#Enough so that I woke up and was fully confused and scared as to where I was HELP

[origamiyoda]

Goodmorning everyone ☝️ decidedly maybe I'm not taking that again. Um

[calypsocolada]

RIGHT WHERE YOU LEFT ME | g. tomioka

(this is part two! click here for part one)

synopsis: you left without saying goodbye, giyu needs to know why... author's note: hellllooooo. the reaction to part one of this story was incredible. i cannot thank any of you enough for your kind words seriously. this one is for all of you <3 (psst... to all the swifites, if you can point out two other song references besides rwylm you get a gold star) cw: ANGST (lol like there wasn't enough in the first part), blood, gore, spoilers about rengoku, HAPPY ENDING, not proofread wc: 4.2k

click here for my masterlist

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

There was nothing more frustrating than lack of communication. As much as he wished he could read your mind, as much as he begged and pleaded to deaf ears you were just one hard shell to fully crack open. Though Giyu supposed he was probably the same. But at least he was making an effort. He thought you’d make one too. 

But as Giyu sat cross legged at a Hashira meeting he could meet all their eyes but yours. You didn’t spare him a glance like you spared him your time those few weeks ago. Almost a month and a half now and for some reason Giyu couldn’t stop counting the days, the hours and minutes. 

45 days since you knocked at his door. 

1,080 hours since you grabbed him, your cheeks wet as you pressed your lips to his. 

64,800 minutes since Giyu woke up in the morning to an empty bed. 

It never got easier. Each day was like this stabbing pain in his chest. A persistent feeling of desertion. He’d thought things had changed since that night. The night you cried and cried and kissed and kissed. 

He wrote you letter after letter but no response. Now here you were in the same room, in a room filled with others but Giyu only felt your presence. Like a heightened sense that haunted him so stunningly that he wondered if your lack of attention would actually kill him. As if he overdosed on it once and now he’d never be able to wean himself off you.  

You were so close, only maybe three feet from him but you felt worlds away. Could he have done something wrong? Showed too many of his cards too soon? Scared you off? Sure you reciprocated his kisses, in fact you were the initiator. But when it came to a verbal confession there was nothing for Giyu to latch onto. No words, just your actions. But your actions betrayed you. You treated him as if that night never even happened. For 45 days. It was like torture. To want something so badly, to have it for a fleeting moment then lose it. Giyu was losing it.  

“Mr. Tomioka?” Your voice was like a shot of ice through his veins. Giyu blinked the fogginess from his brain and cleared his throat. Your attention was on him. The room is empty. Giyu hadn’t noticed the meeting had ended. Didn’t notice everyone leaving. 

“Hmm?” He forced out, his eyes sliding to yours. Mr. Tomioka? Even before everything you called him Giyu. But now… you addressed him as though he was some stranger. A room alone, a room with you. He could say what was on his mind finally. 

“Did you pay attention in the meeting?” You asked. Giyu stared at you. You were looking at him. After 45 days of starving for your attention he found himself unable to act normally with it on him now. 

“Hmm…? Oh! Uh— yes…” Giyu stuttered out, feeling hopelessly useless. Feeling utterly ridiculous. 

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.” You said coldly, turning to leave. 

“Wait-“ Giyu stepped forwards. Tomorrow? What was tomorrow? A talk? An explanation for your icy treatment? You turned, threw him a look over your shoulder. It was like you read his confusion. As if you knew he paid zero attention in the meeting. 

“The training grounds near your house. We’ll meet at sunrise.” You said and then your eyes lingered a second before you turned and left. Giyu found himself stuck still even a couple minutes after you left. Like his legs had forgotten their purpose. In fact, those 45 days he’d been right where you left him. A hopeless, nearly broken man. Stuck back in the time he had you. Haunting his house and his training grounds and everywhere he stood. You seemed to have moved on, seemed to maybe have even forgotten about the fleeting moment. Was that all it was to you? A fleeting moment? Maybe even a severe lapse of judgment? Something like that couldn’t have been a declaration of love. Giyu could and had been thinking himself in circles. He wished he said more. Wished he said less. Ran through everything over and over. Replayed it so often the record was starting to skip.    

Giyu tossed and turned all night. He didn’t sleep even a wink. You wanted to talk. Maybe explain things. Giyu knew whatever it was that kept you so far from him he was willing to work through to find a solution. He was willing to crumble your walls. Or wait. If you’d just verbally ask him to wait he’d pause his life forever for you. He’d become a ghost. Time could come and go on for everybody else but he’d wait diligently for you. He’d wait like the moon and chase after you like the sun. If only you’d just give him a damn reason. 

Giyu turned, the moon shining through a crack in his curtains. His eyes drifted to the empty spaces beside him. The same space he’d left empty since you vacated it. With splayed fingers he touched the spot of his bed and willed himself to remember that night. As if he’d ever forget it in the first place. He was restless so he moved out of bed and to his desk. He pulled out a few letters. Some from Rengoku and some from Kagaya. Both with the same topic. Giyus favorite topic. You. 

Giyu carefully slid open the first letter he ever received from Rengoku. He felt a pang just merely looking at the older man’s handwriting. All jagged and loud. He smiled as he reread its contents. 

-

Good morning Mr. Tomioka!

I was shocked to see you had written to me but pleasantly surprised! I am doing well, how’re you? I heard you are well on your way to becoming the next water hashira! How exciting! I know we’ve only met a few times but you have the demeanor of a water hashira. You seem cool and collected! You have a calm voice and although it’s hard to hear you sometimes I still appreciated our talks! About your interest in my tsuguko; she is doing well. She is very fiery. I could see her becoming the next fire Hashira. She sort of reminds me of you in the way she speaks. Though sometimes I can get her to raise her voice and it’s quite adorable. It would be lovely if you visited her. I’m sure she’d love to see you again after you saved her life. But if you’re too busy that is fine, I can always just write you with updates about her. Maybe I can even try and get her to write you a letter sometime! Anyways, Mr. Tomioka, hope this letter finds you well! 

With regards, Kyojuro Rengoku

-

Giyu laughed at the ink splotch on the paper next to Rengoku’s name. It was a common theme in his letters. Probably wrote sort of hard. Giyu carefully closed the letter and opened the last letter Rengoku ever wrote. 

-

Good morning Mr. Tomioka! 

Congratulations on becoming the water Hashira! The other hashira’s seemed sort of bummed you weren’t able to make it to the little celebration but I knew that kind of thing just isn’t your style so I decided to write you this letter instead. I knew you had a fiery streak somewhere in you! We all do! I have a mission coming up and saw that you have one too! I would like for you to let my tsuguko accompany you on your mission! I think she could use a bit of quiet in her life. She’s always go go go! Just like me! But I think you two could get along very very well, Mr. Tomioka! I think she thinks of you fondly. I once asked her about the boy who saved her and I am pretty sure she blushed! Ha-ha! Don’t be disheartened by her cold attitude, as long as she doesn’t verbally attack you that means you might be in her good graces! She’s come a long way, I see sparks of softness in her that I hope you’ll appreciate. She loves miso soup and sweet potatoes, she gets it from me! She loves to read and can’t get enough of the ocean so be sure after your mission to take her swimming. It could be a date! You think I don’t know why you often write asking me about her, right? I’ll pretend I don’t! She’s not much of a talker like you but she listens and remembers everything you say. That mind’s like a steel trap! Please take care of her and I’ll tell her to play nice though I’m not sure she knows how to! Ha-ha! Only kidding. Be safe, Mr. Tomioka and good luck on your first mission as a Hashira! 

With regards, Kyojuro Rengoku

-

Giyu still blushes as he reads the letter. Rengoku knew Giyu’s intentions even though he was sure he was being discreet. He carefully folded the letter back up and as he did a hint of the rising sun peaked its way through his curtains. He sprung up from his seat. He couldn’t be late in meeting with you so he hurriedly got dressed and tumbled his way out of his home. He rounded the corner to the training field and stopped dead in his tracks. 

You were there. 

You were actually there. 

Your sword clutched tightly in your hand as you swung it to and fro, practicing against a ghostly opponent. Giyu watched you. He blinked for a moment and saw Rengoku, in the way you swung your sword, the way you moved, the way your haori flew behind you, like flames licking the air. Rengoku taught you everything you knew and you applied his fighting style with grace and ease. Giyu honestly had never seen you in a battle. And his breath halted as he watched the confidence in your demeanor. Watched the sure way you’d swing, the velocity and speed. The preciseness. You were definitely Rengoku’s tsuguko. In fact, maybe you were even more than that. Almost like his shadow, his predecessor. And you held that title with grace. Giyu almost felt choked up knowing damn well Rengoku was more than proud of you. 

“Just gonna stand there all day?” You asked, your swing coming through to slice clean through a practice dummy. One half falling to the dirt, kicking up dust. Giyu found himself unable to speak once again as you turned. That attention too much to bear. You hiked up your brow and pointed your sword in his direction. “Well, are you ready to spar?”

“Spar?” Giyu echoed as you nodded your head, walking like a predator towards him.

“Where’s your sword?”

“That’s why you’re here?”

“Why else would I be?” You asked, eyes daring him to mention things you clearly wanted to forget. Giyu blinked through the breaking of his heart. He’d never felt pain like this. Never knew someone could ignite such warmth then douse it in icy cold water. He never thought you of all people would stab him clean through. Giyu turned just as his emotions were too much to hide. He walked and grabbed his sword, waited a moment to try and gather his composure before returning back a few feet from you. 

There was something in your eyes. He knew this sight was probably the last thing every single demon that had crossed you had seen for themselves. Eyes like fire, you morphed in front of his eyes into the flames that danced with your techniques. 

You took the first swing, your movement like the flickering. Your strikes felt hot, as if his skin would sear completely off. Giyu controlled his feelings, he pushed them to the side and met your violence of fire with the calmness of water. Metal clanged, and although you’d killed him moments ago with your words you brought him straight back to life with the way you fought. You’d found yet another thing for him to fall in love with. 

Damn you. 

After several minutes passed and one final swing you both stepped back. It was clear it was a draw. Not a single time did someone pull ahead and leave the other in the dust. Each strike was met with an equal block. You two were an equal match. For a moment you two just stared at each other, dripping in sweat, the sun and heat finally rising. You reached up and wiped your forehead with the back of your arm and sighed.

“So it’s a draw.” You said and Giyu nodded his head. A silent moment passed before you pulled your eyes from his and walked to your stuff. Giyu watched. Watched you pack up your things and give a halfhearted wave to him as you walked back towards the road.

“That’s it?” Giyu called out suddenly. He swore he saw you flinch.

“Either Obanai or Shinazugawa will be here tomorrow for the same match.” You called over your shoulder. The cold shoulder you’d given him for so long. 46 days now. 

“That’s not what I meant.” Giyu took a step but you resumed walking. “What did I do?”

“Have a good day, Mr. Tomioka.” You said and the moment you were out of sight Giyu tore off after you. 

-

46 days ago you’d been laying next to Giyu Tomioka. You’d woke up early and in the morning light you could see his face again. He looked at peace as he slept beside you, his arms around you, his breathing light. You reached across the small expanse between you two and tucked his raven black hair out of his face. Giyu moved barely in his sleep and you yanked your hand away, shy as though he’d catch you admiring him. As though you hadn’t just spent the night together. Once he settled you gazed at him. Something, you knew what it was now, bloomed in your chest. Was this something you could truly have? To kill demons and go home to someone like him at the end of the day? Home… what would that even be like? What would that even look like for you? Slowly you sat up in his bed, covers falling from your shoulders, pooling at your torso. 

Everyone you had ever loved died horribly. You felt as though a curse was placed upon you. Penance for the deaths of your family.

Ever since Rengoku had died there was this thought that haunted you. A sort of prophecy you felt had cursed your very being. No matter how many times you thought about leaving Rengoku there was no way to ever go back and board that train with him. No way to deny his request and maybe even save his life. Would you have been useful or would you have been a hindrance? Would your presence have even changed a thing or were you just destined to love and lose? Your eyes flicked to Giyu, face barely illuminated by the sun rising. 

If you stayed in this bed would you watch him die as well? Just the thought made you physically sick to the stomach. You felt like a kid stuffed into a hiding place all over again. A helpless, useless kid.

If you let yourself love him and be with him, the pain of losing him might actually do you in for good. And if you left right now… would that save his life from the curse placed upon you? 

Turns out you're quite self sabotaging after all. And by morning you slipped out of his house, tearing back towards the inn, running with your tail between your legs.

-

“Do I not deserve an explanation?” Giyu called out to you, you'd almost made it to the end of his house. You paused, turning.

“Leave it.” You answered lethargically. 

“Did you even read my letters?”

“What letters?” You asked and when your eyes found his face the utter pain on it made your stomach drop. 

“I wrote to you… many times. Your crow should’ve delivered it to you.” Giyu explained, his face utterly disheartened. You glanced at your crow, who’d been curiously pecking at some bugs in the distance.

“I never received them.” You answered and clenched your jaw. You deserved to see him hurt. The pain you caused him was something you wouldn’t let yourself look away from this time. Giyu haori swayed slightly in the wind, he couldn’t meet your eyes. 

“Tell me what to do.” Giyu says and you blink at him, your brows furrowing. 

“What?”

“I’ll wait. I’ll let dust collect over my life until you wish to have me back.” 

“I don't want that.” You said with a start. You clench your jaw, forcing yourself back into some composure. “I want you… to… go on ahead.” Slowly Giyu raises his eyes to meet yours. 

“What do you mean?”

“I could never feel the same way you feel for me. So I want you to move on.” You said and kept your eyes glued to him as you said it. You didn’t let one smallest ounce of pain show on your face.

“Why?”

 “Because I’m not worth dying over.”

“I’m not worth dying over, Master!” You screamed, pain coursing through you. You watched Rengoku surpass his limits, a demon pushing him far past them. The same demon that had gotten the jump on you moments ago. The man couldn’t hear you. You stumbled forwards, blood dripping from a wound somewhere on your head, the blood getting in your eyes. You stumbled, losing your footing, your sword clattering against the stones out of your grip. “Rengoku, please! Run while you still can!” You screamed, coughing up blood as you crawled towards the fight. Your breathing labored, black ink splotched in your vision. Take me! You thought hopelessly, take me and not him! 

“Y/n? Come on, kid, wake up.” You blinked awake. Your entire body ached, drowsiness threatening to take hold of you. Where were you just now? You must’ve passed out from the pain. “Ah, there she is.” A blurry redness kneeled beside you as you blinked until you could see properly. “You’re awake.”

“Master?” You coughed as Rengoku smiled down at you. 

“Tough battle, huh? You did great out there kid.” Rengoku said proudly. “You mastered a few of those moves I taught you, it was incredible.” He recounts.

“I-- lost.”

“Hush now. That demon was even tough for me to kill. You did the best you could.” He says reaching for you, ruffling your hair.

“Y-you almost died,” You choked out, Rengoku’s hand paused on your head. “I-- Master I don’t ever want to be a burden to you.”

“You are no such thing.” Rengoku admonishes, giving your cheek a sharp and playfully pinch. You gasp in surprise, rubbing your cheek. “You think too dark sometimes, kid.”

“But-- Master… I’m not worth dying over.” You say, looking down. Rengoku grabs you by the chin.

“You don’t get to decide that. I do. And I decided that you’re worth saving.” He looks at you intensely to get his point across. You part your lips to argue but slowly close them. “Now enough of this, we won, let’s celebrate!”

“What do you mean?” Giyu walks closer to you, his voice has an edge to it. A worried and sharp edge. “Are you unsafe?”

“That’s not…” You trail off, unsure how to put your thoughts into words. “I’m giving you an out.”

“I don’t want it.”

“Mr. Tomioka-”

“Don’t. Please don’t call me that.” Giyu lamented, his expression pained. 

“You’d be wise to just move on.”

“I can’t. I won’t”

“You can, you should.” You growled. This reminded you so heavily of the night you stormed out of his house and you two fought in the road. You were pretty sure this was almost the exact same place. You gave an inch that night but you were trying desperately to take it back. No matter how much this hurt it would hurt even more if your curse killed him. You had to remind yourself of that. Of the thing that possessed your life. 

“Give me a reason.”

“My past should be reason enough for you.”

“What do you mean? Speak it plainly for me.”

“It’s obvious. I’m fucking cursed, Giyu!” You hadn’t expected it but ever since that night you cried you couldn’t stop. Every little thing made you cry now it was annoying. You cried when you left Giyu in the morning. Cried in your inn. Cried when you arrived back at your empty house, the taste of miso soup and potatoes wrecking your senses. Years and years of it being stored up and the dam broke. You felt like a little kid but there was no way around it. Maybe if you tried being truthful Giyu would leave. “I hid while my family died and because of it I’m cursed. I thought I could move on. Rengoku was like family to me. I let him in. I trusted him. I loved him. I let my guard down and my curse took him. And I-- I won’t let it take you okay so just do me this favor and let whatever you feel for me die.” You forced your eyes to his. Angrily wiped the tears from off  your face and looked at him intensely. “I am begging you.” Giyu looked at you, his eyes scanning your face. He walked and walked forwards until he was directly in front of you. His hands reached out, ever so gently sliding over either side of your jaw, his thumbs wiping the tears from your face. Deja vu gripped you so intensely. He’d done this same thing before. He leaned close, so close your breath hitched in anticipation of a kiss. But he stopped, mere centimeters away.

“You are not cursed.” He lets his words sink in. His eyes staring ardently into yours. Your breathing stopped, like you’d forgotten how. That dangerous beat of your heart started up again. There’s something to be said about someone that will tear themselves apart just to keep away from the one thing that could make them happy. You were the biggest component of that. It was like you craved hurting yourself. Craved punishment for crimes you never committed. Giyu pressed a kiss to your forehead. “You didn’t kill your parents and you have to stop blaming yourself for it.” His whispers as you pull back slightly, looking as though you’d been slapped. He knew it. Giyu knew you. You looked away but he forced your attention back to him. “They saved you because they loved you. You were a child. There’s no sin in that.” He presses another kiss to your face. You should back up. You needed to back up. You… you couldn’t. Giyu’s arms slide around you and you're pulled against his chest in a tight hug. “Rengoku didn’t die because he loved you, he died saving a world that had you in it.” There were the damn tears again. You closed your eyes as they sting you. “You don’t get to choose who loves you and it’s unfair to make decisions for them.” 

Rengoku’s words rang in your head.

You don’t get to decide that.

“I… I won’t make it if I lose you.” 

“Don’t say that. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you, look at me.” Giyu pulls back, you tilt your face up, eyes meeting his. “If you don’t want to lose me then fight for me, stop running, I’m begging you.” You looked up at him. There was no point in trying to build walls, not when Giyu always knew a way around them. You spent a long time in your own head. For once… you decided to let someone else make the calls. If even your most self destructive ways didn’t scare him off then it’s obvious that no matter what you did you couldn’t scare him off. 

“Alright.” You intoned softly. The utter hope on Giyu’s face was quick to show. “I’ll stop running.” 

“Promise me this time. Promise I won’t wake up and you're gone.”

“I’m sorry. You deserved better.” You breathed out, guilty.

“It’s okay. I forgive you.” He says fondly. You shake your head, eyes rolling.

“You forgive too easily.” Giyu kissed you then. No warning. Just pure want. It was the kiss of someone who’d been counting the seconds you’d been gone. Sickly sweet. Of course he’d forgive you quickly. When he pulled back he pressed his forehead to yours. “Give me your word. That you’ll give us a try.”

“I promise.” You say without hesitation. 

Giyu kissed you again, this time slowly, passionately. He tangled his hands in your hair and you melted. He was going to be the death of you. Though you supposed you shouldn’t think that way. You could settle on him being your near death experience then.

-

When the morning dawned and Giyu opened his eyes for a moment his bed felt empty. He rolled his head to the side and when his eyes fell upon you there was nothing in this world that could’ve been a better sight. He reached and softly tucked your hair out of your face. He pressed a kiss to the top of your head and let his eyes fall back closed, knowing damn well when he woke up again you’d be beside him.

bonus: giyu's letters

-

Dear Y/n,

I hope this letter finds you well. I write to only beg for a moment of your time. If you regret what happened days ago then don't spare me your kindness. I long to know what you think. What you really think.

Please meet me at the training yard in two days time.

Giyu

-

Dear Y/n,

How're you today? I do not wish to bother you, I just need you to know that I care. We can forget whatever you want. I will pretend away the feelings I have if you want. Whatever you want it is yours. Just please write me back.

Giyu  

-

Dear Y/n,

I would like to speak plainly for once. I love you. You don't ever have to say it back, I just want you to know. That's all. I will stop bugging you because you do not owe me a thing. I hope you are well. If you need anything don't hesitate to reach out. I can be a friend. I can be whatever you want. Please take care of yourself.

With love, Giyu

-

[into-fiction]

i promise i did try and make this more like funny/cute or whatever, but my brain switched fully to angst mode for part two. my bad.

anyway! blame @c-rose2081 for putting the idea in my head. here is gelphie as...tiny gelphie?

///

Glinda can’t breathe. 

Glinda? Ga-linda? Galinda. 

Galinda can’t breathe. 

Her thoughts are muddled, her head pounding with confusion as she tries to sort out what’s real. Her adult memories are fading by the second, starting to turn hazy and disjointed, like a dream she can’t quite remember.

The room she’s in is dark and vast, terrifying to her now much smaller self. Tears are dripping down her cheeks, and for the first time in years- Galinda’s first thought is Momsie hates crying. 

“Hey,” a quiet voice calls out. It startles Galinda so hard she screams, jerking away from a shadow by her shoulder. 

“It’s okay! I’m sorry; it’s okay!” 

Galinda pushes her blonde curls out of her face with a trembling hand and blinks up at a girl a few years older than she is, her deep green eyes full of concern. Actually- all of her is green, and it sends a burst of warmth through Galinda’s chest, a tingling sense of fuzzy, happy, overwhelming joy. 

Whoever this girl is, Galinda thinks she must’ve known her. Back when she was big. 

Her brow scrunches. Back when she was big? Galinda is so confused. 

“Y-you’re gween,” she mumbles, finally getting her feet underneath her enough to stand. The other girl winces, leaning away from her with wary eyes. 

“I am,” she says shortly. “I’ve always been green.” 

She seems to be waiting for something else, so Galinda sends her a wobbly smile. “I like gween.”

It’s…her favorite color? Galinda grips the fabric of her skirt with shaky hands. Isn’t pink her favorite color? Who is this girl? Why does she feel so familiar? So trustworthy? So…right? 

Galinda looks around and realizes that their entire surroundings are green as well. All smooth jade walls and vaulted ceilings.

The Emerald City, a little voice in her head says. But Galinda’s never been to the Emerald City before, has she? Her past memories are hidden, a jumbled mess of incoherent pieces that are locked behind a wall of fog deep within her mind. 

But within them, surely, there is lots of green. She- she knows this. She knows this girl. 

“My name is Galinda Upland,” Galinda introduces. She says is slowly, carefully, just the way momsie has taught her. 

The older girl beams at her, seemingly delighted that Galinda isn’t put off by her green skin. “I’m Elphaba. Elphaba Thropp.” She thrusts her hand out to greet Galinda. “Have we met before?”

Galinda shakes her head. Nods. Frowns. Shakes her head again.

“E-elff-aba,” Galinda tries, but she stumbles over the long name. Her cheeks darken as she tenses, her momsie’s voice whispering through her mind. 

Say it right, Galinda! 

But Elphaba just smiles softly, giving Galinda’s hand a squeeze where she’s still holding it. “You can call me Elphie,” the girl says. “If that’s easier.”

Elphie. The nickname sings in her veins, something pushing through the fog in her brain so forcefully that it makes her place a hand to her temple with a wince. It hurts. She doesn’t remember Elphie, but she knows her. She- she-

She loves Elphie. Even though she’s only just met her. She loves her. 

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Elphie asks. 

Galinda shakes her head. “D-dunno how I gots hewe,” she says, sniffling and wiping at her cheeks with her fist. 

“Me neither. My brain feels all twisted around. I think I had the strangest dream.”

Galinda nods, agreeing. Something feels wrong. Galinda was sure when she first woke just minutes ago that she knew where she was and why she was there. But it’s gone now- slipped away like smoke. It scares her that she can’t remember. It feels like she’s missing something important. 

Before they can say anything more, there’s a slam of a door opening, startling both girls as they jump and spin around. On the other side of the green room, a woman strides into view, her white hair twisted up on top of her head, her features sharp and cold as she scans the room and settles on the sight of the two girls. 

She freezes, a slight stumble of her steps. She gapes at them both, eyes widening in shock. 

Whatever she’d been expecting to see, it clearly wasn’t them. Galinda feels her stomach twist, a sick, yucky feeling. Something about this woman terrifies her, the sight of her hair and her face and her sharp heeled shoes making Galinda want to scream. 

Galinda doesn’t remember what she did wrong, but this woman is here to punish her, she just knows it. Panic rises, stealing the breath from her lungs as she reaches out and tangles both her hands in the back of Elphie’s shirt, crowding close to the other girl’s back. 

Elphie seems to take it in stride, standing up taller and pulling Galinda behind her. She glares at the woman as she shakes out of her stupor and stalks closer, looming over the pair. 

“What is the meaning of this?” the woman shouts. “What have you done?!” 

**Part Two. TW: mentions of child abuse & fear wetting**

Galinda’s breath hitches on a sob, tears gushing down her face as the woman towers overhead, screaming. She feels tiny and terrified, her stomach twisting and twisting. Even Elphie is cowed, leaning away from the woman though she resolutely remains in front of Galinda.

“W-we didn’t do anything!” Elphie cries, fear lacing her own voice. 

But the woman is enraged, stomping past them to grab something off the floor that Galinda hadn’t even noticed. It’s a book- strangely built in two different pieces, hinged in between and with pages that glitter with symbols that look nothing like words. 

Everything is so confusifying! Galinda’s brain hurts, and she clings harder to Elphie as the older girl braces herself for the older woman’s approach.

She knows this woman just like she knows Elphie; buried in memories she no longer can access. But where Elphie feels like a warm embrace, this woman feels like the cold slide of fear that accompanies her momsie pointing to the corner. 

Punishment. Galinda shakes harder. Under her hands, she can feel Elphie’s back rising and falling in desperate breaths, nearing hyperventilation. 

The room stinks of fear, the woman stalking over and shaking the book, yelling something about spells and magic and idiot blondes! Galinda can’t quite hear her. Her ears are ringing, body trembling, and before she knows it, before she can stop it, there’s a sudden warmth and wetness that flows down her legs. 

Everything freezes. The woman’s nose curls in disgust. Elphaba spins around to look at Galinda, tearing the blonde’s hands from her shirt. Galinda realizes she’s had an accident and her sobs turn into proper wails. 

“I’m sowwy!” she cries, throwing her hands over her front as though that can hide the growing dark spot. She scrambles backward, the room too big and too open and the woman’s face too mad, and Galinda is in trouble, she knows she is. “I’m sowwy, ‘m sowwy, please, I d-d-didn’t mean to!” 

If Momsie were here, she would put Galinda in the corner. She’d tuck the back of her nightgown in her collar so she could give her a proper spanking and then leave her there, shivering in her soaked clothes until Popsicle came home and saw the evidence of her shame. 

Something about this woman makes her think her version of punishment is even worse. There’s a spark of memory from behind the fog, something that rumbles like thunder and cracks across her skin, lightning hot and piercingly painful. Galinda stumbles and trips, falling to her butt on the cold floor. 

“Ple-ease,” she whimpers, curling into herself. “I be good, I pwomise, please.” 

She repeats herself over and over, babbling on about being good, doing good, she’s so sorry. 

Elphie rushes to her side, small green arms surrounding Galinda as the older girl tries valiantly to glare at the scary woman.  “D-don’t come near!” she shouts. 

She sounds just as scared as Galinda. Her little chest is heaving with fast breaths that never reach her lungs. She’s got her arms spread like she can physically shield Galinda with her body. 

“Y-you can’t hit her, it was an accident!” 

But that’s not how punishments work. Galinda knows that, and she thinks Elphie knows that, too. They must’ve done something wrong. But as the woman advances on them, all she can think is it’s all her fault. 

Galinda did something wrong. And now both she and her new friend are going to pay for it.

(2k continuation of this scene now posted here)

[fallingdownhell]

Heyaaa!

I saw your request is open soo...

Can i request gn reader with Ayato, Kazuha, Diluc, and Kaeya where the reader is pranking them by shouting their full name (since we know their full name) what is going to be their reaction?

Feel free to ignore or decline this request^^

I love this! So much! Thank you for your request<3 Characters Included: Kazuha; Diluc; Ayato; Kaeya Content: gender neutral reader; established relationship; pranking the boys by calling their full names; not proofread yet Word count: 2,6k words Have fun with this one<3

Kazuha

This morning was peaceful, Kazuha thought as he layed in bed, the morning rays of the sun shining in through the open window. He let them warm his body as he slowly woke up more and more from his slumber.

When he extended a hand to feel for your sleeping body next to him, he found the space empty. Cold at that, indicating that you've been gone for a while.

A groan left him, Kazuha hated it when he woke up without you next to him. He'd much rather spend his morning cuddling you in bed than doing anything else.

But then the next moment, the smell of something cooking hit him, and he knew that you were already out and about making breakfast for the both of you.

So, with a sigh, Kazuha decided to get up and get himself ready before heading down to join you in the kitchen.

He got up from bed and stretched his body out first, then headed into the adjacent bathroom. Taking a shower first thing in the morning always felt refreshing to him and it most often than not was the last push he needed to fully wake up.

Once that was done and he headed out of the shower again, Kazuha got dressed and combed through some tight knots of his hair. He was still in the middle of doing so, when suddenly, the silence of the house was interrupted by a shout of his name.

"Kaedehara Kazuha! Get down here!", your voice shoutet and instantly, Kazuha's body froze up. There were a million thoughts in his head, and yet also, not a single one except for: he had somehow fucked up.

The tone in which you had shouted his name sounded mad and if that wasn't a clear indication about your mood, the use of his full name certainly was.

To not make your mood any worse, he hurried to put the comb away and throw the last piece of clothing on while he already hurried out of the bathroom and towards you into the kitchen. He was preparing himself internally for whatever it was that he did that pissed you off so much and already had a million apologies on his tongue.

But, to his surprise, when he got to the kitchen, he found you there, utterly calm as you put the food on two plates for each of you. You didn't even notice him coming in.

"(Name), my love..", he carefully spoke, just in case, but in reality, he was so confused.

"Oh, good. Food's ready!", you look up and smile at Kazuha, which then throws him completely out of loop. He just stands there and stares at you.

"Is something the matter, dear?", you ask him, that smile still on your lips as you sit down at the table. That's when the puzzle pieces fall for Kazuha and he visibly relaxes, letting out a drawn out breath.

"Please, don't do that again, love. I was scared for my life."

You laugh at that, apologizing for scaring him that much. He doesn't really care as long as you apologize with a cuddle session afterwards.

Diluc

Since you moved in with Diluc at Dawn Winery, the time you spend together has improved significantly compared to before, but it still wasn't nearly enough as to what both of you would want it to be.

He still had lots of work to do, managing the Winery, the Angel's Share, and all the business he likes to take over as the Dark Night Hero. Even so, the fact that the two of you are now living under the same roof has changed things for the better.

You know get to see him every morning, since Diluc has made it a point to stay in bed until both of you have to get up for work. You always eat dinner together and he makes an effort to spend every other evening with you. He really tries his best for you.

He even moved his office next to your shared bedroom, so that there aren't too many rooms between you and when you want to see the other, you only have to go into the adjacent room and not wander the entire mansion.

Tonight was a night Diluc had dedicated to his work, which he made you aware of and you were okay with, since you told him that you could use the time to continue the book you were currently reading.

Diluc was hunged over stacks of papers, trying to sort them from most to least important before he went into looking over them. He had worked through a good portion of it already, thinking that he was making great progress. When he looked at the clock on the wall, it told him that it was already almost midnight.

But not to worry. In about an hour or so, he would be done and could join you in bed. Or so he thought. But when he wanted to continue his work after a short break, he suddenly heard you yelling from next door.

"Diluc Ragnvindr!", your voice shoutet his name and he immediately picked up on the tone of your voice. You sounded upset..

Instantly, he began thinking back, trying to figure out what could have made you angry at him. You were fine when he last saw you at dinner, smiling and laughing with him. Then he went to his office afterwards. He couldn't possibly have done or said anything to upset you... right?

His body, that had faced towards the door that lead to your shared bedroom, began to act on his own and he got up and walked over there. Diluc gently knocked on the door, opening it a bit and sticking his head through the gap.

You were laying on the bed, comfortably tucked in and reading your book.

"Everything okay, my love?", Diluc softly spoke up, not sure what to do but he definitely didn't want to make you further upset.

At the sound of his voice, you perk up and face him, a smile spreading on your lips. You place the book down on the nightstand before extending an arm towards him.

"I'm cold. Come cuddle with me." you say in a small pout, which confused Diluc even more. You sounded so mad just now when you yelled his name. Not just his name, but his full name! So why.. were you acting like nothing was wrong?

Still, he complied to your request, his work and papers forgotten for now as he joined you in bed. You made yourself comfortable in his arms, your head and part of your upper body resting on his chest as he began to play with some stands of your hair. Everything was peaceful, but Diluc's mind was still running, trying to make sense of everything. In the end, he decided to just ask you about it.

"Are you mad at me?"

"No? Why would I be?", you asked him, but your voice sounded sleepy already

"Because you were yelling earlier. And you used my full name. Not just my name or a petname. So I thought..", he got interrupted by a chuckle coming from you.

"I'm sorry, baby. I was just messing with you a bit. Just wanted you here to cuddle with you."

A joke... that's what it was. He couldn't help the relief that washed over him hearing that, and the tension finally left his body. He's not mad at you, but please, don't do that again if you don't want him to have a heart attack next time..

Ayato

Being the spouse of the head of the Kamisatio Clan was the best thing that could have ever happened to you. Although Ayato was a busy man with much work, he always made sure to make time for you to spend with him, just the two of you.

Every day, he made that effort, even though this sometimes meant even more stress for him with certain work if he put if off too long. But to him, it was worth it when he did it for you. He's a loyal man in that regard.

One of the downsides to this however, is the fact that this man often times overworks himself without even realising it. Before you came around, it was Ayaka's and Thoma's job - but mostly Thoma's - to take care of Ayato and remind him to take frequent breaks in between.

Now, you like to take over that part for Thoma, taking every chance you get to see your boyfriend, even if it's only a few seconds to remind him of a break or to bring him something to drink with some snacks.

Ayato really appreaciates you doing this for him, smiling every time and stealing a quick kiss before you're gone again. He thanks Celestia each and every day for you being so understanding with his work.

But that doesn't mean that there aren't still days where breaks just aren't possible and he has to power through or else it would never get done.

Today was such a day. Ayato leaned back and let out a heavy sigh as he finally finished with work for today. He has been sitting in this room - his office - the entire day, cramped up and not able to take even a single break. Come to think of it, he was so focused on his work that he didn't even know if you've come in here at all today to check on him. He's sure you did, as you did it every day, but he didn't even notice..

Not to worry. He would simply rest here for a few minutes, trying to come down before he would set out to search for you. Being in your presence was exactly what he needed to recharge some of his engery again.

Closing his eyes and listening to the silence around him, Ayato took a deep breath, calming down more and more the longer he continued to do so. Just a bit longer and he'll-!

"Kamisato Ayato!", a voice suddenly called out his name. And not just any voice, but yours.

His eyes immediately snapped open at the use of his full government name. No cute nickname, nor petname, not anything.

At first, he was too stunned to react, trying to figure out if what he heard was actually real or just something his brain made up. For a few seconds, he sat there and listened to the silence that followed. Just as he was about to relax again, he heard your voice calling him again.

"Kamisato Ayato! Get over here, now!", you shouted for him again, this time your voice sounded a bit more aggressive than before. Now he was certain that this was not his brain playing tricks on him...

Not knowing what had happened but also not wanting to upset you even more, Ayato quickly got up and exited the room. He didn't know where you were, but you sounded rather close, so there weren't too many options available. After looking through some rooms, he found you in the dining room, placing down plates full of steaming food on the table.

"Darling? Are you okay?", Ayato asked as he entered the room, wandering over to you and catching you in his arms, holding your face in his hands.

You smile up at him, circling your arms around his neck and pulling him down for a quick kiss. "Everythings fine. But you've been in there the whole day and dinner is ready so I figured I had to get you out of there somehow."

It then clicks in his head, that you weren't actually mad at him and it was just a trick to lure him out.

"Oh, you little devil~", Ayato smiles down at you, gently poking your nose which made you giggle.

"Hey, it was effective, wasn't it?", you defended yourself and he had to agree with you there. After all, no matter what, you'd always be his top priority..

Kaeya

You and Kaeya had a great relationship going. Both of you had busy jobs but you still tried to spend as much time together as possible. As a rule of thumb, you've come to an arrangement that every other day, one of you would spend the night over at the others place, since you're not living together at this point.

It's worked out great for you two and sometimes, even though you're together, you can still do your own things, and just enjoy each others presence.

Like today, for example.

You two were at your place, both on the couch. Kaeya was sitting comfortable at one end of the sofa, studying over some plans and things he had to look over for Jean for the knights, while you were laying down, head placed on Kaeya's lap while reading a book.

There was a comfortable silence as each of you was doing his own thing, though every now and then, Kaeya would reach down to brush through your hair. You knew he liked to do that as it calmed him down. And you enjoyed it, so no reason for you to complain about it.

However, it was getting late already, the fire also slowly dying down, so you decided to end your book for today. You told Kaeya that you'd go to the bathroom first, so he had a bit more time to study through the plans. He smiled at you and nodded while you headed towards the bathroom.

Kaeya sits there for quite some time, but he's not really focusing on the reports all that much anymore. He's getting tired and listening to the water running from the bathroom, he can't wait to get into bed with you.

So, deciding to leave it be for today, he places the papers down on the table and lets his head fall back to relax a bit until you were done in the bathroom. He wouldn't have minded to join you in there, either...

As he sat there, relaxing and thinking, he closed his eyes for a bit. But the longer he had them closed, his eyes grew heavier and heavier..

He was about to fall asleep, when suddenly..

"Kaeya Alberich!", you voice sounded from the bathroom and Kaeya's eyes snapped open at the use of his full name.

You'd never done that before, not even when you were mad at him beyond anything. What could he have done that could possibly bring out such a reaction in you?

Quickly, he got up and headed to the bathroom where he heard you from, but things weren't adding up for him. Everything was fine until a few minutes ago. You'd never done this, so why now, so suddenly?

There hasn't been any arguments the past weeks, everything was going smoothly. Unless he said or did something genuinely horrible..

But he was pretty sure that he didn't..

But if not, then there was only one other possiblity...

Rounding the corner, Kaeya knew immediately what was up when he saw you standing there, smiling brightly at him, looking like you were quite proud with yourself.

"Yes, my dear?", he asked, smirking as he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Would you be so kind and help me with my hair?", you ask, your voice ever so sweet again, like you didn't do anything at all.

"Of course.", he leads you to the bed and makes you sit and face away from him before he goes to work on your hair, gently tangling out all the knots that had formed in them.

He won't say anything about it or hold it against you, but if you keep doing this over and over again, he might have to come up with something to teach you a lesson not to scare him like that again..

[amelizscribbles]

OK, EXPLAINING DABIS SCARRING because @good-lord-not-books asked

*note these are just my hcs and some medical research

I'm putting this under a cut because it's long as hell, and I apologize in advance for any typos or if it's confusing. I have no problem explaining further♡

His scars are hypertrophic. which 1) explains the discoloration. It's what happens when the smaller blood vessels become partially or fully obstructed with scar tissue. They typcially start off pinkish or light red. (like when he woke up from his coma.)

Typically the treatment for this is laser removal. But if you don't have access the color may naturally shift with age/as it natueally heals. But with continuous damage to the areas.. the scar will get darker as the veins and tissue is further injured (the deeper into the skin and possible muscle it damages)

most hyrpertophic scarring can take a year + to heal. but obviously Dabi just keeps making his worse. The scars themselves are cause by the body over producing collagen for wound healing and not actually being able to break all of it down.

Which leaves collagen fibers in the skin to harden and thicken. Hardened skin doesn't allow much give, lessening the skins elasticity over all. Which can be shown in the way his unscarred skin pulls along the edges where the dermal rings line said scars. (my thoughts on his staples acrually being dermal rings will be at the end)

That's not even going into the nerve damage systemically for him considering hes covered in that kind of scar. So when he says he can't feel a thing it's literal as the nerve endings are shot to shit. And that is only going into skin deep level.

Interal organ nerve damage is a whole other mess due to the scaringbeing from burns. As severe enough burns cause systemic damage. (will also go into atfer the scarring part)

His skin looks TIGHT on him. If he did have and semblance of sensation in his nerves it might feel like hella tight/dry skin. Also I think hypertrophic scars are an inflammation response to the body healing.

His body is literally misshapen from it. (and yes we love him the way he is) You can see in panels where the skin is probably softer where there's lack of muscle definition but can see where it's tighter or pulling over his arms/ shoulders/ribcage because the skins elasticity is non-existent. The instances where it's sifter looking is probably due to his body trying to retain as much body fat it can to keep healthy (or as healthy as it's going to get in his state.)

As far as it going right up to his lower lids and having zero tear ducts. that man has chronic dry eye like it's nobodies business. so itchy and possibly bleeding eyes isn't a shock. he probably has several counts of grand larceny in artificial tears alone.

Ok so as for his scaring being from burns, burns affect the whole body and how it works depending on the severity.

It can effect muscle tissue/muscle mass, bone structure and interior organs.

Given he seems to be perpetually giving himself 3rd degree + burns .. his respiratory system and cardiovascular system are probably shot to shit. Just from smoke inhalation and perpetual injury. (hypertrophic scars fill the veins with scar tissue remember) Assuming how deep the burn and scar tissue goes.

But we haven't seen him with much breathing issues so I'm assuming it's whatever. He has mentioned motion sickness and we've even seen him turning down food. So I can at least go into it's affects on his GI tract.

In the GI tract, burns can result in increased gastric secretions, reduced intestinal motility, decreased nutrient absorption, increased GI mucosal permeability, bacterial translocation and increased intra-abdominal pressure. If it's bad enough he may have ulcers or gi hemorrhaging. Severe burns also cause liver and intestinal damage.

The fact that he's been alive this long is wild if he's been homeless this whole time and just committing small crimes to not die. One thing that irritates me is when people think he would be incredibly unhygienic due to the scars and such.

Like do you understand how CLEAN you have to keep burn injuries to keep them from getting infected?? Even if it's layered over already damaged and scarred skin. He might smell like burnt flesh but I doubt he's letting wounds fester.

Yes he could probably just cauterize himself but that's still just burning burn wounds. Especially with 0% health insurance. I always assumed he kept breaking into the Todoroki family home when he knew no one would be there to do basic things to make sure he didn't die on the street over the years.

Quick add on to my thoughts on his staples just being dermal rings to homd his skin together/as a form of human Kinstugi.

They (the rings) are pretty rounded in the manga, surgical staples aren't nearly that large either so I always assumed human Kinstugi regardless of metal color (between manga gold or anime silver) and it was both decorative and necessary for his skin.

I just assumed wherever the rings weren't, it was just spots he couldn't reach.

it's also shown in the manga that he's adjusting/adding more along his scars.

als, in case anyone is unfamiliar with the term Kintsugi, it's this

Kintsugi (Japanese: 金継ぎ, lit. 'golden joinery'), also known as kintsukuroi (金繕い, "golden repair"), is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The method is similar to the maki-e technique. Its the Japanese philosophy that the value of an object is not in its beauty, but in its imperfections, and that these imperfections are something to celebrate, not hide.

which I think suits his character very well when his piercings and dermal rings are gold looking in some of the colored manga art.

ok, I'll shut up now, ♡

[jeansplaytoy]

habits aot guys have after a breakup.

includes: Connie, Reiner, Levi, Eren, Armin. (angst? sorry bb), language, lowercase wording.

so sorry if it’s too short! if this one gets kind of popular like my last head cannon did, I’ll continue doing them.

eren never wanted to admit it, neither did he wanna show it, but he missed the hell out of you. he missed the way you talked to him, looked at him, but sometimes he just does shit that makes you not wanna stay. which is why you didn’t. that’s why he’s always cursing at himself when he’s sitting on the bathroom counter, right before getting in the shower, waiting for something. but what’s he waiting for? he’s waiting for you to rush in the bathroom, explain why you’re late, and calm your nerves while taking a hot soak with him. as he looked around the bathroom, frowning, confused. “where the fuck…” he cut himself off right before pausing and exhaling, remembering that you weren’t there, and he had no reason to wait for you anymore. ever. he licked his lips before scratching his head, feeling almost frustrated at the feeling of guilt and shame. “fuck.” he whispered before grabbing a towel and hanging it above the shower curtain. it was gonna be his first shower in a long time that didn’t involve you in it, and it was gonna be the death of him.

now armin hated the fact that you two were done. he didn’t fully know why you broke up, but when you said that you needed a break from relationships, or him specifically, it rushed through his head with every thought, almost literally over flowing his brain. he wasn’t rude, or sensitive about it, but he was quiet about it. he never really liked mentioning it when someone asked. so as he thought about it, he laid down, finally trying to get a few hours of rest. he put his phone down, eyelids finally getting heavy. he lazily turned over, reaching his arm out and closing his eyes before his arm dropped. he flew up and looked at the spot you usually laid in. and of course, you weren’t there. armin tucked his lips in between his teeth and grabbed the pillow that you used to lay your head on. he still hasn’t washed it. he doesn’t want to. he put his arm over the pillow and moved it closer towards him. at least it was a little part of you. that’s what he told himself before he drifted away into sleep, an unintentional tear leaking down his eye as he did.

now sort of like eren, levi would never admit he missed you. like, ever. he didn’t talk bad about you, or didn’t specifically talk about how he didn’t miss you, but he would never just openly say it. and when someone rarely asked him if he did, he’d just shrug his shoulders and act like nothing ever happened. that’s what happened the day before he woke up, brushed his teeth, went downstairs with heavily low eyes, and walked into the kitchen, grabbing cups, and pouring coffee. he inhaled a little, about to lazily say your name, loud enough for you to hear it so that you’d go downstairs in a blanket and grab it. but that’s only until he noticed that he wasted one more cup of coffee for nothing. he was confused at first, because it was something you did every single day. he sighed, taking one cup and pouring the drink into the sink. “what a waste.” he muttered to himself while cleaning the cup and putting it in the cabinet. he grabbed his cup of coffee and started to drink up, only imagining that you were there with him, snickering and giggling at his mean facial expressions.

connie didn’t care. he didn’t care who asked, when they asked, how they asked, he’d always nod. he wasn’t scared to admit it when everyone knew it was true that he wanted you back. it was no one’s fault you’d broken up, you two just needed space. or, what he’d like to say, you just needed space, because “how the fuck could I ever leave her for this long?”… yeah. you were always on his mind, 25/8, he thought about you. I mean, nothing had changed when you’d left except for your presence and his feelings and actions towards people. so he thought about you as he walked into the mall. his hands in his sweat pants pockets as girls looked at him while he passed by. that was what you liked the most. that everyone wanted him, but couldn’t get him, because you were his. you were his. he looked at a new pair of Nikes that had came out, instantly searching for your size, like he normally did. he quickly turned around, preparing to tell you to get the shoes, because you two were gonna be matching, considering you’d literally had every matching pair of shoes you liked. but he frowned before turning back around to look at them. you’d always said you wanted them too. “fuck, bro.” he whispered before scratching the back of his neck and walking out of the shoe store. it was too bad that you wouldn’t even get to be his “mini me” anymore. hm.

reiner tried to play it off. he always did, hes reiner. anytime someone would ask, “do you miss her?” he’d respond with a straight up “no.” and it was almost an everyday routine with the amount of guy friends he had, and the amount of females that constantly flirted with him. he didn’t like them though, hell no. he despised them, not only because their only conversation starter would be about you, but because they weren’t you. and they would never compare to you, or be you. that’s what he told himself every time he was close to kissing another girl, that he pictured was you. and after the last awkward interaction with a girl like that, he drove home. leaning back, one hand on the steering wheel and another hand that his face was resting on. after a few minutes of silence, almost like how every argument ended, he reached his hand over to the passenger seat, but feeling air on his hand. he sat up and glanced over, seeing nothing, before fixing his eyes back on the road. he bit his lip. he was pissed at himself, for making you feel the way you did, when you did. for making you leave the way you wanted, when you wanted.

[aettuddae]

hole in one — chapter 119.

⌕ synopsis: at one of the most prestigious universities in the country, where everyone is battling to be the center of attention, yu jimin is just a regular. people want her because of her beauty, but all she cares about is sharing her freaky stuff with her friends and passing her subjects. although there's one thing that might push her out of her comfort zone, revenge. when nakamura kazuha, one of the richest and most well-known students of NCU, starts to spread gossip about her for thousands of followers to see, jimin decides to get back by taking away the thing kazuha cares about the most: her perfect girlfriend, the young golf star, kwon haru.

masterlist | prev | next

[written chapter]

the door of karina's apartment was being brutally banged on, a violent and desperate demand to be opened.

the owner of the house was suddenly roused from her sleep by the noise. she sat up in bed, pulled back the blankets covering her and proceeded to climb out of it. dazed and in distress she searched for the robe she usually wore during her sleeping hours, but not finding it, she simply took a hoodie, belonging to haru, which hung from the foot of her mattress and then she threw it over her head, wearing it on top of her pajamas.

she took quick steps through her hallway and living room, running her hands through her loose hair to try to tidy it up so it wouldn't look chaotic when she met her guest, whoever it was. she turned to look at the clock that decorated one of her walls, it was barely 7:45 in the morning.

she grabbed the doorknob and finally opened the door, causing the knocking to stop. there, standing, was haru.

"hello, baby." mumbled the younger girl, still not fully aware of her surroundings.

she stretched her arms out in front of her and took a step forward. the sleep she felt blinded her ability to reason, so she had quickly forgotten about the aggressiveness with which haru woke her up.

just before she could hug the older girl, this one raised her own hands and used them to push jimin's. this act did wake her up more, causing her, confused, to start looking for answers to the refusal of contact in haru. it was then, as the girl entered her place without a word, passing her coldly, she could see that she had tears streaming down her cheeks and puffy, reddish-colored eyes.

"haru, what happened?"

kwon paced around the room as she gasped and cried, trying to decide what she should do. finally, she sat down on the couch, right on the edge, placing her hands on her thighs, staring at the television that was turned off, unable to calm herself.

jimin closed the door behind and ran to sit beside her, sliding her arms around her waist, and resting her cheek on her shoulder.

"what's wrong, haru? why are you like this? you scare me." she caressed up and down her back comforting her, the sadness of seeing her favorite person in such a state painting her voice.

"kazuha texted me." haru commented, her voice trembling and her eyes still lost.

"when?" karina raised her head, puzzled, and waited for an explanation to what she had just heard.

"a few hours ago, when i left from here." she rubbed her pants nervously.

"what did she want?"

"she..." remembering the conversation she'd had with her ex, she couldn't help but feel miserable again. "she..." she tried to finish the sentence, but the tears interrupted, welling up even stronger and more abundant, bringing with them an anguish that blocked her throat.

she lifted her hands from her legs to replace them with her elbows, then brought them up to her face to cover it with her palms and lean on them. seeing that reaction, karina tried to hold her tightly, but haru suddenly stood up.

she watched her, contemplating what she should do. kwon, again, began to move around the place as she had done when she first arrived. the air in her lungs seemed not to be enough and kept running out from time to time, so the girl desperately sought to get new oxygen into her lungs, but it was difficult for her to carry out that mission when she could not stop the water leaking from her tear ducts.

should she go comfort her even if she kept pushing her away?

"baby, what did she say to make you get like this?" she raised from the sofa. "you can tell me, yes? i'm going to help you, you know you can trust me." she stepped closer.

"no, i can't trust you." she dropped her arms to both sides of her body and stopped in place.

"what are you talking about?" jimin furrowed her eyebrows, not understanding haru's words.

"kazuha texted me today." she took a big breath of air, her pupils moving frantically to evade contact with her. "she found minhyuk."

"oh, that's great." she tried to lighten the mood.

"he was at a club on the outskirts of town, very drunk." she explained, calmer, but without spirit. "she picked him up and drove him to his apartment. then, texted me to let me know he was okay." she added.

"haru, i'm glad, but i don't understand, what's the part that has you so upset?" she asked disoriented.

"what minhyuk told her." she replied simply, then bit down hard, tensing her jaw from the anger she felt.

jimin was silent, in her mind analyzing all the things that maybe minhyuk could have said and had this repercussion on haru.

had he tried to flirt with kazuha? she didn't remember minhyuk being bisexual. what if it had something to do with that time they fought? but it had been months. did it have something to do with the boy's mental stability? but it didn't make sense for him to confess it to kazuha.

there was something in the back of her mind that tickled her, a vague idea of something minhyuk knew and could have confessed. but no, it couldn't be...

could it?

"what did he say?" she questioned cautiously, with some fear. it couldn't be that.

"look, kazuha..." she took a second to choose her words. "i know kazuha well." she nodded her head, reaffirming herself. "she only goes out to the club's or college parties, she's a jock after all, she has to take care of herself." her hands were shaking. "an hour trip to a club, on a wednesday... i know she went looking for something."

she pressed her lips together tightly against each other, and let her eyelids fall. the feeling that had plagued her now for a couple of hours, returned. she felt used, ridiculous, she felt anger, but most of all disappointment. it was like a broken faucet, which every now and then dripped again. she couldn't contain herself every time she remembered what had brought her to that place.

"and i'd like to be upset with her, in fact, i am, but i can't focus on that feeling," her chest heaved again. "because what she got is worse."

somehow, karina had confirmation that it was exactly what she imagined.

"does it have anything to do with me?" her words came out, but barely, she was intimidated to speak.

"what was the plan?"

jimin felt like she could die at that moment. she didn't quite understand how love worked, since this was the first person to awaken that feeling in her, but she could realize how painful the possibility of losing it was, that uncertainty that was hidden there underneath all the affection, all the kisses.

call it uncertainty, call it guilt.

jimin felt like someone was grabbing something that was hers, something she loved so much, that belonged to her to the point of feeling like another limb of her body, and was taking it away from her. she could run after it, but could she really be sure that she would catch it and make it stay?

above all, jimin felt responsible for instigating that possibility. perhaps if she had fallen in love with haru under different circumstances, love would have presented itself to her in a sweeter, less dark way. and that fell on the way she had met haru.

"the plan?" she reiterated to make sure, though it wasn't necessary.

"what was the plan you had against kazuha, karina?" she inquired frantically.

from princess to karina.

"haru, i-"

"what was the damn plan!?" she shouted in desperation.

"the plan..." now she was the one who was erratic, tears beginning to wet her cheeks. "what do you know?"

"that you and seungkwan entered the club with a plan to take revenge on kazuha." she clarified. "i want to know what the plan was." she continued, clearly annoyed. "and i hope you are honest because now i know that you haven't been."

"haru-"

"jimin!" she exclaimed, tired of the diverting to the question.

"when she started shit-talking about me, it bothered me so much that i wanted to get it back to her." she lowered her head in embarrassment. "with the guys we thought about what thing could pain her enough to regret hurting me," she swallowed hard to fade the knot that bothered her as she spoke. "and, sorry, but kazuha is so shallow and boring that we couldn't find anything." she took a moment to speak again, terrified. "except for one thing," she pointed her finger at the older. "you."

"and what does that mean?" haru couldn't think straight, she was too upset and sad, all her sentences were laden with hysteria and anger. "what did the plan have to do with me!?" she vociferated so loud that jimin thought the neighbors would hear.

"i had to make you fall in love." she admitted, raising her head and daring to make eye contact with the golfer. "i had to make you see how bad kazuha is and then make you fall in love with me, so you'd break up with her."

haru's attitude unraveled, leaving her stoic, mouth and eyes hanging in disbelief. she was frozen. how did she never see what was happening?

"but haru, after kazuha had me expelled, i was so scared of what she might do to me that i never resumed the plan, i swear. everything that happened after that had nothing to do with me." karina tried to explain, defending herself, the things she was saying coming fastly from her lips. "the relationship you and i have is not because of the plan, i never really carried out that idea." she took hurried steps towards her partner and took her clothes between her hands, intending to pull her closer, then rested her forehead against hers.

kwon didn't move, she stood for a moment static, taking in what she had just heard. until she pulled herself together, if only enough to move away from the girl.

"your intention was to use me to get revenge." she realized, still in shock.

"i know it sounds horrible, haru." she shook her head exaggeratedly, a mess from the flurry of emotions she was feeling. "but i didn't, i never carried out any part of the plan that included you." she ran her hands through her hair, pushing it back nervously. "you and i got along from the beginning, i realized that you are a person with a beautiful soul and if we got to where we are now it's because we actually care for each other, not because of the plan, our bond never had anything to do with the plan."

"sure, karina, but funny how everything went just the way you wanted it to!" she started walking across the room, heading down the hallway.

"that wasn't my fault, haru! i swear to you that after the expulsion i gave up all idea of the plan." followed the girl quickly. "kazuha was annoyed by me and that unleashed a lot of horrible events." she entered her room behind her. "i didn't do anything to make her act like that, if you realized what kind of person she was and broke up with her, it was her fault." she stopped in the middle of the room. "what are you doing?" she noticed as haru paced the room looking for something.

"there are things of mine in your apartment." she said casually as she opened the closet.

"haru, wait." she hurried toward her. "haru." she hugged the girl by the waist from behind, and when she had her in her grip, she gently pulled her back. "don't go, please leave your things where they are." sadness flooded her plea, she was hopeless.

"i don't want to have my things in your space, karina." she removed her hands from her body.

"stop calling me karina!" she demanded despondently.

"i never imagined you'd be able to do such a thing!" she turned to look at her sharply. "so i clearly don't know you."

"you and i are never going to be strangers." jimin took her cheeks between her fingertips tenderly. "you are my haru and i am your princess."

"by what argument do you define that?" she said expressionlessly. "if all we have is on the basis of lies." she removed her face from the girl's hold and continued to rummage around the room.

"no, haru, you and i really adore each other." she disapproved. "the reasons we met weren't honest, but what we have is." she reiterated. "as i told you, your breakup with kazuha wasn't my doing, it was just a result of what a bad person she is-"

"stop talking about her like that!" she ordered, again raising the volume of her voice. "in the end, you're not much different from her."

"you defend her?" she questioned astonished.

"she's my ex-girlfriend to whom i devoted years of my life." said nonchalantly.

"and just because she was your girlfriend i can't point out she's a bad person? the person who almost ruined my future, who spread shitty rumors about me, who physically attacked me? that person i have to respect, just because you were with her?" the annoyance displaced for a moment the pain inside her.

"kazuha is and did many terrible things, i know." she looked at karina seriously. "but she loved me and would never have intended to use me the way you pretended to." she threw on a chair next to her some clothes she had collected. "and now that i know what your true intentions were, i would have preferred you not to appear in my life."

her body looked listless, as if she needed to pass out to regain the strength that this discussion had drained from her. somehow she felt that the energy inside her was being returned to jimin, who was providing it. as if little by little the panorama that captured her vision was fading, and with it something inside her body. from colors to monochrome.

"kazuha is terrible. but i was fine, we had something good, and if i had never realized what she was really like, maybe i would have continued to have that one good thing, and i wouldn't be feeling the pain i'm feeling right now." she pressed her index finger against her chest, emphasizing her words. "so congratulations, jimin, your plan went well,"

the younger girl grimaced in displeasure, angry at haru's stubbornness to keep stating something she had already denied several times. but she understood, that was the worst part, that she understood why haru couldn't believe her.

"you managed to make me realize who kazuha is, but consequently you only proved that you are not the angel i thought you were." she acknowledged, anguished and disappointed. "you wanted to use me and you lied just to get revenge. if you ask me, that's something kazuha would do." she accused. "so how different are you really from her?" she took the clothes she had left earlier and a few other items and headed for the door.

"haru, i love you." karina declared, causing the older woman to stop before stepping into the hallway. "i love you deeply, and i know i did things wrong, but my love for you is genuine, it doesn't stem from any lies or plans." she ran to where she was standing. "please don't go."

from behind her, she searched her eyes, only managing to catch a peek of her cheekbone, but she still looked at her pleadingly. haru didn't turn around one bit, she didn't dare to look her in the eye, not after she told her she loved her and was begging her to stay. she knew she wasn't that strong, that if she saw those brown orbs in which jimin kept all the stars from the sky, she wasn't going to be able to refuse. karina took the golfer's shirt between her fingers, frantic about any kind of contact that might hold her in place, but not daring to touch her like she usually did.

"if you let me, i will win back your trust and show you that what i feel is real. i will prioritize our relationship, i will prioritize you." she promised expectantly.

"karina," she named, still not daring to turn back to her. "regardless of whether you went through with that stupid plan or not, whether you completed it or not, nothing changes that you intended to do it, and lied to me about it." she detailed, vacantly, monotonously. "i don't think i'll ever trust you again." she sentenced.

haru moved forward, jimin's minimal grip on her loosened, and she continued on her way to the exit. the younger girl was unable to move, falling to her knees on the floor after hearing the front door close. she leaned against the frame of the entrance to her room, hugged her legs to her body and held herself as she got lost in her cry.

she didn't even imagine that in the hallway, just outside her apartment, haru was also standing with her forehead pressed against one of the walls, covering her face that was bathed in tears.

(!)

— taglist: @runawaymazola @chaenniefirst @livelaughchoerry @rinapomu @jeindall777 @petruchiosstuff @winieter @sewiouslyz @yvesismywife

[thequeenofthedisneyverse]

Eury lives au/ Eury x Poseidon (+ Amphitrite because I didn't know she existed until three days ago)

Inspired by @/anerdyrat Circe! (Not really Circe is still there) Eurylochus au and @/caramellcandy villain au!

Amphitrite's parts will be highlighted in blue so you can just skip the rest.

Say, Eurylochus actually survived the lightning blast and Poseidon just takes him in. Mostly to manipulate him into being on his side and go against Odysseus. Turns out, it wasn't all that hard. For the first three days, Eury was in and out of consciousness due to the lightning blast colliding with his head and body three days before.

Poseidon had his maids tend to the new lightning scars and just care for him until he woke up.

When he fully gained consciousness, he was confused as to where he was. At first, he thought he was dead, but he remembered the underworld didn't have ocean themes or dark blue marble floors and walls...gasp! It was fairly hard for Eury to move due to his body still being in aching pain. The farthest he got was outside of his new room where he was met face to face with Poseidon himself.

Amphitrite comes into the mix by just humoring Eury's existence. She won't take him away because she knew Poseidon didn't want that. But she'll talk to him and make sure he's okay. Plus she'll stay with him if Poseidon is gone for a certain amount of time.

She is a caring woman by human standards at least, but she has no intention of stopping Poseidon from drowning Eury's best friend. That's none of her business, Plus, Eury's said best friend killed her husband's son. She, in that regard, has no say in the matter.

It's obvious Poseidon is grieving but he won't acknowledge it like he should.

Eury felt as if he should be scared but...he was unsure why. His memories were a jumbled mess. Poseidon figured this when Eurylochus showed no anger towards him or that much fear. Just uncertain curiosity.

But just to be sure, he asked Eury the last thing he remembered (while seeming like a concerned god). Attempting to remember anything put strain on Eury's head...then he remembered.

Storm, lightning, a man with long brown hair and a beard...pointing at him. Then a sharp stinging ball of light hit...then nothing else. What was that man's name?

Oddy? Esseuss? Odysseus? Oh, gods that name gives him a migraine and makes him anxious. And does he feel...sorrow...when he thinks about it? This person?

So, from Poseidon's perspective...he's someone he can use (or a way to pass the time lol). Bend his memories to make him think EVERYTHING was Ody's fault (it kind of was but tomatoe tamatoe) and make him seem more like a monster than he is.

They get to know each other for the next seven years, some of Eury's memories come back but not happy one's. Never happy one's. The only good memory or feeling he got was when a certain name came up in his hand when he saw a red curtain.

Polites.

But even that brought a horrible memory of the cyclops and his friend...well...dying. Well, the memory is still choppy, but he can put two and two together.

Of course, when Eury has traumatic memories coming back, Poseidon is there to comfort him. At first, his comfort held no real emotion or care behind it...until he genuinely started to fall for the mortal. Which he hates by the way. How the fuck did that happen?!

For the first three years he tried not to acknowledge it, to keep his distance from the mortal. But those pretty "siren" eyes, genuine curiosity, genuine kindness, personality and care from Eurylochus somehow chipped away at his ruthless and cold heart over time.

The next four years he couldn't help but get closer and be more tender and caring towards Eury. And vice versa for Eurylochus.

Amphitrite grew to care for Eury too but more in a friendly way. They are the type of friends that talk or gossip from time to time. Nothing more. She's rather fond of how, despite having amnesia, he still has a worthy enough personality to be around.

Poseidon stops bringing up Odysseus seeing as it only hurts Eury (and he doesn't like talking about him either). He stops bringing up anything that has to do with Eury's passed in general and focus on the present.

Eurylochus isn't at all aware of Poseidon wanting to kill Ody until after he comes back bandaged up. And only weeks after that was, he really told what happened.

Amphi (that's her nickname to me) doesn't mind Poseidon's "relationship" with Eurylochus but there is some mild concern by how...odd it is.

I would like to point out that that their relationship isn't healthy. Eury is entirely dependent on Poseidon because he needs him for everything. Food, shelter, sometimes physical movement and "human" interaction and touch.

Poseidon is aware of this and keeps him inside by telling him how horrible the world is. Why? Well, for one, he's lonely and...that's about it. He grew an attachment to Eury and therefore doesn't want to let him go.

Now, Poseidon isn't like his brother, Zeus. He's not going to force himself onto Eurylochus in any shape or form (the man is already in physical pain most of the time, why in Olympus's name would he do that?). But still, he's keeping Eurylochus isolated.

Eurylochus doesn't really believe Poseidon too much but...he's a god. He may have amnesia but he's aware that he can't go against the will of a god. So, if Poseidon wants him there...he'll stay.

[phoebepheebsphibs]

Keep Your Enemies Closer

@boots-with-the-fur-club @tmntaucompetition

Prev | Next

"What do you mean, removed?" Julia gasped.

"Baudrey and Chaplin have been dealt with by your ward, MBU Michelangelo," AudreyTello explained cooly. "Don't worry, he was careful. No one was hurt... badly."

AudreyTello invited himself inside, sitting down at the countertop and crossing his legs nonchalantly, an attempt to look at ease and at home.

"Now, shall we get to business?"

"What business could you possibly want with us?" Julia asked, an arm held out instinctively to protect LeonAudro.

"It is my family you're dealing with," AudreyTello reminded her, sickly-blue eyes glancing over to his twin. "I should think that's reason enough."

"How do we know we can trust you?" Julia questioned.

"An excellent question," AudreyTello hummed. "To which... I have no answer. I know you, and your hesitation. And you know me, and what I am capable of. I doubt there's any way you could fully trust me, correct?"

Julia opened her mouth, then closed it. AudreyTello watched her, blank and emotionless. He didn't move, didn't speak, simply stared at her, his eyes digging deeper and deeper into her mind until she could almost hear his voice in her thoughts. She diverted her gaze, looking over at Leo. He was at a complete loss for words, staring blankly at AudreyTello, his silly little jester outfit making the situation twice as awkward. Leo stepped around her arm and approached his brother, studying him carefully.

After a moment of silence, AudreyTello sighed and rolled his eyes.

"I knew it. You don't trust me."

"...I'm not sure yet," Leo replied quietly, crossing his arms.

"Hmm. I see. Not the best of circumstances, but I'll make due with whatever I can get."

AudreyTello hopped off the counter and turned his attention to the bedroom.

"I don't suppose you'd let me see our other partner in crime, hmm?"

"Mikey?" Julia whispered. "You're here for Mikey, is that it? The giant mushroom wants to take him away?"

"I'm here for my family," AudreyTello corrected. "Which means Mikey, yes. But also..." He turned and smiled at Leo.

Leo's eyes flashed blue momentarily before returning to white. He swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and noddedd.

"He's in the other room sleeping," he sighed.

Julia reached for Leo, wondering why he was being so open if he didn't fully trust him yet. Her hand floated over his shoulder, pausing after recalling what would happen if she touched him. Would he still show her images of fear and pain? Or was that only when he was in a panic?

She let her hand fall on his shoulder.

There was a small misty memory, something she could barely make out. It was fading fast, reflecting Leo's panic subsiding. The memory was of what seemed to be Leo, waking up in the competition, in the cave where Audrey III rested. But when Leo woke up, he was alone. Julia could barely make out his scared voice calling out 'Donnie? Where are you?' before the hallucination vanished completely, and Leonardo stepped out from under her touch.

Leo went forward and took AudreyTello by the arm, dragging him into the other room. The disaster twins went in quietly, and Leo closed the door behind him.

"Okay. What do you really want --"

"Is that him?" AudreyTello asked with incredulousness.

Leo glanced around AudreyTello. He was staring intensely at the sleeping figure of their baby brother, his expression shifting between confusion and horrified recognition. Either way, he was shocked. Leo softened and took his spored twin by the hand, gently leading him to the bed and placing his palm against Mikey's forehead.

AudreyTello flinched, almost worried that something would go wrong somehow. Slowly, the blue drained from his eyes, leaving half-lit irises and pupils. He exhaled deeply, as though he held in some deep breath he'd been unable to release for months. He leisurely turned his head to look at Leo, a new clarity in his gaze that told him it wasn't AudreyTello looking at him. It was Donnie.

"Welcome back," he whispered.

"Leo?" Donnie asked, unsure what had happened. "What... where...?"

He heard a soft mumble and glimpsed back down at Mikey's face. He was smiling in his sleep, gently nuzzling Donnie's hand. Donnie began to stroke his forehead and the bridge of his beak with his thumb. He could almost swear he heard Mikey purring. Donnie teared up, bright neon blue tears leaking out and dripping onto the nest of vines Mikey was wrapped up in.

"You good?" Leo asked, even though he knew what the answer was going to be.

"I'm... tired," Donnie sighed. "Audrey III didn't exactly let me sleep. You remember how it is."

Leo leaned over and hugged his brother. Donnie gave another long and lengthy exhale as he buried his face into Leonardo's shoulder. Leo let him lean against him for a few minutes, silent tears staining the sweater Julia had knit him. He knew he should let Donnie be, let him rest a bit and regain his bearings, but they needed answers. He pulled away just enough to get a good look at Dee's face. It was tired, thin scars from the vines under his eyes replaced by dark circles. He was thin, hunger-pang frame with a dazed look in his eyes.

"What's the last thing you remember?" Leo asked.

Donatello sighed and shrugged, his posture making him look more like a mutant shrimp than a mutant turtle. He really was exhausted.

"I dunno... I remember you and a conversation about Mikey, Raph, and spore immunity..."

"That was weeks ago," Leo whisper-hissed. "You disappeared after you made your theory about the spores not being as strong. What happened?"

"I... I think I fell asleep," Donnie mumbled. "Had a nightmare or something. It was scary enough that Audrey regained control." He chuckled softly, a dry and resigned laugh that said he was not at all having a good time. "Weeks, huh... no sleep for weeks."

"So... you've been awake this whole time? Have you eaten at all?"

Donnie murmured incoherently and shook his head, more tears pouring from his eyes as he attempted to remain professional and mature. It was hard.

"...How did you get me back?" Dee whispered.

"I think that was Mikey," Leo explained. "A similar thing happened to me when I saw him, although I was already despored."

Donnie looked Mikey over.

"Oh. I wonder how..."

"Ninpo, maybe?" Leo offered. "He always was the most magically-inclined of us. And the family glue, let's be honest."

"...I forgot about the kidnapping," Dee rasped. "I forgot he looked like --"

"I know, I forgot too," Leo cut in, knowing Donnie wouldn't be able to finish the sentence. "Don't feel too bad about it, he's been having his own memory issues."

"Will he recognize me when he wakes up?" Donnie managed to croak out, his eyes glazing over from exhaustion.

"I'm sure he will," Leo nodded, taking his brother by the hand. "Come on. You need some rest."

Donnie didn't argue, but simply stumbled behind Leo as he laid him down next to Mikey. Dee sluggishly wrapped his arm over Mikey, who in turn rolled over and hugged him. Within seconds, Donnie had passed out.

Leo watched over them for a moment, sorting through his thoughts. He wanted to trust Donnie. He really did. He'd been on his own in this competition ever since he'd come out of the spore's control. No one trusted him, everybody thought he was just going to torture them -- and he didn't blame anyone for feeling that way. Donnie had gone missing weeks ago, and Mikey had his own thing happening beyond them. He still hadn't seen Raph this entire time, which was unnerving for multiple reasons. One big reason was that his older brother being missing while also under the control of a mind-manipulating monster was a little too familiar. So yeah, Leo needed someone to stand beside him more than ever right now. And he wasn't sure if Donnie could be that person.

The timing was just... uncanny. Right when Baudrey and Chaplin get busted by MBU Michelangelo, AudreyTello shows up? A pretty big coincidence. What if this was just a trap? Or a con? What if --

Leo flinched as he realized he was doing the same thing to Donnie that everyone had been doing to him. He laid his head in his hands and wrestled with his heart. He wanted to trust Donnie. He wanted his brother back. He did not want to be afraid anymore.

Leo stood up and tiptoed to the door, opening it and stepping outside. Luke and Julia were talking; apparently Luke had woken up from the explosion and gone out to see what the commotion was about. Leatherhead saw Leo come out from the room and immediately went to confront him.

"Is he actually here?!" he questioned. "Is AudreyTello in there?"

Leo nodded silently.

"And you just left him in there with Mikey?!"

"I trust him," Leo answered calmly.

"How?!"

"Because... Because I'm choosing to," he replied. "He's my brother and I want my family safe. ALL of my family."

Luke searched Leo's eyes, and then nodded.

"I can understand that. And I'll respect it. But he's your responsibility, okay? If anything happens..."

Leo nodded slowly.

"I got it. But c'mon man, after everything, give us the benefit of the doubt?"

Luke opened his mouth to retort, but Julia coughed. Luke's gaze crossed over to her, then cleared his throat.

"Right. Trying."

Leo smiled, before stretching long and hard and cracking his back.

"And now, if you don't mind me, I'm just going to get some shuteye before whatever happens next happens."

Leo yawned as he waved the two goodnight and stepped back into his room. Donnie and Mikey were still there, and it wasn't until he saw them that he hadn't been entirely certain that they'd still be there. Leonardo softly climbed into the nest of glow-in-the-dark vines and menuevered himself into the small space, lying down on the other side of Mikey. He reached across and took Donnie's hand, squeezing it tight. Gradually, he fell asleep.

. . .

"He really trusts him, huh?" Luke sighed, waiting until the bedroom door closed with a click before continuing the conversation with his mom.

"You'd do the same if it was one of your brothers," Julia noted.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he sighed back. "Speaking of which -- the daycare. We should go check on the kids."

Julia thought it over, carefully considering the entire scenario. She didn't know exactly what had happened, but an explosion so big that it could shake the rooms for the guests? That was not ideal. MBU Michelangelo might be in trouble. The kids could be in trouble. But...

"As much as I want to, I don't feel completely comfortable leaving the boys here alone without telling them anything..."

"Then let me go," Luke offered. "I'll check on the little kids and help Mikey with whatever he needs."

Mama Bear paused, debating it in her own mind.

"...Alright then. But be careful."

Luke nodded with a smile, giving her a quick hug before darting out. She hoped he really would be careful.

. . .

Bishop groaned loudly, holding his ringing head as the world spun like a top. Where... where was he...?

Wait... was this really him? Was it HIS mind in HIS body?

There were pieces of wrecked fungus falling off his skin, tiny roots dangling from below his eyelids, blurring the edges of his sight. He had a splitting headache.

There was someone behind him, groaning as well.

Bishop weakly turned his head to glance behind him. It was Dr. Chaplin, though he looked much different then the last time he'd seen him. The man was twice as big, twice as gruesome, twice as pink and purple. The beast growled in pain, slowly rising to his feet and glaring at Bishop. John felt himself break out into a cold sweat as he reached for his sidepiece.

"You... you worthless piece of --!"

John felt something move him forward, a voice rise in his own throat as he lost control for just a moment.

"Dddddon't take that tone of voice with me!" he yelled back, speech slurring as Audrey III struggled to take control. "Yyyyouuurrrr pathetic littlllle anger mismanagement isssss not the powermove you think it is! I know all angles of this place, I am in control --"

Bishop grunted with effort as he pushed Audrey out of his mind. He stumbled before falling back to his knees, knuckles pressing deep against his temples. His eyes screwed shut, teeth grit, fists clenched; he fought with every ounce of his will to keep in control.

"You," Chaplin snarled, wrapping a tentacle around John Bishop's neck and lifting him off the ground. "You talk of control, but you're barely able to hold on to that traitor?!"

Chaplin grinned at his old enemy, bringing him close to his face.

"Hello, John. So good to see you back again. I can see in your eyes that 'Baudrey' isn't exactly in upper management anymore, hmm? Too bad. That was the only thing keeping me from killing you..."

John flinched as one eye turned blue, the other staying white. A tiny voice in his head whispered a plea, a bargain that might benefit both of them. He had no other option.

Bishop reached out as far as he could, aiming at Chaplin's face.

"You're not angry," he choked out. "I think you're scared."

Blue spores flew from his hand, emptying Bishop completely and spraying into Chaplin's face. The monster bellowed with agony as he dropped the agent and staggered about, trying to fight the fear fungus.

He clutched his face and glared at Bishop, eyes slowly turning blue...

Prev | Next

[allisonrw96]

SOME KIND OF SOMETHING FOR SUNDAY

Scheduling this for later because I'm headed to the Renaissance Faire today! This is another one of the flashback snippets that may or may not make it into the LWH Breakdown fic. A little bit long so there's a cut.

When Maddie cried, she usually locked her bedroom door. Buck could always hear her through their shared wall and whether it was quiet, midnight sobs or loud, heartbroken cries following a shouting match or slammed doors, the sound twisted his stomach the same way. When Buck cried, Maddie came to him. But all he could do in exchange was sit in the hallway with his arms wrapped around his knees and wait to see if she would let him in. 

On that night, the one that still lingers in his subconscious in the cloudy gauze of a dream, Buck was dead asleep. He woke up scared without knowing why, convinced he had a nightmare of his own, and struggled to sit up as he struggled to remember. Then he heard the sound again through the wall. It was dark and ugly and guttural, barely identifiably as crying. Buck flung the covers back and burst out into the hall, convinced that Maddie was dying behind her door. He was prepared to bang his fists against it if he had to, scream and beg for his parents to come upstairs, but he didn’t have to. 

For the first time that he could ever remember, the door was open–fully open, not cracked or closed but unlocked–and Buck pushed through it without a second thought. 

“Maddie?” he asked.

Unease prickled over his skin as he hesitated partway across the room. It was darker here than in his own bedroom where the street lamp shone through his window and Buck’s eyes struggled to adjust. The crying continued up until he took another step that creaked the floor and a lump of blankets too big to be Maddie shot up off the mattress.

“Who’s there?” the lump croaked, struggling to turn and look into the room, and Buck’s feet took a frightened step backward without his brain’s input. 

From the other side of the bed, Maddie sat up, but Buck still couldn’t make enough sense of the scene to be relieved at the sight of her. Why was someone else in her bed? Who was crying?

“It’s just Evan, Mom,” Maddie said, tugging Margaret’s arm to pull her attention back. “Evan, go back to bed. It’s okay.”

“Mom?” It was her. Buck could see that now that he was looking. But the old woman with a swollen, tear-streaked face and wild hair looked nothing like the mom he knew from the daytime, even if she was wearing the same robe. “Are you okay?”

“Why is Evan here?” Margaret said, turning fully away from him and back to Maddie. She fell on her in an embrace that might have been a hug except that it was as wrong and distorted as everything else about the moment. 

Maddie wrapped her arms around her mother, but spoke to Buck, “Evan. Evan.”

At her tone, Buck jerked, pulling his gaze away from the haunted tangle of limbs that used to be his mother, and looked back at Maddie, “Wh- what’s wrong with her?”

“Evan, go back to bed. Everything’s fine.” 

“Go away,” Margaret moaned, swatting one hand in the open air behind her. “Go away.”

“Should I get Dad?”

“Evan. Go.”

With wide eyes, Buck stared back at Maddie. The command was as firm as she ever got with him, usually when she was annoyed or busy and wanted him out of her bedroom. Their mom was hanging off of her and Maddie struggled not to fall down, but she held herself up for Buck. He didn’t want to leave her, but he was confused and scared and the room, usually so big and bright and safe, was suffocatingly dark and Buck felt small and helpless in his ninja turtle pajamas. 

He fled. 

As he raced out the door, he could still hear his mom crying, “I can’t do this anymore, Maddie. I just want it to be the way it was before.” 

Closing his own door carefully and quietly behind him, Buck got into bed, but he didn’t bother to try and sleep. He wrapped his arms around himself and listened to the soft crying and the talking through the wall for what seemed like hours. Eventually footsteps came up the hall and into Maddie’s bedroom and then his father’s steady voice took his mother’s higher one away.

Maddie came to find him after that. Pulling him into a tight hug, she said, “It’s okay, Evan. Mom just had a bad dream.” She sounded like she was crying then, but Maddie held Buck too close for him to be able to see for sure.

It didn’t seem right that Margaret would get in bed with Maddie after a bad dream like Buck did, but Buck was getting so tired and everything he’d seen was already melding into a fuzzy feeling of wrongness that he couldn’t tease apart. 

“What was the dream?” he asked.

He didn’t get an answer and Buck figured Maddie hadn’t heard him. Or maybe he’d only thought he asked. Either way he didn’t ask the question again or any other ones after that. Buck just let himself be hugged and soothed to sleep. 

Just before he did, Maddie whispered, “I love you, Evan. I love you so much no matter what.” 

“I know,” Buck answered, sleepily. “I love you too.”

The next morning neither Margaret nor Maddie said anything about the dream. Phillip said nothing about climbing the stairs in the dead of night and Buck couldn’t figure out how to turn the questions in his head into words that could be said out loud. So he ate the cereal that was put in front of him and then left to go play outside, the bright morning sunlight burning away his memories of the night. 

Tagging @princessfbi @mellaithwen @devirnis @bigfootsmom @try-set-me-on-fire

@gayhoediaz @doeeyeseddie @sibylsleaves @freewayshark @glorious-spoon

@rewritetheending @eowon @renecdote

[sagewritings]

Night Fever - Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

pairing: steve harrington x female reader

synopsis: after escaping vecna’s curse and the terrors of the upside down, nightmares and trauma started taking over your mind and body. hopefully, you and steve’s feelings for each other will be enough to save you.

word count: 2.5k

warnings: mentions of curse, trauma, death threats

request: [anon] hi!! i would love to request (if it interests you) a steve x reader ‘one of them is presumed dead and then is found but is severely tortured/traumatized’ fic! they are my SHIT and i never seen any with steve x reader (usually only eddie x reader). id love it if vecna got a hold of steve or the reader, maybe after the s4 finale, and made them confuse reality with nightmares and all that good angst. i know this is a lot and not everyone likes angst, but i thought id ask!

a/n: hello everyone! it’s been a while since i’ve posted here on my blog (i’m so sorry i got busy with college) but i missed writing fics for steve so here’s one! just a disclaimer, this fic is based on the events from more than a woman and staying alive. i recommend reading them beforehand to fully understand where the reader’s trauma came from but you can still read this on it’s own :)

if you’d like to check out my other works, you can check the pinned post in my blog :>

i hope you’ll like this fic! happy reading!

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

  It’s two in the morning.

A thin layer of sweat covered your forehead, your hand on your chest as you tried to control your breathing. It’s been days. Nine days to be exact, and the ninth time you woke up from a night of disturbed sleep.

Frustrated, you threw the blanket away from your body and sat up. Realizing that it was still very much dark outside, you dimly opened the lamp beside your bed and walked yourself towards the bathroom.

For more than a week, every night has been like this. You, wake up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, go to the bathroom to wash your face, and settle by the window to read or listen to music until the sun rises.

You looked at your reflection in the mirror and saw how drained you look. How could you not, when you’ve spent no longer than two hours of sleeping?

You never told your friends your dilemma, although you didn’t have to because they can see it. Steve, especially.

He noticed the way you grew quiet, staring blankly ahead in class while you mindlessly played with your pen. He saw how you started losing your interest, slowly turning down every hangout invitation from your friends. He didn’t miss the way your shoulder slumped and your mouth frowned either. It wasn’t a look of disappointment. No, it was grief.

Steve felt as if you were vanishing right in front of his eyes, and it scares him that he doesn’t know the reason why. He tried to approach you multiple times, but in every occurrence, you appear startled and scared before dodging the topic.

After splashing your face with cold water, you silently walked back to your bed and laid on your back. You were too awake and scared to go back to sleep, but with fatigue quickly taking over your body, you can only hope for a dreamless night.

===================

You weren’t sure whether your headache was caused by your lack of sleep or the overwhelming amount of voices surrounding you. Both, perhaps.

Your friends managed to get you out of the house an hour ago, inviting you to lunch at a diner. They said that it was time to unwind after the rough events that took place several days ago. And looking around the large booth, your friends occupying every seat at the table, you start to feel comfortable.

Steve sat beside you as he admired your small smile that he hasn’t seen for a while. He leaned closer to your ear and whispered low enough for only you to hear. “Are you alright?”

You kept your smile and nodded. You didn’t speak a lot these days, afraid that once you open your mouth, all of your burdens will spill out. Steve returned a grin and leaned back, glancing at you from time to time while he simultaneously finished his meal.

You and Steve haven’t made it official yet. Although you two are aware of your feelings for each other and it is clear that you are more than friends, your behavior lately has not allowed him to ask you to be his girlfriend.

On your other side, Max also stops to look at you, her eyes becoming soft as she silently observes how tired you looked. Your eyes met, and you tried your best to look as delightful as you can be.

“What?” You asked her softly.

“You look tired,” Max answered honestly. She kept her voice balanced and quiet, careful not to disrupt the conversation that Eleven and Mike are having beside her. “Have you slept?”

“Of course I did.” You replied coolly. “Just not enough.”

“Are you having nightmares?” You were shocked by her question but maintained a straight face, not giving an answer but you realized that she already knows. “It’s okay, I’m having them too.”

You looked at your younger friend sadly. Max has been through a similar experience as you, probably even worse yet here she is, smiling and laughing as if nothing has happened.

“How do you do it? How are you moving on?” You whispered.

“I just… I don’t want to spend my life in fear. The last time I did, I almost died.” She laughed slightly, but there was no hint of humor in her tone. “Just find a reason to move on, Y/n. There might be one that is much closer than you think.”

You didn’t miss the way her eyes shifted to Steve quickly.

Maybe she was right. Maybe you can move on.

===================

You woke up on a cold hard floor.

It took a while before your sight turned clear enough to assess your surroundings. Hardwood floor, light beige walls, a window, and a door in front of you. You realized that you were in your bedroom, only without the furniture and posters that used to make your room lively.

“Dad?” You screamed, pushing yourself up from the floor. You started walking around but your feet felt heavy and slow. “Dad!”

The door bursts open. You were expecting to see the corridor of your house but took a step back when red smoke immediately entered the room. You shielded your eyes and nose as you felt the air inside the room become heavier. You rushed towards the door, but instantly regretted the decision when you recognized the scene before your eyes.

Four pillars, thick dark vines, and a red sky. The last time you were here, you were almost killed.

Upon instinct, you turned around in hopes to go back to the room, only to find the door no longer there. Your breathing became panicked as your mind tried to process whether this is real or not.

“Y/n…”

Your hands felt cold upon hearing the low taunting voice.

No, it couldn’t be.

“Y/n. Did you think you could get away from me easily?”

Despite the loud footsteps that you could hear behind you, you refused to turn around and shut your eyes.

“Oh, that won’t do. I’ll always be here, Y/n. You can’t escape me.” Vecna laughed deviously. Your back was still turned against him, but you can sense his presence becoming closer and closer with each second.

You opened your eyes slightly and shifted your eyes as far as you could without looking at the monster. You hoped for an escape, just like the previous times. There was none.

“Can’t you see? There’s no way out.” He laughed even louder.

“You’re not real.” You said to him, trying to convince yourself as well.

“But I am, and I won’t stop until I have your soul. Your death will be my victory.” Tears pooled in your eyes as his laugh echoed. 

You couldn’t take it and run, unsure of where you’re headed but that was the least of your priority. You needed to find a way out. Fast.

===================

After the quick lunch at the diner with your friends, you immediately went home to calm your pounding head.

Steve, still worried and determined to find out what has been bothering you, decided to stop by your house several hours later. He knocked on the door and was slightly surprised to find your father by the door.

“Hey, Steve!” Your dad greeted him warmly.

Steve Harrington’s charm works for many people, including your father. While he is protective of you as his only daughter, he has already observed how gentle Steve is towards you. Only an ignorant person would not notice how you and Steve admire each other. From the simple glances to the subtle touches, there is no denying that you like each other.

So when your friends came over and told him that you and Steve finally confessed, he smiled approvingly. It’s about time.

“Hi, sir. Is Y/n here?” Steve asked politely.

“Ah, yes. She’s upstairs. You were with her a while ago, yes?”

“Yep. I just want to check on her.” Steve replied.

The smile your father had on his face grew small when he heard Steve’s words, motioning him to step inside the house. “Go ahead. But can I ask you a question, Steve?”

“Sure, sir. Anything.”

“Is she alright? I know my daughter, and I know that these past few days have been tough on her. I just don’t know why. And I won’t force you or her to tell me. I just need to know if she’s fine.”

The sincerity and concern behind your father’s voice moved your friend’s heart. He loved your dad as his own, feeling more connected with him than towards his own father. And so his conscience feels heavy every time he has to lie to him about the supernatural beings that your friend group has been facing. If he knew that his daughter had been cursed, your father would lose his mind and would probably lock you up to keep you safe.

“She’s fine, sir. Don’t worry.” Steve shot him a confident smile, ignoring the twisted feeling in his stomach. How ironic is it that he’s telling your father not to worry when he is restless?

Your dad nodded understandingly and patted Steve on the back.

Steve went up the stairs quietly, eyes scanning through the picture frames hanging by the wall. He knew the pictures all too well after visiting your house countless times.

He arrived in front of your bedroom door shortly and knocked. When you didn’t answer, Steve tried twisting the knob to see if it was locked. It’s not.

He knocked again, this time announcing himself. “Y/n, it’s me, Steve.”

No answer. 

Your dad said you were here, right? Maybe you were inside the bathroom?

Carefully, Steve slowly opened the door and peeked inside. He quickly spotted you on your bed, tucked underneath your weighted blanket with your eyes closed. He walked closer to you and adored how peaceful you looked. 

He smiled softly, wanting to touch your face but afraid to wake you up. Knowing how tired you must have been, it made him happy to see you finally at ease.

If only it lasted.

Steve turned around to leave your room when he heard you whimper. He turned around to face you once more. Your calm aura is now overtaken by scrunched eyebrows and low cries.

“Dad.” He heard you mumble as your face twisted with discomfort.

“Y/n?” Steve tried reaching out to you, confused whether you were awake or not. “It’s Steve.”

Your eyes remained closed as you continued to sob in your sleep, making Steve realize that you were experiencing a nightmare. He softly placed a hand on your cheek, hoping to wake you up but failing. Then his eyes widened in panic when he felt you shake.

“Y/n.” He called your name again, maintaining a calm voice to avoid startling you. “Come on, open your eyes for me.”

He heard you whisper a phrase, but your voice was muffled because of you crying and shaking. Steve rubbed your upper arm soothingly while continuing to call your name.

It wasn’t long until you gasped and opened your eyes, frantically sitting up as if you were trying to catch some air.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. You’re alright.” Steve sat beside you, his right hand going up and down your back while the other held your hand.

Although aware of his presence, you couldn’t look directly at Steve as your mind is still trying to process what you have just seen. It took you a whole minute to calm down, breathing heavily as you wiped the tears away from your face.

“Steve.” You finally acknowledged him, speaking his name softly.

A new wave of tears exited your eyes when you finally felt vulnerable. You cried deeply, the stress and exhaustion from the previous nights suddenly poured out from your body. Steve held you close and stroked your hair while you cried against his shoulder, whispering comforting words while he patiently waited for you to calm down.

Whatever your nightmare was about has absolutely wrecked you.

“H-he’s going to come after me.” You finally spoke after a while, your voice hoarse from crying.

“What?” Steve asked, his fingers brushing away the strands of hair that fell against your face tenderly.

“Vecna. He’s still after me, Steve.” You cried out.

You remembered it all. The grief that you felt after you lost your mother, resulted in you and your father moving to Hawkins. How that grief became the key to Vecna cursing you. You remembered the first time you heard that a student was killed. It didn’t take long before two more followed, and then it was you. Almost you.

The headache and constant worry over yourself and Max. Seeing her rise in the air with her eyes glazed in white. You knew you looked like that too, never forgetting the terrified look that Steve has on his face every time you came back.

Then there was the clock, the bats, the Upside Down. 

You recalled how Eddie was accused of murder and how your group tried to protect him from Jason’s vile friends. You remembered the vines pulling you against the pillar while Vecna’s terrifying figure towered over you. Your heart almost pumping out of your chest as you ran away from him and towards Steve.

“That’s not possible, Y/n. We killed him, remember?” Steve tried to convince you.

“I know that. I want to believe that. But he’s still in my mind.” You explained, starting to feel the weight on your chest lighten a bit after confessing to Steve. “I can’t sleep without seeing him. Sometimes he threatens me, sometimes he threatens my dad. He showed me images of you dead.”

You broke down even more. 

Steve didn’t know what to do. He wanted to comfort you but he can’t do anything else other than hold you. Seeing you in tears as you voice out your fears hurts him, but he knew he had to stay strong.

He knew all that had happened, being beside you throughout everything. He would be lying if he said that none of it affected him. No, it was imprinted on his mind. The images of his friends fighting against those deadly creatures, seeing you and Max floating in the air while he can’t do anything aside from hope. Steve hated every second of it.

Yet he knew that you faced worse. If only he could take away your fear, he would.

He gently shushed you, kissing your forehead while he continuously whispered “I’m here.” You two stayed like that for a while, arms around each other as you released your pain through your tears.

“I’m sorry.” You said to him after a while, pulling away slightly to wipe your tears with your hand.

“Hey, you don’t need to apologize. Don’t ever apologize. You shouldn’t have gone through all those things.” Steve looked directly into your eyes as he gently held your face, determined to make you believe him. “You are strong, Y/n. You inspire me, you inspire Max, all of us look up to you.”

You sniffed, hugging him again while thanking him.

At this point, you weren’t sure whether you’ll be fully healed again. But Steve is right, you are strong because you survived. And Vecna is gone, your friends made sure of that. You didn’t know how long it would take you to move on without fear constantly nagging you. But with Steve holding you close, his relaxed breathing calming your own as he leaned back beside you, you didn’t worry.

Finally, you fell asleep without dreaming.

[killer-bug-boi]

wakeup call

Days, weeks even, had passed, Mayfly still hadn't woken up, or realized he was asleep. In his dream, he was walking aimlessly through a grassfield that seemed to go on infinitely, when he heard a noise, something between whining and speaking. He tried to reach for it but couldn't, he tried to respond to it, but couldn't. After a while of trying to respond to the noises, he felt a familiar falling sensation.

May didn't know what happened when he woke up, his black overcoat was missing. He was lying in the living room of an unfamiliar house, staring at the ceiling. He sat up slowly, the throbbing in his head coming back, the familiar rush of thoughts returning, but it was short-lived as he heard a girl's voice shouting "Dad!" And he was tackled back down onto his back. He was confused what had even happened just then, he looked down at what just tackled him and was surprised by what he saw. A little girl who looked to be around 10 years old, ginger hair tied back in low pigtails, at first he thought she was wearing a dress but realized it was actually a really oversized sweater. He didn't get a good look at her face because it was buried in his shoulder "sorry.. do I know you..?" After he said that, he heard a vaguely familiar voice from his side "Michael.. are you alright? Is your head okay?" May slowly sat up, the girl on his chest still clinging to him. He turned his head to the side, in the direction of the voice to see the face of a woman he recognized.

He searched through his memories, trying to figure out where he knew her from, until he finally remembered her "Jane?" She nodded "yes, that's me.." it took a little bit for the reality of the situation to fully sink in for him, he was staring his biological mother in the face, not some foster mom, not a random woman he looked up to, his real mom "you- you're my mother? Really..?" Jane smiled but didn't have a chance to respond as the girl clinging onto Mayfly lifted her head from his shoulder to look at him "dad! You're okay.. I was scared you weren't gonna make it." Complete confusing overtaking him, he repeated to her, this time loud enough for her to hear "sorry, do I know you" the air in the room seemed to thicken around the three, Jane's smile slowly faded "Michael, that's your daughter, don't you remember her?".

may shook his head profusely, unaware of who this child was "no- I-i don't have any kids.. I'd remember if I did", he turned back to the girl, finally getting a good look at her face. She had odd marks underneath her eyes, almost like spirals, a small x-shaped scar above her left eye- wait.. she looked familiar. He started searching in his mind again, where did he know her from?.. then it dawned on him, Skipp. She looked like Skipp "no.. I don't know you.. where 𝘢𝘳𝘦 your parents..?". The girl shook her head and placed her hands on both sides of his face, refusing to believe he wasn't her father "you're right here.. why don't you remember me??" Tears welled in her eyes "it's me.. Pump?? Stop playing, it's not funny anymore..".

Mayfly realized telling this kid the truth wouldn't do any good, so he chose to lie to her, pretending to be a father who'd forgotten briefly about his little girl. Afterall, he knew the pain of growing up without any real family to turn to, he didn't fully know the weight of the decision he was about to make, but he knew he needed to, to help this little girl. He gently smiled at pump, seemingly apologizing for "forgetting" her "sorry.. didn't mean to scare you." He watched as her face quickly lit up, she practically dove back into his arms, crying out of happiness this time. It was then that Mayfly realized, he had a real family now. He leaned into the girl's hug and wrapped his arms around her in return, holding back tears. Even if this child wasn't his, he'd love her like his own.

[rain-lavender-rain]

"Please Turn Those Headlights Around"

Bucky x Reader One Shot

Summary: They're both scared of love, but can they find their way back to each other?

Word Count: ~1.5k

Warnings: None, a few cuss words. Angsty with some fluff. Mentions of sex, but very brief and not explicit.

Bucky felt the slight chill in the air against his skin. It was the first sign of waking up. The second sign was the birds already singing their song, even before the sun had hit the horizon. The third? Cold.

Bucky cracked his eyes open, all the memories of the night before flooding back. The sounds of a symphony falling from your lips with his melody filling the open spaces of the tune brought a warmth that couldn't be reproduced without something specific. That specific thing was you.

His eyes opened fully, blinking away the sleep, but you weren't next to him. That's why he was cold. The chill was brought from the loss of you. He knew you were an early riser, but usually not this early. Using heightened senses, there was no sign of you. Quickly sitting up in bed, he glanced at the bedside table, and his fingers brushed across the cursive handwriting on the note that was left.

"I'm sorry."

Sorry for what? Was it something he did? Was it something he said? Bucky was at a loss.

His mind focused in on what was going on in the tower. Footsteps. Listening closer, he realized it wasn't yours. They had to be Steve's. Louder, but gentle, and more pronounced. So, quicky putting on some clothes, he got up to see his friend in the kitchen.

"Hey Buck... you okay?" Steve asked, turning around from making his coffee.

"Have you seen Y/N?" Bucky asked frantically.

"Uh, no?" Steve replied, his brow furrowing in concern. "You okay?"

Bucky sighed in response.

"I think I messed up Steve."

The blonde was still a bit confused, but a few pieces were starting to come together. He spotted the small bruise on the brunettes neck, the messy hair, the wild and dejected look in Bucky's eye and question about where y/n was all gave him a few clues.

"You're going to have to give me more than that. What do you think you messed up?" The blonde continued, grabbing his brewed coffee.

Bucky wasn't even sure how to start and he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Y/N, we- well, we slept together." he muttered.

Steve tried not to choke on his drink. His suspicions were confirmed. It's not that he was surprised per-say, in fact he saw all the unspoken strokes of flaming gentleness and love between the two of you. But, still he never thought you two would admit it to each other, or go further than the quiet touches, the glances, and unspoken romantic tension. Sam was always the one trying to push Bucky and Y/N together, whereas Steve sort of just silently supported it without being pushy.

Instead of making Bucky annoyed, he raised an eyebrow letting him know to continue.

"I think I messed up. She wasn't there when I woke up, and all she left was a note that said "I'm sorry." I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

Steve was about to respond when Sam walked in from his morning run, hearing part of the conversation on the way to grab himself a cup of coffee.

"Lemme guess. Y'all had a moment or something and now she's gone?" Sam asked, seeming quite unbothered.

Both Steve and Bucky turned their heads to stare at the other man with confusion and surprise written upon their faces.

Sam sighed when no one answered the question.

"Oh come on. First off, I know how she ticks. We've been friends for a while. Second, I know her tendencies."

Steve's phone rang and he gave Bucky a look with a squeeze on the shoulder.

"I'm sure everything will be fine, Buck. Call if you need anything." He said before leaving the room.

Bucky stayed silent once again, looking to Sam to say something helpful. All that Sam did was shake his head, taking a sip of coffee before speaking up again.

"I've been around long enough to know both of you are runners."

"Runners?"

"Yes. How do I put this nicely? You two are impossible by the way. You both like to run away when feelings really start to be stirred. You avoid it at all costs because you're trying to not only protect yourself, but the other person. You're scared of intimacy, of vulnerability. So, at the first sign of it, you run. I mean you two have never addressed whatever there is between you, but the whole "thing" from last night? That was probably her moment of realization that her feelings were deeper than that of a friendship, Bucky."

Bucky just stared in complete and utter disbelief with eyebrows furrowed. Sam was right, but that didn't mean Bucky liked it.

"I'm actually surprised that she was the one who ran first." He murmured.

Bucky rolled his eyes, annoyed with Sam already.

"So, where is she?"

Sam shook his head again.

"Where does she normally go when she wants to hide from the world?" Sam answered, walking out of the kitchen.

"Wait- Sam!"

"You know where Y/N goes. But one piece of advice, don't fuck it up Barnes." He said.

A lightbulb went off in Bucky's head.

"The cabin." He whispered under his breath, before breaking out into a full on sprint to get his motorcycle. The ride that should have taken 45 minutes, took closer to 30 as he sped recklessly to where he knew Y/N would be.

As soon as turned off the bike, his feet carried him quickly towards the door, which suddenly opened.

"I'm sorry, Bucky. I'm so sorry."

The man stopped in front of Y/N, his heart wanting to flood her with his love. The gates were shut for the moment, trying to redirect the bursting love away from the city, but soon enough, the flood doors would either open, or the water would seep over the top of the wall.

"Doll, stop apologizing. It's okay." His hands wanted to reach out to cradle your face, but Bucky had to stop himself for the moment.

"No, it's not. It's not okay because- because I can't tell you how I feel. I can't say those words out loud." Your voice was cracking, the dam starting to be weakened by the flood of love in just his eyes alone.

"Y/N, it's okay. I understand." Bucky replied, trying his best to calm you.

Your voice raised with emotion. "But it's not okay, Bucky! It's not okay because I didn't see it- I didn't realize it until it was too late. And now you're going to be hurt because of me, and that's exactly what I never wanted to happen... and I can't tell you because then it makes it real and that's..." the tone of your voice lowered with sorrow and pain before you finished your sentence.

"It's terrifying."

Your eyes turned down towards the weathered wooden panels of the porch.

He gently grabbed your hands, allowing you to pull away if you wanted. Bucky was relieved you didn't.

"If there's one thing you taught me, Y/N, its that I deserve to be loved. But, so do you. And how lucky am I? How lucky am I that I get to be loved by you in any form?"

Your eyes met his in a soft allowance of vulnerability. You were met with nothing but love and understanding. It was starting to seep through the cracks in the gates of the flood wall.

"Sam, as much as he's a pain in my ass, is perceptive and he told me some things that made me think. We're the same Y/N. We run at the first sign of love because we believe its dangerous. As soon as we love in that way, we believe we will end up getting hurt, and so will the other person that we're in love with. Our views and perceptions of love aren't the same, but similar. I know it will take us both some time, and you don't have to feel the exact same way right now, but I need you to know something Y/N."

He tipped your chin to meet his eyes again and gently ran his thumb over your fingers as he held your hands.

"It terrifies me, too. But there is no one I would trust more than you with my heart. Y/N, doll. I am willing to work with you, to always be patient, to never push you, to listen, to meet you halfway, because even if I run, I know I'll run back to you."

You were silent for a moment before his name tumbled from your lips in a whisper.

The flood gates began to open on their own accord as love rushed in. Fate sealed the lovers together in a chorus filled with gentle passion. Fate knew they would fight to return to the holder of each others heart.

Y/N's hands left the soldiers and travelled towards his face in a delicate caress. Their lips met and tears traveled down the slopes of their cheeks. It was the final stamp in a promise to meet each other half way, as love rushed in to both of their hearts in a tender embrace.

[tangerinesgf]

Happy Birth- Father's Day??

Clint Barton x Fem!reader

Summary: reader tells Clint that she's pregnant on his birthday. (Not MCU Canon at all)

Tags/warnings: mentions of pregnancy, hints at an asshole dad, fluff, cute stuff, bit of bickering, hints at smut but nothing happens

A/n: this was suposed to be for Clint's Birthday yesterday which also happened to be fathers day. But I got busy and only finished it today, oops. Anywaaayy hope ya'll like it.

“You know what day it is today?”

You can see the surprise on Clint’s face while he turns around to face you as you practically burst into the room he was just working in. “The 18th?”

“Well yeah, Captain Obvious I got that.” You say, rolling your eyes playfully.

“Then why did you ask me?”

“It’s not about the date, it’s about what we’re celebrating today.” There is this teasing look in your eyes that he can’t quite place, you’re definitely up to something.

“My birthday?” He sounded unsure, as if he might have confused his birthday with another date.

“Yeah that too, but there’s something else happening today.”

“Celebrating my amazing existance isn’t enough for you?” He chuckles.

“Ofcours it is, baby,-” You give him a quick kiss on the cheek “-but this is the rare occasion where these two things are happening on the same day and I gotta take advantage of that.”

“Alright so.. what’s today then?”

“It’s father’s day!” You say with a little more excitement than probably necessary.

“Honey, you know I don’t celebrate that.” Clint’s face falls a little at the mention of it. “My dad was.. well my dad and as far as I can tell there’s no kid running around here.”

“Well.. what if there was?”

Clint looks confused at first, but when it finally hits him his eyes move from you stomach to your face over and over again as if asking the question with his eyes. There’s a bright smile on your face as he starts to realize what the reason for your weird behavior is.

When his eyes finally stick to your face he looks at you with wide eyes that are almost puppy-like. You’ve never really talked about when you would like children, hell the two of you hadn’t even discussed if it was a thing you should do in the first place. But Clint couldn’t deny that there had been moments where he’d imagined a little boy or girl running around in the garden with a toy bow and arrow.

“You.. uh.. you’re pregnant?” You spotted a little gleam of hope in his eyes, as if he wasn’t exactly sure this was happening, but really wanted it to.

“Mhm” You nod. Your face is practically glowing with excitement as you wait for him to react. Sure a part of you was also nervous, what if he didn’t want to be a dad? What if he was scared to end up like his own dad? Were you even ready to be a mom? All these questions had spooked through your mind before, debating on how to tell him this news.

But as you were standing here and you slowly watched your man’s face light up at the confirmation that you were indeed expecting a little kid, all those worries fell off your shoulders.

Clint Barton had never been a man of many words. So he didn’t need any to tell you how happy he was when he basically ran up to you and embraced you in a hug, spinning the both of you around the room.

When he finally let you go, it took you a while to find your footing again and Clint had to steady you to prevent you from falling over. Before you could fully find your balance again, he pulled you in for a kiss. Not the usual quick kiss that you’d give each other before going to bed or when you woke up in the morning. No, this one was long, deep and passionate and told you more than all the words in the world could have.

After the need for air became too strong he finally pulled away, only to look into your eyes with that same sense of affection for you, a bright smile on his face. “So this is really happening? I’m gonna be a dad?”

You nod again. “And an amazing one at that.”

“You really think so?” He asks with a hopeful gleam in his eyes and you can tell he’s not so sure about that.

“I do. You are a good man, Clint Barton, and any kid would be lucky to have you as a father.”

“You have no idea how much that means to me, darling.” He places his hands carefully on your stomach and looks deep into your eyes. “And you.. are gonna be the most wonderful mother, you know that? We’d be lucky if the little one is even half as amazing as you are.“

A slight blush spreads across your cheeks at the compliment and you give him another kiss on the lips. “We’re gonna do great, baby. I mean look at all the other kids. Kate, Wanda and Pietro turned out pretty good.”

“They are not my kids.” He insists.

“You keep saying they’re not, but they kinda are.” You remember not even a few weeks ago when Clint had taken Kate to the dentist because she had to have her wisdom teeth removed and took care of her every need afterwards.

“They’re a pain is my ass, that’s what they are.”

“Maybe.. but you love them anyway.” You point out.

“Yeah, but don’t tell them that.”

Clint may act tough, but you know that underneath there is one of the kindest men you’ve ever met. He’d never actually tell them he loves them, but they know he does, his actions show that more than enough.

You raise your hands up in defeat. “Fine, but you better give them a ‘thank you’.”

“For what?” He looks at you with puzzled eyes.

“They made you a cake.”

“And they didn’t burn the kitchen down?” He exclaims.

You give him a slight nudge on the shoulder. “Be nice, they put a lot of effort into this.”

“Fine.. but you’re tasting it first.”

“No way! I’m pregnant, it’s your birthday, you eat it.” As much as you loved those kids, you didn’t entirely trust their baking skills not to kill you yet, especially with that mentality of ‘who needs a recipe’.

He chuckles and then takes a deep breath as if preparing himself for whatever the three of them cooked up. “I’m gonna have to endure 9 months of this now, am I?”

You hum in acknowledgement. “Yep, but you love me anyway.”

“Hmm.. that I do.” He pulls you in for another kiss before the two of you start walking towards the kitchen where the cake is waiting for you.

“You know, I can’t wait to see you all fat and bloated.” He says, a cheeky grin on his face as he looks at your still mostly flat stomach.

“See.. you claim you love me, but then you say stuff like that and it makes me wonder if you really do.” You chuckle.

You let out a yelp as Clint suddenly lifts you up from the ground and into his arms, bridal style. He turns around and starts walking into the opposite direction of the kitchen.

“I’ll show you how much I love you.” There’s a grin on his face and you know exactly what he’s planning as you wrap your arms around the back of his neck.

“What about the cake?”

“Cake can wait, wanna taste you first.”

A/n: would love to know if you liked it, so don't hesitate to leave me a comment. They really motivate me. I don't have a taglist for Clint yet, but if you wanna be tagged in any Clint fics I write, lemme know!! Love ya'll <3

[secretwhumplair]

Healing

1,089 words | Heir apparent (sequel to Rescue)

Content | Sleep deprivation, painful medical care, starvation, past parental abuse, whumper turned caretaker, bruises, implied past caning

Notes | Taba is acting weird.

Taglist | @whumpycries @whatwhump

Sharru dozed off by the time his parent had mended his ribs, finally allowing him to breathe without their crushing pain. He shifted back and forth between consciousness and inquiet dreams enough to feel the cool, yet still burning touch of a wet washrag on his open wounds; to whimper at the magic travelling down the cut on his face, where the skin was so sensitive the heat did hurt; to notice himself being turned over onto his belly. Once, he thought someone entered and exchanged brief words with his parent.

They were still here, then. It was still them caring for him.

The thought was so surreal it might as well have been part of his confused dreams when he finally slipped fully into sleep.

He woke to the sight of his parent sitting next to his bed, asleep. They had never needed much sleep; Sharru knew all too keenly, because while they had begrudgingly accepted the fact that a child needed more, he had been expected to keep their hours for years now. They must have stayed awake and watched over him for - well, there was no telling how long. He barely even had an idea what time of day he had been carried out of that horrible place.

He was too distraught to say whether he was touched, or confused, or scared of what this might mean, but his body protested there were more pressing matters at hand anyway. His stomach was hurting so badly with hunger that it took him several breaths to realize most of his other pains were gone. A bunch of lesser bruises were left, without doubt to teach him, but aside from the hollow in his belly and the most likely related lightness in his head he was certainly functional.

He started crying again at the thought even as he worked himself up into a sit. He didn’t want to - oh, he hadn’t cried so easily in years, why now when he had already failed so badly? - but the tears just welled up.

Just the right moment for his parent to wake. He looked down as they scrutinized him, taking stock of his faults.

He was dizzy just from sitting up; it couldn’t wait - fainting wouldn’t speak in his favour. »Parent, I’m starving.« His voice came out awfully thin.

»When did you last eat?«

He shook his head and regretted it immediately, he nearly toppled over. »I - I haven’t.« He didn’t even know how long he had been there. But they would - it might not be for his sake, but they wouldn’t be so careless as to lose track of time.

»Wait here.«

He was supposed to sit up straight, but when they exited, he hunched over, leaning on his knees; he felt so feeble. How long had it been since he had last eaten? His captors had given him water once or twice - it took a while before they had broken him down enough for him to drink from the bowl on the floor they taunted him with, accompanied by their jeers. Given how little was enough to keep him alive through his captivity… it couldn’t have been that long.

That was worse. He just would look all the more pathetic to his parent, having turned into this crying wreck so quickly.

He didn’t hear them enter soon enough to sit up, and for a moment, he feared they would withhold the food they had brought as a punishment. But that was irrational. They didn’t want him to starve. His punishment would come later.

»Eat slowly,« they said, and that was cruel enough. They didn’t even pass him the bowl of stew, just the spoon, ready to pull away when-

»Slowly,« they reiterated, doing just that.

He couldn’t help the tears spilling over, furious and desperate. »Please-«

»You haven’t eaten in eight days,« they said, as evenly and coolly as ever. »I’m not letting you kill yourself.«

He could hear the reproach in their voice and forced a breath, forced a »I’m sorry.«

They let him finish the bowl; apparently he had managed to exhibit sufficient self-control, even though he didn’t know how, even though he was crying, even though he wanted to scream for the precious food they were tormenting him with.

It was a small portion, but it felt better than anything he could think of. He wanted more, but there was no point in asking. He just had to be grateful for the food he had been given; grateful to have been saved at all; grateful for the canteen of water they gave him now.

»Sit up.« They set the bowl aside.

It was, he thought bitterly, more surprising they hadn’t demanded it sooner. He didn’t know how he could possibly explain himself to them, when he had slept and eaten and drunk and even been healed from the worst of his injuries - how he could explain how exhausted he still felt in his soul, how terrified and lost and utterly unable to be the prince.

They wouldn’t care.

»I can’t.« Maybe he could do this little thing. But he would reach his limit all too soon, so why not safe himself the trouble? He would be punished regardless.

He waited for their reaction. There were still canemarks on his body, albeit no more bloody ones, so hopefully they would refrain from caning him. One time they had, by their sorcery, given him a headache that lasted for three days. That would work, even in the state he was in. There was an ugly laugh stuck in his throat as he caught his own thoughts, doing their parent’s work for them.

»Then lay down.«

Confused, he obeyed. That was easier, even though he dreaded what might come next.

Sure enough they promptly put their hands on him, right where the remaining bruises were, vivid splotches all over his ribcage.

But they didn’t hurt him.

Without commentary, they healed what injuries had been left. Mere bruises he would have suffered through in his daily duties, canemarks the likes of which they had inflicted plenty of themself over the course of his life. Nothing that should have stopped him from functioning.

Nothing that he would have expected them to see a reason to help him with.

Looking at them properly for the first time since they had come to get him, he realized he had never seen them look quite so weary - their sharp eyes tired, their mouth twisted into more than just their usual half-frown.

Something was different.

[raccoon-crown]

DREAM LAND AU: The Painter and the Dark Fallen star

Well, I have already provided the story of Maria before she arrived at popstar and there's still a missing piece to complete the story from there to when she is older and ends up in Floralia bc Taranza kidnaped her.

But the story for today actually comes from what happened after she finally retuned Back home from Floralia.

Some days passed and the girl was feeling a little better after the strain her body suffered from using her powers so much. At least she was good enough to go stargazing one night.

And it was on that day that she saw one comet in the sky, one particular red star that fell from the sky to a place close to her home. And since she also was a star guardian (even though she didn't actually did many hero duty as Kirby Amy due her condition) she decided to inspect what happened herself just in case.

It was then when she found a huge hole with something shiny that emitted a familiar dark aura that put her under alert

Prepared with her brush at hand, she went down to inspect what it was when she recognized a particular pair of wing's, and as she got closer she managed to distinguish a black and red hedgehog whose body was slowly turning into something similar to a mirror.

Seeing the creature in pain, Maria decided to rescue him from the place he crashed in and took him home. It was then when she payed attention to the bad shape the hedgehog was in, he was covered in injuries that were filled by the weird thing that resembled a mirror and that was slowly gaining area over him.

Doing as best she could, she used the same technique she used with Queen Jewel and covered his injuries to save him, somehow also decreasing the pesty aura that covered him.

After a hard night, she finally gave some though and realized how similar her guest was to the Hedgehog that usually hanged around Kirby Amy. Could it be a friend or family? She would need to ask her later, after all she didn't knew more hedgehogs who possessed wings.

But there was something she was sure about, if he was related to him or not, she wouldn't have the heart to leave him alone in that condition.

The next day, her little guest woke up, scared and confused. After talking a little, it seemed the guy had some amnesia after the collision, which made sense to her considering he fell from the sky and practically almost broke up in pieces the previous day.

There was only one thing he seemed to remember, he was a shadow.

María didn't fully understood what he meant and thought he was referring to his own name, so she just started called him that: Shadow.

Shadow slowly recovered at Maria's house, and the young girl enjoyed his company more than what she expected, they could spend days exploring, sightseeing or making mundane things. And even though the hedgehog was distant at first, he ended up being glued to her most of the time and eventually he enjoyed even posing for her when she was painting.

At the begging, Maria had to resist the shivers that the dark aura his body produced caused her, but it didn't took long for her to notice that as days passed, the shiver decreased along with his dark essence. There were bad days on which it returned when the hedgehog was feeling bad, but on those days where everything was laughs and fun, it was almost as if it was not there.

And when his injuries finally healed and he was able to avoid turning into mirror with her help, she gave him the option to go... And to her surprise he refused.

So he stayed. He eventually became something Maria though she would never have again and Shadow also remembered Maria something she tried to forget many years ago when she made the deal with the star: What was having a family.