#uuuh what else in in here

[mystickinz]

new sketchbook pages by the waysies<3

[fate-defiant]

Ducks favorite ninja turtle is Michaelangelo. Fakir claims he doesn't have one but secretly he is partial to Leo. Mytho's favorite is Raph. Rue genuinely doesnt have a favorite.

[sibillascribbles08]

Regardless of What Happens

Whaaat it’s 2023 what if I wrote some Bad Future Jasonnie

Gonna just go ahead and give the heads up for implied sexual content and offscreen canon character death. I’m gonna get crunchy with it like I haven’t already with literally every other bad future thing I write.

Even if the conversation ended with another joke from Leo and both of them laughing, dread still hung like a lead weight at the base of Donatello’s chest. It was such a risky plan, a miracle he even convinced Leo to go along with it. Hacking into Kraang tech, even with all his research he knew it could go backwards so fast. He may not be able to over power it.

In less than twenty-four hours he may not be alive anymore.

Dying didn’t entirely scare him. He accepted death a long time ago.

He just hated the idea of what he might leave behind.

He hadn’t discussed the plan with Mikey yet. He’d have to, or Leo would do it for him. He’d already talked about it with April which ended with them screaming at each other. He’d apologize later, but still announce he was going through with it. She may never forgive him. He understood that.

A lot of people might not forgive him if this idea failed. Including Mikey. Including Casey. Including Leo.

Including...

Donatello glanced in the main computer room. Jase sat in there, like he often did, water bottle in hand as he scrolled through recent drone data. The purple dragons had become allies not long after the invasion started, though there was a ton of friction between them for a while. The need to survive eventually came around to friendship, despite how much Donnie would still bicker with them all from time to time. They didn’t do much field work, but their work with the programming and tech was a life saver on many occasions. It kept some of the workload off Donatello and meant they had backups if something happened to him.

And Jase knew Donnie’s tech better than any of them. Not long after becoming friends, Jase quit following at Kendra’s heels and often turned to Donatello instead. Late nights working on tech became so routine that, even on their nights off, they’d often hole up in each others rooms just to talk.

Donatello often denied the feelings that developed from that. After losing Raph, the idea of letting it become anything more terrified him. Because something could happen to Jase, or something could happen to him, and wouldn’t that just make the loss all the more painful.

But then again...

“How long are you just going to stand there staring?”

Donatello straightened up and glanced at Kendra who stood next to the door now. Right, she was also in the computer room. He absolutely hadn’t been paying attention.

“Lost in thought.” He crossed his arms and met her glare before sparing a glance in Jase’s direction. He turned in his chair, eyebrow raised, but then soon got back to work.

Kendra followed his gaze. “Uh huh, one guess to what you’re thinking about.” She flicked him on the nose.

Donatello snapped at her hand. “Oh yeah? And what’s that?”

She gave him a smirk when she rolled her eyes, then turned her head. “Hey Jeremy, wanna go get a snack?”

Jeremy leaned up from his work. “Huh? But we--”

Kendra must have given him a look because he suddenly straightened up. “Oh, yeah, sure, you want us to bring you something Jase?”

Jase just gave them a non-committal hum and kept scrolling.

Kendra’s smirk remained on her face as she stepped past Donatello and then shoved him through the doorway. He clenched his fists, about to try and insult her when the door closed in his face.

What was the big idea?

She couldn’t possibly know could she?

Donatello chose to ignore it for the time being as he walked up behind Jase’s chair, looking over the screen himself. All activity normal, from the look of things. A nice reprieve from how things were less than a week ago. Still, he didn’t trust it to last. Quiet moments like this often meant the Kraang were poking around for a weak point to strike. They’d learned to grow patient when the war lasted more than one Earth year.

Jase finally got to the bottom and turned away from the screen. “You need something, Donnie?”

He opened his mouth, then closed it, trying to search for the words. It seemed like a bad idea to just start with the whole “hey I might be dying tomorrow” topic.

Jase studied his face for a second before standing. Not like it did much. All these years and Jase barely gained another inch while Donatello sprouted up over a foot and a half. Jase didn’t even reach his shoulders now.

“Donnie?” Jase tilted his head. “Everything okay?”

“I...” He ground his teeth together for a second. “No. Not entirely.”

“What’s wrong? The drones aren’t reporting anything worth noting.”

“It’s not them it’s...” His arms tightened across his chest. He really didn’t know where to begin with this. “I finally got Leo to approve of a desperate plan of mine.”

Jase’s eyes went wide, only to narrow a second later. “What kind of desperate plan?”

He ground his teeth again, unable to meet his gaze. “I’m going to try and hack into Kraang tech.”

“What?” Jase snapped, trying to stand on his toes just to get closer. “Donnie, I know you’re joking. We talked about that dozens of times before. Even if it’s possible the risk is--”

“I know what the risk is.” Donatello snapped. “But look at us, Jase. Ever since Casey--Cassandra dropped our numbers keep dwindling. All our plans are coming up empty. People who were once our allies keep getting turned on us. If I can make this work it could change everything.”

“And if it doesn’t work?” Jase’s voice cracked and he finally grabbed Donatello’s coat in order to pull him down. “What happens to you then? You also just become one of their pawns? They could--”

“I’m aware.” Donatello took in a shaky breath. “That’s why Leo’s going to be there. So if I fail he can--”

“Are you serious!?”

“Jase--”

“No. No.” Jase shoved him back. “I’m not letting you do this.”

God damn it, this was going about as well as his talk with April did. “Jase, we’re running out of options.”

“That doesn’t mean we should jump straight to something like this. I want you to look me in the eye and tell me the statistics of you getting out of this alive.”

Donatello tried to turn his gaze, but he couldn’t hold it. Rather than focusing on Jase’s eyes--so dark brown they were almost black--it kept moving to his messy hair, or the scar on his ear, or the thin line of stubble that made it clear he hadn’t bothered shaving in a few days.

“Donnie.” Jase insisted.

Donatello took a deep breath and forced his eyes to focus. “About seventeen percent.”

“That’s nothing. You can’t be serious. I’m not letting you do this until you can at least get that number higher.”

“We don’t have time for that.”

“You’re just giving up, aren’t you?” Jase’s voice crack again. “That’s what this is.”

Air got caught in Donatello’s throat before he could deny that.

“I’m not stupid, Donnie. I’ve picked out the things you’ve said over all those late night conversations. You’ve thought this war was pointless for years. That if--”

“If it lasted more than a year, we had no chance of winning. I know.” Donatello snapped back. “But I kept going, didn’t I? If I wanted to give up I would have years ago but I didn’t because...”

Because Raph. Because Mikey. Because Leo. Because April. Because Cassandra and now Casey. Because...

Gods, he knew why they were all so upset with this idea. He knew why they kept trying to convince him otherwise. How could he possibly explain to them that he wasn’t scared of dying if it gave them all the chance to turn this whole thing around. The only thing he was scared of was...

He reached out and held Jase’s faced in his hands, so suddenly that his friend’s sharp anger gave way to shock.

“Jase, I’m so sorry.” His breaths felt so unsteady, like he’d forgotten how to do it, like there just wasn’t enough oxygen in the air.

“For what?” Jase bit his lip to keep his voice from stuttering. “For being an idiot?”

“Yes.” The word barely left his lips when he exhaled. Then he pulled Jase into a kiss.

His friend went rigid under his grip, and he thought, briefly, that maybe this had been a very stupid idea.

Then arms were being thrown around his neck and Jase kissed him back, hard. The sudden tug almost had Donatello stumbling forward, so he responded by moving his hands and lifting Jase off the ground.

The motion forced them apart, but only for the length of a breath. Now looking down at him, Jase kissed him again, somehow even harder than the first time. Teeth and lips pinched together. Jase’s hands couldn’t seem to find a place to settle as they ran over Donatello’s cheeks to the back of his head, constantly bumping into his goggles. He was about to toss the damn things to the side. Not close enough. Somehow they weren’t close enough.

He tugged that thought back. A sliver of logic managed to slip through the haze that rapidly took over his brain. He pulled away from this kiss, and Jase started to follow him before he must have also regained his senses.

His cheeks, already bright red, somehow got darker as the color spread to the tips of his ears.

“Oh my god.” Jase’s hands moved to Donatello’s shoulders. “What am I doing?”

Donatello couldn’t help but smirk. “I thought that was obvious.”

Jase managed a glare as he lightly smacked the side of his goggles. “Don’t be such a smart ass, Von Ryan. What are you doing? What are we doing?”

“Well, I was kissing you.” Donatello dropped his grip just a bit so the pair of them were at eye level. “Because, I confess, I’ve wanted to for a few years now even if I tried to pretend I didn’t.”

Jase breathed out a laugh. “Huh, I guess we really are doing the same thing.” He leaned close, peppering kisses from the corner of Donatello’s mouth up his cheek. “I just always figured I wasn’t... That you were so far out of my league...”

Donatello snorted and turned his head to meet his lips. “So smart but so stupid sometimes. Out of your league? Really?”

“Shut up and just look at yourself.” Jase kept kissing him. “The most brilliant mind of our time, strong, tall, gorgeous--”

“Oh?” Donatello raised an eyebrow. “You think so?” 

“Don’t sound so smug.” Jase shot him a glare before his hand ran up Donatello’s neck and then rested on his cheek. His thumb pressed against the corner of the turtle’s mouth before tugging his lip down. “But yes.”

Oh. Oh. That finally made a lot more sense. “Wait, is that why you kept staring at my mouth whenever I grinned at you?”

“What can I say? I like ‘em sharp.”

“You’re such a freak.”

“Takes one to know one.”

Donatello tried to lean in for another kiss, but Jase’s hand held him back.

“But jokes and flirting aside,” his tone shifted. “This better not be some stupid confession made because you know you aren’t making it out of this stupid scheme of yours.” 

“Um... not entirely?” He tried to smile. “I just... I denied it for so long because after losing Raph it felt like... Like if I let myself have this I’d just be asking for it to get ripped away from me.”

“So you decided to do that to me instead.”

The impact of those words hit him so hard he almost dropped Jase on the floor. The lead weight in his chest dropped to his stomach. “I...”

“You’re such a bastard.” Jase mumbled as he kissed Donatello again. “Such a bastard and I love you. I don’t want to lose you.” His voice cracked again. A sob briefly escaped before he took a deep breath to tug all of it back in. “And I also hate myself for not saying anything sooner. I hate myself for not even being friends sooner. I hate that it took the world ending for us to become friends. I hate...” Another shaky breath. “I hate thinking that if this never happened, if the world was peaceful, would we still hate each other? Would we still be enemies? I don’t... I don’t know what world I’d prefer to live in if that’s the case.”

Donatello studied Jase’s face, once again his mind screaming that they weren’t close enough.

“I want us both to survive this.” Jase pressed their foreheads and their noses together. “I want us to win and try to get back to some kind of normal life again. I want the two of us to... I want...”

Another firm kiss, and this time when Donatello returned it, Jase moaned. Nails lightly scrapped against the back of Donatello’s neck, making him shiver. Jase parted his lips and Donatello followed suit.

Not close enough. Not close enough.

Jase barely moved away when he stopped, breath brushing past Donatello’s cheek when he spoke. “Your room or mine?”

The haze in his brain returned ten fold, but that sliver of logic fought to stay on the surface. “Are you sure about that? We--”

Jase’s hands practically slapped against his cheeks before he smooshed Donatello’s face. “I know I’m not going to stop you from doing this stupid, idiotic, reckless idea of yours. And if this really is some stupid, last minute, desperate confession then let me have this. Your room or mine.”

He said that last sentence so forcefully that the sliver of logic finally vanished in the haze. Donatello barely kept himself from pinning Jase to the nearby desk. “Yours.”

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

Donatello must have dozed off. Not too surprising, considering the past few sleepless nights due to the stress and well... what just happened.

Jase lay curled up under his arm, pressed against his chest, not quite asleep but definitely not all awake either.

Donatello didn’t want to move. He really didn’t want to move. He at least allowed himself another few quiet seconds, pressing his nose to Jase’s forehead.

But then he rolled over, looking for wherever he placed his gauntlet on the nearby desk to check the time.

Yeesh, it’d almost been two hours since he and Jase first started talking back in the main computer room. He couldn’t waste too much time laying around. He had to prep some things before tomorrow. He had to talk to Mikey, and April, and--

Jase shifted behind him. Then two arms wrapped around his stomach as his friend--boyfriend--pressed up against his shell.

“You’re not leaving, are you?” Jase mumbled.

“Not yet.” Donatello left the gauntlet next to the pillow as his hand rested on Jase’s wrist. “But I can’t stay here all afternoon.”

Jase tightened his grip. “Will I see you again tonight?”

Donatello wiggled himself loose, just enough to roll back over. “Most likely.”

“Good.” Jase kissed him on the collar, then the throat. “I’m not done with you yet.”

Donatello smirked. “Hm, dare I ask what that means.”

“Use your imagination.” Jase trailed a few more kisses, but slowed to a stop. “You are going to try, right? To stay alive, I mean.”

“Of course I am. But you know me. I have to be realistic. No matter how hard I try it may not...”

He didn’t finish the thought, couldn’t. Instead he reached up to hold Jase’s face, making sure his boyfriend was looking at him. “Regardless of what happens, I love you. No matter where I end up, I love you. One way or another, I’ll see you again. And one way or another, I’ll be sure to leave you a part of me you can carry with you.” He sealed that promise with a quick kiss.

Jase looked at him, almost star struck, before it fell back to his usual smirk. “Wow, where did you find that sappy piece of dialogue?”

“Oh shush.” Donatello smiled back at him as he tugged the pillow down over Jase’s head. Not a very comfy one, full of old clothes they’d scavenged for, but better than rocks.

A beep from his gauntlet had to ruin the moment. He rolled over to check it again, knew it was an incoming call from the noise. Leo.

Donatello forced himself to sit up and snapped the gauntlet back on his wrist before answering it. “Yes, Leo?”

“Donnie, where are you? I’ve been looking all over the base for you. Main computer room says you’re still in here.”

“I am.” He wiped his eyes. “I’m in Jason’s quarters.”

His brother’s silence made him realize what he just said. His palm slapped against his forehead.

“Wait. Is that why Kendra is insisting I owe her ten dollars?”

“Huh?” Donatello shouted into the gauntlet and saw Jase trying to hide himself under the covers. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh my god, oh my god, no. I swore up and down you two would never--”

“You had a bet?”

“Dude, half the family does. I should get your own recordings and show you just how you two constantly stare at each other. Like, fifty times I swore I was going to vomit.”

“Okay, where are you?” Donatello tossed the covers off his legs and started to scramble for his clothes. “I’m coming to kick your ass right now.”

“Hang on, I have to give Kendra ten dollars before you do.”

“Nardo!”

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

Jason didn’t know what he expected.

It was late a night when he saw Donnie again. He looked lost, then frustrated, then lost all over again. Evidently talking about the plan with the others didn’t go over too well. Part of Jason hoped that would discourage Donnie from trying it.

It didn’t.

So Jason clung to him like it was the last night on Earth, like if his lips left his, he would suffocate. Words were whispered back and forth, so quietly, but he remembered every one of them.

“I’m so sorry for doing this to you.” Donnie mumbled at one point. “I’m still not sure what’s worse. Telling you now at the risk of leaving, or you never knowing at all.”

At the time, he didn’t have an answer to that.

He didn’t think too hard afterwards, drifting off to sleep, because he assumed he’d see Donnie one more time in the morning.

But when he woke up, his arm reached out to find nothing. He groaned and sat up, opening his eyes to still find nothing. Just crumpled sheets and something round and grey sitting next to the pillow.

Jason fumbled for his glasses and put them on. Damn lenses that would never be clean again. They couldn’t spend the resources making fancy new ones.

He could see the object more clearly now. A simple speaker with one button on it. Donnie often used them to leave messages when bases had to be abandoned, leaving coded messages for other resistance members to follow.

But why was it here?

Jason swallowed before giving into his curiosity and hitting play.

“Regardless of what happens, I love you.” The words from yesterday afternoon played back to him. “No matter where I end up, I love you. One way or another, I’ll see you again. And one way or another, I’ll be sure to leave you a part of me you can carry with you.”

Jason stared at the speaker in his hand.

Is this what he meant when he said that?

Suddenly an uneasy feeling twisted in his stomach.

He scrambled out of bed and put on his uniform. With everything ready he sprinted out of his quarters and towards the main computer room. No one else was inside yet, too early perhaps? He hadn’t even looked at the time. He wouldn’t. Vitals. He needed to check vitals. His palm swiped across the screen until it showed the correct list.

One of them was flatlined.

One of them was--

He hit the play button.

“Regardless of what happens, I love you.”

He hit it again.

“Regardless of what happens, I love you.”

Jason swallowed back the lump in his throat and forced his gaze to move over to the name next to the unwavering thread of life.

Again.

“Regardless of what happens, I love you.”

“Regardless of what happens--”

What happened?

Jason took off again. Leonardo. He had to find Leonardo if he was in the base. He’d know exactly what happened, right?

Did Jason even want an answer to that?

Most of the cave tunnels remained empty. Sometimes he passed by some rooms where people lingered, but none of them called after him.

He kept moving. Heading for the med bay. That’d be a logical place to look, right? He saw the doorway to it, saw April standing inside with her back turned. He opened his mouth to call out to her when his chest struck something metal. He would have fallen back if the culprit hadn’t caught him.

His hands rested on Leonardo’s prosthetic before he glanced at the turtle. His eyes were red, cheeks damp, but his expression was firm.

“Leo.” Jason tried to catch his breath. “What-- What happened? Where is he?”

Leonardo flinched, but his gaze only faltered for a second. “Jase trust me you don’t...” He swallowed. “You don’t want to go in there right now.”

“What happened?” He demanded as he pulled free. “What--” Only now with this distance did he get a good look at Leo’s sword. The red mask on the hilt was now perfectly complimented by the deep red stains that still lined the blade.

He felt so numb. Static formed in his palm where the recording pressed against it and slowly traveled up to his shoulder. This couldn’t be real. Maybe he was just having a nightmare. Any minute now he’d wake up in the real world and Donnie would still be right next to him, whispering a proper goodbye before he headed out on this doomed mission.

“Did he even try?” Jason choked the words out.

Leonardo grit his teeth, clearly struggling to speak for a second. “He gave it everything he had. It just wasn’t... enough.”

And what could he even say to that? The devastation was plain on Leo’s face. It’d probably be plain on April’s as well, and Mikey’s and even young Casey. Jase knew he wasn’t the only one being crushed by this, he never was when other reports of lost members came flooding in after a mission. He never was when he and his team watched those flat lines crop up one by one. In some ways this one should hardly be any different but the pins and needles in his arm hurt.

“Jase?” Leonardo took a step toward him. “Jase, I’m sorry--”

Why was he apologizing? This wasn’t his fault. It was Donatello’s stupid, stupid plan.

“Look, you should--”

As soon as the turtle reached out, Jason flinched backwards. His hand tensed around the device, causing him to hit the play button once more.

“Regardless of what happens, I love you.”

Leonardo’s eyes went wide.

“No matter where I end up, I love you.”

“Jase... where did you--”

“One way or another, I’ll see you again.”

Leo’s shoulders went tense before his left hand covered his face, clearly trying to hide his tears.

“And one way or another.”

Jason took off in the opposite direction. He couldn’t be doing this to Leo, shouldn’t be. The recording already wrenched his own heart in two, just what was it doing to Donatello’s twin?

“I’ll be sure to leave you a part of me you can carry with you.”

Jason kept going, all the way back to his quarters where he slammed to the door shut before sliding down onto the floor.

He hit the button again.

“Regardless of what happens, I love you.”

He double tapped this time, rewind.

“I love you.”

Again.

“I love you.”

I love you. I love you. I love you.

Jason failed to hold back his sob this time, loud enough that it drowned out the rest of the recording as it played from his hand. 

“I’m still not sure what’s worse. Telling you now at the risk of leaving, or you never knowing at all.”

Jason still didn’t have an answer to that. Was one truly worse than the other?

Or did they just hurt in different ways.

Again.

“Regardless of what happens, I love you.”

[illdothehotvoice]

Hey now that I have polls-

I uh. May have made a side blog, To do polls on. If you wanted to check it out dshgjknfdh. It's @pkmnpollotd

[ape-of-no-state]

"i've been dreaming in languages i don't understand i have spirits watching over me, they refuse my dirty hands"

[wine-dark-soup]

Arf

[deadandwalking]

if teenage years are the best years of my life why am i apologising to the little girl in my head why am i fearing my family falling apart why am i failing to accept my bio family are not good for me why am i worried about grades and jobs and life why am i preparing to mourn my best friend why am i fearing growing old why do i miss what i never had why do i miss people who don’t miss me why am i disgusted by my own urges, wants and needs why do i cry over the things i love the most why do i seek comfort in fiction because reality is against me why do i fear the touch i crave why do i feel i am dying

[bonny-kookoo]

Jungkook

TERRITORIAL. | Pretty Baby

Who would've known that the big bad wolf isn't actually all that bad?

Tags/Warnings: Punk!Jungkook, Wolf!Jungkook, Good girl!Reader, Dom!Jungkook, Sub!Reader, Corruption kink, strangers to crushes to lovers, Fluff, Adult themes

Length: uuuh long idk

There is no taglist for this fic.

-> Masterlist

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Strawberry milk is your favorite.

It's always been a comfort thing for you- just like certain snacks or fabrics make you feel comforted, strawberry milk gives you that little bit of extra braveness at night after work has ended to finally make your way back home into the safety of your apartment.

But tonight, it's a bit different. Tonight, there's a group of vamps outside, clearly trying to agitate the wolves who've been ruling the streets for a while now.

It's not actual gang-behavior. They're not actively fighting or anything, there's never any guns or other violence involved- at least not on the surface. Underground, you're sure this must be a different story- but on the streets, the wolves play the tune everyone else dances to- the vamps only occasionally trying to provoke something, which never actually happens.

But that doesn't mean it won't tonight. Maybe tonight's the night it'll escalate.

And on nights like this, you sometimes feel like moving into the big city was a big mistake too, because this seems so normal to everyone else around you.

Back home in your little town, there wasn't anything like this at night. People would go to bed at reasonable times, you'd know every neighbor by name and house number, and you never had to fear going home alone. But here, things are different. Here, things are a lot more dangerous, especially as nothing but a human with no connection to either group.

You kind of want to stay neutral- even if, deep down, you feel more drawn towards the wolves with their more laid back approach to life.

Outside the small convenience store, you throw away the empty bottle of strawberry milk, before you reluctantly make a few steps- looks from a few vampires immediately making you retreat however, pulling out your phone to appear occupied. You can hear them snickering amongst each other already, laughing and talking, making comments about you.

You can't do this, fuck that.

You look around a little, when you notice someone from the nearby wolves looking back at you- a young man, golden eyes a tell-tale sign of what he is, as he sits on his bike that's perched up on it's kickstand. He's watching you, but not in an intimidating way- he's more so calculating it seems like, scanning the situation before he looks towards a friend nearby, who nods, some others nodding as well as they move closer.

He's got his hands in the pockets of his jacket, beanie hiding the slightly faded blue-ish strands of hair. Everyone of the tiny group appears relaxed and non-threatening. But there's a certain confidence in them that intimidates you a little as they walk closer.

That is, until he smiles at you-

and his black tail behind him wags, swaying from side to side.

"Alright guys, can we make some space here for the lady to pass through?" He asks towards the group of Vamps, who laugh, before they reluctantly make space for you to walk. The young man carefully moves to walk a little behind you, the other's shielding you just as much on the side that's turned towards the blood-dependent human variants. It just confirms to you that yeah, you're definitely more drawn towards wolves.

"There we go. Is your home far?" The young wolf asks, still keeping a respectful distance towards you.

"Uh.. no, not really." You deny, and he nods. "Thanks, by the way." You bow to him and his friends politely, everyone just waving it off- though you can see all their tails swaying a little. It's honestly.. cute, if they didn't all look like they could probably break your neck at a moment's notice.

But they don't. Instead, they all agree to your request to walk home now by yourself, and let you go-

though you can feel one person's eyes on you for a little longer, and when you turn around, he smiles that smile again.

A smile that's just.. genuine.

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You meet him again the day after at the convenience store, though he's sporting a fresh scratch on the top of his cheekbone. He doesn't seem to be in too much pain as he spots you however, having just bought your typical strawberry courage to go home tonight. "Do you always work this long?" He wonders, and you nod, sitting down next to him at the narrow table at the windows of the small store. He's been eating something, bowl now empty though, faint redness on his lips the last remnant of his meal.

"What happened?" You ask, pointing to your own cheek, when he seems surprised, touching his own before hissing at the sting. "No don't touch it-" You whine, before you look for something in your bag, opening another, smaller, makeup bag. "here- or... do you want me to help?" You wonder, making him nod and lean forward with a faint smile on his lips, hands holding onto the chair he's sitting on between his legs as he closes his eyes so you don't feel watched.

As you clean up the scratch and put a bandaid on, you kind of have to think about the fact that he seems awfully.. less threatening than you thought he'd be, considering he's a wolf from the big city. But maybe the one's you know from the smaller towns are just.. a little too full of themselves, pride getting the best of them.

"Oh-" You suddenly say, noticing the little cartoon fish on the bandaid you just placed on his cheek.

"What, 'oh'?" He wonders back, and you hold out another bandaid to him so he can take a look.

"I'm sorry, I didn't- I forgot I only have those…" You mumble a bit caught off guard by your own actions. But he just laughs, giving it back to you with a smile and shake of his head.

"It's fine- they're cute!" He simply shrugs, not bothered by it at all. "Thanks." He offers, tail swaying behind him. "So- can I ask what you work as?" He wonders, and you nod, putting your stuff back into your bag.

"Just data management. It's pretty boring." You shrug to yourself. "But I can work by myself and I like that." You explain, zipping your bag shut before you look at him again. "Although.. I might have to get myself maybe a dog, when I go home at night. A big, scary looking one you know? But they've got to be nice so I can bring them into the office with me.." You mumble, drinking the last of your milk as he turns his body to face more openly to you again, a playful smirk on his lips.

"How about I'll be your big bad dog then, huh?" He flirts, tail swinging side to side behind him. "Though I'm probably not allowed in the office.." He laughs, especially when you roll your eyes and still smile at his joking attempt at flirting. It was a joke.. right?

"Ha-ha." You say because of that, though he just widens his eyes, feigning innocence.

"Hey I'm serious!" He offers, leaning a bit closer. "I could take you home every night- and if I can't, someone of my pack could do the job instead."

"I- I'm probably not even gonna stay in the city for too long." You sigh, playing with the fluffy pom-pom ball attached to your bag. "I don't like it here very much.. it's too.. I don't know. I don't belong here.." You mumble.

"Maybe you've simply not seen the good parts of the city." He shrugs. "I could show you some."

"And by some you mean your bedroom?" You sigh, looking at him with a bit of an attitude- and he can't help but be intrigued by that little hint of spice you seem to have, underneath your pretty visuals and rather introverted appearance.

"If you'd like to visit, the door's always open for a pretty girl like you." he purrs, and at that, you clearly turn shy. "..And I don't ever open that door for anyone but myself, typically." He adds on, and at that, you look back at him, searching for the deeper meaning of that statement-

and you seem to find it, in the warmth of his eyes and the slight redness to his ears.

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──💗── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

"Have you ever been a backpack before?" Jungkook asks, as he waits outside of your apartment, one helmet on his bike and the other in his hand.

"Uh.. no-" you say, honestly never having heard the phrase.

"Would you like to try?" He asks, motioning towards his bike, holding out the helmet. "Got this one from a packmate. Should fit you." He says, black and grey tail wagging as you take it somewhat reluctantly. "And I'll drive extra careful too." He says, helping you put on the helmet properly before his hands adjust the strap under your chin.

"What if I fall off?" You worry, but he just laughs, putting on his own helmet. You notice that his hair seems freshly dyed- nor black.

"Not if you hold on to me." He explains, sitting on the bike after putting up the kickstand. "Hop on- I'll keep it stable." He reassures you, as you somewhat awkwardly climb onto the back of his bike. Only when his hands pull yours around his middle do you notice he's only really keeping you both and the bike stable with his feet alone.

And it makes you wonder how strong he might be.

"There we go. You'll figure things out as we go, trust me." He chuckles, small speakers in his head connected to his own too so you can talk properly. "Good to go?" Be asks, and you nod-

That is until his bike roars to life, and you instinctively cling onto him for dear life as he turns to drive off onto the main road.

He laughs. You're not sure what's so funny.

"Oh look at Jungkookies new passenger princess!" Someone jokes suddenly over the speaker, and you look around just to find three people on bikes as well at the same red light.

"Nervous?" Another voice asks, and Jungkook growls a little in front of you.

"You're making her nervous, hyung!" He complains, making the stranger's laugh. "Don't worry, they just want to mess with me.." he mumbles towards you, hand squeezing yours for a little in comfort.

"Yeah of course, after all Jungkook's finally all grown up!" The first voice laughs. "Finally up for an actual relationship now, fuckboy?" He asks, and at that, you grow a bit nervous.

Fuckboy? Relationship?

Just who is Jungkook really? You've got no idea. Sure, you've texted over the past few days, but you basically know nothing about him. He could just try and get into your pants, maybe that's his whole thing- maybe he likes them innocent and stupid to have a quick fuck and then drop them again. With looks like his that must be easy.

You're easy.

"Please don't listen to them, they're just assholes-" He tries to explain as the light finally turns green, but you're quiet, and Jungkook has a feeling that something's wrong. "You okay?" He asks occasionally, but you just nod and move on, not really up for talking anymore. He just wants to screw you anyways. Maybe he really is just a big city wolf down the line.

The scenery is nice, but you don't really feel like enjoying it too much as you just want to go home right away again. It's something you do- you hide from things, because confrontation just ends in you being at fault all the time. And maybe, this time, you are at fault.

You shouldn't just trust someone like that. You both barely know each other.

He parks at a gas station, turning off his bike in a more secluded parking area, before he takes off his helmet, and helps you take off yours too.

"What's wrong?" He asks, hair a bit wild, but eyes serious as they look at you, reflecting the light from the neon signs a little like mirrors.

"Nothing." You shrug, avoiding eye contact.

"He was just messing with me. They're always like that-" he tries to explain, and as you sigh, he knows that that's exactly what must've set you off. "Listen, I won't stand here and tell you I'm a church-going virgin because I'm not. Yeah, I fucked around, because sex is fun to me." He shrugs, and you're caught off guard at how boldly he says that. "But that doesn't mean I can't take things seriously." He offers, finally catching your gaze again. "And I want to take.. you seriously." He offers you, but you're not sure.

"...why?" You wonder. "Cause I'm pretty and innocent?" You jab at him. "Cause I'm the small town girl you can corrupt and then drop after you finally got into my pants?" You accuse. "Sucks to be you, I'm not a virgin anymore. I've had sex already, and for me it's not fun." You deny, crossing your arms almost defensively, though you quickly move your hands back on the bike as it moves slightly the moment he sits on it again, facing you however.

"I don't care about that." He tells you. "I won't lie that the corruption part isn't something appealing to me-" he chuckles, as he tests the waters, hands on your thighs not moving, just resting on the tops of them. "-But I'm not dropping you, if you ever let me have you." He purrs.

"What if I'm not ever letting you have me?" You respond, trying to act tough so he won't think you're easy.

"Then that's your choice." He nods.

"So if I say no right now, you'll leave me alone?" You ask.

"Depends on what you say no to." He shrugs leaning back a little, your legs feeling cold without his hands on them. "No to sex? Alright, we won't fuck then." He explains. "No to being with me? Cool, we'll just stay friends then." He goes on.

"No to me entirely?" He offers, eyes unreadable. "I'll accept that, and back off."

"That easy?" You ask a little caught off guard, and he nods. "So you're.. huh." You mumble to yourself, defeated. So he's not even up to put any effort in you. That's slightly disappointing, and honestly makes you feel a little ashamed even.

"So what is it?" He asks, and you shrug.

"I don't know." You answer honestly.

"Then how about I'll work for it?" He smirks, and you look at him now. "Let me take you out. Let's go on dates, I can take you to pack meet-up's so you can get to know those assholes better, hell, I'll even have you meet my mom if you want!" He excitedly proposes to you, tail wagging, hitting his bike occasionally. "Just- you seem really cool. Exactly what I've been searching for." He explains a bit softer now. "Let's try.. okay?" He asks.

"... okay." You answer, and at that his lips turn, part in a happy grin, before he gets up from the bike and punches the air once in his excitement before he returns.

"Okay!" He giggles to himself, helping you back into your helmet. "I know an awesome place to get some food-" he instantly rambles, kicking up the stand for his bike again before he drives off with you-

Eager to show you that he's the one for you.

[words-4u]

down to their bones

pairing: jordan li x f!reader

wc: 875

warnings: none, a bit angsty, minor jealousy, lots of fluff

a/n: listened to your bones by clesea culter while writing this and kind of used it as an inspo - don't have to listen to it but you should for vibes especially near the end

hero ethics was once a class you were excited for but now that you were a month into the course, you realize it's not at all what you expected.

all you do is watch a shit ton of videos and theorize hypotheticals, there's nothing even remotely physical involved which is what you really wanted the most.

instead here you were with lia, your partner for an upcoming presentation that dean shetty insisted the class do after she took over for brink. 

“you know i still can’t believe shetty wants us to speak for 20 full minutes on ‘aero dynamics of human flight’” you said looking at the late professor brink’s book before tossing it to the side. “i can’t even fly!”

“well, i can and it doesn’t take a rocket science to figure out how,” lia laughed. she was sprawled on your double bed that was littered with two copies of the book, laptops, pens and little stickies. “i’m a hands on learner, i need to be out there in the open skies.”

she fell back on your bed and in to a fake daydream. 

“i think someone needs to get their head out of the clouds and help me with this presentation or else we’ll fail,” you leaned in playfully tapping her forehead with a highlighter. of course this is the exact most your significant other, jordan, walks in to your room.

“uuuh…hello?” jordan said. they walked in clearly having come back from the gym, in their baggy shorts, cropped blue sweater and their short bob in a ponytail.

they were expecting to find you on your own, wanting to spend the rest of the evening with you, not to find you on your bed with another girl.

“hi babe,” you raced to jordan and placed your hands on their shoulders as you kissed them. you knew something was off the second they didn’t kiss back and you were right because as you pulled back, their eyes were glued to your bed. where lia was. 

“i’m sorry, and who are you?” jordan snapped. you were slightly taken aback because this was a side of jordan you haven't seen.

“jordan, that’s lia, my partner for hero ethics and lia this is jordan, my partner outside of hero ethics and everything else,” you smiled between the two people in your room.

“yeah, they are ranked number 5 in the whole school, y/n, i know who they are. i just didn’t know you were dating a star student,” lia said looking impressed. 

“you didn’t know?” jordan parroted. “she didn’t know?”

“we got paired up like 4 hours ago on this project. it wasn’t exactly at the top of my list of things to speak to her about.”  you whispered. 

you turned to lia. “um, i’m just gonna talk to jordan outside for like 5 minutes, you can take a break if you want.”

lia gave two thumps up before pulling out her vphone.

you grabbed jordan by the wrist and dragged them out of your dorm and into the hall way. there were a couple students walking up and down the hall and some more in a corner chatting about the latest viral video from the Seven but overall it was empty enough to have this much needed conversation.

by the time you shut your door, jordan had shifted to their male form.

“what the hell is wrong you?” you asked poking their shoulder. 

jordan clenched their jaw. “what are you talking about?”

“w-what am i talking about?” you asked back. “i’m talking about the fact that lia is lucky you don’t have laser eyes or she’d fucking toast. literally!”

“i walk into your room and you have another girl on your bed, y/n, how am i supposed to feel?”

the look on their face was suddenly transparent and it dawned on you.

“you’re jealous? over a classmate? is that it?” you asked, this time your voice carrying a softer tone. 

jordan didn’t look too pleased with the fact that they let something so trivial get to them.

“j, use your words,”

“you guys just looked so close,” they said looking at you with their big brown eyes.

you sighed. “well, we’re not. but we do need to get along cause this project is worth 30% and you know your girl can’t and won’t fail,” you said which caused them to smile a bit.

“besides,” you continued pushing their back against the wall and wrapping your hands around their neck. “i’m sort of already in love with someone, like right down to their bones, and as long as they are in my life no one else stands a chance.”

jordan leaned their forehead against yours. “i’m sorry for how i reacted. it was shitty.”

“apology accepted,” you whispered. “now give me a kiss. a proper one this time,”

jordan brushed their lips against your before kissing the air out of you. it was getting a little too hot for two people standing in a hallway and you were never one for major pda so you pulled away smiling.

“okay now you're just being a distraction,” you grinned up at them.

“okay, fine i’ll go but just to make sure, it was me who you were talking about, right?”

you chuckled playfully shoving them down the hall. “yes, you big idiot. now go and come back in 2 hours when you can really make it up to me.”

jordan smirked. “i’ll be counting down the seconds."

if you want to request something, there's a link in my bio (the more detailed the better <3)

[talewrites]

Fragile Part 7

Sorry for the wait! It was hard to focus while writing this chapter, so I might be editing it for mistakes here and there. I hope you like it! :] <3

Generation: Bayverse TMNT

Tmnt x Reader Fanfic

Pronouns: Gender Neutral (except ‘dudette’, 'miss', and ‘princess’)

Warnings: injury, broken limbs, violence, drowning, not proof read

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

You were laying dazed on the cold metal floor. In too much pain to focus on anything else besides breathing. You heard a commotion, voices muffled through the thick glass. At least inside this tube they couldn’t touch you anymore. Your mind strayed to the turtles. You weren’t able to save them. You weren’t able to do anything. You just hope they can somehow get away safely. That April and Casey can somehow save them.

“I won’t ask again…. Where’s (y/n).” Leo growled. He grit his teeth as he lowered his stance, ready to strike.

Baxter Stockman was quickly typing commands into the program on his computer. Karai stepped in front of him and drew her katana.

“Out of your reach, Turtles.” 

“Aaaaand, there!” Stockman hit one last key on this computer and a red light started to flash on the tank, bringing the turtle’s attention to the crumpled form inside the glass. At the same time a multitude of files and programs started closing on the screen one after another, Stockman’s signature digital self-destruct program. Baxter stepped away from his computer and lifted his arms up triumphantly.

The sound of rattling pipes overhead catches your attention. 

“Ha! You’re too late, Turtles. For years, the Foot Clan has sought out the means to fight you mutants on equal footing. And now, we have our secret weapon! An endless supply of pure mutagen!!!” 

You heard a loud beeping sound, then a click, and the squeak of metal.

A gush of icy water pours down on you from above. The sudden cold shocks you and marginally distracts you from the pain. You pull yourself to the edge of the glass away from the heavy stream of water coming down from above, slowly starting to fill the base. You take a shaky deep breath and bang a fist on the glass. No use. Dizzy and numb, you look outside the tank for someone, something, anything that might help you. That’s when you see them.

And with dawning horror, they see you.

“Guys….?” You press your wet hand up against the glass. They’re here! They’re safe!!!

“(Y/n)....? (Y/N)!!!!” Leo shouts and lunges towards the tank. He tries to rush up to the glass but Rocksteady blocks his path. There’s blood on your cheek, and even a good distance away he can tell you’re in bad shape. 

“OUT OF OUR WAY!” Raph roared at Bebop and Rocksteady, crossing his sai in preparation for a fight.

“Uuuh hey guys? Why is (y/n) in a giant fish bowl…?” Mikey asked, nunchucks at the ready.

“They ain’t comin’ out anytime soon, short stack.” Bebop said with an evil grin. 

“You turtles totally fell for our trap!” Rocksteady chuckled.

Donnie immediately noticed the computer hooked up to the tank’s controls. He tried to subtly sneak past Bebop to get to Stockman but Karai stepped forward and blocked his path.

Karai pointed her sword at Donnie. “The Foot will be unstoppable.”

“And I will FINALLY get the recognition I deserve, for single-handedly creating an entire race of superhumans that will rule over the city!!!” 

“You’re crazy!! You don’t even know what kind of side effects that mutation will have on regular humans!” Donnie activated the electricity at the end of his bo staff, ready to fight Karai to get to Stockman. 

“I do have to thank you turtles for activating their mutant gene. Without your help, none of this would be possible!” Stockman’s laugh echoed through the large room. He waltz over to the canister filling up with the distilled mutagen from your blood. “We originally got (y/n) by a…. foreseeable mistake. But to our surprise, they survived where others had failed. And yet- their results were incomplete. Their animal DNA wasn’t materializing no matter what we did to them. So we came back to New York, where the population could supply us with countless more test subjects.” Baxter said cheerfully, popping the lid off the canister. “But now that we have the results we wanted, we have no need of them! We can preserve (y/n)’s body in a special chemical compound that will put them into a permanent hibernation. No need to worry, their body will be harnessed for science!” Stockman’s laugh was deep and evil, and to everyone’s shock-

He dumped the canister of mutagen over his own head.

Karai lept back out of the trajectory of the splash. Baxter’s laugh increased in volume as he began to morph and change. His head and eyes grew large, his body shrank, little papery wings sprouted from his back, and he mutated into a giant mutant fly. 

Bebop and Rocksteady were stunned by the transformation. “Eeeeewwww… he turned into a bug?” Bebop whined.

“Nasty!” Rocksteady shook his head. Neither of them were paying attention to the turtles so Raph and Donnie covered for Leo and Mikey to make a break for the tank you were in. By now it had filled enough that you were starting to float.

“We’re here babe! We’re gonna get you out!” Mikey reassured you. 

You whimpered helplessly. You were having a hard time keeping your head above water, not really able to swim with a broken dislocated arm and broken ankle. 

“Stay back!” Leo sliced at the glass, and Mikey hit it with his nunchucks as hard as he could, but their attacks barely left a scratch!

“Guys! We have incoming!” Donnie yelled as Stockman had started flying around the room, maniacally laughing as he swooped down and kicked the back of Mikey’s shell, almost knocking him over. 

“Dude, gross!” Mikey protested. Stockman looked to be drooling some kind of acid substance from his mouth.

Bebop and Rocksteady had recovered and started to charge towards them. Leo and Mikey had to jump away from your tank to avoid getting trampled. 

“Donnie, that glass is as hard as steel!!” Leo jumped up and kicked Rocksteady across his cheek, then retreated.

“What’re we gonna do? (Y/n)’s tank is already half full!” Raph shouted. He was using his sai to hold back Bebop’s tusks as he tried to charge them. 

You were doing your best to calm your breathing enough that you could float, but every time your head ducked below water you panicked. Your body was exhausted and protested against your desperate movements, but you needed to survive long enough for the boys to break you out.

“Donnie! See if you can turn off the water!!! I’ve got Karai.” Leo ordered

“Mikey! It’s you and me!” Raph called over, clanging his sai together and shouted a war cry running up to strike Rocksteady. 

“What?! What about the bug brained dude??!! Eep!” Mikey ducked as Stockman flew over his head. He looked down and realized he was kneeling at the feet of Bebop, who had taken the black taser out of his pocket.

“You wanna taste too, little man?” 

When Bebop flicked on the taser, Mikey saw the small stains of fresh blood on the pointed tips that buzzed with electricity. He looked back over to you struggling in the tank and how heavily injured you looked.

He saw red.

Mikey had a rare moment of true anger as he jumped to his feet and knocked the taser out of Bebop’s hand with his nunchucks, and in a flurry of rapid hits he beat back the warthog. He finished him off with a powerful roundhouse kick to the head.

“THAT’S WHAT YOU GET FOR MESSING WITH MY BAE!” He shouted triumphantly.

Raph looked back to Mikey with wide eyes, proud of his little bro for letting loose. “Woah. Way to go Mikey!” He ducked a hit from Rocksteady and punched him hard under his chin. Knocking him out cold. 

Leo was crossing swords with Karai. She was a skilled fighter. But he was much stronger than her. While he pushed her back with a heavy strike, she slipped on some of the mutagen that had spilled on the floor, allowing Leo to take advantage of the opening and disarmed her. He flicked her sword out of her hand and knocked her back. She glared daggers at him, quickly recovering. But seeing as Bebop and Rocksteady were knocked out, she opted for a tactical retreat.

“This is just the beginning.” She hissed and ran out of the lab door. 

Stockman was buzzing around your tank, still laughing maniacally. 

“You turtlezzzzz cannot defeat the mighty Dr Stockman!! I am invincible!! I am-“

Donnie turned on the taser at the end of his bo staff and vaulted it at the annoying human insect, striking him and electrocuting him, knocking him out of the air to fall on the floor with a gross splat.

“Good thing I always carry a bug zapper.” He deadpanned.

Donnie went back to trying to hack into Stockmans computer. He managed to get past the firewall with his hacking program, but he discovered that all of the interfaces connected to the tank control had been erased. 

There was no way to stop the tank from filling up completely. Donnie would have to write a whole new interface from scratch to control the tank.

There was no time.

You were running out of air, trying desperately to keep your head above water as the tank was almost full to the top. You took in one last deep breath just as the water consumed the last of the space. You held your good hand over your mouth and nose hard, trying to hold in the air, and floated down towards the bottom of the tank. 

No more air.

“(Y/N)!!!” 

“ANGEL CAKES!!!” Donnie and Mikey yelled out in panic.

Your eyes snapped open, hearing their muffled voices outside the tank. You swam over to the glass and met eyes with Raphael. He had picked a spot and began punching at the glass over and over again with his sai in his fists.

The needled jabs just managed to scratch the surface. 

You looked at him sadly through the glass. He was stressed, sweating and desperate to break through. Mikey had grabbed a chair and had chucked it at the glass from another spot but it just bounced off and broke on the floor.

Leo was standing behind Donnie with his hand on his shoulder, but his eyes didn’t leave your face. 

Time was running out. You were choking on the stale air in your lungs. Head getting dizzy from lack of oxygen. You removed your hand from your mouth and pressed it up to the glass, some bubbles of air escaping your mouth. Your eyebrows knit together to concentrate on not breathing in the fluid in the tank. But you were suffocating and in pain. 

It was hard.

You looked back up at Raph, and forced a smile on your face. You felt sad. You didn’t want them to see you like this. They felt so far away. 

Darkness was consuming your vision. The last remaining bubbles of air escaped from your mouth and your eyes slipped closed. 

“NO!!! NO-! (Y/N), STAY WITH US.” Raph pounded his fist hard against the glass. 

“DAMN IT.” Donnie frustratingly slammed his fist down next to the keyboard, his head falling into his hands. None of the lines of command coding he was typing in were working.

Leo left Donnie’s side and strode up to the tank.

“Move.” Leo ordered as he came up behind Raph. He unsheathed his swords and began slicing at the glass again. It was barely making a scratch. But combined with the small dents Raph had been making, he was slowly chipping away at the surface.

“Leo! If you can manage to cut 1.2 centimeters deep, it should weaken the glass enough to shatter with enough force!” Donnie yelled from where he was still furiously typing into the stationed keyboard. His attempts to unlock the system all in vain. 

Leo and Raph worked together to stab and slice at the weakest point in the glass until finally-

*crack*

A small fracture appeared in the glass. 

“There!!” Donnie called out. Raph and Leo switched to charging at the door and ramming it full force with their shoulders. Over and over as the cracks grew wider and wider.

Mikey came over, and with a hand on Leo’s shoulder, the leader stepped aside to let his little brother help. Mikey joined Raph and rammed the glass again with such force the crack split all the way across the glass. One more strike-

The glass shattered on impact.

The gush of water that burst through swept Mikey and Raph off their feet. The floor of the lab flooded, and your body washed up on the floor. Lifeless and unmoving.

“(Y/N)!!!!!!” The boys all yelled. 

Leo reached you first, falling into a kneel at your side. He ripped out the two needles from your back and held you in his arms. Donnie rushed over and slid down into the other spot at your side, his goggles pulled into place as he quickly checked you over.

“They’re not breathing. Put them down flat, now.” Leo obeyed and laid you on your back. Donnie first pressed down on your diaphragm to check for water blocking your lungs, then began compressions. 

The room was dead quiet all except for the sounds of Donnie’s whispered counting as he pressed down on your chest. He paused, opened your mouth, pinched your nose, and breathed into your lungs. 

Mikey was nervously walking around you back and forth, and Raph watched you from a distance, a vacant expression as he watched your face for any sign of movement, pleading with himself for you to be okay. 

After what felt like an eternity, you coughed. Leo quickly rolled you lay on your side. You spit up water, gasping for air. You felt like you were coughing up a lung full of ethanol. 

Mikey cheered and Raph took a deep breath, covering his face with his hands. Donnie fell backwards onto his butt and pulled his goggles off his head, so incredibly relieved you were breathing. Leo rubbed your back comfortingly as you got your breathing back under control.

Once you got a suitable amount of oxygen back in your lungs, you whimpered. Your throat was burning and a pain in your stomach and chest made it hard to breathe.

Leo picked you up again, and held you close to his chest. Your eyes fluttered open and you winced at the bright light from the ceiling.

“Welcome back.” Leo said with a smile on his face.

“Leo…?” Your voice was quiet and scratchy. You looked around at Donnie, Mikey, and Raph that all came into view around you and Leo.

“Guys….?” You felt barely conscious. Head foggy and tired like you were under water.

“We’re right here.” Donnie assured you, reaching down to pick up your good hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

All the fear and emotion of drowning and being captured suddenly crashed down on you all at once. You sniffed and big tears gathered in your eyes.

“I was… so scared… I thought I was going to lose you….!” You hiccuped and sobbed as Leo held your trembling form tightly against his chest.

“Shhhh, it’s okay. I’m here. We got you.” Leo soothed, rubbing his hand down your back. He buried his nose into your damp hair and held you tight.

“You had us worried there for a minute!” Donnie was smiling at you, soft and relieved. Mikey was standing behind him rubbing tears out of his eyes.

“Let’s get you home.” Raph said, kneeling down behind you. 

“Wait. I need to splint their arm and their ankle first. Mikey, can you find me some-“

*crack*

“Will this work?” 

Mikey had already broken off the thin legs of a chair across the room. 

“Yeah that works fine.” He pulled out two rolls of gauze from one of the pockets on his belt, and took the offered sticks from Mikey, who knelt down by your feet. 

“What’re we gonna do about him?” He asked, motioning over to Stockman’s twitching form across the room.

The brothers all sneered at the fly mutant with similar levels of disgust on their faces, finding him rather gross. You smiled.

“Just leave him there, we can worry about him another time.” Leo offered, adjusting you in his grip. You winced terribly when your arm was moved. 

“….Is ...your arm dislocated?” Leo asked you, holding you upright in a sitting position, now thoroughly checking you over. 

Donnie and Mikey were working together to splint your ankle, Mikey holding up your foot while Donnie wrapped the splint to it.

“Let me see that.” Raph placed his hands on your shoulder and you clenched your teeth and whined quietly at the sharp pain.

“Leo, hold them still for a minute.” 

“Just hold onto me tightly, it’ll be over in a second.” Leo hugged you close, wrapping an arm around your good side.

Raph got hold of your tender arm, and with practiced ease, popped your shoulder back into place. You cried out loudly and buried your face in Leo’s shoulder, taking deep breaths. 

Raph tried to rub the soreness out of your poor shoulder. “Good job, princess. Now let Donnie get a look at that break.”

You hesitantly detached yourself from Leo, your shaking red and swollen arm was carefully picked up by Donnie, who set the splint and carefully wrapped the bandages.

“I’ll be able to get a better look at it with the x-ray machine back at home. For now we just have to be really careful not to jostle them too much when carrying them back.”

“I got em.” Raph volunteered. Leo looked to Raph, wordlessly nodding his head for his brother to take you from his arms.

“Careful of their arm….”

“Got it.” 

Without much effort, Raph scooped you up in his big arms. You winced as a sharp stabbing pain radiated through your stomach as you were held close to Raph’s chest.

Something was definitely wrong.

“I’m sorry, princess. It’s just until we get you home.” Raph apologized. Leo led everyone quickly out of the lab. 

Once back out in the hallway you had entered from, you noticed with visible shock the literal sea of bodies that covered the floor. Foot ninja. They fought through all of them, just to get to you.

Everyone exited the lab, careful to stick to the shadows as the sun began to rise. As the turtles made their way for their home, your stomach burned worse and worse with a white hot pain that radiated through your body. The movement of the city passing you by made you become dizzy, and your head felt like it was spinning. You felt nauseous and incredibly tired. 

“Hey Raph….?”

“Yeah princess?”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you guys…. You had to save me instead….” You weren’t making any sense. Raph could barely hear you as the wind whipped past his head. You just felt so tired.

“Hey, stay with me, princess. We’re almost there. It’s okay.” Raph didn’t know what the right thing to say was. But your eyes were starting to slide closed.

“Can we…. Can we watch Princess Bride again…. When we get home….?”

Raph smiled at that.

“Yeah. We’ll watch it as many times as you want, short stack.” He didn’t care if his brothers teased him for secretly liking your girly movie. He didn’t care if he had to watch it with you a hundred times. He just wanted you to get better.

“We’re almost there. How you holding up?” 

Silence. 

“(Y/n)…?”

“Mmh?” 

Your eyes were closed.

“Come on, wake up, we’re almost there.”

He was desperate. 

“Mm…hm…” 

You hummed, but your eyelids felt too heavy to lift. You felt yourself sinking into a dark liquid abyss. You could no longer fight the pull.

“(Y/n)….. (y/n)? Hey…! Hey, no no no no no, you gotta stay awake. Come on princess…! (Y/N)!!!”

You felt Raph try to shake you awake, felt his muscles tense as he pushed himself to go faster. 

“We’re almost there, hold on…!”

“Hold on….”

Darkness overtook you.

Part 8

@itsberrydreemurstuff @thecreat0r64 @eli-chris @kurlyfrasier @autisticnutcase @drenix004 @donniesgirlie @cherryp-op @foggyturtleknightangel @blackrockshooter780 @l-n-g-t @peachesdabunny @silverwatergalaxy @willy-the-witch @caeliasaida @veri-varily @xnorthstar3x @leonardo-dabitchy @sh1ga-to3s

If anyone else wants to be tagged for the next update, let me know in the comments! :]

[misserabella]

catch me if you can

street racer! ellie williams x fem! reader

summary; heat rises on the streets, blood pumps with adrenaline in the race, and bad memories come up to the surface with a swing of the steering wheel.

cw; tension, swearing, mentions of death and death of a fictional character, anxiety… in the future there would be +18 content!

special thanks to @winfleurs and @atomicami for inspiring me i luv u! 🎀

“dina! wait up!” you screamed, your heels making it not quite easy to run after your best friend.

your ears were buzzing with the roaring of the audience and the car’s engines. it was a fresh saturday night, and the city seemed as bright as a constellation. adrenaline was pumping through your veins, you shouldn’t be out today. in fact, you’d sneaked out of your house. but you couldn’t help it if your friend asked for it so badly. her boyfriend, jesse, was supposed to be racing today. there was a lot of money on the line. probably about 500k. and dina had to be there. you know, the ‘good luck’ kiss and all that.

the cars looks amazing, modified with the newest technology. you could see the NOS tubes peeking though, ready to push though the chambers of the cars and burn the tires in the asphalt.

shit, you were getting excited.

you followed your friend through the crowd, trying to not lose her black wavy hair out of sight.

“jesse!” she screamed, a huge smile on her features as she ran towards the cars and her boyfriend, jumping onto his arms.

“hi beautiful.” he smiled, giving her a kiss as he held her. you made a gagging sound that made them laugh and pull apart.

“nice to see you too, jesse.” you said as you met up with the two of them. jesse chuckled.

“hey trouble maker, what are you doing here?”

“oh, you know… being a good best friend and all that.” you rolled your eyes, a playful smile on your lips.

“of course.” he hummed, squinting his eyes.

“although i really wanted to see you lose too.” you added and he laughed.

“there it is. i could see it coming.” you winked at him.

“i see you’ve got competition.” you looked around to the cars placed for the race. and you whistled. “a 2015 Lykan HyperSport? that’s gonna be hard to beat.” jesse frowned. “but of course yours is not that bad…” you placed your hand on its surface. “Nissan Skyline GT-R R34… 1999 right?” you inquired and he nodded.

dina seemed just as surprised as him.

“yeah… how do you know all this stuff about cars?” you froze. shit.

“uhh…” you shrugged. “my father. he’s a fanatic.” you quickly spurted out, and the two of them nodded, letting it slide. ‘cause they couldn’t think anything else about it, of course. you were no longer in LA, you were safe.

you sighed. almost fucked it up.

“hey, jess!” the three of you turned around at the sound of a low and sultry voice. your eyes met a pair of evergreen ones, silky auburn hair —tied half and half on a messy bun— and freckled cheeks. she was seating on the hood of her car, girls with tiny skirts and exposed cleavages surrounding her. her legs were spread, a black tank top hugging her chest and toned abdomen, leaving her strong arms exposed.

she was hot. really hot.

“yo williams.” jesse smirked. “ready to eat dirt?” she scoffed, showing off a confident smirk.

“you talk too much for someone who hasn’t beaten me once.” people around you hollered.

“and you talk too much to have that shit of a car.” you huff, and she arched her eyebrows. “Subaru WRX. year 2008.” you pointed out, your heels clicking as you got closer. “i’m sorry for your wallet. the engine and drivetrain must have given you a lot of problems.” you saw the way her jaw ticked and you smiled. “uuuh, seems like a touched a tender spot, didn’t i? i mean subarus are impressive. but not even an STI? come on. you hurt me.” you pouted and she chuckled.

“well, look at that. here i thought your pretty face would be the most interesting thing about you. but you’ve got brains.” she said, jumping off of the hood of her car, getting closer to you as she eyed you up and down.

“not like your kitties here.” you nodded at the girls and they all stared dirtily at you, what made you smirk.

“careful doll, they might scratch you all up.” she warned, playfully, so close to you you could smell her perfume. “and we wouldn’t want that beautiful face of yours to go to waste, do we?” you smirked.

“i would like to see them try.” you muttered, leaning until your faces were mere inches away. she pursed her lips and took a look at you, at your exposed legs and cleavage, beautiful hair and glossy red lips. you had gone for a simple tight tube leather dress that pushed up your tits a little bit too well, and a pair of red thin high heels. a red pendant hanging from your necklace.

“see something you like, ‘williams’?” you inquired, sultry, teasingly and she smirked.

“maybe.” she tilted her head slightly backwards. “what about you? you see something you like?”

“i do…” you nodded, droopy eyes on her own green ones and she smiled. “your car.” she let out a sarcastic laughter, shaking her head.

“but weren’t you just saying how much of a shit it was?” she inquired, eyebrows arched in disbelief.

“now it is. it won’t be once i’ve got my hands on it and touch her all up.” you said as you stared at the cherry red car. the people surrounding you let out ‘uuu’s that made you smile. “you know… a short throw shifter, maybe a new intercoolers…”

“and how are you gonna do that, princess?”

“with a race.” the crowd roared and your friends frowned. dina approached you.

“are you crazy?! do you even know how to race?” you looked at her, and took one of her hands.

“dina… i’ll explain later, okay? but now i need you to trust me on this one, alright?” jesse and dina looked at you, into your eyes, and saw your determination. silently, he handed you his keys.

“if you’re gonna race, you’ll need a car.” you looked at him, and he smiled. you returned it, taking the keys. “if you lose i’ll kill you.” he warned though, and you laughed.

“i never lose.” you promised.

“what do i win if you do?” ellie stepped into the conversation, eyebrows raised. ���need to hook me in, gorgeous, i’m betting my car after all.”

“i’ll tell you what.” you smirked, turning towards her. “since it’s not gonna happen. i’ll bet you anything you want.”

“anything i want?” she inquired and you nodded. “don’t pull back later on your promise, princess.”

“i won’t.”

-

you could feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins, the tingling of your hands. you pressed on the gas, hearing the engine roar, and your heart stammered. shit. it’s been so long.

you had promised yourself you wouldn’t do it ever again. but how could you get away from all of this? from the only thing that made you feel something? that made you weak on your knees and your heart race? it was like a drug. every time you took it you’d find yourself begging for more. you needed it on your system.

you had learned how to race since a very early age, even before you had enough age to get your license —yeah, you got in trouble with the police more than once, but they could never catch you—. and even if you loved it, you’d left it all after your best friend had died while racing, in the hands of a crazy dick who made him crash against a building, making the NOS tanks blow up and burning him alive.

you still could remember your screams, how your friends had grabbed at you so you wouldn’t get closer. ‘let me go! let me fucking go!’

you’d watched the only person that got you and unconditionally loved you die in front of your eyes.

after that you’d used the millions of dollars your family name had to drown your sorrows in alcohol and drugs, getting away from the city that had taken away your everything from you and building a brand new life where nobody could know you.

you’d been hard to get to know, always having everybody at an arm’s length until dina had come along, with her stupid smile and warm personality bringing you back to life. you’d forever be grateful to and for her. but her past was something you’d never talked about, and she didn’t want to force you into it.

“i see you shaking there, princess. scared?” williams screams from her car, who just had positioned itself to your right. you scoffed.

“oh yeah, terrified.” you sarcastically said, and she smirked.

“don’t worry babe, you can always sit on my lap later, i have something that will calm you down.” she winked and you rolled your eyes.

“no thank you, once i’m done i’ll be sitting on your car and driving back to my house.” you winked back, and she chuckled, mouthing something to herself that you couldn’t figure out.

“you guys readyyyyyy?!” a girl in a mini skirt came in between the two cars, a gun in hand. the audience roared, and so did your car. there were phones everywhere, recording the impending race —and your victory—.

you bit down on your lip. you were gonna make win that pretty girl, in heels.

“set!” another girl to your right yelled, and your engine roared again, the tires burning.

“ready!” another to your left, one more roar.

“go!” the girl with the gun shot up to the sky, and before you knew you were flying. the world stopped. there was no future. no past. just the present. just that moment.

ellie took the lead, and she smirked to herself, looking at your car through her mirrors. but she just had to take her eyes away from you for two seconds to lose you. “what the-“

she took the curve, and with a honk, you drifted right beside her, in a swift motion getting in front of her backwards to the road, facing her car. you smiled at her, and send her a kiss with one of your hands before harshly spinning the wheel and drifting once again to face forwards, using the NOS to catapult yourself through the asphalt. you relished on the shock of her face. god you could never get used to it. it never got old.

ellie cursed, following right behind you, adrenaline pumping through her body.

“i’ve finally got you.” she smiled, changing gears and speeding up. another closed curve came into your view and you sped up, in a quick movement changing gears and pulling on the break as you harshly manhandled the steering wheel. you could almost see everything on slow motion, the people outside of the car roaring as you perfectly drifted in an U shape.

you screamed, euphoria in the pit of your stomach. ellie used the inertia to pull up by your side, lowering her window. you did the same. you two were on the final straight line. “you ready to lose princess?” she inquired, and you scoffed.

“catch me if you can, williams!” you screamed, and changed gears before pressing the gas. you press the NOS button, the strength making your back press tightly against your sit. you flew through the straight line, ellie copying you and keeping up with you. you could see the finish line getting closer and closer, and the speedometer getting higher.

you knew you couldn’t over do it, the crowd was waiting for the winner there, you couldn’t hurt them, you wouldn’t.

100mph, 125mph, 150mph, 165mph.

“3…2…1…” and just as you crossed the finish line, mere inches ahead from ellie, you harshly rotated the wheel, drifting as you stepped and pulled on both breaks, the tires burning against the asphalt and leaving marks as you finally stopped the car. the crowd roared and quickly approached you. dina and jesse were hollering.

you stepped out of the car with a smile on your face, your best friend jumping to hug you and jump into your arms, making you laugh.

“what?! i mean- what?!? that was amazing!!! since when could you race?!!?? oh my god!!!” you chuckled, trying to calm her down.

“i’ll tell you everything about it later, alright?” she nodded. jesse tried to say something but he was out of words. “it’s okay big boy, don’t waste your breath.” you tapped her shoulder, and he scoffed. “and now…” you turned around, watching ellie as she stepped out of her car. “i’ll be taking my prize.” you smirked, spreading out your arm and showing her your palm. she tilted her head to the side, a playful smile playing on her lips.

“sure. but first aren’t you going to introduce yourself for me, princess?” she inquired. “or should i do it… viper?” your blood froze, as well as the whole crowd. ellie smirked. “you really thought i wouldn’t recognize those drifts?” you quickly got closer to her, your breaths mingling.

those surrounding you started mumbling. your breath was shaky and your body, still filled with adrenaline, slowly filled with anxiety and bad memories.

“viper the street racer?”

“no way!”

“she disappeared years ago, is it really her?”

“i would shut up if i were you.” you hissed, and she leaned in, the smirk on her lips growing. your lips were almost brushing, and with the hand in which she had her keys, she cupped your chin.

“why don’t you make me?”

you needed to get out of here.

why… why now? why after all this years was your past catching up to you?

you quickly took her —your— keys, watching her smile as you got into your new car and started it. the crowd was unraveling and you knew soon they’d start either jumping at you or taking pictures to expose you.

“see you soon, princess!” she screamed as you drove out of there, groaning at the buzzing of your phone. “i caught you.”

-

a/n; ty’all for 7k! i’m so happy that such a large number of people enjoys my work :(🎀 i love u!! also hope you liked this fic! would you like a part 2? let me know!

[hotchfiles]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ❝ lay down with me ❞ ─ a darling, in any life blurb

pairing: aaron hotchner x reader. summary: the red thread between two people destined to be together may stretch and tangle, but those ties will never break. or: they find out maybe bars aren't all the same. content warnings: alcohol, suggestive talk. not proof read. word count: 2.1k

"Were you... Brushing your teeth?" Yeah he was. And yeah they were still on the jet, but as soon as they got back to HQ he would be on his car for the 45min ride to Arlington to see you. He couldn't risk bad breath on your first date.

Before Aaron could even answer Emily's inconvenient question, Derek came in with another one "Hair freshly cut too, anyone noticed it?" Well he cut his own hair, it would be simply rude not to look his best when he so easily could.

He knew JJ was coming in with something too when she passed by him, so he had to cut it out before "Hey, enough. I’m meeting an old friend after work, just trying to use my time wisely here." His eyes scanned the room for the reactions and even though no one replied, he could see all the little smirking around and whispering between Emily and Derek mostly.

So much for a private life.

He's not the hiding type, if he's in a relationship he has no problem letting people know it, as long as that is it, he enjoys keeping the details to himself. And right now that's all he can really say about you, you're an old friend, just an old friend.

For now.

He was running late now, and very stressed about it. Of course it wasn't the greatest of ideas to go from Quantico to Arlington by driving instead of taking the train, but he wanted to have the choice to take you somewhere else if you wanted to and to get you home safe when the date ended. He was also aware that trains didn't run as late as he might be staying.

He planned the haircut, the hotel shower right before leaving, brushing his teeth while in the jet, having his car ready, but God, did he not plan for the traffic he would have to deal with after 6PM.

But he's a gentleman, so he calls from the car system to warn you about it and he's nervous and anxious because not being present enough and being late or not there at all ruined his marriage and he wants to do better, he really really wants to.

"Oh don't worry babe, I’m still enjoying my wine in my living room. Thought it would be better to wait 'til you were in town to leave, yeah?" Aaron hopes the loud sigh of relief he let out isn't so obvious to you, but it is. You find it endearing. You were reading essays still just minutes ago, you understood him.

You weren't very sure how well would you two work considering that. But you sure as hell wasn't going to give up without at least trying it. And definitely not without a fight.

"Send me your location then, I'll pick you up in... Twenty."

"Uuuh, picking me up? Look at us, it's a real date date now, curfew's at 10PM then, don't forget it." You make him laugh easily with that, your father was a strict man, sometimes you both went to the movies or the park nearby and if you got home at 10:03 was enough for him to sit Aaron down in your living room and tell him all about responsibilities and how he was the boy and so he was supposed to protect you and ensure you were home in time.

"I am curious about what the consequences of not following the curfew will be this time though." Oh he's teasing you now, as if this wasn't your first date and the implications of consequences weren't so... Suggestive, to say the least. But he feels comfortable enough for that.

"Guess you'll have to wait and see then, agent Hotchner." Your voice drips like honey and he's pretty sure he just figured out some sort of deep ingrained fetish he didn't know he had until now. "See you soon, airhead!" You laugh innocently before finishing the call and it drives him mad in the most delicious way.

He thinks those are the most torturous 27 minutes he's ever had to go through his life, but the feeling is completely overrun with almost childish glee as he parks in front of your house. He could fit the choice for a house instead of an apartment easily on your own profile but he didn't need too, you liked your space. Apartments have no space. No privacy. He remembers vividly of a conversation you both had after your cousins were forced into an apartment because of your aunt's divorce.

He dries his palms on his pants quickly not sure if he should go to your door, stay where he is or what. He hasn't done this, the whole date ordeal in a while and it just got to him that he has no idea how people do it these days. What's too much or too little?

Aaron finally decides on leaving the car and waiting near by, after sending you a quick text to inform you he was there. It was a middle ground of sorts, he felt confident in it. Kinda.

It doesn't take you long to leave and lock your door and the sight of you immediately takes his breath away, your smile takes him back some years but your thighs remind him quickly that you are both definitely not fifteen anymore. He shakes his head softly, directing his eyes to a more suitable place for a first date: Your hands. You were holding a flower bouquet.

Flowers.

"Fuck." He mutters to himself in frustration, "I forgot to bring you flowers." You don't seem bothered about it, in fact it makes you smile more as you hand him the bouquet in your hands. "You got these... For me?" Aaron grabs the gift softly with both hands, afraid he's going to break it somehow.

"Yeah, wanted to test my theory that you're still a sap." The way his eyes were shining and his lips turned into the sweetest of smiles were enough proof to you. Aaron was always loving, caring, soft. It was interesting seeing him on the news nowdays, stoic, serious, unbothered. You wanted to see how easy it was to break him.

Turns out very easy. At least to you.

"A sap! I’m surprised I got flowers from a beautiful woman, sue me." He opens the passenger door so you can get in, which you quickly do with a cheeky smile on your face, the gift is carefully placed on the backseat before he's back to your side, seat belt on. Nosy as you are, you're already typing some address on the GPS.

"I heard people talking really good things about this place." You muse while he turns the car on, already following the instructions. "Apparently the beer is great and it stays open til late." He doesn't ask for any clarifications, if that's where you want to go, that's where he'll take you.

The food you've both ordered hasn't arrived at your table yet but Aaron has already gulped down two large beers and is trying so very hard to not show how annoyed he is, it makes you laugh, hard. He follows, laughing along and shaking his head.

"Who told you about this place?" He asks accusingly, you take a sip of your own drink and pretend you didn't hear it. "Who?"

"I don't want to tell you."

"Your students then. You trusted a bunch of twenty somethings with our date. Pitiful." You don't reply, instead you just keep laughing to yourself while you drink. The place is loud. Loud music. Loud college students. Loud busy street. You tell him that's exactly the type of place you would hang out with your girl friends to hook up back in London, his experience isn't the same, the lover boy committed since high school.

"How do they even get to know each other over this nooooise?" Laughing at his annoyance only lasts so long and now you're the one not being able to sort through your thoughts, the food is good though, you both agree while munching on the appetizers that accompany the beer.

In retrospect you should've imagined it would be this time of place by the countless mentions of beer whenever a student recommended it.

"Look around, I don't think they're actually trying to." You follow his gaze and notice that as the hours passed, the more couples formed and the less they were actually talking. Exactly as it was in your own college days. "I'm a bit tipsy so I'll let my curiosity win, you never told me why you divorced the second time." It was out of the blue, you told him the first one wasn't that bad, conflicting views on family and you both married too early in the relationship. The second one was... Harsher.

"Bastard cheated on me." You shrugged, but it was obvious it still got to you, Aaron could see it in your eyes, in your voice tone, and that had nothing to do with being a behavior analyst, and everything to do about how he just... Knew you. "His whore also pressed charges against me when I wasn't even trying to hit her, she just got in the way." He chocked on his beer and almost had to spit it out after that tiny little piece of information you hadn't mentioned before.

"You have a record?"

"He made her drop the charges when I left the apartment to him without a fight. That's why I moved back to the states." He blinks once, twice. Maybe he should be worried, but he also knew that could get a bit aggressive when losing control. Just it always happened to terrible people. "I'm obviously joking, airhead." The relief he feels is followed by an annoyed face for believing such a lie, you touch his forehead softy, smoothing the lines so he doesn't look mad anymore. He takes it as a sign, taking your hand in his and kissing your knuckles, then your hand, and pulls you to him, letting go to touch your chin.

If he wasn't drinking the proximity would inebriate him alone, the way your eyes closed and your cheeks blushed in anticipation, he's sweet, lips touching yours with tender patience, much more patient than you, you who lifted your body just a bit from the chair and pulled him by his collar to deepen the kiss, almost causing a disaster if any of you fell over the table with all the glass cups.

You let him go just after hearing some snickering from the table behind yours, not blaming them for it, it probably looked like an awkward kiss from the outside. But it wasn't.

"That was certainly better than our first one..." You smile sheepishly at him, putting your hands on your lap, nervous.

"You blushed and gripped my shirt." He says looking deep into your eyes, making you tilt your head slightly, showing him your confusion. "It's been thirty years, you did the same thing... You blushed and gripped my shirt."

"So you're telling me you make me feel like a school girl."

"I'm telling you you've just acted like one." You take the comment as a challenge, getting up and taking your chair with you to sit closer to him, brushing your lips to his before going to his ear.

"You're drunk and staying over, so why don't we get a taxi and I'll show you the school girl." You can see the way his neck shivers at your little teasing, but he takes advantage of the new found closeness to kiss you again, with much more hunger but also much faster than the first because he's ready to pay the tab and get out of there.

It wasn't really that hard to find a taxi, being a night time neighborhood, they knew to stay around. Aaron had your bag on one of his hands and the other on your thigh. Your arms went around his and your head laid on his shoulder. None of you talked the whole way there, just feeling each other's presence and the alcohol twirling around your minds and your stomachs.

And you did show him you were not a school girl anymore when you both got to your house: You got him your largest t-shirt and pajama pants, your coziest blanket and after you both changed and took aspirins to try and prevent the headache that would inevitably come, you got your pillows and went to the living room and laid on your big couch with Aaron, cuddling with him as some TV show re-run lured you both to sleep.

It was almost 2AM, and while you could take him to your bedroom and take his clothes off like you wanted to, you both knew it was the middle of the week, he had to wake up early to get his car, you would probably pass out under him anyway.

Cuddling was more than enough for a first date. And at least for Aaron, he was sure he wouldn't let go of your embrace anytime soon.

[arandomnerd810]

personal TADC character analysis

uh warning this is long lol

autism time let’s go (/not in a negative way i have autism) stretches hands * I’ll go in order of the character episodes cause why not we have it (see below) i’ll put periods but it will just be to make it more readable not to be intimidating lolll

btw im completely open to interpretations of characters changing throughout the series this is just for fun

Gooseworx has said this series is mostly focused on characters rather than lore, and from what we know, i truly believe it. I don’t think any of the current characters will abstract because of this.

(I put a version of this in the glitch inn discord theory thing so if you recognize it that’s why)

Pomni: we already know her deal pretty well, as we’ve already had her episode. uuuh if anyone’s going to do something important lore wise it will probably be her as she’s the main character but can’t rlly tell what that may be. to review ep 2 though she’s an outcast who has felt like she was nothing and is a logical thinker.

(Kinger and Zooble will there their focus episode but i put it in order of who was revealed to be the ep 3 focus first)

Zooble: From their design (the entire motif is it can be changed at any time) and the fact she doesn’t know his gender, we’re dealing with some pretty clear identity issues. Friends with Gangle seems cool excited for next episode to learn more about them!

Kinger: One of the most interesting characters so far. I feel like we will get to learn more about abstraction though Queenie, the X-ed out door that looks like a female version of him. If i had to guess, since Gooseworx said they were not siblings, they were a couple. (Also judging by his age and the fact he could have been married, he may have been a father yeowch imagine that) I can see the common theory of the insect collection implying he was a coder before getting trapped, but i could also see him being some random guy who just likes bugs lol. He seems like really sweet guy behind his constant anxiety and disassociating.

 Gangle: (My faveorite human rn) Her mask design can be interpreted in a lot of ways but it’s clear that the happy mask isn’t her real personality. My take on it rn is she doesn’t wana bother people with her stuff so she pretends she’s happy? She seems easily embarrassed and def has self esteem lower than the last circle of hell. What’s interesting though is she’s willing to stand up for herself from time to time, even though she’s easily shot down after.

Ragatha: Waaaay too nice for her own good. Also probably has self esteem lower than the last circle of hell and bases her self worth of others approval.  Though she’s been here the second longest, she seems a lot more normal than Kinger. Makes me question how long apart their introductions have been. Probably copes via escapism.

Jax: I can see why everyone is very interested in him cause me too. He seems like the only fourth wall breaky guy (unless you count Caine cause of his intro at the pilot)which is rlly interesting how did he figure out more than everyone else? what’s with the keys? i have no clue lmao. He’s an asshole who makes the best of his situation by torturing everyone else. At the end of the day though, he’s a human and was sad at kaufmo’s abstraction but he probably isolates himself so it would probably be the same for anyone

but waAitTt a moment

that’s 6 humans but Gooseworx said we would look into 7 (cause of the “other” part) in her twitter post talking about the character focus timeline so we know our fav character won’t be left behind ⁉️⁉️⁉️ I hear you not asking well my dear hypothetical person, who better to fill the 7th character than Caine?

Why you did not ask? Too bad i’m info dumping. First, he’s the main antagonist and alongside Pomni, the commercial face (or lack their of haha teeth and eye joke) of the series. he’s an important character and loved by many. (and hated equally if not more aside the point lmaooo)

Yes, gooseworx can lie about stuff but I think she’s smarter than to lead this heavy into Caine depth/ angst territory if there wasn’t going to be anything On top of that, the entire purpose of the timeline post was so we know our faveorite characters weren’t getting treated poorly. It’s unlike for a character based show to suddenly drop such a major character for some random other guy were introduced to later or smth. i mean cmon there’s three episodes after all the humans at least one of them has to be focused on my boy.

Caine: I believe he really does have good intentions and wants to help but just does not understand people at all. This means he’s like an anxiety disorder; it wants to help, solves some issues but creates 500 more. Judging by the Tumblr post, loneliness may play a big part in what’s to come? I’ve always had a feeling his front was extremely fake and his VA saying “breaks keyfable” (an act that pretends it’s true) supports that theory. Episode two gives some insecurity vibes when Zooble didn’t want to go on the adventure. I find that pretty interesting cause he didn’t care at all if people went on the gloink adventure or not. Maybe he puts some adventures over others and he could have been proud of the candy adventure cause more time and care was put into it and he made a new AI. Why did he blue screen? i feel like he could have some blockages on what he can say built in though im not sure why he was blocked then if he even was. one of the biggest questions i have ab him currently tbh. what’s with him grabbing his cane like that in ep 2? if i had to guess simply be nervous = that? His VA also knows some depth to him even though his focus episode is likely going to be at least one of the last 3 episodes, which they have not gotten to recording yet. You know what this means Caine angst solidarity club? Sad Caine so more fan angst appetizers before the main cannon feast let’s friccin go‼️‼️⁉️⁉️

(try to guess my fav impossible /j)

[chaotikanvas]

AAAAAAAAA AFTER MONTHS THIS IS FINALLY DONE!!!!! Not gonna ramble too much and get right to it! This was inspired by Bloodstain Fool by @naffeclipse (wonderful original detective au by @/sunnys-aesthetic!), because I am very much not normal about this man! gonna have to be divided in two parts because of the image limit gfklhdsñjkh

Here is part one, plus a bit of an introduction! (edit: added the alt text!)

I hope you enjoy!! <3

(content warnings: uuuh nothing too out there that wouldn't be in the main fic. Mentions of blood and violence, and uuuh unsafe self-modification practices? That's the best way I can think to explain it gkjdhgsfkj, and that's all I think!)

------

The first spark feels familiar.

A sensation he last felt so long ago now.

(Not long enough. Never long enough)

It invades his systems in an instant, and yet it has always felt like an eternity. Joints locking up. Optics glitching out. Senses daring to escape his iron grip.

A spark is all he gets to hear before an array of errors and alarms and pain flood his mind.

(Pain always ovetakes it all in the end)

A spark is all it takes to start a fire.

A spark is what started the fire.

The burning within him. Overheating metal and wires and oil.

The internal inferno that took root in his head, as part of his very existence, consuming him alive.

Just a spark.

Enough to ignite the flames that he has been gradually (painstakingly, arduously, hopefully) smothering for some time now right back to being a raging hell that threatens to engulf him until there is nothing left.

Rage.

Rage is all he knows. What pushes him through the spasms.

Rage has him making sense of the glitches in his vision and set a target.

He is not the same as back then.

The target aims at him again. Presses down on the trigger.

His head twitches out of his control. He takes another step towards the target.

The target's smile falters and presses again. Again. Again.

Everything.

Turns.

Red.

-------

It's not uncommon for Eclipse to simply go off the radar and not reappear for a while. This you have learned from your dear detectives.

This time though? Your gut is yelling that there is something off.

For one, the day before he made his disappearance act, he had gone on one of his hunts. It was late at night, so it would be expected that he would arrive at the station to collect his pay the next day.

He did not.

For two...

The scene he left behind was a bloodbath.

A part of you wants to insist you are not surprised at all, aprehension about the tendencies of the violent animatronic, plus some lingering distrust, bubbling instinctually to the surface.

The rational part of you, that had seen and now accepted his genuine efforts to tear off the venom that he's been living off until recently from his system, tells you that there is a puzzle piece missing and you need to go and find it.

Detective Sun and detective Moon seem to agree with you. By the way detective Sun keeps glancing at the phone with increased frequency. By the way detective Moon arrives much later the night following the incident.

By the third morning, you decide enough is enough.

You know through the detectives that the only human survivor from the encounter was a recently joined member of the gang Eclipse stormed for his hunt. The kid was taken in and interrogated, but in his shaken state the only information they could get from him was that he was actually far from where the fight broke out, having heard a distant buzzing sound just before. Unlucky guy then stumbled on... well, Eclipse's handiwork.

(Or perhaps he was lucky. He was arrested, not taken to the morgue.)

The scene is very much still up to the brim with cops, not that you think you would get much from it if the detectives didn't share much else about the whole situation.

So that leaves you to hunt down the trail of the bounty hunter.

Under the harsh midday sunlight, after hours running around, you curse the sneaky bastard's ability to somehow go unnoticed if he so wishes while being as massive as he is.

Yet you catch wind of one or two people getting a glimpse of the robot, and that's enough to finally direct you to a general area where he might be. You suspect that you don't yet know all the locations of his safehouses, but at this section of the city at least, you are pretty certain there are no other places that could serve him well than those you have pinpointed.

Reaching the entrance of the most secluded one, you reach for your hair, and pull a pin secured by the ribbon that ties it up.

....

here's the link for part 2!

[leclsrc]

i love your proposal drabbleeee! could i get another about time based one where theyre planning the wedding? happy 1k!! i love u and the movie so much<3

honeymooning – cl16

You find a creative way to quickly plan your wedding.

auds here... ik i said that was the last req but i have so many im just ignoring jshdhs and i just rewatched about time so this was Birthed... sorry

“We’ve officially broken the world record for time spent engaged and not married,” you announce, walking into the living room of your flat in a hoodie and loose pajamas. 

Charles looks up from where he’d been reviewing something—finances for the team, if you recall correctly—and adjusts his reading glasses (that he will never admit he has to use.) And he laughs, like this is all a joke. You place your hands on your hips, rolling on the balls of your feet as you stare at him menacingly.

“I am not joking. The only thing we’ve—you’ve—decided about our wedding is that I’m going to be walking down the aisle to some weird song you heard in The Godfather.”

“A lovely song,” he interjects, watching you walk until you’re just a few metres in front of him.

“Absolutely not.” You pause, breathing slowly. “And we have no other mutual free days for a while. So here’s the deal—for every decision you make about the wedding, I take one article of clothing off.”

He laughs outwardly, nodding and setting aside the thick stack of paper he’d been perusing. “Deal. You have my attention.” He settles further into the chair, staring at  you with want and amusement.

“Um, okay. Where do we get married?” You smile.

“Italy. Everyone knows everyone here in Monaco, and everywhere else is too far.”

“Okay,” you agree, wrestling the hoodie off and revealing your bra underneath. “Good.”

“You’re beautiful,” he says quickly before you slide into the next prompt.

“Sweet talker,” you retort, settling your thumbs into the drawstring of your trousers and readying them to pull downward. “Alright. Band or DJ?”

“Oh, shit.” He thinks. “Band. It’s got to be band. And if that goes to shit we plug in a phone and play Spotify the rest of the night.”

You laugh, nodding in agreement. “Smart,” you huff out, pulling your pajamas down. He stares, eyes running up and down, anticipatory. Fingers make their way to the clasp of your bra and you mull over the next question. You’ve both settled on a few things—catering and cake and the like—so you skip over those. Then you remember the reason why your guestlist remains unfinished and unfinalized.

“Best man?”

“Oh, nooo,” he moans. “Damn, no.”

“I need an answer,” you sing-song, playing with the clasp. “Or these stay covered all night.”

“It’s too hard, beautiful,” he groans, covering his face with his hands. “Okay. Fuck, okay—Joris.”

“Your choice,” you say, brows raised.

“He’s going to make a fool out of me during his speech, isn’t he.”

“Very likely.”

“Okay, no—Lorenzo.”

“You sure?”

“No—no, Pierre. Pierre.” He nods once. “Pierre.”

“Pierre, final answer,” you say smilingly, unclasping your bra. He smiles, giddy when he finally gets to see almost all of you.

“Yeeee—no, no, Lorenzo.”

“What?!” Your hands flee to cover your breasts and you narrow your eyes at him. “You are such a—that is cheating. Cheating!”

He just laughs, shrugging his shoulders as if to say what can you do. You roll your eyes, but maintain composure, nodding slowly. “Alright… oh, honeymoon.”

“Uh, uuuh—five days in Paris,” he says eventually, grinning.

“Oh, these panties are not coming off for Paris.” Granted, it’s a beautiful city, but both you and Charles are there nearly all the time for work, and it’s so near Monaco it’s basically the same thing. 

“It’s all I can do for my schedule,” he retorts, insistent. “Take off your panties.”

He has a glint in his eye that strikes both amusement and competition in you.

“I will not,” you shoot, smiling and stepping backwards once, hands still covering your chest.

“Take! Off! Your panties!” He hollers, getting up and making a beeline for you. You squeal, turning around and bounding up the stairs toward your bedroom; he’s hot on your tail, laughing.

“Never!” You yelp, a high-pitched sound as you take refuge in the bedroom. “I want three weeks in Hawaii!” 

[thenyoumightaswellwrestleangels]

Let the endless sea call out to you (let the changing tides bring you home)

Day 3 of Thank You, Haikyuu - event masterlist here

pairing: miya osamu x reader (gn) x suna rintarou

length: 9.2k

genre: pirate au !! fluff, hurt/comfort

warnings: osamu is kidnapped but uuuh kindly yk, they all fall in love so it's fine, there's some brotherly tension between the miya twins but it's resolved

a/n: guys I wrote this entire thing in one sitting today I feel like I need to go put my brain in an ice bath now but this is only day three ?

tags: @love-and-lore

Osamu thinks, not for the first time, that he'd give anything to be out there on one of those trading ships, sailing out to the wide open sea and disappearing into the glimmer of the setting sun. He dreams of it, much to his father's dismay, his nights being filled with images of a rocking, wooden hull and the flying flags of a ship that he can call his own - of a life that he can call his own.

But Osamu is not his brother. He was not given the chance to run off to sea. He sits, instead, in his bed of silken sheets and embroidered pillows as maids brush his hair and smooth down his blankets.

He's wondering, in a bored and weary sort of way, what would happen if he just ran off in the night, when a commotion breaks out down the hall. The noises have him sitting up, the sounds of screaming and swords clashing and then suddenly cannon fire reverberating off the walls and into him as he scrambles out of bed and pulls a plush robe on over his night clothes as the maids panic around him. He knows what this is - he's heard the stories, heeded the warnings… these are pirates.

And Osamu is a prize worth his weight in gold.

The maids right themselves remarkably quickly, rushing around him to shove him out of his room and down the hall, babbling about how he needs to run, needs to get out of here and away from all of this and never come back and… Osamu should be scared. He is, probably. But he has an open door for the first time in his life and all he can see is a way out, a way up, a way beyond.

Unfortunately, however, he's still the pampered, spoiled son of a governor, and he finds himself ill-equipped for running out into the streets in his slippers. He's reminded, rather sharply, of his uselessness when he's swiftly outpaced and outmatched by one of his assailants, strong arms wrapping around him and hauling up easily away from his home. 

He should do something, he thinks - he should kick harder or scream louder or bite or shove or… but the image of the house he grew up in fades as he's dragged further away, through the streets and towards the towering, shadowed ship sitting in the bay. Osamu thinks, in his first real moment of panic, that the stories aren't nearly as frightening as reality is. As he twists to glance over the shoulder of his captor, past his tousled, dark hair and towards his life, he realizes that he can't see his house anymore, that the wooden planks of a pirate ship that slip beneath his slippered feet are the furthest he's ever been from home. 

When he finds himself surrounded by shoving, shouting corsairs crowding around him with loaded guns and sharpened swords and all manner of malice, Osamu thinks that maybe home wasn't so bad, that sitting in the safety of his plush bed and pretending that he was somewhere else was kinder than whatever fate he now holds. 

"Gentlemen" a booming voice sounds over the commotion and the crew freezes, like a ripple has gone through them at the new presence. They part slightly to let the speaker through, shuffling to create a gap like the sands of a beach crumbling easily beneath the power of the tide. And when Osamu sees you - well,  he knows enough of the world, at least, to know a captain when he sees one.

"We have a guest in our midst," you continue, standing tall in front of Osamu's shivering, meek form. "Let's all behave ourselves."

"Are we off, then?" The man holding onto Osamu's arms tightly asks you, and you turn shining, hungry eyes to him. 

"We have what we came for," you say simply. "Take us away."

"Weigh anchor!" The man holding onto Osamu shouts loudly enough to have him jumping, jostling the two of them while you look on, rather bemused. "Aran, mind the crew."

Osamu watches as the ship around him begins swimming with life, the crew nothing more than blurs of movement against the endless, blackened backdrop of the night sky. As he's pulled after you towards the ornate doors below the upper deck, Osamu cranes his neck to catch one last glimpse of the home that he's left behind. Something painful happens to his heart as he's met with the sight of his father's house when the ship begins to rock and tip and pull out of the bay - as the structure stands, smoking and burning and disappearing into the darkness beyond his reach.

But then you swing open the double doors and he's pushed gently into the warmth of the cabin, his captor closing the latch firmly behind the three of you. Osamu thinks, once more, of the books he's read - of the ones he's hidden in a chest at home and pulled out in the evenings with no witness other than the faint flickers of candlelight in his room. He thinks of the pirates in those stories, of the captain's quarters with their ornate tables and feasts laid out.

The one sitting on the grand table in front of him, he finds as he's led gently further into the room, is strikingly similar. 

"Bring him to his room, Rin," you say easily, settling yourself into a large, plush chair, the red of the crushed velvet striking against the endless oil lamps scattered around the room. "Let him get ready."

Osamu's opening his mouth to ask you what in god's name he's getting ready for when he's pulled more by Rintarou past the table and through one of the elaborately carved doors and further into the belly of the ship. When your first mate leads him into a bedroom of sorts, he's… admittedly shocked. When the man pulls open the top of a chest and gestures to the clothes inside, showing endless stacks of richly coloured, embroidered fabrics, Osamu finds himself largely confused.

"Change if you'd like," Rintarou says as he leaves, pulling the door closed behind him. "You'll be dining with the captain tonight." 

And so, a muffled sort of stillness follows, nothing but the vague shouts of the crew outside and the gentle rocking of the sea against the hull can be heard as Osamu stares at the door - at the unlocked door and the shadow of Rintarou disappearing from the other side. As he spins to look into the chest that had been open, something lurches in his heart as he recognizes silks and colours from across the world, pieces of clothing that only his father could afford. 

They're stolen, he reminds himself in a panicky sort of way. Just like him.

He's sort of… surprised by himself - sort of impressed by the way he slams the chest closed and rips open the door, stomping out to where the two of you are lounging at the table, plucking fresh grapes off of stems and sipping on dark wine. You look up at him when he enters, a mild sort of bemusement painting your face as he scowls and crosses his arms and glares down through his dampened robe and wet slippers. 

"I don't know who you think you are," he spits angrily. "But I'm not some ransom for you to keep locked away and used for bait. My father won't pay a price for me - you're wasting your stupid time." You hum thoughtfully at his words, not much bothered by the outburst. When in the company of pirates, Osamu thinks weakly, this probably isn't much. 

"Do you drink, Osamu?" You ask lightly, pouring wine into a gilded, golden cup and standing with it.

"No," he sniffs indignantly as you approach him, holding it out to him expectantly. He gawks at it, just a bit, at the dark red wine shining off of the gold.

"Perhaps you should start," you say dryly, but when Osamu just looks up at you and glares, you sigh, turning to set the cup at an empty place at the table before gesturing for him to sit and moving back to your own chair.

Rintarou sits silently in his place next to you, watching through sharp, quick eyes as Osamu hesitantly steps forward to slowly sink into his seat, wrapping his robe tighter around his waist.

"I have no interest in your father," you say simply, gesturing to Rintarou and watching as he stands to take Osamu's empty plate, filling it with whatever he pleases from the table. Osamu, all the while, can't help but gawk just a bit at the spectacle of it all, at the delicacies that he knows can only be found in far-off corners of the world.

He wonders with a hint of longing tugging at his heart what it must be like to live the way that you do, to sail on and on and away.

"As I was saying," you say dryly, apparently aware of Osamu's wondering thoughts. He feels heat rise to his cheeks as he stares down at the full plate now set in front of him and then up to Rintarou as he slides back into his seat. "A governer's ransom means little to me… I'm not concerned with petty little money trades."

"Little?" Osamu splutters, a touch of indignation colouring his voice. Rintarou just laughs, though, and you pointedly gesture around.

"Well, it's not as if I need it, is it?" You ask coyly. Osamu has no choice but to shut his mouth at that, staring at the gold leaf across the table and the rubies on your ringed fingers. "No," you continue. "I'm after something much bigger than that these days… and you're going to help me get it."

Osamu's about to open his mouth to tell you how wrong you are, that he has nothing to offer and nothing to take and you're better off dumping him back home, when the door swings open and one of the crew steps through.

"Captain," he says in greeting.

"Speak, Aran."

"The course has been chartered… we're well on our way out to deep sea. Are we still going…" Aran trails off as his eyes flicker over to Osamu. He clears his throat and straightens. "Same course as before?"

"Yes," you say simply, and that's all that's needed for Aran to duck out of the cabin and close the door swiftly behind him, leaving the three of you in silence once more. 

"What is it that you want from me?" Osamu's voice is smaller, weaker than he'd like it to be, but you merely fix your eyes on him and look him up and down for a moment before leaning back in your chair and sipping your wine.

"Tonight? Nothing," you offer. "Eat, rest, let your legs get used to the sea… there's nothing more to be done for the night." Osamu, at the finality in your words, finds himself feeling… small, all of a sudden, like it's all just starting to sink in. He's alone and in danger, on a ship full of pirates, sailing toward a coast unknown to him. The worst part of it all, he thinks rather sullenly, is that he knows that no one will come for him.

It's three days later that you try again, seated with Osamu and Rintarou at that grand table in what Osamu's learned is the captains' quarters, a series of halls and rooms deep within the body of the ship that serves as your private space. It's made him begin to realize, after days of wandering and snooping, just how huge the vessel is. 

He'd thought, through his limited knowledge of these seas, that only the pirate lords of old had ships this size and gold in these quantities. He supposes, as he grips onto the side of his chair as waves crash and the ship sways, that the fiction of the life that he'd left behind had to be incorrect somehow. 

"How's your brother, Osamu?" You ask him as he sits, watching him wince as he tries, still, to acclimatize himself to the constant movement of the floor beneath him and the never-ending sound of wine being poured into his cup.

"I beg your fucking pardon?" He scowls. You just smile, a menacing and knowing sort of thing. 

"I do hope he enjoyed his wedding anniversary. What's it been now - three years?" You continue, watching Osamu carefully as he pales even more at your words. 

"What do you want with my brother?" He curses himself for the waver in his voice, for the fear creeping up to him. But he hadn't really thought, in the days that he'd spent here, that this could have anything to do with Atsumu. 

"Oh, not much," you say flippantly, waving your hand in a dismissive manner. "But his husband? What a catch, marrying the man who controls ocean-bound trade routes across the world."

"If you have a point, can you fucking get to it?" Osamu snaps. The walls, as they sway, seem to close in on him and he feels nausea roll through his stomach as he starts to piece it all together. He hasn't heard from his brother in over a year, the seas between them keeping them apart since Atsumu's marriage. But Atsumu's spoken about it briefly before, about the ships getting pillaged and shot down by pirates looking to loot and eager to steal from them.

Osamu has this horrible image, now, of his brother dying alone at sea because of information that he gives up and he feels seasick, the rocking motion of the ship making him queasy.

"Why do you think I know anything about that?" He offers weakly, his voice thin and quiet.

"Sakusa Kiyoomi," Rintarou chimes in. "Is the most powerful and influential merchant in our current world… and he is your brother-in-law. You're clever, aren't you, pet? You can put together what we want."

"No," Osamu all but shouts, standing from the table abruptly. "I can't - I won't tell you anything about him or Atsumu or anything else. You might as well give up now because you're getting nothing from me." That, he feels, is pretty final as he stomps away, but he supposes that slamming his door and locking himself away has less of an effect when his room is attached to yours. 

He's seen it, of course, where you go at the end of every night - he's caught a glimpse of the large, elaborate bed and the red, silk sheets. And he's seen, much to his initial shock, the way that Rinatarou trails after you loyally, content to spend the night with you always.

Well, Osamu supposes when he thinks about it, perhaps that explains why the two of you seem so in tune.

"He's stubborn," you snap, using one hand to try to slam your door closed behind you, only for it to be caught by Rinatarou as he follows after you.

"We have time to wear him down," he says easily as he closes the door gently behind him, sealing the two of you in the privacy of your room and watching as you sprawl across the bed, burying your head under one of the pillows there.  

Rintarou just laughs at the sight, moving to sit next to you and dislodge the pillow from your grip so that he can pull your head into his lap, instead, smoothing a hand through your hair. 

"I need those trade routes, Rin," you say quietly, your eyes flittering closed as the furrow between your eyes deepens.

"And you'll get them, treasure," Rintarou offers soothingly, smoothing a thumb between your brows to coax you to relax. "We have a long voyage yet ahead of us. We'll get what we need from him." You hum noncommittally at Rintarou's assurances, letting yourself relax further against him as the ship rocks you soothingly back and forth. 

"If I can control the trade routes, I can control the seas," you murmur quietly. Rintarou looks down at you in a long-suffering way, but you keep your eyes closed.

"I know, treasure," he says pointedly while you dutifully ignore him.

"It's the only thing left… it's the only thing I still need to get this," you continue. Rintarou rolls his eyes lovingly and leans down to kiss your forehead gently.

"And you'll get it," he whispers against you. When you shoot back an, "I'd better," he laughs, leaning to lay back on the plush bed and stare up at the arched, wooden ceiling. 

The days after that begin to stretch on endlessly for Osamu, with his dinners shared with you and Rintarou every night in your quarters, the two of you asking him endlessly for information on his brother and Kiyoomi's trading company. He never tells you anything, of course - including the fact that he and Atsumu haven't really spoken in years, the distance and the seas getting in between them. He doesn't tell you that he has no real idea what goes on in his brother-in-law's company or what Atsumu really does for it. Osamu gets a bit of a thrill from the whole thing, though, making the two of you think that he's smart - clever enough to play this mental game of chess that's stretched on and on. He feels a bit big, powerful as he sits opposite you and battles back and forth.

For the first time in his life, Osamu feels like he's someone, and he begins to find it addicting, the back and forth between the three of you, the swaying of the ship and the salt on his skin.

You've given him free rein to wander as he pleases, much to his shock, having just shrugged and pointed out that there's nowhere for him to really run off to when he'd asked about it. As he steps out onto the lower deck, the sun blazing down onto him and making him squint, he feels he really understands what you'd meant by that.

Osamu spins around rather helplessly, eyes widening as he stares out past the ropes and wooden rails of the ship and out towards the endless sea that stretches in every direction. There is no land in sight, he realizes weakly. There is just him and a crew of pirates and a horizon that stretches on and on and beyond. 

In his dazed, spiralling state, it's Rintarou that he ends up bumping into, slamming into the man's chest and leading him to shoot his arms out and grab Osamu by the waist to stop him from teetering over. Rintarou opens his mouth, most likely to chastise him, but then he sees the wild look in Osamu's eyes and softens a bit in understanding. 

"Come up here with me," he jerks his head towards the upper deck behind him, but as he makes his way towards it, Osamu stays rooted to the spot. "Come on, pet," Rintarou calls. "This will make you feel better… hopefully." That doesn't instill much confidence in Osamu, but it's still enough to have him running after Rintarou, up the steep, ladder-like steps toward the back of the ship.

It's Aran who's lazily leaned against the helm when they get up there, one hand loosely holding onto the wheel while he blows a sigh out through his lips. He straightens at the sight of them and Rintarou just waves him away, taking his place at the helm, instead. 

"Come here, pet," Rintarou calls to Osamu, who scowls and stomps towards him.

"Don't call me that," he snaps. Rintarou just grins in that lazy way of his.

"But you did come, didn't you?" Osamu opens his mouth to retort, but Rintarou's grabbing the front of his shirt to pull him to stand in front of the helm and grip the wheel before he can speak, the man's rough, calloused palms covering Osamu's smooth, delicate hands.

Osamu clears his throat, feeling the heat of Rintarou's front against his back as he grips the wheel tightly.

"What are we doing?" He asks quietly, and he knows that if he could see Rinataoru, he'd catch the sly smirk he's sure the man is sporting.

"You're steering the ship," he says simply. "It's nicer up here, isn't it? Feels a bit less like being lost." Osamu stares out at the line of infinity where water meets sky and realizes, quite abruptly, that he really has relaxed a bit. 

"Won't the captain mind?" He asks in lieu of answering. Rintarou just laughs.

"The captain doesn't mind anything that I do." Osamu splutters at the coyness in Rintarou's voice, moving to whirl on him and chastise him, but Rintarou keeps his hands firmly over Osamu's, forcing him to stay steady on the helm.

"You don't all have to be so crude all the time," Osamu mumbles. Rintarou grins.

"You're on a pirate ship, pet. You'd best get used to it." He offers. Osamu just huffs and stomps his feet, but now that it's been brought up, he can't help the nagging feeling tugging at his gut.

"For how long?" He asks quietly.

"Hm?"

"How long will I be here?" Rintarou's quiet for a moment at Osamu's question, his palms gently pushing to correct the ship's course against Osamu's hands.

"It's difficult to pinpoint the distance of a moving target," Rintarou offers. "Three months, I'd say. Then, this will all be over for you."

"What?" Osamu scoffs, "Are you gonna take me home." 

"No," Rintarou says flatly, making Osamu scowl. "But we'll leave you with your brother. We have no intent to keep you here forever, pet." Osamu, however, has a hard time listening after his brother's mention. Of course, he thinks, you're after Atsumu and Kiyoomi's ship. 

This time, when he spins on his heel to face Rintarou, the pirate lets him, letting go of the helm just long enough to release Osamu's hands before he reaches for it again, effectively caging Osamu in while they stand chest-to-chest.

"What are you planning on doing once you get to him?" Osamu asks desperately, a panicky sort of tilt to his voice. Perhaps Rintarou's smile was supposed to be a comforting one - more indicative of reassurance and less of a shark catching the bloody scent of its prey.

"Negotiating," he says wickedly. Osamu feels his stomach roll as he crosses his arms, close enough now that Rintarou's chest presses against his forearms as he glares.

"How will you even find him?" Osamu challenges, but Rintarou just looks at him strangely.

"We've been keeping tabs on him and his standard routes for months. It's simple, really," he says flatly. Osamu spins around again to face the helm and smacks Rintarou's hands away, guiltily delighted when he obediently lifts his palms long enough to let Osamu settle back in and then dutifully covers his hands with his own once again.

"Three more months at sea like this?" Osamu asks quietly as Rintarou looks on, the sparkle of something proud and suspicious flitting through the pirate's eyes.

"Something like that," he murmurs in confirmation. Osamu looks out into the vastness of it all, the cold of the sea and the heat of the sun and the endlessness of the point where they meet. The air is salty and fresh on his tongue and he finds, in a longing sort of way, that this isn't really so bad. 

"Show me how to steer the ship," he says finally, a firm clarity ringing through his voice.

"You are steering the ship," Rintarou quips, his palms pressing gently against the backs of Osamu's hands to guide him.

"No," Osamu corrects unwaveringly. "Teach me properly." Rintarou's quiet for a moment, a thoughtfulness seeming to strike through him before he laughs and steps closer, his chest bumping into Osamu's back again.

"Oh, the captain's going to love this."

"You're not going to start a mutiny, are you?" Your voice, clear and amused, rings through the blanketing darkness of dusk, Osamu jerking up from where he was leaning against the helm while Rintarou lounges on a stack of crates nearby. Osamu huffs and hopes that the pink hue of the sunset surrounding the three of you hides the pink dusting of his cheeks as he shuffles where he stands. One month of Rintarou's firm, guiding hand has made him more confident than he thought he could be about something like this - about anything, really, but there's something about your hawk-like gaze that makes him shy.

"I'm not that sheltered," he quips instead. "Mutinies like that don't really happen, I know." His words make you laugh as you move to stand next to him, crossing your arms and leaning against the helm. 

"Is that what you think?" You say, your voice low and smooth in a way that Osamu now recognizes to mean that you're about to tease him for his pampered upbringing. 

"Is - I mean, they don't really happen, do they?" He asks haltingly, his eyes widening a fraction. You grin wolfishly and lean forward to put your face close to him.

"How else do you think I got the ship?" Rintarou laughs from his vantage point as he eyes the way Osamu's mouth drops open in shock.

"You - you stole this ship? You killed the captain?" He splutters. You rock back on your heels, giving him space as you put one hand gently onto his to correct his course. He tells himself, as he blushes and looks away, that he would've steered fine if not for your distractions. 

"Don't worry," Rintarou quips, as if he can hear Osamu's thoughts. "It still happens to me sometimes, too." You throw a mean grin over Osamu's shoulder towards Rintarou, but say nothing on the topic.

"I didn't kill the captain," you say instead. "He was alive when I left him - anything that happened after is up to the seas, not me." Osamu hums at your words, shifting his hold on the wheel as he considers your words. 

"Why are you telling me all this?" He asks quietly. You shrug, your face bathes in the dark violets and blues of the water as you stare out towards the horizon, the sun dipping below the endless line of the sea.

"Is there a reason why I shouldn't?" You ask serenely. Osamu just frowns, following your gaze out toward the water and feeling the burn of something deep within his soul at the sight. He should be offended, he thinks, at the lack of concern you and Rintarou show for him. But really, he knows, his pampered life and stifling upbringing make him no more a threat than a child. Of course, you wouldn't be concerned. Of course, you wouldn't see him as a threat.

He should be upset about it, he thinks, as clouds roll over the open sky and throw shadows down onto the endless, rocking waters and the sun falls completely below the surface. But there is a hunger in him, instead, when he looks out at the vastness of it all -  a thirst that stirs deeply within him and demands to be fed. 

When he turns to look at you, he finds your eyes already trained on his face and a knowing sort of understanding settling in your small smile. 

"Well," you say, stepping away from him and making your way towards the stairs leading down from the upper deck. "Don't crash my ship while I sleep." Rintarou makes a mocking sort of sound, something that Osamu thinks must be his imitation of a ship hitting rocks and splintering, and the withering look you send over your shoulder just has him laughing.

Osamu, however, doesn't quip back. The salty sea breeze brushes through his hair and his hands are steady on the helm and he feels, for the first time, a sort of freedom - a desire stirring within him and a need for more. As Osamu settles into bed finally, hours later when Rintarou shoos him away and tasks Aran with the overnight duties, he feels that maybe he can make something of himself - maybe he can make something of this life.

But when the morning comes and he's greeted by a commotion on the lower deck, shouts and running heard, he thinks that perhaps he'd been lulled into a false sense of security. By the time he gets to the upper deck, you're at the helm shouting orders and he gathers, from all the scuffling, what's going on.

Another ship has been spotted, an easy target for your larger, swifter ship to overtake. Osamu's heart stutters in his chest as he reaches you, grabbing onto your arm with both of his hands as you look down at him, bewildered.

"Now's not really the time, pet -"

"Don't do this - you can't do this -" he begins, but your face morphs into confusion for a moment before a hard edge sets into your features.

"We're pirates, pet. This is what we do." He lets go of you at that, your words slamming into him enough that he stumbles on his own feet, leading you to shoot an arm out to grab him by the waist and haul him back against you so that he doesn't tip over while you steer with one hand. "If it makes you feel any better," you add distractedly. "They're also a pirate ship - just not one of ours. Any loot we grab from them was likely already plundered elsewhere."

"One of ours?" Osamu asks, bewildered. 

"One of mine," you correct. "They're not flying my fleet's flag."

"You have a fleet?" Osamu splutters. You glance at him, bemused, keeping your arm firmly around his waist as the hull of the ship tips and rocks at the mounting speed of the vessel.

"Yes, what did you think I had?"

"Just a ship."

"Well, I've got that, too," you point out just as Rintarou appears on the deck next to you, the knives strapped to his chest glinting under the blinding sun. Osamu sees them, sees the sword on your hip and the guns that you both carry and finds himself sick at the image of the two of you, dripping with blood and violence and something wild. 

"Take Osamu inside," you tell Rintarou, who nods and begins to pry Osamu off of you. "Send Aran down with him and make sure he stays." Osamu makes a wounded, panicked sort of noise as Rintarou begins to haul him away.

"You're locking me up again?" He yells desperately. You shoot him a long-suffering look, but the imminent contact with the other ship has you distracted as Rintarou leads him away.

"We're keeping you safe, Osamu," he says gently as he swings open the doors to the part of the ship that Osamu's begun to think of as home. "It doesn't do any of us any good if you end up dead."

"What about you?" If Osamu wasn't so frayed by the whole ordeal, he'd kick himself or the hysterical edge to his voice. But Rintarou just shrugs, unconcerned as he makes his way out, back up to the lower deck.

"You can watch from the window if you'd like," he says easily. "This shouldn't take long, really."

Yet again, Osamu learns that Rintarou's often right. The whole ordeal isn't nearly as drawn out as he'd thought it would be and as he watches from the safety of behind his small window, he realizes that it isn't as fatal as he'd anticipated, either. 

It's loud and brash and violent, yes, with cannons fired and swords drawn. But you don't… kill anyone, really. Once you have the crew of the boarded ship on their knees and stripped of their weapons, you stand in front of them with your hard gaze pinning them down as your crew hauls loot from their ship onto yours.

It's at this point that Osamu's decided that he's had enough of hiding and rips the door open, running out to join you on the deck - much to Aran's protests. You send him a scathing look that has him slinking away and Osamu's sure Aran will have a lovely conversation with you later about how he can't even keep a governor's son safely in his quarters.

Osamu isn't so concerned, though, as he listens to you speak to the captain of the ship you'd overtaken. 

"The nearest port is eight days to the south-east. We've left you enough water and rations for that much."

"You shattered our mast," the other captain spits. "We'll get nowhere like this."

"I splintered your mast," you correct, leaning down to look him in the eye where he kneels. "It still stands and the winds still blow. You'll be fine… if you make haste." With that, you jerk your head to Rintarou, who takes the signal to have the crew start hauling the prisoners to their feet and sending them back to their ship while you make your way up toward the helm.

Osamu scrambles after you, following as you make your way up and see Aran at the wheel.

"Captain, I -"

"Go take stock of the new rations," you say bluntly, expecting Aran to step out of the way and give you the helm. He does, rather swiftly, disappearing to the lower deck as Osamu stands and stares at you.

"Why didn't you kill them?" Osamu blurts, causing you to turn to him, your brows raised. "I wonder - you didn't even sink their ship."

"And I wonder when you became so bloodthirsty, pet," You say, an amused sort of air to your voice. Osamu rocks back on his heels, a shock of shame making him flinch as Rintarou steps up behind him, joining you at the helm as the crew raises the anchor, preparing to head back to your original course. 

"There's no point in being the only ship at sea," you explain to Osamu, seemingly unbothered by his assumptions. "Why control the waters if there's no one left to command, hm? It's an ecosystem, pet… I'm just aiming to be at the top of the food chain."

Things change a bit, Osamu finds, after that. He looks at you differently, sees the sword on your hip with a little less malice, gets a little less queasy when you and Rintarou pull out your guns at the dinner table to polish them. The meals you share become less… pointed - and Osamu can't really place when it went from an interrogation to a ritual, a habit built among the three of you to share these evenings together. He asks you to teach him, eventually, as the days continue to stretch on and on endlessly - he asks you to help him learn, to help him become something more than what he's always been.

You could never deny him anything, of course - something that Rintarou teases you for endlessly in the safe privacy of your bed. Osamu begins to learn the weight of a sword in his palm, how to block and how to counter. You're a difficult teacher, of course, and he often finds that by the time the sun sets, his arms ache and his hands are numb from the clanging pressure of your sword against his. But there are moments, throughout it all, when you correct his posture, when you let him get a good hit in - moments when your hands brush against his skin and you come close enough that he can feel your breath on his lips. 

Rintarou, meanwhile, teaches him how to shoot, lines up empty bottles on the railing and has Osamu try to hit the glass. He worries aloud, after countless failed attempts, that he's wasting bullets and gunpowder that should go to the crew. But you just shrug and stretch on your way past them and up to the helm.

"Take what you want," you say easily. "My crew always has what they need… I make sure of it." That last part does feel a bit pointed, and as Osamu stares at the pistol in his hands, he wonders what it must be like to really be part of this crew, to… to have a home out here.

But then Rintarou's beside him again, hands on Osamu's hips to adjust his stance as he murmurs quiet directions in his ear. When Osamu successfully shoots one of the bottles finally, the glass shattering into the sea below, he turns and throws his arms around Rintarou's neck in delight before he catches himself and tries to pull away. Rintarou just laughs, though, and says that it'll take more than one good shot for Osamu to become a real pirate.

As Rintarou steps closer again, though, helping him prep for the next shot, Osamu can feel his mind reeling at his words, can feel his soul spiralling with the weight of becoming.

Osamu wonders, as a ship is spotted over the horizon and a cheer breaks out somewhere, how Rintarou had pinpointed it so accurately. Three months into the voyage, the flag of Kiyoomi's trading empire is seen on the ship ahead of them, and it all begins to come crashing down on him. 

You and Rintarou are pirates, still. You may be kind to him, a fondness growing that's had you treat him as something far more important than a bargaining chip, but Osamu knows, now, that he must face the truth. 

You are pirates. You are here to overtake his brother's ship and take control of his brother-in-law's trading empire… and if there's one thing that Osamu's learned, it's that you don't take no for an answer when it comes to anyone other than him and Rintarou. 

Fortunately, Osamu's used to the scuffle of you overtaking another ship - he's grown accustomed to the shouts and chaos and stumble-inducing rocking of the ship. This time, of course, is different, but he stands by your side at the helm regardless, his hand firmly on your arm as a sort of anchor. 

Kiyoomi's vessel, while beautiful and capable, is nothing compared to yours, large and looming and commanding. His ship is overtaken, of course, an inevitable course of action that the sea splits to ensure. And when the gangplank is lowered and you and Rintarou step onto it, Osamu is quick to follow, trailing after the two of you and onto his brother-in-law's ship.

When he locks eyes with his twin, a few things happen. Atsumu looks healthy, bronzed and strong and dressed in fine silks as he stands regally by his husband's side. Envy and loneliness slam into Osamu's gut at the sight as he steps off the gangplank, Rintarou's hand reaching out to him as if by instinct, ensuring that he doesn't slip or fall.

But then, of course, Atsumu looks scared, terrified of the fact that his brother's been kidnapped by pirates and is about to be used as leverage against his husband - he's no idiot, he knows what this is about. But there's something… off about the whole thing. Osamu looks healthy, his hair bleached from the sun and shining from the salty air, his skin healthy and golden, his frame sturdy and built. When Osamu reaches out to his brother in a moment of longing, Atsumu catches sight of the thick callouses forming on his palms and his other hand held tightly by Rintarou - by a pirate.

Atsumu opens his mouth to say something, to shout and swear and cause some kind of commotion because his brother's been kidnapped when his husband puts a hand on his shoulder firmly and squeezes, a silent request to be still for just a moment longer.

"Sakusa Kiyoomi," you say as you step forward, your hand on the hilt of your sword where it rests on your hip. "You're certainly a difficult person to catch up to."

"I doubt there's a ship in these seas you couldn't catch eventually," Kiyoomi responds easily, holding an outstretched hand towards you. Atsumu and Osamu look on with matching, gawking expressions, and neither of them knows which part to be shocked more by - Kiyoomi's hospitality or your reciprocation. 

"I'd much rather discuss this in private," Kiyoomi continues, gesturing a hand to the ornate doors leading below the upper deck.

"By all means," you answer easily, your voice sharp and steady, and Kiyoomi leads you inside while Rintarou follows, leaving Osamu and Atsumu to stand and stare, the sun beating down on the two of them and shimmering on the endless seas surrounding them.

"You look well," Osamu says carefully, shifting on his feet.

"I…am," Atsumu answers haltingly. "Are you?" Osamu opens his mouth to respond, but Rintarou calls his name from the open doorway and Osamu's moving past his brother and towards the call of his name before either of them really realizes it. 

Atsumu's slow, after that, to join his husband and the others in their meeting, wine being poured into gilded cups and passed around as you speak with him.

"We've heard the rumours, of course," Kiyoomi is saying. "That the pirate lord is back… that the seas are shifting and the tides are changing."

"There is no pirate lord yet," you respond carefully, a measured sort of hunger in your voice. Kiyoomi hums thoughtfully.

"No, but it's clear that there soon will be… I am no fool," he says as he sits opposite you, Atsumu perching on the arm of his chair and staring at the way Osamu sits so naturally between you and Rintarou. "I know what stands between you and the title. Anyone who can control the trade routes… controls the seas. Fortunately, you also have something that I want."

"Oh?" You say questioningly, a coy note heard in your voice that suggests that you already know what Kiyoomi's suggesting. Osamu lets out a huff of laughter at your charade and Atsumu looks at him with a mortified sort of expression.

"Yes," Kiyoomi continues, then frowns in disapproval. "Kidnapping dear Osamu, I'd like to point out, was really very unnecessary. I'm not sure why you felt the need to do such a thing."

"I don't like to leave things to chance -" you've started to say, but Osamu's angry voice interrupts yours, much to your amusement.

"I'm fine, alright," he scoffs. "Nothing bad's happened to me, so you don't need to look at them like that. And why shouldn't they do something if it means making sure they get what they want?" Kiyoomi, with his everlasting stoicism, merely blinks at the outburst while you and Rintarou sport matching grins. Atsumu, on the other hand, feels like he might be sick, staggering from the sight of his brother, walking and talking and acting like a pirate.

"Well…" Kiyoomi continues. "We've been having problems with pirates - none from your fleet, I've noticed. Every ship plundered and sunk is profit that I'd rather not lose… and every trading ship from a company other than mine that you do sink is business that I'd like to take. I'm sure you see where I'm going with this."

"I do," you nod in affirmation. "Seems a pity that we both have these problems that could so easily be fixed. We ought to do something about that, I'd say."

"You know," Kiyoomi says thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair and sliding a hand comfortingly up Atsumu's thigh where he remains perched on the arm of his husband's seat. "I've never really been interested in selling shares, but if the right offer were to come along…" Atsumu gapes at his husband, grabbing his hand.

"To pirates?" He hisses. Kiyoomi lets his eyes fall onto Osamu, staring at the man as he straightens.

"No," he says easily. "I'd much rather keep it in the family."

"Me?" Osamu blurts out, and Kiyoomi hums and nods in confirmation.

"Well," you drawl, leaning back in your own chair so that you can throw an arm over Osamu's shoulders. "I'm sure we can work something out." Atsumu stands abruptly, stomping out towards the deck and slamming the door behind him. Kiyoomi stares for a moment, a tired sort of look on his face while Osamu twists around to stare at the door.

"So," you continue. "Control over the trading routes."

"And protection for my ships," Kiyoomi finishes.

"Not to mention more firepower than you'd ever need to knock out any competition," Rintarou chimes in. Kiyoomi grins like a shark smelling blood at the comment and you laugh.

"Well, Kiyoomi," you say light-heartedly as the man stands. "I've always thought you made a good businessman." 

As you and Kiyoomi spread various contracts between the two of you, preparing to hash out all of the details, Rintarou nudges Osamu with his elbow.

"Go to Atsumu," he says quietly, making Osamu frown, his heart clenching nervously.

"You don't want me here for this? It'll be my name on the contract," he says, clenching his fists at the whining, desperate note to his own voice.

"Of course, we want you here, pet," Rintarou assures, smoothing a hand over Osamu's hair while you squeeze his knee gently under the table. "But if your brother throws a fit and flings himself overboard I doubt we'll still have a contract to sign. Go, make amends with him. Nothing will be signed until you're ready."

With that, Osamu leaves the three of you to settle things, slipping outside to find his brother. Sure enough, Atsumu is standing by the railing, arms crossed and mouth downturned as he scowls up at the flag flying from your ship. Osamu moves to stand beside him carefully, walking slowly as he looks to his brother. 

"What happened to you?" Atsumu asks harshly. Osamu shrugs a bit.

"I became a pirate?" He offers. Atsumu whirls on him, glaring. 

"I'm not joking, Osamu," he spits. Osamu scoffs and crosses his arms to mirror his brother.

"Well, neither am I, really. I was… I was kidnapped, but it's fine."

"No," says Astumu firmly. "We can fix this, we can take you away, we can -"

"No," Osamu interrupts. "You can't. There's no one, anymore, who can take me away from this. There's no one who gets to choose my life other than me." Atsumu snaps his mouth shut at Osamu's determined words and he steps back from his brother with heartbreak flashing across his face.

"And this… this is what you choose?" he says slowly. "A pirate's life?"

"It's not so different from yours, I'd say," Osamu offers gently. "If you let yourself see that." Atsumu just groans and buries his head in his hands.

"Why couldn't you just stay at home?" His voice is muffled by his palms as Osamu bristles.

"I am home," he says clearly. "I am home now more than I ever was back there. You should know that, Atsumu. That's… that's why you left, isn't it? That's why you went with Kiyoomi? To find a home for yourself?"

"Yes," Atsumu straightens. "But…"

"Do I not deserve to find that for myself?" Osamu asks weakly. His brother sighs wearily, stepping forward to wrap his arms around him and pull him into a hug - the first one shared between the two of them in years.

"Of course you do, 'Samu… I'm sorry," he says softly, an apology carried by the wind between them out to the sea. 

"It's ok," Osamu mumbles against his brother's shoulders, his arms tightening around him. "I'm just glad to see you again." Beyond the two of them, the sun begins to fall lower along the horizon, a shining, orange glow bathing the endless sea in light as it stretches endlessly onward. 

It's agreed, after that, that Kiyoomi's vessel will need protection for the remaining three weeks of its course before it lands in port - and who would be better to provide that protection than you? Osamu's quick to point out that this is the perfect opportunity to solidify the new agreement and Rintarou nearly falls over himself laughing at how quickly you cave. 

"One day," you snap at Rintarou, "he's going to look at you with those eyes and you're going to be the one falling to your knees." But Osamu just giggles gleefully while Atsumu looks on with a hint of satisfied amusement. He's not sure he's ever seen his brother like this, healthy and alive and glowing in the fading sun, standing in front of the endless backdrop of the darkened sea. 

Your grumbling lasts as you stomp back over the gangplank onto your own ship, Rintarou and Osamu trailing after you.

"What are they so impatient for, anyway?" Osamu asks bemusedly.

"It's just that we've been waiting a long time for this," Rintarou explains as he leads the two of them into the cabin, through to the captain's quarters. "We were nothing more than street rats when they first set their eyes on this, working scrubbing decks for nothing other than lodging on ships. It's… it's taken us a long time to get here." 

"I… I had no idea," Osamu says quietly, shifting on his feet as they enter your quarters.

"Well," you drawl as you turn the corner, clearly having heard the conversation. "We can't all grow up in manor houses like you." There's no hint of malice in your voice, though, just the soft cadence of kindness being heard, making Osamu relax.

"It's better this way, anyway," Rintarou soothes, reaching forward to press a kiss to your lips as Osamu looks away awkwardly. "This gives me time to send word to Kita. He'll assemble the fleet and the other captains who still keep to the code. He'll ready the vote." Rintarou's staying close to you as he speaks, pressing little, fluttering kisses across your face while you frown impatiently. Osamu thinks maybe he should just leave, and he spins on his heel several times until he's dizzy and can't trust himself to find the door anymore.

"What if they don't vote for me?" You ask quietly. Rintarou rolls his eyes.

"They'll vote for you, treasure. They'll have to," he assures. You look past him, then, and see Osamu determinedly staring at a blank spot of wall while a blush rages up to his ears. You laugh, of course, reaching part Rintarou to grab onto his wrist and tug him towards you.

He stumbles, making an embarrassing sort of sound as he ends up slamming against you, but the sturdiness of Rintarou on your other side means that there's nowhere for you to fall between the two of them. 

"And you?" you prompt him gently. Osamu just blinks at you.

"Me?"

"What will you do?" You clarify, and Osamu sort of… freezes at that. You'd never really said, he supposes, that he's a part of the crew - that he's welcome to stay on your ship after all this. His heart, sinking rapidly, clenches as he clears his throat and straightens.

"I'll… I guess I'll…" You roll your eyes and grab him by his collar, pulling him against you so that you can kiss him firmly. He makes another one of those embarrassing, needy sounds as he puts his hands on your waist and tightens his grip on you, making you smile against his lips.

When you part, finally, Rintarou is watching eagerly from his place behind you, his arms around your waist and his chin hooked over your shoulder as he eyes Osamu's reddened, kiss-bitten lips and heaving chest. 

"I'm asking you," you say slowly - pointedly. "If you'd like to stay… if you'd like to make a home here."

"I…" Osamu says slowly, eyes flitting between the two of you before he looks out the window, towards the dark, shimmering waters and the endless line of the horizon beyond. "I think I already have." You smile at that, an honest, open sort of thing that Osamu knows is rarely seen from you. The realization has something fluttering in his chest as you take his hand in yours and begin to pull him towards the door that he knows leads to your private room.

When you swing open the door and lead him in, however, you shove a hand out to stop Rintarou from following, pushing his chest away from the doorway.

"You have to send word to Kita," you remind him eagerly, earning a pained look from Rintarou.

"Come on, treasure, please, I will after -" Rintarou's voice is earnest, bordering on desperate as he stares first at you and then over your shoulder at Osamu and the way he's sprawled out on your bed. 

"Just do it quickly," you say as you begin to close the door, one hand still firmly on Rintarou's chest to keep him out. "It's very important to me, you know." And with that, the door is closed, and Rintarou is left to sigh and thump his head against it a couple of times before straightening and spinning on his heel to leave.

In the end, Rintarou has been right once more. Osamu thinks, as he climbs his way up to the crow's nest and eyes the dizzying distance beneath him, that he's not sure the man has ever been wrong. He settles on the wooden platform, his back to the top of the mast as he lets his legs hang off of the edge and looks out towards the rising sun.

The vote, if Osamu could ever call it that, had been unanimous. You'd spent years building this fleet of yours, years earning the fear and respect of the other ships and even the other captains not under your command. When Kita had called for the vote, declaring as the keeper of the code that the title of Pirate Lord had been vacant for too long and that the tides were finally changing, it didn't seem to be any sort of surprise to anyone that it was you who called for the throne.

And so, when you'd walked in, brandishing Kiyoomi's signature and declaring that the one element of the seas that could never be touched, the trading routes, were now under your command, there wasn't much anyone could do but agree. Osamu thought, in that moment, watching you be crowned and the greatest captains pledge their fleets to you, that he'd never seen anyone shine with becoming as much as you did on that day. 

But on the way back onto the ship, he'd caught his slanted reflection in the water below, and thought surely the sun must have been staring back at him with the way he glowed. 

Below him, he hears you shout distantly for him to be careful, but he merely laughs and tips his head back up towards the endless sky that stretches onward. He's climbed this mast a thousand times by now, familiar with it in a way that feels like home. There is no danger that could befall him here, he's sure, no ill will that could catch up to him on the vast, open sea.  Ahead of him, the sun begins to lift, rising towards the sky and stretching out across the endless line of the horizon. He reaches a hand forward, as if he could find the vastness beyond and go further, further, further until all corners of the world have been touched by him. As the sun hits his face and bathes him in a golden glow, he thinks he just might. He thinks that he can't find a better life to call his own.