#Best Balance Bikes for Kids

[charile0]

The Best Kids Electric Balance Bikes: A Guide to Child’s Motorbike Balance Bikes in the UK

If you’re looking to introduce your child to the exciting world of motorbikes, a kids electric balance bike could be the perfect start. Designed for younger riders, these bikes help develop crucial balancing skills while offering a fun, safe introduction to motorized two-wheelers. Whether you're looking for a child’s balance bike UK or a motorbike balance bike to help your child grow their confidence, there are plenty of options to choose from. These bikes come equipped with electric motors to give kids a taste of speed while maintaining the stability of a traditional balance bike.

A kids balance motorbike is a fantastic way to bridge the gap between traditional balance bikes and real motorbikes. These bikes offer a smooth transition as your child becomes familiar with the balance and coordination needed for riding a motorbike. The best models often feature adjustable speed settings, helping you control how fast your child can go.

When shopping for a child’s motorbike balance bike, it's important to choose a model with a durable frame, a strong battery, and safety features like hand brakes. Whether in the UK or elsewhere, these bikes are a fun, safe, and educational choice for kids ready to take on their first motorbike adventure.

[deepak376]

3in1 Scooter Tricycle FUN for Kids!

[bbyg4rl]

HOW JJ AND ARTSY! READER MET

cw: jj, ARTSY!READER, first meeting, bike crash.

a/n: this is the lore i was talking about in the other fic!

It all happened so fast. One moment, you were walking back home, arms full of the art supplies you had saved up for months to buy. The next? A blur of blond hair and metal came barreling straight toward you.

“Shit—move!”

Before you could even react, the dirt bike skidded across the pavement, throwing the rider off balance. You stumbled back just in time, but the impact sent your arms flying open—paint tubes, brushes, sketchbooks, and a beautifully packaged box of expensive pigments went airborne.

The crash was loud—the blonde's bike scraped against the ground, his body tumbling beside it. But all you could hear was the sound of glass shattering and the wooden box breaking open.

Your heart dropped.

When the dust settled, the boy was groaning on the ground, bleeding from a fresh cut on his elbow, but all you could look at was the mess in front of you. Your paint set—your dream paint set—ruined. The glass jars had shattered, spilling vibrant color across the pavement like an abstract painting you never intended to make.

You wanted to cry.

But then the boy cursed under his breath, trying to sit up, and instinct took over. You swallowed down the lump in your throat and hurried to his side instead.

“You okay?” Your voice was softer than you expected.

He blinked up at you, blue eyes unfocused and dazed. For a moment, he just stared—like he was trying to figure out if he’d actually died and gone to heaven.

Then he smirked—a weak, stupid, cocky smirk.

“Damn,” he muttered. “Think I just met an angel.”

You rolled your eyes but still reached out, brushing some dirt from his forehead. “You hit your head too hard or something?”

“Nah. Just never seen someone that pretty while half-concussed.”

You were still upset. You could feel it in your chest, the ache of seeing something you worked so hard for completely destroyed. But looking at him—all scraped up and trying too hard to be smooth—you pushed it down.

Instead, you helped him up.

He winced, gripping his side, but still let out a breathy chuckle. “Shit, that was not my best landing.”

“No kidding.”

Then his gaze shifted—sharp and observant, just for a second. His smirk faded.

“Hey,” he said, voice a little more serious. “That box that broke… was it expensive?”

Your throat tightened, but you just nodded.

The blonde went quiet for a moment. He ran a hand through his messy hair, looked at the mess he made, then back at you.

Finally, he let out a breath.

“I’ll make up for it.”

You blinked. “What?”

But he didnt offer you any more explanation, only—“I'm JJ.”

And that’s when he decided.

JJ Maybank—the dirt-bike-riding menace who almost killed you and your art supplies—decided then and there that he was sticking around.

read how he makes up for it here!

check out my other works ! masterlist

[aquaholicsanonymousworld]

Call Sign: Heartline

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Reader, Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Reader, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell x Daughter!Reader

Summary: Maverick's daughter and Rooster grew up together, bound by their fathers’ legendary friendship and their own shared dreams of flying. When they both get accepted into the Top Gun program, it feels like destiny—until Hangman enters the picture. With his effortless charm and undeniable skill, he throws her world off balance, igniting a rivalry with Rooster that runs deeper than competition.

Maverick's daughter and Rooster had been inseparable since childhood. Their fathers had been best friends, and that bond had naturally extended to them. Growing up, they had spent endless summers racing dirt bikes, sneaking onto airstrips to watch jets take off, and dreaming about the day they’d follow in their fathers' footsteps. When they both got accepted into the Top Gun program, it felt like fate.

"We actually did it," Rooster had said that first night after finding out. He had grinned, his excitement barely contained. "We're gonna do this together. Just like we always planned."

And for a while, it was just like they imagined—training together, pushing each other, celebrating victories, and laughing over the losses. But everything changed when Hangman entered the picture.

The first time she met Hangman, she was completely charmed. He had that cocky smirk, that easy confidence that made it impossible not to take notice. He shook her hand firmly, looking her right in the eye as if he had already decided they were going to get along.

"Maverick’s kid, huh?" he had said, grinning. "Guess that means flying’s in your blood."

She arched a brow. "And you must be Hangman—the guy who thinks he’s God’s gift to naval aviation."

He let out a laugh, clearly delighted. "Damn right. And you must be the one who’s going to give me a run for my money."

Before she could respond, Rooster let out a scoff, shaking his head. "Don’t waste your time with him," he muttered. "He’s just another arrogant guy who thinks he’s better than everyone else."

She smirked, tilting her head as she glanced back at Hangman. "I don’t know, Rooster. I think he’s kinda cute."

Hangman shot Rooster a victorious grin while Rooster groaned, already regretting everything.

He was cocky, arrogant, and insufferably charming. And somehow, against all odds, Maverick’s daughter found herself drawn to him.

It started small—arguments laced with teasing, accidental touches that lingered too long, stolen glances when they thought no one was looking. It wasn’t until one night at the Hard Deck, when Hangman pulled her onto the dance floor, that Rooster really noticed.

The jukebox played something slow but playful, and Hangman wasted no time taking her hand and spinning her toward him. "C’mon, sweetheart. Can’t let all that fighter pilot training go to waste—show me what you’ve got."

She laughed, cheeks flushing, but let him lead, his hands steady on her waist as they swayed and twirled around the floor. Every move was smooth, effortless, as if he had done this a hundred times before. And with every step, every flirtatious grin, she felt herself slipping further into his orbit.

"You’re just showing off now," she teased.

Hangman smirked, leaning in just enough for his breath to brush her ear. "Wouldn’t dream of it. I just like making you blush."

She rolled her eyes, but the warmth spreading through her said otherwise. A giggle escaped before she could stop it, and Hangman’s expression softened at the sound.

From across the bar, Rooster’s stomach twisted as he watched them, her laughter echoing over the music as Hangman spun her around with practiced ease. He tried to ignore it, telling himself it was nothing. But when he saw the way she looked at Hangman—like he was something she couldn’t look away from—he knew it was something.

At first, Rooster told himself it would pass. That she was just caught up in the moment, in the thrill of competition. But then he overheard Coyote mentioning that she and Hangman had gone on a date, and everything inside him snapped.

That night, he found her on the airstrip, staring up at the stars.

"So," he started, voice tight. "You and Hangman."

She turned, eyebrows furrowing. "What about me and Hangman?"

Rooster exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I just—I need to know. Is this just a thing, or... is it something more?"

She hesitated, then exhaled shakily. "It’s not nothing... but I hope it can be."

He let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. "I should’ve said something sooner. God, I should’ve said something years ago."

She blinked at him. "Said what?"

"That I love you," Rooster admitted, the words tasting foreign on his tongue. "That I’ve always loved you. And that no one will ever understand you like I do."

She inhaled sharply, but before she could respond, Rooster was already stepping back. "Just—just forget I said anything. I just needed you to know."

She took a step forward, as if to call after him, but the words caught in her throat. Her hands clenched at her sides, her mind spinning. How had she not seen this coming? Or maybe she had, and she just refused to face it.

But before he could walk away completely, she found her voice. "Rooster, wait."

He stopped, his shoulders tense, but he didn’t turn around.

She swallowed hard, her heart pounding. "If you wanted me so bad, why did you wait until I was in love with someone else?"

The words hung between them, heavy and raw. Rooster finally turned, his expression unreadable, but she barely registered it because the realization hit her like a jet breaking the sound barrier.

She was in love with Hangman.

She hadn’t known it until she said it out loud, until the truth formed and escaped her lips before she could stop it. And judging by the look on Rooster’s face, he knew it too.

It was too late.

Her breath was shaky as she turned back toward the airstrip, hugging herself against the cool night breeze. The weight of his confession pressed down on her, and suddenly, everything with Hangman felt... complicated.

The sound of approaching footsteps made her tense. Hangman.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

She swallowed hard, nodding, but when she met his eyes, she wasn’t sure she believed it herself. "Yeah. Just—just a lot to think about."

Hangman studied her for a long moment before nodding. "You wanna get out of here? Clear your head?"

She hesitated but eventually nodded. "Yeah. I think I do."

The next day, Rooster barely spoke to her. They were paired up for a training mission, but every time she tried to make conversation, he shut her out. His responses were clipped, his gaze distant. Finally, after another failed attempt, he turned to her, eyes cold. "You don't get to act like nothing happened. You chose him, so go fly with him."

She flinched at the sharpness of his words, the weight of his disappointment settling heavily in her chest. The Rooster she had always known, the one who had been by her side through everything, felt impossibly far away.

Flying together wasn’t the same. Their usual rhythm was off, their once effortless teamwork now strained. She could feel the tension in every maneuver, every second of radio silence between them. Then, in the middle of a high-intensity exercise, something went wrong.

Rooster’s jet malfunctioned.

"Rooster, you’re losing altitude!" she called through the comms, panic rising in her throat.

"Damn it, ejecting!" he responded just before the radio cut out.

Back at the base, chaos erupted as they lost contact with him. The rest of the squadron had returned, but Rooster was stranded, his jet down behind enemy lines in the exercise zone.

She didn’t think—she just moved. Racing toward the hangar, she threw on her helmet, ready to jump into a plane and go after him.

"Hey! Stop!" Maverick’s voice cut through the panic, his hand closing around her arm before she could climb into the cockpit. "You’re not going after him."

"I can’t just sit here!" she snapped, yanking against his grip. "He’s out there, alone!"

"And you going after him without a plan is just going to make it worse," Maverick said, his tone firm but not unkind. "I’ll go."

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to nod, but as she listened to her father take off, her fingers dug into her arms. Every second felt like an eternity as she paced near the comms, waiting for his voice to crackle through. Then, suddenly—silence.

The radio cut out.

Her breath hitched. "Dad? Dad, do you copy?"

Nothing.

A horrible, crushing weight settled in her chest as panic clawed up her throat. Her mind spiraled into the worst-case scenarios. First Rooster, now Maverick—both gone? It felt impossible, unbearable.

Hangman stood nearby, watching her, watching the way her body tensed like a wire about to snap. His expression shifted, his usual cocky smirk nowhere to be found. He had never seen her like this before—utterly wrecked, desperate, terrified.

And that was when he made his decision.

"Screw this," Hangman muttered, turning on his heel. "I’m going in."

Hangman launched into action, breaking protocol without hesitation. "I’m not leaving him behind," he had said simply before taking off.

By the time Hangman got to Rooster, the situation was grim. Rooster had landed safely, but his radio was down, and he was out of options. Hangman’s voice was the first thing Rooster heard in the static.

"Bradshaw, you still breathing down there?"

"About damn time, Seresin. You here to rescue me or gloat?"

"A little of both," Hangman quipped, relief laced in his tone. "Now, let’s get you out of here."

When they returned to base, she was the first one there, waiting on the tarmac. The second Rooster climbed out of the jet, she nearly collapsed with relief. But her gaze flicked to Hangman, who looked at her like he knew exactly what she was feeling.

She ran straight to Rooster.

"Are you okay?" she breathed, hands gripping his arms as if to make sure he was real, that he was actually standing in front of her.

Rooster let out a slow exhale, his eyes searching hers. "I'm alive, aren't I?"

Her throat tightened. "I thought I lost you. I thought I lost both of you."

His expression softened just a fraction, then he let out a breath. "You didn't. You could never lose me." His voice was quieter now, more certain. "But we need to talk. Because I can’t keep doing this if I don’t know where we stand."

Tears stung her eyes. "I know I have to earn your trust back. And I will, Rooster. I swear."

He studied her for a moment before nodding. "Then start now."

Without hesitation, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. Rooster stiffened for a brief second before exhaling, his arms coming around her just as tightly. She buried her face in his shoulder, breathing him in, grounding herself in the fact that he was here, alive, safe.

She squeezed his hands one last time before stepping back, inhaling deeply. With that, she turned and found her father, still pulling off his helmet. Without thinking, she ran to him next, throwing her arms around him.

"Dad—"

Maverick caught her, hugging her tightly. "I'm here. I'm okay."

She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with watery eyes. "Dad, thank you. For going after him. For always coming back."

Maverick gave her a small smile, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I always will. I know how much he means to you. Which is why you have to do right by him."

She swallowed hard, blinking back tears. "I know, Dad. And I will. I just—I never wanted to hurt him. I never wanted to hurt any of you."

She buried her face against his shoulder, taking a moment to just breathe before she pulled away, wiping at her eyes. Finally, she turned to Hangman, who had been watching silently from a distance.

She walked up to him, her chest still heavy with emotion. "Thank you," she said softly. "For saving them—they're the two most important men in my life."

Hangman studied her for a moment, then let out a breath. "I get it. Rooster's always been there for you, and your dad—he’s your hero. I wasn’t trying to take their place."

She shook her head. "I know that. But because of you, I still have them. And that means I can finally let myself love the third most important man in my life."

His smirk was softer than usual, his green eyes filled with something deeper than confidence. "Then what are you waiting for?"

Before she could answer, he pulled her into his arms, lifting her off the ground as he spun her around. A breathless laugh escaped her, but before she could say anything, his lips were on hers. The kiss was deep, consuming, and filled with everything unspoken between them.

[celaenaeiln]

I literally can't take it anymore. I need to get this out of my system. This is a hate-rant about why almost every single thing Tom Taylor has written is wrong.

First and foremost is the bimbofication of Dick Grayson. Tom Taylor loves to write him like this idiot who doesn't think at all. Being cheerful does not mean being dumb.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #79

"You seem unusually contemplative"? All Dick does is contemplate!

Nightwing (1996) Issue #3

His mind is always running!

Nightwing (2011) Issue #13

Nightwing (2016) Issue #38

I just picked a random issue from all of these comics and in every single one of these, Dick's planning, thinking, and strategising constantly.

Tom Taylor literally treats him like he's stupid or something.

Also the degradation of his abilities

Nightwing (2016) Issue #79

A vigilante for 20 years. Who has faced assassins, hitmen, psychos, surprise attacks, metas, and you're telling me he didn't know that a untrained kid snuck up and stole from him?

He forgot who he was, he didn't forget where he lived! Even when he was Ric Grayson, Dick had procedural memory. His battle instincts stayed with him.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #52

"Then...I didn't even know what I was doing. I took him down--took him apart in seconds."

This man is a vigilante machine when he was amnesic. Why the heck would Dick ever let his guard down?

His robin reference

Nightwing (2016) Issue #92

Even Bruce in Batman: Hush has said it-Dick was the best. His skills were the best of anyone he's witnessed which is one of the reasons why Bruce let him be Robin in the first place.

This scene is so wrong that there's a robin scene that came out before this in direct opposition of this Tom Taylor Shitshow.

Robin & Batman Issue #1

This was actually pre-robin. Bruce had him do a solo-trial run to see his skill before he made him Robin and this was the result. Compare that to Tom Taylor's scene and the result is humiliating. For Taylor.

Tom Taylor's version of trying to show that Dick loves the people comes off as him hating crime-fighting. RIP the whole Robin firing drama and Nightwing birth i guess.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #79

"We could have avoided all of this if we'd just stayed in and eaten kibble."

Nightwing (1996) Issue #3

Dick would rather die than stop crime-fighting. After Blockbuster's first attempt, his life was hanging on by a thread and he still continued crime fighting.

Nightwing (1996) Issue #91

After Blockbuster blew up his apartment, this is the single-minded determination Dick had to continue crime-fighting. This is him at one of the worst lows of his life but he refused to give up but now? He has everything and Dick wants to ignore the murder of a child to stay inside and eat kibble which - what the heck? I know he's seen as a happy character but him finding dog-food desirable is too far!

Also the idiocy of which Tom Taylor had Barbara calling the cops in Bludhaven for a stolen wallet. Newsflash! This isn't her first rodeo here.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #81

vs

Nightwing (2016) Issue #24

Nightwing (2011) Issue #23

Given how Dick's easily defeated enhanced metas and "very good" fighters, him falling down the stairs is a little to absolutely impossible to believe.

Another thing I love about Dick that Tom Taylor deciminates is his grace. Dick is the most graceful person in DC. His balance easily matches Selina's enhanced cat powers.

But yet. You have.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #83

Nightwing (2011) Issue #23

yeah. okay.

Taylor's motorbike scenes of Dick make me so mad. The boy is a pro at crazy. It's one of his best traits because he does the wildest stunts and he pulls it off.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #93

Nightwing (1996) Issue #86

He lands on his feet. He grabbed a villain mid-air, crashed into a window, and was perfectly fine. Actually no, he's not fine because he's worried about his bike's paint job.

Nightwing (2011) Issue #24

He just sailed over a whole crowd of people and started kicking butt like what he just did wasn't extraordinary - which for him is just another tuesday.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #95

yeah, tell 'er Dick.

He doesn't need someone to hold his bike.

One of the worst things in Taylor's run is how Blockbuster went down. It suddenly reminded me of Selina's stupid ideology which is why I think I got so ticked off.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #96

Blockbusters' thugs loyalty to him isn't a make it or break it deal. He's one of strongest criminal organisations and the knowledge that he owns one of the worst prisons that he could easily put his underlings into would've instilled fear into his thugs, not freedom. Furthermore Blockbuster takes good care of his people that don't piss him off. He teamed up with Nightwing in the scarecrow era in Nightwing (2016) because someone was messing with his people. He's extremely intelligent and superstrong, and he's not just going to be brought down by the knowledge that he owns a prison. It's Bludhaven. If he didn't, then there would be something suspicious given that he runs the city. It's the way Taylor dumbs down Bludhaven's villains that gets to me. Imagine him writing Batman (2016). It's like saying, "yeah the Joker was just a little misguided but he found the right way again after a stern talking to by Batman."

Nightwing is a big name.

When Dick first came to Bludhaven, one of the police officers was like we don't want your crazy here or something. Also Bludhaven loves Nightwing. They want him.

So why is everyone pretending like they don't know who he is?

Nightwing (2016) Issue #90

The police, the citizens, the villains-all of them. Dick fought Brutale and beat the crap out of him way back in 1996 comic. He's a Bludhaven regular. Just because Dick forgot who he was doesn't mean anyone else forgot him. Amnesia doesn't work that way.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #54

A whole team of Nightwings were formed during Dick's amnesic period because of how badly he was needed and missed. It's almost like the Tom Taylor run is set in an alternate universe.

I ran out of image space but what the absolute fiddlesticks is up with Dick being scared to jump. It better be a manipulation tactic but at this point I think Tom Taylor doesn't even know that Dick is manipulative.

[nukiiszn]

the blooming panic boys as fathers —

i will never escape the brain rot

xyx;

he's a relaxed, casual, playful dad, maybe to a fault. it takes him a while to really comprehend the fact he's a father of a life, one he brought into this world with someone else, a life he can now see grow old beyond his own. it takes him a while to comprehend he's not just babysitting or something. so he's wild and fun with them, careless, even. he throws them up in the air, catching them every time, flying them around in the air, balancing them on his shoulders, smiling wide as they giggle. letting them ride around town with him on his bike, letting them wear his comically large helmet. but sometimes it kicks in, when he sits with you in peaceful silence only broken by the distant giggles of your children playing, his heart swells and his lips curl with an all consuming, content of a foreign yet familiar life he could get used to.

"papa, papa, can we ride your bike again tomorrow?"

"haha, at this rate you'll be able to drive me around yourself, hm? alright, but don't tell your mom/dad."

quest;

he fell in love with his child the moment he laid eyes on them, held their impossibly small body in his impossibly larger arms. he dotes on them, cherishes them, loves them every opportunity he gets. he takes them to school, he helps them with their homework, he cooks them their favorite food, he learns about their hobbies. he dresses up in a frilly pink gown far too tight for him in messy makeup for his daughters, he lets his sons climb up on his back and he crawls around the house making engine sounds just to hear their laughs. he can be a bit too coddling, too overprotective sometimes, but he only ever means well, he only ever wants to see them happy, give them the teenage years he robbed himself of. it can all feel quite new and daunting to him, a life he thought he'd never find, but it all comes like second nature to him, and he plans for it to stay till he grows old with you.

"daddy, can you come play princess with me?"

"gosh, what'll i do with you? alright, baby girl, but go easy on the makeup? i have work tomorrow.."

nightowl;

he's a bit freaked out by everything when it all happens. months pass like minutes and in the blink of an eye he's at your bedside in the hospital with a child in his arms. he jumps into the role as best as he can, but ashamed as he is to admit it, you took the reigns a bit for the first month or two— because he can hardly take care of himself let alone a child. but with time he settles into fatherhood, trying to find his own pace with it all. with gradually decreasing hesitance he finds himself doing everything with ease; bottle feeding the baby when you're too tired, changing the diapers, patting their back when they've had a little too much to eat, rocking them and singing quiet lullabies when they're crying. they're small, mundane, expected things, but he finds joy in every single movement, finding a perfect place in your life and his child's.

"papa, papa, look! i used the makeup at your desk, i look just like you!"

"oh! yes, you do, little guy! but here, maybe this color of lipstick would suit you better.."

nakedtoaster;

he's so incredibly worried, so unnecessarily stressed. he doesn't know the first thing about fatherhood, he hardly knew how to hold a bloody baby when his was placed into his arms. he tries his best, embarrassingly, sheepishly so, looking up guides and articles on how to do every little thing so he doesn't mess it up. he only makes it through every day because of your reassurances, that he doesn't have to be perfect, that he doesn't have to know everything. but you're so good at it, such a natural, he only wants to be the best for you and your children. he tries to do the small things, letting the kids braid his hair and stuff it with flowers and ribbons, even if they pull too much sometimes. letting the kids paint his nails, messy designs that match his braided hair. he shares his hobbies with them, playing video games with the kids, raising little nerds of his own. the big things feel so big sometimes, but he's doing so well, he just needs reassurance, and a push.

"dad, what's call of duty? can we play that one tonight?"

"fuck, um.. honey, don't touch that one! that's for when you're older, let's stick to braiding my hair again for tonight, okay?"

[wordsofelie]

🔭mercury

part of my observatory event, requested by @liquidcatt <3

sugawara koushi x f!reader

summary: you always seem to run into sugawara koushi—your frustratingly charming, unfairly cute neighbour—at the worst times. (but maybe that’s for the best).

content warnings: time skip setting, manga spoilers, a bit of swearing, a lot of fluff

words count: 1.2k

You think the universe is against you.

One moment, you’re carrying a heavy box filled with newly delivered supplies for your office, the next, you’re tipping backwards and losing your balance. There’s a flurry of movement, a surprised gasp—not yours—and then you’re landing on something much softer than the cold, hard ground.

Or, rather, someone.

“Wow,” a voice hisses beneath you. “I wasn’t expecting to be crushed to death today, but I guess there are worse ways to die.”

Your brain short-circuits. Because under you—chest heaving, silver hair slightly tousled, brown eyes gleaming despite having just been nearly flattened—is none other than Sugawara Koushi.

Your neighbour.

The same one you keep running into at the most inconvenient times (when you’re out of toilet paper at the konbini, when you’re all sick with a red nose and dark circles under your eyes at the pharmacy, or when you’re dressed in your least cute pyjamas to pick up your takeout food in the lift). The same one who always greets you with a smile so bright it makes your mind dizzy. The same one who is currently lying beneath you on the ground, blinking up at you like he finds this entire thing oddly hilarious.

You scramble off him, mortified. “Oh my god-I’m so sorry-”

He sits up, rearranging his shirt, still grinning. “Nah, don’t worry about it. I always wanted to know what it felt like to be tackled by someone other than a ten-year-old.”

Right. The kids. Sugawara is a primary school teacher, which explains his infinite patience. And, apparently, his ability to bounce back from near-death experiences with nothing but a smile and a joke.

You shake your hands in panic. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m great,” he says, stretching his arms behind his head and getting up. “Although, I think this makes us even.”

“Even?”

He nods and grins even more. “For the time I nearly ran you over with my bike.”

You groan. “I told you that was my fault.”

“I still think about it at night,” he says. “The look of pure horror on your face…”

You roll your eyes, but your heart does something stupidly pleasant in your chest. He’s easy to talk to. Too easy.

“Well-um,” you play with your fingers. “I’ll go now.”

You turn to your door, your skin still warm from him. He’s about to leave as you start patting your pocket, then looking in your bag, and in your pocket again seeking your keys-

Your keys.

Your keys, which had been in your hand a few hours ago. Your fucking keys, which are now nowhere to be found.

“Oh no.” You look around the ground, then groan. “Oh no, no, no.”

Sugawara turns, facing you again, and tilts his head. “That’s a lot of ‘oh no’s. Should I be worried?”

“I left my keys inside the office,” you whine.

“That’s rough, buddy.”

“Is that how you talk to your students?”

He chuckles. “Sorry, sorry force of habit. Do you want me to go with you?”

You sigh. “No, it’s fine. My boss probably left by now. I’ll figure something out.”

He gives you a long and considering look before sighing. You know it’s not out of annoyance, but more out of sympathy.

His smile shifts slightly—no more teasing grin, but a soft, almost delicate smile. “You can stay at my place, at least until you – figure something out.”

You feel the heat rising in your neck. Somehow, it makes your heart beat faster in your chest.

This is ridiculous. This is absurd.

But if you’re being completely rational, what else can you do? Wait outside (it’s mid-January)? Go to your boss’s place (you have no idea where he lives)?

“Sure,” your voice wavers a little and you clear your throat. “Thank you very much.”

He helps you lift the cardboard that was still on the ground and leads you to his place. Two doors away.

It’s warm inside—which doesn't surprise you. The house isn't as tidy and organised as you'd imagined. There are still unwashed dishes in the kitchen, piles of drawings on the table and coloured pens on the floor.

“Welcome.”

You say nothing back and just look around. He hands you a cup of steaming tea, you hadn't even heard him turn on the kettle.

“Sorry for the mess. I didn’t plan on inviting anyone over tonight.”

“And I didn’t plan on falling on you.”

“And I swear I didn’t plan on almost running you over with my bike last time," he says, sipping his tea. "Unless you find that romantic, in which case I can do it aga-”

“Finish that sentence, and I’m the one who’s gonna run over you.”

Sugawara laughs, bright and clear. “Seems like we always bump into each other in dangerous situations. Maybe the universe is trying to tell us something.”

“Oh yeah? And what is it saying?”

He grins. “That you should let me take you on a date.”

There’s electricity running through your whole body.

Sugawara Koushi—your frustratingly charming, unfairly cute neighbour—is asking you out.

“Wait. What? How does that have anything to do with us bumping into each other in dangerous situations?”

He chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, maybe that was just an excuse. I just wanted to take you on a date. I must sound so lame, right now.”

You stare at him. He looks nervous, you probably do too.

And then, before you can second-guess yourself, and run away and panic, you chuckle, “Yeah. Okay. I’ll go on a date with you. But only for safety measures.”

The man exhales sharply, as if he's been holding his breath for too long.

And then he smiles.

At this moment, you’re convinced Sugawara’s smile is more radiant than a thousand suns. He closes his eyes and you instantly miss their chocolate shade. Deep down, you think you’ll miss them even if he blinks.

“Great! How’s Saturday?”

“Saturday works.”

“Perfect. It’s a date.”

You’re about to say more but your phone rings in your pocket, you check it.

“It’s my boss, he has my keys, he’s waiting at the station.”

He takes the cup from your hand, your fingers brush. “Be careful then. And text me when you’re back home, I’ll bring your box.”

You tuck a lock of hair behind your ear and thank him.

Once you’re outside you can’t stop smiling.

When you go to bed that night, you think the universe isn’t against you anymore.  

Or maybe, just maybe, it had been working in your favour all along.

a/n: that was the first work for the event and i loooved writing for suga!! i should do it more often haha

i hope you enjoyed this story <3

[angelwings-crossbowstrings]

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader

Warnings: None

Summary: Daryl helps you reignite the Christmas spirit as best as he can.

A/N: This started as an incorrect quote inspired by a friend and her epic battle with a christmas tree. You can find the quote here. A special thank you to @shadowcitrine for allowing me to bear witness to this gladiator battle to the death. It was the hardest I have laughed in a long time. And furthermore, thank you again for allowing me to use your suffering to my creative advantage. I love you. ❤️

🎶Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree🎶

“How ya even know when it is anyway?” Holding the hex nut up to eye level, he turned it over between his fingers. Yep, that was the one. He placed it in the designated spot and fitted the wrench, his tongue poking out the corner of his mouth as he worked. 

“I don’t, but it’s mid winter and it’s snowing and why not? Don’t be so bah humbug, Daryl.” You chuckled at his expression. He never knew he was making it and you never told him. He would certainly make every attempt to stop and it was far too adorable to allow that. 

“I ain’t.” He grumbled, sitting up to scrutinize his own work. A droplet of melted snow landed on the apple of his cheek. He didn’t seem to mind, if he noticed at all. The roof of the old stall was known to leak. “Just—never understood it, s’all.”

Your smile faded. “You never had one.” You didn’t need him to confirm, and he didn’t. Not verbally. The way he paused with the wrench halfway to the bike spoke volumes. After a heartbeat, he cleared his throat and continued his work. 

The holiday wasn’t something that had been celebrated in the several years since the turn. Truthfully, no one had paid attention. Some of the children likely didn’t even know what Christmas was. The thought had always made your heart heavy but there had always been something standing in the way of any reclaiming of the holiday. 

“We should celebrate this year.” You blurted, not even really realizing that you had spoken out loud until Daryl scoffed. 

“Good luck with that.”

“I’m serious.” Crossing the space between the two of you, you crouched and balanced yourself with a hand on the bike’s front tire. “Come on, Daryl. It’ll be great for the kids. Hell, maybe it’ll do everyone some good.” He sighed, allowing his hand to fall away from its task. The pout you pinned him with was certainly what did him in. 

“Fine.”

Biting your lip in the center of a beaming smile, you lunged at him, almost toppling him over with the embrace. “Thank you!” Daryl nodded and patted your back, still awkward in his reciprocations of your touches even after so long as a couple. It was endearing. 

“Yeah, yeah. Whaddaya need me to do?”

With a firm grip on his upper arms, you pushed him back to arm’s length. “You’re gonna be Santa’s little helper! Come on!” 

Daryl scrubbed a hand over his face and gave a heaving sigh. “M’a regret this.”

It had taken six days and four supply runs to gather enough decorations for at least your own home to be decorated. You enlisted the help of some of the children for drawings and crafts that could be used as well. Though you wished you could color the community in lights and garland, your space would have to do for that first year. 

Your hope was for it to coax the holiday spirit from within the adults and inspire a sense of wonder from the little ones. Even with all the effort, it seemed so lackluster. And Daryl, bless him, was granting a valiant effort toward your endeavor. 

You had just pulled some cookies from the oven—gingerbread men for the kids to decorate with what little frosting and candy you could manage—when there was a knock on the door. 

“Yeah, one sec!” You called, pulling off the oven mitts to discard them on the countertop. A spared glance into the living room had you smiling. The multicolored lights you ran for a few hours each evening cast a brilliant illuminance across the door and then Carol’s face when you opened it. “Hey, come on in.”

Her boot had barely touched the floor on the other side of the threshold when a loud crash sounded from the living room. “What was that?” She queried.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it!” Came Daryl’s gruff response before your lips could even part. Carol’s eyebrows shot toward her hairline before another thump thud crash could be heard. 

“What was that?” She chuckled. 

“You’re askin’ a awful lot’a questions for someone who ain’t even in the goddamn room!”

Try as the two of you might to withhold, you broke out into laughter. You hid your knowing smile behind your hand. “Daryl’s putting up Christmas decorations.” 

“No I ain’t!” He shouted with obvious annoyance.  “M’playin’ “whose dick’s bigger” with a plastic fuckin’ tree!” 

More ruckus echoed, and you finally decided that maybe your archer needed some assistance. “Are you okay in here?” You chortled, rubbing your lips together in an attempt to maintain a straight face. 

Daryl was chewing his bottom lip in earnest when his eyes met yours. There was no anger there, but something more akin to embarrassment. Tilting your head, your nose crinkled and brow furrowed. What on earth could he be embarrassed—

Oh. 

The tree leaned to one side, bare spots where lights should be, limbs missing and broken on the floor. No matter the battle, it appeared the tree had won. Carol was snickering behind you, shushed by a wave of your hand and a stuttering ssh as you tried not to join her. 

“It looks—” You began.  

“Like it needs a stage name.” Carol finished for you. You turned to her again, your smile belying your admonishing tone. “Something about it seriously isn’t right with Jesus.” She laughed heartily. 

“He ain’t got nothin’ to do with this.” Turning back, you could almost see a pout decorating his handsome face. “May be his birthday but this is my tree!” Oh, how hard it was not to tease him. “Why couldn’t he just’a got a cake like everybody else?”

“Daryl!” You gave in, nearly doubling over. 

“Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a lighter and some beeswax.” He grumbled, petulantly yanking his arm away when you laid your hand on it. 

“It’s got character.” You assured him, face mockingly serious. Arms crossed, you stood next to him, head tilted to match the lean of the tree. “Like an extra in the Nutcracker.”

“One ya ain’t gonna let dance in the front.” He mimicked your pose, appearing a little more at ease—almost as if he himself might laugh. Carol joined the two of you, three sets of eyes studying the colorful disaster. 

“It really says something.” She affirmed with a hint of amusement. 

“Yeah, says m’sorry.” Daryl huffed. Smiling genuinely, you switched the tilt of your head to the other side, your temple resting against his shoulder. 

“I love our little crooked tree.” Your smile broadened when you felt his arm move and come to rest around your shoulders, his lips pressing into your hair. “Thank you.”

“Mhm.” 

You weren’t sure how long you stood there, comfortable in his embrace, but the excited yays from Judith and RJ broke the trance, your already upturned mouth splitting into a beaming smile. 

“Uncle Daryl, we have a tree!” The young boy exclaimed, jumping up and down. You had explained the gist of things to a group of children, delighting in their excitement when you promised to try your hardest in reviving the season. 

“Sure do.” He sounded almost proud, sparking something warm inside your chest. 

“How about some cookies before we invite everyone over?” You offered, your eyes on the children before finding Daryl watching you, a corner of his mouth upturned. 

There almost wasn’t room in your modest home for all the townsfolk but you made it work, serving stew and desserts and heaping helping of cheer. The laughs and smiles were all you had ever wanted for the community, the desire to uplift their spirits and inspire hope where so little had remained.

“Hey.” Daryl breathed against your ear, his arms wrapping around your middle. All teeth and crinkled eyes, you laid your head back against his shoulder and just watched. “Think ya did it.”

“We did it.” You corrected him, angling your face upward to kiss his chin, his whiskers comfortably scratching your lips. He hummed.

“Got a surprise for ya.” Daryl stepped back, arms releasing their hold only for his hand to find yours with a gentle tug. A curious expression crossed your face. 

“A surprise?”

“Mhm.” 

It took no coaxing for you to follow him to the door, watching him open it with sheer excitement reflecting in your bright orbs. You weren’t sure what you were expecting but to see his bike, strategically wrapped in garland and bells under the gentle peppering of snow was not it. 

“Oh, Daryl.” Your bottom lip quivered, your voice trembling. “You did this for me?” The tears that began to escape were unbidden, born not of sadness. 

“Well, yeah.” He kicked at something nonexistent on the porch, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Y’deserve something too.” Your smile was dazzling but dimmed after a moment, expression falling as you watched him. “What?”

“I didn’t—I couldn’t get anything for you.” 

Daryl stepped into your space without hesitation, the side of his forefinger below your chin while his thumb stroked your cheek. “Got all I need right here in this house.”

“Daryl.” You sniffled, a sob cut off by his lips on yours. The kiss was chaste, the taste of sugar and smoke so deliciously Daryl that you felt your heart flutter. 

“C’mon, let’s take ya on a sleigh ride.” 

With your hand in his, he guided you to the bike, your eyes wet and your heart full. Not even the cold winter wind whipping against your face could erase your smile. 

[late-draft]

I want to know all of the details of the scifi au like right now, I'm so hooked instantly

Okay let me set the stage!

This is a sci-fi AU, leaning onto (what I've read) the first idea of ATLA; however unlike how it had Aang be from an ancient technologically advanced civilization waking up in a technologically regressed world(?), here the tech that Air Nomads had was forgotten and new one was created and it proliferated.

An important thing to keep in mind is that I intended this AU to be literally made up of iconic, primeval tropes of young audience's shows. I'm currently in a phase where I test how well I'm able to incorporate tropes and make the best use of them, so for this AU, expect it to feel EXACTLY like the thrill of running at 10 PM up to your grandma's CRT TV to watch that amazing series on Jetix you can't get enough of!!!!

~~~

First thing to notice here, the world has a Key Holder for every bending type. Keys are your magical symbols. It's the standard trope in these types of shows, think of them as kids who represent the absolute core traits of their element. Because Aang has to find specific individuals now rather than arbitrarily choosing a teacher, we have a tighter narrative although more trope-y. Aang is the Key holder for Air - every Avatar is always a Key holder for their native element, but can be taught other bending types only by respective elements' Key holders.

As expected, the world is ruled by the Fire Nation's strongest corporation, led by Emperor Ozai. Most of the setting is skyscrapers, huge power cables and mazes of pipeworks. Hakoda is the leader of resistance but he had disappeared two years ago, leaving his two children with a warning to stay hidden and safe below ground. Their secret hideout is pretty safe and cozy. Of course Sokka and Katara would not sit idly forever! Wandering through the underground they discover an ancient cryo pod, the only active one left. When he comes to himself, Aang realizes that he's the last airbender in the world for the past 1000 years.

The Avatar is able to operate ancient spiritual machines that the Air Nomads tended to. Once he learns all bending types, he'll be able to return airbending to the world through a Harmonic Convergence event by activating a huge lionturtle machine. The problem is - nobody knows where this machine is, but the Avatar is able to "listen" for signs of keyholders and machines through an ancient leftover network. Katara and Sokka swear to aid Aang in achieving this goal and restoring balance to the world. Ever since airbenders disappeared, there had been heavy dissonance in the spirit world, creating terrible natural disasters that altered the face of the planet. They're having difficulty finding the Key holder for Water.... the first one they find is Toph for Earth! She joins the gaang in late season 1 :)

In this AU, there's a tradeoff where the element of kungfu fights is reduced in favour of high-speed chases through the metropolis. Aang (14) moves quickly through the city using only his airbending, by running or speeding on his air sphere. The only piece of new equipment he wears are clear plastic goggles that Sokka (18) gave him. And while you might expect Zuko (19) to be chasing them on a red motorbike, no! It's in fact Katara (17) who's a super-skilled bike driver while Zuko and his entourage are on ROLLERBLADES SKATING ACROSS WALLS AND PIPES. Propulsion via firebending! (same thing Azula does in canon, just elevated to skating). Iroh waits for his nephiew to fail each chase and offer him tea, he's just wearing black dress pants. XD Sokka is Katara's genius engineer brother who constantly grumbles and throws sarcastic remarks because he has to fix her bike after every. single. chase! In this setting, Ozai is specifically looking for the Avatar because he could, using unethical means and technology on a trapped Avatar, be able to grant all bending types to whoever he chooses. This would spell disasteeeer. However, it's also implied that in a similar way, he could "fix" anyone...

Some notes:

You can probably feel the conclusions of many things I left blank. This is on purpose.

Zuko absolutely must have to be motivated by a desire to win his father's approval and love, this must not change. I'll introduce Azula in a later post.

The lionturtle as a concept and its effects are made clear and setup from the get-go. The spiritual machines are just a background element that doesn't affect the plot, it's just a goal.

Aang still has a crush on Katara! And it would be brought up a bit more frequently, in order to serve the plot.

Ozai is doing something concrete that's directly related to Avatar's bending, tying him closer to the Avatar as his antagonist.

This AU's setting is as you may have sensed, more mellow at first. It doesn't have a currently active war.

The characters are older because that feels more fitting to me. (I was investigating W.I.T.C.H. show and saw they were basically all 13 and dating and I was like. "Yikes. No")

Help me dig out any VISUAL references you might remember, from shows of the similar vibe. The goal is not to mimic but to add to the characteristic genre.

These screenshots are from OBAN: STAR RACERS and are what I'd associate with the old Air Nomad technology!

Shape Da Future from Jet Set Radio is precisely what aligned perfectly with this AU.

I'll be sharing more details about this AU in future posts, and everyone is welcome to add their ideas and thoughts on it! I wonder what I forgot to mention here…

[lillymmb]

JJ MAYBANK x KOOK!READER

RELATIONSHIP HEADCANONS

- JJ is initially skeptical about dating a kook, expecting them to be just like the rest of the snobby, entitled crowd he’s used to.

The reader surprises JJ by being down-to-earth and genuinely kind, which quickly breaks down his walls.

JJ’s confidence and carefree attitude catch the reader’s eye, standing out from the controlled world they’re used to.

At first, their relationship is kept a secret to avoid drama from both sides. JJ doesn’t want his friends to think he’s "selling out," and the reader doesn’t want to deal with judgment from their kook circle.

They have a lot of late-night beach hangouts, sneaking away to meet under the stars, where they can just be themselves.

JJ loves teasing the reader about their fancy lifestyle, calling them “princess” or “rich kid,” but deep down, he admires their determination to break free from expectations.

The reader introduces JJ to finer things, like fancy dinners and designer clothes, though he’s hilariously out of place (and often steals silverware as a joke).

JJ shows the reader the beauty of the simpler side of life: fishing, surfing, and bonfires with his friends. The reader falls in love with the sense of freedom he brings.

Kie, Pope, and John B are very hesitant about the reader at first, but they warm up after seeing how happy they make JJ.

The reader helps JJ feel more secure about his future, encouraging him to think about long-term goals instead of just living day-to-day.

JJ teaches the reader how to loosen up and enjoy the moment, helping them escape the pressures of their perfect kook image.

They often bond over shared frustrations about family, JJ’s strained relationship with his dad and the reader’s pressure to meet their family’s expectations.

When other kooks try to talk down to JJ, the reader is quick to defend him.

JJ is very protective about the reader, stepping in when anyone from the Outer Banks (pogues or kooks) tries to stir trouble.

They often argue about their differences, but it always ends with JJ making a sarcastic joke to lighten the mood and the reader rolling their eyes before forgiving him.

JJ secretly learns how to tie a tie so he can attend one of the reader’s family events, and they find it both adorable and hilarious.

The reader helps JJ fix up his dirt bike, getting grease on their designer clothes but loving every second of it.

JJ writes the reader silly, heartfelt notes and hides them in their car or bag, something the reader treasures more than any expensive gift.

They dream about running away together, leaving behind the kook/pogue divide and starting fresh somewhere new.

JJ jokes about how their kids would have “the best of both worlds,” a mix of kook charm and pogue grit.

Despite their challenges, they balance each other out perfectly, proving that love can cross any boundary.

i forgot about this app help omg, i have 10 fanfics in my drafts gonna post them all

[wildehacked]

3., 4 and 24 (for Shannon :) )

NoTP? Shannon/Death is the big one, but I also....okay, this is kind of dumb, I admit it, BUT sometimes in shannon lives fic, people will be like "by the way, shannon is ALSO bi, and she has a girlfriend now, and we will never see her or her girlfriend bc this ain't about her," and I always get weirdly annoyed by that, bc if you're gonna make shannon bi, bitch, I want to see shannon be bi! don't whet my appetite and then not serve me the dish! so I guess shannon and her invisible girlfriends are a notp for me, kind of? even though I'd be 1000% seated for a fic that actually explored shannon and bisexuality. someone write me a compelling dark horse shannon/taylor romance or something. fuck, man, write me some shannon/ana.

Is there a popular pairing you don't necessarily dislike but aren't too invested in? The opposite, in a weird way? I feel like the most popular take on Eddie/Shannon is that they weren't really in love, and if Shannon hadn't gotten pregnant they wouldn't have lasted, and if Shannon had lived they wouldn't have stayed romantically tense with each other. I'm a hardcore Eddie/Shannon believer, you guys. Those two kids tortured each other for years! obviously I think the love was real! If Shannon hadn't gotten pregnant when she did, sure, maybe she and Eddie break up. Or maybe she goes to college in Austin and takes Eddie with her, and Eddie works construction while getting his associates while she works on a kinesiology degree, and the two of them go to parties and smoke pot and have crazy fights in their tiny apartment and break up and get back together and Eddie doesn't go to Afghanistan and they're both happier. And then four years later, just when Shannon's graduating, and Eddie's worked through the associates and has decided he's interested in nursing school maybe actually, her mom who lives in LA gets sick, and Shannon's like hey would you want to come with me, and Eddie's like. yeah. yeah, okay. and they go to LA together, and he's there while her mom goes through hospice care, and it's hard and they almost break up, but they don't. instead he holds her hand while she watches her mom die, and he holds her hand at the funeral, and then a week later he drives her to the beach just to look at the water because she's so gray and fragile and the water is where he feels grief best, and they sit there and stare at the water and cry together, and when they're done crying she's like eddie, i need to ask you something, and he's like okay, and then she's like i'm not asking you asking you, but. but do you want to marry me, and then he picks up her hand and kisses the dead center of her palm and says yeah. and then maybe after that they joke about whether they're engaged or not all the time and they're both totally serious and totally not, and Shannon gets a job doing PT and Eddie starts nursing school and learns a lot but it's hard to keep it going with their bills mounting up, so he applies for the fire academy instead. and then maybe Shannon has an emergency at work. Something big, dramatic, life and death, make-the-news kinda thing. Maybe she works at a PT clinic in one of the skyscrapers downtown, and one of the leg press machines has a crazy defect and explodes, and in the explosion Shannon falls out of the window thirty feet above Wilshire, hanging onto the handle of a precariously balanced stationary bike by one hand. and someone calls 911, and she's rescued by this handsome young firefighter who's sent down on a rope to grab her, and she's clinging to his neck and trying not to scream, and then he puts her on her feet and she says thank you, thank you, and he's like just doing my job ma'am, and in a weird moment of adrenaline crash she grabs this stranger's hand and puts it on her stomach and goes no, seriously, you saved our lives, and the stranger looks at her stomach with wide blue eyes and is like uh, wow, and she has this weird moment of deja vu, almost, and then Eddie rounds the corner looking absolutely frantic, and they grab each other, but even as she's shaking in her maybe-fiancé's arms, she's looking over his shoulder at the weird expression on the other firefighter's face, and then he goes probie, you didn't tell me you were gonna be a dad, and Eddie's like, what, and Shannon flushes beet red because she was gonna do a whole nervous sexy grand gesture reveal, and Eddie looks at Buck and then looks at her with his eyes wide and shocked and liquid, and, you know, endgame Buck/Eddie/Shannon where they're all raising Chris together more or less from the beginning, do you get what I'm putting down. This wasn't really an answer to the question, was it.

What's your favourite thing about [character]? I love everything about Shannon Diaz, but mostly I love that she ran, and when she came back she wasn't crawling on her knees and miserable, she came back in a yellow sundress with her bravest face on, trying to brash it out, even though she was miserable and ashamed and about thirty seconds from bursting into tears in a parking lot. I love that she calls Eddie on his shit. I love that she picks fights with him in public when he avoids her in private. I love that she calls a spade a spade. I love that she wears black nail polish. I love that she's loud. I love that she's a fuckup. I love her.

[deepak376]

3in1 Scooter Tricycle FUN for Kids!

[writingtraumaforever]

A Courtship Christmas: Chapter 2

Notes: I just reeeeally enjoy writing these two in this universe. And I can't say that enough.

Summary: The gang engages in some Christmas festivities, and then Shadow and Sonic try to convince the Wachowskis to allow them to take a trip together..

Courtship Masterpost!

Link to my AO3!

Start:

After sitting outside and allowing Shadow the time to gather himself some more and come down from his emotional distress, Sonic is eventually able to lead his boyfriend– Shadow’s words, not his– inside to the others. The reception to his arrival is positive as always, everyone having grown quite fond of Shadow. Even Knuckles, who still sees it as his duty to protect Sonic from Shadow, even if just emotionally, has learned to accept the hybrid as an addition to their clan. Even if not an official Wachowski. In fact, Knuckles and Shadow often tinker with their bikes together, and they’ll even go for rides now and then. Sonic will join here and there, racing alongside them on foot. As much as he likes having an excuse to hold onto Shadow from behind when he rides his bike with him, nothing can ever beat the feeling of the wind under his feet.

All this to say, Shadow, despite his relatively standoffish demeanor, is quite a light in their group of misfits these days. Most consider him the calm and observant one who brings reason to the group– which they desperately need since Sonic just acts far too quickly to actually think anything through, Tails gets too caught up in his inventions and is still just a kid, Knuckles doesn’t think in general, Amy often lets her heart override her brain which isn’t always the best balance, and Rouge–.. Well, Rouge is kind of a wild card, honestly. Shadow brings balance and stability. He’s confident, but not too confident. He carries an air of responsibility and loyalty with him that makes everyone breathe a little easier.

This is a stark contrast to when they first met him and all he did was terrify everyone.

Cream, in particular, is very excited to see Shadow. She jumps up and rushes right over to him, weaving her way through legs until she reaches him and immediately engulfs his waist with a big hug. Shadow chuckles at this, patting her head a bit awkwardly since physical affection is still something he’s working on with people outside of Sonic. 

“Mr. Shadow!” she cheers, beaming up at him with wide, sparkling eyes, “You’re here!”

“I am,” he nods with a small and sheepish smile, not use to children finding him so approachable. Which is a shame since Sonic has noticed that Shadow is great with kids and seems to like them more than most adults.

He kind of assumes this comes from the fact he was raised alongside Maria, often being her caretaker and comfort..

“I apologize for being late. I see you and your mother have integrated nicely with everyone else and the Christmas festivities,” he adds as Cream lets go to take a step back and look at him properly.

“Everyone has just been so lovely,” Cream swoons with her preciously high voice, her eyes so earnest and grateful, “I really like Christmas. And I think I might like earth some more now.” “Good,” Shadow hums, nodding at her warmly, “I’m very glad to hear it.”

Cream grins at this, “Would you like to sit by me while you make your sweater?? I have a lot of good ideas you could use.” “That would be delightful,” Shadow accepts the invitation by taking her small hand and allowing himself to be led to the table where most are finishing up their sweaters by now.

Sonic smiles and follows along, his heart swooning at how adorable the whole thing is.

Once seated, Sonic sits on the opposite side of Shadow as Cream, Rouge scooting a bit closer from her own seat and muttering to him with a quirked brow, “Everything okay?” “Yeah,” Sonic nods with a reassuring smile, “We’re all good.” “Good,” she smiles in return, “Knew he just needed a talk with you, and he’d be peachy.” Sonic chuckles at this, looking back over to see Cream already handing Shadow some black pipe cleaners she has fashioned to look like tires and handlebars. Apparently they’ll be making a festive replica of hit motorcycle for the front of his sweater, which Sonic finds very fitting.

He gets to work on his own that he never got to finish, having Amy help him to embroider some brown yarn on top of his chilidog to make it look like the chili. He and Shadow get into a very brief glitter fight after Sonic accidentally knocks some onto Shadow’s lap by hitting the container with his elbow. Maddie swiftly puts a stop to this, though, since glitter is pretty impossible to clean up. “Sorry, Mom.” “Sorry, Mrs. Wachowski.” They’re both covered in green flakes of glitter, though, shaking off what they could in the backyard before coming back inside with Maddie giving a defeated sigh at the trail they leave behind them.

They finally are able to get started on the tree eventually, Shadow being thrown off that they pull it out of a box rather than out of the woods.

“Didn’t you and Maria have an artificial tree back on the ARK??” Sonic asks with a tilt of his head.

“Yes, but Maria always said they had real trees for Christmas here on earth that they’d chop down and drag back to decorate,” his brows furrow, seeming confused.

“Oh,” Sonic’s ears droop slightly, hoping this doesn’t disappoint the hybrid too much, “Well, some people still do that. But most just buy reusable ones these days. Less trees chopped down, and honestly?? Real ones have been discovered to kinda be a health and safety hazard most days.” “Really??” Shadow blinks in surprise at Sonic.

“I dunno,” Sonic shrugs, “I think I read a Buzzfeed article on it once. Either way! It’s still super fun putting together and decorating the fake tree! Promise.” Shadow hums a moment, looking back to Tom and Randall who are working together to put the fourth and final section of the tree on top to complete the nine foot-er. He seems to consider all this new information a moment before he offers a small smile and looks back to Sonic, “It’s just a tree.” “Right,” Sonic smiles in return, happy Shadow is deciding not to let this minor inconvenience ruin his perspective of the holiday, “What goes on the tree is what matters most anyway. Like all my pinecones I’ve found!” Sonic dashes over to grab the basket full of pinecones sitting to the side and brings them back over to Shadow to show him, “Back with Longclaw? We didn’t have Christmas. But we did do something similar at the beginning of every year by decorating our homes with candles and pinecones and all kinds of other stuff to celebrate life. The owls called it ‘Beginnings’. Maddie and Tom let me kinda merge some of those traditions with Christmas to make me feel more at home.” Shadow listens to Sonic with fond eyes. It’s not often Sonic brings up Longclaw, but he treasures when the hedgehog opens up and talks about it. He knows it’s his equivalent to Maria in a lot of ways.. Losing a loved one so young. He’s proud of Sonic every time he finds the courage and strength to talk about it, big ways or small. 

His crimson eyes look down at the basket to examine the pinecones Sonic has gathered. Some look as though they’ve been dipped in paint, some have red and green glitter glued to the ends, and some are just plain pinecones.

“..They’re beautiful,” Shadow says with nothing but pure honesty, and Sonic’s eyes light up with something akin to pride as well as warmth. “Can I help you put them on the tree?”

“I’d love that,” Sonic replies softly, his smile soft and sweet as he watches Shadow pick one of the plain pinecones and look at the tree as if to find the perfect spot for it.

After about five solid minutes of pondering, Sonic realizes that decorating with Shadow is gonna be a task. The guy is a bit of a perfectionist. But once he places the pinecone on a spot in the center and properly fluffs out the branches around it, the others begin placing their own ornaments, too. And this obviously throws off whatever plans Shadow may have had on pine cone placement. So he very quickly learns that this isn’t an organization game, it’s more of a festive scramble. More about the nostalgia and joy each special ornament brings. 

Sonic takes notice in Shadow’s hesitance and how he begins to get a bit overwhelmed by the others’ careless placement of ornaments, so he steps over to him and takes his hand.

“Don’t overthink it, dude,” he places another pinecone in Shadow’s hand, this one messy with glitter and fake snow, “Just put it where you think it fits best. It’ll all come together in the end.” Shadow looks at the pinecone in his hand. Then he looks at Sonic. The tree. Everyone around him smiling and laughing and enjoying one another’s company.

“Yeah,” he smiles a bit, looking back to Sonic, “It will.”

Sonic smiles back, feeling like Shadow is having one of those profound personal revelations Sonic often misses out on but is grateful for regardless. They get back to placing the pinecones together, Sonic playfully poking Shadow with the pinecones’ spines now and then and Shadow retaliating by sticking them in Sonic’s quills messily. 

Knuckles had wanted to place grapes in the tree, of course, but Maddie said they’d rot and stink eventually. So they compromised with fake ones bought at the dollar tree, Knuckles putting them here and there all over the tree proudly along with some colorful feathers he tied together. He said they reminded him of his tribe’s armor they use to wear to battle.

Tails didn’t quite understand the concept of ornaments initially and started tying string to wrenches and hammers and all sorts of tools. Tom had to break it to him that they were a bit too heavy to have in the tree, but made it up to him by taking him to a local Christmas Market and letting him pick out all the ornaments he saw and liked. He came back with all kinds: ones shaped like tools, ones shaped like candy, and he even found a fox and hedgehog one! No echidna one, though. To compensate for this, he crafted his own and painted it to look like Knuckles with Maddie’s help. Knuckles cried when he saw it next to the hedgehog and fox one on the tree last year. 

‘I am not crying! I just got some fake snow in my gorgeously purple eyes!’

All these ornaments and more went up. Shadow even went and got the ones out of his bike’s bag that he had made at the GUN event with the children. Sonic helped him place those as well, finding perfect spots for them in the front of the tree. One was a bit too high up for him, though, and when Shadow noticed him looking up in thought on how to reach it, he took it upon himself to grab Sonic by the backs of his thighs and crouch down.

Sonic was immediately blushing with wide eyes at him, “What’re you–”Shadow moved his head between Sonic’s thighs and stood up using his legs, careful not to let his spines poke his boyfriend as he hoists him up onto his shoulders with only a small grunt. Like it was nothing. Like Sonic was nothing.

That definitely made Sonic feel things.

“This high enough?” Shadow questions innocently, tilting his head back to look up at the hero now sitting on his shoulders. Sonic, who is now a blushing idiot, just nods stupidly down at him and babbles out something like “Uhhh-yeah uh huh this is good mhm”.

Shadow just smirks a bit at this and watches as Sonic reaches to place the ornament closer to the top.

Rouge watches them from the corner of the room, leaning against the wall with a small smile on her face. They’re really good together..

Her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of Knuckles clearing his throat next to her, blinking as she turns her head to find him standing there with a few feathers in his hand. He’s not looking at her, instead looking away with a very light shade of pink dusting his cheeks. 

She quirks a brow at him, her lips pursing in amusement, “May I help you?”

“It is tradition among the echidnas to deem a woman with the remaining feathers of their armor once done decorating,” he explains with his typical confident voice– except there’s a hidden nervousness in the way he keeps his eyes averted from hers, “I would typically deem my mother with such an honor, but she suggested I find another this year to bestow the feathers on.”

“Oh, did she now?” Rouge smirks a bit, her eyes searching out the room for Maddie to which she finds grinning mischievously into her cup of hot cocoa across the room watching.

It’s no secret that Maddie loves Rouge. Despite her stunts she pulls to make Knuckles uncomfortable at times, she thinks Rouge is good for him. Keeps him in line and is strong enough to stand her ground with him. Knuckles is.. Special. Different. A lot. And Maddie thoroughly believes that he’s met his match with the bat.

She keeps him humble and respectful, that’s for sure.

Rouge’s eyes return to Knuckles then, his still averted away.

“And you chose me?” she chimes, her head tilting with a little smirk, “That’s real sweet of you, Knucklehead.” “You are the next strongest woman of the clan,” he explains and Rouge doesn’t miss how he considers her a part of his ‘clan’. “It is simply the way it should be.”

“What about Amy?? She’s pretty strong with that hammer of hers,” Rouge points out, nodding her head to the pink hedgehog who is off in the corner holding cream up to help her put a chao shaped ornament she made on the tree.

“Indeed,” Knuckles nods in agreement, looking to the pink hedgehog as well, “She is very formidable. And scary,” he shivers at the thought, having been victim to her hammer one too many times before. “..But perhaps sometimes strength isn’t in one’s muscle, but in one’s heart.”

Rouge blinks at this, turning to Knuckles with wide eyes to find him looking at her now. Now she was blushing. Her lips purse into a smile, finding herself touched by his words and unexpected profoundness. 

“Where’d you hear that?”

“It’s a long story,” he says simply, not sharing any more. He didn’t exactly have the time to send her on a whole quest where she’d receive his story told in musical-number format like Wade Whipple had.

“Well..,” she sighs after a brief pause, “Feather me, echidna.”

Knuckles smiles slightly at this, nodding his head to her head and speaking, “May I?” She nods, staying perfectly still for him as he steps forward to lift the remaining feathers and string to the short fur behind her ear and tie them there. This takes a minute since he’s doing this with giant mittens on. Eventually he finishes and they dangle beside her neck, lightly grazing her wings when she moves her head. They’re a deep aquamarine color, much like many of the ones in his tribe used to be..

“They match your eyes,” he mutters without giving it a thought, to which Rouge looks at him in surprise at the unexpected observation. He blinks wide back at her upon realizing his words, his blushing returning even stronger than before as her lips curl into a wicked little grin.

“Didn’t think you’d notice my eye color,” she chimes teasingly, leaning towards him all flirty. 

“Well, I-I am a very observant echidna,” Knuckles justifies with a huff, furrowing his brows at her, “There isn’t much that gets by me.” “Mhm. Sure, Red,” she smirks with a wink, watching as he stumbles back a bit from her close proximity and nearly falls over trying to quickly leave her vicinity.

“Okay well that’s done, goodbye–”

She giggles a bit to herself as he disappears into the kitchen.

Eventually, the tree is done and everyone stands around admiring it in all its glory. Cream and Tails have that innocent childlike wonder in their eyes, Amy sighs happily at its beauty, Knuckles admires it a moment and then lets his gaze fall on Rouge who is smiling to herself as she fiddles with the feathers in her hair, eyes on the tree. Rachel and Randall and JoJo stand together as a family, JoJo holding Amy’s hand to which Amy tears up at. Vanilla stands with Cream, happy to have her daughter friends in this new world. Maddie and Tom stand holding one another, her head leaned on his shoulder as they overlook their family.. Their perfectly imperfect family. 

And Shadow and Sonic are sitting by the window looking at it too. And when Sonic looks at Shadow, he can see all the joy and peace in his eyes. Let him have it. He deserves every moment of it. 

They have a long next few weeks ahead of them..

When Shadow turns to look at Sonic, he sees the tears in his crimson orbs. Sonic is quick to shuffle closer and cuddle up to him without a word, Shadow resting his head on Sonic’s with a sigh. It’s bittersweet. He knows.

His first Christmas tree without Maria.

But Sonic will be there for him through it. And that makes it all better..

__________

“Okay,” Sonic stands in his living room with the tv behind him, hooked up to a laptop to which Shadow is standing beside prepared to help in their presentation. The time has come to tell Maddie and Tom of their plans to visit the Robotniks together, and they have to nail this if they want to convince them to let Sonic go with him alone. So what did Sonic do??

He made a PowerPoint, of course.

Complete with super cool star transitions and spinning texts and necessary gifs.

“So to start this presentation, we have an announcement,” Sonic says very seriously to which Tom’s eyes widen a bit and his hand moves to Maddie’s in concern. “Oh God–.. You two aren’t.. with child are you??”

This results in a resounding “WHAT?” from both Maddie and Sonic and a very appalled and judgy look from Shadow.

“They’re two boys, Tom!” Maddie huffs with wide and disbelieving eyes at her idiotic husband. “They’re aliens!” Tom defends with his hands raising up in surrender, “We haven’t exactly had the talk with Sonic, how am I supposed to know how their reproductive systems work–” “Ew ew ew– Okay! You’ve lost talking privileges, father,” Sonic gags, blushing at the very idea of him and Shadow having sex– let alone having a child!

“Yeah, for real,” Maddie huffs in disgust at him.

“Very distasteful, Donut Lord,” Shadow shakes his head disapprovingly at him from beside the laptop.

Tom just groans and rolls his eyes, “Okay! Okay. My bad,” he then gestures for Sonic to hurry this up, “Just get on with it.”

Sonic clears his throat, “As I was saying before I was so grossly interrupted.”

They all spare a moment to share one last glare at Tom to which Tom just sighs and shrinks in his spot on the couch.

“We have an announcement,” he nods his head to Shadow who clicks a button on the laptop to have the next slide of the PowerPoint appear.

It’s some random public domain picture of a large family hugging each other with a very poorly drawn Shadow the Hedgehog smiling in the middle of them and a big heart over it.

“Shadow has been invited to the Robotnik Annual Holiday Party!” Sonic grins and spreads his arms out excitedly, Shadow pulling out a small confetti popper and popping it in Sonic’s direction. It falls flat on the floor a few feet away from him, but the effort was there.

“Wait-” Maddie frowns now, her brows knitting up as she looks at Shadow, “What??” “That’s right! Turns out Maria has a sister, and she’s invited Shadow to a Holiday Party to meet him and the whole family!”

Maddie seems extremely concerned, and Tom looks a bit skeptical now, too.

“When did this happen–” “No questions until after the presentation please,” Sonic interrupts to which Maddie sighs and sits back in her seat for him to continue.

Shadow clicks to the next slide. “Shadow is very excited about this whole thing, and really wants to make a good first impression!”

There’s another poorly drawn picture of Shadow wearing a suit and bowtie along, he’s giving a thumbs up and dashing smile.

“But as I’m sure you can understand, he’s also very nervous and scared.”

Shadow clicks again and the art of him smiling turns into a frown and a thumbs down, tears going down his cartoon face.

Shadow, this entire time, looks completely unbothered by this whole thing and is simply going along with his boyfriend’s crazy antics– as always.

“Poor Shadow. Whatever could we do to make him feel better?? Well.. I’ll tell you what..”

Shadow clicks again and the screen star transitions into an explosion with sound effects and all, the large text reading ‘Operation Shadow Impresses The Robotniks And Sonic Is His Boyfriend’ spins onto the screen. 

“Operation Shadow Impresses The Robotniks And Sonic Is His Boyfriend is a-go!” Sonic beams, a gif of an audience applauding at the bottom of the screen, “Or OSITRASIHB for short.”

Shadow nods approvingly from his spot by the laptop.

Maddie and Tom just stare at the screen with increasing confusion.

“...Okay, I get the Shadow Impresses The Robotniks part,” Tom points out, “But why the Sonic Is His Boyfriend??” “Oh- because I just really like saying it,” Sonic nods a-matter-of-factly.

Tom nods in return, “Right. Of course.” “Mhm. Anyway! The operation goes like this: we take Shadow suit shopping and get him the perfectly tailored suit for the occasion!” The next slide pops up, a cartoon Shadow standing in front of a mirror in a suit checking himself out.

“Then we get Rouge’s help on getting our hands on the Robotnik’s records so we can buy the perfect present for all the Robotniks!”

A cartoon Shadow is now throwing presents into the air merrily, the presents raining down on the screen.

“And then we get Sonic a suit too because he needs to impress the Robotniks as well since this is my big boyfriend debut, after all–”

“Wait,” Maddie chimes in, leaning forward again now, “You can’t be going–” “I said please save questions until the end of the presentation Mrs. Wachowski, thank you,” Sonic interrupts with a wave of his finger at her. She groans and sits back again, obliging her sassy and over-the-top son for now.

“Once all this is done, we use a warp ring to get to our destination since GUN doesn’t like Shadow using Chaos Control unless on duty– portals opening and bringing more Mobians and all that jazz,” Sonic explains, brushing it off as no big deal to which Shadow just nods supportively at the side.

“We stay for a few days since the party is being held at a mansion, and Shadow is being offered his own room–” “Sonic–” “Mrs. Wachowski, please with the interruptions!” Sonic puts his hands on his hips and taps his toe impatiently at her to which she just rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

He continues, the next slide popping up to show a cartoon Sonic and Shadow now standing amongst the hugging strangers and smiling from ear to ear, “Between my charisma and charm and Shadow’s rugged good looks, we inevitably impress the Robotniks.” “Of course,” Tom nods approvingly, Shadow nodding at him in agreement.

“And they become a big happy family and accept Shadow as one of their own!”

The next slide is another explosion that transitions to a picture of Sonic and Shadow kissing under the mistletoe.

“And then we kiss.” “What?” Shadow blinks.

“What??” Sonic blinks back, dashing over to skip that image and have large text appear over it reading ‘THE END’.

Shadow just smirks and shakes his head at him as Sonic sheepishly smiles and dashes back to his presentation spot in front of the screen.

“I said ‘the end’,” he fibs, “Tadaaaaaa!”

Another confetti popper litters the floor thanks to Shadow who also blows on a party horn for added effect.

Maddie and Tom stare at their son a long moment, processing everything he just threw at them. They then exchange looks at each other. Then at Shadow who is now on the floor very meticulously plucking each piece of confetti from their carpet to clean the mess. 

Then they look to Sonic again who is still standing there with his arms outstretched and a big grin on his face.

“...Well?”

“Well..,” Maddie starts, already knowing Sonic is about to be dramatically disappointed, “We don’t really think it’s such a good–” “Yeah, sure, kiddo!” Tom interrupts, beaming at his son with a supportive clap of his hands, “Whatever you need!” “Tom!” Maddie hisses, grabbing his hand to stop his clapping, “Don’t you think we should talk about this??” “He had a solid presentation,” Tom defends with a shrug, Sonic nodding hopefully as he looks at his mother with pleading eyes, “And I think Sonic going along with Shadow to meet Maria’s family is a good idea.” “I don’t think that’s exactly the point,” Maddie argues with a disapproving frown. “Then what’s the point??” Sonic asks genuinely, brows knitting as a frown develops on his muzzle, “Seriously– what’s the problem??” Maddie huffs a little at Sonic’s slight attitude, “The problem is… first off, I don’t know how I feel about you and Shadow going off on a trip all by yourselves. You’re still so young!”

“I’m gonna be eighteen in a few months!” Sonic defends.

“You’re still seventeen now– and that’s just a number. Eighteen isn’t some magic number that just suddenly makes you an adult that’s capable of making adult decisions.” “But it is the age that makes me an adult legally,” Sonic counters with a finger held up matter-of-factly, “And I’m totally capable of making adult decisions! I save the world like– all the time. And Shadow and I hang out alone constantly. What’s the difference in taking a trip??” “It’s different, Sonic,” Maddie says a bit more sternly, “I don’t like the idea of you two sharing a room. You’re both still biologically–” she has to add that in so Sonic doesn’t point out that Shadow is like. Sixty, “--teenagers. And that comes with the hormones and the emotions and canoodling–” “If I may say something Mrs. Wachowski,” Shadow finally speaks, his voice quiet and respectful.

“Yes, Shadow?” Maddie sighs, looking at her son’s boyfriend who is still picking up confetti pieces from her carpet with a tilt of her head.

“Sonic and I wouldn’t have to stay in the same room. From what I’ve gathered of the location of the event, there’s plenty of rooms for him to have his own and I mine. There would be no..,” he clears his throat, “canoodling.”

Maddie sighs a bit at this, feeling a bit better about it all with that bit of information..

But it would still be the first time Sonic has taken a trip by himself overnight like this.. Without Tom, without her..

That’s her baby..

“That.. does make me feel a bit better,” she admits, Shadow nodding and returning back to picking up the confetti mess.

“But that doesn’t change my other problem,” she adds.

“What problem??” Sonic frowns.

“I understand that this is Maria’s family,” she says carefully, not looking to offend Shadow, “...But it’s also Eggman’s. Gerald’s.” Shadow pauses in his motion, freezing up a moment before he eventually continues picking up the confetti..

Tom’s hand reaches for Maddie’s as if to stop her from saying something she’ll regret.

“Yeah, but they’re estranged from them,” Sonic defends, “They have nothing to do with them. They haven’t since Gerald took his granddaughter up to space.”

“I understand that,” she says calmly, trying to choose her words carefully, “But it’s just a little odd that they’ve waited all this time to reach out–” “They didn’t know! They thought Shadow was the reason Maria was gone! They didn’t know the whole story!” “I still don’t know how comfortable I am sending you somewhere with those people,” Maddie argues, her own voice becoming a bit louder now since Sonic’s is. “Why not?? They’re not like them! We can’t just judge them because they have a few loons in their family!” “Sonic, I just don’t see what good can come from a Robotnik!” Shadow disappears. There’s a flash of light, and he’s gone. 

Maddie’s eyes widen at the empty spot he was just in, a pile of confetti left sitting on the end table by the couch.

She instantly feels terrible.

Sonic’s own eyes are wide, staring where Shadow had been before he turns his head to look at his mother with a glaring gaze, “Why’d you say that!?”

“Sonic, I didn’t mean–” “You did! You did mean it!” Sonic interrupts, now yelling and stomping his foot.

Maddie points a finger at him, “Hey! Don’t yell at me like that, young man!” “Shadow came from a Robotnik!” Sonic yells regardless, defending his boyfriend with a scrunch of his nose and a curl of his teeth, “And–And regardless of what Gerald has done, I won’t ever consider that a bad thing! I won’t ever think Shadow being created was bad!” “Sonic, I don’t think that either–!” “He already has problems thinking that himself! And then you go and say that!? What the heck, mom!?” “I didn’t mean it like that–” “But you still said it,” Sonic growls low, fists clenched at his sides, “He’s never gonna forget you saying that..” Maddie frowns, knitting her brows up and pursing her lips. She doesn’t know what to say..

Sonic stomps towards the door.

“Where are you going??? We’re not done with this conversation–” “I’m going to find Shadow! And you’re gonna say you’re sorry!” “Sonic!--”

The door slams.

Sonic is gone.

Maddie sighs heavy and drops her head into her palms, rubbing them up and down her face in frustration with her son– but mostly herself..

Tom sits silently with wide eyes and biting his lips together, blinking at how quickly that all just escalated..

Maddie drops her hands into her lap and looks at him with a deadpan expression, “...Well you were a lot of help.” Tom smiles small and apologetically, moving to put his arms around his wife and rub up and down her back as she leans into him, “Sorry.. I just thought you were handling it.” “We’re supposed to be a team,” she mutters with a sniffle, finding herself beginning to cry from being overwhelmed and feeling like shit currently, “Why’d you just tell him he could go without consulting me first??” “I didn’t see a problem with it,” Tom admits quietly, Maddie huffing at this and lifting her head to look at him. “You? You know how many times you personally have almost been killed by a Robotnik??? Several.” “I’ve almost been killed by an Eggman,” Tom points out with a small smirk, “Not the same.” “It is.” “It isn’t,” Tom argues and shakes her a little to which Maddie just groans, knowing he’s right.

Tom sighs a bit and hugs her back against him a bit tighter, “...I know he’s your son–” “He’s my baby,” Maddie whines and Tom kisses the top of her head with a small smile.

“I know.. But he’s not a baby anymore.. He’s been through enough to know how to handle things for himself. And he also knows Shadow needs him right now..”

Maddie just sighs, “What if I need him still??” “Oh, you’re such a boy mom,” Tom teases with a chuckle to which Maddie huffs.

“I am not!” “You totally are.” “Maybe I am, is that so bad??” “No,” Tom shakes his head, “No, it’s not.. Just means you love them more than most mothers ever could.. They’re lucky they have you.” Maddie sighs, sniffling as she wipes at another tear, “Then why do I feel so awful??” “Because you’re looking at this the wrong way..,” Tom points out as he softly rubs through her hair, “You keep.. Looking at this as losing Sonic. Him growing up and leaving us and you can’t protect him anymore.. But you should be looking at this as gaining a son.. We get Shadow..”

Maddie lifts her head to look at Tom then, her lip quivering at that thought, “We get Shadow..?” “We get Shadow..,” Tom affirms with a nod, “And Shadow won’t let anything happen to Sonic. And he certainly won’t let anyone take him from you. He loves you. You know that..” Maddie nods at that, her forehead pressing to Tom’s, “I need to talk to him..” “Yes, you do,” Tom agrees.

“And apologize.” “Mhm.” “I said a really shitty thing.” “You did, but in your defense, Sonic was pushing your limit.” “He was.” “He’s good at that.” “He is.” “He gets that from you.”

Maddie whacks Tom with a pillow at that, Tom chuckling and trying to block her hits with his arms as she scolds him.

“She didn’t mean that..”

“I know..”

“She was just upset and didn’t mean it to come out that way.” “I know that.” “She’d never purposely hurt you.” “I know, Sonic, it’s just–” Shadow sighs and tries to gather his thoughts, not become overwhelmed and unable to communicate how he’s feeling. Communication is key in a relationship. Mrs. Wachowski taught him that. 

Sonic sits patiently beside him, his legs swinging off the edge of the rooftop they sit on. The roof of the bowling alley. The spot they had their first kiss.

Shadow sits next to him with his legs crossed, eyes staring down at the ground below.

“It’s just that-.. If she can come to that conclusion so quickly.. What’s to stop Maria’s family from doing the same??”

Sonic’s brows furrow a bit, not quite understanding, “What do ya’mean??” “I just mean–,” he sighs in frustration with himself, often getting annoyed easily with how hard talking could be for him sometimes. How hard feelings could be. Sonic’s hand rests on his. That helps some.

“..If your mother.. Who knows me, knows the whole story.. Can think something like that–” “She doesn’t really think that–” “She thought it enough to speak it.” Sonic frowns at this, not arguing his point..

“...If she can think something like that, then what’s gonna stop the Robotniks from thinking the same?? From believing that nothing good could possibly come from Gerald??” “Nothing is gonna stop them from thinking that,” Sonic says softly, his hand squeezing Shadow’s, “..But you can change their minds.” “How?? I’m not– I’m not good at first impressions, I’m not good at-.. At socializing or communicating or any of it.. I’m only good at fighting. At being a weapon.” “That’s not true,” Sonic says sternly, reaching up to make Shadow look at him by turning his cheek towards him, “Look at what you did for Cream. Huh?? For her and her mom. You brought them together and made them feel safe and welcome enough in a whole new world to attend some strangers’ Christmas party. You managed to become friends with arguably the world’s most ornery bat. You won my whole family over– my brother who hates anyone who dares to intrude on his ‘clan’ adores you. I adore you..” Shadow’s brows knit as he looks at Sonic, his eyes looking puffy with tears that threaten to fall but Sonic knows they won’t. Shadow doesn’t like to cry..

“But I didn’t kill your sister..,” Shadow whispers quietly, Sonic sighing immediately and shaking his head as he presses his forehead firmly to Shadow’s.

“Stop saying that,” Sonic whines, his ears folded back as his noses rubs against his boyfriend’s, “You didn’t kill Maria.” “They won’t see it that way.” “You don’t know that, Shadow. You gotta at least give them a chance. They’re willing to give you one, or they wouldn’t have reached out, right??.. You gotta meet them halfway, Shads..”

Shadow sighs at this, closing his eyes and tilting his head to instead nuzzle his face against Sonic’s neck. Bury and hide himself there seeking comfort. Sonic sighs at this and moves a hand up to rub through Shadow’s quills, petting him there to try and work some of the tension out of him.

“..Come back home with me. We’ll talk this over with Mom, and get started preparing for this trip.” “What if your mom says no??” “Love her, but screw that noise. I’ll go anyway.” Shadow snorts at this, knowing damn well if he dared to help Sonic sneak away on a trip with him without her consent, it would be his funeral they’d be planning next.

“I don’t want your mother not liking me.” “She loves you,” Sonic rolls his eyes, “You’re like a son to her. Moms just happen to get pissy at their sons sometimes. Trust me. I know.” Shadow snickers at this, lifting his head now to look at Sonic properly again.

“...Thank you.” “What for?” “Always finding me..” Sonic has. From the very beginning. From jumping out of that GUN helicopter, to Prison Island, to chasing Shadow down in his own backyard that night to now.. Sonic has never once given up on Shadow.

He’s always found him.

“And for always knowing what to say..,” Shadow says quietly, lifting a hand to Sonic’s cheek. Sonic smiles all soft and leans into his palm. “What can I say?? It’s a gift.”

Shadow rolls his eyes and chuckles at that, shaking his head at him and taking a moment just to stare into the hedgehog’s eyes..

He’s such a mystery, Sonic the Hedgehog. A pure wonder of this world and many others..

A hero. A friend. A brother. A son. A god.. And somehow, Shadow has found himself lucky enough to have been a part of all of that.. To have caught the fastest thing alive.

“...So what was that in the presentation about kissing??” Shadow smirks, quirking a brow at Sonic.

Sonic immediately blushes and laughs all awkward, dipping his head down all shy, “Oh that?? Just a little something I threw in– ya’know? Happy endings and all–” He’s cut off when Shadow grabs his chin and lifts his head back up, a tiny gasp escaping Sonic as they stare at each other. Sonic’s eyes wide and Shadow’s half-lidded and looking at Sonic’s lips. Sonic swallows, his tail wagging again at their very close mouths..

“...Well, I’d hate to spoil your happy ending,” Shadow mutters, Sonic blinking as the hybrid lets his chin go to pat his cheek with a low chuckle. Standing from the ledge, Shadow offers a hand to Sonic to help him stand as well. Sonic just stares up at him with an absolutely bamboozled expression before a pout forms on his lips, taking his hand and standing up with his help. Dusting himself off, Sonic mutters, “The Ultimate Tease, I tell ya.”

Shadow’s head tilts back with a laugh and Sonic’s stomach does flips.

[alexa-yukiyu]

Revenge and Teasings ( Asl x sister!reader)

A/N: Yall, I COOKED; we got some of that ASL action up in here 🫦. Will this make you guys forgive me for leaving you unfed for two days? We got those polled jobs; I think we all agreed on these guys’ jobs. I didn’t ask about Luffy cause he has a canonically modern au job given by Oda 👀 . Guys, I researched Law and firefighting for a few hours for this. Im a teacher, so thankfully, I didn't have to research that one. Also, beware, this does address abusive relationships, but dw, I also included a lot of wholesomeness at the end cause; hello?

Taglist at the bottom < 3

Dividers by @/saradika

The three Brothers find themselves in the living room, Ace and Luffy roughhousing while Sabo sighs, trying to separate them.

Their usual antics were halted as the door to the house slammed open and closed, their little sister standing at the door, tears going down her face.

“O-Oh hey, you guys are all here earlier!” She exclaims hastily, wiping her face

The fighting paused as all three paused and stared, Sabo nodding.

"Yeah… I only had a short meeting with a client today; Ace just had a PD day, and Luffy didn’t have a shift today… are you okay, Reader?”

He asked her, glancing at her; her eyes were puffed up, her hair was everywhere, and her clothes were covered with dirt

“Yeah! Yeah! Just had a little stumble outside; it was so embarrassing since everyone saw it and got overwhelmed,” she replies quickly, trying to fix the mess in her hair

The brothers all glanced at each other and then back to Reader, who clearly was lying.

Ace narrowed his eyes at her.

"You’re lying."

Luffy nodded also.

“Yeah, you’re really bad at lying when you’re upset. What’s wrong?”

“You caught me.”

She laughs

“The administration called me out today; one of my co-workers complained about how I ran the classroom; I was so upset I lost balance on my bike and fell,” she winced, rubbing her nose.

“To make matters worse, now I have a bunch of paperwork to do, thanks to her, so I have to get started on that,” she groans, walking up the stairs

“I’ll be downstairs for dinner!” she calls as she enters her room, closing the door behind her

“….”

“Since when does she call the other teachers ‘co-workers’? She always calls them by name when telling us about them, doesn’t she?” Sabo questions

“It’s absolute bullshit that anyone would complain about her classroom, I’ve seen her lesson plans, and they are one of a kind; there's no way anyone could complain about them,” Ace adds

“And why was she so worked up over paperwork…? She always loves doing it; she was one of those weirdos who loved having something to do…., especially for her kids.”

“She definitely lying again….” Sabo concludes, getting up.

“Let me talk to her!” Luffy exclaims, shooting up

“I think it’s best we all go together; if we go alone, she will easily be able to brush us off or lie again; it’s harder to do that with three people onto you.”

“Okay then, let’s go,” Ace said, getting up as well and climbing up the stairs

“Reader? Can you open up for a minute?”

“Y-Yeah! Just give me a minute!” She screamed, sounds of her scrambling being heard

“Hey, I thought I told you guys I had paperwork to do?” she nervously smiled as she opened the door

“ We know you are l-“ Luffy starts but is cut off as Ace quickly wraps his arms around him, covering his mouth

“We know you’re having a crappy day, but we thought that since we were all here, we would spend some time together,” Sabo cuts in with a gentle smile on his face

“O-oh, well…yeah, come in then!” She said, opening the door wider with a smile

After some whispering between Ace and Luffy, the brothers pile in; Ace sits in her desk chair while Luffy throws himself on her bed next to her, and Sabo takes a seat on the bed, glancing at her

"Hey, what’s this reader?” Luffy said, raising his sister’s sleeve to reveal a dark bruise on her wrist.

“Oh, that! Well, like I said, I had a pretty bad tumble on the bike.”

“You have another one forming on your face. Luffy points out.”

“Yeah… I must have been really unlucky; I fell on my face when I fell.”

Sabo narrowed his eyes at her; after so many cases and long days at the court, he had grown excellent at deciphering body language; it became second nature for him to spot mannerisms that hinted towards the person’s insincerity or anxiousness.

Mannerism, such as constantly shifting their eyes between different people in the room, the way they begin to scratch at their nose more often than usual, playing with their hair to try to ease the anxiety or the slight tilt they did towards the door, an escape route if they were discovered; all of these he could easily spot in his sister.

Luffy glanced at the bruises, experience of running in and out of burning buildings, and helping people in hazardous and unfortunate situations; he had seen all types of injuries and had become used to them, become used to identifying their origin

Scrapes and open skin from high-speed accidents, abrasions on the skin from hazardous materials being misused or leaked, and even bruises and injuries from civil unrest situations. He had enough experience to be able to tell injuries from a bike stumble to man-made injuries.

Ace glanced at her sister; because of his job, he was obligated to be certified in specific areas, mandatory reporting being one of them.

Because he spent all day with the children, he had to be able to spot any abusive indicators, inconsistencies in their stories, malnutrition, the children’s reaction to their parents, and weird marks on their bodies. Although he had been trained on how to apply this with his first-grade students, the same principle could be applied to any person of any age that presented these indicators, indicators that he could clear as day see on his sister

The brothers glance at each other, and ever the one to take the lead, Luffy is the first one to speak up

“Shishi, really? Do you need any help bandaging the scrapes?” he offers

“Scrapes? I don’t have any scrapes, Luffy”

“Hah? That’s weird; when people fall off their bikes they usually have lots of scapes; you don’t have any, just some pretty bad bruises,” he points out

“W-Well I-

“People who have been in biking accidents, or just falling in general, usually have lots of injuries in their hands, seeing as it is our instinct to protect our face and to slow our fall., you however, have none of those weird..” Continued Sabo

"W-Well, I have no self-preser-

“It’s weird despite having so much paperwork to do and being outed by one of your co-workers, these lesson plans are all completed, and there are footnotes all around from your co-workers seems they really liked your ideas and need you to help them implement them on their own classroom, wonder what kind of person would ask advice from someone they think is doing their job wrong” Ace comments picking up the various papers littered on her desk

“H-Hey don’t tou-

“You aren’t going to lie again, right?” Ace cuts in

“Because I mean, you really suck at it,” Luffy adds

“Do we wanna try another round of you telling a convincing story?” Ace adds, glancing at her

“I -I…” she tries to find the right words but hangs her head after failing to do so

“That’s unfair; you guys are teaming up and using your jobs against me.”

“It’s not fair? Not fair for who?” Sabo raises a brow.

“We are just calling you out on your bullshit, which is pretty nice of us,” Ace comments in a deadpan voice

“Usually, with everyone in the law, we would tear you to shreds until you said the truth. You should be thankful for being so lucky that we’re your brothers,” Sabo adds

“Can I do anything to make you guys drop this?”

“Nope,” Luffy said without hesitation

She groans, throwing herself in her pillow head-first

Ace sighed, joining his siblings on the bed and easily picking his sister up, sitting in her place, placing her on his lap, and hugging her

“Please let us help you; we promise we will deal with anything you may be going through.”

“Nothing wrong,” she says quietly

“N-nothing’s wrong,” she repeats, a slight crack in her voice as tears start pooling in her eyes

“Nothing…Nothing is wrong,” she says as she begins sobbing, gripping his brother's clothes tightly as she cried into him, the same way she did when they were children

The brothers all stayed still; Ace stroked her hair comfortingly and patted her back as she broke down in tears. Despite them all being grown up and having seen their share of violence and trauma, this still made the brothers' hearts bleed, seeing their youngest sibling hurt.

Luffy pulled her into a hug, his rubber arms embracing her tightly, letting her sob into his arms while Sabo patted her back in support.

"Hey now, it's okay; you can tell us the truth now; we aren't gonna be mad."

“I can’t; I can’t. “

"You can, we promise, we are all adults; we aren’t gonna lash out at you for telling us the truth," Sabo said firmly

"No matter what you say, or what has happened, we will always be here for you" Ace reassures her

“No, He said he would hurt you,” she cries

The brothers all freeze at her words; their smiles falter, and their faces all drop, their hearts all break.

Luffy pushes out slightly from their embrace, grabbing her hands and looking her in the eyes

“Reader. Tell us who did this, no matter who it is, we’ll kick his ass! We won’t be done in by some idiot; you’re always there for us, so let us carry your burden this time!” Luffy exclaims

“I don’t want you guys to get hurt; I couldn’t live with myself if my brothers got hurt because of me,”

“Don’t be an idiot!” luffy screams at her, shaking her, ignoring his brothers' protests

“We’re already hurt from seeing you get hurt and not being able to do anything! It hurts more seeing you get hurt!”

Her eyes widen at his words as her sobs become more frantic

Ace quickly pulls his little sister from Luffy before pulling her into a big bear hug and kissing her forehead affectionately

“We’ll be fine, just please tell us who it was; we promise we’ll handle this; as your big brothers, it’s our responsibility to protect you, and to do that, we have to know who did this to you,” his voice was tender and kind. All the fire that was in him earlier has dimmed and was taken over by nothing but brotherly concern.

“E-E-Enel,” she sobs out

Ace is the first to react, turning his sister toward him

“Enel? The asshole who kept harassing you back at the host club? I thought we left him behind when we left that job?”

“After we got our jobs in Newgate School, he managed to find my contact,” she cries

“He said if I stopped seeing him, he would go after you guys. He said he would destroy your careers and your lives, and then he would go after my kids.”

Ace sighs, flickering her forehead

“You’re an idiot.”

She squeaks, holding her forehead in pain

“W-What?”

Ace chuckles softly

“I’m calling you an idiot, did you forget? Sabo is the best attorney in GrandLine, Luffy is a firefighter with friends in all the offices, including the police, and you know our principal, Edward, is a family man, but he is powerful; he would not stand still if he heard this, especially not to one of his employees being under threat and definitely not when the kids are under threat.”

Luffy nods in agreement.

“We are pretty much the worst people a guy could try to mess with; you do realize that, right?”

“I know that, I know the chances were slim, but I wasn’t going to take any chances, not with you guys on the line.”

“So, instead, you decided to put yourself on the line?” Luffy asks

“Is your health not worth even a chance to protect us? Was that your reasoning sister? I thought you’d trust us more,” Ace adds

“You are aware of how idiotic that is, right?” Sabo chimes in

“We have dealt with worse; you weren’t just playing with our lives, but with your own as well; you really think letting some dickwad play you with would be better than taking a chance of us handling him??” The freckled man exclaims

“Also, did you think for a second we wouldn’t find out? And that we wouldn’t get worried?” Ace adds

“I was hoping I would be good at hiding it…

“You know damn well you have always been lousy at hiding stuff,” Sabo comments sharply, but then his tone softens a bit

“But you should have just told us the truth, no matter how dangerous you thought it would be.”

Luffy nods.

“You didn’t need to carry this burden alone; we could have helped you.”

“I’m sorry “

“Just don’t do it again, okay?” Sabo replies as he pulls her into a big hug; Ace and Luffy join him in the hug, the three brothers letting their sister hug them for long, not letting go of their sister, Ace kissing her forehead

“We’re just worried about you; we don’t care if it’s dangerous; we love you,” Ace reassures her

“Now let me see it,” he said, gesturing for her hand

She hesitates for a moment, not wanting to give her hand to Ace; she turns towards the other brothers with pleading eyes, but they all nod for her to show the bruise, so she finally does, holding her sleeve back, and puts her hand over Ace’s, the bruise covered a large part of her arm up to just below the elbow with some bruises and marks on various parts of her arm, some older, others fresh

Ace glances up

“Sabo, how good of an attorney are you?” he says, a dangerous undertone in his words

“Ace! You are not killing him!” Reader hisses

Ace doesn’t react to her words; instead he speaks calmly and cooly

“No one said anything about killing; I was thinking more of a severe beating” he chuckles before grinning wickedly

“Let’s kick his ass” agrees Luffy

“Sabo, you’re an attorney; please talk some sense into them before they get into trouble with the law.”

Sabo looks from his brothers to her; he doesn’t seem particularly against the idea of hurting Enel; in fact, his eyes are glinting with delight at the idea

“We’re not breaking any laws; after all, it was self-defense. We saw him attacking you, and we stepped in using reasonable force to protect you and ourselves.”

“Isn’t that right, guys? we only had to use force after he came at us.”

“Sabo! You are not lying in court!” She pleads

“Who said anything about lying? All three of us are witnesses; it’s not lying if it’s the truth!” Ace says not breaking eye contact with his sister

“It’s not lying; we all reported the same story and told nothing but the truth.” Sabo nods excitedly

“Yeah!!” Luffy agrees with a nod; they all seemed to be one and the same when it came to taking care of someone who hurts someone as important as their sister

“Guys, please, think about this,” she says, turning to look at all of them

“Sabo, come on, there’s no way a judge would buy three brothers having to all launch at a guy just for self-defense!”

“Oh, but there was even an officer at the scene who witnessed it; he had to help us get the guy off you; the guy was just ruthless; we had no option but to all step in,” Sabo exclaimed, continuing his made-up scenario

“Zoro would be more than happy to join if he hears what the guy did” Luffy grins

She sighs, looking at her brothers, tears welling in her eyes

“You guys are unbelievable,” a teary laugh leaving her

“No one is getting away with hurting our family; come here!” Ace says, grinning and pulling her in for a noogie, his smile widening at her small shriek,

“You ass! What happened to protecting your little sister? That hurts!”

"You use that language in your classroom?! It's just a noogie!" he said with a grin, glad that even for just a few minutes, she could just relax with them, forgetting about Enel and the damage he had caused.

"it does not hurt!"

"Besides, you deserved it for not being honest with us; you're not getting away with keeping things from us," Sabo laughs

“You treat your kids this way?!” She retaliates

“No, I treat my students with kindness and patience, but you’re my lil sis, so I have to mess with you a little,” he teases

“And you totally deserve what you’re getting.”

She scoffs

“Patience and kindness”

“You heard me, only kindness and patience, but you’re not a first grader like they are, so you get a little extra care since you’re older and know more than they do,” he said, his movement getting faster

“Not to mention, we can’t put little Tama in a headlock as a form of discipline,” he adds

“I’m telling Tama his beloved teacher will give her a noogie!

“You wouldn’t!” Ace laughs

“Tama would never believe it! She loves me!”

“Im also telling your squad you let innocent civilians be tormented, Luffy!” She said escaping from the headlock and running out of her room

“Oh, don’t even think about it, Shishishi!” Luffy grabs her hand, stopping her on her tracks

“You guys keep using your jobs against me! Unreasonable force, I say!”

Luffy simply laughs

“You should have joined me when I called you to train with my squad!”

“You wanna talk about unreasonable force? Well, you would know all about that, wouldn’t you, sis?” Ace replies, grabbing her as Luffy tosses her back in the bed and wraps her in another headlock

Sabo shrugs as he watches, not even going to attempt to break this particular situation up

“Not my fault! I need to use more force; otherwise, it won't get through your numbskulls!” She screams, laughing joyously, the pain and suffering from her situation forgotten momentarily

“And Sabo! How could you! A man on law watching these two brutes commit battery!”

“Hey, a little headlock is hardly anything; we’ve done far worse.” Sabo chuckles

“A man of the law would know all the technicalities of self-defense,” he points out,

“And you’d be surprised by how much I can witness without being called to court; a few weeks ago, I was watching a student in a bar brawl, and he didn’t even get arrested, just a fine, so don’t be too worried about me, I won’t tell.”

She gasps mockingly

Luffy and Ace both chuckle

“We should have expected you’d put up the least fight, Shishi” Luffy chuckles

“You’ve always been the least physical of the three; you are so easy to tease,” Ace adds

Sabo chuckles, though he didn’t join their ganging up on their little sister



After finally being free from their teasing, she smiled at them

“Thank you”

The brothers all smile back at her

Ace squeezes her hand

“We’re just relieved that you’ll let us help you now.”

Luffy nods

“Don’t worry, we will kick Enel’s ass!”

“You didn't think I would let it slide, did you, little sister? The way I see it is that Enel picked a fight with you, which in turn means he picked a fight with all of us; I won’t let someone threaten my family without paying the consequences.”

I was honestly worried that this would just keep a grim tone all throughout it, but I managed to clutch at the end because the brothers wouldn’t just let her sister stay upset before they dealt with this asshole, and honestly, neither would I. I really struggle with Luffy being OC here, but I look back at all his speeches and serious moments and I think this is pretty spot on, if anything mellowed out

Taglist:

@Imaginarydreams

@amethystviolin

[autumnmobile12]

Ambush Simulation: The Halfway House For Wayward Youths

Dropping a little bit of Ambush Sim lore for what's going on with Toga, Spinner, and Mr. Compress.

When she and Shuichi looked for supplies in the old garden shed behind the house and found a pair of old bikes, Atsuhiro had said she could keep one.  He said every kid needed a bike.  The other night while they’d been preparing dinner, an egg had rolled off the counter and Atsuhiro had caught it at the very last second before it could hit the floor.  Shuichi had walked into them cheering like they’d won a fight and had started scolding them for getting carried away and ignoring the food that was starting to burn on the stove.

I have a headcanon that Toga's parents kept her on such a tight leash after the middle school incident that she wasn't allowed to ride her bike anymore. There's no reason for why that makes a whole lot of sense and they probably did it just to exercise more control over her. In any case, the bikes found in the garden shed definitely belonged to Sako and his siblings.

I was browsing for photos of Japanese houses and I found a collection that gave me an idea of the interior of Sako's house. So this is what I picture when I write that setting:

In my mind, Sako lives in a residential district that's technically part of Musutafu, but it's more so described as a distant suburb, so commuting into the city for work is inconvenient. (Although you think that would appeal to more people since it appears villain attacks are more common in urban areas.) Because of this, the area is mostly abandoned except for the occasional retired person.

Toga, Iguchi, and Sako are able to get to work/school just fine. There are trains and Iguchi drives. The only reason Sako hasn't given the place up is it has been his family's home for a couple generations and it's his last link to them.

Their jobs:

Toga: Student - She's doing her best to balance school with training.

Spinner: Baggage handler at the Musutafu Airport - It just seems like the underpaid, work in all kinds of weather, low appreciation drudge work he'd find himself doing.

Compress: String of odd jobs - He does street performing on the side, but his main income is working at a convenience store and he's also a server at an upscale restaurant in the city.