#.myfanfics

[moonclans]

dreaming, living in its nucleus. over, over, and over.

loud and dazzling dreams. dreams that despite all interiority were empty, because they lacked the nucleus of ecstasy.

MEMORY, COME HITHER.

upcoming vergil sparda/alicent hightower. wip. predecessor to cognomen (20??). written by @moonclans and @malangaleaves

art credit: x, x

[medusapelagia]

Love at first sight

written for @corrodedcoffinfest (Prompt 6: HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG) and @steddie-week (Day 6, Prompt: Dizzy / drunken confessions) Rating: Teen and Up Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: none Words: 997

The music pumps in his ears and Steve might have drunk a little bit too much. Not enough to run to the bathroom but enough that he feels dizzy and happy for no reason, so he slams his glass on the bar counter and moves toward the dance floor.

The people are dancing around him like a human tide and all he wants is to go adrift. Someone grinds against his ass but he doesn’t even turn. Steve needs this, a little bit of human contact, the feeling that he’s wanted even if his parents just sent him their last check with a letter saying that from now on he’s on his own.

He should have told Robin, but she was on a date with the pretty barista she had a crush on since forever so he just crumpled the letter and threw it in his drawer, took his keys, and got to his favorite gay bar and started to drink the last money his parents gave him. No better way to spend it after all.

Someone bumps into him too hard and Steve loses his equilibrium. Trying not to fall on the ground he grabs the first thing he can, which apparently it’s a leather jacket.

Fuck.

Leather jackets mean bikers or metal heads, usually closeted ones that will get really angry.

“I’m sorry…” he slurs, “I tripped and…” Steve starts to apologize, but the man that’s looking at him is the most beautiful man he has ever seen. Long curly dark hair, deep dark eyes, and a mischievous smile painted on his face.

“You ok, sweetheart?” He tells him, holding Steve up, “Too many drinks, huh? It happens to the best of us.”

The man chuckles, making sure Steve is stable enough on his feet before turning toward his group of friends, but Steve’s hand is still holding tight on his leather jacket.

“If you could let go of me we could go back to our friends, sweetness,” the man smiles, prying Steve’s hand open.

“No.”

“No? Don’t you want to have fun with your friends?”

“No friends.” Steve tries to explain, and the man frowns.

“You here alone?”

Steve nods, but the sudden movement makes him feel dizzy again. Luckily the other man grabs his arm and stabilizes him once more.

“Sorry… my head is spinning.” Steve apologized, hiding his face behind his free hand.

“Why don’t we sit for a moment, huh?”

“Eddie, come on! This round is on you!” Someone yells next to them, and Steve notices at that moment that he’s not in the middle of the dance floor anymore, but close to the bar counter.

The man grabs his wallet from his back pocket, one hand still holding Steve’s arm tight, “Need to get back to the table. Take what you need.”

“But how can I bring all the beers back?”

“I’ll ask Jeff to help you, don’t whine!”

Steve looks at the dark-haired man and asks, “Eddie?”

“Yeah. That’s me. What’s your name, sugar?”

“Steve.”

“Nice to meet you, Steve. Why don’t you sit with me and my friends for a moment?” he proposes, dragging him toward the bar's private area, “We’re celebrating. We just signed our first contract with a musica label.” Eddie winks, “What about you? Something to celebrate?”

“My parents officially disowned me. And I’m drinking the last money they sent me.”

Eddie hums with a sad smile, “I know a thing or two about shitty parents. But maybe getting drunk in a bar alone isn’t the best choice to deal with things like that. People could take advantage of your state.”

“Are you going to take advantage of me?” Steve asks innocently, “I would let you if you wanted to.”

Eddie snorts, “Thank you for the offer but I’m the kind of guy who prefers full consent to drunk consent. Hey guys! This is Steve! He’s having a bit of a hard day so he’s staying with us until he feels a little bit better and we can send him home safely.”

“Hi Steve, I’m Jeff. Would you like a glass of water?”

“That’s a great idea. Why don’t you get one for him while helping Gareth with the beers? I gave him my wallet.”

“You gave your wallet to Gar?” another man asks, ginning, “He’s going to spend all your money. I bet twenty dollars he will come back with the most expensive bottle he can find.”

“Not my problem, Freak. You know I don’t really care about money.” Eddie shrugs, sitting next to the tall boy who keeps grinning.

“So you found another stray, Eddie?” Freak asks, scooting over to let them sit.

“I can't tell one from another. Did I find you or you find me?” Eddie replies, turning toward Steve who stares at him in confusion, “It’s a line I heard in a love song, always wanted to use it, never got the occasion. Till now.”

“Maybe wait for him to be sober before hitting on him, huh? Don’t worry. Eddie is dramatic like that, but he’s a good guy.”

“I think I love him,” Steve whispers to Freak way too loudly, and the big man chuckles.

“Look at you, Eddie! You just signed your first contract and already found yourself a groupie!”

Eddie reaches out for the glass of water that Jeff is holding and gives it to Steve, “Drink it all like a good boy.”

“I do.” Steve insists, taking Eddie’s hand and putting it over his chest, “Can’t you feel my love for you? It’s like you said. We were meant to find each other.” 

If Steve wasn’t drunk he would feel ashamed of himself, but what he said it’s true. He never believed in love at first sight, but now he would swear by it.

“Ok. Ok. Now drink your water and if tomorrow morning you’ll feel still in love with me,” Eddie says, fishing a chewed pen and writing a number on a napkin “call me.” 

Now with a second part

[smolbonbon]

Despair

A bittersweet short Solar/Moon fanfiction; Please read the Trigger warnings!

TW: Panic attacks, hallucinations, mention of Self-harm (scratching), shocking, swearing, Spinard

Imprisoned and left behind by his own family while the bloodthirsty murderer is on the run. But yes he was the villain in this story. Stuck in grief and helplessness with nobody to comfort him aside from his hallucination of his beloved best friend. Pathetic isn't it?

I will reblog the link to AO3 :)

Here's the sketch version: sketch version

Trapped in a cage as if he was the monster. Moon chuckled as he leaned against the cold wall. Imprisoned by his own family while the bloodthirsty murderer is on the run. But yes they prefer to lock him up instead of letting him kill that animal. Moon grinds his teeth, but no he is the villain in this story. "That's the thanks I get. After everything I have done for them, that's how they pay me back but it's fine, totally fine."

He could deal with the anger of his family later, he only needed to focus on bringing Solar back and then everything would be okay again. After that he can leave for good, they wouldn't want to see him anyway.

However, he needed to find a way out of here first. Moon scanned his cell there had to be something that would help him get out of here. The Lunar animatronic was glad he had night vision because with little light that shone into his room would make it even harder for him. Everything he could see in this small cell was the dripping water from the ceiling and dirt on the floor. Nothing else was in this room and yet it felt as if he was suffocating. Moon's breath hitched as he felt the tight feeling in his chest. "Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic.  You're fine, you will get out of here." Moon reassured himself as he rubbed his arms and moved forth and back. It's just a matter of time before he gets out of here. The crescent animatronic tried to override the computer multiple times but every time he was about to, he got shocked or the computer turned itself off. "Stupid sentient Ai." He mumbled under his breath while digging his nails in his arms.

"Moon, do I need to remind you that you're a sentient Ai as well?" Spinard suddenly replied which startled the Lunar animatronic. "Oh fuck off, you piece of shit."

"Does it make you feel better to insult me?" Moon narrowed his eyes and got up. "Maybe it does but you know what also makes me feel better?" Moon asked irritated. "I'm not letting you free, Moon." Spinard stated and Moon laughed in response. "Oh, I think you will. Computer override c-" Moon shrieks as the cage sparked blue and white lights while shocking him. The Lunar animatronic fell to his knees while panting. "Sun will be not happy about this." Spinard verbalized before going offline. "You fucking piece of shit as if I care!" Moon rose to his feet and swung his fist against the wall. "I will find a way to get out of here and you're going to fucking pay for this!" He pointed his finger towards the computer while fighting not to cry.

Moon wheezed as he sat back on the ground. He gripped onto his sweater and gasped for air. The Lunar animatronic hiccuped while tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Moon.." A familiar voice spoke behind him and Moon didn't dare to look. Usually he would commented something snarky to his hallucinations however the panic prevents him to talk. He panted for air, it felt like he didn't get enough of it. "Breath." The shadowy figure spoke. Moon tried to calm down he really did but for some reason, his chest still felt like someone squeezed his lungs. The Lunar animatronic panicked more as the dizziness took over, then he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Breath, five seconds in through your nose." Solar vocalized while stimulated inhaling and Moon emulated him. "Hold it." And so did Moon. "And now exhale another five seconds." The dusk animatronic told Moon and they did this a few times until he finally calmed down in some extent. He eyed the floor not even daring to look at Solar's shoes. Why was he so pathetic? He dried his tears and hissed when he accidentally touched his scratch wounds.

"Oh Moon.. What are you doing to yourself?" Solar mumbled heartbroken as he saw the scratches on his cheek. His thumb moved over Moon's open wounds.  The Lunar animatronic hissed as if someone was actually touching the wound.  Moon hiccuped as tears swelled up in his eyes he was aware that this wasn't real but he just wanted for once in months to embrace the warmth of someone who loved him. Moon felt the Phantom movement over his face as he looked directly into Solar's eyes. The tired eyes of his lover, the scratches on his tangerine-coloured rays and his little fangs. He wasn't wearing his goggles though, maybe because.. He moved his hand to his hat and felt the goggles sitting on his head. Solar's lips curled in a slight smile as the Lunar animatronic felt his hands drawing circles on his cheeks.

Oh how much Moon missed him, he wanted to touch Solar's pretty face but he feared if he did so then Solar would disappear again. Moon's lips trembled as he closed his eyes. "I miss you, Solar."

"I know I do too, Star boy." He teased light heartedly. Moon rolled his eyes and smiled slightly but the wistful stirred in his chest. "You're not real." He mumbled and Solar didn't reply to that. "You know what you need to do." The Phantom whispered gently while leaning his forehead to his and wrapping his arms around him. Moon breathed hitched as he tried to hold back tears. "I can't." Solar shook his head and lifted Moon's chin. "I know you can. You know exactly what to do." He stated as he looked deeply in Moon's eyes. "I still love you." Solar affirmed and Moon broke down sobbing loudly.

___________________________________

Author note:

So sorry for the pain </3 I try to make more sweet fanfics or art of them in the future.

[captainrukias-husband]

Note: 2nd person POV/Orihime POV.

Warning: TW, alludes to abuse.

You were miles away from everything you knew and nothing here smelled familiar. The kitchen table was dressed with a white cloth, embroidered in roses, and the older woman sitting across from you had the same colored eyes you do, but they looked nothing like your father's. The glass of water sitting before you wept and wept, the glass clinking as it melted, and you could only twist your fingers into the hem of your shirt. Uncertain of yourself.

You and your brother arrived at her doorstep one rainy night and she looked at you as if you were a pest, a roach crawling across her kitchen tiles. But she hadn't turned you away, and in the darkness, sharing a futon on her living room floor, your brother mumbled to you, “This is only temporary. We're safe here. I promise.”

Sora was working today, too, and again your aunt glanced at the calendar casually. As if to remind you of temporary, of the ticking clock on the wall. She never said it aloud, but it sat in the air; it weighed heavily on the back of your neck.

Today was the third day. She had given you and Sora two weeks to find a place of your own, and while on that rainy night it had seemed like an endless amount of time, now you are realizing that it was hardly a kindness. Your brother toiled day in and day out, back when it was later than late and gone again before the sun was up. You are lonely and scared, but you can't show it, even now.

Either way, your aunt was kind enough to lend you a few dresses from the attic. The ones she might have worn as a child herself. They are made of a stiff material and smell old and stale. When you told her you did not know how to shower alone, something twisted up behind her gaze. And you recognized the look, but your aunt was quick to smother it before it could fester between you.

The water hit you dead on and you shrank from it for a second. Her nails scraped slightly as she lathered soap into your greasy hair, and this was easy. This was familiar. But when your aunt tugged at one of your arms suddenly, you locked up instinctively.

Her eyes have found the marks on your skin and this was about the time she decided she did not want to know the gritty details Sora had yet to skim over with her. She set the washcloth into your hand and told you, “There are parts of you that no one is allowed to touch without your permission. Not even family.”

Dinner that night was silent. She made vegetable soup and did not let you leave the table until you ate every last drop. You were so full, you were immediately drowsy. Sleep that night was dreamless and before you knew it, morning light was filtering through the pretty curtains. And for once, you did not feel dizzy with hunger.

Sora snored from beside you, clearly exhausted.

In the kitchen, your aunt laid out a full breakfast. And as you pulled out a chair, she said, “Tell you what. Something ever happens and your brother isn't there to hear it, you come to me."

You weren't sure what it was you found so comforting about her, but in that moment you felt as if she completely understood you, looking at you as if you weren't a child –

She willed you to pick up on her meaning, and for once you were grateful that you saw far too much.

.x.

The two weeks passed and in that blip of time, you felt as if some puzzle piece had fallen into place inside of you.

The new apartment was small, but for the first time you had your own bedroom.

For the first few weeks you had nothing more than a thin mattress and some borrowed blankets to sleep on, a plastic crate to keep your scant belongings in, and an old backpack to take to school. When you got your new uniform, you took to hanging it on the hook on the back of the door. Your brother never said it, but there was much care to be put into keeping up appearances. He invested in an iron and a board to lay your clothes on. The wrinkles smoothed away so no one could tell you live off of packaged noodles and canned food, so no one could see the leak in your ceiling or the locks on your doors; the way your brother bolted them shut every night with sweat dribbling down his temple.

More and more furniture turned up the more hours your brother took at work; a kitchen table, two rickety chairs, a bedframe for your mattress, a tiny sofa, an old television, plates and pans and cups and a sieve. There was a stack of books in the corner of your room that soon had a desk to sit on; you read through them every night until he figured out how to find channels on the TV.

“Things are looking up,” Sora said, and you had to agree.

There was more food on the table and you didn't go to bed with a burn in your stomach anymore. The apartment was beginning to look a lot like home now and when the day came that he finally hung a framed photo of the two of you in the living room, you felt your heart swell and for once you did not wonder if you are normal.

School did not become easier. You heard someone say that it was easy to tell who someone was by the state of their shoes and so you sat on the ground by the front door rubbing the scuffs from their leather faces with a rag until you could see the hallway light reflected back.

The girls at school pulled your hair, and you did not understand why. No one told you that people could be needlessly cruel like this — you’d never known someone you didn’t love to hurt you.

Something tightened behind your brother’s gaze but he did not say a word. When you returned to school the next week, your hair was finely chopped at your chin and you spent the rest of the year silent and uninteresting. The girls began to ignore you and you think this was a better fate, coming home now meant a new relief. There were no bruises on your arms anymore and for the first time since you could remember, you did not have to hide behind excuses when the nurse asked why there was a band-aid on your knee.

“I fell,” you said, and this was not a lie.

.x.

“Call me Tatsuki,” she said, wiping the back of her hand over her cheek. You could see the faint traces of scars on her legs and elbows, but the intense wave of worry you felt fell away when she told you, “I’m gonna be a champion one day.”

You found comfort in her. She was the first person you have talked to in a long time that did not share your blood. You were taken by her words, her low voice and her opinions, her laughter and her jokes. She was fresh, a new presence in your life you had not known you’d craved. At school, she swept in before the other kids could crowd in on you and drew you out with stories of tournaments and playground soccer games and her dreams of becoming famous one day.

You never invited her to your apartment.

Her parents were nice and friendly and there were photos pinned all over their walls. There was a smell to her home that was unique, made your very heart ache for a reason you could not comprehend.

“He was my best friend,” she said when she caught you lingering by a frame, tucked behind the others on the bookcase. She was little in this one, and she was grinning toothily, arm draped carelessly over the thin shoulders of a boy with orange hair and wide eyes. “We kinda grew apart.”

You might have caught glimpses of him at school, in some other class. But it was moments before you realized he was the same person. He was a little taller now, and his eyes were a completely different shape.

You hummed, surprised. “What happened?”

It was the first time she became evasive, and you knew well enough not to pry when one did. “Things changed for him at home. I guess he had to grow up quicker and he didn’t have time for the stuff we used to do anymore.”

You nodded, and then rubbed the thin layer of dust collecting on the glass.

“He has a new friend now, though,” she shrugged, turning away. “Good guy, real big. And he and I still hang out every now and then to play video games. We’re just not as close as before. Can’t talk the same anymore.”

The next time you saw him at school, it was from afar. He was leaning out an open window watching a few birds flutter about on the grass.

You wondered what kind of person he used to be.

.x.

Tatsuki promised to protect you, but you did not allow yourself to settle into this thought. There had been times in your life when promises could not be kept and you had learned that this could not be helped.

The dog, the new toys, the broken crayons, the bruises and shattered beer bottles and muffled screams through paper thin walls — these things take time and sometimes they take too long. Sometimes they never come at all.

Such was life.

And such was the way those nails found their way into the skin of your arm, the hissing insults those girls made, the way they spat you ugly and unwanted.

These things lived in conflict with one another, as sometimes when you’re sitting alone at the park waiting for her to return with a bag of chips to share, there was a boy with eyes that made your skin crawl, with sticky hands that liked to crawl unwanted up knees.

There was the recollection of a time before now, how the word no held little meaning and the response was always shut up and here, the faltering beats of your heart and the cold sweat beginning to layer your palms came natural. The proper response was never taught to you but you knew enough to slide away, to clamp your legs shut and dig the heels of your hands into them.

You could only speak using your body; there was no one here to show you how to use your voice and you were too afraid to ask at this point.

Tatsuki always returned in the nick of time, but you did not take this for granted.

Life was not like in the story books.

Sometimes one did not show up in the nick of time.

.x.

Some nights before, some comedy show had come on and in a struck of brilliance your brother had suggested pizza. You had gathered up on the living room floor with blankets and soda and chips and turned the lights off as he paid the delivery boy. You stuffed yourself silly and woke up briefly as he carried you to your bed and tucked the blankets in close to you. The dreams you had that night were pleasant and harmless, morning was hours away and for once it felt like that was the case. When you woke, your brother was in the process of cooking breakfast and he smiled when he saw you yawning in the doorway. A long shower and you were pulling your uniform on, leaning your bag up against the couch and joining him for a plate.

You both left at the same time, and as you walked, he told you about his plans for the day. He was to be paid, and he figured some time out having fun wouldn’t hurt the budget too bad. Some new movie had come out and he figured you’d like it, and if you played your cards right you could sneak in some snacks and drinks from the convenience store.

“Theater food is overpriced,” he told you, smiling. “And they don’t have your favorite brand anyway.”

You had not been to the movies in years, and you could hardly remember how the experience had gone. Excitement rose up inside of you, burst across your face in a grin as he ruffled your hair.

The morning sun was gentle, peering from behind pale clouds and painting the town cool and soft. This moment felt so warm in your chest you felt as if nothing could steal it, it stretched out endlessly before you and you knew nothing else. This was your life now, scattered with stars just like a nighttime sky was. And at the center, your brother glowed just like the moon. Steady and reassuring and full.

To be reminded of temporary was the worst fate had done to you, and this would always be the case.

Such was life.

.x.

Your aunt greeted you at the front door with placid eyes and a deep frown. Her home had changed very little. The flower patterns on the drapes, the ticking clock on the wall, the smell of age overcoming her and the perfume she layered over it. She left the plastic crate on the coffee table and made her way into the kitchen to brew some tea. She didn't ask you what happened; no doubt the reason you were sent here was by your brother’s doing.

“They gave me his photo,” she said as she poured you a cup to drink. “I figure you’d put better use to it.”

You spent the night and it was only the smell of clean linens that pulled you to sleep. Again, you were awoken by the smell of breakfast and she was sitting with a small stack of newspapers and magazines.

“The worst thing I can do to you is take away what you already have. But you can’t go back to that apartment. It will only make things worse.” She folded back the newspaper and leaned into her seat. “So we’ll make a deal. You’ll go back to your school and move on with your life. And I’ll help you get by.”

You didn't ask her to soften her tone, or to take pity on you in this moment. Your shoulders sagged at the weight of what happened, body curling in on itself at the gaping hole in your chest. Your nails dug into your palms and you found it hard to breathe.

But you were mildly grateful, she was not looking at you like a broken thing. You were the same little girl that came with too many ghosts, with violets blooming under the clothes, with eyes that looked just like and yet nothing at all like her brother’s.

“You’ll make it through this,” she said, and you had to believe her.

.x.

Tatsuki treated you different now. Not like you’re fragile, but like more things could sink their fingers into you, and this was not far from the truth. She didn't promise to fix you, or to take the pain away, and this was how you knew she had grown.

Impossible was now a word you could both understand.

The new apartment was only a little bigger than the last, and you have your own room, your own bathroom, your own kitchen and living room and windows and sinks. It was a safer area than the last and both your neighbors were small families. You took your time saving money at the end of each month, whatever your aunt spared you. Lasting foodstuffs, simpler furniture, small knickknacks, clothes that fit your ever growing body, and the candles you lit before your brother’s picture frame.

You spent hours after school praying and hours after that apologizing. You told him about your day, about your new friends, how different high school was. You talked until there was nothing left to say, until there was nothing more than the heartbeat in your ears and the blurry smile he was making at you.

To sleep now was to stifle each lingering thought left over, what you had remembered to tell him for the next day and what he’d never hear no matter how hard you tried. You allowed them to consume you in the darkness of your room and to wither away in the morning light.

Tatsuki treated you different now. She showed up at your door with a bag of food and a small smile and sometimes didn't leave until it was pitch black and dangerous outside.

“Nothing can hurt me as much as I can hurt it,” she said, when you voiced your concern.

You wished you could keep this mindset, too.

.x.

At first, he was a means of distraction. Your brother had taught you when you were a child to look at something standing still to keep from falling over, and the boy with the strange colored hair became just that.

Everything was spinning all around you, always, and he was still. The only semblance of normalcy you could grasp onto -- after all, how could you quell these sorts of feelings? How could you stop yourself from having crushes? This was how you remembered you were still human, still just a girl in the grand scheme of things.

You had little contact at the beginning. You hardly recalled him as the one who’d answered the door to your desperate calls, who had relieved you of the crushing weight of the whole world and had watched you with steady, knowing eyes as you received the news.

There were no good rumors about this battered boy. Every bandage came with a story. Every shifting glance a whispered warning. You half believed them at the beginning. The bruised knuckles, the sleepless shadows under his eyes, the way he snarled at the boys who refused to leave him be. It struck an old, familiar fear in you and you didn't ask any questions, at first.

But one day you bumped into him in the hallway and he was all soothing tones, all worried glances down your frame, all sheepish apologies stumbling out of him.

One day you caught him pulling down a book from the top shelf for someone else. One day you found him guiding a spider onto a window ledge, feeding some hungry squirrel his scraps, picking up the fallen, scattered pages for some girl. One day, some days, he was unspeakably, unknowably kind. He treated these acts of kindness as if there were nothing at all. Someone rushed out a thank you and he shrugged.

He always shrugged. As if they meant absolutely nothing at all.

But to you, to someone fractured like you, they were everything in the world.

.x.

“Of all people?” Tatsuki was incredulous, her nose wrinkling as if the very thought filled her with disgust. “Him?”

You toiled with shame, and not because of her reaction. In another life, you would have really liked to simply call him a friend. But these feelings complicated everything. The simplest interactions with him had you reeling, trying not to stumble over yourself. As if to be touched by him, however innocently, however briefly, was to be touched by an angel. It made you wither inside, disappointed with yourself for warping his intentions in that way. But how to help it?

How to make the heart turn the other cheek?

“Well, I guess you could do worse,” she muttered at last, arms folded. “He's not...awful.”

“No?” you asked, as if you needed the assurance. You knew he wasn't awful. He was wonderful, really.

“Never heard a single disrespectful thing leave that boy's mouth, about women.” She tilted her head to one side, then rushed to say, “Oh, he's disrespectful, alright. But only if you have it coming. He'd never treat you like a piece of meat – is what I'm getting at. And he has two little sisters, so you know he'll be protective.”

You smiled. “Your blessing, Tatsuki?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. You could do worse. You could also do better, though.”

.x.

Either way, Tatsuki was the bridge that connected you to him. Always facilitating interactions, and shamelessly, covertly, interjecting little hints into your conversations regardless of how panicked you looked. But Ichigo was either obstinate or deaf, for all the good it did.

“Still single?” Tatsuki asked, jabbing her fingers into Ichigo's ribs in such a familiar way it unfortunately made your chest tighten at the sight.

“Stop that,” he snapped at her, pushing her hand away. “Yeah, still single. Same as I was last week and the week before. Quit asking, you freak.”

Even if you no longer saw him as a distraction, something about this fixation managed to pull you from the depths of your grief. You still curled in on yourself when you were alone, still felt as if longing were attempting to claw its way out from your throat in the middle of the night, remembering, remembering – trying not to remember – but it was tempered now with these newest memories.

Ichigo laughing at a misplaced joke of yours, the sound ringing in your ears hours after the fact. Ichigo sparing a quick smile in passing. Ichigo offering to walk you home when he ran into you after school, or handing you the extra soda he'd purchased from the vending machine wordlessly. His tiny acts of kindness he never brought attention to. The one person in the group noticing you didn't bring lunch to school again.

They filled in the empty spaces within you. When you told Sora about your day, these moments poured out of you like water from an open faucet. One day, you found yourself laughing as you recalled Ichigo's grumpy face as his friends dog-piled onto him about nothing, and you caught yourself. The laughter dying in your chest, your eyes wide as you realized that you didn't feel lonely anymore.

That maybe you hadn't in a while now.

You felt tears spilling hot down your cheeks and for once, it was from relief.

.x.

[darkurgetrash]

My two Rolan-loving ‘Tavs’, Tavlyn (Lead Me Through the Dark) and Lo (Help! I’m the Main Character!)

Been refining my portrait style for commissions — details will be sorted soon.

[dickfics69]

More Emotion Motion sickness inspo/vibes

This is one of the only prompts for me that doesn’t get blocked so I’m eating it up

I’m also having way too much fun (I need Jesus)

Enjoy and I have many many more 😂

[parasprite]

Benson wasn’t fucking clueless. He knew, by now, that this was more than just a simple fascination with an interesting coworker. But his peace of mind depended upon him ignoring a lot of uncomfortable truths.

Or: 5 moments from Benson and Randy's weird, sad year of working together.

[mypalletshippinglove]

Summary: Ash Ketchum and Gary Oak are happily married now. Their lives couldn't be any happier, however, one day something unexpected happens: Pokémon from all over the world start mysteriously disappearing... something that people refer to as the "Pokémon Rapture." Ash and Gary quickly take matters into their hands, determined to find out what is causing this apocalypse.

-

Hey everyone, I don't know how many people are still active here (it's almost been 2 years, yikes), but I just started rewriting an old fanfic I never posted, in case you read it, I hope you like it and please stay tuned for further updates cuz I promise this will be one hell of an emotional ride :)

[writingpages]

faith & trust

Summary: only she got to see him like this

Rating: M

Ships: Yusei Fudo/Aki Izayoi

Notes: written for @smubbles-etc wanksgiving. was going to be a longer piece but i decided to zero in on the kink aspect of it over the smut aspect. limiting myself was a challenge - i'm a yapper by nature. setting is not explicit, but this is a post canon piece.

Content Warnings: riding crops, dom!yusei

read on ao3 / support me on kofi / join my discord (18+)

She loved that only she gets to see this side of him. The bite of the metal dug into her wrists, and Aki knew he would take them off in an instant if she said the word. The riding crop brushed along her jawline - the threat implicit as she stared deep into Yusei's eyes. A thrill ran down her spine, wondering where he was going next with this. The spark in his eyes promised a pain to the edge of pleasure, something that she wouldn't have guessed he was capable of. "There's a good girl," Yusei praised, and she couldn't help the smile. "Always so good for me, aren't you?"

The riding crop was all she could focus on right now, and she could feel the desire pooling deep in the pit of her stomach. When they were like this, she put her faith in him to know where her limits were, to never step over them. She nodded, and he was kind enough to pull her over his lap - where she could feel his own desire against her stomach. She couldn't help the giggle that escaped her over it, and it earned her a smack from the riding crop on her ass. "Sorry," she gasped in response. "Just... excited."

"Control yourself," he replied, and without being able to see the look on his face, she had to rely on the tonal inflections of his amusement. "Always so eager to jump right into it, princess. Patience."

How could she be patient when he had her like this? She was utterly at his mercy, and he always liked to wind her up until she was in tears and begging for him to just get on with it already. And well... if she was honest... she liked that. It was almost a little humiliating to be driven to the point of pleading, but in these four walls, she could be shameless in her desires. Yusei would keep it all close to his chest, the same way she'd never tell anyone his secrets. It was trust, really. The riding crop came down again, this time twice in rapid succession. Aki gasped in response, and the metal chain of the handcuffs knocked against her back. "Can I help that you always make me feel so good?"

The quiet laugh in response caused her cheeks to flare up - he always got what he wanted out of her, didn't he? And yet she couldn't find in herself to care that he'd gotten what he was after if it meant he'd keep doing this to her. "Well, I suppose not, princess."

[goodlucksnez]

Glimmer of love

so this is not something i normally post but this is a collab post with @dr-ground-zero

cw: messfuckery, horny/indulgent, and angst

this is about our mha oc (zip and shu_ this is year two of their relationship

The holiday season had arrived and Zip was bursting with excitement. The apartment was a blank canvas, ready to be transformed into a festive wonderland.  He had boxes of decoration- tinsel ornament light and more-stored in the attic, waiting to be brought to life 

“Shu come on! It's time to decorate for Christmas!’ Zip called out his voice filled with enthusiasm. He is already pulling down the boxes from the attic with a bright smile on his face.

Shu emerged from the kitchen, a mug of hot cocoa in hand, looking less than thrilled. “Do we have to do this now, Zip?" he asked with a hint of reluctance in his voice. “Can't we wait a bit longer?”

Zip shook his head, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “No fucking way, Christmas is around the corner, we need to get started if we want everything to look perfect”

With a resigned sigh, Shu set his mug down and joined Zip in the living room. They opened the first box, sweeping the cobwebs out of the way. The old cardboard box opened with a plume of dust, revealing the shiny decorations inside. 

Zip rubbed his nose, already feeling the effects of the dust. Maybe it would be best to open these outside, then bring them in”

Normally shu would have agreed but since a snowstorm was currently happening outside he proposed a different solution.

“Why don’t you set up that thing,” he said pointing at the two-part tree that lay on the floor, and i will deal with the boxes”

Zip put down the wreath he was holding and quickly covered his nose with his shirt and sneezed harshly. “"Heh... heh... HHhzzSSCH’eHH!”

Shu jumped at the noise before snickering and replying with a, “Bless you, goodness that was fast. Dust is bothering you already?”

Zip stuck out his tongue at him. “Oh shut up Mr. Grinch and get to unpacking.”

Shu opened the next box, pulling out the stocking stuffers with the initials VIC and Zippy on it, feeling both bittersweet and sad he never got to make fun memories with his folks. Before setting them on the mantel. 

The next thing out of the box was an old, dusty picture frame. Shu brushed some of the dust off and looked at the frame. It was a picture of a small blue-skinned boy with two front teeth missing sitting by a fireplace holding an oversized bat onesie, assumingly on Christmas morning. Shu felt his eyes watering, and if Zip ever asked him, he would say it was the dust and not the feeling of wanting a nice family Christmas. 

Shu wiped his eyes and set the frame on the mantle, as he let go the frame backing folded in and it fell. Shu tried to catch it but it shattered on the ground behind him glass littering the floor around Shu feet. 

Within a moment Zip came running. “I heard something crash, are you okay?”

“I am fine, just a picture fell.” Zip, seeing glass around his bare feet, barked an order at him. “Don't move!!!! I will get a broom.” Shu smiled. “Love, I am not going to get hurt from broken glass, I ride a motorbike for Christ's sake.” Zip snapped back “I know and I have a heart attack every time.” 

Zip hurried off to fetch a broom. Upon his return he found Shu picking up large shards. Zip yells at him. “DO NOT PICK UP BROKEN GLASS WITH YOUR HANDS!.” His quirk started to activate the ringing of his voice echoing off the walls of the apartment. It might have been the surprise or the fact he had been looking at the family heirlooms for the last thirty minutes but the tears that threatened to spill started falling. 

Zip, not seeing the tears, pushed him out of the way and started sweeping up the glass mumbling about being irresponsible. Shu's mind started to fog, he felt his pulse in his ears. His face started to flush and he felt his breath start to quicken.  

Before Shu could stop himself he shouted out, mincking Zip's voice with his Quirk. “Well fuck off, I didn't have this, OKAY! I didn’t have nice memories with anyone. So I am sorry if you think this fucking capitalistic holiday is all that, but you know for others it is a fucking nightmare.”

Zip turned around shocked. In all the time they had been together he had only heard him shout one other time. He felt his throat tighten. Before he could find his voice Shu continued. “You might have had a warm fire and loving parents but I wasn't okay. This is hard enough,” he said gesturing to all the lights and joyfulness and taking a deep breath, I don't need to have to be WITH YOU A HAPPY-GO-LUCKY FUCKING HERO ON MY ASS!”

Zip felt his world shatter. All the joy and lights around him dulled and he was left alone in the dark. Shu stomped off, slamming the front door. The wreath which was held up by a loose nail slid down and clattered to the floor. Zip was left alone surrounded by dusty boxes, distant records playing in the background, and a hole in his heart.

—----

When Shu’s senses came too, the first thing he noticed was he was shaking and he was cold. He didn't know how long he was walking. It felt like hours but looking at his 12 battery percentage left phone it had only been 40 minutes. He looked behind as the blistering wind swept over the snow covering his footprints. He wrapped his arms tightly around himself. His mind was fuzzy with the event that led to this but as he sat on a bench near a streetlamp, the memories started coming back to him.

The picture frame, the dusty ornaments, the nicknames on the stocking stuffers. The tears sprang back to his eyes and he wiped his eyes. Why was this getting to him now, they had been together for Christmas before, this was the second Christmas. The first one Zip took him to a light show and Shu had gotten sick. Now a year later their relationship had only grown stronger. Why were these feelings building up now? What has changed? Zip was still playing basketball and in a great position in his rescue work. Shu had been working hard and actually getting noticed by the mafia. So why now? He racked his brain before a sudden strong wind came and he shivered. 

He smiled as a memory came to the surface. “You need to wear a coat in the wintertime or you'll catch your death.” the memory of Zip's sultry voice filled his head. And suddenly like he had been hit by lightning he knew what was different. It was love. He loved Zip. He was in love with Zip Kōmori.

He jumped up and screamed to the quiet and snow-covered world around him. “I LOVE ZIP KŌMORI!!” 

His legs started running before he knew he was going to. His feet sank into the freshly fallen snow but he continued to run. The cold air wiped at his face and stung his nose and lungs but he kept pushing forward. He could see the lights of the apartment complex getting nearer. His love was so close. As he reached the stairs leading up the yellow interior he stopped, his breath coming in short rapid breaths, his skin burning from the snow and ice hitting him. 

That last thing Shu said was evil and cruel, how was he going to explain he realized he was in love with him? He knew he sounded crazy. Luckily he didn’t have to decide the door opened and zip arms flung around him pulling him down on the snowy steps.

“Do not ever do that again, you can't just leave and not tell me where you are going! My heart can’t take it. Please don't leave me. I look down at the Christmas lights and everything. I am sorry, I thought everyone liked it. But I was wrong, just please don't leave me.” Zip chokes up on the last words and holds Shu tight in the falling snow. 

Shu, too shocked to speak, slowly rises and leads them inside. Zip stays attached to Shu until Shu pinches forward with a wet sound sneeze.

“Et-chiew! Et-knk! Kgnnk!”

“Oh shit you're soaking wet you need to dry off, you don't need another cold on Christmas like last year!” Zip rushes around the corner almost colliding with the stairs and comes back with a new thick blanket he had never seen before. “I was saving this for Christmas but you need it now” 

He wraps Shu in the thick fuzzy blanket almost too tightly and steps back like he is afraid a bomb is going to go off. “All wrapped up, um I hope you like it.”

Shu couldn’t help but laugh, a deep hearty laugh that seemed to shake the cold from his bones. He looked up to see Zip looking both scared, confused and worried and it was enough to jumpstart his heart.

“Zip, darling. Do you want to know what I thought about while I was out there? Nothing but you. How much i…no our lives have been better since that cold rainy night! While we might not be perfect for each other and we know how to tick off each other, there is one thing we have in common, well at least I hope we do?”

Zip swallowed hard before speaking. “Oh yeah, what is that?”

“We both….love each other!” Shu smiles and blushes and just waits.

Zip stands there for a moment, the words echoing in his mind..loves me…he loves me…WAIT HE LOVES ME!

Before Zip can process what he is doing he runs and tackles and hugs Shu on the sofa, almost knocking the whole couch over in the process. He holds him so tight, that he is afraid he might be hurting him. 

He frantically yelps out “I love you too Shugo! My whole heart is yours forever and always!”

Shu hugs him back until his nose starts itching and he tries to warn Zip with little success. “Zip ... .move gonna snee-EEEH! Et’chiew! Et’chiew! Ed’sshiiew! Ed’shiiiew”

Zip not letting go and knowing based on past times asked softly. “Bless you kitten! Are you done?” 

Shu shakes his head in agreement before quickly ducking his face into the blanket. “Et-chiew! Heh! Hehe Chiew!”

“Goodness, that was big! Bless you, take a breath.”

Shu rubs his nose on the blanket before cuddling in Zip’s chest. Shu could hear his heart beating fast and smiled before replying with a smirk. 

“Aw did I excite you little Batsy”

Zip blushed every shade of red imaginable before hiding his face. “Oh shush Rudolph, you have no place to talk!” Shu let out a soft laugh before snuggling back into Zip’s chest, rubbing his nose against him a little. “I’mb-I’mb sorry about earlier ... .for yelling, and for what I-Ihh I! Oh fugk” He gasped before ducking into Zip’s chest. Zip holds him both as a way of support and a way of comfort, by the looks of his redding nose and the fact he had just been outside in the snow for minutes without a coat on, he would have a talk about that with him later, he knew he was catching a cold. 

He hoped as Shu hitched into his chest this was not going to become an annual thing. “Et’chiew! Et’shiiew! Ht’chiiew! Hdd’sshhhmmmph!” If Zip could blush any harder feeling his lover’s wet sneezes dampening his shirt, he would be red enough to stop traffic.  All he could do was loosely wrap his arms around him and give soft blessings to you as he sneezed. He could still feel each sneeze making Shu’s chilled body bend and shudder against his larger frame. “Bless you kitten, come on deep breaths, don’t want you passing out on me.” He said with a soft chuckle and back rubs. Shu sniffled thickly and let out a heavy groan. “Thagks, also sorry” Zip cupped Shu’s face in his hands and guided him up, to give his forehead a kiss. “It's alright, I’m not angry ... .I may not fully understand but I get it.” He said in a low voice, things got quiet for a moment before Shu leaned into him. “I guess, seeing all those pictures it-It felt conflicting, I’m jealous ... .and that’s not your fault. I’d never wish for anything bad, nor would I want you to know a shred of what I’ve experienced but-” Zip hugged him firmly as Shu spoke. “I wish you never experienced that stuff at all” Zip spoke, he knew pieces and parts of what Shu had gone through growing up. Especially when it came to holidays, even if he didn’t know the full story he knew it wasn’t an easy life. It broke his heart multiple times when hearing Shu recount his younger years. “I just want to give you the Christmas you never got….If you’ll let me”

Shu tried to respond but his nose had other plans still, he tried to speak through the incoming fit. 

“I.. want that, i do but…oh fuck mbe-Et’chiiew! Et’chiew! Et’mph! Et’mph! Et’chiew!....HHh.ugh

He sneezed wetly spraying the air between them before Zip led his head to his chest. “Come on kitten let them out. I know it is so itchy!”

“Ibm tryign…its stuck.” He said his face pressed to Zip’s chest. Zip could feel Shu’s chest rising and falling erratically. “Oh no this is gonna be a lot.” “I know baby let it out you won’t feel better till you do, come on let me help, look at me.”

Shu looked up with watery eyes and Zip's heart almost melted. His scrunched up, his nose was reddening at a fast pace. Shu’s hands were fumbling to rub at his nose, which was proving to be an unhelpful method. Zip reached out and slowly rubbed at his septum. “Aw, you are so cute when you are sneezy.”

“eEcchiew!Etcchiiew! 'Et'chiiew! Eeetsshiiew!....ugh i'mb fide…Imb don- godda get it o-ode dehh heh HETCHIEW!” 

“Goodness, that sounded like one of mine! Is your nose okay?”

He goes to respond but his nose is twitching. Mess is dripping onto the new blanket and Zip rolls up his sleeve and wipes at his running nose.

“hehh oh guuh god hehh heh!...Zip..please…big”

“Okay okay baby, I know let it out, I can wash a hoodie later, I don't mind.”

“Hh— hhAH— A’DSHU’H!...hH’KSHU’H!...Ugh fuck….HUtchiew! HUTCHIEW! huTCHIEW! HT'CHIEW.” Zip could feel the spray through his sleeve and shivered before tending to the other dripping nose. The poor thing looked beat up. His eyes were watery with a few tears staining his cheeks and his nose…it had seen better days.

The poor thing was angry and twitchy, it was a bright irritated red. Clearly needing gentleness compared to the harsh rubbing and scrubbing Shu had been doing that pissed it off in the first place.

Zip went off looking for something to help, and came back with an old hoodie he knew Shu favored. He had used this before during a previous sick day to wipe at his inflamed nose, thinking Zip did not see it…but he did.

Zip unwrapped the blanket from Shu’s shoulders, noticing the chill it brought to him. He positioned Shu on the corner of the couch so his back was against the armrest and straddled his lap. 

If Shu could speak would have certainly said something but before he could, the soft fabric was being pressed to his face. The contrast between the rough skin of his nose and the soft fabric was a delight, and Shu sighed in relief. The sentiment was short-lived because Zip started to rub his nose counterclockwise and it ignited the dormant but persistent tickle. He barely had a second before his breath seized and was bending into the waiting hoodie.

“hhah-TSSSSH’oo!…hhehh’IYSSCh’hh! — hhh! hheh’ITTSCH’ue! hh’TSSSch’—chh!—cchh’ Zip mbe careful…ibm gonna-hh… hih! …hih—! Hhhh-! Heh’GXHktshh’hu!!!”

“I know baby that is the point, you are gonna sneeze, you have a messy cold. I am helping. Come on, your nose is so full. I know it itches.”

Shu blushed every shade of red. “Baby you’re killing mbe here, I..hih..oh no, shit messy….Hhah-hHAESSHhuu!…huh…hHH!-hHN’GXT!hht’sch!-iht’sch-tssh-hkshh!!!”

Zip could feel the hoodie get drenched with spray from Shu, and from the way the other was snuffling, he knew he needed to blow. He turned the hoodie over and helped it over his nose, “Go on kitten blow for me.”

Shu did as he was told. The sound was wet but seemed to bring the edgy man's nose some relief at last and he slumped into Zip exhausted.

“There you go, your nose all better now?”

“Yeah, imb dbone on god i sound awful”

Zip blushes and kisses his forehead “No, you sound so cute and adorable all stuffed up.” Shu blushed and whined at his compliments. He relaxed against him with a sigh, keeping Zip's arms around him. “Bmerry Christmas, Zip” “You too, kitten~ I love you” “I love you too”

[moonclans]

NOBLESSE OBLIGE

Bruce Wayne (The Batman 2022) x Sang-hee Choi (Original Character).

In the summer of 1997, Sang-hee Choi meets Bruce Wayne and the city of Gotham. Years later, when they are no longer children, they begin to unwind the threads that bind them together in both love and dread.

This is a link to a collection of old one-shots and fic snippets part of the unpublished Noblesse Oblige fanfic and dedicated to @malangaleaves, the author. Only registered users on AO3 can access. Please note that this collection contains NSFW material.

AO3.

[medusapelagia]

Serenade

written for @corrodedcoffinfest (Prompt 17: This one's for you) and @astrangersummer (Week 12: Forgotten) Rating: Teen and Up Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: none Words: 1000

(So... this entry for the Corroded Coffin Fest and the Steddie week got A LOT of attention and people asked me for a sequel So this can be read as a stand-alone or a sequel of Love at first sight.)

Steve can’t suffocate a whimper when the curtains of his room open unexpectedly and Robin turns toward him with a grin.

“Raise and shine, baby! We have another incredible shift at Target!”

“Fuck you, Robin. I’m sick, I can’t go to work.”

Robin lifts an eyebrow, and points at the glass of water and the Advil pills on Steve’s night table, “Not sick, babe, just in hangover, and given the fact you decided it was a good idea got wasted without me I think that spending your hangover with me dealing with customers is the right punishment.”

Muttering that he feels he’s been punished more than enough, Steve gulps down water and pills, grabs the wrinkled clothes he finds on his chair, and follows Robin into the kitchen, where a warm toast and a cup of coffee are already waiting for him.

“Still hate you, but you’re the best.”

“I know you do, dingus. Now, want to talk about last night?”

Steve tilts his head frowning in confusion, “What do you mean?”

Robin grabs her phone, opens WhatsApp, and plays an audio message in which a really drunk Steve stutters something about having found the man of his dreams.

“I’m going to marry him, Rob! Will you be my bestwoman?” Steve’s drunken voice says.

“So… who’s this mystery man?”

“Who? I have no idea who you are talking about.” Steve shrugs in confusion, “I was obviously drunk. I don’t remember a thing.”

Robin scrutinizes him for a long time before nodding to herself, “Ok, fine. But this is another reason why you’re not allowed to go out drinking without me!” She declares, pouring two glasses of orange juice for both of them.

“What about your date? Is Chrissy everything you were looking for?”

“She is not.” Steve sighs, ready to comfort her when Robin adds, “She’s way better! She is fun! And beautiful! And when she laughs she snorts so adorably… and we’re fucking late! Let’s go!” Robin says, grabbing Steve’s arm and pushing him out of the door while she keeps telling him about the amazing date she had the night before. 

When they get outside the crispy air makes Robin shiver, so she reaches into Steve’s jacket’s pocket to warm herself, but she retreats her hand with a gagging sound, “Didn’t your mom teach you to throw away used tissues?” she asks, making a disgusted face.

Steve frowns and puts his hand in his pocket, retrieving a crumpled napkin with some pen’s shaky signs. He opens the napkin to get a better look and finds a telephone number and a name: Eddie.

“Holy fucking shit! You did meet someone!” Robin grins, “Are you sure you don’t remember him?”

Shaking his head, red with embarrassment, Steve confirms he doesn’t remember anything.

“Ok. Only one thing to do.” Robin grabs Steve’s phone, “Call him.”

“What?! No! What if he’s a psycho? Or if I made a fool out of myself? It’s better to forget about it.”

“Ok.” Robin shrugs, turning her back to Steve who glares at her with suspicion, it's not like her to surrender so easily.

“What…? Robin! No!" He says trying to grab the phone, but she’s already dialing the number, “Robin what the fuck!”

“Hello?” A warm voice replies after a couple of rings.

“Oh… Hey… Eddie? I… I’m Steve.”

“Oh, Stevie.” Someone in the back makes a satiric comment while the man on the phone opens a door and moves somewhere quieter, “Are you feeling better? Did you drink a lot of water like I suggested?”

“I… yeah… I did… but…”

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

That word triggers something in Steve's mind, a blurred memory of a group of men wearing leather jackets and talking loudly.

“I… Look… I know this sounds bad but I don’t remember what happened last night and I wanted to apologize if I made a fool out of myself.”

“Oh. Ok. Not what I was expecting, but it’s fine.” The voice sounds disappointed and it makes Steve’s heart ache.

“I’m so sorry…”

“It’s fine. Listen I have to go, the guys and I have a little concert and we’re in the middle of the soundcheck.”

“Oh. Yeah. You signed a big contract, right?”

“So you do remember something.” The man points out, amused, “You know what? Why don’t you come to see us? Tonight, at the HideOut, I promise not to let you drink until we talk.”

“At the HideOut? Tonight?” Robin grabs Steve's arm and points at herself, “Can I bring a friend with me?”

“Sure. See you there.”

When Eddie closes the call and goes back to the stage, Jeff is grinning, “So, is he still in love with you?”

“Don’t think so. He doesn’t remember me.”

“Oh, this sucks.” Gareth says, stopping the cymbals, “So what are you going to do?”

“The only thing anyone in his right mind would do: serenade him in front of a crowd!” Eddie chuckles while he grabs his guitar and adds a new song to their track listing and Freak winks at him.

“Bold choice.”

“I’m not going to chicken out. He said he loved me, right?”

When the doors open it isn't hard for Eddie to spot Steve, who is wearing a bright yellow sweater and stands out like a sore thumb in an ocean of dark jeans and black t-shirts.

They play the single they have just recorded and the crowd explodes, but Eddie’s eyes are pinned on Steve when he announces “Stevie, this one's for you.”

Eddie moves around the stage, getting back to back with Freak while playing, but he gets closer to the audience, searching for Steve's eyes when he sings, “And, want to treasure the rest of your days here, and, give you pleasure in so many ways dear.”

Once the concert ends, Eddie asks to bring Steve backstage and when he sees him, he winks, "I think we're doing things the other way around, but... would you like to go on a date with me?"

[nothingwronghere]

(i read about this AU: when it rains, everything is silent and the only thing a person can hear is their soulmate. I liked the idea and wrote this short fic)

When Julian was a child, he hated the quiet during the rain. He curled together in his bed or in a corner of his room. Sometimes he even put his hands above his ears, as if that would change anything about the quiet. It was all consuming and all around him. He had this wish, this deep wish for a soulmate, simply to make it less quiet, so he wouldn’t feel so alone during the rain. When he got older, this wish never really disappeared but he realized that it wasn’t actually the wish for a soulmate but the wish to fill the silence.

And so he did the next best thing to finding a soulmate. He found out where it never rained: which was space. Everywhere in space, on a space ship, on a space station, it never rained there. As long as he was in space, he’d never have to bear the silence. That was the reason why he signed up for Starfleet. He wanted to become a doctor, that was without question. But the reason why he wanted to become a doctor in Starfleet was that he wouldn’t have to bear the silence ever again.

It was wonderful Julian loved to be in Starfleet, he loved the commotion, the noise, the people all around him. If he didn’t want to, he was never alone.

When Elim was a child, he wished it would rain more often on Cardassia because that was the only time during which he found peace. It was the only time no one nagged him. When no one berated him, told him how stupid he was or forced him to become better. When it rained, the quiet around him was soothing. Then he was happy and he wished he’d never find his soulmate so he would be able to enjoy the silence during these times for the rest of his life.

When he got older, he realized that it wasn’t the wish not to have a soulmate but to be left alone. He also realized that he’d never find peace because he couldn’t simply leave Cardassia to find a place where it rained frequently or where no one bothered him.

When Elim left Cardassia, he was aware that he’d probably never find his soulmate because without rain in space, there was no way to tell who might be his soulmate. It didn’t matter anyway, there wasn’t rain in space, a soulmate wouldn’t make all the nagging worse. What Elim missed on the space ships and space stations wasn’t necessarily the rain, but he only knew peace and quiet during these times. On space stations it was never quiet and he hated it. Even in his quarters, there was always some form of noise, as unobtrusive as it might be, it never truly stopped. He couldn’t escape the noise and he couldn’t escape the people. No matter how much he wanted to, he was never alone.

Julian and Elim didn’t notice they were soulmates for years. Neither of them cared to search for their soulmate, Julian not because he didn’t need one, there was no silence he needed to fill. And Garak not because he didn’t want one, he enjoyed the silence, if he was able to have a second of it, too much.

But as it is with soulmates, even in space, fate always finds a way.

Julian is on this planet, a planned mission, with several others, including Elim. On the second day, it begins to rain. Julian grimaces as the silence stretches all around him. He still wants to sit in a corner and wait until the rain is over, as he has done as a child. But he is no child anymore.

Elim on the other hand smiles. It is amazing, to finally have some quiet, after decades of endless chatter and noise. After years on Deep Space 9 he has missed it more than anything else. It is such a relief, he never wants the rain to stop.

Julian as well as Elim continue with their work, the same as everyone else. Just because they can’t hear anything doesn’t meant they should interrupt their task.

Both realize at the same moment that something isn’t as usual during the rain. Both look up at the same time and scan the room. Their gazes meet.

Julian is the first to speak. “Garak?” He doesn’t truly expect anything in answer, but Elim freezes and continues to stare.

Elim isn’t sure if he should be happy or not. It is still quiet all around him, this deep unbreakable silence that he loves. But in this silence hangs his name. For a moment he wonders if he should fake not having heard but then he notices something else: he isn’t annoyed about hearing the doctor. Not as he is with everybody else.

Though Elim doesn’t answer, Julian is sure he has heard him. He knows it. And though Elim doesn’t answer at first, doesn’t break the quiet of the rain, Julian feels immediately better. Less lonely, less smothered by the all-consuming silence.

Julian as well as Elim only then think about what it means that they can hear each other. They are soulmates. Years of time spent together, it never crossed their minds. But it is fitting. They are good together.

During the stay on the planet, it rains several more times and they both learn something about themselves. Julian learns that he doesn’t need anyone to actually fill the silence with sound. It is enough to know there is someone who could do that. Someone who will say his name when he needs it. It doesn’t make him like the quiet during the rain, but it makes him not hate it anymore.

Elim learns that he doesn’t hate when someone fills the quiet during the rain with sound, when it is the doctor who does it. He finds that it actually has one huge advantage: he can fully concentrate on the person talking to him during that time. Which is wonderful when that person is doctor Bashir, his soulmate, who never berates or insults him or makes him feel less. Who never bothers him. Garak actually likes that he is able to listen to him without anyone interrupting. And when he wants to enjoy the quiet of the rain, he can still do that because Julian understands the peace a bit of silence can give.

Elim also learns that his soulmate brings peace independently from rain while Julian learns that his soulmate brings some quiet, even when it doesn’t rain. It isn’t about how much they talk, it is just a feeling. A feeling of neither rainy nor rainless being the better weather, but that both have their advantages. It works, because knowing they are soulmates changes the dynamic between them. Suddenly there is a depth of emotion, trust, that hasn’t been there before.

Julian still likes rainless better while Elim enjoys rainy, yet they don’t hate the other anymore. Because they are not alone and a soulmate can change ones view of the world.

[team5ds]

show me distraction even for just one night

Summary: every other week, a witch came into down with her band of travelers. a witch who could tell you who you were going to marry. anzu mazaki has no interest in that, however. she wants something different from the witch. something the witch is more than happy to provide.

Rating: T

Ships: Mai Kujaku/Anzu Mazaki

Author’s note: written for @sapphic-september with the prompt of "esp". both mai and anzu are about 20 something in this fic.

read on ao3 / support me on kofi (battle city & up supporters get early access) / join my discord (18+)

There were whispers of a lady who could tell you who you'd marry, and she blew into town every other week. Every time, the line to her wagon was long and winding with desperate young maidens hoping to hear that they'll marry upwards. Fathers would be waiting on the other end to hear who their daughters would marry, and argue with the psychic if she predicted someone they didn't like. Anzu, however, did not care to know who she'd marry. She didn't care to know what men were hoping to covet her hand. What she wanted to know was if she would ever leave this small town. She dreamed of dances and a chance to show off her talents. She dreamed of a small artist studio with a lofted bed, with sunshine and plants surrounding her. And yet here she was, inside the strange witch's quarters. She looked nothing like Anzu pictured - a pretty blonde with wisteria colored eyes that had a spark in them. Her eyes raked over her, and she leaned forward. Her blonde curls went everywhere - wild and free. "You're not here to learn about who you're going to marry, are you?"

Anzu sank down into the oversized chair made of dark wood, and the thick cushions made her feel more comfortable than she had any right to. A strange smell ensnared her - something she'd never smelled in this tiny town. She could picture the city shop that the fortune teller would've found it in, and Anzu longed to join her there. She'd never thought that she'd picture wanting that with anyone. She'd spent more time wanting to get out that she'd never once considered what it'd be like to want to stay somewhere. The again... it was easy to imagine that kind of future when it was utterly impossible. "No, I'm not," Anzu said, and a haze soothed over her. Something about this place felt like a dream, even if somewhere in her mind she knew it was real. "I'm not.... interested in marriage. My parents want me to but..."

"You're not interested in any of the men they show you," the witch said with a wicked grin. She'd leaned forward, and Anzu couldn't help but glance down at her bosom - the corset she wore was indecent. Wearing something like that here would certainly get someone in trouble. She wanted the freedom that the witch had. "In fact, you find yourself disinterested in all the men in this village. You want to leave here, and nothing ties you here, does it?"

"Yes, I -"

"No, don't speak, hon," she said, and her fingertips lightly grazed along Anzu's neck. Her breath hitched as she leaned into her touch, and the witch's hand now touched her cheek. She felt heat rise to her cheeks, and her lips parted. "I can see it. You find yourself staring at women for longer than is proper. You dream of a big city where you can blend into the crowd. Perhaps with some form of art to carry yourself without a man. You'd like to be run off with someone very close to you."

Anzu's eyes widened, and she wanted to deny it. Shame rolled over ever so briefly before that haze came back. Was the witch's face always this close to hers? She could see the gloss of her lips, the light flick of liner across her eyes, and it would haunt her dreams. Anzu's mind immediately drifted into imagining what it would be like if the witch actually closed the gap and gave her the very first kiss of her life. She wondered if it would be like how the books made it seem like kisses were supposed to feel like. She'd never wanted someone to kiss her so bad before. Girls weren't supposed to want this, after all. The witch smiled, and then the haze dissipated. She was standing outside the wagon, and before she knew it, the psychic had left. The smell of her perfume lingered, and Anzu was desperate to see her again. She turned to a maiden who had still been waiting and asked, "Do you know when she'll be back?"

"Didn't she already read you?"

She shook her head, and lied, "She said she needed multiple sessions with me. Said something about how it wasn't clear."

"That can happen?" The maiden's eyes widened, and Anzu knew she was thinking of the horror of not knowing who she'd marry. "Well um. She should be back in a month's time from what the rest of the travelers with her said. But sometimes she comes back sooner. I hope she'll have something for you next time!"

In the month lead up to the fortune teller's return, rumors spread quickly of Anzu's failure to be told the name of her future husband. Wives who found bliss because of the witch would whisper as she walked past, and fellow maidens would offer their condolences about her not finding a husband. None of them knew that at night, Anzu found herself dreaming of the witch's touch upon her skin. Her perfume became a memory, something she desperately clung to. She needed to see her again.

The fortune teller blew into town with the gusto of a storm's tempest, and Anzu was granted the ability to go first by the other maidens who felt sorry for her. They smiled and wished her luck on obtaining her husband, and Anzu didn't have the heart to tell them that she'd never have a husband. "You lied," the witch said, not even bothering to face her. There was no sign of a window she could have peered out of to see what had happened or who came next. The familiar haze was settling in. "You know I have a reputation to keep up, don't you?"

Her lips were a deep cherry red and slick - a tempting promise of pleasure in them. All her inhibitions were lowered, and she moved forward to kiss the witch like she'd been dreaming of - her very first kiss. The only frame of reference she had were stories that claimed this happened between a man and a woman, and how it was supposed to feel just like it felt now. Inexplicable, and perfect. The witch's hands were on her hips, and Anzu gasped as she pinned her to the wall. "I have a prediction of my own," Anzu finally gasped as her hands tangled into the fortune teller's wild curls. "You're going to take me far away from this little village, and I'm going to become your apprentice. Am I right?"

"You're going to tell your parents that I couldn't see a man in your future because you have the sight," the witch said with a light smirk as she pulled away. "You are instead going to learn to be a priestess at my behest. Tell them I entrusted you with my name, Mai Kujaku." She handed Anzu a wet rag. "Clean yourself up, and come back in an hour. We'll leave to the city then."

Anzu nodded, cleaning herself up. "I'll go pack a bag," she said with a soft smile. The perfume now lingered across her collarbone - as if she was marked even without the lipstick. "I'll be back."

[darkurgetrash]

Yes, I spent all evening making an awful light novel cover for my terrible isekai. No, I will not apologise. Anyway — Chapter 6. Existential Crisis? Not Today, Satan! just dropped! Go check it out 💕🙇‍♀️

“… and also, ya know,” she smiled mischievously, intending to break the tension as she took a step towards him so that she had to tilt her face to look up at his. “You’re hot.” // Just as she’d hoped, Rolan’s face flushed a deep crimson, even more vivid than before. He stood there, stunned, like a deer caught in headlights. Lo couldn’t help but cackle, stepping back and basking in her newfound amusement. Yes. Making him flustered was infinitely more enjoyable than pointless small talk.

[aditublog]

Rhasta took the kids outside with him to the garden. He knew he’d not get much work done with the three of them running around but the night had been difficult and Medusa had been awake during most of it. She deserved some rest now.

Besides, it was fun to have the kids with him, just not productive. The smaller of the twins was tied to Rhasta’s back with a wide cloth and sleeping.

The eldest rushed towards the garden, not bothering to wait while her sibling toddled along, clutching onto Rhasta’s hand. The skirt of her dark blue dress fluttered around her tail, a speck of colour in the otherwise plain steppes.

It was hot, though it was still early in the morning and the troll carried several flasks filled with water in his free hand. They’d need it.

The sand was warm underneath his feet, it had stored the heat from the previous weeks. The troll shaman smiled as he turned his face into the sunshine, he was sure it would be a wonderful day.

As soon as he had opened the gate to the garden, his two kids vanished between some of the taller plants. He could hear them laughing as he put the flasks down in a shady spot. He’d get to work immediately, as long as he could. The kids would want to play with him sooner rather than later.

To keep animals out, the garden was completely fenced in. The kids were able to climb over the fence if they put their mind to it, but since there was nothing of interest in the steppes, they wouldn’t. They also knew that it was dangerous out there, it was one of the first things they had learned in their young lives.

Rhasta began to pull weeds, listening for his kids to be sure they were close by. Just because they knew the rules didn’t mean they would stick to them. At least he didn’t have to worry about them eating poisonous plants in the garden, he had taken care of that after the first kid had began to crawl and to eat everything in reach.

If they wanted to, they could munch on every leaf and flower here. Some wouldn’t taste very good but nothing would harm them.

With the sleeping twin on his back, Rhasta was sweating almost immediately. It couldn’t be comfortable for his kid, either, but he knew that as soon as he put the little one down, sleep-time would be over. No matter how warm or sweaty, Rhasta’s back was obviously the best place to take a nap. Or his stomach. It didn’t matter, as long as it was on him.

After a while, the two others reappeared. Both were laughing and the smaller was already covered by a thin layer of dust and sand. His slightly green skin and hair was rather brown now, the two small snakes he had inherited as hair from his mother dangling next to his face the only clean spot on his body because the dirt didn’t stick to the smooth scales.

“Da, we are thirsty.” The hair of his eldest kid, long wavy strands so unlike her mother’s, bounced around her face.

“Honey, the bottles are over there.” It could’ve been that easy, the two got the flasks, drank and then played again. It wasn’t and that was fine. Rhasta needed a break from pulling weeds anyway, with a kid on his back it was straining.

So he sat down in an open patch. He took one of the sticks lying nearby and started to draw into the sand. “Now, look at this raptor. Who wants to draw a baby raptor?”

Small hands grabbed sticks and within seconds the formerly even sand was a chaos of lines. Rhasta’s raptor hadn’t particularly looked like a raptor but now there was nothing of it left. The game was over, there was no discernible drawing on the sand and two sets of eyes looked at the shaman expectantly.

“Okay. Should I tell you a story?”

“Can we cuddle while you tell it?”

“Of course. Just let me get your little sibling from my back.” A few minutes of shuffling around, and then the three kids were cuddled against the shaman. A bit of wind had picked up and Rhasta’s sweat dried quickly.

For a few seconds, it was quiet. Then Rhasta began, his voice carrying over the steppes.

@maidot