#thoughts about umi

[lunarharp]

tsukigumi..

[stunie]

I'm here! *kicks in the door to give you love and affection...but also selfship questions*

You and Ume are going to an amusement park (or a botanical garden if you don't like them!) What's your date like?

If you were gonna give each other flowers what kind would they be?

And since you like astronomy, if you could, what star, constellation, or celestial body would you give each other? It could just be one that reminds you of him or one with a story you think he'd like or just that that galaxy/star in particular is pretty...and which ones he'd give to you too! Unless that's too weird of an ask then don't mind that one!

Also which one of you is the type to put their cold feet/hands on the other?

mari >: the astronomy one means so much to me. i was literally posting pics of telescope stuff from last spring on my insta again yesterday:’)

ok so we know i don’t wear my glasses! i can’t see the stars but i know where they should be. i can only do that because sirius exists!! it’s the brightest star in the sky so if i can see that one, ill know where everything else is. sooo i always need to seek out sirius first <:

ume knows i always point him to that one first whenever we go stargazing !! i finally told him that sirius is part of the canis major constellation, and i told him if he was a constellation, he’d be that one! they’re similar in the way i call him a puppy & also . he’s the biggest star in my lil world :^) sirius is also blue it just fits him so well also i would seek him out if i ever lost my way in a crowded setting !!! i recognize everyone just from silhouettes so i can spot him even from miles away hehehe

so.. i told him that and he pointed to the one next to it and asked what that one was. and yk what it was :O? there’s canis major (BIG DOGGIE) as well as canis minor (MINI DOGGIE). he started laughing n said ‘then naturally— that one’s you, huh?”

hehe so our constellations are right beside each other yayy !!! he’s the big dog and im the lil one right there (:

as for the amusement park, aaaaa!!!! WE GO ON ALL THE RIDES. he spun the teacup ride too fast and i got motion sickness and had to sit down. he also jumpscared me at the top of the ride that plummets straight down. WE SAMPLED SO MANY FOODS !! AND THEN FELT SICK !!!!

flowers ): i need to ponder more on this one. flowers mean very much to me ^ ^ <333

i run super warm !! i think im usually hot, however however, he does the thing. where he snakes a hang underneath my hoodie to put his whole palm on my stomach ?? he does it as soon as he puts ice in our water bottles and i ALWAYS TRY AND RUN BUT HE IS FAST ?!?!!

[bibiana112]

I should get a Rika keychain <- Guy who hasn't read past the first arc of Higurashi yet

[moebalovesyou]

YES I'M GONNA SHOUT ABOUT UMI SPOILERS BECAUSE I'M SCARED SOMEONE GETS ACCIDENTALLY SPOILED LMAOOO

shoutout to umi fans in yt comments under umi memes like,, my jaw dropped at these speculations

it's great fanfiction material i though i think!

what the hell /lh

[joelletwo]

umineko is r07 begging his audience come play toys with meeeeeee ill make it fun if u make it fun and in this way me and him are the same

[princess-of-the-corner]

Are the stories in the Heroes and Villain series part of the same universe?

Yep! "Chaos Children", "Blood is Thicker" and "Every Goddamn Year" are all within the same universe!

I might add more fics to that set in the fututre. I have at least three planned in my head. But yeah all of them are in the same continuity.

[when-they-meow]

the worst part of ai art is how suspicous i am now. every now and then ill find myself zooming into random spots in an image to see if its AI or not. Seeing recent ai arts where the AI doesn't fuck up the text just makes it more intimidating. everybody is getting more suspicious, really. personally i just sort of suck at drawing hands - is there gonna be a day where somebody assumes my art is AI art based on that?

[geroya]

not really a sudden realization but a realization nonetheless that the 'main character' of sw story is very much overshadowed by all of the working parts of his story

[windupaidoneus]

to be quite honest while i understand the appeal of shu/mika i also would rather die than have their relationship ever canonised bc happyele writers dont know how 19 y/os behave & that's absolutely not whatever shu's got going on. man feels 23 while mika feels 17 & it's uncomfortable to me sorry .

[onlyangel4]

Hi can i request an smau with just met to love at first sight (maybe summertime fling) with lando based on Wherever u r by umi and V 🥹 happy ending!!

wherever u r. ln4. smau.

lando norris x actress!reader

lando always thought that love at first sight was some cliche created by the movies, something not applicable with real life. but then he met you

faceclaim: madelyn cline

y/ninsta posted a story

written: emergency leg shave in a hotel sink before going out in monaco that i definitely do not belong at, wish me luck.

y/bff replied to your story: i can't believe you are going to an event alone, your confidence baffles me

y/ninsta: if it makes you feel better i said yes when i was drunk and now that i'm stone cold sober i am shitting my pants

y/ninsta posted a story

written: two hours later and i am ready

y/nsightings posted a story

written: y/n spotted outside a club in monaco, there is a massive celebrity event there tonight she told a fan that her plus one dropped out last minute so she is attending alone and is shitting herself, sounds like our y/n

f1updates

liked by user1, user2, user3 and 54,683 others

f1updates: lando, charles and alex, daniel and heidi have all been spotted outside the same club in monaco. there is an exclusive invite only event taking place. several celebrities have already been spotted entering the club including zendaya, yn l/n, tate mcrae and the kid laroi

view all 7,293 comments

user1: i would sell a kidney to get inside that club

user2: omg this is the event y/n was shaving her legs for

user3: she is so real for that if i knew that i was going to be in a room with f1 drivers i would shave EVERYTHING

user4: the summer break just started and they are already meeting up at a party they are all obsessed with each other

y/nupdates posted a story

written: y/n spotted leaving the monaco party with an unknown man

y/nfan

liked by user5, user6, user7 and 34,855 others

y/nfan: guys! so my boyfriend does a lot of work behind the scenes in film and tv so we got invited to this event in monaco. and i spotted y/n standing at the back of the party not really interracting with anyone because she didn't know anyone so i went up to her told her that i was a massive fan and she spent a lot of the night with us. we were dancing and watching lando norris' dj set when he saw her and goes "holy shit that is y/n y/ln shit you are hotter in person" and when his dj set was done he ran off the stage and over to us and we were about to take a selfie so i got this gem. honestly the best night ever.

view all 592 comments

user7: could that be who y/n was spotted leaving with

user5: omg that is such a lando thing to do

user6: i would not be mad at this couple

landonorris posted a private story

charlesleclerc replied to your story: alex is so mad that she didn't get the chance to meet y/n last night and you guys are just hanging

landonorris: man we are not just hanging, she is like actually perfect

charlesleclerc: oh dear are you what the kids call down bad

landonorris: i will forever hate alex for teaching you that

mclaren: so if you fancied inviting your new "friend" to the dutch gp no one would be mad, especially if she wanted to take part in media day

landonorris: you never miss a trick admin, i'll talk to her

y/ninsta posted a story

written: beach day

y/ninsta

liked by landonorris, sabrinacarpenter, alexandrasaintmleux and 1,384,735 others

y/ninsta: monaco trip dump

view all 23,452 comments

sabrinacarpenter: can't wait for you to be back in la

y/ninsta: girl i have so much shit to tell you

alexandrasaintmleux: meeting you was a dream come true, can't wait until we get to hang out again

y/ninsta: love you so much, will have to visit again soon

landonorris: i made the cut !

y/ninsta: that night was too memorable to not include

user8: y/n what do you mean

user9: lando norris wtf is this crossover episode

user10: didn't she go on holiday alone, who took all these pictures

y/ninsta posted a story

written: first time on a private jet wtf never flying commercial ever again

landonorris posted a story

written: and we arrived, so ready for the next part of the season

charlesleclerc replied to your story: if "we" is who i think it is alex is going to lose her mind

landonorris: tell alex her job is to make sure y/n doesn't get lost in the paddock

f1celebs posted a story

written: actress y/n y/ln has arrived for media day here in the netherlands

y/ninsta posted a story

written: exciting things coming

mclaren posted a story tagging landonorris and y/ninsta

written: lando took actress y/n y/ln on a hot lap, click the link here to watch the whole thing

landonorris

liked by y/ninsta, alexandrasaintmleux, mclaren and 1,453,621 others

tagged: y/ninsta

landonorris: bring your girlfriend to work day

view all 78,934 comments

y/ninsta: i think you mean "almost kill your girlfriend at work day"

landonorris: babe i was actually going slow

alexandrasaintmleux: no you brought MY girlfriend to work

landonorris: well no...

mclaren: next time we will put y/n behind the wheel

y/ninsta: omg really !

landonorris: that is an awful ideal

user10: he has just beaten the norizz allegations by pulling one of the hottest women in hollywood omg way to prove us wrong

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[janearts]

I’m curious, does Roisia like kids? If she does, did she take a liking to any specific ones on her journey? Did she take in Yenna at camp?

Roisia LOVES children. Children are the last thing on her List to be... acquired??? When crafting her List, she thought she wanted 3-5, but by the end of Act I, she wants about 10-15 additional, largely tiefling children.

She was endeared in particular to Doni, Mirkon, Silfy, and Mattis in Act I and with Ide and Umi in Act II. She took in Yenna without question.

[stunie]

HELLOOOO ZEVIEEE!!! QUESTION TIME!

U 🫵 and umemiya go grocery shopping together, who's getting distracted by all the snacks that u don't need and who's trying their best to stick to the list?

hi nyx aaaaa im happy to see u!!! how have u been 🥺

mmm omg. it would be a pretty terrible shopping duo. i love lists! i always make a detailed one when i go out to shop > < but i think umemiya would get distracted first! something interesting catches his eye and he asks if i’d like to try it— but he looks a lil too excited asking so i’ll always say sure :’) the plan was to stick to the.. plan. except umemiya gets a lot of ideas & im easily convinced…

[ventismacchiato]

32 behind the lens — sad quotes bot !

scaramouche x g!n reader

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

Almost a week has passed and you haven’t spoken a single word to Kuni in that time. You’ve been rather busy doing streams with your camera on but pretending to be okay with millions of your fans watching was beginning to look difficult. You received a few confused texts from Jean when she saw your reveal, but she didn’t question you further than that.

Class became burdensome as you could only stare longingly at the back of Kuni’s head. He arrived right on time and left without bidding your farewell. He never even turned his head in your direction. He wasn’t being outwardly mean but you’d rather have him yell at you then pretend you didn’t exist.

Childe had texted you that morning updating you on Kuni. He was in the same boat as you, ignoring his meals and plunging all his energy into work.

You follow him out of class that day.

It took you a while to find him, his monotone outfit blending in with every other student. But you eventually caught up and grabbed ahold of his backpack, causing him to stumble before turning back. He flinches at the sight of you.

“Hey,” you greet, “Can we talk?”

He reaches out to remove your hand from his backpack and shakes his head, about to turn around before you speak up once more. Desperate.

“Please?”

Kuni stares past you for a few seconds, an unreadable expression adorning his face.

“Didn’t I ask you to leave me alone?” he eventually says, his voice lacking any warmth it once held before. How could the same lips uttering such cruel words be the same ones that were on you skin mere days ago? Your stomach was sinking.

“Yes,” you lamely answer. It felt like you were being scolded like a child, “I just thought I’d check on you.” Screw Childe for giving you false hope.

“I don’t need you to check on me,” he spits, “I don’t need you.”

Now you were the one who flinched.

“You don’t mean that,” you eventually say as students mill past.

Scara opens his mouth to say something else but quickly closes his lips shut.

“I said give me time so I don’t say something I regret,” he sighs, “Bye,” he mutters and shoves past you.

behind the lens !

masterlist — prev | next

typo in slide 1: toasting a poptart*

childe changed scaras wallpaper to nayeon to cheer him up :3

author’s notes — if you rmbr when i accidentally posted this no u don’t (gaslighting)

synopsis — you, better known as STARDUST, and BALLADEER have always been in competition for the top streamer spot on twitch, which is especially impressive since the two of you have never shown your faces. you’ve never been on good terms, constantly one-upping each other in matches and getting into petty arguments on twitter, causing your fans to also dislike each other. that’s until BALLADEER does a face reveal that breaks the internet with his good looks…which makes you realize it’s the same guy you went on a date with last night. the type of date that made you crave to see him again. the only problem was he didn’t know you were STARDUST and he was way different behind the lens than he portrayed himself online to you. should you keep your identity a secret to salvage the relationship or just let him go?

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[etherealhannie]

( oneshot ) ،، eternal admirer ،، ⌇ 원우

─────────────────────────────────────────

،، even on the days i ain't right by your side , i'm keeping my promise that i will be wherever you are ،، .ᐟ 🦋

pairing .ᐟ shy!wonwoo × fem!reader genre .ᐟ office romance au , lifetime crush word count .ᐟ 3.1k song rec. .ᐟ wherever u r ─ umi , v

note .ᐟ my playlist got the best of me─it's one of my favourite masterpiece , hope u guys love it as much as i do !

─────────────────────────────────────────

Wonwoo first noticed Y/N in primary school, when they were just children sitting in the same classroom. It was something small at first—maybe the way she focused during lessons or how her laughter was bright and genuine. He didn’t know why, but even back then, something about her presence stayed with him.

Through middle school, Wonwoo kept his distance, content with admiring her from afar. He wasn’t the kind of boy to chase someone’s attention. In fact, he often found himself tucked in corners of the classroom, quietly reading while the others played during recess. Y/N was popular—not in the loud or flashy way—but in the way everyone naturally gravitated toward her. She was kind, easygoing, and always surrounded by friends. Wonwoo’s heart quietly thrived in that space of unspoken affection, never daring to break the surface.

High school came and went. Y/N was the star student—good grades, captain of the debate team, and still as radiant as ever. Meanwhile, Wonwoo was in the background, still the quiet boy who excelled in his own way but never sought the limelight. He had accepted by then that his love for her was something that would likely never be returned. It was easier that way. They barely shared more than polite smiles, a handful of group projects, and casual greetings.

His heart, however, had a way of betraying his thoughts. No matter how much he tried to push it down, his feelings for Y/N only grew. The longing became a constant companion—a soft ache he carried silently, never acting on it. He told himself he was okay with just admiring her from the sidelines.

They ended up attending the same university. It was a coincidence that almost felt like fate, though Wonwoo never allowed himself to believe in something as whimsical as that. University was different—they shared classes again, the same building, and occasionally ran into each other at the campus café. Those run-ins were his favorite part of the week. Sometimes they exchanged a few words, just small talk, but it was enough to keep his quiet hope alive.

During their final year, there was a group assignment, and for the first time, Wonwoo found himself working closely with Y/N. It was the most interaction they’d ever had, and for once, he allowed himself to believe they were becoming friends. His heart soared every time she asked for his help or when she smiled and thanked him for something small.

Graduation came quickly after that. Wonwoo had prepared himself for a life where their paths would finally diverge. He’d never confessed his feelings, and he told himself it was for the best. She was going to move on to bigger, brighter things, and he’d be left to move on as well, as he always had.

But life had other plans.

Three months after graduation, Wonwoo found himself at a sleek new office, ready to start his first job as a data analyst. The office was large and modern, a corporate hub buzzing with young professionals. He’d only been there a week when he saw her—Y/N, walking through the glass doors as if it were completely normal that they’d end up in the same place once again. His heart skipped a beat, then two, as she caught sight of him, smiling warmly.

“Wonwoo! I didn’t know you’d be working here too,” she said, her eyes crinkling at the corners in that familiar way.

He froze for a moment, fumbling for words, before managing a soft, “Yeah, I started last week.”

From that day on, they crossed paths daily—at meetings, during lunch breaks, in the shared spaces of the office. And every time they did, Wonwoo’s heart fluttered with the same nervous energy as it had back in school. Yet, despite all the opportunities, he still couldn’t find the courage to tell her how he felt.

Then, one afternoon, a project landed on their desks. It required collaboration between departments, and to his utter shock, Wonwoo found himself paired with Y/N. They would be working closely for the next two weeks. His mind spun at the thought of spending so much time with her, but he played it cool, nodding in agreement as if his heart wasn’t racing a mile a minute.

The first meeting was nerve-wracking. Y/N sat beside him, their elbows almost touching, and all Wonwoo could focus on was the warmth radiating from her. She asked him questions about the project, listened intently to his suggestions, and for the first time, he felt like she truly saw him—not just as a classmate or colleague, but as someone important.

By the end of the project, they had spent more time together than ever before, and Wonwoo’s heart was in overdrive. Every moment felt surreal, like a dream he didn’t want to wake from. The day they submitted their final report, Y/N turned to him with a smile that nearly made his knees buckle.

“We make a pretty good team,” she said, lightly nudging his arm.

“Yeah,” he mumbled, feeling his face heat up. “We do.”

That evening, back at his shared apartment, Wonwoo couldn’t contain his excitement. His roommates were lounging in the living room when he burst in, practically glowing.

“You won’t believe what happened,” he blurted out, pacing back and forth.

Mingyu, sitting on the couch with a game controller in hand, raised an eyebrow. “What’s got you all worked up?”

Wonwoo could hardly stand still as he recounted every small detail—how they’d worked together, how close they’d sat, and how Y/N had smiled at him like that. His friends listened with amused grins, teasing him about his schoolboy crush.

“You’re so whipped,” Seungcheol teased, laughing.

Wonwoo didn’t care. He was giddy, like a teenager all over again. For the first time in years, he felt like maybe, just maybe, something could happen between them. The hope he’d kept buried for so long was starting to bloom, and though he didn’t know where things would lead, he was finally ready to see where this journey would take him.

For now, that smile was enough to keep his heart racing.

The next few days at work were a blur of nervous energy for Wonwoo. Every time he saw Y/N in the office, his heart would leap, and his mind would start racing with all the possibilities. He couldn’t shake the memory of their project, the casual touches, and the way she looked at him. Every moment replayed in his head, keeping him awake at night, wondering if she saw him the same way he saw her.

Despite the rush of excitement he felt inside, outwardly, he was still the same Wonwoo—quiet, reserved, and shy. He wanted to keep things normal, professional even, but his friends had other ideas.

“You’re really going to let this chance slip away?” Mingyu asked one night after work, tossing a pillow at him. “Dude, you’ve liked her since forever! Now you’re practically working together every day, and you’re just gonna stay quiet?”

Wonwoo sighed, sinking deeper into the couch. “It’s not that easy, Gyu. What if she doesn’t see me that way? I don’t want to ruin everything.”

Seungcheol, who had been scrolling through his phone, chimed in. “You don’t have to confess your love out of nowhere, man. Just… get closer to her. Be her friend. See where things go.”

“I don’t even know how to do that,” Wonwoo admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’ve been in love with her from a distance for so long. Actually being around her now feels like… I don’t know, like I’m going to mess it up.”

Mingyu rolled his eyes, but a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. “You’re overthinking this, as usual. Just talk to her. You work in the same office, it’s the perfect excuse.”

As much as Wonwoo hated to admit it, his friends were right. He couldn’t keep waiting for things to happen by chance. He needed to take a step forward. But how?

The opportunity presented itself the next morning.

Wonwoo was sitting at his desk, reviewing some reports, when Y/N approached him with a hesitant smile. “Hey, Wonwoo. Do you have a moment? I could really use your help with something.”

His heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression calm. “Sure, what do you need?”

Y/N explained that she was working on a new proposal but had hit a roadblock with the data analysis. “I know you’re great with numbers, and I’m kind of struggling,” she admitted with a small laugh. “Do you think you could take a look?”

For a moment, Wonwoo couldn’t believe she was asking for his help again. His mind raced, but he nodded, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, I can take a look. Let’s go over it together.”

They ended up spending the next hour in one of the meeting rooms, poring over spreadsheets and brainstorming ideas. Wonwoo found himself relaxing as they worked, focusing more on the task at hand and less on the nervous energy buzzing inside him. Y/N was thoughtful and sharp, always open to his suggestions, and the way she engaged with him made his chest swell with a quiet pride.

As they wrapped up, Y/N turned to him with a grateful smile. “You’re seriously a lifesaver. I don’t know how I’d get through this without your help.”

Wonwoo’s face heated up, and he looked down at the table, a small smile tugging at his lips. “It’s nothing. You could’ve figured it out.”

She laughed softly. “I don’t know about that. But seriously, thank you. You’ve been great to work with.”

Before he could respond, their phones buzzed simultaneously—lunchtime. Y/N glanced at her watch and then back at him, hesitating for a second. “Hey, do you want to grab lunch together? It’s been a while since we’ve really talked outside of work.”

Wonwoo’s mind went blank. Lunch? With her? It wasn’t the first time they’d shared a meal, but it felt different now. This was just the two of them, and he didn’t want to overthink it. He swallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah, that sounds great.”

They ended up at a cozy little café near the office, sitting across from each other with steaming cups of coffee and sandwiches. It was the most casual setting they’d been in together in years, and for the first time, Wonwoo allowed himself to relax.

“So,” Y/N started, stirring her coffee absentmindedly, “how’s it been for you, working here? It’s kind of funny that we ended up in the same place after all these years.”

Wonwoo smiled softly. “Yeah, I didn’t expect it either. It’s been good. Different from school, but… in a good way.”

Y/N nodded. “Same here. I was nervous at first, but seeing familiar faces like yours makes it a lot easier.”

His heart flipped at the mention of him making things easier for her, but he tried to keep his cool. They talked more about work, shared memories from university, and slowly, Wonwoo realized how natural it felt being around her. She wasn’t just the girl he’d admired from afar anymore; she was someone he could talk to, laugh with, and maybe even get closer to.

That evening, back at the apartment, he couldn’t contain his excitement once again. His roommates were already waiting for the update as soon as he walked through the door.

“So? How’d it go?” Mingyu asked, leaning forward with a grin.

Wonwoo tried to keep his expression neutral, but the smile that broke through was unstoppable. “We had lunch together.”

Seungcheol sat up straighter. “Lunch? Just the two of you?”

Wonwoo nodded, the warmth spreading through him as he remembered their conversation. “Yeah. It was… it was nice. Really nice.”

Mingyu chuckled, shaking his head. “Look at you, getting all giddy over lunch. You’ve got it bad, man.”

“I know,” Wonwoo admitted, laughing softly. “But… I think I’m finally starting to see things move forward.”

And for the first time in years, that hope he’d held onto so tightly felt within reach.

As the days passed, the lunch with Y/N became a new routine. They started meeting up more often, sometimes in the office cafeteria, other times at the same cozy café nearby. It wasn’t anything special on the surface—just two colleagues grabbing a bite together—but to Wonwoo, it was everything. Every conversation, every shared laugh, every accidental brush of their hands felt like another step closer to something he had never let himself imagine before.

His roommates, of course, continued to tease him about it at every chance they got.

“So, any big developments?” Seungcheol asked one night, casually flipping through the channels on TV. “Did you hold hands yet?”

Wonwoo groaned, throwing a pillow at him from across the room. “No, we’re just… talking. It’s not like that.”

Mingyu, sprawled out on the couch, shot him a knowing look. “Not yet, maybe. But come on, man. You’re basically going on mini-dates every day. When are you going to make a move?”

“I’m not,” Wonwoo said quickly, though the idea of making a move had crossed his mind more times than he cared to admit. “We’re just friends. She probably doesn’t even see me that way.”

Seungcheol snorted. “You’re dense, dude. She’s spending all this time with you for a reason. No one’s that nice unless they want to be around you.”

Wonwoo frowned, unsure of what to believe. The thought that Y/N might feel something for him seemed too good to be true. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, only to have them crushed. But then again, the way she smiled at him, the way her eyes lingered just a little longer than necessary—it made him wonder. Maybe… just maybe…

The next week, everything changed.

They were working late one evening, finishing up a project that was due the next day. The office was quiet, most of the employees already gone, and it was just the two of them in the meeting room, typing away on their laptops. Wonwoo was focused on the task at hand, trying to wrap things up as quickly as possible, when Y/N suddenly broke the silence.

“Wonwoo, can I ask you something?”

His fingers paused on the keyboard, and he looked up to find her staring at him with an expression he couldn’t quite read. “Sure. What’s up?”

She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip like she was gathering her thoughts. “Do you… ever think about what things could’ve been like if we’d been closer back in school? Like, if we’d been better friends or… something more?”

Wonwoo’s heart slammed in his chest. Her words were casual, almost uncertain, but there was a vulnerability in them that made his pulse race. He didn’t know how to respond—didn’t know what she was really asking—but he couldn’t lie to her. Not now.

“I’ve thought about it a lot,” he admitted softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “Probably more than I should.”

Y/N’s eyes softened, and she leaned back in her chair, exhaling a small laugh. “I always wondered about you, you know. You were so quiet, so reserved. But you were always… there. I noticed.”

Wonwoo blinked in surprise. “You did?”

“Of course I did,” she said, smiling. “I mean, you were always one of the smartest in the class, but you never tried to stand out. I thought that was interesting. You seemed… different.”

He swallowed hard, trying to process her words. All this time, he thought he’d been invisible to her, just a background character in her life. But now, sitting here with her, he realized that she’d been paying attention too.

“I always wanted to get to know you better,” Y/N continued, her voice quiet but sincere. “But I didn’t know how. You were so hard to approach.”

Wonwoo felt a lump form in his throat. He’d been so afraid of getting close to her, so afraid of rejection, that he never gave her a chance to know him. And now, here they were, years later, finally sitting across from each other, finally talking about the things that had been left unsaid for so long.

“I was… scared,” Wonwoo admitted, his voice trembling slightly. “I didn’t think you’d ever be interested in someone like me.”

Y/N tilted her head, her gaze softening even more. “Why would you think that?”

He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “You were always so… perfect. Smart, popular, surrounded by people. I didn’t think I had a chance.”

Y/N shook her head, smiling gently. “You’ve always had a chance, Wonwoo.”

The words hit him like a tidal wave, and he felt his heart swell with emotion. He didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to respond to something he’d dreamed of hearing for so long. But before he could find the words, Y/N reached across the table, her fingers brushing lightly against his.

“I know we’ve never been close,” she said softly, her eyes searching his. “But I’d like to change that. If you’re open to it.”

Wonwoo stared at her, his mind spinning. Was this really happening? Was she really giving him the chance he’d always wanted?

“I’d like that too,” he finally whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Y/N’s smile widened, and for the first time, Wonwoo felt like maybe—just maybe—everything he’d hoped for was within reach. They sat there for a few moments in silence, the warmth of her hand lingering on his, and for the first time in years, Wonwoo allowed himself to believe in the possibility of something more.

That night, when he returned to the apartment, his friends didn’t even need to ask.

“You’re smiling like an idiot,” Mingyu teased, grinning from ear to ear. “What happened?”

Wonwoo dropped onto the couch, unable to stop the smile from spreading across his face. “We talked. Really talked.”

Seungcheol raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“And…” Wonwoo paused, still trying to wrap his head around it all. “She said I’ve always had a chance.”

The room went silent for a moment, and then Mingyu let out a loud whoop, throwing a pillow at him. “Finally! Took you long enough!”

Seungcheol laughed, clapping him on the back. “Looks like things are finally falling into place.”

Wonwoo couldn’t help but laugh along with them, his heart feeling lighter than it had in years. For the first time, he felt like the walls he’d built around his heart were starting to come down, and with Y/N on the other side, maybe—just maybe—his story was only just beginning.

[wordsofelie]

Chapter 6

🔥Phoenix and Ashes

Suna Rintarou x f!reader

Summary: “It’s funny how nobody believed that we could make it work.” - “Well-maybe they were right.”

Meeting Suna Rintarou wasn’t part of your plan. Dating him, either. Getting your heart smashed into the palms of his hand, even less.

Content Warnings: Timeskip, Manga Spoilers, Cursing, Panick Attack, Hurt, Mention of 1 Original Character

Word count: 4.1k

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9

The first crack appears on a Friday night.

“You’re overthinking.”

You are sitting on Suna’s dorm bed. He just came out of the bathroom, his hair is still wet and the smell of his shampoo embalms the room. In any other situation, this would warm your heart and make you want to pull him into a tight embrace, breathing in his scent. But not right now. All you are focused on is his cold expression and detached look.

“I’m sorry,” you start apologising. “I guess I just hoped we would spend the whole weekend together.”

“We’re spending it together. I’ll be with you even if my friends are here.” You can sense the annoyance in his voice, after all, you have been arguing for the past twenty minutes but the conversation is still at the same point: you want to spend the evening with him alone; he had planned to introduce you to his friends in their favourite bar in Hiroshima. The issue here is that in the middle of the argument when he thought he had finally convinced you that his intentions were never against you, you asked him if he was bored with you. You saw the intensity in his eyes shift and since then you can’t find their softness back even after he decided to take a shower to cool his mind.

You know how Suna hates losing his time justifying himself, let alone when he doesn’t understand what he is accused of. The fear of bothering him now mixed with the guilt of pissing him off is strangling you.

“Do whatever you want to do. I’m going anyway.”

He puts his shirt on, back faced to you. You grab the sheets instinctively.

He is taller and broader than when you met him. You remember hiding in the library stacks, telling jokes and giggling at the thought of being caught. You remember watching him during practice, getting up to give him his bottle as soon as the whistle signalled the end of the game. He would thank you and smile. And above anything else, he would look at you, soft and green eyes drowning in yours. This seems like ages ago. When have you started being behind him instead of at his side? When have you faded into the background? Unnoticed. Soundless. You thought Suna had set a fire around him and promised to never let a flame touch you. It’s touching you now.

You look at your clenched fists. Your fingers are becoming ashes.

“I’m coming.”

Umi would scream at you, Osamu would tell you to stay.

He still loves me, you would tell them. Don’t worry.

You’re fast to join him by the door, he lets you go out first.

When you enter the bar, you’re overwhelmed by the crowd and the trembling of the floor. There are people everywhere, Suna tells you to follow him. It’s hard to hear him right, his voice is muffled by the music and the chatters. As you walk in, a wave of anxiety washes over you. This place seems so familiar to Suna, it makes you feel like an outsider stepping into someone else’s world.

“Isn’t it Rin’s girl?”

You don’t realise you’re surrounded by a group of boys until one of them calls out to you. You’re used to sporty and beefy boys (your years in Inarizaki taught you that most of the time, they’re no threat), but you’re still impressed by Suna’s teammates. Your stomach tightens. Maybe it’s because of the proximity mixed with the smell of sweat and alcohol. Or maybe you just don’t like those eight pairs of eyes staring at you.

“I’ll go get you something,” Suna whispers into your ear.

You don’t have the time to go with him, he’s already lost in the crowd.

“So Rin’s girl, what do you like the most about our short middle?” The same guy who was the first to talk, asks you.

You’re about to answer (because there is indeed a long list of things you like about him, it might take the whole night to enumerate them), but he cuts you short and gets closer to you.

“Is it because he likes to play it cold, girls love bad boys. Or is it his eyes? Man, I’ve never seen that shade of green, so I understand, you like the-”

“Kakeru, let her breath.”

You’re thankful for that dark-haired guy who puts his hand on his shoulder to stop him from invading your personal space. Kakeru pouts in response and takes two steps back, allowing you to regain some peace.

“Sorry, Kakeru can be quite chaotic.”

“It’s fine.” You look down. The floor looks like it’s sticking from all the spilt drinks.

“I’m Hori Kento by the way, setter. How was the train from Osaka?”

How unusual for a setter to be this calm, you think. Well, maybe the only model you have being Atsumu, you thought all setters were supposed to be loud and boisterous and fearless.

“It was okay. Thanks for asking.”

He gives a quiet smile that put you at ease, even if just a little.

"You must be pretty special if Rin brought you here," Hori says, his eyes kind.

You chuckle softly, trying to shake off the awkwardness. "I hope so. This place is nice."

"Yeah, we come here a lot after games. It's kind of our spot," the setter explains.

As you chat with Hori, you notice Suna laughing with a girl across the room. She is leaning close, her hand lightly touching his arm. Your stomach twist in knots as you try to focus on the conversation, but your attention keeps drifting back to Suna and the girl.

“Hana-chan is here!”

One of the players shouts making Suna and the girl turn to the group, her smile is bright and perfect. She lights up the place.

“Hana, this is Rin’s girlfriend," Hori says, gesturing towards you. She’s standing in front of you now. She’s looking even more beautiful up close. Another wave of panic comes, you’re trying to look for Rintarou, but he is nowhere to be found. Your fingers manage to grasp the necklace hanging from your neck — it was your second-year anniversary present from Rin. You hold on to it.

"Hi! It’s so nice to meet you," she says, her voice warm and friendly. "I hope the boys aren’t bothering you too much.”

“Huh? We did nothing wrong Hana-chan, I swear.” Kakeru says in defense, she laughs.

"Nice to meet you too," you reply, trying to keep your voice steady. Inside, your heart sinks.

You finally catch sight of Suna, discussing with someone. You hope your stare will make him notice you.

"So, how did you and Rin meet?" Hana asks, genuinely curious.

"We went to high school together,"

"Oh, really? He never told me that," Hana says, looking surprised. It becomes clear that Suna hasn’t mentioned much about you to her. You want to leave this room, hide somewhere. "That's so sweet! You must have a lot of memories together."

"Yeah, we do," you reply, your smile feeling more forced by the second. You’re praying for the conversation to end here. In your ears, you can feel the beatings of your heart, the rushing of your blood. Your vision becomes blurry. You try to concentrate on your breathing to calm you down.

“Your neck is red.” She frowns in concern.

“Is it? I’ll go to the bathroom to-“

“Rintarou.”

She calls him, he immediately turns to her.

Why is he looking at her? Look at me, look at me. You’re begging him in silence.

“Your girlfriend looks really tired. Maybe you should take her home."

Suna glances over you. "Yeah, you okay?" he asks, walking over.

"I’m fine. Don’t worry," you reply, trying to keep your voice light. Your breathing has found a normal pace now that the boy you love is at your side. You try to get closer to feel him. You need to feel him or you might collapse.

“It’s getting really red, what if you’re allergic to something?”

“Hana-chan always cares about others, huh. Good thing you’re our manager. ” Hori interferes but it sounds like a far noise to you in the middle of this chaos. Your mind is reeling. “But she’s right, you should be careful.”

"Let's get you home then," Suna says, putting his arm around your shoulders.

You only feel better once you’re outside. The ride home is quiet, Suna glancing at you occasionally. He only breaks the silence when you reach his dorm.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Suna looks at you, for a second you think he is trying to decipher whether or not you’re lying. You were never the kind to complain when something was wrong. But it was always easy with him. Tonight, it’s not. Some parts of you want him to ask for more, to listen to you, to tell you that everything is fine; because everything is fine. It has to be.

He changes into a clean tee-shirt and shorts, without saying a word. You’re standing in the middle of his room, waiting.

“I’m sorry I - I ruined the evening with your friends.”

“It’s fine, let’s go to bed now.”

“Rin…”

He slips into the sheets and opens his arms; your body moves towards the bed and lies down. He wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you closer to him.

His body is so warm. As always. You discovered that the first night he slept at your house, your father had asked you to prepare him a futon, but behind his back your mother winked at you, giving you the choice to do whatever you wanted.

It was December and the cold seemed relentless, seeping through the walls and into your very being.

Rin, with his usual nonchalance, had shrugged off the cold initially, but you could see the slight shiver in his movements. You, on the other hand, couldn't stop your teeth from chattering. He glanced over at you.

"Come here," he said, his voice low. Without waiting for a response, he pulled you closer, wrapping his arms around you tightly. You hesitated for a moment, feeling the heat radiating from his body, but soon melted into his embrace. His body temperature was surprisingly high, like he was a living furnace. The warmth spread through you almost instantly, driving away the biting chill of the night.

"Better?" he murmured, his breath warm against your ear. You nodded, nuzzling closer into the crook of his neck, where his scent was the strongest.

"Much better," you whispered back, feeling the tension ease out of your muscles.

Since then, you have loved when the temperatures dropped, because you knew you would find yourself instinctively curling up next to your boyfriend, seeking out his fiery heat.

In the summers, it was a different story. The heat made his embrace almost unbearable. You would wriggle and squirm, trying to escape his grip in the sweltering nights. But he would somehow always manage to pull you back, holding you close with a lazy grin.

"You're stuck with me," he would chuckle, his voice a sleepy rumble against the top of your head.

And, despite the heat, despite your protests, you would drift off in his arms.

Right now, you know he is not sleeping, and so are you.

You decide to try.

“You and Hana seem close…”

Is it a question? An accusation? You don’t even know. But it comes out of your mouth anyway. He heard you, you’re sure of it, yet he leaves you stranded.

After what feels like an eternity he finally asks, “is that why you wanted to go home?”

“No… but I’m sorry.”

You squeeze the hand that is resting on the curves of your hipbone. For a second, you muscles relax, and the brief release is enough for him to turn away, leaving you feeling utterly alone.

Your vision becomes blurry again, with tears this time.

You cry and think, it is the price to pay for loving him.

The second crack appears in April.

Today is the beginning of another spring.

You and Umi meet in front of Yokohama Stadium, you haven’t seen her in months due to her overloaded schedule. When she spots you, she starts running and waving at you.

“Oops, I’m late.” She scratches the back of her neck and grins.

“When are you not?”, you tease her.

Seeing her, healthier and brighter than ever, fills your heart with joy. She grabs your arm and leads you to the entrance.

“I was only late once for the entrance ceremony in high school, but that was because Atsumu had lost his tie and I helped him look for it. Not my fault.”

“And when we went to the school trip during our second year, huh?”

“Hmm…” She avoids your starring gaze, “Also Atsumu’s, we were having a conversation that morning and he-”

“He got on the wrong bus, so you had to walk the rest of the way.” You don’t let her finish her story, “I know the song, Umi.”

She sighs, “alright, alright. Whatever you think.”

You start laughing but don’t let her go away with it. As you remember more and more moments, Umi begs you to stop before finally admitting that you might (but just might) be right.

"Hey! I’m so glad you could make it," a soft voice says.

You turn to see who is speaking. And there she is. Hana, dressed in the same jumpsuit as Suna. You return her smile, though your eyes are already searching for your boyfriend among the players stepping off the bus.

“I-nice to see you. This is Umi, my best friend. She lives in Tokyo. Umi, this is Hana, the team manager.”

Hana greets her warmly, but you must give Umi a little nudge in the ribs for her to greet back.

“Hi.” She decides to say with a smile you can only describe as forced.

When you finally see Suna, your heart skips a beat. You make your way over, excusing yourself to Hana and Umi. You’re hoping for a brief moment to talk before the game. But as you approach, his gaze slides past you. He saw you, you know he did, so why didn’t he come to you? Or smile. Or at least wave.

You don’t feel Umi’s presence by your side until she speaks, “Oh my God, that girl is so annoying. She was like, blabla, ‘I’m so grateful for all the support the boys are receiving, thank you for coming to cheer for them.’ As if I care about them. Nothing against Suna, but I’m only here because I wanted to see you and Shirabu is too annoying these days, I needed to escape my apartment.”

You register the words and the way she tries to imitate Hana’s voice; however you don’t find the courage to respond.

“Are you okay?” She asks, perplexed when you don’t answer.

You nod, but the hurt lingers.

“Let’s go.” You break the silence absentmindedly.

You both head to the stands, though your excitement has dampened. As you’re about to sit down, you turn to Umi. “I’m going to the toilets. I’ll be right back.”

You don’t give her the time to stop you and rushes to the lockers room to wait for Suna. When he emerges, his expression is one of surprise.

“Oh hey,” he starts with a lazy voice, “I did not know you would come. It’s cool to see you.”

“Rin I- can we talk a little bit?”

“I can’t right now, the game is about to start,” he says curtly, trying to brush past you.

“Please.”

“Can’t it wait?”

“I just wanted to wish you good luck,” you explain, your voice barely above a whisper.

He glances down at you, a flicker of something—incomprehension? frustration?—crossing his eyes. “Is that it? You could have just texted me.”

Speechless, you let your gaze drop to the floor, where you notice a thin cotton bracelet around his right ankle. “What’s that?” you ask, pointing to it.

Suna sighs, clearly irritated. “It’s a present from Hana.”

A lump forms in your throat. “Of course it is,” you mutter, the words tasting bitter.

Before you can say anything more, he brushes you off. “I have to go.”

“Do you still love me?”

The question was eating you alive, it was becoming insufferable. So, the words leave your lips searching for something (a soft caress, a ‘I do’).

He clicks his tongue.

And a second later, the love of your life walks away. The corridors are empty.

When the game begins, you find your way back to the stands. The crowd roars with excitement, but you can barely focus on what is in front of you. Umi tries to engage you in conversation, but your mind is elsewhere.

The EJP Raijin wins against the VC Kanagawa in the quarterfinals of the V.League playoff matches. The final point is made through an impressive block by Suna, and his team erupts in joy, lifting him high in celebration. Umi applauds (probably not for Suna’s action but because the cheers are contagious), but you find yourself unable to do so.

“I’m so hungry, aren’t you hungry?” you’re taken aback by her question.

You quickly swallow the tears that have been stuck in your throat and force a smile. “Yeah, a little bit,” you lie.

“We should go back to my apartment,” Umi suggests and takes your hand to get up. “We can stop by your favourite sushi place in Shinjuku and get some takeaways. And then we can watch a movie, you pick. Or play some Mario kart.”

You glance one last time at Suna, he is high fiving his manager. Before you explode, you decide that Umi’s idea is not so bad.

Later that night, as you ride the subway in Tokyo (Umi fell asleep, her head on your shoulder), Rintarou sends you a text.

“where are you?” it reads.

“I left with Umi.”

“you could have texted me,” he replies, echoing his earlier words. You apologize, and after a few minutes, another message comes through.

“i don’t think you should come next weekend.” Then “i need some time to think”

The finality of his words hits you like a punch to the gut. At the same moment, you receive a text from Osamu with a picture of his twin eating onigiri (with rice all over the mouth). “Did Suna’s team win? Want to come with me to Atsumu’s game in Chiba next weekend? I guess you’ll be in Hiroshima but if I can convince you just know that I’ll make us some bento for the train :)”

Your fingers tremble but you text him back, “sure.”

It’s not like you have other options now.

You don’t read his next message because you’re interrupted by a whisper, “You deserve better.”

Umi’s eyes are still close, but you know she is awake.

You’re too tired to contradict her even though you think she is wrong. Maybe hope is blurring the lines, but Rin is the one who deserves better. And from now on, you will have to put extra efforts in your relationship to keep him. Because he is worth it all. Even if you are almost chosen by Suna, almost loved, you’ll keep on choosing him. Over and over again.

The third crack appears one morning.

The sky is beautiful and once again you’re on your way to Hiroshima.

You are not supposed to join him, but you do it anyway.

You take the first train of the day. Your carriage is quiet and almost empty. The sun rises before your eyes. It’s a tranquil scene. The sea calm and just woken, rays of sun sparkling on the water, the foam coming and going in waves. How wonderful this place must be, you think. It’s unfair that your mind can’t find peace. Only Rintarou lives in the depths between your thoughts, leaving no room for anything else. You bury your face in your hands. You want him. He means so much to you, maybe more than he should. Maybe more than your own life.

You make it to his dorm, the neighbourhood is the same as before sans all the agitation from the children playing and students chatting.

You take a moment before knocking. You don’t remember raising your fist to the door, nonetheless, your boyfriend appears in front of you like a mirage.

He stays silent for a second, opening and closing his lips a few times.

“What are you doing here?”

His eyes are barely open, he squints to adapt to the light or to adapt to your presence. Maybe both. His hair, shorter than before, falls out at the end, something uniquely Rin.

“I…I took the train and I came here and-”

He opens the door wide and abruptly; you startle to the sound of it hitting the wall.

Each step is heavy as you come inside with him.

When he speaks again, there’s anger in his voice, you find yourself missing how detached and lazy his tone usually is.

“I told you not to come this weekend.”

“I know, Rin.” You simply answer, with a broken voice. Your lips are shaking, and you don’t think you will be able to say more.

His look becomes sharper. He shakes his head. “Then why are you here?”

“I wanted to see you.” You whisper, you thought he did not hear you but when he grunts back, you immediately regret your words.

You take a step forward; your hands raise in urge to cup his face but his whole body becomes stiff, making you stop.

“You should leave.” His back is now faced to you but can imagine the features of his face (tense, strained).

You ignore him, “can we talk first, please.”

“I don’t want to.”

When you don’t answer, don’t move, he decides to finally turn again, his frustration evident. You’re getting on his nerves.

A glass falls on the floor. Probably caused by his sudden movement. It makes a sharp crash. The sound reverberates through the room. Without thinking, you get down to clean up the shards, your hands moving on autopilot. As you gather the broken pieces, a jagged edge slices your palm, but the pain doesn’t register immediately.

“I’ll take care of it. Go home.”

But you’re my home, your guts scream.

Your faces are close now, on the same level.

You open your month to beg him to let you stay, even a morning, even an hour. You would accept anything really. But instead, you’re paralysed by his green eyes raising to meet yours.

“We should stop this.”

This? You ask yourself. Is your relationship of over three years, all your first times, all your i love you, only “this” to him?

“Why - why can’t we stay together?”

Maybe you got it wrong, maybe you just don’t understand the situation and he will explain everything to you. This is all just in your head. The floor is not crumbling beneath your feet, the walls aren’t falling down. The world is not burning.

“We just can’t.”

“I don’t understand. What did I do wrong?” Am I not good enough? You want to add but you’re too afraid of the answer.

“Nothing.”

“Rin, please I know we can make it work, give us a chan-”

He gets up suddenly. “I fucking can’t, okay. That’s just the way it is.”

At this moment, you would have given everything that matters to you not to hear what came after.

You, who wished so many times for Suna to tell you more, talk more, instead of giving short responses.

You thought words couldn’t hurt like silence does. It does. Nothing killed you like those three words did.

“Get over it.”

You getting over him? Oh but Suna, dear, that would take a lifetime.

You almost lose your balance, your shoulder presses against the kitchen counter to find some support. You don’t know where the strength comes from but you manage to get on your feet. You quickly hide your injured hand behind your back.

His morning alarm rings, it’s shrill but at least it covers your sobs. He is about to turn it down when you escape the room and leave.

The cool wind hits you. There are cherry blossoms all around you; shades of pink in the air, petals falling silently. Tomorrow, they will still be there. And the day after. And the day after. Until, they are not.

Nothing lasts forever.

Nor cherry blossoms. Nor love.

You hate yourself for only realising it now.

It hurts, gosh, it hurts.

But the worst is that despite the bleeding cuts and the broken heart, you love Suna Rintarou all the same.

Author notes: a lot of crying, i am sorry 🫠 btw i’m taking advantage of this chapter to remind you guys that you all deserve to be treated with love and respect (being almost chosen & almost loved is NOT OKAY)

take care 🫶🏻

Elie

taglist: @wolffmaiden, @obibiwan, @teyvatsunsets

[marigoldwriter]

WHY ARE THERE SO FEW SHŌGUN (Not just romance but any kind) FANFICS!?

Like, the series is incredible, I'm grateful that my stepfather introduced this wonderful series to me, and in my opinion, the main couple is great (and sad, very tragic), but it's scary how I had to struggle to find a Mariko x John fanfic relay (does anyone have a name for this ship? I thought of something related to the sea, but I'm not sure), and with the current four episodes, it is now possible for the fanfic writers's troubled minds to create a fanfic of at least two thousand words, seriously, they deserve it! I can think of possibilities, like, what if it was an alternate universe?

What if Mariko ended up in England for God knows what? I really don't know why I thought this, just that it would be a very sudden role reversal.

What if Toranaga had appointed her to be John's consort? I mean, the moment Buntaro died, a widow was born, in this case, Mariko!

What if she was married to someone other than Buntaro? I wish she wasn't married but knowing ancient Japan as it was...

What if Fuji's husband and baby hadn't died? I mean, damn that scene made me cry, it was a little baby, I wish I could change that.

What if Mariko's father hadn't died? I know we know almost nothing about him at the moment, but moments of reflection.

What if (again, alternate universe) there was magic involved in the story? I mean, it's ancient Japan, this is the perfect time to let your knowledge of Japanese legends run wild!

If John had done something and been able to recognize Mariko in the dim light of their night in their room?

What if Mariko ended up sleeping there and he woke up and confirmed it was her?

What if it took place in the modern world? I don't know about you, but I love fanfics that portray a modern setting, it's really cool, for me, Toranaga would almost end up being a politician!

What if (this one touches on the system of power, hierarchy and structural status of women in ancient Japanese society) Mariko had a higher position and was someone even more trustworthy than Toranaga?

What if John and Mariko had met before (through misfortune or any other factor of fate) and had some relationship? Like in a theater!

I literally developed an entire story from scratch just to make these two have a daughter (her name is Umi — I haven't decided if I'll keep that one yet — she has blue eyes, wavy hair and is completely Japanese, a Mariko's mini copy) and develop a whole material with this chaos! I know that the story is focused on politics, and not on romance, I know, but you can never dream too much and I like it when you know how to keep the fragile line of politics-romance well. I just hope there are more fanfics about them, I need fanfics about them!!