#*/knight in damaged armor

[comfied-chriterature]

Finished the Penacony story and my heart fr stopped at THIS MOMENT

THAT??? That’s love.

And then she LITERALLY died for us.

[bylertruther]

kind of crazy how mike said in a moment of vulnerability and weakness that he wants to be needed and to be of use and good at something, and then a large chunk of the fandom just decided to validate all of his worst thoughts & fears and suddenly reduce him to a weak, incapable, mindless, unloved wastoid wimp that's everything his low self-esteem tells him he is and nothing like how the people in his life see him (or what the narrative itself has shown us since the very first episode). even crazier when the people that do that call themselves mike fans lol but i'm 😴😴😴

[waywardsalt]

alright because it is now a list,

list of characters i want (need) to draw gore of:

My Elden Ring Tarnished

Linebeck

[crows-of-buckets]

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate fe3h's class system. Because god do I fucking hate it

[katyspersonal]

Also I took a little peak in digital artbook since Fantomette gave me the Extra version, and I am so happy. They are using Knight Set (aka tutorial screens set) SO much. Finally, SOME fucking rest from endless Vargram erasure by Fromsoft!!!

( @val-of-the-north told me to stop looking to not get FAT spoilers so I stop gfhgjg)

[fluffypichu876]

feels so good to return to undead burg with mid-game gear

[n41r]

Beware of the man named Kurt and his "Chance Strike"

((Sariel is KO'ed first by the same move))

[emmaspolaroid]

the knight and her armor symbolism … I care about it a normal amount

[danielnelsen]

why does google drive even have a suggestion for this??

[yandere-writer-momo]

Yandere Short Stories:

Knight in Shining Armor

Yandere Monster Knight x Princess Reader

TW: delusional Yandere, Yandere behavior, kidnapping (mentioned), etc.

Ajax had always been princess (your name)’s confidant and source of solace… so why did he have her cornered on the bed of the inn? His large, muscular frame towered over her as his body trembled.

“I can’t do it… I can’t let you marry some other man.” Ajax whispered, his metal mask hiding his expression. There was no doubt in (your name)’s mind that he was shaken up about something. She had no clue why he’d be so upset about her getting married…

“Ajax, it was bound to happen eventually. It’s my duty as the kingdom’s princess-“ (your name) gasped when he closed the distance between them. Ajax’s large palms pulled her into a tight hug. The force of the hug caused them both to land on the small bed with a soft plop.

“Ajax-“ Ajax placed a finger on (your name)’s lips to pause her words.

“I won’t allow it… I won’t allow some other man to sully you.” Ajax’s deep voice made her body anxiously shake. “Not when I’ve wanted you for so many years…”

“Ajax-“ (your name)’s eyes widened when he finally removed the mask that’s concealed his face for over a decade. Ajax was half orc? (Your name) hadn’t a clue and she had been with him for so many years…

“I’m half monster, I thought you knew.” Ajax chuckled as his crimson eyes flitted over (Your name)’s frozen form. She was now a helpless lamb trapped in the maw of the wolf. “It’s why the other knights have been so cruel to me… why the maids avoid me like the plague and your father wanted to send me to war.”

(Your name)’s eyes can only take on his scarred and burned face in shock. Why was half the skin on his mouth missing and his tusks filed down? Who had hurt him so much that he didn’t confide in her, his best friend? What atrocities had he faced while she remained none the wiser?

(Your name) were shocked when he bent down to show you his teeth. His tusks were clumsily filed down to almost look like teeth but they were still rather sharp. “I did the tusk work, but they grow back rather quickly. The skin on my face is still healing from when there was an assassination attempt on you from your future husband’s concubines. Bastard was going to pour acid on your face.”

(Your name) reached up to trace the scars on his face while Ajax gave her a soft smile. “Ajax…”

“You’re the only one who’s never treated me like a monster… you’re so wonderful and kind.” Ajax moved his large, gloved hands to hold her hands. “That old king doesn’t deserve you. No one does!”

(Your name) blushed when Ajax brought her hands up to his lips to press tender kisses over each of her knuckles. Despite how badly Ajax wished to ravish her, he must keep his composure.

“You took this amount of damage for me?” (Your name)’s voice was barely above a whisper, yet it made Ajax melt into a puddle.

“Of course I did. I will do anything for you.” Ajax moved himself to crouch on the corner of the bed, his head in a slight bow. Yet (your name) could feel the burning obsessed behind his crimson gaze. “I am in love with you. Madly, deeply, entirely devoted to you and only you.”

Ajax grasped (your name)’s bare foot and brought it up to his mouth to press tender kisses across the top of it. “I will love you until my skin rots off my body and I am nothing but bones. Yet even death could not separate me from you for I will be in every corner of your life like a permanent shadow of protection. I will protect you with my entire being and soul. I will haunt and dismember your enemies if you so much as give them a glance of distaste.”

(Your name) felt her blood run cold when Jax gave her a bright grin that reopened a few of the stitches across his cheeks. The blood dripped down his face and onto her foot, but he merely lapped it up with his longer tongue. “Now tell me… is what I feel not love? I may not be a handsome prince but I swear I’m your knight in shining armor.”

[rueclfer]

saturdays are for the blondes // fratboy smau part one

a/n: i love my blondies (bakugou's n hawk's will be out later whenever i feel like making those) *also written under the cut*

denki kaminari, katsuki bakugou, hawks

"You in there?" You call out, harshly knocking on the bedroom door over the blasting music still echoing throughout the house.

The door swings open to reveal Denki's flushed face holding a bloody wadded paper towel up to his nose.

"Hey cutie." He nasally squeaks out, stepping out of the way so you could enter. "Came to check in on your knight in shining armor, huh?"

"Hey yourself. Just wanted to admire the damage." You tease, closing the door behind you, muffling out the music.

You follow him to his bathroom where you see multiple others of used paper towels and bloody droplets in the sink, making your stomach turn.

"Looks like a warzone." You grimace. "Let me see." You motion for him to move his hand away his face, revealing a smudged line of dried blood dragged out from his nostril and redness spreading across his nose bridge and into the area right under his eye.

You reached up and grabbed his chin, moving his head side to side to see the damage done.

"How's it looking?" He mutters, looking down at you with a slight smirk on his face.

"The bleeding stopped and it doesn't look broken to me. You may or may not wake up with a black eye, but if you keep it iced you should be fine." You pat the side of his face before dropping your arm. "Your face is still cute, so at least there's that."

"You wanna kiss it better?" He takes a step closer to you, leaning in to let his arms stretch out against the bathroom sink, trapping you in on both sides.

You two were at eye level now, faces only inches away from one another. With his backwards baseball cap and his messy blonde hair peeking out from the front, cropped t-shirt, and alcohol running through your system, his offer was tempting.

"You think you'll survive if I don't?" You laugh as the heat rises up to your ears.

"No, I don't think so. You've been avoiding me all night too, so my feelings are wounded too." He fake pouts.

"So sensitive, pres." You teasingly coo, darting your eyes to avoid his lidded stare. "I guess I do kinda owe you, don't I?"

"Mmhm." He hums in agreement, moving his hand from the bathroom counter to your lower waist, playing with the hem of your shirt. "Only if you want to, of course. I can always catch another beating for you at the next party.

"I'm still gonna be on the invite list after that? You must really like me."

"V.I.P. list and everything, baby. I'll fight a million more guys and take a million more beatings for you." He chuckles.

"You really do know how to swoon me, huh?" You bring your hand up to his cheek, brushing your thumb over the tender area darkening and swelling with every minute.

"Even when you love playing hard-to-get." He mumbles, reaching his hand up to the side of your neck as you lean in to softly kiss the bruise. "I know you better than anyone."

"You piss me off more than anyone else, too." You mutter against the soft flesh of his cheek.

"That's just the fun of it." He moves his hand down to his chain hanging from your neck, letting a finger loop onto the end of it, pulling your body in closer. "Sleepover tonight?"

"Nope." You popped the 'p'. "The girls are waiting for me downstairs to walk back to our apartment."

"Boo." He whines. "When can I see you next?"

"I dunno. The next function?" You shrug, reaching around the back of your neck for the necklace clasp. "You can have this back too."

"Wait no no." He grabs your hand away. "Keep it and give it to me next time. Please."

You sigh with a hint of a smile on your lips, dropping your arms. "See you next time then, pres."

"Next time, sweetheart."

[ruinofchimera]

Lily Evans was far from a white knight in shining armor in the confrontations between James & Co. and Severus. And if you want to talk about her toxic friendship with Snape, don’t try to erase her contribution to the equation.

Apparently, her close friend is lifted upside down by a spell that causes his robes to fall and expose his underwear. As he helplessly struggles, flailing to free himself, a crowd gathers to watch the spectacle. His wand is out of reach, and he is being mocked and threatened. Of course, as a true friend, she finds this picture amusing enough that she has to hold back her laughter. You know, absolutely reasonable behavior for someone who cares for you deeply. Moreover, imagine if Remus were in a similar situation—no doubt his friends' first reaction would be to laugh, or perhaps yell at his bullies to put him down. With his wand in hand, James Potter would stand by and wait for his friend to be released.

Definitely a turning point in Lily and Severus's friendship. Though Severus's behavior was heavily dictated by a strong sense of hurt after such a public humiliation and violation of his privacy, as you all say, these circumstances justify nothing when it comes to throwing those kinds of insults. Fine.

Oh, but what explains her response, then? Was she hurt too? Humiliated? If you’re saying that the mental state after such a traumatic experience as the one James inflicted upon Severus shouldn’t have affected his words, what justifies Lily’s behavior? What made such a saintly person as she join in the ridicule of her so-called friend in an instant? Not only did she join in by calling him the insulting nickname used by his abusers, but she also added another mockery of Severus to the rotten pile as if it weren’t enough already. And I want to remind you once again that Lily lost control of her emotions before she had even gone through half the humiliation that Snape had endured, for the record.

Thus, it appears that there is a precedent of hypocrisy here. Why do you make this situation appear as a one-sided insult (Severus is the big bad wolf and Lily is the victim) rather than a mutual emotional outburst? Why is Lily allowed to feel hurt but Snape isn’t, though Severus’s emotional damage is at least double? Fine. Let’s move on to the approach both of them took in their apologies.

So, apparently, Severus felt guilty after committing such an atrocity as calling Lily a Mudblood. He made a sincere attempt to apologize. Lily didn’t feel guilty for her contribution to his public humiliation; she was sure the only villain here was Severus.

Lily had every right imaginable to reject his attempts to make amends, but the thing is, Severus reconsidered his behavior—she never did. Moreover, she expressed absolute skepticism about his redemption. Should I even mention that she later started dating his bully? The one who never even tried to apologise for his assaults on Snape?

Somehow, she believed in James's redemption even without him admitting his wrongs. Let it be. That’s not the main point of discussion. What I really struggle to understand is how, given all these circumstances, Lily becomes a cheered, glorious friend, and Severus is commonly believed to be the villain in their dynamic.

Did I overlook something? Prove me wrong, if you please. Open my eyes to where exactly Lily is a saint or martyr. Where is she even a good friend in the first place? I’m all ears.

[aeruia]

⌕. WIND BREAKER

⟳. “ DID I IMPRESS YOU? ”

how would the wbk boys impress you to catch your attention or they want you to praise them?

character/s : sakura haruka , suo hayato , togame jo , kaji ren , umemiya hajime , kiryu mitsuki .

warning/s : suo’s part is like 50/50 so uhm !! you can decide if it’s part of it or not ! , ooc characters ( im sorry sighs )

word count : 100+ each

note : i have motivation to write so might as well make the best of it !! i’m also planning to make suo’s part a separate fic uhm..

sakura haruka — 119 words

i don't know but i think sakura would try to impress you by showing how he’s good at fighting but when you praise him for that or he got your attention because of that he gets flustered easily and tries to brush it off saying he’s not doing it to impress you when it’s clearly written on his face.

you can only laugh when he says that you’ll probably won't even believe anything he says and just look at his face to see if he meant it or not.

“ where have you been all these years my knight in shining armor? ” you teased him, your hands clasped together in return he looked away with a blush on his face.

suo hayato — 165 words

bro doesn't even need to impress you because you’re already impressed by him !! he’s a gentleman everyone knows and that’s also how you're already impressed because why is he so gentle? so whenever you two are together people will mistake that you and suo are dating because of how considerate suo whenever he’s with you.

you’ll never even catch him irritated whenever you let him carry your school bag or the things you bought, he’s just there following you with a smile on his face.

“ why are you doing this every time we are together? ” you asked as you take a spoonful of ice cream in your cup and eat it. “ i’m close to falling for you, you know. ” you said half jokingly when he chuckled as he wiped the ice cream from the side of your mouth. “ i’ll wait for the day you fall for me. ” he replied making you speechless and a blushing mess as you just continue to eat your ice cream.

togame jo — 118 words

did a bit of research and seems like he plays go and shogi so uh he would probably invite you to watch him play with shogi with someone.

he knew he would win it and obviously you are in awe saying how good he was at shogi so you invite him to play with you after he plays a couple of rounds. you weren't good at playing shogi but you wanna test out your skills.

he beat you once or twice then after that then lets you win every round. “ wow, togame i didn't know i’m the only one who can beat you! ” you quip making him chuckle as he nodded. ” guess you're too good at this game. ”

kaji ren — 166 words

you heard that the music playing in his headphones are something that can damage his eardrums but it seems like his ears don't even hurt so you would let him try one of your favorite music to see if he likes it.

when you two were taking a walk around the town, you were rambling about your favorite band and how cool and good their music are. kaji didn't let that slip in his mind and listened to their music when he got home.

the next day, you suggested one of their songs and his response was he had listen to it and taking a liking to the song and it was now on his playlist. your eyes widen and smiled. “ really? its a good music isn’t? you got a good taste in music! ” you praise as you pat his back as if he’s choking on something. it just made you more even happy that he has one of your very favorite song in his playlist.

umemiya hajime — 195 words

you helped him plant some seeds in the rooftop since you don’t have anything to do and everybody knows that umemiya is a man that cares for everyone. let’s imagine umemiya has like one of those portable stove hidden in the rooftop 😭😭 so you were flabbergasted when you just saw him casually take out a portable stove. he remembers that he doesn't have enough ingredients to cook something so he apologizes for that and quickly run into kotoha’s cafè to get a few ingredients. when he got the ingredients you just watched him.

you watch the white haired man cook something in front of you — you didn't even know he has the skills to cook! clearly you’re impressed since you can’t cook to save your life. ( if you would even cook it’s burnt. ) he probably learned it with kotoha. when he finished cooking he gave you a portion of food he had cooked for you two. you gave it a ten out of ten. it was delicious as you thanked him for it.

“ never knew you could cook, maybe i’ll hire you as my personal chef in the future. ” you said jokingly making umemiya snort.

kiryu mitsuki — 145 words

if you invite him to play a game with him he will accept it without hesitation even if you're bad at it or you just started playing he would help you and will still play with you even if you’re the worst player in the game.

would probably try to impress you to fish out some compliments from you and it works like a charm. “ damn, didn’t knew you’re so good at this! ” you would say as he just laughed wholeheartedly.

he probably won’t even try to hide that he’s trying to impress you. “ i should be good at all these games so i can carry you and impress you, y’know. ” he says that with a smile plastered on his face.

if you two are not talking about games or anything you’re gonna comment about how good he smells because of the perfume he uses.

date posted 062324

[dragonkid11]

There's too many mecha medias with mech being elegant melee machine, even IBO has that in some ways.

No, there need to be a series where mech melee is just 2 guy brawling and grappling and struggling to stab the other guy's reactor or cockpit like how real medieval knight duel is like.

Just two mechs, boosting through the no-man land, firing rockets and emptying their autocannons at each other, damaging and tearing subsystems off to improve their victory confidence.

50 meters left between the two, they draw their blades, trying to stab into the folds between armor.

Their main blade breaks, from striking or parrying blows after blows, armor and shield finally falling, a climax is about to occur, one drew out a small dagger, too small and well hidden to be damaged prior to this, and knocked the other mech down to the ground before finally plunging the blade in.

[holylulusworld]

Unwanted mate (2) - Flufftober 25

Summary: Unwanted. Rejected. But desired, nonetheless.

Pairing: Alpha!Steve Rogers x Alpha!Bucky Barnes, Alpha!Steve Rogers x Omega!Reader x Alpha!Bucky Barnes

Warnings: angst, past unrequited feelings, past implied cheating, established mm relationship, a/b/o, a/b/o dynamics, sneaky/manipulative Steve, possessive Steve, scenting

Catch up here: Unwanted mate

Kinktober vs Flufftober 2024

Square filled for @marvelfluffbingo (2022): Square 7: Early morning

Square filled for @buckybarnesbingo2023: K1: Wish

Square filled for stuckybingo (2023): G3: Protectiveness

Square filled for stuckybingo (2024): G5: Cuddle puddle

Square filled for sweetspicybingo Square 7: touch starved

Square filled for @steverogersbingo C3: Free Space - Stucky

“Steve, we need to talk,” Bucky whispers to not wake you. You’re sleeping peacefully on the bed you shared tonight. After they took turns for half the night, you passed out on your alphas.

“All we did was talk,” the blonde grins at Bucky. “I have had enough of talking and took matters into my own hands. I wanted her and you. It’s done. You’re both mine.”

“This is so—” Bucky huffs. “Steve, how could you trick me to get your hands on my Omega? I thought you loved me!”

“I love you,” Steve cups his lover’s face, “with all my heart. But the three of us belong together. I knew it the moment they announced that Y/N presented Omega. She had to be ours, just like you had to be mine.”

Bucky narrows his eyes. “If we are yours, are you ours too, or will you simply move on when you find someone new picking your interest?”

“Buck, I’m as much yours and hers as you are both mine. We are a union, a powerful and undefeatable triad.” Steve glances at you wiggling on the bed. He sighs as you move toward his side of the bed to sniff at his still-warm pillow.

Watching Steve crawl back onto the bed to play the big spoon for you, Bucky doubts his lover’s words. Can he still trust his heart with Steve? He lied to him once; he can do it again.

“Buck, stop overthinking our bond. Y/N is touch-starved thanks to you. I want you to come here and give her the safety and love she needs and deserves.”

Bucky snarls at Steve. “I know what she needs! She’s my wife and omega. How dare you act like you aren’t the reason for her touch-starvation? You distracted me to make sure I wouldn’t be around much. Suddenly you play her knight in shiny armor!”

“Bucky!” Steve snarls and sits back up on the bed. He slips out of bed, walking around the bed to stand in front of your side of it.

“Steve!” Bucky bites back.

“Alpha?” Your eyes snap open, and you suddenly sit up. Bucky watches you crawl toward his side of the bed to grab his pillow and hug it tightly. “No fighting.” You’re still vulnerable to everything happening within the last hours. “Please.”

“Y/N.” Bucky drops his head in shame. He’s got no right to call himself your alpha or husband. For months, he neglected you and favored Steve, his childhood love. Offering redemption won’t fix the damage he caused.

“Alpha,” you rob toward the edge of the bed to look at Bucky. “Why did you—?” You sniffle and look away. “Am I not good enough for you? Why?”

“Bucky can be a fool, sweetness,” Steve softly says. “He likes you a lot but can’t show it. It was my fault. I wanted Bucky all for myself, and then I wanted you both. I was selfish and distracted your alpha. Please forgive me.”

Steve kneels in front of the bed, begging for forgiveness. It’s the first time you saw an alpha kneel. They’d rather die than show weakness. Especially in front of a fertile omega.

“I wish I could take away the pain I caused and earn your forgiveness with my words,” he whines when you look at him with teary eyes. “I wanted you to be ours.” Steve shakes his head. “No, that’s a lie. I wanted you both for myself. I wish I could steal you away from the world to make sure no one even dares to look at you.”

Bucky gapes at the blonde alpha. It’s the first time that the alpha is speechless. He doesn’t know if he should punch Steve for his admission or kiss him breathlessly.

While your husband stares at Steve, you consider the other man’s words. Is it so bad that he wanted Bucky and you? It’s all so new to you. Having two men wanting you. Watching them kiss each other and make love. It was confusing and arousing at the same time.

“Well—uh,” Bucky clears his throat. “It’s still early in the morning. Y/N should sleep a little longer. This is not the time to discuss our relationship. She’s exhausted and confused. We must give her time to adapt to the new situation.”

Steve cocks his head. He wants you all to be happy and have the life you deserve.

“We can’t make the same mistakes again and again, Bucky. It’s the time to talk things out and move our relationship in the right direction.”

“No,” Bucky snarls as he steps toward the bed to kiss the crown of your head. “It’s the time to take care of Y/N, my wife, and our omega. This is not about you and me, but Y/N. We have been selfish and greedy for the longest time, only thinking about our luck and pleasure.”

Bucky helps you lie down again and joins you in bed. He wraps his arms around you from behind and nuzzles you. Inhaling your scent deeply, Bucky hums in delight.

“Either join us, Steve, or go home. You decided to bring us all together. Now you’ll be a good alpha; come to bed and join the cuddle puddle. We can think about the future tomorrow. Right now, Y/N needs to calm down and feel safe.”

Steve eagerly crawls onto the bed and scoots closer to you and Bucky. He snuggles into you and wraps one arm around you and Bucky. Steve sighs and closes his eyes.

Being close to Bucky and you, just lying there, feels more intimate than everything you did last night.

“We will protect her at all costs, Steve. No discussion. Y/N is the center of this triad, and we’ll never hurt her again.”

Tags in reblog.

[tokeposts]

awhhh this idea piped into my head and i need to share before it’s gone😼 just thinking about AFAB reader incredibly injured during the war. Laying down unable to get up behind a building and then sero finds her-them/him ignoring his injuries and protecting them with his body. Laying together on the ground, when paramedics show up they’re unable to pull them apart hehe👏👏👏👏👏🧌🧌

pairing. sero hanta x gn!reader

genre. fluff (the type that makes you kick your feet in bed), sero is so flirty and cute, canon compliant

warnings. violence and war themes, death/implications of death, emotional distress

notes. unedited sorry, guys lol

1.1K | Amid a war-torn battlefield, you and Hanta Sero find solace in each other.

The sky was painted in shades of ash and blood, the once-vibrant battlefield now a graveyard of shattered steel and cries of agony. Your hero suit was soaked through with blood— not all of it yours. Every inch of you screamed for rest, your body heavy with exhaustion and pain.

Just a small break, you tried to reason with yourself, stumbling unsteadily behind the crumbling remains of a building. Your bones cracked, your side throbbed with a deep, relentless ache, but for the first time in hours, the world felt a little less chaotic.

Sliding down the broken wall, you allowed yourself a moment to breathe. Shallow, ragged gasps tore through your chest, each one a knife twisting in your ribs. The ground beneath you felt unnervingly solid, and the distant sounds of battle dulled to a faint hum in your ears.

Your mind was hazed with exhaustion, barely registering the sound of boots skidding to a halt on the debris. You didn’t notice the shadow falling over you until it spoke.

“Hey, hey, you still with me?” a voice called, worried and achingly familiar.

You blinked up, your sight still fuzzy, and there he was— Hanta Sero. His face, despite the hero gear, was smeared with soot, blood trickling down the side of his temple. But that grin? That stupid, boyish grin never wavered.

“Hanta,” you rasped, wincing as pain flared through your side. “You look like hell.”

“Thanks, I try,” he quipped, crouching beside you. His hands were on you before you could protest, assessing the damage. “Damn, you’re really banged up. Good thing I’m here to rescue you, huh?”

“Sure,” you managed, a weak chuckle escaping, but it quickly turned into a hiss as the burn in your side flared. “Knight in scotch-tape armor.”

He laughed— a bright, unexpected sound amidst the chaos. “You know it.” But as his hands hovered over the gash on your side, his grin faded, replaced with a quiet worry that cut deeper than any wound. “This is bad.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” you bit out, sharp pain lacing your words. Gritting your teeth, you braced a hand against the wall, attempting to stand. Get up, your mind scolded. People need you. But your muscles screamed in protest, the fiery ache in your side flaring to unbearable levels.

A raw groan tore from your throat before you could stop it. Your legs buckled beneath you, and you slid back down with a disappointing thud.

“Relax, take it easy,” Hanta murmured, his voice a fragile attempt at calm as he settled beside you. His arm snaked under your shoulders, careful yet desperate, every movement tinged with urgency. His eyes darted around, scanning the chaos for anything— anyone— that could help, but the battlefield was a blur of smoke, shouts, and blood.

His breathing quickened, chest heaving as his mind spiraled. Frustration clawed at thorat, his fingers trembling against your skin. He’d always been able to figure something out. His battle instincts might not be on the same level as Bakugou’s, but he liked to think he was a hero for a good reason, but now he was staring at you, broken and bleeding, and nothing felt like enough.

You winced sharply, a soft sound that sliced through the storm in his head, and suddenly the war went silent. All that existed was you—broken, vulnerable, his. His panic crashed over him, suffocating. He clenched his teeth, his jaw tight, frustration bleeding into helplessness as reality set in.

There was no miracle solution, no quick fix. He’d run out of options.

“You’re not able to get up,” he finally said, his voice breaking with the weight of the admission.

“You really have so little faith in me,” you teased, trying to mask your worry.

You shifted, attempting to stand once more despite the sharp pain lancing through your side. Trembling arms barely lifted you an inch before you collapsed back, a hiss of frustration escaping as tears pricked your eyes. “Hanta, I can—”

“No, you can’t,” he interrupted, his voice a broken whisper. “You can’t, okay? And I can’t—” His breath hitched. “I can’t move you. I can’t fix this.”

His shoulders slumped as the fight drained out of him. Before you could argue, he draped himself over you, arms braced protectively around your frame.

“I can’t help you, but damn if I’m leaving you here too.” His weight pressed against you, a shield against the chaos, as if he could somehow take your pain onto himself.

“There, see? Now we’re cozy,” he muttered, but the humor in his tone was forced, a fragile mask over his frustration and fear.

“You’re hurt too,” you murmured, your voice barely audible.

“Doesn’t matter. You’re worse off,” he said, glancing down at you with dark, haunted eyes. “This is all I can do right now, so let me do it. Please.”

His vulnerability squeezed your chest, but the exhaustion in your body was too much to fight. You leaned into him, your head resting against his shoulder. “You’re an idiot,” you mumbled, but the warmth in your voice betrayed your words.

“And yet, you’re stuck with me,” he murmured, his grip tightening, anchoring you both against the chaos.

Minutes stretched into eternity, the distant explosions and shouts melting into a muffled haze. Sero stayed still, his weight grounding you, his voice a lifeline as he kept talking— half-hearted jokes, quiet reassurances— pulling you back from the edge.

And yet, you’re stuck with me. The words echoed in your mind, a faint smile tugging at your lips despite the searing ache in your body. A soft chuckle slipped out before you could stop it, shaky but genuine. You wouldn’t have it any other way.

When the paramedics finally arrived, they called out to you both. “Okay, we’re here to help— Cellophane, we need to lift you.”

“Yeah, good luck with that,” Hanta replied, his grin somehow still intact. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Han,” you murmured, your hand weakly tugging at his arm. “You have to let them—”

“Not happening,” he cut in, pressing his forehead lightly against yours. “You’re stuck with me, remember? Knight in scotch-tape armor.”

It took three paramedics and a lot of coaxing to finally separate the two of you, and even then, Hanta's hand lingered in yours until they pulled him away. That is when his grin wavered for the first time, replaced with something raw, something that made your chest tighten. “Don’t you dare let go,” he said, his voice soft but fierce.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” you whispered back, squeezing his hand until they were forced apart and for the first time since the battle began, you felt like everything might just be okay.