#& like its nothing new or whatever its just i usually snap out of the weird mental funk far enough from exams to get enough shit in my head

[justice4billiam]

So I know everyone's always talking about nsfw with Billy and that's great but what if a girl just wanted to be his bsf? She (forcefully) move dhim in with her and she gets him Christmas presents, and she bakes and cooks for him and just loves him like soulmates, but not romantically??? You think he'd like this???

Now that I've dumped my Brain on you hi I'm Lillie <3 you don't have tow rite this tysm!

Billy Hargrove x PlatonicFem!reader

Word count: 6,083

Warnings: Nothing too bad. Just Billy being Billy. So, cussing but maybe even a little less of himself actually.

Author’s Note: GURL, I am so sorry. I held onto this for SO long and I didn't mean for it to be over 6k words lmao I am so hard on myself when it comes to writing but I decided to just let it free. Nice to meet you, Lillie. ❤️ I hope you like it.

Platonic Soul...Whatever

“Get in here,” you snapped, yanking your best friend into the living room by the scruff of his jacket.

He’d been holed up in the spare room, hiding out like an antisocial pussycat.

Billy huffed, his eyes rolling, clearly pissed at the night you’d planned. But he kept his mouth shut, letting you drag him in without a fight.

You were in the middle of having a housewarming party for the new apartment you moved into last week and the whole gang was there much to Billy’s dismay.

“What’s going on?” you asked, keeping your voice low to keep it just between you two.

Billy was always weird at the get togethers, but he had been getting better at it. Friendly even. But today he was different. Something was eating at him, and it was worrying you.

“And don’t give me ‘nothing.’ I’m not dumb.” You shot him a look that meant business.

He scrunched up his face, lips pressed tight, and looked at you like he was weighing his words.

“It’s nothing,” he said at last. “Just… the usual crap back home.” He shuffled his feet, looking anywhere but at you.

“Billy…did he—” you started, your eyes scanning him for any sign of trouble.

He shook his head quickly.

“No, not this time. But I gotta head out early tonight, okay?” His blue eyes were hard when he looked at you.

To anyone else, it might look like anger, but you knew it was something else. Sadness. And it looked all kinds of wrong on him.

You wanted to dig deeper, but now wasn’t the time, not with everyone else around.

You gave him another once-over, didn’t see any harm, and nodded.

“Alright, Hargrove.”

He let out a sigh of relief, probably glad he didn’t have to spill it all.

You noticed his hand twitch toward his pocket, then drop. He remembered the no-smoking rule in your place. You couldn’t help but smile.

“Alright,” you said, fixing his jacket and giving him a pat.

“Go have your smoke. When you’re ready, come back in.” You winked, letting him know it was cool.

Billy’s head shake was subtle, his face drawn tight. “But, its colder than balls out there.”

It was early December, and the chill was just setting in—nothing compared to what was coming. But Billy always had a thing against the cold. You almost laughed, suddenly thinking back to last winter when he’d ended up ass-first in a snowbank outside your old place.

The guy never gave a damn about rules, but here he was, actually listening to you for once.

You sighed, half-exasperated, half-resigned.

“Fine, light up in the spare room, but for God’s sake, open the damn window.”

He gave a snort, that smug look taking over.

“Cheers, darlin’. The fine women of Hawkins will be singing your praises for saving my… assets from frostbite.”

Classic Billy, always with a line.

“Ewe, dramatic much?” you muttered, rolling your eyes as you headed for the kitchen.

————

As it grew late, the place began to clear out. Nancy and Jonathan, along with their group, were among the first to leave.

You couldn’t help but feel an excitement for Nancy and Jonathan—they’d just spilled they were heading to Emerson College in Boston after the summer.

Nancy’s grip was firm, her eyes like deep pools in the dim light.

“You sure you won’t come with?” she pressed, searching your face for a sign.

Jonathan was all half-smiles and shrugs as he stepped up beside her.

“We could hide you in a suitcase,” he joked, his arm finding its home around Nancy’s shoulders.

You let out a laugh, a short, sharp sound.

“I’ll stick to my own bed, but thanks,” you shot back, catching Billy’s eye for a moment. He was leaning against the wall, a silent lookout.

You weren’t about to ditch without Billy. He was anchored here until Max was done with high school.

That was the unspoken rule between you two. Max was in the dark, but you and Billy had spent a night diving deep into that conversation—his fears of leaving her to deal with Neil alone.

Billy and Max’s relationship had gotten better since that October at the Byers’.

They still snapped at each other like firecrackers, but that was just their way. You’d grown to love having them around.

Max was like the scrappy little sister you’d picked up along the way.

But Billy was different.

He was your solid ground, your constant. You didn’t need to spell things out for him; he just got it. He could dial down your stress with a glance, and you could temper his anger without a word.

It reminded you of something you’d read in a dog-eared book that you checked out from the library: platonic soulmates.

That was the label for what you had with Billy—no bullshit, no fuss, just an unspoken understanding that ran deep.

Billy scoffed at the soulmate idea, brushing it off as a load of crap. But when the book you’d been quoting mysteriously disappeared after that heart-to-heart, you didn’t need three guesses to know who’d snagged it. You let it slide, settling the library fine without a word. It was a small price to pay for the bond you shared with your so-called platonic soulmate.

“The offer’s open,” Nancy reiterated, her voice trailing off as she and the others made their way out.

Mike and Will managed half-hearted waves from the doorway, while El gave you a tight squeeze around the waist before moving on to Billy.

He tensed up, his eyes darting to you in a silent plea for rescue as El’s arms wrapped around him.

You stifled a chuckle. El was the only one brave enough to tackle Billy with affection.

Maybe it was her history with real monsters that made Billy’s temper seem trivial. Or perhaps it was her upbringing with Hopper, another man known for his temperament.

Billy cleared his throat, a hint of discomfort in his voice.

“Okay, don’t need all that,” he mumbled, gently disentangling himself from El’s embrace and stepping back.

His expression grew even more puzzled when El simply beamed at him.

Max stepped in, her arm around El, guiding her towards the door.

"Yeah, El, don't you know?" Max exclaimed, looking over her shoulder at Billy, mischief twinkling in her eyes.

"He's like the Grinch or whatever." She continued, her hands waving about as they walked to the front door.

"He doesn't want to be hugged and cared for because his heart will grow too big for his body, and if you haven't noticed, he already has to worry about falling over with all that hair on top of his head." Her smirk was infectious.

Billy shot Max a flat, unamused look, but you and Mike couldn’t contain your snorts of laughter, which you tried to mask with a cough as Billy’s gaze turned to you.

El, puzzled, studied Billy’s unruly mane and then glanced at Steve’s voluminous hair in the kitchen.

“I don’t see any problem,” she commented innocently.

‘If anyone should be worried, I think Steve would fall over first.’ She glanced between Max, Mike, and you, her eyes wide with uncertainty.

You rolled your eyes as you watched Billy smile smugly as Steve turned toward them upon hearing his name.

Steve looked over, his eyebrow raised in question.

“What’s this about my hair?” he asked, his hand automatically fluffing his locks.

Mike, clearly over the day, rolled his eyes.

“Let’s go, El,” he said, taking her hand and leading her out after the others.

“See ya,” Will murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he followed behind, giving a small wave to the remaining group before disappearing into the night.

You caught a glimpse of his downcast eyes and wondered what could have made him so down.

Steve exhaled a weary breath, the kind that’s been through too many late nights and too early mornings. “Gotta head out,” he said, a half-hearted grin on his face. “New job at the Hunting & Camping store starts tomorrow morning.”

Your eyes narrowed, a quick glance thrown to Steve, then to Robin, who was playing cards at the kitchen table with Lucas and Dustin.

“What about Family Video?” you asked, your voice edged with a hint of suspicion, but it was Robin you were counting on for the truth.

You also worked at Family Video, but whispers of Steve quitting hadn’t reached your ears.

The thought alone was enough to unsettle you. Work with him was one of the few highlights in a job that could often be boring. You really hoped he wasn’t; you genuinely enjoyed working with your two close friends.

Robin didn’t even look up from her cards.

“Don’t worry, he’s still with us,” she called out, her voice steady over the clatter of the game.

“Royal flush!” She stood up, her shout a victory cry.

“Deal with it, boys!” she taunted, pointing at the boys who just shook their heads in defeat.

Lucas was all frustration and disbelief.

“How does she always pull this off?” he muttered, throwing his hands up in surrender.

Dustin’s chair scraped loudly as he stood, his face a mix of annoyance and admiration.

“She’s got some kind of magic or she’s cheating!” he accused, his finger jabbing in Robin’s direction.

Robin’s laugh was sharp and bright.

“I’m not cheating,” she shot back, her hands on her hips, her stance all defiance. “It’s just you two dinguses can’t play.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of your mouth.

“Take it easy, you three,” you said, the sarcasm dripping from every word.

You turned back to Steve, your expression softening just a bit.

“Two jobs, huh?” you said, the tease clear in your voice. “Looks like Harrington’s playing the adult card now.”

Steve’s smile was a blend of resignation and a challenge.

“Dad’s cut me off,” he admitted, a hard edge to his voice. “All about ‘earning my keep’ now. So, I’m doing it my way.”

You nodded, feeling that familiar tug of empathy.

Your own parents had given you the boot when you ditched the college route. They couldn’t wrap their heads around why you’d stick around this nowhere town.

Your fingers twisted together, the old sting of ‘failure’ creeping back up. But then there was Billy, his hand finding yours, giving it a reassuring squeeze. It was his silent way of saying, “We’ve got this.”

You looked up, catching Billy’s eyes. They were a clear, steady blue, like the sky after a storm. His smile was quick, a silent conversation passing between you two without a word.

“Well, anyway…” Steve’s voice broke through as everyone started to pick up their stuff.

The goodbyes were thrown around, even Billy’s nod to Steve was surprisingly chill, a small sign that maybe, just maybe, there was some common ground to be found. You clung to that hope, that small nod, as the night came to an end.

After the rest left through the front door, you caught Steve’s arm before he could leave.

“Hey, I gotta tell you, I’m really proud of you,” you said, your voice carrying the weight of genuine respect.

“It’s tough, starting new,” you added, a glance at the nearly empty space to signify you really did get it.

Steve’s smile was quick and sincere.

“Thanks, Y/n. Means a lot, you know? And hey, we’re overdue for that movie night,” he suggested with a playful wink, pulling his jacket closer as a cold draft slipped through the open door.

Your eyes fell on the new TV, with its built-in VHS player—Steve’s housewarming gift to you.

It was a generous thought, but it felt like too much. You’d insisted he take it back, but the bulky set remained, a silent testament to Steve’s stubbornness. He’d assured you it was no big deal, that it was better off here, getting some use.

You acknowledged his gesture with a nod, your face stoic but your eyes hinting at a silent vow to make the most of his gift with endless movie nights.

As Steve’s grin widened, he stepped out into the night, his laughter blending with the voices of Robin, Dustin, and Lucas as they disappeared down the street. You watched from the doorway, the figures of your friends growing smaller in the distance.

Billy’s voice cut in from behind, a dismissive edge to his tone. “Count me out for movie night.”

You turned, a smirk playing on your lips.

“Too bad, Billy,” you retorted, the playful challenge clear in your voice. “You’re coming, whether you like it or not.”

He was about to argue when Max’s anxious voice interrupted.

“We should go too,” she said, her eyes darting around, signaling something was wrong.

A wave of concern washed over you.

“What’s the rush?” you asked, your voice laced with worry. “It’s not even eight.”

Billy’s curfew was a constant shadow, ten o’clock sharp, a little later if Max was with him. You knew the rules too well, had seen the consequences on his skin—bruises and cuts he’d dismiss with a hollow laugh.

But there was that one night, the truth spilling out in the dark, his voice a low rumble at your window. “My dad,” he’d said, the words heavy with unspoken pain.

“Max, get your coat,” Billy’s voice was tight as he flung the door open again. He pulled out his cigarettes, his movements tense.

His hands shook as he tried to light one, and you stepped in, your hand steady, lighting it for him.

“Billy,” you said, your voice low, “everything alright?”

He glanced away, then back at you, a forced smirk on his face.

“Just gotta be home early,” he lied, smoke trailing from his lips.

You nodded, the unspoken words hanging heavy.

“If you need anything…”

He gave a small nod, a silent understanding.

“I know. See you later,” he said, and then he was gone, his figure blending into the night, Max following close behind.

You closed the door, the silence of the apartment heavy around you.

In the quiet, you made a silent vow to always be there for Billy, to stand by him as you had that night he confessed. It was a promise made without words, one you intended to keep.

————

The clock’s red glare read 1:27 a.m., the only light in the otherwise dark room.

The soft creak of the door was like a whisper, but it jolted you awake.

Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you sat up, squinting into the darkness.

The light from the hallway cut a sharp outline around a familiar figure—Billy, the only other person with a key to your place.

“Billy?” Your voice was thick, still wrapped in the remnants of sleep.

As your hand reached out for the lamp, his figure moved closer, a shadow in the half-light.

“Don’t,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble, and his hand was on yours, guiding it away from the lamp. His touch was cold, sending a shiver up your arm.

“Are you okay?” The words were barely a whisper, concern threading through them as you climbed out of bed, reaching into the darkness towards him.

He sniffed, a sound so faint you might have missed it if the room wasn’t so deathly quiet.

“I’m…” he started, his voice barely there, then clearer, “No.” It was a stark admission, cutting through the silence.

“Oh, Bill…” you breathed out, your arms finding their way around his rigid form. Your hands rested gently on his neck, and you felt him lean into the embrace, his own arms wrapping around you.

A shuddering breath escaped him, betraying the facade of control he always tried to maintain. His head rested heavily on your shoulder, and you could feel the tension in his body beginning to unravel.

The silence was broken only by his occasional shivers, and you felt the dampness on your shirt where his tears had soaked through.

“We’ll get this sorted,” you said, trying to infuse your voice with confidence as you reached out to touch his cheek.

But he pulled back sharply, a quick intake of breath hissing through clenched teeth.

You flicked on the light, and the room was suddenly too bright, too real.

The sight made you pause—a large, open cut above his eye, blood running down, sticking to his lashes, pooling around his now swollen-shut eye.

He raised his hand, a silent plea for patience.

“It looks worse than it actually is,” he insisted, his voice strained. You noticed his lip, swollen and split, distorting his words.

You stood there, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

This was more than just a late-night visit; it was a cry for help. And you were determined to answer it.

“Let’s clean you up,” you said firmly, ready to do whatever it took to help your friend.

“We’ll figure out the rest after.” The promise was unspoken but as solid as the ground beneath your feet. You were in this together, no matter what.

Billy’s nod, small and pained, told you he understood.

After the long, meticulous process of cleaning him up with the first aid kit, the two of you now sat at the dining table, the silence filled with the soft clinks of the kit being put away.

The tension had eased somewhat, replaced by the quiet understanding that always seemed to exist between you two.

Billy’s face, now cleaned of blood, showed the stark reality of his life at home, but here, in the safety of your apartment, he allowed himself a moment of vulnerability.

You were just about to speak when an urgent knocking on your door cut through the stillness.

You exchanged a puzzled look with him before you got up to answer it, Billy close behind you as you did.

Max stood there, her eyes wide with concern.

“I had to make sure he was okay,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Billy’s expression hardened for a moment.

“What the hell are you doing out so late, Max?” he asked, his tone a mix of anger and concern.

Max’s gaze flickered to you before settling back on Billy.

“I couldn’t sleep not knowing if you were… if you were safe,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

You stepped aside, letting her in, and she moved directly to Billy, her small hand reaching out to touch his arm gently.

Billy’s initial irritation faded as he looked at his sister, his eyes softening.

“I’m here, I’m okay,” he reassured her, his voice more gentle than you’d heard in a long time.

The three of you sat around the table, a makeshift family in the middle of the night, bound together.

You watched them, the siblings who had been through so much, and felt a fierce protectiveness rise within you.

“We’re going to figure this out,” you said, your voice firm, catching both their gazes. “Billy’s staying here now. He’s not going back to that house.”

Max’s eyes filled with tears, but she nodded, a look of relief passing over her face.

Billy just sat there, his eyes on the tabletop, his jaw clenched.

You knew he was wrestling with the decision, the weight of years of abuse and control not something he could shrug off easily.

But you also knew that this was the only way forward.

“You’re safe here, Billy. This is your home now,” you said, reaching across the table to place your hand over his. “We’re in this together.”

Billy looked up, his blue eyes meeting yours, and in them, you saw the flicker of hope that had been absent for so long.

He nodded, a silent acceptance of the new reality.

Max stayed for a while longer, until her eyes grew heavy with sleep, and you set up the couch for her to crash on.

As you turned off the lights and headed back to your room, Billy followed.

The room was silent, the kind of quiet that feels heavy, almost tangible.

Billy lay beside you, his body a rigid line of tension and unspoken pain. The darkness seemed to press in closer as he hesitated, then spoke into the void between you.

“Are you sure about this?” His voice was a low rumble, barely more than a breath. “Me living here… and Max. What if something happens when I’m not there?”

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, you let the silence answer. You thought about the weight of his words, the gravity of the decision he was facing. It wasn’t just about him; it was about Max, too, about breaking away from the life he knew, no matter how broken it was.

“I’m sure,” you finally said, your voice a soft but firm counterpoint to the darkness. “You can’t keep putting yourself through hell. And Max… she’s safer with us than she is in that house.”

He was silent, and you imagined you could hear the cogs turning in his head, weighing your words against his own fears and doubts.

“And what about Neil?” His question was a whisper, but it might as well have been a shout in the stillness of the room.

You took a deep breath, feeling the resolve settle in your bones.

“We’ll deal with Neil if we have to. But you… you need to be safe first. We both know if you stay there, it’s only going to get worse.”

Billy shifted beside you, a rustle of movement in the dark. “I just… I don’t want to leave her alone with him.”

“Max won’t be alone. She’s got us, and she’s got you. And she’s always welcome here, anytime. This place is as much a home for her as it is for you.”

There was a long pause, and you felt the moment stretch out, a bridge spanning the gap between fear and hope.

“Okay,” he said at last, the word a small surrender to the inevitable. “Okay.”

You reached out, finding his hand in the darkness, and squeezed it. It was a promise, a vow made without words, that you’d stand by him, come what may.

The night deepened around you, but in that shared silence, a new understanding was forged. You and Billy, against whatever the world might throw your way. Together. And that was enough. For now, it had to be.

————

Your apartment was filled with holiday atmosphere, the first true place you both made your own. The smell of pine mixed with the smell of pasta sauce that was cooking, a new recipe you were trying out in hopes it would become an annual thing.

Christmas was right around the corner, and the excitement was as heavy as the garland hanging on the walls.

Billy was due back any minute from his second job at the auto shop, a position he’d taken up since moving in. The days were long, and the work was hard, but Billy told you he enjoyed the job. That was all that mattered, you supposed.

You had the day off and had spent it transforming the apartment to feel more festive.

Billy’s arrival was indicated by the sound of the door swinging open, his frame filling the entryway as he stepped in from the cold. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the festive transformation with a raised eyebrow.

“You’ve been busy,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips as he shrugged off his jacket, revealing the smudges of grease on his forearms.

“Yeah, but I left the tree for us to do,” you said, gesturing towards the undecorated tree standing in the corner.

He grunted in acknowledgment, a sound that was almost a laugh, and headed for the shower, leaving heavy footprints in his wake. You seized the moment to call Max, knowing she’d jump at the chance to join in.

When we finally sat down for dinner, the table was like a little patch of food surrounded by all the crazy decorations.

Billy’s first bite was met with a nod of approval.

“This is way better than Susan’s cooking,” he declared, the corners of his mouth turning up as he chewed.

Max chimed in, her voice muffled by a mouthful of pasta, “Yeah, beats the hell out of it.”

“If you keep cooking like this, I’m gonna end up fat,” Billy joked, patting his stomach, though his tone suggested he wouldn’t mind that outcome.

“That’s what the exercise equipment’s for,” you quipped, pointing towards the hulking mass of different metals that dominated half the living room.

When Billy first lugged his gym gear into the apartment, neither of you had really thought through where all of it would go.

The living room quickly became a makeshift gym, with dumbbells, a bench, a barbell, and weight plates claiming their spots among the furniture. It was a bit of a mess, but it was a lived-in mess, a sign of life happening in real-time.

You didn’t mind, though. In fact, you found a certain charm in the chaos. With the holidays approaching, you got creative, weaving tinsel and garland through the iron grips of the weights and draping festive cheer over the cold steel of the barbell. It was an odd juxtaposition, sure, but it worked. The living room was transformed into a space that was uniquely ‘you and Billy’—a little rough around the edges, but full of heart.

After dinner, the three of you approached the tree. Billy picked up an ornament, examining it with a critical eye before hanging it on a sturdy branch.

“Never had much use for these things,” he said, his voice betraying a hint of nostalgia he’d never admit to.

Max laughed, reaching for a trinket. “Come on, it’s not so bad. Looks good, even.”

The evening wore on, filled with the clinking of ornaments and the occasional deep chuckle from Billy as he recounted stories from last year’s Christmas you all celebrated together then too.

You noticed the way his eyes softened when he looked at the tree, the way his rough exterior gave way to a quiet appreciation for the moment.

It was a simple night, but it was laced with the promise of many more to come.

As you all stepped back to admire the now-decorated tree, Billy’s arm brushed against yours, a silent acknowledgment of the shared experience.

“Not bad for our first tree,” he said, and you could hear the unspoken thanks in his voice.

————

The oven’s chime signaled the cookies were ready, a sweet aroma mingling with the crisp winter air that Billy let in each time he cracked the door for a smoke.

He stood in the doorway, a barbell in hand, half-watching the MTV countdown, half-engrossed in his workout.

“You’re letting in a draft,” you said, pulling the cookies out and setting them on the stove.

Billy took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke swirling around him. “Well, if someone would let me smoke inside…”

With a playful roll of your eyes, you walked over to him.

“You know the rules,” you reminded him, standing close enough to feel the cold air he was letting in. “Besides, I don’t want our cookies tasting like smoke.”

He chuckled, the sound deep and warm.

“Wouldn’t want that,” he mockingly conceded, taking one last drag before you nudged him out the door with a laugh, quickly shutting it behind him to keep the warmth in.

You darted away, but Billy was quick, shoving the door open and dropping the barbell with a thud as he chased after you.

His laughter mixed with yours as you ran down the hallway, the playful chase a familiar dance between you two.

You ducked into his room, thinking you’d won, but a misstep had you tripping over something unexpected. Both of you tumbled to the floor, a mess of limbs and uncontrollable laughter.

“Clutz,” Billy teased, but there was no heat in it, just the warm humor that had become a staple of your interactions.

“It’s not my fault, it’s this—” you protested, sitting up to see what had tripped you. In your hand was the missing book, Platonic Soulmates. You turned to him with a triumphant smirk.

“I knew it!” you exclaimed. “You did take it!”

Billy scoffed, trying to maintain his innocent facade.

“Must’ve gotten mixed up with your stuff,” he said, but the sheepish look in his eyes betrayed him.

You shook your head, the smile on your face impossible to contain. Billy sighed, rolling his eyes in mock annoyance.

“Alright, maybe… maybe we’re like platonic… soul… whatever,” he grumbled, finally admitting to the bond you both knew was there.

The laughter had died down, leaving a comfortable silence in its wake. You both lay on the floor, the carpet’s coarse fibers imprinting on your skin.

Billy stretched out beside you, his presence a solid comfort as you both stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

The world outside seemed to fade into insignificance, leaving just the two of you in a bubble of tranquility. It was a rare moment of stillness for Billy.

Then, his voice broke the silence, soft yet carrying a weight that filled the room. “Thank you.”

You turned to look at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. “For what?” you asked, genuinely curious.

Billy’s voice was gruff, a stark contrast to the softness of the moment.

“Thanks for stickin’ around,” he said, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as if he was addressing the room rather than you.

“Seems like everyone’s always after something. Neil… he wanted me to fall in line. People at school just wanted to ride the wave of whatever popularity I had. And the girls, well, they didn’t look much past the surface, did they? But you… you’re different. You never wanted anything but to hang out. That means something. So, yeah… thanks.”

Billy’s words hung in the air, raw and unfiltered. They settled around you, heavy with the weight of a life that hadn’t been kind. You felt a surge of something fierce and protective, a sadness for the battles he’d fought alone.

“You don’t owe me thanks, Billy. That’s what friends do,” you said, your voice low and steady, cutting through the emotional fog.

Billy’s gaze met yours, a silent conversation passing between you. His eyes, a clear blue that had seen too much, held a gratitude that was raw and real.

You both took a moment, a silent acknowledgment of the weight of his words. It was a pause that said everything without a single word spoken.

“You’ve got me, no matter what,” you said, the promise as solid as the ground beneath you.

After a deep breath, you stood up, offering Billy a hand.

“Come on, I baked you cookies,” you said, a gentle nudge towards the simplicity of everyday life.

Billy took your hand, rising to his feet.

“Alright,” he conceded, a hint of a smile on his face. He paused, a playful challenge in his eyes.

“So, about smoking in the house—”

“Nope,” you cut him off with a chuckle, already heading to the kitchen. “Not happening, Hargrove.”

He followed, his chuckle a low rumble that filled the room.

“Worth a try,” he said, the mischief still alive in his voice.

————

Christmas morning broke with a spirited truth that no holiday movie could capture.

The apartment was quiet, except for the soft hum of the heater and the distant sounds of the outside world waking up.

You were determined to share this moment with Billy, to give him a taste of something genuine and heartfelt before the chaos of the party preparations began.

You found Billy still buried under his blankets, his room a stubborn sanctuary of everyday life among the holiday transformation of the rest of the apartment.

“Billy, come on. Just one present before we start the day,” you insisted, your voice cutting through the silence as you tugged at his arm.

His response was a gruff murmur, an indication to his dislike to mornings.

After a bit of coaxing, he relented and followed you into the living room, his body language a silent complaint against the cold that greeted his bare skin.

The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of Christmas lights, the tree standing like a flare of the season’s good spirits.

Billy, hair tousled and eyes half-closed, slumped onto the couch, clad only in his red plaid sleep pants.

You joined him, draping a throw blanket over both of you to fend off the chill. Then, with a gentle motion, you placed a small, wrapped gift onto his lap.

He eyed the present with a mix of curiosity and a hint of that guarded look he always had.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said, his voice still rough with sleep.

“Of course I did. You’re my best friend,” you replied, watching as he unwrapped the gift with hands that were more used to handling tools than delicate wrapping paper.

The keychain, a small silver house, caught the light as he held it up. It was a simple thing, but it was heavy with meaning.

“It represents us finding our place. Our home,” you explained, your voice low but clear in the quiet of the room.

Billy was silent for a long moment, the keychain turning slowly in his hand.

“I’ve never really had something like this,” he admitted, his voice a low rumble. “A place that actually feels like home.”

You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through you.

“Well, you do now. And we’re going to make sure it’s a damn good one.”

Billy’s smile was a rare sight, his brows furrowing as if he wasn’t quite sure how to handle the softer emotions.

He stood up, the blanket falling to the side, and shuffled out of the room with a gruff, “Hang on.”

You watched, curious and touched, as he disappeared down the hall. Moments later, he returned, something concealed in his hand.

“Got something for you,” he said, his voice rough around the edges.

“What is it?” you asked, leaning forward with interest as he sat down across from you.

“Just… give me your hand,” Billy instructed, his usual brass demeanor faltering slightly.

You complied, placing your hand in his, feeling the calluses on his palm—a testament to his hard work.

“Close your eyes,” he added, a hint of command still in his voice.

You rolled your eyes but did as told, a smile on your face. “Always so dramatic,” you teased.

There was a pause, and then Billy’s voice, softer now, “Alright, open.”

When you opened your eyes, you were met with the sight of a bracelet made of sea glass on your wrist. The colors were a myriad of blues and greens, like the ocean he so loved.

“You made this?” you gasped, your eyes lifting to meet his. He looked back at you, a mix of pride and something similar to vulnerability.

“It’s from that beach in California I told you about,” he explained, his fingers gently turning the bracelet on your wrist.

“That place was my escape, you know? And now, well, you’re kinda like that for me here.”

You sat up, touched by his words and the sentiment behind the gift. “Thank you, Billy. This means a lot.”

He shrugged, the corners of his mouth twitching up in a half-smile.

“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it,” he joked, but you could tell he was pleased.

In response, you reached out and pulled him into a hug, a gesture that spoke volumes more than words ever could. It was a thank you, a promise, and an acknowledgment of everything you’d been through together.

“Now come on, get ready,” you said, standing up and pulling him to his feet. “You’re helping me with the Christmas party food, whether you like it or not.”

Billy grumbled, a mock scowl forming on his face.

“You just like bossing me around,” he said, but there was no real annoyance in his voice, just the comfortable banter that had become the foundation of your friendship.

“Don’t be ungrateful,” you laughed, giving his arm a playful swat.

Billy’s laughter, deep and genuine, filled the room.

It was moments like these that reminded you why being Billy’s friend was worth every second.

[raineandsky]

#84

There’s been a new series of attacks on the city. Nothing that anyone can blame on current villains, no—this is the work of someone new. Someone crueller than the rest.

The hero can’t catch them. No one knows why. The hero always shrugs and promises to try harder when people ask. No one knows. No one can know.

A building blows up, the hero gets called in, she’s always too late. The superhero is slowly losing patience, but appearances matter—the hero always throws them her best winning smile with a pledge to bring the fist of justice down on the vigilante, and her word on it seems to calm them down a little.

Easy. Keep up appearances. Stay alert. Don’t get caught.

This is the hero’s mantra that she always repeats to herself, minutes before she gets her inevitable call to the crime scene. 

Keep up appearances. With a flick of her wrist a match lights, pushing the gloom back slightly. Stay alert. She carefully holds it to a long fuse at her feet. Don’t get caught. The light sparks, and the hero starts to make her getaway before the bomb sets off and the building collapses on her. She sets her stopwatch—three minutes. Okay.

Across the hall. Downstairs. To the main door and out—

“Fancy seeing you here.”

The hero whips back, with barely contained horror, to face the villain, leaning against a doorframe and smirking at the hero like he knows something. The hero’s insides twist nervously at the expression. “Didn’t take you for a derelict building kind of gal,” he continues casually.

“All the city is under my watch,” she snaps a little too quickly. “Derelict buildings are in my care, too, just as much as the populated ones are.”

The hero can hear the hissing of the fuse upstairs, even from here. The villain can too, from the way he tilts his head thoughtfully. Or maybe she’s imagining things and he can’t hear a thing.

She moves to get past the villain. He leans across the doorway as if that can truly stop her. It wouldn’t, but catching the villain in an about-to-be-blown-up building was not part of the plan. She fixes him with a hard glare instead. “I suggest you move,” she spits, but the villain only laughs.

“What, no time for a dance with your favourite criminal?”

He holds his hands out to her like he’s serious but she bats him away. “Leave, [Villain],” she demands, praying it sounds more like a command than a warning. “You shouldn’t be here.”

She shoves past him and he thankfully moves this time, stumbling back into the doorframe as she skirts around him. He follows her as she lets herself out the main door, and she’s distantly thankful that he’s so persistent. 

“And you should?” the villain snaps harshly. “The agency sends its finest out to wander about buildings five seconds from collapsing?”

The hero would laugh at the irony if she wasn’t so worried about how close they are to the door and how short that fuse surely is by now. She turns to him and hopes her usual heroic smugness is sitting in its place.

“If you want to dance,” she says, quicker than can be played off as smooth, “we can do it where everyone can watch.”

She turns to run but the villain catches her arm, uncharacteristic concern etched into this expression. “What’s going on with you?” he asks softly. “You’re acting weird.”

Fuck, he knows. He’s going to carefully pry a confession out of her like he’s the good guy. Okay, I’m the big scary villain everyone’s looking for! I’m the one bringing the city to its knees! Then the villain will arrest her or some shit. He’s an undercover hero. He’s– he’s going to tell the superhero, her life is over. He knows, he knows he knows he knows—

The hero’s stopwatch beeps cheerfully from her pocket, and before she can think what she’s doing she tackles the villain to the floor.

Whatever noise of surprise the villain made at the contact is lost to the deafening boom of the bomb erupting, gutting the building without a care. She can’t see it—doesn’t want to, not really—but the debris scatters across the street like a taste of the carnage behind her. She can see some of the disaster in the reflection of the villain’s widened, startled eyes—fire, smoke, and merciless, cold-hearted destruction.

The villain finally manages to tear his gaze from the mutilated remains of the building and back to the hero. She can’t meet his eye. He knows. There’s no doubt he does. She stares at where concrete is jabbing into her palms instead.

“Did you just save my life?“ His question almost sounds offended. The hero almost laughs at the unexpectedness of it.

“You’re welcome.”

His gaze flits back to the building crumbling over the hero’s shoulder. “You—” His voice catches on nerves. She’s never seen him actually scared of her before. “You did that. You’ve done all of them.”

No point in lying anymore. “I have to do a lot to get the agency’s attention nowadays.”

Something pulls at the corner of the villain’s lips, and it takes her a moment to realise that it’s a smile. Unabashed, delighted, like he’s just stumbled across a pile of gold.

“You’re on the wrong team,” he says. “There’s a place for someone like you with us.”

And, to be honest, the hero knows he’s right.

[marlboroenjoyer]

let me show you my thanks

so here is part two to 'cat got your tongue' i love miguel and i dunno maybe this was ooc but its my first smut fic with him be gentle. also i tried desperately to get like actually grammatically correct and normal sounding spanish from a bunch of different websites; so i really apologize in advance if it sounds disjointed or weird. im a patehtic monolingual individual :(.

summary [2.9k words] - you took an unannounced break from the spider-society after the fiasco that was your last meeting with miguel. he wants to show you just how thankful he is for you.

warnings - 18+ (if you're a minor and i see you interacting with my stuff you're getting blocked). SHARP TEETH BABY RAAAAHHHHHHHHH, inappropriate use of venom, slight degredation if you squint.. nsfw under the cut!

you were on autopilot for the next few days after your conversation? argument? with miguel. you were home in your own universe; you had shucked the gizmo off your wrist the second your feet landed in your small apartment. you didn’t even want to think about miguel let alone get contacted by the man so you shed your brain of anything involving hq. the days consisted of bouncing between your mattress and your desktop, occasionally fighting whatever enemy decided to break your peace. it was nice to fall back into your once usual routine before your discovery of the spider-society. and it was even nicer to finally have a little peace of mind. not thinking about miguel had made everything a little easier.

you weren't worried about his reactions to anything. you weren't concerned about his hair trigger temper; about whether or not something you said would set him off. there was the smallest licks of anxiety in the back of your mind as the radio silence was unnerving to a degree, you had grown accustomed to hearing lylas cheerful voice break into your mind. it was easy to shake those feelings though; spending the mostly quiet evenings catching up on shows or games you just simply hadn’t had to time for anymore. 

it had been storming all day, and you had found out after talking with other spider-people, that you had gotten quite lucky with your version of new york. the storms never pulled more trouble out of the damp dark cracks of the city, if anything it deterred them. the city life was hushed by the gray gloomy skies spitting fat raindrops at your window. you felt something ping up your spine as you were sitting at your desktop. it wasn’t the same feeling you got when you sensed some form of danger; this surge of nerves was telling you something was off today. before you could even get up from your desk chair, a large orange spiral of energy tore into your dimension; and out popped the looming man you were trying to avoid.

“you took your bracelet off.” there was an edge to his voice; something unknown on the cusp, threatening to fall out and into your lap. you didn’t dignify his statement with a response. you didn’t owe any responses to miguel. so you just stared at him in the silence of your apartment; his vivid eyes searching you for anything; and after a few more moments of silence he decided to continue talking.

“we’ve– i’ve– been trying to contact you.” another long beat. “you had duties to fulfill. you’ve been holed up in your dimension while i thought– lo que sea…”[1] his mouth snapped shut before he finished his sentence, cutting himself off before giving an exasperated sigh. his hands rubbed down his face, before revealing his eyes which were intensely trained on you. your expression gave nothing away, you were just going to stand aside and watch him fight with himself inside his head; or maybe he’d even just give up and leave. part of you hoped for the latter, but you also wanted him to finally be able to figure out how to speak to you.

“listen. i understand you were, shit probably still are, angry about how i reacted.” his words for grating against his clenched teeth and set jaw. clearly this was very difficult. “but i didn’t know how to react to the fact that you were a breath away from meeting death. i had come to terms with death a very long time ago. but i don’t know if i’d be able to get over it, if you died.” you continued to let him speak, watching him as he chewed on the words and mulled them over in his head. 

“you are so fucking annoying sometimes, but you are so lovely and you’re so soft. and i know you can hold you own but you…” you could practically see steam coming from his ears, as the cogs in his brain turned away trying his best to figure out how to express his thoughts. he stopped talking for a moment as he approached you slowly. “tenía tanto miedo que sentí ganas de vomitar.”[2] his voice was a fraction of the volume it once was. his hands gently grabbed yours.

“i’m sorry i was…more or less a dick. you didn’t deserve that, especially after you saved my skin. quería… darte las gracias por salvarme la vida.”[3] his eyes bore into your own. now you were genuinely speechless, and not just holding out due to spite. thankfully your body acted for you, reaching forward and wrapping your arms around miguel’s strong abdomen. you let your head rest against his chest and you waited for his reaction. after a few beats his arms wrapped around your frame. his head ducked down to tuck into the crook of your neck.

you whispered out a thank you, to which you felt a quick puff of air escape miguel’s nose. he couldn’t understand why you were thanking him. you pulled your arms back and over his shoulder, gently grabbing a handful of his dark hair and pulling his head back up to look at you. before he could say anything you lightly placed your lips onto his in a timid kiss. an action so tender and so soft, it managed to shatter miguel's heart and rebuild it anew. it took less than a second for miguel to kiss you back. immediately the atmosphere changed, electricity surging through the both of you as miguel deepened the kiss. his hands skated around your body, kneading the flesh underneath his fingers whenever he paused his ministrations.

your hands were still occupied with fists fulls of his hair, and you took that as an opportunity to tug on his hair as you two made out. his mouth pulled away from yours for the briefest moment; allowing himself to let out a breathy groan. his hands planted themselves firmly on your ass, squeezing hard making you yelp. as you both made out, he was backing you up into the wall; and before you even realized your back was pressed flat against the wall. his knee immediately slid between your thighs, slotting right between them as if you were made to fit against each other. 

his thigh pressed hard against your core, and you let out a stuttering gasp at the pressure. he gradually took hold of all of your senses. he was becoming overwhelming. you gently pushed against his chest, humming against his lip as his tongue continued to play with your bottom lip. he pulled his head away after a few more moments, almost irritated by the prospect of leaving your lips for more than thirty seconds.

“what’s wrong mi amor?” his voice had dropped a couple of octaves. his eyebrows furrowed as he looked down at you. “are you still hurt?” you shook your head in response. he had backed up enough to let you slip out from between him and the wall. you grabbed his hand and led him to your bedroom. the whole apartment was dark aside from the dim lamps you had lit scattered around the few rooms. you could hear the rain still colliding with the glass of your window, however that was mostly drowned out by the pounding of your heart. you swore miguel could hear it as well, which only made matters worse.

you had merely dreamed of scenarios similar to these, never once thinking they could actually become real. some section of your brain wondered if you were passed out in bed already. sure you and miguel were amicable with each other, but he was such a shut off man that you were never really able to characterize what you were to him; and vice versa.

the end of your bed came in contact with your calves, and miguel pushed you down onto it. you landed with a quite huff, while the realization of what was going to happen tonight dawned on you. miguel must’ve seen the deer in headlights look on your face, as he leaned down with his hands bracing himself on either side of your shoulders.

“i want to show you just how grateful i am for what u did for me… only if you allow me.” his face was nothing but completely genuine, giving you a way to say no to all of this if you really wanted to. you didn’t say anything in response, you merely wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him back down into a much more heated kiss. miguel groaned low in his throat at the feeling of you yanking him down. unfortunately for you though, he started pulling away, instead standing upright once more to take on his suit. with a quick shrug of his shoulders his chest was exposed, suit still sitting low on his hip. not like it was hiding anything from you. you could clearly see the line of his hard dick straining against this unstable molecular prison.

“baby, if you want this to keep going… im gonna have to hear you say it.” the corners of his mouth were tugged upwards in a sly smirk. he wanted nothing more than to hear you say how much you wanted him at this moment. fuck he felt his cock jump at the mere thought of your plush lips opening to beg for him. he watched as you opened and closed your mouth a few times, observing the way your struggled with vocalizing your thoughts.

“miguel…” your voice was a pathetic whimper, and you squeezed your thighs together to alleviate your desperation. miguel’s practically rolled back into his skull, hearing you say his name like that– his big hand gripped your knees which had been brought up to your chest, his talons threatening to spring out and dig into your soft skin.

“say it baby. i gotta hear you say it.” he edged you on, his erection now pressed firmly against your ass as encouragement.

“miguel please… i need you so bad. dreamt about this moment.” your confession felt like a swift quick to the chest, successfully ridding his lungs of any oxygen. you’d dreamt about this before. how could he hold back now.

“dios mío… siento que un día me vas a matar.”[4] his voice was a mere growl at this point, his jaw clenched as he stared down at you. “tell me, what exactly have you dreamt about?” he shifted you further up onto the mattress, giving him the opportunity to box you in with his huge frame. embarrassment was licking at your subconscious like flames, making your whole body get swelteringly hot. but there was something in miguel’s expression that egged you on. you felt like you were going to die if you didn’t tell him.

“i think about your teeth…a lot… recently i’ve found myself– ugh this is so…” you covered your face with your hands before continuing on. “i think about you biting me…again i guess… i think about your venom.” you just never ceased with rendering miguel speechless, he guessed it was just one of your many talents at this point.

you were starting to get nervous about your confession. miguel hadn’t responded yet, but before you could get too into your own head you felt his lips ghost over you neck; right across the spot he bit you the first time. your breath hitched in your throat, and you involuntarily whimpered.

“you’ve really gotta trust me if you want that. you’d give everything up to me.” you only nodded your head. you trusted him; in all honesty you think you trusted him more than almost anyone in the society. you heard him click his tongue sharply.

“what did i say earlier? if you want this i gotta hear you say it.” you felt his breath fan over your neck, as he peppered small kisses all over it and your chest. you had wrapped your legs around his waist, and he was very gently grinding down into you. gentle vibrations wracked their way through your entire body causing small gasps and whimpers to come spilling from your kiss swollen lips.

“please miguel… i surrender everything to you. i trust you.” that was all he needed to hear before he bit down into your trapezius muscle, just like before. only this time you were much more aware of the effects now. he stayed like that for a couple seconds longer, before detaching from your neck and licking away the blood from the wound. slowly but surely you felt all motor functions slip from your body. you were overcome with this euphoric dullness, you felt like you were floating. while you slowly felt all control drain from your body, miguel was making quick work of your clothes, sharp claws slicing through your shorts and shirt like it was nothing. he whispered promises of new clothes as he continued with your bra and panties.

“how are you feeling mi amor? can you speak at all?” you acknowledged miguel’s questions with a quiet moan. as much as he wanted to take his time with you, work you up before tearing everything back down; he knew he had very little patience left, and limited time to work with the venom. your metabolism was extremely fast in comparison to the usual suspects he would subject his venom to, so he had much less time to keep you in this dreamy haze. he wanted to make sure the only word you could think of was his name.

the rest of his spider suit disappeared into nothing as he positioned you. you legs had fallen from his waist a little while ago when you first started feeling the venom, so he flipped you over onto your stomach. he arms wrapped underneath your hips to hoist you up so your ass was in the air, with your back arched and chest pressed into the mattress beneath you. he knew he was going to warm you up. miguel hasn’t exactly had many partners as of late but he was aware of his size. one of his hands found its way to your pussy, his other hand bracing your hip and keeping you steady. his fingers rubbing gentle circles into your clit. hazy pleasure rolled through you, like waves lapping at the shore. long strung out moans clawed their way up your throat; spurring miguel on. his fingers had moved from your clit, moving deeper in as they breached your hole. a deep groan echoed through to room.

“christ you’re so fucking wet. such a slut, ready to give up any control.” god his dick was painfully hard now. pulsing steadily every few seconds, weeping precum and begging to be buried deep in your hot cunt. he felt your walls flutter and clench when he degraded you, and he filed that information deep into his brain. his fingers were so overwhelming through the fog that settled inside your skull. your breaths had become erratic, chest rising and falling to desperately take in air. you moans were cracking, as miguel fully rammed three fingers in and out of you.

“i hear you baby, i hear you. im gonna take care of you.” he curled his fingers in search of that one spot that would make you see stars. it didn’t take long for him to find it as your volume increased even more. 

“m-mig…” you desperately tried to form words; to warn miguel of your rapidly approaching orgasm. you were fighting against the paralysis and the overwhelming floating feeling. your pussy clenched down tight against miguel’s fingers, a sudden wetness coating most of his hand. he pumped his fingers a couple more times as he worked you through your orgasm. once your breathing settled a little he gently took his fingers out of you. he took his fingers into his mouth, grunting as your taste flooded his taste buds. 

his patience had thoroughly snapped, two iron grips digging into your hips as he lined himself up with your aching pussy. he steadily began to push himself into you, breath getting punched out of him with every inch your hot walls enveloped. once he finally bottomed out, you both needed time to catch your breath. you were so full of him and you finally felt complete. the only thing you could think about was miguel. no amount of time could have prepared you for miguel to start moving. he immediately set a brutal pace, the sounds coming out of him resembling that of an animal. 

“god you’re– holy fuck- practically strangling me. greedy pussy just sucking me in for more.” you struggled to comprehend what he was saying. miguel curled in on top of you, pressing you flush against his broad chest. one hand started rubbing hard circles into your clit, whiled the other held you firmly to him. the placement of his arm across your chest allowed him access to your nipples, something he quickly took advantage of. he tweaked and pinched the hard pebble, as he struggled to keep his eyes open. he wanted to look at your face as he caused you to come undone for a second time. your mouth had lulled open, freely drooling onto the pillow beneath your head. tears squeezed their way out of your eyes.

your bodies stuck together, the sweat clinging to your skin. miguel continued to incoherently mumble spanish to you, and you were far too blissed out to listen to anything at all. the white hot coil in the very bottom of your stomach threatening to snap. you cunt fluttered and clamped down on miguel’s dick. it only spurred him on even more, his pace punishing now as he fucked you into the mattress. a long broken scream boomed from your throat as you came, your vision going completely white despite you eyes being clenched tightly shut. your eyebrows screwed up in an expression of pure pleasure. miguel slammed down fully into you, his cock kissing your cervix as he came with a loud moan. you were already so full of his cock that there was practically no room for him cum. he watched with wide eyes and his cum spilled from your spent pussy dripping down around his cock that was still inside you.

he let you both level out before pulling out as carefully as possible. the friction still causing you to cry out in overstimulation. miguel hushed your cries by pressing light kisses all over your face and neck. his thumbs brushed away the stray tears. he finally turned you back over, carefully laying your head back down onto the pillow below you.

“can you move at all mi amor?” your headspace had still not returned to normal, seeing as how you didn’t really respond. miguel got up from the bed and quietly padded over to your kitchen. you whimpered out for him to return, not enjoying the silence of being alone in the room in this loopy headspace you’ve found yourself in. a few moments later he returned to the room, a cup of water and warm washcloth in his hands. the bed dipped underneath the weight of his body as he set the cup of water on the table for a moment and began working on getting you clean. once this was done he flung the now dirty washcloth into your hamper.

his strong arms shifted you for the last time that night, leaning you against him with your head cradled against his chest once he had gotten comfortable. with you in this position he reached over to grab the water and pressed the rim to your bottom lip, silently offering. you dipped your head back just enough to take a couple of careful sips before relaxing your head against him once again. with the rain as white noise in the background you drifted in and out of consciousness. 

“gracias, mi amor.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[1] - whatever

[2] - i was so scared that i felt like vomiting

[3] - i wanted... to thank you for saving my life

[4] - dear god... why do i get the feeling you're going to be the death of me

[mistkisbiggestfan]

Omg the Pomni x Fem jester was so cute! Would you mind writing more of it? (If you can or want to)

Pomni, romantic / Jester! Fem! Reader - Part 2

Pomni (romantic) / Jester! Fem! Reader Hc + Small fic

A/n: Finally writing $h!t in my inbox?? Rare Jules moment, like actually I don’t know what’s happening (I’m gonna write those Tf2 and Voltron requests too, promise) REQUESTS FOR TADC ARE OPEN!!

Summary: Part 2 of being a silly jester couple Words: 1539 Rquest: Yeah!

She was kind of insecure because of you.

After she settled and realized it’s her life now, tho

You were well, everything she wasn’t; tall, well-built, at least your avatar was, and not to mention Pomni hated to admit that your digital avatar was quite attractive. 

And worst of all, you were an actual circus performer. 

But that has its downsides, of course, when she realized you were closer in behavior to Kinger than Jax or Ragatha? $h!t man. 

She tried to avoid you all day (events before the end of the pilot: the digital feast).

But on the other hand, whenever she saw you, a lightbulb kinda flickered in her brain. 

She’s such a girl failure, didn’t even know you for a day and still fell for you.

The jester was very much confused: “Am I attracted to this…?” 

Yeah she is. This freaks her out. Why is she attracted to a crazy girl?  

Your first meeting was a bit rough, duh, but in between her panicking and having a freak out, she couldn’t help but note your good looks. 

After that she didn’t see you much because you stayed behind with Kinger and Gangle.

– You’re sure this is a good idea? – Ragatha said before turning around, looking at you, Kinger and Gangle. You were laughing about something, Gangle was crying, and Kinger was doing his usual stuff. – Of course, they’re the most mentally stable trio in the whole circus! – Jax snickered before walking along the halls. – Come on ladies, let’s go harass the clown. 

During the time when abstracted Kaufmo ran around, chasing Pomni, at one point you came out of nowhere and scooped her up, bringing her to safety.

Then you kind of fu(/#d off to let abstraction of your dear friend sink in, Ragatha was very worried when she saw you not attending the digital feast at the end of the day.

The loop of never-ending exits and the void left Pomni really fu(/#d, but none really cared (expect for maybe Gangle and Ragatha) because it was her first day.

She didn’t even realize when her legs led her to the digital lake. Like someone else brought her there.

Just as she was about to sit down and relax she heard the deep and loud voice that scared her, the feminine, in other circumstances soothing voice was terrifying, she looked up and saw the Moon talking to someone.

Oh yeah, she almost forgot that Sun and Moon were AI people here. 

“That was great dear, you should show that trick to Caine sometime.” She was talking with someone? But who?

And then, she saw your (in comparison) small figure looking up, with something that imitated fire, more like digital-fire but a flame nonetheless. 

That made her feel worse, it was all superficial, all being nothing more than lines of code. Just like the talking Sun and Moon – not giving off any heat or cold.

Pomni felt herself losing it again as she saw you talking with the Moon above. 

Feeling weird was an understatement. 

Before she could go away, because she was standing awfully close to you two, she heard the loud voice of the Moon again.

Pomni finally snapped out of whatever she was in, her shoes touching the smooth, untextured grass under her. She didn’t know when or how she got here but she had to roll with the punches in this new place she was forced to call “home”. She saw the lake’s water before her before hearing a deep and loud voice of someone seemingly echoing and coming from every possible direction. She looked up.

The moon, or rather, Moon, was talking to someone. She almost forgot it– she? Moon. She almost forgot Moon could talk here, probably being some kind of AI too, like Caine. 

But, Moon was talking with someone and she could tell it wasn’t Caine. – That was great dear, you should show that trick to Caine sometime. – She heard Moon’s voice again. 

And with that, Pomni found herself walking closer to the direction Moon was talking too. How could Moon be seemingly high above, be seen from all directions and 2d like? She sighed, deciding to ponder on the perspective and basic rules that reigned this world sometime later. 

Finally, she saw a small in comparison figure standing and holding a large stick or something like that, which ended with fire on both ends, the flame made her shiver, ironic. She looked as the fire danced, looking more animated than anything else, the thought that it was nothing more than lines of code wasn’t the best. 

As she looked more closely at the figure talking with Moon, she couldn’t make out the words. And she realized, it was you, well now that was obvious, you were the only person dressed like a jester other than herself.

Before she could turn around, walk away, forget about this, she heard Moon’s voice again. – I think you should get yourself going dear, it seems like someone’s waiting for you. – Pomni’s eyes widened as she saw Moon looking at her, and she saw your head whip around to look at the person who was waiting. 

Oh h#|! – She thought, and now she contemplated turning and running away, but before she could do so, you already stood in front of her. And you didn’t look quite as cheerful under the moonlight. 

Now she could notice you had makeup on, well that’s probably just a permanent characteristic of your digital skin. You were quite different from her, that was rather obvious since you were basically towering over her. But one thing was similar, both of you had a $h!t tons of bells on you, how could she haven't noticed you going here? You were basically a walking “hey! I’m here! Can’t you hear me? Oh yeah you can”

You seemed more worried about her now, she didn’t notice, somehow, still, basically checking you out. – Are you alright? – Your voice snapped her out of a staring contest with her and your lean body. 

– What? Oh, oh! – She looked up at you, as you leaned in to hear her better. – I’m not that short – She thought to herself. 

– Is there something you need? – You said now starting to walk along, towards the entrance of the main area. She shook herself and ran to catch up, you started juggling as she looked at you weirdly for a second, were those balloons? How the fu(/# can you juggle balloons?

– I just wanted to thank you, for, eh when you saved me from that monster. – She said, not looking up at you, but she heard a laugh, snicker, whatever, it seemed more nervous than cheery though.

– Kaufmo.

– What?

– That wasn’t a monster. It was Kaufmo. – You said, still juggling, she seemed to catch on with your thought process. 

– Right. Sorry – She apologized quietly, both of you being now in the hallway leading to your rooms. But you laughed it off, catching all the balloons and popping them, like Caine did with Bubble, with funny sounding “pop”. Only now she realized you were standing still now, not walking anymore. 

– Don’t beat yourself over it, sweetheart. – You laughed, not mockingly, somehow it sounded lovely. Amd Pomni froze – her face red. Oh god she if she didn’t want to hit herself then, she definitely wants to after this. Once she realized what happened your laughing disappeared a long time ago. She looked around and found out you left her off in front of her new room. – Wow… – She breathed out. 

At first you were not a big fan, but your behavior was always the same, you really kept almost everything to yourself, but you have to admit she was a little cutie.

Ever since you always tried to make her flustered, and it always works.

She tried to make you flustered on more than one occasions but you seem to not be able to feel flustered or embarrassed, your face just goes from “:D” to “(´ ꒳` )” 

You’re actually the boldest mf out there, even bolder than Jax. 

Jax probably gave up on trying to prank you after that “staring at your soul” thing.

But Pomni is a brand new target, so you protect her. And it makes her flustered, but on the other hand, what doesn’t make her flustered?

She might have called you mommy by accident. She was burning, but to her shock. That seemed to make you flustered, but just for a second, before you laughed sweetly at the mess before you.

“That was great, cutie.” “Thanks mommy.” “...” “...”

She should be glad Jax didn’t overhear that, or did he?

He did. It’s over for her. 

She was walking through the hallway towards your room and looked up to see him, looking down at his nails, even though they were covered with his gloves. “Pomni, remember that calling the jester mommy isn’t very PG 13.” He smirked before the situation resolved to a harmless fistfight.

Caine doesn’t bat an eye, maybe says something to Pomni but that’s all. (You’re his and Moon’s favourite so it’s understandable, don’t let the others know though.)

Favouritism is real.

Overall very cute, two jesters are always better than one.

[kaihuntrr]

part fifteen: entertainment.

Martyn realizes some things about himself.

Clear skies, not a speck of clouds in sight. The winds blew strong overhead, Martyn could hear the soft rustling of the sails as the force propelled him and the Canaries onward. It was another slow day, so there was no point in using the engine if there were no beasts to hunt.

Martyn stood on the front of the ship, leaning against the wooden frame as the sounds of distant conversations filled his ears. Strangely, he couldn’t seem to tune in to them like he usually would. Maybe he was just tired. What was he even doing for the past few days? Martyn couldn’t recall a thing.

Martyn looked behind him to see the Canaries laughing and smiling amongst themselves. Cleo, Scar, and Bdubs were the closest, while he spotted Lizzie and Joel talking by the steering wheel, leaving Grian and Mumbo likely in the cabins downstairs. He tried to look beyond the crew only for a distant mist to obscure whatever they sailed away from. He hummed, raising an eyebrow before shaking his head.

It didn’t matter.

He was here with his friends, his crew, and it was the same routine as always, idly searching for a new monster to hunt, the adrenaline rush of striking it down, then tending to any injuries sustained from the fight. 

Martyn walked up to Cleo, Scar, and Bdubs. Bdubs sat on one of the wooden crates while Cleo leaned against the railing and Scar stood in front of the two. They seemed to be engaged in some light conversation, so why not join? Martyn put on a small smile. “Hey guys!” he tilted his head, lifting his hand in a wave. “What are we all talking about?”

Cleo, Scar, and Bdubs didn’t seem to respond. 

Martyn narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Guys?” he glanced at all three of them. They were talking, but Martyn couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying. It was odd. He was right in front of them, but none of them gave him a glance. “Can you even hear me?”

 “Can you hear me?”

An unknown voice spoke, shaking Martyn to his core. It was a raspy, bone-chilling call, yet it sounded impossibly loud and piercing. Martyn whipped his head around, looking for the speaker. No one was there. He looked back and the trio were… gone. Martyn looked at the steering wheel to find Joel and Lizzie gone, too.

What was happening? 

“Wh-Who’s there?” Martyn looked around the ship rapidly, pulling out a gun from its holster and cocked it should the speaker try to hurt him. He had heard the voice, but the speaker was still not in sight. Martyn raised his voice, “I’m not afraid of a fight! Come out!”

“Oh but you are,” the voice chuckled in reply. The hairs on Martyn’s neck rose as the voice grew louder somehow. “You are afraid of me.” The ship suddenly started rocking as the water grew violent. Martyn had to plant his feet to stand his ground. He swayed along with the ship, but he stayed perfectly balanced as he took in deep breaths.

Martyn raised his gun and pointed it around. “I’m not afraid of you, whatever you are,” he growled. He narrowed his eyes and chuckled. “You can’t even face me.” Martyn shouldn’t be afraid of anything he couldn’t see– anything too scared to look him in the eye. The voice was weird, but it was nothing compared to all the beasts he’s taken on. What’s the worst it could possibly be? Martyn was safe on the ship, even if his friends weren’t there.

A chill ran up his spine. Where did the others go?

Martyn’s attention quickly snapped to the rumbling waters below as waves slapped the side of the ship, rattling the deck underneath his feet. Martyn ran to the side of the ship to see what the sound was as something huge bursted out of the dark seas below. The beast’s massive form loomed over the ship, casting a shadow across it that covered Martyn in complete darkness. 

The first thing that stood out to Martyn were the monster’s eyes.

Abyssal black sclera. Raging blue and fiery orange irises. Ice-white pupils.

Martyn stumbled back and fell to the deck, cowering at the sight before him. It was the sea prince he met. It was staring down at him, grinning with its large, imposing teeth.

The sea prince’s teal hair glistened in the sunlight, the corals that grew out of its head shimmered. The glowing marks on its skin pulsed a faint light as its mighty heart pumped out its golden blood. By all means, the creature was… no, Martyn couldn’t think about it. It was wrong to think of a monster as anything akin to beautiful.

The monster leaned against the ship, one of its hands laid on top of the deck. Martyn winced at the sound of wood and metal cracking. It tilted its head and smiled. “Is this better?” Martyn couldn’t respond. He could only stare up at the sea prince’s face as it looked at him expectantly. When he didn’t give it an answer, it rolled its eyes and chuckled, its mouth curling into a smirk as it leaned over him, the smallest movements of its body rattling the vessel. “Pathetic. Where is your confidence?” 

Martyn couldn’t move. He couldn’t open his mouth. The only thing he could do was stare at it in fear and awe. It was massive. It was beautiful! The sea prince’s gaze was intense and fiery and on him, and Martyn could see the hunger in its eyes. He could hear the sea grow restless as the winds howled for a storm, yet the mythical creature kept the ship still by simply resting one of its hands on top. 

The sea prince kept staring at Martyn, its sharp teeth shining despite the storm clouds rolling past. “I thought you wanted a fight,” its large fingers drummed against the wooden floors, or what remained of them. Each tap caused the boat to rumble, bit by bit. “It seems my mere presence is enough to scare you to stillness, little hunter.”

Martyn couldn’t be scared. He shouldn’t be scared.

This is what he wanted.

Taking a sea prince down would be legendary.

“I- I’m not afraid of you!” Martyn’s words fell out of his mouth before he could make sense of it, finding himself already halfway to standing. The sea prince’s eyes widened, but its smile only grew more sinister. It didn’t answer, as if prompting Martyn to continue now that he’s finally found his voice. Still, Martyn trembled as its mighty gaze was too focused on him, even as he pushed himself to his feet. “With- with you dead, the sea would finally be free from one of its biggest threats. Give up your life now, and we can start living in the new world!”

Silence.

The monstrous creature stared at Martyn, raising an eyebrow. It stared and stared before it threw its head back and erupted into a laugh, shaking the entire ship as waves thrashed around them. Martyn was knocked back to the deck, looking up as the laughter began to fade.

The prince shook its head, a grin on its face. “Oh, and you’re sure you can kill me, the most powerful ruler of the ocean? I could crush you here and now,” its grip on the ship tightened as more sounds of wood cracking and breaking -coming from all around Martyn- resounded in his ears. “Or I could eat you. You’d be like sweet candy to me, dear hunter.” It licked its lips, leaning closer to the ship. Martyn could feel its breath wash over him. The sensation brought chills down Martyn’s spine as he swallowed. Something about those words got him on edge.

The sea prince sighed. “I’ve been entertained enough,” it shrugged, a seemingly nonchalant look on its face as it glanced outward and back to Martyn. “Your friends were a good snack. That sweet little tavernkeep of yours was the most delicious, though.” It grinned, blood beginning to pour out of the monster’s jaws and pooled around Martyn. Martyn could hear the distant screams of his crew, his friends, and Scott. 

Oh gods, Scott. 

Martyn’s eyes widened as he tried to move away from the glistening red blood as the sea prince’s smile widened in manic joy.

No, no no no– this can’t be happening. This isn’t– this can’t be real.

“I think our time here is over, little hunter.”

The monstrous, beautiful creature moved its large face directly in front of Martyn. He could see his reflection in its eyes; covered in blood, weary, and panicked. The sea prince’s eyes flashed with lightning as thunder roared above. Its sickening grin came back.

“Thank you for the entertainment.”

The sea prince’s jaws opened. Martyn could see the strings of saliva and the abyssal darkness that laid in the back of its throat. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t even scream.

All he could do was watch as darkness snapped shut around him in an instant.

—————

Martyn bolted upright immediately after his eyes opened. His heartbeat was pounding in his chest, his breaths were quick and ragged. He blinked several times, shaking his head as he gathered his thoughts. One of Martyn’s hands gripped his hair as he leaned back against the bed and sighed.

Bed?

Martyn looked around the room. He was on a simple white bed with a wooden frame, a bedside table was set right next to it with a dimly lit lantern and a notebook on top. A chest lay on the foot of the bed and a green carpet was spread out in front. A wooden door with metal decal was on the left side of the room, while the right had a window, glittering in the blue moonlight. There was a cabinet along with a small table and two chairs near the end of the room. All the lanterns that hung from the ceiling were off. 

Right, this was his room in the tavern. He remembered now.

Some of the Canaries were here in the tavern with Martyn, sleeping away in their own rooms, while others stayed on the ship. They would meet up in the morning and hopefully prepare to leave this accursed island. Martyn rubbed the tiredness out of his eyes, unable to sleep. Luckily he hadn’t screamed, he didn’t want to wake the others. 

That dream felt… real and unreal at the same time. Martyn could still hear the sea prince’s taunts in his ears while every time his eyes closed, he could see those inhuman eyes staring right back at him. He couldn’t escape those eyes; they were hauntingly beautiful. He’d never seen anything like them before.

Martyn twisted the small knob on the lantern on the bedside table to adjust its brightness. The flame grew and it illuminated the room a little more. Martyn opened his sketchbook and took a pencil from the desk. He spent some time drawing out those eyes on a clean page. If he drew it, would that get his mind to stop thinking about how pretty it was? 

Maybe it wasn’t right to use ‘it’ for such a creature. Wait-, why was Martyn even thinking that way? The sea prince was a monster; no matter how much Martyn thought about its beauty, it was still a horrible monster. He should be locked up for feeling the way he did!

“Those eyes…,” Martyn looked at the sketch, talking to himself. “Why do I remember those eyes so well?”

The moonlight in the room disappeared for a brief moment before it filtered inside again. There must be clouds passing by. Martyn hummed. If he couldn’t sleep, a walk outside could do him good. Maybe it was a good sign that the skies were relatively clear compared to the gloomy afternoon. A walk wouldn’t hurt. 

Martyn got out of bed, immediately regretting his decision with how comfortable the bed had been, and slipped on his usual attire. He was going to be back, so he left his satchel inside. He had his gun and brought the lantern with him, but the rest stayed in the room. He made his way out of the room and locked the door behind him, taking careful steps down the wooden stairs so he wouldn’t accidentally creak a floorboard and wake the others. He slipped out of the tavern relatively quickly.

The town looked a lot better at night. At least, it didn’t look as strange as it was before. The moonlight lit the town a lot more than the torches and lanterns dotted around had managed to. Buildings glimmered in its pale light as stars twinkled above. It was a welcome sight, and something Martyn didn’t expect to miss as much as he did. 

Martyn walked through the town, hearing the wind rustle through the buildings and flora, the soft crackles of torchlight, and the animals that chirped about. It felt more alive. No one was outside though, not a single soul. It must be extremely late. 

A thought came to mind as Martyn looked around the empty streets; what if Pearl was asleep, too? She wouldn’t expect a surprise visit, would she? Martyn’s hand unconsciously brushed over his scarred cheek as he thought about it. Maybe a little payback won’t hurt.

Martyn could hear the river ahead, cutting through the town. If he followed it upstream, it would surely bring him to the forest. He raised his lantern and walked close to the river, looking around the town for any clear buildings he could reference when he eventually returned to the tavern. 

It was a quiet walk, and Martyn appreciated the silence after everything that has happened. It felt nice. It felt good.

The forest entrance was unguarded and open, a small wooden archway with a lantern hung with loose and broken fences to its sides. It didn’t stop Martyn from entering. 

Trees towered over him, leafy canopies covered the moonlight above in thick foliage. Martyn could see a few spots of moonlight hitting the ground, but the rest was shadowy and dark. It would have been hard to navigate if it weren’t for the lantern Martyn had on him. Thank goodness. How was the witch able to see through all this darkness? As far as Martyn remembered, she had walked into the forest with no light whatsoever and the forest was covered in thick fog. There was no point in thinking about it though, if Pearl got lost, it was her problem.

“Aw, come on! Loosen up a bit, will you?”

Speak of the devil. Martyn quickly dashed behind one of the large trees and bushes as he shut the lantern off and quickly held his breath. Would she notice the smell of smoke? Martyn pressed himself against the tree, crouching down so as to not be noticed. Why was she out in the forest so late?

Martyn heard footsteps approaching, one set of steps felt heavier than the other. Two people. 

An unknown voice spoke up, their voice monotonous and cold. “You know I like my sleep, Pearl,” they groaned. “It feels wrong to sleep through the night, though. No matter how long it’s been, I just can’t get used to it.”

Everyone sleeps through the night. What was the problem there?

“We’re not supposed to sleep at this time, so I get that,” Pearl chuckled. Martyn took a small glance at the two and saw nothing. No light source, no lanterns or torches. Pearl and the stranger were walking in total darkness. “Still. You’re the one who wanted a better look at the island, so it's not my fault.”

It sounded like the stranger and Pearl knew each other, judging by Pearl’s uncharacteristically friendly tone. Her words stuck out in Martyn’s head. She wasn’t supposed to sleep at night? What, so she slept during the day? That was ridiculous. 

“I didn’t expect the isle to be so gloomy. Plus,” the stranger had a bit more emotion in their voice. They held in a chuckle, the slight sound of cloth moving had Martyn think the stranger was nudging Pearl’s shoulder. “You’re not even trying to blend in.”

Pearl sighed. “Unlike you and the others, I like being a threat. Why play these games for humans when we’re so much better than them?”

Why was Pearl talking like– 

“It’s better to stalk your prey before taking it down, like–,” the stranger stopped in their tracks. Their voice raised, “Do you smell that?”

A sudden silence washed over as Martyn shut his eyes. This wasn’t good. Pearl spoke up, causing Martyn to raise his shoulders. “Smoke. Who’s there?” Martyn could hear Pearl pull out her sickles. 

Smoke. Martyn looked at the lantern. Smoke. It was out; the smell of smoke was so faint. How was Pearl and the stranger able to notice that? Martyn hurriedly put the lantern away as he crouched and moved to another tree. He couldn’t see properly anymore, and neither the stranger nor Pearl had any light source on them. He wouldn’t know where they were.

A rustle of bushes indicated someone was close. 

Martyn moved to another tree, far from the rustling but still within earshot of the two.

The stranger sighed. “It’s a lantern,” they twisted the knob, Martyn could hear the squeaking sounds of metal as they turned it rapidly. “Recently put out, too. I believe our little tour is going to have to wait a while.” Martyn heard the lantern's glass shatter to pieces and metal snap, but it didn’t sound like it broke in an instant. It sounded like something was crushing it. 

“Don’t make it sound like I’m the one who asked for it,” Pearl raised her voice, feigning a dramatic tone. She sighed, “I’m just glad it isn’t Chromia. As much as I hate those pesky birds, I don’t want him to show himself here. He shouldn’t know that they’re here, either.”

A new name. Chromia. That’s a peculiar name, wasn't it? Judging by Pearl’s soft tone, Martyn assumed there was some kind of close bond there. But this was the same witch who threatened his life, Martyn shouldn’t try to feel sympathy for her now. She knew things he wanted to learn about. He needed those answers.

“Don’t get me started on him, he needs some rest,” the stranger’s voice was soft and quiet. They sighed, and that sense of softness disappeared as they raised their voice. “Let’s just focus on this straggler for now, hm? Let’s see who gets them first. Better hunter versus the home turf advantage.”

“Sounds like fun, but don’t complain when I’m the one who catches them.”

With that, Martyn could hear the two dash away in opposing directions, one set of footsteps heavier than the other. What now? Martyn could turn back, but they could notice him walking away, but the risk of heading deeper into the woods… 

Martyn had a gun. He should be fine.

Martyn wasn’t sure where he was going. If Pearl lingered in this area all day, then she must have some place where she stayed. Besides, weren’t witches commonly shown to have their creepy little cabins in the woods somewhere? It should be somewhere in these shadowy woods. He constantly looked for the little hints of moonlight as he moved through the forest, keeping crouched and taking slow steps to hopefully not attract either of the two people.

If he strained his ears enough, he could hear the softer footsteps better. The heavier ones were farther away. It was odd that the only thing Martyn could hear were the footsteps and breeze, like something was–

Martyn heard a distant growl. The ground shook slightly. 

Something powerful was here. 

Martyn’s eyes widened as a thought hit him. Could the sea prince be here? That had to be it. If all hunting ships got destroyed the moment they left the island, of course the monster would be close. 

Was the sea prince in the distance the same one Martyn met? Would he be ready to see those eyes again? That face? That really pretty, really terrifying face?

Martyn pushed ahead. May the gods bless him. If he lived to survive the encounter, there must be something grand in store for him. He had to see the sea prince again. It was as if it was calling to him.

It felt like a long, agonizing crawl, but Martyn finally found himself at the entrance of a cave. Small flickers of moonlight illuminated the mossy rock, vines and flowers hanging over its mouth, blending the cave entrance in with the environment around it. If it weren’t for the moonlight, Martyn would’ve just assumed it was a solid wall of rock. He turned to look behind him. Nothing. 

The ground rumbled again, only fueling Martyn’s heart with fear and excitement as he entered the cave. He placed his feet very carefully, following the descending slope as it sank far below ground level. 

The cave was... surprisingly lit up. Martyn couldn’t see any lanterns or torches, but he noticed that the cave was lit with an odd golden light. He followed the tunnel as it curved, seeing the cave open up to a much larger space. The path he was following spiraled deeper and deeper, the path curving along the walls of the larger cavern. 

Martyn crept up to the edge of the path, where it linked to the larger open space and a sheer drop. He peered over the edge to see a large pool of golden water below him. It shimmered unnaturally, its glow filling the entire bottom of the cave. It was enchanting. Martyn wanted to dive into it. He held back the urge to curse himself for not bringing a waterskin to hold the strange water in. If he could just–

“What do we have here?”

Martyn whirled around and was swiftly hit on the chin, the blow knocking him out as he collapsed against the cold cave floor.

Clear skies, not a speck of clouds in sight. The winds blew strong overhead, Martyn could hear the soft rustling of the sails as the force propelled him and the Canaries onward. It was another slow day, so there was no point in using the engine if there were no beasts to hunt.

Martyn stood on the front of the ship, leaning against the wooden frame as the sounds of distant conversations filled his ears. Strangely, he couldn’t seem to tune in to them like he usually would. Maybe he was just tired. What was he even doing for the past few days? Martyn couldn’t recall a thing.

Martyn looked behind him to see the Canaries laughing and smiling amongst themselves. Cleo, Scar, and Bdubs were the closest, while he spotted Lizzie and Joel talking by the steering wheel, leaving Grian and Mumbo likely in the cabins downstairs. He tried to look beyond the crew only for a distant mist to obscure whatever they sailed away from. He hummed, raising an eyebrow before shaking his head.

It didn’t matter.

He was here with his friends, his crew, and it was the same routine as always, idly searching for a new monster to hunt, the adrenaline rush of striking it down, then tending to any injuries sustained from the fight. 

Martyn walked up to Cleo, Scar, and Bdubs. Bdubs sat on one of the wooden crates while Cleo leaned against the railing and Scar stood in front of the two. They seemed to be engaged in some light conversation, so why not join? Martyn put on a small smile. “Hey guys!” he tilted his head, lifting his hand in a wave. “What are we all talking about?”

Cleo, Scar, and Bdubs didn’t seem to respond. 

Martyn narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Guys?” he glanced at all three of them. They were talking, but Martyn couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying. It was odd. He was right in front of them, but none of them gave him a glance. “Can you even hear me?”

 “Can you hear me?”

An unknown voice spoke, shaking Martyn to his core. It was a raspy, bone-chilling call, yet it sounded impossibly loud and piercing. Martyn whipped his head around, looking for the speaker. No one was there. He looked back and the trio were… gone. Martyn looked at the steering wheel to find Joel and Lizzie gone, too.

What was happening? 

“Wh-Who’s there?” Martyn looked around the ship rapidly, pulling out a gun from its holster and cocked it should the speaker try to hurt him. He had heard the voice, but the speaker was still not in sight. Martyn raised his voice, “I’m not afraid of a fight! Come out!”

“Oh but you are,” the voice chuckled in reply. The hairs on Martyn’s neck rose as the voice grew louder somehow. “You are afraid of me.” The ship suddenly started rocking as the water grew violent. Martyn had to plant his feet to stand his ground. He swayed along with the ship, but he stayed perfectly balanced as he took in deep breaths.

Martyn raised his gun and pointed it around. “I’m not afraid of you, whatever you are,” he growled. He narrowed his eyes and chuckled. “You can’t even face me.” Martyn shouldn’t be afraid of anything he couldn’t see– anything too scared to look him in the eye. The voice was weird, but it was nothing compared to all the beasts he’s taken on. What’s the worst it could possibly be? Martyn was safe on the ship, even if his friends weren’t there.

A chill ran up his spine. Where did the others go?

Martyn’s attention quickly snapped to the rumbling waters below as waves slapped the side of the ship, rattling the deck underneath his feet. Martyn ran to the side of the ship to see what the sound was as something huge bursted out of the dark seas below. The beast’s massive form loomed over the ship, casting a shadow across it that covered Martyn in complete darkness. 

The first thing that stood out to Martyn were the monster’s eyes.

Abyssal black sclera. Raging blue and fiery orange irises. Ice-white pupils.

Martyn stumbled back and fell to the deck, cowering at the sight before him. It was the sea prince he met. It was staring down at him, grinning with its large, imposing teeth.

The sea prince’s teal hair glistened in the sunlight, the corals that grew out of its head shimmered. The glowing marks on its skin pulsed a faint light as its mighty heart pumped out its golden blood. By all means, the creature was… no, Martyn couldn’t think about it. It was wrong to think of a monster as anything akin to beautiful.

The monster leaned against the ship, one of its hands laid on top of the deck. Martyn winced at the sound of wood and metal cracking. It tilted its head and smiled. “Is this better?” Martyn couldn’t respond. He could only stare up at the sea prince’s face as it looked at him expectantly. When he didn’t give it an answer, it rolled its eyes and chuckled, its mouth curling into a smirk as it leaned over him, the smallest movements of its body rattling the vessel. “Pathetic. Where is your confidence?” 

Martyn couldn’t move. He couldn’t open his mouth. The only thing he could do was stare at it in fear and awe. It was massive. It was beautiful! The sea prince’s gaze was intense and fiery and on him, and Martyn could see the hunger in its eyes. He could hear the sea grow restless as the winds howled for a storm, yet the mythical creature kept the ship still by simply resting one of its hands on top. 

The sea prince kept staring at Martyn, its sharp teeth shining despite the storm clouds rolling past. “I thought you wanted a fight,” its large fingers drummed against the wooden floors, or what remained of them. Each tap caused the boat to rumble, bit by bit. “It seems my mere presence is enough to scare you to stillness, little hunter.”

Martyn couldn’t be scared. He shouldn’t be scared.

This is what he wanted.

Taking a sea prince down would be legendary.

“I- I’m not afraid of you!” Martyn’s words fell out of his mouth before he could make sense of it, finding himself already halfway to standing. The sea prince’s eyes widened, but its smile only grew more sinister. It didn’t answer, as if prompting Martyn to continue now that he’s finally found his voice. Still, Martyn trembled as its mighty gaze was too focused on him, even as he pushed himself to his feet. “With- with you dead, the sea would finally be free from one of its biggest threats. Give up your life now, and we can start living in the new world!”

Silence.

The monstrous creature stared at Martyn, raising an eyebrow. It stared and stared before it threw its head back and erupted into a laugh, shaking the entire ship as waves thrashed around them. Martyn was knocked back to the deck, looking up as the laughter began to fade.

The prince shook its head, a grin on its face. “Oh, and you’re sure you can kill me, the most powerful ruler of the ocean? I could crush you here and now,” its grip on the ship tightened as more sounds of wood cracking and breaking -coming from all around Martyn- resounded in his ears. “Or I could eat you. You’d be like sweet candy to me, dear hunter.” It licked its lips, leaning closer to the ship. Martyn could feel its breath wash over him. The sensation brought chills down Martyn’s spine as he swallowed. Something about those words got him on edge.

The sea prince sighed. “I’ve been entertained enough,” it shrugged, a seemingly nonchalant look on its face as it glanced outward and back to Martyn. “Your friends were a good snack. That sweet little tavernkeep of yours was the most delicious, though.” It grinned, blood beginning to pour out of the monster’s jaws and pooled around Martyn. Martyn could hear the distant screams of his crew, his friends, and Scott. 

Oh gods, Scott. 

Martyn’s eyes widened as he tried to move away from the glistening red blood as the sea prince’s smile widened in manic joy.

No, no no no– this can’t be happening. This isn’t– this can’t be real.

“I think our time here is over, little hunter.”

The monstrous, beautiful creature moved its large face directly in front of Martyn. He could see his reflection in its eyes; covered in blood, weary, and panicked. The sea prince’s eyes flashed with lightning as thunder roared above. Its sickening grin came back.

“Thank you for the entertainment.”

The sea prince’s jaws opened. Martyn could see the strings of saliva and the abyssal darkness that laid in the back of its throat. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t even scream.

All he could do was watch as darkness snapped shut around him in an instant.

—————

Martyn bolted upright immediately after his eyes opened. His heartbeat was pounding in his chest, his breaths were quick and ragged. He blinked several times, shaking his head as he gathered his thoughts. One of Martyn’s hands gripped his hair as he leaned back against the bed and sighed.

Bed?

Martyn looked around the room. He was on a simple white bed with a wooden frame, a bedside table was set right next to it with a dimly lit lantern and a notebook on top. A chest lay on the foot of the bed and a green carpet was spread out in front. A wooden door with metal decal was on the left side of the room, while the right had a window, glittering in the blue moonlight. There was a cabinet along with a small table and two chairs near the end of the room. All the lanterns that hung from the ceiling were off. 

Right, this was his room in the tavern. He remembered now.

Some of the Canaries were here in the tavern with Martyn, sleeping away in their own rooms, while others stayed on the ship. They would meet up in the morning and hopefully prepare to leave this accursed island. Martyn rubbed the tiredness out of his eyes, unable to sleep. Luckily he hadn’t screamed, he didn’t want to wake the others. 

That dream felt… real and unreal at the same time. Martyn could still hear the sea prince’s taunts in his ears while every time his eyes closed, he could see those inhuman eyes staring right back at him. He couldn’t escape those eyes; they were hauntingly beautiful. He’d never seen anything like them before.

Martyn twisted the small knob on the lantern on the bedside table to adjust its brightness. The flame grew and it illuminated the room a little more. Martyn opened his sketchbook and took a pencil from the desk. He spent some time drawing out those eyes on a clean page. If he drew it, would that get his mind to stop thinking about how pretty it was? 

Maybe it wasn’t right to use ‘it’ for such a creature. Wait-, why was Martyn even thinking that way? The sea prince was a monster; no matter how much Martyn thought about its beauty, it was still a horrible monster. He should be locked up for feeling the way he did!

“Those eyes…,” Martyn looked at the sketch, talking to himself. “Why do I remember those eyes so well?”

The moonlight in the room disappeared for a brief moment before it filtered inside again. There must be clouds passing by. Martyn hummed. If he couldn’t sleep, a walk outside could do him good. Maybe it was a good sign that the skies were relatively clear compared to the gloomy afternoon. A walk wouldn’t hurt. 

Martyn got out of bed, immediately regretting his decision with how comfortable the bed had been, and slipped on his usual attire. He was going to be back, so he left his satchel inside. He had his gun and brought the lantern with him, but the rest stayed in the room. He made his way out of the room and locked the door behind him, taking careful steps down the wooden stairs so he wouldn’t accidentally creak a floorboard and wake the others. He slipped out of the tavern relatively quickly.

The town looked a lot better at night. At least, it didn’t look as strange as it was before. The moonlight lit the town a lot more than the torches and lanterns dotted around had managed to. Buildings glimmered in its pale light as stars twinkled above. It was a welcome sight, and something Martyn didn’t expect to miss as much as he did. 

Martyn walked through the town, hearing the wind rustle through the buildings and flora, the soft crackles of torchlight, and the animals that chirped about. It felt more alive. No one was outside though, not a single soul. It must be extremely late. 

A thought came to mind as Martyn looked around the empty streets; what if Pearl was asleep, too? She wouldn’t expect a surprise visit, would she? Martyn’s hand unconsciously brushed over his scarred cheek as he thought about it. Maybe a little payback won’t hurt.

Martyn could hear the river ahead, cutting through the town. If he followed it upstream, it would surely bring him to the forest. He raised his lantern and walked close to the river, looking around the town for any clear buildings he could reference when he eventually returned to the tavern. 

It was a quiet walk, and Martyn appreciated the silence after everything that has happened. It felt nice. It felt good.

The forest entrance was unguarded and open, a small wooden archway with a lantern hung with loose and broken fences to its sides. It didn’t stop Martyn from entering. 

Trees towered over him, leafy canopies covered the moonlight above in thick foliage. Martyn could see a few spots of moonlight hitting the ground, but the rest was shadowy and dark. It would have been hard to navigate if it weren’t for the lantern Martyn had on him. Thank goodness. How was the witch able to see through all this darkness? As far as Martyn remembered, she had walked into the forest with no light whatsoever and the forest was covered in thick fog. There was no point in thinking about it though, if Pearl got lost, it was her problem.

“Aw, come on! Loosen up a bit, will you?”

Speak of the devil. Martyn quickly dashed behind one of the large trees and bushes as he shut the lantern off and quickly held his breath. Would she notice the smell of smoke? Martyn pressed himself against the tree, crouching down so as to not be noticed. Why was she out in the forest so late?

Martyn heard footsteps approaching, one set of steps felt heavier than the other. Two people. 

An unknown voice spoke up, their voice monotonous and cold. “You know I like my sleep, Pearl,” they groaned. “It feels wrong to sleep through the night, though. No matter how long it’s been, I just can’t get used to it.”

Everyone sleeps through the night. What was the problem there?

“We’re not supposed to sleep at this time, so I get that,” Pearl chuckled. Martyn took a small glance at the two and saw nothing. No light source, no lanterns or torches. Pearl and the stranger were walking in total darkness. “Still. You’re the one who wanted a better look at the island, so it's not my fault.”

It sounded like the stranger and Pearl knew each other, judging by Pearl’s uncharacteristically friendly tone. Her words stuck out in Martyn’s head. She wasn’t supposed to sleep at night? What, so she slept during the day? That was ridiculous. 

“I didn’t expect the isle to be so gloomy. Plus,” the stranger had a bit more emotion in their voice. They held in a chuckle, the slight sound of cloth moving had Martyn think the stranger was nudging Pearl’s shoulder. “You’re not even trying to blend in.”

Pearl sighed. “Unlike you and the others, I like being a threat. Why play these games for humans when we’re so much better than them?”

Why was Pearl talking like– 

“It’s better to stalk your prey before taking it down, like–,” the stranger stopped in their tracks. Their voice raised, “Do you smell that?”

A sudden silence washed over as Martyn shut his eyes. This wasn’t good. Pearl spoke up, causing Martyn to raise his shoulders. “Smoke. Who’s there?” Martyn could hear Pearl pull out her sickles. 

Smoke. Martyn looked at the lantern. Smoke. It was out; the smell of smoke was so faint. How was Pearl and the stranger able to notice that? Martyn hurriedly put the lantern away as he crouched and moved to another tree. He couldn’t see properly anymore, and neither the stranger nor Pearl had any light source on them. He wouldn’t know where they were.

A rustle of bushes indicated someone was close. 

Martyn moved to another tree, far from the rustling but still within earshot of the two.

The stranger sighed. “It’s a lantern,” they twisted the knob, Martyn could hear the squeaking sounds of metal as they turned it rapidly. “Recently put out, too. I believe our little tour is going to have to wait a while.” Martyn heard the lantern's glass shatter to pieces and metal snap, but it didn’t sound like it broke in an instant. It sounded like something was crushing it. 

“Don’t make it sound like I’m the one who asked for it,” Pearl raised her voice, feigning a dramatic tone. She sighed, “I’m just glad it isn’t Chromia. As much as I hate those pesky birds, I don’t want him to show himself here. He shouldn’t know that they’re here, either.”

A new name. Chromia. That’s a peculiar name, wasn't it? Judging by Pearl’s soft tone, Martyn assumed there was some kind of close bond there. But this was the same witch who threatened his life, Martyn shouldn’t try to feel sympathy for her now. She knew things he wanted to learn about. He needed those answers.

“Don’t get me started on him, he needs some rest,” the stranger’s voice was soft and quiet. They sighed, and that sense of softness disappeared as they raised their voice. “Let’s just focus on this straggler for now, hm? Let’s see who gets them first. Better hunter versus the home turf advantage.”

“Sounds like fun, but don’t complain when I’m the one who catches them.”

With that, Martyn could hear the two dash away in opposing directions, one set of footsteps heavier than the other. What now? Martyn could turn back, but they could notice him walking away, but the risk of heading deeper into the woods… 

Martyn had a gun. He should be fine.

Martyn wasn’t sure where he was going. If Pearl lingered in this area all day, then she must have some place where she stayed. Besides, weren’t witches commonly shown to have their creepy little cabins in the woods somewhere? It should be somewhere in these shadowy woods. He constantly looked for the little hints of moonlight as he moved through the forest, keeping crouched and taking slow steps to hopefully not attract either of the two people.

If he strained his ears enough, he could hear the softer footsteps better. The heavier ones were farther away. It was odd that the only thing Martyn could hear were the footsteps and breeze, like something was–

Martyn heard a distant growl. The ground shook slightly. 

Something powerful was here. 

Martyn’s eyes widened as a thought hit him. Could the sea prince be here? That had to be it. If all hunting ships got destroyed the moment they left the island, of course the monster would be close. 

Was the sea prince in the distance the same one Martyn met? Would he be ready to see those eyes again? That face? That really pretty, really terrifying face?

Martyn pushed ahead. May the gods bless him. If he lived to survive the encounter, there must be something grand in store for him. He had to see the sea prince again. It was as if it was calling to him.

It felt like a long, agonizing crawl, but Martyn finally found himself at the entrance of a cave. Small flickers of moonlight illuminated the mossy rock, vines and flowers hanging over its mouth, blending the cave entrance in with the environment around it. If it weren’t for the moonlight, Martyn would’ve just assumed it was a solid wall of rock. He turned to look behind him. Nothing. 

The ground rumbled again, only fueling Martyn’s heart with fear and excitement as he entered the cave. He placed his feet very carefully, following the descending slope as it sank far below ground level. 

The cave was... surprisingly lit up. Martyn couldn’t see any lanterns or torches, but he noticed that the cave was lit with an odd golden light. He followed the tunnel as it curved, seeing the cave open up to a much larger space. The path he was following spiraled deeper and deeper, the path curving along the walls of the larger cavern. 

Martyn crept up to the edge of the path, where it linked to the larger open space and a sheer drop. He peered over the edge to see a large pool of golden water below him. It shimmered unnaturally, its glow filling the entire bottom of the cave. It was enchanting. Martyn wanted to dive into it. He held back the urge to curse himself for not bringing a waterskin to hold the strange water in. If he could just–

“What do we have here?”

Martyn whirled around and was swiftly hit on the chin, the blow knocking him out as he collapsed against the cold cave floor.

[iamthecomet]

Here's a thought, pillow princess mountain having sex in a garden surrounded by flowers~ ;)

Surrounded by the prettiest most beautiful flowers of them all UwU

Just like him and his lover.

basking in a beautiful experience.

day or night, either way what bliss~

This is basically a full fic at this point.

I'm not sorry.

Some weird ghoul magic/full moon nonsense below the cut

and also smut, duh.

It's rare that a full moon falls on the Solstice. Rare enough that it catches Mountain off guard. The moon always does weird things to the ghouls. Rain usually is the most affected. Pulled from his bed by some unknown force and out to the lake, or into someone else's bed. Drawn by the pull of the moon like a tide. Mountain's spent enough full moon nights with Rain to know that it's an all-night affair, exhausting, exhilarating. They can all feel it coming. Dew withdraws, disappears for days at a time, locked in his room. Moodier than usual, sullen, withdrawn. The girls get restless. Sunshine accidentally lights Papa's blinds on fire. Cumulus and Cirrus take to the orchards and don't come back for hours. Swiss gets snappy. His usually easy temper turned short. Aether is the only one of them not affected. Like whatever magic that lives inside of him is above and apart from the moon. Mountain envies it. Because right now it feels like his body is trying to tear itself apart from the inside. It's not painful. But something low in his gut is trying to tell him something. It's never strong like this. On full moons he usually spends his time with his plants, tending to them, listening to them. It quells the need in his muscles enough to get by.

But he's been in the greenhouse all day and the only thing that's happened is he's gotten more restless. The plants are good, blooming, flourishing under the new summer sun. The moon is high in the sky when Mountain really realizes how bad it is. He brushes dirt from his hands and intends to go to bed and finds the idea makes his body scream.

When he takes stock of his own body he finds himself rock hard in his sweatpants. Aching. No stimulation needed. Now that he isn't distracting himself with magic and plants his need is acute. It's not a heat or a rut. His are on impenetrable schedules. He's got another month. And it doesn't feel the same, there's nothing primal tugging at his brain stem begging for blood and a chase.

He just wants-- He catches movement out of the corner of his eye, through the greenhouse walls. It's Rain, long legs carrying him towards the lake. His pale skin glowing under the moonlight. Mountain doesn't think, all logical thought fled the second he became aware of his own body again. He throws open the door and calls for Rain. Stepping out of the greenhouse and into the garden that surrounds it as he does. It's cool out. Spring still clinging to its last breath. Rain turns to look at him. Then without hesitation jogs over to him. He runs an unsteady hand through his curls when he gets close. "Mount? What are you still doing out here?" "Lost track of time. And something...somethings weird with the moon, I feel--"

"Solstice."

"What?"

"The solstice makes it extra weird. Stronger. I don't know. It sucks. Swiss almost bit Sunshine's finger off. Dew hasn't spoken a word to anyone all day and I--" Rain cuts himself off. There's enough moonlight cast over his face that Mountain can see him blush. "You what?" Rain looks away. "You know what. All day. Nothing helps. It's like--" "Being in heat, except not?" Rain's eyes snap to his. And then Rain is on him, curling his long arms around Mountain's neck and kissing him with full force. Tongue licking into Mountain's mouth, hands digging into his hair. Rain pushes him back, off of the path towards a softer patch of grass amidst freshly bloomed irises. Rain catches him off guard, and before Mountain knows it he's on his back on the ground with a lap full of needy water ghoul. Rain's mouth never leaves his, tongue plundering. Rain tastes like fresh water, cool, refreshing. Mountain feels like he's been without water for days, parched. He curls his fingers around the back of Rain's neck and drags him closer. Rain's hips roll over his, he grinds down and Mountain can't think about anything except getting Rain out of his pants and sinking into him. He wants it now, he wants it five minutes ago. He fumbles with Rain's sweatpants, pulling until Rain laughs into his mouth and pulls away. Rain's steady when he shifts up to pull his pants off, then he gets to work on Mountain's. His hands move with ease. Mountain's body is shaking.

"How are you so calm?" Mountain pants. Rain looks up at him, head tipped to the side, fingers pausing on the button of Mountain's jeans. "I'm used to it." It's simple, easy. Rain doesn't elaborate, just finishes undoing Mountain's pants and slides them down to his thighs, not even bothering to pull them all the way off. Mountain sits up. He can't just lay back and take it right? that's bad etiquette, but Rain pushes him back to the ground with a hand on his sternum. "Relax, Mount. I've got you."

Rain makes quick work of stretching himself. Mountain can see the slick on his fingers as he scissors them in and out of himself. Mountain feels impossibly warm despite the cool air. His cock jumps against his stomach as he watches Rain work himself over. Fangs worrying his plush bottom lip. Mountain isn't used to letting someone else make all of these decisions. But Rain isn't allowing him any forward motion. He's pinned to the ground by Rain's gaze. By his insistence that he will help Mountain through whatever this is. He's helpless to it. Rain curls his wet fingers around Mountain's cock and strokes him, once, twice, Mountains' head thumps back against the grass hard. Pleasure rolling through him, already too much. It's only a hand, how's he going to handle it when-- He misses the moment Rain straddles him, rocketing back up the second he feels the press of his cock against Rain's hole. Rain sinks down, only an inch or two and Mountain has to touch him. He reaches out, putting a hand on each hip, digging blunt nails into his skin. He tries to keep calm, keep steady. His body screams at him to thrust up, to rock into Rain's tight body, and take what he needs. He grits his teeth. He waits. Rain sinks down the rest of the way, a broken sigh leaving his mouth as he does. He barely gives either of them time to adjust before he's rocking his hips, rolling Mountain's cock against his prostate and whining. He clenches hard around Mountain and Mountain swears his vision fails for a second. It has never been like this. Never felt like this.

Rain tips his head back up towards the sky. Moonlight washes over his skin. His precum glitters as it drips onto Mountain's stomach. Mountain uses a slow push and pull of his fingers to guide Rain how he wants him. But mostly Rain does all the work. Bouncing with slow, leisurely, strokes. All Mountain can do is watch Rain, take in the undulations of his body as he gives Mountain everything he has. Mountain drags his fingers over Rain's side, across his ribs, to rest up between his pecs. "Pretty," Mountain pants." Rain looks down at him, flushed and breathless. He laughs. "What about you, Sunflower?" Rain reaches down, he cards his hand over Mountain's hair, between his horns, and Mountain is suddenly hit with the smell of flowers. Hyacinth, lilac, roses. He smells summer. Rain comes back with a flower between his fingers, plucked from somewhere behind Mountains' horns no doubt, a deep purple violet. "You're a bouquet," Rain murmurs. Mountain feels his face flush. Rain laughs again, he reaches up to touch what must be more fresh flowers. "C'mon Rain," Mountain pouts, rocking his hips up to get his point across. Rain can play with the flowers in his hair later. Right now he wants to cum. Needs it. Rain rolls his eyes but there's no malice in it. Instead, he sets a pace that makes the breath rush from Mountain's lungs. It's not long before Mountain's toes are digging into the grass, and Rain is whining with each downward stroke. Mountain reaches for him, wraps a hand around his slick cock, and strokes him in time with Rain's thrusts. It's only a few more moments before Rain is bowing in on himself and clenching down hard on Mountain. Spilling hot and thick over Mountain's stomach. Mountain follows right on his heels, roaring with his release. Rain collapses, his head pressed against Mountain's chest as they both gasp for breath. Rain looks up at him and starts to laugh softly. "What?" "You're more flowers than hair." Mountain scowls, changing the subject before he allows himself to be embarrassed about it. "Do you feel better?"

Rain pulls off of Mountain's softening cock and stretches his lanky body, curling it against Mountain's like a cat. "Yes. Do you?"

Mountain nods. He does. The ache in his gut is gone, the pull and drag. The moon casts ethereal light on them. Rain reaches up to pluck another flower from Mountain's head, this time a bunch of lilacs. Rain brings them to his nose and inhales deep, sighing. "If I knew that was going to happen I'd do this more often." "Don't make fun of me," Mountain says quietly, eyeing the lilacs in Rains' fingers. Rain spins them, he turns his too blue eyes to Mountain's his face twisted in confusion. "I'm not," Rain says softly. "I love it. You're always calling the rest of us pretty, but look at you. Beautiful." Mountain bites the inside of his cheek, then pulls Rain up into a soft kiss, pulling Rain down so their foreheads rest together.

"Next full moon, right here." Mountain promises. Rain grins. "It's a date."

[ameagrice]

Young Years

chapter two | your name, again?

THE LAST OF US

tommy miller x fem reader

The smell of food gave you something to focus on in this new environment.

At your side, with his sleeves rolled up as he digs in, Freddie practically wolfs down a cheeseburger and fries. You’re worried he might make himself sick—or worse, he has an allergy you haven’t had the chance to know about before now. But he seems to like the food, judging on his speed as he eats, and you don’t have the heart to tell him to slow down.

Maria sits opposite you with another girl, younger than the both of you, maybe a teenager early in her years. She’s talking about all the things you and Freddie can do here, the school, the electricity powered by the dam you passed on your way up, but it’s turning into background noise the longer you sit and eat, and something inside you is desperately trying to claw its way to the surface, screaming for a bit of quiet and solitude.

Seven months of habits is hard to break.

Maria calls your name, and your eyes drift up from the table to her own. She smiles at you kindly, but there’s an edge to it that you can’t exactly place. Something’s off.

“How are you feeling?” Maria asks gently, tilting her head a little as she talks. The girl at her side, Mary, you think she’s called, nods along like she’s a part of whatever the hell this is. You wish she’d go away and leave you adults to talk. “Usually with new folks we come here first to talk and then sort out the housing and such. But you looked pretty stressed before—I thought it would be better to get yourself and Freddie somewhere quiet.”

You nodded slowly, picking at your fries. Not one of them is cold or burned. They’re a perfect golden color and crisped just right.

“I guess it’s just, like, weird. You know—we’ve all been trying to get by surrounded by FEDRA day in day out living off of shitty rations cards while this perfect little hideout looks like it hasn’t changed since 2003. Can’t help but feel a little fucking jealous of you all, if I’m honest.” You snapped. Irritation bloomed in you.

If Maria was offended with your choice of tone and words, she didn’t show it at all. She sighed, and sat up straighter in her chair. “You’re allowed to be angry. I can’t imagine how much worse it’s gotten out there—”

“Oh, lucky you,” you snap, shoving a fry in your mouth.

“But you’re safe here. Freddie is safe here. You’re allowed to take this time to—”

“Start over?” You finish her sentence. Now she looks like she’s holding back her words. Maria’s lips are pressed tightly together. “There’s no starting over any of this. All we can do is keep going. Right? Unless you’ve got a fuckin’ time machine hiding somewhere ‘round here, too?”

A silence came over the table. Around you all, people talked and laughed, oblivious to the mental distress taking over you.

“Mom, what’s a time machine?”

—

If dinner was stressful, bed time was even worse.

And not only for you.

Getting Freddie into the shower was easy enough. Getting his pyjamas sorted and hair combed was easy enough too. But the problems began there.

Eight p.m. The sheets were too soft. The mattress wasn’t right. He couldn’t feel the wind on his cheeks anymore. All these things he wasn’t accustomed to after growing up in a draughty apartment in the QZ, and the rough sleeping against sides of mountains and on dewy, ferny woodland ground, became uncomfortable. It was a painful reminder that nothing in your son’s life had been normal up to this point.

“Come on, Freddie,” you muttered, shifting him into your arms. “Mom’s tired, too.”

His head rested on your shoulder, soft breaths fanning the skin of your neck. Mom brain was in motion, willing to do anything to make your son feel better. He was used to nature at night, so you turned the lights off and used moonlight through the now-open window to guide your way. The cool breeze hit the both of you, and only you shivered—Freddie was wrapped up in the coat you’d worn since your arrival this morning.

Your nightly routine while travelling had been pretty consistent. You’d make sure Freddie ate and drank something before settling down for the night. You’d wrap him up tight and he’d scoot down into the sleeping back with you, both for comfort for you both and for protection. He’d be out like a light, unknowing of the majority of the dangers that could come for you at any time. The blissfulness of childhood ignorance.

Ten o’clock, hips aching from shifting side to side to settle him, you moved him to the bed which was surprisingly very comfortable—Freddie simply hadn’t had the life you had. To this five-year-old, the ground was a beautiful bed, and the actual bed wasn’t welcoming. You closed the window and the curtains, and left the room, door open to hear him if he called out.

And now came the hardest part.

Leaving Freddie be.

You could have slept and gotten in some good rest of your own, you maybe read a book or tried to see if the television worked.

You instead checked on Freddie every five minutes, unaccustomed to this sudden change in lifestyle. In the QZ, it had been the two of you for almost the whole of his life. When you decided to leave, you had become his No.1 constant day in, day out. So not only did the quietude of this new home shock you to the core, but allowing your son his own space to sleep and

By the time the sun was up and kids were walking the street to school—a very foreign thing to you after so long—you hadn’t slept one bit. And of course, Freddie was wide awake.

—

A week passed. The snow fell here and there, but gradually the cold air started to decrease. Weirdly enough, you quickly became accustomed to the ways of this weird little community.

More importantly, it’s people.

Maria turned up one morning to ‘see how you were’. You had a suspicion that she just wanted to know you hadn’t up and left or worse. Deciding the woman seemed nice enough so far, you invited her in. While Freddie played in his room, obsessed with the dinosaur toys left behind, Maria and yourself talked about your future in the community.

“It would really be good for the both of you to perhaps be involved in things going on,” Maria gently advised. She took a sip of the glass of water in her hands. “Freddie could talk to some other kids his age, and you could meet new people again. It won’t be easy, I know.”

You had to agree. You’d spent the past week cleaning, moving things around, and checking out the stores with Freddie attached to your hip. You’d finally gotten some semblance of ‘normality’ back after the past decade—hell, you had fresh groceries in the refrigerator in the kitchen, all complimentary for newcomers, apparently, clearly not having your own some sort of income yet. And in the midst of all the moving around and sorting things out, you began to crave adult talk, the company of likeminded others your age. You wanted terribly for Freddie to have friends of his own once more, to play and laugh like children should do.

“Well,” you started, raising your own glass to your mouth. “How do I even start? I don’t know where to start, Maria.”

As if the woman had expected the conversation to flow this way, she began expressing ideas almost instantly. “There’s a movie on most Sunday nights in the hall. They switch it up every week; kids ones to teens and adults and such. It gets a lot of attention, attracts a lot of people. It’s a good place to start. Try to remember that the majority of the people here have been in your place. Myself included. When you come to terms with that it all gets easier.”

—

“So where are you from originally?”

“Arizona.” Your eyes swept the crowd of kids in to the side of you all sitting on chairs in front of the big screen showing an old, old episode of Tom & Jerry on a projector.

“Right, right.”

You felt a little bad that this man was trying to get a conversation out of you, with little in return, more interested in your son sitting with a little girl about his age whom Maria had introduced him to. With a few tears, Freddie had eventually agreed to sit and watch the episode with her, and so far, seemed to be enjoying it. You spied the back of his curly blond head amidst the other kids.

Your first impression of the commune hall was that it was big. Tall, with worn and faded wooden flooring, string bulb lights strung across the ceiling and around the room for light. The bar yourself and this man were standing at was located at the back of the room, between people talking, adults making fun of silly things in the Tom & Jerry episode like children, or simply just drinking.

This man had been the first person to talk to you. The first person Maria introduced you to, and the first person you wanted nothing more than to shy away from.

“You’re kinda quiet,” he said. You shifted your gaze back to him.

“I just spent seven months on my own,. Sorry if it’s a little hard to make conversation.” You snapped, and took a sip of the liquid in your glass—hot chocolate. Now, that was one thing making the whole ordeal bearable. Living off of water and watered-down fruit juice in the zone for years made this hot chocolate, creamy and topped with marshmallows, your ideal heaven. Where the hell did they get this stuff from?

“Don’t get mad at me, girly. Just tryna talk.”

You whipped your head to him, frowning. “Did it not occur to you that maybe I don’t want to talk?”

The man laughed and whistled, grinning in a way that told you plainly he wasn’t going away. This tall, broad-shouldered man in the heavy grey jacket was taking your biting words for playing hard to get, and you hated it.

He turned so his back was to the bar, and your shot him a filthy look in the process. “So,” he spoke again, and you took no shame in visibly rolling your eyes. “That boy you came in with. He your son?”

Now, you really did flip. “It’s none of your fucking business, and I think you should fucking go.”

“I think you should watch your tongue, little lady.” He barked straight back. You raised your eyes to his. They were hard, bright blue, and sent a horrible jolt through your body. “Now, I understand—”

A hand clapped on his arm, and you shifted your hip off of the bar to leave. If this was one of his friends, you didn’t want to stick around for more.

“What’s goin’ on, Garrett?” He greeted, pushing between the two of you. You scoffed under your breath and stepped a good few paces away from him.

The way this man switched up made your insides freeze. Garrett slapped the other man on the back, laughing like he’d told a good fucking joke. “Not a lot, not a lot. I was just headin’ out.”

“Oh, right. Hey, it was good to see you, man.”

“You too, Tom. I’ll see you in the morning. You still gonna be working on the stables?”

“You bet,” the man at your side laughed, though it sounded a little forced.

Garrett picked up his glass, saying a quick goodbye to a couple of guys on his way out. You watched him go, making sure the door shut behind him.

“I’m really sorry about him,” the remaining man spoke. You watched Freddie, trying not to pay him any attention. “He’s…well, you just saw how he is. It’s probably not what you wanted to happen tonight.”

You simply hummed, hoping he’d take it as a sign to leave. You weren’t interested.

“Has Maria shown you around yet?” He poked. “Usually she takes newcomers on a tour of the place their first day.”

You took a breath. If he so much as offered to take you back to his place for a tour he’d be getting socked across the face with your mug before he could take another breath.

“No. She hasn’t. Haven’t been that interested in looking around until tonight.”

There was a sound of clothes ruffling, and then in the corner of your eye, you saw him lean his elbow on the bar. “The name’s Tommy. Miller.”

You turned, and looked at him. And your eyes wandered.

His dark hair, gently curled here and there but wavy overall, rested at the white fur-lined collar of his black jacket. His eyes were dark, maybe a very dark brown but you were unable to tell properly because of the lighting. The thing that slowed your heart wasn’t his good-looks, his tanned skin and dotting of freckles on his face. It wasn’t that he looked sweetly mischievous, and old enough to be mature with the facial hair on his upper lip. It was those eyes—those goddamn, calm-looking eyes.

You could tell a lot about a person from the eyes. And his said he wouldn’t be trouble.

So, you told him your name. And he smiled.

“It’s good to meet you,” Tommy said. He raised his glass to his lips. “Shame we had to meet under Garrett’s circumstances,” he side-eyed the door.

“Tell me about it,” you muttered. “I was ready to start throwing punches.”

“Well, now you’ve told him straight, I doubt he’ll try anything again.”

“What makes you so sure?” You pried. The full lights were beginning to turn back on slowly, and the kids starting to stand up. The episode had finished. Where was Freddie?…

Tommy laughed shortly, breathily. “Garret’s the type’a guy to try his luck the first time, and when his ego’s hurt, he won’t do it again.”

“Shocker. Usually those types of guys won’t take no for an answer.” You searched the crowd of children for your own, heart rate beginning to spike. Tommy was unaware of your internal panic. He kept talking.

“Trust me, he won’t be coming back to bother you. He also has a wife, so…”

In the back of your mind, something perked up and you shot Tommy a quick look, placing your cup down on the bar. “Seriously?” And seriously, where was Freddie?

He shook his head of dark hair, swigging the last drops in his glass. “Oh, yeah. And his wife knows he does it. We all got a suspicion that she won’t be with him much longer.”

“Good for her,” you mumbled absently. “I wouldn’t want to be with him either. Look, Tommy, it was nice to meet you but I got—”

“Mom! I just watched Jerry and Tom for the first time!”

You yelped and pressed your hand to your chest in shock. Tommy was looking down, and when you did, Freddie was standing in front of you with a face covered in chocolate.

“Pretty cool, huh?” You smiled, covering your worries. “Who gave you the chocolate, dude?”

“Maria!” He giggled. “She said it’s called milk chocolate, but chocolate’s hard and milk is like water. I don’t get it.”

You looked around the bar for a tissue, and found them by Tommy’s elbow. Realising what you were looking for, the man handed one over to you, and you smiled in thanks, kneeling down to wipe the sticky remnants of sweetness off of Freddie’s mouth and cheeks. He squirmed away as you licked the tissue and tried wiping again.

“Mom,” he whined.

You stood up again. Tommy was drinking another full glass of some dark liquid, probably alcoholic, and took it as your cue to leave.

“We’re gonna get going,” you said, wrapping your arms over Freddie’s front to hold him to you. “But it was nice meeting you, Tommy.”

You trekked home through the still-busy streets, other people doing the same after the movie night. A couple of drunk guys stumble and laugh boisterously, hanging off of one another ahead of you, and you clutch Freddie’s hand even tighter as he stumbles along tiredly.

Once home, you unlock the door and usher Freddie in first, flicking on the lights, still mildly surprised when they actually turn on. Freddie runs to his room to change into some pyjamas—one of the only two pairs he had that you brought from your old apartment. You set about making a fire in the living room and getting the place warmed up.

Freddie’s little footsteps patter in soon enough, just as you’re wiping coal dust off your hands and onto your jeans.

Behind you, he says, “Mom, who was that man?”

You already know who it is he’s referring to.

“That,” you stand with a sigh, back aching, “was Tommy.”

“Oh.” He climbs onto the sofa and curls up in the corner of it.

You set about getting things ready for bed. There’s no use in trying to get him to brush his teeth before he goes to sleep, you realise—he’s already halfway there. With the curtains closed, the door locked, and you’ve done a full sweep search of the house ensuring nobody and nothing’s inside who shouldn’t be, you head back into the living room.

There’s a kind of mom instinct, you know, that just helps you to know things. You know when your child is in danger. You know when they’re upset and not saying anything. And you know when they need you even when they don’t say it.

You lay down next to your son, who instantly curls into you, his breath tickling your chest. With your cheek on his head, rubbing your thumb back and forth across his shoulder, you close your eyes.

Tommy Miller’s name floats around your head.

Taglist (comment or message if you’d like to be added!)

@mimi-luvzyu

[visionthefox]

Really long post as a warning, apologies in advance

The new therapy episode is out with Moon this time and personally...I feel a little...Underwhelmed? Like things weren't addressed fully or didn't go far enough? It might just be because of headcanons but going point by point

Moon said he was involving Sun more with plans surrounding Solar but no he hasn't, he's told Sun about things but he hasn't actually asked Sun to help him on missions or with building anything, it's at least good that he's keep Sun somewhat in the loop but still

Sarcasm doesn't even begin to cover how Old Moon was, and the whole thing about "everything he did was because he loved and wanted to protect us" feels...Weird, because yes that was some of it, but Old Moon went about those things the complete wrong way, I mean he locked Sun in a bunker when he couldn't convince Sun out of going after Eclipse, and a bunch of other things like that, and other times what he did wasn't him even protecting them but lashing out or being impulsive, or doing things to avoid dealing with emotions or consequences, he was a bit of a coward, not everything Old Moon did was benevolent, a lot of it was selfish too

Old Moon not wanting to speak to Sun is also cowardly, and even if Old Moon is fearing it because "its the only thing he'll remember from now on", so what? He and Sun need closure and if he's afraid he'll lash out and hurt Sun he needs to control himself and actually apologize and listen to Sun's grievances rather than steamrolling or minimizing them, Sun may need convincing because of course he'd be avoidant, but this feels important enough that it probably should happen, and maybe Earth could help if she were to be there, if nothing else to be Sun's supportive rock in case things get heated, though it might also be good if Sun stands on his own, either way Earth's right that it might if nothing else bring clarity and closure if it were to happen

Old Moon telling New Moon to sacrifice himself again, even if he later went back on it, felt so wrong, because Old Moon had several other reasons he sacrificed himself besides just protecting people, like being crushed by guilt but not wanting to face it, doing it without asking anybody first because he didn't want to or didn't think it or whatever reason he had, and to ask New Moon to do that again even though, considering Old Moon could see New Moon's memories he could probably see how badly the grief of losing Old Moon affected everyone, especially Sun, if he claims to care about and want them to be happy so badly he shouldn't ask New Moon to put his family through the same trauma again, no wonder New Moon was put off, also Old Moon had threatened New Moon that if he failed to protect them he'd make New Moon pay and even if that was an empty threat that was still a threat

I feel like New Moon's concerns about Sun are valid, not that Sun has displayed actual worrying tendencies(yet), but we all know Sun's still bottling things up, keeping things quiet, he's so tired of losing everything and previously he did go to incredible lengths to protect people...Only for it to backfire(Old Moon's death, Bloodmoon in a way because of the psychological consequences for himself), and Sun taking a break from everything, I get what they mean, him stepping away, but as you've stated before it moreso felt like he was just left alone and nobody talked to him as usual, he still felt excluded and left to potentially fester, who knows if he's still hallucinating anymore

I want to see more of these talks Earth referred to since it still feels like Sun's left out of things and when we do see his therapy episodes he's still so quiet

And yeah...Sun is strong! Really freaking strong considering everything he's been through would break a lot of people and yet his mind hasn't snapped yet

I totally get why New Moon feels like he doesn't match up to Old Moon, not feeling smart enough or good enough, that somehow he is being "held back", yet I also feel like its a good thing, New Moon not being as angry and holding himself to a higher standard is a good thing, one of Old Moon's biggest flaws was his anger and the ruthlessness that resulted from it, the fact that Solar was the only one keeping New Moon back with his anger felt a bit odd though, I get why Sun wouldn't intervene because of trauma from Old Moon's outbursts, but it feels weird that Solar was the only person that could get New Moon to calm down and listen when in an enraged state, if New Moon is aware of that and doesn't want to be that way he could take steps to fix it now that Solar isn't around anymore(I miss Solar)

Old Moon did leave a legacy, but it wasn't a good one, it feels bad that that legacy haunts New Moon and was the first thing shoved on him since he has proven himself to be better than Old Moon in a lot of ways, but old vendettas die hard

I'm not going to address KC much(because thoughts on him his redemption still felt so weird), but it feels really weird that he didn't mention Dark Sun here, because this was the perfect place to mention him, why not tell Earth and Lunar since they should know if there's a potentially dangerous doppelganger of Sun running around, and have New Moon voice his feelings around seeing Dark Sun, since he was shaken when he first met him and it might be good for New Moon to process it, come to realize certain things about the greater multiverse and whatnot

It felt a little unsatisfying because it feels like some things were not addressed, like there could've been more revelations that could've happened but didn't, nothing was mentioned about Dark Sun, etc...Also a little miffed they didn't lay into Old Moon more but that's a nitpick. Though! The episode was still good in that it brought up some good points, not to seem like it's wholly negative, its good to see Moon get some more therapy after his breakdown and Sun giving him a break day

...Boy that was long...But what does everyone think?

OHH LONG TEXT! yaassss also, for my sake, I wont be seeying the ep right now, so I take your words, plus even if I do see it, I sense I know how usually these chats go, also is mostly opinion base over here !

I do agree on something- these "therapy" seems at times, a one side chat of Earth trying to move the combo around (not bad but- I dont think thats what therapist should do..?) and other times is people just speaking without much "line" to follow and I guess is the only "real" thing on a therapy, you dont walk in there with a script, you let your ideas flow, and is a mess- yet still, you go there with a goal - kinda of. you let things out- or try to. I do see why Moon would not adress the actual important issue when in a emotional state, he seems to do that often, block on the issue and panic- stress and not listen.. (also yes- Sun has trauma with OldMoon but so did Solar too, why does he gets to be one calming Moon tho? is cute in ship but in canon is.. mmh-) Old Moon is always a eeky topic to touch, since we know he did loved his family, but we also cant deny all the trauma HE caused too and how many flaws he has, is not hate on him, is seeying the holes, adress the holes, and hope it would be fixed sooner Same as Sun, in my side- I dont want Sun to die- but Im not gonna deny the rather worrying details of is "calm life" - the drinking, being alone for too long (as a rather Social AI mind ya!) how he does go silent when Earth or anyone mention "how happy you look" they NEVER had meet his true happy self, his carefree self, his actual self.. they know the "not so stress out" Sun only.. and is sad! because Earth mistakes "happy" with "calm" is not the same Sun had lied before, with his magic, with being ok, with BloodMoon for months before anyone noticed - he can hide his issues again- one can hope now his family can indeed notice and not think "oh he is fine tho!" in all, I love your comment! I love this ask, is interesting and well, I could go deeper but I guess I did made my takes clear in the past- so I do want to know what others think of your ask too <3 leave another ask or comment in the post! what do you think? :D

[weenis-world]

Hank x Fem!Reader angst to fluff?

Plot: Hank's S/O is possesed by The Auditor. He manages to snap S/O but she's unconcious. After she recovers, they have a nice cuddling session.

Have a great day!

WOOOOOO FIRST REQUEST LETS GOOOO

Sorry Its A Little Late Lol School Ya know

It Was Just Like Any Other Misson, Well It Was Supposed To Be Atleast. Hank And His S/o Raiding a Seemingly Abandoned Building For Weapons And Other Resources. Doc Had Said The Tip They Had Got For It Was A Little Strange But Hank Thought It Was Nothing You Two Couldnt Handle. But He Was Wrong. The Both Of You Stood Surounded By Mags. You Both Were Injured, Unable To Fight Any Longer You Both Surrendered, And Thats When The Sea Of Mags Parted To Reveal The Firery Leader Of The AAHW. Hank Wrapped His Arms Around You, Trying To Do Anything To Keep The Light Of His Life Safe. ''Hello Hank And...Friends?" Hank Did Not Respond. The Auditor Took Notice Of How Hank Protectively Wrapped His Arms Around The Other Grunt And A New Plan Formed In His Mind. "Seems Youve Found Yourself A Lover, Dont Mind If I Do." He Rips The Grunt Out Of Hanks Arms While They Desprately Hung Onto Eachother. "Let Go Of Her!" Hank Yelled Up To The Auditor. "What are You Going To Do Hank, Fight Me?" He Let Out A Particularly Vicious Laugh And With His Army Of Mags Set Off To Complete The Auditor's New Plan. Back At The Base Hank, After Being Pached Up, Paced Around In Docs Makeshift Infirmary. Hank Lifted His Hands And Began To Sign. "We Need To Go Get Her." "Hank I Understand You Fear For S/o Saftey But We Do Not Have The Supplies To Do A Rescue Mission Right Now And Thats Final" "Fine, i'll Do It Myself." "Did You Not Hear What I Just Said? None Of Us Are-" The Door To The Infirmary Burst Open, The Culprits? Sanford And Deimos "Hey Guys, Your Gonna Wanna See This." The Four Men Rushed Out Of The Office To See S/o Sitting On The Lumpy Uncomfortable Couch Watching Whatever Trash Tv Was On. Hank Grabbed Her And Held Her Close. The Fear And Anger Brewing In His Depths Was Completly Replaced By Relief. But She Seemed Off. "Hank, Not right Now Please, I Have Something I Need To Tell Everyone" They All Surounded Her Expected To Hear How She Managed To Escape. "Guys! I Found A Place Full Of Resources And Weapons!" "S/o Is That All?" "Yeah Your Not Gonna Tell Us How You Escaped?" She Went Stiff "Err Well, Thats Not Important Right Now. Lets Just Go Get The Truck And Go To The Place To Grab The Stuff, I'll Tell You Guys About It Later." They All Looked Confused, Why Was She So Adament About Going To That Weird Place? "Sure S/o Go Get The Truck" Sanford Threw Her The Keys. When She Left They All Turned To Talk. "Whats Going On?" "Yeah She Acting Weird, Usually She Would Be Joking Around And Braging About How She Managed To Escape" Hank Began To Sign But Was Cut Off By His S/o Barging In "You Guys Ready to Go?" "Im Going To Stay Here I Have Work I Need To-" "Nuhuh Doc Your Coming To We Need All Hands On Deck, Cmon" "Now Wait A Second We Need To Make Sure Its Safe." "I know Its Safe!" "Yeah Cmon You Just Got Home Dontcha Wanna Yaknow Relax." "No! We Are Not Relaxing We Are Going Now! All Of Us, Right Now!" They All Looked At Her Shocked At Her Strange Outburst. "S/o Your Starting To Concern Us, Were Not Going Until I Can Give You A Checkup." "You Know What, Fine. I Wanted to Do This The Easy Way But, SInce Im Already Here Ill Just Take You By Force." She Raised Her Arm And Her Possesion Became Obvious By The Way Her Eyes Glowed. A Black Flame Raised From Her Hand But Before ANything Could Happen Hank Took A Jar And Trapped It. The Moment He Closed The Lid His Lover Fell To The Ground, Unconsious. Everbody Stood In Shock Until Hank Put The Jar On The Counter And Grabbed His Lover, Taking Her Back Into Thier Shared Room And Placing Her Gently On The Bed. He Was Going To Go Back To Talk With The Others About What In The World Just Happened When He Looked Back Towards S/o. Her Soft Hair Splaying Out On The Pillow While She Snuggled Up Under The Covers. He Couldnt Help Himself, He Was Just So Worried About Her. Hopping Into Bed And Holding Her Close. He Could Feel Her Soft Warm Breath Against His Skin And He Decided That He Would Never Let The Events Of Today Happen Again, He Will Do Whatever It Takes To Make Sure That She Is Safe.

Ahh Im Not To Proud Of This But I Hit The Text Block :/ This Was A Fun Promt Though I Really Enjoyed This!

[yoshistack]

It is Code: Swap time my dudes.

Hey @feyinvestigations! I'm the one responsible for your @code-swap gift this year!

They wanted any kind of horror involving the monsters. And while horror's not exactly my usualykind of genre and the simulation bubble from Ghost Channel isn't exactly a monster, the prompt presented an opportunity that was too good to pass up on!

I hope you enjoy it!

AO3 Link: Right here my friends

-

Something is wrong.

The return to the past sends you tumbling back into your body from earlier today. Back into English class you go, once more taking notes about the importance of Shakespeare’s work as the teacher reads excerpts aloud in a dry tone to your class as an example.

You put your heroics from mere seconds ago away and slip back into the persona of an attentive student easily, even if in actuality you are just doodling in your notebook a picture of one of your fans from Lyoko (You’ve heard this lecture before and understood it the first time, it’s fine). Returning in time is always a disorienting experience, but this time, you think, doesn’t seem too bad. Minus a bit of a buzzing in your ears. Must be the lights.

And then your teacher stutters.

It’s not a normal slip of the tongue. Her words seem to catch on themself, like they're getting in each others way, repeating a few times way faster than they should, and then they seem to rewind before she starts speaking again. Same tone and volume as she’d been speaking with before. Like a faulty video that takes a few tries to play a particular section correctly.

The buzzing gets louder; your head snaps up to look at her and you see her fizzle. 

You’re not sure you're seeing things correctly. You only see the tail end of it—a strange series of jagged lines covering her form and the book in her hand for just a split second before disappearing just as quickly as you saw them. With a turn of the teachers page, they're gone.

Did you imagine that?

You look around to see if anyone else noticed, but no one looks up from their notes or whatever else they’re looking at. 

The teacher keeps talking as if nothing is wrong too. You duck your head back down and stare holes into your notebook as she keeps reading. The pencil has gone slack in your hand. No one seems to notice that either.

Maybe you’re just seeing things.

The lights buzz noisily above you.

Your drawing goes unfinished. And you don’t catch much of the rest of the lecture this time.

-

Something is wrong.

Jeremy is off on his own away from the rest of you. According to Ulrich and Odd he’s been sulking since they got back to class—something about being mad about Odd’s quippy comments about his sense of heroism from before. You want to talk to him about what you saw, but the others tell you to let him simmer for a little while longer.

You see him give you all a side eye from his spot near a tree before he returns his attention to his laptop. 

You think it’s a little weird. Jeremy’s not one to mope—at least, not over something like this. But then again maybe everyone’s entitled to an off day every now and again. 

Maybe.

Ulrich and Odd aren’t unconcerned with the news when you tell them, but they’re not entirely convinced it’s immediately dangerous either.

You’re not sure if you agree or not.

Your mouth feels exceptionally dry. You go to the vending machine to get a drink before your next class. The machine lets out its usual buzzing hum as you approach it; it’s strangely loud today. When you try pressing one of the buttons though, you feel a jolt of static course through your fingers. The buttons are crackling with fizzling edges when you pull your hand back.

You decide you’re not that thirsty after all.

-

Something is wrong.

There’s something off you feel when you enter the cafeteria. Something about the air around you, some kind of bizarre, almost electric-like energy to it as you pick up your tray from an uncharacteristically quiet and subdued Rosa. But there’s something missing from it too that you can’t pinpoint.

The lights in here are buzzing too. Someone should really look into that.

Ulrich and Odd arrive at your table before you can think too much about it. Their presence is a distracting blessing. Odd starts regaling you both to a story about his last skateboard competition and the ordeal that was replacing his broken wheels in the middle of it. He’s about halfway through shoving more food into his mouth and his tale when Sissi walks by.

Odd pivots to making a jab at her shirt color instead (it really is an obnoxious shade of yellow). She counters as huffy and haughty as expected before storming off to another table behind you. You all laugh. 

And then it happens again.

The world fizzles.

The chatter from everyone around you stops with a harsh crackle. Then rewinds, and plays out over again as if nothing happened. Sissi returns to her spot by your table without any of you noticing.

She insults you all again, this time without Odd saying a word about her or her stupid shirt. Ulrich and Odd seem absolutely baffled and look at you with wide eyes.

All you can focus on are the thin lines flickering off her curled fingers as she leaves.

-

Something is wrong.

You see Nicholas and Herve get into a fight out on the field during your break and their gym class. That’s not out of the ordinary for them—their relationship is strange and seems bounce wildly between the two ends of the sliding scale that is ‘friends versus enemies’ frequently on even their best days.

But then they start fizzling too.

The motions of Herve kicking and Nicholas backing away from him both pause in a freeze frame. A warping energy encases the two of them, they stay stationary yet move backwards—like a rewinding video. And then the whole event plays out again as soon as the lines fade away as if nothing happened. Your breath catches in your throat at the sight.

No one else acknowledges it.

But you can’t not.

You find Jeremy sitting conspicuously on the edge of the bleachers nearby. Which is weird; why isn’t he in class too? You try asking him, but he dismisses it as just a matter of handling Jim the right way.

That seems even weirder.

The weirdest part though, is his demeanor. He looks completely uninterested in the world around him or even what’s on his laptop’s screen as he types away on it. When he speaks to you, the usual bounce to his voice—his excitement about anything with his programming escapades or especially to do with Aelita—has gone completely flat, almost monotone even. He mentions not being able to get into contact with Aelita the same way you’d talk to a stranger about the weather. It's... bizarrely calm for him.

He’s not at all concerned about the… fizzling either. He barely even seems to register you saying anything to him, just tells you not to worry too much about it.

And that just makes you all the more worried instead.

His laptop is humming in his lap as you start to walk away from him. 

You swear you can still hear it buzzing even long after he’s out of earshot.

-

Something is wrong.

You feel it as soon as you walk through the front door. It’s eerily quiet, and not in a way your house should be at this time of day. No busied chatter about work, no soft music playing on the radio, no sounds of your mom cooking or your brother playing his obnoxiously loud video games. Instead all you hear is that buzzing sound that keeps ringing faintly in your ears.

It keeps hanging over you, like a faulty fluorescent or an old vending machine or an overworked laptop. But louder.

You don’t like it.

You ignore it and call out to your parents, letting them know you’re home.

Nothing.

The door closes behind you. The air feels strange. Heavy, yet charged with something frantic—like static. Whatever it is makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up all the same. It almost reminds you of how the air feels right before it’s supposed to storm. 

You’re not supposed to feel that inside.

There’s a distinct lack of any of the usual smells in your house too; you can’t catch a whiff of your moms favorite vanilla scented candle or smell any trace of the too strong floral freshener you know is plugged in nearby like it always is.

Have you smelled anything all day? That’s a strange thought to have…

A clinking sound nearby catches your attention. The lights are on in the kitchen. Is someone home after all? Maybe they just didn’t hear you. You move toward that room. You get to the entrance of the kitchen and find your parents both sitting around the table, your dad with a newspaper in hand and a bowl of god nearby, and your mom hovering around him. Your shoulders sag in relief.

Then your parents both fizzle.

And you almost scream. 

You stumble back toward the hallway wall and ungracefully crash your back against it with an audible this. Your backpack goes flying past the threshold into the kitchen. But you can’t take your eyes off your parents. They seem to almost warp in front of you, frames stuttering and shifting as a static like fog overtakes them both. They both shift into new poses as it clears away: now your dad is eating mindlessly from his bowl and your mother is cleaning around him. 

They don’t acknowledge your presence at all.

You just stare. You can’t move. Can you even feel your legs?

Then they fizzle again. 

And you run for the stairs.

They don’t make any move to try and follow you; you hear them buzz and shift again in the distance. But there’s not any following footsteps.

You feel like you can’t breathe. What’s going on? What’s wrong with your parents?

…

Where’s your brother?

You abruptly turn from your door towards his, only to find your blood running cold again.

His door’s not there.

It’s not there it’s not there it’s not there.

You run back downstairs.

They’re still fizzling. Flickering. Just… shifting into various natural looking poses in such horribly unnatural ways.

Something is wrong.

Your hand stretches tentatively forward towards your parents. You want this to be a horrible prank; a part of you knows it’s not. You want proof anyway.

Your fingers meet the space where your mom’s shoulder should be.

They phase through. You feel nothing but cold static in the place of a warm body.

Something is wrong something is wrong something is wrong something is wrong something is wrong something is-

You hear Ulrich’s voice. You called him on autopilot without realizing. You cradle the phone in your hands like a lifeline, cling on to the sound of his voice as you watch your dad cycle through various different poses without a single real glance towards you.

These aren’t your parents. They look like them, but they’re nothing more than facsimiles of them, cheap copies placed there to imitate the most basic idea of them. There’s no warmth in their eyes or care in their movements.

They’re flat, missing those small parts of them that make them… them.

Just like Jeremy’s voice.

Ulrich tells you to get out of there, that you’ll meet at the factory. You make him promise not to tell Jeremy to meet them there too.

Something is wrong with him too.

Ulrich hangs up. Your parents fizzle into a new set of poses that look right through you. 

Your ears are buzzing.

You bolt out the door.

[waspyards]

i know this is just me repeating myself now but i rlly am like, so unbelieving abt the fact that ive managed no actual successful productive studying like ive spent p much every day trying to get myself to focus even a little bit & nothing worked. ive never gone into an exam w so little prep before thank god its online + open book + 24 hrs bc id have a guaranteed fail otherwise

[twistedwonderlandsimps]

ENA!Yuu

I'm just here to mix-and-match different kinds of Yuus with different kinds of personalities to see what monstrosity I can make. That being said,,, ENA!Yuu brainrot!

"Salutations, kind strangers! May you please point me towards the direction of my abode? I seem to be lost in your odd and lovely world!"

They wear a two-tone colored mask that changes its appearance and color depending on the situation.

How does it change its color and appearance? Magic.

The default is color, of course, the iconic blue and yellow ENA has.

Their voice also switches sporadically between male and female.

No one has ever seen what they look like behind the mask.

People have tried and all have failed.

Gives others a bit of uncanny valley vibes because of their body movements and actions.

They move as if they're a GIF on loop and it just looks a bit too unnatural.

Can't help but just think of ENA!Yuu going,,,

Yuu: "I came here to bring you a gift! :)" holds out hands

 Character: "There's... nothing there?"

 Yuu: cups the character's face :D

 haracter: "..." loading :v

 Character: realization "!!!"

ENA! Yuu considers Twisted Wonderland a peculiar world.

Mostly because they live in a surreal world that makes no sense.

Therefore, being brought to Twisted Wonderland, a world with sense, is senseless to them since their normal is not normal to Twisted Wonderland and Twisted Wonderland's normal is not normal to them, ya get me?

It's alright if you don't. I even confuse myself sometimes.

Probably likes it at Heartslabyul since it has a surreal and nonsense feel to it that would make them feel kind of at home.

They got very nervous one time that they vomited static/noise.

The static turned into an hourglass dog.

Grim now has this weird-looking dog following him all around the school.

He says he doesn't like the dog but we all know he's lying.

The dog operates on cartoon logic. It's virtually unkillable.

And by that I mean someone flattened it into a pancake by accident.

Everyone was silently horrified to see the dog flattened on the ground.

Only to see it snap back into its original shape with a pop, unharmed and good as new.

Speaking of accidents, Riddle was probably the one who made ENA!Yuu nervous.

He probably said something about breaking the rules and Sad ENA!Yuu took over and started self-deprecating themselves.

Someone made ENA!Yuu too sad one time and put them in full sadness mode.

Their mask just glitched and it suddenly turned gray and faceless which freaked the others out cause this has never happened before???

Yuu, are you okay???? Do you need anything?

ENA!Yuu quickly covered their "face" and stomped their feet, their words muffled and ineligible as they cry and warble and have a mental breakdown.

Of course this just made their friends panic more cause yuu,,, having mental breakdown??? And their "face" gone???? And they can't understand them????

What do they even do in this situation???

Thankfully Happy ENA!Yuu takes over the next moment before they can hurt themselves and calmly drawls out a simple, "Ah, my apologies."

Also, Crowley vs sad ENA!Yuu

Crowley says something along the lines of "blah blah blah, aren't I so kind?"

Sad ENA!Yuu: wailing loudly "I'M SORRY, I DON'T DESERVE IT!!!"

Everyone in the immediate vicinity: stares judgingly at Crowley as usual

Whatever shite Crowley tries to pull, sad ENA!Yuu will be there to guilt trip them back to responsibility.

Crewel vibes the hourglass dog.

Probably thought the dog was a bit weird-looking at first but it grew on him.

It plops itself onto his shoulder whenever it sees him and he lets it.

Sam most likely starts selling marketable plushies of the hourglass dog because it became popular among the student body.

Hourglass dog has become the favorite squish toy.

Does ENA!Yuu also become a marketable plushie? Hmmm...

When they have enough simps, Sam probably will with Yuu’s permission.

ENA!Yuu: pops up from behind a counter :D 

Trey: in the middle of baking "Yuu?? What are you doing-"   ENA!Yuu: "Turrón!”   [Cue Trey having no clue what the hecc is going on as Ena!Yuu keeps repeating "Turrón" again and again until he realizes that Yuu most likely wanted to eat turrón so he makes some for them.]

Sometimes Grim becomes worried about Yuu.

He occasionally catches them 'glitching' away and being replaced by a mannequin for a split second before they return back to normal.

Sometimes it's a mannequin, sometimes a mess of a polygon.

He asks Yuu about this only to be met with a nonchalant shrug.

ENA!Yuu themselves has no idea what's happening.

Grim leaves it be for now.

Also...   Azul: trying to get ENA!Yuu sign a contract   ENA!Yuu: "Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no-"   Azul: "..."   ENA!Yuu: "-no, no, no, no, no-"   Azul: "..."   ENA!Yuu: "-no, no, no."   Azul: "A simple ‘no’ would've sufficed..."

Yuu mostly 'glitches' when they get 'hurt'.

Floyd likes to squeeze Yuu a lot because of this since they look funny.

I like to think that ENA!Yuu doesn't have any concept of pain in this so they just let Floyd be.

At first, that is.

It’s just that they don’t realize that they’re hurt.

I mean, how do you get polygons to feel pain?

They probably don't bleed in the first place anyway.

That being said, ENA!Yuu probably had a polygon form body before they arrived in Twisted Wonderland.

They only got their 'human' body when they arrived.

It's kind of like the world is 'fixing' their entire being to be more understandable in the new world.

Like some kind of filter to make the human mind understand their form in a logical and reasonable manner.

Like getting a patch to make the game run smoothly and fix bugs.

Cause I mean, I dunno 'bout y'all but if I started seeing a hyper realistic person made out of polygon in the real world I would be scared af and my brain would not be able to handle that.

That's like some eldritch level stuff right there.

So pain is a foreign concept to them.

ENA!Yuu not understanding why they feel a stinging feeling and panicking the first time they see themselves bleed.

They glitched heavily.

Which made the others realize that ENA!Yuu glitching = ENA!Yuu hurt = glitching bad!

Floyd didn't find the glitching effect fun anymore.

Yuu having to deal with overblots and at the same time newfound sensations and feeling caused by their 'human' body.

[suna-reversed]

Hello :)

Sukuna. fluff. Pretty please.

Could you write something about sukuna falling for itadori's best friend. You can throw some angst in there too because I am a masochist❤️

Sukuna x F! Reader 

oh god, this turned purely self indulgent halfway through. low key thinking of turning this into a series to give you the angst you deserve.

A/N: (reader is Itadori’s senior and is 18) (loosely inspired by the song “me and my husband” by mitski)

“And I am the idiot with the painted face

In the corner, taking up space

But when he walks in, I am loved, I am loved”

——-

- You had been one of the few poor senior students who had been victim to what had been Itadori’s “elevator pitch” for more people to join the occult club early back in high school. [the said “elevator pitch” being him jumping out at random people with a white bedsheet over his head saying “boo” as he handed you the club form]

- You didn't end up joining the club. But you somehow did end up getting joined at the hip with the chaotic mess under the white sheet.

- Whether it was you two rushing to the theatre to watch Jennifer Lawrence’s new movie,  or going to a revolving sushi place [only to get pocky from a nearby vending machine instead because revolving sushi is apparently expensive], Itadori Yuuji had become a comforting and very important presence in your life.

- So of course when he suddenly dropped out of your life, being the worried friend you were, you decided to poke around a little only to find out that he was...dead?

- Maybe a few months down the line, you would’ve started to slightly recover from the tragic news you had just gotten. Instead, what you got was your supposedly dead best friend popping up days later to tell you that he ate a finger and now he was the vessel for some centuries old curse,,,

- Um yeah...safe to say that Yuji did not expect you to go into the fit of emotions that you did [boy had the audacity to call you dramatic for fainting and then crying while hugging him once you gained consciousness] 

- some time passed and Yuji and you didn’t see each other much with him practically training to be the strongest jujutsu sorcerer. Still, simply happy to have him back alive, your brain managed to convinced itself that everything was still the same. 

- And it was when he’d sneak out a day or two from his heavy schedule and you’d be back to your normal routine of watching movies, stuffing your face with snacks, getting your face licked by the mouth on Yuji’s hand…

- ,,,wait what

- The first time the curse had made contact with you was simply out of annoyance of why the stupid brat even took the time to see someone as mundane as you so often.

- His plan was to simply scare you into leaving, knowing it would cause the brat pain.

- So he grabbed the opportunity when Yuji moved forward to brush off some popcorn dust on the side of your mouth, not only licking the side of your face but also being successful in slightly grazing his teeth against your tender skin. 

- Yuji had mentioned that being a vessel had caused some weird physical “abnormalities” for him. you didn’t understand it back then but at least knowing that had sort of prepared you for such an instance.

- So imagine the curse’s surprise [and an even further growing annoyance] when your eyes barely widened for a second before you burst into laugher, 

“Didn’t you train your dog to not bite?”

- by now, Yuji had jumped 5 feet away from you and was still halfway through his string of apologies, but upon hearing your reaction, he mused on your fake calm while letting out a chuckle himself, 

- “Guess I’ve got to get a leash for him” 

- By this point, the ever so indifferent curse had taken two teenagers talking about him like a mere annoyance as a personal challenge.

- And that’s how it started.

- He’d come out every now and then, licking your fingers as Yuji passed you something or making lewd remarks on anything and everything that you ever started a conversation about. 

- But you and Yuji barely paid him attention and it was an understatement to say that it infuriated the living hell out of him.

- Particularly you, who wouldn’t even be annoyed or sarcastic about his tactics anymore. Instead, treating him like a friend who was simply joining you and the brat to hang out. 

- He hated it. Hated how bright your laugh was. Hated how you made them stop every time you saw a stray animal just so you could pet it. Hated how your skin was as soft as a cloud and how you sometimes smelled like cherry blossoms. He’d kill you in an instant if he could ugh.

- it was a weekend and Yuji and you had been watching a movie, even though Yuji was barely paying attention. You knew he was tired as his large frame slumped over your shoulder. Pulling the blanket up to his face, you once again felt the wet feeling of the assaults you had grown familiar with on the side of your hand.

- “You could’ve just asked for a pocky if you wanted one, no need to lick it off my fingers you grumpy little thing”, you laughed as you stood up to go to the bathroom

- that snapped the final string. 

- Coming back into your living room, you wondered if Yuji had somehow gotten up in his sleep and managed to draw weird black lines over himself all in the span of 5 minutes. 

- ‘Yuji, what the fuck?’

- ‘Well well, now who’s acting like a grumpy little thing’ 

- The deep voice sent rumbles down your spine and you knew in an instant what had happened. 

- Even though your breath hitched in your throat and your body begged for you to run as fast away as you can, you held your ground as you simply tilted your head at the curse 

- “Well, I’d like my best friend back if you don’t mind.”

- You saw the smirk on Sukuna’s face falter for just a second before he crossed the space between the couch and you.

- Now as strong of a front as you managed to hold up until now, watching something like that stride straight towards you would have had even the strongest of sorcerers shitting bricks.

- Instinctively, you took a few steps backwards, but he simply continued to close the distance between the two of you until you were backed up against the wall.

- You flinched as he slammed a hand right next to your head and he seemed to gain immense satisfaction from that as he looked down at your startled face with a smirk plastered on his tattooed face. 

- Sukuna was sure that you’d be begging for his mercy any second now. His smirk widened and he was ready to mock your pleas as he saw you open your mouth to say something, 

- “ ...so much for a damn pocky.”

- All those other times you had caught the curse off guard were nothing compared to the “partially-confused partially-baffled” expression that he held on his face now. It almost made him look human. Almost.

- You didn’t realise just how long you were holding his gaze until Yuji took back control and apologized like a million times over, reassuring you that he would’ve never let you get hurt. 

- The curse didn’t show up for almost a week after that. And while you were grateful for not having to wash off your hands or face 14 times a day, you somehow felt anxious about its sudden disappearance. 

- All those worries were thrown out the window as he once again showed up while Yuji was passed out on the couch after a particularly tough session with Gojo sensei.

- Looking at the curse, you felt anger more than anything, how could he just drop out on you with no warning and then show up in the middle of your living room- ...wait a second, why the hell are you mad at a literal curse for not telling you he was taking a mental health break or whatever it was that he was doing? 

- While you sorted out through these conflicting thoughts in your mind, the curse seemed to be going through a similar crisis. 

- Having woken up in the brat’s fragile human body with no warning whatsoever, Sukuna wasn’t in the mood to see your face so soon again. He didn’t know why your physical presence unsettled him so much. All he knew was that he hated it. Even more now that he knew what you looked like all scared and small compared to his vessel’s towering build, and how you smelled even sweeter than what he had tasted, and how despite all that you still had the courage to stand up to someone as dangerous as him. Ugh, disgusting. 

- “The stupid brat passed out.”

- Such a simple statement caused you to snap your head up at him. But he didn’t wait for your reaction as he somehow managed to plop down on the couch while still looking graceful. Picking up the half eaten box of pocky, he warily pulled one out, eyeing it as if it was  a poisoned dagger before breaking off a piece and placing it on his tongue.

- “This is what you would risk your life for, brat?” 

- He turned his head slightly to look at you still frozen in place, staring at him with that doe eyed look that made his chest burn a little. Isn’t this what he wanted all along?

- “Are you simply going to stand there and gawk? I don’t bite-...well, not unless you ask me to.”

- He knew that would set you right back to your usual self,

 - “...maybe we do need to get a leash after all.”

- Sukuna internally grinned as he saw you move to the other side of the couch, ready to hear whatever more of the snarky comeback that you’d have (not that he was anticipating it, it was just the better alternative to being gaped at. Or so he told himself)

- “You ate the non chocolate covered part of the pocky by the way-”

- “As if a layer of this disgusting brown substance can make the rotten stick taste bette-”

- “Well aren’t sticks all you had to eat in yOuR TiME anyways?”- 

—-

- You somehow managed to fall asleep after the bickering, proceeding to sit in silence after you told him to not bother you while you tried to read. You wouldn’t admit it, but you were a little disappointed when he actually didn’t. Instead, he sat on the couch with a slight smirk still plastered on his face, continuing to simply gaze at you. your heart did lunges every time you slyly looked up from your book to take a peak at him. you wondered how many ways he had come up with to kill you so far. 

- On the other hand, the curse sat idly, watching you while his thoughts rumbled in his mind. Maybe killing you can be pushed off the agenda for now. There are much better ways to hurt the brat anyways aren't there? Perhaps he could use one of these brownish covered sticks to-...what is he thinking?

- He ultimately deems it stupid brat’s humane emotions and sheer stupidity that must be interfering with his thoughts.

- A loud sneeze snaps him out of his daze as he sees you slumped against a pillow, your book falling off your lap. And then he does something that he immediately decides that he would pretend to have not done for the rest of his existence. Luckily, the brat takes back control right after he does it anyways.

- But that thought slips his mind as he finds himself replaying the serene look on your face as he gently pulled the book out of your hands, and how his hands shook a little as you nuzzled your nose into the fabric of the blanket that he pulled over you. How could you have felt so calm around him?

[444tsumu]

title Not His Type

rating ★ ★ ☆ nsfw content

word count 4,800+

warnings timeskip!mattsun, yes i’m writing that he still practices w the s4, anyways explicit content, matsukawa calls you a bitch, spitting, rough sex, spanking, mattsun fucks you in his car, oral sex (f!reader giving), don't be silly wrap your willy folks

author’s note thanks to @kansroji for forcing me encouraging me to write this self-indulgent mattsun fic, send her her flowers everyone bc this was just muah :*

summary Issei teaches you that the meaning behind the words ‘I hate you’ is a lot different from what you’re used to.

“God, do you ever shut the fuck up?”

“How could someone be such a bitch?”

“I don’t know Mattsun, you tell me.”

There are two things necessary to keep the world spinning on its axis: inertia, and the insatiable hatred between you and Issei Matsukawa.

No one quite knows where it came from. Maybe it was your lack of regard for his permanently disinterested personality, or maybe it was the insufferable habit you had of making a comment every time Matsukawa did as much as make a noise— whatever it was, it was a never ending cycle of pure repugnance.

His tone was light, yet knowing Iwaizumi, you knew it was wavering on a more strict tone you really didn’t want to hear today.

Oikawa watched the interaction between the three of you, eyes narrowing as he did something nobody appreciates from him: he started plotting.

Oikawa watched the interaction between the three of you, eyes narrowing as he did something nobody appreciates from him: he started plotting.

To you and Issei, the nature of your relationship was that there wasn’t one at all. There was nothing but an indescribable hatred that will never go away because you guys just physically can’t stand the other.

To everyone else though? In Hanamaki’s words, “you guys just needed to fuck and get it over with already.” Sexual tension couldn’t fill half of the void the storm you and Mattsun left after every exchanged word. It nearly swallowed the room, the only two not able to see it being yourself and the middle blocker.

With an inquisitive look on his face, Oikawa decided the only way to get rid of this long lasting rivalry being now or never. “My dear Y/L/N, bad news.”

The words brought you back down to Earth, making you bite down a glare at the bored man in front of you and turning towards the setter.

“As much as I’d love to be the one to take you home,” he winks at you, long arm reaching out to lightly press itself against your cheek and you already see where this is going, “I just can’t—”

“Tooru..” Your voice wavered the same way Iwaizumi infamously did.

“Seriously Y/N-Chan, I hate being the bearer of bad news..” The sparkle in his eyes made you clench your jaw to prevent the scream from slipping through your lips. “But I had almost promised Iwa-chan and Makki a ride today.”

You could hear the slick in his voice, and you absolutely hated it. You hated how you knew exactly what was being planned. You knew in Oikawa’s stupid little head, he was formulating a stupid little plan thinking things would work out in his own stupid little way.

“I’m not getting into that fucking asshole’s car—”

“Oikawa I will purposely crash if she as much as steps foot in my car—”

“Get your fucking feet off my dashboard.” You hear his voice growl, long fingers reaching in front of him to press the Start-Stop button on his car and get the engine running.

You didn’t mean to press a sock-covered foot onto it, it’s just that you needed to adjust the anklet resting against your skin. You hadn’t caught when his eyes glanced over at the diamonds either, remaining for a second too long to be appropriate and quickly force it’s way in front of him.

With a slightly exaggerated roll of your eyes, you threw your head against the headrest and stared through the window to your side. You were wishing there was an awkward silence to torture Matsukawa’s ears, but instead, his phone automatically connected to its Bluetooth and began to play a song you surprisingly recognized.

He drove faster than you were sure he was supposed to. As soon as you blinked, he had already backed out of Seijoh’s parking lot and sped through the secluded roads and towards the city you inhabited.

Unwillingly, of course, you managed to steal a few glances at the brown-haired man next to you. His face was (surprise) as uninterested as ever, eyebrows resting dully above his hooded lids and lips turned just slightly down enough to look like a frown. Every now and then, his lips would go along with the song and his tongue would swipe across his bottom lip and into the corner of his cheek.

Matsukawa wasn’t an ugly guy. There wasn’t enough hatred in your soul to even try to lie against the idea. He was extremely tall, extremely fit, had a nice smile, and his voice matched his looks. If he wasn’t such a stuck up, emotionless asshole, he’d probably be one of the hottest guys you’ve ever seen. If and probably, of course.

“Gotta staring problem?” He muttered, head bobbing to the song in the background and that in itself just brought your cholesterol an unhealthy amount higher.

“Shut the fuck up.”

“I see you have a lack of vocabulary too..” The banter between the two of you went back and forth, an awkward silence retching the car’s air after he sadly had the last word.

“I can’t believe there was a time you weren’t such a nuisance.” You nearly mouthed, words quiet enough to get lost within the lyrics of Kanye West, yet loud enough to get into Mattsun’s earshot and cause the car to abruptly park on the side of the nearly secluded road ahead of you.

“Hey, what the fu—”

“What’s your problem with me?” Matsukawa’s words haunted the air, and if you weren’t already awaiting his words, you might have actually been scared of the harshness in his tone.

“Me?” You questioned, using a hand to dramatically smack against your chest and glare at him in disbelief. “What’s your problem with me?”

He didn’t respond, only staring at you blankly and gripping on the steering wheel with enough aggression to taint the knuckles of his large hands white.

“Stop acting like a toddler,” the annoyance looked weird on him, and his usual nonchalant attitude disappeared with a mask of pure frustration that you’d be lying about if you said was ugly on him, “just tell me what the issue is so we can both stop whatever the fuck it is we have going on.”

“We,” you pointed between the two of you, “do not have anything going on, for your information.” You stubbornly crossed your arms across your chest, staring at him blankly and watching his large hand run across his face.

“You wouldn’t even be my type, you know damn well that isn’t what—”

Every word after the first half of the sentence drowned out as you continued to repeat it in your head. You wouldn’t even be my type. You wouldn’t even be my type. You wouldn’t even be my type…

“Earth to Y/N.” Mattsun snapped, glaring over at you and leaning his body back lazily against his driver’s seat. It was slightly reclined back, the comfortability of his position insinuating he didn’t plan on leaving until this conversation got somewhere.

“What do you mean I wouldn’t be your type?”

The words came out faster than you could acknowledge them. You didn’t regret speaking them, but you knew that they only worsened your situation. He would use this as if it was fuel to his never-ending out of fire of an ego and you hated it. The cold air in the car suddenly became more noticeable, goosebumps raising onto your exposed skin and making you feel as if all your senses were being ambushed.

“Well, well, well…” He begins to tease as if he was never angry, his large arms resting behind his head and that stupid smirk back onto his pink lips, “you feel some type of way about what I said?” His voice echoed into your ears as you did nothing but watch him in disbelief.

“You never stood a chance with me anyways.” You bit back at him.

Something in the air changed, but neither of you decided to acknowledge it. It was dark, the light from the dashboard doing nothing but illuminating your features and making Issei smirk to himself in the lack of lighting.

“How so?” He was antagonizing you, itching for you to continue to play his little game back with him because he had a plan. You could see it from the way he lazily blinked over at you, smirk still against his glowing face with nothing but arrogance and faux oblivion.

“You wouldn’t be able to handle me if you tried.”

Those words changed the aura within the car all in itself. You knew the double entendres of a statement could go any way with him. Deep down, you both knew exactly what you meant. Your words remained solid though, eyes staring at him like a fox refusing to glance away from his brown irises.

“Wanna try me?”

You were playing a dangerous game, you knew that. Something about you didn’t care though. There were many ways this conversation could’ve went, but you wouldn’t expect it to go in this direction.

The air in the room was thick, Issei’s brown irises watching you nothing short of predator like. No one spoke after those three words, and faintly, the change in mood also affected the change in genre of music as R&B began to slowly play through his speakers. You wanted to scoff.

His large ring covered hand suddenly inched towards your chin, gripping your jaw and forcing your eyesight on his own face. You weren’t one to blush, but the roughness to his calloused fingers brought a small tinge between your slightly exposed thighs.

“You gonna get in the back or I gotta force you back there?” His words commanded you, the strictness laced within the confines of his voice leaving you no option to do as he told.

Doing what Matsukawa said as if you were following his orders was something foreign to you. The temptation of doing as you pleased crossed the back of your mind, but the curiosity of seeing what he had in store filled you with much more satisfaction.

Without a word and instead settling for a simple eye roll, you kicked your shoes off and found your way between the two front seats and into the cold leather seats of the back of his car. It was cramped, surprisingly cleaner than you'd imagine, and smelt of nothing but Issei.

You would have enjoyed it if the circumstances were different.

Your body sat with your feet resting behind you, leaving a space open for him. The sound of his car door opening and shutting was the cause of the goosebumps rising against your skin.

Subconsciously, you knew were supposed to hate him. You were supposed to despise him for always being such an asshole to you, and you were never supposed to forgive him for anything he’s ever said to you out of his stupid smirking mouth.

You weren't supposed to be hopping into the backseat of his car after challenging him into sleeping with you. You weren’t supposed to be enjoying the feeling of his presence as it finally found its way next to you, the dark tints of his windows hiding his expression but not doing a good job at hiding the bulge hiding in the confinements of his sweatpants.

Your eyes glanced over his, quickly switching between the tent and his irises with an innocent smile on your face. “You gonna take those off or am I gonna have to force them off you?’

Mattsun had never laughed at anything you’d ever said. At least, never to your face. For the first time though, a soft chuckle left his lips as he hunched his body over and rolled his sweats down. You’d be lying if you said you never wanted to provoke that sound out of him again.

He wore Supreme black briefs, a smirk on his lips as he watched your eyes trail over to the excessively large print. His dick was long, curving deliciously to the left and making you fear for your own safety. The thought of that nearly made you drool.

Mattsun made a show of pulling his briefs down, his erection springing to life and showing you that he wasn't even fully hard yet. Maybe you would’ve felt some type of way about not arousing him as much as he was you, and you could thank the pool inside your panties for that, but something about it brought a glimmer to your eye Issei couldn’t ignore.

“Eager to suck my dick, huh?” His words ring against your ears, and you do nothing but give him a glare while getting on all fours across the backseat.

His long torso leaned against the car door, eyes boring onto your frame with a blank expression that drove you insane. You knew this was all an act, he had to have been pretending just to get a rise out of you. There was no way you could’ve missed the way his dick twitched when you got up to take your shorts off.

Your frame was left in a white t-shirt and a seamless green pair of panties known for their cheekster style. He would’ve told you that you looked absolutely delectable, but he'd never let you sit within that satisfaction.

You lowered yourself on all fours once again, holding your hair back with one hand and lowering yourself down between his long limbs. Your eyes just couldn't look away, the large veins running up and down his perfect looking length in a way that made you embarrassingly ready to shove it down your throat already.

And without another word, you opened your lips and allowed a trail of saliva to sliver down the underside of his dick. His thighs tensed up, but as you watched him through your lashes while lowering your lips onto his tip, his bored and expressionless face remained the same.

He couldn't take his eyes off the sight in front of him, as much as he'd hate to admit it. Your ass was up in the air, back arched in a way that nearly made him release a groan as your pretty little mouth left sloppy kisses along his throbbing tip. You used a free hand to run down his cock slowly, hands landing underneath his thick balls and holding them alongside the bottom half of his dick.

He tried to hold the hiss you took out of him, but you used that as an excuse to make him suffer even more. Almost as if it were a competition, you sucked your cheeks in while taking the rest him that fit into your mouth agonizingly slow.

Matsukawa was too big, not that you were complaining. You didn’t have much of a gag reflex, but his size goes beyond that. So in order to accommodate to the situation at hand, you lolled your tongue out across your bottom lip and easily slipped a bit more than half of him down your throat until he felt his tip tickle the back of it.

“Holy fuck..” He breathed out, words stopping as he bit his lip and tilted his head to get a better look at you.

Your eyes began to water, but you ignored the sensation to take a deep breath as you began to massage his balls and lower half with your saliva covered hands. You began to move your mouth in the opposite direction of your hands, touching just enough of his balls with your tongue to get him to grip a chunk of your hair from within your own hand.

“Fuck, just like that.” You never took your eyes off him, and Matsukawa found it even harder to control himself with the way you took so much of him with so much ease.

You hollowed your cheeks as you slipped his now fully-hard dick out your mouth. Trails of saliva followed, the explicit view of your teary eyes and sloppy lips making him groan within his throat.

“Fuck my throat.”

The words were harsh, your expression being just as blank as his once was, and Issei realized he wasn’t really the one in control here. Not if all it took was for you to tell him what to do and he was scrambling to do it like second nature.

His lips revealed that lazy smirk you wanted to fuck off his face, the large hand gripping your hair nearly shoving his dick back into your fresh, wet mouth. “Don’t mind if I do, princess.”

The nickname he called you didn't even have time to register in your mind, the sensation of Matsukawa forcing your head up and down his dick as much as he could being the only thing on your brain. You couldn't help the tears from slipping down your cheeks, eyes opening once again to hazily look over to the ones burning a hole into your face.

Matsukawa couldn’t find it in himself to look away from you. He wasn't sure if it was the tears, or the way you allowed him to fuck your throat so easily, or the drool leaking down into the balls you fondled at the same time, or even the way the hand once gripping your own hair found its way between your legs as he watched you play with yourself, but Issei decided this image was going to ruin everyone else for him.

He already decided he couldn't get enough of you. The sound of your gags filled with car in a nearly pornographic way, yet not once did you ask him to stop and he took note of that. 

“Fuck,” he broke out, eyes struggling to watch yours as his lips parted open, “you’re gonna make me cum,” his words were interrupted by a load groan. Your tongue found its way back onto his balls as his tip rammed into the back of your throat and Issei felt his toes curl. “Fuck, fuck, fuck..”

Right on time, you went against his strong grip and popped his dick out of your mouth with saliva drooling down in a way that looked so forbidden, Issei was sure he would’ve came at that sight alone.

“That was...”

“Not your type?” You bit at him, a mocking smile on your lips as you bit your lip and found your way onto the comfort of his lap.

It was weird, the way you felt like you fit perfectly within his frame as if it was a piece of a puzzle. Matsukawa would agree if he could, hands nearly instinctively finding its way onto the globed of your ass and pulling the fabric of your panties over and over again.

“Never in a million years.”

His smirk haunted you, lidded eyes staring at you once again and you realize Issei Matsukawa is a really hard guy to get a reaction out of. So taking the challenge yet again, you stared at him just as emotionless. Your fingers lifted the patch stuck to your folds, and the trail of wetness that dripped over onto both you and his own thighs was nearly sinful to the sore eyes.

It was hard to imagine taking a dick you were sure you could see in your stomach with such an expression, and you wouldn’t wish that suffering on your worst enemy. You couldn’t believe how much just half of him stretched your insides out, your walls sucking him in and barely being able to hold it in together.

“Don't worry, take your time.” Matsukawa’s tone was beyond condescending, the taunt behind his words bringing an anger within you enough to cloud your mind of all common sense. It was unexpected, the way your body just shoved the rest of him inside of your tight, pulsating hole and rested all your body weight on top of him.

“Fuck!” Both of you yelped out, your hands clawing at his chest while his gripped your ass cheeks apart in nothing but a burning sensation.

He filled you up to the brim, the sureness of him hitting your cervix causing your eyes to flutter at the feeling. You bit your lip, adjusting your body to where your feet were on either side of him on the backseat and your body was more able to move.

His eyes widened in surprise at your actions, the sound of both of your pants alongside the music that was long forgotten struggling to keep you attentive. Without warning, you lifted your body up and slammed back down onto him. The action brought a pretty little gasp out your lips, mouth parted and eyes clenched at just how fucking amazing the curve and thickness of his cock was.

“C’mon baby,” he whispered into your ears, hands reaching over to intertwine themselves with your own so you got better balance, “fuck me like you mean it.”

“You’re such an asshole.” You breathed out, beginning to bounce your body up and down his dick perfect enough to hear the squelching sounds of your wetness after every impact. Issei groaned, eyes glued to the sight of where your pussy swallowed him whole and spit him back out over and over again.

“Mm, what else baby?”

Issei’s bored resolve started to crack, groans slipping through his lips in a way that made you tighten up against him even more if it were possible. Your hands gripped his intertwined ones, bouncing up and down faster than you could probably handle. The sensation of his dick hitting your cervix over and over causing you to arch your back closer into his body as you bounced.

The sound of your body slamming into his began to quicken, the strength of your legs giving up as you realized his started to fuck you back from the bottom and drill his length into you.

“Fuck, Issei…” You moaned out embarrassingly loud, Mattsun’s eyes watching you with curiosity in his irises from the way he wanted to figure out how to get you to moan out like that again.

“Don’t be shy now,” he teased, the strain in his voice telling you that even if he was torturing you with the pounding of his dick, he was enjoying it just as much as you, “where’d all that mouth go, pretty?”

You felt yourself clench at the nickname, head leaning back and leaving your neck open for him to lick a trail over towards your jaw and softly bite the plush skin. The windows began to fog up, the sensation of your poor pussy taking him in and out and quick pace causing the car to jump up and down with each stroke.

“F-fuck,” you stuttered out, nearly crying out when his hands found it’s way towards under your ass to support you as he drilled all of this thickness into your throbbing pussy.

The familiar knot began to grow within your stomach, and your hand found it’s way between his messy locks only to grab it and tilt his head roughly back against the window. A surprised groan left his lips, eyes staring up at you widely with a smirk endured from straight pleasure shot up his lips.

“You gonna cum all on daddy’s dick?”

Usually the words would have made you cringe, and you wanted to bite a snarky remark at him for the name. Yet something in you grew feral at the sentence, beginning to rub your clit against him each time you harshly dropped down as you roughened your grip on his hair.

“Fuck yes, daddy, make me cum,” your words tickled his ears, the moans at the end of each word bringing Matsukawa into a state of euphoria. He could hear you say that to him for the rest of his life, if he could.

“Come on baby,” he groaned out harshly, smacking your ass enough to leave a sting that made you cry out into his neck, “give it to me!”

His words echoed in your ears, your loud cries like music to his ears as he watched you fuck him back just as rough as he was being with you. Your hand pulled his head back once again, his scalp hitting the window harshly but he didn’t care once your lips came crashing onto his.

It was nothing but teeth and tongue, sucking on each other’s muscles and making out as if nothing in this world could ever be right again without it. His hands gripped your ass once again, spreading them harshly apart and spanking them with as much toughness that went into spiking a volleyball.

You screamed into his mouth, words being unable to come out as he began to drill into you even rougher and faster than you knew was possible. Your legs had long given out at this point, simply being tossed up and down like a rag doll by Issei’s strong arms and cocky attitude. You were in heaven, even if you’d never admit it.

“I— I hate you,” you fought to yelp out, pussy beginning to squeeze at the feeling you knew all too well as you stared into his eyes and made him look at you as if he was seeing God, “but you fuck me— fuck, you fuck me so good..”

Your words became faint whispers, stars beginning to formulate instead of his once brown irises and bring you into a state of euphoria.

“Daddy I’m gonna—” The words were stolen from your lips as Matsukawa slammed your lips against his own and gripped your back close to his chest.

“Cum baby,” he groaned into your lips, your own sounds preventing you from being able to kiss him back as your covered tits bounced into the confinement of his chest, “cum on daddy’s big dick.”

The words brought a vibration within you, a mantra of the words daddy and please slipping as you felt the euphoria take over your body and leave you with nearly nothing inside you. Issei could practically feel you cum, his own resolve giving out as his shot his thick cum into your throbbing pussy and bringing another scream from between your swollen lips.

“Take it, good girl— fuck yes..” Words slipped from his mouth without his own permission, the sensation of your pussy holding him within you as if it never wanted to let him go and he really wouldn’t mind.

Nothing but your struggles to catch your own breath filled the car, his own haunting the ghost of your ear as you laid out across his chest with saliva threatening to slip from your lips and cum leaking down both of your thighs. It was absolutely disgusting if you really thought about it, but the idea of knowing you had just slutted each other out so sinfully brought your toes to curl one last time.

No one said a word, and as much as you wanted to comment on how he was still gripping your chest against his own, you decided to go against it and try to find reality from the solitude of his wide chest. You could hear Brent Faiyaz on the radio, the view of just how foggy the windows were making you giggle to yourself.

“What’s funny?” The rumble of the words against his chest caused your pussy to throb once again, and you had almost forgotten he was still lodged inside of you with a load of cum threatening to spill out.

“Nothing.” Your voice was gone, and as embarrassing as it was, Issei mentally found himself obsessing over how raspy it got.

The silence was calm, yet the awkward conversation of what next lingered within the air between the two of you. You knew it was going to come soon, and you weren’t really sure of what could possibly happen afterwards. There was no going back from this, Issei Matsukawa had fucked you so good, you never wanted to fuck anyone else again.

The first to break it was Mattsun, which took you by surprise. His large hands found their way towards you cheek, caressing your head as his pushed you back far enough to face him with fucked out eyes and swollen lips and Issei convinces himself you’re one of the seven wonders of the world.

“We should do that again sometime.” He suggests, bored eyes staring into yours as you noticed the small smile lifting amongst the corner of his lips. You wanted to smile back, but the idea of having some more fun with him seemed quite better.

“Eh,” you replied, lifting your weakened body back into his straddling state and biting your lips as you placed both hands across his broad chest. You notice the way his cock twitches hungrily within you, and you realize you were gonna enjoy this a bit too much.

He’s seeing stars, thinking the hottest thing he’s ever seen is a fucked out you staring at him this way and you realize you’ve finally won. You stare at him, bored eyes and a lazy smirk on your lips mimicking the face he spent all his life mastering.

“You’re not really my type.”

                             © 444TSUMU 2021

[beels-burger-babe]

All is Fair in Dice and War

***Soooo, @bagelsinatoaster I love this request. However, you didn't specify which board game and as I am a huge nerd I decided to take some creative liberties and combine this with another idea I've been meaning to write which is: MC introducing the demon bros to Dungeons and Dragons. I certainly had fun with this and I hope you like it!*** Summary: Leviathan's world is flipped upside down when MC tells him there is a game that basically allows him to be the Lord of Shadows in real life!! He demands that his brothers join him as MC introduces them all to the chaotic shit show that is Dungeons & Dragons. For once, it was a peaceful day in the House of Lamentation. Lucifer was lounging in the living room with a cursed record playing softly in the background. For once, Satan had willingly joined him and was sitting by the fireplace, thumbing through a book on the human world. Belphie had been passed out on the couch when he arrived and was still laying there with an impressive puddle of drool collecting near his mouth. Even Asmodeus and Beel had joined in, with Asmodeus gently humming to himself as he painted his nails and Beelzebub happily munching on a snack as he enjoyed the sight of his family getting along. Yes. It was perfectly quiet and peaceful, and Lucifer didn't even have any traces of his regular migraine. But of course, nothing good lasts forever. Everyone jumped as the door slammed open and a wide-eyed Leviathan dragged you into the room. The two you very closely followed by Mammon loudly complaining. "Oi! You're gonna hurt them! Cut it out, Levi!" Lucifer sighed and closed his eyes, momentarily mourning the peace that he had just barely begun to enjoy, and closed his book. "Leviathan, let MC go. What are you freaking out about this time?" Lucifer regretted asking the moment the words left his mouth. Levi looked at it with the expression he only ever got when his limited edition Ruri-Chan merch arrived; his eyes were wide and glittering with excitement while his face bore a grin so large that Lucifer was surprised it didn't rip his skin. The third-born was practically vibrating as he let go of your wrist and pushed you forward. "Tell them! Tell them about the game!"

You laughed at Levi's excitement and casually rubbed your wrist. "I was just telling Leviathan about a game that we play in the human world called Dungeons and Dragons-" "You get to make a fantasy world that everyone plays in, and everyone makes characters. You can be a wizard and cast spells against a huge monster! Or a war hero fighter that has been betrayed by his brother! Or a noble knight who is looking for his lost kingdom! And the best part is that it's real!" Levi interrupted, nearly jumping in place as stars danced in his eyes. You put your hands out towards him to try and calm him a bit. "Well, not entirely real. It is played in person, but it's a role play tabletop game, meaning it mostly relies on the players' imagination. That is unless you have thousands of dollars to spend on 3D maps and figurines of your characters." Levi's eyes grew even wider, if possible, as he started shaking his hands up and down. "I CAN HAVE A FIGURINE OF A CHARACTER THAT I MADE?! GAAAAAAAAAHH!" A pillow flew across the room and hit Levi square in the face as a now awake Belphegor glared at him. "Will. You. Shut. Up?" the Avatar of Sloth hissed as a dark dangerous aura grew around him. Beel gently patted his twin's head in hopes of calming him. Leviathan pouted as he noticed no one else seemed to be getting excited about it. "C-Come on guys! This isn't even a video game! It's a thing that we can all do together and personalize it to be something that everyone will like. It'll be fun! Right MC?" You nodded as you gently tossed Belphie's pillow back over to him. "Yeah. I love D&D. I played it all the time in the human world. There's action, suspense, and even romance if you really wanted it," a couple of the brothers perked up at that. "I could put together a one-shot for you guys to try it out if you'd like? I'll help you make your characters, and we can all get together for an evening and play it sometime in a couple weeks." The room went quiet as everyone thought it over. Most of them had no interest in the game itself, but if it was organized by you... "I'm in," Beel decided with a nod. "I think it will be fun. All of us trying something new; it could be neat." Satan casually flipped a page in his book, "The creative aspect of it is definitely appealing. We'd be the masters of our own fate, and that most certainly piques my interest." Asmodeus smirked as he put the cap on his nail polish. "And you said it could be whatever we want? My, one might say that this game could help our wildest fantasies come true~" he made sure to wink at you as he giggled. Belphie, who had only just got back his pillow, scrunched up his face in disgust and launched it at Asmo. "Don't make this weird Asmo," he looked over at you and shrugged, "So long as you do all the work in putting together the character thing, sure. Why not?" Mammon looked over at you from the corner of his eye. "Ya mean to tell me, that you can make it so I'm some awesome, rich, and powerful prince?" Asmo scoffed as he pushed the pillow off his lap. "Please Mammon, even the world of make-believe has its limitations." Mammon blushed as he growled at his brother. You just chuckled and teasingly elbowed his side. "Don't listen to him, Mammon. There is a set amount of how much money you start out with depending on your class and background, but I'm sure we can find something that will make you happy." The second-born blushed even more as he grumbled quietly under his breath. Lucifer tilted his head in thought. "I suppose that if everyone else is playing, naturally I must as well," he stood and began to make his way to his office. "I look forward to seeing what you come up with MC." The next two weeks were spent planning and carefully figuring out the details of the one-shot and the characters that everyone was going to play. Levi was, of course, the first one who came to you to build his character. The two of you spent hours going through the Player's Handbook and sourcebooks to find the perfect build to recreate the Lord of Shadows. In the end, you put

together a human fighter that you gave a couple magic items to make Levi's vision really come to life. It seemed basic, but for the Lord of Shadows, it was perfect. The moment the two of you finished, Levi dove to his computer and ordered a custom-made mini that looked exactly like his character. Satan was genuinely interested in the game, especially after he learned about all the lore and rules behind the different classes and races. You had just been chilling in your room one day when the door burst open. Satan stood there with wide eyes holding a copy of Volo's Guide to Monsters. "MC, why didn't you tell me there are cat people?!" You chuckled, knowing exactly where this was going. "They're called tabaxi, but yeah, they're basically cat people. Would you like to play as one?" He scoffed and snapped the book shut. "Is that even a question? Of course, I'm playing as one." After some discussion and bouncing back and forth between classes a couple of times, Satan settled on a tabaxi druid; that way he not only looked like a cat, but he could speak to them as well. After a few days of you spending time with his brothers focusing on getting their characters ready, Mammon came to you wanting the coolest, most epic character ever. At first, it was clear that he wasn't fully invested in the process, but as he saw the customizable options and all the cool stuff that his character could have, you got his attention. You ended up designing a golden teifling rogue (you tried to tell Mammon that teifling usually wasn't yellow, but he gave you such a sad look that you couldn't say no) that was decked out with piercings and gems all over its horns and tail. He tried to act like he wasn't that excited about it, but one day during class you caught him doodling what looked like a stick figure version of the character on his sheet with a big smile on his face. Asmodeus came in shortly after Mammon finished,

insisting on having the most charming and beautiful character there was. You tapped your chin at the request. "I mean, stereotypically bards are extremely charming and...well seductive...almost too seductive. But that's only thei-" Asmo had hearts in his eyes before you could even finish. "That's what I want to be!" You sighed and made a mental note not to include any dragons in the session as you marked Asmo down to be an elven bard and helped him create his character sheet. You hadn't heard anything from Lucifer for nearly that entire first week, until one day as you were lounging in the living room, he walked in holding a stack of resource books. "Ah, MC. I've been looking for you. I wanted to inform you that I will be playing a half-elf multiclassing as a paladin and hex-blade warlock." You blinked at him as he put all the books down in front of you. "O-Oh. Would you like help putting together your character sheet?" He just grinned and began to make his way out of the room once more. "I've already done it. I must admit that this was quite a bit more interesting than I thought it would be," and with that he was gone, leaving you to try and figure out what had just happened. With only a few days left until the one-shot, you had to go find the twins and get them to make their characters. Beel apologized like crazy for you having to track him in down in order to get his character made. The poor guy was in the middle of peak Fangol season and had completely forgotten. Once the two of you sat down in the kitchen with an empty character sheet in one hand and snacks in the other, Beel gave you his full attention. He put a lot of thought in his character and wanted to make it really good since he appreciated that you were doing something that they could all do as a family. He bashfully decided to play a halfling. Not only did the little creatures share his love for food, but he thought it would be neat to try being small for once. His class was also a surprise. After carefully flipping through all of the class options, he had eventually settled on a cleric. "They're the healers, right? This way I can help the others if someone gets hurt." You gave him a huge hug then and there. Belphegore, on the other hand, was not so easy to work with. "Belphie, come on. Just flip through the book and choose something!" He groaned into his pillow and rolled onto his side to glare at you. "I told you I would play if you did all the work for me. Me flipping through a book is work. It's not happening." After an entire hour of trying to get him to cooperate, you gave up. In retaliation you made his character a goblin barbarian, just to drive in the fact of how much of a brat he was acting like.

Finally, the day came for you all to play the one-shot, and much like you expected, it was complete and utter chaos. You had tried to maintain some structure and keep everyone on track, but it was hopeless. Levi and Satan were taking the game seriously and, Diavolo bless them, were the only reason their party was making any progress. Mammon was trying to pick-pocket every non-player character that they met while Asmo distracted them by flirting. This worked great for them until Mammon got caught and would've died from the resulting injuries if it wasn't for Beel. Speaking of Beel, the poor fella was trying his best to do well in the game but kept getting confused by all the rules and different stats and modifiers. Belphegor spent most of his time, trying to explain it to his twin, but in the end, Beel accidentally ate his dice and Belphie passed out on his shoulder. And then there was Lucifer. He had been mostly quiet the entire game. Surprisingly, he let Levi and Satan take the charge in any investigations and puzzle-based interactions, but he did so with a smirk. You had a funny feeling in your stomach that he was up to something, and you were right. It was the final boss. Satan and Levi were on the edge of their seats, having worked so hard to get the party to this point. You smiled, knowing that one of the best parts of D&D was finally taking down the big bad. In this case, you had prepared a beholder for them to fight. It would be no easy task. The fight should have required them to work together in an epic battle of wits, magic and melee attacks. Only, when everyone rolled initiative, Lucifer went first. The eldest smiled as his eyes sparked menacingly. "For my bonus action, I'd like to use my hex blade's curse on it, which allows me to add my plus four proficiency bonus to all damage, and makes any rolls of nineteen or twenty critical hits. I will then use my long sword with divine smite at third level to attack him and attack him again using my extra attack," barely giving you time to process what he said, Lucifer rolled his dice twice. "And that would be a nineteen and a natural twenty, meaning they're both criticals due to the curse. That should hit, yes?" "Wha-" You could only watch as Lucifer, now with twice the amount of damage due to his critical rolls pulled out a disgusting number of dice and rolled them all. And of course, with his luck, they all rolled high. "So that's 90 points of damage plus the extra damage from the curse and the bonus from my duelist ability per attack, brings this 102 points," he smugly perched his chin on top of his hands as the table gaped at him. You gulped and looked down at the beholder's character sheet, "Y-You just took o-over half of his hit points in one round..." His grin widened at the information, "What, like it's hard?" You never got the chance to finish the game, as Satan burst into his demon form and pounced on Lucifer, the eldest laughing like a mad man, while Levi tore up his character sheet in a fit of jealous rage. Levi never asked to play with everyone again after that. ***This was just so self-indulgent and I just- I loved it. It combined two of my favourite things and I have never been happier. This was more crack than fluff, but either way, it was fun and I hope you nerds out there enjoyed it 🥰 Thanks again for the request @bagelsinatoaster!*** Taglist: @mimik248 @roseytoesy @ester-is-here

[not-me-simping-for-blasty]

another helping of living w/ bakugou thoughts:

pls i am so sorry, i feel like i bombard y’all with these constantly, but u don’t understand, he literally lives in my brain full time

- if you’re rolling your sleeves up, to wash your hands before dinner, he’ll whack your hands away and do it himself. very much “you’re takin’ too long, idiot. i wanna eat already. let me do it.”,, don’t be fooled tho, you could do it in 2.5 seconds and he’d still open his mouth. bc it has absolutely nothing to do with u and everything to do with him wanting to be close to you

-ik he watches the mha equivalent of the history channel. i just know it. dude is a grandpa at heart, n im so confident he would 100% sit down and watch a 3 hr docu on like, old weaponry or some nerdy shit

-bakugou is annoyingly arrogant, but only about things that don’t matter. like, he’ll fully sit in front of you and tell you he’s stronger/faster/smarter in passing conversation,, but when he does actually impressive shit??? the man clams up. absolutely clams up the second you praise him, trying to brush off whatever ridiculous feat he just pulled to protect u with a “It’s not that big a deal, shut up about it already, dumbass.” 

- pls mans is an absolute simp. u ask him to do something and he’s on his feet in a second. ofc he’s complaining but he’s also then following that up by doing things you didn’t even ask him to do. fan behavior honestly.

-when you’ve had a bad day, he’ll make u food and throw blankets in the dryer for u. don’t expect much verbal comforting from him, bc obviously, but he’s pretty good with actions. you always feel a little warmer after he’s wrapped you in a blanket n fed you something ungodly spicy

- i have absolutely no basis for this but ik he secretly watches kids movies. like, if it’s animated then he’s there. ofc no one is allowed to find out about this ‘embarrassing’ behavior tho, except maybe you. maybe. if you accidentally happen to see it bc he’d never tell u himself.

- he’s a beast to wake up in the morning, but he’s a lot more easy to convince if u pet his hair. or rub his back/shoulders. maybe even kiss his neck. look, u cannot tell me that he doesn’t want to be absolutely coddled in the morning- especially when he can get away with it so easily. 

-bakugou always pulls ur legs into his lap if u sit down next to him. pls he’s so weird, he’ll just like, tap his fingers on ur calves absentmindedly while he’s watching tv

-he probably created a playlist of songs ur ‘allowed’ to play around him. meaning, it’s only the songs on ur phone that he likes 🙄

-bakugou always takes his work phone calls outside. like if his phone rings he’ll just stand up n walk tf out the door to take it. even if it’s cold. u ask him once about it n he just “Work stays at work. This is my fuckin’ home. Now shut up about it already.”

-you’ve never once seen this man wearing socks around the house. don’t ask me, i cannot explain this whatsoever, but i just kno this man walks around constantly barefoot 🤢🤮 unfortunately.

-he’s like, the most functional person ever in almost every aspect, but the stuff katsuki is bad at?? pls he is hopelessly bad. like, lets say art stuff. omg he just doesnt have the patience for it, okay, so say goodbye to any dreams of cute lil couple’s crafts. like, he’ll sit there while u do yours, but his will look like utter shit

- during the week, katsuki is either at work, training, or at home. pls, he works so hard during the day that i highly doubt he’s anything but an absolute homebody during the work week.

- bakugou gets pissy if u re-arrange any of the furniture on a whim. pls he likes comfort and familiarity n if he stubs his toe on the stupid coffee table one more fucking time, he’s going to scream

-its a rare occurance,, especially bc of the crazy hours he works,, but bakugou rlly likes making dinner for u to come home to. he just likes to feel like he’s taking care of u tbh

-he still goes to bed at like 8:30. or thats what u think, but rlly he just goes to sit in your room and have some time to himself for a bit. as much as he loves u, he prob still needs some alone time to recharge

-bakugou takes meticulous care of any plants u have in the house. like he’ll water them on a strict-ass schedule, n preen them when necessary. pls the way he’ll curse them out if they even dare to wilt under his care?? very much “What the hell, you bitch? ‘m doin’ everything fuckin’ perfect! Grow already!”

-katsuki is such a little bitch when he’s sick. he’ll be running like a 103 temp, brain literally melting, and still trying to get up and work out. the only way u can get him to chill the hell out is if u take a nap with him. ofc that means u always get sick too,, but hey- lil sacrifices right??

-he never lets you get the door. like, if there’s a knock n neither of u knows who it could be,, pls he’s on his feet so fast. waving u away n looking thru the keyhole w/ sm suspicion

-he has his spot on the couch, n u will not find him sitting anywhere else. like, that’s his spot. u better pray for anybody who mistakenly takes it

-bakugou doesn’t like dirt or grime, so he won’t allow you or himself, to sit on your bed with clothes that have been outside. like, even if you’re just sitting on top of the covers, he’s gonna throw a fit and demand you change your clothes first bc “No way in hell am I gonna let your dumbass dirty up my bed.”

-katsuki rlly likes when it storms outside. he’ll go sit in front of the window and watch the rain, sipping on a warm drink while he waits for more thunder. 

-living with bakugou is incredibly frustrating, bc he’ll just show up with new skills all of the goddamn time. like you’ll be like, “hmm i’d love to remodel the bathroom someday”,, and the very next weekend bakugou is meticulously re-tiling the bathroom floor by hand, probably also painting the walls in a new color, maybe even installing a new sink just to spruce it up. n then he’ll just present the entirely new, upgraded room with such weird nonchalance that it pisses u off. pls and if you watch him while he does these little projects, with all the weird precision and skill he suddenly gains?? pls you’re sure he must be possessed by the ghost of a craftsman

- when he hangs out with the bakusquad, he’ll drag you along every time. he expects you to sit with him the entire time and act as a social buffer?? basically, someone’ll ask him a question, one he deems stupid and therefore not worth answering, and bakugou will just look at you expectantly. he’ll just stare at you blankly, hardly even blinking until you pick up the slack and answer for him. you call him out on this many times, but it doesn’t matter. it doesn’t change anything. he does this over and over and over again

-bakugou gets really unsettled when you guys fight. like, he can’t sleep and he’s snapping at everybody, and is somehow more aggressive than usual. he always wants to just make up already, but the pride in the way won’t allow it

-he’s a weird stickler about intended furniture functionality?? like, the table is for eating, and the couch is for watching tv, and then only way you’re gonna get him to mix the two is if you ask him rlly rlly nicely

-finally- i have no basis for this one, but ik it in my heart: bakugou has a very intense fight with your thermostat nearly every single day. he swears up and down that it never ‘behaves’ for him, but every time you check it, it’s working perfectly fine

--/-- 

ahahhaa sorry y’all for the super random spam today,, but here were are back to our regularly scheduled bakugou programming,,,, bc idk if it’s obvious ur honor, but i love him