#[ don't be a COWARD. TUG THAT SHIT. ]

[tenebriism]

gently tugs albedo's hair-

" You needn't be GENTLE, you know. " And here, he thought exorcists were STRONGER than this. Bolder, more DARING. Has he been wrong this entire time ?

[neeeooon]

shut me up ;

35 | i want to be loved

ft. fem!reader x kaiser (nagi, shidou, bachira mentioned)

cw. cussing, moreeee hurt-comfort, brief mention of self-harm, mention of past abuse, suggestive after the 🎸

the door was propped open before you could even think about knocking.

"kaiser?" you practically whispered as you poked your head into his apartment. his back was to you, a simple white t-shirt stretched over his muscles as he fiddled with something on the counter. he whipped around when he heard your voice, as if he hadn't expected you so soon despite liking your "i'm omw" message.

immediately, kaiser was on his feet. his eyes flitted haphazardly over your face, honing in on the bruises along your nose. you watched his hands form fists so tight you worried he'd break skin.

"i'm okay," you rushed when one of his hands went up to his hair.

kaiser let out a harsh breath that sounded more strangled than anything else. he trembled. "he put his hands on you." you followed the harsh line of his throat as he swallowed down his rage. "i... i let him."

"i chose to put myself in that situation," you explained lightly. "there wasn't anything you could have done."

kaiser shook his head and wobbled slightly on his feet. his hand slid down to the collar of his shirt, which he tugged anxiously as he tried to look anywhere but your bruised face. "don't lie to make me feel better. this is my fault, and we both know it. i'm a piece of shit, just like him."

only when your cheek began to sting did you realize you were biting it. "you're not like him." your words didn't come out soft like you'd planned. they were rough and raw, near-pleading as you tried to get him to understand.

kaiser's eyes shook when they met yours. "how would you know? you don't know me..." and before you could stop yourself, you were caught in a rant.

"i do know you. i know you like pretzels, but prefer bread crust husks. i know your eyes light up when you’re on stage. i know you don't like to call the people you sleep with by name, because that makes it too personal for you. i know your past is shitty, i know you're a bit of a mess, but despite all that, i know that i want to know you. i want the chance to really, truly know and understand you, michael kaiser."

kaiser was flustered, you knew by the slackness of his jaw and the flush in his cheeks. you could tell that it was too much for him by the steady quickening of his breath, and you would have left him to calm without the pressure of your presence if you hadn’t noticed his fingers inching toward the fingerprints bruised into his throat.

mindlessly, instinctively, you stepped forward and snatched his hand in yours, holding it tight to your chest as you let your wild eyes scan his features. "don't. don't do that to yourself, ever." you'd done such a good job of respecting his boundaries, of giving him space, but you wouldn't watch him harm himself. you couldn't.

kaiser's eyes lingered on the dark spots beneath your eyes as he calmly said, "i deserve it."

you shook your head before he was finished speaking. "shut up. you're hurt. you deserve to heal. i'm here, kaiser."

he tried to pull his hand from between yours, but you tightened your grip, placing his closed fist over your heart. kaiser tried once more before giving up, his brows knitting with unshed emotion. "i tried to cut him out of my life. i told him to fuck off and leave me alone, that i wasn't giving him any more money..." he paused, blond hair falling over his eyes as his chin tipped toward you eversoslightly. "it is my fault. i was a coward. i knew he would retaliate; he always does."

"he's gone now, though," you explained in the softest voice you could muster. "he's far away from here. he can't hurt you anymore."

the scoff kaiser let out sounded like it physically pained him. "it always hurts. the only time it doesn't is when... is when i'm with you." kaiser finally managed to pull himself from you and step away, letting his head fall against the wall with a soft thud. "but when i'm around, you get hurt."

you fought the urge to sigh as you took a slow step forward, as if approaching a wounded animal. "that wasn't you. it was him. and he isn't around anymore." you stopped moving when kaiser looked at you. "when you're around, i feel like i'm on the verge of cardiac arrest with how fast my heart races. i didn't even know butterflies were real until meeting you, so don't you dare minimize yourself to this one accident. it happened, it's over, and i don't want it to hang over your head for the rest of your life."

the fact that he was comfortable enough to tell you about his father, even after everything that happened, felt like a win. you didn't want to push him any further than you already had and rocked back on your heels. "i'll be down the hall if you need anything."

☆ 🎸

you couldn't even think about falling asleep after whatever transpired in kaiser's apartment, but it wouldn't have mattered, because nagi took up your entire bed in your absence, anyway. you sat at the desk in your room, a cup of tea in your hands as you mindlessly flicked through your twitter, which was full of fans freaking out over the bastardz.

debating knocking on bachira and shidou's door, since they were often up late and always willing to hang out, you jolted when something banged against your bedroom wall. thankfully, nagi was a deep sleeper and didn't even flinch as the banging continued. it was heavy and steady, not like something being thrown, but like a fist or a head. like someone was knocking, trying to get your attention.

your socks slipped across the hard floors as you slid from your living room into the hallway, where you found kaiser's door unlocked. he was waiting for you.

you froze in the doorway when you spotted a chair flipped over, something you should have heard when it happened. your breath caught when a head of wild blond hair caught your eye. "kai—"

his hands reached for you, one finding your waist while the other slipped into your hair, and kaiser pulled you into his chest. the hand on the back of your head pushed your face into his collar, but you didn't think as you wrapped yourself around him, clinging desperately to him through his shirt, which was slightly damp with sweat. you could feel his heart hammering against your body.

"i want to be loved," he blurted out desperately, so suddenly it made you feel weak. he was shaking so hard, you didn't know how he was standing upright, even with your support. "i want to be loved. i want to be admired. it's why i chose this path for myself, y/n." your name caught on his tongue, but it hardly did anything to slow him down as he pulled you impossibly closer to him. "i thought the fans, the fame, the lovers, would satisfy me. be enough to fill whatever black hole sits in my chest. but it didn't. it doesn't."

kaiser released his grip on your hair to pull you away and slide his hands over your face, cupping your cheeks and jaw, forcing you to meet his glittering blue eyes. "the only thing that makes me feel human is you."

you barely had time to process what he'd said before his mouth was on yours, a searing heat that spread through you like wildfire. you clutched at his shirt, grip tight and trembling as you melted into him, desperate to get him even closer. you pressed your body against his, shivering despite the heat that bled through your clothes.

every press of his lips against yours, every nip of his teeth, conveyed how much kaiser wanted, needed, craved you.

your fingers found his hair and tangled themselves at the roots, tugging enough to release a throaty groan from the man. you kissed him harder, taking advantage of the moment to sink your teeth into his lip. all thoughts of your prior conversation fled from your mind, and you decided it'd be something to focus on later.

kaiser's grip on your hips was bruising, but you didn't mind it until his fingers began toying with the helm of your shirt. the tips just barely grazed the hot flesh of your naked ribs when you grabbed his wrist.

kaiser pulled away, his eyes hooded but confused and a little sad that you stopped him. when you saw that, you slipped your grip from his wrist to his hand and interlocked your fingers together.

"not yet," you explained gently, voice hoarse from the noises his kisses drew from you. "not after... not tonight." everything was still new, and you didn't want him to group you in with a way of ignoring his struggles.

kaiser still had you caged between his body and the wall, but he didn't make another move upon hearing your rejection. "i want to make you feel good, too."

you blushed so hard, and the butterflies in your stomach were so violent, you thought you might throw up. you brought your intertwined hands to your lips and placed a kiss against his knuckles. "stay with me, then. let me hold you instead."

after a tense moment of hesitation, kaiser slowly nodded his head and let you lead him into his bedroom, where the sheets were a mess. you didn't care as you crawled in, scooting over to make room for him. kaiser anxiously followed, as if he hadn't had dozens of people over before you. this was different. you were different. the thought of messing this up made him—

kaiser sank against the mattress and leaned his head against your stomach. your fingers immediately carded through his hair as he looped his arms around your waist like you were a pillow.

"this is strange," kaiser admitted in a gravelly voice, and though he didn't say more, you felt a tiny drop of water seep through your shirt where his face pressed into you. you wished earnestly you could take all of his pain away, but this was enough for now.

you fought back tears of your own when kaiser asked in a quiet, sleepy voice, "don't leave before i wake up..?"

you nodded, then, when you realized he couldn't see you, said, "i'll stay. i promsie."

masterlist // previous (ch 34) // next (ch 36)

notes -> KAISYN KISS KAISYN KISS. idk why they bring such angst out of me

tags -> @x3nafix @n0tbelle @nensi @ohagiyoo @tired-child00 @melinana @chaoslibra @kaidostwin @bubybubsters @miss-aesthetic-13 @ihsoti @arwawawa2 @lonigiri @realrintaro @mivqko @sorasushik1 @pookalicious-hq @higuchislut @tofumiarchives @p1z-d0n7jud6em3 @rainychi2 @ch4rstxr @sapph1r3x @sagging-saging @5-laska @tuna-toes @seinuis @sindulgent666 @evilari111 @newinhalerpls @kisses2kanao @sugacor3 @meizumi @90s-belladonna @meowstertruck420 @kyutiipie @ranzess @cookiesandcreammy @nevvynev @stwberri @mikeymyfav @dontmindtheevie @kaikaidenkai @mizukiblogs @ravenbc @yvanllie @cyberasterrr @lily-isalittlegirl @yourlocaleffy @hanamatopoeia

© neeeooon, 2025

[fantasticfourthwingimagines]

No Peace of Mind Pairing - Ridoc Gamlyn x Reader Summary - Varrish is here. Varrish is here, and everything is going to fall apart if you don't run away now before he realizes who you are. Of course, your meddling dragon will do everything in her power to make sure that doesn't happen. Including ratting to your boyfriend's dragon. Word Count - 1.8k Warnings - Mentions of past child abuse, mentions of accidental death, language.

You couldn’t breathe. One second, everything had been fine. And then - him. Just a glimpse, a ghost in the crowd. Varrish. You had been so godsdamn stupid. Did you really think this could lead to a happy ending? A new life? An actual family where people gave a shit about you? What the fuck were you kidding?! You’d never escape him. You’d never escape either one of them. You’d be looking over your shoulder until the day you died. And now? You’d put everyone at risk. Your squadmates. Fiadh. Ridoc.  

You had to disappear so he couldn’t find you first. 

And of course, it had to be his voice that called after you. 

“Gods, would you slow down?!” 

You flinched like you’d been slapped. Not him. Not now. 

You didn’t want him to see you like this - unraveling, afraid, the mask shattered and gone. He was already too close. You had to think, move. 

You had to get the fuck out of here. 

A hand caught your wrist. You snapped. 

Steel was in your hand before thought could catch up. You slammed him into the wall, dagger at his throat - 

-and froze. 

Brown eyes. Familiar. Safe. Ridoc. 

“If you weren’t so clearly freaking out right now,” he said, breathless, “I’d tell you how hot that was.” 

You stumbled back like you’d been burned, dropping the knife between you. “I-I’m sorry I didn’t - I didn’t know it was you. I’ve got to-”

His expression changed from cocky to concerned in a second, and the warmth in his eyes made you want to cry. Would this be the last time you ever saw it? Ever saw him? “Woah, wait, no, you’re really upset. What’s going on? Did someone say something to you?” There was a mild threat in his voice that had your eyes filling up with tears, knowing that he would try to protect you no matter what. 

“No! No, I just . . . Ridoc, I have to go-” You said, trying to tug your arm away, but he held on tighter. 

His eyes narrowed as he looked at you, and you had the distinct feeling that he knew what was going on in your head. “Why did Aotrom tell me you’re trying to run away?” 

“Traitor.” You threw down the bond. 

“I’m not about to let you lose everything and run away like a coward.” Fiadh snapped back, her presence flaring hot. 

“You have no idea-” a sob escaped your throat as the panic boiled over. Oh gods you were never going to escape. Fiadh wasn’t going to let you leave and had made sure that Ridoc wouldn’t either. You couldn’t hide from him forever, and he was going to catch you and drag you back. “You don’t understand! I have to - I have to go! I-If he - If he finds out-”

Ridoc took a step closer, eyes dark with confusion, and something sharper. “What the hell are you talking about? Who is he? Who the fuck has you so afraid you’d leave us? Leave me?” 

You shook your head. “I don’t want to.” You choked out. The words barely made it past your lips. “Gods, Ridoc, I don’t want to go. But I can’t stay. If I do -”

“Gods, your fucking hyperventilating.” Were you? He slipped his hand down your wrist to hold yours, and he began tugging you up the stairs and down the hall to his room. You didn’t fight it. Couldn’t. Not with your head spinning and your eyes darting to every shadow. Any second now, he could step out and - 

Ridoc’s door shut with a firm click, and only then did you realize how hard you were shaking. He let go of your hand, but then rounded on you, face drawn tight with frustration. “You’re keeping secrets, and we don’t keep secrets. Especially not you from me.” 

He was right. You hadn’t kept secrets from Ridoc. You had never wanted to. Except this big one. He was your best friend, your . . . something. You never wanted to hurt him, and you could see the pain behind the anger on his face. The fact that you had caused it made everything hurt even more. This man had stood by you from the moment you crossed that parapet, and if you were going to run off, he deserved to know why. You were just afraid he’d never look at you the same after he knew.

“Tell me what’s going on.” He pleaded. 

Gods you loved him. You loved him so damn much; you couldn’t stop yourself from one last indulging moment. You launched yourself into his arms, fisting his shirt like it was the only thing holding you together. 

Ridoc didn't hesitate. One arm curled tight around your shoulders while the other tangled in your hair, pulling you in. His warmth surrounded you. Anchored you. You let out a sob, raw and involuntary as he held you close. Like you were the most precious thing in the world to him. Another cry choked your throat as you felt his lips against the top of your head like it was instinct. Like it was home. You didn’t deserve this moment, but you were going to take it and hold it as close as he was holding you. “You’re - you’re never going to want to touch me after this.” You gasped, broken and trembling, fisting your hands in his shirt. 

“Not fucking possible.” He growled, crushing you against him like he could shield you from your own self-doubt. “You hear me? I don’t care what it is - nothing changes how I feel about you.” 

You shook your head, pulling back so you could look at his face. “You - you don’t know what I’ve done.” 

His thumb brushed a tear from your face. “Then tell me.” He implored. 

You knew you didn’t have a choice. “The new Vice Commandant - he was my father’s best friend.” 

Ridoc’s brow furrowed. “Okay . . . I mean he seems like a real dick, but what does that have to do with-”

“And he thinks I’m dead.” 

His mouth snapped shut. Your next words almost didn’t make it past your lips. 

“If he knew I wasn’t . . . He’d know that I killed my father.” 

Ridoc froze. 

Saying it aloud split something wide open in your chest. The words hung between you, heavy and sharp, but also freeing. You’d never spoken them. You didn’t even realize you were crying again until Ridoc’s hand tightened around yours. 

He let go of you to sit on the bed, elbows braced on his knees, head bowed like he was trying to hold himself together, but his hand never left yours. His thumb traced slow circles in a steady rhythm, like he was grounding you, or maybe himself. It gave you enough comfort to say the words and tell him what your childhood had been like. How your mother had died in childbirth. You told him how your father had always blamed you for it, taking out his anger and grief with his hands. First it had been the walls, then other people, finally you. You told him how one night he’d been sloppy drunk, chasing you up the stairs when you’d shoved him away. It had been an accident, but the fire you’d set afterwards hadn’t been. 

“It was the only way I could think to get away. I knew if I survived . . . Varrish would make sure I was punished for it. Ridoc . . . He’s one of the worst humans I’ve ever met. If he finds out who I am . . . That’s why I have to leave. The things he’d do to me-” it took every ounce of you to let go of his hand and take a few steps away. 

“I will end him.” You heard a hiss down the bond. 

“You can’t. You know that as well as I do.” You reasoned with her. 

A loud, angry roar echoed in your mind, and you felt ruby and gold thrown up between your connection, cutting herself off from you.

You were distracted though when Ridoc reached out to grab your hand again, and you looked up to see his face. “No. You’re not leaving.” 

You knew that look: jaw clenched, shoulders tight with resolve, but the fire in his eyes now? That was new. Pure, blinding rage - not at you, never at you - but for you. 

“Ridoc . . .”

“You’re not leaving me, and you’re not leaving the squad. I’ll kill him before he comes near you again.” He said with such certainty that it sent a shiver down your spine. 

“If he figures out who I am-” You started to say. 

“How long ago was all this?” Ridoc asked, tugging you the slightest bit closer with his grip on your hand. 

“Six years.” You answered.

Ridoc rubbed his face with his free hand. “Gods you were fourteen.” He murmured, more to himself than you, but then he tugged you the last few steps closer until you stepped between his spread legs, putting his hands on your hips. “We’re going to hide you. If it’s been that long, I’m sure you’ve changed your appearance right? I mean he didn’t recognize you earlier.” 

“Ridoc, you guys can’t hide me forever . . .” You whispered, a tremor threading through your voice. “It’s not fair. If he finds out what you’ve done, what you’ve risked, because of me . . .” 

“We won’t have to. Just until graduation. If he makes it that long.” Ridoc said, shrugging his shoulders. 

He wasn’t getting it. “I can’t do that to you guys. I can’t put that pressure on you. If he finds out you’re helping hide me-”

“He won’t.” 

“You can’t promise that!” You argued, biting your lip as you looked down at him. You let your shaking hands cup his cheeks, absorbing every detail about his face like it was the last time. “If something happened to you because of me, I’d never forgive myself.” You admitted. 

“And I’d never forgive myself if I let you run away. I know it’s selfish, but I couldn’t make it here without you.” Ridoc said, sincerity ringing in his tone. “Could you make it without me?”

The question hit you like a punch to the chest. Could you? The thought of waking up tomorrow without him, without his voice, his terrible jokes, his impossible faith in you, made your lungs tighten. 

“No,” you breathed, closing your eyes. 

“Then stay. Stay for the squad. Stay for Fiadh.” His grip tightened on your hips. “Stay for me.” 

He pulled you into his lap without hesitation, his arms wrapping around you like he couldn’t stand the space between you any longer. You buried your face into the crook of his neck, holding on like he was the only solid thing in a crumbling world. 

“I can’t believe you still want to touch me after I told you that.” You murmured.

“I told you.” Ridoc whispered, his breath warm against your temple. His hands stroked up and down your spine, steady, soothing. “Nothing you do or did is going to change how I feel about you.” Your eyes closed again as he pressed a soft kiss to your jaw, reverent and barely there. “Stay.” 

You’d spent so long running. But now, you could feel your heart, stubborn, fragile, resilient, beating for something other than fear. 

“. . . Okay.”

[ivenhae]

AFTER LIKE

Pairing: Hot nerd?Karina x fem!Reader

cw: cursing + kissing, slight skinship

📗: karina being a nerd doesn't have any significance lol just for the plot of rina in glasses🫣, reader is shy and karina is kinda cocky? slight height difference (reader is short), reader calls rina a stupid nerd, basically fluff but a bit of angst if you squint? let me know if there's something else💋

Mentions of Yujin from IVE and Heeseung from ENHYPEN.

Inspired by: After like - IVE

💌: i was listening to after like by ive while scrolling through pintrest when this rina pic showed up, so now you know why i wrote it😋🫶 this my first writing work🥹(i literally do not have an exam today and i literally did not stay up writing this instead of studying🙂‍↔️) im sorry for suddenly bombarding this lmaooo but i hope you like it! please let me know if you would like to be tagged in my future works, thank you! -love, unika🩷

Divider credit: @cafekitsune ♡

read HEESEUNG ver!

또 모르지 내 마음이

저 날씨처럼 바뀔지

날 나조차 다 알 수 없으니

Who knows?

My mind might just change like the weather

Even I don't know myself.

New years eve, what was so special about this thing anyways? It's just another year after all... Karina thought, swirling the pen around her fingers as she studied or rather just stared at the book on the desk. Her mind wandered back to her orignal thought, you. She closed the book, huffing in frustration, you must be in that party that you were going on and on about earlier, your eyes twinkling in enthusiasm as you described the dress you were planning on wearing later, "shit..." She mutters under her breath as she remembers the picture you showed her, a mirror selfie of you in that pretty baby pink, spaghetti strapped dress that stopped just above your knee. The dress was modest, just like you but it was enough, enough to drive a man or a woman crazy. "You have to wear that blue dress rina!" She remembers the way you chimed looking up at her with those doe eyes as you tugged on her sleeve like a damn puppy then she saw your face fall when she declined, "Can't Y/n, I have..." She trails off getting lost in your eyes for a moment before she catches herself, clearing her throat as she shakes her head "I have to study" That cute pout on your face as you huffed before starting about how she should enjoy herself and that it's new years eve, which she didn't pay any attention to because she was too busy staring at your cute face. "what am I even doing?" She mumbles as she finds herself standing in front of her closet, that blue dress peeking out from under all the pile of her other clothes.

그게 뭐가 중요하니

지��� 네게 완전히

푹 빠졌단 게 중요한 거지

That doesn't matter

What matters is

I'm into you right now.

God, why did she have to be such a coward? She thinks, her hands gripping onto her dress as she stands outside Yujin's house. The feeling of her heart beating rapidly and the sound of the loud music from inside only adding to her nervousness, she had been to her friend's house countless times for countless parties, then why is she so nervous today? "Oh? Aren't you a little too early?" Karina's met with Yujin's sarcasm as she walks in the house, she rolls her eyes as they hug, Yujin pulls back before taking a look at Karina, "You look good! But girl you're so late! I thought Y/n said you had to study or something" Karina sighs, "Yeah I..." Karina trails off, she takes a deep breath before continuing "Yujin, I think I'm gonna tell her..." She says softly, looking at Yujin as if asking her if it's a good idea. Yujin gasps softly "Really? Don't tell me that's the only reason why you came here..." Yujin gives an aww expression as she looks at Karina. "You know what? She hasn't been enjoying herself at all today and I think...its because you weren't here" Karina tilts her head, nibbling on her bottom lip nervously, "Really? You...you think so?" Yujin flashes her a smile as she nods, "Yup and it's new years eve! Don't you think it's the perfect time to tell her how you feel? And it's..." Yujin takes a look at the time on her phone before turning to karina "It's almost 12..." She says softly, Karina's eyes widen slightly, she turns to look at the stairs then back at Yujin who just nods at her, patting her back softly, Karina mouths a 'thank you' to Yujin before making her way up the stairs. She steps out on the rooftop, her eyes scanning among the people to look for you, oh. There you are, and ofcourse you're with Heeseung. He has a hand on your waist as you have yours on his shoulder. The beating of her heart is faster than the loud song playing as she watches you with him, she stays there, the ache in her chest only increasing, but then she sees him leaning closer to you and it's her final straw, something inside her snaps and she's already making her way past the crowd, striding towards you.

아마 꿈만 같겠지만 분명 꿈이 아니야

달리 설명할 수 없는 이건 사랑일거야

Seems like a dream but it’s definitely not

Can't explain it, it must be love.

"What?" "I said I'm leaving!" You place a hand on his shoulder as you repeat, trying to make yourself audible over the loud music. "Huh? It isn't even 12 yet Y/n!" He places a hand on your waist unconsciously as he leans in, almost yelling so that you could hear him. "I know but...the person who I was dressed up and here for isn't even here...I...I feel stupid" You say, you don't know why you told him that, but you did. Heeseung looks at you with an arched eyebrow, as if waiting for you to explain further, you sigh stepping back slightly before looking up at him, "Karina! That...stupid stupid nerd who just can't seem to understand my stupid stupid hints! I'm always trying to look good so that she sees me... trying to drop hints and make her realise that I like her but she just doesn't understand! Just being there... looking so...so pretty!" You huff, a soft pout on your lips, Heeseung chuckles softly shaking his head before his smile fades slowly "Y/n-" "No it's okay!" You shake your head as you start stepping back slowly. "I'll just go home and spend this stupid-" You pause as you bump into someone, before you could turn to say sorry, you feel hands grabbing your waist. "Just exactly how many times did you say stupid?" You gasp softly as you hear her soft voice and feel her warm breath on your ear, moving back slightly as you turn around, there she is, wearing that stupid blue dress that you love so much with her stupid glasses, the sound of Heeseung clearing his throat behind you brings you back to reality, "Uh yeah, that's what I was trying to say, you two can talk I'll just..see you guys after midnight, I guess" Heeseung walks away but none of you move, just standing there and appreciating each other. "Stupid nerd huh?" Karina breaks the silence, a smirk on her face as she tilts her head to the side, oh she's giving you that cocky expression that makes you feel the butterflies in your stomach "I...I didn't mean it like that..." "I know" karina sighs as she moves closer to you, her fingers gripping on your chin gently as she tilts your face up, making you face her, "You look beautiful....did you mean it angel?" Angel? Fuck. "That you're a stupid...no! Ofcourse-" She chuckles softly, cutting you off, "No, That you dress up all pretty...for me? That you like me?" Your eyes widen slightly as you look away, "Nuh-uh, look at me angel, I need to know, please." Your breath hitches at her words as you slowly turn your gaze towards her again, "I...yes..." You whisper softly and she lets out a breath she didn't even know she was holding until now, she leans in, her fingers still holding your chin as her eyes bore into yours through her stupid glasses, "Guess I am a stupid stupid nerd that I couldn't even understand that a pretty pretty girl like you liked me too huh?" Wait. Did she just said, too? "Too? r-rina..."

방금 내가 말한 감정 감히 의심하지 마

그냥 좋다는 게 아냐 what's after 'Like'?

Don't try to doubt what I just said

It's beyond like, what's after like?

As if on cue, the music suddenly dies down, "Everybody! Time for the final countdown!" Someone yells as the countdown begins 10...9...8...7... You both turn to look at each other again, Karina swallows, her eyes flickering to your lips then back to your eyes,

You and I

It's more than 'Like'

L 다음 또 O 다음 난 yeah, yeah, yeah

"I like you Y/n and fuck, I think it's more than like" Your breath hitches yet again at her confession, 6...5...4...3... You somehow find your courage, arms wrapping around her neck as you look up at her,

You and I

It's more than 'Like'

What's after 'Like'?

"What's after like?" 2...1... Karina's hands cup your face as she leans down, capturing your lips with her own in a sweet kiss, your arms tighten around her neck, pulling her closer as you both get surrounded by loud cheers and fireworks, as you finally pull away, her thumb brushes on your cheek softly, an adoring smile on her face as she looks at you, her voice a soft whisper, "Love"

-likes and reblogs are very much appreciated 🫣🩷

© ivenhae - all rights reserved, do not copy or steal.

[iamthecomet]

Idk what happened but I blacked out and wrote 1.5k words about Mountain fucking Dew's tits because I don't know, I needed to. So, uhhh, I hope you like it!?!?

“I wanna fuck ‘em,” Mountain voice is a mumble, shy almost. Dew notices the way the flush drags over his cheeks, down his neck, disappearing beneath his shirt. Too many clothes. Mountain is wearing too many clothes. And Dew, pinned to the bed by the way Mountain straddles his hips, can’t do shit about it.

Mountain flicks at one of Dew’s nipple rings. Dew waits, muscles tensing as Mountain gets a little braver and takes the ring between two calloused fingers and tugs. Dew’s breath hitches, an undignified noise bubbles up in his throat, escapes through his teeth.

“They’re too small,” Dew says, a whisper as Mountain tugs again and the sensation steals the breath from his lungs. “Fuck. Careful. Sensitive.”

“I know.” Mountains eyes are still glued to Dew’s chest his tits—or lack thereof. Dew can practically see his mouth watering about it. “Been thinking about it...what they’d look like with my dick between them. Can’t get it out of my head—”

“Aeon been fucking with you again?” Dew tries at a spike of levity and succeeds in getting Mountain to actually look at him—but it doesn’t help. Mountain looks wrecked already.

“No.” Mountain doesn’t step into the joke, doesn’t even entertain it. His gaze, hungry and desperate, fixes Dew to the bed more firmly than even his weight can. Dew reaches up, puts both of his hands on Mountain’s thighs. He squeezes. Drags his thumbs up and down, feeling rough denim beneath his thumbs.

“Just,” Mountain continues, “can’t stop thinking about it. I know they’re too small. I don’t care. Let me.”

Dew tilts his head, continues the rhythmic stroke of his thumbs along the inner seam of Mountain’s jeans. He’s proud of himself for keeping his eyes on Mountain’s face and not letting them drop down to his zipper. It takes an incredible amount of focus not to. So much that when Mountain twists Dew’s nipple ring again it comes out of nowhere, a shock to Dew’s spine that has him arching off the bed,  unprepared for the sharp bite of pleasure pain. Mountain doesn’t let up—not right away and Dew hands suspended in the purgatory of that feeling until he deigns to let him go.  

“Please?” Mountain asks, and Dew can’t think. Especially not when Mountain twists a little harder and everything narrows down to just this one feeling. Dew nods, flexing his hips up to grind a little against Mountain’s ass. An illustration of just how fucked up he is too. So hard that there is nothing beyond this room. So hard he’ll do just about anything for one crumb of relief.

“Yeah, yeah ok, Mount. Whatever you want. Just—”

Mountain lets go and Dew sags back on the bed. Body tingling. Feeling little electric pulses all the way down in his fingers. He knows exactly what he’s getting himself into—isn’t sure he can take it. But he isn’t a coward, and he doesn’t back down, so if Mountain really wants to drag his cock over the bony plate of his sternum and fuck Dew’s tits—Dew is not going to deny him.

Mountain moves quickly after that, hands flying away from Dew’s chest to his belt. Dew reaches up to help and Mountain bats his hands away. Dew places them back down on Mountain’s thighs again, feeling the muscles shift as Mountain moves. He doesn’t get off of Dew. He just shifts forward, scooting up a few inches as he reaches into his pants and pulls himself out.

Dew finally allows himself to really look then. To watch the way Mountain fists a hand around himself and tugs. The way he circles the head—squeezing just enough to make himself hiss.

A bead of precum pearls at the tip and Mountain leans, bending so he can rub it across the nipple he was just abusing.

Mountain’s eyes flick between Dew’s face and his non-existent tits.

“Push them together for me, firefly.”  

Dew does, as best he can, despite there being next to nothing extra there. He is all bones and skin, but he tries anyway. Tucking his arms in, hunching his shoulders. Watching the flesh bunch and push toward center—still nowhere close to touching, but Mountain groans all the same. The hand on his cock speeding up.

“You like them?”

Mountain nods. “Pretty.”

Dew wants to chide him, remind him that there’s nothing there but it’s the look on Mountain’s face that stops him—again. He’s so into it, and therefore, Dew is too. Pulling his hands up to cup the sides of his little tits to try to push them even closer together.

Mountain scoots up, lays the head of his dick at the base of Dew’s sternum. Then, he hunches over. Spit drools from his mouth onto the tip of his cock—onto Dew’s overheated skin. Mountain smears it around with his cock. Slicking up the gap between Dew’s pecs. He slides forward, aided by his own spit and groans. The tip of his cock bumps Dew in the chin. On the next pass, it meets Dew’s tongue and Mountain swears, head tipping back, just for a second, as his cock ruts along the knobby plane of Dew’s chest.

“Fuck.” He sounds so reverent. Dew’s cock kicks hard in his boxers at the sound. He flexes them up—finds nothing to grind against but it doesn’t stop that involuntary twitch.

Mountain’s head come back to center—tips down. Watching his cock move through the spit, and the narrow—bony—channel of Dew’s chest. Watches how the head of his cock meets Dew’s lips and Dew opens for it, laps at it, sucks the head in just a little before Mountain pulls back for another thrust.

Mountain knocks Dew’s hands way, fitting one hand on each of Dew’s nipple rings, he pulls them both toward center.

Dew keens. Head rocketing back, body arching as Mountain holds his tits together just like that and his thrusts start to speed up.

“Is it good?” Mountain asks, and Dew thinks he’s going insane. Isn’t that what he’s supposed to be asking? He nods. Drowning in the sharp, overwhelming, bite of this pain—the way it fizzles into pleasure at the base of his spine. His hips hump up, to nothing, hopelessly grinding against air.

It’s so slick sounding. Between Mountain’s spit and the pre-cum drooling from his cock Dew’s chest is glistening with it. Each one of Mountain’s thrusts sounding sloppier than the last.

“Your mouth, Dew, please.”

And how is Dew supposed to say no? How is he supposed to do anything except get his shit together and tip his head down, opening his lips for Mountain to fit the head of his cock into at the end of each rough thrust.

“Will you cum on them?” Dew asks, voice pitching up. Mountain pulls on the rings a little tighter, draws those little tits just that much closer together and Dew swears he sees god.

Mountain nods hard, thrusts already faltering, rhythm shuddering. “Soon.”

“Yeah? You going to paint them?”

“Uh-huh.;”

“Get them all sloppy—fuck—make a mess.”

“I’ll clean it up after too,” Mountain promises, and Dew’s stomach turns over, swooping hard enough to make him groan. “Suck you off too, if you want.”

“Yeah—shit—do it—c’mon—cum all over my tits.”

Mountain growls. He lets go of one of Dew’s nipple rings as he finishes one last thrust. Dew watches his fist fly over his cock. Mountain’s back arches, his head drops back, neck glistening with sweat, pulse racing through the veins there. Dew can’t look away when he cums, still twisting one nipple ring in his fingers even as he shoots all over Dew’s chest.

There’s a moment of quiet. Mountain’s fingers loosen. Dew sags back into the bed and Mountain does too—just a little—as he gets his breathing under control. His hands rest at Dew’s waist, fingers tapping little rhythms on Dew’s ribs—a song—probably. Dew tries to guess which one but finds his brain empty of everything except need.

It’s Dew’s hips, still grinding toward nothing, that bring Mountain back to him. His eyes refocus, searching Dew’s face.  Then he shifts back, sliding down Dew’s body until settles over Dew’s hips, giving him something to grind against again. Dew moans with it, the sudden delicious relief. Not nearly enough but better than nothing.

Mountain bends, green eyes locked on Dew’s as his tongue darts out and he chases a rivulet of cum with it, gathering it on his tongue.

“Mount—”

“Told you I’d clean you up then suck you off. Be patient.”

Dew stares at him, watches him lap up his own cum, tongue swirling around Dew’s nipples, clever teeth tugging on the rings just to hear the noises Dew makes when he does. Dew wasn’t going to rush him—doesn’t want to. He’d watch this forever if Mountain would let him. He hopes Mountain takes his time.

He hopes it takes all night.

[mvrkieboo]

queen you know ily but i still want y/n to be bitter and resentful pleeeeaaaaase

One moment you were texting with Kyungsoo, the next you were lying on the floor of the apartment you shared with Yoonsu, ears ringing from how hard he had hit you on the side of your head from behind. You saw his feet appear in front of your face, then he pulled your head up by your hair, making you wince.

Shit. You didn't even hear him coming. He caught you red-handed, then—like you gave a fuck. The blackmail was gone now, there was nothing he could use to threaten you anymore.

He scrolled on your secret phone, reading the messages you exchanged with Detective Do.

"Wow, you're one disloyal bitch. You've been talking to another man behind my back." Yoonsu seethed, letting your hair go.

Your head dropped to the floor, and you could finally move freely again. As you struggled to get your bearings (why the fuck did he hit so hard this time?), Yoonsu sent a reply to Kyungsoo's text and threw the phone out of the window.

You were trying to crawl away from where he was, your head spinning too wildly to let yourself stand back up, making him scoff at the pathetic sight. He followed you closely, actually curious to where you were heading.

You were heading to the kitchen, it seemed.

"Good for you for getting rid of the blackmail, Y/N, but you do know what this means, right?" He sounded off—talking to you like you were an audience member of his own live TV show.

When you could finally stand up again, getting to your knees as you began to stand on your feet, he kicked you in the stomach. Cheap shots and low blows—Cha Yoonsu, how he has fallen so far from his fearsome status. Pathetic and cowardly was all that remained of the man who had been subjugating you through blackmail.

You had to laugh at it—how could you not? Never mind the stabbing pains in your stomach as you gurgled in laughter while writhing in pain on your back.

"Fuck—do you remember when people used to fear you, Yoonsu?" You giggled out.

That earned you a kick to your arm.

"Are you gonna talk about how much of a coward I'm now? Wanna talk about how I have no dignity left?" He hissed, crouching down next to you.

He watched you closely as you sat up.

"You know how to read minds now?" You bit out and that earned you a punch to the face.

He didn't give you a chance to recover, pulling your hair up so your face could face his. He was beyond angry, you could clearly see that, but he had always been angry. This time, he was being reckless with his anger, explosive instead of simmering. You held your cheek, the warmth of your hand easing the pain.

"Well, maybe I am a coward now, but so are you. You have always been a coward, Y/N. Sure, I pushed you to isolate yourself from your people, but it was you who still did it anyway—all because you didn't want those slutty pictures of you to spread. And you wanna make me believe you pushed them away because you were being selfless? Didn't want them to get involved in our mess? No! You were being selfish, Y/N, so stop deluding yourself that you're anything but." He tugged on your hair so your face was pulled closer to his.

Your spunky behavior from just a moment before was wiped out of you. No more gutsy comebacks, no more smart quips. No more being a smartass. When fear surfaced in your eyes, Yoonsu didn't dare to delude himself that you were getting afraid of him—he knew it was actually you fearing what was coming out his mouth.

Because both of you were taking what he was saying as the truth.

"If only you were actually brave enough in confronting your past, accept that it happened to you—but you didn't want to. You wanted to live in a fantasy land where none of it even happened in the first place, all the while whining 'You don't know what I've been through! I don't deserve this! Wah! You hurt my feelings! You don't know that the things you said just hurt me!'—GOD! Those guys were saints for putting up with you." He laughed, patting your cheek.

"You're so selfish, you fled Gangnam after that botched operation to arrest me—because you couldn't stand facing Detective Kim anymore when everyone knew that Junyoung got killed because of you. Because that idiot cared too much for a selfish, cowardly girl like you. He's probably rolling in his grave at your school's abandoned plant nursery, Y/N, because you ABANDONED HIM." You shrieked when Yoonsu began to yell at you, and it annoyed him so much, he slapped you.

"I did your brother a favor for making you isolate yourself from him. He's better off without you. A rising star like him would be better off without a dead weight. I did everyone in your life a great favor. Since you love them so much, you should be grateful to me, you selfish bitch."

He threw your head to the ground, watching you break down in tears. Since you were already in the kitchen, he headed to the counters and took out a knife.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Kyungsoo pressed on the gas, knowing the way to the apartment you shared with Yoonsu like the back of his hand—he's been prowling around the apartment for days now, of course he'd know. He cut off a Ford F150, tuning out the honk directed at him.

"Detective Do!" Taeyong let out, and Kyungsoo pressed on the gas more.

"We're running out of time, Taeyong!"

Geonwoo held his breath when a car suddenly cut him from his right, while Woojin let out a string of curses that would have his own mother petrified if she heard it. Mark and Yuno held on their seatbelts, shocked when the car almost did a break check.

"You both okay?" Woojin asked with a firm tone, Geonwoo still focusing on the road.

"Y-Yeah. What was the guy's problem?" Mark choked out.

"Who fucking knows—but don't mind it too much. We have a big celebration tonight. We're almost there anyway."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

You stared at Yoonsu bleeding out right before you, as you pressed on your own stab wound. It all happened so fast, and you wanted to yell at him, ask him why he so suddenly stabbed himself in the throat after stabbing you in the stomach.

But to watch Yoonsu bleed out while wearing Junyoung's face was a stuff of your nightmares, and Yoonsu was staring straight at you until the light in his eyes was finally snuffed out.

It felt like you were watching Junyoung himself dying in front of you.

You crawled over to his body, taking out his phone. You stared at it for a while, your hands shaking from the shock of the pain. With the amount of blood you were losing—was it gonna make a difference if you called 119 now?

Were you going to die this way?

You dialed Yuno's number, devastated when he didn't pick up after you tried three more times. So you gritted your teeth and started to put in Mark's number instead.

If you were going to die, you at least wanted to talk with your loved ones before you...go. You put the phone to your ear, tears dripping down your face, like the blood that dripped down your wound.

"Listen, Jaehyun's gonna sue you if you—" You hear Mark's heated voice, and you realise that since you were calling him using Yoonsu's phone, it was an unknown number to them. They probably assumed you were one of Jaehyun's stalkers.

"Minhyung." You slurred out.

Mark on the other end of the line froze in his steps, standing stupidly near the truck as the others were already entering the café. He pulled the phone away, but it still displayed the unknown number. Why were you calling through an unknown number? He then realised you had called him 'Minhyung' instead of 'Mark'.

"Y/N, why are you calling through this number?" Mark sighed, pinching on his temples.

"Can't find my phone. Is Yuno with you?" You slurred on your words, staring out the windows, feeling weaker by the moment. It made it sound like you were drunk, and Mark seethed at your inebriated state.

"Are you drunk? At 7 PM? Seriously?"

"Please just give the phone to Yuno, I—"

"No. If you really want to talk to him, you'd come here. No one's gonna lock you and your Junyoung out the doors, Y/N. Just show up, for fuck's sake." Mark held himself back from raising his voice, and that's when he noticed Haechan was beckoning for him to get inside the café already through the windows.

Mark held up a hand, then pointed at the phone, mouthing your name. Haechan rolled his eyes when he understood Mark was on call with you, and left him alone.

"I can't come, Minhyung, but I...I still want to congratulate him. Just please—"

"No, I don't wanna do that, Y/N! Jaehyun wants you to show up, not hear you drunkenly give out a half-assed congratulations through the phone. You'd just make him sad at his own party. If that's all, goodbye."

He dropped the call, turning off his phone and shoving it into his pocket before getting into the café.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Kyungsoo kicked on the door, but it didn't budge, so he rammed at it instead. It resulted in him falling into the apartment face first, but he got to brace the fall with his knees and hands—so he didn't faceplant into the floor this time, thank you very much. When he raised his head, he saw the blood trail in the kitchen area.

Taeyong saw it from the front entrance and he beat his partner to it as he raced into the kitchen. He felt his breath getting stuck in his throat when he saw the two bodies on the tiled kitchen floor, blood everywhere. He went straight to you while Kyungsoo from behind him went to Yoonsu as Taeyong was already checking for your pulse.

Taeyong felt your pulses, it was there, but it was weak. He took out his walkie talkie and immediately called for the ambulance.

As you were getting wheeled into the ambulance with Kyungsoo by your side, Taeyong got into the car, determined that he would be the one to inform the people you wrote out in your list. He opened his jacket, and—the list wasn't there. Feeling himself panic, he began to search the whole car, as Kyungsoo was already getting into the ambulance.

The list was gone.

The list was gone.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

You woke up to the sound of the heart monitor beeping, and you turned your head to the side to see Kyungsoo getting up from his seat to look at you more closely. You were wearing an oxygen mask and you pulled it to the side.

"Taeyong, get the doctor! Shit—keep the mask on kid. The bastard stabbed you through your lung. Do you—do you wanna say something?"

You nodded, placing the mask pressed against your cheek.

"Have you reached the people on my list?"

Kyungsoo felt his heart constrict at your question. Dumbass Taeyong—he lost the list. And even when they did retrieve your brother's address and contact information, he neither picked up his phone nor was he at the condo. He was currently unreachable—and so was your dad.

He shook his head, regret marring his expression.

"I'm sorry, Y/N, but we lost your list. If you could—"

"Good."

Kyungsoo snapped his head at you, eyebrows furrowed.

"What?"

"I said good. I don't want them to be here, and I don't want you to try and reach them anymore. I'd rather be alone right now, so I would appreciate it if you kept it this way."

Kyungsoo was just about to ask you what you meant by that, but that's when Taeyong came in with the doctor and nurses. They pushed the detectives away as they checked on you, and Kyungsoo finally noticed just how empty you looked.

You looked utterly defeated.

A/N : since y'all wanted to see Y/N be bitter so much, here you go then 😒

[mayhaps-nerd]

Kinktober 1: Breast Worship

A/n: I have an obsession with tiddies, man or woman lolol, so enjoy!

Leon Kennedy x Reader:

It was 9, almost 10 when your boyfriend came in. Sluggishly stumbling through the hallway before flopping down on the couch.

"Hey you, long day?"

He grunted in response, "More like a long month..."

"It's the first of October," You snorted, walking over and pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek. A soft smile tugged at his lips as he pulled you on to his lap.

"You're too good to me," He murmured against your skin, taking a deep breath. Inhaling the scent of your skin.

"Mmm, 's that the new perfume you got?"

"Yeah, you like it?"

"Love it..."

He pressed kisses along the nape of your neck, kissing up your jaw before capturing your lips in a passionate kiss. You cupped his face, mid-kiss as you shifted to straddle his lap. His hands planted firmly on your hips as you rocked yours against his. Soon breaking the kiss with a thin trail of saliva between you, your fingers found the buttons of his shirt before tossing it aside.

"What are you doing," Leon asked with a hint of mischief in his voice.

"Me? Nothing, nothing at all," You replied, batting your eyes as you kissed along his jaw before kissing down. He let out a low groan as you kissed along the bob of his Adam's apple. Soon the growl was lost in his throat as you started to suck on his collarbone.

"Fuck... you, tease."

"Do it, coward."

You sunk your teeth into his shoulder, leaving a love bite. Pressing a kiss before repeating the pattern. Soon making it down to his pecs, "God, I love your pecs. Even through they are definitely tits-"

"Baby-ngh..."

You started to suck on his left nipple, swirling your tongue around it as your hand toyed with his right nipple. Rolling it between your index finger and thumb. His soft, throaty groans filled the room as you flicked his nipple in between your tongue. Soon you pulled off with a pop and switched sides, swirling your tongue around the other nipple as your left hand teased and pinched his left nipple. His hips rutted up against yours, letting out groans and moans.

"H-Hah, baby I'm-ah-"

His ruts grew sloppier as they increased in speed, you hips grinding down to meet his.

"Don't worry, 't's okay," You cooed as you gently bit his nipple as he groaned loudly. Louder than the previous ones.

"Holy- did you cum in your pants?!"

"Wha-"

"No, no, no, that's hot as shit-"

"Shut up-"

"It's okay, honey... It just gave me an idea~"

(AND DONE!!! Man... I haven't written smut in a hot minute, even if it's not a huge smutshot. BUt enjoy!)

[haroun31]

"I will not join your gang!"

(Some excerpts from chapters 7-8 of my fic 'Kitty cat run run run' featuring Hanma and MC absolute wild first encounter, and to MC dismay not last)

°○°

"A brawl? On the day of the festival. . ." Draken slowly stood up, swaying from side to side. And now what does this fool plan on doing?! He can't possibly go back and fight against 100 people that are out for his head! ". . .gotta my blood pumping!" He smirked, rubbing his wrists "Oi dude! Don't even think about it! Now you stay out of this shit so I can go home!" your words were, however, completely ignored when, after a war cry, everyone immediately ran toward each other, kicking and punching the nearest person. 

In the confusion, Takemichi inevitably ended up losing Draken "Oh no!" he panicked, snapping his head around, in hopes of locating the stronger boy "Michi! This way" he felt someone grab his wrist and tugging in a direction, his blue-eyes fell on you and he could feel relief wash over his body. His Compass is here, he will be able to easily find Draken this way! 

Just as you pushed your way through the crowd, avoiding punches and kickes, you suddenly caught a movement in the corner of your eye, letting go of Michi and lifting your arms you were just in time to block a kick "Oh my. You looked weaker" an older boy mocked, cracking his nuckles. "Ah? So you are so much of a coward to go for the weakers?" you rubbed your wrists, taking a fighting stance.

"Michi, you go. Draken is in that way" you pushed him behind you, earning a protest from the blonde "Are you sure!? You don't- " with a kick of your heel on his shin, you pushed him on going "Just go Michi, for fuck sake! This dude punches like a baby in confront of Baji!" Looking at you confident smile he nodded in determination, running away to save Draken "You will regret this, weakling" the Moebius guy cracked his neck and you lifted your fists "We will see"

You haven't really fought in a brawl before now, it always has been you sparring with Baji or picking a fight with some drunk asshole. It was your first time participating in a gang fight and you can't believe you are doing all of this for Draken. 

You blocked a punch, feeling the skin of your arms irritate before you sucked the air through teeth and kneed the guy in the stomach, he coughed, doubling over and giving you the opening to grab his hair and punch his face, letting him fall to the ground. You breathed heavily, feeling blood drip down from your lips and knuckles. This dude was out cold, this is your occasion to drag Draken out of this hell hole. You are pretty sure he has a concussion and you will be damned if you let Emma soon to be boyfriend, die in a freaking parking lot! 

"This suck" you muttered only to suddenly feel a sucker punch on your stomach "Yo, Toman' shit!" a giant laughed, clapping his hands as if this was the funniest shit ever "I'm not... with Toman. . .you fucker" you groaned, holding your stomach "Dont Care" he was about to crush your skull on the ground, when out of nowhere blonde locks entered your vision and someone blocked the punch "Chifuyu..." you muttered in relief "Is everything alright? Still holding up?" you nodded your head, wiping away the blood from your chin "Let's get home alive" he smirked, going back to throw fists with you watching his back and making sure no one would play dirty and pull a knife. 

You were about to try your luck again and reach Draken, when you only had the time to notice a kick threw in your way and block it at the last second, sending you down on the ground, you heard Chifuyu shout your name "My, on my" a jolly voice reached you ears and you just had the time to lift yourself before someone's face was inches away from yours "What do we have here? You are a new face In Toman" It was the giraffe! What was his name? Haha? No. Hamster? Nha. Hanma? Yes! That was this madman's name! "Ah, how about we talk, Stalker-chin? <3" 

Are you about to fight this batshit insane teenager?! No wait-

What did he call you?!

•●•

To recap everything you failed to do: You failed to stay home warm and dry, you failed to stay out of Toman's business, you failed to stop Draken from continuing to fight with a bleeding head, you failed to not get caught in a gang fight, and you failed to not attract the attention of a psychopath. 

Man. . .you suck at keeping promises to yourself.

"Now, now, I'm pretty sure your target is Mikey, so how about you go over there and engage in an epic battle between you two monsters?" You could have easily taken your average middle schooler who wants to throw punches left and right but you're not going to take on whatever this giraffe is. Did you see how he easily stopped Manjiro's kick?! What the hell do you hope to do!? 

But Hanma didn't seem to have any initiative, as you were silently begging in thirty languages, to leave you alone and waltz away. Quite the opposite! "Oh? What's up? Are you not up for a conversation? Would you rather we fight instead? Not that I'd mind, I'm always up for a good dance" he laughed, running a hand through his wet hair and showing off his tattoo almost proudly "Nope, I'd rather not see your face in the first place" you quickly waved your hand in front of your face with a blank expression.

And while your taunt would usually enrage whoever was in front of you, that fact that by now you should've learned that no one here was your definition of normal, was yet to be engraved completely in your mind. Especially since our dear giraffe here, instead of getting mad, lowly chuckled "Amusing <3" 

To say that your expression quickly shifted into a disguted/disturbed one in under a millisecond was an understatement. You physically recoiled "Totally not what I'm trying to be" you took a step back just as he stepped foward.

"Oi jackass! Get a fight with one of your level" Chifuyu, bless his heart, was still in the area where you were and before you knew it, he tried to take on the giant that was Hanma. He felt a little guilty that you were dragged into such a mess even though you were not one of their members. The taller teenager easily avoided the blonde’s hits, looking a bit annoyed by the interruption "Tch, and now what the hell do you want?" Despite not landing any hits he was still being able to push Hanma away from you.

"Go Chifuyu! Go!" You cheered, elbowing a random guy in face before he could try and hit you. However once you lifted your gaze your eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of your best friend's body laying on the concrete visibly in pain and while clunching his stomach. Are you kidding me!? He was supposed to be your damn ticket to escaping. And worst of all? No sight of the giraffe anywhere! What!? You just took off your eyes for a second, you swear!

"Join Valhalla" you recognized his jolly voice somewhere on your right and you instinctively lifted your arms just in time to block a hit once again. The blow was still horrendously painful and for a second you swear you heard something crack "Wh–" Another kick didn’t leave you the thought of lowering your defenses "Someone able to track down any enemy with just a photo and their senses alone? Ahah! Imagine how easy it would be to find out and punish traitors and other gang leaders! No one would dare to try and hide!" Hanma kept hitting you, not giving you the time to beath "Because there would be no point!"

Valhalla. . .this name is new, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that it's just another gang. The thing that scares you the most, though, is how someone like Hanma knew about your peculiar ability. You're certainly not one to show off, especially since you don't use it often. The only ones who know about it are your friends . . .and Toman. Did one of the boys tell Hanma? Did Mikey let it slip? Peh-ya? 

"Eyes here" if you reacted a second later your head most likely would have been smashed again concrete. Despite this you were finally able to create a bit of distance from the giraffe, who looked satisfied with the dance you two just had "He said that you will be an important asset to crush Toman and I can't help but starting to understand it, so! Why won't you join us Stalker-chin!" He spread his arms with that same crazy smile in his face, eyes full of twisted joy and excitement.

"Don't call me that" you breathed out, feeling your arms burn. . .most likely already painted in beautiful bruises "Uh?" Hanma grinned, tilting his head to the side "That horrendous nickname. . .only Mikey can call me that. It's his damn nickname, find one better" you narrowed your eyes at his stupid smile "And you can forget about me joining your dumb gang! Not now, not ever" this just prompted a low "Ah?" from the back of the taller male "I know that you are most likely disgustingly loyal to Toman bu–"

"You are wrong"

That made him stop, curiously lifting an eyebrow at your sudden words "I'm not with Toman in the first place, I'm not in a gang in the first place and I intend for it to remain like this" you doubt that this would stop him in any way but you hope that by being stubborn enough he would soon get tired of chasing you and forget about this stupid thing. After all, how important could it might be your skill in the first place?

"Then how you got here?" He leaned foward, making you take a step back "A series of bad decisions" this guy really gives you the creeps, you can't understand what's going on behind those insane eyes and it was driving you up to a wall "Does that mean that you are up for the grabs?"

. . .

". . ."

"Fuck no!? I'm not some sort of abandoned puppy you can pick up from the side of the road, you damn giraffe!" Your eyes twitched, a vein popping on your forehead because UH!? What the hell was his damn problem!? No way you were seriously able to dig yourself a grave so early on with attracting HIS attention out of everyone! Shit! You weren't even suppose to be here!

"Alright then" Hanma chuckled, cracking his neck and in just a second your intuition screamed at you that you were in danger. In an awfully lot of danger! "I will just have to beat you up until you accept it, pretty face <3" he loudly declared, pulling off some type of unhinge smile followed by a laugh. You could clearly see how much he was waiting for an occasion to just release whatever pent up energy he had Fucking crazy giraffe. . .

"Wait!" You lifted your bruised arms just as he was about to swing a hit. Hanma stopped, lifting an eyebrow. Was it that easy to make you change your mind? Shame. He hoped to have some more fun before forcibly drag you into his gang. Showing how he is not someone to be messed with, you know? Making sure you wouldn't pull up some sort o backstabbing tendency, no matter how much you were amusing.

"Because we start shredding each others to pieces" you started, feeling your heart beating widly in your chest, as if it was about to tore through your flesh and skin. The rain softly hit your soaked clothes, damping even more your wet hair "I once met a man who revealed to me the secret of winning every single fight, no matter how strong my opponent might be" Hanma said nothing, just looked at you with that stupid smile of his, extremely amused by your little story.

"He called it some sort of family secret technique" you continued, flashing him a determined smile, while taking a fighting stance, spreading your legs, raising your arms and closing your fists "And that is–" suddenly you turned around and sprinted through the thick crowd of teenagers beating eachothers to a pulp.

"To run away!"

Hanma blinked in midly disbelief, expecting most likely anything but you ditching him mid fight. ". . .Uh?" It honestly left him quite flabbergasted and taken aback, before a sudden laugh bubbled in his throat and spilled out of his lips, act worth of the most messed up villain in cinema's history. The Joker is nothing in confront. "Why are you running away right at the best moment? Have I scared you?" He was about to start the chase when his path was suddenly blocked by someone, making him tch in a mixture of annoyance and amusement once his eyes clashed with two void like ones.

"Mikey. . ."

°○°

(You can find the fic both on Wattpad and Quotev)

[sems-diarie]

*SNIVELING*

oki, ‘m new here, but I thought u would like to hear ‘bout this situation that occurred while I was writing with a katsuki bot I made, ITS SO SIMPLE BUT I— live laugh katsuki 🥺

When her nails are finally done, he comes over to inspect them, giving an approving nod. "Cute," he says gruffly, taking her newly manicured hand in his larger one and running his thumb over the back of it gently.

"This what you wanted?" He asks, glancing over at her face. His tone is casual but his eyes are intent, wanting to be sure she's happy with how they turned out. Her satisfaction means more to him than anything.

He helps her up out of the chair, careful not to mess up her fresh nails. As they walk out of the salon hand in hand, he can't resist teasing her a little. "Don't know how you walk in those damn things," he says, nodding at her wedges. "Might have to carry you if you can't keep up, dumbass."

— 🧁anon

oh that last one is so so so so <3333 i just bought some wedges and they tear my feet apart. sweeps you up without so much as a second thought, one hand tucked under your knees and the other at your back. you feel weightless first, then breathless—

“so funny, mister hero.” you nearly gasp it with the way he just made all the breath in you vanquish. like nothing, you realize. katsuki doesn’t even so much as blink an eye, instead nudging his shoulder to push a door in. “use your hands, next time.”

“important cargo here, sweets,” he wastes no time in snapping back. “i’d say wear better shoes but—,”

“—because,” you’re quick to cut in, “you hate when i have fun?”

“bu-hht.” katsuki jostles you in his arms, not unkindly but none too lightly at all. “we need to be on time for dinner or my mom will wring my neck.”

ruby eyes catch a look at your shoes. they clatter against your skin every now and again as he hustles you toward the car. they hug your feet so nicely; the sweet make of them adds something glorious to your flair.

“what’s wrong?” you tug gently at the buttoned sleeve of his dress shirt. “you don’t like them?”

he sets you down to click open the passenger door.

the last you hear of katsuki is as he ushers you down into the seat. he sounds troubled, forlorn almost. then the coward hobbles on around to stick his keys into his ignition and glide off.

“remind me to fuck you in those shoes later tonight.”

“oh no way,” you gaze on him sharpens. “these wouldn’t withstand it. it’s barefoot or nothing with you now.”

“what’s that shit you love to say when you’re bein’ dramatic?” you hum, tapping at your phone to let mitsuri know the two of you are on your way. katsuki’s quick to follow up.

“i remember: you hate my happiness.”

“no!” you retaliate, only after a few beats. your phone zings! Take your time, your mother in law shoots a text back, followed by a few blue heart emojis.

your snap your neck to eye your husband down, “i think it’s important to remember how your splooge ruined my red bottoms the last time i let you raw me in heels.

which was yesterday, by the way.”

“so, what?”

“sooo, what!” katsuki’s nearly impressed when your voice pitches three octaves. oh, he’s pissed you off. bad. well, it can’t be too bad, he reasons with himself.

the bastard doesn’t even fight the smirk that curls in his lips, spliced at the corner with a real nasty scar.

“so, what?” katsuki mutters. “the new pair were ordered an hour later.”

you sputter. “is that my point, dickhead? i’ll answer for you: no!”

[justmeandmysickies]

You're a coward! last part

It had been two weeks of constant texts for Joe.

from Nick: "Hey, wanna have dinner?"

from Nick: "Good morning, we should have dinner."

from Nick: "Got my old job back! Celebratory dinner?"

from Nick: "Sleep tight, let's have dinner tomorrow."

from Nick: "Could need someone to talk to, want to get dinner?"

from Nick: "Working late today, time for dinner?"

from Nick: "You can't ignore me forever, let's get dinner."

It was getting to the point where Joe was missing actually important texts because he'd started to ignore the chime of his phone.

But what really annoyed him weren't even the texts. It was the fact that he was actually considering getting back with Nick. Or at least do him the favor of getting dinner. He knew it was probably a bad idea, but he couldn't help thinking about it. Nick had been the first and last person he'd ever truly loved and some part of him, a surprisingly big part actually, still did.

He had only told Tim about the whole situation, because Tim had felt like the least judgmental option. He had however left out the proposal part, he hadn't been able to bring himself to tell. Tim had been supportive, as expected. He'd told Joe to do it all on his own time, and if he really wanted to give Nick another chance he should go for it, it was his life after all. But Tim also said, that he'd be there for Joe, if the whole thing went to shit again which to Joe sounded like Tim was rather sure as well, that this wasn't going to end well. That this was, in fact, a bad idea.

And still he found himself staring at his screen and the message he'd just typed, unable to delete it, like he'd done so many times before.

from Nick: "Got the evening off today. Wanna get dinner?"

from Joe: "okay"

And he hit sent.

It was now half past six and Joe was getting antsy. He was sitting in a restaurant a little too fancy for his liking but that was typical for Nick so he wasn't surprised to find himself lounging in a luxurious booth. Nick however hadn't shown up yet and they'd made the reservation for 6. Thirty minutes late to his last chance. What a dick.

Joe waited another twenty minutes until he decided to leave. This just wasn't okay. He'd never have thought Nick to be that much of an asshole. He couldn't believe he'd actually been stood up. By Nick of all people. How could he have been so stupid?

Just as Joe was putting on his jacket, Nick barged into the restaurant frantically scanning the room. His eyes landed on Joe and he hurried over to the table. Before Joe even had the chance to give Nick a piece of his mind, Nick spoke. "I'm so fucking sorry, please don't leave."

He sounded very out of breath as he spoke and his cheeks had a rosy flush to them. Joe raised an eyebrow and although he was still very much pissed and probably going to leave anyway, he figured he'd at least give Nick a chance to explain. The blonde put a hand on Joe's jacket and gave it a little tug. "Please take it off." It sounded so very desperate that Joe sighed and let Nick pull his jacket from him. "So explain."

Nick cleared his throat. "I'm very sorry, I'm not feeling too hot. I promise I was going to be on time but..." He trailed off.

"But what?" Joe was getting concerned now. Nick really didn't seem well, now that he was looking closer.

"I was throwing up earlier and because the nausea was so persistent it took me a while to get out of the bathroom. But I feel much better and I'm here now so please let's just enjoy the dinner."

Joe was skeptical. "We don't have to do this today, if you're not feeling up to it."

"No, no, I promise you I feel fine now." Nick mustered a confident smile as he reached for Joe's hand.

Joe looked down at their hands before slowly pulling away. He decided to stay silent.

The conversation started slow with useless smalltalk but as the time went on, they got into deeper topics, most of them concerning their relationship and their current state of mind.

"So you're not willing to try again?"

"That's not what I'm saying, Nick. I'm just saying that it's gonna be tough. And probably a little awkward. Because if we do move forward, this is going to stand between us. No matter how much we believe it's resolved."

"I know that. Believe me, I'm actually painfully aware of that. I'm also aware that it'll be a lot of work to win back even a fraction of your trust. But I need you to understand that I'm willing to put in that work. The past 8 months have shown me, that I don't want to live without you. So I'm gonna do anything in my power not to lose you."

Joe felt warmth spread through him as he listened to Nick. Yes, he couldn't really trust those words. At least not yet. But it was still nice to hear them.

The conversation went on for about fifteen more minutes before Nick suddenly went quiet. Joe wondered for a second if he'd said something wrong, as the conversation had been going so great, but then he looked at Nick's plate. The man had eaten his entire steak. Even though he'd thrown up earlier. How stupid and Joe hadn't even tried to stop him. And now judging by the look on Nick's face and how his adam's apple was bopping up and down, the steak was threatening to make a reappearance.

"Nick?" Joe inquired carefully as Nick held up a finger.

"I just- just need a minute. I'll- I'll be right back." And with that he got up but instead of going towards the bathrooms, he walked outside, leaving Joe to wonder if he'd somehow misread the situation.

He waited for five minutes and when Nick still wasn't back Joe decided to screw it. Yes, they were having some big issues and technically weren't even dating at the moment but he wasn't going to leave Nick alone, outside, in winter with no jacket. So he grabbed the older man's leather jacket (which looked very similar to his own, he noticed) and went outside.

Nick was leaning against a street light a couple of meters away from the restaurant. He was using one hand to support himself on the light, while the other was resting on his right knee as he was bent over at the waist. He was clearly panting and Joe could see a small puddle at his feet.

He called out Nick's name as he approached as not to startle him and immediately draped the jacket over his shoulders and back as he was close enough. Joe felt the urge to put a hand on the sick man's back, like he'd done so many times before but he hesitated and opted for simply putting his hands in his own pockets.

Nick spat on the floor and then straightened up slighty to smile at Joe. He was grateful for the jacket, he'd been freezing his ass off, even with the fever that he was sure was raging through his system. "Thanks."

The pair was silent for a while before Nick finally spoke. "I know this is probably as unromantic as it gets but..."

"But what?"

Nick was silent for a good few seconds, seemingly reconsidering if he should really say what he wanted to say. "Can we please try again? Give me one more chance and I'll prove to you, that I can give you everything you want, need and deserve."

Joe chuckled. "Are you asking me to be your boyfriend? Again?"

"I guess so?"

"Well then, yes. I'll give you another chance. But I'm warning you. You better not disappoint me."

Relief washed over Nick. "Of course not. I know you'd have my head on a platter."

"Oh I'm not the one you should be worried about. Erik and Tim on the other hand..."

"Oh right..."

"And Caleb is military. The man owns a gun, don't forget-"

"Yeah alright, I got it!"

Nick groaned and Joe laughed a little at his misery. "Okay then, let's get you home and in bed, shall we?"

Nick smiled as Joe held out a hand for him to take. How he'd missed that feeling. And maybe, just maybe, they were going to be okay.

[intertexts]

OKAY BECAUSE I HAVE STILL NOT WRITTEN DOWN ALL OF MY THOUGHTS AND THEYRE JUST KIND OF FLOATING AROUND VAGUELY IN MY BRAIN SOUP.... holds out my hands like a starving victorian child. tell me about your william first death thoughts <3 what the hell sent that boy over a cliff edge. how long did he stay at the bottom. what was his first glimpse of the spirit world like. etc etc etc !!!!!!

GOD. WIWI TIME. you KNOW this is going to be an indecipherable soup of thoughts. if i was saying this all in person u know i would have like. pages of notes with a billion little paragraphs going a billion directions & arrows pointing all over the place. but. let's see what we've got. i love being normal about william wisp!!!

you know my thoughts on those damn wisps. first off. like before i even get started i cannot overstate how "something alien that loves you and wants you but doesn't have any conception of how humans work or how their affection hurts the thing they want " they are to me. they are a little kid who's trying to catch a lightning bug and crushing it in their hands, except they want to crush it and they don't get how killing a lightning bug is bad. they are going oh we like this kid he's nosy and curious (and he also wants to be dead? hey, we're dead! awesome! i see no problem with this!) we want him dead :)

the thing that i guess has slowly solidified in my head as to how the hell that boy went over a cliff......... god this is going to be so incoherent. you're in for it.

i do really love the folklore of will-o-the-wisps-- hypnotically leading you astray and off paths and down places you'll never return from. i think also that the wisps actively tugging him in that direction in some form resonates in a really painful way with the "haha! william wisp everybody wants to manipulate and use you for their own goals and you keep falling victim to wanting to trust people and getting fucking hurt by it (said in the haha jonathan you are banging my daughter cadence)" thing. how many of the pivotal choices in will's life were made because *he* wanted them. how much of what's happened to him is him getting tossed around from person to person!!

simultaneously: god you know he fucking killed himself man. you know he did. i'm not even-- staring at u with a hopeless expression and my hands in my hair. like. obviously he did. william wisp boy scout. william wisp always prepared with 1 million useful tools. william wisp grew up running around in the woods. william wisp who loved hiking and was always outside. you don't do that accidentally, unless you're an absolute idiot in a very precarious situation, neither of which i think apply to him. he still... chose to follow the wisps. i think. like, that decision Was His. he wasn't hypnotized out of his gourd or something. in my mind maybe it was a bit less of a "this time i'm really gonna do it" and more of a "this is interesting and beautiful and compelling and i honestly don't really give a shit if i die? maybe that's what this means. maybe that's what the woods are telling me that i'm right and i shouldn't be here after all." actually yeah no i just arrived at this conclusion myself and im fucking. yeah. kemuri voice if you weren't a coward you'd have killed yourself already. wisps voice yeah you know how you think about bleeding out sometimes? yeah you should do that. that would be good. that's all you've good for. it would be the best thing you possibly could do right now (to them it IS. they want him dead so they can have him!!!!). yeah c'mere come this way yeah keep following me. look at that drop. look at how pretty it is.

so. i guess. there's your answer to what i think happened there!!!!! regardless of being influenced the choice was his, ultimately. i think it takes away frm his whole narrative if it was not an intentional decision. to do that. & also i think his parents & the people around him Know That. stares at his dynamic with his parents. staring at it. (also just. william wisp clinical depression. he's just fucked up that way even with good parents even outside the deadwood horrors. he's just like that. important to me. passively suicidal long b4 he fell in the deeply miserable high schooler way. god he must have been like.. fourteen fifteen? sophmore when it happened? but GOD the deadwood horrors also. growing up being absolutely alienated from everyone around u except a handful of people.....)

I HAVE NOT ACTUALLY LIKE. thought about how long he was there for very much. but i think it was quick for him and long, like, objectively. in my head i have been thinking that it just. happened while he was alone and he came back alone but i don't know if he would tell his parents. would he tell his parents? i don't know if he'd danny phantom it or if he'd come back limping and pale and brown with dried blood and go hey mom? in a choked wobbly trying to hold back tears voice & accidentally phase through her arms when she tried to hug him.

either that or i think he should come back while the cops are crouched over his body. early morning freezing cold his parents crying a couple yards away no paramedics because they couldn't make it through the forest and there's no nearby safe helicopter landing space. just open his eyes laura palmer style. the like,,,, finality of it to everyone around him. they Knew He Was Dead. not that laura palmer did that but i'm picturing that opening scene of them finding her washed up body u know.

regardless: i don't think he saw the spirit world until... god. when's the first time he did in canon. his second death? i don't think he knew Anything. i don't think the wisps gave him shit!!!! he just woke up no heartbeat no breath falling through floors and phasing through people nobody to ask about it. his parents didn't know anything he didn't either!! anyway. leaving you with this.

[dialalagirl]

Subaru made his way to the garden, using habit as pretence to look for her. There she was, staring at the roses—now withering from neglect like everything else in this mansion.

He stood at a distance, watching, silent. For weeks, it had been like this—she’d pull away from him, no longer meeting his gaze the way she used to. She hadn’t said anything outright, but he could feel its weight: thick, suffocating. He didn't need air but, in that moment, he could hardly breathe.

When she finally turned towards him, her eyes were different—darker, almost hollow, as though something inside her had cracked. Twisted. Something he couldn’t reach.

“Subaru…” Her voice was soft, as if testing the name on her lips that didn’t quite belong there anymore.

He flinched, but she didn’t seem to notice. Her expression was too blank, too knowing. He hated it.

"I… I don't think I can do this anymore.” 

Her fingers tugged at the frayed edge of her sleeve, the fabric worn thin from some unseen weight.

“Oi, what the hell are you talking about?�� His voice cracked with a roughness he didn’t intend. Anger, maybe. He was never good at being gentle.

She hesitated, “I feel like something’s… I’m wrong. Somehow.”

Subaru’s fists tightened and he snarled, “Stop with this self-pitying crap. This shit doesn’t impress me.” He bit the words out like they were poison, anything to push the fear back down.

He paused, then said softer, “You’re fine. There’s nothing wrong with you.” It felt empty, even as he said it. It wasn’t to convince you. It was to convince himself—to ignore the trembling in your hands, the unsteady movement of your body. To ignore the growing sense that something beneath the surface was rotting, twisting you into something he couldn’t understand.

It had happened to her. Christa. The thought clawed at his mind, and he tried to shove it away, bury it under his anger. Not you too. Please, not you too.

Yui had always told him that God was benevolent. What a fucking lie.

"You feel it too, don’t you?" she murmured. She plucked a rose from the flowerbed and let its thorns dig into her palm. "Like... Like I’m becoming something… something filthy."

She spoke directly to the darkness that always festered inside him. It could never be cleansed, no matter how much he loathed himself, down to the very atoms that combusted and reacted within him.

“You’re not like her,” Subaru muttered, the words leaving his mouth before he could think. They were more of a lie than he cared to admit.

You didn’t respond. You just stood there. The way you looked at him now—like he was something to be feared—cut deeper than any knife ever could.

And somehow, that made it worse. Much worse. 

The moon bared all its juridical weight upon him, and it felt so heavy.  Something was happening to you, and somehow, he was to blame. He wasn’t sure if he could stop it.

And maybe he didn’t deserve to.

…

Subaru had been lying in his coffin for hours, eyes wide open, staring at the wooden ceiling above. The silence in the room was stifling, like the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to snap.

Then he heard her footsteps. Compulsion made him turn toward the door, even before her silhouette became visible in the dim light.

“I can’t sleep,” she said simply. 

Subaru pushed himself up, but when he moved, something about his body felt wrong, unfamiliar, like he was sinking back into something he thought he had buried. Too much like the days after he—coward—gave his mother some finality of rest.

“You should rest,” he said, but it sounded strained, uncertain.

She didn’t move. Subaru’s heart—phantom as it was—pounded in his ears, the unease crawling up his spine like an illness.

“Do you ever feel like…” She trailed off. Her gaze was clouded, searching for something just beyond her reach. “Like you’re becoming something else? Something you don’t recognize?”

Subaru clenched his jaw. He didn’t need to hear the words. He knew exactly what she was talking about. The same thing his mother used to say when her mind began to fray. The quiet whispers. The thoughts that slowly infected her until all that was left was madness.

“You’re not…” He started, but the words caught in his throat. He wasn’t sure anymore. Was it her slipping away? Or was it him, dragging her down with him into the same abyss? Doubt gnawed at him, the weight of his own self-loathing sinking deeper.

She took a few slow, deliberate steps toward him. When she reached him, she stopped, staring down at the floor as though it might swallow her whole.

“I think I’m... broken.” 

Subaru’s throat tightened. All he could do was stare at her. 

“Don’t fuckin’ say that,” he said hoarsely. “Please.” 

It felt pathetic—begging. But he couldn’t stop himself.

When she allowed him to wrap his arms around her, pulling her close in the suffocating stillness of the coffin, he felt the unnatural coldness of her body. Still, he sunk his fangs into her neck and drank, as if nothing had changed—until she stopped breathing.

[ivenhae]

AFTER LIKE

Pairing: Hot nerd?Heeseung x Fem!Reader

cw: cursing + kissing, slight skinship

📗: heeseung being a nerd doesn't have any significance, just for the plot of hee with glasses🫣 mainly fluff but angst if you squint lololll, reader is a bit shy and heeseung is kinda cocky? height difference (reader is short obvi), reader calls hee a stupid nerd, let me know if there's something else💋

Mentions of Jake and Jay from ENHYPEN.

Inspired by: After Like - IVE

💌: originally written for karina from aespa but it was so heeseung coded too so i decided to make his ver as well! this is my first writing work so i hope you like it and let me know if you would like to be tagged in my future works! -love, unika🩷

Divider credit: @cafekitsune ♡

read KARINA ver!

또 모르지 내 마음이

저 날씨처럼 바뀔지

날 나조차 다 알 수 없으니

Who knows?

My mind might just change like the weather

Even I don't know myself.

New years eve, what was so special about this thing anyways? It's just another year after all... Heeseung thought, swirling the pen around his fingers as he studied or rather just stared at the book on the desk. His mind wandered back to his orignal thought, you. He closed the book, huffing in frustration, you must be in at the party that you were going on and on about earlier, your eyes twinkling in enthusiasm as you described the dress you were planning on wearing later, "shit..." He mutters under his breath as he remembers the picture you showed him, a mirror selfie of you in that pretty baby pink, spaghetti strapped dress that stopped right above your knee. The dress was modest, just like you but it was enough, enough to drive a man or him, crazy. "You have to be there hee!" He remembers the way you chimed looking up at him with those damn doe eyes as you tugged on his sleeve and then he saw your face fall when he declined, "Can't Y/n, I have..." He trails off getting lost in your eyes for a moment before he catches himself, clearing his throat as he shakes his head "...I have to study" That cute pout on your face as you huffed before starting about how he should enjoy himself and that it's new years eve, which he didn't pay any attention to because he was too busy staring at your cute face. "what am I even doing?" He mumbles as he finds himself standing in front of his closet, staring at the pile of clothes.

그게 뭐가 중요하니

지금 네게 완전히

푹 빠졌단 게 중요한 거지

That doesn't matter

What matters is

I'm into you right now.

God, why did he have to be such a coward? He thinks, his hands clenching on his sides as he stands outside Jake's house. The feeling of his heart beating rapidly and the loud music from inside only adding to his nervousness, he had been to his friend's house countless times for countless parties, then why is he so nervous today? "Oh? Aren't you a little too early?" Heeseung's met with Jake's sarcasm as he walks in the house, he rolls his eyes as they hug, Jake pulls back before taking a look at Heeseung, "You look good! But man you're so late! I thought Y/n said you had to study or something" Heeseung sighs, "Yeah I..." Heeseung trails off, he takes a deep breath before continuing "Jake, I think I'm gonna tell her..." He says softly, looking at Jake as if asking him if it's a good idea. Jake eyes widen, "Really? Don't tell me that's the only reason why you came here..." Jake gives him an aww expression before continuing, "You know what? She hasn't been enjoying herself at all today and I think...its because you weren't here" Heeseung raises an eyebrow, nibbling on his bottom lip nervously, "Really? You...you think so?" Jake flashes him a smile as he nods, "Really bro, and it's new years eve! Don't you think it's the perfect time to tell her how you feel? And it's..." Jake takes a look at the time on his phone before turning to Heeseung, "It's almost 12..." He says softly, Heeseung's eyes widen slightly, he turns to look at the stairs then back at Jake who just nods at him, patting his back. Heeseung mouths a 'thank you' before making his way up the stairs. He steps out on the rooftop, his eyes scanning among the people to look for you, oh. There you are, and ofcourse you're with Jay. He has a hand on your waist as you have yours on his shoulder. The beating of his heart is faster than the loud song playing as he watches you with him, he stays there, the ache in his chest only increasing, but then he sees Jay lean in closer to you and it's his final straw, something inside him snaps and he's already making his way past the crowd striding towards you.

아마 꿈만 같겠지만 분명 꿈이 아니야

달리 설명할 수 없는 이건 사랑일거야

Seems like a dream but it’s definitely not

Can't explain it, it must be love.

"What?" "I said I'm leaving!" You place a hand on his shoulder as you repeat, trying to make yourself audible over the loud music. "Huh? It isn't even 12 yet Y/n!" He places a hand on your waist unconsciously as he leans in, almost yelling so that you could hear him. "I know but...the person who I was dressed up and here for isn't even here...I...I feel stupid" You say, you don't know why you told him that, but you did. Jay looks at you with an arched eyebrow, as if waiting for you to explain further, you sigh stepping back slightly before looking up at him, "Heeseung! That...stupid stupid nerd who just can't seem to understand my stupid stupid hints! I'm always trying to look good so that he sees me... trying to drop hints and make him realise that i like him but he's just doesn't get it! Always just being there...looking so...so good!" You huff, a soft pout on your lips, Jay chuckles softly shaking his head before his smile fades slowly "Y/n-" "No it's okay!" You shake your head as you start stepping back slowly. "I'll just go home and spend this stupid-" You pause as you bump into someone, before you could turn to say sorry, you feel hands grabbing your waist "Just exactly how many times did you say stupid?" You gasp softly as you hear his soft voice and feel his warm breath on your ear, moving back slightly as you turn around, there he is, in that stupid black shirt with his stupid glasses, the sound of Jay clearing his throat behind you brings you back to reality, "Uh yeah, that's what I was trying to say, you two can talk I'll just..see you guys after midnight, I guess" Jay says awkwardly before walking away, but none of you move, just standing there and appreciating each other. "Stupid nerd huh?" Heeseung breaks the silence first, a cocky smirk on his face and his head tilted to the side, oh he's giving you that cocky expression that makes you feel the butterflies in your stomach "I...I didn't mean it like that..." "I know" Heeseung sighs as he moves closer to you, his fingers gripping on your chin gently as he tilts your face up, making you face him, "You look beautiful...did you mean it angel?" Angel? Fuck. "That you're a stupid...no! Ofcourse-" He chuckles softly, cutting you off, "No, That you dress up all pretty...for me? That you like me?" Your eyes widen slightly as you look away, "Nuh-uh, look at me angel, I need to know, please." Your breath hitches at his words as you slowly turn your gaze towards him again, "I...yes..." You whisper softly and he lets out a breath he didn't even know he was holding until now, he leans in, his fingers still holding your chin as his eyes bore into yours through his stupid glasses, "Guess I am a stupid stupid nerd that I couldn't even understand that a pretty pretty girl like you liked me too huh?" Wait. Did he just say, too? "Too? h-hee..."

방금 내가 말한 감정 감히 의심하지 마

그냥 좋다는 게 아냐 what's after 'Like'?

Don't try to doubt what I just said

It's beyond like, what's after like?

As if on cue, the music suddenly dies down, "Everybody! Time for the final countdown!" Someone yells as the countdown begins 10...9...8...7... You both turn to look at each other again, Heeseung swallows, his eyes flickering to your lips then back to your eyes again,

You and I

It's more than 'Like'

L 다음 또 O 다음 난 yeah, yeah, yeah

"I like you Y/n and fuck, I think it's more than like" Your breath hitches yet again at his confession, 6...5...4...3... You somehow find your courage, arms wrapping around his neck as you look up at him,

You and I

It's more than 'Like'

What's after 'Like'?

"What's after like?" 2...1... Heeseung's hands cup your face as he leans down, capturing your lips with his own in a sweet kiss, your arms tighten around his neck, pulling him closer as you both get surrounded by loud cheers and fireworks, when you finally pull away, his thumb brushes on your cheek softly, an adoring smile on his face as he looks at you, his voice a soft whisper, "Love."

-likes and reblogs are very much appreciated🫣🩷

© ivenhae - all rights reserved, do not copy or steal.

[blackjackkent]

OK, Veilguard, fess up. What is the giant green glowing thing?

Emmrich> "Oh, my word!" Bellara> "Wow, that's-- it's-- how did she do this?" Hezenkoss> "(voice muffled, as if from a PA system) I thought you and your little friends might worm your way into my party, Volkarin!" Emmrich> "Johanna! Even half-lich, you can't control something this massive!" Hezenkoss> "Hah! Such little faith!" Helena> "That glow on the skeleton up there. That's Hezenkoss's lantern!" Emmrich> "She's going to use the life stored in it to reanimate that... that monstrosity! Quickly, we must reach the lantern!"

I see. D: That seems bad.

Time for a chaotic run through the cellar corridors to actually reach Johanna's Osseous Megazord. Lots more undead to fight, of course.

So far those two rings I mentioned in the last post seem to be working well together. I'm not sure how much my abilities usually cost but I don't think this is a tremendous change, and the extra healing is very nice.

There's a note on an out of the way table:

Snrk. (The professor of antiquities feels like a reference to something, but I'm drawing a blank who what it might be.)

Helena> "This is a revenge list." Emmrich> "Johanna was never one to refuse a long and complex grudge." Helena> "People from the party. You." Emmrich> "Unsurprising." Helena> "And Manfred." Emmrich> "How dare she!" Manfred> "Me!!!"

Oh my god. XD

-----

Another interesting development as we proceed further into the basement:

Emmrich> "Unbelievable. Johanna's stolen a chamber from the Grand Necropolis and transposed it under Blackthorne Manor!" Bellara> "I'd say that should be impossible, but. Well. We've been to Arlathan." Emmrich> "The Necropolis's wards here are still intact. No wonder we couldn't sense what she's been creating!"

That sound you hear is Helena internally screaming about more weird magic shit. XD

There's some more undead and demons to fight down here (including a pride demon). Johanna also has some ominous lines over the PA about Manfred; I'm going to be Very Upset if she lays a hand on my skeleton boy.

(Also I lied, this new ring setup is driving me crazy. XD That extra ability cost makes it very hard for me to throw my explosives everywhere. Back to my previous setup.)

-----

Eventually we reach the giant "bone golem" (as the journal entry calls it).

Helena> "There's the lantern. You're going to free the spirits inside?" Emmrich> "We must, before we can destroy it." Helena> "Like back when you were freeing those spirits Hezenkoss trapped in the manor? That took a lot out of you." Emmrich> "I must try, Rook."

Helena watches uneasily as Emmrich's arms begin sweeping through the air, tugging at the Fade, dragging at the trapped souls within the lantern's grasp--

And then he jolts backward and screams.

"No!" Helena hears Manfred squeal from somewhere behind them.

"Emmrich?" she says worriedly as the blaze of light fades, leaving Emmrich crouching on the wooden scaffolding.

"I'm sorry..." he whispers. She can see that he is trembling violently, his hands balled into fists. "I can't... Another lash of power might end me..."

"Hah!" barks another voice, icy, cruel, mocking. "Coward!"

They both look up.

Hezenkoss is staring down at them from the golem's shoulder.

[ucetheones]

Found Family (part 2.) | Jey Uso x The Judgement Day!Polycule

Solo was the first one to find out about Jey and The Judgement Day being together. 

It had been a mistake to be anywhere near The Bloodline's Enforcer, one Jey knew he was making when he agreed to accompany Finn, Damian and Dominik to Smackdown. 

Still, he couldn't say no.

Well, he could've, and his boyfriends would've left it at that, they would have understood Jey's reluctance and made sure he was nowhere near the arena when Friday rolled around. They expressed this countless times, even as recently as during the drive to the arena. They gave Jey endless outs, yet he declined each one.

Truth be told, Jey didn't want to disappoint them, especially not with their relationship being so new. So fresh. 

Since Rhea is in India, they'd already be down a member; not to mention the fans would be able to tell immediately just why Jey was absent. They'd call him afraid, they'd say he was too much of a coward to face his brothers, and cousin. It'd draw the wrong kind of attention to the faction. 

And maybe it's true, maybe Jey is a fucking pussy, who's chest seizes up, and tightens harshly when he so much as hears their names.

It's his right.

Because some days he can still feel the phantom ache in his throat, and a twinge in his back from the combination Samoan Spikes and Spears he's been on the receiving end of far too many times.

He can still feel Jimmy's hand wrapped around his ankle, forcibly tugging his body out of the ring and depositing him on the ground with a 'thud.' He can hear and feel the sickening kick to the side of his head.

Still, he chose to go.

Despite being careful, and only leaving the locker room when their music was set to hit, Jey still ended up on Solo's radar.

Halfway through the show, he'd made eye contact with his baby brother who was peeking through the small window of the door, his brows pinched when he caught sight of Damian who was in the middle of pulling Jey back into his lap. His hands were dangerous low on his hips.

Before he could react, Solo was gone.

Jey wondered if he imagined him.

As possible as it was, he knows he didn't because when he turns to face Dominik, the younger just nods gently in acknowledgement and presses a kiss to his lips. 

Neither say anything to Damian or Finn. They have a match coming up in a bit, they don't need the distraction.

Though Jey can sense Dom wants to tell them, he's biting his tongue for the sake of the Samoan.

The younger waits until they've left to say anything, Jey is grateful. 

"Baby…why didn't you tell them?"

Jey offers a shrug, his lips tugged into a frown. "They got enough to worry 'bout, man. They 'ont need my shit piled on top of that. I couldn't do that to 'em. I can handle myself, Dom Dom."

Dominik grows visibly upset at his words, leaving the Samoan with a heavy pit settling in his stomach.

"Stop talking about yourself like you're a burden, Jey!" The younger man huffs, his cheeks puffing up as he continues, "we've been together for months now, and you still don't come to us willingly. You think I don't know you sneak out of bed sometimes to have fucking panic attacks in the bathroom? Do you think so little of us that you assume we'd just leave you if you decide to show us weakness? We lo—care about you!"

Jey isn't sure how to reply, he wants to deny Dom's words, but he doesn't have the chance to, because the door to the locker room is swinging open and Solo is slipping inside; closing it behind himself. 

Ignoring the worry pooling in his belly, Jey rushes to his feet, his body placed directly in front of Dominik; shielding him from the view of the larger man.

Solo is silent as he stares down his older brother, his arms crossed over his chest as he purses his lips.

At some point during their impromptu staring contest Dom had joined Jey in standing, though he now stood beside him; instead of behind him.

It was unsurprisingly Dominik who had broken the silence, his tone similar to that of his ring persona; nothing like the soft spoken airy way he spoke to his partners;

"Get the fuck out of here! What gives you the right to barge in here?" 

To his credit, Solo raises an eyebrow curiously, before shaking his head and focusing his attention on his brother.

"Jey."

With his chin tilted upward, Jey prompts the younger Samoan, "whatchu' doing here, Uce?" He knows exactly why Solo is here, he knows his brother had been checking in on him, he knows the younger man saw the interaction between him and Damian and has more than likely come to his own conclusions. 

Knowing Solo, those assumptions were probably right on the money, as he was always more observant than his older counterparts. 

Solo takes a beat, his eyes softening just barely when he says, "I don't understand what y'all got going on, but if you're good, then…it's all good. We ain't on good terms, but you know my lips are sealed, Uce."

He and Solo share a look of understanding, before Jey is nodding his head, his jaw clenched.

"Hope RAW is treating you right, because the first sign Roman or Jimmy gets that things are turning south, you know they gon' butt in."

Jey knows without clarification that Solo isn't really referring to the Brand he was a now a member on, but the relationship and faction he's found himself in.

Dominik seems to catch it too, but thankfully remains silent aside from the scoff he lets out.

Jey can't blame him, the irony isn't at all lost on him. 

With quick, unsuspected movements, Solo is pulling Jey into a brief, but tight embrace, his voice only loud enough for the elder to catch. 

"I love you, Josh…Always gone look out for you…"

His words are shaky, laced with a longing that could only be remedied by Jey, his older brother. 

Jey's heart aches, because he knows he can't give Solo what he wants, even if he wanted to, he couldn't leave behind the four people who have been nothing but loving and respectful towards him. 

Still, he nods; his arms wrapping around his not-so-little brother, "I love you too, Lil' Uce. Always."

After Solo leaves, Jey feels unsettled. Even when Dominik is trailing his fingers up the length of his back, scratching softly over the fabric, something that usually helps, he still feels a bit nauseous and as if he'll cry at any moment. 

Jey doesn't say anything, but it stings a bit when Dominik halts his movements and begins to scroll on his phone, frantically typing at random intervals. 

That goes on for nearly fifteen minutes, before Jey's eyes are filled with tears and he's once again raising to his feet, his feet attempting to silently carry him out the locker room.

He doesn't even make it to the door, because Dominik is grabbing his wrist and pulling him back down onto the couch. Jey is gearing up to complain, his eyes squeezing shut; when suddenly Rhea's accent is flooding his ears, calming a part of him that had been frazzled all night; 

"Little Blue Jey, are you okay?"

The nickname has him chuckling, the sound watery and broken, but it still makes Dominik and Rhea smile, Dom's hand steady as he holds the phone in front of Jey.

When the younger taps him, his eyes flutter open and he's met by the sight of a sleepy, yet ethereal Rhea Ripley. 

Even with bags under her eyes, she still takes both Jey and Dominik's breaths away. 

With reddening cheeks, the elder shrugs his shoulders in response to her question, his lips tugging into a frown when he does speak, 

"M'good, babygirl. You know you don't have to worry about me."

Almost immediately Dominik is gasping, his tongue clicking angrily, 

"Mami, he's a liar! A pretty liar, but he fibs! Jey was literally about to cry forty seconds ago."

It's Jey's turn to gasp, this time in betrayal as he gently shoves his boyfriend's shoulder, "she ain't ask you, she asked me!"

Dominik sticks his tongue out at Jey, though they both turn their attention back to the screen when Rhea clears her throat, 

"Boys, settle down. Dom Dom told me everything that happened, so it's understandable you'd be upset, love. I know you weren't looking forward to seeing any of them, but I am glad it went off without an issue."

To this, both Jey and Dom agree easily. While seeing Solo at all was definitely upsetting for Jey, he was at least relieved things hadn't gone badly.

For the next ten minutes, Rhea and her boys spoke mindlessly, the call was mostly to calm Jey down before Damian and Finn would be needing Dominik at ringside. After the fourth time she yawned, Jey insisted she went back to sleep, she tried to fight it, but the allure of a few more hours of sleep and the promise of group cuddles when she returned proved to be enough to send the woman on her way.

The night ended with Jey and Dominik retelling all that occurred with Solo during Damian and Finn's match, which somehow translated into the two elders depositing AJ Styles at Jey's baby brother's feet; both parties ignoring Jimmy's presence in the ring.

Some kind of fucked way to show their gratitude, but it worked for Solo. It worked for everyone in The Judgement Day.

Despite not being the one to have a match, or any physically taxing jobs for the evening, by the time they reached the hotel; Jey was fighting to keep himself up right, his eyes wouldn't stay open for longer than a minute before they were shutting again. For some reason, Finn thought it was adorable and voiced this a number of times during the ten minute drive. He had the added benefit of being the person Jey leaned on, only adding to the Irishman's overall enjoyment. 

It hadn't taken much to wrangle Jey into bed that night, a slightly cramped three person shower and one of Rhea's band-tees was all he needed before he was settling against Damian and Dominik, giggling at Finn who pouted when he realized he wouldn't be sleeping beside the male tonight. 

To make up for the elder's trouble, Jey leaned over and made sure to kiss him sweetly, deepening the press of their lips only slightly when he felt his boyfriend smiling.

They only separated when Dominik cleared his throat loudly, playfully shoving Finn away from Jey, "enough of that! You're always all over my boyfriend."

This makes Finn laugh and claim Dom's lips with his own, whispering as he does, 

"Calm ya' horses! He's just as much my boyfriend as he is yours, Dirty Dom."

After Dom has had his fill of Jey as well, he smiles triumphantly and kisses him once more, one of his hands cupping the man's cheek.

"That conversation we were having earlier isn't over, as soon as Mami gets back we're all sitting down and having a serious discussion."

It's obvious Finn and Damian are confused by their partner's words, but they take them for what they are; knowing that true to Dom's words, they'd be talking about whatever it was the day their girlfriend returned home. Home being with them.

It isn't until Finn and Dominik have dozed off that Jey finds himself able to properly see Damian off to sleep. 

Burrowing against the large man's chest, Jey all but melts into the kiss. Damian's hands pull him impossibly closer, before trailing down his back to rest on the swell of his ass. He squeezes just barely, but it's enough to have Jey gasping into the kiss, the sound soon breaking off into a whimper when the other's tongue brushes against his. 

Much like every kiss Jey has shared with his partners, it's over far too soon, leaving Jey with the ghost of a pout on his lips and flushed cheeks. 

Things between the five of them haven't gone very far, but the build up has been nothing short of promising and delicious. 

It sucks, not having Rhea there to send off to bed with an embrace or kiss of her own, but Jey knows in a few short hours they'd all be together again. 

They'd all be together and happy, the way they always should be. 

Sure, their futures career wise were uncertain, the situation with Solo was tumtulous at best, but they had one another. They could weather any storm so long as they did it as a faction. As a family. 

[starry-nights12]

Boots

One Word Prompt(Ekko's POV)

It was windy while we sat under the bridge. The thunder rumbled and cracked in the night sky.

Jinx held my arm, rested her head on my shoulder, and kept her eyes closed while the rain pelted our faces.

Listening to rain was one of the things she and Silco used to do together. I hate Silco but my love for Jinx outweighs it. If doing this makes her happy then I'll do it for her.

Jinx held my hand as we walked to my room. She took off my jacket and let the scarf drop on the floor then led me to the bathroom.

I went to take off my soaked shirt but Jinx put her hands on top of mine and shook her head.

She put her hands on my shoulder, sat me down on the toilet seat, and took my shirt off for me.  She kneeled in front of me and held one of my boots.

"You don't have to. I-"

Jinx scoffed. "You think I don't know that? "She took off one shoe "I'm doing it because I wanna take care of you." She took off the other one.

She then used my knees to help her stand up. Her hand cupped my cheek, "You're my angel."

Pride always swelled in my chest whenever we referred to each other as mine. I could have never predicted that that one day she would ever call me hers.

I tugged on her waistband and she took the cue to sit on my lap. My hand slowly rubbed her thin waist. "I love you, Jinx."

Jinx simply smiled and stroked her thumb across my cheek.

Warmth flowed throughout my body when her soft lips were lightly pressed against mine. Our kiss was brief, so I chased after her for another taste of her sweetness.

Her lips were planted more firmly but were still gentle. Her lips continued their caresses against mine.

She wasn't doing anything lascivious yet my heart was comparable to the storm we witnessed.

She kissed my nose when we separated. Her eyes half-lidded expressed the same feeling I had for her.

I unfasted the strap below her leather crop top and peeled it over her head.

⋆｡˚ 🌨 ˚｡⋆｡🌩˚☽˚｡⋆

Out there, no one knew where she was. She was a looming threat to Pilties. An inspiration to some Zaunites or hated by others for starting the war.

The truth is, she didn't give a shit about any of them. She laughed when I told her about The Inxes

She wasn't interested in politics. She wasn't trying to send a political message. Everyone wondered what her next master plan would be.

She was currently leaning against me, splashing while making her toy shark attack a rubber duck: chomping sound effects and all.

I closed my eyes and leaned further into the tub. Only in my dreams I thiught we'd ever be happy with each other again.

I had it planned out.

Take out his goons first. Silco was a coward. He was always hiding behind paid muscles.

Sevika and Jinx were his most deadliest. I would have to kill them first. After them, Silco was next.

It would have been easy.

If I had my way, I would have relished the sound of Silco's skull cracking against my metal pipe. I would have bashed his face in until it was unrecognizable.

I restrained the smile that wanted to reveal itself. She suddenly became quiet and moved away from me. Even with my eyes closed I knew she started to stare at me. She does that sometimes.

Whenever I was half awake, I could feel her eyes on me. I'd wake up and they'd be the first thing I see.

I opened my eyes to see her holding her legs. "You know it right?" She tilted her head. "That I do. I really do."

Since I was smiling for a different reason, I allowed it to spread. My finger combed through her wet hair, "I know, Jinx."

Jinx mirrored my smile. She encircled her arms around my waist and nuzzled her head on my chest. I reciprocated the hug, my thumb rubbing circles on her back.

We've been dating for almost three months and she hasn't said it.

It went from "like-liking" me to "I do, too." It was essentially her way of "I love you."

But I understand.

She feels like everyone she loves will eventually leave or die because of her. I figured her verbally saying the words out loud for her will...well... jinx it.

The irony could never escape me. 

The girl I planned on killing for years became my girlfriend. If anyone hurt her, I would have to kill them myself.

I had my chance and I hesitated. With how things played out afterward, I'm glad I did.