#❝ ✦ muse prompts‚ ➤ you don't need a reason to save people. ❞

[nctmyfather]

tag dump ; pt. one - ooc !!

❝ ✦ out of costume‚ ➤ get to know who is behind the mask. ❞ ❝ ✦ public notice‚ ➤ this is important to know. ❞ ❝ ✦ muse prompts‚ ➤ you don't need a reason to save people. ❞ ❝ ✦ mun prompts‚ ➤ despite it all‚ i’m still in love with life. ❞ ❝ ✦ starter call‚ ➤ i summoned you‚ please come to me. ❞ ❝ ✦ inbox call‚ ➤ let me come to you for chaos. ❞ ❝ ✦ shipping call‚ ➤ let's see if we can make things work. ❞ ❝ ✦ plotting call‚ ➤ a story yet to be told. ❞ ❝ ✦ wanted dynamic‚ ➤ hoping to build bonds with others. ❞ ❝ ✦ wanted storyline‚ ➤ wishing to tell this particular tale. ❞ ❝ ✦ self promotion‚ ➤ don't forget‚ i'm... invincible. ❞ ❝ ✦ promotion‚ ➤ shouting out my fellow superheroes. ❞ ❝ ✦ dash game‚ ➤ having a day off from saving the world. ❞ ❝ ✦ dash commentary‚ ➤ adding our two cents to the situation. ❞ ❝ ✦ crack‚ ➤ goofing off and having fun. ❞ ❝ ✦ queue‚ ➤ waiting is the best and worst part. ❞

[eufezco]

THREE LIES AT ONCE

FINNICK ODAIR X FEM!STYLIST!READER

this is based on a prompt from character.ai c:

SYNOPSIS -> You're his stylist and you discover bruises.

You liked it when Finnick visited the Capitol and Finnick hated doing it except for the fact that he knew you would be there.

You had already earned a reputation as a stylist in the Capitol when you two met. And it had been four years since Finnick won his games but President Snow had kept him close because nothing was more appealing than a charming boy in his twenties to the people of the Capitol.

You learned from the best. Cinna taught you everything he knew about fashion and then made you forget about it all so you could build your own style. It actually worked quite well because your designs were sold in the Capitol as if people needed them to live.

Your colors and characteristic shapes, your outrageous skirts, your long dresses, and your headdresses were worn by everyone, men and women fought over your designs and they spent all their savings on your clothes. President Snow was more than delighted with you, not only because his granddaughter deeply admired you but because you knew how to be liked, and he loved that about you.

That's why President Snow found the perfect match with Finnick and you and for once in his life, he did something right.

Finnick became your muse. From the moment you were introduced at the Capitol and you saw him walking towards you with those bright green eyes, his perfectly messy blonde hair, his tanned skin thanks to the way the sun in District 4, and his body that looked like it had been sculpted by the gods. You knew you never wanted to design anything else but for him.

―When did you arrive and how is it that you haven't come to see me earlier? ―You threw yourself into his arms, your fingers dug into his blond locks of hair. This was not the typical relationship that stylists used to have with their models but after working with him for a couple of years now, it was inevitable that some affection would grow between the two of you. Especially when, during his stays in the Capitol, you spent most of your time together. You were the only thing that kept him from going crazy.

He would sit and watch you while you sketched out his next outfit. You would share a drink and ask him questions about how his life was back in District 4. Finnick loved to talk about his home and you loved to imagine yourself there, in the places that Finnick described to you so precisely. The sea reaching your feet, the sun shining against your skin, the sound of seagulls flying across the bluest sky you had ever seen... And for some reason that you were still trying to figure out, every time you imagined yourself in one of those scenarios, he was by your side. District 4 seemed like a lovely place.

Finnick's arms wrapped around your waist while his face hid in the crook of your neck. He inhaled your familiar scent when you hugged, too sweet for the Capitol, not like the perfume people there used to keep up with their continuous call for attention.

―Yesterday but I was too tired from the trip.

That was the first lie that Finnick told you that night.

There was an expression of relief on your face with something like a small smile on your lips, grateful to see him again after such a long time and when everything in your life was chaos thanks to the preparation of the next games. Your eyes were closed, enjoying him holding you until you heard him say those words and then they opened in a combination of surprise and confusion.

―Don't think that being tired is an excuse for not coming to see me, Finnick Odair. That should always be the first thing you do as soon as you set foot here. ―You said, still thinking about why would he lie to you.

You moved apart from the hug and Finnick had a big smile on his lips that inevitably made you smile too. ―I'm sorry. ―He apologized.

―You better be. But now I need you to tell me if you like it.

You turned to grab your notebook and showed him the sketch you drew. Finnick took the notebook from your hands so he could take a better look and admire every detail.

―This is beautiful. You're an artist. I doubt there is anyone half as good as you in the whole Panem.

―Oh, there's Cinna. I haven't managed to dethrone him yet.

―Come on, you outdid Cinna a long time ago. He says so himself. The student surpassed the master, there's nothing wrong with that.

You shook your head and said nothing. Finnick rolled his eyes, he knew you didn't like hearing from him or anyone else that you were better than Cinna. Not even when Cinna himself tells you.

―Have you started sewing it yet? Can I see it?

―That's why I needed to see you. I haven't started yet because I need to measure you again. The last time you wore one of my garments it was too tight. I don't want to risk it not fitting you this time. ―You grabbed the measuring tape and pins from the table in your studio, full of fabrics and patterns for the new tributes. Cinna had given you his notebook with some beautiful sketches and had told you that he needed something similar but for the male tribute, a guy named Peeta Mellark from District 12, and you had been working day and night to meet Cinna's expectations. ―The robe is behind the dressing screen.

―Yes ma'am.

Finnick walked over without saying another word. You admired his figure as he walked away. Finnick's back was twice as wide as when you met him, his arms had grown stronger, now you could identify each of the muscles in them and his legs had also doubled in size, unfortunately, Finnick loved to wear long skirts, if it were up to you he would be showing them all the time. The features of his face had also changed, now they were more pronounced. Finnick's dimples were more visible and his jaw was so sharp you'd swear if you slid your finger along it you'd cut yourself.

―This looks great on you. I don't know why I try to design you something new every time. I should let you go around with that.

Finnick shook his head, failing in his attempt not to laugh at your stupid joke. ―You are not only the best designer but also the funniest one, huh?

You rolled your eyes. Finnick knew you didn't like it when he told you that and he did it on purpose to tease you. ―Come on, take it off.

Finnick stood before the mirror as you stood behind him. Once he slipped it off, you gasped and jumped back, horrified.

―Gosh, Finnick, what is this? ―You took a few steps backward at the sight of the bruises that trailed down his back. By their bright red color you would say were rather recent. You didn't know how to react, you were petrified staring at his back.

Finnick smiled, dismissing what you just saw with practiced charm. ―Ah, just a little souvenir. My lovers like to play rough. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.

That was the second lie Finnick told you that night.

Finnick's chest was heavy but he was trying to keep his cool. He had assumed that by the time the two of you saw each other the wounds would have healed, besides the fact that he didn't think he would have to undress in front of you.

―Your lovers? This absolute atrocity was done by one of your lovers?

―They were probably just a little too... enthusiastic. Besides, I don't have a problem with it, I like it. My skin heals fast so I'll be all good in no time.

And that was the third lie. His skin did not heal fast. You had always told him off for coming to dress rehearsals all bruised up from his training sessions and those bruises had lasted for days. These new ones were sure to stay on his skin for at least a month.

―How can some one like this?

Finnick could hear the disdain in your voice. You should be disgusted, horrified and definitely judging him, but don't worry, so was he.

―Honey, if you don't understand it's not my problem.

―No, you're right. I don't understand. I don't think you enjoyed that.

―Oh, you're gonna tell me what I can or cannot enjoy?

―Have you seen your back? Have you seen how bad this looks?

Finnick chuckled. ―I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of this. Do you need all the details? Is the life of a stylist so boring?

―Finnick, listen to me. I don't want all the details I want the truth, and now it's the perfect time to start. ―You said. You grabbed him by his shoulders and turned him around to look at you. Finnick groaned as your hands were placed on his shoulders and when he stood face to face with you, he could see how upset you were.

―I don't know what you're talking about. ―He bit the inside of his cheeks, that was just what he had been told, not to tell anyone the truth about what had happened. He saw you roll your eyes and let all the air out of your body through your mouth, annoyed.

―I know that you didn't arrive yesterday. Cinna told me. Do you really think you can go unnoticed? Here? And I know for a fact that those bruises are not from one of your lovers, let alone that they were done to you a couple of days ago.

Finnick swallowed, looking at you with his head held high. He tried to keep the smile on his lips, pretending that everything was okay, that he did enjoy it when those bruises were inflicted on him, but his lower lip betrayed him and began to tremble. You bent down to pick up the robe and carefully threw it over his shoulders so he wouldn't feel so exposed. Finnick's head was bowed. You lifted it using your thumb and index finger on his chin very gently.

―I need you to tell me who did this to you. I can't help you if you don't tell me.

Finnick chuckled amid the sadness and shame he was feeling. ―Help me? You can't help me.

―I'm sure there's something I can do. I could―.

―They were Peacekeepers following Snow's orders.

Your jaw dropped and your heart rate accelerated. It was the first time that Finnick was admitting that to someone. It had been impossible to tell anyone, let alone a citizen of the Capitol like you. Finnick couldn't possibly admit that without compromising his carefully cultivated image. Besides, if he made himself out to be a victim, the Capitol would never allow someone they saw as weak to perform the role of the Golden Boy and all the people he cared about in District 4 would die. At that moment you realized that all the times he showed up at your studio claiming that his injuries were from training were not true and you felt sick to your stomach.

―How did it happen? ―You asked, swallowing the lump that had formed in your throat

―I tried to leave the Capitol. Before I could get on the train back to District 4 I was arrested by Peacekeepers and they took me to Snow's mansion. A lot of people came and when I refused to see them... I've been locked up there since then, that's why I couldn't come to see you earlier.

You shook your head, feeling awful. ―Don't worry about it, Finnick. I'm so sorry this is happening to you. ―Your stomach complained and begged your brain to stop imagining everything that Finnick would have been put through since then. The beatings, the strangers paying to sneak into his bed, the Peacekeepers bursting into his room and leaving him bleeding on the floor...

―Snow likes me. There has to be something I can do for you.

―You don't understand. It's not something that I can quit.

―I can spend all day designing and sewing to pay Snow the money he would make with you. I can talk to Cinna to raise the price of our designs. People here are rotten with money, they'll keep buying them anyway.

―It's not that simple. You can't just buy my freedom.

―Has anyone tried before?

Finnick thought about it and shook his head. ―Snow wouldn't allow that to happen. ―You ran your hand over your face in despair, not knowing what else to do to help him and feeling a responsibility to do something about it. You were the citizen of the Capitol, the one who had superior status and the favor of Snow, there must be something you could do.

―What if I buy you?

Finnick's eyes widened in surprise. ―Buy me?

You nodded and realized how bad that sounded. ―But not in like, a slave type of way. Gosh that sounded awful. I would just― Do it so you can live your life in your district. I wouldn't― keep you here, no. You'd just have to come to the Capitol a couple of times, make a few public appearances, and leave again.

―Why would you do that for me?

You bit the inside of your cheeks and nodded. ―You're my friend. I care about you.

You had managed to give him something he had long been missing. Hope. Maybe what you wanted to do would work or maybe not but at that moment Finnick felt that someone cared and that gave him hope that everything would work out.

Finnick took a step forward and placed his hands on your cheeks. He leaned in slightly and connected his lips with yours. Your hands ended up resting against his warm bare chest, closing your eyes and allowing him to kiss you. You knew it was the emotion of the moment, the adrenaline rush of knowing that maybe he could live his life in peace. You had given him hope and he was happy that someone had shed some light on his situation.

When you parted ways after the kiss, you both were smiling.

―Go and put your pants on, I'll treat your bruises.

―Do you know how?

―Well, not really, but I'm not short of needle and thread and I still have some alcohol from last night.

Finnick pressed his lips together and nodded. That would work. He walked to the dressing screen and you watched him as he walked away in the mirror's reflection. Before hiding behind the dressing screen, he said something that lit up a flame in your heart and made butterflies flutter in your stomach.

―I wish you would come with me to District 4.

my requests for the hunger games are open 📥

[harmonysanreads]

Phainon and the artist who refuses to accept him as their muse.

You can paint the deeds of the Goldweaver on fine pottery, dress desserts in respect to the Undying Prince, weave tunes to unravel the Fool from his ineffable shell, dedicate verses to the untouchable Maiden — but you remain ever uninterested to grant the Deliverer the honor of being the reason your mind paces restless. The hero's soft spot for art, regardless of how niche, is common knowledge to any Chrysos Heir enthusiast. He just has mysterious ways of finding talent and celebrating it with his heart.

In the beginning, it was a wish he kept hidden beneath heartfelt praises and admiration. Your gaze charmed the man ; when you study any subject that you deem fit to feature in your art, you scrutinize, pick apart and reconstruct it from within before giving it new meaning. The prospect of having that gaze fixed on him alone for even a minute, studying him, had caused ripples in his daydreams. He so yearned for you to understand him, he believed you would be able to prove that he's not the titular blank canvas everyone says he is.

When his hints and nudges failed to inspire you, he opted for a formal approach. But you met him with a resolute rejection, unwilling to taint your ideals in exchange of fickle currency. That fearless response, the defiance you held so close to yourself made his heart ache. A hero's pride should've prompted him to abandon this chase for good, but he couldn't find it in himself to look away. He found himself pining for another glimpse of that light, the kernel of your soul.

“Go home, Deliverer. I've told you too many times by now, I won't accept you as my muse.”

There is that averted stare again, something in him stirs, whispering bitter revelations of how your eyes will deny him even if he cut himself to pieces and forfeited them to your feet.

He feels his fingers curl around themselves. Forcing a laugh, “And I have asked you too many times why. Even hatred can inspire people, but you... you're so utterly indifferent to me. You wound my heart. I wonder just what is my problem? Is there nothing special about me?”

You glance over your shoulder, your sudden bewilderment confuses him for a millisecond, “I don't know? Do you perhaps think there is nothing special about you?”

That stuns Phainon long enough for you to slip away.

And the question haunts him, chases him everywhere. The prophecy deems him as the perfect vessel that will save Amphoreus, but is he? Is the prophecy even true, just as how Anaxagoras has been saying? If there is indeed nothing within him worth earning him your recognition, then he should change — how will he change? What kind of person do you like? Is it the way he talks? Does he need to behave more refined? Or does he need to be cursed like Mydei and Castorice?

As he ponders about the possibilities and the ramifications of molding himself to your tastes, envy leers over him, replacing once tender affection with loathing for anything that monopolizes your interest from finding refuge in him. It wouldn't be too difficult to take upon a new identity, but what about the distractions that caused this situation to escalate in the first place? Wouldn't it be so much easier for you to... look at him, if he just makes it so that there will exist nothing else that will be capable of competing with him for your attention?

[wawamouse]

[bursts into your inbox as if we were having a conversation you were definitely not aware we were having] -one reason we need more slightly more modern outside AUs is: how unhinged could the texts between Chico and Miguel get?? The possibilities for conversational wtfuckery with these two!!

(I'm sure for the longest time it would be the most short and uninformative texting desert where they barely go beyond "u hungry?" and "k" level communication. But there would be bursts of amusing absurdist insanity that goes on and on.)

Yes this was prompted by something you reblogged on another blog, and I came here to tell you rather than politely musing in my own area.

Wow you’re so right, we need to make miguel and chico millennials…. or we just need to give them cellphones lol

(for those wondering, the post I reblogged was this )

also i do think “k” & leaving on read is miguel’s style of communication (toward chico) but probably only because i headcanon chico texting him like an insane person, both when he like-likes miguel and also when he hates him (bc that's hardly going to make him leave miguel alone lol). i could see him firing off an essay in single line texts and god help miguel when chico discovers audio messages (but at the same time, i think miguel would send audio messages more) (which chico would love because… come on 😂). i think miguel is better at cyber stalking someone than chico tho (ok now i’m just going into my Technology Headcanons). just, like, miguel is better at researching than chico. but chico knows more about torrenting and vpns and anti-virus stuff. also his bookmarks bar has a bunch of porn sites saved if we're being real

idk, i just don't see miguel as a texting person 😂 I think he prefers face-to-face communication or talking on the phone where as chico who probably has a really aggressive way of texting and also he uses T9 lol

i also think chico would send truly indecipherable memes sometimes, not because he thinks they’re funny (he doesn't get them) but because he just compulsively forwards every little piece of internet junk, clickbait, memes, buzzfeed quizzes, etc, straight to miguel, not really caring if he even responds or not bc anything he Actually wants miguel to see, he'll just bring up in person...

2 AU thoughts that immediately jumped to mind:

they meet as wrong numbers—like, one of them accidentally texts the wrong new contact or something—they got a fake number (haha), etc., and then the other person responds and they have a sort of curt conversation of realising they have theyre talking to a stranger before being like Whoops my bad! ...but then weeks later when the first guy (let's just say, chico - that' kinda what i'm imagining anyway) mistakenly texts miguel again bc he never deleted the contact info. and he's like totally shitfaced too so he just ends up calling miguel and being like HEY Come get me. I'm at xyz location!! … and that’s how they meet—because Miguel is moderately bored and curious and he thinks Chico will have drugs 😂 (maybe he’s mentioned it idk) (anyway he does have them) ...

dating app AU (cough hook up app) 💀 they chat/sext for a long time more as like friends for a while... idk, some people you just sort of end up befriending and having longer running fun conversations with / gossip about your other hook-ups on the app bc there's more to it in a way. they end up exchanging actual phone numbers and chatting bc they have a lot in common—even know the same clubs and know they don't live that far apart, but they just don't meet up right away. And then it gets kind of weird bc at a certain point, they're more lookng forward to meet up but then it's like damn, what if the spark isn't there in person 😵‍💫 what if they meet up, have sex, and then never text each other again or it all falls apart or something. And then something something, when they finally go Fuck It and decide to meet up and get it over with, they get completely sidetracked (just gotta do a minor job real quick! swing by a location!) in a Date Ends Up With Them Almost Getting Shot and Running For Their Lives type way. but good news: even though they bicker like hell in person, and each find the other vaguely infuriating, the spark is definitely there 👀

[axcel-lucci]

hello!! i love your works and i'm a huge law fan myself!!

I was wondering if you'd make a request for me (you don't have to do this if you don't want to). Law and his crew are on an island and Law meets this girl getting robbed by a few other older men. This girl is blind btw. Law saves her and almost instantly falls in love with her. Maybe she wants to repay him back for saving her and they go on a date?

Law x blind!reader (if you don't feel comfortable making the reader a female, gn reader is okay too!) fluff fluff fluff

Please and thank you!! <3 :)

I can see you now.

Trafalgar Law x fem!reader

A/N: I've been thinking of this for a while now but I don't have any prompts to plot around, and yours is really cute! Sorry if it took some time to make since I'm still arranging some things for my school this year. Also, I kinda made law a bit ooc and a few changes to fit the narrative, I hope you like it regardless...

Law had to get away from those... Idiots he calls "childhood friends" for some reason.

So walking around the island was a good idea until he passed by a what seemed to be an empty park with a pond that has a lot of ducks.

He glanced around the empty park to think of he could have some peace here as he entered the small wooden gate, watching out for splinters before deciding that yes, this is peaceful enough.

He walked over to where he assumed the benches are only to find, in his mind, the most beautiful woman he has ever seen in the world.

Her hair flowing with the wind smoothly, her skin as clear as day, her eyes... Her eyes were sparkling beautifully.

He can't help but stare but at the same time feels like a creep for doing so... And after some back and forth with himself, he scoffed to himself and slowly walked over.

He also noticed how she just looked straight ahead, as if she was just listening to her surroundings, though when he got a closer look in her eyes, he can kinda see something that he knew was probably something but shrugged it off

"Hey..." He called before sitting beside her.

"O-oh...! Uh... Hello!" She smiled, still not looking at him even though she knew he was already there.

He waved a hand on front of her and raised his brows, "you're... Blind?" He asked

"Ah... Yes... Were you... Um... Showing me something? I'm sorry... As you see, I am blind" she laughed

"A bad pun..." He smirked, "I like it" he chuckled, "what're you doing here?"

"Listening to the nature around me... It just makes me feel so peaceful... Compared to the village..." She muttered, "and uh... You?"

"Ahh... I just need to take a walk..." He shrugged only to realize she wouldn't see it, "I'm Trafalgar Law, and you're...?"

"Trafalgar... Oh! That famous pirate! I think that was..." She mumbled a bit with a hum

"Surgeon of death?" He mused making her nod

"Mhmm! I always hear about you... You're quite a star now aren't you?" She laughed, "I'm (y/n)... By the way, I hope you didn't come here to steal my eyes, they're quite useless" she smiled

It made him laugh, "I only steal the eyes of my enemies. And you're not an enemy." He hummed, amused at how light he feels around her, "anyway... I hope you don't mind me asking, how... Did you become blind? Is it some sort of tumor or were you born with it?"

"Oh, it's some tumor the doctors didn't want to risk taking out for a lawsuit, also... Too expensive for those who are risky... Haha" she laughed a bit

Law nods to himself, "do you have... Um... A boyfriend or girlfriend to help you around? Are your parents present?"

"Oh... It's just me, my parents died a year ago due to old age... And... No person would want to take care of a blind person, because apparently, blind people can't do anything because they're blind. But I get around, I'm currently living off of my inheritance from my parents but soon, I know it'll run out..."

He hummed a bit, "I see... You know... I'm a doctor myself, want me to help you?" He offered

"If you want, sure." She smiled again.

"Alright then, though it might take a while before I take you in for operation since I'll be researching a bit... Is that alright?"

"Go right ahead" she nods

"Are you always here?" He asked

She hummed, "why yes... I'm always here... I love listening to the nature in here, also, it's shady and cool, since... You know, summer?"

He smiled as well, "I understand... Well, I'll leave for now, I'll come back tomorrow? If that's okay"

"It's alright with me... Oh and uh... Thank you, for talking to me... It's not always anyone would talk to me" she smiled sadly making him nod

"No prob, I'll be back tomorrow... Okay?"

"Okay"

He ruffled her hair after getting up making her giggle

And so he did.

He came back the next day, then the day after that, and the day after that, and goes on...

It has been a week of him going out for almost hours everyday only to come back with a lighter mood.

It made the crew suspicious as to why the hell he's like this, but they will NEVER question it because with his lighter mood, they can get away with anything.

But one day, Law wanted to give the good news to (y/n) that he'd be able to operate on her only when he reached the park she was always at, he heard her scream loudly making him immediately rush inside to see two teenage boys trying to take away her walking stick and her bag

Only for one of them to kick her on her stomach causing her to let go of both items as the boys run off.

Seeing this made his blood sizzle and boil.

"Room." He casted as the blue dome covered the whole park, "shambles."

He motioned with his hand as the two boys suddenly appeared in front of him as they look at him with fear and shock knowing that an infamous pirate was going to steal their loot.

...

"(Y/n)-ya...!" He ran over after dealing with the now bruised and injured boys who ran off crying to their mommies.

"L-law...!" She gasped as she cried, "m-my things..." She cried as he held her tightly in his arms

"Don't worry... I got them right here" he smiled when she gasped.

"R-really?! Y-you have them??"

"I cought the boys who tried to steal them, here..." He handed the stick back to (y/n) and helped her up slowly before handing her the bag, "are you alright? That was a pretty solid kick."

"It was a kick...? I thought someone punched the living shit out of me..." She muttered, "b-but... Thank you for retrieving my things, Law..." She smiled at him

"You're welcome...." He smiled softly.

Meanwhile...

Shachi and penguin wanted to know so they followed him only to see two teenage boys run out of a park, crying and bruised.

Upon notice, they instantly knew who inflicted those on them so they rushed to the park only to pause when they saw Law, comforting and hugging a woman while smiling softly at her

"Okay... I guess we're late to the party and uhm... Captain's got a girlfriend, finally." Shachi whispered.

"Yeah... Let's go back before he sees us" the two nodded to themselves before rushing off, probably to tell the crew or not.

....

"Uh... Law, do you... Do you want to come with me? I can make you something back home..." She smiled, "you know... As a thanks"

"Oh... It's alright, you don't have to-"

"But I want to, Law... Please?" She may not know it but she puts on the cutest "please" expression he has ever seen on a human being.

"A-alright..." He muttered thanking whoever is in charge that she can't see him blush ever so furiously

They soon arrived at her small cottage just a few blocks away from the park.

Law observed how the front yard was well-kept and the porch having a rocking chair on it before hearing her open the door after fumbling with the keys.

"Please, come in" she smiled as she let him in and take off his shoes, "this way..." She smiled as she placed a hand on the walk before walking to probably guide him to the dining room that was attached to the kitchen.

"Nice house you have, (y/n)-ya" He smiled softly.

"Ahh... Thank you" she smiled again as she entered the kitchen

"Do you need help with that?"

"Oh uh... Can you cook the rice?" She asks, "and I hope you're alright with some curry?"

"Oh, that's alright." He smiled as he helped her in the kitchen before sitting down once he finished his job

She soon served him the most beautiful food in a plate with rice.

It also smelled nice.

He took a spoon and scooped a spoonful before eating only to melt at how delicious it is.

"Mmmhhh...!" He hummed in satisfaction, "this is so good!"

It made her smile excitedly, "really?? I'm so happy you think it's delicious...!"

Law finished his food before drinking some freshly made juice, "before I almost forget, I was going to tell you at the park something"

"Oh? What is that...?" She felt around for a chair to sit in only for law to guide her hand to a nearby chair as she sat in it

"Good news and bad news"

"And... What might that be..?"

"Bad news... We'll be leaving tomorrow, but good news, I'll be able to take you on that operation!" He said as she can hear him be excited.

"But you guys are leaving... How can that be..?"

"This part is where the decision you need to make is very important, either... You can come with us... Or not... But don't worry, we'll take you back here as soon as you recovered or drop you off at an island if you want."

"Law... I... I want to... And if you do help me regain my vision... I want to repay you as much as I can" she smiled making him smile again

"Alright... I'll pick you up first thing tomorrow morning... Then I'll introduce you to my crew" he said with slight excitement

She laughed, "okay. I'll be waiting for you..."

The next day, (y/n) had her things packed, which wasn't too much than just 2 bags of her belongings.

But it was enough to make the house empty...

Someone then rang the doorbell and she went to the door, "who's there?" She called with a smile

"It's me..." She recognised his voice and immediately opened the door.

"Law...!" She gasped with a smile before feeling arms suddenly wrapped around her tightly

"Come on, let's get going... It looks like it's about to rain" he smiled softly

"Yeah, like I can see it." She joked making him laugh as she stepped aside cautiously, letting him in

"Anyway... These are all your things? Just... 2 bags...?" Law muttered

"I don't have a lot... But... I hope it's not that heavy..." She smiled softly

Law picked them up, "not really..." He mumbled before shrugging, "well? Are you ready?"

She nodded, "though... I wish to stay with your crew when I regain my eyesight back... You know... Like me paying you back?" She smiled a bit, "and... It's nice being with you... I like your company, hehe..."

It made him blush softly before chuckling, "me too... I find your company rather... Comforting"

later...

"Here, let me carry you" he smiled before lifting her up into his arms then jumping into the sub, and as he was in the process of gently placing her down, she heard multiple gasps of surprise and shock

"What..." She muttered once he secured that she was safely

"Oh uh..."

On Law's side, he was too focused on (y/n) that he failed to notice most of the crew lounging on the deck.

So it came as a shock to them that captain, at least they think, recruited the blind girl Shachi and penguin told them he'd been visiting these past few days.

"What?" He grumpily said

"Captain...!" Bepo cooed first, "who's that?"

Law sighed before placing a bag down and holding (y/n) gently to face them making them make a sound of being in awe at how cute and beautiful they think (y/n) is.

"Everyone, meet (y/n)-ya. (Y/n)-ya, you may not see them for now but these are my crew... I hope you can familiarise them by voice?" He said as (y/n) hummed

She then nodded with a smile, "hello everyone...! Nice to meet you all, I'm (y/n)...! Lovely weather we're having, yeah? Too bad can't see them." She joked

It made them chuckle a bit before introducing themselves

Some... Sound the same to (y/n), while some are unique and easy to distinguish. But she was also glad that there's another girl in the crew, Ikkaku...

Ikkaku was more than thrilled to see and meet (y/n).

"Oh. My. Gosh... You are so CUTE!" Ikkaku gasped and held (y/n)'s hand, "I'm Ikkaku, nice to meet ya!"

It made (y/n) giggle a bit, "I'm (y/n), nice to meet you too, miss Ikkaku"

"Ah... No need for formalities, just call me by my name. And if you need me, feel free to find me" Ikkaku smiled

"Yeah, as soon as I get my eyesight back, I'll definitely find you." (Y/n) half joked making her laugh

"Captain...! You never told us your FRIEND is so funny" the crew said before earning a glare from the man.

"Come on (y/n)-ya, let's get you settled in and prepared for surgery. The rest of you, get back to work, let's leave before the marines come." Law ordered as he placed a hand on (y/n)'s shoulder and gently dragging her away

"You sounded so scary back there, haha" she laughed as they walked through the halls.

(Y/n) could hear the sub's low hum and buzz, some pipes, and metallic echoes of their footsteps and possibly others, too.

Law only huffed, "let's get you settled" he softly said, "then let me conduct a quick check up before I get you admitted and prepared for surgery" he finished, (y/n) could sense him smiling, in which he was.

Later, Law decided to settle her in the room across from his before leading her to his usual doctor's office to conduct some check up, hand in hand, they walked through the halls towards the office.

Some crew saw them and instantly knew that Law was growing close to (y/n), making them wish that (y/n) would stay forever.

Because truth be told, they've never seen him relax this much around the sub, only time he's relaxed is when he literally passed out from overworking.

So it was a great sight for them to see...

They soon arrived at the office as he placed her down on a small bed before grabbing his kit

"Just listen to me, okay?" He said before putting on his gloves and doctor's coat.

She nodded and unconsciously started kicking her legs since the bed was kinda high.

He noticed it and thought that it was cute.

The check up soon ended as he was currently writing the conclusion on the paper

"Hey... Law..." She called almost quietly as he hummed

"I'm... I want to stay with this crew... Whether the outcome of the operation succeeds or not... I... It's just been a long time since I've had people not wanting to take advantage of me being blind... And..."

"I understand" he cuts her off, "you're joining us anyway"

She could feel him smirk making her giggle before hearing him walk over, "come on, let's get you admitted for surgery."

Timeskip...

The surgery was a success, Law could feel himself brag all over that despite him doing this for the first time, he excelled in it.

So now Law was waiting for his little patient to wake up and see if it worked, hoping it did...

So that she can finally see the world again.

But while waiting, law started to reflect on those days...

Had he not taken a walk would he ever meet her, had he not talked to the woman staring into nothing, they wouldn't have known each other better.

He was proud of the choices he made, and now... The only thing to do is to confess what he feels towards her.

Though he kinda knew it's going to be for a few more months, years even, for him to do so.

While he was thinking deeply, he felt her hand twitch making him alarmed and stand up immediately.

"(Y/n)..." He softly muttered as he moved closer

(Y/n) groaned a bit before squinting her eyes to adjust to the light above her, "law...?" She called before looking to the side, her vision still hazy

She then gasped and her eyes widened, "law... Is that... You?" She muttered as she reached her hand towards law.

It filled him with so much joy that it worked, his intelligence helped him once more as he grabbed her hand

"It worked... It fucking worked!" He grinned before moving closer and kissing her hand

"Law..." She muttered, tears soon brimming her eyes as she sat up.

With his help, she sat up and immediately grabbed his face in her hands to observe his face.

"It worked... Law...!" She gasped while crying before hugging him

Law immediately hugged her back but tighter.

They pulled away a little bit after as Law wiped away her tears that kept spilling from her eyes

"Hush now... This is something to celebrate..." He smiled

(Y/n) nodded before smiling brightly.

The moment was there... Though none of them talked, it was clear.

"Thank you..." She muttered before feeling him start to lean closer, she sighed softly to calm herself before leaning back against him.

His lips pressing against hers in a soft kiss.

"Thank you, Law.." she smiled once they pulled away, "I can see you now... Thank you..."

He chuckled, "you're welcome..."

[flightfoot]

ML Movie Musing:

I think some folks might have missed how very different the solution to Marinette's problems in the movie are meant to be. It's not a poor take on the same answer, it's a different answer. The movie understates a lot by choice and that is whiplash from the series.

Movie!Marinette is not helped through unconditional support and praise(the general throughline of the show) We see her get this early on from Alya in the 'failure montage'. Alya is always there at every moment supporting her unironically and enthusiastically. It doesn't help.

Marinette improves in the movie by being given support..but with a push. Tikki being the first and obvious one. She's seen what Marinette can do, so after the classic pep talk she pushes her out the door. How does Marinette respond? Her first dose of sarcasm and biting back (what's next, a tea set?)

She meets Cat Noir and he's ostentatious, theatrical, and teasing (she does start the teasing first, so many miss that... Granted he is being a goofball and deserves it a little) but he *is* still supportive in it all. He's not telling her sh's a failure or to go home. It's 'stick with me.' and much like with Fu we see how when things get serious she is able to pull through.

Tikki not letting her throw Ladybug away(but eventually leaving her alone) is so strong. It's 'I won't let you fail yourself' love. When it comes to the second transformation Tikki doesn't give her any of the support from the first time. It's just the naked truth 'You must face your fears' and Marinette is the one who makes that choice.

By the 'third'(highlighted) transformation Marinette, who has been questioning herself after being delt a serious blow, still makes the choice to suit up without prompting. She *has* grown. In the fact of Mega-Moth, she does need a little boost(it's a kids movie a little on the nose repeating is fine)

She faces the very reasonable 'I am a fleshy human' fear to save Cat Noir.

And we get at the end her facing her fears *again* with Adrien(I love how they show her being afraid without actually saying it out loud)

The movie makes a point that this is what this Marinette needed. A partner, not a cheerleader. She needed someone(two someones) who challenged her but did so from a place of caring. It helped her push through and come to terms with fear existing but still doing what needs to be done.

I just really liked the difference/nuance there. It would have been so easy to have the standard 'There's nothing to fear/don't be afraid' message. That it was willing to say 'Yeah, you will be afraid. You can't let fear control you though.' is fun.

(and it loops back to how Marinette is literally avoiding people trying to be nice to her in her opening song. The fear dominates her. (Hence Cat Noir's 'Failure isn't your enemy, your fear is')

Just had to gush, rewatched recently

I didn't like the movie as much as you did, but this is an interesting point. The movie sticks more with pushing Marinette outside of her comfort zone and allowing her to see that she's able to swim, rather than providing more traditional support.

[playedbetter]

@the-haunted-office said: From the multimuse questions meme: 5, 9, 13, 14, 25

(Soft reminder to please include the full context, meaning the full prompt/question not just the number/symbol when sending me memes)

which of your muses needs / wants a hug the most?

Going by my current fandom divisions (which I need to put on my doc along with a lot of new muses)

Crime: Kento and his past life Dolly Harris tie for need thanks to being abducted from their families and raised without love; Haru Maeda is the runner up. Badger would like a hug the most.

Horror: Clara both needs and wants one the most on account of being sixteen, responsible for saving a town, and hated by nearly everybody.

Superhero: Incredibly tough competition due to taking this to mean love and affection there is a three way tie between Zatanna Zatara, Zachary Zatara, and Nick Necro. All of them crave love and affection and all have things that get in the way of that. Nathan McDonald wants a hug the most.

Vampires: Lucy Westenra, between all the infantileaztion she went through, dying horribly at age nineteen, and then everything afterwards, she really could use a hug.

Actual Play: Beauregard Lionett, please give this woman a sense of security with the people she loves.

Discworld: I can't recommend hugging any of them for either your safeties stake (Vimes, Vetinari, Adora) or your wallets (Moist). That said, Moist von Lipwig.

Dragon Age: Zinnia Lavellan, she has suffered more than Andraste and her story isn't even over yet.

League of Legends: A tie between Aphelios and Alune, both isolated terribly and put through questionable training and oppression that threatened their lives.

Borderlands: 100% Angel, any sort of affection or love would be amazing for her.

Overwatch: Amélie LaCroix takes the cake thanks to everything that Talon has put her through, please hug her.

Team Fortress 2: Honestly I don't think a hug would help any of them in any major way, though Heavy likes hugs so go give him one.

Misc: The Narrator and Joey Mallone tie for both having spent countless years unable to touch anybody else and watch their loved one slowly die while either going insane or watching their loved one be insane.

Danganronpa: Mukuro Ikusaba and Inuko Hachiya tie thanks to both growing up in completely child inappropriate situations and facing heavy abuse for the stake of despair.

Homestuck: Vriska Serket, another case of how much a secure relationship would actually help.

which of your muses tends to be the group “mom friend”?

Going by my current fandom divisions

Crime: Dallas, he goes mother hen over the gang and trying to get them to get along.

Horror: Artemy Brukah, he can't help but worry so much about everyone and making sure they all have what they need.

Superhero: Barbara Gordon, even when you don't know it she will have your back and keep you covered.

Vampires: Don't say it to her face but Damsel, she is shockingly nosey and absolutely will show you the ropes, there's a reason she's known as a den mother.

Actual Play: None of them, Fjord comes the closest but he's more of a dad friend.

Discworld: By the metric of being nurturing Vetinari, nobody in their right mind would say this though.

Dragon Age: Garrett Hawke, before every adventure he makes sure everybody has their gear, he will cook you soup, he will make you wear warm clothing in winter.

League of Legends: Yone. Literally canonically described as a mom friend.

Borderlands: Absolutely none of them asking for responsibility from these people is like asking water from a rock.

Overwatch: Honestly none of these guys either, none of them are really that nurturing.

Team Fortress 2: Heavy is the only one of them worth a nurturing bone in his body.

Misc: Kim Kitsuragi, his near endless patience and calming affect let him take the spot with ease, and is the blog wide answer.

Danganronpa: Hajime Hinata, exasperated but still trying.

Homestuck: Dirk Strider, which helps exactly zero people.

which of your muses would you consider to be the best cook? (Also asked by @amadaans, ty!)

Excluding Izuru Kamakura & Hajime Hinata given that he is the best at practically everything possible in his universe; it would be Zachary Zatara, he has an active interest in cooking and it's a skill he works on.

While not quite cooking the best mixologist (with the same exclusions) is Leah Kravitz thanks to spending a little over ten years working the New York club scene, Zach in his ritual and injustice verses is a runner up.

Baking wise (same exclusions) it would also be Zach, honestly not a lot of my muses are interested in cooking beyond just taking care of themselves and those that are don't have the time or resources to put into it.

which of your muses second guesses themselves the most? why?

Again by fandom cause I have too many thoughts.

Crime: Kento, he has been trained his whole life to obey orders, so when acting independently he never is quite sure he's doing the right thing.

Horror: Artemy Brukah and Clara tie as they have relived the same 12 days unable to stop many horrible events which has left them questioning what on earth else they could do to try to prevent harm and what the best path really is as none of the roles presented to them are appealing.

Superhero: Nathan McDonald, he is a nineteen year old who is deeply depressed and self depreciating, he is trying his best be he's not sure if it's enough. He hasn't gotten a chance to prove himself.

Vampires: Heather Poe, pre her ghouling she was a pretty anxious person that struggled even just going outside. Some of those doubts remain even now.

Actual Play: A tie between Caleb Widogast and Essek Thelyss, how could they ever fully trust themselves again after what they had done? Caleb grows from this faster than Essek.

Discworld: Vimes, if he fucks up someone is probably going to die. He second guesses himself to a healthy degree.

Dragon Age: Matthew Trevelyan, he spent his life getting indoctrinated by the templars and as he would put 'fell for 'it'. He's worried he's still that gullible, or that those beliefs rubbed off on ways he hasn't noticed.

League of Legends: Lukai Hwei, he was raised having to suppress his mental health issues and emotions which has left him underequiped to deal with them now, even so he has the self awareness to question himself as much as he does everybody else.

Borderlands: Angel by default as the only one without some sort of ego problem, it's certainly not her biggest problem.

Overwatch: Gabriel Reyes, he's made a lot of costly mistakes over the years and he's tired of it.

Team Fortress 2: Spy, his job is a paranoia inducing one where the slightest misstep could spell his death.

Misc: Harry Du Bois, half the time when he's said something he's thinking to himself "why the fuck would you say that"

Danganronpa: Yumeto Ariyoshi, he has actual anxiety and is pretty sure if anyone found out the truth about him he would get promptly killed or erased.

Homestuck: Dirk Strider, because he's fucked up so much before, unfortunately the second guessing does nothing to help.

which of your muses has / would have the silliest ringtone? what would it be?

Harry Du Bois, whose ringtone for literally everybody is this:

It has outed him on an undercover job.

[autocrats-in-love]

Distain At Its Flirtiest

Prompt by @gingerly-writing (prompt #2992)

“Tell me you hate me.”

“Why?”

“It’s good for my ego.”

The villain's ego needed no enlargement. However, the hero was upset with their nemesis.

"I despise you. If I could send you straight to whatever torturous afterlife may or may not await us right now, I would."

The villain glowed. A smile spread across their face like a brightly-coloured stain in a paper towel commercial. They walked up to where the hero was bound to a chair. The villain would never hurt them. They just needed some information from them. A few minions and some chloroform later, and here they were.

The villain stopped just a few feet from where the hero was smugly smirking.

"Please me, oh great hero, tell me--why do you hate me?"

"Three reasons, mainly, oh terrible villain." the hero mocked the villain's tone.

Or maybe they were matching the flirtatious edge to it.

"Do tell."

"One: you make my job a pain. You're too good."

It was true, and a valid reason. The hero was great at saving the day, but the villain was also great at ruining it. This meant that every time the villain kidnapped a political figure or stole priceless artifacts the battles were nuclear. It was reminiscent of the unstoppable force meets the unmovable object.

Those would just pass through each other peacefully. The villain and the hero were constantly colliding. Their battles mostly had to take place in the sky to not destroy the city. They would rage on for hours. A crowd of tourists would form and click photos of the masked, colourful figures trying to knock the other out. A fight with no rules--aside from the unspoken one of Don't kill me.

"I can see why that might negatively affect your feelings for me." The villain mused.

They tilted their head and crossed their arms over their chest.

"So, what's the second reason?"

"You know my identity."

Oh yes. Last month, the hero was very tired from a particularly brutal battle. They had forgotten to cloak themselves before they went home. The villain had noticed and followed them. The hero had finally flew into the balcony of an apartment and taken off their mask. After the villain had finished being entranced by the hero's features, They had quickly gone to check the address. The villain then decided to pay the hero a visit. They even had the audacity to try to be buzzed in by the hero.

Ever since the hero had opened the door and their lips had parted adorably in surprise, the villain had visited them almost every day. They never fought. The villain just flew in through the balcony and would bug the hero for a few hours and re-organize the hero's whole home. The hero couldn't find anything in the cupboards now.

"What? Did I annoy you?"

"I can't find my secret stash of cookies."

The villain closed the distance between them and kneeled down, so their eyes were level with the hero's.

"Stashes can only be secret if you live with other people."

"I'm hiding it from day me, who has much better impulse control."

The villain laughed and put their hands on the hero's knees.

"And the last reason you would like to send me to the underworld?"

The hero leaned forward and whispered into the villain's ear.

"I'm hopelessly in love with you, and I don't know how to make it stop."

The villain's body froze. However, a grin tilted their lips upwards. The hero leaned back, and the villain followed. They kissed the hero. The hero raked their hands through the villain's hair and laughed.

They spoke softly to the villain's lips.

"You're going to be so unbearable. I can't imagine what this will do to that ego of yours."

[yyxy-seph]

I wanna try to make a writing request, of you say no tho I totally respect it m8.

But what if... Sephiroth has a timid gf who's literally attached to her old (and very raggy) baby blanket? (Despite being a grown woman) and like... she likes to cuddle it when upset? Like that thing is her most treasured earthly possession?

How would he react to finding out something that odd?

...again it's fine if you don't want to take the rq but uh, I uh... could relate to a prompt like this lol.

If u do decide to do it, sfw plz and maybe some fluff?

God bless and have a lovely day!

Hello! Thank you so much for requesting. I hope you’re also having a blessed day. Sorry for taking a bit on this but here it is.

- I don’t think he’d judge you for this at all.

- He might not be used to it at first but just give him a little time.

- When he is used to it, he’ll think that you’re super precious for it and hopes that he gives you the same feeling of comfort and protection.

- He’ll even grab it for you along with some snacks when you’re having a rough day.

- We all know that Seph is a sensitive guy so I think he’ll certainly understand and encourage you to do what feels best for you.

- and here’s an imagine I also made for you!

My Muse

Pre-Nibelheim! Sephiroth & Female! Reader

Description: An imagine in which Sephiroth is in a bad mood and he counteractively takes it out on you. You proceed to your prized possession trying to brush it off until he comes to you, feeling bad and you two have a sweet breakthrough.

—————

It was one of those days.

Sephiroth was on edge, with his phone to his ear, and his boots making the floor creak as he paced around.

The mixed sounds and aura of his anxiety were also putting you on edge. He was on the phone with Lazard, rejecting a mission request for whatever reason. He didn’t really like to keep you in the loop of his SOLDIER duties as he said he never wanted you to worry about his job. Although that’s just him reassuring you that he’ll be fine, You somehow still find it...disappointing. Truthfully, you have a right to know since you two are together.

If his life is put in jeopardy, so could yours be put in harms way. But then again, He’s Sephiroth. Maybe you shouldn’t worry. But he makes it so hard with the constant movement, twitching eyebrows, and-

“I’m not going on the mission. And that’s final!” He finally hung up the phone, having decided the conclusion.

He placed his phone on the table; heaving a sigh so hard, his back fell forcefully, revealing his stress and concern for the situation.

“Sephi, are you okay?” You asked in a warm tone.

He turned around swiftly. “What does my face say, Y/N? The only people I care for are turning their backs and dropping like flies before me. And how do you think that makes me feel?”

“I-I...”

“It’s as if people don’t even take the grain of salt I try to extend with my whole...heart-“

He cut himself off, suddenly gazing my way.

I looked him in his eyes in return.

“Will you leave too?”

“I never said that.” I spoke up.

“What do I look like? Huh, Y/N? Do I look heartless? If so, Is that why people assume I care less about the people I surround myself with? The fame doesn’t concern me, my power doesn’t control me. And why do I still get the short end of the stick?

“Seph, I-“

“You know what? Save it. I don’t even wanna talk to you right now.”

What even just happened? You tried to speak but he cut you off twice. This is his defense mechanism. He tries to shut people out when upset.

While even in the heat of the moment, he instantly regretted talking to you like that. Indeed, he does have a heart. Otherwise, you two wouldn’t be together. His heart is the reason you are together in the first place. You can empathize with his misunderstood and heavy heart. You want to figure him out and give him the love he deserves.

In silent retaliation, you stormed upstairs to your room to tend to your low spirits.

A few moments later, his heart began to ache while his face held a bit of sorrow. He felt so bad for lashing out at you. He sighed to himself once more.

“I have to do better. I love her too much to be acting like this.” His feet lead him upstairs to you, face down in your pillow with your precious blanket in your arms. That blanket was your most prized keepsake. The warmth in each fold seemed to shield you like no one else. It comforted you with Its scented memories and lighthearted aura.

No one seemed to understand your attachment and you don’t really care to explain it. What matters the most is that you know its significance and it’s your comfort.

There were a few occasions like this where after an argument or a hard day of work, you’d come right home to your possession. Sephiroth never really noticed this until the third time he’d caught you with it. And this time would count as the fifth.

He treaded lightly once more in your room, trying to get a feel of your mood.

“Y/N...” He started, “I’m- I’m so sorry. I don’t-“

“I thought you didn’t want to speak to me.” Your muffled voice sounded through the cloth.

“And I understand if you don’t want me to speak to you as well... I’ll give you your space. I’m sorry, my love.” His silver locks surpassed his face, nearly sinking to the floor as his head dropped.

Before he could leave, even with your timid heart, you spoke your mind.

“Why do you always do this, Seph? You cut me off and shut me down when I try to help you. And it never fails...” You say, clutching the blanket a bit tighter.

You continue on, “And you wonder why people think you’re heartless. It’s because when they extend their heart to you, you put it aside and make your SOLDIER duties your main focus. I try my hardest to get your attention and affection because I love you. And I know you love me too because I see it; but what will it take for you to settle down and just make time for those you love?”

Those words made a bigger impact than you initially thought. You said all the right things to get through to him and this day forward he really would take your love-driven advice.

Your relationship is not toxic at all. You both are just trying to understand each other as a new couple. Arguments can be healthy. Without them, there’s no breakthrough. And this was definitely what you two needed.

He lifted the covers up on your bed and got in next to you. You turned around to face him.

Your glistening cheeks appeared, showing that you had been crying. He grazed his thumb over your cheeks, wiping them dry.

“You’re so right. And I’m dead wrong. I want to be better for you, Y/N. I love you so much.”

“I love you too. Please try and communicate with me more. Don’t shut me out.” You added.

“I promise, dear.” He replied with a kiss on your forehead.

Right then, His green, cat-like eyes were staring deeply into yours. You blushed naturally, knowing you could never resist those gems.

He chuckled, already figuring you out. Until,

“Oh.. I keep meaning to ask. What’s with the blanket? I’m seeing a pattern here. I’m just curious.”

You swallowed, preparing to be judged. “I-it’s my source of comfort. I’ve had it since I was a child and... I’ve never seemed to detach myself from it.” You explained shyly.

His eyes trailed down to the intricate details on the cotton piece.

Not knowing what was going through his mind you said, “Sorry, I know it’s weird. Just forget I said anyth-“

“No! No. I understand. It’s your muse. I sort of have something similar.”

Your eyes lit up. “Really? What’s that?!”

He glanced to the side, moving his hair from over his chest and around his shoulder.

“You’ll laugh at me.”

This was honestly the most vulnerable you think you’ve ever saw him. And you liked that he was able reveal this quality of himself to you.

“Now, why would you think that? Just tell me, love.”

“My.....masamune.”

“I knew it!”

He smirked.

“Yeah, I can’t really explain it either but It’s my relief as well. I get this stream of confidence and comfort when holding it. Maybe it’s because I’ve been with it since my childhood as well.”

“We relate quite a bit, don’t we?”

“We do.” He agreed, pulling you closer to his body under the covers.

You two kissed, completely enamoring each other in warmth and love.

“Oh, Sephiroth.” You say.

“Hmm?”

“Call Lazard back. You’re doing that mission. You have to face your one-winged angels.”

He grinned once more at your clever words.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

________

[ironwoman359]

if you don't have anything for either of these yet: on the run/bounty on their head? roman's a prince, but there's some kind of uprising or assassination attempt and he and his most trusted guard have to gtfo. they're on the run, sleeping in shitty motels (with only one bed ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ) and roman has to learn to live w/o 24/7 service. you can pick who the guard is.

Safe With You

@badthingshappenbingo

Prompt: On the Run 

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Summary: Prince Roman gains a new appreciation for his personal knight when he is forced into hiding to escape an assassination attempt.

Content Warnings: Mentions of death/violence, some mild bickering, prinxiety (can be platonic or pre-romantic), platonic moxiety

Word Count: 1,645

Read on AO3 here

Bad Things Happen Masterlist

Requests are closed

---

Roman had never been so exhausted in his life. His feet were sore, his muscles ached, and there was nothing he wanted more than to collapse into his feather bed and sleep for a day. No wait, a massage from the royal masseuse to ease his muscle tension. No, a massage then sleep for a day. 

Yes, that would be the dream. 

Unfortunately, Roman’s life had been more akin to a nightmare these past few days. He was a prince, for crying out loud, heir to the throne itself! And now he was being forced to sneak through the woods in the middle of the night like...like some common ruffian! 

“You said we’d be reaching real lodgings soon!” he whined. His mother would say that his tone of voice was “unbefitting of a prince,” but he felt that after three days of sleeping rough with no one but his irksome personal knight for company, he was entitled to a bit of complaining. Speaking of his knight...

“We will, highness.” Roman could never figure out how the formal address managed to sound so insulting when Sir Virgil Ellsworth said it. “We should reach it before daybreak, so long as you do not slow us down with any more of your griping.” 

Roman made a petulant noise (that his mother would also not have approved of), but Virgil just rolled his eyes and pressed onwards, slipping through the foliage with the ease of a practiced woodsman. Roman stumbled along clumsily behind him, trying to resist the urge to gripe (he was a prince, he did not gripe...he loudly protested) about the terrain.

He managed this for approximately three minutes, which he thought was a rather impressive effort, giving the circumstances. 

“If your plan was to hide out at an inn then I don’t see why we had to trek through the undergrowth like this. Would it not have been simpler to take the roads? You do know what roads are, don’t you Sir Ellsworth?” 

“You do know what caution is, don’t you highness?” Virgil retorted. “By all means, take the roads, if you want to be caught by the assassins in less than a day.”  

Roman opened his mouth to argue back, but Virgil shut him up with a scathing glare. 

“I know you’re used to being the one to boss people around, Princey, but we’re not in the palace any longer. It’s my job to keep you alive, and out here, what I say goes. Got that?” 

He turned around without waiting for an answer, a breach of protocol that ordinarily would land him in serious trouble, but even Roman had to admit that the systems of etiquette and protocol that he was used to didn’t matter much in the middle of a coup. And as much as Roman had whined and complained (and alright, griped) about their traveling conditions, underneath his brash facade he was just glad that Virgil had remained loyal to him, even after the people who paid his salary had been run through by assassins’ blades. 

Not that he’d ever admit that out loud to his knight of course. 

“Okay, we’re almost there,” Virgil said, pulling Roman out of his musings. “Keep your head down, and let me do the talking.”

Roman glowered at him, but he pulled the hood of his travelling cloak up to obscure his face and followed Virgil without further complaint. Roman wasn’t sure how Virgil knew where they were, the woods all looked the same to him, but one minute they were surrounded by trees and the next they were stepping onto a dirt road that led into a tiny village. Virgil kept glancing around as they approached a building that Roman would call quaint if he wanted to be kind...ramshackle if he was feeling more irritable, which tonight he was. 

“You’re sure this is an inn?” 

“What part of keep your voice down is confusing you?” Virgil hissed with perhaps a touch more venom in his voice than was typical, and Roman blinked.

“Okay, okay, sorry,” he muttered, folding his arms with a huff. 

Virgil sighed and shook his head, then stepped forward and nudged the door open a crack, peering inside. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, he pushed the door open properly and gestured for Roman to follow him inside.

Roman didn’t have much experience with inns, on the rare occasion that he had to travel his entourage would usually solicit the hospitality of a local noble family, so he had no idea if the cramped space was typical of this more...rustic establishment. Still, the room was cleaner than he’d expected; the stone floor was swept, the worn wooden tables were wiped down, and a pleasant, homey smell wafted through the air. It wasn’t hard to imagine the room full of peasants after a hard day's work, enjoying hearty food and drink to forget their hardships for a few hours. 

For now though, the room sat empty, save for one man who was hunched over the fireplace, stirring something in an iron pot. He spun around when he heard the door close behind them, and his eyes widened behind a pair of round glasses. 

“Oh! I wasn’t expecting customers this early in the morning, I–” 

“Pat, it’s me.”

The man froze. 

“Virgil?” he asked, and Virgil nodded. “Oh my– what are you doing here? When I heard about the capital, I was afraid that–”

“I need your help,” Virgil interrupted, and the man nodded. 

“Of course, whatever you need!.”

“A room? And off the books, Patton, nobody can know we’re here.”

Patton’s eyes flickered to Roman for a moment before looking back to Virgil with a firm nod. 

“Of course, of course. This way.”

He led Virgil and Roman up a staircase and down a hall, ushering them into a room. 

“It’s not much, but it’s yours for as long as you need it. And once I’m done opening things up downstairs I’ll come up and bring you some porridge, you kiddos must be hungry.”

“I can pay you,” Virgil began, but Patton shook his head. 

“Keep your money. I have a feeling you’ll be needing it more than me anyhow. Just stay safe for me, okay?” 

Virgil nodded. “Thank you.” 

Patton smiled at him, then with one last glance at Roman, slipped out of the room and back downstairs. Virgil shut the door behind him, then quickly crossed the room and closed the shutters as well, blocking out the first few rays of morning sunlight. 

“Okay,” he said, a bit of tension finally leaving his shoulders. “We should be okay to rest here for a bit. 

Roman looked around the room, and tried not to grimace. It was tiny, barely big enough to comfortably fit the single bed, wooden chair, and side table. No wardrobe, no desk, no vanity, and no lavatory. Still, at least there was a bed. No matter how lumpy the mattress might be, it was sure to be more comfortable than the forest floor. 

“Will this suffice for you, then?” Virgil asked, raising an eyebrow, and Roman sighed.

“It will have to do, I suppose,” he said, and Virgil rolled his eyes. 

“It better, because this is the only inn this side of the capital that won’t sell us out at the first flash of some coin.”

“So that innkeeper, you trust him then?” 

“With my life,” Virgil responded immediately, and Roman blinked. 

“Well alright then,” he muttered. He looked around the room, then frowned as one particular detail stuck out to him. “There’s only one bed.” 

“It’s a roadside inn, Princey, it doesn’t exactly have suites.” 

“I know, I wasn’t exactly expecting the lap of luxury here, but–”

“Relax,” Virgil interrupted. He pulled off his cloak and bunched it into a ball before stretching out on the floor and stuffing it under his head. “I’m all good, see? No need to worry about sharing your bed with the measly common folk.” 

 “I’m aware you’re making fun of me,” Roman grumbled, and Virgil laughed. 

“Good, I’d be worried if that was lost on you.”

“You think just because the world is collapsing around us that you can mistreat me so? I am still your prince.” 

Virgil gave him an unimpressed look, and Roman swallowed, suddenly cognizant of the fact that the only reason he was still alive was because of Virgil’s interference. He’d taken it for granted, Virgil was his knight, after all, it was his job to protect him, but when the rest of the palace had fallen, there would have been nothing stopping Virgil from giving Roman up to save his own skin. Instead, Virgil had taken him to safety, and Roman felt his face warm in shame.

“I apologize,” he said quietly, looking down. “That was...not a very chivalrous remark. I do recognize that it is only because of you that I am even alive, let alone a prince, and...I am grateful for that.” 

He glanced up, just in time to see a strange expression flicker across Virgil’s face for just a moment before his familiar smirk was back. 

“Alright, Princey, don’t get sappy on me now,” he said, and Roman let himself smirk back. 

“Just covering my bases here, I can’t exactly have rumors start spreading that the prince of the land doesn’t appreciate when someone saves his life.” 

“Go to sleep, highness, your precious reputation is safe with me,” Virgil snickered, closing his eyes. 

Roman chuckled, but as he lay back on the lumpy mattress, he didn’t miss the way Virgil’s hand drifted to rest on the hilt of his sword, or how he adjusted his position so that his body lay across the doorframe, one final barrier between Roman and any threat that might dare to enter. 

“Yeah, yeah,” he said, letting his own eyes slip closed. “I know I’m safe with you.”

---

Bad Things Happen Masterlist Full Fic Masterlist Commission Info Ko-fi

Sanders Sides taglist:

@theinvisiblespoon,  @dreamsshadowwashere, @broadwaytheanimatedseries,  @bitten1ce,  @madly-handsome, @cats-with-blogs, @damienswifeolicitydallysgirl @fanderrawr,  @starjames-pma @crownswriter123 @stars-sunsets-and-oliver, @akiraaria, @thilb0burrit0, @dragonangel-funandfire, @painterman-bobross @galaxymindedindividual,  @sassy-in-glasses, @vergeangst, @iaminmultiplefandoms,  @thedundundunnnsong, @podcastsandcoffee, @bosmeri-alyd @anyay666,  @celinethotwrong,  @poorlittleanxiousbaby, @bibbidi-bobbity-booyah @chaloopa12 @lastbeginning @readeatfightlove13, @girlwthanxiety4ever @entpscarleharrrr @artistic-introvert54 @logically-emotional @punsterterry @fluidityandgiggles @gatlily @stupidfangirl107 @default-lesbian @sharkkittem @thesocialbookwormishere @amuthefunperson( @ @lunareclipse-524 @purplesoul-at-hogwarts @asymmetricalgarbage8888  @maxiswriting @bluebloodstains @savage-fox-cacti  @skitari  @iridescentglassflowers  @ultraviollettt @satanblessi @iloveeverytjing123 @the-average-loner @ahyeahisurehopeit-does  @theunoriginaldaisy  @para-keat @today-only-happens-once @03-30-am  @why-only-have-one-fandom @analogical-mess @twilight-trix @silverjay520 @purpleandblacknightmares @anxious-fander-bean  @felicianoromano @idioticsky  @storytellerofuntoldlegends @theymaynotbedenied @fight-or-flight-reflexes @brownie-aunt @sweetsmalldog  @chelsvans @sos-fandoms  @opaque-puppet  

@ninja-wizard101  @mklwritestoomuch @comicsimpson @muliphandomer  @thetruepacifist @hitmewiththatfanart33 @katie-the-noble-fangirl @yalltookmyurlideas @fearthepenguinboye @theunknoen69  @the-most-random-blog-on-ear-blog @evetheodd @fanartfunart @midnight-tragedyy @ymmm-someone @blep-blep-motherclucker @fandomloverangel @dorkoverse @imabad-b-youcantkillme @so-yeah-imma-witch @spinnerthedolphin @whenistheworldending @sardonicsquish @look-ma-im-on-tv @gattonero17 @yumi-bulan @averykedavra @sofiathehufflepuff @luella-the-homosexual @dwbh888 @underthesea73 @maestro-ofvillainy  @hold-our-destiny @apocalypticbekfastclub @5150brotherbear

@jimprotectionsquad, @somber-fae, @splatted-dragon, @simon-seppa-blog, @kinkiestcoconutaround, @nyxwordsmith, @hannahisnottalented,  @thefamouszombiebouquet, @jordandobbertin,  @la-fandom-freak, @freepaperie081, @tormentist, @mollycassmith, @pleaseletthisjimbetaken,  @littleteenblog, @of-chaos-and-flame, @monstermemories, @simplelittlestar, @sander-fander, @jenni-with-an-i, @superawesomeamazingname, @randomcrystals, @the-gilbird, @desolate-darlin, @alwaysmy-lilith, @look-its-meme, @sigma-time-lord, @toreen-m, @samthekoalabear98,  @thewinterunicorn,  @miss-meg1710, @itsjustkota, @justanotherproblem, @redone0-0dreamer,  @mltcp, @i-hyperfixate-too-much ,  @jse-fandom-protection-squad, @edible-napkin, @helpmeimjim,  @slim-jims, @didsomeonesayprince,  @fanofyoutubeandmore, @hexatrash

[echo-three-one]

Chapter 38

THE ROAD SO FAR

The EIGHT-Thirty Appointment

John 'Soap' MacTavish

London, UK

Following the events of Shepherd's surrender to authorities, the members of Task Force 141 who went rogue in pursuit of him had been exonerated from treason. This meant that from then on, life would be a little more 'normal'. No more hiding in public, no more lack of equipment, no more secret hiding areas.

This prompted Laswell to recreate the task force she once poured her heart on, with a few changes to its jurisdiction. With Ghost, Roach and Alexandra still recovering, the remaining members were invited to celebrate their success.

"So John, now that 141 is back your main focus will be Nero. Do you want the reassigned members back?" Laswell asked Price while they exited the building. Soap overheard this because he thought he was the John being called.

"If it's still okay and not much of a hassle, then yes." Price replied.

"What about Kyle?" Laswell added.

"No. Not yet. Just keep an eye on him." Price mused and turned to Soap, who quickly turned to focus back on Alex as he pushed his wheelchair.

"Excuse me, Captain Price. Can we talk for a moment?" Samantha interrupted as they stopped on their tracks. Alex turned out of curiosity, wondering what matter they were discussing.

"Hey hey hey. What was that about?" Alex asked Soap and France, who continued walking. Laswell turned to the next right as she already finished her conversation with Price, waving at Alex and the rest of the 141.

Soap chuckled at the CIA. This was about Samantha's surprise for him and he shouldn't spoil it.

"Well, with 141 back maybe she just wanted to know where she will be now. Nero no longer needs the IP Address and she's been through a lot." France reasoned, making Alex frown.

"You know… I want her safe and all but I also want her within my reach. I've lost her far too many times already. I'm not going to lose her again." Alex grumbled making Soap and France look at each other, their faces were worried at their sorry excuse.

"I think Samantha feels the same way too. Maybe she's bargaining for staying at 141." Soap lied, making France question him quietly.

"You know what, Alex? Don't overthink this." Soap tapped his shoulders reassuringly.

"Overthink what?" Samantha inserted. They fell quiet and Samantha slowly asked Soap to let her push Alex as they moved forward, Samantha being excited of what's next.

"Well, we did a great job. I guess." Soap quietly commented sarcastically, earning a soft elbow from France.

"Ow!" he exaggerated and turned to France, his face looked bewildered.

"Way to go, John." She sneered and followed the two on their way to their appointment, riding Soap's trusty jeep.

The drive to the surprise area consisted of mostly Soap and Francine acting like couples while they drove. Soap could see the two murmuring at each other whenever Soap would argue with France on whatever's going on in the road.

"I always wanted to try out some London restaurants." she mused, looking at the place they just passed by.

"Yeah? I could see you as the fancy kind." he chuckled at his guess.

"What does that mean?" France gave him a suspicious glare. Soap looked at her, feigning surrender.

"I just said it as is. You're the kind of person who would want fancy stuff." He explained, focusing back on the road.

"I-"

"Come on. You don't have to read everything I say between the lines. Sometimes, I'm just a simple man" he whined and Alex and Samantha burst out laughing, causing the two to be quiet.

"Are you sure there's nothing going on with you two?" Samantha asked, making the silence a little bit more awkward.

Soap carefully rolled his eyes toward Francine, who was actually looking down and blushing. He really had no definitive stance on whatever's going on between them, and if you ask him, he'd love to assume that they're already together. But he remembered that he told her that he'll be patient, and that's the only thing that's hindering him from taking her to the next level.

"Well…" Francine croaked, her voice was shaky and Soap was actually worried that she was already under pressure.

"We're here." Soap interrupted, wishing he did the right thing. Alex quickly looked outside to see where they actually were.

"What is this place, Soap? Where did you bring us?" Alex asked and Soap just nodded.

"I'll let your girl fill in everything for you. This was her idea after all and we're here to help her out." Soap replied as he assisted him to his wheelchair and watched the two enter the establishment.

He then knocked on Samantha's door as she was still out of focus.

"There's a coffee shop across the street, we could wait there until they finish." He invited her for another coffee date. Hopefully this time, there would be no more emp phone wielding persons to interrupt it.

"About Samantha's question…" She muttered.

"Don't pressure yourself about it. You actually owe me for saving you, by the way." He chuckled, already opening her door.

France slowly stepped down the vehicle and turned to Soap, her head looked up to his face.

"Look John. There's no other reason I can think of that would make you wait anymore. I really enjoy your company, your personality, and I'm curious about everything else about you. So, if you've been waiting all this time ever since that night, my answer is that I'm ready." She smiled, and John's eyes widened at the sight of her. The message made him hug her tight, lift her up and spin her around briefly while she giggled at the feeling.

"Wow. You don't know how much you made my day, France!" he sighed as he slowly set her down and closed the door and made their way to the coffee shop.

"I missed these so much!" France happily chewed on a slice of blueberry cheesecake, with a few crumbs stuck on the edge of her mouth. Soap smiled as she watched her enjoy the simple things in life, a thing he was always looking for in women.

Most of his dating life were his parents setting him up on business dates and most women there were far too serious. They looked like they haven't enjoyed anything in years. Some of them admittedly loved to have fun, but their idea of fun was far too complicated. Like expensive travels and luxurious shopping sprees, none of them piqued Soap's interest.

However, Francine was the first one who begged to differ. It's like every great idea in John's activity book is enjoyable for her. Simple things such as Netflix, Cinemas and even this coffee shop date, made her smile.

"What's funny?" Francine asked as she noticed the odd smile on his face.

"Oh nothing… you just looked cute eating that whole thing. It makes me want to buy a whole cake and watch you smile and eat that all day." he mused, imagining how things would've been if they weren't in public. He could've been tasting that cake from her mouth already.

He quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped off the crumbs as Francine blushed in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. I didn't notice it was there." she blushed shyly and looked down.

"Nah… why apologize. I was thinking you were hinting at me to kiss you. Like what most movies and cliché shows would mean." He scoffed and sipped on his coffee.

"Ha ha. Well you could try. As if I'd let you." She smiled bravely, but Soap could see her weakness behind that smile. She's raising her guard up again, and it's always like that when people are around.

"Wow. Umm that went differently." Soap commented, attempting to let France open up. This has been a common trend with her lately, toughening up when people are around but when they're alone, she's still strict but less tense.

"I'm sorry. It's just-" She hesitated and turned to the window.

"Say, how long would it take for them to finish?" She asked. Soap also turned to the building and shrugged.

"I don't know. Honestly, I'm excited for him. They make the best prosthetics around here and it'd make Alex's life easier. It'll look and weigh and bend like an actual leg." he said proudly as he turned to France who was looking at him weirdly.

"What?" he asked as he checked his phone which just beeped.

"Actually, they're almost done. And they're asking for an order. I'll just go get some for them, you stay here." He added, holding the thought, wiping his face and proceeded to the counter.

The reformed Task Force 141 would soon be back in business as papers were already approved by the board. They'll be situating themselves on American soil as their previous base was compromised by the traitorous General.

As for their last day on English soil, the rest of the team stayed in a penthouse condominium unit owned by the MacTavishes.

"Wow. This is top class!" Samantha mused as Alex plopped himself on the couch, his new leg quickly rested on the table. He's been in it for only a few hours but he already got the hang of it.

Samantha shot a glare at Alex's actions to which he shrugged on, prompting Soap to reply.

"Don't worry Samantha, make yourselves at home. We don't use this place anyway so help yourselves out. I promise it'll be fine." he eased as Samantha slowly plopped down beside him as Alex's arm rested on her shoulders. Soap actually wondered if he could do that to her too, get comfortable, open up, just normal stuff.

"I'll go get tea." he quickly said to himself as his imagination got the best of him as he walked to the kitchen. France quickly followed him to help out.

"Fancy place you got here, John. I wonder how many girls you've brought in here." She mused standing in front of him, helping with the teacups. Soap eyed her for a second and replied.

"Honestly, I can't count. I used to stay here when I studied and that was years ago." he replied as seriously as possible, looking at the changes on her face. She's actually jealous.

"Yeah. Figures. I saw your photos from earlier years. It was no doubt you'd have a lot of women over." She chuckled, nervously at it. Soap saw through her as she started to get curious about his life. A sign that she's ready to stop lowering her guard. Soap on the other hand, wanted her to feel special. Asking her out as soon as possible would make him come out as a desperate one, so he planned to do it the long traditional way. Which he actually despised, he would want to hug her so tight right now and it was already killing him.

"What about you? How many different rooms did you wake up to already?" he asked, changing the subject as she was already starting to feel bad about her question.

"Me?! Only a few. And most of them were owned by you. I've been very serious about my life choices that I never let myself loose." she sighed as Soap raised an eyebrow.

"Let loose? Like going out to parties?" He added.

"Yes. But broader. Like letting myself loose. I've always followed the path I wanted to be in, not letting any distractions bother me." she explained, blushing at it like it's a secret she was too shy to tell. Soap on the other hand, didn't quite get it.

"So you mean…" He tilted his head.

"Yes. Since birth, I never had a boyfriend." she looked down in embarrassment for the second time today.

Soap gulped. He didn't actually know how to respond to her statement. Sure he wanted to be the first one, but now wasn't the time. It would feel forced. And he wasn't a fan of forced relationships.

The kettle whistled and the two of them quickly responded to it as they both reached out for it, their hands met just by the handle.

"I'll take care of this one." She said as Soap slowly let go of her soft hands and watched her pour it on, carrying it to Samantha and Alex who were already giggling through a romcom.

"Way to go, John." he muttered to himself with a sigh as he ran his hand on his hair.

The day actually felt worse as France continued to remain quiet towards Soap as she invested herself on the television, third wheeling on Alex and Samantha.

Soap pondered about the words he chose to say to her and those he didn't over a steamy shower.

With the place having only two bedrooms, it was inevitable that France would sleep beside him but he also considered sleeping on the couch to respect her privacy or something like that.

As soon as he exited the bathroom, he saw France already tucked on her side of the bed, scrolling through her phone.

"Hey there." he muttered as she rolled her eyes to him and back to her phone.

"Hey." she said nonchalantly, her eyes dead focused on her screen. Soap quickly grabbed his nighttime clothes and slipped them on.

"Are you in any way excited for tomorrow?" he asked, trying to keep her from interacting with him.

"Yeah. A little." she said as she turned to him and smiled.

"Listen, about earlier today, in the kitchen..." he said.

"I'm not mad, John. I just wanted to say it out there so you could understand me."

"Tell me what you feel."

"Embarrassed."

"Why?"

"Because I looked like a fool earlier. When I told you I was ready and now I feel that you're the one who isn't. You told me you would wait but-" Soap placed his hand on her face, gently touching her cheek.

"France. You don't have to worry. You're still the one I'm thinking about every second. I just… wanted to do this the slow and steady way, where I would show off how worthy I am for you. I want you to enjoy the whole John MacTavish Experience." he smiled and she slowly turned her frown upside down.

Soap wanted to take a picture of that smile and plaster it all around the room as his heart started to pound like crazy, his face unknowingly moving closer to hers. They both started to close their eyes as they let their lips do the talking, but in a quiet and intimate way. Soap felt France's greed for his kiss as she slowly learned how to beg for more of him. It was true that she had no experience on these things but something told him that she's starting to learn some tricks herself.

Soap didn't hesitate to retaliate as she released a soft groan, a sign of her being content as her hands slowly grazed his arms, her thumb softly pressed his biceps, digging deeper as their tongues clashed. After a few more seconds, they both broke their kiss as they gasped for air.

"Yeah. Go sleep on the floor before we do something stupid." She giggled and Soap nodded in agreement as they quickly shuffled about, set their beds and called it a night.

Next Chapter - The SEVEN Inch Wound

Notification Squad my Beloved

@samatedeansbroccoli @smokeywhalee @enderio @bumblingbee1 @ricinbach @whimsywispsblog

[misstinfoilhat]

Saw your prompt list and thought I'd drop a suggestion: Kakashi with "don't let them see me cry" - especially if it involves young team 7

I merged this with @selspeaks :  Kakashi: Don't let them see you cry. Bonus points if Guy is in there somewhere annoying him

I tried my best to incorporate both of these!

Oh lord. I don’t even know what this story is. This went from angst to angstier, angstiest to dark af, to fluff, fluffier, fluffy mcfluffypants to what-the-fluff-even?

I don’t know. I hope you all like it though!

--

With a sharp intake of air, Kakashi shot up and leaped out of bed. The bedsheet caught on his feet and he tumbled, darted back up, and shot for the bathroom where he swiftly tugged his mask down and heaved alcoholic liquid into the bowl. Shaky hands grasped at the toilet firmly.

For two days, Kakashi had been unable to leave his apartment. In those 48 hours, less than four of them had been spent sleeping. The other 44, was tossing and turning, trying to relax his body and clear his mind, or, spent drinking an ungodly amount of sake, in the hopes of eventually pass out and catch a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.

But nothing seemed to work.

When he felt himself being done extracting the meager contents of his stomach out, he flushed and closed the lid, but paused for a moment to inspect his hands.

His fingers were soft, long, delicate. Clean, unmarred, and milky. Not at all like a shinobi's. It was because Kakashi always wore gloves. He hated the appearance of those hands. They were hands that hurt people. That killed. Hands covered in blood. 

Rin's blood.

Whenever he remembered that day, his hands would be covered in blood all over again. First, in short flashes. Coming and going in the blink of an eye.

Then, it didn't disappear. No matter how many times he'd blink at them.

That was when the washing started. Hours upon hours of scrubbing his hands raw. The blood never went away, and the more he scrubbed, the more it would bleed until he realized that it was his own blood that covered his hands and not Rin's.

This had been an occurring problem since that day, and it had only become worse once Minato, his last lifeline, had died.

Somewhere insides Kakashi's musings, there were knocks on his door.

Suddenly, it was like he woke back up. As if he had just now become aware of his surroundings. But, he knew he hadn't slept. 

Confused, he stared down at the sink, the sponge he'd used, and his irritated skin. It had happened again.

The knocks on his door became more rapid, and a voice far, far away was yelling his name and Kakashi knew he should answer and knew he needed to stop cleaning his hands.

But he simply couldn't. Not before all his dirty skin had been peeled off. Not until it bled. It wasn't clean enough until there was nothing left at all!

Another voice joined in, yelling his name. The knocks were harder; like hail on your window during a storm. The voices pulled at Kakashi and he wished he could answer them, follow them instead, but he was sure that if he didn't get the blood away, these hands would hurt everything he loved. Everything that was left.

And, logically, he knew that he was the one controlling them. He knew they wouldn't go off on their own and hurt or kill anyone he didn't want them to kill.

But, what if?

What if the constant reminder of what he had done to Rin, how he failed to protect her, or save Obito and how he hadn't been enough to keep his father from committing suicide, would drive him mad?

Kakashi absently realized that the knocking had stopped, and the voices calling out for him had stilled. For some reason, he felt a bit sad about it. Like the intrusive yelling was something comforting and nice, not noisy and disruptive. It reminded him of something or someone. 

Its absence left him in silence. A loud, strangling, ear-piercing silence accompanied only by the running tap and the scratching noise emitted between the cloth and his palms.

Why wasn't it going away?

The rubbing intensified. The motion was becoming stronger and more forceful, almost static, and it stung which was good because that meant that he was close to...

Close to what exactly?

Kakashi realized he was panting. Reality came back to him like a droplet falling from the sky. Cold, unavoidable, grey. Blinking, he gazed down at his sore, scratched-up hands. The one holding the rough sponge opened, letting the yellow foam fall into the sink. Reluctantly, he lifted his gaze up and peered into the mirror, where he met a horrid sight.

His face was unmasked in a twisted grimace. The long, angry scar he got the same day Obito died glowed as if it was laughing at him. Red, puffy, glazed eyes and charcoal orbs glistened dangerously.

And the sounds. The sounds had been his students, coming to look for him. They had to be worried about their sensei, now that he hadn't bothered showing up to practice in several days. It must have taken them a long time finding his apartment, and he had ignored them to indulge in whatever-the-fuck he had just done, the selfish jerk he was.

He stared intently at his reflection. The blood-shot eyes that met his glare were pitiful and made him furious. How long had he been standing here? 

«Stop crying, you fool,» he sneered lowly, trying to keep the trembling in his chest away from his voice. His eyes squinted shut, chasing away unshed tears.

«I said...» A deep breath. «Stop... fucking crying-»

Someone kicked his door in as Kakashi's fists hit the mirror, shattering it into a million little pieces, dancing around him like flickering snowflakes.

«Kakashi!» an alarmed voice roared from the livingroom. Heavy footsteps moved quickly across the floor.

Kakashi hit the wall where the mirror had been, slicing his knuckles on the sharp left-over pieces and couldn't hold back his winch.

He was pathetic. Pathetic, sad, weak, and a horrible human being. He didn't deserve to live. Why did he get to live when Rin and Obito didn’t?

Two strong hands grabbed a tight hold on his shoulders and pulled him back. Kakashi whirled around, trying to tear away.

«Kakashi?» The voice was deep, Kakashi recognized it but couldn't focus. Feeble, bloodied fingers tried to pry off the larger, tan, callused ones that held him still, and Kakashi was unable to keep himself from thinking that they looked clean and felt an instant need to wash his hands again.

«Kakashi!» 

He had made the voice angry. It sounder wrong like that and he knew he had fucked up, just like he always did and it probably wouldn't have happened if he had cleaned his hands---

«S-so much blood,» he mused in a whisper.

His head shot back.

For a moment, he sat there dumbly, unable to take in what had just happened. He rose a strangely painful hand to feel his heated, burning cheek but paused when he noticed the newly ripped flesh scattered across his scarred hands.

Turning them, observing all the healed crisscrossed marks and raw skin curiously, he wondered where the soft, unmarred hands from earlier had gone.

He felt the comforting touch on his shoulder return. Dark eyes looked up to meet two concerned beady eyes under a set of furiously bushy eyebrows.

«Gai? What...» Kakashi muttered perplexed but interrupted himself as he took in his surroundings. The shattered glass on the floor, the mess of soap and water, the bloodied streaks all across the bathroom. «It happened again.»

A sad smile tugged at Gai's lips and he nodded. “Yeah.”

«Oh, God,» Kakashi groaned agonizingly, curling in on himself and shrugging Gai's arm off.

«Shit!» The tears were back, and he struggled to contain them. He refused to let them fall. He couldn't let Gai see him cr---

«...kashi-sensei?»

The surprise of hearing that voice made him straighten his back, instinctively pulling up his mask before looking towards where the sound was coming from, where three heads appeared, lingering warily by the door.

«Were you attacked?» Naruto bellowed loudly as he noticed the state of the bathroom, looking over his shoulder for a possible intruder. His throwing arm itched eagerly by his side pouch.

«I guess you could say that,» Kakashi muttered to no one in particular.

«Don't worry, sensei! I'll get them!»

Naruto bounced off, but Sakura grabbed his jacket and held him back, shaking her head disapprovingly.

«Stop that, stupid.»

For a short while, there was silence once more. It was probably not more than a few seconds, but it ached like days, so Kakashi cleared his throat.

«I-I guess this looks a bit strange,» he drawled slowly and rubbed his neck, smearing the blood through his unruly silvery mane.

«Yes,» Sasuke answered immediately, folding his arms across his chest. The kid always looked suspicious, a bit like he always smelled a fart, which Kakashi bemusedly had thought once during training and proceeded to giggle himself silly as the preteens stared at him incomprehensively.

A bit like now.

They wanted an answer, he knew. Sympathized with it, even. But he had no idea how to give them one.

«I-» he started hesitantly, «I'm not sure how to explain this. And, I'm guessing that none of you would believe me if I came up with some silly story anyway. But I just...»

Again, that tight hold around his heart appeared. The heavy, painful, strangulating feeling of not being able to breathe. The same one he had years after his father passed and an even longer time after Obito and Rin died. It hurt more than a punch in the gut.

«Kakashi-sensei, are you...» Sakura asked just as Gai gently ushered them outside. 

Kakashi wiped the streaming tears off his cheek with his sleeve when Gai returned. Kakashi didn't know what he said to them, but when he came back, it was without the kids.

«I am so sorry, Kakashi. I had no idea that this is what was happening. I should have asked them to stay at the training grounds while I went to check on you by myself.»

Kakashi, still seated on the floor with his knees pushed up to his chest, hiding his watering eyes with his hand, chuckled.

«No. You'd have to tie them up to prevent them from doing whatever they want to do anyway. And unless it's for the genin exams, I'm pretty sure you would be breaking some sort of code if you did that.»

«Actually, I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to tie a student down during the genin exams either,» Gai muttered perplexed. Kakashi simply stared back.

«Huh.»

Despite himself, Gai hummed a small laugh as he started rummaging through Kakashi's well-stocked medicine cabinet, pulling out disinfectants, gauze, and rolls of bandages.

«Let me see your hands,» Gai required softly, and Kakashi obeyed reluctantly, letting his right hand fall limply into Gai's giant palm.

«Several of these will require stitches,» Gai murmured patiently as he cleaned Kakashi's wounds.

«Maa, I'll do it later,» Kakashi waved him off while Gai rolled his eyes.

«No, you're not doing anything. I will take you to the doctor so it can be done properly. Not that half-assed quick-fix stuff you did in ANBU.»

Kakashi didn't dignify that with an answer. His half-assed quick-fix stuff had saved many lives, his own and Gai's included! Was everyone grateful? Yes! Were the wounds all horribly infected and disfigured after? Well, that wasn’t relevant!

«I really think you should see a doctor, dear rival,» Gai said with the slightest hint of his trademark energetic personality back.

«Jeez, fine. I'll go,» Kakashi sighed, but held his breath when he noticed how sad Gai seemed. Apparently, the energy that he had centered into his voice hadn't quite reached his eyes yet.

«Not for that. Well, that too. But for this,» Gai lifted Kakashi's hand up for a moment, indicating towards the wounds.

«I don't usually self-harm, Gai.»

«I know, that's not what I meant either. That OCD stuff that always happens after a bad mission. And those panic attacks- whatever it is- that you're experiencing. It's no good. You can't live like that. I worry that someday you're gonna...» Gai stopped himself from finishing that sentence.

Kakashi looked away in shame.

«Do like my father,» Kakashi whispered. «I know.»

Gai started bandaging up the right hand and silently asked for the left one once it was done. Kakashi didn't say anything as he offered it, placing it gently into the welcoming palm. They didn't talk while Gai kept working, and Kakashi's mind was running.

He could hardly remember what had happened. Was that how Sakumo had felt before he stabbed himself? Had he too gone into some strange psychosis and let his own self-hatred be in control? Was that what Kakashi was doing? He knew he wasn't in control, at least, he didn't think he was. And Kakashi truly didn't want to die by his own hands, let alone imagine what something like that would do to his students.

They had lost people in their lives too.

«I'll go to the doctor,» Kakashi croaked finally, watching Gai's expressive brows rise and curve excitedly, like an expressive labrador.

«Really?»

«Yes.»

«So I won't have to drag you there against your will?»

«What makes you think you even could-»

«Thank you!»

Gai threw himself at Kakashi, cotton balls with antiseptic flying and the bottle tilting, spilling half the fluid out. Strong arms wrapped around Kakashi's shoulders and pulled him into a tight bearhug, nearly knocking the breath out of him.

«I told you you didn't have to restraint and force me there,» Kakashi hummed in a mix of discomfort and relief before pulling away. Unwillingly, Gai let go and wiped a tear away from the creak of his eye. 

Rustling from outside brought their attention away for a moment, before Gai hurried to wrap up Kakashi's other hand so they could check what the fuzz was about.

«Ngh, gah! Naruto! Your elbow is in my face!»

«Your shoulders muffled my ear! I couldn't hear anything!»

«That wasn't because of my shoulder, but from all the cotton you have for brains!»

«Will you two shut up? I'm trying to hear what they're talking abo- Ah!»

Gai dragged the door open, successfully making three noisy kids leaning towards it tumble onto the floor, laying there in a dazed heap for a moment before jolting back up.

«Kakashi-sensei? Are you okay now?» Naruto cried boastfully, jumping over to help Kakashi up from the floor. Kakashi ignored the gesture and pulled himself up, noting that he felt a slight hangover.

Good, he thought. At least I've sobered up.

«Better,» Kakashi replied truthfully, noticing how Sakura was eyeing his hands timidly. «I'm sorry for worrying you. That wasn't my intention.»

He smiled softly at her, and she seemed to perk up at that, so he decided to rest his hand on her head for a moment, just to see what it was like.

Two brightly pink cheeks beamed up at him, and in an instant, she was entangled around his torso, hugging him tight enough to rival Gai. Before Kakashi had even realized what was going on, Naruto had joined in, pressing himself to his other side while chubby, sunkissed hands grabbed at the fabric of Kakashi’s black shirt.

Sasuke stood ambivalent with his arms crossed, observing the ordeal with little to no interest, while Gai bawled his eyes out, leaping a few steps forward, ready to join in.

«Don't you dare,» Kakashi glared dangerously, and Gai turned in his step and switched his focus on Sasuke, deciding that no one should ever be left unhugged, and trapped the boy in a huge, forceful embrace, seemingly untouched by the violent death threats and obscenities spilling out of the boy. 

As much as Kakashi was touch-avert and uncomfortable by affection, he recognized this as an important moment. Not only for him but for his students (it might not be for Sasuke; this particular moment, but in the long run, maybe) too. 

Kakashi wouldn’t tell them the gritty details. They were unimportant, but mostly, he truly didn’t want to. But he realized one, really important thing. 

What had made Minao a great teacher, was his heart. And a heart contained more than just strength. It also held love and hurt. Vulnerability.

Kakashi knew he wouldn’t change overnight. Maybe not ever. 

But if this was even one step closer to being the man Minato would want as his son’s mentor, half the man Minato was, then, Kakashi would do whatever it took to become that man.

---

End

[ladylynse]

So you're the only person I know who's a fan of Daredevil and Supernatural so I thought I'd tell you about this dream I had last night. Don't remember all of it but what I do remember is: DD was trying to protect a little kid (possibly cancer patient? She was in the hospital) from Fisk/his goons coming after her, meanwhile Castiel appeared to be investigating her home. It looked like a photographer's red room in my dream, but not red and with crayon drawings instead of photos. Pinned to [1/4]

the wall was a strangely well-done drawing of some USB-hub-like hacking device Fisk planted in the police station, another of a bomb nearby it. Castiel spots a message among the drawings on the strings hanging by clothespins, something like “Tell the Devil to go to/not go to X” and he takes a pic of it with his phone to maybe show “the Devil” later. Cas either didn’t get DD the message in time or only found out who “the Devil” was afterward (not sure if they were working together at this point or if they even knew who each other was), but DD did go to the place and really bad stuff went down (which ended/DD was saved from because Cas intervened). At some point Cas reveals that the lil girl was a prophet which is why not only Fisk wants her but Cas has gotta protect her. The last thing I remember before waking up was Cas saying sorry to the girl because he *forgot* to find DD and give him the message, and she was huffing bc apparently she predicted he’d find it but not that he’d forget it completely between all the chaos happening. But yeah it just sounded like a really interesting plot and I’m not entirely sure where it came from or what else to do with it but share it. Basically you can take this as a writing prompt if you wanna: The Lord’s Angel teams up with The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. Thanks for listening :D 

Cool dream, Anon! The little girl with her drawings kinda reminds me of one of the characters in the last season of Agents of Shield–a psychic child who was targeted because of her visions, which she always drew out, even though people didn’t always understand them/interpret them correctly. 

It wouldn’t be terribly hard to kill off enough people so that the little girl comes into her prophetic powers, or you set the fic early enough that it’s before Castiel runs into the Winchesters, although that would mean she’d ultimately die young, maybe even at the end of the fic–although that would track with the whole ‘in the hospital’ thing. But if it was later on, once Cas can no longer fly anywhere he wants at a moment’s notice, it’d be more feasible that he’d be too late to do something. His ignorance of who the Devil is would probably only last until one of Foggy’s or Karen’s desperate prayers–Oh, God, please, let him pull through this. Please. Matt’s just an idiot who thinks he needs to protect the entire city. We can’t lose him now. I can’t lose him now, and Matty– God, please, I’ll go to church with him this Sunday, I’ll go for the rest of the month, the year, just don’t let him die because he put on that stupid devil suit and went out to help people. I just… God, whoever’s listening, please help him.–since while Matt is a devout Catholic and presumably prays regularly, he’d have no reason to mention specifically that he’s the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen (as far as he’s concerned, God already knows). Those are just my musings, though. *grins*

I don’t have enough time to take it as a writing prompt now, though I might throw up a three sentence fic with the crossover if I can figure out a way to condense some of it. *grins* If you decide to try your hand at writing it out, though, please let me know! If not, well, thanks at least for sharing this! It’s a neat idea.

[lokis-lady-death]

Interview with a God Pt 9

Tom Hiddleston/Loki x reader

Prompt: I have always heard  people joke that Tom Hiddleston is actually Loki playing Tom playing Loki. So, let’s write about it XD

Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6 , Part 7, Part 8

Interview with a God Part 9 Warning: violence

You were confused but you didn't know why. You were standing in your apartment, just in from work. But what was this feeling that something was wrong, that the world had gone from color to gray all of the sudden?

Loki stood in front of you. As he stepped towards you, you remembered calling him, begging to come. Reaching out for him, you quickly knew something was the matter. His jaw was tight, his normal playful smile gone. His brow was furrowed while his eyes were dark and filled with rage.

“Loki?” you said, pulling back. What was this? Why was he so angry?

He grabbed hold of your wrist and slung you onto the bed.

You lifted yourself off the bed, only to be shoved hard in the chest back down. “I'm a monster, am I?”

“What?” More confusion, your mind hazy as he watched you try again to get up. “I don't think you're a monster?”

“Then what is this?” He asked, holding up a People magazine. It was an article with your name, detailing how Tom Hiddleston was, in fact, Loki, a deranged monster that was cast from Asgard for killing his mother.

You gasped and went to move towards Loki, explaining, “I didn't write that!”

The back of his hand cut through the air so hard it rolled you onto your stomach. You were crying now, realizing he was too angry to listen to reason. You knew you hadn't written anything of the sort. Knew you'd never betray his trust. Knew you didn't see him as a monster.

Before you could move again, Loki’s hand's were on your waist, pulling you backwards to him. Your nails dragged into the bed, desperately trying to get away. His hand caught your hair and brought you to a standing position in front of him.

“Please, Loki!” you begged, “I didn't write that,it had to of been Elliot!”

“Ah, yes,” he mused,  not loosening his grip on your head. “The editor that likes to play with your underwear.” He threw you to the ground, brought his foot back and kicked you in the side. “GET UP, Y/N!” And you did, unable to fight it. He reared back and backhanded you again, sending you face first against the footboard of your bed. The wood split your lip and you tasted your blood. “Get.Up.” You were sobbing when you managed to stand up.

“Loki…” you whimpered in between sobs

“Look at me!” he commanded. Your body was convulsing as you tried to fight the tears from falling. You met his hateful eyes and braced for another hit. Instead, he instructed, “Remove your clothes.” Your hands were shaking as you undid your blouse, now looking him in the eyes.

“Loki, I didn't…”

“Do not speak, do not make a sound or I will make you remove your tongue.” The threat was unnecessary, the words themselves enough to ensure you never opened your mouth to him. When you were completely nude, he led you to the balcony. “Climb onto the rail.” and you did. You heard a small crack in his tone, the words now coming out hurtful. “I thought you saw past it, y/n. I thought that you truly understood me how no one else could. But in the end, while I was falling in love with you, you only saw a monster.” Tears silently falling down your cheeks, you heard him give the final order. “Jump.”

*****

You were screaming, your stomach leaving you like you were on a roller coaster. Something wrapped around you, holding your arms down, keeping you from failing.

“Shhhh, y/n, you’re alright!”

You couldn’t wake up or hear the person calling out. You saw him again. Loki. Accusing you of betraying him, of calling him a monster, of hurting you, all before having you jump off the balcony. And every time you jumped, you screamed until you hit the ground. As soon as your body should have met with pavement, you woke back up to Loki, his hateful eyes piercing into you.

Finally, in the middle of the vision, right before Loki had you climb the railing, he stopped. He looked around, confused, looked down at your naked and bruised body more confused. You were crying. “Y/n,” he whispered while he reached for you. You hung your head down, but didn’t shy away from him.

“I’m so sorry, I swear didn’t do it Loki, please believe me….” you sobbed into his chest.

He pet your head and you felt a shift in the room. When you opened your eyes you were back in your apartment, slunk against a wall, fully dressed like you had just come in from your dinner date.

And in front of you sat Tom. 

“You’re alright, y/n. Breathe.” His arms wrapped around you and pulled you into his arms. His lips brushed the top of your head, trying to process what it was he had just seen you living through. He gave you another minute, rocking you slightly, calming you down.

Finally he couldn’t wait any longer. He moved to look at you. “I need to know what happened,” he stressed. “Who came here after I dropped you off?”

You hadn’t stopped crying, still trying to make yourself believe that it was all an illusion and this was real life. He reached up and wiped the tears away, holding your face. “Y/n, this is very important. Do you remember what happened?”

“I only remember you,” you whimpered, unwilling to meet his gaze. “You were so angry with me. You wouldn’t listen... “ Bringing your knees to your chest, you couldn’t stop trembling. You were trying to remember everything, what could possibly have happened before Tom arrived in the vision, but you couldn’t. It felt like you have relived that moment for an eternity and you couldn’t remember anything that happened before. “Oh my god, Tom, what was that?” You met his eyes this time, tears falling, body shaking.

Tom didn't answer, only held you tighter. “Can you tell me what happened in the vision then? You were…” He cleared his throat. “Naked. And bleeding.”

Your busted lip quivered as you tried to explain it. “You showed up. Mad, you were so mad. Something about an article about you being Loki printed in People with my name on it.” Your eyes widened and you looked up to him, exclaiming, “But I didn’t, Loki, I would never write….”

“Shhh,” he soothed, bringing you into his arms. “Shhh, it was a dream. Tell me what else.”

You sniffled and went on, telling him all the way to the part where he had you jump. “And then I just kept repeating the cycle. It was like seeing my death over and over and over.” You swallowed hard and tried to reaffirm that it was a dream. That this was real. That you weren’t about to jump off a balcony.

Tom took a deep breath before pulling you both up to stand. “I need you to pack a bag of anything you could possibly need in the next few days,” he instructed, straightening his jacket.

“What for?”

“You’re coming with me to my hotel, y/n. I am absolutely not letting you stay alone.”

You didn’t know if you were relieved or more on edge. You knew it was a dream but seeing Tom so collected, it made your nerves shake. Running on autopilot you packed your things and followed him down to the car.

When the door of the escalade closed, something curious crossed your mind. “How did you know to come save me?”

Tom was typing away on his phone, the first time you had ever seen him on it. As soon as your words resonated with him, his eyes fell on you like a ton of bricks. “I didn't. Your bag was left in my car. I thought as much as you worked that you would be upset without it.”

“Even after our fight you brought it back….”

Tom leaned closer to you, lifting your chin to look at him. There was something hinting at a warning when he told you, “That wasn’t a fight. That was a minor disagreement. If I were angry with you, I promise, you would know. Do you understand?” You nodded. He sat back, still watching you. “Good. Now. A better question, darling, is why on earth didn't you call for me?”

You stared up onto his eyes, trying to recall what happened. You couldn't swear with certainty but you really thought you had tried to call him to you.

When you didn’t answer, Tom frowned and grabbed hold of your shoulder. “Y/n. That's twice today you have been in trouble and I just happened to show up. What if I didn't?”

You didn't want to imagine replaying the balcony incident or dealing with Elliott, but you had no answer for him.

“I need to know you will call for me if you're in trouble.”

“Why?” The question was so simple yet incredulous at the same time.

“Because you’re mine.”

The car came to a stop and the door opened. Tom got out and reached in for you, but you didn’t take his hand. In fact you didn’t move. You realized you weren’t at the hotel you ate lunch at. “Where are we?”

“I booked a suite just a moment ago,” he told you. “Too many people know where I’m staying and we don't’ know who possibly attacked you. I’m not taking any chances. Now,” he held his hand to you again. “Come.”

And you did. You were aware of his command, knowing it wasn’t even meant to be such, but it was enough to set a fire in you.

The driver retrieved the room keycard before Tom took your bags up to the room. “Sir,” the driver said, “What about your things?”

“I have my overnight bag, I should be alright for now. I’ll call you to let you know what I need in the morning. You’ve done more than enough for me today, Dave.” They shook hands and Tom led you to the room. After the door shut behind you, you let out a breath you hadn't realized you were holding.

Tom set your things on the bed. “Would you like to take a shower?”

“Is that a suggestion or invitation?” Your tone wasn’t flirty and he recognized it right away.

His brow quirked at the comment and asked, “What if it was an invitation? Are you saying you would refuse it?” Tom stepped towards you now, his half cocked grin leering at you.

“It’s not like refusing it matters, does it, Loki?” The sharpness in your voice was evident, even the way you spat out Loki.

Tom’s smile didn’t fade but his brow did furrow. “I don’t recall asking you to do anything of that nature against your will. Have I?”

“But you could.”

“I could also have made your editor friend jump out a window today,” he said, his voice just above a whisper as he leaned closer to you. “But I didn’t. Because I listened to you when you asked me to stop.” The breath escaped you and you stared up, seeing his eyes flash green.

You waited a moment longer before grabbing your bag and walking to the bathroom. When you saw your reflection in the mirror, you had to do a double take. Your hair was disheveled, your eyes red and swollen from the crying. And even a cut on your lip that you thought was faked in the vision of Loki attacking you. When you brushed your finger against it, you flinched. It was definitely real. As you began shrugging off your clothes, you saw a few dark bruises along your shoulders, even one large one along your side where you had felt the kick.

Whatever that vision was, it reflected some truth. Your body was proof of that.

Silently, you went into the shower and cleaned off the day, repeated over and over that whatever happened wasn’t Loki’s fault.

You were startled when the door opened and Tom stepped in, his expression softer than before. You reached for a towel but he had already taken a full sight of you, his eyes widening at the marks.

“I…” He swallowed, utterly speechless.

“Please,” you said quietly, slipping on an oversized t-shirt. “Leave me alone.”

“That’s the last thing I want to do,” Tom declared as he wrapped his arms around you. “I’m sorry…”

“Why are you apologizing, you didn’t do anything.”

“But you’re treating me like I have,” he said, his voice halfway cracking. The sentiment surprised you after his comment before. “I’m afraid that mortal sentiments are somewhat lost on me, y/n. I most social constructs and behavior, but I don’t have any training in this.” He looked up at you, again with green eyes. “I have been trying, I swear I have. I don’t want you to be afraid of me, y/n.”

“I’m not,” you said quickly. His hand came up to your face, his thumb lightly grazing over your busted lip.

“Then why do I feel like you’re looking at me different now?”

You didn’t have an answer. Instead, you kissed him. You couldn’t help how you looked at him, but you knew you weren’t afraid of this god. You could tell it took him by surprise, but his hands quickly found your hair and held you in place while his tongue swept into your mouth. Following his lead, your arms went around his shoulders, letting him lift you up on the bathroom counter. You pulled back just a moment, enough to see his black hair in a mess around his face. He had transformed and you hadn’t even noticed. You were both breathing hard, his grip on your hair not faltering. You realized he was hesitating.

“What is it?”

“You’re really not afraid of me?” he asked.

“I’m not afraid of you, Loki,” you admitted. “I’m afraid of your powers. It's all so unknown to me and it just…”

“Is that all?” Loki’s eyes searched your face, waiting for you to finish. “Y/n,” running his hand down your back. “Do you remember what I said about a god not being able to break a promise?” You nodded. “I, Loki of Asgard, son of the Allfather, promise to never cause you harm. I promise to never use my powers against you in any way. I promise I will protect you. That I will never allow any harm to come to you.” His hand came around to your face. “I swear it.”

He lightly wiped away a single tear from your face as he smiled at you, the most sincere smile you had ever seen in his true form. “I believe you are overdue for some rest, darling.” He leaned down to kiss you again, lifting you up in his arms and toting you to the bed.

You had never felt as safe and content as you did wrapped in Loki’s arms, your head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. You breathed him in slowly, committing it to memory. After the day you had, you deserved something good out of all this and as much of a surprise as it was, Loki was that something good.

*****

The next morning you woke to your usual phone alarm. Loki was still beneath you, only slightly stirring when the beeping began. It was surreal, seeing the god like this. Pure, simple, vulnerable. Something he had never allowed you to see of him before. Without thinking, your hand went to trace over his cheekbone and then down to his chin. Down his neck. His chest.

“This is a lovely way to wake up,” Loki spoke softly, but still managed to startle you. He let out a short laugh and kissed your forehead. “Good morning, y/n.”

You smiled. “Good morning, Loki.”

Despite his protests, you got ready for work.”You should stay with me, at least today,” he had reasoned.

“The article posts tomorrow, I have to make sure everything is perfect,” you told him as you gave him a kiss.

“Alright, but I would like lunch with you.”

“What an uncommonly nice way for you to ask me on a date,” you had to laugh. “Okay. Lunch is good.”

*****

You were surprised to see the driver, Dave, downstairs waiting to take you to your office. It felt awkward, but you went along, thanking him for his time when you got out. You squeezed into the elevator with a few others and let out a sigh of relief. Loki had made you feel so much better after his promise, as silly as it was. You held your head a little higher, feeling a flutter in your stomach as you thought about Loki sleeping in bed. He looked so peaceful.

“Oh, excuse me, hold the door, would you?”

You snapped back to reality and held the elevator door open despite it already being cramped. A woman squeezed in, passing you a sideways grin. She stood beside you, much taller than you in her all black ensemble of kneehigh boots, trench coat, and sunhat. She looked like someone going to a funeral.

She looked down at you, her smile still plastered on her face like a china doll. “Everyone but you should get off the elevator.”

The doors opened on the second floor and you quirked a brow and as everyone deboarded.

Alone, the stranger continued staring at you, like some kind of oddity. Or like a car she was deciding the value of.

“Do I…” you squinted, trying to see past her exaggerated outfit. “Know you?”

“You do, sweet girl. But I’m going to need you to forget you saw me. Work and such, you know. Busy busy.” She held a finger to your lip, specifically on your cut.. “Shhh. Secrets make friends, darling.” She flashed you one last grin as the elevator stopped at the eighth floor and she stepped off.

Tilting her head to flash her black eyes at you, she laughed, “Just…. Utterly ordinary.”

And again you forgot your encounter with the goddess of death.

Like my garbage? Read more of it! Master List

IWAG:  @krystynespider @imeannooffensebabybut @tardis-is-mine@m4shtyx@intransittosomewhere @fit-m0mma317 @marvelc00kie35 @youveseen--thebutcher@sherlokiantheatrenerd@kinghiddlestonanddixon@lykaonimagines@laeticafe03 @avenging-blackwidow@hiddlestonstansworld    @casuallyobsessivewitchcraft   @writing-for-a-chance @hisxblackxqueen  @dangertoozmanykids101  @bambamwolf87 @godhateskyleigh   @sortaathief  @li-ssu   @wrappedinlokisarms   

ALL TAGS: @socialheartbreak @kcd15 @maladaptive-ninja-returns@nephalem67 @jessiejunebug @woodyandbuzz20-01@lokislilslut