#// the fact my psd put hearts in his eyes is KILLING ME

[rhythmicmeow]

TIMING: Current LOCATION: Near The Bloody Stake PARTIES: Owen @apaininyourneck & Leticia @rhythmicmeow SUMMARY: Leticia drops into a vampire bar, and Owen catches her on the way out. CONTENT WARNING: None!

Leticia had only spent about thirty minutes inside the bar. Barely enough time to get settled and order a drink, but there had been something in inherently off since she entered the building. The vibe was more Halloween than what she had anticipated, which would have been fine if she had been one of those Halloween all year kind of girls, but that had never been her scene. Blame it on dressing up daily for concerts, the idea of getting dressed up lost its flavor. The bar and the short conversations she had within had become just as stale in record time.

Leaving, despite being the only option, had left Leticia annoyed that her plans had fallen through. Instead of admitting the loss of the night, she reached for her phone and started scrolling through the popular locations around town, hoping something new and interesting would jump off the screen at her. With her head down, she made her way down the street and followed the natural path toward downtown. Worst case scenario, she’d just end up back home.

An uncomfortable feeling crawled up her spin and quickly ending up back home became the best case scenario. Leticia glanced over her shoulder and saw someone was there, but in the shadows she couldn’t make out a face. Just a form, and in the back of her mind, a whisper told her it was just a trick of the light. But paranoia wouldn’t let it rest and Leticia picked up the pace, taking a nearby alley to cut through a less direct path home, not wanting to lead them straight to her doorstep. 

-

On some nights, there was always an annoyingly steady stream of people leaving these damn monster hang outs which could make it hard to gauge who belonged, who’d accidentally stumbled in and who was there on purpose in an attempt to live out some gothic, Twilight-esque fantasy. Either way, Owen had been hanging out around on the other side of the street from the teeming entrance for way too long, burning through a fair amount of cigarettes. It was time to move, pushing away from the wall as he trailed some distance behind a scattered group of four people, following the lingering feeling of discomfort. 

After a moment, two of the people had disbanded from the small gathering of solo people, each ducking into a different place in the hopes for something The Bloody Stake clearly hadn’t provided. Luckily, Owen still felt the itch to follow and so he did. What finally seemed to make this evening worth it was getting a quick glance over the shoulder from one of the two people walking in front of him, followed by a quickened pace and a turn into an alley. The one furthest in the front seemed none the wiser, keeping a casual pace without a care in the world. Owen turned into the alley. A few steps in, the crawling in his skin began to fade, even as the distance between himself and the nervous woman decreased. Shit. Wrong choice. 

As he considered his options which were currently give up on this whole fucking night because why fucking bother, go back to that shit excuse for a bar or attempt to catch up with the person he now strongly suspected he should have followed, his foot caught on an empty bottle on the ground. It cluttered over the ground with unbelievable noise, clearly just waiting for its moment to shine, and the woman in front of him stopped. Interesting. “You always stop at the sound of someone following you down an alley?” Might as well see how much guts this non-vampire lady had since this night had been a complete bore so far, anyway. 

-

For all the mental gymnastics she had gone through before turning into the alley to convince herself that the man in the shadows was entirely imagined, her paranoia kept whispering to her: what if? And as the bottle clattered across the ground behind her, Leticia kicked herself mentally for doubting her instincts. Her pulse was racing, making running a non-option. Raising her heartbeat any further would likely push her over an edge that she doubted anyone around her was equipped to deal with. She dug her fingers into her palms and stopped where she stood, pivoting only when he finally spoke. 

Leticia pulled a face, mostly confused but mixed with a new found irritation. Was he really acting like she was the problem in this situation? “Do you always follow lone women down dark alleys?” She asked, waving her hand around the otherwise empty alley. “I mean, really. Me comforting the asshole isn’t as weird as being the asshole that needs confronting.” The words sat for a moment before she looked him over, hoping for a hint as to who he was or what he was doing there, so boldly talking like she was the inconvenience. But this was Wicked’s Rest, and a shallow surface glance wasn’t enough to gleam anything concrete. This place had the usual dangers, but a concentration of a thousand more, and Leticia was quietly hoping that this was just a human problem. 

The more she pressed, the more in control she felt. Of not only this situation, but of the overwhelming feeling that was building in her chest, threatening to become something else entirely. So, she pressed further. Standing tall and looking directly at him. Wanting him to know, whatever his game was, she wasn’t going to run scared. “Well?” Leticia demanded, crossing her arms. “Can I help you?” 

-

Oh yeah, she definitely had guts. An attitude, too. With every word, she seemed to grow more confident and the smirk on Owen’s face widened as well. The slayer found himself wondering how lucky she was that it was just a bored hunter that had accidentally stalked her in here and not something far more nefarious from that shithole she’d just left. A plucky attitude wouldn’t do you much good when you were being sucked dry by a monster. He waited a moment before finally answering, taking the time to dig out some cigarettes and leisurely light one. “To answer your first question, no. Not always. Has happened from time to time though.”

He took a drag, half amused by the distance still between them, their words carrying in the slim opening between two walls. A strange conversation taking place in a little pocket hidden away from the bustle of the main street they’d just left. “The second question…” Owen seemed to ponder it for a moment, blowing out smoke and dragging out the moment. “Nah. Not really. Case of mistaken identity. Although,” he added as an afterthought, taking a few steps closer before leaning against the wall. Still far enough to not be perceived as a threat. Not yet at least. “I am curious what you were doing in that monster bar.” God, he hoped she wasn’t one of those fang bangers. She was way too pretty and impressive to stoop so low. 

-

“Oh, perfect. A time to time offender.” If the statement was supposed to provide some kind of comfort, it hadn’t. Leticia was watching him carefully, arms crossed and eyes set on him. Getting agitated ever so slightly over the smirk on his face. Working her jaw, she had been about to dismiss him when he spoke again. On the surface, it was nothing. Just a man being a creep in an alley and then the word monster dropped and her stomach twisted. Her eyes drifted in the direction she had come from. 

People had complicated relationships with their supernatural origins. Leticia had never experienced it personally, but she had heard Nora call herself a monster in such a matter of fact way that it had broken her heart. But the way this man said it? It felt less like a self reflection and more of an accusation. “Monster.” The word fell from her lips, sounding foreign and feeling strange. Her gaze snapped back towards the man, the practice smile sliding onto her face too easily. If the strange feeling in her gut was right, this wasn’t any ordinary human that knew about vampires. He was far more dangerous. “Not much.” That much was the truth, but she flipped her hair over her shoulder, purposefully exposing her neck. “Why? Want to know the deals on drinks?” She asked, her voice light, feigning innocence that she didn’t bother trying to make convincing. “If you bring a drink for the host they give you half off food. Might be more your scene.” 

-

“Technically, no offence has been committed yet,” Owen retorted quickly, well aware that his choice of words could technically be perceived as a threat. It wasn’t really a habit to worry presumably human women on any given day of the week but not every non-undead woman frequented bars catering blood and brains alongside the booze. So he was gauging her reaction, watching for a sign that she had any idea of what he really was, seeing if there would be that brief glimmer of fear when it dawned on a creature that it was staring down a hunter. 

Her reaction didn’t portray fear, per say, but it did little to ease her discomfort. Even so, it seemed she had started to play some game of chicken on her own. Owen watched her smile through the smoke drifting from the cigarette, head cocking at her answer. Proving that she had at least some knowledge of the scene she had just left, the woman flipped her hair to reveal the slender expanse of her neck. Unmarked by fangs, it seemed, not that it ruled out a feeding completely. “I don’t think the host would be interested in a drink from me,” Owen chuckled, the sound low. He definitely enjoyed the occasional attempts made to bite him as it always ended in disaster for the vampire. 

“Well, whether or not you were offering drinks, I’ve lost the person I’m interested in, anyway. Or was interested in.” Owen winked, well aware that it was an awful line, taking a final drag from his cigarette before stubbing it out. “So you seem like you can handle yourself well enough, cutting through dark alleys by yourself and sassing strangers. What’s your preferred method? We using like… pepper spray? Maybe the old car keys between the knuckles trick? A gun?” There was really no point to the questioning other than boredom and the fact that this night was useless anyway so might as well spend it having a little chat. 

-

"Technically is a bad way of defending yourself against a crime. Just because something technically isn’t illegal, doesn’t make it right. Or good. Or not annoying. And this happens to fit the bill for all of those things.” Leticia shot back. He was right though, just as she had been about the monster bar just down the street. The more he spoke the more uneasy she became, as if she was being let in on a secret that she had no desire to know about. As much as she wanted to close her eyes and pretend that this was just some weirdo with a vampire obsession, the way he laid it out made it impossible for her to pretend. He was a hunter. 

But he was looking for vampires — maybe he wouldn’t be interested in her at all. As selfish as it sounded. Emilio had been a slayer and he hadn’t had a clue about her, but Emilio was also… different. There was no denying that he was different from other hunters. Leticia couldn’t bet on him to be the norm, especially in Wicked’s Rest. So, she pursed her lips and pretended she hadn’t put the details together, hoping the man wouldn’t see past the mask. “They’re boring like that,” she said offhandedly. “The spice is where all the flavor is.” 

Leticia managed a laugh before rolling her eyes. This guy was strange, but it seemed like he was just bored now. Which was good. “Who in their right mind would tell a stranger what their secret weapon is?” She asked, taking another step toward him. More as a show that she wasn’t scared of him. Even if she still was. Worrying at her lip briefly, she figured why not push a little harder. Might as well irritate him right back for interrupting her night. (Boring as it was.) “What kind of slayer fucks up so badly they follow the wrong person? Your spidey sense broken?” 

-

Perfectly conveying how little he cared about the woman’s words, Owen shrugged, smiling lazily. The fact that she still hadn’t left was interesting. It didn’t seem likely that she was afraid, staying here to make sure he wouldn’t follow her, so odds pointed to her being just as bored and curious as he was. The previous smile widened at her comment, turning smug and a bit proud. “And I’m getting the feeling you’re not boring.”

Now that she was the one closing the distance between them, Owen followed her lead, closing the distance until they were a mere arms length away from each other. She looked even nicer up close, especially with that fire burning in her eyes, a challenge. The slayer had never been known for hating a challenge. “Worth a shot,” he replied innocently, cocking his head as he finished very obviously raking his gaze over her. And then she managed to surprise him further, admitting to how much she really knew. Owen didn’t visibly react to her statement, obviously, much too practiced in concealing his emotions. 

-

Grinning, he resisted the urge to reach towards her, maybe tuck back a stray lock of hair, as good as convinced that she wouldn’t take it lightly. At least not yet. “I would say that your looks distracted me but that would be a bit too corny,” he sighed, eyes sparkling with glee. “But no one’s spidey sense is perfectly accurate, which you would know if you were one of us so…” Obviously not undead, possibly just a regular human, possibly not. All in all, Owen didn’t much care. “Which brand of Wicked’s Rest oddities are you? No worries, I don’t discriminate as long as you have a heartbeat.” Most of the time, at least. Well… if he was fond of the non-human being. 

Leticia returned the shrug, but didn’t back down. “A lazy observation, but yeah.” She doubted anyone in Wicked’s Rest was truly boring. Especially considering how many strange people she had met since she had come into town and how quickly that number was climbing. This guy included. She would have been more shocked if he had found someone who wasn’t worth a conversation. Though she was mildly curious about what his definition of boring was. 

-

Whatever game of chicken they were playing, Leticia wasn’t entirely sure who was winning. She didn’t feel threatened anymore, but she was nowhere close to dropping her guard. Especially around a hunter, and a man she had just met. He looked her over and almost immediately, she leaned in, arching a brow. “Now look at who's boring.” But at least he wasn’t pretending to be anyone he wasn’t. That was refreshing, in a sense. But still, there was something uncomfortable about how he didn’t react to her blatant comments about what he was. Maybe he was hiding his reaction, maybe he really didn’t give a shit. Leticia tried to sweep it under the rug and pretend it didn’t make her wonder.

“Ah, well, if that’s what distracted you, you’re looking at the wrong end, aren’t you?” Leticia huffed a laugh, looking away from him only long enough to realize where she had screwed up. There was no easy way to wiggle out of this one, but she looked back at him, and tried anyway. “And you still followed me? Sounds like yours might be a little broken.” Crossing her arms, Leticia tipped her head to the side, blinking at him with a practiced smile on her face. “Heartbeat is still there, otherwise, it’s none of your fucking business. Sort of ruins the mystery, don’t you think?” 

-

Even though a lot of her reactions seemed practiced, more plastered on with a dash of confidence rather than genuine, Owen could catch genuine glimpses of the woman in front of him every now and then. The tension from before seemed to be giving way - whether she was human or not, she clearly thought herself capable of fending for herself. Some apprehension was to be expected when dealing with a stranger in a dark alley but he still had an inkling the whole ‘slayer’ thing was bothering her the most. Maybe she had an undead friend somewhere or just a general distaste for hunters as a whole. Either way, Owen didn’t much care right now. There wouldn’t be any hunting tonight so his mind was already moving on to greener pastures for this evening. 

“Maybe my inner compass had other priorities,” he replied vaguely, grinning at her crossed arms and stiff smile. Hands raised in mock surrender at her response to being pestered about her… genetics. God, he really wanted to put that attitude to the test. “Again, worth a shot.”

His hand reached out, rather slowly to not provoke her fight or flight response more than he already had. Whether or not she would accept it was a lovely mystery. “I’m Owen. Let me guess, your name is none of my fucking business either?” The teasing tone was accompanied by eyes crinkled with amusement and honestly, he didn’t care whether or not he got her name. The answer to the next question was the important one. “Since you don’t really look like you had much fun at the blood bar, how does some company for a regular bar sound? I can sort of promise that I won’t bite.” 

-

He was a strange one, she’d give him that. The immediate danger seemed to be gone, but she still didn’t feel wholly comfortable with him looking at her. Leticia had found herself surrounded by one too many hunters in the recent weeks and that number seemed to be insistent on increasing no matter what she did. But he had at least dropped the question of her genetics. It wasn’t a huge win, but it was still something, and Leticia would happily take it. It seemed his focus was on vampires, and if that was all he cared about, who was she to question it? 

“I’m sure it was your inner compass. Also, don’t call it your inner compass, it sounds weird.” But that was neither here nor there. Inhaling, Leticia rolled her eyes. The most unfortunate part of this entire conversation was that this wasn’t even the worst she had heard. New York bars had brought their worst and their finest out, and this, as terrible as it was, wasn’t rock bottom. “Was it? Really?”

Owen. A name to the face then. She brought her hand up just as his got close and pushed it away gently. “Wrong again, Owen. That’s kind of a mouthful for a name, don’t you think?” But Leticia didn’t give it up. Not yet, at least. While she felt comfortable enough to believe that he wasn’t going to drop her identity to other hunters for shits and giggles, she wasn’t sure. “Depends,” she finally replied. “Are you buying?” Hopefully he wasn't like other slayers she knew, otherwise this friendly conversation was going to end up with her calling her accountant at night asking how much she could afford to pay off a bar to forget their debt. “And if you bite me, I’m biting back. Had enough threats of that tonight.” 

-

Owen sighed playfully at her chastising. “Fine. I followed the wrong person but I’m staying because you’re interesting and hot. Happy?” Might as well throw the rest of the cards on the table since she had figured out the slayer bit all by herself. If she didn’t appreciate honesty, there were definitely other people to pursue tonight. Even if he wouldn’t mind spending some more time with the woman currently pushing his hand away. 

“What kind of gentleman would I be if I wasn’t?” Owen replied, taking a step closer before sidestepping her completely and heading towards the street bustling with people. Her question taken as an agreement for drinks. It was tempting to offer her the completely free drinks back at his apartment but given that she didn’t even trust him with her name yet, it was a long shot. “I’ll hold you to that,” he called over his shoulder, smile audible in his voice, walking slowly to make sure she would catch up. “Come along then, skatt.”

—

“Better, yeah.” Leticia looked almost satisfied, as if she had won something here. Being followed into an alley had been off putting to say the least, but when it came down to the reasons? She understood. Not that she trusted everything he said about not caring as long as she had a heartbeat. Which brought forward questions about what other creatures out there lacked heartbeats—but she wasn’t sure if he was the one to pose those questions too. He seemed to have a singular thought on his mind. 

“You really want an answer to that?” She asked, watching as he moved closer, and then around her entirely. Leticia arched a brow but followed suit a moment after. The drinks might not have been an apology for following her and mistaking her for a vampire, which stirred the balam in her mind, as if offended it had been mistaken for anything but itself, but the offer was still enticing. And Owen promised at least an interesting night. She took one last glance in the direction of the vampire bar, and decided he’d make a good distraction, too. “Pendejo, what did you just call me?” She fell into step with Owen easily, not looking nearly as irritated as she should have been. Only mildly distant, wondering how her ever growing list of people she knew turned into such a shitshow of hunters. 

—

“Only if it’s brutally honest.” Sure enough, it seemed the woman’s curiosity matched his own as he heard her footsteps get closer. Followed by a very suspicious question and a nickname Owen was growing all too familiar with due to his proximity with another slayer. An innocent smile on his face, he shrugged. “It’s a pet name. Swedish. Since I have nothing else to call you,” he explained, the tone of his voice suggesting that there was every chance of that being complete bullshit. It wasn’t, but letting her think that he’d insulted her was fun. 

Eager to start the evening before the spitfire following him decided to change her mind, Owen stopped at the first bar they passed, holding the door open. “After you.” 

It wasn’t too crowded inside, the night still young and thankfully, this place seemed void of any blood suckers. With a sigh of content, Owen led his companion inside, hand hovering over the small of her back. Not crossing the boundary yet, slowly testing his luck, practicing what little patience he had to not piss her off before they even ordered their first drink. 

—

The way he said it brought a frown to her face. A pet name but the tone suggested that he was just fucking around with her. Most of the night had been that, so it wasn’t much of a surprise. Just a new irritant for her to fuss over. Which was probably Owen’s intention considering how he carried himself. So, after a moment of huffing, Leticia lifted her head and pretended like nothing had bothered her in the first place. As if that would suck out any satisfaction he might have gotten. 

They ducked into the nearest bar and Leticia should have recognized it. Most of them were bars that Emilio had in rotation so that they didn’t piss anyone off too many nights in a row. (Though she figured it was a habit from when he simply didn’t pay his bill.) The bartender clocked her the second they stepped inside. She shot him a pointed look and he immediately looked down at the counter, but the smirk on his face? He was gonna tell Emilio, wasn’t he? Bastard. 

“Christ,” she sighed, allowing herself to be guided for a moment before taking Owen’s hand and leading him to a table further from the bar. Not wanting to give the bartender any more gossip than she had already. Leticia sighed as she took a seat and then propped her chin up on her fist, looking more directly at Owen now. “I fucking hate small towns.” But despite her initial irritation, she laughed. 

—

The quiet exchange lasted briefly but Owen didn’t miss it, with his focus so intently on his companion, trying to figure her out. Before he could ask about it or, more importantly, make a quip, he was being dragged away from the bar. Smirk planted firmly in place, even as his hand was released and they took a seat, Owen cocked his head. “Old fling? Guess I’m in luck if you have a thing for bartenders,” he joked, glancing over his shoulder. Sure enough, a pair of curious eyes met his gaze and immediately looked away, bartender pretending to busy himself with other customers. 

“So,” Owen sighed, fingers interlocking on top of the table, “do I finally get a name or am I going to have to go pry it from our curious friend over there instead?” A grin, more of a challenge than anything else, before he added, “even though I don’t mind keeping your current nickname which may or may not be an insult.” God, he hoped she ended up googling it and realizing she was getting worked up over nothing. 

—

Dropping her face into her hands, Leticia sighed once more. But after a moment, she recovered and looked at Owen again. "My type in men is mistakes, so you do fit right in." Did she consider what she had said before saying it? No. But this entire night was a disaster as it was, there was no possible way she could dig this hole any deeper. Trying to refocus the conversation away from her personal encounters, she tried to pry into his life. "You're a bartender? Your spideysense fuck up that often you need a side hustle?"

Leticia puffed out her cheeks at the threat and rolled her eyes. "Not really fair that you're going to use outside resources here. Who the hell am I supposed to grill about you? Feels pretty uneven here." After a beat though, she finally caved. "It's Leticia. And don't tell him anything, that man is a rat and a gossip."

—

“Excellent,” Owen replied, drawing out the single word in a very irritating manner, accompanied of course with a smirk. Leaning back in his seat, enjoying the way his new friend seemed to be letting her guard down ever so slightly, he glanced back at the bar. They hadn’t even gotten the chance to order yet. Before he could tell her as much, she was back with more insults disguised as questions. “Two jobs, actually. It’s expensive to always be buying people drinks.” If she thought he was bad at vampire hunting, that was fine by him. She wasn’t the one that needed to be threatened by him. 

With a self satisfied shrug, Owen leaned in closer, daring her to force his hand. “I never play fair,” he stated, head tilting expectantly until she finally gave in. His smile was wide, in no way attempting to hide the satisfaction he’d gotten from that simple win. “Leticia,” he tried out, watching her for a moment before unexpectedly getting to his feet. “Watch our table, will’ya?”

The bartender was doing a fair enough job at pretending to keep his chill once Owen neared the bar, only once glancing over the slayer’s shoulder, presumably meeting the gaze of a very angry Leticia. “Hi there. Whiskey and one of what she usually gets.” The whole time, he kept from looking back at his companion, not giving her a chance to even wordlessly threaten him lest he ‘talk to the rat.’ The drinks were delivered and Owen leaned on the bar, sizing up the man. “Owen,” he finally said, offering a hand and, once the handshake was accepted, he added, “heard you’re a big gossip.” With a quiet ‘tsk’, he grabbed the drinks and returned to the table, sliding one over to Leticia. 

—

Leticia rolled her eyes this time around. “I hope you’re not looking for me to feel bad for you. I’m sure you manage just fine.” And frankly, it was a step up from the people she usually drank with. Half the time she ended up with the tab, and while she could afford it, she was always a few shades of annoyed that it was becoming an expectation. But for Owen? Even if he wasn’t about to put a blade in her chest (yet, she presumed) that didn’t mean she was going to be rooting for him to be living lavishly while he did his job.

The grin on her face made her wish she hadn’t said anything at all, but knowing their bartender and Owen’s personality - he would have had it one way or another. Which was some bullshit if you asked her. Leticia leaned in, only slightly, to shake her head. “Stop looking at me like that. Stop acting like you won something.” Drumming her fingers on the table as he walked away, she sighed again, feeling at least more at home here than she had outside. This was familiar. Safe. Even if Owen posed some risks himself. 

Including whatever the hell he was saying to the bartender while he was ordering their drinks. Christ. “What did you tell him?” She asked before reaching for her drink. “You better not be ruining my favorite bar.” It wasn’t her favorite. Or her only. But he didn’t need to know that. 

—

Of course, Owen was immediately berated with questions as he sat back down, Leticia demanding answers. “Nothing important,” he sighed, smirk still visible behind the rim of the glass as he took a sip. Wondering how long it would take her curiosity to drive her mad. If she’d come back another night to ask the nosy bartender about the very brief exchange of words. Or if she’d perhaps stop coming here at all. Nah, she seemed much too stubborn and proud for the latter. 

“So,” he put a hand on his chest, “bartender, slayer, mistake.” Gesturing over to her, his eyebrows raised expectantly. “I don’t want to have to play unfair to get more than a name out of you but since I’m not opposed to breaking the rules… your choice.” An obnoxious grin on his face, Owen leaned back in his seat, drink in hand, waiting patiently. 

—

Her eyes were locked on the bartender, wanting nothing more than to walk over there and demand him to give up what he had been told - and swear him into secrecy. But that would be forfeiting this strange game they were playing, wouldn’t it? Either way, Owen was walking away with far more information that Leticia had intended. She needed to stop talking before she fumbled her way into another round of trouble. 

Mistake did manage to get a smile out of her, but it only lasted a moment before she schooled her face and shrugged. “A man of many trades.” Leticia would have made the joke that he was a jack of all trades, master of none, but considering he had followed the wrong woman, he might take it personally. Her choice. Leticia was quiet, enjoying her drink and letting his question sit before she set her glass down. What was the move? Pretend her phone was ringing? Make up another pitiful excuse? Or just… outright say it? “Leticia,” she began with a hand on her chest, mimicking his posture. “Business owner, and uninterested in making another mistake tonight. Sorry to disappoint.” But thanks for the free drink? 

—

It had been worth a shot. It was always worth a shot, even when the outcome wasn’t the most preferable one. Getting to know people in town tended to come in handy one way or another, regardless of how intimately Owen got to know them. And the woman he had followed into a dark alley really had been a long shot. At least for tonight. He gave a nonchalant shrug before finishing the rest of his drink. “Guess I’ll have to find you again when your standards are a little less rigid.” 

Digging into his pocket, he pulled out a twenty dollar bill and placed it on the table. “The rest can go towards tips for my new friend over there.” Glancing over his shoulder, Owen winked at the curious bartender before getting to his feet. “Or you can get yourself another drink.” He grinned then, with a slightly more serious expression, added, “just for the love of fuck, stay away from the necrophiliac bar.” 

[thesugarace]

Alright

I finished HLITF season 1 for Kaga and I SWEAR TO ALL 12 ZODIAC GODS

VOLTAGE. PEAKED!!!! AT KAGA’S SEQUEL

THIS STORY IS AN ABSOLUTE 

(Early warning: minor/major spoilers and a lot of rants/fangirling/thirst etc etc all bec I just absolutely love this story and I feel the need to share this love with everyone. Also, I keep seeing everyone hating on MC in this but I actually really liked her here and so I MUST defend her)

Okay

First of all look. loOK. LOOK AT THESE CGS!!!!

CAN YOU BELIEVE WE GET A HOT AND SEXY KAGA CG, A LITERALLY STEAMY ROMANTIC CG AND A BOMB AF STORY ALL FOR $3 EYE-

And oh my huedhaut dont even get me started on the story. It was absolutely on point. It has everything a HLITF story promises to have:

justice in the eyes of our straightlaced MC vs the PSD ✔️

Conflict btwn Kaga and MC precisely because of that ✔️

Our girl pulling a vanishing act bec she refused to compromise her values ✔️

the refusal of each side to back down and their love for each other TEARING THEM APART INSIDE ✔️

OUR GIRL SHOWING OFF HOW INSIGHTFUL SHE REALLY IS AND FINDING A SOLID AF LEAD ✔️

MC’S GROWTH in finding a somewhat compromise between her principles and what is required of her as a PSD detective ✔️

And of course, my absolute favourite: ANGSTY ANGSTY MY-WORLD-IS-ENDING-BECAUSE-MY-MC-IS-IN-DANGER-ANGSTY KAGA ✔️

Okay, I need to address the one thing that everyone just hates about this story en masse and it’s MC. Personally, I dont agree with her about the some parts, especially the interrogation because she did hinder an investigation and in law enforcement that is one big No-No but I do see where she’s coming from, especially with the surveillance thing and the whole copping out and literally running away to the countryside. I saw reviews abt her being completely naive but seriously, put yourself in the position of the one being spied. She’s so against it because to the suspect, what they’re doing could be harmful to him, especially so if he was innocent. I think as a person, she believes in the more publically-accepted justice - the kind of justice that everyone wants but is really very difficult to obtain.

And this is where we get to the beauty of this story. As per their MO, the PSD is ready to do whatever it takes to get the culprit even it means breaking the law. They’re desperate to get the culprit because people are actually getting hurt and the longer this guy gives them the slip, the more people are going to get hurt. Even in MSB, its been established that to the PSD, the end ALWAYS justify the means and they dont give a shit if they look like criminals for it. So this is where the conflict arises between MC and the PSD guys. For the PSD, there’s an opportunity where they might get the culprit but its illegal and for MC, what the PSD wants to do is too risky for something only based on suspicion; she wants to stay on the legal path but she has no lead whatsoever and time is not on either side. People dont seem to realise the weight of MC’s viewpoint and have a tendency to think of ‘officers doing something illegal’ as something as light as jaywalking or smt. No, these institutions have a wide reach and one misstep could bring harmful repercussions onto countless innocent people not to mention the implications of their actions on their integrity as an institution of the law and the integrity of the entire justice system. However, the PSD’s side is a lot more true to reality albeit in more complex situations: their duty beyond all else is to prevent crime and there are times when there really seems to be no way. I’ve been working in law for the past few years and this is a classic dilemma that has been simplified but quite well executed in this context. Justice is not as clear cut as the right way, the right end. The law may simply be black words on white paper but different circumstances dye it with their own colours. This is where MC is lacking. She’s like a freshman at law school - someone who truly believes in the importance of justice but actually has little idea what that actually entails. She is not entirely naive but more in a sense that she’s never been confronted with these kind of complex high-stakes situations (she worked in a police box before this for Ichthys’s sake) and that inexperience disables her from seeing and evaluating the entire situation from the PSD’s pov. For her, its like playing poker for the first time and she’s already betting with the million dollar chips.

The second thing I REALLY must defend her in is the whole quitting from the academy. For the love of Zyglavis, she did NOT run away just because Kaga told her she’s not suited for PSD, it was just the trigger. Lemme put it in a different scenario (btw this scenario is not meant to mirror the situation, its only meant to evoke how MC felt in the story) Imagine you live in a city and you and your significant other are living together. A pandemic has struck your city but everyone refuses to wear a mask and the government is even encouraging people not to wear a mask. You know that wearing a mask slows down the spread of the virus and you are trying to convince people to wear one but they just ignore you. The number of cases is dropping and people think its because they dont wear masks unlike other cities but you know that people should still wear masks or the numbers might spike. So you try to convince everyone to wear a mask and people start berating you for being so stupid as to believe that masks will slow down the spread of the virus when the numbers are dropping without the city wearing them. You go home and your significant other berates you for forcing other people to wear a mask and says ‘since you wanna wear a mask so badly, get out of my house and move out of town’ That’s what it felt like for MC: the absolute frustration + sadness from the rejection of what she truly believes in by the people she’s surrounded by. Time and time again in the story, she’s confronted with the fact that the justice she believes in is not the justice PSD serves. For someone who is working towards joining the PSD, that has to be killing her inside every time. It just serves as a reminder that she is not suited for PSD nor is she what PSD wants in a detective, something she has been struggling with since MS1 but she perseveres perhaps because of her dream to become a detective or because of her aspirations to someday be Kaga’s equal or at least be someone he considers he can rely on. I really believe it’s the second one, after all, it was his rejection of her that really broke her inside and finally convinced her to quit. That’s why if you buy the ending set, you’ll see in the extra stories that Kaga gets extremely angry AT HIMSELF that MC quit the academy. He knows that our persistent Kappa doesnt give up so easily, not even when he scolded her for ruining his interrogation. Its because all these factors built up and he was the one to push her over her limit. So yes, our girl is not fragile yall. She’s just been through so much and I honestly dont blame her for leaving like one order of R&R for our MC here, she deserves it thanks. 

Okay, I need to end this soon cause its starting to get too long but what made me really love her here is the whole LIME thing. That part made love her so much because even when she quit on the academy, there’s still a fire inside her to do what it takes to achieve justice, even if it meant relying on the people she didnt agree with. Even when she was so broken inside believing that she’s not one of them, she’s not needed by them, she’s not worthy of helping them; she just wants to help!

IM SO FREAKING SOFT FOR HER BECAUSE THIS GIRL WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH IS STILL FIGHTING IN HER OWN WAY AND JKASHFHASKJHAKSHKJHGA BRB CRYING

ALSO 

THAT BLOODY PHONE CALL OH MY FREAKING SCORPIO THAT PHONE CALL. I died when he told her that quitting is not an excuse to leave his side. THESE TWO EYE-

Okay, you have to read that phone call scene from both sides because then you’ll see how much these two are being stubborn because they still dont accept the other’s pov abt the case but at the same time how much they love and miss each other is gnawing at them inside AND THEYRE STRUGGLING TO HOLD ALL THOSE EMOTIONS BACK WHEN THEY HEAR EACH OTHERS’ VOICES OVER THE PHONE FREAKING KRIOFF TAKE THE WHEEL PLEASE

Anyways, I really enjoyed reading season 1 for Kaga, especially because of his MC - I see her actually growing from the small police box officer to a PSD cadet and the sequel, especially, shows promise in how she’s going to navigate the world of law enforcement and facing difficult choices. Our girl really decided to return to the academy without finding a proper middle ground between her values and what PSD requires of her but she showed determination to work on it so I really hope we get to see more of that in later seasons. Also, WHIPPED Kaga is my fav but soft Kaga is up there as well. MC SAYING HE SOUNDED SAD OVER THE PHONE AND HER TEARING UP I CANT. THESE TWO ARE BAD FOR MY HEART.

Okay, Im not sure what I’ll be reading next. I kinda wanna start on his season 2 but considering how amazing this season is for Kaga, Im really curious abt the other characters so I might start on them before starting any season 2s. Also, idk if I would make these long argumentative-ish essays a thing but just idk why, my brain is really good at spewing essays out when it comes to HLITF and I think its fuelled by the panic from all my unfinished work so yay 

Thanks for reading!!!

[voltage-vixen]

A Vow for the Future (Request)

(This is featuring Ayumu Shinonome from HLITF)

“Look out!” Shinonome yelled, while tackling MC down to the ground and taking cover under the desk in the room.

The two were on a mission undercover to infiltrate a drug cartel. Everything had been going according to the plan, and they were even able to sneak into one of the main dealer’s offices. Shinonome was going to attempt to hack into the laptop to see if they could access a client list. All was going well, until MC unintentionally tripped a hidden alarm, causing the rest of the gang to surround them in the office and discover that they were not trusted allies, but in fact imposters. MC raced to barricade the doors shut, and Shinonome could hear the guns outside being cocked. That’s what lead them to their current predicament, as they both silently prayed that the rest of the PSD would arrive in time to provide the back-up that they desperately needed.

Shinonome held MC tightly in his arms, and he felt the rapid beating of her heart against his chest. He knew she had to be feeling terrified, but he would have never been able to guess based on the look of determination that she wore on her face. One could practically see the wheels spinning in her head, trying to figure out a resolution for the situation they were in. MC’s ambition and determination were just some of the many qualities he loved about her. She had been so absorbed in her brainstorming; MC had just realized that Shinonome had been intensely staring at her. Her hand reached out for his, and she gave him a reassuring squeeze, and flashed him a calming smile. “Don’t be such a scaredy cat,” she teased, “You’re supposed to be the lieutenant here.”

The door began to bang, and the pair knew it was only a matter of time before it was broken down, and they would be forced to face their attackers. They were outnumbered, outpowered, and logistically speaking had the disadvantage. Although neither Shinonome or MC said anything out loud, both were in understanding of how severe the circumstances were, and that this could possibly be the last mission they ever attempt. MC suddenly stood up from the desk and pulled her gun from her holster. “I’m tired of playing defense,” she fumed, “If they want a fight, then let’s give them one.” Shinonome wasn’t quite sure if he should admire her tenacity, or rather scold MC for her stupidity. One thing was for certain-he knew that this was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Whether they had only seconds, or many more fruitful years, Shinonome wanted MC to be his partner for the rest of their lives.

MC was about to charge the door with her gun blazing, until Shinonome yanked her backwards, causing her to stumble into his waiting arms. “Always the klutzy one,” he taunted in hopes of distracting her. She went to protest, but he put one of his fingers to her lips to shush her. “There’s something I need to say,” he nervously gulped, “In case anything happens to us, I want you to know, that you are the one I want buying my peach nectar drinks until I give you permission to stop.” Shinonome hadn’t thought far ahead enough to try and anticipate what her reaction would be, but he certainly wasn’t expecting her to scowl and glare at him. “We’re literally on the verge of getting killed in the line of duty, and you have the audacity to think about pink nectar right now!”

Shinonome stared blankly at her for a few moments, before bursting out into a rage of laughter. MC had no idea that he had been trying to propose to her! “Stop laughing!” MC angrily hissed. After catching his breath, he placed both hands on the side of her face and tugged on her cheeks. “I would have thought a super intelligent detective such as yourself, would realize that I was asking you to marry me.” She gasped, and Shinonome took that as a sign to keep talking. “I know we don’t have much time, but regardless of what happens here today, just know that I promise to love you forever.” Tears had begun to fall from MC’s eyes, and she quickly wiped them away. “I would LOVE to be your wife! Let’s make it out of here together, so we can be together forever!”

They smiled at each other, and swiftly kissed, before returning their focus on the criminals that were continuing to try and barge through the door. Preparing to make their attack, Shinonome and MC heard sirens and yelling echoing throughout the warehouse they were trapped in. “We have the building surrounded! Drop your weapons and get down on the floor!” Ishigami’s voice boomed. MC turned to Shinonome and happily embraced him. “The PSD is here!” Shinonome rolled his eyes and pushed her away from him. “Obviously, I already know that,” he sighed. The truth was that he had been absolutely petrified in fear, when he thought there was even the slightest chance, he would lose MC. Not that he would ever admit that to her of course.

The door was kicked open, and Shinonome had never in his life been happier to see Kaga. “Glad to see you iditots somehow managed to not get killed. Now stop fooling around you morons, and come out here to help us,” he barked before storming off. Shinonome started to follow after Kaga, when he turned around to face MC. “About earlier, I meant every word I said, but we don’t need to make a big deal out of this.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he instantly knew it was too late when he saw the big grin on her face. “It’s not a big deal, it’s a HUGE deal! I’m going to remember this day for the rest of my life,” she chattered in excitement while proceeding to the assist the other PSD officers. He pretended to shake his head in annoyance, but Shinonome was really trying to contain his excitement for their future together.

Feel free to check out my Masterlist!

@agustd54, @rikumorimachisgirl

[wntrsnat]

Trying | Natasha Romanoff x Bucky Barnes

(psd by allscallie on deviantart)

- Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x Bucky Barnes 

- Summary: For a first time, Natasha and Bucky are on the mission together. While searching for the files about HYDRA’s bases, they somehow manage to engage into the conversation about love.

- Warnings: None

- Word Count: 2.9k

- A/n: A fanfiction for @softhairbarnes‘ “I love you 3000″ writing challenge. My prompt will be in bold. 

_______________

The air was heavy, filling a dirty basement of HYDRA’s base with an awful scent of chemicals and dust. They seemed to crawl into the lungs further and further with each breath, covering every little bone and area, making it almost impossible to breathe freely. It only seemed like that, in reality, those scents where causing nothing besides feeling of disgust.

Both ex-assassins were covered in cuts and blood from a barbarous fight. Their enemies had appeared right by the door as they were trying to break into the underground laboratory, located in the basement

The fight was brutal. They grabbed any weapons they could get their hands on: guns, knives, tear gas pellets and of course, Bucky’s metal arm, which Natasha had to admit he used rather gracefully along with other weapons.

The metal arm always was a flaw in his eyes; a reminder of winter soldier, a reminder of how many lives he has destroyed, how many sins he carries on his shoulders and how much blood he has spilled, but that ‘flaw’ still was helpful during missions, it was his main and most powerful weapon which always will be with him.

But this fact was not helping and would never help him emotionally.

Everyone in the team understood that. Everyone knew what he went through, but no one besides the Black Widow fully realized and felt every part of his story, and even though she and Bucky basically never talk, she partly knew what he felt after killing so many people, what it’s like to live with that thought and guilt which slowly destroyed you from inside. She has been through something like this too when she joined the SHIELD. After all, don’t forget that once she was the Russian spy and the assassin which has killed thousands of innocent people 

“Barnes, mind stopping looking on the floor and helping me?” the redhead hissed out with unhidden annoyance in her raspy yet soft voice as she opened another cabinet in the desk with small glass bottles of colorful liquids (which were giving out that disgusting scent) on the top, in an attempt to find the file that they needed.

Male’s eyes quickly moved up on the Natasha as she called him out, by that bringing him back to reality.

With apologies, Bucky slowly made his way to her, asking what to do.

“Help with searching for the file which contains data about all HYDRA’s bases” she explained, still kneeling opposite the right part of the desk, pulling out yellow files from the last cabinet and reading each of them. “Go to the left part and search there” she said and glanced upon him, carefully studying his appearance before going back to work.

“I’m not sure that they would save such kind of information in the simple, unprotected cabinets” Bucky stated as he took a few steps forward to the left side of the desk, slightly bending over it and opening the first cabinet.

“I doubt that too”

“Then why are you searching there?”

“Keyword: doubt” Natasha told him and slightly shook her head, glancing over at Bucky once again to check if he started doing his part of the job. “I’m not hundred percent sure and even if I was, we would check everything anyway she explained and watched how he opened one of the yellow files before searching through its papers with a cold, almost blank facial expression. It was a little bit hard for him to read all those things. They reminded him of the past, all the terrible things they forced him to do, dark laboratories in which they were wiping him over and over again, the physical and mental pain which he had to experience and accept.

“S-so, what do all those files contain overall?” He asked her, slightly stuttering as he did not move his gaze from the file. He wanted to know if all files would give him that feeling. Natasha had been searching and reading them for a long time already, so he was sure she knew the answer to the question.

“Mostly they are about laboratories, chemicals, and experiments that they have done with them, but I still hope that there will be at least a little information about bases” she answered and pulled out few of them from the cabinet “For example, this one is about…” she paused as she quickly opened a file to read papers and finish the sentence “About a now closed laboratory in South Carolina”

“South Carolina? Never been there but I’m sure it is a beautiful place” Barnes suddenly said in an attempt to keep talking and distract himself from thoughts about the past which kept floating up in his head more and more as he read papers.

The redhead got a bit ...when her teammate continued to talk in such a casual manner, unrelated to their work. But they were doing a simple task that didn't require much focus, so she didn't mind. Even if she wasn't the most open or talkative person.

“Once, I have been there on a mission. That’s why that laboratory is closed now” she said with the corners of her lips curving into slight smirk at memory of the mission “it was indeed a very beautiful place but unfortunately I did not have time to go on the beach and fully experience its beauty” she said “as they say – зло некогда не спит (evil never sleeps), so I always have to be on guard, no time to relax” she said and put the file back in its place.

“So, you don’t have any day off?” he continued the talk, matching his own tone to hers.

“Nope. No day offs”

“I’m pretty sure that’s illegal” Bucky joked while still doing his work, without even suspecting that Natasha’s gaze was on him the whole time when they were talking.

“Darling, I’m the definition of illegal by itself” she teased back and drew her lower lip between her teeth with the smirk still present on her face.

A small but genuine laugh escaped from his fine, pink lips, leaving a light trace of a smile for the first time in a while.

Seems like talking with her to get distracted from the dark thoughts worked. He would even say – more than worked. He did not expect to enjoy the talk that much.

“Oh, are you?” he continued teasing, refusing to give up “Because you seem pretty innocent to me,” Bucky said, turning his head to her direction with a small devilish smile playing on his lips as he caught her biting her lower lip with a smirk.

“Innocent?” repeated Natasha, raising her eyebrows “Since when is knocking out five men in three minutes – innocence?!” she asked as if she was offended.

“I don’t know. Maybe you knocked them out, out of love?” Bucky said with his tongue running over his lips. Of course, he did not mean what he said. He perfectly remembered how Natasha fought, how violent, fast but graceful and smooth her moves were. He felt like he was fighting alongside her his whole life even though this was their first mission together. He was not surprised that Natasha was great like this, Steve had told him a lot about her, what an amazing fighter and person she was.

“Love? Love is just a pretty lie” she said, meaning it even though her tone did not change.

“Well, I will have to disagree with you there, Ms. Romanoff” Bucky told her, a bit surprised when he understood that Natasha really meant it “Love is a quite real thing” he said, looking into her emerald green eyes for a few seconds before moving his own gaze to the files but still waiting for any kind of answer from her.

“Hmm… I’m not surprised that you disagree, Mr. Barnes” Natasha told, knowing that most of the people believe in it “But I’d be glad to hear what love is in your opinion” she suddenly said without thinking, by surprising not only Bucky but also herself.

“Well… love” he started, glancing down on Natasha before opening the second cabinet “Love is something that we usually believe in by default without acknowledging it,” he said, trying to find the right words “But we know the true taste of love once we fall for someone. Even the word is as magical and mysterious as the feeling by itself: passionate, deep, fiery but yet calming and full of warmth, as if it is a blanket which covers you during cold days but surrounds with care and affection, throws a shade on your past, helps you to accept yourself and deal with inner demons” Bucky said, his voice became softer and softer with each word. He remembered perfectly what it was like to be in love and be loved. After all, he had quite a colorful life before fell down from the train to darkness “trust me on this one: The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return”

“No” Natasha snapped looking upon the male and gently closing the cabinet “Maybe it feels great but in the end they always hurt you” she said and recalled a memory with Bruce Banner in her mind as she stood up “You slowly fall for them, give them little pieces of yourself, show them that you care and love and they seem to return the same feelings but then later they crush your heart in the nastiest, worst way, leaving you alone to fix it by yourself”

“Then they were not right for you” Bucky snapped back, glaring at Nat, his eyes burned with confidence in what he said “The one who truly loves you would never leave you” he said and returned his gaze on files “If they ended things then there was no true love, and it is better to be with a broken heart than in one-sided relationships”

The widow clenched jaw after inhaling the air. She knew there was a piece of truth in his words but from another side – he did not know all ‘events’ that convinced her into this.

“Nothing is eternal, including love,” Natasha said and turned her head to the side to avoid looking on him. Her voice was calm but with a mix of slight coldness “So, why should you let yourself fall for someone if at the end they hurt you anyway?” she asked rhetorically, keeping her gaze away from him.

“and what if they don’t hurt you? What if they promise to never leave and love forever?”

“The promises are nothing but empty, meaningless words thrown into the air”

“They are not”

“They always break them. Don’t lie, Barnes, you have done that too – promised a girl love and happy life together but dumped her on the next day. I have heard that you were ladies’ man back in the forties” she said, mentally slapping him with those words without even moving a single muscle on her face.

His eyebrows snapped together as soon as those words reached his ears. Yes, he was a ladies’ man, a bit of a player, he’d been on numerous amount of dates with different girls, not to even mention his one night stands, but he was always honest and treated women with respect. He was a man of his word, always completing what he has promised, so he would never use such a dirty way of flirting and getting a girl. To say more, he has been only in few relationships, and he never promised them anything if he was not sure in his ability to complete it. 

“I’m not one of those men and never was” Bucky stated, referring to empty promises “No man should do such a thing to a woman,” he said and took a few steps forward to the redhead.

With each step the tension between them was growing. It was either because of Natasha’s cold attitude or slight offense which he faced after her words… or both. It was surprising how joyful talk so quickly turned into this mess which was hard to label.

“And if someone did that to you” he started again, figuring out that Natasha might have gone through tough relationships in the past. After all, she must have a reason to think like that “If you went through empty promises and heartbreak, then they are not worth it” he said, gently sliding his flesh index finger under her chin to move her head to face him once again “But if you never experienced relationships, then it is worth to give a shot for the first time and try” he said, moving away his fingers from her chin and crossing arms as Natasha’s gaze remained cold.

“No,” she told him, still being stubborn about her opinion. She did not want to accept the truth. It was hard. Maybe she got rid of Red Room but the beliefs with which they raised her, stayed with her.

‘You are one of the black widows. You are not supposed to feel love,’ ‘Love is for weak, and you must be strong– old voices echoed through her head, reminding her of the true reason why she did not believe in it, and the reason she later got stronger instead of got destroyed by previously mentioned ‘ex’

“Why?” he asked as he took a few steps towards her, not understanding what or why he was doing that but he knew that he wanted to change her opinion.

“Love is a lie. Love is for children” she repeated once again, finally looking into his eyes, not bothering to take step away

“But deep down, we all are children, are we not?” Bucky told her with his arms still crossed and pressed against his chest “All of us need a bit of affection in our lives”

“Not me”

“How do you know that?”

“Never had a desire” a small lie left her mouth. Of course she had such wish a few times in her lifetime but each of them ended badly.

“I don’t believe you” the soldier said without hesitation, getting closer and closer to Natasha “You can’t tell me you never wanted to even kiss someone” he said, taking a deep breath in “to feel their lips on yours and melt under their touch” he continued, not planning to stop yet “Even if you did not love them. Just wanted to kiss them”

”No. Never”

“Liar” he said almost instantly, getting closer and closer to her, not knowing even by himself what intentions he had, but one thing was for sure - they both forgot about files “You just don’t let yourself feel it”

“What about you, James?” she asked and took step towards him as well. Now they were a few centimeters away from standing chest to chest “You say that I don’t let myself feel such things but you are doing same since returned, are you not?”

Bucky did not answer.

“I was always acting like that towards romances but you…” she started but never finished the sentence. The words faded into the silence which fell between them. 

It did not last long. Bucky broke it soon enough.

“The main difference is – I don’t mind trying”

“Then why don’t you try?”

“You are not going to give up, are you?”

“No”

Her words left him wordless. He did not know what to say to break her. She was stubborn but so was he. Neither of them wanted to give up nor leave without a fight. After all, both of them were soldiers - they were taught to fight until the last drop of blood.

His eyes slowly travelled down to her lips as he stood there for a few more seconds, doubting his actions. She was right, he stopped himself from even thinking about it since he returned. He did not want to hurt someone physically (with the metal arm) or mentally (with his own mental state) but now it was a whole different type of situation.

The soldier took  a step closer to her, closing the gap between their bodies. He could feel her hot breath against his skin, he could feel how tense she was, he could feel the coldness in her…

“What are you doing?” She asked carefully with a whisper as she tried not to touch him.

“Trying” He answered, pressing his lips against hers, tasting blood & dirt along with her strawberry-flavored lipstick as if winter soldier got in the perfect mix with his old days. His heart raced faster with each passing second as he parted her lips using his to slip his tongue inside her mouth and slowly take over the kiss before she could process the situation and act. He expected a push, a slap, a punch or a kick but neither of them happened. At first, he felt how her body tensed more but eventually started to relax. She did not try to break it, but she did not try to kiss him back yet. He was confused, he did not know what she thought and felt, did not know if she enjoyed or hated it... honestly,  he did not know what he felt either. A few seconds passed, neither of them broke the kiss, none of them even tried to do it, instead, he felt how she kissed him back, blending two broken souls into one and shattering the wall of chaos around them. Neither of them understood why they kept kissing but it did not stop them anyway, they paused only when Bucky pulled away for a little bit, only to softly whisper something against her lips

“Never had a desire, huh?”

[alterlifes-a]

i love u and the psd u have for mirio is beautiful!!! can u rec some bnha blogs? or maybe anime blogs in general, thank u!

you want blog recs ?! i got blog recs ! also , i did have another anon a few months ago asking for blog recs , so i’ll only be recommending b.nha blogs , since i can do non - b.nha blogs another day ! ALSO , thank you so much for your input on my psd for mirio  !!  i’m so proud of it , as well tbh !  ❤︎ i’m putting this under a read more so i can gush and not clog up peoples’ dashes !! also these are in order of my following list rn , so it’s in no specific order .

@dualbred  /  @soarsun  /  @eletriq  /  sunny’s other blogs  ❤︎  sunny is someone whose name describes what they are perfectly : he’s a ray of sunshine in your day ! he’s very charming, creative, and sweet, and he’s the perfect person to go to if you want to plot and walk out of the conversation just . screaming . whether that’s good or bad , depends .@frogblep  ❤︎  idk if birdie is okay with a lot of people following since they’re really private + super mutuals-exclusive, but they’re so cute and have such a great personality ! 10/10 would chirp .@ichorsun  ❤︎  wow i love hide the canon character . but for real , rye has such a well - crafted oc , and this blog deserves all the attention it can get !@dprssin  /  @quirkgifter  /  @mcka  ❤︎  listen i know nanners is on hiatus cause the fandom sucks ( which is why i also linked his d . va ) , but that doesn’t erase the fact that he’s got one of the best [ and only , from what i’ve seen hsdkfjs ] nanas out there . also , we support n adore his native american mixed aizawa , thank you . @toughfist​  /  @torncape  /  @tailsfur  ❤︎  nora is so so kind and honestly just a huge burst of sunshine in your day ! also sakkun is such a cute oc tbh . it’s obvious she puts a lot of love into her muses , so go check out her blogs !!@knowthem​  /  @inneall​  ❤︎  i haven’t interacted much with jade yet , but honestly if you write iida i already trust you … sfkjs but honestly speaking , jade is a welcome and warm presence on the dash . just having them around is grounds for a good time !@pyrrhe​  /  @spireheart​  ❤︎  ram my love … my buddy in great music taste … she’s your local lesbian who’s here to kick butt and write amazing replies and guess what … she’s all out of butts to kick .@sepiternal​  /  @amariodal​  /  @hwitzr​  /  @solsace​ ( shut up , will’s an anime — )   ❤︎  rory literally made a mirio because i wanted one , what more could you ask out of a son … but really , he’s one of my longest standing friends and no matter rain or shine , i know i can count on them to be vivacious and original @lacquarms​  /  @jetlegs​  ❤︎  if anything happened to theus i will personally manifest in every tumblr user’s room and delete all of their blogs and destroy the entire website myself . but tbh , theus is so amazing and charismatic !! 100% recommendation from me@whiphero​  ❤︎  hansie is just one of those people who , like , you see a new blog followed you and you go to check it out , then you see hansie’s name on there and it’s just an instant follow tbh .@palmfed​  /  @wuvlite​  /  @dphium​  ❤︎  punpun is always very funny and super multifaceted in his skills … he has so much creative energy , but also he’s the друг friend so like . tread carefully . oh . he’s already there . clicking the follow button . you’re on your own now . godspeed .@amerismash​​  ❤︎  FOSTEEEER [ i yell so loud i break the sound barrier ] follow foster , just trust me on this . you won’t regret it .@tikkvn​  /  @montlady​​  ❤︎  cass radiates big lesbian energy by merely existing and if that’s not the kind of presence you aim to be … but for real , befriending cass is going to be nothing but fun times and a nonstop waterfall of support . they’re so lovely and super valid and just the kind of person you naturally want as a friend !@ohaul​​  ❤︎  i’ve yet to interact much with veggie , but honestly ? i already trust them . sfhjdks but seriously , they seem real cool ! doctors say you need veggies everyday so here’s a perfect chance for you to get your daily dose !@c0py​​  ❤︎  bruno this icon of yours radiates so much chaotic feeling … but honestly , bruno is great and you gotta check out their monoma 10 / 10 say critics ( me )@natsutodoroki​​  /  @ksri​  /  @negativeat​  ❤︎  i’m not over the fact that you managed to get such canon urls but hskfjds clarrie is honestly such a kind and charismatic person , and the way she writes her muses makes it evident they put a lot of thought into how the character is portrayed in canon itself . also natsuo is clarrie’s oc i don’t make the rules .@heartmindcd​​  ❤︎  okay first of all , can i just say : vincent’s art ? [ fans myself … ] but honestly as a fellow artist in the rpc , i love seeing other muns’ art on my dash and vincent is no exception . he has such a distinct style , and this also translates into how he portrays shinsou ! he obviously has a good handle on how shinsou works as a character , and seeing him in my notes or on the dash is always grounds to make me smile !@yunihon​​  ❤︎  endy is the best , eri is the best … but seriously , endy’s eri ( that sounds like a tongue twister ) is amazing . 5/5 best daughter , would adopt and protect from all harm ( please protect eri from all harm )@charistatic​  /  @ofiignition​​  ❤︎  i have so many feelings for gina and tbqh they are all positive . we kind of brushed shoulders with one another in a previous fandom , but now that i’ve gotten to better know her , i can say for sure that i will personally destroy you with both my hands if you make gina upset in any way . but for real , she’s caring and so fun to be around . also we scream about promised neverland together , i mean , what’s not great about that ?!@riteous​​  ❤︎  eulalie has a b.nha verse on this blog so i’m putting them here .  ok ok but thanos is singlehandedly one of my most favourite oc’s in the world . whenever eulalie posts about them i’m just : eyes : : ok_hand : : 100 : … also they look … stunning . seriously , if you’re going to follow eulalie for like the most bare bone reason , follow because their muse is the prettiest but stay because the mun is a wonderful person .@faceplain​​  ❤︎  kit’s sero is iconic … you should check out their blog !! and if not it’s okay , i’m activating my own tape quirk to slingshot you over there right now as i type .@trapsminds​​  ❤︎  i literally look at sunne’s icon on my dash and i immediately light up into a smile , and if that isn’t any indication that this is a shinsou worth following then idk what ever will be .@bgku​  /  @kwurk​​  ❤︎  CLOOOOOOO —- [ i continue this for 3 hours straight until you click clo’s blog ] ok but really i love clo’s headcanons for bakugou so much … even the smallest , two word post will leave me going :D !!@raijima​  /  @slipstep​​  ❤︎  ryou has a b.nha verse so i’m putting him on here too but also vanur is such an imaginative person and i love every single idea that pops out from his head . he writes such amazing and divine original characters , they feel like they’re real and palpable .@tapeties​  /  @exposensei​​  ❤︎  REID I GIVE YOU ALL MY LOVE RIGHT NOW !!! tbh when i think of aizawa , i just think of reid in general … his penmanship with any character is * chef - kisses my fingers *@chargebolted​  /  @noquirk​​  ❤︎  if you’re not following prince i’m going to come into your house and steal all of your left shoes . ok but really , prince is not only inventive and innovative , he puts a unique and loving touch on every single character he writes . literally ! what more can you ask for ?! i actually mix myself up because i’m so accustomed to writing about / with his deck that i forget he isn’t canon , which . hello , hori ? do it . now . puppeteer and analyzer spin off WHEN !?@trickry​​  ❤︎  you’re lucky i’m putting you on here because i literally hovered over your blog just to double check things like i did with everyone else’s and i got met with that stupid header oh my go — ( but follow hunni actually )@thuskindlyiscatter​​  ❤︎  what do you mean ruby isn’t a canon bnha character ( august just ended but i’m extending it . today is august 37th . so you have to follow august during this month . )@rdriots​​  ❤︎  you know how sometimes you just associate a mun or muse with one another ? like , if you thought of the name tooru , a lot of people would think of me ? i think of kiri and one of the first blogs that comes into mind is this one , because leo’s kiri is just that iconic .@viperot​​  ❤︎  don’t follow if you don’t want madoka to release 10 , 000 snakes into your muse’s house . actually it doesn’t matter , they’re going to do it anyway . i hear their reviews on yelp are awful , though :(  in all seriousness , lemon is one of the best muns i know out there . they’re naturally just a great person . #geminisolidarity@scartar​​  ❤︎  i would kill for zander . like . literally . i would kill for zander . seeing zander on my dash brings me so much unbridled joy … also they’re the person who likes every single one of your posts , get THAT kind of support in your life tbh .@quirkedit​  /  @heartslight​​  ❤︎  sparky log onto your monoma . sparky log onto your monoma . log onto your monoma , sparky . sp@ondespair​​  /  @onfaith​  ❤︎  who is this man i don’t know him he just randomly appeared on this blog rec and definitely does not have a super well - thought out and developed oc .@killslove​​  ❤︎  rose logged onto his himiko yesterday and i am still screaming about it more than 24 hours later … but honestly , rose puts SOOOOOO SO SO SO SO much thought into how himiko works as a character , and that makes me happy because i also wrote / psychoanalyzed her for a brief moment and tbh rose ? articulates all of that research into a well fleshed out and believable interpretation of her .@creatied​​  ❤︎  i went to type in the url but then just typed in ‘ maddy ’ like an idiot . but yeah . maddy . she’s beauty she’s grace she loves momo so much and you can very much tell . she isn’t super active rn and that’s understandable but whenever she does post i am heart eyes !@implosiveexplosive​​  ❤︎  HONESTLY JUST LOOK AT JAY’S WRITING AND TELL ME YOU WOULDN’T FOLLOW OH MY GOD IT’S GORGEOUS@boydazzle​​  ❤︎  egg est un auteur magnifique ! aussi … voulez-vous du fromage ? :)@keiuu​​  ❤︎  QUEENIE IS LITERALLY ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING PEOPLE ON THIS WEBSITE this isn’t even my opinion it’s literally a FACT  thank you goodBYE@aerve​​  ❤︎  can you tell i’m writing so much i’m running out of things to say without just repeating 20239 times that everyone is amazing ( which they are ) anyway coral is one of said people who i can use a billion adjectives to describe positively and yet my brain is churning out none . but coral ? valid . so valid . also gr8 art amazing beautiful wondrous@halfher​​  ❤︎  i think out of everyone here , kaien is the person who has known me the longest … honestly kaien has the skill to be a full - fledged published author at this point and you can’t convince me otherwise . i’ve seen them improve and grow in the 3 or so years between when we first interacted and now … i’m so proud of them tbh !@juuheart​​  ❤︎  i love notay the canon bleach character bUT ALSO NIQUE STOP HURTING HER !! >:((( but also follow nique so you can become attached to notay and yell every time nique hurts her — KJSFFNSDJK@negatiiv​​  ❤︎  hands down one of the most well - done / well - executed oc’s on here . there’s so much development that’s gone on with emi , it’s unbelievable . but also [ naruto vc ] believe it@anquished​​  ❤︎  jihoon is my son and izuku is tooru’s son need i say more i mean really … but also jihoon writes such a unique take on izuku and i love his portrayal so much @faulterd  ❤︎   rOWAN’S MOMO IS SO AMAZING IT’S LIKE I’M READING EVERY INTERACTION STRAIGHT FROM THE MANGA ITSELF !!!@quirkthief  ❤︎  oh my god i’m posting all of these blogs in the reverse order that i followed them from and i literally had to go through 700 followers to finally find connor all the way in the first few hundred i followed after making the blog … how long … is that … how lONG HAVE I KNOWN CONNOR ?! but existential crisis aside , connor’s afo is like … the one canon afo for me lmao . i could write a huge tangent on how much i appreciate him but honestly if you follow him and talk to him you’ll know already . but also be warned cause you’re basically already going to be placed in the afo cult and there’s no escaping please help me i—@greaterhero  /  @conhnhaketon  ❤︎   i literally had to find an excuse to put ro on this because they’re not even an anime blog and they hate the b.nha fandom ( hecking valid if you ask me ) but i want to put them here anyway because you need to follow ro … how are you following me but not them … okay but for real , they’re smart n kind n super fun to talk to ! love forever … and also huge respect tbh …@mightyfrail  ❤︎   a wonderful wonderful all might honestly hsdfjs i’ve been following this blog for soooo long it’s literally … illegal that we’ve yet to interact what the heckie … but yeah , all might is a trans icon there is nothing you can do to convince me otherwise