#DAMN that line goes hard

[rainyraisin]

HOLY SHIT

I DONT JUST LIKE IT I LOVE IT WITH ALL MY HEART FYLNXGKNGCBK AHHHHHH THIS WAS SO WORTH THE WAIT THANK YOU SM DUDE THIS IS SUH AN AWESOME SECRET SANTA GIFT YIPPEE YIPPEE YAY‼️‼️‼️💖💖💖🌸🌸🌸🌸🫂🫂🫂🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶 Will be freaking out about this for the rest of time omigosh!!!!!

Cerebral

tws/cws: body horror, brain fuckery (idk what else to call it), descriptions of overstimulation/sensory ickyness, very brief mentions of both vomiting and self harm, shitty writing from yours truly

wordcount: 929

notes: did a secret santa event in a discord server and this is what I did, but I might end up continuing it . idk yet . I hope they like it because this thing took me foreverrr

Access denied.

Access denied.

Access denied.

Tendrils. Twisting, touching, examining, attaching. Like curious little leeches. Except instead of draining and taking they gave.

Sensations. Textures. Feelings. Information. So much information. They felt like their brain would explode right out of their skull. Buzzing, electrical, diluted thoughts.

They're being exposed to information they never would've known. It's unnatural yet far from artificial. Currents of consciousness flickered in and out, barely understandable among the others. Rain falling into the ocean, individual yet part of the whole.

Unexpectedly, the technodrome wasn't one mind, a strand of being, but an entire network of interconnections, spiraling together like a knot, neverending conflicting thoughts and feelings of their own. Sprawling out into this vessel. The technodrome. They almost forgot where they were.

It was so easy to lose yourself in the constant stream of feelings. Maybe that was on purpose. They weren't sure if it(?) even had programming, but they knew that if it did, everything written in code was purposeful.

A purpose. What was the purpose of this thing? It felt wrong to call it that. A thing. It was a living database, collections of information and ideas. Like brains, almost, even if artificial. How advanced was kraang technology? Questions, yet no answers.

Another thread among the others. Their thoughts buzzed along with the rest. Lost among the current. Wondering if they would even get a response. Inputs, outputs.

Error messages blare in the background. Panic. What was happening? There was a disconnect from their outer vessel body. It was barely theirs. Poking and prodding. Examination. Was it fit for use? Leeches again. Inspection. Mess of tentacles. Sensory hell, slime and feelings and fluid and gross. Eugh. Don't slip back, focus. What happened.

Access denied.

Access denied.

Access denied? To what? They weren't trying to access anything. Everything was orderly until a few moments ago. A disturbance. Busy. No more poking.

Noise. Outside noise. Voices. Talking. External. Threat. Familiar voices. Who?

The asset you are trying to access is occupied.

...Asset? Which asset? What was trying to access it?

It was incredibly difficult to see outside of the console. Despite having an external form, it wasn't as active or useful because of the disturbance. Plus they weren't sure how to function it while being able to concentrate on other things. Everything was foreign. New. Scary. what am i even doing what is happening nononono everything is wrong all wrong wrong wrong wrong

Responses. Electrical sensations. Everything was fine. Everything would be as long as this thing threat was gone.

Movements, pulling, dragging, attachment. Leeches are back. This time their body was being moved, puppeted, not simply inspected. It was fit for use. A good vessel. No longer theirs.

Their vision is shifted out of wherever it was before. Everything is blurred and yellow-tinted, like they're looking through a dirty camera lense.

They try to blink to clear their vision. Nothing happens. They try to move something, anything, desperately, but nothing happens.

They feel things happening. Their body being altered to better fit its new purpose.

Tendrils trail around their body, sticking onto their scales and fusing with their being. It felt horrid. Sickening sensations. They would've vomited by now if they had any semblance of control.

Their skin feels itchy and gross. They can do nothing to fix it. Scratch it get it off out out get out of me get off leave please this is mine not yours off-

Their body shambles towards whatever was infront of them. Their vision was still strange, so they couldn't really tell, but they could make out colors. Different shades of green. Red, blue, orange..

Wait.

shit shit shit shit shit shit shit SHIT nononono anything but this shit FUCK.

The threat had been identified.

Maybe they would get lucky. Maybe it wouldn't be able to pilot their body well enough to do any damage. They knew this was all wishful thinking, but if there was any time for irrational thoughts it was probably now.

They didn't doubt their siblings abilities, but they didn't doubt theirs either. They'd kicked a lot of ass, and this made their body stronger. It didn't have any sense of mercy either, so in short, them and everyone involved were fucked.

Like an idiot, they tried to move their body again. The definition of insanity was trying the same thing over and over again in hopes of a different result, so maybe they've lost it. It was better then doing nothing and letting it happen. They hoped that somehow their efforts would amount to something, even though they knew better.

Their body moved again, (if you could even call it theirs anymore) getting closer to their siblings. It seemed inexperienced with piloting a body like theirs, but it was unfortunately a fast learner. Shuffling quickly turned into full steps. Closer, closer.

They weren't sure what was happening anymore. As time went on they felt more distant from their physical form. The dissonance of the technodrome's inner workings began to buzz in the back of their mind again. They felt themself slipping despite their rising panic and desperate efforts.

Despite their hatred for metaphors they felt like they were a fly in a spider's web. Trying and struggling again and again with no result. Small. Afraid. Unable to fix anything. Save themself.

Everything felt distant. They felt their hands grip something metal. High grade titanium familiar against their palms, familiar shape curled around their fingers. Thoughts about fighting tactics and a specific battle style being picked through.

They didn't know what happened next.

[babygirlificationn]

Ace attorney au where everything is the same except smartphones and social media are a thing that exists.

[blueskittlesart]

what do you think his thoughts were at that moment?

this is an insane question and i am going rabid trying to answer it. for context this is about my. link dead on the fucking floor compilation. i. e. "what do you think went through link's mind as he all but DIED in precalamity botw."

i've thought about this before because. well obviously i have. look at how many times i've drawn it. i think context matters more than anything when examining that moment, because it's essentially the culmination of link's entire life up to that point in the worst way possible. you have a kid who has been raised to either win or die. those are his only two options. he's known this for basically as long as he can remember. either he defeats the calamity like he's supposed to and lives the rest of his life as an untouchable gold standard of soldier, as proof that all that pressure and pain he suffered worked, or he dies and dooms everyone he has ever loved to suffer horribly for the rest of their likely very short lives. And i do think he thought about this extensively, because how could you NOT, and i think that he probably believed that death was the most likely outcome. He was raised by a soldier, around soldiers, to be a soldier. soldiers are practical. soldiers strategize for the most likely scenario. they're not pessimistic, but they know how to look at a situation objectively and make a judgement call. Looking at link's situation objectively, it would have been obvious that he couldn't win. he was one kid, a 16-year-old boy, with maybe some above-average swordsmanship skills, but too many variables were missing. he couldn't hear the sword's voice. zelda's power wouldn't manifest. Hylia, who should have been there guiding them through this prophecy that SHE had supposedly inflicted on them, was completely silent. the divine beasts may have given him some hope, initially, but it was clear below the optimistic facade that hyrule was toying with very dangerous forces they didn't truly understand. I think he very likely went into that confrontation with the calamity anticipating death.

what's most interesting to me about the scene of link's death isn't that he fell, but WHERE he fell. because he didn't die in the sanctum, at the scene of the calamity's birth, as one might have expected. he died in an empty field along the road to a fortress that might have been able to protect him. Link, the bearer of the triforce of courage, the boy raised to die a martyr at the hands of the calamity, who had all but accepted his fate before the monster even showed its face, chose to run for safety, what some might call the coward's approach, instead of dying where he stood at ganon's hand. and it seems almost out of character at first, when you think about the person he was when he first met zelda, the person who would do anything in his power to show no weakness, to take the pain and the stress without flinching or faltering. the boy who so completely embodied that idea of "courage." but i think that zelda was the piece that changed him. If it had just been him at that final confrontation, maybe he wouldn't have run. maybe he would have been content to take his final stand and accept the death he'd been promised. but zelda insisted on being there, too. "there must be something i can do to help." and while link was a soldier, more than willing to engage in self-sacrifice, he was also a knight, sworn to protect this girl, and so he couldn't in good conscience sacrifice HER, too. so he ran. he tried to live, at a moment when he should have expected to die. and i think that was infinitely more courageous of him. to go against everything you have ever known and expected is infinitely scarier than accepting the outcome you've always anticipated. Running for his life (and for zelda's) was running into the unknown. escaping death in that way was defying everything he'd built himself up to be, everything everyone expected of him. Who is link if not the hero who faced the calamity with courage? what would he have to be if he could not be what was expected of him? in that moment, he made the choice to step into the unprophesized timeline, into a world where his actions were no longer defined by some great all-seeing power. and that was the most courageous move he could have made in that moment. he must have been terrified.

so what was going through his mind as he made his last stand? Honestly, i think the only thing on his mind was zelda. I don't think he cared about himself, his physical condition, any of it. I think he made the choice to run because of zelda and so he made the choice to take his final stand where he did because of her, too. just before zelda's power manifests, we see him try to continue fighting even inches from death, so gravely injured that he's unsteady on his feet, using his sword to keep himself standing. i think he must have known that he was in no condition to fight anymore, but he expected death to come for him at one point or another. what mattered was that she might live as long as he kept going. that's why he ran in the first place. not for himself, but because zelda was there and zelda didn't deserve to die like this. Even once zelda's power manifests, link only gives up and allows himself to fall once a beat or two has past--once he's sure that there really is no more danger. that she'll be okay, that she can make it past the fort and into relative safety even if he lets go here. He collapses then, and only then, after running miles through fields and woods, already gravely wounded, because in that moment he sees that the danger has past. a soldier's work is only done when there is nothing left to fight. a knight's work is only done when his princess is truly safe.

maybe he was relieved that he'd managed to hold on as long as he had. that he'd been able to find her some form of safety, in one way or another. maybe he worried about what manner of things would come for her once he was gone. maybe he wondered why she wouldn't just leave him and run for the fort. i'm sure there was a flash of regret in the back of his mind, for the family and friends he'd leave behind, for the people he'd let down, for the calamity he wasn't able to defeat. but this was the outcome he'd expected, even if it had come in a slightly different form. Even if now there was a girl hovering above him begging him to open his eyes.

[north-wilkesboro-moonshine-cave]

congratulations to Mme. Pascale Leclerc, who has surely just experienced both the funniest and most unhinged weekend a mother could ever have. Dear fucking christ, I hope your middlest son brought you a bottle of champagne for yourself, ma'am.

[asexualconfessions]

Ive quickly grown to love Chappel Roan after avoiding her thinking I'm not "queer enough" for her music

And I love her music don't get it twisted it fucking SMACKS...but

As a kinda sex repulsed ace I've been thinking that...I...don't understand some of the feelings like in "red wine supernova" or "hot to go"

They go SO HARD like they are brainworms for me but also I feel kinda sad knowing I'll never have the emotional connection other lesbians/queer people get from her

Idk ik she would probably never want that but DAMN it can feel really invalidating sometimes,,

🟣

[turtlespancake]

me when i write a character who is prone to dooming themself and then they run off and doom themself. core traits are stubbornness and a willingness to disregard their own humanity gET BACK HERE IM NOT DONE WITH YOU

[untilyouremember]

Chihiro-kun Only Has Eyes for Me

Available digitally

[baksokon]

all sampo ships are good because its funny to see this man in a relationship

[daincrediblegg]

least favorite jared harris role

boy that's tricky. considering I watched both The Eternal and The Ward earlier this week (in lieu of birthday celebrations bc of course I celebrate by watching things with my one special little guy in it)... there are new contenders. that being said I think there's two answers for this: actual worst role, and role that is the most painful for me to watch. and it's two different answers actual worst role goes to Older Will Robinson in the 90's reboot of lost in space because not only did they put him in a fucking muppet wig but for SOME REASON they decided to dub his voice??? which is just a baffling choice on the part of the producers. it's painful to watch and to look at and it just isn't worth it like?? why would you cast that boy if that was all you were going to do with him? as for the 2nd, the role that is most painful for me to watch? the man from UNCLE. Look. I came in initially for my man. only for him to have a grand total of like. two minutes of screen time. if that. and it's a fucking guy ritchie film to boot (not entirely derogatory. he has his moments as a filmmaker. but some times I think 'this guy is gonna get cancelled any fucking day now' just by watching any given film of his). so then when I watched it, and told folks I watched it and that Henry Cavil is also in it, everyone else wanted to watch it with me. I have seen this movie a grand total of 5 separate times with 5 different people in the last half a year alone and let me tell you. that's four too many times. not worth it for the sliver of jared being delicious that you get for your efforts of sitting through the rest of a guy ritchie film. deeply unsatisfying fr. never fucking again man.

[satansleftnutcheek]

Hey Brennan, just watched episode 7 of NeverAfter and I just gotta ask

How the

🌺 ever loving 🌺

💥 FUCK 💥

Am I supposed to be a normal person after that ending!?

[rabbitslikecarrots]

“How easy it is when one’s not being stewed in a heap of rotting wood to take for granted that everything decays”

- Entangled Life, by Merlin Sheldrake

[cubedmango]

did a rough english translation for LiSA's "REALiZE" (the theme song for the japanese dub of across the spiderverse!)

最低だ　動脈に流れ込んだ恐怖で　心臓が震えちゃってる just the worst, this fear coursing through my veins, leaving my heart trembling 限界線越えてかなきゃ　分かんないまんまdead　可能性を知りたがってる unless i cross the limits, i won't know if i'll stay dead, i want to find what's possible 期待　願い　奇想天外　怒り　燃料だろ hopes, dreams, fantasies, fury, make them your fuel 何か起こせるさ　飛び込め　糸を握って something can spark to life, just leap in and pull the threads 弱気は　悪夢呼ぶスパイラル cowardice is that nightmare we call a spiral トラウマ　上書きで財産 trauma is a possession that can be overwritten これは僕にしか出来ないんだ this is something only i can do 時間だ the time's here 見極めろ　自覚しろ　誰かの賞賛・共感なんかいらないや make sure of the facts, come to recognize, that you don't need anyone's praise or sympathy いつだって満たしてくれるのは　自分しかいないんだよ the only one who can make you feel fulfilled is your own self 限界超えてみろ　行きたいんだろう　まだ誰も知らないその先へ go reach even greater heights, where you wanna climb, to a place no one knows yet 最低な運命恨んでなんかないぜ　まだ i don't resent this wretched destiny, not yet 平穏を引っ掻いて　爪痕残しちゃえよ　心臓あくびしちゃってる claw at peace and leave behind some scars, my heart's begun to yawn 失敗を悔やんでる間　皮膚の内側から新細胞目を覚ましてる as i regret my mistakes, new cells awake from beneath my skin たらふく食べても翌日空腹だろ you can gorge on food one day and still be hungry the next 破滅主義じゃないが　波瀾　万事　 味わい深し i don't believe in destruction, but i have a taste for disturbances and all 穏やかに緩やかに静かに　ただ失っていくだけなんて嫌だ　 even if it's calmly, gently, quietly, i don't want to lose it 敵はお前じゃない the enemy is not you 時間だ the time's here 突き抜けろ　諸行無常　未来に想像通りなんていらないや break through every wall, nothing lasts for long, the future doesn't have to stick to guesses いつだって期待してるのは　それ以上のフィナーレだろ i'm always expecting a finale that goes above and beyond 現状維持が理想？　自業自得　誰かが今日に溺れてる間に is keeping status quo ideal? you reap what you sow, while someone is drowning in all of today 次のステージへ　さぁいこう let's move to the next stage 弱気は　悪夢呼ぶスパイラル cowardice is that nightmare we call a spiral トラウマ　上書きで財産 trauma is a possession that can be overwritten これは僕にしか出来ないんだ this is something only i can do 血眼になったって　汗をかいて though i've lost my cool, broken out in a sweat 縋りついて　転がって i keep clinging tight and barreling on これしか僕には出来ないんだ this is the only thing i can do "with great power comes great responsibility" 時間だ the time's here 見極めろ　自覚しろ　誰かの賞賛・共感なんかいらないや make sure of the facts, come to recognize, that you don't need anyone's praise or sympathy いつだって満たしてくれるのは　自分しかいないんだよ the only one who can make you feel fulfilled is your own self 限界超えてみろ　行きたいんだろう　まだ誰も知らないその先へ go reach even greater heights, where you wanna climb, to a place no one knows yet 最低な運命恨んでなんかないぜ　まだ i don't resent this wretched destiny, not yet 'cause i realize

[blackjackkent]

Poor Hector is not at all feeling optimistic at present, and I don't really blame him. The zaith'isk ordeal really did a number on him and he's completely unsure what the right and wrong actions are here, or who is a friend and who is an enemy.

The deep recesses of the monastery here appear to have been dug out of a sort of cave or canyon area. (Odd choice for a monastery devoted to the god of dawn.) It's full of bats and (I assume) bat dung and just generally very ominous-feeling.

And there he is, the man himself:

Sir, your office looks fuckin' awful.

Honestly surprised he didn't oust Therezzyn out of her office rather than take this super cracked-up area.

"Ahhh...our esteemed guest," he says as Hector approaches. The door behind them clangs shut with a heavy, uncomfortably final sort of noise. "Please approach. We have much to discuss."

The gith inquisitor has a surprisingly gentle voice and looks them over appraisingly as they move into the room.

"My ardents spoke of one of our kin that escaped a crashing ghaik slave-vessel."

"Ch'r'ai," Lae'zel says reverently. "Vlaakith's justice in flesh."

The man's sharp features twist in a slow smile. "You have accomplished much, child. I am pleased to finally meet you." His gaze shifts to Hector, and the warmth falls away, replaced by a piercing intensity. "I hear there is so much goblin blood on your hands that it soaks their children's nightmares."

It is not a description that brings Hector any pleasure. He frowns, flinches back slightly, and the inquisitor smirks tightly, knowingly. "To business. I suspect you plucked something precious from the ghaik ship. Something that belongs to us." The smile fades, replaced by a firm authority that expects no disobedience. "The weapon. Give it to me."

"Don't do it..." wails the dream guardian in Hector's mind. "The weapon is how I protect you!"

"Do it," Lae'zel insists in counterpoint. "Do not disobey the inquisitor."

Hector hesitates, puts his hand on the artifact in his pack...then pauses, and tries a different kind of truth. "I can't," he says honestly. "It protects me."

He has gone along with everything thus far because he hopes... desperately... that Lae'zel could be right. That the gith purify their infected. That those who have already responded otherwise were part of some conspiracy. That this man is their ally.

And if all those things are true, telling him of the artifact's power over their safety is not only valid but necessary.

And if they aren't...

The inquisitor's expression goes hard. "Indeed? And what does it protect you from?"

"The voice of the Absolute," Hector says. Honest. Steady. Direct...

And his worst fears are confirmed. All around him, the guards in the room draw their crossbows and sight down on the group, and W'wargaz draws the enormous greatsword from his back with a single, lithe movement.

"If you hear that voice at all, you are infected," the inquisitor snarls. Any pretense of welcome or good humor has vanished. "And it is my people who need protecting from you! Hta'zith!"

Shit.

[flecks-of-stardust]

the machine is divine and divinity is mechanical

[whereisthedamndaddymanual]

Women will just deal with crazy men sometimes. If he fucks well they deem the insanity a fair trade for the orgasms.

[obsesssedblerd]

"Who's your new teacher?"

Synopsis: Toji meets Megumi's new preschool teacher and immediately develops a crush.

Pairings: single dad! toji x f! reader

Wc: 2.3K

Contains: plenty of fluff, crack, a tiny bit of angst, megumi is four, tsumiki is seven, toji is still toji (but like he's soft for his kids and he takes care of them), reader is a preschool teacher, reader and toji are around the same age, toji being soft, mentions of shiu, shiu and toji work together, shiu being an idiot (lol sorry he'll get love in another fic) , everyone is happy bc I said so

a/n: omg, first fic, we made it! barely proofread, sorry for mistakes. also, tysm for 1,000 followers here! the other two fics that were on that poll will be coming soon!

update: pt 2 here

-------------

Toji’s Fushiguro’s muscles ache. The job he took was harder than he anticipated, and it took way longer than it was supposed to. After confirming that the payment from the job is in his account, he calls Shiu Kong so he could check in on the kids. “About damn time,” Shiu scoffs when the line connects. “I was beginning to think I wouldn’t hear from you until sunrise.” 

“Job’s done,” Toji says as he gets into his car, settling into the drivers’ seat with an exhausted sigh. “I hear the TV in the background. Better be cartoons or something age-appropriate.” 

Shiu laughs. “Of course, what else? ‘M not getting cussed out by you. Anyway, you comin’ back with Megumi? Can’t believe you took him on the job with you. Once you’re back, I can get out of here.” 

Toji’s heart nearly stops. He sits up in his seat, gripping the phone so hard that the screen nearly cracks from his strength. “The fuck did you just say?” 

“Huh?” 

“Megumi isn’t with you?!” Toji’s voice booms in the car. On the other line, he hears Shiu gulp. “I… I thought he was with you.” 

“You idiot! I asked you to pick him up from preschool around the same time you pick up Tsumiki from her school because I knew this would take a while!” 

“You did?!” Shiu asks, and then it goes quiet; him more than likely flipping through his messages to double check. “...Shit,” he breathes out. 

Toji inhales sharply, then exhales shakily in an attempt to calm the rage, and even the fear that pools in his gut. “If anything has happened to my fucking son, Kong, I will murder you and make your death look like an accident. Keep an eye on Tsumiki.” 

“Fushiguro, I swear, I-” Toji hangs up before Shiu can explain himself further, then he starts the car. 

He grips the steering wheel hard, and his breathing picks up as his mind spins with every horrific scenario possible. The preschool closes at six thirty. It was close to nine. He didn’t see any missed calls from them. On a normal day, he’d be done before work with plenty of time to pick up his four year-old son, but today’s job was far more difficult and required more time. 

The car speeds down the street leading to his destination. He’s half-expecting to see Megumi sitting outside with his backpack, clinging to his dog plushie and crying. Or worse, he’s not there at all; because this world is full of terrible people, and they won’t hesitate to steal a small, unsupervised boy. His heart aches at the thought, and he shoves it away before he feels the need to throw up. He’ll be okay, he thinks to himself. Everything is going to be fine. 

—

When Toji arrives at the preschool, he rushedly parks lopsidedly in the lot, then exits the car. His eyes scan the steps leading up to the front, and when he doesn’t see Megumi outside, he rushes to the door. 

He sees a security guard in a booth, and before Toji can even ask any questions, the guard gives him a small smile and nod, pressing a button that unlocks the door to the preschool with a click. Toji’s shoulders slump in relief. They were expecting him. That meant Megumi is still here and safe. 

Toji nods back at the guard in thanks, and rushes down the dimly-lit hallway. He sees a light coming from a classroom that still has its door open, and he slows his steps when he hears a child giggling. His child. 

Then it’s followed up by a beautiful, melodic laugh that makes him stop in his tracks. It’s a lovely sound; one that his heart skips to, and one that gently rings in his ears even plenty of seconds after it stops. 

Toji peeks into the classroom to see Megumi comfortably resting in a pillow fort, and you, kneeling beside a lamp and using your hands to make shadow puppets on the wall to entertain him. “Alright,” you say softly as you rearrange your hands and fingers. “What’s this one?” 

You smile as you watch Megumi hum thoughtfully, and Toji is transfixed by you. Who are you? Where did you come from? Since when did Megumi get a new teacher? Why is your smile so bright and so beautiful that the sun would envy? Why is his heart beating wildly in his chest at the sight of you? Fuck, why is he staring? 

“Ooh!” Megumi gasps as he figures out the animal you made with your hands. “Rabbit!” 

“Correct, great job!” You reach forward and give him a high-five. “I think you’ll really like this next one,” you say, and Megumi giggles again as he sits up, completely focused and ready to guess. “Ready?” You ask, and the boy nods. 

Toji crosses his arms, quietly leans against the door of the classroom, and watches, unaware of the soft smile that creeps onto his face. When you put your hands in front of the light, and the shape of the animal displays in front of Megumi, he squeals excitedly and stands up. “Doggy!” He shouts with a wide grin and pulls up his favorite dog plushie that he takes with him everywhere, imitating the sounds a dog would make. You break out into laughter, and Toji nearly stops breathing so he can fully take in the sound of it again.

Beautiful, he thinks. You’re so fucking beautiful. 

Megumi’s eyes flicker towards the door, and he gasps before running as fast as he can towards Toji. “Papa!” 

“Hey, Megs.” Toji kneels down, hugs the small boy against his chest before picking him up in his strong arms, sighing in relief as he runs a hand through his dark hair. He’s okay, and he doesn’t look too upset that he was here for this long. “I’m so sorry I’m late. Are you alright?” 

“Yeah!” Megumi pulls away, then gestures towards you, who watched the tender reunion with a sweet smile. “Ms. [Y/L/N] played so many fun games with me!” 

“Aw, I’m so happy you had fun, Megumi.” You take a step closer so you’re standing in front of Toji, slightly lifting your head upward to meet his eyes due to his height. “We tried calling you, but your phone went straight to voicemail. Megumi said that it does that sometimes. He took a nap earlier, but I’m sure he’ll be sleepy soon after all of those games. I also gave him dinner earlier.” 

“That’s… I just-” Toji struggles to find words, especially when you slightly tilt your head to the side and blink slowly. He exhales, then snaps himself out of his daze. “Thank you so much,” he says. “Are you new? I swear, I’m not usually this late.” Great. Megumi’s pretty teacher might think I’m just the worst parent on this damn planet. 

You nod. “Yes, I’m new. Today was my first day with this angel,” You use a finger to gently boop Megumi’s nose, and he smiles, shyly burying his face into Toji’s shoulder, “and the other kids. I figured you might’ve been held up at work or something. It’s okay. Things happen. Besides, he’s such a well-behaved kid. I didn’t mind spending this much time with him.” 

Toji places Megumi on the ground, then gently taps his shoulder. “Let’s grab your stuff, okay?” As he helps Megumi pack his backpack, Toji bites back a smile when he sees you watching him out of the corner of his eye. He notes the way you fiddle with your hands and avert your gaze after catching yourself. 

You walk over to your desk and open a drawer, pulling out three suckers from a sealed jar. Once Megumi had all of his things packed, you kneel before him, handing him the suckers one by one. “Here you go. One for you, one for your sister, and one for your dad. I can tell he works really, really hard.” 

Toji doesn’t hide his smile this time; it was impossible, especially when Megumi accepts them excitedly. “Candy! Thank you!” He hugs you gently, and you return it, rubbing your hand up and down his back. “You’re so welcome. Thanks for being so sweet today. You made my first day so fun.” 

A muffled gasp coming from outside has the three of you looking towards the window. Toji sees Tsumiki’s face squished against the glass with her usual, excited smile, and Shiu Kong standing beside her, looking relieved when he sees Megumi safe and sound. He purposely avoids Toji’s glare. 

The sound of Megumi’s small yawn gets his attention, and Toji’s gaze softens when the boy rubs his tired eyes. “Aw, ‘m sorry. It’s past your bedtime. Let’s get you home.” He leans down to pick him up again, and once you have your belongings, the two of you leave the building together. 

When you three make it outside, you face Toji and Megumi. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Megumi,” you say quietly to him, who is slowly beginning to drift off. Then you look up at Toji, who is softly smiling at you. “And I’ll see you tomorrow, too, right?” You ask.

“Yeah, you will.” 

You wave goodbye, and Toji makes sure you get into your car safely. “Hey, Megs,” Toji gently shakes Megumi as he watches you drive out of the parking lot. “Do you know her name?” 

“Ms. [Y/L/N]” 

He chuckles. “No, kid, her first name.” 

“I dunno,” Megumi mumbles before closing his eyes and resting his cheek on Toji’s shoulder. “Sleepy, papa.” 

“Ah, there they are!” Shiu exclaims, and Toji would’ve thrown a punch if his son wasn’t in his arms, and if his seven year-old daughter wasn’t happily skipping towards him. “Hi, papa!” 

“Hi, sweets, how was school today?” 

“Good,” Tsumiki says, then grins mischievously as she points to the spot where your car was just a minute ago. “You like her!” She teases. “You wanna hug her and kiss her and give her chocolates!” 

“Alright, you.” Toji rolls his eyes and laughs softly as he uses his free arm to lift up a giggly Tsumiki, then presses a kiss to her forehead. “Both of you should be in bed. Let’s get home.” 

“Aw, okay.” Tsumiki then leans forward to gently kiss her sleeping baby brother’s cheek. “Night, Gumi.” 

Toji secures both Tsumiki and Megumi in his car, and then faces Shiu, who is smiling nervously. “Well, look at that. Megumi’s doing great and you even developed a crush. How cute. All’s well that ends well.” 

“Very cute, but guess what?” 

“What?” 

Toji finally throws a swift punch at Shiu’s jaw, greatly holding back his strength so it wouldn’t break. Shiu stumbles, then groans, cupping his face with his hands. “Okay, fine, I deserved that.” 

“Damn right,” Toji says as he opens the door to the driver’s seat. “See you later.” 

—

Toji almost never stresses about his appearance in the mornings. After all, it was just dropping off the kids. But this morning, he frets over which shirt would look better with the jeans he picked out, if he should wear a different type of cologne, or if he should slick his hair back. 

All because he’s seeing you again. 

He decides to skip the new cologne and go for his usual, simple one, dresses in a dark shirt to match the jeans, and also ditches the idea of slicking his hair. Once the kids are ready for the day, he leaves early and goes to a coffee shop to pick up a medium cup of coffee. First, he drops Tsumiki off at school, then he takes Megumi to preschool. 

Toji spots you almost immediately. You were out in the front amongst the other preschool teachers, parents and their kids, wearing a gorgeous yellow top and simple blue jeans. When you see Toji and Megumi approaching, you pause your conversation with your coworker and walk over to them. Toji decides that he likes that, and that he loves the way you kneel in front of Megumi to meet his eye level, telling him good morning and asking if he was excited for the day. 

You raise to your feet, Toji hands you the cup of coffee he purchased earlier. “For you,” he says, “As a thank you for everything yesterday.” 

“Aw.” Your eyes light up as you accept the cup. “Mr. Fushiguro, this—” 

“Toji,” he corrects softly, and he ignores the way his heart stutters when your smile grows. 

“Well, Toji, this is lovely. Thank you so much.” 

“I never caught your name last night.” 

You tell him your name, and Toji tests it once. From the way you shyly avert your gaze, he can tell you that like the way it sounds in his voice. Megumi clears his throat, and Toji looks down to see him staring up at him, his brow raised in suspicion. “You never stay this long. Don’t you have to go to work?” 

Damn, kid. Thought we were on the same team. 

You laugh as Toji rolls his eyes and sticks his tongue out at Megumi—a gesture that the four year-old returns immediately. “Well, he’s right, gotta get going,” Toji says, looking back up at you. “I’ll see you later?” 

“Yes.” You nod, then point to the warm cup in your hands. “Thanks again for the coffee. Have a great day at work.” 

“You too.” Toji then gently ruffles Megumi’s hair. “Be good.” 

He doesn’t realize how big he’s smiling until he’s back in the car, and he sighs as he remembers Shiu’s words from the night before. A crush. That word seems so silly. He’s not a teen in high school. Toji looks up just in time to watch you take Megumi’s hand and lead him inside the building with the other children, and he chuckles to himself as he starts the car up.

Maybe “silly” was okay when you’re this pretty.