#【starts with a spark】★ic

[endlessp0ssibilities]

@cxffeeshxp sent:

" Asbif one flamin' pussy wasn't bad enough, there are now two. " ~ Surge

"I..." How the hell was anyone suppose to respond to that?! Stunned silence held the hedgehog for longer than she wanted it to before she blinked and shook her head.

"Can I fuckin' help you?"

[endlessp0ssibilities]

She let out a heavy sigh. "Thought I could take a short cut through the forest. I got kind of a late start, and suppose to meet some friends at night. Went on some dirt road and then my car stopped working a couple of miles back that way." She pointed behind her with her thumb.

She gave the other a credulous look. The statement wasn't completely off to her, especially since she also had super strength along with other powers, and even knew other people with amazing strength-related abilities. But carrying a car all the way back into town? That was a bit over the top.

"It's not exactly a tiny car..."

Regardless of any curious observations he'd make, seeing as how they didn't appear to regard him as a familiar face it put the demon-hog somewhat in ease that he wasn't forgetting someone. Listening to their explanation with a raised brow.

They were after a gas station? Yet here they were speaking to Dan in the middle of the wilderness lodged in the centre of the demon-hog's campsite, how far had they been walking? It was almost as if they were deliberately trying to get lost.

"Not just a wrong turn, probably the worst....you won't find any gas stations all the way out here I'm afraid, why wouldn't you stick to the road?" He'd question though he wasn't one to judge, who didn't get in a spot of bother now and then? Especially if they weren't local.

"How far is your car? If you need a hand, I could probably carry it along for you and rush it to town." Saying it as if it were the most normal thing to state casually.

[endlessp0ssibilities]

@sunshine-and-flames sent:

"Hey there Dragon Tale. Long time no see!" Apollo waves over to Ember. "How's life under the sun?"

She raised an eyebrow, but offered the other a small smirk at the odd nickname.

"Not too bad, not too bad. How about yourself?"

[vampirzina]

I really liked your Johnny Cage Sister! Reader post with Kung Lao and Bi-han. Maybe you could do a part two where they actually confess? Maybe kiss? 👀

Btw I love your writing sm!! Keep up the good work! :]

✮ ┆cage’s sister!reader (w. Bi Han & Kung Lao) hcs

╰ ‘fessing up

tw: gn pronouns (mostly you/your), sfw, mdni, short hcs and blurb, friends to lovers, johnny cage mentions

note: thank you SO much!! it makes my heart swell to hear you love my work! here’s your part two anon. it’s a little long

masterlist : hollywood & cityline divider

With Bi Han, it was kind of in the spur of the moment. Bi Han knows you know and it’s been flat since you let him know that you did, but as frustrating as this is for him because it’s inert, he didn’t want to jump to conclusions just because you didn’t explicitly agree or repulse at the idea. He didn’t say it outright, but it was close enough for you who were waiting on him to make a move (regardless of Johnny who outright disproved); you just didn’t think it’d be after an argument between the two of you, when he’d come to you again.

ᯓ★

You made your irritation very clear, forgetting the notion of subtlety for cordiality. You found that a simple lower helped keep further headaches (Johnny) far away from you, all further sores but the one you were mad at.

Bi Han kept his distance for long enough, it seems, and he’d waited until he got you alone and away from prying eyes (again, Johnny) to address the previous indignation towards you—you’d gotten hurt, and instead of focusing on if you’re okay, he chastised and warned you to be careful.

Yes, he did still tend to your injuries… But that’s not the point, you think.

Maybe it’s your swollen ego, but you didn’t take that as an order, rather just a suggestion. And knowing Bi Han for this long, it’s sparked an argument. You could stomp, roll your eyes and suck your teeth all you wanted, but you couldn’t pierce the fortified ice.

You left him standing there and you’ve both been scowling at innocent people since. That was hours ago. Now, at three in the morning you stare him down, who stands in your doorway. Your eyelids close in a long blink. “Do you know what time it is?”

“I don’t care about the time,” Bi Han flatly replied, but there were hints of the leftover tension from the last time you two talked. “I’ve been standing here for long enough. Let me in.”

“If it gets you to go away faster,” you step aside anyway as you mumble, uncaring for whether or not he heard you. It’s three in the morning. “What do you want? Don’t you have snow to make?”

“It’s not snow, it’s ice. And you act as if you’re so busy that you can’t spare a wink of sleep,” at least Bi Han’s acknowledging of your previous state. “I don’t appreciate your sarcasm.”

“Don’t really care. You also didn’t answer my question. Big fat ‘eff for you, unless you want to fix that?” you saunter and skirt around him as you find a seat on the couch of your house. “Or you did you just want to badger me about nothing? Or couldn’t sleep?”

“It did not feel right to.”

This piqued your interest now; the last bits of sleep flew away from the surprise. Bi Han? Lose sleep over something? …You piece it together, and when you finally realize what this had to do with you, you blink for the umpteenth time. “Alright. So the sky must be falling, then?”

“[Reader].”

“Well!” you hold your arms up to keep Bi Han from chewing you where you sit, before folding them again. “Okay, let me just not—okay. But you’re actually losing sleep over this?”

“I did not want my words to be taken the wrong way,” Bi Han started, stepping closer to you once, twice. “Fine, maybe you can hold your own. But the chance that you could die will still linger for as long as you are imprudent. I am worried about you in ways that exceed the boundaries of our relationship, but it only comes out as frustration because you are too stubborn.”

“…What?” was all you could say to his profession, but in seeing his reaction, you shook your head in apology. “Sorry—god—it’s just the way you said that, it really just sounds like you want permission to worry about me.”

“Do not jest with me,” Bi Han warned.

“I’m not! I’m just calling it how it is,” you swore, facing him now with your hands resting on the armrest. “Because what if I wanted you to worry about me more?”

Bi Han’s hardened eyes seemed to twist into slightly wide eyes that bore into you, as if to ask you if you’re serious.

“I’ve thought about what Johnny told me, and its ironic but I can practically feel the heat radiating off of you and you tell me to hush when I bring it up,” you recall, breaking eye contact for a moment to. “I thought on it since. All of this worrying is really cute, you’re not bad yourself, so why not?”

Bi Han’s hands choke his biceps as his arms havent moved from their folded stance since he got here. He hates your overt casualness, but such feeling is overcast by the unknown feeling of kindling warmth in his chest. To you, it looks like he’s in doubt. You rise to your knees on the cushions and curl your index at him—Bi Han’s muscles listen before his head.

You crane your head up just a little further, and balmy lips come to kiss the corner of his mouth. It’s a quick kiss, nothing too fancy, but it has him melting. It’s a bold move, you know, as you reach a hand to pick at his stiff frame, maybe in a gesture to dispel awkwardness. Has your eyes ever been this beautiful?

In what is supposed to be a serious moment, his brown eyes don’t move from your face as fingers that mimic a spider to crawl up the side of his bicep flick his nose—boop. You make the respective sound. Bi Han is still completely unmoving.

“No more sparring dates now, ‘kay? Getting sick of those.”

───

Kung Lao confessed in the sweetest way. Thanks to Raiden pointing out the little things that Kung Lao initially glossed over, he would’ve never thought to just confess and end the waiting. Kung Lao would’ve preferred if you confessed to him, but it’s not like his pride would be hurt by just doing it himself instead at this point. In his head, he’s already got you (he knows that now, again, thanks to Raiden), so all that’s left?

ᯓ★

“The MVP… Me. I’m the MVP,” Kung Lao muttered to himself, his fingers chasing his eyes that skim over the minute details of his uniform through the reflection in the shallow pond. To the other side of him; he so conveniently parked right by a patch of flowers.

You were supposed to be here any minute now.

Kung Lao had been methodically stringing along all morning the moment he knew you’d come by last night: he would send Raiden for you, under the guise that he (Kung Lao) had been looking for you. In the time it took you to find him, he’d hype himself up and unlike the last time, not embarrass himself.

However, he’s skipped class for this. He may get in trouble later, but this is the only way Johnny couldn’t come bumbling in to stop him. The rewards are bigger than the consequences.

From the corner of his eyes, he sees you.

You wave your arm, the already-small smile on your lips growing as he looks at you. Kung Lao turns to you now and, meeting you in the middle, grins back.

“Man, are you hard to find. What’re you doing all the way over here?” you beam, your fist coming up to nudge him. “And aren’t you supposed to be training? Johnny and the others are… Liu Kang offered to teach me, but you know...”

“Yeah, not your style, you said,” Kung Lao finished for you, his eyes flickering over your face. “But if I offered, would you?”

“Depends,” you lick your lips, attempting to hold eye contact that he could not seem to keep. “Can you? Be a teacher, I mean.”

“Of course I can. Johnny just gets lucky sometimes and gets the upper hand, but doesn’t mean I’d be a bad teacher,” he squinted playfully at you. Kung Lao watched as you mimicked him, tilting your head in skepticism. Then, you laugh. He suddenly feels… Conscious. Like his chest is hollow and there’s butterflies living in it.

You settle. “Anyway, Raiden told me you were looking for me?”

It takes Kung Lao a moment to realize that you’re talking again, no less asking him a question. He lets out a quiet yet exuberant ‘oh’, “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Ask me something?”

“Yeah,” Kung Lao affirmed, but as soon as he did, he couldn’t fix his mouth to continue.

In a rush to save his face in the silence, he looked around the scenery a little less than haphazardly—Kung Lao, in posthaste, went up to the patch of flowers and took off his hat. You watch him nimbly slice the bright white flowers, and bring them to you.

It’s then that you realize what’s going on.

“Man, I thought without Johnny in the way I’d be able to just say it,” he started again in a huff, holding the flowers. You reach out to cup the fist that’s practically strangling the flowers. His fists loosen. Kung Lao looks from the gesture to you—you’re already looking at him.

“If this is what I think it is, you don’t have to say it, if you want,” you said, simpering at him for a moment before a hand comes to your heart to soothe the way it’s beating out of your chest. “Is this why you skipped? That’s so… Gods, it makes my heart feel funny.”

“That’s ‘cause you like me back,” Kung Lao guessed into the air, glimmering brown eyes finding yours even when you turn away. “Right?”

“You’re so dumb. Of course,” you sigh out.

Kung Lao, who’s gone pink, cheers—for himself, and for you—he didn’t have to tumble over words because you already knew. He lets you have the flowers, but you have to think quickly before they’re crushed between you and him. Kung Lao pulls you in and giddily rubs your back before he’d hold you by your face.

The excitement soon simmered into a smile.

Your eyes aren’t looking at Kung Lao’s anymore, but at his lips; you’ve been dying to for longer than this moment. When he catches on, the thumb that lie right under your eye swatches there. Then, he closes the gap.

You hum into the kiss, your arms moving from his abdomen to his neck. Kung Lao draws you closer, deeper, his hands sliding across the width of your back to wrap around you. It’s you who broke for air.

“[Reader]?”

You swiftly turn to look over your shoulder as a smug Kung Lao looks forth at a gasping Johnny.

“Motherf—”

───

BONUS

Johnny looked out to the fiery sunset at the porches edge, his elbows rested on his knees. You sat not too far from him, your eyes narrowed in contentment of the sight.

Your brother sulked for hours about betrayal, but the more he went on about it, the more he seemed to grow passive about it—in other words, it sorted itself out.

“You know what, can I ask you something?” he rubbed his hands together before clasping them, and when you hum in acknowledgement, he continued. “Are you happy?”

You took a moment to think on what he meant, and then you figured he must still be on it. “Yeah… I am. I will be.”

Johnny Cage lifted from his position to look at you fully. You did seem satisfied with yourself, even when you turned to return the eye contact. He couldn’t help but let out a quick winded laugh at you. “So if you’re happy, then so am I. I mean, life’s too short for this crap, [Reader]. There’s so much more things to worry about, and you’re a grown adult.”

“Exactly,” you agreed. “I won’t act this way when you eventually find someone again, though. Hopefully I’ll be too busy getting ahead with him.”

“Shit, I hope so too,” Johnny reclined back on his hands, going quiet for a moment to look out into the scene again. Then, face contorted in seriousness, he swiveled his head to look at you again. “It’s cliche, but if he does anything to hurt you, I’m kicking his ass. I promise you.”

“Oh, I believe you, Johnny,” you chuckled. “But you say that as if I’d just let them?”

“I don’t mean it that way, but you get the idea,” he exhaled, his face although softening, still wears a soft scowl. “Just so you know that I mean it, ‘cause you like to act like I don’t and then get shocked when I do.”

“Sure, sure,” you nod along. However, it comes out incredibly fake. It sets Johnny off.

The two of you begin to bicker, and in bickering you miss the beauty in the sun setting on your home.

@𝐕𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐙𝐈𝐍𝐀೨

info

[tyuntopia]

★ txt as popular tropes

pairing : ot5 x fem! reader

genre : fluff, kissing, a bit suggestive but not really??

a/n : this was my first time writing so i hope u guys like it!! i kinda went overboard with tyuns oops but please leave asks so i can continue with things u guys like <3

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yeonjun friends to lovers

you guys would probably know each other through modeling agencies or some type of work, talking basically every day, going to coffee runs together, shopping sprees, calling on facetime

you didn't really see him in a romantic light until your best friend mentioned it and from then on you couldn't get the idea of you two as a couple out of your head

he noticed a slight change in your behavior - the fast pull of your hand from a skim of his finger, the twitch in your spine as he put his hand on your lower back, the inability for you to hold eye contact longer than a few seconds

so he started to get a bit suspicious and of course, as the tease he is, he pulls you in for a hug and begins leaning in, and once you close your eyes and start leaning in to he knows hes cracked the case

he just stands there with a smug smile as you wait there for a kiss until you open your eyes with a pout and give a light slap to his chest

he shakes his head and laughs until he pulls you in for the second time to share a kiss

soobin strangers to lovers

my guess is that you met at a grocery store

you dropped your card at the register and he was behind you so he went ahead and picked it up for you

as you made eye contact your world stopped because of how cute he was (don't get me started on his bread cheeks >.<)

but little did you know that he thought the exact same thing of you

as he passed you your card, you felt a spark run through your body but you ignored it opting for a simple and quiet 'thank you' and a bow which was returned with a wave of his hands and a 'of course, no problem' paired with a light dust of pink of his cheeks

on your way home you couldn't stop thinking about him and you wanted to see him again so you planned to go to the same grocery store at the same time and day next week -- little did you know he was planning the same thing

you began seeing each other every week until finally as you were grabbing mangosteen he came up next to you telling you that this was his favorite fruit

you exchanged names and walked around while talking about random little things until you both realized the time and walked to the register

he walked you to your car and left you with a simple 'see you next week'

the next time you saw each other he finally asked you for your number to pick you up for your date at the bakery cafe ^^

beomgyu enemies to lovers

he would be the one class clown who would always pester and make fun of YOU and not your other classmates

secretly though he just wants your attention bc he's scared to outwardly show his feelings -- especially now that you probably hate him

but then one day you two end up getting paired for an assignment that requires you guys to work together in and outside of school

at first, he continues his antics but as time passes you begin to see a softer yet still playful side of him

there's lingering touches between you two, late night walks, quick ice cream runs, arcade "breaks"

until finally you guys share your last block of work time before the project is due and as you leave the library he gives you a rushed confession afraid that things will go back to how they were *which you obviously return*

after a messy kiss with his hands on your waist and yours on his hair, you officially start dating <3

and he continues to be a menace ofc

taehyun brothers best friend

tyun and your brother have been best friends since middle school

as the youngest member of his family, he's always held great pride in being someone other than your brother whom you look up to

he's always felt an obligation to protect you whether it be from a weird guy on the street to the actual street when you scraped your knee on it in elementary school

but lately, his feelings towards you have been changing as you enter the dating world

your brother won't shut up about how you're boy crazy now and that you need to focus on your studies and you don't know why he's making it such a big deal when you just went out with one guy who you didn't even like ???

truth be told, you've liked tyun since you first laid your eyes on him, and going on this date was supposed to be a distraction from him but it obviously wasn't working as you felt your heart flutter every time he brought food he ordered for him and his brother up to your room to eat, not forgetting to take a few minutes to ask how your doing personally and in school

though now you realized his lingering stare and elongated hug paired with a gentle 'im proud of you' followed by head pats

you've never blushed this hard in your life but thank god he didn't tease you about it and just smiled

the months passed like that and you realized that he began spending more time with you, leaving your brother to play video games and study on his own as tyun was in your room helping you with homework

Over time, your crush on him grew as did his crush on you

you guys would mess around instead of studying

he would initiate pillow fights where he would pin you down followed by heavy eye contact and arm wrestles where he would flaunt his strength, not that you minded

it wasn't until one day while studying that you couldn't focus while he was talking to you because his lips just looked so soft that day that once he realized you were staring at them he pulled your chair in closer, gently held your chin, and gave you the softest kiss you've ever had

after parting he gave you the happiest smile in the world asking you to be his girl not realizing that your brother was standing at the door dumbfounded but not surprised as his best friend would always bring you up in every conversation

huening kai roommates

you guys have been roommates for about two years now and not only did that consist of shared sweets, movie nights, and plushie fights, but also a huge crush that he's been harboring

he's scared that you'll move out soon and with the encouragement of the boys he starts to make bolder moves

which in his book is letting you borrow some of his plushies and letting you pick the movie

despite his newfound extended generosity, you don't pick up on it until you're having a game night with the boys, and yeonjun privately slips that kai has a massive crush on you

your cheeks immediately heat up and you're flustered for the rest of the night

once the boys are gone and it's just you two, you ask him to have a dance party and purposefully put a slow dance on queue

he gets shy at first but finally calms down and then finally the world makes sense to him

as you rest your head on his chest and he holds your waist he quietly tells you that he loves you and you say it back

you lift your head and after a couple seconds of silence but heavy air you share a soft kiss followed by a sweet 'are you my girlfriend now? please say yes'

© tyuntopia | please do not copy or translate without my permission

[endlessp0ssibilities]

She still had her head turned way, but hearing the other hedgehog turn around caught her attention. Green irises moved to look at him, but she still kept her postured closed. She didn't like that shark-tooth grin.

Huh!?

She fully turned to look at him, brows furrowed in a mixture of shocked-confusion as if Scourge had suddenly grown an extra head.

"You're...Joking, right? Please tell me that was some shitty joke."

"There's the problem - whaddya get the hedgehog who has everything... decisions, decisions...." Scourge pivots back around to properly face Ember again. The fact that she's even asking indicates she knows she doesn't have any options. The grin grows a little wider.

If he knew she had a Chaos Emerald on her, it would be the first thing that he'd be asking for. But... the speedster's ability to sense chaos energy is unrefined, leaving him ignorant of the precious object in his visitor's possession. "...you free tomorrow night?"

[h3arts4strs]

Birds of a Feather

───────────

K. Sato x fem!Reader

───────────

02 ᯓ★ After a long 13 years, the pair reunite and get talking again, breaking the ice and reigniting that childhood spark through reliving memories, learning about each other and new lives.

INCLUDESᯓ★ dual pov

WORD COUNTᯓ★ 1.4K

───────────

There is no way. The dark-haired man lowers the ugliest pair of reflective blue sunglasses and his grey eyes look into mine, a slight shimmer still seeping through. I knew those eyes, the ones that would gaze into mine with nothing short of love and adoration.“Sato?” In the moment I had no words. I felt my mouth go dry at the thought of what I should say, if he would apologise and if I should apologise. He returns his glasses to his eyes and puts a finger over his lips, pleading for me to keep it down. I nod at his request and motion over to a quieter spot in the cafe where I would wait for him to receive his drink then for us to finally talk, face to face after a long 13 years. I am quickly snapped out of my thoughts when the man behind us grumbles about how long I am taking, prompting me to flash him an apologetic look before moving to the smaller table near the edge of the restaurant. 

As much as I could deny the feeling, I was overjoyed to see my best friend again, even though I had planned on moving past that time in my life. Would it be suspicious if I claimed I remembered I had plans to tend to? It wouldn’t be a lie considering today was meant to be a Sunday reset, preparing for the long work week ahead of me. I sigh and start to fidget with the gold rings that adorned my fingers, that would not be right. I decided to endure our reunion until a daunting realisation hit me: the first time Kenji had to see me in over a decade was after I ran 5km, I was in sweatpants and a few days before my next hair and nail appointment. Damnit. I quickly recollect my emotions, realising there are more important things to worry about, what do I say after all this time?

It was as I was thinking of possible conversation starters, Kenji returned with what appeared to be a green smoothie. He sat in the cafe chair across me, resting his leg on the other as he leaned back, sinking into the soft leather of the chair. “Y/N, God, it's been ages. How have you been? ” He smiles, keeping on his sunglasses, probably to avoid being recognised. I don’t know what it was, but there was something about him now. Whether it was the arrogance he carried himself with, the protruding American accent or the stupid sunglasses that he wore, something had definitely changed. “Oh, I’ve been good.” I awkwardly reply, not knowing how to reply to his question. Sato had acknowledged the awkward tension that was currently suffocating us and had decided to take a different approach. “How was your workout?” He smiles as he takes in my appearance, “I guess you gotta keep fit with your modelling career, hm?” I slightly furrow my brows in confusion before realisation strikes, he remembered? “Oh, no. I work as a fighter pilot in the KDF. I never got into modelling.” I quickly noticed the surprise in his expression as he leaned in a bit closer. “Really? You always spoke about it as kids, how you would be the prettiest model, on all the front covers… not to mention you’ve got the looks.”  I let out a chuckle, “Thank you but I guess plans change.” “I guess, so what, are you following your parents' footsteps?” he asks with a complacent smile as he takes a sip of his drink. “Yeah, you could say that.” I nod and slightly smile, hoping my eyes would not betray my expression. “Anyways, Mr Baseball Sensation, what brings you back home?” 

“Oh, I guess I just wanted to try out something new, yknow? Help out the Giants, get them where they need to-“ His smug smirk fades as he momentarily pauses to look out the cafe window, noticing what appeared to be the paparazzi. People with cameras and notepads had flocked past the cafe, most probably in search of the infamous Kenji Sato. “Wanna get outta here?” he asks me, already having stood up with his possessions in hand. “Uh, sure” I smile, 

. . . 

“Did that really happen?” I ask, trying to contain my laughter as Ken and I were aimlessly walking down the street. We had moved long past the cafe although we initially planned to take a short stroll before parting ways and going back to living our lives separately. I was relieved the tension quickly diminished as the short stroll had become a walk, that was surely over an hour, where Kenji had told me about his crazy experiences in America, baseball and his newfound celebrity lifestyle. “Of course it did, I'm like the greatest baseball player in the league.” He pridefully says as he puts his arm around my shoulder as we walk. I smiled as I appreciated the moment, not realising how much I had missed this, even if he may have gotten a bit cocky, I had still missed Ken Sato. I snapped out of my thoughts as I noticed we had come to a sudden stop. “Eh, Y/N,” Kenji leans slightly closer to my height, whispering in a hushed tone, “isn’t that the park we used to go to as kids?” 

“It is.” We walk into the park’s entrance and I smile as flashbacks from the past return. All the afternoons after baseball matches, the days we would feed the ducks while our mothers spoke and all the bumps and bruises from falling off the jungle gym flood my memories. “Race you?” I ask him with a smile. “Race? Aren’t we a little too old for that? Plus we are gonna get all kinds of-“

 * * *

“What are you scared of losing?” I furrow my brows and scoff. Me? Greatest baseball player ever? Bullshit. “Fine, let's race.” I remove my arm from its comfortable spot around her shoulder and get into position, ready to disprove her. “To the big tree, the one by the lake.” I nod, focusing on beating Y/N. “I’ll count. One, two, three-“ Before I could say go, Y/N already started running, getting a pretty good headstart ahead of me. Still a cheater. I sigh as I work to quickly catch up to her, refusing to lose to Y/N. After managing to carry me past her, smiling as the giant oak made itself visible to me knowing I would secure victory. As I looked back to see how far in the dust I left Y/N behind, I was astonished to notice how she was passing me, quickly too. I watched as her dark curls bounced as she ran past me, making me forget we were even racing. As her laugh filled the early spring air, I couldn’t help but admire her. She's grown so much from when I last saw her, somehow even more beautiful than before. I am snapped out of my thoughts when I notice how close she is to the tree. I regain focus and push myself, still aiming to beat her in the race. I feel my hair start to break free from its usual style, my fringe falling to my forehead due to the speed I was running. Although I slightly struggle to catch up to her pace but manage to do so and hurry to touch the tree, making sure I win this. Just as I am about to close the gap between the oak and myself, she touches the tree before me. 

“I win,” She says in a breathy voice as she slumps against the tree and leans her back against it, a tired smile plastered on her glossed lips. “I beat you.” I roll my eyes and join her on the floor, leaning against the tree to rest. “Yeah, 'cause you cheated.” “Just sounds like someone is being a hater.” She chuckles. I shake my head and remove my sunglasses, resting them on my head in an attempt to push my fringe back. “Whatever.” I look over her, a content smile on my face. “ Wanna get ice cream?”

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TAGLISTᯓ★ @bakugouswaif

✮chérie

[trancylovecraft]

(AOEX) The Blood Of An Unwilling Covenant

PART 1 OF 8: Beelzebub

(Yandere Platonic Demon Kings (Ba'al) x Reader)

SERIES SUMMARY:

BARISTA'S NOTE: okay fuck it i spent seven months working on this entire series and i havent even finished it yet, yall gon see what work i've done so far 😭 im almost done lucifers part tho- im currently at 50,000+ words :D GENDER: Femme FANDOM: Blue Exorcist

☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★

SERIES MASTERLIST, AO3 LINK, NEXT PART

[F/N] wasn't sure how it happened.

She wasn't really quite sure how the ropes around her wrist got tied so tight that they felt deathly numb, Nor was she sure how how a fresh apple was lodged so far into her mouth that she couldn't speak.

[F/N] resembled one of those roast pigs from the cartoons she use to watch when she was younger, The ones that played on the television she use to sit by with a tub of cookie dough ice-cream beside her as a reward for completing her homework.

It was a good feeling, The way the cold cream tasted on her tongue and left her with the longing chill of brain freeze tasted extraordinary. She'd shovel another spoonful into her mouth and keep her eyes on whatever warner brothers toon was playing today, It really was good.

But now she sat strapped to the armed mahogany chair and propped up towards the dining-table sat dead centre in the room, The lacey white tablecloth draping down the sides and tickling at her bare legs.

The room she was in was so dark, Only illuminated by the small sparks of fire coming from the candelabras and the large fireplace housing a raging inferno on the other side of the room.

It barely illuminated the antique furniture and the renaissance architecture, The old paintings worth fortunes and the silver cutlery placed carefully at the dinner table. In any other scenario this would be a room you'd stop to admire, But the smell made her skin itch in the mere presence of it.

The entire place had a stench of sulphur so putrid it made her want to throw up. It watered at [F/N]'s eyes, Stinging and making them a painful red. Though out of everything it was the eyes of the others, The ones that made the chill run down her spine the most.

Cat-slits spot lit from within the shadows, Sickly greens and diseased yellows. The vile glow of their horrid eyes were all locked and focused on the weak form of [F/N] sat defeated on the chair.

She'd never felt more seen, Every atom and molecule had suddenly become present. Aware of her entire form, Her matted hair and her greasy skin. The way her school uniform was stained with sweat and her own tears.

Never had she been so disgusted and terrified in her entire life. These demons, These monsters of old legend in myth. The ones mothers told to their kids as a bedtime fairy-tale and the kind only ever dreamt up on paper, [F/N] knew very well that they weren't just ink and fibre.

She knew too well and she was absolutely repulsed. Even now the iron residue on her tongue was quickly overpowered by the taste of her hatred, The way it made her bruised fists want to ball up and her teeth grind together near making sparks.

Demons, [F/N] hated them. She loathed them will every inch of her being.

[F/N] barely even recognised the dark hum of the voice starting to rev up on the other side of the table, Not registering it through her feeble exhaustion and the wreck of her body.

[F/N] wondered, A weak though as another scorching tear festered in the corner of her eye. How did she get from watching kids cartoons to being captive within her own personal hell? Those questions ran through her mind, Thousands of miles an hour.

Though, She stopped.

No.. Actually, She knew very well how she got here.

She just wished she knew what she was getting into.

☆♡☆

"Hey! Wait up!"

The girls voice called out from atop the overgrown hill, She near stumbled over the hidden rocks and thick grass blossoming from the fresh soil in attempt to catch up to the boy a few metres down.

The smell of the newly blossomed flowers invaded their senses, Both the rain from last night and the pollen of the coming spring still humid in the air.

The wind was fresher here, It was pure. It was a good bit away from all the buzz of the town, All the honking of the cars and the raving chatter of people was nothing but white noise in the distance now.

The field was unkempt and wild, Dewdrops dripping from the blades of grass and the damp soil went fresh onto the kids skin. Smearing them with dirt and wetting their clothes with the morning dew.

[F/N]'s small figure was like a newly born foal, Her legs shook with every stride and it was obvious she had gotten into some accidents by the bandages and bruises covering her legs. The oversized t-shirt she wore depicted some colourful dog and it was one she didn't recognise, Though it was most certainly from a kids show she watched on the youth centre's television.

A bag was slung around her shoulders, It was filled with packets of junk food and fizzy drinks stolen from the youth centre. It thumped against her body as she ran.

"You jerk! You know I can't run as fast as you yet, Tetsuya!" [F/N] exclaimed, Stuttering to a halt and near comically folding her hands in front of her chest. She puffed up her cheeks as she looked at him, A cute display of what was suppose to be annoyance.

Tetsuya giggled, Lightly patting her back.

"I'm sorry! But maybe you shouldn't be such a slowpoke next time." He teased lightly, A sly smile crawling up the sides of his face. [F/N] looked him up and down, Her brows furrowing as she raised her hand and connected it with his shoulders.

Tetsuya exclaimed and stumbled a few feet away from her, A hand lunging to the sore spot on his shoulder as he laughed harder.

"Maybe you shouldn't be such an easy target to hit, Then!" [F/N] giggled as she rested her hands triumphantly on her hips. Looking at Tetsuya and his keeled over form.

He was tall and lanky for his age, The same young number as [F/N] but he looked just a little bit older than he was. His face was peppered with freckles yet you could barely see them from under the hood of his vibrant yellow raincoat.

It was a piece of clothing that you could never see him without, It was way oversized even on someone like him and was stained with years of use. That and the equally as bright wellington boots her wore on his feet, Already covered in the wet dirt of the morn.

Both Tetsuya and [F/N] had met when they both babbled and stumbled when they walked, And ever since they had been inseparable companions.

They grew up in a youth centre, [F/N] being there due to her biological parents signing her up for adoption when she was born and Tetsuya ending up on the doorstep of the centre since day one.

You'd think a lack of a family would put them down, But that wasn't the case. The two of them were the only family they needed, The only hand they needed to hold was each others. If they were together, They would be okay.

That was their philosophy.

[F/N] smiled lightly as she watched him laugh off their banter, A ritual they had for years now. Tetsuya would tease her and she would shove him, He would shove her back and she would throw an insult in turn.

It was their routine, Their cycle and their custom. The way they bonded was through playful taunts and bruises as trophies of their friendship, Ever since they met in the youth centre wherever one would wander another would surely follow after.

Even when they snuck out of the youth centre, [F/N] was quick to follow. Slipping past the staff and other kids they ran out into the woods in search of their own goal.

Tetsuya grinned as he looked back at [F/N], The deep maroon puddled in his eyes reflected off the suns grace.

"Shut it! You're not that hard to hit yourself." He retorted as he shoved [F/N] in return. She snorted and laughed it off, Still energized by the fresh morning air and the electrifying feeling of the dirt and dew on her skin.

"Whatever! Anyways, We've got more important stuff to deal with!" [F/N] proclaimed as her tiny self took a big step forward, Almost as if mapping out a new frontier she raised her hands forward and slowly spreading them. Taking the vast clearing into her memory.

"Here is where me and you are going to make the discovery of a lifetime!" She said, Glancing back towards him with the most excited grin her young face could muster.

Tetsuya took a step forward, Copying her own ecstatic expression now as he stood beside her and gazed onto the vast horizon of grassy fields and overgrown foliage. He turned to her, Looking at her with the sun reflecting in his eyes.

"Here, [F/N], Is where we are going to capture a demon!" Tetsuya announced, Giggling as his hand found it's way into [F/N]'s palm. Her, In response laughed with him as she set a foot forward and started to run with him in tow.

He kept up, His red rain boots stomping and squelching in the muddy dirt as they ran. Both laughing in excitement and joy as they went, Running off into a burst of oak tree's and spruce as their little bodies disappeared into the foliage.

Demons, Though both of them had only learned the presence of such creatures from an old book the youth-centre's priest use to keep, Grew fascinated by the prospect of a whole 'nother race. Both of them wanted to know more.

To capture one, To study it, To know more.

And that's what they were going to do as they ran off.

☆♡☆

"Come on, [F/N]! Quicker!"

Tetsuya called out to [F/N], Their held hands long let go of as they ran further into the wild woods. Ferns and bushes becoming more abundant, Tree's and grass growing more and more common as they sped through the forest.

[F/N] huffed, Beads of sweat starting to fall down her brow as she tried to keep up with Tetsuya. Her lungs were on fire and her tiny legs were going as fast as they could but they already felt like they were going to collapse under her.

"C-Can't we take a break for a second?" [F/N] yelled out from over her exhaustion. Tetsuya took a tiny glance back at her, Blinking once before his run started to slow down until he finally stopped all together.

[F/N] gasped for air as she stumbled to a stop, She almost toppled over as her hands fell to her knees. She stood there for a few minutes, Panting.

"N-Not cool, Dummy! You know I can't run as fast as you.." [F/N] breathed out as she peered up towards Tetsuya, Who stood there near equally as out of breath as she was. Despite that however, A smile was spread wide across his sweat dampened face.

"It's fine, We're here now anyways so we can stop now!" Tetsuya said as he started to look around in the clearing they had landed in. [F/N] followed to take a peek, Though her exhausted legs stayed firmly in place.

It was a much less wild part of the forest, Though that wasn't saying much as the clusters of oak and spruce were still very much present. The grass was shorter here, Revealing the families of insects crawling around.

Centipedes, Spiders, Beetles and Butterflies were all around them. Some wiggling around on the ground and others fluttering in the air, Leaving a faint glimpse of ultraviolet and chartreuse in it's pathway.

It was scenic, A place you could take a loved one on a date or where an entomologist would thrive along with the creatures they studied.

It was also perfect for two little kids to go demon hunting.

"Wow.. Just look at all of this.." Tetsuya said as he looked at a caterpillar crawling across the bark of a tree. Tetsuya looked at it like it was the eighth wonder, Eyes sparkling in interest as he watched it move.

[F/N] took off the bag around her shoulder, The heavy weight of it holding her down.

[F/N] stumbled over to him like a new-born foal in order to get a good look at what he was spying on. She blinked once she peered over his shoulder, Though smiled once more once her eyes landed on the caterpillar.

"Wooow.. He's so cute!" [F/N] squealed as she moved closer to the caterpillar, Unconsciously pushing Tetsuya out of the way to get a better look at the insect.

[F/N] raised her hand, Slowly placing it towards the bark where the caterpillar walked. It was a lime green colour, With two little antenna sticking out of his tiny head. It's first half raised as he saw her hand.

[F/N] waited patiently with a smile as she looked at it, The caterpillar seemed to look back and forth. It took a moment, All before slowly crawling towards her and climbing into the dip of her palm.

"Aah! Tetsuya, Look! It climbed onto my hand!" [F/N] cheered as she presented the little bug to Tetsuya with care, Holding out her hand to him with the biggest of smiles plastered all over her face.

Tetsuya smiled back, But scratched the back of his head.

"That's really cool! Though.. It looks like I stepped on one by accident.." Tetsuya said nervously as he lifted his foot to reveal a squashed caterpillar, One that looked very similar to the one [F/N] held in her hands.

The still-alive caterpillar seemed to squeak within her hands, [F/N]'s eyes widening and her free hand lightly shoving Tetsuya.

"Tetsu'! You need to be more careful, That was a living animal!" [F/N] scolded him as she lifted the caterpillar in her hands onto her shoulder. It sat atop her, If it had a visible face it would be staring knives into Tetsuya.

"It's fine, [F/N]! It's just a bug, It's not like it's a demon or anything.." Tetsuya said as he turned to walk back to explore the rest of the clearing.

[F/N]'s cheeks were puffed up in annoyance, She watched Tetsuya wander off with a pout on her face. The caterpillar on her shoulder whined once, Making [F/N] turn towards it with a newfound smile.

"Hey.. It's okay Mr. Caterpillar! Oh.. Wait.. Do you have a real name?" [F/N] asked as she tilted her head, Looking towards him if he was going to answer her.

The caterpillar couldn't speak, It had no mouth nor no vocal chords. It only raised it's head in attention.

But miraculously, It shook it's head.

[F/N] let out a small 'Oh', Completely tossing away the fact that it responded to her in the first place. She turned her head back towards the ground, Focusing her eyes onto her feet in thought.

"Well, Then.. How about I give you a name?" [F/N] asked as she looked back to it with a shine in her eyes, One that burned as bright as the sun itself. It was her childhood innocence, That naive wonder that could pierce through anything.

The caterpillar took a moment to admire it before nodding it's head.

"Okay then!" [F/N] squealed. She gently but quickly picked the caterpillar into her hands, Scooping it into her palms. She moved her face closer to the caterpillar, Her nose lightly kissing it's antenna.

"How about.. Chiyo?" [F/N] asked, Blinking once and waiting for it's reaction.

The caterpillar took a moment, Before shaking it's head no.

"Hm.. Okay then.." [F/N] drawled, Bringing a hand up to her chin and rubbing it in thought.

"How about Miyu?"

The caterpillar shook it's head again.

"Momo? Nope.."

"Nori? No.."

"Koro?" [F/N] finalised, Looking down at the caterpillar. It's antenna swayed back and forth, Staying still and seeming to mull over the name. It turned back to [F/N], Before it nodded in confirmation.

[F/N]'s face lit up, Smiling wider as she looked down at Koro.

"Okay then, Koro! It's great to meet you, My name is [F/N]!" She said as she brought her hand up to Koro, Her pinky finger was stuck out as if she was going to shake his non-existent arm.

Koro took it in kind, His top half resting on top of her pinky as [F/N] shook it. Once they were finished however, [F/N] gently picked him up and placed him back onto her shoulder.

"Hey, [F/N]! Over here!" Tetsuya called out to her. [F/N] blinked, Snapping her head around to meet the excited face of her friend standing a few metres away from her by a bunch of bushes.

[F/N] nodded, Making sure Koro was comfortable before prancing over to Tetsuya with a skip in her step.

"Yeah? What's up, Tetsu'?" [F/N] greeted with a nod as she went to stand beside him. As she got closer though, She could notice the focused expression present on his face. It was alight with interest, A scientist making the discovery of a lifetime.

Tetsuya glanced back at her, But ultimately kept his eyes infront of him. A deeper part of the woods, Where the tree's grew thicker and the lights grew dim in the foliage.

"Do you hear that, [F/N]?" Tetsuya said, His voice growing into a whisper as he stepped closer to her. [F/N]'s eyes narrowed lightly, Her ears perking up once the silence fell in.

It was quiet. There wasn't anything around to be heard except for the faint rustle of the leaves in the morning breeze. Though [F/N] thought it was strange that the chirp of crickets and birds were now completely absent, There wasn't anything to be heard.

[F/N]'s ears perked up suddenly, Her eyes widened at the sudden noise.

It was a rustle, Not the faint brush of leaves against each other from the trees or the grass. It was loud, Deliberate, It sounded like something big had hit against a bush or even worse: hidden inside it.

A sudden cold chill ran down her spine like a bucket of freezing water was dumped onto her. It made her little body go rigid, A sudden sense of unease growing more and more evident as she listened onto the silence.

Tetsuya however, His grin only grew louder and louder with every passing moment. Every tick of the imaginary clock that passed by the more his joy became potent. Koro too, Also seemed to sense this, Raising his head towards the dark woods in front of him.

"[F/N].. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" He asked to her, Taking a step forward and brushing against the bush in front of him.

[F/N] turned to him, Horrified eyes as she stared onto his unwavering form. Her lip started to shake as she took a step back.

"Tetsuya.. I think we need to go back to the centre.. I-I don't feel safe here.." [F/N] whispered to him but even then that seemed like sirens in the concentrated silence of the clearing. Tetsuya looked back at her, Raising a brow.

"[F/N].. This is what we came out here for, I can sense it.. It's a demon, I can tell..!" Tetsuya whispered enthusiastically, His hand going to rest on her free shoulder as he looked into her eyes with that ever confident gaze.

[F/N] gulped, Swallowing down saliva.

"I-I know, Tetsu'.. But this doesn't feel right, S-Something's wrong.. Very, Very wrong.." [F/N] said, Tears starting to prickle at her eyes as her hands went to grip the hem of her over-sized shirt, Clutching at it like it was her life-line.

Something in the darkness, Something in there just felt so off. It made her want to run away, Made her want to get out of this forest and go back to the youth centre where she could watch her cartoons. But she didn't want to go without Tetsuya, She didn't want to leave him behind.

Tetsuya groaned as he looked at her.

"Oh come on, [F/N]. Are you really not gonna come with me?" He said exasperated, Looking into her eyes with a reassuring yet impatient confidence. [F/N]'s lips parted, Taking a hesitant glance into the dark before turning back to him.

"I.. Um.." She stuttered. Koro, Who was sitting on her shoulder, Started to squeak. Tetsuya shot a look at it before pulling the hand off of her shoulder.

"Fine. If you're not gonna go, Then I'll do it on my own. Wait for me here!" Tetsuya finalised as he huffed, Quickly turning towards the dark forest before taking stride through the bushes in front of him. [F/N] gasped, Her hands leaping towards him.

"T-Tetsu'! Wait!" She called out but it was too late, Her hands were just out of reach from him. Tetsuya had already gotten through the shrubbery and had ran off into the darkness with a widened grin.

She heard his footsteps grow fainter and fainter as his body was consumed by the shadows of the forest. [F/N] stood there shaking, Staring off into the void of the foliage.

Koro squeaked on her shoulder, His small body crawling into the crook of her neck as what only could be interpreted as comfort.

[F/N] turned to look down at him, Her thumping heart only slowing down as she felt his movements on her neck. She tried to smile down at him, A shaky sort of expression as she stepped back from the bushes.

"I-It's fine, Koro. I'm sure Tetsuya will be back soon.." [F/N] said as she backed up a few feet, Feeling her back hit the tree she slid down into a sitting position. Pushing her knees to her chest she decided to wait within the silence of the forest.

[F/N]'s words were optimistic doubt, Knowing Tetsuya he would take his time if he really did find something. He's always been that way, Something [F/N] half-chuckled at as she sat against the bark.

She tried to shake off the awful feeling pooling in her gut, The pulsing kind of wrongness that you could feel in your bones. Maybe it was just her sensitive nerves, But that didn't stop the way she dug her nails into the skin of her knee's.

Koro squeaked once more, Sensing her discomfort.

[F/N] smiled once more, Bringing a hand up to gently stroke along his back.

"He'll be back soon.." [F/N] mumbled to him as she ran her finger along his back.

"Excuse me? Who are you suppose to be?"

A childish and impudent voice called out from somewhere beside her. [F/N]'s eyes widened in surprise as she jerked her head over to meet the voice.

It was a boy, No younger than she could've been. His posture was high and his nose was raised towards her as if she was nothing but a rodent beneath him. But that's not what stuck out to her the most, It was his attire that really caught her eye.

It was eccentric, Something reminiscent of what an English Tudor would wear with big poofy pantaloons with hues of navy and royal reds streaking them. Not to mention he wore pointed boots and a waistcoat with a comically high collar resembling the wings of a fly.

That and the staff he carried with a wooden snails shell carved into the tip. His stripy stockings and his large bug-ish cape. He stared at her impatiently with an annoyed glare, Nipping yellow eyes looking at her from under his lime-green bob.

[F/N] blinked once, Noticing all the insects that seemed to gather around him.

"Oh, Uh.. My name is [F/N]!" She said, Getting up from the tree and steadying herself on her feet. She stared at all the arachnids and invertebrates swarming him, A spider on his shoulder or centipede swirling around his leg.

He sneered, But it looked ridiculous with his chubby cheeks and big eyes trying to stare at her.

"Ugh, Another mortal entering my territory? You're disturbing the insects here, Leave, Now." It wasn't a request but an order, Whoever this boy was he sure was demanding. It didn't sit right with [F/N], Despite not knowing what the word mortal or territory meant, She knew it was derogatory.

"Erm.. I'm sorry but I was here first! Even if it was your.. 'Terrytorie'? Then we can both share, There's enough for both of us!" [F/N] argued as she took a few steps towards him. Though as she did she could now make out more strange features about him.

His eyes, Through an unusual canary yellow was colouring them she could now make out the strange shape of his pupils, Which resembled a cat's sliced eye.

And through his hair she could notice two odd shapes, Two bits of hair that seemed to stick up like a caterpillars antenna. [F/N] had no idea what kind of dire situation she was currently in, She couldn't sense the danger from her young mind.

The bugs that crowded around him started to move, Writhing around as the caterpillar on his leg started to chitter angrily. Beetles to Butterflies started to get restless, Roaches and arachnids started to hiss.

The boy gritted his unusually pointed teeth, The bugs swarming on him seemed to grow in number as he raised the staff in his hand. But before he could slam it down onto the damp ground below, A desperate squeak erupted from [F/N]'s shoulder.

The boy stopped mid staff-slam onto the ground, He blinked once, His expression falling before his eyes snapped around to [F/N]'s shoulder. Her in turn, Looked around to see Koro standing on his hind legs, Continuously squeaking.

"Koro, What's wrong?" [F/N] whispered as she plucked him from her shoulder and lain him in her cupped palms. Koro in turn, Curled up into a little ball inside her hands. The boy in front of her stared blankly at the tiny creature.

"Eh? Why do you have a caterpillar in yours hands, You're going to hurt him you idiot!" The boy yelled, His tiny hands balling up into fists as he looked at her enraged. His unnaturally sharp teeth gritted together.

[F/N] stared at him for a second, Before her eyes widened in realisation.

"Oh! Is he yours? I'm really sorry for picking him up! I kinda just put out my hand and he got on, I didn't know he was a pet!" [F/N] grinned as she stretched out her arm to present Koro to him.

The boy's angry demeanour that he had just.. Froze. His eyes darted down to Koro held out to him, Staring at him as if he was expecting a different outcome entirely. Though his attitude quickly picked up once more as he swiftly went to pick up Koro.

"Hmph! Don't act as if you're sorry, You're lucky that I don't evaporate you right here and now!" The boy announced, Quickly placing Koro onto his shoulder and moving his hands to his hips as he stared at [F/N].

"Eeh.. 'Eva-pour-it'? What does that mean?" [F/N] said, Stuttering out the unfamiliar word as she placed a hand on her chin.

The boy's brows furrowed, Rolling his eyes.

"Stupid humans.. Don't even know their own language.." He muttered under his breath, Folding his arms rather dramatically as he threw his head to the side in disgust.

"Huh?" [F/N] prompted, Tilting her head.

"Whatever! Leave now and be grateful that I decided to spare you today, Mortal" The boy said as he tossed his cape in the mid-morning breeze as he turned his back to her. The posse of bugs and arachnids that crowded around him started to move away as he marched off.

[F/N] blinked, A sudden nervousness rising in her chest as she subconsciously took a step forward.

"W-Wait! Can I at least say goodbye to Koro?" She called out to him, Watching as the boy stopped in his tracks once the words left her mouth. He turned his head to the side, Giving her a side-eyed glance.

"Who?" He asked impatiently.

"The caterpillar, I named him Koro!" [F/N] announced as she pointed to Koro, Who was on his hind legs and looking back at her.

The boy's body seemed to go rigid as if he came eye to eye with medusa herself, The bugs around him followed his actions as they all froze along with him. His eyes looked over her, Before lowering his staff and turning to meet her face once more.

"You.. You named him?" He asked, A slight stutter in his voice which was new for his previously arrogant tone.

[F/N] hummed, Then nodded.

"Well, Yeah! I named him Koro because it's a cute name for a cute bug! If he has another name then I can use that?" She asked as she took a few steps closer to him.

The bugs surrounding the boy started to move towards her as she approached, The chittering and chirping of them starting to pick up to an angry hum. But they were stopped by the boy, Who held his hand in the air to stop them.

"Hm! Your kind usually doesn't take such an interest in my kin. Don't you find him disgusting? Creepy, Perhaps?" He asked as he moved the hand to present all the creatures around him.

"Nuh-uh, I think they're really pretty. I mean.. I know everyone else doesn't like them, But I like them a lot. They don't deserve the hate." [F/N] said as she put out her hands onto the ground in front of the beetle, It's pincers snapping once or twice before crawling onto her hand.

[F/N] smiled, A blush appearing on her face as she kneeled down onto the damp grass to get a better look at the invertebrates around her. She ignored the way it got her shirt wet in favour of admiring the insects.

A shining blue Beatle, A beautiful iridescent butterfly and even a little white cockroach with a pink-polka dot scarf and top hat. They were beautiful, Absolutely gorgeous creatures hailing from the earth. [F/N] looked at them, All adoringly.

The boy was speechless, His lemon-shaded eyes looked down at her in shock as he watched the beetle run around on [F/N]'s hand. His lips were parted, His stature softening before the arrogant expression reappeared on his face.

"..Well, I guess you could stay a bit longer. But don't get on my nerves, Understand? Otherwise I won't hesitate to get rid of you." He said, A warning that [F/N] completely disregarded.

Her smile grew wider, Near as bright as the sun shining down on the both of them.

"Ah, Really!? Thank you.. Um.. I'm sorry, But what's your name?" [F/N] asked, A puzzled look on her face as she realised she had no idea who he was. The boy in turn straightened his posture and smiled.

"My name is Beelzebub, I am the king of insects so you better respect me!" Beelzebub announced, All the bugs and the arachnids around him chirped and chittered in a chorus of praise as if to proclaim of his presence.

[F/N] wasn't that far behind as she stood up from her position, Setting the beetle down and gasping in wonder.

"Woah! You're a king? Like.. A king of bugs? That's so cool! Your clothes make sense now!" She said as she pointed towards his Tudor attire. It did too, From his high pointed collar to his well-tailored boots, It finally made sense in her little mind as to why he dressed as such.

Beelzebub grinned wider, Taking in her praise.

"Of course! This kind of clothing is only befitting of a king like me, Besides! It makes me look cute." Beelzebub pouted and folded his arms, Flaunting his adorable stature. From his chubby cheeks to his tiny little hands he certainly was.

Even though she didn't understand any of his fancy royal words like 'Mortal' or 'Evaporate', She did understand that she was having a good time and she now had another friend her age to play with.

[F/N] however rubbed her chin in thought.

"Hmm.. Your name is kinda hard to say though.. What if I give you a shorter name?" [F/N] asked. Beelzebub, She didn't even attempt to pronounce that, She knew very well that she would make a mockery of it.

"A shorter name? A nickname? Like what?" Beelzebub asked, Suspicion lacing every word he spoke as he looked at her. [F/N] scratched her chin in thought.

"Huh.. How about.. Beel? That's a pretty easy name to say!" [F/N] said, Face lighting up as she snapped her fingers.

Beelzebub blinked. Koro, Who was still sitting upon his shoulder, Had his antenna swishing happily to and fro as Beelzebub thought over her words.

"Hmm.." Beelzebub hummed as he tasted the way 'Beel' sounded on his tongue, All before his folded arms tighened "Alright then! You may call me that" He finalized as a small smile appeared on his face.

"Cool! I got food in my bag if you wanna share it with me?" [F/N] asked as she pointed to the abandoned bag of food laying within the grass, By now a few ants and beetles have been circling it as they smelt the savoury scent of the food kept inside.

Beelzebub 'hmph'd' before marching over to the lonely bag dropped on the ground, The bugs obediently followed after him once he peered over inside the bag. He blinked, Observing the contents before smiling.

"This will do."

☆♡☆

The blue sky above them was crystal clear, Only the faintest of ivory clouds daring to dust their hues.

By now it had turned into the early afternoon. The sun was burning bright and had dried the damp foliage from the previous nights rain, The embracing heat being evidence of that. The baby blue surrounding it had turned into a vivid sapphire now, A beautiful spring day.

The breeze had picked up, The bushes of leaves in the surrounding lumber hit and grazed against each other in the gale. The wind tickling the skin of [F/N] as she sat nestled within the grassy clearing of the forest.

It blew threw her hair, Making it dance and wave within the breeze. She laughed as she took another bite into her half-eaten rice cake, The cocoa covering on top flooded sweet taste into her mouth.

By now the stash in her back was well ravaged. Empty boxes of strawberry pocky lay strewn in front of her, Kit-kat foils were stuffed into them with little Mochi wrappers scattered around the girl.

They had been talking for what seemed to be hours now, Beelzebub turning out to be good company after all. It had took a bit of work but he had began to open up to her, Smiling more often and actually participating in conversation of his own.

He had gone through her stash of food, [F/N] had learned that he had a penchant for anything barbeque flavoured so she had made sure to give what she had of that to him. Beelzebub being surprisingly appreciative as they rambled on.

[F/N] giggled, The corners of her mouth were dirtied with her eaten chocolate.

"Well.. I like singing but I'm not really that good at it yet, But I like drawing too and I'm really good at it! All the grown-ups at the youth centre say so." [F/N] explained through her chews of the rice cake, Looking over towards Beelzebub.

He was sat down beside her, His cape drooping around him like a blanket while his hands tightly gripped a bag of barbeque flavoured crisps. His cheeks were puffed up, Stuffed to the brim with the savoury snack.

He chewed, Swallowing a bit down so he could speak.

"Youth centre? Don't you smaller mortals have bigger ones to take care of you?" Beelzebub asked through his eating. By now, The both of them had bugs swarming them. A few surrounding them, Some crawling on their lap and others nestled upon their shoulder.

[F/N] stopped eating for a minute, Her face falling slightly as a butterfly landed on her knee.

"Well.. Yeah, But I don't." [F/N] answered. Beelzebub recognised her now less peppy demeanour, His smile slowly turned into a tight-lipped frown.

"Why?" He asked, Genuinely curious as he focused his attention onto [F/N]. She, In turn, Decided to continue eating her food as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Umm.. My family who had me before just didn't want me, So they gave me to the youth centre to get adopted by a new family." [F/N] spoke as she chewed, Finishing the last of the rice-cake as she shoved it in her mouth.

"And.. You haven't got adopted by a new family" Beelzebub asked, Seemingly confused.

"Nope." [F/N] replied.

Beelzebub turned back to his own packet of crisps, Seeming staring into the contents inside. His face was blank as he looked at the crisps inside of the near-empty packet, He concentrated on them before..

THUMP!

A sudden noise came from inside his chest, Making his hand shoot to clutch the point

His chest was rattling, Something contained within his ribcage seemed to be beating for some kind of reason. It made his vessel sweat and the muscles around his mouth start to turn up on it's own.

His eyes widened, A light gracing them for the first time in thousands of years.

Could this be..?!

"Beel.. Are you okay?" [F/N] asked slowly as she saw his strange behaviour.

Koro, Who was lain out on the grass before, Started to crawl up his leg and up onto his shoulder.

It snapped Beelzebub out of whatever train of thought he was in before he turned back to her. Something inside him was resonating, Something weird and unfamiliar as he looked at the young girl beside him.

He grinned, Placing a hand to the ground below to push himself up from his position. [F/N] sat confused upon the grass, Looking up at him with a tilted head as he began to speak.

"That's it! I've decided." He proclaimed, A hand raising to press against his voice as he announced to the world his sentence. [F/N] smiled a bit, Taking his new stature as play.

He suddenly turned, The hand on his chest suddenly swooping down to point at [F/N] as she jolted in surprise.

"I, Beelzebub, King of Insects, Will be your new family! I'll adopt you!" He decreed as he pointed at her with a large smile. The feeling in his chest, The one that beat like a merciless drum within his ribcage. It was only going so much faster as he spoke.

[F/N] looked at him blankly, Before she snorted. Beelzebub's face fell as she started to giggle.

"Haha-! But, Beel! You're my age, You can't be my dad. That and we need more people for a family, It can't be just us! It's really nice of you though!" [F/N] smiled sweetly as she looked up at him from where she sat.

Beelzebub huffed, Folding his arms as he looked down at her.

"Well I don't mean like a father, I mean like.. Like a sibling, Yeah! I'll be your brother! And besides, We don't need anymore people. I just want it to be us." Beezlebub explained.

[F/N]'s expression though still smiling, Started to dim.

"..But I can't! I'd miss all my friends back at the youth centre like Kazuo or Aoi or.." She trailed off. The hand counting her fingers paused in it's tracks.

Beezlebub blinked, Stepping forward towards her.

"Hm? [F/N], What's wrong?" He asked

"Tetsuya!" [F/N] exclaimed. The face of the boy who had grown up with her since diapers appeared on her mind. She had had so much fun with her new friend that she had completely forgotten about him.

How long was he in there? It must've been hours at least! How ignorant she was for being so careless, She should've went with him to make sure he was okay. She chided herself in her mind, Regret washing over her.

Beelzebub however started to look annoyed.

"Who?" He asked. Irritated at the announcement of another person in her mind.

[F/N] jumped up off the moist grass, The bugs surrounding her scampering away from the sudden movement.

"Tetsuya-! My best friend! I gotta go find him now, Actually. I shouldn't of let him go in there!" [F/N] exclaimed, Face turning into a worried frown as she went to run off in the direction of Tetsuya's general location.

But a sudden, Surprisingly strong hand wrapped around her wrist, Keeping her in place.

"But.. But.. I actually had a good time today! I actually like being around you, You can't go!" Beezlebub exclaimed as [F/N] looked back to meet his eyes, Surprise flooding through her bloodstream as she looked at him.

It was the first time she had seen him look.. Desperate, On edge. His scrunched temples and wide eyes. His grasp strong around her wrist for someone of his size, It was firm and determined.

[F/N] blinked looking back at him, Not sure what to do as she stood there frozen. Snapping out of it however she shook her head, Trying to smile the best she could towards her friend.

"I'm sorry.. Beel, But I need to go find my friend. Maybe we can meet later..?" [F/N] trailed off, Trying to placate the situation as best as she could.

But the hand around her wrist only hardened, Beelzebub's face becoming less irritated and something more. Something much more angry.

"No, No, No! I want you to stay here, I'm your new family, Remember? So stay here and we can continue having fun!" Beelzebub yelled, His teeth now bared to her in a fired up hiss. He got up now, Hand still on her wrist as he got face to face with her.

His behaviour was that of toddler throwing a tantrum, Near completely. Him stomping his boot-clad feet and his spare hand doing the same. Not to mention his voice was just like one of the kids back at the centre whining to stay up just a little longer.

[F/N]'s smile fell from her face completely. The sudden safety she had felt was gone now as his behaviour ramped up.

She bit her lip as he stared her dead in the eyes with that golden glow.

"..Beel, You know that's just words right? I need to go now, I'm.. I'm sorry, Okay?" [F/N] said in the sweetest voice she could. But it was no use as the grip on her wrist tightened and tightened, Getting to a point that it was painful.

"No! I won't let you!" Beelzebub yelled.

The hand on her wrist yanked her forward, An inhuman power in his movement that made her stumble forward near falling down. She cried out in pain, An aching throb in her wrist.

"Ah- B-Beel! Let go of me, Let go!!" [F/N] wailed as Beelzebub pulled her forward towards him. The bugs around them swarming in numbers, Swirling around their feet as she started to kick and punch at his body.

Though the blows connected with his body, He didn't even move an inch.

"Come on now! You're my sister now so you should listen to me, I don't want you running off with any other mortal when I'm around to play with you now" Beelzebub huffed as he started to drag a screaming [F/N] out into the deeper parts of the woods.

He did it so easily, He did it with no effort whatsoever as he lugged her along with him and the bugs that followed. [F/N] looked around, Vision getting hot and blurry as she kept screaming. Trying to find a way out.

Her arms flailed around, Swinging aimlessly towards him before her fists slammed down onto the top of his head.

It hit the weird parts of hair sticking out of his chartreuse bob, And somehow that made an impact.

Beelzebub yelled out suddenly as the fists connected with his hair, Her wrist escaping his grasp as his own went to hold the painful spot on his head. He stumbled forward, Whining in agony.

"W-Why'd you do that?! Why.. Why'd you.. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT HURTS?!" He suddenly yelled out, Body snapping around to meet her with a new animalistic glare. Teeth sharper than they were before and the slits of his eyes widening in anger.

But by the time he had looked back, She was gone from sight.

[F/N] ran, Already making her way through the opposite side of the forest. What had came over Beelzebub she had no idea, The way he started to get aggressive and how much he wanted her to stay.

A bad feeling came over her, Something was wrong. Something was very wrong as she ran past dozens of tree's and shrubbery. Wind whipping at her face as her eyes darted around for Tetsuya.

She needed to get him and get out of here, There was something in this forest that seemed alive. [F/N] didn't know exactly what it was or if it was connected to Beelzebub. All she knew is that whatever it was, It was something not meant for human beings to be near.

Feet pattering against the grass like thunder strikes in the distance, Lungs becoming heavy. Her eyes zipping around for any sign of her friend. His yellow raincoat, His wellington boots or the ruffle of his hair.

[F/N] called out.

"Tetsuya! T-Tetsuya! Tetsu-"

[F/N] stopped in her tracks, Feet skittering to a halt and planting in the ground.

Her eyes widened.

The scent of iron played in the air.

But that wasn't what she was focused on, No.

Instead it was the mess of meat and bone splattered on the ground.

Muscle tissue was strewn everywhere, The green of the grass splattered crimson. The stench of iron coming from the spill of organs. A heart pinned to a tree there, Lungs laying against a rock and his intestines strung like birthday banners upon branches.

The worst of all was the yellow raincoat carrying it all. Stained with the blood of the boy it belonged to.

[F/N] screamed.

She backed away, Her feet catching on nothing as she tripped over and slammed down onto the bloody grass. [F/N] screamed and screamed, Eyes unable to take her eyes off of the yellow raincoat and the wellington boots put to the side.

The body of a squashed caterpillar sitting on top of him.

[lenoraah]

𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴

pairing - dennis hauger x reader

summary - reader and Dennis decides that even though they’re not together, they can still surprise each other on Valentine’s Day + named best friend action

a/n - this man doesn’t get enough love

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“I am not letting you mope around on Valentine’s Day again, you understand-”

Olive pauses as she walks into the couple’s apartment. She thought that while Dennis was gone that Y/n would be moping around wearing one of his sweatshirts and scowling while eating a tub of ice cream.

“What is going on?” Olive is left with a dumbfounded look on her face as she sits down on the couch.

Y/n has a giant grin on her face as she grabs two cans of sparking juice out of the fridge while humming.

Olive holds in a breath as she looks around the living room. There is vase of roses on the counter and coffee table. The heart vintage heart shape snow globe that she had gotten the couple is sitting on the window sill next to the strawberry candle.

Y/n is wearing beige linen pants and a baby pink sweater with a heart on the middle. The expression on her face makes Olive open her mouth with no sound coming out.

“What?” Y/n asks as she reaches for the TV remote.

“Why are you so happy?” Olive replies as she squints Serendipity being turned on instead of 10 Things I Hate About You or The Notebook.

“Because it’s Valentine’s Day and I will not let it be ruined again just me and Dennis aren’t together.”

Oh wow.

“You know what, good for you.” Olive pats Y/n on the back before opening her drink.

“I know,” Y/n smiles as she leans against her best friend’s side with a sigh.

The two get the middle of the movie before Y/n’s phone starts ringing. The sound makes both of them scowl as Olive pauses the movie and Y/n answers.

“Hello?”

“Hi baby, where are you?”

The sound of Dennis’s voice makes Y/n smile like an idiot. She twirls a piece of hair around her finger and Olive rolls her eyes.

“Home, with Olive, watching a movie.” Y/n leans the couch as she watches her best friend eat popcorn whiling listening to their conversation.

“Okay, I left something for you in my nightstand drawer. I got it for you a couple-” Dennis gets cut off by someone speaking in Italian. “I got to go, love you. I’ll call you soon,”

“I love you too,”

Y/n looks at Olive with her mouth open just a little before the brunette shoos the y/h/c girl out of the living room and into the couple’s bedroom. Y/n waste no time running into her bedroom.

Olive unpauses the movie and keeps sipping her drink before hearing an excited shriek.

“What? What is it?” The brunette spins her head around as Y/n runs back into living room.

Y/n holds a stuffed bunny in her hands with a pout on her face. Olive squints to see the petite gold watch around the pink bunny’s arm.

“Olive, look.” Y/n shoves the bunny in Olive’s face and Olive nods.

“Yes, very romantic, now please stop reminding me that I’m single and that you and Dennis have one of the most cheesiest relationships I know of.” Olive teases as Y/n unclamps the watch and clasps it around her wrist.

“I know, I know, ugh he’s too sweet.” Y/n says as she notices the engraving on the inside of the watch. It’s her initials and his together. Oh, the cheesiness and sweetness at the same time.

“You did something for him right?” Olive ask as she watches Y/n admire the watch with the bunny cuddled against her chest.

“Um, duh.”

————————————————————————

“Delivery for- Dennis Hauger.”

“Uh, thank you.”

The delivery man raises an eyebrow as he hands the confused Norwegian a bouquet of white roses with a card attached.

“Long distance?”

“Yeah, something like that.” Dennis smiles as he thinks about Y/n.

He thanks the delivery man before closing the door and squinting at the roses.

What was happening.

Dennis leans against the counter as he gently lays the flowers in the marble countertop. He carefully takes out the card without untying the flowers.

He can’t keep but smiling like an idiot as he reads the letter.

Dennis sighs as he gently touches the petals of the roses.

Here he was, thousands of miles away from his girlfriend. Unable to be with her and hug her.

But you know what, they’re making it work and that was that. That was they needed. A little sprinkle of affection and love.

And they both know that they were going to have so many moments together. So many Valentine’s Day to spent together and so many holidays.

They both knew that.

Dennis smiles faintly as he reaches for his phone, just can’t wait to hear Y/n’s voice.

[endlessp0ssibilities]

Her body may have been frozen in time, but she was all too aware of what was happening. Her eyes moved to look at Rascal, watching her body take hit after hit, yet not feeling anything. Next thing she knew, she was flung back and slammed against a wall, air rushing out of her lungs. Her eyes rolled back before she slid down, landing on her butt. She coughed, then smirked. "If you could do that, why are ya having such a hard time beating Snotーhead?"

Ember staggered back up, ignorant to the pain surging between her right shoulder and arm. Her grin grew wider as she used Chaos Control again, this time teleporting behind Rascal and delivering a kick aimed for her head.

rascal's body moves in answer; she folds in two, as if the punch had connected — except. ❝ heh. ❞ aside from the smell of warm laundry, not only did rascal stay untouched – the girl couldn't move.

CINETIS ACTIVATED.

❝ MY TURN. ❞

locked in space, rascal has her right where she wants her; she strikes, strikes, strikes – and the second she snaps her finger, THE HEDGEHOG IS SENT FLYING AGAINST THE WALL, built up kinetic energy suddenly released.

❝ tol'ja to WALK IT OFF. ❞

[zhongrin]

ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ꜱʜᴇᴇᴛ: ᴏᴄ

꧁𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨

ʙᴀꜱᴇ ᴘʀᴏꜰɪʟᴇ ⟡ ɪɴ-ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴇᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴ ① ⟡ ɪɴ-ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴇᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴ ②

Disclaimer: I'm not a meta player so these numbers or effects may be fucked up. Please take it in all good fun 🙏🏻

ー༄ Special Dish:

“Absolutely Normal Hot Chocolate.”

Type: Recovery Dishes

Ingredients: Cocoa powder x2, Milk x1, Spice x1

Effect: Restores 18~22% of Max HP to the selected character and regenerates 300~470 HP every 5s for 30s.

Description: Coviello’s specialty. Indulgent blend of cocoa and steaming hot milk, along with a dollop of condensed milk and a dash of cinnamon, with marshmallows to stir in or nibble on the side. It’ll warm up your body from the inside. Disclaimer: this version has no god’s remains inside.

ー༄ Favorite food:

“Venison Stew”

Type: Recovery Dishes

Ingredients: Raw meat x2, Fire-Water x1, Pepper x1

Effect: Restores 26~30% of Max HP to the selected character and regenerates 450~790 HP every 5s for the next 30s.

Description: A simple but hearty meal made of freshly hunted game. Since the Fire-Water is poured in the later process of the cooking, the alcohol should warm anyone up quite nicely. A perfect dinner to have in a cold winter night.

ー༄ Signature Weapon:

🗡 Frozen Flame

Weapon Type: Sword

2nd Stat Type: Elemental Mastery

Rating: ★★★★★

Description: An icy blue sword with glowing red ‘veins’ along its blade. Forged by the cold frozen lake of Snezhnaya's endless winters and the eternal fire of Natlan, it seems to be especially receptive to certain elements.

Refinement Rank 1: Lux Aut Umbra

Upon hitting enemies affected by Hydro: Refreshes any existing Nota stacks and gains one Umbra Nota, which increases ATK to all party members by 18% for 10s. Max 3 stacks. The next two Umbra Nota can only be gained if wielder is off-field. When the wielder has 3 stacks, active character’s ATK SPD will be increased by 6%.

Upon hitting enemies affected with Cryo or Pyro: Refreshes any existing Nota stacks and gains Lux Nota, which increases the wielder’s Normal Attack DMG by 100%. This effect will disappear after 42 DMG instances or 18s.

A/N ⟡ Kit Concept: Mainly a weapon to better enhance Coviello's versatile playstyle. e.g. as support/sub-DPS, you'd focus on gaining Umbra Nota and making sure they go off-field, while as a main/sub-DPS, you'd focus on gaining Lux Nota (which can easily be done using their Elemental Burst).

ー༄ Active Skills:

Normal Attack: Advancing in Caution

Normal Attack: Performs up to 5 rapid strikes.

Charged Attack: Consumes a certain amount of stamina to quickly step back and either 1) fires a pistol or 2) throws a dagger. Both instances deal Physical DMG.

Plunging Attack: Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact.

Elemental Skill: Frostbite

Duration: 12s ⟡ CD: 20s

Cryo DMG: (Base level) 120% ATK + 140% Elemental Mastery

Applies a circular Cryo field which deals continuous Cryo DMG every 2s.

“Why do I wear thick clothes and layers if the cold doesn’t bother me?”

“….... You know I’m still human, right? Or was that a roundabout way of you saying that you want me to die?”

Elemental Burst: Ice Burn

Duration: 18s ⟡ CD: 32s

Enhanced Normal Attack DMG: (Base level) 120% ATK + 250% Elemental Mastery

HP Drain: 5% Max HP per second

Coviello activates their delusion and alternates between Cryo and Pyro DMG between attacks, causing continuous Melt reaction. This will convert their Normal Attack: Advancing in Caution’s Physical DMG into Elemental DMG.

While they’re in this state, their HP will continuously be drained.

“Do you know what severe frostbite feels like? It feels tingly at first, like sparks of electricity. Then, it starts to burn and swell, before you lose all feelings in that particular area... Heh. Ironic, isn’t it? How can cold ice feel like it’s burning your skin?”

“....... I suppose it's something you might not be able to wrap your head around unless you've experienced it yourself.”

A/N ⟡ Kit Concept: Great off-field support/sub-DPS for Hydro-wielding characters (specifically Childe), but turns into main/sub-DPS after their Elemental Burst is unleashed (which could also be a good support for Childe as you wait for his Elemental Skill cooldown). Also I imagine if RNG blesses Cov to fire a pistol as a charged attack, in-game Meirin would go "That's my child ;w;" /silly

ー༄ Passive Skills:

Thermoregulatory: Party is immune to cold weather effects.

Avalanche (be upon ye): If the deployed party is entirely composed of Hydro and Cryo characters, including Coviello, opponents affected by Cryo will have their Cryo RES decreased by 10% for 12s.

Legal Hunting: Gains 25% more rewards when dispatched on a Snezhnaya Expedition for 20 hours.

ー༄ Constellations:

C1: Frostnip

Increases the Level of Frostbite by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.

C2: Impermafrost ★

Active characters within Cryo field generated by Frostbite are immune to Frozen even when Wet (other elemental reactions with Hydro will still apply).

C3: Permafrost ★

If the opponent is Frozen, increase Frostbite’s Cryo DMG to 1.5x of the current multiplier value for Coviello’s Elemental Mastery.

C4: Hypothermia

Increases the Level of Normal Attack: Advancing in Caution by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.

C5: Blizzard

Increases the Level of Ice Burn by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.

C6: Gangrene ★

Increases Ice Burn’s Enhanced Normal Attack DMG to 1.5x of the current multiplier value for Coviello’s Elemental Mastery and reduce HP Drain to 4% Max HP per second.

A/N ⟡ Concept: C1-C3 enhances their support/sub-DPS capability, but C4-C6 evolves them into a decent DPS.

ー༄ Idle Animations:

Crosses arms and watches the snow falling.

Sees a duckling on the ground. Crouches to pet it for a few seconds before standing back up.

[whimsicaldragonette]

Audio ARC Review: Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa

Order

Add to Goodreads

Publication Date: May 2, 2023

Synopsis:

Aristotle and Dante meets The Hate U Give meets The Sun Is Also A Star: A stunning YA contemporary love story about a Mexican-American teen who falls in love with an undocumented Mexican boy. Finding home. Falling in love. Fighting to belong. The Santos Vista neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, is all Ander Martínez has ever known. The smell of pan dulce. The mixture of Spanish and English filling the streets. And, especially their job at their family's taquería. It's the place that has inspired Ander as a muralist, and, as they get ready to leave for art school, it's all of these things that give them hesitancy. That give them the thought, are they ready to leave it all behind? To keep Ander from becoming complacent during their gap year, their family "fires" them so they can transition from restaurant life to focusing on their murals and prepare for college. That is, until they meet Santiago López Alvarado, the hot new waiter. Falling for each other becomes as natural as breathing. Through Santi's eyes, Ander starts to understand who they are and want to be as an artist, and Ander becomes Santi's first steps toward making Santos Vista and the United States feel like home. Until ICE agents come for Santi, and Ander realizes how fragile that sense of home is. How love can only hold on so long when the whole world is against them. And when, eventually, the world starts to win.

My Rating: ★★★★★

*My Review below the cut.

My Review:

This is an absolutely gorgeous story. It sucked me in from the very beginning, making me instantly love and care about the characters, and never let me go. It's about courage and bravery in the face of unfair authority, about finding who you are and what you want to do and who you want to be with, about embracing your roots and being unapologetically yourself no matter what anyone else says. Ander is a dramatic nonbinary teen in San Antonio who is getting increasing recognition for their murals and preparing to go to Chicago for art school. Santi is a shy and quiet undocumented immigrant teen fleeing from the violence that killed half his family. They meet in Ander's family's restaurant and sparks fly. Their love story is raw and honest and changes each of them for the better, giving them hope and courage and determination. Santi wears his heart on his sleeve for Ander, who does the same, and they fit together so well. I loved the many scenes of Ander painting and the way Santi loves all of their paintings. The way it's described, you can tell that the author is very familiar with artists and perhaps is one themself. There is so much love infused in each of those scenes and descriptions. I also loved how loving and accepting Ander's family are in this book. They are loud and they argue but the love always shines through and they support Ander through everything. Ander's friends also come through for them and show their love. Ander comes from such a vibrant, loving family that I was jealous. I also loved that the conflict does not touch Ander's nonbinary identity. It is an established fact at the beginning of the book and no one questions it. It never takes a central role except as an essential part of Ander. Ander is nonbinary and that's the end of it. The conflict, instead, first centers around Ander's self-doubt about their future as an artist and the way the influences they want their art to be shaped by, and then later, as Ander begins to figure themself out, the conflict shifts to center around Santi's undocumented status and his future and their future together. It's masterfully done, and never feels forced or artificial. ICE is a looming threat throughout the last quarter of the book, and things take a bit of a darker tone, but Ander and Santi grow to meet the challenges they are faced with and the ending felt right and inevitable and perfect. Did I cry? yes. Was it worth it? Definitely yes. 10/10 would read again. The audiobook was brilliantly performed, with every character feeling distinct and real, with their own voice and tone. The way the different character voices carried emotion was excellent. The sprinkling of Spanish scattered throughout also was performed excellently and enhanced the setting for me, making it feel more real. Did I understand all the words? No. Did I understand the meaning behind them? Yes. And the emotions and tone they were delivered with helped with that. This book needs to be in libraries and classrooms everywhere in this country. And it definitely needs to win some awards. *Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an early copy of the audiobook for review.

[endlessp0ssibilities]

@emeraldtied sent:

“ there are some things you just don’t realize about places until you leave them . ” // for ember?

"Oh? Like what?" She smiled, raising an eyebrow at the other hedgehog's words. At this point, she had had her fair deal of alternate takes on her blue friend, and had decided to show this one around her world. They had gone from the Restoration HQ in Sunset City, up to Spangonia, then down to Apotos for (arguably) the world's best ice cream. Ember leaned over the railing looking out into the ocean, a cool breeze rolling in that swayed her quills slightly. It was a nice and relaxing place with barely anything happening. Perhaps a nice retirement community.

[endlessp0ssibilities]

"You should join the Restoration!" She said, then threw a hook at another bot, "We got all sorts of cool people there, and could use more fighters." A kick to another bot.

"Not everyday is as exciting as this though, but we work to help towns to recover from any Eggman attacks."

"Awesome moves!" he says landing right next to her, back to back punching more bots as they approached. "And you're pretty strong too. It's not every day you meet someone with similar abilities who can keep up with you!"

@pyrokinetiic

[atsuminthe]

difficult

★ synopsis: it’s something he tries not to be.

★ character(s): sakusa kiyoomi

★ minty’s notes: i had this one in my draft and i forgot about it. got some inspiration so i finished it, i hope it makes sense <3

    sakusa kiyoomi is a difficult person.

    he’s not the pickiest eater, but he has his habits—like how he wants his rice bowl to always be on the right side of the tray, or how he has to eat three pickled plums before starting cleaning his room on saturdays or his mood is ruined and he can’t do anything. however, he’s picked up other healthier habits that make these little ticks harmless. sometimes he even forgets about the pickled plums completely and just goes on with the tidying up.

    he’s not the best with words—but he’s a great listener and will offer his input on your problem if you ask him to. it’s a personal opinion that’s quite subjective, but it’s still appreciated because of his brutal honesty.

    he likes to do things methodically, after a certain pattern—he will, however, stray from the set path if he thinks it’s too boring or not flexible enough to accomodate unpredicted events.

    he’s straightforward with his thoughts—he doesn’t see the need to sugarcoat things for the sake of convenience. if he has something to say, he’ll say it. that doesn’t mean he won’t consider the consequences—he just values his concerns being addressed more than what happens after he voices them.

    he isolates himself—when everything seems to be too overwhelming for him and it threatens to come crashing down on his head, he hides. he knows it’s petty and childish, but it’s a way of coping. it’s better than not coping at all. if he cannot isolate, he distances and does other activities to block out the noise and situation.

    he complains a lot—nothing really fits his taste, no matter what the topic at hand is. complaining helps him relieve the stress of bottling up his emotions—it’s usually him rambling to himself, since nobody seems to want to listen to him.

    there are many things that make sakusa kiyoomi difficult. many of them seem silly, childish even—not even a 3 year old would behave like him—but he supposes that some things cannot be changed. indeed, some things cannot be changed, as they are usually gifts from nature—like his hypermobile wrists—yet he seems to change little by little from the moment he meets you.

    it’s like he doesn’t want to disappoint you. what would you think of his weird habits? he tones them down as much as he can, with broken remnants scattered on the floor of his heart as he tries his hardest to become ‘normal’. this is what love does to you, sakusa thinks. this is what love makes you do for another person.

    why does love not make you do so many things for yourself?

    coincidentally, it’s a question he blurts out randomly on a sunny afternoon, you and him and his cousin eating homemade ice-cream on the porch of his house. it’s quiet, peaceful, a little hot. april, maybe? he doesn’t remember. komori stops eating, scratching his chin in deep thought and you laugh—thousands of chimes swaying in the wind—which makes kiyoomi’s heart burn.

    “maybe because the love we have for ourselves is never as strong as the love for another,” you answer cheerfully, but your eyes betray the little spark of doubt barely noticeable in your voice. “and i think we shouldn’t do that. we shouldn’t love someone else more than we love ourselves.”

    it’s the same day that sakusa learns of your habit to pick at your fingers whenever you're nervous, or how you start swaying back and forth when you’re sitting on the floor, legs folded under you, or how your lips jut into a pout whenever you think very hard about something. they’re little things that he notices—and you don’t—that he thinks are beautiful. they’re part of you, aren’t they? why would you be ashamed of them?

    “if i shouldn’t, why should you?” you retort to his little monologue (that he realizes he said out loud) and place your hand over his. “you’re very pretty, sakusa. inside and out, y’know.”

    “kiyoomi,” he corrects, scratching the tip of his nose—he’s a little bashful. you smile at the gesture and squeeze his palm.

    “kiyoomi,” you repeat, trying the name and rolling it on your tongue as you slightly tilt your head to the right. “nice name for a nice person.”

    “you think—” he hesitates for a second, “you think i’m nice?”

    “of course. i wouldn’t be your friend if you weren’t,” you explain and he swears he can feel his heart in his throat. “besides, we have the same tick.” he’s confused for a second, until he sees you scratching the tip of your nose—your cheeks are flushed and your ears reddened to a beautiful crimson color. his heart leaps back and forth from his chest to his stomach to his throat and back in his chest, thrumming wildly.

    “and you don’t think i’m difficult?” he asks cautiously. this is a sensitive topic and he’d rather walk around the eggshells than step on them. you shake your head with a sigh.

    “of course you are,” his heart stops for a second, “but that doesn’t make you less lovable.”

    there’s a comfortable silence enveloping you as you watch the cherry blossoms fall gently. you hold sakusa’s heart in your hands, cradling it carefully—it’s nothing more than a globe of glass, hidden underneath a layer of ice. with a kiss, the ice melts completely and you watch the boy exhale a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

    “hey, kiyoomi,” you grin and his pretty obsidian curls swish in time with his head, onyx eyes focusing intently on you. “i love you, did you know that? difficult and all. because we’re all difficult in our own way.”

    sakusa feels his facial muscles move against his will, a smile blooming on his face that could rival the shining summer sun. “thank you,” he breathes, taking in your loving expression. he doesn’t know exactly why he thanks you or what prompted him to choose these words, but you get the message even if he can’t articulate it properly. “i love you too,” he whispers, forehead pressed on yours.

    sakusa kiyoomi is a difficult person—but so are you. and so is every other human on the planet—because humans are complex and complicated. in that complexity, you can find love. it’s woven between worries, plastered over a bad memory, sewn next to hope.

    sakusa kiyoomi is a difficult person, but that won’t stop you from loving him.

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[judysupremus]

Part 3 - Fantasy AU

This still needs a title but it's definitely in the fantasy genre.

Thank you so much for the comments and reblogs and likes!

As always, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy ❤️

★★

Marinette has always heard about the fight or flight response but no one ever talks about the others - freeze or fawn.

She freezes first. His threat bounces around inside her head as she tries to grasp the scope of what he means. Standing there, mouth agape, she must look stupid.

But then his hand around her wrist tightens dangerously and she flips to fawn.

"Ok. Fine. Just don't hurt them." She's speaking so softly the demon prince almost misses the "Please."

After a moment he tucks her hand into his elbow but still grips it firmly. As they leave the garden it appears the only reason they draw attention is because of him. The demon prince walks the same way he talks - commanding and confident. And fatally handsome.

Marinette's steps falter outside the protection of the gardens. A sleek, black, expensive car pulls up to meet them and an older gentleman exits. He circles around to open the door for them.

"Welcome back, Master Damian. Your father is expecting you."

*****

Every part of him is cold. Not the excruciating bite but the subtle ache one feels in the end of the fingers. He's accustomed to discomfort, been trained to withstand worse conditions without so much as a twitch. The things he has been through means this is trivial.

But it's not. He cannot move or breathe. The urge to clench his fingers is almost overwhelming. They remain frozen, however. He can see one hand outstretched, ready to greet his mother, so the other must be behind him - poised to bow over her hand.

Time stretches and warps strangely. He can only see what is immediately in front of him, nothing beyond the reach of his hand.

The demon prince feels suspended in time, hanging over the void of oblivion.

Eventually, people start grasping his hand. Greedy paws and eager pleas. The words they say reach his ears as nothing more than static. Despite this barrier he can feel their intentions. Some are filled with desperate loneliness, others prideful assurance that they will get what they want.

All let go of his hand in disappointment.

There are, however, times when the hand touching his almost feels warm. They must feel it too. They linger and tend to stroke his palm.

He will admit it to none but these moments give him the smallest spark of hope. Even if hope is for fools.

Still, they let go in the end.

There's yet another hand reaching out for his. He watches in boredom as another pulls it away. The sounds of laughter sputter in the static.

And then he feels it - someone just outside of his vision radiating small tendrils of warmth. The small spark of hope traitorously flares again in his chest. If he could hold his breath he would.

His fingers are only just tingling with warmth when it suddenly recedes.

It can't be helped - his heart sinks. What has he become if the small heat of their presence melts the smallest part of him?

Their heat returns and he watches as the hand, her hand, hovers over his. It feels like he's holding his hand in the hottest part of a fire. Does it feel like she's bathing her hand in ice?

Whatever she may feel, it shocks him to feel her fingers stroke his palm and glide to gently grasp his wrist. When he doesn't move she lets put a breath and it ghosts over him.

It must be this that does it. When her exhale reaches his chest he sucks it in. His first inhale since hell knows how long.

The demon prince instantly wraps his fingers around her wrist. He can feel the delicate hand shiver as she realizes what's happened.

★★★★★★

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