't worry. My old man is a pro. I will ask him to lend me one."

"Huehuehue." They cackled evilly.

It's decided that we will have a celebration for me after school. They even have booked the cafe we are going to. Only I didn't know anything. But I do appreciate their effort so I went along with them.

We talked, nah they gossiped how does my partner a.k.a Satoru looks like. All I give them is the hint of him wearing round sunglasses. We only booked part of the cafe. So regular guests are still here. And we take care not to be too loud.

Apparently there's another group that booked the cafe too. Their table will be beside us. "Welcome."

"We came here for the reservation we made. On Gojo's name." A very familiar voice said. I look at the entrance and see Shoko smiles while pointing to Satoru secretly. Satoru looks absolutely disinterested and left all the talking to Suguru… until he spots me. His eyes lit up like Christmas tree, but was elbowed by Nobara. Satoru might not notice it, but when he looks so disinterested, that is when he looks the most handsome, according to strangers. Though, I like all of Satoru. I mean rather than handsome, I will say Satoru is on the cute side.

"Ah, it's R-" Megumi quickly clamped Yuuji’s mouth shut. While Nanamin is looking like he wants to just leave the whole group and go home.

"Wow, they are so good looking, I wonder which one is alpha?" My classmates whispered.

"I feel like all of them look like alpha."

"Why can't we smell their scent?"

"They must be taking a medicine to suppress it. But my guess the tallest one is alpha. He is exuding the whole demeanor of a template alpha."

"I think so too. If they are all alpha, it's a wonder why they didn't get into a fight."

"Well, their personalities match? I mean just because they are alphas, doesn't mean they will literally start fight when they meet with another alpha."

"While it is true most alphas are all prefer to be alone, or having a group to lead. Not all of them are like that. If all of them are alpha, then they must be in the odd side of alpha."

"Nah, I doubt it. I bet the tallest guy is the alpha, the rest is beta. Template alpha is very hot-headed. They want to be number one."

I can't deny that. It's true that we are all oddities. They took the tables beside us. They are eye catching, because they are a group of alphas and all bishounen and bishoujo. Our group are entranced by them. Can't be helped, they are just that good-looking. Satoru even positioned himself so he sits in the most outer part, the closest one to me. See, how cute he is when he is trying hard to get my attention.

"Are we going to stare them the whole day? I thought we are going to celebrate?" I teased.

"Eh? Ah…" They finally snapped back to reality and cleared their throats, shaking their head to clear the blush. They continue to gossip again about how they think Satoru looks like.

While the other table are silently watching what kind of random act that Satoru will do. Much to their surprise, Satoru did nothing more than stealthily linking his long pinky into mine, while pretending not to see but keep glancing at me secretly. The whole table snorts and boos him. The loudest one being Shoko and Suguru.

They also trying to hold their laughter when they heard my classmates description of Satoru. They even add little something or correct something amongst themselves.

I got a text from Shoko showing Satoru's mark is covered. 'What a naughty boy he is.' I raised my brow and continue reading it. Apparently, Satoru has this idea to seduce me once more. 'How cute. Let's see how much effort he put in then.'

"Hisaki-san, please give us another hint aside from sunglasses." They pouted.

"Okay." I withdrew my pinky and put my hand on the straw, drinking my beverage. Satoru looks like he wants to pout to me, but hesitated. He was at loss. "He has black hair." I started and the table beside me are trying their hardest to stop laughing. "His eyes so deep and dark like night veil." When I finished describing someone that is total opposite of Satoru in appearance only. My classmates are trying to piece them together.

Our neighbors are torn between to laugh or pity him. Satoru's expression is so cute. He looks like he is going to burst into tears. He looks at me, opening his mouth and then closing it again. Not sure what to say. I mouth a naughty boy to him and point to his neck, smirking. He looks like a deer caught in the headlight, his head hanging down pitifully. I text Shoko to tell Satoru that I am looking forward how he will seduce me away from my imaginary partner.

Shoko shows that to him and he quickly regains his confidence. He looks like a small kitty puffs his chest to look bigger. He then keeps staring at me, throwing winks and smirks, but I didn't heed it. I am just chatting away how wonderful my partner is. My classmates must have caught on that our neighbor alpha is trying to flirt with me.

They even whisper in my ear. But I told them not to care, because I already have a wonderful partner. By the time we have finished our celebration, Satoru didn't even manage to get a word out from my mouth. Even my classmates are starting to pity him and urge me to say something. Even a rejection is okay. But nope, I still didn't say anything. ~"~

 "Rai-chan~~~~" He hugged me tightly, refusing to let go.

"I want to sleep, Satoru."

"But you didn't talk to me today, let alone looking at me. I am so lonely."

"Oh? I thought you said you will never cover up your mark no matter what?" I smiled.

"That's… I just…want Rai-chan's attention." He mumbled, playing with my fingers.

"Do I not give you enough attention?" I pressed.

"I…I am jealous!" He suddenly admitted. "I know Rai-chan covered the mark to avoid unnecessary attention from your former friends. But…but… because of that some people still thinking they had a chance to take you away. I don't like that. That's why…"

"I thought you said you are going to seduce me on public again."

"There's that too…. But Rai-chan didn't even look at me, how can I start seducing you?" He pouted.

"You see, Satoru. That is what I will do to any other man that is not you."

"But you just did it to me."

"That's because you are being naughty. Covering your mark like that. Did you see how many people are looking at your way, wanting to devour you?" I hissed. I feel irritated every time I remember it. how dare they look at mine like that.

"...Sorry… Rai-chan… I didn't mean to make you angry. I am sorry. Please don't get mad."

"I am tired. I want to sleep." I slid down inside the cover.

"Rai-chan, I am sorry. Please forgive me. I won't ever cover my mark again. I promise." He knelt on the floor.

"Promise?" I scowled.

"Promise." He grinned happily. "I won't ever cover up my mark or else I will have to feel Rai-chan's wrath." He raised his hand and made an oath.

"Okay, then. Come here, I am cold."

"Right away." He dived into the cover, pulling me to his chest, humming a random tune. He then easily lulled me to sleep. ~"~

 "Are you guys in position?" My ear piece that served as communication device, called RAID transmitted Nanamin's voice.

"I am." I answered. Then chorus of okay and in position followed.

"Let's get this thing quickly so I can cuddle with Rai-chan."

"Don't speak unnecessary thing using RAID." I sighed.

"...okay…" I can already imagine his pouty face.

A faint song floats down to our ears. "She is coming. Get ready and….NOW!" We jumped out simultaneously to ambush the witch. We have been killing her familiars to reduce their numbers, but as expected she quickly summoned replacement for them.

"Just like we planned. Team A will deal with the witch, team B draw familiars’ attention." Suguru instructed.

"Roger!" ~”~

“This is the last.” Yuuji delivered a finishing blow to the last familiars.

“What a number, is there something so valuable in this town?” Nobara frowned.

“The witch was destroyed. I doubt they will amass this many again in a short time. But this matter is quite concerning. Why would they amass their force here?” Nanamin pushed up his glasses.

“In any case. We will need to report this.” Megumi said. After finishing our report to Yaga-sensei. Yaga-sense told us to come back, another group will be stationed there permanently. With this our mission is officially over. We will go back the day after tomorrow. Yaga-sensei will handle all transfer procedure tomorrow.

“Everyone is nice to me.” I smiled at the thought of my classmates.

“Rai-chan, I am here.” Satoru pouted.

“I am thankful for them for making this exchange more enjoyable. Don’t be so jealous.” I poked his cheek.

“Because Rai-chan can only think of me.” His finger brushed over the mark. Small electricity flows into my body every time he does that.  

“Don’t be so cheeky, Satoru.” I pouted, blushing a little.

“I am your cheeky.” He brushed my hair away and pressed a forehead kiss.

I roll my eyes at his soft subtle signal. “Kissing is like this.” I wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. Tongues battle for dominance which he lets me win and explore his cavern to my desire. “You better always kiss me like this.” I panted as I pulled back.

“Rai-chan, you are just too adorable.” He chuckled and leaned for another kiss again. ~”~

 “And so, Hisaki-san’s student exchange program has come to the end.” Sensei told them.

“Eeeeehhhhh?”

“Hai, please calm down.” Sensei sighed. “But I am happy that you have become friends in such short time.” Sensei smiled at the last part. “Sensei is also happy that Hisaki-san is very cooperative, even though you got suspended.”

“I am very sorry.” I apologized.

“So is that true that you were still madly in love with Yanagizawa-kun?” She whispered.

“Sensei, you think two people in love will have a fight like that?” I sweatdropped. “I do wonder what did I see on him anyway?”

“Sensei, you don’t know the inside story. It’s like this…” She then narrated the whole thing again. The old story from middle school.

“What?! Isn’t that cheating?! How could he do that?!” Even sensei came into the same conclusion. “Well, I do understand that he didn’t know how to bring it up. But he is also wrong for not telling you first. Because relationships doesn’t only involve one person.” Sensei huffed indignantly.

“But I was thankful to them. I am able to meet my current partner thanks to them.” I said.

“Ah, yeah… Hisaki-san.” Sensei called.

“Your current partner…is not some kind of delinquent, right? He smells dangerous.” Sensei spoke.

“No. He is not a delinquent. I can promise you that. He is a little annoying, troublesome, pretentious, eccentric. Not to mention a little narcissistic. But he is cute.” I smiled.

“…I become more worried after you describe him.” Sensei sweatdropped.

“At least his scent keeps some annoying people away.” My classmates giggled.

“We should celebrate today again.” Kitamura-san suggested.

“Ah, sorry today I have an appointment.” I apologized in advance.

“Hoho, are you meeting him?”

“Yes.”

“Hohoho…should we…”

“You will meet him tomorrow.”

“Then we will refrain until tomorrow.” They sighed in defeat. “We will let you two lovebirds have your own time.”

“Hisaki-san, you might think sensei is meddlesome. But do not give your mating mark just yet. I know teenagers will always feel like he is the one, I want to give him everything. But I want you all to think about this long and hard. Mating mark is a no joke.” Sensei said seriously.

“I know, Sensei. Don’t worry.” I assured. ‘Sorry, sensei. My mating mark, I have had given to him long time ago. Just like how he has had given his to me.’

After school, we change into more comfortable and casual clothing and then go out. I am taking Satoru out on a date. I didn’t bother to cover my mark to deter some annoying pushy people. Hands intertwines with each other, I take him to shopping district. That district is crowded as always. There are a lot of food stalls too. We bought one and share it, so we can taste a lot more food.

We have our own little culinary tour. I didn’t know many stores owner still remember me and even give me some freebie because I got a nice boyfriend. Though, we are not complaining. We then finished our last meal in the park bench. “How was it?”

“Date with Rai-chan is always wonderful.”

“I mean the food.”

“It’s sweeter when Rai-chan is feeding me. I like it very much.” He smiled.

“I take that as delicious then.” I giggled.

“There’s more here.” He leaned in and licked something off from the corner of my lip. “The sweetest one.” Glacial blue eyes kept staring at me as he said so. I take that as an invitation to close my eyes and press my lips against his. Kissing with Satoru is of course won’t end with just lips touching. Because he has been trained we have established the fact that he always eager to literally devour my mouth. ~”~

 Today is the last day I am in my hometown. I am supposed to go back now, but my classmates want to see me for one last time and exchanging chat id, that’s why I go to school. Satoru and the others will pick me up after they finished packing. They said they will be picking me up on lunch time. Sensei also gave me permission to stay in the class until then.

"Hisaki-chan." Takemura-san called me with her soft voice. It’s the first time she comes alone, usually she will be stuck with Yanagizawa-san or two others.

“You are not welcome here, please go back.” My classmates scoffed at her pretentious attitude.

“I…I just want to ask Hisaki-chan something…Don’t be so mean to me…” Her eyes watered. Her eyes might be really made up from water after all. How can she just will her tears like that. What a frightening kid.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Takemura-san?" I asked.

“You see… yesterday… I saw you…”

“Oh, you saw me have a date with my partner?” I nodded in understanding, no wonder she is here. “So, is there any relation with you?”

“No…It’s just…I don’t know you have a partner…” She fidgeted, trying to act cute. So disgusting.

“Why would I tell you if I have a partner. You are not my friend or something.”

“I thought…we were best friends…” She sniffled.

“Whatever relationships we have had ended 3 years ago. I told you such. You were the only one thinking we were still friends….No, I am certain that you didn’t even think me once as a friends.” I rested my chin on my hand, smirking maliciously.

“I…really think of you as friends even now. That’s why I want to transfer to Rubrum Academy too. I want us to get along like before.”

“Then you can consider the dream is crushed. I don’t know how to get into Rubrum Academy. My father arranged all that to me.” I snorted. “Because I can bet my life, you want to go to Rubrum Academy not to get along with me. But to get along with my new friends and steal them away along with my current partner.” I giggled at her shocked expression. “You know, I keep thinking that you really like my things.”

"People are…not objects."

“But he is so happy being called my thing. What should I do?" I put on a troubled expression. “And when I said my things, I actually didn't refer to him or any of my friends. I refer to many things, literal objects that I gave to you back then because you always say how envious you are. And you won't stop saying it until I give them to you."

"I didn't…" She staggered back.

“Besides why are you here alone? Usually you will stick to Yanagizawa-san like he is your oxygen. What? You come here alone to ask me about how to get into Rubrum Academy right after meeting my partner yesterday. You do know people are not stupid, don't you?" I pressed. The paler she is the happier I am. "Your life-long partner will become so sad that you dump him for another taken man." I taunted.

"Himeka-chan!!" Our classroom's door slammed open. Yanagizawa-san stomps through to my table.

"Hi…Hibiki…" Crystal tear fall down, making her look more pitiful. Truly a perfect visual to invoke any normal humans' protective instinct.

“Your partner has come. Please take her away. We don’t want to repeat another violence. The only difference is this time, I will crush you.” I glared.

“What did you do to Himeka?!" He glared.

"I didn't even lift a finger. You can have the whole class as a witness." I shrugged, feigning ignorance.

"You!" His eyes swept through the classroom. All of the eyes are currently on us.

"Hisaki-san didn't do anything." Kitamura-san was the first one to open his mouth. "Are you okay in the head? Takemura-san was the one came to our classroom, not the other way around." He snorted.

"So, why did Himeka cry?" Yanagizawa barked back.

"How should we know? When Hisaki-san said she didn't know how to get into Rubrum Academy she started crying." Another girl rolled her eyes.

"Rubrum Academy?" He turned to his lover.

"...I just want to stay together with Hisaki-chan. If I made it over there, we might become friends again." She sobbed.

"If you believe her, then you must be a full blown idiot. I wonder what did I see in you? My eyes must be covered in shit." I pity myself in the past crying over an idiot.

"Himeka…Himeka is not like you. This part of you is what I don't like. Even before your secondary gender manifested you were always a control freak. Always planting yourself beside me, monitoring everything I said and do!" He screamed.

"I see." I sighed softly. "I guess it can be seen like that. In any case, it's already in the past after all. I do sincerely wish you two happiness forever. So you two can also sincerely wish me happiness with my current partner." I smiled.

"Let's go, Himeka-chan." Yanagizawa-san dragged the unwilling Takemura-san away.

"He seriously thought like that?" Kitamura-san blinked his eyes bewilderedly.

"He said like that." I smiled.

"Wow, he must be truly blind." Kitamura-san shook his head sighing. "All I see, no I think all people who saw you that time knew how much love you look at him with your eyes. In fact, there were some people even jealous of how he was so lucky getting someone to see him like you." He grinned.

"Thank you. But now, I am fine. I already have a partner. A wonderful partner that appreciates my effort." I thanked him. “It’s time for me to go back. If you come to Tokyo just give me a call. I will guide you to famous hotspots.”

“Will do. And you promised you will let us see your partner.”

“He should be waiting in front gate.”

“What?! Let’s see.” They crowded the windows to take a glimpse on him, while I just walk down to the school gate.

As expected, Satoru came to pick me up. He has been waiting with everyone in the school gate and I think I heard my classmates screamed that he is that alpha from café.

"Rai-chan!" He flew to my side, smothered me into his hug. Gone was his cool appearance. "I am so lonely, Rai-chan. Why didn't you take me to school?" He cried.

'Is that really an alpha? How come he is different from what we saw back then.' Is what my classmates thought.

"Here, good boy." I patted his head. He smiles blissfully while having his head rested on my shoulder and let out small purr.

"It's good?"

"So good." He nosed my neck.

"Ah…Hisaki-chan, it's not nice calling people as 'thing.' A disgusting smell approached us.

"So what?"

"You called your partner a 'thing.' That's very rude." Takemura-san stood there with her cheeks painted red, watery eyes. Her soft doe eyes are looking at my omega-ish alpha.

"I am your thing?" Satoru pulled back and looked at me. Takemura-san looked so happy when Satoru asked me that.

"Yep. You are my thing." I nodded.

"How rude. No one wants to be your partner if you don't treat them right." She huffed.

"Rai-chan." Satoru fidgeted as he played with my fingers. "Can…can you say it again?" He practically has heart eyes.

"You are my thing, understood?" I repeated it again.

"Yes…" His breath hitches. "I am your thing. I am Rai-chan's thing. So happy…I am Rai-chan's thing." He babbled with pink blush dusting his cheeks.

"Wh-what?" Takemura is flabbergasted by the unexpected turn of events.

"See what I told you? He likes it when I say he is my thing." I sneered.

'Is that really an alpha? Did the result come out wrong?' Again, the whole students think the same thing.

“Is she the boyfriend stealer?” Nobara pointed at her.

“Is she seriously aiming for Gojo-senpai? Did she hit her head?” Megumi knitted his forehead.

“Gojo-senpai is Raika-senpai’s boyfriend. He is a taken man. I thought she already has a partner. Raika-senpai’s former partner. Why is she aiming for Gojo-senpai?” Yuuji tilted his head, not really understanding.

“Itadori-kun. There are a lot of people that never satisfied with what they have. Your neighbor’s grass is greener than yours. It means, other people’s thing looks more desirable than their own.” Nanamin pushed up his glasses as he explained to him right there.

“That means she is a bitch who likes to steal people’s thing.” Nobara simplified it for him. “You don’t need to be so pretentious. Your act is not fooling anyone. Well, if it does, then sucks to be them too. They are far more idiotic than Yuuji then.”

“I think she is more better to be called garbage collector.” Suguru added brutally, he has no tender heart for fairer gender at all. “She likes to take people things after they are being used after all.”

“Ah, it can be seen that way too.” Shoko ahh’ed.

“I am not idiot.” Yuuji complained. “Nobara, your English test is lower than me.”

“Shut up, idiot.” Nobara smacked his head upside down.

"Himeka!" Again, another repulsive smell approached.

"Haaa… one after another… They bothered at lunch time, now they bother me again." I sighed.

Satoru notices my mood's change again. "Rai-chan." Satoru pulled me back into a back hug. "Let me handle this." He patted my head and then his hand slid down to cover my eyes. I pout and pull his hand down a little to take a peek.

"Did you not understand what human language is?" He growled at them. "Rai-chan said she doesn't want anything to do with you yet you two are just like pests, buzzing around her. Don’t ever bother her again.” He hissed. “The only reason I haven’t ended your whole existence is because thanks to you, I got to meet Rai-chan. I am quite thankful for you especially.” He leered at Yanagizawa-san. “Your mistake is the best thing that ever happened to me. You can rest assured, unlike you, I won’t ever let Rai-chan go. Now that you have served your purpose, please disappear completely from her sight.” Eyes glaring with such ferocity and hatred, yet to me it's beautiful.

"Satoru." Satoru looked down at me when I called. His eyes softened considerably, smiling softly while looking at me. I can see how his eyes are cooing how precious I am to him. "You are pretty."

"Mmn. I am your pretty. Let's get you home, yeah?" He whispered.

“Okay. I want to meet everyone soon.” I nodded. ~”~

 We finally go back to our school. And Satoru is regretfully moving back to his dorm. But not before imprinting his scent to every object in my room. Even left some of his shirts to me, fortunately he gave me back my blanket or I will freeze to death at night. On the bright side, he is happy that he won’t have to spend his time alone in school.

Yaga-sensei also situated another group to my hometown. He apologized for making me go through something like that. Of course it’s no problem at all. They are annoying, but do not count as a trouble. And the case is closed, or so I thought.

It has been few months after my mission in my hometown. Another case happened over there. The team that was situated over there are all annihilated and abducted. The last communication they gave us is 2 people are seen to command witches.

“They are not abducted?” Suguru frowned.

“No. it’s said that the witches willingly protect them.” Yaga-sensei shook his head.

“Did they see how they look like?” Shoko inquired.

“That’s…” ~”~

 "So they look like boyfriend stealer and her lover? Unbelievable." Nobara made a face.

"Don't tell me, she is jealous of Raika-san so much that she is willing to make a deal with alien? Really unbelievable." Panda added.

"She might actually do that. I won't put her past that. I wonder why she is so fixated with my things anyway?" I sighed.

"...Maybe she has no reason at all…?" Toge murmured.

"That kind of person is the absolute scum." Maki replied.

"So, what if we met her on our mission? Fire on spot?" Yuuji asked.

"Capture her if possible. But that is a low priority. Our highest priority is to eliminate the threat. That includes the other one." ~"~

 "Why?!! Why is it always you?! Be it Yanagizawa or him! Why is it they always want you?! Why not me?!"

"I don't know about Yanagizawa-san, since he has chosen you in the end. Frankly, I don't want to know too. I don't want to divide my attention from Satoru." I rolled my eyes at the former human which named Takemura Himeka.

I am not sure what happened to her since she has changed physically to something that we can call a monster. Tall and unbelievably long limbs that are now shaped like spider feet. Not that this matter much to me.

"But I don't like how you covet my things." My eyes shone, glaring at her. "He is mine. Satoru is mine. And don't you ever have this foolish idea to take him away."

"I will… I want… all of yours… not fair… I am cuter… why I can't have him?"

"If people got the thing they want just because they look cute. Then human will face extinction then. Because cute is subjective. To him, I am the cutest, the most precious treasure. And look at you, objectively you don't even look human anymore. And going by your standard I will say you look like monster." I mocked. "And you see this mark. He gave it to me. I also gave mine to him already. So give it up." My voice is an octave lower.

"Lie…lie…lie…lie…LIE!!!! I WILL TAKE HIM AWAY FROM YOU!!!"

"Then you will have to die. Everyone that looks at him with greedy eyes will have to be gouge out." I swung my blades. I hear slicing sounds and then the abomination is sliced cleanly into parts.

"Will…take…"

"Shut up, don't even think about him." I stabbed the head on the brain, effectively silencing her forever. "Disgusting bitch. Satoru is forever mine. I won’t let you take him away, let alone look at him. Know your place." ~"~

 "....uwerhh…"

"Wow, you can't even comprehend human language now. Or are you learning a new language?" Gojo mocked the boy in front of him. The boy is none other than brainwashed Yanagizawa. He still retains his human body. But the shape of his body is sticking in weird places.

"Grhr…"

"Guess you can still show some hostility to me?" He snorted. "Let me tell you one thing. I know you have been trying to reach out for Rai-chan after you two saw us in the park. You think you are being so subtle, huh? Coming all the way to Tokyo to secretly meet Rai-chan. Don't get ahead of yourself." He glared.

"Uarrggg!!!"

"Didn't I tell you do not ever show yourself to Rai-chan anymore. Because I will end you instantly." His deep ocean blue eyes shone. "I tell you, Rai-chan is mine. She has given me her mark." He proudly showed him where the mark is, earning another incorrigible word from the former human.

"You can just stay with your new lover. I won't have you see Rai-chan again. I loathe you from the first meeting. You stole Rai-chan's firsts. You breathed in the same space as Rai-chan. Because of you, I can't be her number one in everything. I can't forgive you." He growled. "Even though there are still a lot of Rai-chan's firsts I will have later, that is why you need to disappear. Dead people won't talk. You won't be able to tell people that you are her first boyfriend." He giggled.

"Arrgughh!!!!" He lunged.

"Die. Don't even leave your ash." Gojo snapped his fingers as hollow purple annihilated everything on its path, including the brainwashed Yanagizawa. ~"~

 "It's a shame that we won't be able getting a complete sample. But still thank you for at least getting the corpse. This might aid us in our new discovery." The head of R&D department lamented.

"I don't think I have enough time to subdue it without killing it before it calls new familiars. Sorry."

"Well, it was quite a hassle with only one team. So I understand. Even if it's only a corpse. This is the first case of human allying with witches. We might find something out of this. Thank you."

"It was no problem." Then I was dismissed to have my own rest. Coming back to my room, Satoru somehow has been waiting me. “You sneaked in again?” I blinked at the intruder.

“Rai-chan. Here.” He patted his lap as he has comfortably settled down on my bed.

“Let me change to my pajama first.” I turn to the bathroom and changed out of uniform. I come out wearing the shirt he left last time. I have decided it become my most favorite pajama and crawled to the bed.

“Rai-chan is wearing my shirt.” He sniffed. “Smells good. I will change it to other shirts tomorrow. I want to smell like Rai-chan.” He nudged his head onto my shoulder, hands on my hip, tracing patterns.

“We need to wait until we are 20, Satoru.” I hummed as I buried my hands into his soft tresses.

“I know. Just want to hold you.” He sighed blissfully. We just spend our time like this, basking in each other presence.

“Satoru…” My eyes started dropping as I listened to his heartbeats.

“Hm?”

“You are not allowed to leave me…” I mumbled, already half asleep.

“Never dream to.” I heard his airy chortle, but I am already gone too far in sleep. “Sleep well, my precious. You are my one and only, just I am to you.” ~”~

 A very long omake

"I am Hisaki Raika, nice to meet you." This is my first day on coming to my new school. Not sure if it's because they are students of prestigious school or something. They just look really calm.

"...Where is Gojo?"

"Sensei, Satoru is late. He was gaming until late night." A girl raised her hand while talking it nonchalantly.

"Gojo Satoru…" I saw how sensei grinded her teeth and crumpled the paper on her hand.

I take that back. Wherever it is, students never change. "Haaa…." Sensei exhaled and recomposed herself. "Is there anything you want to ask to our new student?"

"Yes yes. Here here." Another one raised her hand.

"Yes, Takamichi-san, go ahead."

"Have you got your secondary gender?"

"I am sorry. But I haven't got it yet." I answered.

"Oh… Please don't be sorry. I am Takamichi Sora, my secondary gender is beta. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." I smiled politely. To be honest, after what happened I don't think I will be making new friends soon. At least until I can sort out my own feelings first.

The questions and answers session is filled with usual questions, what do I like? My hobby? Favorite food or drink? Pet? Or something like that. After 10 minutes or so, Sensei ended it and have me sat on my would be seat, in front of this still not anywhere to be seen Gojo Satoru.

"Pleased to be your acquaintance." I smiled politely to my desk mate. The girl that tattled to sensei why this Gojo student is late.

"Ieiri Shoko, nice to meet you. The student behind you is the Dumber of the duo dumb and dumber." She casually introduced and mocked the still elusive student.

"Ah… Dumber? Then there's the Dumb?" I blinked.

"That one with bun head and strange bang. Just call him bang guy."

"I see."

"Shoko. It's not nice to introduce people like that. And my bang is not strange." The said bang guy chimed in into conversation. "I am Geto Suguru. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you." I nodded.

"You don't deny that you are the Dumb then." Ieiri-san giggled.

"I am also not dumb. Only Satoru is dumb." He protested.

"Hai, calm down. I am happy that you are getting along, but now focus on the lesson first." Sensei clapped her hands.

"Sorry, sensei." I apologized.

"It's okay. I will have you share with Ieiri first."

"Yes." Ieiri-san motioned to move my desk over, so I did. Ieiri-san became sort of my study buddy. She also guides me around the school.

"So where is Satoru?" Ieiri-san looked at the bang guy who tagged along in our little excursion.

"He was punished for writing a report because of yesterday. But he spend his time gaming. And the rest is history." Geto-san snickered.

"Does that mean you did too?"

"I have completed mine." He shrugged.

"This Dumb and Dumber duo. Sooner or later Yaga-sensei will kick you two out of school." Ieiri-san rolled her eyes.

"Not happening." Geto-san countered confidently.

"Like he can kick us out. Not when we are the strongest." Another voice suddenly joined in. A white haired boy with very very pretty pair of glacial blue eyes, wearing small round sunglasses which fortunately didn't completely hide his eyes snorted.

"Yo, Satoru, you finished your report?" Geto-san waved to him. He must be the Gojo Satoru that Sensei talked about.

"Suguru. Why did you run off on your own?" Gojo-san scowled.

"I didn't run off. I finished my report."

"You still ditch me to my own, nonetheless." He scoffed.

"Let's just ignore this Dumb and Dumber or else we will be also dragged into their stupid argument."

"..." Gojo-san looked at me strangely intensely.

"...Did I make you uncomfortable?" I blinked at his obvious stare. "Sorry, I will get going now." I knew I had intruded into their circle and quickly made myself scarce.

Unbeknown to me, even after I walked away, Gojo's stare didn't leave me at all. "Why are you staring at her like that? She hasn't done anything to you? Not even fawning." Shoko grumbled as she hit him.

"That one. I want that one. I want my mating mark on her. I want her."

"...Did writing the report mess up your brain?" Geto raised his brow, amused.

"No. I just want her. I can feel it, she is the one." He shook his head.

"Yeah right…" His teammates and best friends thought he was in that phase. The usual teenager's phase.

So my first day passed without a hitch. As per rule, I should be in the school dorm. But my room is still being prepared so to speak. For now, I am just going to commute from home to school. ~"~

 It's been a week since I transferred to a new school and everything is going smoothly. Now that I am here, Rubrum Academy is just like any other school. Maybe their curriculum is more advanced, not to mention their uniform design is cute. But it's not that different from other schools.

Today too, just like any other day, I walked home alone. Gojo-san was…very kind to offer to walk me home on my first day. But I declined. I almost feel bad when he looks like an abandoned puppy. Later I found out from Shoko that he is very (in)famous. Because of his looks, he has a lot of fans outside school, not to mention he is exuding alpha pheromone everywhere he goes.

I…don't want to get caught in another troublesome situation after what happened in my old school. I just… don't have the energy to care or deal with whatever trouble will come if people saw him walking me home, that's why I declined.

"...weird…" I mumbled as I halted my footsteps. Too quiet. I didn't see anyone on my way home. It's like everyone just vanished or maybe I was the one who vanished? Then I remembered that Shoko did tell me about an urban legend. About how people suddenly spirited away in the crowd or in any other places.

Sense of unease resurfacing in my mind. I clutch my bag tighter, hand inside it, feeling a cold temperature of an object to calm my mind. My father gave me a gun as a form of protection. Well, it's a very real-like model gun with rubber bullets. Enough to scare some shady people.

I gulp and start walking again, while darting my eyes left and right, praying that nothing will happen. But yes, the universe always answers differently from your wish. The wall of the house on my right suddenly exploded and broke. I let out a scream due to shock, covering my head and closing my eyes.

"Grrooaoarrr!!!!" A loud roar echoed.

"Wh…what's this?" I looked at it, eyes wide in shock and fear. The monster looks at me and let out a low growl, preparing to pounce on me.

'Run!' My mind screamed. I desperately lifted my legs that were like lead, rooting firmly on the ground. I turned back and ran, but my feet stumbled on the rubbles, making me tumble down on the ground. My bag and the content inside sprawled out near me.

The monster stomps leisurely as if savoring my fear. I scramble to take the gun and fire it. Fairly certain that it won't work but desperately hope it to buy me some time. Though I don't even know what should I do next.

To my surprise, the bullet works. This is not a rubber bullet at all. I was so stunned. I am sure that I see father put rubber bullets inside. But…how come this come out like real bullets?

The monster groaned in pain and became angrier. Scared, I keep firing the guns, not stopping even after all the bullets are gone and the monsters stopped moving a few feets from me. The gun clatters down while I try to steady my breathing and trembling body. A lot of questions are running through my head. But I do know I need to get away from here first.

Shakily, I lift myself out. Not even bothering to pick up my bags anymore. Just as I take a step another one falls down from the sky, the gust knocks me down onto the asphalt again. I look at it and just close my eyes, waiting for my imminent death.

I hear a loud roar and then nothing. I take a peek and see the monster is laying on the ground, unmoving. In front of me is a giant human shaped paper? Literally a paper shaped like a human. It's moving around.

"Hisaki-san." I saw Geto-san standing behind me, smiling.

"Rai-chan." Shoko peeked out from his back. "Are you okay?"

"...I…am not sure…?" I answered. I was so shocked that my brain stopped processing the whole thing.

"Can you stand?" Geto-san offered his hand to me.

"Thank you." I let him pull me up.

"I am glad we are on time." Shoko heaved in relief. "I don't want to know what happened if we were not."

"...What's that…?"

"We will explain to you later. But first let's get you back to school." Geto-san said kindly.

"Does the school know this too?" I blinked.

"More or less."

"Oi, Suguru did you find… " He stopped short when he saw me?

"Oi, Satoru. Your hunch is right. We are glad that we find her." Geto-san waved to his friend.

*Slap* Gojo-san slaps Geto-san’s hand away. The hand that still holding into me. ‘Ah, he must be the type that doesn’t like when his friends being touched by another stranger.’ It’s territorial thing.

“Sorry… I will get going to school on my own.” I frowned when my voice came out shakier than I would have like.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt? Did they scare you?” Gojo-san scanned me from head to toe.

“I…think…I am…”

“You are hurt.” He frowned as he spotted my left ankle. I follow his line sight and see indeed that my left sock has some blood on it.

“I didn’t feel-“ I let out a gasp as I suddenly being lifted bridal style. “G-Gojo-san?”

“It’s Satoru.”

“Uh….” I looked for the other two for help.

“Satoru feels formalities should just go to hell by its own.” Shoko shrugged.

“That’s why he is always being scolded for being disrespectful.” Geto-san nodded.

“…Gojo-san…” I called softly, but he gave no response. “Gojo-san?” I called louder but still no response. “Gojo-kun.” He just walked without any care. “Sa-Satoru!” I yelled and he stopped.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable?” He finally looked at me.

“Uh…” I tried to formulate my words. ‘It’s not uncomfortable per se…’ “I can walk on my own. Please let me down.” I spoke softly. ‘Being carried like this is a bit embarrassing.’

“Oh…” Suddenly I feel like I just scolded a kitten for being naughty. “But you are hurt.” He…pouted?

“It’s not that bad. I feel a little embarrassed being hold like this.” I finally blurted it out.

“I see.” He slowly, very slowly and gently put me back down. Only after he is sure that I won’t suddenly fall down, he releases his hold. Only for him to squat down with his back to me.

“…Ano…”

“If you are embarrassed being hold like that, then piggy back won’t be a problem, right?”

‘A fair point. But still…’ “I can walk slowly on my own.” I answered.

“Hop on, Rai-chan. We just got the report that the witch is disposed. The barrier will dissolve soon. And we then will have to deal with people’s stares.” Shoko nudged her elbow to me.

“Witch? Barrier?” I tilted my head.

“It’s better if we explain to you after you got treatment. Can’t leave your leg like that too long.” Geto-san added.

“…okay… but promise me you will tell me everything.”

“Of course. No worries.” Shoko grinned as she packed up all my things. I then wrap my hands around Gojo-san’s neck and he in turns secures my legs with his hands. Faint smell of wisteria flower wafts to my nose.

‘Weird. I haven’t developed my secondary gender, yet…’ The smell is really calming and I feel my eyelids drop. The adrenaline must have worn out. “Smell nice…” I fall asleep like that.

Gojo stopped on his track right after being told smell nice by his crush, ears turn red because her steady breathing. And by God, she hasn’t even developed her scent gland yet but, he swore she smells very heavenly, her smell mixes well with his own. It’s like their smells are supposed to be one but split into 2 instead.

“Wow, never thought I will live the day to see Gojo Satoru blushed.” Shoko snickered.

“Let’s snap some pic.” Geto pulled out his phone and snapped some. The flashes are hurting Gojo’s eyes

“Shut up. She is sleeping.” He growled.

“Yeah yeah, you better thanks us for helping you just now. There is no witch in this area. The barrier is made by Suguru’s shikigami.” Shoko commented. When they are going inside to a barrier, Geto uses his shikigami to make another one outside the already existed barrier. So, they are trapped inside double barrier. That’s why when the final familiar is dead the barrier hasn’t dissolved. ~”~

 After I woke up in a room that would be my room in school dorm. Father explains everything to me. From witches to familiars to why this school exists. The school itself is a secret organization, funded by government. All of the students here are either hunters or training to be staff in the said organization.

Father is also one of the scientists that studied the extraterrestrial life forms that we call witch and familiar. Hence, the always out of town business trips. Father said I have potential to be hunter, if not he also wants me to get involved in his research, since I will find out sooner or later. But he would have never thought that I will encounter familiars on my own. And is glad that I am safe and sound.

I told him about the gun and he answered that’s the proof that I can be a combatant. I subconsciously poured my energy inside the rubber bullet to change it into a bullet that is effective to kill familiars. And then I was put into Gojo-san’s team, because the team leader, Gojo-san said so. ~”~

 Gojo-san is…very strange and unique. Those are my assessments of him. I heard from Shoko that he is an alpha. A very template one. It's no wonder that he is like that. Though he is not as hot headed as template alpha usually would.

How do I describe him…. He is very unique… and strange…? He is… a very template alpha, very charismatic and likes to be the one who gives orders. But at the same time, he is very open to suggestions or ideas. Usually template alpha likes to go his way whether he is right or not and hates it when other people question his means…. That's how he is to another person. He will even happily put them in their place. But when I questioned him, somehow, he kept praising me? Even pondering about my suggestion? I mean, in the end his strategy is always the best though. But he took time to consider it.

And then all of them will have this…how do I put it? Very tired face. Though they said they are all very fine. Nothing is wrong. Maybe they were just being nice to me because I am the newest member of the team. I basically have zero experience in this alien hunting field. Gojo-san might be just trying to make me feel welcomed in their team. ~”~

An alpha. That is what my secondary gender is. I was really surprised. I thought I would be a beta. I don’t think I have an alpha quality. But my friends digress. They said I have the most alpha quality, that quality being can put the most annoying and template alpha in his place properly.

I have vaguely aware that most of my friends are alpha. I didn’t really ask about their secondary gender, but after I got mine. I realized all of them are alphas. We are alpha groups, which is very rare indeed. But that is just a small matter, we just clicked with each others. Even though we all have weird personalities, it’s like we complement each other. Though our alpha trait sometimes made us butt our head with each other.

Today I took a day off from school. The smells are so overwhelming that I feel a little nauseated. This is understandable, after living for 15 years without the ability of smelling body odors when you are not practically sniffing them yourselves. You are suddenly assaulted by many smells at once. Now, I am resting in my room and trying to get use to it by having some students and senseis or even some staffs to check on me.

Gojo-san made a point to visit me everyday and I was thankful for it. His smell is helping me calm down, but I do feel bad having taken his time away. “Gojo-san… I am very thankful that you visited me everyday, but I do think you should also spend some times for yourself. You don’t need to come just because you are my team leader.” I smiled.

“…Does this mean I am not welcome?” Here it is, that look again. The look of abandoned kitty in the rain. Does he realize that he looks cute when he does that. That makes me want to tease him more.

“You are very welcome.” I answered quickly, before I blurt something that will make him cry. Even though I kind of want to see that.

“Then, can I stay here?”

“I don’t mind… But I think you will get bored without having anything to do.” I said.

“I won’t be bored. Never.” He grinned. “…Do you realize how heavenly you smell at all? I can just stay here to integrate your smell into mine forever.”

“Hm? What were you saying, Gojo-san? I didn’t catch it.”

“I said, how long are you going to use Gojo-san on me? I thought we have long past that.” He pouted. This time he pouted.

“But you are my team leader and you are older than me. Even if we are in the same grade.” I blinked.

“Then as your team leader, I will order you that you have to call me by my first name.” He declared.

“No.”

“Eh?” His jaw slacked, his sunglasses skewed a little. “Rai-chan~~~~!!” He cried.

“Sorry. When you said it like that. I suddenly have the urge to make you cry.” I scratched my cheek, admitted it’s a little shameless.

“…So, if I cry and beg, will you do it?” He asked me very seriously.

“Okay.” I agreed without much thinking. I mean, there’s no way he’s gonna beg and cry. Gojo-san is a proud alpha, you know.

“Rai-chan…can you…can you please call me Satoru?” He shyly grabbed my hand and played with it, while asking me with watery eyes, batting his eyelashes. “I…want you to call me, Satoru. Please please please. I will be such a good boy.” He sobbed.

I feel something inside me snapped and my hand reached out to his head. “Okay, Satoru. Since you cried prettily for me.” The joyous look he had in his face will be forever engraved in my memory. I can’t help but coo how cute he is looking right now. And I hope he will only show this side of him to me. ~”~

 To finally celebrate of me coming out from my room after getting used to it. We are going to a beach this weekend. The girls took me to a swimsuit shopping trip. In the end I choose a bandeau two pieces bikini in icy blue color.

And the day finally arrived, 2 hours of bus from school. A beach. Boys and girls quickly went to respective toilet to change into swimsuit. When I finished changing into mine, everyone is already playing. I am the last to be out, but Satoru apparently is waiting for me. He is wearing a high wide collar zipped jumper and navy blue swimming trunks.

“Satoru, are you okay?” I waved my hands in front of him when I saw him not responding to my call.

“Rai-chan.”

“Yes?” I blinked when he suddenly unzipped his jacket and zipped it on me while mumbling something incoherent. “Satoru?”

“Rai-chan, you are not allowed to take off the jumper because you will get sunburn.”

“But I applied sunblock.” I tilted my head.

“Still no.” He huffed. Satoru is acting weird again… There’s time when he suddenly becomes this stubborn, refusing to heed anything. Somehow, he looks cuter? It’s like a kitten you are petting suddenly went into sulking mode because not enough attention. It’s almost like that. Of course I am not going to say it out loud. It’s quite disrespectful… but… I do want to see his reaction.

“…” I looked at him looking away like that, while some passerby are giggling at him. Somehow, they make me feel irritated. “Then, Satoru do you have another jumper?”

“I do.” He nodded slowly, not understanding my intention.

“Okay, I will wear this on one condition. Satoru, you have to wear a jumper too and can’t take off without my permission. If you do, I will call you Gojo-san forever.”

“Okay.” He nodded his head frantically. “I promise I won’t take it off, so you can’t call me by my last name.” He whined.

“If you don’t take it off, nothing will change. Can I trust you on that?”

“Of course.”

So I spend the rest of my day swimming with the jumper on. Though I sometimes tease him by unzipping the jumper and pretend to take it off. Every time I did that, he looks at me wide eyed, mouth quivering while stopping everything he is doing and stomps to me, zipping it up all the way again. I feel like I can get addicted at his reaction.

[lettersfromaphrodite]

| devoted to you |

―pairing : Clavis Lelouch x fem!Reader ―genre : fluff ―word count: 782 ― summary : Clavis and MC are dancing in her room after the ball they attended because MC didn’t have a chance to dance with him /insert random political stuff here/ and of course Clavis noticed her pout when they were in the carriage and our boy can do the math

― notes : this fic looks familiar?it is! I’m reposting ALL my works on this brand new blog and therefore please, bear with me! as always, askbox is always open and feedbacks are always welcome 💌

The sudden knock at your door made you snap out of your usual daydreams. «Rise and shine!» Clavis greeted, walking in your room as gracefully as he always did, just to close the wooden door behind his shoulders with a quick movement; you met his gaze through the mirror, before placing the earrings you’ve been wearing on the boudoir’s marble surface.

«I believe it’s quite late at night, your Highness,» you teased him, standing up so that you could face him, «I doubt most of the people in the Castle are sleeping, yet.»

«I know, I know, however, my heart is heavily burdened,» despite his words, Clavis spoke with his usual grin while walking towards you with long steps, wrapping an arm around your waist and tugging you towards his chest, «I didn’t get to dance with my sweetheart.» he whispered, and you desperately wanted to kiss that annoying smirk from his lips.

«Why didn’t you save me a dance?» he teased again, leaning towards your lips with the intention to finally kiss you, but you immediately tilted your head to the side, so that his lips found your cheek instead.

«I believe it’s you who didn’t save me a dance…» you mumbled, your tone a little bit sadder than you originally planned.

The truth was that you desperately wanted to dance with Clavis at some point of the night, but such a simple wish seemed to be impossible to realize: your lover was constantly talking about business with nobles, thing that left you waiting for him as you occupied your time chatting with the other Princes.  

Although you sometimes met Clavis’ apologetic gaze through the crowd, you spent song after song waiting, and waiting, and waiting; without realizing it, it was already time to head home. Clavis’ fingertips tilted your head towards him, and as his gaze burned into yours, you noticed that every trace of his usual amusement had vanished from his features; he gently ran his gloved fingertips on your cheekbones and repeated the action a handful of times to the point it tickled, and you scoffed a laugh in half annoyance.

«I have an idea,» you watched as Clavis’ perfect grin painted his lips, «let’s have a dance.» «Here?» you echoed, unsure. «Here and now.» Clavis confirmed, before detaching himself from you and taking a step back and you could nothing but look with with incredulous amusement at the Prince – now hinting a bow in front of you.

«Would you bless me with the honour to dance with me?» Clavis dramatically asked, and you giggled in return.

«I would love to, but…» although your doubts, the Prince had already guided both your hands on his shoulders, before wrapping his arms around your waist, «what about the musicians? And… Well, personal space?» you asked, referring to the fact that the stance you were in definitely wasn’t like any steps allowed during dances.

«Do we need any of that, my love?» Clavis confidently answered before taking your hand and slowly making you twirl in front of him, just to guide you in the position you were in earlier; your bodies were slowly swinging left and right, the only music you could actually hear was the song of nocturnal birds and crickets and still, as Clavis’ eyes bore into yours with nothing but the deepest affection, you found yourself preferring this to any kind of dance he could have asked for in public.

«Most importantly, I unintentionally made my only love sad tonight.» Clavis admitted, his features serious once again; you sighed softly, reaching out to caress the frown away from his handsome face.

«You didn’t make me sad,» you replied earnestly, «although I love spending time with you while we’re in public, I love just as much – probably even more, when I have you all for myself.» you confessed, enjoying the faint blush colouring Clavis’ surprised features. Clavis’ adorablesurprised face turned into a gentle smile, and he buried his face in your neck while mumbling a soft «how can you be so cute…» thing that made you genuinely laugh, simultaneously making the two of you stop your silent dance.

«Do you think we could dance like this again, sometimes?» you asked Clavis, who instinctively stole your lips in a chaste and quick kiss.

«I don’t know, leaving the decision to me means that we’re going to have this kind of tryst every night.» Clavis’ eyes were now hungrily travelling on your features, and you slid your hands from his shoulders to his nape, standing on your tiptoes so that you could meet his eyes.

«Every night it is, then.» you hummed, before capturing the Prince’s lips in a kiss.  

all works © lettersfromaphrodite

Do not modify, repost, translate or plagiarize my stories. I only publish my works on tumblr & AO3.

↳ BACK TO NAVIGATION 💫 ↳ BACK TO MASTERLIST 🔮

[tripleyeeet]

*eating my cereals and scrolling through tumblr* *notices summer's tumblr break has ended* SHIT! *throws the cereal away, puts suit on and quickly grabs microphone*

HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME BACK TO TUESDAY INTERVIEW!

I'm Annie and we're here —once again on a Wednesday because time is relative— with our amazing Summer! A round of applause for this blessing to our world!!!

Truth be told *checks notes* not much has happened since we last saw each other but DO NOT FRET! I have always have something up my sleeves and this time of year in Italy, it mostly tends to be stinkbugs... they're everywhere

ANYWAY, back to business! The latest chapter of "A lover's folly" hit ours (mobile and/or desktop) screens last Saturday, leaving behind a trail of broken hearts and readers being left with bathed breath. Summer, how do you feel knowing you were the cause of such despair?

Moreover, just to take a quick dip in the pool of your past, the first episode of Loki dropped last Friday, leaving many people swooning over Tom Hiddelston's magistral acting and also to the amazing and hilarious banter between Loki and Mobius (and let's not forget the adorable and entertaining addition of OB to the cast). Summer, as an (former) all-time Loki fan, what did you think of this episode? And you think we should expect from this season?

Before I leave, I would like to remind everyone watching that there are real people behind the fics you're devouring, who have real lives and tons of things to do and still manage to put out amazing pieces of work that you can freely enjoy. So be kind and don't pressure writers, okay? Otherwise, I will find you :) Anything else to add on this matter, Summer?

omg hi annie <3 happy tuesday but actually it's wednesday (thursday for you by the time you read this) interview! always happy to hear from you my darling bard. (i say as i literally talk to you pretty much every moment of the day we are awake...)

anyway, a lover's folly. mhm, yes, what a devastating chapter that i totally didn't meant to leave on a cliffhanger and fuck off for two weeks...

seriously, i feel kind of bad for doing that but also, i'm a slut for angst and wrecking people emotionally so i'm absolutely living for all the screaming i've received via dm. for real, i love every single one of you but man, y'all have had it too good with all the fluff i've been writing.

in terms of loki, i really liked the episode. obviously because of the past season i have my reservations in regard to fully enjoying it but so far it's promising? personally, i find the pacing to be a lot better already. as well as the dynamics between characters but that might be due to having more time to work together.

also ob is literally my favourite. i would die for him and i really, really, REALLY hope he's not just a side character that's been overly hyped and gets like no screen time. otherwise i will be sorely devastated.

that being said, aside from ob i hope a lot more of the newer characters get more screen time too. last season we only had a very small cast and while it was fine i definitely wanted more interaction and conflict, so hopefully we get more of that? also, i'd really like for the show to actually focus on loki in a more positive way but considering last season that might be wishful thinking.

(also nothing to add except love you and have a good day!!)

[stanathanxoox]

You Love Me Too?

gif not mine

@matchesarelit asked:

Hello!!

I was wondering if I could request a friends to lovers Nate Getz (NCIS la) X reader

No issue if not , love your fics xx

You’re walking through the doors into the special projects office for the first time in over eight months, being requested for an undercover job by SecNav had meant that you had had to leave without saying goodbye to any of your team mates, let alone your best friend Operational Psycologist Nate Getz. Hetty had been the only one privy to the knowledge of you leaving and now that your undercover operation had been completed you were finally back in LA and back to work. It felt nice being back in the office. You can hear the bickering coming from your team mates before your even through the end of the corridor and you can’t help the wide grin from spreading across your cheeks as you continue to move. Pausing at the dividers to the room you smile over at Hetty who gives you a slight head and smile before she returns to her work. You look at the others and smile, Callen, Sam, Kensi, Deeks and Nate are all sitting behind their desks just like they had been the last time they had been when you had seen them. You can hear a shuffle of feet rushing down the stairs and you whip around and turn to see Eric and Nell and smile at them

“Y/N? Is that you?” Eric asks as he pauses at the bottom of the stairs, whilst Nell doesn’t pause, she rushes over to you and runs straight into your arms and you hold her close

“It’s really me. Hi guys” you say giving Nell a small reassuring squeeze before you turn to the others, smiling at each of them in turn before your eyes land on the one person you had missed the most.

“It’s so good to see you again Y/N” Sam says as he makes his way over to you and pats you on the head. You smile at the man

“It’s good to be back, I’ve missed the LA sun” you say and he chuckles

“Oh God it must’ve been bad if you missed the LA sun, given you were complaining about it just days before you left” he teases and you chuckle. The others make their way over to you, each giving you a hug. All except Nate who in the greetings and catch up had managed to escape through the crowd and out the side of the building. You excuse yourself from the others wanting to follow him and see how he’s doing.

You find Nate sitting in front of the water fountain at the back of the building and you make your way over to him, sitting next to him.

“I missed you Nate” you whisper after what feels like a chocking silence between the two of you.

“I missed you too Y/N, so much. There wasn’t a day that went by where I wasn’t worried about you and your safety. Worried about if the love of my life was going to make it back to us. You have no idea how many times I would go to Hetty and beg her for an ounce of information she had on your case just so that I would know if you were safe and sound. I needed to know that you were safe” he says. As each word escapes your best friends mouth your more shocked by what he has said because he had said the L word, the one word that you had always been too terrified to say to the man that you had been in love with for the last four years.

“You love me?” you whisper looking down at your hands before you feel Nate gently cupping your face in his hands as he tilts your face to look at his own

“Of course I do Y/N, I love you more than life itself. You are my everything, my whole existance and I missed you dearly when you were gone” he tells you. You can see the truth hidden in his eyes and you smile, leaning forward you whisper

“I love you too Nate, I’ve been in love with you for years I was just too scared that it would ruin our friendship” you say and he shakes his head

“It doesn’t have to Y/N, it can make our friendship, our love better” he says and you smile before leaning forward and capturing his lips in the first of many kisses.

Tag List: @tiva-jenry-caskett-rizzles-densi​, @jimmybpride​, @dressed-just-like-z1ggy​, @nikkiwierden​, @samchelforever007​, @kirkspockbones​, @xoncisxncislaxncisnolaox​, @lasalle-pride-sebastian-love​, @haliannej​, @brooklyn-99-amyxjake​​, @mizzezm​, @genius2050​, @twilight-twihard​, @cullencoven2019​, @wxlfgirlx​, @luciferxchloeislove​, @drethanramsey-ismybabe​, @sawyer-oakley-is-mighty-fine​, @loverofoneshots​, @aelin-thefirebreathingbitchqueen

Tag List for NCIS LA: @caswinchester2000, @sam-hanna-stan

[imhereforscm]

Our creative writing exam went well. Thank you for you help!!! 😊 We are not part of the scm fandom but i have read your fics and they are wonderful. Especially the " Two Different Worlds " series. I love that series. 🌠 💕💕 Please continue writing more. Can i request something? I am not very familiar with the characters, so please choose a appropriate character for this story. 🙂

The story goes like-

The reader is sad, she is crying during lunch break and the guy she admires ( who is an artist; he is one year senior) talks to her for the first time and encourages her to pursue her dreams. They become friends and eventually lovers.

Please don't feel pressured to write this. I just wanted to request something. 🙂🌼

Again Thank you for helping us earlier. ❤

"A future for yourself"

Genre: comfort/fluff

Pairing: Human!Tauxolouve × reader

Warnings: none

A/N: I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU PASSING YOUR EXAMS!!!😭😭💕💕💕💕✨✨✨💕✨💕💖💕💖🌹🌹🌹💖✨💖✨💖✨💖✨💖✨ CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Also, thank you for your support, it means a lot to me, really😊😊❤️❤️ And from the information you've given me, I used Tauxolouve (the guy from the "two different worlds" series.) When you said "artist", I was like- "alright, I got you!(⁠ ⁠´⁠◡⁠‿⁠ゝ⁠◡⁠`⁠)" Enjoy!!(⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠)⁠♥

You stared down at your lunch and your stomach as if narrowing, refused to consume anything.

You sighed and shut the bowl with its lid, before folding your forearms on top of it and then resting your forehead there.

You felt as if you stood in the middle of a crossroad and no signs were anywhere near to point out the way to you. Your thoughts had become a skein, tangled so tightly, it squeezed your brain to the point of pain.

You felt tears building up behind your eyelids, trying to slip out and colour your face in distress, stain it with sorrow. You took deep breaths, trying to calm your hurting heart down, but it wasn't easy, given how tight your throat felt.

Your bottom lip began quivering and upon opening your eyes, you instantly felt the cool droplets of pain dripping down your cheeks and onto your forearms. You didn't raise your head, wanting to wallow in your distress on your own. You felt as if everyone would tell you to give up. You were almost completely sure they would, so you were scared. You were scared to hear a harsh truth.

"Is anyone sitting here?" The voice of a guy startled you and your trembling shoulders jerked.

You peeked up from your folded position and you shook your head in declination. "No. No, it's empty."

"Great." He said and set his lunch in front of yours. His slanted, dark eyes looked into your watery ones and his lips curled into a soft smile. "May I ask why are you crying?"

You swallowed thickly upon his questions. You knew that guy and admired him for as long as you knew him, so you weren't sure coming out to him with your problems was something you'd like. Wouldn't that embarrass you?

Tauxolouve pushed his bottle of water gently towards you. "I noticed you haven't brought anything to drink. It'll help you calm down."

Your eyes shifted to the bottle that was still sealed and sitting close to you and even though you felt a little guilty for it, you accepted it, since your throat was starting to hurt from how dry it was. "Thank you..." You responded, your voice slightly hoarse.

"Don't mention it." He waved his hand at you and leaned onto the table, so you could speak in a low voice only he could hear. "No one is going to hear us, so do you want to talk about it? I don't like to see people crying by themselves, you see."

You wiped your remaining tears with the back of your hand and looked into his eyes. His concern seemed genuine and so you decided that at least you could try. You took a deep breath. "I don't know what to do. I have things that make me happy and yet... I don't seem to make the decision to follow them. I've been discouraged by most people by being told it's pointless. They tell me to give up and settle for something else, but I..." Your vision blurred again and the words struggled to pass through your throat. "I know what they expect me to do won't make me happy. It is not what I choose, no matter how hard I think on it."

He made sure not to miss a word and once you were done speaking, he took your hand in his two warm ones and gave it a comforting squeeze. "May I tell you what I think?"

You nodded.

"Thank you." His hold on your hand loosened up, but he didn't let go of it. "Many people will look down on you for chasing your dreams. Whether that's because they're narrow minded and can't accept that someone likes something different from them or because they themselves don't have anything to love and now they want to put out your flame and leave you cold too." Tauxolouve began his speech and you found yourself listening to every word with undivided attention. "But you know, what I believe is that this life is yours and you should focus on building a future for yourself, not for others. You will experience this life, swim in its waves and feel its air on your skin. You will feel all that, not someone who thinks they're entitled to boss you around. So which ocean's waves you want to swim in or the temperature of the air you want to feel is up to you." Watching you looking at him with such interest, as if he was heavensent, made him chuckle a little and poke the tip of your nose. "These are words of a senior, who's heard all kinds of things about my major in arts."

"Thank you so much." You said from the bottom of your heart. You couldn't deny the fact that after what he said you felt stronger inside. His little verbal push was the support you needed to regain your confidence.

"No need to thank me." He said humbly. "I couldn't bear to see a pretty lady so broken and upset." He winked at you, before turning to his lunch, leaving you a little bashful.

The days passed and before you even realized it, they blended into months. Months which consisted of days when you and Tauxolouve met every day.

You would hang out during lunch, make your way to classes together and even exchange numbers, so you could chat even outside academic hours.

One evening, your phone's screen lit up and your lips instinctively curled into a smile, your heart racing at a speed that made you giggle excitedly like a little girl, at Tauxolouve's contact name across the screen.

The text he sent you read for you to open your balcony door and step outside.

A part of you suspected why, but you still felt a little clueless. You did as he instructed and sure enough, you found him standing below your balcony.

"How's my little lady?" He said, smiling up at you with his charming smile.

"Wonderful, now that I see you." You replied a little shy at the way he was staring at you. "What did you need? I don't remember scheduling to go anywhere today."

Tauxolouve didn't reply and instead picked a purple flower from the pushes below your balcony and held it up for you to see. "I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me."

You were left speechless at first, seeing everything unfold in from of you like this, but you were definitely not displeased. You had grown to love him as more than a friend for quite some time now, but you never thought he'd feel the same. He was always desired by women anyway, you assumed that since he could have almost anyone he wanted, you wouldn't be his first option.

Yet there he was and you were not going to deny him. Like he said: it was your life, therefore they were also your choices.

"I'd love to."