#today is. not a terribly great day but despite everything it is not for pain reasons. somehow

[do-rey-me]

.

[deadpool15]

Mommy duties

Cassie's POV

I woke up this morning, still tired as hell. Only to look to my left side and see an empty ass bed. "Great way to start a morning sweetie", Cassie says sarcastically. Hitting and kicking and kicking my feet up like that will make this woman magically appear. After a while, I stopped thinking this would be a great time to get in some extra rest." Yes, Cass, look on the bright side, and today will be a great day." I turned her head when I heard a very loud whine, then I opened my eyes clearly and stared at the door hoping and praying it would stop. "And now I have to pee".

I walk outside my bedroom and bend down and see our 3 year old son, Corey. The naming process was a bit much to think about it. With me being American and Bada being korean. I didn't really care about whether the name is korean or american. As long as I could pronounce it, I was fine. Know what you're thinking? You're a terrible mother if you sit there and listen to your son crying and do nothing. I look up and see the cameraman set up with everything, "Don't judge my parenting skills if you don't have kids, you freaks."

Once my precious little Corey looks up and sees me, he gets all happy and jumpy. He starts tapping my leg and bouncing up and down, letting me know he wants to be picked up. Of course, any other time, I would big my big baby up with a smile on my face, but in my current condition, everything is either aching or swollen. "Hello everyone, or good morning, I guess. I'm Cassie Lee. Or wait, last name first, so Lee Cassie. "And this little man," I say as I bend down despite my back pain and pick my son up. "This is Corey Lee, I know I just contradicted myself with the last name again, but it's sounds better like that, yea. I'm the mother, and it's my way or no way. " I say while laughing.

"So, today, we won't really be doing anything to be honest, just like a day in life with us." I look behind me to realize that Corey is hiding behind my leg. I just laugh softly. "You would think with whom his parents are, he would be used to the camera. Welp, I guess not, huh?" I turn around to go my morning routine. I'm brushing my teeth, then having to get Corey ready for the day. As I'm putting him in his outfit, we choose for the day a member of the crew says, "Had you and Bada ever thought of bringing little Corey to daycare, Mrs. Lee". I just chuckle and stare at my son for a minute and then continue. " It's a common thing to put babies in daycare, so it was suggested to us, you know, some women said was good. It would give us a bit of a break. But in my family, daycare wasn't a thing. In fact, the women in my family look down upon them, to be honest. " I said while laughing. They view as mothers trying to get away from their children. I think it's reasonable. Parents go through a lot. I mean me and Bada I just became parents to Corey, so I don't look down upon it like my family. But I can say that for me, I have extreme separation anxiety from my son. Sleeping in separate rooms is like a lot for me. It's hard on Bada to, though, with her working. "

I finish putting on his pants and start kissing all over his face and making my way to the kitchen to feed him. I fix him some rice. It's weirdly his favorite. And eggs with apple slices. "Corey eats some weird combinations, but hey, he is happy, so that's all that matter". I say, turning to the camera and smiling. After a while, he looks around and starts getting crying. "There goes a happy day. He is used to Bada feeding him in the morning." I try to do the train thing she usually does, but he starts crying louder. "Mama... Noo....Mama, "Corey says while trying to get out of his high chair. Yea, this isn't working. As soon as he starts speaking, I realize he doesn't want me, but Bada. He calls me Mommy, and Bada is Mama or Eomma. He does it so he doesn't get confused, I think.

I try to grab him and sooth him by whispering in his ear and rubbing his back, but nothing seems to be working. "Come on, baby, I know, but Mama is at work right now. We can't just cry, though. " I wanna call her, but I know she will be busy on and won't be able to answer. After a while, I just give up, "Corey wanna go see Mama." He finally stops crying to look at me and starts to calm down. Ok, then let's get your shoes on. we are going to go see Mama. He starts running or attempting to run with him being so excited that it seems hard. He brings his shoes and smiles with his big puffy cheeks. "What am I gonna do with you?"

I put on his shoes. And then go put on my dress. Many people expect pregnant women to dress like nuns. And I refuse to do that. I come out fully ready in my dress, showing off my 5-month bump with pride. " I was that bitch before I was pregnant and I still am at 5 months what does that tell you ladies and gentlemen. I've just been that bitch." I say while covering Corey's ears. Then I grab his hand and his bag, making sure to grab a couple of toys. Then I go in the kitchen to pack up his breakfast in a container to give to him when we get there. "Well, let's go, baby".

I walk outside in my sandels cause my feet just aren't made for it anymore. Then I pick up Corey and place his bag in the Corey and then move to scrap him up in his car seat. Then I get in the driver's seat after making sure he is secure. "My mom is always saying he is a toddler now. A big boy needs a booster seat not a car seat. I just let her say whatever and move on. Corey is a small baby I and he likes his car seat. So he shall stay fully secure and safe inside of the seat. I then start driving.

I always get lost when it's time to come to this set. "She has told me a million times where this place is, but I always get lost when I right around the corner." I looked up and saw the exit and finally remembered the area I'm in. "See, my sense of direction just never been there. In my defense, I grew up in New York, and almost no one drives a car there. With how crowded the city is, no one wants to. " I said, looking at the camera. Then, I look up and see the MNET building. "We are finally here. The literal pain I had to go through this morning all for some breakfast is crazy. I said while pulling into the parking lot.

While trying to park, I realized I had to parallel park. "See, I knew getting here was too easy. This whole process seemed way easier than it usually is. Shit. " I turn around and see Corey giggling. "That's a no, no word ok. Don't say that word, baby. " I struggle, then eventually I am able to park the car, without hitting anything. "Funny thing is I didn't know how to drive until I came to Korea. Bada actually taught me, and the driving lessons paid off because I really didn't wanna hit anything. This isn't my car it's hers. So yea. "

I go to get out of the car while making sure to grab my babies bag, of course. Then I reach in the back seat and start to unbuckle Corey from his car seat. And he is smiling all happy. "Yall see the sudden mood change. It's actually quite crazy. He remembers the building now. " I say while smiling back at him and putting him on my hip. Not before reaching the front of the car to grab my water bottle. "We are on the way to see Mama, yay, right?" I started singing with Corey as we make it to the entrance of the building.

The woman at the front desk looks at me and bows. I try to bow as well until she looks down and sees my stomach and starts apologizing. "No, it's fine. I understand. Who exactly are you here to see? Do you have an appointment? "She says while smiling at me and Corey. "He is very adorable ma'am". I look at her smiling and thank her. Corey gets shy and tries to hide in my neck. " I'm here to see Bada Lee. She should be on set right now," she stares at her computer and starts typing before telling me to give her a moment. I nod and wait, and then she looks down at my hand and giggles, "She said her wife might be coming in one of these days." I look at her and laugh. "I don't exactly know if they are filming right now, though Mrs. Lee. Would you like me to inform her? " I just shake my head.

"No, she doesn't know we are here right now. I wanted it to be a little work surprise. " She nods and gets up to show me the way to the set. "We are almost there to see Mama," I say to my son while being so ready to put him down. He gets really clingy with me when he is around strangers. I guess that's my fault. "And here we are, just right there is team BEBE's room. I believe they are still filming. And then they should be making their way to their room right after. " She tells me before smiling and walking away. I bow as much as I can and place down Corey's bag. "We will wait a little while they should be done soon baby".

Bada's POV

After filming my no-respect battle with Redy, I sat down. I just knew she was going to pick me. We have had some tension since we got here. Or at least we do on her part, it seems. We were once a part of a dance crew called Cupcakes together. Then problems happened, and we all went our separate ways. Some of us grew as dancers and others as I could see still carrying those conflicts with them. If she felt I certain type of way, I didn't mean to give her that impression. But I felt better after winning the battle. I sat down and watched Tatter, Lusher, and my other members get into their own no-respect battles. I was proud of them. Ever since we got her, the other crews have been insulting us by saying that the only reason we are famous is because of me. How we have no talent besides me and simply a crew with my talents. Which has been pissing me off, we are all talented, and I'm glad people are seeing that.

After a few more battles, Daniel announced that we would be taking a break, which is much needed right now. I just feel like the teams need a break. Or a stretch, I low-key wanna go home. I miss my wife and my son. Right before I left, I made sure to go inside his room and hug him, which wasn't nearly enough time, in my opinion. Eventually, the cameras turned off for a moment, and everyone stopped with all the fake beefing and started talking with their crews and other crew. "You all were good out there ok, don't overthink. Or think about anything these people are saying you're good dancers and we just have to keep showing them what you all are made of. " I look at my crew while smiling until I hear a bunch of people mumbling about something. Then I see all the crews going to be nosy. I get up and see Halo of Wolf'lo and Mina of Deep N' Dap all excited. The rest of the crews start to gather around.

I make my way over to the circle people with BEBE following right behind me. Then ask Babysleek, "What's going on?" She looks at me and smiles someone on set, brought a cute baby here." I stare at her, trying to figure who's kid is she talking about. Then I look to the side and hear, "O, she is a foreigner. Do you think she speaks Korean. I don't know, probably not. The baby looks like it could be part korean, though. Maybe she is here to visit her husband. Do foreigners always show off their pregnancy? Yea, i think it's not a korean thing for sure. Well, whoever he is, that man is lucky she is gorgeous".

As soon as I hear about a foreigner walking around with her belly showing, I smile. They think she is married to a man, funny. Too bad for the guys here she is mine. Eventually, the crowd moves around, and I see my son. I wait for a while to see if he will spot me before I reach out to him. Then he looks up at everyone smiling, and the crowd starts to have a heart attack. Amazing what babies can do, am I right? He turns over and looks at finally spots me. He starts running towards me, yelling. "Mama, Mama, is here." He says while running towards me. The crowd turns and looks around confused due to his mother being right next to him the whole time, trying to find out who he is calling Mama. Then, when he grabs my leg, everyone looks around, shocked before laughing and gushing at the baby. I hear JJ yelling, "She is actually MOTHER, OMG, I CAN'T TAKE THIS."

I laugh at her before grabbing my son and picking him up. And hugging him while kissing all over his face. He starts giggling and keeps saying Mamma. Then I look over to my wife and say, "What are you doing here, my love?" She stares at me at smiling while holding her hips. "We were waiting for you in the crew room, but I guess Corey got bored." She says while staring at me, biting her lips. I know that look on her face all too well. Then I move towards her and grab her waist, and kiss her. I've never been afraid of PDA, especially when you are married to a woman with curves to spare at this point. I hear everyone start cheering me on as I kiss her. She looks at me and says, "Corey didn't wanna eat because his mamma wasn't there to feed him, like she usually is." I look at her, then glance down at her outfit and start to bite my lips.

I grab her hand while still carrying Corey, and we make our way towards the crew room. We then sit down, and Corey jumps out of my arms and starts to play with his toys. I then turned around to grab her hips before she could make her way to sit on the couch. "You caused a whole show out there, didn't you, baby?" She looks at me and smiles." I was trying to wait for you to help with our parent duties, or did you forget Ma'am?" I squeezed her hips while kissing her neck. "Yes, of course I remember Mrs. Lee, you look way to good in this dress baby". She laughs at me and tries to back up before I grab her again. "What do you have a pregnancy kink or something?". I grab her neck and continue kissing her.

"No, but I definitely have a you kink. Walking around looking so good. The entire set got a glance at you before me, I don't know how to feel about that baby. You just look too good to be seen by anyone other than me. " She finally managed to push me off of her and says "I would like you to tend to you to our son, and maybe, just maybe Mama will get an award. " I look at her nodding and smirking. "I'm getting that sweetheart. Just know that. That dress is the reason you're gonna be crying later. Just wanna warn you, baby. " I say while picking up Corey, getting ready to feed him.

"Yea, yea, whatever, Mrs. Lee, "she says before smiling at me and sitting in a chair while slowly opening her legs and showing me she isn't wearing any underwear. I hold onto our son a little tighter before chuckling, "Yea, you're going to get it. I'm gonna make you beg me to stop".

"I guess we'll see, won't we Mrs. Lee". She says as I continue to feed Corey. "Yes, we will, Mrs. Lee. We surely fucking will".

(Just in case yall were confused, Cassie was filming for one of those korean parents' shows, that's why the camera was following her and her son)

[brittle-doughie]

Ayy, it's 🥀 anon here with some angst: y/n cookie, time and time again, seems to wander off into the woods and leave flowers, trinkets, and food near a seemingly plainrock every year during the specifically cold seasons, sometimes singing sad, bittersweet love songs to it. When asked by other cookies, they say very little and seemingly become sadder. When later -stalked- followed by concerned cookies, they learn about the rock: it's the unmarked grave of y/n cookies late spouse and that same day was their anniversary

(P.s. thanks so much for adding me into the anon cult, I hope your doing great and taking breaks: you deserve it♡)

The Flipside

Letting go can be hard…

It always seemed that it was this time of year that made the usually bright Y/N Cookie to have their mood dampened. For one day in particular would they go missing for the entirety of that day, it left your fellow cookies wondering where you were during that time missing. Some folks tried taking you out to cheer you up during these colder months, doing your favorite activities, just letting you do whatever you want together.

But…nothing works in the end.

Your mood would go back to being more mellow and dull. You’d excuse yourself especially when it came to cookies taking you out to perceived dates, leaving them confused and worried. Well this time, they would follow you the day before the one where you usually vanished, they wanted to know what’s gotten you into a dour mood.

You were carrying a bouquet of flowers and some other items as you made your way deeper into the woods. At first, your hidden audience thought you were seeing someone in secret, but they kept all thoughts as guesses until they actually see it. They see you go further and further…

Until you stopped at a headstone within the snow, you placed down the flowers and items as you now start to whistle a tune from long ago, to you at least. You swayed your body from side to side as you did so as the snow fell around you.

Y/N Cookie: “I’m here now, my special cookie…today marks another year without you…it hurts not sharing it with you, you’ve shown me how to really be myself and now look where it got me. Surrounded by many cookies who consider me their bestest friend! I know you would’ve wanted me to move on..but if you’re here right now, listening to me…know that I’ll forever cherish you and the time we’ve spent together. My dearest….”

You knelt down in front of the now known grave of your lost loved one as you silently cried to yourself…meanwhile in the bushes far from you…

Mint Choco Cookie tried everything he can to comfort a sobbing Cocoa Cookie, who just wanted to come out from the bushes to give you hugs and kisses. She hated seeing you there all alone and crying to yourself, with no one there to comfort you. She would quietly plead to Mint Choco to let her go to you, but despite him also wanting to go comfort you too, he knew that this was a moment you needed to yourself and told Cocoa this, who ultimately agreed with him, but it still pained her heart to see you like this. She and Mint are so coming over tomorrow to spend the day with you..

How did Croissant Cookie not know about this!? She was your bestest pal! Pals know a whole lot about each other! If she had known your disappearances were for a cookie you loved long ago, she would’ve backed off to allow you to grieve. She felt stupid for not coming to this conclusion sooner, she wanted to make it up to you later for misunderstanding your disappearances. She was going to help you feel better. Together.

Kumiho Cookie now felt absolutely terrible. That confession long ago was your attempt at a second chance at love and she treated it so carelessly, it actually made her heart ache. She wished she took it seriously rather then it just being her charm again, if this was how much you held a past relationship so dearly to you. It made her more determined to capture your heart again and she’s not giving it up this time..

Lilac Cookie…he should’ve known. He knew better. He should’ve just let your business be your own, but he was immensely curious as to what you were up to in these woods and now felt great shame in knowing that it was to mourn a former flame. Seeing your sadden form, it ached his heart. He takes your feelings much more seriously after this and cookies who try to toy with them will be dealt with…

She can’t imagine the pain you feel when you visit something of your past that you cared so deeply for. She’s fortunate that DE is still around to keep her going, but seeing you in pain at this moment or anything involving your plight never fails to lighten her expression from the usual scowl she gives others minus Poison Mushroom. This only encourages Pomegranate Cookie’s efforts to have you join the CoD, they will care for and love you so much if you give them the chance and take their hands.

Caramel Arrow Cookie grew worried of your sudden disappearances during this day in particular and decided it was time to follow after you to make sure you were safe from any dangers that came for you. Unlike Pomegranate, she knows how it feels to lose cookies close to you, the Altar can attest to that. She wanted to gently approach from the wilderness to comfort you in your time of need, but this was your former partner you’re mourning for, a cookie that was close to you specifically, it was for the best that she just kept watching from a distance. She’s a lot more gentle with her mannerisms with you during the winter seasons from then on.

The cookie(s) keeping tabs on you had to hide as you finished grieving and started to make your way back home. A long look towards the grave.

With this revelation known, during the winter seasons, competition becomes more tame and passive to allow you more space to remember the time you’ve spent together with your former love. When the time was right, maybe you could get back into the game, and the cookies hope they’ll become your choice.

[chiharuhashibira]

I miss Tomioka-san 🥲

So then, I'll write a one-shot with him. I want it to be set up after their war with Muzan. Yes, Tomioka is dying due to the awakening of his demon slayer mark but then, he finds you, and for some reason, you reminded him of the late Shinobu Kocho.

And yes, this will be GN!Reader

Prompt: "If you act like that, no one will really like you."

𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽

———————————————————————————

𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆

𝐆𝐢𝐲𝐮 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐨𝐤𝐚 𝐗 𝐆𝐍!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

Content Warnings: None

Genre: Drama/Angst/Mild Romance

"If you act like that, no one will really like you." The words he had just heard rendered Tomioka speechless. This person... They definitely reminded him of one of the best hashiras he has ever known. Shinobu Kocho.

Tomioka turned to look in your direction with wide eyes. It's his last year, and he's thinking that perhaps he was just hallucinating.

You know that the man who was in front of you was the former Water Hashira. Back then, when you were still a kakushi, you were the one who held his sword for him at Hashira meetings.

You had always been watching him, admiring the Water Hashira from afar.

You had always adored the man, as even if he wouldn't know, he had saved you once from a demon back when you were still younger. However, you noticed how he stood out from the other Hashiras, as he was cold and distant, worse even than Obanai Iguro's frigid attitude.

Tomioka seemed to be detached, and you always wondered why. But of course, that never stopped you from adoring the man.

The great war came, and you thought that he had perished with the other pillars; however, he was there. He survived, and the rest is history.

But yes, even though he had survived, he had unlocked the demon slayer mark. It had worked to their advantage in the fight, but in return, he wouldn't be able to surpass his 25th birthday. And that terribly hurt you. Even if you knew your emotions wouldn't matter to the Hashira, you still cared.

When Tomioka needed assistance, as a former kakushi, you volunteered yourself to work for him. Well, your job isn't as hard as before, as all you need to do is make sure that Tomioka is alright.

And for some reason, there and then, you formed a bond with the man. Giyu Tomioka's nice, but despite this, he's still detached. The only times you'll see him happy are when his friends visit him. Even Sanemi's visits make his eyes light up a bit.

You wish you could do that. You always did.

But of course, there are times when his attitude changes. Perhaps because of the pain and nightmares. He sometimes felt like he was worthless, especially after losing one of his arms. You would sometimes find him inside his room, just staring at his haori, perhaps wishing he could wear it again and do all the things that he had missed.

And those times, he would close the doors in his heart. He'll avoid everything, and his care for the world will fade. You can't help but watch him at those times, not out of pity but out of care. All you wanted to do was help him.

But today is a different story. The Water Hashira's temper had been bad all day. You can talk with Giyu now because of the bond that you have forged. But that isn't enough. And perhaps you still don't matter that much.

That hurts.

You had prepared tea for Tomioka, mixing it with some painkillers to soothe his aching body. And yet, for the first time in your service on him, you saw how he lost that calmness. He kicked the teacup and pushed away the tray, making every ounce of your effort go to waste.

Yes, you had feelings for the man; that's why you devoted yourself to him, but what he did now is too much.

"If you act like that, no one will really like you." You blurted it out, not caring about keeping yourself together as you picked up his mess. That's it; if ever he kicks you out of his house, you'll just accept it. You did your best to help Tomioka for almost four years, but perhaps that wasn't enough.

Tomioka's voice flooded your ears and heart out of nowhere, and the heaviness of his sorrow coloured every syllable.

"Shinobu Kocho had always told me almost the same words."

You were left astounded, and all you did was look back at the Water Hashira, who is now crouching down, picking up some of the broken pieces that came from the teacup that he just kicked.

"Tomioka-san. Let me—"

"I'm a jerk, aren't I?"

"Tomioka-san, I didn't mean to—"

The next words that came from his mouth caught you off guard. Tears welled up in the corners of your eyes as you stared at his blue orbs, wishing that you would just drown in them.

"Y/N, I've always been watching you, and I appreciate everything that you did for me, even back when I was the Water Hashira..."

So does that mean that...

"Yes, I know the kakushi who has always volunteered themselves to help me with my sword or assist me even if I radiated an unwelcoming aura, was you. You had always been there for me, and I see it all."

Once more, Tomioka managed to catch the tray just as you were about to drop it. A small, sad smile crept up his lips as he looked back at your surprised expression. He is wishing that he could wipe your tears away, but he knows that he couldn't.

"And I know that I saved your life back then. Y/N, you don't need to deal with my mess if you want to pay back."

"Tomioka-san, it's not like that. I'm here because I chose to."

"But you'll just see how miserable I am now. I'm not the Water Hashira that you have known before, Y/N."

"And I don't care about that."

You said, snatching the tray from his hand. Wiping your tears, you stood up and offered your right arm for him to hold.

Tomioka wrapped his arms around yours and managed to stand up. He was looking at you intensely, waiting for your next words because, deep inside him, he doesn't want you to leave as well.

He had watched the people around him come and go, and what was worse was watching their deaths. Shinobu's death really took a toll on him, as she was the only Hashira who tried her best to bring the best out of him despite his closed doors. And he knows that Shinobu, his friend, would never want him to be sad.

Shinobu wants to bring the best out of him, right? And what you've been doing since day one has reminded him of that faint memory.

The Water Hashira's hand was still wrapped against yours, and you couldn't help but feel that your heart was beating too fast. You looked down at your feet, gathering the strength to speak up once again.

"Tomioka-san, I want to devote my life to you."

"You're insane. You know that in just a few months I'll perish—"

"And I don't care about that." You repeated your words earlier, which made Tomioka lose the strength to hold on to you. "Why?" He asked, biting his lower lip in confusion.

You stared into his eyes and finally spoke the words that you had always wanted to tell him. "Because I've always loved you. I always will, even if you leave me soon. I'd rather give myself to you while you're here than regret everything because I didn't do anything before losing you."

Tomioka suddenly had an urge to embrace you. He pulled you into his arm, and you buried your face on his chest, inhaling his tranquil scent.

"But... what if this is the last time Y/N?"

"Then I'll do everything for you now. Heck, I'd even give you my life if I only could."

A faint chuckle escaped from his chapped lips. Wondering why, you pulled out and noticed how pale the Water Hashira already is. You wanted to just kiss him there and there, wishing that it would take all the pain away, but you couldn't.

"Why are you laughing?" You asked, even if you find his laughter soothing. You always wanted to hear this. He looked at you, and his blue orbs scintillated like never before. That made your world stop.

He's beautiful.

Tomioka suddenly patted your head and pinched your cheek, making you blush. "What are you doing?" You asked. But Tomioka suddenly planted a surprise kiss on your forehead, which froze you for a moment.

He didn't let you speak, as he had already said, "You're definitely too flushed right now to be the person who told me no one would like me if I continued this way."

"I'm sorry..."

"No, I'm sorry for being a jerk. You're right. Shinobu's also right. I don't know, but you two seemed to know me better than myself. And... if my friend is still alive, she would thank you for staying with me despite being a pain."

"I told you, you're not a pain. Tomioka-san, there's still time. It's not too late to be happy. I want you to be happy."

You finally had the courage to initiate the kiss that you have always dreamed of. It wasn't like watching fireworks like you had imagined; instead, it felt peaceful, both of your hearts beating in symphony as your lips moved with his.

As you pulled out, drunk with passion, you were met with the softest smile Tomioka had ever given you. He caressed your cheek and spoke up.

"If this is the last time, I want to spend it with you, Y/N."

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𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝑻𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒐𝒌𝒂! 😭

Gosh, I really love this boy so much.

Anyways, thank you for reading this 💓I hope you liked it.

Feel free to reblog and leave a comment if you like my loves. And also I need a hug T_T Gimme hugssss Tomioka! T_T

Check out my 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽 for more stories and if you want something specific, don't be shy and send a request ^^

Love you! Ja ne~

~𝓒𝓱𝓲𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓾-𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷🌸

[roosterbox]

Fic Rec Friday 4/7/23

Title: A List Checked Twice

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category: M/M

Fandom: Hannibal (TV)

Relationship: Nigel (Charlie Countryman)/Adam Raki

Characters: Nigel (Charlie Countryman), Adam Raki, Chiyoh (Hannibal), Will Graham, Hannibal Lecter

Additional Tags: Fluff, Author Is Sleep Deprived, Everything is Beautiful and Nothing Hurts, pure undiluted fluff guys, Marriage Proposal, cousin!Hannibal Lecter, Married Will Graham/Hannibal Lecter, Wedding Rings, Gift Giving

Summary: Long before he met Nigel, Adam made a list of things he wanted to experience with someone else, one day. As years spent single passed by, he forgot about the list... that is, until Nigel finds it. Plenty of fluffy surprises ensue.

———

Today’s rec comes to us from the varied and interesting world of the HEU - the Hannibal Extended/Expanded Universe, lol. More specifically, this is the ship known as Spacedogs. Honestly I didn’t expect to love this ship as much as I did, but wow. They are amazing. Also, it’s nice to have a character that is explicitly, canonically, 100% unequivocally autistic. Not coded as such, but textually referred to as so. It’s one of the concepts of Adam as a movie. Which is great. Idk how well they represent it in the movie (haven’t seen it!) but hey. You know what they say about the thought and how it counts.

Now about the fic.

This is some sappy ass stuff, my dudes. So sweet and lovely. They just *clenches fist* love each other so much, it’s ridiculous. And one reason I think this pair is so nice together - for all their differences in personality, despite one being neurotypical and one not, they understand each other. And like in any good relationship, they bring out the best in each other. In 95% of all Spacedogs fics, my man Nigel is WHIPPED but good for his Star, and he’s especially so in this one. He’s determined to show Adam that he loves all of his little quirks and idiosyncrasies. Even the ones that others looked down on. Also, no spoilers, but this fic features one of my favorite ridiculously sappy and romantic tropes in any romance story ever. Like it’s silly, but I can’t help but melt any time I read it.

And that ending, man. Bringing in the Hannigram for a cameo? The final cherry on top?? *chef’s kiss* That’s one bit that comes up every now and then in Spacedogs stuff: having either Nigel or Adam (or both!) be related somehow to Hannibal or Will. It’s not always a guarantee, but I love it when it happens, lol.

Call your dentist after this one, guys.

———

Next Week: *rubs hands together with evil glee* Oh man, time to get serious. It’s time for y’all to join me in rarepair hell. You might say that Spacedogs is rare, but here is their AO3 page:

And here is next week’s ship:

Yep. I’m bringing the pain. You may be wondering which ship it is? Your homework, if you want to prepare yourselves, is to watch the movie Welcome to the Punch and, after lamenting about what a terrible movie it is, please come join me in the abyss that is this pairing. This sailboat of a ship. That’s right, we getting Jacob/Max all up in this bitch.

Catch you on the flippy flop!

[safeplace]

Dear diary, why am I proud of myself #1

Firstly, I am truly sorry for being inactive. My life had gone through a 360 and it took me more time than I like to admit to sort through everything. Recently, I have been having the urge to write, to start a blog .... of course then I remembered that I DO have a blog.

I have decided to take the whole "gratitude" wave seriously but with a pinch of bitter honesty. My decision was to not make it overly sweet or inauthentic. I don't know if I am going to find something to be proud of every single day but perhaps this might turn into a challenge that will lead to great results.

Honestly, today has been the first day I have been home for longer than 3 hours (except at night when I sleep). Recently I have been running around, trying not to miss out on any opportunities, yet I still feel like I am never doing enough. Events, meetings, lectures and probably everything in-between have been keeping me pretty occupied. It sounds like a lot and it is a lot, considering that it was the first time in probably a year that I woke up at 11 am. Did I mention that made me feel like a terrible imposter?

Maybe it is the way life knocks you down sometimes that is truly satirical. I was honestly feeling very proud of myself - for being busy, for not giving up, for working hard, for building the person I can see myself be. All of this crumbled after one phone call that eventually led to me trying to wipe my tears away secretly because I was on public transportation. The phone call was from my mother and it's main point was that I didn't call or text enough and it turned into a whole fight about me trying to isolate myself and a bunch of other things nobody wants to start their morning with. Personally, it wasn't something I had done on purpose, I just truly didn't feel capable of dissecting myself any further. Whenever there was something to be said, I called. I just didn't see the reason to do so when I had nothing to say. It is a difficulty to explain that my mind quietens in certain points and doesn't have any desire to explain or communicate anything at all. However, those complaints were taken personally. A part of me feels like a performer in a circus - every part of my life tugging me around while I am balancing on a tightrope with a ingenuine smile. I have been growing persistently tired of putting on an act - be happy, be thankful, be energetic, communicate, smile, engage. Don't get angry, stay calm, be diplomatic.

I am afraid that some of it is not in my nature. I have always loved doing whatever I want without having a need to explain myself. I realise that the previous statement is pretty two-sided. I can admit that at times I love fighting and that maybe I am a selfish bitch. I can't even tell you if I am a good person - probably not. It is just that I truly didn't need a phone call to hear that after really trying my very best to be a rather good person and make my parents proud. Another small voice in my head had a meaner approach to that conversation, it was ready to ask of them to also get on that imaginary treadmill and run until they feel like they can't handle it anymore. Run and run and run until they felt exhausted, overwhelmed, angry and scared like their daughter. Perhaps I should also put my expectations as heavy weight on their shoulders, witness how it drags them down slowly. And no doubt that voice would probably get a sick sense of pleasure from it.

With all that being said, there have been a lot of things that made me proud I have made myself proud in many ways.

I didn't let momentary bitterness and hurt poison my mind, body and soul. I tried, despite the pain, and so it all started passing slightly. My gratitude goes out to the tenderness still left within me, to the tears that along with the rain washed the hurt away.

[taekeofyourclothes]

[PROLOGUE] encrypted to you. (for-life series)

pairing astrophysicist!v x extra-terrestrial!reader conspectus after experiencing heartbreak on their home planet of grhamemor, y/n decides to leave and find themself on another planet. they land on earth, where they end up in the nasa astrophysics laboratory, feeling lost and alone. it's there that they meet taehyung, an astrophysicist who has a passion for understanding the mysteries of the universe. taehyung is immediately drawn to y/n, and the two hit it off, spending long hours together in the lab and exploring the beauty of earth. as y/n's feelings for taehyung grow stronger, they start to forget about the troubles that led them to leave grhamemor in the first place. however, one day, y/n receives an encrypted message that intercepts their peaceful life on earth. the message urges them to return to grhamemor immediately, warning that something terrible will happen to taehyung if they don't. y/n is conflicted, torn between their love for taehyung and their duty to her home planet. as y/n struggles to make a decision, they are reminded of their true identity as an unearthly being. the message they received was a warning from her home planet leaving taehyung's fate unclear, but it's undoubted that y/n will never forget him, and the memory of their love will stay with them forever. word count 1.2k notes FIRST SERIES AAAAAAAAAAAA - this will be a five chapter series, and incase your new and confused KJDAKKJSD this isn't actually a "for-life" series those are my story indicators meaning this series will be both fluffy and angsty soooOOOOoo now that's cleared up - again, all this is fiction; please feel free to leave feedback and criticism!! love love, elio x

your words fall on deaf ears once again, and nguyheat repeats them verbatim, unable to read between the lines. "this is pointless," you snap, exasperated. "you always do this, nguyheat. i am stripped of everything, and you come here to chastise me with your pitiful excuse of a relationship!" his eyes flash with anger at this then moves with a menacing stride towards you, his towering figure intimidating. despite being together for almost three grhamemorian years, you knew this moment would be one of those memories that you'd dread remembering, it was as if it were a never-ending millennium on this desolate planet. you never thought you would fear nguyheat, your knight in shining armor, the one who'd always remember you if everyone forgot, the one who rescued you from agony when grhamemorians with unknown intentions tried to harm you, you've forgotten them for they were a long-gone thought until today which reminded you, these past few months have been cruel. your once-great planet is now ruled by a crooked monarchy that makes anyone who opposes them disappear in the blink of an eye - your family fell victim to their malfeasance. you can hardly remember the color of your mother's eyes. and now, even your love has become corrupt. all of this.. you've been trying to wrap your head around it and nguyheat being the last piece of this unbecoming puzzle, it was all an invitation.

to leave grhamemor, all of the happiness in your brain was dissipating by the second every single minute you lingered still on these melancholic grounds. "y-y/n.." his eyes pleading; reaching into yours touching the frontal cortex to attempt hindering these forming evocations of your new found fear of him only to fail, this new idea of him would forever be embedded in your memory and it had your hearts contorting into the most bizarre configurations from the most excruciating shapes and forms and it was the last straw, that was it - this would be the final curtain call. "get for me your memories of us, nguyheat. and forge new ones elsewhere." you tried to whisper but he refused to listen to that chant, he'd hug you for the last time.. and spoke softly into your ear "everything but that, honey... curse me, pain me, leave me, just please... i beg of you, don't ever forget me.." and he'd hold back his tears from trickling by closing his eyes but instead of looking at now, he'd look to see the you that wasn't scared of him - he stays in this dream leaving him oblivious of your departure from your togetherness as you ran and ran knowingly and were now outside in the public braver than ever and ready to take that leap of faith to disappear and to abandon home adieu. "GRHAMEMOR," your voice rings all throughout for all the world to hear you - "LIBERTY IS WITHIN US, NOT UPON US." and here it begins, grhamemorians paralleling your now former lovers action of listening with ears closed by opening their window to look at you and hear you out.. "LET US BRING JUSTICE AND ABOLISH THE MALVERSATION OF OUR CORRUPT GOVERNMEN!-" you were about to say when your sights begun blurring and the peoples noises roaring for your speech to continue slowly became this unnerving frequency and you find yourself in a glowing blue confinement of a room.

unsettling feelings seeped into your bones as you pick yourself up, feeling less lighter than normal and extremely uncomfortable - "good god this place was anything but grhamemor..." you thought in jittery, where the lleh were you? was this the after-life? was this white room that emitted a light blue glow the nevaeh your parents would always tell you about? all these thoughts tower higher and heavier on your shoulders compelling you to breathe out a sad sigh.. however despite the torpor feeling you were experiencing, you bring yourself to examine the chambers you find yourself in - bumping into multiple files that were named "project aigrette" with ebony bird feather doodles plaguing said folders and inside were perfectly written words in this upside-down lexicon of your very own tebahpla from grhamemor, after realizing so you learn of this new language and though there were new words from this text - there were perfectly detailed little scaled paintings beside the indented articles of exploration, usage of numbers in the millions to explain the planet's "weight and height", "the distance of this new planet from the sun", "its rotational axis" and whatnot, studies on this unnamed planet that just so happen to perfectly resemble yours.. does the afterlife really have to investigate your life after you had passed? what is the purpose of this nevaeh's curiousity of grhamemor, it had you in a daze truly - but you felt furthermore baffled as your curse of wondering lead you to continue dwelling on the subject of your home.. the scripts never went beyond grhamemorians all of this was just describing the surface level of your planet and how it was a "new discovery" despite grhamemor being a celestial body thats been existing since the beginning, but no in nevaeh for some reason it's named planet 72656D656D626572... "what a ridiculous name" you uttered in a low voice. y/n closes the files no longer wanting to entertain the curiousity in her head to then meet eyes with.. nguyheat? "how the hell did you get here?!" you both yelled in unison.. well nguyheat saying so backwards for some odd reason, "even in here, nguyheat? you really plan to torment me up to neveah!" you furiously raise the volume of your voice to be shushed by your approaching past lover? up closer he looks different.. "excuse me? i don't know who you are and what you think you're doing but i know well that you are trespassing my private quarters and you are illegally disclosing my classified research for unknown purposes which i can have you imprisoned for." he was not intimidating at all though, i mean he didn't have you at ease but his sternness was not something that had you feel guilty rather than fearful.

"my apologies? is this.. not neveah?" you lightly croaked out with a deer-in-headlights expression on your face looking at the living terrestrial who was a split image of your past lover... "neveah? nguyheat? listen here, you think your plan is clever? well news flash, spy. it's not working, i will have security handle you." he was about to head towards this crimson circular button and raise his arm to press it but you'd stop him as you didn't wish to leave.. neveah and be sent to a possible lleh.. as you were still confused, "wait wait, please i am not a spy! don't have them..! my-uhm, my name is y/n! y/n l/n." you lively stutter and looked like a lost animal, making him cock an eyebrow as he hesitantly brings back his arm no longer planning to have security handle you perchance. "are you a new recruit?" his demeanor lightly sheds some sternness while he leans on the pristine inclined rectangle desks in this enclosure, "so this was a military unit?" you thought.. having you decisively lie responding with a "yes.." you look down at your lower appendages awaiting his reaction to only hear a heart-fluttering baritone laugh - "oh.. my apologies for overreacting then y/n, i.. uhm am just not used to company here.." you look up to see him smiling shyly.. one which you returned, "my name is taehyung, astrophysicist." he reaches out his right hand, which for some reason urged you to hold it with both of your hands and shake it up and down - taehyung chuckles at this, he was something new.. © live laugh love kim taehyung, good boy.

[limitlessscion]

for the first time in rather a long while, fear -- how terrible it is to love something that death can touch -- therein smothered by some sense of understanding, of peace; the very same they feel in their friend. for such a great creature, kaen feels remarkably small right now, curled up there against him, little vessel tucked close against him as if looking to enfold within him--

it is a gentle moment, despite everything, despite knowing what approaches. forgive them how they cling to this time with him, for it is - quite literally - amongst the numbered last.

they tip their head, looking up at him, "... stay," seems like too big a request given what he's just told them. "jus' fer t'night." it's all they want (the company, at least, the time); they can forget all else for one night, right? who cares? kaen sighs, looking away again, resigned to the inevitable refusal, "... please..."

Nineteen days. It's been nineteen days since Satoru made his mistakes, let his heart falter and allowed the ghosts of his past to be weaponized so cruelly against him.

At the time he hadn't been able to feel beyond his own immense grief and rage, but in the lonely emptiness of his imprisoned days he'd recognized the feeling of another sharing in his pain.

His freedom had been a violent affair, as all important things in his life were ultimately fated to be. He demolished that challenge set before him, as he have many others, declared war, set aside grief for many he'd have no time to mourn for now.

Then he'd come here.

Among the chaos that Tokyo had descended to, Kaeltyr's cursed form wasn't even that out of place. Cursed spirits roamed freely, but none dared even approach the one who held infinity and his journey was peaceful and short, following the residuals of his friend.

Here they were now, his forehead against theirs.

"In a little over a month's time, I am going to fight something very powerful. I'll be honest with you, Kaen, I..."

Heavy words caught in his throat, the shackles of his existence forbidding him from uttering them; he had never been allowed to even entertain the thought and he would never have allowed it to cloud him when in the presence of humans who pinned their future on him. But Kaen deserved to know, and he so desperately wanted to set the burden down, just this once.

In Kaen's presence there had always been the relief of being able to drop the pretenses of humanity. But in this moment, he felt more human than he had ever been while walking among mortals.

"I don't think I'm coming back this time."

Something unexpected happened. Relief hit him with palpable force, his knees suddenly weak and a tremble made its way into his frame. But it was not fear, not sadness-- he started laughing. The admission was freeing in a way he could have never imagined before.

"Is it weird that I'm looking forward to it? The fight, I mean, not the dying part. Ah, never mind, that came out wrong." He pulled Kaen in closer, hugged tighter, understanding how soothing the other found such gestures. "I just needed you to understand, I do need to do this, and I'm okay with it. And I'm sorry that I might be leaving you behind."

"... stay...jus' fer t'night...please..."

"Now how could I possibly turn down such an earnest request?" He didn't hesitate, cracking a grin. "I'm sure everyone can keep things handled for just one day."

He wasn't ready to return just yet either.

For just today, he didn't have the strength to pick back up that burden of divinity and false humanity both.

[floralcyanide]

― 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚎 (nsfw)

⌯ pairing: coriolanus snow / fem!reader ⌯ warnings: mentions of death, mentions of hanging, smut, penetrative sex, unprotected sex, fingering, oral (f receiving), nipple play, biting, mutual orgasm, angst ⌯ word count: 5.6k ⌯ summary: coriolanus snow is your best friend, and you know everything there is to know about him, except for one thing. and, when you find out what it is, it shocks you more than anything. ⌯ author’s note: I wrote half of this last night and the last half today and honestly I don't remember a thing. I was fr possessed by the writing demon. so I have only proofread the first half lollll. sorry if it flows oddly because of that. but this is my first coryo fic and I'm excited to post it. I read the book 3 years ago and finally saw the movie a few days ago. anyway, if you enjoy please lmk! please reblog and like to support me (:

divider credit: @arminsumi | @eloquentreverie | @cafekitsune ⌯ masterlist ⌯ taglist form

this fic has been cross posted to ao3.

ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴘʏ, ʀᴇᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇ, ᴏʀ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀs ᴏɴ ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ, ᴀᴏ3, ᴡᴀᴛᴛᴘᴀᴅ, ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏ ᴡᴇʙsɪᴛᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ɪɴ ᴀɪ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀs ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʀᴛɪғɪᴄɪᴀʟ ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴄᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀʏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴜsᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ᴛᴏ sᴇʟʟ ғᴏʀ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

You try to remind yourself that people do bad things all the time. Terrible things, even. But it doesn’t make everyone bad or terrible people.

This rings true for your best friend, Coriolanus Snow. It doesn’t take a genius to know that he’s no saint. It’s even more apparent when he returns from District 12. You know immediately something is amiss. He always keeps to himself and only speaks when spoken to or when he feels he has something important to say. But now his words are fewer and farther in between. Coriolanus is patient and thoughtful on the outside but keeps how he truly feels hidden away inside. He can think about how much he wants to eradicate someone while putting a face on. But you can always see right through his poker face. Coriolanus’s silent but deadly demeanor has only intensified since he returned to the Capitol. You know every inch of his brain, his mannerisms and behavior, and how he thinks- so you know he has done something. You just don’t know what. You do know, however, something went down between him and the songbird tribute from 12. Lucy Gray Baird. The girl with dark features, a brilliant smile, and a heavenly voice. The girl that Coriolanus had seemed to have fallen in love with. It was painful to watch, but you pushed through. Coriolanus had told you everything throughout the days before the games. Despite knowing him through and through, you had no idea that Coriolanus never had any romantic feelings toward Lucy Gray. Instead, his feelings were aimed toward someone else. But, for now, you didn’t know this. Coriolanus takes pride in knowing that you don’t, in fact, know everything about him. But he would never let that on.

Coriolanus is meeting with Dean Highbottom tomorrow to return Sejanus’ things to him rather than to the Plinths. Your best friend feels he needs a great way to start the conversation with Highbottom about his experience of District 12, and nothing is better than a small metal box with things that Sejanus cherished. It was definitely going to be a statement. 

“Coryo?”

“Hmm?”

“What did you do?”

Coriolanus tenses up from where he’s standing in his bedroom, tinkering with something out of your sight on his dresser. You’re laying on his bed, flipping through a book of his you’ve read many a time already. Your eyes are burning holes into his back, expectantly waiting for his response. You know he will give you the run around until he has nowhere else to go.

“Care to be more specific, darling?”

You roll your eyes at the nickname he uses for you when he feels he’s in trouble, “No,” you sigh, “Just tell me. What’s bothering you?”

Coriolanus hesitantly turns around, blocking the view of the dresser with his body as he braces himself against it, still not saying anything. You close the book and set it beside you before getting up from his bed and walking over to your best friend. Coriolanus crosses his arms, looking down at you with that plain, empty stare of his. You heavily exhale through your nose, blinking up at him, crossing your own arms mockingly. There’s an intense glaring contest between the two of you for a few moments until Coriolanus eventually folds, pressing his lips together impatiently. 

“Sejanus,” he says, shrugging as his eyes bore into yours.

You closely study his face, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Sejanus. You know he had been hung for his crimes. It didn’t seem like Sejanus to do something that rebellious, but stranger things had happened.

“What about Sejanus?”

Coriolanus opens his mouth to speak before closing it again. He thinks for a moment, wondering if he should truly tell you. He tells you everything; if he doesn’t, you eventually figure it out alone. Sometimes, he thinks you’re smarter than him, and it scares him. Before Coriolanus can dwell any further, the sharpness of your stare gets to him, “I recorded him.”

Coriolanus’ words bounce around in your head, and slowly, you begin to put the pieces together. That’s when it dawns on you. Coriolanus had inadvertently killed Sejanus. Your face softens, your arms uncrossing and falling to your sides. 

“I don’t know what to say,” you bite your lip.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Coriolanus says, returning to his activity on the dresser.

There’s a pause, silence hanging in the air thickly. He’s right. You don’t have to say anything. And you don’t. Instead, you snake your arms around Coriolanus’ waist, pressing yourself into the curve of his spine. Your cheek presses into his back, and the familiar smell of rose wafts through your nose. It isn’t often the two of you embrace. Neither of you are fans of hugging per se, but there are times when you do wrap up in one another. You feel right now is appropriate- Coriolanus probably had to process his best friend’s death on his own. Both of you have gone to each other about these kinds of things since childhood. 

Coriolanus relaxes at your touch, hanging his head slightly. He almost almost feels a twinge of guilt for not confiding in you. But he knows how smart you are. As mentioned before, you always figure it out in the end. Coriolanus places his hands on top of yours. He still has nightmares about the sound of Sejanus’ neck snapping and the mockingjays calling out his final cry for his friend’s help. Coriolanus doesn’t feel bad for causing the demise of Sejanus, nor does he feel anything about the two people he killed in District 12. He believes that’s just life, that people do bad things because they’re all inherently bad. Coriolanus knows he’s not a good person because of what he’s done, and he doesn’t care. You have to step on others to climb to the top. And Snow always falls on top.

“I know why you did it, Coryo.”

Coriolanus’ head snaps up at that, but he tries to remain cool, “Really? And why is that?”

“You want to succeed more than anything. I know you do,” you pull away, prompting Coriolanus to turn around and face you, “And I know you’d make sacrifices for it. Just like you did for Lucy Gray.”

Coriolanus cringes at the mention of Lucy Gray, and you frown. Coriolanus takes notice of this.

“I never,” he begins to say, but then shakes his head as if to get rid of his train of thought.

“Never what?” you ask.

“Nothing important,” Coriolanus goes to turn around again, but you grab him.

“There’s still something you’re not telling me,” you say accusingly, your fingers wrapped tightly around Coriolanus’ wrist, “And if you don’t say something now, I will find out. And you won’t like it when I do.”

“Is that a threat?” Coriolanus tilts his head, yanking his arm from your grip as he steps closer to you, his breath hitting your face.

Unphased, you simply look up at him, “What if it is?”

Coriolanus scoffs, standing up straight and nodding to himself, deciding to toy with you a little as he casts his eyes down to yours, “Don’t play with me, little one.”

The blonde knows how annoyed you get when he teases you. He only does it if he wants something. In this case, you figure he wants you to leave it alone.

You grit your teeth, “Coryo,” you say threateningly, “I just want to help.”

“You can help by stopping where you are,” Coriolanus growls, not wanting to think about how every time he looked at Lucy Gray, he saw you instead. 

He didn’t want to think about how Lucy Gray was in the arena that night. How he watched the screen like a hawk, waiting with bated breath for it to be over. Or how she sang to him at the cabin, and he wished it were you in his embrace instead. And least of all, Coriolanus didn’t want to think about how Lucy Gray vanished into the woods, never to be seen again. He had lost her, and he didn’t want to lose you, too. But the difference here is that he loves you, not the songbird. Coriolanus has ruined enough in his life, even if there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for him despite his mistakes. He doesn’t want to ruin his lifelong relationship with you and risk not being rewarded for it like everything else. You’re too precious. And despite the darkness and the damning anger constantly brewing inside him, when he looks at you, it all stops for a little while. 

You bite your tongue, inhaling sharply as you take a step back from Coriolanus, “Fine.”

Before he can react, you’re heading for the door. When you walk out of his bedroom, you glance over at the dresser curiously to see what he had been tinkering with and see three small bottles of morphling. A small container of white powder sits next to them. Your eyes flicker up to Coriolanus’ without a word, and he knows you’ve seen. But he also knows you won’t say anything. As quiet as a mouse, you close his bedroom door behind you.

It’s been days since you’ve seen Coriolanus. 

Sleeping has been challenging, and eating is difficult. Your best friend is everywhere you look and go. You see him in everything. Dean Highbottom is dead, and the Capitol is in shambles over it. Immediately after hearing the news, you knew Coriolanus had something to do with it. He and Highbottom had never been on good terms, and now that Coriolanus had the upper hand in the Capitol as a Gamemaker, he could do whatever he saw fit to get to the top. He always has. 

You’re alone in your small apartment, only a lamp providing ambient lighting against the dark rain clouds outside. Curled up on your couch, you’re reading a book you borrowed from Coriolanus long ago. You had loved it so much that he had let you keep it. You’ve lost count of how many times you’ve read it, but it brings you a strange form of comfort every time you do. The story's climax is about to happen when there’s a subtle knock on your front door. You heave a sigh, closing the book and getting up from your comfy spot. You grab a robe from the coat closet and wrap yourself in it, not knowing who could be at the door. When you swing the door open, you’re shocked to see Coriolanus.

“What are you-”

“I’m sorry,” he blurts out, and you look at him with a stunned expression. He’s never been one to apologize.

You brace yourself against the door, arms crossed, as you motion for him to continue.

“I know you only care about me and want to make sure you can be there for me properly,” Coriolanus says, his eyes darting around your face, “And I appreciate that. And you.”

You nod understandingly, standing up straight before widening the entrance for Coriolanus to enter. Carefully, he walks in, and you close the door behind him. Coriolanus is right behind you when you turn around, with a white rose in hand. He snaps half the stem off, taking the other half with the rose and tucking it behind your ear softly. 

“We’re able to grow them again.”

A small smile graces your lips at that. Coriolanus tucks hair behind your other ear, gently tracing your cheekbone with his knuckle. The tender gesture shocks you, but you just stare up at him and watch him study your face.

“I never,” Coriolanus says before pausing momentarily, just as he did the other day.

“I never loved her.”

“What do you mean?” your face scrunches in confusion.

“I never loved Lucy Gray,” Coriolanus shakes his head, bringing his gaze to yours, “I already have love for someone else.”

You try to keep your face as neutral as possible, letting your best friend’s words fully sink into your brain. Coriolanus was in love. If not with Lucy Gray, then who? 

“If you had not told me, I would’ve never known. You could’ve fooled me,” you lightly chuckle, almost unable to look him directly in the eye.

Coriolanus hums, a surprised look on his face, “You, of all people, haven’t figured it out already?”

“Figured out what? That pretending to love Lucy Gray was your big plan to win?”

“Not only that,” Coriolanus says, moving his hand to grasp your chin, “But you still haven’t figured out who it is that I love most in this world. That’s rich coming from you, my dear. It’s the most obvious, and you’ve yet to see it.”

At this point, it’s almost insulting for him to assume you know who he’s in love with. Yes, you can look at his emotionless expressions and know something is off with him. You can tell by his mannerisms when he’s in a good mood or a bad one, and you know by the look in his eye when he’s enthralled with something. But you’ve only ever seen him have that look a few times. So it’s not like you can know for sure this time. You narrow your eyes at him, his hand warm against the skin of your face. His eyes are gleaming with mischief and something else you can’t put your finger on. Then, it clicks. You do see it. You shakily take a step back from Coriolanus, your eyes not leaving his as you accidentally bump into the table by the door. You let it fall pathetically to the floor as the sound of it cracking against the hardwood echoes in the foyer. 

“Whatever game you’re playing now isn’t funny, Coryo,” you mutter, your eyes burning with angry, embarrassed tears.

Coriolanus steps toward you, a smile growing on his usually empty face, “You see it now?”

“I’m not sure what I see,” you say through gritted teeth, fighting hard to blink back your emotion.

Coriolanus lets his smile falter, briefly looking down at his feet before darting his eyes to yours, “It’s you. It’s always been you.”

You shake your head, the rose falling from your hair and to the floor, “Why?” you ask, your voice trembling, “How?”

Your best friend’s hands slowly move from his sides to rest against your hot, angered cheeks, bringing you closer to him, “You see things in me no one else can. You see things in me I can’t even see in myself.”

You don’t say anything, tears now falling from your lashes. Coriolanus quickly brushes them away with his thumbs, “And believe it or not, I can see things too. In you.”

“What things?” you ask, your voice still blanketed in anger and hesitance. 

“I’ve never understood what love looked like until I saw the way you look at me,” Coriolanus’ lips curl into a small smile, a rare occurrence, 

“And how do I look at you?” 

“The same way you look at the children playing in the street,” he says, “And how you look at books and paintings. With this wonder and appreciation, and hope.”

You close your eyes, silently crying, as you realize Coriolanus has never spoken like this before about anything. Not to you or anyone else about anything or anyone else. 

“Look at me,” Coriolanus whispers, and you open your eyes to see him closer to your face than before.

Now you really see it. The thing you couldn’t put your finger on before. That peculiar way Coriolanus stares at you- you only ever see it when he looks at his family or when he thinks of something brilliant. Whenever he smells roses, his blue eyes soften that way, too- joy, comfort, and safety.

Coriolanus watches as realization falls upon you, and your expression becomes more open. He knows you finally see in him what he sees in you- a mutual understanding and feeling of love for one another. Coriolanus never noticed how you looked at him until he saw Lucy Gray look at Maude Ivory or Sejanus when he looked at the bodies of the fallen tributes in the arena. He never had that feeling for anything, he had thought. Coriolanus only knows hunger- for not just food but for power. And he thought that’s all he’d ever feel until he met Lucy Gray and saw you. He saw you fighting for your life in that arena and trusting him even when you probably shouldn’t. Coriolanus watched you save his life. When he lay there in the ruins in agony from his burns, he realized ever since you were children, you had been saving him all along. He wanted to hate you for it like he hates everyone and everything else. But Coriolanus couldn’t. And here you are before him, your face in his hands, the world- his world, in his hands. He loves you, and you love him, and despite everything that’s happened, that’s all that matters to Coriolanus.

The silence in the apartment stings in your ears, and the dim lamp casts shadows of Coriolnaus’ eyelashes on his cheeks. But you don’t move or say anything. You just breathe in the blue of his eyes. You almost don’t notice him tilting his head slightly and brushing his lips against yours. Coriolanus is hesitant, but he knows he needs to feel you in a way he has never done before. You let him press a soft kiss to your mouth, your eyes fluttering shut. His palms still rest on your cheeks, holding you like you’re fragile. As you kiss back, your hands slide between his arms to gently hold his neck. When you open your mouth slightly to gasp for air, Coriolanus slips his tongue inside. A groan bubbles up your throat as he takes control of your embrace.

“How about we continue this elsewhere,” Coriolanus whispers against your lips, and you nod.

A short walk to your bedroom and the closing of the door sends the man into overdrive as he backs you against it. Capturing your lips again, he doesn’t hold back this time. Coriolanus’ hands find themselves on your waist, his fingers pressing into the material of your shirt underneath the robe. Yours creep into his now short hair where it’s just long enough for you to comb through it. An unfiltered passion hangs in the air as the kiss becomes more desperate, your bodies pressed to each other as firmly as possible as your hands begin to explore. Coriolanus pushes your robe off your shoulders, letting it fall to the floor in a heap as his fingertips slide under your shirt and over your uncovered breasts. You’re fighting for dominance over the kiss as Coriolanus learns the crevices and gaps of your mouth with ease. A moan escapes you when he brushes over your nipples softly, making your attempt at dominating slowly diminish. Now Coriolanus has control over your open-mouthed kiss, but he soon gives it up and opts to leave small kisses along your cheek to your jaw. You breathe heavily as Coriolanus begins kneading at your breasts as he nips along the underside of your jaw, running his tongue over the small reddening spots he’s leaving.

He inhales the smell of your skin, his thumbs flicking your sensitive buds simultaneously as he travels further down the column of your throat. As much as you wish to continue here against the mahogany door, you take an opportunity to break from Coriolanus to grab his wrist and pull it from your shirt. Before he can ask if he’s done something wrong, you walk him to your bed, where you lay down against your pillows. The usually light blue of Coriolanus’ eyes darkens to an unrecognizable shade as he unbuttons his shirt from the edge of the mattress. His lips are agape as he watches you peel off your shirt, revealing your torso to him fully. Climbing over you, Coriolanus wastes no time attacking your lips as he holds himself up effortlessly. His body is far more toned and muscular than it used to be because of the Peacekeeper training. You drink in his almost god-like appearance as he leaves hot kisses on your neck. Coriolanus moves down, resting his body against your thighs to make himself comfortable. He gazes up at you while his kisses slow down around your bare breasts, asking permission to go further. You squirm underneath him, wishing he’d do something already.

“Tell me what you want, dear,” Coriolanus drags his lips against your tender flesh almost tantalizingly.

“You can touch me, Coryo,” you smile, carding your fingers through his blonde hair, “I want you to.”

Coriolanus wastes no time wrapping his warm mouth around your nipple, lapping at it before letting his teeth graze upon it. You shudder at the sensation, humming in contentment when he begins to suckle the skin lightly. Coriolanus’ other hand squeezes your other breast as he works to overstimulate the one he’s currently focused on. Warmth begins pooling in your lower stomach as Coriolanus pulls the sensitive bud with his teeth, making you whimper. He decides he wants to hear that again, so he repeats the action. This time, your hips buck up into Coriolanus's, and he chuckles.

“Easy, now. I want you to enjoy this as much as I am. Be patient, little one,” he says, twisting your nipple between his fingertips to test how sensitive it’s become.

You whimper again, and Coriolanus admires how angry the soft, peaked flesh is from his mouth. Now, he moves on to the other one, and your hips buck into him again. This time, you feel a bulge beginning to grow in his trousers, and a sense of satisfaction fills you. You relish in the fact Coriolanus is getting turned on just by exploring your body. He bites, sucks, and teases your nipple until you’re whimpering and unable to stop moving underneath him. Coriolanus sits up on your thighs, running his palms over your hardened buds before letting his hands roam your stomach and waist, sending shivers through you. His fingers eventually hook themselves beneath the band of your lounge pants, pulling them down while he moves from where he was sitting, to your side. You kick off the pants when they reach your ankles as Coriolanus unfastens his trousers, removing them with his underwear to join the growing pile of clothing. To say your best friend is well-endowed is an understatement. 

“Beautiful,” Coriolanus climbs back onto your legs, letting his hips press against your shins as he settles himself between your legs.

His thumb carefully traces along the growing wet spot on your underwear before barely brushing against your clothed clit, making your hips tremble. 

“So wet already,” Coriolanus says, resting his cheek on your inner thigh, “You’ve probably wanted this for so long, hmm?” His dark eyes meet yours, the mischievous gleam still present despite his enlarged pupils.

“I won’t lie and say I haven’t,” you say shakily, nervous for him to see you completely bare.

“Well,” Coriolanus says, pressing a kiss to your covered clit, “I know I have.”

He then pulls your underwear down enough to have full access to you. He takes a moment to take in the scent of your arousal before spreading your lips to reveal your hardened clit. Coriolanus admires how your body reacts to his touch and craves to find out just how far he can go. He lets his index finger tease across the bundle of nerves before he attaches his mouth to it. The warmth of his tongue against where you need him most provokes a relieved moan from you. Coriolanus tortuously circles your clit with the tip of his tongue, allowing it to flick the bud every few circumferences. He knows how incredibly wet you must be getting, so he gauges just how much by dragging a finger up your slit. Coriolanus groans at the amount of slick that covers his digit, letting it prod at your entrance before slowly pushing in. He can only imagine how soaked it’ll feel around his cock when you’re ready for him. He curls his finger inside you, finding the spongy area of your cunt. Coriolanus fucks into it with his fingertip, lightly grazing it each time, making your hips jump as you cry out. 

“Can you take two?” Coriolanus pulls away from your pussy for a moment, “Oh, who am I kidding? Of course you can take two. You’re a good girl, aren’t you?”

A high-pitched moan leaves your lips at Coriolanus’ sassy tone and the feeling of two fingers pressing into your g spot. He resumes his assault on your clit as his long fingers scissor and stretch you out deliciously, the burn subsiding with each thrust. They beckon inside you as Coriolanus begins to suck your bud hungrily. His eyes meet yours, and he doesn’t dare break the intense stare as a third finger is easily pushed into your cunt. 

“Doing so good for me,” Coriolanus praises, his free hand busying your clit as he speaks, “You’re going to take my cock just fine.”

A dizzying wave of pleasure washes over you as he fucks you with his fingers at a jarring pace, the sound of your wetness around them filling the room along with your pitiful moans. 

“I need you, Coryo,” you whine, “I need you to make love to me. Need you so bad.”

Coriolanus runs his hand along the skin of your hips soothingly, slowing his fingers before removing them. He licks them clean as he takes in how fucked out you already are. You’re still staring at him with that look only the two of you share. Sitting up, Coriolanus pulls away from you and wraps his hands around your thighs, pulling them apart. He continues holding on to them as he makes his position comfortable before using one hand to grab his length. Coriolanus strokes himself with the precum that’s leaked out, preparing to line up with your entrance. When he does, he pauses.

“You want this?” Coriolanus asks you, his fingers stroking the skin of your inner thighs, “After this, there’s no going back.”

“I don’t want to go back,” you rest your hand upon his chest, “I just want you. All of you.”

Coriolanus patiently pushes himself into you, guiding his length through your wet, velvet walls. You throw your head back into the pillows at the stretch. Even with three of his fingers to prepare you, Coriolanus’ girth is intense. He stops moving to allow you to accommodate his length as well, your tightness squeezing him. When you’ve adjusted, you push yourself further down his shaft and eventually bottom out. The two of you stay like that for a moment, allowing yourselves to get used to being connected this way. Coriolanus leans down, running his hand through your hair as he kisses you. You wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him as close as you can while he begins to move inside you slowly. He pulls out almost all the way before thrusting back in. You pull away from the kiss to catch your breath, your nose pressed to Coriolanus’ as he pulls himself out again to slam his hips to yours. You’re both panting into each other’s mouths, with foreheads flush against one another as Coriolanus picks up a steady rhythm. He steadies himself with his hand pushed into the pillows by your head, his other still lightly gripping your hair. Temporarily removing his hold on your hair, Coriolanus lifts your legs onto his shoulders to get a better angle. He presses your thighs against your chest, his body weight fully on top of you as he thrusts into your weeping cunt even deeper than before. You can’t help but moan loudly, not caring about what your neighbors are hearing. Coriolanus grunts every time his tip hits your cervix just right as sweat beads on his hairline. 

“Taking me like such a good girl,” he gasps as you purposefully clench around him, “My good girl.”

“I like hearing you say that,” you whimper, chasing his lips with yours before capturing them.

Blonde hair sticks to Coriolanus’ forehead as he feels himself getting lost in you like he’s needed to for so long. You’re the only place he doesn’t mind losing himself in because he trusts you. He doesn’t trust anyone but you. You know every inch of his brain and every thought that goes through his head, and now you know every inch of his body and soul, too. And he knows yours. Coriolanus doesn’t wish to know anyone else how he knows you for the rest of his life. 

“I’m so close,” you whisper, focusing on how heavy Coriolnaus’ eyes are as he lifts them to look at you.

“I know,” Coriolanus whispers back, now fucking into you as fast as he can, “I can feel it.”

You bite your lip, moving your legs off his shoulders to spread them apart. Coriolanus pulls away from you to push your knees flat to the bed, letting his weight keep them pinned down. He’s now moving as deep as he can go into your warm and desperate pussy, his hips snapping forward. Your moans have become yelps as Coriolanus hits that spot inside you dead on.

“Right there, don’t stop,” you cry out, your hands holding onto his biceps fervently. 

The sounds in the room are explicit- from the squelching of your ridiculously aroused cunt being fucked, to the slapping of skin, and you and Coriolanus’ screams of pleasure bouncing off the walls. Coriolanus now opts to hold your hips, his fingernails digging into the supple flesh. You move your hands from his arms to your breasts, toying with your nipples as more warmth spreads to your core. Coriolanus uses this opportunity to spur you on even more and begins pressing his thumb to your clit, rubbing hard circles into it. You let out an animalistic groan, your legs reflexively moving to snap closed. But Coriolanus quickly pins one down again, not letting up on playing with your hard bud as you approach your orgasm. 

“Oh, Coryo,” you gasp, your back arching as your clit presses harder against his thumb and his cock delves deeper into you.

The most intense orgasm of your life rips through you as Coriolanus loses control of himself, your cunt squeezing around him with a vice grip. He cums with desperate moans as your body convulses underneath him. Both of you ride out your highs, still rutting against each other as the white-hot pleasure eases away into bliss. Catching his breath, Coriolanus carefully pulls out of you with a wince. You absentmindedly motion to your closet, where you keep the washcloths. He returns with one and cleans you up gently before cleaning himself up. As he’s discarding the cloth, you manage to weakly pull the duvet out from the pillows and envelope yourself in it. Coriolanus joins you, delicately wrapping his arms around your body as if he’d break you. He presses his nose into your shoulder, watching your relaxed expression.

“That was intense,” you speak up finally, and Coriolanus nods.

“Making up for lost time,” he says, and you turn around to face him fully.

You press yourself into his chest, wrapping an arm around him as he does the same to you. Staring into his now lighter and calmer blue eyes, you let a smile grace your lips as you can almost read his mind.

“You aren’t going to hurt me, you know,” you say.

Coriolanus’ typical blank, emotionless expression doesn’t give away anything to allude to what he’s thinking, but you know how his thought process goes. He doesn’t say anything; he just stares down at you.

“I know you think you’re some kind of monster for the things you do. And in a way, you are,” you say, “But everyone is, and it doesn’t define you. It won’t unless you allow it to.”

Coriolanus maintains his poker face as he plays with your hair, “You’re the only proof I have that evil isn’t rooted in everyone,” he says, “And I’m still grappling with it.”

“No one is born evil, and you most certainly weren’t, whether you believe that or not,” you rest your hand upon Coriolanus’ cheek, “You can choose to accept that, or you can keep trying to prove you’re evil. But just know that I wouldn’t associate myself with you if I knew you could do terrible things on purpose.”

Coriolanus flinches but realizes you’re right. Yeah, he’s a little fucked up. You know it, he knows it, everyone knows it. But he had a choice at every step of his grand plan to win the Plinth Prize. And he chose to make the negative ones. But here with you at this very moment, he knows those choices weren’t guaranteed to be made. He could’ve chosen to do right and didn’t. However, you are guaranteed. Because he loves you, and you love him. And that’s the only sure thing.

“I love you,” Coriolanus suddenly says without thinking, which isn’t typical of him.

“I love you, too,” you smile.

Despite the darkness that looms inside Coriolanus Snow, you can see something within him that no one else can. And you can’t be sure of how he decides to live his life- whether it’s in a good way or a bad way. But you are sure that as long as you’re with him, whatever decision he makes will be a logical one. Hopefully, that will be enough for Coriolanus in the end.

[obnoxioussmiley]

Chocolates & Butterflies

Pairing: Jake Lockley X Reader

Warnings: female reader/reader that has a vagina and gets menstrual cramps, period talk aka blood and pms symptoms, reader is an emotional mess, Jake is a softie who knows you like the back of his hand <3

Summary: It’s that time of month and everything is going wrong. Jake makes things goes right.

Request:

Hey! Are you okay? I've had this request in my head for a while but I'm embarrassed to ask my favorite authors so here goes. Can I get one where the reader is having a bad day and is full of period cramps so when Jake gets home he just smiles at her and she completely breaks down? You can decide what happens next if you make this request. Anyway, have a great day, your work here is amazing! (Sorry about my terrible English)

Okay your English was PERFECT wdym??

You woke up to an empty bed. This happened a lot when your boyfriend shared a body with two other alters, and you understood that. Usually it didn’t bother you, but today you woke up exceptionally sore and upset. You immediately recognized the feeling to be period cramps and you cursed yourself for not watching for your next cycle.

You had bled through your underwear, your pajama pants, and even onto the bed a little. So, despite how much you wanted to just fall back asleep, you dragged yourself out of bed. Just to trip on the blanket and catch yourself with your hands before you landed face first.

“Ugh,” You mumbled, still dazed from the recent sleep. You gathered up your stained bed sheets and brought them towards the laundry area so you could get them cleaned. After completely dousing them in cleaning detergent, you tossed them in the washing machine. You did the same to your dirty pants and started the cycle.

After getting a fresh pair of undies and bottoms, you went into the bathroom to get what you needed for your period, and set it up. Washing and drying your hands, you pulled the mirror back to reveal the medicine cabinet and grabbed the ibuprofen bottle. It was empty.

“Goddammit, Jake,” you sighed, throwing it in the trash, “Why do you do this?” You grabbed your phone and shot him a text to buy more when he’s on his way back home.

In the kitchen, you grabbed a mug and filled it up with milk and hot cocoa mix, stirring it and placing it in the microwave to heat up. It beeped and you reached for your mug, only to hiss in pain and pull it back as it was hot to the touch.

You folded a paper towel and grabbed the mug with it, placing it on the counter top and leaning against it. You rested your head on one of your hands, elbow propped on the granite. You were miserable. Taking a sip of your hot cocoa, you stood against the counter brewing over this shitty morning, when the front door opened.

Jake had just walked through and closed the door behind him. He looked over to meet your eyes and smiled. Holding up a pharmacy bag, he grinned at you, “Hey, gorgeous, I’ve got your pills and some extra goodies.”

The surge of love you felt from seeing him clashed against the horrible depressing moods in your head, and before you knew it you were crying. A hiccup escaped and Jake’s smile dropped instantly. Walking over, he placed the bag down and put his hands on your head, “Hey, hey, it’s alright, what’s the matter?”

You shook your head, letting out a pathetic laugh at yourself, “Nothing, I just-” Another sob forced its way out and Jake wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into his chest.

“You’re okay, I got you,” He rubbed your back with one head and brought the other up to your head, running his hand through your hair.

It took a while just standing like that, but you slowly calmed down, “I’m sorry, I’m just having a shitty morning.”

He hummed, “Don’t be sorry. Things happen.” He pulled back to get a good look at your face, “Why don’t we have a nice relaxing rest of the day to make up for it?”

You nodded and he smiled, grabbing the bag off the counter and laying the contents out. A new bottle of ibuprofen, some chocolate bars, a rental movie, and one of those microwaveable heating pad bag things.

While entirely grateful, you shot him a confused look, “I only asked for ibuprofen, how did you know to get the rest of this?”

He shrugged, “You were complaining about your back hurting yesterday, and when I got up today I saw you were breaking out a bit.” He moved to put the heating pad in the microwave for a few minutes while you downed the ibuprofen. “I know those are some of your tells,” He said casually, like it wasn’t a big deal.

Even after being together for awhile, he still found ways to make your stomach do flips. You stared at him with so much adoration as he started to make you a fresh cup of cocoa.

Jake was a tough guy, never afraid to get his hands dirty or start a fight. And he wasn’t the best at showing his emotions and affection. But he always managed to pull through at the best moments, where you really needed him to.

You didn’t notice when he looked back up to see you staring so deeply. “Sweetheart, you good?”

You blinked, “Yeah, I’m good.” You smiled, “I love you.”

His face softened and one of those rare, giddy smiles appeared. “Oh, c’mere,” He said, walking over and suddenly picking you up. You laughed out in surprise and held on while he carried you back over to the bed, placing you down with a flop. He pulled you into him and you rested your head in his chest. “I love you too.”

yo if you know the correct word for those microwaveable heating pad bag things, PLEASE let me know I’m so lost

taglist:

@milkiane

[amistytown]

The Brothers Comfort MC During a Panic Attack

This is my first attempt at writing down my headcanons for the brothers, so I apologize if anything is out of character. I meant it to be short and sweet, but it grew out of my control after a while. I’m a perfectionist and wanted to rewrite everything. I made minor edits and am posting it anyway or it’ll sit in my drafts forever; I admit I put the most effort into Lucifer’s, forgive me. Also sorry for the repetitiveness and any typos you may find. I decided to write how the brothers would comfort MC during a panic attack, especially as someone who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks themselves. Honestly, I wrote this as a way to comfort myself since I’ve been dealing with terrible anxiety lately. Of course, everyone experiences anxiety differently, so I can only speak from my own experiences. I didn’t go into detail when it comes to the symptoms themselves because it’s from the point of view of the brothers and only so many are visible to the eye. Trigger warning for depictions of anxiety and panic attacks. Thank you for reading!

LUCIFER

Lucifer is troubled. Following lunch, you disappeared, currently absent from class. This is unlike you, his worry intensifying every minute you’re out of his sight. Yet he maintains his composure, resigning himself to scouring the academy grounds. Time passes at a torturous pace, his thoughts beginning to take a turn for the worst. He contemplates whether to involve his brothers and Lord Diavolo himself at this rate, however the sound of his D.D.D diverts his attention. A wave of relief washes over him at the sight of your name lighting up his screen, chased by frustration at you, your silence, and himself for losing track of you so easily; he couldn’t bear living if anything happened to you under his watch. He expects this behavior from his brothers, not you. Though his heart sinks, the Avatar of Pride uncharacteristically overcome with guilt while he reads your message. Of course, you are not his brothers. He should not have doubted you.

Your texts are apprehensive, a weighty pause between them as you hesitate to lay bare the darkest depths of your soul. He approaches you cautiously, to avoid upsetting you further. Your words alone convey the sheer panic taking possession of you, the last of your strength used to press send. Outside he discovers you, huddled miserably in an isolated corner of the building, swathed in shadow. The desire to shelter you from the world burns within him, but your eyes widen fearfully in his presence, wounding his pride. Immediately, you apologize. Sorry you’re missing class, that you left without telling anyone, and upset him—especially when you’re aware of his busy schedule. You’re sorry for not having the courage to pull yourself together, succumbing to your anxiety, your shame palpable. The hand clutching your D.D.D is trembling, your chest heaving as you struggle to breathe. He aches for you, each tear shed hurting more than the last, your pain managing to touch the very core of his being and set him alight.

If anyone is sorry, it’s him, pride be damned. Kneeling in front of you, he assures you an apology isn’t necessary—your wellbeing of great importance to him. He wants you to rely on him, grateful you confided in him despite your doubts. Hopefully, he can eventually put your mind at ease. His voice low, soothing, he continues to console you, making sure you’re aware he’s not upset, and your feelings are valid. Although he’s not familiar with the inner workings of anxiety itself, he’s willing to listen, learning how to support you to the best of his ability—starting today, providing you’re comfortable accepting his offer. Initially, he prioritized your safety for the sake of the exchange program and Lord Diavolo’s wish to unite the three realms, now it’s merely out of adoration for you, his beloved. Once you’re ready, he’ll let you know you’re not alone. He’s never too busy on your behalf. 

Offering you his hand, a smile graces his features as you accept. Slowly, he helps you to your feet, steadying you against him. He notes the way you relax at his touch, shoulders sagging and head coming to rest on his chest. Only you exist in this moment, his gaze not leaving you, not even for a second. Standing in silence until your breathing settles and you regain your balance, he sees you through the height of your attack before escorting you back to the House of Lamentation. He’ll personally excuse you from the remainder of your classes, understanding you need a quiet place to recover. Classical music plays softly in the background of his room, and he’s content to have you in his embrace, drawing you onto his lap after you finish the tea he brewed to calm your nerves. Lucifer pays you special attention, massaging your tired body and kissing you tenderly, his breath fanning across your lips as he reminds you how special you truly are—brave, compassionate, and incredibly loved.

MAMMON

Mammon mourns his loss, wondering how he let them gain the upper hand; admittedly, a foolish mistake on his part. He dreads breaking the news to Lucifer, and the resentment that shows on his brothers’ faces once he confesses does little to ease his mind. Still, he worries about your reaction most of all, knowing his stupidity has put you in a precarious position. In that moment he believes their words—only a greedy scumbag like himself dares to place his human’s happiness on the line. Although certain of his win at the time, he should consider how his actions affect you more often; otherwise, how can he claim he’s the Great Mammon? His confidence is his downfall in the end. Now you’ll suffer along with him. Yet you feign optimism, attempting to soothe everything over despite your innocence. His guilt only grows, a heavy weight on his shoulders. One he deserves.

Three days of waiting on and performing for large crowds at The Fall proves hectic for everyone. He can tell you’re struggling beneath the façade of a composed and hospitable server, going above and beyond to ensure the patrons leave satisfied. Furthermore, you lend him and his brothers a hand, coming to their rescue; it should be him making it as easy on you as possible. His concern for you runs deep, no matter how hard he tries to maintain his usual air of indifference, but you have the nerve to reassure him—it’s meant to be the opposite, dammit. Each night he goes out of his way to check on you, frustrated that you continue to dance around the subject. He can see the exhaustion on your face, hear the slight tremor in your voice, the toll his stupid decision is taking on you, and it stung. You comfort him, even when he’s undeserving, so why won’t you allow him to hold you and kiss the pain away? Not that he’s asked. You should realize by now you can rely on him, right?

Watching you suffer in silence tortures him. He can’t deny it regardless of his best effort to make light of the situation. You barely eat or spend time outside your room, saying you’re tired, which isn’t a lie—working is exhausting, no doubt about it—but he understands you well enough to notice the subtle signs of your anxiety, your smile unable to trick him into believing otherwise. Perhaps you find him as insufferable as his brothers do, or worse, and don’t want to see his face after what he’s done. That doesn’t stop him from showing up at your door, hoping he can offer some form of comfort. However, you keep up appearances, supporting the seven of them during the longest weekend of their lives. You work hard too, his chest swelling with pride as he watches you care for his brothers and customers alike. How can you like an idiot like him? You’re selfless and loving, looking past his flaws to see what lay beneath his sin. His human. His angel. He wants—no needs—you to be okay.

The last day comes and goes in a blur. Finally, he can toss these ridiculous clothes and rabbit ears in the trash and never perform that dance again. Better yet, you’re free of his burden, though the guilt remains. He can’t relax until he’s positive you’re okay, knowing he’s genuinely sorry. Standing outside your room, he tries to muster up the courage to open his heart to you—apologies not his strong suit—when he hears you crying. They’re small, muffled sobs that manage to shake him to his core, blood running cold. Yeah, he should knock, but he can’t control himself, throwing the door open without hesitation and rushing to your side. The sight of your tears is almost too much to bear, and he draws you into his embrace, face heating up at his own moment of vulnerability, but this is about you, not him. He can be strong for you too, telling you everything’s going to be okay, that the Great Mammon is here to help.

After his stupidity, you tell him you were afraid to bother him? He can hardly suppress the shock at your confession, the sadness in your eyes breaking his heart. You wanted to make sure it went smoothly for his sake? You suffer through Hell alone because you chose to put his feelings first? Crazy. Though he thanks you, not completely ashamed to admit he’s touched. However, he tells you that you don’t have to put aside your feelings for his benefit; he prefers to be by your side then know you’re having a rough time on your own. He is your first. Taking the initiative, he asks what he can do to make it up to you, no matter how big or small the request is because he’ll do it in a heartbeat. You opt to stay in his arms, burying your face into his chest, and he wipes away your remaining tears, being as gentle as he possibly can. He can feel how tense your body is, your skin unnaturally warm, and it takes a while until you stop shaking. It’s moments like these he’ll tell you how much you mean to him—that he loves you, okay—and he wants you to come to him for everything. He’ll hold you, taking your hand in his, and kiss you with all the adoration in the world because you’re incredibly important to him. Mammon can attest to that.

LEVIATHAN

Leviathan invites you to his room to play video games, a daily routine the two of you have comfortably fallen into. He loves gaming with you, though on occasion you opt to watch instead, thoroughly enthralled by whatever is on the screen. Miraculously, you enjoy listening to him ramble—whether it’s about the game he’s playing, anime he’s watching, or TSL among other things—genuinely showing interest in his passions; he’s incapable of expressing how truly grateful he is for your company. His heart nearly bursts whenever you compliment him on his gaming prowess, encourage him during a particularly intense battle, or merely tell him how you enjoy hanging out. How in the Devildom did a gross otaku like him get so incredibly lucky? He can hardly believe you love him of all demons. The thought alone sounds crazy lmao. 

Unable to contain his excitement, he awaits your arrival that night, ensuring everything is perfect when he hears a knock on the door. However, his smile fades the moment he lays eyes on you, mind beginning to race as he wonders why you look miserable, your gaze trained on your hands. Before he can speak, you apologize, dissolving into tears while you return the game he let you borrow. You’re stuttering, completely winded, and he can barely hear you confess to accidentally corrupting his data in your panic. In fact, he loses track of the number of times you choke out a sorry. He treasures his games, his collection extensive, but he cherishes you most of all. The loss is a minor annoyance, nothing that lessens the feelings he harbors for you. Although difficult, he overcomes his insecurities to show you it’s okay—you’re loved.

Not only are you sad, but you’re also terrified, a part of him wanting to destroy the game itself if it means you never have to experience the pain that torments you now. Regarding you carefully, afraid to make matters worse, he reassures you that he’s not upset—far from it, honestly—and that he cares about you more than any game. No stranger to your panic attacks, he reaches out to take your hand in his, hoping you find comfort in what he has to offer. And when you finally glance up, hope shining in your tear-filled eyes, he can’t help but wrap you in his arms. A warmth spreads across his face, heart pounding in his ears, but he knows you need him, allowing his body to relax around yours.

Holding you against him, he tells you everything’s all right, stuttering out how he loves you and, most importantly, wants to you to feel better. Your arms circle around his waist, causing his heart to jump into his throat, but he only pulls you closer. You’re his Henry, and what friend is he if you can’t rely on him? Leviathan is understanding, wanting you to come to him for support at your most vulnerable. Now he puts his knowledge to the test, easing you into his room with continuous words of affirmation. You always know how to console him at his lowest, and he hopes he can return the favor. If anyone deserves to feel loved it’s you, who brought joy into his otherwise bleak world, and he’ll sit with you every day and night if you need him to. 

SATAN

Satan knows he shouldn’t be awake, though he finds it difficult to satiate his curiosity as he peruses the books lining his shelves. He barely registers the sound of his D.D.D, reluctant to put the book aside to see who’s messaging him at this ungodly hour; Asmodeus most likely. His tune changes after he sees your name lighting up his screen, his annoyance replaced with worry. He knows you struggle, especially at night, but he can tell you’re hesitant to reach out. Nevertheless, you gradually begin to confide in him, his patience limitless if you’re concerned, and he feels a sense of relief that you choose to trust him at your most vulnerable instead of suffering on your own. Pouring over every book he can locate on anxiety, he studies it religiously, engraining each page into his memory. Not by giving unsolicited advice—he doesn’t want to make that mistake twice—but by comforting you the best he can, even if it simply means to stay by your side, waiting for the panic to pass.

A second later, he appears at your door, gaze softening as your eyes meet. In the darkness of your room, he can tell how exhausted you are. You apologize for bothering him, particularly this late, but he dismisses you with a shake of his head and a reassuring smile, sitting beside you on the bed. It saddens him that you feel the need to, but he’s familiar enough with anxiety by now that he understands how much of a manipulative monster it truly is; if only he can destroy it with his own two hands, strangling the life out of it so it no longer taints that innocent soul of yours. To watch you struggle fills him with a rage that he forces deep within himself, fully aware anger isn’t the answer no matter how great his desire to protect you is. So, he cups your face in his hands, your skin warm beneath his fingers as he strokes your flushed cheeks and presses your foreheads together. 

Focus on him, he tells you, the steady rhythm of his breathing, and his voice while he whispers words of love and encouragement. He never tires of letting you know how beautiful and strong you are, that he’s always here for you and loves you—all of you. You unravel in his arms, opening your heart up to him, and he listens intently, pressing a gentle kiss to your lips the moment you look uncertain. You’re not a burden he promises, hoping one day you’ll believe it yourself, but he’ll remind you every chance he gets; forever if he must. It’s worth it in the end, when you relax against him and smile, kissing him in return. Slowly, the anxiety leaves your body, Satan thankful that the waves of panic have receded enough to let you rest your weary mind. He remains next to you, pulling you down to lay your head on his chest and closing your hand in his, entwining your fingers. He’s content here with you, watching you fall asleep and chasing away the nightmares.

ASMODEUS

Asmodeus loves shopping, but he loves shopping with you most of all. The day is bright with you by his side, and he can’t help but buy you clothes and matching accessories to bring out your inherent charm. Your potential is endless, and he gushes over how gorgeous you are, unable to contain his excitement when your cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink in return. He can hardly control himself around you, gaze fixated on your every movement and heart racing each time you flash him one of the sweetest smiles he’s ever seen; your very soul seeming to shine through and blind him. Nothing prepares him for the love he feels for you, but he considers it a welcome surprise, his desire to grow closer to you intensifying day after day. You captivate him, the Avatar of Lust of all demons. What an exciting turn of events!

Of course, he attracts attention wherever he goes, posing for pictures with adoring fans and basking in the compliments constantly thrown his way; nothing new, but he enjoys it, nonetheless. Who can resist the allure of his very presence? However, anger wells within him at the sight of you being shoved to the side, falling to the ground and lost to the crowd that has gathered. Their words of flattery fall on deaf ears as he rushes to you, throwing a heated glance at the lowly demon who dares to touch his darling human. He desires nothing more than to punish them for such an injustice, but the fear in your eyes tells him otherwise. By the time he scoops you up into his arms you’re trembling from head to toe, and he can feel your heart pounding against him. A part of him places the blame on himself, an unfamiliar feeling, but he chooses to ignore it for now, focusing on getting you home in your worsening state.

In the peace and quiet of his room, he sits you on the bed, wrapping you in his arms as he affectionately runs his fingers through your hair. He can tell you’re upset—in an absolute state of panic by the looks of it—and all he can do is hold you through it, quietly asking what you need and willing to answer your every beck and call if it means that adorable smile graces your features once more. For a moment he considers seeking out Lucifer, worried something has gone terribly wrong, but thankfully you find your voice, mumbling into his chest about anxiety and panic attacks, that you’ll be fine—eventually—and are sorry for ruining your date. He doesn’t understand completely, though he knows you need him, promising to stay by your side for as long as you want. Kissing your cheek, he assures you there’s no need to apologize to him, your safety more important than anything else; the demon who laid his hands on you won’t go without punishment either.

Admitting a bath helps calm you down, he prepares one for you, steam rising from the surface and the heady scent of roses filling the air. Together you slip into the water, enveloped by its warmth, and he hums in contentment as you lean into him, his arms coming to rest around your waist. He watches you carefully, making sure you’re able to relax and preparing himself in case you call on him; he’ll do anything for you if it brings you the happiness you deserve. Your eyes flutter close, Asmodeus showering you with delicate kisses, comforted by the fact your breathing has levelled out and you appear a lot calmer than before. The day didn’t go as planned, and he hopes to make it up to you, vowing that no one else will hurt you on his watch. He loves himself. He loves his brothers. But loves you most of all.

BEELZEBUB

Beelzebub notices you haven’t touched your dinner and is beyond happy the moment you offer your plate to him. Yet he can’t bring himself to enjoy the food in front of him while you excuse yourself from the table, eyes downcast and voice quiet, the usual smile gone from your face and leaving behind an emptiness that rivals his own hunger. His mouth waters at the thought of seconds, but his concern for you grows, and he decides to follow you without question, disregarding the ravenous growl of his stomach. He catches you in the hallway, calling out your name. You turn to him, his brow furrowing in unease at the sight of your tears and the slight tremble of your lip. It hurts him to see you in obvious distress, and he earnestly offers his support.

The only sound is that of your sobbing. He desperately wishes to hold you tightly and rid you of your pain. However, he falters, studying you. Your gaze is trained on the floor, shoulders stiff with tension, and the color drains from your cheeks. When you speak, he’s surprised by how helpless you sound and the fact you’re trying to reassure him, putting his needs above your own although you’re struggling to hold yourself together. Fear flickers across your features at the echo of the brothers’ voices travelling up the stairs, and he mumbles out an apology as he carefully lifts you into his arms, cradling you to his chest. 

Before the others can round the corner, he hurries down the hall and slips into your room, determined to protect his vulnerable human. He notices you relax against him, your fingers curling into his shirt, and he can’t help but want to keep you close, relieved after you lean in closer to wrap your arms around his neck. Stroking your hair, he allows you to cry, his patience and love for you endless. Eventually, you mutter an embarrassed sorry, thanking him profusely, but he’s merely relieved you’re beginning to feel a bit better, reassuring you that you can always depend on him. 

Listening to you intently, he never breaks eye contact. You open up to him about your anxiety, his stomach twisting as you describe what you call a panic attack and how it wrecks you both mentally and physically. Beelzebub knows he has a lot to learn, but he expresses interest in understanding anxiety and, most importantly, how he can help you, so you don’t suffer alone. For the rest of the night, he keeps you company and eases you through the remainder of your attack, giving you plenty of hugs and rubbing your back in soothing circles until you no longer shake, and your heartbeat returns to its usual pace.

BELPHEGOR

Belphegor enjoys the time you spend together, especially when the two of you are alone. He asks you to accompany him in the attic, and it’s not long before he curls around you, falling into a peaceful sleep as he listens to the steady beat of your heart. However, when he awakes it’s to the sound of your soft cries in the dark, which fill him with a fear he can’t seem to shake. Without hesitation he’s at your side, sitting up to softly place a hand on your shoulder and ask you what’s wrong. The sadness in your eyes as you glance up at him, tears staining your cheeks, tugs at his heartstrings. He can’t bear to see you upset.

Once he realizes you’re having a panic attack, he’s attentive to your needs, cradling you in his arms as you cry into his chest. You confided in him about your struggles with anxiety after you fell to pieces in front of him months ago. A part of him understands, the loss of Lilith haunting him throughout the years and instilling a similar feeling of unease within him, especially when his nightmares seem to blur the line between reality and the painful memories of his past. You always came to his rescue and now it’s his turn to comfort you in your time of need. Sleep can wait.

With you in his embrace, he brings you down to relax against the pillows, pulling the blanket around your shivering form. You rest your head on his shoulder, and he gently brushes the remaining tears from your face, whispering words of love and reassurance. He listens to you when you’re comfortable to talk, the slight tremble of your voice causing him to draw you closer and press a kiss to your forehead. Belphegor tells you he’s here for you—forever—and although he’s still learning about anxiety and finding the best ways to comfort you during an attack, he wants you to depend on him no matter what. Even if that means you wake him up in the middle of the night. He won’t rest until he knows you’re okay, and you’re peacefully sleeping in his arms.

[static-fanatic-1]

Hello, I hope you are doing well today. I was wondering if I can get a semi-angst hc of Pakunoda, Illumi, Milluki, Silva, Chrollo, Kurapika and Shalnark + Setsuno, Overhaul, Chronostasis, Tamaki, Endeavor, Shinsou, Aizawa and Shiggaraki with a s/o who hates them, but once their children gets kidnapped they beg and cry to the boys/girls to find their child and bring them safely home. Hopes that makes sense. Please and thank you.

Pakunoda:

She hates seeing you in pain, in ANY pain, so this doesn’t sit well with her at all. It hurts that you hate her, but to her it doesn’t matter as much as her undying love for you. She is sweet, and she knows despite keeping you captive, you are cared for. This includes your and her child. She will tear the world to shreds with her lovely heels.

She will be more methodical in ending whoever took her child, and no harm will come to the sweet baby. She will not use this against you in anyway, she would rather you love her naturally. So when da baby is returned, she won’t tease you or ask for something in return. She just wants to comfort you both and tell you everything is okay now.

Illumi:

Like Paku, Illumi cares about both of you, just in a really different way. He “loves” his kids more as a tool and as a successor to his lineage, not like he loves you. So when his kid is taken, there will be hell to pay.

He doesn’t really think much on the fact you are begging him, though it is a nice change to your typical screaming. He won’t brag, boast, or use it against you, for the most part anyway. He might be robotic, but he still is smart. He will keep your children in mind next time you try anything too risky.

Milluki:

He doesn’t care about his kids, they are spoiled little shits in his eyes. He probably didn’t really want kids in the first place, but one thing led to another and here they are now. So when they are taken, he sees it as an inconvenience, but also an opportunity once he sees how distraught you are.

He makes it into a big deal and boasts about how only HE can save your kids. HE is the only reason you will get your little babies back. And don’t worry, he will make sure you inderstand that. He will ALWAYS use this against you at any moment of any day. He wants you to know you need him.

Silva:

He doesn’t care about your kids, to him they are an end to a means, and another way to keep you with him. So as much as he knows his kids can take care of themselves, or at least he wants them to be independent through whatever means, seeing you hurt makes him take initiative. You are devistated, fine, he’ll save your kids.

Silva makes quick work of whoever took your kids, and makes sure to savor it. Once he’s done, he lets you take a moment to be happy for your kids being safe, but don’t expect to be in the clear. You will have to give him something in return, and knowing his sex drive, you probably wouldn’t like it. But your kids are safe, so everything is fine, right?

Chrollo:

Like Silva, Chrollo doesn’t care about your kids. A means to an end, to keep you locked with him. Though, he really does care about you, so he will do anything to make you happy.

This means getting that little bundle of attention-stealing-shitness back. Anything for you to get on his good graces. Besides, he has the whole troupe that loves the kid, so they will all pitch in to find the little one. I don’t think he will use this against you, mainly because you should already knows nothing will get between the two of you, not even your child.

Shalnark:

Shalnark is a strange one, to me he seems like a mix between Chrollo and Pakunoda. He cares, a lot, but if anything was to come between you and him, he wouldn’t mind making a point. Still, seeing you in so much emotional pain makes him jump into action.

He calls up his best friends to help find the poor sap who took his and your kid. Yeah, they won’t last long. Shal takes great care in handling the little one to make sure they aren’t too scared. He also spends a lot of down time after to bond with the both of you. Maybe this wasn’t a good thing to you, but to him it only brought you closer together.

Kurapika:

Really big family man, whoever took your kid must have been the most stupid person to walk the earth. He is defiantly on your side with getting his kid back, so he won’t use this against you as much as the others might. Instead of bragging or boasting about how you need him to keep you safe, he will want a little something in return.

He might be on your side, desperately wanting his kid back, but he wouldn’t waste an opportunity to get a little treat from you. He will manipulate you to feel guilty, like it was somehow your fault, just to get something from you. Wether it be some bonding time, or something more suggestive, he will get it through manipulation. Of course he’d love to bond some more with your kids after he retrieves them, just don’t think you are safe around Kurapika.

Setsuno:

This poor guy had a terrible relationship before you, so there is no way in hell he would let what happened before happen again. He hates the fact you hate him, but he refrains from hurting you in anyway, this includes your kid. He will leave the room, break things, anything other than touching you and both of your kid.

When someone takes the baby, you aren’t the only one pissed off. Setsuno is furious, so he will do anything to get your kid back. He calls his friends just in case, and the three of them destroy whoever laid hands on his baby. Setsuno is happy to have everyone together again and he’ll take this time to bond with the both of you. Just don’t push him away or else he’ll remind you who saved your kid.

Overhaul:

Overhaul finds children to be dirty, they are nasty things that need so much attention. With that being said, to an extent, he treasures his kid. He wants them to be just like him, so he takes his time to teach them everything there is to know about ruling the underground. Again, his kid is an end to a means, but he does think of them a bit more than most of the others on this list.

When he kid is taken, he is frustrated for a few reasons. One is because he taught his kid to use their quirk (if they are old enough to have it by now), and two because he has to waste his time trying did of dirty things. Though, seeing you beg for him to save your baby makes it more worth his time. Much better than when you grit your teeth and turn the other way. So when he gets the baby back, he makes sure you understand what he went through to appease you.

Chronostasis:

Another one that actually likes his children and treasures them. Chronostasis is more of a family man, taking care of the children, getting groceries, the usual stuff to help around the house while you are there. He doesn’t keep you stuck, he just uses his profession to threaten you. But other than that he acts like a normal father when he doesn’t have work to do.

Taking his child is a really bad thing. He values work a lot, so he will put work first, so he will only leave to find his kid once overhaul gives him the go. He might get help, but in the end it doesn’t matter. He will tear anyone apart to find your baby. When he does, he brings them home and smiles at you, taking as much time as he is given to comfort the both of you. Everything can go back to normal now, just ignore the spots of blood on the bottom of his white jacket.

Tamaki:

Such a shy guy, he doesn’t do much to your hatred against him, he kinda just lets it happen while apologizing profusely. Though he doesn’t let you go. He does, genuinely, love his kid. In a way it gives him a sense of pride that he helped create such a beautiful baby. So when they go missing, and you grip his shirt and beg for him to find them. Tamaki is relieved you finally need him, but so frustrated at the same time.

He wants to sulk and cry through his frustration at loosing his kid, but your begging doesn’t allow that. Instead he asks his besties for help and makes sure to hurry. He’s so happy to get his baby back he can’t help the tears of joy falling from his face. When he comes back home you both cry and hold your baby as close as you possibly can.

Shinsou:

I think Shinsou has an inner demon when he is a Yandere, this is when it shows itself. He loves his kid, and is a really relaxed guy when it comes to the both of you. It’s just when his patience is pulled by someone out of his obsessive behaviors is when it becomes a problem.

He goes on his own, after all he is a hero not many know about, and his ability is insanely powerful. He will find the people resposible and tell them to “jump off this building” or “go kill yourself”. Things that will force them to get their hands dirty and stay away from his kid. He comforts his kid, tells them everything is okay now and that the two of them are going home to see you. Y’all can all watch a movie too, get take out and simply take it easy.

Aizawa:

He is almost exactly like Shinsou, or Shinsou is almost exactly Aizawa. The biggest difference is Aizawa has less patience, and isn’t afraid to get a little sadistic. With that said, you are more likely better “behaved”, though you still have some fight in you. Your kid is one of your joys in life, so when he comes home from work and sees you begging for your baby back, he’s happy.

He goes on his own and takes out whoever was involved. He doesn’t kill, he isn’t that reckless, but he definalty beats them to a bloody pulp until the police arrive. He does the paperwork, and then happily takes back his kid. Aizawa will make sure you know he did this for you and he will make sure you only think that. He loves his kid, a lot, but if you think you owe him more love, then that’s a win for him.

Endeavor:

Enji thinks his kids are weapons, I mean, that’s obvious right? He does care, but more as it would be a waste if something bad were to happen to them. Also, they are keeping you stuck with him. So yeah, when they are taken he gets pretty pissed about it.

Enji kinda rubs it in your face too, I mean you are begging for his help. You NEED him to save your kid. He won’t tell you he would get them back either way either, he wants you to think you owe him. So expect listening to whatever demands he wants from you. Not much time to appreciate your baby being safe.

Shigiraki:

Crusty man actually kinda likes his kid. In a way it’s like he has a distaste for them but can’t help but have a connection with them at the same time. Even Shigiraki doesn’t think he would be too distressed if something happened to his kid, but he was wrong. He takes it personally, and your begging makes him even more pissed. How dare they?!

Shigiraki makes a huge deal out of it, the entire league (those close) will be involved to cause chaos to the idiot who hurt his kid. It will be all on the news, how much carnage he caused, but not a single person will know it was because of his kid. He will boast about how he defeated the final boss for you and his kid, and he expects you to reward him. After you reward his efforts he will relax with the two of you, taking in the warmth from your love.

[dirt-cup-draco]

Tethered- Fred x Reader

‘Don’t ever scare me like that again’ kiss with Fred where he lives (I’ve been crying about it lately) xoxo @starofthedawn

Your chest was tied up in knots, eyes burning and bile rising in your throat. The dust that permeated the air felt like gravel in your airways and you couldn’t help the wet cough that slipped past cracked lips. Even as you blinked away the tears that were running out, the world remained blurry and unfocused. 

After all, how could anything make sense when Fred was face down on the cobblestone. Pieces of the castle you two had called home burying him. 

“Lost in my eyes again, Y/N?” Fred asked, a playful tilt to his mouth. You were in the library, head buried in a book and not at all gazing into Fred’s honeyed eyes. You must’ve not heard him come in so when you looked up and saw him you couldn’t help the warmth that blossomed in your chest. 

You liked the way his lips were pulled up by an invisible thread as you finally took notice of him.  It wasn’t quite a smile, but a familiar expression that you held dear to your heart. It was understated, especially for Fred Weasley, but the expression was one of his most sincere. 

“Can’t help the fact you’ve got dreamy eyes, George,” 

“Sod off,” Fred said with no real venom, sitting in the chair beside yours and kicking his feet up onto the table. He was lucky Madam Pince didn’t often come to this corner of the library, otherwise she’d have his head.

You stuck your tongue out at him, even daring to toss a quill at his head- but before you could he caught your hand and held on tight. Your bright grin wavered at the edges but that joy was still blooming in your chest. Suffocation was a sure thing. 

“Everything okay, Freddie?” Voice soft, slow. You understood sometimes he just needed a hand to hold and you wouldn’t let yourself believe it was more than that. What it was, was Fred trusting you and needing you as a friend and that was more than enough. 

He nodded, his eyelids heavy and his demeanor sluggish. He almost seemed like a sleepy cat but you could see the way his shoulders dipped as you posed your question. 

Fred squeezed your hand as he sank down into his chair, knees now drawn to his chest in a protective ball. “Course I am, nothing could ever be wrong when I’ve got you to tether me to what’s good,” 

--

Your knees buckled as you stumbled the last foot to where Fred lay. Unmoving, broken, probably not breathing- You shook your head wildly even as the tears burned and your brain ached. Just like every other wizard, every other soldier at Hogwarts today, you had your fair share of injuries but you felt the pain dull to nothing; Your vision tunneled to the familiar hand that stuck out from the rubble, the feather soft shock of red hair that was visible under all the grey, lifeless stone. 

With a flick of your hand, some of the rubble broke loose and found themselves discarded on the burned and torn up grass ten feet from you. The panic pounding at your ribcage was only eased by the determination you felt to get Fred out of there, alive. There was no other option. 

Waves would stand still without the moon, plants would dry up without water, and you would cease to be anything but a shell without Fred Weasley. 

--

It had been an honest mistake at the time, George had tugged you away after class one day to an empty corridor and nearly begged you to ask Fred and put the both of you out of your “self sabotaging misery”. Problem was, all Katie Bell saw was George whisking you away somewhere private a week before the ball was to commence, both of you dateless. 

By the time you had both gone to the great hall for lunch, your group of friends were deep into speculations. 

“Going to the ball with Y/N then?” Fred fixed George with a look you couldn’t quite decipher but the shock of him thinking such a thing had you missing that usual twitch of his eye when he was aggravated. 

George whipped his head to you in confusion but it went unnoticed when Lee said, “Great! Of course you two got dates before me,” gesturing wildly to the twins. 

All of the confusion had your head spinning but hearing that Fred had a date to the ball made you steady again, the lead pit in your stomach anchoring you. Anyone would be a fool to not want to go with Fred. 

“You’ve got a date?” You said a bit too loudly, eyes narrowed at Fred. 

“Asked Angie,” 

“Yeah, two minutes ago,” She snorted. “Guess he didn’t want George to beat him by too much of a landslide,”  

George let out a too-loud laugh and tossed his arm back over your shoulders. “Take that Lee, we got two of the hottest girls in school to be our dates,” 

“Go with me instead and I’ll buy you as many sugar quills as your heart desires, Y/N” Lee bargained and George swatted him on the back of a head with a faux glare. 

You couldn’t help but snort at Lee’s antics, looking at George with gratitude. You could tell he was trying to talk you up, keep your heart from falling too far. However, his efforts couldn’t completely ease the ache in your chest. You were tethered to Fred and you didn’t think anything could change that. 

--

You’d done your best to completely immobilize Fred when most of the rubble was removed, only some of the smaller chunks of wall now littered over his legs and back. The immobulus charm had to be enough to keep him stable. If he was still alive. 

It was the uncertainty that kept you going in this moment. If there was even a slim chance Fred could be alive, you would do all you could to save him. You refused to lose him and that was that. You wished you could see his chest moving, or any sign of life but he was still too buried and the dust that settled over the battlefield made your eyes unfocused. 

Even though the final battle had ended an hour or more ago, how long had it been since you’d found Fred?, you were shut off from any of the joy that the win could have brought you. If Fred wasn’t going to be there to celebrate then how could you? 

“We’ve got to fix up the shop a-and get butterbeers,” You sniffled, trying to keep your hands from shaking as you worked your way through the rubble. You kept speaking as if holding Fred to his promises would bring him over the threshold and into your waiting arms. 

“You’ve got to give me that birthday present you’ve been bragging about for months, and you’ve got to help me prank Lee for singeing my favorite sweater with one of your fireworks,”

And on and on you went, all of the promises Fred had ever made you falling from your lips as you pulled the last of the rubble from his body. One of his legs and all of the fingers on his right hand were bent at grotesque angles. There was a line of blood that started somewhere behind his hairline and trailed down his temple, dripping off of his jaw and onto the ruins he had nearly become a permanent part of. 

You wouldn’t permit your legs to shake as you stood, the sun being further down in the sky than you remembered. The wave of your wand was light and methodical even as every step towards help weighed you down. 

Time passed you without you taking note, the sun sank beneath the horizon and you stumbled your way through the dark. Eventually, you were taken off guard by the light of someone’s wand. Time caught up to you then as you stared with bleary eyes, trying to recognize the face before you but having a hard time sorting anything in your over exhausted brain. 

“Help him,” Was all you had energy for, before darkness took over. 

--

“...understand how she did it,” 

“...miracle, really,” 

“Poor girl must’ve....” 

Conversations floated around your head as you lay cemented underneath the sheets that you had been securely wrapped in. You wanted nothing more than to swat them away like pesky flies, the voices weren’t loud but to you it was as if someone had put a speaker in the empty space of your skull and turned the volume up as high as it could go. Everything ached. 

“Am I dead?” You croaked, eyelids still too heavy to even attempt opening. 

Immediately, a woman nearly screamed and a cacophony of other voices rose up- both familiar and not. 

“You look like you wish you were,” Someone joked to your left and your eyes snapped open so quickly you became dizzy. You felt frozen in place as honey eyes swept over you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Despite being covered from the chin down you felt as if you were being looked through. A shiver ran down your spine and it was followed by a deep ache that had you groaning despite the emotions bubbling up within you. 

“Damn you Fred,” Was all you had to say before everyone else around you was clearing out. For a split second you felt guilt when you realized your parents as well as the Weasleys had come to stand beside you as you healed. 

“I’ve come back from the brink of death and that’s what you have to say to me?” He teased but his voice was torn to shreds and you had the terrible image in your mind of him screaming for help until he lost consciousness. The blood drained from your face. 

Fred seemed to take notice as he shuffled out of his bed that was right next to yours. He paused at the edge, fumbling for the crutches that were at his bedside. It felt like years the time it took for him to fall into the chair nearest you, his hand stretching for yours. 

You moved pathetically against the sheets but in your weakened state you couldn’t grasp his hand. “Freddie,” You croaked, eyes filling with tears in frustration. You’d thought him dead and now you couldn’t even move a damn blanket to touch him, to make sure this wasn’t a dream. 

“I’m here,” He reassured, moving the sheets on your side gently until your hand was free and you could tangle your fingers with his non-broken hand. 

“How?” 

“I’ve been telling you for years now, you’re my tether. Just when I thought I was going to cross over, I heard you. All the promises we made, and all the chaos we have yet to make, all the things I haven’t said,” Fred’s bottom lip trembled as he brushed his thumb over your scabbed knuckles. You were faintly aware of a needle in your forearm, attached to an IV but all that mattered was the warmth you felt from Fred. 

“You could break them all and I’d still be counting my lucky stars that you’re here,” You cried, falling into a coughing fit. Fred was quick to press a still cold glass of water into your hands and help you sit up even from his place on his chair. 

“I’m not going anywhere,” He promised, hand remaining at the back of your neck as he settled you against your pillows. That genuine not-smile was back and you chewed on your lip to keep from crying again. You still weren’t sure he was here so any reminder that it was really him had you at a breaking point. 

“Can you make me one more promise then?” You caught his gaze but found you couldn’t hold it, the intensity making your stomach swoop and your heart pound against your rattled ribcage. 

Fred had yet to move, his hand steady behind you and his face close. Your noses were nearly touching as he said, “Anything.” 

“Don’t scare me like that ever again,” 

You chanced one more look at him, eyes wide and pleading. You were going to make him promise on everything in him but the rest of your words were lost when you stumbled over the loud adoration in his eyes. As if on autopilot, you removed your hand from his to brush your fingertips against a gash on his cheek. 

“Never again,” He whispered, frozen in place. He didn’t dare move when you let your movements wander over his lips, taking your time before you let your hand fall against the junction of where his shoulder met his neck. Beneath the collar of the hospital gown you could see garish bruising that only served as another reminder you’d almost lost him. 

That was enough to remind you that there was much unsaid between you and the man you loved. You could feel his shaky breath, his hand squeezing yours just enough that you felt the reassuring pressure. When you took your third look at those eyes, you knew. 

You moved at the same time, in tune to one another in a way you always have been. It was with a sigh that your lips met, frightened and curious and wonderful. You were careful of his head would as you played with the hair at the back of his neck and he made sure not to move you anymore than tilting your head to slot your lips against his at a better angle. 

Fred pulled away when his smile dared to take over his face but you couldn’t complain about the loss when you could feel his pulse beating strongly against your fingers, his chest moving steadily with life. 

“I’m just as tied to you as you are to me,” You laughed softly, in disbelief. 

Fred looked surprised for all but a second before he was placing his lips against yours, cautious but deliriously happy. 

Waves swayed with the moon, plants flourished with water, and you were never far from Fred Weasley. Each were tethered to their counterpart and nothing could change it. 

[smells-like-mettaton]

Rating: T (for inherent neutral ending angst)

Summary: Toriel's old house feels like a mausoleum. She will gladly ignore chisp crumbs and lumpy mattresses for a place that feels more like home.  (Queen Toriel ending fic for Soriel Week 2021.)

Word Count: 5211

XXX

The bedroom was exactly how she left it. Her bed pushed up against the gray wall. A book about snails on the wooden desk. A knit sweater with the embroidered words "Mrs. Mom Lady" in the wardrobe.

Even after all this time, she could barely look at it without her soul splitting in two.

She'd known this wouldn't be easy. She hadn't seen this house in over a century. Still, she wasn't prepared for how Asgore had sealed up her old room like a tomb, a photograph of the day that everything went terribly, horribly wrong.

At least the last child was safe. They should not have had to take a life to save their own, but she doubted Asgore had given them a choice.  Her own soul felt more numb than anything.  To her, Asgore had died a century ago.

What was done, was done. And as usual, she was too late to do anything but sweep up the dust.

She backed through the doorframe, shutting the door with a quiet click. She would have to return eventually, but for now, she yearned for a place with fewer painful memories.

"Hey, Your Majesty." A voice startled her as she attempted to escape the foyer. Luckily it was a voice she would always recognize.

"Hello, old friend." She turned and smiled at the monster leaning against the stair railing.

He was smaller than she expected, with that deep voice. Not that that was a bad thing. As for him being a skeleton, that had been apparent from the abundance of bone puns.

"You know the formality is unnecessary," she told him softly.

"Is it?" He shuffled from foot to slippered foot. 

In all her time of joking with him through the door, she had never expected him to be so cute. 

"Didn't want to assume, old lady."

He winked, and she felt a weight lift from her chest. At least one monster would still treat her like a person, and not like a mythical figure returned to save them.

"Toriel," she introduced herself for the first time. He had to have heard already, but between rushing to the palace, scattering Asgore's dust, comforting their—her people… she hadn't had time to seek out her friend.

He seemed to feel comfortable walking right into her home, though. Did he ever visit Asgore when he was here? Her friend seemed like the type of monster who went wherever he felt like, and Asgore, for all his flaws, had never turned a monster away from his home.

"Sans." He held out a bony hand. "Sans the skeleton."

"Nice to meet you, Sans," she tested out the name and clasped his hand with her paw.

A loud pthbbbbbt echoed through the empty hall. Her eyes widened.

"Wow, Toriel. That's, uh, some way to make an introduction." He winked.

She squinted down at the inflatable object in his hand, the source of the farting noise. Then she pretended to ignore it.

"It certainly is. I was not aware that skeletons were capable of flatulence."

His eyelights gutted for a moment before he burst out laughing.

"Your jokes are even better in person," he said once he composed himself.

His laugh set her soul fluttering. In all their conversations through the door, he'd never laughed like that. Maybe she should have tried fart jokes sooner.

"I am always happy to tickle your funny bone." She smiled, and his face tinged blue.

"Happy to be tickled. But, uh. I guess that's not all I'm here for?"

Her breath caught in her lungs. Of course he would not visit without a reason. 

"I suppose not. Would you like to have a seat?"

"It's nothing that serious," he assured her quickly. "I just thought you'd want an update on the kid."

"You've spoken with them? They are still here?"  She tried to keep the hysteria from her voice.

How could they have taken Asgore’s soul and not returned home?  Had the Barrier proven too powerful?

"No—geez, I'm making this sound worse." He ran a bony palm down his face. "They’re definitely gone.  Papyrus tried to call them nonstop.  Besides that, you know the big stuff. The king's dead."

Her lips drew to a thin line, pulling tight across her fangs.

"I can hardly fault them for that."

"Right." He stuck his hands back in his pockets. "I gotta be honest. The way the kid looked when I last saw them… I don't think they did it."

Her brow furrowed. She was inclined to hope that the child had not chosen violence.  They had been so sweet, so eager to talk and joke with the monsters of the Ruins, so quick to hug her even after she’d fought them.  It was hard to imagine them striking down Asgore.

"But… then what do you think happened?"

Sans shrugged. "Wish I knew. I kept watch best I could, but…"

"I could not expect you to come between them and your king." As much as she wished he could have. She had hardly expected him to agree to watch over the human at all.

“Couldn’t have even if I wanted to.  These bones aren’t as sturdy as they look.  Maybe I shoulda listened to my bro and drank more milk...” He grimaced and glanced away.  “Anyway.  Like I said, I don’t know what happened.  Just.  Be careful, okay?”

“Careful?” She blinked.

“Yeah.  You never know.” His gaze flickered to a potted golden flower on the end table next to the stairs.

“Sans.  If I did not know better, that would sound like a threat.” She crouched down, so she could better meet his eyesockets. “Is there something you are trying to tell me?”

“Man. First I rip one in front of a lady, then I threaten her.  I’m makin’ a great first impression.”  He rocked back and forth on his slippers. “Look. Toriel. I don’t wanna scare you, ‘specially since today must’ve been hard. Real hard.”

His eyelights bored into her irises. She found herself needing to look away.

“It has certainly been… interesting. Moreso than any day since I last saw this place.” She suppressed a shudder.

Change. Her life had been constant for so long.  There would be no more of that, now. Hopefully that would be for the better, but only time would tell.

“Yeah. Being flung away from everything you’re used to… don’t imagine that’s a cakewalk. Don’t want you to worry about freaks hiding in the shadows on top of that.”

Somehow, she felt he made more sense when he was on the other side of a door. Knock-knock jokes had a formula. Just another normalcy she had forfeited, she supposed.

“Please, Sans. If you believe I am in danger, you may say so.”

“Fine. So.” He grinned, and she couldn’t help a snort.

“Alright, I suppose I walked into that one.” She smiled, despite his warning. “Under normal circumstances, I would say I could handle myself. But I must admit you are more updated on the state of the kingdom than I.  Do you have any information that could help?”

“...Not really?” His grin turned sheepish.  “You look like a tough lady. I bet my bones are rattling over nothing.”

“I would still humer-us you.”

He gave her a funny look. “You’re actually taking me seriously?”

“Why would I not? You are my friend.  Perhaps… my only friend, at this point,” she admitted.  It would be foolish to ignore a warning, even if it was based on gut feeling. Or, whatever skeletons had in place of a gut.

“Well.  Uh.  If someone, something, was behind the king’s… yeah. If it wasn’t the kid, whoever else it was might still be around. So.” He coughed. “Sounds stupid when I say it like that, huh.”

“It does not.  I think it is sweet that you are worried.” He wouldn’t be able to see her blush, thankfully. It had been a long time since anyone had looked out for her.

“Geez, Toriel.” He rubbed the back of his skull. “You’re gonna ruin my reputation.”

“What reputation? Are you typically a monster with a heart of bone?” she teased.

“Nah. I just don’t worry. Too much work.”  It was difficult to tell if he was joking.  “Guess I can make an exception this once, though.”

“Why, thank you, my friend.”  She had the sudden urge to reach out and squeeze his hand.  It would be more for her own comfort than his, so she did not act on it. “To be honest, your words are a relief. I do not mind the excuse to avoid this place.”

“Oh.” He sounded surprised. “You got somewhere else you’d rather be?”

She both did, and did not. How could she explain without sounding like a clinging child?

...Perhaps that was the wrong metaphor. She would have preferred her children to be a little clingier.

“‘Cause, uh, if you don’t mind a bit of mess… my door’s always open.”

She blinked at the offer. Had he felt the thoughts stirring in her soul?

She didn’t want to be alone. Not again. And she had told him the truth: there were unlikely to be any other monsters she knew still around. Perhaps Gerson; she and Asgore had always joked that he would outlive them.

That joke seemed awfully morbid now.

“Sorry. Was that too forward? Our friendship’s built off closed doors; guess we should just take 'em one at a—"

"No," she interjected too forcefully. “No. I would love to visit your home.”

Though she had never set foot there, she already suspected it would feel more like a home than this place.

“You really—? Great.” His skull tinged the faintest blue. “Just, uh, know that it’s nothing fancy.”

Toriel smiled. “‘Nothing fancy’ sounds wonderful at the moment.”

Perhaps wherever he lived would be out of the way enough that news of her return would be delayed. If she could be lucky enough to pass for an ordinary monster… well, that was likely too much to wish for. It certainly wasn’t becoming of a queen to hide from her subjects.

Stars, there was so much to get used to. So many formalities to reacquaint herself with.  She hoped such things would wait until tomorrow.

Sans returned her smile.

“In that case, I know a shortcut.”

XXX

She handled the shortcut well for a first-timer. No stumbling on the other end, no complaints of nausea or dizziness. Of course, she was a Queen. A Boss Monster. Why would a magic trick ruin her composure?

Sans wanted to laugh. All this time, he'd been joking with the Queen. She didn't seem to mind, but she could just be “humerus”ing him.

...Nah. She had every excuse to ignore him if she really wanted to. Instead she'd actually taken him up on his offer.

He almost forgot to drop her hand once their feet landed in the soft snow. Heh. Who was he kidding? It was just nice to feel her fur under his fingers. To touch her, and know that she was real.

"Oh!" Her eyes lit up, reflecting the gyftmas lights strung haphazardly around the house's columns. "I remember this place!"

"You do?" Sans's browbone furrowed.

"I saw it while travelling from the Ruins to…" she trailed off.  To stop the kid from fighting Asgore.

Sans felt stupid for not trying to stop them himself.  Not that a kid that determined would’ve listened, anyway.  Still… he’d believed in them.  Hoped that by some miracle, they’d get ‘em out of this mess.

Heh. That was too much pressure to put on a kid, even a determined one.

"Yeah." He coughed quietly. "Guess we're hard to miss. Papyrus did something to the Gyftmas lights—even when the CORE lights go out for the night, ours stay on. Never figured out how he pulled that off."

Toriel laughed before seeming to realize something.

"I will get to meet your brother!" She clasped her hands together. "I wish it had not come about for such an unhappy reason, but I am excited nonetheless."

He chuckled. Her excitement was contagious. That was something she and Papyrus had in common already.

He pushed the door open, called out for his brother—and noticed the monster sprawled out on his couch.

"Oh." Sans blinked at Undyne, who was snoring so loudly, he should've heard it from outside. Guess he'd been a little distracted. "Uh. This is awkward."

"What is it?" Toriel hung back, her head ducking through the doorframe. "Is your brother sleeping? I would not wish to wake him. You said he rarely sleeps, did you not?"

"Nah, it's not him. Forgot his pal's house burned down. Actually, I'm sure you met her. Undyne? Captain of the Royal Guard?"

"I… yes, we met." Toriel edged inside, closing the door behind her with a soft click. "She looks far more peaceful now than she did this morning. From what I understand, my ex-husband was something of a father to her."

"Something like that." Sans nodded in agreement. There hadn't even been a Royal Guard until Asgore created the position for her. Sans wondered if Toriel would keep it around now that Asgore was gone.

Welp. It wouldn't hurt, what with his suspicions about Papyrus's friend "Flowery." 

(Maybe Sans should let Toriel sleep on the top floor rather than the couch anyway. No dirt for stray flowers to get into up there.)

"Should we be staring?" Toriel said with a soft chuckle.

Sans shook his thoughts away. "Sorry. Just thinking. I, uh…"

There wasn't room on the top floor. Sans's lumpy, crumb-dusted mattress was out of the question. That left only Papyrus's bed, which while rarely in use, had too much sentimental value to give to Toriel without asking. Where was Papyrus, anyway?

"Undyne!" His brother practically kicked in the door. "I have returned with nutritious—oh!"

Papyrus's sockets blinked at Toriel. Then at Sans. Then at Toriel again.

(Undyne let out another loud snore.)

"Sans?”  Papyrus dropped his groceries on the table next to the pet rock. “Why didn't you tell me we had another guest??"  

Because he was an idiot who hadn't planned past one impulsive offer. His face went a little blue.

"I guest you would figure it out," he managed to joke. 

Toriel let out a bleating laugh at that. The suddenness of it was enough to jolt Undyne awake.

"NGAHH!!" She tried to leap off the couch, but ended up rolling onto the floor. "I'm here, Asgore! I won't—oh."

Her single eye blinked up at Toriel. 

"Papyrus?" Undyne hissed through her teeth. "Why didn't you tell me the Queen was coming??"

"Because I didn't know!" Papyrus replied brightly. 

"I, uh, promise I'm usually more professional than this." Undyne summoned an energy spear and used it to push herself to her feet. The attack left a small char mark on the carpet. "I am at your service, Your Majesty."

Sans thought she looked real professional in a pair of Papyrus's MTT-brand crop top pajamas. Toriel didn't comment on that though, instead opting for a matronly smile.

"There is no need for that, Captain. I am not here on business, but as a friend."

That smile turned towards Sans, and he fought back a blush.

"Yeah. I was just gonna, uh, make some dinner. Y'know, welcome our queen back with some Snowdin hospitality."

"Dinner?" Papyrus squinted suspiciously. "You don't cook dinner. I cook dinner."

"First time for everything, right?" Sans winked to hide his embarrassment. 

Of course Papyrus wouldn't buy his excuse. But he really didn't want his brother and Undyne worrying on top of Toriel. Granted, it was Undyne's job to worry about security threats… but she'd tear up the house's foundation if she thought an enemy might be hiding anywhere in a five-mile radius. 

"Sans," Toriel chided him. "You do not owe me that."

"Wowie! You must be a great influence on him, Bald Asgore!"

Toriel blinked before bursting out laughing. Sans's grin widened. 

"Her name is Toriel, bro."

"Of course!! Where are my manners?" Papyrus bustled past him to shake Toriel's paws. "I am the Great Papyrus! It's an honor to meet you, Queen Toriel!"

"The honor is mine. Sans has told me so much about you," she said, and Papyrus blushed pink.

"You? Know the new queen?" Undyne whispered to Sans while Papyrus and Toriel got acquainted.

"You know me. I know everyone." He winked.

"She came out of nowhere."

"Yeah. My bro and I know what that's like."

Undyne huffed, but Sans didn't offer a more thorough explanation.

Papyrus's affronted shout signalled that Toriel had dropped her first pun.

"I take it back! This is the worst day of my life!!" 

Sans met Toriel's eyes, and they both laughed.

"I suppose I will have to help Sans in the kitchen as my pun-ishment," she said with a coy wink.

"Normally I would object to a guest cooking, but in this case I will make an exception!" Papyrus turned on his heel and grabbed Undyne's arm. "We will clean up the living room in the meantime! Try not to corrupt the queen any further, Sans!!"

"Wouldn't dream of it, bro."

He gave a quick wink to Toriel behind Papyrus's back, and they moved to the kitchen.

"Did I actually upset him…?" She asked once they were out of earshot.

"Nah. He's just dramatic like that. He'll drop three puns per sentence when he thinks I'm not listening."

He turned away, rummaging through the fridge for something edible they could cook.  Discreetly, he tucked his empty chisp bag behind Papyrus’s spaghetti-filled tupperware.

“Oh, good.  I would not want to make a bad first impression.”

“Pfft. You’d have to try real hard to do that, Tori.  My bro sees the best in everyone.”  He smiled and pulled a “pupperoni” pizza out of the freezer.  It wasn’t anything fancy, but at least it would be edible.

He turned around, pizza in hand, and found Toriel staring at him oddly.

“What?”  His sockets widened.  “Uh, you’re not vegetarian, are you?”

She shook her head quickly, her gaze skimming off of his like oil from water.

“Pizza sounds lovely.  It has been quite some time since I had one.”

Sans didn’t pry, but he couldn’t help wondering what her expression had meant.  Had he said something weird?

...Oh.  He’d called her Tori, hadn’t he?  He should know better than to use nicknames without asking.  Papyrus hated them.

“Please, allow me.”  She held out her paws, so she couldn’t be too upset.

He handed over the pizza, and he jumped when fire flared to life in her palms.  For a moment he thought the fire would scorch the pizza beyond recognition, but the flames were just pleasantly warm.  He’d never known a monster other than Grillby to have such careful control of fire magic.

“Heh.  I didn’t know you were so hot, Toriel.”

As soon as he said it, he clamped his jaw shut.  Geez, how stupid could he be?  Making bad jokes was one thing, but flirting with bad jokes?

The fire went out.  She looked up abruptly—er, looked away from the pizza.  He was still a good two feet shorter than her.

“Tori was fine,” she said, her voice soft.

“Uh,” he replied intelligently. 

She suppressed a giggle, and he was pretty sure his face burned hotter than her fire had.  He could stand to take notes from Alphys and throw himself in the trash.

“Or not.  Whatever is comfortable for you,” she reassured him.  “Now, should we eat dinner before it gets cold?”

Eating was hardly something he could screw up at.

“Sure,” then after a pause, he tested, “Tori.”

Forget her fire magic.  Her smile could’ve heated the pizza all on its own.

XXX

For once in a hundred years, dinner was a warm and energetic affair.  In addition to the pizza, Papyrus had tossed together a salad from his fresh groceries, and Sans had briefly stepped out to grab a few orders of wings and fries.  In the end there was plenty of food for four hungry monsters.

Papyrus apologized for the lack of seating, but Toriel didn’t mind sitting on the couch squeezed between Sans and Undyne, eating off of paper plates.  She couldn’t imagine anywhere she would have felt more comfortable.

Before long, though, the day’s fatigue caught up with her.  She supposed it was to be expected—she wouldn’t regain her social stamina all at once.  

Sans caught her eye, and he nodded towards the stairs as Undyne and Papyrus “owned” each other in an MTT-Brand fighting game.

“Sorry.  I know they can be a bit much.” Sans rubbed the back of his skull.  

“They’re lovely.  I wish I had the energy to keep up with them.”  She smiled.

He leaned against the banister, smiling down at them.  Papyrus had gotten the upper hand this time, and was punching the air with joy.

“Me too,” Sans said, still looking away.  “I was thinking.  If you want a place to rest for the night, my bed’s open.”

She blinked.  Her face seemed to catch fire.  That was rather more… forward than she was expecting.  Sure, she had enjoyed his lighthearted flirting, and much as she tried to deny it, feelings had been growing in her for a long time.  But to have him return those feelings? And so boldly? It was as unfathomable as it was unlikely.

“I can get ya some fresh sheets, and I’ll crash in the shed.  My bro set up an, uh, guest room there when the human was in town.”

Oh.  She rubbed the heat from her face while he wasn’t looking.  How foolish could she be, to think he would be implying…? Well.

“I would not force you out of your room,” she said.  “If your brother prepared a guest room, I am sure that would be adequate.”

He let out a quick laugh.  “Uh, you’re not used to my brother’s… decorating.  Seriously, I don’t mind.”

She sighed.  If he insisted, she supposed it would be rude to deny his hospitality.

“Alright.  Thank you very much, Sans.”

“Great.”  He smiled back at her, then went into his brother’s room.  She waited patiently, and only jumped a little when he suddenly reappeared from the right hand door.  Perhaps the two rooms were connected in the back by a bathroom.

“Hotel Sans, one vacancy.”  He winked while holding the door open.

She chuckled behind her hand.  “You really did not have to resort to this.”

“Heh, I wouldn’t call it much of a resort.  The bed’s not even queen sized.”  He rubbed the back of his skull.

The bed was smaller than she was used to, but it did have fresh sheets.  That was the only fresh thing about the room.  Chisp crumbs had been brushed under the dresser, and… that was a tornado.  A self-sustaining trash tornado.  Though at least there was a pine-scented air freshener suspended in it.

“Sorry, it’s… really not much.  Uh.  Probably kinda insulting, expecting the Queen to sleep—”

“It’s perfect.”

He blinked.  “Huh?” 

“I am no stranger to a few crumbs, Sans.”

She remembered days that bled into weeks that bled into months.  Months where she couldn’t bring herself to clean, could hardly bring herself to care at all.  Months that had grown fewer and farther between since she’d met a friendly voice behind a door.

“I would’ve vacuumed,” he said sheepishly, “but I suck at it.”

More embarrassingly loud laughter burst from her.  In front of Sans, though, she didn’t feel the need to curtail her joy.

“Thank you.” She poured as much sincerity as she could into her voice.  

“‘S no problem, Tori.”  A light blue tinge warmed his cheekbones.  How could he possibly look so adorable? “Bathroom’s down the hall if you wanna wash up or anything.  And Undyne’ll be on the couch, so this is probably the safest place in the Underground right now.”

Her brow furrowed.  Sure enough, there was no bathroom door inside the room—he must have used one of his “shortcuts” to move from his brother’s room to here.

“So, uh.  I’ll be in the shed—uh, guest room if you need me.”  He flashed one more tense grin before turning to leave.

“Wait.” She stepped towards him without thinking.  

He looked up, one brow ridge raised.  She found herself biting her lip, wondering if she dared ask what her soul wanted.  It was silly, really.  She’d been on her own for years, decades.

Maybe that was why she was so hesitant to lose this one taste of companionship.

“I would feel… safer, if you would stay too.”  Her face burned beneath her fur, but she projected her usual composure.

“...Welp. Can’t say no to that, huh?”

She was about to reassure him that he could say no—that she was asking as his friend, not as his queen—but the soft smile on his face told her he already knew.  

He briefly left to grab a few things, then returned with a few pillows and, for some reason, a dog bed.

“You are not going to sleep on that,” she said in disbelief.

He flopped the dog bed in the middle of the floor and started fluffing it.  “Why not?  Gotta throw a dog bed a bone, right?”

“Sans.”  

The outdoor lights dimmed, as if at her command.  Only the colored Gyftmas lights outside and one dim indoor bulb lit the room.

Her confidence waned with the light.  What had she expected him to do?  She’d asked him to stay.  Unless she wanted to…

Oh, to hell with it.  She was too old to be so shy about these things.

“If you are not opposed,” she swallowed, “we could… share this mattress.”

When he looked up, she couldn’t make out his eyelights at all.  Their glow returned slowly, like the rising of the sun from her memories.

“Heh… you sure?  You don’t even know if I snore.”

She laughed and sat on the bed, patting the space beside her.  “You do not know if I snore, either.”

“Fair enough, Tori.”

They took turns cleaning up in the bathroom—she was imposing on Sans enough without adding the smell of dirty fur to his bed.  Then she did her best to ignore the flutterings in her soul as he slipped off his hoodie and climbed up onto the mattress.  She insisted he stay under the sheets; her fur would keep her warm enough with just the light blanket on top.  

The sheets were a barrier in name only.  There was only so much space on the mattress, so no matter how he adjusted and apologized, she could still feel the curve of his spine against hers.

It felt amazing.  It felt terrifying.  It felt like a mistake.  It felt like the only thing she’d ever done right.

The one saving grace of the whole situation was that it didn’t stir memories of Asgore.  Her royal beds had been triple the size of Sans’s lumpy mattress. She and her ex-husband had rarely slept back to back, and if they had, the feeling would have much different.

“...Tori?” Sans’s voice was just above a whisper.  “You, uh, still awake?”

As if she could sleep while enduring the wonderful agony of friendly touch for the first time in a century.

“Yes,” she replied softly.  “Am I taking up too much space?”

“No, ‘course not. I was just, uh… geez.” He sounded embarrassed.

Risking their precarious balance, she rolled over to face him.  Or to face the back of his skull, at least.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

“Doin’ sans-sational.” He chuckled to himself.  “Sorry.  Never got to use that one with you before.”

She would have laughed, had she not worried about shaking the whole mattress.

“It was sans-tastic,” she joked back, and he laughed again.

Then abruptly, his laughter cut off.

“Thanks, Tori,” he said in a quiet but firm voice.

“What for?” She wished she could take his hand, see his face, learn what thoughts were passing through his skull.  Instead she gave him as much space as physically possible… which still was not much.

A long, silent moment passed.  Had he fallen asleep?

“I know it’s not how you wanted,” he finally said, “but I’m glad I got to meet you.  So.  Thanks.”

Warmth spread outward from her soul to fill her whole body.  Sans could probably feel it radiating from her.

“Thank you, Sans.  If I had to return, knowing no one…”

He rolled to face her.  His eyelights were mere inches from her pupils.

“You would’ve been fine.  All you had to do was tell a few of your amazing jokes, and the whole Underground would’ve been linin’ up to be your pals.”

She suppressed a laugh.  “I hardly think that would be appropriate, under the circumstances.”

“Eh.”  He shrugged.  “Plenty of monsters in town cope with jokes.  You’d just be relating to the common folk.”

She stared into his sockets a little too intently.  At this distance, it easily made her dizzy.

“Would you be included in that demographic?” she couldn’t help asking.

“When I first met you?  For sure.” His gaze darted away.  “But it’s crazy.  Between you and the kid… I’m startin’ to think there’s more to life than good food and bad laughs.”

“Really?”  She and the child had made such an impact on him?

“I know.  Don’t tell Papyrus.  He wouldn’t believe you, anyway.” He winked.

“My lips are sealed.” She smiled.

Silence hung between them.  It should have felt awkward, but she couldn’t bring herself to turn away.  In the end it was Sans who yawned in her face and then hurriedly flipped back onto his other side.

She laughed, and clearly she was exhausted too, because she pressed a kiss to the back of his skull without thinking.

He froze.  She froze.  There was no way to play that off gracefully.  And there was no way she could fall asleep and pretend that it had not happened.

“Heh… those didn’t feel very sealed to me,” he finally rasped out.

It took her a moment to process what he meant.  Meanwhile her embarrassment only burned hotter.

“I am so sorry—”

“I’m not.” When he rolled back to face her, his face was bright blue.  “You’ll still be here when I wake up, right?”

His question was tinged with desperation.

“Of course,” she answered automatically, despite the many responsibilities that she would have to attend to in the morning.  She was the Queen once more.  If she had to, she could adjust the schedule of meetings and speeches to accommodate… this.

Whatever this was to be.

“Remind me in the morning,” he squeezed her hand, “that this is real.”

His hand quickly went limp.  She was worried for a moment, before she heard the faint snore escape his nasal cavity.

She gave him a fond smile, and allowed her own eyes to close.  She did not know if sleep would come or not.  She did not know what challenges the new day would bring, or what old challenges would continue to rear their heads.

But she did know that she was not alone.  For tonight, that was enough.

[woniepop]

feel special ༉‧₊˚✧

➜ the three times you didn’t want to be Karl’s best friend any more and the one time you weren’t

Pairing: Karl Jacob’s x Fem!Reader

Genre: fluff, best friends to lovers au, enemies to lovers au

Warnings: Mentions of bullying, cursing

Word Count: 2.0k words

a/n: hi everyone! this is my first time writing for a mcyt streamer, but unfortunately I will not be writing works for more streamers anytime soon. This is for my lovely friend basil Ly and losingvienna’s follower event, which you should definitely check out of you are in to mcyt streamers!!

I highly recommend checking @basilly and @losingvienna out if you haven’t already!!

Ever since you met Karl, you’ve hated everything about him. He was sweet, he was caring, he was everything you’ve ever wanted in anyone. From the moment he stepped foot in your kindergarten your life had become a living hell. He was great! You on the other hand, had never felt more miserable in your life. It had never occurred to you that being different was a bad thing, but apparently, to your whole kindergarten class of 26 kids, it was terrible. But, somehow, amidst the screaming kids and the poorly colored art projects, Karl only saw you.

Your fellow kindergarten classmates stared at you, perhaps a bit too judgingly, as you sat down in your seat. Feeling super excited to come to school today, your grandma has recently gotten you your very own pink sundress, equipped with a pink satin ribbon to tie a cute little bow in the back. You wanted your classmates to like you, so you had to be the prettiest you could ever be. 

“Why are you wearing a dress to school? Do you think you’re a princess?” one of the children say, rather, shout across the room. And with that, the whole class starts laughing, except you. 

“What? Are you trying to impress someone?”

“OOO Y/N HAS A CRUSH!”

“I bet it’s Karl”

“Of course it is. She just wants to daaaaaaate him, doesn’t she?”

With tears welling up in your eyes and boogers dripping down your nose, you quickly stand up just to take the hall pass and run to the nearest bathroom. It was humiliating, feeling like you had tried so hard to make friends just to get laughed at. It felt terrible. 

You were NOT excited for your first day of high school. Why would you be? It was just another year of “light hearted” jokes about you and how you were “so different.” Settling with a seat in the back, you tilt your head down only for the teacher to walk in right after. 

“Good morning, students! Welcome to your first day of Freshman Year! I’m sure you’re all very excited for these next four years, but before that why don’t we all introduce ourselves to each other!” The teacher says, in a high pitch, peppy voice. You had stopped listening to her after that. You already knew what was going to happen, you were going to be paired up with some immature male football player looking for a tall, hot, and blonde cheerleader girlfriend, then he was going to say something stupid like, “Girls like you aren’t really my type.” No shit you weren’t his type. It happened every year. Feeling a light tap on your shoulder, you force your head up, preparing yourself for the dreadful introduction. 

“Hi! I believe we’re partners for the All About Me project. May I sit here?” he says, pointing to the chair beside you. He, as in Karl Jacobs. The Karl Jacobs. The man, the myth, the legend, the boy that filled your entire life with “She just wants to date Karl. She’s such an attention whore.” With that, your eyes widen. You weren’t expecting him, nor were you ever this mad about anything in your life. You didn’t want to know anything about him, let alone do a whole project learning about him. 

“Yeah, you can sit there.” You answer through clenched teeth. 

“Thanks! I’m pretty sure we’re not going to be able to finish this within the period considering there are like 30 questions, so did you want to work on this in the library after school?” he asks.

“Sure.” You say promptly, not even bothering to make eye contact with him. 

“I believe we went to the same elementary school, but I haven’t really gotten the chance to talk to you, so I’m glad we got to be partners for this project. I’m excited to get to know you.” He says, a glint of hope in his eyes. You hated it. Was he actually being nice? To you? 

The rest of the period would have been answering all the questions on the list, but instead you guys had been side tracked, going off topic and talking about anything and everything. Putting aside your hatred for the boy, Karl seemed like a genuinely nice person. You had learned he loved gaming, which he was surprised you had a knack for as well. 

“Well, Y/n, I’m sorry we couldn’t get a lot done this period. But, I’ll see you at the library later, and maybe we can even try out that new game you talked about tonight.” He says, standing up out of his chair and leaving the classroom. Maybe today wouldn’t be too bad after all.

ONE “Move!” you say, playfully shoving Karl off of you. It was the summer before your senior year, and you would have never guessed that you, Y/n L/n, would be spending your whole high school career with the boy you loathed most, Karl Jacobs. If there was ever anything you'd ever looked forward to, it was spending every Friday night with Karl Jacobs. That fateful day at the library was the start of the best tradition ever known to man. 

“But we’re watching a movie!” Karl exclaims. 

“So? You don’t need to watch it while squishing me half to death.”

“What do you mean? Have you ever heard of CUDDLING?” 

“Cuddling has never consisted of MURDER.” 

It was always like this. Every Friday night Karl would come to your house, your mom would gush at how handsome he was while she set a plate down of whatever food he wanted, and him telling her that she was the best cook ever. This is what you’ve always wanted, right? You had a best friend, who accepted you as you were, and you him. Despite always having heartwarming and laughter filled moments with your best friend, your heart hurt. A lot. Maybe the moment was just too heartwarming, or maybe this was the universe telling you that you didn’t want to be his friend anymore. 

TWO “Hey, Karl!” she says. Ah, yes. Her. Karl’s childhood crush since what? Fourth grade? 

“Oh, um, Hi!” He replies. There it was. That dreadful pain in your chest that only grew bigger as she sat down right next to him, disregarding the fact that you were sitting right there. The way she twirled her long blonde hair, the way she leaned over to show all of her cleavage, the way she wore skirts so short you could almost see her underwear, and the way it made your blood boil and your heart hurt until you couldn’t handle it anymore. You wanted to walk away so bad, but as Karl’s best friend you should support him in his romantic interests, even if you didn’t like them. 

“So… I’m sure you’ve heard already. I broke up with my boyfriend.” she says, tracing her finger up and down his arm, making him noticeably very nervous.

“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. If you ever need anyone to talk to, I’m always here.” You hear him say. Of course he was always here. He was there for everyone, and he would never try to exclude anyone from his kindness. 

“I broke up with him because of you!”

“W-what”

“I want to be with you, silly!” she says. And with that, you felt your whole world go black and white. Did you hear her correctly? She wanted to be with him?

“I- I’m sorry, I can’t be with you.” 

“WHAT?!? BUT I BROKE UP WITH MY BOYFRIEND JUST TO BE WITH YOU!”

“Well I’m sorry, but I love someone else. You should’ve consulted me before you threw away your relationship.”

Did you hear HIM correctly? He loves someone? You couldn’t take it anymore and excused yourself. Yet again, you ran to the bathroom feeling the same pain in your chest only 10 times worse. You didn’t want to be Karl’s friend anymore. Not like this.

THREE “I can’t believe you’re moving to California, Y/n” Karl says as he pushes his hair back, sighing in disbelief. “You’re really going to leave me?” He continues, tears welling up in his eyes as he turns to look at you with his signature puppy eyes. 

“I have to! It’s always been my dream to go to college there!” You reply, feeling guilty for leaving behind everything for your dream. 

“But I’ll miss you!” he says, fully knowing facetime exists, and you would always visit him during breaks. 

“I’ll miss you too! But, I need to do this. Can you stay strong? For me?” you ask, cupping his face with your left hand. You had gone on one of your late night drives again, parking in an empty parking lot as you have deep late night conversations. Today’s topic happened to be college, and while it had been always known you were moving across the country after high school, the day was coming closer and it all felt too real.

 As Karl leans his face into your hand, he lets out a yawn. “I guess it’s time to go back then.” you say.

“No, I don’t want to. I have to spend every second with you until you leave.” he whines. You wanted to as well, but then, there it was. The stinging in the back of your heart. You were tired of it. You hated feeling this way. You didn’t want to be Karl’s friend anymore.

THE END The warm summer air blew past you as you and Karl sit atop your roof, staring into the distance in the comfortable silence that was there from the moment Karl got to your house. Neither of you had spoken a word but neither of you cared. You just wanted to be with him. What would’ve made the night perfect was if you weren’t getting on the plane the very next morning, moving across the country. 

Building up as much courage as you could, you said the three words you’ve been wanting to say ever since you had become friends. You were leaving, but before that you wanted more than anything else to let him know this. “I love you.” You say, causing his eyes to go wide. You… loved him? That was impossible. 

“Yeah, I love you too.” He says casually. 

“No. I love you more than in a friendly way.” You reply.

“Really? Why?” He asks in disbelief.

“I don’t know. Maybe it was because you were my first friend, but it’s definitely because you’re you. I’ve been bullied almost my whole life, and you know that. But, no matter how the world brings me down, and even when hurtful words stab me, I can smile again. Because you’re there.” You say, tears rolling down your face. You pause, before continuing on about how much he means to you. “I mean, my whole life, one moment I feel like I’m nothing at all. Like no one would notice if I were gone. But then you came! And I was so happy. Or maybe it’s cause you make me feel loved. But when I’m with you, I feel so special.” 

And with that, Karl makes no hesitation in cupping your cheeks, silently wiping away your tears. In that moment, he decides that he doesn't want to be your friend anymore either. Leaning in, he whispers, “I love you too.” before he crashes his lips onto yours.

[milkybonya]

Butterfly

order 015, anon: large banana milk tea with lychee jelly and pudding for Asahi

Warnings: some angst (injuries, crying mentions) and food mentions

Summary: a coffee shop! enemies to lovers! soulmate!au all in one where Asahi, an expert barista and newbie!y/n's supervisor is easily angered by small mistakes, but ends up falling for his new employee as they begin to hone their craft, and even more so when he discovers the butterfly birthmark at the nape of their neck which matches his own.

*disclaimer! i'm not a barista but am writing using the minimal experience i have acquired after working in a place that makes coffee but isn't as artsy as a coffee shop,, so please forgive any inaccuracies!

[a/n] Alex if u see this LOOK IT'S A COFFEE SHOP AU HHH

After being lucky enough to get hired on the spot at your city's most famous coffee shop, you walk in on your first day, excited to make coffee and serve customers. The day does not greet you well, though, as your already nervous state is worsened when your supervisor and coworker, a dashing young man with black hair parted around his face, gives you a hard time.

Asahi is extremely cold and quiet, only yelling when he speaks to tell the employees to do their job right. He yells at you twice: once for forgetting to clean the steamed milk frother, and another time for when you serve the customers coffee that isn't fresh.

It leaves you feeling jittery to a point where you continue to make mistakes.

"[y/n], finish that order and meet me in the back," Asahi tells you, his voice completely emotionless.

Once you join him in the back, you find him sweeping, his hair falling in his eyes and prickling his nose. As soon as he notices you're there, he puts the broom away, pushing the hair out of his eyes before he turns to face you.

"[y/n], I realize that it's your first day, but you're doing an absolutely terrible job," he says.

"Our work here is more fast paced than you think, and if you can't handle it and keep getting nervous and slipping up, then I don't think we can keep you here."

Your bottom lip begins to tremble hearing the harsh criticism on what is only your first day, but luckily, a coworker who overheard everything steps in.

"Hey, Asahi! Big boss man, calm down. It's only their first day... stop being so hard on them," your coworker says, placing an arm around you.

When you look to see who it was, you discover that it's Junkyu, your bright and happy coworker who always does his job with a smile. Even just seeing him makes you smile, and he smiles back at you, patting your head.

"[y/n] is doing just great, so you can shut up!" Junkyu huffs, dragging you out and back onto the floor.

You may wonder why Junkyu was being so rude to his boss, but Asahi and Junkyu are actually close friends, so it's okay for them to get mad at each other like this.

"Don't listen to Asahi. He's like an old man sometimes," Junkyu says.

"And it's okay to get nervous! I was spilling so many things everywhere on my first day. Just take your time..." Junkyu explains, showing you how to do all the things that you messed up on before.

Asahi watches from the other side of the shop, feeling angry at the sight of Junkyu being so close to you, for some reason. He also thinks... he sees something on the back of your neck that matches his own birthmark, but he shrugs it off, telling himself he's just seeing things.

-

With the worst luck, you continue making mistakes every time Asahi shows up, and he scolds you for it in front of your coworkers and the customers each time. Sometimes, you have to rush to the break room to catch your breath and even cry it out, stare yourself down in the mirror and tell yourself that you're doing a great job.

"You're doing great, [y/n]! Don't worry about Asahi... you're doing great," you say.

Asahi, who is in the back of the shop in search of coffee grinds, overhears your pep talk and smiles to himself, immediately frowning as soon as you step out of the break room and face him, though.

"What are you doing? Get back out there!" he says.

You leave quickly and don't notice Asahi smiling at the way you waddle towards the front.

-

Despite being nervous at the beginning, your barista skills improve rapidly. You're able to master latte art after only a week and a half, creating pretty designs that are different for each customer. Your designs gain popularity and the shop grows busier with people waiting for you to hand them a pretty latte that you've designed.

Asahi still doesn't seem to want to give you praise of any sort, though, as he constantly points out your mistakes.

"It looks good, but does it taste good? You clearly went too heavy on the milk."

Even his your coworkers grow tired of Asahi, and everyone starts calling him angry bird Asahi behind his back with the way his eyebrows are pointed in a frown each time he comes to scold you.

For you, though, it doesn't matter anymore. You've found something you love and are improving in it rapidly, so Asahi's bitter attitude can't harm you anymore.

-

One short-staffed day, you're alone, closing the shop alongside Asahi. The two of you clean up in silence, save for Asahi's hushed hums as he sweeps.

Not noticing a paper bag on the ground, you trip on it and fall on your knees and hands.

Your yelp leaves Asahi rushing over, even though you thought he would just ignore your pain.

"[y/n], what happened?! Are you okay?" he asks, leaning down.

He pauses midway, staring at the back of your exposed neck. His fingers reach out in disbelief to touch what he sees, but he doesn't want to make you uncomfortable and stops himself.

A butterfly birthmark, just like the one on the back of his own neck. A shared butterfly birthmark in the same location: a sign of soulmates.

"I'm okay, I'm okay. I just tripped.

"Y-you're not bleeding or anything, right?" Asahi asks, suddenly breathless.

"Nope, all good!" you say, standing up and feeling confused at Asahi's flustered state.

"Are you okay? Why do you seem so panicked?" you ask.

"I'm... I was just worried that's all," he quickly says, returning to where he was sweeping.

He really found his soulmate despite not believing in the butterfly soulmate thing anyway....

-

Asahi is really weird around you for the next week, not scolding you anymore but just being super quiet and seemingly cautious around you. Everyone is confused as to what happened to angry bird Asahi, and feeling a little worried yourself, you approach him in his office on your break one day.

"Is everything okay, Asahi?"

"Hm? Yeah... why wouldn't it be?"

"I don't know... you just seem more quiet than usual."

Asahi stares at the ground, wondering if he should tell you about your shared birthmarks.

Ah heck, let's just go for it, he thinks to himself.

He swivels around in his hair, turning his back to you and holding up his hair at the back of his head.

"Does this look familiar to you?" he asks, pointing to the birthmark at the nape of his neck.

You gasp, feeling the back of your own neck.

The birthmark looks exactly the same...

"Wha-?"

"I don't know what to do. Because frankly, I don't believe in any of this soulmate crap, but we're really soulmates..." Asahi says.

Your eyes, on the other hand, are sparkling. You've believed in soulmates since the beginning and always wondered who would have the same birthmark as you. It's weird to think that angry bird Asahi is your soulmate, but you don't want to lose this chance.

"What else do we do but go on a date!" you say, hugging his arm out of excitement.

Asahi glares at you and you pull away, clearing your throat.

"Friday after work! Wait for me and we'll go somewhere," you say, excitedly leaving Asahi's office.

He places a hand on his heart, feeling it beat a little faster than usual.

-

Friday, you notice Asahi's hair is looking a little different - all straightened, neat and tidy. Asahi also doesn't fail to notice that you're looking a little fancier than your usual self. Even Junkyu bothers you about it, asking why you look really prim and proper today.

When Asahi's shift ends, he has an hour to kill until yours does, so he spends that time in his office at the back, watching you make pretty drinks with you latte art through the security cameras. He has a full view of your butterfly birthmark and suddenly wonders what it would be like if he was able to kiss it.

Finally as soon as your shift ends, you rush out, forgetting to say goodbye to everyone unlike you usually do, but also forgetting to punch out. Asahi reminds you to do that as soon as you step into his office. The way he smiles when you swing open the door, his teeth peeking out while his eyes hide away, makes you feel like he's happy to see you... though he's just giggling at your mistake.

Once you're punched out and ready to leave, you step out of there and take the bus to an art gallery that you've always wanted to explore. You notice Asahi staring down into your lap as you ride the bus, shyly looking at your hands, fidgeting his own and then looking away. You become the brave one for the both of you and take his hand in yours, smiling at the window when he looks at you.

You take your time looking at the artwork, both of you quietly walking while holding hands. You only talk to ask each other if you're ready to move on to the next piece.

After some time, though, Asahi speaks up and asks you if he can take a photo of you standing in front of a butterfly painting.

"Just keep looking at it and I'll take a photo from the back."

Once he stands behind you, you feel awkward and stiff in front of the camera, and it probably shows, as Asahi asks you to relax.

"Just be like you usually would!"

You try your best and Asahi eventually takes the photo.

"Can I see?" you ask him.

"Later," he says, smiling down at his phone.

On the floor below the gallery, there's a place to grab food and the two of you do just that, gushing about how cool the art in the gallery was and what your favourite pieces were. Asahi tries to imitate this robot statue you saw made of metal, and it makes you laugh so hard that you almost get kicked out.

"Asahi, I never thought you would be this fun," you say.

"Well, at work I do have to be somewhat professional," he says, smiling at you.

"At work you're just a jerk," you mumble, thinking Asahi can't hear you, even though he does.

He decides to stop being so hard on you at work, and actually follows through. Work becomes more enjoyable without angry bird Asahi and with all of the dates you go one with Asahi after work. Eventually, the two of you start to officially date, and Junkyu is shocked to his core.

"H-how did this happen...? And why did no one tell me!" he screeches when he finds out.

-

Asahi presses his lips to the back of your neck in the dark of the room, his lips curving into a smile when he hears your giggle.

"What are you doing, Sahi?"

"Something I've always wanted to do," he says, burying his face into your chest.

It's his turn to giggle as you run your fingers through his hair, tracing his butterfly birthmark with your finger.